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Sri Lanka’s SDG progress outperforms global average amid economic challenges – IPS
Despite the numerous setbacks suffered by Sri Lanka during the past few years, it was still making progress, compared to the world average, in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a report titled ‘Public Investment for Closing the SDG Financing Gap: Sri Lankan Perspective’ released by Institute of Policy Studies Of Sri Lanka (IPS) has said.
The report says Sri Lanka needs additional investment of around 1.4 trillion U.S dollars or 12 percentage points of GDP in 2030 to fulfil the SDGs.
The author of the publication Lakmini Fernando said that prior to the pandemic Sri Lanka recorded an above the world average rate for SDG progress on the SDG Index. The world average at that period was 0.69 points while Sri Lanka was progressing at 0.72 points yearly.
“The post-pandemic SDG progress is lower and progress on the SDG Index has stagnated. However, Sri Lanka has a comparatively higher progress rate of 0.16 points a year, while on average lower-middle and upper-middle income countries record a very low progress rate of 0.09 points a year,” the report said.
The SDG Index is an assessment of each country’s overall performance on the 17 SDGs, giving equal weight to each Goal. The score signifies a country’s position between the worst possible outcome (score of 0) and the target (score of 100).
The report states that Sri Lanka was keenly poised for growth at the time of independence in 1948 and again with the major policy shift in 1977 from an inward-oriented and import-substitution to being outward-oriented and export promotion-based economy.
“However, Sri Lanka’s high pre-pandemic growth declined to a historically low level of -3.6% (negative) in 2020 (Figure 5). The traditional agricultural economy has leapfrogged into a service-oriented economy without considerable developments in the industrial sector, a major hindrance to the productive capacity of the economy (Figure 6). Policy inconsistencies and delayed implementation of necessary structural reforms have further deteriorated the economy,” the report says.
Except for during 1992-2000, Sri Lanka continues to suffer balance of payment (BOP) crises, IPS said. The country had 16 arrangements with the IMF and although a certain degree of cushioning the economy is witnessed, the conditionalities on structural reforms have never been completed. After several discussion rounds, the 17th bailout package was granted in March 2023.
“Sri Lanka’s high public expenditure needs are characterised by an ageing demographic profile. Debt stabilisation through building a primary surplus, credible fiscal policy conduct and domestic revenue mobilisation is crucial in the consolidation process. This needs to be further supported with non-debt creating foreign currency inflows to ensure fiscal sustainability,” the report read.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
