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State Minister rules out total lockdown; isolating affected areas only solution
State Minister Urban Development and Coast Conservation Dr. Nalaka Godahewa says a total lockdown is not possible, but the government remains committed to tackling the threat by isolating selected areas. The State Minister also acknowledges that the unexpected Covid-19 explosion in India has badly affected Sri Lanka’s vaccination strategy.
Dr. Godahewa said so after inspecting the ongoing construction of Covid-19 treatment centre at Warellawatta, Yakkala.
Steps have been taken to convert the non-operating factory of Politex Garments in Warallawatta as a Covid-19 treatment centre. The facility is being built by Sri Lanka Navy engineers with funds from the Western Provincial Council. “We believe that we can start this project by the end of the week and is expected to complete it in two weeks”, Dr. Godahewa told the media at the scene.
Dr. Godahewa said “We witness the fast virus spread and unfortunate situation developing in our neighbouring India. Under the circumstances, India limited its supply of vaccines to foreign nations. If that didn’t happen and had we been able to implement the original strategy, we could have had a smooth vaccination program. This was a matter beyond our control as it happened due to an unforeseen problem that developed in India. Nevertheless the government is reaching out to other nations to find a solution for this. We don’t run away from problems.
“Enforcement alone is not sufficient and it’s a citizens’ responsibility too to contain the Covid-19. Spreading of the virus is common, the responsibility lies not only with the government but also with the people. We all know that people took it easy during the New Year holiday period and It also caused the ongoing surge in the number of infections. Comparatively, we as a country are doing a great job in looking after our patients. Citizens must do their best to protect themselves by following strict health guidelines while the government is taking measures to treat infected patients like this initiative at Warellawatta facility.
“The Government has already announced that people who organize festive events would be arrested. Government can enforce the law. However responsibility lies within the hands of the people. We must tell everyone including our friends and relatives to be cautious and act with responsibility. Law enforcement can’t do everything, people also should act in a responsible manner.
“The Covid-19 spread is a global phenomenon. However our Opposition Leader’s statements imply that it is this government that is responsible for the Coronavirus. Please name any country in the world that has not been impacted by this pandemic. Regardless of the irresponsible political statements made by the leader of the Opposition, there is a challenge ahead of us. We have to accept that. We all have to deal with it and the government is doing its best.
Always we have to look at both sides of the coin. If we go for a lockdown, would 100% agree for that? Majority of people need to continue with their livelihoods. Restriction should be done carefully with minimum impact to their livelihoods. That’s why selected locdowns are enforced in necessary areas. We could have easily taken a decision to lock down the entire country. But that creates problems to many people and their livelihoods get disrupted. How many people would die from health issues other than Corona ? When the last lockdown happened only corona deaths were discussed. But there are so many other patients with critical illnesses. They get badly impacted and sometimes don’t get adequate care during the total lockdowns. Hence this is a complex situation. Hence the decisions must be taken giving due considerations to all these factors” concluded Dr. Godahewa.
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
