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Struggle for freedom must continue until every Sri Lankan feels as an equal citizen – Ven. Galkande Dhammananda Thera
“The struggle for freedom for the people of Sri Lanka was not over with the country gaining independence in 1948. The freedom struggle must continue until every Sri Lankan believes and feels that he is an equal citizen of the country of his birth.
This was stated by Director of the Walpola Rahula Institute of Buddhist Studies Ven Galkande Dhammananda Thera on Wednesday (07) addressing the 76th Independence meeting, organised by the National Shoora Council (NSC) and held at the J R Jayewardene Centre, Colombo. The event was presided over by Attorney-at-Law T.K. Azoor, President of the NSC.
Dhammananda Thera said that it is not important as to who came to this country first. History is full of episodes in which family rule controlled the lives of all others. What is important is to protect the territorial integrity of our country by treating all citizens as equals, irrespective of their birth or other factors.
Muslims and their national leaders have contributed substantially, he said, to protect the freedom of this country. They have supported the struggle for freedom from foreign rule. They have worked with other national leaders for Sri Lanka’s independence. They must continue the struggle to preserve this freedom and to protect the rights of all in this country, Dhammananda Thera said.
Former Member of Parliament M.M. Zuhair PC addressing the gathering said that one of the earliest Sri Lankans to initiate the freedom struggle here was Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam in 1893, followed in 1908 by Sir James Pieris, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan and in 1924 by Dr T.B. Jayah and a number of others. It is noteworthy that these then leaders campaigned for political reforms not as spokespersons for any particular community but spoke for the country as a whole. Regrettably subsequent events failed to take advantage of the then emerging pluralistic foundation but took the nation on lines that eventually caused extensive damage to the island’s economy, for its peace and prosperity.
Zuhair said that historians such as Prof K.M. de Silva, Prof Sirima Kiribamune, Dr. Lorna Dewaraja and others have chronicled a number of significant contributions of the Muslims to the economic development of the country. Sir Alexander Johnston in a research article quoted by Dr. Lorna Dewaraja refers to the Yoda Wewa, constructed during the reign of King Datusena in the 5th century, supplying water for agriculture for over 300 years after its construction, crediting the then Arabs living in Sri Lanka for their technological and financial support for the project. In the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries, Muslims settled here as a trading community. Muslims set up handloom knitting in the 12th century bringing expertise from India. Italian explorer had recorded that in the 13th century, the Kings had a number of Muslims serving in the defence sector.
He said that though this country has had a long history of invasions such as the Cholas and Pandyans from earliest times from the then divided India, today the territorial unity of India is the biggest security for our country. We need also to recognize that over 450 years of the colonisation of the region by three European powers have also contributed in many ways for the advancement of the country, though we have time and again divided our loyalties on communal lines. A united Sri Lanka is our strength, he added. Sheikh S.H.M. Faleel, Director of the Department of Islamic Studies of Jaamiah Naleemiah, Beruwala, T.K. Azoor and Rasheed M. Imthiaz, General Secretary of the NSC also addressed the gathering.
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
