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Sultan Nazrin lauds Malaysia’s Jaffna Tamil community
KUALA LUMPUR:The Jaffna Tamil community in Malaysia continue to play vital roles in every facet of society, said Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.Jaffna Tamils, he said, also continued to produce influential and impactul professionals in various fields including medicine, education, engineering, as well as politics, the civil service and law.
“They continue to engage with culture and heritage – in music, in dance, in movies, and in culinary arts such as with this book.
“These contributions are an integral component of the multi-cultural nature of Malaysia that we all cherish.”
The Sultan said this during his royal address at the book launch of ‘They Came From Jaffna: A Historical Culinary Journey and Enchanting Tale of Roots, Routes and Vivid Memoires, As Told By A Pioneer’s Granddaugher’ authored by Indra R. L. Iswaran at Universiti Malaya here.
Sultan Nazrin also said the Jaffna Tamils, originally from Sri Lanka, had made numerous significant contributions in the development of both Malaya and Singapore since their migration in the late 19th century.
“Travelling by rail back in the old days, one would have encountered many Ceylon Tamil stationmasters.
“Many of the chief clerks in government offices and business agencies also came from this community.
“They could be found in the postal service, in public works departments, and managing plantations,” he said, adding that many Ceylon Tamils also became teachers, which reflected their sound grasp of the English language.
Sultan Nazrin said the book, which also tells of the author’s ancestral family’s journey from Sri Lanka to Malaya in the 1890s, managed to engage all the senses, from its historical accounts to the illustrations and detailed recipes.
“For me as a historian, this interweaving of images, voices, and tastes from the past provides a very special window into those long-ago times.
“At the same time, I am very much looking forward to trying out the recipes for some of my own favourite dishes that are found in the book.”
Sultan Nazrin added that one reason he appreciated this book was because it encapsulated both the cultural and authenticity of one particular community, while fusing in its specific culinary heritage with other local and international influences.
“As Malaysians, we pride ourselves on our rich and varied culinary landscape.
“We equally enjoy sampling this choice array whenever possible. To say we love food is an understatement.
“This shared love of food is one of the things that brings us together as Malaysians. It is a special part of our national identity,” he added.
(The Straits Times)
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
