News
Transforming the tourism sector one question at a time
Creating an inclusive National Tourism Policy for Sri Lanka:
Mapping the future of the tourism sector in Sri Lanka is vital for the country’s economic recovery post COVID-19. In line with this, the Ministry of Tourism initiated a process to develop a National Tourism Policy for Sri Lanka early this year.
The outlines of the policy have been discussed with the Ministry of Tourism, the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Advisory Council, Tourism Ministry Working Group, Ministry of Finance, Private Sector stakeholders and Provincial Level representatives with technical assistance provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Sri Lanka.
Prior to the drafting of the National Tourism Policy, two questionnaires were designed, to make the policy drafting process inclusive and ensure wide stakeholder participation despite COVID-19 restrictions on meetings and workshops.
The first questionnaire focused on the current state of tourism in Sri Lanka, and had an overwhelming response, allowing for representative views from all public and private stakeholders invested in the tourism sector to be captured.
An issues paper was then developed with input received from the questionnaire meetings held with public sector representatives, provincial council members and private sector associations.
The second questionnaire has been compiled to elicit responses to the proposed policy interventions and reforms, and address issues raised during consultations. This questionnaire, known as the Policy Reforms Questionnaire, is open to all public sector (government and deconcentrated), private sector and NGOs, civil society, international institutions and other relevant organizations in the tourism sector.
Speaking on the importance of the second follow-up questionnaire, Siri Hettiarchchi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, said that the intention of the Ministry is to get as many stakeholder responses as possible, despite the ongoing travel restrictions. “
“We want the policy to reflect the aspirations of the industry and its future vision, which should uphold sustainability – social and environmental – and build the ability to withstand shocks and setbacks”, he said.
This questionnaire will provide all interested parties with the opportunity to express their debates, propose solutions, and reach a consensus. The responses will then be compiled together to form policy proposals and policy actions that will suggest institutional, legal, regulatory, and fiscal reforms as well as identifying key priorities in shaping the final National Tourism Policy.
The National Tourism Policy will be an essential component in transforming Sri Lanka’s tourism sector to a more sustainable one in the coming decade.
A final validation national workshop will take place at the end of July to ensure that the selected reforms are supported by the tourism sector, so as to work towards a cohesive revival of tourism in Sri Lanka. (UNDP Press Release)
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
