News
Urgent measures needed to halt exodus of skilled personnel
Tourism, vital cog, of economy in dire straits
By Harischandra Gunaratna
The emigration statistics revealed that at least 32% of tourism industry experts had left the country for foreign employment, and 32 Sri Lankans left for greener pastures every hour, since early this year due to the current economic downturn, said Dr. Harsha Jayasinghe, the newly elected Chairman of Institute of Hospitality.
Dr. Jayasinghe delivering his address after being elected the new Chairman of the local affiliate of the leading British based Institute of Hospitality Industry at the RamadaColombo recently said: “Against this backdrop, we face a formidable challenge to come up with a solid plan to create strategies to retain the skilled employees in the local industry whilst attracting more newcomers, especially youth to the industry.
“The recent government decision to revoke the emergency regulations is a step in the right direction and it augurs well for the already ailing tourism industry in the country which needs a tremendous boost,” the news Chairman said.
“There is a dire necessity to motivate specially youngsters, to undergo training in varied disciplines in the hospitality industry and I am proud to say that the country possesses the expertise to do the job. However, the majority of Sri Lankans still do not view tourism as the ideal field for their children to make a career of. Hence, it is of paramount importance that we change their mind-set”, he said.
For the past few decades, tourism has become a key income generator for the country, especially in terms of foreign exchange. Therefore, it has to be protected by all stakeholders and the powers that be has a bounden duty to provide every incentive to protect and develop the tourism industry which is a money spinner, Jayasinghe opined.
Tourism is the third largest foreign exchange earner in the country. It provides employment directly and indirectly to a large number of people and has helped immensely to bring in the much needed foreign currency to government coffers.
Although 52% of the total population of the country are women, they are highly under-represented in the tourism industry. The tourism industry in Sri Lanka today is highly male dominated. It is important to find suitable measures to offer women the appropriate flexibility and incentives to increase their contribution to the industry, Dr. Jayasinghe pointed out.
Young professionals need attractive career prospects which will help us keep them in the industry. But if necessary appreciation and recognition is not given to them, they will unfortunately leave and that will be a huge loss to the already ailing industry.
The Institute of Hospitality UK is the world-wide professional body for individual managers and potential managers in the Hospitality industry (Leisure and Tourism Industries). The Institute supports its members throughout their careers, through dissemination of the latest industry information. Institute of Hospitality Sri Lanka Chapter is a member of the IH UK.For the past few decades, tourism has become an income generator which is needed to protect, conserve and enhance Sri Lanka’s natural environment as well as the tangible and intangible cultural and historic assets.
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
