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US with FAO announces $ 40 Mn funding for Lankan paddy farmers to buy TSP fertilizer
The United States has through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced an additional USD 40 million to strengthen agriculture in Sri Lanka through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The new funding, subject to Congressional approval, will bring the total USAID funding provided to the Sri Lankan people through FAO this year to $46 million. The funding primarily targets the forthcoming major cultivation season – 2022-2023 Maha (October – March) and the subsequent minor cultivation season – 2023 Yala (April – August). It will provide essential fertilizer and cash transfers for farmers to increase paddy production and avert a protracted food crisis.
The new commitment was announced by USAID Administrator, Samantha Power at a discussion held with paddy farmers and FAO representatives today. The Administrator stated, “Today, having spoken to these farmers and heard about their needs, I’m announcing an additional $40 million in assistance to Sri Lanka from the American people. Through USAID, this new funding is going to help one million local farmers get the fertilizer and the agricultural necessities they need, just in time for the next planting season. “
FAO will utilize the funds to strengthen the production capacity of paddy rice farmers through the supply of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) fertilizer. TSP, which has not been available in the country for the last two cultivation seasons, will be provided for all paddy farmers in Sri Lanka to ensure the forthcoming agricultural seasons are able to feed the Sri Lankan people.
In addition to TSP, USAID funding will provide 186,000 smallholder farmers with land holdings up to 1 hectare (2.5 acres), from the poorest districts in the dry and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka with 50kg of Urea each. Smallholder farmers are among the most vulnerable rural communities, primarily cultivating rice for self-consumption. The lack of fertilizer over two consecutive seasons has significantly reduced yields, forcing most farmers to resort to extreme measures (pawning, buying on credit, dipping into savings, etc.) to meet their food security and nutrition requirements.
To prevent such negative coping strategies, approximately 50,000 of the most vulnerable smallholder farmers cultivating on land holdings of less than or equal to 0.4 hectares will also be provided cash transfers to strengthen the food security and nutrition of their households in the upcoming lean season.
Speaking on the announcement, Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives thanked the United States for its timely and generous contribution to strengthen the country’s food capacity, especially those of the most vulnerable farmers to contribute toward enhanced paddy production over the coming seasons. He stated, “Through the support provided by USAID, FAO will be able to strengthen food security in Sri Lanka by ensuring the forthcoming agricultural seasons are not compromised while also protecting the most vulnerable smallholder farmers from the worst impacts of the prevailing crisis.”
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US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
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.”
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Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
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.
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CIPM successfully concludes 8th Annual Symposium
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.