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Vindya Perera bags ‘Best Entrepreneur of the Year 2020’ Award – Sabaragamuwa Province
For second consecutive year
Ms. Vindya Perera was awarded the ‘Women Entrepreneur (Non-Traditional Business) Gold Award at the Sabaragamuwa Province ‘Best Entrepreneur of the Year 2020’ awards ceremony organized by the Sabaragamuwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in association with the National Enterprise Development Authority on January 9.
As the Managing Directress of Brilliant Cuts (Pvt) Ltd., her strong passion towards excellence to the wider market, driven with the determination to uplift the gem and jewellery industry with innovation, was recognized and rewarded for the second consecutive year at the annual event.
Brilliant Cuts has shown success in introducing a new outlook to Sri Lanka’s lapidary sector with the unconventional creative direction of two dedicated women whose goal is to surpass the standards of the traditional industry.
Ms. Perera, Managing Directress of Brilliant Cuts (Pvt) Ltd., with the unwavering support of her mother, Mrs. Malani Polgampola, a Director of the company, has succeeded in bringing the roots of the Sri Lankan gem and jewellery industry into the limelight.
Achieving excellence at a young age, Ms. Perera was able to launch her own lapidary brand under the name Lustre Design Co., driven by her persistent passion towards enriching the traditional art of lapidary in Sri Lanka.
Lustre has set the path for many young and novice lapidary artists to fulfil their career prospects within the field of gem and jewellery by gaining recognition for the exclusive gem cutting designs they create.
Lapidary artists working at Lustre are given the chance to showcase their creative energy with their own unique artistic flair as each artist is responsible for designing and giving life to the most exquisite gem cutting designs unlike those already available in the market.
The artists are also able to experience the opportunity to learn advanced and modern gem designing and cutting techniques which enhance the standards of their creations.
With the help and guidance of a team of proficient designers and creators, the company has been in the process of developing a series of exquisite designer collections of gem cutting and have introduced them to consumers as a way of showcasing the depth of talent Lustre’s lapidary artists possess.
The collections have been embraced and credited by the local and international market within a short span of time for their outstanding quality and unconventional designs.
With the initiative taken by Lustre Design Co., to take the Sri Lankan lapidary industry to the market with a new face, Ms. Perera stands at the forefront as a young woman who strives to make her lifelong passion a reality.
Her work with Brilliant Cuts and her own brand Lustre showcases exemplary dedication towards uplifting the industry, a feat which sets an example for every woman of modern times and age to achieve their goals successfully.
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
