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WHO, Health Ministry pay tribute to Lankan health workers with new stamp
World Health Organization-Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Ministry of Health on Thursday issued a postage stamp and a special first-day cover to pay tribute THE Sri Lankan health workers leading the country’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister of Health Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Mass Media Dullas Alahapperuma, World Health Organization Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Alaka Singh and senior officials of the Ministry of Health presided at the ceremonial release of the commemorative stamp at the auditorium of the Ministry of Health on 30 December 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the health care delivery system and its workforce and there is an urgent need to increase investment and protection for health and care workers. The World Health Organization has designated the year 2021 as the International Year of Health and Care Workers in appreciation and gratitude for their invaluable service in responding to COVID-19 pandemic.
In Sri Lanka, nearly 140 000 health and care workers are employed in the state allopathic sector both in the line ministry and provincial ministry institutions and contributed immensely to the COVID-19 response in diverse capacities at different levels. Health personnel in armed forces, private health sector, traditional and ayurvedic sector, and in community-based organisations also played a significant role in controlling the COVID-19 situation in the country.
The release of special first-day cover and the postage stamp is the inaugural event of a series of provincial level felicitation of health and care workers to be conducted jointly by the WHO Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health. The primary aim of the felicitation events is to recognize and pay gratitude to health and care workers for their sacrificial service, especially in fighting against COVID-19 and to harness their support to the country’s efforts to build back better beyond COVID-19. The campaign also aims to make all of us aware and recognize the service extended by the health and care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond in reaching universal health coverage. Further, the campaign will be instrumental in advocating the policymakers to invest in and improve the health workforce to achieve the universal health coverage objectives while ensuring fair and decent working environment. In 2021, WHO launched a year-long global campaign under the theme of Protect Invest.
Together with the prime objective of mobilising commitments from member states, international financing institutions, bilateral and philanthropic partners to protect and invest in health and care workers to ensure safe and decent working conditions and to protect their health including mental health. The investment will pay off generously with certainty in terms of health, employment, and economic and social opportunities and will accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19 recovery.
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
