events

Workshop on environmental education

Orient Longman, one of India’s leading publishing houses organised a one-day workshop on Environmental Education at Hotel Sapphire, Wellawatte, recently. The workshop was organised in collaboration with The Association of International Schools in Sri Lanka.

The workshop was conducted by Eleanor Watts from UK. Eleanor Watts has an MA in English from Oxford University and another MA in English language from the University of London. She is a freelance teacher trainer, teacher and writer who taught in southern India for many years, but now lives in UK. Her courses popular in Sri Lanka include Open Sesame, a nine-book Environmental Studies course and Starting English a pre-primary English Course. She is also the author of The Blackboard Book, an ideas book for teachers and Ajanta Apartments, a series of nine stories for young children.

Currently, Eleanor teaches children in a primary school in Oxford. She is the author of a large number of books which include Starting English, The Black Board Book, Open Sesame and Ajanta Apartments, all published by Orient Longman. She is also the author of many other educational materials, among them Reading for the Environment and New Primary English for Lesotho (Africa).

The aim of the programme was to discuss what we mean by child centered environmental education, encourage positive attitudes to preserving the ecology of our planet, develop responsibility for using natural resources sustainably and to discuss suitable science approaches. About 103 primary school teachers from 55 Sri Lankan International Schools from various parts of the country attended the workshop.

Secretary General, the Association of International Schools in Sri Lanka, Dr. Newton Peiris, highlighted the need for protecting the environment at the workshop and inaugurated the programme. Regional Manager, Orient Longman Chennai, K. A. Roymon, welcomed the gathering. Resident Manager, Orient Longman, Sri Lanka, Philip Edward, proposed the vote of thanks.

Seminar on building integrity

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Clearly articulated strategy, strong internal control systems, effective information flows, promoting fairness and transparency, structure of the Board and appointment to the Board of Directors and an organisational structure which specifies the distribution of rights and assigns responsibility are essential ingredients for governance and risk management to avoid failures of banks and finance houses, CEO, NDB Bank Eran Wickramaratne said.

Making a presentation at a seminar on Building Integrity and Transparency in Business Relationships held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel organised by the Transparency International Sri Lanka.

He said three questions should be raised at the board level. Firstly ,whether the right risk has been taken, If so how would the risks taken be related to its strategies and objectives.

The significance of the risk taken whether there is a competitive advantage and how are these risks related to activities that create value.

Secondly, whether the right amount of risks is taken to find out whether they get a return that is consistent with the overall level of risk ,whether there is a well defined organisational risk appetite and thirdly, whether the risks are managed adequately to find out whether the management process aligned with , whether everyone uses the same definition of risk and whether there are gaps in risk coverage.

Finally he pointed out that bank regulators and supervisors, shareholders, directors and executive management have a role to play individually in this regard.

Hambantota Nawodaya 2008

Hambantota Nawodaya 2008 conducted by Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce will be held on October 3 to 6 at Welipathana School grounds, Hambantota.

The main objective of the event is to promote talents of rural investors and find them a marketplace for their products. Another objective of the event of this exhibition is co-ordination of the private and government sectors and to develop a better business environment.

Hambantota District Chamber is also organising an ‘Employment Fair’ on the first day in a bid to provide opportunities for rural youth. A Business and Finance Development Forum to provide knowledge for young entrepreneurs will be held on the second day. Agriculture, fisheries and poultry will be the theme for the third day.

Several leading companies Colombo in both the private and public sector would participate in the event by putting up stalls.

Organisers of this seventh anniversary exhibition is targeting at least 1000 people for the first day. There would be over 100 stalls at the event.

The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon is the media sponsor for the event. LE

Apeksha Scholarship Awards Ceremony

The Apeksha Scholarship Awards Ceremony will be held at the BMICH premises (Committee room-D) on September 13, which happens to be the 90th birthday of Gladys Abeysekera who is the mother of Chairman Aspirations Education Ajith Abeysekera. She is also the Founder President of Aspirations Education Foundation.

Apeksha Scholarship Programme will award monthly scholarships to over 50 deserving students of low-income groups, selected from several districts, in addition to the existing scholarships for the 60 students who are already receiving it for the past year.

At the completion of the first year of Aspirations Education Foundation, it will be assisting over 100 students in their education. This time there will be an additional category of scholarships; students from grade 2 to 5 will be given Rs. 500 per month, students from 6 to 8 will be given Rs. 750 per month and those from grade 9 to 13 (A Levels) will be given Rs. 1250 per month.

These will be awarded to them on a monthly basis till they finish their schooling.

Students selected from remote schools will attend the ceremony along with their parents to receive their scholarships on this day. They will also be hosted to a lunch by the organisers. A distinguished and representative gathering is expected to participate on this occasion.