People and events
View(s):Lankan journalist in team that wins top Asian award for human rights reporting
Sri Lankan journalist Marwaan Macan-Markar was a member of an international team of reporters who bagged a top Asian award for human rights reporting at the recent Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) annual awards in Hong Kong. The reporting team contributed to a series of stories about political Buddhism across Southeast Asia for The Edge Review, a Malaysian-based digital news magazine that focuses on Southeast Asian affairs.
“The Edge Review’s series on Buddhist militancy across Southeast Asia took readers beyond the immediate events in Myanmar to look at the broader role of Buddhist political movements in the region and their ties to extremist politics,” stated the judges in their comments for the Excellence in Human Rights Reporting award.
“This is a reflection of The Edge Review’s strong team of journalists – all familiar names behind stories that have shaped the region and who remain at the top of their game,” said Leslie Lopez, editor and managing director of The Edge Review, who also won the Excellence in Business Reporting for an expose on Malaysia’s controversial state-owned investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
“To be shortlisted for four categories for Asia’s most prestigious awards for journalistic excellence and to win two is testimony to the depth and breadth of The Edge Review’s coverage of the region,” he added of the digital magazine that was launched in March 2013.
This year’s SOPA Awards received a record number of entries from across Asia, with around 676 nominated works competing for 18 categories among English and Chinese regional, local print or digital publications and wire services. The other 2014 winners included entries by the Wall Street Journal Asia, Reuters, The International New York Times and the South China Morning Post.
The panel of judges comprised more than 100 judges in various locations around the world, including journalists, editors, columnists from leading publications, as well as notable academics from media departments of prestigious universities.
Macan-Markar has been reporting from Southeast Asia for over 10 years. Before that, he was based as a correspondent in in Mexico City. His dispatches as a foreign correspondent have covered ethnic conflicts, political upheavals, war crimes, human rights violations, peace talks, natural disasters, climate change, education, development and poverty, among other issues. These assignments in 15 countries span Latin America, Africa and Asia.
He used to be the features editor of The Sunday Leader and a features writer at the Sunday Times. It was during that period, in the 1990s, that he began to pursue the human rights beat, filing dispatches from the frontlines of the ethnic conflict in the north and east, and also reporting from southern Sri Lanka recovering from the second JVP uprising.
A Workshop on Marketing Libraries & Information Services
Marketing is viewed as something external to Library & Information Services. However Librarians and Information Professionals are constantly involved in the process of marketing. The essence of marketing involves finding out what users want and preparing to meet those needs. To achieve this effectively and efficiently, Librarians & Information Professionals need to embrace the total marketing function involving market research and analysis, service planning and promotion.
Aquinas University College will hold a two day workshop on Marketing Libraries & Information Services on July 3 and 4. The workshop fee is Rs. 3, 500 (inclusive of tea, lunch and stationery).
For more details contact Harrison Perera – 077758 9336, earnesthp@gmail.com
Office bearers
S. Peter’s College Cricket Foundation
S. Peter’s College Cricket Foundation Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on June 9 at the Sr. Flora Hall presided over by Patron Rev. Fr. Rector Trevor Martin and Prefect of Games (POG) Rev. Fr.Sharm Dassanayake.
The following were elected at the 7th AGM for year 2014/15.
- Patron: Rev.Fr.Rector Trevor Martin,
- President: Chaminda Perera,
- Immediate Past President: Roshan Anthony,
- Vice Presidents: Malinda Warnapura and Brijesh Jeganathan,
- General Secretary: Ayantha Panditharatne,
- General Treasurer: Dion Savarimuttu,
- Assistant Secretary: Jason Buultjens
- Assistant Treasurer: Evans Ranasinghe.
- General committee: Michael Elias, Chanaka Gunawardena, Kumantha Ranasinghe, Asanga Perera, Chrishantha Peries, Shehan Fernando, Shenal Fernando, Sherby Vanheer, Hans Fernando, Dilanka Pieris
- Auditors: Gomes and Company- Chartered Accountants.
Ceylon Booksellers, Importers and Exporters Association
The 56th Annual General Meeting of the Ceylon Booksellers, Importers and Exporters Association was held at the Sovereign Hotel, Rajagiriya on May 24. The following office bearers were elected.
- President: Miles Brohier (Lake House Bookshop (Pvt) Ltd., Colombo 2)
- Vice President:Chandu Haputantri (Sarasavi Bookshop (Pvt) Ltd., Nugegoda)
- Secretary: Pradeep Samaranayake (Expographic Books (Pvt) Limited, Battaramulla)
- Assistant Secretary: Matheesha De Silva (Samudra Bookshop (Pvt) Ltd., Kurunegala)
- Treasurer: Dinushi Weeraman (Samayawardane Bookshop (Pvt) Ltd., Colombo 4)
- Assistant Treasurer : Thanura Wanniatchchi (Sadeepa Bookshop (Pvt) Ltd., Colombo 
- Committee: M.K.C. Gnanasekara (CG Associates, Kelaniya), Shameem Akthar (Bookland (Pvt) Ltd., Colombo 6), Udith De Silva ( Paper Corner, Kurunegala), K Sivasothy (Skay Enterprises, Dehiwela ), Lalana Yapa (Vijitha Yapa Bookshop, Nugegoda), Darshana Ralapanawe (Darshana Marketing, Battaramulla), M. A. Santiago (Pitraban Bookshop, Colombo 11), Newton Pieris (International Book House, Kurunegala), Haroon Yaseen (Management Studio, Colombo 5).
Mahila Samiti AGM on June 28
The Lanka Mahila Samiti 84th Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 28, at 9 a.m. at the Lanka Mahila Samiti Training Centre, 168 1/1, Weliwita, Malabe.
Lanka Mahila Samiti is a non-governmental pioneering women’s organisation founded in 1930 working in 16 districts of the country for the upliftment of the rural women and children.
The Chief Guest will be Ms. Lanka Amarasinghe, Deputy Director, Children’s & Women’s Bureau.
The launch of ‘The Life and Works of a Universal Man’
To some hearing the name Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy would merely remind them of Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha in Colombo 7. The rest will remember that iconic personality who gave Sri Lankan art and culture a new name.
Born in Colombo to Sri Lankan Tamil philosopher Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy- the first Asian to be knighted by Queen Victoria- and his English wife Elizabeth Clay Beeby, Ananda Coomaraswamy grew to be a pioneering historian and philosopher of art. Together with his wife Ethel he made revolutionary studies into Sri Lankan and Indian literature, culture, arts and religion. For this work he was acclaimed as one who took Asian art and culture to the world.
‘The Life and Works of a Universal Man’ written by journalist Sampath Bandara sheds light on Dr. Coomaraswamy’s early life, work and contributions to society. The book also follows his visit to Sri Lanka in mid-1902 with his wife, Ethel.
The book has its own unique way of introducing Dr. Coomaraswamy and relates a dozen stories that most would not know about the great man. The ‘Life and Works of a Universal Man’ will be launched at the National Library and Documentation Services Board at 3.30 p.m. on July 3.
Radhe to hold Arangetram
Bharatha Natya Arangetram of Radhe (Reeyana) Nandwani (8 years) will be held on Sunday, June 29,at 5.30 p.m. at Ramakrishna Mission Hall, Wellawatte, Colombo-6.
Radhe (Reeyana) Nandwani, is the student of Subashini Pathmanathan, teacher at the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo and Directress of Vimalothaya Classical Bharatha Natya Kendra of Dehiwala. Radhe is the daughter of Mr. Munish Nandwani and Mrs. Moni Nandwani.
Mahila Samiti AGM on June 28
The Lanka Mahila Samiti 84th Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 28, at 9 a.m. at the Lanka Mahila Samiti Training Centre, 168 1/1, Weliwita, Malabe.
Lanka Mahila Samiti is a non-governmental pioneering women’s organisation founded in 1930 working in 16 districts of the country for the upliftment of the rural women and children.
The Chief Guest will be Ms. Lanka Amarasinghe, Deputy Director, Children’s & Women’s Bureau.
Young leaders from north and south in one-day unity programme
Student leaders from all parts of Sri Lanka gathered in Mannar and Vavuniya at Erukkalampiddy Muslim MB (Mannar) and Rambaikulam Girls’ MB (Vavuniya) on June 14 and 15 to participate in the special one day unity through leadership programmes titled ‘Zoom In 6&7’.
The programmes were hosted by Ekamuthu Oray Makal Unity Mission Trust (UMT), a non-profit Trust that is dedicated to fostering unity, integration, healing and reconciliation between the teenagers in the Wanni area and their peers from all over Sri Lanka.
These programmes also included ceremonial induction of the Regional Leadership Councils from Mannar, Vavuniya and Killinochchi.
The Zoom-In Programmes are Day leadership programmes that reunite campers from past Unity Camps as well as other young leaders nominated to attend the programmes by the Ministry of Euducation – in the Zonal offices of the host location areas. Both programmes saw leadership and team building activities being participated in with great enjoyment and a chance for the young leaders to re-unite with their friends from all across Sri Lanka.
The programme in both districts began with a welcome address from the UMT Regional Leaders of each District – in Mannar by Mayuran Raj and Anne Amalini, and in Vavuniya the addresses were delivered by Sinthulan Pathmanathan and Tharshika Thavarasingham. Both programmes also had motivational speeches delivered by members of the UMT National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) on their leadership journey with UMT. The speakers included Youth Chairperson Gunaraja Prunthapan (Jaffna), Youth Vice Chairperson Taniya Lakshamenan (Kandy), and Co-Secretary Membership Development Yasodha Selvarajah (Vishwamadu).
Founder Trustee and Coordinator of UMT, Bertal Pinto-Jayawardena also addressed the gathering with a special presentation designed for young leaders entitled ’10 Lessons for Life’.
Lankan Doctor in U.S. wins Father of the Year Award
The American Diabetes Association on an annual basis identifies fathers who have demonstrated the ability to balance their personal lives, to serve as a role model for their children and help make a positive difference in their community. The mission of the ADA is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
This year’s award winner is a Sri Lankan who schooled at Royal College, Sukumar Nagendran MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Quest Diagnostics.
In his role at Quest Diagnostics, Dr. Nagendran provides medical oversight for both value creation and value delivery for Quest Diagnostics since 2013. He previously held senior positions with Reata Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer and Daiichi Sankyo. Earlier in his career, Dr. Nagendran worked at a high‐volume private practice in Phoenix, Arizona, where he managed a large clinical practice in diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Nagendran earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and psychology from Rutgers University and his medical degree from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He completed his Internal Medicine training at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Nagendran also has served as a member of the National Advocacy committee and Asian American/Pacific Islander minority committees at the ADA. Dr. Nagendran is a father to three boys and lives in NJ with his wife, Anne.
Dr. Nagendran has also been involved with many philanthropic activities in Sri Lanka by partnering with the Sri Lankan Navy and Army to build or repair schools, wells, bus stands and libraries in villages in the north east, east and southern Sri Lanka.