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“Welcome Back Better” Campaign launched
Deputy Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Lalita Kapur, launched the “Welcome Back Better” Campaign at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo as part of an Australian government sponsored programme of Skills for Inclusive Growth.
The Skills for Inclusive Growth programme, in collaboration with the Lankan government and industry, attracted businesses to reopen and for staff to return to the industry, now that monthly visitor arrivals of 50,000. To attract more visitors and ensure they have the best experiences of Sri Lankan hospitality, quality skills are now required, a press release said. “Welcome Back Better” is a variation of the often-repeated COVID era slogan “Build Back Better.” As the tourists return after a 2–3-year absence, Sri Lanka should focus on welcoming them back and welcoming them better than they have before. This implies a more professional approach to hospitality from the country’s many micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that are engaged in it. The “Welcome Back Better” with Skills for Inclusive Growth exhibition was also a chance to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Sri Lankan and Australian government cooperation and emphasize the Australian government’s support for the skills development and broader education reform agenda in Sri Lanka, specifically the Decade of Skills Development, which runs from 2021 to 2030.
Deputy High commissioner, Lalita Kapur, said: “I am delighted to celebrate with you this ‘Welcome Back Better’ Skills exhibition and encourage you to visit each stall and engage with the presenters.” They will be able to highlight how these skills, products, and models can be accessed and replicated for use across Sri Lanka and ensure diverse participants benefit at this time of industry recovery. I really acknowledge and thank the industry players that have supported and sponsored this programme. Industry brings legitimacy to vocational training and ensures that the workforce can deliver the goods to generate improved visitor flows across Sri Lanka. Australia’s support for tourism recovery will continue.
We will continue to work with you to support quality, relevant, and inclusive skills development that meets industry needs and provides employment opportunities for the diverse communities in Sri Lanka. We are pleased to celebrate with our partners from the Government of Sri Lanka’s Ministries of Education and Tourism, who have come together and are working together to support tourism and hospitality industry recovery in Sri Lanka to be able to welcome back better visitors and generate revenues and incomes for Sri Lankans.”
Pope Leo XIV appealed for “no more war” in a message to world powers during his first Sunday address at the Vatican.
Reflecting on current conflicts, the newly selected pontiff called for a “lasting peace” in the war in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and welcomed Saturday’s agreement to end recent hostilities between India and Pakistan.
He said he was “deeply hurt” by events in Gaza, expressed hope for a “lasting accord” between India and Pakistan, and wished for a “authentic, true and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
The Pope also recited the Regina Caeli prayer, in honour of the Virgin Mary, to the crowd in St Peter’s Square.
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May this Vesak celebration be a blessed one filled with kindness and compassion towards all living beings – PM
In her Vesak day message, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya wished that this Vesak celebration be a blessed one filled with kindness and compassion towards all living beings
The full text of the prime ministers vesak day message:
“It is an honor to extend my Vesak day message to all citizens of the nation during this sacred period in which Buddhist community across Sri Lanka come together to pay homage to the Lord Buddha, upholding both material and spiritual offerings and commemorating the threefold sacred events of the Lord Buddha’s life.
Since ancient times, the lives of the Sri Lankan people have been deeply rooted by the teaching of the Lord Buddha and this is a greater inheritance we have received through the Dhamma. In our country, where people of diverse ethnicities and religions coexist in harmony, the collective celebration of a major religious festival such as Vesak stands as a powerful testament to that unity.
This year Vesak day celebration marks the first to be celebrated under the current government, which was established with the vision of “A Prosperous Country, a Beautiful Life.” I believe that this Vesak season is a particularly a time to heal the hearts and minds of humanity, especially as our nation embarks on a path of meaningful transformation. Through this message, I take this opportunity to invite all of citizens to unite in mind and spirit, bound together by mutual respect and compassion.
I join all Sri Lankans in praying that the flames of war burning in various parts of the world at this moment may be extinguished, and that all people across the globe may be blessed with lives of happiness and peace.
May all of you have a blessed Vesak!”
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Special waste management programme launched under “Clean Sri Lanka” during the State Vesak Festival
Parallel with the State Vesak Festival that commenced on Saturday (10) in the Nuwara Eliya District, a special waste management initiative has been launched under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme to enhance facilities for devotees and ensure proper waste disposal in the city of Nuwara Eliya.
With hundreds of thousands of people expected to visit Nuwara Eliya during the Vesak Week, from May 10 to 16, this initiative is aimed at preserving the cleanliness and beauty of the area.
The programme will focus particularly on areas around the Gregory Lake, a key tourist attraction, and the Nuwara Eliya International Buddhist Centre, the venue for the State Vesak Festival.
In addition, the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative urges visiting devotees to refrain from bringing non-biodegradable material such as polythene and calls on all citizens to act responsibly by properly disposing of waste only at designated locations, while maintaining the sanctity and cleanliness of the environment.
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