Sri Lanka has been benefiting from the support of SAARC countries, particularly Bangladesh and India, in terms of financial cooperation and long-term investment flows [a2dfa08c]. The Central Bank Governor of Sri Lanka, P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, emphasized the importance of this support in addressing the socio-economic challenges faced by the country. He also highlighted the need for regional cooperation and strategies to sustain South Asia's economic growth, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic [a2dfa08c]. In line with promoting cultural engagement, the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation's (SLBC) Muslim Service recently conducted a workshop to engage aspiring artists from the present generation [0b3adfcb]. Out of 154 applicants, 33 were selected to attend the workshop, which aimed to provide a platform for new talent to showcase their skills [0b3adfcb]. The workshop was facilitated by SCOPE, the European Union, and German Cooperation, demonstrating international collaboration in supporting the arts in Sri Lanka [0b3adfcb]. This initiative by the SLBC reflects the commitment to nurture and promote artistic talent in the country after a gap of three decades [0b3adfcb].
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has allocated a grant of 4 million USD to enhance vocational education in Sri Lanka [7fb2aeb5]. The funding is for the Capacity Building Project for Construction Courses, which has equipped selected Technical Colleges and Colleges of Technology with fully-fledged Manual Drawing Rooms, AutoCAD Rooms, and Plumbing Workshops [7fb2aeb5]. Renovations have been made to upgrade existing classrooms and workshops, and furniture, equipment, and tools worth 1.8 million USD have been provided [7fb2aeb5]. The project also includes capacity building for trainers, the development of learning manuals, and the implementation of new on-the-job training strategies [7fb2aeb5]. The project is managed by a Project Management Consortium (PMC) team from Bucheon University in Korea and is expected to continue until the end of 2024 [7fb2aeb5]. KOICA is the Korean government's implementing agency for grant aid and technical cooperation, operating in 48 developing countries [7fb2aeb5]. The KOICA Sri Lanka Office plays a pivotal role in facilitating development cooperation [7fb2aeb5]. Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan represents a platform to shift paradigms and reshape values [7fb2aeb5].
The Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) plans to empower young entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka by transforming the way it supports young entrepreneurship [2929136c]. COYLE aims to inspire young entrepreneurs by sharing the skills, experience, and networks of its high-profile members [2929136c]. The Chamber plans to collaborate with entrepreneurial-minded students, identify and empower the entrepreneurial spirit in provincial schools, and open startup incubators to offer guidance and capital [2929136c]. COYLE also plans to establish regional offices to support young entrepreneurs in entering foreign markets [2929136c]. Additionally, the Chamber will provide free warehousing facilities in the U.S., Dubai, and Australia for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to export their goods [2929136c]. COYLE intends to rename itself as the Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs and establish an affiliated platform for young businessmen, women, and university students to collaborate and strengthen their business pursuits [2929136c].
Zara Starr Madden, a native of Clarecastle in County Clare, has been appointed as the Co-ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) for Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (ETB) [e52ff9f6]. The LCYP aims to provide youth-centred programs that allow young people to express themselves creatively [e52ff9f6]. Madden brings over 15 years of experience in the professional arts and is passionate about developing programs that champion the issues important to young people [e52ff9f6]. The partnership is expanding and seeking talented tutors in various areas of the arts to implement engaging new programs [e52ff9f6]. The LCYP is part of the Creative Youth pillar within Creative Ireland and works with state and voluntary agencies to deliver creative programs for young people in Limerick and Clare [e52ff9f6].
Visit Isle of Man has appointed Claire McColgan, the Director of Culture at Liverpool City Council and the organiser of the 2023 UK Eurovision, to its non-executive board [bfacb678]. The appointment aims to support the growth of the Isle of Man's cultural offering and achieve its goal of attracting 500,000 visitors per year by 2032 [bfacb678]. The Isle of Man exceeded its visitor target by welcoming 318,000 visitors in the previous year [bfacb678]. McColgan expressed excitement about joining Visit Isle of Man and working with the team to shape and drive forward the agency's vision [bfacb678]. Ranald Caldwell, the non-executive chairman, emphasized the importance of maximizing the Isle of Man's potential as a visitor destination and leveraging McColgan's experience to effectively showcase the island's offerings [bfacb678]. The appointment reflects the strong ties between Liverpool and the Isle of Man, with increasing transport links between the two locations [bfacb678].