News
Nirupama, husband respond to ICIJ: Govt. response awaited
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivrad Cabraal yesterday (5) said that law enforcement authorities would have to initiate investigations into the Sri Lanka aspect in Pandora Papers revelations.
Cabraal said so when The Island asked him whether CBSL would look into International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) disclosure pertaining to stunning disclosures of clandestine financial transactions by elites across the world.
The ICIJ has named former UPFA Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa, who served as a lawmaker from 1994 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2015 and her husband Thirukumar Nadesan. The ICIJ mentioned some specific accusations in respect of them while claiming they declined to respond to queries posed by the outfit. However, subsequently, the ICIJ said that in response to questions from the outfit, Nirupama Rajapaksa and Nadesan said that their “private matters are dealt with by the couple properly with their advisers” though they did not comment on their companies and trusts.
Referring to the investigations launched during the yahapalana administration, Nadesan added that the 2016 charges against him were “spurious and politically motivated.”
The ICIJ quoted Piyadasa Edirisuriya, a former Sri Lankan finance ministry official and now a lecturer at Australia’s Monash University as having said that offshore financial service providers could stop illicit money flows by conducting due diligence on clients and monitoring their transactions. “But in international financial centers, many don’t do that,” he was quoted as having said. “That is why people in countries like Sri Lanka can earn money in corrupt ways and easily use these tax havens to send them overseas.”
CBSL Governor Cabraal said: “The inquiries will have to be initiated by the law enforcement authorities. In the course of their investigations, if they require any input from the Central Bank authorities, we would certainly provide such assistance.”
The Island
also raised the issue at hand with Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC. The Justice Minister asserted that the CIABOC (The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption) should initiate an inquiry.
Declaring that such a development didn’t directly come within the purview of the Justice Ministry, Minister Sabry said that in case the cabinet decided on this matter, the Justice Ministry could consult the Attorney General. The Minister was responding to query whether his ministry would consult the AG regarding this.
The CIABOC comprises Justice Eva Wanasundera (Chairperson) Justice Deepali Wijesundera and Chandra Nimal Wakishta, one-time head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS). Asked whether the CIABOC would initiate an inquiry into revelations made by the ICIJ, Justice Wijesundera said that they couldn’t act on their own. According to her, the CIABIC could take action only after it received a complaint as the CIABOC Act had stipulated.
As of 2017, the Lankan elite couple’s offshore holdings, which haven’t previously been made public, had a value of about $18 million, according to an ICIJ analysis of a Nadesan trust’s financial statements.
Former Governor of Central, Uva and Southern Provinces and anti-corruption activist Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon questioned the political will of the incumbent government to conduct a proper investigation into the recent revelations.
Referring to the previous exposure of Sri Lankans having ill-gotten money in offshore accounts, Keerthi recalled him lodging a complaint at the CIABOC along with Ven Ulapane Sumangala, the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Front. “They did nothing. Absolutely nothing happened pertaining to our complaint. Actually, all of us should be ashamed of what is going on,” Tennakoon said.
Responding to another query, Tennakoon said that during a recent conversation with ICIJ he realized there could be further revelations regarding offshore accounts. The former Executive Director of polls monitoring body CAFFE said that the Parliament couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for the overall deterioration of public finance. The Parliament as the supreme institution answerable for public finance should inquire into the Sri Lanka aspect as one of those so far named happened to be an MP who served three terms, Tennakoon said.
What would be the response of those in the Opposition as Nirupama Rajapaksa represented the SLFP in the PA/UPFA led governments? he asked.
Authoritative sources said that the Foreign Ministry, too, was inquiring into the matter and a ministerial response to the issue at hand was likely.
In the immediate aftermath of the Pandora Papers’ disclosure, the Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) urged the government to undertake a no holds barred domestic investigation.
Informed sources said that first of all the government should establish whether those named by the ICIJ investigation informed the relevant local authorities of them conducting international financial transactions. It would be important to understand that having offshore accounts was not an offense in terms of Sri Lankan laws, sources said.
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
