News
21-A: Proposals from SBJ, SLPP rebels, PM to be submitted to AG
Prez receives draft Constitution prepared by Romesh’s team
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena says all proposals in respect of the 21st Amendment to be introduced to the Constitution will be submitted to Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam through the Cabinet.
Speaker Abeywardena says that by sending the proposals throught the Cabinet of Ministers, he has sought to speed up the process of introducing the 21st Amendment, as the politico-economic situation is deteriorating.
Meanwhile, a nine-member expert committee led by Romesh de Silva, PC has recently submitted the English version of a draft Constitution to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Well informed sources said that the Sinhala version would be available next week for the perusal of political parties.
In a brief interview with The Island yesterday (24), Speaker Abeywardena, who held several portfolios, including agriculture in the previous PA, and UPFA administrations, said the two proposals received from the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) and the SLPP rebel group had already been sent to the Secretary to the Cabinet of Ministers for consideration. The Cabinet is expected to meet today (25).
According to the Speaker, those proposals would be considered, along with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s proposal for the restoration of the provisions of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The Cabinet of Ministers following deliberations among members of the Cabinet, would submit the proposals to the AG, the Speaker said.
The Speaker acknowledged the dispute over the continuation of the executive presidency as the main difference between the proposals submitted by the SJB and the SLPP rebel group.
The SJB wants to abolish the executive presidency; the SLPP rebels want to retain it; they have demanded that the Prime Minister and the Cabinet resign immediately, paving the way for the appointment of an interim administration.
SJB leader Sajith Premadasa told The Island that his party would push for the abolition of the executive presidency, and it would not compromise that stand under any circumstances.
Referring to the recent talks between the IMF and Pakistan and the advice given by the former as regards the need for an end to political turmoil, Speaker Abeywardena said that Sri Lanka couldn’t ignore the need for political stability to obtain IMF assistance.
Spokesperson for the SLPP rebel group, MP Gevindu Cumaratunga, said that as the newly-appointed Cabinet of ministers was not acceptable to the public, all the ministers including the PM should quit.
Speaker Abeywardena stressed the need to take the public into confidence. “We must apprise them of the actual situation. They should know the financial crisis, as well as the current situation in Ukraine and Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion of the former Soviet territory, has caused serious disruptions to the global wheat flour supply. Faced with an unprecedented forex crisis, we will find it difficult to provide even the basic requirements. We are heading for a food shortage, Speaker Abeywardena said.
There was no point in denying the fact that both food and energy security had been threatened and the country faced the danger of the national economy collapsing unless the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary took tangible measures now, Speaker Abeywardena said. The former Minister warned of dire consequences unless grievances of the public were addressed. The government couldn’t turn a blind eye to those protesting opposite the Presidential Secretariat, the Speaker said.
Responding to another query, the Speaker said that perhaps the vast majority of protesters including those involved in the Galle Face campaign weren’t aware of the pathetic situation the country was facing.
The Speaker said that the country has had to seek urgent financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB) to procure medicine, medical equipment. “Have you ever heard of Sri Lanka experiencing such difficulties at even the most difficult phases of the war when out ports were under threat of terrorist attacks?”
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
