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Wiggy blames Easter carnage on carelessness and indifference of security arm of Law politicized in recent times

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By Saman Indrajith

Jaffna District Thamizh Makkal Thesiya Kootani (TMTK) MP C.V. Wigneswaran told Parliament on Wednesday that those very same persons who were working hard to bring the 20th Amendment to the Constitution and all those who supported it would surely take to the streets tomorrow to fight for the abolition of the same amendment.

Participating in the second reading debate on the amendment, MP Wigneswaran said: “This amendment you bring today will boomerang on you, your children, and the future generations of your family. Please do not prick your eyes with your own fingers. My dear colleagues from both sides, please do not allow this 20th Amendment to be passed with a two-thirds majority.”

 Vigneswaran said that it was so unfortunate that every party which had come to power brought in laws to further its intersts, and those of its members and supporters forgetting their duty towards all people and the country as a whole. “Those who aspire to become a Lee Kuan Yew should shed their partisan predilections if they are to progress. Lee Kuan Yew did not pursue a Chinese Buddhist path. He loved every Singaporean of whatever hue he or she was. Branding the minorities as terrorists might bring votes from the majority but it would not help to take the country forward. There would certainly be geo–political and international reaction. This is in furtherance of their attitude of self-interest that those in power were today bringing in this 20th Amendment to clothe a single individual with enormous powers. This would for sure strike the death knell to democracy and human rights in the country.

“The world civilization in its onward march searches for ways and means to improve democratic principles and work towards human rights, equality and reconciliation among contending factions locally and internationally At this juncture it is funny that we in Sri Lanka want to denigrate democracy and desecrate the decent dimensions in a democratic way of life,” he said.

“For over 20 years we have been talking of bringing in a Constitution which would reconcile the ethnic differences among communities and lead the country forward. For over quarter of a century we have been promising to abolish the Executive Presidency. Nothing has been done so far in that regard. But this government is making the April 21 Easter Sunday bombings as a convenient excuse for them to bring this 20th amendment. They are trying to make out it was the lowering of presidential powers by the 19th Amendment which gave rise to the April 21 tragedy.

Hence they say President must have unfettered powers. It certainly sounds humorous to say a criminal or thief could only be caught or arrested if the President is clothed with extraordinary powers?

“The real cause for the April 21 incident was the carelessness and indifference of the security arm of the Law which has been politicized in recent times. If the judiciary, police and public service had been allowed to function independently we would not have witnessed the April 21 tragedy. 

“Most countries in the world do not have an Executive Presidential system. Do those countries always have security lapses? Or do countries that have this system never have had security lapses? Therefore it is time we thought prudently and pragmatically and got rid of the Executive Presidential system and make the Rule of Law supreme,” he said.



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US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development

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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.”

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Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees

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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.

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CIPM successfully concludes 8th Annual Symposium

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Left to right, Prof. Arosha Adikaram - Chairperson of the Symposium, UAC Obeyesekere – Chief Executive Officer, CIPM Sri Lanka, Guest of Honor - Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer, MAS Holdings PVT Ltd., Sri Lanka, Ken Vijayakumar, President, CIPM Sri Lanka, Priyantha Ranasinghe,Vice President, CIPM Sri Lanka, Col. Saman Jayawickrama (Retd) – Secretary, CIPM Sri Lanka, Dr Dilanjalee Weerathunga – Co Chairperson of the Symposium

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.

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