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Further delay in LG polls won’t help restore stability -NPC
The National Peace Council (NPC) says that the government should end the continuing uncertainty over the Local Government elections. The NGO, in a statement issued on Saturday, said that for want of consensus on the issue at hand, uncertainty continues to grow.
The following is the text of the NPC statement: ” Recent statements by government leaders, and debates in Parliament, show them openly expressing the view that elections, at this time, would not be conducive to either economic growth, or advantageous to them, and so ought not to be held. This follows the postponement of Local Government elections, scheduled for 09 March, due to the failure of the government Treasury to release the required funds for the elections. It is important that government departments should cooperate with the Election Commission when it has declared elections, as mandated by the Constitution.
Two landmark rulings of the Supreme Court have sent a clear message to the country, at large, that the elections should take place, without delay. We are particularly distressed at the open calls being made, within Parliament, to government departments, to disregard the court orders, on the grounds that they breach parliamentary privilege. The open questioning and mockery of democratic processes, by government members, that is taking place, at all levels, was not expected, under the leadership of such an experienced a parliamentarian as President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The sovereignty of the people, and their right to elect their representatives, at all levels of government, through free and fair elections, and respect for the judiciary, constitute the foundations of democracy. The failure to uphold the rule of law, and the system of checks and balances, would severely undermine democracy, the country’s international credibility and the national interest. NPC appeals to the government to expedite the electoral process, by heeding the decisions of the Supreme Court, and abide by the new date of 25 April, as set by the Election Commission, for the Local Government elections to be held.
We are heartened by the joint initiative of civil society organisations to bring the Opposition political parties, to one forum, to uphold the principle of timely and free and fair elections, and to convince the government of the need for elections. Leading representatives of all the main Opposition political parties came together to sign a ‘Public representatives pledge to protect the right to vote’ at a meeting convened by the Civil Society Collective for Protecting the Franchise. Although the political parties represented widely different ideologies and ethnic affiliations, they stood without any division on the issue of upholding the democratic franchise.
We want the government to heed the voice of the Opposition parties, and civil society organisations, on this issue of the franchise, and not be isolated, as that would not be conducive to the political stability and economic recovery it seeks. The government’s development strategies require the willing cooperation of the rest of political society which is unlikely to be secured without timely elections being held as guaranteed by the Constitution. The government also needs to show respect to judicial decisions and to constitutional provisions, related to the rule of law that are essential for investor confidence, both national and international, without which the prospects for economic recovery will be a chimera.”
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
