News
SJB tells govt.:Elections not prerogative of President
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) lawmaker Harshana Rajakaruna yesterday (18) said that calling of regular elections couldn’t be under any circumstances the prerogative of any President.Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), still the party with the largest group in Parliament, should be ashamed of its response to President Ranil Wickremesinghe putting off the Local Government polls indefinitely, the SJB MP said in response to The Island query regarding Chief Opposition Whip Prasanna Ranatunga, MP, backing the indefinite postponement of the LG polls.
MP Ranatunga, over the weekend, declared that President Ranil Wickremesinghe would hold what he called, an election suitable for the country at an appropriate moment.The Gampaha District MP, who is also Urban Development and Housing Minister, said that they should continue with the rebuilding process of the national economy
until President Wickremesinghe decided on an appropriate election.The Minister said so, addressing members of the Gampaha District SLPP operations committee at the Reggie Ranatunga Commemorative hall, Udugampola, Gampaha.
MP Rajakaruna pointed out that postponement of the LG polls couldn’t be justified against the backdrop of the Supreme Court ruling issued on 03 March, this year, pertaining to a fundamental rights application filed by SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara.
The former UNP MP said that the appointment of Cabinet ministers was the prerogative of President Wickremesinghe, hence the delay in expanding the Cabinet-of-Ministers though the SLPP submitted a list of nearly a dozen names last July. But, the President couldn’t decide when to conduct elections, MP Rajakaruna said, adding that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government obviously felt uncomfortable holding the election.
MP Rajakaruna asked the SLPP whether it wanted President Wickremesinghe to decide on presidential and parliamentary polls without adhering to the election map. Referring to President Wickremesinghe’s declaration at the National Law Conference at Nuwara Eliya that the people weren’t interested in elections at the moment, MP Rajakaruna alleged that the powers that be seemed to be conspiring to side-step elections.
“LG polls were sabotaged against the backdrop of all Provincial Councils being under the executive rule by way of Governors running the show. Now, President Wickremesinghe has appointed new Governors for four of the Provinces,” MP Rajakaruna said, warning of possible moves to put off presidential and parliamentary polls. The MP referred to reports that the UNP may consider a referendum to extend President Wickremesinghe term.
UNP leader Wickremesinghe received appointment as the 8th executive president with the SLPP’s backing in July last year to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term won at the November 2019 presidential election.
MP Rajakaruna questioned the rationality in Minister Ranatunga’s claim that the JVP led the campaign for LG polls. The Chief Government appeared to have quite conveniently forgotten that the SJB sought Supreme Court intervention to hold LG polls. In fact, most of the Opposition, including the rebel SLPP group, wanted LG polls as soon as possible, MP Rajakaruna said,
Responding to another query, MP Rajakaruna said that President Wickremesinghe’s reluctance to face the electorate at the moment is quite understandable. Having been reduced to just one National List slot in the 225-member parliament, the UNP feared elections at any level, MP Rajakaruna said.
“The UNP is in a deepening dilemma. Can UNP leader Wickremesinghe depend on the SLPP, especially against the problematic environment caused by their failure so far to reach consensus on Cabinet appointments,” MP Rajakaruna said.
Referring to continuing controversy over several Bills, including one on broadcasting regulatory commission and counter terrorism law, MP Rajakaruna emphasized the government was seeking to consolidate power outside the electoral process. Those Bills, if enacted, posed quite a challenge to democratic Opposition, MP Rajakaruna said, urging the government to release funds required to conduct the long delayed LG polls or face the consequences.
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
