News
Lt. Gen. Dias urges Sangha to lead campaign against full implementation of 13A
Jaffna civil activist recollects accountability on the part of India and groups other than LTTE
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Retired Lt. Gen. Jagath Dias on Sunday (17) declared in Matara that full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution would lead to the creation of a federal structure at the expense of Sri Lanka’s unitary status.
That wouldn’t be acceptable under any circumstances, the Gajaba Regiment veteran said, urging the Maha Sangha to spearhead the campaign against the division of the country.
The appeal was made at Nupe, Matara, on behalf of the Coalition Against Partition of Sri Lanka at a meeting organized with the blessings of Ven Omare Kassapa Thera, Chairman of Ruhunu Rata Bhikshu Peramuna.
The former General Officer Commanding (GoC) of 57 Division said that the country wouldn’t have been in the current predicament, if India allowed the Sri Lankan military to bring ‘Operation Liberation’ to a successful conclusion. Having recalled the enormous sacrifices made by the military over the years, up to the eradication of the LTTE’s conventional military capability on the Vanni east front, an irate Dias pointed out the Indian invasion of Sri Lanka, in the guise of a peacekeeping mission, in 1987.
The coalition put together by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) launched its effort to educate the public in the second week of August at Sri Sambuddhajayanthi Mandiraya.
Sunday’s meeting at Nupe, Matara was also addressed by Ven Kassapa Thera, Ven Manjukathissa, former Eastern Province Governor Anuradhada Yahampath, Attorney-at-Law Knishka Vitharana, Attorney-at-Law Kalyananda Thiranagama, Convenor of Jaffna civil society collective Arun Siddharthan, political activist Jehan Hameed, civil society activist Priyantha Dayaratne and journalist Shamindra Ferdinando.
Arun Siddharthan alleged that those demanding accountability on the part of the government of Sri Lanka were conveniently silent on the atrocities perpetrated by the LTTE and other Indian-sponsored terrorist groups TELO, PLOTE and EPRLF and ENDLF et al, during the time of the conflict that was brought to an end through military means. The LTTE sidekick Tamil National Alliance (TNA) later accommodated these groups, namely TELO, PLOTE and EPRLF, Siddharthan said, drawing attention to the crimes committed by the Indian military during its deployment here (July 1987-March 1990).
Siddharthan explained how those who had perpetrated heinous crimes against the Tamil-speaking people today pretended they were their saviours. The activist declared that India couldn’t absolve itself of the crimes perpetrated by her military here during the time groups, other than the LTTE, directly served New Delhi interests, Siddharthan said.
Ven. Kassapa lambasted the political parties that pursued dreadful agenda against the very people who elected them. Recalling the protests launched in July 1987 against the signing of the Indo-Lanka accord, the Ven. Thera warned parliamentarians not to support the full implementation of the 13th Amendment, under any circumstances.
Lawyer Vitharana explained how President Ranil Wickrenmesinghe manipulated the whole constitutional making process as he pushed hard to appease those who still pursued separatist agenda. Vitharana, who addressed the gathering first, alleged the President sought to implement constitutional proposals, unveiled during the Yahapalana administration, and if implemented would create a catastrophic situation on the ground. Both Vitharana and Thiranagama found fault with President Wickremesinghe’s approach. They alleged President Wickremesinghe was treacherously working against the national interests by going ahead with the full implementation of the 13th Amendment.
However, the gathering was also told Sri Lanka offered not only to fully implement the 13th Amendment but go beyond the controversial law enacted in Nov. 1987, in line with the July 29, 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, three years after the conclusion of the war. The need to examine the circumstances under which that offer had been made in January 2012 and repeated in April same year was stressed while pointing out that the draft constitution prepared by a nine-member committee, headed by Romesh de Silva, PC, as requested by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, disclosed that all political parties, represented in the current Parliament, requested that the country continued with the Provincial Council system.
The gathering was reminded that the draft Constitution, in spite of being handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and even the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government subsequently, the public hadn’t been informed of its contents.
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
