News
SJB lambastes LPL series
By Saman Indrajith
Peolple hit by the pandemic were struggling to dull the pangs of hunger, but the Sports Ministry was holding carnivals by playing premier league cricket, the SJB said yesterday.
SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri, participating in the third reading debate on the budget 2021, said that the urgent need of the people was not premier league cricket tournaments, which cost billions of rupees. “They cannot even watch those matches on TV because of the mounting electricity bills during the recent months. It is no secret that these carnivals cost billions of rupees. What we do not know so far is from where that money is coming from.”
“Under a previous Rajapaksa government, the present Sports Minister organised car races opposite the Dalada Maligawa, Kandy. We remember how sand bags were put up closing down some roads in Kandy as Minister Namal Rajapaksa wanted to hold car races and carnivals with foreign dancers. It seems Minister Namal Rajapaksa has not learned a lesson yet.”
Kandy District SLPP MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara: How do you say that Minister Rajapaksa participated in the race? He did not participate in the race. You should withdraw that statement.
MP Wijesiri: Some drove their cars while some others danced with foreign dancers. Those who danced at that time are now shouting. Do not forget how people responded to those extravagances. Those were the reasons they voted you out last time. While MP Namal Rajapaksa was in the Opposition, we saw him moving with people, attending funerals, and working with them on their fields. He was in shorts helping people affected by floods and painting their houses. We thought that he had learnt his lessons but now we are sure we were mistaken. Several days ago, there was an archery competition and the chief guest was Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa. The first and second places of the competition went to his brothers. It seems that we are back on the same track again. The premier league carnival confirms it. A minister of Sports could render an immense service to the people. During the time of our government Minister Harin Fernando served that district and helped the players.
Minister Namal Rajapaksa: What did Harin Fernando do for the benefit of the sports sector? What did he do?
MP Wijesiri: Do not ask me. You are the sports minister and you should know what your predecessor did for the sports. You can ask from ministry officials. Harin Fernando did not go around opening buildings. Now, tell me who is the owner of the biggest shop in the Mahiyangana? Tell me if you can. Harin Fernando worked for the people. People have not voted to see you and friends to see you and your friends enjoy life. You just passed one year. If this is your record for a year, we can’t even imagine what you would do in time to come.
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
