News
SJB asks Mahinda why he protects Ranil if SLPP plans to go it alone at next election
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balawegaya spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman yesterday (27) said that ruling SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa owed an explanation why his party continued to protect President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The SLPP conveniently ignored an opportunity to force an early parliamentary election by defeating President Wickrtemesinghe’s Budget for 2024.
The former Colombo District parliamentarian said so in response to lawmaker Mahinda Rajapaksa’s declaration at a public event at Kirindiwela, Gampaha, that his intention was to regain power at the next national election.
Pointing out that both the ex-President and all Cabinet ministers, including Premier Dinesh Gunawardena, elected on the SLPP ticket, and those appointed on its National List, voted for UNP leader Wickremesinghe’s Budget, Rahuman emphasised the SLPP was the engine of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government.
The final vote on the 2024 Budget received 122 votes in favour and was passed by a majority of 41 votes.
The SJB’s Mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council said that except for two, namely Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando of the SJB, the rest of the ministers were all SLPPers.
Rahuman said: “The former President cannot deceive the public by such meaningless utterances.” The ex-MP reminded that some of those in the Cabinet already had publicly declared their support for President Wickremesinghe at the next presidential poll.
Addressing a gathering at a trade exhibition and carnival at Kirindiwella, organised by the Urban Development and Housing Ministry, MP Rajapaksa said on Tuesday (26) his intention was to gain power and not to serve as the Opposition Leader.
Responding to media queries as he left the venue, MP Rajapaksa ruled out the possibility of changing electoral organizers. However, new appointments have been made in place of those who left the party, the ex-President said.
After having endorsed Wickremesinghe revenue proposals that would cause steep increase in taxes, with effect from next week, the former President ironically called for a reasonable tax regime, Rahuman said.
Obviously, the SLPP leader has quite conveniently forgotten the Supreme Court ruling in respect of the fundamental rights applications delivered on Nov 14.
Regardless of various public declarations, the SLPP seemed comfortable in retaining the UNP leader as the President, ex-MP Rahuman said. Responding to another query, Rahuman alleged that President Wickremesinghe put off Local Government polls indefinitely with the blessings of the SLPP. The Premier played a significant role in Wickremesinghe strategy, the former parliamentarian said, urging the public to be wary of the incumbent government’s machinations.
According to Rahuman, the SLPP’s decision to appoint Wickremesinghe as the eighth President to complete the re remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term was a strategic move meant to build an alliance.
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
