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Online Safety Law of SL brought to notice of White House
The controversial Online Safety Law that entered Sri Lanka’s statute books in February which has erupted widespread national and international censorship and criticism brought to the attention and scrutiny of the White House when President Biden’s special assistant for Asian-American Affairs and Senior Liaison for the Asia-Pacific Region had a lengthy discourse with two Sri Lankan expatriates known to American lawmakers and socio-political activists as advocates for strengthening US-Sri Lanka relations, and most importantly, removing misunderstandings between the two nations.
Erika L. Moritsugu, a senior official in President Joe Biden’s White House staff handling Asian-American Affairs and Senior Liaison for Asia-Pacific Region, Sanje Sedera, Democratic Party activist in the State of Nevada who maintains continuous rapport and dialogue with U.S. lawmakers as well as the inaugural-Chair of the US-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce, and Daya Gamage, former US State Department Foreign Service National Political Specialist, met on February 28, in Las Vegas, Nevada, for a thought provoking dialogue connected to US-Sri Lanka relations and issues in the Indo-Pacific Region in which Sri Lanka is strategically located.
Ms. Moritsugu made a special trip to Las Vegas to have this dialogue with Mr. Sedera and Mr. Gamage while scheduling meetings with officials of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
Besides involved in political and foreign affairs Mr. Sedera during the COVID-19 pandemic that hit Sri Lanka hard, liaised with US Congresswoman Dina Titus, co-chair of US-Sri Lanka Caucus and member of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee’s South Asia Sub-Committee, to drastically increase the US-contributed medication to Sri Lanka.
Besides engaged in enhancing relations between the two nations, and clearing misunderstandings, the highlight of the discourse with Ms. Erika Moritsugu was the recently enacted Sri Lanka’s Online Safety Law.
Sri Lanka Parliament in mid-January this year enacted regulations to regulate online content sparking criticism from human rights groups and the diplomatic community that the government was trying to crack down on dissent and strife freedom of speech.
Both Mr. Sedera and Mr. Gamage were well aware that the obnoxious features of the Online Safety Act were communicated and made known to the diplomatic officials of the U.S. Department of State through the department’s diplomatic representative Ambassador Julie Chung, nevertheless the real message about the obnoxious features of the legislation has not been well communicated to Washington policymakers.
Having had the discourse with Ms. Moritsugu, the features of the Online Safety Law have now reached White House ‘policy wonks’ who work closely with President Biden.
It was explained that the Act provides sweeping powers to the Online Safety Commission, appointed by Sri Lanka President, and that this panel could decide what constitutes a prohibited statement and issue, take down orders to internet service providers and social networks.
Accompanying Erika Moritsigu was Krystal Ka’ai, Executive Director of White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
The discussions turned to US-Sri Lanka relations, and some of the misunderstandings and misconceptions Washington has on Sri Lanka’s social and demographic issues. Mr. Sedara and Mr. Gamage also reminded the White House official Sri Lanka’s failure to provide cogent information to clear some of the misunderstandings to help Washington to take productive foreign policy initiatives toward Sri Lanka.
It was brought to the notice of Ms. Erika Moritsigu that Daya Gamage and another retired Senior Foreign Service-Intelligence Officer of the US Department of State, Robert Boggs, are currently preparing a manuscript – Defending Democracy: Lessons in Strategic Diplomacy from US-Sri Lanka Relations – for international release examining roots of Sri Lanka’s revolts, reexamining the sources of both Sinhala and Tamil uprisings, and how U.S. strategic interests in Sri Lanka were thwarted due to Washington policymakers and lawmakers having less knowledge and misunderstanding of the intricate fabric of Sri Lankan society and her demography. Their book further discloses Sri Lankan authorities’ total failure to comprehend the same and provide cogent evidence and data to policymakers and lawmakers in Washington to provide them with cogent understanding to prevent formulating unfavorable foreign policy decisions on Sri Lanka.
The Biden White House senior official, Ms. Erika Moritsigu, paid attention to the disclosures, interpretations and analyses based on those that relate to US-Sri Lanka relations.
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
