News
Govt. should be ashamed of delay in serving justice
– Head of National Security Sectoral Oversight Committee
SLPP MP’s violent death during Aragalaya:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Government parliamentary group member Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera (Retd.) says the ruling party should be ashamed of its pathetic failure to ensure the speedy conclusion of investigations into the killing of Polonnaruwa District SLPP MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale at Nittambuwa on 09 May, 2022.
The government and police should explain the status of the investigation, the former Public Security Minister said, adding that the Parliament, too, should look into this matter.
Referring to the assassination of sitting and former MPs over the past several decades, during the northern and southern conflicts, the Colombo District lawmaker emphasised that there had never been a public lynching of an elected MP. The ex-Minister said that his colleague had been killed while the latter was on his was back home after attending a Temple Trees meeting chaired by the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Responding to The Island queries, MP Weerasekera disclosed that he had raised the issue at an SLPP Political Committee meeting held at former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s official residence at Wijerama Mawatha recently. According to him, among those present were SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa and their National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa as well as Gamini Lokuge and C.B. Ratnayake.
The former Navy Chief of Staff emphasised that Nittambuwa police and the military could have easily saved the lives of the MP and his police bodyguard if they had swiftly intervened. Instead, they had simply watched a mob that included two Army commandos killing the MP and his police bodyguard, MP Weerasekera said, pointing out that all persons produced in court had been granted bail.
The ex-Minister said that he had asked the SLPP Political Committee how the party could expedite the case. He said he had pointed out to the Political Committee that police and military personnel could have opened fire without specific directives to do so if the lives of people, regardless of their standing in society, were in danger.
MP Weerasekera said that Rambukkana police had averted a major disaster by opening fire in a desperate bid to prevent a mob from setting fire to a bowser carrying 33,000 litres of petrol placed on 19 April, 2022. MP
Weerasekera quit his portfolio on the day before that incident at Rambukkana and Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga succeeded him as the Public Security Minister.
Declaring that during the public protest campaign (March 31, 2022 to July 20, 2022) the police and the military had been directed not to intervene at all, MP Weerasekera said that though he had sought an explanation from State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, in writing, regarding the inaction on their part, he was yet to receive ministerial response.
MP Weerasekera said he had raised the issue with State Minister Tennakoon, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security. Gamini Lokuge and C.B. Ratnayake, too, had stressed the need for early action against those responsible for the cold blooded killing of the MP and his police bodyguard in public, Weerasekera said, insisting that the deplorable manner in which the probe into the killing of Athukorale was hand had led to a severe erosion of public confidence in the SLPP. “How could we reassure the public of security when those responsible for the killing of MP Atukorale and his police bodyguard were yet to be punished,” Weerasekera asked.
Weerasekera said that he was quite surprised and disappointed by media reports, in the second week of February this year, that the Attorney General challenged the Trail-at-Bar of the Gampaha High Court over 37 accused of the Nittambuwa killings being granted bail. The media quoted Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Janaka Bandara as having told the HC that granting bail to the accused of such a criminal case, without consulting the AG, was against the law, MP Weerasekera said.
The DSG is on record as having said that the consent of the AG is compulsory in such a case. MP Weerasekera said that according to media reports, the accused had been released on two separate days. Five persons had been released initially and then the remaining 32 were released, MP Weerasekera said, adding that the SLPP couldn’t ignore that the AG challenged the Trial-at-Bar decision.
MP Weerasekera said that he intended to ask Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to take up the issue with members of the Cabinet.
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
