News
Amnesty International head to join M’vaikkal commemoration
15th anniversary of defeat of LTTE:
War veteran MP warns of LTTE rump, sympathizers exploiting situation
By Shamindra Ferdinando
General Secretary of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, is scheduled to visit Mullivaikkal, in the Mullaithivu District, where the combined security forces defeated the LTTE.
The visit is scheduled to take place on 18 May, the day before the military killed LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, 15 years ago.
Amnesty International yesterday confirmed the visit. The London headquartered group said that its Secretary General would join thousands of war-affected Tamils commemorating all those lost to the Sri Lankan civil war at an event in Mullivaikkal, Sri Lanka. According to the AI, Callamard would begin her first tour of South Asia tomorrow (16).
French woman Callamard received appointment as Secretary General of Amnesty International in 2021, having previously worked as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
Serving and retired military sources told The Island that though they found nothing wrong in commemorating the war dead, such an event shouldn’t be used to tarnish the image of the war-winning military or to boost unsubstantiated war crimes allegations against it.
Sources said that events were being planned in several countries, including Canada where the Parliament in 2022 declared 18 May as the Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Canadian groups, affiliated to various political parties, have made arrangements to gather at the Walter Baker Sports Center on May 18.
The Mullivaikkal Commemoration Committee recently held a media briefing at the Mullaithivu press club, where they urged Tamil people from all parts of the country to gather at the commemoration grounds on 18 May.
Former Public Security Minister and SLPP Colombo District MP Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera said that the military paid a huge price to bring the war to a successful conclusion 15 years ago. Those who had been shedding tears for the war dead were conveniently silent about the disgraceful practice of using child soldiers or the violence unleashed by the LTTE on other Tamil groups, Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security told The Island.
Weerasekera alleged that the LTTE had been given ample opportunities to surrender, but Prabhakaran remained adamant as he firmly believed the Western powers would intervene to rescue him.
The former Navy Chief of Staff said that the TNA continued to propagate lies both in and outside Parliament after having recognized the LTTE as the sole representative of Tamil speaking people. That recognition made probably under duress, way back in 2001, remained until Prabhakaran was shot dead on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon, the ex-Minister said, adding that the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK)-led political grouping should be grateful to the military for paving the way for them to re-enter democratic politics.
MP Weerasekera recalled the circumstances under which the Yahapalana administration cancelled the annual armed forces victory day parade in 2015. That was done to appease the LTTE rump and those who sympathize with the separatist cause, MP Weerasekera said, urging the people to be mindful of huge sacrifices made by the armed forces. The Army alone lost over 5,000 officers and men during the fourth phase of the Eelam war (June/July 2006 to May 2009).
Responding to another query, MP Weerasekera asked whether any other country would allow Amnesty International or any other international organization to participate in such commemorative events.
TNA MPs are expected to join the event.
MP Weerasekera said that obviously there wouldn’t be any mention of those killed by the LTTE or the people who perished during the Indian Army deployment in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in the 1980s.
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
