News
PC polls further delayed; new draft Constitution likely before June
By Shamindra Ferdinando
SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (5) indicated that the much-delayed Provincial Council polls couldn’t be conduct in a hurry.
Prof. Peiris, who also holds the education portfolio, told the weekly SLPP briefing at Battaramulla that a consensus among those political parties represented in Parliament regarding PC polls could be finalized perhaps in five to six months.
The declaration was made in the wake of a group of influential monks demanding that the PC polls be put off until the Parliament agreed on a new Constitution as promised in the run-up to the last presidential and parliamentary polls in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Referring to a Supreme Court ruling that PC polls couldn’t be conducted until enactment of a new law in that regard, one-time External Affairs Minister explained how the process could take up to six months.
At the onset of the briefing Minister Peiris said that the government wanted to review election laws pertaining to presidential, parliamentary, PC and LG polls. The minister said that later in the day House Leader and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena was to introduce a motion for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for the purpose. Such a PSC, comprising 15 government and opposition members, would examine relevant election laws, the academic said.
Prof. Peiris said that a nine-member expert committee headed by Romesh de Silva, PC, was busy working on the proposed new draft Constitution. The Minister said that the government expected to receive it before June. Earlier, the expert committee asserted it could finalize the draft before Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Minister Peiris said that a consensus to do away with the preferential voting system could be reached soon as the vast majority considered the system inimical to parliamentary democracy. Prof. Peiris asserted that the PR system caused quite a serious internal strife among candidates of one party, resulted in corruption and deprived voters of an MP responsible for their electorate.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the first week of March called for early PC polls whereas India underscored the pivotal importance of conducting early PC polls at the recently concluded 46th session of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council.
Prof. Peiris faulted the previous administration for creating a situation that made it impossible for holding of PC polls. PC polls have been delayed by several years due to failure on the part of the parliament to agree on a new electoral system following the abolition of the previous one.
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
