News
Probe reveals Army bought spirits through Excise Dept.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
An investigation by the Excise Department has revealed that the Anuradapura Sathosa outlet has violated a government ban by selling liquor to the Army––the Gajaba Regimental Centre, Saliyapura, Anuradhapura.
The Excise Department, the police and the CWE had found that the Army bought 89 bottles of locally produced spirits, a senior official who supervised the investigations told The Island.
A senior Excise official had personally accompanied Army personnel to the Sathosa supermarket, where the liquor sales took place, the Excise Department sources said.
Social media and a section of the print and electronic media alleged that about 800 bottles had been sold.
Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva, who is also the Chief of Defence Staff, the official told The Island that such reports had been published with a malicious intent.
Excise Department sources said that the Army had sought the intervention of the Excise official who subsequently removed the Excise seal placed on Sathosa outlet to facilitate the liquor sales. The official was transferred to a different station.
Had the official sought advice from Colombo, he would have been asked to decide the release of the required stock from a wholesale dealer, sources said. Responding to another query, Excise sources explained that countrywide military camps had been exempted from relevant Excise laws applicable to storing and sale of liquor.
Sources said that those who had loaded spirits to an army vehicle at Anuradhapura CWE asked for eight bottles of liquor and reacted angrily when the Excise official politely turned down their request.
Excise Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe, who functions as the Department’s official spokesperson in a statement issued on June 10, assured that an impartial inquiry would be conducted.
Sources said that the Anuradhapura incident had taken new turn against the backdrop of the Excise Department seeking Finance Ministry approval to launch liquor sales online. The President’s Office said that when the matter was brought to the notice of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he immediately blocked the move.
Sources revealed that the possibility of launching an online service to sell liquor had been discussed at the National Security Council chaired by President Rajapaksa. IGP C. D. Wickremaratne has pointed out the increased production of illicit brew due to closure of liquor outlets. President Rajapaksa has expressed surprise at how the matter discussed at the NSC ended up as an Excise Department proposal to the Finance Ministry, sources said.
President Rajapaksa has questioned the need for online liquor sales when the country was to re-open on Monday (21) at 4 am.
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
