News
Palihakkara finds fault with High Posts Committee
Top diplomatic appointment: Italian response awaited
By Shamindra Ferdinando
European Union member, Italy, is yet to accept former Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sumangala Dias as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Rome. In response to The Island query regarding the delay in finalising the posting, the Public Diplomacy Division said that as per information received from the Sri Lanka Mission in Rome, the matter was currently being processed.
The High Posts Committee of Parliament chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena recently cleared the former Air Chief’s appointment as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Rome in the wake of Canadian refusal to accept Air Marshal Dias on the basis of unsubstantiated war crimes allegations. The top post remains vacant in Ottawa.
Air Marshal Dias served as the 17th Commander of the Air Force from May 2019 to Nov 2020.
Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake on April 23 announced Air Marshal Dias had been given all party parliamentary committee approval to take over the Rome mission. War winning Army Chief Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, too, serves in the parliamentary High Posts Committee.
The US, Canada and EU countries have taken a tough stand in respect of totally unsubstantiated war crimes allegations which are not even being examined in a court of law.
Wartime Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told The Island that those who had served the country risking their lives during the conflict were being harassed by a section of the international community. Bogollagama referred to the US imposing travel restrictions on Army Chief General Shavendra Silva and Australia refusing visa to Maj. Gen. Chagie Gallage (he hadn’t retired at that time) as instances of extremely unfair judgments based on baseless hearsay accusations.
Meanwhile, one-time Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara emphasised that the Parliamentary High Posts Committee should be cautious in choosing heads of missions. The veteran diplomat who had served as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in New York however claimed that irreparable damage had been caused to the Foreign Service by clearing all top diplomatic appointments. Palihakkara said so in response to a query raised by The Island on a discussion organized by NMSJ (National Movement for Social Justice) to discuss the current status of the once proud service. The Island sought an explanation from the panel regarding parliamentary High Posts Committee chaired by successive Speakers, including Karu Jayasuriya, who now heads the NMSJ clearing all diplomatic appointments.
Foreign Service officer Sumith Nakandala and lecturer Kulani Wijebahu joined the discussion moderated by Prof. Rohan Samarajeewa.
Palihakkara suggested that parliamentary High Posts Committees should reject an applicant once in a way. The Island pointed out whichever political party in power, the body headed by the Speaker had been always used to facilitate political appointments and the incumbent government, too, was no exception. Palihakkara cited ruination caused by political interference while commending the efforts taken during Lakshman Kadirgamar’s tenure as the Foreign Minister to have some sort of balance as regards appointments shared by the Foreign Service and political appointees.
Palihakkara said that the country had to pay a huge price for the failure on the part of political parties to reach consensus on the LLRC (lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission) recommendations meant to address the whole gamut of issues, including accountability. Palihakkara, who served as a member of that Commission, alleged that political parties neglected the LLRC report. Had they succeeded in achieving consensus, the ground situation would have been different today, the one-time Northern Province Governor said.
Palihakkara explained how the parliamentary Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs could facilitate a bipartisan approach in matters of crucial national importance. The much respected former diplomat recalled how that particular Committee functioned during Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s tenure as the Prime Minister and in what way the mechanism could be used for Sri Lanka’s benefit.
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
