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SJB accuses govt of keeping university academics in the dark when preparing National Defence University Bill
By Saman Indrajith
The SJB yesterday alleged that the government had kept the university academics in the dark when preparing the draft of the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, Chief Opposition Whip and SJB Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella said: “There are around 4,000 university teachers in this country. None of them has been consulted by the government when drafting the KDU Bill. This is outrageous. The university teachers should have been consulted first. This bill has been prepared by the Defence Ministry officials. None of the academics have been informed or asked for their opinion in this matter.”
Kiriella said that if the proposed draft bill was passed the KDU would become a fee-levying university and it could open its branches countrywide. That would be the privatisation of university education. It would create a network of private universities countrywide.
“At present, the state universities are under the University Grants Commission. The proposed bill is planning to set up a similar mechanism to manage private universities.”
MP Kiriella said that apart from the privatisation, the higher education sector faced the threat of militarisation. “We see nothing wrong with the KDU training and providing education for the military personnel. In other countries, there are similar colleges which offer courses for the defence forces. They could train and educate individuals to become military doctors, lawyers and administrators. But the institute proposed by the controversial bill is different. It offers 15 to 20 courses which would pass out graduates for the jobs in the civil sector. That is totally against the original concept of the KDU. The UGC the decision makers are PhD holders. The KDU draft bill proposes a management committee for the same purpose. More than 80 percent of that committee are military personnel. Our question is whether the army officers have intellectual or academic qualifications to run universities”.
Asked to comment on remarks made by government ministers that the draft bill was a product of the previous government, the chief opposition whip said, “That is a lie. As far as I know the defence ministry was in the process of making such a draft but we did not bring it to Parliament.”
Asked whether the SJB was against amending the Universities Act of 1997 to suit the present-day needs, MP Kiriella said: :We are not against amending the existing universities act. We know that some of the provisions are obsolete and out of date. But when amending an act of parliament a government cannot do it according to its whims and fancies. It has to be discussed with all stakeholders. During our government we set up a parliament oversight committee system to create forums for such discussions. This government has done away with them. When drafting a bill affecting the universities, the government should discuss it with at least the university teachers. The process of drafting the KDU bill was wrong. It was made by the Defence Ministry and then sent to the Cabinet, which had it presented to Parliament. It should have been discussed with university teachers and their opinions should have been considered on the matter.”
Former Chairman of the Weligama Urban Council Rehan Jayawickrama also addressed the press.
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
