News
Govt. pays salaries, provides welfare while developing country – Johnston
Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando says the government has enough funds to continue its development work while paying the salaries of public servants.
Responding to journalists’ questions during a ceremony at Pamankada to plant saplings along the stretch of road from the W.A. Silva Mawatha to the Pamankada Bridge as a part of a project to plant two million saplings along the roads and highways, the Minister said that the Opposition was spreading a lie that the government had no funds.
“We continue to pay the salaries of all public servants without any reduction on time even if they are at home because of the pandemic. How could we do so if we do not have funds? Our financial policies are stronger than those of the Yahapalana regime that are confronted with cash flow problems even without a pandemic. It is no secret that the revenue generation is lower than that of normal times, but that does not mean we are cash starving and on the verge of bankruptcy. It is the Opposition which says so. We have sufficient funds to continue our development,” the Minister said.
Asked to comment on the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s call to hold elections, the Minister said that Premadasa would have been able to know his standing among the public if an election was held. “He is the one who once opposed elections and called for summoning Parliament soon after the presidential election. As long as he holds the post of Opposition leader our government is better off.said.
Asked to comment on State Minister Lohan Ratwatte’s recent visits to Prisons to watch the gallows and unruly behavior, Minister Fernando said Ratwatte as the Minister of Prisons had all the rights to visit prisons. “Since I was not there I am not in a position to tell you what exactly happened. Minister Ratwatte has tendered his resignation and the President has accepted it. What would have happened if the President had not accepted that resignation? The Opposition used to say that whenever there is something controversial the authorities involved in such controversy should resign as in the manner of other developed countries. Minster Ratwatte did the exact same but none is recognising it. Have those who robbed the Central Bank resigned even after the media exposed them? Has the Opposition leader resigned when the media exposed how he had detailed employees assigned to his post to work at his wife’s salon? Did he at least tender a public apology? This resignation shows that we have discipline.”
Asked to comment on Minister Ratwatte still holding another portfolio and criminal charges against him, the Minister said that Ratwatte was still the State Minister of Gem and Jewellery. “There are charges and allegations but we have to investigate them first. We cannot judge a person by allegations against him. There is a principle called presumption of innocence until proven guilty and that is a constitutional right every person in this country enjoys. Minister Ratwatte too is entitled to that right. We have to wait till the reports of the investigations. It is wrong for me to state my opinion while an investigation is pending,” the Minister said.
As per the project to plant tree saplings of environmentally friendly trees such as Koboneela (Bauhinia purpurea), the Golden shower or Ehala (Cassia fistula), Robarosiya (Tabebuia Rosea), Na tree (Mesua ferrea), Magul Karanda (Pongamia pinnata), and Murutha (the queen of flower tree –Lagerstroemia speciosa) are to be planted along the W.A. Silva Mawatha to the Pamankada Bridge.
Among those present were Secretary to the Minister R.W.R. Pemasiri and Chairman of Road Development Authority Chaminda Athaluwage and project director and officials.
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
