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Govt. MP moves SC to cancel SLIIT deal, action against ex-Minister et al
“CIABOC slept on my complaint regarding loss of Rs 23 bn’
SLPP Colombo District lawmaker Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, has moved the Supreme Court in terms of the Article 126 and Article 17 of the Constitution requesting the cancellation of agreements between the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT).
Former Justice Minister and also the former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), having named Cabinet of ministers, including the PM, Members of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, IGP, Attorney General, members of the SLIIT and the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund as respondents, asked for issuing of notices to them and most importantly an order directing Attorney-General to charge and indict Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Dr. Wickrama Weerasooriya (deceased), Anil Rajakaruna, Prof. Lalith R. Gamage, Prof. Luxman Rathnayaka and Manjula Sagara Ellepola in line with the recommendations made by a Presidential Commission that inquired into the matter.
MP Rajapakshe has also requested the SC to direct the CIABOC to initiate legal action and indict Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Dr. Wickrama Weerasooriya (deceased), Anil Rajakaruna, Prof. Lalith R. Gamage, Prof. Luxman Rathnayaka and Manjula Sagara Ellepola
The President’s Counsel in his petition said that those responsible should be charged and prosecuted under Sections 452, 454, 388 and 389 of the Penal Code and also prosecuted for the offence punishable under section 70 of the Bribery Commission Act.
Appearing before the SC in person, MP Rajapakshe said that the Attorney-General had been made a party to represent the President in terms of Article 35(1) of the Constitution.
MP Rajapakshe moved SC in the wake of parliamentary watchdog committee COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) calling for government intervention to take back SLIIT.
The petitioner stated that on examination of relevant documents it was revealed that Prof. Laxman Ratnayake (34th Respondent) and Prof. Lalith R. Gamage (35thRespondent) received appointment as directors of said company in their capacity as employees of the Moratuwa University, and the 35th Respondent has been appointed in view of the fact that he is the son-in-law of late Kingsly Wickremaratne, who was the Minister in Charge of the Mahapola Trust Fund at that time.
The petitioner stated that he found that the Prof. Laxman
Ratnayake and Prof. Lalith R. Gamage had surreptitiously, gradually and fraudulently got the non-State actors appointed as directors whenever vacancies occurred due to retirement of the ex-officio directors and finally it was ended up with all the directors being non-State actors who were not holding any public office.
The petitioner alleged Prof. Laxman Ratnayake and Prof. Lalith R. Gamage (had acted in collusion with late Dr. Wickrama Weerasuriya, who was a newly appointed member of the Mahapola Trust Fund, and upon being questioned and convinced about the fraud committed the petitioner, in his capacity as the Higher Education Minister ordered him to resign from the trusteeship of the Mahapola Trust Fund and also from the membership of the University Grant Commission forthwith and accordingly he resigned.
The Petitioner stated that the Auditor General’s Department after having a special investigation into the issue at hand in a report dated 07.09.2018 asserted that the trustees of the Mahapola Trust Fund were responsible for causing a loss to the fund amounting to over Rs. 1,645,494,237 by handing over ownership to another party.
The petitioner alleged that though he made a complaint to the CIABOC on 25 February 2019 that the loss caused to Sliit as a result of the corrupt transaction at that time was about Rs. 23,000,000,000. (Rs. 23 billion), the outfit did nothing except for recording statements from him twice. (SF)
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
