News
Nirupama overseas, yet to appear before CIABOC
TISL considering fresh complaint as regards Paskaralingam
Pandora Papers:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) inquiring into Pandora Papers’ disclosure of assets held by Thirukumar Nadesan and his wife, Nirupama Rajapaksa hasn’t been able to record her statement yet as she is overseas.
The CIABOC questioned Nadesan for two days. Well-informed sources told The Island that Thirukumar Nadesan had informed the CIABOC of his wife’s inability to appear before the outfit as she was abroad for medical reasons. Nadesan has assured that once returned she would appear before the CIABOC.
The Pandora Papers revealed assets held offshore by former Deputy Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Nirupama Rajapaksa and her husband Thirukumar Nadesan. As the investigation progresses, Pandora Papers have revealed how Ramalingam Paskaralingam one-time advisor to slain President Ranasinghe Premadasa, the late President Dingiri Banda Wijetunga and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe created trusts and companies in the British Virgin Islands to hold millions of dollars, invested in the private Horizon College situated at Malabe and buy property in the U.K.
Sources said that an interim report on the issue at hand prepared by the CIABOC would be soon shared with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as requested by the Director General of the Presidential Legal Division, Attorney-at-Law Harigupta Rohanadeera.
The President’s Office asked for a report from the CIABOC by Nov 06, 2021 in the wake of the Pandora Papers disclosures.
The CIABOC comprises retired Supreme Court Justice Eva Wanasundera, retired Court of Appeal Justice Deepali Wijesundera and retired DIG Chandra Nimal Wakista. The retired top policeman had served as the head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) during the previous Rajapaksa administration.
In terms of the 20A to the Constitution, the Commissioners are named by the President.
Sources said that the CIABOC had received several complaints as regards the Pandora exposures in addition to the request made by the President’s Office. Responding to another query, sources said that their own investigation unit would continue to probe and was in touch with the relevant authorities.
Sources said the local case had taken a new turn with the disclosure of the Paskaralingam’s involvement as he served as an economic adviser to Wickremesinghe during the yahapalana administration. Paskaralingam also served Wickremesinghe from 2002 to 2004.
Transparency International Sri Lanka executive Director attorney-at-law Nadishani Perera yesterday told The Island that in the wake of Pandora Papers disclosure of Paskaralingam, the outfit would consider further steps in addition to the complaint lodged with the CIABOC as regards Nadesan and Nirupama Rajapaksa. Asked whether they would lodge another complaint, Perera said that it was an option. The top TISL spokesperson said that a much wider investigation involving relevant authorities was needed to probe the revelations properly.
TISL has written to the President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Elections Commission of Sri Lanka calling for the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities of Former Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa. The request was made under the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities law (1975) and the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities (Amendment) law (1988).
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
