News
JVP mobilizing against Adani wind power proposal in Mannar
by Shiran Ranasinghe and Sirimantha Ratnasekera
JVP has decided to mobilize people, members of clergy, trade unions and civil society organisations to defeat a government move to give away land in Talaimannar to Indian conglomerate Adani Group to develop a one GW wind power project with an investment of more than $1bn.
Former JVP Kalutara District MP, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said that action has been planned to stand up against the government’s move to give away national assets to foreigners by ruling party politicians seeking commissions.
“We know that government is in a dire situation because it cannot get loans as international rating agencies have downgraded the country. It could obtain loans only from China and India. Another means to shore up the country’s foreign reserves is bringing in outside investments. But these investors do not come here for the love of Sri Lanka,” he said.
“They have a long term plan of establishing their presence at places of geopolitical importance in this country. The latest move is giving away land in Talaimannar to the Adani Group. Making use of forex crisis. Some politicians will get commissions out of these deals. We must stop this.”
Finance Ministry sources said that there is a possibility of a cabinet paper being submitted to the next cabinet meeting to get the approval for the project in the same way the government rushed the deal with the New Fortress Energy company through the cabinet.
Ministry sources said that the Adani group has proposed to develop a 1,000 MW wind energy project in Talaimannar and has also expressed interest in a second wind energy project in Pooneryn.
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB)General Manager Eng MR Ranatunga said that there was a proposal for the project and Adani’s billionaire Chairman, Gautam Adani and his officials during their visit to Sri Lanka in October expressed interest in projects related to ports, power and renewable energy. They also visited Mannar for an inspection. No agreement has been signed for the project so far, Ranatunga said.
CEB chairman M.M.C Ferdinando confirmed that they had received a proposal from the Adani group. Adani Group’s subsidiary Adani Green Energy has submitted a proposal to the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) and the CEB.
He said that the BOI had referred the proposal to the Cabinet-appointed Management Committee on Investments (CAMCI), which was set up up to fast track investment proposals.
“Adani had referred a proposal to the BOI, and copied to me and the CAMCI headed by the Treasury Secretary” he said.
Finance ministry sources said that Adani’s proposal had received approval from the CAMCI last week.
Dr Jayatissa said that they would commence an awareness campaign and do everything possible to reverse the government’s move to sell national assets to foreigners.
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
