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Salley complains to HRCSL former AG, and Public Security Minister violated his fundamental rights
Former Western Province Governor and National Unity Alliance leader, Azath Salley yesterday complained to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) that his fundamental rights had been violated by actions of former Attorney General Dappula de Livera and Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara.
In a letter to the Chairperson of HRCSL, Salley said: “I was arrested on the 16th of March 2021 and held in both executive and judicial detention for a period of close to nine months.
“Prior to my arrest, the Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera, during a speech in Parliament, threatened to arrest me for views expressed by me at a press conference.
“I was arrested on the 16th of March 2021, on the instructions of the Attorney General Dappula de Livera PC, purportedly on the views expressed by me at the Weekly Press Briefing of my Party, the National Unity Alliance on the 9th of March 2021.
“The edited and manipulated version of my Press Briefing, aired and publicised by certain Sections of the Sinhala Media, formed the basis of my arrest and produced before the Magistrate’s Court of Colombo on 23rd of June 2021 and indictment served in the High Court of Colombo in October 2021, after holding me in unlawful detention for over nine months.
“The Learned Magistrate of Colombo on the 14th of September 2021, held that the full version of the Press Briefing, does not in any manner or form implicate me in any crime.
“In the High Court of Colombo, the Learned High Court judge on the 2nd of December 2021, acquitted me of all charges contained in the indictment, without even calling for my defence. Moreover, the Learned High Court judge also clearly specified that the views expressed at the Press Briefing, in fact did not cause any ill feeling or offence to any community.
“My complaint to the Honourable Commission is that the Attorney General’s Department, instructed by the Attorney General Dappula de Livera PC, failed to exercise due diligence, before arresting and indicting me on fabricated evidence, and thereby failed in their public duty.
“Had they been open and acted fairly and only taken the trouble to view the entire Press Briefing, they would have saved innocent taxpayers money and the credibility of the Department in the eyes of my aggrieved community, and the entire Nation.
“Based on the Judgments delivered by the Learned Judges, and the agony I went through the nine months of incarceration, I am compelled to form the opinion that: Dappula De Livera and all officers working under his authority who directly or indirectly were a party to the decision to call for my arrest, incarceration and indictment and the Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara, who prior to the said arrest threatened me with arrest have Violated my Fundamental Rights as a Citizen of this country, guaranteed by Article 11, 12 (1), 13 and 14 (1) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
“I, as an aggrieved party, call upon the Commission to immediately inquire into the violations of my Fundamental Rights as enshrined in Chapter Three of our Constitution being one of the principal reasons for establishing the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka under the Human Rights Commission Act 21 of 1996.
“The Attorney General’s Department, which should protect us from injustice, should not be used by Political Powers to perpetuate injustice.”
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
