News
SJB accepts SLPP’s A’pura challenge
‘Hold LG polls as previously scheduled for March’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Top Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman says that Wednesday’s SLPP propaganda rally in Anuradhapura had contradicted their much disputed claim the Local Government polls couldn’t be held due to the threat still posed by Covid-19 epidemic.
Pointing out that the SLPP has launched a countrywide campaign regardless of repeated warnings that such gatherings could be super spreader of Covid-19, lawmaker Rahuman said therefore LG polls could be held as scheduled.
“We are contemplating seeking the Election Commission’s response to the ruling party’s Anuradhapura move,” the Colombo District MP told The Island.
Referring to the recent issuance of a gazette regarding the postponement of the LG polls previously scheduled to be held by the third week of March, 2022, lawmaker Rahuman challenged the SLPP to reverse it.
Now that Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, in the presence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, at the Anuradhapura rally, had declared that the government was ready to face the Opposition challenge, the LG polls could be re-scheduled, he said.
Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon handles Provincial Council and Local Government portfolio in the absence of State Minister Roshan Ranasinghe who is overseas.
Lawmaker Rahuman said that State Minister Ranasinghe was on record as having said that Covid-19 epidemic had compelled them to postpone elections. Against the backdrop of the Anuradhapura rally, the government couldn’t skip scheduled LG polls on the false pretext of Covid-19 threat, the former UNPer said.
The Island sought an explanation from Chairman of the Election Commission Attorney-at-Law Nimal Punchihewa as regards the postponement of LG polls citing Covid-19 threat. Civil society activist Punchihewa emphasized that the gazette issued in that regard didn’t give any specific reason for the polls postponement. Punchihewa said that the EC was ready to conduct the election depending on the government decision. Responding to another query, Punchihewa said that postponement of polls was in line with the relevant constitutional provisions.
Lawmaker Rahuman said that the SLPP quite conveniently failed to address any of the contentious issues -ranging from ruination of Maha season due to hasty ban on fertilizer and agro-chemicals and the growing foreign currency crisis that had caused countrywide shortage of essential items, including medicine.
He pointed out that the absence of any of the ministers representing constituent parties of the SLPP indicated that recent issues, such as a section of the cabinet challenging the government in the Supreme Court over Yugadanavi deal as well as sharp differences over the economic crisis had affected the ruling coalition. Senior SLFPer Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva’s declaration against the move to tax ETF and the EPF couldn’t have happened at a worse time, the SJB MP said.
The SJB spokesperson said that cabinet minister Udaya Gammanpila’s admission that the country is in a debt trap contradicted the current dispensation’s stand on the present crisis. The government recently stripped Susil Premjayantha of his ministerial portfolio for criticizing the SLPP’s agriculture policy, MP Rahuman said. How would they tackle ministers Gammanpila, Weerawansa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and now Nimal Siripala de Silva? MP Rahuman asked.
The government parliamentary group comprises145 lawmakers with the main constituent having 117 members. The second and the third largest political parties are the SLFP (14 members) and the NFF (??????members), respectively.
Lawmaker Rahuman said that if the SLPP was confident it could reverse its decision and pave the way for LG polls. However, if the SLPP continued to avoid LG polls on the false pretext of the covid-19 threat, it would underscore the crisis the government was in.
“Let the electorate decide,” the MP said, adding that the SJB remained confident of attracting the vote. He also dismissed claims of turmoil within the SJB.
Of the 54 member SJB group in Parliament, several have voted with the government on two controversial votes-on the 20th Amendment on Oct 2020 and the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill in May 2021.SJB dissidents ensured 2/3 majority for the government on both occasions.
MP Rahuman said that though the SLPP boasted of having a 2/3 in Parliament, it couldn’t have at least leaders of the constituent parties at the Anuradhapura meeting. “That is the reality. Their much touted 2/3 didn’t reflect in the current political environment,” the former UNPer said.
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
