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JVP youth wing calls on public to take to streets to send government home
By Saman Indrajith
The JVP youth wing has called on the public to take to the streets to send the incumbent government home and thereby end the prevailing crisis engulfed by uncertainty.
Addressing the media at the JVP headquarters in Pelawatte, National Organiser of the Socialist Youth Union Eranga Gunasekera said that prices of all essential commodities have been increased by around 40 percent and people are in dire straits. “The price of a loaf of bread is over Rs 120 now. If this government remains in power, the people will not be able to celebrate Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April. The country has come under a cloud of uncertainty. This cannot and should not be allowed to continue any further. We call on the youth to take to the streets against the incumbent government. We have made arrangements to stage a protest on Friday starting from the Maradana Technical Junction, in Colombo, at 10 am. We hope not only the youth but also the people will join us to urge this government to resign immediately,” Gunasekera said.
Gunasekara added that not only the incumbent government but also all successive governments, since independence, should be held responsible for the state of affairs in the country. All these governments, especially those in power after 1977, continued to sell the national assets to foreigners. The leading buyers were India, China and the US and thereby let the country be in the grip of those countries.
“The most recent example was the selling of the Trinco oil tank farm. The British colonial administration built 101 oil tanks near the Trinco harbour because they had the vision of the value of such a storage terminal. Two tanks were destroyed during World War II. Each of these tanks is 45 feet in height and linked by a pipeline longer than 56 kilometers. The British have built that system to stand against storms and hurricanes and possible enemy attacks. They also built the Dolphin jetty in the Trinco harbour to optimize the use of the oil tank farm. The government, in 1964, purchased it from Britain, for 250,000 sterling pounds. Though we took it over, successive governments could not optimize its use. In 2002, Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government leased it to India for 35 years, but the agreement could not be validated as that government collapsed within six months. India used the oil tank farm by-force, claiming that they have a right to do so. In 2017, Ranil Wickremesinghe tried, once again, to complete the process. The SLPP came to power, promising to save the national assets. They leased the oil tank farm to India for 50 years. This is only a single example of for follies by the governments we had. We must change this political culture but the most urgent need is to send this government home,” Gunasekera said.
SYU National Committee Members Attorneys-at-Law Shanika De Silva, Arun Hemachandra, Members Shaini Bhagya, Ven. Koswatte Mahanama Thera and JVP Kotikawatte-Mulleriyawa PS Member Nilimi Garlack also addressed the press.
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
