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Trade unionist alleges long queues due to restrictions on releasing of fuel
‘Sufficient stocks available now’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera kept on saying that adequate stocks of petrol and diesel were being released to the market, but the country continues to experience serious shortages of fuel.
There are long queues for both petrol and diesel in Colombo, its suburbs as well as in the Provinces.
Opposition trade union leader Ananda Palitha yesterday (23) alleged that although the CPC and IOC had sufficient stocks of diesel and petrol, adequate quantities were not released as the government was unsure of fresh procurement once the stocks were depleted.
Palitha, who served the government petroleum sector for nearly 40 years before retiring recently said that the Power and Energy Ministry should immediately do away with restrictions on the releasing of petrol and diesel.
Responding to another query, Palitha emphasised that the market couldn’t be controlled by imposing restrictions.
Such measures would only help create black market, he said.
According to the Samagi Jana Balavegaya activist, the petrol and diesel stocks now available and the consignments that were to be unloaded within the next several days would meet the demand for both products for nearly a month each. Palitha said that such stocks included both those obtained through the Indian credit line and other purchases. “Both Ceypetco and Lanka IOC have approximately 120,000 mt of petrol and diesel 157,000 mt in their depots.
Ceypetco Chairman Sumith Wijesinha was not available for comment. Lanka IOC spokesperson, too, didn’t answer his mobile phone.
Palitha questioned Power and Energy Minister Wijesekera’s efforts to improve the situation by threatening to suspend the supply of petroleum products to filling stations affected by violent incidents. The trade unionist pointed out that the young minister should realise that there were protests because the government had imposed restrictions on supplies. “Why should consumers and service station owners be made to suffer due to the government’s folly?” Ananda Palitha asked.
Commenting on the possibility of another fuel price increase, Ananda Palitha said that Lanka IOC was seeking another price revision. Referring to Minister Wijesekera’s recent statement on the need for Ceypetco and Lanka IOC to have a common pricing formula, Ananda Palitha asked for how long the government could delay another upward revision.
Ananda Palitha said that the government should without further delay take the public into confidence and tell them about IMF conditions.
With pressure mounting on service stations, the government has deployed both police and the military to control angry crowds. At Badulla over the weekend, an argument among those waiting at a fuel queue led to a person’s neck being slashed. The police identified him as a private bus worker.
Police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa alleged that some organised groups were trying to cause unnecessary friction among consumers. The police were aware of the situation, the official said, urging the public not to fall prey to rabble rousers.
Newly-appointed Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday said that his first priority would be to meet the fuel requirement of the farming community. The SLFPer said that he would discuss the issue at hand with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Minister Wijesekera. Severe shortage of fuel had hindered farming activities, the minister 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
