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BASL alerts Prez, govt. to gravity of prevailing crisis, calls for remedial action
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday called on the President, the government as well as all other political parties, and actors to realise the gravity of the present situation and the grave consequences which might threaten the social and economic stability in Sri Lanka.
The BASL, in a statement issued to the media, called upon them to immediately take every step necessary to restore national and international confidence in the Government of Sri Lanka.
“The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) is gravely concerned as to the manner in which the present economic crisis, and the resultant shortages, especially of fuel, are being handled by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), adversely affecting the lives of the people, the administration of the country, and running of businesses and, ultimately, the stability of the community. It has also led to a deterioration of Law and Order in the country.
“The sequence of announcements with regard to the supply of fuel by the authorities is set out below:
“17th of June 2022 – It was announced that Letters of Credit had been opened for US$ 42.6 million for a shipment of 300,000 barrels of Octane 92 Petrol;
“19 of June 2022 – It was announced that Letters of Credit for US$ 90 million were opened for shipments of petrol and diesel to be delivered respectively on 23rd and 24th June;
“23rd of June 2022 – It was announced that delivery of the fuel cargo of 40,000 MT of Petrol had been delayed by one day;
“24th of June 2022 – It was announced that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had been informed by the supplier that the petrol cargo confirmed to arrive the previous day was further delayed and a new date of arrival will be confirmed later that day;
“25th of June 2022 – The Minister of Power and Energy announced that the suppliers had communicated the inability to fulfil the deliveries on time for ‘banking and logistical’ reasons. He requested that the public not to line up for fuel next week (just a few days after making a similar request, during which fuel was delivered to petrol stations) and stated that the CPC is not able to confirm the arrival dates of shipments. He further announced that the refinery operations will be closed until the next shipment of crude oil arrives.
“Subsequently, the Minister of Power and Energy held a Press Conference on 26th June 2022 and the information revealed at this Press Conference make it abundantly clear that the public have been kept in the dark while the authorities gave them false hopes; that the date of the next shipment of fuel to the country is unknown; and that no explanation has been given as to why the reserves which were available were not managed in a better manner, given the fact that the arrival of the next shipment of fuel was uncertain.
“The sequence of announcements by the authorities demonstrate the confusion that exists in respect of the fuel supply in Sri Lanka and the mistrust the public have with regard to official statements. The BASL is alarmed at the failure of the Government to provide timely, accurate and reliable information to the people of the situation in respect of the fuel supply which affects every aspect of their daily lives, already complicated by the economic crisis.
“Day in and day out thousands of people are compelled to queue up at fuel stations, across the country for petrol, diesel, and kerosene oil. They have had to stay in queues for more than 24 hours for fuel, resulting in a massive waste of time and productivity. The fuel queues have resulted in unrest, and violence, and led to mistrust among different sections of the community. There have been chaotic scenes at fuel stations and clashes between the people and the law enforcement authorities. The number of people who have died whilst staying in queues continues to rise. There are reports of a thriving black market in the sale of fuel at excessive prices with very little effort by law enforcement authorities to crack down such activity. Long lines of empty gas cylinders can be seen on roadsides in anticipation of a shipment of gas which is said to arrive in the first week of July.
“Fuel shortages are threatening every aspect of the economy, including food production and distribution; adversely impacting Sri Lanka’s exports which are vital at this time; and even having a negative impact on the administration of justice.
“Furthermore, the Government has failed to put in place a proper mechanism to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of fuel to the people.
“The BASL calls upon the Government to immediately provide timely and adequate information to the public as to its plans in respect of ensuring the continuous supply of fuel in the short term; to present to the public a road map on its plans to extricate the country from the fuel crisis; and to immediately devise, after proper consultation with relevant stake holders, an effective plan to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of fuel to the people, taking into account the need to ensure that public transportation and essential services are not hindered.
“The BASL calls upon the President, the Government, as well as all other political parties, and actors, to understand the sheer gravity of the present situation, and the grave consequences which may threaten the social and economic stability in Sri Lanka. The BASL calls upon them to immediately take every step necessary to restore national and international confidence in the Government of Sri Lanka.
“At this stage, for the greater good of the country it is necessary that the President, and all other relevant political actors, bear responsibility for the hardships being caused to the people.”
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US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
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.”
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Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
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.
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CIPM successfully concludes 8th Annual Symposium
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.