News
DEW alleges US must have approved removal of Galle Face protesters
warns electorate not to expect early general election
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Veteran politician DEW Gunasekera (22) said that there must have been a tacit understanding between the new Sri Lankan administration and the Western camp, regarding the deployment of the military and the police to remove Galle Face protesters in the early hours of yesterday.
The former General Secretary of the Communist Party said so when The Island sought reconfirmation as regards his sensational declaration made in an interview with Asoka Dias on Sirasa ‘Pathikada’ earlier in the day that US Ambassador in Colombo ( Julie Chung) must have given the go ahead for ‘military’ action.Asoka Dias emphasised that the television channel wouldn’t accept responsibility for the unsubstantiated declaration made by the former minister.
Ex-lawmaker Gunasekera alleged that the US Ambassador had opposed a move by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to have protesters removed. The President called off the planned operation after the US Ambassador warned of serious consequences of such a course of action, Gunasekera said.The alleged US interference was first raised in Parliament by National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, in Parliament on June 22.
Responding to interviewer Asoka Dias, the ex-minister said that the swift action taken by law enforcement authorities and the military immediately after Wickremesinghe assumed duties as the President should be examined taking into consideration post-Mirihana developments.
The former Minister was referring to violent protests at the then President’s private residence at Pangiriwatta, Mirihana on March 31 night.Video footage on social media depicted masked military personnel grabbing Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) member Lahiru Weerasekera, former Convenor of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF).
Both Asoka Dias and Gunasekera acknowledged that troops moved in the wake of the issuance of a special gazette notification authorizing the deployment of the armed forces. They said the operation took place after protesters’ declaration that they would vacate the area soon.The US embassy didn’t respond to The Island query regarding the accusation, at the time this edition went to press.
Gunasekera said that their camp had fielded MP Dallas Alahapperuma as they firmly believed that his election as the executive President would give some legitimacy to the Pohottuwa administration. Pointing out that that rebel group in the SLPP proposed an interim all-party government on April 11 to the then President, the former Minister alleged that the leader failed to address the challenging issue properly. The CP veteran questioned the rationale in the then President offering the premiership to UNP leader Wickremesinghe after Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Sajith Premadasa declined the offer, respectively.
The former President could have managed the crisis, the ex-minister said. The failure finally paved the way for Wickremesinghe to receive the presidency, he said, adding that the process was constitutional. “Therefore there couldn’t be any issue with the UNP leader taking the presidency. However, a country cannot be ruled solely on the basis of constitutional provisions. Legitimacy is required. Public faith is nothing but a must,” the ex-MP said.
Responding to Asoka Dias, the lawmaker who oversaw the rehabilitation of LTTE cadres after the successful conclusion of the war said that at the time protests erupted in Colombo demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (this was weeks before the embattled leader invited Ranil Wickremesinghe to be his Prime Minister) the embattled administration’s popularity was down to 3 percent by then, according to various surveys.Gunasekera said that the new government and the public protest movement would now try to assess each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
The CP man warned the electorate that President Wickremesinghe wouldn’t go for early general election under any circumstances. Referring to statements made by the new President, Gunasekera said that the new President very clearly indicated that the issues at hand couldn’t be addressed within months. Therefore, there was no likelihood of an early general election though in terms of the Constitution the President exercised the power to dissolve Parliament two and half years after the last election.
Gunasekera asserted that the majority of lawmakers voted for Wickremesinghe as they realized the UNPer wouldn’t dissolve parliament. Responding to the interviewer, Dew Gunasekera declared the vast majority of lawmakers didn’t want to face early elections.
Gunasekera told The Island that Wickremesinghe would strive to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term whatever the public opinion. The UNP leader is entitled to do so in line with the parliamentary vote, the ex-MP said.
News
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.”
News
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.
News
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.