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Dons condemn suppression of Aragalaya movement
“Tyrannical governments and illegitimate leaders throughout history have led their societies to destruction”
The Federation of University Teachers (FUTA) says that the Wickremasinghe-Rajapaksa government lacks any legitimacy and it should stop taking cover behind the Constitution.In a statement condemning what it termed as “repression of aragalaya activists by the current regime” the university teachers have said that “the tyrannical governments and illegitimate leaders throughout history have led their societies to destruction.”
“The FUTA reservedly condemns the repression of aragalaya activists by the current regime led by President Ranil Wickremasinge. The aragalaya represented a truly democratic movement in Sri Lanka’s political history where people with diverse political, ideological, cultural and social beliefs and orientations united for a common purpose. The aragalaya slogan ‘Gota go home’, which resonated across the county (and beyond), was not just about the individual politician Goatabhaya Rajapaksa but about the rotten political order he represented. It was a rallying call to regain the promise of democratic politics and to demand a new political culture where the political class is accountable to the people who elect them. On July 9th when hundreds of thousands of people gathered to Colombo it was not because of the promise of a rice packet, a bottle of arrack and some money – the usual handout doled out by the political class to attract people to their rallies – but due to the people’s collective frustration with the extreme economic deprivations they faced and the need to restore a minimum democratic order where the political system of the country was answerable to them.
“However, in a tragic turn of events – the parliament captive to the pohottuwa majority –distorted the democratic promise of the aragalaya by electing Ranil Wickremasinghe as president. It is a tragedy because Ranil Wickremasinghe along with this pohottuwa dominated parliament lost its legitimacy a long time ago. Wickremasinghe’s first action as Executive President was the planning and execution of a cowardly, illegitimate and violent attack on Gota Go Gama, the symbolic heart of the aragalaya. This was not accidental.
“It was a calculated move to strike fear into society as a whole. Immediately after this attack the Wickremasinghe-pohottuwa government has begun a systematic campaign to delegitimize the aragalaya, hunt down the aragalaya leadership and to recreate the culture of impunity and repression that was the hallmark of the Rajapaksa style of governance. The government has now begun to even target established political parties –raiding their offices. However, if this regime believes that isolating and repressing a few aragalaya leaders and targeting political parties and activists will kill the spirit of the aragalaya, they are sorely mistaken. On March 31st, May 9th and even in the day leading up to July 9th the regime repeatedly underestimated the depth and breadth of the people’s will. That will still live on and will rise again.
“The government’s repression has also been roundly condemned internationally. Various foreign representatives in the country were swift to denounce the violent attack on Gota Go Gama. Numerous international human rights organizations, civil society organizations and other international actors also immediately condemned this action. In fact, even politically neutral financial rating companies like Fitch Ratings recognizes that there is widespread discontent about this government. Therefore, the Wicremasinghe-pohottuwa government’s narrative that it can bring economic stability is patently false. Without political legitimacy this government cannot and will not be able to stabilize the Sri Lankan economy and due to its repressive actions, it is further eroding its stock of international goodwill and therefore jeopardizing economic aid and other support the country can potentially receive – including the much touted IMF bailout package.
“Tyrannical governments and illegitimate leaders throughout history have led their societies to destruction. The Wickremasinghe-pohottuwa government is now treading a dangerous and tyrannical path that will end in bloodshed. We call upon the government to immediately halt the repression of aragalaya activists – they represent the people and the people’s will. FUTA stands with the democratic spirit of the aragalaya and will take active action to resist and protest the illegitimate action of this government. We remind the Wickremasinghe-phohottuwa government that it lacks any legitimacy and to stop taking refuge behind the constitution. Rather than hunting aragalaya activists we demand that this illegitimate government immediately gives way to a fresh political mandate and to restore the legitimacy of this political order of this country.”
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
