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Zuhair raps govt. for listing of Muslim organisations and individuals
Former lawmaker M M Zuhair, PC, has questioned the rationale behind the government alleging that 156 Sri Lankan Muslims and six Muslim organisations funded, or were associates of al-Qaeda or ISIL. One-time Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Teheran said that Sri Lanka’s list of designated persons, and organisations, violated UN Security Council resolution 2253 of 2015.
Zuhair has said in a media statement: “While welcoming President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s statement at the recent annual conference of the Orgnisation of Professional Associations (OPA) on the need to “sort out the problems among the ethnic groups, as this has gone on for too long, as the war was over in 2009, and there is no need to fight again”, it is time that the President and his government do not permit unacceptable and unauthorised procedures being adopted to marginalize and ostracise minority community institutions, and individuals, under cover of national security, as we fear certain measures being unlawfully pursued will enhance radicalisation and counter radicalisation, in the country, leading to conflicts.
At this time of dire economic crisis, confronting the country, attributed by some to the ‘curse of all religious groups’, the urgent need is the unity of all the communities, as well as the economic support of all countries!
But why is the Foreign Ministry, through its competent authority, misusing, in its 1st August 2022 listing, the UN Security Council (SC) resolutions 1267 of 1999 and eight related subsequent SC resolutions, including resolution 2253 of 2015, the last in the series as quoted by the Sri Lankan authorities? The clear purpose of the Security Council resolutions was to control funding the terrorist entities, originally the then Taliban and later the Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). How can the six Sri Lankan Muslim Organisations, and 156 Sri Lankan Muslims, be accused of funding any foreign terrorist entities or being associates of Al-Qaeda or ISIL?
Surely the Foreign Ministry has no proof that any one of these Sri Lankan entities, or persons, had funded the Taliban, the Al-Qaeda, or the ISIL, at any time, even though these entities, as originally resolved by the Security Council, had ceased to exist!
UN Security Council resolution 2253 of 2015 has unequivocally identified the target group of the resolution, in Section 2 as the ‘ISIL’, ‘Ai-Qaeda’ and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities’. The listing criteria are set out in Section 3 and are far beyond any fisherman’s hook! Is it the position of the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry that the six, plus 156 Sri Lankan Muslim organisations and persons, are associates of terror outfits, ISIL or Al-Qaeda, thereby exposing Sri Lanka wrongfully for actions, including sanctions and damage claims by individuals, countries or the international community?
Then DIG of the CID, Ravi Seneviratne, gave evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee that probed the Easter Sunday attacks of 21/04/2019 that there was no evidence of any links between Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday suicide bombers and the ISIL or the Ai-Qaeda. The Defence Ministry has, on a number of instances, refuted foreign media allegations and assumptions attempting such links with foreign terror outfits. The Catholic Church has time and again pointed to elements seeking to net in the ISIS to take responsibility for the Easter attacks, for days after 21/04. The attempt was to show a non-existing link.
The 1st August 2022 listing of designated persons, purportedly under Article 41 of the UN Charter, is invalid and of no force or avail in law for several other reasons as well, including that Article 41 is entirely for the extraordinary UN objective of preventing wars and conflicts between nations and not to harass, humiliate or terrorise persons and organisations totally unconnected to ISIL or Al-Qaeda as defined in paragraph numbered 2 and the listing criteria in paragraph 3 of the Security Council resolution 2253 of 2015, not renewed thereafter because the two anti-Islamic entities have been killed and cremated.
In addition, several provisions in the gazetted regulations are violative of international laws, the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and Security Council resolution 2253 of 2015. The violations may become issues in the International Court of Justice in Hague, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in Colombo, unless the listing of Muslim organisations and individuals are promptly reviewed and cancelled. “
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
