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NMSJ Chairman offers plenty of armchair advice
The people’s representatives, in Parliament, must now work together for one year with the blessings of the people to save the country from the abyss it has fallen into, Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), Karu Jayasuriya, said at the fifth district-wise conference, titled ‘A New Constitution for a Better Country,’ organised by the NMSJ and the Collective for National and Religious Harmony.The meeting was held in Ratnapura. He said that the NMSJ has expressed its views on various national, religious and societal issues in our country.
“We are fearless in appreciating the correct measures taken by any governmen or leadership in power while also criticising it when it makes incorrect decisions that are detrimental to the people. Our movement is in constant contact with Sri Lankans living in many countries around the world. We often receive ideas and proposals from Sri Lankan intellectuals living abroad. To date, we have held 96 meetings, via Zoom. Based on these discussions, we have released various publications regarding the subjects affecting the country. These publications can be accessed through our Facebook page or through the website www.sadharana.org,” he said.
Given below are excerpts of the speech he gave : “We were able to create a common consensus on important issues, such as economy, education, agriculture, fisheries, electoral system, the new constitution and especially the ‘common minimum programme’ proposal for building the country.
Today, we are facing many national crises, never before experienced in the country’s past. The country has already been internationally recognized as being bankrupt. The economy has been fully destroyed.
Power cuts, high cost of living and malnutrition are on the rise. “These problems can be solved only if there is a national consensus in the country. Unfortunately, this has not taken place yet. On the other hand, we appreciate the government taking steps to provide solutions to many problems faced by the people, such as traffic congestion, and fuel and gas shortages.
“As a national movement, we have always suggested that all national leaders, regardless of political affiliation, work together through Parliament to seek solutions to these issues. The people will then refrain from pointing fingers at the Parliament. We can then rebuild this country, while setting aside all divides, through the participation of the leaders, and the blessings of the county’s citizens.
“If 24-hour electricity and continuous fuel supply are established, the day-to-day lives of the people will be restored. Industries and exports will increase rapidly. Tourist arrivals will increase and we can further develop the industry, during the winter season in Europe.
“Next, we must ensure the development of the agriculture industry. Experts have pointed out that if farmers are given the necessary seed, fertiliser and pesticide requirements at a fair price, we can expect record-breaking higher yields in the Maha season.
“We have also expressed our stiff opposition to the arrests of trade union leaders, and student activists by misusing the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The people’s representatives in Parliament must now work togethe for one year with the blessings of the people to save the country from the abyss it has fallen in and to restore the country and the lives of the people. This is what must happen today. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution must be enacted in its entirety to protect democracy and human rights. We make this appeal to all our public representatives. Citizens can then choose a leader, political party or MP of their choice to represent their area. This is a request we make on behalf of the future generation.”
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
