News
Gevindu faults Prez, PM over deferred 22 A
‘House in a pathetic situation’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The shocking postponement of a two-day debate, and the vote on the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, that was to be held on Oct. 06 and 07, would further erode public confidence in the Parliamentary system of governance, SLPP National List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga said on Thursday (06).The ruling coalition blocked the debate, regardless of the consequences, though the party leaders, at a meeting chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, earlier in the day, decided to go ahead with the debate, outspoken lawmaker Cumaratunga told the media.
The civil society activist blamed President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Premier Dinesh Gunawardena for holding up the process.President Wickremesinghe’s special statement on his recently concluded visits to the UK, Japan and the Philippines, and related matters with the focus on the economy, was meant to put off the scheduled debate, MP Cumaratunga said. The President of the Yuthukama civil society organization questioned the need to deliver a statement at the expense of a matter of utmost national importance. The irate lawmaker said that he was quite disappointed at the disgraceful way the government parliamentary group plotted to shelve the scheduled debate.
Pointing out that UNP leader Wickremesinghe, during his brief tenure as the Prime Minister (May 12, 2022-July 20,2022), consulted all political parties and was able to reach a general consensus regarding the 22nd Amendment, MP Cumaratunga asked whether President Wickremesinghe changed his priorities after receiving the presidency.The Parliament on July 20 elected Wickremesinghe as the President to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term.
Lawmaker Cumaratunga said that the postponement couldn’t be justified under any circumstances as the top leadership of the government repeatedly assured the country of their intention to enact 22nd Amendment. Such broken promises should be examined against the backdrop of the ongoing unprecedented political-economic-social crisis, MP Cumaratunga. Asserting that the government caused itself immense harm, the MP alleged the powers that be missed another opportunity to strengthen parliamentary democracy.
MP Cumaratunga said that the proponents of the proposed new law were quite happy when President Wickremesinghe arrived at the parliament. “I felt the President was there to influence the government parliamentary group as well as other supporters. But, the President didn’t at least bother to mention 22nd Amendment when he addressed the parliament, the MP said. The President actually avoided the issue at hand,” MP Cumaratunga said. The first time entrant to parliament described the government strategy as well as the latest developments in parliament as tragic.Strongly condemning those who opposed 22nd Amendment on the basis of various concerns, MP Cumaratunga urged the government to conduct the two day debate and the vote on 20 Amendment at the next parliamentary session later this month.
The MP stressed that what really matters is the 22nd Amendment reduced executive powers, thereby strengthened the Parliament. Responding to The Island queries, MP Cumaratunga urged political parties and groups represented in parliament to take what he called overall national interests into consideration without seeking their petty political and personal advantages. The MP recalled how the dual citizenship issue inflicted catastrophic damages to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government and contributed to the rapid decline of that administration leading to the ultimate collapse in July this year.
Lawmaker Cumaratunga said that even Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, too, was a victim of the government strategy. The MP claimed that the chief mover of the 22 Amendment in parliament appeared to have been taken by surprise as a result of the government’s move. “Minister Rajapaksa seemed to have been interested in going ahead with the proceedings. But, his party’s strategy appeared to have been different,” MP Cumaratunga said.
The Yuthukama chief said the ousted President blundered by failing to place before the public the much touted draft of the new Constitution prepared by a team led by Romesh de Silva, PC. The 20 Amendment was enacted in late Oct 2020 on the basis of repeated assurances that a new Constitution would be ready by the completion of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s second year in office, the MP said.The economy was in such a precarious situation, the government couldn’t cause further political turmoil, MP Cumaratunga said. Referring to various statements made by both government and Opposition members on the 22 Amendment following President Wickremesinghe’s statement, the lawmaker described the situation as pathetic.
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
