News
FSP raises alarm over Indian investments in strategic locations
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Indian investments in some strategic locations in Sri Lanka could pose a serious national security threat, Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), Pubudu Jayagoda says.Jayagoda added that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who does not have a mandate to be the President, had initiated a number of economic policy and legal amendments to facilitate Indian investments in strategic areas.
“Speaking in Parliament on Thursday Wickremesinghe urged the Tamil political parties to join him in finding a solution to the problems faced by Tamil people. No one opposes this in principle, but this is nothing but an eyewash. He is trying to pacify the people of the North, who are not at all happy with certain Indian projects to be carried out in the North,” he said.
Jayagoda said the government was planning to carry out a number of renewable energy generation projects in the North. Soon after Wickremesinghe became President, he presented a strategic plan on the Trincomalee District. According to the plan, a number of strategic locations in the district will be handed over to Indian companies.”
The FSP Education Secretary also alleged that there were plans to change the district borders of Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa. Some Tamil majority areas would be made a part of Polonnaruwa and vice versa, he said.
“This is an attempt to change the ethnic composition of the Trincomalee District. The SLPP and Wickremesinghe associates are telling the Sinhalese of Trincomalee that the Sinhalese will be the majority in the Trincomalee District. This is a plot to dampen opposition to Indian projects in the district among the Sinhalese,” he said.
Jayagoda said District Secretariats of Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa were working on data gathering to change district borders. However, a change of this magnitude could only be made with the approval of the Parliament, he said.
“This was raised by TNA Leader, R. Sampanthan, and MP M. A. Sumanthiran made a statement in Parliament in October. Everyone who knows what is happening is deeply worried. Unfortunately, this has not received adequate attention by the media,” Jagoda said.
“The government has agreed to allow India to explore oil in the Mannar Basin and this poses a serious security threat to the country. Several Sri Lankan laws prevent such an Indian intervention and Wickremesinghe has asked relevant officers to change the laws, he said.
“Adani Group has gained a foothold in the Colombo Port. Initially, he wanted a stake in the East Terminal, but that was thwarted. Now, he has the West Terminal, and the plan is to attract the large ships that come to Colombo to the West Terminal. India controls bunkering at Trincomalee. Soon, they will have a firm foothold in Mannar as well. This is a serious national security issue,” he said.The FSP Education Secretary said India had also won a number of renewable energy projects in the North and the people were unhappy about them.
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
