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SLPP MP asks FM for clarification
21-A prerequisite for IMF loan:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, owed an explanation as regards his claim that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had demanded the enactment of 21 Amendment to the Constitution as a prerequisite for the finalisation of USD 2.9 bn Extended Fund Facility Arrangement (EFFA) with Sri Lanka, retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, MP, said yesterday.
The SLPP MP said that the much-touted IMF loan hadn’t materialised yet though Sri Lanka had enacted the 21st Amendment on 21 Oct. In fact, there was no clear indication when the IMF facility would be made available in the coming year, the former Public Security Minister said.
MP Weerasekera said that he had voted against the 21st Amendment as he couldn’t under any circumstances support it after having voted for 20th Amendment. Of the 225-member parliament, 179 voted in favour, one against while 45 skipped the vote.
Weerasekera said that Minister Sabry had declared 21 Amendment as being a prerequisite for the IMF loan at a parliamentary group meeting chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat.
According to Weerasekera, Minister Sabry underscored the need for the enactment of the Amendment in response to his strong opposition to the move.
Lawmaker Weerasekera told The Island: “The government should make its position clear on the draft constitution prepared by a team led by Romesh de Siva PC. When the parliamentary group discussed the 21st Amendment, I pointed out the availability of constitutional proposals prepared by Romesh de Silva’s team that included Manohara de Silva, PC. That team undertook the project on the then Justice Minister Sabry’s request soon after the last parliamentary elections.”
MP Weerasekera opted out of the cabinet of ministers when the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa re-constituted the cabinet in April amidst political turmoil.
The former minister said that he expected the IMF to set the record straight. The IMF couldn’t justify interfering in purely a domestic matter, MP Weerasekera said while acknowledging there had been constant external interventions beginning with the 13th Amendment introduced at India’s behest.
Referring to Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) taking up the constitution making process during yahapalana administration and India raising the 13th Amendment at Geneva, MP Weerasekera said that interested parties seemed to be exploiting continuing economic-political-social crisis here to pursue their agendas.
“There is no point in denying the fact that we are vulnerable to foreign interference. Instead of reaching agreement on a workable plan to stabilize the economy, we are bending backwards to appease the Tamil National Alliance. Having recognized the LTTE as the sole representative of Tamil speaking people way back in 2001, the TNA today has the audacity to demand accountability on the part of the government,” MP Weerasekera said.
All political parties have also conveniently forgotten how the TNA jointly called for Northerners to boycott the 2005 presidential election, MP Weerasekera said.
The former Minister appreciated President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s readiness to reexamine his decision to grant Divisional Secretaries the power to deal with state land, including Mahaweli lands.
President Wickremesinghe assured the parliament on Dec 07 that a legal committee would be appointed to examine the issues at hand after MP Weerasekera, on a request made by him, got an opportunity to discuss the matter with the President.
The State giving up its authority on land should be examined against the backdrop of constant pressure being exerted on Sri Lanka for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment, MP Weerasekera said.
Responding to another query, Weerasekera warned that external interventions would be intensified in the New Year as Sri Lanka sought further assistance to cope up with the economic crisis. If Minister Sabry’s declaration as regards IMF insistence on 21st Amendment is accepted, then the Washington headquartered organisation wanted some other demand or demands met, MP Weerasekera asked.
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
