News
ADB funding for medicine: Govt. not allowed to participate in procurement process
Jagoda stands by accusations
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has revealed that in respect of funds that had been made available by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to procure urgently needed medicine, the entire procurement process was handled by that organisation.
The disclosure was made at a hastily arranged media briefing on Wednesday (28) at the health ministry to answer queries raised on allegations pertaining to procurement of medicines and surgical items through the Indian credit line.
Rambukwella said that there had been instances when the ADB even questioned some items chosen by the Health Ministry.The media was told the ADB provided USD 67 mn, in addition to USD 200 mn made available by India, USD 100 mn from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and USD 28 mn from China.
Minister Rambukwella maintained that the ADB procurement process was slow.
Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Pubudu Jagoda, who challenged the procurement process in respect of the Indian credit line as well as Minister Rambukwelle’s recent controversial visit to India, said that the ADB policy was meant to deprive opportunities for waste and corruption.
Jagoda pointed out that the World Bank imposed strict regulations when Sri Lanka opened international competitive biddings for fertiliser.In terms of the World Bank guidelines, contractors and sub-contractors are required to permit the World Bank team to inspect records, accounts and other documents relating to the procurement process and audited by auditors appointed by the WB.
This was in relation to tenders that had been called for the procurement of 125,000 metric tonnes of urea for the Maha season utilising funds allocated under the USD 350 million emergency financing facility offered by the World Bank.
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) during Prof. Charitha Herath’s tenure as its Chairman accused Litro of misappropriation of funds. Declaring that Sri Lanka couldn’t restore the supply of cooking gas till the World Bank provided USD 70 mn to the government contribution.
Prof. Herath said it had not been possible to restore the cooking gas supply until the World Bank provided USD 70 mn to the government and Sri Lanka added USD 20 mn to the funds provided by the WB. The lawmaker claimed that the supplier whose bid had been rejected earlier had secured the contract through a front. He alleged that a tonne of gas that could have been procured previously at a cost of USD 96 was finally obtained at USD 129.One-time Media Ministry Secretary alleged that even the funds provided by the World Bank at a time the country was struggling to resolve the economic crisis had been misappropriated.
Litro has denied lawmaker Herath’s allegations.Jagoda yesterday toldThe Islandthat the government-led procurement process had lost its credibility. Responding to questions, the FSP official said that there was no point in reminding the parliament of its responsibility as regards public finance. The country wouldn’t have ended up bankrupt if parliament fulfilled its obligations, Jagoda said, adding that emergency loans received from India as well as other countries and lending agencies had to be repaid with interest. Therefore, it would be the responsibility of the government to ensure a corruption-free process, Jagoda said.
The FSP official insisted that Minister Rambukwella hadn’t answered the issues raised by him and a section of the media. The Minister is on record as having said that 90 percent of the media reports and allegations made against him were false, Jagoda said. The FSP official challenged MP Rambukwella to disclose what he believed was accurate.
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
