News
JVP questions PM’s role in bid to postpone LG polls
By Shamindra Ferdinando
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (10) said that the genuine Opposition was seriously concerned about the role played by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in the ongoing efforts to postpone the scheduled Local Government polls.
The Election Commission is duty bound to conduct the polls to ensure the re-constitution of LG bodies by March 20, 2023, MP Dissanayake said.
Lawmaker Dissanayake, who represents Jathika Jana Balavegaya (JJB) in P,arliament disclosed that they were aware of Premier Gunawardena twice summoning members of the Election Commission (EC) to his office before President Ranil Wickremesinghe met them at the Presidential Secretariat.
The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) won the lion’s share of LG bodies, at the last LG polls, held in early February, 2018.
Acknowledging that the Premier also served as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, lawmaker Dissanayake said that except for Mrs. P.S.M. Charles, other members had been present on both occasions. Legal expert Dr. Jayatissa Costa, PC, had been present, in his capacity as the Advisor to the Premier.
The EC consists of Nimal G. Punchihewa (Chairman), S.B. Divaratne, M. M. Mohammed, K.P. P. Pathirana and Mrs. P. S.M. Charles. Director General, EC, Saman Sri Ratnayake, too, has attended all meetings with the Premier and the President, held in December 2022 and January, so far, this year.
MP Dissanayake said that Premier Gunawardena owed an explanation why he summoned EC members twice, within 10 days, in December. The JVPer pointed out that the PM’s Office, as well as the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, didn’t issue statements in that regard.
The JVPer said that Premier Gunawardena had been present at both meetings summoned by President Wickremesinghe to discuss ways and means to indefinitely put off the LG polls.
Lawmaker Dissanayake found fault with the EC for delaying the announcement, on nominations, though, constitutionally, the outfit exercised the right to set dates for elections, after Sept. 20, 2020. In a way, the EC facilitated the government’s agenda by unnecessarily delaying the announcement, lawmaker Dissanayake alleged, urging the media not to be deceived by government propaganda meant to justify its disgraceful conduct.
Attorney General, Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, too, has been brought into the shameful operation, MP Dissanayake said, pointing out the government’s Chief Legal Officer was present at the Presidential Secretariat when EC members attended the controversial meetings.
Dissanayake said that the EC owed an explanation whether the President and the Prime Minister exerted pressure on them. Those engaged in election monitoring process should clearly state their position regarding the EC being summoned ahead of elections, the MP said. The JVPer said that the issue at hand should be examined against the backdrop of declarations made by the ruling SLPP that it was ready to contest the LG polls, together with the UNP.
“We cannot ignore the fact that Premier Gunawardena, and two other MEP MPs, Sisira Jayakody and Yadamini Gunawardena, were elected and appointed on the SLPP ticket and National List, respectively,” MP Dissanayake said.
The JVP leader said that both President and the Premier led political parties, represented in Parliament, and were planning to contest LG polls in case their efforts failed.
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
