News
A new agenda for ONUR once led by CBK
Suganthie Kadirgamar accommodated in newly-constituted outfit; Mujibur slams govt.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The SLPP government has reconstituted the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) in the run-up to the 46th session of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
The ONUR, established in line with the prrevious Yahapalana goverment post-war reconciliation strategy, was headed by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.
The former President quit ONUR immediately after Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s victory at the Nov 2019 presidential poll.
The Justice Ministry over the weekend announced the appointment of President’s Counsel Kushan de Alwis as the new Chairperson. Former District Secretary Sunil Kannagara received appointment as ONUR’s Director General.
The ONUR formed in terms of an agreement between the then President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe played a significant role in the post-war reconciliation process in the wake of their decision to co-sponsor an accountability resolution against the country in Geneva on Oct 1, 2015.
Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC, last Friday (5), addressed the newly appointed ONUR members at the Justice Ministry; he explained the pivotal importance of post-war reconciliation process in achieving development. The minister said that achieving growth wouldn’t be possible without reconciliation.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa included senior lawyer Suganthie Kadirgamar, the wife of assassinated Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in ONUR. The LTTE assassinated Kadirgamar in August 2005 as he was engaged in deliberations with local and foreign parties in a bid to bring the warring parties back to the negotiating table.
The other members of the outfit are A.L. Susarith Mendis, Prof. Rizvie Hassen, Prof. M.M.A.D.S.A. Niriella, Samantha Ratwatte PC, attorney-at-law Janaka Ranatunga, Mano Sekaram, attorney-at-law Geethanjali Sumithraarachchi Dissanayake, Apsal Marrikkar and Senthil Thondaman.
Attorney-at-law Thushari Sooriyaarachchi has been named the Additional DG, ONUR. ONUR is expected to meet at its new office at Rajagiriya this week.
Political sources said that the ONUR would have to adopt an agenda suitable to the SLPP government’s policy especially against the backdrop of Sri Lanka quitting an accountability resolution 30/1 co-sponsored by the yahapalana government in 2015. The original ONUR was actually meant to ensure the successful implementation of the Geneva resolution. It played a significant role in the process leading to consensus among the Western powers, the then government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) as regards a hybrid war crimes investigating mechanism. In fact, the proposal for hybrid mechanism was received by Mrs. Kumaratunga, in her capacity as Chairperson, ONUR, on behalf of Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government.
Asked what would be the newly constituted ONUR’s agenda against the backdrop of the government quitting the Geneva process, Justice Minister Sabry said: “Nothing to do with the Geneva process. The new ONUR is meant to promote unity, social cohesion and understanding among communities at the grass-root level. The government is committed for sustainable and long lasting and dignified coexistence among the people.”
Minister Sabry emphasized that the ONUR would carry out the mission not to impress the world but to achieve genuine reconciliation. The minister emphasized urgent need to address the reconciliation issues.
Samagi Jana Balavegaya lawmaker Mujibur Rahman told The Island that the government had caused irreparable damage to overall reconciliation process. Colombo District MP Rahman questioned the rationale in constituting ONUR after having quit the Geneva process. The former UNP MP alleged that the SLPP administration had turned the reconciliation process upside down.
Enactment of the 20th Amendment at the expense of the 19th introduced in 2015 ruined everything, MP Rahman said, urging the government not to cause further trouble. The MP pointed out in addition to wartime accountability issues, the new Rajapaksa administration’s handling of the controversy over cremation of all Covid-19 victims regardless of religious concerns proved it didn’t care about minorities.
Lawmaker Rahman pointed out the Tamils and Muslims launching a protest march from Pottuvil to Jaffna demanding justice for war victims and to highlight other burning issues such as the cremation of Muslims. The MP pointed out that some sections of the international community had taken up the issue at hand with the government.
PIC SAVED AS KUSHAN AND Suganthie Kadirgamar
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
