News
A sizable Viyathmaga group enters parliament; Yuthukama receives two slots
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Civil society organisation Viyathmaga has emerged as an influential group within the SLPP (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) parliamentary group with eight out of nine contestants gaining entry into parliament at the just concluded general election.
The SLPP won 145 seats, including 17 National List slots. The parliament comprises 196 elected and 29 appointed members.
Of the winners, retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera (328,092) and Dr. Nalaka Godahewa (325,479) polled the highest preferential votes in Colombo and Gampaha electoral districts, respectively.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fielded the group on the SLPP ticket whereas former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Dr. Seetha Arambepola were accommodated on the National List.
Of the successful Viyathmaga members, only Weerasekera has represented the parliament before having served the Navy for over three decades. Weerasekera represented Digamadulla electorate during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second tenure (2010-2015) as the President.
Viyathmaga nominees Prof. Channa Jayasumana (Anuradhapura/133,980), Gunapala Ratnasekera (Kurunegala/141,991), Nalaka Kottegoda (Matale/71,404), Tilak Rajapaksha (Digamadulla/54,203), Dr. Upul Galappatti (Hambantota/63,369), and Udayana Kirindigoda (Mahanuwara/39,904) entered Parliament at the expense of those who represented the last parliament on the UPFA ticket.
A second Viyathmaga nominee Businessman Anura Fernando who nursed Colombo (north) electorate failed to get returned.
At the onset of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s entry into active politics, the wartime Defence Secretary launched Viyathmaga in early 2016 to take his message to the masses. Viyathmaga was followed by second civil society group Eliya that focused on countering moves to introduce a new Constitution at the expense of the country’s unitary status.
In the run-up to the Aug 5 election, Rear Admiral Weerasekera told The Island that he had moved from Digamadulla to Colombo at the behest of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Weerasekera said that having successfully contested Digamadulla at the 2010 general election he felt comfortable with joining the fray there in spite of being unsuccessful at the 2015 parliamentary election.
Weerasekera said that there hadn’t been a previous instance of a President fielding a team of his own for parliamentary election since the introduction of the proportional representation system.
Dr. Arambepola quit the post as the Governor of the Western Province to join the SLPP National List.
The emergence of the Viyathmaga as a political entity at the 2020 general election was a significant development that would shape the political landscape and give President Gotabaya Rajapaksa strength, Dr. Godahewa said during his campaign.
Dr. Godahewa, who had held several important public sector appointments, including SEC Chairman, pushed SLPP Gampaha District leader Prasanna Ranatunga to the second place by topping the preferential vote count there, whereas Weerasekara polled more than National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, the second highest recipient of the Colombo vote.
Prof. Channa Jayasumana came second in the Anuradhapura District. Six others were elected on the SLPP ticket.
Speculation is rife that the Viyathmaga will be represented in the Cabinet. In terms of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the Cabinet has to be restricted to 30 members.
Parliament is scheduled to meet on Aug 20.
Political sources told The Island that the emergence of Viyathmaga contestants as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s nominees caused issues in some districts though the ruling party managed to prevent untoward incidents.
Viyathmaga sources said that though SLPP National List nominees Ali Sabri and Charitha Herath hadn’t been named as Viyathmaga members; they earnestly backed the project. Sources added that Viyathmaga campaign had got underway even before SLPP secured Election Commission recognition on Nov 1, 2016 as a political party.
In addition to Viyathmaga, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa paved the way for Yuthukama to field Anupa Pasqual on the SLPP Kalutara District list. Pasqual polled 97,777 preferential votes to be sixth out of eight elected from the Kalutara District by the SLPP. Yuthukama leader Gevindu Cumaratunga, who campaigned for the change of UNP-led government since 2015, has also received an SLPP National List slot.
Both Viyathmaga and Yuthukama campaigned for Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the 2019 presidential election.
The Samagi Jana Balavegaya, the UNP and the JVP-led Jathika Jana Balavegaya (JJB), too, accommodated half a dozen civil society activists in their National Lists. Among them were former National List MP Saman Ratnapriya Silva (UNP), attorney-at-law Lal Wijenayake (JJB), Dr. Harini Amarasuriya (JJB), Maheem Pradeep Mendis (SJB), Shiral Lakthilake (SJB), Chamira Perera (SJB) and Anuruddha Pradeep Karnasuriya (SJB).
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
