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Acquittal of Rishad: AG owes explanation – MP
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Attorney General’s Department owed an explanation regarding the acquittal of Rishad Bathiudeen, MP, leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), a key suspect in the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, the National Organiser of the Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) Jayantha Samaraweera, MP, said on Thursday (03).The ACMC is a constituent party of the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB).
The former State Minister asked whether AG Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, issued instructions that paved the way for Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage to acquit lawmaker Bathiudeen on Nov 02 as investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) cleared him of involvement.Rajaratnam succeeded Dappula de Livera, PC, in May 2021. Livera, who was appointed AG a week after the Easter Sunday blasts, is on record as having alleged that the carnage was a grand conspiracy.
The Island interviewed the Kalutara District MP following his media briefing at the JNP Office at Pita Kotte, where the former JVPer questioned the circumstances the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) informed the Fort Magistrate Court of the AG’s decision.Police headquarters, too, certainly owed an explanation as authoritative law enforcement authorities repeatedly assured they were inquiring into the former Trade and Commerce Minister’s involvement with those who carried out the attack, lawmaker Samaraweera said.
ACMC leader Bathiudeen was granted bail on Oct 14, 2021 after having been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for over six months. The CID arrested the Vanni District MP on April 24, 2021.Bathiudeen switched his allegiance to the SJB in the run-up to the last general election in August 2020. At the previous parliamentary election, the ACMC contested on the UNP ticket. At that time of the Easter Sunday blasts that claimed the lives of 270 persons, including about 40 foreigners and wounded over 400 others, Bathiudeen served in the Cabinet of President Maithripala Sirisena.
The MP pointed out that the Fort Magistrate announced the AG’s decision on All Souls Day, Nov 02, a day of prayer and remembrance for those who departed.Lawmaker Samaraweera said that in terms of the instructions received from the AG, the Fort Magistrate also released the ACMC leader’s passport.The MP said that he would like to know the status of the investigation into the funding made available by the Colossus Copper factory, Wellampitiya for the suicide bombers as former police spokesman and Attorney-at-Law SSP Jaliya Senaratne was on record as having said the direct involvement of that enterprise in the National Thowheed Jaamaat (NTJ) terror project.
Lawmaker Samaraweera stressed that the police couldn’t go back on statements issued to the media over a period of time as regards the Easter bombing. Responding to another query, the top JNP spokesperson said that investigations revealed how Colossus factory had received favoured treatment in the issuance of copper by the Industrial Development Board (IDB) that was under the purview of the then Trade and Commerce Minister Bathiudeen during yahapalana administration. Bathiudeen has served as the Trade and Commerce Minister from the time Colossus launched its operations in 2012 during the second term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the MP said.
Lawmaker Samaraweera recalled the revelation made at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday carnage how the then Public Relations Director of President Sirisena advised the IDB to provide 500 tonnes of copper to Colossus.The MP said that the media reported how Devika Liyanage, a Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, at that time also directed the IDB to issue Colossus 1000 kilos of brass.
The Catholic Church should take up the issue at hand, lawmaker Samaraweera said, adding that they were in the process of examining the case anew in the wake of the AG’s move.Alleging that successive governments quite conveniently refrained from implementing recommendations of the P CoI made in early 2021, MP Samaraweera said that they intended to raise the issue both in and out of parliament.
The MP noted that local spice tycoon Mohamed Yusuf Ibrahim, the father of Mohamed Ibrahim Ilham Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim Insaf Ahmed who detonated themselves at Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand, respectively, was granted bail in late May this year. Ibrahim had been on the JVP’s National List at the 2015 general election, MP Samaraweera said, alleging that the matter never received the attention of the investigation.
A seven-judge bench presided by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, ruled on Sept. 26 that Ranil Wickremesinghe could no longer be named as a respondent in the Easter Sunday fundamental rights petitions filed 12 parties, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL). President’s Counsel Jayasuriya served as the AG at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks.MP Samaraweera said that ex-President Sirisena, who is also a respondent through his Counsel Faizer Mustapha opposed in vain the granting of presidential immunity to Wickremesinghe.
Alleging that the government hadn’t implemented P CoI recommendations pertaining to none of the senior law enforcement officers, including the then Head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Senior DIG Nilantha Jayewardena, lawmaker Samaraweera said that the AG’s Department should reveal how it dealt with State Counsel Malik Azeez and Deputy Solicitor General Azad Navavi against the backdrop of the P CoI recommending disciplinary action by the Public Service Commission (PSC).The MP noted that Rishad’s brother Riyaj, also arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday carnage, had been granted bail.
The JNP official recalled how the then AG de Livera called for an explanation from the CID in late 2020 when the Riyaj was released by the CID. What really happened to the investigation initiated by De Livera, the MP asked, urging the police and the AG’s Department to come clean on this matter.MP Samaraweera said that the termination of investigation into Bathiudeen should be examined against the backdrop of the AG and the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption) withdrawing and terminating several dozens of high profile cases.
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
