News
Adani controversy: COPE yet to accept ex-CEB chief’s retraction
… official has previously claimed to have received instructions from Prez and PM
By Shamindra Ferdinando
COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath yesterday (14) said that he would have to consult members of his all-party committee as regards ex-Chairman of CEB M.C. Ferdinando’s retraction of a statement he made before the outfit on June 10.
The SLPP National List MP said so when The Island asked him whether Ferdinando could do so.
Ferdinando resigned after having claimed in writing to Prof. Herath that the statement he attributed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was never made by the President. This was after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa denied giving such a directive to Ferdinando.
The Parliament released the video footage of a smiling Ferdinando claiming he was told by the President on Nov 24 last year to go ahead with the Adani Green Energy project here as he was under pressure of Indian PM Modi.
Asked to explain, Prof. Herath said that Ferdinando had retracted only that part of his statement therefore there was no issue at all regarding views expressed by him. The academic said that there had never been an instance where a person contradicted a statement made by him/her before the committee.
COPE comprises 22 members representing both the government and the Opposition.
Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo in late Oct last year.
In a letter dated Nov 25, 2021 written by Ferdinando to the then Secretary to the Treasury S.R. Attygalle, the then CEB Chairman stated that both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa directed him to go ahead with 500 MW wind and solar renewable energy project in Mannar and Pooneryn.
COPE summoned CEB the day after the Parliament approved Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill with 120 lawmakers voting for the Bill after a division was called by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella. Thirty six lawmakers voted against.
Referring to a progress review meeting on the energy sector chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had on Nov 16, 2021 at the Presidential Secretariat, Ferdinando told Attygalle he assumed the project Government-to-Government venture as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached agreement on it.
Ferdinando has copied the letter to several persons, including Minister Namal Rajapaksa.
Ferdinando has been earlier embroiled in Yugadanavi controversy after he acknowledged that the signing of the agreement with US based New Fortress Energy happened at midnight on Sept 17 last year.
The government brought Ferdinando from retirement in Australia to be Chairman CEB in July 2021 to facilitate the Yugadanavi deal that paved the way for the US firm to secure 40 percent of shares in the power plant held by the Treasury. Ferdinando succeeded Eng. Vijitha Herath, while Basil Rajapaksa received the finance portfolio in time for the Yugadanavi agreement.
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
