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Aeroflot affair: PNF demands explanation, action against fiscal officer, lawyer
By Shamindra Ferdinando
In spite of the release of the detained Aeroflot flight on June 06, the government is yet to initiate a proper inquiry into the high profile incident that prompted an angry reaction from Russia, Dr. Wasantha Bandara, Secretary of the Patriotic National Front (PNF) said yesterday.
Sri Lanka detained the flight on June 02 afternoon as it was preparing to take off with 191 passengers and a crew of 13.
Dr. Bandara said that the government seemed to be of the view that the issue had been resolved and no further action was required. Dr. Bandara told The Island that the government owed an explanation regarding the action taken in respect of the still unnamed fiscal officer of the Commercial High Court of the Western Province and Attorney-at-Law Anura de Silva who appeared for the plaintiff Celestial Aviation Ireland.
Dr. Bandara said that the PNF recently requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to launch an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the detention of the aircraft. The PNF, in a letter addressed to the President, has requested (1) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa apologise to Russian President Vladimir Putin (2) appoint an inquiry team under a retired judge to determine whether a deliberate attempt was made to undermine Sri Lankan state (3) arrest the court officer attached to the Justice Ministry who had been interdicted in connection with the incident to pave the way for an investigation by the CID (4) appoint a three member committee comprising Secretaries to Ministries to inquire into the conduct of three senior Airport and Aviation officials who wrongly interpreted the relevant court order (5) give an assurance that Sri Lanka would compensate Aeroflot and (6) formulate an appropriate mechanism to handle similar situations in the future.
Dr. Bandara questioned the validity of the Bar Association’s stand that it couldn’t initiate an inquiry into the lawyer’s conduct unless it received a complaint. The civil society activist said that Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, should inquire into the matter as the Justice Ministry, having interdicted the court official recommended that action be taken against the lawyer concerned.
Referring to The Island reportage of the incident, Dr. Bandara pointed out that FJ & G de Saram, leading law firm from the colonial times that appeared for the plaintiff has declined to comment on the issue at hand. Avindra Rodrigo, PC, who appeared for the plaintiff, too, hadn’t been available for comment, Dr. Bandara said, the government, the BASL and other interested parties couldn’t turn a blind eye to the Aeroflot affair.
Those who preached political parties of transparency and accountability, too, should be equally responsible for their actions, Dr. Bandara said. The disruption of regular Aeroflot flights against the backdrop of Sri Lankan Airlines suspending its flights has denied Russian tourists an opportunity to visit Sri Lanka, at a time the country badly needs tourist traffic.
Dr. Bandara said that the Rajapaksa administration hadn’t been interested at all in improving and enhancing relations with Russia, though Moscow constantly supported Sri Lanka. The PNF official cited the dismissal of the Russian offer to upgrade Sri Lanka’s only refinery at Sapugaskanda during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term as a case in point. Dr. Bandara alleged that the government rejected the Russian offer after a group of experts carried out a detailed study and expressed their readiness to undertake the project.
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
