News
AG, COPE take exception to ‘executive interference’
Watchdog committee critical of Labour Minister, summons Secy.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has strongly protested against the executive intervening and undermining the parliamentary process in the wake of Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara’s unprecedented attack on Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne at the National Productivity Awards ceremony held at Temple Trees last month.
Minister Nanayakkara has also challenged the powers exercised by COPE.At a special meeting, chaired by COPE Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara, and also attended by his predecessor Prof. Charitha Herath, and AG Wickramaratne, the parliamentary watchdog decided to take it up with President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Director Legislative Services and Acting Director of Communications, Janakantha Silva, in a statement issued in Sinhala, on the evening of Thursday (05), disclosed that Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment R.P.A. Wimalaweera, would be summoned before
COPE on January 17. Wimalaweera is the Chief Accounting Officer of the Ministry.Manusha Nanayakkara is one of the two Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) lawmakers who switched allegiance to the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government last May.
Several weeks before the attack on the AG and COPE, in the presence of Premier Gunawardena, Minister Nanayakkara, during the Committee Stage debate, on the 2023 Budget, slammed the parliamentary watchdog committee. Communist Party MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe hit back hard at Minister Nanayakkara at that time.
Minister Nanayakara didn’t answer calls to his hand phone. Ministry Secretary Wimaraweera didn’t respond to a message sent to his official e-mail.During Thursday’s COPE meeting, Prof. Herath went to the extent of recommending the sacking of Ministry Secretary Wimalaweera, a presidential appointee, who represented the President and the Minister concerned.
COPE Chairman Bandara told The Island that no previous Auditor General has lodged such a complaint in parliamentary history. “We are determined to go the whole hog,” Prof. Bandara said, adding that the special meeting was summoned following a written complaint received from the AG.Prof. Herath said that had Parliament taken tangible measures, in respect of reports submitted over the years by successive AGs, the country wouldn’t have been in the current predicament.
Prof. Bandara succeeded Herath in early Oct. last year as Head of the parliamentary watchdog. The academic comfortably defeated SJB nominee Eran Wickremaratne by receiving 15 votes to the former UNPer’s seven votes.At the commencement of the January 05 meeting, COPE decided to appoint four sub-committees, comprising three members. According to the statement issued by Parliament, this move was meant to enhance their participation in the overall COPE process.
The COPE also decided to summon public sector enterprises and carry out re-examination of enterprises under the guidance of the AG. Subsequently, the watchdog committee has taken up Minister Nanayakkara’s issue with AG Wickramaratne pointing out how such irresponsible statements violated his constitutional rights in the performance of duties and responsibilities. The outspoken official has declared that by undermining the faith in the public sector, the public, as well as MPs, had in the AG, Minister Nanayakkara seriously harmed the Parliament objective in financial discipline.
AG Wickramaratne has dismissed assertions that he threw his weight behind COPE, tasked with enhancing financial discipline, operating outside Standing Orders of Parliament.
Having deemed there is no basis for Minister Nanayakkara’s statement, made at the National Productivity Awards, COPE condemned the Labour and Foreign Employment Bureau Minister for setting a bad precedent. COPE regretted Minister Nanayakkara’s unsubstantiated statement and apologized to the AG and his staff.In addition, COPE decided to complain to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and forward a copy of that letter to Premier Gunawardena and other members of the Cabinet.
In a hard hitting statement, Parliament emphasized that Labour and Foreign Employment Secretary Wimalaweera would be asked to explain, within two days, the progress achieved in respect of recommendations made at his last appearance before COPE. Accordingly, the Ministry Secretary would be told that all previous recommendations in respect of Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) stand when he appears before COPE on January 17, Janakantha Silva stated.The COPE also decided to submit a comprehensive report, based on proceedings in respect of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB).
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
