News
AG to move SC against Trial-at-Bar ruling: Tiran
Acquittal of group indicted for smuggling 197 kg of heroin
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, will soon move the Supreme Court against the recent acquittal of five persons indicted at the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar for the possession of nearly 197 kgs of heroin.
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said so when The Island raised the growing public discontent over the acquittal of the entire group, intercepted and arrested by the Navy (SLNS Sagara), in international waters, in April 2019.
Asked how he expected to restore public confidence in the much-touted government offensive against narcotics trade, considering the failure of the AG Department’s to bring the high profile case to a successful conclusion, Minister Alles said the SC would be moved tomorrow or the day after.
Rajaratnam succeeded Dappula de Livera, PC, in May 2021. At the time of the detection, the incumbent Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, had served as the AG.
The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar, having concluded the hearings within six months, acquitted and discharged the suspects on April 06, 2023, on the basis the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar Bench comprising Colombo High Court Judges Adithya Patabendige, Manjula Thilakaratne and Mahesh Weeraman, held that there were serious contradictions in the evidence led by the prosecution.
Minister Alles acknowledged his concerns over contradictions in evidence given by police officers. State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon told The Island that this particular issue received their prompt attention.
Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, appointed a Trial-at-Bar following a request made by AG Rajaratnam.The suspects in this case were Jayakody Arachchige Anura Chaminda Appuhamy, Thawarasa Sudakaran, Aglesa Pillai Thawarasa, Yaddihi Arachchige Lasantha Priyalal and Kandayiya Chandrakumar.
Navy headquarters directed Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) SLNS Sagara to intercept the fishing craft carrying heroin after police alerted the presence of the vessel in international waters.
The then head of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), Senior DIG Sajeewa Madawatte, had been at the Trincomalee harbour to take the suspects into custody. Although the weight of the recovered heroin had been given as 293.19 kilos subsequently that amount was reduced to 196 kilos and 986 grams.
Senior DIG Medawatte was transferred out of the PNB, in July 2020, in the wake of the disclosure of the alleged involvement of several PNB personnel, with narcotics dealers. Madawatte now heads the Support Service, in addition to being the senior officer in charge of the North Western Province. Several attempts made by The Island to contact Senior DIG Medawatte weren’t successful.Police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that the media would be briefed of the developments once he got in touch with DIG in charge of Police Legal Division.
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
