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AG’s submissions to SC on 20 A:
Govt. ally, NFF, protests against dismissal of its proposals
By Shamindra Ferdinando
General Secretary of the National Freedom Front (NFF) S. Wijayasiri, on behalf of its leader Wimal Weerawansa, in a letter to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has warned of dire consequences, if the government went ahead with the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution regardless of growing public opposition.
Colombo District MP Weerawansa said that his party wouldn’t accept responsibility for political fallout if the government refused to heed advice.
The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentary group comprises five NFF lawmakers, including one National List member.
Referring to Attorney General Dappula de Livera’s assurance to the Supreme Court regarding amendments that were to be made to the 20th Amendment at the Committee Stage in Parliament, the NFF pointed out that none of those critically important recommendations made by Weerawansa to a 9-member committee appointed by the Premier were accommodated by the Attorney General.
The NFF expressed serious concern over what the party called the following three vital points ignored by the government (1) Depriving the Auditor General of his right to examine accounts of those enterprises in which the government held controlling shares (ii) re-introduction of urgent bills and (iii) paving the way for dual citizens to contest parliamentary polls instead of extending the prohibition to those receiving diplomatic postings and other senior public sector appointments.
Appreciating Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa being sensitive to concerns raised by constituents of the SLPP as well as the public, the NFF said that refusal on the part of the government to heed such criticism would be detrimental to the administration.
The NFF assured the Prime Minister that it would take into consideration the ongoing anti-Sri Lanka and anti-government project in progress while deciding its stand on the 20th Amendment. In spite of sharp differences over the proposed piece of legislation, the NFF reiterated its commitment for the protection of the government and the mandate received from the people.
Weerawansa was represented in the 9-member committee that was led by Education Minister who is also the Chairman of the SLPP Prof. G.L. Peiris. Nimal Siripala de Silva and Udaya Gammanpila represented the SLFP and the PHU, respectively in the committee appointed by the PM that drew up some changes to the proposed 20A.
Weerawansa is the first party leader to publicly express concern over the government refusal to take their concerns as well as those of the public amidst the ongoing Supreme Court hearing of petitions filed against the 20th Amendment. Hearings commenced on Sept 29. The Supreme Court is constitutionally responsible to rule on the petitions by or before Oct 12. Among those 39 petitions filed against the 20th Amendment was one by Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole, member of the Election Commission (EC).
The NFF appreciated efforts made by Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa to reach consensus among SLPP constituents on the proposals made by the NFF and other members of the Prof. G.L. Peiris’ committee.
Meanwhile, PHU leader and attorney-at-law Gammanpila told The Island that there was no basis for speculation that the government was having talks with the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) to secure its backing for the passage of the 20th Amendment. Gammanpila said that there were no negotiations with ACMC leader Rishard Bathiudeen whatsoever. The minister said so in response to The Island queries as to whether his party would change stand taken jointly with the NFF in the run-up to the general election that they wouldn’t accept Bathiudeen in the cabinet under any circumstances. The Island sought an explanation from Gammanpila how the public perceived Internal Security Minister Chamal Rajapaksa meeting Bathiudeen in Vavuniya close on the heels of the former minister’s brother Riyaj who had been held in custody for more than five months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in connection with his alleged involvement in 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
ACMC parliamentary group consists of four elected on the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) ticket at the 2020 August general election.
Opposition political parties, civil society and other interested parties have sought the Supreme Court intervention expecting a referendum in addition to 2/3 majority in parliament as proposed by the Attorney General.
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
