News
Alleged threats to Chandima: Opposition MPs flay Speaker for refusing to release recordings
By Saman Indrajith
Opposition MPs engaged in a wrangle with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday morning when the latter refused to release the audio recordings of Defence Secretary, Kamal Gunaratne and Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage allegedly threatening Galle District SLPP dissident MP Chandima Weerakkody.
MP Weerakkody told the House that during the last sitting week he had raised a privilege issue in respect of alleged threats from the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander. “The issue is now before the Parliament Privilege Committee. Both chairpersons of the privilege committee and the Defence Ministry consultative committee are well aware of the matter that I had raised here. When I asked for the recording of the sessions of the Defence Ministry consultative committee when this incident took place, my request was turned down. It is my duty as an MP to raise the waste of public funds by the Defence Ministry at that Ministry’s consultative committee. I want at least the audio tapes to be used as evidence at the Parliament Privilege Committee and in my complaint to the Public Service Commission against these officials. However, the audio tapes were not released to me by the Ministry consultative committee,” the MP said.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena: We do not release audio tapes to outside entities. It is a decision made by Parliament. I cannot do anything about it. Unless there is a change in that position, the tapes would not be released.
When Opposition MPs shouted, the Speaker said that MP Weerakkody’s matter had been referred to the Parliament Privilege Committee.
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella: MP Weerakkody’s privileges have been breached. The Speaker is the one responsible for the ensuring of protection of the privileges of MPs. As per Section 139 of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act the Speaker is vested with the power to take decisions and implement them in this regard. The Speaker has the power to order the Committee to release the audio tapes. Please, release these audio tapes. The Speaker should not protect the rights of the President or the Army officers. Your job is to protect the MPs.
Speaker Abeywardena: We cannot release them to outside entities, but there is no hindrance to playing the recording before the privilege committee. We cannot let you take them out of Parliament.
Kiriella: You are not protecting the MPs’ rights. You are protecting the interests of the President. You are protecting the interests of the Secretary to the President.
Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa said that the Committee consultative meetings were considered an extension of Parliament and they, too, were covered by immunities and privileges given to Parliament. The videos of committee sessions are shown on TV. Thus, these tapes could be released. The Speaker and the Committee were duty bound to release them. If an official threatened an MP during a session of a Consultative Committee Meeting, that was a violation of that MPs privileges. The audio tape should be released, Premadasa said.
MP Weerakkody said he was planning to move court against the two officials, who had violated his privileges.
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
