News
ASP Eric’s transfer: 20A faulted, explanation sought from govt.
‘State Minister Arundika made his move the day Prez constituted new Police Commission’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) yesterday (1) alleged that the enactment of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution had enabled the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) government to interfere with the police with impunity.
The recent transferring of ASP Eric Perera based at Wennappuwa in the Chilaw police division on political grounds wouldn’t have been possible if the 19th Amendment had been intact, SJB Colombo District lawmaker Mujibur Rahman told The Island.
Along with the tough talking ASP, five other law enforcement officers who served under him received transfers.
A letter dated Dec 3, 2020 written by the then State Plantation Minister Arundika Fernando (SLPP/Puttalam District) requesting Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera to transfer the officer was in the public domain, MP Rahman said.
The SJB spokesman pointed out that State Minister Fernando on Wednesday (31) at a media briefing acknowledged him seeking the Public Security Minister’s intervention. The endorsement of the State Minister’s letter by the Police Headquarters, too, had been released, the MP said. Therefore, there couldn’t be an issue, the SJB member said, pointing out the absurdity in State Minister Fernando requesting IGP C.D. Wickramaratne to inquire into how the media got hold of the letter.
Eric Perera formerly of the elite Special Task Force (STF) received appointment in 2019 as ASP Wennappuwa, which the police headquarters has categorized as a red zone known for unbridled vices.
Those who voted for the 20th Amendment enacted in Oct 2020 at the expense of the 19th introduced by the previous administration in 2015 should be ashamed of themselves. Over a half a dozen lawmakers elected on the SJB ticket and one National List MP also of the same party voted for the 20th Amendment, MP Rahman said.
Appreciating the media and social media platforms for the reportage of the ASP’s transfer, MP Rahman emphasized that the National Police Commission (NPC) owed an explanation as regards its stand on the ASP’s transfer. If police transfers no longer came under its purview, the NPC should acknowledge that blatant truth.
The NPC consists of former IGP Chandra Fernando – member and Chairman, S. Liyanagama, A.S.P.S. Priyantha Sanjeewa, N.S.M. Samsudeen, Gunapala Wickramage, Premasiri Perera and T.P. Parameshwaran.
MP Rahman said that the NPC had been appointed on Dec 3, 2020 in terms of schedule one of Chapter VII (a) of the Constitution. Mrs. Samanthi Mihindukula functions as the Secretary to the NPC.
Rahman urged the nine-member expert committee now formulating the new draft Constitution to pay attention to the ASP’s transfer. It would be a grave mistake on the part of the NPC as well as the expert committee chaired by Romesh de Silva, PC, to ignore the incident that reflected the transformation of the NPC. “The 20 Amendment reduced the NPC to a toothless tiger,” the former UNP lawmaker said, underscoring the fact that the new law made the all independent commissions redundant.
MP Rahman admitted that their governments, too, interfered in police matters and such interferences were not acceptable to the public.
Defence Secretary Maj. General (retd.) Kamal Gunaratne in his widely read ‘Road to Nanthikadal’ mentioned Eric Perera’s heroic response to LTTE threats to Kanchankudah STF detachment in the East during the Norway arranged Ceasefire Agreement that came into operation in Feb 2002.
According to State Minister Fernando, he wanted the Public Security Minister to transfer ASP Perera along with those who served under his command out of the Chilaw Division. ASP Perera received a transfer to the neighbouring Negombo police division.
Rahman questioned the government’s grandiose plans to eradicate crime and corruption when honest officers couldn’t perform their duties without being harassed. The SJB spokesman pointed out that a leaked audio carried by television stations and posted on social media revealed the State Minister asking ASP Perera not to take action against those whom the minister described as small time moonshine dealers. The ASP had the courage to turn down the request made at a discussion at a Wennappuwa development meeting in Feb this year. ASP Perera underscored such a policy couldn’t be adopted under any circumstances and if implemented would be exploited by all. The top law enforcement officer admitted that some of his colleagues serving with him cooperated with those engaged in vice.
Police headquarters, Director Media and spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa told The Island that the power to transfer police officers had been vested with the Public Service Commission (PSC) at the expense of the NPC. According to him, the ASPs and above, in respect of disciplinary matters and service requirements, those powers were exercised by the Secretary to the Public Security Minister.
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
