News
Australia stresses importance of ‘Operation Sovereign Borders’
warns of deeper consequences for region if Lanka crisis continues
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Opposition lawmaker Weerasumana Weerasinghe yesterday (24) said the current economic crisis had compelled most Sri Lankans to migrate even risking their lives in some cases.The Matara District Communist Party MP said that the never ending queue at the Passport Office indicated that those who had lost all hope here were trying to leave the country. However, a significant number of people, in some instances whole families, were risking their lives to reach developed countries. The MP was commenting on the latest detection made by the Navy, off the western coast.
The Navy Thursday (23) evening intercepted a fishing trawler carrying a group of persons seeking asylum in Australia. Navy headquarters said that five smugglers were among 35 persons arrested in the seas off Panadura. The arrested would be asylum seekers comprised 29 adults and six children.
The Navy said the inspection of the vessel indicated that it hadn’t been in a condition to undertake a long sea voyage.
The Navy said that the arrested, aged 06 to 56, were residents of Trincomalee, Mannar, Batticaloa, Negombo, Kalpitiya and Nuwara Eliya and they were handed over to the Colombo Harbour Police.Lawmaker Weerasinghe alleged that the people should be mindful of racketeers who passed information to authorities after collecting money from would-be asylum seekers. The MP urged the government to address issues at hand or face a major crisis. Dozens of boats carrying Sri Lankan Tamils have reached Tamil Nadu during the past few months.
The Panadura detection was the first since a top Australian delegation held talks at the Defence Headquarters Complex, at Pelawatte, on Monday (20) with the defence hierarchy here. Australia, a member of the ‘Quad’ allianc, comprising the US, Japan and India, intended to meet the perceived growing Chinese challenge in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Australian delegation was led by Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Clare O’Neil MP while Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne headed the Sri Lankan delegation. It was O’Neil’s first overseas visit in her new capacity, following federal election in late May this year. The Labour Party won the election after being in the Opposition for almost a decade.
The Australian delegation included Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram APM, Commander of the Joint Agency Task Force Rear Admiral Justin Jones, Commander, Transnational Operations of Australian Federal Police Richard Chin, Ambassador and Assistant Secretary of People Smuggling and Human Trafficking Branch Lucienne Manton, Australian High Commissioner in Colombo David Holly and the Deputy HC Amanda Jewell.
The Australian delegation arrived here in the wake of the Navy intercepting a fishing trawler carrying dozens of illegal migrants to Australia, the fifth such attempt to be blocked in May.
During discussions here, Minister O’Neil repeatedly emphasized that there was no change in Australia’s border protection policies or Operation Sovereign Borders launched in 2013. In spite the change of government, Australia would continue to sustain the controversial operation meant to thwart illegal immigration. Minister O’Neil, during discussions with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, emphasized the new government’s resolve to curb human smuggling.
In line with overall Australian strategy to prevent Sri Lanka becoming a launch pad for people smugglers’ boats, Australia has also sponsored Sri Lanka Navy participation in the US hosted RIMPAC Exercise 2022 to enhance cooperation. The 50-member SLN group comprising 48 marines and two Special Boat Squadron (SBS) personnel has been assigned to HMAS Canberra of the Royal Australian Navy for a two weeks acclimatization programme and would subsequently leave for Hawaiian Islands and Southern California, United States, onboard HMAS Canberra for RIMPAC 2022. The exercise is scheduled to commence on July 04.
MP Weerasinghe said that recent assistance provided by Australia should be examined taking into consideration its determination to stop asylum seekers from Sri Lanka and also the overall Western strategy. All four Quad navies are participating in the exercise.Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in a brief statement that coincided with Minister O’Neil’s visit explained the measures taken by them to assist Sri Lanka mitigate the current economic crisis.Accordingly, Sri Lanka would receive $50 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to meet urgent food and healthcare needs.Minister Wing asserted that Sri Lanka currently faced its worst economic crisis in seventy years, leading to shortages of food, medicine and fuel.
Minister Wong said: “Australia has a close and long-standing relationship with Sri Lanka. Not only do we want to help the people of Sri Lanka in its time of need, there are also deeper consequences for the region if this crisis continues. We will contribute an immediate $22 million to the World Food Programme for emergency food assistance to help three million people in Sri Lanka meet their daily nutritional needs. Australia will also provide $23 million in development assistance to Sri Lanka in 2022-23.This will support health services, and economic recovery, with a strong emphasis on protecting those at risk, especially women and girls. These contributions are in addition to $5 million recently provided to United Nations agencies for Sri Lanka.”
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
