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Blaming postponement of LG polls on Omicron unacceptable – SJB
‘PM, SLPP Chairman owe an explanation’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was frightened to face the electorate, hence the decision to postpone Local Government polls scheduled for late March 2022, top Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman said yesterday (17).
Lawmaker Rahuman said so in response to Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Roshan Ranasinghe’s statement issued yesterday that the elections to 341 Local Government bodies had been delayed by one year. Pointing out that the State Minister initially declared that the Provincial Council polls would be deferred before correcting it that the government intended to put off Local Government polls fearing the Covid-19 spread, lawmaker Rahuman said that the people were being given the booster.
Government representatives and Health Ministry officials have said that the Covid-19 situation was under control, the former UNP MP said. If the situation was under control and the government felt confident to further relax Covid-19 health guidelines, there couldn’t be any justification in putting off scheduled polls on the basis of the threat posed by the global epidemic.
MP Rahuman emphasised that the parliamentary election was conducted in August 2020 in spite of Covid-19 spreading fast at that time. Having repeatedly declared that the ongoing vaccination programme had achieved the desired results, now State Minister Ranasinghe on the instructions of his political masters announced the postponement.
The government owed an explanation without further delay, lawmaker Rahuman said. “Let Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is the leader of the SLPP and the Chairman of the ruling party Prof. G.L. Peiris explain State Minister’s claim the scheduled Local Government polls cannot be held because of Covid-19, particularly Omicron.”
Rahuman said that the government recently allowed a four-nation football tournament and IPL cricket.
Responding to queries, the SJB spokesperson pointed out that the postponement of Local Government polls in the immediate aftermath of prorogation of Parliament meant the SLPP was in serious trouble. The MP explained the government had been beset by deepening turmoil within the parliamentary group over hotly disputed agreement on the Yugadanavi Power Plant.
MP Rahuman asked whether Foreign Minister Prof. Peiris, who had now taken over the finance portfolio, would take the responsibility for the deal now challenged before the Supreme Court. The MP insisted that the postponement of Local Government polls was nothing but political as the SLPP was struggling to cope up with the rapidly deteriorating situation on the political front.
MP Rahuman questioned the rationale in the Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa leaving the country for the US as the US energy deal now threatened the government. Having vowed that a near 2/3 majority in Parliament secured at the August 2020 parliamentary election, the passage of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution in Oct 2020 and the passage of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill in May, 2021 would pave the way for an accelerated development programme, the government was now on the back foot, lawmaker Rahuman said.
The crisis caused by introduction of carbonic farming without making adequate preparations and spate of accidents resulted in by LPG gas explosions as well as uncertainty over the supply of fuel had a devastating impact on the population, the Colombo District MP said.
The SJB official attributed the current situation to Sri Lanka having to settle as much as over USD 900 mn in January 2022 to foreign lenders. Pointing out that the foreign reserves had been down drastically amidst foolish attempts to strengthen foreign reserves and attract foreign currencies, MP Rahuman claimed that the SLPP appeared to have decided against facing the electorate. The same applied to the much delayed Provincial Council polls, the MP said.
The yahapalana government, too, delayed Local Government polls and refrained from conducting the Provincial Council polls as it feared the public sentiments. MP Rahman represented yahapalana government.
He said that the SLPP’s political project had gone awry and the top leadership now was shy of facing the electorate.
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.
