News
Buddhika urges govt. to tackle honorary degree rackets
By Saman Indrajith
Matara District SJB MP Buddhika Pathriana told Parliament, on Tuesday, that a rich person would soon be able to buy an honorary doctorate even for his or her pet dog if the business of selling degrees and honorary titles continued, without the government taking preventive measures.
MP Pathirana said there were many institutions conferring honorary titles, such as Professor, Doctor, Kala Nidi, Vidya Keerthi, Vidya Jothi, Desha Bandu, Desha Keerthi, Deshamanya, Vishwa Keerthi, and Desha Shakthi. “Anyone can purchase them for Rs 30,000 or 40,000. These racketeers select about 40 candidates including an MP, a Provincial Council member or two, and one or two media personnel, who ensure the convocation receives media coverage. This practice has to be ended immediately,” the MP said.
“Some MPs have attended such convocations and receive ‘doctorates’. I have pictures of them taken at such event. This matter of selling honorary titles has been raised in the Committee on Public Enterprises. This has to be stopped. This is a cause of huge embarrassment, as well as unjust, to those who obtain their academic or professional qualifications after years of hard work. Those are given by the universities, recognised by the University Grants Commission.
“I am not referring to the honorary titles given by the Mahanayakes. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, too, have been given such titles. There are also honorary titles conferred by the President of the country. Except for those, all other titles are bogus. We must introduce new laws to prevent this sordid practice.
SLFP leader MP Maithripala Sirisena: Selling degrees for money is an illegal business. There are laws against it. As per law, only a President could confer the titles such as Lankabhimani, Deshaputhra and Deshabhimani. As per this business, when one pays Rs 15,000 or 20,000 he is given a receipt and invited for the convocation to obtain the honorary title of his choice out of around 100 titles. This illicit business has to be stopped.
SJB Kalutara District MP Dr Rajitha Senaratne: There are laws for the prevention of this. You do not need new laws for that. All you have to do is implement the existing law against this menace. Under that law all bogus titles could be banned.
NFF Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa: What would happen to DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon if you ban the use of Deshabandu as a part of name?
Leader of the House Education Minister Susil Premajayantha: If Deshabandu is a part of the name of the person that would remain.
A PhD candidate spends around four years’ full time to get his degree. If he chooses part time it would be eight years. Now, anyone can buy a PhD without sacrificing such effort and time. I will look into bring a motion to amend existing laws or to bring new laws needed to stop this business.
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
