News
Cardinal slams ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour,’ demands total overhaul
current exodus sign of developing crisis
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has issued an ominous warning that the country struggling to cope up with extreme economic difficulties would be ruined unless the political party system and the people readily accepted the urgent need for a total transformation of the current utterly corrupt way of life.The Cardinal declared that the situation was so bad with the large-scale exodus now threatening the future of the country that those in authority should take tangible remedial measures or face the consequences.
Having emphasized waste, corruption and irregularities as the bane of the country, the outspoken leader of the Catholic Church described those factors as cancerous. The country was being devoured by corruption, the Cardinal declared, pointing out that the public couldn’t get anything done at most government officers without bribing those in authority. At a higher level, people received commissions, the Cardinal said, pointing out how pump attendants took advantage of the disruption of diesel and petrol supplies to fleece consumers.
The Cardinal said so delivering a sermon in Sinhala at a special mass at Maris Stella College, Negombo, on Saturday (18) as part of its centenary celebrations.Referring to the growing number of families and individuals trying to leave the country amidst the deteriorating economic crisis, the Cardinal warned the way the situation was developing there wouldn’t be a requirement for schools in this country.At the onset of his sermon, the Cardinal dealt with the arrival of Marist Brothers in Sri Lanka where they first served the people of Batticaloa and then established St. Mary’s College, Negombo, before launching Maris Stella College, also in Negombo, in 1922.
He also was made reference to the French revolution that brought untold misery on the Catholic community before the French political and military leader Napoleon Bonaparte restored the much desired freedom to the Catholic community. The Marist Brothers Schools were founded in 1817 by St. Marcellin Champagnat, a Marist priest from Leon, France, the Cardinal said, while discussing current challenges faced by the communities at a time of social upheaval.Acknowledging the need for a new Constitution, constitutional amendments, including the 21st Amendment, the Cardinal warned that such measures wouldn’t achieve the much anticipated goals unless the vast majority of the people changed their mindset. The country was in such a sorry state of affairs and further deterioration, the people no longer had any confidence in a stable future, the prelate said.
Referring to the 2019 Easter Sunday massacre, the Cardinal said that the heinous crimes were approved by those in the top as well as the bottom.The Cardinal explained how those who exercised political authority over the past several decades caused debilitating damages and the people were struggling to leave the country. Long queues at the Passport Office were an indication of the public rapidly losing confidence in the government, the Cardinal said.
Declaring that issuance of election manifestos and promises given on political platforms meaningless exercises, the Cardinal ridiculed the incumbent government’s 2019 presidential election manifesto, titled ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour.’ Alleging that what was happening here was quite the opposite of ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour,’ the Cardinal emphasized the political leadership should realize that the people were above them.
Demanding that the political leadership should address the grievances of the people, the Cardinal said that the political party system here was geared to divide and cause animosity among the public. The Cardinal warned that the country couldn’t achieve development if petty party politics caused rifts among the population.
The Cardinal also strongly condemned those who promoted private tuition at the expense of families struggling to make ends meet under perilous living conditions. Recalling his school days, the Catholic leader said that he never secured 9 ‘A’s at the GCE (O/L) but that didn’t hinder him. Unfortunately, those who had sought profits mercilessly promoted tuition and succeeded in creating a myth that sufficient results couldn’t be obtained without private tuition classes, the Cardinal said.The Cardinal repeatedly emphasized the responsibility on the part of the education system, both government and private, to transform the student community, thereby creating the required impetus for social change.
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
