News
Cardinal will be consulted – GL
* ‘National security threat to all Sri Lankans’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
SLPP Chairman and Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (22) stressed the responsibility on the part of the government to consult Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith as regards action to be taken on the basis of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) report on the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide attacks.
About 270 perished in six suicide attacks and one accidental blast caused by the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) in Colombo, Katana, Batticaloa and Dehiwala. Over 500 persons received injuries.
Prof. Peiris said that the Cardinal’s views on the matter as well as his proposals would be of pivotal importance. The SLPP Chairman said so at the weekly media briefing at Nelum Mawatha party office. The minister acknowledged that there could be some turmoil due to government actions. Therefore, the issues at hand had to be discussed with Maha Sangha and leaders of other faiths as well, the minister said, underscoring the resultant threat to national security.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena appointed the P CoI soon after the then Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri led Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) handed over its report on 2019 Easter Sunday carnage to the parliament.
Sirisena’s successor, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave the go ahead for the P CoI to continue the inquiry in the wake of the Archbishop of Colombo accepting it.
The SLPP Chairman pointed out that the PCoI inquired into various aspects, including who provided the wherewithal to the attackers. However, the government would have to take necessary measures to thwart similar attacks in the future, the minister said.
One-time External Affairs Minister said that the counter measures would have to be discussed and adopted on the basis the post-Easter Sunday situation affected the entire population not only the Catholics.
Minister Peiris said that the timely intervention made by the Cardinal prevented a bloodbath in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks. The country would have been plunged into crisis, the minister said, acknowledging the need for consultations among all stakeholders before the government acted on the P CoI report. Prof. Peiris explained that actions taken by the government to prevent recurrence of such attacks wouldn’t infringe on the P CoI report.
The SLPP Chairman on behalf of the government offered to discuss the P CoI report with the Cardinal subsequent to the Catholic leader flaying the government over the appointment of a six-member ministerial committee to study the report. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith over the weekend declared that the Church didn’t recognize the ministerial committee. The Catholic leader, having participated at a protest organized at Katuwapitiya church, the scene of the worst Easter Sunday suicide attack, bitterly complained that he was yet to receive a copy of the P CoI report though he asked for one. The Cardinal declared that he wouldn’t meet lawmakers until the matter was resolved.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference the supreme decision making body of the Catholic Church, Sri Lanka is yet to make its position known on the issue at hand.
Prof. Peiris told The Island that the issue at hand had to be settled amicably. Sources said that the UNP and its breakaway faction, the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) responded as if their government hadn’t anything to do with grave security/intelligence lapses that led to Easter attacks.
The minister dismissed accusations that the government wanted to hide sections of the report and exploit the dossier for political advantage. The minister alleged that those who had created an ideal environment for NTJ to strike by causing instability in every sector now played politics with the issue.
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
