News
Cash-strapped SLPP can’t afford Rs 229 bn package, says SJB
Top Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) spokesperson and economic guru Dr. Harsha de Silva said yesterday the cash-strapped government couldn’t afford to provide a Rs 229 bn relief package at the moment. In response to The Island queries, Dr. de Silva has sent us the following statement: “The government is losing control of the economy. At this rate we will be a free fall fairly soon. Looks like they are hallucinating. The solution offered has absolutely no relevance to the problem we are facing. We are in a Balance of Payments crisis. We have no dollars. That’s the problem. Fixing it with a swap here and a credit line there is nothing but plaster solutions. We need real reform. I doubt anyone but ourselves can help us now. It’s too late.
But instead of addressing that, other than to say in the Cabinet Paper that the country can absorb an adjustment of the LKR to market rates (which they estimate at Rs 230 to the USD) on a completely flawed logic and therefore it must be artificially held at 200 and VAT cannot be adjusted (to what it was), they have introduced this relief package.
Well, the people are feeling the high cost of living. Official Inflation is double digit after 13 years and food inflation is 22%. Unofficially it’s almost double that. So, yes people need help. Mind you this was created by this government. Two major wrong deductions. One, unprecedented and unnecessary tax cuts in Dec 2019. Two, a totally destructive ban of fertilizer. These had nothing to do with the pandemic. Yea the pandemic has an impact but these two decisions are what brought us to this almost bankrupt situation.
Anyway, since no supplementary estimates can now be brought to Parliament (passed by 2/3 this budget) and he says no taxes will be increased the question is where is the LKR 229b going to come from? Unless they cut capital expenditure, where will they find the money? But it is almost guaranteed they will not do so, including the LKR 100b to be dished out to local government members to prepare for LG elections. So ultimately the Central Bank will end up printing all this money.
We now are the lucky recipients of the fabulous outcomes of two years of money printing Modern Monetary Theory experiment. This round of printing will only exacerbate the problem by starting a wage-price inflation spiral. Almost text book style, if anyone in their government wishes to consult a basic Economics text.
We are heading for disaster.”
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
