News
CEA Chairman claims permit issuance in order
By Ifham Nizam
Officials at the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) had followed guidelines in the issuing of Fuel Oil Disposal Permits to process discarded burnt engine oil, claims CEA Chairman S. Amarasinghe.
Former JVP MP Amarasinghe expressed concern about Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera questioning CEA officials in that regard. He said he had sought Minister’s and Environment Ministry Secretary, Dr. Anil Jasinghe’s opinion.
Amarasinghe told The Island he would stand by his officials and they need not be questioned when following the right protocol.
A Fuel Oil Disposal Permit had been issued by the CEA after obtaining licenses from the Marine Environment Protection Authority, the Ports Authority and the Sri Lanka Customs.
“When this licence is issued to an institution, it is only permitted to refine burnt out oil in an environmentally friendly manner,” he said.
Accordingly, 26 institutions operating in Sri Lanka have obtained fuel oil disposal licences from the CEA.
Amarasinghe said four licensed companies were operating in Sri Lanka that had fulfilled the requirements for extracting fuel oils from waste water.
On 11 June 2021, CEA received a report that the Colombo Dockyard had obtained a fuel extraction permit issued by the CEA but they were violating the terms of the licence.
On June 17, 2021, the CEA conducted a field investigation and found that the Colombo dockyard was violating the terms of the license issued to it.
“That is to say this field investigation revealed that they were violating the terms of the licence and was even discharging the waste from burnt out oil into the sea through the sewerage system,” he added.
Given these factors, the fuel extraction licence issued by the CEA to the Colombo Dockyard was temporarily revoked on June 17, 2021. “The Colombo Dockyard informed us in a letter dated 27th July 2021 that it would proceed without violating the terms of the licence.”
Amarasinghe said that after considering the relevant facts, the ban imposed on them had been lifted on 13 August 2021.”But according to the licence given to them, they are not allowed to extract fuel oil. During a discussion held at the Ministry of Environment on 15 Sept. 2021, chaired by the Minister of Environment, Mahinda Amaraweera, the Colombo Dockyard requested approval for the extraction of fuel oil. We told the officials at the Colombo dockyard that they should first provide us with the plan to carry out the extraction of fuel oil in an environmentally friendly manner and that the relevant plan could be examined and further action could be taken.”
Meanwhile, Minister Amaraweera is expected to take up the matter with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa shortly.
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
