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Certain provisions in 20A inimical to rule of law, separation of powers and sovereignty of people – BASL
A special committee, appointed by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to study the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution and submit a report, is of the view some of the provisions therein are inimical to the rule of law, the administration of justice and the sovereignty of people.
The committee appointed on Sept 14, consisted of LMK Arulanandan PC (chairman), MM Zuhair PC, Prasantha Lal De Alwis PC, Nihal Jayawardene PC, Nalin Ladduwahetty PC, Maithri Wickremesinghe PC, Uditha Egalahewa PC, Mohan Weerakoon PC, ST Jayatunga PC, Priyal Wijeweera PC, Maurapada Gunawansha PC, Jagath Wickramanayaka PC and Shantha Jayawardana (Convenor).
The committee has observed, in its report, that the President being the repository of substantial powers under the Constitution should be held accountable for the exercise of those powers in accordance with the Constitution.
Referring to the Clause 5 of the Bill about the imunity of the President, the BASL committee says no person is above the law and granting absolute immunity from suit contrary to all known principles of the rule of law.
The committee has said it is inimical to the rule of law that the President should have control over the appointment of members of the Financial Commission and the Auditor General.The BASL committee says the appointment of the Attorney General should be made by the President subject to the approval of Parliamentary Council to ensure that the legislature and the executive provide necessary checks and balances relating to the appointment concerned.
About the proposed Parliamentary Council, which is to replace the existing Constitutionl Council, the BALSL committe has said: “The BASL of the view that the composition of the Parliamentary Council proposed by Clause 6 of the Bill is more conducive to the rule of law than the composition of the Constitutional Council contained in Article 41A of the Constitution. The inclusion in the Constitutional Council of persons who are not elected by the people is contrary to the sovereignty of the people and not conducive to the rule of law. The committee noted that non-elected members of the present Constitutional Council are not answerable to an organ of the State.”
The committee opines that it is imperative that the Executive should not have control of the appointment of judges or the members to the Judicial Service Commission. “Indeed, if there is one arm of government that should have control it is Parliament and not the president.”
The BASL is of the view that the President should not have absolute control over the judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. It says these appointments should be made by the President subject to the approval of the Parliamentary Committee.
The BASL says the President as the repository of the executive, power should be able to exercise executive power as a minister of the cabinet.
The BASL says the act of vesting in the President unfettered power to dissolve Parliament is contrary to rule of law, the separation of powers and the sovereignty of people. “The legislative power of the people is exercised by Parliament. The Parliament is elected for a period of five years by the people. The legislature, the executive and the judiciary are co-equal organs of Government. The President as the head of the executive being granted the unfettered power to dissolve parliament at his whim albeit after one year but before the term of office of parliament has expired is contrary to the rule of law and the separation of powers. It is contrary to the sovereignty of the people.”
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
