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Chagie issues dire warning as country celebrates independence
Gajaba Regiment veteran Chagie Gallage says that in spite of Sri Lanka’s triumph over separatist terrorism 13 years ago, external interventions were threatening the country.
“We are at a crossroads, struggling to cope up with a fragile situation” an irate Maj. Gen. Gallage said, urging those who wield political power to address the real challenges or face the consequences.
The war veteran said that on the eve of Sri Lanka’s 74th anniversary of independence, a section of the Parliament called for foreign intervention on the basis of unsubstantiated war crimes allegations.
Referring to Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan’s appeal to member-states of the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, Maj. Gen. Gallage warned that the country would have to pay a very heavy price for not countering the Geneva project decisively in the manner the country fought the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit to defeat it in the battlefield.
In a way, instead of exposing lies, those responsible appeared to have contributed to Sri Lanka’s plight, the much celebrated former frontline combat officer said.
The TNA was campaigning against the military having voted for the war winning Army Commander the then General Sarath Fonseka at the 2010 presidential election to sow chaos here, the Maj. General said.
Responding to another query, the military strategist said that the TNA letter should be discussed and appropriate measures taken.
It would be a grave mistake on the government’s part to believe the ongoing dialogue with an insignificant section of the civil society could help the country to neutralise the Geneva threat.
Geneva sessions commence later this month. Contrary to various claims pertaining to the post-war national reconciliation process, the Maj. Gen. pointed out the political leadership was blind to specific draconian measures that had been already taken against retired and serving officers without any due process, merely on hearsay evidence.
Maj. Gen. Gallage is among those who had been penalised by some countries.
The former General Officer Commanding (GoC) 59 Division said that the country was yet to set the record straight. “Our failure to use available information, data and a range of official documents as well as expose serious flaws in their strategy is astonishing,” Maj. Gen. Gallage said. It would be interesting to examine the current dispensation’s Geneva response at the forthcoming session, the war veteran said.
Gallage retired in late 2018. The US denied visa to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka the year before Gallage’s retirement whereas the Superpower blacklisted General Shavendra Silva in 2020 and Maj. Gen. Udaya Perera in late 2021.
Gallage said that the Parliament owed an explanation as to how some of its members pursued an agenda against the country. Could lawmakers accuse the military of genocide unless they provided the basis for such claims?
Gallage said that Sri Lanka’s defence had been so weak the public might tend to believe whether it was deliberate. The former GoC, who commanded the Task Force I at the onset of the Vanni offensive from the Mannar rice bowl said even the failure to exploit obvious lies said about Mannar mass graves by UNHRC Chief Michelle Berthelot and former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran’s false accusations that over 100 LTTE detainees were poisoned in custody was nothing but a shame.
A fresh review of Sri Lanka’s Geneva strategy was necessary as the Western agenda seemed on track though the government announced in Feb/March 2020 pullout from 2015 co-sponsorship of Geneva accountability resolution.
“What we need is a cohesive response as a nation. Unless we neutralise the Geneva threat, they’ll step up pressure on us over constitutional reforms. Their efforts appear to be on track,” the retired officer said, urging the government to be mindful of the fresh investigation undertaken by Geneva in terms of 46/1.
Gallage also pointed out that the former colonial power that plundered much of the world, was back in action as the leader of Sri Lanka Core Group in Geneva, pretending to be a Good Samaritan.
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
