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Change of govt. unconstitutional but reality has to be accepted – MS
‘Decision-making apparatus necessary to accommodate protesters’ representatives’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Ex-President and SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena has acknowledged that the change of government was not in line with the Constitution, but current circumstances have compelled political parties represented in Parliament to work closely with those who overthrew the government through unconstitutional means.
Sirisena revealed that he had met a group of representatives of the protesters, following Saturday’s take over of the President’s Office, the President’s House, and Temple Trees.
A mob even torched the private residence of the PM.
The former President said so in a conversation with Asoka Dias on Sirasa ‘Pathikada’ programme yesterday (11) morning.He said the President and the PM were yet to resign, and the public had seized power. There was no point in denying that reality, he said, emphasising that the President, the Prime Minister and the Parliament had lost the power to make decisions.
Sirisena reiterated his and others’ demand for both the President and the PM to quit without further delay.
The former President appeared on live ‘Pathikada’ programme a few hours before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa informed the Prime Minister’s Office of his decision to resign tomorrow (13).
Responding to issues raised by interviewer Dias, MP Sirisena said that the seizure of government buildings and the developing situation posed such an almost insurmountable challenge, the crisis couldn’t be addressed through constitutional means. Lawmaker Sirisena asserted that under the present circumstances the constitution was irrelevant. Therefore, the Parliament had no option but to reach consensus with those who toppled the government as regards a workable plan, the MP said. According to the former President this is the reality against the backdrop of the President, and the Prime Minister losing their authority.
Lawmaker Sirisena said that MPs declaring themselves independent of their political parties they represented posed quite a challenge to the Speaker as well as leaders of political parties. The SLFPer suggested that perhaps one or two MPs could represent dissidents at party leaders’ meeting but it wouldn’t be realistic to accommodate them all.
The former President also questioned the appropriateness in members of the Cabinet quitting their portfolios as the appointing authority, the President, was nowhere to be seen. Among those who resigned in the wake of Saturday’s turmoil was SLFPer Mahinda Amaraweera and successful businessman who recently turned politician, Dhammika Perera.
Responding to a query on international reactions to the toppling of the government, ex-President Sirisena said that he received assurances from Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Gopal Baglay and Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong as regards their support. MP Sirisena quoted the top envoys as having told him political changes were immaterial and their commitment remained.
Declaring that the public had rejected both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, lawmaker Sirisena stressed the urgent need to set up a mechanism to accommodate representatives of the grouping that campaigned for the change of government. Sirisena said that such an apparatus was required to prevent unnecessary issues that may jeopardize the proposed all-party administration.
The ex-President said that he was quite happy over the toppling of the government marked by seizure of key government buildings. However, the SLFP regretted that some valuable items belonging to the State had been removed by those who had entered those buildings. That shouldn’t have happened, he said, paying a glowing tribute to protesters who handed over Rs 17,850,000 after recovering the bundles of currency at the President’s House.
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
