News
Civil society asks for explanation from AG, CIABOC
Dismissal of nearly dozen high-profile cases:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Civil society group, Purawesi Balaya, told the media at Rajagiriya on Wednesday (31) that the Attorney General’s Department as well as the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption) owed an explanation regarding the dismissal of several high-profile cases due to shortcomings on their part.
The AG and the CIABOC owed an immediate explanation and the public had a right to know, Purawesi Balaya spokesman Gamini Viyangoda said. Flanked by attorney-at-law K.W. Janaranjana and Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya, Viyangoda emphasised that the AG and CIABOC should bear the responsibility for taking remedial measures. Would the AG and CIABOC reexamine the cases and initiate fresh proceedings if dismissals were caused by flaws on the part of the institutions? Viyangoda asked.
The civil society activist said that the issue at hand should be examined against the backdrop of the enactment of the 20th Amendment at the expense of the 19th Amendment.
Referring to recent criticism of those who flayed the government over alleged destruction of state forests, including Sinharaja, Viyangoda said that the government conveniently branded all its critics as traitors. The conduct of the AG, CIABOC as well as other institutions and sectors had to be studied in post 20th Amendment enactment as the President exercised powers hitherto shared with the Parliament and the judiciary.
Viyangoda said that the CIABOC owed an explanation as to how the decision to drop all charges against former lawmaker and Foreign Ministry Monitoring MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena pertaining to Mihin Lanka case was arrived at. That particular case dealt with misappropriation of public funds amounting to Rs 883 mn, he said, while referring to recent dismissal of cases involving one-time Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilleyan, Johnston Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Basil Rajapaksa, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon and former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris. The former CJ ended up as Sri Lanka’s top representative in New York.
Noting that Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, unlike his predecessors, had been constantly present in both print and electronic media, Viyangoda said that the public shouldn’t be deprived of an opportunity to know the truth. If the AG and CIABOC realised their institutions were at fault, they should accept responsibility, Viyangoda said, pointing out that all those who benefited were members of the government or those connected with it.
Viyangoda pointed out that Jayantha Jayasuriya, the AG during whose tenure legal proceedings had been initiated against those above mentioned persons was now the head of the judiciary, in his capacity as the Chief Justice. Viyangoda said that it would be interesting to know whether the CIABOC and AG examined any other cases other than those of government personalities.
The civil society activist, who through their group Purawesi Balaya backed the previous UNP government even after bond scams and other grave transgressions said that on one hand those who had been under investigation and hauled up before courts were cleared whereas government cronies perpetrated unprecedented corruption. Claiming that the massive scam in slashing of duty on sugar imports revealed at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) chaired by government member Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and the murderous racket in importing of contaminated coconut oil highlighted the pathetic state of affairs. In spite of exposure of such despicable frauds, the government simply went ahead with its projects regardless of the consequences, Viyangoda said, urging the electorate to be mindful of deadly strategies. Viyangoda also drew a parallel with scores of retired military and police personnel receiving top appointments in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s administration and the recent military take-over of Myanmar.
Viyangoda said that the public shouldn’t be surprised if the incumbent administration resorted to punitive measures to suppress the democratic Opposition. The civil society accepted responsibility for spearheading a campaign having realized the importance of its role in post-20th Amendment period.
Viyangoda said that the vast majority of those who had voted for SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the 2019 presidential and the SLPP at the 2020 general election regreted having done so.
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
