News
Colombo HC lawyers slam TT, police over recent mayhem
… demand probe into lawmaker’s killing
By Shamindra Ferdinando
President of the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association Lakshman Perera yesterday (13) said that Sri Lanka’s fate depended on the success of the ongoing efforts to stabilise its economy.
Attorney-at-Law Perera said all political parties, represented in Parliament and outside, including the civil society, should realise the country was in such a bad state there would be anarchy if the bid to form an interim administration failed.
Asked whether Perera, in his capacity as the President of the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association, endorsed the swearing in of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister, the spokesperson said that he couldn’t take a position on the issue without consulting the membership.
Perera, however, acknowledged the responsibility on the part of all stakeholders, both in and outside the political mainstream, to reach a consensus on a viable agreement on the developing economic-political-social crisis.
The official asserted that the violence unleashed on those who had been demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the entire Cabinet of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, on Monday (09) in Kollupitiya and Fort police areas and retaliatory attacks were a grim reminder to those wielding political power at different levels.
Lawyer Perera said that an explosive situation created by unprovoked attacks carried out by those who had been at a meeting chaired by then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa were now threatening to ruin the country unless consensus on a political settlement could be reached soon.
The association, in a statement that had been issued by its President Lakshman Perera and Secretary Sarath Ekanayake before the swearing in of Wickremesinghe as the Premier roundly condemned the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) for the wanton attack on protesting public.
Estimating the number of persons wounded in indiscriminate attacks at 150, they held the Colombo police responsible for their failure to thwart the Temple Trees project. The lawyers asserted that the police had been irresponsible in their conduct therefore guilty of what they called inadequate discharge of duty.
The lawyers’ association questioned the failure on the part of the police to anticipate serious breach of peace in the wake of such a large gathering at Temple Trees or receive advance warning from the intelligence services.
In the harshest recent criticism of the police by them, the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association alleged that the Colombo police had unashamedly served the interests of Temple Trees rather than enforcing laws.
Following Attorney General Sanjaya Rajaratnam’s intervention, IGP C.D. Wickremaratne directed the DIG, in charge of the CID to investigate May 09 incidents.
Commenting on the police and the Special Task Force (STF) deployed at Temple Trees on the day of the incidents, the lawyers alleged that law enforcement authorities turned a blind eye to brutal attacks on protesters. They intervened only after the first wave of attacks, the lawyers alleged, urging the IGP to take responsibility and resign forthwith.
The lawyers insisted that the attacks could have been prevented by the IGP.
Warning of further escalation of protests unless growing public grievances weren’t addressed, the grouping of lawyers declared that they didn’t have faith in Prasanna Ranatunga, who served as the Public Security Minister at the time of the incidents.
Ranatunga succeeded retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera at the last round of cabinet appointments.
They alleged Ranatunga lacked the capacity to handle the May 09 attacks that triggered a spate of incidents in areas outside the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Mobs set ablaze Ranatunga’s residence in Gampaha.
The association also underscored the responsibility on the part of the government to investigate the killing of Polonnaruwa District SLPP lawmaker Amarakeerthi Atukorale in the Nittambuwa police area and his police bodyguard.
The slain MP was on his way home after attending the Temple Trees meeting when vigilantes intercepted his vehicle.
The association declared six demands namely (1) resignation of the IGP (2) legal action against Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon (3) a transparent and thorough investigation into May 09 attacks carried out on those demanding the change of government (4) Fully cooperate with the HRCSL (Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka) (5) establish rule of law (06) implementation of the Constitution and international instruments pertaining to human rights.
Warning that the public were suffering as a result of the pathetic failure of the political party system, the association said the situation would be further aggravated if those who wield political power sought to protect their interests at the expense of the national interests. The association declared that it wouldn’t hesitate to support what it called a progressive movement to establish democracy and rule of law in case the current political party system continued to fail the country.
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
