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COPA wants Railways to revive goods transport business that has declined drastically
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has asked the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport to implement an expeditious action plan to streamline and promote the transportation of goods by rail in Sri Lanka after it was revealed that freight revenue of the Railway Department had dropped drastically over the years, Parliament sources said yesterday.
From 1867 to 1934, freight accounted for 57% of the Railway Department’s revenue and it decreased by 9.3% in 2017, 8.5% in 2018 and 7.1% in 2019.
The Committee which met with State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara in the chair emphasised the importance of streamlining the transportation of goods by rail to reduce traffic congestion and environment pollution caused by the entry of large containers into roads.
Special Audit Report to evaluate the use of the Railway for goods transportation was discussed at the meeting.
Railways General Manager Dilantha Fernando said that the railway service was currently mainly engaged in passenger transport and the existing infrastructure should be further developed for the transport of goods.
Although there were three agreements with a major cement company for the transportation of cement by rail, due to the lack of infrastructure development of the Railway Department, only the agreement to transport limestone from Aruwakkalu to Puttalam was currently in effect.
In consultation with the relevant parties, action should be taken to reconnect them and retain the existing customers, the committee said, noting the lack of a proper plan for goods transportation rates and recommended that a formal scheme be prepared for the same.
The committee also noted that resources including land and equipment owned by Department of Railways had not been properly identified and utilised for the betterment of the institution. The committee instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport to look into the matter and submit a report immediately in that regard.
Officials of the Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd. (CPSTL) revealed that 32% of the fuel transportation was currently carried by trains and it was expected to increase to 40% in the future and they pointed out the need to enter into an agreement with the Railway Department to increase this to 40% without any hindrances such as strikes.
The committee also emphasised the importance of changing the attitudes of the employees of the Railway Department.
State Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Duminda Dissanayake, MPs Tissa Attanayake, Prof. Ranjith Bandara, Dr. Upul Galappaththi, B.Y.G. Ratnasekera, Niroshan Perera, Weerasinghe Weerasumana, Dr. Harini Amasooriya and state officials were present at the meeting.
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
