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COPE calls for CID probe into irregularities at SL Export Credit Insurance Corp.
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has instructed the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation to obtain CID assistance to investigate the loss of important documents at the institution.
The Committee also recommended the Finance Ministry to appoint an independent committee, consisting of the Ministry’s Internal Auditor, and to submit a report, regarding the financial irregularities of the Corporation, within three weeks.
The Committee also recommended the Ministry of Finance to conduct a separate investigation regarding the actions of the General Manager of the institution and report to the Committee before April 18.The Committee also expressed its absolute displeasure over management and structural irregularities at the Corporation when the Committee was examining the Auditor General’s Reports of the years 2019 and 2020 and the current performance of the institute.
Head of the COPE, Ranjith Bandara said that this was the first time, in a decade, that the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation, which is established to promote and develop international trade and to support and protect exporters, banks, importers and other financial institutions, has appeared before COPE.
The Committee on Public Enterprises highlighted the failure of the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation to table Annual Reports and expressed displeasure over the lack of assistance provided to the Auditor General.
The Committee questioned the General Manager of the institution as to why a corporate plan was not prepared for 10 years and on what basis the institution operated in the absence of a corporate plan. Accordingly, the Committee instructed the officials present to take immediate measures to present a corporate plan, as soon as possible.
Moreover, COPE also inquired as to why five main positions of the director board, including director – finance remain vacant. While strongly condemning the actions of the General Manager in steering the institution, COPE emphasized that the neglect and inaction of the respective officials have resulted in the failure of reaching the set objectives of the institution. Therefore, the COPE chair recommended that the board vacancies be filled with immediate effect to ensure stability and proper institutional mechanism.
The COPE chair also criticized the Corporation for not being accountable to the Parliament, to the Auditor General and the Committee on Public Enterprises.COPE also noted that a number of documents have been misplaced and that this was a serious development.
State Ministers Jagath Pushpakumara, Janaka Wakkumbura, Lohan Ratwatte, Indika Anuruddha Herath, Members of Parliament, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Rohitha Abegunawardhana, Eran Wickramaratne, Nimal Lanza, S. M. M. Muszhaaraff, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Chaminda Wijesiri, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Premnath C. Dolawatte, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, M. Rameshwaran, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Madhura Withanage, were present at the Committee meeting held.
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
