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Defying expectations of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution insult to fundamental law – Karu
Karu Jayasuriya, Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) yesterday said that Government had not yet taken steps to fulfill certain basic and main objectives expected of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.Given below is his statement: “It has been two months since the Parliament passed the 21st Amendment to the Constitution following great efforts made by social forces that are working for democracy and the well-being of the country. However, we are deeply concerned that the Government has not yet taken steps to fulfill certain basic and main objectives expected by the said Amendment.
“By adopting the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, it was expected to remove the unlimited power that had been secured to a one-man (the Executive President) through the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, to represent the views of the entire society, and to establish a democratic governance structure with transparency and unity through a legislative assembly with civil society representation.
“With the 21st amendment to the Constitution, a full Constitutional Council should be appointed in accordance with the Constitution and the Commissions appointed under the 20th Amendment to the Constitution should be re-appointed subject to the agreement of a Constitutional Council appointed under the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. However, the civil society representatives to be appointed for the Constitutional Council have not been appointed yet.
“Moreover, Independent Commissions have not been enforced under the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. Considering the Independent Commissions, a need for them to be reappointed arises because there is evidence that some members of such Commissions appointed under the 20th Amendment to the Constitution have been appointed to those positions while engaging in party politics, and promoting such.
“This situation is something that really is unfortunate. Ignoring or abusing the spaces subject to the fundamental law, which were able to be secured due to enormous commitment and influence of the civil and political forces that appeared for the well-being and democracy of the country, is a serious insult to the existence of the State. In the face of such situations, we must express our strong opposition, and the failure to do so will be a great betrayal.
As the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), we demand that the members who should be appointed on the basis of civil society representation for the Constitutional Council be appointed without further delay, thereby respecting the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. Also, subject to the provisions of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, re-appointments should be made in such a way that the existing suitable members are also included for all Independent Commissions.”
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
