News
Devananda says North granted land powers
… calls move a big boost for post-war national reconciliation
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda on Wednesday (17) claimed that the Northern Province had been granted land powers in terms of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The NP consists of administrative districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya.
Devananda said that in spite of the absence of consensus among SLPP constituents as regards devolution of power, the government was committed to the Provincial Council system.
The NP Land Commissioner had received powers enjoyed by his counterparts serving in other provinces, Minister Devananda said emphasizing that the latest development proved the post-war reconciliation process was a success. The Tamil public would positively respond to the government stand. The NP Land Commissioner was now authorized to issue an entire range of permits pertaining to land matters, he said.
Devananda, who is the General Secretary of the Jaffna-based Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) pointed out that the likes of Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera publicly opposed the devolution of power.
Pointing out that in terms of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution empowered the Provincial Council, Jaffna District lawmaker Devananda emphasized that the aspirations of the Tamil community could be met only through full devolution of powers.
Having introduced the Provincial Council system in the wake of the Indo-Lanka accord in 1987, successive governments implemented the 13th Amendment sans land and police powers.
Assuring the government’s commitment to the Provincial Council system, Minister Devananda said that he had repeatedly told the cabinet of ministers the need for maximum devolution of powers.
For want of a consensus as regards the electoral system among political parties represented in parliament during the previous administration the Provincial Council polls couldn’t be held.
Although Nimal Punchihewa, the new Chairman of the Election Commission recently declared that a simple amendment could be moved in parliament to pave the way for Provincial Council polls, the SLPP seemed not really interested in moving the matter, election monitors said.
Minister Devananda alleged that a section of the media continuously misled the public regarding the government intentions. The minister said that some journalists had acknowledged privately that a section of the media, too, contributed to the environment that finally led to an armed conflict.
Devananda urged the media to be mindful of the implications of various agendas pursued by interested parties, including some sections of the media.
Minister Devananda faulted the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) led Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for creating a situation that facilitated the previous government project to put off Provincial Council polls.
The former militant alleged that TNA neglected its responsibilities. Instead, the TNA parliamentary group backed the then government but failed to take tangible measures to influence the conducting of Provincial Council polls.
India has been continuously pushing for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment though some political parties represented in parliament strongly opposed the concept of devolution. Political sources said that Devananda made the announcement amidst the ongoing deliberations undertaken by a government appointed committee to prepare a new Constitution. President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva heads the 9-member committee.
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
