News
Diana gets new diplomatic passport; Oshala cries foul
Dual citizenship controversy:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney-at-Law Chameera Dinesh Gallearachchi has warned Controller General, Department of Immigration and Emigration, I.S.H.J. Illukpitiya, that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Corruption or Bribery (CIABOC) will be moved against him unless he arrested British passport holder Diana Gamage, MP, over the violation of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No 20 of 1948 as amended. The lawyer asked that she be deported unless she produced a valid visa to stay here.
Gamage received the appointment as State Minister for Tourism from President Ranil Wickremesinghe recently.
Lawyer Gallearachchi, in a letter dated 20 Dec. 2022. addressed to the Controller General, has questioned the circumstances Diana Gamage obtained two Sri Lankan passports, bearing nos 5091386 and Ol 5654784 on January 24, 2014 and August 07, 2018, respectively, while retaining her British passport. The one issued in 2018 has been categorized as an official passport.
The Counsel for civil society activist Oshala Herath, pursuing legal measures against the rebel Samagi Jana Balawegala (SJB) lawmaker, has sought an explanation regarding the issuance of two Sri Lankan passports to Gamage, who used British passport bearing no 521398876.
Referring to relevant records, maintained at the Immigration and Emigration Department, Herath has asked how British passport holder Diana Gamage continued to live here, without renewing/obtaining a new visa. According to the lawyer’s complaint to the Immigration and Emigration Chief, the visa, issued to Gamage, had lapsed on July 16, 2015 and, thereafter, there was absolutely no evidence to suggest issuance of a fresh valid document.
Herath, the former presidential media aide, during the Yahapalana administration, and failed UNP candidate, at the 2020 general election, told The Island that the recent enactment of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution should compel the Parliament to take tangible measures to remove, not only dual citizens, but foreigners, as well. The Parliament couldn’t continue to turn a blind eye to the issue at hand, particularly against the backdrop of reportage of the British passport matter.
The SJB accommodated Diana Gamage on its National List in appreciation for her, and her husband, Senaka Silva, allowing the breakaway UNP faction, led by Sajith Premadasa, to contest through their party. They also allowed the re-registration of the party as Samagi Jana Balawegala.
The lawyer has also raised Diana Gamage having two birth certificates ,bearing nos 6553 and 4683, on the basis of documents submitted to obtain two Sri Lankan passports, in 2014 and 2018.
On behalf of Herath, lawyer Gallearachchi has requested that the MP be dealt with in terms of the Immigration and Emigration Act, including overstaying visa, and recovering the two Sri Lankan passports.
Meanwhile, Herath has also lodged a complaint with the CIABOC over the inordinate delay, on the part of the Immigration and Emigration Department, to take action, in spite of a lengthy CID investigation that proved the accusations beyond doubt. In spite of the disclosures, pertaining to the issuance of Sri Lankan passports, in 2014 and 2018, and the outcome of the CID investigation being reported to Court, the incumbent Immigration and Emigration Controller issued a diplomatic passport, bearing no D 5659363 to lawmaker Gamage.
Herath has asked how the incumbent controller ignored a letter dated Dec. 15, 2021 written by his predecessor U. V. Sarath Rupasiri, addressed to Defence Secretary, Gen. Kamal Gunaratne, regarding Diana Gamage’s status that she was not a Sri Lanka citizen, hence couldn’t be issued a passport.
Lawyer Gallearachchi has written to Immigration and Emigration Chief, in the wake of Colombo Chief Magistrate, Nandana Amarasinghe, temporarily lifting the travel ban imposed on Diana Gamage for a period of five days.
The Magistrate made this order, subsequent to a request made by President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanne.
The Magistrate ordered the temporary lifting of her travel ban on two sureties of Rs.200,000 each.
The SJB recently moved Court against its own National List MP over the issues in hand.
President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanne appeared for the State Minister.
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
