News
Domestic debt restructuring could have devastating impact on country, warns GL
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) owed an explanation as regards the recent government declaration that domestic debt restructuring was part of the programme implemented in terms of Sri Lanka’s agreement with the lending agency, top Opposition spokesperson Prof. G.L. Pieris, MP said yesterday (10).
Having repeatedly assured that domestic debt wouldn’t be restructured, the government had announced the controversial move, Prof. Peiris said at the weekly media briefing at Freedom People’s Alliance Office at Nawala.
Prof. Peiris asserted that the proposed domestic debt restructuring involved as much as Rs 04 trillion in Treasury bills and Rs 08 trillion in Treasury bonds.
The Central Bank recently declared that it was also exploring the possibility of a domestic debt optimisation (DDO) operation aimed at liquidity relief while preserving financial stability to avoid further eroding of Sri Lanka’s repayment capacity. The Central Bank has stated this DDO would be conducted on a voluntary basis and be based on consultations with major T-Bonds holders.
Prof. Peiris said that they expected to take up the entire gamut of issues with the IMF in June when a Fund delegation was expected to visit Colombo for the first review of the USD 2.9 bn bailout package. The MP said that the IMF couldn’t absolve its responsibility for what was happening here where the ruling alliance went to the extent of targeting Supreme Court judges.
The former minister said though they were still not sure whether the IMF agreement was made available.
The SLPP rebel group spokesman questioned the impact the domestic debt restructuring/DDO operation would have on the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees Trust Fund (ETF). A significant impact on those funds would cause a crisis of unprecedented magnitude, Prof. Peiris said, adding that overall the growing public anger over the proposed privatization of profit making public enterprises and new tax regime were likely to trigger protests.
Prof. Peiris alleged that the new Anti-Terrorism Act was meant to suppress public protests. Describing the new law as repressive legal regime, the former Law Professor said that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa dispensation was preparing to launch massive onslaught on public freedoms.
The former minister said that having disrupted the Election Commission, now the government was busy attacking the Human Rights Commission. The SLPP MP questioned the rationale in influencing selected members of the HRC against its Chairperson Justice Rohini Marasinghe.
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
