News
Don’t be too hasty to reopen country, consequences can be devastating – govt. MP
By Shamindra Ferdinando
SLPP National List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga yesterday (5) said that the recent decision to call all public servants to return to work from this week should be immediately reversed against the backdrop of alarming situation at hospitals treating Covid-19 patients. “Let us not play politics. Several hospitals have declared an emergency situation as the daily caseload and deaths go up.”
Appreciating the ongoing drive to inoculate the population, lawmaker Cumaratunga however asserted that perhaps the decision to restore public service to pre-Covid level should have been delayed.
Hours after MP Cumaratunga’s statement, the government said that the circular issued pertaining to restoration of public service to pre-Covid status would be amended.
State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana assured parliament yesterday that pregnant women wouldn’t be asked to report to work.
The government cancelled all previous circulars to pave the way for resumption of public service last Monday (2).
MP Cumaratunga, who is also Chairman of Yuthukama civil society group, said that reports received from several hospitals in Colombo, its suburbs and the provinces were quite alarming and distressing.
The prominent public interest activist said that the government shouldn’t hesitate to take remedial measures if it realized a particular decision could cause a catastrophe.
“If we aren’t cautious, the whole costly exercise to restore normalcy can be affected. Therefore, immediate precautions are necessary. Restricting movement of public servants is a necessity,” the MP said, adding that though the government recognized the need to address teachers’ grievances, those protesting groups shouldn’t act in a manner that undermined safety measures.
A fresh major Covid-19 eruption could be quite devastating, the MP said, pointing out how the national economy suffered during this period. “We shouldn’t risk everything by re-opening the country, too, soon,” the lawmaker said. Having suffered unbearable losses, the national economy couldn’t take further blows, MP Cumaratunga said, while appreciating the decision not to present the Kotelawela National Defence University Bill on Friday (6) in the wake of continuing protests.
Cumaratunga stressed that Yuthukama too submitted amendments as it didn’t accept the Bill for obvious reasons. However, the MP cautioned those who had taken to the streets not to contribute to the epidemic. Referring to ongoing teachers’ strike, the MP said that the situation was so dicey that no one, whatever their political affiliations, could jeopardize current health guidelines.
MP Cumaratunga said that careful examination of the health situation was necessary and no one could act contrary to the advice given by health authorities. A delay on the government’s part to respond to what the MP called a worst case scenario could trigger a crisis that might cripple the country. Better to reverse the decision to speed up the re-opening process than causing the population harm, he added.
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
