News
EC Chief: Time not opportune for election; interim administration need of the hour
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) Nimal Punchihewa says extremely violent public reaction to Monday’s mob attacks, on those who had been demanding the resignation of the government for over a month, is a grave warning to political parties, represented in Parliament.
In a brief interview with The Island, Attorney-at-Law Punchihewa emphasised the urgent need for political, electoral and constitutional reforms to address the issues at hand.
One-time member of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Punchihewa stressed Parliament had to fulfill its mandatory obligations.
“Financial discipline and enactment of laws are of pivotal importance. Such measures cannot be delayed further against the backdrop of widespread of violence against lawmakers. Parliament needs to take tangible measures to restore public confidence in democracy,” Punchihewa said.
Punchihewa insisted that violence couldn’t be condoned under any circumstances. Referring to acts of violence, including the setting fire to the Jaffna library on May 31 1981, and the July 1983 riots, Punchihewa said that political parties represented in Parliament should act decisively now, or face the consequences.
Asked to comment on organised attacks on the houses some lawmakers, representing the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the killing of Polonnaruwa District MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale, at Nittambuwa, Punchihewa said that those who had instigated violence against the protesting public had never expected such a violent reaction.
Countrywide protests reflected the public mood, Punchihewa said. Those who wielded political power never realised the transformation of utter public despair, over the economic fallout, to anger, he added. Had they realised the real crisis, the government wouldn’t have allowed unprovoked attacks on protesting public, he said.
The EC Chairman noted that even if Temple Trees had planned Monday’s meeting, it should have been cancelled in view of the declaration of a State of Emergency. Political parties should take measures as quickly as possible to bring in the much-delayed reforms, Punchihewa said, underscoring the need for transparency in campaign financing and introduction of a recalling system as practiced in many countries.
Responding to another query, Punchihewa said that the EC strongly believed the time was not opportune for a general election, and even before Monday’s calamity a general election wouldn’t have been feasible. Therefore, there should be a consensus on an all-party interim mechanism to govern the country, and tangible measures had to be adopted to address economic woes with a recovery plan being put in place before an election could be conducted, Punchihewa said.
It was regrettable that public opinion had turned against the political party system soon after the celebration of the 90th anniversary of universal franchise, the EC Chief said, recalling how a group of youth representing the Galle Face protesters had explained to EC members their stand on the current political situation. They had spoken on behalf of the voiceless who really experienced the rapid economic decline due to a combination of reasons-ranging from poor economic management to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The EC chief said that perhaps the EC should explore ways and means of working with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to address the issues at hand. There was no point in denying the fact the political party system was in crisis.
Punchihewa pointed out that there had been several proposals from political parties as well as other groups, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) for resolving the crisis, and a consensus had to be reached on them fast. All stakeholders had to be flexible and ready to improve and modify proposals on the table as the country experienced the worst ever economic crisis that now threatened to disrupt supply chains, he added.
Punchihewa pointed out that no less a person than Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had recently warned of a possible food shortage. That statement made in his capacity as the Speaker should be examined along with Finance Minister Al Sabry, PC’s confession in Parliament soon after his return from Washington, where Sri Lanka appealed for immediate IMF intervention.
According to Punchihewa, the EC had submitted its proposals to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well as Romesh de Silva, PC outfit that recently finalized the draft constitution. Punchihewa said that all those concerned should act fast. The BASL could play a significant role in the overall process to restore political stability, Punchihewa said, warning further delay in consensus among political parties both ion and outside parliament would encourage lawlessness.
EC Chairman said that club-wielding youth checking vehicles on Monday in many parts of the country underscored hitherto unknown danger.
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
