News
Economic crisis: 11-party SLPP dissident group divided over APC
SJB, UNP yet to decide, JVP won’t go
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The dissident SLPP group will be represented by Ven. Athureliye Rathana, MP and Prof. Tissa Vitharana, MP, at the All-Party Conference (APC), to be held 23 March to discuss ways and means of overcoming the current crisis.
A senior spokesperson for the dissidents told The Island that following talks among the group a decision had been taken to send Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya MP Ven. Rathana and Prof. Vitharana of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), on behalf of the group.
The rebel group, comprises Democratic Left Front, the LSSP, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, the National Freedom Front, the National Congress, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, the Vijaya Dharani Jathika Sabhawa, the Eksath Mahajana Pakshaya and the Yuthukama civil society organisation.
The SLFP, which is a member of the dissident group, will be represented by a delegation led by its leader Maithripla Sirisena himself.
Political sources said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had called the APC on a request made by SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena when the SLPP and SLFP delegations met at the Presidential Secretariat on 08 March to discuss the current situation. Sources explained that the dissident group had been compelled to attend the APC as it was proposed by the SLFP, a member of the alternative group.
The dissident group consists of nearly 30 lawmakers.
NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa, PHU leader Gammanpila and DLF leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara have decided against attending the APC. Weerawansa and Gammanpila were sacked from the Cabinet recently. Nanayakkara remains a Minister but does not carry out ministerial duties and responsibilities in protest against the sacking of his colleagues. Sources said that the dissident group would have boycotted the event if I thad not been Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (20) told The Island that his party was yet to decide on its participation.
The SJB is expected to announce its decision today (21).
JVP Gampaha District lawmaker Vijitha Herath yesterday (20) told The Island that there was no point in attending the APC. Alleging that the government had been engaged in a futile exercise to settle the crisis within the SLPP, he said the issues should have been dealt with over a year ago.
MP Herath emphasised that the government hadn’t so far briefed the other political parties represented in Parliament on the state of the economy though President Rajapaksa acknowledged his government was entering into negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said it would be absurd to have a discussion with those who had created the crisis. He said so when the media sought his response to a proposal to establish a Leadership Council.
SJB’s Dr. Harsha de Silva, MP, has repeatedly pointed out that one of the major problems experienced by the current dispensation is its leaders’ failure to speak with one voice on the state of the national economy. Dr de Silva blamed the crisis on Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa pulling in different directions.
The current Parliament is represented by 15 political parties. They are SLPP (145 members), SJB (54), ITAK (10), JJB (03), AITC (02), EPDP (02), UNP, SLFP, OPPP (Our Power of People Party), TMVP (Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal), MNA (Muslim National Alliance), TMTK (Tamil Makkal Theshiya Kutani), ACMC (All Ceylon Makkal Congress), NC (National Congress and SLMC (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress) represented by one MP each.
The UNP said it was still undecided, a party spokesman said.
ITAK MP M. A. Sumanthiran was not immediately available for comment.
The SLPP constituents, the MEP, EPDP and the CWC will attend the APC.
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
