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Economic crisis: Patali calls for punitive action against errant politicians, officials
Parliament disregarded COPE recommendation for PSC
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) leader and SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, MP, has called for the setting up of a special commission to investigate those who bankrupted the economy. Ranawaka said that those who had served as Finance Ministers, Governors of the Central Bank and members of the Monetary Board should be held accountable. He said so addressing the Colombo District convention of the EJP at the New Town Hall, Colombo on Saturday (01).
MP Ranawaka, who has served as a member of the Cabinet under President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena, accused a group of politicians, officials and influential businessmen of causing the economic ruin. He alleged that the group had caused immense harm to the ordinary people.
When the current economic crisis manifested itself in 2020, Prof. W. D. Lakshman served as Governor of the Central Bank and Mahinda Rajapaksa held the Finance portfolio. The five-member Monetary Board at that time consisted of the then Treasury Secretary S. R. Attygalle, ex-top Central Banker Dr. Ranee Jayamaha, senior Attorney-at- Law Sanjeewa Jayawardena and leading businessman Samantha Kumarasinghe. Jayamaha and Jayawardena remain in the current Monetary Board.
The SLPP brought Basil Rajapaksa into the Cabinet as the Finance Minister in July 2021.Alleging that as many as one million families had been badly affected by the current crisis, MP Ranawaka pointed out that none of those responsible for the crisis had been punished.
Flaying the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government for the unprecedented heavy burden imposed on the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in terms of the now approved Domestic Debt Optimisation (DDO) programme, Ranawaka claimed such action eroded public confidence in the country’s largest fund.Against the backdrop of growing protests against the newly unveiled social security scheme ‘Aswesuma,’ MP Ranawaka called for a genuine effort to identify those who really needed government assistance.
The EJP leader also explained the ongoing efforts to expeditiously expand the party network over the next few months and to cover the entire Colombo district. Declaring that by September this year the EJP would complete district conventions, the former minister said that the Colombo convention would be followed by meetings in Gampaha and Kandy.
During SLPP National List lawmaker Prof. Chritha Herath’s tenure as the Chairman of COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises), the parliamentary watchdog committee called for a thorough inquiry to identify those responsible for the flawed economic decisions.
In May 2022, COPE recommended that a Special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) be appointed to probe the reasons for the economic crisis as well as all the officers who had neglected their duties to pave the way for the crisis.
MP Herath is on record as having said that particular COPE meeting decisions taken by a few had negatively impacted the entire country and the investigation needs to be expedited considering the matter as a criminal act. The parliament ignored Prof. Herath’s recommendation and a few months later he was replaced by Dr. Ranjith Bandara.
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
