News
Economic meltdown: Mujibur says Prez should resign
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Top Samagi Jana Balavegaya spokesman Mujibur Rahman yesterday (29) said that having publicly admitted that his failure to address economic issues in a prudent manner had led to the current crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had no moral right to remain in office.
The Colombo District lawmaker told the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office that it wouldn’t be fair under any circumstances to continue the remaining period in office as he didn’t want to quit as a failure.
MP Rahman explained why the SJB would step up campaign against the President against the backdrop of the country acknowledging bankruptcy.
Referring to the then Finance Minister Ali Sabry’s recent declaration on a Swarnavahini interview that the President’s economic advisors, Treasury Secretary and the Governor of the Central Bank misled both him and the Cabinet of Ministers with regard to the economic environment, MP Rahman asked what action the government intended to take against them.
MP Rahman said that the entire Cabinet of Ministers, including the President should have resigned on May 19, 2022, the day the incumbent Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe announced Sri Lanka wouldn’t be able to pay back its debts until it restructured them. Had that happened, a truly interim administration would have been able to address the issues in hand, MP Rahman said.
Responding to another query, lawmaker Rahman emphasized that there couldn’t be any uncertainty as regards the culpability for the ruination of the economy. Recent disclosures made at parliamentary watchdog committees, particularly the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) could be the basis for punitive action against former presidential secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera (Nov 2019-Dec 2021), former Central Bank Governors, Prof. W.D. Lakshman (Nov 2019-Sept 2020) and Ajith Nivard Cabraal (Sept 2020 to March 2022) and former Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle (Nov 2019 to April 2022). The MP pointed out that the five-member Monetary Board, too, had been exposed and it would be the government’s responsibility to inquire into the happenings since 2019.
MP Rahman challenged the government to explain how it intended to address the contentious issue of accountability. The former UNPer said that the parliamentary watchdog committees headed by SLPP members had given enough ammunition to sink the government. The lawmaker explained how the COPE proceedings had helped the Parliament to establish the truth regarding the primary reason for the current crisis. Dr. PBJ had been named as the one who decided to turn down the IMF call to restructure Sri Lanka’s debt if the government intended to secure its assistance, MP Rahman said, stressing on the responsibility of the Parliament to act on the information elicited at watchdog committee meetings.
Rahman asked the government to act on House findings without further delay.
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
