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Eleven MPs elected in 2020 not any more in Parliament
ECONOMYNEXT –At least 10 Sri Lanka’s Members of Parliament (MPs) elected in the 2020 general elections are not anymore the legislature, either due to death or resignation or legal issues, official data showed.
With the latest death of ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) legislator K H Nandasena (69 years) on Thursday (04), Parliament has witnessed three deaths of elected MPs and the resignation of seven MPs.
Amarakeerthi Athukorala (57 years), a SLPP legislator, was killed by angry mobs on May 9, after the supporters of then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa brutally attacked unarmed protesters in capital Colombo.
Later SLPP legislator, State Minister Sanath Nishantha (48 years) was killed in a road accident in January this year.
The MPs who resigned the parliament seat or lost the parliament seat due to legal issue include Ranjan Ramanayaka (SJB), Ajith Nivard Cabraal (SLPP), Mahinda Samarasinghe (SLPP), Basil Rajapaksa (SLPP), Mujibur Rahuman (SJB), Chaminda Wijesiri (SJB), and Uddika Premarathne (SLPP).
Actor-turned politician Ranjan Ramanayaka from the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) lost his parliamentary seat in April 2021 after being sentenced to 4 years of rigorous imprisonment on the basis of contempt of
court regarding his comments on the corruption of the judiciary.Ramanayaka was released later in August 2022.
Another actor-turned politician Jayantha Ketagoda who came into the parliament under the SLPP national list resigned in July 2021 to facilitate the entry of the party strongman and SLPP strategist Basil Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa was appointed as the Finance Minister in the same month.
However, Ketagoda regained the same opportunity when SLPP national list MP and State Minister of Money and Capital Markets and State Enterprise Reform Ajith Nivard Cabraal resigned to become the Central Bank Governor in September 2021.
Cabraal was not given an opportunity to return to the parliament despite he resigned the governor post.
Later SLPP MP Mahinda Samarasinghe resigned from parliament in September 2021 to take up the Sri Lanka Ambassador post in the United States.
After the country declared sovereign debt default amid an unfolding political crisis, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa resigned from the parliament in June 2022 amid public protests.
Mujibur Rahman, a SJB MP resigned from the parliament in January 2023 to contest as the Mayoral candidate for Colombo Municipal Council. However, the local government election has yet to be held.Chaminda Wijesiri from SJB resigned in January this year while Uddhika Premaratne from SLPP quit in February 2024.
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
