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Eran kicks off second day debate on no-confidence motion against Speaker
The Speaker’s authority in legislative Councils all over the world is supreme, however in Sri Lanka in the current parliament we are not seeing that being demonstrated. It is drawn from the Speaker’s absolute and unwavering impartiality. This obligation of impartiality is demonstrated when the Speaker is only entitled to vote in the case of an equality of votes, said SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne, opening the debate on the second day of the No Confidence Motion in Parliament on Wednesday (20).
Wickramaratne analysed the occasions when Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena did not act independently or impartially after assuming the position of Speaker.
When the Online Safety Act was passed, the Speaker acted violating the standard procedure despite the Supreme Court’ determinations. Although the court declared that 31 of the 51 articles of the bill were inconsistence with the constitution, those articles that should have been passed by a special majority were allowed to be passed by a general majority.
While the Attorney General had promised the Supreme Court that amendments would be brought to the articles proposed by the court at the time of the committee stage debate, the Speaker having violated the constitution and standing orders signed the Act into law, despite the objections by the opposition party.
Wickrmaratne said that the Speaker’s impartiality is secured only when he remains above all considerations of party or political career and to that effect he may resign from the party to which he belonged. He mentioned that former Speaker Karu Jayasooriya never stepped in to “SriKotha” the UNP party headquarters since he became the Speaker. That sort of neutrality is expected from a Speaker to maintain his position of neutrality and honour.
Even when the President nominated Mr. Deshbandu Tennakoon to the post of IGP to the Constitutional Council, Speaker acted in a manner that is unbecoming of a person of that calibre clearly violating the Standing Orders.
Speakers of Legislative Councils all over the world have no voting right unless there is an equality in the votes cast. Parliamentary systems have evolved governance, procedures and practices over last 800 years. A healthy convention in several democracies established was that the election of the deputy Speaker is from the main Opposition. On the contrary in the Sri Lankan Parliament even the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises which was meant to inquire into corruption is also headed by a ruling party member. He said he fully agrees with the revised words for acronym COPE given by Chanakkiyan Rasamanikkam MP that it has now become Committee of Pohottu Enterprises.
In conclusion Wickramaratne said that if the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena accepts his mistakes and agrees to correct them the no – confidence motion does not need to be voted for, as we all know a vote does not resolve the issue of confidence and impartiality.
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
