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Ex-BASL chief: SL loses USD 2 bn annually due to its failure to set up foreign universities
One-time President of the Bar Association Upul Jayasuriya, PC, says the country lost about USD 2 bn a year due to the failure on the part of successive governments to allow the setting up of foreign universities here. Referring to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), Jayasuriya, who once headed the BoI said that foreign universities attracted Sri Lankan students at a tremendous expense to the national economy. At any given time, there were more than 70,000 Sri Lankan students studying overseas.
Jayasuriya said so delivering the Daya Wettasinha memorial oration organised by the Sri Lanka-Japan Friendship Society backed by the Sri Lanka-Japan Business Council, at the Sasakawa Hall.
Jayasuriya faulted successive governments for having given in to pressure from the GMOA.
Several universities had been interested in setting up universities here. The PC said: “There was a famous British university that has been allocated 20 acres of land in the Mirigama Zone. They refused to start off. There was Manipal University and Deakin University that were extremely enthusiastic in starting their universities in Sri Lanka. They were all traumatised with the actions of this Trade Union that is a law unto itself in opposing SAITM. At the moment Sri Lanka has no hope of such educational institutes starting in Sri Lanka. This would have averted the dollar drain but we could have also earned much needed foreign investments and the inflow of dollars from prospective foreign students, particularly from India. It is vital as India has no international universities granting foreign degrees. If Sri Lanka can offer these foreign degrees, Indian parents would be so happy to send their children to Sri Lanka, rather than to European destinations particularly Australia where some of them are getting brutally assaulted and undergo cultural disparities.”
Referring to the then Sri Lankan Finance Minister JRJ’s famous San Francisco speech in 1951 in support of Japan, Jayasuriya emphasised Sri Lanka had received1.35 Trillion yen loan, approximately Rs. 270 Billion as grant aid, 108 Billion Technical Cooperation in addition to about 130 Japanese investments here. Daya Wettasinha, lawyer, businessman and more than anything else was a great human being. Wettasinghe was one of the select group of Sri Lankans to receive The Order of the Rising Sun. It is the third highest order bestowed by the Japanese government.
Commenting on current crises, Jayasuriya said that though Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion in May 2009, the country wasn’t able to achieve its true potential.
“For some people, with numerous personal bodyguards round the clock, fancy vehicles acquired with public funds whisking through crowded streets… probably now they fly about in helicopters or now in private Jets….and all other unimaginable means of luxurious living. People have entered a rat race with an insatiable greed for money and power. People are also self-indulgent and revel in false valour at the expense of the innocent peasantry, who perpetually struggle to make ends meet. Some get a sadistic delight displaying their prowess and money power. Those with Aston Martins, Lamborghinis, and Porsches have no qualms about displaying their wealth, and of course we have those who purchase iconic fashion merchandise such as, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Giorgio Armani, while bare footed children walk their way to school in the hot sun. There are those who are without furniture, toilets or even water in the school. They can barely afford their meals. Where is our development, where are we heading?”
“Where have we failed? Let’s go back a few decades. We have had an excellent civil administration, highly commendable Judiciary, Police and Public service and a top tier education system. These we inherited from our colonial forefathers. Of course we could be proud of what we inherited. But where are we today? Is it that the systems have failed or the people have failed? I would say that the systems have deteriorated and failed the people. Our values have failed. Our expectations have failed, our attitudes have failed. In short, we have failed. I don’t blame anyone but ourselves. We are all to blame for it. ‘Mea culpa!’ ‘Mea maxima culpa’ Where is the problem? How do we resolve it?”
Jayasuriya also discussed how foreign capital could be attracted by offering resident visas to those interested in spending US$ 500,000 to make Sri Lanka a second home. Similar schemes were already practiced in Malaysia with US$ 80,000 whereas earlier it was only US$30,000. Similar facilities were available in many countries in the West and East, the PC said (SF)
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
