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Ex-HRCSL Commissioner moves Court against Emergency
Former member of the Human Rights Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Ambika Satkunanathan, has petitioned the Supreme Court against the declaration of Emergency, citing as respondents the Attorney-General, Secretary to the ex-President Gamini Senarath, Secretary to the incumbent President Saman Ekanayake, Defence Secretary General (retd.) G.D.H. Kamal Gunaratne.
Petitioner Satkunanathan has stated in her Fundamental Rights Violation application that the Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulation No.1 of 2022 [hereinafter ERs] have the effect of restricting the fundamental rights of the people, and are constitutionally overbroad. The regulations are vague and overbroad, and amount to prior restraints of fundamental rights, and are not permissible proportionate restrictions, which are necessary in a democratic society.
The petitioner alleges they bestow and enable:
· Overbroad powers of search, arrest & detention and interrogation;
· Restrictions and prior restraint on freedom of speech, assembly, association and movement;
· Issuance of detention orders without judicial oversight;
· Arbitrary piling on of punishments and imposition of offences & penalties;
· Arbitrary / excessive restrictions on bail;
· Arbitrary restrictions on access to detainees.
The Petitioner therefore states that Regulations 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 26, 34, 36, and 37 of the ERs are vague and/or constitutional overbroad, and/or amount to prior restraints, and are violative of, inter alia, Articles 10, 11, 12(1), 12(2), 13(1), 13(2), 13(3), 13(4), 13(5), 14A, 14(1)(a), 14(1)(b), 14(1)(c), 14(1),(g) & 14(1)(h) of the Constitution, and are not necessary or proportionate responses required in a democratic society, and the measures do not deal with the exigencies of the current situation. The Petitioner states that these ERs additionally impinge on judicial discretion and oversight and are violative of inter alia, Articles 4(c) & 111C of the Constitution.
Petitioner requests the Court to:
· Declare that the Petitioner’s Fundamental Rights guaranteed to her under Article 12(1) of the Constitution have been infringed by any one or more of the Respondents;
· Declare that the actions of the Respondents amount to a violation and/or continuous violation and/or imminent violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 10, 11, 12(1), 12(4), 13(1), 13(2), 13(3), 13(4), 13(5), 14A, 14(1)(a), 14(1)(b), 14(1)(c), 14(1)(g), &/or 14(1)(h) of the Constitution;
· Grant appropriate interim relief(s) until the final determination of this application;
· Restrain the Respondents and/or officers serving under them and/or their agents from acting upon the Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulation No.1 of 2022.
AND/OR in the alternative to the above
· Staying the operation of the Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulation No.1 of 2022.
OR in the alternative to (ii) above
· Staying the operation of Regulations 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 26, 34, 36, and/or 37 of Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulation No.1 of 2022 published in Gazette Extraordinary 2289/07 dated 18 July 2022.
· Restraining the President of the Republic and/or his successor in office, from issuing any further Emergency Regulations pursuant to the Proclamation of a State of Emergency;OR in the alternative to (iv) above
· Restraining the President of the Republic from issuing any further Emergency Regulations pursuant to the Proclamation of a State of Emergency except and subject to such conditions as shall be imposed by the Court as necessary in a democratic society to meet the exigencies of the current circumstances;
· Staying the operation of the Proclamation declaring a State of Emergency.
· Declare that the Proclamation declaring a State of Emergency published in Gazette Extraordinary 2288/30 dated 17 July 2022 is null and void and of no force or effect in law.
· Declare that the President, represented by the AG has violated the rights of the Petitioner under Article 12(1) in issuing a Proclamation declaring a State of Emergency.
· Declare that the Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulation No.1 of 2022 published in Gazette Extraordinary 2289/07 dated 18 July 2022 are null and void and of no force or avail in law.
OR in the alternative to the above
· Declare that Regulations 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 26, 34, 36, and/or 37 of Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulation No.1 of 2022 published in Gazette Extraordinary 2289/07 dated 18 July 2022 are null and void and of no force or effect in law.
· Declare that the President, represented in these proceedings by the 1A Respondent AG has violated Articles 10, 11, 12(1), 12(4), 13(1), 13(2), 13(3), 13(4), 13(5), 14(1)(a), 14(1)(b), 14(1)(c), 14(1)(g), &/or 14(1)(h) of the Constitution, in issuing the Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulation No.1 of 2022 published in Gazette Extraordinary 2289/07 dated 18 July 2022.
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
