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Excise Chief orders liquor manufacturers to install CCTV cameras by 30 Sept.
But unions say Madras Security Printer the number one culprit
Excise Commissioner General Saman Jayasinghe has ordered liquor manufacturing companies to install CCTV cameras by 30 Sept., in their factories allowing centralised observation by the Excise officials as a measure to prevent the use of forged revenue stickers on bottles of liquor. He has warned that noncompliance would lead to the cancellation of their licences.
The directive was given by Jayasinghe during a meeting with the heads of liquor producing companies at the Excise Headquarters at Rajagiriya on Monday.Jayasinghe told the liquor manufacturers that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had personally instructed him that severe action should be taken against those involved in forged sticker scam irrespective of their position and rank in the Department.
President Wickremesinghe had pointed out that this scam cannot go on without the knowledge of both liquor producers and retail sellers and their actions continue to drain the excise revenue due to the government, Jayasinghe said.
Meanwhile, the Unity of Excise Trade Unions issuing a statement following the directive of Excise Commissioner General said that the responsibility for the crisis caused by the forged revenue stickers should be apportioned on few Excise officers and the Madras Security Printers who supply the stickers to the Department to be distributed among the liquor producers. “It is our understanding that not all the Excise Department officials should be held responsible for this scam. There are a handful of senior officers who protect the MSP continuing with the supply of these stickers.
Even if the Excise officers seize liquor bottles with forged stickers, the MSP has not provided the department with the technology needed for subsequent legal processes. The agreement with the MSP was finalised during the Yahapalana rule in 2019 but the date of commencement is considered as Jan 03, 2022 so that the agreement is to continue till Jan 02, 2027. Since 2019, the MSP sympathizers put the blame on excise officers while a huge sum of money being taken to India, because the MSP charges 5.99 USD for 1,000 stickers whether they are paper or digital,” the statement signed by Nirosh Jayakody, Co-Secretary of the Unity said.
It said that the MSP is a blacklisted Indian company for notorious violations of agreements and contracts with many countries around the world. “We are aware of the invisible hand that made it possible for the entering of this contract with the MSP and we are ready to reveal the names and positions of those who were involved in this affair. Cause of most problems pertaining to the fool-proof revenue stickers was the MSP’s dubious conduct and its ability to get away without accountability,” Jayakody said, adding that the Unity may be compelled to make many revelations in the coming days if those with vested interests continue to hold excise officials responsible for the revenue sticker scam.
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
