News
External interventions in GR’s ouster: Manohara challenges HRC’s stand
by Shamindra Ferdinando
President’s Counsel Manohara De Silva says the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has to inquire into alleged foreign interventions in Sri Lanka, as they amount to failure on the part of the government in power to safeguard the country’s national security.
Pointing out that the Speaker had disclosed not only foreign interventions but also death threats to him, de Silva said that such a failure was tantamount to the government’s ‘inaction’ to perform its constitutional obligations, and the HRC and the courts could inquire thereinto.
“Such a failure is a violation of people’s sovereignty and therefore an infringement of people’s fundamental rights,” de Silva said.
The President’s Counsel said so regarding the HRC Chairperson Justice L. T. B. Dehideniya’s recent declaration that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s claim of foreign interventions could be inquired into only if he received a complaint. Justice Dehideniya was responding to The Island queries, at its first media briefing since appointment last July.
De Silva pointed out that The Island had raised a pertinent issue as the HRC was already inquiring into SLPP goon attacks on the ‘Aragalaya’ protesters on 09 May2022 and a spate of counterattacks carried out in the immediate aftermath of the failed attempt to chase out those who had been occupying Galle Face.
Responding to another query, the President’s Counsel said that the Speaker had revealed direct foreign interventions in the overthrowing of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa 20 months after the regime change. But the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government and the Opposition had remained silent though some MPs raised the issue in their individual capacity, he said.
Declaring that HRC could intervene on its own concerning issues of national importance, Justice Dehideniya asked whether the disclosure made by the Speaker could be considered as such.
Another top lawyer, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained the need to examine whether the alleged intervention made by external powers could be considered an offence under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). He said that in terms of the Article 14 of the HRC Act, the HRC on its own could investigate an alleged infringement or imminent infringement of FR. However, such violations must be by either administrative or executive actions, he said, pointing out that third party foreign interventions weren’t covered by that particular Act.
Dissident SLPP lawmaker Gevindu Cumaratunga told The Island yesterday having disclosed foreign hand in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster, Speaker Abeywardena had apparently cold feet.
MP Cumaratunga said that he had written to Speaker Abeywardena seeking clarifications on 02 April following the latter’s denial of foreign intervention on the previous day.
The MP acknowledged that he had made a mistake when he raised the issue at hand with Speaker Abeywardena on 01 April. MP Cumaratunga said that when he asked the Speaker Abeywardena to name foreign embassies that had been involved, the latter said there was no embassy involvement at all. Acknowledging that Speaker Abeywardena in his controversial 21 March statement to Parliament after the SLPP defeated a no-confidence motion that had been moved against him didn’t make any references to embassies, MP Cumaratunga, in his letter, has requested the Speaker to disclose what he called external powers.
The government owed a comprehensive explanation to the public regarding the status of investigations into incidents that were reported during the March 31, 2022-July 20, 2022 period, MP Cumaratunga said. Chief Government Whip and Minister Prasanna Ranatunga is on record as having said that he was not satisfied with the progress in the investigations, he added.
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
