News
Fabricating evidence under PTA: SLPP rebels question AG’s role in Mudalige affair
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Prof. G.L. Peiris, MP, yesterday (06) faulted the Attorney General’s Department (AGD) for the prosecution of illegally arrested Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) Convener, Wasantha Mudalige.
Referring to the judgment given by Fort Chief Magistrate, Prasanna Alwis, on Feb. 01, in respect of a high profile case filed in terms of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the former External Affairs Minister told the regular weekly media briefing, held at the SLPP rebels’ Nawala office, that the police were found fault with for fabricating lies in a bid to implicate the student leader.
The AGD couldn’t absolve himself of the responsibility as prosecution was done under its supervision.
The former Law Professor declared that the dismissal of the case against Mudalige was not only an indictment of those law enforcement officers who bent backwards to appease the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa administration, but once respected AGD, as well.
Commenting on a detailed statement made by Mudalige, after the Fort Magistrate cleared him of perpetrating offences categorised under the PTA, Prof. Peiris said that law enforcement authorities owed an explanation why Mudalige was blindfolded and taken to an isolated place during the interrogation.
The retired top law academic called for a comprehensive inquiry into the police-AGD nexus in a bid to implicate the student leader on terror charges. Mudalige played a significant role in the breakaway JVP faction, the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) campaign in support of ‘Aragalaya’ that forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and give up his presidency.
Prof. Peiris said that the police and AGD couldn’t have been exposed at a worse time than this. An international group of experts recently released a report on human rights violations, the former minister said, adding that the Fort Magistrate’s landmark judgment underscored the pathetic state of affairs.
The National List MP addressed several other issues, including the inordinate delay on the part of Sri Lanka to conclude negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure the much-touted USD 2.9 bn loan facility. Referring to his recent meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister, A.K. Abdul Momen, in Colombo, Prof. Peiris said that Dhaka was able to conclude complex negotiations, with the IMF, within two months, whereas Sri Lanka, in spite of entering into a Staff-Level agreement, on Sept. 01, 2022, was yet to receive the first tranche of the promised loan.
Bangladesh had the capacity to secure a USD 4 bn loan facility, whereas Sri Lanka was still struggling to make progress, the Opposition MP said.
The National List MP added that two State Finance Ministers, Shehan Semasinghe and Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, had repeatedly promised that the IMF facility would be available soon. However, it hadn’t been the case, the former minister said, urging the government to come clean on the issue at hand.
Prof. Peiris said that the electorate would teach the government an unforgettable lesson at the forthcoming Local Government polls. The SLPP rebel said that having failed in its efforts to put off the poll, scheduled for March 09, the government would suffer a heavy defeat.
The former minister flayed the government for what he called unacceptable tax policy that prompted large groups of professionals to leave the country. “Professionals are strongly opposed to the new tax formula as the government targeted them while allowing waste and corruption to continue,” Prof. Peiris said, adding that the hapless public didn’t approve squandering of public funds on an Independence Day parade at a time the national economy is in tatters.
The former minister said that wasting public funds on such an extravaganza was nothing but a crime. “Within 24 hours after the ‘boru’ show, the state gas supplier increased the price of gas. That is the reality. A few days ago, a litre of petrol was raised by Rs 30.”
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
