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Field marshal protests over security forces thrashing street agitators
SJB Gampaha District MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka called on people to learn from their counterparts in England if they want to see democracy and righteousness upheld in this country.Participating in the debate on interim budget proposals, Field Marshal Fonseka told Parliament that a Lankan expatriate doctor in London had called him and lamented people not taking to the streets against using police and anti-riot squads on protesting undergraduates.
“It was so inhumane to watch how the police and anti-riot squads chased away protesters beating them along the way from Maradana to Borella the other day. People should not become roadside viewers when the police attack their fellow countrymen. I was told that if such a thing happened in England, citizens would take to the street and remain there until the IGP resigns. I call on Lankan people to learn from them. If you aspire for the upholding of democracy and righteousness in this country someday you will have to stand up for your rights. The Aragalaya protesters are agitating on behalf of all of us. People must support them,” Field Marshal Fonseka said.
He called on security forces not to thrash undergraduates engaged in protests. “Security force members also have children. These children are engaged in a righteous campaign. They should not be beaten mercilessly to make the rulers happy. All the officers who engaged in suppression of Aragalaya activists will have to pay for their crimes. Not only they, but also their children will have to pay for these crimes. Members of the legal fraternity will file FR cases against them. People should go before the Human Rights Commission against unjust activities of those who attack people exercising their right to dissent.“
“I call on international community to come forward to stop this state-terrorism. They should not support this government until it continues to use the military and police to suppress people. This is an anti-people government. I call on Lankan expatriates not to send any dollars to this country until this government continues to oppress people. We may die of hunger but we must fight to get rid of these thieves.
“The government would not be able to resurrect the collapsed economy because they are still engaged in stealing from the public purse. They are milking a dying cow. In the meantime, they boast of increasing the Samurdhi benefit allowance for 700,000 families. Giving handouts to the public is not such a heroic act to boast of. The government should be ashamed of its inability to get those 700,000 families to become a source of income generation rather than living on handouts. If we go at this rate, there will soon be a day that all the citizens get entitled for Samurdhi allowance. The president too will have to live on Samurdhi.
“People are suffering many hardships because of the economic crisis. They have to come down from their normal lifestyles as they cannot match their expenses with the salaries they get because of high inflation. “I had a secretary who used to come to work by car. Now he cannot afford the car. He has opted to use a scooter. He was formerly an officer who had commanded a brigade in the Army. Though he earns around 150,000 rupees a month plus his pension, he cannot afford to use a car. This is a reminder for the security force officers. Soon the officers retiring will have to come down from their high offices to that. If we could not change this, the present-day brigadiers and generals will have to use scooters. Therefore, when these officers attack aragalaya activists must keep in their minds that they too one day will have to come down from their cars to scooters if this government continues,” the Field Marshal said.
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
