News
Field Marshal tears modern-day Mahawamsa chroniclers to shreds over poor recording of Eelam War IV
Defence Secy, Army Chief assure remedial measures
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva yesterday (07) told The Island that the controversial Mahawamsa (sixth volume) that dealt with the fourth phase of the Eelam War would be perused by an expert team and remedial measures taken to correct mistakes.
Gen. Silva, who is also the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) said that the Army headquarters would definitely act on concerns expressed by Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, MP, during a recent debate on the Defence Ministry vote. Fonseka served as the Commander of the Army from Dec 2005 to July 2009.
Responding to another query, Gen. Silva said that he had been present in Parliament on 03 Dec, when the former Commander of the Army pointed out specific errors in the Mahawamsa latest volume.
Addressing Parliament, Field Marthal Fonskea urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was the wartime Defence Secretary, present Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne and Gen. Shavendra Silva to set the record straight.
MP Fonseka said that SJB leader Sajith Premadasa had recently given him the go ahead to raise contentious issues in Parliament and also assured him the defence portfolio in the next government. Fonseka declared that the SJB’s victory at the next parliamentary election was certain and therfore he would be the next Defence Minister.
The Field Marshal lambasted the Mahawamsa editorial team for what he called an extremely poor effort. He faulted the editorial team for depending on two Majors General, who retired in 1996 and 2000. They shouldn’t have discussed with Mahawamsa editorial team what they didn’t really know, Fonseka said.
Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne told The Island although he hadn’t been present in Parliament at that time, MP Fonseka participated in the debate on the Defence Ministry vote, the issues raised by the former Army Commander would be dealt with.
MP Fonseka said that the wartime General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the 58 Division the then Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva and GoC of 53 Division Maj. Gen. Kamal Gunaratne, too, have been deprived of much deserved coverage.
Field Marshal Fonseka questioned the entire Mahawamsa coverage of the war pointing out how the editorial team due to absence of knowledge in military matters completely botched the project. Fonseka said the editor had failed to correctly record the deployment of fighting formations, the theater of operations and the exact times. The former Army Chief asked how they could be so irresponsible in handling such a significant national matter. The five-Star General said that after the eruption of fighting at Mavil-aru he had never received any other political directives as regards offensive action.
MP Fonseka, who during much of his distinguished military career led from the front, declared that he would write his own book on the war numbering over 700 pages.
The former Army Chief also dealt with post-war accountability issues while reminding the Parliament he was among 58 senior officers blacklisted thereby denied visas by various countries. MP Fonseka reiterated the responsibility on the part of the government to punish those individuals responsible for excesses though the military as an institution wasn’t responsible for accountability issues.
The Field Marshal brought to the notice of the Parliament the difficulties experienced by the military at a time the country was struggling to cope up with Covid-19 situation. He said the officers and men shouldn’t be deprived of what was rightfully theirs, and alleged that those retiring after completing 22 years in the military had been deprived of gratuity and thus they had been placed in an extremely difficult situation.
Fonseka claimed that adequate funds hadn’t been allocated to meet the requirements of the armed forces and the country couldn’t afford to weaken the armed forces though they were not engaged in a conflict at the moment. He said the SLAF had been denied adequate jet capability and mentioned the absence of armoured fighting vehicles.
Field Marshal Fonseka strongly criticised the Indian fishing fleet brazenly poaching in Sri Lankan waters at the expense of the local fishing community. India shouldn’t be allowed to poach and the Navy should be authorised to take preventive measures, he added.
Fonseka lambasted successive governments for not providing the wherewithal for bringing terrorism to an early end. Terrorism could have been eradicated when General Denzil Kobbekaduwa served the Army, he said, alleging that a certain Defence Secretary had blocked even the supply ammunition required firing practice.
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
