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FSP: SJB and opposition parties facing litmus test that will determine their political future
The Frontline Socialist Party on Tuesday said that the Samagi Jana Balavegaya and opposition parties, in Parliament, were facing a litmus test that would determine their political future.
Frontline Socialist Party Education Secretary Pubudu Jagoda, addressing a press conference at the Party Headquarters, in Nugegoda, said those parties in the opposition faced a test on where they stood because they had two choices. “They can either join one camp that unleashes suppression against Aragalaya activists, ranging from political and trade union leaders to a person who got a selfie in his mobile while visiting Galle Face protests. Or they can stand with people against the suppression. This is not a suppression of a single party,” Jagoda said.
“We do not test Ranil Wickremesinghe and his power hungry allies now settling in top places of the government offices and any member of the Rajapaksa clan. Nor do we test some Pohottuwa MPs who are against the Aragalaya activists after recent incidents where people set their houses on fire. These are the same lot of Pohottuwa MPs whose faces people may remember from video footage during Parliament fracas where they destroyed public property and threw chilli powder at policemen. They have joined forces with the government suppressive machinery to take revenge. We do not need to test the standpoints of MPs wishing to get ministerial posts, or chairs, in proposed Parliament committees, with Cabinet powers. There are some officials controlling the Army and Police in this suppression. They too are exempted from the test because they have decided to take the course of oppressive governing of people. All these are in one camp. They are hell-bent on how to form a mechanism to get hold of power and they are well aware of the fact that suppression of people will continue under Wickremesinghe’s government poised to privatise all remaining state enterprises.
In that process of selling off national assets, people and trade unions will oppose that so there will be more suppression. Together these will form a despotic administration. Now people are looking at the standpoint the opposition parties may take. Of all those 225 MPs, there was only a single MP with a backbone. Only MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam had the guts to reject the oppressive government. The JVP, too, has announced that it does not recognize this makeshift government, formed to save the enemies of the people. That is a positive sign.”
“This suppression is against society. This is a litmus test for SJB and other parties in Parliament’s opposition ranks to show people their true selves. With these standpoints, people can understand the camp against them. If they cannot stand up against this suppression, that would indicate the end of their political legitimacy, too. Such a situation will help us to conclude that they all have united over their party ideological differences for a system of governance, suppressing people, irrespective of their political differences. It will justify that slogan of protesters rejecting all 225 MPs,” Jagoda 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
