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FUTA asks Ranil to go home
Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) had demanded that Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe step down immediately to prevent a disastrous constitutional and political impasse that will further destabilize this country.Secretary-FUTA Rohan Laksiri has, in a letter to Wickremesinghe, said that Sri Lanka is facing a severe economic and political crisis.
Although people are suffering, the political leadership of the country has miserably failed to steer the country towards any kind of stability during this time, the FUTA Secretary has said.
“The ill-thought-out and arbitrary policies of the Rajapaksa regime and the corruption and violence that characterized that regime are the main causes of this failure. On May 9th of this year, when the then Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned under tremendous public pressure, you stepped in to replace him and gave a new lease of life to a discredited regime,” he said.
Laksiri has added that Wickremesinghe couldn’t get enough votes to enter Parliament at the last general election and became an MP using the provisions of the National List.
“The people of this country, including those loyal to your own party have roundly rejected you. Though you had no legitimacy to become the prime minister at that critical moment, you accepted this position against the people’s will. Despite your illegitimacy, which you rationalized on the basis that you had the technical and governance skill to channel international aid to Sri Lanka, the people of this country gave you an opportunity to prove yourself. But you failed to deliver on any of your promises,” he said.
Below are the excerpts of the letter to Wickremesinghe: “At this point in time, we need a legitimate government and collective and participatory governance. The country is not in need of single-person saviors. The events of July 9th have clearly demonstrated that the present government has lost all legitimacy. The office of Acting President is bestowed upon you by a discredited President, who has fled the country under cover of darkness, in disrepute.
“Under these circumstances, the only ethical and responsible option for you is to step down from this office and avoid contributing to a disastrous constitutional and political impasse that will further destabilize this country.
“To this end, we demand that:
• You consult with the speaker and the parliament and take the appropriate steps to resign from office immediately. • Pledge to the people of this country that you will not offer yourself as a candidate when the parliament meets to appoint a new President on the 20th of this month • Desist from using the arbitrary powers of the office of the executive president to direct violence and suppression at the people at any juncture. • Desist from acting in such a manner that gives legitimacy to an illegitimate government.
We sincerely hope that you will listen to the voices of reason and the people’s will and step down from your office honorably. As you are well-aware, failure to do so could lead to a state of tremendous uncertainty and instability in the country.”
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
