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Gammanpila asks govt. to reveal CPC losses since 2008
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government must reveal the losses incurred by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) since 2008 due to the prevention of cost-reflective pricing, and tell the people how it planed to recover the losses, former Minister of Energy, and leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), Udaya Gamnapila, said.Gammanpila said that CPC trade unions alleged that the government could reduce the price of petrol and diesel by Rs. 50 to Rs.100 rupees.
“The government can say they could have reduced more, given the drop in world market prices. However, because the price had not reflected costs since 2008, losses have accumulated. They can say that they want to recover losses. This is a valid argument,” Gammanpila said.On the other hand, Sri Lanka had started paying a premium for fuel in recent months, he said. The premium is the difference between the market oil price and the estimated price a country receives the fuel. This can include insurance and shipping costs, he said.
“Until quite recently, we had paid around 1.5 US dollars a barrel as a premium. Now, we pay 24.5 US dollars a barrel as premium. We don’t carry out competitive bidding. We accept unsolicited proposals. If we are not reducing prices because of these self-inflicted losses, then there is no justification for keeping the prices up.
“When Mangala Samaraweera was the Finance Minister, he introduced a price formula. I wanted to secure his formula and they didn’t give it.”
The PHU leader said he had tried to convince the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration from October 2020, that the country would face a foreign exchange crisis, which would bring about an energy crisis and destroy the economy.
“I kept on warning, but they didn’t care. In June 2021, I increased the price of diesel by seven rupees and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Secretary brought a no-confidence motion against me. Then, we went before the public and warned them that there was a looming foreign exchange crisis and that we needed to reduce consumption and get ready. I presented numbers and evidence. Some ministers then attacked me mercilessly. Minister Johnston Fernando said that Sri Lanka had enough dollars and that Gammanpila was scaring people. I was making mountains out of mole hills, they said. Now, we know who was telling the truth,” he said.The Sri Lankan government was the country’s biggest company, he said. It employed close to 1.5 million people and the annual expenditure amounted to trillions of rupees, Gammanpila said.
“The Cabinet is the board of directors of this company. When it is manned by the least bright people, it is obvious that things will go pear-shaped. I can understand some ministers not seeing the coming crisis. However, when someone warns you about the coming crisis with evidence, and you keep on denying the reality, you shouldn’t be a decisionmaker. Now, I hear Johnston is desperate to come into the Cabinet again and that he is pressuring the President,” he said.
Gammanpila said that from 2021 he had insisted that Sri Lanka must reduce non-essential imports and focus on ensuring a continuous supply of fuel, gas, food and medicine.
“If we can’t ensure a smooth supply of the above-mentioned items, nothing will work. Others MPs, academics and unionists also warned. I wanted to introduce a quota system for fuel in November 2021. I was not the first to suggest this. The then Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara suggested this a few months before. Basil Rajapaksa discarded my proposals. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa removed three He apparently didn’t want people to panic.”
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
