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GL recalls how SLA was wrongly blamed for Mannar mass graves
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, who is also Chairman of the ruling SLPP, has questioned the rationale in UN human rights Chief Michelle Bachelet’s latest report that dealt with Sri Lanka accountability issues during the war and post-conflict period in the run-up to the 46th session of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Bachelet served as the Chilean President for nine years beginning 2006.
Acknowledging that Sri Lanka was again on the Geneva agenda, Prof. Peiris told a media briefing at the SLPP office at Battaramulla that Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena would state the government’s stand. Prof. Peiris, who served as the External Affairs Minister during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term (2010-2015) emphasized the government would take the following factors into consideration. Prof. Peiris asked how the UNHRC as regards Sri Lanka pursued a controversial agenda not compatible with its mandate. The top academic emphasized therefore forceful intervention in domestic matters was contrary to its mandate.
The UNHRC consists of 47 countries divided into five groups.
Referring to Bachelet’s latest report Prof. Peiris pointed out the absurdity in the UN human rights chief raising the enactment of an Amendment to the Constitution, appointments given to retired armed forces officers and interference in parliamentary matters. The Education Minister said the UN rights chief and the UNHRC had no business to intervene in such domestic matters.
Minister Peiris said that the UNHRC actions should be fair by all member states of the UN. Recollecting his recent three-day visit to Kilinochchi and the Jaffna peninsula, Prof. Peiris alleged that Bachelet conveniently ignored substantial development achieved in the Northern and Eastern Provinces since the eradication of the LTTE.
Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion in May 2009.
The former Chief Negotiator for the government in talks with the LTTE, Prof. Peiris faulted Bachelet for not giving sufficient attention to two key post-war factors namely rehabilitation of the LTTE cadre and vacation of public and private land and property occupied by the military.
Prof. Peiris said Sri Lanka had rehabilitated as many as 12,000 LTTE cadres after fighting ‘the world’s most ruthless terrorist organisation’, in an efficient manner that received the appreciation of some sections of the international community. The UN human rights chief however had chosen to ignore Sri Lanka’s unique rehabilitation project, the minister said, urging the Geneva body to give up its offensive directed at post-war Sri Lanka.
Prof. Peiris explained the orderly vacation of public and private property in the Northern and Eastern provinces by the security forces would never have been possible without the eradication of the LTTE. Those who always inquire about the continuing military presence in the predominantly Tamil speaking areas were conspicuously silent about significant reduction of in military presence over the years, Prof Peiris said. Would that be possible until the armed forces crushed the LTTE, Prof. Peiris asked.
Prof. Peiris said that the Office of the Missing Persons (OMP), too, was continuing its work. The SLPP Chairman also pointed out Bachelet’s failure to recognize improvement in education, agriculture, fisheries and industrial sectors over the past decade.
Prof. Peiris said that the Geneva body lost its credibility as it dealt with countries differently. “We are a case in point,” Minister Peiris said, underscoring Sri Lanka was definitely not the first country investigated over accountability issues.
The former foreign minister alleged that the UNHRC targeted some countries while some received protection. The minister said that the Geneva body was being used by those with vested interests to suit their agendas. The minister described Sri Lanka as a victim of that despicable strategy.
The former Foreign Minister said that the Geneva body should give due recognition to local mechanisms set up by Sri Lanka to address accountability issues. Unfortunately, Geneva had ignored the LLRC, Paranagama Commission as well as its Second Mandate thereby deprived Sri Lanka of an opportunity to set the record straight.
The Minister said that the international community should recognize the political environment too. Having won two national elections overwhelmingly, in 2019 and 2020, the ruling party commanded the respect of the people, the minister said, urging Geneva to be mindful of the circumstances leading to the rejection of yahapalana administration, twice within 12 months.
Responding to a query by The Island, Prof. Peiris pointed out that the Geneva rights chief had been in such a hurry to pressure Sri Lanka she blamed the Mannar mass graves on the Sri Lanka Army before US lab revealed the bones found therein were several centuries old and belonged to the colonial period. They never bothered to verify facts, the minister said, calling for examination of disclosure made by Lord Naseby in Oct 2017, US defence attaché Lt. Col. Lawrence Smith’s statement in June 2011, Wikileaks cables and dispatches from the UN office during Eelam War IV to establish the truth.
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
