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GL warns EU may take punitive measures over postponement of polls
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The European Union will not continue with the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP-plus) facility unless the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government holds the Local Government elections soon, Prof G. L. Peiris, MP, has warned.
The Local Government bodies have to be constituted on or before March 20, 2023.
The former Foreign Minister has said that the continuation of the much-needed GSP-plus facility is dependent on Sri Lanka’s compliance with EU’s conditions.
Addressing the media, at Nawala, on Monday (19) on behalf of Nidahas Jathika Sabhawa, Prof. Peiris said that in terms of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Sri Lanka couldn’t fail to conduct the scheduled election.
The SLPP National MP and one of the two ex-Cabinet ministers, in the rebel group, said that the ICCPR was among the 27 international covenants in the EU’s agenda. Therefore, the incumbent administration couldn’t risk losing significant benefits received through GSP-plus that removed duties from products coming into the EU market from selected developing countries.
Prof. Peiris, who has held the Foreign Affairs portfolios twice, under the Rajapaksa brothers, flayed State Finance Minister, Shehan Semasinghe, for mixing up priorities. Prof. Peiris strongly criticized the Anuradhapura District lawmaker for pushing hard for the continuation of rapid economic recovery at the expense of the scheduled elections.
Lawmaker Peiris examined the State Minister’s move in line with the overall strategy meant to convince both the public and the international community that elections could be put off for the time being till progress was made. The EU and other members of the international community couldn’t turn a blind eye to any postponement of elections. “Don’t forget already all Provincial Councils are defunct. Now, they are planning to do the same to LG bodies,” Prof. Peiris said.
The last LG polls were held in Feb. 2018, during the Yahapalana administration. The Rajapaksa government postponed elections by one year. Elected for four years, the minister in charge of the subject could postpone the LG polls for a maximum period of one year, hence the stipulation new bodies would have to be set up by, or before, March 20, 2023.
The retired leading law academic, with half a dozen law text books under his belt, said that the national economy was in such a desperate situation, denial of GSP-plus could cause a catastrophe. The academic said that in spite of the Sept. 01 agreement, with the IMF, as regards USD 2.9 bn extended facility, Sri Lanka was yet to receive a dollar. “That is the reality. Regardless of almost daily promises given by government politicians, there is no certainty about it,” Prof. Peiris said, accusing the government of deceiving the public. “They are ensnared in their own lies. Having talked of the commencement of the programme in Feb, now they mention January and February next year,” Prof. Peiris said.
He commended the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, for taking a courageous stand. Dr. Weerasinghe has quite clearly explained the actual situation and such conduct should be appreciated, the former minister said, urging the government to review its strategies or face the consequences.
Contrary to various statements issued by various spokespersons on behalf of the government, Sri Lanka hadn’t been at least placed on the IMF’s agenda when its executive board met recently, in Washington, Prof Peiris said. However, Dr. Weerasinghe has quite rightly asserted that progress had been made, though an agreement was yet to be finalized.
Prof. Peiris said that the government couldn’t be unaware that the EU Parliament, in June last year, overwhelmingly voted to suspend the GSP-plus. Of 705 members, 628 voted in support of the resolution moved against Sri Lanka, 15 voted against, whereas 40 abstained. The resolution was meant to pressure Sri Lanka to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Commenting on the All Party Conference (APC), summoned by President Wickremesinghe, on Dec. 13, at the Presidential Secretariat, Prof. Peiris said that the gathering was told of his intention to reach a consensus on the economic recovery plan as the government was not in a position to decide on these matters alone. Prof. Peiris asserted that as the final decision on the IMF facility could be further delayed, it would be the responsibility of the government to have a contingency plan to meet the daunting challenges ahead.
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
