News
GL: Will UK hand over suppressed wartime dispatches to USD 2.8 mn Geneva probe team?
Memo reveals Lanka to be dealt in terms of universal jurisdiction and extraterritorial jurisdiction
By Shamindra Ferdinando
SLPP Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (29) asked whether the UK would hand over wartime dispatches (January-May, 2009) from its High Commission in Colombo to the proposed special unit tasked with gathering information and evidence, attached to the UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s Office.
The resolution adopted last Tuesday (23) authorized the High Commissioner’s office to set up a special unit to gather information and evidence on human rights violations in Sri Lanka. According to the resolution the new unit was meant to “strengthen the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner to collect, consolidate, analyze and preserve information and evidence and to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka, to advocate for victims and survivors, and to support relevant judicial and other proceedings, including in Member States, with competent jurisdiction” (operative clause 6).
One-time External Affairs Minister Prof. Peiris said the UK as the leader of the Sri Lanka Core Group that spearheaded the latest initiative to introduce a new resolution, owed an explanation why such documents had been suppressed over the years. “The existence of British diplomatic cables which contradicted their accusations directed at Sri Lanka military as well as the political leadership came to light in Oct 2017,” Prof. Peiris said.
Addressing the media at the Waters Edge, Prof. Peiris said that the UNHRC had been in such a hurry to allocate funds to the tune of USD 2.8 mn for the proposed unit. Prof. Peiris, who holds the education portfolio emphasized that it would be the responsibility of the new office to obtain the British dispatches.
The top academic, who had even taught law at a leading British university, also questioned the rationale in the UK being a member of the UNHRC fighting a near three year-old legal battle to prevent the release of dispatches sought by member of House of Lords, Lord Naseby. The Conservative party member was given only a section of the dispatches, Prof. Peiris said.
Minister Peiris said that the House of Commons was recently told the UK government didn’t hand over those dispatches nor the UNHRC asked for them. Prof. Peiris said that the proposed unit comprised three Legal Advisors, two analysts, two investigators/human rights officers, one information and evidence officer, two Juris-Linguists, one victim support officer and one programme assistant. Prof. Peiris said that the team had been tasked with putting in place information and evidence gathering mechanism therefore the need to examine everything available could not be ruled out.
The former head of the Colombo Law Faculty said that the proposed mechanism should be examined against the backdrop of the so called evidence/information gathered by the then UNSG Ban Ki-moon’s Panel of Experts’ remained covered by UN confidentiality clause till 2031. An internal UNHRC memo dated March 22, 2021 readout before the adoption of the resolution revealed that the new unit was tasked with coordinating with member states as regards universal jurisdiction and extraterritorial jurisdiction cases and other accountability purposes. The new unit is expected to function for a period of 12 months (Oct-Dec 2021 and January-Sept 2022). The memo revealed that the Office of the HR Commissioner intended to develop an efficient strategy meant to pave the way for individual countries to take action. The UK received the appointment as Sri Lanka Core Group leader in 2018 after the US quit the UNHRC alleging the UN body was a cesspool of political bias.
Prof. Peiris said that it would be interesting to see whether those tasked with gathering war crimes evidence would seek a meeting with Adele Balasingham, wife of the late LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham now living in the UK. At the onset of the briefing Prof. Peiris said that efforts to drag Sri Lanka before the International Criminal Court were futile. “We are not party to the Rome Statute,” Prof. Peiris said, Sri Lanka was confident China and Russia would thwart any attempt to secure a UN Security Council endorsement of specific actions against Sri Lanka. The US imposed travel restrictions on Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva and his family in Feb 2020 whereas Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Maj. Gen. Chagie Gallage were among those denied visas to the US and Australia, respectively.
The UK had been partial in the whole process and recent efforts to ensure immunity to UK forces deployed within the country or overseas revealed the double standards, the internationally renowned law academic charged.
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
