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GMOA Executive Committee opposes KNDU Bill
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Government Medical Officers’ Association’s (GMOA) Executive Committee had unanimously decided that the Kotelawala National Defence University bill would have a disastrous impact on education and social stability, GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando said yesterday.
Dr. Fernando told The Island that the GMOA had also prepared a report on the KNDU highlighting the flaws in the Bill.
“We have no problem with a military university and the current act that governs the KDU is enough for that. There is no need for a university that operates outside the University Act,” Dr. Fernando said.
The report said that in the 2019 policy document of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, there was a promise to expand state universities and to develop their facilities. Those steps were proposed because the President admitted the importance of strengthening state university system and the need for students to enjoy academic freedom.
“However, this bill proposes the creation of a university outside this existing system. An institution that is not regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC). We fear that this will be the beginning of a series of institutions outside the purview of the UGC,” the GMOA report says.
The KNDU bill will also degrade the quality of Sri Lankan degrees, the GMOA’s report says, adding that the members of the current administration opposed the KNDU proposed by the yahapalana government and the current bill is a carbon copy of the previous one.
“All the establishments under the UGC are administered under a national policy. To enter a university one must pass the GCE AL examination and get a stated Z score. This score determines what course one can offer. However, we do not know under what criteria that students will be taken into KDU, under the proposed act. This is important because the new act opens the doors of the university to others outside those of the defence establishment,” the GMOA said.
The GMOA added that the governing body of the KDU, as proposed by the act, comprises nine members. Out of that, five are military officers in active duty.
“They are the Chief of Defence Staff, Army Commander, Navy Commander and Air Force Commander. Moreover, the act proposes that the Vice Chancellor should also be a senior Army Officer. Meanwhile, two others are Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and an Additional Secretary to the Ministry. Thus seven out of nine are associated with the Defence Ministry and five are direct members of the military. There are only two non- military people,” he said.
The GMOA has said in its report that the quorum of the governing body is only five and therefore, decisions can be taken by the military officers. “This is not the governance structure of an institution that plans to offer degrees to civilians.
“This body also decides on the method of recruitment, setting courses, salaries of teachers, establishment and repealing of positions, creating links with other public and private institutions. They are also given independent monetary powers. This is the establishment of an independent body with self-determination.”
The KNDU will also be able to attract the best teachers from state universities. This will lead to shortages of lecturers in state universities and that will lead to a drop of quality in these institutions, the doctors’ union has said.
“However, this university will also be able to secure government funding outside allocations to the Ministry of Defence. This means that a chunk of money that would have gone to government education will be channeled into a private institution outside the purview of the UGC.”
All these factors will lead to unrest in other universities, which in turn would affect the smooth functioning of those establishments. “For example medical students lost a year because they boycotted classes opposing SAITM, the GMOA has said, arguing that a graduate from a military university will be conditioned to follow orders from above. However, only a scholar who was able to think independently could contribute to the development of the country.
“Civilian students who join the KNDU will not be able to talk or negotiate with the university administration. Let’s assume that they are unhappy with the service provided by the university, can the students gather, organize and win their rights? The answer is a resounding no. The students can’t even run a student council, which is a hallmark of any university.”
Article 07 of the bill states that if the Minister of Defence feels that anything that happens in the university is a threat to national security or affects the functioning of the university, he can order the governing body to take action.
“So, students have to submit to any decision taken in the name of ‘national security. This is ludicrous.”
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
