News
Govt. admits seized hoard of sugar part of stocks imported at nominal duty rate
Hoarding drives prices above Rs. 210 a kilo
By Shamindra Ferdinando
State Minister of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanne yesterday (29) said that 5,400 metric tons of sugar imported at 25 cents duty a kilo had been detected in three separate warehouses.
The detections were made amidst a shortage of sugar in the market with the price of a kilo of sugar rising above Rs 200.
The Finance Ministry reduced the duty on a kilo of sugar from Rs 50 to 25 cents by issuing a gazette bearing 2197/12 on Oct 13, 2020.
MP Alagiyawanne said that identities of the importers were known.
In spite of strong criticism both in and outside parliament, the government declined to reverse its decision.
Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPA) Anura Priyadarshana Yapa (SLPP Kurunegala District) on January 5, 2021 told the parliamentary watchdog committee that the consumers had not benefited from the sharp reduction of duty at all.
State Minister Alagiyawanne told The Island that the detection of hoarded sugar was made close on the heels of raids on 52 warehouses where the Consumer Affairs Authority detected about 100 metric tonnes of rice. Referring to large scale hoarding of sugar and rice, the SLFPer admitted that the country lacked laws to deal with such exploitation of the public.
Acknowledging that successive governments couldn’t absolve themselves of the responsibility for their failure to enhance required laws in that regard, Gampaha District MP Alagiyawanne said that the issue at hand would be discussed with the Attorney General’s Department. Dismissing the fines that could be prescribed for hoarding et al as nothing but a joke, the State Minister said that the maximum prison term too was six months imprisonment.
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said that the sugar racket had been bared in parliament in December last year. The government did nothing as the reduction of duty was effected to help government cronies, MP Dissanayake charged.
Soon after the issuance of the gazette in Oct last year, 26,000 metric tonnes of sugar was brought in. That shipload had been followed by another 12,500 mt and 13,000 mt, the JVPer said, pointing out that the public were deceived by those who propagated the lie a kilo of sugar would be made available at Rs 85.
Dissanayake said that the government, particularly the Finance Ministry, owed an explanation regarding the issuance of the particular gazette. “Hoarding sugar is a serious matter. But, the real issue at hand is the massive loss suffered by the Treasury as a result of the Oct 2020 gazette. This loss is in addition to depriving the Treasury of over Rs 500 bn by doing away with a range of taxes immediately after the 2019 presidential election,” MP Dissanayake said.
The JVP Leader pointed out that several weeks ago three major importers were found to be hoarding fertiliser. The public would like to know whether any action was taken against them, he asked alleging that bigger the crime the perpetrators found it much easier to side step the law.
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
