News
Govt. delegation yet to leave for Moscow, absence of Ambassador worrisome
Lankan soldiers of fortune ‘trapped’ on Russia-Ukrainian front:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
A high level delegation that included Secretary Defence Gen. (retd.) Kamal Gunaratne is yet to leave for Moscow two weeks after the government announced the move in response to growing reports of ex-Sri Lankan military personnel taking up assignments with the Russian military.
State Foreign Affairs Minister Tharaka Balasuriya on Monday (27) said that they were awaiting the required appointments. The lawmaker said so in response to The Island query.
State Minister Balasuriya told a media briefing at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC), on May 16, that instructions were received from President Ranil Wickremesinghe to dispatch a team comprising the Defence Secretary, a Foreign Ministry official and a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Moscow to look into the matter.
The State Minister estimated the number of Lankan ex-servicemen there between 600 and 800.
State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon told the PMC briefing on the previous day, the ex-servicemen taking up mercenary role had been discussed at the National Security Council chaired by President Wickremesinghe.
Sources asserted that the absence of a Lankan Ambassador in Moscow since May Day couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Professor Janitha A. Liyanage, who had been on her third extension, left Moscow in the last week of April, sources said, adding that the Ambassador’s responsibilities were placed on a relatively junior career diplomat.
The Island learns that Ambassador Liyanage had received three extensions beginning Oct last year after Russia declined to accept Sri Lanka’s nominee and subsequent move to appoint a career diplomat, too, didn’t materialize, as she declared her inability to take up the challenging appointment.
Prof. Liyanage succeeded Prof. M.D. Lamawansa in Oct 2021 after the latter requested to return to Sri Lanka to assume duties as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya. Lamawansa had been President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s first choice as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Moscow. He took up the appointment in January 2020 with a concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Moldova and Republic of Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry, following consultations with relevant authorities, has decided to send a retired senior career foreign service officer to Moscow as Charge d’affairs. Sources said that an experienced officer was needed, especially against the backdrop of ex-servicemen joining the Russian military. Several of those personnel had been killed and scores believed to be wounded in the Russia-Ukraine conflict with families of the ex-military making representations to the Russian Embassy in Colombo as well as the UN in this regard.
Sources asserted that the delegation, led by Secretary Defence, would go ahead with the planned visit in spite of the appointment of a Charge d’affaires in place of a full time Ambassador.
Others said that the ex-servicemen’s issue could have been addressed successfully much earlier if the government took tangible measures immediately after the media disclosed the secret route to the Ukrainian front. Russia sent in the Army in February 2022 after repeated Ukrainian provocations.
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.
