News
Govt. urged to come clean on harmful Chinese organic fertiliser shipment
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Opposition lawmaker Rohini Kaviratne says the government owes an explanation regarding the Attorney General’s intervention in the Commercial High Court to thwart unloading of a large consignment of organic fertiliser, ordered from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. of China, and also stop payments to the Chinese firm and its local agent, Chelinaa Capital Corporation (Pvt) Ltd.
MP Kaviratne pointed out that the Attorney General made representations before the Commercial HC on behalf of the Fertiliser Company against the harmful consignment sent by the Chinese company. She said that the announcement regarding the AG’s intervention on Friday (22) was made by the President’s Media Division (PMD).
The people have a right to know who wanted the consignment unloaded regardless of the National Plant Quarantine Services confirming the presence of certain harmful bacteria and other organisms. The Matale District MP emphasised that there hadn’t been a previous instance of the AG moving against a foreign supplier and its local agent in such a way. She asserted that the government appeared to have been sharply divided over the fertilizer deal.
The Commercial High Court issued an injunction last Friday.
State Counsel Sehan Soyza and Dr. Charuka Ekanayake, Deputy Solicitor General Nirmalan Wigneswaran and Additional Solicitor General Susantha Balapatabendi PC appeared for the Ceylon Fertiliser Company.
The enjoining order barred People’s Bank from making any payments under a letter of credit opened on behalf of Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. of China. It also barred the Chinese company and its local agent from receiving any payments under the letter of credit.
Referring to a recent statement issued by the Chinese embassy in Colombo that strongly disputed the basis on which Sri Lanka refused to accept the consignment, lawmaker Kaviratne urged the government to come clean on this contentious matter.
The PMD stated: “The consignment is a partial shipment worth more than a billion rupees that was procured through a tender process initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture.”
MP Kaviratne said that the Chinese company has written to Prof. Ajantha de Silva, DG, Agriculture reassuring the quality of their product though Sri Lanka believed otherwise.
MP Kaviratne also pointed out that the controversial payments in respect of liquid nano fertilizer imports, too, involved the People’s Bank. The MP said that fresh major financial controversies had erupted at a time the country was in a dire financial situation with an extremely serious balance of payments crisis. The MP noted that Secretary to the President Dr. P. B. Jayasundera has strongly contradicted the declaration made by JVP MP Vijitha Herath regarding liquid fertilizer imports from India. Dr. Jayasundera, in a statement issued through the PMD media reports based on the Opposition MP’s claim as regards the opening of a personal account in a state bank to import fertilizer from India. Dr. Jayasundera said: “Those news stories are completely false and malicious. The opening of an account in a state bank is an act between the relevant bank and the account holder. It is the responsibility of the bank to act in accordance with the standard procedures in this regard.”
Dr. Jayasundera added that “stern legal action has already been taken against the false propaganda targeted at him by highlighting a statement made by a Member of Parliament.” The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the weekend recorded ‘Aruna’ editor Mahinda Illeperuma’s statement in connection with the inquiry initiated following a complaint from Dr. Jayasundera. Illeperuma told The Island that ‘Aruna’ story, too, was based on MP Herath’s disclosure in Parliament on Friday.
MP Kaviratne said that the SJB appreciated a thorough inquiry into both issues. She emphasized that the country wouldn’t have to place emergency orders under an extremely dicey situation if the government acted prudently.
MP Herath is on record as having said that the government deposited USD 1,275 mn in a newly opened account under the name of United Farmers’ Trust Limited at the Town Hall branch of the People’s Bank. Naming the Directors of the company as Mohan Perera and G.M. Weerasinghe, the JVP asked the government who they were.
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
