News
GR’s ouster: Speaker urged to name foreign elements
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Kavinda Jayawardena yesterday (31) said that the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) should accept the responsibility for creating conditions for public protests that led to the overthrowing of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The Gampaha District MP was responding to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s declaration that powerful external elements had intervened in the violent public protest campaign.
Referring to Speaker Abeywardena’s claim that those spearheading the protest campaign had threatened to harm him after he refused to cooperate with them, MP Jayawardena urged the Speaker to name the culprits.
Speaker Abeywardena was elected from the Matara District on the SLPP ticket at the last general election.
The SLPP couldn’t under any circumstances absolve itself of the responsibility for the political-economic-social crisis caused by an explosive combination of factors including the slashing of taxes, ban on chemical fertilisers and the inordinate delay in seeking IMF’s intervention, MP Jayawardena said. The health sector crisis created by the continuing waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement finally leading to the arrest of health minister Keheliya Rambukwella contributed to the current crisis, MP Jayawardena said. The MP asked whether the SLPP intended to blame corruption also on the international community.
Responding to another query, lawmaker Jayawardena said that the Speaker owed an explanation why he waited for so long to reveal the foreign hand in the protest campaign.
Pointing out that the incidents referred to by the Speaker in his March 21 declaration in parliament happened the second week of July 2022, MP Jayawardena questioned whether the sudden disclosure was part of his personal agenda or SLPP strategy in the run-up to national election later this year.
“We expect the Speaker to name those who alleged to have threatened him when parliament meets this week,” SJB spokesperson said, urging the SLPP to genuinely examine what went wrong without making unsubstantiated allegations against the international community and those who took into streets.
The former UNPer said that National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa and ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who launched ‘9: The Hidden Story’ and ‘Conspiracy’, respectively, in April last year and March this year, had failed to realise that the SLPP caused the crisis.
Perhaps, the SLPP should at least now study the Supreme Court ruling issued last November in respect of the high-profile economic collapse case, MP Jayawardena said, urging the Speaker to go the whole hog. “Now that the Speaker claimed of foreign interference in protest campaign, he should take tangible measures to initiate a proper inquiry,” MP Jayawardena said.
Foreign Ministry, too, should explain its stand on the Speaker’s declaration, MP Jayawardena said, pointing out that it couldn’t remained mum.
MP Jayawardena said that he feared that the ousted President caused himself and his government serious harm by following the advice of Anuradhapura-based Gnana Akka. A modern government couldn’t depend on occult practices and obviously the country paid a huge price for the former President’s dependence on soothsayer Gnana Akka, who advised the government, MP Jayawardena said.
The SJB official said that the issues arising out of ‘aragalaya’ should be dealt taking into consideration all relevant factors namely political, economic and social. The MP said that the Speaker appeared to have conveniently forgotten the SC ruling and he, too, was elected on the SLPP ticket, MP Jayawardena said.
MP Jayawardena said that the 2022 crisis was likely to be a major issue at the forthcoming national election. The presidential election is scheduled to be held in between Sept/Oct,2024 though the UNP and the SLPP is yet to reach consensus on conducting presidential poll as scheduled.
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.
