News
Harin claims govt using fight against coronavirus to suppress political opponents, break laws to help cronies
By Saman Indrajith
SJB MP Harin Fenanrdo told Parliament yesterday that other countries were acting with single-minded pursuit of the goal of beating coronavirus, the Sri Lankan government was advancing a hidden agenda as for its anti-COVID-19 campaign.
Fernando, participating in a debate at the time of the adjournment of the House, said that all other governments in the world were focussed on how to tackle the pandemic and save lives. “In Sri Lanka, the COVID-19 campaign is used to suppress the government’s political enemies and help its cronies. The people in the Maligawatte flats were demanding food. People are dying on streets not in Wuhan but in Panadura, in Udugampola and in Gampaha. The government does not give two hoots about people’s plight. It is worried only about how it could help its friends make money by supplying rapid antigen test kits to the Health Ministry.
What is this antigen test issue? I table a copy of a letter by MP Dr Channa Jayasumana. This letter is addressed to Chairman National Medicines Regulatory Authority Prof Asitha de Silva. It is dated as Oct 20, 2020. I will read some sections of the letter. It says: ‘The nature of the complaints mostly received are in the delay of the following process. Prices of drugs, license to sell therapeutic goods retail and wholesale.’
Now, the MP himself says something untoward is happening in the NMRA. He says, “I would like to remind you at our meeting one week after assuming duties as State Minister NMRA provided timelines to complete the regulatory process pertaining to local manufacturing and importing pharmaceuticals.”
State Minister Jayasumana raising a point of order:
My name is mentioned. I want to say that I had received many complaints of an undue delay in NMRA from various parties. So I sent a letter to the head of the NMRA to get the matter clarified. There is no connection between the letter and the antigen tests.
MP Harin Fernando
: Not only antigen tests. I table a document on a massive fraud in importing sugar. A businessman with close links to the government is hoarding 50,000 metric tonnes of sugar. I will reveal the name in the coming days.
“Within a month the number of COVID-19 cases increased by 11,000.
MP Fernando reminded the House of the story of the Emperor’s new clothes. “The same is happening here now too. Today, people are dying on the streets but the leaders are duped into thinking that the situation is rosy.”
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
