News
Harini says govt. is mortally scared of people and that is the reason for draconian new anti-terrorism act
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The newly gazetted anti-terrorism act can make protesting against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) a terrorist offense, JVP-led NPP MP Dr Harini Amarasuriya said in Colombo last week.The government is panicking because it can’t implement the agreement signed with the IMF due to practical constraints, Dr Amarasuriya said.She said that the government, a few months ago, told professionals, that personal taxes imposed on them would be reduced during the first IMF review.
“The IMF team is here but there are no concessions to professionals. In fact, the government is panicking because it has not fulfilled what it promised the IMF. And most of these recommendations can’t be enforced due to practical constraints,” she said.
Dr Amarasuriya said the economic crisis has worsened and that within months an election has to be held.
“The government will lose the election if there is a level playing field. They have to win using intimidation,” she said.
The MP said regazetted anti-terrorism bill contained vague and broad definitions. “When the bill was brought up first in April 2023, the main criticism of it was that its definition of terrorism was too broad. The act proposes to shift some offenses that are currently punishable under the penal code, into the category of terrorist offenses. The new version of the bill will make protesting against the IMF a terrorist offence,” she said.
Sharing information about the IMF can be considered a terrorist offense, she said. This bill severely restricts the freedom of expression of unions, civil society and media, Dr Amarasuriya said.
She said that most MPs in the government seem to hate people and believe that the people have caused them a great injustice.
“The people have rejected them and they can’t stand it. The 2022 uprising has shaken their hold on the people. A smart government would look at what led to protests in 2022 and what led to the attacks on politicians. Instead, they are driven by a primordial hate. They want to hurt and punish people,” she said.
Dr Amarasuriya said that people are increasingly realizing the danger of domestic debt restructuring.
“However, they haven’t really grasped what will happen to their EPF. The government is bombarded with issues and people who are desperate to survive today have less time to think about collecting their EPF, which will happen in a few years. No other country has only subjected pension funds to domestic debt restructuring,” she said.
There are 14 countries that have restructured domestic debt along with external debt. Out of the 14 countries, 12 have not touched funds like EPF. Only Grenada and Ghana have restructured these funds, she said. These two countries too have restructured loans taken from other domestic lenders.
“Sri Lanka is the only country that has exclusively used funds like EPF that are there for the welfare of the workers,” she said.
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
