News
Harmful chemicals in liquor: Excise Dept. rejects allegations; consumer rights group warns legal action
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Excise Commissioner (Law Enforcement) Kapila Kumarasinghe yesterday (09) said that a countrywide investigation was underway to ensure arrack producers maintained required standards and action would be taken against those who had violated the license issued to them.
The Excise Commissioner said so when The Island sought his response to accusations that Isopropanol aka Isopropyl used for cleaning purposes had been found in the products of the Royal Ceylon Distilleries Pvt. Limited (formerly Wayamba Distilleries Pvt. Ltd.) and Synergy Distilleries Pvt. Ltd.
Strongly denying accusations that the Excise Department was trying to cover up the detection made recently, Kumarasinghe emphasized that those who propagated lies conveniently forgot that they were commenting on an ongoing investigation. “If we want to suppress information, why on earth did the Excise Department undertake countrywide sampling of liquor products,” Kumarasinghe asked.
The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection, in a statement issued on Wednesday (08) urged the Excise Department to cancel the licenses issued to those who had been found guilty of issuing products injurious to health. The outfit’s President, Ranjith Vithanage said that unless the licenses were revoked, he would soon move court against the Excise Department.
Kumarasinghe said that they were still in the process of carrying out the countrywide sampling. “We are not targeting any particular producer but are engaged in verifying the quality of various products,” Kumarasinghe said.
Responding to another query, the senior Excise official said that law enforcement authorities hadn’t been involved in the investigation and certainly the investigation process was still underway.
Pointing out that the culprits had been revealed thanks to sampling done by the Government Analyst Department recently, Vithanage said that Isopropanol aka Isopropyl was imported as a raw material for the production of anti-covid disinfectant spray.
Vithanage said that the crux of the matter was the failure on the part of the Excise Department to inform the public of the detection made by the Government Analyst’s Department which comes under the purview of the Justice Ministry.
Vithanage asked whether the Excise Department sought to protect the two distilleries because both were previously owned by a former minister of the incumbent dispensation. The civil society activist vowed not to allow those who produced harmful products as well as Excise Department hell-bent on protecting two distilleries to escape.
Kumarasinghe, who is also the Excise Department’s media spokesperson strongly, defended the conduct of the department. The social media and various other interested parties engaged in highly disruptive exercises at the expense of those who honestly performed their duties, Kumarasinghe said. Had there been some wrongdoing, the Department wouldn’t hesitate to take action in line with procedures in place to deal with such situations.
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
