News
Health strike suspended until 07 Feb following President’s intervention
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The health sector strike launched by 72 trade unions was suspended yesterday until 07 February, according to President of the Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine, Ravi Kumudesh.
All health services will return to normal from 6.30am today (03).Kumudesh said the President had agreed to arrange for a meeting between the trade unions and Finance Ministry officials on 06 February to resolve the matter.
If the government failed to meet their demand, the unions would recommence the strike, Kumudesh warned.
“Since 2020, we have not demanded anything from the government, given the country’s situation. We also did a lot to protect the healthcare system. We were the first to expose the procurement of substandard medicine and other instances of corruption. The healthcare system is in serious crisis, and it is the dedication of all health staff that has prevented the system from collapsing a long time ago,” he said.
Kumudesh said the trade unions had been compelled to resort to a strike in protest against unjust decisions made by the Ministry of Health. He said that the Ministry had misled the government when it recommended that the Disturbance, Availability and Transport (DAT) allowance should only be increased for doctors.
“The doctors should get a salary hike. This is just. But what about everyone else in the healthcare system? Shouldn’t they also deserve some consideration?” he asked.
Kumudesh said that the doctors claim that their DAT allowance should be about 260,000 rupees and that they only got an allowance of 70,000 rupees.
“The doctors excel at coming up with figures like this. They consider factors such as inflation, the price of petrol, and more. They analyze these elements in comparison to the earnings of doctors in the US or the UK, deriving figures accordingly. It is crucial to emphasize that these figures are not excessive. What is advocated for is a fair mechanism for the increment of all workers’ salaries. Economic justice should be extended to everyone, not just the privileged few,” he said.
Kumudesh emphasized that the nation is facing a severe crisis and highlighted that focusing solely on the well-being of the health sector won’t address the overall situation. He said it’s futile if all other aspects collapse, even if we have a healthcare system comparable to the Scandinavian model.
“Increasing doctors’ salaries won’t ensure the smooth operation of the healthcare system. What is needed is the development of the entire healthcare system. While we don’t object to doctors receiving salaries comparable to their counterparts in the UK, it becomes inconsequential if others, within the system, are demoralized and feel undervalued,” he said.
The lab technician said that the government decides on salaries according to certain principles and policies. Currently, the salaries of the government service are determined by Public Administration Circular No: 06/2006 which restructured public service salaries based on 2006 budget proposals.
“This circular created a number of serious problems in the healthcare system. From the Health Minister to all the administrative officers in the Health Ministry are doctors. They only understand their problems. They don’t understand any of the issues we face, and that’s why they have misled the government this time too,” he 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
