News
Hit-run killer of Lankan student jailed for eight years
Nisali Perera was just two metres from safety when an ice-addicted driver struck and killed her on a Melbourne road
Shane Cochrane killed her instantly after he sped through a red light in Clayton in August 2019, having used ice and GHB the night before.
The 20-year-old Sri Lankan international student, on her way home from Monash University, was thrown nearly 60m by the impact.
But Cochrane didn’t stop, instead dumping his car at an abandoned church nearby before hopping into a DiDi ride share.
Judge Liz Gaynor sentenced the 38-year-old, who appeared to wipe away tears as he faced the Victorian County Court on Tuesday, to a maximum 10 years behind bars, the Australian media reported yesterday (6)
Cochrane had earlier pleaded guilty to multiple offences including culpable driving causing death, and failing to stop and render assistance.
Ms Perera’s parents were torn when their only child was accepted to study commerce at Monash, the court heard.
Her mother, Kamal, said in a statement they were “reluctant” to let their daughter go from their care and protection, but wanted the young woman to be able to “fulfil her dreams and live independently”.
“I still regret the fact that I let her go (to Australia),” the 52-year-old said.
“If I kept her back (home) … she would have lived.
“We do not have anything to look forward to in the future.”
Kamal Perera and her husband despaired that their daughter wouldn’t be able to care for them in their old age, as is customary in Sri Lankan culture.
“The irony of the situation is that Nisali had a belief that Australia was a very safe country,” Judge Gaynor said on Tuesday.
“She was the centre of her parents’ world and their lives have been entirely and irrevocably shattered.”
Cochrane had already been sentenced 29 times, mostly for drug and driving offences, when he fatally struck Ms Perera.
Judge Gaynor called his road record “appalling”.
He was still under the influence of ice when he sped, unlicensed, through a light which had been red for 12 seconds.
A collision reconstruction expert told the court Cochrane was “most likely” driving at 95 to 102km/h when he struck Ms Perera, who was 2.3m away from crossing the road.
The former furniture removalist and courier was arrested sleeping in a home at Officer, southeast of Melbourne, five days after the crash.
“I was just driving along that road and … the next thing I know, I’ve hit somebody, like, I didn’t even see her one bit,” he told police.
Cochrane is thought to have a brain injury from prolonged drug use and trauma, after an upbringing marred by violence. His mother died from drugs when he was a teenager.
He will be eligible for parole after eight years, but has already served 355 days in pre-sentence detention.
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
