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House imbroglio: CPA, IPU urged to intervene
The Opposition has written to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) seeking their intervention to prevent Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena from conducting parliamentary proceedings in a manner politically beneficial to the SLPP-UNP government.
Among the signatories are Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem, Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader Mano Ganeshan, SLPP rebel group senior Prof. G. L. Pieris, Yuthukama leader Gevindu Cumaratunga and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammanpila Referring to the parliamentary traditions and practices here, the Opposition has told the CPA and IPU: “The essential balance between the government and Opposition , the entitlement of all members of parliament to equal dignity and consideration , opportunity for articulation of diverse points of view in parliamentary debates , fairness to recourse to procedures , fidelity to commitments and an environment of comity and mutual respect are, in our view necessary ingredients of a functioning parliamentary democracy.
“We believe that these are not solely ensured by legal provisions, be they contained in the Constitution or in delegated legislation such as the Standing Orders of Parliament.
“No less important, we are convinced, are the concepts of equity, decency and fair dealing which form the very core of the parliamentary process.
“The robust quality of this culture depends, principally, on the role of the Speaker of Parliament. His Office has evolved, historically, as the custodian of the rights and privileges of Parliament and represents the ultimate bulwark against erosion of parliamentary authority by the executive or any other external agency.
“The critical significance of this function is nowhere set out in greater emphasis than in the inspiring words of Speaker Lenthall of House of Commons in England, addressed to King Charles I at the height of a civil war. This classic assertion has resonated down the ages and forms the wellspring of parliamentary authority across the Commonwealth.
“It is against this backdrop that we feel acute concern about some current developments regarding the behaviour and attitude of Hon Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the Speaker of Parliament.
“A series of situations indicative of sustained bias and partisanship culminated in the deeply disturbing actions of the Speaker on the occasion of the debate in Parliament, on Saturday, July 01, on the government’s proposals in respect of domestic debt restructuring.
“At a meeting of the parliamentary Business Committee, consisting of party leaders, held on the preceding, Friday 30th June, it was decided that the debate would commence at 9 am on the following day and that the vote would be taken at 7.30 pm, subject to the time being extended if the list of speakers on the published list submitted by the Government and Opposition Whips had not been exhausted at that time.
“Taking the House by surprise, however, the Speaker, at the allotted hour, abruptly brought the proceedings to an end and called for the vote to be taken, dismissing in cavalier fashion vehement protests by the Leader of the Opposition and other members of the House that the letter and the spirit of the agreement arrived at on the previous day, was being flagrantly violated. Regrettably, their pleas fell on deaf ears.
“Look upon this lapse, very much in line with similar arbitrary and prejudiced decisions made by the Speaker constantly in recent months, as a grave infringement of the legitimate rights and privileges of the Opposition in Parliament.
“The substance of this debate, involving as it did the fate of superannuation funds and the monetary entitlements of hundreds of thousands of working people, was of the highest importance to the public.
“Sadly, these considerations received short shrift at the hands of the Speaker whose recurring conduct strikes at the root of objectivity and impartiality, and deprives the proceedings of parliament of the gravitas which we have hitherto taken for granted.
“We consider it our duty to bring to your notice these unfortunate trends, destructive of seminal democratic values which have defined the foundations of our democratic way of life. They seriously diminish, in our view, the esteem of the public for the integrity and stature of the institution of parliament.
“It is our hope and expectation that you will use your good offices, in an appropriate manner, to do all you can to ensure the survival, and hopefully the further strengthening, of sound parliamentary traditions which, up to now, have been a source of amply deserved pride to us all.”
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
