News
HRC seeks clarification over Emergency as protesting trade unions complain
IUSF vows to lay siege on Parliament
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, Justice Rohini Marasinghe, has sought an explanation from Defence Secretary, General Kamal Gunaratne, IGP C. D. Wickremaratne and Secretary to the President, Gamini Senarath, against the backdrop of trade unions affiliated to political parties and civil society groups, challenging the government over the declaration of emergency with effect from midnight May 07,
The HRC consists of Justice Marasinghe, Venerable Kalupahana Piyarathana Thera, Dr. M.H. Nimal Karunasiri, Dr. Vijitha Nanayakkara and Ms. Anusuya Shanmuganathan.
Justice Marasinghe yesterday (08) told The Island that the HRC had felt the urgent need to seek a clarification on behalf of the public, of the reasons for the controversial proclamation as protests have been largely peaceful and within the domain of normal police operations. “We sincerely hope that freedom of speech and assembly, the rights associated with arrest and detention as well as other fundamental rights and freedoms, will not be affected or diminished during the period of the emergency.
Addressing a hastily-arranged media briefing on Saturday, trade union activist Ravi Kumudesh declared their intention to lay siege to Parliament when sittings resumed on May 17.
Kumudesh warned lawmakers would be allowed to enter the Parliament without hindrance but wouldn’t be permitted to leave until public grievances were addressed.
Former JVP lawmaker Wasantha Samarasinghe, former UNP MP Saman Ratnapriya and JVP trade union activists, Mahinda Jayasinghe (education) and Ranjan Jayalal (electricity) joined Kumudesh in declaring what they called a national protest week.
Top Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) spokesperson Duminda Nagamuwa told a separate media briefing President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would soon regret not leaving the executive presidency when he could.
Recalling how the President recently regretted his disastrous sudden decision to change the agriculture policy and the inordinate delay in seeking the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (OMF), the breakaway JVP faction said that the government had lost its bearings. Similarly, the President would soon regret him hanging onto executive power regardless of public demands for him to resign.
Justice Marasinghe emphasised that the HRC was seriously concerned about further deterioration of the situation.
Convenor of the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) Wasantha Mudalige last Friday (06) declared that they would surround Parliament on 17 May. The IUSF affiliated to the FSP involved in the ongoing Galle Face protest campaign issued the warning following two tear gas attacks on them and the public blocking the main entrance to the Parliament.
FSP’s Pubudu Jagoda said that they were quite surprised by the government’s response to the growing public discontent over the shortage of essential items and services as well as political instability. The declaration of emergency only strengthened our resolve to chase the corrupt lot out whatever the consequences be, Jagoda said, frequent disruption of traffic on major roads in Colombo and its suburbs and the provinces reflected the collapse of law and order.
Jagoda pointed out the emergency wouldn’t be a deterrent at all as the public were out on the streets in large numbers. Law enforcement authorities couldn’t cope with such a large-scale public protest campaign by declaring emergency, Jagoda said, drawing the government’s attention to the public response to imposition of the countrywide curfew on April 03 to thwart the protest campaign. People simply moved into streets, violated curfew and simply ignored the presence of the police.
By declaring an emergency, the government has now set the stage for an unprecedented showdown between the public and the police, Jagoda said. “We are in a critical stage that may influence public disobedience campaigns. There is no turning back now. The confrontation outside the Parliament on 17 May cannot be tackled by political jugglery,” Jagoda 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
