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IMF not paying sufficient attention to corruption: GL
By Shamindra Ferdinando
SLPP MP Prof. G. L. Peiris has found fault with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for not paying sufficient attention to waste, corruption and economic mismanagement under the Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe administration.
The former External Affairs Minister emphasised the responsibility on the part of the lending agency to address these issues, particularly against the backdrop of its latest agreement with the government of Sri Lanka worth USD 2.9 bn.
The SLPP National List MP said so yesterday (24) at his weekly media briefing at the Nawala Office of the Nidahasa Jathika Sabawa.
Prof. Peiris said that the Opposition would take up these issues with the IMF delegation, scheduled to be here in June this year. Sri Lanka has secured IMF assistance on 16 previous occasions.
The ex-Minister drew attention of the IMF as well as other stakeholders involved in the debt-restructuring process and the recent disclosure made by Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, regarding a bribe amounting to USD 250 mn received by a person to derail Sri Lanka’s efforts to secure compensation for the X-Press Pearl ship disaster in May/June 2021.
Pointing out that an expert committee appointed by the MEPA (Marine Environment Protection Authority) had estimated the damages caused by the marine disaster at USD 6.4 bn, Prof. Peiris said that a wider investigation was required to identify and punish those who had conspired to sabotage Sri Lanka’s bid.
Prof. Peiris compared the USD 2.9 bn loan made available by the IMF over a period of four years with the compensation which could be obtained from the X-Press Pearl owners-X-Press Feeders /insurers.
Environmentalist Dr. Ajantha Perera recently declared that Sri Lanka could obtain as much as USD 50 bn from X-Press Pearl owners/insurers.
Prof. Peiris also questioned the government’s decision to move Singaporean court against X-Press Feeders, a Singaporean-based privately held group.
The law academic stressed that the case should have been filed here as the incident took place in Sri Lankan territorial waters.
When The Island raised this issue with the Justice Minister recently, it was informed that the Cabinet of Ministers had approved Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam’s proposal to file a case in Singapore.
Commenting on the recent disappearance of a cash bundle worth Rs 5 million (Rs 5000 denomination) from a vault of the Central Bank, Prof. Peiris said a high-level probe had to be conducted into the incident.
The shortage was revealed during the currency operations on 11.04.2023. Declaring that the government, particularly the Finance Ministry, owed an explanation on how cash could be removed from a high security vault, Prof. Peiris said that the public tends to lose confidence in public finance.
The MP stressed the responsibility of the Central Bank to thoroughly inquire into the issue at hand and take appropriate measures to identify those responsible for what he called an inside job.
At the onset of the briefing, Prof. Peiris reiterated their strong opposition to the restructuring of domestic debt in line with the agreement with the IMF. That would have catastrophic impact on the ordinary people as well as the banking sector, Prof. Peiris said, while questioning the decision to privatize state enterprises.
Responding to media queries on his removal from the post of Chairman of the ruling SLPP, Prof. Peiris said that the decision would be challenged in court. The former minister challenged the legality of a meeting chaired by SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa at their Nelum Mawatha Office last Saturday (22) where the party appointed a new Chairperson.
Prof. Peiris refused to be drawn in on former Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa’s criticism of him.
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
