News
Imthiaz asks why one person should be given so much power
By Saman Indrajith
SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar yesterday called on leaders of political parties in Parliament to allow a conscience vote on the 20th Amendment Bill. Participating in the second reading state debate on the 20th Amendment, Markar asked whether any MP with a conscience could vote for that Bill.
“No MP could vote in favour of the 20th Amendment according to their conscience as they will be giving up their power as representatives of the people if they do so.”
“You will make your own Prime Minister powerless if you vote in favour of the 20th Amendment. I do not agree with the conduct of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. But his charisma helped you (the government) to come to power.
“The 20th Amendment will be defeated by a two-thirds majority if the MPs are allowed to vote in accordance with their conscience.”
He recalled how the current Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had opposed the 13th Amendment. “I was watching from the gallery in Parliament how you acted in accordance with your conscience and opposed the 13th Amendment. Therefore allow the MPs to vote according to their conscience.
“We have to do the right thing, no matter how difficult the circumstances are. That is why we vote against this Bill. We cannot raise our hands in support of a thing which could be the death of democracy in the country. Let me tell you that, those who will raise their hands in support to this Amendment today will be the ones who will suffer because of it in the future.”
The MP said it was baffling why the government was desperate to pass the Amendment without giving a chance for the people to raise their concerns.
“Many parties have raised their concerns about this amendment and its impact on the country. The President has all the power. He has a two-thirds majority in Parliament as well. Parliament should be summoned to discuss how we should face COVID-19 pandemic as a nation. But here, we discuss a Constitutional amendment without talking about our people who are becoming jobless and victims of poverty. Even then, the Government wants to pass this hurriedly without giving the people an opportunity to discuss it.
“We have emerged from a horrible past, when politicians controlled the Police and Law enforcement authorities. Time was when women were stripped naked and made to walk on roads. After establishing independent commissions we never witnessed such situations. Now, this Amendment tries to abolish those independent commissions and have all the power vested in one person. Why are we doing this? A person could be a terrible dictator when he was given unlimited power.”
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
