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Incident involving Police and Army goes viral: Gen Silva questions conduct of police, demands inquiry
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa says an inquiry has been initiated into an incident involving the police and a group of soldiers near a police road block, on the main road, leading to Parliament, on the evening of Tuesday (05). Attorney-at-Law Thalduwa said that Police Headquarters had received a complaint from Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, who is also the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), regarding the incident. Video footage of the police confronting a four-member team of Army riders, at the road block, amidst a noisy protest, has gone viral on social media, with private television stations, too, telecasting the unprecedented incident.
Although earlier reports said the Army motorcycles had no number plates, yesterday Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who is no friend of the government, told Parliament they did have number plates and called for an impartial inquiry.
In an urgent missive to IGP C.D. Wickremaratne, General Silva asked for an inquiry into what he called the ‘unethical and ill-mannered behaviour’ of two Assistant Superintendents of Police. Calling for disciplinary action against them, the Army Chief said that the Army riders arrived at the scene on the directions of the Director Operations, Army HQ.
Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne, too, has taken up the issue with the IGP as well as the Secretary, Law and Order Ministry, Maj. Gen. Jagath Alwis. Gen. Gunarathe has declared that the police officers’ conduct wasn’t acceptable at all. The two ASPs have intervened and at one point another policeman has been captured switching off the ignition of one of the motorbikes. The police contingent deployed at the checkpoint had told their superiors they intervened to prevent a possible flare-up that may have triggered violence.
Since the eruption of public protests at the Pengiriwatte Road, Mirihana residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, last Thursday (March 31), Army Commander who is also the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) shifted the Air Mobile Brigade of the 53 Division to Colombo. In addition to the Army, both Army and Air Force have been directed to deploy personnel in support of law enforcement authorities. The Special Task Force (STF), too, has been deployed at selected areas as protesters stepped up pressure on ruling party politicians. Both serving and retired military officers yesterday told The Island that the Office of the CDS should ensure smooth coordination among the armed forces and the police especially against the backdrop of coordinated protests and mob violence directed at the residences of Ministers and State Ministers.
The police said that in spite of repeated provocations they had responded patiently. Five policemen received injuries during violent protests outside Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s Kandy residence. They said the possibility of mobs returning to the previously targeted residences couldn’t be ruled out, hence the need to provide security.
State Minister Roshan Ranasinghe alleged in Parliament on Tuesday (05) in spite of him alerting the IGP to an imminent threat posed to his Polonnaruwa residence, the police failed to thwart the attack. Marauding mob caused damages, lawmaker Ranasinghe said, alleging that the Jathika Jana Balavegaya, the Frontline Socialist Party and SLFPers carried out the attack.
SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena, who was present in Parliament at the time, denied the rival’s accusation totally. Former Public Security Minister Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera said that he couldn’t comment on the incident involving the police and army personnel or the current situation, in an official capacity. The Colombo District lawmaker said that such incidents could be quite detrimental to current efforts to curtail violence.
Police and political sources said that Anuradhapura district had been one of the worst affected, where mobs targeted houses and offices of Pohottuwa, SLFP and even Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) early this week. Protesters also targeted soothsayer Gnana akka’s luxurious home prompting the police deployed there to summon army backup. Sources said that for nearly eight hours protesters targeted homes and offices of five Ministers, State Ministers and an MP. The targeted politicians included State Ministers, Dr. Prof. Channa Jayasumana and Shehan Semasinghe as well as Duminda Dissanayake and Cabinet Minister S.M. Chandrasena and Uddika Premaratne. Sources said that Gnana Akka’s home received much better protection than those of the Members of Parliament.
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US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
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.”
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Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
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.
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CIPM successfully concludes 8th Annual Symposium
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.