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Islamic fundamentalist threatens ex-Muslim within PCoI premises
Rishvin Ismeth, known as an ex-Muslim in Sri Lanka among the general public, has been threatened by an ally of the former leader of Sri Lanka Jamaat Islami, Rasheed Hajjul Akbar on 26th October around 11.45 pm at the premises of Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating Easter Sunday Suicide Attacks, Council of Ex-Muslims of Sri Lanka (CEMSL) yesterday said in a press release.
CEMSL said that Rishvin Ismeth was the present spokesperson for the Council of Ex-Muslims of Sri Lanka and the only public face of the organisation for those who had left Islam to become areligious. Ismeth was present at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to cross-examine the former leader of Sri Lanka Jamaat Islami, with the permission of the Commission.
“His questions to Rashid Hajjul Akbar mainly focused on the plan of capturing Sri Lanka through an armed struggle to establish an Islamic State, publishing Jihadist and extremist materials in Alhasanath, the official monthly magazine of Sri Lanka Jamaat Islami and sending Sri Lankan Muslim youth for Jihadist fighting and training to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir.
The incident happened on his return at the end of the day’s session. The following day, Rishvin Ismeth reported it to the Commission. The Chairman of the Commission, Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Janak de Silva issued an order to National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses to take the necessary steps,” the press release said.
CEMSL said that a teacher named Mahroof from Kekirawa had threatened via social media on 31 Oct. to harm Rishvin Ismeth’s mother. The organization added that Ismeth was one of the few who had alerted the law enforcement to suspected Islamic terrorist activities, months before the Aliyar Junction incident at Kattankudy on 10th March, 2017.
The media statement said: “His first complaint was made in July 2016. Before the Parliamentary Select Committee, he was able to expose the Islamist extremist materials in Sri Lankan school textbooks issued free of charge by the government to schoolchildren. One of these books mentions that the punishment for those who leave Islam or accept other religions is “KILLING” and the same book has been used to educate Muslims students about cruel Stone Age punishments such as amputation, flogging and stoning to death. Even though Sri Lanka is not an Islamic country, it is very difficult for an ex-Muslim to live as an ex-Muslim openly, so all other ex-Muslims in the country are forced to stay in the closet.”
CEMSL said that Rishvin Ismeth had been under continuous threats and harassment by Islamists and extremist elements for years, and, therefore, the recent threat at the premises of the Commission probing terrorist attack in could not be taken lightly. “The threat the Commission premises shows the strength of the Islamist network in this country. The Council of Ex-Muslims of Sri Lanka requests the government to take strict action against Islamist extremism to prevent catastrophe.
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
