News
Jayasumana pushing for Opp. campaign against govt.’s economic strategy
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Dissident SLPP MP Prof. Channa Jayasumana yesterday (31 Dec.) said that a well-coordinated joint Opposition campaign was needed against the destructive economic policies of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government.
Jayasumana said the Opposition should respond to the impending crisis caused by the increase of Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 15% 18% and imposition of 18% VAT on nearly 100 items that hadn’t been subjected to VAT before. The rebel SLPP group consists of 13 MPs, including former ministers Prof. G.L. Peiris and Dallas Alahapperuma, but divided into at least two factions.
Pointing out that the ruling SLPP overwhelmingly voted for the Budget, Prof. Jayasumana said that the Opposition couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for building up public movement on the basis of growing public resentment of despicable government economic strategy.
Responding to The Island queries, the internationally renowned medical academic said that implementation of VAT would cause further and significant deterioration of people’s buying power as it would skyrocket the already high cost-of-living.
Referring to a recent media briefing organized by the President’s Media Division (PMD) where the government assured that the new tax regime wouldn’t be as harsh as alleged by various interested parties, Prof. Jayasumana declared that those struggling to make ends meet wouldn’t be able to bear the prices of even the basic consumer items.
Prof. Jayasumana said that the people couldn’t depend on the SLPP to reverse Wickremesinghe’s strategy. “SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, in spite of lamenting over the new tax structure, voted for Wickremesinghe’s budget. The former President was among 122 MPs who endorsed the Appropriation Bill for 2024,” Prof. Jayasumana said, urging the genuine Opposition to build a campaign.
The Anuradhapura District MP said that the rebel SLPP group held talks with the SJB, JVP, Uththara Lanka Sabaghaya also consisting MPs elected and appointed on the SLPP, as well as MP Patali Champika Ranawaka’s Eksath Janaraja Peramuna, to explore ways and means of building up pressure on the government.
Asked whether they discussed the possibility of a common Opposition presidential election candidate, Prof. Jayasumana said that proposed campaign against the government on the economic front shouldn’t be mixed up with the presidential election strategy.
Both the SJB and JVP-led Jathika Jana Balawegaya had declared their leaders Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake would contest the 2024 presidential poll.
Prof. Jayasumana said that Opposition political parties would have to announce concrete plans as regards the forthcoming presidential polls by end of January or early February. An inordinate delay would be counterproductive, the first time entrant to Parliament said, acknowledging that there were significant differences pertaining to the economy among the Opposition parties.
Prof. Jayasumana was among the group of Viyathmaga members elected at the last general election held in Aug 2020.
Responding to another query, the SLPPer said that the government’s thinking that the daunting economic challenges could be addressed by the increase in taxes and privatizing the remaining state assets was entirely flawed. Those who touted the IMF formula as the panacea for all our ills, quite conveniently forgot that Sri Lanka had been there on16 previous occasions and finally ended up bankrupt in 2022, Prof. Jayasumana said, pointing out that those who promised to restore public confidence in the economy were responsible for the bankruptcy. That is the ugly truth the people should know, Prof. Jayasumana 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
