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Johnston calls on people not to fall prey to Opposition scare-mongering tactics
Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando called on people not to fall prey to the Opposition scare-mongering tactics.
Addressing the media, after an inspection visit to check the progress of the ‘10,000-beds-in-10 days’ project in Kurunegala, the Minister said the government had decided to continue with all its development projects, as scheduled, without allowing the pandemic to scuttle them.
“We do not retreat or surrender in the face of this virus threat. We have faced bigger challenges and we are ready to face this and defeat it. While the Opposition was calling for the closure of Parliament, we decided against it. Next Tuesday Parliament will meet to discuss and debate health regulations, enabling further imports of medicine. We cannot and would not hide in fear of this pandemic. The Opposition leader and his men are creating a fear psychosis to paralyze this country from fear, anxiety and uncertainty.”
Johnston said that the entire world was affected by the pandemic. “But our Opposition wants the country shut down. We must keep in mind that nowhere in the world or in past experiences of pandemics, the solution was found by hiding away but only by facing the challenge. The Opposition Leader and his men seem to think that they could turn public opinion against the government by having economic difficulties caused to the people. This is why they are pressuring us to go for a protracted lockdown. We decided at the party leaders’ meeting to meet on Tuesday to discuss medicine imports and tyre exports, and on Wednesday and Thursday to debate the Port City Commission Bill. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says we are in a mighty hurry to pass the Port City Bill. There is no such hurry. The matter has been in public domain for months. He was also opposed to debating regulations on medicine imports. Then we read the text of the regulations to him and he agreed. This is his situation and level. We cannot wait till he understands and gives his okay to proceed. This is not his government but ours.
“Premadasa and his men have started a campaign to sabotage the government’s development work. They demand that development, including the Ruwanpura Expressway be stopped and money utilised to buy vaccines. Who says that the government has no money to buy medicine? We have funds to buy medicine, buy oxygen, beds and to do PCRs. We pay the salaries of public servants on the due date. Our government has enough money to face the challenge while developing the country. The Opposition does not need to worry about how to run the affairs of government. We can do that better than they can even imagine.
“Now, the JVP too is opposing the manufacture of beds for patients. We have started making 10,000 beds in 10 days. We do our duty. Has Premadasa, or any of his men given at least a single bed to a patient? Ours is an impotent Opposition and there is no medicine to remedy their maladies. Come whatever challenge, we continue our development drive.”
Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa was also present.
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
