News
Justice Minister says international community making inquiries about 22A
By Saman Indrajith
Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakse told Parliament on Thursday that the international community was making inquries from te Justice Ministry about the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill.
Minister Rajapakse said that the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill had been drafted after consulting the leaders of 43 political parties in four rounds of talks. “When the incumbent President was the Prime Minister, leaders of 43 political parties were summoned to his office and we had four rounds of talks. There were disagreements and different points of view. For example, some parties demanded the amendments must be included to prevent the President from dissolving Parliament after the expiration of two and a half years of its term and the period must be stipulated as four years. Some other parties disagreed. We drafted the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill considering all those views,” the Minister said.
He said that the passing of the Bill could prevent some international pressure on Sri Lanka. “Today a resolution against Sri Lanka was passed in Geneva UNHRC sessions. We may suffer negative consequences of that resolution. There is a danger that we may lose the GSP plus concession as a motion to that effect has already been passed in the EU Parliament. More than 500 voted against us. If they implement it, we will lose around 600,000 jobs in the apparel sector. We seek assistance from the IMF. We also read in the media what the IMF discusses with the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry, but there is no such media coverage on what IMF discusses with the Justice Ministry. The IMF, the EU and the UN do not visit the Finance Ministry or the Central Bank so often but the Justice Ministry.
They ask when we would bring about the 22nd Amendment and what provisions it would contain to restore democracy in this country, etc. Now since there are no petrol and gas queues everybody thinks that we are back on track. It is not so. If a fuel ship gets delayed and there would be queues again for four to five days, those who are under the impression that all the troubles are over can see how the people will react. I warn that there had been a time when the MPs had to go into hiding. They could not even attend a funeral or a wedding. Therefore they have to understand that this 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was not an amendment brought for the sake of a single party, a person or for the benefit of the MPs but for the sake of this country and its people,” Minister Rajapakse 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
