News
JVP accuses Prez and MP Wajira of taking decisions in Cabinet’s name
By Saman Indrajith
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament yesterday that the executive decisions of the country were not taken by the Cabinet of Ministers but by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP MP Wajira Abeywardena.
“What is the use of a Cabinet if these two persons take crucial decisions and make them out to be those of the Cabinet?” Dissanayake queried.
Referring to a recent directive issued by the Cabinet Secretary W. M. D.R. Fernando to the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, asking the latter to prevent the District Secretaries from accepting deposits from candidates for the local council poll, he said that decision was made by President Wickremesinghe and MP Abeywardena and then conveyed to the Cabinet Secretary. They got the Cabinet Secretary to inform Secretary to the Public Administration that a Cabinet decision had been made to suspend accepting deposits. Thereafter, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration Neil Hapuhuinne issued the directive to the Returning Officers appointed by the Elections Commission, asking them not to accept deposits. Fernando and Hapuhinne say that the suspension of accepting deposits was on the basis of a Cabinet decision. We want to know whether the Cabinet was aware of any such thing,” Dissanayake said.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the Cabinet had not made any decision to influence returning officers or to suspend accepting deposits. “Hapuhinne withdrew his directive on the same day,” he said.
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa said that the directive was against all norms and values of democratic principles. “This is an attempt to disregard people’s right to vote. I do not think this action was taken by Hapuhinne on his own. When Hapuhinne was summoned by the Elections Commission, the two persons who hold the highest posts in this country instructed him not to appear before the commission.”
Prime Minister Gunawardena said that the Opposition Leader was uttering lies. “The top most post is held by the President. I hold the next highest post. I did not issue such instructions,” Premier Gunawardena said.
JVP leader Dissanayake said that it was difficult to accept that the Cabinet of ministers comprising several president’s counsels and senior lawyers such as Ali Sabry, Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Susil Premajayanth had made such an unconstitutional decision. Now, the Prime Minister says that the Cabinet did not take such a decision. Therefore, my information that the decision in question was made by the President and MP Wajira Abeywardena is accurate. This is a serious issue. Should we hereafter take the Cabinet decisions seriously?”
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
