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JVP faults Premier for not touching on Easter Sunday carnage, in address to nation
… says no truck with main Opposition SJB
By Saman Indrajith
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had, in his address to the nation, spoken of the 1988-89 period and 30-year war but purposefully evaded speaking about the Easter Sunday carnage, the JVP said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said Prime Minister Rajapaksa had made use of 1988-89 and war against the LTTE to divert the attention of people from the burning issues. “Yet, he did not touch the issue of the Easter Sunday terror attacks because there are direct charges against them. He had been overly careful not to speak about it even though now we are coming close to three years after the attacks,” MP Herath said.
“Prime Minister Rajapaksa’s speech to the nation contained only three main issues – the 30-year long war, the pandemic and the 1988-89 period. People expected that he would at least speak of possible solutions because already six persons died in petrol queues.
“We as a nation are suffering due to unprecedented shortages and price hikes. Instead of speaking of possible solutions, he tried to save President brother while issuing veiled threats. He evoked the memories of boogeymen, raised various allegations to undermine the actual problem. We do not think the people and especially the youth today would fall for these tricks,” MP Herath said.
The JVP Propaganda Secretary that the country had been robbed by the members of a single family and now the prime minister invited other parties to join them to find solutions. “We will not join any of those thieves. Could a country be saved by joining hands with thieves? Anyone who joined them could do only one thing – that is to rob public funds. We in the JVP are not ready for that. Our stance is that we have no future with this bunch of thieves and we must fight to send them home. We are convinced that this country cannot achieve progress with them as leaders. We will never be able to make our economy stable again with the same bunch of swindlers. The first imperative of rebuilding this nation is to see the Rajapaksas out of politics,” MP Herath said.
Responding to queries, MP Herath said that his party would not close ranks with the SJB’s plans to build the economy. “The SJB plan allows the President to stay on top. This country cannot be rebuilt or the economic problems cannot be solved as long as Gotabaya Rajapaksa remains as the President. We are planning to bring about our own administration with the support of people.”
Asked to comment on demonstrations under the slogan “We are with Gota,” Herath said that it was an attempt by the government to make people fight each other. “The plan was a flop. Everybody has realised that it is nothing but a government trick to set their paid thugs and cronies against people. That will not work. That attempt was an insult to the intelligence of people.”
Responding to a question on the immediate future of the protests against the government, the MP said that the youth have vowed that they would not give up during the New Year holidays too. “We support their fight. It is because of this struggle we could send Basil Rajapaksa and Ajith Nivard Cabaraal home. Whatever reforms and changes are being introduced by this government today are because of the protests the youth launched. So, we have achieved victories. There are further victories waiting for us people and the only way to achieve them is through nothing but struggle.”
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
