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JVP lambastes Foreign Minister’s positive evaluation of negative Geneva result
By Saman Indrajith
JVP National Organiser and former MP Bimal Ratnayake yesterday said that if the results of the last presidential elections were evaluated according to the math theory used by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to calculate the Geneva UNHRC vote result, President Gotabaya Rajapakasa would have been defeated by 9.5 million votes.
“It is a joke when the Foreign Minister says that the majority of countries, out of 47 nations, with voting powers, supported Sri Lanka. The resolution against us was passed with 22 nations voting for, 11 opposing while 14 others abstaining. That is a different issue. Calculating the 11 and 14 together, counting them as a single block, despite the latter expressively having shown their displeasure at us, to arrive at a total figure of 25 and to state that we have 25 against 22 is hilarious,.”
He said that the results of the last presidential election, calculated according to the same theory would show a result of President Rajapaksa, who won with 6.9 million votes, was rejected by 9.5 million electors. “That way we can count all votes received by all Opposition candidates and all the registered voters who abstained from voting as a single unit to show that those who rejected President Rajapaksa have numerical supremacy. Isn’t it actually a joke to describe those who abstained from voting in Geneva as a group supporting Sri Lanka?”
He said that a considerable number of 11 nations who had voted with Sri Lanka against the resolution were with the government’s leftist orientation. “As a policy they would not support a resolution by neo-imperialists countries such as the UK. Many countries who voted with us in the past, including Nepal and Indonesia no longer do so. How could the government make this out to be a victory?”
The former MP said that the resolution against Sri Lanka contained charges such as harassing minorities and suppressing media freedom by the government. It is in such a context the President stated that he knew how to teach lessons to the press. His statement reminded the world of assaulting, abducting and killing journalists, attacking media institutions, bombing Siyatha and Sirasa TV stations and the white van culture. Can anyone expect a different result?”
Of the 47 nations represented at the UNHRC, 15 are Islamic countries, he said. “Chief of Islamic block during his statement to the Council, raised the Muslim Covid-19 victims’ cremation issue in Sri Lanka. According to him, Sri Lanka is one of the four places where Muslims are harassed in the world. Others are Palestine, Kashmir and Burma. So, we lost 11 out of the 15 Islamic nations. It is the first time Sri Lanka came down to 11 votes in support of her. In 2009, while this country was bleeding with war and over 350,000 languishing in relief camps we had votes of 29 countries only 12 opposed. In 2012, we had 15 supporting and 23 opposing us. In 2013 we had 13 supporting us while 25 opposing. In 2014, 12 countries supported us while 23 opposed. Since 2015, there have been no votes. Now, we have 22 opposing and only 11 supporting us. This gradual decrease is an indication of how our government handled foreign affairs of this country.”
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
