News
JVP leader says Prez has no powers to muzzle media
… recalls attacks on press freedom and journalists
by Saman Indrajith
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had issued a veiled threat to media freedom, on Saturday, when he said he knew how to teach lessons to media critical of him, JVP leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the JVP headquarters in Pelawatte, Dissanayake said that the President’s statement was a threat to what remained of media freedom in Sri Lanka. “The president in his statement says that he did not exert any influence on media during his 14 months in office as if he had that power but did not use them. The President should first understand that he has no such powers to influence or intimidate media institutes.
“Secondly, the President says that he has given media freedom. We like to remind the President that media freedom is not a licence that should be obtained from him. It is not a privilege that he grants to the media. Media freedom is the right of journalists and people of the country to know the truth. That is a right recognised by the Constitution. People and journalists enjoy that right thanks to struggles the progressive forces of the past waged to win and maintain those rights. The worst is the threat by the President that he knew how to teach lessons to media and he was ready to do so. We cannot comprehend his mind-set when he issues such threats.”
Dissanayake said that the recent past of this country had witnessed many such lessons taught to media and journalists by various rulers from time to time. “One of the studios of Sirasa TV was destroyed in a claymore mine attack. The Leader Publication House situated within a high security zone was set on fire twice. Siyatha Media house was bombed and set on fire. Lankaenews office was set on fire. Those were the lessons taught to media institutes. Lasantha Wickrematunge was killed. Prageeth Ekneligoda was abducted. Poddala Jayantha was abducted, assaulted and his head shaven before being dumped on the roadside. Keith Noyahr, Upali Tennakoon were beaten. Those were the lessons taught to the journalists.
“The President should understand that times have changed. The journalists and media institutes have learned from their past experiences. If the President realises that truth, he will not make such statements. People know that there are media institutes that unashamedly toe the government line. Those are the ones that prominently publish and broadcast the snake story of the Kelaniya temple and promoted the Dhammika Peniya. The President can support his crony media but he has to respect the media culture in the country.”
JVP Central Committee Member Samantha Vidyaratne also addressed the press.
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
