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JVP Promises to form a Govt. without corruption, national unity and equal law for all
JVP-led National People’s Party (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called on all communities in the country to unite to rebuild the country. Dissanayake speaking at a rally in Kinniya in the East of Sri Lanka on Thursday noted that all leaders elected through the vote of the people only contributed to the destruction of the country.
“They obtained loans, gave contracts to friends and robbed us blind. Today we have become a country that cannot service our debts,” he told those gathered. The NPP Leader said the people too must bear some responsibility for the current state of affairs as they chose to vote for the leaders that have caused the country’s deterioration. “We made mistakes in the past but we must change them now,” he said.
The NPP Leader said the party has now come before the people to propose that a new Government under a new leadership should be formed. “We used to think the power was with Mahinda, Gotabaya, Hakeem or Ataullah. But in reality, it is with you the people as seen when the people took to the streets and besieged the President’s House,” he said.
“The time of fear is over. Let us all come together to form a Government of the people. Let us build a country in which the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims can live in brotherhood,” he added.
Dissanayake noted that the tides have changed towards the NPP and have gained popularity on social media and other platforms in the recent past. He said many Muslim youths are now working hard to ensure an NPP win at the upcoming polls while Sri Lankans abroad are supporting the party having cast aside all their differences.
He said surveys in Anuradhapura, Matara, Polonnaruwa and other areas have shown NPP will make major gains in the upcoming elections. “A great power is being built. We ask you to hand over the power of the Kinniya Municipal Council and the Pradeshiya Sabhawa to the compass,” he requested.
He asked the people to take the lead in changing the country’s political scene and noted only then can the country be rebuilt. Noting that the Rajapaksas and Ranil Wickremesinghe are protecting each other and are in fact one camp, Dissanayake said no action will be taken against the corruption and fraud committed by each other due to this relationship.
“None of them will go to prison,” he said. The JVP Leader also noted that SJB is now feeling threatened as the NPP is fast becoming popular among the people. He also accused the Government of attempting to delay the polls.
The JVP Leader said the party is for all communities. “We will build a country with a Government without corruption, a country with national unity, a country where the law is fair to everyone and a country that is accepted by the world,” he assured.
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
