News
JVP says it has right to maintain relations with US
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The JVP yesterday (06) strongly defended its right to address Sri Lankans and Americans of Sri Lankan origin living in the US.
Gampaha District Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) MP Vijitha Herath dismissed criticism directed at the party by various interested parties, both in and out of Parliament, over the visit undertaken by party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The JVP-led JJB is represented by three MPs in Parliament.
“We maintain relationships with all countries. There cannot be any justification in questioning our right to meet US Ambassador in Colombo Julie Chung. We have had meetings with Ambassador Chung before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster and after,” lawmaker Herath said.
MP Herath added that the party leader addressed meetings at Los Angeles, Houston, Boston, Norfolk, Washington and New York where he had an opportunity to interact with Sri Lankans. MP Dissanayake is expected to be back in Colombo this week.
Responding to The Island queries, those who had been trying to deceive the masses that there was a clandestine understanding between the JVP/JJB and the US Embassy here conveniently turned a blind eye to the growing relationship between the Parliament and the US.
Heads of Sectoral Oversight Committees of Parliament and a group of House officials recently visited the US on the invitation of the USAID, the JVPer said. Pointing out that there were number of other projects implemented by Parliament with the USAID funding, MP Herath questioned the rationale in attacking the JVP/JJB over maintaining cordial relations with the US.
MP Herath said that bankrupt political activists had sought to mislead the public by highlighting the display of US flag at meetings addressed by the JVP leader. The MP said that the American law prohibited the display of a national flag of any country on its soil unless the US flag, too, was displayed.
MP Herath said that the JVP/JJB received quite a significant response to MP Dissanayake’s appeal for the support of those living in the US.
Addressing his final meeting in New York on Nov. 06 at the Hilton Garden Inn, lawmaker Dissanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka now experienced an environment conducive for a political change. The continuing crisis has compelled the Rajapaksa camp to team up with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as both camps struggled to contain the emerging popularity of the JJB, MP Dissanayake said.
The social crisis caused by the continuing political and economic upheaval had created a perfect environment for a much desired political changes, the JVP leader said, alleging that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government would do everything in its power to thwart the JJB.
Acknowledging the immense power wielded by the government, the JJB, as the real Opposition, had to depend entirely on the people’s power to resist the government. MP Dissanayake said that though President Wickremesinghe made Local Government and Provincial Council polls to disappear, the presidential election couldn’t be put off under any circumstances. The JVP leader said that in terms of the Constitution, the presidential election has to be held before Oct. 17 next year and in case an attempt was made to put it off the people would come to the streets.
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
