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JVP tells people to ensure their own protection instead of waiting for lockdowns
By Saman Indrajith
The JVP yesterday called on people to adopt all possible measures to ensure their protection without waiting till the government to impose lockdowns.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the government continued to keep the country open against the advice of doctors and health experts, and people should take action necessary for their protection.
“The government is adamant to keep the country open while people die in their hundreds. We call on people to stay at home. We call on public servants not to report to work even if their institutions threaten to sack them. We tell people that they can find jobs if they live and there is no purpose of having a job but dying because of the virus. We saw people in several towns, including Ambalantota, move themselves for self -lockdowns. Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle and the PHIs’ Union too have asked the people to do the same,” Dissanayake said.
“We urge public servants to stay at home. We know that you need to respond to calls from your offices, but remember that your job or profession is not your life. None of you deserve to be in the list of the COVID-19 deaths. We are a nation that lost around 45,000 lives because of the tsunami which was a natural disaster. This time our people are losing lives because of the decisions of a stupid ruler. You should move in for self-lockdown. Give priority to your life and health safety. Even if you face inconveniences later on we will stand by you. We must act collectively to adhere individually to precautions of doctors since the government has no regard for our lives.
“We are passing through a most dangerous situation. As per the records, one person dies every nine minutes. The number of deaths increases by five percent every single day. The number of infected per day is now around 3,000. Fifty percent of hospital capacities are now used for COVID-19 patients only. Even if we use the 100 percent capacity of our hospital system we cannot cater to the increasing number of patients. The PHIS’ Union has warned that even if we shut down the country now we would not be able to control the number of deaths for 10 to 12 coming days. Minister Dr. Fernandopulle has called for people to take measures for their own safety. It is reported that Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has not been allowed to speak of the situation prevailing at the Cabinet meeting. Doctors and WHO experts have called for lockdowns. But the top leaders of the government do not take these warnings seriously. They want to keep the country open. We know that the Prime Minister too has expressed the need to go for lockdowns. The President does not rely on expert opinions but only on information from the intelligence services. He makes decisions such as bringing down the number of participants at a wedding from 150 to 50. They have announced a ban on public places for those who do not get all doses of the vaccine. People do not reject vaccine. They will go for anything for their safety. For example, people in their thousands gathered to get the Dhammika Peniya (syrup) when the government approved it. Same happened when a state TV channel introduced the Ravana Peniya and when Minister Channa Jayasumana promoted Sudarshana Peniya. This shows that the people will go for anything that the government recommends as the medicine for COVID-19 virus. They will take the vaccine but it was the government that started the vaccination after delaying for months. The government should have purchased the vaccines early,” Dissanayake said.
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
