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JVP to meet IGP over MP Arundika’s allegations
The JVP is planning to meet the IGP on a statement by SLPP MP Arundika Fernando saying that 150 of some 400 persons taken into police custody for alleged involvement in backlash violence after SLPP goons attacked the Gotagogama protesters in Galle Face on May 9.
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said Fernando is on record making a statement quoting the IGP that among those arrested for violent incidents were JVP members.
“We want the IGP to clarify who the others in the custody are if he has ascertained the political party memberships of 150 out of some 400 arrested. We hope that the IGP could explain to us the method he used to affix the party membership label on them. The IGP should give us the list of names of those in their custody.
“Government ministers are trying to apportion the blame for the violence on the JVP. There is a reason for that. None of those ministers can go out in public. They have to live in hiding. They are hiding from the people.
“Though they have ministerial positions they cannot go on the streets. They are afraid of people in gas, fuel and milk powder queues. They have shifted from luxury SUVs to small cars because of peoples’ anger. This public wrath is because people have understood the oppression that they had been forced to live with under these rulers.
“This is not a protest by a single political party. The ruling party politicians know that they cannot go out while our MPs still walk on the streets with the people.
“Police has been ordered to make arrests on the basis of lists given to them. These lists have not been prepared by the police or the CID. They have been made by provincial politicians of the SLPP. They have included the names of JVP regional leaders in their lists. We are consulting our lawyers to question this arbitrary manner of making arrests,” Silva said.
He said that his party has evolved facing similar situations in the past and is closely observing the next move in the government’s political witch-hunt.
“In 1983, there was a similar situation. The then government officially attributed the responsibility of triggering the Pogrom against Tamils in the South on us. In very recent history, they unsuccessfully tried to put the blame of Easter Sunday incidents on us.
“Now after two, three years, people know the truth about who carried out the Easter Sunday terror attacks. After the protests in Mirihana opposite President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s home, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that JVP members set a bus on fire there. He’s still unable to prove his allegation.”
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
