News
JVP warns of security threat due to citizens’ personal data ending up with Indian company
Minister Herath denies allegation
By Saman Indrajith
Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and national security are in jeopardy as an Indian company will gain access to citizens’ personal data through a project to print digital national identity cards, JVP-led NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says.
Making a special statement in Parliament, Dissanayake said on Friday (11) that the tender for the printing of digital NICs had not yet been given but the arrangements had been made to award it to the Madras Security Printing Company. “Vital information of every citizen including the blood type of each of them, would be in the hands of the Indian company. They will have access to all data, ranging from demographic to biometric information of people. Today, the world is not ruled by the power of weapons but by data. Facebook was made to pay a huge fine for selling such data.
“The data business has surpassed the arms, pharmaceutical and narcotic businesses.
“We do not find anything wrong with the issuance of digital identity cards the way the government set about it is wrong. The project cost is estimated at LKRs 41.05 billion, of which the Indian government has promised to contribute LKRs 22.33 billion. The Sri Lankan government is supposed to raise LKRs 18.72 billion. It has now been decided that the Sri Lankan government will pay Rs 10.73 billion. Many Sri Lankan companies made bids but then there was a condition of completing the project within two years and the local bidders needed at least four years. The procurement process started in July, 2021. One of the conditions was that the bidding company should own a foundation ID mechanism.
It is said that the security printers elsewhere did not have this specific qualification. So, it has been designed in a manner only to allow Indian security printers. Tenders were called on 08 May, 2023. The deadline was 03 July, 2023. It was later changed to 14 August, 2023. It was changed again to 18 July, 2023. Thereafter it was extended till 01 August, 2023. The deadline was changed again to 02 August, 2023. The deadline has been changed to prevent some companies from bidding. Finally, there were two companies. One of them is Madras Security Printers, a company which has caused billions of rupees of losses to this country. It was blacklisted by several countries for questionable deals. According to the Justice Minister, this company caused Rs. 60,000 million in losses to Sri Lanka from the tender in 2016 to print safety stickers for bottles of liquor.
Responding, State Minister Kanaka Herath rejected the allegations, and said there would be no outsider accessing citizens’ data, all of which would be protected by law. He said no bidder had been given preferential treatment.
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
