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Kanag-Isvaran PC fires opening salvo against Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill before SC
By Chitra Weerarathne
It was beyond the powers of Parliament to add new parts to the territory of Sri Lanka, Kanaganayagam Kanag-Isvaran, President’s Counsel yesterday told the Supreme Court.
Kanag-Isvaran, PC appearing for petitioners the Centre for Policy Alternatives and Transparency International, told the Court that Sri Lanka could not claim sovereignty over the artificially created Colombo Port City.
He said that an artificial land did not form part of the sovereign state of Sri Lanka. The PC added that, in 1948, Sri Lanka had become an independent country, after being a British Colony; in 1972 it had become a sovereign Republic; in 1976, the Maritime Law had been brought in, claiming the territorial waters of Sri Lanka. Kanag-Isvaran added that in 1978, the second Republic of Sri Lanka had come into effect, with 25 administrative districts.
“The 25 districts can be subdivided. But Parliament can’t add man-made structures to Sri Lanka. The Colombo Port City is such an addition. No Parliamentarians were elected from the Port City,” he argued.
Kanag-Isvaran contended that the bill attempts to create an all-powerful commission that was answerable only to the President. Thus, it could be considered an alter-ego of the current and future Presidents.
The President’s Counsel said that the artificially created land known as Port City would be given tax benefits, turning it into a tax haven in violation of Article 12 of the Constitution. The Bill also violated Article 3 of the Constitution––the sovereignty of Sri Lanka. It would be a haven for money laundering. Sri Lanka Auditing Centres would have no control, he said.
The bill on multiple occasions stated that its objective was the development of the national economy, but the provisions of the bill did not reflect that, the counsel argued.
Kanag-Isvaran said that the national economy wouldn’t be improved through the port city, as investors in the port city were not liable to pay taxes. There was no parliamentary oversight over the Commission administering the port city and therefore was contrary to constitutional provisions that vested the control of public finances with Parliament. Considering those, the Bill should be thrown off, the counsel submitted.
Counsel Dharshana Weragoda said that the Bill should be referred to the Western Provincial Council, before being presented to Parliament.
The bench comprised Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, Justice Priyantha Jayawardene, Justice Murdhu N.B. Fernando and Justice Janak de Silva.
Altogether 19 petitions had been filed. Among the petitioners were the President of the Bar Association Saliya Pieris PC, Wasantha Samarasinghe of the JVP, Civil Society Activists Gamini Viyangoda, K. W. Janaranjana on behalf of Purawesi Balaya and the Centre for Policy Alternative. Farzana Jameel, Additional Solicitor General PC appeared for the Attorney General. Proceeding will resume today.
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
