News
Kanchana’s warning to restrict fuel supplies irrelevant, all imports already disrupted-SJB
‘Pohottuwa party can’t take cover behind new Prez’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Top Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman MP yesterday (26) said that the Cabinet-of-Ministers owed an explanation regarding Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera’s latest declaration that fuel imports would be restricted in the next 12 months.
Minister Wijesekera has asserted that restrictions on fuel imports would be inevitable due to unavailability of forex.
Colombo District lawmaker Rahuman pointed out that the ministerial warning was irrelevant as fuel supplies had been disrupted and regular power cuts introduced several months ago.
Further restrictions on fuel imports meant the national economy would rapidly shrink further and the so called new government lacked a strategy to meet the basic requirements, the MP said.
Newly appointed President Ranil Wickremesinghe re-appointed Wijesekera as the Power and Energy Minister.
Former UNP MP Rahuman urged the SLPP government to come out clean on the economic situation without further delay. Pointing out that as many as 4 mn vehicles had been registered so far, the MP asked whether the government was genuine in implementing the much touted fuel distribution scheme under “QR’ code.
Responding to The Island queries, lawmaker Rahuman warned that the deteriorating economic crisis couldn’t be addressed by suppressing dissent. Referring to recent media reports that coal stocks had been rapidly dwindling, MP Rahuman said that essential supplies, including LP gas were yet to be nomalized. “Are we heading for power cuts longer than current daily three hour interruption?” the MP asked.
Minister Wijesekera’s warning that fuel supplies could be further restricted reflected the actual situation regardless of silly efforts to deceive the public.
The SLPP couldn’t take refuge behind UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe recently elected President under controversial circumstances, lawmaker Rahuman said. The SJB official asked whether President Wickremesinghe consulted the SLPP hierarchy before he ordered large scale military-led crackdown on Galle Face protesters.
In the absence of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the military and law enforcement apparatus carried out a coordinated attack on protesters on the day President Wickremesinghe swore in new ministers, MP Rahuman said. The Opposition MP said that those who attacked protesters at the behest of President Wickremesinghe would be held responsible.
Lawmaker Rahuman alleged that the SLPP was engaged in a desperate bid to hang onto power at any cost. The ruling coalition beset by internal strife wanted President Wickremesinghe to save them from current turmoil, MP Rahuman said.
The SJB official said that in spite of offering to form an all-party-government to address the issues at hand, President Wickremesinghe and the SLPP were obviously not serious about such an arrangement. If the government was genuine, the military wouldn’t have been unleashed on the protesters, he said. “Perhaps, the attack was meant to jeopardize proposed efforts for an all-party government. The new President and the SLPP seem to be contemplating to proceed irrespective of calls to call for early general election, the MP said.
In terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the President can dissolve Parliament.
Lawmaker Rahuman said that the SJB believed though Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not in the scene the SLPP’s agenda remained the same.
Lawmaker Rahuman said that dozens of deaths at fuel queues in various parts of the country were a grim reminder of the SLPP’s failure. No less a person than the Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has told parliamentary watchdog committees, COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) and COPF (Committee on Public Finance) how the previous administration mismanaged the national economy. The then Finance Minister Ali Sabry, PC, and Monetary Board members, Prasanna Jayawardena, PC and Dr. Ranee Jayamaha have confirmed what Dr. Weerasinghe has said, the SJB official. It would be the responsibility of the Wickremesinghe administration to act on the disclosure made by those above-mentioned persons, he 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
