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Karu blames it all on govt.
Sri Lankans are witnessing the complete collapse of the state, says Karu Jayasuriya, Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ).
Jayasuriya has, in a media statement, said that Sri Lankans are under
immense pressure due to power cuts, shortages of essential commodities, the rising cost of living and lack of foreign exchange.
Excerpts of Jayasuriya’s statement: “The government failed to take timely steps to resolve these issues and instead continuously delayed taking vital decisions. The Government’s organic fertiliser policy destroyed Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector. Even though compensation was assured to those affected, the Government has failed to deliver on this promise. Instead the government has squandered public funds on roads and walking paths.
“Due to the power disruptions, the industrial sector of the country suffered a serious collapse. The depreciation of the rupee led to the decrease of the legal inflow of foreign currency into the country.
“These events occurred due to the severe mismanagement on the part of the Government but it is the innocent people that must suffer the consequences as a result. In addition, the Government, the President and the Prime Minister are being severely criticised at the Galle Face Green and at various places across the country. The people are demanding a democratic, transparent and clean Government. Various reports are now being released on how public money was wasted and looted.
“It was shocking when the Audit Commission reports to Parliament revealed that the ‘Sugar Scam’ of Rs. 36 billion was carried out with the connivance of the Government. Therefore, it is natural for the youth to be enraged when those responsible have not been punished yet.
“Many apolitical and independent youth groups taking part in the protests have called on us and they appeared to be devastated. They accuse some politicians of destroying and robbing their future. They are disillusioned and disappointed. The country must understand and sympathise with their restlessness. It was reported that the President has convened various factions of the ruling party today for a discussion to form an all- party government.
“In the last few days, we have seen that the Government is not focused on resolving burning issues affecting the people but on trying to retain power instead. This is a breach of government responsibility.
“We call on the Government to take immediate action. The public may lose their patience and restraint if not. Dissent cannot be controlled with the use of weapons. If the President’s talks are successful, the Government should take immediate action to establish a national unity government. The hand of friendship should be extended to the Opposition immediately. The Government must not expect the Opposition’s help if they intend to continue with the Upali Abeyratne Commission and keep actor turned politician Ranjan Ramanayake incarcerated.
“We opposed the 20th Amendment to the Constitution at its inception and called for the 19th Amendment to be enacted. Calls for the same are now resonating from the Galle Face and across the country. We kindly request the President to clarify his position on these matters before summoning the Opposition.
“Various proposals have been made to amend the Constitution and the National Movement for Social has made public our proposals months ago. The Samagi Jana Balavegaya, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga, President’s Counsel Wijeyadasa Rajapakse and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka have also submitted valuable proposals. Some proposals may take months to implement.
“The recommendations of the Bar Association can be implemented swiftly. If the Government so desires, most of these can be implemented within the next Parliamentary week. We request the Government to take note of these in order to regain the trust of the people. We express these thoughts in great pain having seen the suffering of the people. It is the responsibility of the Government to at least take note of these at the eleventh hour and take necessary steps to resolve the issues faced by our people. “
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
