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Karu says civil liberties and freedom of press under serious threat
Civil liberties and the freedom of the press are under serious threat, as the government shows increasing dictatorial tendencies, Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday.
The government is not only undermining democracy but enables gangs to operate with impunity. It is our strong belief that all parties must pay attention to this troubling situation, he said.
Jayasuriya has, in a media statement, said: “The Government must take immediate and necessary action against all illegal acts. The wellbeing of the country is only assured to the extent its people respect and accept its rulers. However, Sri Lanka is facing an unprecedented crisis today. While the country is on the precipice of serious economic and social collapse, the manner in which the Government and all those who bear some responsibility are conducting their affairs in the face of this catastrophe is highly unsatisfactory. In fact, many of these parties are acting in an irresponsible and an arbitrary manner. But at this critical juncture, this could only exacerbate the crisis faced by the country.
“The despicable attack on the residence of journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama and the arrest of activist Shehan Malaka, who has been appearing for the rights of the victims of the Easter Sunday attack are extremely concerning. So are the numerous threats against journalists and activists across the country. However, such actions are not acceptable of any civilised government that values democracy and seeks to protect the rights of the people. In the face of such serious incidents, there is now a growing suspicion that lawlessness in the country is on the rise due to the failure of its rulers to pay adequate attention to these incidents and take necessary action to prevent them. It is an extremely frightening as well as tragic situation.
“Therefore, as a responsible civil society organisation, the National Movement for Social Justice urges the Government to act in a responsible manner so that such tragic incidents that intimidate and suppress the civil rights of the people can no longer occur.
“To ensure that such heinous and illegal acts do not continue, the law must be enforced against those involved, regardless of rank and status. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case.
“However, the present Government and its leadership, which wields more power than any other ruler in the history of this country, can present no valid excuse in the face of such incidents. No matter how much power a head of state or government may possess, the well-being of the country is only assured to the extent its people respect and accept its rulers. In the face of such events, a governance structure that fails to take appropriate action cannot be expected to gain the respect or acceptance of the people. Such a situation could only exacerbate the economic and social crises facing our country.
Therefore, we urge the Government to take immediate measures to stop illegal and arbitrary actions taking place in the country 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
