News
LIOC move killing CPC; govt. in deep slumber – Unionist
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Top spokesperson for the ‘Samagi’ Opposition trade union Ananda Palitha has alleged that differences between the prices of petrol and diesel sold at Lanka IOC filling stations and those sold by CEYPETCO and Laugfs are one of the reasons for the disruption of countrywide fuel supplies.
Ananda Palitha urged newly appointed Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge to reveal why Lanka IOC had been allowed to increase petrol and diesel prices by Rs 27 and 17 respectively.
Responding to another query Palitha, a former employee of the CPC (Ceylon Petroleum Corporation) and CPSTL (Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited) said that the Lanka IOC had driven all its customers to the cash-strapped CEYPETCO and Laughs, thereby causing an unprecedented rush at service stations other than those managed by Lanka IOC.
Both the government and the Opposition had conveniently turned a blind eye to the Lanka IOC twice increasing fuel prices on 06 Feb and 25 Feb with the consent of the then Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila, who exercised the regulatory powers in the absence of the mechanism proposed in terms of Act No 35 of 2002. The trade union activist emphasized that lawmaker Gammanpila could have thwarted the Lanka IOC move.
Ananda Palitha challenged political parties to explain why the proposed mechanism couldn’t be established over the past 20 years.
The Act enacted during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s premiership in 2002 provided for the establishment of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka to regulate certain public utilities, including petroleum, electricity and water.
Ananda Palitha said that the national economy could suffer debilitating losses unless the Parliament ensured the setting up of proper mechanism to regulate fuel prices as soon as possible. The incumbent Energy Minister should exercise regulatory powers until then, the activist said, emphasizing that Lanka IOC was a highly profitable enterprise as its mode of operation was totally different to CEYPETCO.
Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Janaka Ratnayaka yesterday said that he couldn’t comment on the issue at hand. Ratnayaka said so when The Island sought his opinion on the vast difference in the pricing formula. Ratnayake said that though he served as the Chairman of the PUCSL, the petroleum sector didn’t come under his purview.
A senior Central Bank official told The Island that the sharp differences between fuel prices at CEYPETCO and Laugfs and the Lanka IOC caused massive losses to the government. Pointing out that the Central Bank had asked the government to increase fuel prices, the official said that CEYPETCO couldn’t meet the country’s oil requirement under present conditions.
Ananda Palitha said that Lanka IOC was in a stable condition to maintain the power pricing formula. However, Lanka IOC Managing Director Manoj Gupta has attributed the recent price increases to steep increases in international market prices and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gupta commented on the Russian invasion on Feb 25, the same day LIOC revised its prices for the second time that month.
According to the Opposition activist, he had retired in Oct 2018 after having served the CPC and CPSTL for 40 years and never believed a government could be so irresponsible. Declaring that the much touted agreement between Sri Lanka and India in respect of the Trincomalee oil tank farm was nothing but a sellout and betrayal of the country, Ananda Palitha claimed that Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Gammanpila should accept responsibility for the current calamity. Ananda Palitha alleged that India couldn’t have negotiated such a one-sided deal even during UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe tenure as the Prime Minister though he was repeatedly accused of succumbing to Indian pressure.
Ananda Palitha said that the inordinate delay in setting up the regulalatory mechanism in terms of Act No 35 of 2002, allowing Lanka IOC to decide petroleum prices and the agreement on the Trincomalee tank farm should be carefully examined. The then Energy Minister Gammanpila should never have been given the authority to negotiate the Trincomalee deal, Ananda Palitha said.
Lawmaker Gammanpila has explained both in and outside Parliament how proper procedures were followed in negotiating the agreement on Trincomalee oil tank farm. Gammanpila told The Island that there were absolutely no basis for accusations and that he obtained the best terms for the country under the circumstances faced by the country.
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
