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Lanka should consider India’s concerns too: Former Indian External Affairs min
By NETHMI RAJAWASAM
ECONOMYNEXT –A former Indian External Affairs Minister has said that Sri Lanka should heed India’s concerns about foreign vessels.
“India and China are still, in real terms, engaged in a military conflict – which has not been resolved, because the border has not been resolved. So we have special concerns,” M J Akbar, Former Indian Minister of State External Affairs said an interview.
Akbar was speaking with Chairman Bernard Goonetileka of the Pathfinder Foundation, an independent think tank based in Wattala.
India’s geopolitical interests in the Indian Ocean have recently come into focus due to escalating tensions surrounding the presence of Chinese vessels in Sri Lankan waters, and the ongoing territorial disputes involving China and the Philippines.
“You know, they’re not really holiday cruise ships. These Chinese vessels. We’re back to electronic equipment, which is picking up a fundamental requirement of strategic interest, which is knowledge. Knowledge from below, knowledge from above.”
In a move that raised alarm in India, on October 10, an inbound Chinese survey vessel which intended to conduct research activities in Sri Lanka’s maritime territory had entered Sri Lanka’s waters.
India promptly red-flagged both Colombo and Male over the perceived security risks associated with the vessel. The gesture reflects India’s growing unease over Chinese naval presence and potential intelligence-gathering in the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lanka, while asserting that the Chinese vessel’s activities were scientific and conducted in collaboration with its authorities, faced heightened scrutiny from India.
India claims its interest in these developments stems from its commitment to upholding the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. “To the North in the Himalayas, where our conflicts with China really take on a very harsh reality, we are still honouring an agreement made in the late 80s, which is peace and stability,” said Akbar.
“There has been tension on the border, but yet there has not been gun fire. There are elements in Beijing who do not believe in the axiom, upon which we agreed, which is, ‘Let sleeping borders lie.’
“You had special concerns about the sanctuary that was provided for people who waged war against the Sri Lankan state. Just as you would expect us, legitimately, to show concern for your concerns, similarly, we would expect you to show concern for our concerns,” Akbar said.
Simultaneously, tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea have escalated. The disputed territories in the region have been a longstanding point of contention, with both nations asserting sovereignty over certain islands and waters. Recent rhetoric and actions have exacerbated the situation, raising concerns over potential military confrontations and destabilisation in the area.
Chinese warships in Sri Lankan waters and the ongoing disputes in the South China Sea are perceived as factors affecting maritime security and stability in the area, which are critical issues for India’s strategic objectives. The developments highlight the intricate dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region, where economic interests and geopolitical rivalries converge to increase the stakes for participating nations.
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
