News
LG polls: EC Chief won’t disclose AG’s opinion
PAFFREL warns of irreparable damage if commission succumbs to political pressure
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa yesterday (30) said that he wouldn’t disclose Attorney General Sanjaya Rajaratnam’s opinion on whether he could conduct Local Government polls against the backdrop of the enactment of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.
Attorney-at-Law Punchihewa said so when The Island asked whether he would share the AG’s letter with Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of PAFFREL (People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections). PAFFREL yesterday requested Punchihewa to share the AG’s response with the polls monitoring body.
Declaring the AG’s response as an internal communique between him and the Election Commission, Punchihewa said that such information couldn’t be even sought in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Punchihewa emphasised that he wouldn’t change his stand on the issue, at hand, under any circumstances.
The Election Commission consists of Nimal Punchihewa (Chairman), S.B. Divaratne, M.M. Mohamed, K.P.P. Pathirana and P.S.M. Charles.
Confirming that he received the AG’s opinion, Punchihewa said that his outfit would make its announcement on LG polls at the appropriate time.
In his letter to Punchihewa, Hettiarachchi said that PAFFREL would expect a quick response from the EC as it was responsible for ensuring the rights of 16 mn voters. In his letter to Punchihewa, Hettiarachchi said that PAFFREL felt that there was no requirement to seek the AG’s opinion on this matter.
Hettiarachchi said that the EC could set the date for the election now. Referring to various obstacles experienced by the EC with regard to the preparations for the election, Hettiarachchi insisted that there was need to further delay the announcement. The whole process had been completed and there was no justification in further delaying the announcement, the civil society activist said.
Responding to another query, Hettiarachchi warned if the Election Commission failed to fulfill its mandatory obligations to the electorate, the public would surely lose faith not only in the Election Commission but the entire set up.
Hettiarachchi said that there was no basis for claims that the enactment of the 21st Amendment crippled Election Commission. All Commissions established in terms of the 20th Amendment enacted in Oct 2020 would continue to function until the setting up of new Commissions, Hettiarachchi said, appealing to the Election Commission not to deprive the electorate of an opportunity to exercise their franchise.
The independent Election Commission on Sept. 20, this year received constitutional right to call for LG polls.
Last LG polls were held in Feb 2018. Former Provincial Council Minister Roshan Ranasinghe put off LG polls by one year claiming the threat posed by covid-19.
Political sources said that senior representatives of political parties recently made representations to the Election Commission regarding the urgent need to set the process in motion.
Prof. Charitha Herath, MP, said that they realized the growing reluctance on the part of the government to face LG polls. Speaking on behalf of Nidahasa Jathika Sabhawa, the SLPP National List MP asserted that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government was so unpopular, the UNP and the SLPP would do everything possible to postpone polls indefinitely.
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
