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Long lines of vehicles on congested roads worry Johnson
‘People sent me pictures of traffic jams at entry and exit points on highways’
Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday vowed to make radical changes in his Ministry and the Road Development Authority to streamline their services to the general public.
Speaking at a ceremony held at his Ministry to commence operations for the New Year, the Minister said: “Today, I witnessed perhaps the longest lines of vehicles on our roads. Many have sent me pictures of traffic congestion this morning at expressways. Many towns have become chock-a-block. People suffering in traffic jams blame none but the government. There is no point in us being here if we cannot alleviate the sufferings of people. I have made a decision not to hesitate to make radical changes so that our Ministry and RDA could provide the services expected from them by people to their satisfaction.”
The Minister said that he would effect changes where necessary to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the services rendered to the public by the Ministry. “What I want is an expedited progress in our work this year. I want all my officials to cooperate with me for that goal. I am thankful to those who had dedicated themselves to serve continuously during lockdowns to prevent the spread of the pandemic. We all must strive to realise the goals set before us by the Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour programme of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” the Minister said.
Responding to questions by journalists at the end of the ceremony, the Minister said that President Rajapaksa could effect any changes to the Cabinet whenever he wanted. “It is his prerogative and he has the power to do so. People have given the powers to appoint the ministers and secretaries to the ministries. He will decide when to use those powers and to effect changes. He could do so at the beginning of the year or middle of the year or at midnight today,” the Minister said.
Asked whether a Cabinet reshuffle could bring about solutions for crises caused by the shortages of gas and dollars, the minister said: “Gas shortage is a crisis caused by officials including the Chairman of Litro gas. It is because of their inefficiency and dereliction of duties, a shortage of gas was created during the festive season. The officials should do their job, if not they should resign without letting the people and the government to be in difficulty.”
Asked whether the government would go to the IMF seeking a loan to find solutions for the forex reserve crisis, the minister said: “I am not the one who is to go to the IMF. That decision should be made by the Minister of Finance. If he thinks it is a necessity, then he will go there. It is not my place to comment on that issue.”
Responding to a journalist who said that Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa had equaled the government to a Maranadara Samithiya (death donation society) in Siyambalanduwa, the Minister said that Sajith Premadasa was the ideal Opposition leader for a government that expected no pressure from the Opposition. “He will go all around the country uttering whatever that comes to his mouth. He goes to Hambantota and Siyambalanduwa and laments about the plight of people in those areas and then comes home to drink wine and spends millions of rupees to host balls with his wife to his friends in Colombo. The one who weeps buckets in the morning for the cause of people suffering drinks and dances in the evening. It is good that we have an Opposition leader like him,” the minister said.
Asked for his comments on the possibility of joining of the SLFP teaming up with the JVP, the Minister said that the SLFP could do so. “Currently, the SLFP is with us. They can leave us anytime they want. They can even join Sajith Premadasa. Yet I still believe that the senior and capable lot in the SLFP are with us and won’t leave us.”
Among those present were Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza, Secretary to the Ministry of Highways R.W.R. Pemasiri, Secretary to the State Ministry of Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure, Prof Ranjith Dissanayake, Chairman of RDA Chaminda Athaluwage and RDA Director General Sardha Weerakoon.
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
