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May Day should have been used to address economic crisis – DEW
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Former General Secretary of the Communist Party, Dew Gunasekera, yesterday (02) found fault with political parties, represented in Parliament, for failing to address the rapidly developing political-economic-social crisis at their May Day rallies.
The participation of genuine workers seemed to be almost nil, the former cabinet minister said, adding that May Day rallies, held in Colombo and Kandy, reflected further decay in the political party system.
Both the government and the Opposition should be ashamed of their pathetic response to the growing challenge, the former lawmaker declared, alleging main May Day speeches reflected the shoddy handling of the worst economic crisis by Parliament, regardless of its responsibility on public finance.
Almost a year after UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe accepted the premiership and subsequently the finance portfolio, the government was yet to address fundamental challenges, the former CP leader said.
Having first entered Parliament, in 2004, Gunasekera resigned from the post of CP General Secretary, in late August 2020.
The veteran politician said that political parties could have used this year’s May Day to emphasize the gravity of the situation thereby preparing the population to face the deepening crisis. Instead, all of them engaged in meaningless rhetoric, the ex-MP said, adding that he was quite surprised by how such useless propaganda received prime time television coverage as well as covered by Sinhala, Tamil and English print media.
Commenting on this year’s UNP’s May Day vow to achieve status as a developed country, by 2048, the former minister said that the public wouldn’t be deceived by such rhetoric, under present circumstances.
The UNP leadership should realize that the much touted export economy status hadn’t been achieved and the changing global order would make it impossible for us to reverse the situation with the latest IMF intervention, the former National List MP warned.
Referring to as much as USD 12 bn International Sovereign Bonds (ISBs), obtained during UNP-led Yahapalana administration (2015-2019), the UNP and the breakaway UNP faction, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), couldn’t absolve themselves of the responsibility for the current crisis.
The former MP pointed out that of over USD 15 bn in ISBs obtained by Sri Lanka, USD 12.5 bn were taken at high interest rates.
Gunasekera noted that while President Wickremesinghe addressed the UNP meeting, at the Sugathadasa International Indoor Stadium, via zoom technology, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena joined the SLPP rally held with the participation of former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa at Campbell Park, Borella. SLPP strategist Basil Rajapaksa, too, attended the rally.
The former CP General Secretary said that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government was yet to educate the public of the severity of the crisis. Instead, USD 2.9, promised by the IMF, over a period of 48 months, was being touted as a panacea for all our ills, the outspoken one-time COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) Chairman said.
“At least after we accepted, officially, our inability to service international debt in April 2022, Parliament should have made a realistic re-assessment after consulting the Central Bank and the Monetary Board. Unfortunately, Parliament seems to have failed its primary responsibility,” the CP man said, urging the government to take remedial measures, without further delay, or face the consequences.
The political veteran said that Sri Lanka should take into consideration critically important global developments, such as Saudi Arabia-China opening a new chapter in their relationship, as US wanes in the Middle East. The recent Saudi involvement in the political and security bloc Shanghai Corporation, that includes both China and Russia, should be an eye opener for Sri Lanka decision-makers, the former Minister said.
The respected political analyst urged political parties, represented in Parliament, to study developments, pertaining to BRICS – a group of nations that depicted themselves as global south, and an alternative to G7.
The ex-lawmaker asserted that our political parties were kind of lost in global developments as countries realigned themselves against the backdrop of waning US influence and the continuing war in Ukraine. “I do not think our pundits at least bother to peruse reports on the continuing crisis in the US banking system. The recent seizure of First Republic Bank, by regulators, and the transferring of control to JP Morgan Chase, underscored the risks involved,” he said.
US media reported yesterday that the First Republic Bank failed to recover, in spite of receiving USD 30 bn lifeline from nearly a dozen banks. It is the third big US bank to collapse in recent weeks.
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
