News
Minister Alles faults Church for denying govt. opportunity to sort out crucial issues
… says ex-SIS head facing disciplinary inquiry
Easter Sunday carnage:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles yesterday (28) alleged that the Catholic Church hadn’t given the government an opportunity to thrash out all issues regarding the continuing controversy surrounding the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.
Minister Alles claimed that an opportunity had been sought after the entire report, including the sections that hadn’t been available to the Church, was handed over.
Unfortunately, the Church, instead of sitting down with the government, and law enforcement authorities involved in the investigations, to frankly discuss all outstanding issues, had turned down that request, Minister Alles said.
The Minister said so addressing the media at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) yesterday afternoon. Responding to a query, Alles declared that 99 percent of the CID investigation into the 2019 suicide bombings was over.
Alles found fault with the Church for repeating accusations without cooperating with the government to ascertain the truth. Suicide blasts claimed the lives of nearly 270 people, whereas over 400 suffered injuries.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith on Sunday (27) reiterated that justice had been denied to the victims. The Cardinal insisted that their grievances be met without further delay.
Minister Alles said that Dappula de Livera, PC, who declared that the Easter Sunday carnage had been a grand conspiracy obtained a court order when the police wanted to record his statement regarding the claim. Pointing out that the ex-AG made that declaration on the eve of his retirement, Minister Alles said police investigations were hampered by their failure to record the retired official’s statement.
Asked to explain the failure on the part of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government to act on the Presidential Commission report on the Easter Sunday carnage, particularly about not taking action in respect of former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Minister Alles claimed that the National Police Commission (NPC) was inquiring into his lapses.
The media pointed out that in spite of the damning Presidential Commission findings in respect of the then head of the SIS, Senior DIG Jayawardena continued to hold a top position in the Department. Minister Alles said that he was now facing a disciplinary inquiry, conducted by the NPC.
Minister Alles also dealt with the discharging of former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Shani Abeysekara and Sub-Inspector Sugath Mendis by the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court pertaining to a case involving ex-DIG Vaas Gunawardena.
Asked whether action would be taken against the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) for falsely implicating the top cop, Minister Alles said that the police outfit still stood by its findings. The Minister pointed out that the Attorney General twice, in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, very clearly stood by the CCD, though all of a sudden he changed his stance, thereby paving the way for discharging the suspects.
DIG Vaas Gunawardena was convicted and sentenced to death for the abduction and murder of Colombo-based businessman Mohamed Shiyam as a contract killing for $50,000 in May 2013.
Minister Alles said that the CCD furnished a comprehensive dossier on SSP Abeysekera to the AG when the issue was taken up.
The Minister stressed that the court declared that depending on the developments, the case could be filed again.
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
