News
Minister sees opportunity for lawmakers to repair tarnished image
Each MP to receive Rs 100 mn
By Shamindra Ferdinando
In spite of the ongoing financial crisis taking a turn for the worse, the SLPP government intends to allocate Rs 100 mn to each Member of Parliament, Rs 20 mn to each former Provincial Council member and Rs 4 mn each to Local Government members through Budget 2022.
SLPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, who is also the Gampaha District SLPP leader recently, announced plans to release funds, at separate meetings.
Addressing the media, at the SLPP office, at Battaramulla, Prof. Peiris explained that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa would allocate Rs 2 mn to each Grama Sevaka division, Rs 3 mn to each Local Government ward area, Rs 20 mn to each Deputy Chairman of a District Coordinating Committee and Rs 100 mn to each Chairman of a District Coordinating Committee.
Prof. Peiris emphasised that allocation of funds would be made notwithstanding the sharp drop in VAT collection, Customs revenue, Excise duty and sharp drop in tourism as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic. The Foreign Minister pointed out that the country earned as much as USD 4.2 billion annually from the tourism industry before Covid-19 struck. According to the former top law academic, approximately 40% of the total funding would be utilised to provide employment opportunities, 40% for infrastructure development and the remaining on environmental projects and social welfare, 10 % each.
Addressing a gathering at the auditorium of the Minuwangoda Pradeshiya Sabha, Minister Ranatunga said that the funding would give parliamentarians an opportunity to fulfill their responsibilities in a way at a time their reputation had been tarnished. Minister Ranatunga reiterated the SLPP’s commitment to their programmes of action though the Opposition continued efforts to derail the government. Minister Ranatunga compared the Opposition project directed at the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election and the current challenge faced by the SLPP administration.
In addition to the budget funding for people’s representatives, Prof. Peiris dealt with a range of issues, including the ongoing debate on the conducting of the much delayed Provincial Council polls. Responding to media queries, Prof. Peiris stressed that Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who had been here recently, didn’t pressure the government over PC polls. The Minister said so when the media sought an explanation why the media statements issued by the government as regards FS Shringla’s visit conveniently refrained from mentioning the PC polls and the need to implement the 13 Amendment to the Constitution whereas the comprehensive Indian High Commission statement did refer to the issues at hand among the high profile agenda.
Prof. Peiris explained that the parliamentary process undertaken by the government under the leadership of Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena to conduct PC polls by March next year. Prof. Peiris said: “Parliamentary Select Committee under the chairmanship of Education Minister Gunawardena, is meeting regularly. The PSC will decide whether to introduce legislation to bring in a new mixed system or conduct PC elections under the old system.”
Declaring his participation in the PSC process Prof. Peiris emphasised one of their priorities was reaching consensus on a common system for parliamentary, Provincial Councils and Local Government polls. Prof. Peiris expressed confidence the process could be finalised within the next two to three months. He alleged that the previous government sabotaged the PC polls by doing away with the old system without introducing a replacement.
Minister Gunawardena recently said that he received a communication from the Attorney General that PC polls couldn’t even be held under the old system unless Parliament adopted a new Act in that regard. Minister Gunawardena has also explained the situation to members of the PSC at a meeting held in Parliament on Oct 08.
Prof. Peiris said that some believed the PC polls should be held under the old system for the last time. Commenting on the challenges faced by the government, Prof. Peiris said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa wanted an appraisal of the situation, self-criticism and decide on future plans. According to him, both the Cabinet and the vast majority of people wanted a new Constitution. Therefore, a nine-member expert committee headed by Romesh de Silva, PC, had been appointed to produce a draft Constitution and that process should come to a successful conclusion before the end of this year, he said.
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
