News
MP Pathirana exposes how Excise helps artificial toddy producers to rob govt. revenue and poison people
By Saman Indrajith
Matara District SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana yesterday informed Parliament that Excise Department officers colluded with artificial toddy makers to deprive the state coffers Rs. 80 billion a year while poisoning people with toxic vinegar, its by-product.
MP Pathirana said that the Excise Department officials had helped the artificial toddy producers to operate without paying taxes. The government lost at least Rs. 80 billion per year as the artificial toddy makers bypassed the laws. “I have a list of names and a confession by such a businessman who is willing to admit to his offence and pay the fine and expose the corrupt officials. This businessman is accused of producing artificial toddy and not paying the due taxes. He wrote a letter to the Commissioner General of Excise, admitting to his fault and naming five officers who had helped him by giving him technical points to evade taxes. The businessman is Chandrakanthan Ruban of No 174A, Palali Road, Kondawil. He, in his letter dated Sept 06, 2019, addressed to the Excise Commissioner General H.G. Sumanasinghe, states how he has been assisted by Excise officers in flouting the regulations in return for money. The Excise Department officers have helped other artificial toddy makers too to flout the laws. Therefore, there is a need to amend these regulations. The letter states that the businessman was been assisted by Excise OIC S. Sirimanne, Deputy Commissioners N. Sothinathan, K. Kumarsinghe, B. Warnasuriya and W. Dissanayake. The offender states he had committed an offence with the help of those officials and was ready to pay the fine for his offence. I table this letter.”
Pathirana said that following his recent exposures in Parliament, media spokesman of the Excise Department had issued a press release stating that artificial toddy was not used to produce vinegar. The very same officer had once admitted in a TV talk show that artificial toddy was used to produce vinegar. He had also stated there that the gazettes pertaining to the toddy industry had helped increase the production of artificial toddy. “This is a serious issue; the government loses 80 billion rupees annually because of this industry,” MP Pathirana said, adding that artificial toddy was made using sugar, yeast, ammonia, water and the batteries of old mobile phones.
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
