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MPs voted for Ranil for personal gain – SJB
By Akitha Perera
Most MPs had voted for Ranil Wickremesinghe for personal gain and to maintain their grip on power, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, said yesterday.
“Most of these people want the government to build them better houses from the taxpayer’s money. They also want bigger vehicles. And, most of all, they want to remain in Parliament and enjoy the perks as long as possible,” he said.
Madduma Bandara added that Wednesday’s vote to elect a President did not reflect the will of the people. The last general election had been held when Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the most popular politician in Sri Lanka, he said.
“People managed to chase away Gotabaya. But his corrupt yes-men still remain in Parliament. People are demanding their resignation, too, and the election of a group of new MPs. However, this has not happened. The same corrupt bunch was given the chance to elect a new President,” he said.
The SJB General Secretary said that if Dullas Alahapperuma had won the vote, the establishment of an all-party government would have been possible. The main opposition as well as a number of parties across racial and religious and class divides would have worked with Dullas, he said.
“We didn’t spend any money for the election, but the same can’t be said about all candidates. The election of Ranil shows that there is no democracy in the country and that the people’s will is not reflected in Parliament,” he said.
Madduma Bandara said they are closely monitoring the actions of the government. There have been allegations of corruption since Wickremesinghe became PM, he said.
“We were planning on limiting the Cabinet to 15 and to compose it with representation from all parties. On Friday evening we will see if this is an all-party government,” he said.
The SJB stalwart said that Ranil and those who brought him into power have no solutions to the problems faced by the country and that this is why the country needs an all party government.
“If there was any hope that Ranil would behave differently, that was shattered with what happened at Gota Go Gama on Friday morning. The government is trying to destroy democracy,” he said.
The attack on protestors would do a lot to undermine the Wickremesinghe administration, both locally and internationally, he said.
“Already most countries have expressed their displeasure on what happened. This has angered Sri Lankans, too. Maybe, he can scare the people for a few weeks, but this will blow up in his face,” Madduma Bandara warned.
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
