News
Nagananda seeks SC intervention, bribery probe
2019 presidential election:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodituwakku, in his capacity as General Secretary of Vinivida Peramuna, has moved the Supreme Court against the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), current members of the CIABOC, former members of the Election Commission (EC), SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, MP, and Chamal Rajapaksa, MP against the EC’s failure to disqualify SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the basis that he had not renounced his US citizenship at the time the EC accepted nominations.
The application in this regard has been made under Article 140 of the Constitution considered with Section 24 of the CIABOC Act No 19 of 1994.
Kodituwakku has alleged that Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s nomination as the SLPP presidential candidate, was accepted whereas the EC rejected him though he renounced his British citizenship. Kodituwakku was to join the fray as the candidate of Okkoma Rajavaru Okkama Vasiyo, a registered political party though the party withdrew support at the last moment.
Public interest litigation activist Kodituwakku named former EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, who is now the Chairman of the Delimitation Commission as the sixth respondent. The petitioner held Deshapriya accountable for the EC’s conduct in that regard.
The petitioner requested the appointment of a Special Bench in terms of Article 132 (3) (iii) to hear and determine his application, direct the CIABOC and /or members of the Commission, Eva Wanasundera, Deepali Wijesundera, Chandra Nimal Wakista (2,3 and 4 respondents, respectively) and its Director General Kanishka Wijerathna (5th respondent) to initiate a credible and independent inquiry into complaints made by the petitioner on the corruption charges levelled against the 6th respondent, as expeditiously as possible and direct the current CIABOC to instruct the 5th respondent to initiate criminal proceedings against the 6th respondent.
Kodituwakku stated that before the enactment of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution in Oct 2020, dual citizens had been disqualified from contesting the presidential election in terms of the Article 91(1) (d) (xiii) of the Constitution.
Kodituwakku, however acknowledged in his petition that the Secretary of Okkoma Rajavaru Okkama Vasiyo, blocked his candidature by withdrawing backing of his party at the last moment. Kodituwakku has charged the said official in the Nugegoda Magistrate court over what he called a criminal breach of trust and the case is pending.
The law prohibits anyone other than a person nominated by a registered political party, a member of Parliament or a former member of the Parliament from contesting the presidential election.
Kodituwakku has referred to a sworn statement dated May 18, 2021 made available to him by former EC member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole (7th respondent) to confirm the discussion he had with the 6th respondent also on May 18, 2021.
The EC accepted Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s nomination after the Court of Appeal dismissed a high profile case in which two civil society activists asked the court to withdraw Rajapaksa’s citizenship, on the basis he renounced it in 2003 to become a citizen of the United States and regained it two years later in an irregular manner.
The three-judge panel on Friday unanimously rejected the case. The Court of Appeal declared that it had no merit.
In his petition, Kodituwakku made reference to a dispute between Deshapriya and Prof. Hoole over the SLPP presidential candidate’s credentials, the former getting in touch with what he called Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s camp and the academic being accused of being an LTTE sympathiser by a section of the media.
According to the petition, the bone of contention is the failure on the part of the SLPP candidate to produce a certificate of renunciation of his US citizenship.
In the run-up to the presidential election, SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris refuted accusations against the party candidate. Prof. Peiris explained the circumstances their candidate had renounced his US citizenship to pave the way for him to join the fray.
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
