News
National child protection policy not implemented for 21 years, says COPE
NFF cranks up pressure on SJB over death of teenage girl
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) was established in 1998, but the national policy on child protection hasn’t been implemented yet, according to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).
This was revealed when NCPA Chairperson Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana and other officials including the Secretary of the Education Ministry Prof. Kapila Perera, appeared before the COPE in Feburary this year.
COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath has pointed out the failure on their part to implement the national policy though NCPA had been established more than 20 years ago.
Prof. Vidanapathirana was not immediately available for comment.
The COPE highlighted the NCPA’s failure to implement a national policy it called a primary responsibility of the outfit. COPE proceedings also revealed NCPA’s annual reports for 2016, 2017, 1018 and 2019 hadn’t been handed over to Parliament, wasting of public funds on futile project to prepare a data network, the Legal Department being served by only two persons and only one person serving the section handling complaints.
The inordinate delay implementing the national policy on child protection has received the media attention in the wake of shocking revelations surrounding the apparent suicide of sexually abused 16-year-old Ishalini Jude Kumar, who succumbed to injuries caused by a fire in the residence of lawmaker Rishad Bathiudeen at No 410/16, Baudhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.
Civil society groups ‘We are the future’ and “Lakmawa Diyaniyo’ affiliated to the National Freedom Front (NFF) yesterday alleged that some of those who caused a media and social media furore over the statutory rape of another 15-year-old girl, was silent over the death of Ishalini.
Addressing the media at Dr. N. M. Perera Centre, Borella, Isuru Prasanga and S.R. Muthumali said that Ishalini had been admitted to the National Hospital on July 3 with serious burn injuries and in spite of medical staffs’ efforts to save her, she succumbed to her injuries on July 15. Subsequent examination of the Ishalini revealed the teenager had been subjected to sexual abuse, they said, urging authorities to take immediate action.
They pointed out that though Bathiudeen was an MP he shouldn’t enjoy privilege status and should be subjected to no holds barred police investigation.
MP Bathiudeen and his brother are in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) over their alleged links with the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.
The groups affiliated to the NFF alleged that those responsible for ensuring justice for Ishalini were silent. They urged the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) to respond to the unexpected development as Bathiudeen’s All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) contested the last parliamentary election on the SJB ticket. The ACMC contested the 2010 and 2015 general elections, on the SLFP led UPFA and UNP, respectively. The ACMC switched its allegiance to breakaway UNP faction, SJB in early 2020 following the split in the former ruling party.
They asked whether attempts were being made to suppress the case. Declaring their intention to lodge a complaint with police headquarters in that regard, they urged the mainstream and social media to campaign for the rights of children.
Having condemned the other statutory rape of 15-year-old girl, the SJB couldn’t remain silent on the latest exposure of one of its lawmakers employing an underage child in clear violation of the law and she having been sexually abused, they said. The NCPA and higher authorities, including the relevant parliamentary watchdog committee should be held responsible for a proper investigation into the incident at the Baudhaloka Mawatha residence of the MP.
They said that a lawmaker couldn’t have been unaware of the legal impediment in hiring children as servants.
The police have recorded several statements so far in connection with the death of Ishalini who was procured in Oct or Nov last year and she had not been able to go home for the last seven months.
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
