News
New alliance emerges as Opposition moves SC to compel EC to hold LG polls
JVP and Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya not involved
By Shamidra Ferdinando
A new political alliance has emerged with rebel SLPP faction, Nidahasa Janatha Sabhawa, teaming up with the main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the SLFP, to seek Supreme Court intervention to compel the Election Commission (EC) to conduct Local Government elections without further delay.
Addressing the media, on behalf of the Nidahasa Janatha Sabhawa, at its Nawala Office, rebel SLPP lawmaker, Prof. G.L. Peiris, said that the Opposition filed two cases, requesting that the LG polls be conducted in terms of the Constitution.
The Minister in charge of the Local Government subject could postpone LG polls for a period less than one year and that had been already done, the former External Affairs Minister said.
Except for the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha, the last LG polls were held in Feb. 2018 uring the Yahapalana administration. The election for the Elpitiya PS was held in Oct. 2019.
SJB’s General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and SLPP General Secretary Prof. Peiris filed one petition, whereas Chief Opposition Whip, SLPP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, PC, and SLPP MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa moved the SC, separately.
The respondents are Nimal G. Punchihewa (Chairperson), S.B. Divaratne, M.M. Mohamed, K.P.P. Pathirana and P.S.M. Charles. In addition to the EC, incumbent Premier Dinesh Gunawardena, too, has been made a respondent as he holds the Local Government portfolio.
Having explained their stand in respect of the inordinate delay on the part of the EC initiating the election process, the EC seeking the advice of the Attorney General regarding the conduct of polls and the appointment of a Delimitation Committee to Demarcate Wards of Local Authorities, Opposition representatives sought the immediate intervention of the SC.
The sixth respondent (Premier Gunawardena) has been accused of appointing the Delimitation Committee to pave the way for indefinite postponement of the scheduled polls. The petitioners asserted that the EC acted in a manner that facilitated ongoing political projects meant to delay scheduled polls.
However, the JVP and the other SLPP rebel group called ‘Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya’ didn’t join yesterday’s move.
Following the briefing, Prof. Peiris told The Island that EC could have gone ahead with its mandate without pursuing an agenda that raised suspicions among those pushing for scheduled elections.
LG polls that had to be held, at least by Feb. 27. to ensure 340 Local authorities would be in place by March 20, 2023, were quite important as President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ruled out early general or presidential election for obvious reasons, lawmaker Peiris asserted.
The academic alleged that the government was bent on postponing elections. In spite of the SLPP still having sufficient numbers in Parliament, the ground situation was quite unfavourable to them against the backdrop of a successful public protest campaign that brought unprecedented political change a few months ago, the National List MP said.
According to the MP, the UNP, with just one National List MP in Parliament, and absence of any real grassroot level setup, would find it extremely difficult at the forthcoming LG polls. The Executive President couldn’t change the ground situation, the former Minister predicted.
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
