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NFF accuses SLPP of causing irreversible damage to COPE
By Shamindra Ferdinando
National Freedom Front (NFF) MP Gamini Waleboda yesterday (16) said that the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) should re-examine its stand on the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) without delay or face the consequences.
Ratnapura District MP Waleboda, who contested the last parliamentary election on the SLPP ticket, alleged that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government had caused irreparable damage by disrupting the vital House Watchdog Committee.
MP Waleboda emphasised that the appointment of Kalutara District MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena as Chairman of that Committee was meant to cause chaos. That despicable political move was intended to compel the Opposition to quit the Committee, MP Waleboda said, adding that the Opposition reached a consensus on naming him as the COPE head after the prorogation of Parliament necessitated fresh appointments to the Committee.
MP Waleboda said that in spite of SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s declaration that those who had represented the Opposition at the time of the prorogation of Parliament would be reappointed, he was accommodated in place of Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri who resigned on January 09. At the time of Wijesiri’s resignation, he served the COPE.
COPE comprised 18 government and 12 Opposition MPs. Lawmaker Waleboda said that he could muster only eight out of 12 Opposition votes whereas MP Abeygunawardena secured 12 out of 18 at the vote held on March 7.
Responding to another query, MP Waleboda said that the JVP, backed his candidature and its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was even ready to endorse his name though he represented the breakaway JVP faction.
MP Waleboda said that today the COPE was nothing but a tool in the SLPP’s hands. The following Opposition MPs were named to COPE: Anura Dissanayaka, Rauff Hakeem, Dilan Perera, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Eran Wickramaratne, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, S.M. Marikkar, Hesha Withanage, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Gamini Waleboda and Prof. Charitha Herath.
MP Waleboda said that in the run-up to the vote, he personally sought the backing of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena as he felt confident in leading the COPE. MP Waleboda said that he was fully qualified to take charge of the vital body though the SLPP sabotaged his plans.
Lawmaker Waleboda said that President Wickremesinghe without hesitation assured he didn’t have any issue with the NFF MP’s move whereas the Prime Minister’s Office swiftly directed government members to ensure MP Abeygunawardena’s victory. According to him, NFF National List MP Mohammed Muzammil accompanied him for his meeting with the Prime Minister. “I explained to him that appointing a qualified person to that post will be beneficial to the SLPP and the government. Unfortunately, the Premier appeared to have not felt the same way.”
Asked whether he sought the SLPP’s consent in this regard, MP Waleboda said that he personally briefed the General Secretary of the party, Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam, to seek their blessings.
MP Waleboda said that he later realized that the SLPP would have fielded MP Jonhston Fernando if MP Abeygunawardena was not available.
Lawmaker Waleboda said that there was no need to repeat what caused the unprecedented crisis in COPE last year. The MP was referring to accusations and counter-accusations over the then COPE Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara’s shady relationship with the disgraced Sri Lanka Cricket administration.
MP Waleboda compared the ruination of COPE with the defeating of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) moved against the then Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella last September.
The Opposition MP said that those incidents would have far reaching consequences. According to MP Waleboda, several government MPs skipped the March 7 vote because they felt the party was committing yet another mistake.
How could they appoint a person investigated by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to such a post? MP Waleboda asked.
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
