News
Nuwara-Eliya SSP’s office commences separate probe into Ilashini’s death
By Nalaka Ratnayake and Saman Indrajith
The Nuwara Eliya SSP’s office too has commenced an investigation on the death of J. Ilashini, the 16 -year-old girl who died while working at SJB MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s residence.
A team led by an ASP has been appointed to lead its probe.
The ASP yesterday took statements from Rajamanikkam Ranjani, the mother of Ilashini and Jeyaraj Jude Kumar, the victim’s father.
After giving the statement Kumar said Ilashini had been sent to the SJB MP’s house in November 2020 by a person known to them, he said.
He also said that it was unlikely for her to kill herself.
Ranjani told the media that the family had taken a Rs. 30,000 loan from a local businessman. Within a month of missing a loan repayment date the amount had climbed to Rs. 80,000, she said.
“A neighbour, Sankar said that he could find work for one of my daughters at MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s house. He said his daughter had worked there for four years and that it was a great place to work at. Ilashini volunteered to go. We didn’t like it but she said she could send us enough money to pay our debts,” she said.
Ranjini added that in mid-June, Ilashini called her and said that she no longer could work at the MP’s house. “She said that a man who worked at the house assaulted her. I felt that the wife of the MP, her mother and the boy who assaulted my daughter were watching her. Suddenly, the boy took the phone from her and said Ilashini talks back to the MP’s wife. Then the MP’s wife took the phone and said Ilashini worked slowly. I said I would come but because of the lockdown I could not go,” she said.
Ranjini said that on 03 July Ilashini had died under suspicious circumstances and the MP’s family had informed Sankar. However, Sankar had not informed Ilashini’s family.
“The Borella police called us around 3 pm. They asked us to come as soon as possible. I spoke to Sankar and we went to Colombo; my husband and our son who works in Awissawella and went to the MP’s house. His wife said Ilashini had tried to burn off a thread in a silk gown she was wearing and the gown had caught fire. They said they were asleep and Ilashini’s screams had woken them. She said my daughter came running to the living room with her clothes burning and her husband doused the fire by throwing a carpet onto her. She said when the ambulance came, she herself climbed in. However, when we went to the hospital they said they put her on life support within 30 minutes of her arrival. I don’t know what to believe. Ilashini wanted to be a nun,” she said.
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
