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Opp. alleges Speaker disrupts CoPF ahead of vote on CBSL Bill
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Opposition yesterday (08) lambasted Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena for what it called a move to disrupt the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) ahead of the vote on a Bill titled ‘Central Bank of Sri Lanka.’
Top spokespersons for the Nidahas Janatha Sabhawa (NJS) Prof. G.L. Peiris, MP, and the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva frowned on the indefinite postponement of the appointment of the Chairman of the watchdog committee.
Addressing the media, at the NJS Office, at Nawala, Prof. Peiris flayed the government over the proposal to set up a so-called ‘Independent Budget Office’ for greater scrutiny on public finance, whereas the time-tested apparatus was disrupted. The former External Affairs Minister, and retired top law academic, alleged that the government was hell-bent on disrupting the CoPF. The Opposition raised the issue as knowledgeable people questioned the need for such a set manned by two persons expected to be given wide powers.
The rebel SLPP National List MP said that the denial of the Chairmanship of the CoPF to the Opposition was a serious violation of the Standing Orders of Parliament. The former Minister emphasized that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government wanted to cripple the vital all-party body.
Dr. de Silva declared that the SLPP Speaker postponed the scheduled selection committee meeting to appoint the Chairman of CoPF in spite of it being the only watchdog committee chaired by the Opposition. Responding to The Island queries, the economist said that though the second reading of the Bill, titled ‘Central Bank of Sri Lanka,’ was to take place, CoPF couldn’t peruse it yet, the one-time UNP State Minister said.
The SJB lawmaker warned that yet another pro-tem Chairman would be appointed today (09) to ensure approval for the relevant Bill, ahead of the second reading and vote on May 11.
Alleging that this was an extremely serious violation of Standing Orders, particularly against the backdrop of the sensitive nature of the Bill concerned and economic ruination, Dr. de Silva emphasized that CoPF was the only committee that looks into the future whereas the Committee on Public Accounts (CoPA) and Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) examine past audits.
Both Prof. Peiris and Dr. de Silva alleged that the government disrupted the CoPF at the very beginning of the latest session. Dr. de Silva represented the SJB in the third session of the 9th Parliament though the election of new Chairman following the prorogation with effect from January 27, 2023.
Trouble erupted when the SLPP nominated SJB lawmaker Mayantha Dissanayake as Chairman of CoPF in the fourth week of February, 2023, in spite of the Opposition re-nominating Dr. de Silva. Two days later, National List MP Dissanayake resigned. However, the ruling party nominated the sole UNP National List MP in Parliament, Vajira Abeywardena, as the Acting Chairman, regardless of the Opposition demand that de Silva received the CoPF leadership.
Prof. Peiris said that since then the government prevented the finalization of the appointment though the administration assured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) tangible measures would be taken against waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement.
Dr. de Silva alleged that Speaker Abeywardena was pursuing a political agenda at the expense of his duty to ensure the responsibility on the part of Parliament regarding public finance.
Prof. Peiris said that the entire gamut of issues would be taken up with the IMF delegation, expected to visit Colombo in about two weeks. The ex-Minister insisted that the disruption of CoPF couldn’t be justified, under any circumstances.
At the onset of the briefing, Prof. Peiris said that the government was yet to address the issues at hand with an open mind. Instead, the government sought to muddy the waters by calling a vote on the IMF bailout package, the former minister said, declaring that there was no requirement for a vote.
Sri Lanka obtained IMF bailout packages on 16 previous occasions. Prof. Peiris stressed that in spite of Parliament approving the agreement with the IMF (120 voting for and 25 against), a future government would definitely seek to renegotiate it. The ex-minister repeated concerns over the restructuring of domestic debt and its impact on the EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund). According to him, the Opposition was contemplating the possibility of taking legal action to prevent the government from laying its hands on EPF funds.
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
