News
Opp. asks if AG, EC backing conspiracy to put off LG polls
GL educates EC on election laws
SLPP rebel to vote against Budget
BY Shamindra Ferdinando
Accusing President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena of conspiring to put off scheduled Local Government polls indefinitely, Prof. G.L. Peiris has asked whether the Election Commission (EC) is backing the government’s efforts to postpone polls.
The former Foreign Minister has found fault with the EC for seeking the opinion of Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, as regards its legitimacy, consequent to the enactment of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.
Addressing the media at the Nawala Office of Nidahasa Jathika Sabhawa, one of the rebel SLPP factions, Prof. Peiris yesterday (21) stressed that there was absolutely no requirement for the EC to consult the AG as the transitional provision in the new law clearly stated the existing outfit remained intact until the setting up of the new EC.
The academic asked whether an attempt was being made by the powers that be to take cover behind the AG’s opinion to postpone polls.
The former law professor, while appreciating the assurance received from the EC recently that the scheduled election would be held, said that nevertheless the combined Opposition was quite concerned about the EC’s decision to consult the AG.
The EC consists of Nimal G. Punchihewa (Chairman), S.B. Divaratne, M.M. Mohamad, K.P.P. Pathirana and P. S.M. Charles.
Prof. Peiris dealt with the issue at hand on Saturday (19) when he addressed Parliament on the fifth day of the 2023 budget debate. The former minister told the House that the EC had resorted to, what he called, wholly unnecessary and wrong course of action.
Speaking on behalf of the combined opposition pushing for Local Government polls, both in parliament and at yesterday’s media briefing, Prof. Peiris said that in case the Attorney General took up a stand contrary to that of the transitional provision in the new law, they would immediately seek legal remedy.
The SLPP National List MP reminded that the Supreme Court on numerous occasions has countermanded the position taken by the government chief legal officer. Reference was also made to certain rulings given by the Supreme Court over the years to prove that the government couldn’t take cover behind the AG’s opinion.
Prof. Peiris questioned whether President Wickremesinghe and Premier Gunawardena sought to put off Local Government polls on the pretext of taking urgent measures to reduce the number of Local Government members.
Pointing out that Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Yahapalana Premier, and Gunawardena as the then Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that recommended electoral reforms, paved the way for the expansion of the Local Government members from over 4,000 to over 8,000, they were now spearheading efforts to prune the set up.
Referring to the recent appointment of a delimitation committee to demarcate wards of local authorities, Prof. Peiris stressed that the Premier, the Minister in charge of the subject didn’t enjoy the power required to appoint the committee. The Premier could have appointed a committee to review the set-up, Prof. Peiris said, questioning the appointment of the delimitation committee.
Prof. Peiris maintained that the government was working overtime to make a case for the postponement of election. The former minister pointed out that on Oct. 17, the Secretary to the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardana and Public Administration Secretary Priyantha Mayadunne informed the President’s Office that over 8,000 Local Government members were an unbearable burden. On the same day, the Chairman of Delimitation Committee, Mahinda Deshapriya, declared that his outfit could complete its work quickly while the Cabinet of Ministers approved the action taken in this regard.
If the government succeeded in this despicable project, it would definitely try to put off the general election, Prof. Peiris said, vowing to derail such plans.
Responding to media queries, Prof. Peiris explained the EC would have to set the process in motion in mid December if it was to ensure the conduct of election in the first week of March 2023 to pave the way for the setting up of Local Authorities by March 20.
At the onset of the briefing, Prof. Peiris, having accused the government of failing to address the burning economic issues, declared that the Nidahasa Jathika Sabhawa wouldn’t vote for the Budget at the end of the second reading today (Tuesday, 5 pm).
Prof. Peiris said that Budget 2023 hadn’t addressed the real issues and would, in fact, cause further deterioration of the already bankrupt economy.
The other SLPP rebel group (Utthara Lanka Sabhagaya), too, has declared that it wouldn’t vote for the Budget.
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
