News
Opp. MPs ask for probe into US role in Aragalaya after Speaker’s disclosure on external interventions
Speaker says conspirators threatened to harm him
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairman of Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security, retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, MP, yesterday (22) said that the government should conduct a thorough investigation into the overthrowing of elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, following Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s confirmation of US Ambassador Julie Chung’s direct intervention in what he called regime change project.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa relinquished office in the second week of July, 2022.
The former Navy Chief of Staff appreciated the Speaker’s decision to disclose the truth after the three-day debate and vote on the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against him on Thursday March 21.
The Colombo district lawmaker said that he expected the government to address the issues that had been raised by the Speaker, without delay and, particularly, ascertain the external hand in the ‘operation.’ President Rajapaksa gave up office following an intense protest campaign, launched on March 31, 2022, culminated with the overrunning of the President’s House on July 09, 2022.
Declaring that among those who sought to establish a new government in violation of the Constitution were powerful elements, Speaker Abeywardena said that he received invitations from foreign parties though he rejected them outright.
Referring to National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa’s declaration, in late April 2023, that US Ambassador had met Speaker Abeywardena at the latter’s official residence, on July 09, 2022, to ask him to succeed Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Public Security Minister Weerasekera said that the Speaker never contradicted the MP’s claim.
“The Speaker could have done so in Parliament, or outside, but he maintained silence. In fact, the Speaker remained silent even after MP Chandima Weerakkody raised a privilege issue in Nov, 2023 over him (Weerasekera) alleging US involvement in the project. At the end, the Speaker had to confirm the accusations made by me and Weerawansa,” the former minister said.
MP Weerasekera said that he voted against the NCM as he felt that the Speaker hadn’t violated the Constitution and parliamentary procedures in respect of the appointment of the IGP and the enactment of the Online Safety law. He was among 117 MP s who voted against whereas 75 voted for. Weerawansa, too, ironically, voted for the NCM.
MP Weerasekera said that the outcome of the vote on NCM is relevant to the issue at hand. “What we really like to know is whether US Ambassador Chung arrived at the Speaker’s official residence, on the afternoon of July 09, 2022, to pressure him to take over the presidency,” MP Weerasekera said.
The retired Navy Chief of Staff said that the Speaker obviously had no qualms in declaring that the conspirators intended to destabilize the country the way they did to Libya and Afghanistan.
The former minister said that the Speaker’s disclosure that a threat was made to surround his official residence and harm him in the wake of his refusal to adhere to the conspirators’ proposal couldn’t be ignored as it established a direct link between the mobs and their leadership.
MP Weerasekera said that the government owed an explanation to the public. Responding to another query, lawmaker Weerasekera said that the Speaker should name those who pressured him to violate the Constitution.
In addition to MP Weerawansa, award-winning author Sena Thoradeniya, discussed the US role in a Galle Face Protest: System Change or Anarchy? launched last year.
Galle District SLPP MP Weerakkody, now aligned with the main Opposition SJB, last November repeatedly urged Speaker Abeywardena to deal with MP Weerasekera firmly as the latter caused unnecessary and extremely sensitive issues by condemning US Ambassador Chung. Weerakkody also found fault with Weerasekera for writing to State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon regarding the US Ambassador’s intervention.
MP Weerawansa yesterday told The Island that finally the Speaker had confirmed the external factors and the direct role the US played in the project.
The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government couldn’t ignore the Speaker’s declaration. Calling for a no holds barred investigation into the regime change operation, MP Weerawansa said that actually the external intervention, now confirmed by the Speaker, couldn’t be left uninvestigated.
Both Weerasekera and Weerawansa said that the Foreign Ministry should inquire into the Speaker’s accusations.
MP Weerawansa launched ‘09: The Hidden Story’ in April 2023 and a few months later released an English translation that dealt with the US role in the protest campaign that led to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s removal.Within hours after the release of the book in April, 2023, Ambassador Chung denied the MP’s allegations.
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
