News
Opp. seeks IMF intervention to rein in corruption
‘How come gold smuggling MP remains on Ethics and Privileges Committee’?
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Opposition would seek the IMF’s commitment to rein in rampant corruption with the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government in spite of the country being declared bankrupt over a year ago, former External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said yesterday (11).
Addressing the media at the Nawala Office of Nidahasa Janatha Sabhawa, the senior SLPP rebel group member said that the Opposition intended to furnish transcripts of the three-day debate on the No-Confidence-Motion (NCM) against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to the IMF delegation. The former minister said that the outcome of the debate had proved beyond any doubt that the government was bent on making a killing at the expense of the public.
The IMF visit is scheduled for this week ahead of their approval of the second tranche of the bailout package.
“We’ll ask the IMF to pressure the government over corruption,” Prof. Peiris said, adding that the international lending agency couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility against backdrop of its commitment to make available USD 2.9 bn over a period of four years.
The Opposition could muster the support of only 73 lawmakers whereas 113 voted against the NCM. Thirty-eight MPs failed to cast their ballot at the vote held last Friday (08).
The top SLPP spokesperson said that the Opposition would brief the IMF of two other contentious issues to emphasize the failure not only on the part of the government to reign in corruption but how the Parliament encouraged the same.
Prof. Peiris said that there couldn’t be a better example than the favoured treatment received by Muslim National Alliance (MNA) MP Ali Sabry Raheem, arrested at the BIA in March this year, after being caught in a massive smuggling bid, to prove the Parliament as an institution protected such elements.
Regardless of representations made by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and other Opposition MPs, the government parliamentary group and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena continued to shield the MP, Prof. Perris said.
Customs at the BIA in early March thwarted an attempt made by lawmaker Raheem to smuggle in undeclared gold worth Rs. 74 mn and a large consignment of smartphones valued at Rs. 4.2 mn. The MP walked free within hours after paying a Rs 7.5 mn fine, though in terms of Customs Ordinance, the MP could have been imposed a fine three times the value of confiscated goods, in this particular case gold and smartphones.
Prof. Peiris found fault with Speaker Abeywardena turning a blind eye to the incident that tarnished the image of Parliament at a time the public expected the House to take a tougher stand on corruption. The former internationally distinguished law academic pointed out that the Parliament was in a dilemma as the gold smuggling MP continued to serve the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
How the Parliament could explain the Ethics and Privileges Committee being asked to examine the conduct of one of its members accused of gold smuggling at a time the government was struggling to increase State revenue, Prof. Peiris asked.
All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) nominated Raheem to contest Puttalam at the last general election in August 2020. ACMC and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) fielded a group of candidates under the MNA banner.
Prof. Peiris said that they would also brief the IMF delegation regarding a major loophole in recently enacted much touted anti-corruption law that conveniently left out provision to deal with stolen funds now stashed overseas. “When we sought an explanation as to why the new law didn’t deal with the issue at hand, the government assured necessary amendments would be made later. That explanation cannot be accepted,” Prof. Peiris said, alleging that the powers that be were continuing in their cavalier fashion regardless of the further deterioration of the overall situation.
Prof. Peiris said that recently a parliamentary watchdog committee examined how a foreign investor received tax free status for a period of 17 years while those struggling to make ends meet were burdened with further taxes. The government resorted to domestic debt-restructuring regardless of the consequences caused by the inclusion of EPF and ETF in the process, the lawmaker said. But those who invested heavily here under an emergency situation were not touched, the MP said. The IMF should be mindful of the situation, the former minister said, urging all stakeholders to reexamine the situation here.
News
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
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.”
News
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
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.
News
CIPM successfully concludes 8th Annual Symposium
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.