News
Opposition asks EC to comply with SC directive
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Opposition expected the Election Commission (EC) to go ahead with preparations for the Local Government polls in line with the Supreme Court directive to Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana and Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, Prof. G.L. Peiris, MP, said yesterday (06).
Addressing the regular Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya briefing at Nawala, the former External Affairs Minister emphasized that there couldn’t be any issue as the SC had prevented them from withholding funds allocated for LG elections.
Declaring that the EC couldn’t fail under any circumstances to act as per the Supreme Court directive, the lawmaker emphasized that there was absolutely no further requirement for EC to discuss this issue with the Finance Secretary.
Those who failed to comply with what Prof. Peiris called historic intervention made by the SC faced term of imprisonment for contempt of court.
Prof. Peiris pointed out that the apex court also issued another interim order preventing the misappropriation of money allocated to the Government Printer for the printing of ballot papers.
These interim orders were issued to the Finance Secretary named as respondent in the relevant petition, and the Attorney General, who was named on behalf of the President.
The order was given by the three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Janak de Silva and Priyantha Fernando. The fundamental rights petition was filed by Samagi Jana Balawegaya General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, MP.
Prof. Peiris said that Finance Secretary and Government Printer Gangani Liyanage couldn’t take cover behind so-called cabinet directives and circulars issued at the behest of the executive as they had no option but to fulfill their obligations.
Prof. Peiris said that in addition to the Finance Secretary and the Government Printer, IGP C.D. Wickremaratne, too, worked overtime to undermine the EC. The SLPP rebel said that if those responsible make further attempts to delay the process, the Opposition would move court against them.
The ex-minister said that the Opposition expected EC Chairperson Nimal Punchihewa to announce the date for LG polls when a delegation of Opposition MPs meet him today (07).
The top Opposition spokesperson said that political parties in writing requested the EC to conduct LG polls before March 19. Interestingly, the JVP has joined for the first time other political parties to pressure the EC.
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
