News
Overseas legal moves targeting ex-Prez: Manohara wants govt. to ensure his safe return
By Shamindra Ferdinando
President’s Counsel Manohara de Silva yesterday reminded the new government that it couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for the protection of ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa now being hounded by interested parties over unsubstantiated war crimes allegations entirely based on hearsay evidence.
The leading lawyer said so in response to The Island query regarding South Africa-based International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) requesting Singaporean Attorney General to arrest the ex-Sri Lankan President over war crimes. Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion in May 2009 against LTTE terrorists responsible for many heinous crimes, including assassinations of ex Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi and President Ranasinghe Premadasa, while the double talking West tried to throw it a last minute lifeline by sending a ship to ferry away its leadership from Northeast Sri Lanka as they were cornered by security forces.
The ITJP made a similar move in the US in 2019. Foreign Ministry spokesperson yesterday confirmed that the Sri Lankan mission in Singapore has brought the development to the notice of the Ministry.
Reiterating his earlier accusation that the US may have declined to issue a visa to the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to pave the way for interested parties to take action against the former Defence Secretary, De Silva said that the government and the Parliament should make their stand unequivocally clear on the issue.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa accompanied by his wife, Iyoma and two bodyguards arrived in Singapore on July 14 from the Maldives. The group landed in Male on the previous day after having left Sri Lanka in the wake of violent protests.
The constitutional expert declared: “The state has a duty to protect its citizens. The yahapalana government co-sponsored the UNHRC resolution which accepted the findings and recommendations of the UNHRC report. This report recognized the right to prosecute under universal jurisdiction (that is to prosecute in any country even offenses committed in one’s own country) or to establish in Sri Lanka courts with foreign judges, investigators and prosecutors. This disgraceful plan of the yahapalana administration was reversed by the present PM Dinesh Gunawardena when he was the foreign minister in the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government.
Since this treacherous move to accept UNHRC recommendations was made during Wickremesinghe- Sirisena government, the incumbent government should clarify whether they still support those findings, including the right to prosecute under universal jurisdiction. The present government should immediately provide for the ex-president’s safe return and ensure that adequate security is provided for him to live in Sri Lanka, including accommodation under protection of the state.”
Manohara de Silva said that a thorough inquiry into the events leading to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation would reveal how external and local elements manipulated the population to create a situation conducive for targeting the wartime leadership.
Lawyer de Silva said that the ITJP inadvertently contradicted the report of the three-member Darusman panel as regards a key issue pertaining to the removal of aid workers from the war zone in Sept 2008 whereas the UN report acknowledged the presence of UN and ICRC personnel till early 2009.
Darusman panel member Yasmin Sooka is ITJP’s Executive Director who has been engaged in a major campaign against Sri Lanka’s wartime political and military leadership.
Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador in Myanmar Prof. Nalin de Silva said that the ITJP move against the former President should be examined against the backdrop of the rebel SLPP group’s strategy that strengthened the Western efforts to get rid of the Rajapaksas.
The rebel group comprising Vasu-Wimal-Udaya deliberately or inadvertently facilitated the Western and Indian project meant to humiliate those responsible the eradication of the LTTE. Prof. de Silva asked whether those who spearheaded the protest movement were happy about ex-President Rajapaksa’s predicament. The academic declared that those who couldn’t stomach the LTTE’s defeat backed the campaign that forced both Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down.
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
