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P SUNIL CHANDRA DE SILVA PC – 19TH ATTORNEY GENERAL PASSES AWAY
MAY YOU ATTAIN THE SUPREME BLISS OF NIRVANA
I have learnt of the death of Mr. Sunil de Silva PC – Former AG.
I initially met him when I joined the AG ‘s Department in 1987. He was one of the gentlemen who interviewed me. The AG at the time was Mr. Shiva Pasupathi. I recall the grilling that I had when he questioned me on Manawadu v AG which had been just pronounced.
He had his early education at Royal College and was very proud of his alma mater. Eventhough, I did not know him personally when I joined the Department, he took an instant liking to me. Later on in life, I got to know that he was closely connected to the Late Lalith Athulathmudali PC, who also played an important part in moulding me.
Mr. De Silva was very sad when I was selected to the Civil Branch. However, despite my allocation he used to send me Criminal files. After an year after I joined the Department, Mr. De Silva was appointed as the AG in 1988. While keeping me in the civil side he appointed me as SC Administration as the junior to Kolitha Dharmawardene initially and later to Mohan Pieris. I was relatively very junior for that appointment. Later he had commented that I was an incorrigible person and that the only way to reform me was to put me in charge of administration. That was a golden opportunity as I was compelled to study AR s and FR s and other Govt. Circulars. He knew all circulars by heart.
He was a very intelligent Gentleman and was an extremely mischievous human being. Those in the Department at that time would remember the pranks that he played on people. He had a marvelous sense of humour. His candour and repartee was second to none.
He was a stern AG. He never believed in media and in fact on the contrary issued several circulars restraining the members of the Department from going public.
He was one of those who developeda liking in me to history, traditions and ethical standards. He also developed our computer skills. I recall, that he got a few of us trained in computers as we had joined the Department. Nalin Ladduwahetty PC was his best student in the area of Computers.
He was a very fast driver. I recall many instances where we had travelled out of Colombo for official work. He used to take the wheel and drive at a speed of around 120 KM violating most of the provisions of the MTA. Anyway who cared after all he was the AG.
In the 1st Neethi Ranga that we held, The AG s Department staged a play. Mr.
De Silva acted in that and directed it. I recall taking part in that skit with my friend Shavindra Fernando. Later on I had the opportunity of acting with him in a few instances in He comes from Jaffna. Elson Divithurugama played the lead role in the drama. Mohomad Adamally played the role of Aru, his son. I played the same role taking turns. Angela Seneviratne, Kumar Paul, Shavindra Fernando and Sunil Rodrigo, AAL and former GM Galle Face Hotel were the other actors along with Sunil de Silva himself.
Mr De Silva was a pleasing personality. We all enjoyed his sense of humour. He was never at a loss for words. He enjoyed company. Even though he migrated to Australia, his heart was here. He kept in touch with all of us. Whenever he came for the Royal-Thomian, he met a few of us. Last time I had the opportunity of meeting him was when Palitha Fernando PC former AG organised a dinner at his residence for all the Department Old boys.
A few days ago he messaged me and checked whether his pension was being regularly deposited to the BOC Account. I immediately checked and informed him that it was. He wanted to use that in Sri Lanka when he visited here the next time.
Only yesterday he had taken a shot at Hiran Kulatilleke on a common whatsapp thread that we were all in.
He always believed in grooming the next generation. He shared his knowledge with every one without any reservation. He was kind to all but fearless. He continued to share his experience and knowledge even after retirement. He was a very sharp and an intelligent human being.
We have learnt a great deal from you Sir.
Life would have been different, if we did not come across people of your calbre.
We cherish and appreciate every second spent with you.
May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.
May your journey through Sansara be short.
Kalinga Indatissa
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
