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Pandora Papers: Govt. under pressure to probe Nirupama Rajapaksa, husband
TISL asks for domestic investigation into secret offshore accounts
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has called for a thorough government inquiry into one-time Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa and her husband Thirukumar Nadesan named in the Pandora Papers as having offshore accounts.
TISL Executive Director Attorney-at-Law Nadishani Perera told The Island that her outfit had issued an initial statement on the matter.
Nirupama, a member of the ruling family, served the SLFP-led UPFA governments during the presidencies of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa. She represented the Hambantota District.
The Pandora Papers investigation has exposed the secret offshore accounts of about 35 world leaders, including current and former presidents, prime ministers and heads of state. They also shed light on the secret transactions of more than 300 other public officials such as government ministers, judges, mayors and senior military officers in more than 90 countries.
More than 11.9 million financial documents were leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in Washington. The outfit has shared access to the leaked data with select media partners including the London Guardian, BBC Panorama, Le Monde and the Washington Post. More than 600 journalists have sifted through the files as part of a massive global investigation.
The Pandora papers represent the latest – and largest in terms of data volume – in a series of major leaks of financial data that have convulsed the offshore world since 2013.
The following is the text of the TISL statement: “Once again, the secret dealings of world leaders as well as public officials have been laid bare before the world through the Pandora Papers. The expose also provides clear evidence of how the offshore industry promotes corruption and emphasizes the importance of maintaining open beneficial ownership registers, including in Sri Lanka.
The Papers refer to extensive assets held offshore by former Deputy Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Nirupama Rajapaksa and her husband Thirukumar Nadesan.
Transparency International Sri Lanka calls on Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that independent investigations are carried out expeditiously into the revelations made by the Pandora Papers. This would entail allowing law enforcement authorities and the judiciary to pursue and complete the existing pending investigations pertaining to the implicated persons without interference.
TISL reiterates that it is imperative for Sri Lanka to domestically carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine if any of the wealth identified in the Pandora Papers emanates from the abuse of Sri Lanka’s public resources.”
Asked whether the TISL would lodge a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), lawyer Perera said that it was too early to provide a definite response. “But, we are looking at all possibilities,” she said.
Responding to another query, lawyer Perera acknowledged that the Parliament as the custodian of public finance should be concerned about the latest revelations. The top TISL spokesperson underscored the importance of the Parliament looking into the matter and taking appropriate steps to have a no holds barred investigation into Pandora Papers.
Our attempts to contact Dr. Harsha de Silva to obtain the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) for its reaction failed. (SF)
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
