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Parliament appoints members to committees including COPE, COPA
Parliament has announced the names of legislators appointed to a number of committees, including the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA).
A statement from parliament citing Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa said on Thursday February 22 that 19 members have been appointed to COPE.
These are, namely: Jagath Pushpakumara, Janaka Wakkumbura, Lohan Ratwatte, Indika Anuruddha Herath, Shantha Bandara, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Duminda Dissanayake, Rohitha Abegunawardhana, Nimal Lanza, U K Sumith Udukumbura, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Premnath C Dolawatte, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, M Rameshwaran, (Mrs) Rajika Wickramasinghe, Madhura Withanage, and (Prof) Ranjith Bandara.
Members nominated for COPA are Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Prasanna Ranaweera, K Kader Masthan, (Mrs) Diana Gamage, Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Wajira Abeywardana, A L M Athaullah, Wimalaweera Dissanayake, Jayantha Ketagoda, (Dr) Major Pradeep Undugoda, Karunadasa Kodithuwakku, Isuru Dodangoda, Premnath C Dolawatte, (Mrs) Muditha Prishanthi, M W D Sahan Pradeep Withana, Madhura Withanage, D Weerasingha, and (Mrs) Manjula Dissanayake.
The committees are expected to elect their chairpersons at their first meetings.
The rest of the committees are as follows:
Committee on Ethics and Privileges
(Mrs.) Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, Vijitha Berugoda, Tharaka Balasuriya, Anuradha Jayaratne, Chamal Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Jayantha Ketagoda, Madhura Withanage, and Samanpriya Herath
Committee on Public Petitions
Jagath Pushpakumara, S. Viyalanderan, Ashoka Priyantha, A. Aravindh Kumar, (Mrs.) Geetha Samanmale Kumarasinghe, Gamini Lokuge, Wajira Abeywardana, (Dr.) Gayashan Nawananda, Jayantha Ketagoda, U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal, Nipuna Ranawaka, (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, and Yadamini Gunawardena
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence
Chamal Rajapaksa, (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera, and (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies
Mahindananda Aluthgamage, M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, and (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment
Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, and (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Investment Promotion
A. Aravindh Kumar, Dhammika Perera, and Yadamini Gunawardena
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education
Anupa Pasqual, Wimalaweera Dissanayake, and Gunathilaka Rajapaksha
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media
S. M. M. Muszhaaraff, Jayantha Ketagoda, and Sanjeeva Edirimanna
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health
Kanaka Herath, (Dr.) Gayashan Nawananda, and (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture and Plantation Industries
Udayakantha Gunathilaka, Kulasingam Dhileeban, and Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation
Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Kapila Athukorala, and Kumarasiri Rathnayaka
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms
Sisira Jayakody, Premnath C. Dolawatte, and Sagara Kariyawasam
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Industries
Premalal Jayasekara, U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, and Lalith Varna Kumara
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development and Housing
(Mrs.) Kokila Gunawardene, Milan Jayathilake, and Madhura Withanage
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs
S. B. Dissanayake, Namal Rajapaksa, and (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs
H. Nandasena, Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, and Samanpriya Herath
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power and Energy
Gamini Lokuge, Duminda Dissanayake, and Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment
S. M. Chandrasena, Isuru Dodangoda, and (Mrs.) Muditha Prishanthi Ministerial
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Sports and Youth Affairs
Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, Milan Jayathilake, and D. Weerasingha
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Irrigation
D. Weerasingha, Yadamini Gunawardena, and Jagath Samarawickrama
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour and Foreign Employment
D. B. Herath, W. D. J. Seneviratne, and Jayantha Weerasinghe, P.C
Ministerial Consultative Committee on State Plantation Enterprises Reforms
Sampath Athukorala, Thisakutti Arachchi, and M. Rameshwaran
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
