News
‘Parliamentary approval irrelevant, President played politics with issue’
Vote on IMF facility likened to death certificate for a buried man
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said that their decision to skip the vote on the ‘Resolution’ for the implementation of the arrangement under the EFF (Extended Fund Facility) of the International Monetary Fund for Sri Lanka shouldn’t be construed as a rejection of the agreement with the IMF.
The chief of SJB’s economic management team said so when The Island sought his explanation for failing to back the agreement with the IMF, having repeatedly urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government to seek IMF intervention.
Of the 80 lawmakers who skipped Friday’s vote, the majority belonged to the SJB, the main Opposition party.
Pressed to explain what some called the SJB’s dubious stand, the former UNPer and State Minister said his party strongly opposed certain clauses in the IMF agreement, regardless of the appreciation of Washington headquartered lending agency’s intervention. Asked to explain, Dr. de Silva said that on behalf of the SJB, he had told IMF representatives that a future SJB-led administration would definitely seek to alter those disputable sections.
The resolution received the backing of 120 MPs, whereas 25 voted against it. Three Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) MPs and rebel SLPP MPs voted against the resolution. Three SLPP MPs, who have distanced from the government parliamentary group, namely John Seneviratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, threw their weight behind the agreement, whereas the TNA and the SLFP, too, skipped the vote.
The vote was taken electronically, on 28 April, on the third and final date of the debate.
Dr. de Silva stressed that the agreement with the IMF did not require parliamentary approval at all. Alleging that President Ranil Wickremesinghe sought to exploit the situation to the advantage of his government, Dr. de Silva likened the parliamentary approval for the IMF agreement to obtaining a death certificate for a buried man.
Pointing out that Sri Lanka, over a period of time, sought IMF interventions, on 16 occasions, Dr. de Silva said that no previous government did make a song and dance about seeking such assistance.
Emphasizing the vital importance in securing IMF assistance, amounting to USD 2.9 bn, over a period of four years, the Colombo District MP said that the SJB never wanted to sabotage the process. The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government could have sought a consensus with the Opposition before finalizing the Staff Level agreement with the IMF, on 01 September, last year. Unfortunately, even after that the government quite conveniently kept the Opposition out of the process and the situation remained the same till the IMF Executive Board approved the loan on 20 March, 2023, Dr. De Silva said.
Why on earth a three-day debate is held to discuss a finalized agreement, lawmaker de Silva asked, pointing out that Sri Lanka has received the first tranche immediately after the IMF Executive Board’s approval.
Responding to further questions, the economist said that the IMF agreement, now in operation, essentially focused on stabilizing the economy. However, Sri Lanka needs economic stability, plus growth, the former Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) said.
Lawmaker de Silva said that 36% tax rate on personal income and corporate profit tax of 30% on exporters weren’t acceptable. “We’ll certainly initiate negotiations with the IMF in this regard,” the one-time Wickremesinghe’s deputy, during the Yahapalana, administration said.
The MP expressed the belief that the government could have secured much better agreement if Sri Lanka’s proposals were presented, after having reached an understanding with major political parties represented in Parliament.
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
