News
Parliamentary resolution on SLC non-binding – Deputy Speaker
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe yesterday (10) said that a unanimous decision taken by Parliament to ask the top management of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to vacate office was non-binding. Therefore, the SLC wouldn’t comply with the decision taken by Parliament, the Deputy Speaker said.
The Hambantota District MP said so when The Island asked him whether Parliament would inform SLC of its decision. “Actually, our decision in this regard is irrelevant,” the Deputy Speaker said, adding that SLC had to be dealt with, according to the relevant laws.
A joint resolution on SLC moved by Sajith Premadasa, in his capacity as the Opposition Leader, was endorsed by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The Parliament endorsed the resolution, titled ‘the removal of the corrupt SLC management’ without a vote.
Responding to another query, the Deputy Speaker pointed out that such pronouncements, regardless of the institution/institutions implicated, wouldn’t have any legal impact, at all. However, SLC Secretary Mohan de Silva resigned immediately after the Sports Minister announced an interim committee.
Sports Ministry Secretary Kanapathipillai Mahesan said that the Ministry was following up on the matter. Mahesan, who received the appointment as Sports Ministry Secretary in January this year said that the Ministry would have to consult the Attorney General in that regard. Referring to the SLC moving court against the appointment of a seven-member Interim Committee, in place of SLC, by the Sports Minister, the former District Secretary said that he was in the process of receiving a legal opinion. Mahesan indicated that the Ministry would take action on the basis of the opinion expressed by the AG.
Mahesan acknowledged that Parliament is the supreme body in the land. Therefore, regardless of the legality of the resolution, the announcement made by Parliament couldn’t be ignored, the official said, adding that in this case lawmaker Ranasinghe had acted in terms of the powers exercised by him as a member of the Cabinet.
Deputy Speaker Rajapaksa said that political parties couldn’t have been unaware that the joint resolution wouldn’t compel SLC bosses to go.
Auditor General W.P.C. Wickremaratne was not available for comment. The Island asked Jathika Jana Balawegaya MP Vijitha Herath why he was missing at the time Parliament unanimously adopted the joint resolution. The Gampaha District MP pointed out that some interested parties were making an attempt to deceive the public that the JJB skipped the parliamentary proceedings. “MP Harini Amarasuriya attended Parliament along with me though JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was out of the country,” MP Herath said, adding that there couldn’t be any suspicion regarding their absence in Parliament towards the end of the proceedings as a vote didn’t take place.
MP Herath said that the bottom-line is that the joint resolution couldn’t compel SLC bosses to quit morally on the weight of opinion against them. The MP noted that the Court of Appeal on Oct 07 suspended for a period of two weeks Sports Minister Ranasinghe’s Gazette that paved the way for appointment of an Interim Committee. The JVPer said that the issues at hand couldn’t be addressed by ad-hoc measures.
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
