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Patali: Operation Yukthiya has left some children destitute
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The ongoing countrywide drug bust known as the Operation Yukthiya has created serious social problems with many children being left without their parents due to indiscriminate arrests, Patali Champika Ranawaka, leader of the United Republican Front (URF) says.
“Police have arrested a large number of former and current drug addicts. Sometimes, both mother and father have been taken away. The operation has created a situation where boys join underworld gangs and girls take to prostitution.
All across Colombo, there are many instances where children are starving because their parents are being held on remand. Most of them cannot afford to pay legal fees,” Ranawaka said on Wednesday (03)
Although the crackdown on the drug mafia had entered its third week, none of the key figures in the underworld had been arrested, Ranawaka said, criticising the police for demolishing selected buildings near the beach on the grounds that they had been built with proceeds from narcotic sale.
“The Coast Conservation Department (CCD) is empowered to remove structures that have been built too close to the ocean, he said. “In some areas, you can’t build permanent structures within 100 metres of the beach. In some areas it is 30 metres. The CCD has the legal authority to get rid of these structures. If necessary, they can take legal action for the removal of these constructions.
However, now the police have alleged that these buildings were constructed with drug money. This is illegal,” Ranawaka said, adding that there could be an ulterior motive for removing certain business places while allowing others to continue with their operations. During the latter part of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term, the security forces had been deployed to demolish buildings selectively and that had led to his electoral defeat, Ranawaka said.
Under a URF administration, new laws would be brought in to make it a punishable offence to come to power by making false promises. For example, some people in Viyathmaga told the people that the GDP growth under the Yahapalana administration was 3% and under the Gotabaya administration it would rise to 7%. Ultimately, under that government the economy contracted by 7%. “Bankrupting a state is a serious crime. We know who is responsible. The entire Cabinet of ministers under Gotabaya are responsible for the calamity we are facing now,” Champika alleged.
Ranawaka said the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration’s disastrous handling of the pandemic and the economy would be thoroughly investigated under a URF government.
“We don’t accept the official COVID death figures. More than 15,000 people died. We will investigate this and the economic mismanagement and punish those responsible,” Ranawaka said.
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
