News
Pera Uni questioned over waste, corruption and irregularities
By Shamindra Ferdinando
In the absence of proper scrutiny over a period of time at the highest level, there had been waste, corruption and irregularities at the Peradeniya University, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) reported based on a recent examination of the University.
The parliamentary watchdog on Aug. 08 questioned the top management of the university pertaining to instructions issued on March 22 2023, when the university officials appeared before the House Committee.
COPE Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara chaired the meeting while Auditor General W.P.C. Wickremaratne raised a number of questions and made observations.Education Ministry Secretary Nihal Ranasinghe, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Senior Prof. Sampath Amaratunga and Vice Chancellor of Perdeniya University Prof. M.D. Lamawansha and several senior representatives of the University attended the meeting.
Based on the findings made by the Auditor General, the COPE at the onset raised irregularities, corruption and fraudulent activities relating to constructions at the Peradeniya University. Having discussed the prevailing issues , Prof. Bandara asked Education Ministry Secretary Nihal Ranasinghe to probe issues at hand and report to the watchdog within three months.
The failure on the part of the University to collect Rs 25 mn from 63 University dons who had left the country for foreign Universities before 2010 was raised at the meeting. The current management admitted that it wasn’t aware of the whereabouts of those lecturers. The COPE pointed out that since 2010, altogether 122 Peradeniya dons had violated their agreements with the University.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that a Sri Jayewardenepura don had secured an appointment overseas using fraudulent documents.The COPE also directed Prof. Amaratunga to make it compulsory for non-academic staff to use the biometric attendance system. Instructions have been issued after University management acknowledged that some sections of non-academic staff didn’t use the machines.
When the COPE inquired about misappropriation of Rs 3.2 mn by an official, the University management said that of the two persons who had been interdicted in this regard, one was abroad.
AG Wickremaratne questioned the university management regarding the payments made to the husband of a dead don to the tune of Rs 7 mn. Pointing out that the complicity on the part of the University in making the payments and facilitating the process on the basis of fraudulent documents, the official pointed out that such incidents tarnished the image of the University. Referring to the incident that had happened in 2020, Wickremaratne pointed out that all payments had been made in violation of relevant laws.
The COPE also questioned the non-use of an auditorium built over six years back at a cost of R 7.5 mn and the failure on the part of the university to complete a computer network. The project launched six years back at a cost of Rs 8.3 mn had not been completed, the COPE pointed out.
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
