News
PMB hasn’t purchased Yala yield at all – State Minister
‘Treasury helpless, solution not in sight’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday (12) admitted that the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) hadn’t purchased any paddy for want of funds.
The SLFPer said that the economic crisis was so acute the Finance Ministry couldn’t intervene though it realised the need to address the issue urgently.
The Kegalle District MP said so when The Island sought an explanation regarding the failure on the part of the government to step in to re-assure the farmers of its commitment for their welfare.
Siyambalapitiya said that in spite of a series of talks, involving President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Premier Dinesh Gunawardena, Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank and the PMD over the past several weeks the issue at hand couldn’t be settled.
Responding to another query, MP Siyambalapitiya said that the whole setup was in turmoil.
The government lacked the wherewithal to intervene on behalf of the PMB, the State Minister said, adding that the Treasury was in the process of settling Rs 2 bn the government enterprise owed the Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera was not available for comment.
The Island raised the issue with Dr. Suren Batagoda, senior presidential advisor on food security. When The Island pointed out that the PMB hadn’t bought paddy at all though the government repeatedly assured the public of food security and sufficient fertiliser and agro chemicals for the forthcoming Maha season, Dr. Batagoda said that they were aware of the situation.
Dr. Batagoda asserted that even if the PMB received sufficient financial backing, it couldn’t purchase at least 5% of the stocks available in the market. The presidential aide explained the need and the responsibility on the part of the government to create an environment for the private sector to manage the paddy purchasing scheme.
The PMB couldn’t intervene in the market in a decisive manner therefore it would be better to facilitate the private sector to meet the need, Dr. Batagoda said. The presidential aide emphasized all stakeholders should recognize the ground situation. “We have to be realistic. Better to educate the public and take tangible measures to properly supervise private sector-led initiative than funding the PMB,” Dr. Batagoda said. The former power sector official also questioned the efficiency of the PMB in comparison to the private sector.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Sept. 13, established a special mechanism comprising four committees to ensure food security.
State Minister Siyambalapitiya also admitted that they hadn’t been able to solve the issue over Rs 1.2 bn PMB fixed deposit at the Bank of Ceylon. The PMB has declined to release its fixed deposit to finance purchasing of paddy.
Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) MP Rohini Kaviratne told The Island that the government owed an explanation how it intended to ensure food security if the farmers’ produce were not purchased. In the absence of the state intervention, the private sector-dominated paddy market wouldn’t be sensitive to the difficulties experienced by hapless farmers.
Lawmaker Kaviratne asked whether the government was quietly planning to stop purchasing paddy. If that happened, what would be the fate of the PMB, the former UNP MP asked, urging the government to make its position clear on the issue at hand.
The Matale District MP said that those who expected a system change in the wake of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster in July must have been surprised by the way the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa administration handled the economy.
The top SJB spokesperson said that the government seemed to have allowed a group of politically influential private sector millers to take over the entire paddy purchasing scheme. The government inaction would discourage farmers, and those who speak of exceptional yield at the forthcoming Maha season had conveniently forgotten the farmers were struggling to sell their produce.
The MP alleged that the government was busy destroying the agriculture sector. The incumbent leadership obviously followed Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s destructive strategies, she said. The former President denied farmers fertiliser and agro chemicals and the present lot won’t purchase their produce as they were being exploited by large scale private millers, the SJB MP 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
