News
Police still awaiting Govt. Analyst’s report to unravel mystery behind Dutch monk’s death
by Suresh Perera
Police investigators are still awaiting the Government Analyst’s report to unravel the mystery behind the suspicious death of the Dutch monk, who was residing at the Dodanduwa Polgasduwa island monastery.
After the body of Ven. Olande Jinawansa thera was fished out of the Ratgama lagoon on December 8, a full-scale investigation was launched with the police trying to ascertain whether the 59-year-old bhikku was killed or, as some theories suggested, committed suicide.
“We are still waiting for the findings of the Government Analyst, which will shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the monk’s death”, says Senior DIG Rohan Silva in charge of the Southern province.
“Earlier, we took into custody a fisherman on suspicion as he had been fishing in the lagoon in the night at the time, but he was cleared and released after checking his mobile phone records plus verifying his statement to the police”, he said.
Divers and underwater cameras were used to trace the stone which had dislodged from one of the monk’s legs, but drew a blank as there was a thick layer of mud on the bed of the lagoon, and moreover there were many other stones of similar size and weight, the senior police official said.
“We couldn’t make much headway as a result”, he pointed out, while assuring that police investigators have followed every possible clue to establish the circumstances which led to the prelate’s death.
At the time Ven. Olande Jinawansa thera’s body was found, a stone was found tied to one of his legs, with indications that another stone similarly placed on his other leg had dislodged and probably fallen into the lagoon.
The theory that the Dutch monk took his own life gained currency after the autopsy revealed there was no water or sand in his lungs, which indicated that he had been alive at the time he was in the lagoon.
“We had to clear some doubts though preliminary investigations suggested the possibility of suicide”, Senior DIG Silva remarked.
The police are probing the bhikku’s death with an open mind, he said. “We want to get to the bottom of what transpired”.
The police and the STF have already searched the island, where the monastery is situated, plus an adjoining island, but nothing suspicious was found, the senior DIG said.
“We have also recorded the statements of scores of people, including other monks residing in the island, but there has been no indication so far that the bhikku was killed”, he added.
Known as Ven. Tone Jinawamso thera, the Dutch monk was earlier based in northern Thailand. He settled in Sri Lanka 12 years ago and was considered a loner, who kept to himself and went on pindapatha all by himself.
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
