News
Polls Chief says Prez pardon restored Ranjan’s civic rights
‘Won’t be impeded by restrictions imposed on those who served six-month prison terms’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Election Commission Chief Nimal Punchihewa said that an elected MP, who had been replaced by another, in terms of the preferential votes received at a general election, couldn’t regain his/her seat.Attorney-at-Law Punchihewa said so when The Island asked him whether Ranjan Ramanayake could regain his Gampaha District seat as he received a presidential pardon. The Supreme Court, on January 12, 2021, sentenced Ramanayake to four years rigorous imprisonment for contempt of court.
At the time he was sentenced, Ramanayake represented the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) as a lawmaker, elected from the Gampaha district. Ajith Kumara Mannamperuma, who polled the highest number of preferential votes, out of the unsuccessful SJB contestants, was sworn in as an MP to fill the vacancy created by Ramanayake’s removal.
Ramanayake questioned the integrity of the judiciary, on Aug 21, 2017, outside Temple Trees. The politician served as a State Minister of the UNP-SLFP yahapalana government at that time.Asked whether Ramanayake could enter Parliament, or contest the next general election, Punchihewa said that the former MP could re-enter Parliament, through the National List.
The SJB secured 54 seats, including 07 National List slots, at the last general election, in August 2020. Ramanayake switched his allegiance to Sajith Premadasa, the then UNP Deputy Leader.
Responding to another query, Punchihewa said that Ramanayake could re-enter parliament on the National List and contest the next general election as he received a presidential pardon. Otherwise, a person who served a six months prison term automatically lost civil rights for a period of seven years, thereby forfeited right to vote or elected or appointed through the National List.
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa didn’t pardon Ramanayake though there were requests. Several weeks before President Rajapaksa’s resignation, Ramanayake was sentenced to two years in prison and suspended for five years over the second contempt of court charge. The former MP pleaded guilty.The Attorney General filed the second contempt of court case against Ramanayake for a comment he made on a television channel.
The Presidential Media Division (PMD) said that President Wickremesinghe granted pardon on the condition that the former MP wouldn’t make statement critical or derogatory of the entire judiciary.
The PMD declared that according to an affidavit received by the Supreme Court on Aug 25, the former MP said that the statement he made outside Temple Trees on August 21, 2017 is completely and utterly false and derogatory and contemptuous of the entire judiciary. Therefore, he humbly and profoundly apologized and sought the forgiveness of the entire judiciary, the PMD added.According to the PMD, the former MP has promised the Supreme Court that he would never again, in his entire lifetime; make any statement
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
