News
Port City Bill: PM predicts USD 15 bn in investments within five years
By Saman Indrajith
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday told Parliament that the majority of members and the Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission would be Sri Lankans.
The amendments would be incorporated into the bill in line with public proposals and the recommendations of the Supreme Court at the committee stage of the debate, the Premier said, adding that some of those amendments would be on the basis of changes proposed by other political parties.
Moving the bill for the debate, the Prime Minister said: “It was on Sept 17, 2014 the foundation stone was laid for the Colombo Port City during my tenure as the President by President of People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. That mega project now has added 268 hectares to the landmass of our country. It was added to the Colombo District by the former government. Today, we are at the doorstep of a massive number of opportunities to make use of that landmass for the development of our motherland. To achieve such objectives it is a must that we should introduce changes for the existing legal and financial frameworks to change their parameters so that there would be a flow of investments to the country via the Port City. It is incumbent on any government to make such adjustments. Through this bill being debated here today, we hope to introduce such changes. If we make such adjustments properly this country would attract around 15 billion US dollars’ worth of investments during the next five years, as predicted by economists both local and foreign. As per the estimates of those economists, during the first five years the project would generate around 200,000 job opportunities for the construction phase and around 83,000 other permanent jobs. The commission to be set up to manage the port city would serve as a single window service provider for the foreign investors coming to invest in the Port City. We plan to provide them with all required services and facilities so that the benefits of their investments may flow into the country.”
SJB Colombo District MP Dr Harsha de Silva: We are not against the Port City project. We too understand that we as a nation are on the verge of a quantum leap to development. We are a nation trapped in a middle-income earning status trap. We cannot move neither forward nor backward.
We must convert this country into a nation of people who draw high salaries by creating complex and sophisticated goods and services. For that purpose we must join the rest of the world.
Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva: There are huge differences in content between the speeches made by opposition MP Dr Harsha de Silva and his other colleagues in the opposition. Dr De Silva stated clear and loud that this bill was progressive and they would not oppose it. Others in the opposition state that the Supreme Court had bludgeoned the draft bill.
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
