News
President asks SJB if it will join interim Cabinet
SLPP rebels decline portfolios but won’t hinder ‘good decisions’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has offered another opportunity to Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa to be part of the interim administration.
The President has asked Opposition Leader Premadasa to inform him if his party is willing to accept positions in the Cabinet of Ministers to be appointed.
On Thursday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declined SJB leader’s last minute offer to accept the premiership.
In a two-page letter dated 12 May, addressed to Opposition Leader Premadasa, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has emphasised that an early response is required as the decision on the finalisation of the Cabinet couldn’t be delayed in view of the prevalent political and economic crisis. The President has assured the SJB leader that before a decision to swear in UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was made he had consulted leaders of political parties represented in Parliament. The President didn’t name those he had consulted.
The SJB won 54 seats, including seven National List slots at the last parliamentary elections in August 2020. One of the SJB NL members, Dayana Gamage, switched her allegiance to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
Meanwhile, the SLPP rebels have declared that they will not accept ministerial portfolios in the new Cabinet.
Addressing the media, separately, the SLFP, said it wouldn’t be part of the new administration. SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera later told The Island that they would support government efforts to procure the required essential supplies. The SLFP wouldn’t do anything to undermine the government as long as the new administration didn’t take decisions inimical to the public.
The SLFP parliamentary group comprising 14 members is the largest party in the rebel group, which comprises 11 political parties and groups.
On behalf of the rebel group, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said that they wouldn’t accept ministerial portfolios. Underscoring their concerns over newly appointed PM Wickremesinghe’s past conduct, lawmaker Weerawansa declared that they would continue to sit in the Opposition though continuing to support right decisions. The SLPP rebels account for about one third of the total parliamentary group. Yuthukama Leader and SLPP National List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga assured their support for proposed constitutional reforms. He however reiterated the need for the continuation of the executive presidency as long as the 13th Amendment to the Constitution remained in its current form. While appreciating the ongoing efforts to restructure Sri Lanka’s debt with the IMF’s intervention, MP Cumaratunga said that the countries that had sought IMF help remained in debt.
The rebel group said it was unfortunate that the person whose party had been rejected by the vast majority of the electorate at both the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2019 and 2020, respectively, was now the PM. Cumaratunga called it a tragedy.
Responding to criticism that the SLPP is in crisis today due to the stand taken by a section of the party over the controversial Yugadanavi deal, MP Cumaratunga said that they had made a desperate bid to pressure the ruling party to abandon its disastrous strategies. Former Minister Weerawansa said that Mahinda Rajapaksa wouldn’t have been humiliated if he quit the premiership in response to the rebel group’s plea.
Weerawansa said that the current predicament could have been avoided but the then PM had refused to heed the warnings. Before the break up in early March this year, the SLPP comprised 145 members. The ruling party had the backing of several SJB members, who on two occasions (20th Amendment and the Colombo Port City Commission Bill) voted with the government. Altogether 15 political parties represent the Parliament. They are SLPP (145), SJB (54), ITAK (10), JJB (03), AITC (02), EPDP (02), UNP (01), SLFP (01), OPPP (01), TMVP (01), MNA (01), ACMC (01), NC (01) and SLMC (01).
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
