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President denies responsibility for economic crisis
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Saturday (26) that the current economic crisis hadn’t been caused by him or his government. He said so, speaking at a ceremony in Embilipitiya, where Mahaweli Ranbima deeds were distributed among 100,000 Mahaweli settlers.
The President’s Media Division (PMD) quoted the President as having said: “Lack of foreign exchange is a major problem the country is facing at present. One of the main reasons for this is the loss of foreign exchange earnings from tourism and foreign employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Debts taken by previous governments have to be repaid with interest. These problems did not occur due to a fault of mine or the government.”
The President pointed out that to overcome present challenges, the Opposition, the people and the government must work together. He did not expect any responsible party to carry out disruptive strikes and false propaganda, he added.
The President said he would not deviate from the democratic system that guarantees the freedom and aspirations of the people in governing the country.
The President urged all parties not to abuse the freedom that comes with it.
In keeping with the President’s policy programme, Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour, the Ranbima Deed Programme is being implemented to grant the people the right to a clear title to the land. The government is planning to issue 100,000 deeds this year.
Under the first phase, 35,000 title deeds will be handed over to farmers in 10 Mahaweli zones. The government is planning to complete the distribution of all land deeds of the farmers living in the Mahaweli areas before the end of next year. Having legal ownership of the land gave the owners a number of opportunities including the ability to transfer of inheritance to family members and do transactions with financial institutions keeping the land as a surety, the President said.
The President and the Prime Minister presented deeds to 30 people, symbolising the launch of the Ranbima Deed Programme.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said the government was also elated to see the people living in the Mahaweli zones receiving deeds, at last.
The Prime Minister said that the so-called revolutionary parties had taken to the streets once the importation of chemical fertilisers was restricted and that the agitations by setting fire to the paddy fields and destroying crops were not done out of love for the farmers but for political gain.
Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said that issuing title deeds alone would not solve the problems of the Mahaweli farming community and that it was the duty of the farming community to cultivate all farmlands in the national interest.
The Minister also said that the government would transform the third generation in the Mahaweli region into entrepreneurs.
State Minister Sirisena Gamlath said that the Rajapaksas had protected not only the lands of farmers in the Mahaweli region but also their dear lives.
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
