News
Presidential committee critical of response to ‘protest movement’
Security measures alone insufficient to meet toxic combination of economic-political-social crises
By Shamindra Ferdinando
A three-member committee that probed the failure on the part of the then government to quell the May 09 incidents was planning to hand over its report to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa when he was forced to flee the country on 13 July.The committee consisted of Admiral of the Fleet (ret.) Wasantha Karannagoda (Chairman), Marshal of the Air Force (ret.) Roshan Gunatilleke and General (ret.) Daya Ratnayake.
Well informed sources told The Island that the committee had handed over an interim report that dealt with three or four critical points/issues to the then President Rajapaksa.
Sources said that even after the eruption of violent protests at the private residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at Pangiriwatta, Mirihana, on the night of 31 March, the growing threat appeared to have been largely ignored.President Gotabaya Rajapaksa moved to the President’s House in the first week of April.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Service commanders, the IGP and several officers, at different levels, appeared before the committee at the Office of the Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of Air Force Roshan Gunatilleke. The committee examined the ease with which goons targeted the properties of some ruling party politicians in the aftermath of an attack the supporters of the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa carried out on the Galle Face protesters on 09 May.
Karannagoda and Ratnayake served as the Governor of the North Western Province and Secretary to the Trade Ministry, respectively, at the time of the high-profile investigation. The committee questioned the security setup that was overwhelmed by the protest movement.
Sources acknowledged that the rapid developments that threatened the entire government set-up couldn’t have been tackled by security measures alone. The rapidity with which the protest movement grew had made it quite impossible to de-escalate the threat by security measures alone, senior officials involved with the evacuation of the then President said. Sources said that the toxic combination of political- economic-social crisis simply overwhelmed the government.
Just over a week before the July 09 attack on the President’s House, the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa promoted Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Vikum Liyanage to the rank of Lt. Gen. and appointed him Commander of the Army.Although the government was aware that the protesters were planning to take over the President’s House on 09 July, the police and the armed forces had been ordered to protect the place without shooting.Once the defences at Chatham Street collapsed the military brass asked the President to vacate the President’s House.
Among those present at that time were Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne, who was re-appointed by newly elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, Navy Chief Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugutenna, IGP C.D. Wickremaratne and State Intelligence Service Chief Maj. Gen. Suresh Sally.
CDS General Shavendra Silva was in Kochi, India, to attend the 6th Deputy National Security Advisor Level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave. Having led the government delegation at the Kochin conference (July 6-9), by the time Gen. Silva returned around 12. 20 pm 09 July, the President and first lady Iyoma Rajapaksa had been moved to the nearby Navy base where preparations were underway for them to board SLNS Gajabahu.
What really saved the day was their ability to take a route from the President’s House without attracting the attention of the protesters. Contrary to reports, the first couple had been under naval protection on the ground for some time before they boarded SLNS Gajabahu formerly of the US Coast Guard. Sri Lanka commissioned the High Endurance Cutter in June, 2019, at an event attended by the then President Maithripala Sirisena and US Ambassador Teplitz.
The Navy headquarters politely declined to disclose the time the vessel departed the Colombo port or arrived at the Trincomalee harbour. However, sources said that the vessel docked at around 10 am on July 10 in Trincomalee, where the first couple stayed the night. On the following day, the first couple flew to Katunayake air base from Trincomalee via Ratmalana.
The security forces top brass had discussed rapidly changing developments with the President at the Katunayake air base before the CDS flanked by service commanders appealed for calm at a hastily arranged media briefing.In spite of the President personally requesting Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman Asoka Pathirage to make arrangements for him, his wife and bodyguards to leave on a SriLankan flight, the Rajapaksa appointee has explained his inability to assist. They hadn’t been able to secure seats on the Etihad flight and finally flew on AN 32, one of the precious transport aircraft belonging to the SLAF.Sources asserted that had there been a proper and realistic assessment of the public resentment towards the powers that be the President wouldn’t have stayed at the President’s House till almost noon on July 09.
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
