News
‘Presidential control over DDO undermines power of Parliament’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Dissident SLPP MP Gevindu Cumaratunga has strongly opposed the government move to place the debt-restructuring programme under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s control as the latter does not represent Parliament.
Addressing Parliament on Saturday (01), the leader of civil society group ‘Yuthukama’ pointed out that the Resolution on the Domestic Debt Optimisation (DDO) was meant to bring the whole process under Finance Minister Wickremesinghe’s power. How could Parliament grant such authority to a person not among elected or appointed members of the current Parliament? MP Cumaratunga asked, while stressing public finance was their (Parliament) responsibility
The dissident SLPP MP was among 62 members who voted against the resolution.
MP Cumaratunga reminded Parliament that a massive Rs. 3.5 bn VAT scam took place in 2003 when Wickremesinghe served as the Premier. Recalling the 2015 and 2016 Treasury bond scams, MP Cumaratunga questioned how those who campaigned against Wickremesinghe throughout that period now voted for DDO that was meant to give him unprecedented powers. One hundred and twenty-two MPs voted for the resolution.
Comparing the government debt with the Gross Domestic Product in the recent past during the Yahapalana and Rajapaksha administrations, MP Cumaratunga stressed that President Wickremesinghe couldn’t be entrusted with the DDO process. Finally, the government shamelessly burdened the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) with massive debt, the MP said while attacking the government over its failure to collect taxes amounting to Rs 6 bn from liquor manufacturers.
MP Cumaratunga told The Island that he couldn’t address some issues as he got only five minutes to address parliament. The outspoken MO said that Sri Lanka secured as much as USD 12.5 bn at higher rates from the international money market during the Yahapalana administration. Now, they advised the country how to proceed in DDO operation, MP Cumaratunga said, questioning how Central Bank and Treasury employees were given a staggering 29 percent interest whereas other EPF recipients received just 9 percent interest.
The government owed an explanation as to how a selected group of people received a higher interest rate at a time the economy was under tremendous pressure.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office, former SJB MP and mayoral candidate at the elections for CMC, Mujibur Rahuman said that, in short, the resolution on DDO has effectively transferred the powers relating to public finance from parliament to Finance Minister Wickremesinghe.
Rahuman said that President Wickremesinghe disclosed the move to take up resolution on DDO on Saturday during his recently concluded visit to Paris.The former lawmaker said that the President and the SLPP had been in an indecent hurry to empower President Wickrejemsinghe at the expense of parliament, the parliament was summoned on Saturday regardless of scheduled sittings tomorrow (04).
Rahuman said that the issue should be discussed also taking into consideration a day’s sitting cost the taxpayer as much as Rs 10 mn. Pointing out that parliament staff consisted of nearly 2,000, Rahuman said that workers had to be paid extra payment on that day. Why on earth you squandered money at a time of bankruptcy.
Rahuman said that the executive had now secured powers of the legislation thereby negating parliament. “We are rapidly moving towards a dictatorship,” Rahuman said, warning of further deterioration. The situation has been aggravated by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena openly siding with the ruling party, the ex-MP said. One-time UNP MP lambasted the Speaker for blatantly working for the government since the day he received that appointment. Having agreed to continue the debate till 9.30 pm, the Speaker terminated the proceedings at 7.30 pm and called the vote, Rahuman said.
Both MP Cumaratunga and ex-MP Rahuman alleged that the government didn’t really explain how it was going to address the issues at hand. Instead the executive has been granted unprecedented powers that threatened the very basics of democracy here, they alleged.Rahuman said that the absence of the Rajapaksas at the time of voting should be carefully examined.
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
