News
Prez Media blames ‘extremists’, HRCSL warns against using PTA
Mirihana mayhem:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) retired Supreme Court Justice Rohini Marasinghe yesterday (01) has stressed that those arrested over Thursday’s protest outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at Mirihana couldn’t be charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Acting Director, Research and Monitoring Nihal Chandrasiri quoted Justice Marasinghe as having told the HRCSL staff that if those who had been arrested were to be charged that should be in terms of the Public Property Act (PPA) No 12 of 1982.
Chandrasiri told The Island that the HRCSL would be visiting the detainees on Friday (01) and Saturday. The HRCSL’s position would be made known to law enforcement authorities, the spokesperson said.
Altogether 53 persons including one woman, were detained during the incidents. The Mirihana mob set fire to several vehicles, including two buses belonging to the Army and Police, one police jeep, two traffic bikes and two three wheelers.The police estimated the value of the propertiues destroyed at Rs 39 mn.
Twenty four police officers, including an ASP and 18 police commanndos, received injuries during clashes outside the President’s residence.
Police anti-riot vehicle attacked by angry demonstrators
Police anti-riot vehicle attacked by angry demonstratorsSenior DIG Ajith Rohana said that the srrested persons would be produced in court in terms of Penal Cide and the Public Property Act.
Justice Marasinghe declared HRCSL’s stand on those who had been arrested during violent protests in Mirihana in the wake of the President’s Media Division (PMD) alleging a group of organized extremists caused mayhem.
In a statement issued around 6.45 am yesterday, Director General of Presidential Media Sudeva Hettiarachchi claimed that the group of extremists had been among the protesters gathered at Jubliee junction, Nugegoda, on Thursday. The statement alleged that armed with iron bars, sharp objects and clubs they had influenced the protesters to march towards President Rajapaksa’s residence.
Declaring that most of those who had been engaged in violence were taken into custody, the PMD claimed that the majority of the detained were extremists. The PMD confirmed the arrested persons’ status as extremists.
It stated that those who had been taken into custody led the protest calling for ‘Arab Spring’ here. It was a reference to a series of violent anti-government protests and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s. The crisis began in Tunisia in response to corruption charges and economic stagnation.
Helmets and batons left behind by police commandos
Pics by Thushara Atapattu
Helmets and batons left behind by police commandosBased on information elicited from those who had been arrested, the PMD claimed that the social media was used meticulously and anonymously to create a violent situation outside the President’s Mirihana residence. The project was meant to cause anarchy by provoking the public, the PMD alleged.
DG, PMD, Sudeva Hettiarachchi and Presidential Spokesperson Kingsley Ratnayake were not available for further comments on the post-Mirihana developments.
Following consultations with the political leadership, the Police Headquarters yesterday lifted at 5 am an indefinite curfew that had been imposed on Colombo North, Colombo Central, Colombo South, Nugegoda and Mount Lavinia police divisions, and the Kelaniya police division in the Gampaha district, following violent protests at Mirihana.
Police headquarters announced the curfew at 2.45 am. Authoritative sources told The Island that the declaration was made as a precautionary measure to prevent interested parties moving in people to Colombo to fuel further protests.
During Thursday’s confrontation between the security forces and protesters, the latter repeatedly urged the police and the armed forces to throw their weight behind them. “You should be with us,” they said, urging the military not to protect a dictatorial government that has failed the people.
Thursday’s protest was the second outside President Rajapaksa’s Mirihana residence since an unprecedented foreign currency crisis caused serious countrywide shortage of essential items. Former UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra led the protest by Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) women’s group on March 05. In the night of the same day, SLPP supporters protested outside the former lawmaker’s Malabe residence as a counter.
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
