News
Prez needs fresh mandate to implement 13 A fully -Opp MPs
‘Pongal assurance given with an eye to next national poll’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Rebel SLPP MP Gevindu Cumaratunga said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe should seek a fresh mandate if he intended to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
UNP leader Wickremesinghe couldn’t under any circumstances go ahead with his plans at the moment, the rebel SLPP National List lawmaker said. “The President shouldn’t forget that his responsibility is to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term,” the MP said.
The leader of Yuthukama civil society group said so when the media sought his response to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Thai Pongal declaration in Jaffna that the 13th Amendment would be fully implemented. MP Cumaratunga represents Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya a constituent of the Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya in the Local Government fray.
The assurance was given in the presence of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena last Sunday (15). Sri Lanka enacted 13th Amendment to the constitution in line with Indo-Lanka accord signed on July 29, 1987 under a threat from India.
Lawmaker Cumaratunga pointed out that Sri Lanka needed a new Constitution. In fact, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, having comfortably won 2019 presidential election initiated action in that regard. The 09-member expert committee that finalised draft constitution handed it over to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and leaders of political parties, including Ranil Wickremesinghe some time back, MP Cumaratunga said.
The MP emphasised that President Wickremesinghe couldn’t take a unilateral decision on 13th Amendment. The lawmaker said that he was quite surprised and disappointment by the President’s declaration.
Commenting on talks initiated by President Wickremesinghe meant to secure an all-party consensus on the national issue, MP Cumaratunga said that there was absolutely no dispute over the need to address accountability issues as well as other matters such as land disputes. But, unfortunately, the Sinhalese driven out of the Northern and Eastern provinces hadn’t been able to return to their lands, the MP said, urging President Wickremesinghe to address that issue as well.
MP Cumaratunga said that Sri Lanka couldn’t forget India caused terrorism here to facilitate the enactment of the 13th Amendment. Recalling violent protests in the aftermath of Indo-Lanka accord, MP Cumaratunga said that full implementation of land and police powers could destabilise the country. Sri Lanka’s unitary status could be at stake, the MP said, expressing confidence Premier Gunawardena and those who backed Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential candidature would intervene.
Meanwhile, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, who is also the chairman of Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya, in a letter dated January 16, has warned President Wickremesinghe granting of land and police powers to Provincial Councils would definitely subject the country to a separatist agenda.
Lawmaker Weerawansa has alleged President Wickremesinghe’s Thai Pongal declaration was meant to secure the backing of Tamil community at the next presidential election.
In a lengthy letter, the former JVPer warned the President of dire consequences if he sought to appease the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that backed terrorists??? instead of addressing the grievances of the people.
The NFF leader dealt with overall strategies adopted by Western powers and India pertaining to Sri Lanka struggling to come to terms with the continuing political-economic-social crisis.
Referring to the re-entry of one-time Norwegian peace broker Eric Solheim, lawmaker Weerawansa has questioned whether President Wickrekmesinghe wanted to resume his interrupted agenda. The former minister was referring to the dissolution of the Wickremesinghe government in 2003.
MP Weerawansa suggested that if the UNP leader was keen to resume his project, he should seek a fresh mandate at a presidential election. That could be a referendum on his agreement/understanding with the TNA and Tamil Diaspora.
Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera declared in parliament on Tuesday (17) the UNP leader Wickremesinghe couldn’t abuse executive powers.
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
