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Prof. Peiris warns of dreadful consequences
New Finance Bills:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Prof. G. L. Peiris, MP, recently questioned President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s move to introduce the Economic Transformation Bill and Public Financial Management Bill in the run-up to the presidential election later this year.
The dissident SLPP MP alleged that such laws weren’t introduced for the benefit of the country. Prof. Peiris declared that the genuine Opposition would oppose both Bills.
Alleging that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government was not sensitive to the developing economic-political and social crisis, the National List member from the Opposition vowed to make necessary interventions at the committee stage.
The former External Affairs Minister said so at Galle conference of Samagi Buddhi Mandapaya chaired by SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa over the last weekend. A group of dissident SLPP MPs switched allegiance to the SJB recently.
State Finance Minister Shehan Semasasinghe is on record as having said that the two Bills were meant to enhance management of public finances, thereby thwart future economic downturns. Addressing the media at the Presidential Media Centre on Monday (20), as the Acting Finance Minister Semasinghe declared that the two Bills would be submitted to parliament today (22).
Prof. Peiris told the Galle gathering SJB leader Premadasa was in the process of identifying key areas that needed attention subsequent to his victory at the forthcoming presidential election. “The requirements of districts and provinces can be different. Therefore, special attention needed to be paid for districts and provinces depending on their requirements.
Declaring that tourism remained a key factor not only for those living in the Galle district but the country as a whole, Prof. Peiris explained how the recent government bid to outsource issuance of visa on arrival could have had a detrimental impact on the national economy.
The former minister said that the SLT Mobitel charged USD 1 per person for issuance of visa. The current dispensation was so corrupt it outsourced that responsibility to another party that charged USD 25 per person.
Prof. Peiris said that tourism suffered in the aftermath of 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. The tourism sector further deteriorated during the Covid-19 crisis and the subsequent to economic fallout. The tourism was gradually but surely and steadily improving when the government introduced another racket for the benefit of unscrupulous elements.
With the presidential election just a couple of months away, the government was going ahead with all sorts of crooked deals meant for the benefit of the powers that be.
Prof. Peiris alleged that for want of a tangible action plan on the part of the government, the economy was in dire straits. Small and medium scale businesses had suffered badly and the government seemed to be blind to the woes of the business community.
The former minister said that the SJB leader was able to provide relief to the affected businesses by securing the ADB assistance.
On behalf of the SJB, Prof. Peiris assured that the new government would introduce a scheme to support those who newly entered the legal profession. Referring to a project implemented during the tenure of Romesh de Silva, PC, as the President of the Bar Association, Prof. Peiris said that a similar scheme would be initiated to assist new lawyers.
Referring to the landmark judgment against State Tourism Minister Diana Gamage and the loss of her parliametnaryseat, Prof. Peiris called for stringent action against a person who called unseating of the SJB MP a political conspiracy. He said they had committed contempt of court.
Contrary to government claims, the country was in an extremely difficult situation and those in power seemed to be wholly incapable of addressing the issues at hand, Prof. Peiris said.
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
