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Prof. Uyangoda says it’s a myth that local private sector can create lots of jobs
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sri Lanka’s private sector does not have the ability to generate large amounts of jobs, despite the assurances given by those who insist that the government must not be involved in economic management, Professor Jayadeva Uyangoda, a political scientist, said.
“The market does not have the ability to create jobs. The state won’t also create jobs,” he said.
Those who support Wickremesinghe’s neoliberal policies insist that there will be an economic revival once the state stops intervening in the economy.
“This is a myth. It’s silly to assume that the Sri Lankan private sector has the ability to generate a lot of jobs. This is the nature of our private sector. They are not in sectors that generate a lot of jobs. This is obvious,” he said.
The only thing that is certain is that these economic policies will lead to a serious political crisis, Uyangoda said.
“People will come to the streets. This is why the President ushers in many illiberal acts. In 1982, JR held a referendum and avoided elections. Wickremesinghe also knows this. He is worried about anti-government protests,” he said, adding that many countries that implemented IMF recommendations saw massive riots.
“They are called IMF riots, the results of IMF policies. Wickremesinghe knows this. He knows massive riots are on the cards. This is why he is rushing in many Draconian laws,” he said.
If elections are held this year or the next, the top traditional political parties will suffer severe setbacks, and those in power understand that, Professor Uyangoda said.This will allow new political parties to breakthrough into positions of power, he said.
“If you look at President Wickremesinghe’s speeches, it’s obvious that he clearly understands that the grip the traditional parties had on the voter has loosened”.President Wickremesinghe understands the crisis of the establishment and is trying to preserve the status quo by not holding elections, Uyangoda said.
“This is a destructive tendency. Why do we hold elections? We are trying to gauge public opinion. If new political forces are in a position to break into positions of power, elections allow them to do so in a non-violent way”.
People are not tired of politics, but they are extremely critical of the politicians, according to Professor Uyangoda.
“In 1977, President J.R. Jayawardena opened up the economy. But restricted democratic political processes. What is happening now? President Wickremesinghe is ushering in the final stage of neoliberal economics. The economy will change dramatically,” he said.
“These reforms, however, will lead to serious political strife and public anger”.
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
