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Public protests: Alles claims UN pleased with police response
By Shamindra Ferdinando
In the wake of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s declaration in parliament that the armed forces would be deployed to quell fresh unauthorised anti-government protests meant to oust his government, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles yesterday (24) said that UN Resident Representative Hanna Singer-Hamdy was quite pleased with the way law enforcement authorities had controlled the recent Opposition protests.
Minister Alles said so when The Island asked the SLPP National List lawmaker the outcome of his meet with the top UN official at his ministry on Wednesday (23).
The Minister said that the UN official had appreciated the police response to the 02 Nov., Opposition protest that was blocked near the Technical junction, Maradana. Asked to explain, Minister Alles said that the police had refrained from using water cannon and tear gas and dispersed the crowd though quite a crowd gathered at the behest of political parties and trade unions.
The one-on-one took place at the ministry where they exchanged views on a spate of public protests in the past few months. Ministry spokesperson Akila Tennakoon quoted the UN official as having assured Minister Alles of the continuing UN support for the ongoing operations meant to curb narcotics as well as assistance to Non Govermental Organizations (NGOs).
Responding to another query, Minister Alles emphasised that President Wickremesinghe reiterated in parliament on Wednesday (23) the government stand on the protests. ‘We have said this repeatedly. Unauthorised protests will not be allowed under any circumstances. There is absolutely no change in that position,” Minister Alles said.
Alles is the fourth lawmaker to handle public security since the last parliamentary election. Chamal Rajapaksa, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera and Prasanna Ranatunga handled public security portfolio before Tiran Alles received the appointment.
Protests meant to disrupt public life and economy wouldn’t be tolerated, Minister Alles said adding that, the UN Resident Representative comment indicated the response of the international community to the developments here.
The meeting between Public Security Minister and UN Resident Representative took place in the wake of media disclosure that SSP G.H. Marapone, in charge of Colombo South Division declined to carry out unauthorized directives. The reports followed a meeting Minister Alles had with senior police officers, including IGP C.D. Wickremaratne on Nov 15. Civil society activist and attorney-at-law Nagananda Koditiwakku while appreciating the stand taken by SSP Marapone urged law enforcement authorities not to follow illegal orders issued by the government.
SSP Marapone declined to comment on the issue at hand. The official suggested that The Island contact the police spokesperson.When Minister Alles has queried the failure on the part of the police to arrest former MP Hirunika Premachandra engaged in a protest outside UN, Colombo, the SSP, South is reported to have explained there was no basis for arrests. The IGP, too, has pointed out that arrests outside the UN, Colombo could have caused problems.
The recent arrest of two women demanding the immediate release of those who had been remanded under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in Panadura though been ignored earlier by the Kollupitiya police, too, had been discussed at the meeting chaired by Minister Alles.
Police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that the issue at hand had been discussed at the conference chaired by the Public Security Minister and the officer concerned responded to the questions raised therein. Attorney-at-Law Thalduwa said that the former MP and 14 others were subsequently arrested after they blocked the Cinnamon Gardens police on Nov 14. They were granted bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe. They were released on cash bail of Rs. 10,000 and a surety bail of Rs. 5 million each. The case was then ordered to be postponed until February 13, 2023.
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
