News
PUCSL Chairman insists fuel can be sold a lot cheaper
By Saman Indrajith
Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), Janaka Ratnayake has told the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) that petrol and diesel can be priced at approximately Rs. 250.
He made this statement when the COPE summoned PUCSL officials to examine the Auditor General’s report for PUCSL for the years 2018 and 2019 and current performance of the Commission.
During the meeting, Rathnayake mentioned that when he checked the import prices of petroleum and the taxes levied by the government, he had realised that both petrol and diesel could be sold at cheaper rates.
Rathnayake pointed out that petrol and diesel could be sold at Rs. 200 less than the current price. He also said that the government had collected a tax of Rs. 280 on one liter of diesel imported on 01 July.
The PUCSL Chairman said it was his personal opinion and did not reflect the view of the PUCSL.
The COPE members questioned Ratnayake on his qualifications for becoming the chairman of the commission. Ratnayake said he had obtained a Special Degree in Public Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and a Postgraduate degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Colombo. He said that he had also studied at Harvard University. As for his political qualifications, he stated that since 2005, he had been a supporter of the Rajapaksas.
COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath said the statement made by PUCSL Chairman regarding the fuel price would be discussed at length, and the officials from the Ministry of Power and Energy and the PUCSL Chairman would be summoned before the COPE in the future to further examine it, Prof. Herath said.
The COPE also looked at the decision taken by the commission to rent a Benz car, manufactured in the year 2005, without fuel or driver from a company called General Business (Pvt.) Ltd without entering into any agreement for one year from 07 December 2021.
The annual rent for the vehicle was Rs. 4.5 million and on 31 May 2022, Rs. 2.18 million had been paid to the aforesaid company.
The COPE members pointed out that the documents on hiring of this vehicle had not been submitted for audit, and they included a recommendation for hiring a 15-year-old vehicle, as well as the irregularities in calling for bids for the hiring of the vehicle, and the issues of transparency in the payment of rent for it Accordingly, the COPE Chairman recommended that an investigation be conducted and a full report submitted.
The COPE also informed that the Organisation Structure and Salary Structure of the PUCSL should be developed on the recommendation of the National Salary and Cadre Commission and the approval of the Department of Management Services. The COPE recommended the Finance Minister to submit an amendment to the Cabinet for approval.
The COPE pointed out that Rs. 45.8 million had been paid to the staff of the institution as 11 types of allowances. The committee also said that Rs. 86.8 million, of the total operational cost (49% of the total amount) had been spent on public awareness programs.
The COPE also discussed the electricity generation plan for the years 2018-2037. The officials present mentioned that data on another new generation plan had been submitted in 2021 and it had not been approved as the appropriate requirements were not met. The Committee mentioned that when the political authorities changed, problems arose due to the change of those plans.
Under the Electricity (Distribution) Performance Standards Orders mentioned in a special gazette notice issued in 2016, the commission had been assigned to prepare and enforce performance rules within 36 months, but that task had not been completed, the COPE said.
The members of the committee were Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Indika Anuruddha, (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, (Dr.) Nalaka Godaheva, Jayantha Samaraweera, Premnath C. Dolawatta and Madura Withanage were present. Also, several MPs who are not members of the committee also participated with the permission of the chairman of the committee.
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
