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Rahman’s budget speech entirely devoted to condemning President’s speech as being communal
By Saman Indrajith
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahman told Parliament on Friday that reconciliation and inter-communal harmony would remain a distant dream as long as the government from the top to bottom worried only about the interests of one particular race.
Participating in the second reading debate on the budget 2021 on Thursday, MP Rahman said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his address to the nation on Wednesday commenced his speech by categorically excluding other communities focusing only on the majority community. “That is wrong. When the President holding the highest office of the country sets such an example, then it is impossible as the very same attitude is percolating down to other posts and finally the entire government machinery to the exclusion of other communities,” the MP said.
Rahman said that creating ‘us’ and ‘them’ mindset would be detrimental to the efforts to bring about ethnic harmony and reconciliation. “The President’s speech was an address to the nation and not to a single community. After winning the election, he became the President of the entire nation not the President of a particular community. But the President at the beginning of his speech stated that he had been voted in by a particular community. That is wrong. None of the former Presidents did such a thing. When the address is to the nation, it includes all communities in this country. After the recent presidential elections in the US, Joe Biden said that hereafter there would be no red and blue states in the US but he had only a single nation. That should be the attitude of a president. President Rajapaksa in his policy manifesto ‘Saubhagyaye Dekma’ (Vision of Prosperity) promises communal harmony. But in his speech he excludes other communities.
MP Rahman said the backbenchers of the government rank shouted at him hurling abuses and calling names.
Badulla District SLPP MP Thisakutti Arachchi said that the President had, in his speech, thanked those who had voted for him; he asked what was wrong with it.
Kurunegala District SJB MP Thushara Indunil raising a point of order called on the chair to control the House and requested all unparliamentary words by the government MPs be expunged from the Hansard.
Presiding member Matara District MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe ordered that all unparliamentary words of the government MPs be expunged and added that MP Rahman was to speak about budget proposals but he addressing some other issues.
MP Rahuman: “Those new comers need some coaching on how to behave in Parliament. Learn to listen even if you cannot agree with what the person says. That is the first lesson in democracy. The President, on the one hand, speaks of curtailing extremism and racism and, on the other, he himself creates divisions. If he wants to take forward the Saubhagyaye Dekma and the economy of the country he should think in terms of a Sri Lankan identity.
Presiding member Matara District MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe warned MP Rahman to stick to the subject he should be speaking on so that he could control the House.
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
