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Rambukwella: President authorised 20A
By Shamindra Ferdinando
There shouldn’t be an issue as regards the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Cabinet of ministers accepted the responsibility for the proposed law, Cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.
The President heads the cabinet of ministers.
Kandy District lawmaker, who is also the Media Minister said contrary to various claims the project to abolish the 19th Amendment was on track. The minister defended Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC, over a recent comment he made as regard who had drafted the 20th Amendment.
Minister Rambukwella denied any rift in the government parliamentary group or the cabinet of ministers over the 20th Amendment. The cabinet spokesman was flanked by co-cabinet spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and Director General, Information Department Nalaka Kaluwewa.
The fate of the 20th Amendment dominated yesterday’s post-cabinet media briefing at the Government Information Department with the media repeatedly seeking clarification whether the SLPP government followed proper procedures in the process leading to the gazetting of it.
The ministers strongly denied assertions by the media that the SLPP handled the 20th Amendment the way the previous yahapalana government bungled the 19th Amendment et al.
The crux of the matter repeatedly raised by the media was the appointment of a 9-member committee headed by SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris to examine the 20th Amendment after the issuance of the relevant gazette by the Government Printer.
Asked why the committee report was not taken up by the cabinet of ministers as announced earlier, the ministers insisted the issue was taken up. Minister Rambukwella explained how the government moved the matter.
Asked whether the 20th Amendment had been reversed in the wake of protests and objections by various parties, including a section of the government, Minister Rambukwella pointed out the difference between reversal and the cancellation of the process.
Among those who expressed concerns over the 20th Amendment were Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera and Manohara de Silva PC, on behalf of the Federation of National Organizations (FNO) and the National Joint Committee (NJC), respectively. In addition to them, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Myanmar Prof. Nalin de Silva and SLPP lawmaker Gevindu Cumaratunga underscored the need for alterations to the Amendment.
The Attorney General recently asserted that the proposed 20th Amendment in its present form could be approved by a two thirds majority.
The media was told now that two weeks had lapsed since the issuance of the gazette; it could be accommodated in the Order Paper of parliament. The ministers explained how they expected to proceed regardless of issues. There could be political issues, the media was told adding that they agreed on a policy framework relating to the 20th Amendment.
Asked whether the proposed 20th Amendment would hinder the Independent Commissions, the ministers said that the SLPP envisaged a far better system. The 20th Amendment proposed a five member Parliamentary Council instead of 10-member Constitutional Council.
Minister Rambukwella strongly defended the procedures the previous Rajapaksa administration adopted in the removal of the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake.
Declaring that the government would be transparent in its effort to bring in 20th Amendment, there was provision for moving the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, SLPP Colombo District MP and attorney-at-law Premanath Dolawatte appearing on Derana ‘Aluth Parlimenthuwa’ on Wednesday expressed confidence that the proposals made by the Committee headed by prof. Peiris would be taken into consideration in finalizing the proposed law. Dolawatte was a member of the Committee that was appointed by Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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
