News
Ranatunga promises to examine parliamentary watchdog reports
SLFP sets up Covid-19 fund
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga yesterday (23) said that he would inquire into parliamentary reports pertaining to shortcomings in revenue collection.
The Gampaha District SLPP heavyweight said that he was aware of the disclosures made by parliamentary watchdogs, COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises), COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) and COPF (Committee on Public Finance).
Lawmaker Ranatunga said so when The Island sought an explanation regarding the failure on the part of successive governments, including the incumbent SLPP administration to streamline the revenue collection process. The Island raised the issue in the wake of Minister Ranatunga requesting President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to explore the possibility of imposing salary cuts during the lockdown. According to a letter dated Aug 20 addressed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Minister Ranatunga has proposed 75 percent salary cut for lawmakers, 50 and 30 percent respectively for public and private sector workers.
In his letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, copied to PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, Senior Presidential Advisor Lalith Weeratunga and Presidential Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Minister Ranatunga said that those directly engaged in tackling the spread of Covid-19 shouldn’t be asked to contribute to the scheme.
Minister Ranatunga acknowledged that there was an urgent need to look into serious and longstanding shortcomings in revenue collection against the backdrop of sharp drop in income due to the disruption caused by raging Covid-19 epidemic.
Minister Ranatunga alleged that the previous government that perpetrated Central Bank bond scams in 2015 and 2016 handed over an empty treasury to the new government. One-time Chief Minister of the Western Province said that the incumbent government lacked the wherewithal to fight Covid-19 for want of required finances.
Ranatunga said that contrary to what he called well calculated Opposition strategy meant to influence the public and the clergy, the Covid-19 couldn’t be neutralized by lockdowns.
Alleging that the Opposition triggered the latest spike in cases by a series of protests in Colombo and other parts of the country, Minister Ranatunga questioned the rationale in the same lot demanding an immediate lockdown.
Minister Ranatunga said that the bankrupt Opposition was trying to exploit the epidemic to its advantage at a time the entire world was struggling to cope up with the crisis. The Gampaha District MP challenged the Opposition to place before the public the much propagated action plan meant to neutralize the threat.
Minister Ranatunga said that tourism suffered in the wake of 2019 Easter carnage. The current crisis should be examined against the backdrop of the disruption caused to the tourism sector as a result of resurgence of the terrorist threat, Minister Ranatunga said.
He pointed out that those struggling to make ends meet suffered during lockdown whereas those who advocated such measures received monthly salary.
SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera, MP, said that the government was compelled to reduce the amount granted to the needy from Rs 5,000 to Rs 2,000 due to the financial situation. The SLFP recently announced plans to set up a special fund today (24) with contributions from its 14 member parliamentary group, local government members and other contributors to help fight Covid-19. The government granted Rs 5,000 during previous lockdowns though the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa repeatedly demanded Rs 20,000 grant.
Former President and the leader of the SLFP Maithripala Sirisena is scheduled to attend the launch at the party office at T.B. Jayah Mawatha at 10 am.
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
