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Ranawaka asks why no action taken against Sirisena, Wickremesinghe and others
Failure to prevent Easter carnage:
by Shamindra Ferdinando
The SLPP-UNP government owes an explanation as to why action hasn’t been instituted against 15 persons, including former President Maithripala Sirisena and Yahapalana Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is incumbent President, for their failure to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide attacks, says Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka.
Pointing out that their failure to avert the attacks had been as serious as the conspiracy itself, former Minister Ranawaka alleged that the current dispensation was making an attempt to prevent the Opposition from raising the issue. Senior DIG Nilantha Jayewardena, who served as the Director of State Intelligence Service (SIS) at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks, was among 15 found to have neglected their responsibilities.
Ranawaka said so referring to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recording a statement from him in terms of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) connected with a recent warning he issued regarding possible violent incidents in the run-up to the presidential polls.
Responding to The Island queries, MP Ranawaka said that the government should address the concerns of those doubtful about transparency of the Easter Sunday investigations. Unfortunately, the government seemed hell-bent on suppressing the Opposition. MP Ranawaka said that the incumbent government should explain what it did since the UPFA elected Ranil Wickremesinghe as the eighth executive President in late July 2022 to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term.
Having entered Parliament on the SJB ticket at the last parliamentary poll conducted in August 2020, the one-time Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) stalwart registered EJP as a political party with the Election Commission (EC).
MP Ranawaka said that in spite of specific recommendations in respect of 15 persons, regarding the negligence on their part to varying degrees, so far absolutely no action was taken against the persons mentioned.
Referring to Maithripala Sirisena, MP, who has been twice questioned by the CID recently following his declaration that he knew the Easter Sunday masterminds, MP Ranawsaka said that those handling the investigations, at different levels, couldn’t ignore the former President’s claims. MP Ranawaka stressed that those responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks here had been in touch with certain destructive Tamil Nadu based elements, allegedly involved in the ISIS-inspired car bomb blast, in Coimbatore, in 2022.
The Indian media reported investigations into that blast exposed those who had been responsible eulogized Zahran Hashim, one of the suicide bombers in Easter Sunday attacks, MP Ranawaka said. The ex-Minister questioned whether the government was genuine in its efforts to ascertain the truth or just sought to protect the masterminds, if any, and those who allowed the attacks to happen as a result of sheer negligence,
Ranawaka served the Yahapalana Cabinet at the time a breakaway faction of the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) mounted the Easter Sunday attacks.
Those who wielded political power between 2010 and 2015 facilitated the sordid operations undertaken by the NTJ, MP Ranawaka alleged, while pointing out that the powers that be used the group to suppress dissent among the Muslim community. Unfortunately, in spite of the change of government, following the 2015 presidential election, the new administration obviously failed to take tangible measures to rein in extremist Muslim groups.
Reiterating that intelligence services should be depoliticised, the Colombo District MP alleged that in addition to promoting and encouraging extremism among Muslims, the Rajapaksa government had created two major security issues. The EPJ leader found fault with the Rajapaksa government for releasing Kumaran Pathmanathan aka ‘KP’ and many other members of the LTTE without subjecting them to legal proceedings and the use of a selected group of Buddhist monks to cause mayhem.
Ranawaka was in Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Cabinet during that period (2010-2014). He switched his allegiance to the Wickremesinghe-Sirisena alliance in late 2014 and secured a key Cabinet portfolio in the Yahapalana government.
MP Ranawaka also questioned the conduct of Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, alleging that the latter abused ministerial powers.The EPJ leader warned that Easter Sunday would be a major issue at the presidential elections scheduled for later this year.
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
