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Ranil and Co. will take Lanka towards disaster-Wimal
By Rathindra Kuruwita
President Ranil Wickremesinghe and those who brought him into power would take the country towards economic and political disaster, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday.Weerawansa added that in a few months there would be blood on the streets and the Indian and UN peacekeepers would land here.The leaderless nature and the lack of coherent strategy of the protests had ensured the victory of a man who was capable of crushing the protests mercilessly, Weerawansa added.
“The protests ended up sending Gotabaya home and paving the way for Ranil. I don’t
think this is what protestors wanted. So, we have to look at how did this happen?” he said.Weerawansa said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa withdrew from his house when protestors approached as he hesitated to use force. On the other hand, Ranil will not have such reservation, he said.
“The protests didn’t have leadership. In fact, some people there rejected leadership. They didn’t want theories, guidance or strategy. When you act without a plan, these things happen,” he said.
The NFF leader said that President Wickremesinghe will not hesitate to use force to crush protestors and that he is an expert in psychological warfare. Soon, the protests will disintegrate from within, he said.
“Ranil was elected President with the support of 134 MPs. Should we be surprised? The MPs were afraid of the protestors. They were fearful that they will be attacked in the villages. When protestors trie sto take over Parliament, Ranil used emergency powers and empowered the forces to assault the protestors. And the MPs thought, Ranil is an amazing guy. Ranil will protect us, the MPs thought,” the NFF leader said.
The MPs also thought that Dullas Alahapperuma was too democratic and that he had a soft spot for the protestors, Weerawansa said.
“They didn’t want Dullas because of that. But Ranil and those who brought him into power have no solutions to the problems faced by the people. They have no clue. Foreign workers won’t sent money. That is why we have been clamouring for an all party government,” he said.If Dullas had won the establishment of an all-party government would have been possible. The main opposition as well as a number of parties cross racial and religious and class divides would have worked with Dullas, Weerawansa said.
“When such a coalition works together, everyone in society is represented. People will feel that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. They will be ready to endure some pain and work with the government. The victory of Ranil has ensured this doesn’t happen,” he said.
President Wickremesinghe does not have the ability to resolve the economic crisis of the country, he said. Wickremesinghe did not receive congratulatory messages of any powerful nations.
“He doesn’t have the international recognition. He doesn’t have domestic legitimacy. Why would any local or international actor support him or legitimize him? Ranil’s only plan is going to the IMF. However, in a month or two, the economic crisis will rise again because workers won’t send money and other countries won’t help us. Then people will come onto the road again and Ranil is capable of ordering the forces to shoot them. Then we will have a blood bath. Then UN peacekeepers or Indian peacekeepers will come here. The country is headed towards disaster, and everyone must come together to stop this,” he said.
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
