News
Ranil bounces back, claims Health Minister swigs ‘engine oil’
… blames govt. for not assisting Oxford-J’pura dengue control project
UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe making a public appearance after several weeks said, on Sunday, that the government had not given any support to the joint research by the Dengue Control Centre at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the University of Oxford to find a cure for the coronavirus.
He said that the Health Minister was drinking what he called ‘engine oil’ without having purported cures tested.
Addressing a ground breaking ceremony for the new Rs. 900 million Lions’ Anniversary Vocational Training Centre at Biyagama, UNP leader Wickremesinghe said: “We turned Biyagama into a major industrial city. I have read in several reports that Katunayake is the second best trading zone in South Asia after Biyagama. We are proud of that. We must continue to hold that position.”
He said that Biyagama lacked a vocational training centre.
“Today, we are opening a Vocational Training Centre at the building which previously housed the Fertilizer Corporation. I thank the Lions Club. Nimal Senadheera, the then Sinha Commander, made this proposal. The then Minister Malik Samarawickrema approved it. This land which belonged to the Board of Investment (BOI).”
“The Lions Club in this area was started by Sunil Gunasekara. He worked hard to develop the Biyagama Lions Club. When the Lions Club started, some people protested. But later it contributed to the development of the area. I learned that some factories are also helping the project. In the past, only illegal liquor was here. I will do our best to help move this development forward.”
Wickremesinghe said it was just the beginning. “New careers are set to emerge in the future and therefore it is required to provide training.”
The former PM said that there was a need to introduce vocational training courses to suit the changing world.
He stressed that the Biyagama Zone should be protected as the best trade zone in South Asia. The work done by the Lions Club was exemplary. Due to the corona epidemic, the opening of the centre had to be postponed two or three times, he said.
The former Prime Minister said that the spread of the corona pandemic had become a major problem in the country, today. “The pandemic has spread to many parts of Colombo. Therefore, we must act with caution. According to reports, another wave of infections are likely to occur. That is what has happened in the US and the UK, which is about to go for another shutdown. Even in countries like, Japan, China and South Korea this pandemic is returning. Many Christian countries have even banned Christmas celebration,” the former Prime Minister said.
Wickremesinghe said the UK had predicted that there would be another wave of COVID-19 early next year. Gatherings have been restricted to four persons each even during Christmas in that country.
“The pandemic is not over yet. We must speak the truth about this issue. Officials are spreading various stories. One official says we are going to close the country. Another says we are going to open the country. The people have no idea of what is going on. If the country needs to be shut down, tell the people. Then people will be able to prepare for it. If the country is opened on certain conditions, say so. Do not change your mind from time to time. The corona wave is not over yet, and we have to be prepared for it.
“Many institutions say that vaccines have been produced, but they are still at the experimental stage and two people in the UK fell ill after being vaccinated.
“Even if the government provides the vaccine for free, it is unlikely that the corona pandemic will end. It will take another two or three years to see if the preventive measures are effective. Billions of people need to be vaccinated. The vaccine is being manufactured in Hyderabad, India. China has also developed a vaccine. But there is a question of how to keep the vaccines safe.”
Wickremesinghe said that research was being done on indigenous medicine in India.
“What has happened in Sri Lanka today? Take various medications.”
The Dengue Control Centre at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka and the University of Oxford are conducting joint experiments, he said.
“But our government is not doing anything. The British government has also provided assistance for experiments. The British High Commissioner has visited the Jayewardenepura University two or three times to inquire into the matter. The British High Commissioner mentioned this to me personally.”
The event was attended by a large number of people including Lions Club officials.
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
