News
Ratnayake vows to keep fighting
PUCSL Chairman’s office sealed
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Janaka Ratnayake yesterday told the media that he would continue to be the head of the Commission.Addressing journalists from Australia, Ratnayake said he could remain in that position for 20 more months.
“Either a majority of MPs have to decide that I must resign. Or, they should find me guilty of a violation following an investigation,” he said.
Ratnayake said that some of the newly appointed members of the Commission had decided to approve the Cabinet approved CEB tariff proposal while he was not in the country.
“I came to Australia on 12 February and the GM went to the US on an official visit.
We appointed a director at the PUCSL to be Acting GM. At this point, some members of the commission decided to approve the CEB tariff plan. Then they called PUCSL officials to the Presidential Secretariat and asked them to place their signature on a letter addressed to the CEB, authorising the tariff hike. Politicians too were there. Officials had no option but to sign,” he said.
Ratnayake’s office at the PUCSL had been sealed yesterday by the police.
The PUCSL chairman also criticised the CEB’s decision to increase tariffs of people who consumed less than 90 units of electricity. Sri Lanka produced electricity from hydro power at around four rupees per unit and the profit made from these units must benefit the low income households, he said.
“In 2008, the CEB did something similar and the Supreme Court quashed it. The subsidies given to each segment should be decided by the PUCSL, not the CEB. About five million customers consume less than 90 units. How can they pay?” he asked.
Ratnayake added that in parallel to the increase in tariffs, the demand would drop, and the CEB would not be able to achieve its revenue targets, he said.
“We used to think that the demand for electricity was not elastic. However, after we increased tariffs in August 2022, there was a 12% drop in the demand. The CEB aims to make an additional Rs 267 billion from the tariff hike. In August 2022, the CEB made an additional Rs 180 billion rupees with the tariff hike. With these two hikes, the CEB is expected to around Rs 450 billion a year. This is about 1.2 billion US dollars. Now, the annual income of CEB will be about 700 billion. However, the question is whether the CEB has competent finance officers to mange its financial resources?” Ratnayake asked.
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
