News
Recognition of Palestine’s statehood : SL should follow Norway, etc., – former top Lankan diplomat
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Retired Foreign Secretary H. M. G. S. Palihakkara says Sri Lanka shouldn’t hesitate to recongise a Palestine state formally against the backdrop of Spain, Ireland and Norway having done so already.The veteran Foreign Service officer was responding to The Island query regarding what Sri Lanka’s response should be to the raging Gaza conflict.
Asked to explain the developing situation, Palihakkara said Sri Lanka’s position with regard to Palestinian statehood ought to be clear because Sri Lanka recognised that status more than three decades ago. Norway and Spain have been members of NATO-North Atlantic Treaty Organization since 1949 and 1982, respectively.
“Sri Lanka, in fact, was among the early responders in establishing diplomatic relations and an Embassy of Palestine in Colombo,” the former Permanent Representative to the UN said.
Commenting on the recent developments both in and outside parliament in the wake of Hamas attack mounted on Israel on 07 October last year and the latter’s response, Palihakkara said: “What stands out in this issue now is that there is rather a clear and present multi-party support for the Palestinian cause cutting across many political divides in this country. There continues to be a large measure of consensus across the isles of the legislature enabling successive Sri Lankan governments of different ideological hues to consistently support statehood, self-determination free of foreign occupation for the Palestinian people based on the ‘two states solution’ which also enjoys wide international support.”
The unprecedented move by Spain, Ireland and Norway could set in motion a new dynamic, the expert commented.Acknowledging that the coordinated move has somewhat shaken the US-led conventional Western posture on
peace in the Middle East in general and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular, Palihakkara explained that the usual Western stance was that peaceful and secure two states must emerge at the end of a process of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Palihakkara mentioned the efforts made by Norway to work out an agreement between Israel and Palestine some time back.
The issue at hand is – will that posture now face a reboot calling for international recognition of two States first leading to peace between the two nations within secure boundaries. “Israeli intransigence and the devastation in Gaza may cause this re-sequencing especially if more European countries break rank with the usual Western posture and join Norway, Spain, and Ireland plus 140 odd other countries of the world.”
Palihakkara pointed out that Norwegian FM Espen Barth Eide at a recent press conference declared that if present double standards continued, it would undermine the ‘rules-based international order’, a rebuke to their NATO partners who while preaching human rights to some, protect impunity by others.
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.
