News
Reconstitution of COPE, COPA in limbo
Bid to scuttle probes alleged
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The reappointment of two key parliamentary watchdog committees, COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) and COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) has been further delayed for want of a consensus among political parties on who should head them.In spite of earlier indications that the ruling SLPP might go ahead with the original plan to give leadership of COPE and COPA, in addition to that of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) to the Opposition, the government seems to have second thoughts, political sources said.
Late last month, SJB heavyweight, Dr. Harsha de Silva, received the appointment as Chairman of the COPF, a post previously held by SLPP MP Anura Priyadarshanaya Yapa.All other parliamentary committees, except the COPE and the COPA, had been reconstituted, following the opening of the third session of the ninth Parliament on 03 August.
President of the Sri Lanka Audit Service Association (SLASA), Prasad Prasanna, yesterday (04), said that the country was in such a desperate financial situation, the government and the Opposition should not delay taking tangible measures to restore economic stability. The parliamentary watchdog committees would have to play a significant role in the anti-corruption drive, the official said, expressing concern over the inordinate delay in setting up the COPE and the COPA. The SLASA Chief said so in response to The Island query regarding unbridled public sector corruption.
Prasad Prasanna said that the SLASA was yet to receive a response from President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Office to their letter, dated 15 Aug, requesting the re-appointment of Prof. Charitha Herath and Prof. Tissa Vitharana as heads of the COPE and the COPA, respectively.
“The SLASA really appreciates the stand taken by Governor, CBSL, Dr. Nanadalal Weerasinghe, as regards the accountability on the part of lawmakers and Parliament as the country struggled to cope up with an unprecedented crisis.
We sincerely hope Dr. Weerasinghe’s timely intervention would make a difference,” Prasad Prasanna said.Sources said that both the government and the Opposition had left Professors Charitha Herath and Tissa Vitharana out of their nomination lists. SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told The Island that those who declared themselves as independent members couldn’t expect the government to nominate them. They shouldn’t expect a privileged status after having quit the government parliamentary group, Kariyawasam said.
Prof. Herath declined to comment on the inordinate delay in reconstituting the two watchdog committees. However, he stressed the need to continue the work initiated during the previous sessions of the ninth Parliament. Dr. Weerasinghe’s views couldn’t be ignored by political parties, Prof. Herath said.Some sources attributed the delay in reconstituting the two watchdog committees to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s visit to New Delhi and the presentation of an interim Budget by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Finance Minister.
SLASA President Prasad Prasanna urged the government not to suppress investigations undertaken by the COPE. It would be a grave mistake, on the part of the government, to derail watchdog committees as such a course of action would cause further deterioration of public sector finance.
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
