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Referendum on executive presidency, early general election: Opposition urged to seek consensus with Prez
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Civil society activist Gamini Viyangoda has proposed that a referendum on the executive presidential system could be held along with the next parliamentary election.
Pointing out that in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the President could dissolve Parliament two and a half years after the last parliamentary election, Viyangoda has urged those who backed the abolition of the executive presidency to seek a consensus with the government on the matter.
The Purawesi Balaya activist said so at a meeting called by Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) on much needed national reforms and way forward at the Opposition Leader’s Office at Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha on Monday (04).
SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, MP, and SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena, MP, jointly chaired the meeting that was attended by a group of civil society activists, including Victor Ivan, K.W. Janaranjana, Prof. Rohan Samarajiva and Ravi Kumudesh.
Viyangoda explained that a consensus with Gotabaya Rajapaksa was nothing but a prerequisite as the executive President he exercised the power to dissolve parliament and call for a non-binding referendum.Responding to The Island queries yesterday (05), Viyangoda said that those who participated at Monday’s meeting were of the view that formation of a genuine all-party government should be subjected to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa giving an assurance and a date of intended resignation.
Addressing the gathering at the Opposition Leader’s Office, Viyangoda said that except for SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the 2019 presidential election, all previous winners of elections since 1994 made abolition of executive presidency their primary pledge, but later more or less reneged on those pledges.
Having vowed to further consolidate the executive presidency, incumbent President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on May 11 assured the country that he would restore the provisions in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and strengthen the parliamentary system. The President also declared his readiness to discuss the abolition of the executive presidential system with all stakeholders, Viyangoda recalled.
Viyangoda called for an early consensus among political parties campaigning for the abolition of the executive presidency.
Viyangoda acknowledged that even if the majority voted at the referendum to abolish the executive presidency and the same matter received a 2/3 approval in Parliament, still it would have to be decided by the Supreme Court. But if the majority voted against the abolition of executive presidency, it wouldn’t be an issue any longer
Viyangoda told The Island that it would be the responsibility of the Opposition to create what he called an environment conducive for the President to accept the reality. The civil society activist compared the consensus the UNP-led grouping reached with the then common candidate Maithripala Sirisena as regards the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Viyangoda emphasized that both parties would have to compromise if they were serious about reaching consensus.
Senior Vice President of the SLFP Prof. Rohana Lakshman said that the meeting was meant to explore ways and means of finalizing a common programme. When The Island sought an explanation why the former President hadn’t been accompanied by SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera or at least some other MPs, Prof. Lakshman said that the SJB extended the invitation to the SLFP leader.
The country was in such a desperate situation consensus was required soon, Prof. Lakshman said, urging all political parties represented in parliament to work towards a solution or face the consequences.
The SJB and the SLFP won 54 and 14 seats at the last parliamentary elections. Two each elected on the SJB and SLFP tickets recently switched their allegiance to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Prof. Lakshman said that the current crisis couldn’t be addressed by consolidating political power at the expense of goodwill of Opposition political parties.
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
