News
Refusal of funds for LG polls: SJB to move SC against Treasury chief
The SJB yesterday (19) said that the Supreme Court (SC) would be moved against Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana for refusing funds for the conduct of the local government elections. A party spokesperson told The Island, on behalf of SJB General Secretary and MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, that Attorney-at-Law Sampath Wijewardena had informed Siriwardena of his party’s decision.
The following is the text of Wijewardena’s letter to Siriwardana in respect of SC FR 69/2023:
“As you are aware the above case was taken up for support on the 3rd March 2023
wherein you the “Frist Respondent, were represented by Senior Additional Solicitor General Priyantha Nawanna, PC, before a bench of three Judges of the Supreme Court. After lengthy submissions of all counsel appearing for the Petitioner, the Election Commission and you as the Secretary to the Treasury, leave to proceed with the said application was granted and further it was ordered to grant and issue the interim orders as per prayers (i) & (j) of the Petition as referred to below: i) “issue an interim order, restraining and/or preventing the 01st and/or 02nd (i.e. Honourable Minister of Defence, Finance, Economic Stabilization, National Policies, Technology, Investment Promotion, Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment represented by the Honourable Attorney-General) Respondents and their servants and agents and any other state functionary from withholding any funds allocated by the Activity Budget Estimates for the fiscal year of 2023 and/or the Budget for the year 2023 for the purpose of conducting Local Government Polls 2023 until the final determination of this Application, subject to such terms, if any, as to Your Lordships ’Court sees fit; j) issue an interim order, restraining and/or preventing the 01st and/or 02nd (i.e. Honourable Minister of Defence, Finance, Economic Stabilization, National Policies, Technology, Investment Promotion, Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment represented by the Honourable Attorney-General) Respondents and their servants and agents and any other state functionary from withholding any funds allocated by the Activity Budget Estimates for the fiscal year of 2023 and/or the Budget for the year 2023 for the purpose of conducting Local Government Polls 2023, from the 08th Respondent, until the final determination of this Application, subject to such terms, if any”
“As I am instructed, consequent to the said orders the Election Commission has written to you on the 07th March 2023 with reference to the said interim orders issued in SC FR 69/2023, urging you to release funds for the holding of the Local Government Elections on a staggered basis commencing from the 14th March 2023 by releasing Rs 100 Million as the first installment.
“I am instructed that you have replied the said letter on the same day and informed the Election Commission that you are unable to release funds for the said Local Government Elections, due to a Cabinet Decision that has been taken on the 13.02.2023, and you have further informed that you have sought the approval of the Hon. Minister of Finance for the release of funds. Thereby, you have failed to release the first installment of Rs 100 Million that was due on the 14th March 2023.
“You are also aware that the second Respondent in the said case is the Hon. Attorney General representing the Hon. Minister of Finance and the interim orders as referred to above are applicable to the Hon. Minister of Finance as well.
“As I am instructed, you have filed an Affidavit through your Attorneys in SC FR 69/2023 and submitted to the Court the details relating to the said Cabinet Decision and thereby your inability to release funds for the holding of the Local Government Elections. The Counsel appearing on your behalf was heard exhaustively on this matter. The Learned Judges of the Supreme Court having heard all the submissions of all the parties issued the interim orders as referred to above. The Counsel appearing on your behalf took notice of the orders that were made in Court.
“Therefore, you are acting in manifest violation of the Orders of the Apex Court of the country and committed the offense of Contempt of the Supreme Court punishable under Article 105 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
“You are hereby notified that you will be charged for the offense of Contempt of Court. All rights of the Petitioner are hereby reserved.”
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
