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Reportage of child abuse cases: Women lawmakers call for controls, concensus on hearing HC cases on a specific date
State Minister Seetha Arambepola, Deputy Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has called for some sort of censorship in the reporting of child abuse incidents as current reportage further embarrassed children and their families. The state minister emphasised that it was also essential to regulate media coverage in such situations.
In addition to the SLPP National List MP, other women parliamentarians emphasised the importance of preventing the media from revealing the identity of the child victim and from providing detailed information related to the ongoing legal process in particular to child abuse.
The following is the text of the statement issued by the Communications Department of Parliament yesterday: “The Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority, Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana told the forum that an agreement had been reached following the discussions with the Judicial Service Commission to set a specific date for the hearing of child abuse cases pending in the High Courts.
Furthermore, the Chairman stated that circular No. 449 of the Judicial Service Commission has been sent to all High Court Judges on June 28 in order to give priority to cases involving children on the set date and to formulate a methodology for the purpose of identifying such cases.
The Chairman expressed the above remarks speaking at a meeting of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus held in Parliament Tuesday (03).
The Chairman also stated that Cabinet approval has been granted to set up nine audio-visual recording centres in each province to present the relevant evidence from remote locations without having to summon the victimized children to court. In addition, the Chairman further informed the Committee that steps will be taken to establish Live Remote Evidence Recording Centres at the aforementioned locations.
Following the adoption of the National Child Protection Policy 2019, an action plan to implement it has already been launched based on the 10 relevant Ministries, the Chairman said. He said that everything is ready for the launch of the National Database on Child Protection in collaboration with Sri Lanka Telecom in October.
State Minister Dr Sudharshini Fernandopulle, the Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus stated that the Caucus will lead the way to initiate appropriate measures to prevent the occurrence of child abuse and to strengthen the existing laws against acts that are harmful to the safety and well-being of children of this country, including child abuse, sexual abuse and enslavement.
Deputy Chair of the Caucus Rohini Kumari Wijerathna said that as the institution that makes laws for the protection of children in this country, the Members of Parliament as well as all elders of the country have a responsibility. The Deputy Chairperson further stated that the Child Protection Authority has received 55,000 inquiries during the COVID period and 4740 child abuse complaints within the last six months whilst emphasizing that the members of her Caucus will stand together without condition towards any positive decision regarding women and children, regardless of their political views.
The importance of the strict enforcement of the law against employing any girl or boy under the age of 18 years, enforcement of laws on child abuse and raising awareness regarding child abuse prevention at grassroots level, amending certain laws relating to child protection which are way out of time and the importance of proper coordination between all relevant institutions was highlighted further.
The need to establish a separate Department of Social Services to create awareness among parents on gender equality whilst raising awareness of parents to prevent child abuse and regulate the process implementing long-term child abuse prevention programs was also discussed.
Deputy Chairpersons of the Caucus Rohini Kumari Wijerathna and State Minister Seetha Arambepola, its member Parliamentarians Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Diana Gamage, Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority, Prof. Muditha Vidanapathirana, officials of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and other institutions related to child, and Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera were present at the meeting held.
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
