News
Sajith calls on govt. to revise circular on providing relief
By Saman Indrajith
SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday called on the government to amend a circular on the provision of relief to those affected by disasters and inclement weather as the amount of money given was not sufficient.
Making a special statement in Parliament, Premadasa said that amounts allocated according to the current circular were not sufficient for those affected by floods and other natural disasters.
“This circular was issued on May 16, 2022 by the Ministry of Disaster Management and relief is currently being provided as per it. We have been told that Rs. 1 million has been sent to the Divisional Secretariats to provide relief. This is not enough. As per the circular Rs. 450 is allocated for cooked food per person per day. If it is dry ration Rs. 1,350 is allocated per person per week.
These amounts are not realistic. The circular allocates for seven days Rs. 1,800 per family of two, Rs. 2,100 per family of three, Rs, 2,400 per family of four and Rs, 2,700 per family of five. When these amounts are divided among the number of persons, a person in a family of two gets Rs. 900, a person, a family of three gets Rs. 700, a person, a family of four gets Rs. 600, while a person in a family of five gets Rs. 540. How could a person live a week on Rs 900? Not even a single meal could be afforded by the allocation stipulated per day. As such I call on the government to take immediate action to amend this circular and go for upward revision immediately and provide assistance to the victims,” Premadasa said.
This method has to be changed and the amounts must be increased immediately. Had there been a proper mechanism devised to provide relief to people, the amounts allotted for the purpose should have been increased annually, Premadasa said.
He also called on the government to explain to Parliament as to how and why it could not fix a Doppler radar system to forecast climatic and weather conditions. It has been stated by the Ministry of Defence that it needed at least two more months to affix a Doppler radar system anew. Soon after the tsunami in 2004, this country received a Doppler radar system as a donation. After that it was said to be fixed on a tower at Gongala mountain in Deniyaya. This task of building the tower was handed over to the CECB (Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau). This has not been set up yet. We need to know why the Doppler radar that we got free as a donation is not used and why it is not being installed,” Premadasa said.
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
