News
Sajith tears into govt. over mega corrupt deal
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (29) lashed out at the government for failing to check rampant corruption.
Premadasa, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, asked whether President Ranil Wickremesinghe, government wanted his party to accept ministerial portfolios to share the ill-gotten gains from the latest corrupt deal (USD 1.5 bn) pertaining to the procurement of 4.5 mn mt of coal for the Norochcholai power plant.
The SJB leader lambasted the government at an entry point to the Parliament after having participated in a silent protest against what he called the unbearable rising cost of living.
The Opposition Leader said a section of the media supported the corrupt by propagating the lie that some SJB members were about to accept ministerial portfolios. The Colombo District MP alleged that the media, too, was part of the utterly corrupt government now in place.
MP Premadasa took up the coal issue close on the heels of SJB member and Chairman of Finance Committee Dr. Harsha de Silva exposing the change of qualification criteria for the procurement of coal during the tender process.
The SJB leader reiterated that his party would never join the proposed all party government especially against the backdrop of such a corrupt deal. The former UNP Deputy Leader questioned why over Rs 520 bn had been paid for coal, which could have been procured at a much lower cost.
The SJB leader told The Island that in response to a query raised by lawmaker de Silva, Lanka Coal Company had admitted that the Standing Cabinet Appointed Tender Committee changed the qualification criteria of the bidders. R.W.R. Pemesiri, former RDA chairman and Secretary to the ministry of Highways heads the Tender Committee.
Black Sand Commodities of Dubai, described as a sister company of a Russian company named Suek AG, has secured the tender even though its name hadn’t been in the list of eligible bidders.
MP Premadasa pointed out that revelation about bending of coal tender rules couldn’t have taken place at a worse time. “The government is pleading with the International Monetary Fund for urgent assistance. We are also seeking help from friendly countries by way of credit lines, currency swaps etc. But the tragedy is those who robbed the country over the years are still in control, brazenly manipulating every sector, including vital procurement process.”
The SJB leader declared that the issue would be raised both in and outside Parliament to pressure the government to revisit the transaction. The MP said that the government couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for the fraudulent transaction perpetrated by interested parties. He urged the Cabinet of Ministers to look into the issue at hand, take remedial measures and initiate action against those responsible for the corrupt deal.
Premadasa said that the public had launched the ‘Gotagogama’ campaign as they couldn’t bear the cost of living amidst the shortages of essential commodities. The change of government had brought in a new administration and it was going after those who removed the President’s flag and sat on his chair while the powers that be robbed public funds and ruined the economy, MP Premadasa alleged.
Dr. Harsha de Silva said that procurement of coal had always been mired in controversy. Referring to the 2016 Supreme Court ruling in respect of a petition against awarding of tenders that resulted in massive losses to the country, Dr. de Silva said that urgent action was needed to tackle corruption.
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
