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Sampanthan reminds Prez of meeting that never took place, urges speedy conclusion of new constitution making process
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan, in a letter delivered to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has emphasized the need to bring the ongoing constitutional making process to a successful conclusion as early as possible.
In the letter dated Aug 14, Sampanthan, who represents the Trincomalee District has reminded President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that though a scheduled meeting between him and the TNA never took place, the TNA remains ready to meet him.
The following is the text of the letter a copy of which was also sent to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa: “By letter dated 07/06/2021 I was informed that your Excellency and the Tamil National Alliance would meet on 16th of June 2021 at 4pm at the Presidential Secretariat. On the 15th evening I was informed by telephone that the meeting was postponed and that an early date would be given for the meeting soon, this was confirmed by a further telephone call the next morning. I have subsequently received two letters informing me that the said meeting would be soon re-fixed for an early date. I have received no further communication. I hereby inform your Excellency, that whenever Your Excellency so decides, we will meet with Your Excellency.
May I state that the following, our country since its independence has thus far had three different Constitutions.
1). The Constitution framed before independence by the Government in the United Kingdom based on their own constitutional practices.
This has now changed substantially. Wide powers have been devolved to both Scotland and Northern Ireland, both of which are historically inhabited by Scottish and Irish people with their own independent identities. Each of these territories now have their own independent legislatures and Executives Chief Minister and Cabinet of Ministers. They are governed within the frame work of the United Kingdom as per the democratic verdicts of their respective people delivered at regular democratic processes. This is what the Tamil people with their own independent identity have claimed in their areas of historical habitation within a united undivided Sri Lanka through their democratic verdicts for over the past six decades.
2). The 1972 First Republican Constitution enacted within two years by a majority party which was able to muster a two third majority in Parliament without looking for consensus. The Tamil people did not subscribe to the making of the 1972 Constitution.
3). The 1978 Second Republican Constitution enacted within less than a month, by a majority party which was able to muster a two thirds majority in Parliament without looking for consensus. The Tamil people did not subscribe to the making of the 1978 Constitution.
Since 1978 we have been governed under the 1978 2nd Republican Constitution, though this Constitution has been rejected by the people who are sovereign, at every National Election since 1994. We have thus been ruled under a Constitution that does not bear the will or the consent of the people. The Tamil people have since 1956 in their historical habitation rejected both the 1972 and 1978 First and Second Republican Constitution, and they too have been governed without their will or consent.
The above constitute violations of international covenants and instruments to which Sri Lanka has acceded and accepted.
After the anti-Tamil pogrom of 1983 India offered her good offices to resolve the national issue in Sri Lanka, which Sri Lanka accepted and the Constitution making processes commenced. Conferences, meetings, and discussions took place in Sri Lanka, India and abroad in foreign countries. The government of Sri Lanka political leaders and parties participated.
India, the Co – Chairs comprising Norway, Japan, the United States of America, the European Union and other countries were involved. Several of them made public statements in regard to the processes. The Secretary General of the United Nations and the United Nations Human Rights Council were involved. The Sri Lankan government made several commitments to these bodies in public which are all a matter of record and have to be fulfilled. I will not repeat the same because in my earlier letter I have reflected to same in detail.
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was enacted in 1988 this was found to be inadequate and since 1988 every successive government has taken steps and agreed to build on the 13th Amendment to bring about meaningful devolution. There has been substantial consensus derived from these processes.
The Constitution making process should not be delayed any longer. The 1972 and 1978 constitutions took less than 2 years and one month respectively. The present process has been ongoing for more than the past thirty-two years.”
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
