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‘Save Sri Lanka’ launches online petition against govt. demanding int’l intervention
Text and picture by PRIYAN DE SILVA
An online petition, initiated by ‘Save Sri Lanka,’ to be forwarded to the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, attributes Sri Lanka’s present plight to bad economic decision making, poor fiscal planning and management as well as rampant corruption by politicians and government officials.
As stated in the petition, for the first time in its history, Sri Lanka has failed to honour debt repayment and declared bankruptcy.
In response to this crisis, the Sri Lankan government is currently negotiating to restructure existing foreign loans and seek additional IMF loans to address the country’s deficit in foreign reserves. Sri Lanka is asking its expatriates and the rest of the world to help it weather this storm. It also wants to attract more foreign tourists. All measures are aimed at increasing Sri Lanka’s foreign reserve.
“Save Sri Lanka’ says that if entrenched patterns of financial mismanagement and corruption continue as usual, this latest injection of foreign investment will not contribute to sustained economic growth; nor will it improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable sections of the population. In a corrupt and mismanaged economy, investors cannot expect adequate returns or security for their investments. Tourists will not feel safe to visit a country where there are doubts about the rule of law and protection of human rights.
“In recognition of these structural problems, a loud cry for political and economic reforms has emerged from across the country. Even now, there are ongoing nonpartisan and non-violent protests in many parts of Sri Lanka with the main protest taking place at Galle Face, Colombo. These protests demand the resignation of the President and the Prime Minister, who are largely responsible for the current crisis. The Galle Face protest, which began on 09 April 2022 is attended by hundreds of thousands of people from different political, racial, religious, and social backgrounds.
“In solidarity with these protests, and with the aim of preventing corruption, establishing the rule of law, and fostering a culture conducive for sustained economic growth and tourism in Sri Lanka, the signatories to the petition request the Sri Lankan Government to make the following changes with immediate effect:
“The current President and the Prime Minister must resign immediately allowing an interim administration to take over governance of the country
“The interim and future administrations should:
:Abolish the 20th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution
Reinstate the National Audit ACT, No. 19 of 2018
“Pass new laws in Parliament requiring politicians to declare assets prior to running for election and to be subjected to an audit of their asset and liability declaration at the end of their term in Parliament
“Pass new laws in Parliament requiring politicians and state officials to declare conflict of interests relating to any posts that they hold
“Reinstate the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary to hold politicians (ministers, prime minister, and the president) accountable for their decisions and actions
“Restructure current taxation laws to minimise indirect tax that burden the low-income groups more and enforce income-based tax policies
“Establish mechanisms to recover the country’s stolen assets and proceeds of 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
