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SC in split decision clears way for Dhammika Perera as NL MP
By Chitra Weerarathne
The Supreme Court yesterday refused leave to proceed with all five fundamental rights violation petitions against the selection of Dhammika Perera to be appointed a National List Member of Parliament of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.
Notice on Sagara Kariyawasam, the General Secretary of the SLPP was also refused.
The decision was given by a divided bench.
The petitioners included the Centre for Policy Alternatives and a few others.
The bench comprised Justice Priyantha Jayawardene, Justice Yassantha Kodagoda and Justice Arjuna Obeysekera.
President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana appeared for Sagara Kariyawasam, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. He said that 6.8 million people had voted for the SLPP at the General Election of 2020. But not a single one had protested against the selection of Dhammika Perera as a National List MP to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Basil Rajapaksa. Sovereignty is in the people including the right to franchise and the power of government. General Sarath Fonseka had been appointed a UNP MP via the National List although he had contested from a different party.
Sagara Kariyawsam is a respondent in the petition filed by the Centre for Policy Alternative against the selection of Dhammika Perera to be appointed as a National List MP.
Even Basil Rajapaksa was not in the Original National List. He was picked to be appointed from that list subsequently, the Counsel Marapana pointed out.
The Counsel said the SLPP had received 59.5 percent of the total votes polled at the general election of August 2020.
The petition did not qualify for interim relief, the Counsel argued.
Sagara Kariyawasam, wanted to bring in someone experienced in economic affairs. Hence, he had selected Dhammika Perera, the Counsel added, maintaining that the petition had no merit.
President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appeared for Dhammika Perera.
Romesh de Silva PC, said that the appointment of Dhammika Perera, cannot violate the fundamental rights of the petitioner.
According to Section 64/5 when a seat in Parliament falls vacant the Secretary of the party contacts the Commissioner of Elections to elect, a suggested suitable person, Counsel said.
Counsel said that the Supreme Court cannot interfere with Parliament. The Speaker only does the swearing in of Members of Parliament.
In our democracy, we vote for the party. After that the party picks the Members of Parliament, depending on the voting pattern, the Counsel for Dhammika Perera said. The party picks the members after considering the preferential votes, he said. Article 9 (a) dealt with 196 elected Members. Article 99/A dealt with the other 29 National List MPs, he said.
All vacancies were filled in keeping with Section 5 of the Parliamentary Elections Act. When the names in the nomination papers are exhausted and if a vacancy occurs the party secretary concerned had the discretion to recommend a suitable candidate to the Commissioner of Elections, the Counsel argued.
Deputy Solicitor General Kanishka de Silva appeared for the Attorney General.
The DSG said that Article 99/A of the Constitution provided for the filling of the vacancy after a general election.
Article 64/1/4 deals with the filling of vacancies of elected members when there is a vacancy in Parliament, the Commissioner of Elections must contact the Secretary of the Party. The respondents in the petition had acted in compliance with the law, the DSG 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
