News
Scandals and corruption allegations rock nation as people struggle to survive in pandemic economy facing multiple challenges
Transparency International Sri Lanka launches ApeSalli.lk to report fraud
Amid allegations of increasing corruption in the country, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has launched an online platform named ApeSalli.lk for citizens to report instances of corruption to the anti-corruption body in order to redirect them for legal redress.
TISL said the website provides users an opportunity to track corruption related incidents in specific locations of the country as well as to obtain statistics on corruption-related incidents reported to Apesalli.lk.
“Here in Sri Lanka, there have been numerous scandals and corruption allegations that rocked the nation in 2021 as the people of the country struggled to survive in a pandemic economy facing multiple challenges such as the loss of income opportunities and the hike in cost of living,” TISL said in a statement.
“It is in this backdrop that TISL marks International Anti-Corruption Day (December 09). TISL has chosen “Ape salli” or “our money” as our central theme this year, in a bid to highlight corruption in the form of abuse of power and misuse of public resources, which belong to the citizens of the nation.”
The move comes as what analysts say is a drop in public confidence government probes into corruption allegations, particularly corrupt past deals including misuse of power and public resources.
Sri Lanka’s ranking has deteriorated in the global corruption index compiled by Transparency International in the last three years. The island nation’s rank went down to 94 last year from 89 in 2018.
“There have been many developments that took place this year that are extremely concerning,” said TISL’s Executive Director Nadishani Perera in her message to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.
“The controversial tax amnesty granted earlier this year, the hastily passed Colombo Port City Economic Commission bill, multiple alleged corruption scandals related to sugar, fertilizer and other necessities, are but a few of the worrying developments that took place this year.”
Sri Lanka has seen dozens of public officials including key ministers in the present government who faced legal battles over misuse of power and public resources being acquitted from their cases.
Though some government critics have said many of such acquitted officials are either in or close to the ruling SLPP, the government has denied the charge and said it has never meddled with the judicial process.
Ruling SLPP members also have said most of the allegations against their members and allies are fabricated by the previous government.
“Apesalli.lk provides a unique platform for the citizens to report incidents of corruption to TISL. Following a thorough verification process, TISL will also be able to advise the complainants on seeking legal redress and to take steps to file complaints directly with the authorities where possible,” it said.
“Citizens who have experienced or observed corruption in their day to day lives are also given a platform to write and share their stories, gain public’s attention and create a public discourse on corruption.”
Apesalli.lk will also facilitate reporting on election violations including misuse of state resources and other violations of election laws during campaigning periods, TISL 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
