News
Scrap bogus ‘national council’ – MP Kumarasiri
By Saman Indrajith
The government was trying to mislead Sri Lankans and the international community by setting up a ‘national council’ that did not have the support of most political parties, independent MP Sarath Kumarasiri told the media yesterday.Kumarasiri added that they had asked former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to establish a genuine all-party government and a national council five months ago to get the country out of trouble.
“We told him on 19 April that the people were angry because the economic situation was deteriorating. Not only us but also 11 political parties including Wimal Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front (NFF) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) called for an all-party government. We told Gotabaya to ask then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign and start discussions with all political parties in Parliament. We even tried to meet Mahinda but his henchmen did not allow us to meet him. Because Gotabaya and Mahinda didn’t listen to us, they lost popularity and power and ultimately allowed Ranil Wickremesinghe to establish an illegitimate government,” Kumarasiri said.
Kumarasiri said Wickremesinghe had no power and that he was dependent on the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to remain in power. Ever since Wickremesinghe came into power he had been unsuccessfully trying to establish an all-party government, the MP said.
“The Opposition doesn’t want to join the council because the government is not sincere about uniting everyone. Most Sri Lankans understand this. The government MPs still can’t go and work among the people. Now Wickremesinghe is trying to set up a phony national council to convince the world and at least some Sri Lankans that he has the support of all parties in parliament,” Kumarasiri said.
“The government needs to secure IMF funding and carry out a painful and complex debt restructuring process. The IMF and some bilateral creditors have asked for political stability and have commented that the Wickremesinghe government might not have the support of the people for IMF reforms. On the other hand, the UNHRC has alleged that serious economic crimes have taken place in the country and has demanded the government to look into this.
“These are serious problems for the government. Can it carry out reforms without being transparent and the support of all parties? Can it punish the economic hitmen that have destroyed the country? If you look at how the government has responded to the opposition’s demands to table the framework or agreement with the IMF, it’s obvious that they have no desire to be transparent and open, even now. However, Sri Lankans and the international community, including China, want transparency. Instead of being honest, the government is trying to mislead everyone by setting up a bogus ‘national council.”
Kumarasiri said the government must stop manipulating the people and make genuine moves to address the concerns of the people. The President is the hostage of the SLPP and the MPs who back him lack popular support.
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
