News
Sea Consortium Lanka probed X-Press Pearl incident
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing Sri Lanka’s worst ever maritime ecological disaster has recorded the statements from three top management level employees of Sea Consortium Lanka, the local agent of the ill-fated X-Press Pearl, owned by X-Press Feeders.
They have been questioned on their failure to alert the relevant local authorities as regards the chemical leak on the vessel, in spite of being informed by Tyutkalo Vitaly, the Russian Captain of the vessel, well over a week before X-Press Pearl entered Sri Lankan waters. Investigations have revealed that the e-mails sent by the Russian, informing the local agent of the developments onboard the vessel, had been deleted.
Sea Consortium Lanka, a Board of Investment (BoI), registered venture is the Sri Lankan extension of X-Press Feeders. The Sea Consortium is part of the Setmil Group of Companies.
Police spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana, who is also the senior officer in charge of its Legal Division, told The Island that they were among 32 persons, including members of the crew, questioned by the CID.
DIG Rohana said that the questioning of Sea Consortium Lanka personnel was continuing. Police headquarters didn’t release names of those so far questioned by the CID.
Both Chairman of the SLPA, retired General Daya Ratnayake, and Director General of Merchant Shipping, Ajith Seneviratne, yesterday told The Island that they were aware of the ongoing police investigation into the alleged failure on the part of the local agent. Asked whether, in his capacity as DG, Merchant Shipping, Seneviratne had taken action in respect of the local agent, the top official said that they had not reached that stage. Seneviratne said that investigations were continuing.
DG, Merchant Shipping is the authority for issuing licences to local agents on the recommendation of ship owners.
DIG Rohana said that the Government Analyst’s Department had informed the CID that it needed the assistance of the manufacturer of the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) of the vessel to read its data.
According to information provided to the court by Deputy Solicitor General Madhava Tennakoon, emails from the captain to X-Press Feeders’ local agent Sea Consortium had been deleted by the latter.
The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has moved the Supreme Court against the Sea Consortium Lanka as well as operators of the vessel, X-Press Feeders. CEJ and three others, including its Executive Director Withanage Don Hemantha Ranjith Sisira Kumara have, in a fundamental rights application filed in terms of Articles 17 and 126 of the Constitution, in respect of the X-Press Pearl affair, named X-Press Feeders and its local agent Sea Consortium Lanka as 11th and 12th respondents. They were among 13 respondents, including the Attorney General.
The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl sank on June 2, 9.5 nautical miles North West of Colombo port, the day after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa directed that it be towed to deeper seas. Shipping sources told The Island that the vessel had gone down where it had been since May 19 after entering Sri Lankan waters.
International news agencies reported that ports in Qatar and India had declined to offload the leaking acid container loaded in Jebel Ali, Dubai.
Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena didn’t answer his mobile phone.
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
