News
SJB alleges bid to derail election process on privilege issue affront to entire electorate
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) Colombo Mayoral candidate Mujibur Rahuman says the second stage of a high profile project to postpone the scheduled Local Government polls is underway.The former Colombo District lawmaker said so when The Island sought his response to the SLPP challenging an interim Supreme Court decision, pertaining to a fundamental rights petition, filed by SJB General Secretary, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, MP.
“Obviously, the government didn’t expect the Supreme Court to clear the obstacles for the conducting of the mini polls which many consider as a referendum on the government,” Rahuman said.
Declaration made by SLPP Colombo District MP and Attorney-at-Law Premanath Dolawatte that the SC interfered with the legislature, and the subsequent State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe’s appeal to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to disregard the apex court’s ruling, meant President Ranil Wickremesinghe was determined to sabotage the planned polls, he alleged.
Dolawatte, who has publicly declared that he was the lawyer of the Rajapaksa family questioned the intervention made by the Supreme Court.Close on the heels of the court declaration that funds allocated for the Election Commission shouldn’t be withheld, the EC’s Chairman and Attorney-at-Law, Nimal Punchihewa, last week re-scheduled the polls for April 25, 2023. The poll was to be originally conducted on March 09.
UNP leader Wickremesinghe and the SLPP had resorted to an extremely dangerous strategy, Rahuman said, speculating that Wickremesinghe was trying to exploit parliamentary privileges to thwart the Supreme Court.
“I have no doubt Dolawatte raised the so-called privilege issue, at the behest of President Wickremesinghe, who is obviously the government group leader. State Minister Shehan Semasinghe, too, acted in line with Wickremesinghe’s overall strategy,” Rahuman alleged.
The executive and the SLPP were threatening the very existence of the legislature, the former UNPer alleged, claiming that the government seemed to have decided to ignore the interim directive given by the SC.
Responding to another query, the top SJB spokesperson said that MP Dolawatte, who complained of violation of his parliamentary privileges, shouldn’t forget that his government brazenly abused the right of millions of voters. Perhaps the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) should inquire into this development, as the lawmaker concerned is a lawyer, Rahuman said.
The ex-MP pointed out that the BASL strongly condemned both lawmakers, Semasinghe and Dolawatte, for interfering in the judicial process, thereby undermining the independence of the judiciary.
Referring to statements issued by Dolawatte and Semasinghe on March 07 and 10, respectively, the BASL declared any attempt to interfere with the independence of the judiciary would be viewed as a serious affront to the rule of law, and the rights of the people. Such affronts to the independence of the judiciary would compromise the ability of the court to do justice, according to the law, irrespective of the parties, the BASL stated.
State Minister Semasinghe told The Island yesterday that he stood by the position taken on March 10. The lawmaker rejected Opposition accusations that the government was trying to cause a major rift between the legislature and judiciary. MP Dolawatte couldn’t be contacted as his hand phone was switched off.
Former parliamentarian Rahuman alleged that the Rajapaksas and Wickremesinghe were trying to overwhelm the judiciary. If they succeeded in withholding funds, allocated for the Election Commission, in this instance, regardless of the interventions made by the judiciary, the same strategy would be repeated at the next presidential and parliamentary elections, as well.
The leading SJB candidate, in Colombo, compared the ousting of Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranaike,by the Rajapaksas, in January 2013, after the Oarliament impeached her, and the ongoing tussle between the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government, and the judiciary.
“We would like to know Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse’s opinion on the latest developments,” the ex-MP 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
