News
SJB collects signatures for no-faith motion against Rambukwella
By Saman Indrajith
The SJB yesterday commenced collecting signatures for a no-confidence motion against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa announced to the House that his party had decided to move a no confidence motion against Health Minister Rambukwella and invited others to support it.
Premadasa commenced the signing of the motion at his office where the SJB seniors including Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Lakshman Kiriella, Kumara Welgama, Chandima Weerakkody and other SJB MPs placed their signatures on the motion.
Opposition leader Premadasa after signing the motion informed Parliament that caesarian operations in the Kalutara Nagoda Teaching Hospital had been suspended as the hospital did not have anaesthetics.
“Is this situation a result of lack of funds or due to inefficiency of the government? This would place the lives of expectant mothers in danger. What is the solution for this? I call on the government to provide facilities to enable the Kalutara hospital to conduct caesarian surgeries?” Premadasa said.
State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya: The Finance Ministry has given priority to health expenditure. We do everything possible to purchase medicines.
JVP-led NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake: The health sector has collapsed. There are no medicines in hospitals. The Health Minister says that this is a normal situation. It seems that he has no idea of the true situation prevailing in the country’s hospitals.
Kalutara District SJB MP Dr Rajitha Senaratne: Caesarian operations have been halted not only in the Kalutara hospital but in many other hospitals as well. This is the situation prevailing in this country today. We became a country that eradicated malaria, measles and filaria and three other epidemics. Of these six epidemics malaria, measles and filaria have come up again. There are reports from countrywide of patients afflicted with those diseases. The government talks of building an economy. To build an economy people should first be able to have meals. When we ask, the Treasury says there is no shortage of funds. If this situation continues, the MPs would no longer be able to go to their electorates. Health is nothing but the lives of people. The government must get its act together immediately.
NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa: We must be more sensitive to the situation prevailing in the government hospitals. Electricity supply has been disconnected to some hospitals for not paying their bills. If the public sector health service collapses, that will benefit private hospitals.
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.
