News
SJB on right track, UNP invitations irrelevant – MPs
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Gampaha District SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna yesterday (21) said that he was confident that no one would accept the oft-repeated UNP’s invitation to join that party in the run-up to presidential poll.
Lawmaker Rajakaruna was responding to UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara’s latest invitation to the SJB parliamentary group.
Declaring that the UNP was making a futile effort to entice Opposition MPs to join unholy Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa alliance, MP Rajakaruna asked who would want to accept UNP membership at a time once great party had been reduced to just one National List MP.
MP Rajakaruna said that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe couldn’t absolve himself of the responsibility of the party’s plight though he enjoyed the perks and privileges of the executive courtesy the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). That is the ugly truth the UNP refused to accept, MP Rajakaruna said.
The SJB secured 54 including seven National List slots at the last parliamentary election conducted in Aug 2020.
Responding to The Island queries, MP Rajakaruna said that the UNP now realized that the beleaguered Wickremesinghe couldn’t win over the SJB parliamentary group though he enjoyed executive powers. “The UNP leader is in a way a prisoner of the SLPP,” MP Rajakaruna said, warning the UNP’s support base couldn’t be re-build as long as the UNP-SLPP partnership remains.
Former minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, MP, told The Island that the electorate wouldn’t be fooled by the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB)/Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) strategies nor grand declarations made by the UNP.
SJB National List MP Markar dismissed much touted JJB/JVP promises to overcome the economic challenges and develop the country as just propaganda meant to deceive the gullible public. Referring to recent statements made by JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva, MP Markar said that they still obviously believed in old-socialist strategies that had been even given up by Russia, China and Vietnam.
The former UNP Minister stressed that there was no alternative to the main Opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa, MP.
Responding to queries, MP Markar said that the SJB could begin turning around the national economy after winning the presidential election later this year. “We are quite confident that the electorate would rally around our party as they realized President Wickremesinghe lacked genuine support in parliament,” MP Markar said, pointing out the SLPP used the UNP leader to break the momentum of the violent public protest campaign in 2022.
That was a political move, MP Markar declared, pointing out Wickremesinghe would find it difficult to break free from that unholy alliance and there couldn’t be any sort of rapprochement with the supporters as long as he cohabited with the SLPP.
MP Markar said that he didn’t want to underestimate any party. However, the SLPP, in spite of having the largest parliamentary group, seemed to be in such a deteriorated situation fielding a candidate of its own at the forthcoming presidential election seemed unrealistic.
The former minister said that contrary to various statements made by different UNP spokespersons, the SJB hadn’t so far officially received an invitation from the UNP to join that party. Had that happened the party would have taken up the issue at the Working Committee or the Management Committee, MP Markar said, adding that interested parties were bent on destroying political parties.
Referring to the continuing turmoil in the SLFP with those exercising ministerial powers seeking to take over that party and the developing crisis in the ruling SLPP, MP Markar said that their parliamentary group withstood various pressures as attempts were made to cause rifts among the members.
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
