News
SJB plans major campaign over dismissal of cases by AG and CIABOC
Rahuman alleges manipulation at the highest levels
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) would respond to the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) request for information pertaining to the withdrawal indictments and/or court proceedings filed by the outfit or filed for/and on behalf of it since the last presidential election in Nov 2019, a senior official said.
In terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in Oct 2020, the appointments to the CIABOC are made by the President.
Secretary to the CIABOC Apsara Caldera said so when The Island asked her whether the commission would reveal information sought by the SJB in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The Commissioners would decide on the SJB’s request, Caldera said, adding that an application was received on Monday (8).
The CIABOC comprises retired Supreme Court justice Eva Wanasundera (Chairperson), retired Court of Appeal justice Deepali Wijesundera and one-time head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) DIG Chandra Nimal Wakista.
Colombo District lawmaker Mujibur Rahuman who made the application on behalf of the SJB told The Island that according to the available information the CIABOC alone had
terminated about 45 cases on so called technical grounds. Addressing the media outside the CIABOC, Rahuman questioned the rationale in the CIABOC actions at a time the government was propagating ‘One Country, One Law’ concept. MP Rahuman was flanked by colleagues, J.C. Alawathuwala and Harshana Rajakaruna.
The SJB last week, also in terms of the RTI law sought similar information from the Attorney General. The SJB has submitted the following questions to the CIABOC:
1. How many indictments and/or court proceedings filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption or filed for/and on behalf of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption have been withdrawn after the 19th of November 2019?
2. What are the names of the accused parties in the indictments and/or court proceedings that have been withdrawn by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption or withdrawn for/and on behalf of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption after the 19th of November 2019?
3. What are the case numbers of the cases that have been withdrawn by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption or withdrawn for/and on behalf of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption after the 19th of November 2019?
4. On what dates have the indictments and/or court proceedings filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption or filed for/and on behalf of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption after the 19th of November 2019 been withdrawn?
Lawmaker Rahuman said that once they obtained required information from the AG and the CIABOC a detailed study would be done. “We intend to give widest possible coverage to the AG and the CIABOC actions. Altogether over 50 cases have been dismissed on technical grounds. Interestingly all of them happened to be either members of the incumbent administration or those close to the powers that be,” MP Rahuman said.
Responding to another query, MP Rahuman said that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) should state its stand on the dismissal of high profile cases on unexplained technical grounds. Political interference in the judiciary would erode public confidence in the system, the former UNP lawmaker said, underscoring the importance of the executive, the legislature and the judiciary working in unison to ensure public confidence in the legal system. MP Rahuman said that right thinking people couldn’t remain silent over the matter. The whole law enforcement process would be a joke if political parties were allowed to manipulate legal procedures at will, MP Rahuman said, the country never experienced a similar situation before. “We expect the BASL to reveal its stand on this matter,” the 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
