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SJB, TNA, JVP insist they didn’t ask for vehicles: Speaker’s Office silent
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The controversy over the Finance Ministry submitting a Cabinet paper for purchasing 228 Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs for members of Parliament has taken a new turn with the SJB, the TNA and the JVP/JJB denying that they ever asked for SUVs or any other vehicles.
SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran and JJB National List MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday (16) told The Island that their parties, or individual members, had not requested vehicles from the Finance Ministry or the Office of the Speaker. The SJB parliamentary group consists of 54 MPs, including seven National List members; the TNA and the JJB comprise 10 and three lawmakers, respectively.
When The Island sought an explanation from the SJB, the TNA and the JJB yesterday, lawmakers, de Silva, Sumanthiran, PC, and Amarasuriya emphasized that their parties or individual members had never requested vehicles, in writing or verbally.
Sumanthiran said that they had not been aware that vehicles had been ordered for MPs until the media reported the issue.
Former JVP MP Sunil Handunetti in conversation with ‘Sirasa Pathikada Presenter Asoka Dias yesterday alleged that SUVs had been ordered for lawmakers, in appreciation for their vote for the controversial Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill (CPCECB) enacted in May. Altogether 149 members voted for the bill and 58 against.
One-time Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Handunetti said that the SLPP was the major beneficiary of the move. Among the beneficiaries are former Presidents, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena, both elected members of the SLPP.
The SJB, the TNA and the JJB voted against the Bill though several SJM members representing the SJB, SLMC and ACMC voted with the government. The Island asked JVPer Handunetti for an explanation why SUVs had been ordered for those who voted against the bill. The former lawmaker said that the decision to place the order hadn’t been taken in parliament. The government ordered SUVs for all MPs as SLPP members alone couldn’t have been offered the perk, Handunetti said, pointing out that the Finance Ministry submitted the original cabinet paper for SUVs in the wake of the passage of the CPCECB. It was cancelled the following week, Handunetti said. Responding to another query, the former MP pointed out that the government owed an explanation if 225 vehicles had been ordered for MPs who were the intended recipients of the three remaining Toyota Land Cruisers.
The government felt the need to appease its 145 member parliamentary group regardless of rapidly deteriorating economic situation, Handunetti said.
Finance, Capital Markets and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal yesterday told The Island that proper protocols had been followed when the government placed the original order for vehicles. The former Governor of the Central Bank said so when we asked him whether the Finance Ministry had received requests from political parties or individual members for SUVs or Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena made a request on behalf of all political parties.
Handunetti emphasised that the real issue was not the circumstances under which the government put on hold or cancelled the SUV order but why Letters of Credit were opened for SUVs in the first place.
SJB MP Mujibur Rahman told The Island that foolish strategies adopted by the SLPP worthies should now be examined against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila’s shocking declaration that the country lacked financial resources even to pay for its fuel. The SLPP has proved that it was not fit to govern the country under any circumstances, the former UNPer said, urging the government to take the public into confidence. “Tell people the truth. The rapidly developing crisis cannot be suppressed by the SLPP parliamentary group staging silly dramas,” MP Rahman said.
The Island
sought an explanation from Colombo District SLPP lawmaker Madhura Withanage yesterday how he ended up in the list of those entitled for SUVs as he had personally assured President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the run-up to the last general election in last August he wouldn’t take a duty free vehicle under any circumstances. MP Withanage said that he still remained committed to the assurance given publicly. The first time entrant to parliament said that he didn’t ask for a government vehicle. The MP recalled the funds received for a vehicle at the time he served as Kotte Mayor were utilized to acquire several vehicles for the health sector.
Civil society activist and attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodituwakku said that all political parties represented in parliament should take the responsibility for brazen abuse of parliamentary privileges. Former senior Customs officer Kodituwakku said that he hadn’t been successful in preventing massive concessions at the expense of the Treasury though he lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and subsequently moved the Supreme Court.
Examination of court proceedings would reveal how the Treasury had been deprived of billions of rupees by way of duty free concessions to MPs over the years, the lawyer said, emphasizing that every government installed after 1977 should accept responsibility for the situation. The Treasury lost billions of rupees as members were allowed to sell duty free vehicles to those who could have afforded to pay duties/taxes, Kodituwakku, who gave up his British nationality to contest the last presidential election, said. However, he couldn’t join the fray as he couldn’t meet the stipulated condition to receive the backing of a registered political party.
The Island didn’t receive answers from the Speaker’s Office to the following questions submitted yesterday morning:
(i) Did Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene, in writing request Finance Ministry to place an order for SUVs for all MPs
(ii) Did he receive requests for the same from political parties and individual members and (iii)Did Speaker on his own requested Finance Ministry to order SUVs for all MPs.
In addition to the SLPP, the SJB, the TNA and the JJB, the parliament is represented by 11 other political parties. Of them, the Ahila Illangai Tamil Congress (AITC) and the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) have two members each in parliament. Other parties have one seat each.
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
