News
SL workers to be given military training in Israel – Hakeem
Govt. denies claim as baseless
by Saman Indrajith
SLMC leader and SJB Kandy District MP Rauff Hakeem told Parliament on Saturday that Sri Lankan expatriate workers planning to go to Israel were to be given military training in that country.
Hakeem said numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity had taken place in and around Gaza. “Israel is surrounded by Arab countries where hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans are working. We must reject Israel’s offer. This is a very sensitive matter. There is a plan to give military training to expatriate workers in Israel. They are to be given guns even if they work there as caregivers. These expatriate workers are to fill the vacancies created by the workers who have left due to war.
There is a five-day ceasefire, but war will resume. Sri Lankan workers are to be employed as farmers in areas grabbed by Israel from the Palestinians in Gaza. Several envoys from the Arabic countries have raised this question with me. Presidents of South Africa and Brazil have come close to severing diplomatic ties with Israel. It is not wise to send our people to Israel at a time when other countries are planning to suspend ties with that country. We should not be opportunistic. Please, reconsider the decision to send Lankans there and think of the consequences of them getting weapons training. There could be unintended consequences.
“We extend our condolences to the family members of two Lankan expatriate workers who were killed in the war. If such incidents recur then that could lead to disharmony among communities here. Please reconsider this decision at this time,” Hakeem said.
SLPP Polonnaruwa District MP Jagath Samarawickrama said those who were happy when the doctors left this country were now shedding tears for the Sri Lanka Lankans to be sent to Israel. “This is an opportunity that we must grab. I condemn this attempt to prevent us from using that opportunity,” the MP said.
Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said that there was no truth in the allegation by MP Hakeem. He said that Sri Lanka had got an opportunity to send 10,000 workers to Israel.
“No military training is provided for Sri Lankan expatriates. Making false allegations will affect Sri Lanka’s bilateral relationship with Israel. Allow the Sri Lankan government to maintain ties with Israel in line with its non-aligned foreign policy. We have condemned the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7 and military strikes carried out by Israel on Palestine since then. One should not make irresponsible statements and disturb diplomatic relations,” the Minister said.
He also denied allegations that Sri Lankans would be sent to war-torn areas and their lives would be in danger. The Minister said no employee would be sent to areas captured by Israel. He said all employees would be sent to areas that are not affected by the war.
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
