News
SLPP Chairman finds fault with NFF for taking ‘internal issues’ before the public
…emphasises miracle created by Basil
By Shamindra Ferdinando
SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday questioned the rationale in National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa taking up ‘internal issues’ publicly in spite of the coalition having a specific mechanism to address any contentious matter.
Addressing the media at the Waters’ Edge, Prof. Peiris explained how SLPP constituents over a period of two weeks discussed Sri Lanka’s response to accountability accusations at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
The SLPP Chairman, who is also the Education Minister emphasized that matters of concern could have been amicably settled within the coalition without causing a public uproar.
Prof. Peiris said that the ruling coalition wanted to set the record straight as regards recent developments. The comments were his first since Weerawansa with the backing of several other lawmakers, including cabinet ministers successfully challenged the move to involve India in the East Container Terminal (ECT) before calling for the inclusion of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the SLPP’s decision-making hierarchy. Weerawansa called for a formal political role for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Referring to the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) as weak, Prof. Peiris stressed the need to avoid reckless actions which might confuse the public, especially those who voted for the party at the 2019 and 2020 presidential and parliamentary polls, respectively. That would be advantageous to the bankrupt Opposition, Prof. Peiris said, underscoring the importance of being mindful of political realities.
At the onset of the briefing, Prof. Peiris said internal disagreements weren’t something new in coalition politics. The formation of the SLPP, too, hadn’t been an easy task against the backdrop of the 2015 defeat at the presidential election, Prof. Peiris said, urging all stakeholders to be mindful of the challenges, obstacles faced in the run-up to receiving recognition of the party in late 2016.
Prof. Peiris paid a glowing tribute to the role played by former SLFP National Organizer and ex-minister Basil Rajapaksa in the launch of the new party (re-registering under a new name) at a time a section of those in their camp asserted that there was no requirement for a new party. Prof. Peiris said that though they declared the then Joint Opposition was sufficient for their project, Basil Rajapaksa quite rightly formed the party. The SLPP founder believed that they required new space and was determined to bring the project to fruition and in less than one and half years, the SLPP convincingly won the Feb 2018 Local Government polls. Again underscoring Basil Rajapaksa’s role, Prof. Peiris said that securing 71 per cent of LG councils at that poll was nothing but a miracle for a new party.
There had been no previous instance of a ruling party losing LG poll in Sri Lanka, the SLPP Chairman said.
Prof. Peiris said there had been very difficult negotiations among the constituents in the run-up to the 2020 general election as regards the nominations. However, they were able to settle the issue amicably, Minister Peiris said, citing the 20th Amendment to the Constitution as another contentious matter successfully addressed through talks.
Referring to the recent issues, Prof. Peiris said that those involved were experienced in politics and could respond to situations, prudently.
Commenting on the collective responsibility of members of the cabinet, Prof. Peiris said that once the cabinet finalized a decision on any given matter, there couldn’t be a public debate over such issues under any circumstances. Such a scenario would be detrimental to the government and the country, the SLPP Chairman said, warning of a catastrophe if members of the cabinet violated the basic rules. Prof. Peiris warned of the disastrous impact on the government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and irreparable damage to foreign policy especially in the run up to the Geneva sessions next week.
One-time External Affairs Minister Prof. Peiris said that as Sri Lanka was on the Geneva agenda, SLPP constituents were discussing their response. The Minister said that they were in the process of reaching consensus on Geneva response. According to the Minister, both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa had been involved in those deliberations.
Responding to a media query, Minister Peiris said that the government would provide a copy of the PCoI report on the Easter Sunday attacks to Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. The Minister emphasized that there was no need for international intervention in the matter. The Minister pointed out that the Cardinal appeared before the PCoI as he had faith in the inquiry therefore the media shouldn’t undermine the process by raising issues they didn’t do during the previous yahapalana administration.
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
