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SLPP dissidents ask AG if Adani Group represents govt. of India
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The rebel SLPP group has demanded to know whether Adani Green Energy Ltd., represents the government of India.It has raised this question in the wake of Sri Lanka declaring its intention to consider the proposed construction of two wind and solar power parks in Mannar (286 Megawatt) and Pooneryn (234 megawatt) in terms of Government to Government basis as required by Section 43(4)(c) (1) of the Electricity Act No 20 of 2009.
Prof. Charitha Herath discussed the issues at his weekly media briefing held at the Nawala Office of Nidahasa Janatha Sabhawa on Tuesday (29). The group consists of 12 MPs, including former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and ex-Power and Energy Minister Dullas Alahapperuma.
The one-time Media Ministry Secretary alleged that Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera had sought cabinet approval to categorise the Indian conglomerate as a government entity to circumvent the Electricity Act.
Prof. Herath said that Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam’s opinion on this contentious issue should be obtained without further delay. The AG should clarify the status of the government-to-government agreements and say whether Adani projects could be categorised under them, he said.
Having briefly dealt with Indo-Lanka relations over the past couple of decades, including the direct intervention here that led to the 1987 accord, he explained how the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government advanced ousted
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s project with Adani group finalised in March 2022.
Prof. Herath recalled the then CEB Chairman M. M. C. Ferdinando’s disclosure regarding Indian PM Modi pressing President Rajapaksa on the proposed Adani projects and the circumstances the official retracted those remarks made at a meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). Lawmaker Herath urged the media to reexamine that episode against the backdrop of President Wickremesinghe building on Rajapaksa-Adani agreement.
The academic said that the issues should be apprised taking into consideration the agreements India and Sri Lanka entered into during President Wickremesinghe’s two-day visit to New Delhi last month. Minister Wijesekera was a member of the government delegation.
MP Herath said that another matter of grave concern is the move to deviate from the Electricity Act in respect of the proposed establishment of a Kilinochchi-Habarana 400 kv backbone transmission line. Although the private sector had been allowed to engage in electricity generation, the CEB remained the only transmission licensee, Prof. Herath pointed out, adding that the government justified the Adani investment amounting to USD 135 mn on the basis of its inability to make available required funding for the project.
According to the relevant Cabinet paper dated Aug. 14, 2023 seen by The Island, the total cost of the on-grid renewable energy development project is USD 442 mn and restricted to wind power for want of free land for solar power projects. Contrary to the Electricity Act, the cabinet paper directed that the CEB to seek proposal in this regard specifically from the Adani group.
Prof. Herath questioned whether the government carried out New Delhi’s dictates regardless of consequences. How one conglomerate could be granted special status at the expense of the law of the land? the first time entrant to parliament asked.
At the onset of the briefing, Prof. Herath appreciated the stand taken by the Catholic Church on the controversial proposal to establish a bridge between Sri Lanka and India. Referring to Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith’s declaration that such a move should be subject to a referendum, the MP said that the consequences could be quite catastrophic and irreversible.
Prof. Herath compared the Colombo Port City with the proposed bridge-building project while stressing that the incumbent President chosen by parliament to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five year term couldn’t take such far reaching decisions. The MP said that the then government revised the Administrative District Act No 22 of 1955 to bring the reclaimed land under the Colombo district. Prof. Herath asked constitutional experts to examine whether Sri Lanka’s boundaries could be changed as the President desired.
Acknowledging that the SJB and JJB (Jathika Jana Balawegaya) had declared Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake as their respective candidates, Prof. Herath stressed the responsibility on their part to adopt a common strategy. Responding to queries, MP Herath pointed out how the entire Opposition regardless of differences backed Maithripala Sirisena at the 2015 presidential poll to bring Mahinda Rajapaksa’s reign to an end.
Declaring that Wickremesinghe social market economic policies had failed and certainly didn’t have the slightest chance to succeed in current environment, Prof. Herath said that foreign policy pursued by President Wickremesinghe could cause an unprecedented crisis against the backdrop of China and India seeking favoured status here.
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
