News
SLPP MP alleges threats from Defence Secretary and Army Chief

Galle District SLPP dissident MP Chandima Weerakkodi told Parliament on Friday that he had been threatened by the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander on Thursday (5) inside parliamentary premises after his speech on the abuse of vehicles by high-ranking officers of the army.
Raising a privilege issue, the MP said: “The Secretary of Defense and the Commander of the Army gave threatening responses before the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security regarding a statement I made about the use of vehicles by high-ranking officers of the army. The Defence Secretary behaved like a bully in the committee and in the parliament.
“I asked him whether he was threatening me and he said yes. The Defence Secretary of the Army Commander continued to threaten me. This incident violated my MP privileges.
The fact that the army should be reduced in this country was discussed in the parliamentary committee. I said there that instead of reducing the number of soldiers, the unnecessary waste of the higher officials should be cut. Even ministers do not waste unnecessarily now. We give that respect.
“But I am talking about the activities of the army officers including the Defence Secretary. We know the situation our country is in. People have no food. People have no way to live. Many people who have retired from the army do not get their pension. But it is surprising to see the way the army commander is the defense secretary. As I speak here, a sum of Rs 80 million are spent to build the garden at the official residence of the Army Commander.
We should put an end to this waste. The Defense Secretary is on the board of the Civil Aviation Authority. Before he goes there, a group of fifteen people from security forces has to come and check the premises. When I spoke against these wastes, I was threatened inside the Parliament premises.
Anyone who goes to the Independence Square for exercises in the morning can see the Secretary of Defence too come for his morning walk. Two soldiers lead him with sniffing dogs. After the Defence secretary goes a jeep followed by another vehicle. Whose money are they wasting in this manner? People blame only the 225 MPs here. The Defence Secretary once visited the Baddegama temple recently. Before his arrival around 100 security force members came to the temple and checked the premises. It is we who vote for allocating defence expenses and now we see that those funds are wasted. This is one reason why this country went bankrupt.
We have an utmost respect for the war heroes who saved our nation from terrorism. But there are some corrupt officers who ruin their reputation. What is the predicament of a normal person if an MP is being threatened by these bullies inside parliament?
JVP led NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the matter raised by MP Weerakkody was very serious and asked the Chair to scrutinize the video footage of the CCTV camera in the area where the MP was allegedly threatened.Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse said the matter would be referred to the Privileges Committee.
News
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development

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.”
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Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees

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.
News
CIPM successfully concludes 8th Annual Symposium

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.