News
Speaker calls for release of information about Monetary Board proceedings
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has recommended the release of information about the Monetary Board proceedings to restore public confidence in the handling of public finance. He has made this recommendation in a letter dated 08 June to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Referring to the recent shocking disclosure of politically-motivated decisions taken by the five-member Monetary Board chaired by the then Governor of the Central Bank Prof. W.D. Lakshman (Dec 2019-Sept 2021) and his successor Ajith Nivard Cabraal (Sept 2021-March 2022), Speaker Abeywardena has said that the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) raised concerns over the conduct of the Monetary Board.
Calling for the release of detailed minutes of the Economic Council, too, Speaker Abeywardena has emphasised that public scrutiny will compel both politicians and officials to act responsibly. He has suggested that arrangements be made to telecast the meetings on economic matters.
The COPE recently questioned current members of the Monetary Board, Sanjiva Jayawardena, PC and Dr. Ranee Jayamaha as regards the conduct of the apex body during the tenures of Prof. Lakshman and Cabraal. Jayawardena and Jayamaha alleged that Prof. Lakshman, the then Finance Secretary S.R. Attygalle and member Samantha Kumarasinghe had pursued a strategy inimical to the monetary policy. They were accused of turning a deaf year to call for an immediate IMF intervention and also fixing the rupee at 203 at the expense of precious foreign reserves.
COPE members, Patali Champika Ranawaka and Dr. Harsha de Silva asked Jayawardena and Jayamaha to produce documentary evidence to prove their version of the story. The lawmakers emphasised that they couldn’t absolve themselves of their responsibility by blaming some members of the Monetary Board.
The Speaker has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the wake of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe squarely finding fault with the economic management team for the current financial mess. Speaker Abeywickrema has stressed that the disclosure of discussions like in many other countries should be of high priority.
Speaker Abeywardena has said that the second vital point was the daily releasing of foreign currency inflows and outflows to prove the government’s sincerity.
Commenting on food security and growing fears of famine, Speaker Abeywardena has emphasised the responsibility on the part of the government to inquire into still unsubstantiated claims of 50 per cent loss of paddy in the current season. He has pointed out that such claims should be verified and tangible action taken to make a proper assessment of the situation.
Commending Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe and Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera for explaining the current challenges faced in speeches they made in Parliament, Speaker Abeywardenahas said that the government should take the public into confidence.
Speaker Abeywickrema has warned President Rajapaksa that the decision to recompose taxes may not yield desired results due to the prevailing difficulties experienced by the people.
Referring to the proceedings of the parliamentary watchdog committees, the Speaker declared that revenue collection hadn’t been successful due to failure on the part of the relevant authorities (Customs, Inland Revenue and Excise Department) and low compliance by the payees.
Speaker Abeywardena has urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to adopt meaningful measures to implement his proposals.
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
