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Sri Lanka has shown it will not fall for imperialist propaganda – President -SLCFA
Sri Lanka China Friendship Association (SLCFA) yesterday praised the government for having told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Sri Lanka will remain true to its non-aligned foreign policy principles and that it would never take any action that undermines Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. The SLCFA also thanks all patriotic and progressive forces that convinced the government if there was any doubt, that most Sri Lankans were opposed to American imperialism and bullying tactics.
During the last few weeks USA and its allies had been engaged in a massive campaign of misinformation and disinformation about Sri Lanka’s relationship with China. Despite the fact that Chinese loans to Sri Lanka being less than 10% of our overall debt burden and the fact that these loans, overwhelmingly, are concessionary loans, with an interest rate of around 2%, Pompeo and other US officials have tried to portray that China has Sri Lanka in a ‘debt trap.’
The desperation of the US officials, who see that their military and economic strength dwindling and their country, in chaos due to systematic racism against its minorities, can be seen by US Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s veiled threat to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on August 30, where he hinted that the US could again exert pressure on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. It’s laughable that on the same breath Pompeo saying they want “the people of Sri Lanka to have sovereignty and independence,” SLCFA President, Attorney-at-Law, Ananda Goonatilleke said.
In response to these baseless allegations and threats, foreign minister Dinesh Gunawardena told a joint press conference, in the presence of Pompeo, that Sri Lanka would remain non-aligned in its foreign relations. However what the most clear indication that the government was not buying into imperialist propaganda was President Rajapaksa’s claim that China had assisted in the development of Sri Lanka’s infrastructure since the end of the separatist war in May 2009 and that Sri Lanka had not been caught in a debt trap as a result.
SLCFA has always insisted that Sri Lanka is a nonaligned country, must stay true to its non-aligned foreign policy, which had served it so well in the past, not to be a “Strategic Partner” of any other country, and must resist attempts by imperialist and expansionist nations to bring us into their sphere of influence. Goonatilleke said that the Sri Lankan people, of various political persuasions, came together in recent weeks to demonstrate that this is how most Sri Lankans feel.
“The SLCFA is conscious of the unholy alliance of the USA, India and two other countries under the guise of safeguarding the Ocean around our country. Though South Asian neighboring nations are constantly faced with our own regional oceanic issues, we must resist interference of various distant powers who try to fish in the troubled Indian Ocean, not only to rob our fish and other oceanic vales but also to intrude into our geopolitical existence,” Goonatilleke said.
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
