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Standing Orders don’t permit Speaker to order vote recount – Opposition
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella says that once a vote was taken in Parliament and its results were announced by the Chair, that matter was considered over as per the Parliament’s Standing Orders and there was no provision for a vote recount.
Addressing the media online, MP Kiriella said that he had heard that the Speaker was planning to go for a recount of the votes cast for and against the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill on Thursday (20) in Parliament. “This is shocking news. As per the Standing Orders, once the vote is taken and its results are announced it is over and there cannot be a recount. Parliament Standing Orders do not permit the Speaker to go for a recount after the results are announced. I have been in this Parliament for 32 years, and have not heard of any precedence similar to this. The vote taken on the Bill proved that the government does not have a two-third majority in Parliament. Having failed to muster a special majority for the Bill, the government is pressureing the Speaker to go for a recount as a face-saving exercise. We call on the Speaker not to give in to government pressure. He is not the speaker of the government but the Speaker of Parliament. He is bound to uphold the dignity and supremacy of Parliament.
‘Instead of worrying about its two-thirds majority, the government should worry about the pandemic situation and the plight of the people, especially the vulnerable sections of society badly hit by the ongoing lockdowns.
Meanwhile, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in a statement said he had received a complaint that two votes had not been counted and investigations were going on to figure out what had happened.
The investigations would be held on the basis of two written requests by Justice Minister Ali Sabry and General Secretary of the SLPP and MP Sagara Kariyawasam that votes of two MPs of the SLPP had not been counted at the final vote on the Bill. Therefore, a technical investigation would be held to find out whether there was a mishap in the electronic voting system in the Chamber. The Speaker said he had instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Information Technology Jayantha de Silva to conduct the technical investigation and submit a report. In addition there would be a separate investigation by former Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Kithulegoda to examine the entire counting process and to provide a report on the matter, the statement said, adding that action would be taken to ensure that there would be no similar occurrences in vote taking processes in the Chamber.
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
