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Suppression of dissent won’t help reach consensus on all-party govt. – SJB
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The SJB alleges that President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government is bent on suppressing political dissent in a bid to prevent a large-scale public protest campaign similar to the one that forced his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to flee the country, last month.
SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman said yesterday the entire Opposition was opposed to the continuing crackdown on the protest movement, especially the use of the dreaded Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against suspected individuals.
The top SJB spokesperson said so in response to The Island queries pertaining to what he called an all-out crackdown amidst President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to reach a consensus on the formation of an all-party government.
Lawmaker Rahuman asked whether President Wickremesinghe, in spite of being the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and the Defence Minister, was not in overall control of the government’s response to the public protest campaign. Having elected Wickremesinghe, to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) seemed to be flexing its muscles, MP Rahuman said.
Referring to the recent meeting US Ambassador Julie Chung had with Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles, at the latter’s office, where the envoy focused on the clampdown, MP Rahuman found fault with the government for relentlessly pursuing activists.
Asked whether the SJB acknowledged the responsibility, on the part of law enforcement authorities to apprehend those who had been suspected of torching residences of incumbent members of Parliament and President Wickremesinghe, in the second week of May, MP Rahuman said there couldn’t be any issue over that.
“Of course, nobody will find fault with the government for taking into custody those responsible for attacks on the houses of MPs. They should be arrested and appropriately dealt with in terms of the relevant laws,” lawmaker Rahuman said.
Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena recently said that the so-called protest movement destroyed houses and properties of 72 lawmakers in a matter of 24 hours.
MP Rahuman alleged that the government seemed far more interested in apprehending those who took selfies inside the President’s House. The police should be ashamed for arresting those who sat on the President’s chair, MP Rahuman said.
He suggested that, perhaps the government should go after those who wrongly advised the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, leading to the unprecedented economic fallout.
Lawmaker Rahuman said that if President Wickremesinghe was genuinely interested in forming an all-party government, he should reach a consensus with the SLPP over ongoing police action against the protest movement.
Responding to another query, lawmaker Rahuman said that the detention of Wasantha Mudalige, convenor of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) affiliated to the Front line Socialist Party (FSP), was meant to scare those who led the protest campaign. The MP said that the government was making an attempt to depict Mudalige, now detained in terms of the PTA for a period of 90 days, as a person who may have been involved, or allegedly planning a terrorist attack.
Lawmaker Rahuman defended the protest movement as having received heavy public support as they were fed up with the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. The MP warned that public anger couldn’t be suppressed by intimidating political parties and civil society.
Commenting on the May 09 violence that actually set the stage for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster, exactly two months later, lawmaker Rahuman said that the police owed an explanation regarding the investigations into the indiscriminate attack carried out by UPFA goons, at Galle Face, on May 09. The public have a right to know how law enforcement authorities handled the investigation as no less than the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had been asked to surrender his passport.
The MP said that two members of Parliament, arrested in connection with the May 09 attacks, were granted bail, pending investigations.
Calling it a mystery, SJB lawmaker Rahuman said they would like to know the current status of the investigation. The government hadn’t so far taken action against security chiefs who allowed the UPFA goons to go on the rampage and then turned a blind eye to well organized attacks on the properties of MPs, he 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
