News
Suspension of LNG project irks Opp.
Herath asks whether govt. wants to pave the way for new player
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Cabinet-approved national energy policy related to the development of natural gas infrastructure has been suspended by the government following representations made by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera.
Dissident SLPP MP Prof. Charitha Herath on Tuesday (22) said that the Cabinet-of-Ministers, headed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, has approved Minister Wijesekera’s proposal in this regard.
Minister Wijesekera has recommended the procurement of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) in terms of a government to government agreement or some other means until a permanent arrangement could be made.
Addressing the media at the rebel group’s Nawala Office, the SLPP National List MP pointed out that the Cabinet approved Minister Wijesekera’s move in spite of Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, asserting the initiated Cabinet approved process should be cancelled, only as a last resort.
The Island couldn’t obtain Minister Wijesekera’s comments as regards accusations made by the rebel group as he didn’t answer his phone.
Prof. Herath questioned the rationale behind reversing the project at a time the country was experiencing extreme economic difficulties. The academic alleged that the ministry and the CEB seemed not to be on the same page on the sudden move to reverse the plan aimed at developing natural gas infrastructure.
The former Media Ministry Secretary asked whether recent talks in New Delhi between Sri Lanka and India at the highest level influenced the decision. Minister Wijesekera was among President Wickremesinghe’s delegation.
Referring to Dullas Alahapperuma’s tenure as the Power and Energy Minister during Gotabaya Rajapaksas’s presidency, Prof. Herath said that Alahapperuma had to give up that portfolio as the then Cabinet authorized highly disputable agreement with the US-based New Fortress Energy for the same purpose. Prof. Herath alleged that the agreement with the US firm, too, had been inked at the expense of the national plan.
Prof. Herath explained how the controversy over New Fortress Energy deal caused irreparable damage to the Rajapaksa government.
The rebel MP said that the new plan approved by the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government could be geared to facilitate the entry of a new player at the expense of long-term power generation plans. The MP alleged that for want of cohesive policy regarding the power sector the country suffered irrevocable losses over the years. Blaming the successive cabinets for changing plans to suit the agendas pursued by interested parties, Prof. Herath said the losses due to their failure to implement the LNG project could be as much as Rs 50 bn.
MP Herath yesterday told The Island that Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay was in parliament to brief selected group of MPs regarding the developments in the wake of President Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi. Appreciating the Indian assistance amounting to over USD 4 bn provided during the unprecedented financial crisis, Prof. Herath said that it wouldn’t be fair to exert undue pressure on Sri Lanka over development of vital sectors.
Prof. Herath thanked Justice Minister Rajapaksa for the stand he took in respect of the controversial moves in the power sector. The original plans envisaged development of floating storage and regasification unit at Kerawalapitiya on built owned and operated basis and a related plan to develop offshore and onshore regasification LNG transmission pipeline network with on-shore receiving facility and associated systems from the floating storage and regasification unit.
At the onset of Tuesday’s briefing, Prof. Herath explained how the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government pursued a highly controversial agenda regardless of consequences.
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
