News
Terrifying ordeal of crew on board rotting ship in the Colombo harbour
By Chaminda Silva
Five remaining crew members onboard deteriorating Indian flagged vessel the MV Sai Arambh in Colombo Harbour are in severe distress as they have been disowned by their owner and those responsible and survive thanks to meagre assistance by the Mission to Seafarers, says Captain of the ship, Mushtaq Ahamed Kapade.
Speaking to The Sunday Island, Capt Kapade said that their shipowner had abandoned them on Oct 18, 2019. “I joined as the Master of the ship which left Vishakapatnam on Sept 24, 2019 to Tuticorin Port in Tamil Nadu. We had to cut our journey midway due to engine troubles that we experienced off Sangamankanda Light House on Oct 2, 2019. We sought the assistance from Colombo Harbour, the nearest to us then.
“A tug boat was called, and it towed the ship to the Colombo port, which we reached on Oct, 18, 2019. We had 19 crew members- all Indians – on board. None of the crew had been paid their salaries yet. Several weeks later the owners of the ship came to Colombo and their representative assured the crew that their salaries would be paid and ship would be repaired. They left us here but nothing promised happened despite our letters and reminders,” Capt Kapade said.
He said that as the owners did not pay the salaries and bills of repair the crew resorted to legal action filing a complaint against the owners. Following the complaint the Lankan authorities seized the ship on Jan 29, 2020. Now there is a case against the owners before the Colombo HighCourt. As the legal proceedings dragged on most our crew members returned to India by themselves using whatever means they could.Only six finally remained on board the ship which is reportedly abandoned since Oct 18, 2019. On March 29, 2022 the cook of the ship drowned when he fell into the sea as he was attempting to negotiate the ship’s badly damaged gangway to go ashore.
“Authorities responsible have neglected to attend to this issue citing various reasons. Now there are problems such as deteriorating crew health, safety, and welfare conditions onboard, including limited access to fresh food and potable water, Capt Kapade said.
He added that none of the members of the crew nor he have been paid insurance or the minimum wage, pointing out the injustice of the situation. “Three years have passed but we are still stuck here unable to see our families. At the time the Lankan authorities took us in following a warrant issued by the Colombo High Court.
The shipping company owed us outstanding wages of SLR 7.18 million which continues to accrue. We have no help but whatever assistance extended to us by the Mission to Seafarers in Colombo. The ship is in a dilapidated condition. Its floor plates are so corroded that there are holes through the deck, and we have holes in the galley which leaks, the skylight to the engine room is leaking water, and the hold hatches are heavily corroded. Its roofs are leaking,” he said.Capt Kapade said that the ship could be auctioned by the Lankan authorities and with the money due to the crew and repair cost could be settled by the proceeds. But the ship’s owners appealed against the auction prolonging their agony.
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
