News
Udaya alleges ‘CBSL’ Bill formulated outside Legal Draftsman’s Dept.
Speaker denies claim
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (11) reiterated that he wouldn’t under any circumstances retract criticism of the Bill titled ‘Central Bank of Sri Lanka’ and his condemnation of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena over misleading the House as regards the Supreme Court’s blunt determination on the Bill.
The former Power and Energy Minister said so when The Island sought his response to Speaker Abeywardena’s strong denial of the views expressed by him at a media briefing on Monday (10) at PHU office at Pita Kotte.
Attorney-at-Law Gammanpila is the second member of Uthrara Lanka Sabhagaya (ULS) to allege that the Speaker suppressed SC determination that one third of 134 clauses in the Bill were contrary to the Constitution and needed to be either passed by a 2/3 majority or 2/3 majority plus endorsement at a referendum. Gevindu Cumaratunga
was the first to challenge the Speaker on the vital matter.Colombo District lawmaker Gammanpila said that as one of those who moved the Supreme Court against the relevant Bill he briefed the media six days after the Speaker’s announcement as he felt a deliberate attempt was being made to deceive the House and the public.
Lawmaker Gammanpila urged Speaker Abeywardena and all members of parliament to peruse the 54 page SC determination to know the truth. How could there be as many as 80 amendments in a properly prepared Bill in terms of Constitution, MP Gammanpila asked.
Lawmaker Gammanpila raised two pertinent issues whether a senior parliamentary official deliberately misled Speaker Abeywardena or the Bill titled ‘Central Bank of Sri Lanka’ was formulated outside the Legal Draftsman’s Department.
Speaker Abeywardena’s Office yesterday said that there was absolutely no basis for views expressed by MP Gammanpila. Declaring that the MP’s statement was completely false, the Speaker’s Office in turn alleged that it was meant to mislead the country and the judiciary.
The Speaker’s Office suggested that MP Gammanpila should have perused relevant Hansards and audio and video of the announcement made by Speaker Abeywardena.
The Speaker’s Office alleged that MP Gammanpila misinterpreted the Speaker’s announcement for petty political gain. However, the Speaker’s Office didn’t make reference to MP Cumaratunga’s accusations on similar lines made earlier.
MP Gammanpila questioned the rationale behind assuring the Supreme Court of government’s intention to move amendments at the Committee Stage having prepared a Bill that was largely contrary to the country’s supreme law.
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
