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Udaya urges govt., US embassy to come clean
CIA Chief’s cloak-and-dagger visit:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Pivuthuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader, Udaya Gammanpila, MP, yesterday (06) said that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government and the US embassy in Colombo should come clean on CIA Director William Joseph Burns’ Colombo visit.
The former Power and Energy Minister said so in response to The Island query whether the government had challenged his claim on the CIA chief’s visit.
“I’m 100 percent sure Burns was here on February 14,” MP Gammanpila said, challenging the government and the US Embassy here to contradict him, if they could.
Pointing out that Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, in response to Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) leader Wimal Weerawansa’s disclosures in Parliament about the alleged CIA intervention in the State Intelligence Service (SIS) had denied any knowledge of the secret visit of the top CIA spook.
Responding to another query, the former minister said that there was absolutely no doubt that Burns accompanied US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs (PDASD), Jedidiah P Royal. He emphasised that there were altogether 29 persons including the crew of two C-17 Globe Masters and the delegation.
The Defence Ministry released pictures of Jedidiah meeting with State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon and Defence Secretary Gen. (ret) Kamal Guneratne, separately, the
MP pointed out, asking who Burns had met in Colombo during the whistle stop visit.
Referring to media reports that Nepal had not permitted the CIA Director’s visit, MP Gammanpila said that Burns was to fly from Colombo to Kathmandu, in the third week of February, but had been compelled to fly home.
Gammanpila said that the government should set the record straight if it truly felt JNP leader Wimal Weerawansa, General Secretary of the Communist Party Dr. G. Weerasinghe and he had misconstrued facts regarding the recent controversial US visit.
Declaring that the US was seeking enhanced access to Sri Lanka, MP Gammanpila claimed that among the issues raised by the US was the signing of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), also known as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
Pointing out that Sri Lanka had entered into another military agreement, Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) in August 2017, MP Gammanpila said that in spite of extremely close Indo-US relations in line with American Indo-Pacific strategy, New Delhi would still be uncomfortable against the backdrop of much-expanded US role here.
Regardless of their differences India and China skipped the vote at the UN General Assembly to pressure Russia to withdraw forces from Ukraine. Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Vietnam were among those countries that abstained.
MP Gammanpila urged the government to come clean on the CIA Director’s visit as Sri Lanka couldn’t afford to become a member of any alliance. The PHU leader pointed out how Quad countries, namely the US, Japan, Australia and India, pursued an agenda that may not help peaceful resolution of disputes.
Gammanpila said the economic-political-social crisis had weakened the country and opened the way for external powers to enhance their influence through various means. The MP cited as example the recent joint statement issued by the US Embassy and Sir John Kotelawela Defence University at the launch of what they called a shared vision for the Indo-Pacific.
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US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
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.”
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Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
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.
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CIPM successfully concludes 8th Annual Symposium
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.