News
Udays reiterates New Fortress Energy deal harmful, dismisses SLPP warning over dissenting views
…strategy in line with post-2020 general election
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila has reiterated that the rebel group within the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentary group would continue its role regardless of consequences.
The leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Attorney-at-Law Gammanpila has stressed that their right to function as a dissident group was in line with an assurance given to the electorate in the run-up to the last parliamentary election in August 2020.
According to the Minister, the PHU and the National Freedom Front (NFF) led by Wimal Weerawansa reached consensus on several contentious matters.
The declaration was made at an event held at Muthurajawela where the former Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) stalwart launched a tree planting campaign to match the number of preferential votes he received at the last general election. The SLPP Colombo District candidate secured 136,331 preferential votes and was placed third in the list. Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera (329,092) and Wimal Weerawansa (267,084) topped the district list.
Minister Gammanpila was responding to SLPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, who warned that dissent within the government parliamentary group wouldn’t be tolerated.
Addressing the weekly media briefing at the party headquarters, Prof. Peiris said whatever the differences within the parliamentary group once the government took a stand all constituents should abide by that decision. The Foreign Minister was referring to a spate of contentious matters, including the most recent dispute over an agreement with US-based New Fortress Energy group to supply LNG to Sri Lanka under controversial terms.
Minister Gammanpila emphasized that they had the right to pressure the government in case it pursued policies contrary to that of the mandates received at 2019 presidential and 2020 parliamentary polls.
Having discussed the political campaign the PHU carried out over the past several years, lawmaker Gammanpila said that they opposed the 20th Amendment to the Constitution when the cabinet approved the proposal without an internal discussion. “We didn’t keep quiet just because the controversial decision was taken at the very first cabinet meeting following the general election,” MP Gammanpila said.
Minister Gammanpila emphasized that the New Fortress deal was inimical to the country.
Several parties, including some of those who backed the SLPP at the presidential and parliamentary polls have moved the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal against the New Fortress deal.
Referring to the SLPP’s 2019 presidential election manifesto, Minister Gammanpila compared the way the cabinet of ministers, contrary to the party manifesto, had approved Indian and Japanese investment in the ECT (East Container Terminal) of the Colombo port. Lawmaker Gammanpila pointed out that they had no option but to oppose the ECT project as it was contrary to their manifesto.
The NFF and the PHU have received the backing of the SLFP (Sri Lanka Freedom Party), the second largest party in the ruling coalition, in addition to the CP (Communist Party) and Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara led DLF (Democratic Left Front). The dissident group consists of over two dozen lawmakers and the crisis undermined near two-thirds majority enjoyed by the SLPP in parliament. The government group comprises 145 members.
Minister Weerawansa recently told The Island that they had to go public over the New Fortress deal as their efforts to halt it failed to achieve the desired results.
The NFF leader declared that the government brazenly manipulated the cabinet process to facilitate the US investment, a charge strongly denied by the SLPP.
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
