News
USD 1.2 bn received for leasing out H’tota port to China ‘misused’
Political interference, mismanagement, corruption still galore
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government had not utilised USD 1.1 bn received for leasing Hambantota Port to China Merchants Port Holdings Company in 2017, to settle a loan obtained for the construction of the facility during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration, the Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE) was told yesterday.
Auditor General W. P. C. Wickramaratne participated in the COPE inquiry into the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) audit reports of 2020 and 2021 and current developments.
The yahapalana government leased a 70% stake of the port for 99 years after declaring its intention to settle the loan. However, it transpired at the COPE proceedings chaired by Prof. Charitha Herath, on Wednesday (22) that the USD 1.2 billion received for the long lease had been utilised for other purposes.
The then Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe signed the agreement on Sri Lanka’s behalf after Arjuna Ranatunga gave up the ministry as he opposed the deal. The Island yesterday brought this development to the notice of Ranatunga, who promised to comment once he studied the matter.
The watchdog committee pointed out that though the Treasury had paid back the loan and interest in installments, proper accounts hadn’t been maintained. As a result of bank interest balance (Rs. 147,746 mn) and foreign reserve loss (Rs 31,545 mn) being removed from SLPA accounts sans approval from the Treasury or the Cabinet-of-Ministers, and state accounts, didn’t give any indication of the amount of foreign loans obtained for building Hambantota port.
During COPE proceedings, it was also revealed that the Magampura Port Management Services Company, which had brought fuel required for ships on a USD 24 mn loan secured from a local bank, kept the stock till it expired. Subsequently, the consignment was sold for USD 3.5 mn, thereby causing a loss of USD 20.5 mn. The COPE has advised the Ports and Shipping Ministry Secretary to initiate legal action against the board of directors as well as its advisors.
The COPE noted that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority had continued to make recruitments outside the procedures laid down by the Management Services Department and the Salaries Commission.
It transpired at the COPE meeting that overtime payments for 2021 alone amounted to Rs 5,850 mn. This included Rs.1,173 mn paid for workers assigned to sections categorised as overstaffed. As a result of recruitment of approximately 1,500 unskilled workers, the skilled workers had to be paid overtime. The COPE was told some workers earned monthly overtime for as many as 400 hours.
The COPE also questioned why only Rs 600 mn had been given to the Treasury from 2016 to 2021 though it earned revenue of Rs. 69,686 during this period.
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
