News
USD 250 mn bribery allegation jolts Justice Minister
AG favours Singapore court, compensation claim USD 6.2 bn
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The inordinate delay in initiating legal action against X-Press Feeders, the owners of container carrier X-Press Pearl, which sank off Colombo in early June, 2021 causing a maritime disaster, has taken a new turn with Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, asking IGP C. D. Wickramaratne to probe an allegation that a certain party involved in the ongoing deliberations received USD 250 mn and the money was sent to an account at a British bank.
The ill-fated vessel carrying 1,486 containers caught fire on May 20, 2021 off Colombo. Its cargo included 25 metric tonnes of nitric acid and as much as 50 bn plastic pellets.
The Justice Minister said so yesterday (12) when The Island asked the latest developments in the wake of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Development taking up the issue on 04 April. SJB MP Ajith Mannapperuma chaired the meeting, which was also attended by the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
Minister Rajapakse disclosed that he had received a certain foreign bank account number amidst accusations and counter accusations over the support extended to those who represented the interests of X-Press Feeders. He however declined to vouch for the veracity of the claim.
Asked where the government intended to file action in this regard, the Minister said that the Attorney General’s Department was of the view that it should be Singapore. The Minister said that he wouldn’t take a contrary view.
Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, received appointment as the AG on May 26, 2021 as local and foreign firefighters were struggling to stabilize the vessel.
At the time of the worst maritime disaster in Sri Lankan waters, Ali Sabry, PC, served as the Justice Minister.
The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) during Attorney-at-Law Dharshanee Lahandapura’s tenure as its Chairperson asserted that the case should be filed here as the incident took place within the country’s territorial waters.
Lahandapura’s term ended in early February this year and another lawyer Asela B. Rakewa succeeded her.
Minister Rajapakse said that during his predecessor’s tenure two teams had been tasked with probing the accident. Minister Sabry appointed one comprising three lawyers whereas the then MEPA Chairperson appointed a bigger expert group for the same purpose.
Dr. Rajapakse said that in spite of an assurance from the committee appointed by the MEPA that its report would be submitted by Sept. 23, 2022, it was delivered in January this year.
Those who felt that legal action should be filed here should realise that enforcement of whatever ruling would also be a challenge, the Justice Minister said.
Asked whether there had been an issue with regard to the presence of a group of persons believed to be lawyers representing the interests of X-Press Feeders at the Sectoral Oversight Committee meeting, Dr. Rajapakse said that he had asked the Chair to move them out as he couldn’t under circumstances discuss government plans with the opposing side.
The Oversight Committee shouldn’t have invited them for that particular meeting, the Justice Minister said, adding that the high-profile case remained a heavy burden. During the proceedings, it transpired that nearly two years after the incident, the expert committee tasked with assessing damages to the environment and other damages hadn’t been able to visit the location of the ship disaster. MP Mannapperuma has directed MEEPA and NARA (National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency) to take tangible measures to facilitate the expert panel to visit the site with the assistance of the Navy and Airforce. The MP has pointed out that the failure to do so could be detrimental to Sri Lanka’s case.
The Sectoral Oversight Committee Chairman said so after members of the expert committee appointed by MEPA disclosed that they had been deprived of Navy and Air Force assistance to achieve the set objectives.
Environmentalists have pointed out that it is not advisable to move Singaporean court though the Cabinet-of-Ministers approved the Attorney General’s recommendation in this regard. They want the case to be heard in Colombo.
They pointed out that the second report of the expert committee had recommended that Sri Lanka ask for compensation to the tune of USD 6.2 bn. During Lahandapura’s tenure Sri Lanka received USD 10 mn for clean-up operations and fisheries sector compensation.
A statement issued by Parliament Director Legislative Services / Director Communication (Acting) Janakantha Silva quoted MEPA Chairman Rakewa as having said that the expert committee report had been handed over to the Attorney General. Rakewa said that the AG should go ahead with filing the case.
The AG’s Department representatives assured that action was being taken in this regard. According to the statement dated April 06 issued by parliament on the meeting held on 04 April legal action had to be initiated within 45 days.
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
