News
Verbal battle over Trinco oil tank farm
By Saman Indrajith
A tense situation prevailed in the House, yesterday, with the government and Opposition MPs being engaged in a verbal battle over the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm.
A heated argument erupted when Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella raised concerns about the statements made by the Energy Minister on the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm.
MP Kiriella said that the 15 oil tanks had been given to India and others reserved to be jointly developed by the IOC and Sri Lanka. “I was shocked to hear a statement by the Energy Minister that all oil tanks had already been given to India. There are 100 oil tanks of which 15 have been given to IOC.
There are 85 others to be developed jointly by Sri Lankan and the IOC. That did not happen,” MP Kiriella said.
SJB Kegalle District MP Kabir Hashim said that LIOC kept the oil tanks illegally and the government could have reacquired the oil tanks between 2005 and 2015 period.
MP Hashim also demanded to know from Minister Gammanpila whether the government would reacquire the tanks now. “The government is lying. Do not mislead the House. It is an MoU that we are talking about. It was agreed that MoU would go for a fully-fledged agreement after six months but that did not take place. Therefore, the LIOC is holding on to the tanks illegally. In 2005, you made an election pledge to take them over, but did not fulfil. After ten years in 2015, the LIOC was given space and permission to construct a lubricant plant. The tanks could have been taken back. It could be taken over even now. What I am asking is whether you will take it back or not.”
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila challenged the Opposition Members to table the MoU at issue.
Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella: “Eighty five tanks have not been given to India. They have been referred for joint development.”
MP Hashim: “If you are saying there is an agreement. Table it in the House so that people could know. After seeing the agreement we can accept what you say here.
Galle District SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara said that State Minister Susil Premajayanth had in a TV talk show revealed the truth the previous day. The energy minister was lying. Their statements were contradictory.
State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera asked Minister Gammanpila whether there was a clause on a condition of going for another agreement in six months.
Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that the agreement in question was not a permanent one, and it was a lease agreement and would be tabled in Parliament. “There is no point in arguing this matter. I will table the official agreement between India and Sri Lanka on the Trincomalee oil tanks today,” the Minister said.
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
