News
War crimes allegations: SLAF Chief’s diplomatic appointment rejected again
Govt. yet to take up the issue at hand, Parliament silent
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The government is now planning to appoint retired SLAF Commander Air Marhal Sumangala Dias as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Malaysia.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Malaysia AM Kapila Jayampathy, who, too, served as the Commander of the SLAF previously, is likely to complete his term next December.
Having served the SLAF since 1984, Air Marshal Dias retired on Nov 02, 2020, as the SLAF’s 17th Commander. The Island learns that the government has been compelled to look for a new station in the wake of European Union member Italy’s refusal to accept Air Marshal Dias as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador there.
Authoritative sources said that retired senior members of the Sri Lankan military had been rejected on the basis of unsubstantiated war crimes accusations. Some countries have declined to issue visas even for private visits, sources said. They cited Australia’s refusal to issue visa to General Chagie Gallage, before his retirement, and the US slapping a travel ban on General Shavendra Silva, who is also the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
Earlier, the government sought to appoint the retired Air Marshal as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Canada, a member of Sri Lanka Core Group, in Geneva, spearheading accountability issues. Canada campaigned for the resolution adopted on March 23 at the UNHRC with 22 countries voting for, 11 against and 14 abstentions.
Authoritative sources said that there hadn’t been a single specific accusation against Dias.
The Canadian High Commission declined to comment on the matter. Asked for clarification regarding Sri Lanka’s request and Canadian denial, the HC said that ‘as it is subject to state-to-state confidentiality, we do not comment on the process.”
The Island
sought Canadian HC’s response in the wake of the Air Marshal, receiving parliamentary approval.
The Communications Department of the Parliament on April 23, 2021, quoted the Secretary General of Parliament, Dhammika Dasanayake, as having said that the Parliamentary High Posts Committee, chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, had approved Air Marshal Dias and P.M. Amza as Sri Lanka’s envoys in Canada and Saudi Arabia, respectively. The Secretary General made no reference to those countries declining to accept previous nominations. Amza held the rank of Acting Additional Secretary, Foreign Ministry.
Due to Canada and Saudi Arabia refusing to accept retired Air Marshal Sumangala Dias and Ahmed A. Jawad, respectively, as heads of Sri Lankan missions, Parliament made the April 23 announcement.
The government announced the appointment of AM Dias, as well as Ahmed A. Jawad, in late Oct 2020. The HPC approved their appointments the following month. Sources said that Saudi Arabia rejected Jawad’s appointment as he served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Riyadh at the time teenage Sri Lankan maid Rizana Nafeek was beheaded in early January 2013. The then Rajapaksa administration protested the Saudi execution by recalling Ahmed. Saudi Arabia, too, recalled its envoy. Sources said that HPC should have considered Nafeek’s incident before making the announcement.
The Island
raised the issues at hand with the Public Diplomacy Division of the Foreign Ministry.
The Island:
What is the status of the move to appoint retired AM Dias as Ambassador in Rome?
FM:
Air Marshal Sumangala Dias has not been appointed as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Italy.
The Island:
On what grounds Ottawa declined to accept AM Dias as HC?
FM:
The Government of Canada has not declined the nomination of AM Dias as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka.
The Island:
When will civil society activist Harsha Kumara Navaratne, who recently resigned from the Human Rights Commission, leave for Ottawa?
FM:
The new High Commissioner-Designate of Sri Lanka to Canada, Harsha Kumara Navaratne, is expected to take up duties at the Mission shortly.
The Island:
How many foreign missions do we have?
FM:
The Government has established a total number of 66 diplomatic missions, excluding the Embassy of Sri Lanka, in Kabul, Afghanistan, temporarily closed due to the current developments in that country. The network of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic missions comprises 36 Embassies, 13 High Commissions, 02 Permanent Missions to the United Nations, 01 Deputy High Commissioner’s Office, 13 Consulates-General, and 01 Representative Office abroad.
The FM said that the Heads of Missions/Posts of Sri Lanka consists of a total number of 29 career officers appointed from the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, two career officers from the Department of Commerce, and 21 non-career personnel (excluding the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Afghanistan whose tenure was concluded recently), serving as Heads of Mission/Post abroad.
Responding to another query, the FM said that 14 Sri Lanka Heads of Missions/Posts remained vacant excluding the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Afghanistan. Accordingly, the Government of Sri Lanka was in the process of formalising appointments of new Heads of Missions/Posts to those vacant, posts as appropriate in collaboration with the receiving states, the FM said.
Ministerial sources said that Parliamentary High Posts Committee (HPC) chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena should seriously consider the issue at hand. The rejection of diplomatic appointments and visas in respect of private visits on the basis of unproved war crimes accusations should be properly dealt with. War winning Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, a current member of the HPC, too, remained blacklisted by the US.
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
