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Weerawansa alleges accommodating Namal in Parliament Mahinda’s first grave political blunder
By Shamindra Ferdinando
National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and MP Wimal Weerawansa has attributed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s downfall to two imprudent decisions taken by Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Addressing Opposition activists at ‘Kamatha’ Hotel, the Chairman of Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya (ULS), lawmaker Weerawansa alleged that bringing in Namal Rajapaksa to Parliament, in 2010, and Basil Rajapaksa, in 2021, caused irreparable damage.
Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya (NJS) Chairman Dullus Alahapperuma, MP, its convener Prof. G.L. Peiris, MP, General Secretary Thilanga Sumathipala, Democratic Left Front (DLF) General Secretary Vasudeva Nanayakkara, MP, executive member of NJS Dilan Perera, MP, executive member of ULS Weerasumana Weerasinghe, MP, and executive members of NJS, Prof. Charitha Herath, Dr. Upul Galappathi, MP and Dr. Thilak Rajapaksha, MP.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa sacked Weerawansa from the Cabinet-of-Ministers, in early March 2022, a few weeks before a high profile public protest campaign erupted against his government.
Pointing out that Mahinda Rajapaksa tinkered with the 20th Amendment to the Constitution to accommodate dual citizen Basil Rajapaksa, on the SLPP National List, the end result was nothing but annihilation of the Rajapaksas’ politics. The outspoken MP lambasted MP Namal Rajapaksa for his questionable behaviour. The NFF leader questioned the rationality in MP Namal Rajapaksa playing cricket with other SLPP MPs when the country was in deepening turmoil. Weerawansa called the Hambantota District MP a broiler chicken.
At the onset of his speech, Colombo District MP Weerawansa paid a glowing tribute to Dr. Galappaththi, and his team, for arranging a gathering of Hambantota activists, in spite of challenges. Declaring the rebel group’s intention to proceed with their endeavour, MP Weerawansa said that some asserted such a meeting couldn’t be held in the Rajapaksas’ stronghold.
The erstwhile JVP firebrand asked whether it was not a mockery of fate for Mahinda Rajapaksa to serve under President Ranil Wickremesinghe and for the UNP leader to work with the ‘Pohottuwa’ crowd.
The ex-Minister warned that Mahinda Rajapaksa probably would have to stomach the ignominy of Wickremesinghe ‘selling’ Mattala airport the way he leased out Hambantota Port, in 2017, for a period of 99-years.
Commenting on the election of the UNP leader, as the 8th executive President, to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, lawmaker Weerawansa said that the ruling SLPP chose Wickremesinghe as it felt he was capable of suppressing the public challenge. Referring to the ‘Batalanda camp’, the former JVPer recalled the role played by the then UNP Minister Wickremesinghe in the ruthless counter-insurgency campaign.
MP Weerawansa attacked the economic policies of Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa combine with the focus on new tax formula, meant to get the maximum, conveniently safeguarding the interests of big companies. The firebrand politician asked whether the electorate overwhelmingly elected Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the last presidential election to see Wickremesinghe, who had been rejected at the 2020 general election, receive presidential powers.
The NFF leader said that the Rajapaksas pursued a strategy that undermined their relationship with others in the Cabinet and the government parliamentary group. A Cabinet paper, submitted by the then Power and Energy Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, meant to give the LNG project to a Pakistani-Chinese combine, was dismissed, the then Cabinet minister said. Instead, at the behest of all powerful Basil Rajapaksa, the tender was awarded to US-based New Fortress Energy, lawmaker Weerawansa said, explaining how they tried to protect the mandates received at the 2019 and 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections. However, in the wake of the New Fortress deal, they couldn’t have remained in the government, therefore a decision was taken to move the Supreme Court against the Cabinet decision, he said.
MP Weerawansa alleged that the Rajapaksas simply ignored repeated warnings about the impending economic crisis. The crowd was told that such issues shouldn’t be raised with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, or discussed in the President’s presence.
The former minister lambasted Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera for switching sides for his personal benefit. An irate Weerawansa declared that Amaraweera was such a disreputable person he would even accept a Cabinet portfolio from Velupillai Prabhakaran.
The Rajapaksas had no sense in recognizing the growing public discontent, Weerawansa said. Having earned the wrath of the public for having four Rajapaksas in the 2010-2015 Cabinet-of-Ministers, they increased the number to five, after the 2019 general election. In addition to five Cabinet Ministers, they appointed Shashendra Rajapaksa as a State Minister, who ruined agriculture by bringing in low quality fertiliser.
Weerawansa recalled how he thwarted the planned sale of the Valachchenai Paper Mill. Today, that facility was doing well and operations were expected to be expanded next year, the former 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
