News
Welgama says it was he who first got the ball rolling against Gotabaya
… claims Sirisena tells lies
SJB Kalutara District MP Kumar Welgama told Parliament yesterday that it was he who HAD first said ‘Gota, go home’ and now the entire country was saying so.
“When Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s name was proposed as the presidential candidate, I openly opposed it.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, too, was there when I raised objections.
I said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa had no political experience and had never been at least a Pradeshiya Sabha member, and therefore a senior member of the party had to be nominated as the presidential candidate.
Mahinda Rajapaksa did not listen to me because he wanted to give that position to a member of his family. Due to that wrong decision, the entire country is in turmoil. Here are some of those who had been there opposing me. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, too, had the same opposition for about two weeks. Mahinda Rajapaksa could change his mind but could not change my mind.
When our party was revived with the Mahinda Sulanga programme, it was Prasanna Ranatunga. Wimal Weerawansa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Dinesh Gunawardena and Udaya Gammanpila who led that campaign which we supported; even Gamini Lokuge and Bandula Gunawardane were there.
I can remember how the then President Maithripala Sirisena ordered that none of the SLFP members should join that the Nugegoda rally. But we defied that order to bring in Mahinda Rajapaksa back to power. We thought that he would not bring back his family members again. We even told him not to do so. But he did not listen to us.
I have no opposition to the PM getting Namal Rajapaksa involved. But there were others who should not have been brought into top positions.
Therefore, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be held responsible for the current mess. We have been with Mahinda Rajapaksa for 40 years in politics. I regret what has happened.
“The other thing I have to tell you all is that Maithripala Sirisena tells lies.”
He utters only lies. For example, today he says that he brought in the 19th Amendment. When the 20th Amendment was put to the vote, he got his MPs to vote for it.
He did not come to the House on that day but got his MPs to help ensure its passage. This country and its people are suffering today because of the lies that have been propagated. Besides, the country is troubled by a curse––the Easter Sunday terror attacks You cannot escape from that curse. The entire country is paying for that crime.
We worked for Mahinda Rajapaksa because he served this country from 2005 to 2010. In 2010 those who were around him made him think he was a king. Thereafter the downfall started. First thing to do after that was the incarceration of Sarath Fonseka. Today, the people demand that Rajapaksas too should be put in jail,” MP Welgama 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
