News
Wijeyadasa wary of Chinese designs, urges govt to pay attention to developing scenario
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Ruling party lawmaker Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, says Sri Lanka should be wary of overall Chinese strategy as the ongoing battle between China and the US-led alliance has entered into what the former Justice Minister called an intense phase.
“Sri Lanka shouldn’t be caught up in the situation,” Colombo District MP Rajapakse told The Island yesterday.
Asked whether the Foreign Ministry or the Chinese Embassy in Colombo contacted him following his criticism of the Chinese actions in a letter dated January 3 addressed to the Chinese President, MP Rajapakse said that he was not contacted.
The former President of the Bar Association said that he perused Chinese Ambassador in Colombo Qi Zhenhong’s response to The Island query as regards his letter to the Chinese leader as well as the reportage of the contentious issue of Sri Lanka being compelled to pay a Chinese company to the tune of USD 6.7 mn in the wake of Sri Lanka rejecting a consignment of contaminated carbonic fertilizer. The MP was referring to the media briefing given by Ambassador Qi Zhenhong immediately after Chinese Foreign Minister Wangi Yi left Colombo following high level meetings.
MP Rajapakse emphasized that whether Sri Lanka political leadership liked it or not the country’s relations with ‘Quad’ grouping comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia as well as South Korea would be largely depend on the current dispensation’s relationship with China.
Appreciating the Chinese backing for Sri Lanka’s war against terrorism at a time the West conveniently turned a blind eye as they didn’t want to interfere with the Indian destabilization project, lawmaker Rajapakse asserted China largely changed its approach with the launch of the Belt and the Road initiative in 2013.
Asked whether he endorsed the controversial US and Indian investments on the energy sector, the outspoken politician said that interventions made by ‘Quad’ countries should be studied against the backdrop of Chinese actions.
The former minister denied pursuing a high profile anti-China agenda now, thereby being part of the Western project. MP Rajapakse said that he had to pay a heavy price for opposing the Hambantota port deal and finally the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration finalized it in 2017.
MP Rajapakse said that he expected the government to pay attention to the issues raised by him in his letter to the Chinese President. The Opposition, too, has a responsibility to protect the national interests though they didn’t have the strength to take on the government both in and outside Parliament. Noting the presence of former Premier and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the launch of Sri Lanka-China Friendship Sailing Cup at the Port City last Sunday, the former UNPer pointed out how successive governments pursued policies at the expense of national security, political stability and overall well-being of the nation.
The former minister questioned the 99-year-leasing of the Hambantota port to the Chinese as well as agreements on Yugadanavi Power Plant with the Americans and the deal on the Trincomalee oil tank farm that ended up with the LIOC receiving control of a section of the tanks for a period of 50 years. Both Yugadanavi and Trinco deals have been challenged in the Supreme Court.
Making reference to Sri Lanka Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) that had been signed in January 2018 as well as Access and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) signed with the US in August 2017, MP Rajapakse said that it was crying shame political parties hadn’t been able to at least reach a basic consensus on foreign policy. The former justice minister said that successive governments allowed foreign powers to influence parliamentarians, officials, clergy, civil society and the media as well.
MR Rajapakse said that his call to take back the Hambantota port didn’t receive the expected backing for obvious reasons.
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
