News
Wimal alleges Ranil, Sajith, AKD pursuing IMF, India agendas
Sri Lanka’s fate compared with that of Sikkim
By Shamindra Ferdinando
National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and Chairman of the Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya (ULS) Wimal Weerawansa, MP, said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, MP, and JVP/JJB leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP, were pursuing the same strategy to address the economic crisis.
Therefore, an alternative political grouping was required for those who opposed the medicine prescribed by the IMF to overcome the current crisis, the former Commerce and Industries Minister said.
Addressing a gathering at the Maharagama Youth Centre Auditorium on Saturday (23), the Colombo District lawmaker declared that the ULS represented the interests of the patriotic and progressive electorate.
Alleging that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government, the main Opposition SJB and the JVP/JJB worshiped the IMF, and believed in the IMF remedies, MP Weerawansa called for public support for the only alternative for the people struggling to make ends meet.
Deputy Chairman of ULS and leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Udaya Gammanpila, MP, its Secretary and General Secretary of the Communist Party Dr. G. Weerasinghe, the grouping’s main advisor Ven. Atureliye Rathana
Thero, MP, its Deputy Secretary Gevindu Cumaratunga and its Deputy General Secretary G. D. V. Thilakasiri of the Democratic Left Front (DLF) were present Rebel SLPP MPs, Dulas Alahapperuma, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Roshan Ranasinghe, too, addressed the gathering.
Alleging that at the behest of MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the JVP/JJB had meekly given in to the IMF dictates, MP Weerawansa said that the government was yet to rectify the main cause of the economic crisis. The former minister explained how enactment of Foreign Exchange Act No 12 of 2017 by the yahapalana administration allowed unscrupulous exporters to park export proceeds running into billions of USD overseas.
That law replaced the time-tested Exchange Control Act of 1953, MP Weerawansa said, pointing that those responsible continued with the yahapalana law at the expense of the national economy.
The former JVPer said that the incumbent government as well as the SJB and JVP/JJB had no alternative plans. Therefore, they entirely depend on the IMF’s bailout package and the current effort was to secure the third tranche of the USD 2.9 bn loan facility spread over a four-year period.
Sri Lanka has secured IMF assistance on 16 previous occasions.
Referring to Western sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of the Ukrainian conflict, MP Weerawansa pointed out how that country faced the challenge and recorded the highest GDP among the European countries and was fifth in the world rankings.
MP Weerawansa said that ULS would soon reveal how the grouping intended to overcome the daunting economic challenges. Sri Lanka’s recovery plans wouldn’t depend on one individual but a leadership board that was to be entrusted with the overall strategy, the MP said.
The ex-minister said that both the SJB and JVP/JJB lacked appropriate strategy though they sought to deceive the public. MP Weerawansa said that SJB leader Sajith Premadasa didn’t realize the ongoing crisis couldn’t be addressed by distributing buses and making meaningless statements.
MP Weerawansa flayed the government over the ongoing privatization programme. Weerawansa said that privatization couldn’t be the panacea for all our ills. Commenting on the role played by former MP and President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake in the Indo-Lanka dialogue, MP Weerawansa questioned the incumbent government’s strategy.
The former minister explained how the ongoing projects could make Sri Lanka a part of India. Unless the people united against the government and the ongoing Indo-Lanka projects, the day New Delhi took full control was not far away, MP Weerawansa claimed.
The NFF leader compared the current situation here with that of Sikkim that became the 22nd State of India in May 1975. Weerawansa explained the circumstances India intervened in Sikkim leading to the 1975 take over. According to the MP, the ongoing high-profile Indian projects would ultimately cause Sri Lanka to lose her independence. The former Minister alleged that the government, the main Opposition and JVP/JJB cooperated with the Indian strategy, therefore the only alternative would be ULS.
MP Weerawansa claimed that the JVP/JJB had totally abandoned their original ideals and was working closely with capitalists and other interested parties.
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
