News
Wimal: We were sacked at the behest of BR
By Shamindra Ferdinando
National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday (02) claimed that he and Udaya Gammanpila, had been sacked at the behest of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
Addressing the media at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo former Industries Minister Weerawansa alleged that the announcement as regards their sacking was made in the wake of the Finance Minister declaring he wouldn’t attend cabinet meetings if they remained ministers.
Flanked by MP Gammanpila and Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara, who declared he wouldn’t perform ministerial duties or attend Cabinet meetings but remained a minister, lawmaker Weerawansa claimed that the President succumbed to the pressure exerted by the family. A smiling Weerawansa said that he didn’t regret his removal from the Cabinet. “We don’t have any dispute with the President,” the former JVP heavyweight said.
At the beginning of his speech, lawmaker Weerawansa alleged that they had been on a collision course with Basil Rajapaksa even before the acceptance of wartime Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the SLPP candidate for the 2019 presidential election. The former minister alleged that Basil Rajapaksa dreamt of being the SLPP presidential candidate. However, they felt Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be their candidate in case Mahinda Rajapaksa didn’t contest, MP Weerawansa said, adding that at the end Basil Rajapaksa, too, had no option but to back his brother.
A smiling Udaya Gammanpila looks on as Wimal Weerawansa tears into the SLPP-led government (pic by Jude Denzil Pathiraja)
MP Weerawansa recalled how Basil Rajapaksa left the country in the wake of their defeat at the 2015 presidential election. Basil Rajapaksa wanted Mahinda Rajapaksa to name him as the Opposition Leader, MP Weerawansa said, adding that the then SLFP National Organizer left thecountry when his request was turned down.
MP Weerawansa claimed that the issue had affected the government and the Cabinet as well. MP Weerawansa said that the government had been divided over the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the crisis over the proposed handing over of the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port and the agreement with the US-based New Fortress Energy company due to the position taken by Basil Rajapaksa.
MP Weerawansa said that their repeated efforts to convince the government of the urgent need to take remedial measures to address the extremely dicey situation had been conveniently ignored or played down. The former minister said that they couldn’t have just kept quiet as the situation continued to deteriorate.
The Colombo District MP explained how Basil Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the SLPP founder exercised his political authority over all. The SLPP has been used as private property by Basil Rajapaksa, MP Weerawansa said, acknowledging that though he could understand key positions being held by unknown persons at the onset of the SLPP’s journey following the last general election proper appointments should have been made.
The former Minister said that they had been sacked for submitting some proposals to overcome the current challenges faced by the country. If those who wielded political power felt that sacking them would be the solution to the current crisis, they accepted that decision, the MP said. Perhaps the powers that be felt that they were responsible for the crisis and their removal would result in the country receiving an ample amount of US Dollars, an uninterrupted fuel supply and an end to power cuts.
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
