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Yahapalana govt. allowed Islamic extremists to teach at madrasas – GL
The previous administration had made no attempt to find out what was being taught at madrasas or prevent them from mushrooming without any registration, Minister of Education, Prof. G.L. Peiris said.
Prof Pieris said that currently about 2,000 madrasas were operating in the country.
“The previous government did not care to find out what was taught in those schools or who was teaching there. During the yahapanaya administration, nearly 600 foreigners visited the country to teach in the madrasas.”
Prof. Peiris said that when Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Defence Secretary, foreign preachers with dubious connections had not been allowed to enter the country. “He ensured that there was good coordination between the officers at the Immigration and Emigration Department and at the intelligence services. During the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration, if anyone applied to teach at these institutions, their background was examined thoroughly. The previous government got rid of all these procedures. It issued visas on arrival without conducting any inquiry or asking any questions.”
The issue of madrasas were discussed in depth at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks. Most madrasas were registered with the Registrar of Companies and education authorities had no power to monitor them, former Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) Sisira Mendis told the PCoI.
Mendis said that by 2016, intelligence agencies had become aware that a number of foreign students were coming to Sri Lanka to study in those institutions.
Mendis said: “Foreign students coming in, is a good thing, but most madrasas are not registered with the Ministry of Higher Education. Former Defence Secretary Kapila Waidyaratne had a number of discussions with the Ministry of Higher Education officials about this.”
The witness said that CNI office and SIS had cooperated to draw up a registration form to obtain information about foreign students who came to Sri Lanka. The form included personal and financial information as well as details about those who sponsored those students.
“SIS director Nilantha Jayawardena drew our attention to the issue and he also sent us a form for ascertaining information. We contacted the Ministry of Higher Education officials but they wanted to talk to the Minister first. We also wanted to create a database of all students that came to study here in religious educational institutions.”
They also took action to monitor and register foreign preachers who visited Sri Lanka.
Mendis also said that during a meeting with senior officials of the Ministries of Buddha Sasana, Hindu, Muslim and Christian Affairs in 2016, it had been proposed that all those ministries be brought under one ministry.
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
