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Zuhair questions Muzammil’s stand on final rites for corona victims
Resumption of burials:
Former People’s Alliance lawmaker and President’s Counsel M.M. Zuhair, yesterday (12) questioned National Freedom Front (NFF) MP Mohammed Muzammil strong objections to allowing burial of Muslim coronavirus victims.
Zuhair, one-time Sri Lanka’s top envoy in Iran has sent us the following statement in response to yesterday’s lead story headlined ‘Resumption of burials a high risk the country cannot afford to take’ : In the context of the World Health Organisation (WHO) supporting the options of cremation or burial of Covid 19 victims; the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) commending the WHO guidelines as well as the government’s March 27th rescinded regulation permitting both cremations and burials; the Quarantine Ordinance of the country providing for both burials and cremations; the country’s top epidemiologist Dr Paba Palihawadana stating that there is no evidence that Covid 19 is spread by contaminating water; the GMOA and eminent medical professionals calling for a review of the current regulations in the context of WHO guidelines and the government said to be reviewing the present regulations in a manner applicable to all citizens, the Island’s lead story of today has come as a surprise.
The National Freedom Front (NFF) Member of Parliament Mohammed Muzammil is entitled to his views, but neither he nor I, are competent to be judgmental scientifically or medically to contest Dr. Paba Palihawadana, the GMOA or the other eminent professionals. Indeed the government and all communities ought to be scientifically guided by the medical experts on the matter. The experts will know best why the WHO guidelines provide for both options. They will know why nearly 200 countries world- wide have permitted and adopted burials of Covid 19 victims as an option. They know as to why over fifty countries and islands with high water tables have also adopted burials as an option.
If Covid 19 is thought to spread through contamination of water from the burial of afflicted dead bodies, then the question raised in a parliamentary debate in the country queried how millions of gallons of Covid 19 used daily at quarantine centres are allowed to freely enter water out-lets!
The government has been made aware that regulation 61A of 11th April 2020 making cremation as the only mode of disposing Covid 19 dead bodies is in violation of section 3(1)(i) of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance and section 17(1)(C) of the Interpretation Ordinance. The regulation is also in violation of Code of Criminal Procedure Act (CCPA) empowering Magistrates to judicially deal with sudden deaths.
Medical personnel, armed forces and health workers rendering a yeoman service in the forefront of containing the spread of this deadly virus may be exposed not only to the risk of infection but also to actions of violating the law. It is to the credit of persons who feel wrongfully deprived of the option of burial that they have fully cooperated with the authorities in ensuring that Covid 19 is contained, without following up on other options.
There is a wide section of the people across all communities who are said to prefer burial of their loved ones, so long as the medically competent experts accept the WHO guidelines as worthy of adoption without getting trapped into mythological or ghostly fears. Such burials must be by the State subject to strict health guidelines as in the case of cremations.”
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
