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Zuhair says restoring worker remittances one way of overcoming crisis
Former People’s Alliance MP M. M. Zuhair, PC, says restoration of worker remittances to pre-2020 level of US $ 7 billion per year can facilitate early economic recovery. The former Senior State Counsel asserted US $ 7 bn can be a better ladder for Sri Lanka to come out of the ‘deep distressing well’ than IMF’s US $ 2.9 billion.
Zuhair issued the following statement: “President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that the US $ 2.9 billion request to IMF, receivable over a period of four years, is the only ladder for Sri Lanka to come out of the deep well. The President needs to be advised that other additional options do exist for the 22 million Sri Lankans to come out of the deeply distressing well! I wish to deal here with only one such alternative option for the President to work on.
According to Central Bank reports, during the past 20 years, worker remittances had covered around 80% of the country’s foreign exchange deficits. Worker remittances during the six years from 2015 to 2020 had averaged more than US $ 7 billion each year, improving substantially the foreign exchange liquidity in the country and in the banking system.
But in 2021 worker remittances dropped to US $ 5.5 billion and in 2022 dropped further sharply to US $ 3.8 billion! The country lost thereby US $ 1.6 billion in 2021 compared to US 7.1 earned in 2020! In 2022 we lost US $ 3.3 billion compared to 2020 as well as compared with the previous six year annual average earnings!
Sri Lanka is struggling for the past one year to get US $ 2.9 billion from the IMF having lost US $ 1.6 billion and US $ 3.3 billion, almost US $ 5 billion during the past two years, with no organized efforts to restore the forex earnings, from our own countrymen and women to the established national average of US $ 7 billion per year! Should not there be an appeal, at least at the president’s level to the Sri Lankan workforce overseas to enhance direct official remittances and also to the heads of States of countries where they are employed to give preference to Sri Lankans in fresh recruitments, without passing the buck to the Central bank or the Minister?
President Wickremesinghe knows that the IMF 2.9 billion dollars as well as what may come thereafter from the World Bank and other lenders are repayable loans with interest. All those will add up to the national debt of US $ 52 billion compelling the next generation to continue the economic struggle and for-ever be dependent on Western controlled institutions and countries. We can fall from that ladder deeper into the well! Hope not!
Indeed he and his advisors know that forex worker remittances are not repayable debts; do not involve import contents as in garment exports and stabilises the currency exchange rates in favour of Sri Lanka in terms of debt servicing and external trading.
Mr President! Restoring worker remittances to pre 2020 level of US $ 7 billion per year can become a better ladder for Sri Lanka to come out of the ‘deep distressing well’ than IMF’s US $ 2.9 billion!
Tapping and enhancing worker remittances can turn out to be a non-debt creating lasting solution to Sri Lanka’s crisis and to come out of the long term hegemonic control of international money lenders! I am no economist but will those who understand the subject better respond in the national interest to the President’s challenge?”
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
