මධු මාධව අරවින්දගේ නිල තේමා ගීතය....

IPM Fully Geared for Transformation of HR in the Digital World

IPM Sri Lanka – the nation's leader in human resources management – today announced that the much sought-after event - The IPM National Human Resources Conference 2018 will be held on Wednesday, 6th& Thursday, 7thJune at the BMICH in Colombo under the theme of ‘Transformation of HR in the Digital World’.

IPM's NHRC is the largest HR conference in South Asia and the conference is expected to attract around 1,000 local and foreign participants. The Chief Guest at the IPM NHRC 2018 will be Hon. Harin Fernando, Minister of Telecommunication & Digital Infrastructure of Sri Lanka.  

The keynote address of the Conference will be delivered by Mark. G. Prothero – The Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives. A lineup of eminent speakers including Dr. Kazuo Yano (Workplace happiness through digitalization), Dr. DanushkaBollegala (Changing human resource landscape in the digital age), Dr. D. Prasanth Nair (Leveraging artificial intelligence in human resources) and Ms. Claudia Cadena (Aligning and energizing people in a digital workplace) will share their insights during the multiple technical sessions of the Conference. The scheduled Q&As after each session will provide ample opportunity for the audience to clarify any doubts and pose their own questions for clarification and answers by the speakers.  

The first panel discussion on the timely topic of “Future of HR in the world of Digitalization‟ will be moderated byJayantaJayaratna. The panelists include SomeshDasgupta - President, NIPM India,Kanwer A. Saeed - Vice President, PSHRM Pakistan, Md. Musharrof Hossain - President, BSHRM Bangladesh,AresandiranJaganatha Naidu - President, MIHRM Malaysia and Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri - President, IPM Sri Lanka. 

The second panel discussion on the topic of “Transition of Industrial/Employee Relations in the Digitalized World” will be moderated byDhammika Fernando - Executive General Manager, Tropical Findings (Pvt) Ltd. The panelists includeDittha De Alwis - Senior Assistant Director General and Head of Litigation -the Employers‟ Federation of Ceylon, A. Sarveswaran - Senior Lecturer and Director, Legal Research Unit, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo andMilangaWeerakkody – Deputy Commissioner, Labour Enforcement. 

Addressing the media gathering, President IPM Sri Lanka Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri opined that the theme of “Transformation of HR in the Digital World‟ was apt as Sri Lankans live in a brave new world – a “Digital World”, that is continuously evolving and disrupting lifestyles, beliefs and behavior.

“The proliferation of digital technologies has radically changed our lives, our communities and our workplaces reshaping the world of work in the process, dramatically changing the way we manage, perform and interact within organizations,” said Prof. Dharmasiri.  

This is the context in which the IPM Sri Lanka, being the national leader in HR has decided to focus on this year's national HR conference to reflect on and relate to its obligations to the nation, in transforming the practice of HRM. The National HR Conference is crucial for not only every HR professional in the country but also decision-makers from CEOs to entrepreneurs as technology is evolving, assuming an increasingly greater role in the way business are structured and managed. As such HR specialists are challenged to seek and adapt into the constantly shifting organizational context that surrounds them by adopting digital concepts, platforms, technologies and management style that can deliver sustainable results. 

“This year’s conference theme–  “Transformation of HR in the Digital World” endeavors to reorient the HR community by enlightening them on the changing HR landscape that is influenced by digitization, made further complex by the cultural and generational workforce diversity, war for talent and customer demands,” said  Priyankara Seneviratne, Chairman – NHRC 2018. 

The National HR Conference 2018 aims at transforming the mindset of the HR practitioners, enabling them to excel in an agile, digitally – empowered operating environment and embrace the brave new “Digital World” whilst staying and receptive to the workplace challenges of tomorrow. This much sought-after annual event is coinciding with National HR Exhibition, Great HR Practices, Great HR Awards, the Great HR Debate scheduled to be held on 6 & 7 June 2018 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).  

The “Great HR Practices” scheduled for 6 June at the BMICH, strives to share Best Practices in HR that have contributed towards achieving excellence within public and private sector organizations. The Great HR Debate 2018 is open to all public and private sector organizations that are eager to showcase the intellectual capital they possess. The Great HR Awards 2018 is part of an exclusive awards programme that endeavors to recognize exemplary HR professionals: leaders, eminent practitioners and exceptional students in HR, who represent the benchmark of achievement and best practice in the sphere of HR. Among the awards on offer are: IPM Lifetime Gold Award, PQHRM HR Professional of the Year and the IPM Sri Lanka HR Leader’s Award. 

The National HR Exhibition 2018 taking place on 06 and 07 June showcases how the new digital life and workplace radically shifting HR practices and processes. As Sri Lanka's only HR exhibition, this is dedicated to the providers of HR products and services and is the ideal forum to connect with the country's HR fraternity as many progressive organizations look to explore innovative HR technologies and solutions to replace dated processes with more efficient, state-of-the-art technology and to capture audiences comprising CEOs, top business executives, policy makers, industry experts, thought leaders, HR practitioners etc. 

 P.G. Tennakoon, Chief Executive Officer of IPM Sri Lanka expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders and partners on behalf of the IPM. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the President, Council members, Staff of IPM Sri Lanka & the Chairmen of the committees of the side events, for their contribution and unstinted support towards organizing a first-class technical conference and a pleasing social experience for all participants. I also wish to place on record committee’s appreciation of all the media personnel in attendance for their support in making the public aware of the National HR Conference and its impact on business.” 

Founded in 1959, the Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka (IPM) is a professional body incorporated by an Act of Parliament in1976. IPM is affiliated to the Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resource Management and World Federation of Personnel Management Associations. The vision, mission, values and objectives of the Institute focus on the raising of Professional Standards in Human Resource Management and Development of the Human Resource Management Profession through a process of conducting professional examinations, seminars/workshops, conferences, HR consultancy and research studies. 

“AgStar Teams Up To Stage inter Plantations rugby 7 ‘s 2018”

The leading fertilizer brand AgStar has come forward to join hands with the  Darawela Maskeliya Cricket Club which is popular by its acronym DMCC to stage the  18th version of the annual Planters Rubgy sevens . This is an event which is much look forward to by the planter fraternity specially with their enthusiasm towards the oval ball game  and has grown to be one of their  major calendar events .Given the popularity of the   event , and being a popular commercial  name in the plantation industry , Agstar is of the opinion that the tie up is timely and a fitting one . This was revealed at  a media conference recently held in colombo . The occasion was attended by Mr. Athula Gunaratne the Director marketing, Mr. Danushka De Zoysa the Assistant General manager-(corporate) and Mr. Amila Ratnayake the sales manager (corporate)  of AgStar PLC , Mr. R.M. Samarakoon – Secretary of DMCC (Chief Organizer of the Tournament) and  Mr. Kelum Samarathunge – Treasurer of DMCC.  

Commenting on the occasion Mr Athula Gunaratne of Agstar PLC said “At AgStar, our mission to drive growth in agriculture by providing superior quality products and services, remains at the heart of all we do Under the vision of founder chairman Mr. Rohan Karunaratne and the with the exceptional guidance of the managing director Mr. Pasad Weerasekara . We have closely associated with the plantation sector and have been able to provide them with  quality products and service . This partnership surely implies the strong bond we have with the plantation sector .

Adding to this Mr. Danushka de Zoysa said “AgStar is undoubtedly one of the most trusted and highly used fertilizers that ensure higher yield. Over the years AgStar is dominating in RPC (Regional Plantation Company) . The relationship between AgStar and Regional plantation companies seem very healthy and strong. This occasion also exhibits AgStar’s endless commitment towards the  plantation industry  .”

Mr Manjula Samarakoon Secrtatry  DMCC  and chief organizer of the tournament who is a live wire of  the event for many years opined ““ This is the one of the Leading Rugby 7’s Tournaments in Sri Lanka for many years with  high standards and we are most popular among the Planting Fraternity. It is an occasion where the    planters’ approach towards sports , Rugby foot ball in particular is well underpinned . “  Inviting the school boy rugby players  he said “Likewise , It is a clear beacon to the rugby  loving  school boys that plantations is an industry where one can continue to play rugby while engaging in a prestigious profession, therefore I would like to invite the promising ruby playing school boys to join the trade ones they leave the school  “ 

The annual gala Rugby event is scheduled to be held on  7th Of April 2018 at the  DMCC’s home venue in Hatton . This year 12 teams will take part in the tournament . It comprises of last year’s champions Talawakelle Tea Estates Plc, Maskeliya Plantation Plc, Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Plc, Agalawatte  & Pussellawa Plantations Ltd(combine) , Elpitiya Plantations Plc, Hapugasthenne  &  Udapussalaawa Plantations Plc(combine) , Hatton Plantations Plc, Kelani Valley Plantations Plc , Malwatthe Valley Plantations Plc, Mathurata Plantation Ltd, Namunukula  & Kegalle Plantations Plc(combine)  and Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation. Most of these teams are comprising of well known former school boy  as well as  Club  rugby players  who have later joined the prestigious planting profession who will dish out quality rugby much to the  amazement of the spectators,  revisiting  their playing days. 

On the day of the tournament , the organizers together with the main sponsors AgStar, has planned many entertaining items such as Live Band  Papare , Kiddies  games corner during the tournament  and gala dinner at the club house to keep the atmosphere live and supporters happy . Since there is  a growing interest among the rugby lovers to join the fun and frolic , the organizers also stated that such rugby lovers might reserve hotels in  close proximity to the venue and enjoy the cool climes in Hatton . 

DMCC is one of the elite planters clubs in the country and boasts of 140 years of a stellar history .When the  British Planters were managing estates, the DMCC  participated in   the leading  Clifford Cup Rugby Tournament for many years  . Players in the  likes of  late Lional Almeda, Ranil Thennakoon, Thuwan Dool,  Rizwan Omar and many others  who  played for Sri Lanka Rugby were produced by the DMCC.DMCC  Planters’ Rugby sevens is  the biggest Sporting event in  the plantations Fraternity, which is held  every year as an annual event.

Latest MAGS Fashion was declared open with some excellent designs in fashion world

Providing a glamorous fashion experience with latest trends in the fashion world, latest MAGS fashion showroom will be declared open on 6 April 2018 at 789A, Pannipitiya Road, Palawatta, Battaramulla. 

MAGS brings you cloths designed in line with the latest global fashion trends as well as some unique designs which are exclusive to MAGS. With a variety of fashion designs covering different age and gender groups MAGS brings the future of the fashion to your footstep. 

Designs of MAGS are done by popular and talented artists in Sri Lankan fashion industry. Further, MAGS present you fashion designs of all globally recognized brands at one place offering customers a wide range of choice. 

MAGS has already won hearts of the youth through the fashion brand ERA which became a very popular fashion brand embraced by the youth in recent past. 

Further, MAGS brings special designs for pregnant mothers which is branded as Maa and latest Maa designs too can be brought from the latest showroom. MAGS invite the public to gain a fabulous fashion experience by visiting newest showroom in Palawatta during New Year season and make some excellent choices during New Year shopping. 

Contact MAGS - 076 3 483 515/ 011 3 335 525 

Tourism Authorities Examine Pattipola Tourist Comfort Centre: Claim Social Media Criticism Unfair and Unfounded

The Ministry of Tourism and Development and Christian Affairs sent a special team of officials to look into the status of the 'Tourist Comfort Centre' attached to the Pattipola Railway Station, operated by the Department of Railways. 

A Picture taken at the facility, where a foreigner was seen lying on a trolley, went viral on social media platforms and therefore Tourism Development and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga immediately deployed a team of officials to look into the current status of the facility. 

The officials who visited the facility said the Tourist Comfort Centre was not in a dilapidated condition, as portrayed by some media and website reports. 

They stated that the Tourist Comfort Centre is well-maintained and fully utilized by tourists visiting the area.  "There are  hardly any complaints about the cleanliness of the place or bad maintenance. The Department of Railways is continuously working on its improvement and and the staff is working around the clock to ensure the proper maintenance of the place," an official who visited the Pattipola facility said. 

"During our discussions, the Station Master of Pattipola stated  that the picture, which was widely shared on social media, had been taken when a tourist fell asleep on a trolley, while waiting for a train. He said some tourists preferred to sit outside enjoying the scenic beauty of the Pattipola railway station. When analyzing the picture out of context, it may give a wrong idea about the comfort centre. But we can assure that the Tourist Comfort Centre is in good condition, and it continues to be a useful facility to all tourists visiting the railway station," the Sri Lanka Tourism official added. 
The Transport Ministry, the Tourism Development Ministry and provincial tourism authorities are currently working hand in hand to improve facilities and infrastructure for tourists travelling across the country.

Minister Sagala Ratnayaka Strongly Criticizes Ban On Social Media

Youth Affairs and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayaka today criticized the ban on social media saying the government must promote responsible use of social media with necessary checks and balances, without imposing a blanket ban on it. 

Issuing a statement on Twitter, Ratnayaka said the decision would take a heavy toll on the country's economy. 

"Social media ban makes a negative impact on a wide range of industries. Apart from the general frustration it creates, such blanket bans will take a heavy toll on economy and hamper IT, E-commerce and tourism sectors. What the government must promote is responsible use of social media, with necessary checks and balances," Ratnayaka said, in his statement.

"Blocking Facebook and messaging platforms long term is not an option, in this day and age. Social Media must start functioning so that the economy doesn’t suffer. Therefore access to Social Media must be unblocked as soon as possible and the Government must set in place a system to curtail hate speech and fake news," he added.

State of emergency declared in Sri Lanka : PM urges public

President Maithripala Sirisena promulgated a State Emergency a short while ago to redress the unsatisfactory security situation prevailing in certain parts of the country, the President’s Media Division said. 

“The Police and Armed Forces have been suitably empowered to deal with criminal elements in the society and urgently restore normalcy,” the PMD said.

During the special Cabinet meeting held today (6), the Government decided to declare a State of Emergency in the country for a period of 10 days.

Speaking to reporters after discussion, Minister S.B. Dissanayake stated that in the wake of the unrest in the Digana and Teldeniya areas in Kandy yesterday (5), certain accusations have been made that the law was not properly implemented and therefore the President decided to declare a state of emergency.

He stated that while the President has the authority to declare a state of emergency for a period of 10 days, the approval of the Parliament is necessary if that period is to be extended further.  

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking in Parliament today (6), said that the government is taking all possible measures to protect the people especially the Muslims. 

He stated that they are also inquiring into where there has been ‘lapses’.

Police fired tear gas on Monday and later imposed a curfew in the evening in the Kandy district in a bid to quell mob attacks in the Digana area following a tense situation that erupted in the general area of Teldeniya Police Division.

Reports said that a clash between two groups that caused death to one of them had sparked off this tense situation on the day of the funeral of the victim.

Meanwhile, a Police curfew has been imposed in the Pallekele and Teldeniya police divisions until further notice. 

PM urges public to not ‘fall prey to traitors’

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today urged all the people in the country to act with patience, intelligence and sensibly without falling prey to the traitorous individuals who are aiming to fulfill their objectives through racism.  

He made this request while briefing the Parliament today (6) regarding the recent tense situation in Digana and the acts of violence in Ampara before that. 

“As a government we strongly condemn all these acts of racism and violence. As a responsible government we cannot condone these unlawful and violent acts. As a country which has suffered from 30 years of war, we all know the value of peace, unity and freedom.” 

He said it is apparent that certain sections that are greedy for power are attempting various methods and various acts of sabotage to disrupt normal life. “Espousing racism is there only trump. Their only objective is to capture power at least by creating terror within the country and disrupting the day-to-day life of the people.” 

He said that it is clearly visible that organized attempts are being made to spread false and misleading information promoting hate among races, especially spreading distorted facts through social media.

Expressing the government’s regret with regard to the damages caused to Muslim places of worship, the PM stressed that the government will not hesitate to take strict legal action against these “organized and disrupting acts.”    

The Prime Minister also said that the government is taking all possible measures to protect the people especially the Muslims. He stated that they are also inquiring into where there has been ‘lapses’.

'Recent Developments In Kandy Have No Impact On Travelers: Areas Returning To Normalcy:' Tourism Authorities

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has taken every possible action to ensure that the recent incidents in the Kandy district do not cause any inconvenience to tourists in the area, a spokesman from the Tourism Development and Christian Affairs Ministry said. 

"Recent incidents in Digana and Theldeniya are isolated and have no impact on travelers. An island wide state of emergency has been declared purely as a precaution and as a way of facilitating action of the law enforcement mechanism," he said. 

"The situation is now under control and no new incidents of violence have been reported today," he added. 

"The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority is currently working with all industry stakeholders to ensure that recent developments in the Kandy district do not cause any inconvenience to tourists and travelers," the spokesman also said. 

SLFP MPs divided on three lines of thinking

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is reportedly divided on three lines of thinking with a dozen of MPs toughening their position that they should team-up with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and another similar number wanting to proceeds with the unity government with some internal adjustments, it is learnt.

In the third category, there are seven SLFPers trying to join the United National Party (UNP) for their future political activities.

The SLFPers, who want to quit the government, have already indicated their position to President Maithripala Sirisena about their position. There are 43 SLFP MPs serving in the government as Cabinet, State and Deputy Ministers currently.

The President has asked them to stay for one month. Meanwhile, Mr. Rajapaksa met with the President last week. According to sources, President’s brother Dudley Sirisena has reportedly arranged the meeting for the two leaders to meet.

It has been done in an effort to build confidence between the two leaders. 

(Kelum Bandara)

Sri Lanka Finance ministry to be restructured

Sri Lanka's Finance ministry is set to be restructured as part of the major shakeup in the government following its humiliating local council election defeat two weeks ago, official sources said Thursday.

State-owned banks, insurance and the central bank will be brought back under the Finance ministry, the sources said adding that the media portfolio is likely to be taken out.

The media subject was also attached to the Finance ministry when Mangala Samaraweera was made minister of both after Ravi Karunanayake was forced to step down after he was implicated in the bond scam.

The government believes that the media ministry will become more important in the run up to the 2019 presidential election and there should be a strong politician leading it.

It was not immediately clear if Minister Samaraweera will be retained in the finance portfolio, a position he had loathed given the fact that he could not provide jobs to his electoral constituents.

However, under a restructured Finance ministry, its minister would have access to Bank of Ceylon, People's Bank, the National Savings Bank and the Insurance Corporation.

The Insurance corporation owns large stakes in other private banks and listed companies giving it significant clout over the private sector too.

There was agreement between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena on elevating Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka as the minister of Law and Order.

Agricultural minister Duminda Dissanayake is expected to swap his portfolio with another Sri Lanka Freedom Party colleague.

Three SLFP ministers - Susil Premajayantha, Dayasiri Jayasekara and Chandimal Weerakkody -- are doubtful in the new cabinet, but they were being persuaded to stay, official sources said.

The trio had made public remarks that they may not want to be in a cabinet under premier Wickremesinghe. However, several others who made such pronouncements - Mahinda Amaraweera and John Seneviratne -- have down U-turns.

The UNP wants to bring two new faces into the cabinet giving ministerial positions to those representing the Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts.

The changes were due to be made on Thursday, but sources said the complex nature of the changes meant that the process could get delayed.

Sri Lanka’s war general tipped to head police ministry

Sri Lanka’s war-time general Sarath Fonseka emerged as the front-runner to be the Law and Order minister in a revamped cabinet, senior aides of the president and the prime minister said Sunday.

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are expected to finalise a cabinet that will see the outright sacking of some and the demotion of many, the sources said.

Law and Order minister Sagala Ratnayaka took the fall last week as many legislators of his United National Party (UNP) criticized the failure on the part of the police to prosecute corrupt members of the former regime.

The premier told reporters on Friday that the main reason for the UNP’s humiliating defeat at the February 10 election was their failure to arrest those accused of large scale corruption during the Rajapaksa regime.

Wickremesinghe said Ratnayaka had said he had too many responsibilities and was willing to give up the Law and Order portfolio. However, Ratnayaka himself told senior police officers on Friday that he wished he had another year to complete reforms he had planned.

It was believed  that Ratnayaka was being made the sacrificial goat as Wickremesinghe deflected criticism of his leadership by getting his Royal College alumnus to take the fall, sources close to the UNP leadership said.

There was strong support to make Field Marshall Fonseka the next Law and Order minister with responsibilities over the police, sources said adding that both the president and the prime minister favoured the idea.

“The next minister in charge of the police will have just three months to show results,” a political source said. “If it is Fonseka, he could be a loose cannon, but there is no doubt that he will get the job done.”

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne was also mentioned as a possible law and order minister, but he had opted out.   

Ratnayaka was accused of protecting former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and also leaking sensitive information from CID investigations to the Rajapaksa camp, but with Fonseka there is no fear of any such thing happening.

It was Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who initiated highly controversial action against Fonseka and ensured that he was jailed following kangaroo-court style military and civil trials that were internationally condemned as a sham.

Political sources said although Sirisena who came to power in January 2015 overturned the convictions against Fonseka and promoted him, the military and judicial officers complicit in the controversial action against the former general flourished under the new regime too.

Fonseka is currently the minister of regional development. A position of greater power and authority could see him take a leading role in restoring the electoral fortunes of the UNP government, party sources said.

Fonseka fell out with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa over who should take full credit for successfully crushing Tamil Tigers in 2009 and ending a decades-long Tamil separatist war. Before the two men fell apart, Rajapaksa had described Fonseka as the world’s best war general.

(http://economynext.com)

Conflict between President and PM over : Susil to the opposition

The internal rift between the President and the Prime Minister over the local government elections has been resolved by noon today, reports reaching Info Sri Lanka News confirmed.

Accordingly, Ranil Wickremesinghe has agreed to continue his term as the Prime Minister. He has also agreed for Cabinet reshuffle.

It is reported that Susil Premajayantha and a few other SLFP MPs are scheduled to hold a press conference tomorrow and announce their decision of joining the opposition after failing miserably in their attempt to garner enough votes to make Nimal Siripala De Silva the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that the President has requested the Ministry of Law and Order be handed over to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka in the Cabinet reshuffle.

It is also reported that several foreign missions have advised the President and the Prime Minister to work together and to continue the good governance government.

Sri Lanka President-backed putsch fails as PM rallies dissidents

A last ditch attempt by President Maithripala Sirisena to oust Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has failed due to a constitutional hurdle and more significantly the lack of parliamentary support, sources close to both sides said.

President Sirisena had agreed to continue working with Wickremesinghe, but had a sudden change of heart on Thursday after meeting with his United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)  seniors.

The two general secretaries of the parties, ministers Mahinda Amaraweera and Susil Premajayantha told reporters that neither of them could work under Wickremesinghe and insisted that they would not be in a cabinet with him. 

The duo raised Sirisena’s hopes of forming a SLFP/UPFA government with Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva as Prime Minister. Sirisena’s

dream of being the leader of an unadulterated UPFA/SLFP cabinet was reinforced by his nemesis Mahinda Rajapaksa pledging conditional support.

The charismatic former president controls at least 56 members of parliament out of the 96 elected under the UPFA ticket, but even together they do not have an absolute majority of 113 seats required to constitutionally topple Wickremesinghe.

A senior official close to Sirisena said the president had been misguided by a senior lawyer who had advised him that he had the power to sack Wickremesinghe the same way he unceremoniously dismissed D. M. Jayaratne in January 2015.

However, he was told that the President’s power to dismiss the Prime Minister was taken away by the 19th amendment to the constitution. Some have argued that the president could sack the entire cabinet and thus the PM too would lose his job, but there is no provision to under Articles 48 (as specified in the 19th amendment) to remove the cabinet in toto.

Aides have argued that Sirisena could have pressed ahead ignoring constitutional provisions if he had an absolute majority as in the case of Mahinda Rajapaksa who used his executive power and the huge parliamentary majority to impeach chief justice Shirani Bandarayanake in 2013 using highly questionable means. In less than three weeks into office, Sirisena’s administration in January 2015 overturned the impeachment of Bandaranayake using equally controversial means, but thanks to a steamroll majority in the House.

Realising  both the legal impediments and the lack of a parliamentary majority, the once gung-ho UPFA ministers went silent over the weekend with their efforts at a constitutional putsch backfiring and raising questions about their tenure in the National Unity government.

UPFA general secretary and minister Amaraweera had told the president in writing that no SLFP/UPFA member, himself included, could be in a cabinet with Wickremesinghe, a sentiment articulated over national television by Premajayantha.

While President Sirisena cancelled his meeting with senior editors on Friday, Wickremesinghe hosted senior journalists to tea at Temple Trees after a no-holds-barred press conference where he categorically declared that he will remain but with changes in his party and the cabinet.

In sharp contrast to the president’s camp, Wickremesinghe was careful not to criticize the president or his SLFP ministers. When asked how he could have Messers Premajayantha and Amaraweera in a future cabinet, Wickremesinghe said: “It is coalition politics. We have to get used to it. It was a little difficult for everyone at the beginning, but not anymore.”

He said the president had told him that he was spending the weekend at his home constituency of Polonnaruwa and they would discuss the composition of the new cabinet in the coming week. He expected the process of finalizing a new cabinet of ministers to take over a week.

Parliament meets on Tuesday for the first time after the February 10 local government elections and should the UPFA and the SLFP have sufficient numbers to oust Wickremesinghe they have no impediment to submiting a no-trust resolution against the premier.

Despite UPFA attempts to push Nimal Siripala de Silva as a successor to Wickremesinghe, the somnolent transport minister made no public comments about accepting high office. Instead, he was attending temple ceremonies and offering poojas for good luck, a source close to him said.

Dissent within

Shortly after the local government election results showed that Wickremesinghe’s UNP had suffered a drubbing, the premier was under pressure from within the party to step down.

However, the final results were not as bad as initially feared and Wickremesinghe was slowly able to rally support and keep disgruntled elements under check. A party senior said he also earned sympathy from the rank and file after a private media channel went out on a limb to personally attack him.

“The media campaign against Ranil was an overkill and many people who saw the live coverage ended up feeling that he was unfairly targeted and began to rally behind him,” the source said.

Wickremesinghe himself told reporters on Friday that he accepted responsibility for the electoral humiliation and was carrying out a restructuring of the party. He said the leadership was in “transition without disruption” and wanted younger members to take a leading role.

He also admitted that the fallout from the bond scandal and his government’s failure to prosecute high profile members of the previous regime accused of corruption were key factors.

He said he had taken on board the powerful warning from the electorate and was on a course correction to swiftly deliver on electoral promises made three years ago to bring to justice those responsible for killings and corruption. 

(http://economynext.com)

Sri Lanka PM out foxes naive Sirisena, gets cracking

Beleaguered Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who deftly deflected calls for his resignation after the local elections debacle has out maneuvered President Maithripala Sirisena and consolidated his grip on power.

A naive Sirisena had been made to believe by his closest aides that a majority in the United National Party (UNP) wanted Wickremesinghe out, but the Premier ended up getting all his legislators vowing continued support for his leadership.

"Contrary to media reports, the President never asked the PM to step down," a senior aide of Sirisena said. "In fact, he rejected a call from (SLFP) minister John Seneviratne to make Mahinda Rajapaksa the prime minister. He had indicated it would be better if the Prime Minister demonstrated his support."

The short-lived power struggle amplified and broadcast live on a private television ended by Tuesday night as a damp squib with no change in the government except for Sirisena ending up further weakened.

The fact that Sirisena had no power whatsoever to remove cabinet ministers was reiterated by his own aides who told him that the 19th amendment to the constitution had severely restricted his options and made him lame duck.

The appointment of a "committee" to decide the future course of the national government appears to be a face saving mechanism for all concerned. Neither leader contemplated changing the status quo, a source close to both sides said.

However, in a bid to address criticism that the UNP administration was stonewalling the investigations into high profile cases such as the Lasantha Wickrematunga assassination, a reenergised police went into action last night.

The Criminal Investigations Department announced today that it had arrested former Deputy Inspector General Prasanna Nanayakkara on a charge of suppressing evidence in the Wickrematunga killing in January 2009.

Nanayakkara as DIG based in Mirihana was in charge of the Mount Lavinia area where the assassination took place.

Police sources said a Senior Superintendent of Mount Lavinia at the time as well as two retired Inspectors of General and another retired senior DIG working for a foreign organisation are also likely to be questioned again and possibly arrested soon for the same charge of suppressing evidence.

The investigation focuses on, among other things, the disappearance of Wickrematunga's note book which was found in his car shortly after his killing. Vital evidence written down in that note book had disappeared.

Some of those grilled earlier had said they were under pressure from the then political leadership. The involvement of the military intelligence has been well established in the Wickrematunga killing with the CID now trying to identify the command responsibility.

Former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has already been named as a person of interest. Wickrematunga was killed two days before he was to go to the Mount Lavinia courts to disclose what he knew about the MiG deal in which Rajapaksa has been involved along with his relative Udayanga Weeratunga who is evading arrest.

The defeat of the UNP at Saturday’s local elections is also partly blamed on the government's failure to prosecute Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and alleged deals with several members of the previous regime.

Rajapaksa returned to the island after the local government elections. 

(ECONOMYNEXT)

President- PM To Make Final Call At Cabinet Meeting

After a discussion that lasted for over one and a half overs at the President's official residence down Paget Road, President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed to make a final decision on the continuity of the government at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, in the presence of both the UNP and the SLFP ministers. 

The decision was arrived after a meeting held between a UNP delegation, headed by the Prime Minister, and President Sirisena. The Prime Minister left for the meeting shortly after a meeting with the party leaders of the United National Front. They unanimously agreed to back Wickremesinghe to continue as the Prime Minister. 

Multiple political sources confirmed that the Prime Minister's position in the government was solid. There is a great possibility that he will form a new government, led by the UNP, this week, with the support of some SLFP ministers who will defect to the green camp. 

So, there is a possibility that tomorrow's Cabinet meeting will be the last Cabinet meeting of the national unity government, formed after the Parliamentary election, in 2015. At the same time, there is a possibility that both parties will agree to form a committee to decide the future of the unity government, in an attempt to buy more time. 

Such a committee will only prolong the political instability which has already resulted in an ailing stock market and shrinking FDIs. 

The UPFA, in a press conference today, said they would not continue in a government in which Ranil Wickremesinghe holds the position of the Prime Minister. The UNF party leaders then agreed to let the UPFA quit the government, if they did not wish to accept the Prime Minister's leadership. 

Therefore, the UPFA ministers may bow out of the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, as nobody's children. Some of them, however, will join the opposition while some will align with the Joint Opposition. 

The likes of Dilan Perera, who cannot join either side, will continue as an independent opposition group for the time being. 

Who are the ‘Judases’ in the UNP?

Minister Malik Samarawickrama has revealed that president Maithripala Sirisena had informed him that it was a group of UNP MPs and ministers who had told that the government cannot be steered further with Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime minister.

Minister Samarawickrama has dropped this bombshell during an UNP meeting at Temple Trees this evening (13).

According to him, the president had further said the relevant decision was taken after MPs and ministers of the SLFP had also suggested to remove Mr. Wickremesinghe.

If Mr. Wickremesinghe should be held responsible for the defeat at the recent LG polls after the UNP secured over 30% of the votes, the president is even more responsible after the SLFP secured only around 15% of the votes, minister Samarawickrama had said.

Meanwhile, ministers Champika Ranawaka, Palani Digambaram, Rauff Hakeem and Mangala Samaraweera as well as MP Wijayakala have also said that the president’s recent conduct and statements made during in the last few days before the election had largely contributed towards the ruling parties’ defeat.

They have further charged that the president had also attempted to obtain political mileage by even making the Auditor General appear before a media briefing.

Responding, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had said that he had refrained from responding to the continuous insults of the president just to safeguard the ruling coalition.

Although all UNP ministers and MPs were prepared to go to the president’s official residence immediately to find out which UNPers had said that the government cannot be steered ahead with Mr. Wickremesinghe, it was later decided only the cabinet ministers of the UNP should go, since the President’s residence cannot accommodate such a large crowd at once.

It is also learnt that the ministers had left for the president’s residence to convey the decision to establish an UNP government with Mr. Wickremesinghe as the PM.

PM survives pressure to step down : Sirasa suffers backlash

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe turned tables on dissidents within his own party and managed to head off a challenge to his leadership after the party's humiliating defeat at local council elections.

More than a dozen dissidents went into his Temple Trees official residence to read the riot act to Wickremesinghe, but meekly walked out saying they had endorsed his leadership.

They even went as far as to suggest that it would be better for the party to form a government on its own with members of President Maithripala Sirisena's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

The private Sirasa television station which had been intensely campaigning for Wickremesinghe’s removal had rushed a television crew to broadcast live what they suggest was the imminent fall of the Prime Minister.

Instead, Wickremesinghe out manoeuvred his opponents and got them to sign letters declaring their support. This is to be presented  to Sirisena as proof that the UNP was fully behind the premier.

Despite claims that Sirisena wanted Wickremesinghe to step down soon after election results were known on Sunday, there is no provision in the constitution for the President to sack the Prime Minister unless through a resolution backed by a majority of members of parliament.

The 19th amendment also means that the president cannot sack even a minister without the concurrence of the prime minister. Obviously aware of the constitutional constrains on him, Sirisena has left the future of the government in the premier's hand. 

The UNP has now informed Sirisena they will continue with the current government without any changes and SLFP ministers were welcome to stay or go.

However, the next few days are thought to be decisive for the UNP as seniors raise their voice and demand changes in the party hierarchy. 

(ECONOMYNEXT)

President's Social Media Team Throws Sirisena Into New Soup

In a farcical turn of events, President Maithripala Sirisena's official Facebook profile harshly responded to a person who commented on a Live Facebook coverage of the UPFA rally in Nuwaraeliya. 

As President Sirisena does not handle his own Facebook profile, it is quite evident that his social media operators have used the President's profile to have a go at a person who posted a negative comment. 

'Mahesh danna deyak kiyapang. E kamkaru congress kodiya'  ( You don't know what you're talking about. That's the flag of the CWC)) the President's Facebook profile said, responding to a person who posted a comment about a flag that appeared in the background. 

This is the second time President Sirisena found himself in embarrassing situations due to the conduct of his support staff. 


It was reported last week that a letter had seen sent to media heads inviting them for a meeting by the President on a date that is long past. 

The letter signed by the head of the President's media division invited them for a meeting with the President on "wednesday, the 26th of January, 2017".

President Runs The Risk Of Impeachment Over 6 Year Term: UNP, JO Indicate Support

President Maithripala Sirisena runs the risk of being impeached if he continues in office for more than five years, Info Sri Lanka News reliably learns. 

Initial discussions in this regard have started within the UNP camp. The Joint Opposition, led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has also indicated that it will support the initiative, a highly placed source within the UNP camp told Asian Mirror on Saturday. 

However, the charges upon which the impeachment motion will be based are still not clear. However, our sources that the UNP was of the strong belief that the incumbent president had no right to continue in office for more than five years.

"It is now clear that the President is not willing to work hand in hand with the UNP. This has almost come to the breaking point. Now, it is up to the UNP MPs to decide what they are going to do next," a highly influential Cabinet member representing the UNP said.

He said the Amendment’s transitional provisions explicitly stated that the five-year term, introduced by the 19th Amendment to the constitution, limit applied equally to the sitting President:

"Section 49(1)(b) of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution: For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that … the persons holding  office  respectively,  as  the President  and  Prime  Minister  on  the  day  preceding April 22, 2015 shall continue to hold such office after  such  date,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  the Constitution as amended by this Act."

However, the UNP has 105 members in the House. The two MPs, namely Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Athuraliya Rathana Thera, who came to Parliament on the UNP ticket function as independent members. The Joint Opposition has the support of nearly 50 MPs representing the house. Only 45 members representing the SLFP support President Maithripala Sirisena in the House.

"If the two groups decide to back an impeachment motion," he said, "it will be passed in the House with a resounding majority, even without the support of any other political parties."

‘Resa’ Lake House alternate newspaper

Another newspaper is scheduled to join the national newspaper stream from next Thursday (11).

The newspaper will be published by Lake House and is named ‘Resa’ .

This newspaper is expected to attract the readers who had so far eluded the reach of Lake House publications and will focus on raising a voice against petty differences related to science, lack of civilization, myth, racism, religious intolerance.

This newspaper will be headed by a young and enthusiastic journalist, Chamara Lakshan Kumara with another outspoken young journalist with vigour and courage Kasun Pussawela serving as his Deputy Editor.

Meanwhile, Ranjith Kumara Samarakone will serve as its Features Editor and Shalika Wimalasena will take on the reigns as the News Editor.

Many young journalists including Thimbiriyagama Bandara, Jayasiri Jayasekara, Ravindra Wijewardena, Nilantha Gamade, Manjula Samarasekara, Kasun Irugalbandara, Pabadu Saputhanthri and Shivanthi Fernando will contribute to ‘Resa’ as journalists.

Resa will also join hands with new technology through its web news portal managed by Madhuka Fernando and Vimukthi Dushantha.

Seneviratne together with a team of talented page makers will handle the appearance and layout of the paper.