All members of the Sri Lanka Athletics Selection Committee have stepped down from their posts, handing over a collective letter of resignation to the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports today.

The decision, taken on the basis of several matters, marks a complete dissolution of the committee.

The members who resigned are:

• D.A. Dayaratne -Former Assistant Director of Sports
• Col. M.K.P. Jayasekara – Former national athlete and record holder
• Ravi Vidyalankara – Former public school record holder (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) Chairman Ramal Siriwardena has resigned from his post, it was reported.

The resignation has been confirmed by Deputy Minister of Transportation and Highways, Prasanna Kumara Gunasena.

This is the second instance in which a chairman appointed by the current government in a state institution has resigned.

Previously, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Chairman Senesh Dissanayake also resigned from his post. (Newswire)

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The Chairman and members of Sri Lanka’s University Grants Commission (UGC) have tendered their resignations.

It is reported that they handed over their resignation letters to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (Oct 14).

The resignations came after the Presidential Secretariat, via a letter from the President, had informed the UGC Chairman and Commission members to resign.

Accordingly, UGC Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Deputy Chairman Prof. Chandana P. Udawatte, and other commission members have tendered their resignations. 

The tenure of the UGC Commission members who were appointed to their respective posts in 2020 was set to conclude in March 2025. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara today declined to accept his appointment to the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). 

Opening Parliament proceedings, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapkshe announced the appointment of MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara to the COPE Committee.

However, immediately, MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara intervened and announced his decision to decline the appointment.

Addressing the Chamber, MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara pointed out that it was general practice for an opposition MP to head the COPE Committee.

The Parliamentarian said that with the current issue with the newly appointed Chairman, he will be declining his appointment to the COPE Committee.

MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara becomes the latest member to resign from the COPE Committee. 

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne was the first member of the COPE Committee to resign, citing issues with the appointment of a ruling party member as the new chairman of the Committee. 

Following his resignation, MPs Dayasiri Jayasekara (SLFP), Prof. Charitha Herath (SLPP), S.M. Marikkar (SJB), Hesha Withanage (SJB), Gamini Waleboda (SLPP), and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam (TNA) also stepped down from the COPE Committee.

A total of eight Parliamentarians have stepped down from the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) as of now. (NewsWire)

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Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has issued fresh directives to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Management.

Taking to ‘X’, the minister said he has instructed the CEB management to accept without hesitation the resignation of any employee.

He further said the CEB Management has been also instructed to recover all dues owed to the institution.

Relevant officials of the CEB Management have been further instructed to expedite work related to reforms of the institution. 

The reforms include cost reduction mechanisms, implementing identified power projects in the generation plan, expanding the digital payment platform, and outsourcing payment collections, he said.

Minister Wijesekera added that instructions have also been issued to initiate disciplinary and legal steps against personnel who disrupted the services of the CEB during a token strike in January this year. 

The fresh directives come based on news reports that nearly 5000 CEB employees are preparing to tender their resignations at once.

As per the report, the CEB Trade Union Alliance has taken the decision against the ministry’s alleged attempt to suppress the employees. 

The Alliance has reportedly made the decision following the CEB’s decision to interdict nearly 66 employees who had participated in a two-day strike action that was held from January 03, 2024, against the restructuring and privatization of the CEB. 

The group was interdicted last week for closing the cash counters during the token strike severely inconveniencing the public. (NewsWire)

I have instructed CEB management to accept resignations of any individual without hesitation and to recover all dues to CEB.

I have also instructed the relevant officials to expedite work related to CEB reforms, cost reduction mechanisms, implementing identified power projects… pic.twitter.com/x3VQfN7Sb4

— Kanchana Wijesekera (@kanchana_wij) January 22, 2024

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