Proving its passion and relentless commitment to create employee-rich experiences and great working atmosphere, Aqua Dynamics, one of the world’s most versatile action sports leader in the leisure sector, was recently ranked among 50 Best Workplaces in Sri Lanka for 2022, a list compiled by the global authority and pioneer in evaluating workplace cultures, Great Place to Work Institute.
Aqua Dynamics is no stranger to the list, having been named among 40 Best Workplaces in Sri Lanka last year in addition to making to the Best Workplaces in Asia under Large Category. Its workplace is consecutively assessed and recognized with the annually recurring Great Place to Work certification which speaks volumes about the company’s intention in sustaining a high-trust, high-performance culture.
Frank Ulmer, Managing Director of Aqua Dynamics (Pvt) Ltd, said ‘We are honored yet again to be recognized as one of the best workplaces in the country. This achievement is dedicated to all our employees whose resilience, commitment and loyalty goes beyond what words can describe.’
During the unprecedented Covid-19 outbreak, the company continued to tighten its policies and measures in ensuring health and safety of employees and took proactive steps in reinstating their confidence and wellbeing amidst the many uncertainties and prioritized in instilling a sense of security and comfort, paying full salaries, bonuses and benefits without any cuts.
Aqua Dynamics focuses on actively upskilling and enhancing the knowledge and skills of its employees, and strongly encourages its employees to take on risks and challenges, acknowledging them to make mistakes and grow. It pursues an open-door policy enabling any employee to raise concerns and speak up with active discussions with the Joint Workers Council to address gaps between the workforce and the management, and fosters an inclusive work environment honoring their diverse ideas and suggesstions.
The strongest indicator in its annual survey conducted among employees is ‘pride’, with employees positively willing to put in extra effort to get the job done. ‘We strive to foster a stimulating, stress-free environment where every employee can pursue and reach both their professional and personal goals and we always empower them to participate and contribute in all our company-wide efforts,’ added Lalindra Fernando, General Manager.
With over 2,200 employees, Aqua Dynamics has a diverse workforce with industry best practices on equity and inclusivity and has a zero-tolerance policy in harassment and discrimination.
Established in 1988, Aqua Dynamics has evolved from a windsurfing sail manufacturer to a leader in manufacturing tens of thousands of big boat sails, windsurfing sails, paragliders, surf kites, tents annually including cutting, printing, and accessories at its state-of-the-art 30,000 sqm workspace. The company today has an average global market share of 25pct in the leisure sports sector with plans underway to expand its capacity.
The third session of the 9th Parliament is scheduled to be commenced today (03) under the chairmanship of President Ranil Wickramasinghe.
Accordingly, the new parliament will be inaugurated at 10.30 this morning and the president will present the policy statement of the new government.
However, according to the instructions of President Ranil Wickramasinghe, only a simple and elegant ceremony will be held and no salutes or motorcades will be held, the Communication Department of the Parliament states.
A member of the Kotikawatta – Mulleriyawa local council has been killed in a shooting that took place yesterday (02) afternoon.
Sumudu Rukshan, a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna of the Kotikawatta-Mulleriya local council, has died.
He was shot with a pistol by two unknown persons who came on a motorcycle while he was staying at the Mulleriyawa Bank Junction area yesterday evening.
The reason for the shooting has not yet been revealed and the police are investigating.
Yesterday (02), several rounds of discussions were held with several political parties regarding the formation of an all-party government.
It was chaired by President Ranil Wickramasinghe at the President’s Office.
Party leaders and members representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the ruling party attended the first round of discussions and the second discussion was held with the Ceylon Workers’ Congress. Ceylon Labor Congress Leader Sendhil Thondaman and Secretary General Member of Parliament Jeevan Thondaman and other representatives participated in it.
The third discussion was held with the National Congress and a delegation including its leader Member of Parliament ALM Ataullah participated in it.
The President’s Media Division says that today (03) there will be discussions with several parties about the formation of an all-party government.
Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka, Mizukoshi Hideaki called on the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Ali Sabry on 28July, 2022 at the Ministry.
Minister Sabry and Ambassador Mizukoshi discussed on improving the multi-faceted bilateral relations which attained its 70th anniversary this year.
Whilst appreciating the timely assistance and support extended by the Japanese Government, the Minister briefed the envoy on the current economic situation and the initiatives the Government has taken to mitigate the challenges.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials of the Embassy of Japan were present during the meeting.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry briefed the Colombo-based Ambassadors and High Commissioners on key developments following the election of the new President and the formation of the new Government, at his first briefing of the diplomatic corps on Monday 1 August, 2022 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister outlined the recent political developments in Sri Lanka leading up to the election of President Ranil Wickremesinghe as well as the formation of the interim Government. The related processes had taken place within a democratic constitutional framework. The Foreign Minister reiterated the commitment of the President to speedily resolve the economic challenges faced by the country in discussion with all relevant partners in the international community as a matter of the highest priority. The Foreign Minister extended his deep appreciation to the international community for the assistance being extended to Sri Lanka in order to address issues of relevance in the current socio-economic context.
Elaborating on the broad-based, consultative approach adopted by the President in addressing the current challenges, the Foreign Minister referred to ongoing discussions on forming an all-party Government. Reference was also made to progressive legislative reforms being contemplated in the near-term in accordance with the aspirations of the people.
With regard to the policy priorities of the new Government which would be presented to Parliament by President Wickremesinghe when the Parliament reconvenes for its next session on Wednesday 3 August, 2022, Minister Sabry reiterated Sri Lanka’s neutral and non-aligned foreign policy based on the principle of friendship towards all.
The Foreign Minister highlighted the longstanding, democratic credentials of Sri Lanka, including the right to peaceful protest, freedom of assembly and expression. These rights are constitutionally guaranteed and upheld by the Government. He apprised the diplomatic community on action taken to restore normalcy in the country within the framework of the law, in order to ensure the effective functioning of Government. The Minister observed that the emergency regulations enacted in July 2022 are subject to regular and periodic review.
Members of the Diplomatic community congratulated the Foreign Minister warmly on the assumption of his new role, and thanked him for the useful update.
Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aruni Wijewardane and senior officials of the Ministry were also present at the briefing.
Court accepts argument that homosexuality is neither a mental illness nor an offence.
In a ground-breaking decision, the Wattala Magistrate’s Court dismissed a case filed against a lesbian woman accepting the submission of defence counsel that homosexuality is neither a disease of the mind nor an offence.
Background to the case
A case was filed at the Wattala Magistrate’s Court against a 22-year-old lesbian woman. The parents of the victim, with the help of the Welisara Mahabage police, had filed a motion in Court seeking a declaration that she was mentally ill because she was a lesbian.
The parents of the victim had been illegally confining the adult woman and subjecting her to abuse, harassment, and forced conversion services after she informed them of her sexual orientation and that she was in a consensual and loving, same-sex relationship.
The matter was initially raised with the Welisara Mahabage Police when a friend of the victim made a complaint to the Welisara Mahabage Police after receiving an email from the victim explaining her illegal confinement.
The victim and her parents were then summoned to the Police for further inquiry. Here, the parents of the victim informed the Police that the victim was suffering from a mental illness as a result of her homosexuality. The Police then further discriminated the victim based on her sexual orientation. The Police, on the request of the parents of the victim, subjected her to a psychiatric evaluation with a psychiatrist suggested by the OIC. The parents of the victim then made a complaint against their daughter stating that she was in a same sex relationship and suffered a mental illness therefore they wished that she be produced before a Judicial Medical Officer for psychiatric evaluation. The victim objected to this examination on the ground that no court order was issued.
One week later, the Police summoned all parties back to the Police station stating that there was no evidence of an offence being committed on the part of the victim and they wished to release her possessions back to her. The counsel appearing for the parents of the victim then contested the ownership of the possessions. The Police then stated that this dispute should be resolved by the Magistrate and presented the facts to Court.
First hearing before the Interim Magistrate
On 21 March 2022, the case was taken up before an Interim Magistrate at the Wattala Magistrate’s Court. Appearing on behalf of the parents,the parents’ lawyers, a President’s Counsel, made an application to the Court that the victim suffers from a mental illness and should be subjected to a psychiatric evaluation by a Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) because of her homosexuality. Despite there being no specific offence charged and no legal basis for a medical examination, the Interim Magistrate had ordered the victim to be produced before a JMO for examination before the next hearing.
Following this decision by the Interim Magistrate, the victim’s lawyers filed a revision application to the High Court of Negombo to contest the Interim Magistrate’s decision. The lawyers argued that the Interim Magistrate had reached her decision merely upon submissions provided by the complainant and not upon any legal reasoning.
Magistrate’s often issue orders subjecting LGBT people to anal and vaginal examinations and STI testing purely on the request of the police. Such decisions can be challenged through revision applications. This case highlights this possibility.
Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists statement on homosexuality
In August 2021, the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists also issued a statement that homosexuality was not a mental illness. They further went on to state that the myth of homosexuality being a mental illeness lacked any scientific-based evidence and called on the relevant authorities to repeal S.365 and 365A of the Penal Code.
Sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code do not expressly criminalise homosexuality but is misapplied and misinterpreted by law enforcement to persecute LGBT people.
Final decision
The case was called again recently by the Wattala Magistrate Court. The Magistrate was then informed of the revision application that was made against the order of the Interim Magistrate. Further allegations were then put forward by the complainant’s lawyer that the victim had been ‘brainwashed’ and ‘abducted’ by her partner, despite the victim’s claims of being in a consensual relationship. This was despite the victim having earlier made a statement to the Mahabage Police Station that she does not wish to live with her parents.
Arguments were then raised by the victim’s lawyer that since the victim was of 22 years of age, she is an adult and is in full capacity to make her own decisions. The victim’s lawyer also informed the court of the statement issued by the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, which rejected homosexuality as a mental illness. Furthermore, evidence was provided to the fact that the victim did not suffer from any mental illness that warranted her confinement since she was holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and was employed as a teacher.
The complainant’s lawyer argued that releasing the victim to the public would endanger children as she was a teacher.
Being a lesbian is not an offence
The victim’s lawyer further stated that the victim’s sexual orientation as a lesbian does not constitute as an offence under the Penal Code of Sri Lanka. In a U-turn for the police, the final report submitted by the Welisara Mahabage Police Station also stated that there was no evidence of any offence being committed by the victim.
Following these arguments, the Magistrate stated that there was in fact a lack of evidence of any mental illness and that no offence had been committed by the victim.
Magistrate dismissed case
The Magistrate dismissed this case on the grounds that a JMO examination was not warranted since there was no evidence that the victim was suffering from a mental illness, thereby accepting that homosexuality was not a disease of the mind.
The victim was supported by a collective of pro-bono lawyers working with legal probono organisation iProbono. Lawyers included President’s Counsel Dilrukshi Wickremasinghe, Erandhi Abeynake, Thishya Weragoda and Shevindri Manuel.
Ruling Party MP Nimal Siripala De Silva has been sworn in as the Minister of Ports, Naval and Aviation Services Minister before President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (02).
Sri Lankans who have foreign currencies including US Dollars will have no problem opening accounts and having them remitted, said Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena, speaking to the briefing held in announcing Cabinet decisions today (02).
The Minister added that no questioning will be done to those opening such accounts, providing the option that otherwise, they will be able to exchange the money into Rupees through banks. A special circular will be issued in this regard, Gunawardena revealed.
Joining the briefing, Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara noted that this opportunity will be given under a grace period and accordingly, these people will be allowed to deposit any amount of money in banks or to convert them into Rupees without being questioned regarding how they were earned.
Former Investment Promotion Minister Dhammika Perera is to be appointed as a Cabinet Minister soon, based on a suggestion approved by the President, political sources disclosed. The ex business magnet, accordingly, would be appointed to another powerful ministry directly responding to the country’s economy.
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has proposed that Perera should be given a chance to implement the programme he had introduced to recover from the forex crisis befallen the country in the event that he was the only person who had presented a practical solution with an action plan to address the crisis, reaching beyond mere concept notes. The SLPP’s suggestion has also been approved by President Wickremesinghe, according to sources.
The ex business giant during his very short tenure as the Investment Promotion Minister had accomplished a remarkable set of work appreciated by many people of the country.
