News
Dr. Ruchitha Perera appointed to Board of Directors of CIM, UK
Dr. Ruchitha Perera, FCIM, Chartered Marketer (UK), has been elected to the Board of Directors of The Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK, for a three-year term, beginning December 2022. The appointment was announced at its Annual General Meeting held recently, at Moor Hall, United Kingdom.
The Board of Directors consists of 10 members, of which eight represent the UK, and Europe, and two represent the rest of the world. Ruchitha was elected as per the electoral results from a ballot of all voting members of CIM worldwide. The Board of Directors are required to uphold CIM’s constitution and are responsible for the overall governance of CIM and its affairs. The Board is also answerable to CIM members for the activities and functions undertaken to uplift the standards of marketing, as a profession globally.
An alumnus of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, Ruchitha is an enthusiastic marketer, with a career spanning 30 years, delivering marketing education, business coaching and training. He has also provided leadership to global organisations, representing brands such as Acer, IBM, and HP.
As an inspirational business coach, specialising in marketing, sustainability, and digital transformation, he has displayed a thorough understanding of marketing trends, driving organisational value through global coaching assignments.
In addition to facilitating CIM modules, Ruchitha has also aided both masters and doctoral programmes, internationally. He has guided many professionals, and organisations, enabling them to be future ready. Furthermore, he takes pride in motivating the next generation of entrepreneurs to embrace innovative marketing through local and international mentoring programmes.
Ruchitha plans to enhance stakeholder value, create fusion and cordial relationships within and beyond the marketing fraternity by positioning CIM as the global mark of professional marketing.
CIM is the world’s leading professional body for marketing and has been operating in Sri Lanka for more than 25 years, specialising in supporting people to achieve internationally recognised professional marketing qualifications.
In December 2018, CIM opened a new office in Colombo, with business development as its primary focus. Business volume has increased by 50% with a sharp 67% increase in professional members and a 40% increase in students by November 2021 and April 2022, respectively.
Unfortunately, the economic challenges in Sri Lanka have temporarily hampered aspirations of further growth but a doubling of regional social media followers is a clear indication that the organisations positioning has improved. During COVID restrictions, CIM Sri Lanka held regular webinars to ensure members were still able to connect with CIM’s community of marketers and had access to the insight necessary to progress their careers.
CIM Sri Lanka and the Maldives is headed by Ms. Onalie Dissanayake, supported by staff and a team of experienced volunteers.
… Prez Secretariat faulted for not maintaining asset declaration registry
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has decided against refiling 34 cases that were withdrawn during the 2019-2024 period.
The 34 cases are among 102 cases withdrawn during that period, the CIABOC has disclosed, adding that 65 cases had been refiled. Decisions on three others are pending according to statistics made available on 01 March 2025.
The CIABOC provided a breakdown of the withdrawal of cases: 2019 (5), 2020 (0), 2021 (44), 2022 (49), 2023 (02) and 2024 (2).
The current CIABOC consists of Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala (Chairman/Commissioner), K. B. Rajapakse (Commissioner) and Chethiya Goonesekera P.C (Commissioner). Its Director General is R. S. A. Dissanayake.
According to the CIABOC the majority of cases were withdrawn due to the absence of the signatures of all commissioners who served during 2019-2024.
Among the cases dropped by the CIABOC were four involving former Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando. The CIABOC found fault with the Presidential Secretariat (PS) for the collapse of the cases due to the failure on the part of the PS to maintain a proper asset declaration registry at that time. The charge against the then Minister Fernando was the non-disclosure of assets and liabilities during the 2010-2014 period.
Fernando contested the last general election on the SLPP ticket but failed to retain his seat in Kurunegala District.The CIABOC has also decided against refiling the case against MP Rohitha
Abeygunawardena (New Democratic Front/Kalutara District) as the corruption charges pertained to acquisition of illegal assets amounting to Rs. 41.2 mn in 2004 and due to their failure to move court within 20 years.
The CIABOC also disclosed that the case against one-time Chairman of National Lotteries Board A.I. Ismail (2002-2003) charged for wrongful payment of Rs 9.8 mn to a private party had been dropped due to main witnesses former prisons Commissioner G.M.K. Bandara and former Director Public Enterprises K.M. Indrajith having migrated.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Election Commission yesterday announced a revision to the postal voting schedule for the upcoming Local Government Elections, which are set to take place on May 6.According to the updated timetable, postal voting would now be conducted on April 24, 25, 28, and 29, Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said yesterday.
“All government institutions, including the police, tri-forces, schools, corporations, and statutory
boards, will conduct postal voting on these four days,” Rathnayake said, adding that employees of those institutions can mark their postal ballots at their respective offices without any change to the existing arrangements.
A special postal voting centre will be set up at Kandy Girls’ High School to facilitate voting by police personnel on duty at the Sri Dalada Maligawa during the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Arrangements have been made for tri-forces personnel to cast their postal votes under the supervision of designated certifying officers at their respective camps during the same four-day period.
In preparation for the elections, official ballot papers for all eligible postal voters across the 339 local government bodies were handed over to the Postal Department by Returning Officers on April 16. Distribution has already begun and will continue until April 29.
The Election Commission advises any postal voter who has not received their ballot by April 29 to make inquiries at their respective post offices.
The revised schedule replaces an earlier announcement made on March 27, which had designated April 22, 23, and 24 for postal voting at district secretariats and election offices, with April 28 and 29 set aside for those unable to vote on the initial dates.
With the latest changes, April 24, 25, 28, and 29 are now the official postal voting dates for the 2025 Local Government Elections.
A total of 18 candidates and 62 supporters have been taken into custody across the country in connection with criminal complaints related to the impending local government elections by yesterday morning (17).
A total of 38 criminal complaints related to the election and 138 complaints regarding violations of election laws have been lodged with police stations in different parts of the country.
According to the Police Media Division, on 16 Jan., two criminal complaints related to the election and six complaints regarding election law violations were received.
By Chaminda Silva
Hamas formally rejects Israeli ceasefire offer
Trump and Meloni talk up chances of US trade deal with Europe
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