Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe urged the current government to manage the economy effectively or seek advice from the so called “grandfather” if unable to do so.
Addressing a public meeting in Galle yesterday (07), Wickremesinghe highlighted the United National Party’s (UNP) role in making President Ranasinghe Premadasa the leader and emphasized the need for common citizens to enter politics, a system he claims the UNP pioneered.
Wickremesinghe countered that his administration had planned salary hikes from January and accused the President of not following through with earlier commitments.
Challenging the government’s economic policies, he pointed out, “We achieved a 4.4 percent growth rate this year, surpassing the IMF’s projected 3 percent. Next year, we could aim for 5 percent.” He called on the administration to stabilize the rupee and deliver promised relief to the people, adding that failing to address salary hikes undermines trust placed by government employees.
Wickremesinghe further criticized the lack of experienced leadership within parliament, stressing that “compass” candidates lack familiarity with local issues and governance structures. He argued, This is why we need experienced representatives who know the people and understand the country.
He concluded by warning against entrusting parliament to an inexperienced group, insisting that capable leadership is essential for navigating the country’s economic and social challenges.
The Thunderstorm coupled with an Earthquake Stopped the Clock on the 5th November 2024 at 1800 Florida Local Time,
Donald Trump with all his excess baggage took over USA!
With his Election Theme MAGA, Make America Great Again” may change the Global alliances and the Power Structure with a New Dimension.
Most likely an immediate change will be the New President’s attitude towards NATO.
USA will concentrate on many aspects of immediate improvement American economic life, which may push the NATO involvement into a lower gear.
The change might make New Alliances based on Religion, in all three (3) Continents.
This will radicalise the NATO members to look at their own House!
Its might make more sense for the United Kingdom to look at the alternates of inviting Ireland – Nordic – Baltic countries, with an accent on Christianity.
The New Name options (questionable) might create havoc in the Oxford Dictionary!
The five Nordic states Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland have majority Christians.
So are the three Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania are predominantly Christian with some Catholics.
The UK with the Irish, Nordics & Baltics will make both powerful economic sense as well as in Self-Defense with the combined military capability.
The Central Europe with Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland have a sizeable Catholic population, with a Christian support.
The Muslim countries have given thought of consolidating their economic & military power. Time to create an independent joint islamic military forces. Military alliance of 57 countries.
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, UAE, Kuwait, Jordon carry a great power in Oil, Gas, & Mineral Reserves, will offer a powerful economic & military front with a Muslim majority.
Pakistan, Bangladesh & Indonesia may join this club.
The Hindu & Buddhist Asia led by India, some ASEAN countries, Nepal, Sri Lanka may join the billion member Asian front. With other East Asian States Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea as supporting cast.
China with its billion population may carry on regardless as a non-believer. The entire work force will continue to dominate globally the FMCG-Clothing-Footware manufacturing and the new Electric Vehicles.
Russia with its historical Orthodox Christianity may have Belarus and some minor satellite Republics in its sphere.
The current or incoming USA Strategy without NATO, Russia will sit on Crimea and the new slices of Ukraine, as a Defensive measure. With the potential global developments, Russia will forge back to economic development of its own country, concentrating more towards natural resources in its vast geography and strengthen the Arctic resources.
As a friend gesture, King Don might offer President Vladimir Putin a Golden Handshake of Lifting Sanctions as a Gesture of Goodwill to pull back Russian troops from the borders of Ukraine.
The Slavic countries might hang on to Hungary, as a Comfort Resource.
Sorry Australia & New Zealand.
Really have very little space in this Game of Musical Chairs!
This leaves Israel & Ukraine.
Israel may need to look at its overall strategy when neither USA nor European countries want to get involved against a Muslim Powerhouse.
Events will force Israel to step back and allow the State of Palestine to raise its flag in East Jerusalem!
Ukraine with a slice of country under Russian control with the absence of NATO or EU support, will be forced to live the Life of an Orphan developing its agriculture.
EU may find itself in a Geo-Political Religious dilemma, may die a natural death, with all the top management team, fully dressed-up and no where to go!!
His Holiness Pope Francis will Lead in Prayers with the Orthodox Bishops, Buddhist Monks and Muslim Mullahs!
—ENDS—
Express Your Opinion – Read What Others Say! The Independent Interactive Voice of Sri Lanka on the Internet.
The story of cricket in Sri Lanka is a captivating narrative that charts its arduous path since the sport was introduced in the 19th century. This island nation has transformed from a cricketing underdog into a powerhouse, leaving an indelible mark on the global cricketing stage. Sri Lanka is renowned not just for its talent on the field, but also for its creativity and innovation that have redefined the sport both domestically and internationally.
Throughout the years, remarkable cricketers of various ethnicities, including Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors, Malays, and Burghers, have forged a legacy of excellence while overcoming numerous challenges. However, two pivotal milestones shine particularly bright in this illustrious tale of cricket.
First and foremost, Sri Lanka’s historic World Cup triumph in 1996 under the capricious leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga remains a crown jewel in the nation’s cricketing saga. This monumental achievement came against all odds and showcased the country’s burgeoning talent on the biggest stage. Additionally, the introduction of the Decision Review System (DRS) by lawyer Senaka Weeraratna in 1997—initially dubbed ‘Player Referral’—stands as a testament to Sri Lankan innovation making waves beyond the cricket field, occurring just a year after the World Cup win.
The 1996 World Cup victory is a treasured chapter in Sri Lankan history that ignites pride, while the DRS has become a staple across formats in the game, be it T20, One Day Internationals, or Test matches. Daily, it serves as a powerful reminder of Sri Lanka’s ingenuity and brilliance.
Globally embraced, the DRS has brought an unprecedented level of transparency, accuracy, and fairness to cricket—a sport that was often shrouded in contentious decisions made by on-field umpires. These have frequently led to animosity among competing nations. The DRS stands tall as a beacon of reform, awaiting one final piece of recognition—the formal acknowledgment of its inventor, coupled with the rightful compensation for his extraordinary contribution to enhancing the integrity of the game.
Indeed, the DRS is Sri Lanka’s most significant gift to the world of cricket, a symbol of progress that reflects both skill and innovation.
see also
DRS – High Water Mark of Sri Lanka’s ascendency in cricket
The prime minister’s acceptance of freebies and hospitality has dominated the political landscape this week. But what exactly has Sir Keir Starmer been criticised for, what are his party’s concerns, and what has he said about it?
His acceptance of football tickets has proved particularly contentious, with some government officials reportedly concerned about a potential conflict of interest.
But what exactly has Sir Keir been criticised for, what are his party’s concerns, and what has he said about it?
Specifically, it was revealed Lord Alli, former chairman of online fashion retailer Asos, paid for a personal shopper, clothes, and alterations for Lady Victoria Starmer both before and after the Labour leader became prime minister in July.
Image:Sir Keir Starmer with wife Lady Victoria after election win in July. Pic: PA
MPs are required to register gifts and donations within 28 days of receiving them, but it is understood the donations for Lady Starmer’s clothes were submitted late.
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Conservatives have been calling for an investigation into the potential breach of rules, which a spokesperson for Number 10 said was an oversight that had been corrected.
“We believed we’d been compliant, however, following further interrogation this month, we’ve declared further items,” the spokesperson told Sky News.
Sir Keir has also received – and disclosed – other gifts from Lord Alli totalling £39,122.
These donations included an unspecified donation of accommodation worth £20,437, “work clothing” worth £16,200, and multiple pairs of glasses equivalent to £2,485.
Some Tory MPs have condemned Sir Keir for accepting the gifts at all, with shadow science and technology secretary Andrew Griffith saying: “It beggars belief that the prime minister thinks it’s acceptable that pensioners on £13,000 a year can afford to heat their home when he earns 12 times that but apparently can’t afford to clothe himself or his wife.”
https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.675.2_en.html?gdpr=1#goog_1211150975Play Video – PM under fire for freebiesPM’s freebies explained
Football tickets
The Premier League is one of the biggest donors of hospitality, and Sir Keir – a renowned Arsenal fan – has received almost £40,000 in tickets overall since December 2019.
He has declared £12,588 of gifts from the Premier League, numerous hospitality tickets to Arsenal matches costing well over £10,000 in total, plus two Euros finals tickets costing £1,628 and thousands of pounds’ worth of tickets from other Premier League clubs.
Image:Sir Keir Starmer in the stands of Premier League match between Brighton and Arsenal in April. Pic: PA
Sky News has learnt officials are warning the prime minister that he could be opening himself up to inappropriate lobbying by continuing to accept football tickets, as the government is planning to set up an Independent Football Regulator for the professional men’s game.
Ministers are usually told to avoid hospitality from any organisation connected to an ongoing government regulatory decision.
Talk over his gifts, which include four tickets to a Taylor Swift concert totalling £4,000, also comes amid controversy over the prices concert-goersand football fans are having to pay to attend events.
What has Starmer said in response to criticism?
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https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.675.2_en.html?gdpr=1#goog_1225910711Play Video – PM wants ‘transparency’ over donationsPM wants ‘transparency’ over donations
Speaking to journalists this week, the prime minister said “all MPs get gifts” and he thinks the need to declare them is “a good framework”.
“Wherever there are gifts from anyone, I’m going to comply with the rules,” he said.
“It’s very important to me that the rules are followed. I’ve always said that. I said that before the election. I reinforced it after the election.
“And that’s why shortly after the election, my team reached out for advice on what declarations should be made so it’s in accordance with the rules.
“They then sought out for further advice more recently, as a result of which they’ve made the relevant declarations.”
On his acceptance of Arsenal tickets, he added: “I’m a massive Arsenal fan. I can’t go into the stands because of security reasons. Therefore, if I don’t accept a gift of hospitality, I can’t go to a game. You could say: ‘Well, bad luck’.
“That’s why gifts have to be registered. But… never going to an Arsenal game again because I can’t accept hospitality is pushing it a bit far.”
Another of the opposition’s critiques of the PM has been his so-called “hypocrisy”.
On Sunday, former home secretary and Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly told Sky News Sir Keir was “very, very critical of the Conservatives” over similar controversies and had “basically got his job by criticising others”.
While Sir Keir didn’t comment on gifts during his election campaign, he regularly labelled former PM Rishi Sunak and his government as “out of touch” with the public’s financial struggles.
Some of the PM’s cabinet members have leapt to his defence – though with differing arguments in his favour.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News Sir Keir works “incredibly hard” and therefore deserves a “wider life experience” rather than simply working every second of the day.
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https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.675.2_en.html?gdpr=1#goog_1096808783Play Video – ‘No objection’ to Starmer giftsBusiness secretary: ‘No objection’ to Starmer gifts
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has argued prime ministers and their spouses must “look their best” on the world stage, and therefore accepting gifts of clothes is acceptable when there is no taxpayer-funded budget for it.
But there have been murmurings of discontent within the Labour Party, with some backbenchers telling Sky News they are deeply frustrated with the way this story has been handled by Sir Keir’s top team.
(Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel in Sri Lanka, solicitor in England and Wales, former Ambassador to UAE and Israel President Ambassador’s Forum in UK/SL)
Consumer and Consumerism
The consumer day 2024 will be organized worldover by the network of consumer organizations and the network of world consumer organization formed in 1962 initiated by John Kennedy with the famous statement that the most neglected group in the society are consumer who are not properly protected and organized. Celebrations take place world over addressing the consumer (citizen) on their rights duties and how he faces the mounting cost of living the trader, industrialists, and the regulators are responsible for. This is an issue every citizen faces worldover trying to find solutions with the pressure of cost of living, living conditions and the health issues followed by the mismanagement of consumerism that is otherwise known as consumer activism. Consumer is defined in various ways in various countries in the backdrop of trade and legal explanations the society was educated in Europe since 1800’ s and even in Sri Lanka since 4th century more fully developed by Tams such as ‘’Badualla Tam’’ published during the king ‘’Udaya’’ who gave instructions and directions to the consumer and the traders in Sri Lanka and visiting traders. Consumer is one who purchases for consumption on a consideration with is the dictionary meaning giving different definition in legislation including the act no9 of 2003 in Sri Lanka that covers the future consumer /too, protected adequately by legislation in UK India EU and many other parts.
World Consumer day to be celebrated on 15th of march every year world over
The basic theme of the consumer education and organization today is the world consumer day when all consumer organizations and activists groups unite together with a selected them for the current year as a promotional activity education show strength to the errant traders governance and the citizens to enhance the power of organization in order to protect and enhance the rights and privileges they are entitled to. The organizers select the current topis on food, environment, machinery or daily needs and the current topic Artificial Intelligence it’s the most relevant topic when we are on the doorsteps of AI age also with digitalisation that has the capacity to change the entire formats of systems to a short compact easily transferable modes for development an convenience. Education technology health and many other areas quiet successfully and effectively, and it is the main reason why it was chosen as the theme of 2024 promoting application and research on AI and the world consumer day worldwide promoting and formulating educational programmes to the consumer to be armed with knowledge, process on consumerism and use it for a better day for a life aspiring a for consumer items and services at a reasonable and of required quality at a reasonable prise. Inscription of the Tam shown in the image below shows even in Sri Lanka during King Udaya in 1857 engaged in consumerism guiding the local and foreign trader on consumerism and a developed commercial transections whilst looking after the consumer and and the governance. Similarly during 1800 UK developed the commercial transections and consumerism due to the naval power and worldwide tirade linked to our historical events that had an impact of our history and governance. World consumer day is also a improved development of the process that has spread worldwide also due to the improvements of trade and transport vis ship and aeroplanes.
( Inscription of Badulla Tam in 1857. Advising instructing and guiding the traders and the public on consumerism and trade local and foreign)
Why Artificial Intelligence
Arterial Intelligence is the future of today and extensively used in many areas such as health, technology,education and many more. Distant operations online in health sector , space travel, unmanned vehicles, and even the traditional NHS in UK is fully or partly AI which is fast developing with modern technology, the new platforms, and digitalisation which is the form of compression of the systems vis date and technology are some adopted and made use of,showing unlimited applications developments and progress fast improving. Artificial intelligences conversion of human intelligence to material form mainly vis digitalisation by compressing the data and other material yet unable to compete the human brain and intelligence. Of course AI is chosen as the theme of year 2024 and yet the Consumer International has not chosen the theme and we suggest the best theme for year 2025 would be the topic ‘’Consumer Ombudsman’’ which an excellent proposition to follow worldwide to be used to act as an umpire, arbitrator, advisor and guide the necessary parties such as the consumer, trader and the regulator that is the governance. Sarathdw28@gmail.com
Sri Lanka’s application for BRICS membership may be an early indication of President Dissanayake’s long-term vision. It signals shrewdness on the international stage. It has potential to serve the country’s strategic interests through: increased diversity of partners; making Colombo a greater priority for non-BRICS states; and the ability to shape a grouping containing the world’s rising Great Powers.
It has potential to serve the country’s economic interests through positioning Colombo to influence and benefit from new funding sources, financial instruments and the new trading currency the grouping is likely to introduce. It stays true to the non-aligned ethos the NPP was known to have when it was elected. It is also an application with a realistic chance at success because Sri Lankan membership would be a major win for BRICS.
Benefits for Sri Lanka
As a small state, Sri Lanka’s interests are best served when Great Powers and the institutions they control compete for Colombo’s favour. Membership of BRICS provides Sri Lanka, not only a platform to engage rising powers and assess their offerings, but also incentivizes states outside BRICS to offer Colombo more. Outside states will also see value in wooing Colombo in order to influence BRICS. This is all the more so because, while it has traditionally concentrated on economic cooperation, BRICS is now adopting a more holistic, strategic focus. And despite its internal challenges, of all major international groupings, BRICS arguably has the greatest potential for growth in strategic power. It contains all the big rising military powers, most notably China, India and Russia, who are already three of the four largest military spenders.
Secondly, post-independence Sri Lanka’s overarching foreign policy vision has always involved a world with greater parity between states, particularly between North and South, East and West. The gravest threat to Sri Lanka’s security stemmed from a separatist insurgency that survived, in large part, due to the ability to garner support/funding from wealthier/larger states. Greater international equality is thus central to Colombo’s long-term security interests. BRICS’ objective of a multipolar world order (a primary foreign policy goal of its major members), seeks more equality between Great Powers. Joining allows Colombo to shape this objective in a way that benefits not just Great Powers, but also smaller states, i.e. through a flatter international power structure overall.
Certain economic initiatives have significant strategic ramifications. This includes the proposed multicurrency system for cross-border payments, new BRICS currency in the long-term, the ‘BRICS Pay’ alternative payment system to SWIFT, and the prerequisite that members not sanction each other – all of which Sri Lanka can influence and mould as a member.
In pure economic terms, as a BRICS member, Sri Lanka can benefit from being able to shape existing and future BRICS finance alternatives to the IMF. Colombo can lobby for new sources of loans to not impose the austerity policies known to foist the greatest burdens upon ordinary people (e.g. Argentina etc.), in line with NPP’s platform.
Benefits for BRICS
Sri Lanka’s application is not a frivolous one. As a key theatre for geopolitical competition in Asia, BRICS countries benefit from Colombo’s membership. The island is situated near major sea lines of communication, including directly between two of what the US and China consider critical chokepoints: Bab el Mandeb (entry to the Red Sea) and the Straits of Malacca, connecting the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea and Pacific. Leading BRICS states, particularly China and India, gain from another forum to engage in closer ties with Sri Lanka.
Moreover, Sri Lanka’s membership of BRICS provides a space for China and India to engage Colombo and each other to resolve disagreements over each other’s presence on the island. They are also more likely to do so in the presence of recent Sino-India mediator, Russia.
Despite being dominated by the Eurasian giants – China, India and Russia – BRICS’ new members have largely been Middle Eastern and African states. Sri Lanka, as a majority Buddhist, South Asian state would boost BRICS’ appeal to both South and Southeast Asia.
Colombo’s importance as a member is also thanks to its formidable military capability, with an army experienced in vanquishing the world’s most powerful insurgent group. Economically, Sri Lanka is a highly suitable candidate with its GDP PPP only 20% less than existing BRICS member Ethiopia. Sri Lanka’s location, natural resources and highly educated population mean it has significant economic potential.
By seeking to apply for BRICS membership, the Government serves Sri Lanka’s strategic and economic interests. It gives Colombo greater leverage with Great Powers inside and outside BRICS. The latter is particularly true given that BRICS is in the process of blending the geographic and cultural diversity of the Non-Aligned Movement, with a military and economic power soon to surpass the old Soviet bloc. Membership places Colombo at the forefront of opportunities to shape this emerging grouping. From BRICS’ perspective, Sri Lanka promises to be a valuable addition thanks to its location at the heart of Asia’s sea lanes, and its economic and security capabilities. Perhaps most importantly, the decision signifies a confidence befitting the dignity of a nation that has fought for its complete independence four times, and won.
(Dr Kadira Pethiyagoda is the first Sri Lankan born candidate for Oxford University Chancellor. He is a foreign policy expert, who was a visiting scholar at Oxford, diplomat and ministerial advisor, and is author of Indian Foreign Policy and Cultural Values” (Palgrave). @KPethiyagoda)
Sri Lanka has been voted as the “Most Desirable Island in the World” according to the results for the 23rd Annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards.
According to the travel magazine ‘Wanderlust’, Sri Lanka has risen from last year’s eighth place to take Gold in one of the Awards’ most thrilling turnarounds.
Destinations, tour operators and travel brands have been recognised across 22 categories, including the Most Desirable Countries and Cities in Europe and around the world at the 23rd Annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards.
“Known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, the nation’s history comes to life through spectacular monuments such as Sigiriya Rock, the cave temples of Dambulla and the ancient ruins of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
“Elsewhere, its leopard-filled national parks and the jungle-fringed beaches of Tangalle and Trincomalee show off the island’s natural side. But, more recently, it’s the tea plantations and lush highlands of the centre that have caught the eye, with the fresh addition of the Pekoe Trail offering an exciting new way to explore Sri Lanka’s green heart,”
Colombo, November 7 (Daily Mirror) – The Small and Medium Scale Rice Mill Owners’ Association claimed today that the growing rice shortage in the market is due to increased use of raw rice for beer production.
They explained that Nadu paddy, used to make raw rice for brewing, is being diverted from regular rice production, limiting the available supply.
Farmers have also expressed similar concerns and are urging the government to step in and stabilize rice prices.
Shopkeepers report difficulty in purchasing rice at government-set prices, adding further strain to the market.
In recent weeks, rice prices have risen sharply in local markets, leading to a noticeable shortage of Nadu rice for consumers.
When asked about the use of rice in beer production, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) chairman said they were unaware of the process.
Meanwhile, the Trade Ministry Secretary submitted a report on rice and paddy stocks, compiled by the CAA, to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday.
* Used by Aragalaya protestors in 2022, now open only for religious activities, festivals, musical events
* No longer for political events
Colombo, November 7 (Daily Mirror) – The government has decided to be strict on the reservation of Galle Face Green not only for religious activities but also for all festivals, musical shows, and celebrations subject to the appropriate criteria.
The new government has reversed the Cabinet decision taken by the previous government in 2023 to grant permission only for religious activities at the Galle Face Green.
Galle Face Green was the site of the Aragalaya protest in 2022 which chased out then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from office.
According to the Cabinet decision, the Galle Face Ground, which is under the management and administration of Sri Lanka Ports Management and Consultation Services (Pvt) Ltd, the subsidiary of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, is not to be granted permission for another purpose other than for religious purposes.
Approximately Rs. 2.5–3.0 million has to be incurred for the administration and maintenance of the Galle Face Ground, and it has been seen that the Galle Face Ground is to be used as an attractive and secure place for foreign and local tourists to traverse freely as well as a place where people can allow to participate in the festivals, musical shows, and celebrations subject to the appropriate criteria as existed prior to the year 2023, the Government Information Department said.
The Cabinet has granted approval presented by Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Vijitha Herath to take necessary steps to make the administration of Galle Face Ground more systematically and transparently under the basis of the concept clean and greenery Galle Face Ground”.
With Donald Trump Impending Victory, the USA Mighty Dollar Will Roar Again!
China Humpty & Russia Dumpty Sat on a BRICS Wall!
Donald Trump being elected the New President of USA,
Made China Humpty & Russia Dumpty to have a Great Fall!
All Brazils Horses & All India’s Men Could Not Put The BRICS wall back together Again!
However, Russia may not need BRICS, since the gentle strangling of Ukraine will make Russia Stop the Aggression and Accelerate the Flow of Oil at USD 100/barrel!
Stopping the flow of cheap Russian Oil to India & China, will create a double whammy for USA, in one blow!
Express Your Opinion – Read What Others Say! The Independent Interactive Voice of Sri Lanka on the Internet.
Many milestones illustrate the difficult journey of Cricket in Sri Lanka from the time of its introduction in the 19th century to where it is today. A fascinating saga of ascend from minnows to prodigy that has captured the imagination and fancy of the cricket world. Sri Lanka occupies a unique spot in cricket for its creativity and innovation both within and beyond the boundary.
Great cricketers of Sri Lankan origin i.e., Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors, Malays and Burghers, from time to time have left a legacy of high achievement while fighting against the odds.
But in this story of cricket in Sri Lanka two milestones stand above the rest. The incredible World Cup victory in 1996 under the leadership of Arjuna Ratnatunga and the invention of the Decision Review System (DRS) by lawyer Senaka Weeraratna in 1997 initially known as ‘ Player Referral’. The former was achieved within the boundary and the latter was achieved beyond the boundary, and funnily enough within one year of each other.
The World Cup victory in 1996 is an inspiring part of history that Sri Lanka can be proud of. The DRS is now a part of regular cricket in all three formats of the game. T20, One Day International and Test Cricket. It is a powerful reminder on a daily basis of Sri Lankan ingenuity and brilliance.
DRS has swept the world .There is no challenge to the only claimant in the world with supporting evidence. DRS has brought transparency, accuracy and fairness to a game long enmeshed in wrong decision making by ground umpires sometimes leading to tension and bitterness between nations.
Sweeping in its grandeur DRS awaits the one last deserving accolade – formal recognition of the inventor of this ground breaking facility with payment of due compensation for his remarkable contribution to the advancement of the integrity of the game.
Senaka Weeraratna
See also
DRS – Sri Lanka’s greatest gift to the World of Cricket
Police assigns personnel to each request for security protection including those from hotels & restaurants
Threat assessment done based on observation while no. of cops assigned depends on threat/fear levels; if necessary, cops even accompany tourists during countrywide travel
The Police has been receiving daily requests for security protection from Israeli and European tourists, both in the form of in person visits to Police stations and calls to the dedicated hotline, and the Police has been providing physical security for each such request.
These requests come from individual tourists, and the majority are from Israel and countries in the European Union, as well as from locally run tourist establishments such as hotels and restaurants,” Police Marine and Tourist Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Damayantha Wijaya Sri, who has been appointed as the central contact point for tourists in this context, told The Daily Morning yesterday (6). Several of them phone us but a few come in person and then we conduct observation based risk assessments and give protection to each tourist or business that requests for it.”
Wijaya Sri stated that these calls for security stem from the fear caused by several foreign diplomatic missions based in Sri Lanka issuing travel advisories against visiting Arugam Bay following warnings of threats against Israeli tourists and tourists.
Wijaya Sri added that several Police officers are stationed at various other divisions and are also guarding tourists, with several of them accompanying the tourists in question as they travel around the country if the tourist feels unsafe.
The number of Police officers present will depend on the nature of the threat and the fear of the tourist,” Wijaya Sri said, adding also that while their Division handles the observational aspects of the matter, other Police arms deal with logistics and related aspects.
However, despite the travel advisories, Wijaya Sri said that tourists are less fearful at present. The atmosphere is improving and we have several tourists who tell us that they want to enjoy their holiday and that they don’t want Police officers next to them as they vacation,” Wijaya Sri said.
However, we will still be taking the maximum security precautions as we don’t want any tourist to feel unsafe or threatened,” he went on to say.
These comments follow the United States Embassy’s travel advisory to Arugam Bay citing threats. Following this, the Israeli Government issued warnings against their citizens travelling to Arugam Bay and certain other beachside areas which was followed by several other countries following suit.
The authorities arrested six suspects including a Maldivian national for questioning regarding alleged plans to attack Israeli tourists. Following this, the Government has provided security to the area and all other relevant parts of the country and had introduced a special hotline to assist Israeli tourists during their travels in the country.
BY Apsara Rodrigo and Sahan Tennakoon Courtesy The Morning
Muslim customary law reform activists condemned the National People’s Power (NPP) Government’s stance that there is no immediate necessity to amend the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) and also that any such amendment would be done only upon prior consultation with the relevant religious leaders. The activists claimed that the NPP is well aware of the harmful effects of the Act.
The NPP’s coalition members are aware of the discrimination and harm under the MMDA,” human rights activist and attorney who was also a Member of the Advisory Committee Appointed to Propose Reforms on Muslim Personal Laws in Sri Lanka Chaired by attorney Shabry Haleemdeen, Ermiza Tegal told The Daily Morning yesterday (6).
As such, there can be no reason why a clear commitment cannot be made to necessary MMDA reforms with the purpose of ensuring safety, non-discrimination and which are beneficial to the Muslim community.”
These comments follow the weekly Cabinet media briefing held yesterday (6) where Cabinet Spokesperson and Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath addressed growing discussions concerning potential amendments to the MMDA, No. 13 of 1951. He acknowledged that a number of groups had raised concerns about the Act, highlighting the Government’s commitment to respecting these viewpoints.
Herath further explained the Government’s approach to amending religious laws, noting that any revisions to legislation governing religious practices would be conducted with the guidance of the relevant religious authorities.
If amendments are required for religious Acts, they will be made after discussions with the religious leaders of the respective institutions. Changes to any religious Act will only be implemented following the recommendations of leaders within that religious community,” Herath said.
Many parties have raised issues related to the MMDA, and we respect their right to express these concerns. The Government has not taken any decision to amend the MMDA and has not found a need to make such a decision yet,” he went on to say.
While it is appreciated that any legislative reform can only take place after the Parliament is elected, it is imperative that political parties are clear about their priorities and promises,” Tegal said in response to Herath, stating that the Government has found no need to take a decision with regard to the MMDA.
Several provisions in the MMDA have been criticised as being discriminatory to women such as the male guardian signing their marriage certificate instead of the woman, and the prohibition of women becoming Quazi Judges, amongst others.
Colombo, November 05 (Daily Mirror) – The Court of Appeal today upheld the four-year rigorous imprisonment sentence imposed by the Colombo High Court on former Deputy Minister Shantha Premaratne for soliciting and accepting a bribe in 2007.
While affirming the High Court’s conviction and sentence, the two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Sampath Abayakoon and P. Kumararatnam, observed that the prosecution had proven the charges in the indictment against the appellant beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Bribery Commission had filed an indictment against Shantha Premaratne for soliciting and accepting a gratification of Rs. 50,000 from an individual named G. Punchi Nona as a reward for securing a government job for her son, preferably in the Ceylon Electricity Board, between December 1, 2007, and December 26, 2007, in Ampara. The High Court sentenced the former Minister to four years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000.
By Uditha Devapriya, Omar Rajarathnam, and Mandana Ismail Courtesy The Diplomat
The confusion surrounding the Arugam Bay incident underscores the complexities of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and the geopolitics that have engulfed the island in recent years.
November 05, 2024
Surfers in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka.Credit: Depositphotos
On Wednesday, October 23, barely a month after Sri Lanka elected a new president, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo issued a travel advisory warning U.S. citizens to avoid” Arugam Bay, a tourist hotspot located in the southeastern coast of the island. The advisory noted a credible” threat of an attack targeting popular tourist locations” and directed people to report any suspicious activity to the local emergency hotline.
Sri Lanka Police Spokesperson Nihal Thalduwa, convening a press conference, said that security had been beefed up in the region and other tourist hotspots. The police clarified that two arrests had been made – with several others madeover the next few weeks – and that the detained were being questioned. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) reassured tourists that all necessary steps were being taken.
While the warnings came as a shock to most Sri Lankans, many suspected the reason almost immediately. Officials confirmed that these terror threats had involved a confrontation with Israeli tourists that had been brewing for some time. The threats had centered on a building that had been turned into a Jewish community center.
Not long after the initial warnings, the Israeli National Security Council (NSC) called on citizens to leave Sri Lanka’s select coastal areas. Subsequent reports noted that Indian intelligence had supplied information to the government, though this was later denied by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.
For many Sri Lankans, the incident raked up painful memories of the 2019 Easter bombings. Hours after the advisory, social media was abuzz with speculation about a security lapse in the country, especially after the government dismissed Sri Lanka’s intelligence chief Suresh Sally, a close ally of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa had announced his presidential candidacy days after the bombings on April 21, 2019.
The then-administration had been given warnings about a possible terrorist threat in the months prior to the Easter attacks, but these had been ignored largely due to political developments in the country. Now, with another intel report on a terror attack, Sri Lankans were wondering why it took a foreign embassy advisory to get the Sri Lankan security forces to wake up – even though social media users had noted a noticeable beefing up of security forces at Arugam Bay a day before the advisory.
Complicating matters further, a newspaper reported that no firearms or explosives had been found on the three suspects.
In a press conference, Herath, who is also in charge of the country’s Public Security Ministry, noted that the government needed time to verify information on the terror threat, and added that precautionary measures had been swiftly taken in light of the ongoing situation in Gaza and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Julie Chung stated that a travel advisory did not mean a travel ban, adding that similar advisories are imposed on other popular destinations such as Italy and France, before praising Sri Lankan authorities for acting swiftly.
Tourism in Sri Lanka
In a way, the confusion surrounding the Arugam Bay incident underscores the complexities of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and the geopolitics that have engulfed the island in recent years. While it is easy to fault the government for not acting promptly, there is a lack of clarity on whether the U.S. advisory was issued arbitrarily, without prior consultation with Sri Lankan authorities – especially since the U.S. embassy, as Chung reiterated, acts on a Duty to Warn” principle regarding potential attacks.
That local authorities were taken by surprise has raised more questions than answers. According to one report, officials had already been aware of the threat. Moreover, the reporting on the targets of these attacks – Israeli tourists – overlooks how tourism has affected local communities and how successive governments have turned a blind eye to such developments.
Along with foreign remittances and commodity exports, tourism is a big foreign exchange earner in Sri Lanka. Prior to 2019, the sector earned more than $3 billion annually. The Easter attacks placed it on a downward trajectory, while the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis only worsened matters.
Since 2022, the government’s aim has been to restore tourism to what it was before 2019. Its response to the advisory revealed how crucial the sector has become for the country’s recovery efforts. Moreover, Sri Lanka is approaching its peak holiday season. Last December, for instance, 65 percent of all visits to the island were for vacation and leisure purposes.
On the face of it, the latest incident reveals how tourism has gotten entangled in geopolitics in the country. Sri Lanka has a significant Muslim population, at almost 10 percent. For the most part, they have been vocal about Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and Palestine, an issue that has, over the years, gained bipartisan support in the island: Both the governing party, the National People’s Power (NPP) alliance, and the main opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), have expressed support for Palestine. This has been in addition to other communities, including local Christians, displaying solidarity with Gaza.
Unsurprisingly, the activities of tourists in areas like Arugam Bay have led to confrontations with locals, some of whom accuse them of occupying” their areas. Complicating matters further, many have overstayed their visas, contravening local laws.
A Complex Relationship
In a way, this dovetails into the complex history of the country’s relations with Israel. While certain accounts hold that Jewish engagements on the island date back to Biblical times, scholars agree that by the turn of the 20th century, there was only a sparse Jewish presence in Sri Lanka. After gaining independence in 1948, Sri Lanka became one of few postcolonial societies to recognize Israel as an independent state
According to Punsara Amarasinghe, a security and foreign policy scholar, it was at this point that Israel’s military ties with Sri Lanka began, when the government purchased a gunship from Israel and obtained Israeli technical assistance in the digging of tube wells in the island’s north.
As Sri Lanka entered and became a leading face of the Non-Aligned Movement, however, these engagements broke off. In 1956, then-Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike stated that while Sri Lanka essentially respected Israel’s claims to statehood, this should not be at the expense of the rights and security concerns of its Arab neighbors. Nevertheless, he said that the island’s ties with Israel would remain.
His widow, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, cut those ties in the 1970s, on the grounds that the Israeli government had refused to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as the authentic representative of the Palestinian people.” By now, as a key member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Sri Lanka had solidified relations with the Arab world.
In the 1980s, a new government, led by the pro-Western United National Party (UNP) under the hawkish and right-wing President J. R. Jayewardene, restored relations with Israel by allowing the U.S. Embassy to set up an Israeli Special Interests Section. After disclosures were made about Mossad’s links with the island’s military, however, Jayewardene’s successor, Ranasinghe Premadasa, shut the door on the agency.
According to Jayewardene’s biographers K. M. de Silva and Howard Wriggins, Jayewardene disapproved of Premadasa’s decision, largely since Israel had assisted in the country’s military buildup against separatist Tamil movements in the 1980s. Nevertheless, when a prominent U.S. congressman, Stephen Solarz, threatened Premadasa that there would be consequences for his actions, Premadasa stood his ground and icily replied that Sri Lanka was not unaware that actions had consequences.
After Premadasa’s assassination in 1993, the country began yet again normalizing relations with Israel. Under President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Israel set up an Embassy in Colombo. In 2000, Sri Lanka opened an Embassy in Tel Aviv. As of today, bilateral engagements have centered on areas like immigrant labor and technical support in agriculture. Clearly, these have taken on a new dimension in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and Israel’s subsequent razing of Gaza and Lebanon.
A Geopolitical Confrontation
At one level, the Gotabaya Rajapaksa (2019-2022) and Ranil Wickremesinghe (2022-2024) administrations pushed Sri Lanka into the center of these tensions. In February 2020, for instance, the two countries signed an agreement in Jerusalem on the employment of Sri Lankan workers. The deal streamlined the selection and recruitment of Sri Lankan caregivers in Israel. In 2023, the Ministry of Labor expedited the expatriation of 10,000 Sri Lankan workers to Israel to fill construction sector jobs previously held by Palestinians.
The latter move came under criticism, but was defended by the government as necessary. Sri Lankan workers continue to migrate to Israel. This may be one reason why the government, regardless of the party in power, has avoided explicitly condemning the country.
Then, earlier in 2024, Wickremesinghe announced that a Sri Lankan vessel would be dispatched to the Red Sea to help U.S. naval forces ensure freedom of navigation” from Houthi rebels. The decision was questioned by those who felt it would endanger Sri Lanka and strain the country’s already meager finances.
It would be tempting to draw a line from these developments to the incident in Arugam Bay. Yet it must also be acknowledged that the previous government did not go all the way to appease Israel or appear as an ally. The Wickremesinghe administration did make gestures on behalf of Palestine, including donating funds to orphans in Gaza and voting in support of the country at U.N. resolutions.
By contrast, the present administration, led by a party that mobilized widespread disaffection against Wickremesinghe, delayedissuing a response to the Israeli government’s declaration of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as persona non grata,” even though it has elsewhere expressed support for Palestine.
Tourist Traps
Several analyses, including by Western media outlets, have turned the Arugam Bay incident into another example of the Middle East crisis expanding into other regions. While this in itself is obviously true, it tends to overlook the complexities of Sri Lanka’s situation, including its reliance on tourism and the many contradictions this has propped up.
The economic crisis of 2022 has made the country more vulnerable, and in light of a debt restructuring deal, it sees tourism, and foreign remittances, as pathways to recovery. However, while the previous administration pursued these avenues at full speed, little to no attention seems to have been paid to the tensions they have generated in Sri Lankan society.
It is undeniable that geopolitics has impacted the country’s tourist trade. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, for instance, the country witnessed a series of incidents involving Russians and Ukrainians, both of whom hold a significant presence in the tourism sector. Last year the country made headlines when complaints were made about a whites-only” party, organized by a group of Russian tourists in a coastal area in the Southern Province. The situation got so serious that the Russian Embassy had to issue a statement condemning all forms of racial discrimination and nationalism.”
Similar stories have been reported of other nationalities clashing with locals. Tourists in turn often complain of being hoodwinked, if not robbed, by locals disguised as guides. Complicating matters further, reports have emerged of foreign nationals passing off as unofficial tour operators in Sri Lanka.
Side effects are felt in other ways as well. For instance, in the days following the advisory, Sri Lankans on social media dug up reports on an Israeli film that had been shot in the region. Literally titled Arugam Bay,” the plot focuses on three Israeli surfers and former Israeli Defense Force members who travel to the island after losing a friend during a mission in Beirut. The film, which features a popular Sri Lankan actor as well, came under much censure, with some wondering why the government had granted the cast and crew permission when Israel has been accused of causing a humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Arugam Bay incident itself had been brewing for over a year. Sri Lankans had, for a long time, been taking to social media to comment on Israeli tourists intruding on local communities. While Israelis themselves have written about Sri Lanka in glowing terms, some of the tourists appear to have touched more than a nerve. Following the advisory, several Sri Lankans critical of Israel’s activities in Gaza questioned why authorities had allowed a Jewish cultural center to be set up in a discernibly Muslim-populated site. While the present government has taken steps to ramp up security, it is clear that the previous administration had turned a blind eye to these developments.
The incident also underscored the disproportionate impact of foreign travel advisories on countries in the Global South, in particular those reliant on tourism. Hours after the U.S. Embassy advisory, a senior official connected to the country’s tourism industry released a statement on social media criticizing Western countries for ignoring the effects of negative advisories on developing economies. The statement observed that with the sector reaching peak season in December, such warnings can discourage travelers. It added that while powerful countries can afford advisories on their territories, Sri Lanka is at a point where the slightest hint of bad news can cripple its recovery.
This raises another issue: Given that tourism is affected by external shocks, is it a viable economic pillar for vulnerable countries like Sri Lanka? Shiran Illanperuma, a researcher at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, argued that it is not.
We have peak and off-peak seasons. What happens is that we have huge amounts of land, labor, and capital utilized in peak season but underutilized in the rest of the year,” Illanperuma wrote. For countries like ours, those resources would be better used in sectors like manufacturing.”
He added that tourism constitutes 25 percent of the country’s exports, an unhealthy figure,” and observed that even popular destinations like Thailand are not as dependent on tourism as we” are.
On the other hand, Rathindra Kuruwita, an international relations analyst, said the advisory has less to do with tourism or security threats than with the government in power. The NPP has never been a governing party before. Foreign embassies and governments are now getting used to interacting with them,” he pointed out.
In that sense, I see the advisory as a thinly veiled threat, the message being that powerful countries can cripple us at any time, and that we must expect to stick to their narratives, scripts, and agenda.”
Whatever the causes of and solutions for these issues may be, it is clear that the Arugam Bay incident shows how fragile countries like Sri Lanka are in the face of external shocks vis-à-vis sectors like tourism – regardless of the party in power. With the Middle East and Eurasia embroiled in conflict, even the NPP seems eager to maintain security and stability.
Barely a week after the travel advisory, the Sri Lanka Police announced it would prioritize protecting foreign nationals over cracking down on overstays. Yet firm action from the Sri Lankan government is needed if it is to prevent future problems – a point relevant not just to Israelis but to other nationalities arriving and staying in the country.
Several samples of a free, ready-to-eat, cereal- and legume-based food meant to “eradicate malnutrition” in Sri Lanka have been recalled. The Health Sciences Institute in Kalutara detected the mycotoxins above permitted levels last August. The lack of suitable storage is among the main causes.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Aflatoxins exceeding permitted levels were detected by the Health Sciences Institute in Kalutara, Western Province, in some samples of Thriposha, a highly nutritious food provided for free in Sri Lanka.
The cancer-causing mycotoxins, which are produced by fungi, can cause liver cancer, and develop before and after harvest, especially in cereals like corn.
Thriposha is a triple nutrient that provides energy, protein and micronutrients. The pre-cooked “ready-to-eat” cereal- and legume-based supplement is provided to children and pregnant women from low-income groups.
The Public Health Inspectors (PHI) union raised the alarm after samples of Thriposha contaminated with aflatoxins were tested on 20 August, with a report on August 24.
The union informed the relevant authorities on 27 August, and the distribution was halted on 6 September. The recall concerns four districts – Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam and Kegalle – with “near-expiry-date” Thriposha.
About 245 master bags” out of 451 were recalled in Colombo, 202 out of 239 were rejected in Kegalle, and 99 out of 250 were collected in Puttalam, while a stock of 150 packs was not distributed.
According to the Family Health Bureau (FHB), Thriposha is helpful to cater to nutritional deficiencies that cannot be fulfilled by the main diet.” For this reason, pregnant females or infants with nutritional deficiencies are provided two 750g packets of Thriposha each per month free of charge through the national nutritional programme.”
Consuming three table spoons of Thriposha daily, in addition to the three main meals is adequate as a combination of energy, protein and micronutrients as a ready-to-eat cereal-based food provided to foster a healthier nation and to eradicate malnutrition.”
As Deepthi Kularathna, chairman of Thriposha Limited, noted at a press briefing in Colombo, last week, There was a small amount with a high level of aflatoxin in some Thriposha packets.’’
The main causes of their presence were the lack in polythene packaging for some products, lack of suitable storage at distribution sites such as the Medical Officer of Health offices, and the lack of modern silos at the factory, as well as some other, small flaws in the “system”.
According to sources in the Auditor General Department, operating inefficiencies at the factory, lower production, including, the procurement plan and procurement time schedule had not been prepared properly.’’
Currently, 1.6 million packets are produced every month amid corn sourcing (importing and domestic supply) constraints.
It is necessary to alert people considering that the fungus puts the lives of mothers, the unborn, and children under five years old at grave risk,” said nutritionists Kanishka Bandara and Achala Samarasekara speaking to AsiaNews.
For pregnant females and mothers, the aflatoxin contamination level should not exceed 30 parts per billion. A small black dot in the grain of corn causes aflatoxins.
According to literature from the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by two species of Aspergillus, a fungus, known to be genotoxic and carcinogenic.
For corn, to be subjected to sorting or other physical treatment, before human consumption or use as an ingredient in foodstuffs, the European Commission has set a maximum level of 10 µg/kg for the sum of B1, B2, G1 and G2 aflatoxins,” Kanishka and Achala said.
Aflatoxin B1 is absorbed in the small intestine and distributed to the liver. B1, G1 and M1 are cancer-causing when delivered orally through the diet. Aflatoxins can be present in foods such as groundnuts, corn, rice, figs and cocoa beans due to fungal infection before and after harvest.”
Asian Buddhist Summit 2024 delves into spread of Dhamma and the lasting importance of Pali Read more At: https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/asian-buddhist-summit-2024-delves-into-spread-of-dhamma-and-the-lasting-importance-of-pali20241106144321/
Colombo, November 6 (Daily Mirror) – Two individuals were arrested by the Wildlife Conservation Department’s Emergency Raid Unit while attempting to sell ten rare Rath-Dothalu flowers in the Moragahayata area of Ratnapura. According to wildlife officials, these flowers are often used as offerings to the Buddha.
The suspects, who were apprehended on November 4 for damaging Rath-Dothalu trees, were presented before the Ratnapura Magistrate’s Court and have been remanded until November 11. Further investigations are underway by the Ratnapura Police.
The Rath-Dothalu plant, scientifically named Loxococcus rupicola, is a species of palm and the only species in the genus Loxococcus. Endemic to Sri Lanka, it is protected under the Wildlife and Flora Protection Ordinance and faces threats due to habitat loss.
In recognition of its endangered status, a postage stamp featuring Rath-Dothalu flowers was issued on World Wildlife Day 2020 as part of a series highlighting threatened plants and animals, jointly released by the Wildlife Conservation Department and the Philatelic Bureau.
Wildlife officials are urging the public to protect this rare plant, which is under severe threat. The Wildlife Department requests that anyone with information on damage to the Rath-Dothalu plant call the wildlife emergency hotline at 1992.
The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick has expressed eagerness to further strengthen the strong bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.
During a meeting with Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake today (6), the British High Commissioner has proposed that steps be taken to educate Sri Lankan parliamentarians about the British parliamentary system to further enhance governance in Sri Lanka, while emphasizing the significance of the British local government system, noting its potential to reduce fraud and corruption.
Mr. Patrick has also highlighted the British Government’s appreciation for Sri Lanka’s ongoing partnership with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and expressed readiness to support the government’s efforts to combat fraud and corruption while boosting state revenue.
On the 23rd of October, the United States embassy in Sri Lanka issued a travel advisory warning of a potential attack targeting tourist sites in Arugam Bay, a popular surfing destination in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. The embassies of the United Kingdom and Russia soon followed suit. Given the mysterious circumstances of the 2018 Easter Attacks that occurred following a warning by Indian intelligence services, this has understandably stirred much anxiety and speculation among Sri Lankans.
What the recent travel advisories did not mention is the operation of illegal businesses by Israeli tourists in the Arugam Bay area, and the opening of Jewish places of worship in close proximity to local Muslim mosques. To make matters worse, it is reported that many of these tourists are possibly IDF soldiers engaging in the proliferation of Zionist propaganda.
While there is much to be said about these developments, there is also an opportunity here to discuss the more general shortcomings of tourism as an economic sector and Sri Lanka’s toxic dependence on it.
Integrated development
In a 1975 essay on class contradiction in Tanzania, the Guyanese historian and political activist Walter Rodney wrote about how university students in the newly independent United Republic of Tanzania debated the place of tourism in economic development. Rodney summarised the views of the opposing camp thus:
They were saying that our workers and our peasants are not concerned with those who want to come and watch the lions and gazelle and to watch the Masai and so on, and call themselves tourists: that this will not do anything for the mass of our population. On the contrary it will inhibit a development of serious economic options which could lead to real integrated development.”
Rodney’s use of the words integrated development” is key. Tourism is at best a stop-gap measure in conditions of serious economic and technical backwardness to raise foreign currency. The barriers to entry in tourism, in terms of skills and technology, are fairly low. While tourism can raise revenue, it historically has been incapable of re-investing resources into more dynamic economic activities.
Like agriculture, tourism is subject to diminishing returns. It is a classic rentier activity dependent on natural endowments like land and its proximity to ‘attractions’. The scope for value-addition in tourism is also fairly low. Tourism lacks the economies of scale, division of labour, and capital deepening that are characteristic of manufacturing and large-scale industry. At best, it may help augment the home market for domestically produced goods. However, this in turn requires activist policies to improve local content.
The lobbies and interest groups surrounding the tourism sector have congealed to such an extent that it seems impossible to have a productive conversation on the place of tourism in a national development strategy. A whole public-private institutional nexus exists to support the tourism sector. Every political party, left or right, must pay heed to the sector.
There is a case to be made that Sri Lanka’s overreliance on tourism diverts productive resources such as land, labour, and even state capacity (if we wish to view it as a precious resource) away from productive economic activities that could have a more long-term impact on developing the country. Revenues from tourism, rather than being invested in new industries, tend to perpetuate a speculative cycle of underdevelopment.
The missed wake-up call
The pandemic should have been a wake-up to Sri Lankan policymakers that non-tradable services such as tourism, are no foundation on which to build a modern economy. It is instructive that the economies of our regional competitors in tourism, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, did not collapse the same way Sri Lanka did during the pandemic. This is because they are rising manufacturing powers first and tourist attractions a distant second or third.
One measure of dependence on tourism is the share of international tourism receipts in exports. In 2019, on the eve of the pandemic, tourism receipts accounted for nearly a quarter of Sri Lanka’s exports (24%). By contrast, the figure was 20% for Thailand, 9.3% for Malaysia, and only 4.2% for Vietnam. While the Sri Lankan economy imploded during the pandemic, Vietnam boomed, as its dynamic industrial sector was able to adapt to shifts in global demand for manufactured goods. Vietnam was also agriculturally self-sufficient enough to feed its own population.
Aside from the economic case to be made against tourism as a core component of development strategy, there are also social and cultural arguments that warrant consideration. Is tourism a dignified way to rebuild a country after the ravages of 500 years of colonialism? Should we not have the clear-eyed and sober goal of developing our productive and technological capabilities so that our people can partake in world trade as equals, and not just beggars and debtors?
I am reminded of a quote by the freedom fighter Philip Gunawardena, who said that the need to industrialise was not simply to attain power but to get rid of poverty, improve living standards, and to give our people, when they are free from the pursuit of inadequate food and shameful housing, the leisure and serenity to enjoy our beautiful country; to develop their culture in their own way.”
Our collective dependence on tourism amounts to a perverse inversion of this dream. Foreigners enjoy our beautiful country, and our culture debases itself in order to entertain them. Yet the majority of our people remain in poverty and in search of food, housing, and, most shamefully, better countries in which to raise their children.
(Shiran Illanperuma is a researcher at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He holds an MSc in Economic Policy from SOAS University of London. He can be reached at shiran.illanperuma@gmail.com)
Figure 1: International tourism receipts as a percentage of total exports of goods and services (Source: World Bank)
This is one of my early papers published four years ago. It is hoped that the new Government may find interesting ideas to follow to enable Sri Lanka’s economy to develop.
A Story from Coffee. Ideas for our economic revival.
Posted on September 14th, 2020. Republished in November 2024 to waken our new giants
The other day, locked down in Sri Lanka because of the Corona, I ran out of the Starbucks Coffee I had brought with me. Being a coffee connoisseur, the tastes of Island, Hariischandra and Wijeya Coffee did not satisfy me. I have yet to find Soul Coffee. They are all the same- the same taste as half a century ago. They were all pure coffee, not blended to different tastes. I went to Coffe Bean, the leading coffee maker in Colombo that has a countless number of coffee outlets in Colombo . Most of those joints only sold the coffee as a drink and ultimately they directed me to go to their headquarter store on Ward Place . At Ward Place they offered me a pack of coffee beans imported from the USA- at Rs 2400. That was a pack of 8 ozs. That size of packet is sold at around five pounds at Starbucks in London and Island Coffee sells this quantity for around five hundred rupees
They ground the coffee and it tasted good.. I made inquiries.. The coffee beans, all roasted to taste, had been imported from the USA- California, Camarillo CA 93012. California does not produce coffee. So the coffee comes from a non producing country to us, a coffee producer! Coffee beans come mainly from African countries. the pack is sold in Califorrnia for around seven dollars come to us and gets sold to us at Rs 2400 the equal of some ten pounds.
Sri Lanka instead of growing coffee has been importing from China, Malaysia, Thailand all countries visited by me where I have been struck with how they organize their agriculture. We also import from Mid East countries that do not grow coffee.
That is where our foreign exchange has been going since 1977. Once we did produce the best coffee in the world. On my irrigation inspections in Kitulgala long ago I have seen coffee bushes full of coffee beans, bright red in colour. I have not seen that much of luscious growth anywhere else. I have also seen similar coffee in coffee bushes at Kotmale when I worked in Nuwara Eliya. But now Kotmale has been axed by the Kotmale Dam- all to produce some 200 MW of power- some power that we could have easily produced from some 70 wind turbines scattered in Kotmale itself and the luscious productive land in Kotmale and the charming people would have been saved. But that is another story. See my Paper: Sitawaka Hydro Project: in Lanka Web11/8/19. to understand the nuances in our development order where we sacrifice what development and production we have and more we justify doing it. I am sad that Sri Lanka had no leaders who could avoid getting bluffed by interested influentials and I hope that our new President will tackle problems efficiently. That brain that tackled the LTTE will I am dead cert will stand up to that task.
Kitulgala is our coffee belt. We do need to ban the import of coffee which our President has done, I think. Simultaneously we have to encourage the picking of coffee pods from the existing coffee bushes, immediately get going with encouraging the coffee growers to put some manure and cow dung, and wear a mask and additional clothes when plucking because coffee bushes are also full of mosquitoes . There has to be a village organization to activize the coffee growers and also the Government must offer a guaranteed price to buy coffee-like what we did in the Marketing Department in the Fifties when we offered guaranteed prices for many items that we imported- that was in the Fifties and when production increased we ended that scheme. But now we have no organization to buy the produce. Both the Marketing Department and the worthwhile sections of the Agrarian Services have been axed at the dictate of the International Monetary Fund that the Government should not attend to any commerce.
We do talk big about having guaranteed prices but the IMF axed the organization that we had built to implement that scheme. Motoring around Sri Lanka today I often spot the Agrarian Services stores- now overgrown with shrubs, neglected. Then they were places vibrant with life, where the multipurpose cooperatives that purchased produce from producers and handed over. It is easy to talk of guaranteed prices but we should know that we do not now have the officialdom to purchase the produce. Take paddy we talk big about what we collect every season, but we forget that the benefit of the premium price has fattened the trader. The paddy producers have no cooperative stores to hand it over and sell to the traders for a song who hands it over to the government stores and benefit from the premium price. And our economic sleuths in our Ministries fail to grasp that the producer is left in the lurch while the traders benefit. The main aim of a guaranteed premium price is to help the producer gain a premium price so that he will be encouraged to grow more.
Once in the Fifties working in the Agrarian Services in charge of the Anuradhapura District I had ten smart and able, very vibrant divisional officers, who could even sell ice to the Eskimoes. Under them I had some fifty trained overseers and they manned two hundred and ninety eight cultivation committees- where farmers would meet very often and get coaxed by me and my team to use fertilizer, improved seed and that was how the Green Revolution brought Sri Lanka to the brink of self sufficiency in paddy- all while implementing a scheme to offer rice at reduced rates to the needy- a target that had never been achieved in any country. Then I had the organization,. In fact then I remember we did import maize and I offered to produce all the maize that was imported in one season. One word from me and my giants- they were real giants and I was proud of them, would have mobilized the people through the vibrant cultivation committees.. The Government did not approve my suggestion and we worked only on paddy. Now we talk. The Government has to bring back the Marketing Department and the sections of the Agrarian Services that were axed. There is no other way.
Let us use our expertise to see what can be done for coffee. To start with sad to say the Department of Agriculture is dead at the village level today. They have no organization at the village level and no men. This happened some twenty eight years ago in 1992 when President Premadasa in one of his unguarded moments promoted all Agricultural Overseers, some 2400 of them to the rank of Grama Niladhari. The specialists in agriculture the trained overseers all became white collar workers as Grama Niladharis, pushing pens on paper instead of working in the villages.
Sad to say till today there is no field level overseer trained in agriculture. Today the closest trained agricultural officer works at the divisional level. This officer has a few thousands of farmers to cater to = the needs of some 3500 farmers in Ranorawa and as much as 13,000 farmers in Yodakandiya, (From patriot Ranith Mulleriyawa : The Island 04/06/2013) In short today our specialist agriculture department has no base and as far as organizing be it coffee or any other crop our officers can plan on paper and send it to the divisional level. After that there can be no action whatsoever other than the Agricultural Instructor at the divisional level meeting a few farmers and writing something back to the District Agricultural Officer. Then the statistics get transformed to documents on glazed paper and ably documented. The Department of Agriculture, figuratively is a monster with provincial ministers, secretaries and directors with no legs, producing only reams of reports without a base!
So ends anything in agriculture, be it coffee, potatoes, maize or any other crop.
What we need immediately for Coffee is a guaranteed price and an organization to help the producer to produce more. There has also to be subsidies offered to get people to plant more coffee bushes. Further it is necessary that some government organization gets cracking to the task of finding how coffee can be blended to taste. Therein comes what I directed in Matara as the Government Agent in 1971. Our President has got the State Ministers on the move. It is necessary to get the mass of Government Agents and their vast staffs amounting to thousands cracking. Perhaps what I did at Matara may offer ideas.
I wanted to find the art of making a crayon to establish an industry. We requisitioned the science lab at Rahula Collage every evening from six to midnight and we- my Planning Officer, a chemistry graduate and katcheri officers were hard at work helped by the science teachers of Rahula to find the art of making crayons. It took a myriad of experimental trials and we did find the art of making crayons in three months. Then we dragged in the cooperatives to establish Coop Crayon, which was a great success. Sumanapala Dhanayake the Member of Parliament for Deniyaya happened to be the President of the Coop Union at Morawaka and I can in nostalgia recall getting down to make crayons. It was done in double quick time-in three weeks working on a 24 hour basis- on most days I too broke rest. It was hailed as great success by the Minister of Industries Mr Subasingfhe and crayons were sold islandwide. That is what we immediately require for coffee- someone to experiment. Recently I stayed a few nights in a leading star resort in Anuradhapura and got to know the chief chef. I had a chat with him trying to entice him to blend coffee with a flash of vanilla and the likes to get different tastes. I can do no more- only talk. The Government has to take the lead to find the blends and get cracking in production so that we can chase away Nescafe from our shores and save our valuable foreign exchange and also creating employment for our own people..
In the days of Sirimavo we did have that organization – the Divisional Development Councils, the brain of Dr NM at work. Dr NM is no more. . Our President is kindly requested to get cracking with a programme like the DDCP, a better one which will get down to work in producing what we need and thereby save foreign exchange as well as finding employment for our people. Stopping imports is the first step. This has to be supplemented with a production base which we do not have. My own work the Youth Self Employment Programme does flash in my mind. Then I was marching with the Youth Officers in the villages and marshes of Bangladesh, guiding vocationally trained youths to establish ventures and they did succeed. Today the Ministry of Youth Development has reformed to a role of guiding youth to establish enterprises and mind you by now three million of them are at work- the largest employment creation programme the world has known. . My Paper Youth Employment: A Prime Necessity” in Lanka Web: 11/10/2019 tells it all. . (www..lankaweb.com/news/items/2019/10/11/youth-employment-a-prime-necessity)
We need new thinking for Sri Lanka to emerge under our new President.
I hope this paper will somehow reach the eyes of our new leaders.
Garvin Karunaratne, , Ph.D in Non Formal Education and Agricultural Economics (Michigan State University) garvin_karunaratne@ hotmail.com
Former Senior Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Services and G.A. Matara
13/09/2020
One Response to A Story from Coffee. Ideas for our economic revival.”
4 decades ago one of my American friends told me that they enhance the taste of packed coffee with peanut powder developed by an ethnic scientist named George Washington Cavo.(sounds like that)
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Nimal Says: