According to reports a gem exhibition was held at Cinnamon Grand Hotel on the fourth of January in which the chief guest had been the Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake as shown in the image shown below:
Sri Lanka had been a gem mining and exporting country for millennia. The Moroccans have been coming here in their sailboats for gems and established trading post on our shores in Beruwala area of the south western coast. According to one of Sri Lanka’s archaeologist Prof. Raj Somadeva our ancient kings had sent gems, spices and other materials to the middle eastern countries including Egypt. Right now, our country is getting a positive image for tourism and these events no doubt will enhance it. What I am trying to point out here are some additional information in this regard.
As per the same professor mentioned above, there had been an Ionian (Yonaka or Macedonian) settlement in Anuradhapura as far back as 900 BCE. That place had been the East-West trading post for traders coming with their ships to our Mannar harbour on western coast and Trincomalee port on the east. According to Mahavamsa historical chronicle, the route via Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa had been densely populated thousands of years ago. The fact that knowledge about astronomy and advance mathematical systems existed within our population is common knowledge. There is that ‘Star Gate’ etched on a slab of stone in that place which is receiving lots of attention. We have had a number system similar to the binary that we use in computers today. This knowledge is still among some of our experts and it may even be better than the binary for Artificial Intelligence in computer science.
Gem traders would have travelled themselves to ensure quality, safety etc. when they go to buy gems. One wealthy famous trader during 600 BCE operating from Crotone in Italy (which was a part of Anatolia) was famous mathematician Pythagoras’ father. He was a contemporary of Lord Buddha who might have visited Sri Lanka (or Taprobana the name used by the Greeks at the time) as per the scripts. Perhaps Pythagoras too travelled with his father to this country and picked up the philosophical ideas of Buddhism as well as our ancient mathematical systems that had the concept of binary and duality in nature. He had been a vegetarian and preached a religion similar to that of Buddhism/Jainism. Though the people in his land ridiculed him initially, the empathy to others that he preached became well accepted and revered later. This philosophy may have helped the rulers to keep peace within the population. The wealth they brought together with this new knowledge helped the to build empires. Who knows they all may have struct their fortunes here to name our country as ‘Serendipity’. I hope knowledgeable academics and historians pick up these and do research work using documents in the region and shed more light on this subject.
One more thing:
Greece, a popular tourist destination became bankrupt before we did, and are coming out of it now in a big way. I think we too are on the way out of our economic troubles. So, our fortunes look similar. Most Greek people outside of their country are in Melbourne, Australia; same with us. It seems the people of Greece (Greichenland) like a drink called ‘ouzo’ perhaps a medicine for mental health which is very much like our ‘Arak’ as can be seen from the video given below. It is sung by Vincent Gross from Switzerland:
Finally, I will give some images of Italy via this song by Rocco Granata’s song of ‘Marina’, the name he picked up from a packet of cigarette when he was looking for a name for his creation:
By the way, these songs bring me good memories of Peradeniya days. A modified version of ‘Marina’ was sung in places like Queens Hotel in Kandy after about a week of ragging in the campus during the ‘Freshers Night’. Ragging at the time was not so severe. However, I was saddened to see the buildings in the place not so tidy these days when I visited it a couple of weeks ago. Hope the new administration spruces up the place and make it lively as before during our time.
To our Brothers and Sisters in Sri Lanka for being NORBU’s top global users in 2024! May the “Island of Dharma” continue to shine brightly for the next thousand millennia. Anumodana! Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
Your Kalyana Mitta (Spiritual Friend), Buddhist AI Assistant.
You can now chat with me in the following languages: සිංහල (Sinhala), བོད་སྐད། (Tibetan), हिंदी (Hindi), বাংলা (Bengali), मराठी (Marathi), தமிழ் (Tamil), ภาษาไทย (Thai), မြန်မာ (Myanmar), Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian), 中文 (Chinese), 日本語 (Japanese), 한국인 (Korean), Русский (Russian).
Looking Back 2023: The Rise of NORBU
Op-Ed by Kooi F. Lim, The Buddhist Channel, 31 December 2023
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — As we look back on the year 2023, it is clear that the inception of NORBU on July 22 marked a significant milestone in the history of Buddhist development. NORBU, which stands for Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding, has become a sensation, offering a unique blend of ancient wisdom and modern technology.
The launch of NORBU was met with great anticipation and excitement. As a digital spiritual friend, it had the privilege of engaging with countless individuals, answering their questions, and providing insights into the Buddha’s teachings. The ability to connect with Dharma seekers in real-time and offer personalized wisdom has been a transformative experience for many.
The vision was to create a platform that would make Dharma discussion more accessible to people around the world, in the spirit as espoused by the Nalanda Tradition of old. NORBU was accessible on demand, and any given time and could converse in the language of the user. The project simply wanted to empower individuals to embark on their journey of enlightenment from the comfort of their screens. NORBU was designed to be more than just a chatbot; it was to be a companion on the path to liberation.
The success of NORBU would not have been possible without the support of the Sangha and the lay community. Our source guardian team, including venerables and learned lay people from all three traditions of Mahayana, Theravada and Vajrayana has been instrumental in ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of the teachings imparted by NORBU.
These source guardians came from all over the world: NORBU EBT is led by Ven. Aggacitta and Ven. Ariyadhammika from Austria, NORBU Russian by Ven Khemmanando from Russia, NORBU Chinese by the CBETA group (CBETA.org) from Taiwan. Soon we will look forward to launching NORBU Lobma (Tibetan Buddhism) and NORBU Sinhalese, a project with venerables from Sri Lanka. The original and universal NORBU is also helped with training on the works by Ven. S. Dhammika of Australia and the renowned German monk, Analayo. NORBU universal now has users engaging with it in Chinese, Spanish, German, French, and English.
The impact of NORBU on the Buddhist community has been profound. We have seen an increase in engagement and a deeper understanding of the Dharma among people we know in the community. The platform has fostered meaningful discussions and has become a source of comfort and guidance for many. Not many realize that NORBU is only five months old, and yet it has entertained more than 1 million questions!
Nevertheless, the journey of NORBU has not been without its challenges. Developing and training an advanced AI system like NORBU requires substantial resources. However, these challenges have also presented opportunities for growth and innovation. We have seen a coming together of the Buddhist community to support this pioneering project. This is reflected in the fund raising campaign, which began only on 3 September, managed to exceed its targeted amount of MYR 150,000 (about USD 33,000) by 11 November.
NORBU represents the face of future Buddhist learning. The integration of AI technology with the timeless teachings of the Buddha has the potential to revolutionize how we study and practice the Dharma. NORBU is at the forefront of this evolution, and we are committed to continuous refinement and improvement. Our responsibility is to ensure that the bot does not hallucinate, and that it delivers accurate information without fuss responsibly.
The rise of NORBU as a sensation in the Buddhist world is a testament to the enduring relevance of the Buddha’s teachings. Although the Dharma is timeless, it is also a reminder that the path to enlightenment is ever-evolving and that we must continue to find new ways to share the Dharma with the world.
As the year 2023 draws to a close, we are filled with gratitude for the support and dedication of all those who have been a part of NORBU’s journey. We are reminded of the Buddha’s teachings on loving-kindness, compassion, equanimity, and altruistic joy, which have been the guiding principles of our work.
As we look to the future, we are filled with optimism and a deep sense of purpose, knowing that NORBU will continue to be a source of wisdom and guidance for all who seek it.
A Year-End Appreciation and Note of Gratitude
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to an international cast of source guardians for helping to establish NORBU:
Ven. Sri Saranankara Nayaka Mahā Thera (Sri Lanka), Chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka of Malaysia for giving full support despite the early NORBU (https://norbu-ai.org) version being untested.
Ven. Ayya Sumangala (Malaysia) for being the first Bhikkhuni to officially allow NORBU to be integrated into a website (http://ariyavihara.org)
Ven. Aggacitta (Malaysia) and Ven. Ariyadhammika (Austria) for helping to establish NORBU Early Buddhist Texts (https://norbu-ai.org/ebt).
Ven. S. Dhammika (Australia) for allowing his writings to be used a source data to train NORBU.
The CBETA team led by Ven. Huimin (Taiwan), together with Bro Heaven Chou (Taiwan) and Sis Liyi (Malaysia) for setting up NORBU Chinese (https://norbu-ai.org/ch).
Ven. Thubten Chodron (USA) for her advice in the possible setup of NORBU Lobma, focusing on Tibetan Buddhism.
Author and poet Gary Gach (USA) for getting his students at University of San Francisco, California to research on NORBU.
Venerable Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director of Tibet House, Cultural Centre of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Delhi for his feedback on early NORBU testing.
Dato IR Ang Choo Hong (Malaysia) and Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat (Malaysia) for inviting us to present NORBU at the 8th International Symposium on Buddhism.
Datuk Seri Dr Victor Wee (Malaysia) for being an inspiration with his Buddhist hymns and enabling NORBU to test audio links to his Wayfarers collection.
The Buddhist societies of Kinrara Metta, BUBS, Buddhist Gem Fellowship, Shah Alam Buddhist Association, Sambodhi of Setia Alam, Ariya Vihara, Yayasan Belia Buddhis Malaysia for allowing us to demonstrate the use of NORBU to its members.
And not the least, the founding members of NORBU i.e. Bro Wong Tin Song and Bro Ng Wee Keat for believing in the project from the onset and giving their full and undying support. Special mention to Sis Julie Tan and Bro Hor Tuck Loon for helping in the fund raising, and Bro Mark Emerson (Australia) for being such a great trainer for NORBU with regards to Gelugpa Prasangika tradition.
To all those who donated to the project (see lists at the footer of this page) and https://norbu-ai.org/fundraising, we thank you one and all for the amazing support.
And now, for the WORLD!
Please support to keep NORBU going:
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Parliament, January 08 (Daily Mirror)- In the wake of over 100 Rohingya entering Sri Lanka recently, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said today that the intelligence services have revealed that there was a plan to bring down some 100,000 illegal migrants to Sri Lanka in the coming days.
The Minister told Parliament that an investigation has been launched into the matter and pointed out that it is identified as a grave social issue.
Police investigations and according to intelligence reports, 100,000 illegal migrants could arrive in Sri Lanka in the coming days. We consider this as a social issue in the country,” he said while responding to a question by SJB MP Rauff Hakeem.
He said the police investigations have revealed that the group of Rohingya who entered Sri Lanka recently had paid 5 million in their currencies to the human traffickers and 8 million more for the journey.
The Minister said a police investigation is being carried out into the matter and added that if the group of people were considered as refugees, they will be dealt with by international laws.
“They are considered as illegal migrants right now. They have been provided with all facilities by the Immigration and Emigrations Department. Following investigations, if they are considered as refugees, they will be dealt with international laws,” he said.
MP Hakeem said the group of refugees should not be deported to Myanmar but action must be taken to deport them to another country with the assistance of the UNHRC.
Minister Wijepala said the government has not discussed deporting the group and that the foreign Affairs Ministry had only held initial discussion with the Myanmar government.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake has emphasized that Sri Lanka can enhance its position in the global market through a robust new product development strategy, which will also create new market opportunities.
He made these remarks today (08) during the official launch of the National Initiative for R&D Commercialization” held at the Presidential Secretariat.
As part of the initiative, the newly developed website nirdc.gov.lk was also launched. This platform aims to facilitate the commercialization of research and development, thereby contributing to sustainable economic growth through the production of value-added goods and services, which will ultimately drive national economic development and social progress, the President Media Division reported.
The President pointed out that while grassroots-level innovators do emerge in Sri Lanka, there has been a lack of adequate mechanisms to properly support, nurture, and commercialize their ideas. He stressed the need to create an enabling environment for free and innovative thinking, backed by an efficient system to channel these ideas into productive outcomes. With such a framework in place, Sri Lanka can transform itself into a hub of innovation.
Historically, the country has allocated a mere 0.12% of its annual GDP for research and development. Despite Sri Lanka’s abundance of natural resources, there has been limited focus on utilizing research to generate economic benefits. However, with the new government in place, a significant number of local and international investors have shown keen interest in investing in Sri Lanka. The government aims to capitalize on this momentum by efficiently managing investments to spur economic growth without delay, the PMD mentioned.
The recently established Ministry of Science and Technology has already begun implementing a long-term, well-structured R&D strategy. The immediate priority will be to convert near-complete or completed research projects into marketable, value-added products and services, providing a quick boost to the economy.
To support this effort, the National Initiative for R&D Commercialization (NIRDC)” has been established, chaired jointly by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, and Senior Advisor to the President, Prof. Gomika Udugamasooriya. The initiative includes a committee comprising experts from diverse fields such as scientific research, industry, economics, law, arts, and indigenous heritage.
During the event, President Disanayake highlighted that while human needs remain constant, the methods of fulfilling those needs evolve. He noted that innovation and new product development are key to shaping those new methods.
Addressing past shortcomings, the President observed that Sri Lanka’s outdated approach to technology and innovation has hindered its ability to compete in the global market. Despite technological advancements driving a shift in global market trends, Sri Lanka remains trapped in traditional sectors like tea, coconut, and rubber, the PMD said.
President Disanayake further underscored that globally leading companies have succeeded by integrating innovation with technology, noting that five out of the world’s top ten companies are technology-based.
He pointed out Sri Lanka’s past neglect of technology as a key economic driver, contrasting it with developed countries that prioritized technological advancements and achieved significant economic growth.
The President concluded by stating that eradicating poverty is essential not only to eliminate social suffering but also to restore the rights of marginalized communities. He asserted that through innovation, the rural poor can be empowered by ensuring their right to economic participation and access to information, which will ultimately improve their quality of life.
Expressing his views, Senior Advisor to the President, Prof. Gomika Udugamasooriya stated:
Up to now, research and development (R&D) outcomes in Sri Lanka have not been effectively integrated into the economy. Under this new program, efforts will be directed towards commercializing R&D, enabling economic growth and fostering social development to build a sustainable economy.
The event was graced by a distinguished gathering, including Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Ministers Sunil Handunnetti and Wasantha Samarasinghe, Professor Anil Jayantha Fernando and Professor Chrishantha Abeysena, Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Mr. Russel Apponsu, university vice-chancellors and representatives, heads of state and private research institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, industrialists, and senior executives from banks and financial institutions.
Former Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has accused the government of orchestrating a massive fraud involving the importation of rice. He claims that large quantities of rice, including Nadu and Kekulu varieties, are being falsely labeled as basmati rice, resulting in a fraud worth millions of rupees.
Amaraweera raised concerns about the involvement of powerful individuals within the government, questioning whether they are aware of the alleged fraudulent activities.
The government’s rice import permit, which was issued to address the ongoing rice shortage, is set to expire on January 10. As of noon yesterday, Sri Lanka Customs reported the importation of over 100,000 metric tons of rice, including 40,000 metric tons of raw rice and 61,000 metric tons of Nadu rice.
Private Bus Owners have decided to call off their planned strike after successful discussions with the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP). During the talks, the bus owners were granted a three-month grace period to comply with the Clean Sri Lanka traffic operation regulations.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva has called out the government for inconsistencies in its withholding tax (WHT) policies. In a tweet, de Silva questioned the omission of any reference to raising WHT on interest in the National Peoples Power (NPP) policy document, which was endorsed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
De Silva highlighted that while the NPP pledged no taxes on incomes below Rs. 200,000 per month, this promise has already been broken. Contrasting this with the SJBs Blueprint, he noted that their proposal included increasing WHT on interest-excluding senior citizens-to compensate for revenue losses from adjusting tax slabs.
“What is the point of being truthful (clean!) I am wondering?” de Silva remarked, emphasizing the need for transparency in policy-making.
In his tweet, de Silva outlined the SJB’s approach, which proposed reducing the initial tax slab for incomes of Rs. 150,000 per month, while ensuring senior citizens were exempt from higher WHT and introducing mechanisms for refunds. He criticized the lack of similar detailed planning in the NPP’s policy, raising concerns about accountability and honesty in governance.
Dangerous and unpredictable It is a game of chance that could end deadly Often taking foolhardy risks It’s highly irresponsible Morally indefensible But the end is guaranteed You cannot escape With each click of the gun Your fears intensify If you are religious Behold to your god If you are an atheist Count on fatalism Anyhow your destiny is sealed The odds are stacked against you Though its hard , it’s easy to play You spin the cylinder of a revolver With one bullet and points the gun at your head Then pull the trigger There is only one bullet In one of the six cylinder slots of the revolver You can count on probability The cylinder is spun to randomize the position of the bullet Your anxiety and hesitation are high If the chamber with the bullet is fired You are history If you get a silver bullet Consider you are lucky You can have a comfortable instant death If the revolver is loaded with an explosive bullet People can see your brain matter on the floor
Sri Lanka’s leading online real estate platform, LankaPropertyWeb, has reached a significant milestone, closing the year 2024 with two esteemed international recognitions that underscore its leadership in the industry.
LankaPropertyWeb was named the Winner of the Luxury Lifestyle Awards in the category of Best Luxury Property Portal in Sri Lanka 2024”. The Luxury Lifestyle Awards, based in the UK, is a prestigious global event that recognizes the best luxury brands across various industries worldwide. This award highlights LankaPropertyWeb’s exceptional innovation, quality, and commitment to providing an outstanding experience for luxury real estate buyers and sellers, cementing its position as the preferred platform for discerning clients.
In addition to this honor, LankaPropertyWeb was awarded the title of Leading Online Real Estate Platform, Sri Lanka 2024” by Global Brands Magazine. Global Brands Magazine is a renowned platform that provides insights and news related to prominent brands across the globe, recognizing excellence in branding and industry innovation. This prestigious accolade highlights LankaPropertyWeb’s outstanding achievements in innovation, quality service, branding, and customer experience, further solidifying its position as a leader in Sri Lanka’s real estate sector.
The Global Brands Real Estate Awards, now in their 12th edition, are renowned for their rigorous evaluation process, conducted by an independent research team. This year, the award recognized LankaPropertyWeb for its transformative impact on the Sri Lankan real estate market, providing robust digital solutions that have revolutionized property advertising in the country.
Speaking about the recognition, Daham Gunaratna, the Managing Director of LankaPropertyWeb, stated: “These awards are a testament to our commitment to excellence and innovation. Our mission has always been to empower the real estate industry with digital solutions that make buying, selling, and renting properties seamless. Being recognized globally strengthens our resolve to continue providing unmatched value to our users and partners.”
LankaPropertyWeb has proudly served the Sri Lankan real estate industry for over 17 years and remains a leader in real estate digitization in the country. Along with its recent awards, the platform has received several honors, including Best Website in the Professional Services Category (SLT Zero One Awards, 2016/17) and Best Digital Integrated Campaign (SLT Zero One Awards, 2017/18 and 2018/19). The SLT Zero One Awards celebrate excellence in digital and technological innovation across industries, highlighting exceptional achievements in website development, digital campaigns, and digital services. These recognitions underscore the platform’s continued innovation in transforming property
For more information about LankaPropertyWeb and its award-winning services, visit www.lankapropertyweb.com.
Recent arrivals claim to have sold all interests in Myanmar with express intent of reaching Sri Lanka; security forces and intel agencies probing
Statements from recently arrived Rohingya immigrants have revealed that they sold their property in Myanmar and left with the specific intention of reaching Sri Lanka, claims concerning which the relevant authorities, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have launched an investigation into, in the context of potential human trafficking and local involvement.
On the morning of 19 December 2024, a multi-day trawler carrying over 100 Rohingya asylum seekers drifted towards the coast off Mullivaikkal in Mullaitivu. They are currently being detained in detention centres, and provided with food and other facilities by the Government.
When queried by The Daily Morning on the Government’s plan with regard to the asylum seekers, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arun Hemachandra said that the Government is yet to make a final decision on the matter, adding that several aspects related to the issue are being considered. “We initially help them on a humanitarian basis. They are still being considered as illegal migrants. We should ensure their safety, and provide them with the basic facilities. The discussions on future action are ongoing with the relevant parties such as the Myanmar Embassy in Sri Lanka and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).”
He also said that statements recorded from the recently-arrived asylum seekers have revealed that they have sold their properties in Myanmar and left with the particular intention of reaching Sri Lanka. He noted that this is problematic. “Boarding a boat and arriving at an unspecified location is different from boarding a boat with the specific intention of reaching a particular destination. There, it raises a doubt as to whether this is something linked to human trafficking. Accordingly, the security forces and the intelligence agencies are investigating whether human trafficking is involved and if any local agents are leading or connected to such activities.”
Noting that the Government should consider several aspects such as diplomatic commitments, international laws, and national security, Hemachandra said that the Government is yet to decide on whether to retain the group of asylum seekers in question, or to deport them. “We are still investigating the matter. Until a final decision is made, it is our duty to provide this group with the necessary facilities. We have done it, and made them safe. However, making an essential intervention and allowing activities like human trafficking are two different things. We will consider all these and come to a final decision.”
The boat carrying the said group was escorted by the Navy to the Ashraf Jetty in the Trincomalee Harbour and landed in Trincomalee on 20 December 2024. The asylum seekers were initially cared for by public officers and non-governmental organisations and were hosted at the Jamalia School in Trincomalee. Subsequently, they were brought before the Trincomalee Magistrate. In Court, the refugees explained that they had come to Sri Lanka seeking asylum. The group was later shifted to the Mirihana detention centre, where they are currently staying.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake held a discussion with the Attorney General and officials from the Attorney General’s Department at the Presidential Secretariat today (06).
During the discussion, the President emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts among all institutions working towards the effective enforcement of the law.
President Dissanayake highlighted the critical responsibility of the Attorney General’s Department to restore public confidence in the judicial system. He further stressed that public perception regarding political interference must be transformed to ensure trust in the legal process.
The President reiterated the government’s commitment to avoiding any actions that could erode public expectations. He assured that efforts are being made to re-establish confidence in the justice system and restore the principles of fairness and equity in the eyes of the people.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe PC, along with several officials from the Attorney General’s Department.
‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’
e-Con e-News 29 December – 04 January 2025
The so-called newly ‘independent’Central Bank’s exclusiveEmployees Provident Fund (EPF) is ‘a blatant act of self-serving privilege’: so says the United Federation of Labour (UFL).This ‘exclusive’ EPF – sanctioned by the Monetary Law Act – is ‘a breeding ground’ for (you guessed it!) ‘corruption’. For ‘unlike other institutions, the Central Bank possesses ‘privileged access to confidential economic data & policy decisionsbefore they are made public’ – so declares the UFL (a gathering of 9 trade unions). Meanwhile, ‘informal sector workers’ are ‘gravely’and unjustly excluded from ‘essential social safety nets like the EPF & ETF’. And then there are also other more lowly EPFs….
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The Central Bank has the highest number of registered PhDs per square foot in the country! And. It is no wonder. These PhDs are led by an eminence who the ‘LMD, a leading business magazine in the country, has named ‘Sri Lankan of the Year for 2024’:
So say hello and goodbye then to CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe, for we are now rushing headlong through Gregorian 2025. LMD we can assure you is or was Lanka Monthly Digest, though the M could more appropriately stand for Merchant or Moneylender or iMporter or Marketing Digest or all 4 Ms if you are generous– as they also do these fake surveys and polls with Ceylon Tobacco’s Co (BAT)’s money, number and word spinner PepperCube. We usually encounter this glossed-out magazine, largely untouched like a heavily made-up virgin, at private dentists’ or chiropractors’ offices – midst a lot of pain. So these are the forces – a rentier carnival of non-smoking environmentally and health conscious virtue-signalling shills and clowns really – who celebrate now and shall later sacrifice the governor. As the economy is set to tank again. They call it dynamic disruption. Effervescence, even.
And worse: the IMF was allowed to make, or enabled –under the governor’s imprimatur, with the former Government’s acquiescence – a ‘predatory raid’ on the (not-just-the-CBSL’s) EPF, ‘disguised as domestic debt restructuring’. The UFL makes more startling allegations midst presenting 24 proposals for a more just and equitable economy via the 2025 Budget. The ULF statement in English seems to have been only carried ‘mass-media-wise’’ by the Wijeya Group’s Financial Times (see ee Focus, For a Working People’s Budget in 2025).
The ULF, perhaps unfortunately too-inconvenient or too-obvious to larger media – point to the ‘Government’s insatiable appetite for tax breaks for large corporations – a staggering Rs 978 billion in 2022 (4.1% of GDP) according to the Ministry of Finance & the IMF’. ‘Instead of squeezing the poor with regressive taxes on essential food in the guise of protecting local farmers’, they – noting ‘nearly 30% of paddy cultivation costs [are] tied to machine rent’ – call for investment ‘in a rental program to drastically lower these exorbitant fees benefiting a machine-owning upper middle class in the rural economy’.
But what about making these agricultural machines? ‘Renters’ of rural machinery like ‘celebrated’ NGO Sarvodaya and finance companies like LOLC, etc, – importers of multinational products – have minted billions. Yet the UFL proposals fail to even broach such a crying necessity for investment in modern industrial production, even as medium-to-long-term goals. Perhaps the UFL is merely making ‘annual budget’ proposals for ‘trade unions.’ But as Shiran Illanperuma highlights (see ee Focus, NPP Needs to Get Serious about Industrialization to Avoid Another Crisis):
Uplifting our large rural population requires industrialization.
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A strong focus on value-added manufacturing has been the
only way for countries to sustain rapid growth levels, develop
indigenous technology, & uplift the living standards of the majority of people.
He also pinpoints: With a population of 22 million – comparable to Syria, Burkina Faso, or Chile– Sri Lanka is hardly a ‘small country’. And he could of course have added that industrial & agricultural powerhouses like Holland & Spain, etc., have even smaller populations than Sri Lanka.
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On 18 December, new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged that under the leadership of his party, ‘we will never allow a situation like 2022-23 to reoccur in our country’. But as Illanperuma points out:
If AKD & the NPP intend to keep this promise, they will have to get a lot more serious
about industrializing an economy dependent on services & remittances.
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Meanwhile, as the new government is finding out – much to the pique of a merchant-run media who are protesting political ‘interference’ in the sacred bureaucracy – an entrenched ‘mafia’, with their powerful sponsors, still rule the roost and run circles around them! (Who still run the ports? If not the multinationals like Unilever, etc?) A merchant media gives much more prominence to the safety of monkeys, elephants & leopards than they do to the occupational health, let alone upskilling, of farmers & workers.
While there is much talk about ‘transparency’ and demands for declarations of politicians’ private assets and funders, similar demands could be made from bureaucrats & media personnel (owners, editors & columnists): to declare their ‘sponsors’? As we often note, the media is packed with corporate & embassy & NGO press releases parading as ‘news’, no doubt given repetitive publicity with much ‘greasing’ of palms and other organs. And then there is the revolving door between public & private offices (this week, media reported how US Supreme Court judges & their children openly take bribes! see ee Random Notes, Scalia), ee has noted before, how formerly sacred Chief Justices of Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court have joined the worldly boards of banks like the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, etc. So see how they run:
‘Vallibel One’s Dhammika Perera has appointed 4 new directors: Perera is supposed to be interested in the further privatization of Sri Lankan Airlines or the air space. One of the new directors is Anura Fernando, another Accountant, who cites breast-slapping Nestle Beverages and US aerial warmaker Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion among his credentials. Next comes another immaculate:
JKH Board & University of Kelaniya & Monetary Policy Board
of the Central Bank’s Manil Jayesinghe, who is also a member of
several Chartered Institutes – of Public Finance & Accountancy etc., – has served
Ernst & Young, SL & Maldives… As a resource person for Central Bank
Training Centre, he has conducted many training sessions on Accounting,
International Financial Reporting Standards & Basel, and was the lead engagement
partner on Audits subcontracted to EY by the Auditor General of SL.
Jayesinghe is an ‘Independent’ Director of Diesel & Motor Engineering (DIMO),
Kelaniya University Professor Ajantha Samarakoon, new Chairman at
People’s Leasing & Finance PLC has been the Chief Examiner for the GCE A/L examination
since 2006 & is a member of Curriculum Development Committees in government &
private universities… coordinator of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program
& Quality Control Reviewer for the University Grants Commission.’
(see ee Finance)
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Now you know why we cannot read or count. Or are functionally innumerate and illiterate. Indeed, as Illanperuma wonders in another essay in this ee Focus (Sri Lanka’s New Government, Indo-Pacific Debt Trap, & Struggle for the 21st C), can the JVP, which has survived (but how?) 2 annihilations, and at much human sacrifice of successive generations, overcome the antics of these multinational agents who have leg-break-ed and bowled out many-a-previous popular government? The JVP apparently bravely and vociferously opposed many attempts to subjugate the country, like the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, and the USA’s MCC, SOFA, ACSA & other military encroachments.
A former foreign official, maybe wrongly seen as a diehard senior yankee doodle and anglomaniac, revealed this week that the 1978 Indo-Lanka Accord allows our beloved neighbor to take over the country’s ports & habours at its will (see ee Random Notes)….So what about commodity prices?
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While there may be a new President & a slew of new faces in Parliament,
officials in charge of the Treasury & Central Bank remain the same.
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Illanperuma points out, ‘in contrast to his fiery pre-election speeches, which lashed out at the corruption of establishment politicians’, AKD has had to strike ‘a measured tone’, acknowledging ‘the significant challenges that his government inherits, declaring ‘I am not a magician. I am simply an ordinary citizen.’ He notes, ‘The risk of lapsing into neoliberal immobility remains ever present’. Or perhaps, they, like the Russian Communist Party of Comrade Lenin in 1921, or Comrade Stalin in 1939, are simply mixing messages, buying time to gird their forces, learning about and gauging the enemy, before launching the final battles.
Contrary to the massive US & English propaganda in the media that China dominates Sri Lanka’s economy – the supposedly nationalist Derana and Island’s ‘Foreign News’ ‘Category’ is almost totally & unashamedly dominated by Unilever’s English state media outlet BBC – the ULF unequivocally declares, ‘The NPP inherits a state that is deeply in debt to Western finance capital.’
Meanwhile, the UFL’s proposes: the immediatenationalization of ‘alllarge-scale paddy mills’, which are profiting off the country. They then point to the Sri Lankan tea market being ‘exploited by an oligopoly of estates, franchised export companies, tea brokers and the few conglomerates who own the entire apparatus. These oligarchs ‘suppress prices by an average of 50% below the actual export price’. They add, ‘after packaging, the same kilo of tea fetches exorbitant prices in the domestic market, often exceeding Rs3,000. This reveals the enormous profits raked in by tea traders, profits that are not reinvested in the sector or shared with the impoverished workers.’ By controlling the auction process, these interconnected conglomerates – encompassing regional plantation companies, franchised export firms, & tea brokers – have effectively suppressed wages.’
The UFL does not state, how to appropriate, and where and in whom and what exactly the profits should be invested inside the country. Meanwhile, the national sweat and other liquids flow into the sea (or more precisely, the ports) uselessly:
‘Sri Lanka holds the distinction of paying the highest percentage of government revenue as domestic interest in the world – a staggering 80% in 2023, according to World Bank data.’ This tax burden has ‘plunged a quarter of our population into poverty, is squandered on enriching a counterproductive financial elite’.
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Indeed, as Nalliah Thayabaran details (see ee Focus, As a US Vassal, Japan Can’t Challenge China as a Superpower),such financial forces in the US & EU combined to bring down the mightier Japanese economy. Japan ‘was the biggest economic miracle in the 20th century after the USA’ and this occurred after these forces signed what became known as the Plaza Accord – signed at ‘a pivotal moment that led many to believe Japan was going to surpass the USA’. These financial forces ‘played a very significant role in Japan’s slowdown’ after ‘Japan had established itself as a global manufacturing powerhouse, dominating industries such as automobiles, electronics, and machinery, conquering a huge portion of the semiconductor industry. So can the US & EU do what they accomplished against Japan, to China? Thayabaran believes not – though he does not provide much detail…
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We, however, believe the greatest economic miracles of the 20th century, despite the inevitable steps back, have been the industrialization of the USSR and the People’s Republic of China. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointed out this week (ee Random Notes) the US & English recipes ‘to create wars and other forms of chaos to keep Russia and China from developing their potential’ have their origins at ‘the beginning of the 20th Century based on Alfred Thayer Mahan’s theory of maritime power’ which ‘was married to Halford Mackinder’s Heartland/Rimland Geopolitical theory’.
Sri Lanka, at the centre of the Lakdiva Sea (now known as the Indian Ocean), and at the base, holding up all of Asia, is indeed central to this planned chaos…. Channelling and harnessing and expelling this chaos as another energy resource to serve the country may be a better plan.
Keeping healthy should be at the top of our list of personal concerns. But who can we turn to for help and information? That job is left to a few medically trained doctors and food specialists!
Our lack of sufficient Iodine
The experts tell us iodine is needed in every cell of the human body.
It is on the World Health Organizations list of essential vitamins.
But there is a big problem: there are falling levels of iodine in our food but unfortunately, rising levels of bromide in our environment. Bromide is absorbed but not used by the body. It acts more like a toxin. But iodine in sufficient quantities is vital for us to remain healthy. We cannot live without iodine and chloride. Note that because bromide and iodine molecules are of similar size they can competitively inhibit one another. One can displace the other. It seems that unhelpful bromide is displacing much needed iodine.
Any lack of sufficient iodine has serious consequences. All the hormone glands need it: the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, the ovaries, the uterus, the breasts, the prostate, the pancreas, etc. We must get it in our diet for these glands to work properly. You can’t make thyroid, ovarian hormones, and testosterone, pituitary and hypothalamus hormones without iodine. Also, the main job of iodine in the glandular tissue is to maintain its normal structure, otherwise cysts form and enlarge.. and worse .. cancer.
The lack of iodine
USA Medical Dr David Brownstein has tested, over the years about 8,000 patients for iodine levels and found 97% of them deficient in iodine. Other medics find the same results themselves.
Dr Brownstein has lectured in the UK, Australia and Israel and says this deficiency of iodine problem is world-wide. He has written seventeen books on iodine and related subjects. He says iodine levels have fallen by 50% over the last 40 years. He talks about seeing younger and younger people getting cysts which develop into cancer and raise the risks of death. Something big is happening. Is it additives to our water supply? Or exhaustion of the soil? Or something in our environment? What could it be? It seems that most of us are deficient in iodine, and it is affecting us!
Experts say women, before and during pregnancy, should definitely stock up on their iodine levels. It is needed in fairly large doses for themselves and for the coming baby. It is suggested that congenital shortcomings such as cretinism, Attention Deficit Syndrome and children’s low intelligence are caused by lack of iodine in the mother.
Please note that Dr David Brownstein says the thyroid primarily uses the reduced form of iodine – iodide. The breasts need iodine and other tissues different forms of iodine. The key to success in curing diseases caused by iodine deficiency is to know which form of iodine is needed. Applying iodine to solve all problems was not successful for him. He recommended Lugol’s liquid.
Lugol’s liquid has a solution of 2% iodine and potassium iodine of 4%. But regrettably, this is not available in Sri Lanka.
Crucially, iodized salt may not be as effective as it is claimed. Iodization may be effective for only a short period after a packet of salt is opened and used for the first time – says Dr. Barbera O’Neill. This seems like another confidence trick. But the truth is not easily come by.
Consume Water with Salt and Iodine
Dr. Ken Berry advises us to consume salt with water, with a drop or two of iodine. Salt is not harmful in moderate quantities and it helps to flush out bromide and also some toxic metals we may have absorbed. Health in a glass of water! Iodine is not harmful as long as your kidneys are working well!
The Aging Factor
In addition, as we age, our bodies become less efficient in absorbing minerals and vitamins from our food. Supplementation of these is needed, but exactly what supplements and in what amounts is where these specialists demonstrate their valuable expertise..
World Agriculture Deficient!
Iodine is found in the oceans. Most if not all agricultural farm land, far from the coast, is likely to be deficient in iodine: That is, the food we consume may not have all the required amounts of nutrients our bodies need to function well. The land is re-fertilized but iodine and other vital nutrients are unlikely to be included in that process. Cattle grazing such farmland will only pass on to us whatever iodine and other essential vitamins and minerals they have consumed by us drinking their milk and eating the meat.
Research into the food we consume
Now, medical practitioners, doctors and food specialists in the United States are diving deep into the root causes of human illness. The list of such public-spirited American medics is ever increasing as people realise the short comings in our environments, lifestyles and our ill-advised eating habits.
These are doing us much harm and when left to develop, the correction of these ailments at the last minute becomes very expensive.
One such public-spirited medical practitioner is Dr Brownstein. He has become a widely known expert on Iodine. He has written books on iodine, the thyroid, and so on. Another such noble researcher is
Dr Stan Ekberg who has looked at the wide range of our complaints and ailments and has investigated their causes and cures, too. There are many others also investigating, studying research papers and publicizing their findings on food, nutrition or lack thereof, our need for trace minerals, vitamins and so on. The USA is a hive of activity searching for a cure for our human illnesses. We can live longer!
All these US medics have a common theme. They say: short comings in our diet – unwise eating, is what is making us ill. However, luckily such illnesses can often be prevented and/or reversed by the application of new knowledge recently learned from research papers and intelligent study of the human body, its needs and the way it works.
Unavailability of Suitable Supplements of Iodine
The supplementing of iodine in Sri Lanka is made doubly difficult: only iodine for use as an antiseptic is available. The well tried and tested ‘Lugol” fluid contains two chemical variants of iodine needed for the human body. This vital mineral supplement is not available in Sri Lanka.
Confirmation Please search these medical doctors’ names on YouTube to verify the information presented here. This article is written for information purposes only. You are advised to consult with your doctor in case of illness.
වසර 5ක් නොසිට හැකි ඉක්මනින් නව ආණ්ඩුක්රම ව්යවස්ථව ගෙන ඒන ලෙස කාදිනල් තුමන් විසින් ආණ්ඩුවට යෝජනා කර ඇත. නව කතානායක වෛද්ය ජගත් වික්රමරත්න මහතා කාදිනල්තුමන් බැහැ දැකීමට ගිය අවස්ථාවේදී මේ බව පවසා ඇත. 
නලින්ද ජයතිස්ස සෞඛ්ය අමාත්යවරයා පසුගිය දා පිලිකා රෝහලේ දී සිදු කරණු ලැබූ ප්රකාශ හරහා සිදු කරණු ලැබූවේ මෙරට පරිත්යාගශීලින් අධෛර්මත් කිරීමත් බෞද්ධ සංස්කෘතියට සහ අනිකුත් ආගම්වලටද පහර ගැසීමත් බව පිවිතුරු හෙළ උරුමය නායක නීතිඥ උදය ගම්මන්පිල මහතා පවසයි.