Converting a Political- to a Military-StrategicObjective
By Milan VegoNational Defense University press “Political objectives are usually achieved by using one’s military power. Converting political objectives into achievable military-strategic objectives is the primary responsibility of military-strategic leadership. This process is largely an art rather than a science. There are many potential pitfalls because much depends on the knowledge, understanding, experience, and judgment of military-strategic leaders. Most often, mistakes made are only recognized after setbacks or defeats suffered during the hostilities. Despite its critical importance, there is no consensus on the steps and methods in converting political- into military-strategic objectives. There is scant writing on the subject in either doctrinal documents or professional journals.
Political vs. Military Objectives
Any war is fought to achieve certain political objectives, which may be described as securing important national or alliance/coalition interests in a certain part of a theater. …………..”
How the USA Super Intelligence Won Several Whammyswith One Shot!
What are whammys? whammy • \WAM-ee\ • supernaturalpower bringing bad luck b : a magic curse or spell: jinx,
USA have a Few Top Mandarins with a Very High IQ withForesight, & Millions of ordinary citizens who are BelowPar who could be Manipulated !(An opinion given by a Top Russian)
1 How the USA Got a Complete Analysis of RussianMilitary Capability and to Act to Strengthen NATO!!
By Using the Monkey’s Paw – Meaning Ukraine!
Ukrainian Lives were Expendable Unlike Finnish orSwedish!
(A top American opinion)
Main Interests of NATO led by USA were to -;
1: Strengthen NATO with a Wall of Defense *Finland!
2: Broaden Norway-Denmark and Attract Finland-Sweden to join NATO.
Going Back to the USSR?
Although President Vladimir Putin dreamt of Going Back toUSSR, the break-up of the Soviet Union by Mihail Gorbachev anew USSR Dream would never be the same again.
A typical Humpty Dumpty Rhyme!
Trump after winning, the Comfort to Putin, first giveaway.
One of the First Statements made by the US President electDonald Trump, Victory could mean-;
1: US withdraws support for Ukraine in war with Russia
2: Recognise Crimea as part of Russia
3: Protective Border of 700 km of Ukraine controlled by
Russia, 18% of Territory 109,000 km2, as a Buffer Zone!
Next – Remember the American Arab Smilewith Trump? Then How Trump may Deal with
Israel – Palestine Conflict!
——ENDS—- 08.11.2024
Express Your Opinion – Read What Others Say! The Independent Interactive Voice of Sri Lanka on the Internet.
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Courtesy NewsIn.Asia
Colombo November 8: Next week’s parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka are taking place in a situation where the political landscape has changed greatly as compared to previous parliamentary elections.
None of the traditional mainstream political parties are asking people to vote them to power. Their leaders are asking for votes to function in Parliament as strong opposition.
Meanwhile, the National People’s Power ( NPP ) led by first-time President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is asking the people for a strong parliamentary majority to run the government in an orderly manner. It does not ask for a two-thirds or five-sixths majority. Campaign speeches and media interviews of many of its leaders bear this out.
But President Dissanayake and the only government minister, Vijitha Herath, had previously asked people to fill parliament with members of the NPP as there was no need for an opposition! It was fiercely criticized by political parties and civil society.
Opposition politicians, especially former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, are finding fault with President Dissanayake’s one-and-a-half-month rule and saying that NPP leaders do not have the ability and experience to rule the country for a long time. They try to create an impression that people have started to lose faith in the NPP.
It is unlikely that people will deviate from the practice of supporting the party that won the presidential election and bring it to office in the next parliamentary elections. Opposition parties do not know what to say to the people when seeking their votes. It is certain that people will give a clear mandate to the NPP to form a government with a working majority to fulfil president Dissanayake’s promises.
The electoral situation in the Northern and Eastern provinces is very confusing. It is feared that In the next parliament the representation of the minority communities, especially the Tamils, will not be cohesive and there is a possibility that each Tamil party may come to parliament with one or two members.
An unprecedented number of political parties and independent groups are contesting the elections in the five electoral districts of of the North and East. There could be vote splitting. A total of 2067 candidates are contesting for the 28 parliamentary seats in the five districts.
District-wise, in the Northern Province, 23 political parties and 21 independent groups are contesting in the six-seat Jaffna district. A total of 396 candidates are in the fray. In the Vanni district, 432 from 23 parties and 25 independent groups are contesting for the six seats.
In the Eastern Province, 217 candidates from 17 parties and 14 independent groups are contesting for the four seats in Trincomalee district. In the five-seat Batticaloa district, 22 parties and 27 independent groups have fielded 392 candidates. 630 candidates from 23 parties and 40 independent groups are contesting for seven seats in the Digamadulla (Ampara ) district.
A total of 8888 candidates are contesting this time. People are going to vote to elect 196 members out of the 225 seats in Parliament excluding 29 National List seats.
Excluding 28 seats in North and East, 6821 candidates are contesting 168 seats in 17 electoral districts in the remaining seven provinces.
In other words, 40 candidates are contesting for one seat in the South, while 73 candidates are in the fray for one seat in North and East.
A large majority of the candidates in the five districts are from Tamil parties and independent groups. In fact, most of these groups lack popular support. Many candidates are unknown to the voters.
Not only Tamil political parties but also independent groups have liberally used Tamil nationalist slogans to win votes of the Tamils. They incite emotions reminding them of past struggles. Even people who had no interest in politics before the announcement of the parliamentary elections suddenly entered the field as Independent groups and said that they were also determined to safeguard and foster Tamil nationalism.
A number of Tamil parties are funded by various groups and lobbyists within the Tamil Diaspora which aims to keep Sri Lankan Tamil politics under its control. Foreign money”’ is largely responsible for the emergence of various independent groups.
Several academics and eminent persons in the North told this columnist that some Diaspora Tamil groups who contacted them asked if they could form an independent group and contest the election if they were given enough money. Political groups in the Tamil Daspora are contributing to corrupt Sri Lankan Tamil politics like never before.
If the Tamil parties sent to Parliament by the Northern and Eastern Tamils in the period after the end of the civil war had adopted a practical and sensible approach towards the Tamil question, Tamil polity would not have been so fragmented and degraded as it is today.
After the end of the civil war, the political leadership of the Tamils came naturally to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led by the late Rajavarothayam Sampanthan. After that, the TNA became the main political force representing North and East Tamils in Parliament.
The TNA which had won 22 seats in the 2004 parliamentary elections could win only 14 seats in the 2010 elections. In the 2015 parliamentary elections, TNA’s seats increased to 16. In the 2020 elections, its seats were reduced to ten.
Apart from the TNA, parties such as Tamil National People’s Front(TNPF ) led by Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP ) led by former minister Douglas Devananda and the Tamil People’s Front formed by former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran also made it to Parliament with a couple of seats each.
During the intervening period, differences began to develop between the constituent parties of the TNA. Accusing the flagship party, Ilanakai Thamizharasu Katchi ( ITAK) of trying to dominate them, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) and the People’s Liberation organisation of Tamil Ealam (PLOTE) decided to quit the TNA early last year and contest the local government elections under a new formation called Democratic Tamil National Alliance(DTNA ).
Former parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran’s Eelam People Revolutionary Liberation Front( EPRLF) which had already left the TNA , and some other groups joined the new alliance.
This new alliance played an active role along with some civil society groups in fielding a common Tamil candidate in the last Presidential election. That election exposed not only the contradictions between the Tamil parties but also conflicts within the parties.
The Tamil polity is severely fragmented today as a result of the leaders of the member parties acting without foresight. They failed to realize their historical responsibility to build the TNA as a strong political movement of the northern and eastern Tamil people.
The ITAK, TNPF and DTNA are the three main political formations competing in the North and East. All of them are asking the Tamils to send them to Parliament with at least ten seats.
In both the North an East, the ITAK was known to have wide popular support. Does it have the same support now? Only this week’s election will tell.
In the last parliamentary elections, six of the ten seats won by the TNA belonged to the ITAK. The important question is whether that party will be able to save at least those six seats.
Meanwhile, Anti-ITAK Tamil leaders have trained their guns on the ITAK spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran. It seems that in recent times, no other Tamil politician has come under so much criticism as Sumanthiran.
Tamil politicians themselves say that the Tamils are somewhat inclined to vote for the NPP for a change after Dissanayake’s victory in the Presidential election. What other reason can there be for that, apart from the hatred of the people for the activities of the Tamil parties so far?
Amidst the political changes taking place in South Lanka, there is a strong feeling that there should be a strong Tamil representation in the next Parliament. But it is feared that the fragmented Tamil polity will not avail of this opportunity.
(The writer is a senior journalist based in Colombo)
– Sri Lankan authorities not ready to grant licence for it over legal barriers, states top source
– New government to decide on alternative model for development of the Airport only after General Election
The move initiated by the previous government to hand over the management of the Mattala International Airport to an India-Russia joint venture is poised to be abandoned since Sri Lankan authorities are not ready to grant the licence for it over legal barriers, a top source said.
The last government decided to hand over the management of the Airport jointly to India’s Shaurya Aeronautics Pvt Ltd and Russia’s Airports of Regions. Later, the draft of the commercial agreement was referred to the Attorney General for clearance.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority Act, only Airport and Aviation Services (Pvt) Ltd. (AASL) has the authority to manage the airports in the country.
According to the source familiar with the process, Sri Lanka is not keen to transfer the management of the Mattala airport to a foreign venture. Also, the source said that the company is not keen to proceed with the project and has not even communicated with the Sri Lankan authorities for a long time.
Asked about approval of the Attorney General for the commercial agreement, the source said,” It is not required now because the project is now a non-event.
The source said the new government would decide on the alternative model for the development of the Airport only after the general election. The airport was built with financial assistance from China in adjacent to the China built port in Hambantota.
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday (07) said the government was planning to shut down the state-owned Thriposha Company, and such a course of action would lead to further deteriorate nutritional standards of Sri Lankan children.
FSP education Secretary and Colombo District candidate Pubudu Jayagoda said the government had issued Gazette Notification No. 2403/53 dated 27 September 2024 announcing the abolition of the state-owned Sri Lanka Thriposha Company.
Now, Thriposha Company is not under any ministry,” he said.
Thriposha is a vital nutritional product, recommended for underweight children under five, pregnant women suffering from malnutrition, and breastfeeding mothers,” Jayagoda said.
Established in 1987 in partnership with a private tobacco manufacturing company, the Thriposha Company was later transferred to the Ministry of Health in 2011. When it was handed over to the government, the company met 70 percent of the country’s total demand, and with new equipment introduced in 2016, it was able to meet 100 percent of the demand,” he said.
Jayagoda said Thriposha company now produced more than the required quantity, with the surplus marketed under the brand ‘Suposha’ by the government. Within three months of entering the market, Suposha became the best-selling cereal food in the market, meeting 70 percent of the total cereal demand in the country. The Thriposha Company is fulfilling a critical nutritional need while also generating a substantial income for the government, with an annual revenue of approximately 500 million rupees to the Treasury,” Jayagoda noted.
Due to the production of Suposha, private cereal manufacturers in Sri Lanka are facing a significant crisis. Private companies will benefit from the closure of Thriposha,” Jayagoda said, adding that in 2023, the Wickremesinghe administration had included the Thriposha Company in the list of state ventures to be privatised in keeping with the IMF conditions.
However, due to opposition from the people, Wickremesinghe’s government could not execute the plan. Now, we suspect that this scheme is being revived under the new President,” Jayagoda said.
He said Thriposha provided nutrition to 664,920 mothers and 925,172 children, with approximately 1.6 million packets of it distributed monthly.
The production cost of a 750-gram packet is about 370 rupees, costing the government around 9 billion rupees annually. Despite this, the Thriposha Company generates nearly half a billion rupees in revenue from food products sold in the market,” he said.
We urge the people to oppose this move immediately,” Jayagoda said.
Parts of Bangladesh have had their power supply slashed after ‘Adani Power’ set a deadline of Nov 7 to switch off the flow of electricity if there is no clarity on the settlement of the outstanding dues. Adani supplies Bangladesh power from its 1600-megawatt coal-fired plant in eastern India.
According to the Times of India, the problems started shortly after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh. Whether the reason for the cutting of power and the demand for outstanding payment was a reaction to Hasina’s ouster we do not know.
The lesson of the Bangladeshi experience is never to let critical sectors of the economy fall into hands of foreign companies. For us in Sri Lanka, the power blackout in Bangladesh has come at a critical time. Our past government run by experienced politicians was on the brink of handing over on a platter so-to-say the running of wind farms in the Mannar basin to none other than the Adani Group.
Over a period of time trade unions in our country have been warning against permitting foreign governments and companies to take over vital sectors of our economy.
Either by force of circumstances, or perhaps in the search of filthy lucre different governments in our country has entered into agreements with foreign companies which leaves room for these private entities to threaten the life-blood of this country.
One among these is the deal with the self-same Adani Group which is now threatening to plunge parts of Bangladesh into darkness.
What makes the power sector problem in Bangladesh suspicious, is that the Adani Group brought pressure on the present regime soon after Sheikh Hasina’s government was thrown out by a popular uprising. The agreement with the Adani Group having being signed during Ms Hassina’s time in power.
Today the Adani Group is set to invest more than $440 million in a 20-year agreement for the development of 484 megawatts of wind power in the north and eastern regions of Mannar and Pooneryn. A number of other concerned bodies have also come out in opposition to this venture. One among them was the JVP/NPP political grouping.
President Dissanayake in the run-up to the September 21 Presidential election had pledged that his National People’s Power (NPP) alliance would annul the project. The NPP claimed that the project posed a threat to Sri Lanka’s energy sector sovereignty and promised that it would be cancelled in the event of their victory.
Prior to the presidential election President Dissanayake made many other pledges as well. Many of them remain unfulfilled. Yet, the new president has hardly been 5 weeks in power, and as at yet no parliament to rule the country.
Funnily enough, our past politicians, some of whom were badly defeated at the presidential election of 21 September, are busy telling us that the present incumbent has not implemented pre-election promises. His team, they claim do not have the parliamentary experience to understand the gravity of the problems facing the country.
What these politicians seem to have forgotten, is it is they themselves, with their wealth of experience in parliamentary politics, have been responsible for bringing this country to its present bankrupt state.
This country was not ruined in 5 weeks, it was done over a period of over 70 years -starting with the disenfranchisement of a large section of our population shortly after independence and ending with creation of conditions leading to the 30-year war, followed by various scams which robbed the coffers of this country dry.
Let’s face it, our people are tired of ‘experienced politicians’ who brought this country to its knees. They know who created conditions of starvation in the country. Today’s new faces at the centre of power, is a reaction to the lies, corruption, deceit and failures of past politicians.
It’s time to say ‘mea culpa’ and ask forgiveness for past crimes -not to gloat over experiences which led the country to wrack and ruin.
A new president who fought on a platform of anti-corruption is in place. Let’s hope the electorate gives him a bunch of clean parliamentarians to take that anti corruption drive forward.
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?
0:38
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.
1:35
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.
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