Courtesy The Hindu

India must incentivise fishers to give up bottom trawling 

The continuing arrests of fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Bay, despite diplomatic interventions at the highest level, and the attacks on them mid-sea by armed civilians are a matter of serious concern. True, Indian fishermen cross into Sri Lankan waters in search of catch, and affect the livelihood of Sri Lankan Tamil fishers. But the numbers this year are staggering. The detention of 23 fishermen and the seizure of two trawlers on Saturday, off Delft island on charges of poaching”, has taken the number of those arrested so far this year to 69, compared to 240 the whole of last year. Since 2013, Sri Lankan authorities have also remanded some fishermen in judicial custody for several months. This year, 34 fishermen, including 12 who were arrested last year, have been released, while over 45 men remain in custody. What is distressing for the community is the confiscation of their expensive fishing nets and vessels — this year, 10 boats were seized. By the time these boats are released through a judicial process or following diplomatic talks, most are not in a sea-worthy condition.

No doubt, Sri Lanka is under pressure from its northern province fishermen to act against Tamil Nadu fishermen, who they accuse of resorting to destructive bottom trawling, a practice banned by the country since July 2017. While India promised to end bottom trawling in the Palk Bay and incentivise fishermen to take to deep-sea fishing under the Blue Revolution Scheme, bottom trawlers are still active. Fishermen also face a practical problem as under the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1983, mechanised fishing boats are permitted to fish only beyond three nautical miles from the coast. Since the distance between Dhanushkodi and the International Maritime Boundary Line is only nine nautical miles, breaches do occur, a point the Sri Lankan Navy should not overlook. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised in 2015, the tensions over fishing must be handled as a humanitarian concern”. Unfortunately, neither side has demonstrated consistency in the handling of the issue. In November 2016, the countries had agreed upon a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries that would meet every three months, and also have a bi-annual meeting of the Ministers of Fisheries. But the JWG has held just five sittings, the last one being in 2022. Tangible and targeted action is needed to encourage deep-sea fishing, bottom trawling being given up and the issue resolved with mutual compassion and periodic talks. Failing this, the Palk Bay would remain perilous territory for Indian fishermen.

Courtesy Gulf Times

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe (right) hoists the national flag during the Sri Lanka’s 76th Independence Day celebrations at the Galle Face Green in Colombo yesterday.

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka is gradually” emerging from its worst economic crisis after the austerity of an IMF bailout, the president said yesterday in a speech to mark independence day. Recalling the indignity of being labelled a financially bankrupt country”, President Ranil Wickremesinghe dispensed with the customary annual address in favour of a brief statement. The island nation defaulted on its $46bn foreign debt in 2022 after a foreign exchange wipeout left it unable to import food, fuel and other essentials. Sri Lanka saw months of civil unrest at the peak of the economic crisis, culminating in the ouster of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa when thousands of protesters stormed his home. The International Monetary Fund released the first tranche of a $2.9bn four-year bailout loan to Sri Lanka in March last year under a reform programme that saw taxes raised and prices sharply increased.

Courtesy Adaderana

A delegation of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a Marxist–Leninist communist party which led an anti-India campaign in 1987-90 against the Indo-Lanka Accord, will on Monday (05 Feb.) start on an official visit to India.

The delegation of JVP, the largest party under the broad entity National People’s Power (NPP), is to leave Colombo tomorrow (Monday) for India on an official invitation of the Indian government,’’ a statement from the party said.

The delegation to India comprises JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, senior legislator Vijitha Herath, Secretary Nihal Abeysinghe and executive committee member Prof Anil Jayantha, the statement said.

The Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord, signed in Colombo on July 29, 1987, between Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J. R. Jayewardene, was expected to resolve the Sri Lankan Civil War by enabling the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Under the terms of the agreement, Colombo agreed to a devolution of power to the provinces, the Sri Lankan troops were to be withdrawn to their barracks in the north and the Tamil rebels were to surrender their arms.

The JVP has continuously led in at least one public opinion poll while the NPP broader front has led in surveys, leaving the island nation’s main parties trailing.

The surveys claim that in the post-economic crisis phase since 2022, the NPP has gained significantly in public support, particularly in anti-corruption perceptions.

Dissanayake has already declared his candidacy for the next presidential election to be held later this year.

Analysts, however, remain sceptical if the party could raise its current three percent vote base to 50 percent plus one vote required to win the presidency.
The JVP has a checkered record having led two bloody rebellions in 1971 and 1987-90.

Source – PTI 

Courtesy Hiru News

As Sri Lanka celebrated its 76th Independence Day, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his Independence Day message, invited all Sri Lankans, here and abroad, to contribute their utmost energy to the noble mission of rebuilding the nation. The President reflected on the challenges faced in the preceding year, marked by economic hardships and external financial criticisms. The President highlighted the nation’s resilience and its ability to navigate through adversities, steering the economy towards stability.

Acknowledging the unwavering support of citizens who endured hardships, the President credited the progress achieved to a comprehensive, long-term national rebuilding program. Despite challenges, the message conveyed optimism that obstacles would gradually dissipate, life burdens would lighten, and the economy would strengthen, leading to a renaissance for Mother Sri Lanka.

Reflecting on the post-independence era, the President lamented the deviation from the envisioned path of becoming a developed nation in the East. Learning from past mistakes, the President urged collective resolve to stay on the current growth trajectory and work towards reinstating prosperity.

In a call to action, the President invited all Sri Lankans, both at home and abroad, to contribute their utmost energy to the noble mission of rebuilding the nation. The Independence Day message emphasized unity and determination in overcoming challenges and achieving sustainable development for Sri Lanka.

President’s Independence Day Message :

As we commemorated the 75th year of our nation’s independence, we encountered the indignity of being labeled a financially bankrupt country. Nevertheless, upon the advent of the 76th Independence Day, we have effectively navigated through these challenges, steering the economy toward stability despite numerous impediments and challenges.

Achievements were realized progressively, owing to the steadfast support of our citizens who endured hardships in keeping with a comprehensive, long-term national rebuilding programme. Throughout this journey, challenges will gradually dissipate, life’s burdens will lighten, the economy will fortify and Mother Sri Lanka will undergo a renaissance.

Upon gaining independence in 1948, global expectations envisioned Sri Lanka evolving into a developed nation in the East, given our favourable background. Regrettably, we deviated from this course and found ourselves grappling with economic difficulties.

It is imperative that we obtain insights from past mistakes and avoid their repetition. With the current growth trajectory acknowledged globally, let us collectively resolve on this Independence Day to persist on this path and reinstate prosperity.

I invite all Sri Lankans, at home and abroad, to contribute their utmost energy to the noble mission of rebuilding our nation

Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake

With the wisdom of hindsight, the Root Causes of Sri Lanka’s first Sovereign Default, staged three years ago on the eve of 75 years of ‘Independence’ from the British Raj are clearly discernible.

Back in March 2021 when the default happened there was too much Aragalaya hype and confusion to discern the deep structures, transnational financial networks, and vested interests (including members of the Lankan Diaspora) embedded in the debt pile up:

Amid protests at the soaring cost of living, the claim was that Sri Lanka, South Asia’s wealthiest country with the best human and social development indicators in the region was bankrupt” because it lacked exorbitantly privileged US dollars to buy food and fuel. This was after the shadowy off-shore Hamilton Reserve Bank had filed a case in the New York courts against the country for non-payment of a small amount of interest owned.

The Default in the geostrategic Indian Ocean Island was staged just in time for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank’s Spring Meetings in Washington DC where Sri Lanka because the posterchild for 56 other Global South countries, also caught in post-Covid-19 Eurobond debt traps as Cold War tensions escalated between the West and China that is often accused of debt-trapping countries because of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

As the World Bank had named Sri Lanka an Upper Middle Income Country (MIC) compelling borrowing from private Eurobond capital markets that charge predatory interest rates, the country appeared to have been pumped and dumped” into an MIC debt trap. This in the wake of a series of hybrid economic war style exogenous shocks to make the economy scream”, such as, the mysterious Islamic State (ISIS) , claimed terror attacks in 2019 followed by two years of brutal Covid-19 lockdowns.

Sri Lanka’s first and one hopes only Default after 74 years of independence” has clearly enabled the Washington Consensus (IMF and WB) to take control of the of the strategic island’s economic sovereignty and national policy autonomy, in the name of external ‘debt restructuring’. Meanwhile the IMF’s external debt restructuring rapidly crept into domestic debt conflating and compounding a debt data numbers game even as the IMF also claims to be deeply concerned about good governance, democracy and its seems elections in Sri Lanka.

Money Politics or Bondscams for Elections?

At the conclusion of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Visit to Sri Lanka last month, Mission Chief, Peter Breuer noted: Sri Lanka is showing first signs of recovery as it finds itself in an election year, and therefore, what happens before the elections as well as after them will be crucial for the economic recovery”.[1]

Today as Sri Lanka marks 76 years of purported ‘Independence” amid renewed Eurobond US dollar debt colonization, with an IMF Firesale of Strategic national assets including coastal and highland land, energy, transport and telecom infrastructure, ongoing, some fundamental questions arise about the role of the IMF and its debt restructuring operations: Of particular concern is the lack of transparency regarding the names of Sri Lanka’s Sovereign Bond holders, past and present, particularly in the context of previous Central Bank bond scams in 2015 seemingly also to fund elections and Ranil Wickramasinghe’s United National Party’s electoral campaigns.

Elections are a time of ‘Bread and Circuses” or handouts and religious pageantry for the masses, with bond scams to buy votes for the political and business elites who dish out freebies for votes, inceasingly. With elections scheduled for later this year the bankrupt” Ranil Rajapakse regime recently asked the United Nations (UN) for help to fund Vesak Celebrations (Buddhist celebrations), in May seemingly taking a cue from Indian Prime Minister Modi’s Ram Temple extravaganza in ahead of election to be held later this year.

During the 2015 Central Bank bond scam members of the ruling United National Party and related political and business elites benefit handsomely from the sovereign bond debt to the county.

Breuer also noted During our visit, we listened to political parties, their perspectives and angles of their economic policy perspectives. So, of course, what takes place in Sri Lanka in the run up to the elections and afterwards will have an impact on the country’s recovery and growth path and how it extricates itself from the ongoing crisis,” he said.

The strong expectation, Breuer noted, is the Sri Lanka would reach a deal with its commercial Eurobond creditors by the next IMF review on Sri Lanka.

Pre-Election Bondscams at the Central Bank in 2015

While the IMF and its advisors have shown great interest in Sri Lanka’s election outcomes governance and corruption reduction, there was no mention of the fact that back in 2015 ahead of Presidential and General Elections two bond scams were conducted at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), which was then headed by Singapore citizen Arjuna Mahendran, appointed by then Prime Minister Ranil Rajapakse, now President. They were advised and in thrall of the Washington Consensus and related advisors and Economic Hit men.

The 2015 CBSL bondscams took place at a time when the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Compact was co-incidentally being prepared, along with the Special Operations Forces Agreement (SOFA), while Ranil Wickreamsinghe a.k.a Ranil Rajapakse was in power.

Both agreements were however, later rejected by the people of Sri Lanka and the then President Sirisena, fearful of the possibility of US boots on the ground and military bases in the strategic Indian Ocean island back in 2019.  This of course necessitated a regime change operation and voila the mysterious hybrid economic war style ISIS claimed Easter Sunday attacks were manifest to ‘Make the Economy Scream’!

Once the Bond scam fraud at the country’s highest financial institution, CBSL. was exposed the Forensic Audit Report by international firms that investigated the bond scams which could have ensured accountability and revealed the names of the Bond Holders who benefited from the primary placement scam were buried by the new CBSL governor — Dr. Indrajit  Coomaraswarmy.

Had the culprits of the 2015 CBSL Bond scam at the CBSL been identified and held accountable it is likely that Sri Lanka would not have ended up in a Eurobond debt trap and Default in 2021, which has enabled the IMF to effectively dictate economic policy to the hapless and beggared citizens whose currency crashed with the Default. Coomaraswarmy continues to provide IMF advice to the GoSL regarding its Debt Servicing, enabling IMF mission creep into domestic debt restructuring as well.

The final blow to any investigation into the CBSL bondscams of 2015 was the mysterious assassination a little over a year ago of the primary witness in the court case, Mr. Dinesh Shaffter in broad daylight in Colombo. So much for accountability and good financial Governance!

The Million Dollar Question: A Ten Year Moratorium on Commercial Borrowing

The million-dollar question at this time is will the bankrupt Ranil Rajapakse regime form a bipartisan or multi-partisan pact to borrow from the same predatory private market bond traders that caused the Default in the first instance, in order to fund elections this year as part of its IMF debt restructuring deal with commercial creditors?

The IMF’s debt restructuring operations are conducted in tandem with the colonial Club de Paris that represents Eurobond traders that charge predatory interest rates, along with selected firms like Lazaad, Clifford and Chance that have a long history of deal making sans transparency, and  debt trapping developing countries through local-global networks of financial corruption and insider trading as happened during the Bond scams at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), also with elite members of the SL Diaspora in 2015.

While some discerning civil society organizations and academics have called for a ten (10) year moratorium and eventual ban on borrowing from ALL private Eurobond creditors as they charge predatory interest rates, the largest being BlackRock (fronted by Adani in South Asia), will the politicians form a pact to borrow from these Eurobond markets in the name of Democracy” and elections – turning vice into virtue or what some political scientist my call money politics” and corruption rackets?

In other words, would the bankrupt Ranil Rajapakse regime with so many bond scams to their credit persuade the opposition parties to have recourse to borrowing from the same private market, Eurobond traders that caused the 2021 Sovereign Default in order to fund their election campaigns and the elections? Would not such an attempt amount to bi- or multi-partisan corruption racket in a devil’s bargain for electoral ‘democracy’ among the various political parties anxiously jostling for power?

Would the ends (elections) justify the means (more borrowing from predatory commercial lenders to heap more debt on the people with a second default soon), in the name of electoral democracy?  Such an outcome may even legitimate and justify stashing away some derivatives in off-shore banks listed in the Panama Papers! The IMF and its gravy train of advisors and economic hit men are well known for making hard bargains!

Cui Bono or Who benefits from Bond scams?

Sri Lanka’s first ever sovereign default in 2021 triggered rapid rupee depreciation against the exorbitantly privileged US dollar and instantly impoverished the working people, but enabled international creditors, Eurobond traders, and related financial networks represented by the colonial Club de Paris and the International Monetary Fund that had already made a killing with predatory interest rates, to effectively take over the peoples’ economic sovereignty and national policy autonomy in the name of debt restructuring”.

Since the 2021 Default there have been endless talks and numbers games played around the volume and quantum of haircuts” to be dished out among various creditors amid talk of parity of treatment for creditors, but few outcomes that benefit the people.

With the wisdom of hindsight and the statement of 183 International Economists and development experts released in January 2022 (available at the Debt Justice, UK website), it is now quite clear that Sovereign Bond Commercial creditors that charge predatory interest in partnership with local and Sri Lanka Diaspora networks of elite political, business and financial corruption were the principal beneficiaries and root cause, of and for the country’s first ever Sovereign Debt Default in 2021.

After all, the Default was caused by recent borrowing from private markets and bond traders, the largest being BlackRock, with Norway’s Sovereign Wealth fund a close second.  While though out its 75 years of independence” Sri Lanka had borrowed for development work, the country was able to pay back because the loans were from bilateral or multilateral lenders at concessionary rates.

It was once the World Bank upgraded the county to an MIC and forced it to borrow form private Eurobond markets during times of exogenous crisis that debt mounted and the country cast into an MIC debt tra[

The million-dollar question at this time is: would the IMF’s contribution to debt restructuring, democracy and good governance, entail forcing Sri Lanka to  again borrow from predatory private markets in order to hold elections this year despite the history of bond scams? And if so, would these be Green and Pink Washed Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Bonds?

[1] https://island.lk/imf-what-happens-now-and-after-elections-will-be-crucial-for-sri-lanka/

By Garvin Karunaratne

In the Fifth Century we built Yodha Ela in Anuradhapura District at a gradient of five inches in a mile. Today, we are begging for dollars from the IMF. Our leaders were fooled by the IMF and A country that was never in Debt, got weaned to live on loans and handouts . Our leaders are urged to put an end to this nonsense and think again to lessons from our past.

The Rajatarangani, an Indian Chronicle tells us that we sent irrigation engineers to Kashmir. The Yodha Ela the marvel irrigation channel that brings water from Kalaweva to Anuradhapura on a delicately marked meandering route, collecting water from 66 mini catchments while it feeds water to 120 small wevas, following topographical contours”. meanders along with a single bund, using the natural lay out of the land as its second bund, thereby also providing water seepage and prosperity to the entirety of the Eppawala Area- a marvel in irrigation engineering, a precision in irrigation construction which defies the irrigation engineers of today.,

Once way back in 1963 as the Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Services in the Anuradhapura District, I presided over the Kanna Meeting of all proprietors and farmers, in the Talawa Eppawela Area. Easily over 200 of them were belligerent, clamouring that the water from the Yodha Ela never flowed in time. The farmers were even about to manhandle the irrigation engineers. I was with them as I had repeatedly inspected and found that the water never flowed in time. With little knowledge of irrigation- a bright idea struck me. I told the gathering of a posse of irrigation engineers led by a Senior Divisional Engineer; I will provide funds, put a concrete base for the entire Yodha Ela so that the water will go to every tank in time.”. There was a deafening silence. The engineers did not reply, but were mumbling amongst themselves for a while. Finally the Divisional Irrigation Engineer spoke. We cannot provide a concrete base as the gradient is as low as six inches in a mile- a gradient of six inches in over fifty thousand inches.” It was an unexpected answer. How do you do repairs on the Yodha Ela now”, I quipped. Out came the answer: We take a very small section of the Yodha Ela at a time. Never any long length. ”. In short the most precision instruments of today cannot make a channel at the gradient our irrigation engineers built Elas in the Fifth Century.

Recently I came to know another marvel feature- The Yodha Ela has only one bund. The distance from Kala Weva to Anuradhapura as a crow flies is only thirty seven kilometers. but the Yodha Ela meanders along the topographical contours a distance of 87 kilometres. The Yodha Ela uses the natural terrain as the second bund and enriches the terrain with water that has resulted in the luxurious growth in the entirety of the Eppawela basin, while taking water to the tanks to Tissa Weva in the City of Anuradhapura. Though I had built irrigation channels over short distances in my minor irrigation repair works , and due to interest have seen and carefully looked at canals taking masses of water of water all over California, converting a desert into a luxurious land I could not believe of an Ela that has only one bund. My curiosity made me proceed to see this wonder of a single bund Ela(canal)

On 23rd January 2024 I travelled in a small car a Nano from Colombo to Kekirawa and took the Mahailluppalama – Eppawela Road, purposely to see for myself this single bund marvel. I came across the Yodha Ela crossing the main road at Kunci Kulama Junction and as the bund of the canal looked good- a firm jeep track, I got our driver Siri to turn our car onto the bund. The bund was , very narrow with the deep water rushing on a side and a second thought flashed that we were in severe danger if the car falters. We proceeded forward as reversing would be more difficult. Siri drove with great care, but it could turn into a calamity if the bund was severely eroded. Generally I took over the wheel when escorting the Prime Minister Dudley when I was in Kegalla. But Siri was a good driver. I observed that there was never a bund on the other side. It was normal land, with trees and shrubs. We drove on this bund- eroded at places for over three to four miles upto a place where we came across the road to Tirappane crossing the Canal. The Yodha Ela crossed the road and continued, with its single bund. We drove on the road and in around 400 yards came to Ipalogama Village . Going towards Anuradhapura we came across the Yodha Ela again crossing the main road and observed again that the Ela had only a single bund. Driving along the narrow bund was extremely dangerous as the Yodha Ela water was rushing on a side and had there been a tyre burst, there was the chance of our car and all of us being drowned in the deep raging waters. However we dared to tell the tale of Yodha Ela, the single bund marvel that feeds the mouth of many a farmer in Anuradhapura.

Under the Mahaweli Development Programme a small section of this Yodha Ela was taken and a straight canal with two bunds was built.  Replaced a section of the Yodha Ela with rapid and high discharge straight channel,” but it was a total disaster as revealed:

It is clear that the ancient YE has been constructed with detailed technical information controlling natural slopes, drainage divides, sedimentation, flow properties and sustainability. The method is properly drafted with unknown technical maneuverability. The modern engineering practices completely obliterated the natural flow mechanism embanking the flow both on the surface and within the subsurface. Considering other areas consist of similar YE remnants may be indicative of serving the same purpose so that YE is a technical mechanism established in the ancient hydraulic regime to supply sustainable water satisfying geo environmental conditions in the dry flat areas of Sri Lanka.” ( From: Does the ancient Yoda Ela in Sri Lanka represent a technical innovation of hydraulic engineers? A geo environmental appraisal R. D. D. P. Rathnayake, H. A. H. Jayasena )

All this tells me that our irrigation engineers did wonders. I have seen, passed by many canals in Sri Lanka. In India and the United States but every canal I saw had two bunds.

The function of the Yodha Ela was not to take water only, but to saturate the entire area with water and therein lies the secret for the luscious growth in the entire terrain from Kalaweva to Anuradhapura.

If the new Yodha Ela diversion built by the Mahaweli Engineers in the Seventies, on a section of the Yodha Ela , which must be an eyesore and also a serious blot on the knowledge of the irrigation engineers, has not been totally removed and the original Yodha Ela restored fully, action may please be taken to remove it totally to enable the Original single bund Yodha Ela to serve the farmers. This seems held in secrecy. I would request any of my readers who live in that messed up area or anyone knowing anything about the Mahaweli misadventure on the Yodha Ela to please e mail me details.

Garvin Karunaratne

garvin_karunaratne@hotmail.com

By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando

Since Independence was sought on 4^th February 1948, without shedding a single blood drop, the first Prime Minister was chosen by the Colonials as the as Right Honorable D.S. Senanayake.  He was the Prime Minster from 24 September 1947 till 22 of March 1952 when he had an accident and died immediately (after falling from horse riding in the morning).

After his death there was a battle with Sir John Kotelawala to be the Prime Minister of Ceylon. As a result, according to the wishes of Rt.Hon. D.S. Senananayake, his son,   became (Dudley Senananayake ) became the Prime Minister of Ceylon from 02 December to July  in 1947.

Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike became the Prime Minister  from 26 September 1959, known by the Sri Lankan people as “The Silver Bell of Asia”, the fourth Prime Minister of the Dominion of Ceylon (then Ceylon), serving from 1956 until  in 1959, causing him to die in office. The founder of the left-wingand Sinhalese Nationalist Sri Lanka Freedom Party, his tenure saw the country’s first left-wing reforms.

Born to a wealthy Family

Born to a wealthy, political family, he studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Christ Church, Oxford, and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple. Returning to Ceylon, he entered local politics by joining the Ceylon National Congress. Having been elected to the Colombo Municipal Council in 1926, he was elected from his family seat in Veyangoda to the State Council of Ceylon for two terms between 1931 and 1947, while serving in the second term as Minister of Local Administration in the Board of Ministers. Having founded the Sinhala Maha Sabha in 1936 on Sinhalese nationalist lines advocating for self-rule in Ceylon, he joined D. S. Senanayake by dissolving the Sinhala Maha Sabha and merging it with the United National Party at its formation in 1947. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1947 representing the United National Party from Attanagalla, which would become the political seat of his family for the next fifty years.Since the Sinhala Maha Sabha formed the largest segment of the United National Party.

D. S. Senanayake appointed Bandaranaike as Minister of Health and Local Government ; he was elected as the Leader of the House. Following   several disagreements, Bandaranaike resigned from the government and  approachaed the opposition, forming the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in 1951. Following D. S. Senanayake’s sudden death and the elections that followed, Bandaranaike was elected leader of the opposition. Mustering a powerful coalition called the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and contesting on the lines of Sinhalese nationalism and socialism, he was able to achieve a landslide victory over the United National Party in the general elections in 1956, thereby becoming the fourth Prime Minister of Ceylon. Bandaranaike removed all the British Naval and Air bases in Ceylon and established diplomatic missions with a number of communist states. He implemented a new language policy, the Sinhala Only Act, making Sinhala the sole official language of the country, creating much controversy.

On 25 September 1959, Bandaranaike was shot at his house in Rosemead Place, Colombo and died of his wounds the day after the day he was shot at. A Buddhist monk named Ven Talduwe Somarama  was arrested, convicted and hanged for the murder of Bandaranaike. Wijeyananda Dahanayake was appointed as the caretaker Prime Minister by the Governor General and was confirmed by the Parliament. Bandaranaike’s death led to political turmoil with the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna falling apart under Dahanayake, who eventually formed his own party and contested the general elections in March 1960. Although the Freedom Party failed to form a government under the leadership of C. P. de Silva, fresh elections were held four months, later after the United National Party government lost the throne speeches. Bandaranaike’s widow Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike lead the Freedom Party to gain a majority in the Parliament and was appointed the first female Prime Minister in the world. She expanded on her husband’s left-wing reforms in her two terms as the Prime Minister from 1960 to 1964 and from 1970 to 1977. In 1994, Bandaranaike’s daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga headed a coalition led by the Freedom Party to be elected Prime Minister, and thereafter as the President serving from 1994 to 2005, during which Bandaranaike’s widow served as the Prime Minister from 1994 to 2000. Bandaranaike’s son, Anura Bandaranaike served as Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2001.

J.R. Jayawardene thus became the second President of The  Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka, after making Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike adjustmenments  to Ceylon to be the Social Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka.  J.R. managed to restrict  Mrs. Bandaranaike’s civic rights for several years. Not only that He was in office from 4^th February 1978 to 2^nd January 1989. He produced the most ‘frightening laws to be able to keep  the ‘Executive President’ would be able to do anything President likes (which means that woman cannot be turned into a man!). Not only that J.R. Jayawardena kept, in his pocket a few letters signed by the members of the Parliament so that they could abandon of  Parliamentary seats from the United National Party.

Followed by J.R. Jayawardena the next President became Ranasinghe Premadasa. He was in office from 6^th February 1978 , until at the age of sixty-eight ,till 2 January 1988. He was assassinated on the Independence Day in February 1978 when a Tamil servant boy waved a hankey to attract him to the spot where he was killed there and then on the spot.

After his demise  became the acting President was Dingiri Banda Wijetunga, who also died recently. He was  the acting President from 1 May 1993 – 7 May 1993 May 1993.

Mahinda Rajapaksa  served as the President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015; the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2005, 2018, and 2019 to 2022;^] the Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2004 and 2018 to 2019, and the Minister of Finance from 2005 to 2015 and 2019 to 2021. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kurunegala since 2015.

Ranil Wickremesinghe who is the 9th and current President of Sri Lanka. He also holds several ministerial positions, including the Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence, Minister of Technology and Minister of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment.

Ranil Wickremesinghe has led the United National Party since 1994. He has served as  the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on five separate occasions, leading six governments, from 1993 to 1994, 2001 to 2004, 2015 to 2018, 2018 to 2019, and for a few months in 2022. He has also served as the Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2015.

Entering active politics in the mid-1970s with the UNP, he was first elected to Parliament from the Biyagama electorate and was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, by his uncle, President J. R. Jayewardene. He was thereafter appointed as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Employment and becoming the youngest cabinet minister in Sri Lanka.

In 1989, President Ranasinghe Premadasa, appointed Wickremesinghe as the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology and Leader of the House. He was appointed Leader of the Opposition in November 1994, following the assassination of Gamini Dissanayake during the campaign in Wickremesinghe was the UNP nominee in the 1999 and 2005 Presidental elections, but was defeated by Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa, respectively.

On 8 January 2015, Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as the Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena, who had defeated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in  his coalition alliance, the United National Front for Good Governance, won the 2015 parliamentary election with 106 seats. Although it fell short of an outright majority, Wickremesinghe was re-elected as the Prime Minister, with over 35 Sri Lanka Freedom Party members joining his Cabinet. Wickremesinghe was removed as Prime Minister on 26 October 2018 by President Maithripala Sirisena with the appointment of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister, which Wickremesinghe refused to accept, resulting in a constitutional crisis. The crisis ended with Sirisena re-appointing Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister on 16 December 2018. He resigned as Prime Minister on 20 November 2019, and was again succeeded by Mahinda Rajapakse following the 2019 presidential election. He contested the 2020 parliamentary election but failed to secure  a single seat for the UNP in Parliament.^[

He re-entered Parliament as a National List MP of the United National Party, and was sworn in as a member of parliament on 23 June 2021. In May 2022, Wickremesinghe was re-appointed as Prime Minister by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa , the new President On 9 July 2022. Wickremesinghe announced that he was willing to resign amidst mass anti-government protests that saw his personal residence set ablaze, along with the residence of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaska taken over by protestors. He agreed to resign as Prime Minister once a new government was formed.

Wickremesinghe became the acting president on 14 July 2022, after his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country. Rajapaksa resigned on 14 July 2022, and on the same day, Wickremesinghe was sworn in as acting President of Sri Lanka. On the the same day, he decided to formally abolish the presidential standard and remove the style “His Excellency” when addressing as the President. On 20 July 2022, Wickremesinghe was elected as the 9th President via an election by the Parliament on  21 July 2022, he took the Prediental oath in Parliament as the current President of Sri Lanka.

Those people who talk about Ranil Wickremasinghe is an efficient President, who have managed to cut down on people queuing  for petrol and gas ( explosions!) and bringing the country to a satisfactory situation  and not being a  bankrupt country any more, despite the soring prices of commodities,  seem to think  that he should be the next Presidential candidate but he himself has declared that ‘ he would decide on that only in April 2024!’.That will show his confidence in resurrecting the country at all!

The basic fact remains that all the Prime Ministers were hell bent on their own ideas and principles that has gone down the country to a stage of bankruptcy at present!

tilakfernando@gamail.com

උපුටා ගැන්ම ලංකා සී නිව්ස්

ආන්දෝලනාත්මක එන්නත් ගනුදෙනුව සම්බන්ධයෙන් වන නීති කෘත්‍යට මුළු කැබිනට් මණ්ඩලයම අධිකරණයට කැඳවා සාක්‍ෂි ගත යුතු බවට ජනාධිපති නීතිඥ අනූජ පේ‍්‍රමරත්න මහතා ඉල්ලා සිටියි.

ඔහු මෙසේ කියා සිටියේ අත්අඩංගුවට ගන්නා ලද හිටපු සෞඛ්‍ය අමාත්‍ය වත්මන් පරිසර ඇමති කෙහෙළියට මහතා වෙනුවෙන් මාලිගාකන්ද මහේස්ත්‍රාත් අධිකරණය හමුවේ කරුණු ඉදිරිපත් කරමිනි.

ප‍්‍රශ්නගත ප්‍රතිදේහ එන්නත් ආනයනය සම්බන්ධයෙන් වන පරීක්‍ෂණවලට අදාලව අමාත්‍යවරයා අත්අඩංගුවට ගත් අතර ඔහුට ඇප නියම කරන ලෙස ඉල්ලමින් නීතීඥවරයා මෙසේ අදහස් පළ කළේය.

ස්වාමිනි පැමිණිල්ල කියනවා, මගේ සේවාදායකයා ඉදිරිපත් කරපු කැබිනට් පත්‍රිකාව නිසා මුළු කැබිනට් මණ්ඩලයම නොමඟ ගිහිල්ලා කියලා. කැබිනට් මණ්ඩලය ඔවුන් වෙත එන ඕනෑම කැබිනට් පත්‍රිකාවක් අත්සන් කරනවා ද? කරුණාකර මුළු කැබිනට් මණ්ඩලයම කැඳවන්න ඔවුන් නොමඟ ගියේ කොහාමද කියලා සාක්ෂි ගන්න. ෆයිල් නැතිවුනා නම් ස්වාමිනි ෆයිල් නැතිකරපු කෙනා සොයාගන්න කියන්න. ඒකට ඇමතිට නඩු දාන්න එපා. මොකද උසාවියක නඩු භාණ්ඩ නැතිවුණා කියලා විනිසුරුවරයා වැරදි නැහැනේ. ස්වාමිනි බැලු බැල්මටම මගේ සේවාදායකයාට එරෙහිව නඩු කටයුත්තක් නැති හෙයින් ඔහුව නිදහස් කරන්න. මගේ සේවාදායකයා රෝග රැසකට බෙහෙත් වර්ගම 07ක් බොනවා.”

Courtesy Times Malta

Former health minister detained over fake medicines scandalWorldSri LankaHealth

Former Sri Lankan health minister Keheliya Rambukwella is being investigated in connection with the scam. Photo: AFP

A Sri Lankan court remanded a senior cabinet minister in custody Saturday over the purchase of fake medicines for state hospitals when he was in charge of the health portfolio.

Former health minister Keheliya Rambukwella was ordered to be held until February 15 pending investigations into a 144 million rupee ($465,000) scam involving what were meant to be life-saving drugs.

Police told the court in Colombo the health ministry had intended to buy a stock of the antibody immunoglobulin, which is used on immune-compromised patients.

What the ministry paid for turned out to be mostly water.

“The drug had been issued to hospitals between July and September when patients reported adverse reactions triggering quality tests,” an investigator told AFP.

It was not clear if there were deaths associated with the use of the fake medication.

The Criminal Investigations Department began questioning Rambukwella on Friday and took him before Colombo’s Maligakanda Magistrate Court, where the judge ordered his detention.

Several other key health ministry officials have already been arrested. Rambukwella is currently the environment minister.

The supplier, a local company, was to be paid 960 million rupees ($3.1 million) but the payments were stopped after the quality concerns arose in September.

The owner of the company is also in custody.

Sri Lanka faced an acute shortage of medicines after the country defaulted on its $46 billion foreign debt in April 2022 after declaring bankruptcy.

Most essential medicines were later financed through a credit line from neighbouring India, as well as the World Bank.

Courtesy Adaderana

In Sri Lanka’s pursuit of transforming into a high-income country by 2048 involving trade negotiations with countries like Thailand, the Sri Lanka Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA), was signed, during the visit of Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his delegation of business dignitaries today (03) at the Presidential Secretariat.

This move aims to enhance market opportunities, with negotiations covering various aspects such as Trade in Goods, Investment, Customs Procedure, and Intellectual Property Rights.

Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security, Mr. Nalin Fernando, represented Sri Lanka by signing the agreement, while Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, represented Thailand by signing the accord.

Thailand, the 37th exporting destination of Sri Lanka, holds significant economic importance, with a GDP of USD 495 billion in 2022 and is one of the largest outward investors in ASEAN. Thailand has brought over USD 92 Million worth of FDI to Sri Lanka during the period from 2005 to 2022. In 2018, it was anticipated tripling the existing bilateral trade value (USD 550 Mn) to USD 1.5 Billion within four years. One of the main objectives of entering into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand is to enhance market opportunities for Sri Lanka with possible expansion.

The SLTFTA, having undergone extensive negotiations, has received legal clearance and is set to further strengthen economic ties between the two nations.

In a related development, the Governments of Sri Lanka and Thailand signed a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement, providing for liberalized services between the two countries. The agreement, which supersedes the 1950 agreement, reflects the commitment to enhance aviation relations and regulatory frameworks.

On behalf of Sri Lanka, the Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva, signed the agreement, while representing Thailand, Mr. Jakkapong Sangmanee, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed the document.

Meanwhile, the Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute (GJRTI) of Sri Lanka and the Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand (GIT) solidified their commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which also took place at the Presidential Secretariat.

Representing Sri Lanka, Mr. B.G.R.W. Gamlath, Director General (Actg) of the Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute (GJRTI), and representing Thailand, Mr. Sumed Prasongpongchai, Director of the Gem and Jewellery Institute, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the two countries.

The Gem and Jewellery industry, deeply rooted in Sri Lanka’s history, has flourished due to its production of high-quality gems, positioning the country uniquely in the global market. Thailand, currently holding a distinctive position in the international Gem and Jewellery industry, recognizes the importance of collaboration. With the shared goal of developing and promoting the industry in both nations, the MOU focuses on information exchange, scientific and technical research, and training activities.

The agreement stems from the 2018 strategic economic cooperation MOU between the governments of Sri Lanka and Thailand. GJRTI and GIT will collaborate on gem deposit and exploration research, value addition to gemstones, and jewellery manufacturing. The exchange of gem-related rock samples and minerals between the two institutes will be facilitated under the laws and regulations of both countries.

GIT will offer training courses in gemmology, jewellery designing and manufacturing, contributing to the skill development in Sri Lanka. The collaboration aims to increase economic returns from the Gem and Jewellery industry by sharing information on gem materials and deposits.

–PMD–

A new Bilateral Air Services Agreement was signed on Feb. 03, 2024, to provide for liberalized services between Sri Lanka and Thailand.

An MoU was signed between Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute (GJRTI) of Sri Lanka and Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand (GIT) on Feb. 03, 2024.

Courtesy Adaderana

In a gesture of warm hospitality, President Ranil Wickremesinghe extended a cordial welcome to the distinguished Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, and the accompanying official delegation at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (Feb.03).

After the gracious reception by the Sri Lankan leader, a formal ceremony unfolded, with the Chief of Defence Staff accompanying both leaders to the saluting dais. Amidst the ceremonial ambience, a Guard of Honour was awarded to the distinguished guests followed by a 19-gun salute.

After the formal introduction of the delegations from both countries, President Wickremesinghe and PM Thavisin engaged in an exclusive one-to-one meeting, hosted at the President’s Office.

This intimate session facilitated discussions on various bilateral matters, fortifying the diplomatic bonds between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Thailand. The convergence of these two leaders underscores a shared commitment to open dialogue and enhanced cooperation between the two nations.

In a bilateral meeting held at the President’s Office, President Wickremesinghe and PM Thavisin reaffirmed the enduring and enriching relationship between Sri Lanka and Thailand, emphasizing centuries-old ties that transcend the formal establishment of Diplomatic Relations in 1955.

President Wickremesinghe highlighted the long-standing, deep-rooted cordial relations based on Theravada Buddhist linkages and robust cultural connections between the two nations.

The leaders discussed Sri Lanka’s new foreign policy approaches aimed at expanding relations with Southeast Asia and achieving deeper economic integration in the region.

President Wickremesinghe expressed appreciation for the signing of the Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA), emphasizing its significance in the broader context of integrating with the ASEAN region economically. Sri Lanka aims to strengthen its export market in ASEAN and welcomes major investments from the region.

The President sought Thailand’s support for Sri Lanka’s bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), underlining the formal request made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

President Wickremesinghe highlighted the untapped potential for trade and investment between the two countries. Opportunities for Thai investments in luxury hotels in the Colombo Port City and participation in the privatization of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) were discussed.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening maritime cooperation, with a special focus on Thailand’s proposed land bridge project across the Isthmus of Kra.

The President expressed gratitude for technical assistance from Thailand, particularly through the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA). Areas of potential cooperation include packaging, ICT, agriculture, tourism, and support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

He also acknowledged Thailand’s past gifts of tuskers and pledged the safety and welfare of remaining elephants in Sri Lanka. Technical assistance from TICA on elephant welfare was also discussed.

Cooperation in the fisheries sector, including investment opportunities in supply chains, and collaboration in agriculture were also proposed during the meeting.

The leaders emphasized the need for close defence and security cooperation, sharing information and intelligence to curb transnational crimes. President Wickremesinghe also proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation.

Both leaders discussed enhancing Buddhist religious tourism, promoting maritime tourism, and improving air connectivity. Plans for a visa-free travel arrangement for normal passport holders were also on the agenda.

Collaboration in regional fora such as BIMSTEC, IORA, ACD, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was acknowledged. Sri Lanka looks forward to strengthening IORA under its chairmanship.

President Wickremesinghe sought assistance from Thailand in repatriating Sri Lankan victims of human trafficking in Myanmar.

In closing, President Wickremesinghe reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to consolidating bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Thailand.

The comprehensive discussions pave the way for deeper economic, cultural, and strategic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Thailand, marking a new chapter in their historic relationship.

Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Phumtham Wechayachai, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jakkapong Sangmanee and Thai Ambassador to Sri Lanka Paitoon Mahapannaporn graced the occasion, representing Thailand. On Sri Lanka’s side, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and a delegation of ministers, along with Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake and Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aruni Wijewardena, were in attendance.

–PMD

Courtesy Adaderana

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) says that the cumulative deficit in Sri Lanka’s trade account narrowed to USD 4.9 billion from USD 5.2 billion within last year, the lowest recorded since 2010. 

However, the CBSL also stated that the country’s trade deficit widened in December 2023 compared to the trade deficit recorded a year earlier.

The Central Bank made those disclosures while presenting its latest reports on the performance of the external sector of the country’s economy.

In December, Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports revenue declined by 6.2% to USD 1 billion from a year earlier, due to a decline in earnings from industrial exports and mineral exports, while an increase was recorded in agricultural exports in December 2023.

The Central Bank said cumulative export earnings during the period from January to December also declined by 9.1% compared to 2022, to USD 11.91 billion.

Meanwhile, expenditure on merchandise imports increased to USD 1.48 billion in December 2023, compared to USD 1.42 billion in the same month in 2022.

The year-on-year increase in imports were mainly led by imports of investment goods and consumer goods amidst the relaxation of import restrictions.

A Central Bank report said the cumulative import expenditure in 2023 declined by 8.1% to USD 16.8 billion over the corresponding period of 2022.

Meanwhile, workers’ remittance increased notably to USD 570 million in December 2023 compared to USD 537 million in November 2023. The same figure in December a year earlier stood USD 476 million. 

As a whole, Workers’ remittances in 2023 amounted to USD 5.97 billion, compared to USD 3.789 billion in 2022, recording a year-on-year growth of 57.5%.

Total Departures for foreign employment in 2023 were recorded at 297,656. The same figure in 2022 was recorded at 311,056.

Earnings from tourism in November 2023 stood at USD 205 million while in December last year earnings were estimated at USD 269 million, marking a stark increase from USD 127 million earned through tourism in December 2022.

In aggregate, earnings from tourism in 2023 amounted to USD 2.068 billion, compared to USD 1.136 billion in 2022, recording a year on year growth of 82%.

Courtesy Hiru News

In a significant development, President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed the Thailand-Sri Lanka Business Forum at the Kingsbury Hotel, highlighting the auspicious timing of the event. The President announced the signing of a ground-breaking free trade agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Thailand, marking the second FTA with an ASEAN country.

President Wickremesinghe emphasized the historic trade relationship between the two nations, which predates even the Sukhothai Kingdom. He urged a revival of this connection, considering the strategic positions of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean and Thailand in the Asia Pacific. The President also acknowledged the cultural ties, including shared traditions like the Ramayana and Theravada Buddhism.

President Wickremesinghe welcomed Thailand’s Prime Minister and expressed enthusiasm for the proposed land bridge of Krah Canal, connecting Sri Lankan ports to the Asia Pacific. He highlighted the potential for regional logistics centres and discussed collaborative efforts in renewable energy, agriculture modernization, and fisheries development.

The President lauded the commitment to commercial Durian cultivation, with the Prime Minister offering assistance to modernize agriculture. Tourism also took centre stage, with plans to provide land and historic buildings for development in strategic areas. President Wickremesinghe concluded by urging both nations to seize the opportunities presented and work collaboratively for mutual benefit.

Expressing his views at the Business Forum, the Prime Minister of Thailand Hon. Srettha Thavisin highlighted potential collaborations in Sri Lanka’s growing hospitality industry, covering food and beverages, hotel supplies and skills development through cooperation between academies and hospitality institutes. Emphasizing the cultural and religious bonds between the nations, he mentioned Thai Airways International’s resumption of daily flights between Bangkok and Colombo commencing from the 31st of March.

The Prime Minister encouraged more Thai companies to invest in Sri Lanka’s infrastructure, manufacturing and energy sectors. He also urged increased tourism, suggesting Thai companies capitalize on Sri Lanka’s infrastructure projects and tourist advantages in markets like India, UAE, and the EU.

In terms of maritime connectivity, he identified Sri Lanka as a crucial partner in Thailand’s ambition to become a logistics hub in Southeast Asia, citing a land bridge project to connect the Andaman Sea with the Gulf of Thailand. Additionally, he welcomed Indonesia’s high-crystal ocean project in the coming years.

The Prime Minister assured that Thailand is open for business year-round, inviting collaboration to foster economic growth and move into an exciting future.

Chanaka Bandarage

Up to 2015 or so there was little media scrutiny of bribery and corruption in Sri Lanka.  True the private electronic media like Sirasa did investigative journalism, but that did not go far enough. The 2005 – 2015 government was   very clever and ruthless in suppressing decent.  Some media personnel made the supreme sacrifice with their lives; Lasantha is the most famous.

After the Yahapalanaya government came to power, the tables turned. Ranil being a strong liberal allowed free media. This was the time that social media was resurging; it was happening in an unprecedented way. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram etc were providing incredible opportunities for ordinary individuals to criticise governments and raise alarm on bribery and corruption.

But, these platforms also gave free and immeasurable access to their users to insult, despise and shame individuals. Their excuse was that in the name of free speech, it is alright.

These money hungry platforms do not have any concern that the reputation and integrity of innocent people can be destroyed/tarnished due to the improper use of their systems.

Mr Zuckerbarg, Chairman, has expressed sorrow that so many people had committed suicide due to mental health issues created by Facebook and Instagram.

The Yahapalanaya government’s positivism boomeranged on them. The Central bank bond scam became the number 1 news item during their entire terrain until the Easter bombing. The Central Bank Governor had to resign and flee the country.

Today Sri Lanka has some of the world’s bravest social media activists. They have taken the full advantage of fearless reporting. It is incredible that we have come to this. It is thanks to them that many corruptions have been highlighted. And now the arrest of Keheliya.

The civil activists were celebrating in jubilant yesterday night. They are entitled to do so. It is sad that they did not have the decency to thank their injured comrade Sanjaya Mahawatte who is still in hospital.  Without Sanjaya Keheliya would not have been behind bars.  

It is to be acknowledged that some social media activists are operating without regard to law,  ethics, courtesy and decency. Freedom of Speech does not mean giving a free licence to attack anyone wiilly nilly. Lots of popular YouTubers seem to have little concern about societal ethics and religious respectfulness.

YouTube has become a platform to attack Buddhist monks. Monks are being called in various derogatory terms such as Yellow Pets or Pests, කහකඩයෝ, චීවරධාරියෝ etc. It is widely believed that some of these YouTubers are pawns of powerful private/overseas institutions and NGOs.

Is there a concerted effort to attack Katharagama Devalaya? Thanks to some YouTubers pilgrim numbers to this holy place has dwindled. The small traders who survived selling provisions to pilgrims are in utter distress.

Why are they only attacking Buddhism, Buddhist monks and Buddhist sites?

Other religions are untouched.

The government has introduced the Online Safety Act 2024. This is a strange Act. It is designed to  tackle ‘false and harmful’ content published on internet. But, the state has prosecuted individuals for these same charges prior to this enactment.  The government has lots of weapons in its armoury. It has used the  Criminal Code and associate legislation, Police Ordinance, ICCPR Act and Civil Defamation to prosecute/sue individuals.

Perhaps the government wanted to widen its net. The new Act states it applies to an overseas person who has done ‘the false and harmful act’ to Sri Lanka or to a Sri Lankan.

The Act uses the terminology යම් තැනතෙක්කු විසින්  …. Does this mean if a US citizen makes a false statement about incidents in Sri Lanka or does an act with the express intention of hurting religious feelings in Sri Lanka, he/she can be prosecuted under the Act? This is bizarre.

Our courts have jurisdiction only within Sri Lanka. It cannot make orders for acts done in a foreign land, even if they were done by a Sri Lankan living overseas.

It seems Sri Lanka now considers the offences stipulated in the Act as international crimes?

Then, our courts have the jurisdiction to prosecute such people.

But, international crimes are the most heinous crimes like war crimes, crimes against humanity.  Surely insulting Sri Lanka or someone related to Sri Lanka on the internet cannot be considered as an international crime.

The Yahapalanaya government decriminalized defamation. It boasted its achievement. Now what can they say?

With this Act,  the government has surely criminalized defamation.

The new Act is not available for perusal on internet yet. In accordance to the  gazetted Act, a person can receive a jail sentence up to 5 years. The maximum fine is Rs 500,000.

The Act has criminalized the use of fake internet accounts to insult another. This can create legal minefields.

The draft Act intended to cover online platforms. This means to take action against online social and video sharing platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter (now X Corp). This was a brave move on the government’s part. But, in the final draft (the Bill that was passed in the parliament on 24 January 2024), it seems the government has given up that idea.

Whatever the measures that the government takes to suppress and control social media, it is foolish to believe that the activists would simply go away. They are a very clever and intelligent lot. They are very powerful also. Surely, they would find new ways and means to express views without succumbing to the Act.

Who will win the ultimate battle? The Government or the activists? The writer thinks the latter. Any way, it is  interesting to wait and watch.  

The Act seems to be full of errors and anomalies. But, since the Act is now passed  no one can challenge it. This is a big drawback in our law. Prior to 1978 any Act could be challenged any time in the Supreme Court. We must re-introduce that provision in our Constitution.

Of course the Act could be amended. Perhaps the President sits with the activists and try to reach a compromise. Only a bold, compassionate, visionary leader would embark on such a pathway.

Dilrook Kannangara

It is yet another secret military deal with USA approved following agreement by both parties on April 6, 2022. It is not surprising that Sri Lankan media failed to report this as they were silent on the first ACSA secret deal signed between USA and Sri Lanka on March 11, 2007. This was extended 10 years later as the original 2007 ACSA created an inescapable military trap.

The new military engagement with USA (April 6, 2022) is far more dangerous, intrusive and invasive.

The president, the Cabinet and the parliament can annul this deal any time. But they don’t for personal, corrupt and opportunistic reasons.

https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ICS_SCA_Sri-Lanka_02MAY2023_PUBLIC.pdf

Quoted from it,

Mission Colombo remains committed to helping Sri Lanka protect its sovereignty and reshape its security forces to tackle current and emerging threats, including transnational maritime crime and disaster response, leaving the country better poised to contribute to regional and global security. Mission Colombo will continue to apply U.S. law and advocate for shared democratic values, vetting all security sector personnel who receive U.S. foreign assistance resources. Human rights training and gender and ethno-communal diversity within the security apparatus will continue to be an important component of our bilateral military engagement.”

Readers are encouraged to read the document and gain an understanding of how Sri Lanka has already become a US military vassal state. This is part of steady American-militarization of Sri Lanka that started in 2007 with ACSA agreement (signed in secret by two US citizens). Interestingly 2007 was the year when American (and other NATO) ISBs (International Sovereign Bonds) were introduced to Sri Lanka which became an economic and debt trap since 2007. Interestingly, the top officials in Sri Lanka overlooking the military and the economy in 2007 were both US citizens and they personally approved both these deals!

USA has been very clever in first winning over the more patriotic” political camp. If the more patriotic” camp can be won over, there is no need to worry for the less patriotic” camp. Now it is proven that there have been no patriotic politicians in Sri Lanka since 2007. It is already too late for Sri Lanka.

LANKA LEADER

ඊයේ(01) කොළොඹ පැවැති මාධ්‍ය සාකච්ඡාවකට එක් වෙමින් වෘත්තිකයන්ගේ ජාතික පෙරමුණේ සභාපති ඉංජිනේරු කපිල පෙරේරා මහතා ඉදිරි දින කිහිපය තුළ මේ අටවා ගෙන තිබෙන ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට භයානක ප්‍රතිඵල අත්පත් කර දෙන තායිලන්ත,සිංගප්පූරු සහ එට්කා ගිවිසුම් අත්සන් කිරීමට කටයුතු කරන බව අවධාරණය කරනු ලැබීය. මේ වන විට ජනතාව මුහුණ දෙන ආර්ථික අපහසුතා හේතුවෙන් මතුවි තිබෙන නිද්‍රාශීලී භාවය ප්‍රයෝජනයට ගනිමින් මෙවැනි අහිතකර ගිවිසුම් අත්සන් කිරීමට රජය පෙළඹී ඇති බව පෙන්වා දුන්නේය. කැබිනට් මණ්ඩලය පවා උඩින් පවතින ලෙස කේ ජී වීරසිංහ මහතා ගේ මෙහෙයුම යටතේ පවත්වා ගෙන යන කාර්යාලයක් මගින් රටට අහිතකර මෙම සියලු ගිවිසුම් අත්සන් කිරීමට කටයුතු යොදන බවද ඒ මහතා පෙන්වා දුන්නේය. මෙම ගිවිසුම් අත්සන් කිරීම වැලැක්වීමට ව්‍යයවාසකයන් වෘත්තිකයන් මෙන්ම මහජනතාව පෙරට ආයුතු බව ඒ මහතා පෙන්වා දුන්නේය. 

Ministry of Defence  – Media Centre

The Cabinet has approved the Cabinet Paper No. 23/2527/603/061 dated 24.01.2024, on paying of salary and allowances to the dependents of deceased Tri-Forces personnel, who had retired from service on medical grounds owing to terrorist activities during active service in the war prior to 19.05.2009,  those deceased prior to reaching 55 years.

Cabinet approval has been granted to the Cabinet paper presented by H.E. the President Ranil Wickramasinghe with the intervention of the Ministry of Defence.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Defence announces that the salary and allowances of  Tri-Forces personnel,  those retired from the armed forces on medical grounds due to being disabled owing to terrorist activities while actively contributing to the war prior to 19. 05. 2009, prior to reaching the age of 55 years will be paid to their dependents until the date of completing 55 years of age of the deceased. 

Also, the fixed monthly stipend previously granted to these beneficiaries as per a Cabinet approval, i.e. salary, pension and allowances that would have been entitled when he reached the age of 55 years if that person had been alive, will be entitled to his widow for her lifetime.

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මාධ්‍ය අංශය 

.දරිද්‍රතාවය අවම කිරීම, ආහාර සහ පෝෂණ සුරක්ෂිතතාව ඉහළ නැංවීම සහ ස්වභාවික සම්පත් වැඩිදියුණු කිරීම සඳහා කැපවී සිටින ජාත්‍යන්තර ජල කළමනාකරණ ආයතනය (IWMI)  සහ   අන්තර්ජාතික කෘෂිකාර්මික පර්යේෂණ පිළිබඳ උපදේශක කණ්ඩායම  (CGIAR ) සිය නිෂ්පාදන හවුල්කාරිත්වයේ 40 වැනි සංවත්සරය නිමිත්තෙන් මේ වසරේ ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තුළ නව වැඩසටහනක් දියත් කිරීමට පියවර ගෙන තිබේ.

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන මහතා සහ අන්තර්ජාතික කෘෂිකාර්මික පර්යේෂණ පිළිබඳ උපදේශක කණ්ඩායමෙහි (CGIAR) විධායක කළමනාකාර අධ්‍යක්ෂ ඉස්මහානේ එලෝවාෆි මෙනෙවිය සහ ජාත්‍යන්තර ජල කළමනාකරණ ආයතනයෙහි ( IWMI) අධ්‍යක්ෂ ජනරාල් ආචාර්ය මාර්ක් ස්මිත් මහතා අතර හමුවක් අද (2024.02.02) අරලියගහ මන්දිරයේදී පැවැත්විණී.

කෘෂිකාර්මික නිෂ්පාදන, ධීවර හා කුකුළු මස් නිෂ්පාදන වැඩි කිරීමෙන් ග්‍රාමීය ජනතාවගේ අපනයන ව්‍යාපාර මෙන්ම  පෝෂණය ඉහළ නැංවීමේ නව ක්ෂේත්‍ර පිළිබඳව සොයා බලන ලෙස අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා නියෝජිත පිරිසගෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටියේය.

අන්තර්ජාතික කෘෂිකාර්මික පර්යේෂණ පිළිබඳ උපදේශක කණ්ඩායමෙහි (CGIAR ) විධායක කළමනාකරණ අධ්‍යක්ෂ  පැවසුවේ, ශීඝ්‍රයෙන් වෙනස් වන පසුබිමක් තුළ සාමාන්‍ය ව්‍යාපාරික ප්‍රවේශයන් විකල්පයක් නොවන අතර ඒ සඳහා නව ව්‍යාපාරික ප්‍රවේශයන්ගේ අදාළත්වය සහ බලපෑම වැඩි කරන්නේ කෙසේද යන්න පිළිබඳව  සිය අවධානය තවදුරටත් යොමු කරන බවයි. ඒ අනුව එම සංවිධාන දෙක ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සංවර්ධන වැඩසටහන් සඳහා නව ක්‍රමවේදයක් යෝජනා කිරීමට නියමිතය.

කුකුළු මස් හා බිත්තර නිෂ්පාදනය ඉහළ නැංවීම සඳහා කෙන්යාවේ සහ ඉතියෝපියාවේ ජාත්‍යන්තර පශු සම්පත් පර්යේෂණ ආයතනය සමඟ එක්ව අන්තර්ජාතික කෘෂිකාර්මික පර්යේෂණ පිළිබඳ උපදේශක කණ්ඩායම (CGIAR) ඉතා සාර්ථක වැඩසටහනක් දියත් කර ඇති බවත්, එම රටවල  සියලුම පාසල් දරුවන්ට ඔවුන්ගේ ආහාර වේල සමඟ දිනකට බිත්තරයක් මෙම සැලැස්ම යටතේ ලබා දෙන බවත් ඇය පැවසුවාය. එවැනි වැඩපිළිවෙළක් ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තුළ ද ක්‍රියාත්මක කළ හැකි බව  ඇය සඳහන් කළාය.

වසර ගණනාවක් පුරා ජලය, වාරිමාර්ග සහ ආහාර සුරක්ෂිතතාව වැඩිදියුණු කිරීම සඳහා ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට  ලබාදුන් සහය පිළිබඳව අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා ජාත්‍යන්තර ජල කළමනාකරණ ආයතනය (IWMI) සහ අන්තර්ජාතික කෘෂිකාර්මික පර්යේෂණ පිළිබඳ උපදේශක කණ්ඩායම ( CGIAR) වෙත ස්තුතිය පුද කළේය.

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය ලේකම් අනුර දිසානායක සහ ජාත්‍යන්තර ජල කළමනාකරණ ආයතනයෙහි (IWMI) ප්‍රධාන මෙහෙයුම් නිලධාරී සියොන් නියෝගි (Syon Niyogi )යන මහත්වරු මෙම අවස්ථාවට  සහභාගි වූහ.

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Over half of students BestColleges surveyed (54%) say that the use of AI tools on college coursework counts as cheating or plagiarism. 

ImageCredit: picture alliance / Contributor / Getty I

• 53% of students say they have had coursework that requires them to use AI as part of an assignment.

I myself placed a question in AI Chat Box as follows
In need to formulate a plan to invest in a program where High Quality Welders can be trained who can travel abroad to earn money 

The reply illustrated below came up in the Chatbox 

Quote 

That’s a great initiative! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you launch a program to teach and provide high-quality welding training for coded welders in Sri Lanka:

1. Research and Identify the Need: Conduct thorough research to identify the demand and need for coded welders in Sri Lanka. Look for industries that require skilled welders and assess the current availability of such training programs.

2. Develop a Curriculum: Create a comprehensive curriculum that covers all the necessary aspects of welding, including theory, practical training, safety measures, and industry standards. Collaborate with experienced welders, industry experts, and educational institutions to ensure the curriculum aligns with industry requirements.

3. Obtain Necessary Approvals: Contact the relevant government authorities and educational bodies to obtain the necessary approvals and accreditation for your training program. This will add credibility and ensure the program meets recognized standards.

4. Secure Funding: Seek funding from government grants, international organizations, private sponsors, or potential employers in the welding industry. Prepare a detailed budget plan outlining the estimated costs for infrastructure, training materials, equipment, trainers, and administrative expenses.

5. Set Up Training Facilities: Identify a suitable location for the training center. Ensure it has adequate space for classrooms, practical training areas, welding booths, and necessary safety equipment. Procure the required welding equipment, tools, and materials for training purposes.

6. Recruit Qualified Instructors: Hire experienced and certified welding instructors who can effectively teach the curriculum and provide hands-on training. Look for individuals with a strong background in welding and teaching skills.

7. Marketing and Promotion: Develop a marketing plan to create awareness about your program. Utilize both online and offline channels to reach potential candidates, including social media, industry forums, educational fairs, and partnerships with local welding associations and vocational training centers.

8. Admissions and Selection Process: Establish an admissions process that includes a rigorous selection criteria to ensure candidates have the necessary aptitude and commitment for the program. Conduct interviews and practical tests to assess their welding skills and suitability.

9. Train the Students: Implement the training program according to the curriculum developed earlier. Focus on providing a balance between theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical training. Emphasize safety protocols, industry standards, and the use of modern welding techniques and equipment.

10. Certification and Job Placement: Offer industry-recognized certifications upon successful completion of the program. Collaborate with local industries to establish partnerships and job placement opportunities for your graduates. Assist students in finding employment by organizing job fairs, connecting them with potential employers, and providing career counseling

Unquote

I did not have sit and exhaust by brains to write what is developed by AI Chat box

I paid £ 50 to join for  a year to Apple to get it 

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Courtesy AdaDerana

Nick Turse Courtesy The Intercept

A formerly secret map from AFRICOM shows a network of 29 U.S. military bases that stretch from one side of Africa to another.

Nick Turse

LAST MONTH, ABOUT a dozen al-Shabab fighters infiltrated the perimeter of a military base in Manda Bay, KenyaOpens in a new tab. One of them took aim with a rocket-propelled grenade, firing at a U.S. surveillance plane and touching off an hourslong firefight. When it was all over, the two American pilots of that plane and a U.S. soldier were dead, two other U.S. military personnel were wounded, six surveillance aircraft and helicopters were destroyed, and parts of the airfield were in flames.

Where there are U.S. bases, there is the potential for such attacks, because bases are not just launching pads for offensive military operations, but targets for them too. Since 9/11, the U.S. military has built a sprawling network of outposts in more than a dozen African countries. The Intercept has obtained U.S. military documents and a set of accompanying maps that provide the locations of these African bases in 2019, including the one at Manda Bay. These formerly secret documents, created by the Pentagon’s Africa Command and obtained via the Freedom of Information Act, offer an exclusive window into the footprint of American military operations in Africa.

Maps of U.S. Enduring” and Non-Enduring” bases in Africa. The Pentagon defines enduring” bases as providing strategic access and use to support United States security interests for the foreseeable future.” Non-Enduring” outposts — also known as contingency locations” — are defined as supporting and sustaining operations during contingencies or other operations.” Contingency locations can be categorized as initial, temporary, or semipermanent. Images: U.S. Africa Command

During testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee late last month, Stephen Townsend, the commander of AFRICOM, echoed a line favored by his predecessors that AFRICOM maintains a light and relatively low-cost footprint” on the continent. This light” footprint consists of a constellation of more than two dozen outposts that stretch from one side of Africa to the other. The 2019 planning documents provide locations for 29 bases located in 15 different countries or territories, with the highest concentrations in the Sahelian states on the west side of the continent, as well as the Horn of Africa in the east. Since the plans were created, according to AFRICOM spokesperson John Manley, two bases have been shuttered, leaving the U.S. with an archipelago of 15 enduring locations” and 12 less-permanent contingency locations.” The documents note, however, that AFRICOM is actively seeking to enhance its presence and is primed for expansion in the future.

U.S. Africa Command’s Enduring Footprint” and Non-Enduring Footprint” in 2019.

Violent extremism and insecurity on the continent has increased exponentially during the very years that the U.S. has been building up its network of bases, providing billions of dollars in security assistanceOpens in a new tab to local partners, conducting persistent counterterrorism operations that include commando raids, combat by U.S. Special Operations forces in at least 13 African countries between 2013 and 2017Opens in a new tab, and a record number of U.S. airstrikes in SomaliaOpens in a new tab (just over one attack per week in 2019). There are now roughly 25 active militant Islamist groupsOpens in a new tab operating in Africa, up from just five in 2010Opens in a new tab — a jump of 400 percent — according to the Defense Department’s Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Militant Islamist activity also hit record levels in 2019. There were 3,471 reported violent eventsOpens in a new tab linked to these groups last year, a 1,105 percent increase since 2009Opens in a new tab. Reported fatalities resulting from African militant Islamist group activity also increased by 7 percent over last year, to an estimated 10,460 deaths. The situation has become so grim that U.S. military aims in West Africa have recently been scaled back from a strategy of degrading the strength and reach of terror groups to nothing more than containmentOpens in a new tab.”

THE CURRENT ARCHIPELAGO of U.S. outposts in Africa represents a decrease of seven sites from the 34 bases detailed in a set of briefing documents by AFRICOM science adviser Peter Teil that were published by The Intercept in 2018. The new 2019 AFRICOM planning documents provide information on five bases slated for closure, including a longtime enduring” site in Gaborone, BotswanaOpens in a new tab, and four contingency locations, or CLs, in Faya Largeau, Chad; Lakipia, Kenya; Benina, Libya; and Gao, Mali. Shuttering the CLs, according to the documents, is part of an effort to seek efficiencies by consolidating … functions at a reduced number of posture locations,” while the removal of Gabrone was chalked up to a lack of DoD [Department of Defense] property or routine DoD presence” and the fact that Botswana does not acknowledge or desire any formal DoD access at the international airport.”

Manley refused to say which two additional bases were dropped from the 2019 list. The fluctuation in the number is not related to Misrata and Tripoli,” he told The Intercept in response to a question about whether the Libyan outposts were the others closed. But it is worth noting that since the 2019 base posture document was produced, the U.S. pulled its forces out of the North African nation. Due to increased unrest in LibyaOpens in a new tab, a contingent of U.S. forces supporting U.S. Africa Command temporarily relocated from the country in response to security conditions on the ground,” AFRICOM announced last April as the Libyan civil war flared upOpens in a new tab. Those troops have never returned, according to Manley, and a recent inspector general’s report states that they won’t be redeployed until there is a ceasefireOpens in a new tab in Libya’s civil warOpens in a new tab.

It’s also worth noting the documents state that U.S. Army Africa uses space at host nation facilities” in Theis, Senegal, and Singo, Uganda, even though the bases are not listed on AFRICOM’s maps. While these cooperative training locations” are not officially considered outposts by the command, they raise the question of whether 29 bases is actually a more accurate count. Whatever the real number of bases, the recent alteration of AFRICOM’s footprint in 2019 appears to be a strategic consolidation as the command fortifies its presence in some of the continent’s hottest hotspots. Of the 6,000 or more U.S. personnel deployed in Africa, about 1,200, according to Manley, are in West Africa, with a significant percentage in NigerOpens in a new tab, which has become the key American hub on that side of the continent. Around 500 Special Operations forcesOpens in a new tab are reportedly deployed on the other side of the continent in Somalia, the site of America’s most intense and longest-running undeclared war in Africa.

Full Report

Pentagon’s Own Map of U.S. Bases in Africa Contradicts Its Claim of “Light” Footprint

By Liu Xin Courtesy Global Times

Accusations of ‘debt trap,’ ‘neocolonialism’ have no market in Kenya
Over the last decade, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has yield fruitful achievements and greatly enriched China-Africa relations. As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal of BRI, Global Times reporters Liu Xin and Xing Xiaojing (GT) interviewed Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian (Zhou) and Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar Guo Xiaomei (Guo), to learn about their views on the BRI’s achievements in the two African countries and their expectations for future cooperation.

GT: Over the last decade, China and Kenya have achieved fruitful results in their cooperation under the Belt and Road initiative (BRI). What do you see as the biggest highlight?

Zhou: The Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is a landmark project by China and Kenya under the BRI, and it is also an exemplar of many fruitful results. In Kenya, the railway is affectionately called the SGR, and is well-known to almost every single Kenyan. As Kenyan President William Ruto said, the railway has completely changed the national landscape of Kenya.

The BRI has transformed Kenya’s dreams into a reality. The narrow-gauge railway in Kenya was built in 1895 and has long been in disrepair. The country has always wanted to build a standard-gauge railway, which is also a key project in its Vision 2030 plan formulated in 2007.

Since the inauguration of the SGR, it has transported about 11 million passengers and about 28 million tons of cargo. It is worth mentioning that the official name of the railway in Kenya is “Madaraka Express” – “madaraka” means independence in the local Swahili language. Therefore, the most important significance of the railway is to enhance the confidence of the Kenyan people in their own development and make them proud.

GT: How do cooperation projects under the BRI, represented by the SGR, promote the development of other sectors by supporting infrastructure construction in Africa?

Zhou: Infrastructure construction is one of the key focuses of comprehensive cooperation under the BRI, and has unique significance for Kenya. 

Kenya itself does not have abundant mineral resources, but its geographical location and regional centrality are very important. Without necessary infrastructure, it cannot consolidate this advantage. That is why Kenya attaches great importance to cooperation with China in building railways, roads, airports, and other forms of infrastructure.

In the construction of these projects, China and Kenya adhere to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and implement the concepts proposed by the BRI. Each project effectively addresses Kenya’s development concerns and brings significant benefits, such as creating job opportunities, consolidating regional centrality, and enhancing the confidence of the Kenyan people. No one agrees with the smear of the so-called debt trap.

GT: Based on your understanding, how do people from all walks of life in Kenya respond to the BRI? What role does the initiative play in communicating with the local people?

Zhou: The BRI has an excellent reputation in Kenya, and local friends highly praise the practical changes brought about by China-Kenya cooperation under the initiative. 

In 2013, China and Kenya established a comprehensive cooperative partnership of equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation. In 2017, China-Kenya relations were upgraded to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. In the last 10 years, the exchanges between China and Kenya at the head-of-state level have provided strong strategic guidance for the joint construction of the BRI.

In addition to the connectivity of facilities such as the SGR, “soft connectivity” in terms of standard rules and regulations has also been well-coordinated, ensuring smooth trade. A decade ago, the bilateral trade volume between China and Kenya was about $2.8 billion, and in 2022 it reached about $8.5 billion, growing rapidly. The cooperation between the two countries in financial connectivity over the last 10 years has also made great progress.

In the process of jointly building the BRI between China and Kenya, due to the high visibility of projects such as the SGR, the Lamu port, and the Thwake Dam, some people may think that the joint construction mainly focuses on infrastructure. 

In fact, the achievements in people-to-people connectivity and cultural exchanges between the two countries are also very prominent. Kenya currently has four Confucius Institutes, the most in any African country. There are also scientific research institutions such as the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center and the Kenya-China Joint Laboratory for Crop Molecular Biology at Egerton University. The embassy staffers always feel enthusiasm when communicating with local people.

GT: We have noticed that many elites in Kenya have a Western education background, but in recent years, more and more young people have tended to opt to study in China. How do you view this change?

Zhou: In Kenya, we hardly hear any negative comments about China. The local people have confidence in China’s development prospects, and naturally want their own future development to be related to China.

Officials from the Kenyan Ministry of Education have expressed that many Kenyan students want to study in China, which also reflects the increasing importance of cooperation with China in Kenya’s consideration of future development. Before visiting China, a high-ranking Kenyan official told me that he needed to bring his 15-year-old son along to let him understand that the world is not only about Europe and America, but also about rapidly developing China.

Kenya is an open country, and both in the business and academic fields, more people are indeed turning their attention to China. The people-to-people exchanges between China and Kenya have laid a solid foundation since the time of Zheng He’s voyages to the coast of East Africa. With the strong driving force of jointly building the BRI, the friendly exchanges between the two countries are expected to deepen further.

GT: While achieving fruitful cooperation with mutual benefits, Western media outlets have intensified their attacks using the so-called debt trap. How do you view this?

Zhou: There are always people who can’t stand others’ success. During our exchanges with local friends in Kenya, no one has agreed with the so-called debt trap insinuation. Even if some people are influenced by such rhetoric, misunderstandings can be eliminated as long as there is clear communication.

A country needs capital for development. If it lacks domestic capital, it needs to find ways to utilize external capital appropriately. Many Kenyans believe that it is good to borrow money to help in development.

As far as I know, the smear of the so-called debt trap lacks credibility in Kenya. China’s financing in Kenya is based on the development projects in the Kenya Vision 2030 plan. Before these projects started, China was not the only country Kenya had contact with. After analyzing different options, Kenya independently chose China. The reason behind this is that Chinese financing brings project implementation and provides Kenya with the fairest and most reasonable financing arrangements within its capacity.

Other speculations such as “neocolonialism” have no standing in Kenya either. My feeling is that when certain media outlets hype such topics, the local media in Kenya reacts minimally because the people here have benefited from pragmatic cooperation under the BRI.

GT: What is the current status of the focus to align the BRI with Kenya’s Vision 2030?

Zhou: The development of each country has different stages, and the demands at each stage are not the same. Any cooperation between China and other countries is based on the needs and absorptive capacity of the partners, as well as the assistance that China can provide, striving for win-win outcomes.

Infrastructure construction remains a priority for Kenya’s national development, and China and Kenya will continue to promote cooperation in this area through innovative approaches. In addition, based on its own development needs, Kenya has a growing desire to cooperate with China in other fields. 

For example, the Kenyan government has proposed a bottom-up economic transformation agenda with agriculture at the core, covering areas such as micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, affordable housing, universal healthcare, and the digital and creative economy. There are broad prospects and ample space for cooperation between Kenya and China in these areas.

Taking the digital and creative economy as an example, China and Kenya have a good foundation for cooperation. Both countries have good cooperation in building 4G and 5G base stations, national fiber optic networks, and national data centers. How to improve and make better use of the infrastructure in these areas is a topic that can be further explored in the future.

There is even greater potential for cooperation between China and Kenya in the tourism industry. More and more Kenyans now recognize that China represents a huge opportunity. They say that China has over 100 million outbound tourists each year, and if even a small fraction of them could come to Kenya, the country’s tourism industry would develop well. Additionally, there is also great potential for cooperation between China and Kenya in the film and television production industry, including animation.

GT: What are your expectations for the development prospects of the high-quality BRI in Kenya?

Zhou: The prospects are very broad. Kenya has its own advantages, and the two countries have gradually explored good methods of cooperation. The most important thing is that both sides adhere to the principles of consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits, aiming for win-win cooperation and promoting their respective development.

Kenya’s leaders, government officials, and ordinary people from all walks of life have highly praised the joint construction of the BRI between China and Kenya. 

When the former Kenyan Minister of Transport participated in a live broadcast on a local TV station and was asked why many projects were cooperating with China, he used the example of the SGR to explain how Kenya’s century-old dream became a reality through cooperation with China. He mentioned that they had been talking about building an expressway to the airport for 20 years, and China helped them achieve it within one or two years. 

His argument was simple: The projects carried out in cooperation with China are of good quality, cost-effective, and are completed quickly. What’s wrong with that? It also explains, to some extent, why the BRI has borne fruitful results in Kenya. It is because of China’s sincerity and correct concept of righteousness and interests in practical operations, which have helped Kenya achieve its own development.

At the same time, China has also enhanced its own experience, technology, and equipment through cooperation with Kenya, expanding the market for Chinese companies. From August 2008 to July 2011, I served as a counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya. At the time, there was only one Chinese community here, but now there are 18. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Kenya was very small at that time, but before the pandemic, this number had exceeded 80,000. 

Looking ahead, I believe that China and Kenya will achieve new breakthroughs in jointly building the BRI and implementing global development initiatives.

By P.K.Balachandran Courtesy NewsIn.Asia

Colombo, February 2: Alienated from India, the Mohamed Muizzu government in the Maldives has entered into deals with China and Sri Lanka to counter India’s bid to influence its policies.

For one, the Maldives is trying to attract Chinese tourists to fill the gap created by the loss of Indian tourists due to calls in India for the boycott of the Maldives for its anti-Indian and pro-Chinese stance.

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For another, the Maldives and Sri Lanka have entered into an agreement for providing emergency medical evacuation in place of a  service so far provided by an Indian military aviation team.   

The fifth meeting of the Joint Sino-Maldivian Mechanism was held in Male on Thursday to enhance the safety of Chinese tourists in the Maldives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The meeting was co-chaired by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheryna Abdul Samad and the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Wang Lixin.

The meeting was convened as a continuation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two nations during President Xi Jinping’s visit to the Maldives in September 2014.

The primary focus of the meeting was to address the safety concerns of Chinese tourists visiting the Maldives. State Minister Sheryna, in her opening remarks, expressed satisfaction over the resurgence of Chinese tourist arrivals in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. She noted that China has ascended to the position of the third-largest tourism market for the Maldives.

She expressed optimism about a significant demographic shift in the Maldives’ tourist population with the commencement of direct flights from China, forecasting a substantial increase in arrivals.

Ambassador Wang expressed her gratitude to the Maldivian government for its coordination and cooperation in ensuring a safe environment for Chinese tourists in the Maldives.

This development aligns with the government’s ambitious plans to reinstate China as the top source market for tourism this year. Prior to the pandemic, China was recognised as the Maldives’ largest tourism market.

Despite currently ranking third, concerted efforts are underway to attract more Chinese travellers, with a positive growth trajectory anticipated.

As part of this effort, Hong Kong Airlines resumed direct flights to the Maldives two weeks ago. In addition to Hong Kong Airlines, three other Chinese airlines—Szechuan Air, China Eastern, and Beijing Capital Airlines—also operate flights to the Maldives, the website www.maldivesrepublic.mv reported.

In 2023, China was the third-top source market for the Maldives, with 187,118 Chinese tourists contributing 10% of the market share.

In 2023, India was first, accounting for over 200,000 arrivals. But in January 2024, India was fifth in the ranking due to the informal boycott call in India following some anti-Indian remarks made by three junior Maldivian ministers.   

Maldives-Sri Lanka Pact

Meanwhile, the Maldives and Sri Lanka agreed to establish a framework for medical evacuation flights to replace the service thus far rendered by an Indian military team operating two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft.

The Muizzu government had asked India to withdraw the military personnel and the aircraft as it did not want foreign military boots on its soil. The government had given March 15 as the deadline, but the Indian government said that the issue would be sorted out by a joint core committee.

The agreement with Sri Lanka is that the evacuation flights will be between Malé and Colombo, The Sri Lankan Minister of Aviation Nimal Sripala de Silva announced that the air ambulance service would start on March 1, but the Maldivian Minister Mohamed Ameen would not commit himself to any date.  

Minister de Silva also highlighted that the Maldivian government has decided to redirect patients requiring emergency medical care to Sri Lankan hospitals in the future in view of the superior quality of emergency care in Sri Lanka.

The Male-Colombo agreement marks a departure from the Maldives’ previous practice of sending patients to India for emergency medical care.

The Maldivian government intends to repurpose the De Havilland Canada DHC-8, commonly known as the Dash 8, a turboprop-powered aircraft operated by the national carrier, Maldivian, to provide air ambulance services.

Earlier this week, the government also announced plans to recommence Maldivian helicopter services for medical evacuation purposes.

During previous administrations, inter-island medical evacuations were conducted using two Indian navy helicopters and a Dornier aircraft provided by the India. But the administration under Mohamed Muizzu has discontinued the use of aircraft provided by India and requested that the Indian government withdraw its military presence in the Maldives.

Indian Reaction

India has reacted to the anti-Indian Maldivian moves by promoting, among Indians, Sri Lanka and the Lakshadweep islands as alternatives to the Maldives as tourist destinations.

In a recent remark, External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar recommended Sri Lanka as a destination for Indians as the people there are friendly to India. Of course, he took care not to drag the Maldives as such into the controversy.

Likewise, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman said in her budget speech that the government of India would do all it can to promote Lakshadweep islands as a tourist destination, again without mentioning the Maldives.

The Maldivian ruling circles suspect that India is promoting the Lakshadweep islands to beat the pro-Chinese Maldivian government into submission.

Courtesy CGIAR

Colombo must justify the renewal of its Ramsar Wetland City status this year. Has the city sufficiently utilized green infrastructure?

Sitting at the Kelani River delta on the west coast of Sri Lanka, set amidst a backdrop of shiny hotels, red-tiled colonial era-buildings and street markets, Colombo appears to be your typical Asian metropolis. But interspersed amongst the city’s built environment sit 19 kilometers of wetlands. Colombo’s urban wetlands make the city livable.

Every Colombo resident benefits directly or indirectly from various wetland services. Colombo was recognized in 2018 with Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation. This distinction is given to cities that deliberately value and protect the wetlands upon which they are built and provides an opportunity for governments to further invest in policies and practices that restore and protect wetlands. This October, Sri Lanka must justify the renewal of Colombo’s Wetland City status. In the 6 years since its accreditation, how has Colombo integrated wetlands into the urban landscape to build a more resilient and livable city?

The post Urban wetlands and the built environment: how Colombo’s green spaces enhance city life first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Courtesy Nikkei Asia

Indo-Pacific and ASEAN meetings with Europe underscore divided views

Palestinians walk past a house destroyed by an Israeli strike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, in early January.   © Reuters

RHYANNON BARTLETT-IMADEGAWA and CATHERINE DE BEAUREPAIRE, Nikkei staff writersFebruary 3, 2024 06:35 JST

BRUSSELS — Indonesia and Sri Lanka’s foreign ministers called on the European Union to be consistent in its approach to the conflict in Gaza as it has with Ukraine, as ministers from Europe, the Indo-Pacific and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered for meetings in Brussels on Friday.

“ASEAN and the EU should be at the front line in respecting values and principles of international law, the respect should also be applied to Palestine, to Gaza,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told a forum of Indo-Pacific and European ministers.

“I do believe that the EU and all of us, as firm supporters of upholding international law, will also have a consistent position when it comes to Gaza,” she added.

Ali Sabry, Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, echoed the sentiment, telling reporters, “We represent the sentiment of the Global South, that there’s double standards when it comes to the Middle East.”

“There is this ongoing debate when it comes to Palestinian people’s plight and the plight of Ukrainians. People are asking, ‘you have to be true to your heart and do the right thing by everybody because all human beings matter,'” Sabry said.

He noted younger European politicians understand that “the credibility of the Western world is at stake unless you treat all of them equally.”

Ministers from over 70 countries and regional bodies of the Indo-Pacific and Europe gathered for the 3rd EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in the morning, followed by the 24th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in the afternoon.

Foreign ministers from the EU, Indo-Pacific and ASEAN countries meet in Brussels on Feb. 2.   © Reuters

Although the agenda of both meetings ranged from collaboration and sustainability to security, Israel’s continuing offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and kidnappings in Israel overshadowed the events.

In a news conference, European High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell acknowledged that “every time we have a meeting with our international partners… this is a permanent issue.”

Some countries in the 27-member bloc strongly support a cease-fire while others do not, meaning the EU is only able to have a “minimum common position” to support humanitarian pauses in fighting and the release of hostages, Borrell said.

Meanwhile, ASEAN has been calling for an immediate cease-fire.

“My role is to try to put together different approaches, there is no double standard but there are different positions,” Borrell said.

He said he had told a recent European Council meeting that “the perception around the world is, in some cases, different from ours,” and said he will raise the issue again.

A joint statement following the EU-ASEAN meeting sought to emphasize common ground.

“We agreed to condemn all attacks against civilians and we noted the call of some of us for a durable cease-fire,” it said.

There were common positions on “rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need,” for all parties to protect civilians and abide by international law, and “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

“We took note, and some of us underlined the importance of, the order on provisional measures issued by interim ruling by the International Court of Justice,” it stated, referring to the Jan. 26 orders for Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza and take immediate steps to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches civilians.

The EU is seeking to deepen engagement with the fast-growing economies of the Indo-Pacific in a multitude of areas, including environment, security and international rule of law.

Dharmendra Kanani, chief spokesperson of Brussels-based think tank Friends of Europe, said “more political clout and measurable actions” need to come out of the Indo-Pacific forum, “if we’re not to be too late in addressing an increasingly fragile and unstable region with far-reaching global security issues.”

While he welcomed some “important outcomes” such as coordinated maritime presence in the Indian Ocean, including joint naval exercises and strengthening the safety of port infrastructures in South and Southeast Asia, most of the outcomes “have been about reaching agreements but not practical measures,” he said.

China and the U.S. did not take part in the Indo-Pacific forum, though the U.S. attended last year’s forum.

“There is still no strategy to link [the EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy] more forcefully to the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy and of course no connection to the Quad, it’s just very much in the air,” said Alicia Garcia Herrero, senior research fellow at Brussels-based think tank Bruegel. The Quad refers to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, made up of the U.S., Japan, India and Australia.

“Unless there is a triangular approach with [the U.S. and India], Europe can’t go anywhere with this,” she said.

An EU spokesperson declined to comment on whether Beijing was invited, but told reporters on Tuesday that there are other events, such as the EU-China summit in December, where the EU engages with China “fully and completely.”

“You haven’t heard China talk about the Indo-Pacific as a concept they would like to engage with,” the spokesperson said.

Courtesy Adaderana

The saffron-robed person claiming to be ‘Vishwa Buddha’ has been ordered to be further remanded in custody until 16 February, 2024.

This order was issued when he was produced before the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court in Nugegoda, Ada Derana reporter said.

The suspect, who was out on bail, was re-arrested on 23 January by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over breach of bail conditions and was presented before the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court. However, later he was presented before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court as per the orders of the Gangodawila Magistrate.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court, advising the suspect, had ordered him not to breach his bail conditions, however, he was further kept in remand custody over another pending case being heard before the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile on 26 January, Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris told the court that the suspect has been referred for psychiatric treatment on the recommendation of the Judicial Medical Officer.

According to police, the saffron-robed monk had allegedly issued statements demeaning Buddhism.

Earlier, the monk was arrested on 12 December at a private establishment in Kalagedihena by the cybercrimes unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), acting on a complaint received against the self-styled monk who was residing in Ratnapura.

Meanwhile, the Sangha Sabha Committee of Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya recently unanimously decided to expel the controversial monk Ven. Ratnapure Wimalabuddha over allegedly issuing statements demeaning Buddhism.

In January, this decision was communicated to the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs by the Chief Prelate (Mahanayaka Thero) of Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Makulewe Wimalabhidhana Thero.

Courtesy Adaderana

The Online Safety Act has been published in the government gazette, bringing it into effect as the Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024.

Accordingly, the Act will provide for the establishment of the Online Safety Commission, safety from prohibited statements made online and prevention of the use of online accounts and inauthentic online accounts for prohibited purposes.

It is also expected to make provisions to identify and declare online locations used for prohibited purposes in Sri Lanka and suppress the financing and other support of communication of prohibited statements and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The legislation which seeks to regulate online content was passed in Parliament, with amendments on 24 January, amidst objections from opposition politicians and activists who allege the new law will muzzle free speech.

Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena endorsed the Online Safety Bill on February 01, despite the calls urging him not to sign it without verifying whether the Supreme Court’s directives are fully adhered to.

The controversial Bill garnered not only the attention of local activists and organisations, but also that of diplomats and large international organisations, claiming that the Bill had numerous problematic aspects. 

A total of 45 petitions had been put forward by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), National People’s Power (NPP), journalist Tharindu Uduwaragedara and many other parties, alleging that the relevant bill violates the fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

Later, the Supreme Court concluded the deliberation of petitions and communicated its determination on the constitutionality of the Bill and its provisions to President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker of Parliament.

Supreme Court had emphasized that pursuant to Article 84(2) of the Constitution, Clauses 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 42, 45, 53, and 56 should be passed by a special majority in the parliament.  However, if these clauses are amended during the Committee Stage, the Online Safety Bill can be passed by a simple majority in the parliament, the determination read further.https://www.scribd.com/embeds/703117231/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-12oc1MKg3bzGLezxMRsT

Online Safety Act – English by Kaveesha Jayasundara

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Thailand, Feb. 02 (Bangkok Post) The Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is expected to be signed between Thailand and Sri Lanka this week, will benefit Thailand’s exports of automotive parts, textiles, electrical appliances, machinery, steel products, paper, processed food and animal feed, Thai media reported.

Thailand and Sri Lanka will sign a free trade agreement (FTA) this week during Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s trip to tSri Lanka, said spokesman Chai Watcharonke.

Mr Srettha has been invited by Sri Lankan Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe as a guest of honour for Sri Lanka’s Independence Day celebrations from tomorrow until Sunday.

The upcoming FTA will be Thailand’s 15th contract of its kind and the first since Mr Srettha took the premiership last year, the Bangkok Post reported.

The contract aims to bring Thai goods to new markets in South Asia by accelerating the opening of gateways for trade and investment.

Expanding Thai trade to newer territories while sustaining existing markets is part of the government’s proactive diplomatic policy, said Mr Chai.

Although Sri Lanka is a small country of just 22 million people, it is an interesting market due to its geographical location in the Indian Ocean, which is a strategic point for shipping, according to the Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN).

The DTN revealed that the overall trade value between Thailand and Sri Lanka from January to October last year had jumped to US$320.37 million (11.3 billion baht).

The new FTA is expected to benefit Thailand’s exports of automotive parts, textiles, electrical appliances, machinery, steel products, paper, processed food and animal feed.

Thailand hopes to conclude an FTA with the European Union next year.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Feb 02 (Daily Mirror) –  The Government of Sri Lanka has negotiated a financial assistance package of USD 150 million from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group. The funds are earmarked for the implementation of the Financial Sector Safety Net Strengthening Project.

The primary focus of the project is to enhance the robustness of Sri Lanka’s financial sector safety net, with particular attention to the Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance Scheme (SLDIS), managed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). The initiative aims to fortify the financial and institutional capacities of SLDIS, aligning them with international best practices governing effective deposit insurance schemes.

Specifically, the project seeks to reinforce the reserves of SLDIS, ensuring its ability to fulfill payout and bank resolution obligations. This strategic move aims to uphold public confidence in the financial system while concurrently improving SLDIS’s efficiency in performing its legally mandated functions. The reduction in reimbursement time and increased public awareness about the scheme are integral components of this comprehensive effort.

The implementation of the Financial Sector Safety Net Strengthening Project will be spearheaded by the CBSL, ensuring alignment with project development objectives and design. The financing agreement for this transformative initiative, amounting to USD 150 million, was formally signed on January 31, 2024. K.M. Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary to the Treasury, and Faris H. Hadad-Zervos, Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, represented the Government of Sri Lanka and the IDA respectively, in sealing this crucial partnership.