By Shivanthi Ranasinghe Courtesy The Island

The general takeaway from the disastrous and premature ending of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Administration is very simple. Non-politicians do not make good Presidents. Those with financial literacy blame that Administration’s economic management that saw the country into an almost economic collapse. However, the general consensus is that the cause was not ill-founded policy decisions. It is more because of the corruption led by key politicians in the Government. 

Voters are gravitating into two camps

As both presidential and parliamentary elections loom close ahead, the public is divided into two camps. Unfortunately, unlike previous times, these two camps are not political parties. It is rather two streams of thought. 

One thought by the disenchanted public is complete disinterest in the upcoming elections. As such, this group is not keen to cast their vote at any of these elections. They do not care who is in power at the moment nor who should take power thereafter. It is their conclusion that no matter who comes to power, the situation in the country will remain unresolved. 

The other group is not as pessimistic. They believe a system change is possible. However, there is scepticism whether it is possible for such a pivotal change from the same faces that has dominated politics for the past few decades. Notwithstanding this doubt, political parties are engineering crossovers as they near for the battle for power. 

Why SJB is losing confidence

As such, the SJB had warmly welcomed SLPP big names such as Professor G.L. Pieris and Dr. Nalaka Godahewa. This move had not been perceived as a positive one by those watching from the sidelines. 

Professor Pieris, in particular, has been President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s shadow. During the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government, he guided and directed the entire foreign policy. Sadly, the erudite scholar was unable to understand that the war against terrorism was far from over. 

After we defeated the LTTE and annihilated the group, the battle ground simply shifted to the august halls of the UNHRC in Geneva. We were thus unable to understand the basis of the unsubstantiated allegations that began to pile up against us. Therefore, the last years of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Administration was marked with increasing tensed relations with certain geopolitical powers. Relations especially between the US and Sri Lanka were definitely confrontational. 

There was a stark absence of true diplomacy. We did not keep a cool head to initiate or continue a dialogue to establish our stance. Apart from a couple of wild theories as to the objective of levelling  accusations of war crimes, we did not engage in a serious effort to understand the reasons that ostracised us from these powers. 

This failure directly contributed to the ousting of President Mahinda from power. During the next four years, when the Yahapalana Government was in power, Professor Pieris continued to be an ineffective advisor to Mahinda Rajapaksa. He did not see the value of countering the war crime allegations or defending our forces. This period is marked with a dark cloud as our military intelligence networks were being dismantled and senior officers were being investigated by the CID. 

The Easter Sunday Attacks in 2019 was a direct consequence of dismantling our intelligence units. At the subsequent Presidential Commission of Inquiry, the defence offered, for not acting on the foreign intelligence of an imminent attack received, that it could not be verified by our local intelligence agencies. While the Yahapalana Government is directly responsible for weakening our intelligence, the Mahinda Rajapaksa led opposition is also responsible for the political apathy when our officers were being persecuted. 

During the rise of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the presidential candidate, Dr. Godahewa too became a star. His pleasant personality and the unique ability to explain complex issues in simple language, that is comprehensive to the ordinary people, made him a popular orator. Yet, during his time as a State Minister he became increasingly unapproachable. 

Thus, the SJB opening doors to these SLPP personalities may not translate into the political strength SJB is hoping to garner from such an admission. However, SJB is not interested only in the political faces. Recently they welcomed into their fold both former Army Commander General Daya Ratnayaka and former Navy Commander Admiral Daya Sandagiri. 

General Ratnayaka’s presence had annoyed Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who as the Commander of the Army led to the victory against terrorism. As he points out, General Ratnayaka held powerful positions in the Gotabaya Administration. However, his real contention might be due to more personal or professional reasons. 

General Ratnayaka joining SJB might make SJB’s other partners also uncomfortable. SJB’s political strategy has been to include minority parties. Whether the self-preservation agendas of these minority parties and General Ratnayaka’s strong nationalism will be able to reconcile with each other remains to be seen. 

Is AKD a political mirage? 

It is amidst this scepticism that NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake is rising as a political star. His recent visit to India, hosted by the Indian Government, shows that even foreign forces are beginning to take him seriously. 

His most ardent fans are the bourgeois class. It is their view that the prevailing political culture of today will never change with present political faces. The NPP – a seed born from the JVP – has never held power. However, as first the JVP and then as NPP, those representing have been in politics as long as most other incumbent politicians. Therefore, the premise that only a politician should become the president is satisfied. 

Traditionally, the bourgeois class and the JVP/NPP saw each other as the enemy. During both the 1971 and 1988-89 uprising, the JVP’s target was the middle class. As far as the JVP was concerned, it was the private sector that sucked the blood of the innocent working class. 

Those who remember those violent insurgencies can list the number of paddy stores, transformers, buses and other infrastructure that the JVP incinerated. They will also recount the horrors inflicted on the JVP victims. However, none had yet undertaken a study of  the damage caused to the entrepreneurship of this country. Many of the middle class, who had business interests and capabilities, simply migrated from the country. The lack of investments is one of the number one reasons for our economy to languishes. 

The JVP ideology would have died a long time ago had it not been for their hold on the university unions. The presence of these unions has not helped the progress of our tertiary education. In fact, it intimidates many who qualify for a tertiary education from entering the local universities. 

Yet, the NPP is gaining confidence as they are seen by their new found fan club as the answer to corruption. Whether that would indeed be the case remains to be seen – especially as we seem to be having an oversimplified understanding of what corruption is. 

In the minds of most, only the politicians are corrupt in this country. Yet, is this really the case is the question. Yahapalana Government too tried to address corruption by persecuting politicians and senior officials of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Administration. While this destroyed certain political careers and aspirations, it did nothing to redress corruption. 

Pilfering of national resources is however not a crime committed by a few. The unpalatable truth is that corruption in Sri Lanka is more deep rooted and we all are more or less part of the problem. That means, whatever solution introduced to eliminate corruption will hurt all of us. Will NPP have the sensibility to address corruption in a manner that we are all willing to take the bitter medicine is the question. 

This is a serious question that needs a serious answer. Without the corporation of the nation, in which every one of us is willing to have our comfort zones encroached, a system change would not be possible. 

(ranasingheshivanthi@gmail.com)

By  Uditha Devapriya Courtesy The Island

India’s decision to invite JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has made headlines in every local paper, and practically every Indian paper.

The visit is significant for at least two reasons. First, the JVP-NPP is not the country’s main Opposition. At the General Elections in 2020, it obtained a dismal three per cent but enough to secure three seats in Parliament. For such a party to merit an invitation from New Delhi speaks a lot about India’s perceptions of Sri Lanka’s politics.

Second, it extended an invitation to a Party that has historically not had amicable relations with India. During the 1980s the JVP distinguished itself for its anti-India rhetoric. Nanda Malini’s Pawana, which expressed the hopes, frustrations, and sentiments of the JVP and its supporters, likened the Indian Army to hota-bariyo or pigs. an Army of Marauders that had to be resisted and fought no matter what. The Indian government’s decision to invite such a Party, and that Party’s decision to accept the invitation, is thus very telling.

To be sure, the JVP never really left the 1980s, not even when it entered the democratic mainstream in the 1990s. Even now, on issues that became relevant during that period, like the 13th Amendment and devolution of power, it remains tight-lipped.

Despite transitioning into the JVP-NPP, the Party has also not been above playing to populist-chauvinist politics. Though it speaks big about the failures of the last 75 years, it too has been a part of politics in the country, playing the spoiler and occasionally, as in 2003 and 2009, joining other outfits. While it likes to boast of being a cut above the rest, as it is in many respects, its critics have frequently underscored what they see as its contribution to Sri Lanka’s political culture. The Party has never seriously contested these claims.

What the JVP-NPP’s critics fail to realise is that the JVP-NPP is gaining ground and winning electoral space, and fast. Marginalised by both mainstream parties, the UNP and SLPP, and also by the SJB – which has now effectively ruptured into several sections, the latest rupture signalled by Sarath Fonseka’s critiques of and attacks on Sajith Premadasa – it is seen, rightly, as a Party standing outside the mainstream.

If the Indian Government saw it fit to invite such a Party, it tells us one thing and one thing only: the Indian Government sees it as a big player, mover, and shaker in Sri Lankan politics. This is an Election year, and for India, Elections in Sri Lanka are always a big deal. As things stand, every other person on the street, every other youth on the ground, has expressed support for the JVP. Whether they vote for the Party at an Election remains to be seen. What matters is the groundswell of support that it has secured.

As Dayan Jayatilleka has noted, India made its move quickly. By being the first country to ‘recognise’ the JVP, it effectively checkmated China. The JVP already has links with the Communist Party of China: it sends congratulatory missives to the CPC and even visited Beijing last December. But this was not on an official invitation. Delhi’s strategising has, in that sense, elevated the JVP’s global presence, squaring the circle.

The JVP is frequently depicted as an archaic and outdated Party, full of socialist ideals that supposedly do not work in real life. Though its version of communism is not, contrary to what its critics may think, comparable to the economic policies of the Soviet Union, the JVP is committed to revolutionary politics and sees Elections as a means of achieving a radical programme for the country and economy. Established parties are wary of such visions: the latest MP to take the JVP’s statement on IMF reforms to task, Harsha de Silva, says the Party has no clue about ground realities or the difficulties facing the economy.

This is only half-correct. The JVP’s economic policy is evolving and eventually will adapt to the ground realities de Silva is talking about. But what de Silva and the SJB have left out is the backlash the government’s commitment to austerity has generated from the people. That backlash is bound to find its pivot in the Party which is least likely to enforce the savage tax hikes and austerity that the SLPP-UNP regime is implementing. If the JVP fits the bill, people will rally around it, notwithstanding the McCarthyite hysteria against it.

At the same time, the JVP is re-strategising and rebranding itself, though not at the cost of its most fundamental tenets. For instance, it recently met an IMF delegation, and declared that it had no issue with IMF reforms provided that they are in ‘the national interest’. For the government and the SJB, this seems to show that the JVP is opposed to debt restructuring. But, the JVP’s concern is more about how restructuring is being enforced.

What we are seeing now is austerity for the poor and welfare for the rich. The Supreme Court, for instance, has named those responsible for the economic crisis and accused them of financial crimes. Yet those named have yet to be punished or penalised. It is that rift, between those who suffer and those who don’t, that has pitted people against economic reforms. The JVP-NPP has been able to stay ahead of the game, ahead of the government and the SJB, precisely because it has identified this rift.

This, in other words, is the JVP-NPP’s unique selling point. Sri Lanka’s public consciousness is to be found not at airconditioned media conferences or seminars, but in other spaces: on the ground, in villages, universities, and slums. There is much anger against the government within these spaces. The JVP has been able to channel that anger. If it is excluded, that anger will seek other channels, outside a democratic framework.

There are worse things that could happen in Sri Lanka than a leftwing government. Not all the mantras of free markets and privatisation out there can save a government from the fury of the masses. India appears to have realised that and has moved accordingly. It knows that the JVP is gaining political real estate. Rather than ignoring it, thus letting other countries cosy up to the Party, New Delhi has intervened the way it should. If that does not burst the government’s and the main Opposition’s bubble, nothing will.

By Jude Amory Courtesy Ceylon Today

In the intricate landscape of counterterrorism and geopolitics, the British Government’s manoeuvres often resemble a perplexing tango, where their steps seem choreographed with contradictory grace. Amidst this dance, one glaring anomaly stands out: the UK’s curious tolerance of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), an organisation steeped in terror and infamy.

Picture this: a group known for its macabre mastery of suicide attacks, the LTTE held the world record until the rise of ISIS. Yet, despite its grisly resume, the LTTE finds a cosy haven on British soil, unfurling its flags and ideologies with impunity. It is a spectacle that raises eyebrows and begs questions.

In a flagrant display of disdain for the principles of peace and unity, the LTTE international network unleashed a brazen spectacle on the streets of the UK last week. Brandishing their LTTE flags, banners adorned with images of Prabhakaran, and other sinister iconography, they boldly pushed forth the LTTE’s agendas by calling for a separate State in Sri Lanka. Their actions, occurring on Sri Lanka’s revered Independence Day, were not just provocative – they were a deliberate affront to the very essence of sovereignty and solidarity. By dubbing this historic occasion a ‘Black Day’, they not only spurned the celebrations of freedom but also sought to sow seeds of division and discord amidst a nation striving for unity and reconciliation.

LTTE supporters raise the terrorist flag next to the Union Jack during separatist protests in London

The demonstrations in London were financed by the ‘Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam’, a proscribed LTTE front group headed by Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, the lawyer, friend and financier of Prabhakaran. Would the UK extend a similar welcome mat to the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, or Hezbollah, inviting them to strut their stuff on British streets? It is a rhetorical query that underscores the inconsistency in the government’s counterterrorism stance, akin to hosting a circus of chaos under the guise of free speech.

Have the British forgotten that not too long ago, international ships were always under threat of piracy by LTTE’s ‘Sea Tiger’ wing, off the North-East of Sri Lanka, or have they forgotten the scores of suicide bombings that massacred innocent civilians across the country? It is a common truth that the British stand for democracy; yet, is there any democracy in tolerating a terrorist group that has carried out assassinations of elected leaders of not only Sri Lanka but of India as well?

Rudrakumaran and LTTE leader Prabhakaran together during the height of LTTE terror

Peering behind the curtains, one cannot ignore the whispers of political dalliances between British parliamentarians and LTTE sympathisers. With heavy LTTE lobbyists behind the Tories and Labour, funds and votes blind the very principles of some English politicians. These lawmakers are swayed by the allure of donations and votes, turning a blind eye to the spectre of terrorism lurking in their midst.

But let’s not overlook the glaring paradox – the UK’s robust crackdown on Muslim extremist groups juxtaposed with its leniency towards non-Muslim terrorists like the LTTE. It is as if the Government is playing a game of selective outrage – doling out justice based on ulterior motives rather than fundamental principles of security and integrity. By enabling LTTE groups and supporters from openly operating in the UK, the British Government collects leverage against Sri Lanka by using one of the most pressing factors in Sri Lankan security, politics and foreign policy. The failure to hold the orchestrators of LTTE demonstrations accountable sends a clear message – terrorism, it seems, is a crime worth celebrating. It’s a slapstick comedy of errors where justice takes a backseat to political expediency.

In the shadowy corridors of the UK’s LTTE network, a dangerous echo persists – a chorus of separatism and strife that seeks to resurrect the spectre of Tamil Eelam, the dream child of the megalomaniac Vellupillai Prabhakaran. Multiple LTTE fronts in the UK continue to unabashedly peddle this divisive narrative, openly advocating for a separate State carved out of the fabric of Sri Lanka. Yet, these perilous calls for terrorism find scant resonance among the peace-loving Tamil community in Sri Lanka, who have long yearned for reconciliation and unity. Instead, the LTTE’s international network, largely comprising former militants, abettors, financiers, and sympathisers, along with select Tamil politicians in Sri Lanka, persist in championing a separatist agenda driven by personal ambition and vested interests. Their misguided efforts stand in stark contrast to the aspirations of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, who seek not division, but the embrace of a shared future rooted in harmony and mutual respect.

In this theatre of the absurd, the UK unwittingly sets a precedent, inviting other nations to follow suit in tolerating terrorist demonstrations. And what of the audience – the impressionable minds witnessing this sinister spectacle? The glorification of terrorism through public displays risks planting seeds of radicalisation in fertile soil. It is a chilling reality where the applause of the few drowns out the cries of reason and morality. Amidst the chaos, the silence and inaction of the British Government speak volumes.

In the end, the UK’s dalliance with terrorism is not just a dance – it is a dangerous liaison with darkness. The time has come for the Government to trade in its dancing shoes for boots on the ground, to confront terrorism with unwavering resolve and unyielding principles. For in this grand theatre of geopolitics, there can be no encore for those who sow the seeds of chaos and terror.

In the face of such brazen displays of separatism and terrorism, it is imperative that the UK Government and the international community stand firm in their commitment to upholding the principles of peace, unity, and justice. The LTTE’s misguided endeavours to resurrect a divisive agenda rooted in violence and discord must be met with resolute condemnation and decisive action. As we look towards a future defined by collaboration and coexistence, let us not forget the lessons of history nor forsake the aspirations of those who seek a path towards genuine reconciliation and unity. In the end, it is through unwavering resolve and unwavering solidarity that we can truly overcome the shadows of division and pave the way towards a brighter, more harmonious future for all.

About the Author:

Jude Amory is a National Security Analyst (amoryjude@gmail.com)

By DR. C. S. WEERARATNA Courtesy The Island

A trade deficit typically occurs when a country does not produce enough goods for its citizens. When production cannot meet demand as in Sri Lanka, there is a need to import thereby widening the trade deficit.  A persistent trade deficit is detrimental to a country’s economy because it is financed with debt. The trade deficit in Sri Lanka had been persistent over a long period of time (Table 1)

Persistent Trade Deficit tends to have a negative impact on employment, growth, and value of the currency. If we are to reduce the trade deficit it is essential that exports are increased and imports are reduced as much as possible.

Increase export earnings

The dire need to increase our export earnings to meet the severe financial crisis we are facing today has been emphasised by many. As indicated in Table 1, exports during the last six years (this is the case even in earlier years) have not increased by any substantial amount in spite of an Export Development Board and numerous other related authorities. Increasing exports is of paramount importance to improve our economy. It is because of the importance of increasing exports that the government brought a National Export Strategy. But what are we going to export?

Plantation Sector

Our major exports are plantation crops, tea, rubber and coconut. Around 800,000 ha are cultivated with plantation crops. However, as indicated in Table 2, the production of these major export crops does not show any substantial increase during the last five years.

As shown in Table 2, tea production has been fluctuating around 275 million kg per year during the last few years. Annual rubber production shows a tendency to decrease. Coconut production has fluctuated around 300 million nuts per year.  This appalling situation in the plantation sector can be attributed to many factors, but the Ministry of Plantation Industries and the relevant authorities appear to have not taken effective strategies to remedy this situation. If the productivity of this sector is raised, it would be possible to increase foreign exchange earnings thereby reducing the trade deficit. It is necessary that the relevant authorities take appropriate action to increase the production of the plantation crops.

A large number of crops other than tea, rubber and coconut cultivated in Sri Lanka have a high potential as export crops. There are 24 agro-ecological zones, each characterised by specific climate and soil. This makes it possible to cultivate different types of crops. Among these are spice crops such as cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg, tuberous crops, horticultural and floricultural crops, medicinal herbs etc. which have a considerable export potential. In 2020, spice crops earned around US $ 400 million. There are many organizations such as the Ministries of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce, Export Development Board, Industrial Development Board etc. but, there appears to be no proper plan to increase the production of these crops.

Out of the 6.5 million hectares of land, around 2.0 million hectares are in the Wet Zone. About 75% of it is cultivated and most of this land is of low-productivity mainly due to soil degradation. In the Dry Zone, out of the 4.5 million hectares only about 2 million hectares are in productive use. Thus, there is a large extent of potentially cultivable land in the Dry Zone. Most of the soils in the Dry Zone are relatively more fertile than those in the Wet Zone. Non-availability of adequate rainfall during the Yala season is one of the limiting factors of crop production in the Dry Zone. However, better water management practices would reduce this limitation. Also, various major irrigation projects such as Mahaveli, Kirindi Oya, Muthukandiya and Inginimitiya provide irrigation to about 200,000 hectares in the Dry Zone. The recently inaugurated Moraghakanda project is expected to provide irrigation water to nearly 80,000 ha. The numerous minor irrigation projects too would increase the irrigable area in the Dry Zone. Thus, there is a considerable potential to increase the level of crop production in Sri Lanka, export of which would enable to increase exports and reduce trade deficit.

Agro-Industries:

Promoting industries based on agriculture (agro-industries) will have a considerable positive impact on increasing export earnings thereby reducing trade deficit. There is an urgent need to develop agro-industries in Sri Lanka, which will have a tremendous positive impact on employment and rural poverty. A large number of crops cultivated in Sri Lanka, including rice, have a considerable potential in various agro-industries. However, only rubber, coconut and a few fruit crops are used in industries. Crops such as cassava, horticultural and floricultural crops, medicinal herbs, cane, bamboo, sunflower, castor, ayurvedic herbs such as katuwelbatu , etc. have a considerable potential as export crops, but are not cultivated to any appreciable extent for want of better and improved varieties, technological know-how, relevant market information etc. Development of agro-industries will also increase export income and will have a tremendous positive impact on the economy of the country, and also provide employment opportunities among rural people. Private sector can be involved in such projects for which appropriate technical assistance needs to be given by the relevant public organisations. However, there appears to be no proper long-term plan to develop agro-industries, except for some ad-hoc projects. The Ministries of Industries and Agriculture should implement an effective Agro-Industrial Development Programme, in collaboration with the private sector, which undoubtedly would improve export income, employment opportunities and incomes in the rural areas.

Small and Medium-Term Industries

Products of crop based Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), have a high export potential and play a very important role in economic development of Sri Lanka because they have the capacity to achieve rapid economic growth, while generating a considerable extent of employment opportunities. Promotion of SMEs would result in increasing industrial output of the country, leading to more exports. However, not much emphasis appears to have been placed on improving SMEs, except providing loans from banks. A main factor which limits the SME sector is inadequate raw materials.

Increasing cost of Imports

While some talk about strategies to increase exports, there appears to be not much emphasis on reducing crop-based imports, which will have an appreciable impact on reducing trade deficit. Our import costs are likely to increase due to escalation of freight costs as a result of Houthi attacks in the red sea. This will widen our trade deficit.

Most of the food imported such as sugar, milk food, lentils, onion, maize, etc., which involves around US$ 2,000 million annually, can be locally produced, thereby reducing expenditure on food imports. For example, nearly 16% of food imports is spent on importing sugar, most of which can be locally produced. Sugar production in the country has not increased by any appreciable amounts during the present decade in spite of three sugar companies, Pelwatta, Sevanagala and Hingurana and the Sugarcane Research Institute. Kantale sugar factory remains closed over a long period, while a plan to cultivate sugarcane in Bibile remains shelved. There are crops such as coconut, kitul and palmyrah which can be used to manufacture sugar-based substances such as jaggery and treacle, but there appears to be no effective strategy to promote the production of these crops.

 With regard to milk production we have around 1 million cattle consisting of mostly indigenous breeds. Their productivity is low (1-3 litres/day) mainly due to the poor nature of the breeds and inadequate low-quality feed supply. As a result, annually we import nearly 300 million US dollars worth of milk and other dairy products. There appears to be no effective plan to increase local milk production by improving the local breeds and supply of cattle feed. The dairy industry has a potential to contribute considerably to Sri Lanka’s economic development. But, instead of implementing an effective viable plan to develop the dairy industry in the country, the government imported around 20,000 cattle from New Zealand and Australia involving USD 73 million. Importing cattle to improve the dairy industry in the country is a futile action, as importing cattle alone is not going to increase milk production in the long run, unless there is an effective programme to upgrade local cattle breeds, promote cultivation of  improved pasture grasses which can be grown under coconut and provide better veterinary practices.

Nearly 300 million US dollars worth of rice (a carbohydrate) is imported annually when there are many tuberous crops such as innala, sweet potato, yams which can replace a part of the rice we import thereby reducing expenditure on imports.

Eppawala Apatite (EA), which was discovered a few decades ago still remains partly underutilized. EA can be used to manufacture phosphate fertilisers. But still we grind the rock and use the ground apatite as a P fertiliser, while spending millions to import Single Superphosphate and Triple Super Phosphate, which can be manufactured from EA.

The expenditure on subsidiary crops such as chillies, green gram, ground nut, potato etc, is millions of US dollars. The average per hectare yields and the extent of these crops have not increased by any appreciable amount during the last decade. In fact, chili production has decreased during the last few years.  In the recent past, a former Minister of Agricultural Development Chamal Rajapaksa, appointed an Advisory Panel to make proposals to develop the agricultural sector in the country so that there is a quantitative and qualitative increase in crop production at a lower cost with no damage to the environment. During the last few years numerous programmes such as AMA’, Waga Sangramaya and Govi Sevana” were implemented. All these activities/programmes, appear to have not made any appreciable positive impact on the agricultural sector of the country indicated by increasing expenditure on food.

Science and Technology.

Effective use of Science and Technology (S&T) would tend to reduce imports and increase exports. During the last two decades, effective use of Science and Technology (S&T) enabled most of the South and South East Asian countries to develop substantially. However, in Sri Lanka, in spite of a number of scientific organisations such as the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Fundamental Studies, National Research Council of Sri Lanka, National Science and Technology Commission, which use a considerable amount of scarce financial resources, S&T has been used to a relatively very little extent to decrease imports which will tend to reduce trade deficit thereby improving the economy of the country.

A primary objective of use of S&T in a developing country such as Sri Lanka must be to conduct appropriate studies on the critical issues and advise the authorities on relevant action to be taken. Science and Technology need to be used to utilise locally available resources. Conducting research alone will not lead to economic development, unless the technologies developed by research are commercialised. Organisations such as the Industrial Development Board, the Board of Investments etc. need to coordinate with the relevant scientific organisations to attract investments on commercialisation of proven technologies. Vidatha Centers have been established in many DS Divisions to commercialise S&T. Perhaps the Ministry of Technology and Research may indicate to what extent these Vidatha Centers have been effective in commercialising S&T.

In Sri Lanka, during the last two decades, perhaps a few hundreds of research studies, involving billions of rupees worth of scarce resources, have been conducted. Findings of these research projects were presented at numerous conferences, seminars etc. It is important that we utilise these research findings to find solutions to some of the pressing problems of the country. But there appears to be no effective system to achieve this. Instead, the authorities are concerned in conducting more and more seminars and symposia without any plan to effectively utilise the findings/conclusions.

The authorities concerned should discuss these issues and take appropriate action. There has been rhetoric on economic development during the last few years. It is meaningful and effective actions that are necessary.

Courtesy Hiru News

The National Physical Planning Department has designated 11 temples of significant archaeological, historical, and sacred importance as Sacred Sites in the Government Gazette. These areas, now recognized as sacred sites, had their respective documents submitted to the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (15), presided over by Mr. Saman Ekanayake, the Secretary to the President.

Ambagaswewa Purana Rajamaha Vihara belonging to Horovpatana Divisional Secretariat Division of the Anuradhapura District, Pothuvatawana Maha Vihara belonging to Dankotuwa Divisional Secretariat Division of Puttalam District, Ampara Muhudu Maha Vihara of Pottuvil Divisional Secretariat Division of Ampara District, Maddegama Raja Maha Vihara belonging to Dompe Divisional Secretariat Division of Gampaha District, Uddhakandara Rajamaha Vihara belonging to the Tissamaharamaya Divisional Secretariat, Hambantota District, Sri Saddharma Yuktika Vana Senasuna (Monastery) belonging to the Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat division of Trincomalee district were designated as sacred sites.

Further, Dambadeniya Sri Vijaya Sundararama Raja Maha Vihara belonging to the Narammala Divisional Secretariat division in Kurunegala district, Shanthi Viharya belonging to the Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat division of Trincomalee district , Kabalewa Ambawa Sri Sudharmarama Purana Vihara and Gambhara Siddha Kabala Mul Soonyam Devalaya in the Kuliapitiya West Divisional Secretariat division of the Kurunegala District and Yan Oya Rajamaha Vihara belonging to Trincomalee Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat Division, Sagara Pura Samudragiri Vana Senasuna which belongs to Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat Division of Trincomalee District were also declared as sacred sites.

As a result, the total count of sanctuaries recognized as sacred places of worship in Sri Lanka has now risen to 142. President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake affirmed President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s unwavering commitment to upholding and protecting Buddhism in accordance with the Constitution. Additionally, the Secretary to the President highlighted various government initiatives aimed at advancing Buddhism, guided by the President’s directives.

These include plans to initiate archaeological excavations at the Maha Vihara, the epicenter of Theravada Buddhism, establish the Maha Vihara University, and construct an international Buddhist museum in Kandy.

The gathering was chaired by Most Venerable Balangoda Sobhita Nayaka Thera. Also in attendance were Most Venerable Ganthune Assaji Maha Nayaka Thera, as well as Most Venerable Medagama Nandawansa Thera.

Minister of State Shanta Bandara, Member of Parliament Samanpriya Herath, Secretary of the Buddha Sasana Ministry of Religious and Cultural Affairs Somaratne Vidanapathirana, Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, Director-General of the Physical Planning Department, along with officials from related institutions and donors of temples, attended the event.

Prior to the presentation of the”Puja Bhumi Sannaspathra” a charitable donation was also made at the Presidential Secretariat in honour of the Maha Sangha who graced the occasion with their presence.

Story by Andrew Griffin Courtesy The Independent

Graphene, a wonder material” that could help solve some of humanity’s deepest problems, has cleared a major hurdle towards practical uses.

Graphene is the world’s thinnest, super-strong and super-flexible material. It could have dramatic applications in everything from engineering tissue to making new kinds of technological devices.

However, scientists have been concerned that it could cause damage to human health, which could cause significant problems for its practical use.

Now researchers say that inhaling the substance does not seem to have any short-term adverse effects on the lungs or cardiovascular function.

It marked the first controlled exposure clinical trial of its kind, which used ultra-pure graphene oxide, which is a water compatible form of the material.

The researchers recruited 14 volunteers to take part in the study, who breathed in the material through a face mask for two hours while cycling in an exposure chamber.

Effects on the lungs, blood pressure, blood clotting and inflammation in the blood were monitored, before the exposure and at two-hour intervals.

The volunteers returned two weeks later for further experimentation.

Researchers concluded there were no negative effects on the lungs, blood pressure or all other areas examined.

They did notice a slight suggestion that inhalation of the material can change how the blood clots, but emphasised this was very small”.

Researchers said they would need to further experiment with the substance to see if longer exposure poses a risk to health, and if other forms of graphene are dangerous to humans.

Graphene was first synthesised in 2004 by scientists, who hailed the substance a wonder” material.

It is a form of carbon, consisting of a single layer of atoms in a hexagonal lattice.

Scientists around the world are actively studying graphene to see if it can assist with cancer and other health conditions.

Dr Mark Miller, of the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Cardiovascular Science, said: Nanomaterials such as graphene hold such great promise, but we must ensure they are manufactured in a way that is safe before they can be used more widely in our lives.

Being able to explore the safety of this unique material in human volunteers is a huge step forward in our understanding of how graphene could affect the body.

With careful design we can safely make the most of nanotechnology.”

Professor Kostas Kostarelos, of the University of Manchester and the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Barcelona, added: This is the first-ever controlled study involving healthy people to demonstrate that very pure forms of graphene oxide – of a specific size distribution and surface character – can be further developed in a way that would minimise the risk to human health.

It has taken us more than 10 years to develop the knowledge to carry out this research, from a materials and biological science point of view, but also from the clinical capacity to carry out such controlled studies safely by assembling some of the world’s leading experts in this field.”

Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: The discovery that this type of graphene can be developed safely, with minimal short-term side effects, could open the door to the development of new devices, treatment innovations and monitoring techniques.

We look forward to seeing larger studies over a longer timeframe to better understand how we can safely use nanomaterials like graphene to make leaps in delivering lifesaving drugs to patients.”

By Sena Thoradeniya

Anura Kumara Dissanayaka was in India. Media reported that it was on an invitation by Indian Government. According to Indian media reports this visit was organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) affiliated to the Ministry of External Affairs and the delegation was accompanied by Eldos Mathew Punnoose, Counsellor at the Indian High Commission in Colombo. 

(1) Nonverbal Signals

Anura Kumara in a full suit was seen in conversation with Indian External Affairs Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar who was wearing a sherwani type Indian dress.  Anura Kumara has shed both his kapati kit and military type battle dressand preferredto be like Ranil, the Anglomaniac. Milinda Moragoda the ace pro-American – Indian – Sri Lankan” was never seen in full suit while he was Sri Lanka’s envoy in New Delhi. Anura Kumara’s one-time guru, Somawansa Amarasinghe wearing a full suit, embraced RW, at a presidential election meeting held in support of Sarath Fonseka.

Anura Kumara was in conversation with Jaishankar without any aides. So, we surmise that their tete -a-tete was not in either Sinhala or Hindi.  But their gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and other nonverbal signals (look at the facial expressions of Jaishankar, he was amused, how he was playing with his fingers and his posture, while Anura Kumara was somewhat bewildered, why this man not going beyond basic courtesies!) signify something else.  Anura Kumara’s posture is significant.

He was not that parlor boy who kowtowed to Julie Chung. Some say he was tutored by Julie Chung how to conduct himself with foreign dignitaries after his dismal appearance before her! Anura Kumara wears a red tie; Colour of the tie worn by Donald Trump and a Sri Lankan business tycoon! The painting in the background is symbolic. Krishna with gopis (milkmaids) in Vrindavan?

2. What They Discussed?

We don’t know what Anura Kumara discussed with Jaishankar. But Jaishankar’s X message gives a clue. A good discussion on our bilateral relationship and the mutual benefits from its further deepening. Also spoke about Sri Lanka’s economic challenges and the paths ahead”.

What bilateral relationships” the External Affairs Minister of a sovereign government has with a minor party in another country? According to a media report Jaishankar has assured that India with its Neighborhood First” and SAGAR policies will always be a reliable friend and trusted partner of Sri Lanka.  

Did Anura Kumara question India’s Neighborhood First” and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policies? RW meeting Indian Premier Modi in mid-July last year was lured by Modi’s Neighborhood First Policy” and SAGAR Vision, to take Sri Lanka into India’s orbit.

Did Anura Kumara question RW’s MOUs and declarations exchanged with the Indian Government, Energy and Power Connectivity, Air Connectivity, Land Connectivity, Maritime Connectivity, Trade, Economic and Financial Connectivity, People-to-People Connectivity? Does Anura Kumara know that his trip to India had been arranged at a time when these Connectivity Programmes” are already being implemented step by step? People owe an explanation from NPP/JVP whether they approve these MOUs.

Did Anura Kumara question India’s role as a member of QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, of Australia, India, Japan and the US) established to counter China, militarily and diplomatically in the Indo-Pacific Region?

3. Media Hype

A wrong notion was spread by mainstream media and social media in India and Sri Lanka respectively, that India invited Anura Kumara for discussions because of his popularity and he will be the next President of Sri Lanka and form the next government.

These reports were based on a survey conducted by USAID-funded Institute of Health Policy (IHP), Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) for Presidential Elections Voting Intention for December 2023: if there is a Presidential Election today who would you vote for? According to the SLOT, 50% of the respondents had said that they would vote for NPP. What is their sample size? These estimates were based on 522 interviews conducted in December 2023. In October 2023 their sample size was 567. From 1 October 2021 to 7 January 2024 sample size was 14941. This is a very small fraction of the total number of voters.  They say that the margin of error was assessed as 1-4%. It is not necessary to emphasize that voters’ preferences, especially of floating voters change drastically with one single incident. Examples abound.   

This was given wide publicity by an Indian TV channel WION (World In One News), an English language news channel based in New Delhi, owned by Essel Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate. Its journalists who are very close to Modi, include personnel of DD News, India’s state- owned Door Darshan. This group operates India’s Zee Media Corporation. WION displayed a graphical representation of the above survey results dubbing NPP as a Marxist-Leninist party! It became a momentous news item to Indian media personnel, describing Anura Kumara as island nation’s the most popular politician at the moment”.

Do these media personnel ask themselves in which country a Marxist-Leninist” party mobilizes retired military officers and other ranks into a Tri Forces Collective” (Thrivda Hamuda Balavegaya)? They should be taught the ground reality that it is only an act of establishing a para-military force. JVP was never a Marxist-Leninist party; those who witnessed its genesis and operations know this very well.  

Are we to believe that RAW and CIA are naive to trust the results of a survey conducted by an unknown Institute while they have their own estimations and world-renowned analysts?

IHP results are shown by some bogus theorists who propelled Vardarajah Perumal, Premadasa and many other politicians in the South, who got plum diplomatic appointments from two Presidents and who was in GR camp initially, to urge the voters to give a chance to NPP to lead. 

Anura Kumara’s trip was certainly arranged to brief him about the above-mentioned Connectivity Programmes”, to silence him and his NPP followers about Indian interventions and investments in the country and to enlist him and his followers to QUAD’s anti-China ensemble-may be to play a really low instrument!

It was reported that Anura Kumara had met with India’s Defense Advisor Ajit  Doval and Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra. What are Anua Kumara’s expertise in international and defense matters?

Did he ask them why India had sent her INS Karanji submarine to Colombo on 3 February 2024? Was he briefed about and had he accepted that India is the primary security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)? 

Did he raise that hundreds of Indian fishing vessels crossing Indo-Lanka maritime boundary, poaching and plundering our fishery resources depriving the livelihood of thousands of fishermen in the North and East and other migrant fishermen, let alone Ukraine and Gaza? 

(4) Untangling a Tangled Web

(i) Baglay, Santhos Jha and Julie Chung

Addressing a Sanga meeting organised by NPP in Kandy on October 11. 2019, Anura Kumara said: the method used by imperialists to conquer countries has changed. In the past they conquered countries using cannons, but now they conquer countries using briefcases. Patriotism means understanding the new face of foreign invasion and making a decision as to if we will bow down to it or not. We ask for loans from the US, they say we will give you loans but we want land. Sometimes these embassies choose the Presidential candidates, they sometimes choose the leaders of the parties.”

Anura Kumara has correctly identified his predictable metamorphosis associated with briefcases and foreign trips three years ahead of 2024. How do we explain this? Is it a premonition as some say or karmic undertones? It was a public secret that RAW throwing out millions of rupees to Left, left- of- center political parties in Sri Lanka to contest first Provincial Council Elections! 

There are many presuppositions to state that Anura Kumara’s tripwas arranged by Gopal Baglay, the former Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka and Santhos Jha the present High Commissioner, Julie Chung, the American envoy and Ranil Wickremasinghe. The origins of this trip go back to the two meetings Julie Chung had with Anura Kumara.

Julie Chung met with Anura Kumara just a few days before July 9, 2022 and twittered: To me the JVP is a significant party. They have a growing presence. They resonate with the public during recent times. They are a growing political party and their ideas are accepted by the public”. She very well knew JVP’s active involvement in Galle Face Carnival, how it attempted to storm and occupy the Parliament, how their rabble-rousers bellowed that they can occupy Hulftsdorf and they knew where the judges of the Supreme Courts live.

Haiti’s President Jovenal Moise was assassinated in July 2021. The murder took place when Chung was Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. She had met Moise on June 26, three weeks before the murder. Very soon she was appointed as US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and presented her credentials to GR on 25, February 2022, just 34 days before Mirihana incident. Some may argue it as a demotion but it was only a move from one hot spot to another. On July 09, 2022 GR was nearly lynched.

Just a few days ahead Anura Kumara’s visit to US, Julie Chung visited JVP party headquarters accompanied by US Embassy’s Political Officer Mathew Hinson and its political expert” Nazreen Marikkar on 19, October 2023. After her meeting Julie Chung posted on X (formally twitter): Today I met Anuradissanyaka and discussed current political & economic issues. Important to listen to diverse perspectives and engage with various political parties in a democracy”. (please see our posting on November 1^st, 2023).

This meeting was none other than providing a last-minute briefing before his departure. Nobody can rule out Anura Kumara meeting proxies of the US State Department. On his return he met an IMF delegation on January 19, 2024. Neither the IMF mission nor the NPP revealed anything about their discussion.

Anura Kumara met with outgoing Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay on November 17, 2023, his successor Santosh Jha on 23, January 2023 and German Ambassador on 31, January 2024.

(ii) Ranil Wickremasinghe

Why we bring Ranil Wickremasinghe to the reckoning?

(a) RW appointed NPP’s Central Committee Member Upul Kumarapperuma, a President’s Counsel (PC), the lawyer who represented the interests of notorious Garnia Barrister aka Sriyalatha Perera in Swiss Embassy case.  

(b) At a reception held to felicitate a recently appointed PC, RW had quipped to an NPP Attorney-at-Law that very soon Anura Kumara will be in his side.  

(c) Why did Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New Delhi receive Anura Kumara? Was it in accordance with protocol? Anura Kumara is just a party leader. Unimaginable.

(d)RWdelivering the government policy statement at the commencement of the new session of Parliament recalled the cooperation between the JVP and Yahapalana government, and asked why it could not cooperate with the present government for common good. RW recalled that Anura Kumara had nominated one Ananda Wijepala as the head of the anticorruption office and some documents pertaining to corruption were still with the JVP leader. These were the documents JVP brought to the meeting held at the SLFI at the height of the Galle Face Protest.It seems that JVP had not returned those files to anti-corruption Committee, giving a reprieve to corrupt politicians and officials. But the JVP backed the corrupt Yahapalana government, defended it when Maithripala tried to dislodge it by appointing MR as the Prime Minister.

(e) While SJB and some other MPs left the chamber when the President commenced his speech on 6 February 2024, JVP’s Harini Amarasuriya remained in her seat. Others who remained were Fonseka, Rajitha Senaratna, Champika Ranawaka, Kumar Welgama, Ishak Rahuman, Faizal Cassim, AHM Fouzie and Vadiwel Suresh. This list signifies what is going to happen in near future. RW took Anuradhapura SJB MP Ishak Rahuman to Perth. Earlier he took Polonnaruwa District SJB MP Kings Nelson to US, Vadivel Suresh and Ajith Mannapperuma to Uganda respectively.

(f) This happened a few days after SJB protesters were attacked with water cannons, tear gas and batons.

(g) Close on the heels ofJaishankar meeting Anura Kumara, the former on February 9, 2024 met with RW at the 7^th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth, Western Australia. RW, no doubt had got a briefing from Jaishankar about the outcome of his discussion with Anura Kumara. RW at this conference said that Indo-Lanka land bridge will enhance regional connectivity and feasibility studies for it is underway. 

(h) These are not accidents. Anura Kumara and NPP grandees need much more time to understand overt and covert operations of diplomacy, although their followers now sing hosannas that they are accepted and recognized by world leaders!

(i) RW will be happy to see Anura Kumara as Leader of the Opposition, a repetition of 2015. But how? Forthcoming political deals would unravel the grand strategy. The time is not yet opportune; we are not phony forecasters.  

(5) US – India Factor

In the forthcoming Presidential/Parliamentary elections US and India factor will be crucial. In such a context muting Anura Kumara and his cabal is essential for both US and India. Now India has kindled hishubris as the President-in-waiting. Already Thondaman in the plantations has declared his allegiance to RW. India will definitely tell the TNA and other Tamil groups what stand they should take at a national election. 

Will the US and India attempt to bring down RW’s government, engineering another regime change supporting a person like Anura Kumara as they removed GR and Imran Khan?  What they want is to neutralize NPP/JVP. It is wishful thinking that India wants to remove RW when he at every forum says that he is bound to safeguard India’s security concerns and ready to give everything to India in a platter, making Sri Lanka India’s vassal state.

(6) Why India Using NPP/JVP?

(a) To test and neutralize NPP/JVP and stop their anti-Indian stance in Sri Lanka;

(b) It is bunkum to say that India is worried about NPP’s rise shown in public meetings;

(c) There is another myth propagated by capitalist press and others who are less informed that India establishing close relations with NPP after the recent political developments in theMaldives.This is a false interpretation ofJaishankar’s advice given to Indians, Why Bharat Matters”: My first advice to you, the next time you want to take a holiday go to Sri Lanka. I’m serious. Please go to Sri Lanka and I say this to all of you”.

It was to further cripple Maldives tourist industry. Already thousands of bookings of Indian tourists who planned to visit Maldives were cancelled to step up pressure on the Maldives. At the expense of Maldives Modi wants to develop and promote Lakshadweep as a tourist destination. He was seen holidaying in a Lakshadweep beach. Mohamed Muizzu had to sack three State Ministers who ridiculed Modi.  Indian Coast Guards boarded three Maldivian fishing vessels operating within the Maldivian economic zone, to bully and intimidate Muizzu who requested to withdraw an Indian military contingent from the Maldives.

Jaishankar’s advice also can be interpreted as root binding” RW and Sri Lanka, not to go against Bharath. With this he aims at the Maldives too. It was threatening: don’t deviate! Don’t be the prodigal son! I can put the best robe on you; put a ring in your finger; sandals on your feet; can kill the fattened calf and feast and celebrate.”

On 12 February, 2024, India launched its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services at a virtual ceremony, enabling availability of UPI settlement services for Indian nationals touring Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Another blow to the Maldives. Anura Kumara needs much more political maturity to understand these intricacies of state craft.

The second part of Jaishankar’s adviceis more like a mocking comment on Sri Lanka. When the world had turned its back India was the one and only country that came to their rescue- not in a small way- we actually committed US dollars 4.5 billion to Sri Lanka – much more than the package the then Sri Lankan government was negotiating with the IMF at that time.” He recalled his past experiences what he saw, Sri Lanka running out of food, essential supplies and fuel. Mix with normal persons in Sri Lanka of the road and ask what they think of India. Their answer will make you grow in stature”.  

It is only liberals and capitalist press say that if not NPP/JVP come into an understanding with India, they will be isolated in global politics, equating it – just a minor party in Sri Lanka having only 3 MPs – to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), a regional military power. 

India already knows that Anura Kumara is in Julie Chung’s pocket.  It is to bind AKD to India’s national security concerns and forcing NPP to act accordingly and go against China, toeing the line of QUAD.

It is a planned strategy to tame NPP/JVP, to tame them using soft diplomacy. To show that India is an economic powerhouse; having a growing economy which is able to supersede other nations; to get an assurance to join in India’s efforts in containment of China; to solicit support for India’s efforts in full implementation of 13th Amendment and power sharing.  India knows that they have a conduit inside in Harini Amarasuriya who openly supported full implementation of 13^th Amendment, a member of the Public Representatives Committee on Constitution Reforms (PRCCR) appointed by Yahapalana government which recommended removal of our national symbols.

(7)  ETCA

India needs unhindered passage of the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) which talks have already resumed.  India and Sri Lanka suspended talks on ETCA in 2018 on account of protests. We recall the opposition for ETCA from professionals and various politicians.   RW had taken it up again and he said that Sri Lanka has plans to establish a free trade agreement with India by the end of March 2024. ETCA will open the service sector to Indians. This will be aggravated with the so-called Land Connectivity, establishing a land bridge across Palk Strait developing land access and Maritime Connectivity, a ferry service to begin between Kankasanthurai (KKS) and Nagapattinum and resumption of ferry service between Talaimannar and Rameswaram (already begun), and Air Connectivity between Chennai and Jaffna, Trinco, Batticaloa and other destinations in Sri Lanka. Has Anura Kumara changed his ideas regarding ETCA? Lower segments of the NPP will be mostly affected by the influxof Indian workers.

(8) India’s New Investments: Meetings with Government Officials and Members of the Business Community

Anura Kumara also met the officials of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) an Indian global thinktank based in Delhi, founded by Dhirubhai Ambani of Reliance Industries which provide research and advisory services on security, strategy, economy, energy and resources. Did Anura Kumara chant Down with Ambani” or Jai Ambani”!

He visited the headquarters of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) of Ministry of Electronics and information Technology in New Delhi. This organization is responsible for managing Aadaar, India’s national ID system which provides 12-digit ID number based on a person’s biometrics, (10 finger prints, 2 iris prints and photo of face and demographic data.Aadaar is the world’s largest biometric ID system considered as the most sophisticated ID programme in the world.

Sri Lanka’s India-funded unique ID card project is in the process of appointing a new consultant while fresh tenders have been called after Madras Security Printers (MSP) and Protein Technologies which won the tender earlier have been disqualified. India has given an advance aid of 450 million IR to Sri Lanka for this project which aims to collect biometric and biographic information including facial, fingerprints and iris data. Funds are given by the Indian government, data collected by Indian firms, stored in a centralized system, India having access to personal data of Sri Lankan citizens breaching data privacy. An Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC) has been already appointed to oversee the progress of this project.  Did Anura Kumara raise his objections? Did Anura Kumara chant Down with India-funded unique ID card project or Jai India-funded unique ID card project”!

Look at the places where the NPP delegation was taken by the Indian authorities! Is it because NPP’s growing popularity” and India’s fear of it or something else? By showing India’s wonders to a set of Sri Lankan rhetoricians India had tamed them never to raise their ugly heads against their investments in the Island, to proceed with India’s plans without undue resistance.

The Hindu” has quoted Anura Kumara: we do know that India who is our closest neighbor has become a major political and economic center. So, when we take economic and political decisions, we will always care it will impact India”. What he said was any decision Sri Lanka makes should be done in keeping view of the impact it has on India.

Thus, Anura Kumara has given a firm assurance to India that their investments are safe.

It was reported that Anura Kumara had said that, we are mindful of India’s concerns including its security.” We are not competitors, but India is”. He had stated that they stand for neutrality in foreign policy. These were the words of a tamed person. This is the biggest victory India gained in neutralizing a leader of a minor party of a tiny island in the Indian Ocean.  It is tantamount to accepting India as the security provider. In other words, Anura Kumara had shown his willingness to stand together with India and its major ally the US against China.   

A few weeks before his departure to India Anura Kumara lambasted Ranil W in Parliament for selling Sri Lanka to India; his long list began with repairs at Durraiyappah Stadium, Jaffna, KKS harbor expansion, Palali airport modernization, hotels at Nilaveli beach in Trincomalee, selling Pulmoddai mineral sand facility to Birlas,  giving Mannar Islands to Adanis and other Indian investments in the Trincomalee area including operations of IOC.     

At the same time, NPP’s CEB trade union boss Ranjan Jayalal flayed Indian investors, criticized deals with Adanis. He further said Mahaveli power houses are to be given to Adani.  Repeating what his boss said he said RW is going to hand over Mannar Islands to Adani and Sri Lanka’s dairy industry to Amul. He further stated that Modi will demand Sri Lanka to hand over Mannar islands and Trinco to India. Did Anura Kumara in his discussions with Indian business leaders ask them to reverse their decisions?

But just before his departure he praised Indians, how India has resolved its ethnic and religious problems, the strides taken by them in developing their country economically, that Indians are leading several US firms such as Google, while Sri Lanka is bogged down in nostalgia.

Whilst Anura Kumara enjoying Indian hospitality, Indian media reported that Sri Lankan Minister Haren Fernando who is attending a meeting in Mumbai had said that Adani Group is negotiating with Sri Lankan authorities to manage three Sri Lankan airports, BIA, Mattala and Ratmalana. Did Anura Kumara raise his objections? Did Anura Kumara chant Down with Adani” or Jai Adani!

Petronet LNG Ltd., India’s biggest LNG company is going to begin shipping LNG to Sri Lanka in 2025, in containers loaded on ship and later to build an import terminal to supply LNG to two gas-fired power plants in Sri Lanka, Yugadanavi and Sobadanavi.  It will ship 850 tons of gas daily from Kochi, super-chilled gas in containers. A small regasification unit will turn LNG into gaseous state again in a gas fired power plant. Petronet also plans to commission a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) at Colombo port. Petronet imports LNG from Qatar Energy LNG, Qatar and Australia.  Discussions are on to set up Indo-Lanka LNG pipeline from Kochi and Colombo. Already the so-called Energy and Power Connectivity has begun.

Petronet’s subsidiary is Adani Petronet, Dahej. Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, marking India’s 75^th Republic Day on January 26, 2024, confirmed that energy and power grid connectivity had already begun and he expected an early conclusion of ETCA. Did Anura Kumara raise his objections? Did Anura Kumara chant Down with Petronet” or Jai Petronet”!

Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha also said that Adani’s 500 mw wind power deal should progress. Land acquisition began for Mannar Wind Power Project (MWPP)of Adani Green Energy Sri Lanka Ltd. (AGESL). Original plan was changed into a government-to government deal (originally unsolicited) for two wind projects of 286 mw in North West of Mannar and 234 mw in Northern Poonaryn. Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee (CANC) has raised concerns over its pricing as it was expensive.  Did Anura Kumara ask them to lower the unit price? Did Anura Kumara chant Down with Adani” or Jai Adani”!

Anura Kumara visited Amul, while his loud-mouthed farmer organizer” lambasting Amul, for buying Sri Lanka’s MILCO. MILCO will be given to Cargills Ceylon and National Dairy Development Board, India and Amul (Anand Milk Union Ltd of Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. based in Anand, Gujarat, Modi’s pocket borough. In July the Cabinet decided to lease out all 32 NLDB farms totaling an acreage of 28000 acres and MILCO factories, all MILCO and NLDB sales centers and 97 milk collection centers owned by MILCO to the proposed joint venture company. Colombo milk factory at Narahenpita which is in operation now, will be demolished. Employees and Trade Unions of MILCO have filed a petition before the Court of Appeal against its privatization.  Did Anura Kumara raise his objections? Did Anura Kumara chant Down with Amul” or Jai Amul”!

Did Anura Kumara raise his objections to Indian pressure to withdraw Mobitel lawsuit against the merger of Airtel and Dialog? Airtel Lanka is a subsidiary of Bharati Airtel Limited, Indian multinational telecommunication company, the second largest in the world.  RW in January 2024 requested Mobitel Non-Executive Chairman and CEO to withdraw their legal action against TRC, Airtel and Dialog. According to E-Con E-News, telecom industry analysts argue that proposed merger will grant Dialog to provide predatory pricing in the market, driving other operators out of market ending market competitiveness, affecting the general public driving the market prices up. Did Anura Kumara raise his objections? Did Anura Kumara chant Down with Airtel” or Jai Airtel”!

The government of Sri Lanka has shortlisted India’s Jio Platforms, an Indian multinational technology company Ltd. the largest mobile network operator in India, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries of Mukesh Ambani, and Gortune International Investment Holding Ltd. of Amsterdam as the two pre-qualified bidders for the sale of 50.3% stake in Sri Lanka Telecom. Did Anura Kumara raise his objections? Did Anura Kumara chant Down with Ambani” or Jai Ambani”!

(9) The Myth of Gujarat Model”

Anura Kumara visited Ahmedabad, capital ofGujarat and met with Chief Minister of Gujarat Bupendrabhai Patel, a BJP member and local business leaders at Gandhinagar.At a subsequent meeting held with Gujarat Industry Minister of State a presentation was made on the Gujarat Model” used by the Indian government as a development model.  

We don’t think that Anura Kumara or any other in the NPP/JVP had studied socialist models of development other than paying lip service to socialism. Was he briefed about the criticisms of the Gujarat Model”that so manyeconomists,researchers and academics aredisillusioned with the Gujarat Model”, that it is nothing but a jugglery of words, its hype is hollow and fake, growth is elitist not reaching masses? 

 Gujarat Model” was the brainchild of Narendra Modi, the then Chief Minister of Gujarat. It is characterized with heavy investment in infrastructure, unprecedented incentives and subsidies to the corporate sector on capital, interest, land and water supply to attract investment. It was reported that Tata-Nano (like Suzuki and Hyundai) got 30,000 crores IR subsidies. Land was acquired from common grazing land, protected areas, national parks and from irrigated fertile land. The price started from 1/= Indian Rupee. After giving unprecedented incentives and subsidies to the corporate sector the state government was left with limited funds for education, health, environment and provision of employment. This triggered mass agitations, men and women performing Jal Satyagraha”, remaining immersed in waters up to chest high. The worst affected was tribal population. Thousands of them were forced to migrate.

Does the Professor (we don’t know his credentials; at least in what university he teaches and what subject) who accompanied Anura Kumara, presumably to give him technical advice, know about the Gujarat Model” or whether he raised his concerns about it?

This is a fine lesson to so-called Rathu Sahodarayas”. If Anura Kumara and his clique propagate this model in Sri Lanka all the business conglomerates, chambers will support them adding a  Business Balakaya” to NPP fold!

This trip signifies present pro-Chung JVP’s right deviation from ultra” leftism in 1971 and killing spree in 1988-1988, capitulation to Indian regional hegemonism and shedding its anti-Indian chauvinism.     

Anura Kumara’s comments after visiting Technopark at Thiruvanthapuram (formerly known as Trivandrum, capital of Kerala),is interesting to political analysts and his followers if the latter have an iota of sensibility to understand what their leader does in the name of left” politics. According to United News of India he said Sri Lanka can follow the growth strategies of Technopark and collaborate with IT companies of India to burgeon its nascent IT sector to benefit Sri Lanka. Incidentally the CEO of Technopark is a retired military officer, Col. (Retd) Sanjeev Nair. He further stated that collaboration with Technopark would be a good strategy which will bring benefits to Sri Lanka in building its IT ecosystem.  

Anura Kumara was given an electric (push) cycle to ride and was seen riding it as the harlequin in a circus while other Indian ringmasters, acrobats, trapeze artists, tightrope walkers and jugglers were watching him!

(10) Indian Expansionism and the Love-hate Relationship

It is true that the JVP talked about something called Indian expansionism”; a myth has been created by local media that Wijeweera inherited it from China and comrade Shanmugathasan. But what China, Shamugathasan and other pro-China groups in Sri Lanka expounded by Indian expansionism” was not what was vulgarized by Wijeweera. Without discussing about India’s  border disputes with China, providing refuge to Dalai Lama and other Tibetan dissidents at Dharmsala, wars with Pakistan, occupation of Kashmir, how it subjugated Sikkim, undue interferences with Nepal and Bhutan, JVP found Indian plantation workers as agents of its mythical Indian expansionism”.

The allegation made against Indian plantation workers was, in their line rooms they adorn pictures of Gandhi and Nehru and the calendars they hang depict pictures of Indian matinee idols such as MGR, Shivaji, Jayalalitha et al and their allegiance was to India. JVP wanted to uproot tea bushes in Kandyan areas and plant the land with manioc. JVP said that indentured plantation workers live a comfortable life compared to upcountry peasants with free dwellings, estate schools, estate dispensaries and pullemadu” (crèches) for toddlers and they have deprived the latter’s livelihood, all which were historically, economically, socially and culturally untrue.

JVP/ DJV went on a killing spree against the induction of IPKF and opposed the 13^th Amendment and Provincial Councils; killed supporters of 13^th Amendment, Provincial Councils and those who contested Provincial Councils Elections (SLFP did not contest PC elections) and voters. Killings continued during the Presidential Elections held in December 1988 and General Elections conducted in February 1989 respectively. Thus, prominent SLFP, CP, LSSP, Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, NSSP leaders/candidates, left trade union leaders and leaders of other left groups totaling hundreds were eliminated.

JVP/DJV killed even petty traders who sold coriander imported from India; renamed Mysore dhal as rathu parippu, Bombay onions as loku loonu and Bombay motai  (a crude type of candy floss sold by mobile vendors to lesser privileged children) as nice motai; vilified IPKF  as Indian Wanduru Hamudawa” (Indian Monkey Brigade); issued a directive asking all Indian businessmen to leave Sri Lanka ; 11 of them were killed including some employees at Pelwatta Sugar Company.    

In spite of this, JVP established contacts with RAW after killing some IPKF soldiers in Trinco.  It was recorded that the intermediary was a media person who was later killed and dumped in the mid sea taken in a helicopter. For the first time claymore mines were activated in the South; technical knowhow was passed by RAW through Tamil separatists. Even in January 2003 police found a claymore mine in Ahungalla. It was documented that during the height of JVP/DJV offensive JVP maintained unofficial as well as official contacts with the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

So, the love-hate relationship of JVP with the Indians is a very complicated phenomenon continued by different leaders of JVP up to this point.

Leaving Sri Lanka clandestinely Somavansa Amerasinghe first sent his wife and son to India; afterwards Somavansa came to India in a boat; he came to France via Thailand. From India a RAW agent had accompanied him to France. These are well documented.

Somavansa, coming back to Sri Lanka thanked VP Singh, the Indian Prime Minister from 1989-1990, at a meeting at Kalutara. When Singh died in 2008, Tilvin Silva and Somavansa went to the Indian High Commission with white flowers to offer their condolences.

(11) Harini Amarasuriya Again

Why Harini Amarasuriya was elected as NPP’s National List MP overlooking JVP’s former Ministers, MPs, other stalwarts of the party and academics and professionals included in its National List such as Kumar David, the Trotskyite, Lal Wijenayaka, the LSSP dissident and Yayapalana constitution maker (now NPP Central Committee Member – strange alignments!) and some CP academics, was not a mystery. Anura Kumara knew her Indian-US – and NGO connections well (please see: Janus-faced JVP: False Conceptions and Harini Amarasuriya Factor” posted on 14 December 2023).

Next we reveal a lesser known fact – that she was a member ofPublic Representatives Committee on Constitution Reforms (PRCCR) headed by Lal Wijenayaka,appointed by yahapalana government. Its 333 paged final report was presented to Sirisena on 10, May 2016.  It proposed a United Sri Lanka paving the way for a federal state.

Among the recommendations of the Committee were replacing the present national flag with one suitable for a secular state, removing all majoritarian” symbols, providing constitutional safeguards to LGBTIQ community, doing away with denominational and single gender” schools (boys/girls), establishment of a Malayaha (Upcountry) Tamil Development Commission.

(12) What Next After the Initial Euphoria?

JVP/NPP propaganda boys hailed Anura Kumara’s trip as a proof of their party’s international recognition. At the press briefing held on 10/2, immediately after the return of NPP delegation Wijitha Herath said something very amusing. All selling and leasing of national assets or any other economic transaction should be done according to Procurement Guidelines.

But until its Indian tour NPP opposed Indian investments not because of shortcomings or problems associated with adhering to Procurement Guidelines or lack of transparency. On the whole it opposed selling and leasing of national assets; don’t sell power, energy, oil tanks, ports, telecom, to India, Adani or Amul. Now they demand to follow Procurement Guidelines strictly!

Many of his followers who are ignorant of Procurement Guidelines may think that this is a new proposal made by Herath. But Procurement Guidelines were officially proclaimed by MR as President on January 27, 2006, 18 years ago and Procurement Guidelines were issued by National Procurement Agency Chairman/CEO by an 85 paged document to all heads of Ministries, Departments, Corporations and Statutory Bodies, PCs, Local Bodies and Public Companies. Isn’t Herath aware of this being an MP for so many years? What he says is to follow Procurement Guidelines and sell and lease out accordingly. If you follow Procurement Guidelines it’s okay. Even if malimawa comes into power we will follow Procurement Guidelines. But India does not need a malimawa; RW is doing it now smarter than any other person.

Herath said, We explained to India that our position was safeguarding Sri Lanka’s sovereignty,whileguaranteeingregional security. We would not do anything that upset our regional security. We assured that none of our actions would do any harm to regional security.” This is an assurance given to India that NPP would not do anything to harm India’s security. India does not need this assurance from NPP as India has RW to guarantee regional security!

On 12 February, 2024, India launched its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka at a virtual ceremony, enabling availability of UPI settlement services for Indian nationals touring Sri Lanka. RW’s another MOU exchanged with the Indian government during his visit to India in 2023, the much touted Trade, Economic and Financial Connectivity, designing INR as a currency for trade settlement and tourism, digital payments, digital economy was thus adopted. Does the NPP know that this is not a solution to dollar crisis as it prevents transactions in US dollars? Did they voice their opinion against it? 

There are poodles who do not bark much. Instead of Negative Reinforcement, Positive Reinforcement (praise, rewards, affection, recognition, acceptance) can be used to help the poodle to learn that there are better ways than barking. India has done it. Who cares who follows, European Union or NATO? 

KAMALIKA PIERIS

The Tamil Separatist Movement has shown strong opposition to the presence of Buddhist temples in the north and east. Tamil Separatist Movement   vehemently objects to the construction of Buddhist temples and demands their removal.

Tamil Separatist Movement   objects to construction of new Buddhist temples, Buddha statues and shrines. It objects to   the presence of Bhikkhus in those temples and to the excavation of ancient Buddhist temples. Tamil Separatist Movement calls this Buddhistization.”  Tamil Separatist Movement   responds by destroying Buddhist ruins,   by     vandalizing   Buddhist statues, by  threatening bhikkhus who had come into the north and east,building kovils on the sites of ancient Buddhist temples and by creating contested sites.

Tamil Separatist Movement complains loudly that Buddhist temples are built in the north and east where there are no Buddhists. However, they do not object   when Christian missions start evangelist churches.

Since the end of the Eelam war, a large number of Buddhist viharas and Buddha statues have sprouted in the North thanks to the Sri Lankan armed forces, Tamil Separatist Movement complained.

There has been an influx in the rediscoveries” of Sinhala Buddhist sites in predominantly Tamil and Muslim areas by Sri Lanka’s Department of Archaeology, it said. These rediscoveries” of Buddhist sites are affecting the Tamil homeland concept. Further, this rediscovery” of  Buddhist sites, with   the  assistance of archaeology , helps in the takeover of  Tamil land.

 This strategy  of  using ancient ruins, has been in operation for several decades, but it is now accelerated. Overzealous Buddhist monks have started to construct Buddhist temples on  state land saying they  are Buddhist archaeological sites.

In 2016, after the Yahapalana government came to power, there were numerous demands for the removal of Buddhist temples, statues, and shrines built in the Northern Province,.  In August 2016 TNA MPs met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and complained about Buddhist temples and statues being built in the area. 

The Northern Provincial Council   passed a resolution in 2016 prohibiting the construction of Buddhist temples in the north.   It had no legal standing, said lawyers.

Tamil Peoples’ Council, headed by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran said,  in a statement  issued in 2016    that Buddha Viharas are sprouting like mushrooms in areas where there are no Buddhists.

The Tamil Peoples’ Council ,  invited people to join a mass protest in Jaffna on September 24, 2016 to demand a stop to the construction of Buddha statues and Buddhist temples in areas in the Northern Province where there are no Buddhists.

C.V.  Wigneswaran issued a statement saying stop erecting Buddha statues and Buddhist temples illegally and in places where there are no Buddhists..  He also objected to putting up Buddha statues and temples  on private lands.

There were 131 sites of Buddhist religious worship in the North, of which 67 were in Mullaitivu. . These were ‘unlawful’ as there was no Sinhalese living in those areas. They must  be removed immediately, said the Tamil Separatist Movement  in 2018.  

Tamil Separatist Movement tried to  internationalize  this matter. Global Peace Support Group  made an appeal in March, 2010 to Hindus in India saying  Sinhalese Buddhism is waging a war against Hinduism in Īlam”.

The British Tamil Forum  launched in 2017 a book titled Proliferation of Buddhist structures in Tamil Homeland-sowing the seeds of disharmony.” The book  says that Buddhism is the root cause of the massive bloodshed and genocide in Sri Lanka”

In  January 2021 the  Tamil Separatist Movement sent a message to  Federation of Saiva (Hindu) Temples U.K, saying that concerted action by Hindus all over the world is urgently needed to halt the large-scale Buddhistization and colonization of lands belonging to Hindu Tamils in  Sri Lanka.

Federation of Saiva Hindu temples, UK, an umbrella body of 32 Hindu temples in the UK  issued a statement in 2023. They  named specific Hindu temples  which they said  had been  systematically targeted by the hate driven Archaeological Department”. They said that  this was  part of a political  strategy to  marginalize the Hindu community in Sri Lanka.

K  Annamalai , Tamil Nadu BJP President went to UK  in June 2023 and spoke at a Chamber in the House of Lords. The event was organized by British Tamil Sangam and Sangamam UK. He said  that  the emergence of Buddhist archaeological sites in the north and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka ,  has caused tensions between Tamils and Buddhists.  The Northern and Western provinces  of Sri Lanka have maintained a unique culture and identity for more than a thousand years,  said Annamalai  .

Tamil Separatist Movement plans to use the legal system to obstruct the building of temples. It was reported in November, 2020, that M.A. Sumanthiran, has formed an advocacy group of lawyers to deal with the Buddhist challenge to Tamil dominance. Twenty-seven attorneys-at-law attended the first meeting. The group vowed to challenge the government with lawsuits to claw back what Tamils have lost.  

Two plaints have been filed at the Trincomalee High Court. One plaint challenged the acquisition of state land to construct Buddhist temples in Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat area in Trincomalee District. The other challenged the high-handed acquisition of 354 acres of paddy land in Thennamaravadi, obtained a stay order in favor of the petitioners, prohibiting the transfer of the lands to Buddhist temples.

Tamil Separatist Movement charged that the  Department of Archaeology   has   obstructed Hindu worship  in  temples under their charge. They have restricted public access to  kovils citing ongoing archaeological research”. A youth who attempted to worship at a temple in Vedukkunarimalai, Vavuniya was arrested.

Tamil Separatist Movement hit ouit in all directions. Bhikkhus  who have come into the North and east to develop new temples were threatened and told to  go away.In August 2016 the Chief incumbent of the Sambodhi Vihara Temple in Kokilai, Mullaitivu Sri Tissapura Gunarathana thero said TNA Provincial Councilor Raviharan threatened him to stop developing the temple and leave  the area.

Tamil Separatist Movement   charged that Buddhist temples are built on the sites of Hindu temples and on private Tamil lands. While Tamil landowners whose properties were occupied by the Air Force in Keppapilavu were protesting, the military was reportedly seen constructing a Buddhist temple on their occupied land, said Adaalayam Centre.  

Tamil Separatist Movement charges that  Buddhists have destroyed Hindu Kovils.. M.A. Sumanthiran said, there is very clearly, a pattern and an agenda” in the escalating instances of attacks and vandalism on Hindu temple deities in the north.

Tamil Separatist Movement takes the position that it is being persecuted. It poses as a martyr. Many historical Hindu temples are under siege by the government which has declared virtual ‘holy war’ against Hindus and their places of worship, it said. Under the cloak of identifying Buddhist     ruins of archaeological importance, the Department of Archeology has laid siege to historical Hindu temples and build Viharas in their places in the north and east.

The ancient Kunjumappa Periyasamy Temple, located at Ilankaithurai Muhaththuvaram, on the coast above Verugal was worshipped by Tamil-speaking Veddahs and Tamils since ancient times. When the villagers returned in 2008, after the war they found the temple destroyed, and replaced by a large Buddha statue, and a new temple, constructed by the army.

The Malal Neeliyamman temple in Kallady, south of Ilankaithurai, was used by the LTTE for a communications tower for LTTE’s Voice of the Tigers radio station. The Hindu temple was destroyed by the Sri Lankan Air Force . The area was taken over by the military in 2006. Archaeology Department   thereafter designated the area as a historic Buddhist site and a Buddhist temple, Pashana Pabbatha Rajamaha Vihara, was built.

 When Tamil residents returned to their village in 2007, their attempt to reconstruct the destroyed temple on its original site was blocked by Ven.Ratnapura Devananda and the Sri Lankan military.  The Tamil people reconstructed the temple on the roadside. In 2016, this new temple was burnt to the ground. The court case was dropped in January 2019, reported Tamil Guardian.

 Verugal did not have a Sinhala population, but the military and Buddhist monks from the south grabbed land to build their temples, said PEARL. LTTE had used Verugal as a communication center and demolished a rock with six inscriptions to fix the radio transmission tower. LTTE   had   built a Sea Tiger base and a kovil at the site in 2003.

 After the war, The Archaeology Department designated the area as a historic Buddhist site. The ruins of an ancient dagoba, a korawak gala,   and other ruins of an ancient temple were scattered around an area of 50 acres.

In 2007 a new temple, Lanka Patuna Samudragiri Vihara’was built near the Buddhist ruins. The village was   renamed to Lanka Patuna”. This name is now official and appears on birth certificates. The Tamil residents do not like this, reported Tamil Guardian. (Continued)

KAMALIKA PIERIS

Strategic Buddhist sites in the northeastern region have been turned into ‘Contested Sites’ by the Tamil Separatist Movement. The most recent Contested Site was Kurundi, but there were two  before that.

In January 2019 a group of about 200 persons led by northern politicians stormed the precincts of Gurukanda Raja Maha Viharaya in Nayaru, Mullaitivu, claiming that the temple had been built on a land belonging to Hindu devotees, reported the media..The group included local politicians and devotees of the adjoining Neeraviadi Kovil. 

There was a clash between the Chief Incumbent of the temple and the intruders. They demanded the deeds of the temple. The Buddhists could complain to any one they liked but they would not allow the Gurukanda temple to function, said the intruders. The intruders threatened to cause bodily harm to the temple’s Chief Incumbent.  .if the chief priest disturbed the day to day affairs of the kovil, he would be killed, together with all present there. 

The mob was so strong that the police found it extremely difficult to bring the situation under control. The intruders attempted to snatch the mobile phones of  those who were videoing the scene.  Mullaitivu police filed action in the courts against both parties for breach of peace.

The Mullaitivu police dismantled the CCTV cameras installed at the Viharaya .The CCTV system had been installed by a private company as a security measure since the Chief Incumbent of the temple Ven. Mihindupura Ratanadevakitti didn’t live in the temple most of the time. Police said that there was a court order to the effect no constructions or installations would be allowed in both the temple and the adjacent kovil premises.

The matter went to courts, Director General of Archeology, stated in court that Gurukanda Raja Maha Viharaya in Nayaru, had a history of over 2,000 years with  many Buddhist artifacts and an ancient monastery.  Also that it was against the law to build a Hindu place of worship in the place where there was an ancient Buddhist temple.

Officers of the Archaeological Department M.V.G.K. Asanga and I.P.S. Nishantha had   visited Gurukanda Raja Maha Viharaya. They found ruins of a monastery, remains of a stupa, bricks, roof tiles and  pot shards. They dated the temple to Anuradhapura period.

They reported that a road has been built bifurcating the temple premises  and land plots have been demarcated. Several Buddhist  artifacts were found during the road building. A stupa which had been bulldozed, had a diameter of 10 meters. There was a new temple there at present. A small Hindu temple,  Neeravi Pillaiyar  temple  is also located on same site, the report said.

TNA leader R.Sampanthan made a statement in Parliament on the matter. Neeraavi Pillaiyar Temple at Chemmalai in the Mullaitivu District was a site of controversy as the Sinhalese in the area tried to take over a Saivite temple, he said. Gurukande Viharaya had been forcibly constructed between 2004 and 2009 when no civilian was permitted to visit the area.

 “More recently an attempt was made to restore that temple. This led to unrest in that area between the people who are all non-Buddhists and the monks who had come there. Upon this matter being reported to the relevant Magistrate, an order was made prohibiting the reconstruction of the temple. The Chief incumbent of the temple filed an application in the Provincial High Court of the Northern Province district of Vavuniya and the matter is still pending, Sampanthan said.

Suren Raghavan said that the boundary of the temple was under dispute. Though  the Gazette notification of 2016 said the temple was an archaeological site, the boundary was not mentioned. A problem arose when new measurements were taken to mark the boundary. While the measuring was going on, ‘both parties had a debate  regarding their historical heritages.” There was an army camp there during the war.  They had a set of buildings which they had handed over to the chief priest, added  Raghavan.

Shenali Waduge npted that  Gurukanda Raja Maha Viharaya shot to public attention on 14 January 2019 – Thai Pongal Day when a group of unruly protestors led by former TNA provincial councilor T Raviharan stormed the temple and in a very ugly & abusive manner shouted at the Chief Incumbent of the Temple claiming the Buddhist temple had been built on a land belonging to Hindu devotees. Not stopping there, they began digging to construct a Hindu temple inside the temple premises.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFVEe7u9Dmo   shows the illegal act of forcibly entering a Buddhist sacred site & forcibly digging to lay the foundation to put a kovil inside the Temple premises. All those who took part should face legal action, said Shenali. Video clips showed that the group included a Catholic priest. Why is a Catholic priest heading protests for a Hindu kovil inside an ancient Buddhist temple.

A B Mandawela, Director General of Archaeology giving evidence before the Mullaitivu Magistrate S. Lenin Kumara,  confirmed that the Gurukanda Raja Maha Viharaya in Nayaru had a history of over 2000 years. the land on either side of the Kokilai-Mullaitivu road are Buddhist sacred archaeological sites including the Gurukanda Raja Maha Viharaya  The Commissioner of Archaeology explicitly told the Magistrate that it was illegal to build a Hindu kovil inside the ancient Buddhist temple,

Gurukanda RMV is a declared sacred Buddhist site. No one has any right to storm the place and begin illegal constructions which is what the TNA politicians led by Raviharan were doing. This constitutes violating penal code too. The police must file action against TNA for violating Antiquities Act. Buddhist monks headed by  Ven.Ahungalle Jinananda  are proceeding to file criminal charges against TNA’s Raviharan and others too under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Mullaitivu police were deployed round the premises. The police filed action against both parties for disturbing peace. S.Lenin Kumara Mullaitivu Magistrate  however ordered the construction work on Gurukanda to be stopped.

Mullaitivu Magistrate had also  given [permission to name the  site Neeravi Pillair Kovil.  Therefore In June 2019   the name board of Gurukanda Ancient Rajamaha Vihara in Mullaitivu was removed by the officers of Road Development Authority .

The Chief Incumbent  said that The officers of RDA informed me that they are going to remove the name board of the temple and accordingly they came and removed it. But they did not remove the name board of Neeravi Pillari Kovil which was displayed in Tamil. They removed our name board and they went away after handing over it to us.    He said that the vihara concerned was registered at the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and hence its name board can be displayed. This board had been there for the last ten years. There is no further information .

Gurukanda was Tamil Separatist Movement’s first try at creating a  Contested  Site. It was therefore necessary to state their position. 

In October 2019, Jaffna People’s Forum for Coexistence issued a statement .The Forum said,  When the local Hindus protested against the construction of the present Gurukanda Rajamaha Viharaya after the end of the war in a location which they consider as part of the premises of the Neeraviyadi Pillayar Temple, the Department of Archaeology defended the construction claiming that an ancient Buddhist Dagoba existed in that location two thousand years ago.

However, the Maritimepattu D.S. Division, within which the disputed site is located, observed that no Buddhist temple had existed in the land where the Neeraviyadi Pillayar Kovil is situated and that there was no evidence to support that Buddhists had lived in the neighbourhood.

The Forum wants to place on record that for the past several decades the Department of Archaeology has been engaged in politicizing the history of the island, especially its northern and eastern regions, in ways that favor the agendas of chauvinistic politicians and communal-minded Buddhist monks. The Department has often ignored the religious and ethnic realities observed at present in places where the minorities live in large numbers and the political and cultural changes that have taken place in those areas across the passage of time.

The Jaffna People’s Forum for Coexistence assets that Sri Lanka is a plural society. It has been home to different cultures, languages and faiths in constant movement. The Forum wishes to reiterate that the pluralist demographic history of the island spanning over 2000 years is one of constant movement of different communities .  .the Forum opposes any action that threatens the religious, ethnic and linguistic pluralism of Sri Lanka . To pit one community against another,will prove to be destructive.  Let us ensure that our actions in the future will reclaim its plural history.

The Gurukanda issue must  be resolved carefully and amicably, based on appropriate and genuine historical evidence, in a manner where history is not used for legitimizing exclusivist claims about territory and polarizing the communities concerned, concluded Jaffna People’s Forum for Coexistence

In July  2019 A Hindu-Buddhist conflict developed in Trincomalee over a mound found near the Kinniya hot wells  Archaeological Department had gone there to do some routine conservation work. In the process some bricks had got dug up. Buddhist and the Hindus both claimed these bricks. Bhikkhus such as Ven. Ampitiye Seelavansa of Velgam vihara    said they belonged to an Anuradhapura era stupa which has been leveled and a Hindu temple built on top. Hindus said this was the ruins of a Pillaiyar kovil.

The locals were extremely aggressive towards the conservation work, said the Archaeological Department. A crowd of Tamils had gathered.  Tamil politicians had also come.  Television news showed the  two groups fighting. Police, riot squad and Special Task Force were called in. Police came with a magistrate order, to stop the protest, that it would cause communal tensions.

Thereafter, Kokila Ramani, a resident of Trincomalee, petitioned the Provincial High Court,  saying the land where the Kinniya  hot springs are located belonged to her and the Archaeology Department is trying to construct a Buddhist structure there without her permission. The Department plans to construct a temple on the site of a Hindu kovil and Hindu devotees are being obstructed from entering the site by the Department, she said. TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran appeared for her.  Provincial High Court Judge M. Illanchiyan issued an interim injunction suspending the conservation of the Kinniya hot springs which will remove the alleged ruins of a Hindu kovil. There is no further information on this matter.

 The  Tamil opposition to Buddhist temples has extended also to cremation of chief priests on the temple premises. Two such protests are on record.

In 2017 A group of 12 lawyers   had gone to courts to prevent the last rites of the late chief incumbent of the Naga Vihara, Ven. Meegahajandure Gnanaratana, being performed at the Jaffna Fort Sports Ground. The restraining order had been sought on two grounds. Permission had not been obtained from Jaffna Municipal Council and secondly,  the cremation of bodies could damage the environment. Jaffna Magistrate Katheeswaran  did not agree. He refused to issue a restraining order. Last rites were conducted with the participation of the armed forces and the police.

The second   protest was  at Gurukanda Raja Maha Viharaya. The chief priest of Gurukanda, Ven. Colomba Medhalankara ,passed away in Colombo in September 2019. Neeraavi Pillaiyar Temple promptly filed a police complaint that that if the body of the priest is brought to the  Gurukanda temple,   while a court case is going on, there will be trouble.

Mullaitivu police informed  Magistrate’s court. The magistrate ordered that the  body of the deceased priest should not be cremated or buried in  Gurukanda temple, until a final order was granted in the  court matter.

Court was informed that the  Buddhist  temple was willing to conduct the cremation ceremony at another location and  that the  Hindu temple was agreeable to this.  Court  then ordered that the cremation  be conducted at the second location. Maritimepattu Predeshiya Sabha intervened to say  that arrangements were made for the cremation without obtaining permission in terms of the Cemeteries and Burial grounds Ordinance.

After the order was made a group of monks led by Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara of Colombo,  took the body of the deceased chief priest to the  temple premises and cremated the body there. The cremation was attended by several monks   and took place amidst sadukara from a large crowd.

An equally large or possible larger crowd were there to oppose the cremation, observed the media. Television cameras showed heated arguments. Police were there. A clash occurred and the priest of the Hindu temple was severely injured. A lawyer appearing for the  Hindu Temple was  assaulted.

Several monks spoke to  Derana television  after the cremation. It is a Buddhist tradition to cremate a monk in the temple premises.     If Gnanasara did not go this cremation would not have taken place, they said.

Regarding the ownership dispute, the monks told Derana, that the Archaeological  Department should   point out that Gurukanda is on  protected territory. 3 acres at Gurukanda belong to the  Archaeological   Department. Court should be told this. Ven. Polonnaruwe Thilnakara  said there was no kovil there earlier.

This temple matter can escalate,  said  Bellanwila Dammaratana. Foreign forces are wanting to intervene and incidents such as this will be used for this.    TNA is behind this the monks said.  They scolded Yahapalana as well. We sacrificed ourselves to establish these temples. We went into jungles. It is we who looked after Buddhism in the north, the monks  told Derana, with emotion.

Former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, thereafter, led a protest opposite the Mullaitivu Divisional Secretariat against the cremation in the temple premises while a court  decision was pending. Several politicians, both national and local    as well as lawyers, civil society activists and the public in Mullaitivu joined the protest. Some, including lawyers, wore black arm bands.

The protestors demanded legal action against the  cremation. It was violation of a court ruling.  Violating a court ruling  constitutes Contempt of Court. They  demanded the immediate arrest of Galagodaatte Gnanasara and others responsible for cremation. They were extremely critical of Gnanasara Thera’s involvement in the matter, and wanted to know  whether the country has a separate law for Buddhist monks. They  burnt an effigy of  Ven.Gnanasara .  

The Attorney General should take legal action within three days against all those who are involved in the incident including Ven.Galagoda Aththe Gananasara along with the other Buddhist monk who had openly protested against the court order.  Attorney General must assure them in writing that he will  do so. Unless swift action was taken, the demonstrations would continue..

The demonstrators, then marched from Mullaitivu Divisional Secretariat to Mullaitivu District Secretariat and  handed over a memorandum to the District Secretary to be forwarded to the UN envoy in Sri Lanka..They also protested opposite the Mullaitivu Magistrate’s court.

All the lawyers of Northern and Eastern provinces led by Batticaloa Bar Association President K.Narayanapillai boycotted court duties in a black arm band protest outside the Batticaloa court premises. The Mullaitivu Trade Association closed shops and carried out a hartal in support of the demonstration.

TNA’s R. Sampanthan wrote to the President Sirisena, saying, the corpse was cremated in close proximity to the “Theerthakerni” tank in the Hindu temple premises containing Holy water for use by the Deity. The temple and the premises were  thus desecrated. He urged  President Sirisena to ensure that those who cremated a Buddhist prelate’s remains at Chemmalai, Mullaitivu in violation of a court order are brought to justice.

A second contempt of court action was filed in 2020  by TNA MP Shanthi Sriskandaraja..The petitioner has sought an order to issue a rule on the Respondents, directing them to show cause as to why they should not be punished for contempt of court for violating the Mullaitivu Magistrate’s Court order preventing the cremation of the body of the late chief incumbent of the Gurukanda Raja Maha Vihara in Mullaithivu on a disputed property.  

The petitioner maintained that the Buddhist temple known as the Gurukanda Raja Maha Viharaya had been forcibly constructed between 2004 and 2009, when no civilian was permitted to go into that area which is within the precincts of the already existing Hindu temple. 

Following the death of the chief priest of the Gurukanda Raja Maha Viharaya, the Mullaitivu police filed a report in the Magistrate’s Court stating that in the event that the late chief priest’s body was brought to the land that is in dispute, it would result in a breach of the peace in the area. Subsequently, the Mullaitivu Magistrate issued an order directing the police to ensure that the cremation was not conducted on the Hindu temple grounds.  

 The petitioner further submitted that with the intervention of Ven. Gnanasara Thera, the body of the Chief priest of Gurukanda Raja Maha Viharaya was cremated on the premises in dispute and the police had allegedly failed to prevent the Court order from being violated.  ( Continued)

By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island

Wimal Weerawansa

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa says the proposed Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) with India should be examined in the context of India’s geopolitical strategy in respect of Sri Lanka.

Referring to a recent declaration by SLPP MP Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera that the government parliamentary group hadn’t been consulted on the proposed agreement discussed at any level though Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena announced finalisation of the ETCA by March this year, dissident SLPP MP Weerawansa alleged that New Delhi was tightening its grip on Sri Lanka.

In a brief interview with The Island, following JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India, Weerawansa discussed a range of issues, including the IMF’s intervention, US-India strategy pertaining to post-war Sri Lanka and what he called a murderous tax regime meant to heap further burden on those struggling to make ends meet.

Pointing out that the ETCA would be an extension of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) the two countries signed during President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s tenure, MP Weerawansa warned of unprecedented catastrophe if President Ranil Wickremesinghe was allowed to go ahead with his agenda.

MP Weerawansa asked whether bankrupt Sri Lanka struggling to cope with rising unemployment could open the service sector to India, thereby further aggravating the problems here. The NFF parliamentary group consists of six MPs, including National List member Mohammed Muzammil.

Acknowledging the financial assistance to the tune of USD four billion provided in the wake of the economic-political-social crisis in 2022, MP Weerawansa questioned whether India was taking advantage of the situation here to rapidly advance its expansionist policy.

Responding to another query, MP Weerawansa said that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government should be held responsible for facilitating the Indian project.

Alleging that the Indian take-over of Sri Lanka was being blatantly carried out in the name of the much-touted India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and her maritime vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), the former minister urged political parties to examine and compare the situation here and the developing situation in the Maldives following the election of China-backed Mohamed Muizzu as the new Maldivian President in last September.

Indian-backed Ibrahim Mohamed Solih suffered defeat at the presidential poll, thereby dealing a significant blow to the overall New Delhi’s strategy there, MP Weerawansa said, adding that some Sri Lankans had been deceived, perhaps willingly by Indian declaration that Indians should choose Sri Lanka as their next travel destination. Indian action was meant to undermine the tourism industry in the Maldives, MP Weerawansa said, New Delhi should never be allowed to pursue such corrosive strategies.

Commenting on the recent launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, the NFF leader alleged that in the name of strengthening financial connectivity India was taking over the smaller economy. If the incumbent government went ahead with ETCA, the consequences would be far reaching and the damage to the country’s independence, cherished for over two millennia, irreparable.

The former minister said that the IMF remedies wouldn’t help the country to regain economic stability though the government depicted the USD 2.9 bn bailout package as the panacea for all our ills. As a result of steep increase in electricity tariffs and unbearable tax regime the local industries couldn’t compete with foreign companies, MP Weerawansa said. The President backed by the SLPP seemed bent on undermining the national economy.

One-time JVP propaganda secretary said that the current JVP leadership contributed to the developing strategy. Their recent high profile visit to India close on the heels of their US tour late last year revealed the ugly truth. Those ex-members of the military and police who had pledged their support to the JVP should be mindful of the developments taking place on the political front as India sought to consolidate its regional supremacy.

Referring to an Indian submarine visiting Colombo port on the day before Independence Day this year, MP Weerawansa said that a section of the influential India media declared that it was a huge diplomatic victory for India over China in Sri Lanka as it happened in the aftermath of Sri Lanka imposing one-year moratorium on Chinese research vessels visiting her ports.

In spite of continuing turmoil in every sector, the government sought to protect the interests of the affluent. Quoting a recent UNDP survey, MP Weerawansa pointed out that just 10% of the rich shared 64% of the gross national income. According to the UNDP, 50% of the population, struggling to make ends meet, shared just four percent of the gross national income.

It would be a grave mistake on the part of the down-trodden to believe the ruling class, having learnt a bitter lesson in the wake of unconstitutional change of power in 2022, was likely to look at issues at hand in a humane manner.

The ex-minister also dealt with issuing of freehold titles to farmers by an utterly irresponsible and scheming government. Alleging that a significant number of farmers would mortgage their land because of wide scale poverty/indebtedness, MP Weerawansa said that the rising cost in paddy production also due to VAT (Value-Added Tax) on tools and other essentials would cause farmers to give up cultivation.

We would end up importing rice to meet the growing paddy shortfall,” MP Weerawansa said, adding that a strategic rethinking was necessary to identify challenges and reach consensus on a common programme to stabilize the country. The IMF package wouldn’t save us, the NFF leader said, reminding Sri Lanka sought such interventions on 16 previous occasions.

The former firebrand JVPer said that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was yet to respond to his specific allegation that US Ambassador Julie Chung, during the violent protest campaign in Colombo on July 09, 2022, asked him to take over the presidency, regardless of Constitutional provision that deemed the Premier should be the successor.

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, Kenya. 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.

ENDURING FOOTPRINT 2019	NON-ENDURING FOOTPRINT 2019
Chebelley, Djibouti	Bizerte, Tunisia
Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti	Arlit, Niger
Entebbe, Uganda	Dirkou, Niger
Mombassa, Kenya	Diffa, Niger
Manda Bay, Kenya	Ouallam, Niger
Liberville, Gabon	Bamako, Mali
St. Helena, Ascension Island	Garoua, Cameroon
Accra, Ghana	Maroua, Cameroon
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso	Misrata, Libya
Dakar, Senegal	Tripoli, Libya
Agadez, Niger	Baledogle, Somalia
Niamey, Niger	Bosasso, Somalia
N’Djamena, Chad	Galcayo, Somalia
	Kismayo, Somalia
	Mogadishu, Somalia
	Wajir, Kenya

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 assistance 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 2017, and a record number of U.S. airstrikes in Somalia (just over one attack per week in 2019). There are now roughly 25 active militant Islamist groups operating in Africa, up from just five in 2010 — 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 events linked to these groups last year, a 1,105 percent increase since 2009. 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 containment.”

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, Botswana, 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 Libya, 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 up. 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 ceasefire in Libya’s civil war.

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 Niger, which has become the key American hub on that side of the continent. Around 500 Special Operations forces 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.

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While the five U.S. outposts in Somalia rank second only to the six in Niger when it comes to America’s footprint on the continent, AFRICOM is actively seeking to expand its presence in the Horn of Africa. Additional posture and/or capacity is required in East Africa to more efficiently employ limited aviation resources in support of U.S. activities in southern Somalia,” according to the formerly secret files, which also mention the potential establishment of one or more [contingency locations] in Somalia to support Somali National Security Force development.” The 2019 planning documents also state that five contingency locations” were recommended to be upgraded to semi-permanent” status: Baledogle, Kismayo, and Mogadishu in Somalia, and Arlit and Diffa in Niger.

What are the forces at these bases doing there? In Diffa, according to a recent inspector general’s report, a small unit of U.S. Special Forces has been providing advice and assistance to Niger’s 51st Special Intervention Battalion, which conducts operations in the Lake Chad region. Another Special Forces detachment has been engaged in train, advise, and assist activities with a local counterterrorism force in Arlit, Niger.

The presence of U.S. commandos at Diffa and Arlit first came to widespread notice in the wake of the October 2017 ambush by Islamic State militants in Tongo Tongo, Niger, that killed four U.S. soldiers. The U.S. base at Baledogle received attention last September when it was attacked by the Somali terrorist group, al-Shabab. Manda Bay, Kenya, where al-Shabab killed the American soldier and U.S. pilots, is still another enduring” location from AFRICOM’s 2019 list. In the wake of the attack last month, its defenses were also hardened and its troop strength markedly increased.

I think it’s self-obvious we were not as prepared there in Manda Bay as we needed to be,” AFRICOM’s Townsend told the Senate Armed Services Committee on January 30. Al-Shabab managed to penetrate onto that airfield. A lot of people don’t know, but the base where our troops live is not where the airfield is. But they were able to get access to that airfield, kill three Americans and destroy six aircraft there. … There’s about 120 infantrymen there on the ground now who are securing that place, and they’ve been working hard since 6 January to put in the appropriate level of defenses. So I am confident that by the time they are done, Manda Bay will be much more properly defended.”

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington on Jan. 27, 2020. The Army, for the first time, will send soldiers from one of its new training brigades to Africa to expand the use of the new specialized units as the Pentagon looks at possible troop cuts on the continent. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP

The attack in Kenya came at a time when Defense Secretary Mark Esper was already considering proposals for a major drawdown of U.S. forces on the other side of the continent, in West Africa, including the possible abandonment of a recently built $110 million drone base in Agadez, Niger. According to Manley, the Pentagon’s so-called Blank Slate Review process is still ongoing, and there has been no change to U.S. force posture” in Africa as of yet. I haven’t made any decisions yet on West Africa or East Africa,” Esper said recently, while at the same time calling on European nations to step up in Africa.”

Talk of scaling back U.S. posture and presence in Africa has prompted fierce pushback in Congress. These personnel and installations are critical in combatting the ever-increasing number of violent extremist groups throughout the region that pose an immediate threat to our partners and allies,” wrote U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Chris Coons, D-Del., in a January 15 letter to Esper. The senators argued that any withdrawal or reduction would likely result in a surge in violent extremist attacks on the continent and beyond as well as increase the geopolitical influence of competitors like Russia and China.” James Inhofe, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee echoed these concerns. Today, more than a dozen terrorist groups with ties to Al Qaida and ISIS are operating across Africa,” he said late last month. Many of these groups have ambition to attack Americans and our partners. Without sustained pressure, the threat posed by these groups will.”

But in the face of deteriorating security and gloomy Pentagon assessments, some experts question this rationale. The current, overly militarized approach to fighting terrorism in Africa is not working,” said William Hartung, the director of the arms and security project at the Center for International Policy, or CIP. As the U.S. military footprint and military activities have increased, terrorist violence has grown and terrorist groups have proliferated.”

His colleague, Temi Ibirogba, a program and research associate with the Africa Program at CIP, noted that the rise of violent extremism in Africa in the face of persistent U.S. military engagement since 9/11 should be cause for skepticism of the more is better” strategy. The U.S. military should be considering alternative approaches like better coordination with African regional and continental organizations and encouraging African governments to consider negotiations in certain cases,” she told The Intercept.

In recent years, the U.S. military has carried out no fewer than 36 named operations and activities in Africa, including at least eight 127-echo” programs, which are named for the budgetary authority that allows U.S. Special Operations forces to use host-nation military units as proxies in missions aimed at violent extremist organizations, or VEOs. Run by Joint Special Operations Command, the secretive organization that controls the Navy’s SEAL Team 6 and the Army’s Delta Force, or by theater special operations forces, these 80- to 120-person units, operating with the assistance of U.S. commandos, are primarily engaged in counterterrorism operations, especially ones aimed at high-value targets.

The 2019 AFRICOM planning document notes that U.S. forces will continue to conduct counter-VEO-focused activities” from 16 separate bases. Even discounting the two counter-VEO bases in Libya that appear to have been closed since the map was created by AFRICOM, this leaves one each in Kenya, Mali, and Tunisia, as well as five in Somalia, four in Niger, and two in Cameroon at Garoua and Maroua. The site in Garoua is a drone base that was profiled by The Intercept in 2016. In 2017, the Intercept revealed that while the U.S. military fortified its base in Maroua, known as Camp Salak, the outpost also served as a scene of illegal imprisonment, torture, and even killings.

Facing a potential drawdown of forces, AFRICOM has been making the case that its bases and the missions run from them are integral to U.S. interests. Strategic access to Africa, its airspace, and its surrounding waters is vital to U.S. national security,” Townsend told the Senate Armed Services Committee late last month. He and others have argued for what they contend is AFRICOM’s supposed bang for the buck. What U.S. Africa Command accomplishes with relatively few people and few dollars, on a continent three-and-a-half times the size of the continental United States, is a bargain for the American taxpayer,” Manley told The Intercept.

But a recent inspector general’s report, examining U.S. counterterrorism efforts in Africa, raises serious questions about the utility of billions of tax dollars spent on U.S. bases, operations, and assistance to local partners. Even after a decade-plus spent fighting militants in Somalia, the threat posed by al Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia in East Africa remains ‘high,’ despite continued U.S. airstrikes and training of Somali security forces,” the Defense Intelligence Agency told the Defense Department’s Inspector General. The DoDIG further noted that al-Shabab not only remains a potent threat” due to its ability to conduct high-profile attacks, recruit fighters, and finance ongoing operations,” but that the group appears to be a growing threat to U.S. personnel and interests in the region.”

The DoDIG’s assessment of West Africa was even more dire. VEO violence in West Africa grew rapidly over the past 2 years; in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Western Niger, VEO violence increased by 250 percent since 2018,” according to the report. AFRICOM told the DoDIG that security in West Africa continued to deteriorate during the final quarter of 2019 as terrorist groups launched a growing number of offensive attacks against military facilities and troops … often resulting in large numbers of casualties” to U.S.-allied armed forces. VEOs in West Africa are not degraded nor contained to the Sahel and Lake Chad region,” the command admitted.

Given the current state of affairs, the Center for International Policy’s Hartung believes that the United States needs to reevaluate its approach. It’s time for an honest reassessment of U.S. anti-terror strategy in Africa, including greater transparency about the size and scope of U.S. military operations there,” he told The Intercept. The underlying drivers of terrorism, including poverty, corruption, and repression, do not have military solutions.”

Ministry of Defence  – Media Centre

•           The procession of the Sacred Omniscient Relics of Deegawapiya Stupa and the Crest-Gem to the Buddhist shrines in ancient Ethugalpura.

The island-wide public veneration of the Sacred Omniscient Relics of Deegawapiya Stupa unearthed from the Deegawapiya site during the excavations and the Crest-Gem commenced from Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya on August 30, 2023 to provide the devotees with an opportunity to pay their homage is continuing further.

Accordingly, these revered articles will be exhibited at the Monaragala Rajamaha Viharaya, Rideegama on February 20 and 21, at the Walauwatta Subadrarama Viharaya, Ibbagamuwa on 22 and 23, at the Kasagala Rajamaha Viharaya, Kumbukgete on 24 and 25 and at the Sri Gunarathanarama Viharaya, Hiripitiya on 26 and 27. Eventually, arrangements have been made for the exposition of these revered articles at Sri Sumangala Pirivena, Wariyapola starting on February 28.

Hence, the devotees have the opportunity to worship the Sacred Omniscient Relics and Crest-Gem of the Deegawapiya Stupa and support this meritorious act by making financial contributions to the restoration project.

Ministry of Defence  – Media Centre

Post -event Press Release

The Institute of National Security Studies (INSS), the Ministry of Defence’s premier think tank on national security, hosted a close door webinar on South Asian Geopolitics in 2024: Lessons for Sri Lanka” on Thursday, February 15, 2024, from 1000hrs to 1200hrs (IST) via Zoom. The Guest Speaker for the event was, Lieutenant General Vinod G. Khandare PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd.), Principal Adviser, Ministry of Defence, India. Colonel Nalin Herath RSP, Overlooking Director General, and Acting Director (Research) of INSS was the moderator of the event. The audience consisted of ministry officials, academics, researchers, policymakers, representatives from Sri Lanka Armed Forces and Coast Guard. The moderator commenced the proceedings by explaining on the need of Sri Lanka to lead the way in working with South Asian Region.

Subsequent to the introduction given, the speaker, Lt. Gen. Vinod G. Khandare commenced his vocal presentation with the motion Avoid conflict and grow together” by outlining the geopolitical aspect of economics and trade. With examples from history, he emphasized on the impact on the dynamics of trade and economy that has been influenced on the region by other states. In addition, he brought into account the impact of radicalization that leads to terrorism and separatism caused, and on anticipated disruptions to the global context. Moreover, he stated that India is concerned about maritime activity that occurs in a Sri Lankan context. Thereafter, he expressed the importance of emphasizing acting together as a close-knit” region to face challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation because these things are here to stay”. Threats by Artificial Intelligence and communication on governance, banking and health were also pointed out, that should be focused in the current situation.

Following up, several timely questions under the discussed topic of concern were posed by the audience in the Q and A segment, which were directed at the guest speaker, which showed much enthusiasm. The speaker responded constructively along with adequate facts as well as realistic concerns of the current context, in which he clearly mentioned that India doesn’t believe in dominating any other state. He further added insight on cognitive warfare and its implications, and the importance of focusing on safeguarding digital realms and facing issues relating to the quest for power on economics and human capital in the region.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

JICA to commence new development projects in Sri Lanka
President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. Tanaka Akihito, described Sri Lanka as a centre of gravity of global economic development and JICA would continuously assist development and reforms agenda of Sri Lanka. He said this during a discussion with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees in Colombo on today (February 14).
The Prime Minister thanked Dr Akihito for the support extended to Sri Lanka for decades since JICA became a member of Sri Lanka Aid Consortium in 1968. He urged JICA to consider new projects for rural development, rural road construction, empowerment of small and medium sector farmers and entrepreneurs.
Dr Akihito said JICA would provide a grant for a new renewable energy programme which will include establishment of solar energy units at hospitals in Sri Lanka. He said that JICA has completed Safe Water Supply Project in Anuradhapura and he would attend its opening ceremony tomorrow (February 15) in the ancient capital. The Prime Minister thanked Japan for the project and said it would be benefit the Anuradhapura, a district affected by kidney disease due to impure water.
JICA President praised the government for quick recovery made after a severe economic crisis and said country is now back on track for rapid growth. The global growth has shifted to Asia Pacific region and in this Sri Lanka is a centre of gravity in world economic growth,” he said and added that JICA would continue to be a partner in this process.
He stress the need for speeding up the Katunayake International Airport expansion project as it would help the country to attract more tourists and also for Sri Lanka to be an important aviation hub.
JICA implements a wide range of projects across the country. They include infrastructure development, expanding social services, developing human resources and rural communities, enhancing small and medium scale enterprises, disaster management and climate change.
JICA President is on a visit to Sri Lanka to ascertain the development requirements to plan future assistance programmes and projects. He added that JICA focuses its assistance on uplifting the agriculture and rural industries, developing rural communities and expanding social services related to education and health and assured continuous project support to Sri Lanka.
Ambassador of Japan Mizukoshi Hideki, Director General (South Asia), Office of JICA, Ito Teruyuki, Deputy Chief Secretary Takeshita Mastake, Chief Representative JICA Sri Lanka Office, Tetsuya Yamada, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Harsha Wijewardane and Acting Secretary of Ministry of Public Administration Gammanpila took part in the discussion.

The Leader TV

Courtesy Adaderana

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara says he has received an audit report from KPMG and CPSTL audit investigation officials saying they have found that more than 1.3 million entries on SAP data have been changed or deleted since 2010 and that most have occurred in 2022 during the height of Sri Lanka’s fuel crisis.

In a post on ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter, the minister said that the major findings of the forensic audit conducted by KPMG on the sales and distribution of petroleum products from Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL) was briefed to him this afternoon (15).  

Wijesekara stated that the forensic audit was initiated based on a complaint that he made to the CID in August 2022 on irregularities at CPSTL and the Ceylon petroleum Corporation (CPC). 

He stated that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), after their initial investigations, had advised the Ministry of Power and Energy to conduct a full forensic audit to further investigate. 

The minister said KPMG and CPSTL audit investigation officials briefed him on the following findings:

1. More than 1.3 Million entries on SAP data has been changed or deleted since 2010 and most has occurred in 2022 during the height of the fuel crisis. 

2. After the complaint was lodged in August 2022, the number has significantly reduced in 2023. 

3. Massive losses has been recorded from stock holding in 2022 amounting to Rs. 28 billion and after the complaint was lodged it has come down to Rs. 4 billion in 2023.

4. Use of outdated circulars and procedures and no adequate data available or kept to determine certain irregularities. 

Minister Kanchana further said that the full report will be handed over by KPMG next week and that he will hand over the complete report to the CID for further investigations and to take appropriate legal steps. 

It will also be shared with the Cabinet of Ministers, the Parliament, the Audited General and the Attorney General’s Department to pursue the next steps, he said in the tweet.

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka’s spike in inflation is expected to be short-lived and will return to the targeted 5% in the medium term, a monetary policy report released by the central bank said on Thursday as the island nation’s economy stabilises from a crippling financial crisis.

Sri Lanka’s economy is seeing glimmers of recovery, helped by a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, after it went into freefall in 2022 due to a severe foreign exchange shortage.

At the start of 2024, Sri Lanka raised its value added tax (VAT) to 18% from 15% to meet revenue targets under the IMF programme, sparking a renewed rise in its key inflation rate, which rose to 6.4% at the end of last month from 4% in December.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), which committed to maintaining inflation at 5% under a new law introduced last year, said price increases from the tax hike in January were unlikely to persist due to subdued demand and the economy operating below its full capacity.

The central bank slashed interest rates by 650 basis points last year to help Sri Lanka’s economy recover from soaring inflation, currency depreciation, and low reserves.

The World Bank expects Sri Lanka’s economy to grow by 1.7% this year after contracting 3.8% in 2023.

However, reforms mandated under the IMF programme would need to be speeded up to keep the recovery on track, the report said.

Source: Reuters

–Agencies

Senaka Weeraratna

In 1953, Asoka Weeraratna, Founder and Honorary Secretary of the Lanka Dhammaduta Society, paid a second visit to Germany and surveyed Buddhist activities in that country. On this trip Asoka travelled widely all over Germany, i.e. Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Stuttgart, Bremen, Frankfurt, Bonn, and Cologne among others, meeting leaders of Buddhist organizations in various German cities > and enlisting their support for the cause of establishing the Buddha Sasana in Germany. He was also asked to inspect a suitable site for a  Buddhist Centre and Vihara, and a Settlement for lay Buddhists and Upasakas. 

In Hamburg, he met Dr. Helmut Palmie, President of the Hamburg Buddhist Society. Dr. Palmie was a Pali Scholar and an ardent Buddhist. Dr. Palmie convened a special meeting of the Hamburg  Buddhist Society on 10th March 1953, at the Belvedere Hotel, Warburgstrasse, Hamburg, on the occasion of Asoka’s visit. About 200 German Buddhists and friends of Buddhism attended the meeting which Asoka addressed. speaking on the aims of the Lanka Dhammaduta Society in propagating Buddhism in Germany and his talk in English was translated into German by Friedrich Muller (later to be known as Ven. Polgasduwe Nyanawimala). Asoka presented an ola-leaf book on the Buddha Dhamma to Dr. Palmie as a token of goodwill from the Lanka Dhammaduta Society( later renamed the German Dharmaduta Society). At this meeting, a German Buddhist named Herr Severloh-Mohr administered Pansil and gave a talk on Satipattana. Dr. Helmut Palmie followed with a talk on the fundamentals of the Dhamma. Friedrich Muller, later travelled to Ceylon on a plane ticket given by Asoka Weeraratna, arriving on June 05, 1953, at the Ratmalana Airport, on the condition that Muller would become a member of the first Dharmaduta Mission from Ceylon to Germany, planned for the Buddha Jayanthi in 1956. Friedrich Muller became a disciple (the last disciple ) of Ven. Nyanatiloka Maha Thera. He was ordained by Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Nayake Thera at the Vajiraramaya, under the name Nyanawimala. Muller wanted more time to study Buddhism and therefore he was not able to join the first Buddhist mission from Sri Lanka to Germany which comprised Ven. Soma, Ven. Kheminda and Ven. Vinita, all of whom were selected from the Vajiraramaya, Bamabalapitiya, Colombo 04. 

Asoka Weeraratna joined the Mission in Frankfurt and together they flew from Frankfurt to Berlin. On the same day i.e. July 02, > 1957, the Mission took up residence at Das Buddhistische Haus in Berlin – Frohnau. The Mission was sponsored by the German Dharmaduta Society. The World of Buddhism Magazine (April 1953) provides more details of Asoka Weeraratna’s visit to Hamburg in March 1953. It says as follows: ‘Several questions were asked by the audience and the meeting received good press” It adds: ” The Lanka Dhammaduta Society which sponsored this project under the inspiration of Mr. Weeraratna has provided funds for the printing of Buddhist pamphlets in German and for the regular free supply of two German Buddhist Magazines to the principal public and university libraries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland “. 

Asoka Weeraratna in a Report entitled ‘ Buddhism in Germany’ published in the form of a booklet, soon after his return to Sri Lanka in May 1953 comments on the Hamburg Buddhist Society as follows: ” I was greatly struck by the keen enthusiasm they all showed in Buddhism. The Hamburg Buddhist Society holds its meetings every Friday of the week at which lectures and discussions are conducted. The average attendance is between 30 to 40 persons”. 

Senaka Weeraratna

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මාධ්‍ය අංශය

• අද භුක්ති විදින්නේ අපේ ජාතික වීරවරයන් කැපිකිරීම් මතින් දිනාගත් නිදහසයි…
• ඩී. බී. ජයතිලක කියන්නේ ගවේෂණය කළ යුතු චරිතයක්…
– අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන මහතා
අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා මේ බව සඳහන් කළේ  2024.02.13 දින කැලණිය වරාගොඩ  පැවැති ජාතික වීරවර ශ්‍රීමත් ඩී. බී. ජයතිලක පිළිරුව නිරාවරණය කිරීමේ අවස්ථාවට එක්වෙමිණි.
ජාතික වීරවර ශ්‍රීමත් දොන් බාරොන් ජයතිලක එකසිය පනස් හයවෙනි ජන්ම සංවත්සරය නිමිත්තෙන් ඒ මහතා උපන් කැලණිය වරාගොඩ පෙදෙසේ ඉදිකළ මෙම පිළිරුව අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය  දිනෙෂ් ගුණවර්ධන මහතාගේ සුරතින්  නිරාවරණය කළේය.
එහිදී වැඩිදුරටත් අදහස් දැක්වූ අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා
අප රටේ සුවිශේෂ ජාතික වීරවරයෙක් වූ ඩි. බී ජයතිලක මැතිතුමාගේ පිළිරුවක් එතුමා උපන් ගමේ ඉදිකොට විවෘත කරන අවස්ථාවට, අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා හැටියට රජය වෙනුවෙන් සහභාගී වන්නට ලැබීම පිළිබද සතුටු වෙනවා. ජාතියක පැවැත්මට භාෂාව මෙන්ම සංස්කෘතිය, ආගමික ලැදියාවන්  මෙන්ම අපේ මුතුන් මිත්තන් ඒ ඒ කාලපරිච්ඡේදයන් වල ඇති කළ සදාකාලික නිර්මාණයන් දායක වෙනවා. ජාතියේ පැවැත්ම සිදුවන්නේ ඒවා ආරක්ෂා කරමින් ඉදිරියට ගෙනයාම තුළින්. ඩී.බී. ජයතිලක මැතිතුමා උපන් බිමට එවැනි මග පෙන්වීමක් කළ අසමසම ජාතික වීරවරයෙක්.
සිංහල බසට, සංස්කෘතික බසට, බුදු දහමට එතුමාගෙන් අනගිබවනීය සේවයක් සිදුවුණා. ඒ දායාදයන් පරම්පරාවෙන් පරම්පරාවට පවතින දෙයක් බවට පරිවර්තනය කරන්නට එතුමා කටයුතු කළා. අපේ විද්‍යාලංකාර පිරිවෙන ආරම්භයේ සිට එය ගොඩනැගීමට නායකත්වය දුන් මහා සඟරුවනට ඉතාම හිතාදර විශ්වාසනීය දායකයා බවට පත්වුණේ එතුමායි. තමන් සතු දැනුම වර්ධනය කර ගැනීමෙන් පමණක් නොනැවතී තම දැනුම තවත් දරු පරපුරක්  වෙනුවෙන් ලබා දීමේ මහා පින්කමට ඩී.බී ජයතිලක මැතිතුමා පුරෝගාමියෙක් වුණා.
විශේෂයෙන් ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ බෞද්ධ අධ්‍යාපනික පුනරුදයේ වගකීමට නායකත්වය දුන් එතුමා විසින් බෞද්ධ විද්‍යාල අඛණ්ඩව පවත්වාගෙන යාමට හැකි වන ලෙස පදනම සකස් කළා. කොළඹ ආනන්දය, මහනුවර ධර්මරාජය හා තවත් විද්‍යාල රාශියක අඛණ්ඩ පැවැත්මට අවැසි වැඩපිළිවෙළක් සකස් කළා.

නිදහස් සටනට උරදුන් ජාතික සංගමයේ පළවෙනි සභාපතිවරයාත්, පරම විඥ්ඤානාර්ථ සංගමයේ පළවෙනි ක්‍රියාකාරී නායකයාත් එතුමායි.  එමගින් බෞද්ධ පාසල් විශාල ගණනක් ඇරඹුණා. ඒ කාලේ ගොඩනැගිලි තිබුණේ නැහැ. අපේ ගැමි නායකයෝ පරිත්‍යාග කළ තමන්ගේ ඉඩම්වල, කණු සිටවා සකස්කළ මඩුවල, පොල් අතු වහලයක් යට තමයි පාසල් ඇරඹුණේ. ඒ විදියට බෞද්ධ අධ්‍යාපනය ගොඩනගපු නිසා අපේ රට විශාල ඉදිරියකට පරිවර්තනය කළ හැකි ඥානවන්තයින් බිහිවුණා.  බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය පාලන කාලයේදී ඒ පරිවර්තනය කරන්නට එතුමා දුන් මග පෙන්වීම හා  කළ කැපවීම සුවිශේෂයි.
අදත් ඔප්පු නැති මිනිස්සු ඉන්නවා. ලංකාවේ පාර්ලිමේන්තු කීයක් මේ ප්‍රශ්නයට විසඳුමක් දුන්නේ නැද්ද. මේ මහා පරිත්‍යාගය නැමැති පුණ්‍ය කර්මය බොහෝ දෙනෙකුට තේරුම් ගන්න බැරි වුණා.  ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ගැමි ජනතා නායකයන් ඒ පරිත්‍යාග කළේ අනාගත රටේ නායකයන් ගොඩනැගීම වෙනුවෙන්. රටේ පැවැත්ම වෙනුවෙන් හා ශාසනයේ පැවැත්ම වෙනුවෙන්.
සිංහල භාෂාව,  සංස්කෘතික බස ඇතුළු භාෂා රාශියකට පුදුමාකාර නිපුණත්වයක් ඩී.බී ජයතිලක මැතිතුමාට තිබුණ බව අප අසා, කියවා තිබෙනවා. ඒ පිළිබදව අපේ ගෞරවය පුද කරනවා. ඉන්දිය ජනාධිපතිවරයෙකු වූ රාධා ක්‍රිෂ්ණන් මැතිතුමා විද්‍යාලංකාරයට පැමිණි අවස්ථාවේදී  යක්කඩුවේ පඤ්ඤාරාම නායක ස්වාමීන් වහන්සේ සමග සංස්කෘතික බසින් කතා කළ බව අපි අසා තිබෙනවා.  ඒ සදහා සවිය ලැබුනේ විද්‍යාලංකාරයෙන්. මේ සිද්ධිය විද්‍යාලංකාරයේ සදා නොමැකෙන සටහනක් ලෙස ලක් ඉතිහාසයේ වගේම ඉන්දියානු ඉතිහාසයේත් රාජ්‍ය පාලනය සම්බන්ධයෙන් ලියැවෙන්නක්. එවැනි තත්ත්වයකට රට ගොඩනගන්නට ඩී.බී ජයතිලක මැතිතුමා තුළ වූ නිර්මාණ ශක්තිය හා කැපවීම වගේම පරිත්‍යාගය අපි කෘතවේදීත්ව සිහිපත් කරනවා.
රුවන්වැලි මහා සෑය චෛත්‍ය රාජයා තැන්පත් කරන කොට, එය නිරාවරණය කරන්න සුදුසුකම ලැබුවේ ඩී.බී. ජයතිලක ශ්‍රීමතානන්. එදා රටේ රජු ලෙසයි ජනතාවත්, මහා සඟරුවනත් එතුමාට සැලකුවේ. අපේ රටේ පැවැත්ම සංස්කෘතිය හා රටේ අඛණ්ඩ පැවැත්මට අවශ්‍ය කොඳුනාරටිය වූ බෞද්ධ සංස්කෘතිය ආරක්ෂා කර සුරක්ෂිත කර දිය හැකි තේජාන්විත නායකත්වය එතුමා සතු වුණා.
රටේ අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා හැටියට මේ අවස්ථාවට එක්වුණ මම ඩී බී ජයතිලක ශ්‍රීමතානන්ගේ පිළිරුවට යළිත් හිස නමා ආචාර කරන්නේ ඔහුට මගේ ආදරණීය පියාණන් හා ඇති බැඳියාව  නිසයි. අපේ රටේ නිදහස තහවුරු කිරීම සඳහා රාජ්‍ය මන්ත්‍රණ සභාවේදී එතුමා කළ මග පෙන්වීම අදත් ගවේෂණය කළ යුතුයි. අපි ගවේෂණය කිරීම අත්නොහැරිය යුතුයි. ඩී.බී ජයතිලක මැතිතුමා පිළිබඳව කරන පර්යේෂණ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ අනන්‍යතාවය වගේම භාෂාවේ අනන්‍යතාවය, ආරක්ෂාව, දියුණුව හා අපේ රටේ පැවැත්ම පිළිබඳ තිබෙන සුවිශේෂ අවස්ථාවකට කෙරෙන ගවේෂණයක් බව පත්වෙනවා ඇති. මේ අවස්ථාවේ අමාත්‍ය මණ්ඩලය වෙනුවෙන් ඊට අවශ්‍ය කටයුතු කරගෙන යාමට සහයෝගය ලබාදෙන බව රජය වෙනුවෙන් පොරොන්දු වෙනවා. අපි සියලු දේ නැති වුණු ජාතියක් නොවෙයි. බඩගින්නේ හිටියත් අපේ භාෂාව අතහැරියේ නෑ. අපේ සංස්කෘතිය අතහැරියේ නෑ. අපේ භාෂාව සංස්කෘතිය අපේ ජාතියේ අනන්‍යතාවයයි. ඩි. බී ජයතිලක මැතිතුමා රටේ නිදහස් සටනේ වීරවරයෙක් හැටියට ඇති කළ ඒ අත්තිවාරම එලෙසම අපි ආරක්ෂා කරමු.

අද ලෝකයේ විවිධ ජාතීන් සමඟ අප එකමුතුව ජීවත් වෙනවා. ඒ ඩී.බී ජයතිලක රාජ්‍ය සම්බන්ධතා ශක්තිමත් කිරීම වෙනුවෙන් එදා පෙනි සිටීමින් කළ මග පෙන්වීම නිසයි.  ඒ උතුම් චරිතය අනුගමනය කිරීම හා අවබෝධයට ලක් කර ගැනීම සඳහා අඛණ්ඩව කටයුතු කරනවා.
හිටපු කතානායක කරූ ජයසූරිය, රාජ්‍ය අමාත්‍ය සිසිර ජයකොඩි, ප්‍රසන්න රණවීර, පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී හර්ෂන රාජකරුණා, යදාමිණී ගුණවර්ධන පිළිරුවට පුෂ්පෝපහාර දැක්වීය.
සබරගමුව විශ්ව විද්‍යාලයේ කුලපති   මහාචාර්ය කඹුරුගමුවේ වජිර හිමි,  පෑලියගොඩ විද්‍යාලංකාර පරිවේනාධිපති  වැලමිටියාවේ කීර්ති ශ්‍රී ඤාණරතන හිමි, මහා භාරකාර ගනේෂ් ධර්මවර්ධන, වෛද්‍ය හාරිත ජය තිලක ඇතුළු  ශ්‍රීමත් ඩී.බී ජයතිලක මහතාගේ පවුලේ ඥාතීන් පිරිසක් මෙම අවස්ථාවට සහභාගි වූහ.  

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මාධ්‍ය අංශය

By P.K.Balachandran/Daily News

President Wickremesinghe with Vivian Balakrishnan, Penny Wong and S.Jaishankar at Perth Indian Ocean conference

Colombo, February 13: In his speech at the seventh Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Perth, Australia on February 10, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe reiterated the plan to build a land bridge between Sri Lanka and India to boost trade and economic integration between the two countries.  

He had proposed a bridge across the Palk Strait when he was Prime Minister between 2002 and 2004 and named it the Hanuman Bridge”. Since then, Wickremesinghe has been advocating economic links between Sri Lanka and the South Indian States particularly, because these are not only nearer Sri Lanka but are growth centres in India.

He would highlight the fact that, collectively, the four South Indian States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have a GDP of US$ 500 billion. Sri Lanka could link up with these growing regional economies.

However, despite the favourable conclusion of a feasibility study on a land bridge in the early 2000s, the idea fell by the way side due to political opposition in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu.

When Wickremesinghe was on visit to India in Jul 2023, he again proposed a land connection between India and the ports of Colombo and Trincomalee. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed the idea and the two countries decided to conduct a feasibility study at an early date, the Vision Statement issued in New Delhi said.

Since then, there have been several indications that both countries are keen to go ahead with the project. Such a bridge will facilitate trade and people-to-people contact,” Wickremesinghe said at the Perth conference which was organized by the India Foundation in collaboration with India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Australian Government, with support from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, and the Perth-US Asia Centre.

Land connectivity will help India’s Southern States as well ports on India’s Eastern seaboard like Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata and Chennai. Ships from these ports now have to go around Sri Lanka to reach Colombo, the only major commercial port in Sri Lanka. But if a land link is established with a bridge across the Palk Strait, traders can use road/and rail transport which are cheaper and less time-consuming.  

In 2002-2004 Sri Lanka envisaged a four-lane highway with a parallel single rail track that was estimated to cost US$ 1 billion. The Sri Lanka Institution of Engineers and the Indian Institution of Engineers (Tamil Nadu Centre) prepared a Concept Paper which supported the plan. But as stated earlier, it did not get political support from both the Tamil Nadu and the Sri Lankan side.

In June 2015, the Indian Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari proposed building the 23 km bridge with ADB assistance of US$ 2.8 billion as part of the Asian highways project. But Wickremesinghe, who was Prime Minister then, was non-committal. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, a leftist politician, said that if the bridge was built the 60 million Tamils from Tamil Nadu would swamp Lanka.

However, Wickremesinghe now feels that the political climate in Sri Lanka is conducive for closer ties with India, given the significant role India has played in rescuing Sri Lanka from an economic abyss. Till now, no voices have been raised against the proposed ‘land link’.

Support of Experts

Wickremesinghe’s plan has the support from Lankan development experts Gayasha Samarakoon, Muttukrishna Sarvananthan and Prof. Rohan Samarajiva. Samarakoon and Sarvananthan said in a paper published by Routledge, that a land bridge would bring down the transport cost in India-Sri Lanka trade by 50%.

It will also save on time. According to them, the 23 km bridge could be traversed in less than an hour. And from the arrival point at Talaimannar, it would take another 7–8 hours to reach Colombo by road (roughly 367 km). The total travel time between India and Colombo would be 9 hours with a few more hours to accommodate Customs requirements.

They further said the waiting time for Customs clearance and other formalities could also be significantly reduced if the land route was used because the land route would involve only exports/imports to/from India, whereas the Colombo Harbour would be handling trade to and from all over the world.

Lower transport costs would bring down prices of goods in Sri Lanka. An uptick in trade would also create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The road link with Colombo and Trincomalee would also contribute to the economic development of backward provinces like the Northern Province, the North Central Province and the Eastern Province.

The business communities in the Northern and North Central Provinces have long complained about their inability to directly engage in international trade. Presently, businesspersons in the Northern and North Central Provinces can engage in export/ import trade only through exporters/importers in Colombo. The proposed bridge would boost direct international trade between the Northern, North-Central, and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka and India, particularly Southern India,” Samarakoon and Sarvananthan said.

Presently, only a small fraction of Indian tourists visits the Northern, North Central, and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka due to the long distance from Colombo, where the only international airport is located. The proposed bridge would boost tourist traffic to these marginalised provinces.

However, the successful realization of this grand vision necessitates concerted efforts to enhance the domestic road networks in Sri Lanka, the authors emphasised. There is a crying need to develop the coastal route from Talaimannar to Colombo through the Wilpattu wildlife sanctuary.

Writing in DailyFT, Rohan Samarajiva ,the founding Chair and CEO of LIRNEasia, an ICT policy and regulation think tank in Colombo, pointed out that Global Production Networks (GPNs) have become increasingly significant in world trade, encompassing developing as well as developed economies. The process of producing goods (and services), from raw materials to finished products is increasingly carried out wherever the necessary skills and materials are available at competitive cost and quality. Sri Lanka should join such networks through Indian hubs. Sri Lankan firms could join the auto agglomerate, electronic components or iPhone industry in Chennai.

Lower transport costs and the time factor that are associated with proximity are a strong influence especially for trade. The fact that this has not happened so far suggests that there may be merit in looking at ways to reduce transportation costs through a bridge connecting Talaimannar and Rameswaram, Samarajiva said.

However, a road link with India to tie up with industries in Tamil Nadu will require the development of the Northern and North Western provinces, he added.

If Sri Lanka is to fully realise the benefits of integration with automotive, electronic or other supply chains, it may be necessary to create export processing zones with good access to the bridge in the Northern and North Central Provinces. Such zones require access to pools of human resources and the amenities to support the workers and their families,” he said. All this will lead to the development of these areas. 

Traders’ Voice

Representatives of Indian companies who exhibited their products at the Jaffna International Trade Fair in January 2017 were unanimously of the view that for the development and trade and investment between India and the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, the construction of a road linking Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu with Thalaiamannar in North Sri Lanka is a must.

Having to land our goods at Colombo in the south, we take another eight hours to reach Jaffna in the far North. The long journey puts investors and traders off. It will help if we are able to go by road from Rameswaram to Thalaimannar across Palk Strait and thence to Jaffna,” explained Amandeep Azad of Azad Engineering Company based in Ghaziabad near Delhi.

The other advantage in having a direct road link with India is that it will eliminate the Colombo-based middle men. This will bring down prices in the Jaffna market,” Azad added.

According to Jaffna trade sources, more than 40% of the goods sold in the Jaffna market are from South India. These will be cheaper of there is a road link, they said.

END

උපුටා ගැන්ම ලංකා සී නිව්ස්

මෑතකදී ඉන්දියානු සංචාරයක ගිය රතු සහෝදරයන්ට රුපියල් කෝටි 300ක මුදලක් ලබා දී ඇති බවට තොරතුරු ලැබී ඇතැයි මිහින්තලා රාජමහා විහාරාධිපති පූජ්‍ය වලවා හැංගුන වැවේ ධම්මරතන හිමියෝ පවසති.

මැතිවරණයට වියදම් කිරීමට මෙම මුදල ලැබුනු බවට තොරතුරු තමන් වහන්සේට ලැබී ඇති බවද උන් වහන්සේ පැවසූහ.

මෙහි සත්‍ය අදහස් අසත්‍යතාවය රතු සහෝදරයන් විසින්ම හෙළි කළ යුතුව ඇතැයි ද එහිමියෝ කියා සිටියහ.

උත්සව සභාවක් අමතමින් උන්වහන්සේ මෙම අදහස් පළ කළහ

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

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It seems like President Ranil Wickremesinghe had already begun his campaign, defections among key figures in major political parties indicate that an election is likely in the offing

• Whether a General Election could be held with Rs. 250,000,000 remains doubtful, according to critics in the political scene
• NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that it is no secret that the incumbent President has delayed elections 

The Presidential and General elections are two much anticipated events in Sri Lanka’s political calendar this year (2024). The lack of funds to conduct an election has been one of the key factors that supposedly delayed the local government elections for four consecutive years. While it seems like President Ranil Wickremesinghe had already begun his campaign, defections among key figures in major political parties indicate that an election is likely in the offing. Speaking to the media after returning from his recent visit to India, NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that it is no secret that the incumbent President has delayed elections. He further said that a Presidential Election will be held this year and that the elections scheduled to be held in October will be a turning point for Sri Lanka’s political landscape.

Limited funds again?

However at a recent cabinet briefing Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said Rs. 10 billion had been allocated to conduct a Presidential and a General Election this year and allocations to conduct a provincial councils and a local government election will be provided from the 2025 Budget. 
But, the numbers speak otherwise. 

The cost of an election

In response to a Right to Information request filed to the Elections Commission to inquire about the expenditure to conduct an election, the Elections Commission revealed that a sum of Rs. 10 billion had been allocated to conduct ONE election in 2024. 
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Elections Commissioner Saman Ratnayake said that it is the Parliament that should be managing the country’s finances. We submitted this estimate in August 2023 and it was approved during the Budget reading held in November. A similar amount is required to conduct a General Election,” said Ratnayake. 

Contradictory statements?

When inquired about the figures, Gunawardena told the Daily Mirror that the government in fact has limited funds to conduct two elections in 2024. But we will definitely have the Presidential Elections this year. Perhaps with any remaining money we could conduct a General Election, but the Elections Commission will have to decide on it. In any case the Provincial Councils and Local Government elections will be held next year,” said Gunawardena. 
However, according to the estimate given, whether a General Election could be held with Rs. 250,000,000 remains doubtful, according to critics in the political scene. 

Govt. under scrutiny 

Even though possible dates were announced to conduct a Local Government Election in 2023, no such event saw the light of day. But with many party leaders launching their campaigns, it does seem like everybody is prepping for a heated election this year. Conducting free and fair elections as mandated by the Constitution is one key feature of a democratic society. 
The government has a tendency to consider elections as unimportant,” said Senior Political Scientist Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda. If the government says that it doesn’t have money to conduct an election it is an outright false claim. This could be a pretext to postpone elections. If any government says that it doesn’t have money to conduct constitutionally mandated elections, then those who are in power are playing with the people’s sovereignty. It is in fact a tragic development,” said Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda. 

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Courtesy Adaderana

State Minister of Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan has announced plans to offer multiple degrees through state universities, in a bid to enhance the educational landscape in Sri Lanka. 

Drawing from insights of international education experts, Dr. Raghavan explained that plans are also afoot to establish three international universities within Sri Lanka, adding that that two of these universities are currently in the establishment phase, with the third scheduled to commence operations by May of this year.

Notably, the Indian Institute of Technology is to be opened in Kandy, while the other two universities will have branches affiliated with the United States and the United Kingdom, with anticipated memorandum of understanding signings, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.

The State Minister made these remarks at a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Center today (14 Feb.) under the theme of Collective Path to a Stable Country”.

Meanwhile, discussions are also underway to establish the new Higher Education Development Commission, integrating findings from the Wijedasa Rajapaksa Committee and the Committee Report of the University Grants Commission. Former Chief Justice K. Sri Pawan has been appointed to chair this committee, with a focus on deliberating the relevant legal framework and presenting the draft to Parliament.

Discussions are also underway to provide multiple degrees in the state universities, the State Minister said, adding that the Australian Higher Education Minister has been invited to Sri Lanka through the Australian Embassy. With him, the chancellors of Melbourne, Sydney University and 10 other universities are going to come to Sri Lanka, and are expected to discuss the next steps to be taken after observing our educational situation.

Lastly, while emphasising the need to regulate the private higher education sector, Dr. Raghavan assured that there are no preparations for commercializing education.

State Minister of Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan said that after the observation of experts with international experience in education, they have focused on providing multiple degrees through state universities. Regulation of the private higher education sector is deemed necessary. However, it’s important to clarify that there are no intentions to commercialize education, the PMD said.

Chanaka Bandarage, International Lawyer (chanakab@hotmail.com)

No one would disagree that Hong Kong rode to its prosperity on the back of China (after the Chinese Revolution, Hong Kong underwent a rapid and successful process of industrialization, from the late 1940s, and became a rich ‘state’).

After the liberalisation of China’s trade (Chairman Deng’s Open Door Policy’ in the late 1970s), Hong Kong grabbed the opportunity and increased its trade with China by tenfold.  Within few years, the tiny Hong Kong’s exports to China surpassed its imports from China.

When it comes to India, Sri Lanka is today placed in a similar position as that of Hong Kong.

India is a significant global player and it is estimated that economically it could  surpass China (given China’s fast ageing population and the gender imbalance), and India has the ability to become the world’s 2^nd biggest economy (after the US).

Unlike how Hong Kong prospered thanks to China (Hong Kong is located in very close proximity to China); Sri Lanka (located in very close proximity to India), has thus far been unable to grab the opportunity and capitalise on India’s growth.

India had somewhat closer to a double digit GDP growth in the past 15 years, but, as stated before, Sri Lanka failed to capitalise on this.

In the past twenty years Sri Lanka ‘put all its eggs only in the China basket’.  After the war, under M Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka sadly developed a relationship of mistrust and annoyance with India (true, Thamilnadu created the problem over the fake Chanel 4 videos, but, Sri Lanka diplomatically failed to secure New Delhi’s support).

Sri Lanka failed to realise that it cannot rise to prosperity solely on the back of China, but, it could comfortably do so on the back of India.

Indeed, China is an excellent friend for Sri Lanka. This has been the case historically. Sri Lanka should be ever grateful for China’s help afforded to Sri Lanka during many difficult times. It is China who gave us rice when the country was almost ‘starving’ without rice in 1962.

In 1952 we signed the China – Ceylon Rice Rubber Pact. This was very much in favour of Sri Lanka.

But, China is too far away from Sri Lanka and it is very different from Sri Lanka.  On the other hand, Sri Lanka and India are very similar when it comes to many things such as culture, food, attire, language (English is well spoken in both countries; also, Sinhala (a Sanskrit) and Tamil, an Indian language), sports (cricket), religion (Buddhism/Hinduism), values, traditions and physical characteristics of the people.  The fact that Sri Lanka’s first King (Prince Vijaya) was an Indian (from Bengal) and that Sri Lanka’s third King, Panduwasdewa, was married to a blood relative of Lord Buddha (Princess Bhaddha Kachchayana of the ‘Shakya Wangsha’), are notable and significant features of the relationship.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka and India are separated only by a short stretch of the sea and apart from few/minor recent calamities/conflicts, excellent, brotherly relations have existed between the two nations from time immemorial (of course, there had been serious animosities between Sri Lanka and South India in the olden age – Chola, Pandya, Magha, Elara invasions). 

Northern India has never invaded Sri Lanka in a war like manner.  Sri Lanka’s Anagarika Dharmapala was a person who recently brought the two countries closer.  Another was Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardane, Amaradeva, Jacqueline Fernandez, Yohani De Silva  have also contributed to the current excellent relationship between the two nations.

In the past two decades, India’s exports to Sri Lanka almost trebled or quadrupled.  Sri Lanka failed to keep pace with the growth of its exports to India.

The recent Sri Lankan governments (in the past 25 years), rather than building a manufacturing and productivity-based economy, focused on a service-based economy (it was the ‘easy way out’).  Thus, such unproductive and non-manufacturing ventures like communication centres, beauty palours, trishaw taxis, illegal importation and distribution of dangerous drugs (with the governments’ blessing) such as heroin, cocaine, ice and ecstasy, betting centres, lottery sales centres, small-scale casinos, massage/sex parlours in the guise of Ayurveda centres, private tuition centres (even Sinhala, Buddhism and History are taught for school children therein, and Tamil/Hinduism are taught for Tamil school children), variety of international schools and tourism based ventures like hotels/motels – they are good, mushroomed the country.

These ventures became the hallmark of the country’s economy. They created jobs, but generated less GDP.

Through this useless economy, the country only generated Sri Lankan rupees; there was hardly any US dollars or other currency.

Foolish governments by trying to reduce the country’s unemployment, gave public sector jobs to thousands of people; that was also not based on merit – to those who supported them during elections. Hence, a very corrupt/lethargic public service has emerged. Public servants received two Rs 10,000 a month salary increments within a short spell of time, but their productivity did not improve. Very seldom that a telephone call to a government office is properly/politely answered.

In the middle of a serious economic crisis Gota gave new public service jobs to over a lakh of people. He unnecessarily reduced the VAT significantly.

The governments believe that by increasing public sector wages the cost of living will come down. They seem less concerned about the plight of the private sector employees, the self-employed and the unemployed.

The governments not knowing how to create employment for the citizens (both skilled and unskilled workers) encourage them to leave the country in search of greener pastures.  Lots of our women ended up working as domestic maids in Middle Eastern countries (we know stories where some of them have been treated like slaves). Lots of youth were dspatched to South Korea, Japan, Israel etc. This was in order to develop those countries at our expense.

There is a huge scarcity of qualified tradespeople here – masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, electronic technicians, welders, IT workers,  hairdressers, chefs, medial/laboratory technicians, radiologists, pharmacists, nurses, agriculturalists etc. The governments have absolutely no solution to address this problem.

We have 17 or more state universities now (most of them produce BA, Business Administration/Management Studies graduates),  They all seek professional, white collar jobs. Then, a considerable number of private universities.

The country only has a handful of good, high standard technical colleges. They produce few  technologists/technicians a year. As soon as these diploma/certificate holders are passed out, they leave for overseas.

The current government wants to set up further 4 or 5 universities.  It has invited the private sector to set up universities also. SLIT has been promised the newly built (by public funds), modern Presidential House in KKS to set up a private university there.

What about the urgent need of establishing new technical colleges for the country?

Governments have been unconcerned in paying attention to the adverse socio, cultural and psychological effects of the family members that were left in the country owing to the mass temporary migration of workers.  Drastic stories have been heard about the plight of the children and elderly who had been left behind in Sri Lanka by those workers.

Governments like the idea of its citizens leaving shores as their remittance become the biggest source of revenue for them.  In the last 45 years, the rulers plundered and mismanaged the public wealth from left, right and the centre.

Why did the Central Bank in January 2022 settle a debt of US$500 to a group of mysterious sovereign bond holders when the country was facing imminent bankruptcy? Who were those beneficiaries?

Especially in the past 20 years the governments borrowed unbelievably heavily.  The injection of some of such monies to the economy (ie, the unplundered money) created somewhat an artificial growth in the GDP (of 6%).

But, today, Sri Lanka is a hugely debt-ridden country and is also bankrupt. Our foreign debt alone has exceeded US$90 billion (?), which is far too high for a country of our size.  The country owes money to other sources too, including local banks and various employee trust funds. We have failed to successfully negotiate with lenders on the settlement of outstanding loans.

When will the Volcano erupt?

Unlike in the 1960s and 70s, where governments helped to build a strong manufacturing/productivity base economy, in the last 35+ years, large numbers of small factories, textile mills and small businesses were compelled to be closed down.  Local businesses were unable to compete with the influx of cheap Chinese, Taiwanese and Indian exports to the country.  Unlike few third world countries in the past 20 years, Sri Lanka failed to become a newly developed country.

Corruption, mismanagement, maladministration, incompetency, stupidity, lethargy, complacency, waste, nepotism, cronyism,  30-years of civil war, attacks on innocent Muslims, the Easter Sunday attack,  Corona and the failed Gota regime are some of the reasons for us to become a failed state.

Today we basically import everything – from needle to the motor car.

The government boasts that we will become self-sufficient in rice this year. If this is true, full kudos to the government – a remarkable achievement.  There was a very low rice harvest in 2022, owing to lack of fertilizer.

We must build a strong productivity/manufacturing base. Sadly, the country is producing very few things. During the past 45 years we almost destroyed everything what we built after the independence – during the 50s to 70s.

There is a lot of potential in Sri Lanka to build, rebuild and improve, and to ‘take off’ to become the ‘Hong Kong of India’. The biggest asset we have is our workforce.

Basically Sri Lanka today has very few items available to export to India (or to any other country); except things like fish harvested from the sea, some agricultural/horticultural products, readymade garments, and a few value-added items imported from other countries for the sole purpose of re-export. 

The irony is that this is a country that once produced fine electrical and electronic items, textile, furniture, handicraft, confectionary, tyres, bicycles, batteries, razor blades, perfumes and even motor cars.

The land master tractor was our invention (by Mr Ray Wijewardane), but, Japan has taken the credit for it.

The total bilateral trade between India and Sri Lanka is earmarked to reach $10 billion in the near future; the trade balance will continue to be very much in India’s favour, say in the range of 8:2.

Since of late, India has been pressurising Sri Lanka to sign a new trade agreement with them in addition to the current ISFTA (India – Sri Lanka Economic and Trade Engagement) signed in 1998. They want something similar to the failed CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) of 2014. 

No doubt that such a new agreement would provide Sri Lanka preferential access to the very large Indian market, but it was feared that due to the old (discarded) CEPA, the country would be flooded with cheap Indian exports.  False alarms were raised that even Indian hairdressers, cobblers and lawyers would land here in droves.

True, we have to be very careful. A bad agreement could destroy the remaining, very small production/manufacturing economy that we have. 

The writer does not say that Sri Lanka should flatly say ‘No’ to a new CEPA; he states Sri Lanka should use the new CEPA as a bargaining tool to obtain more favourable trade advantages from India – we should try to improve the current  ISFTA to our utmost advantage.  

Two examples:

1. We can demand that we should be given export access to the entire Indian market, with zero tariffs.

If we are successful, this means the ability to cater to 1.3 billion people! 

If this could be achieved (a difficult task, but a possibility), it will be a goldmine opportunity for us.

In that case, Sri Lanka should sign the new CEPA type trade agreement with India.

Again, it should be well scrutinized by our legal luminaries (we rarely do proper due diligence before signing international trade agreements).

2. Sri Lanka should seriously ask India to stop poaching on our waters. This causes at least US$1 billion loss to us per year (this could be a pre-condition to signing the new CEPA type agreement).

Prior to signing any new trade agreement with any country, Sri Lanka should ensure adequate measures to protect our local industries from the possible massive scale intrusion especially by giants like India, China, Russia and the US.

Only an intelligent and a tactful Sri Lankan leadership could achieve best outcomes for Sri Lanka. If their minds are filled with bribery, corruption. jealousy, vengeance, deception, power hungriness, stupidity etc, we will not achieve anything.

It will be the innocent public who will pay the ultimate price for the huge misdeeds and blunders of the politicians and bureaucrats.

If Sri Lanka foolishly enters into trade agreements, international contracts etc with overseas countries/companies (including that of India), without obtaining competent legal counsel (some of the past foolish examples are the Hedging deal, Air Lanka agreement, Cairns oil contract, Shell gas deal, IOC deal, Kerawalapitiya liquid gas deal, New Diamond/ X-Press Pearl deals, Adani deals, Chinese fertilizer deal (the list is endless), the country will doom.

The lawyers that the country would engage apart from being fully qualified, must be 100% patriotic. Foreigners may not work in the best interests of Sri Lanka. True, some have provided yeoman services.

The few examples cited above brought forth billions of dollars of losses to Sri Lanka.

Now that the Sri Lankan government has a fairly good relationship with India, the JVP leaders’ successful visit there, and Mr Modi extending a true hand of friendship to Sri Lanka, if wise and intelligent, we should grab the opportunity and try to become the ‘Hong Kong of India’ (note the remarkable turnaround in the relationship between the two nations – in 2013 India even boycotted CHOGM held in Sri Lanka; the year prior to that they co-sponsored (with the US) a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in Geneva).

If Sri Lanka (a chronic third world country) wants to become rich  capitalising on India’s massive economic growth (the Indian middle class alone is more than 350 million, by 2030, this number is likely to increase to 500 million); before signing the new CEPA type or any agreement, we must evaluate what goods and services we will be able to produce/provide for the Indian market. 

For example, if properly planned, Sri Lanka can be a large-scale food and agro business supplier for India (notably, things like tea, spices, fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers, betel leaves, arecanuts.  

True India is the world’s largest tea producer, but, there is a scarcity of tea in India, and there is the tremendous potential to introduce ‘Ceylon Tea’ (the world’s finest) in India, in a big scale.

If Sri Lanka is to sign a new CEPA type trade agreement with India, we should ask as a precondition that India should assist Sri Lanka in every way to become the logistic hub to various production chains in India.  Few industry examples that come to mind are automobile, IT components, manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, electrical machinery and parts and food processing products.

In this regard, the Sri Lankan government must work hard in creating opportunities for Sri Lankan companies, without favouratism and involvement in corruption. 

Creating new economic zones solely for the purpose of manufacturing products for India is a good idea.  Since land is in scarcity here and Sri Lanka is closely located to India, such economic zones can be established (with Indian aid) in the North, South and East of Sri Lanka (for example, in Kilinochchi, Puttalam, Biyagama, KKS and Trincomalee). Sri Lankans must be given the foremost priority to work in these ventures.

It should be stated that even without signing a new CEPA type agreement, we should still be able to become the ‘Hong Kong of India’.

India has spent money on Sri Lanka’s Railway projects, massive scale housing developments in the North and the Centre, it is a pity that we stated ‘No’ to the Sampur Coal Power plant project. India has offered billions of dollars as lines of credit to Sri Lanka, especially when we were in very dire strait. India has also offered us very fair  currency swap arrangements, these are now in in place.

Sri Lanka should accept India (and other countries’) gifts with gratitude. But, we cannot go round the world with a begging bowl forever. This bad mentality was introduced by Ronnie De Mel.

What is most important is India’s private sector involvement in Sri Lanka. There are Indian companies ready to invest millions of dollars in Sri Lanka including in the tourism sector.

India is Sri Lanka’s largest source of foreign tourists.

Rather than working on securing foreign investment, our governments are keen on selling off our valuable assets to foreign companies. That has also been to paltry amounts. This shows the foolishness of our leaders.

It is rumored that India’s Amul will only pay US$ 35 to purchase Milco (about 5 milk factories and hundreds of milk chilling centres + almost the whole of NLDB Farms).

Some say it will be a lease out; the writer is unaware of the intricacies.  

In any case, US$35 is too small. Amul should pay us about 20 times more.

Leasing out assets to foreign companies is different than selling.

Leasing may be ok, but not on too long-term leases like for 99 years.

Even on leases, we should not be afraid to demand good money. There are always other interested parties.

The amount we received from China (US$ 1 Billion) for leasing out the Hambanthota port for 99 years is too little. We should have demanded US$6. China would have still paid.

Rather than selling our precious assets, what the governments must do is to secure foreign capital. This means facilitating foreign companies to start their own businesses here or for them to enter into joint ventures with local companies.

This is how Unilever, Whitalls, Browns, Carsons, Ceylon Tobacco, Rowlands, Hayleys, Walkers, Walker & Greig, JL Morison Son & Jones, Mackwoods, BCC, United Motors, George Steuart, Bata (the list is very long) established here in the 40s and  50s. They brought in foreign capital here (US$, Pound Sterlings etc). The country never sold its assets to them, perhaps provided them with land to set up factories/offices.

Those who oppose foreign investments at any cost must realise that in order to develop our country we must attract foreign capital. This rationale applies to any country in the world (especially the 3^rd world).

Without foreign funds (eg US$, Aus$, CNY, INR), we will not go anywhere. We will be in eternal poverty – say, for the next 100 years.

It is refreshing that the JVP has realilsed this.

Let’s hope that the Peratugamis will too realise.

It is not sensible for Sri Lanka to say ‘Yes’ to the rail and road link that India wants to build at its own cost over the Palk Strait from Dhanushkodi to Talaimannar. Naturally, due to Thamilnadu hostility, people in Sri Lanka have a strong reservation about this proposed mega-project; despite the fact that it could bring huge and unprecedented level of economic benefits to Sri Lanka, including a tenfold increase in tourist numbers, especially thousands of new European/Australian, NZ and US tourists that will travel from India to Sri Lanka by rail or road (overland). Sri Lanka having fought a bitter civil war where India offered support to the terrorists in the 80s, people are fearful that a rail/road bridge will be harmful to Sri Lanka. Above everything else, our Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity and National Security are important. 

PS

I am aware that this article will be subject to criticism.

I am not at all suggesting that Sri Lanka should become a satellite state of India. What I outline is purely an economic arrangement – supplying goods and services to the huge Indian market of 1.3 billion people. This is creating a Win/Win situation for both countries, the benefits to Sri Lanka will be huge.

We cannot continue to live in 3rd world conditions, especially now we are under bankruptcy.

It is time that we become a rich nation. This can be achieved soon, within our own lifetime.

This Indian opportunity that I am proposing is the best available one at the moment.

It is a shortcut to prosperity.

I believe all 3 major political parties – SJB, JVP, UNP think in this line.

If we miss the ‘bus’ (again), there may be no other bus to catch. Either Nepal or Bangladesh can become the ‘Hong Kong of India’; so. again, we should not let this golden opportunities go by.

We have to do this in friendship and co-operation with India (that is how Hong Kong did it with China, especially during China’s ‘Open Policy’ period). And now is the best time to do it. India is ready, why aren’t we?

Our  President should visit India more often, so should Sajith. The JVP visit was very good, it was a groundbreaking visit.

Emphasis added – I am not proposing that Sri Lanka should stop trading with other nations like China, Russia, US, Japan etc. We should trade with the whole world. I am stating it is only for India that we can become a hub to export goods and services. There is no other country available (proximity is the key).

One can say hundreds of negative things about India, but, they will not take us anywhere. India today is vastly different to what it was 35 years ago.

තිස්ස ගුණතිලක

මාගේ මිතුරන්ද ඇතුඵව බොහෝ දෙනෙකු නගන ප්‍රශ්ණයක් නම් මෙතරම් වීරියක්, උත්සාහයක් ගෙන නිවන් දකින්නේ කුමටද?  එහි පලය කුමක්ද? අප වැනි වයෝවෘධ බොහෝ දෙනෙක් ජීවත් වන සුළු කාලයකට මෙතරම් වීරියක් වඩා ලබන නිවනේ පලය කුමක්ද? එහි ඇති සුවය කුමක්ද? ජීවිතයේ ඉතිරි ටිකත් මෙහෙමම යමුයි සිත සකස්කරගත් කීදෙනෙක් අපට හමුවී ඇතිද? මෙවැනි විචිකිච්චාවක සිරවී, ප්‍රශ්ණ නගන බොහෝ දෙනා නිවන් සුවය කුමක් දැයි නොදැන නිවන අවතක්සේරුවකට භාජනය කර ඇති සැටියක් පෙනේ. 

ඇත්තටම නිවන යනු කුමක්ද? එහි ඇති ප්‍රතිලාභය කුමක්ද? මෙම ලිපියේ අරමුණ මෙම කරුණ සාකච්චා කිරීමයි, පහදා දීමයි.

ධර්මය සොයන තවත් පිරිසක් නැවත ඉපදීමක් ඇති නොවන රිසියෙන් නිවන සොයයි. මෙයද දෘෂ්ඨියකි. බුදුන්වහන්සේ දේශනා කලේ අනාත්ම දහමකි. එනම් කෙනෙක්, මමෙක් නැති, කිසිවක් කරන්නෙක් හමුනොවන දහමකි. අනුරාධ සූත්‍ර දේශනාවේ බූදුන්වහන්සේ පෙන්වා දෙන්නේ ‘දැනුත් කෙනෙක් නැති (නොපවතින) විට සම්මත මරණයෙන් පසුව උපදින්නේ කවුද?’ මේ නිසා ඉහත සඳහන්‍ නිවන කුමකටද යන පැනයට පිලිතුර පෙර-පසු භව නැති (නැවත ඉපදීමක් නැති) පිලිගැනීමක්, සංදර්භයක් තුල සෙවීය යුතුය.

තවද එක්තරා පිරිසක් ඹවුන් දැනුදු ‘දුකක්’ නොවිඳිනා,  නොදැනෙනා බැවින්, නිවන් දැකීමෙන් නැතිවන දුකක් ගැන එතරම් තැකීමක් නොකරයි. ඹවුන්ගේ දැනුමට අනුව සියළු දෙනාම (රහතන්වහන්සේද ඇතුළුව) වේදනාවට, ව්‍යාධියට හා මරණයට පත්වෙයි. නිවන තුල මෙම අවස්තාවන්ට හා තත්වයන්ට විසදුමක් නැතිබව ඹවුන්ගේ පිලිගැනීමයි. ඒ නිසා නිවන කුමටද? ඉතිරි ටිකත් ඔහොමම යමු යන ආකල්පය තුල බොහෝ දෙනෙක් සිරවී සිටියි.

ස්වභාව ධර්මය හා එහි නිර්නායක – Nature and governing principles

පලමුවෙන්ම මේ මුළු ලෝකයේම නැතහොත් විශ්වයේම පවතින්නේ ස්වභාවධර්මය (nature) පමනක් බවත්, ඹබ දකින අසන දැනෙන (දිට්ඨ සුත මුත) සියළුම දේ එම ස්වභාවධර්මය (nature) නොවන බවත් දත යුතුය. ඹබ දකින අසන දැනෙන සියල්ලම ඒ ආකාරායෙන්ම ස්වභාවධර්මය (nature) තුල නොපවතියි.

බුදුන්වහන්සේ දේශනා කල ‘තිලක්ෂණයේ’ අර්ථ දැක්වීමට (definition) හා නියාමන පහකට (five principles of governance) අනුකූලව ස්වභාවධර්මය (nature) පවතියි. ඉර-හඳ යට පවතින සියළුම දේ (සංකාරා) මෙම තිලක්ෂණයට හා නියාමන පහට යටත්ය. මෙයින් පිට ස්වභාවධර්මයක්‍ නොපවතියි.

ස්වභාවධර්මයේ ස්වභාවය (definition)

ස්වභාවධර්මයේ ස්වභාවය එනම් තිලක්ෂණය, ධර්මයේ එන අනෙකුත් සෑම කරුනක් මෙන්ම, ධර්මයට ගලපා, තිපරිවට්ටයට බහා තේරුම්ගත යුතුය. එනම් තිලක්ෂණය පලමුව දැනුමක් (සත්‍ය ඤාණය – ජානතෝ) ලෙසත්, දෙවනුව අවබෝධයක් ලෙසත් (කෘත ඤාණය – පස්සතෝ) හා තෙවනුව ප්‍රත්‍යක්ෂයක් (කෘත්‍ය ඤාණය) ලෙසත් ග්‍රහනය කරගත යුතුවෙයි. 

තිලක්ෂණය ප්‍රත්‍යක්ෂයක් වන තැනම නිවන හමුවෙයි.

1. සබ්බේ සංකාරා අනිච්චාති ….  ~ ස්වභාවධර්මය තුල එනම් ඉර-හඳ යට පවතින සියළුම දේ (සංකාරා – සංකාර නොවේ) ගින්නක් (නන්දියක්) එනම් ඇලීමක් ගැටීමක් (රාග ද්වේශ සහගත තත්වයක්) ඇති නොවන (තෘෂ්ණාවක් ඇති නොවන) ස්වභාවයෙන් පවතියි. ස්වභාවධර්ම තුල පවතින කිසිවක් නන්දිරාග සහගත තෘෂ්ණාවක් ඇති නොකරයි.   මේ නිසා ස්වභාවධර්මය තුල පවතින සියල්ලම ‘අනාත්මීය‘  (අනිච්ච) ස්වභාවයක පවතින්නේ යයි කියමු. (please note: අනිච්ච යනු අනිත්‍ය නොවේ. අනිච්ච යනු අනිත්‍ය ලෙස ගතහොත් ‘ධර්මය – දෙයක් යමක් කෙනෙක් නැති අනාත්මීය ස්වභාවය’ හා ගැලපීමක් නැත). ස්වභාවධර්මය තුල අනාත්මීයව පවතින දේ නන්දිරාග සහගත (ගින්නක් ඇති) ආත්මීය ස්වභාවයකට පෙරලන්නේ විඤ්ඤාණ මායාවයි. තෘෂ්ණාවක් ඇතිකර ස්වභාවධර්මය තුල අනාත්මීයව පවතින සියල්ලම ‘දෙයක් යමක් කෙනෙක්’ බවට පෙරලන්නේත් ඒ නිසාම භවය සකස්කරමින් ‘මම’ ඇතිකරමින් සත්වයා දුකට පත්කරන්නේත් විඤ්ඤාණ මායාවයි. (ධම්මචක්කපවත්තන සූත්‍රය – සමුදය සත්‍යය පැහැදිලි කරන්නේ මෙම ක්‍රියාවලියයි: යායං තණ්හා පොනොබ්භවිකා නන්දිරාගසහගතා තත්‍රතත්‍රාභිනන්දිනී,).

2. සබ්බෙ සඞ්ඛාරා දුක්ඛා’ති……. මෙහි දුක්ඛ යනු දෙයක් යමක් කෙනෙක් නැති අනාත්මීය, අනිච්ච ස්වභාවය තුල පවතින ‘හිස් බවයි’.  ඉර-හඳ යට පවතින සියල්ලම රාග ද්වේශ ඇති නොකරන ආලීමක් හෝ ගැටීමක් ඇති නොවන ගින්නක් ඇති නොවන ස්වාභාවය බුදුන්වහන්සේ හැදින්වූයේ ‘හිස්බව නැතහොත් ශුණ්‍යතාවය’ ලෙසය.

3. සබ්බෙ ධම්මා අනත්තා’ති,…… ස්වභාවධර්මය තුල පවතින සියල්ලම ධර්මතාවයන්වන අතර ඒවා කරන්නෙක් නැති ස්වභාවයක් තුල ක්‍රියාත්මකයි.

බුදුන්වහන්සේ ඉහත තිලක්ෂණයෙන් පැහැදිලි කලේ (defined) ස්වභාවධර්මයේ (nature) යථා ස්වාභාවයයි.

විඤ්ඤාණ මායාව යනු ස්කන්ධය සංකාර වීම තුල ඇතිවන පටිච්චසමුප්පාද ක්‍රියාවලියයි නැතහොත් රැවටීමයි. භාහිරයේ පවතින සියළුම දේ ගින්නක් ඇති ස්වභාවයකට පෙරලන්නේ මෙම ක්‍රියාවලියයි. පටිච්චසමුප්පාද ක්‍රියාවලිය හරහා භාහිර ස්වභාවධර්මය තුල පවතින දෑ සංකාරවී ගින්නක් ඇතිකරන ස්වභාවයකට පත්වන බැවින් විඤ්ඤාණ මායාව තුල සකස්‍වන ලෝකය (මගේ ලෝකය) ‘සංඛත’ ලෝකයක් යයි කියමු. තවද ස්වභාවධර්මය තුල අනාත්මීයව පවතින ලෝකය මේ නිසා ‘අසංඛත’ ලෝකය (යතාර්ථය) යයි කියමු. නිවන ‘අසංඛත’ යයි අපි අසා ඇත්තෙමු. එසේනම් නිවන යනු අසංඛතවූ, අනාත්මීයවූ ස්වභාවධර්මය මැයි. නිවන් දැකීම යනු අනාත්මීයවූ ස්වභාවධර්මය ඇති සැටියටම දැකීමයි. තවද නිවනට පැමිනීම යනු (අනාත්මීය) ස්වභාවධර්මය හා බද්ධ වීමයි නැතහොත් (ඔබ) ස්වභාවධර්මයම වීමයි, ස්වභාවධර්ම ගතවීම නිවනයි.

දැන් ඔබට නිවන යනු කුමක්දැයිද, කුමන තත්වයක් දැයි වැටහී ඇතැයි සිතමි. මෙම දැනුම තුල දැන් අපට ‘නිවන කුමටද?’ යන පැනයට පිලිතුරත් නිවනේ ප්‍ර‍තිලාභත් ඊලඟ ලිපියෙන් සාකච්චා කල හැකියි.

ඔබට තෙරුවන් සරණයි

තිස්ස ගුණතිලක

eMail:  tgunite@tpg.com.au 2024 පෙබරවාරි මස 14 වනදා

Dilrook Kannangara

Despite years of economic downturn, Sri Lanka is 77% more developed than India economically as can be seen from the two countries’ nominal GDP per capita. India is a large world economy only due to the sheer size of its poor population. For instance, a family of 15 in Bangladesh would have a larger rice pot than a family of 4 in Japan. But that does not mean Bangladesh is more developed than Japan. When individual portion sizes are compared a Bangladeshi would only have a fraction of what a Japanese individual would have. Mixing up these two is unwise. Any closer economic tie-up with India will lead to comparatively richer Sri Lanka losing economic resources and opportunities to comparatively poorer India.

Sri Lanka’s exports to India is around $1 billion but Indian exports to Sri Lanka is over 4 times that! In other words, although Sri Lanka has an economic opportunity for India to exploit, the converse is not true (India is no economic opportunity for Sri Lanka). In fact, India is an economic burden as Sri Lankan industries, professionals and services will be out-bidden by cheap and desperate Indian companies, professionals and service providers. The very large (77%) GDP per capita gap is the reason.

Indian tourists are the largest Sri Lanka gets but this is misleading. Most Indians arriving in Sri Lanka are not genuine tourists. Most come to Sri Lanka to work, trade, earn and repatriate their local earnings converted to US dollars back to India. This is a bane on the island nation’s dollar reserves. Some other Indian travelers take out gold and gem stones illegally from Sri Lanka which is also a huge drain on Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves. This is well known. Passenger terminals for outbound Indian passengers are thoroughly checked for smuggled gold. With ferry service between the two nations starting soon, the amount of gold and gem stones smuggled out of Sri Lanka will increase which will worsen Sri Lanka’s foreign currency crisis, debt crisis and economic crisis.

Indian investments in Sri Lanka have not added any value to the Sri Lankan economy. Instead, Indian investments have reduced value of local industries. A case in point is the Indian Oil Company. Instead of investing in a local refinery, IOC operates profitable fuel distribution which is also done by locals. We don’t need Indian investments to open up petrol sheds and transport systems. All profit, management charges, purchase price margins, senior management salaries are repatriated to India. Sri Lanka loses it in dollars. Indian investments are not needed in dairy industry. India produces a large quantity of milk due to its near-slavery labour conditions backed by caste discrimination (very low salaries), vast grasslands (Sri Lanka has a higher population density than India and lower shanty dwellers as a percentage) and the large Indian local market. Sri Lanka has none of these economies of scale and Sri Lanka needs the New Zealand model (not their cows) for dairy industry. By allowing Indian milk companies to invest in Sri Lanka, the island nation will lose large swaths of productive land to Indians, lose the dairy industry to Indians and will never produce sufficient quantities of milk for locals.

Despite opening its economy in 1977 Sri Lanka did not sign a genuine Free Trade Agreement with India until 1998 when it was imposed on the island nation. That marked the beginning of economic downturn. In 2001 Sri Lanka recorded a negative economic growth rate after rapid decline in economic growth rate since 1998. Trade between the two countries peaked in the late 2010s leading to rapid economic collapse of the Sri Lankan economy.

Conversely, Sri Lankan economy did very well when it shunned India and these golden years include 1977 to 1997 despite the war (India sponsored anti-Sri Lanka Tamil terrorists) and an insurrection.

The Indian Decade” was from 2010 to 2019 when the Indian economic growth rate was the highest in the world. However, since then it has fallen and India is desperately looking to export its poverty, unemployment (especially skilled unemployment), environmentally disastrous industries, exploitative labour practices and other nasties. All regional countries have rejected India for this reason (Maldives is the latest)! Sri Lanka is digging its own grave by cultivating closer economic ties with India.

The large Indian market is useless for Sri Lanka as Indians can source almost everything they need from Sri Lanka from within India and through smuggling.

Hoping India would help Sri Lanka develop its IT sector is rather foolish. India will never do it as the IT sector is the highest dollar earning sector of India. Instead, India will guard it as desperately as possible and destroy Sri Lankan IT companies to avoid competition. Any Indian IT work that will be outsourced to Sri Lanka will be fraud (call) centres and counterfeit centres. Indian fraud call centres and counterfeit centres are responsible for most scams in the developed world and India is under pressure to discontinue it. But the total industry is worth $200 billion a year and India will not abandon the hen that lays golden eggs. Instead, India will pass these to Sri Lanka! Ultimately Sri Lanka will be censured for fraud while India earns all the dollars.

Nothing good ever came or will ever come from India to Sri Lanka. (For the record the Asokan Empire was not India as it excluded Tamil Nadu which was conducive for antient Lankans to embrace it. Humans originated in Africa and not India.)

Closer economic, political, geopolitical and social ties with India are political gimmicks played by local bankrupt politicians to appease India at the expense of the Sri Lankan national economy. Such closer ties with India bring only economic destruction, poverty and hopelessness.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Feb 13 (Daily Mirror) – The President’s Media Division (PMD) confirmed that the Presidential Election will be held within the mandated period and will adhere to the current timeline.

According to the PMD, the General Election is will be held next year with financial provisions to be provided for in the 2025 budget.

The Election Commission is responsible for conducting the elections and the Government will communicate with the Commission as and when required, the PMD further said.

Courtesy Adaderana

A new project was launched in Sri Lanka to bolster its anti-corruption ecosystem, in tandem with the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The new project will work towards strengthening the anti-corruption ecosystem in Sri Lanka, through time-bound national policy reform, inter-stakeholder collaboration, and enhanced institutional capacity to deliver a necessary roadmap for the country to emerge from fragility towards a resilient economy and a trusted democracy.

Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Hideaki Mizukoshi and Resident Representative of UNDP Sri Lanka, Ms. Azusa Kubota marked the launch of the new project titled ‘The Project for Promoting Economic Governance through Anti-corruption Policy Support’, through an official signing that took place in Colombo today (Feb.13) with the participation of senior government officials.

Sri Lanka’s ongoing socio-economic crisis has reversed development gains achieved, with deep rooted transparency and accountability gaps identified as a key contributor to the economic crisis of the country.

‘The Project for Promoting Economic Governance through Anti-Corruption Policy Support’ is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB) of 137 million JPY (approximately 931,000 USD) will be implemented by the Government of Sri Lanka and UNDP in Sri Lanka. The proposed action seeks to (1) strengthen legal and policy frameworks; (2) improve coordination among key institutions combating financial and tax crimes; and (3) enhance strategic institutional and individual skills and capacities around combating anticorruption through strategic action under three main outcomes.  

Highlighting Japan’s commitment to support the people of Sri Lanka, Hideaki Mizukoshi, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka noted, Anti-corruption measures are conducive for more business friendly environment for foreign investors. Japan would like to support improvement in this sense and expect to see expansion of our business relationship. I would like to affirm once again that the Government of Japan remains dedicated to supporting to promote Sri Lanka’s fairer economic governance and anti-corruption initiatives and we eagerly anticipate witnessing the tangible impact of our collective efforts.”

Targeted, time-bound, capacity development within the anti-corruption ecosystem will assist Sri Lanka to ensure a comprehensive approach to combatting corruption through prevention, investigation, and prosecution. This will contribute towards efficient and predictable public service delivery, upholding the rule of law that serves as a bulwark against corruption and encourage foreign direct investment which is critical to Sri Lanka’s recovery from the socio-economic crisis.  

Commenting on the role of UNDP, Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative for UNDP in Sri Lanka highlighted, It’s become evident that for Sri Lanka to effectively implement required reforms and restore its economy, accountable and transparent systems and institutions are absolutely essential. This partnership with Japan complements our ongoing and planned activities in support of strengthening economic governance and will promote a holistic approach that empowers institutions to collaborate seamlessly. The JSB support will serve as a catalyst, enhancing not only their individual capacities but, most crucially, their collective ability to unite in the fight against corruption. We in UDNP are deeply grateful to the Government of Japan for this opportunity”.  

The interventions envisaged under the project will contribute significantly to the achievement of Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG16), by promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.