Courtesy The Island

Education of about 54.9 percent of Sri Lankan students has been affected by the economic crisis since March 2022, the latest Household Survey on Impact of Economic Crisis – 2023 by the Department of Census and Statistics reveals.

Out of the respondents surveyed 93.5 percent have adopted at least one strategy to counter the impact of the economic crisis on schooling.  The primary strategy adopted by the majority of individuals affected by the economic crisis (53.2 percent) was to reduce their expenditure on new stationery. 44.0 percent of individuals have cut down on buying new uniforms or stopped purchasing them altogether. Reducing the frequency of attending private tuition classes or shifting to online classes, too, is a commonly adopted strategy with 40.6 percent and 28.1 percent of respondents opting for those measures, respectively.

60.5 percent of households have experienced a drop in their total household average monthly income. Nearly half of the employed individuals have encountered changes in their main jobs due to the economic crisis. 47.3 percent experienced work breaks or temporary absence. 48 and 45.8 percent of respondents experienced reductions in working hours or cuts in pay or allowances and income loss, respectively.

14.2 percent of individuals engaged in economic activities faced job loss due to the impact of the economic crisis. Higher percentage of males (18.4 percent) who lost either their primary or secondary jobs due to the economic crisis compared to females (8.3 percent). 60.5 percent of income earners reported a decrease in at least one income source. 36.6 percent said there was no change in income during the crisis. Income has increased only for 3.4 percent of income earners.

60.5 percent of households experienced a decrease in their total income. Only 5.4 percent of families reported an increase in income. 48.7 percent said it was due to reduced working hours, 31.7 percent put this down to decrease in customer attendance. 22.9, 19, 16.5 and 15.1 percent of households experienced a decrease in come due to job loss, had to resign / temporarily suspended; increase in prices of seeds, animal feed, fuel, fertilisers; depreciation of seeds, animal feed, fuel, fertilisers etc., and because product could not be sold as per usual, respectively. 8.4 percent of families also reported problems in hiring workers, tools, and equipment. 73.6 households have ‘done nothing’ to adopt for the impact of the economic crisis on household income, the survey found.

Meanwhile, 91.1 percent of households indicated that their expenditure had increased. 99.1 percent of respondents said this was due to the increase in food expenses. Transport (83 percent), health expenses (73.2 percent) and educational expenses (51.8 percent) too had increased.

Approximately 97.2% of households employed at least one coping strategy to manage their household expenditure. 75.2 percent reported a change in diet, while 46.4 percent reported reduced savings or spending their savings. 21.3 percent of respondents have taken loans, sold or mortgaged properties.

Courtesy The Island

Dr. Palitha Mahipala

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Health Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala said on Thursday that over 700 cases of measles had been reported since May 2023, mostly from the Colombo District.Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Jaffna, Kurunegala, and Ampara were among the districts affected by the spread of measles, Dr. Maheepala said.

In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Sri Lanka had successfully eradicated measles with the help of a successful vaccination campaign.The Health Ministry has initiated an immunisation campaign in the districts where the measles cases had been reported, Dr. Maheepala said.

We have reached out to WHO experts in South Asia for advice. We also took advice from the national advisory committee on immunisation. We have decided to give an extra dose of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination to infants between six and eight months in the the districts where measles cases have been reported,” he said.

Moreover, children aged between nine months to 15 years who have not received the MMR Vaccination could get vaccinated from 06 January 2024, Dr. Mahipala said.

The Health Ministry would establish 1,600 clinics across the country for vaccinating children, Dr. Mahipala said.Dr. Mahipala said due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the immunisation coverage had suffered a setback and that may have led to re-emergence of measles.

KAMALIKA PIERIS

Kurundi vihara has the distinction of being Sri Lanka’s first contested Buddhist site. That is due to the kovil-temple” tug-of-war going on at the site, thanks to the Tamil Separatist Movement.  The kovil announcement got a lot of publicity, mostly negative. The skeptical   public wanted to know exactly when this ‘ancient’ kovil had been built at Kurundi. The answer was, in the 1980s.

The Kurundi Vihara Development Committee, set up by Cyril Matthew reported in 1981 that a kovil had been set up at Kurundi. They wrote to the government saying that a kovil had been erected at the pilimage site with concrete floor, roof and trident. They attached a photograph and asked that the kovil be removed. But the Eelam war intervened.  Kurundi was used as a bunker by the LTTE.

Santhabodhi said, in 1980 or so, the pilimage had been covered with soil and only the stone pillars were visible. Tamil Separatist Movement has put a roof on these pillars and installed a trisula (trident). When the Department of Archaeology was informed, they prohibited entry as this was archaeology reserve.

When we came in 2018, continued Santhabodhi, the whole area was dense forest. Once we started work on the stupa, the Tamil Separatist Movement decided that they too wanted to worship there and talked of a Hindu kovil. Meke thiyenna thanikrana demela bedum vadaya,” Santhabodhi said.

If there had been an ancient kovil at Kurundi, then there must be archaeological evidence of that kovil. There is no evidence to show an ancient kovil, but plenty of evidence to show that there was a large Buddhist monastery at Kurundi, dating from Anuradhapura times.

Further, if there was a kovil then there should be a road, or evidence of a road, leading to the kovil. There was no such road. Kurundi villagers when interviewed admitted that there was only a footpath to Kurundi.

 There was no clear access to Kurundi, when I first went there, recalled Santhabodhi. There were two footpaths and a stream to cross. The hillside was thick with trees and undergrowth.Santhabodhi and his group had to follow animal tracks up the hill. There were huge holes dug all over the place at Kurundi, said Santhabodhi. 

The difficult terrain shows that Hindus never went there. There was no road, and the place was uncleared . If  as the Tamil Separatist Movement says, there was popular kovil there, then there would at  least have been a good road.

 Santhabodhi was not the first monk to come to Kurundi in modern times. Kanakaraja Vijaya Kumar, a farmer resident near  Kurundi,  recalled that  prior to 1982, there was a Buddhist monk residing at Kurundi.  LTTE  killed him. The presence of this monk was also corroborated by other  interviewees.

 Baskaran Susila Devi also said that there was a  Buddhist monk at Kurundi.  There were two other persons to see to his needs.  This monk was about 45 years old.   He was there for about 4 months. He was given Dane regularly by the villagers. Susila had offered alms to him.   He had visited Susila’s house for Dane and was given curd and other food. She had done this regularly.

The ad hoc Hindu kovils set up in the north  and east, including Kurundi, are not well set up Hindu temples. There is no lingam, only a trident and the kovil is shoddily constructed. These ‘kovils’  are planted in the heart of a  Buddhist ruins,  in the case of Kurundi, in the pilimage. The intention is not to set up a proper kovil.  The intention is to claim the site for the Hindus, if the Buddhists  arrive. The intention was to create contested sites.

The Contested site” stunt  is part of the modus operand of the Tamil Separatist Movement. . The Tamil Separatist Movement had  planned this  long ago. They had explored the Buddhist ruins of the north and east  during the Eelam war. It was not possible to destroy all the Buddhist ruins they found, so they hit on another tactic.

Hindu symbols were introduced into Buddhist ruins located in the north and east.  This was usually    confined to a Trident , the  symbol of Siva. Ellawela Medhananda found plenty of  trisulas in his exploration of Buddhist ruins in the east.

  Then when the Buddhists arrived and   excavation began on a Buddhist ruin, the Tamil Separatist Movement would be able to  announce that  the site was     that of an ancient Kovil, not a Buddhist temple. This was a planned operation, to order to create a series of contested sites in the north and east.

At Kurundi Tamil Separatist Movement carried out its usual trick of installing a trisula in the heart of a Buddhist ruin    and then   howl that this was an ancient Hindu kovil. Kurundi became a contested site  leading to  political fears. Authorities feared that   contested sites like Kurundi could lead to an ethnic riot.

Regardless of who is   right and who is wrong, it is best to deal with Kurundi carefully. The north and east are sensitive territory,  competing interests must be  managed carefully, said analysts. Buddhists awake! – Save Kurundi!’ may become a launching pad warned Harindra B. Dassanayake  and Rajni Gamage

The columnist Cassandra wrote,  The Island of Tuesday August 22 sent warning signals, down Cassandra’s spine. It said Possibility of communal riots over temple”. It’s about the Kurundimale temple in Mullaitivu. Buddhist monks and devotees started arriving at the temple to conduct religious rituals. The worst was that the Pongal celebrations of the people in the vicinity were disturbed.

The monks who gathered religious fanatics and trouble makers deliberately chose the time at this dicey venue.  It is a place sited on a volcano of racial tension. This is another example of totally misguided Buddhist enthusiasm. Sacrilegiously using the name of the Buddha and his Dhamma, overzealous monks, knowing full well what horrendous calamities could result, go headlong into rousing religious tensions. Needless to say, such action should be stopped and such monks stymied radical Buddhism lives on, fired by monks who are anything but Buddhist clergy, concluded Cassandra.

Island  editorial   said in June 2023: the writ of the state, we believe, must run in all parts of the country, and national heritage sites must be traced and conserved or restored wherever they are located. This task should be left to heritage management experts, who alone are capable of handling such sensitive issues carefully.

The Kurundimale heritage site has given rise to a huge controversy for political and religious reasons, and only a scientific approach to the problem can help find a workable solution. Let an expert committee consisting of senior archaeologists drawn from the national universities and heritage management experts be set up to study the Kurundimale site and determine the extent of land necessary for its restoration or conservation and how that task should be carried out to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, concluded Island editorial.

There was a second site where excavation work started in the same year as Kurundi that is Rajagala in Ampara. Rajagala archaeological site is only second to the Mihintale monastery in Anuradhapura.  It spreads over 1,600 .  It consists of more than 600 prehistoric ruins, monuments and artifacts, and nearly 100 of them are ancient stupas. It contains the  ancient Ariyakara Viharaya built between 116 and 109BC.

Rajagala conservation started  in the same year as Kurundi. Work on Rajagala  started in 2018, jointly  by  Department of Archaeology  and University of Sri Jayewardenepura. However  Rajagala  conservation was never interrupted  by the Tamil Separatist Movement. The reason is that the Tamil Separatist Movement decided several decades ago,   to drop Ampara from its Eelam grab.  I was present at a talk where this was publicly  announced in the 1990s.

Many Buddhist sites, not  only Rajagala , have been restored  by the Archaeology Department  over the  years, during British rule and after,  for decades without  any  fuss. So why this sudden fuss over Kurundi.

The clash is due to the location of Kurundi. Kurundi is located at a critical point in the Eastern Province, where the north and east come together. Mullaitivu is the district that connects the north and east. The Tamil Separatist Movement has recognized the danger.

Kurundi is  a very serious  threat to Eelam, because of its strategic position in the East of Sri Lanka said the Tamil Separatist Movement .  Mullaitivu is the district that connects the north and east. Changing its  ethnic composition can forever prevent the merger of these two provinces, said the  Tamil Separatist Movement ” ( continued)

Press Release by A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaát – Sri Lanka.

128^th Annual Convention (Jalasa Salana) of Qadian (Punjab, India) is being held on 29th, 30th and 31th, December, 2023.

Thousands of Ahmadi Muslims from all over the world attending this three day convention which will be chaired by President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, India.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will address the convention on 31^st Dec.2023 at 5.00 P.M. Sri Lankan Time,  from London via MTA (Muslim TV Ahmadiyya International).

A delegation from Sri Lanka Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is also attending the convention. Religious scholars from the Community and various faiths also delivering speeches on various topics

The main objective of the convention, inter alia,  is to promote peace in the world, to project the pristine teachings of Islam and to promote the bond between human beings and Allah. Likewise safeguarding the rights of women, guaranteeing the human rights and so on.

Qadian is the birth place of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad – the Promised Messiah and Imam-al-Mahdi.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Dec. 27 (Daily Mirror) – The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) today announced that people should only buy mobile phones that have been approved by the Commission.

Addressing the media TRCSL Deputy Director of Compliance, Ms. M. Pathirana, requested consumers check the IMEI number to verify the phone they are hoping to buy has TRCSL approval.

The IMEI number is displayed on the cover of the mobile phone box. People can check the validity of the IMEI number by sending an SMS to 1909 (IMEI (space) 15-digit number and sending it to 1909). An instant reply message will be received stating whether the mobile phone is registered or not.

She requested that consumers buy only TRCSL-approved phones to prevent falling into trouble.

 By KELUM BANDARA Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Dec.27 (Daily Mirror) – The appointment of the members to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has now been delayed for nearly one month due to difference of opinion between the Constitutional Council (CC) and the Executive on the nominees, Daily Mirror learns.

An informed source said the Executive insisted on three names to be appointed to the Commission to be established in terms of the newly enacted Anti-Corruption Act.

The CC is reported to have endorsed one time Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Neil Iddawela as the Chairman of the Commission as recommended by the Executive.

However, it has not agreed to the two other nominees proposed. Instead, the CC sent the names of two others about one month ago.

Still, the appointments have not been made resulting in the inability to operationalize the new Anti- Corruption Act in full.

By P.K.Balachandran Courtesy NewsIn.Asia

Colombo, December 27: The International Debt Report 2023 of the World Bank has put Sri Lanka’s external debt in 2022 at US$ 58.7 billion. Bondholders and private creditors accounted for 72% of the external debt.

The break-up is as follows: Bondholders (32%); Other Commercial Creditors (8%); Private Creditors (40%); Multilateral Creditors (29%); Bilateral Creditors (31%); World Bank and International Development Agency (8%); Asian Development Bank (15%); China (16%); Japan (7%); India (5%); Other Bilateral Creditors (3%).

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History of External Debt Stocks

I Total External Debt Stocks:

2010-US$ 21.6 billion; 2018-US$ 52.9 billion; 2019-US$ 56.1 billion; 2020-US$ 56.8 billion; 2021-US$ 58.7 billion; 2022-US$ 58.7 billion.

II Long-Term External Debt Stocks:   

2010-US$ 17.3 billion; 2018-US$ 43.1 billion; 2019-US$ 45.8 billion; 2020-US$ 46.5 billion; 2021-US$ 47.5 billion; 2022-US$ 47.7 billion.

III Short-Term External Debt Stocks:

2010-US$ 2.4 billion; 2018-US$ 8.1 billion; 2019-US$ 8.4 billion; 2020-US$ 8.3 billion; 2022-US$ 8.5 billion.

IV Principal Repayment Long Term:

2010-US$ 727 million; 2018-US$ 5.5 billion; 2019-US$ 4.4 billion; 2020-US$ 3.3 billion; 2021-US$ 3.0 billion; 2022-US$ 2.0 billion.

V Interest Payments Long Term:  

2010-US$ 616 million; 2018-US$ 1.5 billion; 2019-US$ 1.5 billion; 2020-US$ 1.5 billion; 2021-US$ 1.5 billion; 2022-US$ 780 million.

VI Use of IMF Credit and SDR Allocations:  

2010-US% 1.9 billion; 2018-US$ 1.5 billion; 2019-US$ 1.8 billion; 2020-1.9 billion; 2021-US$ 2.5 billion; 2022-US$ 2.3 billion.   

Glossary

External Debt Stocks comprise public and publicly guaranteed long-term external debt, private nonguaranteed long-term external debt, use of International Monetary Fund credit and special drawing rights allocation, and short-term external debt.

Gross National Income is the sum of value added by all resident producers, plus any prod[1]uct taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output, plus net receipts of primary income compensation of employees and property income from abroad. Yearly average exchange rates are used to convert gross national income from local currency to US dollars.

Long-Term External Debt is debt that has an original or extended maturity of more than one year and that is owed to non-residents by residents of an economy and is repayable in currency, goods, or services.

Short-Term External Debt has an original maturity of one year or less. Available data permit no distinctions among public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed short-term external debt

SDR Allocations are reserve-related liabilities, distributed to member countries in proportion to their quota shares at the International Monetary Fund. The SDR (Special Drawing Rights) allocations are included in the gross external debt position and classified as long-term, special drawing right.

By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando

The origins of democracy go back many centuries. The UK was the first to be recognised as a democracy, and it is maintained thus far. Some say that even today, democracy in the British Parliament is so tolerant that it is a democracy that has gone beyond its limits. Other countries adopted it as a tool of society. After democracy was adopted by Britain, especially after the Second World War, many countries adopted ‘democracy’ to control their governments, especially those held by the colonies.

Democracy is not in the English vocabulary; hence, it is a word that seems to be adopted by the Greeks. In Greek, Demos means people, and cracy means Law, rule or fairness. There are two main objectives for democracy to take effect completely. In Sri Lanka, the Government and the opposition met with democracy differently. The opposition always seems to grab power by hook or crook. In Sri Lanka, many governments were made from coalitions and with other opposition party members against the Government. This tendency is not very healthy towards democracy.

In the UK, democracy was initially known as the Magna Carta, reinforcing parliamentary democracy, irrespective of the party in power. The opposition has a significant role in any government in the world. It is obliged to support a nation in settling for the interest of its national issues or finding a close tab on all activities. A typical example to quote would be cooperating with the Government and how the Labour Party in the UK supported the war with the Falkland Islands. Whatever their policy differences were, The Labour Party decided to support Margaret Thatcher’s Government on the Falklands Islands war based on the national issue.

The opposition has a significant role in any government in the world. It is obliged to support a nation in any government in settling for the interest of its national issues or finding a close tab on all activities. Whatever their policy differences were, the Labour Party decided to support the Margaret Thatcher government on the Falklands Island’s war based on the national issue.

Therefore, the opposition in Sri Lanka should always play a substantial national role while keeping a tab on the nation’s Parliament. The people who are elected are the representatives or members of Parliament! It is because there is always some form of a national issue- either the teachers’ pay or the fertiliser issue! Or the territorial integrity, putting it separately.

Recently, the opposition Leader was criticised in the Parliament for excessive blabbering in the August assembly as he kept on waffling excessively for questioning the speaker in the Parliament on relevant and irrelevant questions.

How democracy works was illustrated as mentioned above (during the Falkland Islands War, where the opposition Labour Party agreed to support the Government). When Sri Lanka was bankrupt, no one in the opposition came forward despite many urges. Only Ranil Wickremasinghe accepted the challenge and took responsibility over his shoulders. Indeed, the UNP (United National Party) did not win a single seat in the last election. Still, Ranil Wickremesinghe took the plunge, took on bankrupt Sri Lanka confidently, and negotiated with the IMF. That was his luck or because he had many friends internationally. The people in Sri Lanka are very forgetful, and they quickly forget how they suffered without gas; many were standing in mile-long queues to obtain fuel, and many accidents involving gas explosions took place. Today, thanks to Ranil Wickremasinghe, we hear that the bankruptcy status in Sri Lanka will be removed very shortly.

Responsibility of the opposition parties

 It should be the responsibility of the opposition to look rather than examine the ministries and relevant departments and to block any corruption issues in the Government; they should concentrate on national issues that affect the country’s progress. In Sri Lanka, the opposition is responsible for maintaining the cost of living in the country rather than constantly repeating Ranil Wickremesinghe’s appointment as the President or the finance minister! The President has repeatedly urged the opposition to join him to resolve the national issue. Still, none of the opposition, among the opposition parties, have agreed so far. It should always be examined how the JVP (Under a different name. Ranil Wickremesinghe became the President and finance minister according to his luck and the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The opposition opposite parties are hell-bent on how and engaged in organising how to come to power rather than resolving the most significant problem Sri Lanka faces internationally.

According to the terms and conditions of the IMF, there is no doubt that taxation had to be increased rapidly. Although the living index showed that it has come down to a single figure, when people go marketing, consumer prices have skyrocketed. During negotiations, the government should have pointed out to the IMF that more taxation means consumer prices will increase tremendously. From the first of January 2024, the VAT is scheduled to increase by 18%, which means that the consumer will be ‘hit’ more and more.

It could be better that the first Finance Minister, Dr N.M. Perera’s calibre has yet to be found in the Cabinet today. Today, the Parliament is criticised by the public because of the behaviour of some Members of Parliament saying, 225 should be sent home”! We have seen on TV how the members of Parliament behave. Some young children who came to see the parliamentary sessions were forcibly sent out due to the government party members and the opposition having arguments, counterarguments, and hot exchanges of words (both the Government and the opposition. The repulsive behaviour where the speaker had to suspend sittings in the Parliament before adjourning the Parliament again.

The British Parliament had never heard of such repulsive behaviour and fisticuffs. Of course, there were members of Parliament who cast aims in a jolly manner by using acceptable against their political opponents to humiliate and to get the opponents but never endeavour to opt for filth, smuts disparaging remarks or uncivilised remarks against them. The British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill was challenged by Parliamentarian Lady Asther after the Second World War, quoting: Mr Prime Minister, if you were my husband, I would have poisoned you.” Miss. Asther was always opposed to Sir Winston Churchill’s debates. In return, Prime Minister Sir Winston got up from his seat smiling and replied, If you, my wife, I would have gladly drunk that poison – the astonishment of the House.

Just see the difference between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom and the behaviour of Parliamentarians – Worlds apart! The public thinks there are uncouth parliamentarians appointed to the Parliament from both the Government and the opposition. Today’s paper on the front page (7^th) reported, Sajith and Mahinda lock horns over alleged Rs.10 billion misappropriation by Methmalie Dissanayake. The opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), MP Mahidananda Aluthgamage locked horns on (6) when the latter claimed that an audit report uncovered a misappropriation of Rs.10 billion during Premadasa’s tenure as the Minister of Housing and Cultural Affairs. Aluthgamage alleged, A sum of Rupees 10 billion has been misused from the Central Fund by the Opposition Leader’s wife. The Minister of Cultural Affairs should state this matter. Later, Premadasa, who was outraged by Aluthgamagage’s allegations, shot back, alleging that millions had been utilised from the Central Cultural Fund in 2011 for a cycle race and at the swearing-in ceremony of the then President. At this juncture, Aluthgamagage demanded Premadasa resign. Aluthgamage stepped into the well of the Parliament and demanded that Premadasa resign immediately”.

The problem in present politics is that everyone in Sri Lanka intends to make politics an industry and make money, not care about the country. It is such a shame!

tilakfernando@gmail.com

C. Wijeyawickrema, LL.B., Ph.D.

(දැනට අවුරුදු 18 කට පෙර (2/13/2006) ලියන ලද මෙම ලිපිය මගේ පරණ පරිගණකයක තිබී අහම්බෙන් මට දැක ගන්නට ලැබුණි. එහි සඳහන් වන සමහර පංචස්කන්ධ දැන් ජීවත්වන්නේද නැත. ඒ වෙනුවට කරලියට බැස යූටියුබ්, ෆෙස්බුක් හරහා සංවිධානත්මව ලංකාවේ බුද්ධ ශාසනයට වටකරගෙන පහරදෙන ඩොලර් නඩ අතර අන්දමන්ද වූ සිවුරුදරාගත් අය පවා සිටී.

මෙම මතෘකාව යටතේ සළකා බලන ලද කාරණා දැන් 2024 දීත් කෙතරම් කාලෝචිතද කියා සිතුණ නිසා එය ලංකාවෙබ් වෙබ් අඩවියේ මඟින් වාර්තා කලයුතු නොවේද කියා මට සිතුණි.)

Introduction

In 1979-80 Prabakakaran’s close relative (also named Prabakaran) and I shared the same rice pot in Canada, and in our numerous political discussions he told me We do not want monks in yellow robes roaming in Jaffna and we do not want Vesak as a public holiday.” He was an honest, sincere and a humble young man. As a person who often visited the KKS cement factory during 1970-72 I did not get upset by his comments. No Buddhist monks tried to convert even a single Jaffna harijanaya to Buddhism. From the stories he told me about his family, his sisters, their dowry problems, and how the Federal (separate state) Party Central Committee abused his older brother, it is my view the older Prabakaran was a victim of the Colombo paradigm. He started as a Saradiel (Robinson Crusoe) in Velvetithurai and ended as a Pol Pot in Jaffna. The Federal Party elders could have prevented this ‘boy’ ever entering the killing path.

When the Legislative Council debated the motion presented by a Hindu Tamil (P. Ramanathan) to make Vesak a public holiday in the colonial Ceylon (1885), with the backing of an American Olcott, the Sinhala representative A. L. de Alwis, a Christian, opposed it. Governor Gordon, who was for the motion, said he was embarrassed by de Alwis’ behavior. When the World Vesak Day was declared by the UN, the Sri Lankan representative de Saram, (a descendent of de Alwis?) gave a speech with wrong estimates of the number of Buddhists in the world.            

            More recently, a biochemist (Carlo Fonseka) counted the number of kings in the Mahavamsa who killed either his father or a sibling to come to power. In fact, this person once asked two others by the name of Dharmadasa and Buddhadasa to explain who is a ‘black-White.’ Previously we had a situation where at least one prominent LSSP activist in the 1940s branded king Dutugemunu as a ‘fool of bricks,’ for building the Ruvan Veli Mahasaaya. They, however, eagerly tour to admire the pyramids in Egypt! As a historical document Mahavamsa is unique: just to give one example, it helped in the identification archaeological ruins of king Ashoka in the Buddhist India.   

            The opposition to the Mahavamsaya is the other side of the coin, the myth of the existence of a Sinhala Buddhist Chauvinist (SBC). Both are methods used by the black- whites of the Colombo paradigm to stay in power begging for foreign donations. For the network of NGOs in Colombo, the SBC idea is a cash cow. In a world of clash of civilizations theory of a Harvard professor, International-NGOs love to pump funds to Colombo-NGOs who oppose SBC. Unfortunately, some Buddhist writers from time to time flog the ‘Christian West’ deer skin on the armchair blindly, thus providing the shrewd Colombo NGO agents much needed documentary evidence (bait) of SB-Chauvinism to continue catching foreign dollars and euros to fight for minority human rights.

History of blame the Sinhala Buddhist paradigm: Boston-Colombo Axis

In a landmark book, the electrical engineer turned sociologist Susantha Goonatilake opened our eyes to the nature and the level of anti-Mahavamsa activities taking place in the world scene operated by a group of professors scratching each others’ backs in the process (Anthropologizing Sri Lanka: A Eurocentric Misadventure, 2001). These professors developed a paradigm that could be called the Blame the Sinhala Buddhist” paradigm.  

1940s- King Dutugemunu a fool of bricks (some Marxists)

1960s- Tambiah, a Tamil Christian went to Thailand to

study Theravada Buddhism

1970- Obeyesekere’s Protestant Buddhism” idea                (step 1)

                        Marga Inst of Godfrey G formed.

            1979- Fooling Massachusetts Legislature (Boston Cell)

            1980- AJ Wilson – The Gaulist system in Asia

            1985- Vishaka Kumari J – Ethnic and Class Conflicts in SL

            1986- Tambiah – Sri Lanka Ethnic Fracticide

            1988- Hellman-Rasanayagam..

                        Obeyesekere & Gombrich – Buddhism Transformed

                        (Buddhist Fundamentalism)                                         (step 2)

            1992- Tambiah – Buddhism Betrayed                                     (step 3)

            1997- D. Nesiah – (Tambiah’s student) – Discrimination

            1998- Tessa B and CRde Silva – Buddhist Fundamentalism   (step 4)

                        Marga Booklet

            1999- HL Seneviratna – the Work of Kings                              (step 5)

            2001- Steven Kemper –Book review of the work of kings

            2002- G Obeysekera –Sri Lankan history belongs primarily

 to Vadda

• HLS Seminar on the topic Nationalist thought and

identity politics: the Jatika Chintanaya movement of

Sri Lanka and its antecedents,” given at The University

of Texas, Austin (September 26)

            2004- Sasanka Perera – Buddhist Theocracy                            (step 6)

            2004- Wikremabahu and Idi Amin

             2004- J Uyangoda, an elitist group of monks                           (step 6B)

 (Daily Mirror, Feb 26)

Sasanka takes this paradigm to its zenith. He becomes an agent of the Boston-Colombo axis. This group living in and around Boston once tricked the Massachusetts Legislature to pass a resolution: Massachusetts House Journal for 1979, page 977 reads: … Resolution memorializing the President and the Congress to protest and utilize the powers of their offices to rectify the gross injustices which have been inhumanely inflicted on the Tamils of Sri Lanka.” This was when Amirthalingam was the Leader of the Opposition. The son-in-law of SJV Chelvanayagam, A. J. Wilson (Christian) was a leader of this group and S. J Tambiah (Christian) of the Buddhism Betrayed fame must be still active. Heraliyawala Liyanage Seneviratne (HLS), dedicated his masterpiece, the Work of Kings, to Tambiah and Gananath Obeysekera (son of an ayurvedic physician from Galle).

I consider this group as naked professors” because they follow a strategy of not responding to the e-mails sent to them. For example, I asked Tambiah why he did not mention the 1958 JRJ march against concessions to Tamils or the 1962 Coup in his book while he mentioned the 1966 false coup attributed to a Buddhist monk. Similarly, I did not hear from Steven Kemper of Bates University (near Boston) who gave a certificate of exoneration to Tambiah’s Buddhism Betrayed because HLS, a Sinhala Buddhist, in his book the Work of Kings” had endorsed Tambiah’s thesis. Silence has become golden for them after the emperors heard that they have no clothes!

In the work of kings” (1999), HLS alleges that problems of Sri Lanka today, especially Tamil terrorism, was a result of the bad work” done by two monks, Ven. Yakkaduwe and Ven. Rahula. I asked HLS by e-mail whether he gave an opportunity to Ven. Rahula to explain or answer his allegation because in his book HLS thanked Ven. Rahula for helping him with documents and ideas! I never heard from him. I asked this question especially because I heard a story that Ven. Rahula told both Mrs. B and JRJ at a public meeting that the UNP and the SLFP ruined the country.

The history of this paradigm shows a cruel pattern of evolution based on back scratching and the kissing … For example, in step 4, step 1 is given side-support. In my view this book could be called the work of queens, because its aim is worse than the aim of the work of kings. In step 5, all the previous steps culminated with Ven. Walpola Rahula and Ven. Yakkaduwe Pragnarama as the fall guys:

            In Sri Lanka very few people escape from being accused as CIA agents. Sarvodaya and Marga Inst had this label. A Boston professor was once accused of being on the CIA payroll. For suggesting a change of SU’s name I was accused, of all the people, working as a RanilW agent. Fortunately for me the accuser later sent me glowing praise. The evolving stages of the above paradigm were in line with the description of Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue by the western press as a Hindu-Buddhist religious war. Westerners who suffered from religious wars hate religious wars. While western reporters could be excused as biased or ignorant, that is not the case with farmers’ and ayurvedic physicians’ sons who are now anthropology professors. One-third of a Buddhist temple space is devoted to Hindi gods and goddesses. Anthropology professors and their white students who come to defend them (example: Caitrin Lynch (Bates University) who came to defend Tambiah’s Lie in June 22, 2002) should do field work on this interface.

The Black white paradigm (Mano-Malik discussions)

The alternative to this anthropology-history paradigm developed by the Boston-Colombo axis is the Black White paradigm—about 200 political families mismanaged and ruined Sri Lanka. This English-educated, western-trained-mostly Christian, Colombo-living Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim class of the rich and the powerful has lived within a radius of 2 miles of Colombo 7. The evidence for this paradigm comes from 3 books by Kumari Jayawardena [The Rise of the labour Movement in Ceylon, 1972; Ethnic and Class Conflicts in Sri Lanka, 1985; Nobodies to Somebodies: The rise of the colonial bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka, 2000] and the marathon book on JRJ (1988) co-authored by K. M. de Silva, the head of ICES. In short, the British-worshiping political families first acted against Buddhist interests as they were all Christians. But after 1924, the former Christians began to get Buddhists” labels and concocted a new rift between Sinhalese and Tamils masses. For example, in 1958 UNP leader opposed giving reasonable use to the Tamil language; in 1968 SLFP-LSSP-CP leaders opposed it. I cannot understand how some remnants of LSSP now cite Colvin’s formula one language two countries, two languages one country” as gospel truth when Colvin himself opposed it as a mature politician in 1968? Ronnie de Mel is the best example of this black-white paradigm, how the dowry rich and the powerful use the political system to thrive by deceiving people pretending that they are saviors of democracy.

Tambiah in Buddhsim Betrayed (or others including K. M. de Silva) never mentions JR Jayawardena’s 1958 march against the Reasonable Use of Tamil Law, when even JRJ later admitted his selfish/destructive act. T also failed to mention the 1966 march by NM-Colvin-Leslie, when JRJ tried to implement what he marched against in 1958. Colvin who said two languages one country-one language two countries was not a Marxist but one from the 100 or so ruling families. In 1958, UNP of JRJ had 40% of the vote and he, not the Sinhala extremists who spoilt the cake. T mentioned the 1966 bogus coup where Dodampe Mudalali was killed by JRJ, but he never mentioned the real coup of 1962 by the Christian police and navy officers. Several high-ranking Christian Tamils took part in this and it was averted because of a Sinhala Buddhist police officer, Stanley Senanayake, who refused to remove a government by illegal means. Why anthropology or history professors did not see this basic fact is beyond my comprehension.

Starting with G. C. Mendis, the history department of the University of Ceylon was Christian-dominated, and these historians, including K. M. de Silva (Michael Roberts, Leslie Gunawardena, Ronnie de Mel are all first-class history honors graduates), never wrote even a paragraph stating that Sri Lanka’s problems are problems created by the black white class. Ironically, the first historian to research on this topic was a former American Peace Corp student from America who was stationed at Matale. In 1973 he submitted a doctoral dissertation titled, The transformation of a colonial elite: the mudaliyars of nineteenth century Ceylon” (Professor Patrick Peebles).  In his co-authored marathon biography on JRJ, K. M. de Silva reveals everything, including Dudley’s lying about the Christian Tamil Military Police officer coup in 1962, but never presents the fact that those coming from the Attygalle inheritance were the real culprits of Sri Lanka’s present agony. Philip Gunawardena once said this to John Kotalawala in the State Council and John hit Philip on the head in a cowardly manner.

The black white black hole

The creation process of black whites is like a black hole. The system sucks in people and some are victims with no choice. A government officer who came from Hambantota to Colombo, some how buy even a postage stamp-size plot of land near Colombo to send his children to a Colombo school. If he does not get into the system, he will suffer.  Nobodies must become Somebodies,” by taking bribes, leaking information or copying files to NGOs. An inferiority complex set in and the new village boys in Colombo become worse than the boys born in Colombo 7. Thus, RanilW may not be as bad as a Banda from Mahiyangana after all. Children from a person from the Poramadulla Central or a minister who was in the JVP could act with a mind set to outsmart the children of say a justice minister came from the Royal College. When the old guard dies new people come with NGO money, cuts from privatization deals, arms trade etc. Thus, when old solid things melt, new solid things are created. Just imagine what happened to R Prema. As a young man, as told by AnruaB in the parliament, he sold lavaria on the street. But he used to give talks at Sunday schools that my close relative in Kotte told me that young listeners went home and removed their trousers and came back wearing the jatika anduma, which the last American Ambassador Ashley Wills wore when he was given a farewell dinner by the President (Island, June 16, 2003). But what happened to this RPrema as a ruler and ultimately as the President? What a marvelous achievement to come from the street and become the president of the country. But the black hole sucked him in, madness set in, and he vanished in to thin air. 

While new families are added the children of the old are engaged in a character certificate business. Thus, Wickrema Weerasooriya writes about the services of his father to the Kandyan Peasantry Commission. But the peasants are starving! T. D. S. A. Dissanayaka writes about the Buddhist” coup of 1962 of his father. No coup participant was allowed to take weapons with them! Arjuna Hulugalla wants to serve with a grassroots level political system. Charlie Mahendra’s son is busy blaming the change to mother tongues. Pinto Moragoda’s son writes books. I wonder what all these people have told their children about JHU?

The Black Whites and Buddhism

Some time ago a Carlo (for villagers Karolis) asked two Dasas (Dharmadasa and Buddhadasa) to define who is a black-white. Mexico provides an easy answer to this question. There some people are called coconuts, white inside and brown outside. When Macaulay described his idea of creating Brown Britains in India, in the 1830s, he was thinking exactly of Mexican coconuts. It was and is a frame of mind: A feeling of inferiority complex which made Bandaranayakes, Obeysekeras, Soysas, Jayawardenas, Muttu Kumaraswamys and Senenayakas to worship the white skin in 1848, 1915 or 1948 or Liam-Fox agreement, Norway worship or the myth of an international safety net of law book writer GLP in 2002. If colonialism was inevitable, I consider I was fortunate that my grand parents came under the British rather than the Portuguese, French or the Belgians. Gandhi once said that if not India he would live in London. Karl Marx’ tomb is safe in England without a single sentry to protect it. But if colonialism is continued right into 2004, it was not by actions of neither Lord Nelson nor the general Cecil Rhodes but because of the brain of Macaulay. He had such misunderstanding of Asian culture, because he asked, …who could deny that a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole literature of India and Arabia.” (Macaulay: The Shaping of the Historian, John Clive, 1973, page 372).  But the Indian Penal Code that he developed (Ceylon Penal code was a copy of this) was evidence of his understanding with surgical precision the Indian and Sri Lankan mentality to convert them to a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect. (page 376).”  Is this not why we invite Prince Charles or Chris Patten? Macaulay planted the seed in 1834.

On the advice of Sir Ivor Jennings, DSS, the first prime minister, who had a Christian wife, once said that there was no Buddhist precept of I Take Refuge of the Government [Aanduwa Saranam Gachchami].” Jennings was a white-white, but to a black white like DSS, Gunapala Malalasekera’s statement above was nothing but Greek. The irony of this advice was that those political families who ran the governments from 1948-2004, took political mileage (Refuge) out of Buddhism projecting themselves as baby god Vishnu’s. In March1946 when DSS came forward as the protector (owner) of Buddhism, Ven. Yakkaduwe Pragnarama told him bluntly, …Sir, you protect your varige (clan), and the Mahanayakes will protect Buddhism and we will protect Vidyalankara” (The Work of Kings, H. L. Seneviratne, page 140). The most recent black-white trick is to start their vyaapare (campaign) either at the Dalada Maligawa or the Sri Maha Bodhi, and rush back to Colombo 7 in the night. Are they prepared to move the capital of Sri Lanka to the Raja Rata, so that a presidential palace could be built not in a swamp in Kotte but above the Kala Wewa?

Buddhists never discriminated against other religions. Buddhists never objected to other religions unless and until their goodness and tolerance was abused. The Panadura Waadaya was due to a demand made by the Sinhala Christian priests. Buddhist temples did in remote Ceylon in the past gone to the extent of giving food and lodging to Catholic priests who went on circuit looking for new recruits (just imagine the ehi passiko power of confidence in this act. In temples no dinner is served usually). The center of ancient Buddhist civilization, Anuradhapura, voted in 1931 for a white man (Freeman) as their first elected representative? And he came uncontested in 1936. The second general secretary of SLFP after Nimal Karunatileke, was a Catholic, W. J. C. Munasighe, nominated by a Buddhist priest? How many know that Kelaniya, a place Lord Buddha was said to have visited elected repeatedly a Catholic, R. S. Perera as its MP? In a by-election for the Rambukkana seat, people voted for a Tamil Christian Siva Obeysekera, instead of a professor of Buddhist Philosophy W. S. Karunaratne. Buddhist monks did not approach Dr. Ambedkar in India asking him to consider converting Dalits to Buddhism. He became a Buddhist following ehi passiko. When math professor Sunderalingam was playing havoc with the hari janas in Jaffna (some think these people were originally Sinhala), Buddhist monks did not try to go and convert them to Buddhism.

            Except for Premadasa and an accidental one or two all of Sri Lanka’s PMs and Presidents either came from Christian families, had a Christian in the bedroom or in the house. Buddhist never worried about this until after the 2000, when it became so blatantly clear that the Christians have invaded the cabinet. Sinhala Buddhists were under minority control for 500 yrs, and during 1956-59, there was a three-year break. But it ended with death to its midwife, and we do not know who killed him. This is just like the death of the American President JFK. The 1962 Coup, however, gives an indication of what could have happened. One of the coup officers gave as a reason for his frustration SWRD’s order to him, Let them come in.” The officer was trying to prevent people rushing to the parliament chamber after the ape anduwa” victory in 1956. Another officer disliked the villagers telling the officer that the army jeeps were a people property and not of the army officers. Sir John did the best by kicking M. S. Themis on the butt on the steps of the parliament building.

The 1956 silent revolution and the American Civil War 1861-1865

            The 1956-59 Wave was similar to what had happened in America after the Civil War. For about ten years former slaves enjoyed political power and human respect. But soon they came under white supremacy, lynching, KKK and separate public toilets that created a new kind of slavery until the civil rights movement of Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s (Lies My Teacher Told Me: everything your American history textbook got wrong, James W. Loewen, 1995). This was exactly what had happened to the Sinhala Buddhists. Some extremists sent SRI busses to Jaffna, JRJ became an Imbulgoda hero, English was neglected as a subject, state corporations became job avenues to party supporters, checks and balances in the constitution were removed, private constitutions came in to force and people like us who tried to serve the motherland left it for mental peace. A handful of families from Colombo 7, ruled and ruined the country, and today they are ready to divide the country so that they can rule the south portion and continue the same old game. The situation became a death trap with AJ Wilson-JRJ bahubootha vivastha and the electoral system controlled by criminals and millionaires. In 1924 there was a Tamil demand to not allow the majority to have more than 50% of the parliament seats and AJ Wilson was able to deliver this, almost in 1978.

            In this game Buddhism was the bait. Buddhist universities, Poya-pre Poya holidays, Buddhism in the constitutions, Bens cars to the two Kandy Mahanayakes, a Buddhism minister, Premadasa erecting huge chetiyas, Buddha statutes at every junction, starting viyaparas with a traditional visit to the Dalada Maligawa or the Siri Maha Bodhi, these are the baits. But just like Ananda Guruge copied the Peradeniya university act to create Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara, the foremost place to Buddhism gave to the world an impression that Sri Lanka has a government helping Buddhists at the expense of Christians. So not only Buddhist did not get any special help but they were branded as favored by the government. Buddhism ministry was the biggest insult to Buddhism. Now monks in remote temples are compelled to beg for government funds from politicians. The temple problems are now documented and Christian NGOs by this information from ministry officers to target financially troubled temple priests. Monks who do not want to go after the politicians do not get funds. Villagers are not willing to give even the small donations that they used to give, because now they think the government dole is taking care of the temple buildings. While Buddhism minister is busy Bamian Buddha is destroyed, despite warnings given to him one year in advance. Then the day of the destruction, Buddhist PM Wickremanayake went to see an Afghan man in Pakistan.

I consider Sasanka as the latest manifestation of the now-you-see-now-you-don’t, anti-Mahavamsa movement which started with the Portuguese looting and burning the Buddhist temples and pirivenas in Sri Lanka. Because there was an institution called the Buddhist temple protected the religion and the nation, the Portuguese, Dutch or the English could not do to Sri Lanka what Columbus and Cortez did to the Incas of Central America. The famous Banagala monk smuggled” books under the belly of an elephant to protect them from king Rajasinghe, gone mad because the monks refused to kiss his ring. This was not possible in the Philippine Islands when Bibles and evangelists came by shiploads in the 1940s because there were no monks or temples.  Even when Sri Lankan monks faced such decadence where they were called ganinnanse,” they kept the Buddhist texts preserved despite having concubines and children next to them. When authors write about the Irish or the Jews as preservers of civilization, Sri Lanka is a tiny island in the world where Theravada Buddhism is preserved in its pristine state. As Arthur C. Clark predicts Buddhism may be the only religion that would survive in an age of human cloning, and libraries will have Buddhist philosophy in bookshelves or on CD ROMs, but if Buddhism is wiped out from Sri Lanka like in India or Korea, then we will lose a 2500-year heritage.

            In the 1960s a group of Marxist-bent Sri Lankan intellectuals removed history and geography (history is past geography) from the school curricula. A Marga (Mara) publication in 1998 suggested the removal of teaching about the king Dutugemunu from Buddhist pirivenas for young monks (Some Marxists called king Dutugemunu a fool of bricks” [for erecting the Ruwanweli Maha Saaya]). These English language publications are mainly read by foreign embassies in Colombo, finance ministers and aid agencies in the West, and they have become fodder for the Tamil terrorists in their propaganda war. Most former FP MPs and Prabakaran are Christians.

Courtesy Adaderana

A team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is currently recording a statement from former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at his residence, the police said.

The relevant statement is being recorded over the controversial sub-standard Immunoglobulin import issue, according to police.

Accordingly, a team of officers from the CID had visited the Environment Minister’s house at around 10.00 a.m. this morning to record the statement.

So far, several high profile arrests have been made in connection with the case including the former Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division and three other officials of the same division, as well as the owner of the relevant company which is said to have imported the batch of substandard Immunoglobulin vials by forging documents.

They are currently in remand custody.

Ex-Health Minister requested CID to obtain his statement?

Former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella was not interrogated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) as a suspect or an accused in the controversial sub-standard Immunoglobulin import issue, but the minister voluntarily provided a further statement to the CID, according to Attorney-at-Law Manoj Gamage.

Furthermore, he claimed that the CID did not arrive at the former Health Minister’s house to investigate into Rambukwella’s connection with the incident in question as reported by certain media, and that instead they had arrived following a request made by the former minister through President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva on his behalf, in order to provide some evidence documents for further investigations.

The initial case pertaining to this issue was also filed under the directives of MP Keheliya Rambukwella”, he told reporters after statement was recorded.

Meanwhile, Gamage also said that the former Health Minister submitted several written and digital evidence including some video evidence pertaining to the issue of importing substandard Immunoglobulin vials, to the CID today.

Issuing a statement in this regard, the Media Secretary of Minister Keheliya Rambukwella also confirmed the matter.

Earlier today (Dec. 26), it was reported that a team from the CID had arrived at former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s residence for recording a statement over the controversial sub-standard Immunoglobulin import issue.

It was also reported that the CID officers had later left the minister’s home after recording a statement for over 02 hours. 

So far, several high profile arrests have been made in connection with the case including the former Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division and three other officials of the same division, as well as the owner of the relevant company which is said to have imported the batch of substandard Immunoglobulin vials by forging documents.

They are currently in remand custody.

By P.K.Balachandran Courtesy NewsIn.Asia

Colombo, December 26 (Daily Mirror): Sri Lanka’s relationship with Israel has been unique. In the past 75 years as an independent nation, Sri Lanka has recognized, derecognized and again recognised Israel, guided by ever-changing ideological, geopolitical and domestic factors.  

But in contrast to Sri Lanka, Israel has been consistent: It has always wanted good relations with Sri Lanka and has helped Sri Lanka whenever its help was sought, irrespective of the official status of the relationship.

Interestingly, war has been one of the determining factors in the relationship. War has brought Sri Lanka and Israel closer, despite the existence of ideological and political factors militating against it.

Although part of the Western alliance, Israel defied the Western nations’ informal ban on arms sales to Sri Lanka during its war with the Tamil militants from the 1980s to 2009 and supplied it with military aircraft and vessels. Without Israeli weaponry the Sri Lankan armed forces could not have defeated the formidable Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

And now, because of the Gaza war, Israel has sought and got Sri Lankan agricultural and construction workers to fill positions vacated by the Palestinian Arabs and other foreign nationalities. While many Arabs fled, Israel itself deported 82,000 Palestinian workers doubting their loyalty.

The Sunday Observer reported that Israel turned to Sri Lanka (and  also India) to urgently fill around 30,000 vacancies in its construction industry. The Israel Builders’ Association (IBA) said that its representatives would be in India and Sri Lanka within days to screen applicants for various roles such as plastering, ceramic tiling, building work and iron bending. The US$ 71 billion Israeli building industry is currently operating at just 15% of its pre-war capacity. The Israeli construction industry needs an estimated 100,000 workers to return to its pre-war capacity.

Sri Lankan workers will be going to work in the agricultural sector also. In November, Sri Lanka had agreed to immediately send 10,000 farm workers. Some 100 of them have already arrived in Israel. Currently, about 8,000 Sri Lankans are working in Israel, mostly as caregivers. Two Sri Lankan caregivers perished in the brutal Hamas attacks, the Times of Israel reported.

All this is happening even when Israel has no embassy in Colombo. While Sri Lanka has a regular embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel operates from its embassy in New Delhi. 

Just as Israel desperately needs Sri Lankan and other foreign workers, Sri Lanka badly needs foreign remittances as the foreign exchange draught continues despite the recent inflow of US$ 4 billion. Sri Lanka is still burdened with a total foreign debt of US$ 52 billion on which it defaulted in April 2022.

Because of the pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis, local unemployment has increased. Youth unemployment is particularly worrying as it stands at 28%. Lankan youth from the poorer classes as well-educated professionals are leaving the country in droves. The government itself has encouraged its employees to go out of the country for employment by giving them leave of absence without pay.

Today, Sri Lanka-Israel relations are cordial, despite the Gaza crisis in which Sri Lanka has sided with the Global South and has voted with the latter in the United Nations.

But relationship has seen great ups and downs in the past. According to Sri Lankan scholar in international affairs, Dr. Punsara Amarasinghe, the Jews’ relationship with Sri Lanka has a long history that dates back to the biblical epoch. Galle is said to be the city of Tarshish, to which King Solomon sent merchant ships.

Amarasinghe further says that the Jewish presence in the island nation thrived under British rule with many European Jews holding  prominent positions in the colonial administration in the island that was known as Ceylon till 1972.  

After its independence in 1948, Ceylon established relations with Israel unlike most of the neighbours in South Asia, which were markedly pro-Palestine and anti-Israel. Under Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake, Ceylon began buying weapons from Israel, including the naval vessel HMCyS Gajabahu. On the economic front, Israel assisted in the digging of tube wells in the dry zone of northern Sri Lanka.

But when the leftist S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike became Prime Minister and was followed by the even more leftist Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Ceylon (which became Sri Lanka in May 1972) became hostile to Israel, preferring to establish ties with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) instead. Sirimavo Bandaranaike closed down the Israeli embassy in Colombo.  

But Colombo’s attitude to the pro-Western Jewish State changed radically with the coming into power of the pro-West J.R.Jayewardene in 1976. His Minister of Internal Security, Lalith Athulathmudali (who had been a law lecturer at Hebrew University in Jerusalem), and Ravi Jayewardene, founder of the Special Task Force, believed that Sri Lanka should turn to Israel to combat the Sri Lankan Tamil militants. President J.R.Jayewardene allowed an Israeli mission (not an embassy though) opened in Colombo in 1984.

Minister Gamini Dissanayake got Israeli advice to accelerate the Mahaweli development project to settle Sinhalese farmers in the island’s dry zones.

Punsara Amarasinghe quotes Victor Ostrovky and Claire Hoy the authors of By Way of Deception: A Devastating Insider’s Portrait of the Mossad to show how the Sri Lankan government was aided by the Mossad in the early 1980s.

The book reveals that it was a Mossad operative, Amy Yar, who advised Jayewardene’s government to accelerate the country’s ambitious Mahaweli development project as a quick remedy for the energy crisis and, more importantly, as the best strategy to settle Sinhalese farmers in the island’s dry zones.”

Two Israeli academics provided a broad analysis of the project that crucially helped the Sri Lankan government convince the World Bank to invest $250 million. A large portion of the Mahaweli contract was given to Israeli construction company Solel Bonah and Israeli architect Ulrik Plesner, who planned six new towns for the Mahaweli settlements.” Amarasinghe says.

However, the revived Israeli presence in Sri Lanka in the early 1980s and the opening of the Israeli embassy in Colombo in 1984 alarmed the country’s Muslim ethnic minority which was also politically influential. In 1987 India too wanted the Israeli interest section to be closed because at that time, New Delhi was both anti-Israel and anti-US.

In 1992, Sri Lanka-Israel ties were suspended by President R.  Premadasa, who is believed to have told the American Ambassador that Sri Lanka had no Jews but it had a politically significant Muslim minority which he could not alienate.  

Come 2000, ties with Israel were restored, though without an embassy in Colombo. Israel became a key source of weapons and training for the Sri Lanka Armed Forces during the intensified war against the LTTE. Israel sold IAI Kfir fighter jets, Super Dvora Mk III-class patrol boats, Saar 4 class missile boats and Gabriel missiles, according to Amarasinghe.

In 2017, the governments of Israel and Sri Lanka signed an agreement to bring foreign nursing aides to Israel. Sri Lankan nurses have acquitted themselves creditably in Israel and so more are likely to be recruited. In February 2020, Israel offered Sri Lanka technology in agriculture, education, transportation and IT sectors, which was openly welcomed by Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

In September 2021, the Sri Lankan government signed an agreement with Israel to upgrade Israeli-made Kfir fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

And importantly, opposition from the Sri Lankan Muslim community to any dealings with Israel had disappeared upon the advent of the Rajapaksas in Sri Lankan politics in 2005. Relations with Israel are clearly improving even though Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry is a Muslim. If Israel does become a major employer of Sri Lankans, (the number currently envisaged is 100,000), the establishment of an Israeli embassy in Colombo cannot be ruled out.  

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said on Tuesday that the country has launched an operation to arrest and repatriate 30 Sri Lankan criminal bosses who operate from outside the country.

The minister told reporters that 29 of these criminals are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and another one is in France.

He said that the Sri Lankan government has obtained red notices for the arrest of these criminals, and is currently holding discussions with the UAE and France.

The minister said these criminals left Sri Lanka in the past decades, and most of the organized crimes in Sri Lanka are directed by these individuals.

Source: Xinhua

Geopolitical Economy Report

Is Israel’s war on Gaza expanding into a regional conflict? Why is Yemen attacking ships in the Red Sea? What are the roles of Iran and Saudi Arabia? Journalist Ben Norton discusses the geopolitics of the crisis.

Israel has been stealing Palestine for more than 100 years. What are the roots of the genocide in Gaza? How did Zionism form? What has Palestinian resistance to the Zionist project looked like throughout history and how has it impacted Palestinian resistance today? To discuss this and more, Rania Khalek is joined by Professor As’ad Abukhalil for a special live episode of Dispatches.

By Namini Wijedasa/Sunday Times

Colombo, December 24: President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as Investment Promotion Minister, on Friday gazetted the initiative under the 2008 Strategic Development Projects Act (SDPA), stating that the aim was to turn the Colombo Port into a logistics hub for South Asia.

The use of the SDPA goes contrary to IMF strictures.

The multilateral financial agency has consistently held that the Act should be abolished or suspended until structures and processes are in place to evaluate the effectiveness of the offered incentives—that is, to determine whether incentives previously granted under the law have delivered the intended benefits to the country.

According to the gazette, China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited (CMPort) holds 70 percent and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) holds 15 percent of the special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up to run the South Asia Commercial and Logistics (SACL) Hub. Access Engineering PLC owns the remaining 15 percent.

The company is also not expected to pay withholding tax for the entire project period of two years.

The corporate income tax exemption is for profits and gains generated from its activities and will start from the first year in which the company makes taxable profits or after two years from the commencement of commercial operations (whichever occurs earlier).

Dividends distributed and received by shareholders out of the exempted profits and gains shall be free from income tax for 15 years and one year thereafter. The Value-Added Tax (VAT), the Ports and Airports Development Levy, cess and Customs duties will not apply to imports of any project-related goods, as approved by the Board of Investment (BOI), for two years. The expatriate employees of the project company shall be exempted from income tax for five years (subject to a maximum of 30 expatriates).

Investment in the first phase is stated as US$ 280 million or Rs 91.2 billion based on a debt-to-equity ratio of 70:30 (70 percent debt, 30 percent investment). The total project is to design, construct, finance, develop, operate, manage, maintain, and transfer, and it is a 50-year public-private partnership with the SLPA.

The gazette defines the project as a national interest that is likely to bring economic and social benefit to the country” by providing efficient and effective cargo clearance to or from the logistic warehouses; quality bonded storage facilities; and warehouse facilities including temperature-controlled storage.

The first phase includes building warehouses and offices, for which two years have been granted from the date the agreement is entered into with the Board of Investment (BOI). The second phase will be a distribution and trading centre which will be carried out as a build, operate and transfer agreement.

In 2016, the then-Wickremesinghe-led Government suspended the SDPA under an IMF programme that it had signed on to. In its most recent Governance Diagnostic Report on Sri Lanka, the IMF reiterated that the legislation continues granting wide-ranging tax exemptions without scrutiny”—where projects are selected by the BOI and approved by the Investment Promotion Ministry in consultation with the Finance Ministry.

There is no definition of what criteria need to be satisfied for a project to be of strategic relevance, and the revenue forgone from such projects is not systematically contrasted against their potential benefit in a transparent process,” the IMF report observes. Crucially, the DoFP [Department of Fiscal Policy] is not involved in the selection or evaluation of projects, and any data that may exist is not shared with the department.”

The DoFP is the government’s focal point in shaping the tax system, guiding the reform of most taxes, except for the special commodity levy and customs duties, which are under the authority of the Department of Investment and Trade.

While the specific concessions given to companies benefiting from provisions of the SDP Act differ, the revenue consequences are likely significant,” it states.

By P.K.Balachandran/Ceylon Today

Colombo, December 25: The Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Authority (SLAEA) chairman, Prof. S.R.D. Rosa told Daily Mirror on December 12, that his office had given the nod to the incorporation of nuclear power in the country’s energy mix. This is in line with President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s exhortation last year that Sri Lankans should seriously think about nuclear power” to overcome the power shortage.

According to Prof.Rosa, the search is on for a foreign development partner. He has said that proposals have been received from Russia, US, Denmark and China to set up a Small Modular Reactors (SMR) that would cost about US$ 2 billion. Delegations from Russia and China have already met the SLAEA. But Russia appears to be the preferred partner and rightly so.

Russia dominates the European market for nuclear energy, even amid its war against Ukraine and US and European sanctions against it.

The safety of nuclear power generation and its economic advantages have been discussed threadbare in a 2018 work by Mahesh N. Jayakody and Jeysingam Jeyasugiththan of Colombo University and Prasad Mahakumara of the government of Sri Lanka. Their study noted that while the installation cost of nuclear plants would be high and disposing of nuclear waste would be challenging,  nuclear plants are marked by low maintenance costs and a minimum adverse environmental impact.

In the long run, nuclear energy would work out to be cheaper, the authors said, while recommending the Russian VVER-1000 and the American AP-1000 models based on Pressurised Water Technology (PWR).

A US Office of Nuclear Energy report of 2021 said that nuclear plants have the highest ‘capacity factor’ (maximum capacity) compared to any other energy source. Nuclear plants are producing maximum power more than 92% of the time during the year. That’s about nearly two times more than natural gas and coal units, and are almost three times or more reliable than wind and solar plants.”

According to the US Office of Nuclear Energy, nuclear power plants require less maintenance and are designed to operate for longer stretches before refuelling (typically every 1.5 or 2 years).

As regards the raw materials the US office said: Uranium and thorium are both more abundant than tin; and with the new generation of fast-breeder and thorium reactors, we would have abundant nuclear energy for millions of years. Yet, even if the resources lasted a mere 1,000 years, we would have ample time to develop exotic new future energy sources.” 

On safety, which is a major concern in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan researchers cited above maintain that the evolution of nuclear power plant technologies has made reactors very safe and protected from human error.

According to Physics World nuclear power is hundreds of times” safer than coal, gas, and oil. On the danger from nuclear waste, the website www.world-nuclear.org says: The amount of waste generated by nuclear power is very small relative to other thermal electricity generation technologies; nuclear waste is neither particularly hazardous nor hard to manage relative to other toxic industrial waste.”

Why Russia is the best option

Kristyna Foltynova of Radio Free Europe says that European nations are unable to stop the import of Russian nuclear material even in the midst of the war in Ukraine because Russia dominates the world market in nuclear material.

Russia is among the five countries with the world’s largest uranium resources. But uranium mining is just one step in the nuclear process. Raw uranium needs to be refined into uranium concentrate, converted into gas, and then enriched. And this is where Russia excels, Foltynova says.

In 2020, there were just four conversion plants operating commercially — in Canada, China, France, and Russia. Russia was the largest player, with almost 40% of the total uranium conversion infrastructure in the world, and therefore produced the largest share of uranium in gaseous form (called uranium hexafluoride).”

The same goes for uranium enrichment, the next step in the nuclear cycle. According to 2018 data, Russia once again was responsible for the largest share — about 46%”, the Radio Free Europe researcher said.

According to the latest available data, the European Union purchased about 20% of its natural uranium and 26 % of its enrichment services from Russia in 2020. The US imported about 14% of its uranium and 28% of all enrichment services from Russia in 2021,” Foltynova stated.

Nuclear reactors made in Russia are known as VVER. According to Foltynova, there are 11 countries where various types of VVERs are operating currently.

Nuclear Plant Development

Russia is considered the world leader in the export of nuclear plants.  According to Foltynova, between 2012 and 2021, the Russian nuclear company, Rosatom, initiated the construction of 19 nuclear reactors; 15 of these were abroad. That is far more than the next most prolific providers: China, France, and South Korea.

Currently, there are 11 countries where various types of VVERs are operating, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Finland. On top of that, other countries such as Egypt, Turkey, and Argentina currently have these reactors under construction or plan to build them.

To keep the reactors operating, plants need a regular supply of nuclear fuel and this is where there is an acute dependence on Russia. Although there are several suppliers on the market, the Russian TVEL Fuel Company is currently the only authorized supplier of fuel needed for VVER-440s,” Foltynova points out.

Russia is also able to supply High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium ( HALEU), which is a type of fuel that will be needed for more advanced reactors that are now under development by many companies in the US.

According to the American Office of Nuclear Energy, HALEU availability in the US is limited. At the moment, the only supplier able to provide the fuel on a commercial scale is Russia’s Tenex (owned by Rosatom), Foltynova says.

Russia is expanding Its Market

Selling nuclear technology is also part of Russia’s foreign policy, especially now, when Western countries are trying to isolate it by boycotts and sanctions. And Russia is succeeding in this venture.

One of the reasons countries want to cooperate with Russia (defying sanctions) is that it offers a package solution”. Russia will not only build a nuclear plant and supply fuel, but it also trains local specialists, helps with safety questions, runs scholarship programs, and disposes of radioactive waste,” Foltynova points out.

Sri Lanka has been offered such assistance according to Prof Rosa.  

Russia also offers attractive loans, which are backed by government subsidies and cover at least 80% of construction costs. Russia has already lent US$ 10 billion to Hungary, US$ 11 billion to Bangladesh and US$ 25 billion to Egypt to build nuclear power plants,” Foltynova adds.

Russia is operating nuclear reactors in 11 countries, and more are under construction or being planned. Besides that, Russia has also signed either MOUs with at least 30 countries, mostly in Africa.

According to Bloomberg, Russia’s nuclear fuel and technology sales abroad rose more than 20% in 2022, according to data compiled by the UK’s Royal United Services Institute. Purchases by EU countries rose to the highest point in three years.

The figures show Nato members including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia continued to purchase Rosatom fuel last year, amid Ukrainian pleas to shut down the trade after Russia hijacked Europe’s biggest power plant, Bloomberg said.

Importantly, Rosatom provides about one-fifth of the enriched uranium needed for the 92 reactors in the US. In Europe, utilities that generate power for 100 million people rely on the company.

Cements Ties 

Bloomberg further said that atomic commerce creates relationships that last.

It involves large upfront costs – with Russia usually providing the credit – and long-term agreements to service plants, train their operators and replenish fuel. That kind of financial and technical collaboration can strengthen diplomatic ties too.”

By Mawbima

Prof. Desmond Mallikarachchi Courtesy The Daily Mirror

For the pledged loan of 2.9 billion dollars to be granted, the IMF laid down a condition that two of our main profit-generating institutions namely, the insurance cooperation and the Sri Lanka Telecom (Inset) may need to be sold to private entrepreneurs in the open market

• The hidden objectives of The IMF and the World Bank are the same: legitimizing Neo-liberal capitalism and strengthening and expanding Euro-US financial imperialism
•  The IMF is not that humanitarian, sympathetic, and helpful. Their track record, if studied closely, justifies this claim

‘Colonialism has not ended. It has taken only another form: financial’
Part 1 of the financial loan of 2.7 billion the IMF has pledged for the 17th time to Sri Lanka was released last March. The delay in releasing the second tranche of the loan was due to the failure of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to satisfy the agreed policy requirements. However, the IMF released the second tranche a week ago but demanded that the SL government strengthen tax administration, remove tax exemptions, and actively eliminate tax evasion. But if our governments had met with these requirements by themselves when they were in office for decades, then neither we would have to listen to the advice of the IMF on how to govern the country nor we would have been obliged to dance according to their tune. However, certain politicians and the general public seemed to have been very happy that the IMF’s insisted on this and tried to appreciate it, some in writing and some verbally. They, without studying the IMF in depth (I am pretty positive that 95% of our MP’s are ignorant (while some are clueless) about what the IMF is), went out to say that ‘they sound helpful and genuine.’ But the IMF is not that humanitarian, sympathetic, and helpful. Their track record, if studied closely, justifies this claim. 

The IMF is not a sympathetic benefactor of poor countries. Instead of being ‘a friend in need’ or savior, the IMF’s behaviour can be classified as predatory. (Definition: an attempt to trick, manipulate, or control other people to get what one wants without any regard for the harm it causes.) Some have compared the IMF to a shark. Like a shark eating small fish, the IMF swallows poor countries at its will. ‘It is one of the global loan sharks of the twins of international finance, the other being the World Bank’. (Lee Sustar: The IMF-World Bank Loan Sharks: Prescribing Poverty, 2004).

The term ‘shark’ has two meanings: (1) A large fish lives in seawater and has sharp teeth and a pointed fin on its back. (2) A dishonest person persuades other people to pay too much money for something.(Cambridge Dictionary). The word ‘shark’ is not only used for persons, but it is also being used for institutions and organizations as a compound noun, ‘loan shark’ as their actions clearly agree with the second meaning of the shark mentioned above. (ex: The IMF-World Bank: Loan Sharks 2004; The IMF: A brutal loan Shark for capital 2019:Are the World Bank and IMF loan Sharks? 2019. 
The IMF, as mentioned before, is engaged in a predatory maneuver, subjecting poor nations to loan traps while the poor countries are trying hard to gain some economic progress. It has become crystal clear from their recent behavior that the IMF has become the bandwagon of financial colonialism and imperialism. This is not the fancy imagination of the writer, but it is the true record of their legacy, at least of about 60 years.

Under the theoretical guidance of Maynard Keynes and Walt Rostov, the IMF was established in 1944 as a part of the Bretton Woods agreement to provide financial and technological assistance to developing and poverty-stricken countries for achieve sustainable development and progress. The IMF displaying ‘human face’ states further that it works to foster global growth and economic stability by providing policy advice and financial assistance to poor countries to help them achieve macroeconomic stability and reduce poverty. (IMF.Ch.2).Though this thought is virtuous and sounds human, they have acted more often than not contrary to it, and hence, they have hardly accomplished this objective in practice. 
The activities of the IMF, notably since 1965, testify to the above. To put them in brief: (a) playing the role of propagator of American imperialism.(b) Making poor countries poorer.( c) Stipulating extremely unrealistic conditions for bankrupt countries (d) Assisting American and European imperialism to realize their monetary colonialist objectives (e) Many instances have been reported where the IMF has acted disregarding the established law (f) Acting obstinately as they are blessed with impunity. (g) Violating the international agreement on human rights. (h) Granting loans to countries that are friendly with the U.S.A. while denying or delaying loan facilities to countries that do not support their ideology (ex: Vietnam, Venezuela). How could the IMF claim to be ‘humanitarian’ if the record of their achievement would be written like this, and how could the loans they provide and the loans they have already granted to poor countries be called philanthropic? 

Despite the fact that the IMF has given loans in billions of dollars to bankrupt and undeveloped nations, the borrowing countries haven’t achieved any perceivable and substantial progress either infra-structurally or super-structurally, apart from a few short-term positive outcomes. The quality of life of the people has not improved. True, the knavish local politicians too are partly responsible for this agonized situation, but the role of the IMF is evident.    
No rising from the ‘abyss’

There is no country that has taken loans from the IMF that has achieved any development. No country has risen from the ‘abyss’ they had fallen into. A number of countries are in a state of ‘Zombie’. If any country has attained any progress, it is only a country that has established friendly ties with America. Besides, the conditions the IMF dictates are unattainable. This is one of the main criticisms that have been levelled against the IMF by its critics. They have also been criticised for demanding a high interest rate from economically crippled poor countries and for collecting their dues up to the last penny without showing any mercy. 

They are also eying up thriving trade zones in the victimised countries with the intention of snatching them in the process, or at some point. There is plenty of evidence, but we will refer to our own. For the pledged loan of 2.9 billion dollars to be granted, the IMF laid down a condition that two of our main profit-generating institutions namely, the insurance cooperation and the telecom (SLT) may need to be sold to private entrepreneurs in the open market. This is how the IMF assists the imperialists in converting poor countries into their fiscal colonies. The IMF is the medium through which they realise their objectives. If this role of the IMF is not like a ‘Shark’, what else is it?
Similarly, in Kirgizstan, where 97% of the population is below the poverty line, the IMF blocked all their loan-application avenues and released the second quota of the loan approved, but under inhuman conditions. Even for us, they would give the second quota of the promised loan only after pressurising the present government to impose further burdens upon the people who are already experiencing hardships. Biglaiser and McGauran (2002), based on research conducted on 81 countries that had taken loans from the IMF, revealed that the IMF is deliberately stipulating conditions that cannot be easily met by poverty-stricken countries. (‘The effects of IMF loan conditions on poverty in the developing world’). Although their interest rate is normally 6%, when a country is borrowing in dire distress, there are instances where the IMF has raised the interest rate up to 9 to 10 %. This is obviously exploitative, ruthless and an expression of an elementary or mild form of sadism. Consequently, the IMF easily meets the requirement of the second definition of the term shark mentioned above.  
The IMF’s official website emphasises that its lending process is flexible, but there are ample examples where it has not abided by this principle and has become intermittently unhelpful. The IMF had harassed Venezuela so much that Hugo Chaves even considered withdrawing from the IMF in 2009. Once again, when Venezuela applied for a loan of 5 billion dollars to meet the COVID disaster, the IMF refused that on political grounds. As Zambia failed to abide by the inhumane policy conditions of the IMF, the IMF not only stopped releasing the balance, but also told Zambia to pay a penalty as well. The Zambian Minister of Finance pleaded, ‘Please do not penalize us’. But the hard-hearted IMF was unshaken and proceeded with their decision. While over 6.5 million people became destitute in Ukraine, the IMF tried to take their interest of over 2.3 billion dollars from Ukraine. What kind of humanitarian gesture is that? These actions and decisions of the IMF endorse that they well deserve the metaphor of the ‘shark’.   
Yanis Verfakis, a former Minister of Finance of Greece (2015) and the author of Technofeudalism (2023), holds that the IMF is ‘toxic’ and argues further that the countries caught up in their trap end up as deserts. Even ‘Neo-liberalist’ Milton Friedman was not happy with the IMF providing loans on conditions because the very structure of the IMF money lending is anti-democratic. Friedman was absolutely correct,  ‘as the economy, society, and governments of borrowing countries have all been hurt by these conditionality as the conditions from the IMF slow down economic development, increase poverty and inflation, and make things more unequal’. If unequal, then it is undemocratic. 

Their concepts of ‘macro-intervention’ and local ‘restructuring’ have also created enormous problems. For example, let’s look at the crisis that occurred in East Asia in 1997. Although Indonesia and Thailand implemented the IMF’s proposals for structural adjustments, they had not benefited from them. Malaysia was also hit by the crisis, but they did not seek refuge in the IMF. By practicing ‘unorthodox’ methods and taking ‘bold steps’, they sailed through the crisis safely and escaped falling into the jaws of the IMF shark. Although Indonesia and Thailand experienced some short-lived improvement, there was no lasting solution. The problem is becoming ‘gangrene’. Their biggest problems were settling the IMF loan installments. They had no financial ‘reserves’ to pay back the loans. In these two countries, controlling the rising rates of inflation, curbing the rising cost of living, and addressing the problem of unemployment have not been better from the level of 1997/98. Afghanistan requires urgent assistance right away to survive, as she is one step away from famine. What has happened to, Kenya, South Sudan, Angola, Nigeria, Brazil, and Greece? What is happening to Sri Lanka right now? No different from the above. The research conducted between 2000 and 2023 had shown that the IMF funds have a limited impact on lessening poverty. (Lang 2001; Garuda 2000; Vreeland 2002).   

The situation of Latin American countries that have been caught up in the IMF loan traps is far more pathetic than this. The statement of Steve Hank, professor of applied economics at John-Hopkins University, who served in the capacity of the economic advisor to President Suharto of Indonesia (1998), still remains true”: ‘a country begins to face economic problems as soon as it obtains IMF loans’. This statement is truer today than at the time it was first made 25 years ago. 

Tactics and traps 

South American countries on IMF loans are no better. No country in Latin America has improved economically by borrowing from the IMF.  The Argentine government, for example, faced numerous economic challenges: the unsustainable build-up of debt, rapid depreciation of its currency (the peso), economic contraction, inflation and hence she was in a big mess economically. She had no option but borrowing 50 billion US dollars from the IMF by agreeing to the unsympathetic conditions laid down by the IMF. Washington Post reporter Paul Blustein,, through his books The IMF and the Bankrupting of Argentina 2005: Chastening 2003; Laid Low 2016:  revealed how Argentina as a consequence, fell into the fire from the frying pan. Countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, and Brazil which are on IMF support still in deep waters. There is no sign of a safe haven for them.
About 92 countries in the world are debtors to the IMF. When these countries find it difficult to settle one loan, what they do in desperation is ask for another loan, which is quite understandable. The IMF is shrewd and strategic and exploits the situation. But first, they say, as a tactic, that they cannot lend money, whereas they are eager to lend. After a week or so of tug-of-war, they release the money, charging a higher interest rate. Like a deer caught up in the coils of a giant python, there is no escape for poor countries but getting crushed to death. So, there is no escape for any country that has borrowed money from the IMF. Recall what Verfarkis and Hanks said above. In fact, these companies are fiscal terrorists. They are cannibalistic institutes that come under the guise of genuine benefactors, but finally they devour those countries. This observation and argument are equally valid for the World Bank too. This is why the metaphor of ‘Janus Faces’ is appropriate for both the IMF and the World Bank. 
The IMF and the World Bank are twins, as they were born in the same year, 1944. The hidden objectives of both are the same: legitimizing Neo-liberal capitalism and strengthening and expanding Euro-US financial imperialism. Further, their objective is to tighten the grips of ‘credit traps’ on the countries that are trying to survive in great difficulties and thereby bring underdeveloped and developing countries under their power and surveillance. In the past, Great Britain was known as ‘the empire that the sun never set’. It was built with the power of weapons, (or militarily), in the 18th and 19th centuries. The same is repeated today, but not by military means but by the power of money and finance. But today, it is not Britain; the U.S.A plays the first fiddle and the Britain only the second. Anyway, both are financial colonialists.
 A campaigner for the IMF, James Boughton once wrote that because of the IMF’s financial support, we can see a silent revolution taking place in borrower countries. (Boughton, Silent Revolution: The IMF, 1979-89.)
This write-up can be taken only as a propaganda technique designed to convince its member countries (170 in all) to borrow from the IMF when in distress. Besides, this is inaccurate information and far from the truth, as there is no country that has taken loans from the IMF, undergone a ‘silent revolution’, or experienced a ‘silent evolution’. The protests of the general public, complaints of the disappointed debtors, demonstrations launched against discrimination, petitions, and pleadings all evince that no such ‘revolution’ or ‘evolution’ has taken place in indebted poor countries. Instead, what the whole world heard was the sound of the wailing, sighing, and screams of the innocent victims who were about to fall into the mouth of the ‘Shark.’ Some of the findings of Joris Luendgick’s study on banks are true with regard to the IMF as well (Swimming with Sharks, 2015). The countries that try to swim with the Bank Sharks, ‘like the IMF’, will never succeed, as those monetary sharks are always victorious in swallowing those countries through subtle manipulations and deploying crafty strategies.
However, the IMF does not wish to see these countries entirely ruined, or destroyed either. That means they do not want to see these countries get lost in the deep sea of economic collapse. Their strategy is to keep such countries alive and in conditions of ‘coma’, or in the state of ‘paralysis’, or in a ‘zombie’ situation until the collection of the interest due. The hidden objective of granting loans in billions of dollars is to have these countries as their ‘colonies’. True, this objective is not on the official agenda of the IMF, but it is the intention of the US and other capitalist countries, which are key shareholders of the IMF. The IMF is only a ‘cat’s paw’. Thus, the ‘loans’ released by the IMF to bankrupt or developing countries are not humanitarian aid but investments made towards realizing their politically motivated colonial objective. 
There is much published literature on the IMF and politics. Several studies have shown how the IMF is covertly and overtly engaged in politics and how American politics dictate the terms of IMF loan grants and their conditions. (Babb, 2003; Stone, 2008). (Thacker, 1999. ‘The High Politics of IMF Lending’,World Politics). What countries should be given priority, the loan amount, the conditions of lending, the interest rate, and the pay-back period are all political decisions. (Example: postponing the decision whether Cuba should be given membership or deciding not to grant the membership to Vietnam.) In the IMF’s own words, ‘Loans to Sudan continued out of ‘respect for Sudan’s strategic role in the region’. Anyway, the plain truth is that the very founding of the IMF itself was to carry out a political agenda. The concept of ‘economic solidarity’ was merely a pretext. Pit bulls and Rottweiler dogs are trained not to be ‘lap dogs’, but to be aggressive. The IMF is fulfilling both roles. 
Based on these facts, the image of the IMF could well be seen as follows: 1. The IMF is an apparatus formed to work for or with imperialist countries to spread their power over poor countries. (Nowshad The IMF: Development or Hindrance) 2. The IMF is a financial institution that pulls the countries that are being roasted in the pan into the hearth. 3. The IMF is an organization that dictates unbearable conditions to borrowing countries and systematically and fraudulently devours them like a shark. 4. The IMF also serves as an agent for financial colonialism, which is a form of neo-liberalism. 
The IMF is also seen by corrupt and swindling politicians as the washroom that cleanses their sins, and they consider it their last resort for escape when they cannot spot any other option to circumvent the problem.  
What could be concluded on the basis of the above brief survey and analysis of the IMF is that there is a manifest contradiction between their objectives and their practices, that is, between what they say in their manifesto, namely, ‘to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for all of its 170 odd member countries and reduce poverty around the world’, and what is practiced in the field. Therefore, we need to think twice before sympathizing with the IMF and ‘falling in love’ with its enticing face because the IMF reminds us of a deity in Greek mythology, the double-faced Janus, who pretends to have one set of feelings while acting under the influence of another.
(The writer is a former Prof. of Philosophy at the University of Peradeniya and can be reached via wasanthimanik@yahoo.com )

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

We will operate an economy based on three pillars- production growth, economic expansion, and public participation

We believe in a uniquely Sri Lankan economic model based on socialist principles

It is important to bear in mind that Sri Lanka cannot develop disregarding its ties with India, the closest neighbour and the regional powerhouse

The real crisis is more serious than the one being painted by the government through the media loyal to it

We don’t believe in the total state role in business operations such as the management of estates, mines etc

The National People’s Power (NPP) believes in economic policy formulation by the government. For the expansion of GDP, we will act with the participation of the state, the state- private sector partnership, the private sector alone and cooperatives as and when necessary. We have to adopt the best possible approach

The JVP- led National People’s Power (NPP) former MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa takes questions from the Daily Mirror over its policy approaches in view of future elections. The NPP is now campaigning in anticipation of future elections. 
Excerpts: 

Q:What is your party’s stand on the current debt crisis and the Extended Fund facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
As everyone else does, we also see this as a rigorous economic crisis.  The real crisis is more serious than the one being painted by the government through the media loyal to it. Sharmini Coorey, Former Director, Institute of Capacity Development of the IMF, explained in clear cut terms the depth of the economic crisis before the Central Bank officials recently. According to her, even if we implemented the IMF prescription in its entirety with debt restructuring and maintaining a primary surplus of 2.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), our debt burden will reduce only to 95 percent of GDP by 2032. Normally, in an emerging economy, it is only 65 percent of GDP. In India, it is 55 percent. As such, we, on the  instruction of international organizations supportive of us, believe in the expansion of the size of our GDP.  That is to increase production. Up until 1975, for 30 years in the post-World War II period,   a state–controlled economic model was experimented in the world. It was the same in countries such as The Soviet Russia and the United States of America. Afterwards, the neo-liberal economic model emerged reducing the role of the state in the economy and allowing the private sector to take over.  As with Sri Lanka, this model has not yielded as President Ranil Wickremesinghe himself admitted in his budget speech.  The National People’s Power (NPP) believes in economic policy formulation by the government. For the expansion of GDP, we will act with the participation of the state, the state- private sector partnership, the private sector alone and cooperatives as and when necessary.   We have to adopt the best possible approach. We don’t believe in the total state role in business operations such as the management of estates, mines etc.    We are ready to handle the economy with any sector that is competent.  Still, the state does planning and supervision, and will ensure that people benefit in the end. 
Q:Is that a social –market economic model in which the state plays a role similar to that of a referee in a football match?
The economic model adopted by Soviet Russia and East European countries in the post-World War II was called socialist or social-market economy. To counter it, the capitalist camp introduced a social-market economy.  The market is relevant to any economy. There is a Chinese saying ‘every economy has a market, and every market has an economy’.  Rather than nomenclature, what is more important is the concept here.  We will operate an economy based on three pillars- production growth, economic expansion, and public participation. It is themed ‘a wealthy country with wealthy people’.  Liberal capitalism can create wealthy countries, but not wealthy people.
Q:What are the specific roles of government in each sector such as agriculture and education?
Policy formulation is the number one.  Secondly, the government has to intervene in varying degrees in each sector to ensure benefits to people and make sure that they are protected from vulnerabilities.  In the energy sector, we believe that the government has to have the majority stake. It does not mean that the government is responsible for importing, distributing and pumping fuel.   Yet, the government should have the authority to regulate the energy sector because otherwise one big businessman, company or another country can politically influence our country.  The government should also have a stake in the regulation of the financial market.
Q:As for education, your party has been opposed to private universities. Today, the number of students seeking education in the private sector has increased. A lot of students go abroad for studies. What is your policy on private investments in the education sector?
Some elements try to project the NPP as a socialist party hell-bent on having only the state sector education system. Existence of a fee-levying education system is not the yardstick to be used in the definition of an economic model. For example, people are charged for education in China.  During the time of ex- Chinese President Hu Jintao, private education was started. In Vietnam, people are charged for education in some cases. Still, these countries are ruled by the communist governments. In Finland, education is free up to basic degree level. Education is free to some extent in France.
In our plan, we lay emphasis on human resources development. Education is key. According to the UNDP report on multi-dimensional vulnerabilities, 65 percent of people are in the risk group. It is bound to increase to 80 percent.  The World Bank says 90 percent of people have exhausted their deposits or curtailed expenses for education and all. The World Food Programme (WFP) says one –third of people suffer from nutrient-deficiencies.  In such a context, the government should have the dominant role in the education sector. That is to iron out disparities.
Still, the NPP does not stand in the way of people seeking private education over reasons such as lack of opportunities in the state universities despite having qualifications, the absence of desired courses at the state universities or being unwilling to study in the state sector.  We won’t allow businessmen to exploit people in the education sector by putting up private universities or schools.  The government is responsible for education in whatever manner.
There are around 15 private universities already in operation. Nothing will happen to them.  We, as the government, will only regulate them.  Also, we will expand education opportunities for people using tax revenue and private investments. We won’t eliminate the private sector from this field at all.  
Q:The JVP has transformed a lot in its policies in this regard.  Hasn’t it?
Anyway, it is natural for a socialist party to undergo changes in its strategies under evolving circumstances without compromising on the core principles.  Nowhere in the world can one find specific models that outline how a socialist party runs a government.  It all depends on the level of development, public cognition and global circumstances of any given country.
Q:Can you describe your economic model using any particular terminology?
Neoliberalism is a failure as accepted even by President Ranil Wickremesinghe who advocated it. The Socialist camp collapsed in the world.  There are socialist governments in the world.  Other than China and Vietnam, other countries are not on a sound footing.  We believe in a uniquely Sri Lankan economic model based on socialist principles.  That is to enhance production and ensure its equitable distribution.
Q:What is the country which is closest to you in terms of economic policy?
I don’t think such a model can be found anywhere in the world. In our policy, there are numerous features similar to the Indian economic model such as the development of small, medium industries, GDP boost through cooperative societies, taxation aimed at protecting local industries. Like in Vietnam, we have export-oriented policies targeting the markets in the United States and Europe. We have features similar to the Singaporean model in terms of development of the service sector. If you insist on asking the closest country to our policy, we can cite Vietnam which also underwent a similar phase in its history.
Q:What is your plan to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI)?
For that, not only foreign policy, but also economic and political policies are important.  We need to follow a non-aligned foreign policy. It is a multi-polar world. The global clout of the United States and its currency is diminishing. Then, BRICS, as an organization, has evolved.   They engage in a new economic journey building financial institutions running counter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  At the latest BRICS summit, they wanted to expand it further.  There is a   conversation on a power bloc in the global south mightier than G7.  The African Union is developing. They talk about a common currency.  We need a non-aligned policy to deal with all.
However, it is important to bear in mind that Sri Lanka cannot develop disregarding its ties with India, the closest neighbour and the regional powerhouse.  India is a country that can influence Sri Lanka in numerous ways. We will go for cordial relations.  China is a key economic powerhouse in the world. It is located far from us, but we can get numerous economic benefits from it. We need to strike the right balance in ties with these countries.
We have failed to attract investment despite opening up the economy, setting up special economic zones and giving incentives. The reason is corruption.  Nobody can run a factory due to the current high electricity and fuel prices.  We can improve the Ease of Doing Business Index by rooting out corruption starting from the political level.   
Q:Your party’s politburo member K.D. Lalkantha said the party is even ready for an armed struggle if the need arises.  Do you still believe in your violent past?
In the latest opinion poll, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake is leading among all the prospective presidential candidates. Then, there is no need for us to take up arms once again. Are we mad to do it?  We believe in capturing power through electoral politics.  We need   public support and international backing. If we win democratically, we can get support from both ends.
Q:Then, are you denying what he said?
In his remarks, there is scope for one to interpret it in that way.  He said he was involved in the armed struggle in 1988/89.  He said he will not shy away from such action if the need arises in the future. This is interpreted in this manner. We completely rule out an armed struggle.  
Q:In your opinion is the 1988/89 struggle a past aberration?
Whether an armed uprising is good or bad depends on its end result.    In China, the government was formed in 1949 through an armed struggle. The armed struggles resulted in power capture in Vietnam and the United States.  If the struggle is won, it is hailed. If it is defeated, it is bashed.
Q:What is your view in retrospect of what you did?
We regret what happened at that time. We are shocked over what happened.  We wish it did not happen. We wish our party was not banned.  Whatever it is, we are shocked over what happened.
When we mobilise ex-military personnel politically, the government slanders us citing it as a move to launch another struggle.
Q:Did you reprimand Mr. Lalkantha over such remarks?
We discussed the matter internally.  We resolved that we should not make any statement that leaves scope for any such interpretation hereafter.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said even some religious leaders who maintain links with organized criminal gangs act with hypocrisy making remarks critical of the police crackdown on criminals.

Addressing a function in Homagama, he said politicians also indulge in such acts to demoralize the police. 

This is to distract the police operations . These elements have undertaken a contract . We encounter various challenges in the process including threats on personal safety . I , as the subject minister , am determined to forge ahead with these operations against all odds . The President gives me necessary courage for it. I request all concerned to boost the morale of the Police ,” he said .

He said the former President assigned this responsibility to him though he was unwilling to assume it first.

RANJITH SOYSA

Of late, some of the members of Sinhala community are receiving step motherly treatment from the racist Tamil politicians as well as the local administrations and in some instances from the  Police services too. The discriminatory policies impacting Sinhala villagers in Kokkilai bay area and Divulapthana in the East are being discussed regularly in the social media but unfortunately have failed to attract the attention of the main print and electronic media.

The Sinhala villagers living in Kokklai bay area having settled in these locations after the racial disturbances about 70 years ago still are not recognized by the local administration as some of them do not have the right to vote and many of them are living in lands with temporary permits even though they have fulfilled the conditions of permanent residency in the districts, The racist politicians have been interfering and influencing the district administrations to continue the unfortunate situation in which the Sinhala villagers are treated differently to all others living in the area. It is indeed unfair to refuse to provide them with basic human rights when the Government is bending over backwards to claim ownership of the concept of reconciliation.

Similarly, some of the Sinhala villages, in the East are targeted by the big business minded and racist Tamil politicians in the attempts to drive away the peasant Sinhala settlers who have been again living in these area for more than 70 years after they were at the receiving end of LTTE terror groups and having forced to leave their traditional villages. Suddenly, the regional administration under the cover of clearing Mahaveli land area began to engage in a process of ethnic cleansing by opening the agricultural plots of the farmers for thousands of cattle. While vast land area is developed by big land owners of Tamil origin they are compelling the Sinhala small landowners to handover their small plots to the cattle! The village, Digampthana is a classic example in which villagers are fighting for their very existence.

We have noted that the President and his political followers are attempting to strike a deal with Tamil expatriates with the expectation of investment capital and their obvious preference at this stage is not the basic HR of the poor Sinhala villagers in the North and the East. BUT we warn the Government that their policy of appeasement of the racist Tamil politics at the expense of basic HR of the beleaguered Sinhala poor people is to break out of bounds.

RANJITH SOYSA

Chanaka Bandarage

Open up Expressways for Most Traffic

Last week, it took a friend of mine 4 ½ hours to reach the Negambo’s Kochcchikade bridge from Colombo. This is insane. He said there was bumper to bumper traffic all throughout. At the same time the Katunayake Expressway – built after spending billions of rupees, had been empty.

This is also the case in  Galle /Hambanthota Expressway. Basically, it is empty – very few vehicles ply on it; especially beyond Mathara until Mattala. But the Galle Road is always chockablock full, up to the Benthota Bridge (and sometimes beyond).

Only about 20% of the country’s population – those who own a car/vehicle reap the benefit of the Expressways. A few luxury buses (who charge a higher fare) are allowed to carry passengers on Expressways; meaning the poor who does intercity travel on ordinary buses are excluded from using the Expressways.

Motorcycles (including scooters), three wheelers and InterCity Buses comprise more than 60% of Sri Lanka’s registered motorised vehicles.  These three categories are excluded from the Expressways.

The fact that Sri Lanka’s Expressways are confined only to high income earners is a clear anomaly.

This is discriminatory – all people are paying off the massive foreign debts borrowed to build the Expressways.

In the night, the Expressways are like ghost towns, they are totally empty. This is not so in developed countries. They are busy all the time.

Surely, the volume of traffic on our Expressways is insufficient.

Thus, the revenue that the government receives from them is less.

On the other hand, the roads that feed the Expressways (ie, High Level Road, Galle Road, Kandy Road, Old (Avissawella) Road, Negambo Road etc) are  jam-packed with vehicles especially with three wheelers, motorbikes and InterCity buses (poor man’s vehicles).  They should be allowed to ply on the Expressways.

Yes, Expressways must be opened up for these vehicles (the 3 categories mentioned in the above paragraph).

This could be carefully done as a Pilot Project for 3 months. If successful, the arrangement should be made permanent.

Allowing three wheelers, motorbikes and InterCity buses to ply on the expressways mean the Expressways will receive sufficient volume of vehicles. Not a single vehicle has been imported to the country in 3 years. So, there is relatively less vehicles on our roads now. But, once the import restriction is lifted, new vehicles will flow in. 

The system suggested herein is healthy for the government coffers, as due to it the Expressways will start receiving massive new revenue. Most importantly, this will be a major solution to the country’s nightmarish traffic problem. The traffic on the main arterial roads will be significantly reduced.

True some of the poor man’s vehicles may not be able to travel at the maximum speed of 100 km per hour, but do we really need to maintain such a high-speed limit? The most important issues are the cutting down of vehicular traffic on main roads and utilising Expressways to their maximum potential.  

In Sri Lanka, we are a small nation. It is possible to reach any destination by road within a relatively short period (say 4 -6 hours). Like other countries we do not travel thousands of kms in one trip.

Rather than the speed, having a smooth flow of traffic on Expressways is the most important factor. 

Because there are no traffic lights on Expressways, all the vehicles would travel smoothly on them – not at the current high speed though, but at a moderate speed.

Say, a maximum speed limit of  50 km per hour is set for three wheelers and scooters, and  70 km per hour for all other vehicles; we would be able to create a Win/Win situation.

During very busy periods (April New Year, Christmas holidays) the three wheelers and motorbikes could largely be confined to the left lane only or their access to the Expressways could be  totally curtailed.

Some may laugh at this proposition – that to allow motorcycles, 3 wheelers and inter city buses to ply on Expressways; only a bald, brave, visionary leader would embark on such a move. Lee Kwan Yu was not scared to ban chewing gum in Singapore (to maintain clean streets and public transport).

Of course car owners (especially the rich) will strongly oppose this suggestion – as they would not be able to drive at breakneck speed, and that they will have to share the Expressways with poor man’s vehicles.

Due to bumper to bumper traffic in all other roads, everyone suffers significantly currently.

A good leader will take decisions considering the best interests of the country.

In regards to Australia and New Zealand, motorcycles and intercity buses are allowed to run on their Expressways and they do not have three wheelers. Even push cyclists, huge container lorries are allowed on their Expressways. These two countries have only banned certain land vehicles (like tractors) and pedestrians from entering the expressways. Their Expressways are always busy (24/7) and earn terrific incomes for the governments.  The situation in most western countries is similar. They build their highways for all peoples, not just to a privileged few.

Light Rail

There is the talk that the government is again keen on building the Light Rail system from Malabe to Fort via Borella (Stage 1).  For this, they are seeking funds from Japan. It is possible that Japan may approve a soft loan.

True, this route has massive vehicular traffic. In any busy time, it takes about 10 – 15 minutes for a vehicle on Cotta Road side to cross Borella junction and reach Maradana Road side. Anyone would agree that this is insane.

It is also true that Light Rail can travel uninterruptedly above the ground; but that does not mean that it can solve Colombo’s traffic problem.

Light Rail has failed to solve traffic problems in Bangkok, Kuala Lampur and Tunis.

Parts of Malabe to Fort  roads are very narrow, especially in Cotta Road; the writer believes that Light Rail in some areas will run single track on both ways, for example around the Ayurveda junction and Welikada flyover. Then, this would significantly reduce the number of Light Rail cars that can be operated. This means Light Rail will not be able to cater to a very large number of people.

Light Rail intends to acquire lots of land, including private land; but these are highly congested areas. And, they are very valuable land.  The owners will no doubt put up stern fights against the acquisitions. Simply, there is hardly any privately owned space available in Stage 1 level for specific road widening.

As there will be lots of underground digging involved, it will take a long time to complete Stage 1. Those who reside in those areas will suffer significantly until the work is fully completed.

Proponents of Light Rail say that private car users will start using it; hence Colombo’s vehicular traffic will be reduced. It is difficult to agree with this. Empirical evidence suggests that those who are addicted to cars will continue to use them; they will not give up the addiction easily. The same rationale applies to motorcycle/scooter riders.

No doubt, Light Rail will have passengers, but they would not be much. Majority of them will be existing bus commuters; not the car and motorbike drivers.

What Light Rail would do is to take over some of the existing bus loads (in this Pilot Project route, about 95% is private buses, SLCTB is only about 5%). This means if Light Rail is to reduce Colombo’s traffic, that would only be in relation to reducing some bus operations. Is it worth spending such a lot of money then?

The writer invites readers to examine carefully  – should we improve the existing public bus and rail transport system or create the Light Rail?

All would agree that the first proposition is good and will save us lots of money.

This question compels us to examine Sri Lanka’s especially Colombo’s omnibus transport system:

To improve the bus transport, the government must take full charge of the operations. Currently private bus operators run the show.

In Colombo there are hardly any SLCTB buses being run. All the lucrative routes like 102, 103, 138, 154, 177 are in the hands of the public bus operators. Basically they have a larger say in determining the number of buses running on routes, issuing route permits, time keeping and preparing bus timetables.

The private bus operators want to make maximum profits. They would not like more buses on the routes. Fewer buses mean more opportunity to sardine-pack. Then, of course, more money for them.

Sadly this is what is happening today. The politicians may not know this reality, as they travel in luxury surrounded by bodyguarded vehicles.

The politicians ‘fly’ on our roads bypassing all traffic, sometimes even using Police sirens.

Basically, the private bus operators have the complete freehand to do whatever they want; the authorities keep a blind eye.

The private bus operators detest SLTB buses running in their routes. As there are less passengers, they do not want to run buses in the night, say after 730 pm,. This has also adversely affected the economy.

This is also the main reason why there are less people on streets at night. Sri Lankan cities have little night life, and this is one main reason for same. Not everyone has money to travel in three wheelers and taxis.

What a good, caring government must do is rather than spending billions of public funds on a seemingly useless Light Rail project, to improve the SLTB/private bus network, and also the trains. Rather than rickety old buses that run on lorry chassis, comfortable, automatic, A/C, buses must be introduced (like in Singapore and Kuala Lampur). 

In peak hours Paris/London/Melbourne, a suburban train leaves in every 2  5 minutes. There, people travel in comfort; most of the time they have a seat. In peak hours at Fort Station, a train leaves on the main/coastal lines in every 30 – 40 minutes. Hence, the enormously jampacked trains. About 65% of our commuters travel standing.

Why cannot the CGR introduce additional trains at peak hours?

This is not a big task (they want to see people suffering?).

To streamline the omnibus transport, the power and control that the private bus operations currently have must be taken away from them. It must firmly be in the  hands of the government.

In the current context, this is very difficult to achieve. Why? Because we do not have leaders who genuinely love the masses. Most of them are in the private bus owners’ payroll.

As stated before, we have narrow roads/streets in Sri Lanka, especially in Colombo. Most were built during the colonial period. The buses that we have are very large. They are too big for the roads/streets. That is the main reason for huge traffic jams and the large number of road accidents. The buses use loud horns unnecessarily. The Police does not take action.

The authorities must consider introducing smaller buses, like 26/18 seater buses, in some routes.  This will be in addition to the existing big buses. A blend of big and small buses is the best way forward. Small buses are ideal for night time transport (then, the 103 Fort to Borella, 138 Fort to Homagama can be able to run until midnight). 

Sri Lanka is one country where public transport is run solely based on profitability. This problem arose as a result privatising the public transport (in early 1980s).

They say that Mr MH Mohomed killed the CTB.

Public transport must be people focused. This is how they are run in developed countries.

Buses must be freely available at all times.

During CTB days buses were run until late nights regardless of whether there were passengers or not. There were 930 pm movies in cinema halls those days.  This is because there were CTB buses available for people to commute after watching late night movies.

The rule of thumb is that when a bus (or a train) is run regularly for a long period of time, even if it is in the night, that route will start picking passengers. Eventually there will be sufficient people to travel even late night.

What is required is strictly adhearing to the timetable.

As they can be jampacked, private bus operators like big buses. They are money making machines.

Their only focus is to increase passenger numbers. They pay scant regard to passenger interests/comforts. The fact that they cause huge delays to passengers is immaterial to them.  They know there is no one to check/complain to.

Private buses (not SLTB) when running, remain stationary at bus halts for extra-ordinarily long times. See this example:

The writer was informed by a bus commuter that her 178 private bus from Narahenpita to Mattakkuliya stops and wait at some bus halts for over 10 minutes. In Kosgashandiya, it stays stationary for about 15 minutes to pick commuters. This means the whole journey which should take about 45 minutes could take about 90 minutes.

As they have no other alternative, people have become used to this rort. People suffer in silence. The massive time wastages adversely affect the economy too.

Due to lack of sunlight the ground underneath the Light Rail concrete slab is always dark; also that valuable area is unproductive (note areas under Colombo flyovers – Dematagoda, Nugegoda, Dehiwala; under the Katunayake expressway in Ragama; under the Light Rail tracks in Bangkok/Tunis). Light Rail introduces a new darkness to the environment; the brightness in the townships will end.

Light Rail will not solve Colombo’s appalling traffic problem. The only solution is to where possible widen existing roads, build new roads (underground/overhead roads/flyovers should be considered), ban parking on main roads (build multistorey/underground car parks) and significantly improve the passenger bus/rail transport (encourage as much as possible people to give up cars/motorbikes). As indicated before, introduction of small buses, in addition to existing large buses, is a must. Any opposition by private bus operators must be disregarded.

Metro as opposed to Light Rail:

Instead of Light Rail, an underground Metro rail system like in New Delhi, Mumbai, Dhaka (Bangladesh), Kyiv is ideal for Colombo (why drive a Maruti when the opportunity provides for a BMW).

The advantage of Metros is that they are linked with the existing railway system. The writer believes that a complete/very comprehensive  underground Metro rail project in Colombo will be about 20 times more expensive than the full Light Rail project. But, in the long run it is much better.

Meticulous digging of the surface to create a very elaborate underground Metro network is a humongous job.

The writer believes that electrifying our existing railway network is more important than Light Rail (at least from Fort to Polgahawela and Fort to Panadura). Since Independence, governments have indicated this but no one had the audacity to undertake it. The benefits of train electrification are enormous. In South Asia, only India has electric trains. 

End

In summary, rather than Light Rail, the government should utilise money to improve the existing public transport system. Light Rail cannot stop Colombo’s traffic problem.  An underground Metro is much better.

At the moment our bus/train services are appalling. Just like in the 1970s and 80s, people are still traveling in jampacked, old buses/trains. Some people die after falling off the footboards.

These are hallmarks of a chronic 3^rd world society.

There is no incentive for vehicle owners to switch to public transport.

The public transport commuters undergo untold hardships; an increasing number of them are women. They still suffer sexual harassment in jampacked buses and trains. Special buses and train compartments must be allocated for female commuters.

MIKE WHITNEY 

Yemen has said it would stop the blockade of Israel-bound ships as soon as sufficient food, water and medicine are allowed to enter Gaza. Guess that’s asking too much.” Elizabeth Murray@elizabethmurra

Yemen’s Houthi militia has shown how a small army can take on the American Empire and win. They have shown how courage, resolve and commitment to principle can act as a force-multiplier allowing a much weaker military to ‘punch above its weight’. They’ve also shown that a few well-placed missiles in key locations on the world’s most critical shipping lanes, can send tremors across the global economy and shake the rules-based order” to its foundations. In short, the Houthis have shown that David can bring down Goliath without breaking a sweat, provided that David maintains his perch along the Bab-al-Mandab Strait.

Here’s what’s going on: The Houthis occupy an area along the narrowest part of the Red Sea that is the most important shipping corridor in the world. It is responsible for 12% of international trade and almost one-third of global container traffic.” When the movement of ships is disrupted along this waterway, insurance premiums skyrocket, prices on retail merchandise rise, and oil prices go through the roof. That is why western powers are committed to keeping these shipping lanes open at all times whatever the cost. Here’s some background from CNN:

Full Report

The Houthis Have Biden By the Shorthairs, by Mike Whitney – The Unz Review

Hint: it has to do with imperialism. BT’s Kei Pritsker explains the crucial role Israel plays in US domination of the Middle East and geopolitics.

Anup Sinha -a security and strategic affairs researcher and freelance columnist

The upcoming national election is now a hot topic in Bangladesh. There is no end to people’s enthusiasm around the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections which is scheduled to held on January 7, 2024. Out of the 44 parties registered in the Election Commission, 27 parties are participating in the elections this time. The participation of 27 parties actually implies a participatory, competitive and contested election. There is no pressure, many parties have come to the polls with independent decisions. It is clear that the 12th National Assembly elections will become competitive and contested. Already there are candidates of 27 registered parties including Awami League, Jatiya Party and many independent candidates in 300 seats. Therefore, it is visible that there is no shortage of people’s enthusiasm around the elections. In 300 seats, the total number of candidates from various parties and independents stands at 1,896. Trinamool BNP and BNM are in the election. Meanwhile, multiple independent candidates are electing in all the constituencies.

The Election Commission is preparing to complete the polls properly to fulfill the country’s constitutional obligation. The President has authorized the deployment of the army to conduct the elections in a peaceful manner. Already 66 returning officers and 592 assistant returning officers have been appointed. Voting will be held in about 42,000 centers. The EC has also finalized the constituency wise voter list.

This election is significant for several reasons. The 12th National Assembly election is adding a different dimension to the scenario of various incidents and dramas. Since the exercise of suffrage is essential to the institutionalization of democracy and constitutions, without elections there is no transition to a modern welfare state. So common people participate in voting, making the election competitive and competitive is now everyone’s goal. People of the country will participate in this election spontaneously. The election is going through all obstacles. That’s the big thing. That’s why, upcoming 7 January 2024 national election crucial to democratic development in Bangladesh.

By nature, Bengalis are a celebratory nation, so there is no end to the enthusiasm of this nation even around elections. Elections are also important for the development and progress of the country. In this case, the decision to boycott the election is considered against the country and the people. It is regrettable that not only boycotts, but also resort to arson-murder-killing-terror and anarchy to prevent elections.

We have seen police killings in broad daylight on highways, burning of passenger buses, which is never acceptable in a civilized society. But BNP continues to wreak havoc with this sudden demand. Their demand is the so-called caretaker government. But the Supreme Court of the country struck down the caretaker government with the consent of the Fifteenth Amendment (May 10, 2011) and all major parties.

Now there is no option to opt through the caretaker government structure for constitutional obligations. Because it will weaken the obligation of the constitution. Therefore, where the entire nation is moving forward along the election roadmap, BNP is gradually falling behind and becoming isolated. The general population is peaceful, they do not like anything destructive. Therefore, the weapon of strike blockade has also become blunt.

Analyzing the history, it can be seen that the election has acted as an indicator of national awakening and directional change of this country. For example, the victory of Haque-Bhasani-Suhrawardy in the ‘United Front’ elections of 1954 was a blow against the Pakistani colonial regime.

Bengali self-identity played a role as a regulator of identification and individual identification. The participation and absolute victory of Bangladesh Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu in the 1970 elections prepared the direct stage for the liberation war.

Victory in the 1970 elections under the leadership of Bangabandhu could not be called a separatist movement by the outside world. Therefore, this boycott of BNP cannot be accepted as a wise decision.

The world is playing another geopolitical game with the upcoming elections. The US is brazenly interfering in our elections. This unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of an independent and sovereign state cannot be accepted in any way. America is threatening sanctions with baseless fanciful allegations of subtle rigging. But we are an independent sovereign nation. This is our freedom that we got in exchange for the blood of 3 million martyrs. We are not beholden to anyone; we will make our own decisions.

Our country will not run according to the prescription of any foreign power. The government system will change as per rules. We have a constitution, on the basis of which the country will move forward. Bangladesh is now moving forward along the development roadmap.

We are transitioning from a low-income country to a middle-income country. Sheikh Hasina announced the outline of Smart Bangladesh by 2041. Bangladesh is going to reach the level of a developed country by 2039.

The next election will surely be meaningful. The people of the country will exercise their right to vote by removing all obstacles, the elections will be fair and participatory. The continuity of the country’s constitution and democracy will remain intact. This is desirable.

Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in food. Garments and manpower sector are increasing foreign exchange earnings. Bangladesh ranks second in shrimp export in the world. Also, another sector of Bangladesh’s foreign exchange earnings is peacekeeping missions.

The gradual development and achievement of Bangladesh is the reason for the burning of some-anti liberation forces. So, these anti-development forces want to take Bangladesh backward. They have not brought any welfare to this country and will not bring it in the future. People of the country need to be careful and aware about them.

The progress that Bangladesh has made is evident in terms of visible development. We have built Padma Setu with our own money. Besides, metro rail in Dhaka, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tunnel, railway line up to Cox’s Bazar, elevated expressway etc. are unique achievements of the government.

Payra seaport, Matarbari power plant, Rampal power plant and many more mega projects are waiting for inauguration in near future. These achievements are the product of good governance. On the other hand, the government has provided electricity to the rural areas of the country.

The country is gradually moving towards digitalization. The labor market export rate is increasing day by day. allowance, widow allowance etc. Housing is ensured for every homeless citizen through Asharyan scheme. In order to continue these developments, it is essential to maintain continuity in the governance of the country.

Some opposition coalitions know that they cannot come to power through normal constitutional processes, so they want to destabilize the country by resorting to subterfuge. They are muddying the waters to come to power through the back door.

By boycotting the 2014 elections, BNP has become isolated from the people. This time, the plan to boycott the election will take BNP further away from the people. Mandates are a natural way to change power, but some opposition coalitions seek to manipulate elections through so-called caretaker governments to come to power.

In the past we have seen elections through four caretaker government systems, is it 100% neutral? No one can be impartial except the mentally retarded. Elections under a caretaker government are not guaranteed to be 100% neutral.

Incidentally, where there is an Election Commission, why the question of a caretaker government arises – in the United States of America or India, no one disagrees with the change of power with the Election Commission, there is no question. So why do we talk so much?

The real thing is the practice and implementation of democracy. Don’t they want our society to become more civilized and sophisticated according to the rules of democracy?

And there are examples of elections without some opposition parties in various countries in Asia and Africa. And here independent candidates with 27 parties are also a force. So, the next election will surely be meaningful. The people of the country will exercise their right to vote by removing all obstacles, the elections will be fair and participatory. The continuity of the country’s constitution and democracy will remain intact. This is desirable.

Even in the midst of various problems and crises, including arson, the country will move forward by arranging this inclusive the election. All concerned must behave responsibly so that the elections to be held on 7 January 2024 can be free, fair and impartial. A fair election can give a new direction to the nation. Prevention of corruption, increasing absolute tolerance, practicing democracy, strengthening the electoral system, accountable public administration, effective parliament – above all, the new government should focus on fulfilling the public expectations.

By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island

Wijeyadasa pushes for suspension of Parate executions:

‘Country paying heavy price for not having proper tax regime, favourable treatment to some’

Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, has assured the local business community, troubled by parate executions, that laws will be brought in to regulate the practice. The Justice Minister said he would work with Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana to convince the Cabinet-of-Ministers to change the law.

 The assurance was given at a meeting held at the Jasmin Hall, BMICH, where the former President of the Bar Association explained how the law meant to recover unpaid loans and interest thereon was brazenly abused.

 The gathering was told that approximately 1,400 businesses were already in distress, especially in Colombo, due to the one-sided swift action taken by banks to recover unpaid loans by seizing and auctioning mortgaged properties without taking into consideration the political-economic-social crisis caused by the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis.

 Minister Rajapakse said that either the existing law, the Banking Act no 30 of 1988, had to be overhauled or a new Act introduced to prevent the further deterioration of the economy.

 Parate execution can be carried out only by the licensed commercial banks of Sri Lanka.

Following Dr. Rajapakse’s declaration, the Sri Lanka Banks Association (SLBA) stressed that the banks exercised what the Association called their legally-enshrined right to parate execution as a last resort. The Association declared that the overarching objective was to protect depositors’ funds that had been lent to borrowers.

 The Association emphasised that the parate execution remedy is aimed at recovering mortgaged assets from willful defaulters and businesses that were no longer viable.

 The SLBA, which represents all the licensed banks in the country, pointed out that banks have extended moratoriums on debt repayment for a long period exceeding 48 months in some cases, and that in instances of willful default by borrowers, the banks owe a duty to their depositors’ whose funds are at risk, to recover the debts overdue and minimize the losses on loans granted.

Legal sources pointed out that the association never bothered to issue statements when huge amounts of money recklessly lent and overdue from top end borrowers were written off as bad debts.

 Minister Rajapakse told Friday’s meeting that before the change of government, in 1977, only the Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank and State Mortgage and Investment Bank were empowered to carry out parate executions. However, subsequently private banks and financial institutions, having made representations to the then President, secured parliamentary approval to join the club.

 The government disregarded the concerns expressed by the Bar Association at that time, the Justice Minister said, alleging there had been many instances of misuse at the expense of the clients experiencing financial difficulties.

 Valuable properties that had been seized under parate execution  had been bought for a song and then sold keeping a huge profit margin, the Justice Minister said, asserting that a deeply flawed law caused injustice.

 Dr. Rajapakse warned unless the continuing manipulation of the law wasn’t stopped through an amendment to the existing Act or by introducing a new Act, the banks, too, would have to face far reaching consequences. The significant depletion of industrial and commercial borrowers under the dire current circumstances and significant weakening of the client base as a whole could have a negative impact on the entire banking system, the Justice Minister warned.

 The President’s Counsel also questioned ‘irrevocable power of attorney’ that lenders obtain from borrowers over mortgaged properties while declaring his intention to bring in necessary amendments to restore public confidence in the system. The Minister pointed out that the ‘irrevocable power of attorney’ couldn’t be done away with. This is wrong and not practiced anywhere in the world,” the outspoken Minister said.

 The government couldn’t forget that a section of the business community had been subjected to such unfair practices at a time the people were burdened with taxes and faced further increased levies, such as VAT from January 1, 2024. How could one do business under such difficult circumstances, the Dr. Rajapakse asked?

 The MP, who had first entered Parliament, back in 2004, on the then PA National List, found fault with successive governments for failing to adopt a proper tax policy. Declaring that once adopted a particular tax regime should be in place for at least a decade, lawmaker Rajapakse pointed out how the country suffered for want of proper tax strategy.

 The Minister told The Island that the way governments had handled the economy was questionable and those responsible owed the country an explanation and apology. Dr. Rajapakse questioned the utter failure on the part of the Central Bank to recover the loans granted to various failed finance companies. I raised this issue in Parliament recently but unfortunately those responsible are yet to take tangible measures in this regard,” Dr. Rajapakse said.

 Referring to a declaration he made in Parliament on November 15, this year, Dr. Rajapakse said that Mercantile Credit, one of the beneficiaries of government grants, was yet to pay back Rs. 30,000 million it owed to the Central Bank.

 The Minister said so during the debate on the Second Reading of Budget 2024.

 It is a massive borrowing by a single entity that is more than what his Ministry’s vote amounts to,” Dr. Rajapakse said. Those behind the scheme hadn’t been punished, the Minister charged.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Kandy, Dec 24 (Daily Mirror)- A suspected Covid-19 death was reported from the National Hospital in Kandy yesterday (23).

According to sources, the victim is a 65-year-old man from the Atgala area of Gampola.

The individual was initially admitted with breathing difficulties and a lung infection, and a post-mortem PCR test confirmed his Covid-19 infection, according to sources from National Hospital, Kandy.

This incident marks a notable event as it is reported after a considerable period of relative calm since the conclusion of the Ccvid-19 pandemic. 

Meanwhile, Prof. Chandima Jeewandara, Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, recently said that with the uptick of cases of influenza-like illnesses in Sri Lanka, JN.1 — an Omicron sub-lineage may be seen in the community.

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka received over 1.4 million tourists by the end of the third week of December, the latest statistics released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) show.

The SLTDA weekly report on tourist arrivals released on Saturday shows that 1,404,998 tourists have arrived by Dec. 21, 2023.

According to the report, 128,047 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka between Dec. 1 and Dec. 21.

In 2022, Sri Lanka only received 719,978 tourists for the whole year, the SLTDA data showed.

India, Russia, Britain, Germany, Australia, and China are among the top source markets in December.

Tourism is one of Sri Lanka’s top foreign revenue generators. In late November, the government waived visa fees for nationals from China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan to boost tourism in the coming season.

Source: Xinhua

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka Police together with the Police Special Task Force (STF) has arrested over 13,000 suspects over drugs related crimes since the launch of ‘Operation Yukthiya’ on 17 December up to now, the police said.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa stated that accordingly, a total of 13,666 individuals were arrested for drugs related crimes while 1,097 of them have been sent for rehabilitation.

මෑත කාලයේ හමු වූ විශාලතම ගංජා වගාව ”තාත්තයි පුතයි, කිසිම රැකියාවක් කරන්නෙ නෑ සර්…’