1Gota Go home protest was started on 9th April 2022 at Gall Face in front of the Presidential Secretariate.
2 The first Massive public protest at Jubilee post demanding him to resign was held on May 31. 2022 at Mirihana near the President’s house. Instead of resigning, The President, shifted to the Presidential House, in Fort next morning
3Leading Monks have started a death-unto-fast on 8th July in Fort
4 The Fort and Cinnamon Garden Courts have turned down a request by Police to ban public protest in Fort on 7th July.
5 GoTabhaya has failed to fulfilled all the 3 basic functions of the State namely 1) Raksha (protection of the State from external aggression), 2) Paalana (maintenance of law and order within the country and 3) Yogakshema (safeguarding the welfare of the people)
6 On the 6th of July he had to leave the Parliament as a failed President and due to protests by the members against his presence in the House and one who has lost the faith of the Parliament
7 Today the whole country has invaded his official residence and the Presidential Secretariate and already ousted him as the President of this country. Therefore, now he has no mandate to continue.
8 The massive media campaign requesting the General Public to join the Gota Go Home Campaign at the Galle face on 9th
9 About 100 monks of the Three Chapters walking from Wattala to Fort asking the President to quit on the 8th
10 The Mahanayaka Theras of the three Chapters and the Archbishop of Colombo Asking him to resign as he has failed as the President
11, As a person who had voted him with high hope on 26th Nov 2019 and campaign for his massive victory, my serious doubts on his capacity and ability, to run the country began to surface on the first day he visited the Motor Commissioners Dept with prior notice as his first official visit as the President of the country to inspect its day- to -day work. This is a funny situation for a Head of a State to engage when there is a well- established mechanism to do this routine work with a Cabinet Minister, a Ministry headed by a Secretary and a Head of that particular Department at the top to get the work done efficiently without corruption and to guarantee delivery of services to the general public under the supervision of a Commissioner General. If at all the purpose of his visit was to make a visit to check whether things are happening the correct way, he should have made a surprise visit without informing any one or gone there incognito as it was done by our ancient Kings and even by President Premadasa.
12. This incident clearly demonstrates the ignorance of the President of the Country on the ABCD of Governance and Public Administration of the country.
13.The same kind of inspections continued even thereafter most probably as advised by his Chief Advisor Lalith Weeratunga spending millions with zero result all over the Island
14His Gamasamanga PilIsandarak was another big fast According to my personal experience at my own village on 13th Feb 2002 Gamasamanga Pilisandark, that was another dead rope given to Gotabhaya probably by his Chief adviser Lalith Weeratunga to build up direct contact with the villagers, through the Pradhesiya Sbaha Memebers bypassing the Mahinda loyal Members of Parliament and also the Public Servants on whom he never had any trust as he has selected all army men to man all the Key Ministries and State Corporation and ruined them thersby.. Although, he came to Meemure, my village. on my invitation dated 25th Dec 2021 not only he did not say that but he also completely ignored me on the advice of local politicians and when he saw me, he asked me “Obatumaath mei Gamed’a’? After he finished his going round and started the meeting I sent a note to Laith requesting for five minutes to welcome the President to my native village. But that ungrateful man whom I recommended as my Additional Secretary to PM Mrs Bandaranayaka in Sept 1994, that paved the way up for him as Secretary to Prime Minister and Secretary to the President and still later Chief Adviser to the President, which post he continues to hold up to date did not give me that five minutes. Had it been President Premadasa he would have invited me to the stage and given the first Chair on his right and asked the younger generation to take me as the example of a son of that village who having read the alphabet in that village school rose up to be the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister in this country.
The way he humiliated me in my own village on that day took my mind back to the vow Kautilya took on the day he was humiliated by Dhananandha, not to tie his forelock knot again until the Dhananandanas are no more.
Today, now that all the 6.9 million who voted for him in, as the President (including me and my wife) by mis-calculations have risen against him and chased him out of his private house, Presidential Secretariate and finally the Presidential House, I am happy to see that my dream and wish I conceived that day on the compound of my own village school has come true.
Since then, I have warned him several times to correct himself lest the angry people of this country who put him on that thrown will come and pull him down and drag him on the road” as Mao Tsetung has once said
That day I determined to see him is out recollecting the vow By Kautilya That he will not tie his forelock not until Dhananada is no mor, the Emperor of Bharath.
Today the whole country has completely lost trust in him as a failed man. Therefore, he has no legal or moral right to remain in power any more. As such he should resign forthwith.
Why Ranil Wickramasinha should also resign immediately
1 His appointment as PM was unconstitutional and therefore, illegal and he has no mandate from the people or the Parliament to continue as the Prime Minister.
2 He has miserably failed during the last two months Prime and Minister of Finance Minister.
3 He has failed in his entire political carrier for the last 52 years.
4He has a notorious record as the only Prime Minister of a country who planned to rob the Nation’s Central Bank twice in 2015 and 2016. and thereafter send his agent to safe hiding in Singapore and has not helped the Government to get him down to be produced in 0curt.
5 He does not represent an electorate and as such he has no legal mandate to be in Parliament
6 Above all he does not have the qualities of a national leader to lead this nation, neither he has a vision on nation building
7 He is also the man who is responsible for the nemesis of the classical political Party UNP in this country.
The history of the CIA (aka NED) is replete with False-Flag operations hatched to topple governments, initiate wars, stage Coups and starve countries into submission.
A False-Flag operation has been defined as a political or military act orchestrated in such a way that it appears to have been carried out by a party that is not in fact responsible.
The False-Flag operation in Colombo, that began five meters from the American Embassy on 09 May 2022, was no exception; it was the signal to precipitate the US inspired coup d’état that would illegally seize political power from the legitimate government of Sri Lanka, democratically chosen by the people.
Mahinda Rajapakse, America’s bete noir, was ousted as Prime minister.
It all began when a group of agent provocateurs, wearing protective helmets and armed with batons, infiltrated a group of marchers showing solidarity with the former Prime Minister who had refused to heed President Rajapakse’s call to step-down as Prime Minister.
Of a sudden, without provocation, the agent provocateurs began attacking protestors camping on the pavement. There was mayhem and very soon a major brawl erupted.
That was the cue for trained urban cadres to join the fracas. It was anarchy all the way; the ‘peaceful’ protestors armed with batons went on the rampage, torching houses, destroying property, over-turning vehicles and dumping large buses into lakes.
During a night of terror, the houses of nearly 70 Legislators were razed to the ground by well-organised armed protestors, operating across the country.
The Prime Minister was lucky to escape with his life, with assassins searching to do a Gaddafi-number on him.
Reports suggest that the poles, backpacks and helmets used by the ‘peaceful-protestors’ were conveniently placed in restaurants and eating houses in the vicinity, for the protestors to ‘grab-and-go’, like sandwiches.
According to unconfirmed reports, investigative agencies are looking for a tall, gangling, Caucasian female, in black track suit seen moving in the vicinity of a nearby embassy, who may be in a position to help investigators on the ’grab-and go’ items used by the protestors.
Prime Minister Rajapakse, with his life in peril, was compelled to resign, under duress. The impression created by the False Flag operation was that he was responsible for the happenings on 09 May 2022.
The operation in Colombo, mirrored the False-Flag operation in Ukraine.
In October 2013, a cash-strapped Ukrainian Government decided against signing a lop-sided Trade-Agreement with the EU; the agreement would have opened Ukraine’s economy to European imports without reciprocal concessions to Ukrainian exports.
The Americans adjured Ukraine to ink the agreement.
The Ukrainian Government found it more attractive to accept instead, a $15 billion bailout package from Russia.
The US was unhappy with this decision.
They prompted two paramilitary groups, – Svoboda Party and Right Sektor – recipients of CIA funds and trained by the 33rd Infantry Brigade in Illinois, to demonstrate their opposition by establishing a protest site in the city of Kyiv, demanding that Ukraine accept the EU offer.
These ultra-right Ukrainian gangs, had previously fought, under US military command, as mercenaries, in America’s invasions of Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria.
In response, the gangs occupied Maidan-Square (like the Galle Face) and established a barricaded anarchial Zone; the activities of the gangs were embellished, with sections of the TV media (like Maharaja TV channels) giving extensive coverage to the insurrectionists.
The television cameras captured the scenes inside the Square, magnifying the visuals and projecting to the world a delusory portrayal of events at Maidan Square; the cameras alluded that the visuals transmitted from the city Square, mirrored the views of Ukraine.
Inside the anarchical zone, (like at the Galle Face) the fascist youth establishing libraries, workshops, beauty parlours, tents, bedding, bathrooms, toilets, food outlets et all.
Victoria Nuland, the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the time and putative mastermind of the protests, reminded the EU that the CIA had invested 5 million USD for this project of overthrowing the legitimate government of President Yanukovych, un-constitutionally changing the existing Constitution and ensconcing in power a US apologist who would lead the country into NATO and the IMF.
About two weeks prior to the Coup, Nuland, was caught on tape disagreeing with the EU representative as to who should lead Ukraine after the Coup; Nuland insisted on Arseniy Yatsenyuk, abrasively dismissing the EU nomination of pugilist, Vitali Klitschko.
Events after the Coup validated the view that the Americans were behind the putsch.
On 20 Feb 2014, the stakes were raised. Some buildings in close proximity to the protest site, controlled by ‘Right Sektor’ gangs were surreptitiously occupied by snipers.
Coinciding with this sinister move, some agent-provocateurs armed with ‘grab-and go’ paraphernalia like batons, shirts (with distinct shoulder sleeve insignia (
) and helmets and, trained by the US in ‘urban-warfare’, unobtrusively merged with protestors to infiltrated the Square.
At dawn on Thursday, 20th Feb 2014, in a false-flag operation, snipers began shooting at random and the ‘grab-and-go’ baton wielders wearing helmets went into action.
It was a blood bath; the snipers fired indiscriminately at both the protestors and the government forces alike.
The events of the day, accompanied by a barrage of propaganda that the President was behind the shooting, radicalised the protests.
Mobs rampaged, Parliament was overrun, terrified Legislators – under coercion – changed the Constitution as demanded by the anarchists and by 22nd February the President was on the run dodging fascist assassins, contracted to kill him.
On 24 February 2014, the President was unconstitutionally removed from office and on 27th Feb, Nuland’s choice, Yatsenyuk, was unconstitutionally inducted as Prime Minister of Ukraine by the plotters of the Coup.
I have no dispute with any body who says that mismanagement and corruption have been the main reasons for the current dollar shortage which is the reason for the oil and gas queues and the consequent misery.
The COPA Committee sittings televised nearly daily shows that this corruption is not confined to politicians only but also rife among top govt officials without whose cooperation the politicians can’t get their commissions .
The answere to the problem then is finding the dollars in the immediate term , medium , term and long term.
All the finance ministers in the last 18 months have only been concentrating on finding dollars through further loans , from India, China, Japan, IMF and world bank.
The two quickest ways for SL to earn the dollars not borrow the dollar, s is the way Sri Lanka did it till 2018 , ie through Tourism ($4-5 Billion) and foreign worker remittances ($6-7Billion), when with Covid 19 both of these stopped
Now both of these have opened and are back . When SL opened its doors to tourists inJan ‘22, 30,000 came , Feb ‘22 60,000 came , March ‘22 106,000 .At our peek in 2018 we got about 210,000 pm , 2.4 billion in 2017/18 per annum despite Easter bombing bringing in a revenue of $4-5 billion per annum
Since April 22,, the start of the Very, very justifiable Aragala to get rid of Gota and all the mismanaging, incompetent & allegedly and sometimes established corrupt Rajapaksha s, Sri Lanka’s tourism has collapsed with June having less 1000/ day despite next door Maldiveshaving a tourism Boom exploiting the pent up demand for sun and sand after two years of lockdown in Europe.
Today, I saw on TV a European family coming through Katunayake with cycles for mum and dad and hooded attachements for the two Children.Tourists want come to SL, and repeatedly.The Russians were coming 250/ flight 3 days / wk with Putin publicly asking it’s citizens to go to Sri Lanka, till some scheming forces created the Aroflot debacle, making SL loose even the Russians.
The scenes of Aragala and Gota Gama puts off tourists. This leads to less dollars, les oil and gas, then longer gas and oil queues , then even less tourists, then even less dollars and even longer queues so the escalating downward spiral of dollars and what follows as above, continues.
If the increasing tourist arrivals till April was allowed to continue the queues and misery today would be much less if not at all.
Those in the Aragala must accept at least some of that. Though they did not cause the problem , though the politicians and to some extent govt officials caused the problem, However and sadly, now, Aragalites are contributing to preventing its resolution.
The world media are focusing their Cameras and Mics on them . Can’t they atleast make known by word and banner that we want tourist to come back in droves.
The other source of dollars before were remittances. The workers r back overseas but the message from Aragala grounds is don’t send your dollars through the banks”.So the money exchangers get loads of dollars but they don’t clear the gas and oil ships.So the queues get longer and the misery gets more and more.
At least this message to remit your money to SL & it should be sent through SL banks should be loud and clear from the Aragalites.
Dear Aragalites, pease do these. The long term solution is to build beyond tourists and remitances.
The most sensible suggestion for continuing cash flow so far, is what I have seen from Dammika P starting with his 10year residency program for $ 100,000!dollars which RW seems to be stalling. 50 such applications are stalled at the Treasury and hundreds more are in the queue. All these people are already iin SL on short term visas . DP has published in the net his very credible more extensive program for cash flow of dollars, led by Tertiary Education institutions for foreign students using SL’s very educated teachers. DPis already offering multiple courses for school children at all levels and in tertiary education, through his DP Education” portal, using SL’s best teachers entirely free of any charge
The many other ways to a long term resolution of the dollar crisis id through , further developing our agriculture & Industry ,(Agro, IT, Service, Manufacturing , Apparel ) where Colombo Port city and Hambantota Industrial Zone stand prominent. Another important venture is Renewable energy , where Mannar Island Wind and Solar Energy projects stand prominent . Sri Lankans should desist from being mislead into thinking that every foreign investment creating new dollarsout of bear unproductive land is selling the country
Another important way out of long oil and gas queues is to find our own Gas & Oil. Ex Minister Gammanpila till a few months ago, mapped out carefully the extensive Mannar, offshore Gas resources using new areal photography technology , enacted the necessary legislation to protect exploration from corruption as happened in countries like Nigeria, had plans to execute the exploration at no cost to SL [paying the explorers using part of the revenue, even upto 50%. He was due to attend a conference of Offshore Oil Explorers in Texas on 6th of March to sell his plans . Unfortunately he was removed as minister on the 3rd of March. These plans have to be urgently revived and executed. I was pleased to see the COPE committee headed by Anura Yapa, instructing officials do so. However, I fear for success of this, it would need an enthusiastic Ministerial leadership and push, most preferably Udaya Gammanpila himself Irrespective of all of these every SL should seek to get tourists and foreign worker remitances back immediately to SL Banks to end SL’s misery as fast as possible. The Aragalites should give leadership to this. Tourists Remitances enhancements in Agriculture , Industry, Rnewable energy and SL gas exploration, Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM
We are in the midst of a political crisis emerging out of an economic crisis. People’s emotions are high as a result of the sufferings they have to undergo affecting their homes & livelihoods. While debt has been carried forward and made worse with every successive governments, no government is elected to make excuses for non-performance or inability to come up with alternative solutions. Parliament today is a home & home for politicians majority of whom have served in every party or are related to members in other parties. This is one big Parliamentary family who think they can fool masses with rhetoric. It has therefore reached boiling point where masses are of the view that they do not wish to have entire Parliament & the Executive President. These emotions have to be realistic. The country cannot fall into anarchy. We cannot jump from one crisis to create another crisis. People have to be aware of the constitutional and legal restrictions at play. Majority understand that it is pointless changing heads or chairs to bring those who cannot get the funds needed to provide interim relief. Who can bring funds to last at least 8 months and who can use the 8 months to plan revenue modes to sustain the remaining period while paving avenues to pay back funding with a plan to also pay back previous funding, is what Sri Lanka needs to do. 21 out of the 29 National List are professionals. Have they not performed? Have they not been given the opportunity to perform or do we need a new set of professionals who can perform.
The 29 member national list was created to make way for professionals who could not campaign and win elections but whose inputs were considered important for policy making. As such political parties were supposed to present their list of professionals to the Election Commissioner prior to elections.
Eventually, an allocation meant for professionals came to be hijacked by political parties to insert politicians who could not face elections due to likely defeat. Not stopping there, these political parties went on to even remove nominated national list members to accommodate defeated party candidates. The latest example is the present PM himself – rejected in 2020 but re-entering parliament after removing the national list nominee who should have been in parliament.
21 out of the 29 National list MPs are first-timers.
Some of these are professionals / attorneys/ academics – it would be interesting to see how they have performed since August 2020.
Note correction: Yadamini – Engineer / ICT Professional
What are our options
Electoral reforms and new voting system to enable voters to vote suitable candidates at the next election. Criteria must include exclusion of politicians who have served 2 parliamentary elections. If the President can be elected only twice, same provisions must apply to Parliament.
People must come to terms with the fact that an elected Parliament cannot be removed by protests. Look at the chaos unfolding in the UK after over 50 resignations. Simply changing heads in a corrupt Parliament and MPs with controversial records against their name, is simply a façade and replacing corrupt with corrupt. Therefore, the better option is to pressurize the entire Parliament to curb their wastage/corruptions & expose them so that the next election even first time entrants who are not performing will not get re-elected.
Moratorium on loan repayment negotiated with funding bodies without unilaterally declaring country bankrupt as Sabry and Nandalal did. This is to buy some space to build up Sri Lanka’s revenue.
Relook at all State Operated Enterprises & revamp them (not privatized them) – from COPE/COPA reports it is clear that the primary reason for losses are the political appointees, poor management, unsuited Boards, corruptions, wastage, unfair salaries and allowances. All these must be cut & new targets given. An Enterprise Management Commission must be set up with mandate to choose & remove heads & boards of SOEs & turn them into profit centres. This must be immediately planned to enable profits to generate in order to reduce loan taking in the future.
Invite investments in keeping with Sri Lanka’s developmental goals without causing national security threat. Simply because a foreign government or multinational company agrees to bring a large investment – before giving tax holidays, resident visas and other perks – a feasibility study should ensure there is no environmental impact, social issues, national security threat & what is the advantage Sri Lanka accrues from the investment. Simply because kickbacks and commissions and lobbying takes place Sri Lanka is not getting anywhere with such investments which may also include privatizing our assets & resources.
Given that 21 out of the 29 National List MPs are already professionals/academics if these have not performed to expectations (who decides that?) then political parties must come up with names of those who can bring the funds and revamp the political apparatus in particular all of the Governments revenue generating areas from which the govt not only repays loans taken but runs the government/country.
Fanfare over Civil Society” inclusion – let it be clearly pointed out that any individuals who are getting salaries from foreign sources are loyal to these sources and not the country. While their achievements” are heralded in society, in reality these are fulfilling the targets and orders given to them by their paymasters. Thus, these are not national or to the benefit of the nation. Such individuals should not be considered suitable to be in Parliament or on any Enterprise Management Commission for their goal is generally to privatize or to promote what suits a foreign agenda first. This is where people must be aware of the realpolitik and study how NGOs & civil society have helped overthrow foreign governments using protests & demonstrators combined with social media campaigns (role of Cambridge Analytica should be studied)
They have a file on every voter
Cambridge Analytica whistleblower: ‘We spent $1m harvesting millions of Facebook profiles’
What about duties of Citizens? Every citizen demands rights but have they ever considered whether they have done their duty by the Nation?
However, rational thinking has been set aside & a more revolutionary campaign is taking place. The next few days will decide Sri Lanka’s fate.
Yes, people must protest – that is a right given to them. This right does not however include vandalism, destruction to public property, causing a public nuisance or even dismantling barricades.
Yes, protestors are angry with the government in power, simply because they protest it does not mean they are the only ones who decides fate of the country.
Yes, there are valid reasons to be angry with the ruling government, but have people understood the context behind the current economic impasse?
Yes, protestors deem the government should be unseated, but is it legally & constitutionally possible? Have the protestors got a ready-made team to take over?
Do protestors have the answers? Have the protestors who propose to revolt against the government
Got a team to take over governance?
Does this team have the solutions to provide immediate relief & bring fuel, gas, medicines, fertilizers etc
Does this team have sufficient funds to run country until such time elections are called?
Does this team have a plan to generate annual income & increase GDP?
What is the assurance protestors can give to the entire Sri Lankan populace that by overthrowing the government, they have the solution that will solve Sri Lanka’s economic & political crisis?
PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is an experienced political survivor, “Jumping Jack Flash” or a Nidikumba (නිදිකුම්බා), Mimosa Pudica, Sleeping Grass Sensitive Plant or Touch-me-not Shame Plant.
Sri Lanka needed someone to “Carry-the-Can” which nobody wanted. Ranil, who refused to leave Temple Trees at one point, took the job to re-enter the historic mansion.
He has declared that Sri Lanka is bankrupt. The whole world knows that!
As the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, has Ranil got any solutions that he should express, to bring some degree of credibility?
If the answer is a NO to one or both, he should tender his resignation to one or both Ministries.
In my experience, Military background does not offer leadership or creativity in civil or business culture. This is aptly demonstrated by the current President of Sri Lanka.
Yes. Indeed President Gothabhaya Rajapaksa deserves full credit for bringing the LTTE Tamil Terrorism to an end. However, Sri Lanka needed totally different expertise & experience to drive the economy during COVID-19 and the current fuel crisis.
Sri Lanka today requires a level-headed economist, and a creative brain surgeon, who can increase revenue earning export, not just export the traditional items, but creating new product concepts, with the help of farmers.
Furthermore, the education apparatus should create Real Salesmen & Marketing Talent, not just University graduates, who cannot sell ice cream to a kid!
Export Salesmen should be knowledgable of the Market & Cultures, including the Etiquette. This must be included in the curriculum!
I have a gut feeling that Dhammika Perera is a good choice!
Sri Lanka’s current problem cannot be solved by one man, however successful he is, in his own field.
This effort needs a Team!
80& of the Problem is in Sri Lanka, whilst 20% lies outside the Isles!
Right now Sri Lanka needs Skilled Professional Negotiators, who can sit in front of the decisions makers, who can communicate (not just speak) in the EU, UK, USA, Russia, Middle East, AusNz, India, China, and Japan.
The most important qualification of these representatives is that they are Honest, or Open Heart Surgery in Harley Street London, or not seeking a free lunch or ballet dancing shoes for their kids.
(I am speaking from the personal experience of some Sri Lankan government delegates, requesting “bucksheesh” from me)
Sri Lanka is a Pearl or a Diamond, and no one has realized how to take the asset out of the shell!
With No Leadership, the current Team runs around like headless chicken!
The question now is: Has Sri Lanka got Real Leadership to turn the economy around?
Express Your Opinion – Read What Others Say! The Independent Interactive Voice of Sri Lanka on the Internet.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is calling for justice for Easter Sunday, we all want justice, but why didn’t he call for justice for the victims of LTTE crimes? He doesn’t do so because the Church was heavily involved in the LTTE-Eelam-separatist project as part of West’s geopolitical & conversion agenda in South Asia. These are facts that are hard to swallow but facts that are unpalatable for the Church & its supporters to accept. The greater dravida nadu encompassing Sri Lanka and a separated Tamil Nadu would create a Pan-Christian State as a base for Western geopolitical interest and a means for the Church to increase their flock. The dual-project continues as a result of the stupidity of Asian leaders and the lascoreens and sepoys that slave for them. LTTE was simply an interim-beneficiary of a larger plan. The West must be toying with others which explains why they plucked Islamic terrorists in 2019.
The eventual plan in this larger agenda is to turn Tamil Nadu into a Christian state & eventually balkanize India. Sri Lanka is selected as the base. Note how the lobby are making investments in every sphere that they can influence people – communication networks (television, radio, social media, schools) they are putting up praying centres close to dharmic religions, foreign govts are funding faith-organizations, AID agencies are funding projects. Buddhists of Sri Lanka and Hindus of India are being systematically disempowered.
As we all know the Dravidian Movement & term Dravida Nadu was coined by Bishop Robert Caldwell. Therefore, the calls for a Greater Dravida Nadu connecting India & Sri Lanka is part of this larger plan. When pro-West Sri Lankan leaders push for connecting Sri Lanka to India by new rail-sea-road systems, we should realize that this is in line with that greater Christian agenda. LTTE was a Church mercenary outfit given a bogus cloak of championing Tamils. What it was doing was to use mostly Christian-Catholic Tamils to buy time & militarily create the Greater Dravida Nadu with the gun. Having failed that due to the defeat of the LTTE, the same project continues politically and via the Church.
The choice of LTTE’s international head quarters in London from 1970s and the manner no action is taken against LTTE fronts by Western Govts shows the tacit support for them & their larger project.
You can now understand why the West & its branches of global influencers are angry with the Sri Lankan government for eliminating the LTTE. Their ‘investment’ in the pan-Christian project came a crop with the death of Prabakaran & his ground force. The project continues now with LTTE fronts overseas and the pro-Church/West Tamils in Sri Lanka.
How far Prabakaran was aware of this greater plan will never be known but what we should deduce is that his supremacy was always limited to what stood within the Church agenda. Prabakaran did not dictate to the Church – the Church dictated to him!
Note the Christian link to most of LTTE top brass and sponsors, while others camouflage themselves in Hindu names & pretentious Hindu practices. How did Roman Catholic Anton Balasingham become the ideologue of the LTTE & his wife the trainer of LTTE child soldiers? The same applies to those that pretend to be Buddhists.
The Tamil clergy of India supported LTTE as did the Sinhala Catholic/Christian clergy & influential evangelical elites.
CHURCH-LTTE LINKS
LTTE’s Voice of Tigers linked up with Radio Veritas, a Catholic service of the Radio Veritas run by Tamil Catholics in Tamil Nadu. LTTE’s Voice of Tigers had an office” inside St. Sebastians Church in Mallavi, Vanni. This office was operated by pro-LTTE Bishop of Mannar Fr. Rayappu Joseph who wanted the Sri Lankan soldiers out of Madhu but allowed LTTE to operate from inside the Church.
The National Christian Council of SL and affiliates are:
SL Baptist Sangamaya, Christian Reformed Church of SL, Diocese of Kurunegala of the Church of Ceylon, Diocese of Colombo of the Church of Ceylon, Methodist Church, Sri Lanka, Presbyterian Church, Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India, The Salvation Army, YWCA of Sri Lanka, YMCA of Sri Lanka, Ceylon Bible Society, Christian Literature Society, Students Christian Movement, Commission for Justice and Peace)
These have been working to balkanize Sri Lanka and colluded with LTTE in tarnishing the image of the country.
This is proven by the World Council of Churches promoting the concept of traditional homeland theory in 1994 at the UNHRC in Geneva.
National Peace Council was formed in 1995 with the backing of NCCSL donors, including Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, NORAD, SLIDA and a number of EU, German donor organizations.
NCCSL and supporters take great pains to deny that Sinhala Buddhists played a role in building the Sri Lankan nation. Favorite topics include state colonization”, Tamil homeland” ethnic war”, Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism”, genocide of Tamils” etc. They have never referred to LTTE as a terrorist organization and rarely mention its atrocities. Their reports and papers end up being quoted by the West.
You can understand why the concept of self-determination” is being pushed by these Church forces to facilitate creation of a Church-sponsored state.
Rev. Father Tissa Balasooriya needs special mention for his attempts to build bridges and unite people rather than disunite them.
LTTE vs Tamil Hindus
It is not too late for Tamil Hindus to realize that they are pawns of the Pan-Christian State that initially used LTTE and now using LTTE Diaspora/Fronts & promoted by pro-Christian Tamil politicians.
Tamil Hindus must finally realize
Tamil Hindus are not part of the greater Christian-Eelam Project
The separate state called Eelam was not meant for Tamil Hindus to rule.
LTTE did not speak on behalf of Tamils discriminated in other parts of the world
The propagation of secularism” is a Christian-West dominated term where the principles are created by the Christian-West and not by dharmic principles.
All of the moderate Tamil Hindu leaders, politicians, academics and respected people of Tamil society were killed by LTTE
LTTE Prabakaran or the support-base has done nothing to protect or foster Tamil Hindu culture.
All of the sites being forcibly taken on the pretext of it being hindu” eventually gets taken over by Church elements!
How many Hindu homes and property have the LTTE taken over?
Pro-Christian LTTE lobby has always taken pains to create rifts between Hindus & Buddhists / Sinhalese Buddhists & Tamil Hindus. Note how pro-Christian media channels take pains to chagrin Buddhists & Hindus. Note the pro-Christian humanitarian organizations set up over 3 decades employing mostly pro-Christians. Note how western embassies also employ pro-Christian staff. The other noteworthy Christian ‘investment’ is to plant Christians into ruling families or influential business persons via marriage. Generous donations are given to ‘silence’ politicians.
LTTE ruled over 90% of Tamil Hindus through fear.
LTTE’s use of ‘caste’ was only part of a long term plan
The strategy of the evangelists is to continuously provoke people who do not agree with their line of thinking by provoking their opponents & thereafter carrying out a campaign against those that reacted to their provocation using all of their pro-Christian media.
However most Christians are ignorant of the pan-Christian geo-regional plan. To many, these notions are unacceptable but those that make the links will understand the greater picture and the bigger objective. These goals are hidden behind the ‘spiritual’ ‘political’ ‘charity’ ‘development’ ‘diplomacy’ camouflages.
Just as the plan is to destroy the Hindu control over Tamil Nadu initially & thereafter entire India, the simultaneous other plan is to break the control of Sinhala Buddhists in Sri Lanka. This is why the pro-Christian & pro-Islamic lobbies which are all controlled by the West are anti-Sinhala Buddhists and have their ‘investments’ in every realm of society that can influence people both at official and unofficial / public & private levels.
Note how these entities are making subtle & vociferous demands in both India & Sri Lanka against Hindus & Buddhists at every level – change the national anthem, change national ID cards, change birth certificate, blocking anti-conversion laws, removal foremost place given to Buddhism etc.
There are none so blind as those who will not see”
The public are listening with interest & shock to the questions and answers emerging from the COPE sessions. COPE & COPA are regarded as the Parliamentary WatchDog. Members of Parliament sitting on both Committees grill Public Officials questioning their actions, calling for explanations, national policies and even directing the CID to investigate. The irony is that all of these Ministers at some point or the other had been heading the Ministries where discrepancies and irregularities are taking place. So the question is, why are these politicians under whose tenure discrepancies & irregularities took place not questioned for their role too & grilled just like the public officials are? Legal action has to be instituted. If Public Officials are to face legal action so should Ministers. These 6 months of COPE/COPA findings can extrapolate the scale of corruptions that must have been committed by both Politicians and Public Officials since 1978. Every rupee must be recovered from them legally even if it means to acquire their lands/properties. Anyone contracted or any others working for the state who have committed wrong doings must equally be audited & legal actions taken against them. We are waiting for COPE & COPA heads to take this action to the next level. There is little point in simply grilling officials for public consumption without actions against their conduct.
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE)
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA)
COPE 31 members reflecting the party composition in Parliament & was set up by Standing Order 126.
The COPE reports to Parliament on accounts examined, budgets & estimates, financial procedures performance & management of Corporations & other Government Business undertakings.
The Accounts are audited by Auditor General.
The COPE has powers to summon relevant officials to provide evidence as well as call for documents.
Prof. Charitha Herath was re-appointed as Chairman COPE in February 2022 proposed by Minister Sarath Weerasekera.
Prof. Tissa Vitarana was re-appointed as COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) Chairman proposed by State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera.
Jagath Pushpakumara was appointed as Chairman Committee on Public Petitions
11Feb
New Electoral System for Local Govt Elections
Select Committee of Parliament to Identify Appropriate Reforms of the Election Laws & Electoral System & recommend amendments
Holding local govt elections under mixed system of first past the post & PR system
60% representatives via first past the post & 40% under proportional system
Increasing representation of women in local govt elections
Reducing number of existing representatives in local government bodies
ITN & MTV proposals on electoral system tabled
Nutrient management program for tea cultivation (Ministerial Consultative Committee on Plantations)
Minister Plantations Dr Ramesh Pathiran claimed chemical fertilizers, shade, water, soil were important to increase tea production.
Tea production had increased by 21m in 2021 despite shortage of chemical fertilizers
24Feb
Fauna & Flora Protection (Amendment) Bill approved by Consultative Committee
The amendment takes into account GSP concession
Reduce closure of Yala National Part from 2hours to 1 hour during day
Build a special leopard centre in Polonnaruwa
Minister instructs to refrain from taking ancestral lands to the forest dept
COPE director Geological Survey & Mines Bureau to pay Royalty to Dept Treasury
Of Rs.16,591,075,088 collected from 2016-2021 only Rs.8,520,235,812 had been transferred to Treasury.
Salaries of GSMB Technical Services (Pvt) Ltd above the approved cadre also discussed(why should private staff be taken)
Workers compensation (amendment) Bill for accidents on the job raised to Rs.2m
Approved by Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour
Plans to provide fertilizer without shortage (Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage)
World market increases in price of fertilizer / ban on chemical fertilizer in SL resulted in traders selling stocks of fertilizer at higher prices.
8 March
First COPE Report tabled in Parliament
Inquiries into 12 public enterprises summoned & examined by COPE during 1st session of 9thParliament
COPE Reports on – ITV, Special Audit Report on Storage & Distribution of Petroleum in Sri Lanka, Coconut Development Authority, Special Audit Report for Studying Present Status of the Field of Foreign Employment, Special Audit Report on the Role of the National Child Protection Authority Regarding Child Abuse in Sri Lanka, Insurance Corporation Limited, Audit Report Regarding the Performance of the Project to Relocate People Living in High Land-Slide Risk Areas in the Kandy District of the Central Province, Report of the Environmental Audit on Import, Use and Post Use Management of Plastic, Lanka Mineral Sands Limited, Postgraduate Institute of Science Affiliated to the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Cricket and National Livestock Development Board.
9 March
Ministerial Consultative Committee agrees to present Personal Data Protection Bill
Bill intends to provide Regulation of Processing of Personal Data to identify & strengthen Rights of Data Subjects to protect Personal Data
11 March
COPE CHAIR states chaos results when Boards of Public Institutes take decisions
Auditor General’s Reports of 2017, 2018 reviewed
Performance of Development Lotteries Board – studio built for Rs.38.75m to record lottery draw programs not used from 2015 as well as status of payment of Rs.2146.82m to Rupavahini for recording lottery draws.
Lotteries Board officials informed the studio is to be developed into an auditorium while Rupavahini recordings are given on concessionary rates.
Clearly the project was initiated at the whims of different Chairmans or Board Directors wasting public money without a plan
COPE highlighted that the Lotteries Board had unilaterally violated agreement to lease building at 234 Vauxhall Street to Ministry of Trade (when Board was under the same Ministry) without recovering Rs.5,700,000 owed to the Board for 14 years
Allocation of official vehicles for 8 unqualified non-transport owners on 25 May 2015 paying Rs.2,590,545 for fuel and allowances in 2017 & 2018 was also noted by COPE. Officials claimed vehicles were given with approval of Lotteries Board when under Presidential Secretariat. Secretary Ministry of Finance was requested to conduct a formal inquiry
Unanswered – A cab worth Rs.8,095,000 registered to a driving agency used by a lotteries board chairman in 2008 without approval of board officials is missing since 2008. The lotteries board paid Rs.16,190,000 to the agency for non-payment. The total loss as of 31 Oct 2018 including legal expenses to the Board was Rs.26,634,185.Civil case filed to recover losses – what is the status of this?
14 March
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign approves Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Amendment Bill
The first reading presented on 10 Feb
Amendments to be in accordance with determinate of the Supreme Court
COPE asks Marine Environment Protection Authority
Call to expedite recovery of unpaid Rs.3480m from MY New Diamond shipwreck following shipwreck in September 2020. Rs.12m had been recovered but the estimated value Rs.3480 has not been received. Rs.51.3m has been received for the ship’s fire & oil spill. The delay in the AG’s dept to recover the money was also highlighted.
Explanation as for 10 year delay in legal action against ship Thermophile” which sank in 2012 although AG’s dept had been sent all information.
COPE Chairman directs Marine Environment Protection Authority to expedite amendment of Marine Pollution Prevention Act No 35 of 2008 to strengthen its legal authority as it is responsible to protect marine environment of Sri Lanka
Compensation for MV X-Press Pearl shipwreck near Port of Colombo in May 2021 also discussed. Amount received was less than value assessed under Civil Liability Act (giving $44m) as only $6m had been received. 823m had gone for cleaning & other activities. Rs.18m was spent on accommodation. COPE instructed to recover from the shipping company and requested a monthly plan with timelines.
Disposing large quantities of pollutants into Modara & Wellawatte ocean. COPE gives Secretary to Ministry 3 months to report.
15 March
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Lands agree to two regulations pertaining to Land Development Ordinance Section 155 & 156
Amending Gazette Extraordinary No. 2251/48 of 28th October 2021
Amending Gazette Extraordinary No. 2266/5 of 07th February 2022
Amending Gazette Extraordinary No. 2262/50 of 15th January 2022
Income limits to be considered in issuing licenses & grants of Land Development Order Ordinance of 2014 & Minimum Allocation Limits of Lands Relating to Licenses & Grant Issues under Land Order 115 of 1985.
23 March
Amending Value Added Tax Act No 14 of 2002 approved by Committee on Public Finance
VAT on financial services increased from 15% to 18% w.e.f 1 January 2022
Medical equipment, machinery and medicines donated to government hospitals and the Ministry of Health during an epidemic or public emergency exempted from Value Added Tax
Discussions on views of expert committee on Electoral System
Identify Appropriate Reforms of the Election Laws and the Electoral System and to Recommend Necessary Amendments.
Decision to seek views of members of expert committee
24 March
COPE claims 47 Individuals obtained Rs.68m worth loans from State Mortgage & Investment Bank in 2017 using forged documents
Officials said cases had been filed against persons & CID was still investigating
Disciplinary inquiries against staff also in process
2 parties already arrested by CID & one had passed away
25 March
COPA instructs CMC to act after approving proper action plan in line with annual budget
CMC advised by Committee on Public Accounts to adhere to action plan as per Public Finance Circular No 01/2014 aligned to annual budget.
Auditor General claims proper action plan for 2020-2021 not approved
Revenue shortfall of CMC also noted.& CMC requested to submit data & statistics on revenue, expenditure, deficit revenue & public assistance
29 March
Educate & Motivate public to take Covid 19 booster vaccine
Public awareness campaigns for booster vaccine underway
19 April
Finance Ministry to look into tax reductions on imported commodities actually benefit the Public
Committee on Public approves Resolution under the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2262/14 dated 11.01.2022 & presented to Parliament on 05.04.2022.
COPE requests Finance Ministry to look into whether tax reductions on commodities such as rice being imported actually benefit the public
Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007 published in the gazette Extraordinary Nos. 2255/8, 2259/9, 2260/72 and 2262/15 dated 23.11.2021, 21.12.2021, 31.12.2021 and 11.01.2022 presented to Parliament on 05.04.2022 also considered and approved by the Committee.
20 April
COPA recommends Excise Dept to set up a computer data base system to calculate Excise Revenue by linking Excise Dept, Customs Dept & Inland Revenue
Above recommendation made by Excise Dept & bids called from the Univ of Moratuwa & Univ of Colombo
Progress on the sticker management system for liquor bottles & liquor related products to increase govt revenue also discussed. Introduction of sticker management system, revenue of Excise Dept had increased 17% in first 3 months of 2021.
COPA also highlighted shortcomings including failure to document & maintain information on excise duty reduction on liquor exports
21 April
COPE reveals Building Materials Corporation not prepared financial statements since 2016
Corporation Officials stated data for 2017, 2018 and 2019 had been deleted due to a computer software problem resulting in no financial statements. Files related to 2017 were lost due to renovation!
Lack of financial reports financial matters since 2016 could not be discussed by COPE
COPE recommended CID to investigate
500m loan from Bank of Ceylon in 2018 spent on employee salaries
Only General Manager has permanent post in BMC – others are contract basis. Finance Director has announced resignation but still in service to attend COPE meeting
Chairman BMC announced resignation on 18 April – but resignation not yet approved by Board & Ministry.
COPE gives 3 months for financial statements & business plan to be submitted for 2017,2018, 2019.
COPE summons Sri Lankan Airlines again
To explain bidding process for lease of 21 aircrafts
25 April
COPE looks into delay in formulating National Policy on Sri Lanka’s Mineral Resources
COPE summoned GSMB on 23Feb & resummonded on 21st April
Report of the Auditor General of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau for the financial years 2018 and 2019 and its current performance considered
COPE Chair pointed out that although the Cabinet of Ministers had formulated a National Policy in 2017 and requested for its approval, it has not been formulated & has given 5 months to complete
failure to collect royalty from licensees for 22094 cubes of Thiruvana excavated from a land belonging to the Forest Department in the Kotikambokka area in Wellawaya and adjacent to it. Officials said that the collection of royalty of these items is done not by the mining license holders but by the export license holders.
royalty of Rs. 27419690 due for the soil cube and sand cube used in the construction of the Yan oya Reservoir Project had not been recovered from the relevant contractor.
In 2017, two officers suspended on criminal charges were given half pay, professional allowances, incentives and bonuses for the period of their suspension. They were appointed to the service from August 2019 with the approval of the Board of Directors without a disciplinary inquiry order. Officials present said that action would be taken to recover the money. COPE Chairman recommended the Secretary to the Ministry to conduct a formal inquiry.
Value added tax not levied on customers in the field inspection revenue collection for the years 2011 to 2014. However, Rs. 93068185 had been paid to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue in the year under review and this had been identified as a loss to the Bureau. COPE recommended responsible officials be identified and appropriate action be taken.
COPE Recommends Sri Lankan Airlines postpones Aircraft Procurement Process to lease 21 aircrafts (2022-2025) for 3 months due to economic situation
COPE advised the Secretaries to the Ministry of Tourism and the State Ministry of Aviation and Export Zones Development.
COPE Chairman recommended a procurement guideline be duly prepared and submitted to the Cabinet through the cabinet minister for the relevant procurement as a Cabinet decision.
Ashok Pathirage, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines and other senior officials pointed out that several aircrafts out of the 24 existing aircrafts will be reduced in near future and that the process would take some time as the acquisition of aircraft cannot be done immediately. Accordingly, considering the relevant market conditions, this process will take between 6-12 months and these activities will be carried out through the Ministry in a more transparent manner,
27 April
Revenue from State-Owned Enterprises to be duly received by Treasury
COPE Chairman says annual revenue earned by state institutions should be properly received by the State Treasury.
State Timber Corporation had earned an operating profit of Rs. 1.4 billion (1,496,155,864) for the year 2021, only Rs. 100 million had been transferred to the State Treasury.
Forest Department had granted approval to the State Timber Corporation on June 30, 2020 for the removal of 28958 pine trees from the Hein ford Estate in Weligampola, Kandy but the trees had not yet been removed.
Mahindananda Aluthgamage, stated that the State Timber Corporation could earn a huge profit if it could efficiently remove and export the timber recommended by the Forest Department for felling.
Committee on Public Enterprises on 10th October 2012 had directed action to be taken to amend the Corporation Act to empower the State Timber Corporation to issue a certificate for imported timber, but this has not yet been done.
The COPE inquired into the write off of Rs. 14.4 million worth of debtors by the Corporation without the approval of the Treasury. The officials said decision was taken by the then Acting Board of Directors in 2007 with the approval of the Corporate Audit and Management Committee.
The COPE Chairman said that since the Secretary to the Treasury is in charge of the Consolidated Fund for Public Debt, if the debtors are cut off, the Chief Accounting Officer should inform the Secretary to the Treasury and obtain permission.
The COPE, which met in 2012, directed that the losses at the Kaldemulla Furniture Factory to be increased to profit, but the COPE noted that it was still in a loss-making condition.
COPE Chairman reason to maintain the relevant institution at such a loss. The Chairman further stated that the furniture outlets owned by the Corporation as a whole have incurred huge losses. The Auditor General stated that the wastage of large quantities of timber in the production of furniture has been observed as a reason for these losses and that by-products of discarded timber can reduce this loss to some extent. Officials said that this was due to the lack of employees with proper knowledge of furniture manufacturing and the need to compete with the private sector in the market. However, it was revealed that the major shortcoming of the State Timber Corporation was not producing furniture. The Chairman instructed the Secretary to the Ministry to send a report within a month on the future course of action to be taken in consultation with the relevant officials.
COPE noted that two advisors and a driver had been recruited to assist the Chairman of the Corporation in contravention of the circular instructions only with the approval of the Board of Directors. The recruits were paid an allowance of Rs. 2,850 per day for 270 days, a sum of Rs. 769,500, from February 12 to September 3, 2019. Although the approval of the General Treasury was sought for this purpose, it was not received and the COPE Chairman informed the Secretary to the Ministry to take legal action against the relevant Chairperson.
COPE noted that the corporation had incurred a loss of Rs. 982,473 after reducing the price of items valued at Rs. 1,690,183 by more than 50 percent to Rs. 707,710 and the General Manager of the Corporation stated that this decision was taken due to the fact that the furniture was in a defective condition after being kept for too long without disposal. The Chairman said that if such concessions could be justified, a Board Memorandum should be submitted and the Auditor General’s Department should be informed.
5 May
COPE gives People’s Bank 3 months to submit full report on non-performing loans worth Rs.54b given to private sector
Special inquiry into Rs.402m spent on unutilized Data Warehouse Project launched in 2015. Head of IT appointed by Chairman of People’s Bank who introduced project was a former employee of the company which carried out the project – but without results for the Rs.402m spent. Secretary Ministry of Finance instructed to conduct a formal inquiry.
Special inquiry on Rs.16.6m worth vehicle purchased on 27 April 2015 used by former GM & transferred at cost of Rs.113,698 when he retired in 2019. (the GM of People’s Bank claims that handing over vehicle used by GM for more than a year was usual practice & value depreciated when transfer done – when did this practice start & by whom)
COPE chairman recommends Sujeewa Rajapakse, Chairman of People’s Bank to submit a full report within a month on private sector grants Rs.54m worth loans & in non-performing status. Report to include how loan approval was given & persons giving the approval.
SMEs take much effort to get a bank loan but large sums in billions are given without showing ability to repay or adequately mortgaging property.
COPE Members (all MPs) pointed out that in the future when loans are given, it should be done in a more systematic manner with a sense of responsibility when handling national wealth (how many of these loans given had a political element to them?)
COPE also noted that companies owned by Board Directors also given loans and loans transferred to non-performing loan category. As of 31 Dec 2019 this loan amount was Rs.4.2b – CID was investigating.
6 May
COPA focuses on failure to develop formal program to explore oil & natural gas in Mannar Basin
Auditor General’s reports for 2018, 2019, 2020 discussed on performance of Ministry of Energy
COPA 2016 – mentioned 5b barrels of fuel & 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in Mannar Basin was sufficient to meet needs for 60 years. These deposits could be used to increase SL’s power supply to 1130kilowatts & natural gas production would bring approx. $200b in various sectors within 25 years
COPA questioned officials for failure to explore area & plan proper procedure to obtain revenue to SL from various sectors by commercially producing gas from 2 identified deposits.
Officials claimed difficulty in finding reliable investor for project & added employees of SL Petroleum Development Authority was not sufficient to deal with it
Modernization & expansion of Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery & construction of enw refinery discussed. Officials presented feasibility study to set up a new oil refinery at Sapugaskanda site. COPA requested report on this
Vacancies in staff & daily oil requirement of SL also discussed
19 May
COPE summons Litro Gas to look into gas crisis
Management of Litro Gas Lanka summoned
Need to expediate gas distribution process
First Report of COPA tabled in Parliament
Report contains information on investigations of 7 Government Institutions summoned by the Committee on Public Accounts during the period from 04.08.2021 to 19.11.2021 and information on investigations pertaining to one particular audit report.
Department of Probation and Child Care Services, Department of Co-operative Development, Department of Social Development, Department of Excise, Kurunegala Municipal Council, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Ministry of Environment
A special audit report on procurement of medical supplies carried out by the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, dated March 14, 2018.
20 May
Committee on Public Finance decides to summon CBSL Governor, Secretary to Ministry of Finance & other officials to discuss economic crisis & solutions
Import & Export Control Regulations 6 of 2022 in the Gazette Notification No. 2274/42 dated 09.04.2022 enacted under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 approved by Committee on Public Finance
This gazette notification will save cost importing goods subject to import control licenses
Gazette Notification No. 2274/42 dated 09.04.2022 issued enacting regulations to impose import control license requirements for the importation of 369 non-essential items. These regulations applicable to the importation of goods shipped on board date of bill of Lading/Airway Bill on or after 10th April 2022.
It was revealed that the cost of importing goods belonging to the categories of Watches, Telecommunication equipment and parts, Dairy products, Alcohol, Beauty products, Candles, Lamps and lighting accessories, Fruits, Rubber products (tires and erasers), Electrical and electronic items was higher and that this is 84% of the total import cost. Accordingly, it is expected to save a considerable amount of about USD 512 million spent on the importation of these goods during the last three years without hindering industries and exports.
COPA points out need to raise awareness that national flower of Sri Lanka is the Water Lily’
Ministry of Environment instructed to make the public aware of the national flower of Sri Lanka as the ‘Water Lily Flower’ through the National Institute of Education, the University Grants Commission and other relevant agencies as well as newspaper advertisements.
Although schools, government and non-government organizations have been made aware of this during awareness programs conducted by the Ministry of Environment, it has not transpired adequately.
As per the Cabinet decision taken in June 2015, the Ministry has failed to provide adequate publicity to inform the institutions under the Ministry and other government agencies that the National Flower is the ‘Water Lily Flower’ and the committee observes that the national flower of Sri Lanka is still identified as the ‘Blue Water Lily’ on many occasions.
BOC summoned to examine Auditor General’s report & current performance of bank.
CBSL Governor summoned before Committee on Public Finance
CBSL Governor, Secretary Ministry of Finance & other officials summoned.
24 May
COPA report – Rs.6259m worth drugs face quality failure from 2011 to 2020 due to improper storage of drugs
COPA report discloses 99% drugs given to patients & not possible to recover cost of quality failed drugs from suppliers
COPA directs Ministry of Health, Nutrition & Indigenous Medicine to expedite process of facilitating storage of drugs & ensure safety of drugs
Temperature in warehouses owned by Medical Supplies Division not maintained properly & medical supplies stored in corridors of central drug warehouses & hospitals
Ministry Secretary claims if a system prevails to detect failure of drug as soon as it is received, loss can be recovered from suppliers’ guarantee & if quality testing of 60 drugs can be done by State Pharmaceuticals Corporation situation can be avoided
COPE examines if W M Mendis & Co Ltd obtained loans by mortgaging same property in 2 banks
Auditor General’s Reports for 2018 2019 & 2020 of Bank of Ceylon
Attention of Committee on W M Mendis & Co & other non-performing loans for past 5 years.
Same property mortgaged by W M Mendis & Co to 2 banks (People’s Bank & Bank of Ceylon) – Rs.7b obtained from both banks as loans for the same property. CID asked to conduct investigation
In 2020 Board of Directors of BoC had made a pre-mature retirement benefit to former GM with controversial payment of Rs.32,039,733
Chairman of BoC stated trade union launched a strike against GM’s retirement & daily loss due to strike was Rs.75m
26 May
COPA emphasizes National Policy on children
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) emphasizes that the Department of Probation and Child Care Services should expeditiously develop a National Policy on children in Sri Lanka and give proper guidance in this regard.
The COPA report which was presented in the Parliament recently, further states that the Ministry should intervene to allocate funds without disparity when funds for this subject were provided to the Provincial Councils.
The Committee also directed the Department of Probation and Child Care Services to pay attention to establishing a probation office for every judicial zone when the National Policy was developed.
The Committee has directed the Secretary to the Ministry to amend the Laws and Ordinances applicable to children, including the Adoption of Children Ordinance, and to take necessary steps to amend these Acts expeditiously in accordance with timely requirements.
The Secretary to the Ministry said that the process of amending the ordinances had already been commenced and the amendment of the laws relating to the Children and Young Persons Ordinance was at its final stage.
The Committee directed the Department of Probation and Child Care to develop a methodology to protect children from abuse when they use internet.
The Committee also instructed to develop a programme to create a mass media censorship favorable for society to avoid irregularities committed by mass media in reporting incidents of juvenile crimes. It was disclosed here that a committee has been appointed with the intervention of the Women’s Caucus of Parliament on media regulation in relation to the said matter and its work was being carried out speedily. These matters were contained in the first report of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament of the COPA, which was tabled in Parliament recently (20) by the COPA Chairman Hon. (Prof.) Tissa Vitharana.
This report contains information on the investigations of 7 Government Institutions summoned by the Committee on Public Accounts during the period from 04.08.2021 to 19.11.2021 and one Special Audit Report.
30 May
SPC & Medical Supplies Division summoned
SPC & Medical Supplies Division of Ministry of Health summoned
1 June
CEB, Univ of Moratuwa & UDA summoned
CEB summoned re Auditor General’s report for 2018, 2019
UDA summoned
University of Moratuwa summoned
Ministry of Agriculture summoned
Dept of Import & Export Control summoned
Ministry of Fisheries summoned
Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Commissioners Dept, Dept of Cooperative Development, Cooperative Wholesale Establishment, Consumer Affairs Authority, National Institute of Cooperative Development, Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation, summoned.
Indian Credit Line & other credit lines used to resolve SL’s drug shortage.
action to be taken to resolve the drug shortage using Indian credit loan assistance and other credit facilities.
recommendations made when officials of State Pharmaceutical Corporation of Sri Lanka summoned to the COPE to discuss the current performance and shortage of drugs in government hospitals as at May 13th 2022
despite receiving US$200 million in financial assistance under the Indian credit line facility, by April 22, 2022, the Ministry’s Drug Subcommittee had only recommended a stockpile of medical supplies worth US$55.5 million. Only 28% of that grant, by May 18th, 2022, only US $ 92.9 million had been recommended for invoices.
Utilizing the Indian credit line assistance, the World Bank Loan Assistance Scheme (WB), World Health Organization (WHO), Asian Development Bank (ABD) and other donor assistance received for drug procurement as soon as possible were also discussed at the meeting.
Total amount of assistance received, including Indian credit line assistance in particular, exceeds US $ 330 million and has not yet been disbursed
COPE observed that the computer system established for the management of medical supplies had not been properly updated and used. Company given Rs. 645 million to set up the system and Rs. 5 million a month for its maintenance, but the system was not functioning properly. Due to this, a new computer system started at a lower cost and about 80% of the work has already been completed, officials stated.
COPE focused on the methodology for calculating the drug requirement in the country and pointed out the importance of maintaining such a system more accurately.
procurement process of State Pharmaceutical Corporation of Sri Lanka (SPC), the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health (MSD) and the National Drug Regulatory Authority (NMRA) discussed
delay in purchasing essential medicines for heart disease, essential medicines for diabetes, medicines used for anesthesia and essential medicines used for allergies and alternative medicines that can be used for such essential medicines. Discussions were also held on resolving the shortage of medicines for the 1990 ambulance service.
9 June
COVID situation – suspension of vehicle imports other than tax policies led to economic collapse – Former Secretary to Ministry of Finance R. Attygalle
Unreasonable to claim SL lost nearly Rs.500 billion due to the change in tax policies of the new government, as this was due to the loss caused by the import restrictions imposed, including the suspension of the import of vehicles, and the economic contraction caused by the Covid situation,
decisions regarding tax policies taken in keeping with the first Cabinet Paper presented by the former Prime Minister Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa on December 04, 2019.
Former Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S. R. Attygalle, former Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal, former members of the Monetary Board, current Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and other senior officials of the Central Bank were summoned before the Committee Meeting.
10 June
Incorporation of Siyapatha Foundation approved by Legislative Standing Committee
Bill was tabled in Parliament by the Minister of Education on 23rd February 2022.
Rs.51,649,961 to be recovered from lecturers of Moratuwa University for violating agreements & bonds
35 university lecturers who went abroad on study leave were in arrears of Rs.51,649,961 as of 31Dec2021 due to breach of contracts & bonds.
16 lecturers breached contracts & bonds for 8 years worth Rs.23,190,595
Legal action to be taken against 11 persons
The Committee inquired into company called ‘Uni Consultancy’, which operates within the University, not obtaining Cabinet approval. Vice Chancellor stated that the necessary documents have been sent to the University Grants Commission. The Chairman expressed his displeasure over the delay in the process and directed that the process be expedited.
‘LK Domain Registry’, a company established under the University of Moratuwa as a company owned by the University of Moratuwa on 05.03.2004. COPE Chairman recommends that ‘LK Domain Registry’ be treated as a National Value Institution and that its ownership be transferred back to the University of Moratuwa.
COPE Chairman commended the University Governing Body for the timely presentation of the University’s Procurement Plan, the presentation of Annual Reports to Parliament and the holding of Audit and Management Committee meetings.
10 June
Special statement of COPE Chairman regarding several institutions
Nawaloka Group
Chairperson of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) made a special statement regarding several institutions
Ranee Jayamaha commenting on Samantha Kumarasinghe a former member of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. COPE Committee tabled the remarks of Samantha Kumarasinghe sent in response. Letter dated May 30th, 2022 containing the observations made by Samantha Kumarasinghe to be included in Committee Report,
Regarding the reference made to the Nawaloka Group of Companies pertaining to the non-payment of loans during the COPE’s inquiry into People’s Bank, the Chairman stated that the Nawaloka Group has sent a special letter dated May 30th, 2022 stating that 12 companies under the Nawaloka Group are not involved in the above non-payment of loans tabling the letter sent.
State Pharmaceutical Corporation of Sri Lanka, which operates under the Ministry of Health, and the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health before the COPE, investigations carried out into the computer stock management system of the drug stock and it was based on the facts presented by the then Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Ratnayake.
A private company, EWIS Information Systems Ltd, given a statement to the media that the COPE investigation contains a flaw and submitted its position to the Committee in a letter dated June 3rd, 2022. The Chairman said that according to EWIS Information Systems Ltd, they had obtained Rs. 223,120,458.73 million for the above system.
State Ministry of Health to the COPE, Rs. 458,591,910.6 million has been paid to EWIS Information Systems and that 66,176,348.98 million has been paid to EWIS Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Accordingly, the total amount paid was Rs. 524,768259.4 million.
10 June
Turn all stalled projects under UDA to successful revenue generating ones.
Projects initiated, developed and funded under UDA stalled to be successfully completed & converted to revenue earners
a number of projects under the supervision of the Urban Development Authority not in a successful position.
Hambantota Development Project, the Meethotamulla Rejuvenation Project and the project to acquire 812 acres from the Millewa Estate to build an industrial park.
Expenditure incurred on the construction of the Ruhunupura International Conference Hall under the Hambantota Development Project Plan and the expenditure incurred on maintaining this as a surcharge from 2017 to 2019 were also discussed.
75,889,769 had been spent on this as an expenditure from 2017 to 2019 and the revenue received from this from 2017 to 2019 was Rs. 15,896,360.
Officials representing the Urban Development Authority stated that this is one of the components of the Hambantota Urban Development Plan. However, he said that the project was not successful as the plan of the major development project was not implemented. He also said that as this continues to be a loss, the management of two companies will be transferred to make a profit. He also said that the construction of the Ruhunupura International Conference Hall was done with foreign assistance and that the Urban Development Authority had only consulted for this purpose. The officials said that the money belonging to the Urban Development Authority was not spent for this.
5 million provided to a private company in 2020 for the application of a blanket layer leveling 30 to 12 meters for the stabilization of garbage dumps and for the installation of greenhouse gas emission units.
Meethotamulla Rehabilitation Project after the Meethotamulla Garbage Landslide in 2017 and its performance was taken into discussion here. However, it was revealed that the location of the stabilized garbage is currently without proper management and supervision. Accordingly, the COPE Chairman recommended that an inquiry be conducted into the matter and a report be submitted within two months.
holiday resorts under the Urban Development Authority Existing resorts in all the districts under the Urban Development Authority are located in the most scenic location in that district. Action should be taken to increase government revenue in awarding tenders. The Members of Parliament who were present at the committee meeting also pointed out that the those who take these resorts on rent sometimes obtained it on political affiliations. It was also stated that these resorts are in a dilapidated condition due to improper maintenance. Discussions were also held on the operation of these resorts belonging to the Rest House Company established in the year 2011.
COPE recommended to submit plan within a month planning the renovation of these resorts.
increasing the number of parking spaces in Colombo daily and increasing the facilities required to cater to the sanitary needs of the people who visit Colombo City daily.
providing a long-term lease to a private company for development of the rood to 2 Acre 2 rood 2 21.4 perch land bordering Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo. The COPE committee also pointed out that the Authority’s failure to formulate and implement an urban land use policy.
10 June
Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill
Electricity Act No. 20 of 2009
The Committee noted that not only the Act but also technical and legal matters should be taken into further consideration.
important to encourage foreign and local investors in carrying out renewable energy projects
importance of having a committee of the Electricity Board and the Sustainable Energy Authority represented
as a solution to the current power crisis, important to implement an expeditious plan for the proper utilization of natural water and wind in the country and to take appropriate action to further strengthen the projects of installing solar panels on roofs and increasing renewable energy. The minister stated that the plan is expected to be tabled in the future
issue of kerosene and diesel to be supplied to fishing harbors in the face of the ongoing oil crisis and the issue of water depletion associated with hydro power plants.
Sapugaskanda oil refinery and give priority to cooperative filling stations in supplying oil.
15 June
COPE focus on 50 generators purchased at Rs.3100m for 2018,2018 not in working condition when purchased
COPE examined the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2017 and 2018 and the current performance of the Ceylon Electricity Board.
50 generators, were not in working condition at the time of purchase. The Committee questioned whether there was a quality check on these purchases and its cost.
officials present at pointed out inspection on the purchases was carried and that Rs. 3100 million had been spent for those purchases and that all these 50 generators are still in operation as at today.
these generators were not operational at the beginning and was only operational after the upgrade. Accordingly, a formal inquiry should be conducted into the purchase of generators that were not in working condition at the time of purchase, regardless of the time period in which they were purchased.
Report to be submitted to the Auditor General withint 2 weeks
Ownership of CEB over LTL and whether CEB can deviate from State audit to decide who will audit company. Officials claim 63% shares of company owned by CEB. CEB had been removed from state audit due to technical issue.
Purchase of electricity from ACE Embilipitiya Power Station – COPE questioned signing of new agreements on purchase of electricity from plant.
COPE inquired about pricing process in drafting new agreement to purchase electricity
CEB officials did not give definite answer
Long-term generation plan discussed – Auditor Generals dept had not received information on new generation plan for 2022-2041.
Information in Generation Plan for 2018-2037 is with Auditor Generals Dept.
Officials claim the need to meet 50% renewable energy as per policy of 2019 was placed at 70% with new govt.
Generation Plan should not be changed with politics
15 June
Licensing for Ethanol import
quantity of ethanol imported for use in Sri Lanka and the lack of proper regulation of importing institutions.
The Import and Export Control Department officials instructed to submit a report within two weeks containing the procedure for issuing licenses for the importation of ethanol into the country by various companies, information on each of these companies and the quantity of ethanol imported by those companies. It was also emphasized that the quantity of ethanol imported for other products, including pharmaceuticals, other than alcohol, and the proper use of ethanol for those products should be taken into consideration.
issuance of licenses for the importation of vehicles and spare parts to Sri Lanka. 4 months given to prepare plan
lack of a standardized computer system to carry out the activities of the Department of Import and Export Control.
lack of proper coordination with the Direct Liaison Institutions such as the Excise Department, the Department of Motor Traffic and the Sri Lanka Customs is very problematic in conducting the activities of the Department and was instructed to take the necessary steps to do computer networking immediately.
importance of liaising with institutions such as the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission was also emphasized.
officials of the Department of Import and Export Control were informed about this in 2016, the work has not been done so far and considering the importance of this, the Chairman of the Committee decided to appoint a Sub-Committee to inquire into its progress.
Attention was drawn to the subsequent transfer of vehicles imported under the prize scheme to various parties. Accordingly, after the vehicles were imported under the gift scheme, the officers present were asked about the transfer of the vehicles to other parties. The vehicles imported on a tax concession basis could not be transferred to another party until 05 years. After 5 years of such transfers, the necessary procedures have been put in place to recover the normal tax value of the relevant vehicles. The Committee also emphasized the importance of proper follow-up and regulation of licenses for vehicles imported under the gift scheme.
loss of customs duty of Rs.114.6 million due to incorrect customs associated classification numbering of 33 used cars in the year 2017 contrary to the provisions of Gazette Notification No. 1933/13 dated 21st September 2015, Gazette Notifications for Vehicles subject to Licensing Control and Instructions given by the Minister of Development Strategies and the Minister of International Trade and the Minister of State to the Controller of Imports and Exports. It was also informed that the full investigation has been handed over to the CID. The Chairman of the Committee instructed to submit a report on its progress to the Committee within 02 weeks.
The Committee also discussed the report of a special audit to study the reduction in the excise duty on a kilogram of sugar from Rs. 50 to Rs. 25 cents and study and the Committee also recently discussed the report of the special audit report to study the non-receipt of the expected relief by the consumers by reducing it to 25 cents. It was further emphasized that the introduction of a licensing system for the importation of sugar and the failure to introduce the criteria required to control the import of sugar and the loss incurred by the government due to the delay in issuing licenses will be taken up for discussion in the Committee on the 21st of this month.
15 June
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture on Animal Welfare Bill
proposed Animal Welfare Bill with support of Government / NGOs and Animal Welfare Groups
people are now more interested in-home gardening in the face of the current food crisis,
encouraging people to cultivate home gardening as well as the use of land in all government offices for cultivation
planned to deploy Army personnel, Civil Defense Force as well as approximately 3,000 prisoners to make this a success
the use of unused paddy lands in all areas including the Colombo District as well as reclamation of paddy lands, construction of buildings and irrigation problems.
important to establish a committee at the district level and prepare a proper document regarding cultivable paddy lands and non-cultivable lands
importance of encouraging rural and urban youth to cultivate fallow paddy lands and briefed the officers on the preparation and implementation of a proper plan for this purpose and the assistance of the Agricultural Research Officers for the continuous cultivation of lands which are not currently cultivated
provision of fertilizer from India for paddy and maize in July
distribution of fertilizer in a planned manner as well as identifying priorities.
damage to the crop – a progressive report to be prepared
importance of conducting agro clinics island wide to impart the knowledge required by the people, especially in home gardening activities, and the officials should take active steps accordingly.
Ekwa Wawamu – Rata Dinawamu” program to encourage the cultivation of uncultivated lands
16 June
Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bills
Bills, to be taken for the second reading in Parliament approved by the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons and Constitutional Reforms
The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill amends Section 442 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979 to make provision to issue one certified copy of the judgment or final order of the record to each of the parties to the case free of charge.
The Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill inserts new section 154 (A) in the Civil Procedure Code (Chapter 101) and the legal effect of the section is to exempt certain documents from formal proof at any proceedings under this Code.
New Bill to solve labor related
The Industrial Disputes (Special Provisions) Bill, published in the Gazette dated 08th April 2022,
Industrial Disputes Act, in cases where an employer has terminated the employment of an employee, only the process finalization of such termination is dealt with under a Labor Tribunal.
In cases where the employers do not agree or violate the provisions of various Acts pertaining to the Employees’ Provident Fund, wages, other terms and conditions, litigation will be instituted in the Magistrates’ Courts.
more than 16,000 cases have been filed in about 80 Magistrate Courts functioning island wide. It was also stated that it would take a long time for the aggrieved workers to get some justice and if the cases were referred to the 37 established tribunals island wide which are currently conducting very small proceedings, the aggrieved party would be able to expedite justice.
Act would delegate the powers of prosecution to the Chairmen of Labour Tribunals. It was further stated that the Labor Tribunals had been given the aforesaid power in the past as well and that many cases could be settled expeditiously and those powers were later abolished.
17 June
Develop 10 year plan to bring economic development to SL – COPA advises Dept of External Resources
Department of External Resources advised to prepare a specific 10-year Economic Development Plan aimed at the economic development of the country.
The Members of Parliament who participated in this Committee pointed out that this is the best time to formulate such a national plan so that it can function without the influence of any political authority.
some of the development projects were halted due to the decisions of the executive. They also pointed out that the officials could not influence it.
(Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya, Member of Parliament said that if the political authority takes a wrong decision, the officials should take action to point it out. If there is no mechanism to involve and advise officials on such matters, the COPA will provide the necessary support to make the necessary policy decisions to formulate it.
Plans to work with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were also discussed
17 June
Education Sector faces challenges more than covid
Committee recommends special attention to the learning loss in preparing the Exam Question Papers …
COPA commends the officials for maintaining the education sector
learning loss of students in the year 2020 was 54% and by August 2021 it was 88%
Committee recommended to the University Grants Commission that the World Bank-funded USD 100 million project be reconsider and put to good use in the face of the ongoing crisis.
20 June
COPA proposes to set up new Cabinet Sub-Committee for Food Security
The requirement for rice to be imported in the future is 800,000 metric tons
Discussions to obtain support from SAARC Food Bank and the World Food Program
The Auditor General pointed out that food production has been severely hampered by climate change, the war in Russia and Ukraine, the crisis in world wheat, maize and fertilizer production and rising oil prices.
In the local context, the production of essential food items has declined due to the recent fertilizer crisis in Sri Lanka, the shortage of foreign exchange reserves and the emergence of a policy crisis regarding the use of pesticides.
According to data from the Sri Lanka Customs and Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, the Ministry of Commerce has identified sixteen types of food as essential food items. They are Samba rice, Nadu rice, raw rice, sugar, red lentils, wheat flour, big onions, potatoes and canned fish, milk powder, dried sprats, dried chilies, chickpeas, chicken, fish and eggs.
officials briefed on the quantity of essential food items produced in the country during the Yala and Maha seasons this year and the quantity of food required to meet the demand of the country.
20 June
COPA focus on application of IT to dept of import & Export control & other Govt institutions contributing towards government revenue
ICTA’s involvement in the development of the licensing process of the Department of Imports and Exports, the computer program for integration of institutions and the development of the Revenue Administration Management System.
Discussions on the launch of the Institutional Integration Computer Program 2015 related to the licensing process of the Department of Imports and Exports, which is still in an unsuccessful state.
ICTA does not provide any intervention or assistance to government institutions, especially those who do not have the knowledge to develop computer programs. He also said that this institution has the responsibility of equipping government institutions with information technology and integrating it with new technology.
inability of the Inland Revenue Department to implement the Integrated Computer Program (RAMIS) for tax collection.
projects prepared by ICTA in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Excise Department and the External Resources Department
COPA finally recommended that the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) submit a report by July 1st on the software developed for government agencies, the government agencies that advised and their current status.
21 June
Special COPE meeting decides to take oath regarding statements by officials called before COPE
To take an oath at the commencement of the statements made by the officials when summoned before the Committee.
COPE tabled the statement withdrawal letter dated 11.06.2022 pertaining to the statement made on 10.06.2022 at COPE by the former CEB Chairman Mr. M.M.C. Ferdinando.
Today we considered the letter sent to COPE by the Chairman of the CEB on 06.11.2022. An important discussion took place in accordance to that letter. Today, I would like to draw your attention to certain points in this letter that has been submitted as an appendix to it. Accordingly, the decision of COPE is that the former Chairman Mr. M.M.C. Ferdinando will be summoned before the Committee again to hold discussions with him and thereby re-determine the contents of this letter and then take the decision regarding expunging the respective contents of his testimony as requested.”
It was decided to summon Mr. M.M.C. Ferdinando before COPE on 23.06.2022
22 June
Demand for liquor decreased by 30% due to price increase
due to the sudden price hike there is a tendency to increase the production of illicit liquor.
COPE decides to hold special meeting to look into power generation, procurement, distribution & projects of CEB
Members of Parliament who were present pointed out discrepancies in what’s been said pertaining to the issues raised in the discussions regarding the purchases, distributions and projects of the Ceylon Electricity Board.
members requested the Chairman of COPE to inform the Parliament and the Speaker to appoint a Select Committee to look into all matters including the generation plan.
The Chairman of COPE pointed out that the Committee could hold a special meeting to look into this matter.
Accordingly, it was revealed that Rs. 2,134.9 million has been provided as these allowances in the year 2021 and Rs. 1,544.4 million in the year 2020. The COPE Chairman pointed out that there should be accountability for this money as it is public money. He also pointed out that some of the categories used for the payment of allowances were ridiculous. For example, in addition to ‘reading the meter’, there is also an allowance for ‘reading the meter correctly’,
annual expenditure of the Ceylon Electricity Board exceeds the revenue expected by the Inland Revenue Department through all taxes.
decision taken by the Cabinet in December 2007 to revise the salaries and when the collective agreement was reached in May 2015, it was decided to shift the liability for PAYE and Advanced Personal Income Tax (APIT) to the employees but from 2010 onwards.
Ceylon Electricity Board paid Rs.4.8 billion (PAYE / APIT) in taxes from its fund without deducting the salaries of the employees till 2020. Officials who were present pointed out that the payment of this tax has been stopped by now.
draft collective agreement, the Ceylon Electricity Board had increased the salaries of employees by 25% in the year 2021. However, it was revealed that this was not a legal document as it was an unfinished draft agreement as the relevant parties, employers and unions had not signed the draft.
adverse impact on the Board due to this unauthorized payment was approximately Rs.9.6 billion,.
The COPE chairman pointed out that the institution appears to be non-state-owned.
according to the 2018-2034 long term power generation plan, the Seethawaka River Hydro Power Project should have been implemented by 2022. suspension of the project at a cost of Rs. 301.19 million at the end of 2020.
Members of Parliament stated that feasibility study at a cost of Rs.301.19 million has been carried out and that the project has been dropped halfway, indicating that it is not up to the appropriate feasibility level.
A consignment of coal purchased from Taurian Iron & steel Co. Pvt. Ltd (TISCL) through Ceylon Coal Company (LCC) in 2013 could not be unloaded due to the monsoon, and the annual new generation of power generated according to the long-term generation plan was varied. Extraction from power plants and various energy sources was also discussed at length.
24 June
Select Committee to identify appropriate Reforms of Election laws & Electoral System
Recommend necessary Amendments presented to Parliament on 22nd June by its Chairman the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government and Leader of the House of Parliament, Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena.
COPA instructs officials to prepare quick road map for gas mining
Detailed road map for excavations in the country for the purpose of obtaining gas and crude oil.
Officials presented Liquefied Natural Gas Mining Projects (LNG) pointed out that there are various obstacles to these mining.
Members of Parliament present inquired about the parties involved.
They also asked if the excavations required the advice of foreign governments. Officials present said there was no need for such advice from other governments.
There are some major areas where politicians have to take full accountability not pass the buck to the public officials. While public officials cannot be excused for the majority of them have deteriorated into corrupt practices as well, this cannot be said of the entire public service. However, the corrupt politicians and the corrupt public officials must be weeded out from the system and legally charged for their role in wasting the wealth of the nation.
Leaving aside the global crisis as a result of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Sri Lanka’s Govt is doing a pretty good job adding to the crisis. Is there any truth in the allegation that the government has created the energy crisis for the kickbacks and commissions taken by politicians, public officials and their cronies? When the country is in peril, to intentionally create a crisis to create opportunities to make money is unforgiveable and should be condemned by all.
Much of our internal problems can be addressed if the kickbacks, commissions and other deals do not take place and this artificially created ‘shortage’ would not exist while Sri Lanka will not be cornered by the IMF structural adjustments which invariably hit the general masses and not the elite.
Therefore, the Government should be pressed to answer, if the fuel crisis is a created one, resulting in people being pressed to suffer & justifying deals” which an anxious general public will accept because their only desire is to feed their families.
When Russia is offering fuel at a reduced price, a price even India has accepted & is purchasing, Sri Lanka doesn’t want to anger US and is buying fuel from India at a higher price while India is buying from Russia at a discounted price. What is stopping Sri Lanka from going to Russia for our energy requirements? Are we a State of India or a US colony?
While we still await answer for whether the fuel crisis is an artificial one, it is emerging that the Ceylon Electricity Board is also a den of corruption with Electrical Engineers giving themselves exorbitant state salaries, perks, bonuses and overtime even during these crisis months. These public officials are in fact worse than the politicians and they must be investigated and removed from positions before they cause bigger damage.
The same scenario prevails in Litro Gas though its new chairman Muditha Peiris has responded to allegations. Litro Gas Lanka is a subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation. According to Muditha Pieris it spends less than 2% of annual turnover on salaries of less than 200 staff. Majority of staff have over 20 years’ experience joining Litro from heritage Royal Shell Gas or Lanka Gas Co. In short Muditha Peiris is denying the salaries attributed to Litro senior staff. Litro Director Sales is supposed to be getting over Rs.1.5m monthly salary. Litro Director Safety, a Chemical Engineer of Moratuwa University is allegedly getting over Rs.1.4m – he is attributed to changing the composition of a 18litre gas cylinder which resulted in several explosions in homes including deaths. Litro Director Finance is allegedly getting Rs.2.1m monthly salary and she is alleged to have blocked gas import process. Therefore, those making allegations are now bound to present their evidence.
A series of correspondence by Jayantha Wedasinghe Chairman of Brandsbased Trading has raised speculation as to whether the Government is not being upfront with the People.
These letters certainly raises questions which the Govt requires to answer.
On 18th July 2022, Jayantha Wedasinghe Chairman of Brandsbased Trading writes to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman, Mohamed Uvais, brother of former Finance Minister Ali Sabry, submitting the Russian Oil & Gas supplying transaction procedure TTO – Take Tanker Take Over for the Russian vessel at sea.
On 24th June 2022, the President was sent a letter by Jayantha Wedasinghe giving a proposal for oil, gas & urea with regard to quotations sent. As per this letter 1 metric ton of LP Gas CIF can be secured for $250 at Colombo Port and a 12.5kg domestic gas cylinder could be sold at Rs.2400, this in turn enables petrol or diesel to be sold at sheds for Rs.200 per liter, while a 50kg bag of urea can be provided for Rs.8000. Jayantha Wedasinghe (Chairman Brandsbased Trading) claims that the prices can be maintained with the supplier for a year by agreement. Is there any issue to what Jayantha Wedasinghe claims to be able to do?
On 15th June 2022, Jayantha Wedasinghe has written to Muditha Pieris Chairman Litro Gas regarding supplying LP Gas & oil from Russia. The letter claims per metric ton $250 CIF Colombo, with per litre cost around Rs.90 also giving transaction procedures. A detailed option was offered to both Litro and CPC.
We may not be versed in the subject matter, but when someone is offering a solution, the onus is on those to negate the proposal with facts.
While Jayantha Wedasinghe is making proposals, the Energy Minister claims that 7500 MT diesel costs $11m.
The question is simple enough – if we can get 50,000 MT for $11m from Russia, why are we buying from LIOC?
Toronto July 7th – As you know, the Sri Lankan Canadian Action Coalition and Sri Lanka Canada Association of Brampton challenged the Tamil Genocide Education Week Act (TGEWA) on the basis that the Ontario government did not have the authority to make statements regarding a genocide that they claimed took place in Sri Lanka. While it is evident that our country suffered greatly from the war that occurred over many years, not a single competent international authority or Canadian federal government has recognized that a genocide occurred in Sri Lanka. In fact, the UN Human Rights commissioner has explicitly stated that there is currently no evidence for genocide.
Through the TGEWA, the Ontario government is indirectly mandating the education system to teach our students inaccuracies about Sri Lankan history which will impact generations to come. Historians, scholars, and educationists, and not politicians, should decide what should be taught as history.
We undertook this serious responsibility for our community, our temples and for Sri Lanka, despite many challenges.
On June 28th, 2022, we received the verdict for the Constitutional Challenge case we pursued on behalf of the Sri Lankan community to refute the claims made in the Tamil Genocide Education Week Act, 2021.
The verdict says that TGEWA is within the authority of the Ontario Provincial government’s jurisdiction. The judgment, delivered was not what we had hoped for, given our strong case. However, in her 18-page verdict, Ontario Superior Court Justice Akbarali did make some noteworthy statements:
[9] Over the course of these applications, I heard evidence about the Sri Lankan civil war, and specifically, whether or not what occurred amounted to a genocide of Tamils.
[10] A finding of genocide at law can neither be made nor excluded based on the record before me. Such a determination, under international criminal law, cannot be made in a two-day application based on a few written affidavits from individuals who were in Sri Lanka during the civil war and evidence from dueling experts. I make no findings about whether there was, or was not, a Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka.
[11] In this application, I am not deciding who bears the blame, or who bears more of the blame, for the tremendous suffering and trauma that occurred as a result of the Sri Lankan civil war.
Justice Akbarali, based her judgement on what he believed to be the constitutionality of the TGEWA stating the following:
[12] Nor am I deciding whether it was wise for the Ontario Legislature to pass the TGEWA. The wisdom of the legislation is a question that belongs solely to the Legislature, and more indirectly, to the voters of the province.
[13] The question before me relates only to the constitutionality of the TGEWA. I confine my reasons to that issue only.
Brief Conclusion
[14] For the reasons that follow, I find that the TGEWA is intra vires the province and does not violate the applicants’ ss. 2(b) or 15 Charter rights. As a result, the applications are dismissed.
[44] Second, while the TGEWA makes reference to genocide using words in its preamble that invoke the definition of genocide in international criminal law, it does not claim to determine that genocide has taken place beyond a reasonable doubt, the standard of proof within criminal law.
[45] The proceedings in the Legislature did not purport to follow any kind of process that one would expect to precede a determination under international criminal law that a government engaged in genocide. No oral evidence was led. No documents were reviewed. No arguments were made. No law on genocide was referred to. A declaration of genocide for purposes of international criminal law follows lengthy investigations of the facts, and a careful analysis of the law, because declarations of genocide under international criminal law have international consequences.
We are truly concerned with the ramifications of this judgement which included many political inferences. Justice Akbarali quoted the names of the politicians who made a statement during passing of Bill 104 in Ontario parliament and also produced the non-binding Federal motion by Gary Anandasangaree on May 18th, 2022, 8 days before the hearing of our case against TGEWA.
We believe that it is not in the best interest of the Ontario community to be supporting the teaching of a non-established Tamil Genocide to Ontarians, pushed by a political agenda. Our education system should be ruled by objectivity and exempt from political influences. Allowing politics into our classrooms damages the integrity of our institutions and risks turning our world-renowned education system into a propaganda tool.
Our lead counsel Dr. Fairley stated:
With respect to the division of powers portion of the reasons, pp. 5-12, the judge quotes volumes on one-sided statement of provincial MPPs and the TGEWA’s proponent Mr. Thanigasalam in support of the bill, as evidence of its purportedly educational” character, without noting at any point the exclusion of alternative viewpoints your community sought in vain throughout the legislative process. Paragraph 38 is particularly telling where the Akbarali J. acknowledges the Act recognizes a Tamil Genocide”, without dealing with our central submission that such a declaration is false, belying any legitimate educational purpose. In short, the Court’s rationale proceeds on a false premise. In that regard, the decision completely ignores the expert evidence of Dr. Schabas on point.
At this stage, we are evaluating all options before proceeding to appeal the verdict that must be filed before July 31st, 2022. While we believe that we must keep fighting to ensure the integrity of our history and of our Canadian school systems, the financial burden has become immense. The associations are looking into all possible avenues to go forward with this cause.
We would like to thank the community who rallied behind us, donated and came together to raise funds by organizing many events. We will continue to pay the outstanding amount to our lawyers even though this verdict is has been delivered while we are facing financial hardships due to the increased challenge of raising funds.
We encourage you to contact us with any additional questions, comments or ideas at info@srilankancanadian.ca
The programme of the opposition political groups to mislead the people at a time when successful solutions have been achieved to the existing problematic situation was very sad and unpleasant, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.
The President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement that after a long and well-planned effort, the country was now reaping its benefits.
It said the essential medicines have already been received and the required fuel, gas and ordered essentials will continue to be received from July 12.
At a time when successful solutions have been achieved to the existing problematic situation, the programme of the opposition political groups to mislead the people is very sad and unpleasant.
This will lead to set the country back once again. It is the responsibility and duty of the people to support the building of a good country for the future generations of the country through a correct economic programme. Therefore, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa requested the people to properly understand the current situation and act peacefully and intelligently without getting caught up in wrong ideologies,” the statement added.
Defence Secretary Rtd.General Kamal Gunaratne said that there has been information that certain elements were attempting to incite violence under the guise of peaceful protests.
In a video statement released today evening, Gunaratne urged all citizens to act with patience during these trying times and refrain from engaging in any unlawful acts.
“The Sri Lanka Police and the three Armed forces have been empowered to take action against anyone engaging in any form of violent act. We requested the public to render their support to the security forces who are always committed to protecting the motherland and the people,” Gunaratne said.
The Defence Secretary’s statement comes on the eve of islandwide protests scheduled to be held against the President and government.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today said its entire party machinery will come to Colombo tomorrow and surround the President’s House and will remain there till President Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaves office.
We will gather at Fort Railway station and will march towards the President’s House later and remain there till the President resigns, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and two other MPs Rajitha Senaratne and Mujibur Rahman told a press conference today.
We call on all people to violate curfew in such an eventuality and join in the final battle to grab power,” the MPs said.
We also urge security forces and the police not to follow orders given by the top and join in the uprising,” Mr. Madduma Bandara said.
He said top brass of the government had ordered the relevant institutions to stop the distribution of fuel in order to prevent the people from coming to the capital today. There is a move to stop railway transportation through an act of sabotage,” he said.
Parliament will be convened if the President leaves today to choose a successor,” he also said.
SJB also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe saying he is also proven to be a failure.(YohanPerera)
Violence is not an answer. If you are going to protest, please do so peacefully. And reminding military & police to grant peaceful protesters the space and security to do so. Chaos & force will not fix the economy or bring the political stability that Sri Lankans need right now.
The American ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chang, has made a note on her Twitter account regarding the series of anti-government protests scheduled to be held in Colombo tomorrow (09).
The ambassador points out that violence is by no means the answer to finding solutions to crises.
Therefore, if protests are to be carried out, the ambassador requests Sri Lankans to do so peacefully.
She also points out that the police and security forces should work to provide proper protection to the peaceful protestors.
Julie Chung added that what Sri Lankans need at the moment is to push the economy in the right direction and not create an atmosphere of crisis and chaos by using force, which will never lead to political stability.
The Defence Secretary says the police and the armed forces empowered to use necessary force against those who endanger or harm the general public, engage in anti-social activities or cause damages to property.
In a video statement, General (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne said certain groups are attempting to incite violence among the general public under the pretext of peaceful demonstrations.
Meanwhile, a police curfew order was also imposed in several police areas in the Western Province ahead of the series of mass anti-government protests expected to take place in and outskirts of Colombo tomorrow (July 09).
Accordingly, Negombo, Kelaniya, Nugegoda, Mount Lavinia, Colombo North, Colombo South and Colombo Central police areas are under police curfew from 9.00 p.m. today until further notice.
Police curfew will be imposed in several police areas of the Western Province with effect from 9.00 p.m. today (July 08), Inspector-General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne announced.
Thereby, the curfew orders will be effective in the following police areas until further notice:
• Negombo police area • Kelaniya police area • Nugegoda police area • Mount Lavinia police area • Colombo North police area • Colombo South police area • Colombo Central police area
Urging the residents of these areas to remain indoors while the curfew is effective, the police stressed law will be enforced strictly against those who violate the order.
Meanwhile, travelling through the areas where police curfew is in effect is completely prohibited, the police said further.
Accordingly, motorists are advised to use alternative routes for the time being.
Let us return to the impeachment of 2 Chief Justices of Sri Lanka – how they were removed matters not so much as the trial or the allegations related therein. Another noteworthy feature is the manner one Chief Justice got full international backing while the other received only international condemnation. This is quite strange for the international community” & the legal fraternity that claims to be unbiased.
Shirani Bandaranayake was Chief Justice 43
Appointed on 18 May 2011
Impeachment motion in November 2012
Procedure to impeach a Chief Justice
Constitutional provisions – Articles 107(2) & 107(3) setting procedure to remove members of the Judiciary
Standing Orders of Parliament 78A(1)– Resolution presented to Speaker or placed on Order Paper of Parliament signed by 1/3 of total MPs
Speaker accepts Resolution & places in Order Paper of Parliament
Speaker appoints Select Committee of not less than 7 members to investigate & report to Parliament the allegations made
Select Committee hands to Chief Justice a copy of their deliberations & seeks written statement of defense from CJ
Chief Justice given opportunity to appear before Select Committee to give version
Select Committee given a month to conclude findings
Decision presented to President by Speaker on behalf of Parliament
Procedure followed to impeach CJ Shirani Bandaranayake
117 MPs handed a petition on 1st November 2012
Standing Orders of Parliament & Constitution was upheld
11 Member Select Committee appointed on 14 Nov 2012 – Anura Priyadarshana Yapa (Chairman) Nimal Siripala de Silva, Susil Premajayantha, Rajitha Senaratna, Dilan Perera, Wimal Weerawansa, Neomal Perera, John Amaratunga, Lakshman Kiriella, Vijitha Herath, R Sampanthan.
Select Committee handed report to Speaker on 8 Dec 2012
Parliament debated on 10th, 11th January 2013
Parliament vote taken – 155 voted in favor / 49 voted against – on 11 Jan 2013
Parliament impeached Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake on 11 January 2013
2 ½ months was taken for the due process
(CJ 43) Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake was impeached on 11 January 2013,
(CJ 44) Mohan Pieris was appointed Chief Justice on 15 January 2013.
9 January 2015 – the government changed / President Sirisena appointed President
Procedure followed to remove Mohan Pieris as Chief Justice
9 Jan 2015 – BASL meet new President & new PM Ranil – urging them to reinstate Shirani Bandaranayake as CJ
12 Jan 2015 – a group of lawyers & civil society organizations staged a protest in Hulftsdorp calling for CJ Mohan Pieris to step down.
These self-righteous rule of law” & democracy” proponents gave Mohan Pieris 48hours to step down gracefully”.
CJ Pieris was not able to even attend Supreme Court or enter his Chambers.
28 Jan 2015 – President Sirisena’s Secretary by letter informed CJ44 quoting void ab initio to claim his position as CJ was considered null & void claiming his appointment was not valid from the beginning.
28 Jan 2015 – CJ 43 reinstated for only 1 day & made to resign the same day. This was the fate of Shirani Bandaranayake who was at the forefront of a local and international campaign to be reinstated since her impeachment in 2013 to be reinstated in 2015 for one day!
30 Jan 2015 – Justice K Sripavan appointed Chief Justice & controversially is made CJ44 not CJ45.
Question is can the President alone remove the Chief Justice at his will & that too through a letter sent by his secretary?
The same parties that claimed due process was not followed to remove Shirani Bandaranayake removed Mohan Pieris by protesting and not allowing him to enter his chambers. Is this the due process they are promoting?
Is international standards & rule of law to protest & remove a CJ and obstruct him entering his Chambers and not the Constitutional provisions stated to remove a CJ?
A victim is a victim irrespective of the face! So where were these unbiased, impartial, rule of law, due process, upholders of law & constitution for victim CJ44?
Was a procedure followed for the removal of CJ43 & CJ44? Irrespective of any legal loopholes. Was there a process that was followed for both?
CJ43 is ShiraniB
CJ44 – MohanP & Sripavan (we have 2 CJs) – however Mohan Peiris’s name is expunged
CJ45 – Priyasath Depp
CJ46 – Nalin Perera
CJ47 – Jayantha Jayasuriya
Additionally, if void ab initio term is used it next raises another more important question of the legal validity of every judgment made by Mohan Pieris as CJ44 from his appointment in January 2013 to his removal in January 2015?
Why is no one answering this question?
How can there be two CJ44?
Ironically, not only did we have 2 Chief Justices in Sri Lanka in 2015 but 2 Prime Ministers as well. While PM D.M Jayaratne did not resign or was sacked as Prime Minister by gazette, RanilW was appointed as Prime Minister. Once again none of the rule of law, democracy, due process” bandwagon came forward to bemoan the illegality & unconstitutionality of this appointment. Ironically in the same controversial manner he has once again become PM and the same parties are once more silent.
This selective & partisan approach by the usual culprits is nothing to be surprised about.
The general public should realize the futility of their rhetoric, pretending to be upholders of good governance but doing the opposite.
It is our duty to highlight these violations & leave it for you the reader to decide.
The Government should immediately proscribe all these anti-national foreign agents called Civil Societies” and initiate a full investigation with a view to take legal action against their misdeeds and put an end to their activities.
The following letter by Shenali Waduge is a must, that should be read by all Sinhala people who love their Motherland and the glorious Sinhala nation. Sri Lankan politicians in particular, from the President and Prime Minister downward, who handle the destiny of the country and all policy makers and top Government officials who are in charge of the machinery of governance should take serious notice of the content of Shenalis letter. I am seriously concerned as to why they are sleeping and they remain deaf and blind on the irreparable disaster these anti national elements are doing against the Sinaha nation and while these bunches of anti- national and unpatriotic so-called Civil Society vultures are actively engaged in destroying this paradise Island and the Sinhala Buddhist nation even at international fora for fabulous financial gain from political and religious enemies that have been trying to destroy this Island nation form 1505 up to date.
Going by the list of these so-called Civil Organizations and the people who have listed as their Chairmen, Secretaries, Executive Directors, Conveners, Governors, Advisors and Board members together with these so-called colonial disguised doner agencies such as USAID, OXFAM, NORAD, CIDA, GTZ jointly set up to destabilize and keep the third world countries as they have named them and keep them permanently as their markets for their products and supply sources of cheap raw materials and labour and destroy native civilizations. On the other hand all the leading personalities who operate these Civil Societies like Pakyasothi Saravanamuththu, Radhika Kumaraswaamy, Jehan Perera, Raja Asirvadan, Milinda Moragoda, Indrajith Kumaaraswamy, Jayadeva Uyangoda, Sheffinaz Hasendeen, Reginold Thangaraja, W, C. Weliamuna, Sarath Wijesuriya, WickramaBahu Karunaratna, Gamini Viyangoda, Dambrla Amila, Nirmaal Ranjith Devasiri, Nimalka Fernando, Laal Wijenayaka, Priest Sarath Iddamalgoda and Shaanti Sellatambi are I only the proxies working for their foreign masters. It has becoms more than evident that all of them are a well- organized bunch of anti- Sinhala, anti- Buddhist anti -National paragons of fame acting as heavily paid proxies of the Western countries and Dollar shops in a network of interlocking mechanism to destroy this Island nation and its unique Sinhala Buddhist civilization. The absence of a government and a patriotic public service in this country like in what we have in India, as I see, is the main cause for this unfortunate situation.
proxies All these agencies and individuals are externally manipulated by political, financial and dogmatic forces and they are controlled by non-Sinhala Buddhists, mostly Catholics, Muslims and Tamils who have vouched to destroy the Sinhala Buddhist civilization in this country. This what they could not do from 1505 up to 1948. More over all these agencies and individuals are sworn enemies of the native Sinhala Buddhists of Sri Lanka who had reigned and prospered over this country as a world-renowned nation of fame from 307 BC after the advent of Buddhism. Each of these international agencies trying to make this island their Pivot of Asia and each ethnic group within the country dreaming to take over this Island as their Homeland with internal conspiracies and external support.
Absence of a strong patriotic political or national leadership since Independence, with the singular exception of Sirima Bandaranayaka, who made a bold attempt to put the country on the correct path during her regimes during 1960 to 65 and 1970-1977.
Moreover, all these so-called Civil Organizations are only international racketeer agencies founded and manned by self- seeking social crooks brought up, in the Colombian cultural environs, educated within the Western system of education, fully imbibed in Western culture and brainwashed to act as proxies of their Western masters. Their heads are full of alien political and social dogmas fully brain washed and completely uprooted and therefore alienated from the Sinhala Buddhist cultural matrix that form the rock foundation of its civilization and dominate the whole country. Therefore, all these Civil society barons are completely divorced from the native Sinhala milieu. And strangely it is this gang of of thupahiyas who are trying to dictate the governments of the country elected by 80 % of the native population who live in the villages all over the country which are completely different form Colombo society other than the TV, Cell phone and the Tricycle.
I call upon the government in power to proscribe all these organizations immediately and start a full investigation in to all their conspiracies against this nation and misappropriation of foreign donations and charge them for felonious treason and conspiracy against the Sinhala nation and Mother Lanka.
1 The constitution of all these organizations, except one or two, clearly shows that they are manned by activist, Tamils, Muslims Catholics and disgruntled Sinhala elements calling themselves intellectuals. The common denominator that unites them is their jealousy and antipathy against the Sinhala Buddhist Nation.
2The fact that all these organizations rise only against any move that benefits the native Sinha Buddhist and none of these organizations utter a single word when and where the native Sinhala people are affected
3 Whenever they talk or agitate about human rights they only talk about minorities and always use those so-called international standards and legal arguments and never refer to the native customs or traditions
4 None of these organizations accept that this country is the land of the Sinhala Buddhist nation for 2500 years or even more.
5 . None of them agitate for the rectification of the rights of the native Sinhalese that were lost after 1505 and that were not rectified in1948 at the time of so-called independence.
6.They always agitate only on behalf of the parasitic minority groups and their rights but never a word about the majority Sinhalese who were the Buhumiputras of this Island from the dawn of history.
7 All this evidence clearly shows that their continuance serves no purpose as arms of nation building in this country is concerned.
8 They only serve as a chain of lucrative employment for a set of Colombo based Thupahiya trouble makers, a veritable thorn in the body nation.
Usually, it is the job of the head of the state in situations like this to mobilize the State machinery to take appropriate actions in situations like this. But unfortunately, we don’t have an effective Head of State in this country at this moment. Obviously the person elected by 6.9 million in 2019 as the people‘s President has miserably failed in all three fundamental functions of a State namely, 1. Raksha or protection of the State from external aggression of the country.2.Palana or maintenance of law and order within the State and 3 Yogakshema or safeguarding the Welfare of the people as Katilya has laid down millennia ago.
Is foreign-funded Civil Society” attempting to replace the Political System in Sri Lanka?
Posted on July 3rd, 2022
Shenali D Waduge
Do civil society” actually represent Sri Lankan citizens or are they representatives of those that fund or pay their salaries? Their connections and the manner they network provide clues. While they point fingers claiming politicians should serve a term, how long have they held posts in these organizations? While they project themselves as being better than politicians – how better are they, how trustworthy are they given that their funding determines the initiatives they take up & the topics they raise. It is they who began the ‘Reject 225+1” campaign as early as 2018 & we see that this campaign is in reality to replace politicians with themselves. There is increasing attempts to get ‘civil society’ involved in governance. By ‘civil society’ it is these foreign-funded entities that are attempting to take over governance.
1. Centre for Policy Alternatives
Board of Directors
Professor Chandraguptha Thenuwara, Senior Lecturer: Department of History & Art Theory, Faculty of Visual Arts, Colombo – Chairman
Aritha Wickremasinghe (Lawyer)
Chandana L. de Silva (Consultant)
Minoli De Soysa (Editor/Writer)
Dinusha Panditaratne (Lawyer)
Sukanya Devarajan (Former International Civil Servant)
The Berghof Foundation for Conflict Studies in Sri Lanka
The Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit
The International Social Survey Programme (ISSP)
UNICEF
UNDP
UNHCR
USAID
In October 2014 CPA was exposed for funding corruption. CPA was accused of billing for un-held workshops, getting grants from 2 donors for the same task (EU & UNESCO paid CPA to do same task – each paying EURO 99,497.16), duplicating receipts, hotel bills and hoodwinking donors. These are the people preaching anti-corruption! An article disclosed all details – International Federation of Journalists is one of the ‘most corrupted media organizations in the world’ including double-billing. The article included names of Rohan Edirisinghe, Sunanda Deshapriya, Victor Ivan.
2.Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV)
Convener
CMEV is made up of CPA, FMM and INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre.
3.National Peace Council
Board
Joe William (Chairperson)
G. V. D. Tilakasiri (General Secretary)
Jehan Perera (Executive Director)
Professor T. Jayasingam (Joint Treasurer)
Professor M. S. Mookiah (Joint Treasurer)
Professor S. H. Hasbullah (Director – until August)
Javid Yusuf (member of yahapalana constitutional council)
A. Iyadurai
Saroja Sivachandran
M. H. M. Niyas
Fr. Joseph Mary
A. W. Hilmy Ahamed
Suresh Dayantha De Mel
Fr. T. Rohan Dominic
Rohana Hettiarachchi
Christobel Saverimuttu (Company Secretary)
4.ADVOCATA (earlier Advocata Institute)
Colombo-based neoliberal think tank connected to the US Govt
https://www.advocata.org/about
launched in May 2016 at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute
3 months after the launch Minister Malik S quotes Advocata’s privatization plans.
BOARD
Murtaza Jafferjee – Chair – Advocata Institute
Sarath Rajapatirana – Chair – Academic Programme
Anarkali Moonesinghe – Board Member at Lankan Angel Network
Henry Ergas –Professor of Infrastructure Economics
Frank Lavin – Chairman & CEO – Export Now
Nishan de Mel – Executive Director – Verite Research
Fredrik Erixon – Director – ECIPE (European Centre for International Political Economy linked to CATO Institute)
Parth J Shah – President – Centre for Civil Society
Premachandra Athukorala – Professor of economics – ANU
Razeen Sally – Professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy – NUS (Economic Advisor to former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera) also on board of Candle Aid Sri Lanka
Rohan Samarajiva – Chairman – Lirneasia
Sujata Gamage – Senior Research Fellow, LIRNEasia
Reuben Abraham – CEO – IDFC Institute
Suri Ratnapala – Professor of Law, Queensland Uni.
Sirimal Abeyratne – Professor in Eco., Colombo Uni.
5.VERITE RESEARCH
BOARD
Nishan de Mel – Executive Director
Subhashini Abeysinghe – Research Director
Cilani Wijesinghe – Finance Director
SENIOR ADVISORS
Tony Seneviratne
Vinoth Ramachandra
Chris Rodrigo
Sisira Jayasuriya
Nimal Sanderatne
Sunil Bastian
Michael Roberts
Sharya Scharenguivel
Sunil Hettiarachchi
ADVISORS
Rajesh Venugopal
Rozana Himaz Salih
Joy Pachuau
Saliya Wickramasuriya
Dinusha Panditaratne
Jesse Szeto
Amala Jayawardena
Ranil Dhammapala
Viran Corea
Note: Verite Research is promoting MCC economic corridor in Sri Lanka and is MCC agent in Sri Lanka
6.LIRNEASIA – established in 2005
BOARD
Rohan Samarajiva – Chair
Vinya Ariyaratne – Vinya is also on the board of Sarvodaya Fusion – so too are Rohan Samarajiva, Madhu Rathnayaka (Virtusa),
Jeeva Perumalpillai-Essex – Development Economist
Lakshman Bandaranayake – Chairman Sarvodaya SEEDS
Mervyn de Silva – Consultant Renewable Energy Development
Visaka Nanayakkara – Senior Lecturer Univ of Moratuwa
Shaheen Cader – former CEO Nielsen Sri Lanka
7.ALUMNI
Millie Rivera – Director Faculty Diversity, George Mason University, USA
Indrajit Coomaraswamy – Former Governor CBSL
Sandya Salgado – Director/CEO Ogilvy Action
W M Bandusena – Chairman Health Services, Public Service Commission
Anoja J Obeysekera – Consultant Telecom/Technology Business
Luxman Siriwardena – Former Executive Director Pathfinder Foundation
Thusitha Perera – Company Director & Senior Finance Professional
8.National People’s Movement
Formed by Vinya Ariyaratna in 2018 with Deshodaya (entity within Sarvodaya) & United Professionals Movement together with 17 civil society groups.
Slogans used Together we can” promising to Save-Serve-Sri Lanka”. They are promoting to bring a new face” to Sri Lankan politics.
Nagahananda Kodituwakku of Vinivida Foundation is also a partner of NPM
9.The United People’s Movement
comprises Deshodaya, Kalyanamithra Society, Sinhala Weera Widana Society. What is the link with United Professionals Movement & United People’s Movement?
National Democratic Institute (NDI) – SRI LANKA
National Endowment for Democracy NED is umbrella for 3 inter-related agencies:
Center for International Private Enterprise
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
National Republican Institute for International Affairs (International Republican Institute)
NDI is funded by NED, USAID, US State Dept, Consortium for Elections & Political Process Strengthening,
NDI also received contributions from Govt of Australia, Govt of Denmark, Govt of Belgium and Open Society Foundation of George Soros. Yasmin Sooka’s report against Sri Lanka was funded by George Soros Open Society Foundation. The Google balloon over Sri Lanka Google Loon Project” is also a George Soros project. In 2016 it was announced that George Soros was to fund a 3 year economic plan for Sri Lanka. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160110/business-times/soros-to-boost-sri-lankan-economy-stiglitz-to-provide-sound-advice-177966.htm
NDI provided financial & technical assistance in Ukraine election.
SRI LANKA
Assisted in conducting election monitoring & civil education campaigns in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2019 elections.
Sri Lanka became 1st South Asian Member of Open Government Partnership in 2015 to adopt an Open Parliament Plan alongside Civil Society.
NDI partners with Sarvodaya
Thusitha Pilapitiya, Sri Lanka Resident Senior Country Director
International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)
BOARD
Radhika Coomaraswamy (Chairman) – Former Senior UN Diplomat
Rajan Asirwatham -Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, Corporate Director and former Senior Partner and Country Head of KPMG Ford Rhodes Thornton & Company
K.M.de Silva (Emeritus) Chancellor of University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Historian, political analyst and specialist in ethnic studies and conflict resolution; former professor of Sri Lanka History, University of Peradeniya; founder and former Chairman and Executive Director of ICES
Shafinaz Hassendeen Former Senior ILO Officer and Labour/Gender specialist
Tissa Jayatilaka was former Executive Director of the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, and presently a Member/Council of Management, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS).
Wijaya Jayatilaka Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Peradeniya and former Executive Director, Transparency International
Gnana Moonesinghe Civil Society Activist and Writer/Author
Jayadeva Uyangoda (Emeritus) Former Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Colombo and presently Emeritus Professor, University of Colombo.
10.PATHFINDER FOUNDATION
Milinda Moragoda – Founder
Bernard Goonetilleke – Chairman since 2010 / DG Merchant Mercantile Bank
Dayaratna Silva – Exec Dir
Ahmed A. Jawad – diplomat – Norway, Saudi Arabia, Canada
Indrajit Coomaraswamy
Ganeshan Wignaraja – Director of Research at the ADB Institute in Tokyo, Chief Programme Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London and Visiting Scholar at the IMF in Washington DC), Executive Director of the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry’s think tank in Colombo, Member of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on the Indian Ocean Member of the Monetary Policy Consultative Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka)
Rajendra Theagarajah
11.BAR ASSOCIATION OF SRI LANKA
Jan 2014 – US Govt via USAID sign MOU with BASL President Upul Jayasuriya.
US will sponsor Civil Society Initiatives to support Rule of Law” linking BASL with US Bar Association.
Apr 2021 – US via USAID funds mobile app for Sri Lankan lawyers
Colombo Law Society members given access to online legal resources & court calendars, law reports.
Colombo Law Society in 2020 launched Hultsdorp Law Journal with US assistance providing online legal training for attorneys and law students.
CLS is affiliated to BASL with more than 4000 lawyers in Colombo.
12.Lawyers Collective:
Associated names: K S Ratnavale, Chrishantha Weliammuna, Jayampathi Wickremaratne, Lal Wijenayake, Chandrapala Kumarage, J C Weliamuna, Nagahananda Kodituwakku
They campaigned for 19a, they promoted the Aluth Parapura, they thanked all those who helped to remove Chief Justice Mohan Pieris.
BASL also called for the removal of CJ Mohan Pieris. No one has answered why there was a due process followed to remove CJ Shirani Bandarnayake while no such process was followed to remove CJ Mohan Pieris. CJ Shirani was CJ43, however CJ44 is both Mohan Pieris and CJ Sri Pavan.
13.Lawyers for Democracy
Senior Lawyer Ratnavel is also a member of Lawyers Collective
In December 2018, Lawyers for Democracy issued statement on dissolution of Parliament – signatories to this statement were K.S. Ratnavale, J.C. Weliamuna, Lakshan Dias, Sheath Nethsinhe.
No lawyers objected to present PM being appointed PM immediately after a Presidential election in Jan2015 nor objected to present PM who entered parliament after being rejected by voters.
14.National Movement for Social Justice
Led by late Ven. Madulawe Sobitha thero
In November 2014 its first meet was attended by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Democratic Party Leader Sarath Fonseka and MP Arjuna Ranatunga, while the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike, issued a message pledging support to the group
15.Movement for a Just Society
Headed by Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya
16.‘Paravasi Balaya’ (පුරවැසිබලය Citizen’s Power)
Co-Convener Gamini Viyangoda
Wickramabahu Karunaratne is also associated.
17.University Teachers’ for a Just Society
Convener Venerable Dambara Amila Thero, Prof. Jagath Kumarasinghe, Prof. Rohan Fernando, Dr. Mahim Mendis, Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri all openly campaigned for 2015 Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
They attended the November 2014 ‘yahapalana’ press meeting organized by Ven. Sobitha thero.
December 2014 – Nearly 150 civil society groups under leadership of Maduluwawe Sobitha thero signed agreement in December 2014 and August 2015.
Colombo-based Civil Society Group’
conveners were Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu, Nimalika Fernando, Shanti Sachithanandan, K S Ratnavale
18.‘Citizens Initiative for Constitutional Change’
Speakers at this event were – S G Punchihewa (human rights activist), Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu (CPA), Lal Wijenayake, Rohana Hettiarachchi (PAFFREL Executive Director), Kumuduini Samuel, Sudarshana Gunawardena Shan Wijetunga (Transparency International) Lionel Guruge CPA Senior Researcher in charge of CPA Outreach programas chaired the briefing.
organized by Catholic priest Sarath Iddamalgoda led a protest to demand the government stop the Port City project.
Port City was stopped immediately in January 2015 by Ranil and recommenced by Ranil in 2016 but no Sarath Iddamalgoda to protest against it!
20.Aluth Parapura
personalities associated with this group are Sharmini Serasinghe, Samanalee Fonseka, Indrachapa Liyanage,
21.National Alliance of Alternative Forces
Formed in August 2019 by Professor Krishan Deheragoda (President) and Dr. Rohan Pallewatta (Leader) of Social Democratic Party of Sri Lanka, Ananda Stephen (General Secretary) of National Development Front, Navin Guneratne of Movement to Unite Motherland, Dinesh Kirthinanda of Alternative Political National Alliance, Professor Siri Hettige of Movement for Democracy & Justice, Dr. Prasanna Cooray of Democratic Social Alliance and Swarajya Foundation.
Dr. Rohan Pallewatte and Mr. Nagananda Kodithuwakku supposedly contesting for 2020 Presidency joined NAAF pledging support for a single National Candidate under the theme Reject 225 + 1” and ‘total system change”. 35 Associations representing nearly 150 organizations took part in its meeting held on 22 August 2019.
So what is the link with NPM and NAAF?
22.Abhiman Lanka අබිමන්ලංකා” (Dignified Sri Lanka)
also launched on the same day by the same people promoting either Rohan Pallewatte or Nagananda Kodituwakku.
Abhiman Lanka invited JVP to join it –https://www.lankanewsweb.net/67-general-news/47670-’’Abhiman-Lanka’’-invites-JVP-to-join-alternative-force-amidst-presidential-polls–VIDEO-?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook
23.Law & Society Trust
– formed by late Neelan Tiruchelvan had on its board of Directors – Chairman Chandra Jayaratne (supporter of yahapalana government) Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda, G Alagaratnam (BASL President in 2015),
Donors are controversial – National Endowment for Democracy (NED) for land rights (note recent Land Privatization bill attempting to privatize all state land)
In 2017 Coalition Against Corruption used Right to Information Act to demand information from Transparency International SL on its case against TISL Executive Director Asoka Obeysekera, report by J C Weliamuna, Rs.1.1m fraud, and providing job to a foreign female who did not have work visa. Fascinating how these so called civil-society paragons of virtue are all hiding skeletons in their closets but broadcasting to the world their virtues!
Incidentally Weliamuna was elected to global anti-corruption Board in 2010!
In April 2015 Weliamuna said Failure to bring in 19A will be a complete reversal of people’s mandate”
The RanilW Government paid Weliamuna Rs.3.5m for a 136page report on Sri Lankan Airlines which the Airline rejected!
Weliamuna also filed petition against dissolution of Parliament in October 2018 and reinstatement of Ranil as PM. Weliamuna was sent as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia.
Top Donors in 2015: EU, Norway Foreign Ministry, Swiss Embassy, British High Commission, USAID, UNDP
Top Donors in 2016: Norway Foreign Ministry, National Endowment for Democracy (NED), USAID, Soros’s Open Society, Asia Foundation
Top Donors in 2017: Norway Foreign Ministry, NED (to mobilize citizens), USAID, Soros’s Open Society
Top Donors in 2018: Norway Foreign Ministry, Asia Foundation, Soros’s Open Society, Swiss Embassy, DAI, Neelan Tiruchelvan Trust, John Keels (Integrity Idol) It is interesting to see the type of projects that these entities have funded Transparency Sri Lanka to roll out across Sri Lanka. Putting these programs on a larger platter will help understand their overall bigger objectives – something Sri Lanka’s policy makers and advisors are obviously clueless about!
There are the paragons of virtue presenting themselves as ‘civil society’. They are all well-connected & move in the same circles and funded by the same bodies. They all speak on the same topics and advocate the same themes their paymasters and donors request of them.
The groups deem it their right to impose who the voters vote for and who voters should not vote for. This is their ‘democracy’.
In a show of goodwill, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave 1000 kg of the renowned Amrapali mango to Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The mango was given to the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s protocol officer by the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad in July 05, 2022.
According to a statement from the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad, “This gift will be considered a special example of bilateral friendship between the two fraternal countries.”
Since a few years ago, Bangladesh has been providing the leaders of South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern nations with a range of delectable mangoes as gifts. Analysts refer to this as “mango diplomacy,” a unique strategy for keeping cordial ties with the nations.
Mangoes: why? Similar to how the French or the Italians are proud of their wines, the Germans and the Japanese of their automobiles, or the Norwegians of their salmon and cloudberries, the mango is the pinnacle of Bangladeshi produce. The mango has recently developed into a crucial component of Bangladesh’s international public diplomacy, serving as a sign of friendship and goodwill.
The mango has recently emerged as a crucial component of Bangladesh’s international public diplomacy. A few days ago, Bangladesh PM sent Mangoes to the Indian president, PM, Bengal CM and Assam CM. It makes sense to send mangoes to India because Bangladesh wishes to foster a cordial relationship with its enormous neighbor. However, giving Pakistan a bushel of the fruit was also very significant.
50 years after the separation of what was then East and West Pakistan in 1971, the exchange of mangoes as gift of Bangladesh PM to Pak PM seems to be an indication that Bangladesh-Pakistan friendly ties is possible. Pakistan and Bangladesh are two of the top ten exporters of mangoes.
The Bangladesh President, the Prime Minister, and other important Bangladeshi figures received fresh, internationally renowned Pakistani mangoes Pakistani mangoes from the Pakistani government last year. On August 2, 2021, Bangladesh welcomed it with the greatest appreciation.
We are all aware of Pakistan’s mango diplomacy. Mao Ze Dong, the Communist Party’s then-chairman, and the Chinese people were taken aback by Pakistan’s mango diplomacy in the 1960s. A significant amount of mango output comes from Pakistan.
For the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also gave former Pak PM Imran Khan rare Harivanga mangoes from Bangladesh as a show of goodwill in 2021.
As a continuous part, she sent her goodwill gift to her counterpart PM Shehbaz Sharif. PM Hasina demonstrated honesty and a desire for friendship with all global actors by taking a significant initiative in the situation of Pakistan. The prime minister of Bangladesh wants to maintain and bolster ties with other South Asian nations. Her efforts at mango diplomacy serve as evidence.
Both parties may put in a lot of work to maintain positive relations with the governments of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Additionally, it will foster positive ties with Bangladeshi and Pakistani citizens. New generations on both sides demand closer ties in the business, tourism, etc. in the very near future.
People from both nations can gain from each other if the two governments work to build positive relationships. The government of Imran Khan was doing everything in its power to forge a solid connection with Bangladesh since it is crucial for the two countries’ interests and mutual advantages in a variety of industries. Now, PM Shehbaz Sharif must continue his predecessor’s effort.
There can be some issues between Pakistan and Bangladesh. However, both sides need to adequately handle these issues. Bangladesh is being seen an economic miracle in South Asia. At every major forum, the world community praises Bangladesh. Pakistan should establish solid ties in order to further its own interests.
Pakistan and Bangladesh are both in South Asia. We can all recall the 1970 Ping Pong diplomacy involving Sino-US relations.
Table tennis diplomacy helped China and the US establish and develop their relationship. The small effort improved relations between China and the US. We can also anticipate the use of mango diplomacy, another Ping Pong tactic. Mango diplomacy is a small undertaking, but it has a big impact.
This modest effort will grow into a significant accomplishment for both parties. We can now anticipate some next moves. Visits by high-ranking officials could be a step toward fostering closer ties. To mend fences, the two prime ministers might trade visits. Both countries’ decision-makers can exchange visits. Pakistan has a significant role to play in this.
Malice to none, friendship to all is the basic essential foreign policy of Bangladesh, a nation that values peace. State is very liberal.
Pakistan has a fantastic opportunity to improve the situation. Though there are several areas where relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh are tense. but the passage of time, Pakistan must resettle its ties with Bangladesh resolving the issues. Pakistan and Bangladesh must comprehend the state of the world now.
Geographically, both are countries in South Asia. Pakistan might be important to the process. Bangladesh is soon to become a South Asian Tiger. It has a flourishing economy. Bangladesh may contribute to the improvement of their business connections.
For its own benefit, Pakistan should maintain its connections with Bangladesh. The economy of Bangladesh is expanding. Pakistan may ask BD for assistance in the near future. For Pakistan to improve, relations with Bangladesh must be maintained. They have a ton of potential together. In terms of religion and culture, Bangladesh and Pakistan have certain similarities. Mutual trade, international counterterrorism initiatives, and regional connectivity could be other sectors.
Bangladesh PM congratulated PM Shehbaz after the selection as PM. Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh is growing at a rapid pace and it will cross the $1 billion mark by the yearend, Bangladesh High Commissioner Ruhul Alam Siddique said recently. Bangladesh will host the 20th session of the Council of Ministers of D-8, also known as Developing-8, on 27 July. As an active member of the organization, Pak FM may join the meeting in Bangladesh.
Pakistan has thanked Hasina for the gift of this famous, delicious mango from that country. The international diplomatic community believes that this gift will be considered as a special example in the relations between the two countries.
However, as a result, both states’ policymakers need to be aware of the issue. Mango diplomacy is a small undertaking, but it has a big impact. In the case of bilateral ties, this initiative can encompass both. Both sides must be aware of that. If the realization is favorable, both the governments and the citizens of the states will gain.
Farmers take part in an anti-government protest demanding the resignation of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the country’s ongoing economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 6, 2022. /VCG
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe declared his country “bankrupt” on Tuesday, as a result of the island’s worst-ever economic crisis since independence in 1948.
Sri Lanka presently owes over $50 billion to international creditors. This April it announced it was suspending debt payments. Wickremesinghe said the crisis has made bailout negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) more difficult and complicated, dashing hopes that the nation’s much-needed recovery could begin soon after the talks concluded.
Wickremesinghe attributed the crisis to a combination of the prior government’s policy of reducing taxes and the economic-financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. He told TASS news agency, the past policies deprived the budget of an estimated $40 billion, while the pandemic caused Sri Lanka to spend the rest of its reserves on emergency measures.
R. Ramakumar, an economics professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India, has some additional insight into the origins of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. He wrote in an article that the island nation obtained 16 loans from the IMF from 1965 onward due to historical fluctuations in export earnings from agriculture and garments, two major industries.
Then the terrorist attacks in April 2019 that targeted churches and luxury hotels drastically reduced revenue from tourism, further draining foreign reserves. The tax policy that Wickremesinghe blames came during this period and subsequently, upon the onset of the pandemic, the government banned all fertilizer imports to “prevent the drain of foreign reserves.” The result was “a drastic fall in agricultural production and more imports.” As a result, “there was less money available to import food and food shortages arose,” leading to an increase in food prices.
A woman uses firewood to cook food at a hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 15, 2022. /VCG
That’s crucial to keep in mind since some are blaming the Belt and Road Initiative for Sri Lanka’s bankruptcy. Loans from China accounted for only about 10 percent of Sri Lanka’s total foreign debt in 2020. Japan accounted for 11 percent while the largest portion, reportedly between 30 percent and 50 percent, is from international sovereign bonds that have a higher interest rate and a shorter repayment period.
By all indications, investing in Sri Lanka was a safe bet for everyone. The Financial Timesreported in February that “Sri Lanka first tapped bond markets more than a decade ago, taking advantage of Western investors’ thirst for high-yielding assets as it sought to finance reconstruction following a civil war that ended in 2009…[It] has never defaulted and its successive governments have been known for a market-friendly approach.”
In hindsight, while the terrorist attacks and COVID-19 were both black swan events that were unforeseen, the tax and fertilizer policies were self-inflicted damage. Without intending to, the government planted the seeds that would ultimately crash the economy. It, therefore, wasn’t loans, least of all Chinese, that are responsible for Sri Lanka going bankrupt, but those two ill-thought-out policies.
It’s too late to reverse the immense damage they have inflicted but that doesn’t mean the situation is hopeless. Close partners like China and India have extended emergency aid while Russia sold Sri Lanka oil in late May, all of which helped alleviate some suffering. Still, a lot more remains to be done to sustainably resolve this crisis, which will likely require painful structural reforms.
Wickremesinghe optimistically predicted in the TASS interview that the crisis might stabilize by the end of the year and be fully resolved after another few years. For that to happen and to get back on the right economic track, Sri Lanka will require the support of the entire international community.
Chaturanga Samarawickrama Courtesy The Daily Mirror
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman, Janaka Rathnayake, today urged the government to investigate the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) for making huge profit margins on fuel imports and sales.
While addressing the media, he said the revenue after importing and selling fuel not gone to the government or to the treasury but to the CPC where they had huge financial burdens.
The chairman referred to the CPC as a ‘dark hole’ and said the revenue after importing and selling fuel is sucked into the CPC and nobody sees anything. Even though the CPC is charging higher prices, they don’t have the funds to buy fuel.
However, there were two fuel price revisions during the last 45 days in May and June.
Rathnayake said based on the fuel formula that came out through the Power and Energy Ministry, it had mentioned exorbitant prices on imports of all these fuel varieties into the country.
According to the latest revision, a barrel of octane 92 petrol was imported at US$157, octane 95 at US$158, diesel at US$174 per barrel, super diesel at US$176 per barrel and a barrel of kerosene at US$171, he said.
As per the information received from the Sri Lanka Customs Department (SLCD) a month ago, a barrel of kerosene was imported at US$105. A barrel of diesel was sold at US$ 111, a barrel of furnace oil was imported at US$ 75, and a barrel of petrol was imported at US$ 100.
However, according to the fuel formula which the CPC came up with, the price was almost US$50 per barrel, and they arrived at a huge cost figure. The CPC had determined the fuel price based on the latest fuel price revision.
Moreover, the government is charging lesser than Rs.50 as taxation for the above fuel imports per litre. Therefore, the CPC is having that opportunity to making a huge amount as profits ranging from Rs.171 to around Rs. 258 per litre on this imports and selling fuel.
This is the plight of these large organisations where the financial disciplines are not in proper order, he said.
Therefore, the PUCSL chairman urged the political hierarchy, Ministries, Ministers or any interested parliamentarians, treasury, central Bank, local banks to look into the matter to ensure that whether the pricing is done properly.
Sri Lanka’s headline inflation is expected to rise to 70 per cent in the coming months from the current level of 50%, the Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe says.
His remarks came during a media briefing convened in Colombo to announce the Central Bank’s 5th monetary policy review for the year 2022.
The major concern and priority, from the Central Bank’s point of view, is to address inflation and inflation expectations going forward and bring it down to a reasonable level as soon as possible, Dr. Weerasinghe said. If you look at the impact of inflation on segments of people, the first and hardest hit would be the poor and vulnerable.”
If inflation goes beyond control, to a hyperinflation situation, no one will be able to continue businesses, he added.
On Wednesday (July 06), the Monetary Board of the Central Bank further increased its policy interest rates with the aim of containing inflation pressures while ensuring macroeconomic stability in the period ahead.
Accordingly, the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) were increased by 100 basis points 14.50 points and 15.50 per cent, respectively.
In arriving at that decision, the Monetary Board weighed the impact of tighter monetary conditions on overall economic activity including the micro-, small- and medium-scale enterprises and the financial sector performance among others against far-reaching adverse consequences of any escalation of price pressures across all sectors of the economy in the near term.
According to the Central Bank, in June headline inflation was at a record high of 54.6 per cent, driven mainly by inflation in groups such as transport, restaurant and hotel, food and non-alcoholic beverages. In the month of June, overall food inflation was recorded at 80.1 per cent, while non-food inflation was at 42.4 per cent.
The Central Bank noted that the major factors that contributed to the unprecedented high-level acceleration in headline inflation were the global energy and food price hikes and associated passthrough to domestic prices, domestic supply side disruptions along with the impact of the depreciation of the rupee, tax adjustments and the lagged impact of monetary accommodation.
In the near term, there will be some acceleration in headline inflation until the end of this year, the CBSL said, adding that however, a significant deceleration is expected starting from the beginning of the year 2023. Headline inflation will reach the medium-term level of 46 per cent range by 2025.
This will be facilitated by both global and domestic developments. Major global developments will include a downward trend of food inflation and oil prices, the Central Bank said further. This has to be supported by appropriate policy measures form the local authorities including monetary and fiscal tightening that will subdue aggregate demand pressures in the period ahead, it added.
Coordinated approach for crisis management that would ensure public support and ultimately help bring about normalcy to the country’s economy, the Central Bank noted.
The Central Bank reinstated that remedial policy measures adopted need to be complemented by timely and appropriate policy adjustments by the government, including the need for expeditious implementation of fiscal consolidation measures, alongside efficient and effective social welfare programs to support the vulnerable groups of the society.
With regard to the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, the Central Bank said significant progress has been made towards reaching a staff-level agreement on the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement in the near term.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that the gross official reserves of Sri Lanka, at the end of June, were estimated at USD 1,859 million including the swap facility from the People’s Bank of China which is equivalent to the tune of USD 1.5 billion.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) says it has opened registration for priority consumer facility to purchase fuel for US dollars.
The applications could be downloaded from the CPC website (www.ceypetco.gov.lk).
The relevant conditions, the USD payment process and the infrastructure requirements to be complete by the applicant after authorization is grant by CPC can also be viewed on the CPC website.
The Minster of Power and Energy last week announced that any company or industry that capable of paying in US dollars can open a consumer account at the CPC to obtain a weekly guaranteed fuel quota.
However, he said they would be required to pay a month in advance and fuel will be issued either on a daily or weekly basis from the 12th of July.
Already paid customers will receive their quota starting from the aforementioned day, he added.
A shortage of exorbitantly privileged American Dollars, the global reserve fiat currency, which is not backed by gold, silver, oil or drugs, is the purported reason for Sri Lanka’s compounding crisis and the international media narrative of ‘famine’ in the country.
The financial crisis that has brought the strategic Indian Ocean island nation to a standstill, which co-incidentally stymies protests, originated with an International Sovereign Bond (ISB), debt trap and Default in April this year. Such defaults, often staged, render countries in the Global South vulnerable to International Monetary Fund (IMF), ‘bailouts’, structural reforms, austerity measures, and a ‘firesale’ of strategic assets that tend to benefit Euro-American holders of Odious Debt, including vulture funds like Blackrock, as well as, the governments that back them.[i] The Washington Consensus and Paris Club, in the business of ‘debt restructuring’, do not distinguish between illiquidity and insolvency.
As Sri Lanka’s economy has come to a virtual halt due to a sovereign default for the first time in the county’s 70 plus years of independence due to a purported lack of dollars to import fuel, the question is: why did Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe who took office with a promise to help save the country on May 15, chosen to ignore the POLICY OPTION to import oil and gas from Russia which has de-dollarized and does NOT require or trade in dollars?
Sanction-hit Russia against which the dollar has been Weaponized is moreover selling oil at steeply discounted prices to neighbouring India, whose Indian Oil Company, ironically, sells petrol and diesel in fuel starved Sri Lanka. Would not the current shortage of ‘exorbitantly privileged’ and increasingly weaponized US dollars in normal circumstances compel any county with an independent foreign policy to de-dollarize and trade in a basket of currencies?
Should not Sri Lanka’s policy makers and the 225 members of parliament (whom the people on the streets wish would Go Home”), urgently reach out to Russia, Iran, or any other country rich in oil that does not ask for dollars? Or, is saving citizens from economic ruin and famine NOT a policy priority of the current Colombo regime? And, if not, why not? Co-incidentally, who makes economic policy decisions, for would it not be logical that a country suffering fuel shortages and ‘famine’ due to a lack of dollars, de-dollarize?
Should not Sri Lanka simply exchange its world famous Green Gold” for Russian Black Gold or oil? Tea, Sri Lanka’s green gold once made the island one of the richest Colonies of the British Empire, and many Russians and citizens of the post-Soviet republics love to drink it.
A Manchurian Candidate, Famine, and the IMF
Nobel-prize winning economist, Professor Amartya Sen, long ago showed us that Famine is a Policy Choice; the result of poor access to and distribution of food rather than an absolute lack of food production. So too, it seems is the seemingly self-inflicted fuel shortage, a policy choice of Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe who took office as Prime Minister on May 15, 2022 with the military on the streets and citizens under curfew in what appeared to be a regime change operation similar to the one in Pakistan that saw Mr. Imran Khan ousted a month earlier. Mr. Khan accused Washington of a regime change operation in Pakistan and showed evidence.
Wickramasinghe’s appointment by erstwhile US citizen, President Gotabaya Rajapakse, was preceded by real and staged, albeit social media and digitally controlled Aragala people’s protests that tipped into one night of violence. RW claimed that he would save Sri Lanka and sort out the strategic island’s $ 50 billion debt crisis.
Shortly after taking office Wickramasinghe proclaimed that famine and 15-hour power cuts were ahead, which begs the question; why did he do nothing between May 15 and the July to source the needed oil, gas and jet fuel from Russia or any other country that does not trade in petrodollars (Iran for example), in order to keep the economy going and avert famine?
Wickramasinghe only dispatched his energy Minister to Qatar for oil in the last week of June when the country was at a virtual standstill and food shortages apparent, notably when the IMF team was in Colombo.
It is increasingly apparent that Wickramasinghe chose to wait until an IMF team arrived on June 18-29, as the Lankan economy ground to a standstill. Meanwhile, citizens waited days and even died in fuel queues, while schools and government institutions shut down due to transport and fuel shortages.
The IMF team arrived with special US government financial advisors” and legal firms Lazard and Clifford and Chance seemingly to bail out ISB traders and holders. A week later, June 6, following the IMF team departure, BBC World News ran a ticker message stating: The Sri Lankan Prime Minister says that his country is bankrupt and the economy has collapsed!”
For a comparative perspective on the relatively small amount of Sri Lanka’s debt relative to the Wealth of the Nation that sits on major Indian Ocean trade routes and sea lanes of communication with significant ocean and mineral resources, it is noteworthy that the President of Ukraine, a country of 44 million people, estimated that his country’s post-war reconstruction would cost a whopping $ 750 billion (or three-quarters of a Trillion), while Elon Musk bough Twitter for $44 million!
Sri Lanka, located at the center of the Indian Ocean with a population of 22 million, listed by the World Bank as an Upper Middle Income County (MIC) in 2019, and one of the wealthiest countries of South Asia with high Human and Social Development indicators has a debt estimated at a mere $ 50 billion. Almost 50% of this is owed to US-based ISB holders.
Somehow the data on the stage default for IMF intervention and now the ‘famine’ narrative don’t quite add up! This begs the question: was there intent to stage a fuel blockade and food shortage, bring the county to a standstill and deepen the debt to GDP ratio and inflation numbers, along with the famine narrative and ex post facto datafication to legitimize the Washington Consensus’ intervention in this strategic Indian Ocean island’s Domestic Affairs” at this time while distracting from analysis of the ‘Staged Default’?
Moreover, it is clear that the 2015 Central Bank Bondscam set the stage for Sri Lanka’s current woes – the debt trap built up through speculative and reckless ISB borrowing, rent-seeking and Odious Debt. Hence, questions arise, does RW, Washington’s Manchurian Candidate for Prime Minister of Sri Lanka who was implicated in the island’s biggest financial fraud the Bond scam at the Central Bank in 2015, and appointed recently during the first round of IMF talks that commenced on May 12, 2022 work in the interests of Sri Lankan citizens?
Something smells fishy: Fuel Crisis or Cyber Air-Sea Blockade?
It now appears that Prime Minister Wickramasinghe may have exacerbated Sri Lanka’s debt entrapment by failing to formulate a balanced and Non-Aligned foreign policy to enable the country to source it fuel supplies and keep the economy open in the interests of the citizens.
Something smell fishy about the current seemingly self-inflicted fuel embargo: Ships bringing much needed oil to the island in the middle of the Indian Ocean seem to have disappeared into thin air while the IMF was in town even as the dollars spent also appear to have disappeared –aided by cyber-hacks?
Strangely the fuel ships scheduled to bring oil to Sri Lanka in the month of June had also mysteriously disappeared in the high seas. Was there are de facto blockade on the island, whose fisheries sector and food security has been decimated by 4 years of economically-devastating lockdowns on various pretexts; starting with the mysterious 2019 Easter Sunday ISIS claimed attacks that targeted the tourism dependent island’s economy and coastal fisheries communities and food security, followed by 2 years of Covid-19 lockdowns 2020-2021, and now in 2022 with fuel shortages as hybrid maritime trade warfare roils the world?
Back in 2020 two ships, MV Diamond and MV Pearl mysteriously appeared from nowhere and leaked oil into the eastern seas and at the western coast near the Colombo Port causing real environmental catastrophe outside South Asia’s most important habour that also saw a Data hack.
Is Sri Lanka suffering from the policy myopia of the current US-backed regime in Colombo? Is it controlled by external actors that work against the interests of a sovereign people, whose right to self-determination food and energy security is underwritten in the United Nations Charter?
Is the current seemingly staged fuel crisis and the global media narrative of famine” and soup-kitchens to distract us from the Colombo Regime’s failure to steer a balanced and non-Aligned foreign policy that serves in the interests of citizens and national economic policy sovereignty? Somehow the data and the famine narrative of the Corporate global and local media houses don’t quite add up on the ground!
Muddying the Water: Datafication and Ex-post facto crises deepening after Default
Sri Lanka will present a debt restructuring program to the IMF by August to secure a bailout package, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on June 6. But the question remains: Did the Colombo regime make a deliberate policy choice to compound Sri Lanka’s debt crisis by not reaching out to Russia to source the island’s energy needs while enabling grounding of an Aeroflot flight in a scenario of Over the Horizon (OTH) Lawfare, to damage diplomatic relations with a long-standing friend of the people of Sri Lanka?
According to an economist at Johns Hopkins University, Steve Hanke, who tracks price increases in the world’s ‘troublespots’, Sri Lanka’s inflation is now at 128 percent, second only to Zimbabwe’s 365 percent! Its Debt to GDP ratio which was at 112 percent at the time of default two months ago, it is now estimated at 136 percent.
While the IMF team was in-country the Coalition for Economic Democracy called for Debt Cancellation as protests escalate amid austerity. A week after the IMF team left town, Wikcramasinghe, claimed that Sri Lanka’s economy is shrinking and the current economic growth rate is between negative four and negative five!
Ex post Facto datafication to deepen and prolong economic crisis following Default is one of the characteristics of IMF engagement in countries like Argentina, now on a record-breaking 21st IMF bailout program! So too Greece and Lebanon.
But just last week Argentina’s Minister for Economy who negotiated the IMF deal was forced to resign due to massive protests in Buenos Aires against the austerity measures in the wake of Covid-19 debt. Ex post facto deepening of financial crises triggering social unrest in vulnerable countries both prolongs and justifies IMF interventions and extended facilities.
This in turn enables further debt trapping and deepening the crisis to ensure that the Washington Con-sensus may tighten their grip also through Digital Colonialism via an envisaged social safety net” ensuring access to Sri Lankans’ personal data and further datafication with related big data companies – GAFAM – Google- Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon. This may also entail gaming the global and local corporate media narrative crafted with an army of Digital Nomads on extended visas perched in the strategic island, some who exaggerate ex post the crisis and mask the staged default with famine and soup-kitchen stories.
All this of course helps distract from the fact that there may be a fundamental miss-fit between the staged Default, the country-specific Data and the global media narrative vis-a-vis the scope and size of Sri Lanka’s financial crisis and the lived reality of people on the ground in fuel queues?
South-South Corporation and Local Experts
Sri Lanka clearly needs to look east at this time of staged default and compounding fuel and food crisis, and work with the BRICS Bank — the New Development Bank (NDB), of emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa which prioritizes South-South co-operation in order to steer an independent foreign and economic development policy that serves the interests of her citizens.
The NDB is expanding with new members but the Staged Default and IMF’s bailout may stymie such economic and development policy autonomy, which also requires that the country have an independent foreign policy that serves the interests of her citizens.
There is an ex post facto numbers game ongoing with new debt to GDP ratios and inflation figures being compiled at this time of datafication for the IMF report. Steve Hanke, who claims that Sri Lanka’s current inflation is now at 128 percent is at Johns Hopkins University. Several research programs at JHU, including Area Studies Programs during Cold War 1.0, were and are known to have receive significant Central Intelligence Agency funding. JHU experts also collaborated with the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 Global Data Base and played the Covid-19 numbers game, promoting economically-devastating lockdowns leading to debt traps and asset stripping of vulnerable countries in the Global South.
In the context of big power geopolitics in the Indian Ocean with Cold War 2.0 hotting up in the Global South for its natural and human resources in Sri Lanka (like Ukraine) a cyber-proxy war site of great power rivalries questions may well be asked: Who does PM Ranil Wickramasinghe work for? The people of Sri Lanka or his Washington backers?
At this time the trillion-dollar question is who will draft the Report that Ranil Wickramsinghe plans to present on behalf of Sri Lankan citizens for a debt restructuring program to the IMF in August for a much hyped and long-awaited ‘bailout’ and whose interest will this report serve? On cue he noted in parliament: The expert companies which we have hired are in the process of preparing a debt restructuring programme and we will hand over the report on it to the IMF in August this year. These expert companies not doubt include Lazard, Clifford and Chance, Rothschilds and the various international accounting and legal firms and experts that work for and with hedge funds and vulture funds that engage in speculative and reckless lending while prey on the wretched of the earth.
But what of Sri Lanka’s legal luminaries, accounts experts and citizens’ voices? Are they bereft of the skills, intellectual capacities and expertise to write reports on how to re-structure odious debt to the IMF’s satisfaction? Or is the report just another Washington Consensus Cold War and Colonialism 2.0 project? When will an IMF Report factor in Global South voices and perspectives and the call for DEBT CANCELLATION?
[i] The Spider’s Web: Britain’s Second Empire | Documentary Film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np_ylvc8Zj8
