Sri Lanka Navy to ink MoU with US Nuclear Security Administration

January 2nd, 2024

Courtesy Adaderana

The Sri Lanka Navy is slated to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Nuclear Security Administration of the United States regarding the prevention of illegal transportation of nuclear and other radioactive materials.

The proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to sign the relevant MoU was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting held on 01 January.

Accordingly the draft of the MoU has already received clearance from the Attorney General, while the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council, the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Planning have also reviewed the draft.

State revenue to be increased to 15% of GDP

January 2nd, 2024

Courtesy Hiru News

State Minister for Finance, Shehan Semasinghe, emphasized that the sustained single-digit inflation has significantly contributed to fostering business confidence within the country.

During a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) themed “Collective Path to a Stable Country,” held today (01) the State Minister disclosed that the state revenue accounted for 11.2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023, with projections indicating an anticipated increase to 15% by the year 2026.

In his remarks, State Minister for Finance, Shehan Semasinghe, provided insights into the economic landscape, stating that the country is poised to achieve a 1.7% economic growth in the third quarter of 2023. He highlighted the notable recovery, noting that the overall economic growth for the year 2023 is anticipated to be approximately -3%, a marked improvement from the -11% recorded in 2022. The balance of the primary account, which was negative at Rs. 895 billion in 2022, has now turned positive, standing at Rs. 333 billion as of November 2023.

Furthermore, State Minister Semasinghe informed that, with the receipt of the second tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), foreign reserves projected to surpass US dollars 4 billion. This includes contributions of US dollars 337 million from the IMF, US dollars 220 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and US dollars 250 million from the World Bank (WB).

The successful maintenance of inflation within single digits has been pivotal in fostering business confidence, especially considering the significant reduction from 70% in 2022 to an anticipated 5% in 2024. This achievement stands as a cornerstone for building trust in the country’s business environment.

In terms of state income, it is anticipated to reach RS.3110 billion in 2023, surpassing the revised estimate of 2850 billion. This would represent a state income of 11.2% compared to GDP. Ambitiously, there are plans to propel this figure to a 15% growth by 2026.

The country has witnessed a noteworthy upturn in the number of tax files, reflecting a positive trend in tax compliance. In 2019, the total number of registered taxpayers stood at 1,705,233. However, owing to various policy decisions, this figure decreased to 677,613 in 2020 and further to 507,085 in 2021. Demonstrating a commendable success in policy implementation, the number of tax files rebounded from 437,547 in 2022 to a significant milestone of one million.

Upon assuming office, the current government inherited unpaid bills exceeding Rs. 350 billion, a challenge that has now been effectively addressed with the settlement of all outstanding amounts. Additionally, the government achieved the noteworthy milestone of settling bills for all approved projects by December 15, 2023. Going forward, a principled commitment has been established to ensure that payments are not delayed by more than one month, starting from 2024.

Furthermore, in the coming year, the government is set to initiate the “Aswesuma”; application process, starting at the end of January or the beginning of February 2024. The December instalment for 1,410,064 beneficiaries has already been disbursed, and the government aims to extend these benefits to a total of 02 million people. Rigorous efforts are underway to identify eligible recipients and rectify any shortcomings observed in the benefits distribution process from the preceding year, demonstrating the government’s commitment to effective and targeted support.

කෘෂි රැකියාවලට විදේශ ගත වුවන්ට රජයෙන් ඉඩම් අක්කර දෙකක්

January 2nd, 2024

උපුටා ගැන්ම  හිරු පුවත්

කෘෂිකාර්මික ක්ෂේත්‍රයේ රැකියා සඳහා විදේශගත වන සියලුම ශ්‍රමිකයින් යළි දිවයිනට පැමිණි පසු කෘෂි ව්‍යවසාකයින් බවට පත්කිරීම සඳහා අක්කර දෙකක ඉඩමක් ලබාදීමට රජය පියවර ගන්නා බව කම්කරු හා විදේශ රැකියා අමාත්‍ය මනූෂ නානායක්කාර පවසා තිබෙනවා.

අමාත්‍යවරයා වැඩිදුරටත් පැවසුවේ ඉඩම් අමාත්‍යාංශය සමඟ එක්ව මෙම තීරණය ගෙන ඇති බවයි.

ඔහු මේ බව පවසා ඇත්තේ නව වසරේ රාජකාරී ආරම්භ කිරීම වෙනුවෙන් ශ්‍රී ලංකා විදේශ රැකියා නියුක්ති කාර්යාංශයේ ඊයේ (01) පැවති වැඩසටහනට එක්වෙමින්.

මෙලෙස විදේශයන්හි කෘෂීකාර්මික ක්ෂේත්‍රයට අදාළ දැනුම මෙරටටද ලබා ගැනීම සඳහා මෙම පියවර ගන්නා බවයි වාර්තා වන්නේ.

විශේෂ මෙහෙයුම් වලින් සැකකරුවන් 822ක් අත්අඩංගුවට

January 2nd, 2024

Courtesy Hiru News 

ගෙවුණු පැය 24 තුළ යුක්තිය මෙහෙයුමේදී තවත් සැකකරුවන් 822 දෙනෙකු අත්අඩංගුවට ගෙන තිබෙනවා.

ඉන් 60 දෙනෙකු රැදවුම් නියෝග මත ප්‍රශ්න කරන බවයි මහජන ආරක්ෂක අමාත්‍යංශය සදහන් කළේ. මත්ද්‍රව්‍යවලට ඇබ්බැහි වූ තවත් 72 දෙනෙකු පුනරුත්ථාපන මධ්‍යස්ථාන වෙත යොමුකර තිබෙනවා.

මෙම මෙහෙයුමේදී හෙරොයින්, අයිස්, මත්පෙති සහ කේරළ ගංජා පොලිස් භාරයට ගෙන තිබෙනවා.

එමෙන්ම බ්ලූමැන්ඩල් පොලිස් වසමේ කිඹුලාඇළ, ඉබ්බගෙවත්ත, රෙඩ්බානාවත්ත සහ දුම්රිය පටුමග යන ප්‍රදේශවල ඊයේ රාත්‍රියේ විශේෂ මෙහෙයුමක් සිදු කර තිබුණා.

එහිදීද හෙරොයින් ළඟ තබාගත් සැකකරුවන් විසිදෙනෙකු පොලිසිය අත්අඩංගුවට ගෙන තිබෙනවා.
මේ අතර යුක්තිය මෙහෙයුම පිළිබඳ ජනතාව දැනුවත් කිරීමේ වැඩසටහනක් වැඩබලන පොලිස්පති දේශබන්දු තෙන්කෝන්ගේ ප්‍රධානත්වයෙන් කොළඹදී අද ආරම්භ වුණා. මේ එහිදී ඔහු ජනතාව දැනුවත් කළ ආකාරයයි.

Police introduce hotline for operation ‘Yukthiya’

January 2nd, 2024

Courtesy Hiru News

Sri Lanka Police on Tuesday (02 Jan.) introduced a hotline for the public to provide information in relation to the ongoing massive anti-drug operation ‘Yukthiya’, which is being carried out across the island.

The hotline was introduced under the directive of the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, while stickers displaying the relevant hotline number were also pasted on the back of three-wheelers today.

Accordingly, the public has been urged to contact the Police Headquarters via the phone number 071 859 8800 if they have any information about drug-related offenders or underworld activities.

The island-wide operation was launched in December 2023, on the instructions of Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, in a bid to eradicate drug trafficking, organized crime and other related offences in the country.

“Helplessness and Confusion” In the Coming Year

December 31st, 2023

By Sena Thoradeniya

Lenin in his Note, Helplessness and Confusion” dated May 21, 1913 stated that, chaos and confusion among modern Social-Democrats and ‘near Social-Democrats’ are not only external but also internal. A huge number of old ‘prominent Party people’ are completely confused, they have understood absolutely nothing about the new state of affairs” and their helpless dithering” have caused hopeless confusion in everything they undertake” (Collected Works, Volume 19). 

No doubt that all government and opposition politicians (including the so-called dissidents who tasted power, thanks to Rajapaksa benefaction), those who have already stitched their ceremonial dresses for the swearing-in ceremony such as Sajith and Anura Kumara and their closest hurrah boys, liberal bourgeois and NGO/NATO Marxist political analysts and polls forecasters, Colombo-centric bourgeois voters (not the village level voters who are in the majority) are in a state of confusion.

Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka titled his second and last novel as Season of Anomy” (1973). Are we too in a midst of a season of anomy”?  Anomy (the concept introduced by Emile Durkheim) is described as a condition of lack of usual societal and ethical standards and values in an individual or group; unrest, alienation, anxiety, social instability resulting from a breakdown or uprooting of standards and values. 

(1) What political games RW would play in the coming year? (2) Will he hold a parliamentary election first? (3) What type of coalitions would emerge before or after an election? (4) What decisions the horses the political analysts bet would take? (5) What courses these horses would choose? (6) Has Pohottuwa withered away as some columnists and editorialists had already begun to write its obituary? (7) Are some former vociferous activists playing a passive role cocooning themselves into their own comfort zones or bubbles (organizing meetings and holding press conferences on peripheral matters) dreaded to become targets of JVP/NPP unidentified gunmen”? (Remember fear psychosis” coined during 1988-89?). Answers to the above-mentioned questions are not clear to many; the people who have answers will not come out revealing the stark truth for obvious reasons. 

Ranil will call for a General Election hurling all political leaders to a state of confusion. Neither a single party nor a hurriedly- formed electoral coalition will emerge victorious obtaining 113+ seats. As President and the Head of Government he will elect his own Prime Minister and a Cabinet of Ministers throwing all the political parties to a state of further confusion. In 2024 Ranil Wickremasinghe will head a Cabinet consisting of a hotchpotch of strange bedfellows united for political expediency. SLPP dissidents will be wiped out en masse except those few who tie up with the SJB who are eyeing for national list slots and portfolios such as the learned law professor Peiris. Those who are labelled as the corrupt group of SLPP or MR loyalists will emerge victorious as we cannot deny that the masses are with them and their politics are rooted in the rich soil of peasantry and ordinary masses rather than the shoddy politics of former Viyathmaga grandees consisting of some professors and PhDs who were thrust into limelight,(also those nominated MPs who thoughttoo much of them as the proverbial frog who wanted to be as the elephant), because of radiant of Rajapakses.

A constitutional amendment to abolish the presidency and creating an executive premiership cannot be ruled out making all those who opposed a presidential system to fall in line and bite the dust.

Although extrapolating results of an election held under the first-past- the-post votingsystem in 1965 to a proportional representation for a parliament consisting of 225 members using statistical techniques is meaningless, the next General Election results will be similar to that of 1965 General Elections in which UNP received 66 seats in a parliament consisting of (145 electorates)151 members, polling 39.31% votes of the total votes polled. UNP’s ally SLFSP led by SLFP dissident C.P. de Silva got 5 seats or 3.22% of the total votes polled. Seats and the percentages of votes other major parties obtained were as follow: SLFP 41 seats (30.18%), Illankai Thamil Arasu Kachchi 14  seats (5.38%), LSSP 10 seats (7.47%), CP 4 seats (2.71%), ACTC 3 seats (2.44%), MEP (of Philip Gunawardena) 1 seat (2.39%), Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (of Rajaratna) 1 seat (0.46%). 6 more were elected from 4 other parties. Leader of the UNP, Dudley Senanayake became the Prime Minister forming a Hath Havula” (seven-party coalition).

We do not deny that the economic, political, socio-cultural, legal, ecological and international conditions were different in 1965 than in 2024. But there are some similarities mainly in the political context. It was the first election held after the formation of the much expected, warmly approved and admired United Left Front (ULF- consisting of LSSP, CP and MEP), its betrayal and formation of a Coalition Government (of SLFP and LSSP), LSSP breaking into several splinter groups and the defeat of the Press Bill introduced by the Coalition Government as several government MPs voted with the opposition and subsequent dissolution of the Parliament.

Ranil Wickremasinghe has already drawn a dragnet and caught a sizeable fish; he has appointed Upul Kumarapperuma a Presidents’ Counsel, NPP’s Central Committee member and the lawyer who represented the interests of notorious Garnier Barrister aka Sriyalatha Perera in Swiss Embassy case. This has caused disarray among the Youtubers who supported the Galle Face Carnival and JVP/NPP. They all are in a state of confusion and began to attack each other showing internal contradictions among themselves which are becoming antagonistic.

Infighting among themselves had begun as they have no common enemy now. Trading allegations against each other takes place even at public fora. These contradictions are beneficial to RW. With the blessings of Chairman of ITN, an ardent accomplice of RW and Julie Chung’s garden party guest during Galle Face Days, an NPP Central Committee member and the person who hung underwear on police barricades displaying underwear fetishism have got prime time belts to telecast their telefilms. For many other NGO activists, former members of the X Group” (a euro-centric group of youths which condemned Sri Lankan cultural norms and values) and old yahapalanists, ITN has become a haven for their newly-laid activities.

Although JVP/NPP grandees repeatedly bellow on nepotism of Rajapaksa family very few know that JVP/NPP also had allowed entry of a husband and wife (Bimal Ratnayaka (son of a young MR confidante)  and wife) and a father and son (Abeysinghes) into their Central Committee.

What had happened to the so-called aragalists” pampered by NGO lobbyists and pseudo- theoreticians? Do they think that the country has come back to normalcy? They along with the JVPers and Peratugamins came near to capture the Parliament in July 2022. Why don’t they protest now? They destroyed houses and property, illegally occupied public spaces, attempted to lynch MR (at Temple Trees and Trinco Naval Base) and GR (at Mirihana and Presidential House), sent goons to check vehicles proceeding towards BIA, refused entry to GR to BIA and attend to immigration formalities.

Now cost of living is higher than in 2022; it is true that there are no petrol queues and quota systems; JVP/NPP stalwarts can fly in their limousines at their will. The business conglomerates who funded the protesters also are happy and about the party they hired (JVP/NPP). Do the business conglomerates oppose IMF moves? They happily applaud the rulers’ submission and capitulation to IMF dictates and Julie Chung’s interference in our internal affairs as the Viceroy of Sri Lanka with no resistance.

JVP/NPP only seek for repatriation of money stashed in foreign accounts by politicians ignoring the enormous amounts of foreign exchange parked elsewhere by exporters. They have not understood that the present crisis is not only an economic or a financial crisis, forgetting its political, geopolitical, social and cultural aspects. It is not only a problem of stealing wealth and indebtedness.

Not only politicians, business oligarchs who evaded foreign exchange regulations and income tax rules and who parked large amounts of foreign exchange offshore are the worst culprits responsible for the present crisis. It was with the support of the JVP the Yahapalana Government of Sirisena-Wickremasinghe amended the exchange control laws in 2017, facilitating these malpractices. Now the JVP/NPP grandees as new born babies bellow that they are going for repatriation of money stashed by Rajapaksas. No word about the business oligarchs who parked foreign exchange abroad with their blessings.

Recently at a press briefing the CBSLGovernor (ex-CBSL and IMF employee, planted by the US) stated that Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement should continue for the next 4 years under any government in order to get the debt relief and international financial support required. He warned that unilateral withdrawal from the IMF-EFF agreement will result in severe implications. Any deviation from this path would bring detrimental and irrevocable consequences to the financial system of the economy. This statement, no doubt made at the behest of RW, should be construed as a severe warning to those politicians especially Premadasa and his supporters, who make maverick statements as cardboard heroes at political meetings and press briefings and to those Galle Face Protesters who clamored Go to IMF”.

CBSL Governor is a frequent visitor to US Embassy. Julie Chung on 13 December 2023 issued a X message welcoming the positive news from the IMF”. Her full message is as follows: We welcome the positive news from the IMF Board about the completion of the first Extended Fund Facility review with Sri Lanka providing access to about 357 million Us dollars for Sri Lanka to use to support its economic reforms and policies. The crucial step for Sri Lanka emphasizes the continued importance of sustained reforms & improved governance for the country’s progress while safeguarding the most vulnerable. The United States will continue to support Sri Lanka’s path to economic stability and prosperity”. 

By means of a not so strange reason, JVP/NPP is silent about IMF-EFF as Anura Kumara has become Chung’s parlor boy addressing meetings in the US on rostrums adorned with US flags. Why in all recent NPP YouTube clippings a logo of a clenched fist painted with stars and stripes (US flag) and letters NPP US POWER” along with the American flag appear?  Are they posted by NPP supporters residing in the US or powered by US? Americans as usual supported the weakest as in the case of Fonseka and Sirisena.

Confusion aggravates with the infiltration of hordes of ex-servicemen into NPP/JVP fold. Some political analysts doubt that the JVP/NPP Presidential candidate is not Anura Kumara, it is Sarath Fonseka. This is why a lot of ex-servicemen are suddenly have become flag-bearers of NPP. The sleeping cells of Fonseka supporters who supported him in 2010 are being thus harnessed as a Trojan Horse to bring Fonseka into power, which again is a wild dream. This will bring death knell to neo-liberal professionals who were attracted to NPP for personal gains and office. It is pitying a political party which paid lip service to Marxism-Leninism embracing instruments for the exploitation of the oppressed class”, instruments of state power” (even before capturing state power). 

Anura Kumara and NPP/JVP followers should read the article written by One Who Knows” published in the Sunday Island” of December 24, 2023 titled, JVP mobilizing support from among retired servicemen”. The writer refers to a former Security Forces Commander East” (mind this: long after the conflict ended”). (D)uring this officer’s tenure suicide bombers wreaked havoc in the Protestant Zion Church in Batticaloa on that tragic 2019 Easter Sunday (34 killed, 500 wounded) after two policemen were murdered earlier at a temporary guard post in Vaunativu”. This man may be the person earmarked by Anura Kumara to be his Defense Secretary!   

The writer reminds Anura Kumara to know who was the Deputy Commander of the SL troops in the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti in which about 114 SL troops including three officers were involved in the sex exploitation of hundreds of children”. This was a depraved and a total collapse of command. No one in high command however was punished”.  

Although the Zion incident may be considered as a security lapse that happened all over Colombo and Gampaha districts on Easter Sunday, the allegation of One Who Knows” about Haiti Mission cannot be dismissed lightly. We may ask is JVP/NPP opening floodgates to child predators in the name of a corruption-free society”?

To end this note we thought of bringing to our discussion how Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, the doyen of Sinhala arts and letters portrayed a tin pot” revolutionary in his novel Premaye Sathya Kathawa” in 1978, 46 years ago.  Amarasekera in his novel portrayed an undergraduate at Peradeniya, Nimal, a village lad of proletarian origins, mentored in Marxism by a high-class female student, Indira, whose father belonged to the Old Left. She conducts classes in Marxism to a group of Sinhala educated undergraduates. Fantasizing a love to his mentor, he sees himself as the leader of the revolution, having all the credentials to lead the revolution; copying postures of revolutionary leaders depicted in urban art works, he imagines leading the struggle wearing a combat uniform. But during a students’ struggle in face of a police onslaught the protagonist commits suicide!

To compare Nimal to Anura Kumara and Indira to Harini Amarasuriya is not a worthless proposition!

Why voters vote for Anura Kumara? To vote for SWRD, Sirimavo, JR, R. Premadasa, CBK, MR and GR the voters had many reasons. If it is to punish the wrong-doers, the CID and the judiciary could do a better job than Anura Kumara!

It was JRJ who brought Indian artists to commemorate May Day at Galle Face Green. Now Anura Kumara following JRJ, brings singers and actresses to his stage forgetting how JVP killer- squads killed artists such as Vijaya Kumaratunga, Thevis Guruge, Sagarika Gomes, Premakeerthi Alvis and many others! According to YouTube Anura Kumara and his ilk patronize NPP rock music shows compered by a one-time Kili Maharaja’s Sirasa” anchor!  

Sinhala Buddhists should strongly oppose carving out EELAM through Truth, Unity and Reconciliation

December 31st, 2023

Dheshamaanya Dr Sudath Gunasekara. Mahanuwara. President Hela Abhimaani jaathika Padhanama.

All Sinhala Buddhists should rally around this national struggle and strongly oppose and protest against the Government’s move to pass this Act in Parliament, designed to harm the Sinhala nation and its culture and that will carve out the map of EELAM, the 29th State of Bharatha Desh? and demand the Government to withdraw this proposal immediately.

It was reported that the Government of Sri Lanka, has decided to establish an independent Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation and pass an Act of Parliament embodying the recommendations of that Commission. It was also reported that even the concept paper is being drafted in developing legislation that strengthens and safeguards national unity through truth, transitional justice, reconciliation, reparation and social cohesion. In another press release, they had said Sri Lanka is going to take a historic step” by passing this Act in Parliament

The Sinhala Buddhist constituting 75 % of the country’s total population even now, in spite of the    treacherous demographic changes made jointly by the British and the Church since 1797, strongly oppose and protest against this proposed treacherous political Act of this government and demand that it must be withdrawn immediately for the following reasons.

1 Firstly, such action is completely contrary to the sweeping mandate given by 6.955 million to the then President in 2019 as well as the government in 2020.

2 Secondly, the incumbent President who got elected on 20 July 2022 has no mandate from the people to spearhead such legislations as he was Elected by the Parliament that got elected on 20 July 2022, for the vacancy after the elected President Gotabhaya Rajapaksha fled the country, only, to fill that vacancy and to perform the responsibilities and duties strictly under the mandate his predecessor had got in 2019, until his period of offices expires in 2025. The Parliament that elected him as President was also elected with the same mandate in 2020. As such he can never bypass those two mandates. Therefore, neither the President nor the Government has the power to make any legislation that goes against those two historic mandates given by the people of this country.

3.Therefore, thirdly, whatever the President or the government does contrary to that mandate will be unconstitutional, illegal, immoral and unethical and moreover, treacherous and treasonable. Therefore, I deem all such actions could be challenged in a court of law. Leaving aside the legal aspect, I call such action by the government or the President as unethical, immoral and unpardonable.

4.Fourthly, it is a naked and wretched betrayal of the 2009 victory against terrorism and the 29,000 soldiers who sacrificed their lives and those 14,000 who sacrificed their limbs in the name of the motherland and furthermore the tens of thousands of innocent people who were killed and died indiscriminately with no ethnic differences as Sinhalese, Tamils and Tamils

5 Fifthly, it will also open the flood gates for ethnic and communal uprisings and renew and strengthen separatism on ethnic basis.

6. Sixthly the Tamil Diaspora the world over will raise its ugly head and mobilize all anti-Sinhala and anti-Buddhis forces against Sri Lanka and its native Sinhalese Buddhists.

7 Seventhly, the Indian interference in the countries internal matters will also increase and penal-ultimately, this country will end up as an eternal battle ground between the native Sinhalese fighting for survival and the Tamils and Muslims competing and fighting for owning it by dividing the Island in to ethnic and religious enclaves.

8 Finally, the native Sinhalese will first become a minority and thereafter it will disappear from the surface of this planet as JR predicted in his old age.

 It is in view of this imminent disaster that I decided to pen these few words to awaken a nation in deep slumber, and command them to rise up in millions to save our motherland and its great culture, from these self-seeking, power hungry and unpatriotic politicians, as this is the only place we have on this earth, whereas, Tamils have their motherland in India and the Muslims all over the world.

As such, as a Sinhala man who loves my motherland, I was surprised and perplexed to read this news and the press release by the Presidential office and the unusual prominence it has been given to it in the press, as if it is the number one priority item in the government’s agenda at a time when the whole country is on fire with hundreds of burning issues. To me this proposal appears as a historic betrayal in the history of this country and the Sinhala nation and therefore it is definitely not a historic step as the government had stated without realizing the gravity of the sin, they are planning to commit but a death trap to eliminate the Sinhala Buddhist nation and their country for political gain.

Definitely, this should not be the priority number one in the government’s agenda.

Therefore, definitely this should not be the priority number one in its agenda of a sensible government at a time like this when the whole country is faced with much more serious and urgent priorities  The government in my view should first attend to  more crucial and urgent social and political issues in the country such as mass hunger, spiraling and unbearable cost of living, increasing and unbearable taxes, chronic unemployment, daily increasing crimes, complete breakdown in public service and law and order, inordinate delays in dispensation of justice, complete neglect of the farming and the industrial sectors and finally the overall crash in the economic, political and the Social system, all of which together are heading the whole country and the social system to an imminent crash and a no return situation, before it gets bogged down in this type of tricky issues at the request of the Western agencies like the International Human Rights Commission and India that are only trying to push us to the fire from the frying pan.

Is it a decision of the Government or is it only a decision of the President?

Furthermore, firstly, of all, the Sinhala Buddhist people, the Bumiputras of this country, constituting 75 % of the population of this this Island would like to know whether the above decision is a decision of the Government as the news says or is it only a decision of the President, their savior as the SLPP politicians think.

Secondly, whether it has got cabinet approval before it is presented to Parliament.  Since this is an issue that decides the fate of the nation and the whole country, I would also would like to know whether it has been discussed at the govt group and approval obtained, before taking action to prepare legislation and present it to Parliament. The fulfillment of this process is a must, as he is only a President elected by Parliament (enabled by a constitutional error) by a group of MPP elected by a 6.95 million voters, all of whom had cast their votes against Ranil at the 2020 General election. This President was elected by the Parliament only to fill the vacancy created by Gotabhaya’s resignation. As such he cannot function outside the mandate given to Gotabahaya in 2019. 

Thirdly, has it been discussed at the Cabinet at least and its approval obtained, before he made that public declaration?  If not, the whole Cabinet should immediately resign in protest against his arbitrary public statement.

Even if it has passed all these barriers. I don’t think the Present President or the government should go for this type of political suicide.

The Press release also has stated that the key objective of this process is to establish the truth regarding post-conflict grievances of Sri Lankan citizens, facilitating reconciliation, reparation and sustainable peace. The proposed Commission acknowledges every Sri Lankan’s inalienable right to ascertain the truth, a pivotal aspect for individuals and communities to heal from past conflicts. Additionally, the Commission aims to ensure and strengthen national unity, peace, the rule of law, coexistence, equality, tolerance, respect for diversity and reconciliation among the people of Sri Lanka. This commitment extends to prevent any recurrence of disharmony and future conflict between Sri Lanka’s multi-ethnic and diverse communities.  

The question is, on behalf of whose interest the Government is making this proposal. Is it the SLPP or the President’s personal interest? I think the President has made these overtures to placate the Tamil electorate hoping to get their vote either at a future Presidential election or a Referendum of the JR type, he may be having in his crafty mind. If so, obviously, the gamble boils down to personal interest of one individual or a group of poly-trickishians and agencies both local and international who advise him with whom this country is abundantly infested with.

Personally, I think these jumbles are irrelevant to our national context. Because, in the first place, these local advisors as well as the international agencies such as the Human rights Commission work on the assumption that minorities in Sri Lanka re illtreated, discriminated and victimized by the majority Sinhalese and Buddhists which is not true. All these local advisors are the Black Whites the proxies of the real whites. All the so-called international agencies on the other hand are outfits owned and operated by the colonial powers which victimized, exploited and destroyed our country for five centuries to enrich their own coffers through others riches by exploiting our resources as they did in the past. They don’t want countries like ours, in the so called third world to develop. Instead of our being their colonies as it happened in the past. now, they want us to be their economic dependencies forever by controlling us by different type of leverages like trade, finance and international agencies like the WB, IMF Human rights commission etc.

Therefore, in my opinion this move by the government is activated on demands by them. As such I see a big conspiracy manured jointly by the West and India as one of the major conditions to qualify for the WB loan with a long-term agenda to destroy the much-envied Sinhala Buddhist civilization in this country.

Each and every word in this press statement issued by the Presidential Office appears to be a mere transcript prepared either in Washington or at least in London or Paris. It had been prepared and sent definitely either by the World bank on the advice of the GTF to the present Government under Ranil Wickramasinha to implement it to the letter before the next election, if the aid package is to be released. Therefore, I deem, this is definitely pressure coming from outside, manipulated by the Tamil Diaspora and India as they know that this is the best time to make their hay while the Sun, Ranil shines in the high heavens, and the SLPP is bogged down in deep political mire with no chance of any resurgence and all other political outfits quarrelling with each other.

This proposal also could be even the 3rd plan of Victoria Nuland followed by the second plan mentioned by Dr, Wasantha Bandara. Both the Western elements and India know that they will never be able to get this kind of legislation passed by any patriotic government, that will definitely emerge like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, in the very near future as the patriotic forces are working on it day and night with no stone unturned. 

Therefore, it is the bounden duty of all patriotic Sinhala Buddhist forces in this country, or outside Such as the (goeliiya Sinhala sansadhaya) wherever you live and specifically the neglected and forgotten Sinhala Buddhist majority ignored by all governments since 1948 to oppose this move forthwith and to rise against this betrayal to save the motherland and the Sinhala nation and of cause the Buddhist heritage (the rock foundation of our civilization), our ancestors have protected and jealously guarded for 2500 years, as we have no other place to go on earth unlike the Tamils and Muslims.

When I read this news, it reminded me the famous Sinhala saying   that ‘Ekek ravula ginigena danagalakota thawa ekek thama suruttuwa paththu karaganta hadanva”. In this case Ranil Wickramasinha is struggling to collect the Tamil vote at the next election for him to continue in power while the whole country is on fire. For him collecting the Tamil vote is priority number one while the whole country is caught up in high flames. I pause the question as to why the SLPP majority cannot reject this externally driven proposal and advise the President accordingly. I also ask the President and the Government as to why they cannot implement the recommendations of the LLRC and the Task Force 2006 without trying to waste a couple of another million or even billion on a meaningless assignment when the whole nation is running on its worn out four rims.

 Another pertinent question I pause here is how can this Government say, that it has decided to do this under a situation where there is no legitimate government at all in this country. If you call it a government then it is only an externally manipulated interim arrangement brought about by a conspiracy using the weaknesses of the constitution without any public mandate. So, it is a puppet government that has no mandate what so ever, to take such decisions dealing with the fate of the nation. As such it cannot take this type of decisions that leads to the nemesis of a great nation that had been there for almost 2600 years as an independent and sovereign nation.

Looking at the way how things are being done and decisions taken, this government, obviously is a veritable puppet of the Western block and India, that has no concern what so ever to the Sinhala Buddhist majority or their heritage. Therefore, it should not be allowed to go through this unconstitutional, illegal and traitorous process of passing this Act. It is the bounden duty of every Sinhala Buddhist citizen, both young and old to rise against this treachery of this illegitimate and puppet government’ that has no concern for the sons of this soil and their millennia old proud heritage.

These are not issues that should be even discussed by an illegitimate Government and a Parliament that has expired its legitimacy to rule this country in the eyes of the public.

Furthermore, words like post conflict, multi ethnic, victim centric and diverse communities clearly show the hidden agenda behind this traitorous plan. The language used throughout this news release clearly shows the minds of the architects of this conspiracy and it is a mirror of their anti-Sinhala and anti-Buddhist thinking based on the following statements of the predators.

Sri Lanka is a multiethnic, multi religious and multi linguist and multicultural society where the minorities are illtreated by the majority Sinhalese Buddhists. But it is far from the truth.  Even though the Sinhalese Buddhists constitute the majority, even today neither the outside world nor the government accept the fact that Sinhalese are the only legitimate nation of this country as they were the people who found and developed the civilization pf this country and also, they were the people who defended this country for millennia against all foreign invasions, 17 Indian from 2ndBC. to the 12th century AD. and three Western from invasions from1505 to 1815.It should also be clearly noted that during all these invasions, both Tamils and Muslim minorities have always supported the invaders against the native Sinhalese.

As such Sinhalese were the only people who are legitimately qualified to be the Nation of this country. Even today, in spite of all western conspiracies to weaken the native Sinhalese they constitute the majority being 75% of the total population. This is the only land on earth they have, unlike the Tamils who have their motherland in South India and Muslim almost all over the world. Malabar Tamils in the north and East have only 300 hundred years history of domicile in this country. The first batch of those Indian Tamils who live in the hill country was introduced in 1838. But none of the original labourers or their descendants are there now. Almost all those who are there now are the people born after1948. When British left the Island in 1948 these Indian Tamils were British Citizens.  Most of them left to India after 1948.  Even if you assume that all of them stayed behind expecting Sri Lankan citizenship and got citizenship after 1987 they have a domicile history of only less than 36 years in this country, even if you consider them as citizens after they were illegitimately registered as citizens by force under the JR/ Rajive Accord of 1987 only. As such their claim Nam 200 years is a politically manipulated blatant hoax on their part and a historical betrayal of the Motherland and the Sinhala nation by the then President JR Jaaywardhana almost as a hostage of India.

Descendants of Muslims who had come from the Arab world as traders, were there in the maritime areas such as Beruwala in the South West when the Portuguese came in 1505. When those who escape death at the hands of the Portuguese ran to the King of Kandy Senarath pleading for life it was King Senarath settled some of them in Panampattuwa area of his Kingdom in the east as refugees. Ironically it is the descendants of those refugees rescued and land given by the Sinhale King, like Hisbulla today are claiming a Separate Muslim land” having already converted the area to a replica of an Arab land, using the political clout against the unpatriotic Sinhala political leaders who consider the vote more important than protecting the heritage of the Sinhala nation.    

During the pre-1815 era it was compulsory for all those foreigners who decided to be domicile here to learn the language of the land and abide by the local law and thereafter they got integrated with the native Sinhalese. They were also called Sinhalese as they all were living in the Sinhale Kingdom, the motherland of the Sinhala nation on this earth.   So, they too were also considered Sinhalese as the citizens of Sinhale prior to 1815. It was only the Dutch and the British who set these minorities against the native Sinhalese. Cleghorn in 1799 and the Wesleyan Church in 1819 met in Galle and said their main aim was to divide this country in to two districts, one Tamil and the other Sinhalese.  British were the people who did the biggest damage to the Sinhala nation using their divide and rule policy.

The destinies of this country from 1815 to 1948, the year of so-called Independence, were decided by UK. They exercised control over this Island nation through the Solebury Constitution up to 1972 by reserving ultimate Legislative, Executive and Judicial power in their hands, including the foreign policy through Constitutional manipulations Jennings had cleverly inserted.

In other words, we were not a fully independent country until we were declared a Republic on 22nd May 1972 under the Republican Constitution passed by the Parliament of this country. Although many positive steps towards Independence and self-reliance in socio economic fields were taken when the SLFP was in power up to 1977, a complete reversal took place in 1977. The new government in 1977 under JR, replaced even the May 22nd Republican day with the old Feb 4th Independence Day, an independence we never got in 1948. This attitude of the then government clearly shows the patriotism they had and the feeling and the love they had towards their country and the 2500-year proud heritage they owned from their ancestors. 

 Since then, there was no eventful national achievement until LTTE was defeated in 2009. Although the credit for defeating the 30-year LTTE goes to Mahinda Rajapaksa he also miserably failed to establish the war victory on the ground as it was done by the kings of the yore, such as Dutugamunu, Parakramabaahu the Great, Vijayabahu 1 and Sithavaka Rajasinha. He messed up due to perhaps overestimation and bad advice and got defeated in 2015 again due to political conspiracies deployed by the West and India and by his own people at home. The series of political tragedies such as the famous Central Bak Robbery and the Easter Sunday bomb blasts that killed more than 200 on Apr 21, 2019 followed by —ousting of Gotabhaya Rajapaksha on Sept 2nd conspired and staged by the same international and Indian forces against the emerging Sinhala Buddhist nation continues up to date with no light to be seen even at the end of the tunnel.

In addition to the never ending numerous domestic political, economic and social problems at home the continuing interference by the west and India has reached its zenith by now. The West led by US and all pro Tami Diaspora and anti-Sinhala Anti Buddhist elements both inside the country and outside are doing overtime day and night to empower the minorities 

What is even worse is now we are trapped between the power struggle for global political and economic war between China in the east and the US and the western block supported by India in the West. Thus, we are sandwiched between these three power rivalries. New geo strategic compulsions have brought the USA in to the seen in a very big way with the latest Indo-pacific NATO called QUAD. Meanwhile India is trying to make hay while the sun shines by exerting maximum power to take control of this Island nation following the Panikkar strategy.

Coming back to the subjects of the proposed Commission Truth, Unity and reconciliation,

Now let us have a glance at the three key words in the Governments formula. Truth, Unity and Reconciliation.

Truth : history.

The stark truth about the Truth is, first of all, the Sinhalese were the original settlers of this island who built up the civilization from 543 BC up to date.  They were the people who defended this country against all foreign invasion from 2nd century BC to date. And it was also their motherland from 543 BC. to date. The ancient invasions included 18 South Indian starting from 2nd century BC to 12th Century AD. The native Sinhalese defended the Kingdom and chased the out. The modern invasions from 1505 to 1815that were Portuguese, Dutch and British. They were also defeated by the native Sinhalese. But finally, they handed over the country in1815 to British under the Kandyan Convention of 2nd March 1815 as equal partners, British promising to protect the native law, customs and religion. But in 1817 the Sinhalese revolted ( Uva Wellassa Revolt) against the British as they found the British had violated the conditions of the Convention and in fact they have been deceived by the British under the clever manipulations of John Doily. Governor Brown Wrigg by his 1818 Nov 21st Royal Proclamation declared war against the Sinhalese violating he Kandyan Convention unilaterally and crushed the Natives. Thereafter this country was governed by the British under Royal Proclamations up to 1948. Meanwhile the Natives again revolted against the British in 1848 (Matale Revolt) In both these revolts Tamil sepoys from India were used to kill the native Sinhalese and Muslims were used as spies and to transport their goods. Hajji Muhandirama was appointed as Disaawa in Uva for services rendered to the British.

In the past from 2nd century BC South Indian Tamils had invaded this country 18 times. Of all early invasions the 12th century Kalinga Magha was the worst and the most destructive. He vandalized whole Rajarata including Polonnaruwa and he left no Dageba or temple or reservoir untouched. He set fire to all buildings and temples and plundered all treasure in Dagbas and left no Tank bund unbroken. Thus, it was his invasion that did the biggest damage to our national and religious assets. Finally. he was responsible for the complete destruction of the Rajarata civilization and for its Southwestward shift and the total disintegration of the ancient Sinhala Buddhist civilization (one of the greatest in the world) that stood in par with Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilizations. shifting of the Rajarata civilization to the South West. Any one visiting Polonnaruwa even today can witness the vast destruction he did to a once glorious Sinhala Buddhist heritage in protected ruins of burned down palaces and temples.

The latest next stage destruction and devastation and attempts made to Sinhala Buddhist heritage of this Sinhala Buddhist Island nation began with the advent of the Western colonial invasions starting from Portuguese in1505.This was followed by the Dutch and the British. Out of the last 3 it was the British who did the greatest devastation. By altering the Sinhala Buddhist imprint from the North and the East. This they did first by dividing the Sinhalese and Tamils as two ethnic groups starting with the famous Cleghorn Report with the 1799 letter to the Governor wherein he identified Sinhalese and Tamils as two ethnic groups living in two different parts of the Island – Tamil in the north and East and Sinhalese in the rest part. The Weslayen Methodist Mission in 1818 said that their main objective is to divide this country in to two districts to be designated the Singhalese and Tamil Districts. The British using this framework for their divide and rule policy made the best   use to drive a wedge between the native Sinhalese and immigrant Tamils. Meanwhile the Dutch and British also imported South Indian Malabar Tamils to work on their Tobacco plantations and road building. British also had a plan to settle South Indian Tamils in Large numbers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces under irrigation projects to change the demographic map by increasing the Tamils in this country. But this scheme failed. As such the present generation of Tamil in the north and East counts less than 300 years of domicile in this country only.

The last Groupe pf South Indians appeared in this country with the introduction of Coffee plantations in elate 1830s as the native Sinhalese refused to work for the invaders. The first batch came in 1838 to clear jungle for Coffee. When coffee failed due to the Coffee blight Tea was introduce in early 1870s after the Loolecondera experiment was started in 1867 by Scotsman James Taylor.

Since then, as Tea plantations began to sprawl all over the hill country the influx of South Indian labour also increased up to 1.2 million by 1910. Most of them returned after making some money. In any case almost every Indian went back to India annual to deposit the money they earned here. Most of them did not return. The new labour groups were brought by middlemen like Thodaman. But again, only few of them had a continuous domicile here. This process continued up to 1948, the year British left this country leaving their south Indian labour gang behind high and dry without either repatriating them to India or taking the home to UK as they were British citizens at that time, thereby creating a big problem of 1.2 gang of stateless Soth Indians to us. Samyamurthi Thondaman himself came here in 1924. As such most of the Estate Tamils I think belong to that category who came to Sri Lanka after that date. According to the Ceylon Citizenship Act 1948 only those who had a continuous domicile of ten years in Ceylon were considered for Citizenship.

Many a thing has happened since then until all Indians in the Island were made citizens of this country under the JR/Rjiv Act, with a simple affidavit singed on a Rs 1 stamp, a mischievous and illegal method of giving citizenship unseen and unheard in any country in the world.  Under this system any Indian whether he/she was plantation labour, an illicit immigrant (kallathoni) a gypsy or any other could claim citizenship in this country He needs only an affidavit singed by him before JP. I do not think that there is any country in this world where citizen ship could be obtained like that. so easily.

Having said that on citizenship now let me say few words on the kind of privileges a Tamil or a Muslim enjoy in this country. As far as I know all are equal before the law. There is no discrimination on ethnicity religion or language.  There is no discrimination in education, employment, purchasing property. Marriage, residence or any other. For that matter, in my experience Sri Lanka is the country where the minorities enjoy the highest freedom and privileges on earth. Muslims have their own laws and Karthi courts to dispense justice Tamils too have their Thesavalamei whereas the Sinhalese don’t have their own law which they had enjoyed for 2600 years. A Muslim man can marry a Sinhala Buddhist woman, but a Sinhala man or Tamil man can never marry a Muslim woman. Again, A Sinhala woman who marry a Muslim man has to wear the purdah and she also has to change her religion. Even then there is no hum from the Sinhala society.

On the other hand, the Bhoomiputras, the native Sinhalese the founders of this island, who made the civilization, who defended this country against all foreign invasion for 2600 years and protected it against all invasions and above al the only ethnic group who consider this country as their mother land a and has no allegiance any other country don’t have any of these privileges. They can’t live in the North and the East, they are traditional Tamil lands they say. No can they run a business there either, no can they restore even a Buddhist archaeological ruin 2 -3 thousand years old there. No can they fish in the northern waters while Indians are allowed Now you see who is discriminated and who is not.

As a nation molded on the 4 sublime principles of Metta, Muditha, Karunaa and Upekka, reconcillation has never been a problem to us.

This is the Gospel Truth about the Sri Lankan society.

Now let us consider the other two issues; Unity and Reconciliation

Unity and reconciliation with people of other communities including religion, language or ethnicity etc. As practicing true Buddhists, it has never been a problem for our society. All these issues like disunity and reconciliation in this country were the creations of the colonial West, after 1505, specially the British from 1797. There were no such problems before their arrival. Before 1815 this was one country (Sinhale) and one nation (Sinhalese). The name of the country we handed over was Sinhale, meaning the land of the Sinhala people. It was the British who divided Lankan/Sinhala nation in to different groups such as Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. They further divided the Sinhalese as Kandyans and Lowcountry Sinhalese (see Robert Percival 1806). In 1901 a new ethnic group called the Ceylon Tamils (former Malabars) was created by Ponnambalan Arunachalam a Tamil Civil Servant (The first Ceylon Civil Servant under the British) most probably as advised by the British, the world masters of divide and rule state craft. It was Cleghorn the Secretary to first Governor of British Ceylon, Fredric North who advised the British to divide the Native inhabitants; Singalese; in to two different nations as cingalese and Malabars(Tamils) and stated that the Sinhalese inhabit the interior of the country in its Southern and Western parts and Malabars possess the Northern and Eastern parts. According to him Sinhalese had come from Siam. This alone shows his ignorance of the Sri Lankan society. Again, the Soulbury Constitution under sec 29 created the concept of minority nations in this country for the first time in history. The British also gave special privileges to Tamils from the very beginning. They also provided English education and government employment for them and did everything to elevate the Tamils. They also argued that the Malabars (Tamils) as an ethic group were superior to the Sinhalese. By 1843 Jaffna was provided with 45 English schools when the whole country had only 103. British also made an attempt to flood the Northern and Eastern provinces with Malabar Tamils to upset the demographic constitution of the Island to weaken the strength of the native Sinhala people.  They brought all their labour requirements for the hill country plaFntations nearing 1.2 million from South India and left them high and dry as stateless destitute when they left the country in 1948. They also employed these Malabar men as sepoys to fight against the native Sinhalese in the 1818 and 1848 rebellions. This shows how the British colonial master have divided the Sri Lankan nation in to two and how mistrust had been cleverly built up from 1797. In this backdrop why appoint a Commission to find out the truth.  In 1947 Tamils wanted a separate State when they formed the Ilankayi Tamil Arasukachchi Party  (Ceylon Tamil State Party) not accepting the fact that this country had been a Sinhala Kingdom from the inception of history in 543 BC.  Stil later in 1980 the LTTE was formed aspiring to from their Tamil Eelam  (meaning the land of the Sinhalese) and fought a 30 year brutal war with the government of the country killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians including Buddhist Monks and even sucking babies and pregnant mothers and 100ds of lay devotees observing sil at the Sacred BO tree in Anuradhapura and carrying out mayhem all over the country .A massive bombing spree including the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy (the palladium of the whole Buddhist world) and several key place like the Central Bank of the nation and the Main Airport at Katunayake completely destroying about 10 brand new Planes were carried out.

This summarizes the eternal craze the Indians had throughout history starting in prehistoric times to capture this beautiful Island. This is the Gospel Truth about the eternal animosity between India and Sri Lanka. There are only two ways to solve this battle. First, is for India to forget this dream of capturing Sri Lanka and leave us alone without interfering with our internal politics and leave Sri Lanka to solve the problems of its Tamil population without pestering us calling them people of Indian origin as if we Sinhalese are not. If India is so concerned about them sometimes even more than their own people in India completely forgetting that  they are Sri Lankan citizens, the best solution is to take them back without creating headaches for us.TH second solution is for the Tamils in this country  first to understand this historical back ground and accept that this country belongs to the Sinhala nation as it had been from prehistoric times and reconcile with the native Sinhalese and live here happily by giving up all their attachments to India, as we Sinhalese also have done. Politicians of both countries must understand this reality on earth accordingly to bring about a permanent solution to this problem.

Muslims on the other hand were used mainly as spies against the natives and they supported the Muslims in the famous Sinhala -Muslim riots of 1915.  Now they also want a separate State within this country of 25,000 sq miles.  The Tamils in the north and East demand a separate State   covering 1/3 of the area of the country for just about 4 million Tamils and another 1.2 Tamils on the Hill country also want a Malayanadu covering about another 1/3 rd of the country. In addition, Muslims also want a separate State in the East where their ancestors were given land by the King of the Sinhale Kingdom after they were chased out from the western littorals by the Portuguese, in 1665.

Talking about reconciliation, no reconciliation is possible on earth under this situation until and unless both Tamils and Muslims accept that this is the home land of the Sinhala nation as it had been for the past 2600 years and it is non- negotiable and inalienable.  They are only visitors and not owners of this country.  They have to go by the dictum when you are in Rome you must do as a Roman do. They must first accept this stark truth and respect the original owners and learn to live with them amicably without quarrelling to own someone else’s land. Then only one can reconcile and live in unity and peace Never until then. Politicians who cannot understand this language must quit immediately without trying to destroy this 2600-year-old civilization and this ever-resplendent Island nation on earth.

This is the time we need real statesmanship to save this 2600-year-old Sinhala nation and this Paradise on earth.

Green Whitewash & the Blocking of the Red Economy

December 31st, 2023

e-Con e-News

blog: eesrilanka.wordpress.com

Before you study the economics, study the economists!

e-Con e-News 24-30 December 2023

Sri Lanka’s high-quality graphene & other abundant mineral resources do not belong to us: according to the USA & the EU. The EU has got the World Trade Organization (WTO) to block Indonesia from restricting its own nickel exports. Indonesia wants to process the raw ore locally. Nickel is used to also make steel and electric batteries etc. Jakarta has appealed but the US is preventing the formation of a WTO appeal court!

     Indeed, even as the EU & US are upgrading their industrial base, they keep preventing our industrialization, by fixing so-called ‘global trade rules’ – including this green whitewash etc – against Asia, against Africa & the darker Americas. So much for rule of law! (see ee Random Notes)

     Mineral-rich Sri Lanka – the media cannot tell us about this abundance – is also prevented from industrializing such resources (see ee Focus, Sri Lanka’s Red Economy). The last ees have reported on the World Bank’s ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes). This global Supreme Court, & other supranational bodies, formed by multinational corporations (MNCs) are expected to reinforce predatory behavior under the guise of a ‘just’ energy transition and other ‘green’ nonsense.

     This ee looks at the how US-pitbull England still has the largest military-industrial base in Europe, and how its weapons makers & other industries have thrown countries into debt under the guise of aid. ee also examines the role played by such countries as Mauritius, in the so-called FDI (foreign direct investment) game. Mauritius acts as an offshore hideout, especially for Indian companies (eg, England’s Hindustan Lever?) ‘roundtripping’ money to avoid taxes. This hideout used to allow capital gains tax exemptions – a facility Sri Lanka is supposed to happily bow down to and mimic…

     Meanwhile, nothing displays the supine fealty of the media to England’s Unilever more than the photocopying of its Planters’ Association press releases in various guises (see ee Random notes, Kussi Amma Samath). The PA claims they cannot afford wage increases to their largely Indian Tamil workforce. Partly true – but mostly flatulence! What all this PA PR does not state is their refusal to mechanize production (still a muscular process over 200 years old now), is at the basis of their inability to treat workers more justly. This refusal underpins – sorry, no pins can be made here either! – and undergirds (with imported polyester loincloth) Sri Lanka’s underdevelopment and economic instability. Instead, the PA PR claims they will mechanize by using retired armed forces personnel! No mention of ‘Asian despotism’ in this instance! (see ee Agriculture)

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• Last week Bloomberg Economics claimed the rerouting of vessels from the Red Sea would mean higher shipping costs & longer delivery times, with ‘Greece, Jordan, Sri Lanka & Bulgaria’ among the economies that would be ‘most affected by the trade disruptions’:

The cost to send ‘a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Rotterdam jumped 44% from the end of October’ [September? – ee] before the attacks began, and by more than 26% to Genoa, but ‘they remain well below levels in 2021-22 during the pandemic’.

Well! Well! Well! How Sri Lanka was artificially starved of funds, fuel, fertilizer, food & pharma leading to the increased destabilization of the country after 2020 becomes more glaring in the recent attempt to block the Red Sea, exposing the role played by the US- & EU-controlled shipping monopolies, alongside their hiking of prices and restricting the movement of fuel. Dividing Africa & Asia within & without is an old game.

     Rogue Israel is aiming to deploy submarines east of Suez, under cover of this US escalation of war against Yemen, which is trying to block Asia’s access to the Red Sea. Their Quad dancing partners India, Japan & Australia appear to be acting shy of the US plans, perhaps because there are no open supporters among neighboring West Asian & East African states.

     The US is also trying to build a Nordic coalition to block Asia’s interaction with Russia via the Arctic Sea. Meanwhile, Algeria, one of the largest African countries in the Mediterranean, may sanction movements of Israeli-linked ships near the Mediterranean western mouth at Gibraltar, attempting to round South Africa.

     Hence the increased US bribery of Africa’s Kingdom of Morocco, also at the Mediterranean’s very mouth – a monarchy apparently so democratic, the IMF & World Bank’s recent annual meeting was held there, with that recent closed-door ‘Civil Society’ gabfest including US-funded ‘SL thinktank’ Verite and US-WB-linked Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL). Civil Morocco indeed! Such ironies – with and without the iron of course.

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• The media-amplified opposition to VAT, appears to divert from even greater issues, like the destruction of local rice production, let alone the wholesale selloff of the country’s national assets, which trade unions highlighted this week.

     Take agriculture and paddy farming to be precise, whose main inputs are: water, seeds, fertilizer, pesticide etc & fuel. Subsidies on fuel & water have been removed, and fuel prices have been hiked over 200%, water about 50%. VAT is now added at 18% for seeds, pesticide, weedicide etc (previously VAT-exempted). So how much more will a kilo of rice cost? Perhaps US thinktank Advocata will then declare it cheaper to import rice, ‘freedom-fries’ & other ‘sophisticated’ GM foods, given such US-IMF policies! (see ee Random Notes, US Soybean Lobby in Sri Lanka)

    This ee reproduces Dhanusha Pathirana’s polemic against VAT & the rentier-dominated economy, again pointing to the irony of the article’s publication in President Wickremesinghe’s family media monopoly, The Financial Times, which occasionally wishes to act: ‘balanced’. While Pathirana importantly pinpoints such policies as being anti-industrialization at their core, his data and metaphors spin out of control. VAT is a blunt instrument hitting at both local & imported products. Others assert it is only for importing goods for re-export that is VAT deferred. Imports for consumption are not VAT exempted.

     But who has put Sri Lanka into this trap? Pathirana ‘despairs’ we’re even worse off than Ghana (as if African countries are benchmarks of congenital backwardness)! He speaks of world powers ‘from East to West’. Really? He can’t mean Japan, or South Korea or Taiwan, since they’re all US-military-occupied colonies. So then, China? – which for the last 75 years has been attempting to break out of the white imperialist siege. Recall that China was not allowed to join the UN until 1971! Pathirana’s essay ends by deploying the Zionist founding myth of a tiny Jewish David with stones confronting a giant Goliath (who’s Palestinian!). He calls for ‘indignation’ to flood the streets – yet didn’t such anarcho-nihilism already usher in these present VAT-dispensers?

    In the end, our colonial merchant-moneylending import-export plantation oligarchs & their media may not understand what Pathirana is writing of. They studiously act as if they have no idea what industrialization & production culture are all about. Then again, we cannot wake someone who is pretending to sleep! This just about explains the merchant media & their economists. The question is how the US & EU pay for their pretend-sleeping pills…          

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• Foreign-owned telecom Dialog just sent out an SMS warning of 24% hikes! Who will do this ‘new math’ to guess how they might fabricate 2024 price hikes? So then, why is a so-called white-only Asia Internet Coalition (AIC – Meta, Google, X, Booking.com, Amazon, etc) also joining in the harangue over the IMF’s VAT?  Pickme, whose CEO recently exposed these ‘global’ digital companies for legally stealing billions without paying local taxes, has also joined in the anti-VAT whine.

     This AIC even opposed Sri Lanka’s Online Safety Bill in October, calling it ‘draconian’ and a blow to Lankans’ ‘rights to expression’. How’s thaaaat! Amazing, there’s no greater censor than these US ‘digital’ monopolies – as the latest US massmurder in West Asia has exposed. Until Sri Lanka restrains these monopolies, as China & Russia have done, we will be subject to destabilization by so-called ‘social-media’, dominated by the imperialists.

     An AIC press release (see ee Industry), faithfully reproduced by all Sri Lankan English media, ends by actually claiming:

‘Asia Internet Coalition, which represents key players in the Internet industry and promotes the understanding & resolution of Internet policy issues in the Asia-Pacific region, disclosed that the international standard for adopting VAT on software & digital service providers is based on the authority of the consumer, not the jurisdiction under which a particular business operates.’

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• One of the conceits of this merchant media including artists, as well as economists (all run by MNCs) is that somehow politicians are the epitome of corruption – when all of them are doing ‘private practice’ or more accurately PPP – public-private pettifoggery!

De te fabula narratur!

It is of you that the story is told.

– Horace

• Check out how the US is gaming Serbia’s government & the opposition (among who there’s little difference, except lesser or greater obsequiousness to the whites) in order to take away any so-called democratic control by the people of Serbia. Check out how they aim, along with the EU, to use elections to divide off Kosovo from Serbia. Whoever wins can then accuse the other of corruption and fraud.

     Take out Serbia, add Sri Lanka, and we get the big picture. Here comes 2024, the year of elections & paying off fake debts. Note how the media has been building up the JVP-NPP via unscientific surveys, polls etc, also based on capitalist ‘social media’ whose main function is to algorithm ‘virality’. So unless we agree to swallow their rosy panaceas full of bitter elixirs – eg, Eelam north, east, upcountry – here we go again?!

Double Covid vaccine doesn’t stop symptoms for half of Delta cases

December 31st, 2023

Professor Sunil J. Wimalawansa

Here are some Island articles that might interest you and your professional colleagues.  Please feel free to forward them and comment on the journal website at the end of the article for the benefit of other readers.

An article related to CKDu (CKD-CTN) submitted to the Island in July 2023 was published only on December 8th, 2023:

https://www.facebook.com/sunil.wimalawansa/posts/pfbid02EPmGh6FrHPEhsodQ6WUWs6NbpmWNWheWNMpr5kNkFA6h3Xqun3syg6LrozZ8Gewkl

https://island.lk/eradicating-ckdu-from-sri-lanka-is-straightforward-what-is-preventing-it/

The author has no conflicts of interest to declare. 

Surprisingly, some continue to mislead that agrochemical causes CKDu, as misled by a handful of (politically motivated) people in SL for personal gains.  

There is no credible scientific evidence that glyphosate or heavy metals cause Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown etiology (CKDu).   

Evidence suggests that CKDu originates from multiple natural (factors)causes —stagnation of well-water (viz. water hardness‒elevated Ca2+ and fluoride levels, and others).  

Please consider including constructive comments at the end of this article for the benefit of others.

These observations are linked to the economic mess in Sri Lanka, which significantly decreased agricultural output by inappropriately banning glyphosate in all agro-products. This and other errors in economic policies and pilferage have contributed to a challenging situation.

Kind regards

Sunil Wimalawansa 

Qadian Convention concludes. 

December 31st, 2023

by A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka.

Muslims should rejoice the era of Islam’s revival’: Ahmadiyya Supreme Head (Khalifa) delivers concluding address at Qadian Convention (Jalsa Salana) 2023

The three day 128th Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Qadian, India, concluded with a faith inspiring address by the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, on 31 December 2023.

His Holiness addressed the final session via satellite link from the Masroor Hall, Islamabad, Tilford, UK. Over 15,000 people attended the Convention in Qadian from 42 countries including Sri Lanka, while more than 5,000 gathered in Islamabad, Tilford for the concluding session.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

Today, the annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Qadian, India, is drawing to a close, and simultaneously, annual conventions are being held or are about to be held in various other countries. At this very moment, the closing sessions of annual conventions in different countries, such as Senegal, Togo, Guinea-Conakry, and Guinea-Bissau, are taking place, and their live transmissions are ongoing. There is a two-way transmission; we can see them and they can see us. All this fulfils the promise made by Allah to the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him, that:

‘I shall make you famous with honour to the ends of the earth and shall exalt your name and shall put your love in the hearts of the people. We have made you Masih Ibn-e-Maryam [Messiah, son of Mary]. Tell them: I have come in the footsteps of Jesus.’ [Tadhkirah (English), p. 242]

Thus, the arrangement of these conventions in countries around the world, the calling of the name of the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be on him), with respect and honour, and the slogan of his name, all are manifestations of this divine promise, affirming that he is the Promised Messiah and the Awaited Mahdi, as per the promise of Allah and the prophecies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Today, this small settlement of Qadian, which was just an ordinary village or town over a hundred years ago, has transformed into a beautiful city. Indeed, it has gained worldwide renown, and this fame is due to the name of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) and the promise made to him by Allah.

A man residing in a small place, difficult to access and devoid of resources, claimed that Allah the Almighty had promised him, ‘I shall make you famous with honour.’

And then this promise is being magnificently fulfilled, because Allah the Almighty is fulfilling the prophecy made to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about the arrival of his most ardent devotee in the fourteenth century to initiate a new era of the revival of the religion [of Islam].

Thus, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him, is the Promised Messiah and Mahdi who has come for the revival of faith and the completion of the propagation of Islam, in accordance with the promises of Allah the Almighty.

Therefore, Muslims should rejoice that the era of the second advent of Islam has arrived, a time to overcome weaknesses and to spread and preach Islam. However, the selfish interests of so-called scholars are inciting them to mislead the general Muslim populace from the right path. But a time will come when they will have to acknowledge the truth. This too is a promise of Allah the Almighty to the Promised Messiah (peace be on him), that ultimately, these people will believe.

Then Ahmadiyya Khalifa spoke about the mission of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (the Promised Messiah, peace be on him) in relation to the divine support he received.

Ahmadiyya Khalifa also mentioned that countless signs are still being fulfilled and that many people are being guided to Ahmadiyyat. The Ahmadis are being spiritually uplifted by the fulfilment of these signs.

Ahmadiyya Supreme Head then gave examples of a few incidents that showed God’s blessings and succour to Ahmadi Muslims. His Holiness expressed that only the pure of heart can understand such signs and benefit from them.

Ahmadiyya Khalifa said:

Today, all of you who are participating in the Convention  (Jalsa) in Qadian, and all those who are attending the Convention in their respective countries, are affirming that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him, is indeed the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, who came in accordance with the prophecy of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. With him has always been, and will always be, the support of Allah the Almighty, insha-Allah. Every Ahmadi should also pledge to tirelessly strive to fulfil the purpose of the mission of Promised Messiah, peace be upon him. Continually assess your external and internal states and strive to improve them.”

The session concluded with silent prayers followed by various poems recited by groups in Qadian (India) via satellite link.

Cheating helpless customers at ගෙදර යන ගමන්

December 31st, 2023

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

The famous supermarket on the way home ගෙදර යන ගමන්”
Place Pelawatte Battaramulle mulls 
Time. 31 December 2023 at 12.15 pm 

Walked into The-supermarket to buy a pack of Iced Coffee to treat our  guests

Price marked by either the manufacturer or the supermarket was 500 Rs against 240 last year 

Picked a few packs and the cashier scanned them and wanted to charge 650 each 

We lost out Cool” despite we were buying iced coffee to cool ourselves under VAT pressure (A very Agonizing Time  )

Confronted the manager as the cashier was trying to justify the overcharge by stating that customers are warned by displaying notice boards everywhere to indicate that the price marked can change at any time!

Flabbergasted and  called the manager She was very firm and said that she could not sell at the rate marked on the product 

Little high pitched confrontation with her and we also threatened her that we would inform  ( Con)Sumer affairs and she gave in and surrendered 

We were allowed to pay the marked price 

This is the eve of the new year in a day and supermarkets are trying to train themselves like the last Relay runner before picking up the Batton called VAT ! During the last lap

On the 1st   the price may be 650 plus 18%! Hence we bought three 

The cow who donated milk may be thinking that from 1st January 2024, her grass will also cost + VAT 

Harry may have brewed extra gallons of liquor getting ready to Jack the price of Jack Daniel – local brand Gal Arrakku  to sell at a higher price 

රිචඩ් ද‍ සොයිසා ඝාතනය – තිරිසන් සිද්ධියක සම්පූර්ණ කතාව

December 31st, 2023

Kaarige Channel Eka | Dharmasri Kariyawasam

නැවතත් බලයට එන්න දගලන්නේ මේ කාලකන්නි සෙවනැලිද? බුද්ධිමත් ජනතාවනි මේ පැහැදිලි සත්‍යය කතාවලට හොදින් සවන් දෙන්න

දුක්ඛ යන බෞද්ධ සංකල්පයෙන් පැවසෙන්නේ කුමක් ද ?

December 31st, 2023

( වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම් ජයතුංග විසින් ලියන ලද The Concept of Dukkha” in Buddhist Philosophy ලිපියේ සිංහල පරිවර්තනය. පරිවර්තනය හර්ෂිනී ජයසුන්දර  )

දුක්ඛ” යන බෞද්ධ සංකල්පය මගින් පැවැත්මේ (existence)  සැබෑ ස්වභාවය විස්තර කරයි. එහි ගැඹුරු දාර්ශනික අර්ථයක් ඇත. “දුක්ඛ” යන වචනය බොහො විට වරදවා වටහාගෙන ඇතිවා මෙන්ම වරදවා භාවිත කරද ඇත. “දුක්ඛ” යන වචනයේ අර්ථ්‍ය හුදෙක් “දුක්වීම ” හෝ “දුක් විදීම” නොවේ. දුක්විදීම යන්නෙහි අර්ථය කායික, මානසික, සාමාජයීය, ආධ්‍යාත්මික සහ මනෝ ව්‍යාධිමය විඳවීමයි. එය කායික, චිත්තවේගීය, සහ මානසික වේදනා ඇතුලත් අත්දකීමක් විය හැක. මෙවැනි ආකාර විදවීම් චිකිත්සක හෝ සමාජ – ආර්ථික මැදිහත් වීම හරහා අවම කරගත හැක. එහෙත් දුක්ඛ” යන බෞද්ධ සංකල්පය එසේ චිකිත්සක මැදිහත් වීමෙන් හෝ සමාජ ආර්ථික ක්‍රම වේදයන් මගින් ඉවත් කර ගත නොහැක.

බුදු දහමේ එන “දුක්ඛ” යන වචනය කායික  ආත්මීය දුක්වේදනා අභිබවා යන සවිඥ්ඥානික අත්දැකීමකි. එය වචන වලට සෘජුව පෙරලිය නොහැකි සංකල්පයකි.  එය දුසාධ්‍ය  විඳවීමක් නොවේ. දුක්ඛ යනු විඳවීම් , බලාපොරොත්තු සුන්වීම්, වේදනා, අවාසනාවන්තකම් හෝ අධෛර්‍ය නොවේ. එනම් සම්පූර්ණ අශුභවාදයද නොවේ. එය බහුමාන සංකල්පයක් වන අතර භාෂාමය අර්ථයක් දිය නොහැකි සංකීර්ණ සංකල්පයකි.

දුක්ඛ යනු  මනුශ්‍ය ශරීරයේ මනුශ්‍ය පැවැත්මේ , ලෝකයේ   යථා ස්වරූපය මත පදනම් වූ විඥ්ඥානමය සහ විශ්වීය අත්දැකීමකි. එනම් “දුක්ඛ” යනු සැබෑ මනුශ්‍ය තත්වය පෙන්වා දෙන විශ්වීය සංකල්පයකි. බොහෝ බෞද්ධ භික්‍ෂූන් ද මෙම  දුක්ඛ යන සංකල්පය වරදවා වටහා ගෙන ජීවිතය දුක් වේදනා කම් කටොළු පිරි අවාසනාවන්ත තත්වයක් ලෙසට  හුවා දක්වමින්  දේශනා පවත්වති. එම නිසා බොහෝ බෞද්ධයන් ජීවිතය අශුභවාදයක් ලෙස දකිති. ඔවුන් වර්තමාන  ජීවිතය  පිලිබඳ මන්දෝත්සාහී වී මරණින් පසු ලෝකයක් පිලිබඳව උනන්දු වෙති. 

බොහෝ බටහිර උගතුන් පවා  දුක්ඛ  යන බෞද්ධ සංකල්පය අර්ථකතනය කලේ පොදුවේ දුක් විදීම / විඳවීම යන අර්ථයෙනි.  මෙයට හේතු වූයේ ප්‍රංශ දාර්ශනිකයෙකු වූ ඇනටෝල් ෆ්‍රාන්ස් විසින් එය වැරදි ලෙස පරිවර්ථනය කිරීමයි. ඔහු මේ “දුක්ඛ” යන්න souffrance ලෙස ප්‍රංශ භාශාවට පරිවර්ථනය කල අතර පසුව එය suffering  ලෙස ඉංග්‍රීසියට පරිවර්තනය කෙරිනි. එතැන් පටන් බටහිර විද්වතුන් “දුක්ඛ” යනු අශුභවාදයෙන් සහ බලාපොරොත්තු සුන්වීමෙන් පිරුනු මිනිස් පැවැත්මේ අඳුරු පාර්ශවය සංකේත්වත් වන බව  සිතූහ.

මිනිස් ජීවිතය දරාගත නොහැකි දුක් පීඩා වලින් පිරී තිබේද? මම සෝවියට් සංගමයේ ගුලාග් සිරකරුවන් , හෝලකෝස්ට් වින්දිතයන් වූ යුදෙව් ජාතිකයන්  සහ යුද සිරකරුවන්  (POW) මෙන්ම දරාගත නොහැකි වදහිංසා වලට මුහුණ දුන් පුද්ගලයන් සමග කතා කර ඇත්තෙමි. ඔවුන් ගේ ශාරීරික මානසික දුක් වේදනා සැබෑවන් වූවද   බොහෝ දෙනෙක් එකඟ වූ කරුණක් වන්නේ මෙසේ දුක් වේදනා හෝ වහල් භාවය තිබියදීත් ඔවුන්ගේ ජීවිතයේ ප්‍රීතිමත් වූද තෘප්තිමත් වූද අවස්ථා තිබූ බවයි. ඔවුන්ගේ දුක් වේදනා , විදවීම් නොතකා ඔවුන්ට තම ජීවිත වල අභ්‍යන්තරයේ තෘප්තිමත් අවස්ථා (self-content) තිබුණි. මෙය පරිනාමය හරහා මිනිසුන් විසින් ඇති කරගත් සහජ පැවැත්මේ යාන්ත්‍රණයක් විය හැක.  

ස්මිත් මහතා වසර 84 ක් ඵලදායී ජීවිතයක් ගත කලේය. ඔහුට ප්‍රීතිමත් ළමා කාලයක්, හොද අධ්‍යාපනයක්, ගෞරවනීය වෘත්තියක් සහ ඵලදායී වැඩිහිටි ජීවිතයක් තිබුණි. ඔහුගේ ජීවිතයෙන් වැඩි කාලයක් ඔහුට ප්‍රීතිය තිබුනි. ඔහුගේ ජීවිතයේ ආතතිය, නිශේධනාත්මක බව සහ බලාපොරොත්තු සුන්වීම යනාදිය නොසලකා ඔහු ධනාත්මක දෘශ්ඨියක් දැරීය. වයස 84 දී මහළු වියේ සිදුවන දුක් විදීමකින් තොරව ස්මිත් මහතා නින්දේදීම මිය ගියේය.  ස්මිත් මහතා යනු කල්පිත චරිතයක් වූවද ස්මිත් මහතාට සමාන ජීවිත ගතකල බොහෝ දෙනා අප දකිමු. ජීවිතය දුක් කම්කටොලු වලින් පිරී ඇති බව ඔවුන් කවදා හෝ පැමිණිලි කර තිබේද?

දුක් වේදනා බාහිර සාධක විය හැක. මානසික අවපීඩනයෙන් (depression) පෙලෙන පුද්ගලයෙකු ඔහුගේ වැරදි දෘශ්ඨිය, සෘණාත්මක ජීවන දර්ශණය සහ හානිකර සංජානන හේතුවෙන් දුක් විදිය හැක. යුද්ධයෙන් විනාශ වූ ප්‍රදේශයක මිනිසෙකු එහි පවතින භූ – දේශපාලණික හේතු නිසා දුක් විදිය හැක. මොළයේ රසායනික සමතුලිතතාවය වෙනස් වීම නිසා පුද්ගලයෙකු (අභ්‍යන්තර  හේතූන් නිසා) දුක් විදිය හැක. මොළයේ රසායණික සමතුලිතතාවය වෙනස් හට ගන්න විශාදය හෝ  මනෝ ව්‍යාධික රෝග තත්වයෙන් පෙලෙන පුද්ගලයෙකු ගැන සිතන්න.   ඔවුන්ට  ඖෂධ  මගින් මොළයේ රසායණික තත්වයන් යාමනය කොට ඔවුන් ගේ දුක් සහිත විඳවීමට සමාප්තියක් ලබා දිය හැකිය. “දුක්ඛ” යනු සියදිවි නසා ගැනීමේ චේතනාවන් සමග සම්බන්ධ වූ සායනික, මානසික අවපීඩනය, ලෞකික දුක් වේදනා, විරසක වීම් හෝ ජීවිතයේ වේදනාව නොවේ. මෙම තත්වයන් සදහා මානසික අවපීඩන සදහා භාවිතා කරන ඖෂධ මනෝ චිකිත්සාව මගින් ප්‍රථිකාර කල හැක. තවත් සමහරෙක් තමන් දුක් විදින බව නොදනී. නිදසුනක් ලෙස, ඇල්සයිමර් රෝගයෙන් පෙළෙන රෝගියෙකු උදාහරණයට ගන්න. ඔහුට තම ජීවිතයේ විඳවීම පිලිබඳව අදහසක් නොමැත. මේ අනුව දුක්ඛ යනු එදිනෙදා ජීවිතය සමග බැඳී තිබෙන අප්‍රසන්නතා නොවේ. දුක්ඛ” යනු ජීවිතයේ විශ්වීය රෝග පිළිබද යථාර්ථයයි.  . 

අතීතයේ සිටි මිනිසුන් වසූරිය, පෝලියෝ, සරම්ප සහ රුබෙල්ලා වැනි රෝග වලින්  පීඩා වින්දහ. වෛද්‍ය විද්‍යාවේ දියුණුවත් සමග මෙකී රෝග ආශ්‍රිත දුක් විදීම් තුරන් කරන ලදි. ඒ හේතුවෙන් අප මේ බෝවන රෝගවලින් තව දුරටත් පීඩා නොවිදින්නෙමු.  

වයසට යෑම  වේදනාව සහ අසහනය සමග සම්බන්ධ විශ්වීය සාධකයකි. මෙය මහළු විය හා සම්බන්ධ දුක් වේදනාවයි. වියපත් වීමත් සමග කායික සහ මානසික පරිහානිය නිසා දුක් වේදනා ඇතිවේ. වයස් ගත වීම දුකකි. කෙසේ වෙතත් නවීන විද්‍යාත්මක තාක්ෂණය, විශේෂයෙන් ජාන ප්‍රථිකාර මගින් වයසට යෑමේ ක්‍රියාවලිය මන්දගාමී වේ. සමහර විට ඉදිරි වසර 100 සිට  200 අතර කාලය තුළ වෛද්‍ය විද්‍යාව විසින් වයස්ගතවීම පමා කිරීමේ  ප්‍රථිකාර දියුණු කරනු ඇති අතර මිනිසුන්ට අවුරුදු 250- 300 දක්වා වූ කාලයක් ජීවත් වීමට හැකිවනු ඇත. එහෙත් මෙමගින් පවා “දුක්ඛ” යන්න නොවිසදේ. මක් නිසාද යත් වයසට යෑම සහ අභාවය නොවැලැක්විය හැකි අතර  අවසානයේ මිනිසාට මරණය නම් විශ්වීය වේදනා අත්දැකිමට මුහුණ දීමට සිදුවන බැවිනි. 

වෛද්‍ය විද්‍යාව බොහෝ රෝග සදහා ප්‍රථිකාර සොයාගෙන ඇත. සමහර විට තවත් වසර 200 – 300 ක් අතර කාලයේදී, පිලිකා ඇතුලු බෝ නොවන සහ බෝවන රෝගවලින් 95% ක් මානවයාගෙන් තුරන් වනු ඇත. එවිට ලෙඩ දුක් යනු මිනිසාට දුක් වේදනා ගෙන දෙන සාධකයක් ලෙස නොසැලකනු ඇත. 

සත්‍ය වශයෙන්ම මරණය දුකකි. වෛද්‍ය විද්‍යාවට මිනිසාගේ ආයු කාලය දීර්ඝ කල හැක. ජෛව – මුද්‍රණ තාක්ෂණය මගින්  සහ අනිකුත් අභ්‍යන්තර ඉන්ද්‍රියයන් ප්‍රකෘතිමත් කල හැක. මෙම පියවරෙන් දීර්ඝායු ලබාදිය හැකි අතර මරණය වැලැක්විය නොහැක. එබැවින් මරණය මිනිස් පැවැත්මේ කොටසක් වනු ඇත. “දුක්ඛ” යන්න මරණයේ සාංකාව සමග බැදී පවතී. 

දුක් පීඩා විදීම පුද්ගලික මෙන්ම පොදු කාරනයකි. විශ්වීය දුක් වේදනා යන්න පුළුල් පරාසයක් ඇති මිනිස් අත්දැකීම් ආවරණය කරයි. එයට මානසික, භෞතික, සාමාජීය මානයන් ඇත. මෙම විශ්වීය ලක්ශන සෑම මිනිසෙකුටම පොදු වේ. මෙහි ප්‍රථිපලයක් ලෙස මෙම විශ්වීය ලක්ශන මගින්  සවිඥ්ඥානික අවබෝධයක් ගෙන දෙයි. ජීවිතය තව දුරටත් අර්ථවත් නොවන බව (lack of meaning) ඔවුන්ට හැගී යයි. මෙය පැවැත්ම සමග එන සාන්දෘෂ්ඨික කාංසාවේ (existential anxiety) ප්‍රතිඑලයකි. මේ  සාන්දෘෂ්ඨික කාංසාව   “දුක්ඛ” වේ.  

ජීවිතයේ අරමුණක් නොමැති කම දුකට හේතු විය හැක. මිනිසාට සෑම පහසුකමක්ම සහ ද්‍රව්‍යමය දේ තිබුනද ඔවුන් බොහෝ විට ජීවිතයේ අරථ විරහිත භාවයට ගොදුරු වෙති.ඔවුන්ට ඔවුන්ගේ ජීවිතයේ අරමුණ පිලිබඳ පැහැදිලි හැගීමක් නැත. වික්ටර් ෆැරන්ක්ල්ට අනුව මිනිසුන්  සාන්දෘෂ්ඨිකහිස් බව පුරවන්නේ සුඛ විහරණය, බලය, ද්‍රව්‍ය වාදය , වෛරය, කම්මැලිකම, ස්නායු උමතුවෙන් සහ බලකිරීමෙනි. ජීවිතයේ අරමුණක් නොමැති කම නිසා ” දුක්ඛ” ඇති වෙයි.

සමහර බෞද්ධ ග්‍රන්ථ වල සදහන් වන්නේ උපත යනු දුකක් බවයි. නමුත් ඒ සාමාන්‍ය දරු උපතක් ගැන නොවේ. දරු ප්‍රසූතියක් යනු දෙමාපියන්ට ප්‍රීතිමත් අවස්ථාවකි. බෞද්ධ සන්දර්භය තුල උපත යනුවෙන් අදහස් වන්නේ මමත්වයේ (ego) උපතයි. මමත්වයේ උපත සහ එහි පැවත්ම විශ්වීය දුක්ඛිත තත්වයට හේතුවේ. මෙමගින් මිනිසා තමා පිළිබද ව්‍යාජ හැගීමකට පත්වෙයි. ඔහුගේ විශ්වාසයන් වෙනස් වූ විට හෝ අභියෝගයට ලක්වූ විට ඔහු ඔහුගේ ව්‍යාජ මමත්වය නිසා අසහනකාරී සහ සාංකාමය තත්වයට පත්වෙයි. 

දුක්ඛ” යනු ලෞකික දුක් වේදනා, සාමාන්‍ය වශයෙන් වූ අසතුටුදායක බව නොසන්සුන් කම හෝ දැඩි මානසික වේදනාව නොවේ. දුක්ඛ යනු ලෞකික දුක් විඳීම  නම් එයද තාවකාලික වූවකි. එයද සදාකාලික නොවන දෙයකි. නමුත් “දුක්ඛ” යන්නට ඇත්තේ ගැඹුරු විශ්වීය අර්ථයකි. “දුක්ඛ” යන්නෙන් සංඛේතවත් කරන්නේ බියෙන් හා දුක්ඛිතභාවයෙන් පිරුනු මිනිස් පැවැත්මේ අඳුරු  ස්වභාවය නොවේ. එය එම පැවැත්මේ අව්‍යාජ ස්භාවයය ඉස්මතු කරයි. “දුක්ඛ”යනු මමත්වයේ අනිත්‍ය ස්වභාවයයි.  “දුක්ඛ” යනු අශුභවාදී හෝ ශුන්‍යවාදී සංකල්පයක් නොවේ. එයින් සතුටේ සිට බලාපොරොත්තු සුන්වීම දක්වා වූ චිත්තවේග මාලාවක් නියෝජනය වේ.

දුක්ඛ” යන්නෙන් පැවැත්මේ සත්‍ය වූද නිවැරදිවූද ස්වභාවය විස්තර කරයි. පැවැත්ම රැඳී තිබෙන්නේ අනිත්‍යතාවය, දුක්ඛ සහ අනාත්මභාවය පදනම් කර ගෙනය. මේ ත්‍රිත්වය එකිනෙක මත රඳා  පවතින අතර අන්තර්සම්බන්ධිත සාධක වෙති.  

අනිත්‍ය යනු ස්ථිර සහ අඛන්ඩ පැවැත්මෙන් තොර වීමයි. අනිත්‍ය බව විසින් ස්ථිර මිනිස් ආත්ම සංකල්පය ප්‍රතික්ශේප කරයි. විශ්වය වනාහි ඇදහිය නොහැකි තරම් විශාල වූද සංකීර්ණ වූද නිරන්තරයෙන් වෙනස් වන්නා වූද ප්‍රපංචයකි. විශ්වයේ ස්ථිර භෞතික හෝ මානසික පැවැත්මක් නොමැත. පුද්ගල මට්ටමෙන් මෙන්ම පොදු මට්ටමෙන්ද ලෝකය නිරන්තරයෙන් වෙනස් වෙමින් පවතී.

බුදු දහමට අනුව හැගීම්, සහ සංජානනයන් ද අනිත්‍ය වේ. එමෙන්ම  විඥ්ඥානයද (consciousness) අනිත්‍ය වේ. යමෙක් මෙම අනිත්‍ය වූ ලෝකයේ යථා ස්වභාවය තේරුම් නොගෙන එයට ප්‍රථිරෝධය දැක්වීමට උත්සාහ කරන විට දුක උපදී. ඔහුට වෙනස් වීමට උවමනා නැත. නමුත් ඔහු වටා ඇති සියල්ල නිරන්තරයෙන් වෙනස් වීමට භාජනය වේ. ඔහුට නැවත කිසි විටෙක කලින් සිටි මොහොත හෝ අත්දැකීම වෙත ආපසු යා නොහැක. පුද්ගලයා වයස්ගත වේ. ඔහුට සදහටම තරුණ වී සිටිය නොහැක. මෙම ක්‍රියාවලිය පුද්ගලයා තුල දුකක් ඇති කරයි. පුද්ගලයාට තමාට සහ තම ආදරණීයයන් සදහා ලෝකයක් අවශ්‍ය වේ. නමුත් මරණය වැලැක්විය නොහැක. කිසිවෙකුට එයින් ගැලවිය නොහැකිය. මරණයට ඇති බිය සහ එම ක්‍රියාවලිය මෙම “දුක්ඛ” සංකල්පය සමග බැඳී  පවතී.  

ලෝකය මායාවන්ගෙන් පිරී ඇත. මිනිසා තමා   විසින්, මවා ගත් බොහෝ මනෝ සංකල්ප සැබෑ ලෙස පිලිගනී. ශාරික සහ මානසික මමත්වය සැබෑ ලෙස ඔහු පිලිගනියි. ආත්මය යනු විචිත්‍ර වූ සවිඥ්ඥානික වස්තුවක් ලෙස වටහා ගත්තද එහි ඇත්තේද “මම” යන මායාවය. මොලයේ ස්නායු ක්‍රියාකාරිත්වය හරහා මෙම මායාවන් විසින් මමත්වය නිර්මානය කරයි. මොලයේ ස්නායු ක්‍රියාකාරිත්වය හරහා මෙම මායාවන් විසින් මායාමය අනන්‍යතාවයක් නිර්මාණය කරයි. තමා පිලිබද මායාමය හැගීමක් ඇතිකිරීම සදහා මොලය එහි අත්දැකීම්, සිතුවිලි සහ හැසිරීම් යොදාගනියි. සමහර ස්නායු විශේසඥයන්ට අනුව මොලය නිර්මාණශීලී යන්ත්‍රයකි. මම යනු තනි වස්තුවක් නොවන අතර එය සංවේදනයන්, සංජානන සහ සිතුවිලි වල එකතුවකි. සියලුම භෞතික සහ මානසික තත්වයන් පාරභෞතික වශයෙන් සත්‍ය නොවේ. මම යනු මොහොතින් මොහොත ගලායන ස්වභාවයක් වන අතර මම යනු ස්ථිර ගතිකයක් බව සිතන තැනැත්තා  මෙම මායාවට හසුවූ විට “දුක” උපදී.   

“දුක්ඛ” යනු පැවැත්මේ සැබෑ ස්වරූපය තේරුම් ගැනීමට නොහැකි වීමයි. එය ජීවිතයේ විවිධ අවස්ථා නිසා ඇතිවන ආතතිය, ගැටුම්, බාධා, වෙනස්වීම්, නිසා ඇති වන වෙනස් වීමයි. එයසෑම මිනිසෙකුම අත්විදින, අධ්‍යාත්මික වූ අර්බුදයක් වන අතර සමහරු එය අර්ථ විරහිත ලෙස දකිති. දුක්ඛ යනු තාර්කික මිනිසෙකු හා අතාර්කික ලෝකය අතර ගැටුමයි. “දුක්ඛ” ලෝකයේ සමස්ථ පැවැත්ම හා බැදී පවතී. 

ලෞකික පුද්ගලයෙකු දුක් වර්ග දෙකක් අත්විදියි. පලමුවැන්න සෞඛ්‍ය ගැටළු සහ සමාජ – ආර්ථික ගැටළු නිසා ඇතිවන දුක්ඛිත ජීවන තත්වයයි. මෙවැනි ගැටළු ලෞකික  මැදිහත්වීම් මගින් නිවැරදි බවට පත්කරගත හැක. දෙවැනි දුක් වර්ගය වන්නේ “දුක්ඛ” ලෙස හැදින්වෙන දුක් වේ. “දුක්ඛ” යන්න ලෞකික දුක් විදීම අභිබවා යන්නකි.  ලෞකික    මැදිහත්වීමකින් මෙය නිවැරදි කල හෝ සහනය ලබා ගත නොහැක. 

“දුක්ඛ” යනු අශුභවාදය හෝ නරුමභාවය නොවේ. ” දුක්ඛ” යන්න මානව ස්වභාවයට විශ්වයේ යථාර්ථයට සම්බන්ධ දෙයකි. “දුක්ඛ” යනු පිළිතුරක් නැති ප්‍රහේලිකාවක් නොවේ. බුදුන් වහන්සේ ” දුක්ඛ” යෙහි ඇති විස්තීරණ ස්වභාවය සහ දුකින් මිදීම විස්තර කරන ලද අතර මුලින්ම දුක්ඛ සංකල්පය නිවැරදිව අවබෝධ කළ යුතු ය. එසේම  දුක්ඛ නිරෝධයට තුඩු දෙන  ආර්‍ය අෂ්ඨාංගික මාර්ගය අනුගමනය කල යුතුය.

ගැහැණු පෙරමුණ අරන් ඉන්නේ.. දැන් මාලිමා ජය සහතිකයි..

December 31st, 2023

උපුටා ගැන්ම ලංකා සී නිව්ස්

ජාතික ජන බලවේගය අද වන විට ධෛර්යවන්ත ගැහැණුන්ගෙන් සමන්විත ව්‍යාපාරයක් බවට පත්වී ඇති බව එහි නායක පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී අනුර දිසානායක මහතා සඳහන් කරයි.

ඒ අනුව 2024 ජයග්‍රහණ ගැන යම් කුකුසක් තිබුනේ නම් අද වන විට එම කුකුස මුළුමනින්ම අහවර වී ඇති බවද හෙතෙම කියා සිටියේය.

ඒ මහතා මේ බව කියා සිටියේ මාතර දිස්ත්‍රික් ජාතික ජන බලවේගයේ කාන්තා සමුළුව අමතමිනි.

මෙරට කාන්තාවන් නැඹුරුවන දේශපාලන ව්‍යාපාරය ජයග්‍රහණය කරන බවට මතයක් ඇති බවද පැවසූ ඔහු 2024 වසරට පියාගන්නේ 2023 අභිබවා යන මහා ජනතාව ව්‍යාපාරයක් ලෙස බවද කියා සිටියේය.

Wishing all of you a prosperous and happy new year 2024.

December 31st, 2023

Dinesh Gunawardena Prime Minister Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

The necessary measures have been taken in this year’s budget to launch the government’s procedure to create a country with new hopes.
In line with the last year, let us all work together with dedication for a prosperous future in a disciplined and democratic  society by helping to implement the challenging program of creating a new era in all economic, political, social and cultural fields.
In this new year, I  recollect  with gratitude the challenging work done by our farmers in the face of the food and economic crisis faced by the country last year.
We are determined to move the country towards a productive economy by empowering the new generation through innovative concepts with an entrepreneurial mindset.
The recent past has led us to think a lot. Those diseases, disasters, economic and social crises are the ones we have not experienced in recent history. Let’s step into a new year enriched with new concepts in order to eliminate  these  adverse effects and not  to bequeath them to the next generation.

Dinesh Gunawardena
Prime Minister
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka


Buddhism is a major ingredient in India’s foreign policy

December 31st, 2023

By P.K.Balachandran/Sunday Observer Courtesy NewsIn.Asia

Buddhism is a major ingredient in India’s foreign policy

Indian Minister Selja brings the Kapilavastu relics to Sri Lanka

Colombo, December 31: Religion has been part of the foreign policies of Christian and Islamic nations for a long time. As is well known, one of the goals of the foreign policy of Western colonial powers was to spread Christianity and civilize” the world, the sword in one hand and the bible in the other, as it were. In the medieval era, spreading Islam through proselytization was the core objective of expansionist Islamic forces. Vast areas from Spain in the West, through Central Asia and to Afghanistan and Xinjiang in the East came under the sway of Islam.

In recent times, the US and its Western allies encouraged radical Islamic forces to overthrow progressive but anti-West regimes in Iran and Afghanistan and set up regimes friendly to them. 

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In contrast, Buddhism and Hinduism crossed the boundaries of their lands of origin and development, not by being instruments of foreign policy, but via peaceful international trade. Most of Asia is today Buddhist in one way or another, and that is because Buddhist monks from India latched on to Indian traders trading in South East and East Asia and spread the word of the Buddha.

The subsequent rise of the Arab and European traders in Asian trade ended the dominance of the Hindu/Buddhist traders and Buddhist expansion was curtailed.

However, after the collapse of colonialism post World War II, emerging India (and China much later on) began to use Buddhism to reach out to Asian countries that are predominantly Buddhist. Buddhism was harnessed to serve India’s foreign policy ends.

Though neither India nor China is a Buddhist country (India is predominantly Hindu and China is officially atheist) both use their Buddhist past and their earlier contribution to the development of Buddhist thought and action as a foreign policy tool. 

Buddhism is so important in China’s Asia policy that it has been made a part of its flagship project, the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). On December 12, the 8th ‘South China Sea Buddhism Roundtable’ took place in Colombo. It was attended by more than 400 monks, scholars, government officials, and representatives from all walks of life from 25 countries and regions including China, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Japan, India, Vietnam, the United States, France, etc. It was the first time that the Roundtable in its entirety was held outside China. Master Yinshun, Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China and Abbot of the Shenzhen Hongfa Temple, delivered the keynote speech.

Since the 1950s, India has been using Buddhism to project an image of being a civilization wedded to peace and reconciliation. Its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru chose the Ashoka Chakra as the national symbol and his government celebrated the Buddha Jayanti as an international event in 1956. Many Sri Lankans were invited to attend.

In the 1990s, Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao inaugurated the Look East Policy (LEP). After Narendra Modi became PM, it was re-designated as Act-East Policy (AEP). Though the LEP and AEP were and are essentially trade, investment and connectivity oriented cultural and religious ties have been given equal importance because culture and religion helped facilitate people-to-people relations which are the bedrock of international relations.  

In her comprehensive work entitled Cultural Dimensions of India’s Look-Act East Policy (Palgrave McMillan) Dr.Sarita Dash of Jawaharlal University in New Delhi says that India has been using Buddhism in its relations with Mynamar for decades. India helped restore the Ananda Temple in Bagan. In 2012 the then External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid inaugurated the International Conference on Buddhist Heritage in Yangon.

In March 2014, the ten-day festival of India in Thailand” provided  glimpses of Buddha’s life through eye-catching statuettes, panels, and pictures. The exhibition travelled to Bangkok, after creating waves in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, Sarita Dash recalls.  

Under the Narendra Modi government, ‘Buddhist Connect’ has been made a critical component of the Act East Policy. Modi has made efforts to develop his home town Vadnagar in Gujarat, which is associated with the Buddha, as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre. The New Delhi-based International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) organised the International Buddha Poornima Diwas” with Modi as its main invitee in May 2015. Later in September, the IBC co-organized the international Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative on Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness” conference, with Modi’s participation.  

In 2015, Modi made the first-ever announcement of making Buddha Purnima an official holiday and started presenting an array of symbolic gifts including saplings of the original Bodhi tree in Gaya to East Asian nations. Before him former PM, Manmohan Singh had gifted a Bodhi sapling to the Thai king in 2013 and former President Pranab Mukherjee planted a Bodhi sapling in Hanoi, Vietnam, 2014,” Sarita Dash says.

To attract Buddhist pilgrims from East and Southeast Asia, India is being transformed into a global Buddhist pilgrimage site. A Buddhist Tourist Circuit” has been worked out which covers Lumbini and Kapilavastu in Nepal, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Sravasti, and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, Rajgir, Nalanda, and Vaishali in Bihar. The project is getting international funding. In January 2022, the Indian Railways launched a Buddhist Circuit Tourist train that covers four Buddhist destinations: Lumbini, Kushinagar, Bodhgaya (Gaya), and Sarnath.

Dr. Sarita Dash

India recently opened an international airport in Kushinagar, which can be considered the centre of the Buddhist circuitm says Sarita Dash. As per the Indian government, about 200–300 Buddhist pilgrims from Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, and Myanmar visit Kushinagar on any given day.

There are proposals to promote historic Buddhist sites across 17 Indian states. For example, the Odisha government has taken a keen interest in promoting Dhauli, the site where Emperor Ashoka won the bloody Kalinga war but gave up war and accepted Buddhism in repentance.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI ) renovated the Angkor Vat and Ta Prohm temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia; and the Vat Phou temple in Laos. It is also engaged in the conservation of the My Son group of temples in Vietnam.

India brought down the Buddha’s relics from Kapilavastu to Sri Lanka in 2012 for the general public to venerate them. India has given a US$ 15 million grant to bolster Buddhist connections between India and Sri Lanka.

By dividing the state of Jammu and Kashmir and making Ladakh a Union Territory in 2019, Prime Minister Modi created a Buddhist-majority area. It will not be mistaken to view this move as a plausible boost for Buddhist diplomacy,” Sarita Dash comments.

For the first time, the MEA collaborated with the Gautam Buddha University (GBU) near Delhi to conduct a three-day course for ASEAN countries on India’s Buddhist heritage. The course was entitled: Engaged Buddhism: A joint-way forward for India and ASEAN” and was designed for ASEAN diplomats, civil servants, and academics.

Need For Improvements 

These valiant efforts notwithstanding, there are many shortcomings in the use of Buddhism in foreign policy, Sarita Dash points out.

Infrastructure and services at the Buddhist tourist spots are not world-class at present. The sorry state of services available, especially in Bodh Gaya, calls for better facilities. The undeniable fact is that the people of Bihar are mostly poor hosts to multitudes of Buddhist visitors.Therefore, New Delhi should make serious efforts, jointly with the concerned state governments, not only to develop India as an important Asian centre for Buddhist tourism and studies but also to elevate the quality of life of people in those tourist sites. Unless the latter happens, the former may not be possible to accomplish,” she argues.

Connectivity is there but it should be upgraded through railways, highways, and airways, connecting Buddhist spots from Lumbini on the Indo-Nepal border through Bodhgaya, Bharhut, Amaravati, Shravasti, Sankashaya, Nalanda and Rajgir, Lalitagiri, and Ratnagiri along with Sanchi, Amaravati, Ajanta, Ellora, Kanheri, and Karli, she says.

Further, there is a lack of deeper understanding of Buddhist art, literature and philosophy in Indian universities, she points out. Besides improving Nalanda University, the government ought to elevate the standard of Buddhist Studies in Nava Nalanda Mahavihara in Bihar, in Sanchi University, and other Buddhist teaching and research institutions, Dr.Sarita Dash says.

Operation ‘Yukthiya’: Drugs worth over Rs. 850 mn seized in 14 days

December 31st, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka Police together with the Police Special Task Force (STF) has arrested over 20,000 suspects over drugs-related crimes during the past 14 days of the ‘Yukthiya’ operation, says the Public Security Ministry.

Financial asset investigations have been initiated against 189 suspects and 1,298 individuals have been sent for rehabilitation. Additionally, detention orders were secured against 1,018 suspects, according to the ministry.

In addition, the Illegal Assets and Properties Investigation Division of the police have confiscated assets worth Rs. 558.5 million belonging to notorious criminal figures and drug traffickers.

Meanwhile, the Public Security Ministry also said the total estimated street value of the drugs seized during this period is Rs. 858 million.

The drugs impounded during the special island-wide operations include:

  • 11kg 600g of heroin
  • 08kg 378g of methamphetamine (‘Ice’)
  • 297kg 8g of Cannabis 
  • 2,110,500 Cannabis plants
  • 119kg 600g of ‘Mawa’
  • 35kg 800g of HASH
  • 01kg 70g of Hashish
  • 03kg 700g of ‘Thul’
  • 555g of Kush cannabis 
  • 72,272 narcotic pills

Sri Lanka tells India it will not allow any Chinese research vessel to dock at ports or in EEZ – report

December 31st, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka has informed India that it will not allow any Chinese research vessel to dock at its ports or operate within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for one year, the Hindustan Times reported on Sunday. 

The move comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged President Ranil Wickremesinghe to respect Indian strategic and security concerns. Sri Lanka’s decision means that the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 will not be granted clearance to conduct deep water exploration in the south Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka has informed India that it will not allow any Chinese research vessel to dock at its ports or operate within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for a period of one year, people aware of the matter were quoted as saying in the report.

The move comes close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging President Ranil Wickremesinghe to respect Indian strategic and security concerns during their meeting on July 21, 2023.

The declared moratorium was conveyed to India through apex diplomatic channels last week, the people cited above added.

This means that Chinese scientific research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3, which was scheduled to conduct deep water exploration” in the south Indian Ocean from January 5, 2024 to late May, will not be granted a clearance by Sri Lankan authorities. China has also asked the current pro-Beijing Mohammed Muizzu regime in Maldives to let the 4,600-tonne Xiamen-based vessel conduct a survey off the coast of Male.

The Wickremesinghe government notified the one-year moratorium last week after India and the US red-flagged Colombo entertaining Chinese scientific research vessels and ballistic missile trackers in the Indian Ocean and providing them logistical support, the people said. India had raised objections to Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6 conducting a joint maritime survey with the Sri Lankan maritime agency in October-November, but Colombo allowed the vessel to dock at its seaport after Wickremesinghe visited Beijing for the 10the anniversary of Belt Road Initiative (BRI) on October 17-18. The research vessel reached Colombo on October 25, and crossed the Malacca Straits on December 2. The objections to both Shi Yan 6, which was expected to be back in Sri Lanka around March, and Xiang Yang Hong 3, were conveyed to Wickremesinghe by top Indian diplomatic interlocutors, the people added.

In the past, Chinese research ships, ballistic missile trackers and hydrographic vessels have entered the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and conducted deep surveys of the 90-degree ridge south of the Andamans and Nicobar Islands. For example, Deng Jiaxian, a Shupang-class hydrographic vessel, was deployed in IOR from August 10-24. The ship re-entered IOR through the Sunda Straits on August 28 and exited through the Lombok/Ombai Wetar Straits in early September 2023. On September 11, the same vessel was seen surveying the Philippines Sea.

This year, at least 25 Chinese ships including PLA warships, submarines, ballistic missile trackers and research vessels operated in the IOR, much to the chagrin of India and the US. Since 2019, a total of 48 Chinese scientific research vessels have been deployed in IOR. Their generic area of activity has been near the east and west coastlines of India, and in the deep Indian Ocean.

Source: The Hindustan Times

–Agencies

Merge Sinhala Majority Villages in the East with Nearby Provinces Without Using them as Political Pawns

December 30th, 2023

Dilrook Kannangara

Since 2009 ethnic Sinhalas in the East have been totally neglected. Politicians who entered parliament from the East by exploiting the miseries of ethnic Sinhalas there have since settled comfortably in Colombo. Eastern Sinhalas have become mere political pawns used at elections and dumped thereafter. Their suffering must be maintained in order to win their votes for the SLPP. If they stop suffering, racism cannot be sold to them during election time. This is why they are condemned to suffer by all political parties.

I have suggested a workable, simple and effective solution to resolve their problems for good. However, opportunistic Sinhala politicians who thrive on the tears and blood of helpless Sinhala people in the East do not agree with it.

Merge Sinhala majority villages in the East with Badulla and Polonnaruwa Districts. That fixes all their problems. Of course, some villages cannot be merged with the adjoining provinces due to distance. They need other solutions. However, most Sinhala villages can be merged with adjoining Sinhala majority provinces. Most matters relating to grassroots levels are handled by the Provincial Council. Since the Eastern Provincial council was always under racist political party members, justice and fairness cannot be expected from them.

Sinhalas in the East must not be used to hold the fort”. They cannot. The best way to ensure the actual geographical locations they are in are held is to merge these areas into adjoining Sinhala majority provinces. Losing the Eastern provincial council is not a problem as it is only a demarcation on a map. There is no real demarcation on ground.

Unless this proposed solution is implemented, the actual geographical locations Sinhalas live in the East (irrespective of what province these areas come under) will be lost for good. That will be a grave sin that cannot be repaid for generations by politicians who won Eastern Sinhalas’ votes.

විසඳුම – සාම්පුර්

December 30th, 2023

චානක බණ්ඩාරගේ

ආසියාවේ වැඩිම විදුලි බිල ඇති රට ශ්‍රී ලංකාවද?

ගල් අඟුරු වෙනුවට ජලය, ඩීසල්, සුළං, සොලාර් මඟින් විදුලිය ජනනය කරන්නෙමු යයි කීම අසම්පූර්ණ  කථාවකි.

ලොව කිසිම දියුණු රටක් ජලය, ඩීසල්, සුළං, සොලාර් වලින් පමණක් සිය විදුලිබල සැපයුම සම්පුර්ණ කරගෙන නැත. නව සීලන්තය හැර දියුණු සෑම රටකම ගල් අඟුරු බලාගාර ඇත, නැත්නම් න්‍යෂ්ටික විදුලි බලාගාර ඔවුන් සතුව පවතී.

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ විදුලි බල ප්‍රශ්නයට හොඳම විසඳුම ගල් අඟුරු වලින් ක්‍රියා කරන සාම්පුර් විදුලි බලාගාරය බව ස්ථිරයි (හෝ වෙනත් ස්ථානයක ස්ථාපිත කරන). තවදුරටත් එම ආධාරය ඉන්දියාවෙන් ලැබෙදැයි අවිශ්වාසය.  නමුත්, ශුර නායකයෝ මෙවන් ආධාර ලබාගන්නා හැටි දනිති.

ඒ කෙසේවෙතත් අපේ වියදමින් හෝ කෙසේ හෝ  සාම්පුර් සදා ගනිමු. ඉන්පසු විදුලිය ගැන බියක් නැතිව රට වැසියන්ට ජීවත් වීමට ඉඩ ලැබෙනු ඇත.

ගල් අඟුරු වලින් වැඩ කරන තනි නොරෝච්චාලේන්  පමණක් මෙගා වොට් 900ක්   ජනනය කරනු ලැබේ.  සාම්පුර් ධාරිතාවය මෙගා වොට් 500කි. මෙය මෙගා වොට් 1,000කට පමණවත් වැඩි කිරීමට කටයුතු කල හැක.

’climate change’ (දේශගුණික විපර්යාස) සංකල්පය යටතේ සාම්පුර් සාදනවාට විරුද්ධව යම් යම් ජාත්‍යාන්තර බලපෑම් පැමිණිය හැක.

චීනය සහ ඉන්දියාව තවමත් නව ගල් අඟුරු බලාගාර විශාල ලෙස හදති – දළ වශයෙන් වසරකට නව ගල් අඟුරු බලාගාර 50 – 100 පමණ.  

2023 ඩුබායිහි  පැවතී ගෝලීය climate change සමුළුවේදී ඔවුහු ඒ බව යලි සපථ කළහ. සෙසු ලෝකයා ඔවුනට එදිරිව කථා කලේ නැත. ඒ, ඔවුන් බලවත් සහ ජාත්‍යාන්තරව ඉහළින් සිටින රටවල් නිසාය.

ලෝකයේ සියළු රටවල් – විශේෂයෙන්ම මෑතදී චීනය සහ ඉන්දියාව, දියුණු වුයේ ගල් අඟුරු බලාගාර නිසාය.

නැවතත්, නව ගල් අඟුරු බලාගාරයක් නොමැතිව ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ඉදිරියට යනවා බොරුය.

‘global warming’ යන තර්කය අසමත් වූ  පසු බටහිර රටවල් දැන් එය climate change කියා නම වෙනස් කර සිටිති.

climate change අප රට ඇතුළු ලෝකයට ඇත්තකි. අපිට ඇද හැලෙන දැවැන්ත වර්ෂාවෙන්ම එය විද්‍යමාන වේ. මිට වසර දහයකට පෙර එවැනි දේශගුණික විපර්යාස මෙරට සිදු නොවුණි.

1970/80/90 දශකවල වර්ෂාව නොමැතිව සෑම වසරකම අප තදින්ම බැට කෑවෙමු. මෙම වසරේ (2023) මැද භාගයේදී (අප්‍රේල් – අගෝස්තු), යම් ප්‍රදේශවල තද නියං ඇති විය.

සැමදා මේ ආකාරයට වැස්ස වසී යයි සිතීම අනුවණ කමකි. climate change නිසා දිගු නියං කාළයන් අප රටේ පැමිණිය හැක. දැන් අහස කඩා ගෙන වැස්සත් ඒ වටිනා වැසි ජලය නව වැව් තැනීම වැනි දේ වලින් වියළි කාලයේදී ප්‍රයෝජනයට ගන්නා ක්‍රම ගැන රජයන් උනන්දු නැත. දැන් වසින වැසි ජලය මුහුදටය. ඕස්ත්‍රේලියාව වැනි රටවල සෑම නිවසකම පාහේ විශාල ප්‍රමාණයේ Rain Water Tank එකක් තිබේ.

ලෝකය තුල හුදු ෆොසිල් ෆියුඑල් දහනය නිසා වායුගෝලයේ CO2 ප්‍රතිශතය ඉහල යාමෙන් climate change සිදු වෙනවාය කියා ස්ථිරවම කියන්නේ කෙසේද?

ස්වභාව ධර්මය විසින් කාලගුණ විපර්යාස අවුරුදු මිළියන ගණනක් තිස්සේ සිදු කර ඇත. ඩයිනෝසොරස් මෙලොවින් නැතිවී ගියේ ස්වභාව ධර්මයාගේ මෙවන් ක්‍රියා නිසාය.

මෙවන් කාලගුණ විපර්යාස ඉදිරියටත් සිදු වනු ඇත – දැන් සිදු වෙමින් පවතින climate change ද එවැනි දෙයකි. එය ලෝකයේ පරිනාමයයි.

climate change  වාදීහු දැනට පවතින මේ climate චේන්ජය ගල් අඟුරු, දැවී තෙල් භාවිතය නිසා සිදුවෙනවාය කියා – මේ දේවල් තහනම් කළ යුතු යයි ලෝක මතයක් සාදා ගෙන ඇත. අප වැනි දුප්පත් රටවල් ඒවා භාවිතා කිරීමෙන් ඔවුහු වළකත්.

අප තව එක් ගල් අඟුරු බලාගාරයක් සැදුවා කියා ලෝකයේම ඌෂ්ණත්වය ඉහල යයිද?

climate චේන්ජය  අද මුදල් උපයන ‘මාෆියාවක්’ බවට ද පත්ව ඇත. CNN, BBC, ABC, බටහිර හරිත පක්ෂ climate change සංකල්පය වවා ගෙන කන අයයි. විකල්ප මතයක් ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමට ඔවුහු කිසිම අවස්ථාවක් නොදෙති.

ඔවුන්ගේ සංකල්පය විවේචනය කරන්නන් climate change deniers වශයෙන් ඔවුහු අපහාසයට ලක් කරත්.

සාම්පුර් ගල් අඟුරු බලාගාරය සෑදු පසු සාධාරණ මුදලට, ඕනෑතරම් විදුලි බලය තිබෙන නිසා සීග්‍ර ආර්ථික දියුණුවක් ඇති වනු ඇත. ඉන්දියාවට කෙසේ වෙතත් මාලදිවයිනට හෝ අපට විදුලි බලය විකිනීමට හැකි වෙනු ඇත.

සාම්පුර් වලින් රටේ යම් විදුලි අතිරික්තයක් ඇති වනු ඇත. මේ අතිරික්ත විදුලිය ශ්‍රී ලංකාව දකුණු ආසියාවේ බිට් කොයින් කැනීමේ මධ්‍යස්ථානය බවට පත් කර ගැනීමට යොදවා ගත හැකි වනු ඇත (bitcoin mining). මේ මඟින් ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ධනවත් රටක් බවට පත් කර ගත හැක. කසකස්තානය මේ දේ දැන් වැඩියෙන්ම කරයි.

චීනය, ඉන්දියාව (ශ්‍රී ලංකාව) වැනි රටවල් ගල් අඟුරු බලාගාර නිපදවා ඒ මඟින් විදුලිය ජනනය කර තම රටවල් දියුණු කරනවා දැකීමට බටහිර දියුණු රටවල් (විශේෂයන්ම මහා බ්‍රිතාන්‍යය, යුරෝපය) අකමැතිය. යුරෝපයේ අද ගල් අඟුරු ආකාර හිස්ය. ගල් අඟුරු අවසන් වී ඇති මහා බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයේ නිව් කාසල්, දකුණු වේල්ස් වැනි ප්‍රාන්ත අද රැකියා විරහිත ප්‍රශ්ණයෙන් ඉහලටම පැමිණ ඇත.

ධනවත් රටවල් ඔවුන්ගේ ගල් අඟුරු විදුලි බලාගාර නොවසත්. ඒවා දිගටම පවත්වා ගෙන යත්.

නමුත්, අපට අළුත්  ඒවා ඉදි නොකරන්නැයි ඔවුහු කියති. සිරිසේන ජනාධිපතිතුමා ඒවා ඉදි නොකරන්නමැයි කියා ජාත්‍යන්තරයට සපථ කර මෙරටට පැමිණ ඇත. මෙය සිය ශූර නායකත්ව නොහැකියාව සහ රටට ආදරය නොකරණ බව ප්‍රදර්ශණය කිරීමකි.

බොහෝ ධනවත් රටවල දැන් න්‍යාෂ්ටික  විදුලි බලාගාර ද ඇත. අපට න්‍යෂ්ටික තාක්ෂණය නැත, නොමැති වීම හොඳය. චෙර්නෝබිල්, ෆුකුශිමා වැනි අනතුරක් ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සිදු වුවහොත් – අතපසු වීම් වැඩි අප රටේ මෙවැන්නක් පහසුවෙන් සිදු විය හැක – රටේ මුළු ජනගහනයම වාගේ මිය යා හැක.

බටහිර යුරෝපා, ඇමරිකාව වැනි රටවලට දැන් අපට විකිණීමට ගල් අඟුරු නැති නිසා  ඔවුන් විසින් නිපදවන අධි වියදම් වූ  සුළං මාපක, සොලාර් පැනල්, විදුලි, න්‍යාෂ්ටික බලාගාර, විදුලි ජෙනරේටර් ආදිය ගන්න යයි ඔවුහු අපට කියති.  ඉන්දියාවද මේ දේම අපට කරයි – ඒ වෙනුවෙන් අදානිව මෙහි එවයි; නමුත් ඉන්දියාව නව ගල් අඟුරු බලාගාර දිගටම ඉදි කරයි.

අද මන්නාරමේ වටිනා ඉඩම් අක්කර සිය ගණනක් සුළං මාපක ව්‍යාපෘති උදෙසා යට කොට ඇත. මේවයින් උත්පාදනය කරන්නේ සොච්චම් විදුලි බලයකි.

ලෝක ඌෂ්ණත්වය ඉහල යන්නේ ගල් අඟුරු දහනය නිසා පමණක් නොවේ. තෙල්/ගෑස් දහනය, කැලෑ කැපීම නිසා ලොව ඌෂ්ණත්වය ඉහල යනු ලැබේ. තවත් බොහෝ හේතු සාධක ඇත.

2023 ඩුබායි සමුළුවෙන් පසුත් ඇමරිකාව, කැනඩාව, මහා බ්‍රිතාන්‍යය මහා පරිමාණයෙන් තම තෙල් ගවේෂක කටයුතු – ගොඩබිම සහ මුහුදේ සිදු කරනු ඇත. ඒවා වැඩි සීග්‍රත්වයෙන් කරනු ඇත. රුසියාව, නෝර්වේ වැනි රටවල් ආර්ටික් කළාපයේ මුහුදු පත්ලද හාරා තෙල්, ගෑස් තව තවත්  එලියට ගනිති. ඉදිරියටත් ගනු ඇත. සෞදි ආරාබියාව, කුවේට්, ඕමාන්, එක්සත් අරාබි එමීර් වැනි රටවල් බොර තෙල් නිපදිවීම නතර කරන්නේ හෝ අඩු කරන්නේ නැත. අන්තිම තෙල් බිංදුව දක්වා ඔවුන් භුමිය හාරනු ඇත. චීනය, ඇමරිකාව, ඕස්ත්‍රේලියාව තවදුරටත් ගල් අඟුරු නිපදවනු ඇත, විකුණනු ඇත. ඕස්ත්‍රේලියාව  අද ඉතා විශිෂ්ට ගනයේ clean coal නිපදවයි. බ්‍රසීලය සහ ඉන්දුනිසියාව අඩු මිලට ගල් අඟුරු විකුණන රටවල් වේ.

ඩුබායි සමුළුවෙහි වුනු පොරොන්දු රටවල් විසින් මීළඟට එන 2024, 2025, 2026 සමුළු වලදී නැවතත් ශපත  කරනු ඇත. නමුත් ඒවා ක්‍රියාවට නැංවීම ඉතාම අල්පය. එය මේ සමුළුවල ඉතිහාසයයි. ශූර නායකයෝ මේ බව දනිත්.

සමුළු වලට සහභාගී වෙමින්, ජාතින් අතර සුහදතාවය වර්ධනය කරමින් අප අපේ ගමන යමු.

දුප්පත් කමින් අඩියේම සිටින අප (දැන් බංකොලොත්) ලෝක ඌෂ්ණත්වය වැඩි වීම නතර කිරීම වෙනුවෙන්ය කියා ගල් අඟුරු මුළුමනින්ම ප්‍රතික්ෂේප කිරීම මෝඩ දෙයකි. ජාත්‍යන්තරයට ගොස් එවැනි දෙයකට ප්‍රසිද්ධියේ සපථ වන්නේ මෝඩ නායකයෝය.  

ජාත්‍යාන්තරය සතුටු කිරීම නොව රට දියුණු කිරීම අප නායකයන් විසින් කළ යුතුවේ.

අපේ නායකයෝද ශී ජින් පිං, මෝඩි වැන්නන් මෙන් කටයුතු කල යුතුය

ලොව බොහෝ රටවල් නව ගල් අඟුරු විදුලි බලාගාර අදත් තනයි.

සුළං මාපක සහ සෝලර් පැනල් මඟින් අපේ අනාගත විදුලි බල ශක්තිය නිපදවා ගනිමු යයි වැනි කැප වීමක් ලෝකයා හමුවේ  අප කිරීමෙන් පලයක් නැත. නැවතත්, දරිද්‍රතාවයට පහතටම අප දැන් වැටී ඇත. ධනවත් රටවල් කරන දේ අපට කළ නොහැක.

ත්‍රී වීලය යනු දුප්පතාගේ වාහනය නම්, ගල් අඟුරු යනු දුප්පතාගේ විදුලි ප්‍රශ්ණයට හොඳම විසඳුමයි.  ඉදින්, අප එයින් බැහැර වන්නේ කීම?

මුළු ශ්‍රී ලංකාවටම අද ඇත්තේ සුළං මාපක විදුලි බලාගාර 16කි. ඒ සියල්ලෙන්ම නිපදවුණු ලබන්නේ මෙගා වොට් 230ක් පමණ වූ සුළු විදුලි බලයකි. මේ බලාගාරවල වාර්ෂික නඩත්තු වියදම වැඩිය. මේවා සුළඟේ වේගය බිදින නිසා වායු ඌෂ්ණත්වය වැඩිවී වාතයේ කාර්බන් ඩයොක්සයිඩ් (CO2) ප්‍රතිශතය ඉහල නංවයි. ‘green house’ ගෑස් නිපදවනවාට අමතරව බොහෝ සුළං බලාගාර අධික ශබ්ධයක් විහිදුවයි. සුළං බලාගාර ඉදිකිරීමට ඉතා විශාල භුමි ප්‍රමාණයක් වැයවේ. ඒවා උස් භුමි ද විය යුතුය. හොඳින් සුළං ලැබෙන ප්‍රදේශ විය යුතුයි.

සොලාර් පවර් බලාගාරවල තත්ත්වයද එසේමය. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ දැනට තිබෙන සොලාර් පවර් ෆාර්ම් 5න් නිපදවන්නේ මෙගා වොට් 143ක පමණ ඉතා සුළු විදුලි බලයකි. මෙවාට විදුලි බලය නිපදවන්න හැකි වන්නේ සූර්යයාගෙන් එන ඍජු හිරු එළියෙන් පමණය. දැන් වර්ෂාව වැඩි නිසා ඍජු හිරු එලිය ඉතා අඩුය. සොලාර් ෆාර්ම් ඉදිකිරීමේ වියදම් ඉතා අධිකය. සවි කරන්නන්ට විශේෂඥ දැනුමක්  තිබීම ඉතා අවශ්‍යයි. සොලාර් පැනල් පිටරටින් ගෙන්විය යුතුය, ඒවා ඉතා  මිල අධිකය. හිරු එලිය අඩු/නැති දිනවල මේවා විදුලිය උත්පාදනය කිරීමට විදුලි බලය අවශ්‍යවේ.

සුළං සහ සොලාර් කුඩා ව්‍යාපෘති වශයෙන් යම් ප්‍රදේශවලට විදුලිය උත්පාදනය කිරීමට යොදා ගත්තාට කමක් නැත. සොලාර් පැනල් හොඳින් හිරු එළිය පතිතවන ප්‍රදේශවල නිවෙස් ඒකක ආලෝකමත් කිරීමට කදිමයි.  නමුත් මුළු රටක, අති විශාල වූ විදුලි බල ඉල්ලුම ඒවාට සැපයිය නොහැක.

ජල විදුලිබලාගාර අසාර්ථක බව මුළු ලොවම දැන් පිළිගෙන ඇත. කළින් කීවාක් මෙන්, මෑතක සිට අධික වර්ෂාවක් ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට පතිත වේ. මෙය ජල විදුලි උත්පාදනයට මහත් වාසියකි. නමුත් කවදා නියඟයක් පැමිනෙන්නේදැයි කිසිවෙකුටත් කිව නොහැක. ඉදිරි කාල වලදී අනිවාර්යයෙන්ම නියං සමයන් පැමිණෙනු ඇත. අනික, ජල විදුලි බලාගාරවලින් උත්පාදනය කල හැක්කේ සොච්චම් විදුලි බලයකි.  

බිලියන ගණනින් වියදම් කර මහවැලියෙන් දැවැන්ත ජල විදුලි බලාගාර 8ක් තනුවෙමු – වික්ටෝරියා, කොත්මලේ, ඉහල කොත්මලේ, රන්දෙනිගල, උමා ඔය, රන්ටැඹේ,   බෝවතැන්න, මොරගහකන්ද, නිලාඹේ  ඒවා වේ. ඒ සියල්ලෙන්ම ජනනය කරන්නේ මෙගා වොට් 957ක විදුලි බලයකි (තනි නොරෝච්චෝලේ ධාරිතාව).

මහවැලි ජල විදුලියෙන් අප රටට පමණක් නොව ඉන්දියාවටද විදුලි බලය විකුණන බවට එදා පාලකයෝ වහසි බස් දෙඩූහ. මහවැලියෙන් සිදුවූ ඉඩම් විනාශය, පරිසර හානිය කියා නිම කල නොහැක. මහවැලියෙන් එළි කරන ලද කැලෑ භුමි ප්‍රමාණය හෙක්ටයාර 256,000ක් පමණ වේ. මෑතකදී නිම කරන ලද මොරගහකන්ද නිසා සමහරවිට ඊටත් වැඩි විය හැක. අලි- මිනිස් ගැටුම ස්ථිර ප්‍රශ්නයක් බවට පත් කලේ  මහවැලියයයි.  මහවැලිය නිසා ආදීවාසීහු ආගිය අතක් නැති වුහ.  ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ දේශපාලනයේ  මහා පරිමාණ මුදල් වංචා කිරීම, කොමිස් ගැහිලි, පටන් ගැනුනේ මහවැලියෙනි.

මහවැලි හැර සෙසු ජල විදුලි බලාගාර වලින්ද නිපදවන්නේ කුඩා මෙගා වොට් විදුලි බලයකි – සමනල (124), කැනියන් (100), කුකුලේ ගඟ (80), ලක්ෂපාණ (75), මස්කෙළිය (60), කාසල්රි (50), නොර්ටන් (50).

ජල විදුලිබලාගාර එම ජල මුලාශ්‍රවල සිටින සතුන්ට ඉතා අහිතකරය. ජල විදුලි බලාගාර නිසා අවට ජලයේ ඔක්සිජන් ප්‍රමාණය අඩුවේ. මේ නිසා ජල  ජීවින් එම ජලයෙන් අතුරුදහන් වී යයි. ජල මුලාශ්‍ර මැදින් යොදන කොන්ක්‍රීට් ඇනිකට් වැනි බාධක නිසා මාළුන්ට වතුරේ නිදහසේ පීනා යා නොහැක. විශේෂයෙන්ම ඔවුන්ගේ අභිජනන කටයුතු වලට බාධා සිදුවේ.  පොල්ගොල්ල, වික්ටෝරියා සෑදීමට පෙර කටුගස්තොට, පේරාදෙණිය, ලේවැල්ල, නත්තරම්පොත, තෙල්දෙණිය වැනි ප්‍රදේශවල මහවැලි ගඟේ ජල මට්ටම සෑම විටම ඉහලටම පිරී තිබුන බවත්, මෝරුන් තරම් ලොකු මත්ස්‍යයන් සිටි බවත් පැරැන්නෝ පවසත්. අද තැන්නේකුඹුර පැත්තේ මහවැලි ගඟේ වතුර නොමැතිව ගල් තට්ටු පෑදී ඇත.

අද පෞද්ගලික ජල විදුලි බලාගාර බොහෝමයක අයිතිකරුවන් දේශපාලනඥයන් සහ විදුලි බල මණ්ඩලයේ උසස් නිලධාරීන් යයි කියත්.

ජල විදුලි බලාගාරයක් තනනවා කියා කැළණි ගඟේ කිතුල්ගල ‘white water rafting’ ජල ක්‍රීඩාව නවතන තැනට කටයුතු සිදු කෙරිණ. මෙම ජල ක්‍රීඩාව සඳහා ලෝකයේ ඇති හොඳම ස්ථානයකි මෙය.

ඉහත සඳහන් ජල විදුලි බලාගාරවලට අමතවර අපට තාප විදුලිබල මධ්‍යස්‌ථාන කිහිපයක් තිබේ. මේවායින් ප්‍රාමාණික විදුලි බලයක් ජනනය කරගන්නෙමු. කැළණිතිස්ස (මෙගා වොට් 360), නව කැළණි තිස්ස (මෙගා වොට් 172) ඒවායින් ප්‍රධානය. නමුත් ඒවාට අවශ්‍ය ඉන්ධන (ඩීසල්) සහ ගෑස් වෙනුවෙන් අප වියදම් කරන්නේ ඉතාම අධික මුදලකි.

මෙගා වොට් 300ක් ජනිත කරන කෙරවළපිටිය ස්වභාවික ද්‍රව වායු බලාගාරය ඉතා හොඳය. ද්‍රව වායු ගල් අඟුරු වලට වඩා ඉතා මිළ අධිකය.

නිෂ්පල ලෙස දීර්ඝ කරන ලද අධිවේග වලට මුදල් වියදම් කරනවාට වඩා කලයුතු ව තිබුනේ සාම්පුර් වැනි අත්‍යාවශ්‍ය දේ සෑදීමයි.

ද්‍රනේජ් (drainage) මළාපවාහණ පද්ධති

තවත් අත්‍යාවශ්‍යම  දෙයක් වනුයේ මහ නගරවල (නුවර, අනුරාධපුරය, මීගමුව, ගාල්ල, මාතර, කුරුණෑගල, මඩකලපුව, පුත්තලම වැනි) ද්‍රනේජ් (drainage) මළාපවාහණ පද්ධති ඉදි කිරීමයි. මේ පහසුකම අද ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ තිබෙන්නේ කොළඹ සහ යාපනය මහ නගර සභා ප්‍රදේශවල පමණි. එදා, සුද්දා විසින් ඒවා ස්ථාපනය කර ගිය හෙයිනි.

ද්‍රනේජ් පද්ධති ඇතිවිට නළ මඟින් මළාපවාහන කෙලින්ම ගැඹුරු මුහුදට බැහැරවේ. නව තාක්ෂනය අනුව  බොහෝ විට මේ අපද්‍රව්‍ය ප්‍රතිචක්‍රීකරණය කර ඒවායින් බල ශක්තිය (විදුලි බලය) නිපදවනු ලැබේ.

එවිට, නිවෙස්වල වැසිකිලි වලවල් කැපීම අනවශ්‍යවේ. මළාපවාහන නිවසේ ඉඩමේ පොලව යට එකතු කර තබා ගැනීම නගරබද/ගම්බද සෞඛ්‍ය සම්පන්න ජීවිතයකට අහිතකරය. වැඩි වර්ෂාව ඇති විට මේ වැසිකිලි වලවල් ඉතා ඉක්මනින් පිරී අපද්‍රව්‍ය මතුපිටට පැමිණේ; මේවා පෑගීමෙන්, ස්පර්ශ කිරීමෙන් බොහෝ රෝගාබාධ ඇතිවේ/පැතිරේ.

බොහෝ දියුණු රටවල ප්‍රධාන නගරවල ද්‍රනේජ් ක්‍රමය ක්‍රියාත්මක වේ. 

WAR ON CRIME, DRUGS AND THE UNDERWORLD

December 30th, 2023

Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel (LLM International Law (UCL)), former Ambassador to UAE and Israel, President of the Lanka Ambassador’s Forum – United Kingdom, Former Chairman of The Consumer Affairs Authority, Solicitor in England and Wales.

War on drugs and organized crime
The war on drugs has recommenced once again. On previous occasions, successive leaders of the country started campaigns on drugs, bribery, corruption, and more, including the underworld. However, these efforts have been short-lived with no long-term results. We wish and hope that the same fate will not be the end result of this attempt; however, only a few will disagree. Those against the move would include drug dealers, the underworld, bribe-takers, godfathers of the underworld, and politicos who protect them.
What prompted the Minister and acting IGP to take these drastic steps suddenly is not our concern. It is a good deed that should have been started long ago, as the cancer has set into the entire body, possibly via body politics. It continues freely with blessings from organized wrongdoers in the backseat. How long this would continue is uncertain, as this is not the first occasion such public shows have started on previous occasions. The line minister and the acting IGP have enemies and many issues following them from courts, civil society, and media, which is normal when such a campaign is carried out. Whatever the reason may be, the right-thinking citizen approves whoever takes such steps.
There was a news clip in the media of people on the road requesting Hon. Sagala Ratnayaka as well as the line minister, Hon. Tiran Alles, and the acting IGP not to stop the campaign against the underworld and drug dealers in white collars or white clothes of politicos common man has identified as the godfathers mostly benefited, who are still in hiding. All peaceful and peace-loving citizens are on pins, fearing for their lives and property, with no relief and no hopes in sight. Uncertainties are affecting the life of the citizen, the image of the country, and the economy, already in the lowest ebb with inflation and the rising cost uncontrolled due to weak governance.
Common men or neighbors fear to complain about the culprits out of fear of death, as they show no mercy to informants, and the punishment is quick and severe—certain death and massacre of the family with no hesitation, as human value is so cheap. It is as easy as a contract killing promptly executed by drug addicts pleading for more drugs.
Despite the intentions of the initiative, the project (“Yukthiya”) program justice has given some relief and hope to the citizens in fear of underworld infighting, drug peddling, ransom in all scales, daylight robbery, and killings on the road, victimizing the young and old equally. We are not alone, as many countries go through the same or similar fate in different ways and degrees on various levels. The Philippines is a country that suffers from the same fate, and President Rodrigo Duterte took tough and drastic steps to fight against drugs and crime directly connected to law and order. This has shattered the peace and peaceful living of the citizens, followed by criticism worldwide, yet no solutions are given or proposed.
The USA, Nigeria, many Latin American and Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and others, go through the same fate, helpless with no solution in sight. The fight against it is not local; it involves a powerful worldwide network with shipping airlines and worldwide organized crime groups and lords. The menace has spread and rooted far and wide with serious consequences in all corners of society, as citizens have now felt through experience that has reached their doorstep.
No one is safe at home or on the road due to theft and robbery committed by criminals, mostly drug addicts seeking drugs. Murders of innocent civilians are frequently reported in the media, often with a note indicating that a drug addict is responsible for the crime, which has become a common feature. Killings occur regularly in broad daylight on the roads, many of which remain untraced and
unresolved. Yet, detailed investigations reveal that drug addiction is often a root cause at a certain stage of the crime.
Among hundreds of tragic stories, one notable case involved an 11-year-old student who stole money from the class teacher to purchase the drug Ice. The police questioned the student until the person who introduced the student to addiction as part of his business was traced, leading to a thorough investigation. These incidents are occurring near schools, targeting long-term soft targets, highlighting the gravity of the dangers faced by society.
Crime, the underworld, and the drug trade are interconnected, demonstrating an elegance and connection to each other. All these activities involve networks and organizations, generally linked to each other in some form or another. The drug trade and the underworld are criminal activities with local and international networks connected to each other, involving substantial sums of money. All these networks are equally powerful.
The drug trade is an internationally powerful enterprise with drug-producing countries and a network of distribution via air, sea, land, and various other means, including links to human smuggling and the transmission of parcels and posts through modern IT developments. Drug lords often find safe havens with the enormous sums accumulated from drug sales, notably in Dubai, where investments of black money and living illegally are possible. Some operate from Dubai, India, and the West due to the inefficiency of Sri Lankan governance and officers, as well as gaps in the legal system, making the governance incompetent or unwilling to introduce and implement necessary measures.
Power and Links Worldwide
The drug trade is a powerful global phenomenon, especially in certain countries and regions where governments seem helplessly resigned to the situation. In Sri Lanka, we presume that the issue has escalated to a point requiring hard, honest, and definitive steps to curb or, at the very least, minimize the spread of this virus. The civil society is of the view that it may already be too late for the fight against drugs, which is directly connected to bribery and corruption, always backed by corrupt politicians without whom the drug trade would not survive.
The news on the fight against drugs is both worrying and horrifying, considering the scale of drugs and properties involved. This is obviously only a small fraction of the
sums possibly collected and continuously received through sea, air, and various other channels, with the leaders remaining elusive and showing no signs or clues of their whereabouts. Certainly, this illegal trade cannot flourish without the direct and indirect involvement of political godfathers playing a safe game with enormous sums in the system, of which only a minute fraction has been uncovered.
Despite the organized suppression initiated by the minister in charge and the acting IGP, the surge in killings, drug trade, and underworld activities continues unabated. Media and social media often report killings on the road by rival groups and the flourishing drug trade, indicating the internalization of the underworld with full cooperation and support from the drug and underworld lords, directly or indirectly through various means. Enormous sums illegally accumulated are showcased in the media, such as the recent finding of 3000 million in property and funds within a span of six days.
Drug and Underworld Lords, Corrupt Politicians, and Government Servants, and Security Forces
These groups, individually and collectively, are responsible for the misery and the plight of the unsafe, uncertain, and pathetic situation endured by citizens in their day-to-day lives. There are no signs of a promising future or a secure future for the country and the children whom they love dearly. The machinery employed in the fight against drugs and crime, allegedly involving corrupt politicians, security forces, and government servants known to be corrupt and inefficient, is a sad but true story that needs improvement and reform.
According to the Minister of Justice, 45% of the confiscated drugs are alleged to be converted into flour while in police custody. This revelation is both worrying and surprising. Additionally, 40,000 samples are awaiting orders for destruction, which may also possibly be turned into flour sooner or later, indicating the extensive reach and prevalence of the issue. This is a classic example of corruption and an inefficient mechanism through which the eradication process should be implemented.
The security forces fall under departments headed by politicians, forming part of the most inefficient government servants—a frustrated and dissatisfied group led by
corrupt politicians, indicating the magnitude of the struggle for justice and “Yukthiya.”
International Network on Air, Sea, Land, Cyber, and Others
The international network dedicated to various types of drugs is strong and organized, representing one of the most lucrative trades led by superpowers. It extends to many other crimes, such as human trafficking, gold and counter-smuggling, trade dealings, and modern high-tech practices like easy cash, commonly used by drug peddlers and ransom-takers. The international network of Sri Lankan governance appears to be weaker than the drug network, akin to the case of the LTTE network being stronger than the UN’s anti-terror campaign.
Detections at airports in various ways serve as proof of the large-scale illegal import of drugs, with culprits varying their strategies by exploiting the power of bribery and corruption, as seen in other parts of the world where the international network is actively operating. Illicit drug trade via the sea is facilitated in an island nation like Sri Lanka, where fishing is a major trade and proximity to India provides opportunities for communication with other sailors. The substantial bribery and corruption in the drug trade are capable of influencing the crews of ships and boats with large sums.
Despite media publicity on combating the drug trade and the underworld, there seems to be a lull in the rate of killings and illicit drug trade. However, it is uncertain how long this stability will last, given the existence of a worldwide network with over 30 culprits stationed in Dubai, India, and many other countries, actively collaborating with the local network. This extends to remand prisons, where easy cash and various other means are employed. It is high time to dismantle both the local and international networks with the assistance of states, international organizations, and like-minded citizens worldwide. Every citizen must be active and vigilant in the fight against drugs and the underworld.
While recent efforts have resulted in a temporary decline in the rate of killings and illicit drug trade, the sustainability of this progress remains uncertain. The presence of a well-established global network, with key players stationed in various countries, continues to exert influence locally, even within the confines of remand prisons.

A world at crossroads: Seeking peace in times of turmoil

December 30th, 2023

by A. Abdul Aziz

As the world immerses itself in festive celebrations, a stark and harrowing contrast unfolds in the Holy Land. Here, there are no holidays, no family gatherings, only the relentless reality of conflict — a new year dawning much like the last. This scene of strife is not isolated; as we witness the turmoil in Ukraine, where the echoes of war reverberate, and the protracted suffering in Yemen, it becomes clear that the shadows of conflict are cast wide across our world.

While the West bedecks its streets with lights and nativity scenes, reimagining the ancient town of Bethlehem, the true Bethlehem endures a far different story. It is a narrative not of joy but of survival amidst unyielding strife. The shadow of the Israel-Hamas conflict looms large, with peace remaining an elusive hope.

In these trying times, the words of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head (Khalifa) of the World wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam ring with profound resonance. He has solemnly warned time and again that the emerging political and economic landscape is pulling us towards another World War, underscoring the urgent need for nations to recognise their Creator and fulfil His rights and the rights of His creation to avert such a calamity. 

More recently, in his Friday sermon of 15 December, he urged Ahmadi Muslims: 

Continue to pray for the Palestinians. The extent of the oppression they are facing is reaching new heights, and it is, in fact, increasing day by day. May Allah Almighty create the means to seize the oppressors and bring relief to the oppressed Palestinians. May Allah Almighty also grant wisdom and understanding to the Muslim countries, so that their voices may unite and they strive to fulfil the rights of their Muslim brethren.” [Amin.]

Then again, in his Friday sermon on 22 December 2023, he said:

As I have been urging prayers for the Palestinians, pray that Allah the Almighty grants the world the ability to take genuine practical steps against oppression. Some voices have started to rise, and people are acknowledging and saying, ‘”This is indeed oppression.’ However, it seems that everyone is intimidated by the Israeli government or perhaps the Western world is inherently opposed to Muslims. Due to this hatred, they wish that the oppression of Muslims does not end, or perhaps the efforts that should be made are not being made in the right manner. They fail to see the innocent children, the oppressed women, and the elderly who are suffering under this tyranny. We cannot place much trust in them, but we should continue our efforts, keep advising them, and persist in our prayers.”

Thus, Ahmadiyya khalifa continues to advocate for Muslim nations to unite and amplify their voice against the Israeli government’s oppression. This path to unity is complex yet crucial, mirroring the struggles in other regions worldwide, where internal and external conflicts, from the Caucasus to the Horn of Africa, from the Great Lakes of Africa to the streets of Haiti, challenge communities and nations alike. A concerted effort from Muslim countries on the global stage could markedly shift the discourse towards justice and peace, in line with Islamic teachings.

In these tumultuous times, Ahmadiyya Head’s continuous guidance serves as a vital beacon for us Ahmadi Muslims, emphasising the necessity of steadfast prayer and a strong commitment to justice, not only for the Palestinians enduring oppression but for all those suffering under the shadow of conflict worldwide. His words are also an impetus for active engagement in raising awareness about the plight in the Holy Land and beyond. Hence, as Ahmadi Muslims, it is our responsibility to continue our fervent prayers as well as educate others through dialogue and outreach.

As the festive season ensnares many in the allure of consumerism, our focus as Ahmadi Muslims turns towards a more reflective path, especially as the New Year approaches. We are on the cusp of a familiar and cherished tradition in our Community (Jama’at), the congregational tahajjud  (a prayer after night prayer till pre-dawn prayer) observed on New Year’s morning across the Ahmadiyya Mosques the world over. As we enter the New Year, amidst these reflections, our hearts also turn towards the Annual Convention  (Jalsa Salana Qadian 2023), a spiritual gathering echoing the same message of peace, unity, and devotion. Let this congregational prayer and our participation in events like Qadian Convention (Jalsa Salana) fortify our resolve to not only raise awareness about the challenges in the Holy Land but also to actively contribute towards creating a world where the names of Allah and His Holy Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) reign supreme in every heart and where justice and tranquillity are not mere aspirations but tangible realities for all.

Source: Al Hakam – London.

Health Min. calls for report on patient’s death due to apparent ‘carbon dioxide’ administration

December 30th, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana

Minister of Health Ramesh Pathirana has called for a report from the Director of the Colombo National Hospital on the death of a patient, which is linked to the ostensible administration of high levels of carbon dioxide.

Recently, reports were rife that a patient under medical care at the Colombo National Hospital was mistakenly administered carbon dioxide instead of oxygen, leading to his death.

ඔක්සිජන් වෙනුවට කාබන්ඩයොක්සයිඩ් ? රෝගී කාන්තාව ට මරු කැඳවූ ජාතික රෝහලේ සිදුවූ වැරදීම ?

Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals cross 200,000 in December; highest monthly figure in 4 years

December 30th, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka has seen more than 200,000 tourist arrivals in the month of December alone, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said in a post on the social media platform X.

He noted that this is the highest number of monthly tourist arrivals the country has recorded over the past four years.

Figures in the weekly summary report published earlier by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) mentioned that 1,476,951 tourists have visited the island between December 01 and 28.

As such, the total number of tourist arrivals Sri Lanka has registered between January 01 and December 28 currently stands close to 1.5 million, at 1,466,556.

The Tourism Minister said the original target the government had set in January was to reach 1.5 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2023.

Sri Lanka saw only 719,978 tourist arrivals in the year 2022.

No government can deviate from current IMF path: CB Governor

December 30th, 2023

By Nishel Fernando Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Dec 30 (Daily Mirror) – Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday any government could renegotiate the programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but it would be required to follow the path chosen currently to get international support.

Addressing a press conference, he said if the chosen path is broken, no support will be forthcoming internationally.

The IMF programme began on September 1, last year. After disbursing the first tranche, it’s again negotiated what our commitments are before disbursing the next tranche. So, it will be a continuous process of renegotiation to change policies in a timely manner, whatever the government is in power for the next four years. There are no restrictions for that. But, the key element is we need to move forward with the programme in order to obtain international support,” he said.

He said the foreign governments and other commercial entities are extending the debt relief only on the understanding that this programme is moving forward.

We need to go in this direction, during this period of 10 years of debt restructuring. If that changes, they can also change their decision on the debt relief. So if this is broken, they can say we don’t support this any more. We will have to repay $6 billion per year in debt repayments,” he said.

His remarks came in the wake of certain political leaders, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa vowing to renegotiate the IMF agreement in case they get back to power.

යුක්ති දැලට පැටලුණු අවුරුදු 23නේ කෙළි පොඩ්ඩ 

December 30th, 2023

උපුටාගැණීම අද දෙරණ

SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES -THE BACKBONE OF A NATION

December 29th, 2023

Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel (LLM International Law (UCL)), and Harini Premaratne LLB of West End Law Centre, Hulftsdorp, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Necessity for Any Nation, Regardless of Magnitude and Size
Small and medium enterprises are a necessity for any nation, developed or developing, serving as the cradle of economic activity in motion. Economic activity is managed by private and state sectors, with the private sector generally being the engine of any economy across most sectors. It plays a crucial part in the development and prosperity of the country, contributing to the global economic movement and serving as an incubator for upcoming emerging economies. SMEs are enterprises managed by small or big entrepreneurs or groups in various sectors, generally starting as village-based but later emerging as leading entrepreneurs. The definition is more complicated and comprehensive, depending on the country, size, the nature of enterprise investment capacity, and the number engaged.
The success of SMEs is proof of the necessity and usefulness of the economy, especially in emerging economies with an educated and enterprising labor force, such as Sri Lanka, which has internationally proven its capabilities by employing 10% of its population overseas, indeed a great achievement. SMEs play a pivotal role, constituting 75% of businesses and contributing to 52% of the GDP, with a significant presence in the employment sector in SME establishments. In the USA, 40% of GDP comes from SMEs.
Definitions and Guidelines
Each country and institution provide varied interpretations and guidelines for defining SMEs, yet the principle of the concept and applicability may be similar. This ranges from a village agricultural enterprise, a dental practice, a small bar, to a huge setup like Hayley’s and leading banks that started as small enterprises, such as George Steuart’s business in the 1800s, now a leading business leader in Sri Lanka.
The role of SMEs is varied and versatile, with the potential to be converted into large firms of innovative enterprise, initially with few employees and small capital but with a large vision. The role of human capital is crucial so that initial losses and difficulties can be absorbed, playing a vital role in any economy at any given time. The Export Development Board (EDB) requires SMEs to have a capital of 4 million and 50 employees, a very moderate, loose, and flexible requirement. The World Bank suggests the number of employees to be 49, and some banks expect fewer than 300 employees, which is reasonable and affordable for any SME engaged in innovations and productions in specific areas, promoting production, development, and the economy of a nation, contributing to the GDP.
SMEs are easy to initiate and manage, flexible with fewer complications and a limited staff aiming for achievements primarily based on human capital, as seen in SMEs in Israel, which can be used as a model to be studied and an example to be followed as successful ventures. Israel had 625,267 businesses, with 97.5% being with 60,000 created each year, as sole partnerships converted to limited enterprises with the help of the state, ever prepared to assist and promote.
Israel as a Role Model
Israel has direct links with the USA for exposure, especially in innovations and the hi-tech sector. The new innovators in Israel are generally backed by ‘ISMEA,’ the SME authority in Israel, showcasing the state’s active and supportive role toward innovators and entrepreneurs. Despite ongoing wars with neighbors, Israel continues to progress with developments and innovations, considering them essential for safety, protection, and overall development. With no natural resources, the country relies on scientifically based innovative human resources, transforming a barren land into a leader in agriculture and innovations. Israel guides world powers on technology, applying 95% technology in agriculture and utilizing ‘Kibutths’ (communes adopted by Israel since its creation in 1948 through dedication, innovations, and visions by visionary leaders) as incubators and mini SMEs.
SMEs are employed by nearly every nation in the development of their economies, serving as a medium and cradle for the development process led by innovators and entrepreneurs with a vision for both business and the nation. Indonesia boasts 295,270 SMEs per 1,000, spread countrywide, contributing to developments across various sectors as an emerging economy that utilizes SMEs as a vehicle. In Australia, 47 million enterprises exist, with 98% of businesses in the hands of SMEs during their initial stages. Meanwhile, 40% of the GDP in the USA is attributed to well-organized SMEs backed by the state. Across Asia, 90% of businesses are products of SMEs, contributing to the region’s economic growth and flourishing economy in the journey of the tiger.
Developments in Other countries
This is common in the EU, with 99.8% of businesses being SMEs, and many other countries exhibit a similar trend. London alone boasts one million SMEs, while Northern Ireland has around 121,800. Asia collectively has 71 million, and the UK has 5.6 million SMEs, contributing to the 90% worldwide businesses that fall under the SME category of 400 million worldwide. This indicates the widespread integration and utilization of the SME concept across the globe.
The critical question lies in whether and to what extent Sri Lanka is capitalizing on this successful opportunity for its benefit. Are there innovative and productive ways to apply this concept for the nation’s success? Sri Lanka can learn valuable lessons from countries like Thailand and Vietnam, where SMEs act as a vehicle for breaking cultural barriers and village backwardness, fostering entrepreneurship throughout the country. Collaboration with media, educational institutions, government outlets, chambers of commerce, and other groups is essential, all aiming at common goals for development and prosperity.
Way Forward
It’s time for Sri Lanka to emulate the achievements of other nations by leveraging the concept and application of SMEs for societal benefit. This involves fostering innovations, hard work, vision, and strategies based on a network of easily set up and maintainable SMEs. These businesses prove productive with a small capital, a limited number of employees, and less complicated infrastructure, thanks to their flexible mechanisms. State supervision, guidance, and organization can create a network linking to the worldwide SME network, enhancing the current structure to be more comprehensive and workable with aims and strategies developed by both state and private establishments.
However, SMEs face financial difficulties of a volatile and uncertain nature, particularly in unexpected circumstances on the financial and economic front. The issue of “Perata Executions” – the execution of the recovery process without going to court based on agreements entered into with establishments – has raised concerns. The recent judgment on a shortcut to loan recovery has resulted in the loss of existence for 1,188 SMEs, while 89% of micro and small SMEs are victimized in the recovery process under the Banking Act No. 430 of 1988 and the Recovery Loans Act No. 4 of 1990 to 1900 special provisions in force.
It’s crucial to note that 1.3 million SMEs, employing 2.2 million employees and contributing 50% to the GDP, need improvement in organization and protection for the sake of economic progress. The 1,200 “parate executions” have dealt a blow to SMEs in the recovery process from Covid-19 and the financial crisis. It is timely for the state to formulate a new vision, strategy, and plan of action for the urgent promotion of this concept as an essential need.
There should be a concerted effort by all state and private sectors, led by chambers of commerce and bodies like the EDB promoting exports and agriculture using SMEs as a medium. It’s time for Sri Lanka to actively participate in the worldwide SME chain, contributing to the process of global development and prosperity with joint strategies.

Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel (LLM International Law (UCL)), former Ambassador to UAE and Israel, President Lanka Ambassador’s Forum – United Kingdom, Former Chairman of The Consumer Affairs Authority, Solicitor in England and Wales, and Harini Premaratne LLB of West End Law Centre, Hulftsdorp, Colombo, Sri LankaThe author can be reached at sarathdw7@gmail.com.

Deegawapiya Sacred Relics exposition to continue in ‘Sabaragamuwa’ with the dawn of New Year

December 29th, 2023

Ministry of Defence  – Media Centre

The relics unearthed from the Deegawapiya site during excavations and the Crest-Gem, which are in exposition around the island to provide devotees the opportunity to pay homage, are expected to be placed at Sri Sumanaramaya, Deraniyagala on December 31, ushering blessings on the Sabaragamuwa Province.

The Sacred Relics and the Crest Gem will remain at Sri Sumanaramaya, Deraniyagala on December 31 and January 01 for public veneration providing opportunity for devotees to obtain blessings of these revered articles during the dawn of New Year.

Later, the exposition will be moved to ‘Sri Swarnawalukaramaya’, Ruwanwella on January 2 and 3, and then to ‘Kabulumulla Rajamaha Paththini Dewalaya’, Karawanella on 4 and 5 and thereon to ‘Sri Susilodaya Maha Piriwen Viharaya, Dehiowita on 6 and 7.

Devotees have the opportunity to support the restoration work of the Deegawapiya Stupa by making financial contributions while worshiping the Sacred Omniscient Relics and Crest Gem of the Deegawapiya Stupa.

Prime Minister welcomes new Indian High Commissioner and assures continuous cooperation

December 29th, 2023

Prime Minister’s Media 

New Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today (December 29). They held a detailed discussion on economic ties and cooperation between the two countries and examined ways and means of expediting the proposed joint projects.
They discussed the possibility of more Indian investments in the energy sector including solar and wind power, joint projects on Trincomalee oil storage tanks, ports, railways and other sectors.
The Prime Minister thanked India for the assistance provided to Sri Lanka to face the current economic crisis by extending debt restructuring facilities and providing relief material, food and medicine and also for the support given to obtain the IMF package to solve liquidity issues.
New High Commissioner Jha, recalling his tenure in Sri Lanka from 2007 to 2010 and said he consider it a great privilege to be in Colombo once again to work for further strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation. He stressed the need for early steps to implement India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision and the 14-point program agreed by the leaders of the two countries.
My mission is to work with the people of Sri Lanka, for the benefit of Sri Lanka, under the guidance of Sri Lankan leadership,” he declared. He assured that Indian expertise will be extended to Sri Lanka for its plans for digital infrastructure development including introducing digital IDs for every citizen and for development of IT education.
MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Anura Dissanayake and Deputy High Commissioner Satyanjal Pandey, Counsellor of Indian High Commission, Eldoss Mathews were also present during the meeting.

What the international community’s silence over Israel’s colonial violence has reaped in Gaza

December 29th, 2023

by Ramona Wadi Courtesy Middle East Monitor

Palestinians, living in the Bureij Refugee Camp, leave their homes with their belongings to proceed towards the city of Deir al-Balah following Israeli Forces' asking them to leave the camp in Bureij, Gaza, on December 22, 2023. [Ashraf Amra - Anadolu Agency]

Palestinians, living in the Bureij Refugee Camp, leave their homes with their belongings to proceed towards the city of Deir al-Balah following Israeli Forces’ asking them to leave the camp in Bureij, Gaza, on December 22, 2023. [Ashraf Amra – Anadolu Agency]

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We cannot let the idea take root that an efficient fight against terrorism implies to flatten Gaza or attack civilian populations indiscriminately,” French President Emmanuel Macron stated a week ago. Israel, he said, should: Stop this response because it is not appropriate because all lives are worth the same and we defend them.”

Macron should be stumbling over his words. Early on, he was one of the first leaders to express complete support for Israel’s security narrative and was completely cognisant of the fact that the Israeli prime minister intended to flatten Gaza and attack civilian populations. This means that for Israel, France and the international community, all lives are not the same and not all lives are equally defended.

As Israel plans to forcibly transfer Palestinians to the Sinai and expects the international community to collaborate by taking in Palestinian refugees for resettlement in host countries, the lack of action over Israel’s ethnic cleansing plans mirrors the path taken during the 1948 Nakba, when Israel was rewarded with recognition as a state after it forcibly displaced 750,000 Palestinians to replace them with settler-colonists. In real-time, and as more details of Israel’s atrocities come to light, the United Nations (UN) is merely using Gaza as a talking point from a distance, repetitively stating that the forced transfer of a civilian population constitutes an international law violation. That much is obvious – does the UN require a round of applause for stating basic facts?

Read: Israel’s butcher’s bill is growing as never-ending conflict beckons

The 51st state? The US continues to shield Israel at the UN – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]

Euro-Med Monitor has published a report that calls for the investigation of organ theft from killed Palestinians after medical professionals found several corpses were missing vital organs. Israel has been suspected in the past of organ theft due to its policy of holding the bodies of killed Palestinians in the Cemetery of Numbers in subfreezing temperatures, thus preserving the corpses. A CNN report dating back to 2009 states that organs were: Harvested from Palestinians and foreign workers.”

Among the more visible atrocities was the rounding up of Palestinian civilians on a football field in Gaza, which even mainstream media picked up. However, Sky News, for example, included a disclaimer beneath the video: The IDF has told Sky News the individuals detained are treated in accordance with international law.” Where is it inscribed in international law that stripping detainees naked, torturing them and summarily executing them is permissible? At this point, who is still taking the IDF’s rhetoric seriously? Either idiots or willing collaborators.

Take this video, where an Israeli soldier brags about killing a twelve-year-old girl and jokingly laments that there are no babies left to kill in Gaza. Are there any forthcoming excuses from entities and individuals supporting Israel’s ethnic cleansing? The IDF’s standard statements can no longer pose as a veneer for Israeli colonial violence, whether this is committed by the state’s institutions or individual acts. And international silence has been so consistent that the parameters for what constitutes a human rights violation or, indeed, a war crime have been expanded beyond recognition.

What we are witnessing in Gaza must not be separated from the UN’s deafening silence since 1948.


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