The biggest event for Colombo scouts, the 58th Colombo Camporee is scheduled to be held from 8th to 10th December 2023 at the Vihara Maha Devi Park, with the participation of more than 12,000 scouts and scout leaders from the district. This time the theme of Colombo Camporee is ‘Scouting with Heart & Mind’.
The officials of the 58th Colombo Camporee met the Hon Prime Minister Dinesh Goonawardene at the Prime Minister’s office in Sri Lanka Parliament and pinned the Camporee Badge. Hon Prime Minister wished the organizers of the grand project and highly appreciated the tireless commitment of all who involved in developing disciplined leaders through Scouting at the needy time of the country.
From the Colombo Scout headquarters, District Scout Commissioner Mr. Amil Abeysundara, 58th Colombo Camporee organizing Commissioner Mr. Shabeen Ahamed and the Chairman of Colombo Scout Executive Committee Mr. Sarath Chandrasiri Vithana and few Scout leaders participated for this meeting.
he Colombo Port City has great potential to facilitate the economic transformation Sri Lanka seeks, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said on Thursday.
Weerasinghe told reporters that the Colombo Port City is likely to become a global commercial hub featuring local and international businesses.
We believe this project will change the fate of the country,” he said.
International accounting agencies have estimated that the Port City will attract investments worth 15 billion U.S. dollars, Weerasinghe said.
The governor added that China has facilitated a number of infrastructure developments in the South Asian country, paving the way for socio-economic development.—APP
BY Dr B. J. C. Perera MBBS(Cey), DCH(Cey), DCH(Eng), MD(Paed), MRCP(UK), FRCP(Edin), FRCP(Lon), FRCPCH(UK), FSLCPaed, FCCP, Hony FRCPCH(UK), Hony. FCGP(SL) Specialist Consultant Paediatrician and Honorary Senior Fellow, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
It is a well-known fact that many organs of the human body have some reserve quantum to fall back on during situations where a human being is taxed above its usual calm existence. An excellent example of this is the human heart. In the resting status of the body. the heart beats at around 70 to 80 beats per minute. During strenuous exercise this rate could automatically go up to about 150 or even 200, bringing the reserve power of it into play. The cardiovascular reserve can go up to several times its usual tranquil capacity whenever called upon to provide that extra power.
The notion that the human brain too has fall-back reserve power is a thing that that may surprise many people. As most of us know, we associate the brain with the higher functions of the mind where intelligence and many other cognitive features associated with it make the Homo sapiens to be quite different and differentiate humankind from all other species of the animal kingdom. Yet for all that, with advancing age, impairment of memory is a thing that most people worry about.
By age 60, more than half of adults have concerns about their memory. However, minor memory lapses that occur with age are not usually signs of a serious problem, such as Alzheimer’s disease, but rather the result of normal changes in the structure and function of the brain. However, major and progressive memory loss is a devastating problem for the elderly. Yet for all that, we differ from each other in the way our thinking skills age. One explanation is that some people have better resilience to the effects of ageing because they have developed a better capacity or ‘reserve’ to cope with the changes in the brain that occur with age.
The intellectual power that we can fall back on is referred to as cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve is the mind’s and brain’s resistance to damage of the brain. One could also rather loosely equate this phenomenon to the ability of the brain to improvise and find alternate ways of getting a job done. It reflects how agile a brain is in pulling in skills and capacities to solve problems and cope with challenges. It is a phenomenon that has to be nurtured and strengthened by learning and experience right throughout a lifetime. Cognitive reserve is developed by an era of education and curiosity right throughout life.
The impression of such reserve power of the brain was first realised and then explored in the late 1980s. That concept which was labelled as cognitive reserve originated when researchers described individuals with no apparent symptoms of dementia or deterioration of the higher functions of the brain who were nonetheless found at autopsy to have brain changes consistent with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Such observations suggest that there does not appear to be a direct relationship between the degree of brain changes in any given individual and the outward signs of those changes that manifest as loss of cognitive functions.
It was then postulated that these individuals somehow did not show symptoms of the disease while they were alive because they had a large enough cognitive reserve to offset the damage and enable them to continue functioning as usual. The concept of reserve accounts for individual differences in susceptibility to age-related brain changes or Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology. There is evidence that some people can tolerate more of these changes than others and still maintain function.
This curious phenomenon led to intensive research that has shown that people with greater inherent cognitive reserve are better able to stave off or even keep at bay, the symptoms of degenerative brain changes associated with dementia or even some other brain diseases, such as Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, or a stroke. A more robust cognitive reserve can also help one to function better and for longer even when one is exposed to unexpected life events, such as stress, surgery, or toxins in the environment. Such circumstances demand extra effort from the brain, somewhat similar to requiring a car to engage another gear.
Research suggests that our level of intelligence, which traces back to childhood as well as our set of lifetime experiences, helps to build cognitive reserve and may account for differences in cognitive reserve between different individuals. The lifetime experiences include education, having an engaging occupation and taking part in stimulating activities; the latter ideally combining leisure activities, learning and social interactions.
The evidence that lifetime experiences help to build cognitive reserve comes from studies of large groups of people over long periods. Such studies have repeatedly found that these life experiences are associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline in normal ageing and reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
In other words, higher attainment and engagement appear to protect cognitive function in ageing. Indeed, some studies have suggested that these life experiences may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 35-40%. The changes in the brain that are seen in the disease may still occur, but these people cope better and will not ever be diagnosed because they do not present with any symptoms.
The basic perception of cognitive reserve suggests that the brain actively attempts to cope with brain damage by using pre-existing cognitive processing approaches or by enlisting compensatory mechanisms. This would allow an individual with higher cognitive reserves to handle it better to enable the individual to better cope with the brain damage than another with lower cognitive reserves.
It has now been realised that cognitive reserve can be enhanced by a programme of cognitive fitness. Such an initiative would develop the ability of the brain to deal with and function normally when it is induced to call upon the reserve power, especially when disease states take their toll. The very heart and the central cog of a coordinated brain health and cognitive fitness programme involves rather simple but all too familiar lifestyle changes. The cognitive reserve hypothesis gives hope that exposure to various sorts of stimulating activities can help us age successfully. It also leads us to ask what people can do to help increase their cognitive reserve.
It is still unclear what the exact ‘recipe’ for this is. The evidence from studies of large populations suggests that it is exposure to the experiences and activities discussed above across the lifetime that contribute to the reserve, but we do not yet know what specific activities would slow the rate of cognitive decline or reduce the risk of dementia.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified six cornerstones to any effective brain health and cognitive fitness programme. These are as follows:-
Task 1:
Eat a plant-based diet. This is beneficial in many ways and building up cognitive reserves is just one of them. The diet needs to be a good balanced one to supply all macro and micro nutrients.
Task 2:
Exercise regularly. Like the vegetarian diet, this too has a multiplicity of positive benefits. Building up cognitive reserves is just one of them. The nature and severity of the exercise needs to be individualised. Some medical advice would certainly help in that venture.
Task 3:
Get enough sleep. It is well-known that sleep facilitates tissue repair. It is perhaps the same with the neurones and their connecting meshworks as well. A minimum of 6 hours is essential and it is quite good to have 8 hours of quality sleep.
Task 4:
Manage your stress. It has been proven that stress has deleterious effects on many systems of the human body. It is perhaps the same with the brain and the neural tissues.
Task 5:
Nurture social contacts. Good social connections may provide mental stimulation through complex interactions with others and hence build cognitive reserve and maintain healthy cognitive function. This is a very important component of the cognitive fitness initiative.
Task 6:
Continue to challenge the brain everyday. Just as much as regular exercise improves the physical functions and the physical strength of the body, mental exercises are well-known to be beneficial for the proper functioning of the brain. Research studies suggest that doing cognitive tasks that feel difficult, like problem-solving, learning something new, reading a newspaper article and discussing it with a friend, etc.., truly challenge the brain.
This multi-pronged plan includes and integrates proven approaches to committed changes being made in everyday lifestyles. It is advocated that by incorporating simple, specific changes into a daily routine, one could add years of enduring mental stamina and vitality. It is extremely important to realise that these factors are equal parts of a cohesive plan and that they do not work very well in isolation or when they are taken up just as one or two separate efforts. For example, simply eating more fibre or adding a morning walk to your routine is not enough to forestall mental decline. Instead, diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, social interaction, and mental stimulation, all work in harmony, just like in a concert, to yield the desired results.
All that we have undertaken during a lifetime of this worldly experience certainly helps in building up a mental and neurological reserve to enable us to successfully navigate through the drastic effects of age on our mental faculties. There is emerging evidence that even in older ages, commitment to the cause of enhancing that cognitive reserve would certainly help. Old age then becomes a really great pick-up or fizz time.
So, let us go for it.., everybody !!!
The author is grateful to his friend, Professor Nalaka Mendis, for rekindling the writer’s interest in Cognitive Reserve.
by Drs. Sunil J. Wimalawansa (Prof. of Medicine)and Chandra B. Dissanayake (Prof. of Geology)
Since identifying chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka in the mid-1990s, little progress has been made in aetiology and prevention. Despite the numerous hypotheses and conjectures—with more than 35—none have been thoroughly studied or substantiated as the definitive cause of CKDu.
The development of CKDu necessitates simultaneous exposure to various factors and conditions over an extended period. Hence, it is also called chronic kidney disease of multifactorial origin (CKDmfo). A recent newspaper article suggested that Chinese researchers re-confirmed the lack of association of agrochemicals, heavy metals, or arsenic (common postulated factors) with CKDu, consistent with our and other scientists’ publications over 15 years.
Comparatively, on a per-hectare basis of arable land, New Zealand and numerous other countries employ more than ten-fold the amount of agrochemicals and fertilisers containing heavy metals. Similarly, in Sri Lanka, in hilly country like Nuwara Eliya, and wet zones, farmers extensively utilize inorganic fertilisers, especially phosphates and pesticides—significantly more than in the dry zones. Surprisingly, there is little to no reported incidence of CKDu in these regions.
Research studies on hypothesis-driven causation are needed
The lack of conclusive evidence on CKDu stems from inadequately designed studies that fail to assess causes and test specific hypotheses. No CKDu study has rigorously applied Hill’s criteria for disease causation to distinguish casual association from causation. To address CKDu causes effectively, detailed empirical studies, not just descriptive ones, are essential. [For more details, refer to Hill, A.B., 1965, The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?”]
No credible scientific evidence supports the role of any of the mentioned postulated factors in contributing to or causing CKDu. Definitive conclusions necessitate well-conducted, unbiased studies with proper design and sufficient statistical power to thoroughly assess or rule out the potential effects of heavy metals, algal toxins, and agrochemicals on CKDu.
Critical causative criteria for establishing a link between a factor and a disease include the Strength of the association, Consistency, Specificity, Temporality, Biological gradient, Plausibility, Coherence, and Empirical data (Experiments). The presence of the majority of these factors is necessary to attribute causation. However, most studies on CKDu are heterogeneous and descriptive, offering limited value. Therefore, conducting meta-analyses using such data is scientifically unsound and inappropriate, as they will likely yield misleading conclusions.
Because CKDu arises from forming nanocrystals and nanotubes in kidney tubules and tissues, a more fitting designation would be CKD of crystal-tubular nephropathy” (CKD-CTN). The accompanying figure illustrates critical factors contributing to the CKD-CTN development (from Wimalwansa & Dissanayake, Euro. J. Med. Res., July 2023: https://rdcu.be/dgagf). (See Figure)
Poorly designed studies generated inconclusive data:
Compartmentalized research and poor study designs consistently fail to address research questions and test hypotheses related to CKDu. This lack of adherence to fundamental scientific principles, along with issues in improper sample collection and data integrity, has resulted in skewed and unreliable conclusions, muddling the progress and analyses of CKDu in the country.
Extrapolating such data to the overall status of CKDu in Sri Lanka and other tropical countries shifts attention away from identifying actual causative factors, proper fund allocation, and implementing essential remedies for CKDu prevention. Biased comments by Chinese scientists, such as ‘aristolochic acid,’ while relevant in rural China, are not pertinent to CKDu (CKD-CTN) in the dry zones of Sri Lanka.
Methodological and conceptual failures:
No conclusive evidence supports agrochemicals (glyphosate) or heavy metals causing CKDu. Claims linking slightly elevated magnesium in drinking water to CKDu lack reliability due to sampling and methodological errors. In contrast, over 750 international research articles establish magnesium as a renal protector” in humans.
Detecting an isolated elevation of magnesium or extremely low levels of glyphosate in inconsistent studies is insufficient to establish even an association, let alone causation. Such findings meet only one of Hill’s Causation criteria. Inferences from random water samples and two rat studies lack reproducibility and conclusiveness. The flawed extrapolation of this data to assert that glyphosate or magnesium causes CKDu has diverted attention and national research funds to unproductive programmes. The crucial factor in drinking water is the calcium to magnesium” ratio, not individual components alone.
Glyphosate or other chemicals used in intervention experiments, equivalent to body weight on a kg basis, are astronomically” high—toxic. Such concentrations do not exist in water or soil under normal conditions. Such concentration exists when an individual ingests concentrated glyphosate. Therefore, conclusions from such experiments are misleading. Any toxicity dependent on the dose and exposure” and real-world scenarios do not match the extreme concentrations used in intervention experiments.
Studies have consistently lacked rigorousness during sample collection, standardized methodology, and the use of controls. They also lack quality control during analyses and testing hypotheses. Methodological errors, such as smaller sample sizes and a lack of control experiments, introduce random- and Type-2 errors into the data. To obtain accurate insights, examining thousands of properly collected water samples across affected regions is crucial, as is comparing them with comparable but non-affected villages within the same region (e.g., subtractive analysis), even within ‘affected’ villages, pockets with good-quality drinking water (e.g., natural springs), thus clusters of unaffected families. Therefore, calling the entire area as CKDu affecting is a misnomer.
The neglect of already published data
Suppose one uses CKD” as a keyword in the following URL: one can pull over a dozen research articles illustrating that CKDu is triggered by natural” causes—hard water (Ca2+), excess phosphate in combination with fluoride” and chronic dehydration.
Peasants experiencing chronic dehydration due to daily exposure to hot climates and nightly alcohol intake, along with drinking water high in Calcium, Carbonate/ Phosphates, and Fluoride ions, etc., create a conducive internal environment” for the formation of calcium phosphate (CaPO4) crystals within renal tissue. Additionally, hard water chelates glyphosate, eliminating its potential toxicity, if any, whereas fluoride has the opposite effect.
Chronic exposure to excess calcium, carbonate/phosphate (and other anions), and fluoride through the ingestion of hard water over a decade is necessary to induce CKD-CTN. Such extended exposure maintains the mentioned higher ionic concentrations in renal tissues. Chronic dehydration leads to consistently concentrated urine, enabling the precipitation of hydroxy- and oxalate-apatite nano-minerals in the kidneys. This process occurs with or without fluoride, but fluoride stabilizes these nano-mineral crystals, forming fluorapatite resistant to degradation, allowing crystals to grow. Fluorapatite nanocrystals are implicated in causing CKD-CTN, causing fatal renal failure. The detailed mechanism is illustrated in the following article: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/7/1/2
The way to prevent and eradicate CKDu:
Consuming potable water and avoiding prolonged dehydration can prevent persistent dehydration-associated CKD-CTN. This concept offers highly cost-effective and straightforward solutions to safeguard peasants, particularly farm laborers. This eliminates silent, deadly disease, without needing expensive medications, interventions, or the construction of dialysis centers and hospitals, which is especially crucial in financially strained circumstances.
Research, including ours, has shown that increasing daily access to clean water significantly reduces CKD-CTN incidence and associated morbidities and premature deaths. Unfortunately, once the disease progresses beyond CKD stage IIIB, the damage becomes irreversible. It leads to hardening and shrinkage of the kidney due to fibrosis—resulting in permanent damage.
The following two published articles provide a detailed methodology and cost-benefit analysis of ways to eradicate CKDu from Sri Lanka:—CKD-CTN.Public health interventions for chronic diseases: cost-benefit modelizations for eradicating chronic kidney disease of multifactorial origin (CKDmfo/ CKDu) from tropical countries. Heliyon 2019;5(10):e02309. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02309.And Strategic framework for managing non-communicable diseases: Preventing chronic kidney disease of multifactorial origin (CKDmfo/CKDu) as an Example. Chronic Dis Int 2015;2(2 (1018)):1-9 (https://austinpublishinggroup.com/chronic-diseases/fulltext/chronicdiseases-v2-id1018.php).
The direct approaches outlined in the above articles offer ways to mitigate and eradicate CKDu/CKD-CTN in Sri Lanka and other affected countries. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of political will to address the issue. For some, it has become an unscrupulous business. The mentioned scientific papers provide details on how implementing a multi-pronged approach can prevent CKD-CTN, reduce premature deaths, and minimize the socio-economic impact on affected families. For more information. More information in:
Critical elements need to eradicate CKD-CTN from Sri Lanka
It is essential to systematically address peasants’ lifestyles and dietary habits, improve micro-nutrition, protect their renal and general health, and mitigate CKD-CTN. In addition to providing potable water, other interventions are also necessary to overcome this forgotten killer. Adhering to such would save the lives of people in CKD-CTN-affected tropical countries. They consume insufficient water due to the unpleasant taste of naturally contaminated hard water. Just because peasants do not have a voice is not an excuse to neglect them by the politicians and the government.
The key to eradicating CKD-CTN is prevention through education, lifestyle changes, and increased consumption of clean water—not in treating renal disease or expanding dialysis centers, hospitals, or transplantation services. To effectively prevent CKD-CTN, providing safe and affordable clean water in the affected and adjacent regions in the entire dry zone is essential rather than solely emphasizing aggressive treatment of end-stage renal diseases.
Historical evidence indicates that ancient Sri Lankan Kingdoms, like Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniys, Sigiriya, and Yapahuwa, were relocated, primarily within the dry zonal regions, now affected by CKD-CTN. The reasons for these relocations, whether protecting from invading armies, severe malarial epidemics, or deaths due to CKD-CTN, remain uncertain. Proposals to move the entire North Central Province (NCP) population elsewhere or replace the topsoil in the region are deemed impractical and absurd.
The current approach will continue to fail
The current strategy of expanding renal clinics, dialysis and transplantation services, coupled with reliance on aid from other countries, is an ineffective approach that falls short of preventing and eradicating” CKD-CTN in Sri Lanka. This method is like holding a tail to tame a tiger. Even if the rates of deaths have somewhat slowed, it is likely because many of the most vulnerable individuals are already deceased. The focus should shift towards protecting the younger generation and families. Unfortunately, CKDu has become a business venture for many, akin to exploitation during the LTTE war.
In addressing CKD-CTN, vision, political will, and prioritization of programs that cost less than a few months of healthcare expenses for maintaining affected individuals and families are lacking. Sri Lanka possesses the necessary technology, know-how, and essential resources to implement a program for eradication without requiring international expertise. However, inherent conflicts of interest hinder the implementation of the right path and impede progress.
Our latest contribution on the subject [Title: Nanocrystal-induced Chronic Tubular-nephropathy in Tropical Countries: Diagnosis, Mitigation, and Eradication] published on July 2023 in a Nature Journal (EJMR)—PDF of the article available from the following links: https://rdcu.be/dgagf
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, yesterday (07) said that the government could not do anything about the activities of ex-military officers overseas.Minister Sabry said so in response to The Island query whether the Sri Lankan law prohibited Sri Lankans from joining the armed forces of Ukraine. Three ex-military personnel including a former Special Forces officer serving with what is widely referred to as Ukrainian Foreign Legion aka International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine were killed in a Russian artillery strike early this week.
Asked whether the government could step in to prevent our ex-military men joining Ukrainian Foreign Legion, Minister Sabry said: They have retired from military and have gone there on their own. As Sri Lankans have the freedom of movement and once they leave the country legally we have very little control over what they do, unless they violated the law of the country where they are residing or absconded after committing a crime.”
The government has no record of ex-military personnel who had volunteered to fight for Ukraine.The Russian embassy in Colombo declined to comment when The Island asked whether the presence of ex-military personnel was brought to the notice of the government.
Foreign media reported that the body of Andrew Ranish Hevage, who held the rank of Captain at the time he retired from Special Forces here has been recovered. The other dead were identified as M. Priyantha, a former petty officer of Sri Lanka Navy and Rodney Jayasinghe, a former member of the Sinha Regiment. According to these reports, Sri Lankans had been making an attempt to recover bodies of Ukrainian soldiers when they were targeted by Russian artillery.
Ukraine has offered USD 600 as monthly salary for deployment behind the front-line, USD 1,200 for high risk sectors and staggering USD 3,300 for combat. Ukraine has also declared additional bonuses for selected units that had been assigned special operations. While those who had been disabled were paid a special payment, the families of fallen members received approximately USD 400,000, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Legion.
Inflation is a term that expresses everywhere without a practical solution. This term reiterates in many countries without a solution and policymakers expressed the term for covering incapability and the economic history of Sri Lanka before European invasions gave a successful solution to inflation, it is valid for today too.
The meaning of inflation has three definitions: a cost push, b demand pull, and uncontrollable price creasing of goods and services. In history, economic planners in Sri Lanka used boosting production and services. As the successful solution, boosting production and solution is the theoretical and practical answer for inflation.
Nobody talks about this solution and reiterates the term without a solution. Why policymakers in Sri Lanka cannot explain the success of historical strategy to control inflation that support to make profits to business people from the producers of rural community.
When I was small, my parents educated to gain knowledge and skills to write used by pens and make producers using a mammorty (agricultural equipment used by farmers) and it was a successful strategy to control inflation, however, many production and service companies love to inflation because they can make more profits when there is an inflation. In the 1960s, monetarists advised charging inflationary tax, but the actual impact was further increasing prices.
The government of Sri Lanka must launch a production initiative rather than blaming for inflation. The basic aspect of the price theory is when supply increases, the price will come down. This theory was known by kings and queens, in history, however, modern economic advisors are silent and talk hard words and support for making profits for business people.
I would like to draw the immediate attention of all-patriotic citizens of this country particularly living in the downhill areas of these Tea plantations and on the lowland areas below the hills that will be affected by earth slips in the hill country and flood in the downstream area that will recur as these hanging houses on these unstable and exposed hills will give way one day,( definitely in the near future) burying them en-masse leading to unprecedented natural disasters not only for the occupants of these pigeon holes but also to all those who live in the downstream areas right round the hill country up to the sea, for no fault of theirs’s. Finally, one day it will lead to the complete extinction of all forms of life, both fauna and flora, in this Island due to lack of water and ending up all living forms on this land and finally the curtain will fall on human civilization on this land. Readers of this article should not dismiss this prediction as mere fantasy. It will definitely happen if all Sri Lankan patriotic people don’t get together as one family immediately to stop this wanton destruction done to the entire hill country, jointly by the government, Tamil politicians representing the plantation sector, the Indian government and international agencies and anti -Sri Lankan NGOO.
The loss of physical stability of the central hill country can occur due to the loss of one or a combination of the following factors.
1 Loss of the forest cover due to continuous deforestation
2 land degradation taking place thereafter due to heavy erosion and exposing land to elements of weather
3 disturbances to land due to construction of building either for residence purpose or any other either for residence or industrial or other purposes.
4 constructions of roads and railways lines or any other activity that exposes the earth to the elements of weather
5 Unexpected Tectonic movements
5 Bad land use by the millions of Indian Tamil labor settled all over the hill country on land even going up to 8ooo ft msl.
Therefore I call upon all concerned parties including the government, the patriotic masses and intellectuals who love this country to take immediate action to stop this criminal devastation and take steps to protect the physical stability of the central highland of this country above 1000 ft msl, which I have named as the HADABIMA of this country, as it functions as the heart of the body Sri Lanka that determines and dictates the survival of the entire life system of this Island by providing the main source for all the rivers in the Island, that keep the entire life system alive.
Furthermore it is also the sacred land the gods have bestowed on this island nation of the Sinhalese that was blessed thrice by the Lord Buddha as the land where his sublime Dhamma will be preserved for 5000 years to come and also as the country blessed with the sacred mountain Samanala kanda, sanctified by the Buddha’s sacred foot print on the top of which, the first ancestor of Man, Adam is also supposed to have placed his foot, as the legend has it, making it a sacred land for all the three religions in this world and further making it a sacred land for humanity the world over. As such it is the bounden duty not only of all Sri Lankas but also of all devotees of all three main religions the world over to protect it together with the whole hill country, the Geographical HEARTLAND” of this blessed land.
Therefore ,I also call upon the NBRO the main Organization responsible for all programmes to assist a disaster-free built environment in the future in this country , to take up this issue immediately with the sleeping government that does not take any action against this type of disastrous and devastative actions done by these Tamil politicians , the Indian government and some International agencies who are playing havoc, as it considers the estate Tamil vote is even more important and valuable than the destiny the country and its people whose sovereignty and welfare they have vouched to protect
Pl see the following news item issued by the (NBRO), that should act as The Guardian God of the central hill country who take care of its physical stability.
Sri Lanka’s Central Hills at risk: One-fifth of land prone to landslides
28 October 2023 06:31 am – 5 – 832 A news item Daily Mirror.
One–fifth of Sri Lanka’s total landmass, particularly the areas in the central hills- is prone to landslides according to a study by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO).
According to the NBRO study, around 13,000 square kilometers of lands spread over in Badulla, Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Matale, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Hambantota- are landslide –prone.
The study has found that incidences and frequency of landslides are growing, and it is common to have such disasters after every rain.
The major causes for the increase in the frequency of landslides are un-planned land use practices and unplanned intensive cultivation, ever increasing non- engineered constructions, construction blocking the waterways, construction in the reservation area of water bodies, deforestation and human intervention.
Another study done Professor in Earth Resources Engineering University of Moratuwa and President of Institute of Geology Sri Lanka Prof. Ranjith Premasiri, major landslides which occurred during the past two decades have claimed thousands of lives, about 175,000 people have been rendered homeless. Besides, damages in multi-millions have been caused to property.
He says Sri Lanka can be divided in to three main climatic zones on the basis of annual rainfall- wet zone (over 3000mm annual rainfall), intermediate zone (2000 to 3000mm), and dry zone (less than 2000mm).
Landslides are very often triggered by continuous rainfall characterized by showers of high intensity that occur for short periods of time. Central hilly area of Sri Lanka experiences rain from two monsoons, North-East and South-West,” he said.
Sudden opening and progressive widening of cracks on sloped surfaces or on the walls of building are signs of landslides. (Kelum Bandara)
My comments Dr Sudath Gunasekara
3.12.2023
It is in this gloomy backdrop one has to take extremely serious notice of the ongoing largescale, unplanned and uncontrolled political housing construction activities, by The Ministry of Upcountry New Tamil Villages, Estate Infrastructure & Community Development, that is going on in the above-mentioned 10 districts exclusively for the estate Tamil labour force of Indian origin. It is reported that the construction of 14,000 houses all over the hill country and it’s adjoining areas is funded by the Indian government for the benefit of nearly 1. million living on the central hills ( which allready they call Malayaha) in the plantation sector is nearing completion. (902,000 persons in 2012).
The following housing project in Bogawantalava completed under Indian funding in 2019 clearly shows the wanton destruction and irreparable damage already done to the fragile landscape in the hill country by this type of housing projects coming up all over the hill country and its neighboring hilly areas extending to 10 districts.
V.K. Vellayan Puram” Housing Scheme Bogawantalawa from www.smehci.gov.lk
State Ministry of Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure
http://www.smehci.gov.lk › Uncategorized Feb 24, 2019 — Under the Indian government funds, V.K. Vellayan Puram Housing Scheme with the 155 houses constructed at Bidwell Estate in Bogawantalawa. Elevation above sea level. It is at 1514 m =approximately 4600 ft msl.
This is only one out of hundreds of such haphazardly constructed housing schemas all over the 10 districts mentioned above covering around 13,000 square kilometers (1/5th the area of the country)
Government official like GAA have no control over these housing projects
When I made inquiries from the GA Nuwara Eliya and the Divisional secretaries they said they were never consulted and they had no say or any authority what so ever on the construction of this type of houses within their divisions. Apparently, they were invited to attend the ceremonies only. Only, later I came to know that all land powers that were formally under the GAA had been transferred to Div Sects by Act. no 58 of 1992 during the Premadasa time. But regarding the construction of these houses in the plantation areas, I am informed that it is The Ministry of Upcountry New Villages, Estate Infrastructure & Community Development and the local Tamil politicians who organize these housing projects in collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Colombo. Starting from the selection of lands, planning and constructions of buildings and roads and the selection and handing over the houses to the recipients are done under the supervision of the same Ministry.
As it is the government of the country or its administration and the Minister of Lands has no say what so ever in the whole process. Technical advice of agencies like the NBOR is never sought. It so happens that the officials like the GA and divisional Secretaries are invited only for the opening functions. As such it appears as if the government officials like the GA and the Div Secs now have no control over these unplanned and haphazard constructions which have already posed a big threat not only to the physical stability of around 13,000 square kilometers of lands spread over in Badulla, Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Matale, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Hambantota-that is almost 1/5th the area of the whole country as stated by the NBRO as landslide –prone areas. What is even more dangerous is the complete collapse of the subject of land administration by the government that covers ten administrative areas in the south, as if it has been already handed over to the Indian Government. In sum for an outside observer, it appears as if this area is already run as a legitimate part of the Indian subcontinent by the Ministry of Upcountry New Villages, Estate Infrastructure & Community Development that comes under the government of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Indian Government.
Isn’t it a shame for the Government of Sri Lanka, if there is one, and for all political parties at home, to keep deaf dumb and blind over this irreparable and irreversible devastation being done to mother Lanka by a group of British Indian labourers who were brought in the late 19th century and left behind destitute when they left the Island din 1948. for the shake of a dangling goats testicle called the vote” that will never fall in to their plate, as the parable says.
It is high time that all patriotic citizens of this country wakeup up immediately from their death slumber, as one nation to stop this all-time disaster that is going to befall on the entire life system and the civilization to this country within few decades. The devastation that will follow this hazardous and unscientific construction activities will be million times more destructive than what the British did by removing the forest which was subsequently covered with a carpet of tea bushes that protected the earth to some extent. The degree of devastation then was less as the construction were limited to few factories residential Bungalows for the management of communal line rooms on selected places. The degree e of disturbance done to the physical stability under the present system is thousand time greater. The earlier system was reversible. But not the present system. What is more is the then labourers had no permanent interest as they knew that one day they will go back to their motherland. Today the situation is very much different as they not only have permanent interest to stay but they also dream to make this their permanent homeland and finally make it a Malayanadu, a part of India. sponsored by the expansionist Indian Government.
The subject of land administration in the whole country has to be brought under the central Government Immediately
The effect on land administration in the whole country has to be assessed in this backdrop very seriously with no delay as the government has already lost land administration powers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces long time ago, especially after the implementation of Act no 58 of 1992 and the PA circular 21/92.
Beside this there is also a far more serious threat of life in the downstream area right round the hill country due to continuous floods devastating these areas as frequent earth slips and floods occurring in this area due to the collapse of the physical stability of the central hill country. There is a third danger of all the103 rivers that have their sources on the hills running dry in the long run due to the loss of the physical stability of the central hill country, which I have identified as the geographical heart land (The HADABIMA) of Sri Lanka in 1991 whose physical stability determine and dictate the survival of the entire life system in this country and therefore the civilization of this island as well. The degree of land degradation and the rate of deforestation and the drying up of river flow and the underground water deposits that keep the rivers perennial is alarming and beyond imagination.
The Colombian head of state has been consistently speaking out in support of Palestine amid Israel’s genocidal attacks. At the COP 28 summit, he pointed out that the devastation wreaked on Gaza was a harbinger of what might happen to those fleeing from climate catastrophes
December 03, 2023
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) began on November 30 in Dubai. Around 70,000 delegates are participating in the nearly two- week conference, including member states, business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, journalists, and other experts and stakeholders.
The conference seeks to bring together these diverse sectors in order to build serious, global solutions that can address the pressing climate crisis and accelerate collective climate action. It is taking place amid Israel’s genocidal war against the Gaza Strip, which world leaders have brought up in their addresses to the conference and in other events.
In his opening remarks to the conference, Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the actions of rich countries which have yet to fulfill their key responsibilities and commitments. He also linked the issue of climate change and the devastation in Gaza and highlighted the latter as a harbinger of what is to come.
CO2 emissions can also be measured in terms of social inequality. Those who most emit CO2 and most consume carbon are rich. The poor pollute the environment the least.
This social inequality in today’s world is the reason why the Paris COP goals have failed.
Today, 12% more CO2 is emitted in the world than in 2010. That means, the richest sectors of humanity have expanded their carbon consumption and therefore CO2 emissions, leading humanity and life to crisis.
In addition to such aberration, the Climate Fund was not financed as promised to protect non-CO2 emitting populations, which means poor populations.
Rich countries’ capitalism resists devaluing the wealth of their societies based on carbon production and consumption. These states cannot and do not wish to devalue their fossil capital, capital based on oil, coal and gas. That would radically diminish and disrupt the structure of wealth.
Fossil energy has been essential in the enormous growth of work productivity, therefore, in the profits of the richest people on the planet. Those who dominate political power do not allow the very basis of their wealth to be extinguished.
The American dream, the European comfort, the rich syndrome from China or India are based on plenty carbon consumption. The consumption of the richest part of humanity on the planet, based on carbon, is a consumption based on the death of others.
Hence the enormous capacity for destruction that is the basis of sustaining fossil capital.
On the other hand, the transfer of wealth from the North to the South to adapt non-CO2-emitting populations to the increasingly deadly contingencies of climate impacts are seen outside the market. In the South, in their tropical areas, the availability of water is decreasing, causing an exodus.
The emptying of populations from the South to the North and the march of entire populations to the North is underway. The enormous social inequality regarding carbon consumption and the rising increase in carbon in the wealthy North population causes the exodus from the south to the north.
There are tens of million people today; tomorrow they will be hundreds of millions. What will happen with this exodus? What will happen to democracy? What will happen to international law? What will happen to humanity?
I invite all of you to imagine a combination of facts — the projection of the climate crisis in five or ten years and the current genocide of the Palestinian people. Are these facts disconnected? Or can we look at there [Gaza] as a mirror of the immediate future? The unleashing of genocide and barbarism on the Palestinian people is what awaits the exodus of the peoples of the South unleashed by the climate crisis.
If the wealth bearers from the North, with intensive carbon consumption, do not allow the emitting chimneys to be turned off, that means they do not stop consuming oil, coal, and gas, [and then] the supporting pillars of human existence in the planet will be irreversibly broken. That breakdown will be uneven.
Most of the climate victims, whose number will increase in billions, will be in countries that do not emit at all or emit very little CO2. Without transfers of wealth from the North to the South, climate victims will have less water in their habitats and will move towards the North, where melting ice will allow fresh water. The exodus will involve billions.
This immense exodus will have a response in the North. We are already seeing it in the anti-immigration policies of rich countries and the rise of the extreme right within them. Hitler is knocking on the European and American middle-class homes’ doors and many are letting him in. The exodus will be responded to with a lot of violence and barbarism. What we are seeing in Gaza is a rehearsal of the future.
Why have large carbon-consuming countries allowed the systematic murder of thousands of children in Gaza? Because Hitler has already entered their homes and they are getting ready to defend their high levels of carbon consumption and reject the exodus it causes.
We can then see the future: the breakdown of democracy and the barbarism unleashed against our people, the people who do not emit CO2, the poor people.
Is this future of a generalized Gaza against the growing exodus of our people avoidable?
The votes at the United Nations on the barbarism against Palestine mark a global political fragmentation. There are still countries that, on the verge of sinking, like the islands of Vanuatu and other islands, vote against Palestine, but the vast majority of the world’s poor people have united to stop the barbarism.
Only a few countries in Europe and North America, the largest consumers of carbon, vote in favor of genocide.
There is no other alternative than the usual path, the path of unity of the poor and their struggle.
Colombia has proposed overcoming the climate crisis through multilateralism, through international law, making the COP plans binding on all parties, and creating a space of global public powers that plans the transition to a decarbonized economy.
Colombia has proposed the restructuring of the global financial system, the debt-for-nature swaps and the issuance of Special Drawing Rights to finance climate crisis mitigation, and adaptation plans [and] the strengthening and reform of the United Nations.
Colombia has stopped signing coal, oil and gas exploration contracts. Colombia has dismantled the gasoline subsidies and we are encouraging the world [to implement] a global ban on fracking.
Colombia has tapped 70% of its clean energy sources. Colombia has contributed by 70% the reduction of deforestation of the Amazon rainforest with its own resources.
Colombia hopes for the unity of the entire Southern countries around saving life on the planet and human existence.
Perhaps if we see a free Palestine reemerging among their remains today, we will be able to see a living humanity re-emerge tomorrow in the midst of the remains of the climate crisis. Thank you.
On December 3, 2023, a large number of registered voters in Venezuela voted in a referendum over the Essequibo region that is disputed with neighboring Guyana. Nearly all those who voted answered yes to the five questions. These questions asked the Venezuelan people to affirm the sovereignty of their country over Essequibo. Today,” said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, there are no winners or losers.” The only winner, he said, is Venezuela’s sovereignty. The principal loser, Maduro said, is ExxonMobil.
In 2022, ExxonMobil made a profit of $55.7 billion, making it one of the world’s richest and most powerful oil companies. Companies such as ExxonMobil, exercise an inordinate power over the world economy and over countries that have oil reserves. It has tentacles across the world, from Malaysia to Argentina. In his Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power (2012), Steve Coll describes how the company is a corporate state within the American state.” Leaders of ExxonMobil have always had an intimate relationship with the U.S. government: Lee Iron Ass” Raymond (Chief Executive Officer from 1993 to 2005) was a close personal friend of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and helped shape the U.S. government policy on climate change; Rex Tillerson (Raymond’s successor in 2006) left the company in 2017 to become the U.S. Secretary of State under President Donald Trump. Coll describes how ExxonMobil uses U.S. state power to find more and more oil reserves and to ensure that ExxonMobil becomes the beneficiary of those finds.
Walking through the various polling centers in Caracas on the day of the election, it was clear that the people who voted knew exactly what they were voting for: not so much against the people of Guyana, a country with a population of just over 800,000, but they were voting for Venezuelan sovereignty against companies such as ExxonMobil. The atmosphere in this vote—although sometimes inflected with Venezuelan patriotism—was more about the desire to remove the influence of multinational corporations and to allow the peoples of South America to solve their disputes and divide their riches among themselves.
When Venezuela Ejected ExxonMobil
When Hugo Chávez won the election to the presidency of Venezuela in 1998, he said almost immediately that the resources of the country—mostly the oil, which finances the country’s social development—must be in the hands of the people and not oil companies such as ExxonMobil. El petroleo es nuestro” (the oil is ours), was the slogan of the day. From 2006, Chávez’s government began a cycle of nationalizations, with oil at the center (oil had been nationalized in the 1970s, then privatized again two decades later). Most multinational oil companies accepted the new laws for the regulation of the oil industry, but two refused: ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil. Both companies demanded tens of billions of dollars in compensation, although the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) found in 2014 that Venezuela only needed to pay ExxonMobile $1.6 billion.
Rex Tillerson was furious, according to people who worked at ExxonMobil at that time. In 2017, the Washington Post ran a story that captured Tillerson’s sentiment: Rex Tillerson got burned in Venezuela. Then he got revenge.” ExxonMobil signed a deal with Guyana to explore for off-shore oil in 1999 but did not start to explore the coastline till March 2015—after the negative verdict came in from the ICSID. ExxonMobil used the full force of a U.S. maximum pressure campaign against Venezuela both to cement its projects in the disputed territory and to undermine Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo region. This was Tillerson’s revenge.
ExxonMobil’s Bad Deal for Guyana
In 2015, ExxonMobil announced that it had found 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs”; this is one of the largest oil finds in recent years. The giant oil company began regular consultation with the Guyanese government, including pledges to finance any and every upfront cost for the oil exploration. When the Production Sharing Agreement between Guyana’s government and ExxonMobil was leaked, it revealed how poorly Guyana fared in the negotiations. ExxonMobil was given 75 percent of the oil revenue toward cost recovery, with the rest shared 50-50 with Guyana; the oil company, in turn, is exempt from any taxes. Article 32 (Stability of Agreement”) says that the government shall not amend, modify, rescind, terminate, declare invalid or unenforceable, require renegotiation of, compel replacement or substitution, or otherwise seek to avoid, alter, or limit this Agreement” without the consent of ExxonMobil. This agreement traps all future Guyanese governments in a very poor deal.
Even worse for Guyana is that the deal is made in waters disputed with Venezuela since the 19th century. Mendacity by the British and then the United States created the conditions for a border dispute in the region that had limited problems before the discovery of oil. During the 2000s, Guyana had close fraternal ties with the government of Venezuela. In 2009, under the PetroCaribe scheme, Guyana bought cut-price oil from Venezuela in exchange for rice, a boon for Guyana’s rice industry. The oil-for-rice scheme ended in November 2015, partly due to lower global oil prices. It was clear to observers in both Georgetown and Caracas that the scheme suffered from the rising tensions between the countries over the disputed Essequibo region.
ExxonMobil’s Divide and Rule
The December 3 referendum in Venezuela and the circles of unity” protest in Guyana suggest a hardening of the stance of both countries. Meanwhile, at the sidelines of the COP-28 meeting, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali met with Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel and the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves to talk about the situation. Ali urged Díaz-Canel to urge Venezuela to maintain a zone of peace.”
War does not seem to be on the horizon. The United States has withdrawn part of its blockade on Venezuela’s oil industry, allowing Chevron to restart several oil projects in the Orinoco Belt and in Lake Maracaibo. Washington does not have the appetite to deepen its conflict with Venezuela. But ExxonMobil does. Neither the Venezuelan nor the Guyanese people will benefit from ExxonMobil’s political intervention in the region. That is why so many Venezuelans who came to cast their vote on December 3 saw this less as a conflict between Venezuela and Guyana and more as a conflict between ExxonMobil and the people of these two South American countries.
Vijay Prashad’s most recent book (with Noam Chomsky) is The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and the Fragility of US Power (New Press, August 2022).
Sri Lanka has won the respect of its international partners for maintaining neutrality in practising foreign policy and this helped the country in striking a much-needed bailout package with the IMF, the island nation’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told Parliament on Thursday.
Sri Lanka had succeeded in pursuing a policy of friendship to all and enmity to none”, Sabry said.
The challenge we faced was that we should not be drawn into any particular camp and seen as an extension of any particular country or any region or a particular alliance,” the minister said, without naming any country.
Sabry said President Ranil Wickremesinghe was able to communicate with many world leaders to articulate Sri Lanka’s vision.
He visited India, he visited China, he visited Japan twice, he visited Germany, France, and went to the UN.” I think because we have done that without getting entangled into any pro-country strategy and standing together as an independent sovereign state we have got the respect Sri Lanka richly deserves,” Sabry said.
Sabry said Sri Lanka remains committed to the Palestine cause. We have maintained our solidarity with Palestine.” He said Sri Lanka is the current chair of the UN committee on Israeli practices in Palestine.
Sri Lanka’s success in foreign policy was proved in many UN assembly votes where the island nation’s candidates had received favour of support in voting, the minister said.
The non-aligned foreign policy was the key to Sri Lanka striking the bailout with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said.
Many powerful countries had assisted in the ongoing talks for external debt restructuring, he added.
Sabry said Sri Lanka would be formally out of its bankrupt status by later this month when the IMF will likely release its second tranche of the USD 2.9 billion facility.
Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 which saw the ouster of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government mid-year. The island nation announced its first-ever sovereign default since gaining independence from Britain in 1948.
The Rajapaksas and their fiscal hierarchy were found responsible for the economic downturn by Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court under a fundamental rights petition.
LankaPropertyWeb (LPW), Sri Lanka’s leading property platform, is excited to announce its new partnership with eMediaLinks, the exclusive partner with Weibo North America and house.sina.com. This collaboration enables the promotion of Sri Lankan property investment opportunities to Weibo’s extensive audience in China, as well as the real estate platform’s audiences in the USA and Canada. Weibo (weibo.com), China’s second-largest social media platform with an impressive 600 million monthly active users, will be a key focus for showcasing Sri Lankan properties to Chinese overseas buyers through this strategic partnership.
This collaboration opens a tremendous opportunity to showcase Sri Lankan properties to an expansive and promising audience. It signifies a transformative moment for Sri Lanka’s real estate industry, positioning it prominently in the burgeoning Chinese and American markets where demand for overseas properties is escalating. For Sri Lankan property developers, agents, and sellers, this alliance presents an exceptional chance to highlight their properties on the Weibo platforms, attracting potential buyers from China and North America. Furthermore, this partnership propels LPW onto the global stage, providing its customers with access to explore properties in the United States. Simultaneously, it empowers investors and agents from the U.S. to market their properties to potential buyers in Sri Lanka.
This advantage materialized as LPW entered into an agreement with eMediaLinks, a global real estate marketing company based in Bellevue, Washington. eMediaLinks holds an exclusive partnership with the North America division of Weibo. This groundbreaking collaboration empowers LPW to present properties and investment opportunities in Sri Lanka to a vast audience of prospective buyers through house.sina.com and weibo.com.
Daham Gunaratna, Founder and Managing Director of LankaPropertyWeb, expressed, LPW is excited to announce its partnership with eMediaLinks, which opens opportunities to promote Sri Lankan properties to Chinese overseas property buyers. Additionally, visitors to Weibo’s global real estate site, house.sina.com, will be able to view Sri Lankan properties. With the country recovering from the economic crisis faster than expected and a growing interest from international buyers in Sri Lankan real estate, this presents an excellent opportunity for the country to showcase its properties and investment opportunities to a global audience.”
Matt Bonds, Founder and CEO of eMediaLinks, shared, As South Asia continues to be a hotspot for business and investment, we are proud to partner with LankaPropertyWeb, the leading property platform in Sri Lanka, to accelerate property demand in North America and China. Our customers interested in properties in Sri Lanka can now be serviced by an experienced and dedicated company from the start to the end of their property purchase and investments.”
This partnership is more than just a business venture; it is a bridge between cultures, creating opportunities that were once distant and unattainable. The LPW-eMediaLinks partnership stands as a testament to the dynamic potential of Sri Lankan real estate, heralding a new era of global connectivity and opportunities for both buyers and sellers. As LPW forges ahead, the future of the Sri Lankan real estate market looks brighter than ever, offering a captivating opportunity for those looking to invest, sell, or buy property in this island paradise.
About LankaPropertyWeb: Established in 2007, LankaPropertyWeb (LPW) stands as Sri Lanka’s pioneering real estate platform committed to simplifying and digitizing property discovery and transactions in the country. LPW provides a comprehensive range of solutions and services, including buying and selling advisory, market research, project sales and marketing, and investment advisory and facilitation.
In 1939 there were only there were only two countries in Asia that were not under direct Western occupation, namely Japan and Thailand.
The rest of the hate speech was directed towards the losers i.e., Axis powers, Germany, and Japan, and demonizing one of them i.e.Japanese, as cannibals and savages that characterized the WW2 narrative.
The people of Asia no longer accept the Western-sponsored narratives on the Gospel truth. There is increasing resistance to propaganda masquerading as historical fact.
The Society for Dissemination of Historical Fact based in Japan is a striking illustration of such resistance.
People of several former European colonies are now demanding accountability for rapacious colonialism.
India had calculated its total losses resulting from the British occupation of India i.e., from 1765 -1938, as $ 45 trillion.
Unfortunately, the conversation in Asia having an international impact is an echo of conversations that are manufactured and manipulated in the West.
It is being corrected however slowly. The most dramatic correction is the recent elevation of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose to the No. 1 position in India’s narrative on how freedom was won. The highly revered Mahatma Gandhi has been demoted to the No. 2 rank.
While the West glorifies their military commanders as national heroes their admiration for Asians and Africans is limited more or less to the likes of Gandhi, Mandela, and Martin Luther King of the non-violent creed. These are people who have never won a single battle on the battlefield.
If non-violence is the right way to settle the conflict, why that is not promoted to douse the fire raging in Ukraine Russia, Israel, and Hamas remains a mystery. Those who wanted a ceasefire and return to the negotiating table during the 30-year civil war in Sri Lanka are the very countries that are now pouring fuel to the raging fires in Eastern Europe, Israel, and Hamas at the expense of the innocent lives of both countries.
Acknowledging Japan
Japan helped Subash Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army(INA) to attack British military bases and occupation of India.
The battles for India’s independence fought by INA with the support of the Japanese 15th Army at Kohima and Imphal are part of the National Story of India today. Though the combined liberation forces comprising Japanese soldiers and INA lost to superior enemy forces in numbers and military equipment, the ramifications of the daring war efforts led eventually to the grant of independence beginning with India and later other South Asian countries like Burma and Ceylon.
Indian Children learn the valour
of their Netaji at their mother’s knee.
But that is another story.
Japan was the only non-European country that defeated imperial Western countries in battle by sea, land, and air. That itself was inspiring for those who could only stand and watch in dismay at their nations being conquered and occupied for centuries by Western imperial nations.
Japan awakened the enslaved people of Asia and Africa and bewildered them with daring military exploits.
That is the true legacy of the Japanese during WW2 in respect of which expression of gratitude is long overdue from Asian countries that benefited unmistakably from the former’s efforts.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has declared that he stands ready to resign immediately, in the event there is proof that he has utilised state funds for personal reasons.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader said this during the parliamentary debate on the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) today (06 Dec.), responding to a claim made by MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
Although not directly accusing Premadasa of any wrongdoing, MP Aluthgamage stated that as per the audit reports on the CCF, nearly Rs. 10 billion in funds have been misused.
Our Opposition Leader is also present here today. He was in the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. I am not going to personally sling any mud at him, I will not go to that extent, I am just going to talk about what [the reports] we received at COPE, as part of my duty. A three-judge panel was appointed for audit-related investigations, and they revealed that nearly Rs. 10 billion has been misused, while 1,300 employees outside of the cadre of the Cultural Department were hired, and were paid salaries”, Aluthgamage said.
Rebutting these claims, Premadasa challenged that is there is any written proof that he had misused any state funds for his own private use or for that of his party, he is ready to resign.
The day that there is any proof that I used funds from the Central Cultural Fund, or any other state institution, by way of a written order, for the Rs. 16 million used to renovate the Sirikotha building, I will resign then”, he vowed.
Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha, announced that the commencement of the pilot program for the implementation of the new educational reforms across all grades is scheduled for the upcoming year.
Efforts will be made to digitize the entire education system, receiving support from both local and foreign sponsors.
During a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) today (06), themed ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country,’ Minister Premajayantha also outlined future plans to conduct the GCE O/L Examination in Grade 10 and the GCE A/L Examination in Grade 12.
Expressing his views further the Minister said;
In the 2024 budget, the Ministry of Education has been allocated Rs. 237 billion, while an additional Rs. 280 billion has been designated for education at the provincial level. This totals to approximately Rs. 517 billion dedicated to education in this year’s budget.
Special programs have been devised for the educational advancement of children with special needs. Looking ahead, an inclusive education system will be introduced, aiming to integrate them into classrooms alongside their peers.
Recognizing the significance of STEAM education in building human resources, as observed in many developed nations, efforts are being directed towards giving formal access to students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The goal is to bring about positive changes in the country’s school system by prioritizing these areas.
The digitalization of the entire education system is underway, with support from both local and foreign assistance. A pilot program is set to launch next year, introducing new educational reforms spanning grades 1-5, 6-9 and 10-13.
Plans are in motion to revise the grades for student exams, aiming for students to complete university before the age of 21. Consequently, the proposal is to conduct the GCE O/L Examination in Grade 10 and the GCE A/L Examination in Grade 12.
Looking ahead to the coming year, 2,535 teachers will be recruited for the development of estate schools and training opportunities will be extended to them.
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Children’s Secretariat, National Institute of Education, and UNICEF, has devised a special program for early childhood development targeted at children between the ages of 3-5.
Additionally, proactive measures have been implemented to address existing vacancies within the education service, encompassing teacher education service, teacher consultant service and general teacher vacancies. These steps are being taken to ensure that all positions are filled before the commencement of the next school year.
President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing the centenary celebration of the Government Valuation Department held at Solis Hotel in Pitakotte, declared the initiation of a ground-breaking economic program today (06 Dec.).
Set to kick off on January 1, this transformative initiative is designed to modernize various sectors and propel the nation towards progress.
The President underscored the imperative nature of adopting new economic reforms, emphasizing that the nation cannot afford to persist with out-dated systems. He highlighted that the hardships endured over the past years should not be passed down to the next generation, asserting that the only viable course of action is to embrace the proposed economic changes, urging collective participation.
Reflecting on the recent economic challenges, President Wickremesinghe acknowledged the concerted efforts that rescued the country from financial distress over the past 18 months and commended the heads of public institutions and the workforce for their dedication. He cautioned against complacency, warning that without prudent management of the current economic stability, the nation might face another crisis within the next decade. The President advocated for a shift towards a digital economy, citing the necessity of employing modern economic methodologies.
President Wickremesinghe additionally emphasized that global financial entities have acknowledged Sri Lanka’s remarkable and swift recovery from economic challenges, particularly in comparison to countries facing bankruptcy amid the global economic recession.
Expressing gratitude to the employees of the Government Valuation Department for their dedicated service, the President presented awards and issued a commemorative stamp worth Rs. 25 and a first day cover to mark the centenary celebration. He unveiled the song and flag of the department and introduced the e Valuation” system to digitize its operations.
President Wickremesinghe, in his additional remarks, highlighted the historical evolution of the Valuation Department, tracing its origins back to the Portuguese period and noting significant developments during the British era, including the establishment of the Assessor position in 1923.
Underlining the continued evolution, the President pointed out that the role of the Valuation Department experienced further expansion with the introduction of the land policy in 1972, ushering in a new era.
The President stressed the critical importance of digitization in this context, emphasizing the necessity for a skilled workforce in assessment within the framework of the digital economy. To achieve this, he proposed an increase in university enrolment to nurture future Valuers.
Looking ahead, President Wickremesinghe advocated for a regular property valuation cycle, suggesting that assessments should be conducted every five years. He underscored the vital contribution of the assessment process to the tax collection system, expressing high regard for the initiation of digitalization within the Valuation Department starting from the current year.
Reflecting on the challenges of the past year, during which the nation confronted a significant economic crisis, it is essential to acknowledge the substantial sacrifices made by both government officials and the broader population in steering the country towards recovery. Gratitude is due to all those who played a part in this collective effort, he said.
In the upcoming weeks, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is poised to issue a statement signalling the country’s exit from bankruptcy. However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored that, for sustained economic stability, a departure from out-dated economic methods is imperative. He cautioned against the implementation of conventional economic strategies, emphasizing that without adopting innovative approaches, the risk of a recurrent economic crisis looms over the nation within the next decade.
Key measures have already been implemented to reinforce fiscal prudence. The Central Bank has ceased the practice of printing money and loans from state banks earmarked for development, have been halted. President Wickremesinghe emphasized that adherence to these conditions is indispensable for fostering economic growth.
The President emphasized the crucial need for financial discipline, asserting that effective management of the economy in alignment with disciplined financial practices will pave the way for providing greater relief to the citizens in the future.
The prevailing economic crisis in the country, stemming from the disparity between imports and exports coupled with a budget deficit, necessitates strategic interventions. To address these challenges, comprehensive plans have been formulated to augment export earnings, curtail government expenditure and enhance government income.
Recognizing the potential of the tourism industry to generate substantial foreign exchange, a targeted initiative has been set in motion with the aim of attracting 2.5 million tourists to Sri Lanka next year. The government is optimistic that by further doubling this figure to 5 million, a rapid alleviation of the country’s economic woes can be achieved.
As part of this year’s budget proposal, a significant allocation of 300,000 acres has been earmarked for cultivation, representing a key component of the economic revitalization strategy. The Valuation Department is poised to play a pivotal role in realizing this agricultural objective. Acknowledging the importance of efficiency in this process, the digitization of the Valuation Department has been prioritized, foreseeing enhanced effectiveness in its operations.
In addressing the pressing needs of the energy sector, a paradigm shift towards renewable energy is imperative. The emphasis should be placed on harnessing wind and solar power resources, with the potential to generate 35GW and 200GW, respectively. Given that the national consumption requirement is less than 50GW, this surplus capacity positions the energy sector as a potential foreign exchange earner.
In addition to prioritizing renewable energy, due attention must be accorded to the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the energy sector and broader digital economy. The strategic deployment of AI has the potential to rapidly bolster the nation’s economic prowess.
The event was attended by, State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, State Minister for Mass Media Shanta Bandara, Chief Government Valuer Pushpa Muthukumarana, Post Master General Ruwan Satkumara and employees of the Government Valuation Department.
Colombo High Court has handed down a sentence of 12 years imprisonment with hard labour to a private bus driver found guilty of causing a fatal accident through reckless and high-speed driving. The tragic incident resulted in the death of three individuals and severe injuries to another.
The case, stemming from the January 10, 2007 accident in the Mirihana area, was presented before Colombo High Court Judge Namal Bandara Balalle. The judge, in delivering the verdict, emphasized the gravity of the offense and the devastating consequences it had on the victims and their families.
Additionally, the owner of the bus involved in the incident received a 15-month suspended prison sentence.
The Tamil Separatist Movement inspected the Buddhist ruins in the north and east during the 30 year Eelam war when the north and east were not accessible to the Buddhists. Tamil Separatist Movement wanted to wipe out all signs of a Buddhist civilization in the north and east. But it was not possible to get rid of all the Buddhist ruins, there were too many. Therefore Tamil Separatist Movement decided to convert the Buddhist ruins into Hindu kovils.
Most Buddhist ruins in the north and east were converted to Hindu kovils by the simple process of installing a trident among the Buddhist ruins. The trident is a symbol of Hinduism and in this case was considered a substitute for a whole Hindu temple. Ellawela Medhananda found the trident planted in many of the Buddhist ruins he looked at in the north and east.
In Kurundi, due to its importance, the Tamil Separatist Movement decided to penetrate deep into the heart of the monastery. They climbed the hill, removed the Buddha statue and turned the Pilimage into a Hindu shrine, with the Korawkgala substituting for a lingam. They gave the bogus kovil a name Adhi Sivan Ayyanar Kovil. They said that there had never been a Buddhist stupa at Kurundi. Kurundi only had a Hindu temple. When a yupa gala was found, they said that it was a lingam.
However, Kurundi continued to be regarded as a Buddhist monastery. The bogus Hindu kovil was ignored. It was necessary therefore to draw attention to the bogus Kovil. That is why the Tamil protestors barged into Kurundi, with a media team and performed Pongal and recited Hindu chants.
The next move was to get Kurundi declared a ‘contested site’. A contested site” is one which is claimed by two rival religions. The aggressive demonstrations at the Kurundi stupa, and the lawsuits in Mullaitivu Magistrate courts were intended to create a situation where Kurundi emerged as a contested site”.
Neighboring India has successfully dealt with two such contested sites, Thalaivetti Muniyappan temple in Madras and the Babri Mosque in Ayodhaya.
In 2022 The Madras High Court ruled that Thalaivetti Muniyappan temple in Periyeri Village of Salem District in Tamil Nadu was a Buddhist temple. . The case was filed in 2011 by P. Ranganathan and the Buddha Trust. They wanted the Archaeological Survey of India to inspect the statue in the temple.
In 2017, the court directed the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department to inspect the temple and file a report. The Archaeological Department reported back that the statue in the temple was a Buddha statue. Accordingly, Madras High Court ruled that the site was a Buddhist temple.
Court banned pooja and other Hindu rituals in the temple. Archaeology Department was ordered to put up a notice saying it was a Buddhist temple .Court allowed the public to continue visiting the place, but no Hindu prayers and rituals will be allowed there.
In Ayodhaya, both Muslims and Hindus claimed the 16th-century Babri Mosque. The matter went to court and Supreme Court decided in 2019 that it was a Hindu site, not a Muslim one. Hindus were jubilant. The Muslim litigant, the Sunni Waqf Board, refused to appeal, saying it respected the verdict.
In Sri Lanka the Tamil Separatist Movement faced two obstacles. Tamil Separatist Movement had to first establish that there actually was an ancient kovil at Kurundi and then announce that this ancient kovil” was now under attack.
They arranged for the foreign media to carry articles on the subject. The Madras based Hindu” newspaper carried the following account by Meera Srinivasan on September 9th, 2023. Meera said that Kurundi has now turned into a site of fierce contestation.
Certainly a Buddhist stupa had been found at Kurundi, and the place was an archaeology reserve since 1833, but the place had an ancient Hindu kovil as well. Tamils in the area had been worshippin the trident in the kovil as their ancestors had done.
Meera said, when the Kurundi excavation started, Tamils from the surrounding Thannimurippu area , who had for years gone to offer prayers to Aadi Aiyanar (their local Siva deity), have been prevented from doing so by Sinhalese mobs led by Buddhist monks,. The latest episode was in August 2023, during a special Pongal prayer ceremony.
Bhaskaran Susilathevi, a resident of Thannimurippu, intimately familiar with the terrain around the Siva temple, found that a Buddhist vihara has been built there. We are not allowed to go to our temple She said. They wish to pray again attheir favourite hilltop temple, concluded Meera.
World Socialist Website has hosted an essay on Kurundi by Wasantha Rupasinghe and P.T.Sampanthar. The Head quarters of the World Socialist Website is in Oak Park, Michigan, USA. Rupasinghe and Sampanthar said that in 2018 a group of Buddhist monks visited the site claiming it was the location of an ancient Buddhist shrine. Their actions were backed by the government’s heavily-politicized Archaeological Department, the media and the security forces stationed in the area.
In 2018, they began construction of a Buddhist temple at the site, and continued to do so in defiance of a court order ordering an end to the construction. Buddhist monks and a large number of devotees” held a religious ceremony at the Kurundi site, continued Rupasinghe and Sampanthar.
Scores of Buddhist devotees were transported in buses to the site where a group of Hindus were holding the Pongal festival at the adjacent Hindu temple. Galgamuwe Santhabodhi, the so-called chief prelate of the Buddhist temple at the site, attempted to stop the Hindu event, provoking a heated argument, with violent clashes only prevented by police intervention.
Santhabodhi had issued the highly provocative claim that Tamil extremists are planning to establish a Hindu Kovil” at the site and getting ready to start a separatist struggle in this country based on Kurundi Buddhist temple, concluded Rupasinghe and Sampanthar.
The next pair of writers, Harindra B. Dassanayake and Rajni Gamage looked to see whether Kurundi was actually Kurundi. Was it really the one built by Kallatanaga as mentioned in the Mahavamsa, they asked, because there is a lack of a clear, uncomplicated historical narrative on Kurundi. No archaeological evidence has yet proven that the Kurundi vihara discussed in the historical texts is the current location, they said. This can be easily dismissed. Kurundi excavations brought up an inscription which showed that Kurundi was Kurundi.
Tamil Separatist Movement decided to solve the problem of Kurundi by moving Kurundi out of Mullaitivu. The Tamil north and east meet at Mullaitivu and Kurundi is in a strategic location there. Better remove Kurundi stupa to Vavuniya. The area in which Kurundi vihara is sited, need not be the ancient Kurundi, said the obliging Dassanayake and Gamage.According to the Tamil Separatist Movement, the real Kurundi is found at Karikattumulai in Vavuniya district, they said.
Dassanayake and Gamage allege that Kurundi has not received proper archaeological examination. It is important to conduct proper archaeological surveys first, they said… Reconstruction work in the guise of ‘restoration’ in the absence of proper archaeological knowledge of the site cannot be accepted, they preached. Excavations and conservation are needed before so-called ‘restoration’ without sufficient evidence.
The various names of Sinhala and Tamil origin with which the monastery and the surrounding area are referred toshow that this is not exclusively Sinhala, continued Dassanayake and Gamage. The names used at Kurundi are Kurundi vihara, Kurunthoor, Kurunthumalai, Kurundavásoka-vihára, Piyankallu, and Piyangala. This is a howler. The Tamil names are Tamilised versions of the Sinhala name. These writers do not seem to know that Piyankallu, and Piyangala are Sinhala names.
Dassanayake and Gamage hint at possible ethnic riots over Kurundi. For power-hungry extremists, ‘Buddhists awake! – Save Kurundi!’ may suddenly become a launching pad, they warned. Unless carefully handled, that day would not be far away concluded Dassanayake and Gamage.
Other agencies also joined in on the matter. University Teachers Association of University of Jaffna said in a media statement in 2023 that it openly condemned the illegal nature of the archaeological excavation carried out in Kurunthurmalai with the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist agenda and issued rulings that are considered fair.
Another lot said that the Department of Archeology has been trying to build a Buddhist Temple in Kurunthoormalai allegedly in violation of the court order. The Archaeology Department Director had repeatedly violated three court orders previously issued and tried to build a Buddhist vihara illegally.
Virakesari newspaper discussed Kurundi at least twice. It published pieces on January 25, 2021 and March 2nd 2021. In addition to the basic information on the Kurundi matter, they added a few howlers. The paper said that Kurundi had a Pallava style temple during Chola period!! Kalinga Magha had also set up a kovil at Kurundi. Since there are Buddhist ruins also there, we can treat this as a Hindu Buddhist religious site said Virakesari generously.
Pulendran Nesan interviewed Kurundi residents and wrote a piece which was translated into Sinhala and published in Kurundi Vihara vamsaya ( p 249-).Nesan said there were no permanent Tamil settlements near Kurundi, but there were Tamil settlements nearby at Kumalamunai and Mulliyavala.
He had conducted interviews with a few inhabitants there. They had complained against Kurundi stupa. It had not been there before. .Baskaran Susila Devi (56 yrs) said that from the time she was small they had worshipped at Kurundi kovil. Baskaran Divyaraja, her son, said they visited the temple before going hunting. He said there was only a foot path to get there. (Continued)
Catholic action movement; groups found in government institutions and mercantile organisations, directed and guided by the Catholic hierarchy to promote the interests of Catholics through the use of their positions. Although the norm during colonial occupation, one would have expected the influence of the Catholic church to die out post independence given that the majority of the local population are of Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic faiths. However, instead of showing signs of weakening, from the S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike assassination conspiracy; the military coup against Sirimavo Bandaranaike; and to the most recent people’s struggle” (Aragalaya”), which ousted and send into exile the majority Sinhala/Buddhist elected president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Catholic action movement, one might argue, has become stronger and more apparent than ever before. However, the crux of this article is not to discuss how the tentacles of the Catholic church are wrapped around our political, state and judicial intuitions, but instead to highlight how these tentacles have reached our beloved game; Cricket.
Being a sport introduced by our former colonisers, it is not surprising that Cricket is popular in missionary schools. In fact, missionary (or former missionary) schools have produced some talented cricketers in the past. However, with the mass popularity of the game, it is no longer an elite sport played in missionary schools, but has spilled over to the National schools. The missionary schools may have started playing the game, but it is the National schools that ended up mastering it. The culmination of this is the historic ‘96 World Cup win, where the majority of the team consisted of players from leading National schools with a few exceptions. This is also not surprising considering the number of students at National schools and hence a larger pool of talent compared to the much smaller missionary schools.
However, after winning the ‘96 World Cup the allure of Cricket and playing for the National team gained interest from all corners, including the missionary schools and unfortunately, this is when the influence of the Catholic church over cricket started to resurface. Unknown and unnoticed to the cricket loving public who at the time were revelling in the victories of the team, the Catholic church was gradually spreading its tentacles around the administration, selectors, clubs and players. The article below (which is referenced) is public acknowledgment of this.
The missionary schools were once again buoyant as their ranks in the National side increased. However, by no coincidence, this was the time when the National team’s performance started to decline. When you stop selecting the best team based on talent and instead on some extraneous reasons, such as the players’ religious affiliations, this is bound to happen.
But, exactly how far have the tentacles of the Church spread? Is it just the National cricket team or does it go beyond? Towards the end of the Mahela and Sanga era, the author was in the company of a friend, an old boy from a leading National school, when the friend met with a talented young cricketer from his former school. The friend inquired from this young cricketer about his cricketing pursuits and the prospects of playing for the first XI of his Club, and his response was a quick negative followed by a cautious (cautious probably because he didn’t know the author or his faith) you had to be of a particular faith (making a sign of the cross) to be given such a chance”. At the time, this seemed a random statement and did not hold the author’s attention until, of course, the story of the purported Pastor and his influence over cricket blew up in the media along with his big endorsement by Sanga’s wife. What had until then seemed like a totally random statement started to make a lot of sense and to think the author had these snippets of information about what was going on behind the scenes of cricket in Sri Lanka before it came to the public domain. Thus, the influence of the Church has spread beyond the National cricket team and even influences selections at Club cricket level.
What other evidence of the Catholic action movement in cricket is needed than the current players contracted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). If you follow this link (https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/team/sri-lanka-8) to find the respective schools of the current contracted players, you will be shocked to realise that of the 28 players contracted to play ODIs 21 (75%) are from missionary or Church-run schools and only 7 (25%) are from the National schools. The contrast from the ‘96 World Cup winning squad is stark. This is not limited to the National squad; the article below (see reference) refers to an emerging side selected by SLC.
If you look at the school composition of this emerging side out of the 26 player squad 16 are from missionary or Church-run schools and only 10 from the National schools.
Have the National schools that produced the likes of the great Aravinda, Arjuna, Mahanama, Gurusinghe, Hashan, Dharmasena, Mahela etc. all stopped playing cricket!?
It is now certain that the Catholic action movement in cricket is an undeniable fact and that the decline of the National cricket team started around the time the Catholic church wrapped its tentacles around Sri Lanka’s cricket administration, selectors, Clubs and players.
The question is; what is going to be done about this? If the Catholic action movement in far more important institutions of the country is dismissed, ignored or covered up and swept under the rug, will it be the same with cricket? But this is cricket; a sport enjoyed and loved by all Sri Lankans irrespective of race, religion, caste, creed or divisive politics. Wouldn’t the Catholics and Christians want to see the National cricket team win rather than see a losing team consisting of their kin?
It is obvious that this accusation will always be levelled as long as the officials making the decisions regarding cricket in Sri Lanka are of that particular faith. Therefore, until public confidence is restored, all SLC board members and selectors of that faith should voluntarily step down. Further, when drafting players from Clubs, every Club should be required to disclose to SLC its selection criteria and the personnel involved in the selections.
No one should be prevented from doing their job because of their faith but with the proportion that this problem has reached to prevent public backlash it is something that must be done, albeit, temporarily. Once the SLC board and selection committee are constituted with personnel devoid of the concerned faith, the stage will be set for unprejudiced non faith based selections.
I fear that if the Catholic action movement in cricket is not addressed, even though there have not been any repercussions in other institutions where the Church has wrapped its tentacles, it will be different with cricket as there is a lot of passion riding on the game and hence there would be severe public backlash.
For the Global South, Kissinger could well be called Dr. Death. He insured that whichever country raised a voice or could potentially show opposition to the US would have their head bashed in. This was Kissinger- grand strategist for the US empire, enforcer of imperialism, godfather of the current Neocons (Neo Conservatives) steadfast theorist and practitioner of Realism in international relations.
For Kissinger people of the Global South were just abstractions because he presented the world as a 3D chessboard where he, national security advisor and secretary of state – to President Richard Nixon had a free hand to knock down and take out pieces. For him, as manager of US policy, lives, livelihoods of people in the ‘darker continents’ did not matter.
From 1969 to 1973 Kissinger sanctioned intensive bombings of North Vietnam, simultaneously directed the carpet bombing of large parts of Cambodia that US intelligence claimed sheltered insurgents from South and North Vietnam. At the same time, he assisted in organizing a ‘secret war’ on Laos. In all these wars, Kissinger approved the dropping of millions of tons of bombs killing millions of civilians in nations mired in poverty.
Vietnam. Laos and Cambodia remain littered with US landmines, victims of the chemical warfare like Agent Orange never got reparations. These wars led to brutal regimes like the Khmer rouge in Cambodia. Kissinger negotiated with North Vietnam in the Paris Peace talks 1969-73, where recent documents show that he purposefully prolonged the war in US interests. The direct interventions of Kissinger qualify as war crimes under international humanitarian law.
Kissinger had a bloodied hand along with Pakistan’s General Yahya Khan, giving support to Pakistan even while aware of the genocide unleashed on Bangla nationalists in East Pakistan’s Mujibur Rehman led liberation struggle. Three million people became victims. India intervened in what became Bangladesh. Kissinger had the US 7th Fleet come into the Indian Ocean to threaten India at a period of poor India-US relations.
Latin America felt the Nixon-Kissinger hand, as they invested millions of dollars to foment a coup against the progressive democratically elected president of Chile, Salvador Allende in 1970. The US then supported the military coup by General Augusto Pinochet a dictator who curbed any dissent and under whom over 3,000 people were disappeared or killed. Kissinger supported the overthrow of the Argentinian government of President Isabel Peron by a neo-fascists dictatorship that disappeared 30,000 and killed 10,000 leftist and other opponents, in a rule that lasted till 1983. There was no recrimination or apology. As for the US they do not believe in accountability for these mass murders.
Kissinger pushed the Greek junta he was controlling to make a coup in Cyprus against Makarios, in order to provide Turkey with the pretext it needed to invade the island. US, Britain and Israel have never accepted a sovereign state in Cyprus which occupies one of the most important strategic locations on Earth and has been one of the pioneers of the Non – Aligned Movement. The 1974 coup in Nicosia was the exact copy of the 1973 Santiago coup.
In 1975 he gave the green signal to President Suharto of Indonesia to invade East Timor; had a big hand in West Asia when the 1973 war broke out when Arab countries led by Egypt and Syria attacked Israel, Kissinger’s policy was to ‘isolate the Palestinians’ and arm the Israelis. No doubt the current Neocons have studies these doctrines with care.
Of course Kissinger was involved in using the split between the Soviet Union and China to wing a deal and détente between the US and China, opening the way for Chinese globalization. He also crafted arms limitations treaties with the Russians, now undone. In his later years he saw China as the biggest threat to USA and so argued that Ukraine be neutral, only to change his mind towards the end.
To fuel the US’s endless wars, Kissinger- Nixon in 1973 created a deal between the US and Saudi Arabia by which the Saudis and later other oil exporting Arab countries agreed to price and trade oil in US dollars. This petrodollar meant every oil sale would go through US banks, contributing significantly to dollar hegemony.
Kissinger, known to care less for international law and legalities wrote: our relations with Europeans are better founded on developing a community of interests than on the elaboration of formal legal obligations.” (Kissinger, 1969). He obviously approved of this rules based order coined by Biden and West that favor rules that suit their exceptionalism.
It will be worthwhile for countries of the Global South to reflect on Kissinger’s words where he wrote that as far as the newly independent countries are concerned, the option for the West is, the deliberate exploitation of their weak domestic structure. In many areas the ability to foment domestic unrest is a more potent weapon than traditional arms.” (Kissinger, Domestic Structure and Foreign Policy, 1969).
These formulae by Kissinger, continue to be used by the US in different ways and the Global South needs to be vary of these continuities as recent wars and interventions reveal. So, if the Global South wants to make its own sovereign choice in national or foreign policy, there is plenty of history to learn from, so as not to repeat it.
*I am grateful to the Transnational Institute (The Netherlands)
Anuradha Chenoy is writer, Associate Fellow of the Transnational Institute, Professor, former Dean of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, former chairperson and director of the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, India
Hon. Patrick Brown The Mayor of the City of Brampton Ontario.
Dear Mayor Patrick Brown:
I have just read the concerned letter by the President of the Sri Lanka Canada Association of Markham (SLCAM), Jaliya Wickremarachchi, on your Tin-God-of-Brampton stunt, “Raisingthe flag of a banned terrorist organization – The Liberation Tiger of Eelam (LTTE), of November29th, 2023″.
Wow! Patrick, that letter proves positive, of my identifying You as “Patryk Broun, you are a foolish Tamil TigerClown.” of many moons ago, when You and Paul Calandra lambasted the Sri Lankan Government for not giving you visas to enter Sri Lanka to visit the Tamil refugee camps up north of Sri Lanka, after the Tamil Tigers buttocks were kicked and were annihilated on 19 May 2009,
they who started the Tamil Separatist Eelam War. which lasted 30-bloodying years I asked you two in a letter “Patrick and Paul, who the hell are you to demand visas, when the Canadian Government had refused entry visas to Canada to several Sri Lankan parliamentarians. Some wereCabinet Ministers” Remember?
That letter from Jaliya gives me another opportunity to regurgitate my challenge to you of many moons ago for a Public Debate on your love-ins with Tamil Tiger terrorists’..
My sweeteners for you to accept my challenge still stands with slight modifications
1. That I am prepared to pay you a debating fee of Cdn$500 from my wallet But this time I will up it with an extra dollar making the debating fee $501.00;
2. If you felt that the fee was not adequate, I told you that I would send a hat around the audience to collect the additional fee and you can have every cent that was dropped into the hat;
3. That at the end of the debate, I will give you the privilege and luxury to let every Council Member of yours who gave you a thumbs-up for your foolishness that I don’t trust, stand 30 feet away from me to pelt me with rotten tomatoes and eggs for 20 seconds. But I will need to wear a helmet in case there will be sneaky lapidary-granite eggs thrown at me;
4. I will let you be sandwiched by two Tamil separatist-activists, now preferably Vijay Thanigasalam and Rathika Sitsabaiesan as prompter’s and I will stand on my own facing you;
5. You can have the moderator of the debate of your choice;
6. And I will be at your venue of your choice for the Public Debate, preferably the City of Brampton Council chambers with festoons of singing- Jaffna cowbells and whistles.
Well, Patrick, are you going to accept my challenge? Come on, show me that you are a true lover of Tamil separatism, and I will try to blow that persona of yours asunder. and that you are the “Patryk Broun and a Tamil Tiger Clown,” as Asoka thinks you are. And that you know sweet-bugger-all about the 12% Tamils who were the privileged minority for 131 years of colonial rule, compared to the 75% of the Sinhalese wronged majority for 131 years of colonial rule, and that you are a Canadian political Humbug of the first order, swinging-high and swinging-low like strings of Masala-Wade from a Jaffna-Tamil Kanji-boutique along the Main Street of Valvettithurai, Your Tamil Tiger terrorist leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s hometown..
Let me make you feel good to accept my challenge and that you are at a strong handicap as I am no political debater like You. I am just a simple Geologist, Palaeontologist and Museologist,, who is still romancing his Mother Lanka who nurtured me for the first 19 formative years of my life, and on a Mission, that no one, and that includes Patrick Brown who wants to hurt her. by silking and spinning the words of lying separatist Tamils in Canada.
Come on Patrick. Take me on! It’s OK if you want to intimidate me by wanting to meet me with symbols of a Bare bodied Snow-Tiger, with aJanaistring tied diagonally across your bare upper-torso, three horizontal Tripundra stripes of Ponds talcum powder across your forehead and the Hindu crimson sandalwood paste moon between your eyebrows, Go ahead as nothing intimidates me.
Make Yourself comfortable, even if you wish to arrive for the Public Debate walking with a plate of Tamil-rice, spooning it into your mouth wanting to insinuate
“I am the Tamil Tiger’s clown
Patrick Brown
eating Tamil curry in a hurry,
I am the White Snow-Tiger from Barrie.”
Go ahead. But let’s get on with the Public Debate.
The relics unearthed from the Deegawapiya site during the excavations and the Crest-Gem which are in exposition around the island to provide the devotees with an opportunity to pay their homage were brought to the ancient Buddhist shrines in the Rathnapura area.
The public veneration of the Sacred Omniscient Relics of Deegawapiya Stupa and the Crest-Gem commenced from Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya on August 30, 2023 and it has been scheduled for the 150-day-long exposition for veneration of the island-wide devotees.
Accordingly, arrangements have been made for the exposition of these revered articles at the Kawanthissa Rajamaha Viharaya, Embilipitiya from December 05 morning to 07 December morning, at Nawaneliya Sri Bodhirajaramaya, Kolonna from 07 to 10 morning, at Sankapala Viharaya from the morning on 10 to the morning on 13 and at Sri Mahinda Maha Vihara Tampita Viharaya, Godakawela from morning on December 13 to morning on December 16. Hence, the devotees have the opportunity to worship the Sacred Omniscient Relics and Crest-Gem of the Deegawapiya Stupa and support this meritorious act by making financial contributions to the restoration project.
COLOMBO, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) — Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Defense Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said on Monday that the government is planning to enable women to head the army, navy and air force in the South Asian country.
He told the parliament that currently, a woman can only reach the rank of major, especially in the army, in Sri Lanka.
However, the government is planning to change military laws to allow women to get promoted and in time head the three forces, Tennakoon said.
He added that in the Sri Lankan history, women have played prominent roles and Sri Lanka needs to do more to ensure equal status for women.
Adani-Hindenburg: The Hindenburg Research allegations of corporate fraud against Gautam Adani didn’t impact the US decision to grant up to $553 million for a Sri Lankan terminal. The US agency, DFC, found the accusations were not relevant to Adani’s specific project.
The US government concluded that short-seller Hindenburg Research’s allegations of corporate fraud against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani weren’t relevant before extending his conglomerate as much as $553 million for a container terminal in Sri Lanka, a senior US official said.
Allegations in a scathing report by US-based Hindenburg Research, which erased around $100 billion from the Adani Group’s market value earlier this year, were front and center as the International Development Finance Corp., or DFC, conducted a due diligence investigation of the conglomerate, an official from the US agency told Bloomberg.
The DFC was satisfied that the accusations in the short-seller’s repo ..
COLOMBO, Dec 5 – Sri Lanka will get about $600 million, on a staggered basis, from the Asian Development Bank after the International Monetary Fund releases the second tranche of a $2.9 billion bailout for the crisis-hit country, an official said on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka is inching out of its worst financial crisis in decades, triggered by record-low foreign exchange reserves last year that saw its economy contract 7.8% in 2022.
The island’s economy has been gradually stabilising after locking down a four-year programme with the IMF in March. Its first review is expected to be approved by the global lender next week, which will release a second tranche of about $334 million in funding.
Alongside the IMF programme the Asian Development Bank is likely to provide total budget support of $2 billion over the next four years, said ADB, Sri Lanka Resident Mission, Country Director Takafumi Kadono.
“I would say $500 million to $600 million budget support is what is planned (for 2024) but, again, it is subject to attainment, satisfying the policy actions, so its not free money,” Kadono said in an interview with Reuters.
The bulk of the support will likely be extended next year in a combination of policy-based loans and project lending.
The first instalment of $200 million is tabled for ADB board support on Dec. 8 but will only be given to Sri Lanka after the IMF approves its first review on Dec. 12.
Another $200 million for power sector reforms is expected in 2024, along with $100 million to the water sector and $50-$70 million for the tourism sector.
An additional $100 million is earmarked in ADB support to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, along with another $100 million to improve public finance and debt management.
Sri Lanka has to remain committed to pushing forward reforms pledged under the IMF programme, Kadono said, which include restructuring its loss-making state enterprises, reducing budget deficits and improving governance.
“These are not bandage measures. I think Sri Lanka has done a lot of that in the past so, I think it’s really time to fix the fundamentals of the economy and to address these latent weaknesses in the economy and the institutions,” Kadono said.
Following a milestone in international relations and provenance research, six priceless Kandyan artifacts seized during the Dutch colonial occupation of Sri Lanka have now been returned from the Netherlands.
Accordingly, these Kandyan artifacts will be on public display at the Colombo National Museum from today (Dec.05) until further notice, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
A commemorative postage stamp issued during the event serves as a symbolic marker, celebrating the milestone in international relations and provenance research.
The event took place at the National Museum today, presided over by the Minister of Buddha Sasana and Cultural Affairs, Vidura Wickramanayake, and the President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka. This marked a significant step in cultural collaboration between the two nations, the PMD added.
The exhibits – the Lewke’s cannon, a Golden Kasthane, a Silver Kasthane, a Sinhalese Knife, and two Guns – had originally been taken as war booty by the Dutch East India Company in 1765, during the siege of the Palace of Kandy.
In attendance at this distinguished occasion was the Minister of Shantha Bandara, the State for Media; Ms. Bonnie Horbach, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka; Ms. Dewi van de Weerd, the Ambassador for International Cultural Cooperation at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Maged Mosleh, the Ambassador of Egypt in Sri Lanka; Somaratne Vidanapathirana, the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Cultural Affairs; Sajani Kasturiarachchi, the Director General of the National Museum Department and several distinguished officials from both the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.
