By Engr. Kanthar BalanathanDipEE (UK), GradCert (RelEng-Monash), DipBus&Adm (Finance-Massey), C.Eng., MIEE, Former Director of Power Engineering Solutions Pty Ltd, Consulting Electrical Engineers
Since its Independence in 1948, Sri Lanka had been a peaceful crime-free country until 1971, when the country became a republic. Since LTTE gave birth, Law & Order, Crimes have been on the accent. In some sectors LTTE maintained discipline, however, they were involved in killing civilians In Jaffna and the South, specially Anuradhapura etc. The Tamil terrorist groups attempted to kill themselves and between groups tensions were on the rise. LTTE attempted to kill Hon Douglas Devananda several times and failed. What was the reason for this attempt, which no one can give a good reason for? LTTE carried out massacres among themselves, like Mathaya and others. Therefore the killing culture was developed by the LTTE group in the name of liberation. Not only in SL, however, but in Thamizhaham also they massacred each other. Specially TELO massacred more than 40 of their cadre in Chennai.
What the writer is trying to state is that the killing culture started with the formation of the so-called liberation (terrorist) groups.
Sambanthar and the other political parties should be embarrassed, horrified, and chagrined of themselves along with the Tamil populace because they formed the Tamil National Alliance on the order of the LTTE Command. TNA although they formed as a unit, had no vision and mission. Each party member was interested in their party manifesto and party growth. Each party states that they have its vision. For example, can any of the group members other than Sambanthar come forward and state that they did not kill anyone or they were not responsible for killing another Sinhalese or Tamil? Tamils although they formed several groups did not have the vision and mission for what they were fighting for. Further, they did not do intensive research on the viability and sustainability of a separate country called Tamil Eelam. Tamil Eelam is not at all viable and sustainable both economically and technologically as a separate country. Most of the Tamils will migrate to the South of Sri Lanka if that happens. Sambanthar also should be ashamed of himself for holding the chair of Leader of the Opposition (LOP), which was an appointment rather than an election unconstitutionally.
Rowdism among Tamils
Today, the North has become an area of worst culture with rowdyism, prostitution, where the father rapes the daughter, the teacher rapes the student, boys have sex with girls in the bush in Kilinochai and other areas, drug trafficking, drug transportation and distribution by college students in the North, and AVA group embarked on Swordculture in robbing and killing civilians. Tamil Diaspora flies in for the Nallur and Sannathi festivals with no knowledge of the events and the change of cruel and dirty culture. What is the pureness of Tamils in going to temples? Recently several events have occurred, one in Cunnakam. The key question is; what are the police doing in the North?
The Chunnnakam incident is horrific. Several incidents have occurred in the North. What is the objective of this terrorism, and what is the goal? Political MPs should have educated them by going through villages and speaking to them. Tamil Politicians are busy promoting their party politics. The politicians themselves were terrorists and killers one time anyway. Carrying the name TELO”, PLOTE etc.
The intimidation and terrorism are extended to foreign countries like the UK, Canada etc wherever Tamils are living.
The army units shall not be withdrawn from the North, particularly, Palaly, Karainagar, VVT, and other vital nodal cities. The Sri Lankan government has the right to protect its borders. The lands can be given back but the army shall not be moved out of the North.
Principals’ seat has become vacant in some areas like Kilinochi, Vavuniya etc. Why have these positions not been filled? Some teachers in Jaffna have been transferred, however, they have not moved out of Jaffna, holding onto some MPs and /or applying nepotism/favouritism etc.
Tourists in the South have been robbed.
Is SL moving towards, some countries like in Africa?
A Tamil guy in Australia called Varatharajah Yogarajah is threatening and intimidating Tamils who do not support Tamil Eelam and the LTTE. He was supposed to have been with the LTTE armed unit. Now he has moved out to Wellington, New Zealand. He threatened MA Sumanthiran when MAS came to Sydney in 2019. He has been posting threatening comments on my articles. He is only an example. There are several Tamil rowdy people overseas. The shortfall is that these clowns do not think about what they are and why they moved out of SL. A very low IQ.
It is to be considered that a decent lot of Tamils are living overseas under threat. I may inform the intelligence units overseas. The SL high commissions should give them a hand in identifying these culprits.
It is considered that the Police hierarchy takes these incidents seriously and maintains action to restore Law & Order in SL. People are not living in the jungle. Jaffna has become a jungle. Tamils who moved out overseas are trying to convert their domiciled places into jungles.
I like to make a comment: It is considered that Hon Douglas Devananda is the only politician who Is very much interested in the growth of Sri Lanka and is working hard to develop and unite the country and the people.
Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel, former Ambassador to UAE and Israel and President Ambassador’s Forum
Bribery and Corruption spread as air
This is a current and a hot topic that will not be stale anytime anywhere as the issue continues worldwide in different degrees in different eras. Bribery is current with historical significance prevalent in all generations due to excessive greed of the human that defines in various ways with no clear definition today due to the complex nature in today’s context, most simple definition for bribery being the ‘’gift offered to influence a person to act in favour of the giver’’ is not as simple as it reads. It is rampant, cancerous and has spread country and worldwide as air. Almost all nations and institutions worldwide are finding difficult to eradicate if not minimize this menace that has retarded the growth of nations and retarded developments of countries, institutions including the world body charged on corruption and extravagance which amounts to corruption. It is prevalent all over including the United Nation organization, governments and other organizations in some scale but not at the magnitude unbearable as in Sri Lanka. This timely topic was broached by His Excellency ‘’Mizukoshi Hideaki’’ the Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka in an article published on Daily News on 27th January 2023 in which he says that the Sri Lankan Executive must take measures to curb bribery and corruption as a prerequisite to development and recover from the economic crisis the country is faced with today. We thank the Ambassador representing an economically sound developed nation of a member of the world family that has successfully emerged victorious after the unpleasant memories of the world war that shattered Japan during the war. We thank him for bringing this to the notice of the Executive branch of the Sri Lankan government as a friend who has quite correctly and diplomatically put it across due to long and close friendly connections historically as economically for a long time. It is nice of him to think of Sri Lanka and this timely topic as a friendly advice to the donor country in grave danger and we are sure the Sri Lankan executive will take serious note of.
Executive of Sri Lanka international relations and diplomacy
Executive of Sri Lanka consists of the President, Cabinet of ministers and the administrative machinery. They face allegations and counter allegations of bribery corruption and nepotism in different degrees. Sri Lanka is under the microscopic eye of the World Bank demanding transparency as a pre requisite to give the much needed IMF loan to Sri Lanka debt ridden in the crisis. Whether the Ambassador has a right to comment on bribery and corruption a matters which is compactly confined to Sri Lanka is interesting to note in terms of the Geneva Convention on Diplomatic Relations both countries are bound by is an interesting issue when the Ambassador making such remarks in good faith as a friend representative of a friendly that has close and long friendly ties when Japan is a main contributor to Sri Lanka in various ways. ‘’Rupavahani’’ is such a gift by the Japanese government that has helped immensely financially varies occasions. Having said on the issues pertaining to international law diplomacy and international relations the Ambassador’s statement has to be taken seriously in the correct context as in fact Sri Lanka is a corruption full nation going through economic and political hardships may be mainly due to bribery corruption and mismanagement of successive government for a long time. But right thinking Sri Lankans are grateful to the Ambassador for pointing out the truth many including the media has not touched on. Ruwanda has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that if Executive has done it by raising a poorest country struggling with poverty and ethnic was for years have now become the economic tiger of Africa with fast developments, reforms, in all areas and sectors as a pride and an example to the African continent realising an impossibility with the correct, honest and strong and powerful leadership with an aim as the current leader of Ruwanda. Therefore it is easier to achieve this in Sri Lanka better with the resources, education and the resources and it is only needed a proper leadership as the Japanese Ambassador kindly reminded us politely and diplomatically.
Most corrupted Institutions functioning freely in the firing line today
Having admitted that we have a problem as a country infested with bribery and corruptions what do we do to curb and prevent for the benefit and betterment of the people suffering from many ways due to bribery and corruption. This writer has raised this topic previously on Colombo Telegraph on 26th October 2004, Lanka Web on 10/3/2018, Daily Mirror on 6/5/17 and Sunday Observer on 10/1/2021 on the grave danger of the crisis and a possible and a viable solution before we are immersed in the troubled ocean of debts in today. Unfortunately the situation today is precarious and uncontrollable many institutions have become institutionalised bribe taking centres and corruption centres openly functioning with no fear with the assistance of corrupt officials and funds they accumulate illegally. Let us find few institutions naming in the public eye as main targets in action in the public office today obtaining information from media web and the social media. Court offices and the system in extremely correct due to congestion of mainly in district and Magistrates courts and it should be misunderstood on the judges who are responsible for the conduct of cases when the court registers are responsible for the management of the office with the custody of productions which includes drugs, firearms, money and others in the court custody with lot of responsibilities’. This applies to District Courts with the custody of vehicles, property, act with a limited staff and assistants exposing them to danger and corruption picking from the media that court officers ( not court houses to be specific and for our protection) Then comes the motor traffic and identity card offices and the staff pointing at with the categories of customs, police ( especially drug related matters) district council offices and it must be stated that we have missed a lot as it is so rampant going over our heads which is a sad state known to the public and governance unable to control the menace spread like wide power. What do we do to destroy the known and see enemy a most everywhere omnipresent with no fear which is the main enemy which is no exaggeration at all. The nation as one must give priority to this matter as prevention corruption and bribery will definitely a solution for all the ills that has ruined the nation to this extent today. These are only few institutions listed amongst many dis functioning as bribery dens and brought daylight despite the existence of a sound legal system on paper that is not properly utilized for obvious reasons as cancer has spread all over. We boast of a strong judiciary, legal system with excellent lawyer’s bribery law not second to any other system yet the bribe takers are acquitted so frequent on technical and slimy grounds that we hear so often on media. It may be an interesting topic for the Universities to compute the loss and the damages to the nation on corruption and d bribery to ascertain the loss and as an incentive for steps on eradication of this menace. The list goes on and on endless until it is clamped down jointly with the government with the direct participation of the citizen out of realization of the extent of the menace.
The law on bribery and corruption in Sri Lanka
The law and procedure on bribery and corruption in Sri Lanka is strong, straight, and powerful on paper though the implementation is slow ineffective with inefficient agency and the network. The main agency today is (CIABOC) a product set up with the amendment to the Constitution as 19th and 20 th3 amendment to set up independent commissions including Bribery and Corruption mails senior judges on the top. Prior to independence during Kings Rule King is the head of the judiciary who is expected to rule the country subject to ‘’Dasaraja Dharma’’ –Ten Royal Virtues in practice by the king – the ultimate ruler who ruled and made judgments on the issues before him to resolve, based on [‘’Dhana’’ Generality, ‘’Sila’’ Morality, Comfort – ‘’Pariccage’’ making sacreficies Ajjive Honesty Maddave Kindness Tapa Restraint ‘’Akroada’’, Non hatred, ‘’Avihansa’’ Nonviolence , Kanthi kindness, ‘’Aviorada’’ Non Enmity,] The subject ruled by the ruler by the virtues mentioned will be treated properly and impartially when bribery and corruption is banned and punishable with severe punishments. Citizen ruled by the above virtues may be definitely safe from arbitrary rules and this kind of rule is welcomed.
Law on bribery and corruption in in brief
As at today the catalogue of legislation on the subject is given here as penal Code 2/1882- Bribery Act 11/1954- 1/75- 2/94- 19th and 20 the amendment that created (CIABOC) the main anti-bribery agency with the Bribery Commissioners and the Bribery Commissioner the CEO of the agency. The legislative structure is intact and as powerful as any other jurisdiction yet appear to be ineffective with bribery and corruption increasing at a terrible rate. The laws are straight and the issue is the incompetence or lack of will of the applicability to the last word which is the need of the hour. It is worrying that the rate of acquittals and failing conditions on technical issues despite the powerful legal system and learned judges legal experts and professionals. What is needed is to strengthen the procedure and implementation process forthwith.
Way forward and plan of actions
Who is responsible and who should initiate and work on the implementation process of cleaning up of bribery and corruption? Is in the hands of the citizen activists and social organizations sponsored by the governance with a genuine deed out of realization of the danger and need of the hour. It is a difficult task as those in power including the Executive may not be willing to sacrifice shedding the excessive benefits power and greed in all areas and sectors. Could this be possible on realising g the danger? Or some kind of compulsion is a matter to the citizen to decide on a plan of action for a better developed and prosperous new Sri Lanka to emerge. Sarath28dw@gmail.com sarath7@hotmail.co.uk
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda met with the External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar today (31) at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi to review the current status of the relations between Sri Lanka and India.
The External Affairs Minister of India and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka also discussed the way forward and follow-up action, emanating from Dr. Jaishankar’s recent bilateral visit to Sri Lanka.
On 20 January, Dr. Jaishankar concluded an official visit to Sri Lanka. During the visit, he had called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and had official discussions with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry.
Joint Secretary, Indian Ocean Region of the Ministry of External Affairs Puneet Agrawal and Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Niluka Kadurugamuwa also participated in the meeting.
Sri Lanka won freedom not in isolation but in step with the rest of the Asian countries in the aftermath of the end of the Second World War in 1945. Many factors contributed to the collapse of Western dominance in Asia. The Second World War was the pivotal factor. WW2 was a blessing in disguise for European colonies. Japan’s blitzkrieg inspired the national liberation movements in Asia and even Africa to awaken and fight for their freedom. Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948 on the back of Japan’s resounding military victories and the Indian armed struggle led by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA). The threat of mutiny by the discharged British Indian Army soldiers, Navy, and Air Force in 1946, inspired by Bose, finally convinced the Labour Government of Clement Atlee to quit India. If India had not gained independence on August 15, 1947, neither Burma nor Ceylon would have been granted independence on January 4, 1948, or February 4, 1948, respectively. When Britain lost the jewel in its crown, i.e., India, it decided to vacate South Asia altogether. We need to revisit the narrative of how Sri Lanka achieved independence and revise it.
An accountability process for these colonial crimes is warranted through an apology, catharsis, and adequate reparations. An Apology must be particularly directed to the descendants of the Sinhala Buddhist Kandyan people who were singled out as victims of colonial brutalities. These are the descendants of a highly oppressed group of people who were also deprived of their inheritance by the colonial rulers planting thousands of indentured Indian labour of Malabar descent in their traditional homelands without their consent. 19th-century British official documents reveal how the freedom struggles against British colonial rule were suppressed in a most brutal, genocidal manner in one of the darkest pages of European colonial history.
1)The Government of Sri Lanka must demand from all three colonial powers i.e., Portugal, Netherlands, and Britain:
a) Accountability for crimes committed against both humans and non – humans e.g., the holocaust of elephants in the upcountry, including seeking
a)Apology and Repentance
b)Atonement and Remorse
c)Catharsis
d) Reparation
e) Restitutio in Integrum (in Latin this means ‘Restoration’)
b) Inquire into Colonial Crimes committed by the three Colonial Rulers including Genocidal crimes and wholesale destruction of Buddhist Temples and illegal seizure and occupation of Buddhist Temple lands, and the building of Christian Churches on top of destroyed Temple sites (see the ‘Temporal and Spiritual Conquest of Ceylon’ by Father Fernao de Queyroz), and the prohibition of the practice of Buddhism.
c) Establish a museum dedicated to remembering the freedom struggles of the people of Sri Lanka against Colonial Rule (1505 – 1948)
d) Research and rewrite the narrative surrounding gaining independence taking into consideration both the internal and external factors
e) Plan a celebration that gives due place to all those who fought against all three Euro – Christian powers that ruled Ceylon in an unjust way
f) Convene an International Conference on Colonialism jointly with former European colonies
g) Consider changing the format of the celebration to exhibit more the historical, cultural, scientific, and Ayurvedic medicines and medical achievements in improving the quality of life, and the creative abilities and contributions of our people in our 2, 500-year history including the names of our freedom fighters i.e., the brave Kings and Queens who fought and protected this land from foreign invasions, and help build the pre-colonial and admirable Buddhist Civilization of Sri Lanka.
Who currently amongst those who receive a salaried income is not on the streets protesting against the need to pay income tax? The obvious answer is only those working in the private sector. The private sector is often slammed for its reluctance to criticise the government for everything wrong with our country. So their reticence may once again result in only private sector employees paying income tax if the government caves into the demands of the public sector employees and trade unionists.
Based on media reports and television visuals, most state sector employees and those working in state-owned enterprises are on the streets demanding that they not be subject to income tax. Yes, a few say they don’t mind paying income tax but at a lower rate and whilst some demand greater transparency regarding how taxpayer money is spent. However, the overall impression created is that state sector employees don’t want to pay income tax.
As someone who worked in the private sector for nearly three decades and paid significant amounts as income tax, I, too, despised the lack of transparency and equity. However, I did not have the luxury of coming to the streets, refusing to pay the tax, or seeking judicial intervention. I had no choice. My employer deducted the tax and remitted the balance to my bank account.
Shockingly, those protesting against paying income tax are not on the breadline. I see there are two segments. The first lot is mostly public sector employees who are at least in middle management. The second is those in state-owned enterprises earning significantly high salaries and overtime despite being overstaffed.
Those working in the public sector who are out on the street are mostly university graduates who benefited from free education, demanded and received a government job, and earned a pension they never contributed to post-retirement. So their reluctance to pay income tax is perplexing, although many would put it down to the entrenched entitlement mindset.
GMOA IS ONCE AGAIN AT THE FOREFRONT
As usual, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has been the most vociferous of those objecting to increased income tax rates. That is not surprising because even in 2015, they went to the supreme court seeking relief from paying income tax at the highest rate then of 24%. When they failed, they approached the government requesting that doctors be categorised as part of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) subjected to only 14%!
So it is unsurprising that they do not want to pay income tax at 36%. It amazes me that doctors, despite benefiting from free university education, the right to engage in private practice, and regular car permits have a great reluctance to pay income tax at the same rates as others. Many stories are circulating about how doctors ask patients to settle their fees in cash, particularly post-surgery, to avoid income tax on their fees.
The good doctors have been joined by judges, university professors, university teachers, engineers and bankers. The only lot that has not joined the protests are those working in the department of Inland Revenue! It would be ironic but not surprising if they do.
It is a shocking indictment of our country’s social fabric that the most supposedly educated citizens feel that they should not be paying income tax and that only those employed in the private sector should bear the income tax burden.
THE GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENT ARE NOT WALKING THE TALK
Having said that, I certainly endorse those who protest, saying there is a lack of will on the part of the government to reduce state expenditure and, of course, a lack of transparency as to how our taxes are spent and that rampant corruption is going unchecked.
The appointment of cabinet ministers and state ministers well above what is required solely for political expediency is a case in point. That those appointed are inefficient and some stand accused of corruption makes it even harder to digest.
The much-debated expenditure allocation of Rs 200 million for the independence day celebration whilst asking ordinary citizens to tighten their belts is proof of utter insensitivity and an entrenched mindset of political entitlement. Moreover, the explanation given by the President that the world might think that the country lacks the financial resources to celebrate independence day has left me and many other millions totally incredulous.
Several international aid agencies have assessed that over five million of the population cannot adequately feed themselves, and malnutrition among children is at an all-time high. In addition, foreign and local correspondents have filed media reports of the dire situation in our country. As such, the world is aware of our predicament, and this fact should not escape the President and his cabinet. So who are they trying to deceive?
A principle of good leadership is being able to walk the talk.” In that respect, the President and his cabinet have been woefully lacking. My criticism is not just limited to the current President and cabinet. The parliament, which includes those in the opposition, can easily demonstrate their commitment to austerity measures that they demand from us by voting to curtail their benefits, such as closing down the parliamentary restaurant where it is claimed that sumptuous meals are served. In the overall context of government expenditure, it might be a meagre amount. However, they need to be seen walking the talk”.
A media report reported that Rs 800 million had been spent on refurbishing a residence occupied by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. If this report is indeed correct, then it is an abominable act by someone who keeps repeating that he is with the common person.
A recent report that the Kurunegala Municipal Council has spent Rs. 60 million to remove a stone at a construction site where a building was being constructed for a Maternity and Child Clinic, whereas the approved cost was Rs. 9.3 million reflects the corruption that permeates all state institutions. That none will be charged and jailed for this offence is guaranteed.
I have highlighted a few minor examples of taxpayer money being robbed and wasted. It is, therefore, not surprising that some feel that being subjected to income tax is unfair.
WIDEN THE TAX NET AND IMPOSE A 10% WITHHOLDING TAX ON INTEREST INCOME
There is no doubt that the tax net should be widened. Many liable to tax are not doing so as they are wilfully avoiding tax payment, with many not having a file at the IRD. It was recently reported that as many as 113 members of parliament do not have tax files. In many conversations, a question is raised whether all traders in Pettah have a tax file. From my experience in the private sector, I know that most wholesalers and distributors are either not paying taxes or what they pay is significantly understated. It is generally believed that most of the 500,000 grocery stores are not within the tax net. The IRD is at fault for not forcing these miscreants to register.
An eminently sensible proposal by Dr Nishan De Mel, head of the research agency Verite is to increase the withholding tax (WHT) on interest income to 10 per cent. He has argued that the additional tax collected would enable the government to give a tax reduction to those earning salaries above Rs 100,000 to maybe Rs. 500,000 per month. His suggestion is based on the assumption that most of our country’s super rich” are underpaying taxes. Taxes collected as the source is guaranteed income for the state. An argument that may be put forward against this is that it will penalise pensioners who may not be liable for tax. The IRD issuing a tax direction can resolve this by confirming that the recipient is not liable for tax. The reluctance of the government to adopt the suggestion is perplexing, if not surprising.
THE NEED TO INCULCATE PAYING OF INCOME TAX AT A YOUNG AGE
Returning to why most state sector employees are reluctant to pay income tax, I believe that the reluctance has been ingrained in their DNA by successive governments by exempting them from income tax. This is because so many good social attributes are taught, and people are exposed to them at a young age.
In my case, my parents inculcated in me that I have a social responsibility to those underprivileged and, of course, the need to adhere to the law of any country I live. At 18, when I worked part-time as a petrol station attendant in the UK whilst studying, my salary was subject to income tax. Despite my nominal wage, I was conditioned to the need to pay income tax. It is the same discipline I adhered to during my working career, and even after my retirement pay my taxes every quarter without any underpayment or delay. It is the same for all private sector employees in our country, where the employer deducts income tax from the salary. So they are conditioned at an early age to the proverb, Nothing is certain in life other than death and taxes.”
Those employed in state-owned enterprises have gotten used to the employer bearing the tax on their behalf. So the new rule that the employer will no longer be allowed to absorb the tax is causing them much distress. Yet, shockingly, such a scheme has been in existence. The mindset of state employees was illustrated when recently, an employee of the Ministry of Finance justified this practice by saying, What does it matter whether the employer bears the tax? After all, the IRD receives the tax” It is a shocking reflection of the prevailing attitude.
It is a universally accepted social principle that those better off must contribute a fair share towards maintaining those less well off and other services that the state provides, either free or at subsidised price levels. The responsibility of paying income tax is even more critical in a society that has accepted free education and free health care should be a right of every citizen. It is, therefore, difficult to comprehend why our supposedly educated citizens who have immensely benefited from free education are now unappreciative of the need to repay the state and the citizens a fair share of their income. I am shocked that university professors and teachers, who are assumed to be a fountain of knowledge and appreciate social responsibilities, are also out on the street protesting against the increase in income tax rates. The same applies to those at the Central Bank, who should understand our economy’s perilous state more than others.
Colombo, January 30 (Economynext): A future Sri Lankan government under the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is not obliged to support deals with the International Monetary Fund or any other international funding agency as the current government does not have a mandate to sign such agreement.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government is in discussion to obtain $2.9 billion IMF loan once the sovereign debt-defaulted country agrees with all its bilateral creditors. Wickremesinghe government has already implemented many IMF demands that are required to be fulfilled before the global lender’s approval.
The Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa speaking at a Local Government election campaign in the Western provincial district of Kalutara said the current government has no mandate from the people.
Wickremesinghe was elected by the parliament in July last year backed by ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, a party which lost its popularity due to wrong economic policies which led to the country to an unprecedented economic crisis.
Wickremesinghe lost the 2020 parliamentary polls but entered the parliament through the only national list position got by his center-right United National Party (UNP).
Premadasa said his father, the then-president Ranasinghe Premadasa (1988-1993), also went for IMF loans, but he never slashed any relief measures given to the public.
You must deal with the IMF not by bowing to them (IMF). If you stand straight, have a backbone like a lion and deal with the IMF then you can get facilities that are more advantageous for you,” Junior Premadasa said in the election campaign meeting.
But now, the SLPP and the UNP are jointly going to the IMF, begging and saying, oh Lord IMF we will do anything you say.”
We tell one thing to the IMF and the international financial institutions. A SJB government is not obligated to support any deal that a government like this with a president without a mandate.”
Analysts have predicted holding the local government polls could derail Wickremesinghe’s reform agenda as the main theme of the election would be economy and taxes. The country has seen rising protest over personal income tax hikes since last week.
Sajith Premadasa was initially invited to accept Prime Minister post in May last year when former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to resign after public protests following his supporters attacking unarmed protesters in the capital Colombo.
However, Premadasa did not accept the offer. But after Wickremesinghe was appointed as the prime minister, he expressed his willingness to accept the post.
Wickremesinghe was elected as the president later in line with the country’s constitution.
You can’t blame the President right now, because the first option was given to the leader of the opposition to take over the country,” State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe told in an interview to EconomyNext on January 26 when he was asked about the opposition’s criticism.
Had he become the Prime Minister, this (the economy) would have been the same state.”
Colombo, January 31 (Daily Mirror): Sri Lanka’s professional elites are the greatest beneficiaries of the Sri Lankan welfare state, and many would not have been in their elevated places without the public tax-funded free education. However, as much as they want, rightly so, the welfare state to succeed, they are unwilling to pay their share
Though Gotabaya should not be credited for his fallacies, the resultant exogenous shock on the economy due to his policies has compelled his successor to rare and decisive systemwide reforms – though how many of these lofty promises would become a reality is open to question
Can someone tell me how on earth these two campaign slogans are mutually compatible?
Both were heard loud and clear in the last week’s ‘Black week’ anti-tax demonstrations by the country’s professional classes – Government doctors, university dons, CEB engineers, bankers etc.
First is the opposition to the government’s new personal income tax, a progressive tax system that lowered the taxable threshold to Rs.100,000 per month and levied an incremental tax at 6% for each additional earning of Rs.500,000 per annum. The maximum tax rate is 36%.
The second is the civic-minded demand for the regular supply of lifesaving drugs as hospitals across the country face a crippling shortage of basic medical supplies. Probably the latter was added to make the protests appear more amenable to the average public. An overwhelming 90% of Sri Lankan wage earners earn less than the taxable threshold.
The problem is that these two demands are mutually exclusive- they cancel out the other.
Other than being a cheap political slogan, it is also hypocritical.
A welfare state, which Sri Lanka is unquestionably one, is financed through taxation, mandatory levies on personal income, public and private business revenue, capital gains and indirect taxes.
A welfare state crumbles when the state fails to extract the adequate number of national resources to finance it or when a state adopts a too larger bundle of social welfare, creating a social overreach that it cannot afford within its financial means.
Sri Lanka’s professional elites are the greatest beneficiaries of the Sri Lankan welfare state, and many would not have been in their elevated places without the public tax-funded free education. However, as much as they want, rightly so, the welfare state to succeed, they are unwilling to pay their share.
This is not a problem that sprung overnight due to the government’s tax reforms.
The ratio between direct and indirect taxes as a share of government tax revenue is 20% to 80%. The result has been that Sri Lanka’s welfare state has been financed through loans and printing money, which under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, hit a new high, leading to hyperinflation unseen in Sri Lankan history. His ill-informed tax reforms resulted in the loss of Rs.700 billion in government revenue and led to the sovereign default.
Though Gotabaya should not be credited for his fallacies, the resultant exogenous shock on the economy due to his policies has compelled his successor to rare and decisive systemwide reforms – though how many of these lofty promises would become a reality is open to question.
However, taxing the better off and economically privileged is just one aspect- though extensive taxing on the export sector would discourage investment.
A cursory look at Sri Lanka’s welfare state might also reveal, though it had led to commendable progress on social and health indicators, many of which – on par with upper-income states and still provided free of charge- the overall promise of the welfare state is blunted by the wider economic policies. Alas, these policies are, in effect, designed to favour a microscopic minority who benefitted most through the welfare state and non-competitive local business class that keep milking the system through protectionist laws.
This is not what the welfare state was meant to be.
Sri Lanka’s Welfare state
The welfare state of Sri Lanka is not a Sri Lankan invention but an intrinsic part of the colonial legacy.
The evolution of the welfare state in its nascent form date back to the early decades of the 1900s when the Liberal Party government of Britain first introduced welfare reforms in 1906. The expansion of universal health care in Sri Lanka corresponded to these developments. Later at the end of World War II, economist William Beveridge presented the landmark Beveridge report (titled ‘Social insurance and Allied Services), which the post-war Labour government adopted as the blueprint of Britain’s social reconstruction.
Beveridge, a pioneering Liberal party politician, identified five giants on the road to reconstruction” that would have to be beaten: poverty, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness. He argued these could be solved with a state-run insurance system, and in contrast to the schemes of previous centuries, a minimum level of life would be established that was not extreme or punishing the sick for not being able to work.
This changed the social fabric of Britain and, by extension, some of its colonies.
C.W.W. Kannangara’s free education bill, introduced while Sri Lanka was still a British colony, would not have been a reality without these changes beyond our shores.
Sri Lanka was a welfare state under the British. However, as much as they were genuinely committed to social equality, the latter-day leaders of independent Sri Lanka probably overstretched it, driven by political calculations. Worst still, they built a protectionist wall and cultivated state and private monopolies.
Protectionism and monopolies were not limited to the economy but had a virulent influence on all quarters of public life. Higher Education itself became a state monopoly, which effectively left out a vast majority of the country’s children in favour of a few achievers.
That explains why despite the immense promise of the welfare state, why Sri Lanka’s primary mode of foreign revenue is remittance from unskilled workers- housemaids and drivers- toiling in the Middle East. Half of the Sri Lankan migrant workers in the Middle East have education only up to GCE ordinary level and have no vocational training.
Of around 160,000 students who qualify for university, only 40,000 (25%) at best would go to a public university fully funded by public funds.
The rest is simply forgotten. Not only do they have limited opportunities for higher education, but such options are also often curtailed by a self-interested campaign by the privileged minority who could attend a university.
It is worse for students who cannot get through ordinary levels. Of the 311, 312 students who sat for Ordinary levels in 2021, only 78% passed. That leaves 80,000 students who are left out without adequate opportunities for vocational training or higher education.
This system is morally wrong and economically counterproductive. Sri Lanka allocates the elephantine share of its national wealth to less than 15 % of the youth at the expense of the vast majority.
This style of resource allocation had resulted in vast inequalities and an unproductive workforce.
India is a classic case, where extensive emphasis on higher education of a privileged minority has created a wholly unequal society and cumbersome workforce, 85% of which work in the grey economy.
The better example Sri Lanka should follow is what the countries like Taiwan or South Korea in the past or Vietnam at present. They invested in the majority through vocational training and state-of-the-art primary education.
Sri Lanka should reform its welfare state to serve the majority of its children. It should liberalize education and provide financial aid to children to have higher education in private universities and technical colleges. It should build more vocational training institutes and upgrade primary and secondary education.
It should devise a system in which every child has a fair share of upward mobility. It should be a system guided by market forces, as much as the well-intentioned premise of the welfare state- and not one dictated by a few who think they have a feudal entitlement over the rest of the country’s children.
It was an act of cruel irony that forced the supporters of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to witness him resigning from Office on 14-07-2022 and hand over the reins to the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. President Gotabaya won with an overwhelming majority and was given a rare two-third government precisely to save our country from Ranil Wickremesinghe’s anti-national policies.
This majority did not come from the traditional vote bases of the SLFP and its allies. For the second time in Sri Lanka’s contemporary history, the country united as one. Voters left their usual political affiliations and preferences to work and bring Gotabaya Rajapaksa to power and politically retire Ranil Wickremesinghe. The first time this phenomenon occurred was in 2008-9, as a 30-year terrorist era was brought to an end.
From President Gotabaya Rajapaksa voters expected:
1. A disciplined society,
2. Bolstered national security,
3. A strong economy.
By politically retiring the Yahapalana Government’s Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, people wanted to send a strong message to those politicians who weaken national interests to pander to geopolitical whims. The shameless servitude to US diktats severely cost the veteran politician.
Role Reversal
One could say that President Gotabaya’s mistake was that he tried to be more American than the Americans as he strived to prove himself as an advocate of democracy. Americans know when to,
• Work within the democratic framework,
• Use democracy as mere propaganda and
• Ignore it altogether.
Conversely, President Gotabaya got carried away. He thus allowed the anti-government protests, which the West insisted was a strong arm” of democracy, to continue unabated. Even as the protests degraded into boorishness, then hooliganism and finally violence, the protests were tolerated. The disappointment of those who expected a disciplined society from him is beyond measure.
Considering the circumstances that led to his resignation, the status of the national security does not need further clarification. His resignation has far reaching consequences. He left a very bad precedence, for now every government henceforth can be ousted in this similar fashion.
The protests adversely affected the ailing economy. We were on an economic tightrope and could not afford the luxury to protest. Neither investors nor tourists view protests as a fundamental right. Instead they become cautious and would rather look for other options. Tourism in April 2022 fell by more than 40 per cent. As the protests progressed, the economy continued to contract and for the first time in our history, we declared bankruptcy.
However, Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new President brought order to the country and restored the law.
He freed the State buildings that house the apex of the country’s administration from mobsters. Currently, he is working to resolve the bankrupted economy he inherited.
Of course, he cannot complain much as he is also an architect of this weakened economy. It was the policies he enacted during the Yahapalana Government that pushed our economic growth from a healthy seven per cent to an alarming two per cent – and that during a period where global economy grew.
However, the fact remains that presently there is a semblance of normalcy. This does not mean that we are on a path of recovery or the decisions enacted are free from controversy. It appears that we have no option but pass the darkest hour if we are to witness the dawn and may take many wrong turns in the meantime.
Nevertheless, President Wickremesinghe’s leadership in restoring peace whilst meeting economic challenges has been positively received by many – especially the former supporters of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It appeared for a while that President Wickremesinghe has learnt from his past mistakes.
Death to Nation by Political Suicide
Just as voters began to relax and give President Wickremesinghe the benefit of the doubt, he shattered this fragile, budding trust. During Thai Pongal festivities in Jaffna, earlier this month, he dropped the bombshell as he announced his intention to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (13A) in full.
None of his predecessors had ever seriously contemplated passing on land and Police powers from the Central Government to Provincial Councils. Therefore, it is unclear if President Wickremesinghe is actually serious and would do what none of the previous presidents dared.
If he does go ahead, it will be akin to resurrecting from the dead only to hammer another nail in his own coffin. People desperately feel the void of a true leader that they are willing to try anyone. In 2015, an unknown candidate was voted as President. The voters were enchanted by his ‘simplicity’. This adoration quickly evaporated and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a proven figure, was elected. Feeling deeply disappointed with him, many are now willing to try even the JVP.
Thus, if President Wickremesinghe holds a clear head and a steady hand, he has a shot at being accepted as a true leader of this country. Sri Lankans are not in the habit of holding onto grudges. That is the reason the perception many had of him to change when he was acting as a leader focussed on national interests. If he veers off course, now or later, that perception too will change accordingly.
However, retiring politicians is not the issue. We would have to live with the consequences of their mistakes. That is the real concern.
What Would be Resolved?
One of the reasons the Yahapalana Government began to lose its popularity is the co-signing of the Geneva Resolution 30/1. We need to ask, what compelled that Government to do so. If it was done on the presumption that it will strengthen our relations with the West, it did not.
Instead, it teethed the unsubstantiated allegations against our military. The subsequent resolutions continue to add allegations. Hence, instead of resolving the issue, we appear to be trapped in a never ending process.
Likewise, prior to the announcement of President’s intention to implement 13A in full, the government announced its intention of setting up a Truth Commission. This was followed by an All-Party conference to find a solution to the ‘National Question’ before the 75th Independence Day anniversary.
At the time, President promised to brief the Cabinet in February 2023 on the progress of the decisions taken at the All-Party Conference. However, the pledge to implement 13A was announced in January and thereby this promise was skipped.
Now, the key questions are:
• Why the deadline to find, before Independence Day, a political solution to a segment of the society when the entire nation is engulfed in a serious economic crisis?
• What precipitated President to override the concerns and suggestions made at the All-Party conference and announce his decision to implement the 13A?
• What are the solutions expected from establishing a truth commission or implementing 13A in full?
ranasingheshivanthi@gmail.com
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Ceylon Today)
RCPL launched its packaged consumer products brand, ‘Independence’ in December 2022 and is creating a distinct and dedicated retail distribution network for its fast-expanding FMCG portfolio.
RCPL’s vision is to bring to Indian consumers a bouquet of domestic and globally recognised consumer brands and product choices, the company said. (File)
Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL), the FMCG arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures has entered into a strategic partnership with Sri Lanka-based Maliban Biscuit Manufactories.
Maliban is a biscuit manufacturer in Sri Lanka for the past 70 years with its range of products, including biscuits, crackers, cookies and wafers. The company has expanded its products reach to global markets and exports to over 35 countries across five continents.
Speaking on the association, Isha Ambani, executive director, Reliance Retail Ventures, said, With this strategic partnership between RCPL and Maliban, we will not only be strengthening our FMCG portfolio through a great brand but will also be able to offer an excellent value proposition through quality products to our Indian consumers.”
RCPL’s vision is to bring to Indian consumers a bouquet of domestic and globally recognised consumer brands and product choices, the company said.
With this partnership, Reliance and Maliban will develop propositions that will strengthen RCPL’s portfolio in the biscuit segment.
RCPL launched its packaged consumer products brand, ‘Independence’ in December 2022 and is creating a distinct and dedicated retail distribution network for its fast-expanding FMCG portfolio.
The company has also been investing in various indigenous brands to offer wide variety of products to consumers. For instance, it recently acquired 50% stake in Gujarat-based Sosyo Hajoori Beverages and home-grown soft drink brand Campa.
According to some reports, it was also in talks to acquire garden, lahori zeera and bindu beverages, among others.
Reliance Retail Ventures, the retail arm of Reliance Industries, operates more than 16,500 own stores and has over 2 million merchants across grocery, electronics, apparel, pharmacy, lingerie, home and furnishing, beauty and personal care. It also operates the network of omni-channel business through Jio Mart, Ajio, Netmeds, Zivame and other online channels.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan are facing a major energy crisis like Bangladesh, but Dhaka has been able to secure a package to address the issue
The International Monetary Fund has signed off on a $4.7 billion support loan package for Bangladesh to help it cope with soaring energy and food costs that have sparked huge protests.
Bangladesh and other South Asian countries dependent on fossil fuel imports were hit hard by sharp cost-of-living increases following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Nationwide blackouts of up to 13 hours a day hit the electricity grid last year and the government extended food relief for households unable to afford rice and other staples.
The IMF package makes $476 million immediately available to the government but commits it to tax hikes and bringing down the number of bad loans in the banking sector.
Multiple shocks have made macroeconomic management challenging in Bangladesh,” the lender’s active chair Antoinette Sayeh said in a statement released on Tuesday.
Authorities need to accelerate their ambitious reform agenda to achieve a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth,” she said.
Bangladesh plans to use the IMF loan to prop up its foreign exchange reserves, which have nosedived from $46 billion to $34 billion.
The local currency has depreciated around 25 percent against the US dollar since last May, driving up costs for petrol distributors and power utilities that have rippled across the rest of the economy.
Bangladesh’s official inflation rate is around 8.7% but independent economists say the true figure is substantially higher.
The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party has blamed the government for the crisis, accusing it of squandering cash on multibillion-dollar vanity projects.
It has organised a series of rallies demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and a general election.
Bangladesh is one of several South Asian countries seeking international help in navigating economic shocks over the past year.
Pakistan is in the grips of a major crisis and facing the prospect of looming national bankruptcy, with an IMF delegation visiting Tuesday to discuss a vital cash injection.
Sri Lanka is still waiting to finalise its own bailout with the lender after an unprecedented meltdown last year that saw months of major food and fuel shortages.
Foreign Secretary, Aruni Wijewardane, with UK’s Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Sir Philip Barton, at the Foreign Ministry, in Colombo, on January 17 (pic courtesy Foreign Ministry)
As a result of sheer negligence, Sri Lanka has ended up being categorized as a perpetrator of war crimes, and those who had fought for the country are mercilessly targeted. There cannot be a better example than Air Marshal Sumangala Dias who suffered due to Sri Lanka’s failure. Canada refused to accept Dias as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner though the former Sri Lanka Air Force Commander has never been under human rights scrutiny. Subsequently, the government proposed Dias as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Italy. That move, too, failed. Italy, as a member state of the EU, pursuing war crimes accusations against Sri Lanka, declined to accept the retired SLAF Chief. The Foreign Ministry should accept responsibility for its failure to brief the inept political leadership of the stand taken by Canada and Italy on this issue. In spite of knowing what would be the outcome, the Foreign Ministry allowed the normal process to go ahead. At the end, both Canada and Italy declined to accept the retired Air Chief.
In fact, the Darusman report could have been used to counter lies. If acknowledged the discrepancy in the number of deaths caused during the final phase of the conflict. Darusman on the basis of unnamed sources alleged 40,000 deaths during Jan-May 2009 whereas the UN mission in Colombo on the basis of records made available by ICRC, hospitals et al reported between 7,000 and 8,000 deaths between August 2008 and May 2009.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Liberal Democrats leader and MP for Surbiton, Edward Jonathan Davey, recently urged British Premier Rishi Sunak’s government to follow Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau on the Sri Lanka war crimes issue. Obviously Davey was referring to the unprecedented unilateral Canadian sanctions, recently imposed on former Presidents, Mahinda Rajapaksa (Nov. 2005-Jan. 2015) and Gotabaya Rajapaksa (2019 – Nov.-2022 July).
The occasion was what the Tamil Guardian called a night of festive celebration, musical performances and classical dance, in Central Hall, in Westminster, to celebrate Thai Pongal and Tamil heritage month. The event was described as a joint effort by the British Tamil community.
The Tamil Guardian quoted Ed Davey as having declared that the Canadian decision to impose sanctions on the Rajapaksa brothers was ‘absolutely right’ and that ‘the time for fine words has gone.’
The World Tamil Historic Society, Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, Tamils for Labour, Tamil Coordinating Committee, British Tamil Chamber of Commerce, and British Tamil Conservatives, contributed to the event.
There shouldn’t be any issue over the celebration of Thai Pongal, Tamil heritage month, as well as the contribution the Tamil community made to British society, with the participation of British politicians.
British politicians, at such events, reflected the importance of the British Tamils, of Sri Lankan origin, as a significant vote bank.
The Westminster event was attended by several senior representatives of political parties, including Chairman of the Conservative Party, Nadhim Zahawi. The event reiterated commitment of all stakeholders, for justice and accountability.
Labour MP for Eastham, Stephen Timms, too, urged the British government to impose sanctions on individuals who, the British knew, were responsible for war crimes. The MP underscored the need for an ‘independent, international investigation’ in the absence of a domestic reconciliation process in Sri Lanka.
Rishi Sunak and Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, sent video messages, appreciating the contribution made by the British Tamil community.
In the wake of the UK MPs’ demand for sanctions on Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary, Aruni Wijewardane, received UK’s Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Sir Philip Barton, at the Foreign Ministry, in Colombo, on January 17. A lengthy statement, issued by the Foreign Ministry, described the discussion as a constructive bilateral engagement in the 75th year of UK-SL diplomatic relations. The visiting official was accompanied by British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Sarah Hulton.
The media release didn’t indicate whether Sri Lanka will take up the contentious accountability issue, as the UK spearheads the high profile campaign against Sri Lanka. Therefore, the writer rationally ascertained that no other matter had been taken up at the discussion.
With the Canadian declaration that the Rajapaksa brothers, during Eelam War IV (2006-2009), perpetrated ‘gross and systematic violations of human rights,’ the campaign against Sri Lanka has entered a new phase.
The international media quoted Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mélanie Joly, as having said that they took decisive action to end international impunity against violators of international law. The Canadian measures, include travel bans and asset freezes.
The latest action should be examined against the backdrop of the Canadian Parliament recognizing Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka.
Over 14 years, after the successful conclusion of the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lanka is yet to counter lies. The failure on the part of successive governments to defend wartime political and military leaderships has facilitated the Western agenda. Sri Lanka’s bankruptcy has accelerated their despicable agenda.
Successive inept and treacherous Sri Lankan governments, and its often much compromised diplomatic service, never made a genuine attempt to set the record straight in Geneva, New York or Washington. In fact, they cooperated with those who propagated lies by conveniently failing to properly address issues at hand. Sri Lanka seemed determined not to defend its war against the LTTE, one of the half a dozen terrorist groups, formed by India.
Canada and the UK are not interested in inquiring into the origins of terrorism here. They do not care about the Tamils, who died in the hands of the Indian Army, during its deployment in the then temporarily merged Northern and Eastern Provinces. The loss of 1,300 officers, and men, and injuries suffered by more than double that figure in combat, during the period, 1987-1990, revealed the ferocity of fighting between one-time guardians of Sri Lankan terrorists and their ‘students.’
There had been numerous excesses and reprisals but such strategies were definitely not Indian policy at that time, but what happens in most wars. These Western paragons of virtue, what did their forces do, across the world, during the colonial past, and how do their law enforcers behave to this day, especially against blacks, natives in Canada, Australia and America.
Post-war national reconciliation
hindered
During the war, there had been many excesses. The Sri Lankan military cannot, under any circumstances deny that fact. However, that hadn’t been the government policy. Unfortunately, in the absence of a cohesive strategy, Sri Lanka remains accused of genocide, and the recent Canadian actions meant that the two Presidents were now categorized as war criminals.
But the billion dollar question is where is the justice for far greater war crimes, committed by the West, in places like Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, etc. Easily, more than a million innocent civilians would have perished by now, in these countries, because of those endless wars, fermented by the West on trumped up, or purely frivolous excuses, like Saddam Hussein is having weapons of mass destruction, or Gaddafi is butchering his own people, while everyone knew that a man like Saddam should be given a prize for keeping a divided nation, like Iraq, in one piece, or that Gaddafi was one of the most benevolent leaders in the entire world.
Foreign Minister, Ali Sabry, PC, in response to a query raised by the writer, at a Foreign Ministry media briefing, last year, said that sanctions had been imposed on entire fighting divisions. That was months before the categorization of the two Presidents as war criminals.
It would be a grave mistake, on the part of the Western community, to believe humiliation of the military would help post-war national reconciliation. On one hand, the Western community wants the Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) abolished, the remaining terror suspects released, and a one-time political arm of the vanquished LTTE, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) political demands met. On the other hand, the grouping wants the military punished on unsubstantiated war crimes allegations. Canadian measures are in line with that despicable strategy.
The Sri Lanka Parliament, as the supreme institution, should be ashamed of its pathetic response to the Western war crimes campaign. Sri Lanka has conveniently failed, at least to remind the Western community how R. Sampanthan’s TNA served the LTTE interests by declaring terrorist leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, the sole representative of the Tamil speaking people.
The TNA bestowed that honour, on the LTTE, in 2001. The Sri Lankan military restored the TNA as the principal political group in the Northern and Eastern provinces, after the elimination of the LTTE, militarily, in May 2009.
Instead of recognizing Sri Lanka’s achievement, the Western community has targeted Sri Lanka, basically for two reasons, namely (1) Colombo’s relationship with China and (11) the Diaspora factor.
Actually, Sri Lanka never had a strategy to counter lies. That is the undeniable truth. Incumbent UN Chief Antonio Guterres’s predecessor, Ban Ki-moon, once compared the Vanni offensive with that of Ruwanda and Serbia genocides in the 1990s. Former UN Secretary General, South Korean Ki-moon played his part to facilitate the Western agenda, in spite of his own mission, in Colombo, contradicting unsubstantiated accusations.
How SL facilitated Western strategy
Sri Lanka never made use of a golden opportunity, given by British Lord Naseby, in Oct. 2017, to prepare a solid defence of the armed forces. His stunning revelation, in the House of Lords, two years after Sri Lanka, under the shameful Yahapalana regime, co-sponsored accountability resolution against our own country, at the Geneva Human Rights Council, exposed the British duplicity.
On the basis of hitherto confidential dispatches from the British High Commission, in Colombo, during the last phase of the war – January-May 2009, the Conservative politician contradicted the very basis of the three-member UN Darusman report. This report, released on March 31, 2011, had been the primary reason for the 2015 accountability resolution that faulted the Sri Lanka Army.
The World War 11 fighter pilot fought a near three-year battle with the British administration to secure the confidential dispatches and was finally able to obtain a highly redacted version, to contradict the lies, in the second week of Oct. 2017. Although the then Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, PC, in his address to the UNHRC, made a reference to Lord Naseby’s revelations, Sri Lanka never requested Geneva to examine the British dispatches.
The author of British dispatches, Lt. Col. Anthony Gash, has never challenged the authenticity of heavily censored dispatches, disclosed by Lord Naseby.
Sri Lanka, in June 2011, squandered a similar opportunity to make a strong case for a revisit of the one-sided Darusman report. The then US Defence Advisor, in Colombo, Lt. Col. Lawrence Smith, quite convincingly defended the Sri Lanka Army, at the 2011 Colombo Defence Seminar. The American contradicted unsubstantiated allegations, raised by a retired Indian Major General Ashok K. Metha, formerly of the infamous IPKF. Lt. Col. Smith must have made that declaration, based on information available to the US Embassy, in Colombo, as well as other dispatches from the war zone. And, most importantly, the American officer made the declaration within three months after the releasing of the Darusman report. Sri Lanka never used British and American dispatches in her defence.
Western powers continue to harass Sri Lanka on the basis of unsubstantiated war crimes
accusations
Geneva moves to further investigate Sri Lanka should be challenged as the previous accusations, that led to the 2015 Geneva resolution, remained uninvestigated.
According to the Darusman report (paragraph 23: Confidentiality of the Panel’s records), the accusations cannot be examined till 2031. This strange stipulation has a further clause stating that the time bar could be extended for a further period. We must be the only country not allowed to examine specific accusations, directed at its armed forces. Successive governments never took the entire gamut of issues, into consideration, before making representations, on behalf of the country.
The incumbent Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa administration is no exception. In spite of repeated vows to defend the armed forces, the previous Gotabaya Rajapaksa-led government pathetically failed in its duty and responsibility.
Sri Lanka’s handling of accusations, relating to the Mannar mass graves, during the Yahapalana administration, revealed how the Foreign and Defence Ministry neglected their responsibilities. But even after the change of government, in the wake of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s victory at the 2019 presidential poll, Sri Lanka did nothing to change the strategy.
The Mannar mass grave lie was contradicted by a reputed Miami-based laboratory. It cleared the war-winning Sri Lanka Army of any responsibility for extra-judicial killings there. The independent carbon testing report, from the internationally recognized US laboratory, concluded that the victims likely died up to 615 years ago — predating even the first European colonization of the country by the Portuguese.
Sri Lanka’s Office on Missing Persons (OMP) funded the tests on the remains to determine whether the victims were killed, during the conflict.
But, by then, Geneva has directly blamed Sri Lanka for the Mannar Sathosa ground mass graves. The then Human Rights Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, audaciously went to the extent of referring to the Mannar mass grave site, in her annual report (section 23), submitted to the UNHRC. The following is the relevant section: On May 29, 2018, human skeletal remains were discovered at a construction site in Mannar (Northern Province), Excavations conducted in support of the Office on Missing Persons, revealed a mass grave from which more than 300 skeletons were discovered. It was the second mass grave found in Mannar, following the discovery of a site, in 2014. Given that other mass graves might be expected to be found in the future, systematic access to grave sites by the Office, as an observer, is crucial for it to fully discharge its mandate, particularly with regard to the investigation and identification of remains, it is imperative that the proposed reforms on the law relating to inquests, and relevant protocols to operationalize the law be adopted. The capacity of the forensic sector must also be strengthened, including in areas of forensic anthropology, forensic archaeology and genetics, and its coordination with the Office of Missing Persons must be ensured.”
Geneva never expected the US report on Mannar mass graves to go against its strategy. The TNA, too, reacted as expected. The one-time LTTE ally never expected the US report to contradict high profile allegations. Colombo based diplomats, and foreign officials, visited the scene ,as interested parties propagated lies.
On behalf of the TNA, a lawmaker, representing the Vanni region, has called for a fresh testing in another lab in some other country. Our Vavuniya correspondent, Dinasena Ratugamage, quoted Mullaitivu District MP Nirmalanathan Sivamohan as having said: This is not to say that we do not accept the reports sent by a lab in Florida, US, but given the importance of the Mannar grave site we need to get a second opinion.”
There were many other developments ranging from a spate of WikiLeaks revelations to political decisions that exposed the Western strategy. But, perhaps the irreversible defence of the military was provided by the Tamil community, living in the Northern and Eastern electoral districts, at the 2010 presidential election. The war-winning General Sarath Fonseka, in spite of suffering massive defeat in the hands of Mahinda Rajapaksa, comfortably won all predominately The Tamil speaking electoral districts, in those provinces, despite the TNA and the Tamil Diaspora, having accused him and his Army of committing war crimes. The Tamil community overwhelmingly responded to the TNA’s call to vote for Fonseka, who contested as the common candidate, fielded by the UNP-led alliance that included the JVP.
Unfortunately, Sri Lanka never bothered to officially take up this development to counter propaganda. Even if the TNA asked for the Tamil community to vote for Fonseka, the electorate wouldn’t have overwhelmingly done so unless it was convinced the eradication of the LTTE was a necessity.
Culinary YouTube channel ‘Ape Amma’ has been identified by CashnetUSA.com as the largest revenue-generating handle in the country on the social media platform.
A worldwide survey by the top online lender revealed that Ape Amma is among the list of all-time top-earning YouTube channels in the rest of the Asia and Oceania region.
Ape Amma has generated a revenue amounting to US $ 962,386 and as of January 30, 2023, the channel has about 2.72 million subscribers. The channel took off on April 15, 2016 and has over 495 million views.
Ape Amma is run by a 60-year-old trained graduate teacher, where much of the content is focused on Sri Lankan recipes. She also runs three other channels: Wonder of Asian Life and Cooking, Ape Amma Vidyalaya and Ape Amma Cooking Academy.
The Asia Pacific region contributes to about 30 percent of YouTube views across the world. Most of the viewership is from India. Along with South Korea, half of the 20 most subscribed YouTube channels are also based in India.
ChuChuTV became the first kids’ channel in India to reach 50 million subscribers and went on to make US $ 81.7 million since its launch in 2013.
It must be noted that many of the official Bollywood and K-Pop channels were excluded from the research.
With more than two billion people now using YouTube regularly, the platform is bigger than ever. Content creators can earn vast amounts of income through advertising on their videos.
The platform’s growth shows no sign of slowing, even in the face of generation-defining competitors like TikTok and Instagram.
According to CashnetUSA.com, YouTube’s popularity among Gen-Z will give Google’s content giant long-term staying power over Facebook and Instagram. While natural competitor Twitch gained mainstream popularity during the pandemic, YouTube’s broad appeal is the key to its superiority.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a note to the Cabinet, has stressed that public officers should refrain from obtaining goods and services on credit basis, and any officer who violates this will be held personally responsible for such expenditure.
The President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, has said that the Government revenue at present (January 2023) is far below the monthly expenditure for the month of January 2023 and that the Government expenditure will have to be curtailed further and postponed until planned revenue to be raised on the recent tax revisions is realized.
As a result, the President noted that the General Treasury finds it challenging to meet all expenditures at this moment, except for payments for salaries, pensions, welfare, pharmaceuticals and debt servicing.
He noted that the General Treasury will formulate a priority criterion for this purpose. Until then, the release of imprest will be curtailed. Furthermore, the President pointed out that public officers should refrain from obtaining goods and services on credit basis, and any officer who violates this will be held personally responsible for such expenditure.
MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara charged that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is in spotlight once again due to the impending visit of the United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland to Sri Lanka.
He said that a conspiracy is afoot to establish a US-India military base in Sri Lanka.
Steps were being taken to reduce the number of public sector employees in all government institutions and a self-retirement mechanism would be introduced for that effect, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawradena said today.
He told the weekly Cabinet briefing that inefficient public sector employees would be removed through this self-retirement mechanism.
The Minister said the decision was taken in accordance with the instructions given by the Treasury to all Ministries to curtail their expenses in all departments and added that all the Ministry Secretaries are bound to adhere to the circulars issued by the Treasury.
He said no new recruitment would be made in the government service and pointed out that any vacancies in a particular state institution would be filled by the existing cadre of the government sector institutions.
“For example, steps are being taken to recruit 29,000 new teachers.They would be recruited from the exciting cadre of the government sector through an examination,” he said.( Ajith Siriwardana)
In reference to the article carried in the Daily Mirror today titled ‘Despite Economic Crisis Treasury Allocates Billions for Offices of President, PM, Ministers’, the President’s Media Division has issued the following clarification.
Writer’s note
– The article clearly exposes figures from a Treasury report which has been allocated for the Offices of the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet of Ministers under a ‘Special Spending Unit’ for 2023. It reveals to the general public, the allocations made by the Treasury for these offices under this unit for 2023 which runs into billions even amidst the economic crisis and there have been comparisons with the last year figures. No where in the article is it mentioned that the allocations were made for the President, Prime Minister or cabinet alone. The writer stands by the story.
President’s Media Division Clarification
Despite economic crisis, Treasury allocates billions for Offices of President, PM, Ministers”
The President’s Media Division (PMD) brings to your kind attention the news article published on the front page of the Daily Mirror on 31-01-2023 under the title Despite economic crisis, Treasury allocates billions for Offices of President, PM, Ministers” which is incorrect.
Therefore, while refuting the allegations made by your newspaper claiming that the budget allocated for the President’s Office, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Office of the Cabinet of Ministers still remain in billions with no major cost cuts in sight, we kindly urge you to carry a clarification and rectify the error made.
The factual data is submitted below and the PMD kindly request you to give equal priority to our clarification and publish the actual facts in your esteemed newspaper.
Clarification of provisions assigned for the Office of the President and Special Expenditure Units:
The state budget makes allocations directly to the expenditure head of the relevant institution for special expenses such as the Presidential Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Office , the Supreme Court, etc., which are not grouped under any specific ministry, and for the institutions established to fulfill the objectives of commercial services.
These provisions are reserved only for the continuation of selected essential government services, such as providing essential relief to the people, payment of government employee salaries, loan interest payments and continuation of essential development works.
Accordingly, given below is a summary of the allocations for 2023.
Rs. Billion 2023 estimates
Recurring Expenses 4,634
Employee salaries 1,110
Interest payments 2,193
Subsidies & Welfare expenditure 985
Other recurring expenses 346
Capital 1,220
Debt repayment 2,025
Total 7,879
Advance accounts 6
Total Expenditure 7,885
Under this, provisions are also allocated for institutions such as the Presidential Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Office and the Supreme Court, identified under the category of special expenditure units which do not come under the scope of a ministry.
Allocations of these provisions are for maintenance and functions to be implemented under the Constitution and various laws and ordinances regardless of the government in power.
These provisions include personal allowances, stationery, water and electricity bills, building and other asset maintenance costs of the institutions which must be incurred to fulfill the statutory requirements. Accordingly, it is baseless to interpret the entire allocated expenditure as the expenditure of the President or the Prime Minister.
About 6% of the money allocated under the expenditure head of the President’s office expenses, is allocated for salaries and basic facilities for the President and his staff. It is the expenses allocated for the tasks to be performed by the President as the Executive and Head of the Government.
Further, allocations are also made under the presidential expenditure head for the provision of facilities of the former presidents and their widows, the Salary and Cadre Commission, the Presidential Commission/ Task Force and the supervision of development work.
Therefore, when there is an economic crisis, these expenses cannot be recognized as a big expense compared to the tasks assigned to the executive to recover from that situation. Furthermore, it is very clear that the allocations made for these institutions have not been increased in comparison with the high inflationary background where the prices of fuel, stationery, travel expenses, auto spare parts etc. have increased several fold compared to the previous year.
In 2022, Rs. 1.4 billion was earmarked for the Prime Minister’s Office, which has been reduced to Rs. 1 billion in the 2023 budget. Compared to the previous year, a substantially low provision has been allocated for all activities such as salaries, services, maintenance etc. and the capital expenditure has also reduced remarkably.
Further, Rs. 263 million has been allocated for the year 2023 for the Cabinet Office, which has increased by 7.6% compared to the previous year. The main reason for this increase is due to the fact that Rs. 60 million has to be allocated for essential maintenance works of the building (it is over 100-years-old) in which the office is maintained, in addition to the many other activities including salaries, etc. which is significantly less in 2023 in comparison to 2022.
Dhanushka Ramanayake Director General (Media) President’s Media Division (PMD)
Former President Maithripala Sirisena says he expects to contest the next presidential election with the support of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).
Joining a media briefing today (Jan 31), the SLFP leader expressed confidence about winning the election race.
I am not the type of person to move backward. I am not scared of the conspiracies [against me]… Despite being harassed, I will contest the next presidential election with the support of my party. No matter how many votes I receive, I am confident that I can win the election.”
Sirisena went on to apologize for the coordinated suicide bomb attacks that devastated the country on Easter Sunday in 2019 while he was in office as the Head of State.
The former president stated that the Catholic community does not harbour any feelings of hatred towards him over this tragic incident.
Speaking on the sum of Rs. 100 million that the Supreme Court ordered him to pay in compensation to the victims of the Easter Sunday suicide bombings for violating human rights, Sirisena pointed out that according to the top court’s judgment, he was held responsible for the mistakes committed by the officials appointed by him as the Head of State.
Sirisena said, as a person who respects the country’s judiciary and the law, he accepted the judgment of the Supreme Court.
On January 12, the Supreme Court found the former President, along with former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, former National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis and former Chief of State Intelligence Nilantha Jayawardena in violation of the Fundamental Rights of petitioners, by failing to take action to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks despite receiving sufficient intelligence information.
Earnings from exports in 2022 surpassed USD 13 billion per year for the first time, recording an increase of 4.9% from the previous highest recorded in 2021, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) says.
This improvement was a result of increased earnings from industrial exports, including garments, gems, diamonds and jewellery, machinery and mechanical appliances and petroleum products.
Meanwhile, total import expenditure in 2022 amounted to USD 18,291 million, recording a decline of 11.4%, year-on-year, resulting from measures to restrict non-urgent imports and liquidity constraints that prevailed in the market for the most part of 2022.
As a result, the deficit in the trade account in 2022 narrowed to the lowest level since 2010 to USD 5,185 million, from USD 8,139 million recorded in 2021.
According to the CBSL, major contributory factors for the decline in the cumulative trade deficit in 2022 were textile garments; gems, diamonds and jewellery; transport equipment; telecommunication devices; building material; medical and pharmaceuticals; base metals; and machinery and equipment.
The deficit in the merchandise trade account narrowed to USD 358 million in December 2022, from USD 1,085 million recorded in December 2021, helped by a larger decline in imports, compared to the decline in exports.
Meanwhile, earnings from merchandise exports declined by 7.7% in December 2022, over December 2021, to USD 1,068 million. The decline in earnings from industrial exports mainly contributed to the decline in export earnings in December 2022.
According to the CBSL, expenditure on merchandise imports declined by 36.4% in December 2022 to USD 1,426 million, compared to USD 2,241 million in December 2021, continuing the year-on-year declining trend observed since March 2022. The higher base in December 2021 and declines in volumes across all major categories resulted in this outcome.
Workers’ remittances in 2022 amounted to USD 3,789 million, in comparison to USD 5,491 million in 2021, recording a decline of 31.0%, though a notable recovery was witnessed during the latter part of the year.
Meanwhile, workers’ remittances increased to USD 476 million during December 2022, in comparison to USD 384 million in the previous month, recording the highest monthly remittances during 2022.
Total departures for foreign employment during 2022 were recorded at 299,934, contributed mainly by the unskilled (101,786), skilled (88,215) and domestic aid (73,781) categories. Total departures for foreign employment were recorded at 23,407 during the month of December 2022.
The CBSL stated that a total of 719,978 tourist arrivals were recorded in 2022, compared to 194,495 arrivals in 2021, recording the highest tourist arrivals after 2019.
Tourist arrivals increased notably in December 2022 to 91,961, from 59,759 arrivals recorded in November 2022. Russia, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany remained the main source countries for tourist arrivals in December 2022.
Earnings from tourism are estimated at USD 1,136 million in 2022, compared to USD 507 million in 2021. Earnings from tourism in the month of December 2022 are estimated at USD 127 million, in comparison to USD 81 million in the previous month and USD 233 million in the corresponding month in the previous year.
Foreign investments in the government securities market recorded a cumulative net inflow of USD 51 million during 2022, with a marginal net inflow in December 2022.
Meanwhile, on a cumulative basis, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), including primary and secondary market transactions, recorded a net inflow of foreign investments amounting to USD 182 million in 2022. The foreign inflows to the CSE, including primary and secondary market transactions, recorded a notable net inflow in December 2022.
The exchange rate remained stable through December 2022, following the introduction of daily permissible band from mid-May 2022. Annual depreciation of the rupee in 2022 was 44.8% against the US dollar, and reflecting cross-currency movements, the Sri Lanka rupee depreciated against the euro, the Australian dollar, the Indian rupee, the pound sterling, and the Japanese yen in 2022.
Meanwhile, the rupee recorded an appreciation of 0.3 per cent against the US dollar during the year up to 31 January 2023. Reflecting cross-currency movements, the Sri Lanka rupee depreciated against the euro, the pound sterling, the Indian rupee, the Australian dollar, and the Japanese yen during the year up to 31 January 2023.
The real effective exchange rate (REER 24) depreciated notably during Mar-May 2022 and remained largely below the threshold of 100 index points, indicating an improvement in Sri Lanka’s external competitiveness
Father Jude Chryshatha, the National Director for Social Communication, has asserted the Catholic Church’s refusal of former President Maithripala Sirisena’s recent apology for the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019.
Accordingly, Father Chryshantha noted that the Catholic Church will not accept the apology made by the former President.
Speaking at a press conference earlier today (31 Jan.), Sirisena publicly apologized to the Catholic community of Sri Lanka for the 2019 attacks, which took place during his tenure as President.
He also assured that he is currently taking all means necessary to pay the fine of Rs. 100 million imposed on him by the courts in this regard.
he Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) inflation based on the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) decreased to 54.2% in January 2023 from 57.2% seen in December 2022, the Department of Census and Statistics reported.
Meanwhile, Y-o-Y inflation of Food Group has dropped to 60.1% in January 2023 from 64.4% in December 2022, it said quoting the latest data.
According to the department’s report, Y-o-Y Non-Food Group inflation decreased to 51% in January 2023 from 53.4% in December 2022.
The CCPI for all items for the month of January 2023 was 244.3 and it recorded an increase of 1.1 in index points which is 0.43 percentage compared to the month of December 2022 for which the index was 243.2.
The report said that Month on Month expenditure change was contributed by increases in Food and Non-Food categories of 0.23% and 0.20%, respectively.
Meanwhile, annual average inflation rose to 49.6% in January 2023 from 46.4% in December 2022.
The core inflation (Y-o-Y), which reflects the underlying inflation in the economy, decreased to 45.6% in January 2023 from 47.7% in December 2022, whereas annual average core inflation increased to 37.6% in January 2023 from 34.6% in December 2022.
The general price level has increased by 144.3% compared to the base year (2013).
The CCPI is an economic indicator constructed to measure inflation which is defined as percentage change in CCPI over the year.
There are two measures of inflation in general use. One measure is Year on Year base or Point to Point inflation (The percentage change in the CPI during the last 12 months). The other measure is Moving Average Inflation (The percentage difference between the average Price Index of last 12 months & the average Price Index of previous 12 months).
In a statement in this regard, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) stated that looking ahead, based on its latest macroeconomic projections, the declining trend of inflation is expected to continue through 2023, supported by subdued demand conditions owing to tight monetary and fiscal policy measures, anticipated improvements in domestic supply conditions, and the expected passthrough of easing global energy and food prices to domestic prices, along with the favourable statistical base effect.
However, there are upside risks to this disinflation path arising from possible upward adjustments in domestic energy prices and any associated second round effects, delays in passing downward adjustments of global energy and food prices to domestic consumers, etc.
Nevertheless, factors such as the reduced purchasing power of the public could soften inflationary pressures, exerting downside risks to inflation projections.
Over 80,700 candidates from 58 registered political parties and 329 independent groups are due to contest the upcoming Local Government (LG) election, the Election Commission of Sri Lanka stated.
Accordingly, a total of 80,720 candidates will be contesting for 339 local bodies in the election.
The 2023 LG election is scheduled to be held on 09 March.
Meanwhile, all relevant documents received from District Returning Officers to hold the election have been sent to the Government Printer to be gazetted, the Chairman of the Commission assured, while the initial work required for the printing of ballot papers is also underway.
By Engr. Kanthar BalanathanDipEE (UK), GradCert (RelEng-Monash), DipBus&Adm (Finance-Massey), C.Eng., MIEE, Former Director of Power Engineering Solutions Pty Ltd, Consulting Electrical Engineers
Please pass this on to the MPs with no ‘O’ level qualifications. An explanation is given in terms of the number of staff and expenses. I am writing this open letter to JVP, Weerawansa and Weerasekara as you two (Weerawansa & Weerasekara) have been noted as the most racial and fanatic (insane) politicians with no background education and intelligence. Weerasekara is a champion in killing and murders in the Navy and you are another racist in SL. I know when you came to Victoria to work out a scheme against Tamils. The system with the PCs and without PCS.
Now let us discuss the pros and cons of PCs. Governance has only two sets of governing in small underdeveloped poor nations like SL. Sri Lanka has no natural resources and people have not yet trained in hi-tech technology. SL has a minimum number of small industries. Even to put up an industry politics plays an important part. Like Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Matale airport and the Hambantota harbour.
For the last few years since independence, SL has been governed by two sets of governance. People when they accumulate money get greedy and avidity for power and more wealth. More Ministries and State Ministers are examples. What do the State ministers do? They have a car, security, a house and money. A proverb: We have lots of Chiefs but no Indians to work”.
Just think:
If you have PCs, SL will have nine PCs. You (Weerasinghe” stated that if Tamils are given PC, then Tamil Eelam will be born. A blood path will occur. How about the seven other PCs? Do you think they will not want a separate country for the Yakkas”?
I have followed the war for the last 37 years. The SL military was a lazy unintelligent fool. Why could not they finish Prabakaran before 1980? It was prolonged for a war. Why is that? The Sinhalese themselves had split groups. How was the LTTE able to get information about Colombo? Now that the war is over SL has been pushed into poverty and bankruptcy. Why do you want to have nine PCs with nine Chief Ministers, 36 Ministers, Secretaries, Cars, Houses for the CM, and the Ministers etc? This will drain the SL coffer, and the dirty politicians will grow with wealth. If you notice Tamils are taking boats.
The action you need to do:
Revoke the 13th amendment of the constitution in another amendment 22 as the President stated. This will be beneficial to SL in lots of monetary value, and the savings can be noted liability for salaries and payments. There shall be no other form of government. This means that we are eliminating the middle section of governance. The country will benefit.
SL has 24 Municipal Councils. Why do not you think of augmenting the powers of the MCs? We do not need to provide police powers, except maybe land powers which the MCs already have to a certain level. The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor can be given certain powers like that of the UK and the USA. If the number is too much, then merge some MCs and reduce the number of MCs. You can work it out. We need not fight among ourselves for this. The Pradeshiya Sabas can be brought under the MCs.
Remove the State Ministers. Appoint Permanent Secretaries to do the functions. Permanent Secretaries are government staff and discipline can be taken against the PS at any time. Carefully think: What do the State ministers do, apart from campaigning for the party? Party politics is not everything for the country. The country should have food and technology for the people to survive.
Open the University of Moratuwa and other leading Universities like Colombo University to international students. Earn some foreign exchange.
Convert Anuradhapura into a city of DigitalTechnology”. Let foreign bodies come and invest in IT and Computing and Computer manufacturing. Maybe India is the first case. Sri Lankans are leading IT specialists overseas. Both in hardware and Software. We do not need Lotus tower and Port Cities.
Give up racism, please. How long are you going to play racial politics at the expense of the country’s growth?
Tamils shall learn a lesson: For the last 75 years, what have they achieved? Nothing but cheating Tamils. Made Tamils take boats. Sambanthar and the politicians are quite rich.
If they want to enjoy power, then they should join the governing party and get a couple of portfolios. Quite obviously Tamils will be better ministers than Mervin Silva and some goons at present.
Think about what type of investment will give growth.
Do you know the Central Bank issued Rs 95 billion notes on the 18th of January 2023 and 120 billion on the 25th of January 2023? This may lead to another form of indirect privatisation.
Please move a resolution to revoke the 13th amendment forthwith.
Seriously postpone the local government elections and review the powers to be invested in the MCs. Review the local government governance. We already have local government governance. Do not need new things.
Someone files a case to postpone the local government elections in the high court. No one can blame anyone.
Just think and analyse the wasteful expenditure because of the PCs and state ministers.
Comrades: This island was ruled and developed by great kings
King Pandukabhaya; The first king established Anuradhapura as the capital. , King Devanampiya Tissa/King Dutugamunu / Parakramabahu /King Vala gamba /King Mahasen / King Dhatusena/ DS Senanayake / Dudley Senanayake.
Let us not leave the country to go to animals and become bankrupt and people leave the country. Please give a hand to President RW and build this nation. Let us be patriotic and truly contribute to building this nation. JVP: You have a responsibility to protect this nation. Let us not believe and support behind doors to the people who plundered this country through bribery and corruption. Please do not trust the Rajapaksas.
There shall be NO Provincial Councils in Sri Lanka. Two levels of governance are adequate.
Lt Col. A.S.Amarasekera.(Rtd.) Co-President National Joint Committee
The 13th Amendment was enacted in 1987 consequent to the signing of the Indo-Lanka Accord between the Government of India and the Republic of Sri Lanka. The Accord was signed in Colombo by President J.R Jayawardena and Rajiv Gandhi while the country was under curfew. The Government of India violated Sri Lanka’s airspace and sovereignty by dropping food parcels from Indian air crafts on Sri Lankan territory. Gunboats were placed near Sri Lanka’s territorial waters. Subsequently, under the pressure exerted by the Government of India, the 13th Amendment was enacted by Parliament whilst President Jayawardena had letters of resignation from members of Parliament in his pocket.
When the 13th Amendment Bill came up before the Supreme Court four Judges of the nine Bench constituted determined that the Bill in its entirety was unconstitutional. Thus, although the Bill was deemed as having passed in view of the five Judges who supported the enactment of the 13th Amendment, there is real doubt about the constitutionality of the 13th Amendment. The four Judges who expressed the dissenting view expressed their opinion that the 13th Amendment could not be passed without the approval of the people at a Referendum. Thus, the 13th Amendment was enacted without the approval of the people. Therefore, the legitimacy of the 13th Amendment is questionable.
The 13th Amendment provides for the amalgamation of the Northern and Eastern provinces on the basis that these two Provinces constitute the traditional homelands of the Tamils. Constituting a unit of devolution on ethnic grounds is a threat to racial amity and mutual coexistence. Governments must try to unite the people and not divide them. We believe that the Government intends to amalgamate the Northern and Eastern provinces utilising the provisions of the 13th Amendment when they declared that they agree to the full implementation of the 13th Amendment”.
The 13th Amendment empowers the Provincial Councils with regard to seventy three subjects enumerated in the Provincial Council and Concurrent Lists. There are thirty seven subjects in the Provincial Council List alone including Police powers, land powers, and powers relating to ancient and historical monuments and records. Even religious societies and associations are included in the Provincial Councils List which empowers Provincial Councils to enact statutes which would override laws of Parliament. Thus, the 13th Amendment will lead to the enactment of a new Police Statute and a Criminal Procedure Code which may replace the existing Police Ordinance and the Criminal Procedure Code. There is express provision to the effect that no police officer of one Province could exercise any powers in another Province thus for example the Anuradhapura Police will not be in a position to investigate an offence committed in Vavuniya.
Item 11:1 of Appendix I of the Ninth Schedule provides that the Head of the Provincial Police is responsible to and under the control of the Chief Minister”. The investigation entrusted to national Police is limited to national security, and security of VIPs.” The Security relating to ordinary citizens is entrusted to the Provincial Police. Thus, the people of respective provinces will be at the mercy of a police force controlled by the Chief Minister. Two members of the three member Provincial Police Commission are appointed with the consent of the Chief Minister. With these provisions in place, the security of the Sinhala and Muslims in the North and East will be disastrous.
There is ample evidence that secessionists have engaged in the destruction of archaeological sites to establish their false assertion that the Sinhala people have no right to live in the North and East, the TNA openly objects to the settlement of Sinhalese and Muslims in the North. With the police powers handed over to the Provincial Councils one wonders about the plight of our archaeological sites under such administration. Even the dayaka sabhawa of a temple can be regulated by the Provincial Council.
Therefore, the National Joint Committee strongly condemn the decision of the Government and urge them to withdraw that decision forthwith and call for a parliamentary and presidential election so that the people of this country can elect a government of their choice and remove the politicians of the present Cabinet that have taken this decision to implement the 13th Amendment. It is pathetic that Prime Minister Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena and the leader of the largest political party in Parliament Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse is supportive of this move, having come into power with the votes of the patriotic citizens of the country. We urge them and their party members to resign forthwith and call for fresh elections. . We are thankful to the Hon. Leader of the Opposition for declaring their stand supporting the 13th Amendment which would enable the Public to make their own decision with regard to the future of this country.
The amount, 3.2 metric tonnes/ha claimed in a Sinhala article by Upali de Sarem (Jan 2023) using modern fertilizer is still very low compared to the usual yields in Sri Lanka (4-5 metric tonnes/ha).
Furthermore, if optimal agronomy is used (as in Batalagoda or MahaIlluppallama research stations), 6-8 metric tonnesor more may be achieve with the right variety of seed, with less water and no-tilling or ploughing (but using benign herbicides) to remove weeds.
Comparisons of organic paddy and modern fertilizer-based farming outputs, costs etc., were done about a decade ago in the Agricultural Research Stations and also at Peradenitya University (Bandara et al).
I discussed one of those in detail in Newspaper articles, and in the Colombo Telegraph in 2015. If I remember correct, various writers who are prominent in Lanka web, and linked with Ven. Ratana criticized me, and Mr. Dilrook Kannangara sided largely with them. He re-iterated his position when I criticized the Hiru-Govi Sangramaya sponsor by Hiru TV, eulogizing traditional agriculture.
There too Dr. Ivan Amarasinghe (IA) stated how he even now cultivates his paddy lands in a traditional way using only “Gerikatu pohora (bone emal)” and “gendagam” (sulphur, a toxin used by organic farmers). The same line of thinking led them to claim that the Corona virus and the Covid-19 pandemic can be treated using traditional herbal cures. Jayasumana went on TV supporting the Dhammika Paeniya.
IA used to end his email messages with the slogan Prof. Jayasmana will have the last laugh”.
We don’t have to go to Egypt to learn about the best paddy cultivation practices. There are 24 booklets issued by the agriculture Dept. for the 24 districts, giving the best approach, depending on the soil type, based on recommendations from the Agricultural research Institutes.
All the leading scientists of the world, be them from USA or Egypt or Japan and India, made pilgrimages to Maha Illuppallama and Batalagoda (as they were must vsit” places), until about the late 1980s, early 1990, as they had become world famous for their rice research.
But in Sri lanka we don’t value the work of SL scientists, instead even a bit of idiocy, if it comes from somewhere else, is held to be better, esp. by the NGO green lobby. The research stations declined due to increasing lack of government support, with the JRJ government leaving everything to the Free Market.
Then came the nationalists Ven. Ratana, Nalin de Silva, Jayasumana types talking about ancient agriculture and some other nationalists pushing “traditional seeds” claiming that they have “immense health and nutrient benefit” – it is exactly that myth that people like Malinda Seneviratne had also picked up, at least in part.
But one must by now see that these so-called huge nutritional benefits” are mere deviations of the order of a few percent found for in vitro chemical analysis, and NOT from clinical trials. At the food preparation level under heating, washing etc, and with several foods on the plate, these differences get wiped out even with rice being the staple.
What matters is the difference among raw rice, par-boiled rice, and polished rice, irrespective of the variety. The rice which is less polished and most fresh is nutritionally the better rice. The variations in fats, anti-oxidants, and carbohydrate level, vitamins etc., are too small to mount to anything significant in the overall diet unless strong fortification is used by genetic modification as in Golden rice, a GMO rice developed in India.
Vanadana Shiva, the Indian equivalent of Nalin de Silva-Ratana cabal, prevented the use of Golden rice for decades, and at last it has been approved for use.
Today, the controversial Arhath” Samanthabadhra with his followers have also popularized a false model, show casing Umandawa, where he claims that he can produce crops without fertilizers. It is this sort of nonsense that misleads ignorant politicians and even educated members of the public who may know little about agriculture, but think they know it as if by instinct!
If tonnes of harvest (made up of nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon etc., are removed from the field, they should be put back if the soil is to remain productive. That is why fertilizers are added. If not, after a few harvests, the land has to be left fallow (for a significant length of time) for it to recover. In the olden days people left the land to fallow for a few years and opened up a new chena by burning up forest (that produced mineral fertilizer as ash), but today we don’t have land to engage in such wasteful types of agriculture.
This ensures that soil nutrients are not washed off by water (used to flood the paddy fields to kill weeds, a practice used in organic and traditional farming. Filling up the kumbura” with water also encourages anaerobic microbial processes and produces excess Green House Gases like Methane which is 30 times worse than CO2. So organic farming is BAD for the environment, contrary what Eco-extremists and Western funded NGO, so-called “Environmental Justice” and MONLAR activists say. They are uncritically following the completely unscientific, politically motivated erroneous policies of the European Green Deal popular in the EU.
In a recent news item (link given above), I heard a politician saying that foreign countries are giving us loans out of their tax payers money and that we should understand that those countries have to take it back from their people out of their tax money. This is rubbish!. When countries or private banks give out loans they create brand new money – money that never existed. Perhaps the attached article would explain how money is created.
Prof. Richard Werner provides an overview of how money is created across the world and the impact it has on us. In 2014, Prof. Werner published the first empirical test on how banks create new money – he explores the response of central banks and unveils their ultimate game plan… The Monetary Institute’s “Our Money, Our Banks, Our Country – Money Creation in the Modern Economy” conference was held in Zurich, Switzerland on February 5, 2018.
