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3 Minutes – SEPAL AMARASINGHE

e-Con e-News

blog: eesrilanka.wordpress.com

‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’

e-Con e-News 12-18 January 2025

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‘The crucial importance of gasoline as a raw material, of

the airplane as a weapon, and of the machine-tool industry

as the industrial basis of modern warfare, points to the possibility

that a tight control in a few strategic points within a country’s economy

might paralyze its power to prepare for war without impairing

its capacity to produce for the purposes of civilian consumption.’

– Albert O Hirschman, National Power

& the Structure of Foreign Trade, 1945

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‘US lifestyle magazine Vogue has given Sri Lanka a glowing

endorsement by claiming it is this winter’s hottest travel destination.’

– Shivanthi Ranasinghe (see ee Economists, Is Our Economic Crisis Over?)

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‘Only 3 months before he began work on The Prince, Machiavelli wrote

in a letter to his friend & colleague, Florentine diplomat Francesco Vettori:

‘Fortune has decreed that, as I do not know how to reason either about the art

of silk or about the art of wool, either about profits or about losses, it befits me

to reason about the state.’ The Machiavellians of today would probably be

astonished by this, since it reveals the complete failure of Machiavelli to perceive

any connection between economics & politics.

A textbook for the Modern Prince should indeed contain, in addition

to Machiavelli’s classic chapters, extensive new sections on the most

efficient use of quotas, exchange controls, capital investment, & other

instruments of economic warfare. In this respect, practice has preceded theory. The

extensive use of international economic relations as an instrument of national power

policies has been, together with the ‘war of nerves’, one of the main characteristics

of the period preceding the outbreak of the present war.’ – Albert O Hirschman,

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It must be one of the strangest news items to inhabit the make-believe world of the merchant media in Sri Lanka: headlined: ‘No room to renegotiate IMF program’, the Wijeya Group’s Financial Times (FT) simply, or baldly, asserts, without stopping to take a breath:

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‘Senior Economic Advisor to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe,

Dr RHS Samaratunga speaking at the Daily FT – ACCA & ICC SL

webinar ‘IMF Agenda: Opportunities & Challenges for Sri Lanka

Post-2025’, responded to a question about whether there is room to renegotiate

the current IMF program given the tough conditions in the agreement.

He noted there is very little space to make changes to the broader program

targets, the program has progressed satisfactorily so far. The program

was mutually agreed upon, and therefore, there is no room to revisit it.

Dr Samaratunga emphasised that it is in Sri Lanka’s interest to stay the course

within the broad parameters of the program.’

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So there it is. The word made flesh. ‘There is no alternative’. So says the Daily FT – ACCA & ICC SL. FT is the Financial Times owned by Ranil Wickremesinghe’s relatives: Wijeya Group. The ICC = International Chamber of Commerce. The ACCA = Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. What else is new? At any given time on any given day, turn on your news device and they will be saying the same thing. Have been saying so since the end of history was declared in New York in 1989. Or was it 1848? There is no end to their endings. Otherwise, why tell us: There is no alternative?

            Sri Lanka has been further encoiled in the embrace of the US government. Yes. Media are even quoting Marx & Lenin (but not Stalin or Mao), left and right. Yes. The JVP are suspected of biding their Bolshevik time. Red-baiting is digging new depths. Oh wait, with AKD in Beijing, Mao reemerges like a terracotta warrior as crafty inscrutable despot. Others claiming themselves instant ‘Leftists’, ‘Neo-Leftists’, ‘Real Leftists’, ‘AI Leftists’, are also declaring the inauthenticity of each other’s claims. And speaking of false accreditations and awards, examine the titles taken on by local agents – merchants, moneylenders, importers really – our ‘Symbolic Capitalists’? The most high apparently is CEO/Chairman… then there are the latest breed of ‘Independent’ bankers & ‘Independent’ directors…Independent of what, and of whom?

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     The media always lags behind its own revelations: long before US President D. Trump claimed Greenland, that sod of ice had already issued its first licenses for oil and gas exploration off the western Greenlandic coast, to Chevron & Exxon-Mobil. Trump’s first Foreign Secretary in 2017, Rex Tillerson, was an Exxon CEO, who refused to accept office until bribery was allowed! ….

Way earlier, in 1903, US President Theodore Roosevelt engineered a phony ‘revolution’ in Colombia, creating the new state of Panama, taking over the Canal Zone. The Panama Canal Co’s lobbyist, JP Morgan-related New York attorney William Nelson Cromwell directed the ‘revolution’ while sitting in the White House. Old French Panama Canal Co shares had already been purchased by a US financial syndicate of JP Morgan, Rockefeller, etc…

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The media & academic system go to great lengths of fiction and assorted facts to declare the ‘independence’ of economics from politics, and the politics of economists.

     Albert O Hirschman’s 1945 book – at the height of the mass slaughter of WW2 – is still cited, 80 years later, as an authority on economic warfare – on ‘power policy’. This ‘silent war of penetration’ involves maintaining a monopoly over industrial processes, their initiation, operation and destruction. A prerequisite for control over such processes involves sovereignty over a territory, Hirschman’s study being funded by the Exxon Rockefeller Foundation, as part of a Trade Regulation Project under the University of California, Berkeley’s Bureau of Business & Economic Research, perhaps made Hirschman choose to misunderstand (Ha! Ha!) that Machiavelli’s main interest was in the unification of an Italy divided into warring principalities. After all, Machiavelli dedicated his book to a merchant banker prince, of the Medici family (Michelangelo painted a Medici heiress as their Virgin Mary), to describe the bald doings of a rival merchant family of Borgias, one of whom as Pope, had just divided (in 1494) the world between Spain & Portugal, sending them to assail us from the West (see ee Random Notes).

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Indeed, the world prior to the entry of the Portuguese into the Lakdiva Sea saw Lankans relatively unhindered travel East & West. This ee Focus, in the wake of the Sri Lankan President’s voyage to the People’s Republic of China, continues our attempt to depict Sri Lanka’s long and ‘enchanting’ historical engagements with China. We continue from the 3^rd-5^thC AD, with its major irrigation and architectural complexes. 317-419 is when formal Chinese links with Lanka presumably begin, after the first Qin Dynasty was set up, and Anuradhapura unified under the Hela language and Buddhism. By the Wei Dynasty (386-458), Lanka is famed for its Buddhist statues, and many countries send artisans here to study. Fa Xian (337-422) traveled the Southern Silk Road, and in 426, Lankan nuns arrived at Guangzhou port. In 520, Egyptian geographer Cosmas Indicopleustes, merchant from Alexandria, was calling Lanka an active ‘Emporium Mediatrix’ of the Africa-China trade.

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In the last few years, even as our economists and media faithfully bellow the NATO version of free trade, while further entrapping Sri Lanka in their coils, many of their governments have put forward Economic Security Strategies to ‘derisk’ their economies ‘from foreign dependencies’. G7 governments in 2023 issued their Economic Resilience & Economic Security. Japan’s Economic Security Protection Act was announced in Oct 2023. The European Commission recommended ‘advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies & biotechnologies’ be classified as ‘critical technologies’. England’s National Security & Investment Act ‘gives the government powers to scrutinise and intervene in business transactions, such as takeovers, to protect national security’. The Future Made in Australia initiative highlights the country’s valued minerals and energy resources, while South Korea in Oct 2022, announced the National Strategic Technology Nurture Plan… (see ee Focus).

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While media promotes US President Trump’s trade sanctions, the ‘US grip on global financial services’ provide the USA with ‘another source of leverage’. China apparently ‘has hegemonic power over global manufacturing, via its dominance of many supply chains’, while the USA has hegemonic power, in finance, ‘via the dollar-based system’. Meanwhile, Trump’s Treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent says countries with military protection from the US should be forced to buy more dollar debt. He also says the world is heading for ‘Bretton Woods Realignments’ – perhaps ‘to weaken the dollar in order to help US exporters’ with ‘an attempt to replicate the 1985 Plaza Accord.’ (see ee Random Notes)

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• We used to be so enthralled about SBD de Silva’s xray-sharp insights into SL economic malaise, thrilled by his vision for transforming Sri Lanka’s economy. We would bug him to share his views with the media. He without saying much just laugh grimly with a curl of whimsy in his cheek, ‘Let me interview them. Let’s find out what they actually know about the economy. Have they chosen to investigate?’  When we would mention that so-and-so wished to interview us, he would curiously ask, again with a smile, ‘Did they bring a camera!?’ Fake media: All about ego? Grim reality of tinsel!?

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Another tactic by the media called ‘local’ is to fake modernity, as if turning on a computer is the same as making a computer or its parts. Fake claims about fake ‘industrialization’ are a regular feature in a fake Sri Lankan media. Handicraft, manufacture, assembly are all labeled ‘industry’. The latest car importer press release parading as a news item claims that ‘Sri Lanka’s local assembly and automotive component manufacturing sector has become a significant pillar of the nation’s economy’. Really! All this while the media is full of wailing about taxes on car imports. Meanwhile, it turns out the buses plying the roads are built on lorry chassis ‘not in conformity with modern mass transportation standards in terms of passenger comfort…’ Meanwhile, here’s another lovely….: SL makes groundbreaking entry into region’s luxury yachting market”… Parking lot? Cargo cult?

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Indeed, as colonized Japan advocates censorship of the publication of its latest and edgiest patents on technology – their public curtailment of such statistics is not new – this ee looks at the latest moves by the white powers to wage war by economic means: through the prevention of the diffusion of the latest technology, and the destruction of competitive industries. A recent ee 28 December 2024 looked at how US & European Universities Block Asian & African Students from Advanced Technology programs…

     Albert O Hirschman described ‘silent economic penetration’ as including the intensive study of consumer habits (see Unilever’s Kantar, ee Random Notes) to control a country’s home market.

     Of course, his example of such economic warfare at that moment in 1945 was Germany – the object of English sabotage prior to the outbreak of real war in 1939.  Protectionist forces had the media portray the encroaching evil as economic aggression & penetration rather than call it ‘foreign competition’, which would have exposed their rhetoric about ‘free trade’.

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‘In times of war between the People’s Republic of China & the West,

the knowledge that comes with economic presence & knowledge of the [Panama]

canal zone & its vulnerabilities could be exploited to shut down the canal in

‘deniable’ ways, from the sinking of container ships in key locations, physical

or digital sabotage of the locks themselves (&) threats from mining, (to) threats

to shipping at the entrances to the canal.’ – Evan Ellis, US Army War College

(see ee Sovereignty, US can’t hurt China’s interests in Panama & Greenland)

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     Without referring to English colonial practices where the destruction of economic power ran parallel with real warfare, Hirschman is candid enough to divulge, that what the Germans were accused of by their enemies was what the English & the USA themselves practiced as ‘business as usual’. Due to a lack of ‘systematic analysis of the connection between national power and international economic relations’:  ‘All these arts and practices are nothing else than an intelligent seizure of legitimate business opportunities’:

     ‘Export subsidies, import certificates, emigration measures (of skilled workers, machinery, etc), came to be used not as normal methods of economic activity, but as an active means to suffocate rival nations. From the dumping of goods at low prices to crush domestic industries; to buying ‘exports’ at high prices at first to then acquire a monopsonistic position to later lower prices; by direct intervention or by manipulating exchange rates. Then there is the ‘export of enterprises & scientific personnel’, with the penetration of German capital into local enterprises, by controlling the country’s most important banks & key industries, particularly textiles, metallurgy, and shipping, and through industrial espionage by preventing credit facilities to ‘hostile’ local establishments, control investment, instigating industrial strikes…

     In Hirschman’s book, countries were divided into agricultural & industrial (destined to exchange natural commodities, including their bodies, for manufactured goods). After they instigated war against Germany, the 6 Allied nations – England, France, Italy, Russia, Belgium, Japan – met at a ‘Paris Economic Conference’ in 1916: Allies also deliberately made ‘encroachments upon the rights of neutrals under the guise of measures against Germany’. They took ‘drastic measures’ ‘to prevent as far as possible the rebuilding of industries & commerce (of the Central Powers) after the war…  Though they claimed the opposite…

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Contents:

US Economic Warfare & Power Policy in Sri Lanka

Aloysius Hettiarachchi

According to news reports coming out from the most technologically advanced nation on earth today, the United States of America, new breakthrough, are coming every day so much so that they are now aiming to go back in time as far as computing is concerned. This is called de-computing. This is being explained by a tech expert, a Slavic girl (from Europe) who closely follows this subject and comes up with videos regularly.

In this video she comes up with predictions made sixty years ago by Rolf Landauer, a German-American physicist to say that this scientist predicted the minimum energy required to store a bit of information (ie. 0 or 1 in a chip) is 2.9×10^-21 Joules. This is so small when we compare the energy in a new AA battery is 10,000 joules (an average person uses 2500 calories or about 10,000 joules per day). As per the graph shown in this video at this moment the energy the most efficient machine or server uses up about a thousand times this energy. That is 2.9×10^-18 joules. With average computers doing gigahertz (cycles per second) with parallel cores etc, we can imagine how much energy a server farm in a develop country would use up.  The environmental damage due to amount of heat that is released is enormous. Will this new invention change what has happened already is anybody’s guess. It is normally the children who get worried about climate change. I remember my daughter when she was about ten years old started worrying about climate change; that was about 15 years before Greta Thunberg started her campaign. Ironically her country is one of the worst offenders.

The new president of United States is surrounding himself with the tech giants like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zukerberg, et al and hopes to come out of the doldrums his country is in today. Elon Musk is thinking in showering us with so much of wifi directly to us from space with thousands of satellites while Zuckerberg wants us to use mobile phones all the time, without limits. Ultimately what happens is all small insects that are in the food chain vanish giving us less food. Already bees who help in the process of pollination are vanishing as they cannot find directions due to the magnetic field they rely on for navigation has got distorted by electromagnetic waves. Even the sperm in males dying due to wifi smog that they live in all the time. The earth’s magnetic field may get change inside reinforced concrete buildings. Perhaps this may be affecting the way we receive energy from the sun. All developed nations are having drastic reduction in population growth. Even the countries like China and India also facing the problem of declining population growth. In our country we are faced with a double whammy. That is the reduction of population growth as well as emigration of locals to alleviate poverty.

Let us hope the new leader in the US who believes Christan values base on empathy to others, think about the rest of the world and humanity. We hope he would reduce the production of destructive electronic warmongering machines and bring peace to the world.

As usual let me wind up this write up with a popular song sung by crooner duo Martin Hein and Freddie Malavski with a back drop of famous statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of a hill in Rio De Janeiro, in Brazil and an animation of the same song by an Entertainer and musician Hans Romantikus (a 2022 version) with a few lines of lyrics, so that the readers will know what they are singing about.

 I am sure our late Nimal Mendis would have done a wonderful video with very much similar scenes that we have in this country which has equal tourist spots and places of cultural venues. Are there any creative guys to take up the challenge. I have already given this challenge to one guy who has a well known musical band.

You’ve been dreaming about going out again for so long

So lange träumst du wieder einmal auszugehen

Finally seeing stars again in my arms

In meinen Armen endlich wieder Sterne sehn

There is still the starlight in your eyes

Da ist in deinen Augen noch der Sternenglanz

Like back then at our very first dance

Wie damals noch bei unsrem aller ersten Tanz

Darling, you made yourself beautiful again today

Darling, du hast dich heute wieder schön gemacht

And your eyes painted colourful again

Und deine Augen wieder bunt gemalt

Just for me

Nur für mich

Oh darling, I thought it up for us back then

Oh Darling, ich hab mir damals für uns ausgedacht

Today we live the first night again

Heut leben wir noch mal die erste Na

SAY the TRUTH

” මේ අයම කියපුවා ඒගොල්ලන්ටම මතක නෑ ,ඩිමෙන්ෂියා…”

Courtesy The Island

Unhappy about photos on Ukraine war and South China Sea

The Russian and Chinese Embassies in Colombo have taken exception to some photographs exhibited at the World Press Photo exhibition now open at the Independence Arcade in Colombo.The complaint from Russia relates to photographs of the Ukraine war while China’s objection is over some photos relating to the South China Sea.

The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) CEO Kumar Lopez said they were the local partner organizing the exhibition which was funded by the Netherlands Embassy. They had no role in selecting the photographs on display. The World Press Photo Foundation is the main body owning the exhibition.

None of the photographs complained against have been taken down.

The exhibition which opened on Jan. 10 at the Independence Arcade will continue till Jan. 20 and then travel to Jaffna (Jan. 24-27) and Galle (Jan. 31 to Feb. 2) before returning to Colombo for display from Feb. 8 – 10 at The Forum, Cinnamon Life Hotel.

German Dharmaduta Society Press Release.

The German Dharmaduta Society founded by Asoka Weeraratna in 1952 and which maintains Das Buddhistiche Haus ( Berlin Maha Viharaya in   Berlin – Frohnau) in Germany sponsored a Free Book distribution event directed towards the children of the Udaragama Primary  School (remote school) situated at the Medirigiriya District, Polonnaruwa on Friday, January 2025. The books comprised Exercise Books and CR Books regularly used by the children.

This Book distribution event was initiated by the Chief Monk at DBH (Berlin Viharaya) Ven. Pelane Dhamma Kusala Thera utilizing funds collected from his  Dayakayas worldwide.

This was the second annual book distribution event initiated by Ven. Dhamma Kusala Thera. The inaugural book distribution event was held at another school in Polonnaruwa in December 2023.

The current event was coordinated by Mr. Keminda Silva, the  long standing Administration Secretary of the GDS.

Among the others who participated at this event were:
1) Mr. Senaka Weeraratna ( Hony. Secretary, German Dharmaduta Society),
2) Mrs. Priyanka Denukedeniya (Principal, Udaragama Primary School)
3) Ms. W.A.S. Wejarthna (Principal, Mahinda Maha Vidyalaya, Medirigiriya)
4) Ms. Peggy Moeller, German National and Buddhist social worker,
5) Mr. Wickrama Jayawickrema ( Producer of TV and YouTube programmes)
6) Mrs. S.Dhammika Silva ( wife of Mr. Keminda Silva),
and members of the teaching staff of the Udaragama Primary School.

The children of the school presented several musical items as part of the welcoming ceremony.

Refreshments were served including a splendid traditional lunch comprising mainly plant based Vegetarian food.

The Hony. Secretary of the German Dharmaduta Society Mr. Senaka Weeraratna delivered an address and donated a copy of each of the recently published book ‘ ‘ 100 years Das Buddhistiche Haus ‘ commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Das Buddhistiche Haus (1924 – 2024) to the Principals of the aforesaid Udaragama Primary School and the Mahinda Maha Vidyalaya, Medirigiriya.

A large number of children and their parents attended the function.

The Group Photograph shows the officials of the German Dharmaduta Society and the staff of the Udaragama Primary School.

German Dharmaduta Society Press Release.

Courtesy Adaderana

Neth News

මතුගම සෙනෙවිරුවන්

        2024 මාස් කන්නයේ අස්වනු කැපීම මේ වන විට ආරම්භ වී තිබේ. තද වර්ෂාවක් පැවතිය ද අම්පාර මඩකලපුව වැනි පළාත් වල මේ කටයුතු සීඝ්‍රයෙන් සිදු වෙමින් පවතී.ගොයම් කපා පගා ගැනීමට ප්‍රථම වී කිලෝවක් මිළදී ගැනීම සඳහා සහතික මිළක් නියම කිරීම රජයේ වගකීමයි. එසේ නොකළහොත් අස්වනු වැඩි කොටස එක්කාසු කරන පෞද්ගලික අංශය සිතූ සිතූ ගණන් වලට වී මිළට ගැනීමට උත්සුක වේ. වී සහතික මිළ නියම කිරීම උදෙසා රාජයේ අයතන කීපයක් සම්බන්ධ වේ. පළමු වැනි ආයතකනය නම් කෘෂීකර්ම දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවයි.ඒ යටතේම තියෙන පසුඅස්වනු තාක්ෂණ ආයතනය ද ගොවිජන සේවා දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව ද හෙක්ටර් කොබ්බෑකඩුව ගොවි කටයුතු පර්යේෂණ ආයතනය ද මුදල් හා වෙළඳ අමාත්‍යංශය ද අනෙක් ආයතන අතරට ගැනේ.මෙහි නිළධාරීන් ගේ එකමුතුවෙන් වී සඳහා වන නිෂ්පාදන වියදම ගණනය කරන අතර ඒ වියදමට තවත් තුනෙන් එකක් එකතු කිරීමෙන් පසු සහතික මිළි තීරණය කරනු දක්නට හැකිය.

          කමතේ හෝ ලියැද්දේ ආසන්නයටම ගෙනෙන  වෙළෙන්දා ගේ ට්‍රැක්ටරයට හෝ භූතයා හෝ සුනාමිය මගින් ටැංකි වලට පුරවන වී තොග නිසා ගොවියාට ඇතැම් විට කෑමට පවා වී මල්ලක් දෙකක් ඉතිරි නොවේ. මන්ද මාස තුනක් බලා හිඳ වී ගොවිතැන් කරන්නේ ඉතිරි මාස් කීපයේ ජීවන වියදම සරි කර ගැනීමට ය. එසේම ඊළඟ කන්නයේ ගොවිතැන් සකස් කිරීමට ද මුදලක් අවශ්‍ය බැවින් එයද ඉතිරි කර ගැනීම ඔවුන්ගේ අභිප්‍රාය වෙයි.ලංකාවේ සෑම දිස්ත්‍රික්කයකම වී වගාවේ නිෂ්පාදන වියදම එක සමාන නොවේ. අස්වැන්න ද එක සමාන නොවේ.ඊට හේතුව යන්ත්‍ර සූත්‍ර සඳහා අය කරන මුදලද ශ්‍රමය සඳහා ගෙවන මුදලද වෙනස් වීමයි.භූගෝලීය වෙනස්කම් අනුව ද දේශගුණික වෙනස්කම් අනුව ද අස්වැන්න වෙනස් වීම සිදු වේ.අනුරාධතෙන්නකෝන් මහතා සභාපතිත්වය දරණ මිළනියාමන ගොවිජන සභාව විසින් සෑම කලාපයකටම අයත් දත්ත එකතුවක් සිදු කර තිබේ. එම වගුව අනුව අම්පාර දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ ගොවීහු වැඩිම නිෂ්පාදන වියදමක් දරණ පිරිස බවට පත් වේ.එසේම වැඩිම අස්වනු ලබන්නේ ද අම්පාර මඩකලපුව ඇතළු නැගෙනහිර පළාතේ ගෙවීන් විසිනි. අඩුම අස්වනු ලබනු බවට වාර්තා වන්නේ ගාල්ල කළුතර රත්නපුර වැනි දිස්ත්‍රික්කයන් තුළය.ඒවායේ නිෂ්පාදන වියදම ද ඉහළය.

       මේ තත්වය අනුව වී කිලෝවක් නිෂ්පාදනය කිරීම සඳහා සාමාන්‍ය අගය වශයෙන් රුපියල් 116 ක අගයක් වාර්තා‌ වේ.එම මිළට තුනෙන් එකක් එකතු කළ විට රුපියල් 146 ක සහතික මිළක් වාර්ත‌ා වේ. ඉන් පොහොර සහනාධාරයට ගෙවූ මුදල අඩු කළ විට රුපියල් එකසිය හතළික සහතික මිළකට යා හැකිය. නියර රැහීම නියර බැඳීම ගොවියා ගේ ශ්‍රමය යන්ත්‍ර උපකරණ වල කුලිය අස්වනු නෙලීමේ දී වැය වෙන අමතර වැය  මේ සියල්ලම මේ නිෂ්පාදන වියදමට අයත් වේ. මේ තත්වය වසරෙන් වසර වෙනස් වන අතර විශේෂයෙන් ශ්‍රමය සඳහා ගෙවන මුදල් වෙනස් වෙන බව කිව යුතුය.අවසානයේ අක්කරයක වී ගොවිතැනෙන් ගොවියා කන්නයකට ලබන සම්පූර්ණ ආදායම රුපියල් තුන්ලක්ෂයකට අඩුය. ඉන් නිෂ්පාදන වියදම අඩු කළ විට. මාස හයක් ජීවත් වීමට ඔහු අත අත්තේ ලක්ෂයකට අඩු මුදලකි. මාසයකට ඔහුගේ ආදායම රුපියල් 15000 ක් පමණ වේ.වානිජ වශයෙන් වී වගාව පරිවර්තනය වීමෙන් පසු හැත්තෑව දශකයේ සිට මෙවැනි අඩු ආදායම් ලබන ගොවි පරපුරක් රටටම බත සපයමින් ජීවත් වීමම පුදුමයට කරුණකි. වර්තමානය වන විට ගොවි තරුණයන් ගොවිතැන හැර යෑමේ ප්‍රවණතාවය අධික වී තිබෙන්නේ අවම ජීවන මට්ටමක් සහිතව දිවි ගෙවීමට පවා ඔවුන්ට අහිමි කර තිබීම නිසාය.

        මෙවැනි තත්වයක් යටතේ ගෙවීන්ගේ අවනඩුව රජය විසින් සැළකිල්ලට නොගැනීම අභාග්‍යයකි. පෙර සඳහන් කළ රජයේ ආයතන සියල්ලම එක්වී සෑම වර්ෂයකම වී සහතික මිළි සකස් කරන අතර මේ වන විට 2024 මාස් කන්නය සඳහා වී කිලෝවක් නිෂ්පාදනය කිරීමට  වැය වන්නේ යැයි ඔවුන් ගණන් බලා ඇති වයදම රුපියල් අසූහතකි. මෙවැනි සංඛ්‍යා ලේඛන කුමන පදනමකින් සකස් කලේද යන්න බරපතල ගැටළුවකි. ගොවියාගේ ශ්‍රමය කම්කරු ශ්‍රමය ආදී කරුණු පමණක් නොව යන්ත්‍ර සූත්‍ර සඳහා ගෙවිය යුතු කුලිය පවා මේ සංඛ්‍යා ලේඛන තුළ එක්කෝ දකින්නට නැත. නැතිනම් අඩු අගයක් එකතු කර තිබේ. නැතිනම් රුපියල් අසූහතක් වැනි අඩු මුදලක් ඉදිරිපත් වන්නට නොහැකිය. ඔවුන් සෑම දිස්ත්‍රික්කයකම මේ වී මිළි ගණන් බැලූවා නම් අඩුම ගණනනේ රුපියල් 100 ක වත් නිෂ්පාදන වියදමක් ලබා ගන්නට බැරිව තිබෙන්නේ යම් බලපෑමක් උඩද යන්න කල්පනා කළ යුතුය. මිල නියාමනගොවිජන සභාව විසින් ගණනය කළ රුපියල් 116 ක මිළ අනුව එයට තව තුනෙන් එකක මිළක් එකතු කොට ලැබෙන 146 අගය වුවද ගොවියාට සාධාරණයක් ඉටු කරන්නේ නැත. මන්ද මාසයකට රුපියල් පහලොස්දාහක් ලබා ගෙන ජීවත් වීම ඔවුන්ට උගහට බැවිනි.පවුලේ නඩත්තුව ළමුන් ගේ ඉගැන්වීමේ වියදම බොහෙත් හේත් වලට යන වියදම ගමන් වියදම් මේ සියල්ල ජීවන බරට එකතු වේ. අනෙකුත් පාරිභෝගිකයා මෙන්ම ගොවියාද බදු ගෙවයි. ලුණු සිල්ලර මස් මාළු  බිත්තර පරිප්පු වැනි ආහාර ද්‍රව්‍යයන් ද විවිධාකාර උපකරණ විදුලි භාණ්ඩ වැනි දේට වෙළෙඳ පලේ වැඩි වන මිලට අනුව ලබා ගැනීමට ගොවියාට සිදු වේ.වතු කම්කරුවකු පවා දිනකට මේ වන විට රුපියල් 1200 ක දෛනික වැටුපක් ලබා ගන්නා අතර ගොවියා ඊටත් අන්ත දුගියෙකු බවට පත් කර තිබේ. ඒ නිසා ගොවිතැන් කිරීම කන්නයට සිදු කර අමතර රැකියා හෝ කුලී වැඩ කිරීමට ගොවියාට සිදු වේ. හේන් ගොවිතැන් කිරීමට සිදු වේ. වර්ෂය පුරාවටම ගොවිබිම් වල දුක් විඳීම නිසා ගොවීන් ගේ සෞඛ්‍ය තත්වය පිරීහීමට පත් වෙයි. වකුගඩු රෝග වලින් පීඩා විඳින දහසක් දෙන ඒ තත්වයට පත්ව තිබෙන්නේ කෘෂිකාර්මික පරිසරයේ තිබෙන අයහපත් තත්වයන් තුළය.

         මේ තත්වය වෙනස් කිරීමට නම් නිෂ්පාදන වියදම එක්කෝ අඩු කළ යුතුය. රසායකික පොහොර වෙනුවට කාබනික පොහොර භාවිතය කෘෂි රසායන අවම කර ගැනීම වැනි දේවල කළ හැති වුවද යන්ත්‍ර උපකරණ වල කුලිය.ශ්‍රමය ආදිය කිසිවක් අඩු කල හැකි දේ නොවේ. ඒ නිසා වාර්ෂිකව සියළුම දත්තයන් නිවැරදිව විශ්ලේෂණය කොට යම් ප්‍රතිශතයකින් සෑම විටම නිස්පාදන වියදමට සරිලන සහතික මිලක් ලබා දීම රජයේ පරම යුතුකමකි. අවසානයේ දළ ජාතික නිස්පදිතයට කෘෂිකර්මයේ දායකත්වය සියයට හයක මට්ටමේ සෑමදාම තබා ගෙන සිටින්නේ මෙවැනි දත්ත විශ්ලේෂණයක් නිරන්තරයෙන් සිදු නොවන බැවිනි. ඒ වෙනුට සේවා ආරථිකයේ වර්ධනය මුදල් සංසරණයේ වර්ධනය ආදිය හුවා දක්වා වෙළඳ පළ ආර්ථිකය ප්‍රවර්ධනය කිරිම නිරන්තරයෙන් සිදු වේ. ලංකාව වැන රටක සේවා සහ වෙළෙඳ පල ආර්ථිකය මෙන්ම නිෂ්පාදන ආර්ථිකයද කරට කර තිබිය යුතුය. එසේ නොමැති වූ විට ගොවියාද පාරිභොගිකයා යන දෙදෙනාම පීඩාවට පත් වේ. අතර මැදි වෙළන්දා තමන්ගේ ලාභය පමණක් සිතන බැවින් ගොවියා සහ පාරිභෝගිකයා දෙදෙනාම ආරක්ෂා කර ගැනීමට බරපතල වගකීමක් රජයට තිබේ. වර්තමාන රජයද එම වගකීම අතට ගන්නේ නැති බව පොනේ.වී වලට සහතික මිලක් ලබා දීමේ දී ගොවියා ගේ සංඛ්‍යා ලේඛන වෙනුවට නිළධාරින් ගේ සංඛ්‍යා ලේඛන විශ්වාස කරනුයේ ඒ නිසාය.වී රටේ තිබීය දී විදෙස් වලින් සහල ගෙන්වීමට උත්සාහ කරනුයේ ඒ නිසාය. මහජන ආණ්ඩුවක යුතුකම ඔවුන් පැහැර හැර තිබේ.

මතුගම සෙනෙවිරුවන්

Sugath Kulatunga

To Hon (Prof.) Anil Jayantha Fernando
Minister of Labour- minister@labourmin.gov.lk.

Dear Sir,

I give below the possible worker needs that I have gathered from AI sources for the reconstruction of Gaza which will commence in the near future. It would be expedient for Sri Lanka to send our workers to be employed in the reconstruction operations. This may entail training of large numbers of skilled cadres and sharing information with relevant professionals. It would also be a good opportunity to organize and support private sector consortiums to undertake subcontract work with international firms.

I urge your immediate attention to this unique opportunity.

THE NEEDS

The construction of Gaza will require a diverse range of construction workers and professionals due to the extensive rebuilding efforts needed for infrastructure, homes, public facilities, and utilities. The categories of workers in demand typically include:

1. General Construction Workers

• Bricklayers and Masons: For constructing and repairing walls, buildings, and other structures.
• Concrete Workers: For pouring, forming, and finishing concrete for foundations, roads, and buildings.
• Carpenters: For framing structures, roofing, and interior woodwork.
• Roofers: For rebuilding and repairing roofs for homes and public facilities.

2. Heavy Equipment Operators

• Crane Operators: For lifting heavy materials to build high-rise buildings or large structures.
• Excavator and Bulldozer Operators: For clearing debris and leveling land for new construction.
• Truck Drivers: For transporting construction materials and debris.

3. Skilled Tradespeople

• Electricians: To install, repair, and upgrade electrical systems for homes, businesses, and public facilities.
• Plumbers: To repair and install water supply and sewage systems.
• HVAC Technicians: For rebuilding and maintaining heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

4. Civil Engineering Specialists

• Structural Engineers: To design and oversee the construction of buildings and infrastructure that meet safety standards.
• Civil Engineers: For planning and supervising the construction of roads, bridges, and water systems.
• Surveyors: To assess land and map out construction projects.

5. Utility and Infrastructure Specialists

• Water and Sanitation Technicians: For repairing water treatment facilities, pipelines, and sewage systems.
• Power Grid Technicians: To restore and rebuild the electricity grid and related infrastructure.
• Telecommunications Workers: To rebuild and upgrade internet and communication networks.

6. Disaster Recovery and Safety Professionals

• Demolition Experts: For safe removal of damaged structures.
• Health and Safety Officers: To ensure that construction projects comply with safety regulations.
• Environmental Specialists: To manage pollution, waste, and the sustainable use of resources during reconstruction.

7. Architects and Urban Planners

• Architects: To design new buildings and restore damaged ones.
• Urban Planners: For planning city layouts, infrastructure networks, and public spaces.

8. Specialized Technicians

• Glass and Window Installers: For residential and commercial glazing needs.
• Painters and Decorators: To finish and beautify interior and exterior surfaces.
• Steelworkers/Welders: For reinforcing structures, fabricating frames, and supporting large-scale construction projects.

9. Humanitarian and Support Workers

• Logistics Coordinators: To manage the delivery and distribution of construction materials and equipment.
• Labor Supervisors: To manage and train teams on-site.
• Community Liaison Officers: To coordinate with local communities and ensure reconstruction meets their needs.

Given the scale and scope of reconstruction, there will also be a demand for project managers, financial planners, and procurement specialists to handle budgets and resources efficiently. Each category plays a critical role in rebuilding a resilient and functional Gaza.

Ic daj@parliament.lk

 

Dilrook Kannangara

Forced by India, successive governments since 2012 have invested disproportionate amounts of money in schools in estate communities. From a layman’s point of view, it is a good” thing and it will bring good” outcomes. In reality, that’s not how things work. In fact, the outcome of it will be disastrous for Sri Lanka. Instead, the government must make proportionate investments in education without favoring any one community. Past neglect is not an excuse to over-invest in schools in estate areas. Taxpayer funds are collected equally from every Sri Lankan and must be spent the same way. No favoring one community over another in education.

Sri Lanka has own examples of this happening in the past. The government elected in 1970 built the Jaffna University to address a concern among northern communities. They were uneasy at that time to travel and live in Colombo or Kandy for their university education; particularly women. A university in Jaffna would address it as they could travel to university from home. Unfortunately, it did not lead to the development of the north. Far from it. What it only did was breed more greed leading to violence. It led to cheating at exams to get into university which in turn led to standardization which failed to bring equity to communities. Some even blame it for terrorism. What’s worse is most students who gained a free tertiary education from the north left the country. They are the biggest brain drain burden on Sri Lanka!

The solution is not to increase investments in education. Taxpayers simply cannot afford to pocket out any more money for education. They are taxed to the maximum now while brain drain continues to drain out most of it. Pouring more into this bucket with a massive hole is worthless and is a crime against taxpayers and the national economy.

Overall, Sri Lanka keeps failing itself thanks to do-good” policies that must be sustained by taxpayers without proportionate benefits reaching them or the nation.

A worldwide study including Sri Lanka on civil wars was carried out by researchers Paul Collier and Anke Hoeffler in a World Bank study in 2000. The research looked into what causes civil wars – grievances or greed? Their conclusion was that greed was responsible for most civil wars since World War 2 which included Sri Lanka’s civil wars too. This predictive model when applied to the mindless but merciful act of Sri Lankan government wasting a disproportionate amount of taxpayer money in estate schools will backfire very badly for Sri Lanka.

Ramzy Baroud Courtesy Counterpunch

A dramatic escape was cited by Israeli media as the reason that Yuval Vagdani, a soldier in the Israeli army, managed to escape justice in Brazil.

Vagdani was accused by a Palestinian advocacy legal group, the Hind Rajab Foundation, of carrying out well-documented crimes in Gaza. He is not the only Israeli soldier being pursued for similar crimes.

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), more than 50 Israeli soldiers are being pursued in countries ranging from South Africa to Sri Lanka to Sweden.

In one case, the Hind Rajab Foundation filed a complaint in a Swedish court against Boaz Ben David, an Israeli sniper from the 932 Battalion of the Israeli Nahal Brigade. He is also accused of committing war crimes in Gaza.

The Nahal Brigade has been at the heart of numerous war crimes in Gaza. Established in 1982, the brigade is notorious for its unhinged violence against occupied Palestinians. Their role in the latest genocidal atrocities in the Strip has far exceeded their own dark legacy.

Even if these 50 individuals are apprehended and sentenced, the price exacted from the Israeli army pales in comparison to the crimes carried out.

Numbers, though helpful, are rarely enough to convey collective pain. The medical journal Lancet’s latest report is still worthy of reflection. Using a new data-collecting method called ‘capture–recapture analysis’, the report indicates that by the first nine months of the war, between October 2023 and June 2024, 64,260 Palestinians have been killed.

Still, capturing and trying Israeli war criminals is not just about the fate of these individuals. It is about accountability—an absent term in the history of Israeli human rights violations, war crimes, and recurring genocides against Palestinians.

The Israeli government understands that the issue now goes beyond individuals. It is about the loss of Israel’s historic status as a country that stands above the law.

As a result, the Israeli army announced that it decided not to publicly reveal the names of soldiers involved in the Gaza war and genocide, fearing prosecution in international courts.

However, this step is unlikely to make much difference for two reasons. First, numerous pieces of evidence against individual soldiers, whose identities are publicly known, have already been gathered or are available for future investigation. Second, much of the documentation of war crimes has been unwittingly produced by Israeli soldiers themselves.

Reassured about the lack of accountability, Israeli soldiers have taken countless pieces of footage showing the abuse and torture of Palestinians in Gaza. This self-indictment will likely serve as a major body of evidence in future trials.

All of this cannot be viewed separately from the ongoing investigation into the Israeli genocide in Gaza by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Additionally, arrest warrants have been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against top Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Though these cases have moved slowly, they have set a precedent that even Israel is not immune to some measure of international accountability and justice.

Moreover, these cases have granted countries that are signatories to the ICC and ICJ the authority to investigate individual war crimes cases filed by human rights and legal advocacy groups.

Though the Hind Rajab Foundation is not the only group pursuing Israeli war criminals globally, the group’s name derives from a five-year-old Palestinian girl from Gaza who was murdered by the Israeli army in January 2024, along with her family. This tragedy and that particular name are a reminder that the innocent blood of Palestinians will not go in vain.

Though justice may be delayed, as long as there are pursuers, it will someday be attained.

Pursuing alleged Israeli war criminals in international and national courts is just the start of a process of accountability that will last many years. With every case, Israel will learn that the decades-long US vetoes and blind Western protection and support will no longer suffice.

It was the West’s shameless shielding of Israel throughout the years that allowed Israeli leaders to behave as they saw fit for Israel’s so-called national security—even if it meant the very extermination of the Palestinian people, as is the case today in Gaza.

Still, Western governments, including the US and Britain, continue to treat wanted Israelis as sanctified heroes—not war criminals. This goes beyond accusations of double standards. It is the highest immorality and disregard for international law.

Things need to change; in fact, they are already changing.

Since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, Tel Aviv has already learned many difficult lessons. For example, its army is no longer invincible”, its economy is relatively small and highly dependent, and its political system is fragile. In times of crisis, it is barely operable.

It is time for Israel to learn yet another lesson: that the age of accountability has begun. Dancing around the corpses of dead Palestinians in Gaza is no longer an amusing social media post, as Israeli soldiers once thought.

Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of five books. His latest is These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons” (Clarity Press, Atlanta). Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA), Istanbul Zaim University (IZU). His website is www.ramzybaroud.net

https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/01/16/the-gaza-genocide-the-fall-of-israels-immunity/

Gemunu Jayantha Wanninayake

උපුටා ගැන්ම  ලංකා ලීඩර්

සරණාගතයන් ලෙසින් රටට ඇතුළුවන අනවසර සංක්‍රමණිකයන්ට විරෝධය පළකිරීම සහ ඒ පිටුපස ඇති මිනිස් ජාවාරම හෙළාදැකීම සඳහා විරෝධය  පළකරමින් ස්වදේශික ව්‍යාපාරය අද විපක්ෂනායක කාර්යාලය අසලදී විරෝධතාවයක් පැවැත්විය. 

සරණාගතයින් ලෙසින් මෙරටට පැමිණෙන සංක්‍රමණිකයින්ගෙන් මෙරට ජාතික ආරක්ෂාවට බරපතල තර්ජනයක් ඇති බව එහි සභාපතිවරයා පැවසීය. වැඩිදුරටත් අදහස් දැක්වූ ඔහු පැවසුවේ මෙම සරණාගතයින් මෙරට පදිංචි කරවිය යුතු බව පැවසීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් බලවත් විරෝධය පළකරන බවයි. 

LAKMAL SOORIYAGODA Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Jan 18 (Daily Mirror) – The Attorney General yesterday (17) provided an undertaking before the Supreme Court that any further complaints not yet considered could be forwarded by the petitioners to the Attorney General and these complaints will be reviewed when making a final and independent decision regarding potential action against Pastor Jerome Fernando in connection with alleged hate speech undermining religious harmony in the country.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Sudarshana de Silva, representing the Attorney General, made this undertaking before a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Janak de Silva, and Mahinda Samayawardena. This occurred during the hearing of a Fundamental Rights petition filed by a group of religious leaders seeking an order for legal action against Pastor Jerome Fernando.
 
The Supreme Court recorded that Sanjeeva Jayawardena, PC, would be authorized to forward any additional complaints to the Attorney General on behalf of the petitioners. The Attorney General would then consider these complaints for investigation and make a final decision at their discretion. Sanjeeva Jayawardena, PC, informed the court that if this approach was agreed upon, the proceedings could be terminated. As all counsel were in agreement, the Supreme Court subsequently terminated the proceedings.
 
Jayawardena further informed the court that the petitioners were dissatisfied with the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) investigation into Pastor Jerome’s alleged money laundering activities. He noted that, despite the pastor’s arrest and court appearance for violations under the Penal Code and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act, the petitioners felt the investigations were inadequate.
 
The petitioners Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera, Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera, Ven. Angulugalle Sri Ginanada Thera, Rev. Father Nishan Cooray, Dr. Sivasui Ramachandra Kurukkal Babu Sharma and Al-Haj-As-Seyed Hassan Moulana Al Quadri filed this petition naming Pastor Jerome Fernando, IGP and several others as respondents. The petitioners had sought an order directing the authorities that legal action be instituted against Pastor Jerome Fernando under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act of 56 of 2007. 
 
President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena appeared for the petitioners.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Sudarshana de Silva appeared for the Attorney General. Senior Counsel Jeewantha Kulatunga appeared for Pastor Jerome Fernando.

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Energy, Kumara Jayakody has stated that as a priority, the government will implement the recommendations of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to reduce electricity tariffs. 

He emphasized that recommendation will be implemented considering this as the first phase in the plan to provide a 30% tariff reduction over the next three years for the domestic, hotel, and industrial sectors.

He made these remarks in response to an inquiry from Ada Derana.

Meanwhile, the Minister has also issued a special statement today regarding the matter.

I am aware that a significant reduction in electricity bills is a great relief to the people. I am pleased that as a government, we have been able to manage the challenges and provide relief to the public,” Minister Jayakody said in the special statement today (18).

I hope that all the people of the country, especially those in the hotel sector and industrialists, have benefited greatly from this,” he added. 

Accordingly, he stated that the overall electricity bill will be reduced by about 20%, with the recommendations of the PUCSL being accepted and implemented from midnight on January 17.

The PUCSL had announced that it has decided to reduce electricity tariffs by an average amount of 20% overall for the first 06 months of the year, with effect from midnight yesterday (17).

However, the Ministry of Energy later issued a special announcement regarding the revision of electricity tariffs recommended by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), yesterday (17).

According to the announcement, once the new electricity tariff revision recommended by the PUCSL is officially received, it will be implemented by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) following the advice of the Ministry of Finance.

Courtesy Adaderana

The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) has uncovered further information regarding a planned terrorist attack targeting tourists in the Arugam Bay area, a popular tourist destination frequented by Israeli tourists. 

The facts were presented before the court on Friday (January 17).

The TID reported that the terrorist attack was planned while the perpetrators were in prison. When the case was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, the court was informed that seven suspects have been arrested thus far in connection with the terror plot.

Three of the suspects—Yogaraja Nirojan, Suresh Ranjana, and W.A. Don Amarasiri—were produced before court yesterday.

Investigating officers, who had interrogated the suspects for 90 days, stated that the attack was planned to be carried out using former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who had been convicted for their involvement in terrorist acts and released after serving long sentences.

The suspects had planned to execute the attack coinciding with the last Presidential Election. As part of their preparations, they had dispatched several individuals to the Arugam Bay tourist area to film and take photographs on October 7 and 8 last year.

 Investigators further informed the court that Bilal Ahmed, the first accused in the case, had made contact with Anandan Sugadaran, who had been convicted over the 2008 Kesbewa bus bombing, while both were in prison.

Attorney Rajinda Kandegedara, representing the suspects, claimed in court that either the TID or the police had obtained Bilal Ahmed’s signature on certain documents. 

In response, the Magistrate noted that the court had been monitoring the suspects since their detention for interrogation and that none of the suspects had complained to him regarding such incidents when he had visited them  for observation.

After considering the arguments presented by both parties, the Magistrate ordered that the suspects be remanded until further instructions are received from the Attorney General.

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka and China are ushering in a new chapter in bilateral relations,” Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said in an interview with Xinhua.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Dissanayake was on a state visit to China from Tuesday to Friday, his first trip to China since taking office in September as Sri Lankan president.

I first visited Beijing in 2004. Returning after 20 years, I see a tremendous transformation,” Dissanayake said.

Over the past 68 years since establishing diplomatic ties, China and Sri Lanka have deepened their strategic cooperative partnership through sincere mutual assistance and lasting friendship.

Following their talks on Wednesday, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents in such areas as Belt and Road cooperation, agricultural products, social welfare, and the press, radio and television.

Dissanayake said that Sri Lanka is currently facing several challenges, including poverty reduction, technological advancement and infrastructure development, and China can play a significant role in supporting Sri Lanka in overcoming these challenges.

I observed that the Chinese government is people-centered and attentive to public needs. Similarly, Sri Lanka’s new government is also dedicated to serving its people,” said the 56-year-old president.

Dissanayake applauded China’s poverty alleviation achievements. China’s poverty reduction experience is a global model and has been praised by the United Nations. Sri Lanka has much to learn from China’s experience,” he said, highlighting his plan of field trips to rural areas in China to learn firsthand how local farmers have overcome poverty.

Dissanayake was also impressed by his visit to the Museum of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which shows how China, led by the CPC, has overcome challenges and achieved its current success. The exhibition holds great significance not only for the Chinese people, but also for us as it offers new perspectives on development,” he said.

Over the years, Sri Lanka and China have made steady progress in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Chinese enterprises have constructed ports, highways, railways, hospitals, water conservancies and power facilities in Sri Lanka, significantly improving its infrastructure and investment environment while boosting local employment.

China is a major trade partner for Sri Lanka, a leading source of imports and foreign investment, and a key provider of development assistance.

The Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port are landmark projects of the Belt and Road cooperation between the two sides. These two projects will undoubtedly bring long-term economic benefits to Sri Lanka,” Dissanayake said.

Industrial parks would be developed around Hambantota Port, and Colombo Port City would attract more investment, greatly improving the living standards of the Sri Lankan people, he said.

Debunking Western media’s disinformation that China is creating a debt trap” and militarizing Sri Lankan ports, Dissanayake said, Global South countries need development, which cannot be achieved without external investment and loans. We cannot view such assistance as a ‘debt trap’.”

Looking ahead, Dissanayake expressed hope of attracting more Chinese enterprises to invest in Sri Lanka and more Chinese tourists. Currently, China is Sri Lanka’s fourth-largest source of tourists.

To further boost tourism, Sri Lanka has launched tourism promotion campaigns and streamlined visa application processes, and it is planning more direct flights to attract Chinese tourists.

Sri Lanka and China are both nations rich in cultural heritage with a long history of people-to-people exchanges. I believe Chinese tourists will have a wonderful time in Sri Lanka,” said the president.

Source: Xinhua
–Agencies 

Courtesy Hiru News

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the People’s Bank of China, in December 2024, successfully renewed the Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement signed in 2021, for a period of another three (03) years, under the terms and conditions stipulated in the original agreement. The CNY 10 billion (approximately USD 1.4 billion) currency swap facility reflects the financial cooperation between China and Sri Lanka.

Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, signed the agreement on behalf of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, while Mr. Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People’s Bank of China, signed on behalf of the People’s Bank of China.

Courtesy Hiru News

Energy Minister Engineer Kumara Jayakody announced that electricity bills have been reduced by approximately 20%, effective from midnight on January 17, following recommendations from the Public Utilities Commission.

In a special statement made today (18), the Minister expressed optimism that the reduction will benefit all citizens, particularly the hotel sector and industrialists.

He described the significant reduction as a major relief for the people of the country.

Madyawediya

3 Minutes – SEPAL AMARASINGHE

Dr. Chula Rajapaksse MNZM FRCP/FRACP Wellington NZ

Dear Editor,

It is quite frustrating to read of the continuing need. for ships to stay in ques to have them servied, This takes my mind back immediately to 1957/58 period when the LSSP controlled trade unions brought Colombo port to a stand still during Mr SWRD Bandaranayakes premiership.

However now the country has a brand new harbour in Hambantota completely underutilised.

This is a perfect opportunity for the New Govt. to begin utilising this underutilised resource so that efficiency in both ports could be used with country never being held to a ransom again like this. 

Sincerely

Dr. Chula Rajapaksse MNZM

FRCP/FRACP

Wellington NZ

World BEYOND War

Join us for a Global Day of Action to Close Military Bases on February 23! We call on individuals and organizations around the world to participate in this worldwide day of protest against military bases.

Join the Global Day of Action to #CloseBases

The thousands of military bases, both foreign and domestic, around the world are a critical piece of the war machine that must be dismantled. Closing bases is a necessary step to shift the global security paradigm towards a demilitarized approach that centers common security — no one is safe until all are safe.

Here are the top 5 reasons why we’re calling for a Global Day of Action to Close Bases: Bases often perpetuate colonialism. From Panama to Guam to Puerto Rico to Okinawa to dozens of other locations across the world, militaries have taken valuable land from local populations, often pushing out Indigenous people in the process, without their consent and without reparations. Bases cost an exorbitant amount of $$. The cost of U.S. foreign military bases alone is estimated at $80 billion a year. Bases exacerbate environmental damage and the climate crisis. It is well documented at hundreds of sites around the world that military bases leach toxic so-called forever chemicals” (PFAS/PFOS) into local water supplies, which has had devastating health consequences for nearby communities. Bases can impact the local economy and community. Militaries have a notorious legacy of sexual violence, including kidnapping, rape, and murders of women and girls. Bases heighten tensions and provoke war-making. Additionally, bases make locations into targets for attack. Visit the website to learn more about why we’re calling for this worldwide day of action and check out our action planning resources to help you organize your event.   Plus, organizations are invited to endorse the day of action here.

Learn More about the Global Day of Day to #CloseBases — and how you can get involved!

Individuals and organizations around the world are invited to get creative in organizing actions in your community! Action types will vary based on the location of the military base in your area and who holds the power to shut the base down. Some ways to take action include: Rallies and vigils at military bases Demonstrations at decision-makers’ offices, such as at embassies and Parliament buildings, to advocate for policy change to prevent, close, and convert bases Flyering workers at the entrance gates as they drive in and out of the base Educational events such as teach-ins about the impacts of military bases in your area Celebratory events at base sites that have been prevented, closed, or converted And more!

Core Mobilization Organizers for the Global Day of Action include: International Peace Bureau, No to War – No to NATO Network, Pace e Bene, RootsAction, Veterans For Peace, War Industry Resisters Network, and World BEYOND War.    We hope you’ll join the Global Day of Action to #CloseBases on February 23 by organizing a local action near you.

In solidarity, Greta Zarro Organizing Director World BEYOND War greta@worldbeyondwar.org

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

1.At the invitation of H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Anura Kumara Disanayaka, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, paid a state visit to the People’s Republic of China from January 14 to 17, 2025.

2.During the visit, President Anura Kumara Disanayaka held talks with President Xi Jinping, and met with H.E. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council and H.E. Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. In a cordial and friendly atmosphere, the two sides had in-depth exchanges of views and reached extensive common understandings on deepening traditional friendship and advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and multi-sectoral practical cooperation between China and Sri Lanka, and on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

3. The two sides share the view that China and Sri Lanka have consistently respected each other, treated each other as equals and stood by each other over the 68 years of diplomatic ties, and set a fine example of friendly interactions and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of different sizes. The two sides agreed to carry forward the spirit of independence, self-reliance, solidarity and mutual assistance enshrined in the Rubber-Rice Pact, follow the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual support, win-win cooperation and common development, stay committed to deepening the China-Sri Lanka strategic

cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship, and jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, to bring greater benefits to the two countries and peoples.

4. The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of close high-level exchanges to keep the strong strategic guidance by the leaders of the two countries over bilateral relations, to further strengthen bilateral exchanges between the two governments, legislative bodies and political parties to consolidate political mutual trust and share and learn from each other’s governance and development experience, and make dedicated efforts to enhance China-Sri Lanka relations.

5. Both sides reaffirmed mutual support on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns. Both sides reaffirm the authority of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and Sri Lanka reaffirmed its strong commitment to the one-China principle, recognizing that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Sri Lanka firmly supports all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification, and opposes Taiwan independence” in any form. Sri Lanka reiterated that it will never allow its territory to be used for any anti-China, separatist activities and will firmly support China on issues related to Xizang and Xinjiang. China reiterated that it will continue to firmly support Sri Lanka in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will respect and support Sri Lanka in independently choosing a development path suited to its national conditions. The Chinese side reiterated its commitment to an independent foreign policy of peace. Sri Lanka reiterated its commitment to an independent non-aligned foreign policy.

6. China congratulated Sri Lanka on successfully holding presidential and parliamentary elections in 2024, expressed its good wishes for the new Sri Lankan government to take the Sri Lankan people forward in economic and social development, unity, stability and prosperity, and conveyed its readiness to provide active support as the Sri Lankan government works to promote the sustainable development of the country. Sri Lanka commended the remarkable achievements China made in the new era, and expressed support for China to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through the Chinese path to modernization. Sri Lanka believes that China’s drive to further deepen reform comprehensively and promote high-standard opening up will bring new opportunities for Sri Lanka’s economic advancement.

7. Under the guidance and encouragement of leaders of both countries, China and Sri Lanka have produced fruitful outcomes in Belt and Road cooperation. Sri Lanka appreciates the important role of Belt and Road cooperation in its economic and social development and the livelihood of its people. The two sides agreed to advance all major signature projects including the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port integrated development, fully utilize such platforms as the Silk Road Workshop and carry out more livelihood programs in Sri Lanka in accordance with the principles of planning together, building together and benefiting together, open, green and clean cooperation, and high-standard, people-centered and sustainable development and following the eight major steps announced by President Xi Jinping for supporting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The two sides were pleased to sign a Belt and Road cooperation plan to upgrade China-Sri Lanka high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and jointly open up new space for win-win development of higher standard, stronger resilience and greater sustainability.

8. Sri Lanka expressed its high appreciation for the valuable support it has received from China in times of financial difficulties, including the vital assistance in restructuring China-related debts, which was a robust support for Sri Lanka in effectively dealing with the debt issue. Sri Lanka expressed its desire for the early implementation of the agreed debt restructuring plan together with Chinese financial institutions. China will continue to play a positive role in the International Monetary Fund and maintain friendly communication with other creditors to help Sri Lanka ease its financial difficulties and achieve debt sustainability. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the People’s Bank of China have renewed their currency swap agreement and will continue to carry out financial cooperation.

9. The two sides are satisfied with the progress of bilateral cooperation in economy and trade. Sri Lanka expressed appreciation to China for its effort to promote import from Sri Lanka through various means. China expressed its readiness to continue supporting Sri Lankan enterprises in the tea, gem and other industries in establishing ties with relevant Chinese associations of importers and exporters, facilitate Sri Lanka’s participation in expos such as the China International Import Expo, China Import and Export Fair, China-South Asia Exposition and e-commerce platforms, and further enhance cooperation between enterprises of the two countries on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. The two sides agreed to work toward the early conclusion of a comprehensive free trade agreement in one package in line with the principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Sri Lanka welcomes more business investment from China and will provide a conducive investment and business environment for this purpose. China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises in investing in Sri Lanka to facilitate economic transformation and sustainable development in Sri Lanka. The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in such fields as logistics, green development, and digital economy to propel their high-quality and mutually beneficial practical cooperation.

10. The two sides shared positive evaluations of their wide-ranging cooperation and in-depth exchanges on agriculture. China conveyed its readiness to carry out training and demonstration programs with Sri Lanka in areas including bio-technologies for tropical crops, plant breeding and cultivation, and aquaculture to help Sri Lanka enhance its capacity for sustainable agricultural development; and welcome Sri Lanka to further expand its export of distinctive products to China, including tea, fruits, cinnamon, and aquatic products. The two sides shared the readiness to expand exchanges and cooperation with a sharper focus on poverty reduction and rural revitalization. China expressed its readiness to help Sri Lanka strengthen the capacity of personnel in related fields.

11. Both sides recognize climate change as one of the greatest challenges of human society and a threat to the sustainable development of developing countries including China and Sri Lanka. They agreed to work actively together on climate change. Sri Lanka expressed appreciation to China for its humanitarian relief in the wake of severe flooding. China expressed its readiness to enhance cooperation with Sri Lanka in such fields as disaster prevention and mitigation and emergency rescue, share its technologies and provide training in improving Sri Lanka’s emergency management capabilities. China welcomes Sri Lanka’s participation in the relevant activities of the Belt and Road International Green Development Coalition and other platforms as part of the joint effort to realize the U.N. 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

12. The two sides share the desire to continue maritime cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual trust, openness and mutual benefit, and hold regular bilateral consultations on maritime affairs. The two sides are ready to deepen cooperation in such fields as conservation and restoration of the marine environment and ecosystems, maritime domain awareness, maritime rescue and disaster relief, and maritime personnel training and capacity building, and pool their strength to build a maritime community with a shared future. The two sides agreed to sign Memorandum of Understanding on Ocean Cooperation toward Blue Partnership.

13. The two sides are ready to deepen cooperation on education. The two sides fully recognized the importance of education exchanges for increasing understanding and friendship, and expressed readiness to further enhance exchanges of teachers, students, and researchers. China welcomes and encourages more committed students from Sri Lanka to pursue further studies in China, and is ready to continue to support them with government scholarships. China will work with Sri Lanka to implement the Luban Workshop to good effect and nurture more professionals through vocational and technical training for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka appreciates China’s assistance in education, and will work for the success of the digital classroom project together with China. The two sides are ready to promote Chinese language education in Sri Lanka and continue to work through the China Culture Center in Sri Lanka to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. The two sides will continue to work in and develop the China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Education and Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and strengthen scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation and education in the universities and research institutes of the two countries.

14. The two sides are ready to carry forward their long-standing friendship and bring their peoples closer together. The two sides will take multiple measures to encourage mutual tourist travel and aviation connectivity. China welcomes more Sri Lankan cities in the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities. The two sides will continue to support each other in holding tourism promotion activities in China and Sri Lanka.

15. The two sides are ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as youth, think tanks, sports, and the media, build on the bond of Buddhist exchanges, and deepen people-to-people and sister-city exchanges.

16. China will continue to extend support for the development of the health sector in Sri Lanka. China’s Yunnan Province will continue to send medical teams to Sri Lanka to carry out the Brightness Action program.

17. The Chinese side commends Sri Lanka’s positive response to President Xi Jinping’s proposal of the Asian Initiative for Cultural Heritage Conservation and Sri Lanka’s participation in the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia. China will further promote bilateral cultural heritage cooperation with Sri Lanka under the Alliance.

18. The two sides recognize judicial, law enforcement and security cooperation as an important component of bilateral cooperation, and stand ready to jointly crack down on cross-border crimes such as telecom fraud and online gambling. China is ready to do its best to support capacity building in Sri Lanka’s judicial, law enforcement and security areas and provide assistance of police supplies.

19. Sri Lanka reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and actively participating in the development of a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, which was just after the end of the Second World War. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to jointly upholding the international system with the U.N. at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. The two sides will adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and work toward a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for all countries in the world.

20. During the visit, the two sides signed cooperation documents, in the areas of agriculture, tourism, livelihood assistance, the media and other areas.

21. President Anura Kumara Disanayaka expressed appreciation to the Chinese government and people for the warm hospitality extended to him and the Sri Lankan delegation, and invited the Chinese leadership to visit Sri Lanka. The Chinese leadership expressed appreciation for the kind invitation, and the two sides agreed to maintain communication via diplomatic channels.