Location. Location. Location is reason why Sri Lanka is being earmarked to end in pieces on the guise of peace. Unfortunately, we have not had astute leaders or advisors to sail Sri Lanka out of muddy waters. Instead we are kept eternally firefighting with politicians happy to survive on petty political gains. We proved we can fight wars with terrorists but we have failed to identify the enemies bearing gifts in the form of cultural-diplomatic-relations-economic pacts etc as well as the enemies within. We have failed to see the larger geopolitical terrain to understand the bigger objectives at play. As the world’s power players compete to acquire resources & gain geopolitical control of choke points that control the land, seas & air, we have failed to take advantage of their aspirations to fulfill our national goals.
A noteworthy aspect of every terrorist movement is the underlying religious element to it. All of the global jihadi terrorists sustain their base using religion warped to manipulate the followers. LTTE had the Church, religious NGOs backing it though the majority of its combatants were Hindu. The ceremonial aspects, their burials, rituals etc were all non-Hindu. At no point did India come forward to save the Hindus from becoming victims of Church-led LTTE manipulations, when it could have. Why did India not show concern for Hindus then?
This was the scenario pre-LTTE defeat. Post-LTTE, India is playing a bigger role across Sri Lanka, while US & allies are making more strategic advances using the UN apparatus to subtly change Sri Lanka’s state administrative apparatus with politicians & policy advisors simply looking on. So the challenges Sri Lanka face are many confounded by the dummy attitude & actions of Sri Lanka’s leaders including the State admin apparatus.
The new religious aspect to the scenario emerging in North & East of Sri Lanka should be a cause for concern in particular how key departmental heads frequently visiting India are permitting a new form of history to be re-written & agreeing to a mythical Ramayana trail as well as the placement of the Siva Lingam across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. These developments tie to Panikkar’s Doctrine (the Bible of Indian Foreign Policy). The Panikkar doctrine follows the naval doctrine combined with Kautilya’s Arthashashtra & Mandal theory ‘your neighbor is your natural enemy’. Indira Gandhi did what Kautilya did – craftily creating a war”. Kautilya in Patiliputra & Indira Gandhi in Sri Lanka.
According to Native Indians the white man spoke with a forked tongue, implying that they meant they did not say & they said what they did not mean. We get the same mixed signals from Indian politicians & their policies. On the one hand, speeches & overtures of friendships & historical links abound but Sri Lanka experiences no shortage of political landmines, the result of which leads to Sri Lankans distrusting Indian policies.
At no point since Independence has Sri Lanka by its policies put India’s national security under threat. In fact, if India looks back, it is Indian policies that have made India’s borders vulnerable. All of the Western poodles that came to help LTTE are now subtly spreading wings to Tamil Nadu & influencing geopolitics as part of Western agenda to eventually balkanize India. Is this why India is in a hurry to annex Sri Lanka to prevent being balkanized?
While different schools of thought assume India was manipulated to train Tamil militancy, what cannot be denied is how India took advantage to draft the Indo-Lanka Accord to its advantage & the clauses clearly point out to securing advantage to India & not the Eelam cause. When LTTE killed an Indian Prime Minister, we expected India to eliminate the LTTE, but that didn’t happen, instead India helped draft the 2002 infamous ceasefire agreement & courted the TNA that LTTE created. India did not object when TNA manifestos of 2001 & 2004 openly declared LTTE to be the sole representative of the Tamils. Ironically, India claims to be the godparents of Tamils while LTTE became their sole representative. Political correctness practiced only by our politicians stopped asking the questions that would have put an end to the charade behind bogus Tamil Nation & Homeland as well as the fictitious genocide & war crimes claims. By India’s silence on TNA, it only showcased India was not on the side of truth but was playing politics to wrest bigger control pretending to be savior of Tamils & riding on the TNA bogey. How can India ask Sri Lanka to devolve powers to Tamils so they could live with ‘respect & dignity” & then vote against Sri Lanka at UNHRC? Sri Lanka defeated terrorists & we do not need to beg for applauses by those that stood in the way of victory.
Though Buddha was born in now Nepal, we are made to feel indebted to India, in fact Prime Minister Modi recently held an International Buddhist summit & takes pains to present the notion that he upholds the teachings of Buddha. That maybe, but does he know elements of Indian intel & elements from radical Hindu sects are aligning with separatist Tamil politicians in Sri Lanka to target Buddhist heritage & archaeological sites & forcibly take them over influencing even law & order & legal apparatus. We can recall how Indian intel sided with LTTE against its own Indian army resulting in scores of Indian army deaths at the hands of the LTTE. The memoirs of former IPKF heads clearly shows this duplicity. Therefore, if PM Modi is sincere about Buddhism, he must take immediate action against these elements who are now going overboard in their actions using Hindu faith to start a new religious terror. We have had all forms of terror, we do not wish to have a new religious form of terror among two communities that have lived in harmony for centuries. This message must be clearly articulated by Sri Lankan Buddhists & Sri Lankan Hindus to PM Modi & the Indian Hindu elements at play in Sri Lanka. The current incursions violate the Shared-Buddhist Heritage” agreement signed by India in 2020.
Kautilya or Chanakya was the advisor to King Chandragupta. His book Arthasastra” advocated a 6-fold crafty policy to interact with neighbors. The Panikkar Doctrine propagated by Indian diplomat K M Panikkar forms the basis of Indian diplomacy & Indian Foreign Service. Panikkar wanted Sri Lanka to become an integral part of India’s defense structure. How many in Sri Lanka’s Govt, foreign service or advisors know of this? What is the doctrine the Sri Lankan diplomats & politicians follow to safeguard Sri Lanka? We could have picked from Kautilya’s own words Your neighbor is your natural enemy and the neighbor’s neighbor is your friend”– but have we? Where are our alternate alliances?
Prime Minister Modi is weathering India well, balancing being part of US-led QUAD while also cementing strong bonds with BRICS nations aligned with China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil etc that would change the course of geopolitics in time to come. Sri Lanka is behaving like the proverbial ostrich!.
Ryp Van Winkle ( Sunday Times) wrote to JR Jayewardene in February 2023. My dear JR, I thought I must write to you, though it has been over a quarter of a century since you left us, because your name is being mentioned frequently these days. That is after your nephew began doing the job you did 45 years ago. What we have now realized is that his actions are very similar to yours”, said Ryp Van Winkle.
Your nephew seems to have learnt so much from you in his 45-year apprenticeship for the top job. In just a few months, he has shown us that whatever you did, he can do better. With him in charge, it feels as if you never left us! For example, there was the time when you sent a grim message to workers who staged strikes, sacking 40,000 of them in July ’80. Your nephew hasn’t sacked anyone yet, but he deals sternly with any protest, water cannons and all, concluded Ryp Van Winkle.
Daily News cartoon 25.7.2022
The election of 1977 was a landmark election, following the election of 1956. It marked a critical stage in the history of Sri Lanka, bringing with it many changes in the political and economic sectors. But these changes were not for the good of the country and JR became increasingly unpopular.
JR contested the Presidential election of 1982. He won with 52.9% of votes cast but only 42.3% of the votes in the register. Kobbekaduwa got over 39% of the votes. That was good, said Vittachi. The strong showing of Kobbekaduwa came as a shock to JR, said Sarath Amunugama.
Then came Black July 1983. Esmond Wickremasinghe had told Sarath Amunugama that JR never anticipated that this would spiral out of control. Cyril Matthew had overstepped his brief, complained JR. JR was scared of a violent overthrow of his regime, that was why he did not address the nation immediately and stop the violence , said Esmond .
JR lost popularity when he signed the Indo –Lanka Accord (1987). Sarath Amunugama was there at the signing. The whole of Colombo was shut down and there was an eerie silence in President’s office area. Area was strongly guarded. As soon as the Accord was signed, two Indian destroyers steamed into Colombo harbor said Sarath. Before the ink was dry on the Accord, 3000 Indian troops had landed in Jaffna including several Generals who outranked Brigadier Silva. There were Indian warships in the sea, added Vittachi.
A few hours before, a large contingent of protesters led by bhikkhus and the SLFP had staged a silent protest at Fort railway station. Violence was unleashed by UNP goons against them. About a dozen protesters were killed. There were reports that gangs of protestors were approaching Colombo city from the suburbs. JR was worried though he looked unfazed, said Sarath Amunugama.
JR Jayewardene is also remembered with contempt as the person who got the 13th Amendment accepted in Parliament. The Amendment was passé with 2/3 majority. MPs were taken by bus with an armed escort to Parliament and back to a heavily guarded hotel in Colombo. There was strong opposition to this Accord and there were many killings. UNP MPs such as de Silva of Habaraduwa and Tikiri Banda of Galagedara as well as many UNP party officials were killed.
JR began to fear a military coup, said Sarath. JVP burned down JR’s holiday home at Mirissa in late 1980s. Media said that the two persons who were to propose JR’s name to the UNP working committee, for the third round, Keerthinanda and Lionel Jayatilleke, were killed and JR backed down out of fear for his own life. JR did not attempt a third bout as President. JR’s term as President ended in January 1989. He died in 1996.
JR was to spend his last days with his reputation in tatters and ignored by the UNP which he had had done much to build. Only Japan remembered him for his intervention in San Francisco, said Sarath Amunugama. SWRD is still remembered on his birthday, but JR is not, he observed. JR has drawn the most criticism concluded Sarath. In 2023, JR was criticized at the May Day rally of the Uttara Lanka Saubhagya.
In 2010 Island newspaper ran a letter praising JR. There came a reply listing all the wrong things JR had done including taking Mudu Katuwa estate, the best coconut estate in the country, for himself. (Island 19.5.10 p 9)
Can JR be considered a traitor after Vadamarachchi asked Izeth Hussain writing in 2015. His nationalism has always been suspect; He was known as Yankee Dickie. ‘There are Sri Lankans who believed that in reality he hated the Sinhalese. The problem is really JR he hates the people of this country and therefore he can only bring disaster to the country, they said. Sir John had said that JR wants to be PM and when he does so ‘he will destroy the country’, recalled Hussein.
JR brazenly amended and manipulated the Constitution. Sam Wijesinha Secretary General of Parliament said that he had advised the Speaker not to allow something that JR wanted. JR had told him, ‘If you had not been here, I would have got away with it.’
JR was not prepared to tolerate any opposition. He did not allow Premadasa to function on his behalf as acting President. He obtained undated letters of resignation from all his MPs other than from S. Thondaman of the Ceylon Workers Congress . He engineered the Rajadurai Amendment that allowed MPs from the Opposition to join the government but not the other way about. He arrested radical leftists of the NLSSP and CP.
JR was intent on silencing all dissent and criticism from whatever source. In 1982, the chief monk of Getambe temple had called JR a traitor. The government temporarily acquired the temple land and barbed wired it, reported Vittachi.
JR did not hesitate to use violence. His major domo for this was Cyril Mathew who was the boss of the UNP trade unions. Mathew proceeded to staff his numerous boards with violence prone unionists who in turn packed the unions with working class stalwarts. When his plans met with organized resistance JR turned to Mathew and used thuggish trade unions under Mathew to attack his opponents. JR was behind the attacks on persons like Sarachchandra.
JR” ushered in political, economic and electoral changes that utterly changed Sri Lanka. Whether this change has made Sri Lanka better or worse remains debatable said DBS Jeyaraj remembering JR on his birthday in 2022. The changes he brought about in Sri Lanka remain unchanged.
Rajiva Wijesinha (2021) spoke of JR’s destructive contribution, his willingness to encourage exploitation of our resources with little benefit to the country, economic mismanagement based on unthinking commitment to capitalism and reliance on trickledown effect, a cavalier approach to constitution making . The destruction of CTB caused disarray in transport. I was eye witness to the CTB debacle as I was a transport executive at the time, said a reader in a letter to me.
JR set in motion the wave of political and economic corruption which is operating in the country today, said critics. Political interference by police, thuggery by government MPs, law breaking by police to curry favour with government, became features in JR time, said Vittachi. .JR concentrated power in his hands and allowed ministers to make money. This is the system that has prevailed thereafter, said Victor Ivan. Data on the establishment of liquor bars in Sri Lanka starting from 1926 showed that many had been issued in the period 1977-1997.
Today JR is remembered angrily whenever anything goes wrong in Sri Lanka. .When Sri Lanka entered its present financial crisis, JR was blamed. Sri Lanka was till 1977 a country that was not in debt. How did a country that had no foreign debt degenerate to have a foreign debt of $ 56 billion, within the five decades, from 1978 to today asked one critic. JR was cause, said a retired senior officer of the Central Bank.
Sri Lanka became a debt ridden country when from 1978 she followed the IMF teachings to be liberal in spending foreign exchange, allow imports freely and when the expenses exceeded the available foreign exchange, was advised to borrow and continue spending, said Garvin Karunaratne.
While our country seems to have had IMF agreements since about 1965, Sri Lanka’s most unproductive IMF period started with the UNP’s landslide victory in 1977, when the UNP government decided to “liberalize” the economy in true capitalist mode and invited IMF to dictate economic policy, continued critics. The IMF abolished many development programmes in 1978.
IMF gave loans freely on condition that Sri Lanka follows neoliberal economics and allowed the rich to spend foreign funds that the country had obtained as loans. In 1978, the IMF even gave grace periods, when Sri Lanka did not need to pay the interest and repayment installments on loans so that the leaders would not be burdened with the repayment. The burden was shifted to future leaders, added Garvin..
JR was mesmerized by the West and capitalism. That is all. He was not able to harness the power of capitalism for the greater good of the people. JR lacked vision, critics said. (Concluded)
Lanka can be on path to recovery by 2024: IMF official
The International Monetary Fund Director Asia and Pacific Department Krishna Srinivasan on Thursday said if Sri Lanka comes through with all the reforms, fast-track the proper implementation and warp-up the debt restructuring by September, the economy will be on a path to recovery from 2024.
The program itself is a very ambitious one, in terms of fiscal, monetary, governance and social safety net reforms. The next step in the process for Sri Lanka is to engage in good faith with all creditors and be done before the first review. If the Government can fulfill the reforms and implement them successfully, the country will be on a path to recovery going forward,” he said at the media briefing of the IMF Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific on the sidelines of the Board of Governors 56th ADB Annual Meeting in Incheon, Republic of Korea.
His remarks come ahead of an IMF mission review meeting to be held in Colombo by the end of the month.
We will be in Sri Lanka in two weeks’ time to see how the implementation is coming along. We will also be looking at the whole issue of debt restructuring,” he added.
Noting that the program has lots of reforms embedded, Srinivasan emphasised that implementation is key. Although we are projecting a 3% economic contraction for this year, we have earmarked a positive growth of 1.5% for 2024,” he added.
In terms of the IMF Economic Outlook, he said despite the gloomy external outlook, Asia and the Pacific will remain dynamic, contributing 70% to the global economic growth — a significant improvement compared to recent years.
The IMF has also upwardly revised its October 2022 projection by 0.3% to 4.5% in 2023. The growth in the region will be led by China with a 5.2% growth rate this year after reopening the economy post-pandemic. The growth in the Chinese economy is expected to generate from consumption goods, and not from its usual investment goods.He also said countries that are depending on Chinese travellers will benefit from the economic boom in China during this year.
An Eastern analogue is found in the Suvannahamsa Jataka, which appears in the fourth section of the Buddhist book of monastic discipline (Vinaya). In this the father of a poor family is reborn as a swan with golden feathers and invites them to pluck and sell a single feather from his wings to support themselves, returning occasionally to allow them another. The greedy mother of the family eventually plucks all the feathers at once, but they then turn to ordinary feathers; when the swan recovers its feathers, they too are no longer gold – Wikipedia
The above analogue may be interpreted to describe the open economy policy introduced in 1977 as a misguided, short-term fix to address a situation that prevailed at the time where some hardships were being experienced by the population due to import restrictions and the local industrialisation policy prior to 1977. These hardships could have been temporary if the policy and practice were improved where improvements were required rather than abandoning it or causing it to be abandoned as a consequence of the easy, quick fix. A nation of traders rather than industrialists was the consequence of the open economic policy.
The regime that came to power in 1977 had two major failings amongst some positive development initiatives. Introducing a no holds barred open economy was one of them. Not pursuing a reconciliation path to nip the evolving armed struggle of the Tamil militants was the other.
The introduction of the local industrial development strategy of the previous regime was stopped on its tracks and the stable doors were opened fully to allow imports of virtually everything from pins, match sticks, to more complex engineering goods. Many industrialists, large and small became traders and the nation lost many of its industries and the evolving industrialization focus. Although not perfect, the local production of many items that had been imported hitherto had set the country on an import substitution path and had given opportunities for entrepreneurs to embark on new ventures.
The negative effects of the open economy continued to be felt as succeeding governments chose the open economy path rather than giving an impetus to local industrialists to improve their industries. One could say that the economic debacle being experienced today has its foundations in the 1977 decision to open the economy without any thought given to the future of import substitution industries considering the country has been dependent on imports since the advent of the open economy and the current debacle occurred as the country had no money to import even some essentials.
Opening the economy per se was not the sole issue. But, doing so without an economic and social analysis of the impact on many industries, industrialists and those employed in the industry directly or indirectly, and an assessment of the long-term effect on what should be imported and what should be made locally was the issue. It is disheartening to hear some leaders saying even today that opening the economy was a significant achievement, rather than talking about its weaknesses as it tends to demonstrate the country has not learnt from its past mistakes in introducing policies without any thought given to the long-term effects of such policies. The blow inflicted on the local industry, particularly the import substitution industry, was not addressed and is yet to be addressed. The country is yet to see a policy on local industrialisation and how inputs for it including technical education, incentives to promote quality improvements, and mechanisms to identify and promote the potential for exports of finished products and/or components for finished products being made elsewhere.
Import restriction forced on the country due to the economic debacle has given some thought to import substitution industries. This however is not strategic thinking but rather on the hop circumstantial thinking as had been done in the past. It is more than likely that an avalanche of imports would commence if the country had the money to do so, smothering the local industrialists who may have been misguided by a belief that opportunities they thought were there, and commenced some industries.
The 1977 regime also had a great opportunity to introduce policies and mechanisms to foster a better understanding amongst all communities in the country, especially amongst the Sinhala and Tamil communities. Its inaction led to consequences that the country is very familiar with. No doubt there were sensitive political issues and stakeholder resistance to avenues for compromise on individual positions. Perhaps, looking at the issue from a humanitarian point of view rather than a political or historical point of view, both closely interlinked, may have been the stumbling block. More than 40 years later, there is no significant advancement on stakeholder positions as politics still seem to define the path to a solution.
The challenge now is to look at the present rather than the past and look towards the future of the current younger generation and generations to come. Very few of the younger generation seems to have confidence in Sri Lanka and any faith on a future for them in the country judging by the numbers who have left the country last year and who are likely to leave the country given a chance to do so. Politicians of today do not inspire any confidence in the younger generation and more of the same is the last thing they would wish for. But, that seems to be what they are in for judging by the politicians inability to think of the country before them and their welfare.
However, could one lose hope as without hope there is no light at the end of the tunnel? Despite individual reservations, the President appears to be genuinely attempting to chart a new course for the country. As with all politicians, people do have scepticism about the President as a politician. There would have been less of this had the Opposition parties buried their hatchet and with it, at least for the time being, their politics, and agreed on a medium term (at least 3-5 years) program of economic and social governance, and even better, a national government where every party takes equal responsibility for the governance.
In order to generate the badly needed confidence in the minds of the younger generations, besides an agreement on an economic and social governance compact or a national government, a new political governance system needs to be introduced to replace the current system at the end of the 3–5-year period. If the same system producing the same calibre of politicians were to resume the same type of politics, the younger generations, who are certainly not insane, could well echo what Einstein said, quote” Insanity Is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results” end quote.
The ball is therefore well and truly in the court of the politicians to rise above partisan politics and discuss ways and means of agreeing on an economic and social governance model. In such a model, there can only be a President and a small cabinet of ministers and perhaps some State ministers for specific subjects to assist the cabinet ministers, but not a Prime Minister nor a Leader of the Opposition. Both positions are irrelevant, unnecessary, and counterproductive to a unity model. Will the politicians have the guts to contemplate a model of this nature? Perhaps not.
In regard a futuristic governance model, readers are referred to an article the author wrote, and which was published including in the Daily FT titled Contours for a new constitution with a difference, for the future, not the past” (https://www.ft.lk/columns/Contours-for-a-new-constitution-with-a-difference-for-the-future-not-the-past/4-723830). This model was submitted in order to generate a discussion on what might be different to what the country has had for 75 years. Basically, it proposed the direct involvement of non-political experts in different fields of expertise in policy development and monitoring, a differentiation of political devolution and administrative devolution, political devolution to grass roots by strengthening the structure and role of local government so that the social compact between the people and the politicians will be stronger, the establishment of regional councils and the introduction of an electoral college to elect members of regional councils and even the national Parliament.
There is no evidence that the country has learnt from past mistakes. Successive governments have not continued the positive policies of past governments, with improvements where they were necessary. The import substitution industrialisation policy was one of them, with the open economy policy smothering it to nonexistence. There have been other major development projects begun by one set of politicians and abandoned or scaled down by others without proper assessments. Abandoning of the LLRC report implementation process, the Missing persons investigation and report presented by the Paranagama commission are just two others amongst many initiatives taken by one lot and abandoned by others purely for political reasons.
We can learn a lot from our mistakes if we have the guts and the courage to admit them and learn something positive from it. Your worst mistakes are your best teacher, making you better than before. The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing, and the successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way – azquotes
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, based in Dharamsala in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India, flew to New Delhi to attend the two-day Global Buddhist Summit held in Hotel Ashok there on April 20 and 21, 2023. The event was the first of its kind. This inaugural Global Buddhist Summit was organized by the Union Ministry of Culture under the auspices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation, an NGO headquartered in New Delhi where it was formed in 2011. Delegates from nearly thirty countries including Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka participated. Among them were prominent scholars, leading members of the Sangha, Dhamma practitioners, and Buddhist monks. The theme of the conference was: ‘Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis.’
Prime Minister Modi, in his opening speech on the first day of the summit, said that Buddhism is the biggest strength on earth today (for resolving the many issues – conflicts between countries, climate change, environmental degradation, economic instability through Buddhist wisdom and compassion). HH The Dalai Lama participated in the event on the second day. He emphasized the importance of the Bodhicitta (enlightenment mind or thought of awakening through wisdom and compassion) and of Buddhist resilience in facing crises. The Summit concluded on the theme that ‘peace is the foundation for human happiness and wellbeing’.
Tenzin Gyatso, better known as His Holiness Dalai Lama XIV, is arguably the most popular spiritual leader of the world today. Though he doesn’t radiate ‘spirituality’, he demonstrates it by his practice and his precept; he is the most relaxed looking ‘holy man’ that people of all faiths are inspired to look on and listen to; his smiling face looks hardly saintly; by his own account, he is ‘a simple monk’; he is the Buddhist ‘missionary’ who advises potential converts from other than Buddhist backgrounds to stick to their original religions if they feel comfortable in them, saying that he believes ‘that all the major world religions have the potential to serve humanity and develop good human beings’; by ‘good’ human beings, he says he means those who ‘have a good and more compassionate heart’. (In the same context he also said: ‘This is why I always say that it is better to follow one’s own traditional religion, because by changing religion you may eventually find emotional or intellectual difficulties’. But he adds that for those who think their traditional religions are not effective for them and for those who have no religious beliefs, the Buddhist way of explaining things may have some attraction’. Source: a talk given in London, contained in The Heart of the Buddha’s Path”, Thorsons, Harper Collins Publishers, London, 1995) What better healing advice can a spiritual and ethical teacher give to humanity that is living today, as it is, in a world riven by brands of hate driven religious fanaticism?
The extremely politicized Nobel Peace Prize might have accidentally recovered some of its lost prestige by being awarded to the Dalai Lama in 1989. But all the adulation that he inspires leaves him unaffected. He is an example, if not an epitome, of egolessness; his relative freedom from ‘the illusion of the self’ is the essence of his magnetic personality. This does not, however, stop him from being identified as a controversial political figure in robes. In fact, that is the other side of his public image, for he is also a man of the world, a consummate politician, as he ought to be, as both the spiritual and temporal leader of his unique tradition governed community, the Tibetans. Tenzin Gyatso may be called a willing philosopher-king who is not being allowed to rule his kingdom. Historically speaking though, he is the deposed or self-exiled 14th ruler in a line of God-Kings that ruled the country from the mid-17th to the mid-20th century.
The Dalai Lama that we know has come to us through the media, which is as good as if he came to us in person. However, behind the affably smiling, lovable, somewhat clownish, yellow clad Yeatsian figure of ‘a comfortable kind of old scarecrow’ is the sage who exemplifies in his conduct and speech the two cardinal virtues of wisdom and compassion taught in Buddhism. He easily reminds us of the Laughing Buddha, who is basically a part of Chinese Buddhist and Japanese Shinto culture. Though the Shinto religion predated Buddhism in Japan, the Laughing Buddha was later admitted into its pantheon as one of the seven gods of good luck. Actually, the Laughing Buddha is believed to have originated in a mix of Buddhist and Shinto religions during the latter part of the Liang dynasty in China. Pu Tai or Bu Dai (so called because of the trademark cloth sack he carried) was a Ch’an (Zen) Buddhist monk who lived in that period (907-923 CE). Though a beggar (a Buddhist bhikkhu is by definition a mendicant), he was contented and happy in the way a Buddhist monk had to be. His never failing smile (which expressed his loving-kindness, friendliness, metta/maitri) made people happy wherever he went, and this earned him another nickname, the ‘Loving/Friendly One’. He came to be honoured as a bodhisattva (a buddha-to-be). The Laughing Buddha is venerated as the Maitreya Buddha-to-be, the future Buddha according to the belief of Buddhists belonging to different sects. The Dalai Lama is regarded as an ‘emanation’ of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, an iconic figure that embodies boundless compassion. Just as the Laughing Buddha tradition is claimed to have brought Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and later, even Western cultures closer together, so can the Dalai Lama phenomenon be regarded as a force for easing East-West tension and for dowsing sectarian passions engulfing the world at present.
There is no monolithic version of Buddhism that is followed across the world. Seeds of the Buddhist teaching which were planted by ancient missionary monks in different parts of the world have given rise to a bewildering mass of sects, movements, and divisions of Buddhism coloured by local cultures. However, the basic teaching of the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, is common to all these versions. Scholars of Buddhism recognize three main schools: Theravada (the Teaching of the Elders), the traditional Mahayana (the Great Vehicle), and its split Vajrayana (the Diamond Vehicle). Tibetan Buddhism, of which the Dalai Lama is the best known exponent, consists of elements from all three branches. Of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism Nyingma, Sakya, Kegyu, and Gelug, the Dalai Lama represents the last.
About eight years ago, it was reported that though the Dalai Lama was invited to visit Sri Lanka by some Buddhist monks, he was denied a visa by the government. The government’s denial of a visa was not something difficult to understand. In this regard, the Sri Lankan government had been caught up in a Catch 22 situation in that Sri Lankans could not extend their eager hospitality to His Holiness without antagonizing China, Sri Lanka’s indispensable friend-in-need. The reason for this dilemma is that the Dalai Lama is being used by the West as a bludgeon against the emerging economic superpower, for the Tibet problem provides the West with an ideal opportunity to rock on its liberal hobby horse. It was certain that the refusal of a visa to His Holiness by the government, while confirming our friendly relations with China, did not lessen the Lama’s compassionate goodwill towards us Sri Lankans, and that the government’s forgivable refusal to grant a visa to his Holiness did not cause us unnecessary disappointment in spite of it effectively denying us a chance to have him among us for a short time. But we are still able to see him well through his words and actions.
Dalai Lama XIV has been of interest to the West and to China in contrary ways from the very beginning. When the young Dalai Lama (then only 24) fled Tibet and reached the Indian border after a two week trek across the mountains disguised as a common soldier in 1959, it made world news, as Lynn M. Hamilton says in her short biography of the Tibetan leader ‘The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired’ (Wyatt North Publishing, Oct. 2014) on Kindle. According to her, the then US president Dwight Eisenhower put a trail of pins in a map tracing the Lama’s escape route! Hamilton says that CIA operative John Greaney cabled to India asking on behalf of the US that the Dalai Lama be given asylum there. She is unable to say whether or not this US directive influenced the Indian response to the problem. But the Indian premier of the time, Jawaharlal Nehru, of his own accord, gave the Lama political sanctuary, and eventually settled him and his fellow Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala where he has been based to this day.
China acts as if the Dalai Lama is a threat to it. He may or may not be, for different reasons. But one thing is clear: It is that he has become a pawn in the chessboard of geopolitics where the two major players America and China try to move him as their interests dictate. Unfortunate though that is, it doesn’t concern those of us who are only interested in the moral or spiritual message he has to communicate to the world. We remember that there were anti-Chinese protests in Tibet in the lead up to the Olympics in Beijing in 2008, sometimes involving violence, which the Chinese blamed the Dalai Lama for. They said he was a political stooge in the pay of American intelligence. Chinese supporters maintained that there was no ‘ national liberation struggle’ as such in Tibet, but that ‘secessionists’ backed by America were causing disruption. Zhang Qingli, the secretary of the Communist Party in Tibet was widely reported to have made the following comments: (in translation) The Dalai Lama is a wolf wrapped in a habit, a monster with human face and an animal’s heart”. This characterization is not accepted by many including both pro-China and anti-China commentators. In 2008, Randeep Ramesh, a journalist attached to The Guardian, London (UK), ridiculed the Chinese concern as a case of a Chinese dragon (being) scared by a mouse that prayed”. I share that opinion. A Chinese change of heart towards the aging Dalai Lama, which is not unlikely, will be beneficial, not only to India and Sri Lanka but to China itself in terms of regional peace and cultural solidarity.
As far as that conflict (involving the Dalai Lama being wooed by the West and rejected by China) goes, it is hardly likely that Tibet will eventually be able to assert itself as an entity completely independent of the latter, despite or because of the fact that it is wedged between three nuclear powers, while being located in a watershed that plays an important part in the world’s water supply. On the other hand, Tibet’s cultural deracination as a cross product of these forces is inevitable, but that will not be the end of the 14th Dalai Lama’s influence on the peace loving rational people of the world. The institution of the Dalai Lama as the political and spiritual leader of Tibet may have already lapsed into obsolescence. Probably, no one knows this better than the present Dalai Lama himself. According to Donald Lopez, professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies at the University of Michigan, ‘the Dalai Lama has been one of the harshest critics of old Tibet”…’. He adds that the Lama would have introduced political reforms without the Chinese intervention. Professor Robert Barnett, Director of Modern Tibetan Studies at Columbia University believes that ‘as a political leader, he asks for very little – he seems quite happy to accept a merely symbolic gesture like a cup of tea and a photo’. That may be to put too low a value on his actual political significance. In any case, he has tried to come to an agreement with the Chinese authorities by opting for a degree of autonomy for Tibet while remaining a territory of China, provided it is allowed to enjoy a status that is similar to the status of Hong Kong: a large measure of self-government with its own political and legal systems. He has even indicated his readiness to let Tibet have a communist government, with meaningful” autonomy, but China will not agree to such a settlement just yet. It may be that with the death of the Dalai Lama (87 this year, 2023) the world might forget Tibet as it was with him living; it will be the end of history for Tibet under its god-king. The Dalai Lama’s lasting legacy for the world will be what he stands for today as a spiritual leader, not as a mundane political figure.
Mainly because of its sizable Tibetan migrant Tibetan community of over 2500, Australia remained a regular destination for the Dalai Lama until about eight years ago. His last visit here, when he was 80, was in 2015 (his 10th visit since 1982). On that occasion, he went to the Uluru sacred site of the native aboriginal community in the Northern Territory to express his respect to their culture. He said:
In different parts of the world, Indigenous people, local people, they have their own cultural heritage, so that’s the main reason I am here, in order to express my respect to your culture,”
When in an interview with the ABC Television during his earlier visit in Australia in 2013 (he was 78 then) he was asked whether he was upset by the then PM Julia Gillard’s refusal to see him, he said No. I have no political agenda. … My concern is with the people…My main concern is to promote human values, affection, compassion, harmony….(among them)”. About relations with China, he said that the Tibetans could remain within China, like Hong Kong, but with its own distinct cultural identity intact. He stressed though that Real change must come from within Tibet, not from outside”.
Professor Barnett points out that the Dalai Lama declared in 2011, in an Important Proclamation”, that he would make a decision on the problem of succession after consulting with other high lamas and the Tibetan public, and that this would be in 2024. He has also hinted at the possibility of there being no 15th Dalai Lama. But if there is, the Lama has explained, there will be a child identified as his reincarnation after his death or an adult person as an emanation” chosen by him while he is still alive, and he will leave clear written instructions. In another source which I can’t now remember, he was reported to have confirmed that he will not return to Tibet. This was probably meant to send the Chinese a signal indicating that the time for a peaceful settlement was running out. He was also said to have suggested that his successor could be a woman. But it is generally the case that news hungry journalists misreport their own speculations as assertions allegedly made by the Dalai Lama. His promise to leave written instructions about his succession, Professor Barnett says, was presumably (intended) to help journalists and others get the story right”. All this goes to prove that the Dalai Lama is no less a politician than a monk.
He set up the Tibetan Central Authority (CTA) , aka Tibetan Government in exile, for the Tibetan exiles in Dharamsala who number about 100,000. But he has relinquished political control of the government in exile. The CTA operates as a democracy with an elected prime minister and parliament. Its constitution is based on Buddhist principles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. So, the Dalai Lama seems to have divested himself of serious political responsibility as far as the Tibetan government in exile is concerned. While remaining the head of Tibetan Buddhism, however, he has assumed the role of an ambassador of Buddhism at large to the world. The Dalai Lama remains a symbol of wisdom, peace, and compassion in a world threatened by violence born out of religious fundamentalism and hegemonic geopolitics. Sri Lanka is currently in the grip of the latter twin evils.
The diminishing political stature of the Dalai Lama is being compensated for by his increasing spiritual significance for the world. As a teacher of Buddhism should do, he provides guidance for spirituality without religion (though he does not describe it as such), an urgent need for the world today. Incidentally, I must make it clear that I am aware of the risk I am taking of annoying my readers who accept religions as well as those who reject them or have nothing to do with religions, but I beg that they bear with me, for I don’t mean to hurt their feelings. I am expressing some opinions (relevant to the subject of this essay) that are open to constructive criticism. It is necessary to distinguish between spirituality and religion in trying to explain in what sense the Dalai Lama is important as a spiritual teacher or leader, who is, strictly speaking, not ‘religious’ in the normal theistic sense.
In Buddhism, there is no belief in a creator god who supervises our lives unseen from above and rewards or punishes us eternally according as we obey or transgress his moral law. The Buddha Gautama taught the karma principle, that is, the principle of causality which says that the good intents and actions of an individual bring about good karmic results, and bad intents and actions bad results; no outside power is involved in that, so there is no need to praise, pray to, or otherwise propitiate such an agency. This is one of the senses in which Buddhism is not a religion. Buddha, in fact, did not found a religion, a system of prayer and worship, but explained a non-religious ethical system based on self-realization, on seeing things as they really are, i.e., on enlightenment. The whole of the Buddhist teaching can be briefly summarized as the Four Noble Truths: that life is suffering, that the suffering is due to a cause, that an end to suffering is available, and that there is a path leading to that end. The principle of causality known as karma underlies this four-term formula of the Buddhist teaching.
So while the concept of spirituality in religions involves a divine dimension, in Buddhism it doesn’t. What is considered spiritual in Buddhism is not tantamount to making contact with the so-called ‘divine’; instead, it consists in attaining heightened mental states through the extinction of the sense of self. A basic teaching of Buddhism is that there is no enduring entity that can be called self (soul); the idea of self is an illusion. ‘Spiritual’ experiences are heightened mental states such as self-transcending love, inner light, ecstasy, bliss which have been found to be common to people of different religions as well as to people who have no religion. Since religions are ideologically different, these phenomena cannot be explained in terms of their unchallengeable dogmas which contradict each other; so there must be a non-religious principle involved, which means that spirituality must be separated from religion. (A good source to consult, for an explanation of what ‘self is an illusion’ means is neuroscientist Dr. Sam Harris’s excellent book ‘Waking Up: Searching for spirituality without religion’ {Random House UK, 2014}. A Kindle edition of the same is also available. It is in this sense that the Dalai Lama should be taken as a spiritual guide, rather than as a religious teacher. The book elaborates a scientific argument that true spirituality consists in realizing that the sense of self is an illusion. Dr Harris refers to the Dalai Lama’s participation, representing the Buddhist perspective, in scientific discussions involving the study of consciousness.
It is because of these reasons that Buddhist scholar and former Tibetan monk Robert Thurman, author of ‘Why the Dalai Lama Matters’ (Atria Books, New York, 2008) says that his importance is multifaceted: it can be understood psychologically, physically, mythologically, historically, culturally, doctrinally, and spiritually.
Writing the Introduction to ‘A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama’s Vision for Our World’ by the best-selling author of ‘Emotional Intelligence’ Daniel Goleman, His Holiness says:
As a human being I acknowledge that my well-being depends on others and caring for others’ well-being is a moral responsibility I take seriously. It’s unrealistic to think that the future of humanity can be achieved on the basis of prayer or good wishes alone; what we need is to take action. Therefore, my first commitment is to contribute to human happiness as best I can. I am also a Buddhist monk, and according to my experience, all religious traditions have the potential to convey the message of love and compassion. So my second commitment is to foster harmony and friendly relations between them. Thirdly, I am a Tibetan, and although I have retired from political responsibility, I remain concerned to do what I can to help the Tibetan people, and to preserve our Buddhist culture and the natural environment of Tibet – both of which are under threat of destruction.”
In essence, the Dalai Lama’s message involves the importance of moral responsibility based on loving-kindness. This is of particular relevance to political leaders of all nations. The Global Buddhist Summit is sure to gain momentum in its epoch making endeavour for initiating solidarity among all the various sects of Buddhism that are found across the world today from HH Dalai Lama XIV’s exalted participation in its inaugural proceedings.
(The part relating to the Dalai Lama is an update of a previous article of the author written just over eight years ago.)
South AsiaMulti-religiosity in Contemporary Sri Lanka: Innovation, Shared Spaces, Contestation Mark P. Whitaker, Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake & Pathmanesan Sanmugeswaran (eds). Routledge, UK 2021. pp. 286. Maps. Notes. Index. Hb. £120.00. ISBN 9780367862343
This volume offers an in-depth and provocative glimpse of the complexity of Sri Lanka’s multi-religious heritage and its impacts. Chapters by established and emerging experts in the field, including Malathi De Alwis, Kalinga Tudor Silva, Dennis McGilvray, Sasikumar Balasundaram, and Alexander McKinley, describe the island’s deeply pluralistic religious traditions. They also raise questions about the overlapping influences of religious cultures, ethnicity and place and their responsiveness (or not) to external influences.
Three separate introductions by the editors are a refreshing acknowledgment of the intricacy of Sri Lanka’s religious landscape, its influences and impacts. They reflect the challenges faced by academics and policy makers in drafting a ‘diluted’ single narrative. Instead, each introduction provides an in-depth review of issues and approaches along with nuanced interpretation on the compiled essays. All three editors acknowledge ‘religiosity’ as a means of coping with life’s transitions, celebrations, disappointments, diseases, conflicts and violence and events such as birth and death, illness exams, marriage, divorce, the sense of the sacred, the auspicious and inauspicious”, in the words of Rajasingham-Senanayake. Additionally, they are cognizant of the challenges of navigating Sri Lanka’s pluralistic religious traditions, hybridity and inter-linkages in a country where ethnic tensions contributed to a 30-year civil war.
Whitaker considers three phenomena. Firstly, the ways that innovative religious practices and institutions achieved new public prominence after Sri Lanka’s civil war. Secondly, he highlights the notion of ‘innovative religiosity’ by looking at sacred sites held in common across Sri Lanka’s various religious groups, and thirdly he tries to gauge whether inter-religious tolerance is still possible in the wake of war and the continuing influence of populist Buddhist nationalism. Significantly, his essay draws attention to recent anthropological debates about the merits of comparative studies of religious practices while avoiding Eurocentric or universalistic notions/viewpoints, with the suggestion that a redirected focus across a religious field rather than simply looking up and down its named religiosities” is required.
Rajasingham-Senanayake raises provocative questions about historical and current geopolitical influences impacting the pluralistic religious culture of Sri Lanka, including its inter-mingling of religious practices. For her, the bombings of churches on Easter Sunday in 2019 by militants connected with the Islamic State group underline this complexity of what may be termed multi-religiosity in this strategically located island that is perennially at the cross hairs of great power geopolitical rivalry and their related soft power interventions … in the Indian ocean region”. She also draws attention to ways the civil war and its aftermath caused women to find spaces of expression and empowerment through piety and identification with Hindu goddesses associated with sakti (power). Several authors take up this issue in greater depth including Malathi De Alwis, Eva Ambos, and Mythri Jegathesan.
Sanmugeswaran focuses on post-civil war Hindu Tamil communities in the north and east of Sri Lanka. He contends that conventional ritual and bhakti (devotional) religious practices were altered by new intersections of a re-emergent Tamil Saivite ideology [worship of Shiva] and by new religious movements” sometimes imported from India as well as the diaspora. He asserts that some of these new practices were legitimised through the establishment of religious organisations in these areas, presumably supported by the diaspora and/or by India. His focus raises questions about similar alterations/interactions among other religious communities – Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim – during and after the civil war. Essays in the volume by Selvy Thiruchandran, Kalinga Tudor Silva, H.L. Seneveviratne as well by Whitaker and Sanmugeshwaran examine these transformations.
As a recently retired United Nations Political Affairs Advisor covering Asia and the Pacific, I found the volume illuminating. The case study approach, with its in-depth scholarship and perspectives, highlights the jagged edges of religion, politics and, most importantly, day-to-day life. The glimpses it provides of these interactions and innovative borrowings among Sri Lanka’s rank and file are encouraging, particularly in these unpredictable and turbulent times, both in the country and on the larger global stage. Similar challenges are apparent in other regions, including the former Yugoslavia, Myanmar, Nepal, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia where the plurality of religious cultures and traditions simmers under the surface. ‘Innovative religiosity’ would seem to be one coping mechanism in such situations. I recommend this volume to academics and policy makers, while encouraging similar approaches to examine other locales.
Nishkala Suntharalingam is an independent researcher. She retired in December 2022 from the United Nations; she was most recently a Political Affairs Advisor covering Asia and the Pacific.
Historians will not consider Kurunegala as a particular era during the Sinhala Kingdoms because four to five kings reigned during this era. It is not recognisable as a historical period.
According to ‘Dalada Pujawaliya’ during the Kurunegala era, approximately one hundred per cent of the Government’s income from ships was directed to the sacred temple where the Buddha’s Tooth Relic is housed. The income from the ships aided Sinhala kings in maintaining the country as a leading source of income along with trade.
Aryans
The Aryans who came to Sri Lanka dealt with agriculture and raised paddy farming to an excellent level up to the Twelfth Century. Whilst the water was obtained through irrigation systems during that epoch, through lakes and ponds, the people managed to do paddy farming in the North and Southeast. A decline in crops caused a colossal drop in production ultimately.
There was no reason for kings to abandon fertile lands and come to places like the Dhambadeniya and Kurunegala area, which was highly populated. Historians believe it was because of the geographical set-up, Climatic Changes, foreign invasions and nature. The Mahavamsa does not show any annexation of Dambadeniya with Kurunegala, but it mentions that after the demise of Parakramabahu III, Buwanekabahu’s son held the throne.
During the Kurunegala epoch, the King’s primary income consisted of the agricultural produce that farmers contributed to the King. The King’s second income was from precious stones such as pearls and various types of precious gems ranging from blue diamonds, moonstones and ‘Pishparaga’. The King’s third income came from the penalty courts served on King’s subjects known as the‘Marala Badda’.
Those who did the King favours were given several plots of land by the King, known as Prvaniya or Dival. Also, Royal servants who conformed to the king’s problems and went to distant places received several properties distributed by kings known as ‘Prvaveniya’ or ‘Divel’. Historical records also mentioned that Government servants who travelled up to faraway places did not incur any expenses to the monarchy, who went on official duties and were allowed to reside in such schemes, thereby incurring no extra costs because they were permitted to live in such properties.
Parakramabahu IV donated an ashram to Buddhist Monks. He planted in Paranagama king coconut, breadfruit, and fruit trees, such as morawaka etc., to assist the ashram. The King commanded that folks trained for military purposes should work free of charge for the nation’s sake on behalf of the King, but payment had to be made only for regular soldiers. During this period and a substantial amount of wealth King Parakramabahu II spent on religious activities. Parakramabahu II had given alms to one thousand Buddhist priests, whilst Pandit Parakramabahu IV built a three-level building and performed every aspect of religious observances.
During Parakramabahu IV’s reign, past battles with the ‘Soli’ reign in India were exposed. Still, the King brought several language professors and translated them into Sinhala from the Pali language, and distributed them throughout Ceylon.
During Dambadeniya’s reign, it is recorded in the folktales that many people visited on pilgrimage to see the sacred Dalada by using elephants, horses, cattle etc. And many rich people thought it would give rise to many accidents. These people would have been the officials or officers who were the favourites of the kingdom.
The country’s economy was greatly influenced by internal trade and exports. During this aeon, undoubtedly, Muslims were prominent tradesmen. It also proves that Roman coins were found in four dams made of Alexdarian metal by Kings Niro and Westphalian, with evidence of trade agreements with Rome. It differs from the country’s economy during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa eras. However, there was evidence to prove how kings and the people were very pious. There was no foreign invasion during the Kurunegala epoch, as per Mahavamsa.
When Sri Lanka in view of its geopolitical position is vulnerable to a plethora of external destabilizing attacks (regime change, economic subjugation, cultural genocide, foreign-funded ethno-religious terrorism / diluting of heritage values, infiltration into Public Sector apparatus riding on accountability” trojan horse) Sri Lankans need to look at every proposal with caution. Anyone reading the draft Bill to set up a Parliamentary Budget Office should realize that the attempt is to outsource parliamentary functions to a corporate body. Anyone who followed the Millennium Challenge Corporation documents would see sharp resemblances.
The MCC presented as a gift” immediately after Easter Sunday in April 2019 was a meagre $480m over 5 years to be given NOT to the GOSL but to a Private Company set up by the GoSL.
GOSL signs MCC & passes in Parliament (sign first passing second – making MCC a domestic law though MCC agreement is valid only for 5 years). With that shelved, is the PBO an alternative?
GOSL establishes an accountable entity”- a Private Company – MCA Sri Lanka Private Limited (Primary Agent of GoSL to legislate on behalf of Sri Lanka ‘ AGENT of the Sri Lankan Government ‘)
Only after above, the disbursement of money will take place to a private bank & not to the Sri Lankan Treasury (just like the current Bill)
Refer: MCC Agreement / Program Implementation Agreement / Annex 1-34 of MCC Annex IV under Independence & Autonomy
Does Sri Lanka’s Constitution permit a Govt elected only for a term to hand over land & interests of people to a company who is agent of the $480m
This Company – MCA Sri Lanka is outsourced Govts role & able to enter undisclosed agreements (just like the current Bill)
Given that there was objection to MCC Private Company – is the Govt attempting to take a different path to achieve same objective via the PBO Bill claiming it is for accounting purposes but given the objectives under the MCC Private Company?
Sri Lanka’s legal luminaries must question if both are a violation of Article 76 of Sri Lanka’s Constitution
Parliament shall not abdicate or in any manner alienate its legislative power and shall not set up any authority with any legislative power” (golden words – is this why there are attempts to change the Constitution)
The present Bill omits the international law” that was applicable to US & US citizens who were given immunity, however instead the Bill gives the Parliamentary Budgetary Office immunity.
The present Bill also commits an entire nation to ‘unknown agreements’ which can be used as well
MCC Company Board comprised GOSL Secretaries / PBO is basically providing scope for same
GoSL undertook responsibility & accountancyity for MCA-SL private company (Section 3.2) – the PBO which also sets up a virtual separate entity under a CEO is about to do the same
MCA-Sri Lanka could enter into contracts, sue & be sued, hold MCC funding in a private bank – just like the present Bill
MCA-Sri Lanka private company was to get access to all Sri Lanka’s state records (just like the present Bill)
Why would the GoSL wish to pass on the work that the Auditor General & Elections Commissioner can do within their current capacity to a private body? This is the golden question.
Are the above aspired objectives not covered or cannot be covered under existing Article 148 of the Constitution?
Why would a Parliamentary Budget Office become a body corporate” exactly what is a body corporate” & what is aspired by perpetual succession”.
Why would a Parliamentary Budget Office wish to be sued”.
If the PBO is accountable to Parliament” how can it be independent” from Parliament?
What is implied by independence of PBO”
Who is implied as no person” influencing or interfering
What is the undue influence or interference” being implied?
Doesn’t Article 148 provide provision related to public finance?
What is this independent, non-partisan analysis related to the budget’ being referred?
The PBO seeks to provide services to 4 segments – a Committee in Parliament / a MP / a recognized political party or independent group or to Parliament
However, it is only fair to question why these aspects cannot be fulfilled within the existing apparatus?
Why should the Constitutional Council recommend to the President to appoint a Parliamentary Budget officer to be a CEO?
What is the purpose to be appointing a private role to a public service?
Does it mean that a person with at least 15 years of experience in government budgeting has to APPLY to the Constitutional Council who then recommends to the President to be appointed
Who is he reporting to?
Who can fire him?
This question emerged when the IGP could not be sacked as there was no provision in the independent commission to sack him
Is this appointment to be immediately after the election of a government?
Is it the Constitutional Council who decides to extend the term of the PBO?
Why is there a need for a Deputy Parliamentary Officer, who is recommended by the Constitutional Council, appointed by the President & eligible to become the PBO?
How can he be sacked?
Is this to encourage non-public servants or public servants now working in international or private roles to apply?
What a merry-go-round this is going to be – if the Constitutional Council does not accept the 1st list sent by the Secretary General of Parliament, a 2nd list is sent or fresh applications are called
The Secretary General of Parliament selects the PBO & Deputy PBO with assistance from 2 new roles (Chair of the Committee on Public Finance & Chair of the Committee of Ways & Means) & Deputy Speaker of Parliament
Ways & Means Committee” originated in the UK though abolished in 1967 yet the Chairman’s role remains with Deputy Function as Chairman (Chairman & 2 Deputies are voted by ballot in Parliament)
If the PBO or Deputy PBO cannot be a MP, or even from PC or Local Authority or from a political party or trade union – does this indirectly imply that the 2 positions are only for non-state sector persons?
Who can send complaints is not addressed
So the Secretary General of Parliament forwards complaint to the Committee on Public Finance (CPF) with copies to the CC. the CPF conducts an inquiry.
Why should the Executive President of Sri Lanka function to the dictates of the CC?
Can this role not be undertaken within the present existing system?
Who can replace the Deputy PBO in the event he is unable to perform duties.
If PBO is accountable to Parliament & remuneration is determined by Parliament, why should it be called a body corporate”.
Is this recruitment from within State service & as staff of state service?
What is implied as obtain services from any person” does this include foreign consultants?
What is implied by enter into agreements with any person” what type of agreements & who are the persons & is this without informing Parliament?
Why the emphasis on ‘digital transfer in mailable formats” … information possessed by any State Institution – is this to be sent abroad?
Again, why can’t these services be done within the existing set up?
What is the reason for this clause?
When a person is appointed for a specific task, why should that task need to be delegated to others. If so, it may as well be included in their job profile!
What is implied as undue influence”
How can there be transparency if 26 (2) (b) requires not to ‘disclose to the public any agreement entered into with any public institution” – what kind of secrecy is the PBO office expected to carry out under the guise of ‘independent’ entity?
Let it not be forgotten that if the Parliament is accountable to the people, and the PBO is accountable to Parliament, then the PBO has to also be accountable to the People.
There is little magic being done under this role & begs to question why it cannot be done in the existing set up?
Who is going to be funding these independent” inquiries some involving foreign as well, while keeping details secret from the Public?
Exactly what is the purpose of these inquiries?
What is going to be the outcome of all this analysis & who is going to be funding it?
When political parties are not legally registered, how can their manifestos be questioned?
Doesn’t the Election Commission have powers to check the funding to parties?
What is the role of the Auditor General as against this new entity?
Is there not likely to be not only conflict of interest but overlapping of work & roles too
What are the appropriate safeguards” the PBO can put in place?
Why would PBO wish to be privy to ‘national security information’?
Why are state sector employees being bound to provide all info to this new Office?
What is the danger of giving information when this ‘body corporate’ is also given scope for ‘perpetual succession’ and can even be ‘sued’ as well as able to ‘dispose any property movable or immovable’ belonging to the state of Sri Lanka?
What is the sudden hurry to analyze party manifestos which can easily be monitored by the Election Commission
This leaves just 14 days to scrutinize what the PBO has presented
It is now clear that the PBO is to run independently” with provision for perpetual succession” being funded by donations, gifts & grants” and we can guess where these will come from & how far such will undermine the sovereignty of Sri Lanka as PBO is accessing information of all State institutes & having their data in a format that can be emailed too!
Does any bank” imply that PBO can hold account in private banks or even international banks?
This is one key aspect of the MCC corporate body
What is the role of the Auditor General against this new Office with a vague set of ‘independence’ measures?
If this newly formed office is only collating statistics and compiling reports, why should they be granted immunity?
Also all Public Servants even under Scheduled Institution are prone to action against corruption.
If they are public servants why should they be immune?
Is this not cause for concern given that donations, grants & gifts from unknown sources are allowed to the PBO?
The PBO may make rules, which has to be gazette & PBO can take upto 3 months after publication to place before Parliament for approval? – what kind of arrangement & wastage of time is this?
Again why cannot the Auditor General’s department not take on this role?
cWhy can’t the Election Commission carry out what PBO is attempting to do via party manifestos?
With this new office being privy to State information, why are they given immunity?
The Parliament cannot outsource its delegated tasks to a company run by a CEO and with ‘perpetual succession’ – this is violating the constitution and the spirit with which the citizens delegate their powers to elected representatives to function as custodians of the State.
The International Financial System has been subjected to tremendous changes during the 20th century, and new currencies such as Euro emerged from time to time, with the support of powerful countries, and after 1930s the system was subjected to ad-hoc changes because some countries attempted to gain trade advantages changing the international value of currencies. The origin of the International Monetary Fund was a result of the financial crisis and this situation considered a major reason for reforms in the system, but when implementing reforms powerful nations gave priority for few developed countries and never considered the case of developing countries. Economic problems were related to currencies in developed countries and the reformists had no mercy for poor countries. In this background poor countries were lamenting without power.
Although common currency emerged such as Euro some countries within the Euro region and countries from outside the Euro region were not allowed to enter the region because it was based on the belief that allowing countries outside the Euro region would negatively impact on Euro. Many developing countries in the Euro region were subjected to harsh conditions, in fact such countries had to follow the conditions insisted by Euro Region dominating Germany and France. Britain did not agree with the currency policy of EU and it wanted to maintain the prestige of the Sterling Pound and is being continued the use of own currency.
International analysts in Asia have a feeling that BRICS countries in August conference in this year would authorise to initiate new international currency like Euro or to wide use of Yuan (Chinese monetary unit) for international transactions, and the stand of Mr Lula De Silva in Brazil has given a strong challenge to the status of the US Dollar. However, China wants to insist Yuan for the BRICS region that would be challenged to the emerging a new currency unit and this situation seems to be based on international uncertainty and political race among many countries. The independent opinion may be when new currency idea come to light, will the International Financial System go back to a more serious situation than the experience had in 1930s. I haven’t read any opinion expressed by international analysts.
It might be a considerable lost to the prestige of the US Dollar. If it investigates the status of the US Dollar since early 1950s has been subjected to many changes and the association of the US with wars such as Vietnam war, Iraq war and others must have a challenge to the refutation of the dollar. The major advantage to the US Dollar is the disunity among BRICS countries based on various reasons.
The authority of the Dollar has been considering this situation, but it was failed to manipulate the exactly appropriate policies for other countries because dynamism in the world has positively or negatively influenced the authority of the dollar. Is slavery mentality of the US authority contributed to this situation cannot be imagined by me as an analyst. The conclusions for these points should be made by research findings. The unexpected changes in financial, trade and social thinking also would have contributed to the dynamism and they highly qualitative factors than quantitative. The other vital point that has been influenced was the US authority had to deal with friendly countries respecting the views of such countries before taking policy decisions, and such consultation must have leaked the aims of the US authority to outside world, and gave an opportunity to manipulate policy reactions against the US authority. It is the nature of this world; nothing can be stable or take policy decisions secretly, and nobody can manipulate any policy that would be stable to work with dynamism, and only God can do such a creation. It needs to consider that the nature of this planet is changing in terms of the evolution theory and in such a situation, could the US dollar stay like God is a question and people need to understand the point in relation to the currency crisis in the modern era.
As expressed by Indian analysts Bricks countries have statistical power on various areas such as population, market factors and many directions and it couldn’t underestimate the power of the BRICS but it might support to changes and it doesn’t mean BRICKS could construct a system that maintain the stability. The major issue in BRICKS countries is they have a higher income disparity in population that might difficult to take to a positive agreement within own population. The other significant point is BRICKS also like the non-align movement may loss its influencing power during the operation of several decades.
The stability of a new international currency would be dependent on the trust of people, for example at the beginning EURO had issues related to the trust of public and such issues had been removed by the improving the trust of people and the agreement of EEC operational conditions. The issue here is could BRICS countries develop an environment like EEC had. BRICS countries have no a good welfare system for poor people within countries and People in the world have no idea what they are doing for poor.
Sri Lanka’s Political, Social and Economic issues on a daily basis continue to a degree unabated with little emphasis on the basic rights of her citizens relative to the Constitution which is circumvented in a subtle manner despite the rhetoric from the hierarchy where state intimidation and aggression are discharged to restrain people’s uprising thus particularly through the murmurings of the whys and wherefores of the State Terrorism Prevention Bill relative to silencing the people’s voices where The Government apparently has no real concern for people’s Sovereign Rights but says the priority is to restore the economy at any cost, neglecting social responsibilities which seems irresponsible for a leader of the Present caliber with so much experience behind him..
With these actions, the Government displays very specific characteristics of heading in an oppressive direction which some think may be intimidating and even autocratic.The burning question is, will people tolerate such a turn of events in the near future or will they react as they did before? The leaders should very well be aware of the
1971 and 1989 insurrections of the JVP and the civil war with LTTE which intensified since 1983 and ended with mass killings and the great harm it has done to the country, Lest the hierarchy forgets and continues to make negative decisions based on a cognizance which has no credibility in the eyes of many of the population!.
By carrying out screened albeit purported violence through State machinery and voicing a refurbishing or a revising of the State Terrorism Act, is the Government inviting the Dissidents aka Aragalaya to resort to similar arm struggles despite the lull within the Nation presently in the aftermath of the troubles past and the outbreak of violence which was quelled due to the timely action of a new President where the President has done extremely well to calm the Nation and people, disgruntled as they seem to be yet resigned to accept the President for the greater good which has invariably resulted since he accepted office which has also had approval from his Western Counterparts.?
To quote a recent News Item “Where normally State Elections are the core principles of a democracy and the sovereign rights of the citizens to choose the members to serve for the country and people for a set period, interestingly the modus operandi recently employed by the Government is to a greater degree in violation of democratic rights and against the norms of a Socialist Democratic Republic”
which has become a decorated label of the state and for marketing purposes only. The ruling of the Sri Lanka Supreme Court (SC) with three judges on the bench have unequivocally sent a clear message to the President and the respective heads of government who carry out orders scripted by the executive panel that this may not be acceptable or in keeping with the Constitution whether inadvertently or not by a President who probably means well but does not seem to stick to the correct protocols involved.
However, in the case of the People Vs the State the People are waiting for a new date to be announced by the Election Commission (EC) where the State Minister of Finance has assured that the Government will abide and honour the SC ruling. It is the fervent belief that the Government will not resort to any further twists to delay or null the local government election although in recent times the entire issue of the LG Elections seem to have been shelved for whatever reason where noticeably there is a distinct agitation among the people which is visibly apparent and does not augur well towards the future and should not be permitted to gain momentum where lessons from the past have to be learned..
The most outstanding religious festival in the world in the sense of moral eminence is Vesak. Why? Because no harm is caused to any sentient being in the celebration of Vesak, which is slaughter-free by both custom and law (in Sri Lanka).
Slaughterhouses are closed. Meat houses are shut. Supermarkets are prohibited by law to sell flesh foods on this thrice blessed day. If animals can speak, they will overwhelmingly pick Vesak as their most cherished day in the annual calendar for the simple reason that their precious life will be spared on this day as a tribute to the Buddha.
Almost all religious festivals, particularly of the Abrahamic faiths or non–Dharmic faiths are blood-soaked. Millions of animals are put to death as sacrifices to earn a reward for the perpetrator of the killing and not the victim. People make merry, e.g., Christmas, on these days at the expense of the lives of innocent animals. The spiritual element is markedly lacking when there is shedding of blood. All lives of all species (Siyalu Sathwayo) are precious. What is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.
A truly sensitive person will think of the agony and suffering that an innocent animal must go through before death in a slaughterhouse. He will think of the animals who suffer dreadfully on the way to the plates of those who eat them.
You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Killing an animal is never a pious act. It is an immoral act. A high-handed abuse of power. One of Emperor Ashoka’s edicts clearly states, that the greatest progress of Righteousness among men comes from abstention from killing living beings”.
All beings tremble before danger, all fear death.
When a man considers this, he does not kill or cause to kill.
All beings fear before danger, life is dear to all.
When a man considers this, he does not kill or cause to kill.
Whosoever tries to find happiness through hurting other beings, will not find happiness.
Dhammapada
The looming choice in a world becoming more literate and civilized is to adopt a lifestyle of doing no harm, which the Buddha advocated throughout his life as a teacher. A key ingredient of such a practice would be to refrain from consuming animal products. It is not only kindness to animals that needs to be fostered but more importantly a planetary sense in all of humanity. It is abundantly clear that much damage is being done to the natural environment by raising animals for food, to our health by consuming animals, and to our sense of righteousness and justice for all species. Every living being has a moral entitlement to pity and compassion. Humanity’s claim to be civilized as a species is dependent on the extension of our compassion for the members of other species. That is the test of civilization that the Buddha displayed and shared with others, without qualification.
Kill and eat is not a Buddhist tenet. Vesak is cruelty-free, and slaughter-free. Sri Lanka can become a role model for the rest of the world if all religions adopt the Vesak model not only as a festival of colour and lights but by celebrating their festivals without harming animals.
Learn about China’s economic model with Beijing-based scholar Roland Boer, a professor at Renmin University and author of the book “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics: A Guide for Foreigners”
RADHIKA DESAI: Hi everyone, welcome to this eighth Geopolitical Economy Hour, the fortnightly show on the political and geopolitical economy of our times. I’m Radhika Desai.
MICHAEL HUDSON: And I’m Michael Hudson.
RADHIKA DESAI: And this will be the fourth and final show on de-dollarization. As you know, we initially decided to do a couple of shows on de-dollarization, but Michael and I have written lots about it, both jointly and individually. And we have lots to say.
So it eventually became three programs, and even then it wasn’t over. So today we are into the fourth and final program. And as you know, we’ve divided our discussion into several questions.
So Paul is behind the scenes, our videographer. So Paul will be showing the slides. So Paul, can we show the question slides , please?
So as you know, there are these ten questions and we’ve dealt with the first nine. And today we’ll be dealing with the final question, which is: What are the dimensions of the crisis of the dollar system today?
And of course, as the Chinese saying goes, every crisis is an opportunity. So Michael and I also want to talk very much about: What are the opportunities contained in this current crisis for a policy paradigm, which is much kinder and better for development and for the prosperity of ordinary people around the world than has been possible over the last several decades of dollar dominance?
So that’s what we are going to talk about, isn’t it, Michael?
If you have been fascinated by the advancement of Artificial Technology (AI), pause for a moment to learn a bit about the massive threat AI poses to our very existence right now. It is not a joke, AI is already being developed for very unethical and dangerous pursuits.
One AI pioneer, Prof. Stuart Russell from University of California, Berkeley, an AI expert shared this warning video over 5 years ago, people didn’t take note much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK6IGG5zRU8
Now, the situation is really dangerous. There are some really evil people controlling Big Tech and most powerful organisations such as central banks, UN bodies and elected governments. Humanity is being largely hoodwinked by a global conspiracy aimed at vastly reducing the global population and enslaving the remaining in a technocratic autocratic rule controlled by the richest of the rich. AI is at the centre of it.
Already these top AI tech experts have signed this petition:
Yoshua Bengio, Founder and Scientific Director at Mila, Turing Prize winner and professor at University of Montreal
Stuart Russell, Berkeley, Professor of Computer Science, director of the Center for Intelligent Systems, and co-author of the standard textbook Artificial Intelligence: a Modern Approach”
Bart Selman, Cornell, Professor of Computer Science, past president of AAAI
Analysts said that the $2.69 billion, includes a 1.4 billion US dollar currency swap from China with conditions attached to its usage.
Debt-ridden Sri Lanka’s foreign currency reserves improved to $2.69 billion in March 2023 from a mere $50 million in May last year, giving indications of marginal improvement of the island nation’s economy, data from the Central Bank said on Friday.
Sri Lanka has been in financial turmoil and its total debt is $83.6 billion, of which foreign debt amounts to $42.6 billion externally and domestic debt amounts to $42 billion.
In April 2022, Sri Lanka declared its first-ever debt default, the worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948, triggered by forex shortages that sparked public protests.
According to Central Bank of Sri Lanka data, the island’s foreign currency reserves had improved to 2.69 billion dollars in March 2023, an improvement from under 50 million in May last year.
Analysts said that the $2.69 billion, includes a 1.4 billion US dollar currency swap from China with conditions attached to its usage.
Therefore the usable reserves would be just 1.6 billion dollars, the analysts say.
By May last year, the country was deeply plunged into its worst-ever economic crisis since 1948.
Reserves not sufficient to pay for imports led to shortages of essentials and power cuts.
Sri Lanka was then thrown a lifeline with an Indian line of credit worth $4 billion which paid for the imports of essentials and fuel.
This triggered public protests which culminated in the resignation of the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout which was released mid-March amounts to nearly 3 billion dollars to be disbursed over 4 years.
The $2.69 billion dollar boost at the end of March was including the first tranche of over 300 million dollars released by the IMF.
One of the key objectives of our IMF programme is to rebuild our foreign currency reserves. The IMF program and our reform agenda will work together to balance the economy and keep the external sector in check,” the central bank statement which shows the data said.
The government is under political pressure for introducing tough reforms on IMF diktat as they have begun to restructure debt both external and internal.
The plan to restructure local debt is to be announced this month, officials said.
South Asian nations are using anti-American rhetoric to push back against the US’s demands for internal reforms and signal their agency and increasing importance
Last month, Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, delivered a parliamentary speech strongly condemning the United States (US) for attempting to eliminate democracy in the country. Hasina’s remarks indicate an emerging trend of anti-American rhetoric in South Asian nations, such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. As the US has increased its outreach in South Asia, elites and political parties in the region are promoting anti-American rhetoric to the public. This rhetoric is emerging from intertwined sources, such as pre-existing reservations against the US, nationalism, domestic politics, and the increasing importance and agency of South Asian nations.
Pre-existing reservations
Principally, South Asian nations continue to have some reservations against the US. In the case of Bangladesh, small yet influential Islamist groups have promoted a negative portrayal of the Americans. America’s invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, and anti-Western ideology and extremism in Bangladesh have fuelled anti-American protests and attacks against US citizens in the past. Some sections of society have also celebrated the Taliban’s return to Afghanistan as a victory for Islam. Subsequent governments have either accommodated these hardliners in mainstream politics or at least tried to appease them. Thus, sustaining this rhetoric and challenge.
America’s invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, and anti-Western ideology and extremism in Bangladesh have fuelled anti-American protests and attacks against US citizens in the past.
In Sri Lanka, scepticism over the US’s intentions has prevailed since the 1970s. However, Washington’s ambiguity during the final phase of the civil war, followed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) resolutions and narratives on human rights and reconciliation have made the US deeply unpopular among certain sections. In the past, nationalist groups have demanded a boycott of American commodities, organised anti-Western demonstrations, and have also disrupted meetings and events. Exploiting this Sinhala nationalism for electoral purposes has only exacerbated these reservations against the US. In Kathmandu, too, starting from the 1950s, concerns have prevailed over America using Nepal’s territories to promote unrest in Tibet and spy on China.
Nationalism
Besides these pre-existing reservations, the US consistently demands that these countries strengthen democratic institutions, curb corruption, and promote reconciliation and human rights. It considers these reforms as a precursor to its cooperation, engagement, and investments, as they are crucial to promoting the values-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
As a result, in Bangladesh, the US sanctioned the Rapid Action Battalion and some high-level officials in December 2021 for their alleged involvement in human rights violations and enforced disappearances. In Sri Lanka, the US government has been insisting on strengthening democracy and promoting the reconciliation of Tamils. The Biden administration sanctioned four high-level military officials and has continued to sponsor UNHCR resolutions against Sri Lanka. The latest resolution reinforces the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to analyse, collect, and preserve evidence of human rights violations and war crimes in Sri Lanka. Nepal, which was rarely criticised by the US for its human rights record, is now under scrutiny too. It has been urged to counter corruption and money laundering, and promote human rights and market reforms.
The Biden administration sanctioned four high-level military officials and has continued to sponsor UNHCR resolutions against Sri Lanka.
This policy has been counter-productive though. South Asian countries have called out the US’s hypocrisy. They perceive this policy as an American attempt to weaponise human rights and democracy so that it can leverage it against these South Asian countries, and woo them against China. Essentially, South Asian nations see these tactics as a means of ‘coercion’, which has only furthered nationalist sentiments and strong anti-US rhetoric from political parties and sections of the society.
Domestic politics
Domestic politics have significantly contributed to this phenomenon too. Political parties have often attempted to muster nationalist sentiments by politicising their opponents’ engagement and criticising them for collaborating with the US and compromising the country’s sovereignty. The US is also increasingly accused of interfering in domestic politics and elections. Political parties have often favoured one major power (India, US, China) over the other. And sections that championed anti-Indian nationalism and scepticism for electoral purposes, are now redirecting their speculations against the US as it continues to cooperate and collaborate with India in the region. This has politicised the US’s investments and diplomatic activities in the region, fuelling more suspicion of the country.
For instance, as Bangladesh heads to elections this year, the US’s increasing engagements with the Bangladesh National Party leaders compelled Sheikh Hasina to criticise the US for promoting a ‘non-democratic’ opposition to overthrow the government. In Nepal, the US’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project was subject to misinformation and disinformation, especially as elections drew closer. The communist parties and other politicians close to China protested against the agreement and circulated speculations of the MCC compromising sovereignty and bringing American troops to the country. Prime Minister Deuba was criticised for being pro-US and deciding to place a vote on the MCC project. In Sri Lanka, President Wickremesinghe continues to be criticised for being pro-US. The US’s increased assistance to the country during the economic crisis has even furthered scepticism of the US establishing a military base in Sri Lanka and also reviving the controversial Status of Forces Agreement. Leftist parties and former coalition partners of the Rajapaksas have continued to fuel these speculations against the US.
The communist parties and other politicians close to China protested against the agreement and circulated speculations of the MCC compromising sovereignty and bringing American troops to the country.
Geopolitics and exercising agency
Finally, the increasing importance and agency of South Asian nations have further contributed to the anti-American rhetoric. As tensions between China and the US and its partners escalate, major powers are trying to stay increasingly relevant in the region.
With Bangladesh, the US has signed the draft General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), even as China continues to export military hardware to the country. In Nepal, the US pushed the country to decide on MCC and also requested it to be part of the Security Partnership Program (SPP), while China has requested the same to be a part of the Global Security Initiative (GSI). Similarly, over last year alone, the US has offered Sri Lanka humanitarian assistance worth US$270 million, –i.e., nearly 13.5 percent of its total assistance to Sri Lanka since the 1950s. Further, in an attempt to woo these countries against the US, the Russian embassy censured the US for intervening in Bangladesh’s domestic politics, and China has strongly criticised the US for intruding in Nepal’s internal affairs and decision-making process.
South Asian countries are responding to these developments by balancing and exercising agency. Bangladesh has continued to promote trade and defence cooperation with the US, even as it reaches out to China for trade, military hardware, and investments. Dhaka also continues to seek Russia’s assistance for its nuclear energy project. A recovering Sri Lanka has continued to import cheap oil from Russia and has not criticised Russia for the Ukraine conflict. It has shown sensitivity to China’s interests and has also sought the US’s assistance with International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiations and humanitarian assistance. Nepal has accepted the US’s MCC and has continued with some Chinese projects like the Pokhara International Airport and cross-border railway. However, it is also pushing China for grants and soft loans for its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. It has also displayed its agency by not offering identity cards to Tibetans in Nepal as suggested by the US or by extraditing them to China as desired by Beijing.
Bangladesh has continued to promote trade and defence cooperation with the US, even as it reaches out to China for trade, military hardware, and investments.
There is a growing realisation among the South Asian countries that the US, like the rest of the major powers, will continue investing in the region, despite its demands for reforms. For instance, the US Secretary of State met his Bangladeshi counterpart, even after Sheikh Hasina’s parliamentary speech against the US. The US has also reached out to the new government in Nepal, despite Prime Minister Prachanda’s dubious role in the MCC deal. In Sri Lanka, too, the US began engaging with the pro-Chinese Rajapaksas when the crisis began. All this even as democracy and human rights situation has pretty much stayed the same in these countries.
And to best leverage this growing importance, South Asian countries are using the balance to their favour. With major players wooing them and countries having new development partners, South Asian nations are using anti-American rhetoric to push back against US’s demands for internal reforms and signal their agency and increasing importance.
Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy is a Junior Fellow at the Strategic Studies Programme, Observer Research Foundation.
Before the European invasion, the economic policy of Sri Lanka was believed to be maintaining a production economy to endure people and make savings for the future. The definition of production is a dynamic aspect that product creation related to agriculture, industry, construction and services. It is an assumption based on historical views as interpreted by historians that Sri Lanka had a production economy and such policy was not written in any document, but many written literature books endeavoured to explain Sri Lanka was a prosperous economy based on many productions. The production economy in history gave priority to absorbing grains and related industrial products such as mamoty, knives, plough equipment and many others. The policymakers of historical administration were not economic scholars, and they used traditional knowledge for policy determination based on the general conduct of people. The existing society gave directions for economic activities based on traditional knowledge of products and services.
The production policy was not officially declared by the government that existed at that time. This focus has been changed during the foreign controls of the country, the foreign control means the European controllers and various factors may have contributed to the change in the policy focus from time to time. It is quite difficult to appraise the policy directions of invaders as the purpose of invaders concerned with many aims, which were not disclosed and were a secret to the public who were not too much concerned about politics like today. The colonial policy did not concern with the economic prosperity of people. Invaders did not express policy concerns about the economy and it can imagine that they had hidden motives for the invading activities. For example, the Portuguese aimed to introduce Catholicism.
According to historical analysts, the major reason to invade the country was to promote trade between invading countries and Sri Lanka, now it is easy to assume that the invaders were concerned with a hidden policy focus that was not disclosed to people, but it was a secret administration strategy of invaders. This assessment has been made by me assessing the closed economic activities in the colonial period.
Under the leadership of domestic kings and Indian rulers, the concept of production economy was generally accepted and gave priority to the concept as it was supporting the prosperity of the public. The priority of Indian invaders on the available information disclosed that they were also traders and they had no declared reasons to stop domestic agriculture and related industrial work. In terms of historical literature, the policy of Indian invaders was not concerned to work against the aspect of the production economy.
The promoting trade between Sri Lanka and European invaders gave new elucidation to the concept of production economy, which meant that producers could have earned profits than hoarding production in material format and the opportunities to participate in international trade was a vital opportunity for domestic producers, however, the concept of production economy has been diversified under the European invaders because they too had diversified aims of invasion.
The application of the concept of welfare economy by European invaders especially the British rulers had potential to disadvantaged people because the welfare economic policy of them encouraged promoting domestic producers. Invaders generally focus to promote between Sri Lanka and in their countries, and they were forced to apply the concept of welfare economy in Sri Lanka as democratic aspects of invading countries discouraged imposition of the use of domestic labour and increase domestic production to gain profits. The negative effect was local producers animated to depend on welfare payments despite hanging in the concept of production economy, this nature appeared in Western countries after 1980s.
There has not been accomplished to radical changed in the fundamental policy aspect of the Western invaders as the any activities of them were subject to critical evaluation of the policy development and implementation.
Since the era of Donor more system which introduced certain feature of Western democratic administration the concept of production economy has gradually been locked by the welfare concept of especially the British rulers. Recent negotiation with the International Monetary Fund and the outcomes of such negotiations highlighted in media it is not clear whether IMF has focused on the tradition concept of production economy.
In spite of my most diligent efforts, there would unquestionably be some raping.” –Gen George S Patton
As a result of combat stress, there can be marked personality changes in a combatant. Sometimes these changes can affect his libido, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior. After facing stressful combat situations, soldiers can experience loss of libido and erectile dysfunction without any organic causes. Depression and anxiety may be the reasons for the above-mentioned condition. Paradoxically in some combatants, the libido increases as a consequence of combat stress. The exact mechanism is not known. Some experts think that hyper-libido or sex addiction is a form of stress outlet – a compensatory mechanism to evade stress factors that are experienced by the combatant. Some argue it is following the experiences that were encountered by the combatant in war situations and is later strengthened through classical conditioning.
We still do not know whether sexual deviant behaviors appear as one of the complications of battle stress. How does a disciplined soldier turn into a rapist or a sexual molester after experiencing combat trauma? Numerous case studies show that traumatic experiences affect libido and sexual orientation and sexual preferences. Therefore, stranded research would be needed to establish whether there is a correlation between combat trauma and sexually deviant behavior.
Sexually deviant behavior during war situations varies in extent and takes distinctforms. Rape, sexual mutilation, bestiality, etc. were recoded from the war zones since the ancient days. In ancient times, victorious soldiers raped and enslaved women after they had conquered a city or a tribe. Sexual torture was a part of post-war act. Sexual violence was used to humiliate and frighten the enemy.
Rape is an extreme form of sexual sadism. Soldiers with sexual sadistic impulses derive pleasure from harassing, humiliating, physically beating, mutilating, and raping women. They often justify these acts as measures to win the war. In modern time rape has been documented in many armed conflicts including the WW1, WW2, Vietnam War etc.
Author Maria B. Olujic explains sexual violence on the battlefield thus.
“Rape was a weapon of terror as the German Hun marched through Belgium in World War I; gang rape was part of the orchestrated riots of Kristallnacht which marked the beginning of Nazi campaigns against the Jews. It was a weapon of revenge as the Russian Army marched to Berlin in World War II, it was used when the Japanese raped Chinese women in the city of Nanking when the Pakistani Army battled Bangladesh, and when the American G.I.s made rape in Vietnam a ‘standard operating procedure aimed at terrorizing the population into submission’.”
Susan Brownmiller an investigator who gathered data on sexual crimes committed by the American GIs in Vietnam points out that a few perpetrators were brought to justice. Susan Brownmiller highlights that based on the US Army court-martial statistics for rape and related charges: only 58% of those tried between 1965 and 1973 were convicted. She further says,
“A sentence of two to eight years at hard labor might be typical for rape, even in cases in which the victim had been murdered; sodomy attempted rape and attempted sodomy were preferred as charges because they carried lesser penalties; and sentences were routinely cut in half by a board of review.”
Rape in a war zone is often motivated by violent and vengeful anger toward the enemy. It has been used to demoralize and terrorize the enemy and their supporters. Sometimes it is an expression of brutal power and domination.
During the 1971 JVP insurrection in Sri Lanka Lieutenant Alfred Wijesuriya, of the 3rd Gemunu (Volunteer) Watch Sri Lanka Army and Corporal Amaradasa Ratnayake were charged with torture, rape, and murder of the 18-year-old girl Premawathi Manamperi of Kataragama in Southern Sri Lanka. Later the two accused were sentenced to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment.
When the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was deployed in Sri Lanka, it was increasingly accused of raping Tamil women. According to the Amnesty International Annual Report, 1988 for the period January to December 1987, the IPKF had been responsible for seven cases of rape in December. In 1988, two Indian soldiers were court-martialed for raping of two girls during a cordon and search operation at Ariyampathi in the East of Sri Lanka. When the Indian Peace Keeping Force was charged with rape in the Northern Peninsula. Brigadier Kahlon of the Indian Army replied: The Indian army are not angels. We are not devils either. We are just humans. ‘Rape happens even in the West”
Rapes had been reported on the Northern War Front. On the 7th of August 1996, Krishanthi Kumaraswamy –a 19-year-old school girl was raped and murdered by Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse of the Sri Lanka Army. Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse and five other soldiers who were directly involved in the rape were sentenced to death by the court.
Considering all these facts, we have to think seriously about whether combat stress has any effect on a soldier’s moral code. How does a good family man turn into a sexual predator or a monster? Does the battle stress trigger Paraphilias, which are sometimes referred to as sexual deviations or perversions?
From 2002 -2006, we clinically interviewed 824 soldiers that were referred to the Psychiatric ward of Military Hospital Colombo and found a small number of combatants suffering from sexually deviant behaviors. They were treated with medication and CBT with the help of the Consultant Psychiatrist of the SLA Dr. Neil J. Fernando. Among the deviations, we found Voyeurism was the commonest deviation.
Dinesh Gunawardena Prime Minister Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
The Vesak full moon day is the most sacred day of all Buddhists around the world. From time immemorial, the discipline inculcated from Buddhism greatly influenced the strengthening of national and religious harmony, and it also helped us to stand proudly in front of the world. Today, the mankind is so keen in defining the life and there is growing interest to follow the path of Buddhism as it teaches the true philosophy of life. When people become disgruntled with the materialistic world, they are naturally tempted to search the tranquility taught in Buddhist philosophy. Not only that, the self-management taught in Buddhism can also contribute to alleviating the crisis situation we are facing today. Ekena bhoge bhunjeyya- dvihi kamman payojaye Cattuttam ca nidhapeyya- apadasu bhavissati”
The Buddha taught that a person should divide the income into four portions; one to be used for daily expenses, two portions for the progress of the profession and the last to be deposited carefully for use in the future and in case of emergency. Let us work towards a society that values Loving-kindness (metta), Compassion (karuna), Sympathetic Joy (muditha) and Equanimity (upekkha) the four states of mind which leads to true happiness shown in sublime teaching of the Buddha. Siyalu Sathwayo Niduk wethwa, Nirogi wethwa, Suwapath wethwa!
Dinesh Gunawardena Prime Minister Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka was in a severe economic catastrophe before the IMF came to a rescue with $2.5 billion. President endeavoured to clear the fuel station queues and people lining up at gas stations for petrol & kerosine. Unfortunately, the opposition parties did not assist the Ranil Wickremasinghe Government. However, credit should go to President Ranil Wickremasinghe for evading a complete collapse of the economy. IMF loan is not a happy occasion to celebrate with a kiri bath” (a traditional Sri Lankan dish made from rice and Coconut) and crackers. At least, Sri Lankans should treat this as a life-saving move for the country as it serves as a breathing space for Sri Lanka.
Bankruptcy
Sri Lanka failed to pay the overseas commitments in April 2023, and the nation was declared bankrupt. This was significantly due to reduced expatriate income from $437 million to $ 259 in the past few months. It was due to policies adopted by the previous governments for the last seventy-five years and Covid -19, and the complete recession in the world economy. Also, some main political parties openly suggested not sending expatriate workers money through the Central Bank. Some expatriates decided to send their money via informal channels such as Undiayal” to obtain a higher rate for their foreign exchange. Although the Central Bank imposed restrictions on foreign remittances, other banks followed suit.TV advertisements often state to send foreign remittances through a bank.
Authorities were concerned with declining exports, such as textile, rubber, and tea. At present, everyone hopes that exports will increase in due course. Tourism has been the dollar earner. The Tourist Board expects 1.55 million tourists in 2023, with a targeted income of US$5 billion. Protestors blocking roads through various marches have caused tourism to deplete. The tourist arrivals in 2018 were the highest on record so far. To improve the influx of tourism, the Tourist Board has an enormous task in attracting international and local tourists to woo them to different types of hotels rather than helping hotels that have suffered during the past two years. Hotels should cater for all tourists without exhibiting a colonial attitude toward foreign and domestic tourists. The management hotel staff should be responsible for management to see that it is functional.
How to enhance Tourism.
The Immigration & Emigration Department should set up a help desk to answer any questions on entry visas and passports to eradicate tourists’ time, thereby minimising their valuable time in wasting time in long queues at Immigration offices. If there is an embarkation tax for tourists and Sri Lankans living overseas should be abolished.
Liquor such as local Gin and many brands of wine should be available duty-free” in wine shops and supermarkets for passengers coming into the country and leaving. Duty-free outlets should have a good selection of wine, foreign liquor, and many brands of cigarettes available for tourists. It should be the responsibility of each outlet to ensure that Sri Lankans abroad and Asians from other countries qualify for such resolves by requesting them to bring their passports with the date of arrival.
All levels of services at airports need improvement. Airports should have ‘a para-medics team. Most of the ‘tuk-tuk’ drivers are a pest to tourists; not only do they pose a danger in transporting tourists, but checking whether they have passenger cover with an insurance company is essential.
Beggars should be removed from tourist areas. English-speaking courteous guides and especially trained police officers must be deployed to feel safe for tourists. All ditches and drains need to be cleaned and in good repair. Private beachesshould be a must to avoid peeping toms and thieves.
Equally, bus drivers speeding at high speed and overtaking may help the wind of the buses sufficiently to knock someone down in areas of Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa, where there are no pavements for tourists to walk on. Recently tourists were fed up with coercion. They toured everywhere in Sri Lanka and faced bribery and corruption everywhere. Some tourists photographed anglers sitting on a pole and fishing in the seas as souvenirs from Sri Lanka. After taking such photographs, tourists were harassed by the locals demanding money for taking pictures.
Free-thinkers
Pro-government and unbiased individuals think that IMF acceptance will help Sri Lanka with external debts and improve the country tremendously. One of the major clauses of the IMF agreement stands to reason by eradicating corruption which is common everywhere in the country, including the tourist industry. New anti-corruption laws proposed by the Independent Prosecution Office of the Presidential Secretariat will boost investor confidence,” said Dr Harsha de Silva of Samagi Balwegeya. The opposition parties have always been fussy, saying, Ranil Wickremasinghe favours the Rajapaksa family. Introducing the New anti-corruption bill in the parliament as a legal document will be able to gash such gossip. Implementing the best anti-corruption Law is best in Asia. The Law is hoped to boost foreign investors and the Sri Lankan government’s confidence.
All parliamentarians and non-elected members of political party members should refrain from immoral and dishonest collaborators with public money. They should come together for the country’s sake and refrain from interrupting the overall economy in the future.
All previous governments for seventy-five years have given the general public everything free of charge, such as education, once rice and essentially everything free, which caused the previous governments to borrow from international agencies largely, which has caused the present economic chaos!
Therefore, to bring the economy back to a safe level, it is practicable to have an economic policy as suggested by the current President. IMF funds of $2.9 billion over four stages need to be improved to pay off the government’s commitments to international agencies, from which the Sri Lankan government had to borrow on various projects to resurrect the economy. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka government should concentrate on external funds such as exports, tourism and remittances from expatriate workers. It is vitally important to compromise with professional trade unions and not aggravate the situation.
New holiday trend has been backed by doctors who have warned that excessive screen time can hamper sleep.
India and Sri Lanka are popular destinations due to their religious and spiritual significance
Thousands of Britons are travelling to remote locations in India and Sri Lanka for a digital detox”, research found.
Sinharaja Rainforest in southwest Sri Lanka and the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand. which is popular with hikers, have been named as among the most popular hotspots for people aiming to slash their screen time and break mobile phone habits.
Dr Chandra Kanneganti
Luxury cruise company Panache Cruises reported an increase in demand from customers seeking to escape to locations beyond the reach of a phone signal and the internet. And the new holiday trend has been backed by doctors who have warned that excessive screen time can hamper sleep, lead to mental health problems and muscle aches.
Dr Chandra Kanneganti, a GP in Staffordshire, said he has seen an increase in patients for phone-related problems.
Kanneganti, president of the British International Doctors Association, told Eastern Eye: It’s not just teenagers or youngsters, we are seeing it across the board, [with people] spending eight-10 hours a day watching a screen.
The constant exposure can cause lack of sleep, insomnia, lack of concentration, and can lead to depression and other mental health issues. It’s a vicious cycle.
Constant exposure to screen light can also cause migraines, affect eye sight as you need sunlight for vitamin D for your bones to stop aches and pains.
Such detox centres should come to the UK too. The phone has become like a part of our body – when we wake up, the first thing we do is look at our phones.
I am glad these places are open in India to help people addicted [to their devices].” Panache Cruises said its survey also found that the Koija Community Starbeds lodge in Kenya and Mumbo Island in Malawi were other popular wi-fi-free destinations this year.
On the Valley of Flowers national park, the Lancashire- based company said: Perfect for hikers wanting to escape social media and their phones, this destination is a 17km trek from the nearest town, Joshimath.
The National Park is full of some of the world’s rarest and endangered animals such as snow leopards and the Asian black bear. With an extensive rocky and rugged landscape, the park sits within two mountain ranges – easily blocking out all phone signals for visitors to the area. A blanket full of colourful, diverse flowers and fauna, the Valley of Flowers is one of the most beautiful destinations for those looking to unplug.”
James Cole, founder and managing director of Panache Cruises, said: We are seeing increasing popularity for remote holiday destinations, with many customers reporting they are looking forward to switching off their phones and escaping technology for a while.
Some really struggle to switch off, but by choosing to journey to a truly remote location where even on-board connections will be slow at best, they may find it easier to go cold turkey.”
Luckily even in 2023, there are still some spots on earth beyond the reach of the internet and mobile phone signals.
When you go on holiday it’s now become standard to upload pictures of your travels on social media – but with a completely unplugged trip away, it instead becomes mandatory to take in the memories for yourself and look at the stunning landscapes and exotic wildlife through our own eyes, rather than through a screen.
Getting away from technology and hectic schedules is a great stress-buster. The Valley of Flowers in India is full of some of the world’s most exotic and endangered animals, and Antarctica is truly one of those destinations where you can completely escape from the chaos of everyday life.”
However, Kamran Uddin, a technology writer, said it was hard for people to switch off unless they go off grid” or travel abroad to have a digital detox.
He told Eastern Eye: The latter is less extreme than the former, and after the Covid pandemic where people have been stuck at home with electronic devices for two years, I can understand why some might be itching to just get away from life here in the UK.
India and Sri Lanka are popular destinations due to their religious and spiritual significance. Both countries are also densely covered by mountains, trees and rivers, where research has shown are key ingredients for our mental wellbeing.
The respective countries are also home to lots of religious saints from different faiths such as Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
When you look into their lives, most of these saints preached detachment of the material world and reformation of one’s inner diseases such as ego, pride and jealousy to their followers.”
Aman Sunner is a self-worth and confidence mentor at Aman Sunner Mentoring.
She said: So many of us live such busy lives. With the constant hustle and bustle of work, family, social life and with social media on top, we rarely get time to switch off.
All of these aspects are energy leaks in our daily life, but we often don’t see the digital side of things as a physical leak, so it can be overlooked.
However, the truth is when you show up on stories or social media, you are giving your energy out to hundreds and possibly thousands of people on a daily basis.
Often we see ‘shutting off’ as a negative thing because of the societal conditioning that sitting still or not doing anything is lazy: whereas in actual fact, breaking away from the normal hamster wheel of life and stepping into flow to fill yourself back up can ignite your life.
Next time you feel the need to take a break from people or do a digital detox, don’t feel bad. Remember, you are a human being, not a human doing.”
Officials say Iqbal alias Bali Khayara was wanted for 26 cases of terrorism and targeted killings
Terrorist Iqbal alias Bali Khayara, who was a member of Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Khayara group, was killed in a police encounter near Fateh Moor in Dera Ismail Khan, police officials confirmed.
Iqbal was one of the most wanted terrorists, and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab police had announced a reward of Rs10.5 million for his capture, dead or alive.
Inspector-General of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Khan, while speaking to a private TV channel on Thursday, said the police retaliated after an attack carried out on them by Iqbal and killed him, along with an accomplice.
He said that Iqbal was wanted for 26 cases of terrorism and targeted killings. He was accused of targeted killings, terrorism and abduction of Shia Muslims in 21 cases by CTD DI Khan whereas he was also wanted by Multan police in five other cases.
Additionally, DI Khan police officials say that Iqbal was also involved in a recent suicide bombing at the District Headquarters Hospital, as well as the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.
The attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team claimed the lives of seven police officials and left seven players including Mahela Jayawaredene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana and Chaminda Vaas injured.
The attack drove cricket and most other international sports from Pakistan for years which only returned after the security significantly improved in the terror-hit country.
ඩෙරික් බ්රෝස්ඩෙරික් බ්රෝස් (Derrick Broze) , ද ලාස්ට් ඇමෙරිකන් වගබොන්ඩ්හි (The Last American Vagabond) කර්තෘ මණ්ඩල ලේඛකයෙකි. ඔහු ගත්කතුවරයෙක්, ලේඛකයෙක් , දේශකයෙක් සහ ක්රියාකාරිකයෙක්ද වේ.ඔහු Free Thinker Radio on 90.1 Houston නම් රේඩියෝවේ සම නිවේදකයෙකි.එමෙන්ම දැනුවත් ප්රතිරෝධක ජාලයේ සහ හූස්ටන්හි නිදහස් චින්තකයෝ යන සංවිධානවල නිර්මාතෘවරයාද ඔහුය.
