Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media
safety and rights body, condoles the sad demise of two young journalists in
India and Afghanistan within 24 hours and urges the concerned authorities to
probe the developments that led to their untimely deaths, and subsequently to
book the perpetrators to justice.
It may be mentioned that a 22 years old journalist cum
Right to Information (RTI) activist named Buddhinath Jha (also known as Avinash
Jha) was found dead in Madhubani district of Bihar in
eastern India.
Buddhinath used to report on many fake medical clinics
operating in his locality and some of those were also closed by the authority.
Suddenly he went missing four days back and later his
charred body was found by a roadside on 12 November. The Benipatti-based family
claimed that Buddhinath was offered a lot of money (as bribes) by some illegal
healthcare clinic owners, but he did not respond to them. Later he received a
number of threatening calls from unknown persons.
It is frustrating that
a young scribe has to lose his life for exposing the fake clinics, which
are otherwise killing innocent people with incompetent medical interventions.
It seems, those criminals are more organized to offer bribes as well as
threats. The Bihar State government must ensure an authentic probe into his
death and punish the culprits,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC (https://pressemblem.ch/).
Meanwhile, an Afghan television news presenter named
Hamid Saighani was killed in an explosion that rocked Kabul city on 13
November. The young scribe used to work for Khurahid and Aryana News. Hamid’s
wife, also a journalist, Fawzia Wahdat confirmed the heart-breaking news. He is
the 12th journalist (including Indian photojournalist Danish
Siddiqui) to be killed in the war-torn Afghanistan since
the beginning of 2021.
Prior to Buddhinath, India lost five journalists namely
Ashu Yadav, Sulabh Srivastava, Ch. Keshav, Manish Kumar Singh and Raman Kashyap
to assailants this year, said PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria,
adding that India’s two neighbours Pakistan and Bangladesh reported seven and
two casualties of media workers respectively, where Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives,
Sri Lanka, Myanmar have not reported any incident of journo-murder.
Food banks across the United States are struggling to keep up with the number of Americans in need of assistance amid record inflation and the supply chain crisis, which have gripped the nation ahead of the holiday season.
The Alameda County, California Community Food Bank was forced to make a lot of really tough choices” due to inflation and the rising costs of food, its executive director, Regi Young, told NPR on Saturday. With prices spiking for some core food items,” such as fruit, vegetables, and canned meats, he said the bank was forced to stretch their budget as much as possible to ensure that families in our community have the food that they need.”READ MORE: Biden admits prices ‘too high’ & promises to save Christmas
The food banks are also being crippled with transportation issues and lengthy delivery times. Last year, we were able to get things from about two to three weeks. However, today, we have to really double that time frame,” Young said.
Growing inflation and supply hiccups are especially painful ahead of America’s upcoming holiday season, with some food banks already resorting to giving out chicken, fish, and other meats for Thanksgiving instead of the traditional turkey.
Just to put it in perspective, last year, we did anywhere from 5,000 to 6,000 turkeys, and, this year, I have five in my freezer,”said Tracey Engel, director of Arkansas’ River Valley Regional Food Bank on Friday, adding that food deliveries are now taking up to four months” due to the huge rise in transportation costs.
It’s not because there’s no turkeys, it’s that the turkeys are in the wrong places at the wrong time,” an agricultural economist at Michigan State University, Trey Malone, explained to Vox earlier this week, dismissing the term shortage.”
Feeding America COO Katie Fitzgerald warned this week that food insecurity” for those in need has gotten worse and that food banks across the country will be unable to absorb the costs for much longer. Fitzgerald – whose organization oversees more than 200 food banks in the US – called the shortages an insult to injury” to struggling families who have already suffered so much over the past few years.
President Joe Biden has been widely criticized for his perceived failure to rein in the country’s inflation, with even CNN calling it a political nightmare” for the 46th president. The cost of living in the US has risen by a two-decade record 6.2%, according to a Department of Labor October report. Goldman Sachs recently warned that inflation will likely get worse before it gets better,” and even Biden himself admitted that the prices are too high.
The US military tried to cover up a deadly attack on Syrian civilians that killed as many as 80 people, claiming that women and children could have been terrorist fighters, according to a New York Times investigation.
On March 18, 2019, a US F-15E fighter jet dropped a bomb on a large crowd of women and children huddled against a river bank” near the town of Baghuz and then proceeded to drop several more, killing survivors, according to a New York Times report published on Saturday.
At nearly every step, the military made moves that concealed the catastrophic strike,” the report alleged, claiming that the death toll was downplayed,” reports were delayed, sanitized and classified,” the blast site was bulldozed, and top leaders were not notified,” in an effort to keep what happened firmly under wraps.
US Central Command admitted that the strike killed 80 people – of which only 16 were alleged Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) terrorists – after being approached for comment by the newspaper, and Central Command bizarrely attempted to justify the rest of the deaths by claiming that the women and children could also have been terrorists.
According to the report, after Central Command identified 16 alleged fighters and 4 civilians killed in the strike, it said that it was not clear” that the 60 other casualties were civilians, in part because women and children in the Islamic State sometimes took up arms.”
The strike would be one of the Pentagon’s worst civilian casualty events in Syria, if 64 civilian deaths were officially acknowledged, but even the Times admitted that civilian deaths in US strikes are often undercounted even in classified reports” – hinting that the true number of casualties could be even higher.
With memories still fresh of a US drone strike in Kabul that killed an aid worker and seven children – but not a single ISIS terrorist – also first unveiled by the NYT, the new revelation shocked readers in the US and around the world, who called for action over what many called a war crime.
The US needs to leave Syria ASAP. Our military presence there makes us LESS safe!”At nearly every step, the military made moves that concealed the catastrophic strike. The death toll was downplayed. Reports were delayed, sanitized and classified.”https://t.co/eCjxblUXie— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) November 13, 2021
How do you even get around a defense like you don’t know for certain that those babies weren’t ISIS fighters?” journalist Caitlin Johnstone questioned, while Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) director Daniel Mahanty tweeted, This is nothing short of criminal conspiracy. They bulldozed the strike site and manipulated logs. Who is going to jail for this?”
The US killed 70 civilians in a strike in Syria. It was flagged internally as a possible war crime. Instead of investigating, the military buried it. More troubling, it looks like US forces were systemically circumventing targeting requirements. Horrific. https://t.co/WnI8GJMxJa— Bassam Khawaja (@Bassam_Khawaja) November 13, 2021
A former spokesperson for President Barack Obama, Tommy Vietor, called on the Department of Defense to release all information related to the attack, describing it as a truly horrifying story.”
Colombo, November 14 (newsin.asia): Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda sought avenues for further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the civil aviation sector with India, when he met the Civil Aviation Minister of India Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi.
Minister Scindia accorded a warm welcome to High Commissioner Moragoda. The High Commissioner thanked the Minister for the hospitality, and the excellent arrangements that were in place for the Sri Lankan delegation that arrived in India for the opening of the Kushinagar International Airport in the inaugural flight from Colombo.
Scindia thanked Sri Lanka for this gesture and said that the opening ceremony was enriched by the presence of the Sri Lankan delegation.
The High Commissioner requested the Minister to seek the possibility of resuming flight operations between the two countries as per the pre-COVID schedules, and sought his assistance for greater connectivity via increased air services, particularly through budget airlines.
He also mentioned that Indian tourists have accounted for 20-25% of the total tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka; by far the largest single source of tourism.
Recalling the presentation by Sri Lanka of the photographs of two murals from the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara to be installed at the Kushinagar International Airport, High Commissioner Moragoda stated that Sri Lanka is willing to present similar photographs to the other two international airports in the Buddhist circuit, i.e., Bodh Gaya and Varanasi to be displayed permanently. Minister Scindia responded to this proposal affirmatively.
Minister Scindia who commenced his public service career in 2002, has served as the Minister of State for Telecommunications, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, and Minister of Power (Independent Charge) previously.
There are two main types of cardamom: green (Elettaria cardamomum) and black (Amomum subulatum). Green cardamom, also known as true cardamom, is a sub-species of the ginger (Zingiberaceae) family. Green cardamom is native to Southern India and Sri Lanka.
The botanical has long, pointed leaves and pretty, white flowers. The seed-containing pods are light green in colour and paper-like in texture. They are about one centimetre long, triangular in cross-section and taper to a point at the end.
The seed pods of green cardamom contain small, black seeds. Green cardamom seeds have a strong, sweet, pungent flavour, with hints of citrus and ginger.
Green cardamom is the third most expensive spice in the world – only saffron and vanilla cost more by weight.
The first written reference to green cardamom comes from the Sumer Civilisation, which evolved within the Tigris-Euphrates valley circa 5000 BC and was the world’s first civilised society. It boasted a highly developed social structure, advances in agriculture, industry and technology, a complex religious system, and the pièce de résistance – a developed writing system.
The Ancient Greeks thought highly of green cardamom, and the Greek physicians Pedanius Dioscorides and Hippocrates of Kos wrote about its medicinal properties, identifying it as an aid to digestion.
Due to demand in Ancient Greece and Rome for this botanical, which was used as a spice in both sweet and savoury dishes, the cardamom trade developed into a luxury business. During the Medieval period, the Republic of Venice became the western world’s principal importer of green cardamom, which it obtained from Oriental merchants along with cinnamon, cloves and pepper in exchange for meat and salt products.
The seeds, oils and extracts of green cardamom are thought to have impressive medicinal properties and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. The Ancient Greeks and Romans chewed green cardamom seeds or mixed them with other medicinal spices to treat gastrointestinal disorders, food poisoning, nausea, and vomiting.
Green cardamon was also used in Ancient Rome as an aphrodisiac. The use of green cardamom seeds to treat bad breath and improve oral health is also an ancient remedy, which may have to do with the botanical’s ability to kill common mouth bacteria and prevent cavities. This is probably why the chewing gum manufacturer Wrigley uses green cardamom in its Eclipse Breeze Exotic Mint Sugarfree Gum.
The antimicrobial properties found in cardamom essential oil mean that the botanical is also often used in soap manufacture.
Green cardamom is widely employed in Indian, Middle Eastern and Swedish cuisine. In Sweden, green cardamom is used to season everything from baked goods to hamburgers and meatloaves. In Middle Eastern recipes, ground green cardamom is used to flavour desserts.
The botanical can also be found along with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in the garam masala spice mixture that seasons meat and vegetable dishes, and in hot beverages such as hot cider, masala chai tea, mulled wine, and Turkish coffee. Green cardamom is used as a major ingredient in curries throughout the Middle East and South-East Asia.
In gin manufacture, during distillation, it is possible to extract the essential oils from within green cardamom seed-containing pods by placing them intact into a still. However, some distillers lightly crack open the seed pods before placing them in the still.
In gin production, green cardamom adds a complex, earthy, grassy and bittersweet aroma to the spirit, along with a citrus sweetness, and hot spicy ginger notes.
General Shavendra Silva and wife Sujeewa Nelson at the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery School(pic courtesy Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)
General Shavendra Silva’s recently concluded visit (Oct 23 to Oct 30) to Russia should be examined against the backdrop of an unprecedented travel ban by the United States on the Sri Lanka Army Commander over hearsay war crimes accusations, including extrajudicial killings, during the last phase of the Vanni offensive.
Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion on the morning of May 19, 2009, on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon, despite a chorus of ‘expert’ opinion generated by the West over the years claiming that the country’s armed forces were incapable of defeating the LTTE and they had literally elevated the Tigers to a mythical and invincible status.
Combined Sri Lankan armed forces, however, conducted a relentless campaign, over a period of two years and 10 months, until Velupillai Prabhakaran was trapped in the one-time LTTE stronghold Mullaitivu. Prabhakaran was killed the day after the then General Sarath Fonseka’s Army declared the end of the war, on May 18, 2009. The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) was credited with the killing of Prabhakaran and recovery of his body more or less intact.
The US, one of the worst violators of human rights in many conflict zones, in the world, imposed a politically-motivated travel ban on General Silva, the first General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the much-celebrated 58 Division (formerly Task Force I).
Having launched offensive operations in early Sept 2007, from the Western front, the area popularly known as the Mannar rice bowl, the TF 1 troops fought their way northwards, captured Pooneryn (late Nov 2008) and then turned eastwards, crossed the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road, at Paranthan, and in quick succession stormed enemy defences at Elephant Pass and also brought Kilinochchi South under their control by early January 2009. With the fall of Kilinochchi, the Army stepped up offensive action leading to the final confrontation with Prabhakaran on May 19, 2009 in the environs of the Nanthikadal lagoon.
It must be noted here that Fonseka’s Army changed overall tactics in the northern and eastern theatres. The enemy simply had no answer to several fighting formations advancing on its bases and troops causing havoc, deep inside enemy held territory.
It would be pertinent to mention that the Army-raised TF 1 comprising two infantry Brigades on August 31, 2007, at Irattaperiyakulam camp under the leadership of the then Brigadier Chagie Gallage who carried out the first successful mission which resulted in the liberation of Silavathurai.
Earlier in April of that year, men Gallage led, captured the Thoppigala base of the Tigers, which some thought was impregnable. After its capture, ironically, then Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe tried to denigrate the victory as just the capture of a rock outcrop. We can recall that when Brig. Gallage went to announce the capture of the Tiger Jungle base at Toppigala he drove his own jeep like an ordinary soldier with a staff officer next to him also dressed like an ordinary soldier, but the media that had converged at his base close to the Black Bridge Batticaloa were not aware of the important if not symbolic achievement till it was announced over the TV and radio that night.In fact, Gallage spearheaded the Eastern campaign except the action at Mavilaru, conducted by the then Brigadier Prasanna Silva.
While TF 1 was steadily advancing from the Mannar Rice Bowl, Brig. Gallage suffered a heart attack in the Vanni west, Gallage had to undergo emergency surgery in Colombo. Fonseka brought in Shavendra Silva to command TF 1. The Army never revealed at that time military strategist Gallage suffered a heart attack on Oct 22, 2007, the day the LTTE mounted a commando-style raid on the Anuradhapura air base. Because of the calamity at the air base, Gallage had to be taken by chopper to Sigiriya air base and then flown to Ratmalana air base in a fixed aircraft. The rest is history.
Army Chief blacklisted
The US blacklisted Gen. Silva close on the heels of Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces, General Oleg Salyukov’s five-day visit to Colombo in early Feb 2020 on the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart the then Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva. General Salyukov extended an invitation to General Silva to visit Russia though the eruption of Covid-19 epidemic prevented him from leaving the country as he was appointed as the head of the Task Force appointed to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
General Silva’s wife, Sujeewa Nelson accompanied him on his second foreign visit since the imposition of the US travel ban. Their first overseas visit was in March 2021 to Islamabad on the invitation of the country’s all-weather friend Pakistan. General Silva and Sujeewa Nelson were invitees at Pakistan’s national military parade. A section of the foreign media condemned and disputed Pakistan’s invitation to General Silva on the basis of him being among those accused of war crimes.
Having solidly defended Sri Lanka at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), both Pakistan and Russia have absolutely no qualms in inviting General Silva. Both countries voted against anti-Sri Lanka resolutions spearheaded by the West moved in Geneva.
The timing of the US ban underscored the Superpower’s intention to meddle in local politics. The announcement was made between the last presidential election held in mid-November 2019 and the parliamentary polls in August 2020. It would be pertinent to mention that the parliamentary polls, scheduled for April 25, 2020, had to be put off to August due to the Covid-19 eruption. The UNP suffered a very heavy defeat with the over 70 year-old party that had 106 MPs in Parliament (2015-2019) being reduced to a solitary National List slot.
Most probably the US never expected the then Maj. Gen. Silva to receive an opportunity to command the Sri Lanka Army. Had that happened, the US wouldn’t have had to blacklist the highly decorated soldier. Obviously, the UNP-led government and the then President Maithripala Sirisena didn’t agree on how to deal with Silva.
The failed constitutional coup in late Oct 2018 ruined the political relationship between President Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe. Therefore, no one would have been surprised by the yahapalana leaders’ disagreement on the Army Commander’s appointment.
President Sirisena appointed the distinguished ground combat commander as the 23rd Commander of the Army on August 18, 2019. Maj. Gen. Silva was also elevated to the rank of Lieutenant General effective the same date. Had efforts to deprive Silva of the top position succeeded, the US wouldn’t have had to play politics with the Sri Lankan military by imposing a controversial travel ban on him. Or had the Presidency been in the hands of the UNP it would have appointed one of its uniformed ‘yes’ men as the new Army Commander and definitely not one who helped to defeat the most ruthless terror outfit in the world.
Whatever the reasons, the stand taken by President Sirisena, the Commanding-in-Chief of the armed forces as well as the Defence Minister should be appreciated.
Following wartime Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s triumph at the Nov 2019 presidential election, Silva was promoted to the rank of a 4-star General on Dec 28, 2020. With the retirement of Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne on Dec 31, 2019, Gen. Silva was named the Chief of Defence Staff. Six weeks later the US categorised General Silva as a war criminal.
Denigration of an Army Chief
Why did the US categorise General Silva a war criminal well over a decade after the conclusion of the war? Let me remind the reader that Silva, in 2010, received the appointment as Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, in New York. Silva is the one and only serving military officer in Sri Lanka’s history to be promoted to an ‘Ambassadorial’ rank in the country’s Foreign Service. Most importantly, why on earth the US found it necessary to declare Silva a war criminal having backed the war-winning General Sarath Fonseka’s candidature at the 2010 January presidential election.
In fact, the US played a significant role in building up a UNP-led coalition that included the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in support of Fonseka. War crimes accusations against the Army seemed ridiculous against the backdrop of all predominantly Tamil speaking electoral districts in the North and the East voting overwhelmingly for Fonseka. But, incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa polled 1.8 mn votes more than Fonseka. The silly Opposition blamed Fonseka’s defeat on what the late JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe called a computer jilmart.
When the then government arrested Fonseka under controversial circumstances and was sentenced, the US intervened on the retired General’s behalf despite then US Ambassador Patricia Butenis having named Fonseka a war criminal along with the Rajapaksa brothers, Mahinda, Basil and Gotabaya. Butenis assertion is in the public domain thanks to secret Wiki Leaks. Butenis’ cable sent just weeks before the January 2010 presidential election underscored duplicitous US strategy.
Ten years after the 2010 presidential election, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted: I am designating Shavendra Silva making him ineligible for entry into the US due to his involvement in extrajudicial killings during Sri Lanka’s Civil War. The US will not waver in its pursuit of accountability for those who commit war crimes and violate human rights.”
Designation of the Army Chief took place soon after Pompeo declared the US looked forward to deepening ties with Sri Lanka. How did the US expect to improve ties by blacklisting a hugely popular Army Chief?
In a previous statement, Pompeo said that allegations of gross human rights violations against Shavendra Silva had been documented by the United Nations and other organisations. US sanctions barred both Silva and his immediate family members from entering the US.
The Government of Sri Lanka takes strong objection to the imposition of travel restrictions on Lieutenant General Silva and his immediate family members by the Government of the United States, based on independently unverified information,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Lanka responds to US
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Washington Rodney Perera declared that the US decision hadn’t been based on independently verified information, but on the much-disputed OISL Report of 2015 and accusations propagated by various other organisations.
Ambassador Perera urged the US to verify the authenticity of its sources of information. Ambassador Perera said so addressing the American Foreign Service Association Club in Washington D.C. The gathering included several former U.S. Ambassadors and senior officials who served in Colombo.
Commenting on the inclusion of the family members of the Army Commander on the blacklist, Ambassador Perera declared: Even though we are now in the 21st Century, even members of his family who have not been accused of any wrongdoing, have been subjected to a collective punishment reminiscent of the practice in medieval Europe.”
The career diplomat assured Sri Lanka would remain strongly engaged on this issue with the United States to have it review its decision. The assurance was given about a week after the US blacklisted the much decorated soldier. What have we done since then to disapprove unsubstantiated war crimes allegations against General Silva? In fact, the despicable project against the Commander of the Army is nothing but an affront to the country. Parliament never really took up the Western powers’ campaign against the war-winning military here. During Karu Jauasuriya’s tenure as the Speaker, the UNP politician never bothered to take it up with Western diplomats. One shouldn’t be surprised over that, as his party betrayed the military by co-sponsoring an accountability resolution on Oct.01, 2015. However, the failure on the part of incumbent Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to speak on behalf of the military when foreign diplomats called on him, cannot be justified.
Before General Silva undertook the visit to Russia, Chief of Indian Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane was here. In spite of India being a US ally, New Delhi went ahead with its Army Chief’s visit to Colombo. Naravane had been here with the Indian Peace Keeping Force during its deployment in terms of the Indo-Lanka Accord and had been based in Trincomalee. Now, the issue is how is it that those countries demanding action against the Sri Lankan military for eradicating terrorism on its soil are silent on India’s accountability issues here. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka lacked the political will to present its case properly before the international community.
Failure on the part of successive Sri Lankan governments to address accountability issues since the end of the conflict has underscored utter irresponsibility on the country’s part. Against that pathetic background, the Russian invitation extended to Gen. Silva is of paramount importance.
Considered to be one of the highest honours, presented in recent times, the formal and elegant Guard of Honour parade with four squads of the Russian Land Forces, together with a Russian Army band distinctively featured the significance and the recognition the Russian Land Forces attach to the visiting Sri Lankan Army Chief.
General Silva after formal honours was ushered to pay floral tribute to the monument at Alexandrovsky Garden of Moscow Kremlin where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands.
During General Shavendra Silva’s stay in the Russian Federation, he visited the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School and met its Commandant, Major General Roman Binyukov, Division Commander of the 4th Guards Tank Division in Naro-Fominsk and the Commandant at Mikhailovskaya before he visited the Military Artillery Academy, Military Medical Academy and several other places of military and tourist attractions.
Saliyapura bombshell
The writer earlier mentioned the change of command of the TF 1 in Oct 2007 following Gallage’s predicament, but what is of far more importance is what he said at Saliyapura Gajaba Regimental headquarters in the first week of Sept 2018 as his farewell speech when he retired from the service after an illustrious military career, much of it having spent leading combat troops. Gajaba veteran General Gallage didn’t mince his words when he questioned how having served the Army for well over 30 years he was compelled to retire being categorised as a war criminal. Why did Gallage have to say that? Gallage had sought a visa in Sept 2016 to visit his brother living in Australia. He wanted to visit Australia from Dec. 2016 to January 2017. Gallage’s brother, an Australian citizen of Sri Lankan origin, had visited Colombo especially to make representations to the Australian HC.
Following that meeting the Australian department of Immigration and Border Protection issued a report titled ‘Potential Controversial Visitor’ citing war crimes and crimes against humanity as reasons for denying Gallage a visa.
In the absence of specific accusations against Gallage, Australia found fault with him for giving leadership to the 59 Division after the conclusion of the war. In other words, those who commanded fighting formations during the war (Divisions 58, 59, 57, 53, 55 et al) on the Vanni front and after can be humiliated. Gallage’s is a case in point.
Interestingly, the Army celebrated its 72 anniversary at the Saliyapura base last Oct with the participation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa formerly of the Gajaba Regiment. In his speech at Saliyapura, Rajapaksa, who retired having achieved Lieutenant Colonel’s rank (1971-1992), acknowledged shortcomings on the part of his government. The government should examine the aptness of its response to war crimes accusations. President Rajapaksa made reference on Nov 6 to Sri Lanka having to face Geneva accusations though in a different context.
Designation of the Army Chief should be examined taking into consideration overall war crimes accusations directed at Sri Lanka. How can the government forget the US declined to issue a visa to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and the circumstances?
Haven’t those in authority observed how Canada and Italy rejected retired Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sumangala Dias as Sri Lanka’s top diplomatic envoy?
British Conservative politician Lord Naseby in an interview with this writer in late Sept 2019 questioned Sri Lanka’s response to the accountability issue (Naseby disappointed in Lanka’s collective failure to use ‘Gash reports’ for its defence-Sept 25, 2019, The Island.’
Why didn’t Sri Lanka continue to refrain from effectively using British cables that had been obtained by Lord Naseby after near a three-year legal battle and wartime US Defence Advisor Lt. Colonel Lawrence Smith’s taking a view 100 percent contrary to the US and its allies as regards the accountability issue, at the 2011 Colombo Defence seminar? Nothing can be as important as the US official’s statement exclusively reported by The Island as it was made just two months after the much debated highly controversial Darusman report’s release. The split in the war-winning team with Fonseka’s entry into politics in late 2009, too, also contributed to Sri Lanka’s overall failure. Instead of countering lies, the first Rajapaksa administration squandered millions of USD in foolish image building projects.
Sri Lanka’s relations with the world should be examined in the context of Quad strategies and new trilateral security partnership AUKUS under which Australia would get a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for the first time and Sri Lanka’s strong partnership with China. The ongoing controversy over Sri Lanka moving the Colombo Commercial Court against top Chinese fertiliser company, its local agent and the People’s Bank to stop payment for carbonic fertiliser consignment shouldn’t be allowed to ruin relations between the two countries. Like Pakistan, the emerging world power China is an all-weather friend, whose continuing support to Colombo is essential. Therefore, the issue at hand should be dealt carefully taking into consideration all factors. But, under no circumstances, should corruption be allowed to undermine Lanka-China relations.
As many as 8000 Covid-19 patients sought treatment at Ayurveda hospital in Navinna, Maharagama but none of them succumbed to the disease, a minister said.
State Minister of Indigenous Medicine Promotion, Rural and Ayurvedic Hospitals Development and Community Health Sisira Jayakodi said it proved the efficacy of Ayurvedic medicine in the management of Covid-19 patients.
He made these remarks while addressing the activists of his political party ‘Mahajana Eksath Peramuna’ which is an ally of the government on Saturday in Kottawa, Colombo.
The Minister said a new public discourse had been initiated in the country on the use of chemicals in agriculture and fruit ripening. He said chemical substances were applied for ripening fruits such as bananas, pineapples, watermelons regardless of health risks.
Health hazards are now visible with the rise of cancer patients,” he said.
Commenting on ongoing protests, the minister took a dig at the JVP. He said the JVP maintained stoic silence in the face of corruption and malpractices at the Mahapola Trust Fund and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) in Malabe during the time of the previous Yahapalana government.
He said the JVP remained mute at that time because it was unofficially aligned to that government. (Kelum Bandara)
Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara says that the Budget presented by the Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa is an ‘extraordinary’ one and is beyond the tradition.
He said the budget proposal has grappled with the main issues and it has provided certain measures and certain allocations in order to overcome some of the most important problems which affect the people.
Speaking to reporters today (14), the Minister of Water Supply said he believes a huge amount of funds have been allocated for the agriculture sector through the budget and that this agricultural leap forwards will lay the foundation for the country’s productive economy.
We depend very much on trading or the service economy. Now we are moving on to the production economy which is going to make a big change in the future,” he said.
The minister, however, pointed out that they have certain concerns with regard to certain proposals.
The concern we have is that the market forces have been allowed to take its own course. The markets have been freed of any controls. Markets are today behaving in the most ruthless fashion in increasing their prices and increasing their profits,” he charged.
He said the people are the victims, particularly those who are not with a high income, those who are dependent on a salary, those who dependent on a limited income, and even those earning wages up to Rs. 50,000 for a family of four. The situation is pathetic.”
He said that therefore either the government should intervene and organize trade and become a competitor in wholesale and retail trading through the cooperatives network and thus make available to the people the essentials at reasonable prices.
If not the people who are unable to meet the cost of living due to the high prices need to be given an allowance immediately, he said.
I don’t know how much this relief packet will carry and how far it will carry. What it contains and what number of people will be absorbed into it, we do not know. We are yet to see,” Nanayakkara said.
However, he said they see that the present price levels are unbearable to the people who have a limited income or who have a mere salary. Therefore something needs to be done about it.”
The minister further said that the dollar crisis has been created more by the speculators than by the real shortage of dollars. He conceded that Sri Lanka is short of dollars due to the tourism industry being in the doldrums in the last year or so.
But apart from that those who earn dollars do not bring them into the country. They try to make more rupees out of the dollars having waited for the rupee to fall further down,” he said.
They hope that the rupee will depreciate so that they get more rupees when they come late with their dollars. These are matters which need to be corrected. I don’t know how far the government will be able to do this, but the need of the hour is to ensure that we get all the dollars earned,” he added.
The Annual Action Plan of the National Audit Office for the year 2022 has been approved by the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), the Communications Department of Parliament said.
The Committee met under the chairmanship of MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, yesterday (13).
In terms of Section 35 of the Audit Act No. 19 of 2018, the proposed work program of the Auditor General for the coming year should be submitted.
This Annual Work Program is presented to inform Parliament of the audit functions, including financial publication audits, performance audits, which are planned to be carried out in the year 2022 in relation to public institutions falling under the purview of the Auditor General.
It was also disclosed at the Committee on Public Finance that the sector wise public institutions audited by the Auditor General counts as 2024 institutions.
Within four days of the presentation of the Budget in accordance with Standing Order 121 (5) of Parliament, following the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, a report on the taxation, financial and economic assumptions used as the basis for approaching total expenditure and revenue shall be submitted to Parliament; the current status of its presentation was also discussed at the Committee.
A discussion regarding the submission by the Committee on Public Finance report on the estimates, including whether the allocation will be in line with government policy within six weeks of the introduction of the Appropriation Bill was also taken into discussion.
The Committee also approved the regulations imposed by the Minister of Finance under Section 20, Sub-section (1) of Section 4 (1) of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969, which should be read in conjunction with Sub-section 6.
State Minister Susil Premajayantha, Vidura Wickramanayaka, Isuru Dodangoda, Anupa Pasqual and several other Members also participated in this Committee Meeting. Government officials from several institutions including the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury were also present at the occasion.
The Ministry of Health says that another 199 persons have tested positive for Covid-19, increasing the daily count of new cases to 697.
The fresh cases confirmed includes 02 returnees from overseas and 197 patients associated with the ‘New Year’ Covid-19 cluster.
This brings the tally of confirmed cases of the virus in the country to 551,542 thus far while over 13,500 infected patients are being treated across the island.
The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 23 coronavirus related deaths for November 13, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 13,995.
According to the figures released by the Govt. Information Department, the deaths reported today includes 10 males and 13 female patients.
Six of the victims are between the ages of 30-59 years while the remaining 17 are in the age group of 60 years and above.
Chinese Ambassador says Sri Lanka has agreed to retest the rejected Chinese Organic Fertiliser via a third party.
The ship in question – the Hippo Spirit – departed from China in September carrying 20,000 tonnes of much-needed organic fertiliser to Colombo.
The order was placed after the Sri Lankan government stopped all chemical fertiliser imports in May to convert the country into the world’s first completely organic farming nation.
It’s the first consignment of the plans to purchase 99,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser from Qingdao Seawin Bio-tech group.
The issue is with the quality of the fertiliser – which scientists say, instead of helping, could prove harmful to crops.
They insist that since the cargo has implications for the bio-security of the country, it cannot be accepted.
The decision has triggered an angry rebuttal from Qingdao Seawin. It has accused the Sri Lankan media of using terms like “toxic, garbage, pollution” and other derogatory words to “slander the image of the Chinese enterprises and the Chinese government”.
“The unscientific detection method and conclusion of National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQ) in Sri Lanka obviously do not comply with international animal and plant quarantine convention,” the company thundered in a statement.
As the controversy escalated, a court ordered the state-owned People’s Bank to stop payment of $9m for the cargo already awaiting entry.
The Chinese embassy in Colombo responded by blacklisting the bank for not honouring the payment to the company.
The Qingdao Seawin has also demanded eight million dollars’ compensation from the Sri Lankan National Plant Quarantine Service for the loss of reputation it has suffered following the controversy.
And as all this unfolds onshore, the ship has not left Sri Lanka’s waters.
When Sri Lankan port authorities denied permission for it to unload its cargo in late October, Hippo Spirit moved away from the Colombo harbour and reportedly sailed to waters off the coast of Hambantota port on its southern coast.
Following recent meetings with Chinese embassy officials, it was reported that the two parties agreed to re-test a fresh sample through a mutually agreed third-party laboratory.
If the cargo is returned to China, that would be a big loss of face for Qingdao Seawin and the Chinese government. The company says it exports organic fertiliser to more than 50 countries, including Australia and the US.
While the officials from the two countries spar over the fertiliser, tens of thousands of Sri Lankan farmers are looking at a bleak paddy farming season without the much-needed agricultural input.
In Sri Lanka, the budget has been
given the wrong impression to people that it is a way of decreasing or
increasing prices of consumables or otherwise providing various reliefs to proletarians.
However, it has not come to a reality as people expect. This impression came to
people’s minds, as the many budgets after the independence have been used by
the government to either increase or decrease prices of goods and services
since the beginning of the parliament system. It seemed like a game and became
a talking point and many people at present are not concerned about the budget.
The budget in other countries
considers as a strategy of taxation management that affects increase or
decrease in take-home pay of the workforce, thereby it seems fluctuating prices
of consumables and services. Academics consider the budget as a short-term plan
that details the government policy regarding various matters and in developed
countries, people expect personnel or corporate tax changes from a budget.
The expectations of the public may
have differed from one country to another, and there are various theories
associated with the budget, which is an integral part of public financing. The
basic view of the budget is a practical plan to manage public finances, and it
is short-term because the proposal submitted this year may be changed in the
next year. In Sri Lanka, people have a general impression about changes in
consumer prices with effect from the presentation of the budget proposal for
the second reading, and the indirect and direct tax policy presented by the
minister of finance leads to the budget, may change giving benefits to the
public. It will lead to popularity among the public and it will open the way
for members of the parliament to talk and go the public. The other vital point
is when Mr.Rone de Mel was the Minister of Finance rhetoric was the budget
cannot reduce prices and the best option is to give opportunities to earn money
to adapt to the cost of living. That idea has ended with hipper inflation in
the country as well as declining the foreign and domestic value of the monetary
unit.
The budget for 2022 contains several
positive aspects and the change of retirement age to 65 years is a highly
positive aspect and it would lead to attracting employees’ support to the
government in the public and private sectors. The policy might reduce or keep
stable transfer payments. The minister expressed that keeping employees in
current work would not affect hiring young people to the workforce and it is a
positive proposal. It also supports elderly employees to have a reasonably good
life.
The major issue in the budget
proposals is what would be the help given to farmers and while talking about
production economy, the major contributors to a production economy are farmers
and industrialists, and the budget did not mention what kind of incentive will
be given to farmers and industrialists. That may be a vital question about the
presented budget. Farmers and industrialists are a powerful part of the
production economy and if the minister of finance planned to give help to them,
the budget would have a popular one among most people.
From the point of view of
international financial organizations, a budget should be lower spending, but
increasing or maintaining capital spending the budget would support economic
development and I feel that if there was a proposal to encourage the savings
level of the country, it would help to balance of payment adjustment process
and to reduce the borrowing. Reduction of the government domestic borrowing
encourages the banking and finance sector to enhance liquidity and provide
finance to various sectors of the economy from domestic savings.
The minister of finance stated that
his aim is converting the economy of Sri Lanka into a production economy. What
would be strategies he supposed to use to achieve the purpose is not clear. He
has already stated that taxes for certain items would be increased and he never
mentioned items because it will lead to a speculative shortage of traders. When
considering a production economy agriculture, industry construction, services,
and all others are included. The government should encourage import
substitution and maintain the product quality of import substitutes that would support
the effort of making the production economy.
The budget would have formulated a
plan to make radical changes in public enterprises management, other words, it
should have formulated strategies to attract private capital to public enterprises.
Especially banking and finance sector is desperate for capital and the
government is not in a position to provide capital and it there was a proposal
to attract at least 25% of capital from the private sector, the banking and finance
sectors would have given strength and continue business and providing supports
for new business. If such a strategy was
used, the government spending massively reduced and the budget gap could have
been eliminated and improve the foreign value of the monetary unit of Sri
Lanka. The trade unions and opposition might be concerned about such policy and
it would have led to protest marches in Colombo. The best attack to trade
unions from the budget was a decision to resolve the problems of teachers and
trade unions who show reluctance to express views on the budget.
The Covid 19 pandemic negatively
influenced many countries in the world and to recover Sri Lanka, it needs a medium-term
plan, most probably five budget proposals might need to recover the loss of the
economy.
The government needs to hang on to the
concept of the production economy. It is the way to recover the economy and
open opportunities for people. The administration
level could help the implementation of strategies for a production economy,
reducing expenditure and the use of productive measures for quality services.
The most popular measure of the
budget may be increasing the service requirement of parliament representatives
to ten years. Many developed countries use getting back employees to workplaces
those who lost jobs during the Covid pandemic and such a short-term program
would have been introduced by the budget.
The productivity of employees seems
to lower because many employees during the working hours participate in protest
and such employees should have suggested to given punishment and stop payments.
The enhancement of individual productivity of employees should have proposed to
give incentives.
In the finance sector, it should have
encouraged mergers and acquisitions to reduce the cost of firms and established
an industrial development bank to provide long-term financing supports for the
industrial sector with the capital of private sector and less capital from the
government should have come to effective.
Sri Lanka has just achieved a world record. Its national Budget has been presented in Parliament by a foreigner. Yes, yes – A Dual Citizen. Are you sure this Budget is not really meant to help US President Joe Biden to get over his problems?
We must wonder whether our American/Sri Lankan Finance Minister agrees with a US federal judge who has said that Presidents are not kings”.
That will depend on what his brother – until recently a US citizen, too – thinks of the Sri Lankan presidency.
Surely, he won’t be thinking of any monarchy or royalty!
What short memories you have. It was only a few days ago that President Gotabaya made that speech where he showed how he could get the military to hold a goviya down by the neck, and ask him to use organic fertiliser. As this Budget plan gets underway, the goviyas will have to wear special neck guards, and avoid the military as much as possible — to escape the President’s monarchic thinking.
The American judiciary may think that presidents are not kings, but the Rajapaksa presidencies are certainly the stuff of monarchic thinking and action. Let’s not forget that ‘rajakama’ is the Rajapaksa name, and the stuff of their governance.
There is always loud talk about Democracy in Sri Lanka. But that is the constant cover of monarchic thinking, which has turned our people-elected to Parliament to support the Rajapaksa Royalty.
Can we forget the 18th Amendment to our constitution, which gave Mahinda Rajapaksa more than a two-term presidency, and also paved the way for his Prince Namal to be the next President/King? The crossover or purchase of Opposition members of Parliament to support 18A was the play of royalty in a democratically elected Parliament.
The bigger play of Rajapaksa Royalty came after the democratic election of Gotabaya as President, which brought the 20th Amendment. This took away from the Constitution all the main aspects of democracy, from the appointment of judges, the independence of important commissions on handling public affairs, and the total control of administration by the Rajapaksa Royalty.
We are now in the yellow wave of this monarchy. While the Yellow robe of the Sangha has been known, honoured and respected for the teachings of the Buddha, there is now a yellow trail of the crooked, far away from Buddha Dharma.
The thinking on ‘One Country, One Law’ is led by a yellow robe with records of drunken driving, contempt of court, association with anti-minority violence, and yellow religious dominance.
This yellow stuff did give some pain of mind to the Minister of Justice. But some yellow amendments in a new gazette, has eased such pain, and kept the yellow judicial power in place.
The removal from the Courts of so many cases filed by the Attorney General and the Bribery Commission, certainly gives more satisfaction to yellow judicial power.
This spread of yellow has also reached the Chancellery of universities, with the robe chosen for the University of Colombo admitting lack of academic qualifications, but asking that President/Monarch Gotabaya be asked about that.
There is another yellow appointment to academia, that has strong connection with a so-called sacred snake – Nagaya – floating a glass bottle made in China, which brought new fame to the Kelaniya Temple, seeking to push back the traditional belief in the sanctity of this shrine.
We are now on the move to a new Rajapaksa Constitution. We seem to be the only country that has seen the benefits of a Covid pandemic to present a new constitution. How much of democracy will this preserve or destroy even further, to please the minds of the Rajavasala Pavula, is the concern of the public.
But who cares for such public concerns? Farmers and workers, clerks and officers, fishermen, carpenters, drivers, masons, and all others in Sri Lankan society must look forward with great hopes for a Constitution of Presidential/Royalty.
It is a Constitution where the family power of the Rajapaksas: Brothers – nephews, uncles and aunts, sons and daughters, will all have the power and glory of the Rajavasala – that Palace of Presidential/Royalty, which is the symbol Crooked Royalty to the whole world
After a foreigner presents the Budget in Sri Lanka, what more can these foreigners and foreign catchers demand from the Sri Lankan people? Make your royal guess.
Colombo, November 13 (Counterpoint): Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s maiden budget presented to parliament on Friday, is both growth-oriented and especially strong on the provision of relief to the general population which has suffered greatly due to a combination of a COVID-19 scare, lockdowns and incompetent governance.
If the relief measures announced in the budget are implemented, the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) may able to stave off a humiliating defeat in the Provincial Council elections likely to be held in the first half of 2022.
To reach financial allocations to the lowest level – the Grama Niladhari Divisions (GNDs) – each of the 14,021 GNDs will get a separate and equal allocation of Rs. 3 million (Rs.201 is US$ 1). In other words, every village will get 30 lakhs. To democratize the use of this money, decisions will be taken by the government in association with village political leaders. Similarly, each of the 4917 Local Government Divisions will get Rs. 4 million.
Rs.19. billion will be given to the 335 Divisional Secretary Divisions with the distribution being based on land, population and socio-political factors. The budget allocates Rs.85 billion to the Discussion with the Village Rural Development Programme” a community development programme. Besides this, each member of parliament will be given Rs.15 million, five million more than now, to spend on their constituencies.
Rs. 2 billion has been allocated for irrigation, with Rs.48 billion going into the repairs of tanks and dams. Rs. 35 billion is allocated for the manufacure of organic fertilizer and weedicides since the use of chemical fertilizers and chemical weedicides is banned. Rs.2 billion will be spent on conserving and growing forests, to increase forest cover by 30%. The plantation sector gets Rs. 10 billion, fisheries Rs. 1 billion, in addition to the allocation made in the Appropriation Bill. Since only 56% of the people have piped water, government will launch schemes to supply piped water to 200, 000 houses.
Three wheeler drivers who were deprived of income during the lockdowns would get relief totaling Rs.700 million. Bus companies which had to be idle during lockdowns will get a total of Rs.1500 million.
To appeal to the Indian Origin Tamils working in the plantations, Rs.500 million has been allocated for housing .And to compensate Sri Lankan Tamil families whose members had disappeared during the war, Rs.300 million has been allocated to provide compensation.
Rs. 2 billion will go into the establishment of 1000 government-run National Schools” in Divisional Secretariat Divisions which have no National Schools. In addition, educational improvement will get Rs. 5.3 billion. On improving health facilities, Rs.5 billion will be spent in addition to the Rs.32.6 billion already set apart.
The budget identifies some sectors for investment. These are pharmaceuticals, raw material for the textile and apparel industries, rubber industrial products, export-based agro processing, agricultural equipment, organic x chemicals, electric and electronic appliances, steel and heavy metals industries and sport equipment. Places in the island where each of these industries could be set up were identified.
To cut down judicial delays and improve judicial infrastructure the budget has made an allocation of Rs. 5 billion in addition to the existing allocation of Rs.6.9 billion.
The Finance Minister noted that US$ 1.06 billion in Foreign Direct Investment had been received so far. But he regretted that certain factions in society need to comprehend clearly what an investment is and what procedures are to be followed in this regard.”
Stressing the need for industrial and agricultural growth, he noted that 23% of the Lankan population is now getting a dole in the form of monthly Samurdhi” payments and 20% of government expenditure is on social welfare.
Stressing the need for the public sector institutions and the 300 odd public sector enterprises to be productive and income generating, the Finance Minister said that they would be expected to rationalize their work to generate income and make use of the properties they hold to generate income. He also announced measures to cut down on needless government expenditures.
Rajapaksa slapped a one-time 25% surcharge on taxable income of over 2 billion and social security contribution of 2.5% on turnover to raise Rs.240 billion. VAT on banks and finance companies was raised from 15% to 18%.
Reuters said in its report that government will reduce the budget deficit to around 8.8% of GDP in 2022. It will also roll out a goods and services tax. The agency quoted Dimantha Mathew, Head of Research for First Capital, to say that: There is a significant amount of taxes coming in and the government is looking to increase revenue by 46% next year while expenditure is expected to rise only by 16%. So the fiscal concerns are being addressed.”
However, Mathew warned that there could be some tightening of the economy due to public and capital expenditure cuts that could see consumer spending being hit. Sri Lanka has a large public sector that makes up about 2 million of the 21 million population.
In late October, Moody’s downgraded Sri Lanka to Caa1 from Caa2 on debt sustainability concerns and a challenging external environment. Moody’s estimates that revenue will remain around 10% of GDP over the next few years while interest payments will continue to absorb around 60-70% of revenue, Reuters said.
Sri Lanka has to repay US$ 4.3 billion in debt in 2022 and reserves dipped to US$ 2.6 billion at the end of October.
Colombo, November 13 (newsin.asia): The United States government disbursed $150 million in financing to DFCC Bank on November 12 to support sustainable development of Sri Lankan community-based businesses.
This is the largest loan disbursement by the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for Sri Lanka, and it is part of a $265 million commitment designed to support the local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector, especially women-led enterprises in Sri Lanka., a US Embassy release said on Saturday.
Through this partnership, DFCC Bank will provide lending solutions in priority sectors and support Sri Lanka’s commitment to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly enhancing the country’s efforts to promote women entrepreneurship.
A portion of the DFC loan will be directed towards MSMEs owned or led by Sri Lankan women to tackle one of the biggest issues faced by women entrepreneurs: limited access to finance.
Disbursing the funds, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Sri Lanka and Maldives Martin Kelly said: Gender equity and equality are key aspects of the bold new global infrastructure initiative Build Back Better World (B3W) that President Biden and G7 partners launched earlier this year. We look forward to seeing this funding make a difference for Sri Lankan communities, for small and medium business, and for women entrepreneurs as we all recover from the pandemic.”
The U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is the development finance institution of the United States government, primarily responsible for providing and facilitating the financing of private development projects in countries around the world. This assistance is part of DFC’s 2X Women’s Initiative which has mobilized USD 7 billion in private sector investment toward women’s economic empowerment and aims to provide an additional USD 12 billion by 2025 to advance gender equity in emerging markets worldwide.
The Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal stated that he hopes to restructure loans in a manner that is beneficial to the country. He was addressing a discussion on the budget organized by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka held through video technology.
Some of the proposals made by the Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa yesterday, have been implemented since yesterday.
The first was the cigarette and excise tax levy proposal
Accordingly the price of a cigarette was increased by 5 rupees.
It was also proposed to increase excise duty with immediate effect and the expected revenue from this would be Rs. 25 billion.
The Minister of Finance has included a number of tax proposals in the 2022 budget to increase government revenue.
One of the main proposals is the GST or tax on goods and services.
The proposal introduced in the last budget is due to be implemented from next January.
However, the budget proposal does not clearly state the percentage of this tax or the relevant goods and services subject to this tax.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance stated that benefits cannot be given to the public service this year.
Image caption,The row between China and Sri Lanka over the quality of China’s organic fertilizer is affecting the livelihoods of Sri Lanka’s paddy farmers
Why is a ship carrying cargo from China refusing to leave Sri Lankan waters despite being asked to do so by authorities?
The answer is a crucial shipment gone horribly wrong, leading to a rare diplomatic tussle between two close allies, the blacklisting of a bank, and a group of farmers and scientists up in arms.
The ship in question – the Hippo Spirit – departed from China in September carrying 20,000 tonnes of much-needed organic fertiliser to Colombo.
The order was placed after the Sri Lankan government suddenly stopped all chemical fertiliser imports in May to convert the country into the world’s first completely organic farming nation.
It’s the first consignment of Colombo’s plans to purchase 99,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser from Qingdao Seawin Bio-tech group, a Chinese company specialising in seaweed-based fertiliser, at a cost of $49.7m (£36m).
So given the desperate requirement for organic fertiliser, why is there a controversy over this shipment?
‘Toxic, garbage, pollution’
The issue is with the quality of the fertiliser – which scientists say, instead of helping, could prove harmful to crops.
“Our tests on the samples showed that the (Chinese) fertiliser was not sterile,” Dr Ajantha De Silva, director general, Sri Lankan Department of Agriculture, told the BBC. “We have identified bacteria which are harmful to plants like carrots and potatoes.”
They insist that since the cargo has implications for the bio-security of the country, it cannot be accepted.
The decision has triggered an angry rebuttal from Qingdao Seawin. It has accused the Sri Lankan media of using terms like “toxic, garbage, pollution” and other derogatory words to “slander the image of the Chinese enterprises and the Chinese government”.
“The unscientific detection method and conclusion of National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQ) in Sri Lanka obviously do not comply with international animal and plant quarantine convention,” the company thundered in a statement.
As the controversy escalated, a court ordered the state-owned People’s Bank to stop payment of $9m for the cargo already awaiting entry.
The Chinese embassy in Colombo responded by blacklisting the bank for not honouring the payment to the company.
The Qingdao Seawin has also demanded eight million dollars’ compensation from the Sri Lankan National Plant Quarantine Service for the loss of reputation it has suffered following the controversy.
And as all this unfolds onshore, the ship has not left Sri Lanka’s waters.
When Sri Lankan port authorities denied permission for it to unload its cargo in late October, Hippo Spirit moved away from the Colombo harbour and reportedly sailed to waters off the coast of Hambantota port on its southern coast.
Now, latest images by the marine traffic website indicate the ship is currently stationed near Sri Lanka’s south-western coast, not far from Colombo.
The message is clear. The Chinese company is not willing to take back its cargo.
Following recent meetings with Chinese embassy officials, Shasheendra Rajapaksa, a Sri Lankan junior minister, said they had agreed to re-test a fresh sample through a mutually agreed third-party laboratory.
“We were not forced into this, but they only made a request,” Mr Rajapaksa said, adding “The current shipment cannot reach Sri Lanka”.
If the cargo is returned to China, that would be a big loss of face for Qingdao Seawin and the Chinese government. The company says it exports organic fertiliser to more than 50 countries, including Australia and the US.
Put under pressure
However, some in Sri Lanka have questioned their government’s ability to withstand Chinese pressure tactics.
Beijing has loaned billions of dollars to the country as part of its Belt and Road Initiative to build infrastructure in Asia. However, not all of the funding has worked in Sri Lanka’s favour.
For example, in 2017, China Merchants Port Holdings took a majority share with a 99-year lease in the strategically important Hambantota port after Colombo struggled to repay the debt incurred to build it.
Image caption,The Colombo Port City project is another important project in Sri Lanka funded by $1.4billion dollars in Chinese investment.
Some western analysts believe that Sri Lanka has walked into a Chinese “debt trap”.
But Sri Lankan officials insist that despite China’s financial muscle, no organic fertiliser that violates current regulations will be allowed into the country.
“We have categorically told the company that they can take the product back to China and send fresh samples from another batch. If it passes the regulatory standards, definitely they will be able to send another consignment of fertiliser,” Dr De Silva asserted.
A rock and a hard place
While the officials from the two countries spar over the fertiliser, tens of thousands of Sri Lankan farmers are looking at a bleak paddy farming season without the much-needed agricultural input.
Rice farmers like R M Rathnayaka, from the south-eastern Monaragala district, say the government’s abrupt ban on chemical fertilisers and pesticides has massively impacted the agrarian community.
“We cannot convert to organic farming all of a sudden. Though it is better to use natural manure, the government’s current approach is wrong”, Mr Rathnayaka told the BBC.
He suggested that the country should move towards organic farming “in a phased manner.”
Experts like Professor Buddhi Marambe from the University of Peradeniya add that converting to total organic farming will harm the agricultural economy because the yield of staple crops like paddy could drop sharply.
“We cannot achieve total food security only with organic farming,” Professor Marambe told the BBC.
Following reports that the country’s famous Ceylon Tea was under threat, and after countrywide protests by farmers, the government eased some of its rules on synthetic fertiliser.
Image caption,Mr Rathnayaka says changes cannot be implemented overnight
In the recently concluded UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the overuse of chemical fertilisers had resulted in health issues like chronic kidney disease, resulting in his government’s firm stance on curtailing imports.
But some analysts point out that the decision to ban chemical fertilisers was to limit expensive imports – something the government denies.
The country’s foreign exchange reserves dropped to $2.3 billion by the end of October – and the government has already restricted the import of various other items in an effort to tackle the crisis.
Regardless of the reason behind the chemical fertiliser ban, some say the government now finds itself in a precarious situation.
It’s facing the displeasure of Beijing while its own farmers and agricultural experts are up in arms.
The Attorney General’s advice is to be sought with regard to the letter of demand issued by the Chinese company which supplied the controversial stock of organic fertilizer.
Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd recently directed a letter of demand to Dr. W.A.R.T. Wickramaarachchi, Additional Director of the National Plant Quarantine Service of the Department of Agriculture, seeking USD 8 million in damages from the National Plant Quarantine Services (NPQS) of Sri Lanka.
The letter of demand in question was subsequently referred to the Attorney General.
In the Letter of Demand, sent through its local lawyers, Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd warns that failure to pay the said sum in three days would result in legal action.
The Sri Lankan government had decided to complete the shift from chemical to organic farming in April, with the government allocated 3.8 billion US dollars for organic fertilizer purchase in August by importing certain nutrients.
The Agriculture Ministry had selected China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. Ltd through open bidding to supply organic fertilizer.
The government decided to import 99,000 metric tonnes of organic fertilizer at a cost of 63 million US dollars from the Chinese company. However, the consignment was rejected after an analysis reportedly found it to be tainted”.
In two samples, the Sri Lanka Standard Institutions as also National Plant Quarantine Service and Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board found micro-organisms, pathogens, and diseases harmful to the soil, plants, and humans.
They had warned that China’s organic fertilizer would be an agricultural disaster as the samples were found to be infected with Erwinia, a notorious plant pathogen that causes severe post-harvest losses in crops.
After the rejection of the consignment this month, China announced the blacklisting of state-owned People’s Bank of Sri Lanka, citing a vicious” Letter of Credit default”.
China said that the Sri Lankan bank’s decision caused huge losses, but the bank clarified that it was only following court orders prohibiting it from making payments.
Sri Lanka would not be defaulting on its debt repayment, says Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa, who addressed a special media briefing convened by the Finance Ministry on Saturday (November 13).
During the press conference, he addressed an array of questions on the budget proposals tabled in Parliament the day before.
With regard to the country’s foreign reserves crisis and debt servicing, the lawmaker said various solutions including the halt of vehicle imports but these have failed to yield a clear solution.
We think that this issue will persist next year as well, but we expect to resolve this issue without obtaining loans.”
Sri Lanka has to pay USD 500 million in debt in January and USD 1 billion in July next year, according to the finance minister who assured that the island nation would definitely meet both payments.
By 2027, the country expects to have foreign reserves of USD 10 billion of the country’s own money. From next year, we expect to contribute USD 1 billion of our own money annually towards forex reserves. So, for the first time by 2024, we will be able to take the external budget into positive territory after many years.”
Further, the finance minister said the state sector service has become bloated to the point that the country cannot sustain it anymore.
I think we don’t need to appease them [public servants] with sweets any further,” the finance minister said adding that the government is not in a position to allocate more public funds for the state service for another year.
One of the chief accusations levelled by the Opposition is the lack of price reduction of goods via Budget 2022, which was tabled in parliament on Friday.
In response, the finance minister said, There are no short-term solutions. This government and other governments in the world got into difficulty by attempting to do so.”
The only solution is to increase the production, he added. Amid the existing COVID pandemic, I don’t think the price imported goods will come down within the next year.”
When asked of the relief measures for the tourism sector, the finance minister gave an honest answer: More than enough relief measures have been given to the people in this sector. The biggest relief the tourism sector can be given is making the country safe by vaccination, so tourists can visit without fear.”
Minister Rajapaksa stated that the government is doing everything it can to ensure that. As the finance minister, I say that the tax from the tourism sector goes to the tourist board and not to the government. The government gets income tax from all other sectors, but they independently collect the revenue and spent it.
The daily count of COVID-19 cases confirmed in Sri Lanka moved to 716 today (November 13) as 204 more people were tested positive for the virus, the Epidemiology Unit said.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 549,500.
As many as 523,503 recoveries and 13,972 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the COVID-19 outbreak.
More than 12,000 active cases in total are currently under medical care, official figures showed.
The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 22 new coronavirus-related deaths for November 12, pushing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 13,972.
The deaths confirmed today include 18 males and 04 females, according to the Department of Government Information.
Five of the victims are between the ages 30-59 years while another is aged below 30 years. The remaining 17 are in the age group of 60 years and above.
Sri Lanka is heading towards an agricultural disaster similar to that created by Stalin who was guided by a so-called Dialectical Materialist” version of agricultural science announced by Lysenko, a party scientist”. Sri Lanka’s leaders also have ideologues who have various scientific and medical backgrounds and are ready to present justifications” for the push for 100% organic agriculture. Here we trace this pseudo-science movement back to some of its roots and discuss some of the pseudo-science that is being presented as science”.
Dr. Jayasumana and Dr. Sanath Gunatilleke confronting a farmer in an unequal discussion.
Not so long ago, Hon. Champika Ranavaka championed a hair-brained project known as Polipto” to make petrol from waste polythene. Mr. Ranawaka also pushed the Toxin-Free Nation” program and one of his university mates ran a project with the acronym SEMA. It championed the new vision” from the presidential secretariat itself. A questionable and ineffective bio-film” fertilizer was sold to unwitting farmers via this program. The then president Maithripala Sirisena had banned glyphosate as a part of the Toxin-Free” project popularized by Ven. Ratana, Hon. Ranawaka, Dr. Jayasumana, Dr. Sanath Gunatilleke (California), the clairvoyant (late) Ms. Senanayake and others. Its effect on agriculture led to a financial loss estimated to exceed three times the loss from the so-called bond scam”. No one has been taken to task for these economic crimes so far.
Today’s 100% organic policy is the reductio ad absurdum of that Toxin-free project. It has the support of many senior politicians like Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, and juniors like Channa Jayasumana. Influential monks like Ven. BenamaNalaka, Ven. Dharmaratana of Bellanwila and others who have backed it with their chintanaya”. Political academics like Nalin de Silva, famous for his Patta-Pal-Boru-Science (that science is a chronic lie), trained a generation of people like Dr. Channa Jayasumana to reject evidence-based science and to rely on commutations from God Natha regarding environmental matters and food safety.
The public has been indoctrinated into the belief that organic is the way forward”. Dr. Laksiri Fernando, a well-known Humanities academic writing in the Island on 5th November, 2021 says:
There is no question that high quality organic fertilizer is better for the environment and people’s health. However, that transition requires much time, planning, raising of awareness among farmers, and necessary arrangements to be made to produce (or import) reliable organic fertilizer”.
We have but persistently argue that this commonly held organic is good” view is false. The production and use of organic fertilizer is certainly not environmentally friendly, and the famines and malnutrition that will follow the widespread use of organic agriculture is NOT good for the people’s health.
That such false views are common is not surprising because, at a more sophisticated level, these supporters of organic agriculture come up with seemingly scientific” proposals that confuse even the initiated. A false one-sided picture of the green revolution” as the source of all chronic illnesses has been successfully propagated, amplifying the message of the anti-GMO lunatic fringe in the West. A strong innuendo of conspiracy is added to this narrative, with the question, Why hasn’t the Dept. of Agriculture (DOA) implemented all this”? Are agricultural scientists who back conventional scientific agriculture part of the fertilizer mafia”?
Farming in Sri Lanka is a private business, and if the farmers and plantations have not adopted the methods pushed hard by SEMA, MONLAR, and the chintanaya” ideologues as well as Buddhist monks owning much temple land, then something besides conspiracy theories are needed. Their methods, or the call to return to traditional agriculture of the ancient kings”, have not been adopted by the private sector as it does not want to committee suicide.
The seemingly scientific but false proposals confuse even the professionals. So we hear of various scientists uttering on TV that organic agriculture is indeed the Holy Grail, but that the hasty approach used by this government is at fault. This belief is patently false, as 100% organic agriculture even at its best CANNOT feed even a half of the current population of Sri Lanka. It will lead to enormous environmental degradation and dire famine, as discussed in detail in reply to Adrian Mueller of the Swiss Institute of Organic Agriculture: http://dh-web.org/place.names/posts/CD-Mueller-OrganicL.pdf .
Here we examine some of these seemingly scientific but inadequate or unworkable proposals.
Plant a legume crop like Mung beans (Vigna radiata L) that takes 45 days to harvest. The Mung being fixes nitrogen and will provide the needed N for the rice that should be planted after the Mung harvest. Some have even claimed that the Mung will produce 200-300% more N than what is needed by the paddy.
What is blithely claimed above is factually incorrect, and no reliable field trials exist. Even short term Mung varieties need 60-70 days, harvested in 90-100 days. Although Mung bean fixes nitrogen, it is NOT ENOUGH even for the mung bean itself to produce a good crop. Read the research: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0206285
So it is usual to add N:P:K in the ratio 5:12:5 PLUS 4-5 TONNES of farmyard manure (compost) to avoid needing more fertilizer. Pendimihlelin and Nitrophen are used as pesticides in India.
Cost of Mung bean farming is some Rs 95,000 to 100,000 per hectare. The Mung bean can be sold profitably. Instead of harvesting the mung growth, it can be ploughed to provide soil nitrogen. Unfortunately, even with N fixation, the most amount of N that one obtains is 4% of the DRY weight of the mung growth, and woefully inadequate for the rice.
However, as Rahaman et al (2014) have shown, crop rotation together with urea can improve agronomic efficiency. A basic amount of urea, as well as standard P, K are needed. The environmental problems from urea can be largely mitigated using slow-release urea, but NOT nano-urea which poses a serious health danger (see Island 29-10-2021 https://island.lk/human-health-and-nano-fertilizers-where-is-the-safety-clothing/ )
In growing mung beans, instead of adding N via the 5:12:5 NPK fertilizer, one may attempt to benefit from biological nitrogen fixation with native rhizobia inhabiting nodule micro-organisms, but at the risk of increased microbial CO2 generation. These possibilities are still being researched, as may be seen from very recent work on the topic: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7835340/
Hence it is plain nonsense to ask farmers to adopt a technology which is still on the drawing boards.
2. Another proposal that has been bandied about since the 1970s is that cyanobacterial algal N-fixation can be used to provide a large part of the N-fertilizer needed.
Long-term urea application degrades the soil, water, and air quality, producing global warming. So there is a biotechnological interest in using nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to enhance crop growth without using urea since current poor practices lead to much waste. The wasteful practice of using water to control weeds in paddy fields where even 60% of the urea applied may get washed away should be stopped, as it also leads to soil erosion. Growing rice without any more water than for any pasture grasses will be the norm when global warming reduces water availability.
If water logging is to be used even in the short term, then N-fixing algae can be considered but this is NOT an optimal solution. Dr. Kulasooriya, then working at the Institute of Fundamental Studies (Kandy), and others elsewhere have reported studies relevant to this proposal. However, even a 2021 research publication merely mentions that there is potential but no standardized farm protocol available. See: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/10/4628/htm
It has been claimed that fast growing N-fixing aquatic ferns like Azolla Pinnata with 20-25% protein content can be used to make N-fertilizer. It is known to double in size every two days if adequate nutrient is provided. So, it is proposed to grow it in lakes and tanks and harvested to produce organic N fertilizer.
This is a complete myth although at first sight the suggestion is plausible. The invasive plant, Azolla Pinnata grows exponentially but then exponential amounts of P, K must be supplied, e.g., as phosphate fertilizer, until its growth saturates the water surface. If it acquires 25% protein during its growth, its nitrogen content would be 4% and no better than from Salvinia Molesta which is already widely present. In practice, naturally growing Azolla or Salvinia do not acquire more than 2-3% of Nitrogen. It is not cost effective to pull it out from the water and dry it to make fertilizers. Any such effort also adds a high green-house gas emission load. I have discussed both Salvinia Molesta and Azolla Pinnata in my plant website:
More details, including that fact that both A. Pinnata and Salvinia also accumulate heavy-metal toxins during their rapid growth are given there.
It has been claimed that when scientifically fertilized paddy fields were grown with zero fertilizer, it was only in the 4th year that the yield dropped to 45%, and that from then on two tonnes per hectare were assured!
One has to only look at the annual reports of the DOA in the 1940s, 1950s to get decades of data (on harvests from traditional fields without modern agrochemicals) to show that such magical claims may require the intervention of God Natha. Even the ancients knew that after every three or four years it was necessary to burn a forest and make a new chena”, even to get one or one and a half tonnes of rice per hectare. There is no way to cut through the gullibility of those who are faithful to an ideology.
The work of Dr. Premakumar of the ITI, and Dr. Roshan Perera of Kothelawala Defence Academy have been cited for isolating many soil micro-organisms that can enhance nutrient delivery to plants. So, has the fertilizer mafia” prevented its use in farming!
The micro-organisms that enhance nutrient delivery by various mechanisms also enhance the uptake of heavy metal toxins like cadmium, lead etc., by plants, making any water insoluble (i.e., non-bio-available) forms of heavy metals soluble in water. Such methods may upset the microbial balance of the soil and spawn new toxic microbial forms as happens in eutrophic systems. Enhanced microbial action leads to enhanced green-house gas emission of CO2 and reactive Nitrogen. Long term research is needed before such methods can be adopted in the farm.
Those who ask this kind of question know that we can use bovine DNA in a nutrient vat and create beef without cattle and slaughter houses. Why is that DNA technology not being widely adopted? There can be decades between a laboratory result and farm applications. It is this lack of understanding and judgment that propelled the ban on glyphosate, or the100% organic policy, in the belief that there ARE practical alternatives suppressed by big agri-business.
It has been suggested that modern pesticides are not needed to control weeds and insect or mold infestations as simple crop rotation and the use of traditional pesticides based on plants like Kohombha” (Neem) or Maduruthala (a type of Basil) can be used. Thus, when the Khapra Beetle epidemic arrived in Sri Lanka, Ven. Ratana is said to have given a press conference claiming that the beetle can be eliminated using traditional herbal pesticides”.
Other suggestions, e.g., using biodynamic and telluric forces” to fight pests have been made. Rudof Steiner, the father of Western-style organic Farming” was a great believer in telluric forces”. The claim that kem”, i.e., using incantations, blessings and special plant parts, a part of traditional agricultural practice”, can be used to avert pests has also been made by some toxin-free nation” activists.
Some of the Colombo elites in Sri Lanka have uncritically lapped many of these beliefs, and become warriors of the local Green movement”. Plants and pests evolve mechanisms to resist all pesticides and even beat methods based on crop rotation, or leaving the land fallow for a season etc.
Traditional herbal pesticides have been used for centuries and today’s pests and weeds are resistant to them. So, just as with the corona virus, agricultural scientists have to continually make NEW pesticides.
We will not address our discussion to those who believe in the efficacy of magical” portions, kem” , or those who believe that the molecular structure of water changes and retain a memory when holy texts from Pirith” or from the Bible are chanted to the water.
Another typical question is why biochar and other carbon remediation methods had not been used as a soil conditioner in the plantations where soil quality has grossly deteriorated, especially in tea. Sri Lanka’s tea harvest per hectare has now fallen to almost half of its potential due to improper maintenance of tea soils.
Soil deterioration became increasingly acute after the nationalization of the estates when many of the standard maintenance practices were short-circuited by new managers. Many of the experienced mangers left for South Africa and other countries that began to grow tea. The TRI is currently conducting field trials on biochar usage and soil remediation, working in collaboration with local scientists like Ben Basnayake. Improved soils will also mean improved soil micro-organisms that help to generate and retain soil fertility.
However, even if N-fixation microbes could be inducted into the soil, given the harvesting and removal of some 1500-2600 kg/ha of tea per annum, all the nitrogen, phosphorous etc., removed from the land need to be replenished, and this is what we mean by adding fertilizer. The most efficient method of doing this is to use N,P,K fertilizer and that is an operation independent of soil remediation which ensures that the soil has enough carbon in it. So, banning mineral fertilizers is the sound the death knell of the famed Ceylon Tea” industry.
Those who ask these questions should note that this is not the only thing neglected since the 1970s. Neglect of most maintenance protocols, be they for tanks and rivers and their de-silting, or due collection of garbage, or control of noxious fumes from vehicle traffic and increase in submicron particles etc., can be mentioned.
While submicron particles are probably the biggest environmental danger to health, the unproven danger of there being a few parts per billion of glyphosate in the environment, and the unsubstantiated claim that local glyphosate contains more toxic additives than used in Europe led two medical doctors to demand the ban of glyphosate on the basis of the precautionary principle”!
Why didn’t these doctors demand a ban on sugar, a proven toxin which causes more diabetes and chronic kidney disease than any other toxin?
***************
ALSO, NOTE the career and professional details re Professor Chandre Dharmawardana
For example, according to Cambodian media
reports, the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) has approved five investment projects with
an accumulated investment capital of $1.299billion on March, two new investment
projects worth a total of $10.6 million in June, 75
investment projects approved in first eight months this year, Seven more investment projects worth $94.9
million have been approved, according to a press release of the Council for the
Development of Cambodia issued on Oct. 22. The CDC okayed 70 projects valued at more than $2.42 billion
in January-June. In October alone, the Council for the Development of Cambodia
approved 12 investment projects worth $112 million. These
mega projects should be implemented properly for ensuring the greater interest
of Cambodian people. Cambodia can learn from Bangladesh how to handle the
projects utilizing its best outcome. Bangladesh can be an exemplary example for
Cambodia.
The
pandemic hit numerous sectors of the Cambodian economy. Travel restrictions
imposed due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, drawbacks in the economic
activities due to investors’ lack of confidence to
invest, restrictions on international trade as
well as limitations on allocation of funds due to fluctuation of exchange rates
remained as major challenges for the implementation of development projects in Cambodia
in 2021. The economy has been
affected by the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially the
February 20 Community Event, which has put a lot of pressure on main sectors of
Cambodia’s economic growth.
When
implementation of mega projects in Cambodia during the first wave to third wave
of Covid-19 was nearly at slow motion in Cambodia, the implementation of mega
projects in Bangladesh was and is being continued even in this covid-19
pandemic situation.
The
Bangladesh’s economic thriving through the mega projects during the Covid-19
period helps Bangladesh to revive its economy. Cambodia could take lessons from
Bangladesh how to revive the economy through the mega projects amidst the
Corona epidemic. Cambodian government could and should follow the ‘Bangladesh’s
model of economic revival during the Pandemic’.
Basically,
this model of economic revival helped Bangladesh to recovery from inflation and
economic stagflation to boost up its economic wheel for the people. As a South
East Asian neighbors, Cambodia could follow the strategies and tactics of
Bangladesh.
People
worked hard to implement these projects in Bangladesh. The projects are being
implemented by the foreign fund and loan. Bangladesh has been utilizing the
maximum outcome of these foreign loan. As a result, it is going to be South
Asian Economic miracle. Its inflation is tolerable than that of other countries
in South Asia. Its estimated growth rate
by ADB, World Bank and IMF is comparatively satisfied with other countries in
the region.
Basically,
the implementation of 10 fast trac projects during the Covid-19 helps
Bangladesh much to be an economic capable. Now people of Bangladesh are going
to benefit from those projects. Cambodia
could learn a lot from Bangladesh’s approach.
There
are many projects in Cambodia. Foreign funded (FDI) projects are being
implemented in Cambodia. If the authority of Cambodia saw the approach of
Bangladesh, the projects of Cambodia would be completed. To some extent Cambodia
would be capable to revive its economy.
Bangladesh
has written its name in the list of middle-income countries. Development
partners have also been informed about the capacity of its internal resources
by implementing large projects like the Padma Bridge with their own funds.
Besides, construction work of Metro Rail, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Bay Terminal,
Ruppur Nuclear Power Station, Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Bus Rapid Transit, and
Third Terminal of the airport is also going ahead in the Corona epidemic.
The workers and engineers are working day and night in
compliance with the hygiene rules. Bangladesh is going to rise to a unique
height in terms of foreign lending with loans from the reserves.
Meanwhile,
Bangladesh’s economy is showing its potential where many countries of the
developed world are affected by the Corona epidemic. After managing the first
wave, it is now handling the second and third waves. Government officials and
experts say that if these mega projects can be implemented, Bangladesh’s status
in the world court will increase a lot. It will bring radical change in the
communication and infrastructure sector.
It is learned that after the overwhelming
victory in the ninth parliamentary elections and the formation of the
government in early 2009, massive development activities started all over the
country. As the government remained unchanged in the second term, the
development activities gained more momentum. Development activities started in
important sectors including roads, infrastructure, power and energy of the
whole country including Dhaka.
Unprecedented
success in the power and energy sector comes after overcoming long-standing
obstacles. Following this, the Awami League formed the government after winning
the 11th national election for the third time in a row. Earlier, at the
beginning of the second term, the government started work of about a dozen
large projects on priority basis in the related sectors including
communication, power and energy, with the aim of creating employment and achieving
rapid economic growth. Going forward quite fast.
Significant progress has been made in the work
of Metrorail Line-6 has been 67.63 percent. The progress of the Padma Bridge
project has been more than 93 percent. It is hoped that the Padma Bridge will
be opened to traffic within the stipulated time. The construction of
Bangladesh’s first tunnel under the Karnaphuli River has not stopped even
during the second wave of the Corona epidemic.
The
construction work of Karnafuli Tunnel is going on despite various obstacles
including labor crisis and disruption in the supply of construction materials
during the Corona epidemic. Although the pace of work is a bit slower than
usual, the project participants are optimistic about making it suitable for
traffic within the stipulated time. In the meantime, the overall work progress
of the mega project has been 70 percent.
According
to Bangladeshi media outlets, work is not progressing as usual in the second
wave of the corona. Necessary construction materials are not arriving on time
due to corona. All in all, the pace of work has slowed down a bit. However,
efforts are being made to complete the project quickly.
The overall progress of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is about 35 percent
till September. The Planning Commission of Bangladesh has approved the
extension of the project till June, 2022. Besides, overall assistance is being
provided to the Roads and Highways Department for revising the DPP of the
project, according to the bridge department. Construction of Dhaka-Ashulia
Elevated Expressway project has also been delayed.
Bangladesh
is a role model for many countries in the world in terms of economic
development and poverty alleviation. As a result, if these mega projects are
completed, the image of the country will be much brighter to the outside world;
many Bangladeshi Economists think that this will take Bangladesh to a seat of
unique dignity.
Meanwhile,
after a long wait, the proposed Bangabandhu Railway Bridge is finally seeing
the light of day. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to lay the foundation
stone of this project. If the project is implemented, the pressure on the
Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna River will be reduced. The risk of
Bangabandhu Bridge will also be reduced.
At
the same time, transportation of goods from North Bengal will be easier. Cost
of transporting goods will be reduced bringing positive changes in the economic
situation and social life of the region.
The average progress of the nine projects till December is 56.31 percent. When
implemented, it will add about two percent growth to the country’s economy.
Therefore,
the Ministry of Finance has also termed the projects as Transformational
projects. By 2025, Bangladesh will reach its dream through the implementation
of these projects.
Apart
from this, construction of single line dual gauge track from Cox’s Bazar via
Dohazari-Ramu and Ghundhum near Ramu-Myanmar, LNG terminal, Payra deep seaport
and Matarbari power project. Communication development and economy will be integrated.
It will make the movement of products and people much easier. Will ensure
sustainable power generation. This will result in massive investment and
increase in employment.
And
all the mega projects together will add about two percent growth to the country’s
GDP. Because of this, the goal of the Eighth Five-Year Plan – to achieve 7.50
percent GDP growth by 2025 – will be easy to meet.
These
mega projects are helping Bangladesh revive and transform its economy in South
Asia, Bangladesh is going to be a South Asian economic miracle. Bangladesh has
proved already that it is a rising economic super star. Many countries in the
world can take lesson from Bangladesh. Every country including Cambodia can
follow the economic model and utilize the approach to revive its economy
averting the all-stagnant economic situation for ensuring sustainable economic
growth.
Bangladesh shows the path to all
South Asian and South East Asian countries.
Cambodia can follow the same path of Bangladesh model. For example, the
Cambodian government is working to transform Sihanoukville province, also known
as Preah Sihanouk province, into a multi-purpose special economic zone (SEZ)
after the province received the designation earlier this year.
On June 9, 2021, Cambodian Prime
Minister Hun Sen signed a sub-decree that will make Sihanoukville province a
multi-purpose SEZ.
The designation stands to give Sihanoukville province more latitude in
structuring development initiatives and investment incentives into a wider array
of areas.
Japan and Cambodia signed a
grant aid and loans worth approximately $72 million to implement six projects
on October. The six projects are in the areas of water supply, mine action,
construction materials, cadastral surveys, human resource development and
manufacturing. The Australian government announced an aid package of
approximately $65
million to Cambodia for its five-year development programme.
The key BRI
projects in Cambodia such as the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway, new
international airports in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, ADB’s Road Network Improvement
Project (Phase 2) need to be implemented as soon as possible.
There are
some developmental projects including SEZ such as Sihanoukville
SEZ, Svay Rieng Giga Resource SEZ, Manhattan
(Svay Rieng) SEZ etc. which need to be
implemented as soon as possible. The authority of Cambodia can implement the
projects following in the line of ‘Implementation of Bangladesh’s mega projects
model’. Ultimately Cambodia would benefit.
Tom Fowdy is a British writer and analyst of politics and international relations with a primary focus on East Asia.
Washington has highlighted ‘corruption’ as justification for a new array of sanctions against Phnom Penh, but in reality this bullying manoeuvre is another step in its ongoing efforts to contain China.
Earlier this week, the United States slapped a series of sanctions on Cambodia, blacklisting officials and military leaders whom they accuse of corruption and issuing an advisory, warning businesses to be mindful of interactions with entities in corrupt business practices, criminal activities and human rights abuses.”
Washington has more threats lined up, too, warning it would review Cambodia’s trade benefits under its ‘Generalized System of Preferences’ for developing countries.
But, let’s be clear, corruption isn’t America’s real issue here – it is the fact that the US is being denied access to a Cambodian naval base which it believes is being used by China. This has resulted in a series of ultimatums from the US over the past few months that Cambodia must show transparency by allowing it to inspect the base, or effectively face the consequences. Now it would appear those consequences have arrived.
To nobody’s surprise, the US – whose cheerleaders tediously pen op-eds accusing China of being a bully” – is effectively coercing a small country of 16 million people to give the US unrestricted access to its own facilities.
Does anyone seriously believe that Washington would allow China or Russia into its own naval facilities? How do you think the media would respond if either Moscow or Beijing made those demands against a third country?
Hypocrisy aside, it is absolutely clear that the US is intent on turning the heat up on Phnom Penh, because it sees it as an important chess piece in the game against China. Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country which is more loyal to China than others in the region, but one that has less strategic clout than some of the others. It’s obvious that until it reorients itself more towards Washington, America will ratchet up the pressure to try to force it to change.
When the US calibrates its foreign policy towards regions of strategic interest – which it is currently doing with the so-called Indo-Pacific – it carefully selects which countries it can work with and which ones represent an obstruction to its goals. Out of the associated countries, it then selects a number of partners to work with and build up from the former category, while it develops punitive strategies against the latter.
History shows these can consist of seeking to contain them (if they are significantly sized), or, if they are weak enough, to attempt to change them by some forceful means, including the use of sanctions, regime change or even war. In the Middle East, it seeks to contain Iran in partnership with Israel and Saudi Arabia, while also trying to topple regimes Tehran supports, such as in Syria and Lebanon.
Placing this model of US foreign policy into the geopolitical layout of Southeast Asia, there are several countries which, irrespective of their governments, have overlapping strategic interests that complement the US to some degree, providing some space for Washington to work with them – for example, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.
Cambodia is a different case. As a small state whose foreign policy has consistently been geared towards avoiding the local dominance of Vietnam, it is currently the most exclusively pro-Beijing state in the region and heavily reliant upon it across multiple areas. Despite having only a small coastline, it could potentially influence the balance of power in the South China Sea in Beijing’s favour, and so is seen as a strategic liability by the US.
As a result, the knives are out for Cambodia in Washington. The strategic interest of the US dictates that it is now time to exert pressure in an attempt to prevent Beijing from gaining a military monopoly over it. The suggestion that corruption is a problem is simply a front for America’s obvious discontent over the naval base.
The evidence? The global Corruption Perceptions Index shows Cambodia has similar levels of corruption to most countries in Southeast Asia. Why would corruption in a smaller country be of concern to the US, but not the larger states around it? The opportunism is obvious.
The real problem from Cambodia’s point of view is that it has few options in dealing with this new problem other than to cave in. It has a poor economy, and does not have much leverage to negotiate on an equal footing with the US in the same way as countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, who use this geostrategic advantage to also court Beijing and essentially try to keep both America and China happy.
Phnom Penh is an easy target, and in the long run, the US may be looking to seek to dislodge the longstanding rule of Hun Sen and restore the country to democracy, giving it an ideological foothold as well – backing up the Indo-Pacific strategy, which has been as much about spreading democracy” as a means to contain Beijing as military considerations. Yet this should not distract us from the reality that the US is exerting coercion over a small country.
In conclusion, the US has always had a very selective response when it comes to dealing with corruption. While it never openly encourages it, in practice all over the world America has backed up astonishingly corrupt regimes, with the one which recently collapsed in Afghanistan a prime example. Yet now it is using corruption as a reason to target a nation that is not complying with its ‘free and open’ Indo-Pacific strategy.
This makes the situation painfully obvious: the US sees Cambodia as a troublesome player in the game, and in line with its well-established pattern of seeking to crush countries who stand in its way, it’s now ramping up the pressure on Phnom Penh. But rest assured, if Cambodia does decide to give concessions, this sudden problem of corruption will magically be forgotten about.
බරපතළ වංචා සහ දූෂණ සෙවීමේ ජනාධිපති කොමිසමේ හිටපු ලේකම් ලැසිල් ද සිල්වා.
Lacille de Silva, former Secretary to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Serious Acts of Fraud and Corruption On Truth with Chamuditha
Colombo, November 12: Considering that half of the world’s container ships, one-third of the world’s bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of the world’s oil shipments traverse through the Indian Ocean, the importance of peace and security of the ocean cannot be overestimated. Furthermore, maritime transport and logistics are a major component of the Blue Economy, which is the future hope for the economies hit by the pandemic and recession.
Sri Lanka’s ardent wish as an island strategically located at the centre of the Indian Ocean is peace in the ocean in which the country is an important hub that connects the East and the West. Sri Lanka has no desire to get caught in a power game between the global and regional powers for supremacy or to choose between power blocs. Today, Sri Lanka has an outstanding port infrastructure that can facilitate transhipment and provide world-class services even for the largest container ships. It can contribute greatly towards maintaining maritime security in this region, helping protect vital sea lines of communication on behalf of all nations.
All littoral nations of the Indian Ocean hold deliberations from time to time on ocean security issues in different forums.Earlier this week, peace and security issues were discussed at the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC)-2021 held in Goa in Western India. Navy Chiefs and Heads of Maritime Forces from 12 Indian Ocean littorals, including Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand took part in the two-day Conclave.
Interestingly, all the nations represented at the Conclave are members of either the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) or of Bay of Bengal Initiative on Multi Sectorial Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Hence, the participating countries displayed their strong focus on maritime security at the Goa Conclave as they have been emphatic at other forums.
Collective Effort
Addressing the Conclave on Monday, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne pointed out that it is commonly accepted that a single country cannot ensure the freedom of the seas and emphasized the need for a collective effort.
Emerging unorthodox, unprecedented threats from the sea demand sharing intelligence among nations. The Navy’s role in active engagement in the maritime operations in collaboration with other interested nations without antagonizing their national interests is a huge challenge ahead of us,” he said and added, Therefore, we should be determined to maintain progressive and positive relations with all the concerned stakeholders in maritime operations linear with our own national interests.”
The Indian Government initiated the Goa Maritime Conclave with the stated objective of bringing together regional stakeholders and discussing joint implementation strategies in addressing contemporary maritime security concerns, with the IOR being a focal point of the 21st Century strategic landscape.
Initiating the dialogue, Vice Admiral AK Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Indian Southern Naval Command, highlighted the importance of the maritime domain and the Indian Navy’s commitment towards ensuring safety, security, and inclusive growth in the IOR.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that countries of the Indian Ocean Region inhabit a particular contemporary geopolitical and geo-economic reality. We are a part of the greater Indo-Pacific space. This is a construct that has, for very good reason, attracted much diplomatic and strategic attention. It is at the centre of a defining strategic event of our time – an ongoing rebalancing.”
The Indian Foreign Secretary also said that domain awareness is central to any preventive security strategy. The joint coastal radar surveillance systems that India has worked on with Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles; the India-Bangladesh MoU on coastal radars; information fusion centres and multilateral maritime coordination centres in India, in Abu Dhabi, Seychelles and in Madagascar; and, White Shipping Information Exchange agreements, have, we can agree, improve not just domain awareness, but also the security situation,” Shringla said.
Global Economic Centre
The rapid growth of Asia’s share in global output, the business prowess of Asian companies and the growing Asian technological abilities are driving the global economic centre of gravity to the East. Changes of this nature are bound to have geopolitical and geo-economic consequences and generate a power transition. The transition is manifest in the waning of the unipolar moment following the end of the Cold War and in the emergence of a multipolar world.
Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne said the Indian Ocean figures prominently not only in the lives of people in the littorals, but also of the people of distant lands. This recognition has been accompanied by growing militarization throughout the area, which has included a naval build-up both by littoral states and the great powers of the world.
The Navy Commander lamented that outsiders often forget that the Indian Ocean, far from dividing lands, has been one of the strongest unifying factors in history. For centuries, it is the waters of this ocean which have carried religions, cultures, languages, traditions, and people, across thousands of miles from one shore to another.”
Today, the main activities in Indian Ocean Region can be characterized by extensive trade, energy exchanges and a spectrum that ranges from political turmoil at one end, to threats from piracy, terrorism and transnational crime on the other. Transnational Organised Crimes (TOC) such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, weapons smuggling, financial fraud, illegal immigration and piracy are the major threats common to the key and the peripheral States in IOR.
In addition, other non-traditional security issues such as natural disasters, Climate Change and maritime pollution cannot be ruled out. Recent incidents of fire onboard MV New Diamond and MV X-Press Pearl in Sri Lankan waters certainly opened the forum to think differently on these issues.
Vice Admiral Ulugetenne said maritime security must address a broad spectrum of concerns and situations, not only with respect to these traditional friction points, but the many natural and human threats that we face today.
We all have a greater obligation to prevent criminal activities, piracy, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities in our waters and beyond it,” he told fellow maritime and Navy Chiefs of the Indian Ocean nations. Emerging unorthodox and unprecedented threats from the sea demands the need for sharing intelligence among the nations. We should determine to maintain progressive, positive relations with all the concerned stakeholders in maritime operations linear with our own national interests.”
The Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said that maritime security and economic prosperity are inter-related and inter-dependent from time immemorial. He also highlighted India’s engagement and continued efforts towards reaching out to the nations in the region bilaterally and under the framework of IONS, IORA, BIMSTEC, Colombo Security Conclave and other structures.
The Defence Secretary emphasised that India will work with all willing nations for peace in the region. Standing for a rules-bound world, he said that India will continue to oppose attempts of aggression and to deter them on land and the sea.
The Maritime domain is so vast and challenges are so diverse that going alone is not an option for practically any country. We welcome all nations which respect rules and shun aggression, to collaborate in our region,” he said.
Bilateral discussions
In the sidelines of Goa Conclave, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh held bilateral discussions with the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne. They discussed modalities for further enhancing mutual support and interoperability and maritime cooperation on information sharing.
Vice Admiral Ulugetenne said in his concluding remarks that the seas do not just make us all neighbours, they also provide unlimited opportunities for us to work together in a common cause; certainly in good times, but even more so when our neighbours need help. We must develop capabilities and linkages to work with partners from within and outside the region for the common good of our people”.
The acquisition by Reliance ensured that amanté would benefit from Reliance’s scale and retail expertise, and that the brand we created and our employees in India and Sri Lanka will continue to benefit from being a part of a well-established retail company”
Colombo, Nov 12 – MAS Holdings announced that one of its subsidiaries, MAS Brands, which owns and operates the retail lingerie business under the brand amanté, was acquired by Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, a subsidiary of the Ambani-owned Reliance Industries. The amanté business, which was established by MAS in 2007/8, engages in the retail and wholesale distribution of premium lingerie brands amanté, Ultimo and every dé by amanté. The company sells its product through its own stores and multi-brand outlets, as well as through its e-commerce channels across India and Sri Lanka.
In 2018, MAS Holdings completed an assignment with a leading global consultancy to develop a long-term stra- tegic plan for the conglomerate, which identified areas of growth based on its core competencies. Furthermore, the strategy prescribed that MAS source strategic partners for businesses outside of MAS’ core competency. The divestiture of amanté was an outcome of this plan, with MAS intent on finding the right partner to invest in the business enabling it to grow.
This is a significant foreign investment in a Sri Lankan-owned lingerie business by a retail giant, which in turn, is owned by one of India’s leading and diversified conglomerates, Reliance Industries. Reliance Retail will continue to invest and develop the business both in India and Sri Lanka.
A transaction of this nature and the ability to attract the largest retailer in India during these times of uncer- tainty is a testament to the strength of the business that MAS and the management team of amanté have built over the past decade.
The acquisition by Reliance ensured that amanté would benefit from Reliance’s scale and retail expertise, and that the brand we created and our employees in India and Sri Lanka will continue to benefit from being a part of a well-established retail company” stated Mahesh Amalean, Chairman MAS Holdings. This was a business MAS built from the ground up, leveraging on years of expertise in the lingerie business, so we are excited to see it transition to new shareholders and a parent organisation that, without doubt, will enable the brand and the company to thrive” added MAS Co-Founder Ajay Amalean, who was directly responsible for overseeing the amanté business from its inception.
Ms. Isha Ambani, Director, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, said, At Reliance, we pride ourselves in offering the best and enhancing choices to our customers and we are proud to bring high quality and design led products of ‘amante’. MAS is a well-recognized product innovator and manufacturer for some of the iconic global brands in this segment, the partnership and collaboration we build together with them will offer Indian customers world- class product quality and greater choices in this segment.”
The teams at MAS Brands are excited at the new opportunities and prospects that this acquisition brings about, and are anticipating the strategic advantages and new learning that will come from working as part of a retail giant such as Reliance” said Vivek Mehta, the CEO of MAS Brands.
