KAMALIKA PIERIS

In the 1950s, USA decided to be the protector of the Free World versus the Communist world. In this self appointed capacity, US invaded and fought wars in countries that have done nothing to USA or against USA. By doing so, US caused much misery to the populations in those countries. USA has never shown any concern about this.

US started by sending troops to South Korea during the Korean war, 1950-1953.US supported anti-communist South Korea. China and Russia supported   communist North Korea.   US thereafter sent troops to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, to stop them also from turning Communist.  In 1970 US launched an invasion of Cambodia, which was kept from the public. 

The best known of these ‘domino wars’ is the Vietnam War (1955-1975).  In   1968, there were more than 500,000 American troops in South Vietnam, and the US Air Force was dropping bombs at a rate unequalled in history, said historian Howard Zinn. The amount of ammunition fired per soldier was 26 times greater in Vietnam than during World War II. By the end of the Vietnam war America had unleashed the equivalent of 640 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs on Vietnam, said Nick Turse.

It is estimated that US killed two million Vietnamese civilians, another 5.3 million were injured and about 11 million became refugees in their own country, because of the Vietnam War. Whole villages were burnt to the ground, millions were killed or wounded, rest were driven into slums and refugee camps. CIA secretly executed at least 20,000 civilians in South Vietnam who were suspected of being members of the Viet Cong  through Operation Phoenix, 1967-1972.

In the Vietnam War, wide swathes of the Mekong Delta  were declared “free fire zones,” where bombs could be freely dropped by the US army. Vast areas in South Vietnam , dotted with villages were blasted with artillery, bombed from the air and strafed by helicopter gunships, after which ground troops went in on search-and-destroy missions , said Turse. Not a single soldier on the ground tried to stop the killing.

People were   lined up and killed. They were also picked up and killed. US army frightened people into running and then used this as a pretext to kill them. Civilians, including women and children, were   killed for running from soldiers or from helicopter gunships that had fired warning shots, or because they were in a village suspected of sheltering Viet Cong.

The village of Ben Suc, was surrounded and attacked, houses destroyed, women, children, old people killed. At Cam Ne the US army moved into the village and systematically began torching every house. The houses and personal belongings were burned. Pleas from the villagers to delay while their possessions were removed were ignored. All rice stores were burned. The day’s operation netted four prisoners, all of whom were old men.In most operations US soldiers destroyed all the villages they went past.

The Mai Lai massacre got world attention. On March 16, 1968, about 200 American soldiers from Bravo and Charlie companies, part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, entered two South Vietnamese villages   and killed 504 in Mai Lai and 347 in Mai Khe. More than forty soldiers took part in the killing.

Most of the victims at My Lai were shot. Some were bayoneted. Women and girls were raped, and then killed. At least one soldier later confessed to cutting out villagers’ tongues, and scalping others, said photographer Ronald Haeberle who was there in Mai Lai.

at Mai Lai,  US soldiers killed hundreds ofunarmed villagers, including elderly men, women, children, and babies. American soldiers raped, mutilated, and tortured the villagers before killing them; families were dragged from their homes, thrown into ditches and executed said  analysts. An old man with two small children walked toward the soldiers. The old man was shouting, to the soldiers that he was not Viet Cong. A soldier shot all three.

 Mai Lai massacre remained hidden from the public until November 1969 when it was  reported by journalist Seymour Hersh and distributed by, Dispatch News Service, a wire agency in the second week of November 1969. It appeared in several newspapers the next day, Novemebr 12^th.

Hersh had tracked down Lt William Calley the platoon commander at My Lai also other soldiers who were at My Lai  and obtained information on what they had done. He told BBC Hardtalk’s Stephen Sackur that some of the things done to the villagers were so horrific that he did not include them in his report.

A week after Hersh’s article appeared came further proof. Military photographer Ronald Haeberle had been with the Mai Lai unit and had taken photos during the massacre. He had used his own camera not the army one, so had control over the photos. They were published  on the front page of the Cleveland’s  Plain Dealer on Nov. 20, 1969. These became the defining photos of the massacre and were later  seen worldwide.They appeared in LIFE magazine  in December, 1969.

There had been concern within the army unit too. Major Hugh Thompson, Army helicopter crew chief Glenn Andreotta, and gunner Larry Colburn who were participating in the attack were horrified by what they saw and protested to the authorities.  

Ronald Ridenhour was   also in Vietnam at the time  as helicopter gunner.  His friends from Charlie Company told him about the mass killing at Mai Lai.. He gathered evidence, interviewed people and   waited until he finished his service. Then in 1969 he wrote a letter detailing the evidence, which he sent to  the US  President, five senior officials at the State Department and the Pentagon, and 24 members of Congress.

A full-scale Department of Defense investigation took place and a report was issued, titled Investigation of the My Lai incident. Report of the Armed Services Investigating Subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Ninety-first Congress, second session, under authority of H. Res. 105.

However, crticis declared that Mai Lai was not the only massacre which had taken place in Vietnam. There was a My Lai each month, they said.  Nor was Mai Lai the biggest massacre.  Massacres like Speedy Express were far worse they said.  These  other massacres were hidden from the public.

Speedy Express was an operation in the Mekong Delta carried out in 1968, by the 9th Infantry Division, under the command of Gen Julian Ewell. Speedy Express engaged in civilian slaughter on a scale that far exceeded Mai Lai, said reporters. Speedy Express unleashed heavy firepower on a countryside packed with civilians. Soldiers went into villages, and killed women and children. Helicopter gunships frightened farmers into running and then cut them down. The killings were deliberate. Ewell encouraged the killings and sacked soldiers who did not kill enough.

A whistle-blower in the division wrote to the US Army Chief of Staff William Westmoreland, pleading for an investigation into Speedy. ‘Just look at the ratio of those killed and weapons captured’ he told Westmoreland. Ewell’s division said it had killed 11,000 but could only show 750 captured weapons. Westmoreland did nothing at the time, but a secret investigation into Speedy Express was done later on. It remained classified for decades till researcher Nick Turse discovered the massacre and gave it publicity. ( continued)

Dilrook Kannangara

Sri Lanka is in a NATO debt trap. Over 50% of Sri Lanka’s external debt was raised in the US and European NATO nations. Another 12% is held by another key US military ally in Asia. Altogether they hold over 62% of Sri Lanka’s external debt. Having trapped Sri Lanka into a perpetual debt trap, NATO is now pushing Colombo to accept their military arrangements. Succumbing to this pressure will have catastrophic consequences for the island nation as it will be targeted by other superpowers in the new multipolar world order.

Since clearing the island of terrorists in 2009 NATO led by USA made many attempts to establish a military presence in the island to counter and disrupt China. They failed to materialize as successive governments were reluctant to swing in the direction of one superpower given Sri Lanka’s strong non-aligned foreign policy for decades. War crimes allegations and human rights-driven constant harassment failed to cow down Colombo. MCC pact also failed to materialize as terrorism again engulfed Sri Lanka in 2019. COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted US military moves in Asia. But NATO is back in action in Asia.

Unable to repay foreign loans, Sri Lanka has reached out to the IMF for a bail-out package. $2.9 billion over 4 years is a meagre sum of assistance given the enormity of the challenge which adds up to over $50 billion. Even the annual interest component is higher than the total IMF grant over 4 years. Sri Lanka will be compelled to accept a NATO military design to manage the 62% foreign debt owed to NATO and allies. US troops, particularly its naval units, will land in the island under various pretexts and engage in anti-China maneuvers.

These moves push Sri Lanka once again into the ring of geopolitical rivalries which will be played out, rather battled out, in the island with disastrous outcomes. The strategic location failed to provide sufficient economic benefits as expected but challenges that come with it never fail to deliver. Unless this delicate issue is handled decisively and fearlessly, the island nation is once again headed to a dark era. Given local ethnic rivalries and political rivalries, there is little hope of surviving the latest threat.

By Dr Tilak S. Fernando

World Tourism Day falls on September 27. Tourism is a big business that benefits many globally. It does not only help hoteliers, but it aids those who are associated with the tourism industry culturally and religiously, with many natural attractions on offer.

Tourism provided the oxygen required for the country to survive the present economic crisis. An increase in the inflow of tourists depends on the quality of the product Sri Lanka offers tourists. The latest statistics before the advent of the Easter Sunday terror attacks and COVID-19 show Sri Lanka receiving a record number of tourists in 2018.

There has been a significant increase in tourist arrivals recently after Tourism Minister Harin Fernando appointed Priantha Fernando as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). The Sunday newspapers highlighted that the former Coordinating Secretary to the State Transport Ministry, Dr Aroha Fernando, was appointed the new Coordinating Officer to the Tourism Ministry by State Tourism Minister Diana Gamage.

After April 9, the tourism industry was greatly affected. The tourism industry is the second largest dollar earner for the country. The Aeroflot plane dispute, free from Sri Lankan Government intervention, drastically curtailed the inflow of Russian tourists to Sri Lanka. However, it is encouraging to note that Aeroflot has decided to resume flights from Moscow to Colombo on October 9, 2022. However, if the country suffers social and political instability, the tourist industry will again be dealt a heavy blow. The JVP leader maintains the youth are ‘only fighting against corruption and debauched the economic policies of the country.’

SLTDA

The SLTDA needs to identify the segments of the market. The new Management team always understands the supply and demand of the product. Tourists have different visions in their minds – some prefer to lie on the beach until they are bronzed, although some white people hate the ‘coloured skin’, and the rest may visit culturally significant sites.

Professor Raj Soma Deva said on TV that Sigiriya had been identified in 1981 as a World Heritage Site. We still have 2000 years ago the perception.’ Nevertheless, the management generally needs to move with the times.” Irrespectively, Professor Raj Soma Deva says there are two versions of Sigiriya: some claim it is a Fort, and others say it is a Town. If Sri Lanka needs to promote Sigiriya to attract more tourists, we must select the best option. Professor says many people visit Sigiriya daily, but on average, 63 per cent (of foreign visitors are charged) US$ 30 per person. According to the professor, 40 per cent of the income would be sufficient to make all payments to Sigiriya’s staff. It was long ago when H.C.P Belle recorded Sigiriya as a Fort, and people thus believed it wa

s a Fortress. But later, Professor Raj Soma Deva thought it was a leisure garden or a town.

He further disclosed that the Eastern side of Sigiriya is infested with wild animals, including elephants and serpents. That area needs to be developed”. Professor Raj Soma Deva added that. If we are keen to develop tourism, this will generate more dollars by making it safe for tourists and utilising the Eastern part of Sigiriya. Generally, foreigners have not seen wild animals and reptiles, and all they want to do is photograph them as souvenirs.

Additionally, medicinal gardens, which account for Ayurveda and traditional medicine (coming down through ancestry), will not only boost Sri Lanka’s economy. Professor Raj Soma Deva has spent more time in his career in wildlife. He states that each tourist spends 1.2 minutes to three hours in Sigiriya. Other areas and cultural events that could be developed for tourism are the Dalada Perahera (famous procession) and the Pidurangala temple, which is not far from Sigiriya.

Tourists from Western countries such as Germany, Switzerland and England like to take photographs as souvenirs of their trip. We must encourage them to do so, rather than our officials saying: Photographs are not allowed in Sigiriya”. There are reasons to stop taking photographs of statues and pictures because flashlights may damage paintings. Still, we need to move ahead with the times, says Professor Raj Soma Deva. The technology is so advanced today that there are the latest cameras to photograph without the flash. The authorities should, in such instances, issue a separate ticket specifically for photographers using modern cameras by granting special permission, which will help boost the country’s income. It should be the way to improve tourism and revenue simultaneously.

The Professor also delved into the nightlife in Colombo and other cities. He says, Sigiriya closes at 5 p.m. Why this is so, he cannot fathom.” To boost tourism, we must cater to the needs of tourists where they can enjoy the nightlife. Various hotels have specific day festivals to entertain tourists. Countries such as England and Switzerland have appointed Night Mayors to deal with nighttime activities to boost tourism. There is no point in covering our heads with cultural wrappings while harming the tourist industry.

Night Life

Usually, in Sri Lanka, darkness or the night is associated with many unpleasant occurrences. It could be burglary, prostitution and all negative aspects of life. Professor Raj Soma Deva wants to know whether ‘Thovil’ or Da Atta Sanniya (a form of exorcism) is done during the day or night. He mentioned a seminar in London about Night Life was that was held in 2017, and Night Mayors were introduced. Later the same technique was used in Zurich and many other cities covering authentic tourism. Going far back as the Mahavamsa, he noted that night administrators were in charge of nightlife even then. Instead of being left as dead cities, his view of the above would benefit the tourists and locals to enliven the cities with some form of entertainment rather than being confined to their hotel rooms at night.

tilakfernando@gmail.com
www.tilaksblog.com

Sasanka De Silva Pannipitiya

At a time when all seems lost and gloom is engulfing the Sri Lankans financially, politically, and sportingly, a person of Sri Lankan descent winning the Booker prize recently is something worth celebrating.

However, the euphoria was short-lived when a pirated version of the book started doing the rounds on many social media platforms.

Some readers, with limited resources, were happy to be able to get their hands on it very cheaply to quench their thirst, and some are annoyed because it amounts to stealing, according to them.

Further, it is denying the owner his rightful return for years of research and work to get the idea into book form.

Yes, it is a valid argument, but what is the alternative to meeting at the halfway point so both needs can be met?

It is no secret that while publishers are making a killing on such successes, the real owner gets a paltry sum as the writer’s royalty.

Many publishing houses present the same book in many different ways.

Electronic access, hardbound and paperback versions of the same.

Despite all of these avenues, they still fail to cater to the reading public who are not as affluent as the rest, and their only option is to read a pirated version or buy secondhand, and it will take years to hit the market, by which time the allure of it may have worn off in many minds.

Though a pirated version will not give a direct return to the publisher and the writer immediately, in the long run, it will, as the buzz created even by reading a pirated one can later turn into a direct purchase.

Looking at the big picture, I believe that all efforts should be made to stop pirated works, but if those efforts fail, no further efforts to bludgeon the pirated market should be made.

Sasanka De Silva

Pannipitiya.

Yoga Science

ඍෂි ප්‍රවෘජාව යනු බුදුරජාණන් වහන්සේ පැවිදිවූ ස්වාධීන පැවිද්දයි. මෙය ලෝකයේ සදාකාලිකව ඇති පැවිද්දකි. බුදුරජාණන් වහන්සේ මෙන් නිදහසේ ශ්‍රමණ ධර්මය පිරීමට ඍෂි ප්‍රවෘජාව හොඳම තැනකි.
ඍෂි ප්‍රවෘජාවෙන් පැවිදිවීමට කැමති අයට ඒ සඳහා මාර්ගය පෙන්වන පොතක් නිකුත්වී ඇත. මේ පොත අන්තර්ජාලයෙන් නොමිලේ download කරගත හැක. මෙගා බයිට් එකක PDF විද්‍යුත් පොතකි. මේ පොතේ නම: “ඍෂි ප්‍රවෘජාවෙන් පැවිදිවීම සහ මහා යෝග විද්‍යාව” නම් වෙයි.
ඍෂි ප්‍රවෘජාවෙන් පැවිදිවීම පිළිබඳ ඔබ දැනගතයුතු සියලු කරුණු මෙහි අන්තර්ගතයි.

ඍෂිවරයෙක් වීමේ මාර්ගයත්, ධ්‍යාන ලැබීමේ මාර්ගයත්, මාර්ග ඵල ලැබීමේ මාර්ගයත්, ඍධිමය හැකියාවන් ලබාගැනීමේ මාර්ගයත් මේ පොතින් ඔබට උගන්වයි. තවද විවිධ යෝග විද්‍යාවන්ද මෙම පොතින් ඔබට ඉගෙනීමට ලැබේ. මේ පොත ලියා ඇත්තේ සැබෑ ඍෂිවරයන් වහන්සේ නමක් විසිනි.

ධ්‍යාන ලබාගැනීමට කැමති අයට මේ මහඟු අවස්ථාවකි. තවද අනුන්ට ආවේශ වීම, දිව්‍ය කන ලබාගැනීම, අතීත ජීවිත බැලීම, දිව්‍ය ඇස ලබාගැනීම, අවශ්‍ය ලෙස මරණයට පත්වීම, සතුරන් දුරු කිරීම ආදී විවිධ ඍධීන් ලබා ගන්නා ආකාරයද මෙහි පැහැදිලිව දක්වා ඇත. තවද මේ පොතේ එම ඍෂිවරයන් වහන්සේ විසින් අරූප සමාපත්තීන්ගේ තත්වයද දක්වා ඇත.

ඍෂි ප්‍රවෘජාවෙන් පැවිදිවීම සහ මහා යෝග විද්‍යාව නම් පොත මෙගා බයිට් එකක විද්‍යුත් පොතකි. (PDF E-book)
නොමිලේ download කළ හැක. පහත වෙබ් ලිපිනයෙන් දැන් Download කළ හැක. (https://rishipravurja.mystrikingly.com) (මෙම පොත මේ E-mail පණිවිඩයට අමුණා ඇත. බලන්න.)

Senaka Weeraratna

The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) the premier international Buddhist organization must establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and report on the infringement of Human Rights of the Buddhist communities during the Western Colonial Rule of countries of Buddhist Asia. It is anticipated that there will be recommendations demanding an Apology and Reparations.

The terms for Inquiry should include:  

1)  Destruction of Buddhist Temples

2)  Execution of Buddhist Monks

3) Prohibition of the Practice of Buddhism

4) Ban on wearing the yellow robe of a Buddhist Monk

5) Plunder of Buddhist Temples

6) Exhibition of artifacts stolen from Buddhist Temples in European Museums

7) Construction of Churches on top of destroyed Buddhist Temple sites

8) Confiscation of Buddhist Temple lands to establish tea and coffee plantations and grow crops, and European settlement 

9) Forcible conversion of Buddhists to Christianity

10) Establishment of Missionary schools

11) Discrimination against Buddhists in matters of employment in both the public and private sectors

12) Use of the Mass media to vilify and denigrate Buddhism and ridicule and demonize Buddhist monks and Buddhist leaders.

13) Abuse of animals and animal sacrifice 

14) Re-writing of the narrative of Buddhist History during the colonial era from the perspective of Buddhist victims of foreign oppression.

15) The feasibility of establishing a League of Buddhist Nations to be the collective voice of the Buddhists at the summit level and to function more or less similar to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

It is suggested that these proposals be Tabled at the ongoing 30th General Conference of the WFB in Bangkok, Thailand from October 18 – 21, 2022.

Senaka Weeraratna

Lanka Lead News

මෙරට යුද විරුවන්ට ජාත්‍යන්තරය විසින් එල්ල කර තිබෙන යුද අපරාධ චෝදනා නිසා වෙනත් රටකදී නඩු පැවරීමට ඇති තර්ජනය පහව යන්නේ රුසියානු, යුක්‍රේන නේටෝ සටනින් රුසියාව ජයගතහොත් පමණක් බව ගෝලීය ශ්‍රී ලාංකික සංසදයේ විධායක කමිටු ලේකම් යසස් ධර්මදාස මහතා පවසයි.

පසුගිය කාලයේ සිදුවූ ඊනියා  අරගලයේ දී හමුදා නායකත්වය විධායකයේ අණ ක්‍රියාත්මක නොකර හිටියේ ද මානව හිමිකම් තර්ජන නිසා බවත්, මානව හිමිකම් කෙවිට පෙන්වා ඔවුන් ඉතා පහසුවෙන් හමුදා නායකත්වය මෙල්ලකර ගත් බවත් ඔහු පෙන්වා දෙයි.

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට එරෙහිව සම්මත කරන ලද ජිනීවා යෝජනා සහ යෝජිත 22 වන ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථා සංශෝධනය අතර සබදතාවක් ඇති බවත්, 22 වැනි සංශෝධනය හරහා කූඨ ලෙස 13 වැනි සංශෝධනය බලාත්මක කිරීමේ වුවමනාව පිටුපස සිටින දේශීය හා ජාත්‍යන්තර බලවේග පිළිබදව ද යසස් ධර්මදාස මහතා හෙළිදරව් කරයි.

සම්පූර්ණ ලිපිය පහළින්…

රුසියානු, යුක්‍රේන නේටෝ සටනින් රුසියාව දිනුවොත්, අපේ රණවිරුවන් යුද අපරාධ චෝදනාවලින් නිදහස් වේවි!

Courtesy inews.co.uk

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida author talks about struggling to get published in the UK, Salman Rushdie and why his victory is a win for Sri Lanka.

On Monday night, after he was presented with the Booker Prize by the Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles at London’s Roundhouse, a stunned Shehan Karunatilaka thanked his family, his publisher and the judges, then said: Finally, I want to say this to the Sri Lankan people…”  

His sense of catharsis was palpable as the 47-year-old author of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida switched to speaking in Sinhalese and Tamil. But what was he saying? 

I said: ‘All Sri Lankans, let’s keep telling our stories,’” Karunatilaka explains the following day. He is wearing a blue shirt, his silvery hair is tied back and he looks surprisingly alert after just two hours sleep.  

I wanted to speak in Sinhalese and Tamil because I didn’t want it to seem that [my winning this prize] was just something for those who read English. I managed to say that I write for Sri Lankans who read and write in these three languages, before I was dragged off the stage,” he jokes.

Success for Karunatilaka, whose second book was an outsider for the prize on a shortlist that featured novels by NoViolet Bulawayo, Percival Everett, Alan Garner, Claire Keegan and Elizabeth Strout, has come at a difficult moment in Sri Lanka. The last year has seen economic turmoil and popular protests that precipitated the resignation of the president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. An ongoing energy crisis has left Karunatilaka and his family cooking on a firewood stove at their home in Colombo and queueing for days for petrol.  

I received the news that Seven Moons was on the Booker longlist while my wife was queueing for petrol and I was walking our two children to school,” says Karunatilaka who, along with Michael Ondaatje in 1992, is the second Sri Lanka-born writer to win the Booker Prize.  

The country has suffered many losses over the last year but this was a win for Sri Lanka… I haven’t had time to check all of my messages but there seems to have been an outpouring of love. I think the president has congratulated me. But I rarely respond to tweets at the best of times.” 

Karunatilaka was born in Galle, Sri Lanka, in 1975. His father was a doctor and, when Karunatilaka was 16, the family moved to New Zealand where he went to university and, after switching from economics, graduated with a degree in English Literature:  

I spent a year on the dole in New Zealand, trying to write my big novel,” he says. I ended up watching daytime TV and getting drunk. Eventually, I got the opportunity to work in an advertising agency in Colombo so I moved back. I kept writing diaries but I was more interested in playing bass in bands then.”  

He worked as a freelance advertising copywriter while living in Singapore, Amsterdam and London. He watched bands at The Roundhouse many times so returning there to win the Booker Prize felt surreal. After he moved back to Colombo again in his thirties, he began writing fiction again and had an idea for a novel about cricket. It became his debut, Chinaman (2011), which won the Commonwealth Prize. In 2011, he began planning a novel about the Sri Lankan civil war which lasted from 1983 to 2009.  

I wanted to write a ghost story where the many victims, the voices that had been silenced, could speak. I had several false starts and, in 2017, abandoned the novel and started writing short stories. When I returned to the manuscript, I noticed this character Maali Almeida, the ghost of a murdered journalist. He was the most interesting character so I decided it would be a mystery where a murdered journalist solves his own murder. Somehow he began speaking in the second person.” 

The second person you-voice, combined with the disturbing subject-matter, gives the novel weight which Karunatilaka counterpoints with black comedy. At the beginning, Maali wakes up in a celestial visa office and observes: The afterlife is a tax office and everyone wants their rebate.”   

Initially, Karunatilaka struggled to get Seven Moons published in Britain. They said: ‘It’s not accessible and we aren’t really sure what’s going on.’ But then I sent it to [the small independent press) Sort Of Books and they replied with detailed notes. They took it on and, with my editors, I took the manuscript apart and put it back together through a lot of drafts.”  

In his Booker Prize acceptance speech Karunatilaka talked about the dispiriting and demoralising writer’s life”. Surely he doesn’t feel that today? 

No. But even to write a bad draft, it takes a lot out of you. I think what separates writers from normal people is that normal people write badly and stop, but writers write badly and keep trying to make it better.” 

He was disturbed by the attack on Salman Rushdie in America in August and says: I’m wary of writing things that can ruffle feathers. It wasn’t an issue with Seven Moons because I was writing about a long time ago and many of the perpetrators in the Sri Lankan civil war are dead. But I have self-censored. When I was compiling a short story collection, there were a couple of stories that I thought may be controversial in Sri Lanka, so I took them out.” 

What will he do with the £50,000 he received for winning the Booker Prize? 

I was already thinking of buying a Fender Precision bass. I have read that Kazuo Ishiguro has nine guitars… But I never anticipated getting such a windfall. I made peace with doing copy-writing two days a week and I haven’t had time to think about whether I will continue with that now.” 

He is already working on his third novel but refuses to say what it’s about:  

That would be telling,” he laughs, then adds: I hoped to finish a first draft by the end of this year but, after last night, I don’t think that’s going to happen. It’s a lighter story than Seven Moons, not a violent story. I think I’m more naturally comfortable with writing a lighter story.” 

උපුටාගැණීම  මව්බිම

ණය ප්‍රතිව්‍යුහගතකරණය සාර්ථක කරගෙන නිවැරදි ආර්ථික කළමනාකරණයක් ඇති කිරීමට රජය සූදානම් බව ජනාධිපති රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ අවධාරණය කරයි.

ජනාධිපතිවරයාමේ බව සඳහන් කළේ, බදු ප්‍රතිපත්තිය සම්බන්ධයෙන් අද (ඔක්. 19) විශේෂ ප්‍රකාශයක් සිදු කරමිනි.

රටේ ආදායම වැඩි නොකර ආර්ථිකය ශක්තිමත් කිරීමට හැකියාවක් නොමැති බව පෙන්වා දුන් ජනාධිපතිවරයා රට ගොඩගැනීමට නම් අකමැත්තෙන් වුව ද අසීරු තීන්දු තීරණවලට එළැඹිමට සිදු වන බව පැවසීය.

ජනාධිපති රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ සිදු කළ සම්පූර්ණ ප්‍රකාශය පහත දැක්වේ.

ලංකාවේ ණය ප්‍රතිව්‍යුහගතකරණ වැඩසටහනේ වැදගත් පියවරක් පසුගිය සතියේ සිදු වුණා. මුදල් රාජ්‍ය ඇමතිතුමා යටතේ කණ්ඩායමක් වොෂින්ටන් නුවර පැවති ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදලේ වාර්ෂික (ඔක්. 7) රැස්වීමට සහභාගි වුණා. ඒ අවස්ථාවේ දී ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදලේ ප්‍රධානත්වයෙන් ලංකාවට ණය ලබා දුන් රටවල් හා ණය ලබාදුන් සමහර පුද්ගලික ආයතන සමග රැස්වීමක් පැවැත්වූවා. 75 දෙනෙකුට වැඩි පිරිසක් ඍජුව සහ සූම් ඔස්සේ එම රැස්වීමට සහභාගි වුණා.

ලංකාවට ණය ලබාදුන් ප්‍රධාන රටවල් 3 වන ජපානය, චීනය සහ ඉන්දියාව සමග පොදු වේදිකාවකට පැමිණ සහන ලබාදීමට ගතයුතු ඉදිරි පියවර කුමක් ද යන්න සාකච්ඡා කිරීම මෙහි මූලික අරමුණ වුණා.

ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදලත්, ශ්‍රී ලංකාවත් මේ රැස්වීමේ දී පෙන්වා දුන්නේ, පොදු වේදිකාවක තිබෙන අවශ්‍යතාව. ඉන්දියාව සහ චීනය ඒ පිළිබඳ තවදුරටත් විමර්ශනය කර පිළිතුරු ලබා දෙන බව දන්වා තිබෙනවා. ඒ වගේ ම ද්විපාර්ශ්වික සාකච්ඡාත් අවශ්‍ය වෙන්න පුළුවන් කියලා දැනුම් දී තිබෙනවා.

තවත් රටවල් ගණනාවක් මෙයට සහභාගි වුණා. විශේෂයෙන් අමෙරිකාවේ, භාණ්ඩාගාරයේ සහකාර ලේකම්වරයෙක් මේ සාකච්ඡාවට පැමිණියා. මේ සියල්ල සිදු කිරීමට අපිට අවස්ථාව ලැබුණේ ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදල සමග සාකච්ඡා කර අපි ගත් තීන්දු ක්‍රියාත්මක කරන නිසයි.

ලංකා රජයේ ආදායම් පිළිබඳව එක් කාරණයක් මතුව තිබෙනවා. 2015 ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය සංවිධානයේ නියෝජිතයන් මෙරටට පැමිණි අවස්ථාවේ ප්‍රාථමික අය වැයෙහි අතිරික්තයක් අවශ්‍යය බව අපිට දැනුම් දුන්නා.

ඒ වගේ ම, අපි 2017-2018 වර්ෂවල ඒ අතිරික්තය ලබා දුන්නා. නමුත් 2019 පාස්කු ඉරිදා බෝම්බ ප්‍රහාරය නිසා එය අඩු වුණා. ඒ ගැන විශාල ප්‍රශ්නයක් ඇති වුණේ නැහැ. අපිට ප්‍රාථමික අය වැයෙහි අතිරික්තයක් තිබෙන නිසා අපේ ආදායම වැඩිකරගන්න අපිට පුළුවන් වෙයි කියා ඒ අය බලාපොරොත්තු වුණා.

එදා අපේ ආදායම තිබුණේ දළ දේශීය නිෂ්පාදනයෙන් 14.5%ක් – 15%ක් අතර ප්‍රමාණයක්. එහෙත් ක්‍රමානුකූලව මෙය 17%-18%කට වැඩි කරගන්න පුළුවන් කියලා තමයි අපි එකඟ වුණේ.

නමුත් 2019 නොවැම්බර් මාසයේදී මේ රටේ බදු විශාල ලෙස අඩු කළා. එවිට රජයේ ආදායම 8.5%කට අඩු වුණා. එහිදී ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදල මෙම ගිවිසුම්වලින් ඈත් වෙලා ආධාර ලබා දීමට නොහැකි බව ප්‍රකාශ කළා.

අපිට රුපියල් බිලියන 600ක්, 700ක් පමණ ඒ වසරේ අහිමි වුණා. ඒ එක්ක ම කොවිඩ් වසංගතයටත් අපිට මුහුණ දීමට සිදු වුණා. ලංකාවේ ආර්ථිකය කඩා වැටීමට ප්‍රධාන හේතු වුණේ මෙම තත්ත්වයයි.

අපේ ප්‍රාථමික අය වැයේ අතිරික්තයත් ලබාගත යුතු බවට ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදල අපිට දැනුම් දුන්නා. ඔවුන්ගේ සහය අවශ්‍ය නිසා අපිත් එයට එකඟ වුණා.

අනිත් කරුණ තමයි රටේ ආදායම දළ දේශීය නිෂ්පාදනයෙන් 8.5% සිට 14.5%ක් දක්වා වැඩි කිරීමට තීරණය කිරීම. එය එකවර සිදු කිරීම අසීරු කාර්යයක්. ඒ නිසා 2026 වන විට රටේ දළ දේශීය නිෂ්පාදනයෙන් 14.5%ක් දක්වා ආදායම වැඩිකර ගැනීමට අපි සැලසුම් කර තිබෙනවා.

රටේ ආදායම් වැඩි කර ගන්නේ කෙසේ ද කියා පළමුවෙන් ම අපට සිතන්න සිදු වෙනවා. ආදායම අඩු වූ නිසා අපි මුදල් මුද්‍රණය කර තිබෙනවා. ඒ අනුව පසුගිය වසර දෙකේදී මුද්‍රණය කළ මුදල් ප්‍රමාණය රුපියල් බිලියන 2300ක්. ඒ නිසා උද්ධමනය 70% – 75%ක් දක්වා ඉහළ ගියා. ඒ වගේ ම, ආහාර උද්ධමනය ඊටත් වඩා වැඩි වී තිබෙනවා.

මේවා පාලනය කිරීමත් අවශ්‍යයි. ඒ වගේ ම ආදායම ලබා ගැනීමටත් අවශ්‍යයි. එබැවින් ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදල සමග පැවති මෙම සාකච්ඡාවලදී අලුත් බදු ක්‍රමයක් ඉදිරිපත් වුණා. අපනයන කර්මාන්තවලටත් බදු ගෙවන්න අවශ්‍යයි කියලා ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදල දැනුම් දී තිබුණා.

අපනයන ආර්ථිකයක් තිබෙන රටවල් බදු ගෙවන බව ඔවුන් පෙන්වා දුන්නා. ඒ වගේ ම, ඔවුන් සඳහන් කළේ අපේ පළමුවන අපනයන ආර්ථිකය වුණේ වැවිලි කර්මාන්තය බව ත්, බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය පාලන කාලයේදී තේ, පොල්, රබර් සෑම වැවිලි ක්ෂේත්‍රයකින් ම බදු ගෙවීම සිදු කළ බවත් ය. ඒ නිසා අපි එම ඉලක්කයට ගමන් කරනවා නම් බදු ගෙවන්න සිදු වෙයි කියා දැනුම් දුන්නා.

ඒ ගැන දැන් අපනයන ක්ෂේත්‍රය අපෙන් ප්‍රශ්න කර තිබෙනවා. එම කරුණු ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදලට ඉදිරිපත් කරන්න අපි බලාපොරොත්තු වෙනවා.

දෙවන කාරණය පුද්ගලික බදු. අපි වැඩිපුර ම බදු ලබාගත්තේ වක්‍ර බදු ලෙසයි. රටේ දුප්පත් සාමාන්‍ය ජනතාවටත් එම වක්‍ර බදු ගෙවීමට සිදු වුණා. අපි ඍජුව ලබාගත් බදු ආදායම 20%යි. 80%ක ප්‍රමණයක් ලබාගත්තේ වක්‍ර බදුවලින්.

විශේෂයෙන් ම ඒ පිළිබඳ ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදලට ප්‍රශ්න තිබුණා. ඒ අය කිව්වේ ඍජු බදුවලින් ලබාගන්න බදු ප්‍රමාණය 20%කට වඩා වැඩි විය යුතු බවයි. නැත්නම් මෙය සාර්ථක නොවන බවත්, සාමාන්‍ය ජනතාවටත් බදු ගෙවීමට සිදුවන බවත් ඔවුන් පෙන්වා දුන්නා.

ඒ නිසා මෙම ක්‍රමවේදයට අනුවත්, 2026 ඉලක්ක ළඟා කර ගැනීම සඳහාත් මෙම බදු අය කිරීම ලක්ෂ 2ක අදායමක් ලබන අයගෙන් සීමා කළ හැකි ද යන්න පිළිබඳව භාණ්ඩාගාරයත්, ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදලත් සාකච්ඡා කළා. එහෙත් ඒ අරමුණ ඉටු වුණේ නැහැ. අවසානයේ සිදු වුණේ ලක්ෂයකට වැඩි ආදායමක් ලබන පිරිසගෙනුත් ආදායම් බදු අය කිරීමයි. මේ පිළිබඳ රටේ විශාල ප්‍රශ්නයක් ඇති වී තිබෙනවා.

මෙවන් පසුබිමක් තුළ මෙම බදු ක්‍රමය අනුගමනය නොකළහොත් අපිට අවශ්‍ය ඉලක්ක කරා ළඟා වීමට නොහැකි විය හැකියි. අපි එකඟ වූ ඉලක්කය වන්නේ 2026 වන විට දළ දේශීය නිෂ්පාදනයෙන් 14.5%ක – 15%ක ආදායමක් ලබා ගැනීමයි. අපි මේ වැඩපිළිවෙළින් ඉවත් වුණොත් ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදලේ ආධාර අපිට ලැබෙන්නේ නැහැ. ජත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදලේ සහතිකය ලැබෙන්නේ නැත්නම් ලෝක බැංකුව, ආසියානු සංවර්ධන බැංකුව වැනි ජාත්‍යන්තර මුල්‍ය ආයතනවලත්, සහයෝගය ලබාදෙන අනෙකුත් රටවලත් සහය අපිට හිමි වන්නේ නැහැ. එහෙ ම වුණොත් අපිට නැවත පෝලිම් යුගයට යන්න වෙනවා.

මීටත් වඩා අසීරු කාලයක් අපට ඉදිරියේදී ඇති විය හැකියි. මෙම ණය ලබාගෙන ණය ප්‍රතිව්‍යුහගතකරණ වැඩපිළිවෙළට අපි යා යුතුයි. අපි මේ කටයුතු කැමැත්තෙන් කරන්නේ නැහැ. අකමැත්තෙන් හෝ අපිට සමහර තීරණ ගන්න සිදු වෙනවා. ඒවගේ ම එම තීරණ පිළිබඳ අපි විටින් විට සලකා බලනවා.

ණය ප්‍රතිව්‍යුහගත කිරීමේ වැඩසටහන සාර්ථක කර ගන්නවා වගේ ම, මහ කන්නයේ අපිට හොඳ අස්වැන්නක් ලැබුණා ම එයින් ආර්ථික වාසියක් ලබාගෙන ඉදිරියට යන්න අපි බලාපොරොත්තු වෙනවා. එමගින් අපිට තිබෙන ආර්ථික පීඩාව අඩු වෙනවා. ඒ වගේ ම අපේ විදේශ විනිමය සංචිතය වැඩි කර ගැනීම පිළිබඳ සාකච්ඡා කර තිබෙනවා. මෙම පියවර කිහිපය ක්‍රියාත්මක කළ විට අපිට ඉදිරියට යා හැකියි.

අද අපේ රට ඉතා අසීරු කාලයකට මුහුණ පා සිටිනවා. ඒ අසීරු කාලයේ අසීරු තීරණ ගන්න වෙනවා. වෙන කවුරුත් ඉදිරිපත් නොවූ අවස්ථාවක මම ඒ අසීරු කටයුත්ත භාර ගත්තා. ඉතින් මම හිතුවා මේ පසුබිම ගැන සියලු දෙනා දැනුවත් කරන්න මට යුතුකමක් තිබෙනවා කියලා. මේ ගැන තවදුරටත් සාකච්ඡා කරන්න ආණ්ඩුව සූදානම් බව ද සඳහන් කරන්න කැමතියි.”

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The government is to commence operations at the chemical factory in Paranthan immediately, Plantation Industries and Industries Minister Ramesh Pathirana said.

While paying an inspection visit to the factory area, he said the factory initiated its chemical manufacturing process in 1954 with the use of liquid chlorine, hydrochloric acid, zinc chloride, and ferric chloride as raw materials.

The manufacturing process of the factory was stopped in 1985 due to the civil war. However, the required chemicals for local manufacturing needs are imported through several other companies.

While addressing the media, he said the government’s policy is to increase exports and reduce imports while expediting feasibility studies, planning business development and procurement functions.

As a first step, preliminary actions will be taken to manufacture caustic soda, chlorine hydrochloric acid, and Polyaluminium chloride. The feasibility studies over manufacturing liquid toilet cleaners, liquid hand wash, dishwashing detergent, and liquid carwash, as well as manufacturing urea fertiliser, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and sodium carbonate (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

*The case under investigation has so far seen a scam of Rs.3Bn being unravelled

*So far 11 complaints had been received against Thilini

*Investigators are also probing if there were Parliamentarians on her list

Colombo has seen many controversies. Especially among the rich and elite who at times enjoy their evening’s dining and enjoying their luxurious lives, and discussions of who is new in their social circles and who threw the most lavish parties. The higher the circle, the grander the parties and the bigger the discussions on money.

One such story which has taken the country by storm is the Thilini Priyamali saga. Her alleged story of cheat, sex and greed and how she allegedly accumulated mass wealth by promising wonders in return – wonders under the pretext of higher returns if you invest in her ‘lavish’ business. The Thilini Priyamali case which is now under investigation by the CID has so far seen a scam of Rs.3 billion being unravelled, making it one of the highest financial frauds committed by an individual in the country.

Investigators told Daily Mirror that so far 11 complaints had been received against Thilini, who is the owner of Thico Group Pvt. Limited and more victims may be expected to come forward in the coming days. Among those who have lost massive sums are even MPs, politicians, and artistes who all wanted a share of her business of receiving higher returns. A Colombo 7 businessman who lodged a complaint last week alleged that he lost Rs.750 million, while former Colombo Mayor Azath Sally said Thilini had defrauded him of Rs.80.5 million.

So how did Thilini allegedly carry out her plan? Investigations so far have revealed that Thilini had made high contacts within the elite circle and had become quite popular for throwing lavish parties. She was seen moving with high-profile political figures whom she befriended by promising to provide money in charity or seeking their consent to start new projects. Political figures and artistes were frequent guests at her events, and it was at these events that she often spoke of her business.

Investigators said that it had come to light that some of the businessmen who invested with her business, received higher returns within weeks as promised in the form of a cheque. However, as she went deeper into the business, her cheques started bouncing back, sending a signal among her investors that all was not right.

Investigators are probing to see if a former MP and a yesteryear actor and his wife, a prominent actress, a model and a doctor are among those who invested in Thilini’s business and if proven, how much monies had been given and whether it was these monies that had been rolled over.

Investigators are also probing to see if there were Parliamentarians also on her list and if so, how much had been invested by them for higher returns.

On Tuesday, the CID arrested Isuru Bandara – another business partner of Thilini Priyamali in connection with alleged financial fraud. It was reported that the suspect maintained close relations with Thilini and the suspect was reported to have worked as a secretary to a minister earlier.

Investigators are also probing alleged complaints on whether some of the businessmen were blackmailed by the suspect in return for money over sexual conversations they had, had by people set up by Thilini. An investigating officer said that they were probing to see if audio calls were made to some of the businessmen by people set up by the suspect, where talks had revolved around sex. It is alleged that these conversations may have been recorded and later used to blackmail the businessmen. But investigations over these allegations are still ongoing.

More arrests are expected to be made in the coming days and weeks over this high-profile case, and investigators are also probing to see if there was any involvement of religious leaders following some evidence that has come to light but could not be divulged due to ongoing investigations. (JAMILA HUSAIN)

Courtesy Adaderana

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow announced that a productive discussion was held with the Russian Government on the possibility of obtaining a long term credit line in order to procure fuel to Sri Lanka. 

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage attended this discussion on the 17th October representing Sri Lanka and emphasised the significance of such a credit line to Sri Lanka to procure fuel, especially at this trying time. 

The mechanism of the said credit line and the modality to procure fuel from the Russian Federation were discussed at length with the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the Sri Lankan Embassy said in a statement. 

From the Russian Government, Mr. Maksimov Timur, the Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation and Mr. Levan Jagaryan, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and a few officials representing the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present at the discussion. 

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow said it is of the view that this credit line facility will play an important role to make adequate fuel supplies available to Sri Lanka at a competitive price in the months to come.

Courtesy Adaderana

The government is ready to implement prudent economic management after successful debt restructuring, President Ranil Wickremesinghe says.

He made this observation today (Oct. 19), delivering a special statement on the tax policy, restructuring Sri Lanka’s debt and the progress of the discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Speaking on the country’s debt restructuring program, President Wickremesinghe said a meeting was held in Washington with the participation of Sri Lanka’s creditors. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2022 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group earlier this month.

During this meeting, the IMF has stressed the need to coming to a common platform with the three main countries that have granted loans to Sri Lanka, namely Japan, China and India. According to the President, India and China have informed that they would provide answers after further looking into the matter and that bilateral discussions may be required.

Speaking on Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, President Wickremesinghe pointed out that the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and the tax cuts in November 2019 led to the collapse of the country’s economy.

The Head of State says the government intends to increase the country’s income from 8.5% to 14.5% of the GDP by 2026.

He noted that it is not possible to strengthen the economy without increasing the revenue of the country, adding that he is compelled to make tough decisions, though reluctantly, to rebuild the nation.

For this purpose, a new tax system was introduced as with the intention of reaching 14.5% – 15% gross domestic product (GDP) revenue by 2026, President Wickremesinghe noted. This desired goal cannot be achieved without the new tax system, he added. 

Explaining as to why direct taxes were increased, the President said the country’s indirect tax revenue adds up to 80% while direct tax revenue is only 20%. However, the IMF representatives were of the view that direct taxes should exceed 20%, as ordinary citizens would be forced to pay taxes if indirect taxes are increased. 
President Wickremesinghe also noted that if Sri Lanka fails to get the IMF certification, the country will be unable to get the support of the international institutions such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the countries that provide support. If that happens, we will have to go back to the era of queues.”

The full statement by President Ranil Wickremesinghe is as follows;

An important step in Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring program took place last week. A team under our Minister of State for Finance participated in the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (October 07). Accordingly, a meeting was held under the leadership of the International Monetary Fund, with the countries that had given loans to Sri Lanka and some private institutions that had also given loans.

Over 75 persons participated directly or through zoom technology. The primary purpose of this was to come to a common platform with the three main countries that have granted loans to Sri Lanka, namely Japan, China and India, and discuss the next steps to be taken to provide these concessions.

During this meeting, the International Monetary Fund and Sri Lanka pointed out the need for a common platform. India and China have informed us that they will investigate further and provide answers. These two countries have also informed us that bilateral discussions may be required.

Many other countries also participated in this meeting. It is notable that, an Assistant Secretary of the United States Treasury came here. All this was possible because we are implementing the decisions taken in consultation with the International Monetary Fund.

There is one thing about the income of the Government of Sri Lanka. In 2015, when the representatives of the International Monetary Fund came to Sri Lanka, we were told of the need for a surplus in the primary budget. Therefore, we provided that surplus in 2017-2018. But it was reduced as a result of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. However, there were no serious issues. They were optimistic that we would be able to increase our revenue, to have a surplus in the primary budget.

At the time, our income was between 14.5% – 15% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, we agreed that we can gradually increase this to 17%-18%.

However, in November 2019, the country’s taxes were drastically reduced. Then the government revenue decreased to 8.5%. There, the International Monetary Fund declared that it is unable to provide aid because of these agreements.

That year we lost around Rs. 600-700 billion. Simultaneously, we had to face the Covid-19 pandemic. These issues are the main factors that led to the collapse of Sri Lanka’s economy.

The International Monetary Fund notified us that we need to show a surplus in our primary budget. We agreed to it because we needed their support.

The other factor is that it was decided to increase the country’s income from 8.5% to 14.5% of the GDP. It’s impossible to do it all at once. We have planned to increase the country’s income to 14.5% of the GDP by 2026.

Initially, we had to think about how we were going to increase our income. We have printed money because our income decreased. During the past two years, Rs. 2,300 billion has been printed. As a result, inflation has risen to 70% – 75%. Food inflation has increased even more. These need to be controlled, but we also need to secure our income. Therefore, a new tax system was proposed during these discussions. The International Monetary Fund had notified that even the export industries are required to pay taxes.

It was indicated especially in countries with an export economy, taxes are being paid. The IMF also pointed out that our primary export economy was the plantation industry. During British rule, taxes were charged from every plantation sector, including tea, coconut and rubber. Therefore, we decided that if we are to move towards that goal, we will have to pay taxes. The export sector has now questioned this move and if these facts are to be submitted to the International Monetary Fund, we have discussed about carrying out an analysis.

The second matter is individual taxes. We have obtained the majority of taxes through indirect taxing. Even the majority of the country’s people below the poverty line had no choice but to pay taxes indirectly. Our direct tax revenue is 20%. 80% which was derived from indirect taxes.

The International Monetary Fund had specific questions about it and they were of the view that the amount of tax obtained from direct taxes should exceed 20%. Otherwise, they noted that this would not be successful, as ordinary citizens would be forced to pay taxes.

Therefore, according to this mechanism, and to achieve the goals of 2026, the Treasury and the International Monetary Fund discussed the possibility of limiting the taxation from those who have an income of Rs. 200,000, but that was not possible. Eventually, income tax was levied on people earning over 100,000. Today, this has become a huge problem in the country.

I would like to point out that based on this backdrop, we may not be able to achieve the desired goals without this tax system. The desired goal is to achieve 14.5% – 15% gross domestic product (GDP) revenue by 2026.

If we withdraw from this program, we will not receive assistance from the IMF. If we don’t get the IMF certification, we will not get the support of those international institutions such as the World Bank, and Asian Development Bank, and the countries that provide support. If that happens, we will have to go back to the era of queues.

We may have to face even tougher times ahead. We have to obtain these loans and go for the debt-restructuring program. We are not doing these wilfully. We have to take certain decisions even reluctantly. However, we will reconsider these decisions periodically.

While successfully conducting our debt restructuring program, we expect to move forward through the economic success achieved through a bountiful Maha season. This will help reduce our economic pressure. We have also discussed measures to increase our foreign reserves. Once we have implemented these measures, we can move forward.

We are in a difficult period. We will have to make tough decisions during these difficult times. I took on this difficult task when no one else was willing to come forward. Hence, I feel I must enlighten everyone regarding this background. The government is ready to discuss this further.

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has reportedly informed the President during a discussion held today (Oct 19) that It cannot support the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill which is scheduled to be debated in parliament tomorrow (Oct 20).

However, the president has requested to vote in favor of the 22nd amendment in the second reading vote and to present any amendments during the committee stage.

The 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill is scheduled to be taken up for debate in the House tomorrow (Oct 20) and the day after (Oct 21).

A discussion in this regard was held today between the MPs of the SLPP as the majority representation of the government, President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

During the discussion, MP Sarath Weerasekera had pointed out that, he will oppose the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill as same as he opposed the 19th, sources said.

It is ridiculous that the MPs who supported the 19th and 20th Constitutional amendments are supporting the 22nd Constitutional amendment too, he had reportedly mentioned.

MP S.B. Dissanayake has also emphasized that he is also against weakening the power of the President.

Meanwhile, State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera has stated that it is necessary to hold a poll based on the 22nd Amendment.

According to sources, MP Sanjeewa Edirimanna has raised a question with the President that how will the challenges in relation to the formation of a collective executive other than the executive power under a single person be faced.

We remember how the members of the Independent Election Commission acted within the last period”, he had added.

The General Secretary of SLPP, Sagara Kariyawasam has stressed that they are unable to support the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill due to certain aspects included in it, warning that if ten of the parliamentarians in SLPP move to the opposition as a result of the issues pertaining to 22nd Amendment, the budget vote may also be lost.

Nevertheless, the former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has refrained from expressing his views regarding the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill, the source said.

Courtesy Adaderana

The Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association has proposed that the Committee on Public Finance and the Committee on Public Enterprises be given the powers to recover the money lost to the government from the officials who misused the public funds and the politicians who decided to misuse the government funds and also to enable for them to be subjected to the judicial process and be punished.

Discussions on this regard took place at the National Council Sub-Committee on Identifying Priorities in Formulating Short-, Medium- and Long- Term Policies which met in Parliament yesterday (18) under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa.

The Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association attended the meeting held to obtain expert opinions for the National Council Sub-Committee on Identifying Priorities in Formulating Short-, Medium- and Long- Term Policies.

Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association presented a proposal containing amendments related to the executive presidential system of the country, amendments related to the Council of Ministers and ideas and suggestions for the reforming of the public service.

The sub-committee also discussed at length the need to amend the ordinances to remove the existing legal obstacles for upgrading the public service through digitization, and the association pointed out that it would enable the creation of a more efficient public service which is an essential factor.

The chairperson informed the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association to submit short-term amendment proposals related to updating the public service to the committee within two weeks.

The chairperson of the sub-committee pointed out that a national policy can be quickly prepared after submitting the amendments to the parliament through the National Council.

MP Namal Rajapaksa also pointed out that through reforming the public service by way of a national policy, the services needed by the people can be provided more quickly and with high efficiency.

Members of Parliament Johnston Fernando and Sagara Kariyawasam were also present at this Committee meeting held.

Shenali D Waduge

• Study Circle Legal team points out that ‘Bim Saviya’ is an economic burden to the GoSL

The Government, and the Central Bank of Sri lanka (CBSL) must rethink before investing foreign funds on a programme that has failed, and will require over 50 years to complete. 

The article ‘Bim Saviya’ Title Registration Act’s 24-year reign of chaos” published last week in The Morning covered points highlighted by three attorneys in April 1998, after taking part in a study tour to Australia, prior to the GoSL enacting the Title Registration Act in March 1998.   https://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/10/12/bim-saviya-title-registration-acts-24-year-reign-of-chaos/

Thereafter, the Study Circle Legal Team were asked to present their observations on the Bim Saviya”. The  observations and research given in this article reveals that the Government needs to repeal Act No. 21 of 1998, which is an economic burden to the country.

The observations of the legal team are based on the following factors:

1) The Government’s  policy is to introduce a mandatory register as given in the Cabinet Memorandum, Cabinet Memorandum 20/2100/322/007 on 24 December 2020  

2) A study of  reports by committees appointed by the President and the Ministry of Justice, and a study of the statutes introducing mandatory registration and electronics in other jurisdictions, specifically South Africa, referred to in the  Cabinet Memorandum as a country that operates a mandatory register with the existing deed system 

When the requirement of the Government and other political actors was to convert the existing land register to a mandatory register to facilitate searching owners electronically from a one-stop-shop” in order to be in a higher position in the Doing Business Index, the Government introduced the Australian land law by Act 21 of 1998.

Is this not questionable?

Was this initiated to receive funds? If so, how much has been received already? Who drafted the Act, which was hastily passed by the then-Government? 

Why does the Government request for massive funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in spite of this Act’s failure for 20 years (the US had not introduced the Australian law; instead its has the deed recording system). 

The GoSL, in particular, the Ministry of Land and the Governor of the Central Bank, must realise that foreign funding should not be solicited or used for failed projects – and Bim Saviya” is one such failed project. Since its enactment in 1998 the expected mandatory register was not prepared despite investing millions of dollars. A register with a mere 750,000 lands had been completed, out of 12.5 million required to be registered. This is a waste of foreign exchange.

Why has ‘Bim Saviya’ failed?

The hurriedly passed Title Registration Act was defective. The operating system contains impractical costly procedures based on a foreign law – the Australian Torrens Title Registration. This system is alien to Sri Lanka, and unsuited to meet our historical and community system of ownership. How we have used our land is totally different to Australia. 

Why is the Act impractical?

• Government officials must visit owners at a massive transport cost
• The impractical amount of time that it would take to visit over 12.5 million land owners
• The Survey General must register ownership and the plan 
• In 20 years of rolling out this Act, only 5% have completed the above process. Over 11 million land parcels have yet to be surveyed and registered
• The Title Commissioner’s report showcases the difficulties that exist

Why can’t Sri Lanka prepare a mandatory land register without ‘Bim Saviya’? 

Sri Lanka could amend the existing Registration Law Ordinance 23 of 1927 and make mandatory registering of ownership with plans according to the surveying system of Sri Lanka. This is the system practised in the US, the UK, and South Africa, as owners undoubtedly wish to register their lands and will want to uphold that right. This will save the cost and time of visiting 12 million landowners.

The Registrar General of Lands wrote to the Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on 6 April 2016 laying out this practical solution – Reference RG/TRB/03/278[2] PM Advisor ref JCR/SEC/PMO.

Who required the land register to be made mandatory?

The mandatory land register was part of the Doing Business Index (DBI). The DBI required Sri Lanka to register all its land and owners to make it easier to purchase land and mortgage. The excuse was to make Sri Lanka on par with the other developed nations, however, the real reason was for investors to have access to land.

The advantage for landowners was that when their land was officially registered under their name, and thus the opportunity for fraud would be curtailed.

What is the opinion of the World Bank and AusAid funding regarding the ‘Bim Saviya’ Act?

The Australian Government did assure Australian dollars (AUD) 350,000 for Stage 1 legislative framework, however the Australian consultant opined that the Torrens law was unsuited for Sri Lanka. This meant AusAid would not have allocated funds, even though the Act was hurriedly passed in 1998.

The World Bank, too, found the Act No. 21 of 1998 defective, as expressed by Director Jessica Mott in her report. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/293851468308634964/pdf/ICR0000190].pdf..  

The World Bank funding was to enable research  to improve the existing register. However, the GoSL passed the Act even while the World Bank and BASL were discussing the research aspects of the land laws. This was another example of the GoSL acting on its own or against advice, or having been advised by wrong parties.

What has the failed ‘Bim Saviya’ cost the GoSL so far?

Act 21 of 1998 was hurriedly passed. It has been prodding on for over 20 years, but has registered only 750,000 land parcels out of over 12.5 million owners. The cost of this futile exercise has been $ 2.5 million per year – thus, in over 20 years Sri Lanka has spent over $ 50 million to register just 750,000 parcels of land. At the rate of 350,000 registrations per year to complete 12.5 million land registrations, Sri Lanka will be taking over 100 years to complete the project. This clearly shows what a futile exercise it is, as by the time a parcel gets registered, the owner may have already departed!

The GoSL needs to take stock of this situation, carry out a cost assessment of the project, and cease the allocation of funds for a futile project.

The former President tasked the Ministry of Justice to appoint a team of learned lawyers to look into the land law – what was their opinion?

The increasing number of complaints by landowners and lawyers resulted in the GoSL appointing two committees. Both committees concluded that Act No. 21 of 1998 was unsuitable to prepare a conclusive mandatory register. The committee concluded that the register under Act No. 21 cannot accommodate the rights of co-ownership, ande-cultivation, customary rights on inheritance, and trust deeds and rights of religious institutions (Buddhist temples, kovils, etc.). They concluded that the name of the Act should also be changed to Voluntary Title Registration Act if we are to maintain the legislation. However, this will not fulfil the requirement of the Doing Business Index, or the policy of the Government given in the Cabinet Memorandum.

How has the issue affected landowners in Sri Lanka?

The prevailing land law in Australia following colonial occupation was introduced to Sri Lanka as Bim Saviya”. However, even after 150 years, the  indigenous people of Australia are struggling to gain their ownership rights to land under the title registration system. The Mabo case is an example of winning justice for land by the indigenous people repealing the law. 

Similarly, in Sri Lanka, landowners are also struggling under Bim Saviya” as:

1. The Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the Local Authorities are not accepting the plans drawn under Bim Saviya” as per the Surveyor General’s report 
2. As land fraud has new avenues with Act No. 21 under Bim Saviya”, which has placed statutory limitations on judicial intervention, it is not easy to reallocate lands from fraudsters. Therefore, landowners need to be extremely vigilant with Bim Saviya”

The owners only receive a certificate in lieu of their deeds without any of the protective laws that exist in Australia to protect landowners from cybercrimes or fraud. The courts are thus under pressure, as the Bim Saviya” does not have legal remedies for fraud. 

In conclusion, the solutions from the legal team include:

• The Bim Saviya” or Act No. 21 of 1998 is not beneficial to Sri Lanka  
• Sri Lanka will get nowhere in the Doing Business Index with two voluntary registers where digitalised facilities cannot be introduced to search for owners from a one-stop-shop. Therefore, it is best to continue registering the existing deeds, instead of re-surveying and issuing title registrations, and registering them afresh into a new e-land register
• When the register is made mandatory, owners will register without the Government being forced to visit  12 million owners 
• Act No. 21 of 1998, or Bim Saviya” requires the removal of the history or pedigree chain of owners. It is a warning to land owners to retain their deeds, as some banks wish to check the deeds. Eventually, in the event of a fraud or cyber attack, the deeds end up the only means to prove ownership
• Bim Saviya” denies owners access to their rights in court in the event of land fraud
• On 24 December 2020, a Cabinet memorandum was issued as a solution to establish a mandatory register. The Cabinet requested lawyers to research how procedures adopted in South Africa function with laws in Sri Lanka. This required amendment to Section 7 of Ordinance 23 of 1927 to convert the register to a mandatory register. Paper deeds are included in the Electronic Transaction Act 19 of 2006. This Act specifically requires the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) to retain paper documents in case of issues like cyberattacks, hacking of land registers, or their data
• A major lacunae in the old registration law (Section 7 of Ordinance 23 of 1927) was that it didn’t have provision to reject forged invalid deeds. This has facilitated fraud. The Registrar of South Africa has quasi-judicial powers to maintain the integrity of the register. Similar options should be pursued by Sri Lanka alongside biometric solutions as applied in banks and passport offices to prevent fraud

The problem is clear. The solutions have been given by lawyers, yet the GoSL continues to prod forward with a failed land project requesting funds that will take over a century to complete at the current rate. It is an unnecessary waste of  funds when the country has other solutions. 

More Research papers from lawyers –Protecting owners with the existing register— published in the Negombo Law Journal  https://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2020/08/03/the-sri-lankan-e-register-should-be-governed-by-a-law-suitable-to-sri-lanka-

https://www.sundaytimes.lk/160807/sunday-times-2/eland-registry-digitalisation-and-bim-saviya-beware-of-pitfalls-203724.html

https://www.sundaytimes.lk/180909/business-times/land-fraud-affects-foreign-and-local-investments-310330.html

https://www.ft.lk/Opinion-and-Issues/dependable-law-land-registry-are-vital-tools-for-land-owners-to-protect-against-real-estate-fr

Shenali D Waduge

By A. Abdul Aziz

In Historic City Of Zion

The Fifth Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad  inaugurated first Mosque in the city where a grand sign of the truth of Islam and of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him) came to pass over a century ago.

His Holiness inaugurated the Fath-e-Azeem Mosque (The Great Victory) with his weekly Friday Sermon of 30 September 2022.

The city of Zion was founded in 1900 by John Alexander Dowie, who defamed the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and called for the destruction and elimination of all Muslims. After attempts to persuade Mr Dowie to depart from the path of religious hatred failed, Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad – the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) foretold that Dowie, despite him being almost 12 years younger than him and despite being at the peak of his powers, would die during the lifetime of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) as a sign from God of the victory of Islam. The prophecy was fulfilled to the letter on March 9, 1907, when John Alexander Dowie passed away.

As His Holiness inaugurated the first Mosque of Zion, the sign of the truth of the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and the glory of Islam shone forth with a new light at the hand of the Present Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.

On 1st October 2022, Ahmadiyya Head His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivered the keynote address at a special reception held to commemorate the opening of the Fath-e-Azeem Mosque (the Great Victory) in Zion, Illinois.

The reception was attended by more than 140 guests, including politicians, faith leaders, and local residents. 

The highlight of the event was the keynote address delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad during which he spoke of the grand prophecy of the Ahmadiyya Founder Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad – Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) regarding John Alexander Dowie, founder of the city of Zion, and how it was fulfilled. 

Throughout his address, His Holiness spoke of the vital importance of religious freedom within society. 

In Dallas, Texas.

The Fifth Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad also inaugurated the Baitul Ikram Mosque (House of Honour) in Dallas, Texas, with his weekly Friday Sermon of 7^th October 2022.

On the following day, (8th October 2022), the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivered the keynote address at a special reception held to commemorate the opening of the Baitul Ikram Mosque (the House of Honour) in Allen, Texas, located in the Dallas chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

The reception was attended by around 140 guests, including politicians, faith leaders, and local residents. 

The highlight of the event was the keynote address delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad during which he spoke of Islam’s emphasis and focus on establishing peace within society, whilst also urging world leaders, public figures and all members of the public to play their respective roles in establishing peace in the world. 

උපුටා ගැන්ම Lanka Lead News

දේශහිතෛෂී ජාතික ව්‍යාපාරය විසින් නිකුත් කළ පත්‍රිකාවක් මගින් විජේදාස රාජපක්ෂලා ව්‍යවස්ථා මගෝඩියකින් 13 වැනි සංශෝධනය බලාත්මක කරනු ඇති බවට ඔවුන් විසින් එල්ල කරනු ලබන චෝදනාවලට හේතු දක්වා ඇත.

තම සංවිධානය එසේ සැක කරන්නේ කුමක් නිසාදැයි ඔවුන් හේතු 14ක් ඉදිරිපත් කර තිබේ.

මහා සංඝනායක හිමිවරුන් ප්‍රමුඛ මහා සංඝරත්නයට ඊනියා අරගලකරුවන් විසින් පනවන ලද මානසික බාධක වලින් උන්වහන්සේලාට ගැලවීමට නොහැකි වීම ද එම හේතු අතර දක්වා ඇති එක් හේතුවකි.

දේශහිතෛෂී ජාතික ව්‍යාපාරය විසින් නිකුත් කළ පත්‍රිකාව පහතින්…

22 මගින් 13 බලාත්මක කරයිද සැක උපදවන්නේ ඇයි?

Courtesy Adaderana

The Second Reading of Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill was passed in the parliament today (Oct. 18) by a majority of 60 votes.

During the division, a total of 77 pa

The Second Reading of Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill was passed in the parliament today (Oct. 18) by a majority of 60 votes.

During the division, a total of 77 parliamentarians had voted for the bill while 17 voted against.

Petroleum trade unions resorted to a sick-leave strike today, in protest of the bill, which is expected to pave the way for liberalization of the petroleum industry.

Minister of Power & Energy Kanchana Wijesekera stated that the bill would facilitate new global retail suppliers to Sri Lanka, encourage investments and set up an Energy Supply Committee to regulate.

He warned legal and disciplinary action against any employee or trade union is found breaching the essential services regulations and disrupting services, on the grounds that petroleum services have been declared an essential service.

The bill was approved at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power and Energy on October 04, with amendments in accordance with the decisions given by the Supreme Court.

It was later decided to take up the debate on the Second Reading of the Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Bill today, from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm.

This bill provides for the importation, supply and distribution of fuel to parties other than the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC).

rliamentarians had voted for the bill while 17 voted against.

By Raj Gonsalkorale

Another global recession is imminent. The US, UK, EU are all expected have lower growth rates and China’s growth has slowed down. India stands alone as a country that my bets weather the storm. There has been no discussion about its possible effect on Sri Lanka and what mitigating steps should be taken to cushion its ill effects on a country that is already bankrupt. Some 9.6 million people are reportedly in poverty according to a study by the Peradeniya university. Its malnutrition levels have increased sharply. Public hospitals still have drug shortages. Inflation has risen very steeply with the highest increase seen with food items. Foreign exchange reserves are still precarious and there is yet, no agreed way forward economically and politically with opposition parties harping on elections without offering any alternatives to proposals put forward by the President. For many ordinary people, absence of queues for petrol and gas appears to be the mirage that is hiding the quicksand below the surface.

The impending global recession is expected to hit the economies of all major powers to varying degrees, except India. As stated in the article ” The global recession and its impact on India” (https://www.ukessays.com/essays/economics/the-global-recession-and-its-impact-on-india-economics-essay.php), a slowdown in the US economy was bad news for India during the last recession because Indian companies have major outsourcing deals from the US clients. India’s exports to the US have been developed over the years, but they  successfully weathered the great financial crisis of September 2008”

The article examines why India suffered so little during the previous global recession that impacted some of the biggest economies of the West, quote” There are many factors that saved the Indian economy from the bad consequences of the global recession. India being a nation whose market is majorly dependent on agriculture; hence it supported India from getting laid off like other affected countries. In those times Indian banks and financial institutions had almost entirely avoided buying the mortgage-backed securities and credit which turned to be toxic and felled western financial institutions. While India’s merchandise exports were hit by the recession, service exports did not fall as IT and BPO exports held up good. Foreign direct investment went high despite the global financial crisis. Financiers reversed flows into India, but long-term investors in plant and factories kept moving on their ongoing projects” unquote.

In the context of an impending global recession, the Sri Lankan government should begin discussions with India about what mitigating measures could be taken to prevent the current bad situation from getting worse. In all likelihood, it is not the IMF, but India which would be in a better position to assist Sri Lanka. However, in doing a bilateral deal, India too would lay down some conditions, both economic and political, and it is best to begin discussions and negotiations now rather than when the country has reached the next precipice.

Need for contingency planning

The ADB forecasts Sri Lanka’s GDP to be around 2.3% in 2023. This forecast however was prior to assessing the impact of the impending global recession on Sri Lanka. While economists will argue and predict varying degrees of impact, it is best to identify the worst case scenario and undertake contingency planning to address such a scenario.

A study has revealed that 9.6 million (or 42% of the population) people of Sri Lanka are currently suffering from poverty. This is no doubt a direct result of the economic catastrophe faced by Sri Lanka now.

Prof. Wasantha Athukorala of the Department of Economics and Statistics at the University of Peradeniya said this in an article (http://www.adaderana.lk/news/85495/96-million-in-sri-lanka-suffering-from-poverty). What could possibly be worse than this situation? And could it be allowed to get worse?

What are the likely effects of a global recession to countries like Sri Lanka?

It could impact on foreign direct investments. What is meagre today could get worse.  Sri Lanka’s exports, its life blood, could get affected due to lower demand. Whatever plans that the BOI has and the Port City commission could be adversely affected.

Some countries who employ migrant workers, may reduce such employment opportunities if they are forced to scale back on their projects as a consequence of a global recession, and this will impact on remittances from overseas migrants working in developed countries. Sri Lanka has experienced this with the COVID pandemic, and the slow rise of remittances is bound to decline, strangling and suffocating the country  

Tourism, a critical input to the economy which has just begun to show marginal increases will decline causing much hardship to the industry and those directly and indirectly employed it, in addition to the impact on the country’s coffers.

If the country’s life blood trifecta of exports, tourism and remittances are affected any further, it is difficult to imagine how the country would survive. 

Unemployment will rise and so will social unrest as a consequence. The country will not have enough funds to support the most affected as government revenue will not be there to provide such assistance. Depreciation of the of the rupee has already caused much misery to the people and a further depreciation which might be inevitable, is bound aggravate social unrest.

It is in this context that a politically consensual approach as to the nature and extent of contingency planning, mitigation measures and broad strategic planning of the future direction of the economy becomes imperative. If not for today’s generation, but at least for the future generation. Such a task could have been achieved by the National Governance Council if only the country’s interest was placed above the personal interests of politicians.

Contrary to the belief that Ostriches bury their heads in the sand to save themselves from predators, which in fact is a myth, the BBC science focus (https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/do-ostriches-really-bury-their-head-in-the-sand/) explains the why Ostriches engage in this practice , quote As flightless birds, ostriches are unable to build nests in trees, so they lay their eggs in holes dug in the ground. To make sure that the eggs are evenly heated, they occasionally stick their heads into the nest to rotate the eggs, which makes it look like they’re trying to hide – hence the myth. An ostrich trying to hide from predators in this way wouldn’t last for long, and it wouldn’t be able to breathe, either!” end quote.

In referring to the situation in Sri Lanka where many people seem outwardly oblivious to the clear and present danger to the country and its people like Ostriches purportedly bury their heads in the sand, it is an insult to an Ostrich who is in fact sticking their heads into the sand for a purpose, as that is where their nests are and for the sake of their yet to be born chicks. One wishes human behavior was more like that of Ostriches!

Collectively, the attitude of many people and the politicians who represent them, and even many religious leaders and civil society leaders, appear to live the myth surrounding Ostriches rather than the truth.

The attitudes displayed in the wake of current and potential hardships and disruptions, even greater poverty levels and malnutrition do not give an indication that the safety and well-being of future generations is being considered as a priority.

While the President has proposed several governance initiatives including the national governance council, grama sevaka level people’s committees, changes to electoral laws, many Parliamentary oversight committees as checks and balance mechanisms, no Opposition politician has presented an alternative governance model. The President’s proposals are matters for discussion and debate and improvement, if they are regarded as inadequate, but the irresponsible Opposition has not done this.

It is no wonder that the current Parliamentary system and those in it are a ridiculed lot. It is no wonder that a genuine Aragalaya began with very ordinary people’s participation to discuss and debate the future, as the past and the present have been failures. The concept of the original Aragalaya is no doubt in the hearts and minds of many and it should not surprise anyone if the movement resumes and becomes active in all parts of the country.

In this context, it is well worth for readers to watch and listen to a broadcast made by Venerable Galkande Dhammananda of the Walpola Rahula Trust (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI49kigcXxI) on the birth of the Aragalaya before political vultures descended on it to feed on its message and regurgitate a politically motivated, violent message simply to change the deck chairs of a sinking Sri Lanka. Venerable Dhammananda’s broadcast should be watched by those whose hearts ache for Sri Lanka, and for the future generations of the country whose lives will be adversely affected if the political status quo continues.

A national economic summit

The Opposition political parties and those splinter groups withing the ruling party, should demonstrate their concern for the country, not by calling for elections at this juncture, but by joining together with the President and the governing party to agree on a broad program to address immediate and impending economic disasters. Such a program could be developed at a National Economic Summit with the participation of the business community, union leaders, academics, professional organisations, women’s organisations and other key participants, to develop a bi partisan economic plan for the next 10 years that includes a fiscal and monetary policy, an export development plan, a tourism plan, foreign direct investment plan, a plan for local revenue raising including taxation reform, and in addition, very importantly, a plan for food security.

If politicians do not change and take the lead to do this, and make a concerted, genuine effort to reverse the current economic catastrophe and undertake contingency planning to avoid even a worse debacle, people should exercise their right to change not just the politicians but the system that produces them.

By Sarojini Dutt

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මාධ්‍ය අංශය

දරුවන් සහ ගැබිණි මාතාවන්ගේ ජීවිත සුරක්ෂිත කරලීම සඳහා කඩිනම් පියවර ගන්නවා.  -අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන

දේශපාලන න්‍යායන්ගෙන් තොරව ගමේ බලය රටේ ආර්ථික පරිපාලනය බවට පත්කරගත යුතු බව අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන මහතා පවසයි. 

කළුතර දිස්ත්‍රික් ජාතික ආහාර සුරක්ෂිතතා ප්‍රගති සමාලෝචන රැස්වීම සහ දිස්ත්‍රීක් සම්බන්ධීකරණ කමිටු රැස්වීම 2022.10.17 දින කළුතර දිස්ත්‍රික් ලේකම් කාර්යාලීය   ශ්‍රවණාගාරයේ දී පැවැත් වූ අවස්ථාවේදී අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා මේ බව අවධාරණය කළේය.

අප  දැන් සිටින්නේ  බරපතළ මූල්‍ය අර්බුදයක මෙන්ම  විශාල විදේශ විනිමය අර්බුදයක බැවින් මෙම  අර්බුදය ජය ගැනීමට නම් දේශපාලන භේද නොසලකා සියළු දෙනා අත්වැල් බැඳ ගත යුතු බව අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා මෙහිදී සඳහන් කළේය. 

එහිදී වැඩිදුරටත් අදහස් දැක් වූ අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය වරයා –

රටක් ලෙස කෘෂිකර්ම ක්ෂේත්‍රයේ අතිරික්තයක් පවත්වා ගෙන යා යුතුමයි. අනෙක් පැත්තෙන් වැවිලි කර්මාන්තය අපගේ අපනයනයට රුකුල් දෙන ප්‍රධාන ක්ෂේත්‍රයක්. අපට හංගන්න දෙයක් නැහැ. එයින් ගොඩ එන්න  අපි අත්වැල් බැඳගෙන උත්සාහ දැරිය යුතුයි.

 ආහාර සුරක්ෂිතතා  ක්‍රියාදාමයට සියලු දෙනාට සහභාගි විය හැකි ලෙස ගම් මට්ටමෙන් ග්‍රාම සේවා කොට්ඨාශවල සිට ප්‍රාදේශීය ලේකම් කොට්ඨාශය දක්වා මෙන්ම  දිස්ත්‍රික්ක මට්ටමින් ජාතික මට්ටමින් එකතු වෙන්න පුළුවන් වැඩසටහනක් ලෙස  ක්‍රියාත්මක කෙරෙනවා.

නිෂ්පාදනයේ  සිටින ගොවි ජනතාවත් මීට ඒකාබද්ධ කර ගැනීමේ අවශ්‍යතාවය අපි ප්‍රමුඛත්වයෙන් සලකනවා. එම ඉලක්කයන් සපුරා ගැනීම සඳහා වන අඩුපාඩු විවිධ යන්ත්‍රෝපකරණ පොහොර කෘමිනාශක සහ කල් තබා ගැනීමේ හැකියාව ඇතිකර ගැනීම, වෙළඳපොලට ගෙන ඒම වගේම හොඳ මිලක් ලබා දීමත් පිළිබඳව අවධානය යොමුකළ යුතුයි.

මේ අර්බුදය ජාතික අර්බුදයක්. මෙම අර්බුදයට සෑම දෙනාටම මුහුණ දෙන්න සිදුවෙනවා. මෙයින් ගොඩ එන්නට  පුළුවන් මහ කන්නයට තමයි අපි ඇවිල්ලා ඉන්නේ. මේ අර්බුදයෙන් ගොඩ ඒමේ කාලය ජය ගනිමින් අප ඉදිරියට යා යුතුයි.ඒ සඳහා සහය දෙන ලෙස මම හැම දෙනාගෙන්ම ඉල්ලා සිටිනවා.

වැඩියෙන්ම ගංවතුර ඇති වෙන්නේ කළුතර දිස්ත්‍රික්කයටයි. මහවැලි ගඟට වඩා වතුර ප්‍රමාණයක් ඉතා කෙටි දුරකදී මහ මුහුදට ගලන්නේ මේ දිස්ත්‍රික්කයෙන්. මේ ආහාර අර්බුදය ජය ගනිමින් ජාතික සංවර්ධන වැඩසටහනට අප අවතීරණ විය යුතුයි.

 විශාල වශයෙන් පරිසර හානියක් ඇති නොවන ආකාරයට වගාකර නොමැති රජයේ ඉඩම් මේ සඳහා ලබාදීමට රජය තීරණය කර තිබෙනවා.මෙ වැනි ඉඩම් හඳුනාගත යුතුයි.

ග්‍රාමසේවක මහතා ඇතුළු රජයේ නිලධාරින් මෙන්ම ග්‍රාමීය කමිටුව මේ පිළිබඳ තොරතුරු ඉහලට ගේන්න ඕනේ. ගමේ මට්ටමේ සංවර්ධනය ඉතාම වැදගත්. ලබන සතිය අවසාන වීමට පෙර අප අදාළ තොරතුරු සියල්ල ලබාගැනීමට අපේක්ෂා කරනවා.අවශ්‍ය සියලු සම්පත් ලබා දෙනවා. සෑම ග්‍රාම සේවා කොට්ඨාශයකටම අවශ්‍ය ශක්තිය අපි ලබාදෙනවා.

ධීවර කර්මාන්තය අපේ ආහාර නිෂ්පාදනයේ කොටසක්. ධීවර කර්මාන්තයට මහ බැංකුවේ  විවිධාංගීකරණයන්ට ඇතුළත් වෙන්නේ නැහැ.  එය කාලයක් තිබුනේ  කෘෂිකර්මාන්තය ඇතුලේ. ධීවර කර්මාන්තය අපේ ආහාර නිෂ්පාදනයේ කොටසක්  පිළිගත යුතුයි. ඒ වගේම ජනතාවගේ ප්‍රෝටීන් දායකත්වය වැඩිකිරීමට හැකි සම්පතක් ලෙස මෙන්ම එහි අතිරික්තය අපනයනය කර  හොඳ ආදායමක් ලබන්න පුළුවන් තරමට ධීවර කර්මාන්තය දියුණු කල යුතුයි. ඒ වෙනුවෙන් රජයේ මැදිහත් වීමක් ධීවර ක්ෂේත්‍රයට අත්‍යවශ්‍යයි.

තේ රබර් පොල් වැවිලි බෝග වලින් පස්සේ වැඩිම විදේශ විනිමයක් උපයා ගත හැකි නමුත් තවමත් ඊට අත නොතබා තිබෙන ක්ෂේත්‍රය වන්නේ  ධීවර කර්මාන්තයයි. එය ලෝකයම අපෙන් ඉල්ලන අපනයන කර්මාන්තයක්.

 අපේ දරුවන් සහ ගැබිණි ගැබිනි මාතාවන් පිළිබඳ නිසියාකාරව වාර්තා කළ යුතුයි. ඒ කිසිවකුත් හුද කලා කළ යුතු නැහැ. ඒ තීරණය රජය පැත්තෙන් අරගෙන තියෙනවා. ස්වෙච්ඡා සංවිධාන පෞද්ගලික ආයතන රාශියක් කළුතර දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ තිබෙනවා.

දරුවන්ගේ මෙන්ම ගැබිණී මාතාවන්ගේ අවශ්‍යතාවයන් සපයාදීමට සහ එම ජීවිත සුරක්ෂිත කරලීම සඳහා අවශ්‍ය පියවර ගත යුතුයි. අපනයනය සහ අලෙවිය සම්බන්ධ විශ්වාසයක් ගොවි ජනතාවට ඇති කළ යුතුයි. අලුත් විදිහට මේ අර්බුදයට මුහුණ  දෙන්න ආණ්ඩු පක්ෂය විපක්ෂය සියලු දෙනා එකමුතු විය යුතුමයි.

ගමේ ජනතාවට හයිය දීලා ගම් මට්ටමින් රට ගොඩනගන අලුත් වැඩපිළිවෙලකට දොරටුව විවෘත වෙලා තියෙනවා. දේශපාලන න්‍යායන් ගෙන් තොරව ගමේ බලය අප තහවුරු කරගත යුතුයි. ගමේ බලය ආර්ථික පරිපාලනය බවට පත්කරගත යුතුයි. ගමේ බලයේ අතිරික්තය රට පුරා ගමන් කිරීමේ වැඩපිළිවෙළ දියත් කළ යුතුයි.

 මෙම අවස්ථාවට අමාත්‍ය විදුර වික්‍රමනායක, බස්නාහිර පළාත් ආණ්ඩුකාර රොෂාන් ගුණතිලක, රාජ්‍ය අමාත්‍යවරුන් වන අශෝක ප්‍රියන්ත, අනූප පැස්කුවල්, පියල් නිශාන්ත පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රීවරුන් වන සංජීව එදිරිමාන්න, මර්ජාන් ෆලීල්, ලලිත් වර්ණකුමාර කුමාර වෙල්ගම, රාජිත සේනාරත්න, ලලිත් එල්ලාවල, යදාමිනී ගුණවර්ධන රාජය පරිපාලන අමාත්‍යංශ ලේකම් එම්,එම්,පී කේ මායාදුන්නේ කළුතර දිස්ත්‍රීක් ලේකම් ප්‍රසන්න ගිනිගේ යන මහත්වරු ඇතුළු පිරිසක් සහභාගී වූහ.

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මාධ්‍ය අංශය.

නීතියේ සිංහල නුග මුල “ෆීනික්ස් නීති සඟරාව”

නීතීඥවරුන් කිහිප දෙනෙකුට එරෙහිව අධිකරණයට අපහාස කිරීමේ පෙත්සමක් (COC/0011/22) එස්. පී. ජයතුංග මහතා විසින් අභියාචනාධිකරණයේ පවරා ඇත.

එස්. පී. ජයතුංග මහතා වෘත්තීයෙන් නීතිඥවරයෙක්ද වෙයි.

එම නඩුවට පදනම් වී ඇත්තේ අභියාචනාධිකරණයේ පවරා ඇති රිට් ආඥා නඩුවක පෙනී සිටීමේ ලේඛනයේ පෙනී සිටින නීතිඥවරුන්ගේ නම් සටහන් කර එම නඩුව කැදවූ අවස්ථාවේ අභියාචනාධිකරණයේ පෙනී නොසිට අධිකරණයේ යථා පැවැත්මට බාධා කරමින් ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාවේ 105.3 ව්‍යවස්ථාව යටතේ අභියාචනාධිකරණයට අපහාස කර ඇති බවයි.

අධිකරණයට අපහාස කිරීමේ මෙම නඩුව 2022.10.12 දින කැදවා ඇති අතර, ජනාධිපති නීතීඥ රොමේෂ් ද සිල්වා මහතා පෙනී සිටිමින් වෙනත් කරුණු අතර එස්. පී. ජයතුංග මහතාට නීතීඥවරයෙක් ලෙස අභියාචනාධිකරණයේ පෙනී සිටිය නොහැකි බවත්, ඔහුට නීතිඥ ලෝගුව පැළඳිය නොහැකි බවත්, අධිකරණයේ නීතිඥ මේසයේ අසුන්ගත නොහැකි බවත් කියා ඇති අතර අභියාචනාධිකරණයේ විනිසුරුවරුන් වන බන්දුල කරුණාරත්න මහතා සහ ආර්. ගුරුසිංහ මහතා එය අනුමත කරමින් පෙත්සම්කරුම නීතීඥවරයෙක් ලෙසද පෙනී සිටීම සුදුසු නොවන බවට නීතිඥ එස්. පී. ජයතුංග මහතාට දැනුම් දී ඇති අතර ඒ අනුව නඩුවේ ඉදිරි දින එනම් 2022.10.17 දින නීතිඥ එස්. පී. ජයතුංග මහතා සාමාන්‍ය පුරවැසියෙක් ලෙස අභියාචනාධිකරණයේ පෙනී සිටියේය.

නීතිඥ එස්. පී. ජයතුංග මහතා නීතිඥවරයෙකුගේ තත්ත්වයෙන් පෙනී නොසිටි අතර, ඔහු කරුණු දක්වමින් තමන් අද දින පෙත්සමක් සහ දිව්රුම් පෙත්සමක ඉදිරිපත් කර ඇති සහන අයද ඇති බවත් කියා සිටි අතර එහි පිටපතක් විරුද්ධ පාර්ශවයේ ජනාධිපති නීතීඥවරයා වෙතද ලබා දුන්නේය.

දෙපාර්ශවයේ කරුණු වලට සවන් දීමෙන් පසු අධිකරණයට අපහාස කිරීමේ නඩුවේ කරුණු තහවුරු කිරීම 2022.11.08 දිනට නියම කරනු ලැබීය.

නීතියේ සිංහල නුග මුල
“ෆීනික්ස් නීති සඟරාව”
වෛද්‍ය තිලක පද්මා සුබසිංහ අනුස්මරණ නීති අධ්‍යයන වැඩසටහන

Sufian Siddique 

Bangladesh has bagged a historic win in the election for the membership of the UNHRC for the term 2023-25, by securing 160 votes among 189 casted votes in the United Nations General Assembly. This prestigious win is indeed significant as this was the most competitive international election of all candidatures Bangladesh floated since 2018.  Bangladesh, as the highest recipient of votes in the Asia Pacific Group, has secured one of the four seats in the UNHRC competing with 7 aspirant countries from the Asia Pacific Group. The other three countries from the region elected were the Maldives (154 votes), Vietnam (145 votes), and Kyrgyzstan (126 votes). Bahrain withdrew its candidature a few days ago. The Republic of Korea (123 votes) and Afghanistan (12 votes) lost the election.

This would be the fifth term of Bangladesh as a member of the 47-member UNHRC. In the previous UNHRC elections, Bangladesh won in 2006, 2009, 2014, and 2018; effectively for all possible terms as per the rules of business of the Council. The result of this extremely competitive election is a clear manifestation of the recognition by the international community of Bangladesh’s continued endeavor and commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights in the national as well as international arena. This also nullifies the ongoing defamation campaign with falsified and fabricated information, by some politically motivated vested corners at home and abroad, aimed at negatively portraying the human rights situation of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, as a responsible and responsive Member State of the United Nations and an elected UNHRC member for the next three years, remains committed to making all efforts to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights nationally and globally in the midst of talks by various countries including the United States, about the allegations of disappearances and human rights violations, that too by getting a large number of votes. It is a great honor for Bangladesh as a country and also a relief for the government. The task of the Human Rights Council is to monitor the human rights situation of member countries around the world and make necessary recommendations. Bangladesh is now one of the countries responsible for taking care of the human rights situation in different countries.

Generally speaking, this victory will enhance the image of Bangladesh and the current government in the international forum. But at the same time, it will create additional pressure on the government. With the responsibility of taking care of the human rights situation of various countries, the accusation of human rights violation against any member of the council will certainly not be justified. As a result, Bangladesh has to be more sensitive and attentive in this regard. The UN Human Rights Council voted for the unlimited trust that the member states have shown in Bangladesh and the current government, and the government will surely try to respect that trust. May the huge victory of Bangladesh in the United Nations Human Rights Council help improve the human rights situation in Bangladesh.

A few things have come to the fore after a little searching about the achievement, which we think has played an important role in the achievement of Bangladesh. First of all, Bangladesh, which has been a member four times before, is already a tested name in this category. After the visit of UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet to Bangladesh in August, a report was published, in which it can be seen that Bangladesh is not on the list of countries where the UN is concerned about human rights. It can be assumed that this report has had a positive impact on the international arena. Another big issue that has highlighted Bangladesh as a great example of protecting human rights in the world is the resettlement of Rohingya refugees. In a densely populated country like Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set a great example of protecting human rights by showing this courage. Along with that, Bangladesh’s strong performance in the UN peacekeeping mission has positively influenced foreign countries. Coping with the effects of climate change is another significant factor. Many people may come to this point and say while writing about the issue of human rights.

The highest vote win in the United Nations is a reflection of the world leaders’ confidence in Sheikh Hasina’s government. It is once again proved that world leadership has confidence in Bangladesh’s human rights track record. The Government of Bangladesh has always been at the forefront of democracy, human rights and justice. Since 2009, Bangladesh has been elected to this 47-member council for the 5th time. This is a clear proof of the international community’s deep confidence in Bangladesh’s contribution to the UN human rights system and our ability to carry out the duties of the Council under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh pledged to work with all to strengthen the UN’s leadership in promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.

A large number of representatives of the member countries congratulated Bangladesh after the election. They lauded Bangladesh’s remarkable progress in democracy, human rights, governance, and socio-economic inclusion. The representatives of the member states also appreciated the humanitarian leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her bold and timely steps for world peace. Everyone expects that as a member of the Human Rights Council, Bangladesh will be able to make a significant contribution to the implementation of UN ideals in the field of human rights, especially in the context of emerging global challenges. All media including the daily newspapers and television channels of the country are proudly broadcasting the news of this achievement of Bangladesh. However, the news could not come to light in the world media.

Our Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam himself represented Bangladesh in this election. In his immediate response, he thanked the diplomats of Bangladesh working in 80 countries. Indeed, 160 countries have supported Bangladesh in a secret ballot for the positive contribution of all. The current government has been working tirelessly to ensure the fundamental rights mentioned in the Constitution of Bangladesh. It is already well-known in the world as the Sheikh Hasina Model of Inclusive Development has achieved many positive results in Bangladesh.

By Deborah Brautigam and Meg Rithmire Courtesy The Atlantic.com

China, we are told, inveigles poorer countries into taking out loan after loan to build expensive infrastructure that they can’t afford and that will yield few benefits, all with the end goal of Beijing eventually taking control of these assets from its struggling borrowers. As states around the world pile on debt to combat the coronavirus pandemic and bolster flagging economies, fears of such possible seizures have only amplified.

Seen this way, China’s internationalization—as laid out in programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative—is not simply a pursuit of geopolitical influence but also, in some tellings, a weapon. Once a country is weighed down by Chinese loans, like a hapless gambler who borrows from the Mafia, it is Beijing’s puppet and in danger of losing a limb.

The prime example of this is the Sri Lankan port of Hambantota. As the story goes, Beijing pushed Sri Lanka into borrowing money from Chinese banks to pay for the project, which had no prospect of commercial success. Onerous terms and feeble revenues eventually pushed Sri Lanka into default, at which point Beijing demanded the port as collateral, forcing the Sri Lankan government to surrender control to a Chinese firm.

The Trump administration pointed to Hambantota to warn of China’s strategic use of debt: In 2018, former Vice President Mike Pence called it debt-trap diplomacy”—a phrase he used through the last days of the administration—and evidence of China’s military ambitions. Last year, erstwhile Attorney General William Barr raised the case to argue that Beijing is loading poor countries up with debt, refusing to renegotiate terms, and then taking control of the infrastructure itself.”

As Michael Ondaatje, one of Sri Lanka’s greatest chroniclers, once said, In Sri Lanka a well-told lie is worth a thousand facts.” And the debt-trap narrative is just that: a lie, and a powerful one.

Read: What happens when China leads the world

Our research shows that Chinese banks are willing to restructure the terms of existing loans and have never actually seized an asset from any country, much less the port of Hambantota. A Chinese company’s acquisition of a majority stake in the port was a cautionary tale, but it’s not the one we’ve often heard. With a new administration in Washington, the truth about the widely, perhaps willfully, misunderstood case of Hambantota Port is long overdue.

The city of Hambantota lies at the southern tip of Sri Lanka, a few nautical miles from the busy Indian Ocean shipping lane that accounts for nearly all of the ocean-borne trade between Asia and Europe, and more than 80 percent of ocean-borne global trade. When a Chinese firm snagged the contract to build the city’s port, it was stepping into an ongoing Western competition, though one the United States had largely abandoned.

It was the Canadian International Development Agency—not China—that financed Canada’s leading engineering and construction firm, SNC-Lavalin, to carry out a feasibility study for the port. We obtained more than 1,000 pages of documents detailing this effort through a Freedom of Information Act request. The study, concluded in 2003, confirmed that building the port at Hambantota was feasible, and supporting documents show that the Canadians’ greatest fear was losing the project to European competitors. SNC-Lavalin recommended that it be undertaken through a joint-venture agreement between the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and a private consortium” on a build-own-operate-transfer basis, a type of project in which a single company receives a contract to undertake all the steps required to get such a port up and running, and then gets to operate it when it is.

The Canadian project failed to move forward, mostly because of the vicissitudes of Sri Lankan politics. But the plan to build a port in Hambantota gained traction during the rule of the Rajapaksas—Mahinda Rajapaksa, who served as president from 2005 through 2015, and his brother Gotabaya, the current president and former minister of defense—who grew up in Hambantota. They promised to bring big ships to the region, a call that gained urgency after the devastating 2004 tsunami pulverized Sri Lanka’s coast and the local economy.

We reviewed a second feasibility report, produced in 2006 by the Danish engineering firm Ramboll, that made similar recommendations to the plans put forward by SNC-Lavalin, arguing that an initial phase of the project should allow for the transport of non-containerized cargo—oil, cars, grain—to start bringing in revenue, before expanding the port to be able to handle the traffic and storage of traditional containers. By then, the port in the capital city of Colombo, a hundred miles away and consistently one of the world’s busiest, had just expanded and was already pushing capacity. The Colombo port, however, was smack in the middle of the city, while Hambantota had a hinterland, meaning it offered greater potential for expansion and development.

Read: The undoing of China’s economic miracle

To look at a map of the Indian Ocean region at the time was to see opportunity and expanding middle classes everywhere. Families in India and across Africa were demanding more consumer goods from China. Countries such as Vietnam were growing rapidly and would need more natural resources. To justify its existence, the port in Hambantota would have to secure only a fraction of the cargo that went through Singapore, the world’s busiest transshipment port.

Armed with the Ramboll report, Sri Lanka’s government approached the United States and India; both countries said no. But a Chinese construction firm, China Harbor Group, had learned about Colombo’s hopes, and lobbied hard for the project. China Eximbank agreed to fund it, and China Harbor won the contract.

This was in 2007, six years before Xi Jinping introduced the Belt and Road Initiative. Sri Lanka was still in the last, and bloodiest, phase of its long civil war, and the world was on the verge of a financial crisis. The details are important: China Eximbank offered a $307 million, 15-year commercial loan with a four-year grace period, offering Sri Lanka a choice between a 6.3 percent fixed interest rate or one that would rise or fall depending on LIBOR, a floating rate. Colombo chose the former, conscious that global interest rates were trending higher during the negotiations and hoping to lock in what it thought would be favorable terms. Phase I of the port project was completed on schedule within three years.

For a conflict-torn country that struggled to generate tax revenue, the terms of the loan seemed reasonable. As Saliya Wickramasuriya, the former chairman of the SLPA, told us, To get commercial loans as large as $300 million during the war was not easy.” That same year, Sri Lanka also issued its first international bond, with an interest rate of 8.25 percent. Both decisions would come back to haunt the government.

Finally, in 2009, after decades of violence, Sri Lanka’s civil war came to an end. Buoyed by the victory, the government embarked on a debt-financed push to build and improve the country’s infrastructure. Annual economic growth rates climbed to 6 percent, but Sri Lanka’s debt burden soared as well.

In Hambantota, instead of waiting for phase 1 of the port to generate revenue as the Ramboll team had recommended, Mahinda Rajapaksa pushed ahead with phase 2, transforming Hambantota into a container port. In 2012, Sri Lanka borrowed another $757 million from China Eximbank, this time at a reduced, post-financial-crisis interest rate of 2 percent. Rajapaksa took the liberty of naming the port after himself.

By 2014, Hambantota was losing money. Realizing that they needed more experienced operators, the SLPA signed an agreement with China Harbor and China Merchants Group to have them jointly develop and operate the new port for 35 years. China Merchants was already operating a new terminal in the port in Colombo, and China Harbor had invested $1.4 billion in Colombo Port City, a lucrative real-estate project involving land reclamation. But while the lawyers drew up the contracts, a political upheaval was taking shape.

Rajapaksa called a surprise election for January 2015 and in the final months of the campaign, his own health minister, Maithripala Sirisena, decided to challenge him. Like opposition candidates in Malaysia, the Maldives, and Zambia, the incumbent’s financial relations with China and allegations of corruption made for potent campaign fodder. To the country’s shock, and perhaps his own, Sirisena won.

Steep payments on international sovereign bonds, which comprised nearly 40 percent of the country’s external debt, put Sirisena’s government in dire fiscal straits almost immediately. When Sirisena took office, Sri Lanka owed more to Japan, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank than to China. Of the $4.5 billion in debt service Sri Lanka would pay in 2017, only 5 percent was because of Hambantota. The Central Bank governors under both Rajapaksa and Sirisena do not agree on much, but they both told us that Hambantota, and Chinese finance in general, was not the source of the country’s financial distress.

There was also never a default. Colombo arranged a bailout from the International Monetary Fund, and decided to raise much-needed dollars by leasing out the underperforming Hambantota Port to an experienced company—just as the Canadians had recommended. There was not an open tender, and the only two bids came from China Merchants and China Harbor; Sri Lanka chose China Merchants, making it the majority shareholder with a 99-year lease, and used the $1.12 billion cash infusion to bolster its foreign reserves, not to pay off China Eximbank.

Read: How Xi Jinping blew it

Before the port episode, Sri Lanka could sink into the Indian Ocean and most of the Western world wouldn’t notice,” Subhashini Abeysinghe, research director at Verité Research, an independent Colombo-based think tank, told us. Suddenly, the island nation featured prominently in foreign-policy speeches in Washington. Pence voiced worry that Hambantota could become a forward military base” for China.

Yet Hambantota’s location is strategic only from a business perspective: The port is cut into the coast to avoid the Indian Ocean’s heavy swells, and its narrow channel allows only one ship to enter or exit at a time, typically with the aid of a tugboat. In the event of a military conflict, naval vessels stationed there would be proverbial fish in a barrel.

The notion of debt-trap diplomacy” casts China as a conniving creditor and countries such as Sri Lanka as its credulous victims. On a closer look, however, the situation is far more complex. China’s march outward, like its domestic development, is probing and experimental, a learning process marked by frequent adjustment. After the construction of the port in Hambantota, for example, Chinese firms and banks learned that strongmen fall and that they’d better have strategies for dealing with political risk. They’re now developing these strategies, getting better at discerning business opportunities and withdrawing where they know they can’t win. Still, American leaders and thinkers from both sides of the aisle give speeches about China’s modern-day colonialism.”

Over the past 20 years, Chinese firms have learned a lot about how to play in an international construction business that remains dominated by Europe: Whereas China has 27 firms among the top 100 global contractors, up from nine in 2000, Europe has 37, down from 41. The U.S. has seven, compared to 19 two decades ago.

Chinese firms are not the only companies to benefit from Chinese-financed projects. Perhaps no country was more alarmed by Hambantota than India, the regional giant that several times rebuffed Sri Lanka’s appeals for investment, aid, and equity partnerships. Yet an Indian-led business, Meghraj, joined the U.K.-based engineering firm Atkins Limited in an international consortium to write the long-term plan for Hambantota Port and for the development of a new business zone. The French firms Bolloré and CMA-CGM have partnered with China Merchants and China Harbor in port developments in Nigeria, Cameroon, and elsewhere.

The other side of the debt-trap myth involves debtor countries. Places such as Sri Lanka—or, for that matter, Kenya, Zambia, or Malaysia—are no stranger to geopolitical games. And they’re irked by American views that they’ve been so easily swindled. As one Malaysian politician remarked to us, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss how Chinese finance featured in that country’s political drama, Can’t the U.S. State Department tell the difference between campaign rhetoric that our opponents are slaves to China and actually being slaves to China?”

The events that led to a Chinese company’s acquisition of a majority stake in a Sri Lankan port reveal a great deal about how our world is changing. China and other countries are becoming more sophisticated in bargaining with one another. And it would be a shame if the U.S. fails to learn alongside them.

Deborah Brautigam is Bernard L. Schwartz Professor of International Political Economy at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University

Meg Rithmire is F. Warren McFarlan Associate Professor at Harvard Business School

Courtesy Khaleej Times

Petrol price will be reduced by 40 rupees to 370 rupees a litre from Monday night, says energy ministry

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka slashed fuel prices on Monday, the second cut in as many weeks, after the World Bank warned that the economy will shrink an unprecedented 9.2 per cent this year.

The energy ministry said the price of petrol will be reduced by 40 rupees to 370 rupees ($1.02) a litre from Monday night after a similar 10 percent reduction earlier this month.

But the price of regular petrol is still twice the amount before the start of the crisis last year while diesel is three and a half times more than what it was in December 2021.

Earlier this year motorists spent weeks to get fuel, contributing to weeks of protests that forced president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country in July and quit.

The wait at the pumps has reduced to a few hours in recent weeks, but fuel is still strictly rationed because of an enduring shortage of dollars needed to pay for essential imports.

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Public transport also ground to a halt due to a lack of diesel but now services are almost back to normal, although many fares — in common with soaring prices for other services and goods — have doubled.

Official annual inflation rates are running at close to 70 per cent.

The latest lowering of petrol and diesel came after the World Bank warned that the economic contraction will be worse than the 8.7 per cent forecast by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The World Bank in its latest country update published last week said the economy will continue to shrink next year too. It expects a 4.2 per cent contraction next year.

In addition to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war, Sri Lanka’s worst crisis since independence is also partly blamed on the sharp tax cuts announced by Rajapaksa after he came to power in November 2019.

The crisis forced the government to default on its $51 billion foreign debt in April.

Rajapaksa’s successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has overturned some of the tax cuts and introduced new revenue measures.

The International Monetary Fund has tentatively approved a four-year, $2.9 billion bailout.

But the package is subject to an agreement with creditors including China, Sri Lanka’s biggest creditor, as well as to contain inflation and tackle corruption.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

raveller Australia, the travel section of the two top Australia newspapers; Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age, included three Sri Lankan hotels in its annual roundup “The best of the best: World’s top hotels”

This is perfect timed with the lifting of the Australia travel advisory on Sri Lanka. 

Ceylon Tea Trails, Wild Coast Tented Lodge and Cape Weligama were nominated in multiple categories. 

Cape Weligama’s Smiling Moon Pool was awarded the World’s Best Pool with the comment “This might be the most photogenic pool in the world.” The iconic Cape Weligama image was even the cover image on the Traveller website. 

Australia is an important market for Sri Lanka tourism. Having been shut for an extended period during Covid, outbound travel is set to explode and Sri Lanka should be a significant beneficiary. SriLankan operates nonstop flights to Sydney and Melbourne. 

There has been an increase in organic momentum for Sri Lanka after having one property in the Conde Nast Traveller best resorts in the world list (Cape Weligama again) and being recognized as one of the friendliest countries in the world, also by Conde Nast. This augurs well for the winter season.

Courtesy Adaderana

Due to high risk of debt distress, fiscal situation not only constrains the ability of governments to meet immediate development needs but also limits their ability to invest in longer-term challenges, such as climate change, says State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe.

The State Minister, who is in Washington D.C. for the IMF and World Bank meetings, presented at the ‘V-20 Ministerial Dialogue’ held during the WB annual meetings. 

He said that climate change today is a global reality that has brought forth unprecedented changes to the environment, natural ecosystems, and biodiversity and significantly disrupted socio-economic processes across many economies”. 

Sri Lanka also has been ranked among the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change in the global climate change risk index. The UN-IPCC Sixth Assessment Report shows that the intensified water cycles due to climate change are bringing more intense rainfall and associated flooding, changes in rainfall patterns and monsoon precipitation in many regions of the world.” 

These impacts are increasingly becoming visible in Sri Lanka, with frequent damages and losses of lives, livelihoods and damages to the built environment, adding further pressure on already stressed fiscal balances, he said. 

These enormous economic costs barely cover the significant and irreversible damage that would be done to ecosystems, social structures, and lives from extreme climate events”. 

In the meantime, Sri Lanka has been facing its worst economic downturn since independence in 1948, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and other global challenges, the state minister stressed. 

He said the weakened fiscal and external sector positions required Sri Lanka to announce a debt standstill and commence discussions with the IMF and embark on structural adjustments to correct the direction of policies to stabilize the economy. 

Sri Lanka is currently squeezed from multiple sides such as witnessing lasting effects of COVID, supply chain bottlenecks, capital outflows with interest rates in advanced economies, rocketing fuel and food prices and rising costs of inputs, such as fertilizer, that jeopardize future food production levels”. 

In addition, climate change itself is also raising the cost of capital of the country, which signals the inter-dependence of climate risks and financial risks. Due to high risk of debt distress, fiscal situation not only constrains the ability of governments to meet immediate development needs but also limits their ability to invest in longer-term challenges, such as climate change”.

The state minister concluded his address by saying that, Many countries like Sri Lanka cannot address climate risks and financial risks on their own. While appreciating the recent initiatives, such as the IMF’s ‘Food Shock Window’ and ‘Resilience and Sustainability Trust’, we have to acknowledge that these are not sufficient.” 

Therefore, the gatherings as the one we are having today are important to understand the risks and challenges of these crises and to plan for the future towards sustainable economic development. 

Such groupings could also play a key role in encouraging multilateral and bilateral concessional financing and global technology transfers which are essential to find innovative solutions to address these vulnerabilities”.

Courtesy Adaderana

Japan is working to organize a meeting of Sri Lanka’s creditors by the end of this year in hopes of solving that country’s debt crisis, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

The meeting, which will discuss such issues as finding ways to reduce debt payments, aims to curb China’s influence by helping Sri Lanka cope with its so-called debt traps, which arose after China provided huge loans to the country to fund infrastructure developments and other projects.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe asked Japan for help during talks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other people during a visit to Japan at the end of September to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to Japanese government sources.

The meeting is expected to focus on measures to reduce debt payments and postpone repayment deadlines, among other related steps. Japan continues to urge other creditor countries to play a proactive role in dealing with the issue.

Sri Lanka’s economy has suffered due to sluggish tourism during the novel coronavirus pandemic and soaring food and resource prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In April, the Sri Lankan government introduced an emergency measure to suspend its repayment of external debts.

According to the Sri Lankan government, the nation’s external debt at the end of June stood at $46.6 billion, accounting for about 70% of its gross domestic product.

Sri Lanka has more than 20 creditors, with China topping the list at $7.3 billion, followed by Japan at $2.7 billion and India at $1.7 billion.

While struggling to repay its debts, Sri Lanka in 2017 effectively transferred to China the operating rights of one of its ports.

China — which has come under criticism from the international community for causing Sri Lanka’s economic collapse — will not play a leading role in restructuring Sri Lanka’s debts, and the Japanese government will have to tread carefully in its efforts to reach agreement among creditors in a manner acceptable to Beijing.

Source: The Japan News

–Agencies

Courtesy Adaderana

A group of activists who were arrested on suspicion of violent behaviour during a protest held by the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) in Colombo, have been produced before the Government Analyst’s Department today (Oct 17).

They were produced before the Government Analyst, according to a request made to the Fort Magistrate to identify the people from the video footage pertaining to the protest held on August 18.

According to orders of the Magistrate, 12 individuals including activist Jehan Appuhami have been brought before the Government Analyst’s Department.