Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe wants to sell the national airline, saying the country’s poorest people who’ve never flown shouldn’t be saddled with its losses. Finding a buyer might not be easy.
SriLankan Airlines, which prior to the pandemic flew to 126 destinations in more than 60 countries, lost 45 billion rupees (NZ$195 million) in the year through March 2021, Wickremesinghe said, less than a week into his job.
Sri Lanka had bought back a stake in the carrier from Dubai’s Emirates in 2010, betting on a resurgent travel industry after the end of its 26-year civil war, but the airline has been marred in controversy, including corruption scandals.
“I don’t expect much interest from airlines,” said Brendan Sobie, Singapore-based founder of consultancy Sobie Aviation. “Many of the airlines that made overseas investments in prior years have shifted their strategies and are no longer eager to acquire airlines in other markets. SriLankan also isn’t that attractive given its history and the challenges it still faces.”
The attempt to sell the airline comes with Sri Lanka on the verge of defaulting on two unpaid foreign bonds. High inflation has led to widespread public anger and violence, prompting the former prime minister to resign.
Wickremesinghe said he had to print money to pay government salaries, which will pressure the local currency. “The next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives,” he said.
SriLankan’s predicament carries risks for aircraft-leasing firms, including Air Lease and Avolon Holdings, analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence wrote in a report last month. While the size of the Sri Lankan aviation market isn’t close to Russia’s, where lessors face writedowns of billions of dollars, the crisis could exacerbate their problems, wrote analysts, including Adrian Sim.
Sri Lanka has previously failed to find a buyer for the debt-laden airline. In 2018, the country revived a process of privatising the carrier after talks with TPG Capital collapsed following due diligence of the airline. But two years later, that plan was taken off the table.
At least eight parties had showed interest in a 2016 attempt to sell the flag carrier, including US buyout firm Blackstone Group, Bloomberg News reported at the time. Sri Lanka’s allure in part is down to its proximity to India, from where travellers are increasingly taking stops in Colombo to either visit the island or the neighbouring Maldives and Seychelles.
India’s largest conglomerate, Tata Group, which recently bought formerly state-run Air India, and European carriers such as Deutsche Lufthansa, Air France-KLM or Turkish Airlines could be interested in buying SriLankan, according to Mark Martin, founder of Dubai-based Martin Consulting. A successful bid could help them establish a second hub in Asia, enabling them to take on Gulf carriers that dominate the continent’s south and southeast, he said.
Sri Lanka is also home to many European expatriates, creating demand for the Visiting Friends and Relatives travel segment, which holds significant potential, Martin said. “Will SriLankan find a buyer? Absolutely it will. It had a foreign airline investor before, and it again will.”
However, the crisis in Sri Lanka has plunged the flag carrier further into crisis, sending its dollar bond to a record low and indicating a distressed level, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It has also slashed jobs and salaries, and renegotiated aircraft leases after grounding about 95% of its fleet during the worst of the pandemic. The carrier has about two dozen Airbus SE jets.
“Sri Lanka is in a very bad shape, so anyone thinking of buying its flag carrier is therefore taking a huge risk,” said Shukor Yusof, founder of aviation consulting firm Endau Analytics in Malaysia. It would be “better to let the airline go down and let market forces dictate the future of air connectivity for Sri Lanka”.
The airline brings “more problems than advantages given its legacy issues,” Yusof said. Some potential buyers, like Singapore Airlines, would struggle to justify shelling out for it after receiving government bailouts, while a cash-rich carrier like Qatar Airways is helmed by a chief executive who is “not easily swayed, no matter how cheap the valuation,” he said. IndiGo, India’s biggest airline, may not “bite off more than it can chew” given its own issues.
Colombo HC lawyers concerned over shocking developments
National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, says a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) should be appointed to investigate the role played by IGP C.D. Wickremaratne and Public Security Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. (retd.) Jagath Alwis in the recent SLPP hothead attack on those demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Cabinet of Ministers, including Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Weerawansa yesterday (18) told TheIsland that Parliament should inquire into the unprovoked attack that triggered an extremely violent response by the public as well as those awaiting an opportunity to unleash violence on selected group of lawmakers on 09 May.
The former Industries Minister said he was confident that Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, would look into the issues at hand.
Responding to another query, Weerawansa said that Senior DIG Colombo Deshabandu Tennakoon’s claim that the IGP and the Public Security Ministry Secretary had interfered with his (Tennakoon’s) plan to disperse the SLPP mobs couldn’t be easily dismissed.
MP Weerawansa declared, in Parliament on Tuesday (17), that the IGP and the Public Security Ministry dissuaded the Senior DIG from performing his duties although he had received specific instructions from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to stop the march on Galle Face. The former JVPer questioned whether those conspirators wanted to show the world the failure on the part of the police and the armed forces to maintain law and order.
Asked whether police headquarters and the Public Security Ministry had responded to his accusations, Weerawansa said he hadn’t been contacted by them so far.
Pointing out that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), inquiring into 09 May turmoil had recorded Senior DIG’s statement, Weerawansa said that the outfit could issue an interim statement on the matter.
The Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association said that the shocking revelation, made in Parliament, should be expeditiously inquired into.
The Association’s President Attorney-at-Law Lakshman Perera said that the ongoing investigations had taken an unexpected turn in the wake of high profile specific allegations pertaining to the conduct of the IGP, as well as the Public Security Ministry Secretary. Pointing out that the HRCSL and the CID had already recorded DIG Tennakoon’s statement, pertaining to the incidents, and the officer was among a group of 22 persons slapped with a travel ban by the Fort Magistrate, lawyer Perera said that the CID couldn’t turn a blind eye to accusations directed at the head of the department as well as Secretary to the relevant ministry.
Lawyer Perera said that investigations couldn’t be completed without verifying accusations made in Parliament.
Lawmaker Weerawansa said that the question was on whose behalf the IGP and the Public Security Ministry Secretary intervened at a time the country was under emergency and after the Senior DIG in charge of Colombo received specific instructions from the President himself.
Although the SLPP goons did not shed any blood or cause any serious injuries, unlike the well-organized mobs that caused havoc across the country thereafter, MP Weerawansa said that he couldn’t comprehend why the police and the armed forces allowed the situation to develop to an extremely dangerous level.
The HRCSL in its initial reaction to the unprovoked attacks on those who had been demanding the resignation of the government condemned the violence caused by a group of people who made it very clear that violence was their intention.
HRCSL Chairperson retired Supreme Court Justice Rohini Marasinghe said: The failure of the police to prepare for this eventuality and prevent and manage the violence and destruction is a gross failure of public order. There must be an immediate inquiry into this matter. The inaction of the police to prevent the clash is condemned.”
The Island brought the latest developments to the notice of the HRCSL yesterday as MP Weerawansa said that those who conspired and planned the project that involved those at the helm of Temple Trees then and the SLPP should be arrested. The conspirators shouldn’t be allowed to escape justice while the CID arrested those who carried out the actual attacks.
Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that the department couldn’t respond to what transpired in Parliament. Acknowledging that he was aware of the allegations made in Parliament, Attorney-at-Law Thalduwa said in case their response was sought through proper channels, whatever the queries would be answered.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Trade Unions today denied reports which claimed that fuel was sold at a subsidized rate of Rs.121 per liter to MPs and VIPs and said if any MP needed to fill their vehicle tanks, they would have to stay in the queue.
Trade Union officials told Daily Mirror that following the allegations on social media that fuel was sold at subsidized rates, they had inquired from the filling station closer to the Narahenpita police Transport Division, and checked the bills, to confirm that the claims were false.
They further said that social media pictures circulating that fuel was sold for MPs at Rs.121 a liter may have been filmed when there was a system upgrade and this was not the price the fuel was sold at.
The CPC Trade Unions further said that they had informed the Narahenpita fuel station, which was allocated for the MPs to fill their fuel, that if any MP wants to fill their vehicle tanks, they must come in the queue and no special preference should be given to them.
Officials said that following a tense situation at the Narahenipta Filling Station today, the Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara had informed them to stop giving special preference to VIPs or MPs.
Desperate consumers who were in the queue for hours overnight had threatened the filling station employees to stop the preferential treatment immediately.
As a result, the Trade Unions said that instructions had been given to the shed employees that if any MPs require fuel, they must wait in the queue like all citizens. (Chaturanga Samarawickrema)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on May 19 said that the government of India-backed $1 billion term loan granted to Sri Lank through the State Bank of India (SBI) for financing purchase of essential goods can be settled in rupee terms, outside the purview of the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) arrangement.
This is in view of difficulties experienced by exporters in receipt of export proceeds from Sri Lanka,” the central bank said in a statement.
In March, the government had said that State Bank of India will provide $1 billion credit facility to Sri Lanka for procurement of food, medicines and other essential items, the Indian media reported.
Under the arrangement, financing of export of eligible goods and services from India, as defined under the agreement, would be allowed subject to their being eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by State Bank of India under this agreement, it said.
Asian Clearing Union or ACU is a payment arrangement in which participants settle payments for intra-regional transactions among the participating central banks on a net multilateral basis. The central banks and the monetary authorities of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are currently the members of the ACU, according to an earlier notification by the RBI.
As per the arrangement, receipt for export of eligible goods and services by debit can only be settled in a ACU Dollar account, ACU Euro account and/or Japnese Yen account in India of a bank of the member country.
Three admins of social media platform including a 39-year-old TV presenter have been arrested by the CID for instigating and aiding and abetting recent violent activities through the social media.
Police said the CID, police stations across the country and special police units are conducting investigations to identify social media groups and its admins over instigating violent activities following the incidents at Kollupitiya and Galle Face Green on May 9.
They said the Computer Crimes Investigating Unit of the CID arrested three suspects including a female TV presenter from Colombo for aiding and abetting to instigate violence through social media.
Accordingly, a 22-year-old man from Dickwella was arrested on Wednesday. Police said the suspect had shared posts on social media calling the public that houses of police and three armed forces should be set on fire.
The CID also arrested a 21-year-old youth from Nugegoda for promoting violence on social media and posting information that threatens public safety.
Police said the TV presenter from Narahenpita in Colombo 5 was arrested on charges of aiding and abetting violence on social media.
Police said action will be taken against the suspects under the Computer Crimes Act. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)
Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s office, today rejected social media reports claiming that Rajapaksa was flown in for the parliamentary sessions on Wednesday, saying Rajapaksa traveled by road and not by chopper. Former Coordinating Secretary to Rajapaksa, Geethanath Cassilingam said Rajapaksa is in Colombo and arrived in Parliament by road and not by helicopter as claimed on social media. He will continue to attend parliamentary sittings with MP Namal Rajapaksa saying the former Prime Minister will address Parliament soon.
Sri Lanka is yet to respond to a Chinese offer of a shipment of diesel to tide over the present crisis of fuel shortage, Daily Mirror learns.
According to an informed source, China has made the offer in terms of emergency assistance. However, Sri Lanka has not yet responded to it.
The country is currently going through a fuel crisis. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe announced earlier that diesel stocks have been secured, but the country has been down to its last day of petrol.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara also asked people not to queue up at filling stations for petrol since the supply is limited. He said the available stocks would be released only for emergency services such as ambulances. (Kelum Bandara)
The Prime Minister says that the new cabinet ministers will not be paid their ministerial salaries.<br /><br />This was during the parliamentary session held today (19).
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has stated that some of the privileges of the Members of Parliament will also be curtailed.
Earlier it was reported that the Prime Minister had decided to reduce the expenses of the Prime Minister’s Office by 50% and return 16 vehicles used.
A 42-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of torching an army bus during the protest staged in front of the President’s residence in Pengiriwatte, Mirihana on the 31st of March.
The arrest was made by the Criminal Investigation Department, in the area of Deraniyagala today (May 19).
A protest was staged near the President’s residence in Mirihana on March 31, demanding immediate solutions to the various crises faced by the people of the country.
A tense situation during the protest, which ended with clashes between protesters and police officers after tear gas was used to disperse the crowd, had led to the arrest of several dozens of protesters by the police.
Earlier this week, the CID announced that it is seeking public assistance to apprehend the suspects who had incited tensions and torched public property during the Mirihana protest.
Members of public were accordingly requested to inform on any information about the suspects to the following contact numbers via calls or WhatsApp messages:
OIC Public Complaints Division – 071 859 4922 Public Complaints Division – 011 244 1379 Control Room – 011 242 2176
Sri Lanka’s central bank governor said on Thursday he will stay on as head of the bank given an improvement in political stability in the midst of an economic crisis, and he would not step down as he had earlier said he would.
Governor P. Nandalal Weerasinghe also said the Central Bank of Sri Lanka had almost finalised plans to restructure the country’s debt and proposals would be submitted to the cabinet soon, possibly by Friday.
Weerasinghe told reporters on May 11 that he would resign in two weeks in the absence of political stability as any steps the bank took to address the economic crisis would not be successful amid political turmoil.
Speaking to reporters after his bank announced it was holding its key lending and borrowing rates steady, Weerasinghe said there had been positive political developments.
Earlier, there was no prime minister and no cabinet. Comparatively there has been significant improvement,” he said.
We now have fresh appointments. We have also seen that our measures are working well. I would like to see a finance minister appointed. Now we are seeing improvement, so I think on that basis I intend to continue,” he said.
Opposition parliamentarian Ranil Wickremesinghe was named prime minister last week and he has made four cabinet appointments. However, he is yet to name a finance minister.
The nation of 22 million people is battling a devastating economic crisis as tax cuts by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa drained government coffers, COVID-19 hit the important tourism industry and rising oil prices emptied foreign exchange reserves.
The central bank held rates steady following a massive 7 percentage point increase at its previous meeting and reiterated the need for more fiscal measures and political stability in the crisis-hit economy.
Weerasinghe said proposals on debt were nearly ready and could be sent to the Cabinet by Friday for approval.
He also said inflation could rise to 40% in the next couple of months but it was being driven largely by supply-side pressures and measures by the bank and government were already reining in demand-side inflation.
Inflation hit 29.8% in April with food prices expanding by 46.6% year-on-year.
U.S. investment bank JPMorgan backed Sri Lanka’s crisis-hit government bonds on Wednesday, saying recent political changes should gradually improve its strains and help its talks with the International Monetary Fund.
Sri Lanka is officially now in default as a so-called grace period to make some already-overdue bond interest payments expired on Wednesday.
We are in pre-emptive default. There can be technical definitions … From their side they can consider it a default. Our position is very clear, until there is a debt restructure, we cannot repay,” Weerasinghe told reporters.
Public sector employees, except those in essential services, are not required to report to work tomorrow due to the prevailing fuel crisis, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in parliament this morning (May 19).
Delivering a speech in the House, the Premier also urged the general public to limit non-essential travels tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara who addressed the parliament, appealed to the general public not to stand in queues for petrol today, as supplies are unavailable.
However, people are still waiting in queues despite being asked to stay away from filling stations for three days since yesterday, he added.
A vessel carrying a petrol shipment was docked at the Colombo Port at around 8.30 a.m. this morning after the payment was settled last night, Minister Wijesekara said further, adding that the unloading process is expected to begin later today.
It will take at least two days to finish distributing the petrol stocks to filling stations, the minister continued.
A crisis is the best time to analyze what went wrong & what we can do to correct this. A constitution is just a piece of paper. Its applicability is what matters. Its applicability by the correct persons is equally important. The problem lies in the issue of definition of ‘correct persons’. Everyone has their own view of ‘correct person’ as per what is advantageous to them or their line of thinking. So where do we draw the line?
Government Apparatus – The Legislature
Headed by the PM, this is the pillar making the laws & enacting them. The people’s grievance with this pillar is rampant corruption / favoritism & cronyism / political bias / Public Sector corruption / Wastage of state funds / not keeping to a National Plan
Solving corruption by Politicians / their cronies & the Public Sector
New entity of an Ombudsman Ministry must be the conduit which will accept complaints against Politicians & Public Sector personnel for any acts of corruptions. They will do the preliminary investigations & then present to AG’s department to file action. There should be no political interference in this process. Perhaps the AG’s dept should come under the judiciary instead of the Justice Ministry.
Immediate action is to take cases where Senior Secretaries have indulged in corrupt practices and investigate their bank accounts & lifestyles & take necessary action against them. This will immediately straighten up the public sector as their corruptions happen hiding behind the politicians.
Target the Public Sector corruptions first & see a major change. It will send a message down the line to all other levels of Public Servants indulging in corrupt practices including lethargy & wasting public funds for personal use.
Political corruptions
Change criteria for voting & revise salary and perks given to Ministers & MPs. The current wastage they indulge in with impunity must stop. Every aspect of undue privileges must be stopped. Their package needs to be revisited & revised.
Changing voting system – end proportional representation as it is bringing politicians who people have not voted for to enter Parliament simply due to the seat allocations.
The above two will discourage politicians who become politicians simply to enjoy a life of luxury from entering politics.
Political cronyism/favoritism/political bias
The practice of appointing wives/daughters/sons as private secretaries must stop. No family member should be allowed to hold post directly under or reporting to the Minister. All positions must be based on an exam/interviews and via selection criteria process as took place prior to 1978.
Wastage of State Funds
The practice of refurbishing official residences with every change of Minister or Govt must stop.
With clear demarcations as to what every state sector employee (from politician to peon) is allowed – wastage will automatically stop or be brought to a minimum. Punitive actions must be clearly identified and implemented.
If the judiciary is corrupt, is it in any position to punish other corrupt? Therefore, there is need for some transparency in the judicial mechanism as well. Judges of the Court who are held as the beacons of justice and lawyers too cannot be corrupt when they are tasked to deliver justice & punish the corrupt. This is a key area where justice is not happening as people expect.
National Plan
Every Ministry had a planning unit – these are non-functional entities because of political interference and lethargy of public officials. These must be revised and they must be tasked to come up with necessary plans for their Ministries which must get amalgamated into a proper national development plan that CANNOT change with every government unless they add value to the plan.
Sri Lanka has the ability to come out of the crisis easily unlike other countries. We have the resources. We have the brains. We have committed people. The problem is these people are always sidelined and a bunch of opportunists take over & ruin all the wealth we have. We have to protect our wealth (our People/ Our Resources/Our Assets) Any proposal or any investment cannot barter these key wealth channels. Investments must be done giving priority to protecting these 3 areas.
We must first identify what we deem ‘development’ – thereafter only, we should form workable action plan to reach these goals.
When the above are functioning as they should – the President will also fall in line.
We are faced with a situation of the lack of $$$ to import even essentials, this means
We have to remove ourselves from the mentality of relying on $$$ & import everything (dedollarize is the trend) – think of new ways we can negotiate import of essentials
Govt must uplift whatever can sustain our people and support them in new out of the box solutions. Food is most important area.
We must think of quick revenue generating projects and take these proposals to foreign countries who have been traditional friends & come up with a win-win deal & implement these projects quickly. This can be used to negotiate a delay in any loan payment.
If countries who are exporting from Sri Lanka are using this as a threat to cancel our orders – then we must find alternative export options with other countries. Sri Lanka should not meekly allow to be blackmailed. We must either look for other options or find ways to mitigate the threat.
The biggest obstacle in developing Sri Lanka, unfortunately remains India who never wants to see Sri Lanka develop & it is not because Sri Lanka is seen as a threat to India but simply because India wishes to bully Sri Lanka & use Sri Lanka as its foothold. No government has devised a plan to mitigate this threat. Whatever national plans Sri Lanka has, however great these are on paper, India will never allow them to materialize. With India now part of Quad – Sri Lanka is now vulnerable to 2 powerful bullies on our soil.
At present we are in a situation where we have to first come out of the rut we are in. It is agreed that the corrupt system that currently exists cannot deliver any solutions even if an election is held.
Therefore, People must call for immediate implementation of a new voting system, revised perks/salaries for politicians, punitive actions against Public Sector officials (from Senior downwards).
The Ombudsman’s Ministry can channel complaints against Politicians & Public Sector & a revamped Judiciary can take the cases & deliver justice as deserved.
This will start the domino effect for the change we need.
We should not fall prey for proposals that are drafted from external parties whether these are what IMF gives CBSL, USAID gives BASL or foreign think tanks that give local NGOs in Sri Lanka. These proposals are all to benefit not Sri Lanka or Sri Lankans but are aligned with their geopolitical project for Sri Lanka.
This is our country. People who want to protect and preserve our sovereignty, our territorial integrity must champion these changes. We must have relations with all countries, but all countries must know, Sri Lanka puts its interests first. If Mrs.B could tell that to the West and East and she remains the only Sri Lankan leader held in high esteem by both blocs even now, why can’t the present leaders lead with spine?
This is a letter I wrote to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the present President, in 2006 from Texas USA, when I was holidaying at my younger daughter Achala when he was the Defense Secretary in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government requesting him to take immediate safety measures against a possible LTTE attack on the Kotmale dam. (to which I never got a reply as usual).
The Kotmale dam
The Kotmale dam 87.m high (285 ft) and 600 m long, constructed across the Kotmale Oya a left bank tributary of Mahaweliganga. at 703 m msl (2306 ft) in the central hill country of Sri Lanka. It has a storage capacity of 800 000m2 (28,000,000 cu ft) at spill level. It was constructed against the advice of eminent Geologists like late Prof of Geology, P.W Withanage University of Sri Lanka, as it is identified as a geologically unstable region constituted with characteristic crystalline lime stones.
Map 1
Extreme caution has to be taken not to upset physical equilibrium set by nature by constructing large reservoirs like Kotmale reservoir on these watersheds at such a high elevation. Because one day if there is going to be a dam breach at this level, at spill level, carrying a 285 feet high 28,000,000 cu ft of water either due to natural causes or manmade actions like a LTTE terrorist attack, the resulting downstream disaster would be extremely high and unimaginable, considering the elevation of the location (2306 ft msl) of this dam in relation to the densely populated downstream settlement, the height and the enormous volume of water in the reservoir at spill level, 28,000,000 cu ft and the relative cumulative gravitational force the flood will acquire as it role down roaring over the hills and valleys will be definitely beyond human imagination. If a breach takes place this could be ranked as the world’s most disastrous dam breach tragedy in history. This danger becomes all the more serious in view of the relative location of the reservoir at very high level, the abrupt drop in the elevation and the peculiar radial geomorphological lay out of the Island in relation to the location of the Kotmale reservoir as shown in the map1.
Under these circumstances if the dam breaches due to any reason the enormous volume of water that it empties will roar down the precipice of Kotmale Oya will be extremely devastative with its thundering high tide pouring in to Mahaweli. First it will scoop out Gampola and Gelioya towns together with the rich Kandyan agricultural villages on either side of Mahaweli and once it reaches Peradeniya it will get split in to three massive floods, one turning left at Peradeniya. and another urning right at Getambe while the main flood will go down Mahaweli up to Katugagastota, where it will again bifurcate in to two, the left flood will force up Pingaoya and go towards Matale and the main one, erasing Katugastoa, sweeping Polgolla barrage will surge in to Victoria reservoir. The third flood that will takes its course along the Peradeniya Kandy road and then scooping Kandy town and pouring in to Victoria Reservoir over Buwelikada gap taking a part of Udawatta kele together with the debris of the historic Mahanwara Town together with the Temple of the Tooth with all its sacred and mundane treasures to be deposited in the depth of the Indian Ocean.This will then join the flood coming down Polgolla and together it will get reinforced with the Victoria waters (722,000.000 m2)_ and then
VICTORIA DAM
burst in to Randenigala (647,000,000 cu ft) and finally collecting 361,446 Cu ft of Rantembe with the debris of all the Dams will end up in the Eastern Sea with all what this mighty surge will scoop out from the Eastern province and what it has already collected from either side of the Mahaweli river from Kotmale downward, say up to about hundreds of feet on either side up to end of Rantembe, the last reservoir on the Mahaweli, carving out a huge canyon up to the sea. You can just imagine the thrust of the total volume of water that will scoop out almost 2/3 of the Eastern Province in an open funnel shape cavity in to the Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile the one that go down the Kumbiyangoda precipice will scoop out the Matale town, empties the Nalanda Reservoir and the Moragakha kanda, with its 521,000,000 m3 and will erase what is left out by the main flood that comes down the main Mahaweli and also that is surging in to the eastern flat land at its bend near old Minipe anicut site. The Matale Moragahakanda flood will take the balance of the eastern Province to the Indian Ocean, with the Polonnaruwa town and all the sacred treasures standing in the Polonnaruwa kingdom along with the waters of the Parakrama Samudra(112,500 acre feet).
Finally, the flood that go across Kiribath kumbura and Kadugannava down the precipice to Mavanella will scoop out the areas on either side of the Ma Oya from there onwards and empties in to the Indian Ocean on the western side of the Island around Negambo.
Now you will see how Sri Lanka will end up in three huge permanent canyons like scars from Kotmale to the Indian ocean on either sides of the central axis running north from the central hill country, dividing the Sinhale in to three parts (remnants of the old 3 Sinhale with a major part of the Malayarata} like a huge canyon of the Colarado canyon type with a central axis starting at Kotmale in the Central hill country of Sri Lanka.
I also suggest that you have a look at the disasters caused by similar dam breaches that have taken place in other countries.to imagine how such dam breaches have affected human life in those countries. For example, dam breach studies in countries like USA, (the johnston town flood 1989), Italy, (Vaiont Dam 1963) and India, (Tiwari Dam failure in Maharastra) to understand the national danger I am talking about in this paper.
If this breach takes place I think it could be the worst dam breach in the world in known history, forming a huge canyon looking like a fork with 3 prongs with its handle in the south that had erased a whole civilization that was the ancient Kandyan Kingdom.
MAP 2
GRAPHIC IMAGINATION of man made SRI LANKAN CANYONS
Sudath Gunasekara
It is in this backdrop Mr Gotahbhaya that I appeal to you to take the maximum precautionary action in time to prevent this historic national catastrophe.
Any delay on your part as Defense Secretary to take adequate precautionary measures will put the blame squarely on you for outright negligence, if the Kotmale dam breaks due to an attack by the LTTE.
I only hope by providence of God, they will not attack it. Let us all pray for it
PS: I am writing this note almost 16 years after I addressed this note to Gotabhaya in 2006. I am very happy that no disaster has happened so far thanks God. I warn authorities that they should not take things for grant and rest asleep. A disaster as predicted can take place at any moment in view of its location in a limestone region, particularly at such height in the center of Sri Lanka with the enormous volume of water stored in the reservoir.
Therefore, I plead to the authorities in charge of the DAM to keep a 24 hours vigil on the changes taking place so that you can take timely action at least to mitigate the scale of the disaster that might occur one day.
epilogue
Under the Mahaweli Development Project Kotmale flooded nearly 4000 ha of fertile land in the Mahaweli upper catchment, which included about 600 ha of paddy fields and has directly affected 3056 traditional Sinhala families with a legacy of a rich traditional culture who were involuntarily evacuated from their ancestral lands whose ancestors had been living there from the early Christian times, if not earlier.
Of them 1722 families were moved to downstream areas in the Dry Zone and 1334 families, which were said to be resettled in 17 settlements around the reservoir
The evacuation of such a large number of Sinhala people from an agriculturally rich historic settlement in the heartland of the nation where there is a large concentration of Indian Tamil population invariably leads to weakening the power of the native Sinhala population in the region, which will have serious political repercussions in future. Thus, considering the immediate economic, and demographic losses and the impending disaster for the whole nation as forecasted above, I hold the view that the construction of Kotmale dam was an unpardonable historic political blunder.
South Asian countries should be thankful and grateful to India for various reasons. India is a friend in need to all South Asian countries. Despite having some internal problems, India always tries to help others. Even, India set examples by assisting Pakistan at different times. However, since the start of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, India’s ban on wheat exports has reignited worldwide concerns about rising food prices that can exacerbate the problems of food-deficit countries especially neigbouring countries.
The Indian high commission in Dhaka has clarified recently concerning India’s ‘ban’ on wheat exports, saying that the directives have no bearing on shipments of wheat previously contracted for sale. Commercial wheat exports from India have been restricted, according to a press release released on Sunday (May 15, 2022).
‘These directives will not preclude wheat from being exported to India’s neighbors and other nations that may request it to assist their domestic food security measures,’ according to the announcement. The Indian high commission stated that recent media reports claimed that India has imposed a “ban” on wheat exports.
The release stated, “These actions have been taken to ensure domestic food availability, minimize food price-related inflation, and support the legitimate requirements of India’s neighbors and other nations with food security issues.”
According to a statement issued by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, India’s restriction on wheat export will not prevent export to neighboring countries and countries that may seek to acquire the current crop to boost their domestic food security measures at the request of their governments.
India said today that it will not allow the wheat export embargo to jeopardize the food security of its South Asian neighbors, and that the policy was only temporary.
According to media reports, BVR Subrahmanyam, India’s Commerce Secretary, told that there was no wheat shortage in the country and that the decision was to keep domestic wheat and wheat flour prices under control.
He also stated that India is dedicated to addressing the food security of its neighbors and vulnerable nations.
He also stated that India is dedicated to addressing the food security of its neighbors and vulnerable nations.
“We’ve left the window open for the sake of (our) neighbors.” We’ve also left the door open for a significant number of vulnerable countries to make such requests if their governments do so… He went on to say, “The order is to divert trade to the needy, poor, and vulnerable countries,” without mentioning any of them.
“We’ve left the window open for the sake of (our) neighbors.” We’ve also left the door open for a significant number of vulnerable countries to make such requests if their governments do so… He went on to say, “The order is to divert trade to the needy, poor, and vulnerable countries,” without mentioning any of them.
Wheat prices hit a new high on Monday after India opted to halt exports due to a heat wave that hampered output. As the European market opened, the price increased to 435 euros ($453) per tonne.
Since Russia’s February invasion of agricultural powerhouse Ukraine, which previously accounted for 12% of global exports, global wheat prices have risen due to supply concerns.
After the hottest March on record, India, the world’s second-largest wheat producer, announced a restriction on exports on Saturday. New Delhi expressed concern over the food security of its 1.4 billion people, citing reasons such as decreased supply and dramatically increased world prices.
To understand, in the case of Bangladesh (for example), following the commencement of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, India became Bangladesh’s primary wheat importer. India, on the other hand, has stopped exporting wheat since Friday. The price of wheat in Bangladesh was already expensive, and this move has driven costs much higher.
Bangladesh’s second most important crop is wheat. 30 million (3 crore) tonnes of rice and 7.5 million (75 lakh) tonnes of wheat are required annually in the country.
Bangladesh’s imports from the two countries came to a halt near the end of February, following Russia’s invasion on Ukraine. Traders in Bangladesh began importing wheat from India after that.
According to the website of India’s commerce ministry, the country exported roughly 6.6 million (66 lakh) tonnes of wheat in the first 11 months of the fiscal year 2021-22. Bangladesh was the final destination for 57% of this wheat.
According to Bangladeshi media outlets, Prices were spiralled as news broke out in Bangladesh. As wheat has been quite inexpensive. The news of increasing prices of wheat has left people bewildered.
Neighbouring countries including Bangladesh were saddened by the news that India has stopped exporting wheat. Bangladesh is the single largest importer of Indian wheat. Besides, wheat is the second most used food grain in Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi economists and importers have expressed concern after India announced a halt to wheat exports. Meanwhile, the government is holding one meeting after another on how to import wheat in an alternative way.
The country’s wheat importers are in trouble as India announced a sudden halt to wheat exports last Friday. After the start of the war in Ukraine, Bangladeshi importers chose India to import more wheat than before.
However, Neighboring countries of India see a glimmer of hope in an assurance from India’s Commerce Secretary amid the sanctions. He said the sanctions would benefit neighboring and poorer countries.
It is the successful implementation of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’. India’s neighbors should be thankful and grateful to India. It proves that India deserves to be regional responsible country. India’s neighbours must recognize that ‘India is a really South Asian leader because India deserves it. However, India should help its neighbours in such way in their needy moment. India should remind that it is the responsible country in the region. India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, a key component of the country’s foreign policy, emphasizes peaceful relations and collaborative synergetic co-development with its South Asian neighbors. Thus, India’s declaration is timely for implementing its ‘Neighbourhood first policy’.
The Modi administration recognizes the importance of cultivating and maintaining relationships with its neighbors. The Modi government has emphasized the “Neighbourhood First” policy as a key component of Indian foreign policy since taking office in 2014. The strategy aims to foster friendly and cooperative connections with its South Asian neighbors in a variety of fields, including the economy, science and technology, research, and education.
Vaccine diplomacy has been viewed as a pragmatic response to the global epidemic and a means of enhancing the country’s image as a responsible leader at both the regional and global levels. Notably, Indian diplomacy, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, resulted in India being recognized on the international scale as a harbinger of hope, delivering critical assistance to needy nations and people around the world. Vaccine diplomacy (Vaccine Maitri) was used by India as part of its Neighbourhood First strategy to assist numerous countries throughout the world including neighboring countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Operation Ganga was conducted to rescue Indian nationals stranded in war-torn Ukraine. So far, thousands of Indian nationals have been repatriated under the scheme. Significantly, the Indian government has rescued citizens of several other countries besides Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal through this operation.
It is India that stood by Bangladesh always. Even during the Ukraine crisis, India helped Bangladesh to evacuate Bangladeshi people. India’s helping hand to Bangladesh is time-tested. A friend in need is a friend indeed. According to the media reports, 9 Bangladeshi nationals have been rescued from Ukraine recently under Operation Ganga. Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has already thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for rescuing the citizens of Bangladesh.
India’s vital assistance to South Asian countries by prioritizing neighbouring countries in its pursuit of foreign policy objectives, particularly by offering assistance to Sri Lanka and Afghanistan during their crises, demonstrates India’s commitment to its Neighbourhood First policy.
Now, declaration of ‘Indian wheat export ban not to affect South Asian neighbours’ is obviously a reflection of ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’.
There are more reasons in the future to support the Neighbourhood First policy: First, persistent interaction with neighboring countries will aid in the creation of a friendly atmosphere in the region, which has long been a barrier to the region’s stability, trust, and progress. Stability will allow India to pursue its foreign policy objectives while also allowing other South Asian countries to flourish and prosper. Second, by providing the essential assistance likeDeclaration of ‘Indian wheat export ban not to affect South Asian neighbours’ , India can improve its position in the area and gain economic and strategic depth in relation to China. As a result, there is a stronger need for ongoing involvement with its neighbors. Third, for long-term cordiality and stability, people-to-people interactions and strong cultural affinities should be prioritized. Furthermore, quick delivery should be prioritized.
JVP is undoubtedly the best organized political party in Sri Lanka. It is also the richest party in Sri Lanka. Its base includes the youth & adults & disenchanted voters of other parties. Prior to every election, the JVP take pains to support the ground campaigning of other parties instead of its own. Is there a particular reason for this? Is their role limited to playing mischief maker in parliament or simply as a whistleblower while propping a new party to the throne of governance? Leaving aside the ground support & the funds from foreign branches, who are the real brains that dictate how JVP functions politically? Is their instructions for JVP – not to win elections? Do they plan to fail” elections & only secure the votes to ensure they are in Parliament?
JVP successfully brought to power Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapakse and the Sirisena-Ranil duo. JVP failed in its effort to bring Sarath Fonseka & Sajith Premadasa to power – was this intentional? Is there a particular reason for this? The ground campaign of all the above irrespective of their winning or losing was outsourced to the JVP. Their support base was used overseas across branches and islandwide to campaign for the contestant they were told should become winner. This next raises the question, why does JVP shy from taking the leadership mantle instead of helping others to come to power? Can JVP themselves provide answers.
Each time after falling out with the political parties they partnered, the JVP end up their foes until another election & instructions come to decide who they are to campaign for.
We saw the manner JVP supported Chandrika & attacked others
We saw the manner JVP supported Mahinda & attacked others
We saw the manner JVP supported Fonseka & attacked others
We saw the manner JVP supported Maithripala-Sirisena & attacked others
We saw the manner JVP supported Sajith & attacked others
Presently JVP is anti-Mahinda and now suddenly JVP has gone anti-Ranil
If anyone is confused to understand how JVP thinks or functions, it should be JVPers themselves!
Notice how the leadership & key players find enough and more reasons not to want to sit on the hot seat though they can produce list after list of complaints about governance & how they will do better.
Another puzzle is the manner that inspite of their organizing capabilities, their powerful slogans, their campaign capabilities the best they could achieve was 3 seats and that too thanks to the proportional representation system.
The only conclusion we can derive from this is that this party is playing a political role for other purposes.
From 1970s, the JVP has succeeded to tap the youth & brainwash their minds. The country’s human assets are heavily influenced by JVP and no action has been taken to curb this influence taking root within the educational system.
The JVP was used for 2 insurrections that eliminated the best of youth to the gun, while using the same youth to eliminate the best of Sinhalese in the military, police, academia, artists etc. Over 60 Sinhalese died because of the JVP. What could these youth have become had they been alive. What would these fallen soldiers, police, artists and academic be today, had JVP not killed them? The JVP destroyed many public property too – similar to the destruction seen during the last few days. Is there a pattern to the envy & jealousy they suffer as echoed in the recent statement by the JVP General Secretary.
Fronts of JVP (People’s Liberation Front)
Deshapremi Janatha Vyaparaya
Patriotic People’s Armed Troops (attacked SLAF in Pallekele)
Socialist Students Union – Samajavadi Shishya Sangameya
Jathika Jana Balavegaya (NPP) National People’s Power
Deshapremi Janatha Vyaparaya DJV (Patriotic People’s Movement) aligned to the People’s Liberation Front (1987-1989) was the militant branch of the JVP– banned in 1988 as a terrorist organization after throwing a grenade at the Parliament.
The DJV wore uniforms similar to soldiers of SLAF & targeted military bases as well as police stations.
The DJV opposed Indo-Lanka Accord. It brought the country to a virtual standstill with its posters & death threats & assassinations.
The DJV comprised undergraduates from University of Peradeniya.
Interestingly, where JVP & Tamil organizations get linked was in the supply of arms – the primary motivation for this was to get rid of the IPKF. JVP had even trained alongside Tamil militant groups.
DJV also received international funds – from whom & for what?
Patriotic People’s Army (PPA) – දේශප්රේමීජනතාසන්නද්ධබලකාය
Militant arm of the JVP/PLF
The PPA & DJV attacked civilians and Sri Lanka Armed Forces. PPA attacked army camp in Pallekele, John Kotelawala Defense Academy & SLAF Katunayake base. Death threats were issued calling for military personnel to desert & join them.
Socialist Students Union – Samajavadi Shishya Sangameya
SSU is a member of the Inter-University Students Federation & is the oldest Student union in Sri Lanka. In 1988 the SSU and the Patriotic Students Union was banned.
Jathika Jana Balawegaya – National People’s Power (NPP)
Coalition of 28 political parties, worker unions, women’s rights groups, youth organizations & ethnic communities & established in 2015 by Anura Kumara Dissanayake leader of the JVP. Anura Kumara is the leader of the coalition while General Secretary is Lakshman Nipuna arachchi. NPP ideologically centres around communism but is also supporting democracy & secularism.
The crimes of the JVP is unknown to most – not only the loss of human lives but the massive loss to public property – buses & depots, transformers, state centres – all gutted down. Were these damages valued – Did JVP pay for these crimes? Before pointing fingers at corruptions of others – shouldn’t JVP clean its house of guilt first!
Let’s look at how the JVP has fared in elections:
1994 General Elections Sri Lanka Progressive Front –
90,078 votes / 1 seat
2000 General Elections – Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
518,774 votes (5.99%) / 9,128,823 total voted
Total seats = 10 (8 district / 2 national list)
2001 General Elections – Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna=Peoples Liberation Front
815,353 votes (9.0%) / 9,449,813
Total seats = 16 (13 district/3 national list)
2015 – People’s Liberation Front
544154 votes
Total seats = 6 (4 district / 2 national list)
2020 – Jathika Jana Balawegaya (established in 2015)
445958 votes (3.8%)
Total seats = 3 (2 district / 1 national list)
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake contested Presidential Elections in 2020 & secured only 418,553 (3.16%)
Under the camouflage of a political party, advancing its ideology combining socialism & democracy, JVP is tasked to play a bigger role
Swaying Sinhalese away from ethno-nationalism
Swaying Sinhalese away from embracing & defending Buddhist history & heritage
Swaying Sinhalese away from preserving, protecting and promoting its traditions & cultures
Drilling envy, jealousy & hate into the minds of university students majority of whom come from poor/rural homes.
Brainwashing these poor/rural students who inherently suffer inferiority complexes by turning that into seeking revenge from those who have instead of inspiring them to take their talents to greater heights & doing well in life.
The success of the above 5 areas that JVP has been outsourced to do can be seen in the behavior of not only university students but even academia & adults that support not only their ideology but their line of thinking as well.
Is the JVP only tasked to carry out election campaign contracts & somehow pass the finishing line to place at least 3 in Parliament while their bigger role in social-education-cultural transformation continues?
One of the biggest mistakes made post-1978 was to create a lay-focused education system for Bhikkus allowing them to enter universities/institutes with laypersons. This resulted in the decline in the importance given to pirivena education system as well as the Bhikkus. While this is not to discuss or debate on Bhikkus, it is to showcase that there is a difference in lay persons and a Bhikku & a Bhikku is expected to adjust behavior in line with the Buddha Sasana and its disciplinary codes. A Bhikku to journey towards Nibbana requires to detach from lay-society. Since ancient times the kings went to the Maha Sangha for advice & blessings. The Maha Sangha did not go to the Kings. Today, the politicizing of society has even resulted in the political allegiances of the Maha Sangha even in universities. The outcome is nothing that we can be proud of & is detrimental to the continuance of the Buddha Sasana. The GoSL and the Buddha Sasana Ministry must immediately address this & confine Bhikkus to Buddhist universities & away from laymen & universities/institutes for laymen.
Sri Lanka is one of the key countries where Theravada Buddhism prevails. Monasteries have played a key role and has been under royal patronage since ancient times – The Maha Vihara, Abhayagiriya Vihara & Jethawana.
The aim of pirivena education was to create a Bhikku Council while preserving the tradition of Sri Lanka’s classical education. From pirivena, Bhikkus can proceed to tertiary education in the same field.
There are 825 pirivenas in Sri Lanka with close to 70,000 students enrolled. The dhamma schools number over 17,000 with close to 3million enrolled. Vidyodaya & Vidyalankara were converted into universities which produced great scholars.
We have seen student Bhikkus behaving in appalling manner. Whether these are ordained Bhikkus or simply men wearing a robe & pretending to be a Bhikku to tarnish the image of Buddhism, we may need to investigate further. However, had Bhikkus not been studying alongside lay students, such a scenario would not arise.
There are enough and more Bhikku universities dedicated for Bhikkus – the Open Buddhist University, the Buddhasravaka Dharma Peetaya was established under Parliamentary Act no 106 of 1968 in Anuradhapura which became Buddhasravaka Bhikshu University under Parliament Act 26 of 1996. It was a national university for Bhikkus. Students pursued studies in Western & Eastern languages & other disciplines. The university was relocated in 2012 & 2 faculties were opened – Faculty of Buddhist studies & Faculty of Languages & Cultural Studies.
Essentially becoming a Bhikku is to align to the teachings of Buddha, to learn Buddhist principles, to propagate Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka & abroad, to research, to promote Buddhist culture & values & more. None of these can be achieved when Bhikkus end up protesting on streets, throwing stones, toppling barricades, shouting in filth, pointing fingers & following lay practices and behaviors. Most often, these Bhikkus who benefit by free education, end up changing their names to lay names at the final exam! Their conduct has given room for people to lose respect and give their respect. Inspite of lay persons worshipping the robe and not the person wearing the robe, the conduct of student bhikkus during strikes and protests are a sight no Buddhist likes to see.
Therefore, in viewing the increase in such behaviors, it is time that the Bhikkus & their education be separated from lay persons and Bhikkus return to Bhikku universities where they can follow disciplines pertaining to the Buddha Sasana. It is left to the Bhikku learning centres to add to the subjects relevant to enhancing Bhikku education, but it is now time the Bhikkus return to Bhikku learning centres and away from education institutes/universities meant for laypersons.
Sri Lanka’s conflict is defined a non-international armed conflict. LTTE was an armed non-state actor. 3 decades of armed militancy ended on 18 May 2009. The military offensive took place amidst a humanitarian rescue operation that saved 294,000 people. The victory was marred by allegations initiated by entities linked to the militants. The most important question is why would Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces sacrifice over 6261 soldiers to save 294,000 Tamils but kill 40,000-200,000 Tamils (people who have no names, no identification & there is no skeletons even to prove they were killed) Can those making the allegations answer this simple question! Without proof that 40,000 – 200,000 existed, that they were Tamil civilians and not LTTE, without proof that the Sri Lanka Armed Forces killed them – no one has any right to be pointing fingers at the National Army of Sri Lanka. To claim genocide there must be dead people. Without so much as a mass grave or skeleton, how can there be ‘genocide’. Anyone making allegations must come out with facts & evidence or rest their case.
Accountability depends on Truth
Justice depends on Facts & Evidence
We cannot accept any figure – be it 40,000 or 200,000 unless there is proof that such a number existed, proof that they were in the war zone, proof that they were civilian as per international definition & proof that the Sri Lanka Armed Forces killed them.
Allegation that Sri Lanka has killed 40,000 to 200,000 Tamil civilians
Questions: Proof 40,000-200,000 were killed
Proof 40,000-200,000 were killed by Sri Lanka Armed Forces
Proof 40,000-200,000 were Tamil civilians (LTTE combatants cannot be included to this list)
Proof any killings were intentional & deaths were disproportionate to the military advantage legally accepted in a non-international armed conflict.
Can those making the allegations prove Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces killed 40,000-200,000
Can those making the allegations prove this 40,000 or more Tamil civilians as per international definition
Can those making the allegations prove Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces intentionally killed & the deaths were disproportionate to the military advantage legally allowed.
DID 40,000 – 200,000 EXIST
WERE THEY BORN?
Establishing their identity
Proof of Birth of 40,000 – 200,000 (birth certificate or some form of identification)
The names of 40,000 – 200,000 (full name / parent’s names)
Addresses of 40,000 – 200,000 (home address/village/district/province)
National Identity of 40,000 – 200,000 (school ID/marriage certificate or national ID)
Registrar of Births proof
Grama Sevaka proof
School admission proof
Affidavits by family & friends that such a person belonging to this 40,000 – 200,000 existed
The above should be able to determine how many of this 40,000-200,000 quoted figure have names & some form of ID
WERE 40,000 – 200,000 IN THE WAR ZONE
HOW DID THEY DIE
WERE THEY LTTE OR CIVILIANS
Anyone can come up with 40,000 – 200,000 names & identifications, but they next need to prove that this number was in the war zone.
How did they come to the war zone – forcibly taken by LTTE, willingly joining LTTE or members of LTTE & their families (so this 40,000-200,000 must be divided into these 3 main categories)
How many of this 40,000 – 200,000 was forcibly taken by LTTE
How many of this 40,000 – 200,000 voluntarily joined LTTE
How many of this 40,000 – 200,000 were members of LTTE
How many of this 40,000 – 200,000 were members of LTTE families
We can presume this number to be far less if their birth identification & their presence in the war zone is not confirmed by proof/evidence.
HOW DID 40,000 – 200,000 ‘DIE’
The Sri Lanka Armed Forces cannot be charged of any crime, unless there is proof beyond reasonable doubt to claim they intentionally killed civilians. This next raises more questions
Civilian = anyone not engaged in any form of hostility (willingly or by force)
How many in the war zone were Tamils forcibly taken by LTTE
How many in the war zone were Tamils who willingly went with LTTE
How many in the war zone were Tamil civilians ready to take up arms with LTTE
How many in the war zone were Tamil civilians forcibly given arms by LTTE
How many in the war zone were LTTE (LTTE men/LTTE women/LTTE child soldiers)
How many in the war zone were LTTE in uniform & died during hostilities
How many in the war zone were LTTE in civilian clothing & died during hostilities
How many in the war zone were civilians forcibly put by LTTE to engage in hostilities & died
How many in the war zone were civilians willingly fighting for LTTE & died during hostilities
How many in the war zone were civilians who were shot dead by LTTE when trying to flee
How many in the war zone were civilians who died from fire by Sri Lankan Armed Forces
Who can put numbers to the above?
Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces can be faulted only for the last item
WAS 40,000 – 200,000 KILLED
WAS 40,000 – 200,000 KILLED IN THE WAR ZONE
WERE COMPLAINTS FILED
WHERE ARE THEIR BODIES
Establishing deaths of 40,000 – 200,000 Tamils
Did their families file police report of missing – if so are there 40,000 to 200,000 police complaints?
Habeas Corpus for 40,000-200,000 Tamils – how many have been filed?
Filing with the Presidential Commission for Missing Persons – how many have been filed?
Where are the skeletons of the dead – its 13 years now & if 40,000 – 200,000 has been killed by now their skeletons or mass graves should have been discovered.
How the hell did Sri Lanka’s soldiers did graves while fighting the LTTE to fit 40,000 – 200,000 dead bodies?
Given that LTTE fronts overseas claim there has been a ‘genocide’ have they filed names of 40,000 – 200,000 dead or are they just happy to be wailing ‘genocide’ & collecting funds for memorials?
If these 40,000 – 200,000 have not been killed and are not dead, can we presume they are ‘missing’ if they are ‘missing’ are they in Sri Lanka or have they sought asylum/refugee status and changed not only their identity but also their look through cosmetic surgery? Who can answer this?
A standard grave is 2 ½ feet wide and 8 feet in length and 4 feet deep. Exactly how many adult bodies can fit into such a grave and why is there no ‘eyewitness’ mobile phone shots of troops digging these graves, placing the dead inside the graves or killing them? All we hear is only allegations.
Therefore, if 40,000 – 200,000 are dead/killed – where are their dead bodies. US satellite images found only 3 graves, 2 of which were LTTE and had less than 3000 bodies. So where are these dead bodies?
13 years since end of LTTE, there should be mass graves & skeletons but none have been found. There is no explanation how Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces could have dug graves to put 40,000 – 200,000 dead while engaged in hostilities with the LTTE.
By 31 March 2009, LTTE was restricted to an area of 21sq.km.
Unless these questions are answered, Sri Lanka’s Armed Force’s cannot be declared ‘war criminals’ or Sri Lanka accused of ‘genocide’.
By Jorgelina do Rosario and Swati Bhat Courtesy FXEmpire
By Jorgelina do Rosario and Swati Bhat
(Reuters) -Running out of petrol, medicines and foreign reserves, once-booming Sri Lanka is in a mess. And the measures needed to pull its economy out of the unparalleled crisis are likely to bring even more pain.Advertisement
71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
The dire assessment by new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe this week of the island nation’s economic plight was a necessary first step, economists said. His proposed solution to bring back some stability includes selling the loss-making national airline, printing more money and possibly raising taxes as well as energy and utility prices.
Wickremesinghe said the unpleasant and terrifying” facts facing the country included a fiscal deficit that was 13% of gross domestic product (GDP), virtually no foreign reserves and shortages of petrol, gas, furnace oil and cancer and anti-rabies medications.
The country has suspended sovereign debt payments and ratings agencies are expected to place it in default.
In addition, the chronic foreign exchange shortage has led to rampant inflation, bringing thousands of anti-government protesters onto the streets of the Indian Ocean nation, over which China and India jostle for influence.
In Colombo, the commercial capital, no petrol was to be found at most service stations on Wednesday. Long lines of auto-rickshaws, the city’s most popular mode of transport, and other vehicles were parked in front, waiting for supplies.
Any petrol station you go, there is no fuel, and people (are) lined up for kilometres and kilometres,” said Mohammad, a delivery driver who only gave one name. So, how can you run a vehicle, right? How can you do your daily…day-to-day activities?”
Sri Lanka has no dollars to pay for petrol shipments, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told parliament, appealing to people to stop queuing for the next two days.
Economists said most of the prime minister’s proposals made sense.
However, the decision to print money was concerning and would raise fiscal and external imbalances, said Patrick Curran, senior economist at London-based Tellimer.
The policies announced are a necessary first step to resolve Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, but will entail significant short-term pain via higher inflation and currency depreciation and will necessitate further rate hikes from the CBSL (Central Bank of Sri Lanka) to contain the pressure,” he said.
S&P said printing money would have significant inflationary implications”.
The central bank holds a rate meeting on Thursday and is likely to raise rates for a fourth consecutive time this year, according to a Reuters poll. It increased the key lending rate by a historic 7 percentage points to 14.5% in April and is likely to decide on a further increase of up to 2 percentage points this week, most analysts said.
SUBSIDIES, FERTILISER BAN
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, unparalleled since its independence in 1948, has come from the confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic battering the tourism-reliant economy, rising oil prices and populist tax cuts by the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, Mahinda, who resigned as prime minister last week.
Other factors have included heavily subsidised domestic prices of fuel and a decision to ban the import of chemical fertilisers, which devastated the agriculture sector.
Sri Lanka was a model for emerging market economies and grew at an average rate of 6.2% between 2010 and 2016, according to World Bank figures. In the next three years, the figure had dropped to 3.1%.
The World Bank has forecast the economy will grow 2.4% this year from 3.5% in 2021 but has said the outlook is highly uncertain.
Charles Robertson, global chief economist at Renaissance Capital in London, said the removal of electricity and fuel price subsidies was essential.
These and other reforms would form the starting point for discussions with the International Monetary Fund for a crucial bail-out, other economists have said.
We will also have to see massive tax hikes, probably a doubling of VAT from 8% to at least back to the 15% we saw in 2019,” Robertson said. It was the cut in those VAT rates which contributed to this crisis.”
The sale of SriLankan Airlines is not likely to fetch much money in the current environment, the experts said. Not a bad thing to sell it but that is a drop in the bucket vs their USD financing needs,” said Nathalie Marshik, head of emerging market sovereign research at Stifel Financial Corp.
The worry is that fuel and utility price increases will add to public anger against the government at a time when the administration is in deep disarray. The new prime minister has to convince the people that the measures are necessary to restore stability, economists said.
Inflation hit 29.8% in April, with food prices sky-rocketing by 46.6% year-on-year.
Overall, it seems that corporates and individuals are preparing for more tax measures,” said Trisha Peries, head of research at CAL Securities in Colombo. Further, expectations are being set for electricity tariff hikes to come as well.
In a sense he was preparing the minds of the public for the economic pain that is to come,” Peries said of Wickremesinghe.
LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) – U.S. investment bank JPMorgan backed Sri Lanka’s crisis-hit government bonds on Wednesday, saying recent political changes in the country should gradually improve its strains and help its talks with the International Monetary Fund.
Adding an ‘overweight’ – effectively a buy recommendation – JPMorgan analysts said: “political stability should pave the way for bonds to move higher from near all-time lows”.
Sri Lanka is officially now in default as a so-called “grace period” to make some already-overdue bond interest payments expired on Wednesday.
“We think this stability should result in both IMF discussions and the process of appointing legal and financial advisors moving forward,” JPMorgan added.
Sri Lanka was expected to be placed into default by rating agencies on Wednesday after the non-payment of coupons on two of its sovereign bonds, while the energy minister said the country had run out of money to pay for fuel.
An economic crisis unprecedented in the country’s history since independence in 1948 has led to a critical shortage of foreign exchange, that saw it miss two coupon payments on sovereign bonds on April 18.
Sri Lanka has already said it is unable to make the coupon payments, and a 30-day grace period ends on Wednesday.
S&P has said the ratings on the bonds, maturing in 2023 and 2028, have already been cut to ‘default’ and the country’s overall rating could be further cut to ‘D’ on confirmation of the non-payment after the grace period ends.
Sri Lanka currently has no dollars to pay for petrol shipments, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told parliament, appealing to people to stop queuing for the next two days.
A petrol shipment has been at Colombo port since 28 March but the government has been unable pay, he added.
“There aren’t enough dollars available to open letters of credit,” he said.
“We are working to find funds but petrol will not be available at least until the weekend. The very small reserve stock of petrol is being released for essential services like ambulances,” he said.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Wednesday the country had secured $160 million in bridge financing from the World Bank, but it was not clear if the funds could be used for fuel payments.
“The statistics have gone haywire,” he said. “But the reality is we don’t even have $1 million.” Hit hard by the pandemic, rising oil prices and populist tax cuts, Sri Lanka’s dire economic situation has led to spiralling inflation and shortages of essential supplies, bringing thousands of onto the streets in protest.
Violence between pro- and anti-government factions and police left nine dead and more than 300 injured last week, and was followed by the resignation of former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
By Nicole Johnston, news reporter, Sri Lanka Courtesy Sky News
It’s difficult to fathom the fury that people must have felt to not only set fire to it and smash it to pieces, but also loot everything they could get their hands on.
Image:The remains of a Lamborghini and Hummer which were torched
An hour’s drive from Colombo, a luxury hotel wedding venue was utterly destroyed on the night violence swept across Sri Lanka.
It’s difficult to fathom the fury that people must have felt to not only set fire to it and smash it to pieces, but also loot everything they could get their hands on.
The unrest happened amid the country’s worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948, which has been blamed on a combination of COVID, rising oil prices and populist tax cuts by the president and his brother, until recently the prime minister.
The Avenra Hotel’s manager, Yohan Perera, says a crowd of up to 2,000 people attacked the complex, believing the owner had links with the ruling Rajapaksa family. However, Mr Perera insists there was no connection.
Image:The Avenra Hotel’s manager, Yohan Perera, said a crowd of up to 2,000 people attacked the complex
“They have taken every single thing. The cutlery, the forks, spoons, knives, plates, even the beds,” he said. “Everything is gone.”
No part of the hotel was left untouched. A safe is upturned next to the pool, the toilets ripped out from the floor and every tile in the bathroom smashed.
The hotel rooms and reception halls are blackened shells covered in glass and debris.
Then there’s the luxury car collection. The attackers set fire to more than a dozen cars, including a Lamborghini, Hummer and a Cadillac. All that’s left is burned out shells, a few tyre rims and mounds of ashes where a stray cat has made a home.4:08https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.516.0_en.html#goog_628569130Play Video – What’s led to Sri Lanka’s emergency?What’s led to Sri Lanka’s emergency?
Police have now arrested more than 800 people nationwide who are accused of ransacking property, looting and setting fire to MPs’ houses on 9 May.
But human rights lawyers say in some cases police are jailing people who were out on the streets watching what was happening, rather than actively taking part in violence.
Image:No part of the luxury hotel was left untouched
People have been demonstrating against the arrests, calling for equal justice for both sides.
Nineteen-year-old Prabodh Madushan is one of those arrested. He was filmed near a burning car on the night of violence and he is now in jail awaiting trial.
His mother Sunethra Sanjeewani insists her son was an innocent bystander.
“Look at the number of people who went to see the protests and see if there’s room in our prisons for all of them,” she said.
Image:Sunethra Sanjeewani, pictured with Nicole Johnston, insists her son Prabodh Madushan was an innocent bystander
Only around a dozen supporters of former PM Mahinda Rajapksa have been arrested, even though they were bussed in to assault anti-government protesters camped out at Colombo’s Galle Face area on the night the trouble started.
This led to pitched battles between the two sides – and kicked off the country’s mayhem.
Now, the government has ordered a report into that assault.
But while Sri Lanka is in the middle of an economic and political crisis the chances of a report calming the tension and healing deep divisions, appears remarkably slim.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa were engaged in an open dialogue in Parliament yesterday for the first time after the two split giving birth to the Samagi Jana Balawegiaya(SJB),
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe who started the dialogue said in a lighter vein that the SJB was not involved in the recent violence where residences and business establishments of former Ministers and MPs were destroyed. I don’t think the SJB was involved in the violence it does not have time for such things as they spent the whole 24 hours thinking how they could marginalize me,” the Prime Minister said.
We don’t want to marginalize you but want to incorporate you as you are a single member of Parliament,” Premadasa said.
The Prime Minister then made a request from the Leader of the Opposition where he requested the SJB Leader to provide medicine under its Husma programme.
Provide us with one kind of medicine as there is a serious shortage of essential medicines in rural hospitals. There is a shortage of medicine used for heart disease and disabilities,” the Prime Minister said.
The Husma programme has been designed to provide life saving medical equipment and not to provide medicine. However you name a medicine you know and we will do our best to provide it. We cannot provide medicine to the whole nation but we will do out best,” Premadasa said.(Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)
Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara has requested the general public to refrain from waiting in queues to obtain petrol as supplies are unavailable today and tomorrow (May 19 and 20).
Giving an update on the fuel stocks available in the country during today’s parliamentary session, the lawmaker pledged to resolve the issue this weekend.
However, diesel will be supplied continuously as sufficient stocks are available, Minister Wijesekara said further.
Both Auto Diesel and Super Diesel were distributed to filling stations yesterday. We hope to provide an uninterrupted supply of Auto Diesel and Super Diesel in the coming weeks, to 1,190 active filling stations in the country, although there are 1,300 filling stations in total.”
However, there is an issue regarding the availability of petrol volumes, the minister noted adding that a vessel carrying a petrol consignment has been docked in Sri Lankan waters since late March, but the shipment could not be cleared owing to the US dollar shortage in the country. There is also a payment of USD 53 million due for the same vessel for a previous shipment delivered in January 2022, he continued.
According to Minister, Wijesekara, the relevant company had refused to release the vessel until both payments are settled. Following a written assurance by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to make the payment for the previous shipment within 15 days from August, the said company agreed to release the vessel after the due payment is settled, he explained.
The lawmaker stated that the ministry is yet to find funds to make this payment. We are however working on getting the shipment released either today or tomorrow.”
This is why we requested people not to wait in queues for petrol as the distribution process is being carried out with very limited stocks,” the minister said adding that petrol stocks need to be supplied for essential services, especially ambulances at the moment.
We apologize for this [situation]. We understand that three-wheelers operate with daily fuel purchases. However, we urge the general public not to wait in queues today and tomorrow.”
The minister noted that it would take at least three days to complete petrol distribution to all filling stations.
The Inspector-General of Police and the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security had given directives not to use water cannons and tear gas at the ruling party supporters who were heading towards the GotaGoGama protest site at the Galle Face Green on the 9th of May, says MP Ramesh Pathirana.
The former minister, delivering a special statement in the parliament on the events that unfolded last week, stated that they had received instructions on the 8th of May to gather ruling party supporters to the Temple Trees for the farewell of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was expected to step down as the Prime Minister the following day.
Majority of these people only wanted to extend their greetings to the former prime minister as he was resigning, however, several politicians who were there at the Temple Trees that day had exerted malevolent influence on these people, MP Pathirana said further. We need to admit to that.”
He said less than 10 percent of the supporters who were provoked into attacking the GotaGoGama had then marched towards the protest site. This is a very unfortunate incident.”
Neither the President nor the government had any intention of attacking the protesters although it had been there for a month, MP Pathirana explained.
I was at the Temple Trees at the moment. I called SDIG [in charge of Western Province] Deshabandu Tennakoon and asked him to prevent this unfortunate event that is going to happen.
The parliamentarian said he later attended a meeting at the President’s House, during which SDIG Tennakoon was directed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to prevent the impending assault on the protesters.
According to MP Pathirana, DIG Tennakoon had responded that he was instructed by the IGP and the Public Security Ministry’s Secretary not to use water cannons or tear gas on the ruling party supporters.
He said the President then instructed the Senior DIG to immediately stop the government supporters from attacking the protesters at Galle Face and that is when the police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse the government supporters.
Pathirana said that testimony given by two individuals at the Human Rights Commission that the IGP and the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security had ordered not to stop the SLPP supporters from marching towards anti-government supporters was in fact correct.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has ordered to remand SLPP MPs Sanath Nishantha and Milan Jayatilleke until May 25.
The two parliamentarians, who were arrested in connection with the attack on the anti-government protest sites in Colombo on the 9th of May, were produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court earlier today.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had arrested MP Nishantha at the Flower Road in Colombo last evening while he was later brought to the CID office to record a statement.
MP Jayathilake was apprehended near the Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mandiraya in Colombo.
Meanwhile, the Senior DIG in charge of Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon had recorded a statement at the CID regarding the recent unrest for more than 10 hours.
The Attorney General, on Monday (May 16), instructed the CID to arrest 22 suspects including MPs Johnston Fernando, Milan Jayathilake, Sanath Nishantha, Sanjeewa Edirimanna and Senior DIG in charge of Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon, if sufficient evidence is available against them over the attack on anti-government protest sites in Colombo last week.
If there is direct, circumstantial and technical evidence against the 22 suspects, they should be arrested as soon as possible, the Attorney General’s Department had said further.
The Attorney General’s Department also instructed the CID to file cases against the arrested suspects under the Criminal Procedure Code.
The CID was further instructed that it is crucial to record the statements of those against whom foreign travel bans have already been obtained.
On May 12, the Fort Magistrate’s Court imposed a travel ban on former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, MPs Namal Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando, Sanath Nishantha and 13 others over investigations into the incidents near Temple Trees and Galle Face.
MPs Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Sanjeewa Edirimanna, Kanchana Jayaratne, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, C.B. Ratnayake, Sampath Athukorala and Milco chairman Renuka Perera, SLPP activist Mahinda Kahandagama, and Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon are also among the officials who were barred from travelling overseas.
Defaulting debt is a very complicated and painful matter. It is not a casual or frivolous matter. It is well known that various people had suggested to the Sri Lankan authorities at various times to default on its external public debt. They gave various reasons as to why that should be done. Some opposition MPs also advised default, and in fact, found fault with the relevant officials and other authorities when it was not done. However, few persons realize that it is not possible to have selective defaults of particular sovereign loans, since many loan agreements with international creditors have cross-default” clauses which are far-reaching. It is also likely that those persons who were calling for the default of the ISB of January 2022 were blissfully unaware that, as per the Offering Circular for the ISB of USD 500 million, the Sri Lankan Government had solemnly assured all prospective investors that the full faith and credit of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka will be pledged for the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and interest on, the Bonds.”
When a sovereign forex loan is not repaid, the credibility of the country will be lost, and investors will shun that country. It will not be easy for the defaulting country to obtain new forex loans thereafter. The country’s banking system will come under a lot of pressure and face very serious difficulties when opening letters of credit and carrying out forex transactions. Forex loans and investments that were previously forthcoming to the local banks would be halted or postponed. Most forex-funded infrastructure projects will stop. Foreign Direct Investors will adopt a wait and see” attitude. Small and medium sized import-based businesses and entrepreneurs will be badly affected. Accordingly, it would be vital to have a strategy to deal with these challenges when external debt is defaulted. Failure to do so may lead to unmanageable problems.
It is also likely that those who proposed default, won’t be around to assume responsibility when the default repercussions arise, and it will be the Government and the people that will have to face the consequences. That is why if a sovereign debt default is contemplated, it is the responsibility of the authorities to initiate and undertake a discussion on the subject and thereafter take the decision. In fact, a decision to default by a country is so serious that it should properly receive the formal approval of the Cabinet of Ministers with the advice of the Attorney General as well. Further, in view of the fact that the Parliament has already voted the necessary funds for debt servicing at the time of approving the Budget and Parliament has the final responsibility for finances, obtaining Parliament’s approval may also be in order.
Hence, even though various people urged the non-payment of the International Sovereign Bond (ISB) on 18th January 2022 and/or other debts, it must be understood that such unsolicited requests cannot be considered by officials, without proper authority or approval of the Government.
In any event, up to 11th April 2022, it was Government Policy not to default, and both Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) had followed that policy faithfully since independence. However, as announced by the MOF on 12th April 2022, that policy was changed when the MOF decided to default on that day. Now that the Government has already announced the decision to default, it may be presumed that all connected issues have been carefully considered and approvals obtained. At the same time, certain key government leaders and several private sector leaders who proposed this strategy of default have stated that the forex saved by not paying the loans could be used to fund essential imports. However, many analysts have serious reservations about the materialization of that outcome.
