Amid continuing disenchantment with the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government in Sri Lanka, a media outlet reported on Sunday that relatives of a prominent minister had left the country.
Sri Lanka has been under curfew since Saturday as part of attempts by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa dispensation to prevent protests over the ongoing economic crisis.
The Daily Mirror reported on Sunday that the wife of minister Namal Rajapaksa, Limini, and her parents left Sri Lanka on Sunday morning. Namal Rajapaksa is the son of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is the older brother of Gotabaya.
Namal is the current Sri Lankan minister for youth and sports.
The Daily Mirror reported Limini Rajapaksa and her parents left the island for an undisclosed location, sources confirmed. It is unclear if the other two daughters in law of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have also left the country.”
Over the past week, there has been speculation that the Rajapaksa clan could flee Sri Lanka amid rising public anger over the economic crisis.
Interestingly, Namal Rajapaksa had criticised the government’s decision to block social media services. He told reporters on Sunday that the social media blockade was useless as many people would use VPNs to access social media sites. The government lifted the ban on social media by Sunday afternoon following criticism in other countries.
Meanwhile, over 6oo people were arrested in Western Province on Sunday for violating the 36-hour nationwide curfew and trying to stage an anti-government rally to protest against the country’s worst economic crisis.
Opposition lawmakers, led by their leader Sajith Premadasa, had set off on a march towards the iconic Independence Square in Colombo.
Colombo Gazette reported police fired teargas and water cannons on protesters near the Peradeniya University, about 110km from Colombo, on Sunday.
Air India flights
Air India on Sunday said it will reduce its India-Sri Lanka services from 16 flights per week currently to 13 flights per week from April 9 due to poor demand.
Currently AI is operating 16 flights a week—daily flights from Delhi and nine flights a week from Chennai,” an Air India spokesperson told PTI.
In the new schedule, AI will be operating a total of 13 flights per week, the spokesperson noted.
In the new schedule, while the frequency from Chennai will remain untouched, flights from Delhi will reduce from seven to four per week, the spokesperson said.
Four flights from Delhi instead of seven effective April 9 due to poor loads,” the spokesperson noted.
AI 283 on the Delhi-Colombo sector will now operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from April 8 to May 30.
AI 284 on the Colombo-Delhi sector will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from April 9 to May 31.
Sri Lankan forces moved to stop a protest by opposition lawmakers and supporters attempting to march to the capital’s Independence Square from the home of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.
A critical lack of foreign currency has left Sri Lanka struggling to service its ballooning $51 billion public debt, with the pandemic torpedoing vital revenue from tourism and remittances. (AFP)
Armed troops in Sri Lanka have blocked an opposition protest march staged in defiance of an emergency curfew to protest the island nation’s worsening economic crisis.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Sri Lanka’s main opposition alliance, denounced a social media blockade imposed on Sunday to quell intensifying public demonstrations, and said it was time for the government to tender its resignation.
There was a heavy presence of troops in the capital as the curfew was strictly enforced.
Overnight, however, hundreds defied the curfew and staged small demonstrations in various Colombo neighbourhoods and dispersed peacefully, police and residents said.
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp were among the platforms shut down Sunday on the orders of defence authorities, internet service providers told their subscribers.
Private media outlets reported that the chief of Sri Lanka’s internet regulator resigned after the order went into effect.
The South Asian island nation is facing severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials, along with sharp price rises and crippling power cuts, in its most painful downturn since independence from Britain in 1948.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa imposed a state of emergency on Friday, the day after a crowd attempted to storm his home in the capital Colombo, and a nationwide curfew is in effect until Monday morning.
In Fake Whatsapp Forward, Sri Lanka’s Left Radical JVP Claims Indian Army Arrived in Colombo, Govt Denies https://www.news18.com/news/world/in-fake-whatsapp-forward-sri-lankas-left-radical-jvp-claims-indian-army-arrived-in-colombo-govt-denies-4937102.html
Sri Lanka is faced with an economic crisis. The people are facing many economic & cost of living difficulties. The people blame the government for keeping them in the dark (pun intended) & not managing the situation which their advisors/consultants would have had foreknowledge about. So the blame game has led to everyone blaming each other but no one looking for solutions. The only solutions being applied without much opposition has been to run to countries for loans in exchange for compromising parts of Sri Lanka together with their resources & assets. These have had little or no opposition because cost of living difficulties has been weighed down on people, making it difficult for them to oppose & having to think of their families before country. Thus, the deals have had good planning bringing the country to a situation where it has no power to dictate terms. But, it appears taking over strategic assets is not enough & the aim is to continue further anarchy. At this stage we must be able to understand how far our leaders have compromised themselves to external forces, who now dictate what they say & do. In this scenario we must now look at what unfolded on 31st March 2022 & likely future scenarios too.
Yes, Sri Lankans are faced with power cuts, gas fuel, diesel, food, milk powder shortages
Yes, Children are unable to study
Yes, shops & offices cannot function because of power cuts
Yes, productivity has reduced because people cannot work
& Yes, people have a right to protest
But No, people have no right to vandalize or attack property (public or private)
Anyone carrying stones is not a peaceful protestor
Anyone carrying some form of item used to attack is no peaceful protestor
How many carried such items?
This is where the problem lies.
There have been plenty of peaceful public protests with no involvement of political parties.
These peaceful public protests saw people holding placards & voicing their displeasure in print & via voice cuts. It was totally a people’s protest & it should have remained so. Then came politicians and when a protest involves politicians it only means trouble. Political protests essentially are politically motivated & end up attacking their political opponents using people & their difficulties as camouflage.
On 31st March 2022, people gathered to protest directly to the President against the cost of living. This escalated into stone throwing & burning of police vehicles which arrived at the scene. Were these by government organized teams or by opposition teams or by others is what the authorities need to find out.
But if we take a look at the Arab Springs or Coloured Revolutions that have taken place elsewhere around the world, we should realize that there is definitely foreign hands involved.
It may be some group inside the government, who are planted to embarrass the government.
It may be some group inside the opposition, who wishes to embarrass the govt or even the opposition.
It may be a totally new group, now calling the shots leaving everyone baffled as to what their next plans are.
All that we should be aware of is that, certainly people have every right to protest & they should protest outside every Ministers home demanding end to their corrupt ways, but the danger comes when these peaceful protests are quickly turned into violent ones by people who pretend to be peaceful protestors & wait for an opportune time to stir trouble. In so doing, they take away the democratic right of people to protest because the violence they create, result in the government having no choice but to declare emergency to protect property. Some would say the government can be doing this to enforce stricter measures, yes, even this is possible, but whatever or whoever organizes the chaos, it unfortunately denies the people getting their message across & denies the people getting answers to their valid questions. Essentially, what we need to understand is that external parties who steer Government & Opposition are also able to steer public opinion & make them all think and do as these external parties want them to.
Today, we can do nothing of national interest without international players poking their nose to stop it.
Who recalls political revolt in Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Syria?
What was common to all of these ‘regime change’ programs? Externally orchestrated People’s Protests and calling for ‘transition’
Who remembers Tahrir Square?
What was the outcome of these Public Protests?
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed by Houthi rebels
Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is now living in Saudi Arabia
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned after a crackdown on protests that killed more than 800 protestors & was sentenced to life in prison & died in 2020.
Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi was killed by ‘protestors’ who were imported
Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad remains still President as west-sponsored regime change failed in Syria.
Arab Spring began across the Middle East & North Africa from December 2010. All were Anti-Government protests commencing in Tunisia. It was also called Pro-Democratic Protests which gave a clue as to who the organizers were. We know how these countries delivered democracy to Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan & Kosovo.
All it took to start the Tunisian Arab Spring was a police attack on a street vendor who killed himself. From Tunisia the demonstrations led to Bahrain where protestors demanded release of political prisoners, then on to Jordan & Kuwait whose parliament was dissolved due to public pressure.
The very political, social & economic issues we suffer, were exactly what engulfed the countries victim of Arab Spring. Inspite of our perception of oil rich middle east – people were struggling due to declining oil prices, high unemployment & corruption among political elites.
The innovations associated with these foreign choregraphed revolts are many – “activists” suddenly disappear, this enables to plug other destabilizing elements into the scene, blowing hot & cold & this multiprong attack will tap into other local mischief makers as well. The usual culprits will all come out imposing their views on the general public easily influenced by social media. We saw this happen during the 2015 “system change” and we are again seeing same where the then victims are now the new victims. Thus, there are no favorites in the scheme of things. There are no permanent friends – only permanent interests.
It’s been a decade since the Arab Spring when people revolted against ‘dictatorial’ regimes. So how are these countries now that they have got rid of the ‘despots’?
The dictators have been replaced by Islamic State. Millions have been driven from their homes & anti-immigrant issues engulf Europe as a result of influx of refugees. Poverty has got worse, unemployment is higher & more are getting imprisoned for their political beliefs.
The Arab Spring failed. It did not deliver political freedom primarily because it was organized for different reasons, not to actually deliver political freedom. The people were merely bait & wooed into being the foot soldiers of the plan.
It is important that we understand that external parties who want to get a foot hold into strategic countries wish to only work with the corrupt. If leaders are not corrupt – corrupt deals don’t get pushed through. They remove leaders only when they don’t tow the line. All those who do, however corrupt they are, will be kept in power. We should understand the dynamics of how the game is played.
What about the protestors – many of those who were inspired to revolt are suffering physical ailments having to treat their wounds with their own funds. No one comes forward to spend for them. They were used & now they face greater calamities.
The Libyans will vouch for above – they got rid of a man who gave them so much for free & now they repent. But a little too late.
“We didn’t achieve anything we aimed for. Things got worse. We believed we could change the system. But it is so rotten that it can’t be changed” (Esraa Eltaweel – 28 partially paralyzed Egyptian) – systems can be changed but the real people who control all world systems will not allow it. In many of these Arab Spring successful countries – the people are left to eat “democracy” and be happy.
The system creates the corrupt & corruptions needs to exist & the corrupt are only inter-changed through ‘Arab Spring” like revolts. One group funded both sides of every war. This meant they were happy to fund anarchy even in present times. This is what we need to understand.
Unfortunately, peaceful protests are a sign of people taking over the power they have outsourced to their representatives. The representatives (in Govt & Opposition) & their handlers see this as a threat to their control & monopoly over us as they wish to be the one’s speaking & acting on behalf of us & do not wish the people to take back the powers people have given to them. Thus, they quickly galvanize to protect their turf which they are happy to inter-change every election. Yo-Yo politics is not helping the people in any part of the world.
This is why whether it is govt or opposition – either side do not favour peaceful protests as these only expose their lack of leadership, inability to lead & poor governance. Both govt & opposition are united in the need to ensure the people remain in the dark forever.
An island-wide curfew will be imposed at 6.00pm today (April 02), the Department of Government Information announced.
The curfew order will be effective until 6.00am on Monday (April 04).
The move comes days after the mass protest staged on Pengiriwatte Road in Mirihana on Thursday evening (March 31).
The demonstration commenced near the Jubilee Post in Nugegoda at around 7.30 p.m. and later proceeded towards Pengiriwatta Mawatha, leading to the presidential residence in Mirihana.
People had thronged in large numbers holding placards and shouting slogans and demanding that the government provide immediate solutions to the fuel shortage, power crisis, gas shortage, and soaring commodity prices in the country.
Later in the night, the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters gathered near the Pengiriwatta Mawatha.
The riot police resorted to using tear gas and water cannons on the protesters as the agitation turned violent with some people hurling stones and other objects at security personnel, causing damage to public property.
More than 50 people were taken into custody following the protest, and at least 40 of them have been placed under remand custody. Six were granted bail yesterday.
Meanwhile, it is reported that mass protests are expected in many parts of the island tomorrow (April 03) as people are planning to take to the streets.
A total of 21 people who were arrested over the protest at Pengiriwatte Road, Mirihana yesterday have been produced before the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court today.
According to Ada Derana correspondent, 15 of them were granted bail while six others were placed under remand custody until the 04th of April.
A Gazette Extraordinary has been published declaring a public emergency in Sri Lanka with effect from today (April 01).
The communiqué was issued by presidential secretary Gamini Senarath, under the directives of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Public emergency is declared in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community as it is expedient, the gazette read.
The Head of State declared public emergency by virtue of the powers vested in him by Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), as amended by Act, No. 8 of 1959, Law No. 6 of 1978 and Act, No.28 of 1988.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has decided to urge President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form a caretaker government after holding discussions with all political parties.
The decision was taken at the SLFP’s central committee meeting convened for nearly three hours on Friday (April 01) at the party headquarters, amidst the rolling power interruptions.
Speaking to the media following the meeting, SLFP’s Senior Vice President Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said all central committee members have unanimously voiced their displeasure on continuing to be in the government.
He said the central committee decided to let the party leader, former President Maithripala Sirisena to take a decision in this regard. Meanwhile, SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena told the media that the party intends to hand over a letter to the President detailing its stance and requests pertaining to the current situation.
State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said the SLFP members would be compelled to step down from their ministerial portfolios if the government fails to take necessary actions.
Not everybody who gives us loans is an imperialist force
This crisis will unite people together to form a different mandate
The JVP appears to be an attractive party prior to an election
Neither the SJB nor JVP could show a new direction to the people
We have been executing a model where senior generations take loans and prosper while younger generations have to sacrifice their future
If there’s a certain kind of extremism within the Sinhala community we will stand against that as well
National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa recently claimed that he would ensure that the government would soon lose its majority. He made this statement weeks after the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government sacked him and Udaya Gammanpila for criticising Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa as the main reason behind the prevailing crisis in the country and while even going to the extent of calling him the ‘ugly American’. Weerawansa played a pivotal role in forming the incumbent government and is infamous for his hunger strikes that were staged against ‘imperialist forces’. In a candid interview with the Daily Mirror, Weerawansa spoke about Basil Rajapaksa and his ulterior motives, his intention of promoting nationalist ideologies and the failures on the part of the President while hinting at what they intend to do in the near future.
Excerpts:
Q The country has plunged into a severe crisis and you continue to blame Basil Rajapaksa. But he was appointed by Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa. Shouldn’t all Rajapaksas be blamed for this situation?
They are collectively responsible. But everybody who ruled the country has also contributed. We have been executing a model where senior generations take loans and prosper while younger generations have to sacrifice their future. This model doesn’t suit this country. Crises can happen. But the incumbent government doesn’t manage the crisis nor does it have a plan to control it. I also believe that Basil Rajapaksa has a different political agenda at this point.
Q What sort of agenda are you talking about?
While people languish in fuel and gas queues they forget about other issues. The entire country becomes a victim of the crisis and it could be used to fulfill their agendas that couldn’t have been executed under normal circumstances. For example if they want to give away a company to India they can do that in this situation. They can ink agreements and deals with other countries because people are too occupied to raise their voices against these deals. Upon his retirement, Basil Rajapaksa will return to US and he needs to ensure that he activates the US agenda beforehand.
Q This government sought loans from India and China and did currency swaps with Bangladesh etc. Don’t you think that these too are ‘imperialist forces’?
We won’t say that everybody who gives us loans is an imperialist force. Japan has given us more loans than China. But we won’t say that Japan has an ulterior motive of colonizing this country. Some give loans in the form of a business and some others give loans to spread their dominance. We need to distinguish between both of these factors when we deal with them.
Q You have been promoting nationalist ideologies even when you were a member of the People’s Liberation Front (JVP). Do you think that we have been able to establish peace and reconciliation as a result of the spread of nationalism?
We are nationalist because our love towards this country is the main priority. We are ready to fight against any force in the event of prejudice. But we have no intention of creating any differences between Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Christians/Catholics. We stood against separatist agendas executed by the LTTE and we are against Islam extremism. If there’s a certain kind of extremism within the Sinhala community we will stand against that as well.
Q But wasn’t President Gotabaya Rajapaksa elected by a majority of Sinhala-Buddhist votes?
It was not only Sinhala-Buddhist votes. There were votes from Tamils, Muslims and other ethnicities as well. But since the majority of the population is Sinhala Buddhist its members cast their votes in favour of him.
Q Will the Rajapaksa clan be elected to power by a Sinhala-Buddhist voter base again?
The Easter Sunday attack put people in all ethnicities in a state of shock. Thereafter people wanted a ruler who would establish national security and people thought Gotabaya Rajapaksa was eligible for this task. This is how the mandate grew to 6.9 million votes. Everybody irrespective of ethnicity felt insecure and people looked for a leader who could make them feel secure. But whether he stood by the people’s mandate or not is a different story. But whatever happens once doesn’t get repeated. Today we’re facing an economic crisis that is aggravating to a political crisis. A solution to the economic crisis will favour people in all ethnicities. Therefore this crisis will unite people together and will create a different mandate.
Q Do you think this is a Sinhala-Buddhist country?
Yes. It is a country that has been fed by Buddhism. King Dutugemunu declared war against Elara in order to protect the Dhamma and this country. This Dhamma has been a relief to all people. When Portuguese converted Dutch into their religion, it was the temples that provided them with shelter to hold their services. Nowhere in Buddhism does it say that there should be differences among people or to ill-treat someone of another faith. Historically, we have been a Sinhala-Buddhist nation and it hasn’t affected this country in any way. In the US for example, they swear in someone to a new position after taking oaths on the Bible. But in Sri Lanka there’s no rule to take oaths on any book of Buddhist philosophy or teachings. That shows we’re more progressive than those countries.
Q Are you trying to say that people will not vote for the Rajapaksas again?
I don’t think there’ll be any point in them (Rajapaksas) contesting for an election again. The detrimental impact caused by Basil Rajapaksa’s interventions has shattered the trust among people. Therefore people will hardly vote for any Rajapaksa again, given the circumstances.
Q People loved Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s and Mahinda Rajapaksa’s persona. But today people are cursing them in public. Any comments?
This is something they should think for themselves. People are aware that this crisis hasn’t been created by just one regime. Besides, the prevailing global economic crisis has an impact on smaller economies like that of Sri Lanka. There are gas shortages in US as well. Therefore people expect the leader to resolve the crisis with minimum impact. Anybody could have foreseen a forex crisis and in that case they should have been prepared around 10 months ago. The highest amount of imports in record history of Sri Lanka was recorded during last November. The highest amount of tar to be used for the 100,000 km highway project was imported last month. People are deprived of essential medicines, fuel and gas, but they import tar instead! Such shortsighted decisions have been heavily criticized by the public.
Q We saw how the government handled the COVID burials issue for instance. Last year, the government was adamant that bodies need to be cremated and earlier this year they lifted the ban on COVID burials. Wasn’t this done with an ulterior nationalist motive?
There of course we listened to the Muslim community and decided to bury bodies at a faraway place. I don’t think there was an issue. There are instances where we need to arrange a mechanism to continue what they have been doing in their respective faiths rather than providing solutions in an aggressive manner. We shouldn’t come into conflict with their faiths and beliefs.
Q Who was instrumental in taking these decisions?
The fact that Gotabaya Rajapaksa didn’t have any background in politics was an advantage to him. Therefore, we thought he would work in sync with other politicians and take decisions thereafter. The brothers may be having their own discussions. Implementing 100% organic fertiliser usage was a serious decision. But this had to be done after a thorough research on commercial agriculture, consider the impacts, educate farmers and execute accordingly. I don’t believe that we can become a nation that fully thrives on organic fertiliser. But this decision was taken during the COVID lockdown period where not even 10 people could attend a meeting. There was no way of communicating these strategies to the farmers. The agriculture officers couldn’t travel due to restrictions. So would you take a decision during such a challenging period? Some decisions have been taken without any discussion whatsoever and important decisions that need to be given priority have been ignored. This is something we didn’t expect.
Q Why are you supporting a government that sacked you?
I am not supporting the government. We are being called 11 Partner alliances of the government and we still haven’t gotten rid of the partner label as yet. But we will get rid of it soon along with a few others. It’s just a matter of time.
Q But even though you claimed that you will not be present at the All Party Conference, one of the ‘partnering alliances’ participated in it. Your comments?
They had already decided to participate in it despite the decision taken by the 11 parties. So it was their democratic right to participate in it and we didn’t question them further.
Q The punch line of this government was establishing national security, but it has failed to apprehend perpetrators of the Easter Sunday carnage. What are your thoughts?
The Yahapalana Government appointed a committee to probe into the incident and they produced a report. A cabinet paper was later issued with recommendations of this report and it was signed by the President. But to date, none of these has been implemented and he is not aware of it either. There were no progress review meetings or anything of that sort. Except for the cases that are still being heard, there were no impactful decisions taken regarding this matter.
Q People seem to be showing an interest towards your former party, the JVP or rather the National People’s Power as it is now being called. Do you have any intention of joining them again?
Not at all.
Q What are your observations regarding their progress?
The JVP appears to be an attractive party prior to an election. But the extent of their attractiveness can be witnessed when counting votes after the election. During the days of comrade Rohana Wijeweera they had a strategic plan. But they shifted directions thereafter. If product positioning goes wrong there’s no way of marketing the product. The JVP’s product positioning went so wrong that they even tried to form an alliance with Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Q Political critics claim that the fact that you and Udaya Gammanpila left the government is something similar to rats escaping a sinking ship. What are your comments?
Not at all. The ship in 2015 was also sinking and it prompted Champika Ranawaka and his people to leave. We are not the kind to escape sinking ships. In fact we were thrown out. When there were no internal discussions we exposed the details and in turn they sacked us. We are the type to remain if the ship’s captain went to unimaginable extents to save the ship from sinking. We have been instrumental in reviving the JVP when it was going on all fours. But if the captain and the crew are allowing the ship to sink then there’s no point in staying back.
Q Some also claim that you and Udaya Gammanpila robbed the Opposition of their role and that this is a political conspiracy. Your thoughts?
The government is engaging in a sinful act of aggravating the crises and burdening people further. Since we have taken the frontline in forming this government we have a duty to raise our voices against these actions and put it back on track. But as a result we are not with the government. We now have a responsibility to show a new direction to the public and I don’t think either the Samagi Jana Balawegaya or the JVP could do that.
Q There are many Rajapaksa family members involved in active politics and many more are in line to be elected to power. Do you plan to have any deals with them in future?
No, that chapter is over.
Q You said that you will deprive the government of its 113 majority. How do you intend to do this?
Just wait and see.
Q Will you contest at a future presidential election?
I haven’t thought about that as yet. I don’t do politics with such expectations. But if I get the opportunity, I know how it should be done in a proper way.
For example if they want to give away a company to India they can do that in this situation. They can ink agreements and deals with other countries because people are too occupied to raise their voices against these deals. Upon his retirement, Basil Rajapaksa will return to US”
Japan has given us more loans than China. But we won’t say that Japan has an ulterior motive of colonizing this country. Some give loans in the form of a business and some others give loans to spread their dominance. We need to distinguish between both of these factors when we deal with them
Even China, which avoids commenting on Sri Lanka’s internal matters, raised the issue at the highest levels in private and in public
Central Expressway third section
The Highways Ministry is barreling through the controversial bid to award part of the Central Expressway Project’s (CEP III) third section to a local consortium at a price higher by US$ 822mn (Rs 238.5bn) than its competing bid.
The details are so guarded that meetings of the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC)—at which stage the project now is, following appraisal by the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC)—are oddly held at the Ministry of Labour and not at the Highways Ministry. And not all members are invited. The last such discussion was held on Friday. The Labour Ministry Secretary heads the CANC.
The offer from a recently formed local consortium named LIDC to build the CEP III stretch from Rambukkana to Galagedara has the backing of Highways Minister Johnston Fernando, construction industry sources said. But the bid is priced at US$ 1.87bn (Rs 542.6bn) which is significantly higher than the offer made by China’s Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) at US$ 1.05bn (Rs 304.6bn).
The Meerigama to Kurunegala section of the Central Expressway was opened in January this year
The price difference is 56.17 percent, more than half what MCC has offered. The LIDC is led by Access International (Pvt) Ltd. The values have exploded since the Sunday Times last reported this story on March 6, 2022—the rupee was fully floated against the dollar four days later.
The process is so murky that China, which religiously avoids commenting on Sri Lanka’s internal matters, raised the matter at the highest levels in private and, this week, in public.
At a packed press conference in Kingsbury Hotel, Chinese Ambassador in Colombo, Qi Zhenhong, said (through an interpreter) that, As for building of the third phase of the Central Expressway by the Chinese company, I believe that, as long as the Sri Lankan Government adopts a method that is open and equitable, and treats all the bidders the same way, I believe that this issue could be solved in a very proper way.”
Mr Qi also referred to suspension of a Chinese proposal to build three hybrid power plants on islands in the North, amidst widespread uncontested reports that it was blocked by security concerns raised by neighbouring India. He said there are Chinese companies here that complain to me we have got unfair treatment in Sri Lanka”.
All the procedures are in accordance with international bidding procedures (but) the project, for some unknown reasons, is interrupted,” he continued. I have already raised these kinds of issues to our Sri Lankan friends because we feel this is not good for Sri Lanka to attract international investment and this is not good for you to show a good business environment.”
In the past, however, Chinese companies got preferential treatment, clinching multiple projects through ‘unsolicited proposals’ with competitive bidding suspended in their favour. This was most common under the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa where proposals were only brought to cabinet for ritual rubber-stamping. There were no price evaluations against competing bids and no room for objection. Currently, there are complaints that China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has been handpicked for the proposed elevated highway from Rajagiriya to Athurugiriya.
The process related to CEP III is, however, so blatantly skewed, that it has become impossible to ignore the implications–particularly in terms of national debt. It is a non-urgent, capital-intensive mega project.
On March 4, tweeting about the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL) eight point policy package, even Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal called for a postponement of non-essential and non-urgent capital projects. But in addition to Minister Fernando’s backing, the project is being pushed at higher levels, the Sunday Times learns. The objective is for it to be finalised before any International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme is entered into.
In keeping with a complete lack of transparency, the Government has not explained why the financial proposal from MCC was not opened. This was questioned by MCC’s parent company, MCC International Incorporation Ltd, which wrote to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa alleging there were irregularities in the manner LIDC was selected.
It said there had been just two bids of which MCC’s was the only foreign offer. We MCCI have now reliably understood that when it came to opening of the Financial Proposals, only the Financial Proposal of the Local Consortium, LIDC was opened,” the letter said.
It is customary in a democratic procurement evaluation either open both offers or reject the single offer as examination of just one offer does not facilitate price comparison,” it adds, hinting strongly at bid-rigging.
The Highways Ministry called tenders on July 2021 from local and international companies. The bidding format was ‘single state two-envelope’ with the second envelope containing the financial proposal.
On January 16, Minister Fernando presented a Cabinet paper in which he recommended that the original tender process should be terminated and canceled” on the basis that finalization of foreign concession agreements and financing will get delayed. The same memo states that the relevant section of CEP III can be built with Rs 82bn.
But 10 days later, on January 17, he presented another Cabinet paper recommending that the original tender process be proceeded with. He makes no reference to his earlier Cabinet memo and calls for the awarding of the bid to be accelerated.
Highways Ministry sources said the Minister has also pressurised the CANC to have meetings one after the other” so that the contract can speedily be awarded. The LIDC will finance the project through local banks.
Edward Gunawardena pointed out that terrorism in the north started in the early 1970s. The insurgency in the north parallels the JVP insurgency in the south, said analysts. Both insurgencies probably had the same external influence, and that influence probably was USA.
Edward Gunawardena observed that In May 1972, militant youths tried to topple a key high-tension electricity tower and also kidnap the children of a Tamil cabinet minister, Chelliah Kumarasuriyar.( Island 18.7.21 p 12 ). in 1975 Alfred Duraiappah was assassinated by a group which included Prabhakaran.. Duraiappah had a significant vote bank among the Sinhalese, Muslims, the business community and the urban poor of Jaffna.
These militant youth groups engaged in many criminal activities in the north. There were many bank robberies and attacks on businesses in Jaffna in the 1970s. There were robberies of banks, co-operatives, petrol filling stations and even passenger bus collections as well.
There were attacks on police stations in the north in the 1970s. 34 police stations were attacked. Police officers including retired officers and police informants were brutally killed. LTTE attacked police stations in the late 1970s said former army commander Cyril Ranatunga. A majority of the attacks on police stations were master-minded by the LTTE, observed Gamini Samaranayake. PLOT, TELO, EPRLF, EROS and other groups, also launched attacks on police stations. Large guerrilla units numbering between 50 to 250 participated in these attacks.
Police informers were also killed. The guerrillas branded informants as traitors to the Tamil cause for an independent state. These killings came to be known as `lamp post’ killings because most of the victims were tied to lamp posts before they were executed. A note was pinned to each of the bodies identifying them as collaborators.
These attacks continued into the 1980s. The PLOTE” group of Uma Maheswaran attacked Nikaweratiya police station. Date of attack not available, probably 1980s.
TELO stormed Chavakachcheri police station and razed it to the ground, in 1984. They killed the three police they found there. Police Sergeant Balasingham Krishnapillai had taken other 20 Sinhala police officers to safety in an adjoining estate. they hid there while the TELO combed the entire area searching for Sinhala police officers. TELO had later scolded them for failing to find and kill the Sinhala police. LTTE would have immediately killed Krishnapillai as well.
By the end of the seventies the LTTE had become a well-knit terrorist outfit with a high degree of maturity. Splinter groups had been eliminated. Prabhakaran had become the supreme commander.
LTTE did not confine its activities to police alone. In 1978, the LTTE had a meticulous plan to explode Air Ceylon Avro aircraft in Galle Face Green on Sept. 7, when a new constitution was to be presented. The flight got delayed, the plan misfired and the explosion occurred before the Avro took off from Ratmalana. Had it exploded as planned it would have hit the world headlines, observed Edward. Two men who had traveled in the Avro flight from Jaffna to Colombo were found guilty of placing a bomb under a seat before leaving the aircraft. They were found to be LTTE.
LTTE also went at the Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force. The dates of these confrontations were often marked as `confidential’ information and only certain incidents were made public, said Samaranayake.
At the initial stages, the attacks on the armed forces were aimed at army convoys , using landmines, ambushes and booby traps. Majority of the army casualties of this time were attributed to landmine attacks. Edgar O’Ballance has recorded 14 landmine attacks from 1983 to 1986.
The army and navy camps in the Northern and Eastern provinces were vulnerable targets. By early 1984, militants had increased their operations against military bases. Three of these attacks are significant said Samaranayake. .The attacks which took place between January and February 1985 were launched against the Karainagar Naval Centre, the Kokkilai Army Camp and the Kilinochchi Police/Army Camp. The naval centre was attacked by the EPRLF. TELO was responsible for the attack on the Kokkavil army camp in May 1985. In 1987 the ‘guerrillas’, in another combined operation, attacked the army camp in Kankesanturai, killing 18 soldiers. These land-based attacks were followed by confrontations at sea between the Sri Lankan Navy and the guerrillas.
The purpose of these persistent attacks on military bases was to compel the government to withdraw the armed forces from the Northern and Eastern provinces. The Tamil militants also hoped to provoke the armed forces into making indiscriminate assaults on the civilian population so that there would be a mass uprising against the government in those provinces, said Samaranayake. (Continued)
Member of House of Lords, Michael Naseby, has assured that he will try very hard to convince the UK to make public the sections of the Colombo British High Commission dispatches censored by London, pertaining to the last phase of the Vanni offensive.
Lord Naseby gave this assurance at the launch of his memoirs, ‘Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained’ at the BMICH on Tuesday (29).
Among those present on the occasion were Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence General Kamal Gunaratne and Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva.
Dismissing British justification for deleting large sections of the dispatches from Colombo, during the period January-May 2009, Lord Naseby emphasised that the incumbent government, or previous administrations, shouldn’t worry about the content of those dispatches.
The British politician declared that there was nothing in them to implicate Sri Lanka in alleged war crimes. Lord Naseby said that he had got an opportunity to meet the then British Defence Advisor Lt. Colonel Anthony Gash, the author of those dispatches, at the Colombo Hilton.
Lord Naseby stressed that the dispatches from Colombo didn’t collaborate the five main accusations levelled against Sri Lanka. The House of Lords member quoted Lt. Colonel Gash having denied accusations that the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered the elimination of Tamil civilians, and there was no basis for claims that specific no-fire zones had been established by the military to kill those who gathered in them, and attempts had been made to starve the Vanni population. There was absolutely no justification of claims of genocide, and the dispatches had cleared Sri Lankan military of holding civilians in clandestine detention camps such as Menik Farm. Lord Naseby pointed out that the ICRC had been present at the Menik Farm from day one.
Lord Naseby stressed that it was the LTTE that compelled the civilians to move towards the eastern coastal areas as they retreated. He reiterated that it was a war not an uprising.
The present Defence Secretary Gunaratne commanded the 53 Division and the Army Commander served as the General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the much celebrated 58 Division that advanced from the Northwestern coast to Nanthikadal across the Kandy-Jaffna A- 09 road.
Lord Naseby asked how over 300,000 civilians would have survived if the Sri Lankan military had practised genocide. He also emphasised that in spite of the war, Sri Lanka’s civil service had functioned in both Northern and Eastern Provinces. That had ensured the supply of essential items, he pointed out.
Lord Naseby had fought for nearly three years to obtain dispatches from Colombo.
The UK, in spite of being leader of Sri Lanka Core Group at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), has declined to release the dispatches to assist the ongoing investigations for obvious sinister reasons.
Lord Naseby revealed the existence of dispatches in the House of Lords in Oct 2017.
China has offered 2,000 metric tonnes of rice free of charge, following cash-strapped Sri Lanka’s request for urgent food aid.
The Chinese Embassy spokesperson said that Ambassador Qi Zhenhong recently informed Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa of their decision to provide 2,000 tonnes of rice to Sri Lanka, experiencing difficulties, and assured the Premier that China would continue to support the island’s development, within its capacity.
The Embassy stated: The year 2022 marks the 65th anniversary of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact. The two countries share a tradition of helping each other and sharing weal and woe with each other. At the request of the Sri Lankan government, upon the current difficulty of food shortage in the island, the Chinese government decided to provide 2,000 tonnes of rice as emergency food aid to the brotherly people of Sri Lanka, with a total value of about 2.5 million US dollars (including freight expense).
The continuously raging COVID-19 pandemic and the dramatically changing international situation have further worsened the global food shortage and shipping capacity. Against this backdrop, the technical teams, from both countries, will work closely to finalise the production and shipment arrangements, and deliver the aid to Sri Lanka at an early date. As always, China will continue to support Sri Lanka’s social and economic development within its capacity.”
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is not organizing the protests on April 3, 2022 but will only support it, its General Secretary Ranijth Madduma Bandara said today.
Madduma Bandara told Daily Mirror that his party is only coming out to support the social media groups who are organizing the protest.
People are suffering in darkness, they don’t have gas, food. We have tolerated the government enough. It’s time to act therefore join us and take to the streets on April 3,” Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said on his Facebook page.
MP Rajitha Senarate also invited people to take to the streets at 3pm through social media.
The Whatsapp message sent out by a social media group earlier asked the people to come out in the morning.
The UNP also stated that it will not participate in the protest on Sunday. “The United National Party will not be joining any protest organized by anonymous groups. We are committed to conducting our Sathyagraha Campaign around the country. The next Sathyagraha will be held at Matara on April 6 2022 ,” an official twitter message of the party said,
Meanwhile Professor Chandima Wijegunawardana who formed the Sri Lanka Humanity Party has urged the people not to allow any politician to mislead them. Don’t get misled by the politicians who are trying to get mileage out of your action,” she said. (Yohan Perera)
Police curfew has been imposed in several parts of Colombo and suburbs with immediate effect, the Sri Lanka’s police chief announced.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) C. D. Wickramaratne said curfew has been imposed within Colombo North, Colombo South, Colombo Central and Nugegoda Police Divisions until further notice.
He said police curfew has also been imposed in Kelaniya and Mount Lavinia Police Divisions. (UPDATED: 1.12 a.m.)
This comes just hours after police had used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a large group of protesters who gathered near Pengiriwatta Mawatha, which leads to the President’s residence in Mirihana.
Police had resorted to using tear gas and water cannons on the protesters as the agitation turned violent with stones and other objects being hurled at security personnel and damages to public property.
At least two fires were also reported later at the in the vicinity with images on social media showing a torched bus amidst the tense situation which had rapidly escalated out of control.
The protesters, holding placards and shouting slogans, had gathered at the location demanding that the government provide immediate solutions to the fuel shortage, power crisis, gas shortage and the soaring commodity prices in the country.
Meanwhile another protest had completely blocked the Kandy-Colombo main road at Dalugama in Kelaniya.
Protesters had reportedly set fire to logs on the middle of the road, obstructing traffic movement along the road.
UPDATE: (10.28 p.m.) – Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters gathered near the Pengiriwatta Mawatha in Mirihana, which leads to the President’s residence.
Riot police had resorted to using tear gas and water cannons on the protesters as the agitation turned violent with stones and other objects being hurled at security personnel and damages to public property.
Hundreds of people have reportedly gathered near the entry road to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence in Mirihana.
The protesters are demanding that the government provides immediate solutions to the various issues presently faced by the people such as the extended power cuts and fuel shortages.
The protest had commenced at around 7.30 p.m. today with a large number of people assembling near the Pengiriwatta Mawatha in Mirihana, where the President’s personal residence in located.
This has also resulted in severe traffic congestion in the area, Ada Derana reporter said.
Police and security personnel are attempting to control the situation while police have closed off and barricaded the road leading to the President’s residence.
The protesters, holding placards and shouting slogans, demand that the government provides immediate solutions to the fuel shortage, power crisis, gas shortage and the soaring commodity prices.
Heavy traffic has been reported on the Mirihana-Maharagama road due to the agitation.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved power cuts of 12 hours for tomorrow (April 01), as requested by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).
The CEB had requested for 12 hours power cuts due to the limited supply of fuel for thermal power plants, the PUCSL said.
Accordingly, the power cuts will be imposed as follows:
Areas ABCDEF – 2 hours from 4am to 6am, 4 hours from 8am to 12pm and 6 hours from 4pm to 10pm.
Areas GHIJKL – 2 hours from 6am to 8am, 4 hours from 12pm to 4pm and 6 hours from 6pm to 12am.
Areas PQRS – 2 hours from 4am to 6am, 4 hours from 8am to 12pm and 6 hours from 4pm to 10pm.
Areas TUVW – 2 hours from 6am to 8am, 4 hours from 12pm to 4pm and 6 hours from 6pm to 12am.
Areas MNOXYZ – 3 hours and 30 minutes from 5.30am to 9am and 2 hours from 4pm to 6pm.
However, it said that no power interruption will occur between 12 midnight and 6.00am except in a few areas for tomorrow (01).
Sri Lanka’s present crisis borne of an ill political wind based on detrimental administration and bad choices as it appears are of a severe socio-economic nature that can end in complete bankruptcy which seems like an impending disaster looming over the horizon.Despite warning signs the Government seems to be unconcerned and act as though it might blow away in the manner of a proverbial ostrich burying its head in the sand where properly targeted drastic action which is the key to resolving it seems to be the furthest thing from the present administration currently dabbling in issues of lesser priority than the one imminently at hand and the nation continues its agitation in apprehension and uncertainty which could result in dire ramifications for all concerned which in all probabilities could include the Administrators themselves in a most ironic sense.
While the predictions appear grim towards the future for the once beautiful and well balanced nation of a once proud and dignified people it hopefully can be resolved in the manner of similar situations which faced other countries like Argentina and Zimbabwe to name the most prominent in recent history which eventually recovered through prudent rebuilding and re-management and the help of many nations which have come to Sri Lanka’s assistance.
It precludes the rationality and reason towards the well being of the Nation that the people appear to be completely unaware of the gravity of the situation where post haste remedial action is needed to prevent a downward spiral as Sri Lanka teeters on the edge of economic uncertainty as well as issues relative to Covid 19 which the Administrators seem to be blaming the current crisis for and perhaps not unreasonably so despite being marginal.
As quoted in a recent report compiled by a renowned financial analyst “A clear plan of action to address this entire situation invariably rests on the nation’s stability both economic and relative to the Covid situation.The enforcement of the health rules should be given equal or higher priority in the total program as well as bolstering the economy which disastrously seems to be slipping out of control for which the Administration seems totally responsible.”
The report continues that “Sri Lanka according to knowledgeable world financial analysts is alarmingly rated as being close to bankruptcy and desperately in need of dollar resources where foreign investors cannot be expected to come to her rescue due to the high risk involved and thereby forced to borrow short term loans at high interest from unscrupulous lenders further compounding Sri Lanka’s woes and consequently being subjected to a foreign debt trap as the lenders invariably demand more than a pound of flesh in return.The foreign exchange reserves to buy essentials like food and medicines from abroad appear to be running out. The lack of dollar reserves will lead to a severe shortage of essentials. The result will be racketeering and high prices – a black market. This will send prices up further and a worse case scenario could plunge the country into dire straits all too frightening to apprehend as well as comprehend!! ” end quote.
The panacea searchers continue asking ” so how do we prevent or minimize these unfortunate trends?” The question asked is how long will this
Covid-19 pandemic last. On the basis of experience with past pandemics and epidemics, which have generally existed in epidemic form for two or three years, they have then become milder routine infections like the common cold, or influenza. The appearance and increase of herd immunity contributes to the above change.Hopefully with Covid -19 too this will be the case.”
With regard to the repayment of our loans as a country which has been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the global economic crisis we are entitled to re-negotiate and restructure the repayment of our sovereign debt. Accordingly we should ask for a period (say about five years) where we do not re pay our debt to the creditors.
This is to enable us to bring about the requisite changes of the policies that will result in sustainable development. During this period we can ensure that our people obtain their essential needs and their suffering be minimized.
There still is hope that impending complete financial disaster can be averted with timely intervention and the right measures taken.Something the present Administration owes to the people of Sri Lanka for the trust placed by them towards what they believed was a better future after the grave errors of the previous impotent combine of the so called “Yahapalana Government” who left Sri Lanka in a shambles despite their claim to the contrary.
Sri Lanka is facing an economic crisis and all consumer prices have gone up as a direct result because the Government did not have US dollars to pay for goods such as fuel, milk powder and gas. Six point nine million of the voting population elected Gotabaya Rajapaksa because he was not a politician. For the last 74 years all politicians failed to work towards a national interest. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, being a strict administrator and disciplinarian, proved his mettle as Defence Secretary during the separatist war.
When he was attached to the Urban Development Authority he became the pioneer of the ‘cleaning up’ operations of Colombo City and its suburbs introducing striking parks and walking paths. The majority of voters believed in him their expectations as the President were equally high. Voters were confident he would stick to his election pledges and the promises of ‘The Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, which crippled the economy globally, the President worked towards the people’s safety, millions of Rupees were spent to import various types of Covid-19 vaccines. Because he was concerned about the daily earners during the shutdown period, he spent millions of rupees to solve their predicament. His main weakness was his over democratic stance.
Cost Cutting
The President invited all political parties to find a solution to the problem. There was no point in inviting all political parties or electing various types of commissions to find a solution after taking a bold decision to remove two of the Cabinet Ministers, who foresaw the future of the country. The two outgoing Ministers arranged an all-party conference and submitted several proposals to implement what is good for the country.
Apparently, the President was under heavy pressure in firing the two ministers! Even Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa remained silent about the matter when the two Ministers who were responsible for breathing new oxygen to the defeated Mahinda Rajapaksa a few years ago at the Nugegoda Rella (wave). The social media says ‘blood is thicker than water!’ The President should not have taken such rigid decisions immediately, but he is paying for it today when people are cursing and abusing the President when standing in queues for everything.
There is no other country in the world, except Sri Lanka, who allows duty free luxury vehicle importation for Ministers and Members of Parliament. It has turned into a swindle where some members of Parliament after, even getting nominated through the National List they qualify to buy luxury vehicles and sell them for millions keeping a generous profit!
There are many examples of several Prime Ministers’ using alternative transport in foreign countries. To quote a few, the ex-Conservative PM David Cameron used the underground Tube train for travel, Swedish PM Stefan rode a bicycle for general purposes! It is amazing how only Sri Lankan Ministers and Parliamentarians cannot travel by public transport. Instead, they require posh limousines costing millions of Rupees and that too minus any customs duties! After Gotabaya Rajapaksa became the President what he should have done was to abolish such incentives.
The writer has witnessed certain Ministers travelling by the London Underground when they travel privately visiting friends and relations and to universities to see their children. Of course, they cannot request London High Commission vehicles for such trips. At London airport they get subjected to stringent security tests, which they accepted meekly. But once they step onto Sri Lankan soil they completely change and become gods.
MP’s Vehicles
Another headache for the public was that Members of Parliament qualify for pension rights after being a member for five years. A normal person has to work hard until he reaches the pension age. Abolishing such perks could have saved millions of rupees on wastage. During the separatist war each Minister was given Police security and allocated more than one vehicle. There isn’t a terrorist war at present or a danger to national security either, still why should the Government allocate security to Ministers and give them more than one vehicle.
Under the current circumstances, where fuel prices are escalating the Government should put a stop to more than one vehicle to Ministers. What happened in the past is that wives of Ministers or their kith and kin use extra vehicles with fuel being provided for on the Government’s account. Before the Government asks everyone to tighten their belts, they should set an example first. Today what takes place is that VIPs enjoying all types of perks while the poor public has to put up with all sorts of inconveniences, the worst of which is the under privileged have to stand in various queues daily.
What happened to the President’s ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour ’? During Elections it was suggested that a VAT of 8 per cent will be introduced? VAT has now been increased to 15 per cent, including the Nation Building tax (NBT). According to Cabinet spokesperson Dullas Alahapperuma, the credibility of the Government is tried when some Cabinet Ministers come out with different statements on the power crises. How does that happen? Surely it is the Cabinet who makes decisions? If the Government policy is to sack any Minister who criticise the Government in good faith, then there are so many Cabinet and State Ministers who should be fired!
Why was the President silent when about the motor parade from Kuliyapitiya to Kalipinya? The parade was stopped by the enraged public at Suduwella, Madampe. The worst was that a journalist who recorded the incident was threatened stating ‘permission was granted by Police top brass.’ This was reported in the Media but the President’s lips were sealed.
It is reported that due to union pressure the Petroleum Corporation pays a bonus three times a year amounting to millions of Rupees when the Petroleum Corporation is constantly making a record loss. There are deaths reported while people collapse in queues and there are constant fisticuffs or brawls occurring in various ques, especially in petrol and kerosene queues.
The opposition leader says he has two countries where he could obtain fuel at a reduced price for two years. Why does not he collaborate with the Government in this dark hour of the country is facing?
Tradesman cannot earn a living due to escalating price hikes of all commodities; schoolchildren cannot do their homework when power outages takes place at all odd hours. It is impossible to keep food afresh when electricity failures occur, as the refrigerators start melting ice when power cuts remain up to seven hours a day. In short living in Sri Lanka has turned into a hell!
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved the Ceylon Electricity Board’s request for 13-hour interruptions to the power supply tomorrow (March 31).
The CEB had sought to increase the duration of power cuts to 13 hours due to the unavailability of fuel for thermal power plants.
Thereby, the areas listed under the following groups will experience power interruptions of 13 hours as mentioned below:
• Areas A, B, C, D, E, and F – Three hours from 3.00am to 6.00am / Four hours from 12.00pm to 4.00pm / Six hours from 6.00pm to 12.00am
• Areas G, H, I, J, K, and L – Three hours from 12.00am to 6.00am / Four hours from 8.00am to 12.00 pm / Six hours from 4.00pm to 10.00pm
• Areas P, Q, R, and S – Three hours from 3.00am to 6.00am / Four hours from 12.00pm to 4.00pm / Six hours from 6.00pm to 12.00am
• Areas T, U, V, and W – Three hours from 12.00am to 3.00am / Four hours from 8.00am to 12.00pm / Six hours from 4.00pm to 10.00pm
• Areas M, N, O, X, Y, and Z (feeders supplying to industrial zones) – Three hours and 30minutes from 5.30am to 9.00am / Two hours from 4.00pm to 6.00pm
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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against six accused persons, including a woman, before the NIA Special Court in Chennai in connection with LTTE terror funding case.
The charge sheet was filed against Letchumanan Mary Franciska, T. Kenniston Fernando, K. Baskaran, Johnson Samuvel, G. Dharmendran, and E. Mohan under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Passport Act and the Foreigners Act.
The case pertains to a criminal conspiracy to revive the LTTE by committing forgery for cheating besides using forged documents as genuine to divert funds lodged in dormant accounts to commit unlawful and terror activities.
The case was initially lodged by the CID Chennai in 2021, and the NIA took over the probe this year.
During investigation, it was learnt that Franciska, Fernando and Baskaran entered into a conspiracy with foreign entities to siphon off deposits in dormant bank accounts by using Indian identity documents obtained fraudulently and forging identity documents to revive, revamp and regroup LTTE in India and Sri Lanka.
Fund collection and maintenance by the expatriate Tamil groups were essentially to promote Anti Sri Lanka propaganda to undermine the sovereign Sri Lankan state. Hardly any funds from this source were spent on developing or repairing the damages caused to the houses or the infra structure by the war initiated by the LTTE. On the other hand, the Sri Lankan governments spent millions of funds to resettle the people and initiated many development schemes in the war damaged areas.
We now hear of some expatriate Tamil groups have indicated to consider tp channel funds to Sri Lanka, the proposal confirmed at the meeting the President had with the Tamil political leaders. However. the details of proposed funding and the conditions, if any, were not made available to the country at large. But, according to some sources it is revealed that such funding will be directed to a North -East development fund,
The North-East model is based on the mythical traditional home lands of Tamils. This concept had been analysed by many reputed scholars and found historically, archeologically or demographically the North – East is not a Tamil area and the two provinces are not homogenous. Further, the objectives of the formation of a Tamil eelam in the amalgamated two provinces were categorically defeated in Nandikadal in 2009 with the sacrifices made by thousands of Sri Lankan soldiers and the civilians .
Therefore. the gift horse – the funding by the Tamil expatiate groups- needs to be looked in the mouth before agreeing to the critical condition underlying this offer. If the plan of the expatriate groups is to re-invent the eelam model by other means by offering assistance to overcome the immediate dollar issues, one should examine the exorbitant price tag of proposal and should not waste time to consider favourably the proposal. Why should the nation panic and grab a knife which will be used for the balkanization of its land? Let us seek rational solutions to dollar issue working with international organizations and the world community. Let us not open the doors to allow an agent of destruction to come inside.
Deciding what to do when you leave school is tough. It becomes a nightmare for students and parents alike when you suddenly find yourself not having enough marks to qualify for a place in a university. Every year about 270,000 students face this dilemma. Let’s delve a little deeper into the unpleasant statistics. In all streams of study combined, about 70% of GCE (O/L) students qualify for A/L and then out of around 350,000 who sit A/L about 63% become eligible for admission to a university. However due to the limited capacity of the universities, on average only 23% (in 2019 the figure was 19%) of the eligible candidates manage to enter the university. The competition for Arts and Commerce students is worse with only 17% gaining entry. (UGC Statistics Report 2020 and University World News 2021) To put this in perspective, if 100 students sit O/L only 10 will eventually enter the university. After studying 3-5 years in the university depending on the course of study, about 90% of the graduates of a few disciplines such as architecture, engineering, medicine and IT find employment related to the field of study within 2 years. Sadly only 45% of Arts graduates secure employment within 2-3 years. (Tracer Study of Graduates – Commissioned by UGC in 2017/18). Out of these how many are underemployed? This is the stark reality in Sri Lanka today. Unfortunately the vast majority of secondary school students are discouraged by parents to think of any other pathways of tertiary education outside university. This is done in spite of knowing very well that odds are stacked against them. Though the general public may not be aware of these statistics as such, it is common knowledge that there are unemployed Arts and other graduates in almost every town and village in the country. The total unemployment rate in 2019 was 4.8%, ranking Sri Lanka third among South Asian countries with high unemployment. Tragically 15-24 year old group in our country had the highest rate of 21.5%. Based on education level, A/L & above showed the highest rate of 8.2% (Labour Force Survey-Department of Census and Statistics).
However, turning a blind eye to all this gloomy and depressing statistics; every year soon after the GCE(A/L) results are released we hear the usual statement from the government that university intake will be increased this year to accommodate the sons and daughters of ‘poor and innocent people from our villages’. Like a pre-recorded statement we have been hearing this since the 1960s. And we continue to produce more graduates with no marketable skills who cannot improve their own livelihoods or make any positive contribution to the economic development of our society. Notwithstanding all this, some short sighted, narrow minded politicians keep giving false hopes to the masses and the masses allow themselves to be misguided and deceived by these politicians over and over again. Regrettably, some universities have exacerbated the situation by ignoring market demands and employability and continuing to offer courses that add absolutely no value to the graduates or to the national economy. Regardless, every year the government in power continues to pump more money to universities to increase student intake across the board presumably to fulfil an ‘election promise’. The establishment of 15 new technology faculties in some conventional universities few years ago and the enrolment increase to technology courses are a step in the right direction which will enable few more students to enter university. However it does not adequately address the pressing issue of absence of career development pathways for school leavers. At least, going forward the government needs to revise its funding model for education as a whole with the aim of providing more and more funding to technology based education in schools. I must hasten to add that I am not advocating wholesale scrapping of Arts and Humanities courses from all universities but to take a pragmatic approach to funding allocation for education and take steps to gradually reduce the intake to Arts stream and faculties.
Creating non-productive jobs that do not make a positive contribution to society is not the solution to this massive problem. Instead of coming up with ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’ solutions, we must examine the root cause of the problem. If we compare this problem to an unwanted tree, it’s seed is planted in secondary school (sometimes in primary school) and nurtured by teachers, parents and extended family. One cannot completely blame them for doing so because of the prestige and social status associated with a university degree. Furthermore most students and parents are not aware of any other paths of study available to them outside university education. We already have in place the infrastructure and administrative apparatus via the establishment of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) in 1991 and the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) framework in 2005. In the year 2017 total university admissions were 31,415 whilst NVQ Level 1 enrolment was only 18,484. What is needed is an intensive social marketing strategy to change the attitude and mindset of students, parents and teachers alike. Unfortunately this is more easily said than done in a society in which picking up a tool and getting one’s hands dirty is considered below the dignity of an ‘educated’ person. Changing this attitude and building respect and social recognition for a trades qualified skilled person will be a slow and arduous process. Another change that needs to be considered simultaneously is to discourage students taking up dead end undergraduate courses. A policy decision has to be taken to gradually reduce the intake to such courses. This demands extraordinary political courage as there will be stiff opposition from parents and students and most certainly from certain segments of academics.
With rapid industrialisation in the second half of the last century the demand for skilled labour such as carpenters, welders, electricians, plumbers etc. saw a rapid growth in the developed world because they played a pivotal role in economic growth. This resulted in a surge in the earning power of tradespeople. These financial gains directly contributed to higher living standards which in turn translated to higher social standing and recognition of those engaged in skilled trades. While attaining financial stability and a higher standard of living for themselves, tradespeople continue to make a huge contribution to the economic development of these countries. Another important factor in this social change was the introduction of formal education and training requirements to achieve set standards and certification and licensing protocols introduced and monitored by government agencies. A further noteworthy development was the formation of associations of individual trades with objectives quite different from conventional trade unions. These organisations set quality standards for workmanship and ensured their members adhered to these standards thus fulfilling the task of formal self-regulation of tradespeople. The membership of such an organisation gave the trades-person a higher standing as well as his/her clients the assurance that the quality of the work done would be of high standard. These measures prevented ‘cowboys’ calling themselves skilled tradesmen.
Though a direct comparison cannot be drawn between Sri Lanka and developed countries due to widely varying social attitudes and cultural differences, it is still worthwhile studying some of the strategies implemented and the outcomes. Across the developed world one can see an unmistakable upward trend among young people enrolling for vocational training instead of undergraduate studies in Arts and Humanities or similar studies. For instance in New Zealand during the last 10 years Arts and Humanities subjects have suffered a steep fall in student numbers; between 25% and 50% across different universities and one university senate decided to axe the arts courses altogether from 2020 due to low enrolment rates. This decline is against a backdrop of enrolment increases in technology related courses of study in tertiary institutions. During the same period students leaving school before year 13 (equivalent of A/L) to take up apprenticeships in trades or to follow trade targeted courses have sharply increased. This trend has continued with the last year showing a significant jump of 50% over the previous year and this trend is not isolated to New Zealand but equally true to other OECD countries.
Most universities in New Zealand offer courses from certificate (Level 4) to postgraduate level (Level 10) both full time and part-time. (Final year in school – A/L is considered Level 3). Therefore, for instance a trades-person with level 5 trade certificate can enter a university course mid-stream, instead of going back and sitting the equivalent of our A/L; and study towards a diploma, degree or beyond. In Sri Lanka a student who leaves secondary school to take the Technical & Vocational Training route cannot enrol in a university but have to enter University of Vocational Technology (Sri Lanka Education System Assessment 2017 – World Bank). Unfortunately, any attempt to implement pathways or processes similar to the ones in OECD countries will result in absolute turmoil in our society with unprecedented unrest in our educational institutions. Considering the present situation in our country we may have to put that in the ‘too hard basket’ for now. Nevertheless if we are to move forward as a nation it is of utmost importance that we remove obstacles facing young men and women keen to build their careers.
World is becoming technology dependent at an alarming rate. Young men and women and the parents need to realise this and break away from traditional thinking of ‘office clerk versus factory worker’. The reality is that the choice in front of them is whether you start young and earn while you learn and continue to enjoy financial stability or spend 3-4 years of your youth pursuing an irrelevant course of study and join a long queue of jobseekers. The youth when faced with financial difficulties may undergo this psychological transformation more rapidly than parents who are trapped in age-old social beliefs and notions. This is not about a ‘psychological revolution’ but more like an evolutionary process of gradually changing the mindset of the general public and as such, invariably demands social marketing by the government, the media including social media and above all, political parties. It is said that most politicians know the right thing to do but they don’t know how to get re-elected after doing the right thing”. The politicians need to be convinced that the right thing to do today is to stand with the school leavers, promote vocational training and allocate more funds for facilities ranging from more school workshops to increased financial support for vocational trainees and employers of trainees. If they can be shown that for every one undergraduate there are 10 plus school leavers, they might see the potential ‘vote bank’ which will answer every politicians’ proverbial question What’s in it for me?”. Having said that, one must not lose hope as the President has reiterated in his Independence Day speech that Our objective is to do what is right by the country and not to please everyone”.
Since 1990 we have gradually built the legal and administrative framework and the infrastructure to support vocational education and training. Most certainly, like any other process it needs continuous improvement but more importantly what is lacking is commitment to implement policies falling under the umbrella of vocational education. This needs urgent action and cannot wait for politicians to act. Other non-political stakeholders like administrators and intellectuals need to take the initiative and lobby for funding to improve the much needed resources to transform the lives of our young men and women who are desperately in need of guidance and support, before they leave school. A thorough understanding of the Sri Lanka Qualification Framework (SLQF) before leaving school will help students to make informed decisions regarding their future. Vast majority of A/L students take up arts subjects because they have no other choice due to lack of facilities in their schools. Providing basic workshop facilities in schools is a good start. It’s not just about learning to use basic engineering tools but about changing the mentality towards working with your hands. This is one area where funding priorities have to be reconsidered. Providing workshop facilities in rural schools and technology teacher training are costly. Past experience has shown that retaining such teachers is a greater challenge as they have better prospects in industry. A skill based pay system in the education sector is out of the question, as even a hint of a proposal will incur the wrath of the unions.
Information is key to decision making. In order to decimate information, career fairs are becoming more and more popular as young people are attracted to such events. If organised at regional level teachers can ensure that secondary school students attend these fairs and gain knowledge to make informed choices. One other important area of focus can be career advice for students starting from O/L. Career guidance counsellors play a significant role in the school curriculum in the developed world. Customarily, counsellors are teachers with specialised training in career guidance. However, volunteers from outside are quite common as well. They can empower students and parents with knowledge and explore different career options and pathways together. Unlike most parents who are driven by preconceived career paths for their children, the counsellors are able to give unbiased pragmatic advice as they have no emotional attachment to the student. Only a handful of our schools are fortunate enough to have this facility but this is something if implemented will go a long way in reshaping the attitudes of students and parents. Social attitudes of people cannot be changed by enacting laws but will go through a gradual transformation when consistently confronted with positive outcomes. Yet one must not leave it to take its own time. A concerted effort by the government and the state apparatus is needed to alter the attitudes of our society towards skilled labour. Having said that, one must acknowledge the fact that respective governments have, to some extent taken numerous initiatives to implement such projects but tragically they have encountered the same fate as most projects in our country; endless delays and poor management. On the whole, Sri Lanka has got the infrastructure, legal and administrative framework and enough government organisations to implement and monitor vocational education and training policies but funding priorities and efficient project management are the two critical areas that desperately need improvement.
(I thank Dr. Julian Nanayakkara (former Senior Lecturer University of Moratuwa & University of Kelaniya and resource person for the Ministry of Education) for his input in providing information and encouraging me to write to highlight the plight of school leavers who continue to fall through the cracks of our education system)
