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Several prominent members of the board of directors of the Board of Investment (BOI) have stepped down from their positions.
According to a statement issued by the BOI, the Chairman, members of the Board of Directors and the Director-General are among the top officials who resigned.
The full statement of the Board of Investment is as follows:
Nearly 200,000 additional Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses arrived in Sri Lanka today (December 02) as a donation from the United States.
This gift demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the United States to support Sri Lanka in the fight against COVID-19, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo said in a statement.
As the pandemic continues and new variants emerge, the United States continues to partner with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization to vaccinate as many people as possible and build a world that is safer and more secure against the threat of infectious disease.”
The United States has now donated 2.6 million vaccines and over USD 17.9 million in emergency supplies and critical services to Sri Lanka.
Additionally, the U.S. Government’s Agency for International Development, USAID, is working in partnership with the Sri Lankan government to effectively distribute, administer, and safely transport these vaccines. U.S. assistance has reached millions of people in Sri Lanka to control the spread of COVID-19, address urgent health needs, and mitigate the pandemic’s negative economic impacts.
The United States has delivered more than 240 million COVID vaccines to over 100 countries free of charge as part of its commitment to donate more than 1.1 billion vaccines worldwide. These vaccine donations will save lives and help slow the spread of COVID-19. The United States is proud to work with Sri Lanka and countries around the world to end the pandemic and build back a better world.
Using your nose is the first step to detect LPG gas leakage. The first hint would be the smell of rotten cabbage or rotten eggs. An odourant – Ethyl Mercaptan – is added to the naturally odourless LPG for the aid in detection of leaks.
Apply soapy water to the entire hose assembly, including the tank’s valve and regulator, using a spray bottle or sponge. Pressurise the system without turning on any appliances. If you see bubbles or smell rotten eggs, you have a leak.
It is important to how do you check for gas cylinder leaks and for natural gas. One of the safest ways is something commonly called the soapy water leak test” or soap bubble test for gas leak.
The soapy water leak test allows you to search for tell-tale bubbles that are indicative of LPG or Natural Gas leakage.
In this very simple test, you just coat all of the gas transmission gear (pipes, hoses, valves, etc.) with soapy water and then pressurise the system.
If you see bubbles, you know you have a leak.
To make the solution for the soap test for gas leak, simply mix dish detergent with water. The soap can be put in a spray bottle or placed in a bowl for sponging on. Dish washing soap is formulated to make lots of bubbles so it works better for the soap test for gas leak.
Liquid laundry detergent doesn’t work as well as dish soap, as it is formulated to be low sudsing.
Remember to cover the entire hose assembly from the gas bottle valve to the hose attachment to the BBQ or heater with soap solution. Open the valve to pressurise the system, without turning on the burners, and look for soap bubbles or sniff for the rotten egg smell.
To check for gas cylinder leaks perform the soapy water leak test around the valve and connections. You use the same test to detect a gas leak in your home and how you check for gas cylinder leaks. Poor connection to the gas cylinder is the most frequent cause for gas cylinder leakage.
In many cases, the main connection is just not sufficiently tightened. Dirt or damage to the connectors are also common causes of leaks.
The standard BBQ gas regulator in Australia is a POL gas regulator.
The male connector of the gas regulator, which screws into the POL gas valve on your gas bottle, may have a rubber O-ring seal or it may rely on a metal to metal contact seal.
You should always inspect the regulator for damage, paying special attention to the connector, which screws into the gas bottle.
If it has a rubber O-ring, it also needs to be undamaged.
The connector and the female valve opening should both be clean and undamaged.
Pieces of dirt, nicks and scratches can prevent the two components from sealing, resulting in a leak.
The gas hose is attached to the regulator on one end and the BBQ on the other end.
It can become damaged or deteriorate with age.
Dogs and other animals can also cause damage by chewing on the dangling hose.
Visually inspect the hose for cracking, splitting or other damage.
You should replace the hose if it shows any signs of damage or degradation.
It is good practice to replace the entire regulator and hose assembly, if it is old enough for the hose to have deteriorated, as regulators also wear with age.
In Australia, BBQ gas bottles must be tested every ten years.
The gas valve is changed upon inspection and the valves are expected to last for the full ten years.
However, occasionally the valve will fail prematurely and start leaking from around the valve stem. This is rare but it can happen.
Please see Gas Bottle-Cylinder Testing Facts for more information on the ten year testing process.
The bleed screw is a small slotted screw on the side of the valve that lets gas vapour bleed off during the decanting refill process.
The refill technician opens it during the filling process and closes it, when done.
The screw can develop a slow leak if it becomes loose.
The BBQ gas bottle, regulator & hose assembly should be checked using the soapy water leak test every time you reconnect your regulator to the BBQ gas bottle.
You should also soapy water leak test after any long period of non-use, such as at the beginning of BBQ season.
You will need a soapy water solution to do the soapy water leak test.
Mixing liquid hand soap with water should work fine. Place the solution in a liquid spray bottle.
It’s a good idea to leave the spray bottle with the BBQ, so it’s always a handy reminder to perform the soapy water leak test.
Your BBQ valve and fittings are made from brass.
You must never use any soapy water leak test solution that contains ammonia, when you do your testing.
Ammonia can cause brass to become brittle and crack.
Be aware that ammonia is found in many pre-prepared glass and surface cleaners, so make sure you read the label before use.
The best practice gas safety advice is that gas bottles should only be in a vehicle for the minimum required transport time.
When you do transport a gas bottle, you should consider one added precaution.
After making sure that the valve is firmly closed, you should soapy water leak test the entire valve assembly to check for any possible leaks, prior to transport.
DO NOT leave BBQ bottles in enclose vehicle unnecessarily.
The information in this article is derived from various sources and is believed to be correct at the time of publication. However, the information may not be error free and may not be applicable in all circumstances
Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. has warned consumers no
Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. today (Dec. 01) warned the consumers not to test their gas cylinders at home using methods such as soap water.
At a media briefing, Director of Sales and Marketing of Litro Gas Lanka, Janaka Pathirathna said people using soap water to test for liquefied petroleum gas leakages poses certain dangers.
The cylinder must remain sealed once it is brought home. the regulator must be fixed soon after the seal is removed. If not, the safety cap must be kept on.”
He urged the general public not to try to open the gas valve and use soap water or insert any sticks into the valve.
Pathirathna requested them to place the safety cap on and call the company’s hotline 1311, if they are having any suspicions regarding a leaking cylinder.
The officials of Litro Gas Lanka who visited the sites where explosions were reported previously have observed that gas leaked from the cylinder hose or the regulator, according to Pathirathna. We observed a regulator was more than 15 years old,” he said adding that two of the most recent incidents reported were due to gas leakage that occurred as a result of putting soap water into the valve of a cylinder that had been used for over one-and-a-half months without any issue.
Speaking further at the media briefing, Pathirathna clarified questions on changing the composition of LP gas. Quoting an expert, he said changing the propane-butane ratio does not cause cylinders to explode even if the valve is removed.
The atmospheric pressure is essential and the composition is not at fault, Pathirathna stressed. We follow the SLS 720 Standard. The standard pressure valve is around 1,000 bars. The pressure does not build up through the changing of the gas composition.”
The pressure level is around 700 bars if the gas composition is 100 percent propane. It will not exceed the standardised pressure levels according to SLS Standards. The cylinder can bear five times of the pressure created by this gas composition.
When asked about the laboratory report provided by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation which concluded that the 12.5 kg gas cylinder has a 50-50 ratio of propane and butane, Pathirathna said the company is yet to receive the document.
t to test their gas cylinders at home using methods such as soap water.
In the immediate term, all political parties in Parliament should bury their respective hatchets, and agree on a political truce for the next two years. They could take the next step and agree to form a national government or a national governance council for two years. The theme of such a government or entity should be responsible governance as the most important political activity now is responsible governance.
Sri Lanka’s dependency on export earnings, foreign remittances and tourist earnings for its survival has made it very seriously vulnerable to the effects of the latest COVID mutant, Omnicron. If it spreads and international travel restrictions become widespread, foreign remittances and tourism earnings will take a hit, and it could be a mortal hit for Sri Lanka which is already on the brink of bankruptcy.
The government appears to continue with its show of confidence that the economic situation of the country will be resolved. Increasingly, governance ineptness, infighting within the government, a seeming lack of leadership, is dashing the hopes of many people who bestowed their hopes on the President and the government. Government’s media strategists appear to be in a stupor as they have failed to pro-actively capitalise on the positive activities of the government. They have become a reactive, ineffective force.
The Opposition, like a set of Vultures, is sniffing a political opportunity thinking and hoping they will have a carcass to feed on soon. Some other politicians continue to wax their eloquence on everything that is wrong but never offering solutions as to how the wrongs can be made right. The TNA and some other North Eastern Tamil political parties act symbolically like the three Monkeys (the deaf, blind and mute) when it comes to national issues as they seem to be giving the impression they are interested only in the welfare of the Tamils in the North and East and not Tamils elsewhere, let alone the Sinhala and Muslim people.
The situation in the country reminds one of Sybil Wettasinghe’s children’s story Labugediye Thoilaya”. Sri Lankan politicians of all hues appear to be inside the labu gediya, participating in a political ritual to ward off evil forces that have afflicted Mother Lanka, while the labu gediya has been swallowed by a large fish as described in Wettasinghe’s story.
In contemporary Sri Lanka, the labu gediya could be equivalent to the Parliament, and the fish, to the country’s foreign debt which could very likely and very soon, swallow the entire country along with the politicians and unfortunately, the people of the country as well. Some may say not so cynically that the Parliamentarians won’t be missed if so swallowed!
The naivety of the Opposition is only superseded by the reported reliance on personnel similar to devil dancers in the Labugediye Thoilaya by the powers that be, trying to ward off evil that have afflicted them and the country.
For the sake of the country and the future generations, one can only hope that this collective tomfoolery ceases, and immediate remedial measures taken to keep the country afloat until the global economic situation shows positive signs of a sustainable recovery.
Dire need for a political truce
In the immediate term, all political parties in Parliament should bury their respective hatchets, and agree on a political truce for the next two years. They could take the next step and agree to form a national government or a national governance council for two years. The theme of such a government or entity should be responsible governance as the most important political activity now is responsible governance.
What should be the key tasks for a national political consensus when it comes to responsible governance? There are many. However, three key areas are mentioned here.
A stable economic management structure
In the current and foreseeable future, it is unlikely that Sri Lanka will be able to earn enough foreign exchange to sustain itself, unless the entire foreign debt repayments are delayed at least for two years by mutual agreement with the lending entities. Considering that 45% of the foreign debt is in the form of international sovereign bonds falling due in the short term, this is going to be hard task. However, mechanisms will have to be found to do this.
One avenue would be to seek IMF assistance to take over the short term foreign debt component with a longer term, low interest long term repayment arrangement. This alone may not be sufficient and IMF assistance may also be needed to augment foreign exchange needs for import of petroleum, food items and medicines.
IMF conditions for such support will be stringent, but Sri Lanka is slowly but surely heading towards a disaster and may not have any other choice left to take but to agree to such measures.
This is where a political truce becomes critical. All governments of Sri Lanka have contributed to the perilous situation the country is in, and today, the Opposition cannot afford to blow their trumpets saying they can do better, considering they contributed hugely to the perilous state of the country with their ineptness for four and a half years prior to the advent of the current government.
So, the problem is a creation of all previous governments, and therefore, the solution too has to be worked out by all political parties who have been a part of a previous government.
A political consensus achieved through a two-year truce should engage in some high level priority policy settings on economic management, foreign policy, defence, food security, energy, environment and education. These key areas should not be treated like political footballs as they have been for the last 73 years endangering the hopes of future generations.
Measures to curb corruption
Secondly the political consensus must agree on measures to curb corruption, the bane of the country’s society and which has a direct impact on the much sought after foreign investments. The instability of the Sri Lankan rupee with official rate for a US dollar being Rs 203 while the black-market converting it at around Rs 240, and the real value of the US dollar suspected to be more than Rs 300, show the volatility and the instability of the Sri Lankan rupee and why many would be investors are not investing in Sri Lanka. Besides this, it is widely known that bribery adds another impost to any would be investor, and the suspected range of this impost is reportedly anything from 10% to 50% of the value of a project.
Corruption has become endemic in the country and curbing it is in the hands of politicians as they are the ones responsible for introducing it and propagating it to the heights it has come to now. They need to enact new laws if what is there is not sufficient, but very importantly, they need to leave the justice system and the law enforcement system to carry out their tasks and responsibilities WITHOUT interference. A strong anti-corruption body with strong teeth, including judicial powers, is needed to instil some fear in potential bribe takers that they and their families could be called upon to pay for the crimes committed and languish in jail even for the rest of their lives depending on the severity of the crime. Everyone from the President downwards must be subject to anti-corruption laws and punishable irrespective of whether they are in office or not.
Legal framework for media operations
Thirdly, some measures should be taken through such a political consensus to determine how the politicians and the public should act to facilitate responsible governance via the media. A consensus on a legal framework for media operation including, very importantly, the social media is needed.
Social media in particular has become the repository and the facilitator of genuine news as well as fake news. Some information that is circulated via social media platforms is highly irresponsible and harmful to the very society in which such platforms provide the avenues to proliferate information.
While the intent should never be any curtailment of media freedom, responsible governance essentially has to be considered as a two-way process where those governing and those being governed should take equal responsibility about what they say and do. There may be many measures that could be taken to introduce a framework for all media operations without impinging on media freedom.
In this regard, Danushka Medawatte in an article titled Freedom of the Wild Ass (https://danumedawatte.wordpress.com/2015/09/26/freedom-of-the-wild-ass/)
states quote Law is an ass” says Charles Dickens. This certainly seems to hold true in the light of the freedom that is enjoyed by media through the protections granted by both domestic legal systems and international law. While I am reaping the benefits of freedom of expression in making these claims, it needs to be highlighted that certain freedoms require to be curtailed and/or reviewed in order for the other rights to exist. At present, it is possible to note that some journalists exercise their freedom of expression in a manner harmful to the society. It is questionable whether such practices should be upheld in light of several recent circumstances. While freedom of expression is, without a doubt, one of the most important rights that perhaps functions as a premise for other rights, it is important to establish the framework within which one may swing one’s fist without striking another’s nose”
Medawatte encapsulates the view of all fair minded citizens about democracy and media freedom.
Essentially, media freedom must be accompanied with responsibility as irresponsible circulation of unchecked, unverified, inaccurate and harmful information is not a characteristic of being responsible. Since politicians are tasked with the responsibility of reviewing and enacting laws, a political consensus becomes critical in ensuring that any media operation law including social media has across the board support and does not become a political football to be kicked around by political parties.
Major social media platforms are under scrutiny throughout the world, and bona fides of some companies are in question as they have created an impression that revenue and revenue growth is what matters to them and not the means they provide to the good, the bad and the ugly, to propagate information and misinformation, with noble intentions as well as ignoble intentions. The proliferators of irresponsible information using social media need to consider whether they are doing a service or a disservice to the society and the country they live in.
කැබිනට් මණ්ඩලය, අමාත්යාංශ, පාර්ලිමේන්තුව වැනි වැදගත් ආයතනයන් ගන්නා තීරණ ක්රියාත්මක නොවන්නේ ලංකා ආර්ථික මෙහෙයවීමේ සර්ව බලධාරියා බවට ජනාධිපති ලේකම් පී.බී.ජයසුන්දර පත්ව ඇති නිසා බව නිවේදනයක් නිකුත් කරමින් හිටපු ආණ්ඩුකාර රජිත් කීර්ති තෙන්නකෝන් පවසයි.
කෘෂිකර්ම අමාත්යාංශයේ වැය ශීර්ෂයේ කතාකල ඇමති මහින්දානන්ද කීවේ එදින සවස ගැසට් එක නිකුත් කළ හැකි බවයි. ඊට පෙර දින පුවත්පත් සාකච්ඡාවේදී එතුමා කීවේ ජනතා සංවේදී රජයක් ලෙස ගොවි ජනතාවට සවන් දී මැයි මාසයේ නිකුත් කරන ලද ගැසට්පත්රය ඉවත් කර ගන්නා බවයි. මේ ගැසට් එක ට මුදල් ඇමති බැසිල් රාජපක්ෂ අත්සන් කළේ ඊයේ ය. දැන් සතියක් මේ ගැසට් එක අත පසු කළේ කෘෂිකර්ම අමාත්යාංශය හෝ මුදල් අමාත්යාංශය නොව රටේ මුදල් තීරණ ගන්නා සර්ව බලධාරියා ලෙස කටයුතු කරන පී.බී.ජයසුන්දර යි.
ඒ අතර තුර, ආණ්ඩුව හාල් ආනයනය කළේය. මහ කන්නයට අවශ්ය වල් නාශක ආනයනය නවතා පසේ සාරය වල්ගස් ටික උරා ගන්නා තෙක් සිටියේය. මෙහි අනිවාර්ය ප්රතිඑලය දැන් ඇට්ටකුනා වෙමින් ඇති වී ගස් ටික අස්වැන්නක් නැති, පිදුරු බවට පත්වීමය.
මේ වනවිට චීනය පොහොර අපනයනය තාවකාලිකව අත්හිටුවා ඇත. කෘෂි රසායන මිළ සීග්ර ලෙස ඉහළට යමින් පවතී. යුරෝපීය වෙළදපලේ පොහොර මිළද තුන් ගුණයකට වඩා ඉහළ ගොස් ඇත. ආරංචි මාර්ග සඳහන් කරන්නේ දැන් ලබාදෙන ඇනවුම් ලබන පෙබරවාරියේදී පමණ නිෂ්පාදනය කිරීමට යම් ඉඩක් ඇති බවයි. මේ සියල්ල මැද රජය කල් මරමින් සිටියි. මෙයින් සිදුවන්නේ රටේ ජීවනාලිය බඳු ගොවියා හිඟමනට පත්කිරීමයි. ලෝකයේ විශාලතම නයිට්රජන් පොහොර සමාගමේ ප්රධාන විධායක නිලධාරියා පසුගිය සතියේ ප්රකාශ කර ඇත්තේ ඉදිරියේ ඇතිවන දැඩි නයිට්රජන් පොහොර හිඟය නිසා දැඩි ආහාර හිඟයක් පාර කැපෙන බවයි. ලෝකයේ බොහෝ රටවල් සිය ආහාර සුරක්ෂිතතාව තහවුරු කිරීමට සැලසුම් යොදන මේ මොහොතේ ශ්රී ලංකාව දිගින් දිගටම කෘෂිකර්මයට අවශ්ය පහසුකම් සැලසීම අතපසු කර සිටී.
ලංකා ආර්ථිකයේ සෑම අංශයක්ම හසුරුවනු ලබන්නේ මුදල් අමාත්යාංශය නොව ජනාධිපති ලේකම් විසිනි. මහ කන්නයේ වගාව මේ වන විටත් විනාශ වී අවසන්. ඉදිරි වගා කටයුතු සඳහා විශේෂයෙන්ම ජනවාරි සහ පෙබරවාරි මාසවල ලංකාවේ අතුරු භෝග වගාවට, උඩරට එළවළු වගාවට, තේ වගාවට අවශ්ය පොහොර සහ රසායන වර්ග ඉක්මනින් ගෙන්වීමට පියවර ගත යුතුයි. එසේ නොමැතිව තවදුරටත් පොහොර – බෙහෙත් ආනයන ක්රියාවලියට බාධා පමුණුවන්නේ නම් මෙරට කෘෂිකර්මාන්තයේ දැවැන්ත බිඳවැටීමක් සිදුවී ආහාර අහේනියකට මාවත සැකසෙනු ඇත.
රජිත් කීර්ති තෙන්නකෝන් දකුණු පලාත් හිටපු ආණ්ඩුකාර
Author J Sai Deepak and his book’s cover.
J Sai Deepak’s book India That is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation and Constitution quite unsettled me. I was bewildered by all manner of information that began swirling around me. The author on an over-drive with passion for his subject was difficult to keep pace with.
It is more than an ordinary book. It is an empowering course material with many resources to take away. It is not quite amenable to review in the usual way.
That is when it struck me I best explain it in the manner of unBoxing a set of resources.
When the proposed trilogy is published, a storm will have been stirred up. By then, I expect there will be in the books, knowledge enough to hold one’s ground, and maybe even engage in combat.
Sai Deepak’s credibility is high as a man who works with hard facts from original sources. You can verify this from the tens of viral videos at large in which he takes on all questions, however tricky and answers them with ease and precision. He seldom wastes a word, nor lacks the right one for his need, or deviates from the point in the discussion.
All these qualities come through in his writing., which doesn’t mean he can be understood if you are paying less than full attention.
With that said, let me return to the question: ‘What’s in the box of resources’, as I choose to call the book.
This Volume-1 begins with a long section (over 25 per cent of the book’s length) identifying what Bharatiyas need to combat.
In a word, it is coloniality, which best is more quickly understood and sized by defining its four etymological cousins. Colonialism is the intent to capture territories, colonisation is the physical act of capture. Colonialisation is the soft framework to control the captured land, its wealth and people.
Coloniality is when the colonised people begin to be unconsciously colonised.
Finally, there is postcolonialism, which is the acme of a colonial project’s success. It happens when enough of the conquered minds begin to consciously propagate the colonial cause.
As I understand it, the difference between coloniality and post-coloniality is this: the former has unconsciously internalised the coloniser’s prescriptions, and the latter is consciously aligned with the coloniser’s mission.
Western universities of the US, in particular, are quite slick-skilled in producing a steady supply of post-colonial minds, many of which can be spotted in our academe, media, Bar & Bench and polity. Incidentally, one of the crucial skills this book will teach you, is the ability to identify colonial and post-colonial minds. To me, that’s more than half the battle won.
The long section on coloniality ends with these words: The battle must include European and Middle Eastern coloniality, in that order, since the former protects the latter and the latter rides on the former’s coattails to legitimise itself.”
Let me turn to the next goody in the box.
Quite early in the book, Sai Deepak will have introduced you to the acronym OET, which expands as ontology epistemology theology. One may describe the three respectively, as a culture’s metaphysical beliefs, knowledge structure and praxis of rites and rules.
If one thinks it through, when coloniality rises, the acronym OET will have lost its first letter, because its indigenous organic past will have been slain and put away as dead. It will have equipped itself with a single book to serve its epistemological needs and a single drill for its ritual routines. On whether you feel enriched by the breadth and depth of the OET you are heir to or find it retrograde, depends on your vulnerability to coloniality.
Sai Deepak cites several intellectual sources, among them a dozen little known Latin Americans, who have helped him understand the contours of coloniality. Based on my experience with reading at least two of the authors in the original, I confess I quite quickly came face to face with my inadequacy to comprehend them with any ease. Sai Deepak’s sharp intellect and legal acumen equip him to extract the essential from the complex and lucidly present his summary without any loss of accuracy. This is a gift of much value for the young and serious student.
Yet another bundle in the box consists of a large collection of extracts from many original documents. Among these are the actual and saddening words of some members of our Constituent Assembly battling — and, failing — to keep ‘Bharat’ as the sole name for the new state; the Papal Bull of 1493 that so generously offered the world to Portugal and Spain to carve up between themselves; potted histories of the 30-year war, the Treaty of Westphalia, the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. Also included are extracts from debates in the British Parliament on the Government of India Act, on the East India Company Charter, and on educational reforms.
His reason for laying out all this as part of evidence puzzled me at first. Then it hit me: we tend to dismiss colonialism merely as an exercise in greedy wealth transfer. We also tend to believe only Catholic countries of Southern Europe are of an evangelical bent, but not so an England after Henry VIII, and the Lutheran and Calvinist nations that had spun away from Papacy.
It, therefore, startled me to learn that post the Treaty of Westphalia that ended a fratricidal 30-Year War among Christians, they had all closed ranks for the common Christian cause.
In fact, the East India Company is more sinned against than sinning in this regard. It would have been quite content to be left free to go after gold, rather than market god. It was the British crown, parliament and clergy that mandated it to evangelise, using part of its profits. When direct rule by the crown followed, evangelical fervour was further stoked, with state protection given to the church’s activities. All the while a sanctimonious charade was maintained that the ruler will not intrude in the natives’ ways, however distasteful they are thought to be.
In contrast to the finesse of the British conversion operations, the Islamic colonials were laughably clumsy, what with bloodied swords held aloft, eyes roving for women and the body doubled under the weight of the loot.
I can see the white man shake his head and mutter: Tut, tut. That’s not the way to do it, you Turk.”
You get a clearer picture of the European coloniser’s suavity from Sai Deepak’s own words:
Coloniality was the fount of European colonialism, which in turn was rooted in the coloniser’s religious beliefs that gave birth to his sense of racial superiority that placed the Christian White European coloniser at the top of the world order. It was this sense of superiority, which the European coloniser treated as both a divinely ordained right and scientific fact, that led to the creation of racial hierarchies the world over. Coloniality reshaped the very concept of history and time through the creation of constructs as ‘modernity’ and ‘rationality’, terms which are loosely used in contemporary everyday conversations without the knowledge of their colonial origins. This colonial matrix of power, to which both modernity and rationality were integral, had the effect of negating the cultural experience and subjectivities of colonised societies, so much so that according to the coloniser, their histories began only upon his advent.”
In addition to wealth transfer and proselytisation, there was yet another colonial objective. It was to influence the Indian constitution-making process with a view to alienate it from Bharat’s OET roots and rule it through postcolonial proxies.
This project began with several British parliamentary debates indicating what was desired: at best, an anglophone India that would retain emotional bonds with the crown and by their god’s grace will also someday become a devotee of Christ. This is equivalent to turning post-independent India into a brown dominion with space for it on the same shelf as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. If that were not possible, then as a minimum deal, a new nation is hamstrung by its own constitution.
The British parliament’s desires and directives were well internalised by a duo and led to an action plan in the Montagu-Chelmsford (Montford) Reforms 1918. Its mission was to keep the new nation tethered to the crown.
In what must rank as brilliant sleuthing in historical research, Sai Deepak establishes with evidence that the League of Nations armed with the Standard of Civilisation metric, put paid to any hope of independent India reconnecting with its OET.
It was quite simply achieved, and as follows:
Even as the League of Nations was readied for a 1919 launch, the MontFord Reforms of 1918 had flattered India to become a founding member of it, an honour with, as it turned out, a crown of thorns.
Once that happened, India was limited to being a nation (and not a civilisational state, as befitted it) and agreed to be measured by LoN’s Standard of Civilisation; which meant Bharat’s civilisation was open to evaluation and certification by an essentially Anglo Saxon enterprise, which was certain of the civilising power of its faith.
Also in 1919, as if on cue, the final Government of India Act arrived and offered itself as the model for Bharat’s constitution. That this did inspire the Constitution Drafting Committee was admitted by Dr B R Ambedkar, its chairman.
Thoughtful Indians puzzled as to how we find ourselves where we are, with a strange self-identity, will find this saga a very educative read.
I found myself going forward and backwards through the pages of the book, panting to keep pace with the author while marvelling at the scope of his undertaking, the labour that has gone into it and his virtuoso exposition of varied subjects by pulling down parts from tens of shelves and fitting them all neatly together until you get the big picture — which I must caution is not pretty. But then, how pleasant is it ever, to know that Bharat faces an existential threat?
There are hints in the book to believe Sai Deepak has taken note of murmurs from the judiciary about it being its duty to recognise the primacy of what’s called ‘constitutional morality. I suspect the two volumes to follow will address this threat looming ahead.
Let me return to Sai Deepak’s book. Yes, it is not an easy book to read, but then these are not easy times that we live in. So what does the reviewer part of me recommend you do with it?
1 Buy the book and read it even if its rigour daunts you. Read as much as you can, and let it live on your bookshelf. I wager you will return to it sooner than you think.
2 It will help to first read Dr Gautam Sen’s magisterial ‘Foreword’ to it. And, read Sen again after you finish the book.
3 Watch the several tens of videos featuring Sai Deepak that abound on YouTube, Watch them, whether or not they directly relate to this book.
4 When you have read the book — or even just after reading this article — see if you can identify the colonials and post colonials amongst us and in politics, judiciary, legal fraternity, media and the academe. It would be an awakening that will return you to the book.
5 If political and social turmoil trouble you, wear the book as glasses through which to see happenings, for understanding what’s at work.
This is a book you will keep returning to refer to in the coming decade. Whether or not you want or like, you will be pushed to take a position. I believe this volume and the two to come, will offer you, wise counsel.
This piece was first published on Medium, and has been republished here with permission.
D V Sridharan was a sea-going engineer in the 1960s. For the last 40 years, he has been passionate about the environment, especially water conservation and eco-diversity. He’s currently in the second decade of his land regeneration work at pointReturn, 100km south of Chennai. He tweets at @strawsinthewind.
see also
https://www.bloomsbury.com/ca/india-that-is-bharat-9789354350047/
India, That Is Bharat, the first book of a
comprehensive trilogy, explores the influence of European ‘colonial
consciousness’ (or ‘coloniality’), in particular its religious and racial
roots, on Bharat as the successor state to the Indic civilisation and the
origins of the Indian Constitution. It lays the foundation for its sequels by
covering the period between the Age of Discovery, marked by Christopher
Columbus’ expedition in 1492, and the reshaping of Bharat through a
British-made constitution-the Government of India Act of 1919. This includes
international developments leading to the founding of the League of Nations by
Western powers that tangibly impacted this journey.
Further, this work also traces the origins of seemingly universal constructs
such as ‘toleration’, ‘secularism’ and ‘humanism’ to Christian political
theology. Their subsequent role in subverting the indigenous Indic
consciousness through a secularised and universalised Reformation, that is,
constitutionalism, is examined. It also puts forth the concept of Middle
Eastern coloniality, which preceded its European variant and allies with it in
the context of Bharat to advance their shared antipathy towards the Indic
worldview. In order to liberate Bharat’s distinctive indigeneity, ‘decoloniality’
is presented as a civilisational imperative in the spheres of nature, religion,
culture, history, education, language and, crucially, in the realm of
constitutionalism.
see extracts of about 5 reviews below
https://www.bloomsbury.com/ca/india-that-is-bharat-9789354350047/
Myanmar is one of the closest neighbors of Bangladesh. Which is also known as Burma. Before the Second World War, many people from Bangladesh used to travel to Burma in search of livelihood. Since then, the people of this country have developed an economic and social relationship with Burma. Apart from India, Bangladesh shares a border with Myanmar. The 271 km long Bangladesh-Myanmar border is very important for Bangladesh due to geographical reasons. Bangladesh can use Myanmar by land for communication in Southeast Asian countries including China. Road connectivity is possible through Myanmar. Maybe a new horizon of relationships and possibilities unfolds.
Myanmar can also use Bangladesh to reach South Asia specially Nepal, Bhutan, Mainland India. Bangladesh and Myanmar both share a common regional platform like ‘BIMSTEC’. On the other hand, Bangladesh is considered as a ‘Hub ‘between South Asia and South East Asia. It is true that Bangladesh is a South East Asian country geographically but South Asian country culturally, demographically and historically. This is an outstanding geo-strategic characteristic of Bangladesh. Therefore, without the involvement of Bangladesh, any connectivity amongst the states of ASEAN and SAARC is absolutely impossible.
Myanmar is a country rich in natural resources. There are huge amounts of natural resources like tin, zinc, copper, tungsten, coal, marble, limestone, natural gas, hydropower etc. The major resource of this country is mineral resources. Myanmar can be a major source of energy for Bangladesh to ensure its energy security. Food and grains are produced in large quantities in Myanmar. Myanmar can also be a big helper of Bangladesh in the field of food security.
Myanmar has a huge potential of rice cultivation. But lands of Myanmar are unutilized for decades due to lack of human resource. Myanmar needs labors. Rice production in Myanmar accounts for approximately 43% of total agricultural production in the country, making it the seventh largest producer of rice in the world. Out of 67.6 million hectares of land, 12.8 million are used for cultivation. In 2019 alone, Myanmar accounted for 13,300 million metric tons of milled rice production. Rice production in Myanmar is heavily dependent on human and animal power, both traditional methods of cultivation. Myanmar has lack of Manpower and technology in this regard. But Bangladesh has these two things. Bangladesh has surplus human resource. Myanmar can utilize the human resource of Bangladesh for the maximum gain.
But Bangladesh has never been able to take full advantage of this opportunity. This country of 135 tribes and different ethnic groups has been under military rule for many years. That may be one of the reasons why the relationship is not deep. If Bangladesh had good relations with Myanmar, its dependence on India could be reduced in many cases. If contacts were made in Southeast Asia and China through Myanmar, there would be immense potential for investment and trade.
Bangladesh and Myanmar are both on the way to be developed countries. Bangladesh is going to be a South Asian Economic Miracle. Bangladesh can play a significant role in Myanmar to some extent whole South East Asia. For this, Myanmar should increase its diplomatic relations with Bangladesh for the better mutual interest for whole South Asia and South East Asia. EU, China, India, Russia and North Korea are becoming allies in Myanmar’s oil, gas, mineral resources and military markets. Taking advantage of the US negligence, Myanmar’s military junta extended a helping hand to China to invest. So, China is now the biggest investor in this country. According to Earth-Rights International, a private group, more than 26 Chinese companies are investing in Myanmar’s oil, gas, mineral resources and allied sectors. China has already become its biggest ally in building and supplying arms to Myanmar. Myanmar has developed relations not only with China but also with India. India and China are building trade relations with Myanmar. The United States is also changing its approach to the Myanmar question. That is why America, a strong economic country, has started taking new initiatives to develop relations.
Recently, a 41-year dispute over the maritime border with Bangladesh-Myanmar has been settled by the International Court of Justice. As a result, the rights of Bangladesh have been established in an area of 1 lakh 11 thousand square kilometers. Myanmar’s waters have also been identified. As a result, this problem has been eliminated. The path of creating tension in the Bay of Bengal has been blocked.
Myanmar is rich in minerals, ores, oil, gas, precious stones and other natural resources. The country is a major supplier of natural wood to the world. While attracting foreign investment has been limited to the oil and gas sector, the country has recently shifted its focus to attracting production-based investment. The country is well ahead in power generation due to good investment in hydropower generation. The tourism industry is also a promising sector of the country. Myanmar’s economy has so far been limited to extracting natural resources, said Nobel laureate economist Professor Joseph Stiglis, who warned that the country would suffer a “curse of wealth” if it continued. Some resource-rich countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Sudan and Benin, have been plagued by corruption, internal strife and poverty. These countries could not adopt proper wealth management system. Economists have the opinions that if democracy is restored in Myanmar and corruption is reduced, it will not have to go to the level of countries that have failed in wealth management. Therefore, it can be assumed that Myanmar will become a country with rapid economic growth in a few years. The country’s biggest economic advantage is that they are members of the ten-nation ASEAN. ASEAN is one of the three most successful trade blocs in the world. The trade consists of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The alliance controls about 24 percent of total world trade and their share in world trade is growing every year. Their trade relations with China, Japan and South Korea are deepening due to the increase in trade. ASEAN countries account for more than 50 percent of total trade between themselves and the three countries. As a result, Bangladesh has the opportunity to benefit by strengthening ties with this trade alliance, that is, Myanmar. Bangladesh and Myanmar are among the seven member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Therefore, there is ample opportunity to increase trade and investment relations between the two countries through BIMSTEC.
There are many opportunities to enhance Bangladesh’s bilateral trade and investment relations with Myanmar. Through the import of gas and electricity, Bangladesh can get future energy security. The two countries can jointly explore for oil and gas in the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh can also contribute to the development of Myanmar’s infrastructure.
The proposed construction of the Asian Highway, funded by the Asian Development Bank and other donor groups, could also increase land connectivity between the two countries. And there is ample opportunity to increase shipping. Besides, joint investment can be made in fertilizer, plastic, cement, furniture etc. Both countries will benefit if Myanmar produces raw materials and Bangladesh with skills, technical knowledge and labor. Because, Myanmar imports every product. Bangladesh can also export readymade garments.
Bangladesh produces medicines, electronics. Myanmar can import these from Bangladesh hugely. On the other hands, Myanmar is a source of agricultural products. Bangladesh can import these from Myanmar. During the moment of Bangladesh’s onion crisis with India in 2019, Myanmar provided onions to Bangladesh. Bangladesh understood the importance of bilateral trade with Myanmar at that time. On the other hands, Bangladesh is keen to provide assistance to Myanmar.
Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy, counter terrorism approach for the regional security are some sectors. Rohingya refugee problem has made distance between Bangladesh and Myanmar. Myanmar should solve this problem to serve its own and reginal interest. Myanmar should understand that it is the issue of the region. Whole South Asia and South East Asia may be volatile and unstable for this problem.
However, the two countries can also increase production in the agricultural sector through joint ventures. Apart from adopting joint investment projects, Bangladesh can increase imports of various agricultural products including pulses, spices, fish and rice. Thus, enhancing bilateral relations could contribute to the growth of trade and investment relations with ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries. This will create an opportunity to solve the Rohingya problem and stop militant activities. Therefore, Myanmar should take effective steps to strengthen bilateral relations. Pathik Hasan, Dhaka based NGO activist and Writer on contemporary international issues. He can be reached at pathikhasan1141@gmail.com
Maldives and Bangladesh both are South Asian countries. Maldives and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations on 22 September 1978. That was the starting point. The relations between two South Asian countries are increasing day by day. Maldives President Ibrahim Mohammed Saleh’s visit to Bangladesh in March, 2021 added multidimensionality to the two countries. Because the country has expressed its determination to work together with Dhaka on bilateral, regional and international issues. Not only that, a total of six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) has been signed between Dhaka-Male within a month; Of which four have been completed in the presence of the President during his visit to Dhaka to mark the Birth Centenary celebration of Founder of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib in March.
The Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS), a new dimension in the region’s diplomacy, shares Bangladesh’s ideological aspirations with Maldives, the geopolitically important country. For this reason, the country intends to work together with Bangladesh while maintaining peace and stability. At the same time, the two countries have agreed to increase connectivity by air and sea.
Maldivian Vice President Faisal Naseem visited Bangladesh recently. He has shown keen interest to recruit specialised professionals and doctors from Bangladesh, seeking to establish direct shipping line between Chattogram and Malé, to enhance bilateral trade.
According to Bangladesh Prime Minister, Bangladesh can extend technical support to the Maldives on human resources development and healthcare. “Bangladesh can share our health sector experiences with the Maldives as Bangladesh has set up community clinics to ensure primary healthcare services. So, Bangladesh can help the Maldives in this regard,” she added.
Bangladesh can cooperate in higher education and development of human resources, training and capacity building, particularly for the health sector of Maldives. Maldives can benefit from importing world-class healthcare, garments, processed food, agro products, household appliances, construction materials, eco-friendly jute, leather, plastic, ceramic and light-engineering products from Bangladesh at competitive prices. On the other hands, Maldives can invest Bangladesh in tourism sector. It has huge experience in tourism sector. Bangladesh and Maldives can sign a free trade agreement to boost up trade.
Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohammed Saleh arrived in Dhaka on a two-day visit on the occasion of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary and golden jubilee of independence. During his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, four MoUs were signed between Bangladesh and Maldives. The memoranda include the formation of a Joint Commission (JCC), regular meetings at the Foreign Secretary level, assistance in the extraction of marine resources and cultural exchanges.
The two leaders also discussed bilateral trade, customs co-operation and avoidance of double taxation, investment, migration issues, human resource and youth development, education, health care and medicine, agriculture, tourism, Rohingya issues, climate change issues and natural disasters. And mitigation. The two top leaders also agreed to expand mutual cooperation on these issues.
In addition to First Lady Fazna Ahmed, the Maldivian President was accompanied by 28 guests, including Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid and the Minister for Economic Development.
The Maldivian president’s visit added a new dimension to the ongoing goodwill between the two countries. This is especially a reflection of Bangladesh’s geopolitical importance in the region and the support it has from neighboring countries. This visit provides an opportunity for the Maldives to support Bangladesh’s rivalry over connectivity in the Indian Ocean.
Saleh congratulated Bangladesh for its economic progress and socio-economic development by celebrating the Golden Jubilee across the path of friendship. He also expressed his gratitude to Bangladesh. Highlighting the assistance of Bangladesh, provided to the Maldives during the coronavirus epidemic, Saleh said the Maldives is grateful for the friendship of the people of Bangladesh. This friendship is helping us to meet the challenges posed by the epidemic. This cooperation is a sign of friendly relations between the two countries.
On the second day of the visit, the two leaders held a private meeting before the bilateral meeting. Later, in their presence, a memorandum of understanding was signed on four issues, including the formation of a joint commission to strengthen overall cooperation between the two countries. In addition to emphasizing on enhancing communication and trade between Dhaka and Male, the two countries also agreed to sign a preferential trade agreement at a bilateral meeting chaired by the two leaders.
After the Sheikh Hasina-Saleh meeting, the two foreign ministers of the two countries came to the joint press conference at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka in the afternoon. AK Abdul Momen and Abdullah Shahid. Abdul Momen said the two countries have agreed to operate direct ships and flights to the Maldives. Bangladesh and Maldives have agreed to sign a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to boost trade and investment.
On the other hand, Abdullah Shahid said the country welcomed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s announcement to increase connectivity. We want to increase communication by air as well as by sea. We will work to maintain peace and stability in the Indian Ocean. Shahid also promised that Maldives would stand by Bangladesh in resolving the Rohingya crisis.
Regarding the Bangladeshi expatriates in the Maldives, Shahid said the Prime Minister appreciated the decision of the Maldivian President to provide free coronavirus vaccine to the expatriates in the country. President Salih praised the contribution of Bangladeshi expatriate workers in Maldives. He met with Abdul Hamid. There is also talk of increasing connectivity
Meanwhile, a joint statement issued by the two countries said that Bangladesh’s support for the Maldivian Foreign Minister as President of the UN General Assembly this year has been confirmed. On the other hand, Maldives will support the Bangladeshi candidate for the post of Regional Director of the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia Regional Office for 2023.
We can say, this is the sign of eternal brotherhood between Bangladesh-Male. Even though the Maldives is a small island state, it has a geopolitical significance. Bangladesh got multi-dimensional benefits during the visit of Maldives President to Dhaka. We have always good relations with the Maldives. This visit has created an opportunity to strengthen this relationship. The agreements reached between the two countries strengthen the relationship between the two countries and reflect the geopolitical importance of Bangladesh in the region and the support that neighboring countries have for Bangladesh
There are huge sectors of potentials to work together such as tourism, tackling covid-19, counter-terrorism approach, maritime cooperation, Climate change issue, fishing, supporting each other at common regional and international fora. Maldives always supports the stance of Bangladesh regarding Rohingya refugees’ repatriation, relocation of Rohingyas to Bashanchar. These are very appreciable. The Government of Maldives sent gift of 200,000 Covid-19 vaccines for the people of Bangladesh.
The average volume of the country’s exports to Maldives is $6 million while imports amount to $50 million. The two countries want to augment their cooperation on climate issues, tourism, trade and human resources development.
The Maldives bilateral relations with Bangladesh and the maritime cooperation with Bangladesh in the Indian Ocean in terms of a regional cooperation or connectivity will give a new dimension to Maldives’ assistance there. Bangladesh is going to become a full member of Colombo Security block. All in all, it will benefit mutual diplomacy and the economic and other interests of bilateral relations between both parties. The Maldivian economy is not very big, but it has geopolitical advantages and diplomatic importance. The people of Bangladesh and Maldives would benefit ultimately. Bangladesh-Maldives ties would be more fraternal.
Legislation will be brought to Parliament shortly to permit the growing and export of ganja as a medicine for a number of noncommunicable diseases, State Minister Sisira Jayakody said yesterday.
Speaking during the committee stage debate on the budget in the House he said laws will be brought in to legalise growing and export of ganja only as a medicinal product.
It has been proven that diseases such as cancer and conditions such as strokes can be cured through ayurvedic treatment where ganja is used as a medicine. Therefore we intend to seek the approval of the House to grow and export these plants,” the State Minister said.
It is time we promote ayurvedic treatment and medicines as such treatment and medicines have proven to be effective. Traditional medicine has been put down by western medicine for a long time in this country. This is despite traditional medicine having been proved to be effective even for COVID 19. The Government has already launched a programme to start up post COVID Ayurvedic treatment centres in Sri Lanka.(YOHAN PERERA AND AJITH SIRIWARDANA)
Sri Lanka is confident of being able to “seamlessly” repay all of its sovereign debt that comes due in 2022, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said on Wednesday, while exploring new instruments to make its debt profile more sustainable.
“The repayments (for 2022) will go through seamlessly, we are confident we’ll be making those payments on time. There is absolutely no worry about that,” Cabraal told Reuters in an interview.
“At the same time we are taking many steps to deal with our debt in a sustainable manner and not just depend on a single instrument, we are developing several new instruments, several new inflows, which will hold us in better stead over the longer term, and that’s the whole plan we have initiated.”
Sri Lanka aims to shore up its shrinking reserves over the next few months from a range of sources including bilateral swaps, government-to-government loans and the securitisation of remittances to bolster investor sentiment and ensure timely debt servicing, he said.
Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa met his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss securing a $500 million credit line and new investments, two sources briefed on the matter said.
Sri Lanka’s foreign currency reserves dropped to $2.3 billion at the end of October, with both tourism and remittances dented by the coronavirus pandemic. It needs to pay about $4.5 billion to service its sovereign bonds in 2022, according to Finance Ministry data.
Cabraal said the pandemic has pushed Sri Lanka to reassess its debt profile.
“This pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities, which is a good thing, otherwise we may have been lulled into a comfort zone and not searched for alternatives. Now we see so many alternatives that we can pursue that are very good for our economy,” he said.
“In a way, I’m not unhappy that we’ve had to go through some pain, but I am confident going forward we will be a lot more stable as a result.”
Cabraal said he remained confident that growth would rebound in 2022, boosting government finances.
“We expect GDP growth to trend above 5.5% (in 2022). If we can get tourism back on track to even half of the pre-pandemic levels … we could even touch 6% to 6.5%, which would be very helpful.”
He said it was too early to speculate whether the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus would derail a rebound in tourism.
Cabraal said policy rates were likely to be kept unchanged at the next monetary board meeting in January, despite inflation hitting its highest levels in almost a decade, driven by skyrocketing food prices.
“I don’t really see a reason to adjust that any further in the near term because it looks appropriate,” he said.
Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) says its members have withdrawn from power restoration activities with effect from 4.15 p.m. today (December 01).
The chairman of the union Mr. Saumya Kumarawadu told the media that the decision was taken to oppose the abrupt transfers of law-abiding officials.
Speaking further, the trade union chief said the CEB engineers attended power restoration activities even after the end of their shift despite their work-to-rule campaign.
We even restored the power outages on the day before yesterday just within a half-an-hour. However, we will not take part in restoration activities from today.”
The CEBEU members launched a work-to-rule campaign on November 25 over several issues including the controversial Yugadanavi power plant deal.
Among its other demands, the association urged the government not to proceed with the deal with US-based energy company New Fortress Energy Inc., which includes a transfer of 40% of shares of West Coast Power Private Limited (WCPL) – the owner of Yugadanavi power plant in Kerawalapitiya.
A special meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade was held in Parliament today (01) to seek the views and solutions of several parties regarding the sudden spike in gas cylinder-related incidents reported over the past couple of days.
The Ministerial Consultative Committee met under the chairmanship of Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardana and State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna was present during the discussion held.
The special Ministerial Consultative Committee was held for further discussion on several issues raised by the Opposition in Parliament yesterday (30), discussing on the matter with the involvement of several other parties.
Ministry of Trade, State Ministry of Cooperative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection, Ministry of Technology, State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovation, Sri Lanka Police, Consumer Affairs Authority, Department of Measurement Units, Standards and Services, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd, LAUGFS Gas PLC, Sri Lanka Standards Institute, Sri Lanka Accreditation Board, Officials representing the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, the Ministry of Energy and the Department of Government Analyst were present at this meeting held.
Furthermore, the former professor at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. W. D. W. Jayatilak and Prof. Shantha Walpolage representing the University of Moratuwa were also present. Petroleum expert Nimal de Silva also joined the committee.
The Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa posed a number of questions at the Ministerial Consultative Committee and requested a reply in writing as soon as possible.
Views of all parties and the Members of Parliament present, were sought pertaining to the gas explosions, the statement said.
Several agreements regarding the change in gas composition affected the current eruptions, importance of using high quality devices, the release of gas to the market after obtaining a report on the smell of gases, obtaining the reports of the committee appointed by the President within two weeks and implementing its recommendations expeditiously, testing the quality of the imported gas on board the ship before it enters the country were made during the meeting.
Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, Ministers Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Udaya Gammanpila, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, State Ministers and a large number of Members of Parliament were also present at this special meeting.
The daily count of COVID-19 cases confirmed in Sri Lanka moved to 744 today (December 01) as 185 more people were tested positive for the virus, the Epidemiology Unit said.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 564,733.
As many as 540,783 recoveries and 14,372 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the COVID-19 outbreak.
More than 9,500 active cases in total are currently under medical care, official figures showed.
The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 26 coronavirus related deaths for November 30, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus pandemic to 14,372.
According to the figures released by the Govt. Information Department, the deaths reported today include 11 males and 15 females.
Eleven of the patients are between the ages 30-59 years while the remaining 15 are in the age group of 60 years and above.
Bank accounts of those who distribute and receive money through unlawful money transfer methods will be frozen with immediate effect, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal said in a tweet today.
Accordingly, the Central Bank has urged all migrant Sri Lankans to use only legal channels to repatriate their earnings.
Earlier today, it was announced that Sri Lankan migrant workers would receive an additional Rs. 10 for each US Dollar they convert into Rupees in December this year, through the Sri Lankan Banking System and other formal channels.
The Central Bank said this is an exclusive offer for Sri Lankan migrant workers during this festive season.
A statement issued by the Central Bank noted that this incentive is paid under the Incentive Scheme on Inward Workers’ Remittances” when such funds are remitted through licensed banks and other internationally accepted formal channels and converted into Sri Lankan rupees during the month of December this year.
The additional incentive of Rs. 8.00 per US dollar for workers’ remittances, in addition to the existing incentive of Rs.2.00, provided by the Central Bank is expected to attract more workers’ remittances to the country through the formal banking channels, thereby improving the foreign currency liquidity in the domestic foreign exchange market.
At the same time, the Central Bank and law enforcement authorities are taking several measures to curtail informal fund transfer channels, which would, in turn, further encourage migrant workers to use formal channels to remit their hard-earned foreign exchange to the benefit of their dependents, the statement read further.
The Tamil Separatist Movement says it is entitled to self determination and has the right to set up a separate state. The Tamil Separatist Movement cites the often repeated UN statement which says All peoples have the right to self-determination and by virtue of that right to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”.
Netherlands said in an opinion to the International Court of Justice, given in 2018 that self-determination was a part of International law as a right. Netherlands pointed out that in 1970 UN General Assembly said that the right of self-determination was a fundamental principle of contemporary international law binding on all States.
Unfortunately for the Tamil Separatist Movement, the UN decided that in the first instance only countries under colonial rule have this right to self determination. UN said in 1952 that member states of the UN must recognize and promote the right of self-determination of peoples of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories who are under them.
This was followed by General Assembly Resolution 1514(XV) of December 1960, Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial countries and Peoples.” The Resolution was adopted with eighty-nine Member States voting in favor, no vote against, and nine abstentions.
This Resolution said that it was necessary to bring colonialism to a speedy end. Countries under colonial occupation were entitled to obtain independence. However, the Resolution also said that there must be no attempt at partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity of a [sovereign state.] United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1654 of 27 November 1961 reaffirmed the 1960 resolution. Thus scuppering plans of the Tamil Separatist Movement to create a breakaway Eelam.
This was followed by Resolution 26/25 (XXV) of 1970, Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations . This Resolution also said that states must bring an end to colonialism. The establishment of a sovereign and independent State, [or any other state] freely determined by a people, constituted self determination.
But the 1970 Resolution also declared Nothing in the foregoing paragraphs shall be construed as authorizing or encouraging any action which would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and possessed of a government representing the whole people belonging to the territory without distinction as to race, creed or color”. So no Eelam there either.
In 2018 it was suggested that once the inhabitants of a colonial territory got their independence or whatever, that territory was no longer a colony. Eventually, once all the colonies got independence, self-determination of colonies will come to a natural end.
The Tamil Separatist Movement was also unable to get any relief from the UN Declaration on Minorities. Asbjorn Eide, Special Rapporteur, stated in 1998 ‘Insofar as the UN Committee on Protection of Minority Rights is concerned, it would not recognize the right of Tamils in Sri Lanka for self determination
There is a strong body of legal opinion which rejects claims to self determination based on ethno nationalist grounds alone, said HL de Silva. Judge Rosalyn Higgins of ICJ observed that the word ‘Peoples’ means all the people in the territory. This means that minorities do not have the right of self-determination.
In the Helsinki declaration of 1975, adopted by 35 states constituting the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) national minorities were excluded from the scope of self determination. Right was given only to entire populations of sovereign states, said HL de Silva.
But self determination did not disappear. It got a new lease of life. When World War II ended, the ruling powers created new states, where none had existed before. These new states contained groups which had no prior connection with each other. These groups started to kick. Breakaway disputes arose and a new call for self determination arose.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) was asked to intervene. ICJ found that the right to self-determination was an unsettled issue in international law. There were many differing opinions. ICJ therefore sought opinions from UN Member countries on the matter. Netherlands (2018) said that decolonization was only one aspect of the right of self determination. The right of self determination extended beyond decolonization and foreign occupation.
Netherlands
pointed out that the right of self-determination has been included in several
international instruments that did not deal with decolonization or foreign
occupation. It was included in Articles
1 of the 1966 Covenants, General Assembly Resolution
2625, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 1993 Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action, and Part VIII of the Final Act of the
Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.
A common feature of these instruments is that they speak of all peoples” and not merely to ‘colonial’ or ‘oppressed’ peoples as the holders of the right of self-determination. This shows the universal and continuous character of the right of self-determination, said Netherlands.
But there is a reluctance to define ‘people’ observed analysts. States wanted it that way, so that interpretation could change as political priorities changed, replied other analysts. But some criteria have evolved, otherwise, any group could self-identify as a “people” and demand to secede, replied Netherlands. One such criteria is recognition by a competent international organization, said Serbia.
Netherlands pointed out to the International Court of Justice that self-determination could be achieved through (a) the dissolution of a State, (b) the merger of one or more States, or (c) the secession from a State. A people may decide to dissolve a State and create two or more States out of it, or allow a group to secede from that State.
International Court of Justice then looked at Secession. International law does not prohibit the secession of a territory from a sovereign State, ICJ observed and requested opinions on this.
Secession is a highly exceptional way of creating States, said Serbia. Consent from the sovereign State has been present in ail the states that arose through secession.International law does not authorize secession without the sovereign State’s consent, agreed Netherlands. Partition of the colonial territory was only permitted if that was the clear wish of the majority of all inhabitants of the territory.
The Canadian Supreme Court said that even if the people of Quebec vote Yes to separation at a referendum they still have to negotiate with the people they are going to separate from.
Analysts observed that once independent states are formed and recognized by the international community, it is very difficult to form breakaway – states. There has to be a very strong justification, such as a long history of separate rule, proof of recognition as a separate country, and proof that it was yoked to another country against its wishes. Continued)
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda explored avenues of further augmenting defence and security cooperation with India, when he met the Defence Minister of India Shri Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, today (30).
Minister Singh extended a warm welcome to High Commissioner Moragoda. The Defence Minister of India and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka discussed a range of issues, reviewing the existing excellent defence and security ties between the two countries.
High Commissioner Moragoda thanked the Defence Minister for the support that the Indian defence establishment has been extending to Sri Lanka over the years in many spheres. He thanked India for assisting in controlling the disastrous fires onboard MT New Diamond and MV Express Pearl off the coast of Sri Lanka, which would have resulted in unimaginable marine pollution in the region, had they not been controlled in a timely and efficient manner.
The High Commissioner also thanked India for the training opportunities accorded to Sri Lankan military students. It was noted that at any given time there are around 700 Sri Lankan military students undergoing training in India. Sri Lanka is the largest single recipient of Indian training berths in the defence sector. The High Commissioner suggested that the possibility be explored for the provision of further training opportunities for Sri Lankan military students in India.
The High Commissioner particularly conveyed to Defence Minister Singh his appreciation for the assistance extended by India to Sri Lanka by sending military aircraft with medical supplies during the covid-19 pandemic, transporting much needed medical grade oxygen to Sri Lanka by INS Shakti and facilitating transportation of the same by SLNS Shakthi, and for air lifting a consignment of urgently required nano-nitrogen fertilizer by transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force recently. In this context, the offer by the Indian Navy to donate a large-scale oxygen generator to Sri Lanka was also appreciated.
The High Commissioner also recalled how the Indian defence establishment supported the repatriation of Sri Lankan military students during the initial months of the lock-down in 2020, by way of facilitating their movement by road, sea and air, and thanked the Minister for this facilitation.
The two dignitaries took note of the annual bilateral Joint Military and Naval exercises and discussed avenues through which the existing bilateral defence and security cooperation could be further strengthened. They also observed with satisfaction the immense progress achieved by the Colombo Security Conclave during the past one year.
High Commissioner Moragoda also presented a copy of his policy road map “Integrated Country Strategy for Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India 2021/2023” to the Defence Minister. The High Commissioner was accompanied by the High Commission’s Defence Advisor Commodore Thushara Karunatunga (SLN) to the meeting.
A former President of the Bhartiya Janata Party, Shri Rajnath Singh is a veteran politician with an illustrious career. Prior to be appointed as the Minister of Defence in May 2019, he held the portfolio of Home Minister in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shri Rajnath Singh had also served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in early 2000s. He is also the Deputy Leader of the House of the Lok Sabha at present.
High Commission of Sri Lanka New Delhi
Turkey is a real well-wisher and good friend of Bangladesh. It is Turkey that was, is, and will be with Bangladesh in the crisis moment. Only the sky is the limit of Turkey-Bangladesh ties. According to recent reports of Bangladeshi media outlets, Bangladesh In recent times, Bangladesh and Turkey have become increasingly close, with two main goals behind them. On the one hand, Turkey’s far-reaching efforts to regain its influence in the Muslim world. On the other hand, Bangladesh is willing to expand trade and defense ties including resolving the Rohingya crisis. Based on these two goals, analysts in Dhaka believe that the relations between the two countries are going to reach a ‘unique height’.
Turkey, a member of the NATO alliance, has a strong position in international forums, including the United Nations and the OIC, they say. Despite the distance from the country in the past, the relationship was strengthened by supporting Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue. After that, Dhaka focused on increasing trade relations with Ankara, and the response was as expected. At present, bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Turkey is 1 billion annually, but efforts are being made to increase it to 2 billion. With the increase in defense cooperation, bilateral relations are expected to deepen.
Now turkey wants to invest more in Bangladesh. Bangladesh and Turkey agreed to boost up trade, tourism. Turkey has been able to attract the attention of the world as it has made tremendous progress in the last decade. On the contrary, Bangladesh has emerged as a country of new potential for economic growth. These two issues are playing a role in strengthening mutual unity and relations between the two countries.
Bangladesh has condemned a coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016. According to a letter from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, relations between the two countries are warming up. From time to time, Erdogan’s administration has been expressing support for Dhaka on the Rohingya issue.
Later, Turkish First Lady Emin Erdogan came to Bangladesh to visit the Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar. Turkey has taken a strong stand in support of the Rohingya on the world stage, including the UN-OIC. The country has taken a number of steps, including providing humanitarian assistance. As these are practically in favor of Bangladesh, Dhaka benefits in other areas including diplomacy.
As a result, the Chief of Air Staff and Navy will visit Turkey in late 2020. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen went to Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu came to Dhaka. They inaugurated their embassies in the two countries as well as signed bilateral agreements.
Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed recently visited Turkey. He spoke with top military officials, including the Turkish defense minister, about possible defense cooperation, training and other issues. Analysts believe that his visit will add a ‘new dimension’ to Bangladesh-Turkey strategic friendship and military cooperation.
Turkey is very interested to build a sustainable strategic and defense ties with Bangladesh. Bangladesh has also agreed to buy military equipment from Turkey to strengthen the country’s security system. In the coming days, the two governments will hold talks with Turkey on joint production of military equipment in the country and extensive training in the security sector between the two countries. The defense cooperation between Dhaka and Ankara had been increasing for the last couple of years in view of Turkey’s near self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing.
Experts say the development of defense ties between the two countries is positive, adding a new dimension to the relationship. In the future, the relationship between the two countries may become even stronger. In FY2019-20 total trade with Turkey was $686.41 million out of which Bangladesh’s export was $453 million against the import of $233.41 million reflecting a positive trade balance of $220.06 million in favour of Bangladesh. Infrastructure, construction materials, railway, renewable energy, automobile, healthcare, medical equipment, shipbuilding, agriculture, home appliances etc. are some of the potential areas for Turkish investment in Bangladesh.
Turkey is working on increasing the trade volume with Bangladesh to the tune of $3 billion in the next few years, now that it has crossed the $1 billion-mark. Turkish Ambassador in Dhaka Mustafa Osman Turan said this while speaking with diplomatic correspondents at the new Turkish embassy in the capital on November 24, 2021. Trade potential between the two countries needs to be tapped to increase the trade volume to $3 billion, said the Turkish envoy. Bangladesh was Turkey’s second-biggest trade partner in South Asia after India, with a total trade volume of $1.2 billion, Bangladesh was the fourth biggest buyer of Turkish defense products. In FY2020-21 Bangladesh’s export to Turkey was $499.79 million, Turkey’s Asia Anew” initiative, Bangladesh can be a key focus of Turkey for trade and investment.
According to the Bangladesh Mission in Ankara, Turkey, a new agreement was signed between the two countries in the defense sector on June 29. On 29 June 2021, the Government to Government (G2G) defense memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh and Turkey. According to the agreement, Bangladesh will buy a significant amount of military equipment from Turkey. The agreement was attended by Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey Musad Mannan and Defense Attache Brigadier General Rashed Iqbal.
According to various media outlets, Diplomatic sources say Bangladesh wants to have multiple sources of military equipment in the context of ongoing geopolitical changes. As part of this, this agreement has been signed with Turkey. There are plans to sign the agreement with several other countries in the coming days.
After his productive visit to Indonesia, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu visited Bangladesh on 23 December 2020 upon the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart A.K. Abdul Momen and to officially inaugurate our new Embassy compound in Dhaka. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu arrived in Dhaka on December 23 for a two-day visit. Before leaving Dhaka on December 23, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganobhaban and conveyed a message from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In addition, the foreign minister said. He also held bilateral meetings with AK Abdul Momen.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu told reporters in Dhaka at the time that Bangladesh was now the rising star of Asia. Bangladesh is one of the important partners of Turkey in Asia policy. The progress that Bangladesh has made in the economic sector in a very short period of time is commendable. The big businessmen of Turkey want to take the opportunity to invest in different sectors of Bangladesh.
In the military sector, Turkey can produce to fulfill its own needs, which is standard and sustainable. Turkey wants to cooperate with Bangladesh in this sector. Turkey is interested in technology exchange and joint production in this sector if necessary.
Bangladesh and Turkey both need to make progress with each other in the defense sector. Many foreign partners in Bangladesh will not be happy. But Bangladesh needs to move forward with Turkey to keep them happy. “Turkey is the only country Bangladesh can count on that can come forward in times of crisis.”
Turkey has already called on Bangladesh to jointly participate in the production and development of military equipment. Turkey is advancing a lot in drone technology. Drone weapons will play a very important role in the coming war situation. The situation may be such that the drone will hover and it will be controlled sitting in the office. Even 21 years ago, they were building an armed personal carrier, that’s when they built a small plane. There is no doubt that they will build fighter jets at some point. ‘
Turkey is a very good source. Turkey is the source of military equipment for Bangladesh as well as Bangladesh can jointly participate in the production and development of military equipment with Turkey. Thus, we can say that Turkey is boosting its trade and defense ties with Bangladesh. Turkey and Bangladesh could benefit from growing trade and defense ties.
South Asian neighbors Bangladesh and Bhutan have a harmonious relationship on the strength of their mutual interest, shared history and culture. On December 6, 1971, Bhutan and India became the first countries to recognize the independence of Bangladesh. Bangladesh-Bhutan ties started to deepen from this period. Bhutan and Bangladesh signed ‘PTA’ on December 06, 2020. After PTA, Bhutan and Bangladesh can cooperate to resolve some regional crisis. Bhutan and Bangladesh can work together in resolving the Rohingya refugee crisis because it is a regional crisis. For decades, Myanmar has gone through extreme cruelty to the Rohingya. Never cared about the law. The Rohingya problem is not new to Bangladesh. This problem, which started in 1978, became apparent in August 2017. More than 1 million Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh to save their lives when the Myanmar army launched a brutal operation against the Rohingya ethnic group. Bangladesh is seeking the intervention of the United States, the European Union and the United Nations as well as the regional alliance ASEAN for a lasting and acceptable solution to the Rohingya problem.
Now Bangladesh is facing serious problems for this artificial crisis committed by Myanmar. Some socio-economic threats are rising in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has given shelter to Rohingyas for humanitarian reasons. But because of this humanity, the country is now at risk. As a result, there is a danger of Rohingyas spreading all over the country, there are also many challenges
The forest is being uprooted, they are cutting down the mountains and destroying them. There are also long-term economic risks Socio-economic and political problems may also be evident, and security risks may increase. Illegal narcotics trade, human trafficking, prostitution, terrorism in Rohingya camps is increasing in camps.
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an agreement to repatriate the Rohingya to Myanmar within two years in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The Myanmar authority did not take back the Rohingyas according to the agreement. It is true that they don’t want to repatriate Rohingyas in Myanmar. Bangladesh raised the issue in every international forum. Many countries have supported Bangladesh. But Myanmar has no respect the international law and norms. Some mighty powers may have behind the scene.
Bangladesh Prime Minister has raised the issue at UNGA on September 25, 2021 to draw the attention in solving the Rohingya crisis. She has focused specially on the engagement of ASEAN leaders. It is ASEAN which can solve Rohingya refugee problem easily.
As a South Asian country and well trusted friends of Bangladesh, Bhutan can easily solve it. Bhutan can be mediator in this regard. Bhutan has very warm relations with both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Various countries and international organizations have taken various measures to solve the Rohingya problem. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has criticized Myanmar authorities for being lax in repatriating displaced Rohingya. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the ongoing Rohingya crisis. Yang Lee, the UN special envoy for human rights in Myanmar, said all major countries in the world had a responsibility to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
In this regard, Bhutan can and should play a very significant role to solve the crisis such ways:
Why should Bhutan should play role resolving the Problem?
Bhutan and Bangladesh can work mutually in this regard. Bangladesh and Bhutan have a common identity with their peace-loving people sharing similar views on many regional issues. Both are democratic nations. There are many potential areas where Bhutan and Bangladesh can work together for the better promotion of democracy, peacekeeping, regional stability and people’s welfare. However, Bhutan should consider this. Bhutan should do somethings in favor of Bangladesh regarding Rohingya refugee repatriation to Myanmar. Bhutan can make Myanmar understand and agree in this regard.
Bhutan can play a very significant role in this regard. Bhutan can mediate to bolster the strained relations between Bangladesh-Myanmar. Bhutan can play to repatriate the Rohingyas in Rakhine in Myanmar. Bhutan can easily solve the problem because it has a very good relations with Myanmar.
However, as a well-wisher friend and partner in the development process and trade, Bangladesh can expect cooperation and support of Bhutan regarding the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. Bangladesh deserves it. So, Bhutan should help, support Bangladesh and mediate in solving the crisis as soon as possible.
Nepal and Bangladesh are two of South Asia’s closest friends and peace-loving neighbors, their ties made closer by recent high-level state visits. President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid visited Nepal in 2019. Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari likewise visited Bangladesh in 2021 as a guest on the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Nepal recognized Bangladesh as a sovereign state in 1971 and bilateral relations solidified after Bangladesh established six trade routes with Nepal in 1976. Relations were further enriched by the visit of King Birendra of Nepal to Dhaka in 1986. The two countries are currently members of several forums, including the United Nations, the WTO, BIMSTEC and SAARC and both Nepal and Bangladesh are on the way out of the club of LDCs.
In 2019, 40,000 Bangladeshi tourists went to Nepal. At present, nearly 4,000-5,000 Nepali students are studying in medical colleges and universities in Bangladesh. After joining workplaces in Nepal, these doctors are prescribing medicines for Bangladeshi companies. As a result, a good market for Bangladeshi medicines has been created in Nepal and currently eight companies export medicines to Nepal. Unfortunately, lack of the desired SAFTA agreement is hurting their trade potential even as the two countries are moving towards a bilateral free trade agreement.
Nepal has a free trade agreement with India. It has also expressed its interest in signing a preferential trade agreement or PTA with Bangladesh to boost bilateral trade. Although talks on this started last year, Nepal is frustrated that the agreement has not been finalized. As Nepal is a close country, Bangladesh can easily import fruits, herbs and spices. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s entry into the Nepali market has multidimensional potential as Nepal currently imports 90 percent of the goods it uses.
Nepal has a population of 29 million and a GDP of nearly $30 billion. Nepalis are a very fancy nation. As a result, Nepal can be a good market for Bangladesh’s electronics, ceramics, garments, furniture and local clothing brands. The completion of the desired PTA will open new horizons in trade between the two countries; Bhutan-Bangladesh trade has doubled since the signing of the PTA between them. The Kathmandu Post quoted the country’s foreign ministry as saying that Nepal had already sent a draft PTA to Bangladesh and now it is waiting for a response.
Bangladesh can export its apparels and fertilizers to Nepal. Some Nepali media outlets had reported that 52,000 metric tons of urea was imported from Bangladesh in July. Nepal and Bangladesh are a short distance apart. The Siliguri corridor – also called the Indian Chicken Neck – in the northern part of India’s West Bengal state stands geographically between Bangladesh and Nepal.
The Nepal-Bangladesh ties have a lot of potentials. Bangladesh’s economy is booming day by day, and analysts feel It is going to be a South Asian superstar. Current rulers Bangladesh Awami league are trying to carry out massive industrialization to make it a high-income country by 2041.
Nepal is also a prosperous country. Its people are peace-loving and hard-working, just like those in Bangladesh. Bangladesh and Nepal can connect to raise the living standards of their people.
Nepal is a huge source of hydroelectricity, and the Himalayan nation can supply it to Bangladesh to help the latter meet its demands. Bangladesh needs more electricity to run its factories. Nepal can thus play a significant role to boost Bangladesh’s economic strength. Nepal will also benefit as its electricity market would grow.
Power imports could open up another horizon in relations between the two countries. Nepal has the capacity to export about 42,000 MW of hydropower. Bangladesh, which is on the path of rapid industrialization, can import electricity from Nepal, and India too seems to be positive on this.
For this, the power transmission line has to be installed and Bangladesh, Nepal and India have to work jointly. India also stands to benefit, and as the South Asian big brother, it should play a positive role to boost Nepal-Bangladesh ties and trade. A trilateral trade scheme can be initiated alongside the border markets. Bangladesh will be able to export its ‘surplus’ electricity to Nepal during the dry season.
In June 2021, Bangladesh’s state minister for energy Nasrul Hamid announced the country will import around 700 megawatts (MW) of hydropower from Nepal to meet its future electricity demand. Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen said a deal was in the final stages with Nepal and India allowing his country to import hydropower from the Himalayan state.
According to Bangladeshi Media, Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nepal in 2018 to oversee investment, development and trade in hydro-electricity between the two countries. Under this arrangement, Bangladesh will import up to 9,000 Megawatt of hydropower from Nepal by 2040. Bangladesh is also keen to invest in Nepal’s hydropower sector.
Vistas of cooperation
Recently some Nepalese media reports said Bangladesh wanted to export its apparel and fertilizer to Nepal. A total of 52 thousand metric tonnes of urea imported from Bangladesh arrived in Nepal in July.
Bangladeshi conglomerate Walton Group, which deals in electronics, telecommunication, automobiles and computers, is active in Nepal. International NGO Brac and other Bangladeshi NGOs can play definitive roles to develop the mass education and health sectors in Nepal.
Bangladesh signed a Preferential Trade Agreement with Bhutan on December 06, 2020. A Preferential Trade Agreement with Nepal is also at the final stage and is likely to be signed soon. This would enable duty-free access to products of both countries.
As an addition to the Protocol of the Nepal-Bangladesh Transit Agreement signed in 1976, a letter of exchange has been inked between the two countries to include the Rohanpur-Singhabad Rail Link between India and Bangladesh. Nepal is also interested in using Chattogram, Mongla and Paira Seaports because it is a landlocked country. Bangladesh has agreed to work on the modalities for this during the visit of Nepali President Bidhya Devi Bhandari in March.
Nepal has also expressed its interest to use the inland waterways of Bangladesh. Besides, Nepal is also keen to use the Saidpur Airport in Bangladesh’s Nilphamari district for direct flights to Biratnagar (the capital of Nepal’s province no.1). Bangladesh is open to it.
Tourism, Covid-19, counter-terrorism, microfinance, exchange of training expertise and education are some sectors in which Bangladesh and Nepal can collaborate. Bangladesh faces a refugee problem after the massive influx of Rohingya refugees into the country in 2017. Now Bangladesh wants to repatriate them to Myanmar. Nepal should support Bangladesh at all international fora to repatriate them peacefully. Such a gesture will not go unnoticed in Dhaka.
The shortest distance between Nepal and Bangladesh is only 22 kilometers, and the road distance from Banglabandha in Bangladesh to Kakarvita in Nepal is just 39 km. In this connection, railways could offer much-needed connectivity. Nepal wants to join the rail link from Rohanpur in Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh to Singabad in India. Kathmandu’s distance from this railway will be only 216 km. On the other hand, China is building a railway from Lhasa in Tibet to Khasa, a border town in Nepal, and Nepal wants to bring that railway to Kathmandu. As a result, if there is effort and desire, Bangladesh can even establish a rail link to China via Kathmandu.
At present Dhaka is connected to Kathmandu by air and Nepal wants to expand air connectivity to Sylhet and Chittagong. Another option would be linking Syedpur in Bangladesh and Bhadrapur airport in Nepal, which would be just a 15 minutes flight. For those who want to avoid the hassle of a road transit visa on a business or leisure trip, this sky connectivity will be a huge relief. Both the governments may withdraw international tariffs on this route, in which case potentially millions of Bangladeshis could visit Nepal in coming years. Bangladesh could also help with the development of cricket in Nepal.
Many people think sending goods to Nepal is difficult but the task has been made much easier by the establishment of the Nepali warehouse at Banglabandha port. Bangladeshi products thus have great potential in Nepal and the private sector should be encouraged to join. In the end, again, the cooperation between the two countries will be useful in building a peaceful and prosperous South Asia.
ලේකම්,
එස්.ආර්.ආටිගල
මැතිතුමා,
මුදල් අමාත්යාංශය,
ආපදා ණය රුපියල් කෝටි 17 ක් නොගෙවීම නිසා දුම්රිය සේවකයින් දැඩි පීඩාවක. අවශ්ය මුදල් කඩිනමින් ලබා දෙන්න
ආපදාවක් වූ විට හෝ වෙනත් ණය
අවශ්යතාවයක් වූ විට, හදීසි හා අත්යාවශය
වියදමක් දැරීම සඳහා
රාජ්ය සේවකයින්ට ගෙවනු ලබන ආපදා ණය මුදල් නොගෙවීම නිසා දුම්රිය සේවකයින් දැඩි පීඩාවකට පත්ව ඇත.ආයතන සංග්රහයේ
XXIV වන පරිච්ඡේදය 10: 1 අනුව සේවකයාගේ ඉල්ලීම මත, මාස
10 ක වැටුප් උපරිමයකට යටත්ව, ආපදවක්
වෙනුවෙන් වැටුප් අත්තිකාරමක් ලබාගැනීමට සේවකයාට
හැකියාව ඇත.
ගංවතුර, නායයෑම් ආදි ස්වාභාවික විපත් වලදී සහන සැලසීමට, වෛද්ය
වියදම්, පවුලේ කෙනෙකුගේ අවමංගල්යකදී වියදම් පියවාගැනීමට, ගෙවල්
කුලී ගෙවීමට හෝ නිවාස අළුත්වැඩියාවක් කිරීමට, මදුරු දැල් මිළදී ගැනීමට, දරුවෙකුගේ
පාසල් උපකරණ, පොත්පත්, පරිගනක යන්ත්ර හා උපාංග මිළදී ගැනීමට
ආදී අත්යවශ්ය වියදමක් දැරීමට අවශ්ය වූ විට, පිටස්තර ණය කරුවෙකු වීමෙන්, රාජ්ය
සේවකයා මෙන්ම රාජ්ය සේවයට අගෞරවයක් වීම වැලැක්වීම සඳහා රාජ්ය
සේවකයින්ට මෙම ණය මුදල් අනුමත කරනු ලබයි.
එසේ අනුමත කරන ණය මුදල්
කඩිනමින් ගෙවිය යුතු වුවත්, අනුමත කර වසර ගණනක් බලා සිටීමට දුම්රිය සේවකයින්ට
සිදු වී ඇත. මේ ආකාරයෙන් අනුමත කර, දුම්රිය සේවකයින්ට නොගෙවා ඇති ණය
මුදල මේ වනවිට රුපියල් කෝටි 17 කට අධිකය. දවසින් දවස මෙම මුදල ඉහල යන අතර, මේ
හා සමාන වන මුදලක් මේ වන විට සේවකයින් ඉල්ලා තිබියදීත් ගෙවීම් නොකිරීම
නිසා සේවකයින් දැඩි පීඩාවකට ලක්ව ඇත.
මේ සඳහා අවශ්ය මුදල් භාණ්ඩාගාරයෙන්
ලබා නොදීම නිසා දුම්රිය පරිපාලනයද දැඩි අපහසුතාවයකට පත්වී ඇත. රටේ ජනතාව පීඩාවට පත්වී සිටින ආකාරයෙන්ම, දුම්රිය
සේවකයාද දැඩි පීඩාවකට පත්කර ඇති බව අවධාරණය කරන අතර, රටට
බරක් වී ඇත්තේ රාජ්ය සේවය නොව, රාජ්ය සේවකයා පීඩාවට ලක් කරන මේ ආණ්ඩුව බව
අවධාරණය කර සිටිමු.
දුම්රිය සේවකයින්ට
මුහුණදීමට සිදුවී ඇති ආපදා තත්වය හෝ මුදල් අවශ්යතාව පිළිබඳ අවධානය
යොමුකර, අනුමත කර ඇති ණය මුදල් සහ ඉල්ලා ඇති ණය මුදල්
ගෙවීම් කිරීමට කඩිනම් ක්රියාමාර්ගයක් ගන්නා ලෙස කරුණිකව
ඉල්ලාසිටිමු.
ස්තූතියි.
මෙයට,
එස්.පී.විතානගේ
සමකැඳවුම්කරු
දුම්රිය වෘත්තීය සමිති සන්ධානය.
Guwahati: The Geneva-based Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) rewards senior journalist Nava Thakuria, a resident of northeast India, for his relentless initiatives to safeguard the rights of media persons in the south Asian country and also defending the press freedom in the region with an exemplary commitment.
The Assam-based working journalist has been awarded on 30 November 2021 remotely as it was difficult for him to reach Geneva because of the Covid-19 restrictions.
It is the first time that the PEC rewards a journalist from India, the second most populous country of the world. India has a strong democracy and a vibrant press. Last year however, a record number of 5 journalists were killed in India and six this year. Journalists are targeted documenting abuses, corruption, criminal activities,” stressed the PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen.
In 2021, the media fraternity in India was the most affected by the novel coronavirus along with Brazil. The PEC award also wants to pay tribute to some 300 journalists who died throughout India with Covid-19 complications.
Receiving the PEC award is a great honour and represents a strong incentive to continue my work. I now feel more responsible for my colleagues in the media fraternity. At the same time, I greatly appreciate this award which draws attention to the situation of journalists in my country,” said Thakuria.
Journalism, be it print, electronic or digital, remains a hazardous job in India. Media persons are not duly paid here and often they face threats from both the government and non-state actors including the goons. This year, the Covid-19 has impacted severely upon the media industry in India, he added.
Besides his home country, Thakuria has also taken the pain to document the media crisis in Myanmar (also known as Burma or Brahmadesh) and reported the detention of over 120 journalists after the military coup in February. Nearly 40 out of them are still behind the bars there.
A graduate from Assam Engineering College (under Gauhati University), but preferred to be a professional journalist, Thakuria contributes to various newspapers of India along with several media outlets based in the different parts of the world.
Starting his career as a reporter in Natun Dainik, an Assamese language daily in 1990, Thakuria shifted to freelance journalism by 1999. His focus area of reporting remains the socio-political, cultural and environmental developments taking place in eastern India along with Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The changing faces of mainstream journalism after the advent of alternate media worldwide is also a primary focus area for him. He has visited most of the prime localities in India and also Thimphu, Dhaka, Yangon, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Copenhagen, Chicago, etc for different global events and professional assignments.
Created in the Swiss city of Geneva in 2004 by a group of journalists, PEC the global media safety and rights body with the consultative status at the United Nations, is devoted to strengthening the legal protection and safety of journalists around the world. Since 2009, it has been awarding its annual prize to an individual or an organization, who works for the protection of journalists and the press freedom on the ground.
The award had earlier gone to Mexican journalist Carmen Aristegui in 2020. On the previous year, the PEC rewarded the Afghanistan Journalists Center director Ahmad Quraishi, whereas in 2018 the award went to the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia (who was murdered in Malta in October 2017).
Colombo, November 30: The remnants of the Gandhara Buddhist civilization in Pakistan are a sight to behold, not just for Buddhist pilgrims but also for art lovers. Imposing stupas with intricate and lifelike carvings depicting various events in the Buddha’s life and his past births abound in the Swat Valley in North West Pakistan bordering Afghanistan.
It is amazing that an avowedly Islamic country, where idols are considered haram (forbidden), has diligently preserved these masterpieces, and that, against heavy odds. Mercifully, the icons escaped the Islamization drive of President Zia ul Haq (1978-1988).
In 2006-2007, when the Taliban banned the preservation of these objects because even the existence of idols in the midst of Muslims was haram”, President Pervez Musharraf negotiated the withdrawal of the Taliban from its destructive project. In 2016, when Pakistani archeologists discovered an ancient site at Bhamala in Swat in which there was a 48 ft long, 3 rd. Century AD, Sleeping Buddha” statue, Imran Khan, who was then a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leader (and President of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf party) said: It is a world heritage site and because of that, people will come for religious tourism. The majority of the Pakistani population wants such sites restored.”
Apart from the government, individual Pakistanis have also helped preserve and protect Buddhist sites against the depredations of the Taliban, idol thieves and smugglers. There is the case of Osman Ulasyar who had stopped local boys from playing cricket in a field full of First Centry AD Buddhist stupas (burial sites containing relics). Then, at this own cost, he built a 300 ft. wall to protect the stupas.
Documentary on Gandhara
The Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Buddha Sasana recently produced a documentary on the Gandhara civilization. The documentary, which is of Hollywood quality in both grandeur and technical finesse, was made by a joint team of Pakistanis and Sri Lankans and was launched by the Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Sri Lankan partner in the production was Kaushalya Wickramasinghe of Siddhivinayak Cine Arts (Private) Limited, an India-trained film maker. The Director was Mateen Saherai of Pakistan and the Production Controller Sajjad Mohommad was a Pakistani from the UK. Ven. Agrahera Kassapa Thero was the Senior content Adviser, and the concept and script were prepared by the Project Consultant Director, Vidyajothi Prof. Nimal Silva. Noted Lankan maker Chandran Rutnam was an advisor and some leading Lankan companies were among the sponsors.
Significantly, there was no reservation among the Pakistani collaborators about displaying the Hinduistic logo of the Siddhivinayak Cine Arts which was a picture of Lord Ganesha (or Gana Deviyo in Sinhala). The commentary did not black out the belief that Hindu Gods, Indra and Brahma, had stood by the Buddha right through from his birth to his death.
The documentary took viewers on a seamless journey through various Gandhara heritage sites. Key events in the life of the Buddha were narrated effectively with the sculptures providing appropriate visuals. Panoramic views of the stupas in the picturesque Swat Valley were breathtaking.
In the Gandhara stupas, the Jataka (birth) stories of the Buddha and his previous incarnations are depicted in imaginative detail and with a warmth of feeling,” comments Dr. Ihsan H.Nadiem author of Buddhist Gandhara. Some of the stories depicted in the sculptures are: Dipankara Jataka; Visvantara Jataka; Dream of Queen Mahamaya; Interpretation of the Dream; Birth of Siddhartha; Seven Steps of the Child; Horoscope; Marriage of Siddhartha and Yasodhara; Life in the Palace; First Meditation of Siddhartha; Renunciation; Great Departure; Farewell to Chandaka and Kanthaka; First Meeting with the Brahmans; Fasting for Salvation; Temptation and attack by Mara’s Host; Great Enlightenment; First Sermon; Miracle of Sravasti; Death of the Buddha; Cremation; and Distribution of the Relics of the Buddha. Gandhara art recreated life in detail.
Items of everyday use such as beds and vases etc. can be clearly seen in them. Gandhara art provides an insight into all aspect of life of the region at that time.
Time Line
Gandhara finds mention in 5 th. Century BC Greek accounts as it had by then become a melting pot of Persian and Hindu Vedic traditions. In 327-326 BC it was conquered by Alexander the Great who introduced Greek art. In 321 BC, the region came under the sway of Chandragupta Maurya of Magadha in Bihar. His grandson, the Buddhist Emperor Asoka, brought Buddhism to Gandhara. However, the Buddhist Gandhara civilization reached its pinnacle under the Kushan ruler Kanishka, who assumed power between 78 AD and 144 AD. A convert to Buddhism, Kanishka built innumerable stupas containing relics of the Buddha and Buddhist savants. Fascinating works of architecture and art were produced in Gandhara under Kanishka,” Nadiem points out.
By the second century BC, Taxila (Thakshashila) had become a multi-ethnic, multi-racial and multi-religious society, where Greeks, Indians, Bactrian and Western Iranians lived together. Remains of a Zoroastrian Temple from that period still exist at Jandial, directly north of Taxila,” says Brig.(R) Agha Ahmad Gul, former Vice Chancellor of Balochistan University. In contrast to present day religious groups which go for each other’s throats, the people of Gandhara lived in harmony despite ethnic and religious variations,” Brig.Gul noted.
The Gandhara civilization should be a model for today’s countries where intolerance is growing, Dr.Abdul Samad, Director of Archeology and Museums in Khyber Pakhtunwala told Reuters. Gandhara was the center of religious harmony. It is here that one finds Greek, Roman, Persian, Hindu and Buddhist gods in a single panel,” he pointed out.
However, in 460 AD, a White Hun invasion crippled the civilization. Subsequently, waves of iconoclastic Islamic raiders from the West and North West pillaged and set up a new order. Still, vary many valuables survived.
Grecian Influence
On Gandhara art, Nadiem says that in the light of the contacts of the Kushan rulers with the West, there was a development of a style quite distinct from the mainstream Indian tradition and in certain respects inclined to the Western form, though the subject matter throughout remained local and Buddhist.
The Kushans patronized foreign artists probably because of their being themselves alien to the land. They thus could not be taken to the fold of Hinduism. Their status led them to embrace Buddhism and favor foreign culture,” Nadiem adds.
According to Brig. Agha Ahmad Gul: Alexander’s stay in Gandhara was short (327 BC), but he left a sizeable population of Greeks in every region he conquered, including Gandhara. The craftsmen, soldiers and other followers were encouraged to inter-marry and blend with the locals, introducing the Greek civilization in conquered regions which affected their history for centuries to come.”
Image of the Buddha
One of the greatest contributions of Gandhara Buddhist art is the representation of the Buddha as we conceptualize him now, showing Greco-Roman influence. Nadiem says that the Buddha was first represented in the human form (and not just symbolically) in the Second and Third centuries AD which followed the emergence of devotional Buddhism at the time of Kanishka’s ‘Great Buddhist Council’. And it is also in Gandhara that there is the world’s only statue of a Fasting Buddha.
Pakistan is assiduously using its Buddhist heritage to forge cultural links with Buddhist countries and also promote religious tourism. Buddhist relics were brought to Sri Lanka for exhibition and trips had been arranged for Buddhist monks to visit Gandhara. And now a documentary on Gandhara has been made.
Currently, the Buddha’s images and relics are safe in Pakistan, and the museums there are well-maintained. But Islamic iconoclastic groups inspired by the Afghan Taliban or the ISIS do exist, and could strike any moment. The bid to project Pakistan as a multi-cultural tolerant country may receive a serious setback if the Islamic zealots are not reined in.
The Director-General of Health Services has published new guidelines for public and work-related activities to be followed from the 01st to 15th of December.
In a press release, Dr. Asela Gunawardena noted that there is still a risk for escalation in COVID-19 transmission due to cluster formation, although significant control of the epidemic in the country has been achieved.
Proper adherence to the health guidelines has given more responsibility to the Medical Officers of Health (MOH) for regulation and monitoring at the ground level, he added. The contribution and active engagement of the relevant ministries is very important to create the inter-sectoral relationship and awareness needed to support this task successfully.”
As per the guidelines, a maximum of 1/3 of the usual hall capacity – not exceeding 200 guests – is allowed for indoor wedding receptions. Meanwhile, 250 guests are permitted for outdoor ceremonies.
Funerals should be held within 24 hours after the body is released to the family members or relatives. Only 20 individuals can attend the funeral at a given time.
With regard to private gatherings, the health services chief stated that a maximum of 1/3 of the usual hall capacity – not exceeding 100 persons – are given permission. A maximum of 10 people can attend a gathering at a private residence. However, private gatherings organized outdoors are disallowed.
Restaurants are meanwhile green-lighted to accommodate a 1/3 of the usual capacity – not exceeding 100 persons – for dining in. For outdoor arrangements, 150 people in total are permitted.
Schools and higher education institutions including universities will function as decided by the Education Ministry and the University Grants Commission, respectively. Day-care centres and preschools will also remain open during this period.
The Health Ministry has given the nod for tuition classes to conduct lessons with 50% of the usual capacity, but only for Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students.
The guidelines issued by the Director-General of Health Services are as follows:
Press Release Controlled Relaxation of Public and Work Activities From 1st Dec to 15 Dec – 2021 11 30 by Adaderana Online on Scribd
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a Committee to look into the recent incidents of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder fires and explosions that have occurred at domestic, commercial and sales outlets in various parts of the country and to find possible causes of the problem in order to provide immediate solutions to the issue.
Chaired by Prof. Shantha Walpola of the Moratuwa University, the committee also includes Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon, Prof. Ajith de Alwis of Moratuwa University, Prof. W .D.W Jayathilaka of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. Pradeep Jayaweera, Commissioner of Sri Lanka Inventors Commission Prof. Narayana Sirimuthu, Additional Director General of Industrial Technology Institute Dr. Sudarshana Somasiri and Senior Deputy Director (Technical) at Sri Lanka Standard Institute Sujeewa Mahagama.
The President has instructed the Committee to get the information from all the necessary parties and look into existing studies and various views and submit the report to him within two weeks.
The daily count of COVID-19 cases confirmed in Sri Lanka moved to 722 today (November 30) as 195 more people were tested positive for the virus, the Epidemiology Unit said.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 563,989.
As many as 540,387 recoveries and 14,346 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the COVID-19 outbreak.
More than 9,200 active cases in total are currently under medical care, official figures showed.
The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 18 new coronavirus-related deaths for November 29, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus pandemic to 14,346.
The new fatalities include 11 males and 07 females. Among them are 07 individuals between the ages 30-59 years. The remaining 11 are in the age group of 60 years and above.
Nov. 30th 2021
There seems to be a frightening revelation of the Nation’s Health Defenses according to the latest information reports where due to lax testing at the National Airport Katunayake the country could be vulnerable to the latest Covid Variations.
Quoting from the Island News
.”Due to the lax testing at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), there is a strong possibility that any new variant of COVID-19 entering the country, College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) President, Ravi Kumudesh commenting on the detection of a new Corona virus variant spreading in South Africa.According to this – Even a travel ban would be useless unless the country enhances its testing and surveillance capacities, Kumudesh said.
The report suggests that PCR tests were not conducted on passengers on arrival and that it was likely that even those not fully vaccinated were entering the country. Gene Sequencing with respect to those infected with COVID inside the country was at a minimal level, and therefore, there is no way we can find out whether a new variant has entered the country until it is too late.“end quote
So why is it that – despite there being two state-of-the-art labs at the BIA no tests have been done there ! The country appears to be unprepared where several nations are imposing bans on travel from South Africa and the region where the time factor in implementing bans could prove vital due to the speed at which these variants propagate.
Sri Lanka has presently imposed a ban where having delayed it rather than acting promptly although even a travel ban might be ineffective now due to the delay and appears to be gross neglect or inefficiency on the part of the authorities concerned.
To add to the consternation and anxieties related, the report indicates that the number of PCR tests conducted had dropped to such a low level that reagents used in some labs for PCR testing are now nearing the expiry dates. The attitude of health officials at the airport is such that everyone operates on the basis that testing of passengers is not important.This suggests apathy and needs to be acted upon stringently and those responsible brought to task!
The Institute of Health concludes that the detection of the new South African variant `Omniron` is potentially hazardous and a danger for all countries especially for Sri Lanka which is vulnerable from many perspectives including the lax responses from the authorities and, dwindling resources which could prove to be calamitous and have dire ramifications for all citizens already caught up in a vortex of uncertainty both from a health perspective as well as financially as the administration teeters on the brink of uncertainty and perhaps seen as scrambling to steady the ship in a maelstrom of confusion and the patience of the population wearing thin.
The report quoted earlier also bears further chilling news that “Countries like South Africa, Peru, etc., who had such high levels of infection that much of their population was infected more than once, still continue to suffer new waves of infection. Because most of the world is following the misguided strategy of just accepting the virus, it has plenty of chances to keep on mutating more. It has also been observed that the virus is circulating more than ever before.Furthermore despite a lot of speculation about how T-cell immunity is going to protect us, there’s really no evidence that either infection or current vaccines and boosters will ever give us long-lasting immunity. We simply don’t know.”
So this is bad news for all of us humans on planet earth, but very definitely for us in Sri Lanka. Why? Because based on how our medical establishment and govt authorities think, we will be slow or refuse to put the necessary border controls in to prevent this entering. And when it does enter-which is inevitable if this variant spreads globally–we will be slow to detect its entry, we will refuse to sound the alarm, and we will do everything but actually attempt to stop it.
That’s been our track record, so why would it change? Worth noting that if this starts a new wave in Southern Africa, it’s just three to four months after their third wave. So just as immunity starts waning appreciably from natural infection (or vaccines). That gives us a strong hint of what our future holds unless we end this pandemic.” end quote veritably.
Sri Lanka having been the cynosure of the world once, about how the pandemic was handled admirably has now lost that status and at the mercy of the elements where the authorities seem to be pathetically clutching at straws where it is up to the Leadership of the President and his team to seek out the panacea towards restitution which now seems no mean task but the Nation certainly depends on his manoeuvrability and choices.
(This is an edited version of a paper read out at a Public Seminar on the ‘ Kandyan Convention of 1815’ held at the University of Peradeniya, Arts Theatre, on March 09, 2019)
The Kandyan Convention (‘Ingrisy – Sinhale Givisuma’) must be examined in the context of British colonial policy seeking British supremacy all over world. The British developed ingenious ways of grabbing other people’s lands under various pretexts. The Kandyan Convention is a classic example of this ploy. In India, under its policy of Subsidiary Alliance the British used Treaties to make Indian States, subordinate to British Colonial administration. The British agenda under the Kandyan Convention, whatever the wording in the provisions was not very different.
Kingdom of Kandy was never conquered. It was ceded to the British retaining several provisions favourable to the Kandyan Sinhalese. Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Kandyan Convention were meant to protect the Kandyan Sinhalese and allow them to govern the Kingdom as they did under their deposed King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. Nevertheless, once the British had obtained full control of the land they began to interpret the provisions in an insincere self – serving manner that was highly prejudicial to the interests of the Kandyans, who had foolishly trusted the British.
https://www.spur.asn.au/kandyan-convention-of-1815-a-convention-violated-and-dishonoured/
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