Courtesy Adaderana

The daily count of COVID-19 cases confirmed in Sri Lanka moved to 617 today (November 06) as 135 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 544,630.

As many as 514,912 recoveries and 13,841 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the COVID-19 outbreak.

More than 15,800 active cases in total are currently under medical care, official figures showed.

ගෝඨාභය කියන්නේ පඹයෙක්, බලන්න පහුගිය කාලේ ගත්ත මෝඩ තකතීරු ගොන් තීරණ, නිදහසින් පස්සේ ආව ඕලමොට්ටලම කැබිනට් එක මේ, හරක් රැලක් ඉන්නේ- ආණ්ඩුවේ හවුල්කරුවෙක් හිටපු ඇමති ඩේව් ගුණසේකරගෙන් ජනපතිට දැඩි විවේචනයක්

Meera Srinivasan Courtesy The Hindu

Reaction to the recent Pentagon report on military developments involving China

Reactingsharply to a Pentagon report on security developments involving China, flagging the Asian giant’s likely consideration” of overseas military bases in countries such as Sri Lanka, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo accused the United States of widespread military occupation.

A thief believes everybody steals. Despite the withdrawal of U.S military bases and troops from Afghanistan, the US continues to maintain about 750 military bases abroad. These bases are costly in a number of ways: financially, politically, socially, and environmentally,” the Colombo-based Embassy said on Twitter, responding to a local journalist’s tweet on the US Department of Defense report. The official handle of the Chinese mission also shared a map showing “military bases controlled by the U.S.”.

The Chinese Embassy’s response comes amid a well-known geopolitical contest between the U.S. and China for greater influence in the strategic Indian Ocean region. The U.S.’s preoccupation with China’s growing influence in Sri Lanka has been consistent in the post-war decade, irrespective of the party in power. In a visit to Colombo in October 2020, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, from the Donald Trump administration, called China a predator” in Sri Lanka, while the U.S., he said, was a friend”.

The Chinese Embassy’s tweet is not the first instance of the China-US clash is playing out in Sri Lanka. US Ambassador in Colombo Alaina B. Teplitz, who recently completed her term, has openly criticised Chinese projects. Voicing concern over the legislation passed in Sri Lanka to govern the China-backed Port City in capital Colombo, she had remarked that there were openings for either corrupt influences or potential of illicit financing, money laundering and things like that. US companies are going to be wary of that”. China, in turn, accused the US Ambassador of violating diplomatic protocol” and suggested that the US quit the addiction” to preaching”, and applying double standards.”

While China-backed projects have in the past sparked questions within Sri Lanka on due process and transparency, there is currently mounting resistance to the US’s involvement in a key energy deal in the island nation. Last month, the Ceylon Electricity Board agreed to sell a 40% stake in a power plant in Kerawelapitiya, near Colombo, to US firm New Fortress Energy, and trade unions are resisting the move that they say, gives the U.S. a monopoly over LNG sales to the country.

Despite differences with the US over war-time rights abuses in Sri Lanka, and amid Washington’s persisting concerns over Colombo’s proximity to Beijing, the ruling Rajapaksa administration has maintained close links with the US.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was formerly a US citizen as well. He surrendered his US citizenship to meet a legal requirement to run for President in 2019. Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, the younger brother of President Gotabaya and PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, is a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and the US.

By Kathleen Hefferon Henry Miller Courtesy European Scientist

All of us have had the experience of learning things, as the saying goes, the hard way.”  That phenomenon has been captured perfectly by a meme found lately on everything from  to T-shirts to sign-boards:

The message is blunt but insightful, and applies to both individuals’ and governments’ decisions. Predictable governmental policy missteps can be costly, in terms of both lives and lucre. Consider, for example, the U.S. government’s disastrous handling of thewithdrawal from Afghanistan in August, which led to significant numbers of deaths and injuries, and the abandonment of huge amounts of material. Another, a near-miss, occurred in 1897, when the Indiana House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 246, a measure that redefined the value of π, the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Fortunately, the bill died in the state senate.

Less obvious are recent changes in international agricultural policies and their impact, which in some respects seem to be the beginning of a slippery slope to a catastrophe worthy of a Shakespearian tragedy.  The journey begins with the European Union’s Farm to Fork (F2F) Biodiversity Strategy, picks up a glimmer of hope with the post-Brexit change in the U.K.’s policy on the genome editing of crops, and concludes with Sri Lanka’s own-goal debacle of the Green Sri Lanka” policy of transformation to organic agriculture.

F2F VS BREXIT : A DISAGREEMENT ON GENETIC ENGINEERING

The F2F Biodiversity Strategy commits the EU to reducing the use of chemical pesticides by 50% and of fertilizers by 20%, while farming at least 25% of current agricultural land exclusively with organic farming practices. Given the inefficiency and lower yields of organic agriculture, food prices would inevitably rise, while international trade, farmers’ revenues, and agricultural production would plunge. Because organic agriculture often requires tilling, which releases CO2, efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would be impaired. A USDA-Economic Research Service impact assessment predicts that the EU’s policy initiatives would reduce gross farm income by 16%, with an annual increase in per capita food cost of 130 euros ($151). Other analyses, such as this and this, are more pessimistic.

The reviews described above do not consider the role that Brexit — the U.K.’s withdrawal from the European Union — will play with respect to the EU and other U.K. trading partners, now that they have decided to change trajectories from the ill-fated one taken by Europe, and instead embrace new technologies in agriculture such as genome editing. Although the break from EU agricultural policy could disrupt familiar, well-established relationships, the risk is well worth it, as new trading opportunities will be forged among nations that are more than willing to employ innovations in agriculture.  Moreover, it is the scientifically correct” thing to do, inasmuch as there is a seamless continuum of techniques of genetic modification, ranging from selection and breeding, through mutagenesis, wide crosses, recombinant DNA technology, and, most recently, genome editing. Thus, there is no scientific justification for excessive regulation of the newer, more precise, more predictable technologies.

Until now, the UK has been a principal export market for the EU, so its digression from the EU F2F policy will ally Britain with new trading partners that welcome cutting edge new breeding technologies, including genome editing. While it may be a big step for UK policy, however, it is far from a complete one. Illogically, Britain continues to be squeamish about recombinant DNA-modified crops, the predecessor genetic engineering technology of genome editing.

When related to crops, genetic engineering is an umbrella term that involves altering a plant’s genome. This can include the deletion (or silencing) of a plant’s genes, the insertion into a crop’s genome of the same gene from a closely related crop (cisgenesis”), or even from a completely unrelated organism (transgenesis). Plant breeders have long been able to introduce desirable new traits with a variety of techniques, including mutagenesis, wide cross breeding, polyploidy and protoplast fusion. Recombinant DNA technology, or gene splicing,” which has been around since the 1970s, has elicited significant opposition from activists.  Genome editing, the newest of genetic engineering technologies, can do the same sorts of things and much more. All of these genetic USDAmodifications have the same desired result: the introduction or enhancement of an advantageous trait, such as resistance to pests, higher yield, or enhanced nutritional content.

Britain’s acceptance of genome editing as an important tool to improve the efficiency and yield of their agriculture — by creating disease resistant, nutritionally improved crops — while throwing technologies such as recombinant DNA under the bus is not atypical.  There is a widespread misimpression that because recombinant DNA modification is often transgenic — involving the introduction of heterologous, or foreign, DNA, such as a gene that expresses a protein toxic to insect pests — it is somehow less natural” than genome editing, in which the genetic modification is more limited and may not be transgenic.  Genome editing, on the other hand, has been lauded as a technology that does not require the insertion of foreign DNA, celebrated as a way to change a genome by merely making a discrete, precise change.

Meanwhile, the EU maintains that for regulatory purposes, genome-edited and transgenic crops be classified (read: stigmatized) as no different, in the sense of needing to be subject to excessive andsui generisregulation. That restricts opportunities for their own scientists to conduct research and development that involves field trials with new crops that, for example, may be very useful to address drought, floods, or climate change. The post-Brexit British deviation from the EU’s approach is certainly a step forward, albeit a maddeningly small one. The F2F strategy, if implemented in the UK, would without question disadvantage British farmers, inflate consumer prices, and weaken food security.

ALL-ORGANIC SRI LANKA: A (PREDICTABLE) DISASTER

As the UK plots its course on this and many other issues, and the EU becomes even more entrenched in its unscientific, regressive agricultural policy surrounding organically grown vs genetically engineered crops, it seems a propitious time to review an extreme example of a predictably awful agricultural policy: Sri Lanka’s decision last summer to convert the country completely to organic agriculture. What can we learn from their decision to become the first country to pursue 100% organic food production and ban the use of all chemical pesticides and fertilizers?

How many ways can you spell disaster? Quite a few it seems, as farm incomes, food security and the nation’s economy have already tumbled. Following the doctrine of the new Green Sri Lanka” task force policy, Sri Lanka banned the importation of synthetic fertilizers and other chemical inputs, including pesticides and herbicides. As a result, agricultural production has decreased and rural poverty is up.  For example, tea production has been reduced by 35%, and rice paddy farming by 25% with the conversion to organic manure.  Similarly, coconut yields are predicted to drop by 30%. On average, a drop in agricultural productivity of 20% could result in a drop of gross domestic product of more than 3%.

In October, Sri Lanka’s agricultural policy disarray took some new, bizarre turns. First, the government violated its own ban by importing from Lithuania 30,000 tons of potassium chloride, calling it (inaccurately) organic fertilizer” — a characterization reminiscent of Newspeak, the fictional propagandistic language coined by George Orwell in Nineteen Eighty-Four,” marked by euphemism, circumlocution, and the inversion of customary meanings.  Then, days later, the government formally backed down, reversing the ban on imports of chemical fertilizers.

LYSENKO’S THROWBACK

How could this ongoing debacle have happened? Simple — uninformed, flawed decisions based on wishful thinking instead of science. The task force excluded many scientists in agriculture and replaced them with others who have questionable credentials. This new task force” apparently lacks respect for evidence-based facts; rather, the source of their logic and reasoning is obscure. Even more disconcerting is the fact that this reversal of agricultural policy came in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was accompanied by higher food prices, trade disruptions and a freefall of the tourist industry. That was no time to try a dubious, untested, unscientific policy.

The conversion to an extreme, primitive, all-organic farming policy should serve as a warning sign, not only for the EU, but also for developing countries under its influence. Countries that deludely follow the same path could quickly find themselves in similar dire straits. In the best of times, organic agriculture’s yields are, on average, about 20% lower than conventional agriculture. And that is when there is plenty of organic waste such as manure or compost. At present, there is not nearly enough waste to go around in Sri Lanka.

This ideological idiocy is reminiscent of the policies instituted in the old Soviet Union in the 1930s, when Communist ideologue Trofim Lysenko was put in charge of the nation’s agricultural policy.  He considered plant genetics to be reactionary and evil, because he believed it reinforced the status quo and precluded the capacity for change. He even denied that genes existed and banned the use of pesticides and fertilizers. He believed that plants and animals in the proper setting and exposed to the right stimuli could be remade to an almost infinite degree. His modernization” of Soviet agriculture resulted in crop failures, famine, and the death of at least 7 million. Not having learned from the catastrophe of the USSR, in the late 1950s, Communist China adopted Lysenko’s methods and endured even worse famines. At least 30 million are thought to have died of starvation.

Sri Lanka is only the most recent country to ignore the lessons of history. The substitution of ideology and wishful thinking for science exacerbates food insecurity and rural poverty, particularly in a country such as Sri Lanka which has a large fraction of its population living on the edge of extreme destitution. Is this what Europe wants to emulate? The recent finding that copper sulfate, a fungicide widely used by French (and other) organic farmers, has permeated the entire population of France, and in particular children who consume organic products, should be a warning to Europeans and others. Although copper at sufficient levels is toxic to both humans and the environment, it has been the go to” product for organic farmers who have little else at their disposal to protect certain of their crops. If this toxic compound continues to be incorporated into the F2F biodiversity strategy, the situation will become increasingly grim.

Policymakers worldwide should heed the unfortunate examples of the EU and Sri Lanka and adjust their policies accordingly.  As philosopher George Santayana reminded us, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

KAMALIKA PIERIS

This series contains snippets of information on the Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka collected while researching into social issues. It is a by-product of my main research. The essays include bouquets as well as brickbats.

D.S. SENANAYAKE

D.S. Senanayake (1884-1952) was the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.   DS’s father, Don Spater prospered by doing surface mining of plumbago and purchasing plumbago owned by others.  He lived in Mirigama. Mirigama was plumbago area.

D.S. Senanayake started as a clerk in the Surveyor General’s Department but left to manage the family properties. He was so successful in this that he was asked to manage other properties as well. He managed the Kahatagaha plumbago mines owned by the Attygalle family.  In 1914 he was a member of the commission that went to Madagascar to inquire into its graphite industry. The others in the Commission were Henry de Mel and T.G .Hunter, a mining expert.

 Don Spater sent his eldest son FR Senanayake to Cambridge and Middle Temple, London. FR   was expected on his return to   enter politics and provide leadership for the independence movement. But FR died in 1926 and   DS came into prominence, noted by KM de Silva.

D.S. Senanayake’s standing as a successful manager of plantation and plumbago mines was such that he was able to enter Parliament on that alone. There he established a reputation for sound common sense and shrewd judgment of men and politics, said KM de Silva. He had a fine memory. He never took a note but remembered everything, said HAJ Hulugalle.

The remarkable thing about DS Senanayake was that there was nothing remarkable about him, said DB Dhanapala.  DS does not figure in the book by Ramachandra Guha on makers of modern Asia, observed KM de Silva.

I do not think the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka can be dismissed in that manner. DS did not lead the independence movement,   certainly, he only functioned as its acceptable leader, but DS did not play a completely passive role.

When Soulbury commission visited Sri Lanka, DS made sure that the Commission saw a well functioning successful colony. He took them on a conducted tour balanced between agriculture and culture, to Peradeniya, Minipe, Kandy Dambulla Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya and Anuradhapura.  DS had also asked Sri Jayana to present a private performance of Udarata dance before Soulbury. I came across this when writing on dance in British Ceylon.

The Soulbury tours involved a great deal of organization, and the government officers and private citizens were warned ahead to provide a welcome.  DS wanted the Commission to see that the Ceylon government was efficient. This effort of DS was very successful. The Soulbury Commission made special mention of these tours in their report.

It was generally agreed in 1951 that UNP was held together by the personality of its popular leader, observed Nayani Melegoda. Under Mr. Senanayake, Ceylon was the most untroubled country in Asia, said Hulugalle.’

In December 1951 DS accompanied by son Dudley   had visited Australia. There is a YouTube clip on this which should be viewed by those who admire DS. He was interviewed on his arrival.  He looked confident and spoke in fluent, stylish English. He said that he had come to see the agricultural advances made in Australia.  He looked a highly westernized Asian Prime Minister, complete with shaggy moustache. This news clip would have been shown in cinemas around the world .It would have enhanced the image of Sri Lanka. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1nNZjbtXss

JR Jayewardene confirmed that DS was heavily pro-British. DS Senanayake had to consider the question of defence, said JR.  Since we could not afford to look after ourselves DS decided the best people to look after us were the British and he signed a defence pact with them. We would allow them to use our bases with our consent and we would help the British if they were attacked. DS was aware that the Englishmen were democratic at home and imbued with a sense of fairness. Once we got independence his distrust of them disappeared, said JR.

DS was pro-USA and against Communism. He gave harbour facilities to the US fleet on its way to the Korean War. DS permitted the Rubber –Rice pact with China, against America’s wishes.  But at the same time, was negotiating with America regarding selling our rubber in bulk to USA, said JR.

However DS supported Asian countries.  He refused to allow the Dutch to use Sri Lanka’s   airport for military action against Indonesia.  In 1951 he asked J R to speak on behalf of Japan at San Francisco.

From the very beginning UNP gained the trust of the minorities. Muslims, Moors and Christian were firm supporters, said KM de Silva. DS was on excellent terms with the President of the UNP, Dr. M.C.M. Kaleel.

 DS was imprisoned during the 1915 Sinhala Muslim riots. When he was released DS went all over the country in the company of  Abdur Rahman, the Nominated Muslim Member of the Legislative Council and brought about peace between the Muslim and Sinhalese communities, recalled Imthiaz Bakeer Markar in 2021. At large gatherings, I remember Mr. Senanayake saying how he went and lived in Muslim houses and had his meals with them.

DS included the Tamil Congress Leader G.G. Ponnambalam in his first post independence Cabinet. Kandiah Vaithiananthan, later Sir Kandiah Vaithiananthan, was his Permanent Secretary for Defence and external affairs. The Sinhalese complained that most of the new industries were located in Tamil speaking areas  such as Valaichchenai, Paranthan, and Kankesanturai. DS ignored the complaint.

The Secretary of the DS Senanayake Memorial Society wrote in 2018 to say that that DS was a great and exemplary leader with a deep commitment to Buddhism. When Dudley was born, DSS had offered 25 acres of land to Botale temple. DS had restored Ruvanveli,      rehabilitated the chaitya at   Mahiyangana and Kirivehera at Kataragama. He established the Salgala forest monastery. He had attended religious ceremonies in major temples. When he was sworn in as Prime Minister he had worshipped at Polwatte temple in Colombo 3.

However, it is well known that DS refused to consider requests to make Sinhala the state language and Buddhism the state religion. When Sinhala Maha Sabha brought before the UNP  the    issue of  making Buddhism  the state religion, DS had said, ‘it goes against the concept of Buddhism .‘ DS had also refused to set up a Buddhist Commission and the Buddhist had to do it themselves.

D.S. Senanayake became Minister for Agriculture in 1931. He held this position for 17 years. In 1935 he drew attention to the need to use the Mahaweli waters. This is forgotten today. My recall is that SA Wickremasinghe also drew attention to the Mahaweli waters at a talk given before the SLMA, (then Ceylon Branch of  BMA)  in the 1930s or 1940s.

In the 1930s, DS Senanayake started the process of restoring old abandoned tanks and irrigation systems in the Dry Zone and settling Sinhala farmers from the Kandyan areas as colonists in the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kantalai areas, said Ajit Kanagasunderam. 

This was the central plank of DS’s policy and was done to alleviate the acute land hunger among Kandyan peasantry whose ancestors had their lands confiscated for coffee and tea plantations. His objective was to create a nation of “self-sufficient, prosperous peasantry”. These irrigation, rehabilitation and settlement projects, although piece meal, were done at a very reasonable cost and can be considered a great success, concluded Kanagasunderam.

DS decided to shift landless families from the densely populated wet zone to the less populated Dry zone. DS thought it would be good to turn them into prosperous farmers of the Dry Zone.  The villagers were reluctant because there was Malaria in the Dry Zone.  

The State Council was critical of this policy of colonizing the Dry Zone while plenty of land was available in the wet zone. It was possible to bring into cultivation an extent of 10,000 to 15,000 acres of land in the south and western provinces at a lesser cost than the proposed new schemes. Land Commission also was not enthusiastic about Dry Zone colonization. Dry Zone had malaria, drought, scarcity of water, and wild animals.

But DS went ahead. DS wanted colonization of the Dry Zone. Minneriya was the first scheme. The plan was to develop 50,000 acres of land at Minneriya. They were given six acres of wet land and 2.5 acres of dry land. Money was given as an outright grant and was not to be recovered. The first group of land recipients under this scheme arrived at Minneriya on April 30, 1933. But as D.S. Senanayake himself admitted, some of them failed as cultivators.  They were probably not farmers to start with and did not possess the necessary skills. They were engaged in low income jobs like casual labor back home.  Some died of malaria.  

These colonists of the 1930s faced elephant attacks. Junglewallah recalled that Forest Department officials had been asked by DS to drive off the herds of elephants that were devastating the cultivated lands of the colonists in the newly opened out settlements in Minneriya and Hingurakgoda. The colonists were chiefly from Mr. Senanayake’s electorate, Mirigama, including his ancestral Botale, and there had been numerous instances where the elephants had destroyed huts and killed the colonists. The settlers were threatening to pull out and return home unless something was done to drive off the elephants.

The Minneriya project was able to withstand these problems.  Between 1936 and 1940, landless peasants as well as some middle class people of the Wet and Intermediate Zones were settled in Minneriya. From 1936 onwards, the government adopted a policy of paying money to new settlers to clear the land and build houses.

The Minneriya Colonization scheme became successful and a complex settlement pattern evolved of which 90 percent were agricultural settlements, said WI Siriweera. The Minneriya scheme was very successful, agreed Meegama. Minneriya was DS’s great achievement, said KM de Silva.

After Minneriya came Karaganda colonization scheme of 17,000 acres, fed by   Balaluwewa. This was followed by    Hingurakgoda, Bakamuna, Hunilowewa, Nachchaduwa  and Minipe colonization schemes,  climaxing with Gal Oya.

Minipe ela scheme started in 1934. When I left Minipe in 1945 Malaria was coming under control and there was a clamor for allotments, recalled M. Rajendra. Once malaria was controlled, there was a dramatic change. Applications exceeded availability. The size of allotment was reduced. The restoration of the ancient irrigation system was also promoted.

Gal Oya Project was started in 1949. This project was a shining example of what can be achieved – all objectives were met, it was financed from our own resources and managed by Sri Lankans and there was never any hint of scandal. It was a pity that at the end communal anti-Tamil riots marred the record but this did not diminish the achievement itself, said Kanagasunderam.

DS decided that it was important to preserve the peasantry. The preservation of the peasantry was to be the basis of the new land policy of the time. Decades later, this was heavily condemned. Critics called it, the unusual phenomenon of re-peasantisation.

 This new peasantry would be settled in the Dry Zone. There would be outright grants of land, leases under peasant proprietor scheme, and a new tenurial system where alienation by the grantee by sale or mortgage would be restricted and lands alienated would pass to a nominated heir.  Grantees could not subdivide the allotment, thus preventing fragmentation. Also they could not mortgage the land.  

DS’s objective was to create a nation of “self-sufficient, prosperous peasantry”. What he did however, was to create an impoverished   dependant peasantry. Philip Gunawardena, who became Minister of Agriculture in the 1956 government, was very critical of the colonization schemes of D.S Senanayake.  The independent peasant small holder as dreamt by DS Senanayake   does not exist, said Philip. The majority of the owner cultivators held less than one acre and that one acre could not provide a living for a family. Many small holders were wage laborers as well.

 In a recent Patha Dumbara survey 45 % neither owned paddy nor had anything to do with paddy production. The remaining 55 % also did not depend wholly on paddy cultivation.  A pauperized peasantry has been created. . This is the picture, of the much idolized ‘peasant proprietor,’ said Philip in 1957.  Many had become tenant farmers in these schemes.  There was indebtedness and wage laborers  , confirmed others.

Increasing the peasant ownership of small lots of paddy would not solve anything, said Philip. Paddy cannot be grown in small un-economic units. You cannot offer land divided up into five acres and three acres, as high land and low land  and ask the farmer to cultivate, because he cannot get a good return. Also the fertility of the land varies. It was not possible to apply modern techniques of farming to small holdings of 5 or 3 or 2 acre farms either.  You need large units.   The land had to be worked in large units to be productive, concluded Philip. 

DS was responsible for creating the Government Film Unit in 1948. World War II had ended and Mountbatten’s South East Asia Command (SEAC) was disbanding. Large stocks of military equipment went under the hammer but not the film section. DS took all the equipment and sent it to the Irrigation Department stores in Colombo.  It was a windfall. There were cameras, tripods and trolleys. Two professional Mitchell 35mm Cine cameras with full lenses in excellent condition also a 35 mm Gaumont Kalee and Walturdaw projectors. H.A.J. Hulugalle was made Director of Information, and was asked to start a Government Film Unit. The Mission Hut building of the RAF in Ratmalana became the GFU headquarters.

DS was also responsible for hiring the documentary film maker Guilio Petroni to head the Government Film Unit. Petroni had been recruited by three nationalist Sinhala business men who had set up a company  Vishvaranga Movietone Company. They had traveled to Italy in search of a documentary filmmaker in order to train young aspiring Ceylonese in the art of the film. Petroni arrived here with two others, Frederico Serra and Giogio Calabria to find that the company no longer existed. They were then recruited by DS Senanayake  to run the Government Film Unit.

DS interest in cinema did not end there. DS Senanayake wanted a film made   of his colonization schemes.  He wanted a film about a peasant family in the dry zone in the Polonnaruwa area. It was to be called ‘New Horizons’ and Petroni was to direct it using a full shooting crew.

The Prime Minister came to the GFU in Ratmalana to see the rushes. He did not like what he saw. He wrote to Hulugalle saying that certain changes should be made to the film New Horizons” under production in the GFU. This letter is reproduced in full in Hulugalle’s book on DS.

 DS gave an elaborate list of all the things he wanted shown in the film.  DS wanted the film to start with an abandoned tank shown together with dagobas. He suggested Padaviya tank. Then some good village scenes showing the clearing and planting of chena, by villagers. This should be depicted in greater detail, he said with reference to the rushes he saw. Preparation of both high and low land must be shown.  There should be a shot of watchers perched on the fork of a tree, driving away wild animals. There should be an elephant or two to show the difficulties famer has to undergo.

Then the film must move on to the irrigation scheme. A map of the whole area should be given with contours showing how the scheme would look when  completed. Then the actual construction work done by the Irrigation Department should be shown. This could be filmed at Hurulu. The complete anicut must be shown, take Minipe also Elahera. Then clearing of jungle must be shown. First the old method where the undergrowth is cleared by hand the trees felled and stumps taken out by hand. Then the new method at Gal Oya where it is done by bulldozers and heavy drag chains.

DS Senanayake wanted a house belonging to a colonist shown together  with the plan of the house.. They must show the man being given the keys to the house as well as plants to be grown on high land, such as coconut, jak, lime, mangoes, and oranges. Then he  must be taken to the cattle pool and advised that he could purchase two head of cattle, cow and bull. He must be told, better get  a cow for milking purposes and share the bull for cultivation with another bull. The film must show the cattle being purchased on credit card and repayment made on installments.   The film must also show the medical services.

 The last scene should not be a rest house scene. Village people do not dine that way said DS. Instead have a visitor come to the colony, to   meet a colonist who is now very prosperous.  The visitor must be shown eating well at a table piled with rice, curries, fruits etc. the film must end with the visitor asking how he too can become a colonist. Hulugalle had doubts as to whether all this could be crammed into one film and whether the director would agree. (Continued)

Dr Sudath Gunasekara

Following comments are made on the article that appeared under the above heading in the media in the name of the 6.9million who voted the President in August 2019

Task force headed by Gnanasara Thera; Pre-determined objectives 

(Yes. of cause, it was a set of unresolved burning objectives that remained unresolved for71 years since1948. These were issues that had to be settled in 1948 as we got the so-called Independence, Unfortunately, none of that sort took place. Instead, they only transferred the administration to their lackeys to be carried out, on their behalf within the British Commonwealth of Nations tightly tied under the Soulbury Constitution made by them to meet their colonial objectives. These issues had been simmering under the embers of nationalism until 2019 where people made a firm resolution to elect a national leader to get this long-awaited job done).

The appointment of Venerable Gnanasara thero to head a Presidential Task Force (PTF   ) raises several issues  related to both governance and national reconciliation           

(Not at all. It has only fired the first salvo towards proper governance and national reconciliation Therefore no one should get perturbed, over the appointment of this PTF as it will lay the foundation for political stability and good governance for years to come).

(The only way for national reconciliation is to go back to the situation in 1815. Before 1815 we had only one nation. That was the Sinhala nation. Tamils and Muslims were there even then. But they all were part of the Sinhala nation. It was the Suddas who raised the T & M to the status of nations in order to destroy the Sinhala nation.)

An examination of the mandate of the newly appointed PTF reveals that it is required and empowered to

(1) Make a study of the implementation of the concept ‘One Country, One Law’ within Sri Lanka and prepare a draft act for the said purpose and

(2) To study the draft acts and amendments already prepared by the Justice Ministry in relation to this subject and to submit suitable amendments where appropriate.

(This Mandate is given meant to fulfil this target. And nothing short of it)

While the ‘One Country, One Law’ concept was widely used in the 2019 Presidential election and the 2020 Parliamentary elections by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as a slogan to mobilise the Sinhala Buddhist votes, what it meant was never clearly articulated during the campaign nor has it been explained in the terms of reference of the new Presidential Task Force .

(Above is the explanation)

People are therefore left to figure out what it means. The utterances and actions of the chief theoretician of this concept, the Ven. Galagodathe Gnanasara thero, can help to shed light on what is envisaged by him as the ‘One Country, One Law’ concept.

To him (as per his own utterances) it means, among other things, the repealing of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA), including the Quazi system, the closing down of madrasas ,

(Of cause yes they have to be repealed as this is a Sinhala Buddhist country and not a Muslim country).

 reinterpreting of the religious teachings of Islam, including the Quran, and compelling Muslims to practice their religion according to his understanding of Islam .

(Yes it also has to be in conformity with the Law of the Land That is the Sinhala Law that was there from ancient times up to 1815)

The Muslim representatives on this Task Force themselves are not described with the respect befitting a PTF member in the Gazette notification. One is described as Moulavi Mohamed without even his initials mentioned, while another is simply described as a lecturer .

(In the above context it is irrelevant whether a Muslim man is there or not in that Committee. Because this is not a Muslim country. In any case a Muslim or a Tamil in this Committee will never agree with the Sinhala majority as it had always been at all the pas t

Committees, They will write a dissent or a rider the most, disagreeing with the Sinhala members.

Therefore, it Is a big joke to have Muslims or Tamils in such Committees My strong contention on this matter is No Portuguese, Dutch or British, Muslim or Tamil will ever make Laws to protect this Land of the Sinhala people or the Sinhala nation. Therefore, none other than a patriotic Sinhala Buddhist should ever been appointed any Committee like this that decides the destiny of the Sinhala nation or their historical Motherland

Actually, there should not have been a Muslim in this Committee As this is the Land of the Sinhala Nation. Because they were the people who have found this land, built up its civilization and protected against all invasions from India, the West and any other throughout history by all these alien forces)

In such a context one is somewhat baffled by the cry that there is no representation of other communities, women or youth. One would have thought that no community would wish to be associated with an exclusive process that seemingly has a pre-determined objective  that undermines national reconciliation  and national unity.

(Of cause This is exactly what should have been done in 1948 when the white colonial men left the shores. The only way for national reconciliation is to accept that status quo  by the minority communities and reconcile with the Sinhala nation .if they want to enjoy life in this country.. Excellent if they decline to accept the fact that this is the Land of the Sinhala nation from time immemorial and it had never been a Muslim Land.  All those The ancestors of present day Muslim who live in this country were allowed to stay here only under the conditions that they have agreed to abide by the ancient Sinhala Kings. So if now they cannot abide by that ancient tradition they have no right to live in this country. The Government should, therefore, take action to deport such people to their original lands.)

There are also calls from some quarters for the Muslim representatives in the PTF to decline to participate in the work  .

(Excellent if they decline to accept the fact that this is the Land of the Sinhala nation from time immemorial and it had never been a Muslim Land. The ancestors of presentday Muslim who live in this country were allowed to stay here only under the conditions that they have agreed to abide by the ancient Sinhala Kings. So if now they cannot abide by that ancient tradition they have no right to live in this country. The Government should, therefore, take action to deport such people to their original lands.)

(This does not arise as already all Muslim MPP are led by Ali Sabry have decline to do so. The only thing left for them is to quit their seats in Parliament and forego all privileges enjoyed by them as MPP. Why should the Sinhala public pay for their enemies out of their tax money?

What would be more appropriate , however, is to call for all those Muslims who supported the Government at the last elections  to take a stand and step down from the positions they hold in Government as they have contributed to the plight the Muslim community is facing today.

(No Muslim or Tamil supported this Government. Therefore, it does not arise. I ask How many Muslims supported this government. The President clearly said that he did not get any at the Ruwanweli Seya address.).

Another task entrusted to the PTF is to study the draft acts and amendments that have already been prepared by the Justice Ministry in relation to this subject and to suggest suitable amendments. This inevitably leads us to the conclusion that the Justice Ministry’s MMDA Reforms are in fact in pursuance of the Gnanasara doctrine of ‘One Country, One Law’ although it has been presented as a response to demands of women’s groups.

The rationale behind entrusting such a task (however unacceptable) to a PTF is questionable .

(You must understand that these laws are made for the Land of the Sinhalese and not for an Arabic State).

The elevation of Ven. Gnanasara thero to head the PTF sanitises all his actions and also indicates that the Government does not find his conduct objectionable.

The Presidential Commission to probe the Easter attacks (PCOI) passed several strictures on him and recommended that the Attorney General should consider instituting legal action agains

him and further recommended that the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) of which he is the leader be banned .

If we concede to their demands next time, they might ask the Government of this country to ban the yellow robe for Buddhist monks claiming that it is against the Quran)

It is interesting to note the qualities of the Ven. monk that prompted the President to appoint him as the chairperson of the PTF .

(Do you people expect and want a criminal   like Saharan or ,Badurdeen or an Ulama  who wants all people other than Muslims killed, entrusted with the task of making Laws for this land?)

The Gazette Extraordinary dated 26.10.2021 states as follows: Now, therefore, I, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, reposing great trust and confidence in your prudence, ability and fidelity, appoint you the said …..”

What is even more worrying is the powers given to the PTF by the President as set out in the Gazette where he states I do hereby require and direct all public officers and other persons to whom the said task force may issue instructions or from whom assistance for provision of services may be requested, to comply with all such instructions, render all such assistance and furnish all such information as may be properly complied with, rendered and furnished on that behalf. AND, I do hereby require and direct the said task force to report to me all instances where any Government employee or an officer in any ministry, government department, state corporation or any such institution who delay the performance of duties and fulfillment of responsibilities or fail to perform such duties and responsibilities to be entrusted by the said task force.”

While the appointment of the Ven. Monk to head the PTF has been criticised and questioned by all shades of opinion in the country, it also came in for considerable flak at the meeting of the leaders of constituent parties of the Government presided by the President and Prime Minister.

The first to raise the matter was National Congress Leader A. L. M. Athaullah, who stated the appointment was criticised not only by minorities but also by Buddhists.

Gevindu Kumaratunge, the leader of the nationalist Yuthukama organisation, questioned how a person who had broken the law of the land could be appointed to a body which was entrusted the task of making new laws  .

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa however struck a different note and pointed out that the President who had a mandate from 69 lakhs of voters did not need anyone’s permission to make any appointment and was therefore entitled to appoint whom he wanted .

(Although I do not agree with all what he did, including the abolition of the Kandyan Peasantry Commissioners Department and the Kandyan Peasantry Development Authority in Jan 2014, I fully  agree with his stand  on this issue)

The embarrassment of other ministers with regard to the appointment was also quite evident when they avoided and declined to answer questions posed by journalists .

(Not only Muslim MPP and Ministers but even those Sinhalese Ministers and MPP who disagree with the President’s decision on this long delayed-almost by 75 years since 1948 – national issue should immediately resign from all their present positions and say good bye to politics in this country as no one who go against the Sinhala Buddhist traditions in this country should take any active part in the country’s national politics Such traitors should be deported to a Muslim  country).

The embarrassment of other ministers with regard to the appointment was also quite evident when they avoided and declined to answer questions posed by journalists. posts and say goodbye to politics in this country.

(In the light of the criticism made by the writer of this article and the comments I have made regarding them I don’t think a single Muslim including Ali Sabry who is not prepared to accept that this was, is and will be the land of the Sinhala people in future and they have no alternative option but to accept that gospel truth if they want to live and make their living on this Island and this is not an Arab land. If they are not prepared accept that fact there is only one option. That is to pack up and go back to their Motherlands where they can enjoy all extremist Muslim terrorism without conspiring and trying to capture this only land of the Sinhala nation on this planet).

MD Pathik Hasan

Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline is a regional connectivity project for supplying gas to fulfill the public demand from Turkmenistan to India’s Fajilka (Punjab). It a great regional initiative proposed by ADB and taken by four regional countries. The TAPI gas pipeline seems to a bridge between South Asia and Central Asia. We know Central Asia is a huge source of Natural gas. But Pakistan and India are very needy regarding the gas demand. It aims to monetise Turkmenistan’s gas reserves and supply them to neighbouring countries to promote the use of natural gas and improve energy security.

The regional connectivity gas  pipeline will supply natural gas from the Turkmenistan’s  through Afghanistan into Pakistan and then to India. Construction on the project in Turkmenistan inaugurated to construct the gas pipeline on 13 December 2015,work on the Afghan section began in February 2018, and work on the Pakistani section was planned to commence in December 2018.

The TAPI pipeline project was launched in 2016. The TAPI pipeline is expected to carry 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. The 1,814-kilometer gas pipeline stretches from Galkinesh, the world’s second-largest gas field, to the Indian city of Fazilka, near the Pakistan border.

Work on the TAPI project in Afghanistan began in February 2016. The 617 km pipeline of the gas pipeline was planned to pass through Afghanistan. But due to internal situation, security in Afghanistan and India-Pakistan tensions, regional issues the connectivity project wasn’t implemented.

There was a speculation whether the connectivity project will be completed finally at all.  Taliban’s takeover the Kabul on August 15, 2021 increased the speculation. Now the speculation is over. The region is going to see the implementation of the connectivity project that may bring prosperity for the region.

Work on Afghanistan’s part of the TAPI gas pipeline project from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan and India via Pakistan is about to begin soon. Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaki, has said that work on Afghanistan’s part of the TAPI gas pipeline project from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan via India will resume soon. He made the remarks at a news conference after a meeting with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Kabul on October 31, 2021. Earlier on October 30, the Turkmen foreign minister arrived in Kabul on a two-day visit.

The countries in the region should play a sincere role in cooperation in trade, economic cooperation, energy, counter-terrorism, disaster management, infrastructure and education for multilateral benefit. The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and the CASA-1000 power transmission project would increase the cooperation amongst the regional countries.

Muttaki said the two sides discussed strengthening political ties and economic ties during the Turkmen foreign minister’s visit. “Important issues like TAPI, rail connectivity and electricity have been discussed,” he said. We have discussed strengthening the projects that have already started.

The Afghan blockade of the ambitious and multimillion-dollar gas pipeline between Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) has been removed. The pipeline is expected to reduce South Asia’s energy shortages.

The planned pipeline is 1,814 km long. It will start supplying gas from Turkmenistan’s largest gas field in 2020. There were security concerns as the pipeline passed through war-torn Afghanistan. Turkmen gas will go to India and Pakistan through Afghanistan. Turkmenistan will export 33 billion cubic meters of gas every year.

The President of Turkmenistan said that this gas pipeline is important politics for the Central Asian countries. The pipeline was in question because of India’s relationship with Pakistan. But the Indian foreign secretary described the pipeline as a new chapter in cooperation between the four countries.

Pakistan is very interested to complete the project. Afghanistan, Pakistan including India would benefit from the gas pipeline connectivity project.  Afghanistan’s interim government has given already the green signal to complete the projects. Basically, this gas projects would fulfill the demand of energy, electricity and gas in Afghanistan, Pakistan including India. the project was expected to create 2,000 new employment opportunities. implementation of the TAPI gas pipeline project was beneficial for the entire region, with Afghanistan alone to get $1 billion as transit fee and royalty.

Pakistan will be the main customer of Turkmen gas. Pakistan has long suffered from energy shortages that affect families and businesses alike. Load shedding is a very common term in Pakistan now. That is why the supply of gas and electricity has become an integral part of the election manifestos of political parties.

The project will bring clean fuel to the growing economies of India It will provide energy-hungry India gas to run its power plants. TAPI’s uninterrupted gas flow will be extremely important for India’s energy sector.

There is energy and gas crisis in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. This could help to fulfill the growing need of the people. India, Afghanistan and Pakistan have been facing energy crisis. TAPI has the potential to solve the energy woes of Pakistan and India. The pipeline is expected to facilitate a unique level of trade and cooperation across the region, as well as support peace and security between the four countries. More than 1.5 billion people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India are expected to benefit from the long-term energy security provided by the project. Also, the project is expected to increase Turkmenistan’s revenue through gas sales. Afghanistan and Pakistan will also benefit from transit fees.

Although Taliban’s the Kabul takeover on August 15, 2021 has changed the geo-politics in the region, there are some issues where all regional countries can work together for ensuring the mutual interest in the region. Although India was an active stakeholder in this project, now India’s position in this regard is not clear. But India should remain in this project for its own interest. There might have some bilateral problems in India-Pakistan, but that is not issue. All regional states including India and Pakistan can work closely in the sector of trade and connectivity for ensuring the common greater interest. If this gas project can be extended to Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan in the near future, all regional actors would benefit from the connectivity project. It is true that Resumption of TAPI pipeline project in Afghanistan brings a new hope for the region.

The article was first published in Pakistan’s leading daily Pakistan Today”.

Jayantha Liyanage,

There is no such thing as Sri Lankan nationalism, because there is no Sri Lankan nation and there was no Ceylonese nation before 1972 either. It was DR N.M Perera tried to create a Ceylonese nation but failed.

Only a Sinhala nation exists in substance without an official recognition. There is no mention about the name of a nation in any of the Constitutions (Solbury, 1972 or 1978 Republican constitution). In 1972 Constitution, the Preamble says as a Nation” but without a name. The question arises as to why Dr. Colvin forgot to say as a Sri Lankan Nation” and it could not have been a mistake. There is no other legal documents exists which says that the name of this country’s nation is Sri Lanka. I have read all the Constitutions including the Solbury Constitution (the Order in Council). But I could no find the name of the nation. The reason is because Sri Lanka cannot fulfill the necessary criterions to become a nation according to the internationally accepted definition for a nation. Sri Lanka does not have the two most important requirements, common decent and the language requirement. The is no such thing as the Sri Lankan language. But the Sinhala nation has all the requirements.

It was King Pandukahabaya who created the Sinhala nation in the year 437 BCE by uniting the four tribes and it was during that time, the nations started to arise. The Sinhala nation lasted until 1815. The British under their Divide & Rule policy denied the Sinhala people their historical national rights and have even accorded illegal immigrants equal status to that of the Sinhala people.  Gota, MR, Sajith, Ranil are the protectors (Kalusuddhas) of the British Divide and Rule policy under the false Sri Lankan nation concept in political stages.

Sri Lanka is only a state because it has been recognized by the UN and other countries. As long as Sri Lankan nation myth exists, the Sinhala nation cannot raise its head.  The two party domination will continue as long as this myth exits and the Sinhala people are unaware their historical rights.

The end result of this Sri Lankan nation myth is that various ethnic groups are trying to grab a piece for themselves. Tamils in the North, Muslims in the East. The Sinhala people are divided and fighting each other under the myth of Sri Lankan nation. The main parties have created a kind of mental terrorism – do not think as a Sinhala nation because it is Jathivadaya (Sinhala nationalism) – that would hurt the Tamils & Muslims. An utter nonsense? 

The Tamils under their Thimpu Principles (see the attached doc) asking the Sri Lankan government to recognize Tamils as a nation.  The Muslims have just one agenda – turn the whole world Muslim.

SJP is the only Sinhala nationalist organization that is trying to end this Sri Lankan nation myth and restore the historical rights of the Sinhala people.

The Sinhala constitution project is aimed at restoration of the historical rights of the Sinhala people. First as bargaining strategy when the government is going to enact another Republican constitution with full powers to the Provincial councils under the Indian pressure.  Mere protesting will not do, as before the government would certainly ask WHAT IS YOUR ALTERNATIVE?

Jayantha Liyanage,

MD Pathik Hasan

The official journey of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) started in 1985 when seven states namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives formed this regional platform. Later in 2007, Afghanistan joined SAARC. Sri Lanka and the Maldives are island states among the eight SAARC members. On the other hand, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan are landlocked countries.

Realising that the unprecedented progress that other regions of the world have made by increasing regional communication and cooperation, the same development of this region is possible if the communication and cooperation between the states in this region can be increased to the desired level.

Comparing SAARC with other blocs

The EU, ASEAN, GCC and other regional blocs have achieved prosperity by joining the regional alliances. Citizens of these regional alliances excluding some member states are not required to obtain visas if they wish to travel from one allied country to another. Citizens of these regions can travel from one country to another by road, rail, sea or air without any hindrance in their respective territories. Even citizens of these regions can travel from one country to another in private cars. These regional alliances give more importance to regional trade in the development of their respective regions. It accelerated the development of these regions to increase regional trade.

After the establishment of SAARC, it was hoped that citizens of one country would be able to travel to another without a visa. One country would provide transit facilities to another country as required, including moving from one country to another by private car. But that goal has not yet been achieved. And, the prospect of achieving that in the near future is not very bright.

The main objective of establishing SAARC was to make the region one of the most prosperous in the world by enhancing regional connectivity and cooperation. But, almost 30 years after the establishment, it is clear that there is still a long way to go to achieve that goal.

India is the largest of the SAARC countries in terms of size and population. The second place belongs to Pakistan. Before the establishment of SAARC, India and Pakistan were engaged in three all-out wars. The state of Bangladesh was born in 1971 in Pakistan through a hardcore struggle. Perhaps, this background has also blocked the region to move ahead as other blocs.

Capitalizing on available resources

The SAARC region is home to more than a quarter of the world’s population. This region is the most populous region in the world. In recent times, the countries of the region have made great strides in agriculture. While the industrial development of the region is promising, there is a need to harness the potential for further development along the way. The scope of regional trade between SAARC countries is still limited. If this scope is expanded, the SAARC member states will be able to achieve unprecedented development within their own borders.

Among the SAARC countries, Nepal and Bhutan are bounded on the east, west and south by India. Although the two states are bordered by China on the north side, their entire border is rugged. So, communication in that direction is very impenetrable. Nepal and Bhutan are completely dependent on India for foreign trade. Although these two countries have long demanded transit facilities from the regional structure of SAARC through the two seaports of Chittagong and Mongla in Bangladesh, the slow pace of implementation has tarnished the spirit of SAARC.

The seven states of eastern India are called the Seven Sisters. As these seven states are surrounded by other states, these states maintain communication with the mainland of India through a narrow route called the Chicken Neck Corridor. Communication through this route is time-consuming and expensive. India is interested in establishing transit by road, rail and waterways with these seven states through Bangladesh. Although the transit is open by water, it is not fruitful throughout the year due to the low navigability of the rivers in different places.

On the other hand, Bangladesh is on the way to develop the infrastructure required for transit by road and rail for the usage of transit. Bangladesh would like to be a transit hub between South Asia and South-East Asia. Bangladesh is focusing on regional connectivity more. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is liberal in this regard. She always urges regional countries to be connected. She wants to make the way for Nepal and Bhutan for the usage of Bangladeshi seaports such as Chattogram, Mangla, Payra ports and Saidpur airport in Nilphamari.

Immediate concerns

We know the Afghan Crisis. A platform of regional countries like SAARC is needed to address such problems. But now, SAARC is inactive due to the Indo-Pak dispute. Pakistan and India should work together to revive SAARC for the maximisation of regional interests. 

Meanwhile, 54 common rivers flowing through India have fallen into the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh. By unilaterally withdrawing water from most of these rivers upstream, India is using it to maintain the navigability of inland rivers, including hydropower generation and irrigation in agriculture. Bangladesh has faced an unfavourable situation due to the unilateral withdrawal of water by India and the consciousness of SAARC never allows one neighbouring state to create an unfavourable environment for another neighbour. India should work together with Bangladesh in regard to better regional benefits. India should complete a fair Teesta agreement with Bangladesh soon to maximise the mutual benefit. As a big fish in this region, it has some accountability towards others.

Disregarding and ignoring the spirit of SAARC as other SAARC member states are smaller than it, India has always shown a great vicious attitude towards other SAARC member states. Due to this behaviour of India, SAARC is failing to reach its goal on the one hand and the political stability of other SAARC member states is also being endangered on the other hand.

Although India has road and rail links with Bangladesh and Pakistan, trade is being conducted through transhipment due to the lack of transit facilities. Communication is not very easy as the citizens of these three countries also need a visa to communicate. It is as easy as possible for an Indian citizen to travel to these two countries by obtaining a visa from Bangladesh and Pakistan; it is not easy for the citizens of these two countries to travel to that country by getting an Indian visa.

At present, the trade between Nepal and Bhutan with Bangladesh is being handled through transhipment in the absence of transit. As a result, the import and export expenditure of both the states is increasing.

India’s economy is growing rapidly. Bangladesh’s economy is also booming day by day. Besides, the economies of all other countries in South Asia are also developing. Under the scope of regional cooperation, the following provisions should be introduced to reap benefits from this platform:

• Transit facilities between SAARC countries are opened
• The visa system is abolished
• The currency of one country is easily exchanged in another country or common currency is introduced
• Travel facility from one country to another in a private car is introduced
• The flow of electricity, gas, oil and water from one country to another is made easily available
• The same SIM card can be used to talk from one country to another easily and cheaply
• The scope of trade is maximised

This requires the SAARC countries to show the highest level of friendship and harmony towards each other and to make the best use of opportunities and cooperation. All member states should revive the SAARC as a regional platform.

By Rohana R. Wasala 

(Continuation of ‘Don’t forget people who elected you, Mr President!’/November 2, 2021)

My gut feeling is that the Presidential Task Force, if it is what I think it is, i.e., a brilliantly thought out ploy with an ulterior motive, is meant to abort the new constitution making project. It was probably designed to divide Sinhala Buddhists and Hindu Tamils, also create suspicion between the former and Christians, while pacifying radicalized Muslims. This will help …………

The PTF has been established, according to the gazette notification, Focusing on the fact that administration of justice, its implementation and protection under the law should be fair by all as set out in the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Whereas, it is indicated under fundamental rights therein that no citizen should be discriminated against in the eye of law on meted out special treatment on ground of nationality, religion, caste or any other grounds; And whereas, the implementation of the concept; one country, one law within Sri Lanka is reflected as a methodology of ensuring nationally and internationally recognized humanitarian values, And whereas, the fact that all citizens are treated alike in the eye of the law should be further ensure, ….”. This provides an idea of the brief that the PTF received. 

In implicit response to the mostly negative reception of the news of its establishment among the people, Ven. Gnanasara has repeatedly tried to rationalize the One Country One Law concept; but that is unnecessary for there is no quarrel about the cogent reasons that led to the call for the One Country One Law idea; the need for a single legal system has been correctly identified by the majority of the general public, with the negligible exception of a few religious extremists whose established religious traditions come into conflict with the country’s secular laws. The question is about the rationale of the establishment of the PTF.

Through the extraordinary gazette notification the president authorizes the task force  to make such inquiries and issue such instructions as are required for the purpose of executing the tasks so entrusted”.  The President appoints, as secretary to the PTF, his Senior Assistant Secretary Ms Jeevanthie Senanayake.  He further requires and directs all public officers and other persons to whom the said Task Force may issue instructions or from whom assistance for provision of services may be requested, to comply with all such instructions, render all such assistance and furnish all such information as may be properly complied with, rendered and furnished on that behalf”.  The President demands that the PTF report to him all instances where any Government employee or an officer in any ministry, government department, state corporation or any such institution who delay the performance of duties and fulfillment of responsibilities or fail to perform such duties and responsibilities to be entrusted by the said Task Force”. Surely, the President did not draft this legal document. President Gotabaya has been known for his spartan discipline and blemishless moral character as a person, and his strict disciplinarianism as a civil administrator. The last instruction to the PTF (to report to him instances, if any, of insubordination or non-cooperation) smacks of coercion and authoritarianism, for which no need should arise in this context. Why did the drafter include that sort of phraseology? It does not reflect favourably on the President. Food for thought. He directs the members  to submit reports to me at least once a month and submit the final report on or before 28th February, 2022”.

Getting a Buddhist monk involved in governance matters (in the form of virtual nationalistic legal framing) is the last thing I would have expected from a president who the people hoped would bring about a systemic change in the mode of government. In Sri Lanka’s long history, the kings maintained a close relationship with the monks, only as religious advisers, not as partners in making laws or ruling. As a whistleblower, Ven. Gnanasara Thera exposed the existence of burgeoning religious extremism years ago, but his exposures did not get enough recognition by the authorities for some reason. Instead, he was unfairly condemned as an irresponsible rabble-rouser intent on troublemaking for some political advantage. Ven. Gnanasara is trying to provide the initiative that only politicians and the Mahanayakes could and should provide in resolving the single issue that has caused him to deviate from his religious vows and engage in the rough and tumble of mundane agitational activism . But he is not equipped to play that role in any way. His berserk behaviour finally landed him in jail for contempt of court. Had he been more disciplined in his protests, he wouldn’t have been thus treated, in spite of his intentions having been genuinely benign as well as patriotic. His personality defect has damaged not only his personal reputation and his cause, and his credibility as a defender of the Buddha Sasanaya, the people and the country.

The Thera  has been led astray by the cynical opportunism of politicians who exploit the sensitive perennial issue of the threat posed to the country’s age-old Buddha Sasanaya/the Buddhist religious-cultural establishment and to its historic archaeological heritage in the form of ruins scattered, particularly, in the north and east. The threat comes from the local representatives of forms of the religious fundamentalism that is sweeping across the whole world, especially by different sects of potentially violent Islamic/Íslamist extremists, sponsored by moneyed foreign agents. Treasure hunters cause probably more damage to this heritage. Behind the religious extremists seems to stand the Western imperialist juggernaut that uses religious fundamentalism and other forms of extremism to destabilise nation states that it wants to control to achieve varied geopolitical ends at the latter’s expense. 

What the monks are demanding is protection for the Buddhist establishment from this threat. Theirs is not a political struggle; they are not fighting for political ends. What they say is: Stop unfair proselytisation of poverty stricken Buddhists and Hindus who are equally subject to subversion by numerous foreign funded, politicized fundamentalist Christian and Islamic sects. The problem can be easily sorted out if the politicians have the political will to do so, and if the politicians in power at any time get the government servants working in the vulnerable areas to implement the available archaeological conservation  and protection laws without abandoning their responsibilities for illicit monetary gains. The indifference and inaction of the traditional Mahanayakes (their culpable innocence and ignorance are inexcusable) form the other strong factor that betrays Buddhist interests. 

My criticism of the establishment of a Presidential Task Force for the implementation of the One Country One Law headed by a Buddhist monk does not mean a rejection of that important objective. It must be achieved during the presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. For that, a proper strategy must be adopted. However, as the Bar Council of Sri Lanka, has pointed out, the PTF has no role to play in implementing the stated concept, because the functions assigned to it are already being performed by the available constitutionally established institutions including the Parliament and the Ministry of Justice (The Island/November 3); so, it is a redundant body. The only ‘benefit’ that has accrued from the controversial move is that it has given the opportunistic minority politicians who hide behind extremists, without supporting them openly, extra ammunition for their blasts of criticism against the nationalist government. 

Incidentally, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), created by Basil Rajapaksa and led by Mahinda Rajapaksa (the current Finance Minister, and Prime Minister, respectively) held its 5th National Convention at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, Colombo on November 2, 2021. Minister Basil Rajapaksa emphasized the importance of MR’s leadership. President Gotabaya congratulated the party, in a message, on its great success within a short time of its inauguration, reflected in its winning of a near two thirds of parliamentary seats (in August 2020). PM Mahinda Rajapaksa said, among other things, that the teacher strike and the farmer agitations would not have dragged on so long if they had maintained more political engagement with them (Did he mean showering cajolery on them?). He also made special mention of the young people who voluntarily beautified towns and cities across the country with beautiful wall paintings (when the new government came into being in 2019 with the election of the current president, whose advent generated in them the new spirit of hope that inspired them to engage in that voluntary exercise without any expectation of a reward); those youths, the PM remembered, by doing that, indicated their wish that politicians should not spoil the street walls with their ugly political posters. Where are those young people now? He asked, and provided his own answer: If they have joined the queue of passport applicants (who want to acquire a passport with the intention of leaving the country looking for greener pastures abroad), we should engage in the kind of politics that will encourage them to return”. If the PM is genuine about what he is saying here, we may expect him to stop monkeying around with monks and to change his attitude towards patriotic young politicians of all parties and communities vis a vis his own son. 

The PM must have meant what he said. If he really does, he will not relapse into the the 73 year long monkey business of taking the monks for rides or flights. It is disgraceful how political monks are conducting themselves at this critical time, especially that sneaky Ratana Thera, who stole the national list MP post from Gnanasara Thera, who actually earned it for their party, is causing embarrassment to Gotabaya and the government through his hasty implementation (for expected personal political reputation) of the organic fertilizer initiative. Ven. Gnanasara said, to his credit, talking about the PTF, that in the future the youth of the country must come forward to save the nation. The country is not short of of young men and women who are capable of providing a sound modern leadership to the country if only their way is not obstructed by ambitious oldies whose ‘Vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself, And falls on th’other… ‘ (i.e., excess of ambition lands them somewhere else than where they want to reach, lands them in trouble, as happened to Macbeth in the Shakespeare play).

It should be hoped that this occasion (the 5th anniversary of the SLPP) be utilised as an opportune moment to reflect on past errors, and resolve not to repeat them, and introduce a course correction, starting with rethinking a new approach to the implementation of the One Country One Law idea, that ensures the participation of all Sri Lankans, especially the young from all the communities, something that can be done through the existing agencies. 

Conclusion

My gut feeling is that the Presidential Task Force, if it is what I think it is, i.e., a brilliantly thought out ploy with an ulterior motive, is meant to abort the new constitution making project. (I have no idea of whose brainchild this could be.) It was probably designed to divide Sinhala Buddhists and Hindu Tamils, also create suspicion between the former and Christians, while pacifying radicalized Muslims for some unspecified reason. This might help revive the defeated separatist project, and breathe new life into secretly growing Islamism, and together help foreign designs on Sri Lanka, provoked purely by big power geopolitics due to its strategically important location in the Indo-Pacific region. Pitting guilless Islamist critic Gnanasara Thera against an Ulama Council maulavi by putting them in the same panel of advisors is like putting a dove and a cat in the same cage; for when it comes to religion, a believing Muslim will not compromise their religious principles to accommodate human reason. The government’s failure to achieve its key objective of introducing a new constitution  will delight the still operative forces which were behind the 2015 regime change (they may even have acquired new allies by now). It is good to remember that Mahinda Rajapaksa was betrayed by his lieutenant three times in a row between 2015 and 2019, which does not reflect well on his sense of judgement; it could be a different traitor this time.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is probably the most ethically and morally honest person ever to hold that post. The frustrated regime changers are now propagating the faint fictitious notion that he benefited from the April 2019 Easter Sunday Islamist bombings and that the intelligence services that had reached the highest professional efficiency levels under him as Defence Secretary during MR’s time had some connection with them. The charge that the government is deliberately slow in meting out justice to those responsible for the Easter bombings is, I think, 100% false. All peace- and justice-loving Sri Lankans including me want to see the Easter attacks perpetrators receive condign punishment at the earliest possible; the highest involved (be it president Maithripala Sirisena, prime minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, during whose watch the suicide bomb attacks happened or any other individuals accountable) shouldn’t be spared. I, for one, believe that President Gotabaya, PM Mahinda, and others in the government will be satisfied with no less.

However, even the Cardinal seems to have accepted that false allegation, in spite of repeated assurances given him by the President to the contrary. Two reasons for the Cardinal’s misgivings that occur to me are: potentially guilty former president Sirisena seems to be looking for refuge under his erstwhile boss that he betrayed three times, now PM; the other reason could be Gnanasara Thera’s arrogant, totally frivolous and uncalled for remarks about the Cardinal’s activism regarding the Muturajawela environmental issue. Gnanasara Thera was reported as having said about the Cardinal in this connection: I warn the Cardinal that he should not overstep his boundaries!” That alone should have disqualified the monk for the post that he has been appointed. I personally believe that the President, as a practising Buddhist, can receive much more constructive advice from the Cardinal than from Gnanasara Thera. 

The paragraph quoted below is about one of the academics that I find mentioned as a panel member of the PTF. It happens to be the concluding paragraph of an article of mine that was carried in the Lankaweb online journal on May 1, 2020 (Interested readers may look it up there: https://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2020/05/01/academic-adolescents-against-the-nationalist-cause/): 

It is strange that this academic was not informed enough about the existing local realities (not exclusively those uncovered with evidence by the BBS – Bodu Bala Sena) relating to the problem of the menace posed to Sri Lankans of all races and religions and worldviews, especially to Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus who together form over 80% of the population,  from Abrahamic religious fundamentalists (not from the mainstream adherents of those religions), when he wrote to that international journal. These monks do ‘deliberate on their views and stances before involving the public…’; there is nothing wrong with their actions, but whatever can they do if they are misreported to the world by indifferent media, and immature ill-informed academics? (A personal opinion)”

Finally, when the disciplined voters of the country (unfortunately, they don’t have enough disciplined politicians to serve them) voted for a new president and a new parliament about two years ago, they never expected a yahapalanaya type of government to come to power again, whatever happens later. Apparently, the country hasn’t  still emerged from its evil legacy. Gotabaya Rajapaksa started off with the purest intentions. Buddhists believe in the truth of the saying: dhammo have rakkhati dhammacari” the dhamma protects the faithful follower of the dhamma”. He need not fear. But whatever he is intent on doing, he should first win the agreement and support of the common people before trying it. 

Anyone with an average familiarity with the recent political history of the world know that patriotic leaders of independent countries who don’t serve the interests of more powerful nations at the expense of the welfare and wellbeing of their own people are not safe. Their safety depends on the people’s goodwill, provided democracy is allowed to rule. But as we know today, countries find themselves ruled from outside. That is an unpleasant reality, we can hardly overcome. In Sri Lanka, the two traditional parties or alliances have two different attitudes to this predicament. One favours it, the other opposes it. These are respectively the UNP/SJB and the SLFP/SLPP. The second, the nationalistic party/alliance, has a problem managing foreign interference, with which the UNP/SJB seem comfortable with. Nationalists support forces that protect the country’s democracy, independence, and sovereignty. Gotabaya is a nationalist leader. Nationalists need not be demoralised when they are falsely attacked as ethno-nationalist extremists by NGO mercenaries.

If Gotabaya Rajapaksa is able to bring in a new constitution as a non-party product that is fashioned according to the common consensus of all parliamentarians (including essentially all young ones, that is, those under 40, for example) who do not have to vote for it under duress, let that be the greatest achievement he will be remembered for. Such a constitution should be one that does not divide the nation on language, religion, or race bases. It will eliminate the influence of extremists, and definitely incorporate the One Country One Law principle. Giving anything a special place or special protection, as experience shows, invariably turns out to be counter-productive. So, this has to be avoided. This is a controversial suggestion, but it will be achievable, if the gerontocrats make way for the brilliant youth of the country to take centre stage in the political arena.

Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka Bangkok, Thailand

The King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of the Kingdom of Thailand has graciously granted a Royal Audience to C.A. Chaminda I. Colonne, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand, and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, on 04^th November 2021, for the Presentation of Letter of Credence at Ambara Villa, Dusit Palace in Bangkok.

The King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua extended sincere best wishes to the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and recalled strong long-standing relations with Sri Lanka. While congratulating Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Ambassador Chaminda Colonne, the King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua assured fullest support of the Kingdom in discharging her official duties and fulfillment of the mission. 

Ambassador Chaminda Colonne conveyed warm greetings from the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka to the King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, and assured her fullest cooperation  and support in enhancing and consolidating excellent longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation with the Kingdom. Ambassador Colonne also extended an invitation for His Majesty to visit Sri Lanka.

Ambassadors of Vietnam, Slovakia, Kenya, Turkey and Nigeria also presented their Letters of Credence on the same day.

Ambassador Colonne is also concurrently accredited to the Kingdom of Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka

Bangkok, Thailand

By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island

The government has allowed emergency regulations imposed several weeks ago to ensure an uniterrupted supply of essential commodities such as rice, sugar and other consumer goods, to lapse. As a result the post of Commissioner General of Essential Services held by Maj. Gen. M. D. S. P Niwunhella has been abolished.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa promulgated emergency laws after having named serving officer Niwunhella, the head of his security as the Commissioner General of Essential Services. The President’s Office made the announcement as regards Maj. Gen. Niwunhella’s appointment on August 30, 2021.

As per the powers vested in terms of the section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance, President Rajapaksa declared emergency regulations formulated as per the section 5 on essential food supply, with effect from midnight August 30, 2021.

The declaration of emergency regulations triggered protests from the Opposition with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) warning the move could lead to a state of repression. The civil society, too, protested against the move.

Authoritative sources told The Island that with the change of government strategy in respect of price controls, the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had refrained from seeking parliamentary approval required to extend emergency regulations. The Parliament on Sept. 06 passed emergency regulations that authorized Maj. Gen. Niwunhella to seize food stocks, confiscate warehouses and vehicles used to transport such items.

Emergency regulations were passed by 81 majority votes with 132 lawmakers voting for and 51 against in the 225-member legislature where the SLPP enjoys a near two-thirds majority.

Sources explained that the original strategy had been for the newly appointed Commissioner General of Essential Services and Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) retired Maj. Gen. Shantha Dissanayake, to work in close coordination to seize hoarded food stocks.

Against the backdrop of ceasing of emergency regulations meant to prevent hoarding and the termination of the Office of Commissioner General of Essential Services, the government yesterday (4) removed the retail price cap on several essential commodities through a gazette notification. The retail prices of dhal, sugar, sprats, green gram, potatoes, big onions, canned fish, chickpeas, wheat flour, full cream milk powder, dried fish, coconut, chicken and maize have been removed with immediate effect.

The new gazette notification has also removed the maximum price limit of Rs. 1,500 for a 400g packet of sausages and Rs. 1,500 for a kg of mackerel. In addition to that the Special Commodity Levy of Rs.65 per kg of imported rice has been reduced to 25 cents for the next six months.

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has made these tax deductions with effect from November 2 in accordance with the powers vested in him under the Special Commodity Levy Act.

The duty on imported sugar, too, remains 25 cents a kilo since Oct 13, 2020 when the Finance Ministry slashed Rs 50 duty on a kilo of sugar.

The government brought in emergency regulations close on the heels of a spate of raids on warehouses from where authorities took 29,000 metric tonnes of sugar into custody. Having repeatedly vowed to maintain prices, the government recently allowed sharp increase of milk powder and liquefied petroleum gas. Interestingly, local producers also matched the increase in the price of imported milk powder.

Trade Ministry sources yesterday told The Island that price controls had been done away with as part of a new scheme to allow the market to decide prices. However, the government would make necessary interventions to prevent the importers from exploiting the consumers, sources said, adding that the second consignment of Nadu from India would arrive at the Colombo harbour today (5).

Since the cabinet recently authorized the importation of 100,000 metric tonnes of rice to meet the shortfall, the Trade Ministry imported 15,000 metric tonnes of Nadu from India. With the arrival of the latest stock, the total amount of Nadu imported from India would be 22,000 metric tonnes. According to the Trade Ministry, they are planning to procure about 40,000 metric tonnes of rice from India, Pakistan and Myanmar.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Says nano-fertilser imported from India recently and SLINTEC’s products are distinct in a variety of ways

The Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC), a one-of-a-kind public-private partnership aimed at developing advanced technologies, has introduced homegrown nano-fertilisers to the market with the aim of uplifting the local agriculture industry. 

In order to boost the industry and support farmers who are the backbone of Sri Lanka’s economy, SLINTEC has been working on novel innovations that could dramatically improve their way of life and increase their contribution to the economy significantly. 

One such novel technology is SLINTEC’s very own nano-fertiliser, invented by Prof. Nilwala Kottegoda and her expert team.

SLINTEC’s nano-fertiliser received four US patents and was rated as a global first by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, while Prof. Kottegoda, who headed this project, was selected as one of the nine most inventive women scientists due to this invention. 

The product boasts a 40 percent nitrogen loading capacity, noting 25-40 percent nitrogen saving and 5-15 percent in yield improvement, particularly for tea and rice.

Nano-fertilisers are extremely minute particles carrying nutrients that are delivered to crops in a controlled manner. The benefits of such slow-release of nano-fertilisers have been documented, with it notably having the potential to improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and prevent waste and thus environmental problems. 

Slow-release fertilisers improve release efficiency and quality as the nutrients are released over time, thereby providing sufficient quantities of macronutrients required for higher crop yields.

Moreover, they could reduce the usage of urea, which in turn, would help lower its carbon footprint, meaning a notable reduction in the use of fossil fuels for production and emission of greenhouse gases.

Recently, there was a confusion regarding the importation of nano-fertilisers from India. 

Speaking on SLINTEC’s own unique product, Chief Executive Officer of SLINTEC Dr. Nareshkumar B. Handagama clarified that the two nano-fertilisers are fundamentally different; especially the method of application and plant uptake mechanism.

While both the Indian import and SLINTEC’s invention are nano-fertilisers, they are distinct in a variety of ways. SLINTEC’s product comes in a solid form and is dispensed into the soil as a controlled-release pellet, transporting nutrients (Nitrogen) via the natural root system. It contains urea nanoparticles anchored to nano-hydro-apatite scaffolding as a transport vehicle to travel via the root system,” he said, adding, The Indian import is a liquid that is sprayed onto the leaves, and the uptake is supposed to be via the stoma. 

It is believed that it comprises nano-urea that is anchored to sugar scaffolding.”

Talking about the significance of SLINTEC’s nano-fertilizer, Dr. Nareshkumar further explained, We should make use of our product to achieve scientific development in agriculture in Sri Lanka. As a country, Sri Lanka has much to gain by supporting and uplifting the local agriculture industry, which currently contributes around 8.4 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP), but stands to grow much more with the right mix of skills and technology.   

Courtesy Adaderana

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) set another record today as the All Share Price Index (ASPI) surpassed 10,600 points for the first time in history.

The ASPI closed at 10,632.21 points at the end of trading today (November 05), marking an increase of 2.11% (220.19 points) from the previous day. 

The previous highest was recorded just last week when the index closed at 10,046.80 points on October 25. 

Over 212 million shares were traded overall within the day and the market turnover is recorded as Rs. 5.60 billion. 

Meanwhile, the S&P SL20 closed at 3,640.27 points today, down by 0.45% from the previous day.

Courtesy Adaderana

The Colombo Commercial High Court has extended the enjoining order issued against the Chinese company that shipped fertilizer containing harmful bacteria to Sri Lanka, its local agent and the People’s Bank.

This interim order, which prevents the payment to the Chinese firm on Letter of Credit, was accordingly extended until November 19.

A petition filed by the Ceylon Fertilizer Company (CFC) was called before Commercial High Court Judge Priyantha Fernando today.

During the court proceedings, the attorneys representing the respondents of the petition have requested the judge to grant an additional period of time for them to file objections.

Additional Solicitor General Susantha Balapatabendi, who appeared on behalf of the CFC, told the court that China-based Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. had shipped a fertilizer consignment, which is a partial shipment worth more than a billion rupees that was procured through a tender process initiated by the Agriculture Ministry.

Although the said Chinese firm was required to ship sterile organic fertilizer under the tender contract, it had admitted in its shipping advice that the consignment may contain microorganisms, he further told the court.

The National Plant Quarantine Services (NPQS), which tested the sample sent to them, had confirmed the presence of organisms, including certain types of harmful bacteria, the Additional Solicitor General said, adding that, in this context, the Chinese firm in question has failed to complete the accepted terms of the tender.

The CFC first secured an enjoining order on October 22 against the Chinese firm in question, preventing the People’s Bank from making any payment under a Letter of Credit opened in favour of Qingdao Seawin Biotech.

Courtesy Adaderana

Swiss International Airlines, a member of the Lufthansa Group, recommenced operations to Colombo on Friday (November 05).

The inaugural flight from Zurich to Colombo, LX 8064 operated by an Airbus 340 touched ground at 7:30 a.m. and was welcomed by a celebratory water cannon salute upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) followed by a traditional Kandyan dance performance and an inaugural ceremony to welcome the guests.

Reportedly, 96 passengers have arrived on this flight. The VIPs present to greet the flight included Ambassador for Switzerland to Sri Lanka & the Maldives Dominic Furgler , State Minister of Aviation and Export Zones Development D. V. Chanaka, Senior officials of Airport & Aviation Services, Civil Aviation Authority and senior officials of Sri Lanka Tourism.

The weekly service to Colombo every Friday with a capacity of 314 seats will feature 27 seats in Business Class and 287 in Economy. The economy cabin includes 70 seats with an extra recline and legroom.

With the commencement of Swiss International Airlines, it will support to boost the tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka after the pandemic and strengthen the economic cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, finance, education and culture between Switzerland and Sri Lanka. We have been continuing our efforts to make sure that our airports are operated in compliance with the international standards of health and safety. Further, we are with the plans to upgrade the aviation industry of Sri Lanka introducing new technology and digitalizing our airports to give a seamless passenger experience,” State Minister D. V. Chanaka said.

The airline was scheduled to operate a twice-weekly service year-round pre-COVID pandemic. Gauging from the interest demonstrated now by potential visitors to the island, we are optimistic we could revisit this plan in the not-too-distant future” stated Parveen Dassenaike, Chairperson and Managing Director of United Ventures – the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Lufthansa Group in Sri Lanka.

The distance from Zurich to Colombo is 8023 kilometers / 4332 nautical miles with an estimated flight time of nine hours and fifty-six minutes. Zurich serves as a convenient hub to the rest of Europe and the Americas and Swiss is offering attractive/competitive fares on its services.

Courtesy Adaderana

The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 15 coronavirus related deaths for November 04, increasing the country’s death toll due to the virus to 13,821.

The deaths confirmed by the Govt. Information Department today include 06 males and 09 females while two of the victims are between the ages of 30 to 59. 

The remaining 13 are in the age category of 60 years and above.

Courtesy Adaderana

The daily count of COVID-19 cases confirmed in Sri Lanka moved to 628 today (November 05) as 146 more people were tested positive for the virus, the Epidemiology Unit said.

According to the Government Information Department, one returnee from overseas is also among the new infections.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 544,013.

As many as 514,573 recoveries and 13,821 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic.

More than 15,600 active cases in total are currently under medical care, official figures showed.

Shenali D Waduge

Undoubtedly, media, plays a crucial role in manipulating people’s minds. Media headed by the wrong people can have detrimental results on a populace. We know the lengths LTTE terrorists took fake propaganda. It’s an uphill task to reverse the lies people had been fed. Those who sit in media, dictate what people think & often are the instruments that are responsible for creating the reactions while also playing a biased role of judge & jury after stirring the pot of trouble via media. There is enough evidence to showcase how even terrorists use media to brainwash people’s minds with content. Action can only be taken legally & legislatively against such – the question is will Parliament & will the courts do so? Freedom of speech ends when it violates the freedoms of others. No columnist or cartoonist can profess to be the crusader or messiah and deem their right to criticize and ridicule.

In Sri Lanka, it is fashionable to project the notion that Sinhala Buddhists are the cause for all ills. This is impregnated into the minds of the people since 1505 when western colonial invaders deemed their enemy was Sinhala Buddhists. Anyone who wished to take over the island viewed those that defended it as their enemy. The project to vilify Buddhists/Buddhism was no secret and British Colonial records mince no words.

The 1964 Press Commission Report reconfirms that the project of the colonial British was still in place and continuing unabated. Therefore, we cannot forget the historical role now outsourced to kalu suddas and link the current vilifications using media with that colonial project.

There is another factor that we cannot forget either. While this is not a critique of any religion but the bitter truth is that both Christianity & Islam are expansionist faiths using the sword to convert people & take over their lands. There are ample examples of their bloodied past. Buddhism however spread as far as present day Iran & as far as Indonesia without a single sword or forced conversion. While the New Testament removed much of the violent texts in the Old Testament, the Quran still has verses to eliminate disbelievers/kafirs & permits the doctrine of taqiyyah (approval to use pretense) until the ultimate goal is achieved.

Identity Manipulation using Multiculturalism

While multiculturalism became a curse to citizens of western countries where they shockingly watched their ‘cultures’ become ‘multiculturalzed’ the former colonies were being lined up to have their civilizational cultures be eliminated incrementally as well. The quest was to denigrate the key stumbling block that prevented countries & their citizens being historically uprooted & being brainwashed to dislocate themselves of their cultural/heritage & turned into modern hippies/gypsies..

This goal was tasked to NGOs & Media outlets. Faiths which were in majority, would use political/social/religious/economic pressures to throw their weight behind their people” who were a minority amongst the majority.

A content analysis of the Sri Lankan print media & the selected regular columnists and their pet topics will showcase the systematic vilification at play. Media must be representative of the country’s demography – but in Sri Lanka it is not so & this must be changed to usher fair play.

There is no doubt that all faiths have mischief makers in robes who are not what we expect them to be. But it is not for us or cartoonists to decide or dictate how they should function. 

The present 3 cartoons are hurtful because these same cartoonists pick only on Buddhists/Buddhism. Perhaps they fear what happened to the Dutch cartoonist so their easy prey is Buddhists.

But, let them never forget that it was only during the Buddhist reign that all religions thrived without any discrimination. Buddhists have had to flee for their lives where they are the minority – Maldives even expunged the Buddhist history of Maldives. So no one can say Buddhism or Buddhists have discriminated minorities. Buddhists have had their theros killed, we have had the oldest library in the world brought to cinders, we have lost terrain and territory, the magnificent structures built by people to show their veneration to Buddha was demolished and vandalized. So don’t preach to us about Buddhists being ‘militant’ because those that do so are only trying to hide their criminal past. What was done to Buddhists comes nowhere near the media-propped lies being spread against Buddhists/Buddhism who are only reacting to the actions against them. Media conveniently diverts world attention to the reaction & away from the actions that resulted in the reactions. Media hardly criticizes the actions as they do the reactions!

If anyone has any issue with any thero, by all means express these views directly at the thero with supporting evidence & facts, but to dress a dogs bone in a robe is simply to use the chance to denigrate Buddhists/Buddhism & this is in bad taste knowing that Buddhists worship not the wearer of the robe but the robe because it represents the Buddha in our eyes.  

This was nothing but intentional hate speech.

The media entities and editors preach about discrimination and hate speech and are ever ready to dispatch dossiers overseas but when they commit the crime their mouthpieces attempt to justify by saying ‘Buddhists should not react because they have to give up everything & go to nirvana’.People seem to have been given a wrong interpretation of Buddhism – nowhere does it say Buddhists cannot defend what is theirs, nowhere does it say Buddhists have to walk away when their lands or sacred sites are being wrongfully taken over. Unfortunately, Buddhists are being fed these notions by the expansionists because the ultimate goal of the expansionists remain alive and they do not wish Buddhists to defend what is theirs.

In a world that preaches need for action against hate speech – it may be good to start first with the religious texts that are the root cause of the radicalism and terrorism that prevails and which are being subtly promoted by media personnel.

These cartoons are hate speech because they are directed only at Buddhists. Will these cartoonists draw similar ones for Islam/Christians? Doubt so.

So as hate speech, this is a violation of not only the 120/296 of penal code but spreading hatred falls under the PTA as well as ICCPR 56 of 2007. The Government & the Judiciary can certainly take action and should while the Buddhist associations and the Maha Sangha must make their objections. The Press Complaints Commission must not simply wait for complaints but should also be analyzing the content and vilifications themselves. We await action by the Buddha Sasana Ministry unless pressures are used not to – which is probably the outcome! So it is an advance prediction of the outcome!

The Government is given a mandate by the people to ensure unity & peace, the governments mandate is not given to newspapers, media, columnists or cartoonists to vilify the majority with impunity

Freedoms and rights do not have a carte blanch & are not meant to target only a segment community ad nauseam.Freedoms and rights STOPS where it infringes the freedoms and rights of others. With all the slogans and tamashas woven around freedoms and rights – what no one can deny is that pre-1505 era all of Sri Lanka’s communities lived in peace, without any differences & people were not divided as majority or minority. All these nuances were introduced by colonials with hidden agendas & part of their divide & rule now outsourced to the kalu suddas.

Shenali D Waduge

Written by Zulfick Farzan Courtesy News 1st

COLOMBO (News 1st); The two suspects, including a US Citizen, who were arrested from Theldeniya, Digana for the possession of multiple weapons were remanded to the 15th of November when they were produced in Court on Monday (1).

Sri Lanka Police arrested two men for the possession of multiple weapons and other material from a luxury scheme known as Victoria Range in Theldeniya on Saturday (30).

The arrests were made after police received information that the house was being used to assemble high-performance motorcycles.

The Police Media Division said one of the arrested men is a US citizen and is a Former US Navy Officer, who had retired from service and returned to Sri Lanka.

Police recovered 100 bullets compatible with a pistol, One Rambo Knife, One Telescope, One Air Rifle, Four Walkie-Talkies, Two motorcycles with no registration, Four registered motorcycles, Two mobile phones, One passport, and Rs. 700,600/- in cash, from the possession of the suspects.

44-year-old Chaminda Aloysius Bandara Dissanayake, one of the suspects, is a US Citizen and had served in the Strike Fighter Squadron 143 (VFA-143), in the United States Navy from 2004 to January 2021.

The Former US Navy Officer has a permanent residence listed in Attidiya, Dehiwala, and had rented out a house in Digana.

The other suspect was identified as Terrence Mario Perera, who was deported from Canada for criminal charges.

He has a permanent address listed in Nawala, in the suburbs of Colombo.

Detectives have identified the bullets seized from the possession of the suspect as .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) and this is a weapon used by US Military forces.

Senaka Weeraratna

The situation of the Press is far worse today

It is totally anti-national and anti – Buddhist.

A content analysis of the Political Columns of any English language mainstream newspaper will reveal this stark truth. 

The Govt. has the mandate to establish a Commission of Inquiry like what Mrs. Bandaranaike did in 1963, to investigate and report on matters concerning the reform of the National Press, given the increasing public dissatisfaction expressed by the Buddhist public, Buddhist organizations, and the Maha Sangha, about the state and activities of the Media. 

There is no space for Buddhist opinion in the newspapers today.  It is sad but it must be said that leading Buddhist organizations are exceptionally weak when it comes to the defense of Buddhist interests. There is no real Buddhist leadership provided by lay Buddhists. They are only Office Bearers. 

Almost all prominent newspaper columnists are non – Buddhists. Some have Sinhala Buddhist names and use these names to deceive the readers that their views reflect a Buddhist opinion. But in fact, they have a Christian link through one of their parents and are steadfastly loyal to the Church. 

The biggest achievement of Colonialism and its auxiliary Christianity has been its ability to manipulate the identity of people especially brown coloured people in former European colonies. The process continues in India, Sri Lanka, and other South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. 

An example is the  Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar on April 13, 1919. It is Indian soldiers who killed over 379 unarmed fellow Indians, following orders given by a White Officer. 

There is no reported case of this type of incident happening in Chinese or Japanese History. 

Once you change your religion into that of an Abrahamic faith your loyalty also changes.

After that, the Brown man becomes the enemy of the Brown man (and woman) who continues to remain loyal to the ‘ Rata, Jathiya, Agama’ of their ancestors and cultural heritage. 

The missionary schools divided the nation in strict adherence to the colonial policy of Divide and Rule. 

Today the Editorial Staff of mainstream English language newspapers are full of brown people whose loyalties are to the Vatican primarily.

They are products of missionary schools or public schools.

Rarely would you find an old Anandian or an old boy of an Olcott school on the Editorial staff of leading English language newspapers?

Public opinion in Sri Lanka is created by scribes who are knee-jerk anti – Sinhala and anti-Buddhist.   

Hate speech is directed towards Buddhism and Buddhist monks daily ad nauseam, without state intervention to stop it.

The Govt. which came on a huge mandate given mostly by Sinhala Buddhists must exercise its lawful power to stop the vilification of Buddhism, demonization of Buddhist monks, and humiliation of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist Heritage, History, and Culture that happens almost on a daily basis. 

It is easy to establish the hate speech crimes of the scribes of the newspapers through a content analysis of their biased writings.

The Portuguese came to conquer and dislodge Buddhism. It was not an accident. The Portuguese and the Dutch forbade the practice of Buddhism. All the Buddhist Temples in their areas of control were destroyed and monks killed. Those who survived fled to Sitavaka and later to Kandy.  

Lascoreens ( those who embraced the faith of the invaders) turned against their original faith i.e. Buddhism, and joined the Portuguese to burn down Temples and then construct Catholic Churches on top of the sites of Buddhist Temples. Father Queyroz who wrote the monumental treatise ‘ The Temporal and Spiritual Conquest of Ceylon’ provides the full list of such Churches. An apology and compensation have yet to be paid for this dastardly crime. 

The Catholic Church likes to play the victim card but the actual victims of 450 years of colonial rule were the Sinhala Buddhists of this country.

Senaka Weeraratna

By Dr. Tilak S.Fernando

The masterpiece of the Great Russian poet Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin’s novel ‘Eugene and Onegin’ is translated into Sinhala for the first time by Dr Athula Withanage, who has written many books in Sinhala and English. Dr Withanage was a senior surgeon who worked for over twenty years in the NHS UK. After a heavy day’s work at the hospital theatre, he took up writing for relaxation. He has published many books in Sinhala and English. His first medical novel, Living Capsule, dealt with a clinical problem that any surgeon had to battle. Recently during the COVID-19 epidemic using his experience, he wrote his latest novel called The Pond, Butterflies and Rainbow

 Pushkin’s novel in verse has been translated into English as many as 45 times since 1800, but this is the first time that it has been translated into Sinhala directly from Russian by Dr Withhange, taking into account the Soviet era in the 1800s. It has taken him six years to do, and Dr Withanage becomes the 46th translator in English, and simultaneously in Sinhala for the Sri Lankan audience. Translators found it challenging to understand the poetic meaning of Pushkin’s words to portray his character and events. It is perhaps why since 1880, translations into other languages were imperfect, especially into English. 

Alexander Pushkin 

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was born on 26 May 1799 in Moscow during the Russian Empire. He hailed from the Russian nobility; his father Sergey Lvovich Pushkin descended from a distinguished family of the Russian elite that traced its ancestry back to the 12th century. His mother, Nadezhda (Nadya), Ossipovna Gannibal descended from German and Scandinavian nobility through her paternal grandmother. 

His maternal great-grandfather was Central-African born general Abram Petrovich Gannibal. Pushkin grew up surrounded by maids and French tutors and mainly spoke French until the age of ten. He became acquainted with the Russian language through communication with household servants and especially with his nanny, Arina Rodionova, whom he loved dearly and became more attached to the nanny than his mother. After finishing school, Alexander Pushkin published his first poem at the age of 15 years, as part of the first graduating class of the prestigious Imperial Lyceum in Tsarskoye Selo, near Saint Petersburg. 

The Russian literary sector widely recognised his latent talents after attending the Lyceum. Pushkin plunged into the energetic and harsh intellectual youth culture of St. Petersburg, which was then the capital of the Russian Empire. Pushkin has married his lover, a gorgeous lady, Anna Petrovna, for whom he wrote the most famous love poems in the Russian language. Pushkin was a controversial writer. In 1820 when he published ‘Ruslan and Ludmila’ that challenged the boundaries of prose and poetry and lyrical poetry he faced criticism. In January 1837, Pushkin became famous as a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist. 

He was well known among the most significant Russian poets and considered the Master of Modern Russian literature. Evgeni Onegin, is a novel in verse consisting of three hundred and eighty-nine stanzas and 8 chapters. The entire work is written in 14 line short lyrical poems except for Tatyana’s love letter (3.32) and Onegin’s love letter (8.32). This rhythmic arrangement is a Sonnet. Alexander Pushkin Sonnets originated from the classic Greek tradition closely associated with great poets such as William Shakespeare and John Keats. 

It is commendable how Dr Athula Withanage has translated ‘Eugene Onegin’ while maintaining the same rhythmic style both in Sinhala and English. Upon graduation, Pushkin enumerated his controversial poem Ode to Liberty that led to his exile by Tsar Alexander 1 of Russia. When Pushkin was under severe observation by Tsar’s political police, he could not publish his poems; instead, he wrote an excellent play, called ‘Boris Godunov.’ After his exile in 1820, Pushkin’s friends and family continually petitioned for his release, sending letters and meetings with Tsar Alexander and Tsar Nicholas. 

Authorities summoned Pushkin to Moscow after his poem Ode to Liberty was found among the belongings of the rebels from the Decembrist Uprising. Pushkin obtained his release from exile and began to work as the Tsar’s Titular Counsel of the National Archives. However, because insurgents in the Decembrist Uprising in 1825 in Saint Petersburg, Tsar held Pushkin’s earlier political poems to control everything Pushkin published, and Tsar banned him from travelling at will.  Pushkin gradually became committed to social reform and emerged as a spokesman for literary radicals. 

He was inspired by the Greek Revolution when the war against the Ottoman broke out. That angered the government of the day that led to his transfer from the capital in May 1820. Finally, he became a Freemason. He joined the ‘Filiki Eteria,’ a secret organisation whose purpose was to overthrow Ottoman rule in Greece and to establish an independent Greek state. 

Eugene Onegin 

His novel, ‘Eugene Onegin’ was serialised between 1825 and 1832. There are many Russian and Hollywood films, stage productions, ballets, operas, and radio shows from the BBC on this remarkable romantic novel. In 1825, Pushkin wrote his most famous play ‘Boris Godunov’ at his mother’s estate. He could not, however, gain permission to publish it until five years later. The original version of the drama was not staged until 2007. 

Pushkin’s Downfall 

In 1836, Pushkin fell into more outstanding debt and faced scandalous rumours that his wife had a love affair. Once he sent a challenge for a duel to Georges d’Anthès, who was supposed to be his wife’s lover, but his friends cancelled the dual. Irritated Alexander Pushkin once again challenged Georges d’Anthès for a pistol duel, which took place at the Black River. During the pistol dual, d’Anthès fired first, critically wounding Pushkin. The bullet entered Pushkin’s hip and penetrated through to his abdomen causing a significant injury. 

D’Anthès was only lightly injured in the right arm by Pushkin’s shot. Two days later Pushkin died of generalised peritonitis (inflammation of the tissue that lines the abdomen, which is deadly serious). The funeral service took place at St. Isaac’s Cathedral where many people attended. Pushkin’s wife’ requested not to place the coffin containing the corpse in a chamber-cadet uniform ( the uniform provided by the Tsar). 

Finally, the coffin having lowered into the basement where it stayed for a while, and later it remained at Pskov province, on the Svyatogorsky monastery, near Alexander Pushkin’s mother’s grave. Many Sri Lankan translators, like K.G. Karunathilake, Dadigama. Rodrigo’ have introduced classics of Russian authors to the Sinhala readers. Pushkin’s poetry was introduced by W. A. Abeysinghe and then by Karunathilake Handunpathirana. However, the Sri Lankan readers did not have the opportunity to reach Pushkin’s point of view of life and his concepts in poetry through his masterpiece ‘Eugene Onegin’ until now. 

It is of great importance to note the valuable literary contribution Dr Athula Withanage has made to Sri Lankan readers by translating this historical Sinhala translation. Dr Athula Withanage believes that the Sri Lankan audience now could learn Pushkin’s point of view of life, his concepts in poetry, Russian national spirit and aristocracy and ‘Pushkin’s beloved Russia’ through his masterpiece ‘Eugene Onegin’. Dr Withanage assures that Sri Lankan readers will enjoy Pushkin’s most remarkable work. The English translation is also available in Sri Lanka translated by Dr Athula Withanage. 

It can use as a comparison, because it suits the Asian audience in the straightforward narrative after freeing himself from the shackles of rhyme, yet retaining the original 14 lines of Pushkin’s stanzas, except in the two love letters in the introductory committed poem. The original Russian explanatory notes at the end of the English translation are helpful to understand the poetic meaning of some of the words. Dr Withanage is a Surgeon by profession and is not fully committed to writing. Nevertheless, he has produced five Sinhala novels, three English novels, one teledrama, two translations and a valuable educational book for any doctor in any field of medicine called Wound Care and Management.” 

He is the brother of actor, Shakespearian writer, author and drama producer of the late Bandula Withanage. ‘Evgeni Onegin’ is the authentic Russian pronunciation, but it sounds feminine. So, Athula Withanage translated the Sinhala version as ‘Evageni Anegini’ to make it sound more Sinhala and Masculine. Translations of both Sinhala and English versions were presented at the Russian Centre Book Festival in Colombo on 27 October 2021 at 3.30. pm, where the First Secretary at the Russian Embassy was present. 

At the Book Festival, all Russian language translators were introduced including Dr Athula Withanage and dramatist Ranjith Dharmakeerthi. A special mention made by the orators was how Dr Athula Withanage took seven years to translate Evgeni Onegin into English and Sinhala, especially the Sinhala version as a ‘historical’ translation. Comments were also made how Dr Withanage, amidst his hospital surgical duties managed to translate into Sinhala and English simultaneously. 

Dr Withanage had to learn the Russian language in the Soviet Union before he embarked on medical studies, for which he earned a gold medal. In the UK, he acquired three FRCS recognitions from the UK, Scotland, and Ireland. He received three nominations for the Golden Scalpel Award ( All Island) in the UK. 

tilakfernando@gmail.com

Hafizur Talukdar

Let there be a direction to keep the earth habitable

The plenary session of the second day of the COP-26 conference started on Monday. World leaders have gathered in Glasgow in a last-ditch effort to save the world from the ravages of climate change.

In his opening remarks, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told world leaders, “The world is at a crossroads. We need to take action now. If we are not sincere about climate change, all efforts will fail.

” Earlier in the day, dozens of leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, spoke. Although he did not attend the conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a written statement.

Although the 48 countries in the CVF are the most affected by climate change, their contribution to global carbon emissions is negligible. Speaking as the chief guest at the CVF-Commonwealth High Level Discussion on Climate Prosperity Partnership at the Commonwealth Pavilion at the COP-26 conference venue in Glasgow, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on the richest countries to address the adverse effects of climate change. The Prime Minister said that climate change is now a global and cross-border problem and no country is free from its dire consequences. Referring to the recent IPCC report, he said it was a clear message that everyone must take urgent and decisive action to save this planet and future generations. CVF Chairperson Sheikh Hasina has put forward a six-point proposal for effective cooperation between the CVF and the Commonwealth.

US President Joe Biden has overturned a decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Paris Agreement after taking office and pledged to make the fight against climate change a top priority. After a two-day meeting in Rome, Italy, G20 leaders said global warming would not be allowed to rise more than a degree and a half from the pre-industrial era by the end of this century. However, no details were given about the steps to be taken to meet this target. The world is eager to see the success of these conferences and the implementation of the promises made by world leaders. Appropriate steps need to be taken now to address the adverse effects of climate change. The clear direction to keep this planet habitable will come from COP-26, this is what the world wants to see.

MD Pathik Hasan

Bangladesh and Thailand are near neighbors, connected by the Bay of Bengal. The development of these maritime ties would benefit both countries in terms of trade, investment, and regional communications. 

The two countries are in talks to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) to boost trade and investment. Bangladesh is geographically positioned as a gateway between ASEAN and SAARC with potential access to both for each other’s export-driven manufacturers. ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, while SAARC includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. 

The Chittagong seaport is the main seaport in Bangladesh. 90 percent of Bangladeshi trade is conducted through the Chattagram Port Terminal, with the rest being taken up by Bangladesh’s Ports at Mangla and Payra.    

Thailand’s Ranong Port is situated on the Kraburi River of the Kra Peninsula, across from Myanmar and on the Indian Ocean, coast and lies 1,220km from Chittagong. 

Thailand’s Southern Economic Corridor project, approved by the Government in August 2018, emphasizes the development of Ranong port as a gateway to trade with Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Using Ranong port for trade with Bangladesh’s Chittagong, Payra, and Mangla ports will reduce the distance between the two countries and boost trade. Then this connectivity can then be extended to India’s Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai ports. 

The launch of direct shipping services between Chittagong and Ranong ports has received a new push as trade between the two countries is increasing.

Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Thailand reached US$837.08 million in 2019-20. Bangladesh’s total exports to Thailand in 2020 were US$35.46 million while imports from Thailand were worth US$801.3 million, very much in Thailand’s favor. 

Bangladeshi exports to Thailand are on an upward trend, however. This year exported values are expected to reach just under US$40 million, a 12 percent increase YoY. 

According to FDI stock data in Bangladesh, Thailand is the 15th largest investor in the country. This however would increase significantly if an FTA can be agreed upon, and the two countries build direct maritime connectivity between Chittagong and Ranong ports. 

There is precedent. When Bangladesh signed FTA with the SAARC members in 2006, its imports and exports doubled within ten years, being a relatively constant (there was a dip in 2011) and sustainable 10% GDP growth in trade per annum. 

In terms of commodities, Thailand mainly exports cement, cereals, plastics, man-made staple fibers, sugar and sugar confectionery, machinery and mechanical equipment, cotton and cotton cloth, salt, sulfur, clay, stone, and mineral fuels to Bangladesh. 

In the reverse direction, Bangladesh exports garments, vegetables, textile fibers, garments, animal products, electrical and electronic equipment, frozen fish, and crustaceans to Thailand. 

Direct sea connectivity between Chittagong and Ranang can be expected to play an important role in expanding trade and commerce between the two countries. The time and cost of transporting goods between them can be reduced by 30 percent and are likely to play a key role in building ties with other Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar and India. The introduction of direct shipping between the two countries will encourage traders from both to expand their regional trade and investment.

Thailand could increase trade ties with India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka under the framework of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

The establishment of trade and economic corridors through coordination between the Look East Policy of Bangladesh and the Look West Policy of Thailand and the establishment of connectivity through coastal shipping is likely to bring prosperity for both. 

Dhaka is additionally counting on Bangkok’s support for Bangladesh’s bid for membership in the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Forum as well as the ASEAN Sectoral Partnership.

Thailand and Bangladesh are also both active partners in the Belt and Road Initiative. If Chittagong and Ranong port connectivity can be extended to Iran’s Chabahar port and Pakistan’s Gwadar port via Sri Lanka’s Colombo and the International North South Transport Corridor project (INSTC) through to Central Asia and Turkey, this will create significant trade potential. 

Although the Maritime Assistance Agreement between Bangladesh and Thailand was completed in 1986 and is currently in force, changes need to be made to bring these opportunities to fruition. But the Bangladesh and Thailand can renew the agreement for ensuring their business interests. 

Progress is being made. Thai ambassador to Bangladesh, Makawadee Sumitmor stated at a bilateral business meeting with the Chittagong World Trade Center in September this year that there is a trade gap between the two countries. She also said that the expansion of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral route will boost trade in this region and that she was waiting for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Thai authorities and the Chittagong Port Authority to establish direct shipping links by sea. 

There are huge opportunities for Thai investors in infrastructure, light engineering, agriculture and food processing, and tourism and healthcare. Thailand and Bangladesh both could and should utilize these potentials. But smooth connectivity is needed to boost the Trade. Chittagong and Ranong port connectivity would boost up the trade, expansion of tourism. Bangladesh and Thailand can both benefit from this mutually rewarding sea connectivity project.

The article was first appeared in Hong Kong based ASEAN Briefing on November 04, 2021.

Hafizur Talukdar

The world is fascinated by the development of Bangladesh

The world is fascinated by the development of Bangladesh! On the occasion of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary and the golden jubilee of independence, the top people of Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India have come to Bangladesh in the confidence of a leader even in the difficult times of Corona. Besides, the heads of state of different countries including United Nations, United States, China, Russia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Turkey, Germany, Spain have praised Bangladesh, Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina.

Everyone has praised Sheikh Hasina’s leadership for successfully tackling the situation in Bangladesh. They have recognized the importance and contribution of Bangladesh to the world. Bangladesh is ahead of the world in many important sectors. Many have asked for cooperation in them. Bangladesh has also appealed to different countries. On the golden jubilee of independence, many issues have been agreed upon. In particular, India and Bangladesh are committed to corona risk. This commitment was made at the India-Bangladesh joint bilateral meeting. It has been decided that the two countries will jointly address the risk of the ongoing epidemic Corona, a new challenge in the health sector. The two countries will also celebrate the 50th victory celebration of Bangladesh on December 16. Besides, an agreement has been reached to start direct flights and shipping from Bangladesh to Maldives. Both Bangladesh and Maldives have agreed to sign a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to increase trade and commerce between the two countries. The Prime Ministers of the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in various fields including enhancing road, rail and air connectivity between the two countries to expand Bangladesh-Bhutan trade. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also assured that Bhutanese students studying in Bangladesh will get one-time full-term visas. Abdar Naval and Airways of Nepal to Bangladesh in developing relations. During the visit, Nepal expressed interest in enhancing naval and air connectivity and Bangladesh agreed in principle. Sri Lanka has praised Sheikh Hasina’s leadership in successfully handling the situation.

Direct flights and shipping from Bangladesh to Maldives will start: Bangladesh and Maldives have agreed to sign a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to increase trade and commerce between the two countries. The two leaders agreed to sign the PTA during a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Salihar. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested to legalize illegal Bangladeshis staying in Maldives. Meanwhile, the President of Maldives said that he would stand by Bangladesh in resolving the Rohingya crisis. In addition, four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed in various fields, including fisheries and cultural relations, at the summit between Bangladesh and the Maldives to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. During the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed interest in signing a preferential trade agreement with the Maldives. Describing Bangladesh as a potential trading partner of the Maldives, the President expressed hope that the PTA agreement between the two countries would be signed soon. On the Rohingya issue, the Maldivian president said, “His country wants to work with Bangladesh to ensure the rights of the Rohingya in the ICJ (International Courts of Justice).”

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said that direct flights and shipping from Bangladesh to Male in Maldives will start soon. He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid in the afternoon after a bilateral meeting chaired by the two heads of government. The Foreign Minister said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that Bangladesh Biman will soon fly from Bangladesh to Maldives. Another good news is that soon we will launch a shipping line between Chittagong and Mal. ‘He said,’ Bangladesh and Maldives have agreed to sign a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to increase trade and investment. ‘ In this case we have not advanced too much yet. That is why we have made a proposal to them that we want to make a PTA, which we did with Bhutan a few days ago. ” At the time, Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid said, We are going to have a joint commission. We can take it to new heights. Through this we will be able to resolve all issues through regular discussions.

Bhutanese students applying for one-time full-term visas to study in Bangladesh: Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr. Lotte Schering met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last Wednesday. During the meeting, the Prime Ministers of the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in various fields including expansion of Bangladesh-Bhutan trade, increase in road, rail and air connectivity between the two countries. During the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized on building the necessary infrastructure to avail the maximum benefits of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed between Bangladesh and Bhutan. He also emphasized on building more seaports. During the meeting, the Prime Ministers of the two countries discussed cooperation in various sectors between the two countries including trade and connectivity.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that a bilateral or tripartite memorandum of understanding for the construction of cooperative hydropower plants would be prepared. At the time, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lotte Shering, requested for a one-time full-term visa or multiple entry facility for Bhutanese students studying in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed with the Prime Minister of Bhutan on the issue and directed the concerned parties to take necessary steps in this regard. Expressing interest in cooperating in the IT sector, Sheikh Hasina said, “Bangladesh can assist Bhutan in the IT sector including broadband internet.” The Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and Bhutan also agreed to work together in international forums including the United Nations. He also directed the concerned parties to take measures for easy access of ships to facilitate trade and commerce.

Nepal’s Abdar Naval and Air Path to Bangladesh for Improving Relations: Nepal’s President Vidya Devi Bhandari paid a two-day state visit to Bangladesh. While Nepal expressed interest in enhancing naval and air connectivity during the visit, Bangladesh agreed in principle. Foreign Minister Dr. at the press conference held in the context of the visit of the President of Nepal Vidya Devi Bhandari to Bangladesh at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. AK Abdul Momen said, “Nepal has expressed interest in using Bangladesh’s domestic air and sea routes.” They have expressed interest in using the airports of Syedpur, Sylhet and Chittagong in particular. At the same time, it has expressed interest in using naval routes. We have agreed in principle. At the behest of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we want to transform Bangladesh into a gateway or multimodal connective hub for the whole of South and Southeast Asia. ”

He said, “This visit of the President of Nepal will further accelerate and strengthen the friendly bilateral relations based on the prevailing cultural and geographical proximity.” During the visit, Bangladesh and Nepal signed four bilateral agreements on various issues. Nepal is interested in supplying hydropower to Bangladesh. Besides, BVIN will be the first to connect with India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Later Bhutan will be added gradually. Noting that the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Nepal and Bangladesh will be signed soon, the Foreign Minister said, “Both leaders (Prime Minister of Bangladesh and President of Nepal) have emphasized on harnessing the huge potential for expanding bilateral trade.” Bilateral trade will increase significantly if preferential trade agreements are signed. We hope the agreement will be signed soon. “

Sri Lanka praises Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership in successfully tackling the situation in Bangladesh Sri Lanka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have agreed to open new areas of trade and commerce between the two countries at the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka summit. Apart from agreeing to open up new areas of trade, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have also signed six MoUs to enhance cooperation in various fields including youth development, agriculture and technical education. Emphasizing on the need for a free trade agreement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “A joint feasibility study on a free trade agreement has already been completed. We should move quickly to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). ”Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, on the other hand, emphasized Bangladesh’s emphasis on increasing trade and the trade sector, as well as Bangladesh’s Blue-Economy concept, and expressed interest in sharing experiences with Bangladesh.

Emphasizing on the participation of the private sector in the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “There is a huge potential for many Bangladeshi products in the Sri Lankan market.” We urge Sri Lankan investors to invest more in Bangladesh’s special economic zones, industrial parks and high-tech parks. In the presence of the two Prime Ministers, six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to enhance mutual cooperation between the two countries. ‘ We should move quickly to a free trade agreement. The Prime Minister also emphasized on sharing experiences in the field of agriculture including paddy cultivation and freshwater fish farming. He also expressed interest in learning technology from Sri Lanka on coast, aquaculture, and deep sea fishing. During the bilateral meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized on more institutional cooperation in the field of education for capacity building, technical training and skills development. Referring to the pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said, “Sri Lanka can benefit by importing world-class medicines from Bangladesh.”

Expressing satisfaction over the existence of the two countries, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said, “Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are close friends. Rajapaksa invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Sri Lanka next year to mark the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The issue of transformation of Bangladesh into a digital country

World leaders in praise of Bangladesh: World leaders have greeted Bangladesh on the occasion of the golden jubilee of independence and the centenary of Mujib. They conveyed this greeting through a video message. On the occasion, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, US President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese President Yoshihide Suga, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, President Prince Charles, President of Pakistan, President of Pakistan Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Germany, the King of Spain, the Secretary of State of the United States Anthony Blinken and the President of the European Union sent greetings. In addition, the British High Commissioner to Dhaka Robert Dixon wished for the golden jubilee of independence. In a congratulatory message, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, “Bangladesh is playing a big role in the world arena. The people of Bangladesh have played a major role in social progress in the last five decades. I congratulate them for their improvement. I would also like to congratulate Bangladesh for being a developing country. ‘He said,’ Bangladesh is playing a big role in the world court. Bangladesh is the largest member of the UN peacekeeping mission. Bangladesh has given shelter to millions of Rohingyas. Thank them for that. ‘In his congratulatory message, US President Joe Biden said,’ Bangladesh has set an excellent example of world humanity by sheltering about one million Rohingya. Besides, Bangladesh is now known as a shining example of economic prosperity, ”the US President said in a video message on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Independence on Friday. Biden expressed hope that “Bangladesh will play an important role in mitigating global climate change.” His administration will do everything possible to help Bangladesh on the issue of climate change.

In a message sent on the occasion of the golden jubilee of independence, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the architect of Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was an extraordinary leader. “Bangladesh is also celebrating the birth centenary of Bangabandhu on the occasion of the golden jubilee of independence,” Putin said, referring to the deep friendly relations between Bangladesh and Russia. ‘

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson has commented that Bangladesh is currently one of the most economically developing countries in the world. Boris Johnson said Bangladesh is currently an economically developing country. We want to live with the dream of prosperity of Bangladesh. He said Bangabandhu came to 10 Downing Street (Prime Minister’s Office of the United Kingdom) in 1972. Which was the beginning of friendship between our two countries. This friendship has become stronger in the last 50 years. Boris Johnson said there are more than six lakh Bangladeshis in the UK. They are contributing to the development of the UK.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “The Covid-19 epidemic has spread around the world. It was not possible for me to accept this invitation. But if the situation improves, I have the desire to visit Bangladesh. “He said,” The feeling of brotherhood between the people of the two countries will strengthen the will to further improve our relations. “Addressing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Turkish president said: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has earned a place among the famous statesmen of the twentieth century through struggle and sacrifice for the nation. I believe that in the year of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh, our relationship and cooperation will be deeper. ‘

සමස්ත ලංකා බැංකු සේවක සංගමය

චීන තානාපති කාර්යාලය මගින් මහජන බැංකුව අසාදුලේඛන ගත කිරීම

රජය මගින් පොහොර මිලදී ගැනීමේ ගැටළුවක් සම්බන්ධයෙන් එම ගනුදෙනුවේ මූල්‍ය සේවා පහසුකම් සැපයීමට කටයුතු කරන ලද මහජන බැංකුව චීන තානාපති කාර්යාලය විසින් අසාදු ලේඛනගත කර ඇති බව එම තානාපති කාර්යාලය නිවේදනය කර ඇත.

ගනුදෙනුව සම්බන්ධයෙන් නිකුත් කරන ලද අධිකරණ නියෝගයකට අවනත වීම හේතුවෙන් මහජන බැංකුව මෙලෙස අසාදු ලේඛනගත කිරීමකට ලක්කර ඇති බව බැංකුව පාර්ශවයෙන් කරුණු දක්වා ඇත. මෙවැනි තත්වයක් තුළ වසර 60 ක් පුරා ජාතික ආර්ථිකයේ ජීවනාලියක් බඳු වූ මහජන බැංකුවේ කීර්ති නාමය ජාත්‍යන්තර වශයෙන් අපකීර්තියට පත් වීමටත් ව්‍යාපාරික පැවැත්මට හානියක් වීමටත් පසුබිම සකස් වෙමින් පවතී.

දැවැන්ත ආර්ථික පසුබෑම හමුවේත්, #කොවිඩ් වසංගත සමයේත් ජාතික ආර්ථිකය රැක ගැනීමට අඛණ්ඩ මෙහෙයක් ඉටුකළ මහජන බැංකුව ඇතුළු රාජ්‍ය බැංකු පත්ව ඇති අර්බුදය සම්බන්ධයෙන් මුදල් අමාත්‍යවරයා නොදන්නා බව මාධ්‍යයට පැවසීම විමතිය දනවන්නක් වේ. අදාළ පොහොර සමාගම ණයවර ලිපි විවෘත කිරීමේදී බලයලත් නිලධාරීන්ගේ අනුමැතිය හා බලපත්‍ර සහිතව අදාළ කටයුතු සිදු කරාද යන්න සමාජයේ සංවාදයට බඳුන්ව පවතී.
 
පසුගිය ආණ්ඩු සමයන් තුළ හෙජින් ගිවිසුම, මහ බැංකු බැඳුම්කර වංචාව වැනි දූෂිත ගනුදෙනු හරහා නිර්මාණය වූ අත්දැකීම් රාජ්‍ය බැංකු සම්බන්ධයෙන් මහජන විශ්වාසය බිඳ හෙළීමටත් රාජ්‍ය බැංකුවල ව්‍යාපාරික වපසරියන් හකුළුවා දැමීමටත් විවිධ ආණ්ඩු කටයුතු කර ඇත. නමුත් බැංකු සේවකයන්ගේත් පොදු මහජනතාවගේත් අඛණ්ඩ කැපවීම හා ක්‍රියාකාරීත්වය හේතුවෙන් මෙම ජනතා ආර්ථික මර්මස්ථාන රැක ගැනීමට හැකියාව ලැබී ඇත.

නීති තත්වය පරීක්‍ෂාවකින් තොරව ගෙන්වන ලද මෙම පොහොර තොගය පිළිබඳ වගකීම පොහොර සමාගම විසින් භාරගත යුතු වුවත්, මහජන බැංකුව අසාදු ලේඛනගත කිරීම නිසා ඉදිරියේදී මහජන බැංකුවට දැඩි මූල්‍ය පාඩුවක් සිදුවනු ඇති අතර රාජ්‍ය බැංකු මේ අන්දමින් අනතුරේ හෙළීමේ වගකීම මෙම පොහොර තොගය ගෙන්වීමට මූලික වූ රජය විසින් භාරගත යුතු බවට අවධාරණය කළ යුතුය.
 
අදූරදර්ශී හා දූෂිත ආණ්ඩු ක්‍රියාකාරකම් හේතුවෙන් මෙවැනි ලාභ ලබන ආයතන අර්බුදකාරි වාතාවරණයන්ට පත් කරන පාලකයන්ට එරෙහිව පෙළගැසෙන ලෙස සියළුම බැංකු සේවකයින් හා ජනතාවට ආරාධනය කරන අතර විදේශ තානාපති කාර්යාලයකට දැවැන්ත අර්බුද නිර්මාණය කළ හැකි යැපුම් ආර්ථිකයක් ඇති කළ වසර 73 ක් රට පාලනය කළ ආණ්ඩු වෙනුවට ජනතා ආර්ථිකයක් බිහිකළ හැකි දැක්මක් හා වැඩපිළිවෙලක් ගොඩනැඟීම සඳහා අත්වැල් බැඳ ගන්නා සියලූ ශ්‍රී ලාංකික පුරවැසියන්ගෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටීමට කැමැත්තෙමු.

ස්තූතියි.
 
මෙයට, විශ්වාසී
වසන්ත සමරසිංහ
සභාපති
සමස්ත ලංකා බැංකු සේවක සංගමය.

උපුටා ගැන්ම ලංකා සී නිව්ස්

ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ගමන් කරමින් ඇත්තේ බංකොලොත් රාජ්‍යයක් වෙත බව වෙළෙඳ අමාත්‍ය බන්දුල ගුණවර්ධන මහතා සඳහන් කරයි.

2029 වසර අනතුරු කිසිවෙකුට ඔළුව උස්සන්න හැකියාවක් නැති බවත් ඔහු පවසයි.

දෙරණ නාලිකව සමඟ පැවති සාකච්ඡාවකදී එහි මාධ්‍යවේදියා සහ අමාත්‍යවරයා අතර සිදු වූ සංවාදය මෙසේය.

මාධ්‍යවේදියා – මූඩිස් ආයතනයේ ණය ශ්‍රේණිගත කිරීම්වලට අනුව CAA1 ඉඳන් CAA2 දක්වා අපේ ශ්‍රේණිගත කිරීම් පහළ ගිහින් තියෙනවා. තව දෙකක් පල්ලෙහාට ගියොත් default. ඒ කියන්නේ බංකොලොත්. අපි මේ යමින් ඉන්නේ බංකොලොත් රාජ්‍යයක් වෙන තැනකටද ?

ඇමතිවරයා – බේරගන්න ඕනේ, යමින් ඉන්නේ එතනට. 2029 වෙනකන් කාටවත් ඔලුව උස්සන්න වෙන්නේ නැහැ. අලුත් මුදල් ප්‍රවාහයක් ඇතිකරගත්තේ නැත්නම්. නැත්නම් මොනවා හරි කරලා ආයෝජන ටිකක් ගේන්න ඕනේ. එහෙම නැත්නම් විකුණනන්න ඕනේ. ඒත් විකුණන්න අපිට වත්කම් නැහැ.

උපුටා ගැන්ම TrueNews

ඉන්දියාවෙන් මෙරටට ගෙන්වන ද නැනෝ නයිට‍්‍රජන් යනුවෙන් හදුන්වන ලද පොහොර, කාබනික පොහොර විශේෂයක් නොව, යූරියා අඩංගු රසායනික පොහොරක් බව, විශ්ව විද්‍යාල ආචාර්යවරුවන්ගේ සමිති සම්මේලනය පවසයි.

පොටෑසියම් ෆ්ලෝරයිඩ් යනු රසායනිකයක් යැයි කියන්නේ මෝඩයින් බවත් එය පාෂාණයක් බවත් ඉන්දියාවෙන් ගෙන එන්නේ තාක්ෂණය භාවිත කළ නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් බවත් එහි වර්ග දෙකක් ඇති බවත් පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී තිස්ස කුට්ටිආරච්චි පැවසුවේය.

පළමු වැන්න ශාඛ සහ සත්ව කොටස් එකතු කර සාදන නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් බවත් දෙවැන්න යූරියාවලින් සාදන නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් බවත් යූරියාවලින් තැනූ නයිට්‍රජන්වල රසායනික බව අධික බවත් එය ලංකාව ගෙන ඒමට තහනම් බවත් පවසන මන්ත්‍රීවරයා ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට ගෙන එන්නේ ශාඛ හා සත්ව කොටස්වලින් සාදන නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් පමණක් බවත් ඔහු අවධාරණය කළේය.

එසේ කියද්දී විශ්ව විද්‍යාල ආචාර්යවරුන්ගේ සමිති සම්මේලනයේ (FUTA) කෘෂිකර්මය පිලිබඳ ක්‍රියාකාරී කමිටුව විසින් ඉදිරිපත් කරන, ඉන්දියාවෙන් ආනයනය කරන ලද නැනෝ-නයිට්‍රජන් පොහොර පිළිබඳ සම්පුර්ණ මාධ්‍ය ප්‍රකාශය මෙසේ පළ කරන්නෙමු.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා රජය විසින් මෑතක දී ඉන්දියාවේ Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd. (IFFCO) නම් සමාගමෙන් දියරමය නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් පොහොර ලීටර මිලියන 3.1 ක් මෙරටට ආනයනය කිරීමට සැලසුම් කර ඇත. ඉන් පළමු තොගය වූ මිලි ලීටර් 500 නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් බෝතල් 90,000 ( ලීටර් 45,000) ක්, ගුවන් මඟින් 2021 ඔක්තෝබර් 19 දා දිවයිනට ලඟා විය. මෙම පොහොර සම්බන්ධව ජනමාධ්‍ය හරහා මේ වනවිට විවිධාකාර මතවාද ජනගත වෙමින් පවතින බැවින්, කෘෂිකර්ම ක්ෂේත්‍රයට සම්බන්ධ වගකිවයුතු වෘත්තීයවේදීන් සමුහයක් ලෙස දිවයිනේ කෘෂිකර්ම පීඨ සහ තාක්ෂණික පීඨවල ආචාර්ය මණ්ඩල සාමාජිකයන්ගෙන් සමන්විත වන, විශ්වවිද්‍යාල ආචාර්ය සමිති සම්මේලනයේ (FUTA), කෘෂිකර්මය හා සම්බන්ධ ක්‍රියාකාරී කමිටුව (Action Committee for Agriculture) නියෝජනය කරමින් මෙම ආනයනිත පොහොර සම්බන්ධව පවතින විද්‍යාත්මක කරුණු සහ අපගේ විශේෂඥ මතය මෙසේ ජනතාව හමුවේ තැබීමට බලාපොරොත්තු වෙමු.

IFFCO සමාගම මඟින් නිෂ්පාදනය කෙරෙන මෙම නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් යනු, යූරියා අඩංගු සංයෝගයකි. බහු අවයවික සංයෝග මඟින් යූරියා අණු ආවරණය කර ඉතා කුඩා නැනෝ අංශු ලෙස සාදන නිසා සාම්ප්‍රදායික යූරියාවලින් මෙම නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් පොහොර වෙනස් වේ. මෙම නැනෝ අංශු ඉතාමත් කුඩා ප්‍රමාණයේ පවතින බැවින් ශාක පත්‍රවල ඇති පුටිකා හරහා කාර්යක්ෂමව ශාකයට උරා ගනු ලබයි. මෙම පොහොර විශේෂය කෘත්‍රිමව නිෂ්පාදනය කරනු ලබන සංයෝගයක් වන අතර එය කාබනික පොහොරක් නොවේ. මෙම දියර පොහොර ශාක පත්‍ර මතට ඉසීම සඳහා නිර්දේශ කර ඇති, 4% නයිට්‍රජන් අඩංගු සංයෝගයක් බව සඳහන් වේ. මෙම පොහොර වර්ගය ඉතා මෑතක දී ක්ෂේත්‍ර පරීක්ෂාවන්ට ලක් කරන ලද, එමෙන්ම මෙම වසරේ මාර්තු මාසයේ දී මහා පරිමාණ වාණිජ නිෂ්පාදනය සඳහා ඉන්දීය කෘෂිකර්ම දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවෙන් අනුමැතිය ලද රසායනිකයක් වේ. කෙසේ වුවද, ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ දැනට ක්‍රියාත්මක වන සම්මත ප්‍රමිතීන්ට අනුව (SLS1324:2018) කාබනික වගාවන් සඳහා නැනෝ පොහොර නිර්දේශ නොකරයි.

කෘෂිකර්ම අමාත්‍යංශ නිලධාරීන් විසින් සිදුකරන ලද මාධ්‍ය නිවේදන හරහා දැනගැනීමට ලැබෙන ආකාරයට, වී වගාවේ හෙක්ටෙයාරයකට මෙම දියර පොහොර ලීටර 2.5 ක් (4 ml/L) එක්වරකට යෙදිය යුතු වේ. එමෙන්ම වගා කාලය තුළ තුන් වරක් එය යෙදිය යුතු බැවින් එක කන්නයක දී හෙක්ටෙයාරයකට අවශ්‍ය මුළු දියර පොහොර ප්‍රමාණය ලීටර 7.5 ක් වේ. මෙසේ යෙදීමේ දී නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් දියර පොහොර මඟින් වී වගාවේ හෙක්ටෙයාරයකට සැපයෙන නයිට්‍රජන් ප්‍රමාණය ග්රෑම් 300 ක් වැනි ඉතා සුළු ප්‍රමාණයකි. සාමාන්‍යයෙන් හෙක්ටෙයාරයකින් නිෂ්පාදනය වන ටොන් 4-5 දක්වා වූ වී අස්වැන්නක් ලබාදීම සඳහා ගොයම් ගස් මඟින් ආසන්න වශයෙන් නයිට්‍රජන් කිලෝග්‍රෑම් 105 ක් සපයාගත යුතුව තිබේ. මේ ආකාරයෙන් බලනවිට, ශාකයේ නයිට්‍රජන් අවශ්‍යතාවය නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් පොහොර මඟින් පමණක් සැපයීමට අවශ්‍ය නම් ඒ සඳහා හෙක්ටෙයාරයකට මෙම දියරය ලීටර් 1,250 ක් යෙදිය යුතුය! මෙවැනි ක්‍රියාවක් කිසිසේත්ම ප්‍රායෝගික නොවන බව ඉතා පැහැදිලි කරුණකි.

IFFCO ආයතනයේ නිල වෙබ් පිටුවෙහි සඳහන් වන ආකාරයට මෙම දියරමය නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් පොහොර වගාවට යෙදීම නිර්දේශ කරනු ලබන්නේ ශාකයේ වර්ධක අවස්ථාවේ මතුපිට පොහොරක් ලෙස, යූරියා භාවිතය අඩු කිරීමේ උපක්‍රමයක් ලෙස පමණි. ඒ සමඟම වගාවට අවශ්‍ය අනෙක් ප්‍රධාන මුලද්‍රව්‍ය වන පොස්පරස් සහ පොටෑසියම් නියමිත ප්‍රමාණවලින් ලබා දිය යුතු වේ. මේ සම්බන්ධව දැනට ප්‍රකාශිත සියලු විද්‍යාත්මක පර්යේෂණ නිර්දේශ කර ඇත්තේ මෙම නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් දියර පොහොර, යූරියා භාවිතය සියයට පනහක් දක්වා අඩු කිරීමට උපකාරක පොහොරක් ලෙස මිස යූරියා භාවිතයට පූර්ණ විකල්පයක් ලෙස නොවේ.

මීට අමතරව, මෙවැනි මහා පරිමාණ දියර පොහොර ඉසීම කාර්යක්ෂමව කිරීම සඳහා නවීන ඩ්‍රෝන තාක්ෂණය යොදාගත යුතු වේ. එයට හේතුව, විශාල වපසරියකින් යුතු කෘෂිකාර්මික ක්ෂේත්‍ර සහ වඩා උසකින් යුතු බඩඉරිඟු සහ උක් වැනි වගාවන් සඳහා සාම්ප්‍රදායික ඉසිනයන් සාර්ථක නොවන බැවිනි. එමෙන්ම යොදන දියර පොහොර කාර්යක්ෂමව භාවිතා කිරීමට නම් ඒ වන විට බෝගයේ පත්‍ර පස ආවරණය වන තරමට වර්ධනය වී තිබිය යුතු වේ. මීට අමතරව පවතින කාලගුණික තත්ත්වය සහ දියර පොහොර ඉසීමේ තාක්ෂණික ක්‍රමවේදය මෙහි සාර්ථකත්වයට ඉතා දැඩි ලෙස බලපායි. ඒ බැවින් මේ සඳහා අවශ්‍ය තාක්ෂණය ගොවීන්ට නිවැරදිව ලබා දීම වැදගත් වේ.

මේ ආකාරයට සලකා බලන විට, මෑතක දී රජය මඟින් සිදුකරන්නට යෙදුනු රසායනික” පොහොර තහනමත් සමඟ, ගොවියන්ට තම වගා කටයුතු කරගෙන යාම සඳහා ලබා දිය යුතු විකල්ප කවරේදැයි යන්න ඉතා විශාල ගැටලුවක්ව පවතී. මෙම පොහොර සැපයුම් අඩාල වීමත් සමඟ බෝග වර්ධනය සඳහා විවිධ පෝෂණ ද්‍රව්‍යයන් හීන වූ පසුබිමක, ඉතා අධික මුදලක් වැය කරමින් ගෙන්වන්නට යෙදුනු නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් පොහොර භාවිතය හරහා අපේක්ෂිත ප්‍රතිඵල ලබාගත හැකි වේ දැයි යන්න ගැටලුවකි. නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් දියර පොහොර ශාකයේ පත්‍ර මතට ඉසින බැවින් ඒවායේ සාන්ද්‍රණය නිර්දේශිත ප්‍රමාණයට වඩා වැඩි කල නොහැක. එමඟින් ශාක පත්‍රවලට හානි සිදුවන බැවිනි. මේ හේතුව නිසා ශාකයට අවශ්‍ය සමස්ථ නයිට්‍රජන් ප්‍රමාණය පත්‍ර හරහා ලබාදීම ප්‍රායෝගික නොවේ. ඒ සඳහා ඇති එකම විකල්පය කුඩා සාන්ද්‍රණවලින් කිහිප වතාවක් මෙය පත්‍ර මතට ඉසීමයි. නමුත් 4% ක සාන්ද්‍රණයකින් යුතු පොහොරකින් ශාකයේ අවශ්‍යතාවය සම්පුර්ණ කිරීමට නම් ඉතා විශාළ වාර ගණනක් ශාකයට ඉසීම කල යුතුය. මෙය කිසිසේත්ම ප්‍රායෝගික නොවේ.

තවත් සලකාබැලිය යුතු කරුණක් වන්නේ නැනෝ නයිට්‍රජන් පොහොර, සාම්ප්‍රදායික යූරියා පොහොරට වඩා කිහිප ගුණයකින් මිළෙන් වැඩි බවය. එමෙන්ම, සාම්ප්‍රදායික කෘෂිරසායන ඉසිනයන් භාවිතයෙන් වී වගාවට මෙම පොහොර යෙදීම නිෂ්පාදන පිරිවැය විශාල ලෙස ඉහල නැංවීමට හේතුවක් වනු ඇත.

සාමාන්‍යයෙන් බලපවත්වන නීතියට අනුව, ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට ආනයනය කරනු ලබන ඕනෑම පොහොරක් ඒ සම්බන්ධව ප්‍රමිතිගත පරීක්ෂණයකින් සමත්වී තිබිය යුතු අතර, කිසිදු අහිතකර ද්‍රව්‍යයක් ඒ තුළ අන්තර්ගත නොවන බවට විද්‍යාගාර පරීක්ෂණවලින් තහවුරු වී තිබිය යුතු වේ. එමෙන්ම, ඕනෑම පොහොර වර්ගයක් පසට හෝ බෝගයන්ට නිර්දේශ කිරීමට පෙර නිසි ක්ෂේත්‍ර පරීක්ෂාවන්ට ලක් කර තිබිය යුතුය. මෙම පොහොර ආනයන ක්‍රියාවලිය තුළ ඒ කිසිවක් සිදු නොවන බව පෙනෙන්නට තිබේ.

අවසාන වශයෙන් සඳහන් කල යුත්තේ, පරිසර හිතකාමී, හරිත කෘෂිකර්මාන්තයක් කරා යන ගමනේ දී පසෙහි සාරවත්බව වැඩිදියුණු කොට පවත්වාගෙන යාම අත්‍යවශ්‍ය කරුණක් බවයි. එසේ වුවද, බෝගයන්ට ඉසිනු ලබන දියර පොහොර මඟින් පසෙහි සරු බව ඉහල නැංවීමට නොහැකි වේ. එබැවින් මෙම දියර පොහොර ආනයන වැඩපිළිවෙල හරහා අස්වැන්න වැඩි කරගැනීමේ අපේක්ෂාවන් ඉටුකර ගැනීමට නොහැකිවනවා පමණක් නොව හරිත කෘෂිකර්මාන්තය සඳහා වූ අපේක්ෂාවන්ද ඉටුකරගැනීම දුෂ්කර කටයුත්තක් වනු ඇත. 

Dr. C.S. Weeraratna,

Economic and social benefits of the agricultural sector, which includes cultivation of food crops and plantation crops, are well known to most of us. The value of the paddy and other food crops produced during a year is around Rs. 300 billion and we earned a similar amount in foreign exchange by exporting tea and other planation crops. Fertilisers and pesticides play an important role in crop production. However, the importation of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides was banned by a Cabinet Memorandum dated April 27, although these are not locally available in adequate amounts. As a result, inorganic fertilisers such as urea, Triple superphosphate, Muriate of Potash and other agrochemicals (insecticides, fungicides, etc.) became scarce. Agriculture Ministry in the meantime, promoted manufacture of organic fertilisers but they were unable to get sufficient amounts of organic fertilisers manufactured mainly because raw-material necessary for production of adequate amounts of organic fertilisers is not available locally. Thousands of farmers all over the country started to protest demanding that appropriate fertilisers and pesticides are made available. They have prepared the lands to cultivate paddy for the current Maha season but they are yet to start cultivating as they are not sure ofthe availability of appropriate fertilisers. Non availability of suitable fertilisers at correct times and appropriate pesticides is causing immense problems not only to paddy farmers but also among those who cultivate other food crops, horticultural and floricultural crops.

Probably the Finance Minister, having realised the utter foolishness of banning the import of inorganic fertilisers and synthetic pesticides lifted the ban and issued a gazette notification on 3 August re-authorising the import of several types of chemical fertilisers to be used in the Maha season. Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) realising the need to use inorganic fertilisers got down 30,000 of tons of potassium chloride. Although the MOA says that it is organic, to satisfy some, it is Muriate of Potash which is chemically potassium chloride (KCl) extracted from deposits of a mineral Sylvinite found in several countries. It does not matter whether it is called organic or inorganic as long it supplies potassium to crops

Perhaps because the MOA realised that there would be not enough organic fertilisers for the Maha season, Sri Lanka’s two state fertilizer companies signed an agreement with a Chinese fertilizer supplier to supply 96,000 MT of organic fertilizer (OF) in granular form containing 10 per cent of Nitrogen . According to National Plant Quarantine Service OF to be imported contain some pathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus and Erwinia. Hence, the shipment of the China-manufactured organic fertilizer was halted and the ship carrying the OF was supposed to have turned back.

As Sri Lanka is facing a severe shortage of both inorganic and organic fertilisers, after the import of the former was banned and the shipment of OF from China, was halted, MOA went ahead with the import of 3.1 million litres of nano- urea , a liquid fertiliser from Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) . In their official website, IFFCO has indicated that this Nano-urea fertiliser should be applied only as a top dressing along with a reduced rate of urea, According to all research reports on this liquid fertiliser, Nano-urea is a supplementary source of Nitrogen.

According to a web site https://patents.google.com/patent/CN1269774C/en Nano Urea comprises 0.01 to 5 wt% of quinhydrone, 0.01 to 10 wt% of calcium cyanamide in addition to urea.. There were some who were of the view that Chronic Kidney Disease ( CKDU) is caused by fertilisers. This is one of the reasons to justify banning of inorganic fertilisers and synthetic pesticides. Whether nano urea will cause similar effects is not known. Nano particles are of minute size . In general, nearly 100 kg of nitrogen is taken up by the paddy crop yielding 4-5 tons of grains per hectare. Accordingly, Nano-Urea should be applied at a rate of 1,250 liters per hectare if it is the only source of nitrogen added to the crop. Nano- urea need to be sprayed to the foliage and it is possible that it could have a disastrous effect on the living organisms including human beings, which the health authorities need to give serious consideration. Nano products are new to the environment and not enough research has been conducted on the long-term effects of Nano particles on animal health and environment. There are no recommendations on the amounts, and frequency of Nano Urea to be applied to different crops . Many Farmers are refusing to apply nano urea as they have not being made aware of the appropriate recommendations which should not be made in an ad-hoc manner without conducting any field investigations.

Considering the cost of the fertilizer and labour cost for application, the use of foliar fertilisers in a crop like paddy, is expensive and will increase the cost of production. Any fertiliser imported to the country needs to be tested following the accepted protocols prior to giving approval for importation and after the shipment has arrived in order to assure quality and to avoid any negative impacts. It is not known whether such tests were carried out before Nano-Urea was brought to the country.

Dr. C.S. Weeraratna,

csweera@sltnet.lk

Chaturanga Samarawickrama Courtesy The Daily Mirror

A pecial gazette notification was issued announcing the Meerigama-Kurunegala section of the Central Expressway (E-04) which was designated as an Expressway to be an ‘User Fee National Highway’

The gazette notification was issued by the Highways Minister, Johnston Fernando.

The stretch of road is 40.910 km long and 80.000-100.000 metres wide, situated between Meerigama (36.981km) and Kurunegala (77.891km) of the Central Expressway, the gazette notification said.