The World Cup semi-finals between England and South Africa in 1992 became a talking point of the cricket world due to an ‘unfair’ rain related rule that cost South Africa a spot in the finals of the World Cup.
South Africa’s task of gathering 22 runs from 13 balls was reduced after a brief spell of rain to 21 runs required off a single delivery in this World Cup semi-final game. The game became a farce and the subject of ridicule and parody.
ICC then requested two British mathematicians Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis to design a reliable model to be used in rain affected one day cricket matches. Their proposal was accepted and though later somewhat modified by Steve Stern it is now used as the ‘Duckworth-Lewis’ method.
Senaka Weeraratna, a Sri Lankan lawyer, conceived an unique concept called ‘player referral’ as far back as 1997 to minimise on-field umpire errors. His letter to the editor entitled ‘Third umpire should perform the role of an appeal judge’ was first published in the ‘Australian’ (Australia’s national newspaper) on March 25, 1997, and thereafter in several newspapers and journals all over the cricket world.
Until he drew public attention to the benefit of such a player referral system, there was no such system or mechanism in any other sport (Wikipedia.) His concept is undoubtedly revolutionary in its breadth and scope because it challenges the validity of a fundamental rule since the inception of cricket – the decision of the umpire is final.
Basically, the Decision Review System (DRS) is a technology-based process for assisting the match officials with their decision-making. On-field umpires may consult with the third umpire (an Umpire Review) and players may request that the third umpire consider a decision of the on-field umpires (a Player Review).
Under the DRS a player of either side is empowered to appeal directly to the third umpire against the decision of an on-field umpire. It removes the finality of a decision made by an on-field umpire in upholding or dismissing an appeal. This is a revolutionary change. It goes against a cardinal tenet of cricket tradition namely that the umpire’s word is final. Nevertheless, it has brought integrity and justice to the game in place of an over exaggerated, flawed and abused method of adjudication.
In 2006, the International Cricket Committee of the ICC formally adopted the concept of Player Referral conceived by Senaka Weeraratna, and later introduced it to the cricket world as the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS also called DRS).
The DRS is now used in all formats of the game (Test, ODI and T20) whereas the Duckworth-Lewis method is purely confined to rain affected one day internationals (ODI) and T20 cricket matches. With the improvement in technology the accuracy of DRS is expected to increase further and many a team and players will benefit.
A case in point is the just concluded India vs Sri Lanka T20 series. A Sri Lankan batsman was adjudged caught-behind while attempting to nudge at a delivery coming on his leg side. But when the batsman appealed to the third umpire, the ground umpire’s decision was reversed as ‘Ultra Edge’ clearly showed that there was no bat involved. Sri Lanka had to take only one run to win. The umpire then signalled a wide and Sri Lanka won the match. In the absence of DRS and if it was the last bowl of the game, Sri Lanka would have lost the chance of winning the match.
DRS – great boon to cricket
The DRS has been a great boon to the world of cricket ever since its official introduction to Tests by the ICC in October, 2009. Many a batsman’s innings and sometimes even a cricket career has been salvaged by bringing into play of the DRS, which prevents patently wrong umpire decisions to stand.
It has helped umpires to be more at ease; enabled them to be more confident, contributed towards making the playing environment better. Today the players behave more responsibly and regular on-field outbursts have been greatly reduced. Most importantly it has led to a 7% increase in the accuracy of umpire decision making i.e., from 91% to 98% according to ICC sources. It has served the best interests of cricket given the plaudits coming from all sectors for the DRS.
Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor, the Indian politician, recently expressed his views on the impact that the Decision Review System (DRS) has had on the modern game, and he stated unequivocally that it has been one of cricket’s best innovations. Tharoor further said that international cricket should never be without DRS in the future, given how many errors the technology prevents.
DRS is such a major innovation. I never want to see international cricket without DRS ever again. It is so indispensable and eliminates so many bad decisions, and it creates an additional form of excitement for the viewer. It adds an extra element of tension to the plot and it is a very welcome addition as far as I’m concerned,” Shashi Tharoor said.
The world is yet to give full credit to Senaka Weeraratna for this major innovation that has turned the game of cricket on its head. The more important question is whose brainchild i.e., that of Duckworth-Lewis or that of Senaka Weeraratna has served the best interest of the game of cricket.
Though both the Duckworth-Lewis method and the Senaka Weeraratna Rule are clearly meant to enhance accurate decision making it is indisputable that integrity of the game and Justice has been best served by DRS.
Varsha Thakur, the Indian journalist calls Senaka Weeraratna, the ‘Dharmaraja’ of cricket and the father of DRS.
Colombo, August 22 (newsin.asia) – The Island nation announced a lockdown which began on Friday night (20), bowing to pressure from medical experts as infections have overwhelmed the healthcare system. All essential services will function as normal. Read more
As the lockdown came into effect on Friday night, Colombo went silent. Busy stretches such as the Galle Road, Marine Drive and High-Level Road remained deserted, barring an occasional vehicle or two.
India’s attempts to revive the Colombo Security Conclave have garnered media attention. On Tuesday, the South China Morning Post argued that the revival of a trilateral grouping between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, shows New Delhi’s wariness of Beijing’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean region.
The group, now known as the Colombo Security Conclave, was formed in 2011 under the name National Security Adviser Level Meeting on Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation. It was revived and renamed Colombo Security Conclave in November 2020 after a gap of six years. Earlier this month, the first Deputy National Security Adviser meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave kicked off virtually.
The renaming of the grouping proves that the three countries are institutionalizing the group, a move that is especially beneficial to India because the country can include this mechanism in its Indian Ocean Region strategy to help maintain India’s leading role in the region.
The Colombo Security Conclave is an emphasis and complement to India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, in which New Delhi pays particular attention to the security in the Western Indian Ocean, a region that is not in Washington’s top priority in its Indo-Pacific strategy. That is why the Seychelles and Mauritius – both in the Western Indian Ocean – were invited to the meeting as observers.
The meeting indentified four pillars of cooperation under the CSC: marine safety and security, terrorism and radicalization, trafficking and organized crime and cybersecurity. In other words, the CSC offers non-traditional security cooperation for those smaller regional countries to “maximize their security in Indo-Pacific region without picking any sides,” as a scholar from Bangladesh argued.
While it is true that the CSC is currently focused on non-traditional security cooperation, it could be an indirect and cost-effective way for New Delhi to strengthen traditional security cooperation. Some specific missions in non-traditional security cooperation are very similar to those in traditional security cooperation, particularly the maritime one. Both types of cooperation, for example, involve activities with the navies and coast guards of neighboring countries. And such interactions have already directly or indirectly consolidated India’s traditional security interests in the region.
As a regional power, India can guarantee the interests and security of smaller countries around it in some ways. But by wooing these countries into certain mechanisms, India is also forcing them to take sides, something that many of these countries are trying to avoid.
To be more specific, Bangladesh, which currently holds observer status at the CSC, might be vigilant about the group becoming a geopolitical strategy to contain or counter China. Such concern is reasonable due to India’s hostility against China. India is already building military bases in the Seychelles. It wants to use these facilities as some of its future strongholds to contain China in the Indian Ocean. Moreover, many of the India-led mechanisms in the Indian Ocean region exclude China.
There is no problem for countries in the region to participate in normal regional cooperation mechanisms. However, if they get involved in India’s anti-China attempts, then these small countries may miss out on some development opportunities with China. China advocates true and open multilateralism within the UN framework, rather than pursuing political and military blocs in the name of multilateralism. Small countries in the Indian Ocean should keep a clear head and be alert to India’s ambitions. The CSC should not become a trap set for smaller regional countries by India to maintain its dominance in the Indian Ocean and realize its geopolitical ambitions.
As the three observer countries Bangladesh, Seychelles, and Mauritius have been invited to become full members at the next meeting, it is clear that the Conclave is expanding. If the mechanism gets bigger in the future, India may also want to include and engage with some of the countries outside the region and some Western countries that supposedly share India’s values, including Japan, South Korea, Europe and the US. In terms of agenda, the CSC is likely to shift to the economic field and then to traditional security.
In short, India will gradually make newer mechanisms such as the Colombo Security Conclave functionally close to some of the old ones, complementing and supporting the existing mechanisms such as the Quad and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.
The author is secretary-general of the Research Center for China-South Asia Cooperation at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, a visiting fellow of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, and a distinguished fellow of the Chinese (Kunming) Academy of South Asian and Southeast Asian studies. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn
The government has planned to commence the vaccination of people between the ages of 18 and 30 years in the second week of September.
Joining the media briefing today (August 22), Acting Chief of the Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Samitha Ginige said that 3.2 million people belong to that age group.
He said, Our population over the age of 30 years is 11.5 million. We need 23 million to give them both doses. At the present, we have received 19.5 million vaccines. The remaining doses can be obtained within the next two weeks. Our goal is to give both doses to everyone over the age of 30 by the first week of September. We are successfully reaching that goal.
Today, 99% of the population over 30 has completed the first dose. Further, 48% of the group over 30 have been given the second dose”
MP Rishad Bathiudeen is once again under the spotlight after a doctor serving at the Magazine Prison, where the parliamentarian is remanded, accused him of levelling threats against his life.
The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) launched investigations into the incident based on a complaint filed by the relevant doctor with the Borella Police.
The doctor had lodged the complaint after informing the chief medical officer and a senior officer at the prison both verbally and in writing.
According to the complaint, MP Bathiudeen had obstructed the duties of the doctor while he was treating an inmate on the 15th of August.
Reportedly, doctor, who asked MP Bathiudeen to wait outside for his turn, has been told that his service is not required since the parliamentarian is capable of calling a doctor acquaintance.
Then the former minister has allegedly threatened the doctor, saying that he can have him transferred while also threatening to end the doctor’s life.
He had alleged stated that he has parliamentary privileges and is treated well by both Government and the Opposition.
The threat has also extended to the point that the lawmaker had purportedly asked the doctor to find a good place to hide.
Reportedly, the investigating officers recorded statements from the relevant doctor, who was summoned to the CCD this evening.
In the meantime, a special police team of the CCD visited the Magazine Prison today for inspection.
The total number people who fell victim to COVID-19 infection in Sri Lanka soared yet again as a record high of 183 new fatalities were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services on Saturday (August 21).
The new development has pushed the official death toll from the virus outbreak in Sri Lanka to 7,366.
According to the data released by the Department of Government Information, the latest victims include 107 males and 76 females.
As many as 136 deaths were reported among the elderly people who are aged above 60 years.
In addition, 45 individuals aged between 30-59 years and two females below 30 years have also succumbed to the virus infection.
Sri Lanka reported its highest count of daily COVID-19 cases today (August 22) as total infections confirmed within the day exceeded 4,000.
According to official data, 4,304 novel coronavirus infections were detected today. The Government Information Department stated that 4,282 of the latest cases were associated with the New Year Cluster and the remaining 22 have been identified as arrivals from foreign countries.
Earlier today, 3,110 positive cases were confirmed, followed by 1,194 more. The new development brought Sri Lanka’s confirmed COVID-19 cases tally to 390,000.
At present, 40,475 active cases are receiving medical care at hospitals, treatment centres and their respective homes.
Meanwhile, the number of total recoveries has reached 342,159 and the death toll now stands at 7,366.
The Island editorial on 17/08/21 titled
‘Puzzling reshuffle’ amused me no ends as I was going through it. I somehow
managed to look at it from another perspective, even with the gloom that is
brought on by a ‘Viral cloud’ hanging above us the governed, and perhaps not
the governors to the same extent.
A
refreshing change at least for me, away from what you see, hear and read these
days: wailing of the poor, many families suddenly finding themselves in the
middle of never-before-experienced economic hardships, the mass gatherings to get
the vaccine standing in packed queues stretching for how long (only god will
know), at many a location, and the health professionals asking for island-wide
lockdowns, increased testing and patient isolation, to mention a few, to avert
a disaster, of such ferocity and intensity never before seen. However, can the
governments’ shuffling strategy of several ministerial portfolios in the
Cabinet be considered even a reasonable attempt to support the fight against
the epidemic? And the editorial mentioned above raises a few points that are
quite thought-provoking too in addition to being as puzzling as the ‘Puzzling
reshuffle’, itself.
Now,
about the shuffle written by the editor: It brought to my mind some images of a
kind: ‘square holes/round pegs and post-turtles/fences’ (As for the latter, two
of my letters were published in the ‘Opinion column’ of the Island dated and
titled, ‘The post turtle era’, 19/06/18 and ‘Post turtle revisited’ 22/04/21,
respectively).
The
unfitting round pegs uncomfortably (?) sitting in those holes often come out
with sheer balderdash and the half-sleepy post-turtles suddenly awakened by the
deafening silence around them and not-to-be-outdone come out with their own
versions of balderdash, all of them thinking that their proposals and
suggestions are innovative and ground-breaking (literally) ideas. However, in
the end, a vast majority of them turn out to be, but miserable failures, a
fitting analogy to a blind fellow missing the target lock, stock and barrel
(how much they get paid by the public for this drama and the trauma caused by
them to the country?).
Eventually,
it will be back to square one, won’t it? New pegs and new turtles, going into
the shuffle-cycle, and the and governments’ policy of picking, plucking and
planting whomever it likes and wherever it likes them to be preferring ‘yes men/women and not the
no-nonsense and the competent personnel’ (6P’s of selection), resulting in
massive losses in both money and material, more harm done than any good, their
indiscipline, disgusting work ethics coupled with their attitudes (not giving a
‘tinkers cuss’), interfering with matters that are beyond their ministerial
responsibilities and duties, and who also can say ‘yes’ to any bigwig that asks
them to do something even when it sounds not right, are able to bend down from
their waists and ever-ready to raise their hands giving approval, whenever they
are asked to, their mission of nation-building thus becoming more of a slavish
submission to higher authority and nothing else.
And
some highly capable and educated people with proven track records in their
fields of expertise, who continue to keep their dignity, honesty and integrity
intact may stand a good chance of getting told ‘take it or leave it’ and few go
for the latter, with their heads holding high with pride.
So
many a government portfolio gets filled with such ‘professionals of such
calibre’, and the rest, needless to say its family members, and then their
family members, on and on.
Lastly,
the problem of ‘having to shuffle and reshuffle’ is one of their own making.
If
the government is genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of the country, its
people and preserving its environment and natural resources, it should employ
only the capable regardless of their political affiliation They must be made to
understand in no uncertain terms that they have been picked up based on pure
merit only and to leave their non-work-related loyalties at home. Unless the
government (and even the future ones too) follows this recruitment strategy,
these shuffles will continue to appear from time to time and they in the end
will again achieve next to nothing.
The Poor Order their Country Representatives to Cancel Payment on Trillions of Dollars of Sovereign ‘Debt’!
I remember What my father said When he was waiting Inline for bread… Poor of the World Unite Let’s take up cudgels and fight the good fight Poor of the world Unite! unite! Let’s regain our dignity and our right to life
The rich have unleashed germ warfare on the poor, annihilating 4.5 million human lives, as of now. The body count keeps rising terrifyingly by the day, while the rich relentlessly continue blitzing the poor with wave after wave of COVID cluster-germ attacks.
Already this pogrom is threatening to become the biggest genocide ever, in the history of mankind, and threatens to wipe out a good billion or more of the poor from the face of the Earth.
The poor, the most vulnerable in this type
of biological warfare, are concentrated mainly within the populations of the
NAM.
The attack, using germs developed in the
laboratories of the rich, is multifaceted; not only are millions dying from
COVID, the economies of the poor are being deliberately garroted, education
scuppered and the health sector smothered with the infamous three-S (Stop –
Start – Stop) economic strategy adopted by the goons of the rich, saddling the
seats of power in some of the poor countries.
The objective of the rich, in forcing the poor to follow the 3-S strategy, is to moor the poor Nations to the current globalised World Order until the COVID bombardment is over; when the blitz is done, the infrastructure of the poor countries would be in tatters and these countries would have ceased to be the Nation States.
We, the poor, in the Non-Aligned State of
Sri Lanka, cannot be Neutral lookers-on while this crime against humanity, is
being perpetrated by the rich. This dastardly attack has to be countered and
all culprits brought to book.
All human lives matter and the primary
objective of the counter-attack is to save each and every human life from the
cowardly germ-attack.
This objective cannot be compromised for
any reason, whatsoever; it is non-negotiable.
It is perhaps an oxymoron that we, the collective poor, are strong in the globalised world. Whether we like it or not, we are a cartel and like any cartel, our strength lies in our unity.
The poor are a cartel of debtors and in a
globalised world the poor are a power to reckon with; the total value of the
cartel sovereign debt is 15 trillion USD.
This debt is unsustainable debt.
It is also an inequitable debt that reflects the inflationary trends in the rich countries, the loaded wage and salary structures in those countries, and the disparity in currency exchange between the rich and the poor nations.
Furthermore, the debt has not taken into account the reverse flows; reparations due to the poor for the plunder, damages, and deaths caused by the rich from the time of Colonisation to the present days of aggression, invasion, and acts of destabilization.
We, the poor of the world, declare that we
shall not conform to the expectations of the rich; We have unilaterally taken a
decision to instruct our representatives to abort the payment of 15 trillion
dollars to the rich countries, which they consider is our sovereign debt to
them.
Post WW2, France unilaterally refused
repayment of a 2.5-billion-dollar sovereign debt on a loan taken under the
Marshal Plan scheme. The Americans ate humble pie
In the case of the poor, they have insurance. The rich countries are loathed to admit that they are indulging in germ warfare and claim that COVID is an Act of God.
When there is an Act of God, the law
provides, under the doctrine of force majeure, relief to the parties in
a contract since unforeseeable circumstances frustrate or prevent the
performance of the contract.
Hence, on that score too, 120 countries
shall not pay what is described as a Sovereign debt.
The Non-Aligned Nations, collectively, is
the home for the largest number of the poor in the world. The Non-Aligned
Movement, the largest group of Nations, next to the UN, inherits naturally the
power of the debtor’s cartel and on the NAM falls the mantle of giving
leadership to the poor.
We request the Non-Aligned Movements in
the Non-Aligned World to take up the cause of the poor in their countries; the
time is ripe; the time is now; let us fight poverty and our cause together.
Together, we shall be victorious.
The poor of the world, we shall overcome
the barrage of germs raining on us. We shall lock down our countries completely
from the outside world until we eradicate COVID completely.
Until then, let us build up a strong economy internally using the 15 trillion Dollars which God, through his Act, has given us. Let us spend our Sovereign debt on ourselves and let us come out of our forced misery and ensure a brighter tomorrow for our children.
This is the New Normal of the poor.
All media of the Non-Aligned Nations are
requested to publish this article in their National Newspapers, websites,
journals, blogs etc because in our unity lies our strength. We shall overcome
and we the poor shall be victorious.
Looking at the recent past I find you are obsessed with false unexp[lained Tamil people’s aspirations and issues that are not explained. I find it difficult to understand what your Tamil peop[le are deprived of. One day you go to a Teplis woman, the next day you go to the Indian High Commissioner and now you want to see President Rajapakse to discuss the grievances of Tamil people.
At this hour of Covid 19 Pandemic every freeloader must join hands with GOSL to fight Covid. One must be frothing mad to clammer for personal gains with a hidden agenda. If there is genuine desire to serve your Tamil people, you join hands with the government to develop the North. I do not believe you have the right to speak on non-existing issues in the east. Simply crisscrossing the country one day with Teplis woman and the next day with the Indian High Commissioner and another day with the President makes you dumb dumb look an absolute clown. If not a joker or a comedian. Oi Sampanthan, you swam the Palk Strait in the 1940s and entered the country as an illegal immigrant a KALLATHONI and haven’t you done well at the expense of Sri Lankan people?
Look back into the ;past and see if you have achieved anything for the Sri Lankan people? None. There are no issues in existence. All Sri Lankan people have some form of a grievance not only to Tamil people 12% of the total population for preferential treatment that is not even enjoyed by the total population of 75%. It is unrealistic and unreasonable for you to agitage in your false campaign to topple the government.
Do you think Sri Lanka is owned by the Teplis woman or Indian High Commissioner? Listen carefully Sampanthan, if there are any issues to be resolved, they are common to all Sri Lankan people and not only to Sri Lankan Tamil People. I suggest if you are not happy with the Sri Lankan government you are free to go back to where you came from. There is no one stopping you from doing that and please make sure you take back with you all your Tamils leaving behind the peace loving moderate Tamil people living amongst the majority Sinhalese. Sampanthan, You are nothing but a S…. stirrer. At your old age my advice to you is Please retire from politics with grace. Enough is enough you have been a freeloader and a Sh.. Stirrer for so long. Please get the hell out of my country.
High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka
Major General (R) Muhammad Saad Khattak called on Prime Minister Mahinda
Rajapaksa this morning at Temple Trees to hand over lifesaving COVID-19 medical
equipment from the Government of Pakistan.
In an expression of support to Sri Lanka in
its fight against the pandemic, the donation included 75 ventilators and 150
C-PAP breathing aid machines, manufactured in Pakistan. The assistance of
medical equipment is part of Pakistan’s SAARC COVID-19 emergency assistance to
support regional efforts in the common fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa, on behalf of the Sri
Lankan Government, thanked Pakistan for the generous contribution and
reiterated the continued strong bilateral relations between the two countries.
Colombo, August 21 (newsin.asia): In its first statement after the Taliban assumed power in Afghanistan, the Government of Sri Lanka said on Saturday that remains concerned about the possibility of mass migration, extremist religious elements attempting to find a safe haven and enhanced illegal narcotic trade which can have a destabilizing effect on the entire South Asian region.
The Government is keenly observing the situation on a daily basis, the Lankan Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
As a member of SAARC, Sri Lanka is prepared to play its role to assist any regional efforts in this regard,” the release added.
The Ministry’s statement further said that the Government of Sri Lanka is happy to note that the Taliban has offered an amnesty and promised not to harm any foreigners and requests the Taliban to continue honouring that commitment. The Government of Sri Lanka is also happy to see the pledges given by the Taliban that the women in Afghanistan can work and girls can go to school, following the Islamic tradition.
The Government of Sri Lanka also takes note in the pronouncement made by the Taliban that an All Party Mechanism will be established to take the country forward.
Now that the Taliban is in power, the Government of Sri Lanka requests that the law and order situation be stabilized and the safety, security and dignity of all people in Afghanistan be safeguarded. The government of Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and is closely monitoring developments.
Our primary concern is the safety and security of Sri Lankans living in Afghanistan and evacuating them to safety or back to Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the governments of USA, UK, India, Pakistan and the United Nations to assist in evacuating the Sri Lankans in Afghanistan, should they desire to do so. Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has during meetings with relevant envoys requested their assistance to the Sri Lankans in Afghanistan. The Government of Sri Lanka is ready to provide whatever facilities needed for this purpose. Of the total number of Sri Lankans in Afghanistan numbering eighty six (86), so far forty six (46) have already been evacuated. As of today, twenty (20) Sri Lankans are expecting to return from Afghanistan and Foreign Ministry is making arrangements for their evacuation. Meanwhile, twenty (20) other Sri Lankans have expressed their willingness to stay back in Afghanistan.
Since the start of the COVID-19 in 2019, people’s movement has been restricted and as a result e-commerce platforms and the digital economy started making a new and vigorous rise.
In both these areas, Sri Lanka had been lacking ground as these sectors were quite untapped with tremendous potential which lied ahead. It is not that Sri Lanka did not have the expertise to expand these areas, it’s just that the previous government had not given much consideration or way to it, despite several countries going ahead in digitalization.
Today, there are rumors floating that the government has increased taxes for e-commerce platforms by taxing online transactions. This is false. Infact the government is reiterating its position that it will make way for e-commerce platforms and digitalization to make their mark in Sri Lanka and will offer all assistance and facilities possible. In recent discussions with Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa, I discussed the tremendous need for more businesses to go digital and to create more online platforms, especially since globally all countries are now adjusting to the post COVID world.
Hon. Rajapaksa agreed and discussions are underway to expand these industries so that more entrepreneurs can surface and more people can get their businesses rolling even while having limited people’s movement.
A lot of people have queried from me as to why a buffer rate of 6.5% to 7% is being charged by banks for online transactions as opposed to the previous surcharge of 2%. This is not a government policy and is in fact being charged by the private banks. The government has nothing to do with it. Rising complaints are being received that these taxes are for services such as e-bay, Netflix etc, especially at a time when people’s incomes have been affected. These concerns were also raised with Minister Basil Rajapaksa who then instructed State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal to see how this matter can be solved for the benefit of the consumer. Minister Cabraal is in discussions with the private banks who have explained that this is due to the fluctuating dollar rate since these transactions are with platforms overseas. However Minister Cabraal is trying to reach a settlement on the matter soon.
The government will not be taxing online platforms, e-commerce platforms or digital businesses anytime soon and in fact relief will be offered in the next Budget, prepared by the Finance Minister. Minister Basil Rajapaksa has assured me that he will make way for the rise of more such platforms.
I am also in discussion with Minister Basil Rajapaksa to further relax taxes for e-businesses with a foreign currency inflow into the country. Such as e-gaming which attracts massive remittances and has become a global market attracting the young and old alike. Many have established livelihoods out of this and my aim is to expand e-gaming in Sri Lanka which will attract valuable foreign exchange. Presently for inward remittances from e-gaming, the Central Bank has imposed taxation on it but I am in discussions to see how this can be solved where we can promote the industry further.
Further, I am also in discussions to see how the government can promote BlockChain which enables the existence of cryptocurrency and a larger digital economy and I am on the verge of drafting a cabinet paper with the Finance Minister’s advice to get the approval of the government to pave way for digital banking. Through this approval, I am also looking to appoint a committee that can create policies for blockchain and crypto and train the youth to support industries related to blockchain.
Going forward Sri Lanka needs to concentrate more and use its potentials to create e-commerce platforms that can go global as well as expand our digital economy. This industry can attract massive foreign exchange and also create large-scale employment. I look forward to hearing fresh, new ideas from all of you as well on how we could strengthen these sectors which will only benefit us in this new normal world.
The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry reports that another 1,099 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, moving the daily total of new cases to 3,884.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 385,696.
As many as 323,390 recoveries and 7,183 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic.
The Epidemiology Unit’s data showed that 55,123 active cases are currently under medical care.
It is always in seasonfor old men to learn. -Aeschylus, Greek playwright of the 5th Century BCE
Partly to our dismay, gerontocracy has shown Its withered hands of a wizened old wizard Behind the recent cabinet reshuffle, muddle or mess, Moving ministers like pieces on a chessboard, changing, The configuration of portfolios, like pawns of restricted movement; But partly to our relief, it might turn out to be a stroke of genius Of an experienced Gerontocrat with a Grandmaster title claim. Moving pawns in a game of chess to avoid checkmate Is an intellectual feat of the highest order Let’s wait and see, before we pass judgement.
That is being politic, for the sake of being politic, you might respond. True, but in a situation where rule by the old is the norm Both in the government and the opposition, where games are won or lost What else could we do except keep our fingers crossed?
A gentleman noted for dealing with opponents in an impeccably politic Manner, without even positive ulterior motives, whatever the cost Is getting back the foreign ministry, after almost a decade of accustomed-. Mediocrity elsewhere. Only the oldies might remember how lacklustre His performance was then, when his pedantic rhetoric and politic postures Prompted on enemy faces feigned smiles that concealed daggers. Of course, I won’t say that he’d fail to avoid the fate of having to prove A doormat for a diplomat to be walked over in Geneva In ignominious submission To the dictates of the Mighty expressed through an abject mea culpa For human rights violations uncommitted and accountability issues concocted.
Then there’s the case of a worthy scion of a leonine clan Who is now required to tackle an unruly brood of callow cubs! Let him be careful lest his congenitally strong backbone Get stressed too much for his remaining in politics Any longer because, like his ancestors, he is no political survivalist. He is likely to give up politics, but never his principles!
In the case of a worthy of a different reputation and temperament, The heroic act, perhaps his personal best, committed by him Is lifting by firm fiat a local pandemic-related lockdown That eased the free social spread of the contagion. He has got his just deserts for he’s been rewarded With a kick upstairs from transport to power Where a younger colleague of his is credited To have done a fairly good job By having government policies implemented Through experts without dabbling in their work Or seeking to promote himself through crass gimmicks That are harmful to the workers and the general public.
But this latter was lucky that his known language skills And his past-masterly performance in palaver Had nothing to do with power that lights up residences Runs the industries and drives the human civilization The media will afford him an excusable chance To indulge in his often innocuously meaningless prattle.
A phone call from the PM came to the former health minister Who had just been sur-prised out of her job And transported, not to a plane of joy, but to a new terrain, Where the going won’t be so easy as where she was, This, despite her having met her responsibilities reasonably well In the critical circumstances that had suddenly emerged, Having even contracted the deadly corona in the process, That threatened her life and her family’s health, too. The call gave her some consolation, no doubt about that. The PM asked her to check on what was going on in her ministry. Perhaps, even more shocked by that request than by her removal From Health, she told him that she was no longer there (to meet his request). So it was crystal clear that the PM didn’t handle the cabinet reshuffle. The PM must be confident now that the lady won’t wrongly assume That he was behind her outster from a position that she did justice to.
The senior politician who has replaced her As health minister must have a lot of luck To outshine her in the job. But he is a gladiator hardened in the rough and tumble Of the traditional political arena.
The fly in the ointment in this perfect job is the fact Of burdening the youngest cabinet minister Who remains still untested and unbroken With additional responsibilities, earlier subsumed Under a subject included in the portfolio of one of the few Technocrats in the cabinet, with a proven track record. The novitiate’s position might be intended as a bridgehead For an imagined future of youthful meritocracy. That is alright. People, particularly, the young, Love Novelty in governance in terms of new blood, But they might think this is Nepotism, Which they love to reject.
Sri Lanka records the biggest ever daily increase of Covid deaths for the second day in a row, as new cases rise sharply
The daily number of coronavirus
deaths has reached 195 the highest since the pandemic began.
The
number of new cases rose sharply to 3839, after a fall earlier in the week
which inspired optimism that lockdown restrictions may not be required.
The general population is concerned with the higher daily death rate and the Opposition leader said the record daily death toll was appalling” and warned, there will be more to come”.
A
community health worker said: These figures are appalling, and of course we
think of the suffering that each one of those deaths represents to their
families and to their friends. I’ve got to tell you … there will be more to
come”. He said that the new variant was now in virtually all parts of Sri Lanka.
It’s true that it looks as though the rates of infection in the country
overall may now be peaking or flattening but they’re not flattening very fast
and it’s clear that we must keep a grip on this. We must maintain discipline,
formation, keep observing the lockdown.”
Meanwhile, the president is being criticized for taking a Trump-like approach to the pandemic by sitting in an air-conditioned room surrounded by his so-called virus preventive task force but refuses to go in front of the nation to explain the measure he had been taking to prevent it from spreading. In contrast, while all democratic leaders of the world had been giving daily briefs to the nation on the progress of their effort to reduce mass infection in front of the television cameras.
The
worst Covid Management capability
According to the data published by the Worldometers.info website, Sri Lanka reported being the worst Covid Management capability in the world except for a few African countries.
USA Cases reported during the last 7 days
2937 per million population and death in the last 7days 16 per million
population. UK Cases
reported during the last 7 days 3068 per million population and death in the
last 7days 10 per million population. Russia Cases
reported during the last 7 days 1032 per million population and death in the last
7days 39 per million population. Cuba Cases
reported during the last 7 days 5439 per million population and death in the
last 7days 49 per million population. Vietnam Cases
reported during the last 7 days 662 per million population and death in the last
7days 23 per million population. Sri Lanka Cases reported
during the last 7 days 1239 per million population and death in the last 7days
54 per million population
Delta
variant is very aggressive. There is no point in considering historical facts.
We must consider what is happening today.
In UK daily infection rate is 37314 and the daily death rate is 114, i.e. daily infection rate is 548per million population, and the daily death rate is 1.7 per million population, while in Sri Lanka daily infection rate is 3839 and the daily death rate is 195, i.e. infection is 178per million population, 9.0 death per million population. A five-fold increased daily death rate compared to the United Kingdom.
Why?
In Sri Lanka, the high death rate is due to poor management of
Covid patients in government hospitals. Sri Lanka health service does not have
an island-wide Corona management protocol. When it comes to the management it
is up to the individual doctor’s decision that matters most by selecting the medicine
and the life-supporting facilities as he/she wishes.
In the UK and in all other developed countries, the respective National Health service follows an approved specific protocol when treating a Covid patient. For example, they have a list of recommended medicine depending on the severity of the infection and if the patient’s oxygen saturation in the blood goes below 94%, they should immediately transfer the patient to a ward where they can give oxygen. But in Sri Lanka, it is observed frequently that the patients are dying in the corridors of the hospitals due to lack of oxygen. Doctors openly blame the government and the government is leaderless.
However, despite a daily infection rate of 36,572, In the UK
there are no covid restrictions anymore because of the high standard of patient
care.
No sooner the US and Allied Forces left
Afghanistan, the Taliban forces walked into the capital city and captured
power. What was the mission of the US and allied forces in Afghanistan for 20
long years? The unfolding events paint a very bleak picture of the expectations
of the war in Afghanistan, the human and material cost incurred, and the
strategies followed by the USA, the elected Afghan governments and the UN which
had bags under it eyes during this long war.
Between
2010 to 2021 at times the US had more than 200,000 soldiers and the cost of war
reached $100 billion a year. Total military expenditure for 19 years was $778
million. The UK and Germany ‘s Afghan war expenditure was $30 billion and $19
billion over the years, according to some studies $19 billion had been lost due
to waste, fraud and abuse.
Allied forces have lost more than
3500 soldiers while more than 2300 have been US soldiers. It is estimated that
64 100 Afghan Army and Police carders lost their lives during the 20 year
period of war. From 2001 to 2019 the number of civilians killed owing to air
strikes increased by 330% and the total killed in the war is estimated as
241,000. The total number of civilians uprooted or displaced during the war had
been around 400,000 with about 70,000 being driven away from their homes in
2020.
Joe
Biden assured three weeks ago that US troops withdrawal will never be like when
the US left Vietnam in disgrace and it was unlikely that Taliban will capture
power
At the end of the long war hardly within a very short period of withdrawing of the allied forces, the adversary had been able to capture the total area from the control of elected Afghan government with almost all the material, machines and the arms left behind by the allied forces. Patricia Gossman. Associate Asia Director of HRW summarizes the outcome of the counter -productive partnerships engaged by the USA in following para.
..”I have spent much of
these past 20 years talking to Afghans about the consequences of
counterterrorism gone wrong – the civilian deaths and injuries that never made
it into the Pentagon’s airstrike death count; the night raids that turned into summary executions targeting people who had the bad luck to live in
a contested district; the torture of people in custody that destroyed lives and
motivated revenge. I have also talked to many Afghans about the unforeseen
consequences of these actions – the Taliban resurgence abetted by Afghan
government abuses and corruption; the grievances and disillusionment that drove
people to lose faith that post-2001 Afghanistan would be better; and the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Afghanistan, an offspring of Pakistan pandering
to Islamist extremism and Afghan warlords’ mis-governance in Afghanistan’s
east. The grounds for what went wrong was laid early, long before the Taliban
re-emerged, through squandered opportunities and the obliviousness or apathy of
U.S. generals about atrocities being committed by Afghan forces, the U.S.
military, and CIA units. Safe havens provided by Pakistan certainly helped pave
the way for the Taliban’s return. But far too little attention has been given
to what the United States did – and failed to do – in the years since 2001, and
how U.S. decisions and policies essentially set the stage for failure”.
Thus, the sudden withdrawal of forces and Afghanistan spinning away
uncontrolled as stated by the UN chief was anticipated by the experts on geo
-politics and many other commentators. The original objective of going in
search of Bin Laden and Al Qaeda terrorists were achieved by the USA but they
could not overcome the Taliban which was also considered as a Muslim
fundamentalist ‘terrorist ‘ group. Some reports have highlighted that the
Talibans have links to ISIS and Al Qaeda which complicates the overall
security situation as it could lead to cross border terrorist attacks in many
fronts with the help of the victorious Talibans in an unstable Afghanistan.
Finally. one should also consider the ramifications in the region
consequent to the regime change in Afghanistan. One of the burning issues will
be the management of refugee outflow from Afghanistan. Some estimate that the
Afghans awaiting to seek greener pastures will be in the region of 500,000.
Their movement immediately to the neighbouring countries in the region will
have to be managed so that there will not be internal repercussions in the
receiving countries. Central Asian countries, Pakistan, India
and China will have to adopt policies of engagement with the
nationalistic Afghanistan, Then , the relationship with the major powers such
as the USA, Russia, China and India will either provide the required balanced
environment for the economic and social development of Afghanistan or if one or more major powers
strive to impose their will to control Afghanistan it will lead to a new phase
of political instability in the country as well as the region.
In retrospect, the researchers have another
opportunity to probe into how the arms industry helped to prolong this
misguided adventure and if possible to stop such wasteful efforts in the
future.
The
President was elected by the people – 69 lakhs of them! It is true that his
candidature was spearheaded by Pohottuwa
but he is not the leader of this
political party. He is the leader chosen
by a majority of Sri Lanka voters to be their President. At the inaugural ceremony,
he promised to be the President of all Sri Lankans. It is time President took
the people into his confidence and come out of virtual ‘hiding’ in the Presidential
Secretariat! President should lead from the front and inspire the people and
give them confidence.
It is time
the President explained to the people directly and at regular intervals the
main goals of his presidency, what has been achieved, what he aims to achieve and
what are the difficulties he is facing and so on in simple terms. He should
outline the successes so far from the time Covid-19 appeared in Sri Lanka.
There are many successes. These must be highlighted lest they forget. At the moment,
there is a severe gap in communications from the office of the President in
that it is not entirely clear the way the government machinery is progressing. The
Opposition accusations and taunting are left with no response which carries the
government position or stand on them. It is the President’s sole job to
mobilize all his supporters to support his initiatives and not let his support
base wither away at the hands of the likes of political failures such as the
JVP and the Kuhaka Jana Balawegaya. The JVP who could only obtain 3 seats at
the last parliamentary elections should not be allowed to destabilize the
nation with their sloganeering and protests. At the moment they are sounding as if they are the main
opposition threatening to overthrow the government by bringing people on to the
streets!
What the
people see is that the President and his government are firefighting with no
clear strategy. This is the time to show leadership from the front. In New
Zealand the Prime Minister address the people almost on a daily basis. This is
how she has won the confidence not only of the people, but also of the
Opposition in manner of speaking. The President and the Pohottuwa has nearly
2/3 majority in parliament and the 20th Amendment to boot. Most of the time
what is required is only a simple majority in the parliament. All this power
must be used to pass legislature necessary to control the pandemic and all
other manifestations that use the excuse of the pandemic to scuttle the
government machinery. These should include laws to control street
demonstrations and wrongful use of the media.
People
wanted discipline and a stern President. That is why Gotabhaya was elected as
their President. The need of the hour too is the same – a sterner President and
not one failing to do the right thing fearing the next election! Even at this
late stage he should understand that micro managing is not a successful
strategy. He should lay out broad policies and then hold subject Ministers
responsible for the successful implementation of policy. Trying to decide how
to have more hospital beds should be the job of the subject Minister or
Ministers! They should be held responsible for the successful implementation of
their portfolios.
President
passed the first wave and second wave of the pandemic with flying colors. The
third – the New Year wave was a grave mistake if looked at the situation in
isolation. All over the world, governments have come to the conclusion that
countries have to be opened up and live with the virus as the situations permit
and demand. The only long-term solution is to achieve herd immunity through
successful vaccinations AND newer and newer vaccines to curtain the ever
growing list of the new variants. The economies must be revived while the virus
is still around in order to keep the people fed and nourished. For this the
machinery of the government and private sectors should be kept turning! So far President’s
island wide vaccination drive is a huge success thanks to the indefatigable
health services and the armed forces.
It is far
better to face Geneva than to get a Nobel Price after saving the nation and her
economy. This is the stuff that history remembers! The war against Corvid-19
should not be carried out with the next election in mind. People wanted
discipline and a stern President. That is why Gotabhaya was elected as their
President. The need of the hour too is the same – a sterner President and not
one failing to do the right thing fearing the next election!
THE
OPPOSITION LAUNDROMAT – KUHAKA JANA BALAWEGAYA
The sole
intention of the Opposition Laundromat led by Kuhaka ( Samagi) Jana Bala Wegaya
and murderous JVPers is to disrupt all government measures to successfully sail
through the troubled waters of Covid-19 and the resultant Economic Crisis. They
have no answers to what ails the economy but are intent on not allowing the
government to make a success of it either. The contribution so far by the
opposition is all negative, reprehensible and clearly not praiseworthy. Washing
dirty linen in front of world diplomats is the depth of their depravity. The
current Covid-19 situation is similar or worse in other countries. One just
need to visit the following web site to see how the pandemic has affected the
world.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
WHERE THE
PROMISES OF ‘THE VISTAS OF PROSPERITY ‘ STAND TODAY AND IF THEY HAVE TO BE
MODIFIED TO SUIT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
SITUATION SHOULD BE TOLD TO THE PUBLIC TRUTHFULLY. THERE ARE MANY
ACHIEVEMENTS INSPITE OF THE ADVERSE PANDEMIC SITUATION. CORRECT INFORMATION OF
SUCCESSES AND FAILURES MUST BE TOLD UNDILUTED WITH REASONS FOR ANY FAILURES BY
THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF. THE NATION MUST
BE TOLD THAT WHAT THEY RECEIVE FROM ONE END HAS TO BE PAID FROM THE OTHER END! THIS
TRUTH MUST BE FLAGGED IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE LEST THEY FORGET. HE HAS ONLY A
FEW YEARS OF HIS FIRST TERM LEFT TO LAY A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR A SECOND TERM, A
MUST IN THE CURRENT WORLD SITUATION. THIS IS NOT A TIME TO CHANGE THE
LEADERSHIP. THE PRESIDENT NEEDS A WELL THOUGHTOUT, UNAMBIGOUS STRATEGY. FOR THIS HE MUST LEAD FROM THE
FRONT, BE SEEN AND ADDRESS THE NATION MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN NOW WITH A SMILE. SMILES BRING CONFIDENCE! HIS
JOB SHOULD BE TO TAKE THE PEOPLE INTO HIS CONFIDENCE AND NOT LET THAT
CONFIDENCE FALTER. THE ORIGINAL ENTHUSIASM OF THE NATION MUST BE REINSTATED. IF
NECESSARY HE MUST BE ABLE TO MUSTER HIS FORCES TO COUNTER THE AGENT
PROVOCATEURS ON THE STREETS.
IF THE
NATION IS A SHIP, THEN THE PRESIDENT IS THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP AND THE PILOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCCESSFUL NAVIGATION THROUGH TROUBLED WATERS. IF THERE IS
MUTINY ON THE SHIP, IT IS ALSO UPTO THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP TO QUELL THE MUTINY
AND IF NECESSARY ‘KEEL HAUL’ A FEW TO BRING SANITY AMONG THE REST.
IT IS UP TO
HIM TO INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN THE NATION AND TO STEER THROUGH WITH A FIRM HAND.
AS LONG AS THIS IS NOT DONE, EVEN LITTLE AJITH ROHANA THE LEADER OF THE PHI
ASSOCIATION LOOKS LIONIC, SOUNDS LIONIC AND MORE PRESIDENTIAL!
Colombo, August 20 (newsin.asia): The Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in his address to the country on Friday, that given the dire economic situation in Sri Lanka, it is important to keep the economy humming with activity even as steps are taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to treat the infected.
He said that the only solution to the health crisis is full vaccination which his government is set to achieve by mid-September.
Here is the full text of his address:-
The accepted opinion of the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of medical experts and according to the global standardized methodology is that vaccination is the only solution for the COVID-19 pandemic.
That is why, I made a special commitment to bring in vaccines to Sri Lanka in the recent past. I personally spoke to the Heads of Governments in countries like China and India. I personally wrote letters to several other Heads of State. Discussions were held with vaccine producing countries through our Foreign Ministry, Ambassadors and High Commissioners. Our officials coordinated with vaccine manufacturing companies.
All these efforts were made because I wanted to vaccinate all the people of our country.
As a result of this effort, the country is now receiving a large number of vaccines that we need monthly.
Initially, we received the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India.
Afterwards, we were able to get the Sinopharm vaccine manufactured in China, but the administration of the vaccine to the public was delayed for about a month due to the delay in getting the vaccine approved by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). Nevertheless, the Government took measures to administer Sinopharm vaccine continuously since May 8 this year. In addition, we have received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from the United States, the AstraZeneca vaccines from Japan, and the Sputnik vaccines from Russia, placing us among the countries that administer the highest rates of COVID-19 vaccines to its people. As at the 19th of this month, a total of 12,019,193 vaccine doses have been administered as the First Dose.
Meanwhile, 5,124,185 vaccines have been administered to the people as the Second Dose. In addition, we have approximately three million doses of vaccines to be given as the Second Dose. Another 3 million doses will be received later in this month. At present, about 98% of the people who are above the age of 30, have been vaccinated while 43% have been given the both doses. By August 31, more than 81% of the population will be able to receive the second dose. By 10th of September, 100% can receive both the doses.
With this development, the number of patients and the number of deaths will decrease.
The Government took steps to vaccinate all frontline health workers, persons engaged in essential services such as ports, security services, and factory workers by giving them riority. People over the age of 60 were also vaccinated by giving them priority. In addition, more than a million factory workers under the age of 30 were also vaccinated.
We continue to follow the restrictive measures such as the imposition of inter-provincial travel restrictions across the country, isolation of Grama Niladhari Divisions, imposition of curfew, summoning only the essential public service employees to work, halting the functions like weddings, closure of certain businesses, ban on inter-provincial travel and prohibition of gatherings at places of worship.
We were able to successfully manage the first wave of the COVID-19 virus due to the actions that we took at that time. Such stern decisions had to be made at that time because there were no other options available at that time.
The country has to be placed under a complete lockdown for several months continuously. Through all these efforts, we were able to overcome the first COVID-19 wave.
Though we took measures to place the country under a lockdown occasionally, we should understand the consequences of this decision.
The lowest economic growth of the country since Independence was seen during the first wave of COVID-19 as a result of placing the country under lockdown.
Especially, the apparel sector that brought in a revenue of about USD 5 billion to Sri Lanka was gravely affected. Their orders were stopped. Many lost their jobs. Export earnings fell.
Our tourism industry, which generated over USD 4.5 billion and provided a livelihood to over 3 million people, completely collapsed. Hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost.
The occasional lockdown of the country dealt a severe blow to the construction industry. They are not able to bring in employees they require. It is not possible to obtain the raw material at the required time. Over the past one and half years, we have lost most of the expected local and foreign investments in this sector.
Small and medium enterprises are another important sector of our local economy. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major obstacle for these businesses that contribute more than 50% of the GDP. Due to the continuous disruption of their business activities, these companies lost revenue and faced grave issues without being able to repay their loans or pay salaries.
Those who obtained leases for vehicles could not pay the installments. Housing loan borrowers could not settle the loan installments.
Addition to this, close to 4.5 million self-employed personnel and daily wage earners became helpless since they lost their sources of income completely.
Amidst all these obstacles, we also had the responsibility to keep the people alive. We did not abdicate that responsibility.
Each time the country was placed under a lockdown due to COVID-19 risks, we spend around Rs. 30 billion in each round to provide an allowance of Rs. 5,000 to the people who have become helpless without a daily income. The government has borne this cost on a number of occasions.
In addition to the cost of quarantine centres maintained by the government, each family quarantined in their own homes is provided with a relief package worth Rs. 10,000 for two weeks.
Even under this dire situation, the government has never taken any action to reduce the salaries or curtail the allowances of more than 1.4 million public servants.
Though our foreign exchange earnings dropped, we did not default on the government’s loan installments. We had to pay a colossal loan installment of about USD 4 billion a year as a result of the loans obtained by various governments in the past. All these loan installments were settled on time.
The country’s economy would be in great crisis if the country was put under another complete lockdown. It is not a situation that this country can bear. A large number of orders have been received by the apparel industry in the export sector. If we are not able to deliver these orders on time, we may lose a large amount of foreign exchange.
We are also making great efforts to rebuild the collapsed tourism industry. At the moment, nearly 200 tourists enter the country on daily basis. If we close down the country, we will have to restart attracting tourists from the very beginning.
Moreover, by having to provide relief to the daily income earners, small and medium enterprises and companies once again due to a lockdown, the country’s economy will be gravely affected. The people should understand the impact of a complete lockdown. Today, except for a few countries, most others including economically powerful ones have fully opened up.
The tourism industry in the world is gradually recovering. The countries that are open today are taking advantage of that opportunity. Our country, which has a small economy should also take advantage of this opportunity. We can’t allow the country’s economy to collapse completely by refusing to take required action.
However, I have decided to impose a lockdown from 10 pm today till 4 am on 30th Monday of this month in order to contain the increase of COVID patients.
This situation is not a rivalry or conflict between different ideologists, trade unions, doctors, other health officials and the government. We have to understand the reality. This is a serious issue that the whole world faces. Today, all the countries are adapting to the method of ‘New Normal’. As a government, we have properly taken all necessary measures that need to be taken.
Although the government does everything it can to provide oxygen, establish intermediate treatment centers and administer vaccines, it is the role of the doctors to manage patients appropriately. Also, I highly appreciate the service rendered by the doctors, nurses and all other health sector officials so far, despite the risk to their lives. I also pay my respects to the health sector officials belonging to all ranks who have sacrificed their lives.
It is clear that this is not a time for strike actions and protests. Do not attempt to destabilize the country.
Although the health sector looks at this issue from one angle, as a government we will have to manage the small economy in our country if we are to continue to pay off foreign debts, pay salaries, and provide subsidies without any interruption.
Most of the people passed away from COVID-19 virus are over the age of 60. The majority of people out of them have been suffering from chronic diseases for a long time. And, they have not been vaccinated. People with these chronic diseases should seek treatment as soon as they develop COVID-19 symptoms. Therefore, I have advised the health sector to conduct Rapid Antigen Tests at least once a week targeting the people over 60 years who are suffering from chronic diseases.
I request everyone in the country to be prepared to make more sacrifices, if the country is to be placed under a lockdown for a longer period of time in the future.
At this crucial juncture, everyone should take the country forward strategically by acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
Therefore, I respectfully request everyone to work together in unity as a team to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.
All citizens above the age of 30 years are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the 10th of September, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said addressing the nation today (Aug. 20).
In his statement, the President stated that nearly 98% of the population aged over 30 years have received the vaccine so far, while approximately 43% of them were fully vaccinated.
The President is hopeful that the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths reported in the country would see a decline with the ramped-up inoculation drive.
According to the accepted opinion of the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of medical experts and the global standardized methodology, vaccination is the only solution for the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The President also spoke of the special efforts he had taken to import vaccines to Sri Lanka by personally contacting the Heads of State of India, China and other vaccine-manufacturing countries. As a result of this effort, the country is now receiving a large number of required vaccine consignments monthly.”
Further, he stated that the health sector was directed to pay special attention to people aged above 60 years, who suffer from chronic illnesses and to refer them to Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) at least once a week.
Speaking on the consequences of lockdowns, President Rajapaksa said the lowest economic growth of the country since the Independence was observed during the first wave of COVID-19 as a result of placing the country under a lockdown.
Each time the country was placed under a lockdown due to COVID-19 risks, we spend around Rs. 30 billion in each round to provide an allowance of Rs. 5,000 to the people who have become helpless without a daily income,” he noted, adding that the government has borne this cost on a number of occasions.
In addition to the cost of quarantine centres maintained by the government, each family quarantined in their own homes is provided with a relief package worth Rs. 10,000 for two weeks, the President continued. Even under this dire situation, the government has never taken any action to reduce the salaries or curtail the allowances of more than 1.4 million public servants.”
This is not a time to carry out demonstrations or strikes,” the President pointed out while urging the public not to push the country towards anarchy.
Speaking on restriction of movement, President Rajapaksa requested people to prepare themselves to make necessary sacrifices if the country is forced to endure prolonged lockdowns.
Full text of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s special address to the nation:
The Most Venerable Maha Sangha,
Religious Leaders of other faiths,
Friends,
The accepted opinion of the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of medical experts and according to the global standardized methodology is that the vaccination is the only solution for the COVID-19 pandemic.
That is why, I made a special commitment to bring in vaccines to Sri Lanka in the recent past. I personally spoke to the Heads of Governments in countries like China and India. I personally wrote letters to several other Heads of State. Discussions were held with vaccine producing countries through our Foreign Ministry, Ambassadors and High Commissioners. Our officials coordinated with vaccine manufacturing companies.
All these efforts were made because I wanted to vaccinate all the people of our country.
As a result of this effort, the country is now receiving a large number of vaccines that we need monthly.
Initially, we received the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India.
Afterwards, we were able to get the Sinopharm vaccine manufactured in China, but the administration of the vaccine to the public was delayed for about a month due to the delay in getting the vaccine approved by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). Nevertheless, the Government took measures to administer Sinopharm vaccine continuously since May 8 this year. In addition, we have received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from the United States, the AstraZeneca vaccines from Japan, and the Sputnik vaccines from Russia, placing us among the countries that administer the highest rates of COVID-19 vaccines to its people. As at the 19th of this month, a total of 12,019,193 vaccine doses have been administered as the First Dose.
Meanwhile, fifty-one million twenty four thousand one hundred and eighty five (5,124,185) vaccines have been administered to the people as the Second Dose. In addition, we have approximately three million doses of vaccines to be given as the Second Dose. Another 3 million doses will be received later in this month. At present, about 98% of the people who are above the age of 30, have been vaccinated while 43% have been given the both doses. By August 31, more than 81% of the population will be able to receive the second dose. By 10th of September, 100% can receive both the doses.
With this development, the number of patients and the number of deaths will decrease.
The Government took steps to vaccinate all frontline health workers, persons engaged in essential services such as ports, security services, and factory workers by giving them the priority. People over the age of 60 were also vaccinated by giving them the priority. In addition, more than a million factory workers under the age of 30 were also vaccinated.
We continue to follow the restrictive measures such as imposition of inter-provincial travel restrictions across the country, isolation of Grama Niladhari Divisions, imposition of curfew, summoning only the essential public service employees to work, halting the functions like weddings, closure of certain businesses, ban on inter-provincial travel and prohibition of gatherings at places of worship.
We were able to successfully manage the first wave of the COVID-19 virus due to the actions that we took at that time. Such stern decisions had to be made at that time because there were no other options available at that time.
The country had to be placed under a complete lockdown for several months continuously. Through all these efforts, we were able to overcome the first COVID-19 wave.
Though we took measures to place the country under a lockdown occasionally, we should understand the consequences of this decision.
The lowest economic growth of the country since Independence was seen during the first wave of COVID-19 as a result of placing the country under a lockdown.
Especially, the apparel sector that brought in a revenue of about USD 5 billion to Sri Lanka was gravely affected. Their orders were stopped. Many lost their jobs. Export earnings fell.
Our tourism industry, which generated over USD 4.5 billion and provided a livelihood to over 3 million people, completely collapsed. Hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost.
The occasional lockdown of the country dealt a severe blow to the construction industry. They are not able to bring in employees they require. It is not possible to obtain the raw material at the required time. Over the past one and half years, we have lost most of the expected local and foreign investments in this sector.
Small and medium enterprises are another important sector of our local economy. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major obstacle for these businesses that contribute more than 50% of the GDP. Due to the continuous disruption of their business activities, these companies lost revenue and faced grave issues without being able to repay their loans or pay salaries.
Those who obtained leases for vehicles could not pay the installments. Housing loan borrowers could not settle the loan installments.
Addition to this, close to 4.5 million self-employed personnel and daily wage earners became helpless since they lost their sources of income completely.
Amidst all these obstacles, we also had the responsibility to keep the people alive. We did not abdicate that responsibility.
Each time the country was placed under a lockdown due to COVID-19 risks, we spend around Rs. 30 billion in each round to provide an allowance of Rs. 5,000 to the people who have become helpless without a daily income. The government has borne this cost on a number of occasions.
In addition to the cost of quarantine centres maintained by the government, each family quarantined in their own homes is provided with a relief package worth Rs. 10,000 for two weeks.
Even under this dire situation, the government has never taken any action to reduce the salaries or curtail the allowances of more than 1.4 million public servants.
Though our foreign exchange earnings dropped, we did not default on the government’s loan installments. We had to pay a colossal loan installment of about USD 4 billion a year as a result of the loans obtained by various governments in the past. All these loan installments were settled on time.
The country’s economy would be in great crisis if the country was put under another complete lockdown. It is not a situation that this country can bear. A large number of orders have been received by the apparel industry in the export sector. If we are not able to deliver these orders on time, we may lose a large amount of foreign exchange.
We are also making great efforts to rebuild the collapsed tourism industry. At the moment, nearly 200 tourists enter the country on daily basis. If we close down the country, we will have to restart attracting tourists from the very beginning.
Moreover, by having to provide relief to the daily income earners, small and medium enterprises and companies once again due to a lockdown, the country’s economy will be gravely affected. The people should understand the impact of a complete lockdown. Today, except for a few countries, most others including economically powerful ones have fully opened up.
The tourism industry in the world is gradually recovering. The countries that are open today are taking advantage of that opportunity. Our country, which has a small economy should also take advantage of this opportunity. We can’t allow the country’s economy to collapse completely by refusing to take required action.
However, I have decided to impose a lockdown from 10 pm today till 4 am on 30th Monday of this month in order to contain the increase of COVID patients.
This situation is not a rivalry or conflict between different ideologists, trade unions, doctors, other health officials and the government. We have to understand the reality. This is a serious issue that the whole world faces. Today, all the countries are adapting to the method of ‘New Normal’. As a government, we have properly taken all necessary measures that need to be taken.
Although the government does everything it can to provide oxygen, establish intermediate treatment centers and administer vaccines, it is the role of the doctors to manage patients appropriately. Also, I highly appreciate the service rendered by the doctors, nurses and all other health sector officials so far, despite the risk to their lives. I also pay my respects to the health sector officials belonging to all ranks who have sacrificed their lives.
It is clear that this is not a time for strike actions and protests. Do not attempt to destabilize the country.
Although the health sector looks at this issue from one angle, as a government we will have to manage the small economy in our country if we are to continue to pay off foreign debts, pay salaries, and provide subsidies without any interruption.
Most of the people passed away from COVID-19 virus are over the age of 60. The majority of people out of them have been suffering from chronic diseases for a long time. And, they have not been vaccinated. People with these chronic diseases should seek treatment as soon as they develop COVID-19 symptoms. Therefore, I have advised the health sector to conduct Rapid Antigen Tests at least once a week targeting the people over 60 years who are suffering from chronic diseases.
I request everyone in the country to be prepared to make more sacrifices, if the country is to be placed under a lockdown for a longer period of time in the future.
At this crucial juncture, everyone should take the country forward strategically by acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
Therefore, I respectfully request everyone to work together in unity as a team to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.
