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https://www.msn.com/en-xl/northamerica/top-stories/why-scientists-are-more-worried-about-the-covid-19-variant-discovered-in-south-africa/ar-BB1d02fQ?ocid=msedgdhp

COVID 19 Variant in South Africa Exposes Ineffectiveness of COVID Vaccines? As reported by Julia Belluz and Umair Irfan for Microsoft News and reproduced

January 22nd, 2021

By The Sri Lanka Study Circle

Why scientists are more worried about the Covid-19 variant discovered in South Africa

On January 15, US public health officials warned that a more contagious variant of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 could dominate infections in the United States by March. That grim warning referred to B.1.1.7, a variant that was first identified in the United Kingdom.

But now, one week later, scientists are increasingly concerned about another variant that emerged in South Africa.

There’s evidence from several small, and not-yet-peer-reviewed, studies that mutations in the South Africa variant — known as 501Y.V2 and already present in at least 23 countries — may have a higher risk of Covid-19 reinfection in people who’ve already been sick and still should have some immunity to the disease.

a close up of a hand: The major concern is that Covid-19 mutations could undercut the effectiveness of the vaccines

.© Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images The major concern is that Covid-19 mutations could undercut the effectiveness of the vaccines.

Scientists haven’t confirmed that this variant is more contagious, though evidence is pointing in this direction. They’re also concerned that 501Y.V2 could have implications for treatments for Covid-19. Regeneron, a company that has developed a cocktail of two monoclonal antibodies as a therapy for patients with the illness, reported that 501Y.V2 may be able to evade one of the antibodies in its mix. The drug is still effective, but subsequent mutations could render it less so.

But perhaps most alarming is the prospect that the mutations in the variant could limit the effectiveness of existing vaccines, one of the best tools we have for controlling the pandemic.

The results of these recent studies are a serious indication we have to look hard at how well vaccines might work,” Penny Moore, a virologist at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa, told Vox. Taken together, they highlight the dangers of letting Covid-19 spread unchecked and also portend the challenges that lie ahead as the virus continues to evolve.

What the 501Y.V2 coronavirus variant might mean for Covid-19 vaccines

Moore is the lead author of a new study on 501Y.V2, out Tuesday as a preprint on BioRxiv. She and her team in South Africa took blood plasma samples from 44 people who had been infected with the coronavirus during the country’s first wave of infections last summer and then checked how their existing antibodies responded to 501Y.V2 as well as older variants.

The researchers sorted the plasma samples into categories — high and low antibody concentrations. Though antibodies can wane after infection, that doesn’t necessarily mean that protection fades completely. Another recent study showed that immunity stemming from infection lasts at least five months in most people, so the antibodies in those who’ve had the virus should still shield against earlier versions of the virus if someone is infected again.

In 21 cases — nearly half — the existing antibodies were powerless against the new variant when exposed in test tubes. This was especially true for plasma from people who had a mild previous infection, and lower levels of antibodies, to begin with.

The findings suggest immunity from previous versions of the virus might not help individuals fend off the new variant if they’re exposed, particularly if their prior case was mild or symptom-free.

For Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center scientist Trevor Bedford, who was not involved in the research, the study also came as a possible warning sign about the vaccines. As early as autumn this year, manufacturers may need to begin reformulating their shots to respond to the changes in the virus’s genetic code, he wrote on Twitter:

“The Historical and Philosophical Background of Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka“-Ven. Dr. Rambukwelle Devananda

January 22nd, 2021

Book Review Dr. Sudath Gunasekara B. A. (Hons) (Geography) Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Ph. D. (Agriculture)

Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Visiting Lecture Univ. Peradeniya, Retired Permanent Secretary to Prime

Minister Sirimavo Bandaarnaayaka (SLAS) 21.1.2021.

Ven. Dr. Rambukwelle DevanadaThera Chief incumbent of Sri Sambhodi Vihaara, Berlin, was awarded

a Ph.D. (Dr. Phil) magna cum laude” with First Class Honours by the prestigious Berlin Humboldt

National University of Germany for a Dissertation written in German on the Historical and Philosophical

background of Buddhist Festivals in Sri Lanka. He was registered as a post graduate student of the World

Religions and Philosophy Faculty of the University of Humboldt. This is the first time a Sri Lankan has

received a First Class with a magna cum laude” for a Ph.D. by the University of Humboldt.

This is a brief resume of the thesis written in German.

He begins his Dissertation with a brief introduction on Sri Lanka focusing attention on the close relationship between Lord Buddha and Sri Lanka with a short account on the pre-historic period as well.

With a short discussion on Theravada, (The Great Vehicle) Mahayana (The Lesser Vehicle) and Vajrayana Diamond Vehicle”) traditions in Buddhism he has pointed out the historicity and the authenticity of Theravaada tradition very clearly.

The author extensively make use of works like Mahavansa and Chulavansa by Wilhelm Geiger (1953) edition first published in (1912) History of Ceylon by K.L.M. De Silva (1981 Edition) printed in Los Angeles, The history of Buddhism in Ceylon WalpolaRahula and Deepavansa by Hermann Oldenburg (printed in Delhi and Madras reprinted in Berlin (1879) to trace back authenticity of historical events like the arrival of Vijaya in 543 BC coinciding with the passing away of Lord Buddha; the founding of the Anuradhapura Kingdom; The advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in 307 BC with the arrival of MahindaThera and the conversion of the whole Island to Buddhism and the Tambapanni being called the Dhramadweepa ((The Land of Righteousness) in the backdrop of this Island being sanctified thrice by Lord Buddha’s visits. With these events occurring in this manner the author traces back the origin of Sri Lankan art of Stupa building tradition, Festival of the Tooth Relict and other Buddhist festivals like the Poson festival also to a period as early as the 3rd Century BC.

Then he goes on to give a brief account of all important religious events from Anuradhapura period to the beginning of the Kandyan Kingdom. It is followed by a detailed narration of important religious events starting from the committing to writing of the Tripitaka in 103 BC at Matale at Aluvihaara for the first time in world history, the decline of Buddhism since then up to the Kandy period (1460-1753), and the religious revival that took place during the Kandy period among which the most important events were the introduction of Higher Ordination from Siam in 1753 and the inauguration of the Siamese Sect and thereby re-establishment of Buddhism in this country. The changes and decline of Buddhist festivals over time during this period are also well documented.

Thereafter he gives special attention to document the national, religious and cultural destructions and devastation done by the Western colonial invaders like Portuguese (1505+ 1658), Dutch (1658-1796) and the British (1796 -1948) He has clearly documented the revival of Buddhist traditions during the Kandyan period that were dormant due to restrictions and bans imposed by the Portuguese during their time. The lifting of the ban on the Vesak Holiday that continued up to the British times, the restarting of the Kandy Esala Perahera and the Buddhist resurgence is well documented. He devotes the first Chapter to show the destruction the Western colonial invaders had continuously done for 443 year to this country.

The author who delves on an analysis of the manner in which the living beings transmigrate in sansara being born continuously in realms with form and without form , the possibility of being born in the 136 great hells and in the same way in the four fold worlds of goblins, and the six heavens after death and how Buddha had gained the supreme position in all these realms as the Buddha, is succinctly explained to the Germen readers with the help of a graph in a manner that could be easily understood them. In the same manner he explains how Amisa Puja (material offering) could help to be born in realms of pleasure without vileness. Similarly he has explained the subtle points of the fundamental concepts such as Karma, the Doctrine of Patichchasamuppaada, Trilakshana, Punarbhavaya, Chaturaryasatya (The Four Noble Truths), AryaAsthaangikamarga (The Exalted Eightfold Path), Sila, Sansara, Sataramanga (Sovan, Sakurdaagaami, Anagaami and Arihat) and Sataraphala (linked with Nivan in detail, pointing out how merit making is closely related to the Buddhist dispensation..

While narrating the life of Buddha to trace back the fundamentals of worship practices to the life and time of Buddha the author also uses it to educate the readers on the Buddha’s life story which has helped to dispel certain misconceptions that prevailed among the Germens on Buddha’s life and connected matters. In the same way he has made use of the Thripitaka literature (The Three Baskets) to prove that there are valid reasons behind the origin and practice of Buddhist worship practices and the Buddha himself had approved the worship practices such as the worship of the threefold Saririka, Paribhogika and Uddesika relics as worship worthy objects. The author has succinctly attributed the origin, development and expansion to these objects and practices to other areas for these reasons.

In the chapter dealing on the historical development of Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka he has discussed Buddhist and Sinhala festivals separately, though they are interconnected and indivisible except for core emphasis. He points out that Hunting and Bathing ceremonies were there in this country even before the arrival of Arahat Mahinda and the Aesala Festival had got inspiration from the practices prevailed in Ancient India that were there even before the 3^rd century BC. He has added value to his Thesis by quoting from works of Authorities like Wilhelm Geiger and Edmund Hardy. Describing naming ceremonies and ploughing festivals and offering of Vihaara and monasteries during the time of the Buddha he has moved on to give details of cremation that were there after Buddha attained Parinibbaana and gives a vivid account on the cremation ceremonies that were there during the time of the Buddha, using quotations from Maha Parinibbaana Sutta, Mahavagga in DighaNikaya thus, Bhagavato sariran Dibbehica Manussehica naccehica, giitehica vaaditehica, maalehi ghandehi sakkaranto, garukaranto, maanento, pujento” by the humans and devas Thus he gives a fascinating account of such festivals during the Buddha’s time in ancient India. Thereafter he focus his attention to all festivals and ceremonies that prevailed in Sri Lanka starting from Giribhanda festival that was there in 67-69 AD and abandoned later, AriyavansaDesana held in Anuradhapura that was again abandoned during the Polonnaruwa period and Anagatavansa Desanava, MaitriiVannana that were started during the Kandy period and were abandoned later and Suvisi Puja that could be seen even today being conducted in village temples in the Kandyan area and Ganagarohana Puja practiced during the Dambadeniya (1220-1293) period.

He has shown how different types of Amisa and Dharma puja traditions as approved by the Buddha got transformed into religious festivals, particularly the Vesak and Daladaa festival came to be recognized as historical events and how they have undergone ups and downs from time to time. He has pointed out that according to MahavansaVesak Festival had been celebrated for 28 years by King Bhatikaabhya (38-66) AD and 44 years by Vasabha (127-171) AD and Maha Parakramabahu (1153-1186) declared VesakPoya as a National Holiday and also as the National Day of the Sinhala Nation. He also has pointed out as to how bans and proscriptions imposed on VesaK celebrations and discriminations against Sinhala Buddhists by foreign invaders since 1505 (Portuguese) Dutch (1665=1796) and British (1796-1948) affected the progress of Sinhala Buddhist activities. He has extensively used the works of authorities on these subjects like Wilhelm Geiger (Chula vansa), Tennakoon Vimalananda (The State and religion In Ceylon since 1815) Henry Olcott (Der Buddhistische Kattechismus) to prove his conclusions. Delving in details on the subject of Buddhist renaissance emerged with the new lease of life given to Vesak Festival he has made a deep analysis and has shown how the Sinhala culture had become one with the Buddhist Culture. Tracing the festival of Katina Chivara puja that has assumed the most important place, second only to Vesak the author also has pointed out how the Fivefold grievous sins lead the way to hell, the Eightfold Meritorious Deeds lead the way to Nibbana. He has also given details of traditions such as invocations for the Rainy season, offering of robes for the rainy season, beginning of Vas period, ending of Vas and offering of Katina robes, quoting extensively from the Tripitaka. Making an excellent interpretation on preaching of Dhamma he has pointed out as to how preaching the Dhamma had become a Great meritorious event with examples from history. For example how King Devanampiyatissa (247-207)) and King Dutugemunu (161-140) on their own had gone to listen to Bana preaching, and King Agbo the 5th(711-717) AD, preached Bana himself to the people. At the same time he has given 16 occasions when monks should not preach Dhamma, using mahavansa, Sekiya Heranasikha, and Praatimoksha. At the same time he has shown the development of a wealth of B uddhist literature in the country by compiling hundreds of books on Dhamma from Anuradhapura period to the present time. He also has shown the historical and philosophical background of different variances of Bana preaching like Mangul Bana, Avamangul Bana, Pohoya Bana, Maranaasanna Bana, Mataka Bana, Kavi Bana, Bhuktaanumodana Bana, Yugaasana Bana and other Bana preaching types that have gone in to disuse. Based on PirithDesana, how they were converted to merit making events, how the Pirit Pota (Book of Protection) came in to being how Pirit Mandapas were constructed incorporating the meaning embodied in sutras and how Buddhist art and musical instruments such as Davula (Large Drum), Tammetama (Kettle Drum), Getaberaya, Hakgediya (Conch) and Horaneva (Flute) and accompanying music developed around these practices giving rise to a unique Buddhist art. He also has shown how different types of ailment both physical and mental including those caused by physical causes, evil spirits and famines and natural calamities and various other difficulties faced by humans both from the visible and un-visible forces were cured by using religious methods like Pirith for thousands of years, in an age when modern medical systems were not developed. The historical and philosophical background is also clearly explained on practices and traditions like Seth Pirit, Varu Pirith, Tunwel pirith, Pasvel and Hath wel pirith, Tistun Paye Pirith and Sati Pirith. He has pointed out the philosophical meaning of Saangika Daana (Daana offered to a group of minimum of five monks together with the relics casket representing the Buddha) including how it confers benefits as preached by the Buddha, how it benefit all those in the Three Worlds, the meaning of Daana and how it should be prepared and offered. Referring to Netraa Pratishthaapanaya (inserting eyes in an image) is one of the greatest meritorious acts, he says. From the discussion he has had with Suranga Rajawardhana a reputed vihaara artist in the District of Kandy the author has revealed many a rare secret on Netra pratishthaapana festival including how an image is converted to the status of a living Buddha.

The historicity of all these offerings and ceremonies, their development, and changes taken place over time like a links of a chain and how all of them are interconnected with the Buddha’s teaching, the Author has displayed in a very fascinating style.

Glossary:

He has made use of this section to explain in detail, many a knotty point. Among them he has included 108 terms used to name the Buddha; 94 terms to Nibbana: with Germen translations of Pali and Sanskrit terms displaying his familiarity with both oriental and occidental languages

Bibliography:

The number of texts author has referred in pursuit of this great feat are as follows Sinhala 30: Pali 16; English 32; Germen 22, Sutras in Tripitaka 80 and 21 Websites. This Thesis is generously illustrated with rare and relevant Photographs. Each Chapter is meaningfully linked to the other in a manner that keeps the reader interested and spell bound to read it. In addition this work includes valuable information on subjects such as history of Sri Lanka, Buddhism, Buddhist Philosophy, and 04 Buddhist social style, methods of Buddhist meditations, Sinhala culture and Buddhist Civilization. Scholarly and academic distinction:

The awarding of a First Class Honours Degree by a prestigious University one of the best in the world on Oriental studies alone is enough proof to warrant the scholarly and academic distinction of this work. Among the many eminent and distinguished scholars whose works referred to by the author include Revs Polwatte Buddhadatta, Balangoda Ananda Mayitriya, Gnanaponika, Profs. Senarat Paranavitana, Tennakoon Wimalananda, Gunapala Malalasekara, Robert Knox, Henry Parker, Henry Olcott, Wilhelm Geiger, H.C. Norman, Richard Gombrich, Herman Oldenburg, Ramachandara Rao and Ananda K.Coomarasmy.

Professor Dr. Dr. Bertram Schmitz writes in his forward to this book Ven Rambukwelle Devananda has presented a new aspect of Theravada Buddhism to Europe that is more familiar with Mahayana. While making use of his personal experience he has explained the reasons for these Theravada ceremonies beautifully documenting every stage of these ceremonies and festivals.

Anyone reading this work will feel that he is witnessing this experience in person. At the same time his presentation of this work within a research framework and his connectivity of Theravada Buddhism with the Western philosophy also has heavily contributed to its success”

This Thesis written in Germen running in to 488 pages was printed by Tectum at Baden-Baden. It has already been distributed to all National Universities and to over 200 Libraries and also to countries like Switzerland and Austria where Germen is used. The Price is Euro 88.00 Euro (Rs.20, 592).The interest of Germen people in this book is evident by the fact already the first print is over within one month.

This rare and extraordinary Academic achievement of Dr. Rambukwelle Devananda could be taken as an end product of his success as a Buddhist monk engaged in missionary work following the Buddha’s Path. Needless to say that this masterpiece achievement of the author by coming first among 54 International scholar candidates is an honour not only to Sri Lanka the Home of Theravada in particular and to the Malwatta Chapter of Sri Lanka to which he belongs but also to Theravada school of Buddhism in general all over the world. Born and bred as a Buddhist in a Sri Lankan Buddhist family, having entered the Order at the age of 12 years old and lived the life of a Buddhist Monk, observed and practiced the religious rituals vigorously, his, is first hand personal experience and therefore it is an insider’s view and this Thesis therefore is an Actors model” different from an Observers Model’ which reflects an outsiders view sans personal experience.

The value of this Thesis is, thus, more than anything else, the end product of long process of learning, living and reflections, reinforced by both extraordinary academic and practical competence and dedication and commitment to his religion and motherland. Even at Home, way back in Sri Lanka, in his early life both at High School / Pirivena levels and at baccalaureate at University he has demonstrated the potentials of an outstanding future scholar when he scored the highest marks in the Island in public examinations. It was Walpola Rahula’s What the Buddha Taught” (1959) that opened the doors to new dimensions in authentic Buddhism in the Western World. Reading through this Thesis made me feel that in Rambukwelle Devananda, a new Walpola Rahula is in the making. Rahula’s work of cause is an encyclopedia on Buddhism as a Doctrine, Philosophy and a Way of life where as Devanada’s work has taken a different path focusing on it as a living religion that keeps the adherents deeply attached to a refined human civilization call ed Buddhist Civilization in the world that opens the doors to happiness, peace, prosperity and contentment in life in this world.

I see no wonder on his achievements, dedication and commitment to Sasana and Buddhist religious practices in Sri Lanka, being the chief incumbent of the Sri Sumantindarama Rajamaha Viharaya, Sadananda maha Pirivena of Doranegoda, a leading Pirivena in Sri Lanka that Rajamaha Viharaya was started during the time of King Devanampiyatissa by one of his Ministers by the name Sumantri. Making use of his scholastic talents and deep knowledge and intuition, I invite him to undertake similar studies on Sri Lanka Buddha Statues and Stupa Art both of which are unique to Sri Lanka so that his name will be ever immortal and glitter in high heavens in the galaxies of Sri Lankan scholars.

http://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/acampbell.html

An Englishman calls the Sinhalese ‘ a very highly civilized race ‘

January 22nd, 2021

Senaka Weeraratna

Sinhala Buddhists are the most demonized ethnic group in South Asia, despite their tolerance of other races and religions.

The following is an account written by an Englishman named Campbell in 1932, on his trip to Australia from Ceylon, accompanying a group of about 500 (largely Sinhalese), on the ship SS Devonshire, in 1882:

” The Cingalese were a very highly civilised race…They have deep pride of the Island’s historical and spiritual continuity. They burn with enthusiasm in their religious devotion and live up to it.. they are a race of primitive simplicity, know no malice, are hospitable, peaceful and cheerful minded. The rich Cingalese in Ceylon can say as Job said I was eyes to the blind and feet was I to the lame; I was father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not I searched out “

Every traveller to Ceylon cannot help but notice the friendliness of the natives; everything looks clean and bright as if to show off before strangers that they felt it was good to be alive…They have left their footsteps in sands of time over a century as loyal British subjects.

Over 50 years ago, the hymn from Greenland’s icy mountains was composed by Bishop Heber, the suffragan bishop of Madras, India, after paying a short visit to Colombo. The hymn contains the two following lines: ”Where every prospect pleaseth, but only man is vile” As a matter of fact, the native of Ceylon was never vile” to any one, in any way. It is a subject on which extreme exaggerations have prevailed. It is an obvious criticism that if they were as bad as some writers imagined they never could have subsisted if this view of their human nature had been a just one. Ceylon would have been like a cage full of wild beasts, and the inhabitants would have soon perished in constant internecine war.

Vile” was in the spirit of poetry” in rhythm with Isle” but lacked the spirit of truth and piety”. Evangelists use the hymn in their so-called missionary services and Sunday Schools composed of white people in the fervent hope it will give nourishment to the spiritual life of those who sing it and enlarge the collection of the Almighty Dollar”.

According to the most recent statistics there are no fewer than 187 sects of Christians, and they all more or less, bear very strange names. Some must flout the Bible in their numerous complex faiths. Some make a religious taboo of the Lord’s Supper, some of infant baptism, some of mixed marriages, and they are all antagonistic to each other theologically and overlap each other with churches, therefore the heathen in his blindness” is not safe getting into theological holts with their would-be saviours.”

See

Memoirs of a Pioneer – 50 years ago

Senaka Weeraratna

ECT and CDL in the Colombo Harbour -an analogue

January 22nd, 2021

Dr SARATH OBEYSEKERA Ex CEO Colombo Dockyard

Colombo dockyard previously a part of the port commission was owned by Sri Lanka Ports Authority which was offered to a Japanese company called Onomichi Dockyard where 51 % ownership was transferred lot stock and barrel with two docks and fully equipped and skilled workforce with fully-fledged workshops in the eighties to a close to 3.5 million dollars by then UNP government

When the share transfer took place, there was no lease agreement for the 13-acre portland with assets which was later given at 2 million Rs per month by the government of CBK when Ashcroft was the minister, for 30 years extendable to 60 years

It was a real bargain for the Japanese investor but Sri Lanka benefited by having a pioneer shipbuilding industry developed to an unprecedented scale under Sri Lankan Top management with the Japanese overseeing the operations

The property belonging to SLPA was never sold neither ownership transferred to the Japanese but a simple lease agreement with the port is in place similarly the Government should first form a private-public partnership for ECT and offer shares to port workers like the same way Colombo dockyard did during the tenure of DBW as the President when the writer was the CEO /MD who met him personally with the leader of UNP led trade union

Similarly, Adani group can be given 49% with a management contract like Onomichi which is charging around 400000$ per month to pay salaries of Japanese staff -four in full

During DBW’s time, the writer met him personally and convinced that the 10% of the shares of the Dockyard shall be vested to workers as stipulated in the investment agreement which was carried out using shares owned by banks

Today Dockyard has become an internationally known efficiently run shipbuilding yard placing them in an envious position in Asia

As far as I know, there were no irregular transactions underhand though there were speculations 700 million dollars to be paid by Adani Group to be transferred which can be called either a Premium or Key Money to the treasury for national needs during these difficult times where 10 % shares can be offered to port workers free of charge and some more to local investors Adani can manage like dockyard does and take away their 49% profit without deducting initial 700000 $ investment but they can bring much-needed transshipment business from India SAGT and CICT are run in the same way but Port workers are protesting against ECT privatization because they will lose additional income usually earn by underhand methods like the way they carry out every operation in the port today where in 10 or more locations where containers of goods pass thru at the checking points, the drawer of side cupboard of the tally clerk or security is left open where they expect 100 rs to be dropped by clearing agents Buddhist monks should only get involved in meditation rather than mediation and also they should do the propagation of religion instead of holding press conferences where they offer to die.

TV stations should spend more time and money rather than show press conferences by monks and trade unions like they now they run programs like Lakshapathi for people to enjoy during this Corona times

Dr. SARATH OBEYSEKERA

Ex CEO Colombo Dockyard

Health minister test positive for covid?

January 22nd, 2021

Courtesy Hiru News

Unconfirmed reports state that Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has tested positive for COVID19.

This was based on a rapid antigen test conducted.

Health+minister+test+positive+for+covid%3F+

However, the minister who was subject to a PCR test is awaiting results.

False negative results tend to occur more often with antigen tests than with molecular tests.

This is why antigen tests are not favored as a single test for active infection.

There has been no official statement made regarding the test results at present.

No official announcement has been made regarding the health condition of the Minister as well.

Meanwhile, the BBC Sinhala news has reported stating that Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has tested COVID19 positive following rapid antigen test and awaiting PCR results.

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi was reported to have taken the Dhammika syrup. If she is tested positive for covid through the PCR test she will join several others in the political fraternity who have taken the syrup and ended positive for the virus.

It has been observed that the public is still going after the syrup in spite of regular warnings issued by those in the health sector stating very clearly that this syrup is not confirmed or accepted as a cure for covid or a vaccine against covid

India welcomes emergency use approval of COVISHIELD vaccines in Sri Lanka

January 22nd, 2021

Courtesy Adaderana

The Government of Sri Lanka has conveyed that approval was granted for the emergency use of COVISHIELD vaccines, says the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka.

In a tweet posted today (January 22), the High Commission said this clears the way to schedule the delivery of vaccines from India to the island nation.

Welcome emergency use approval of COVISHIELD vaccines by Government of Sri Lanka. This clears the way for scheduling delivery of the vaccine from #India to #lka. #VaccineMaitri #AffordableVaccine4All”

COVISHIELD is the local name for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine developed in the United Kingdom.

The shots developed by UK-based drugmaker AstraZeneca and Oxford University are being manufactured at India’s Serum Institute – world’s largest vaccine manufacturer.

The vaccine, which is known as COVISHIELD, is developed from a weakened version of a common cold virus (known as an adenovirus) from chimpanzees.

It is administered in two shots – the second dose must be taken four to six weeks following the first.

Unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech jabs, which require 70C temperature for storage, COVISHIELD can be safely stored at temperatures of 2C to 8C, which is about the same as a domestic refrigerator.

India on Wednesday (January 20) began supplying Covid-19 vaccines to six neighbouring and key partner countries. Thereby, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles became the first recipients of India-manufactured vaccines.

India stated that it was still awaiting the confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius.

However, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana confirmed earlier today (January 22) that the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has approved the emergency use of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine jabs in Sri Lanka.

External Affairs Ministry (MEA) of India noted that several requests were received regarding the supply of Covid-19 vaccines manufactured by them.

India’s drug regulator recently gave the green light to roll out COVISHIELD and COVAXIN, locally-made by pharma company Bharat Biotech.

India kicked off its own massive inoculation drive on the 17th of January, with a goal of vaccinating 300 million of its nearly 1.4 billion people.

The vaccines supplied to neighbouring countries are sent as grants and India’s External Affairs Ministry said the vaccines were not part of COVAX – the United Nations-backed global effort aimed at lower-income nations to obtain the jabs.

Coronavirus: 787 positive cases in total confirmed today

January 22nd, 2021

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka’s Covid-19 numbers saw another surge today (January 22), as 441 more persons were tested positive for the virus.

Department of Government Information confirmed that 438 of the newly-identified patients are close contacts of earlier cases linked to the Peliyagoda cluster.

The remaining 03 were identified as arrivals from foreign countries; 02 from Tunisia and 01 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Accordingly, a total of 787 new cases have been reported within the day.

As per statistics, the total number of Covid-19 infections confirmed in the country to date now stands at 56,638.

Recoveries from the virus meanwhile climbed to 48,617 earlier today, as 633 more patients regained health.

However, 7,968 active cases are still under medical care at selected hospitals and treatment centres located across the island.

In the meantime, Covid-19 pandemic has claimed 278 lives in Sri Lanka to date.

Two more people fall victim to Covid-19

January 22nd, 2021

Courtesy Adaderana

Two more Covid-19 related fatalities have been confirmed in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Health says.

Following the new development, total lives claimed by the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country has reached 278.

One of the victims was identified as an 82-year-old man from Colombo 08. He had been transferred to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) after testing positive for the virus while receiving treatment a private hospital in Colombo. He was suffering from Covid-19 pneumonia at the time of his passing earlier today (January 22).

In the meantime, a 51-year-old woman from Homagama area also fell victim to the virus today (January 22). She had been transferred from Colombo National Hospital to Homagama Base Hospital after testing positive for the virus. The cause of death was cited as Covid-19 pneumonia, blood poisoning and kidney failure.

Some Questions regarding Sinhala & Tamil language

January 22nd, 2021

There is much ado about the claims that the 1956 Official Language Act was responsible for the present ‘ethnic conflict’. The advocate of this notion must explain how ITAK formed in 1949 sought to create a Tamil Nation as per translation of its name? They must also explain how grievance over Sinhala language could be solved by giving into a demand for ‘federalism’ as sought via Bandaranaike-Chelvanagayam Pact. What does Sinhala language have to do with federalism?

Let us simply ask some questions, find the answers and think about the false notions being spread

What was the language spoken during the rule of the Kings that ruled Sri Lanka?
Were the kinglets that the Kings established ‘independent’ and ‘sovereign’ or were they under one ruler who ruled the entire island?
Is there any evidence to show Tamil as an official language at any time in our island’s history?
What was the language of administration during colonial rule?
John D’Oyly learnt Sinhalese, did he also learn Tamil? Why didn’t’ he?
If Jaffna was a separate kingdom, why didn’t British sign a separate treaty with the Tamils similar to the Kandyan Convention signed in 1815?
The colonials set up the best of missionary schools in minority areas as part of divide and rule policy, giving the best of education to minorities and enabling them to secure the best jobs thereafter – didn’t Sinhalese suffer the greater discrimination during colonial rule as a majority? – their language rights, cultural rights, religious rights were all earmarked to be vanquished.
The ‘elite’ that the British nurtured through their education system in English language, converting to Christianity meant that Sinhalese & Tamils who converted only could obtain English education. Were these not the one’s who preferred to remain the chosen elite continuing to think and act like the British even after independence? Were these not the brown sahibs the British wanted to hand over powers to on their behalf?
Wasn’t the demand to reverse the discrimination to Sinhalese manipulated into showcasing a majority-minority rift, again part of colonial divide and rule policy?
The demand to reverse the discrimination suffered by the Sinhalese had nothing linked to Tamils nor did Sinhalese demand any rights to them denying anything to Tamils. But, the media campaign was tasked to show this simply to deny the rights that was due to the Sinhalese.
The publicity was quickly directed to showcase that the demand for reversing the discrimination to Sinhalese was actually a demand to deny Tamils their rights which they were enjoying in excess of their population ratio. Statistics will reveal the jobs enjoyed by Tamils in state sector on account of Tamils being given better education opportunities. The Sinhalese demand was not to deny what the Tamils were given but for the Sinhalese to be also given with the same spoon.
Did Tamil language enjoy official language status in any time of the islands’ history?
Did Tamil language enjoy official language/administrative status during Portuguese, Dutch or British rule– if not, how can the 1956 Official Language Act making Sinhala the Official language and ‘reasonable use of Tamil’ become a grievance to Tamils? To claim that anything is purposefully denied, anyone has to be enjoying that right first. So the question returns to ask – was Tamil an official language at any time to claim a grievance?
It was only via a bogus and intrusive Indo-Lanka Accord in 1987 demanding passing of the 13^thamendment that Tamil was made an official language. The same country does not even afford Tamils who have a virtual Tamil state (Tamil Nadu) official language status. Tamil is not a National Language even in India inspite of over 72million Tamils living in it. Tamil is spoken by around 6% of Indian population and barely outside Tamil Nadu.

Please share your thoughts on this discussion too.

For too long, false notions and lies have been spread in a campaign to divert people from thinking about true facts and asking rationale questions and seeking answers to them.

Shenali D Waduge

http://www.drdavidgrimes.com/2021/01/covid-19-and-vitamin-d-miracle-in.html

COVID-19 Pandemic has been brought to near full control in Andalucía, Spain within two months, as the result of a public health initiative using Vitamin D.

January 21st, 2021

Sunil Wimalawansa Professor of Medicine

Why such has not been adopted or implemented in Sri Lanka and other counties?

This is very similar to what Professor Wimalawansa recommended to the SLGo in mid-March 2020 to effectively control COVID?

A great example is summarized int the following website by one of our colleagues, from the U.K., Dr David Grimes.

If implemented S/L would have carried out normal functions and economic activities, with no loss of jobs, no excess deaths, disruption of the supply chain, and avoid near bankruptcy. The country would have continued all economic and business activities and no need to shut down schools and universities. And would have avoided a single day of (worthless) curfew or even CPVID-related deaths. That was what he recommended in mid-March to SLGo and rejected by authorities in March 2020.

Now ten months later, a handful of countries just begun to adhere to that; the resulting benefits are astonishing. An exceptionally cost-effective way to prevent the disease, preventing complications, need for ICUs admission and hospitalizations, and deaths.

Unfortunately, it still chasing the “tiger’s tail,” that is impossible to win (control COVID-19) with the current blinded approach by the department of health and the COVID task force. Neither seems to have valid and achievable objectives, method of achieving the said target and a vision OR an effective strategy to control COVID-19.

In fact, the U.K governmental approach is even worse than the SL approach (see data below); both approaches are ineffective in controlling OCVID-19. Relying on COVID-vaccine(s) to control COVID is also unwise and is simply insane. Moreover, the current approach will not enable achieving the intended goal of heard immunity nor prevent the current community spread.

I will upload an illustrative video early next week, into my UTube channel, summarizing the latest data on highly cost-effective approach in controlling COID-19. Like proposed in 2020 mid-March, which was rejected outright by “pandits,” with little knowledge or experience in preventing and controlling a severe viral epidemic.

Sunil Wimalawansa

Professor of Medicine

Academic activities and research contributions:

Prof. Sunil Wimalawansa ─ Google Scholar

Information/data on COVID:

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sunil_Wimalawansa/publications

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sunil_Wimalawansa/research

LinkedIn Posts and Articles on COVID-19:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilwimalawansa/detail/recent-activity

Hi Ambassador Teplitz , the Black living in the USA too matter

January 21st, 2021

Ranjith Soysa

The US Ambassador patronizingly speaks of 1955 UDHR and advise Sri Lanka to respect the dead. But, in USA the black living are subjected to ridicule and at times violence as screened to the world especially during the last 12 months Black Lives Matter demos.

It was reported in December 2020 how a black US doctor died due to alleged racist hospital care. Dr Moore who died due to the racism said this is how black people get killed. When you send them home and they do not know how to fight for themselves”. It is said that the virus has disproportionately affected black minority communities in the US and Black Americans are three times more likely to die than White Americans.

US Ambassador, heal thyself FIRST

Ranjith Soysa

7 Comments »

PCR, Antigen testing methodology twisted at private hospitals: Army Chief

January 21st, 2021

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

While saying that attempts are made by certain private sector hospitals to carry out PCR and antigen tests at regional testing places and mini laboratories without the authorization from the Health Ministry, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army said testing methodology has been twisted in some private Hospitals.

He expressed this during a meeting held with representatives of private sector laboratory technicians to discuss the possibility of implementing a common regulatory mechanism to conduct antigen and PCR tests.

“Only 30 technically-equipped such laboratories are authorized by the Health Department to carry out such tests in accordance with approved provisions and guidelines because concerns have been expressed as regards the reliability and accuracy of such tests by certain affected parties since they sometimes provide contradictory results. Only yesterday alone, 18,000 PCR tests were performed although the private sector charges, i.e Rs 6750 for BOI company employees remain unchanged,” the Army Commander said.

It is much better if those existing price ranges for such tests can be further reduced for the benefit of the masses,” he pointed out. Army Commander also urged them not to misuse the authority that has been given to them.

He also told the gathering that Health authorities allowed the private sector hospitals to conduct PCR tests on the tourists from Ukraine as a pilot project.

Meanwhile, Dr Asela Gunawardena requested those top management technicians to strictly adhere to guidelines and regulations to this effect and ensure credibility of the testing methodology at their highest levels without resorting to wrong practices.

Sri Lanka decided to use Indian vaccine made by Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech for Sri Lanka

January 21st, 2021

Sri Lanka news

Sri Lanka decided to use an Indian vaccine COVAXIN™ made by Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech for Sri Lanka while the AstraZeneca vaccine developed by Oxford University and manufactured locally in India under British license will not available for export to Sri Lanka.

Indian regulators gave the nod for emergency use to two vaccines earlier this month: the AstraZeneca vaccine and another one by Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech.

COVAXIN™, India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV). This indigenous, inactivated vaccine is developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech’s BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) bio-containment facility, one of its kind in the world.

These vaccines being sent to neighboring countries are being sent as grants and India’s Foreign Ministry said the vaccines were not part of COVAX, the U.N.-backed global effort aimed at helping lower-income countries obtain the shots.

India kicked off its own massive vaccination drive on Jan. 17, with a goal of inoculating 300 million of its nearly 1.4 billion people.

Bharat Biotech has in January 02, 2021: announced successful recruitment of 23,000 volunteers, and continued progress towards achieving the goal of 26,000 participants for Phase-3 clinical trial of COVAXIN™ across multiple sites in India. The Phase III human clinical trials of COVAXIN™ began mid-November, targeted to be done in 26,000 volunteers across India, this is India’s first and only Phase III efficacy study for a COVID-19 vaccine, and the largest phase III efficacy trial ever conducted for any vaccine in India. COVAXIN™ has been evaluated in approximately 1000 subjects in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, with promising safety

with 873 new cases Sri Lanka’s total number of coronavirus cases crosses 56,000

January 21st, 2021

Courtesy Adaderana

The Health Ministry says that 536 new cases of coronavirus have been reported increasing the today’s tally of positive cases to 873.

Seven new cases reported today are from the prisons cluster while the remaining are all close contacts of patients from the Peliyagoda cluster.

This brings the total number of cases from the Minuwangoda, Peliyagoda and prisons clusters to 52,202.

Meanwhile the total number of novel coronavirus cases reported in the country thus far has increased to 56,076.

Total recoveries stand at 47,984 while the number of infected patients currently under medical care is 7,816.

Two more Covid-19 deaths takes total to 276

January 21st, 2021

Courtesy Adaderana

The Director General of Health Services today confirmed two more COVID-19 related deaths, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 276.

One of the deceased is a 71-year-old woman from Peliyagoda who had been transferred from Colombo National Hospital to Mulleriyawa Base Hospital after being identified as Covid-19 positive.

She had passed away at that hospital on January 20 due to acute diabetes pneumonia.

The other patient is a 46-year-old from Athurugiriya who was also identified as Covid-19 positive while being treated at the Colombo National Hospital. He was then transferred to the Homagama Base Hospital, where he had passed away on January 19.

The cause of death is cited as multiple organ dysfunctions due to nervous system infection with Covid-19 pneumonia.

AG’s approval sought to obtain Covid-19 vaccines from India

January 21st, 2021

Courtesy Adaderana

The Director General of Health Services says that necessary documents have been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for legal approval to obtain Covid-19 vaccines from India.

India on Wednesday began supplying Covid-19 vaccines to six neighbouring and key partner countries. Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles are the first recipients to acquire the India-manufactured vaccines.

However, India had said it is still awaiting the confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India had said the country has received several requests for the supply of Covid-19 vaccines manufactured in India.

India said it will continue to supply countries all over the world with vaccines, in keeping with the ongoing efforts.

Indian regulators gave the nod for emergency use to two vaccines earlier this month: the AstraZeneca vaccine and another one by Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech.

India kicked off its own massive vaccination drive on Jan. 17, with a goal of inoculating 300 million of its nearly 1.4 billion people.

Man who spat at PHIs in Atulugama sentenced to 6 years RI

January 21st, 2021

Courtesy Adaderana

The individual who spat at health officials in Atulugama has been sentenced to 6 years rigorous imprisonment by the Panadura Magistrate’s Court and also imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000.

The incident was reported on December 02, 2020 in Atulugama police area when two Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and two public servants had visited the area to perform their duties.

However, they were obstructed by a person, who had been identified as Covid-19 infected, who had proceeded to spit on the face of one of the PHIs.

Thereafter police had initiated investigations and after the treatment period of the accused was completed, he was charged in the Panadura court.

Police had filed 08 charges in respect of the offences such as criminal intimidation, criminal force on a government servant, disobeying quarantine orders and disobeying the orders given by a public servant.

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said that 08 charges had been frames against the suspect who pleaded guilty of the charges.

Thereafter the court convicted him and imposed a punishment in respect of the offences. The suspect has been imposed 2-year rigorous imprisonment punishment for 03 charges, which means he will serve 6 years of rigorous imprisonment in total.

In addition to that the court has fined the individual Rs. 10,000.

He added that the investigations have revealed that this particular person had been involved in various crimes previously and that one case is pending in High Court. He had also been convicted for an offence on a previous occasion and had been given a suspended sentence.

The Police Spokesman stated that at the inception they have informed the general public to obey at all times the health regulations and instructions given by health authorities and government servants, who perform heir duties to protect the people and to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Therefore, we need your fullest support and cooperation in order to control the pandemic. Otherwise if any person is going to disturb or obstruct government servants, they are dealt with the law,” he stressed.

Interdicted HC Judge Gihan Pilapitiya reinstated

January 21st, 2021

Courtesy Adaderana

Steps have been taken to reinstate the interdicted Embilipitiya High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya, sources say.

Reportedly, the Judicial Service Commission is due to issue a letter regarding his reinstatement.

While he is reinstated to his duties, Pilapitiya will still be subjected to an investigation, according to sources.

Embilipitiya High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya was interdicted on January 22, 2020, over a controversial phone conversation he had with Ranjan Ramanayake who is currently subjected to 4-years of rigorous imprisonment.

Subsequently, the Attorney General instructed the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) to obtain a warrant and arrest the interdicted Judge Gihan Pilapitiya for conspiring to fabricate false evidence” along with then-MP Ranjan Ramanayake.

However, the Nugegoda Additional Magistrate declared that an arrest warrant could be issued for the High Court Judge only after obtaining a statement from an investigating officer through an affidavit.

Subsequently, Judge Pilapitiya filed a writ application before the Court of Appeal seeking an interim injunction order preventing his arrest. On February 20, the Appeal Court ordered the Attorney General not to arrest the High Court judge without a proper court order.

On June 08, 2020, the Court of Appeal issued an interim order suspending the hearing of the case of the interdicted judge.

ASPI crosses 8,000 points mark for first time in history

January 21st, 2021

Courtesy Adaderana

The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange has surpassed the 8,000 points mark for the first time in history.

The ASPI closed 8,131.25 points at the end of trading today (January 21), gaining 246.80 points from the previous day or 3.13%.

The ASPI had reportedly crossed the 8,000 points mark during trading on several previous occasions, however this is the first time that it crossed the mark at the end of trading.

The Colombo Stock Exchange’s turnover for the day was Rs. 14.20 billion, the highest daily turnover recorded so far this year.

3 Comments »

Two Sri Lankan cricketers contract COVID-19

January 21st, 2021

Courtesy Adaderana

Two players of the Sri Lanka Cricket team have tested positive for COVID-19 infection, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stated.

Bowlers Binura Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne have been diagnosed with the virus, according to SLC.

Dhammika Bandara of Kegalle starts distributing his syrup today

January 21st, 2021

Courtesy Hiru News

The syrup produced by Dhammika Bandara of Kegalle was distributed to the public before the clinical study has been completed.

It is reported that arrangements have been made to distribute 5,000 bottles of syrup at his residence in Udukumbura, Kegalle.

However, the clinical work of the syrup produced by Dhammika Bandara is currently being carried out at the Methsiri Sevana Treatment Center attached to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital as well as at the Nochchiyagama Regional Hospital.

Accordingly, the syrup will be given to coronavirus infected people over 18 years of age and under 80 years of age at the relevant hospitals.

This will be after a second PCR test has been performed and the patient is confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus. The syrup will be is administered to the patients only after the PCR test confirmation is obtained.

This syrup is not given at the clinical trial stage to pregnant mothers, those who have previously consumed the relevant syrup or people with chronic diseases such as diabetes.

Also, the consent of the patient is mandatory to administer this syrup to the patient.

Arrangements have been made to provide this syrup to 128 patients, twice a day at a rate of 15 ml at a time, and the relevant syrup will be given to patients on clinical trials for three days.

Meanwhile, the doctor at the Peradeniya hospital who claimed that Dhammika Bandara had assaulted him, said that he was assaulted when he visited Dhammika Bandara’s housie.

He has also lodged a complaint with the Peradeniya Police. The doctor further stated that the video claiming that he had been punished was obtained on force after being assaulted by a group including Dhammika Bandara.

https://theleader.lk/news/3863-the-mcc-agreement-does-not-violate-any-law-in-sri-lanka-a-certificate-from-the-attorney-general

Question of Indian Tamils & Ceylon Tamils & Disenfranchisement

January 20th, 2021

There is much hue and cry over allegations of post-independent Sri Lanka disenfranchising Indian Tamils. Let us therefore address this question directly.

Sri Lanka was illegally invaded and occupied by 3 western European countries from 1505 – the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British.

These colonial invaders followed a policy of divide and rule – dividing the natives so they were kept busy while the colonials plundered our wealth.

The colonial invaders began many plantation projects and when the natives were too proud to work on them, they brought in indentured laborers mostly from South India. It is these South Indian laborers brought by the colonials who are referred to as Indian Tamils. They were not asked to come to Sri Lanka by the natives, they were forcibly brought to Sri Lanka by the colonials and made to live & work in Sri Lanka. If anyone should look after their welfare it is the colonials who dragged them from their homes in South India and dumped them in Sri Lanka to work. If the Sri Lankan kings or leaders had brought these South Indian laborers, then certainly they must look after them, but when they were brought by colonials, isn’t it they who should have looked into their rights at the time of independence?

None of the countries to which these Tamils were transported during colonial rule wanted them or even asked for them.

By independence in 1948, Sri Lanka had over 1million Indian Tamil indentured laborers. The total population of the country was 8million.

It is not the fault of Ceylon/Sri Lanka that these Indians were treated as aliens, with no right of asylum. That was how the British wanted their status to be. The British only spoke for their rights when they were preparing to leave Sri Lanka.

As for the name Ceylon Tamils, this too entered the books only in 1911 when Ponnambalam Arunachalam became Registrar General and compiled the National Census report in 1911.

Before 1911 there were no people called Ceylon Tamils. It was an artificially created name.

An article by Dilrook Kannangara titled ‘Wigneswaran should know eelam (Ceylon) Tamil ethnicity is only 105 years old” draws attention to how the British created an artificial ethnic group called Ceylon Tamils in 1911. Before 1911 there was no ethnic group called Ceylon Tamils (it is identical to how the British created Rohingya issue in Myanmar).

Any Tamil born in Sri Lanka or those born in India became Ceylon Tamils in 1911.

British crimes against Tamil indentured laborers (coolies)

What has to be understood from this is that the TNA and LTTE diaspora usage of ‘disenfranchisement’ of Tamils in reality referring to these coolies brought by the colonials from South India to Sri Lanka were only brought for colonial benefit and thus if anyone should be looking after them or providing citizenship to them it is no one else but the Dutch & the British. This whole argument of disenfranchisement is invalid and incorrect and we hope the UN & international community realize this and not fall for the TNA LTTE Diaspora traps by quoting disenfranchisement in their records. Some truths are hard to swallow.

Shenali D Waduge

5 Comments »

The Attorney General’s Department owes an explanation to the GoSL – the Public & the US Government

January 20th, 2021

The Attorney General of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan government’s chief legal adviser, TheAttorney General has now declared that the MCC Compact and the Program Implementation Agreement & Articles of Association of MCA are inconsistent with the written laws & the Constitution of Sri Lanka. This is a complete reversal of the AG’s legal opinion given on 10 October 2018 to the MCC Chief Operating Officer which the US Embassy has been using to justify the MCC Compact. This change in stand has severely impacted diplomatic relations, it has unnecessarily caused friction between the People & the US Government and it is seriously questioning the entity tasked with advising the Government. The AG’s department owes an explanation and an apology.

The Attorney General’s Department has informed the Secretary to the President through a 20paged letter that every document related to the MCC agreement with Sri Lanka is inconsistent and there are legal impediments to its implementation. http://adaderana.lk/news/70874/ag-finds-mcc-compact-inconsistent-with-the-constitution

http://adaderana.lk/news/70874/ag-finds-mcc-compact-inconsistent-with-the-constitution

So in 2021 the AG’s department says the MCC is inconsistent with the Constitution & written laws. But the same AG’s department on 10 October 2018 in a letter to COO, MCC – Jonathan Nash said that the MCC does not violate any law in Sri Lanka.

https://www.shenaliwaduge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Attorney-General-Opinion_10_10_18-1.pdf

Here are some excerpts of this letter to the MCC, Chief Operating Officer

It is as a result of this official clearance” by the Attorney General in 2018 that the US Embassy, the US ambassador insisted that the MCC Compact was legal and Sri Lanka was making a fuss over nothing.

In fact, the Sri Lanka Treasury carried the Attorney General’s legal opinion which the US Embassy linked to its website to showcase that their Compact was afterall legal.

http://treasury.gov.lk/article/-/article-viewer-portlet/render/view/mcc-agreement-drafted-with-the-consent-of-ag– MCC Agreement drafted with the consent of the AG (this is no longer available on the Treasury website)

https://lk.usembassy.gov/mcc-fact-sheets_/

(the US embassy links the SL Treasury document referring to AG’s consent)

Of course, many of us who were not legal luminaries but had more common sense, did not accept this version of the Attorney General and we highlighted areas that were not compatible with the constitution which led to successive committees being appointed to review the MCC Agreement. All of these reports in particular the Gunaruwan Committee report clearly showcased violations of the constitution.

Now, almost 3 years later, the same Attorney General’s dept that issued the green light for the MCC, now says the MCC is unconstitutional.

We must now pause to ask, exactly what the Attorney General’s department are up to.

We are not questioning whether what the AG’s department said in 2018 was right or wrong or what the AG’s department said in 2021 is right or wrong, but the fact that this key department is the conduit that advises the Government and writes into law what the Government does.

This one instance resulting in a major faux pas has even led to embarrassing a foreign country and its diplomatic mission and caused friction between it and the People.

This is very unprofessional of the department and they need to offer everyone an explanation.

Moving forward the same mistakes are continuing.

Presently there are 3 sets of Committees set up to review the laws in the country & make amendments.

Committee 1– led by Justice Minister Ali Sabry as Mr L Kiriella MP said appointed 147 lawyers to various committees to amend laws, amend Notaries Ordinance & Registration of Documents Ordinance. They are still in discussion stage.

Committee 2– Government Task Force appointed by the Government for Property Registration comprises Land Commissioner, Land Title Settlement Department, Survey Department & Registrar General Department & ICTC.

Land registration goes digital

This Committee liaises directly with funding agencies and their proposals are directly passed to the AG’s department for necessary legal writing to be forwarded for Cabinet approval.

Task force is the working committee of all Governments.

Land registration goes digital

Committee 3– Then there is a 18 member de-regulation commission headed by Lalith Weeratunga and private sector head Krishan Balendra to ‘cut red tape’ and will review all laws, regulations, circular instructions pertaining to government finance, revenue laws, circular instructions, licensing & permit arrangements, investments, approvals& building permits etc. Now private sector are changing state laws to their advantage!

Sri Lanka de-reg commission headed by Weeratunga, Balendra appointed by President

The role of a Government Task Force & foreign funding agencies is key to understanding how drastic changes conflicting with the interests of the country is taking place.This is how Bim Saviya was passed having been approved by the same AG’s department.

In 1998 the AG approved overnight legislation to wipe out the land law of the country to superimpose the Australian land law with Act 21 of 1998 which now has to manage the e-register.They called this Bim Saviya which came into being after liaising with foreign funding bodies. Overnight, this foreign law took away the fundamental rights of the land owners and abolished the rights of farmers and paddy field owners.

Colossal sums of money is being spent on appointing committees to amend laws that operate in the country. For the past 20 years the Bar Association wasted their time recommending amendments, and another committee appointed by President Rajapakse also made amendments. The Ministry of Justice recently has appointed a committee to look into various land laws whilst the cabinet is separately making amendments with the AG’s department & Land Ministry. Most shocking are the Government reports that say they require 100 years to implement Bim Saviya law, there are no competent officials or lawyers to manage this law – see Title Commissioners Reports of 2018 and 2019 on the web

But in reality the funding bodies put their wish list to the Government Task Force and they liaise with the AG’s dept & Land Ministry to make these wish lists into law.

How we are Trapped

The e-land project was introduced as part of the Ease of Doing Business in Sri Lankavia a cabinet appointed Property Registration Task Force.

Similarly, while other bodies are studying existing laws etc, the Task Force and foreign funding agencies are amending the conveyancing process with electronic systems. All these changes will pass through the AG’s department.

Land registration goes digital

http://www.dailymirror.lk/148557/Govt-to-introduce-online-property-registration-service

AG, please answer

Now that the AG’s dept says MCC is inconsistent with the Constitution, it is the AG’s duty to retake the Bim Saviya Act not only because this was passed in 1998 without scrutiny but because MCC demanded amendments to Bim Saviya which the AG’s Dept conformed to.

Given that the same AG’s dept says the MCC is inconsistent with the constitution, these amendments to Bim Saviya must not only be removed, the entire Act 21 must be thoroughly reviewed again.

AG has to realize that e-registration cannot be made without revision of the colonial statutes? The Land Acquisition Act 9 of 1950 even allows a Government to acquire land to benefit the public – but why is this being repealed?

AG cannot ignore the reports by heads of Ministries– land registrar says 50% of land deeds are frauds but these are getting inserted into the electronic registrar.

AG must realize that an Australian law is going to govern our e-register and this itself is unconstitutional

https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/03/17/50-of-land-deeds-in-sri-lanka-forged-registrar-general/

Sri Lanka to launch e-Land Registration programme by August

Law Reform Commission must wake up. Do they not realize that lawyers are being kept busy by being appointed to various committees or given appointments while the funding agencies are wooing the Task Forces and subtly privatizing Sri Lanka’s land for neocolonial objectives – including raping of our forests.

Is there no one to realize that our laws are being changed and amended to suit the demands of the foreign funding bodies and those who want to take advantage of the amended laws for their own gain?

Caveats have been removed by Cabinet – why?

http://www.dailynews.lk/2020/12/16/political/236219/decisions-taken-cabinet-meeting-held-december-14

There are sudden and alarming changes to the conveyancing process – Notaries are not necessary as well http://www.dailynews.lk/2019/08/09/features/193580/burden-free-last-willPublic Trustee will do away with Notaries to write Last Wills.

People must demand to stop the e-land registry being done by transferring deeds to title registration (bim saviya) as the constitutionality of this Act also needs to be looked into as this Act was passed by the AG’s department without any Public scrutiny or legal inputs in 1998.They must all explain why the deed system cannot continue with provisions of the Central Bank Financial Act of 2006 incorporated to fortify and protect against any type of land fraud. Why waste colossal sums of money to transfer from deed to Australian title system when loopholes in deed system can be addressed and these can get entered into e-land register.

We need to take a step back and review what is taking place and what is getting approved by the AG’s Department. We need to know before AG approves what suits the country. The Attorney General’s Department need to also play a bigger role by reviewing its faux pas in key decisions taken in the past several years.

The MCC opinion of 2018 and 2021 by AG’s department should not be repeated for any other law.

Shenali D Waduge

Globalization- The Witching Web Spun to Lure Trap and Breakdown Third World Nation States Exterminate Millions and Enslave the Surviving

January 20th, 2021

By The Sri Lanka Study Circle

Globalisation unmasked

Globalisation has resulted in Third World Nations, inveigled into debt and encouraged to take decisions that have made their food-chains vulnerable and the Nations themselves, dependent on the globalists for their physical survival.

COVID 19, has unmasked the evil face of Globalisation that had been deliberately concealed and, exposed it for what it is.

COVID 19, in a globalised scenario, threatens the very survival of those living in Third World countries. If they survive, their existence as freemen is in jeopardy and the continued independence of the countries they live in, is at stake.

Globalisation in a nutshell

According to news reports, the cost of COVID 19 vaccine, to cover the entire population of Sri Lanka, is 10 Billion SLR. Sri Lanka has sought a loan from the World Bank, for this purpose.

Nobody in this world, as reported, really understands how this virus behaves and how it would manifest itself in the future. There is reasonable doubt that the vaccine may not be effective against any mutations of the virus.

If this were the case, Sri Lanka after inoculating herself against the virus, may find herself back in square one, this time however with increased fatalities, infections, unemployment, starvation and crime; education and the economy, presently dislocated and limping, would perhaps suffer irreversible harm and, to boot, with a 10 Billion SLR Sovereign debt on her head.

What happens if there were to be an outbreak of COVID 25 or COVID 50?

The Sovereign debt would rise by another 10 Billion and another 10 Billion and so on until we do not have the financial strength, to even borrow.

Without money there would be no vaccine and without vaccine people would be literally dying like dogs on the streets; further, without basic needs such as, food, employment, health and education the country would be plunged into a state of anarchy and be ripe for the picking by global powers that have set their sights on the island.

The New Normal for Third World Countries

If there is no food on the table, people can never survive let alone surviving the virus.

If, however, there is food for every Sri Lankan mouth, the Nation and her people can survive COVID or any other germ that may assail the world in the future.

By isolating the island from the rest of the world, the chances of a new strain of the virus infecting the population can be reduced; in military parlance, measures need to be taken to ‘interdict the Island’ or in COVID parlance, ‘lock-down the country’.

Any new COVID cases that may penetrate our health ‘defences’, subsequently, and the prevailing cases in the island can be ably handled by our medics; any essential travel into or out of the island can be regulated and well managed.

This is the ‘New Normal’ for Third World countries during and in the post-COVID era, a template outside the Globalisation model: Insulate the country, grow all our food requirements and make the country self-sufficient in our other basic needs such as clothing, health, education and shelter. This will ensure that all Sri Lankans survive the COVID and other possible biological bombs that may be released on us, in the future.

Dingo Gonsalkorale howls for the diabolic New Normal of the Globalists

The architects of Globalisation are puffing their own version of a diabolic ‘New Normal’; this version demands that Third World Nations continue operating within the existing framework of Globalisation -rules that intone the mantra of ‘borrowing – debt – poverty’.

And recruited to push this agenda of the money lenders are the scavenging jackals, like Dingo Gonsalkorale, who follow the predator greedily for a morsel of his killing. Dingo is listed as a favourite of the money lenders; he intersperses his litany with some irrelevant and banal platitudes in typical FFO (Foreign Funded Organisation) fashion, all the time mindful however of the Money lender’s agenda.

These scavengers, who have renounced their motherland, have followed the predator hungrily to the many lands that were raped; now, they are howling for a New Constitution for Sri Lanka which will enable the predator to do the same.

If a country were to slavishly follow the fiendish advice of the globalists, she would be conned into the ‘herd immunisation’ trap where only the fittest of the population will surely survive COVID; it would also result in large numbers being decimated by hunger, other diseases and anarchy.

Globalists call for the culling of the Third World population

The globalists have, for long, been votaries of the obnoxious Malthusian theories; they are on record that the world is overpopulated by about a billion people and needs to be culled, starting with the old, the infirmed and the ‘unwanted’. They have also called for a New World Order in which there would be just one Government for the entire world.

People in Nations, whose Governments are conned into accepting the ‘New-Normal’ of the globalists, are condemned to a situation in which many of them would die horribly on the streets; the Globalists, almost as a benevolent gesture, have promised to provide these Nations with bare-bones of survival, on terms and conditions laid out by the globalists.

One World Government – A Globalist dream of a World Dictatorship

A world with one Government, a dream of the Globalists and planned by the Globalists nearly nine decades ago, has come to near fruition; a world ruled by the Globalist Mafia, with a hierarchy of workers at their beck and call, some of whom could be classified as modern-day slaves.

Sovereignty, Nation States, National Boundaries, Trade Unions, human-families as we understand them, would be a thing of the past. Each human being will be a cog to be organised and regulated as per the rules of the Mafia.

Brilliant, how the Globalists have come thus far, almost unnoticed.

Globalisation was a deadly web, spun by the White Spider, to attract, lure and trap Third World Nations in its sticky net. Attracted by the glistening web, Third World Nations, flew almost blindly into the trap. They are stuck and are struggling to free themselves while the White Spider inches menacingly forward to devour them at will. Third World Nations must act concertedly, NOW, to tear-up the web of globalisation and wrench themselves free, if they hope to survive.

Globalisation and the food-chain

In Sri Lanka, the destruction of our agricultural infrastructure and the crippling of our ability to wholly feed ourselves was, in hindsight, one of the prime objectives of Globalisation; globalisation achieved in causing the destruction of the irrigation systems, the poisoning of the soil, water and food and the affliction of many with life threatening diseases. Above all, it caused agriculture to be unprofitable for farmers.

Today, approximately seventy percent of the country’s food requirements, all of which can be grown here, are imported.

With the many cogs in the food-chain penetrated, all that remains for the globalists, to strangle the country completely, is to physically take control of the land. This is being done at breakneck speed with the acolytes of the globalists taking measures that will facilitate the Privatisation of Government Land, comprising 86% of the country.

With Globalisation, the contextual meaning of land was changed; it was chiseled into the collective id of Third World countries that Land is just another commodity, to be hawked to the highest bidder; the notion that Land was the sacred provider of food, so vital for our life, was erased from our collective mind.

In the context of this background, the vulnerability of the people to COVID is strikingly evident.

Wrenching away Sri Lanka from the death trap that is Globalisation

If the Sri Lanka Government has the will and inclination to organise the country to grow all her food requirements, store and preserve excess supplies of food grown, organise sufficient retail outlets for the sale of food grown and make efficiently available the food at these retail outlets, every single person will have food in his belly and can survive the economic ill-effects of COVID.

This study circle explained clearly how this can be done, at virtually no cost to the Government, by simply printing ‘Monopoly-type’ money’ and distributing this ‘Monopoly-money’ monthly (say Rs. 30,000/=), at no cost, to each and every family; this money can only can be used to purchase food. (vide https://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2020/11/25/a-plan-to-ensure-every-sri-lankan-plate-is-full-during-covid-and-thereafter/).

Money lender laws in a Money-lender world

We live today in a world where the money lenders (the poli mudalalis) call the shots.

The business objective of any money-lender is to make a profit by lending money. If a Country or an individual already has money, ‘the-doing-business-index’, for the money lender, in such a situation would be very low.

The money-lender therefore needs to improve the doing-business-index, to make money; when he creates a situation that would make the country poor, the doing-business index rises. The money-lender creates poverty because he thrives and wallows, only in a bog of poverty.

The World Bank – The World’s Biggest Money Lender (Poli Mudalali)

The World Bank, a creation of the globalists, is the world’s biggest money lender; it (or its constituent members) has created situations, globally, in which countries find themselves short of money and therefore are forced to borrow. Subsequently when it lends, it does so on conditions, that mire the borrower into deeper debt.

Trapped by the Money Lenders the American people suffocate,

The American people’s tragedy with the money lenders began in 1913; it was in that year that a cartel of money-lenders in the US took control of America; they formed a private Company, the Federal Reserve, which by an Act of legislation was made the Central Bank of America, appointing it as the ultimate US financial policy maker and giving it the sole authority to print money for the US Government.

The Federal Reserve, in addition to printing money, lent money to the US Government.

Today, the American people owe this cartel of money lenders, nearly 30 Trillion US Dollars, about 99 percent of the American government income.

To pay the money-lending Mafia the annual interest on this debt, approximately 575 Billion USD, the US government is forced to borrow; and again, from the money lenders.

Every new born American baby has a mill stone of a 50,000/= Dollar debt around his neck, at the time of his birth.

With their financial clout, the money-lending Mafia has absolute control of the two political parties in that country and it is the money-lenders policies that are effected through the Republican and Democratic Parties.

The Money Lenders set their sights on the world

With their success in the US, in taking control of the peoples’ lives, the money lenders set their sights on the world.

In 1930 the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the Central Bank of all Central Banks, was established; the Federal Reserve and the leading money lenders in Europe were the prime movers; the BIS established a global banking order.

In 1941 a desperate Britain, with its Army in disarray following the route at Dunkirk the year before, wilted to the blackmail of the US; in response to British pleas for the US to enter WW2 on its side, the USmoney lenders made no bones about the terms and conditions of their entry.

At a secret meeting with Roosevelt on the Atlantic, Churchill agreed to give independence to all British colonies at the end of the war, the essence of the Atlantic Charter

Following this assurance, the US money lenders immediately set about creating the infrastructure needed for a New World Order which they described as, a World with one Government’.

From the time of the Atlantic charter to 1947, the money lenders created a Global Monetary Order (the Bretton Wood system), a Global Trading Order (WTO, previously known as GATT), a Global Parliamentary system (the UN General Assembly), a Global Executive system (the UN Security Council), a Global short- term money-lending agency (the IMF), a Global auditing agency (again, the IMF), a Global long-term money-lending agency, (the World Bank previously known as the IBRD); all this, atop the Global Banking Order established through the BIS at Basel.

The Federal Reserve manipulated the US Dollar to be the global currency. The constituents of the Federal Reserve are key players in the World Bank.

The spectre of a world held to ransom by an evil ogre subjecting the people to death and slavery, has been the subject of a myriad of authors, giving expression to their imagination.

Alas, this is no longer a fantasy. It appears that a rogue Nation has unleashed a biological bomb.

And all the while, the world made an erroneous assumption that exclusive ‘Weapons Club Members’ can never be rogue Nations! (‘Club Members’ are permitted to retain their destructive arsenal while non-members are not permitted to acquire the technology to manufacture these weapons of exclusivity on the assumption that they may be rogue Nations).

Today, a rogue Nation, in possession of a doomsday germ, is threatening to unleash death on the world, if its demands are not met; that rogue nation is controlled by a Money-Lending mob.

Ukraine and the US collude to produce and spread COVID 19?

Location of Eleven deadly US Bio-laboratory sites in Ukraine

WHAT ARE SECRET US BIO-LABORATORIES DOING IN UKRAINE?

April 25, 2020

On April 23rd the US Embassy in Ukraine acknowledged that there are biological laboratories in Ukraine that are under the control of the Pentagon.

The statement of diplomats came after an open letter from people’s deputies about the

https://www.stalkerzone.org/what-are-secret-us-bio-laboratories-doing-in-ukraine/

Sri Lanka, controversially, is getting down tourists from Ukraine at a time she should be breaking away from the globalisation trap, locking down the country from the rest of the world, producing all our food requirements, exhorting our fellow members in the Non-Aligned Movement to do likewise and leading the demand at the UN to investigate and censure, if necessary, the US Government for producing biological weapons, despite being a signatory to the BWC (Biological Weapons Convention).

THE POHOTTUWA GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA Part 2 C9e

January 20th, 2021

KAMALIKA PIERIS

The military relationship between Sri Lanka and USA is continuing. Sri Lanka Air Force Airmen and Pacific Air Forces Airmen participated in the first virtual and fourth annual Airmen-to-Airmen Talk, known as A2AT, hosted from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on December 2020.

The Talk included subject matter experts from each country in logistics, flight safety, risk management, crisis response, cyber security and medical procedures in response to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear emergencies. The effort is designed to help the Department of Defence work toward a free and open Indo-Pacific region. We’ve been especially successful, despite the COVID-19 restrictions, in being able to lay a path for our future where we can strengthen the partnership between our two air forces, said US.

Admiral Harris, Head of the US Pacific command spoke at Galle Dialogue 2016 about the US partnership in the Indo-Asia-Pacific with special mention of US special relationship with Colombo. He was pleased to see a growing military-to-military relationship between Sri Lanka and the United States, he said. US looks forward to working with Sri Lanka as a key force for maritime security, he said.

USA’s military interest in Sri Lanka has been expressed in a roundabout way, to avoid alarming the public. Sri Lanka occupies a strategic point in the Indian Ocean, said USA. She sits in the middle of one of the busiest and most strategically important sea lanes in the world. The sea lanes in the Indian Ocean are considered among the most strategically important in the world.

More than 80 % of the worlds seaborne trade in oil transits through Indian Ocean choke points, with 40 % passing though straits of Hormuz, 35% through the Strait of Malacca and 8 % through Ban el Mandab strait. These sea lanes are the gateway to the control of resources and market in the near east, Middle East, Africa and Asia, said USA. US wishes to see that the Indian Ocean ‘remains’ a zone of peace” and that the US military presence in the Indian Ocean will help to keep it so. But this sea route has been in operation for a long time, observed critics, for centuries in fact. It is nothing new. It is now presented as a new discovery by the USA, said critics, sarcastically.

US says the Indian Ocean is a zone of peace today. Of course it is, said critics. The sea lanes are working well except for narcotic smuggling and fishing disputes. It is the US war lobby that is creating a highly exaggerated perception of threat in this zone of peace said critics. Also, it is the unnecessary US presence in this region that is actually creating the threat. US military presence here in the Indian Ocean will by itself ensure that the Indian Ocean ceases to ‘remain’ a zone of peace, critics said.

US should give up the present ‘Indo-Pacific’ ,revert to the original ‘US-Pacific’ model terminating in the Straits of Malacca, and leave the ‘Indian Ocean’ to the countries in South Asia, concluded critics.

But there are those who see USA as a positive force. America is seen as the steadying force in international relations. We are now facing a situation in which there is uncertainty about America’s ability to carry out this role, but the United States will not disappear from Asia altogether, said USA supporters. . U.S. can still do very interesting things in Asia. We don’t know yet what those will be, but the US is not dead and gone, they said.

US supporters in Sri Lanka wish to nudge Sri Lanka gently towards USA. Sri Lankans should understand that regardless of the emotional reactions to western imperialism, the country’s economy cannot survive without its trading relationship with the United States, said Kusum and Rienzie Wijetilleke. the US already has significant influence over Sri Lanka through its trading relationship with exports averaging USD 2.0 Billion annually, a tariff of a few percent would diminish Sri Lanka’s export revenue significantly, they observed.

The question to be asked is not whether Sri Lanka should sign the SOFA and ACSA, but what the government should ask for in return. If certain clauses in the renewal agreement are undesirable, for example those relating to protections and privileges for visiting American troops, these must be negotiated. The notion that US needs to give a grant of USD 500 million via MCC to exert influence on Sri Lanka seems farfetched.

United States remains Sri Lanka’s largest export market and has donated US$ 6 million in COVID-19 assistance to Sri Lanka. USA’s economy may be failing and China’s economy will overtake that of US by 2030, but US natural gas and oil industries will see it become a net energy exporter. US also funds and thus holds considerable sway in many multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the IMF, they said. Conditional borrowings from institutions such as the IMF may be better for the country’s long term financial stability.

In the area of foreign policy, Sri Lanka’s decades long and carefully crafted non-aligned and neutral foreign policy, which followed a balance between the competing interests of major powers in the region, including of India, seems to have been jettisoned in favor of a serious pivot towards China. This is unwise and weakens key relationships with our largest trading partner the United States and, of course, our historical and huge sub continental neighbor India, to the detriment of our own national interests, said Harim Pieris.

Sri Lanka has been linked to the US by a multiplicity of neo-colonial binds over the decades. It would be naive on the part of local opinion to think otherwise. Neo-colonialism cannot be wished away said Lynn Ockersz. At this crucial juncture, can Sri Lanka afford anti-Americanism? Sri Lanka has no choice but to follow a conciliatory line with US because it cannot afford to antagonize the US. To express it plainly and bluntly, Sri Lanka has and will be a neo-colony of the West for the foreseeable future. It does not have a choice, added Ockersz.

On January 6^th Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington while Congress was getting ready to declare Biden President elect. This has greatly affected the image of US to the dismay of US loyalists and the delight of those who dislike the US.

Pro-Trump supporters storming the US Capitol building

On January 6^th, hundreds of pro-Trump protesters scaled the west wall of the U.S. Capitol, pushed through barriers, tussled with officers in full riot gear and got into the Senate. One protester sat at the desk of the Head of Senate, another was seated in Speakers office. They ransacked offices, broke or overturned furniture and threw files and papers on the floor.

They had come from all over the country for a rally called by Trump. When interviewed by television the rioters said they had no regret about storming the Capitol. They sounded very proud about it. The next day they went sightseeing in Washington.

Countries such as Britain, France, Germany watched in disbelief at this attack on one of the world’s ‘model democracies’. Iran hooted in derision. Russia said the United States certainly cannot now impose electoral standards on other countries and claim to be the world’s ‘beacon of democracy’.” They pointed out that US has supported autocratic regimes and armies in other countries. The United States is the world’s number one backer of such anti-democratic governments.

The succession problem is not over. They are anticipating trouble at the Inauguration ceremony. It will take place amidst unprecedented security. National Mall in Washington will be closed down. It is usually packed with people for the inauguration. The National Guard will be screened. Some of those involved in storming the Capitol had ties to the military.

Much of Washington resembles a fortified compound in a war zone, with most of the downtown area blocked off; security fences topped by razor wire and about 25,000 National Guard troops deployed to the capital, reported the media. They are also anticipating trouble all over the country on inauguration day. Michigan has barricaded its town hall.

Democratic USA, defender of Free speech, went into repressive action immediately after the Capitol incident. Those who were present were identified, from TV footage and dismissed from their jobs.

A Chicago real estate company dismissed one of its agents who were seen at the site. A teacher at Allentown, Pennsylvania, was suspended. A Texas lawyer was sacked from his company Goosehead Insurance, after social media posts appeared to show him talking about his participation in the event. Saint Vincent College, Pennsylvania, accepted the resignation of adjunct professor Saccone, who has said in a Facebook post that everyone around him was “involved in peaceful, First Amendment assembly.”

Some of those who expressed support for the siege are also facing discipline even if they were not physically at the Capitol. The Texas Republican Party removed Walter West, its sergeant-at-arms, from his position after West made comments on Facebook supporting the Capitol siege.

There are also plans for a federal law against ‘domestic terrorism’ and the criminalization of dissent, which would likely be based on the 2019 Confronting the Threat of Domestic Terrorism Act introduced by California Representative Adam Schiff, said the media.

The media had its own take on this event. The shocking scene at the Capitol was met with less police force than many of the Black Lives Matter protests that rolled across the country in the wake of George Floyd’s killing at the hands of Minneapolis police officers last year, observed the media. This contrasts with the massive and intimidating troop presence around the Capitol and other Government buildings during the largely nonviolent protests for Black Americans.

Had the mob consisted of left-wing agitators instead, of black and brown bodies rather than white bodies, the news would be quite different. Had that been the case, the protesters would never have made it inside at all, let alone allowed to remain there for over four hours.

The media focus is on Trump. But this is not about Trump. Trump simply tapped into a deep vein of dissatisfaction which was lying just below the surface in America. There is unemployment, homelessness, frustration and bitterness at certain levels. There were nearly 11 million unemployed in USA said NBC in January 2021. America dismissed 140,000 workers in December 2020 said Economist.

As economic inequality deepens and the middle class disappears, vast segments of people of color as well as whites have become economically desperate and politically alienated from the status quo. The costly military activities, along with the loss of industry, job outsourcing and displacement by technology, impoverished large segments of the US population, both white and people of colour, said Asoka Bandarage.

It is not known what Trump did to improve this, but Trump notched ten million more votes in 2020 than in 2016 and there was an unprecedented Republican turn out at the last Presidential election. His Party also gained more seats in the House and increased its Latino votes.

Asoka Bandarage has issued a warning. She points out that it does not matter who becomes President, in the US, because they are all the same. Republican and Democratic parties both have the same goals, that of big business and world domination.

Under Obama economic inequality increased and Black poverty, mass unemployment and police brutality persisted, she observed. Trump was no better. He introduced massive tax cuts and corporate deregulation. He is a member of the ruling elite representing its own interests. Joe Biden and the Democratic Party, heavily funded by the billionaire class, also represent elite interests at the expense of the general population. Bernie Sanders who had genuine democratic ideas, was blocked from winning the Democratic presidential nomination by the party elite in both 2016 and 2020, continued Bandarage.

Racial activism is not as progressive as it sounds, said Bandarage. Movements like Black Lives Matter have received extensive funding from leading corporation such as Amazon and Microsoft. Such movements take attention away from company profits into a safe zone of identity politics. justice is equated with racial and gender diversity, not economic equality.

During the Covid pandemic the combined wealth of US billionaires ‘surpassed $1 trillion in gains since March 2020 and the beginning of the pandemic,’ according to a study by the Institute for Policy Studies. The top five US billionaires, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett and Larry Ellison , saw their wealth grow by a total of $101.7 billion, or 26%, during this short period.

Systemic violence and repression are not new to the United States. The noble ideals of democracy, freedom and human rights aside, the United States was founded on plunder of the land and exploitation of people, said Bandarage. ( continued)

TNA has asked for almost a separate state

January 20th, 2021

Prof. N.A.de S. Amaratunga

TNA has submitted its proposals to the Experts Committee appointed to draft a new Constitution. What they have asked for is far in excess of the devolution package granted in the 13^th Amendment. The powers that are demanded exceeds those granted to the states in India which is a federal country. They seem to have forgotten that they also must show some conciliatory attitude when everybody is talking about reconciliation and communal harmony. It takes two to Tango. They must know what is possible and what is not. They must know that extremism begets extremism. There are on both sides of the divide people with extremist points of view on sensitive matters like land, language, religion etc. If peace and harmony among communities are the desired goals of everybody, particularly political leaders, they have to be more flexible. Asking for more and more following on the steps of SJVC who adopted a little now and more later” policy will not help.

TNA has asked for Regional Councils virtually with all the powers except defense. Executive presidency is to be abolished and all executive powers are to be taken over by the cabinet of ministers. The president would be a figurehead with no powers. The governor of the regional council will be appointed on the recommendation of the chief minister with the approval of the council. Nature of the state obviously will not be unitary but united. These powers if granted would be far in excess of those granted under the 13^th A.

The proposed regional council would obviously comprise North and East merged as envisaged in the original 13^th A. These two provinces were demerged by an order of the Supreme Court on the 16^th October 2006 which declared that proclamations issued by President Jayawardena temporarily extending the tenure of the merged North-Eastern Province were null and void and had no legal effect. The proclamations by JRJ were necessitated due to the fact that a referendum on the merger was not held as required by the 13^th A. It was well known that the Muslims and the Sinhalese in the Eastern Province were against a merger. However if a referendum had been held in the two provinces together the vote would have been in favour of a merger as Tamils would be a majority when the two provinces are joined for the referendum. However the Sinhalese leaders did not want to merge these two provinces as it would go against the interests of the Muslims and Sinhalese. TNA does not seem to have taken these issues and their implications into serious consideration. They seem to be still stuck in their four Thimphu principles. TNA must not appear to be on reverse gear when the country is trying to emerge out of communal acrimony.

TNA proposals have to be seen as an attempt to delink their areas of habitation as much as possible from the writ of the central government. It seems that the proposal is to devolve to the Regional Council all powers and functions that can be carried out at the level of the regions on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity”. It is on the basis of a similar conceptual framework that the separatists have been agitating for an independent state in the Northern and Eastern provinces since 1972. The principle of subsidiarity is defined as the principle that the central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which cannot be performed at a more local level”. Obviously subsidiarity may be suitable for big countries but could be an unnecessary financial burden on small countries like Sri Lanka.

Powers the TNA has asked for include those pertaining to land and police. Land is a subject under the 13^th A that had given rise to controversial rulings by the Supreme Court. Once it held that state land can be utilized by the Provincial Councils for their projects but later in 2011 it ruled that state land should remain under the ownership of the central government for the utilization at national level. Police powers had not been allowed to be taken over by the PCs though it is provided in the 13^th A. These two subjects if devolved could give a PC that has a centrifugal tendency much leverage to work towards its goal. For instance an independent police force could engage in subterfuge and subversion with the connivance of the provincial politicians. A terrorist who commits an act of terror in the South could escape into the North and find refuge. We must not forget separatism and terrorism have not been totally eliminated in this country.

TNA proposals tend to change the nature of the state quite significantly and also the single sovereignty of the people in Sri Lanka. In the present constitution people’s sovereignty is reposed in the executive president by people’s franchise. President may delegate his executive powers to other institutions such as the ministers and also in accordance with the 13^th A to the governors he appoints to the provincial councils. In the proposals submitted by the TNA the governor is appointed on the recommendation of the chief minister with the approval of the council. Thus the main link between the central government and the council has been removed.

TNA proposals have done away with the concurrent list of subjects that come under the purview of both the central government and the regional councils. This is another delinking measure that TNA wants to be adopted to strengthen the autonomy and independence of their regional government. Such an arrangement would be federal in nature no matter what it may be called.

And what is worse is, it would be a federal state based on ethnic demarcation which has not been very successful in countries where it had been tried eg. Ethiopia, Pakistan, South Sudan.

What takes the set of proposals beyond federal status is the demand for powers to deal directly with foreign countries for aid, loans and investment. What the TNA is asking for is almost a separate state. If all these powers are granted their struggle to strengthen the case for the legal establishment of a separate state would succeed to a great degree.

TNA proposals if granted would have adverse effects not only on Muslims and Sinhalese living in the North and East but also on Tamils. These adverse effects would be felt mainly in the economic, social and cultural spheres. Tamils have a huge economic interest in the South, in the Sinhalese community. Cordial relations between communities is essential for the development of economic connections. For instance the wholesale market in Colombo in which the Tamils have a huge presence cannot thrive unless there is trust and understanding among different communities involved in this business. A political rupture in the sensitive areas like land, language, religion could affect the consciousness of these communities and disrupt the working relationships.

The Muslims and Sinhalese who live in the North and East would feel that they have been made minorities and may be subject to discrimination. Such sentiments would not help reconciliation but promote discord. Social and cultural relationships will be hampered and the whole country may not progress very much socially, culturally and economically.

It is time the TNA took into consideration the present realities and also politics in the Tamil areas. Adopting a more extremist posture in an attempt to boost up its flagging popularity is not what is needed. What is needed is a course correction and develop reconciliation strategies that would be beneficial to the Tamils who live not only in the North and East but also in the Centre and the South so that everybody could get together in a peaceful and cordial relationship and develop their country in the social, economic and cultural spheres.

Prof. N.A.de S. Amaratunga

The Sri Lankan American Community in the USA, and Sri Lankans worldwide join as people of two great democracies, to express their good wishes to the incoming President of the United States, Joe Biden and incoming Vice President Kamala Harris on January 20, 2021.

January 20th, 2021

Pledged by: A small but significant community of South Asian immigrants from Sri Lanka in the USA and others who have reached out globally.

We support your journey with hope for the Soul of America and the Soul of the Free World………. We are profoundly gratified by your success and convincing win for saving the Soul of America” of which we are very much a part. We rejoice with you and offer our support with gratitude to preserve our democracy and be a beacon to the world.

You delivered hope to us, a small but significant group of immigrants in the US and outside from the little island of Sri Lanka. Though small, we make a significant contribution to the intellect and economy being a part of the United States of America as law abiding citizens. We seek to be part of the inclusion for equal rights and equal justice you support across all people as promised by your upcoming administration.

Interest in this election stretched far beyond the shores of the USA to other countries. In this message, Sri Lankan Americans with citizenship to vote are joined by others who have expressed their joy and gratitude to see the muchneeded change in America take shape while they watched from across the globe. They join us to send their sincere greetings too.

We are a small lesser-known group, but we belong to the strong fiber of this country as South Asians. With a South Asian connection at the highest level of your administration, we come from a South Asian country that elected the World’s First Woman Prime Minister in July 1960”, shattering the glass ceiling ahead of powerful western countries.

Sri Lanka is the oldest democracy in Asia with adult universal suffrage introduced in June 1931, even prior to Independence from Britain.

As South Asians, we share a connection with the Vice President elect, to join the new order and the journey forward.

The values you expressed are common to all of us and for our children and grandchildren. Our culture is one that lays emphasis on education and human values. Those of us who chose to spend decades of our lives in the US brought with us an investment in free college education, nurtured by free health care given to us by our home country. We added value to our adopted land and promise to continue to do so.

We bring a literacy rate of 91% among our people. We are multiethnic and multi religious. We practice the Philosophy of Buddhism among a majority who spread the message of kindness and compassion to all beings. We live by the diversity we value with a multi religious composition among us and followers of Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam who freely follow their faith among the predominant Buddhists. They merge with ease sharing mandated holidays in celebrating all religions in the nation. This multiethnic group speaks three languages, and we are Sri Lankans striving to obliterate our differences while enriching the diversity in our homeland and adopted land, the United States of America. We have immersed ourselves to restore America to the position of the pinnacle of the world. We offer you our blessings in your new and difficult roles ahead. We are, Sri Lankan born US-citizens and non-citizens. in the USA and around the world

Convince India that PCs are a useless burden

January 20th, 2021

N.A.de S. Amaratunga

Indian Foreign Minister in his recent visit to Sri Lanka has firmly told the government that the 13^th Amendment must be implemented in a united Sri Lanka. Unitary state is not acceptable to India probably because it is not acceptable to TNA and Tamil separatists. India has been reminding our governments when ever the opportunity arises that the 13^th A is crucial for the dignified existence of the Tamils, their aspirations, peace and reconciliation of communities. When the Indian PM visited Sri Lanka he reminded the then ‘yahapalana’ government about this matter and in his messages to the present government also he does it.

India doesn’t seem to have taken into consideration that Tamils have been living quite comfortably without PCs for several years now because the PC elections have not been held. The elections have not been held because the TNA, the leading Tamil political coalition, colluded with the ‘yahapalana’ government to postpone the elections. The question has to be asked if the PCs are essential for the well being of the Tamils would Tamil leaders get the elections postponed. Why didn’t India intervene at that time and ask TNA not to postpone elections and kill its child, the 13^th A and Provincial Councils. India seems to be oblivious to this reality.

Is India aware that the 13^th A or the PCs have not served the Tamils irrespective of where they live, in any sphere of their lives, economic, education, cultural or reconciliation with other communities. They had the opportunity when C.Wigneshwaran was the Chief Minister of the Northern PC. They squandered that opportunity by choosing to use their provincial council as a platform for separatist political propaganda and agitation. The Northern PC adopted several seditious resolutions including one that stated successive governments had caused a Tamil genocide. The CM instead of giving responsible leadership to the Tamils chose to mislead them by distorting historical facts aimed at creating emotions in sensitive areas like Tamil origin in the island. The Northern PC did not spend 85% of the funds allocated for the development of the province. This was done probably to keep the area under developed to show that the government is discriminating against the Tamils. India must be aware of all this. Surely India did not want the 13thA and PCs installed for this kind of subtle separatism to operate in the North. Or did it ?

The expenditure for maintaining the 9 PCs is more than Rs. 250 billion per year and it is rising by about Rs.30 billion every year. This amount could rise further if land and police powers are also devolved. This little island doesn’t need PCs in the rest of the country. Yet the country, often battling to avoid being bankrupt, has to spend all this money to maintain nine white elephants. Just to keep Tamil politicians and India happy. One ninth of this money, which is about Rs.30 billion, would be available to be spent in the North to develop its industry, education, infra structure, culture etc. Norochcholai power plant cost Rs. 91 billion. Mattala airport cost about Rs.40 billion which shows what a waste PCs are from the economic development point of view. We could build nine Mattala airports every year with this money, not that Mattala airports are of any use, but just to give an idea of what we are missing, the magnitude of the problem.

What is the benefit that accrued to the people to justify this huge expenditure. Insignificant to say the least. Has the Northern PC in its short tenure or the other PCs in the last 30 years of their existence done anything original and creative in the economic, education, cultural or any other area. Nothing significant has been done except to form another obstacle to the people to be overcome to get any service done. And another opportunity for bribery and corruption.

There is no need for PCs for the economic, social and cultural development of the North or any other part of this country. However, there could be two other reasons why they are being demanded by Tamil politicians and India. Political power sharing is the long standing grievance of the Tamil political leaders. How this demand could be addressed has been often discussed in these columns by experts on the subject. A solution has to be found which is acceptable to everyone including the majority community. Greater devolution of power will not solve the problem of the Tamils and may not be acceptable to the other communities. Making the unit of devolution larger will make matters worse as pointed out by several writers and also in my earlier letter (The Island 14.01.2021). Perhaps it may be possible to solve this problem by two steps. The administrative powers could be devolved to a smaller unit such as the district which would be economically and functionally more feasible. Further a political power sharing arrangement could be worked out at the centre where Tamil political leaders instead of being parochial in their attitude could serve the whole country. It must be remembered more than 50% of Tamils live outside the North and East. Tamil leaders at the centre could serve all these Tamils

The other reason is the geo-political concerns of India. Sri Lanka due to its strategical situation in the Indian Ocean is a valuable piece of real estate”. China and the US are vying for a foothold on the Island. India due to its border confrontations with China is supporting the US. India’s policy towards Sri Lanka depends to a degree on its foreign relations with the two opposing global power camps, the Western and China/Russia camps. There was a time when India sponsored Tamil terrorists to counter the then government’s tilt towards the US and now it is with the opposite camp and is using the ethnic issue to have a support base in Sri Lanka. A Northern PC in a United Sri Lanka” would serve this purpose.

It must be said that though the US and India interfere in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs China strictly adheres to the UN convention on non-interference in other countries’ affairs. In this sense it is a true friend. Sri Lanka in this hour of need and peril must strengthen its relations with China, Russia and other countries in that camp. Sri Lanka must not be browbeaten by the big neighbour for it is not friendless and helpless at this juncture. China is forging ahead in spite of Covid and has beaten the US economically and also in the trade war that the latter waged against it. China hence is a good friend to have on one’s side.

It should be possible to convince India on the futility of pursuing with the 13^th A and PCs as a solution to the ethnic issue. Leaders of this government were once successful in convincing India on the desirability of eliminating the LTTE and the war was fought to its conclusion. A similar strategy may have to be adopted in this instance as well. India has to be shown the unfeasibility of PCs and the available alternatives to solve the problem. India must also be shown that Sri Lanka cannot be used as a piece of real estate” by any foreign power, including China. It must also be shown that arm twisting may not work, for Sri Lanka is not without powerful friends.