Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka has reported two more coronavirus related deaths today (January 230, the Director-General of Health Services confirmed.

One of the deceased is a 69-year-old male from Mount Lavinia who had passed away at the Homagama Base Hospital yesterday (January 22). He had been transferred from the Colombo National Hospital upon being diagnosed with COVID-19. The cause of his death has been determined as COVID-19 pneumonia and a kidney infection.

The other victim is an 82-year-old woman from the Ranala area who succumbed to COVID-19 pneumonia and kidney disease. She had also passed away yesterday at the Homagama Base Hospital from the Colombo National Hospital upon being identified as a COVID-19 patient.

Accordingly, Sri Lanka has reported 280 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic thus far.

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka’s Covid-19 numbers saw another surge today, as 371 more persons were tested positive for the virus.

Department of Government Information confirmed that all 371 of the newly-identified patients are close contacts of earlier cases linked to the Peliyagoda fish market.

Accordingly, a total of 724 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 57,587.

Recoveries from the virus meanwhile climbed to 49,261 earlier today, as more patients regained health.

However, 8,048 active cases are still under medical care at selected hospitals and treatment centers located across the island.

Sri Lanka has also witnessed 278 deaths related to Covid-19.

Courtesy Adaderana

Covid-19 positive Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi is currently receiving treatment at an intermediate hotel quarantine centre in Hikkaduwa, the minister’s media secretary said.

Minister Wanniarachchi was tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday (January 22) in a rapid antigen test.

She is the fifth Member of Parliament to contract the virus after State Ministers Dayasiri Jayasekara and Piyal Nishantha, MP Rauff Hakeem and Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara.

BBC Newsnight

Early evidence suggests the variant of coronavirus that emerged in the UK may be more deadly, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. How does this affect the road out of lockdown?

However, there remains huge uncertainty around the numbers – and vaccines are still expected to work. The virus’s reproduction rate is estimated to be at or below one for the first time since early December – which means the epidemic is shrinking in the UK. So what does this mean for the UK? Could we see travel restrictions imposed due to the new transmissibility of the new variant? How does this affect the road out of lockdown? Newsnight’s Policy Editor Lewis Goodall reports.

BBC Newsnight

Some viewers may find this film distressing
As the UK coronavirus death toll reaches record levels, Newsnight returns to Salisbury District Hospital joining the ITU staff for a full 12 hour shift as they struggle to cope with the relentless influx of patients.

Was TNA created by the LTTE in 2001? Yes.Press release on 22 Oct 2001 was signed by Sampanthan for TULF, N.Kumarakuruparan  for ACTC, N. Srikantha  for TELO & K.Premachandran for EPRLF. Why was TNA formed by LTTE in 2001? 9/11 sparked fears of actions against terrorist movements so TNA as LTTE’s political wing came into being. TNA issued its election manifesto on 12 November 2001 ahead of the 5^thDecember 2001 elections.

TNA’s manifesto goes out to explain the history to the Tamil nationality covering past 52 years.

TNA uses ‘Citizenship & Franchise Laws’claiming it deprived hundreds and thousands of Tamils of recent Indian origin their citizenship & franchise rights.

TNA is referring to the ‘hundreds and thousands of South Indian indentured laborers brought by the Dutch and the British to work on plantations during colonial rule. 

TNA must explain why it only makes reference to these Estate Tamils but never includes Estate Tamils in their demands and does not even contest in areas where these Estate Tamils live! 

TNA next refers to ‘state aided colonization of the Tamil homeland with Sinhala people from the time of independence’ 

Again, TNA ignores that the Constitution of Sri Lanka guarantees the right of any citizen to live and reside where they like and no political party can prevent this. At the same time, TNA must also respond to how LTTE in late 1980s and 1990 evicted in a virtual ethnic cleansing the Sinhalese & Muslims who were living in the North even prior to independence. Affidavits of these thrown out Sinhalese were even sent to the OISL investigators. TNA has no right to declare any area as its ‘homeland’ or ‘habitat’ or deny Sinhalese or Muslims from living in the North. When statistics can showcase that 59% of Tamils have bought land and property outside of the North and East and live without issues is this not ‘Tamilization of Sinhala areas’ as per TNA’s same argument?

There is continued reference to the Official Language Act 1956 erroneously called Sinhala Only Act” which completely ignores that Tamil was never an official or language of administration before independence or during independence to claim grievance. The demand for reversal of discrimination the Sinhala majority from the British had nothing to do with Tamils or against Tamils, it was only to demand the return of rights that the Sinhalese were denied under colonial rule. The divide and policy objectives of the colonials evaded correcting the historical wrongs & injustices to the Sinhala majority by falsely creating a notion that the Sinhalese demands were against Tamils which were fueled by the brown sahibs that the British had nurtured via their education system. 

The Sinhalese demand of the British was never to deny Tamils but to give to the Sinhalese as well what the British was unfairly and disproportionately giving to the Tamils. 

TNA next quotes STANDARDIZATION in university education. Again this too is a falsely drummed notion and this issue needs to also be linked to the 1957 Social Disabilities Act in which the then PM – SWRD Bandaranaike enabled low-caste Tamils to obtain education and enter university. This was fiercely objected to by the Tamils higher classes far more than the 1956 Official Language Act. In fact, after this Act was passed, the high caste Tamils did not allow the Tamil low caste children to sit on school chairs and they were made to sit and study on the floor. This was the Tamil caste system showing its true colours. The objection to the STANDARDIZATION was also because with low caste Tamils able to gain education, it meant they could also gain university entrance. This was a blow to the elite who were the only one’s enjoying university education. Standardization meant quotas given to the various districts and more low castes able to apply. Anyone wanting to know more about this argument unfairly used by the high caste Tamils must do a bit more research to find out the truth for themselves. Even the high class Sinhalese were not too much in favor of many Sinhalese also benefiting from university entrance. Standardization meant the privileged lot had to make way for others to also gain university education. 

TNA makes reference to in-equal education facilities– completely ignoring that the best of missionary schools throughout colonial rule were in minority majority areas in particular North Sri Lanka. This was how minorities (who converted and studied in English) obtained colonial jobs and why at independence they secured more jobs than the Sinhalese. This was no fault of Tamils per se but part of the colonial divide and rule system. The question at independence was the continuance of the disproportionate and unfair system or to rectify the system to be fair by all. Obviously, it was natural that those who were unfairly benefitting by the colonial system would get annoyed.

TNA also claims Tamils suffer deprivations and economic impoverishments.

This argument can easily be dismissed by statistical proof of the roles held by Tamils in Public and Private sector, the businesses they own, the properties in the most exclusive areas around Sri Lanka. Completely false propaganda by TNA.

TNA also alleges discrimination in the public sector for Tamil youth  

This is another myth but with a background. It was the LTTE that instilled fear in Tamils who were working in the public sector by shooting them dead. LTTE killed 3 Tamil mayors, LTTE assassinated Tamil politicians and public servants including principals, LTTE shot dead Tamil policemen on duty. As for Tamil youth, during LTTE heyday these young children were kidnapped and turned into child soldiers while affluent Tamils managed to go to foreign shores on asylum and as refugees. Naturally, Tamils could not join the public sector during this period because of fear of LTTE not because of any policy by the government not to induct them. 

It is interesting that TNA refers to the Vaddukoddai Resolution of 14 May 1976 claiming it is to restore the ’sovereignty of the Tamil nation’. It was this resolution that called for Tamil youth to take up arms and which LTTE used as a catalyst to do so having rechristened itself from Tamil New Tigers formed in 1972 (22 May – Sri Lanka Republic Day) to LTTE.

TNA justifies LTTE militancy in its 2001 manifesto

Tamil youth left with no alternative were driven to resort to an armed struggle”

TNA goes on to merge the quest for Tamil National rights with the LTTE’s armed struggle –virtually aligning LTTE’s armed movement to the Tamil National quest.

There is repeated reference by TNA to a ‘just solution to the Tamil national question’before solving anything, can TNA first clearly state what the PROBLEM IS.

TNA next refers to the demands by LTTE during the Thimpu Talks in Bhutan on 13 July 1985.

In so quoting LTTE’s demands in TNA’ manifesto, TNA is acknowledging the demands of the LTTE.

LTTE’s demands in 1985 were

1. Recognition of the Tamils of Sri Lanka as a distinct nationality
2. Recognition of an identified Tamil Homeland & guarantee its territorial integrity
3. Based on the above, recognition of the inalienable right of self-determination of the Tamil Nation
4. Recognition of the right to full citizenship & other fundamental democratic rights of all Tamils who look upon the island as their country.

Questions arising from the 4 LTTE demands

• Tamils like all other nationalities are distinct, but there can’t be 2 sets of Tamils with same distinct features. Tamil Nadu Tamils also claim to be distinct – so how can the same Tamils be distinct in two different countries. Let us not forget the Tamils in Tamil Nadu sought self-determination first.
• Tamil Homeland demand in Sri Lanka also brings the question of inability to have 2 different Tamil homelands in 2 different countries for the same ethnic group. 
• Tamils in Tamil Nadu want a Tamil homeland and Tamils in Sri Lanka want a Tamil Homeland. Why do Tamils in Tamil Nadu refer to Sri Lankan Tamils as ‘Our People’ and India is also using this as a slogan to interfere in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs if Tamils in Sri Lanka are distinct from Tamils in Tamil Nadu? 
• The 4^thdemand is irrelevant as all Tamils born in Sri Lanka are automatically citizens.

LTTE’s demand for an ‘identified Tamil Homeland’ (though not mentioning where it is, how big or its boundaries) is linked with TNA’s own statement in the 2001 election manifesto ‘we have demanded and struggled for an independent Tamil state as the answer to this problem’This statement by TNA naturally answers the solution to the Tamil National Question which is a quest for an independent Tamil state.

It is also interesting that TNA mentions the ‘tardiness of the Sri Lankan state’ to accept an international third party role in solving the conflict. In fact India arrived with a peace keeping force claiming to disarm LTTE 78 hours and proved a failure. Norway mediated the 2002 Cease Fire and the presence of a Nordic monitoring mission, which also proved a failure. So the foreign formulas did not bring any relief to the innocent victims of LTTE.

TNA’s 2001 manifesto was by an alliance of 4 Tamil parties

1. Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF),
2. All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC),
3. Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO)
4. Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF)

TNA’s  2001 manifesto made the following demands

1. Immediate lifting of economic embargo in parts of the North East province (obviously this was to facilitate LTTE’s movement)
2. Withdrawal of the residential & travel restrictions on Tamils
3. Immediate cessation of war in the North East (a request made on behalf of LTTE)
4. Immediate commencement of negotiations with the LTTE with involvement of an international third party

Another instance TNA associating itself with LTTE in the 2001 manifesto is when TNA states unless meaningful negotiations are held with the LTTE no just solution can be found to the Tamil national question & that such negotiations should be held immediately only with the LTTE”.

TNA goes on to add that in order to ensure that the negotiations are properly focused and are purposeful and successful, no parallel negotiations should take place with any other Tamil political formation”.

TNA goes on to demand in its 2001 manifesto that to facilitate the start of negotiations the GoSL should ‘lift the proscription imposed on the LTTE in Sri Lanka and thereby ensure such proscription does not constitute an impediment to the free and full participation of the LTTE at such negotiations on behalf of the Tamil nationality”.

TNA in November 2001 made this statement even after LTTE attack on Katunayake Airport & Air Force base on 24 July 2001 damaging aircrafts and injuring many.

TNA in its manifesto claims that it is contesting the general elections ‘in order to achieve the aims and objectives, outlined above’ and affirms that TNA will ‘campaign both nationally and internationally for the achievement of the said aims and objectives”.

TNA goes on to say that its alliance (TULF, ACTC, TELO & EPRLF) would ‘mobilize the Tamil-speaking people of the North East in order to achieve the said aims and objectives’.

Thus, even in 2001, the reference to Tamil-speaking people to link Muslims to the separatist quest was part of a bigger plan.

TNA 2001 manifesto asked voters in 5 districts (Jaffna, Vanni, Trincomalee, Batticoloa & Ampara) to vote for the Tamil Alliance symbol the rising sun.

This is the party that the diplomats, UN officials and others are holding discussions with!

Shenali D Waduge

The Tamil National Alliance was formed in 2001 by the LTTE and became known as LTTE’s political wing. The rationale to create a political wing was probably the outcome of 9/11 and the US steered global ‘war against terror’. The TNA has contested 2 Parliamentary elections with backing of LTTE in 2001 and 2004 while the remaining 4 elections were post-LTTE defeat (2010, 2013, 2015 and 2020). Interestingly, TNA while claiming to be the representative of the Tamils contests only in Jaffna, Vanni, Trincomalee, Batticoloa & Ampara in all the 6 elections. Why has TNA ignored or refrained from representing all areas where Tamils live in particular the Estate Tamils.Given that the TNA in all of its manifestos refer to disenfranchisement of Tamils at independence and since this reference is to Indian Tamils brought to work on plantations by the colonials, TNA must explain why it does not represent them. Even Colombo where a large population of Tamils live, TULF/ITAK has never been able to get more than 13,000 Tamil votes! The diplomatic community are visiting TNA when they have just 2% of Tamil mandate!

TNA constituent parties

2001 – TULF, ACTC, TELO, EPRLF

2004 – TULF, ACTC, TELO & EPRLF

2010 – ITAK, TELO & EPRLF – TULF and ACTC no longer in TNA

2013 – ITAK, TELO & EPRLF

2015 – ITAK, TELO, EPRLF & PLOTE

2020 – ITAK, TELO & PLOTE (TULF, ACTC, EPRLF – no longer in TNA)

TNA open support for LTTE 

TNA 2001 

• ‘it was inevitable, that the armed struggle gained in strength and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam came to occupy a paramount position, and play a pivotal role in the struggle of the Tamil nationality to with their rights’
• We have also consistently asserted that any attempt to draw a distinction between the LTTE and the Tamil people was meaningless’…
• ‘unless meaningful negotiations are held with the LTTE no just solution can be found to the Tamil national questionand that such negotiations should be held immediately ONLY with the LTTE’–
• ‘no parallel negotiations should take place with any other Tamil political formation’.
• TNA comprising TULF, ACTC, TELO, EPRLF in 2001 demanded that the GOSL ‘lift the proscription imposed on the LTTE’ and that such ‘proscription does not constitute an impediment to the free and full participation of the LTTE at such negotiations on behalf of the Tamil nationality’.
• Demanded lifting of economic embargo in NE provinces against LTTE
• Cessation of war
• Commencement of negotiations with LTTE & a 3^rdparty

In 2001 TNA says national solution is based on LTTE-GoSL proposals at Thimpu in July 1985 where LTTE demanded

1. To recognize Tamils of Sri Lanka as a distinct nationality
2. To recognize the identified Tamil Homelandand guarantee its territorial integrity
3. To recognize the inalienable right ofself-determination of the Tamil nation.
4. To recognize the right to full citizenship and other fundamental democratic rights of all Tamils who look upon the island as their country.

This clearly implies TNA demands what LTTE demanded

TNA 2004

• ‘in order to safeguard the life and liberty of the Tamil race and to establish its birthright for self-determination, the Tamil Nation having being pushed to the unavoidable state of armed conflict, as the only way, the war not only broadened but advanced under the generalship of the Tiger’s leader Hon.Pirapaharan’(Note TNA politicians for fear of LTTE lived with the Sinhalese in Colombo and cared not what happened to the Tamils living in LTTE controlled areas)
• Sinhala Nation has to accept ISGA excellent” proposals by LTTE to rebuild Tamil country
• ‘The LTTE has for the past two years put up with the violent, surly behavior of the armed forces without impairing the conditions for peace and observing the ceasefire and acting steadfastly and firmly towards the path of peace’.
• international community should remove restrictions on LTTE because it is the ‘authentic sole representative of the Tamil people’
• ‘accepting LTTE’s leadership as the national leadership of the Tamil Eelam Tamils and the Liberation Tigers as the sole and authentic representatives of the Tamil people’
• ‘let us devote our full cooperation for the ideals of the Liberation Tigers struggle with honesty and steadfastness’…‘let us work side by side with the LTTE’.

TNA 2010

• ‘sole military outfit that fought for a separate homeland for the Tamils’ 

Now let us look at how Tamils have voted for TNA over the 6 elections held since 2001 

2001 TNA Results

Inspte of such open allegiance to the LTTE, the TNA comprising TULF, ACTC, TELO & EPRLF secured only 348,164 votes (3.89% of Tamil votes polled) but because of Sri Lanka’s PR system, TNA managed to get 15 seats.

TNA contested only in 6 districts yet Tamils live across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka.

2004 TNA Results

In 2004 TNA comprising TULF, ACTC, TELO & EPRLF secured 633,64 votes (6.84% of the Tamil votes polled) and secured 22 seats in Parliament due to the PR system. 

2010 TNA Results

From 8.6m voters in the areas that ITAK contested ITAK secured only 233,190 votes just 2.9% of votes polled but thanks to PR system TNA secured 14 seats in Parliament. The TULF/Anandasangaree contested separately in 2010 received just 9223 votes.

ITAK votes in 2004 were 633,203 in 2010 ITAK votes were 233,190 (400,013 Tamils had given up on ITAK – virtually saying ‘NO’ to their manifesto

2013 TNA Results

Elections to the Northern Provincial Council was held after 1990 when merged-NE was taken back to the State after declaration of universal independence by Indian-puppet Varatharaja Perumal. 2013 NPC elections was held 4 years after defeat of LTTE. TNA contested under ITAK and secured 353,595 votes which was 120,405 votes more than what ITAK secured in the 2010 General Elections. It was nothing for TNA/ITAK to feel proud about.

2015 TNA Results

In 2015 January regime change took place. TNA was a key player in change of Govt. In August 2015 General Elections was held – TNA/ITAK secured 515,963 votes – 4.62% of votes polled gaining 16 seats. This was just 162,368 more than what TNA secured in 2013. Again nothing much to boast about.

2020 TNA Results

In 2020 TNA votes was 327,168 as against 515,963 in 2015. TNA received just 2,82% of votes. This meant 188,795 Tamils had lost faith in TNA. It also means the diplomatic community and other international dignitaries are visiting TNA to hold talks when they hardly represent the Tamil people or even what the Tamils want. This is something the diplomatic community and the UN need to seriously look at.

LTTE supported 2 elections TNA took part in – 2001 and 2004. Even with LTTE support TNA secured 633,203 votes only. Even after supporting regime change in 2015, TNA secured only 515,963 votes. In fact, percentage wise TNA has received the lowest as per 2020 results gaining just 2.82% vote.

The takeaway from this is that TNA is not the representative of Tamils. The international community and the diplomats should seriously relook at who they are chaperoning. Courtesy calls to TNA is not going to win the Tamils as TNA does not stand for what Tamils truly want. The election results speak for themselves. Contesting just 5 districts since 2001, TNA is hardly representative of the Tamils!

Shenali D Waduge

By The Sri Lanka Study Circle 

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

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: 

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

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.

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

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

Senaka Weeraratna

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 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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 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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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)

(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.

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. 

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!

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.

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

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?

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