Dr.S.M.S. Samarakoon, Head of Colombo University’s Deshiya Chikitsa Unit, says Ayurveda gives top priority to the prevention of disease.
Colombo, November 1: Here is an interview with Ayurvedic doctor, S.M.S. Samarakoon, senior lecturer and Head of the Deshiya Chikitsa Unit (Indigenous Medicine) at the Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM) of the University of Colombo, the affiliate academic body for Ayurveda and Indigenous Medicine in Sri Lanka. Dr. Samarakoon holds over 25 years of experience as a medical officer, lecturer and researcher in the field of Ayurveda and Deshiya Chikitsa of Sri Lanka, and is qualified from Sri Lankan and Indian universities. The detailed interview with Dr. Samarakoon is in the backdrop of Sri Lanka battling the second phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.
How do you observe the practical differences between Ayurveda and (Deshiya Chikitsa) Sinhala Wedakama that pre-dates Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a complete medical system rooted in India and is a medical science as well as a way of life. Ayurveda gives top priority to the prevention of disease. In its preventive perspective, Ayurveda advices Satvavritta (How best to go about daily routines) for maintaining health, Sadvritta (moral conduct for maintaining mental and spiritual health), Dina charya (daily routines to maintain health) etc., In addition, Ayurveda advices what should be eaten and how, in order to be healthy.
In the curative aspect, Ayurveda has taught perfect treatment protocols (Chikitsa Sutra) along with proper dietary management (Pathya-Apathya) for every disease, with similar emphasis on health promotion. Positive health can be achieved through Rasayana (rejuvenation) and Vajikarana (aphrodisiacs) drugs and procedures. Rasayana is the process by which optimal nutrition of the essential body tissues (Saptadhatu) can be achieved.
Rasayana drugs promote good health, long life, memory, intellectual capacity, disease free life, youthfulness, good complexion, voice and optimal functioning of the sense organs. Some Rasayana drugs improve longevity termed, Prana-kamyarasayana, intellectual capacity termed Medha-kamyarasayana” and beauty and youthfulness termed, Sree-Kamyarasayana.
Vajikarana drugs enhance sexual potency of men. Infertility of men and women, subfertility of women, and sexual impotency can be cured by using Vajikarana drugs.
Deshiya Chikitsa or Indigenous medicine is the system of medicine inherent to the Sri Lankan community. The majority of physicians are Sinhalese, therefore it is named Sinhala wedakama”.
It is also called ‘Helawedakama.” Sinhala Wedakama is a cultural heritage of Sri Lanka, and King Ravana was a renowned physician. This medical system is well mixed with the Sinhala culture, Sinhala language and Buddhism.
During the pre-historic period indigenous medicine was in a hegemonic position in the country. The first full-fledged hospital of the world was built during King Pandukabhaya’s period in the pre-historic era. It is said to be the world’s first systematic hospital, the ruins of which are still found in Mihintale.
By the time of the Kingdom of Kotte, the influence of indigenous medicine gradually declined and was divided into narrow branches such as, Kadumbindumwedakama, Sarpavishawedakama, Unmadawedakama, Gedi-Wana-Pilikawedakama, Sarvangawedakama and more.
As we are close to India, the indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka may have been mixed with Ayurveda medicine.
But, Sri Lankan indigenous medicine is not part of Indian Ayurveda. It has its own identity. Indian Ayurveda is inspired by Hinduism, while Sri Lankan indigenous medicine flourished with Buddhism.
Where similarities are concerned, like Ayurveda, indigenous physicians of Sri Lanka treat patients based on the Tridosha Theory” considering the patient as a whole.
The unique feature of indigenous medicine of Lanka is that it’s not available in any Ayurveda textbook or Ayurveda pharmacopeia. Rathakalka (paste), Buddharajakalka (paste), Yasodharakalka (paste), Navarathnakalka (paste), Seetharamavati (pills), Mattuphaguliya (pills), Chandra kalka (paste), Yashtikalka (paste), Suranviduraguliya (pills), Jeevanadaguliya (pills), Siddhartha oil and Neelyadi oil are a few.
In these medicines, a single drug with different anupana” (vehicles) is used for different diseases. For example, the Navarathnakalka, a medicated paste can be prescribed for vomiting with lime juice, for loss of appetite with fresh ginger juice, for fever with dried ginger and coriander boiled water, etc. All these medicines are prescribed with different Anupana for different illnesses. Ayurveda and Deshiya Chikitsa are complimentary and supplementary to each other forming the Sri Lankan Ayurveda”.
Could you comment on the different reactions on the body through Sri Lankan/Ayurvedic methods, parallel to Allopathic drugs?
The majority of medicines used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine are natural and mainly plant-based. They are free from side effects and adverse effects. Their safety and efficacy are time-tested.
In Deshiya Chikitsa, the raw materials are collected by the physician himself, the drugs prepared by him or under his strict guidance, and are recommended by him, including the follow up.
Therefore, safety and efficacy are ensured. In Ayurveda too, except for a few herbo-mineral drugs all other drugs are herbal based.
Drugs act on the body through pharmacodynamic properties, such as Rasa (taste), Guna (properties), Vipaka (potency), Veerya (Specific potency) and Prabhava (un-explainable drug action). Modern allopathic drugs are chemicals. Therefore, when we use herbal drugs and Allopathic drugs simultaneously, the interactions reported are almost zero.
For example, when a patient suffering from several diseases such as, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol levels, etc. gets paralyzed due to a stroke, he is treated at an Ayurveda hospital and administered with Ayurvedic/indigenous medicine drugs, while initially continuing the Allopathic drugs. However, as the patient acquires relief, the Allopathic drugs can be gradually withdrawn.
Many Ayurveda drugs used for communicable diseases have anti-microbial and immune-modulatory effects. Such medicines have been used from early times when epidemics broke out.
These drugs can be used even for rapidly spreading epidemics. Coriander (Coriandrumsativum), Venivelgeta (Cosciniumfenestratum), Pathpadagam (Hedyotis corymbosa), Ginger (Zingiberofficinale), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Tippili (Piper longum ), Neem (Azadirachtaindica), galangal (Alpiniagalanga) etc are some medicinal plants that have immune potentiating effects.
Could you speak of our Indigenous medicine (Wedakam) practitioners who were and are known to be carrying a medical heritage that is one of the oldest in the world?
I believe the true indigenous physician is a reservoir of traditional medical knowledge. Traditional knowledge is derived from generation to generation that forms part of the heritage of Indigenous people who are the guardians of indigenous knowledge. I have worked with our traditional doctors for long years.
They have well organised and evidence-based knowledge on medicinal plants, make their own medicines and are skillful in clinical practice. But, according to my experience, indigenous medical genealogies (Wedaparampara) have gradually declined subsequent to the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte period.
I have identified a large number of genuine indigenous medical genealogies throughout the country, but today, only a few have survived. At the same time, the few existing Wedaparamparas are not training any new physicians.
Could you comment on the value of indigenous medicine and its specialists for the country?
Indigenous physicians have traditional knowledge which is time tested and scientific. That is why these knowledge systems are valued by global organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). These physicians have gained indigenous medical knowledge through a series of observations and by ‘trial and error’ over many centuries.
In any occupation, quacks may be seen and they use allopathic drugs. Similarly, in the Ayurveda and indigenous medical field too some fake doctors may be found.
But, well trained and registered indigenous physicians treat their patients silently. They have earned the recognition of the community because their treatments are socially accepted, safe and efficacious. We should encourage indigenous physicians to practice sustainably to preserve their inherent medical knowledge.
At present how many indigenous medical practitioners are there in Sri Lanka?
By 2018, there were 14,700 traditionally trained medical practitioners in Sri Lanka. Apart from the registered indigenous medical practitioners, there is a large number of non-registered practitioners whose practice is a rustic form of medicine.
Physicians are registered in the Ayurveda Medical Council (AMC) under different categories namely, Sarvanga (general; for common body ailments), Sarpavisha (snake bite treatment), Kadumbindum (for fractures and other orthopaedic casualties), Gedi-Wana-Pilika (for abscess and tumors), Davum-pilissum (for burns), Vidum-pilissum (therapeutic piercing and heat treatment), Akshiroga (for eye diseases), and Manasaroga (traditional psychiatric treatment).
There are other special branches such as Indigenous Veterinary medicine, treatment for Rabies, spiritual healing practices, treatment for childhood nutritional diseases and indigenous midwifery. These branches are not recognised for registration by the AMC.
In your view how could these physicians be strategically used through a national policy in the battle against the second phase of Covid-19?
The health sector in the country should consider the doctors and other manpower in the Ayurveda sector, especially in the Government Ayurveda hospitals and the indigenous physicians.
There are several qualified Ayurveda doctors posted at Government Ayurveda hospitals. In addition, many Ayurveda community medical officers are being posted in the community. They are ready to assist the health sector to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
The phenomenon currently seen in Sri Lanka is that only a few of the Covid-19 patients suffer from serious symptoms and many patients may be asymptomatic and not serious. As we know, there is no particular drug effective against the Coronavirus yet.
However, given our rich medical heritage, we have faith in our medical system that we can overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be prudent at a national level, to give an opportunity to Ayurveda doctors to treat patients at the Ayurveda hospital.
The unacceptable fact in this context is recommending traditional medicines at quarantine centres and for PCR positive cases in the hospitals by Allopathic doctors. Likewise, if Ayurveda doctors use allopathic drugs, it is unethical and unauthentic. Similarly, if Allopathic doctors recommend Ayurveda or herbal drugs to patients, that is also unethical and unauthentic.
These two systems should be integrated when necessary, for a collaborative effort and administered by the respective specialists in the two different medicinal branches, without imposing hegemonic powers. Whether it is Ayurveda or Allopathy it is for the benefit of mankind, not for maintaining one’s autonomy.
Ayurveda doctors and indigenous physicians must be incorporated in health care delivery. They have vast traditional knowledge and effective medicines for many diseases. They have effective traditional preventive measures which can be used even in situations like the current Covid-19 pandemic. Experts who decide the health policy of the country should take into account this situation seriously and carefully.
The State pays millions of rupees for Government Ayurveda doctors and other staff in the Ayurveda sector. Hence, the Government should make use of them for the good of the country, when the country needs them most. Traditional and Ayurvedic physicians can be trained to update them in treating evolving new diseases like the Coronavirus.
Dr. SMS Samarakoon
Could you comment on the link between medicine in general and the natural world – plants, minerals, animals and even the elements such as wind/fire?
Ayurveda and indigenous medicine are natural forms of medicines. Ayurveda teaches to live in harmony with nature. Everything in the universe whether living or non-living, is made up of five basic elements (Panchabhuta). The human body too consists of these five bhutas. Any change in the environment directly affects the human body. Wind, Sun, and Moon govern the entire universe. Wind is responsible for every movement of the universe. The Sun gives heat and dries up the environment.
The Moon gives moisture and cools the environment. When they are in a balanced state, the environment is in harmony. Similarly, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha govern the living body. Vata, Pitta and Kapha represent the Wind, Sun and Moon. When these three major environmental factors are imbalanced, the body’s Vata, Pitta and Kapha too become imbalanced.
In this manner, the environment provides causes for diseases, and we need medicine to overcome the body’s humoral imbalances.
The medicines are from the environment; in the form of plant, animal and mineral substances. Until humankind understands the nature of health and illness, they have to suffer emerging diseases.
Can Allopathy cure, diabetes mellitus? No. Can Allopathy cure cancer? No. It may control it but cannot cure it as a certainty. We must question why these diseases occur. They are due to misconduct and mis-consuming of drug, food and behaviour. Chemical and artificial drugs have no remedy for such diseases. The Allopathy system is now gradually realising this universal truth.
Many traditional medicine practitioners lament that Sri Lanka has lost a large percentage of its endemic and non-endemic herbs, and even common herbs such as turmeric that were grown in every household has today become scarce. Could you recommend how we could conserve and promote our medicinal herb cultivation?
We should be ashamed that we don’t have even turmeric and ginger in this country if they are not imported. Sri Lanka has a rich bio-diversity. Robert Knox, in his book, ‘A Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon’ says, the pharmacy of indigenous physicians is the forest”. We had almost every medicinal plant in the country.
Why did we not pursue a national priority in cultivating these plants? Turmeric, ginger and all medicinal plants that are fast becoming extinct can be cultivated here as before. Why do we import them? We should motivate the people and the farmers to cultivate them. Indigenous physicians should be encouraged to use self-prepared medicine by cultivating their own medicinal plants. When we cultivate essential medicinal plants in the country, we save money and contribute to the national economy.
There is currently a major tension in the country with what is described as the second phase of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, could you explain the Ayurvedic/Deshiya Chikitsa recognised stages of disease build up in the body?
Covid-19 is a virus belonging to the Coronavirus group which cause clinical features on mainly the respiratory system. Many patients may be asymptomatic.
The majority will get clinical features such as, mild fever, sore throat, cough etc. Only few patients reach the severe stage of the above features, such as high fever and respiratory distress. People who have already chronic diseases of the respiratory tract and other vulnerable people are more at risk of getting the disease. Immune compromised people are vulnerable.
In Ayurveda there are a group of diseases called Jvara” (fever). Jvara is sub-divided into many, based on doshic predominance; Vatajajavara, Pittajajvara and Kaphajajvara. The symptoms of Covid-19 bear more resemblance to Vata-kaphajvara. On the other hand, there are other varieties of fever such as, VishamaJvara and SannipatajaJvara. Based on the clinical features, we have to identify the doshic predominance when we plan treatment. We all have natural resistance in the body against diseases.
The natural resistance is nothing but the immunity of the body which is called Bala (strength). If your natural resistance is very strong and can overcome the virulence of the Coronavirus, you will not be a victim to the disease. If your resistance is good, you might have mild symptoms even if the virulence of the virus is high. If your immunity is low, you will get severe symptoms. To withstand against Covid-19, you have to enhance your Bala” or immunity by adopting a natural way of living with natural food and a calm mental status.
Can any virus that enters the body naturally leave the body if immunity has been successfully built (such as by taking authentic Sri Lankan traditional diet and some of the products that the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine has produced?
Yes, of course. Consume natural food; natural traditional Sri Lankan food free from unwanted and excess nutritional substances, and free from toxins. Eat more leafy vegetables, drink more water, get physical exercise, live a stress-free life, have a sound sleep daily and live happily. With the support of the above, the defence system of the body will boost, and you will be protected from any kind of foreign invasive disease.
Could you comment on the importance of a happy, content and non-stressful, non-fearful mental state for the fast recovery of any disease in the early stage of incubation in the body?
Yes, in general mental clarity is an important part of health. Ayurveda has placed much importance on the mental condition in defining health. All of the body’s physiological functions are governed by Tridosha”, and mental state is governed by Triguna”. Triguna is composed of Satva, Raja and Thamaguna.
Thamaguna should be improved to potentiate mental state. If you have a strong mental state, you will not be a victim of disease easily. Therefore, mental clarity or happiness speeds the recovery of disease. This is applicable to any epidemic too. During the lockdown period people need to be productively engaged. Living in dread of the pandemic and spreading panic would not do any good. Be wise and take all the health precautions but keep your mind calm.
Could you give your suggestions/comments on the handling of the second Covid-19 phase?
The second phase of Covid-19 seems more serious than the first. It is said the virulence of the virus is higher. More patients are being reported. In this stage, people should behave responsibly and follow safety measures strictly.
Very importantly, the health sector can give an opportunity to the Ayurvedic sector to look after Covid-19 patients. I personally know that almost all people in Sri Lanka follow at least some of the Ayurvedic advice to prevent themselves from diseases, especially in this pandemic context. There is a huge demand for Ayurvedic drugs these days. I see long queues at Ayurveda drug stores every day.
China seems to be the only country which had controlled the community spread of the virus so far. China is known for the use of the integrated method where traditional Chinese medicine is used with highly advanced Allopathic medicine. Your comments?
China has overcome this situation through the use of its well-integrated national medical system built upon traditional knowledge and appropriate advanced technology. Western medicine was introduced to China at the beginning of the 19th century. Then, there was a conflict between Chinese indigenous medicine and western medicine but soon a compromise was reached.
However, the Chinese indigenous medicine was not given its due place and acceptance until the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949. Subsequently, China has developed an advanced integrated health care system that prevails at present. Many other countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia today practice the integrated system of Chinese medicine. That is how the countries develop their own health policy.
In Sri Lanka we don’t have a national health policy in the sense of real nationalistic nature. Ayurveda and indigenous medicine of the country have been neglected. WHO has given due recognition to traditional medicine especially in primary health care. Health policy makers should take action to give proper recognition to traditional medicines for the benefit of the people.
Could you speak about the practice of steaming in the Deshiya Chikitsa system that can be used for the prevention of early influenza like stages in the body?
Using fumigation and steaming has been done since thousands of years by Ayurveda and indigenous physicians in the country. Those treatment methods are not new to them. There are a large number of time-tested recipes used for fumigation and steaming for diseases such as Covid-19
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone and a local partner received an in-principle approval to sign a deal with Sri Lanka Ports Authority, which will hold majority stake in the project
While the US presidential election is in full swing, the US State Secretary Mike Pompeo made a long trip to Asia that took him to India, Sri Lanka, Mal Dives, and Indonesia. It is America’s diplomatic convention that senior government officials would suspend their diplomatic activities when the presidential election comes to the home stretch. Still, Pompeo’s unconventional move came as no surprise as anyone could see through the real intention of his trip – to form a so-called Asian version of NATO to reinforce Trump’s anti-China stance and help him get reelected.
Before his four-leg Asian tour, Pompeo had just participated earlier this month in the quadrilateral China-bashing meeting attended by the US, Japan, India and Australia, laying bare his attempt to form an Asian NATO. But that is perhaps just Washington’s wishing thinking since the Asian countries that have enjoyed peaceful co-existence with China for long years are not necessarily willing to be its cat’s paw.
As it happened, even before Pompeo set off, there were large-scale protests in Sri Lanka opposing his visit and warning him not to interfere in the country’s sovereignty. Sri Lankan media quoted a senior official of Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry , who didn’t wish to be named, as saying that the president, prime minister, and foreign minister of Sri Lanka would all inform Pompeo that their country doesn’t need anyone from outside to tell them how to run the country. The unanimous opposition from Sri Lankan officials and civilians was a heavy slap on Pompeo’s face.
Coincidentally, Indonesia showed no interest in the Asian version of NATO and expressed its concerns about the US-Japan-India-Australia consultation held earlier this month. The Jakarta Post wrote, this will bring new turmoil to security and aggravate political tension.” It’s worth noting that Indonesia has repeatedly rejected America’s requests to land and refuel US military aircraft at its domestic airports this year.
It’s no surprise that Asian countries would backlash against Pompeo’s anti-China rhetoric as regional countries have the correct judgment of right and wrong, gains and losses. Previously, senior American officials claimed to be ready to work with Sri Lanka anytime and promised military assistance in the attempt to drag the country into its anti-China alliance,” but they never mentioned any details of cooperation, which fits America’s diplomatic custom to pay lip service only. Colombo knows only too well what Washington has in mind and has declared that the country, only committed to national development, especially infrastructure construction, would not join the anti-China alliance unless the US could offer investment as attractive as that from China.
Pompeo’s attempt to form the anti-China alliance is against the fundamental interests of countries in Asia and beyond. While the COVID-19 pandemic remains concerning and the world economy struggles to recover, what people need is solidarity in fighting the virus and actions of win-win cooperation, not the poison to international relations that Washington is peddling hard. The US has no intention of giving Sri Lanka any tangible help; it just wants the country to be its pawn and serve its political agenda. The so-called Asian NATO is nothing but a bulwark for it to rope in Asian countries to form a front against China. Should any country dare to show any sign of disobedience, what awaits it would be big sticks. Washington’s earlier coercion of Britain into casting off Huawei and the announcement of pulling its troops from Germany were tangible proof of its hegemonism and Cold War mentality.
Disclaimer: This article is originally published on china.com.cn and translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
Peng Nian Assistant Fellow, National Institute for South China Sea Studies Courtesy ChinaUS Focus
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently made a four-nation tour of the Indo-Pacific that took him to India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia ahead of the U.S. presidential election. It was Pompeo’s latest diplomatic gambit to increase his influence within the Trump administration and play the China card” to help his benefactor win re-election. In the process, Pompeo further enhanced his image as a China hardliner.
Pompeo’s Indo-Pacific trip has been perceived as part of the ongoing U.S. effort to contain China in the region, given the intense confrontation between the two great powers. Several days before the tour, the State Department’s David R. Stilwell, U.S. assistant secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Dean R. Thompson, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, overtly urged Sri Lanka to make decisions to secure its economic independence for long-term prosperity and openly supported Indonesia and other claimant states for their demands in the South China Sea.
In New Delhi, the U.S. and India signed the long-negotiated Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), which is the third major defense pact between their armed forces. Pompeo said both the U.S. and India must strengthen cooperation to address the China threat.
During his visit to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Pompeo expected to offer a 480 million USD Millennium Challenge Corporation grant to Sri Lanka and use the similar economic means to lure Maldives closer to the U.S. He also wants to foster a U.S.-Indonesia partnership and give incentives to Indonesia to counter China’s militarization of disputed South China Sea outposts.
Still, the U.S. will not succeed in containing China, either in the Indian Ocean or the Pacific region. First of all, while the U.S. may have enhanced maritime cooperation with India by reaching agreements on logistics, intelligence and information between the two armed forces — such as the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, LEMOA, Communications Capability and Security Agreement and COMCASA — and conducted joint military excercises in the Indian Ocean, it has actually failed to establish a formal military alliance with India.
Given India’s independent foreign policy, it won’t join any camp that targets a third country, China included. So far, India has approached the U.S. with an attempt to balance China, and has not blindly followed America’s hostile lead. For instance, India has never joined U.S. freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea. It also refused to accept Trump’s offer to mediate the border dispute with China, so as to avoid U.S. interference.
Other major factors also undermine American efforts to contain China by making use of relations with India. The Indian economy has been severely damaged by the coronavirus pandemic, while China has become the first country to recover. Meanwhile, India’s military expansion is also adversely affected by its fiscal stringency. Currently, the top priority of the Indian government is to control the spread of the virus and provide enough medical services for its people, not to counter China.
For countries like Sri Lanka and Maldives, the best policy choice is to maintain balance between the great powers. As Rathindra Kuruwita, a researcher from Colombo, described Sri Lankan foreign policy over the last 15 years — especially after the end of the civil war in 2009 — as a series of desperate attempts to balance the interests of major powers that have interest in the country.
Both Sri Lanka and Maldives have become increasingly dependent on the Chinese economy and Chinese tourists, which contribute to their cordial relations over the past decade. To survive at a difficult time, given the spread of COVID-19, these countries need Chinese assistance. China provided $90 million in October and $500 million in low interest loans in March to help Sri Lanka cope with the pandemic. Meanwhile, the U.S. itself has been mired in the pandemic and has little to offer these countries.
As a powerful state in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, Indonesia has drawn rising attention from American strategists in recent years. The U.S. has encouraged it to play a big role both in the South China Sea and in its overall Indo-Pacific strategy. However, Jakarta wants to stay neutral in the China-U.S. power rivalry. Recently, Indonesian President Joko Widodo rejected a U.S. request to host the multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft P-8 Poseidon, which would be used to surveil Chinese positions in the South China Sea because Indonesia does not want to provoke China. It also gave a cold shoulder to the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. Instead, it has pushed forward ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific Outlook, which emphasizes ASEAN centrality, the priority of economic prosperity and an inclusive and open Indo-Pacific region.
The Sri Lankans stranded in 150 safe houses in Saudi Arabia would be expatriated within 48 hours, National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said.
The decision has been reached in the Task Force meeting under the directive of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Accordingly, stranded Sri Lankans would be expatriated as early as possible sending at least two flights to Saudi Arabia a day,” the Army Commander said.
This emergency measure is to be implemented in coordination with all stakeholders because the quarantine procedure previously conducted in 72 tri service-managed quarantine centers and hotels would cease to function with the departure of all quarantined individuals back to their homes within next two days. Such places could easily be used for those expatriates arriving home”, he added. (Sheain Fernandopulle)
Austria boasted itself to be one of the world’s best 10 destinations and safest places to live & then terror struck and 4 are now dead. In France, even a cartoon cannot be drawn and teachers will find their necks chopped off. In the meanwhile, across the channel, the Queen’s government is busy pussy-footing Sri Lanka’s tiger terrorists that have proudly christened UK as their international headquarters since 1970s. UK, is today out of EU and obviously finds itself isolated among its European counterparts – it’s a matter of time UK may find itself further isolated if Commonwealth Countries too, begin saying cheerio – so much for the sun never setting on the UK! But, go ahead, lift the ban on LTTE, allow them to roam the streets of London, Harrow, Tooting with their flags and paraphernalia joining the other terrorists that UK has given safe haven to. We really do feel sorry for the Brits! They may need more than a stiff upper lip to tolerate the tigers!
LTTE was defeated militarily in May 2009. As far as we are concerned the only living tiger mouthpieces are a handful of Tamil politicians who come out during elections with their pro-tiger slogans or to gain cheap publicity garlanding a dead LTTE combatant. These are scenarios, we in Sri Lanka can definitely live with as we are pretty confident that our war heroes ensure, the nation is LTTE-free. Without a leader to match the charisma of Prabakaran, those tigers overseas with mikes can hardly measure up to become an alternate LTTE leader.
Though yahapalana thought fit to remove some of the LTTE fronts from the list of 16 UNSC Resolution 1373 declared terrorist fronts, many of them freely operate in the very countries that have banned them. If these western governments wish to keep the tigers near their bosom so be it. What really is the difference in UK removing LTTE ban when UK allows LTTE fronts to operate freely even with a ban? We really do not know. Must be UK foreign policy.
There are numerous social media posts appearing claiming LTTE are celebrating UK de-proscription. Good for them. Now we can tell the UN & UNHRC where to locate the ‘missing’ or ‘dead’ – they are living in jolly London.
It is hypocrisy of the highest order for the UK government to be pointing fingers at Sri Lanka, raising hands against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC while providing safe haven for these ‘missing’ ‘dead’ LTTE. We are thankful that these dead souls have found a home!
While Sri Lanka has had no LTTE related violence since 2009, can we ask the same of UK? Across the globe, these LTTE fronts are posing a bloody nuisance to the citizens in Canada, US, France, Germany and even UK though their politicians find them lovely company.
All our warnings about LTTE’s credit card scams, human smuggling, money laundering, armed violent gangs, blackmail & intimidations have gone on deaf British official ears. As a result, over 5 Tamil children have been killed, there are sword wielding gangs operating in the capitals of Canada, UK and France chopping off hands and fingers, they run legal firms training Tamils how to get asylum and refugee status and they provide the ins and outs of how to fool the stupid Brits to enjoy all welfare and charity systems. How lovely!
So, Britain can feel free to legalize all these acts of crimes and give a carte blanche to the LTTE to operate as they like on the streets of London, Harrow, Tooting and wherever they feel they have a right to shout and cause mayhem – so long as it is not in Sri Lanka, we don’t care. The MPs that molly cuddle them may not be too happy about the new found freedom though, as this would certainly bring to naught all the flirting the LTTE remnants engage in to win their favours. With ban lifted – LTTE will not require services of these MPs any longer!
In the meanwhile, UK may continue blabbering to us about ‘accountability’ and what not – not, that we give a damn, but something has to be put on paper, right! Just for the records!
We are keeping records ourselves. Next time UK preaches to us about assimilation and integration – we have a jolly good list of LTTE antics to present.
As records clearly show, while there are thousands of Sinhalese living in the UK – none of them have been remotely up to any of the nefarious acts that LTTE Diaspora have been caught red-handed in. Not only in UK, but in France, across Europe, US and even Canada. It speaks volumes of their inherent characteristics. Who are we fooling when UK bans one bogus charity to allow it to quickly set up another & transfer funds to it before UK closes it down. Does White Pigeon ring a bell? What about all the Hindu kovils collecting money for LTTE. Oh yeah, UK police are still investigating. Just like they are investigating that white tiger woman who not only trained children as young as 7 to kill but even taught them how to commit suicide. This woman is a nurse too. She may be the defacto LTTE leader in UK, for all we know!
The bottom line is – UK lifting the ban over LTTE does not make any difference to Sri Lanka or to Tamils, in particular. All of LTTE fronts illegal activities generating well over $300m annual profits post 2009 sans having to spend on military equipment, weapons or looking after LTTE combatants, have given nothing to the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. Even the LTTE combatants and their families have not received a dime from them. They spend for tamashas crying over dead LTTE, garlanding them, waving LTTE flags and pretending to feel sad but do not send a dollar or a pound to the families of the dead. Oh wait, closer to some LTTE anniversary, they are shrewd enough to present a handful of pounds or dollars and rally some Tamils and then pay some photographers to fire a few shots & that gets sent out across the world as if some ‘hundreds and thousands’ attended. What fertile minds these tigers have!
One of the reasons for the British to demand Brexit was that a majority of the Brits had got fed up with immigrants and their refusal to assimilate and accept the majority values and cultures as being the ethos of Britain. Each time the British have had to put their Britishness aside and have the foreign culture rule. The compromise has always had to be from the British with no compromise from the immigrants. Naturally, with time this was bound to face conflict and it is a feeling that the majority in all parts of the world feel and even Sri Lanka’s majority share the same sentiments.
What Britain and the British must take as a lesson from what Britain is today facing is that karma is a bloody bitch finally visiting Britain. We feel sorry that the ordinary British who have no role in creating the situation, have to face the onslaughts, but too bad, the British Empire purposely and with intent mixed native people, plucked them from their homes, carried them across the shores, dumped them in unknown and unheard of territories, forced them to work on them and then forced them to become citizens of their newly found homes.
We like to remind the Brits of the cliché ‘the chickens have come home to roost’ which perfectly depicts the bad karma calling on the British.
So, there is little point in being gentlemen or ladylike enough to nicely asking the British to continue to ban on LTTE, Sri Lanka is advised to guard its turf and allow the tigers to roam the streets of London with LTTE flags, registering LTTE nameplates to their cars and hopefully we can soon see the Union Jack replaced with the Eelam Flag. We are absolutely certain that an Eelam will be declared in either Canada, UK or France sooner than later.
Chandre Dharmawardana, National Research Council of Canada
According to a news report (Island,
2-11-20), Mr. Chinthaka Rajapaksa, who is said to be the moderator of an
organization known as the Movement for
Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR)” claims
a high probability that the fertilizer currently released to the market
were of low quality and high in heavy metals, as the National Fertiliser
Secretariat had stopped testing samples at local labs”.
It seems that these labs are currently
non-functional because of the Covid crisis, and so foreign labs are used. Testing
has not stopped. The non-analysis and lack of testing of compost
fertilizers are ignored by MONLAR as
they are tacitly supported by
MONLAR! Here I will show that even if
one of the world’s worst rock phosphates, e.g, Nauru phosphate from New Zealand, containing very high amounts of heavy metals
(occurring naturally) were imported, it
will still have NO TOXIC effect if applied to Sri Lankan soils for agricultural
purposes. This is based on the research I have published in peer-reviewed
journals. For instance, Mr. Rajapaksa should consult my publication in Environmental Geophysics
and Health, August 2018 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0140-x
where a detailed discussion is found. Here we will explain all this more simply
in the following.
However,
first we must look at the political agenda of MONLAR itself. Although I
am not aware of the current political
strategy of MONLAR in detail, I personally knew some of the initial
founders of this movement. They were Marxist militants who decided to launch a
movement to capture and control the
peasant farmers and convert them into a revolutionary political force”. A key tactic was to rouse the farmers into
opposing big capitalist agricultural
multi-nationals” and their genetically modified (GM) products and seeds. Imported fertilizers sold
by capitalist multi-nationals” were also targeted. The opposition to GM
products and high-yielding hybrid seeds led them to back traditional seed varieties”. These
yield about a fifth of the harvest from modern hybrid seeds created by the rice
scientists at Bathalagoda and other research Institutes. They were the real
unsung heroes who have kept the exponentially increased population of the nation
away from famine since World War II.
A return to traditional seeds will mean a return to shortages, famines,
and re-importing milchaard haal”.
But MONLAR and other backers of
traditional seeds” and compost fertilizers etc., are either mesmerized by false
claims and fake science, or are cynically using them to further their political
agendas. They want to negate the good work our scientists. Even the Minister
Pathirana seems to have been tragically
mislead into presenting a motion for traditional seeds” in place of hybrids
(Island, 02-11-20). The motion states that this Parliament resolves …(to)..
educate the public on the nutritious value of the traditional, local rice
varieties available in the Sri Lankan market at present, of the new rice varieties
consumed at present, and of the varieties of rice that should be consumed
by people with various diseases, and also to provide facilities for farmers to
cultivate those varieties of paddy.” So the minister wants to cure diseases
with rice, while 30% of kids come hungry
to school! Unfortunately, it is the minister who has to be educated. This
may be a case where the minster’s scientific and medical advisors dare not
contradict the minster and put him right!
The opposition to imported fertilizer led these groups to
support the use of compost whose composition and quality are never subject to
analysis. But MONLAR rushes to claim that imported triple phosphate is full of
heavy-metal toxins profiting from a lapse in local testing due to an epidemic!
This cry had already found resonance with the Natha Deviyo” group led by Ms.
Senanayake of Hela-suvaya” together with
Dr. Nalin de Silva, then at the Kelaniya Science faculty, and Ven.
Rathana, then an MP from the JHU. They claimed that many illnesses, e.g., Kidney
diseases in the Rajarata, are caused by arsenic and other toxins in imported
fertilizers and herbicides, even though these claims were, and are now found to
be completely contrary to exhaustive investigations by several independent
research groups. For instance, strong evidence now suggest that the Rajarata
Kidney disease is contracted by people who drink water from wells containing
excessive amounts of fluoride and hard water, both of geological origin (See:
Imbulana et al., Science of the Total Environment, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140716
and references therein ); in contrast,
those who drink water from agricultural canals, rivers and tanks
carrying fertilizer runoff are free of
the disease!
Why do I say that even if one of the cheapest and worst available” mineral
phosphates, e.g., Nauru phosphate were used in agriculture, it will have no
effect on our health? Let us consider this in detail.
Cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and lead (Pb)
are some of the dangerous metal toxins found in minerals.
We will take the example of Cd, as the
discussion for other toxins follows the same lines. Nauru rock phosphate
contains some 90 mg of cadmium per kg of phosphate, where as a more expensive
phosphate fertilizer may contain less than 20 mg of cadmium per kg of
fertilizer. European green” activists who are much like their counterparts in
Sri Lanka have clamored for lowered amounts of cadmium (and other such toxins)
in fertilizers imported to Europe.
Let us consider that we imported the Nauru
phosphate that has been used in New Zealand, and containing some 90 mg of Cd
per kilo of rock phosphate. A farmer usually applies some 30 to 60 kg of
phosphate fertilizer per hectare of land in planting rice, depending on the
soil. The fertilizer is ploughed into
about a depth of about 8-12 inches
(20-30 cm). Taking a figure of 30 cm depth in a hectare of land, the 60 kg of
fertilizer containing 60 x 90 mg (i.e.,
0.54 g) of cadmium are dispersed in a soil volume of 3000 cubic meters, or
about 3900 metric tonnes of soil of density 1.3 g/litre. So, 0.54 g of cadmium are dispersed in this
volume of soil, increasing the soil cadmium concentration by a mere 1.38
nanograms/kg, i.e., 1.38 parts per quadrillion. This is an utterly minuscule
amount as the ambient level of cadmium in the soil may be as high as 0.4 mg/kg
even in virgin forest soil (Chandrajith and Dissanayake 2012), and this is similar to values known
for European soils. NO LEACHING what ever was assume even in
estimating the 1.38 parts per quadrillion, and of course this is not true. The
monsoonal rains can wash off many many times more than the 1.38 part per
quadrillion.
So, when MONLAR claims that substandard
fertilizer probably containing dangerous levels of toxins is being imported to
Sri Lanka and that no chemical analysis is done, this is just fear-mongering
and nothing else. The calculation that I presented needs only a knowledge of
simple arithmetic and MONLAR, claiming expertise in agriculture should be able
to do this before raising alarms.
This does not mean that EXCESS USE of
fertilizer does not pollute the environment. The excess phosphate fertilizer
gets washed off into the aquatic ecosystem via rivers and canals and create
Algal blooms and weed growth. They de-oxygenate the water and asphyxiate
aquatic organisms. The seasonal increase in phosphate levels in the Rajarata
tanks is given in Table 1 of a research publication that I authored with other
collaborators in Environmental
Geochemistry and Health: Volume 37, Issue 2 (2015). This applies to macroscopic
components like phosphates contained in the fertilizer, but NOT to the
microscopic components (trace amounts) like Cd, As, and Pb. The metal toxins
largely come into the environment from other sources (e.g., mining, burning of
fossil fuels, acid rain, burning garbage, smoking cigarettes etc) as discussed in relevant publications.
Chandre Dharmawardana, National Research
Council of Canada.
LTTE terrorism was defeated in May 2009. Without a charismatic terrorist leader, LTTE is unlikely to resurface. But, the efforts to create a Tamil Eelam or a Greater Tamil Eelam encompassing Tamil Nadu has scope as it is aligned to geopolitical goals of those that sponsored Tamil militancy & separatism. Global proscriptions of LTTE did little to counter the LTTE fronts operating overseas since LTTE defeat. That these entities were operating for a reason is obvious. The security apparatus in both India & Sri Lanka may deal with terrorist elements effectively but, both countries must be now aware that political manipulations steered by greater powers is now more powerful than the gun! Therefore, India cannot ignore the writings on the wall. The sudden appeal to de-proscribe LTTE in UK is no coincidence.
India is only an US ally to satisfy US hegemonic designs for Asia, which includes the eventual plan to break up India.
Destabalizing Sri Lanka using the Tamil card by India has karmic effects. It’s the very card the West via UN will now use against India where 95% of world Tamils live. India cannot forget that Tamils have played a historical role as sepoy for the West. India’s role against Sri Lanka in UNHRC will soon backfire. Tamil Nadu where Kamala Harris has her origins are suddenly breaking coconuts for her victory, no different to how army commander Fonseka had coconuts broken for his victory by Tamils in Sri Lanka in 2010. India cannot ignore her statement during the campaign trail on Kashmir. US will not bat an eyelid to say the same for Tamil Nadu. India cannot also ignore the faith foot-soldiers already making cozy along the coastal belt expanding their flock in preparation for this eventuality. The manner they are able to brainwash souls means they will upgrade that to demanding self-determination from India kick starting the Greater Eelam project. With MCC not getting signed in Sri Lanka, US will no doubt be pushing for optional plans!
This statement together with that which US Congressmen Edolphus Towns said in 1998 cannot be ignored by India. Intervention against India is thus very much on the cards and on the minds of the West.
It is in this scenario that India must seriously take note of US-based, TGTE appeal to a UK Tribunal to de-proscribe the LTTE taking advantage of the lapses by the British Government. While the British Government is not bound to accept the conclusions of the British tribunal, it means that the project to use Tamil lobby against both Sri Lanka & India by the West is still alive. While, the West doesn’t have the terrorist element to peddle, the political element has wider dangers and consequences.
The opening of a US consulate in Maldives must add to India’s concern. Plenty of isolated islands will be the haven for jihadi training & dispatch.
Covid will be used as a camouflage and excuse to justify US military presence across covid-19 affected countries using the ruse of ‘humanitarian’ assistance. Pompeo was seen emphasizing this across his Asian tour.
India has gone through much – alliance with Russia in the 1980s, simultaneously a period that India lent training to Tamil militancy, the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, assassination of her son Rajiv 7 years later in 1991. The slow shift towards US with dialogue commencing immediately after defeat of LTTE in June 2010 with India being called ‘an indispensable partner’. The following year US-Indo Strategic Dialogue timed with the US Pivot to Asia strategy of Obama-Hillary. Military ties announced in 2012 the very year US brought bogus UNHRC Resolutions against Sri Lanka. Modi visits US in 2014, Obama arrives in India in 2015. Same time West & India influenced Nepal’s constitution leading to an embargo & humanitarian crisis. Regime change in Sri Lanka was orchestrated by both India & US also in 2015. India becomes America’s ‘best partner’ elevated in 2016 as a major defense partner. Modi flies to US in 2017 where US-Indo strategic partnership was to play a ‘critical part’ in US South Asia strategy and then in 2018 the Communications Compatibility & Security Agreement (COMCASA) is signed. US & India saw fit to remove the importance of Asia & Christen the region US-Indo Pacific. Containing China is primarily to maintain US hegemony fast disappearing from US and in this quest the stampede for natural resource grab would eventually mean US will target India too. Having signed military agreements with US, India is compromising its own national security independence. India can never dictate military strategy to US and instead India will find itself taking orders from US. India cannot forget that there are no permanent friends but permanent self-interests.
India must take a step back & review how far India has compromised its national security to partner with US against China. If India is also targeted to be balkanized how far can India now negate all of the security pacts entered into with US when US will now use a host of tools against India sooner than later.
Karma will mean all of the threats Sri Lanka had to weather will soon get transferred to India. Jihadists, faith-foot soldiers & LTTE diasporawith cahoots in Tamil Nadu will be India’s coming trouble.
Thus, India must view the sudden appeal by TGTE to de-proscribe LTTE, to a UK Appeals Commission as nothing coincidental. Karma again will mean what India did to create Bangladesh is on the cards for a greater Tamil Eelam that will become West’s satellite base in South Asia. If UK de-proscribes LTTE, US, EU will follow suit. The UN has all the paper work prepared. LTTE terror kitty has retained the best of international lawyers. While India’s politicians prostrate at the quest of being seen on par with the West, Sri Lanka’s politicians can easily be swayed with deals. Both scenarios are detrimental to the sovereignty of both India & Sri Lanka.
Do the LTTE Diaspora really need de-proscription? Putting it differently, has the proscription of LTTE stopped LTTE Diaspora’s ability to earn money, carrying on campaigns, hold events etc? So, the question is who really wants to have LTTE de-proscribed? In whose interests is the de-proscription if the de-proscription is not going to make any major changes? The answer to that lies in how LTTE Diaspora will serve the West and its South Asian agenda vis a vis a de-proscription. While there is no likelihood of any LTTE terrorism with defeat of LTTE, there is more than likelihood of LTTE Diaspora Political Self-Determination. Which is exactly what the West is expecting LTTE Diaspora to deliver.
India & Sri Lanka must realize this.
The Prabakran-less LTTE is no threat to international security but the LTTE Diaspora is an international threat to India & Sri Lanka.
Tamils in either Sri Lanka or Tamil Nadu don’t want Tamil Eelam but the LTTE Diaspora are demanding it on behalf of the West. All of its nefarious activities are well known to the West – if the West has been as honorable about the war on terror & actions against anyone materially supporting terror, none of the LTTE diaspora entities would be functioning on their shores with blessings of their MPs. When foreign MPs attend LTTE diaspora functions, are not shy to issue statements on behalf of them, they even have sword groups operating freely across UK & France, the Western Governments also allow their Parliaments to be used for LTTE publicity – do we really need to guess who has adopted the tiger and taming the tiger for future instructions! India must note that the Indian diaspora has not been able to do the magic that LTTE diaspora has done with Western governments simply because they are West’s pawn.
Bharath became divided as Pakistan & Bangladesh – Tamil Nadu will be the 3rdtime lucky. With each division or separation of India – India will lose its super power status and will have to say goodbye for any global supremacy aspirations. That Tamil Nadu never aligned to the goals and aspirations of India is nothing we need to remind India’s Central Government.
India can ignore warnings but India will note that in siding against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC and then abstaining in 2014 showed wisdom falling on India realizing that coming colours was not good. This resolution should now immediately echo Kamala Harris’s US ‘intervention’ in Kashmir and realize that US ‘intervention’ in Tamil Nadu is more than a possibility too.
The West using LTTE Diaspora has made the first move – it’s now India’s turn to shift its Queen.
According
to the Holy Qur’an those who reject God the Exalted always meet with disgrace
and humiliation and this is also proof of their falsehood, for God always
brings victory for His believers and they enjoy ascendancy over their enemies.
If God did not exist, where does this assistance and succour come from? Hence,
Pharaoh said to Moses, peace be on him Saying, ‘I am your
Lord, the most high.’ So Allah seized him for the punishment of the Hereafter
and the present world. (Holy Qur’an: 79:25-26)
That is,
when Moses, peace be on him, asked Pharaoh to submit himself in obedience to
God, he arrogantly replied: ‘What god? It is I who am god.’ So Allah the
Exalted brought disgrace upon him in this life and in the hereafter. The
episode of Pharaoh is a manifest sign which demonstrates how those who
disbelieve in God are
always humiliated and shamed. Moreover, no non-believers in the Existence of
God, has ever succeeded in establishing a kingdom in the world [in any true
sense]. On the contrary, those who have brought about great conquests in the
world, reformed countries and created history, have always been those who
believe in the existence of God. Is not the humiliation and misfortune of
disbelievers and their failure to establish themselves as a nation in the world
a matter of great significance?
Moreover,
those who believe and have faith in God and are true in their convictions
always achieve success, and despite the hostilities of others they are not
afflicted by misfortune. Such individuals as (have been commissioned) to bring
people to accept the existence of God have appeared in every country and have
met with such an unrivalled degree of opposition that there is no parallel to
it. And yet what harm was the world able to inflict on them?
Did those who banished Sri
Ramachandra, peace be on hm, find any peace and what riches was Ravana able to
attain? (An epic poem in the sacred Hindu text the Ramayana depicts the
struggle between the divine prince Rama and the demon king Ravana).
Did not the name of
Ramachandra, peace be on him, live on for thousands of years, and was not
Ravana’s name disgraced forever? Similarly, in what manner were the Kauravas
able to profit by rejecting the claims of Sri Krishna, peace be on him —were
they not destroyed in the battle of Kurukshetra? (The Kurukshetra War, also
known as the Mahabharata War, is a battle depicted in the great Sanskrit epic
of ancient India, the Mahabharata. The conflict was an 18-day dynastic
succession struggle fought between two groups of cousins, the Kauravas and
Pandavas, for the throne of Hastinapurain.).
The Emperor Pharaoh, who forced the Israelites to make mud bricks, stood himself against a helpless man like Prophet Moses, peace be on him. Yet was he able to harm him in any way? Instead, Pharaoh drowned while Moses, peace be on him became a king. The manner in which the world opposed Prophet Jesus, peace be on him is common knowledge, and the prosperity that later came to him is also well established. His enemies were destroyed and his followers became the rulers of countries. Our Master, the Prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), excelled above all others in the world in his commitment to spreading the name of the Holy God. So much so, a European writer has commented that he was delirious in this, God forbid, and the name of God was all that escaped his lips. Seven nations opposed him, both friends and strangers turned against him and yet the treasures of this world were conquered at his hands. If God did not exist then who came to his aid? If all of this was caused by chance, there should have been at least one prophet who came to establish the eminence of God, but was disgraced by the world. However, all those who have come to elevate the name of God have met with honour and dignity. Allah the Exalted says in the Qur’an:
Those who
take Allah and His Messenger and the believers for friends should rest assured
that it is those who believe in Allah that must triumph”. (5: 57)
By P.K. Balachandran/Daily Express/ Courtesy newsin.asia
Colombo, November 1: India and Sri Lanka are both anxious to start work on the East Container Terminal (ECT) project in the Colombo port for pressing economic and geo-strategic reasons. The Sri Lankan side feels India’s participation is necessary for its security and also to uphold its policy of maintaining equidistance from powers seeking a foothold in the strategically located island.
The layout of Colombo Port’s terminals shown above, thanks go Daily Express and maritimegateway.com
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has already started work on the partially built-up ECT site with one ship having been handled so far. Cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the Sri Lankan Cabinet had recently decided to appoint a Negotiating Committee to go into an Indian proposal to Build, Operate and Transfer the ECT, while Maj. Gen (Rtd) Daya Ratnayake, Chairman, SLPA, explained the Committee will review the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed in May 2019 between Sri Lanka, India and Japan and work out the details of the deal.
However, while Rambukwella said no decision on the international partner or partners has been taken yet, Gen. Ratnayake maintained the MoC of 2019, which states India and Japan will be the international partners, stays, with no indications to the contrary from the government.
As per the MoC, the SLPA would be the owner of the ECT and the Terminal Operations Company (TOC), which would conduct all ECT operations, would be jointly owned, with Sri Lanka having a 51% stake, and the joint venture partners having 49%. A 40-year loan at 0.1% interest was to be extended by Japan to fund the project.
A press release from the then government said: The envisaged Japanese loan carries one of the best loan terms Sri Lanka has obtained. The 51% stake is also one of the best in SLPA joint ownership endeavours. SLPA’s majority ownership in the new TOC represents a significant step in prioritizing national interests.”
India and Japan consider their presence in the Colombo Port a strategic necessity in view of China’s presence in the adjacent Colombo Container Terminal (CCT) with 85% stake in it. India has an additional reason to seek a foothold in Colombo Port as 80 to 85% of the throughput at Colombo port is accounted for by Indian transhipment.
However, while the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe decided to give the project to India and Japan for strategic reasons (to balance China and India) the ultra-nationalist president of that time, Maithripala Sirisena, scuttled the deal saying Sri Lanka should not barter away strategic national assets like ports to foreign entities. Sirisena reflected an atavistic fear of India prevalent in the majority Sinhala community. As a result, the ECT project came to a grinding halt and Colombo port continued to face problems of congestion, which is now said to be acute.
When Gotabaya Rajapaksa became president in November 2019 and his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) secured a two-thirds majority in the August 2020 parliamentary elections, the government started reviewing projects with foreign collaboration including the ECT with the aim of implementing the implementable ones. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also pressing the Rajapaksas (President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda) to implement the pending non-grant Indian project proposals numbering about a dozen.
India was also concerned about the Rajapaksa government’s lurch towards China in granting projects. In March this year, Sri Lanka and the China Development Bank signed an agreement for a financing facility of US$ 500 million for development efforts. In October, during Chinese politburo member Yang Jiechi’s visit to Colombo, China announced a grant of US$ 90 million for education, medicare and water supplies.
Is Japan in or out?
There appears to be lack of clarity on Japan’s participation in the ECT project. A member of the Cabinet, who spoke off the record, said only India is in the project and there will be negotiations with an Indian company suggested by the Indian government. The Sunday Times of November 1 identified the company as the Adani group.
The Cabinet member said that Japan is out of the reckoning because it is only offering a loan and is not making an investment in the project. Sri Lanka wants investment and not loans. Japan has offered a loan and not investment,” he said. It appears that India too is wondering if Japan is in or out. But a Japanese diplomat insisted that Japan is very much in and that the money Japan is to arrange is an investment and not a loan. Gen. Ratnayake also said the MoC of 2019 stays implying that Japan is in the reckoning.
Lankan President keen on India’s participation
Amidst the confusion, it is reliably learnt that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is keen the ECT be given to India for the sake of good relations with the giant neighbour, which he believes is vital for the security of Sri Lanka. There is also a feeling among senior leaders of the ruling SLPP and the government now that India should not be antagonized and also that there are dangers in putting all the eggs in the Chinese basket.
Though he has sharp differences with the United States on China policy, the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact (MCC) and the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), President Rajapaksa is also keen on US investments in Sri Lanka in certain sectors like agriculture and ICT. He had conveyed this to the visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who reciprocated saying the US would invest in the tourism sector.
To speed up matters in regard to the languishing Indian projects, especially the ECT, the India High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay told a webinar late last month: In the present situation, at the present stage, perhaps the best way to deepen the India-Sri Lanka ties is to implement quickly the deep port project of East Container Terminal. If we do not move with time and implement these projects, not only will these projects and their concepts become outdated and, perhaps even challenged, but sometimes these may be overtaken by events. Time and tide do not wait for anyone.”
The webinar had been organized by think tanks ASEAN-India Centre, the Indian Council of World Affairs, the Asian Confluence and Sri Lanka’s Pathfinder Foundation.
Jaishankar due in Colombo
In the midst of all these developments, the Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is to visit Sri Lanka shortly. Sources say the Indians have sought a date in early November before the Sri Lankan government gets busy with the budget session of Parliament. But it could take place later in November too.
Jaishankar’s visit is expected because of the fast changing geo-strategic scenario with the sharpening of India’s border and economic conflict with China; the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit in which he made no secret of his sharp anti-China agenda; and the visit of Chinese Communist Party Politburo member and former foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, where he pledged significant political and economic support to the friendly Rajapaksa government.
Lankan funds for Chinese-run terminal
On October 27, Ada Derana Biz, quoting the Government Information Department, said that the Lankan cabinet had approved a proposal presented by the Prime Minister cum Minister of Finance, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to enhance the capacity of the Chinese-run Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT), with a fund induction of US$ 90 million.
Considering the prevailing demand for the activities of that terminal as well as the future prospective business opportunities, it has been decided to extend the said project without performing further construction, but enhancing the capacity of its container yard.”
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has rendered their agreement for the proposal tabled by Prime Minister as the Minister of Finance for the introduction of new equipment by investing US$ 90 million, renovation of the existing equipment as well as for the implementation of productivity-boosting work of the terminal, and for publishing the orders for the provision of applicable tax relief as per the provisions of Strategical Development Act in the Government gazette,” the report said.
New Chinese envoy’s take
China’s new Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, has said he would like Sri Lanka and China to promote a strategic cooperative partnership.”
In a statement issued on arrival in Colombo, Qi said: Let’s join hands to implement the consensus reached by leaders of our two countries, promote our strategic cooperative partnership, build the Belt and Road Initiative and other cooperation with extensive consultation and joint contribution, so as to bring tangible benefits to our two people and better ensure peace, stability, development and prosperity in this region.”
(For the layout of Colombo Port’s terminals shown above, thanks go Daily Express and maritimegateway.com)
By Sugeeswara Senadhira /Ceylon Today Courtesy NewsIn.Asia
But did it have the intended impact?
Mike Pompeo with Xi Jinping in happier times
Colombo, November 2: The 16-hour visit of US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo to Sri Lanka received international attention not because of its impact on US-Lanka relations, but because of verbal clashes erupting between Washington and Beijing arising from third-party references during bilateral discussions.
Pompeo, who was earlier in the limelight as the Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), used every available opportunity to drag China into every discussion during the tour and attempted to draw a contrast between what China seeks in Sri Lanka as opposed to the manner in which the US operates and controversially labeled the Chinese Communist Party a predator.
Basic Jab
That’s quite a contrast to what China seeks. We see from bad deals, violations of sovereignty and lawlessness on land and sea that the Chinese Communist Party is a predator, and the United States comes in a different way. We come as a friend and as a partner,” said the American State Secretary.
Infuriated China too, instead of issuing a statement from Beijing, thought it was fit to use the neutral Sri Lankan soil to retaliate, thus dragging Colombo too into an unnecessary controversy. The Chinese Embassy tweeted that China was not interested in Pompeo’s Alien Vs Predator game invitation”. It tweeted back Sorry Mr. Secretary @SecPompeo, we’re busy promoting #China-#SriLanka friendship and cooperation, not interested in your #Alien Vs Predator game invitation. The US can play two roles at the same time as always.”
In Beijing, replying to a question about Pompeo’s remarks about the Chinese Communist Party, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that forcing small and medium sized countries to pick sides is a habitual behaviour of certain US politicians”.
Step Jab
The State Secretary also took a totally uncalled for dig at China while referring to the need for cooperation in defeating COVID-19. He emphasised that the pandemic came from Wuhan, China.
Sri Lanka has no interest at all in becoming a pawn in big-power rivalry. Sri Lanka is determined to keep a fine balance in its international affairs. Hence, it used the visit of the US Secretary to give the message in no uncertain terms that, for Sri Lanka ‘independence and sovereignty come first in foreign relations’.
Sri Lanka’s experienced Foreign Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena made no reference to China. In his joint press conference with Pompeo, Gunawardena reiterated that the country maintains a non-aligned and neutral foreign policy.
On the eve of the Pompeo’s visit the Chinese embassy accused Pompeo of trying to coerce and bully” Sri Lanka with his visit. In the first week of October, Yang Jiechi, a high-ranking Chinese Communist Party Politburo member, pledged more economic help to Sri Lanka when he was in Colombo.
Power Jab
Apparently, anti-China comments have been a key theme of Pompeo’s Asian tour, which began in India and included Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia. He started his China-bashing in New Delhi last week. With Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Subramanian Jaishankar on their sides, the visiting US Ministers, Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark T Esper, launched a sharply worded attack on China, much to the satisfaction of the people of India. Esper recalled the June 2020 border clash between India and China and described it as increasing aggression and destabilising activities by China”.
To emphasise the US solidarity with India, Pompeo visited the war memorial in New Delhi and said, We went to honour the brave men and women of the Indian Armed forces who have sacrificed for the world’s largest democracy including 20 that were killed by the Chinese armed forces in the Galwan valley in June”.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said that a multi-polar world must have a multi-polar Asia as its basis. Our national security convergences have obviously grown in a more multi-polar world.” He added that, We are also committed to addressing together global issues ranging from maritime security to counter-terrorism. In US-India talks we also explored probable capacity-building and other joint cooperation activities in third countries, including our neighbourhood and beyond.”
While Pompeo and Esper made repeated references to China at every forum, two Indian ministers, Rajnath Singh and Subramanian Jaishankar refrained from making any direct reference to China. They simply stressed the need for ‘respecting and upholding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states’ without naming any country.
However, the US high-profile visit to India was a win-win one for both countries as it aimed to underscore the need for cooperation between New Delhi and Washington to check China’s inroads to the Indian Ocean region. The US and India signed the crucial military pact, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) last Tuesday. The BECA will help India to get real-time access to US geospatial intelligence that will enhance accuracy of automated systems and weapons like missiles and armed drones. It will also help access topographical and aeronautical data and advanced products which will aid navigation and targeting. This could be key to Air Force-to-Air Force cooperation between India and the US.
Pivot Jab
While New Delhi is very keen to enhance military cooperation with the US, Colombo has no desire whatsoever to get entangled in the conflict between regional or global powers. During the discussions President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made it clear to Pompeo that China assisted in the development of the country’s infrastructure since the end of the long-drawn fight against terrorists. He also clarified that it was an economic partnership and Sri Lanka was not caught in a debt trap as a result.He said what Sri Lanka wants is not obtaining loans continually, but to achieve a high level economic growth by attracting more foreign investments.
We have already begun to remove bureaucratic red tapes that hinder foreign investment. Sri Lanka is a country that possesses necessary factors to achieve a high agricultural development. Our agriculture sector should be modernized. Scientific research should be conducted in order to reach this goal. We expect your assistance towards this end,” the President said.
President Rajapaksa made it very clear that Sri Lanka will always maintain a neutral stand in foreign policy and will not get entangled in struggles between power blocs. What Sri Lanka needs is development assistance and foreign investments. Pompeo told media that he had talked with the President about the economic relationship. In a positive note he said, brands like Coke and Oracle and IBM are here creating high-quality jobs. These American companies are the most reliable partners on the planet. They’re accountable to the law, they’re transparent, and they’re assets to the communities in which they operate”.
Backstep Jab
Pompeo emphasised that good governance, transparency in policy consistency will attract even more American investment. Those principles are deeply consistent with Sri Lanka’s history, its heritage as the oldest democracy in Asia” he said acknowledging the potential for economic cooperation. Hopefully, there is a strong possibility to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries. However when the details are worked out and agreements finalised, it is essential to ensure there would be no cause to fear about Sri Lanka becoming an unwilling pawn in the chess game between regional and global powers.
Navy joins forces with rescuers and volunteers in effort to push pilot whales back into ocean.
Volunteers try to push back a stranded short-finned pilot whale on Panadura beach, Sri Lanka. Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesAgence France-Presse in ColomboMon 2 Nov 2020 17.11 GMT
Rescuers and volunteers were racing to save about 100 pilot whales stranded on Sri Lanka’s western coast in the country’s biggest mass beaching.
The short-finned pilot whales began beaching at Panadura, 15 miles (25km) south of Colombo, shortly before dusk. Within an hour their numbers swelled to about 100, a local police chief, Sanjaya Irasinghe, said.
With the help of local residents we are trying to push them back [into the ocean],” he said. But they keep getting washed ashore. We are getting help from the navy to rescue these whales.”
The national Marine Environment Protection Authority (Mepa), whose officials were helping with the rescue operation, said it was the largest single pod of whales stranded in Sri Lanka.
It is very unusual for such a large number to reach our shores,” Mepa’s chief, Dharshani Lahandapura, said, adding that the cause of the stranding was not known. We think this is similar to the mass stranding in Tasmania in September.”
Rescuers work through the night to save dozens of short-finned pilot whales. Photograph: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty
The beaching of 470 pilot whales in a remote harbour in Tasmania was Australia’s largest ever. About 110 whales were saved in a rescue effort that took days.
Pilot whales, which can grow up to six metres (20ft) and weigh a tonne, are highly social.
The causes of mass strandings remain unknown, despite scientists studying the phenomenon for decades.
… we’re all in. Are you? On November 4, a day after the presidential election, the US will formally withdraw from the Paris agreement on constraining global heating. It’s urgent that we tell the world what this means, and the Guardian is pulling out all the stops to do so.
Amid all the crises we’ve faced in 2020, we must continue to recognise the climate crisis as the defining emergency of our times, and give it the sustained attention and prominence it demands.
Did you know you’ve read 32 articles in the last year? One year ago, the Guardian made a pledge in service of the planet.
In these chaotic, perilous times, an independent, truth-seeking news organisation like the Guardian is essential. We have no shareholders or billionaire owner, meaning our journalism is free from influence and vested interests – this makes us different. Our independence and autonomy allows us to provide fearless investigations and analysis of those with political and commercial power.
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The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, headed by Basil Rajapksa, today decided to cancel the two days allocated for people to visit supermarkets and grocery stores in the curfew areas, in order to minimise the risk of a possible spread of COVID-19.
Director General of Government Information Department, Nalaka Kaluwewa told the Daily Mirror that following recommendations, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 decided to suspend the two days allocated for purchases as this would lead to people congregating, posing a big risk.
Kaluwewa said that as a result, from tomorrow, the government had made arrangements for essential supplies and food rations to be supplied to people’s door steps so this would prevent people from leaving their homes.
The National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPC) last week announced that essential goods outlets and pharmacies will be allowed to operate on Mondays and Thursdays in the Gampaha and Kalutara districts, and on Tuesdays and Fridays in the Colombo and Kurunegala districts.
However, Head of the NOCPC Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva also confirmed today that the previously announced system was cancelled in order to prevent people from stepping outdoors.
However even till last evening, there was no official announcement that the two day system had been cancelled by the government. Supermarkets and grocery stores were given until yesterday to sort out their delivery systems to curfew imposed areas.
Meanwhile, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana told the media today that essential goods outlets, such as supermarkets and Lanka Sathosa, had been permitted to operate 15 delivery services. These outlets will be allowed to operate delivery services using cars, vans, motorcycles, and three-wheelers.
The DIG said that food centres have been permitted to operate 10 delivery services, while pharmacies can implement their own delivery services. Divisional Secretariats of curfew imposed areas have been placed in charge of issuing curfew permits for delivery services. (JAMILA HUSAIN)
A group of Pakistani nationals who are in Sri Lankan prisons for various drug related offences are to be handed over to Pakistani prison officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya stated that 44 Pakistani prisoners will be handed over to prison officers from their country at the BIA tomorrow (03).
The prisoners are expected to complete lengthy prison sentences for drug-related offenses in their home country close to family and friends, in accordance with a 2004 agreement on the transfer of offenders between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Transfers are allowed in cases where sentences exceed a minimum of six months, the agreement states.
Pakistani media last week reported that the country will be sending a plane to bring back Pakistani prisoners from Sri Lanka.
The decision had been reached during a meeting summoned by Pakistan’s Interior Ministry to discuss the matter pertaining to the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners from Sri Lanka.
Pakistani authorities have worked to bring back Pakistani prisoners stranded abroad and in a similar successful effort, at least 250 Pakistani inmates arrived at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore from Malaysia on board a Malaysian airline flight in May this year.
All the prisoners were shifted to quarantine facilities after screening for the novel coronavirus at the airport.
The Attorney General has directed the Acting IGP to investigate into a social media disclosure regarding alleged land grab of properties owned by persons living abroad by an influential political group.
All tourist lodges and camping sites under the Department of Wildlife Conservation will be temporarily closed for the public.
This comes as a measure to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak within the country.
The Department stated the decision will be in effect until further notice.
However, the travelers who had previously booked the aforementioned facilities will be informed in due time regarding alternative dates, the Department said.
The Department has also taken measures to individually inform all tourist groups who had booked the facilities regarding the decision.
It
seems that many people of Sri Lanka talk about the 13th amendment to
the constitution before the quick boost of opinion on the arrival of the US
Secretary of State. The visit was highly focused on opinion on the MCC
agreement and political talks on the agreement, and it is clear that these talkative
people have no clear understanding of the concept and contents of the 13th
amendment. Media of the country attempt to divert the flow of opinion and India
also wants to lie down the matter relates to the 13th amendment.
However, people need to understand the truth about the amendment rather than
motivating from time to time based on an unimportant statement of a politician.
Why
did the 13th amendment pass, it might associate with the historical
experience of Indian behavior toward Sri Lanka and the other neighboring countries?
The general understanding of Sri Lankans implied India has hegemony over
surrounding countries, and the manner of Indian opinion and the foreign policy demeanor
toward the 13th amendment displays that the amendment was originated
with the supports of India, and its hegemonic approach, but it is difficult to
explain how it happened? During the British rule, Indian people took to various
countries such as Sri Lanka, Fiji, and Certain African countries Western
entrepreneurs at that time, Indian nationals or the freedom movement did not
oppose the actions, but later Indian governments use migrated Indians to create
distress against the legally elected government in such countries.
Was
there a compromise between Sri Lanka and India when the amendment was enacted,
and the implementation of the amendment? Mr. J.R. Jayawardane, a party to the signatories
to the Indo-Lanka Accord stated that the action was a strategy to live under
the shadow of India without surrendering the country. The assassination of Mr.
Rajiv Ghandi practically convinced India that the amendment might have negative
effects concerning defense affairs and also showed the risk of using migrated
labor from India for international politics. An article published in the Hindu
paper on 07.09.2020 in India described the reasons why is the 13th
amendment contentious based on four points and also indicated two significant
points regarding the amendment.
The
recent behavior of Mr. Sarath Weerasekera, who was appointed as the State
Minister of the Provincial Councils shows that the hard-line approach to abolishing
the provincial councils has either changed or underwater, resulting in the
visit of the American Secretary of State, Mr. Mike Pompeo. Otherwise,
abolishing the 13th amendment was a headache for many parties and it
might re-emerge the environment change after COVID-19 19 epidemic and when a
new constitution making emerged in the parliament. What people observe regarding
the debate is Mr.Sarath Weerasekera has failed to point out the disadvantages
incurred from the 13th amendment and how he is supposed to change
the amendment give benefits to both sides India and Sri Lanka. When impartially
considering the 13th amendment, it was a humanistic approach of Sri
Lanka’s government toward the Tamil ethnic community and the experience after
the enactment of the amendment since 1987 it has not been any disadvantage to
neither Sinhala, nor Tamil, nor Muslim community of Sri Lanka.
Before
the arrived European invaders, the reign of Sri Lanka’s political
administration was successfully used and tackled ethnic issues in the country
adopting appropriate techniques to deal with ethnic issues in the country from
time to time. Before the king Dutugemunu, Sri Lanka used a technique that
divided the political administration as Ruhuna, Maya, and Pihiti, and it was changed
by King Dutugemunu. The evidence relating to the provincial administration is
not written in historical sources.
However, historical books in Sri Lanka provide evidence that King
Dutugemunu did not extend the war beyond Vavuniya and respected the right of
Tamils. I assume that from King Dutugemunu there is no harm if Tamils are
living in the country respecting the right of the Sinhala Community without
making distress to the government s of Sri Lanka and India. The problem was South Indian invaders
promoted actions against the Sinhala community and their religion Buddhism. If
we look at the approach of King Dutugemunu, the contents of the 13th
amendment would not be harmful to the Sinhala community or the country either.
The
specific nature of the historical reign was that people were treated as human
residing in the country and allowed to use owned language and religion or any
other identity if there were not harmful to others in administration
activities. The ethnic division was based on the language used by people, but
it was not established on scientific reasons such as biological deviations. The
wars incurred when ethnic groups (Tamils) attempted to control the right of the
majority ethnic group, Sinhala, and India played a role to settle ethnic
problems without favoring any ethnic groups.
The culture of India showed similarities in the practices of Sri Lankans
and Indians.
The
creation of provincial councils by the 13th amendment was
conceptually associated with the division of the central government power than
to delegation of the authority to nine provincial councils, and the division of
power is not distinguished and the amendment indicates that irrespective of
size and the nature of power given from the amendment are equal whether people
living in provinces are Sinhala or Tamil or Muslims. The concept of the 13th
amendment shows equity and justice incorporated into the amendment, without
harm to the right of any ethnic community in the country. For example, if particular
power is given to the northern province, the same power was given to the
southern province. The concept relates to the 13th amendment that
might difficult to understand by ordinary citizens.
People
going against the provincial councils need to clearly understand the concept of
the separation of power and delegation of power. Many political scientists
talked about separation of power especially considering the separation of power
between the executive, legislature, and Judiciary. The delegation of power in
the 13th amendment is not related to the concept of separation of
power, and the content of the 13th amendment indicated that the delegation
of power is equally delegation of the authority subject to the commandment of
the executive president of the country.
The
Hindu paper highlighted that the criticism against the 13th
amendment states that the provinces could be effectively controlled by the
Centre. This is an opinion based on the
situation and experience when the population of Sri Lanka remained less than
15.0 million, However, the population of the country has been increased to 22.0
million, and the delegation of power economically is cost-effective and
efficiency in providing services is more effective under the provincial council
system as long as there are no attitudes toward to territorial integrity is
respected and assured by members of provincial councils. The best example is the current issue of the
COVID 19 crisis, that invites the use of the authority of the center and the
provinces. Many people have difficulty understanding the situation.
Strategically,
Mr.J.R. Jayawardane disagreed with India the delegation of police power and
land power. If police power delegated in an environment that the separatist
movement was powerful the delegated power could have used to disturb the law
and order, especially in North and East provinces. The land power should be in the hand of the
center as in an environment that the population is expanding there should be
lands for the increase in population to live. It is accepted that in the
international legal framework no person should be landless to live and the
central administration of the country is responsible to provide to live all
people in the country. The delegation of power from the point of view of Tamil
politicians was more selfish and there was a nature of rejecting people of the
country giving lands to live. Mr.J.R.
Jayewardene viewed that there should be an opportunity to expand the excess
population in the Western province to expand in the east and I feel that India
has agreed with the points of Mr. Jayewardene. The current wish of the Indian
prime minister is not going beyond international justice.
Mr.Sarath
Weerasekera has failed to develop concrete points in favor of why the
provincial council should be canceled and what would be the alternative he
suggests to implement after the cancellation.
He may know that this is a complicated issue that involves India
too. Various points JR highlighted to
India not to give police and land management power to provincial councils were
accepted by India and considered valid.
Lands of the country are to all people without an ethnic difference and
the giving full power on land management to the council will prevent expanding
population in the western province to North and East. It is unacceptable. When grants the police power to the
provincial council it might lead to conflict between the federal police and provincial
police services. Sri Lanka doesn’t want such a situation in the name of the
provincial councils and India understands that such conflicts between the
federal police and provincial police could emerge in India.
The
concept and the contents of the 13th amendment should be educated to
people through media and the amendment should not use as a wound of a beggar to
manipulated political opinion. If the
government suppose to introduce a new constitution the concept and the contents
of the 13th amendment should be incorporated into the new
constitution.
(April 08, Ontario, Sri Lanka Guardian) The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, should establish a commission to investigate the tens of thousands of Muslim civilians killed by US and UK forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.Instead, all the indications are that the Secretary General has succumbed to pressure from Tamil Tiger lobbyists and commenced an inquiry into 1,500 civilians killed in the final stages of the LTTE-Sri Lankan military confrontation. (External Link) This is further to the news that is emerging on the killing of innocent civilians by the US forces, in Iraq, in which Reuter reporters and children were killed.
US invaded Iraq, and killed millions of innocent civilians, the body count, being 104,492 according to the sources: External link. Yet, we never saw, any UN human rights violations charges being laid on them? Now why was that? Why has not UN’s Navi Pillay being actively recommending an investigation to these deaths, which are becoming apparent to the world?
By afternoon today, there were more news emerging, (viewer be aware the video can be very sensitive nature) the subject being Collateral Damage”, which shows the shooting that took place without any provocation by these innocent people, who were only walking in the street, and the Reuter reporter, who was carrying a camera. As you will see in the video, after being shot, he tries to get up, and the soldiers surveying him, watches everything and when a van comes in to save this man, the whole van consisting of two children and men are shot at! The brutality of it all is revealed.
There have many protests, who have demanded that President Bush be brought to trial for the human rights violations done in the Iraq. But somehow, it has gone unnoticed.
One of the world’s most vicious terrorist groups – the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam) was militarily defeated by the Sri Lankan security forces in May 2009. Today, no insurgency can be fought without civilian deaths. The LTTE in particular was notorious for using Tamils as a human shield and its propaganda organ TamilNet provided false civilian fatalities and injuries. Western governments reacted not to the ground reality in Sri Lanka but to the LTTE propaganda. If the UN report is going to have any credibility it must investigate the colossal loss of civilian life and property by US and UK forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. If the United Nations and the Office of the Secretary General are to regain the prestige it has lost as a result of scandals, it must not only be just but appear to just.
I wonder what the UN has to say now, with these new allegations emerging. When there was no known terrorism in Iraq, but US still decided to go ahead and invade, and subsequently, there is horror upon horror stories are being revealed. What more new stories will the world have to hear before, this so called United Nations will take action to bring the perpetrator to justice?
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has taken several decisions for Covid-19 prevention without harming the public life or the economy.
He had a meeting today (01) with members of the presidential task force for Covid-19 prevention.
Accordingly, he ordered that PCR tests for persons under home-quarantine be carried out on the 10th day and to allow them to return to normal life after 14 days if results return negative.
The home-quarantine process should be made more efficient through constant monitoring by MoH officers, PHIs, police and the army, he said.
Also, movements between the districts have been barred, excepting for the transportation of goods and other essential services.
Head of the task force Basil Rajapaksa said the distribution of essential goods would continue as had been done previously.
The district and divisional secretaries, Grama Niladhari officers and local government representatives will be given the responsibilities, he said.
The dole for the elderly and essential goods worth Rs. 10,000 for persons under home-quarantine would be provided to their homes, according to him.
The president instructed further that if new cases were reported even after the spreading of the virus ended, the causes should be investigated separately.
He added that curfew permits be not issued in the western province and in the Eheliyagoda and Kuliyapitiya police areas and the Kurunegala municipality areas where a curfew will be in force until 09 November.
Any form of entanglement with India or the US on the strategic plane will be anathema to Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa rulers, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Third-country cooperation is highly complex, unpredictable phenomenon. Not even the closest allies can pull it off easily.
Lord Curzon, the then British foreign secretary, denied that oil interests influenced policy in Iraq, but archives show that the British government rushed troops to Mosul in 1918 to gain control of the northern oil fields in a sharp course reversal to recoup what had already been given away to France under the secret Sykes-Picot Accord of early 1916.
Even before World War II had ended, Washington began wondering about how an exhausted Britain would adjust to a world where it had less power and influence vis-a-vis the US.
Then US secretary of state Edward Stettinius wrote to then President Frankin Delano Roosevelt, ‘Never underestimate the difficulty an Englishman faces in adjusting to a secondary role.’
Matters came to a head with the Suez Crisis of 1956 when Britain and France sent troops to seize the Suez Canal and the US was not informed of the operation. President Dwight David Eisenhower hit back showing how power had shifted in the post-War world.
Ike blocked the IMF from granting Britain emergency loans unless it called off the invasion. Britain, militarily, never acted again against the explicit wishes of Washington.
Such lessons of history should not be forgotten, as India becomes an ally of the US. The nascent signs of India’s ‘bloc mentality’ first appeared within months of the Modi government assuming power in May 2014.
Mahinda Rajapaksa later recounted with great bitterness that a high level of US-Indian political, diplomatic and intelligence coordination in that project had done him in.
The intricate plot apparently involved splitting the Sri Lankan ruling party by cultivating pockets of influence in the Sinhala Buddhist establishment to weaken Rajapaksa’s political base and bringing in the hapless Jaffna Tamils as doormat.
Rajapaksa, a tough politician himself, was completely outwitted.
The regime change in Sri Lanka was the first of its kind in South Asia and bore striking resemblance to the US playbook in Latin America to undermine legitimate governments by using comprador elements and put in power ‘our s.o.b’ (as FDR once derisively called Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza García).
Indeed, it was a radical departure in India’s foreign policy to have dragged a small neighbour to become a platform for its ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy with the US — a daring move, too, given Sri Lanka’s robust record of nonalignment.
The present ruling elite in Colombo will remain extremely wary of the US and India. The happenings in next-door Maldives must have rung alarm bells already that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
Plainly put, any form of entanglement with India or the US on the strategic plane will be anathema.
This is the stark message coming out of the visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Colombo on October 28. Pompeo’s counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena said at a joint press meet, ‘As a Sovereign, Free, Independent nation, Sri Lanka’s foreign policy will remain neutral. Non-Aligned and Friendly.’ Gunawardena was responding to Pompeo’s overtures.
Importantly, the readout of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s meeting with Pompeo says, ‘Elaborating on the foreign policy of Sri Lanka, President said it is based on neutrality. Relations between Sri Lanka and other nations are determined by several conditions. Historical and cultural relations, development cooperation are some of the priorities.’
‘President stressed that he is not ready to compromise the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation in maintaining foreign relations whatever the circumstances may be.’
‘Noting that China assisted in the development of the country’s infrastructure since the end of the separatist war, President reiterated that Sri Lanka is not caught in a debt trap as a result.’
Simply put, the nadir has been reached for the ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy in the Pearl of the Orient.
Without doubt, this constitutes a humiliating rebuff to the US-Indian fantasy that Sri Lanka could be frog-marched into the so-called Second Island Chain strategy in the Indian Ocean, alongside the Maldives which signed in September a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the Pentagon to build American military bases there.
In 2013, India resented the US efforts to sign a SOFA with the Maldives, but in September 2020, when the American efforts fructified, Delhi became ecstatic.
This must be the first instance in diplomatic history when a regional power congratulated its tiny neighbour for granting military bases to a superpower from the other side of the planet 16,000 kilometres away.
The obsession with collaring the Maldives clouds Delhi’s judgment. The ruling elite blithely assume that having American military bases scattered over those 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres, serves India’s long-term interests.
They suffer from dementia. They have forgotten the tragic story of Diego Garcia, which used to be part of Mauritius till 1965 and was rechristened British Indian Ocean Territory by London, only to be leased out to the US in 1967 to develop American bases.
There was strong opposition from littoral States of the Indian Ocean area — including India — who wished to preserve a non-militarised status in the region. However, the US simply rounded up the indigenous inhabitants, put them in overcrowded boats and dumped them on the beaches of Mauritius and Seychelles.
The UN overwhelmingly pleaded with the US to return Diego Garcia to its rightful owners but Washington, which swears by ‘rules-based international order’, simply thumbed the nose at it.
Do not rule out if a similar fate awaits the half million Maldivians at some point. The great game in the Indian Ocean is only beginning.
This geographical base is estimated to contain 62% of the world’s oil reserves, 35% of its gas, 40% of gold reserves, over 60% of uranium and 80% of its diamond reserves. Any doubt who will want to monopolise this fabulous wealth?
At best, Americans might send a bagful of diamonds to Surat for polishing before selling them in Midtown Manhattan’s Diamond District.
Make no mistake, the military bases in the Maldives will be a great asset for Americans to keep Indians under check. They must be anticipating already that some day an authentic nationalist ruling elite might appear in the corridors of power in Delhi elbowing out the pretenders, and revert India to independent foreign policies.
The mystique of geopolitics is such that you never know what lies in the womb of time. Just return for a moment to the fag-end of the Cold War
Margaret Thatcher and Francois Mitterand were so deeply sceptical about the wisdom of Mikhail Gorbachev’s plan to disband the Warsaw Pact that they descended on Moscow to prevail upon the Soviet leader to go slow on the unification of Germany, while Washington on the other hand was lustily encouraging him to press ahead.
Yet, only thirty years ago, Lord Ismay (the Nainital-born first secretary general of NATO) had thought that NATO was formed ‘to keep the Russians out, Americans in and Germans down.’
Already by the 1980s, the calculus had phenomenally changed.
stay out of any conflicts amongst the world powers.”
We request all foreign nations to respect
the sovereignty and the unity of our nation”
In using the term neutrality, none of the QUAD states or any other partnering the Indo-US Pacific strategy with intent to go to war with another country, can use Sri Lanka’s territory. With the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka clearly defined under Hague Convention, the GoSL is bound to withdraw from ACSA with US. ACSA was signed on 4 August 2017 in secret, amidst much controversy. It has not been tabled in Parliament. No one knows the contents of it. Only 180 days’ notice is required for Sri Lanka to exit from the agreement. Sri Lanka should exit from ACSA.
We are well aware that the QUAD nations are signing defense pacts and engaged in maritime exercises in preparedness for a confrontation with China. This is certainly not to exchange roses with each other. Sri Lanka wishes to engage with all nations for development but not to be used as a platform to engage in rivalries or to have Sri Lanka used to launch attacks against other nations.
2017 United States National Security Strategy paper
clearly identified China as a competitor to
American power, influence and interests”.
Sri Lanka’s Government & Foreign Ministry must make this clear in the 2-2 Ministerial Dialogue scheduled for 2021 decided after Pompeo’s visit to Sri Lanka. No US-Sri Lanka military training or naval training should be with intent to be used against China or any other country. Obviously 2021 is planned to rope in Sri Lanka to signing pacts with US along the Indo-US-Pacific Strategy and Sri Lanka must remain unfettered by the coercions at play.
Having weathered 2 insurrections by JVP, 3 decades of terror by LTTE – NO SRI LANKAN wishes to have Sri Lanka enter into any confrontations with external parties or have Sri Lanka used for interventions or skirmishes between countries. We are not willing to have Sri Lanka as a punching bag by powerful nations for their petty political games. We have always wanted to have good relations with all nations and that must continue to be the basis of our diplomacy.
What also needs to be added is that while NEUTRALITY is simply a stand taken, Sri Lanka is by signatory a Member of the Non-Aligned Charter and that membership is powerful and therefore Sri Lanka must continue to nurture ties with the Non-Aligned Members.
We have had ties with China & India when countries like USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore did not even exist. Our ties are long and old and we cannot forget the richness of those ties simply because we are living in the ‘modern’ and ‘development’ dictates ‘olden cultures and traditions’ to be taboo. When the world find itself returning to fundamentals and basics, Sri Lanka is ever reminded that old is gold and the past cannot be buried or forgotten.
We want to be friends with all and enemies of none.
30 October 1964 marks a landmark agreement by Prime Minister of then Ceylon, Sirimavo Bandaranaike & Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. It was formerly known as the Sirima-Shashtri Pact and was signed to solve the issue of citizenship of Indian workers living in then Ceylon.
Sirima Shastri Pact
Is a bilateral agreement deciding the citizenship of persons of Indian Origin granting 525,000 Indian citizenship and 300,000 Ceylonese citizenship.
Who are persons of Indian origin living in Ceylon
This question takes us back to the period of colonial rule and how indentured laborers were brought from India to work on plantations on the island.
The colonials completely changed the native and heritage cultural and administrative practices. Capitalist economic system & private entrepreneurship was introduced and land belonging to the natives was confiscated via Wasteland Ordinance Act of 1840. Falsely acquired land was sold to foreign private planters. Plantations needed workers and the vacuum was provided by bringing in South Indian workers in the central hill area.
They were brought down because they afforded cheap labor and mostly on account of Sinhalese refusing to work on plantations.
What is important to understand is that at the time of independence these indentured laborers were more than the so-called new nomenclature of Ceylon Tamils coined in 1911.
However, the question of what was to be their future when Ceylon gained independence was an issue. They did not come on their own free will. They were not invited by the Ceylonese – these Indians were forcibly brought to Ceylon to work by the colonial rulers. Ideally, it is they (Portuguese – Dutch and mostly British) who should provide them citizenship in their countries without demanding Ceylon provide citizenship to them. These colonials brought people from other countries to work for their personal profits and it is they who should have looked after them not dump them upon the country they brought the workers to work on. This debate continues!
Firstly, these workers brought in by the colonials were not citizens to be given citizenship & claim their rights were denied via citizenship act of 1949. If anyone had to solve the problem it was the creators of the problem. These were the colonials in particular the British. Having brought natives from other countries to work on plantations for their profit, the British & other colonials dump these people on the newly independent nations and demand they give them citizenship. This is the crux of the situation vis a vis Indians brought from South India and settled down in Sri Lanka.
It is true that while the same Tamils got termed as Ceylon Tamils on the one hand from 1911 the rest became simply Indian Estate Workers.
The Portuguese-Dutch-British used them, dumped them and then went off to their nations & demanded the newly independent colonies look after them. This was another phase of divide & rule. These Indian Tamils were made stateless not by Ceylon but by the Colonials.
The gist of the 1964 Sirima-Shashtri Pact was to afford a choice for those who were neither citizens of India nor Ceylon to choose where they wished to be citizens.
This number was 975,000 and excluded illegal migrants from India.
300,000 were to be given Ceylon citizenship while 525,000 were given Indian citizenship.
The status of the remaining 150,000 was to be decided later.
India was to accept repatriations within 15 years from date of agreement (up to 1979)
Ceylon agreed to allow people employed to continue until 1979 repatriation and Ceylon agreed to repatriate with all assets (provident fund/gratuity etc but not exceeding Rs.4000)
It is via these Indian estate workers that Sri Lanka’s tea industry thrives as a major economic contributor. Ceylon tea has become world famous.
Yet the immigrant factor was always an issue and an irritant between the two nations. Many illegal immigrants posed off as Hill Country Tamils. There was always the question of loyalty. Were they loyal to India or Sri Lanka. How far could India ‘influence’ them – then and even now. How would that pose a threat to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. Yet, why were they dislodged even from the upper caste/class Tamil society. Mano Ganeshan would be able explain this treatment only too well.
Why was the fate of 150,000 not solved and how many has this number today increased to?
The 1964 Sirima-Shashtri Pact was amended against by the 1971 Sirima-Indira Pact and another in 1986 and in 1988 a law was passed to Grant Citizenship to Stateless Persons.
In the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord (2.16d) repatriation of illegal Tamils was one of the 5 main clauses which India did not uphold and was a prerequisite condition to the validity of the accord.
The debate surrounding the issue of Tamil illegal immigrants, Tamil indentured labor, origin of Ceylon Tamils and the role of western divide & rule will continue but the facts cannot be kept under politically correct stalemate.
