President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa emphasized the need to work with relentless courage to eradicate the coronavirus while keeping people’s lives and economy active.
The President pointed out that the economic activity in the country has resumed and that we don’t need a famine to follow the Covid-19 pandemic.
The President made these comments while participating at a discussion held with the Presidential Task Force for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, this afternoon.
The President has also stressed the importance of conducting random tests in where people gather such buses, three-wheelers and construction sites as well as crowded areas such as the Manning Market.
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also pointed out the need to continue investigations to determine the reason for such a large number of covid-19 positive persons from the navy and from Keselwatta.
The Sri Lanka Poduajana Peramuna states that the cases against politicians who have robbed billions of national resources should be investigated immediately.
They made this statement when they came to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, today to inquire into the current status of the top ten complaints filed with the Commission.
Members of the Sri Lanka Poduajana Peramuna came to the Bribery and Corruption Commission this morning to look into the complaints made against former ministers and officials of the Yahapalana government.
The MPs who came out of the commission said that although it has been almost four years now, they are not satisfied with the report submitted by the commission, regarding the progress of the complaints
We received a news story about a Public Health Inspector who used the money he had for his wedding and distributed dry rations to the people in the area.
The relevant report is from the Padavi Sri Pura area
Prof. Savitri Goonesekere, Dr. Usvatte-Aratchi and Prof. Arjuna Aluwihare of the Friday Forum have come out with another one of their usual sermons composed purportedly to guide the people trapped in Covid19 pandemic. Prof. Savitri Goonesekera and her two ideological clones front up claiming that they are not alone but have the backing of their fellow-travellers — just to impress that there are some heavyweights behind them. That apart, in these critical times we should welcome this sermon of public intellectuals as a beacon of light thrown into the surrounding darkness. But, unfortunately, they seem to be more confused than the populace looking for a way out, putting in doubt their capacity to even find the difference between the Corona virus and Toyota Corona.
These intellectuals begin by commending all those engaged in
fighting the invisible enemy – from the President down to the public health
system at all levels. They even venture to say that in this crisis the state’s
dedication and commitment has placed us in a much better (position) than in
some developed countries.”
Then they abandon the Covid19 pandemic which has gripped the
whole world and – hey presto! — switch to local politics which has nothing to
do with the critical issues related to viruses and the people, their central
theme. Of the sixteen paragraphs on their sermon on VIRUSES AND THE PEOPLE only
the opening para deals with the pandemic. The rest is focused on fear-mongering
to promote their usual anti-national political agenda.
These intellectuals of the Friday Forum know that in this crisis
thousands are dying daily without a cure. And the figure is likely to rise to
millions if a cure is not found soon. Scientists say that a more contagious
mutant of coronavirus strain has been sweeping Europe and the US. (Sky News).
But they say that what is of special importance to all
citizens” is, (1) threats to democracy, (2) tendency to authoritarianism, (3)
violating rule of law, (4) failure to complete the rewriting of the
Constitution to redefine democracy as a government not of the majority and (5)
generally to keep the Sinhala-Buddhist majority tied to the cart that gives the
minority a free ride.
According to the three leading persons and their fellow members
the issue facing the nation is not Covid19. It has been taken care of
effectively by the committed and dedicated State run by the Rajapaksas, they
say. According to them the issue is the politics of the Rajapaksas.
They don’t say so openly but the subtext refers to the politics
of the Rajapaksas who won a mandate, against all odds, with the backing of the
majority who happens to be the Sinhala-Buddhists.
Now their worry is that the Rajapaksas might win a huge
majority (a 2/3)” in the coming parliamentary election, whenever it is held. So
they shift the focus of their sermon away from the critical Covid19 and direct
it to target their anti-Rajapaksa, anti-majority political agenda.
They say that what is of importance to all citizens”, inter
alia, is a government elected with a huge majority (a 2/3) (which) can soon
transform itself into an authoritarian regime, in the name of the People”!
Ringing their alarm bells, they cry out loud: This is not a time to reject
democracy and replace it with authoritarianism in the name of strong
leadership.”
Imagine the three leading personalities walking into a hospital
ward full of Covid 19 victims and announcing that the crisis facing them is not
finding a vaccine asap but rewriting the Constitution to cut down the legal/
constitutional status of the majority until it is brought down to the level of
a minority – i.e., to make the minority the majority — and also to prevent the
creation of a government elected with a huge majority (a 2/3).” They are
joined by another fear-monger from the Peradeniya University. Quite
appropriately, he calls himself ANI Eka-nayake – a name which translated
loosely can mean one-man ruler. Obviously, these people stuck in enforced
boredom have nothing better to do than to stoke fears of Gotabaya becoming an
Eka-nayake”.
As against this group in academia and NGOs the compassionate
world is rallying behind the collective endeavours to save the world from a
virus that is threatening to rain chaos on civilisation.
This is indeed a crisis that must be viewed from a global
context and just not within the local parameters. Bill Gates who was the first
to warn in 2015 the coming of the next virus (to that of Ebola) is pouring
billions into finding a cure. Nearly a hundred laboratories the world over are
labouring round the clock to combat the invisible enemy overcrowding
cemeteries.
Donald Trump the Commander-in-Chief of the world’s mightiest
military power, is helpless in preventing a miniscule microbe entering his
domain. Some of the scientists are doubtful whether they can find an answer
within the next 18 months, though there are heart-warming snippets of news
saying that they are on the verge of breaking through. Some analysts predict
that millions would die, perhaps with the coming of a second wave.
And what is the response of this group to this pandemic which is
threatening to explode into Biblical proportions? They are using this deadly
virus to push their anti-national political agenda as if that is the most
urgent need to save our part of the world. Prof. Savithri Goonesekere should be
ashamed to lend her name to such a partisan and heartless propaganda campaign
that has no relevance to the pandemic. She has a reputation to protect,
particularly that of her respected husband.
When she goes down this track of exploiting the agony and the
suffering of our people to make them believe that the most important thing at
this moment is to fall in line with the failed agenda of this group of
intellectuals, she declares openly that she is in the bandwagon of divisive and
corrosive politics that will reignite destructive minoritarianism – a force
that has been the bane of the nation in the post-independent period.
With time hanging on their hands in these boring days the other
two have also exposed their utter indifference to the most critical threat to
our lives. One does not have to be in the professoriate to know that when a man
is shot with an arrow the others around him do not have to rewrite
constitutions to find solutions.
Elementary intelligence would have informed them that the first
thing to do is to pull the arrow out and apply the first available remedy. UN’s
World Food Program (WFP) is predicting the escalation of food starvation from
135 million to double that (245) as a consequence of the pandemic.
As of now we do not know how the food supply chain will hold out
if the mechanism breaks down globally and more importantly in our neck of the
woods.
And all what these people can think of is rewriting the
Constitution and other issues totally irrelevant to the crisis facing humanity.
Their political cynicism reveals only their inability to rise from the depths
of their moral depravity.
According to the three the future lies in reversing the mandate
given to Gotabaya. This means also preventing Mahinda Rajapaksa getting a
majority in the coming parliamentary elections. Their perennial political
ambition has been to whittle down the powers of the majority and their
representatives until the minority is enthroned as the majority. Right now they
are frustrated because decades of anti-Sinhala-Buddhist propaganda have been
rejected by the electorate giving a mandate to the Rajapaksas to redress the
imbalances of history.
So they pick up any stick that comes to hand to beat the
Rajapaksas and the majority. Now they have picked up the Covid19 to shift the
focus of their sermon to the politics of the majority and the Rajapaksas
without naming names.
Hinting at the grand sweep of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ride to power
– and also the possible chance of winning a Parliamentary majority – they say:
World history as well as the post independence history of Sri Lanka shows how
a government elected with a huge majority (a 2/3) can soon transform itself
into an authoritarian regime, in the name of the People”.” They also
sermonise, with another Jeremiah: Critical issues of democratic and
accountable governance must be discussed in public and private fora, and
continue to engage our attention.”
What has all this got to do with their theme titled, VIRUSES AND
THE PEOPLE? None of the issues listed by them has any relevance to the
immediate existential needs of the people. Coronavirus is challenging on an
unprecedented scale the values on which the global society is based. The most
urgent question is, when will normalcy return.
And when it returns what will the new normalcy look like? If the
virus drags on will social distancing change future human relationships? Can
technology take the place of absent human beings? Can a new supply chain be
developed and maintained to bring food to the table? Can an all-purpose antidote
be developed in laboratories to prevent the spread of future viruses which may
be deadlier than Covid19?
Will a second wave sweep the globe like a tsunami killing more
people? Can the interconnected global market survive the overwhelming backlash
from the pandemic? What shape and form will the future schools and universities
take? What new instrumentalities and strategies must the global community and
states organise to combat future viruses which could turn more virulent? What
preparations must be put in place to meet the challenges of the inevitable
viral crises that are bound to break out in the future?
This pandemic has thrown mankind off balance. The new challenges
are humongous and numerous. Instead of going after the big issues our lumpen
intellectuals pick on their two bete noirs – the majority consisting mainly of
the Sinhala-Buddhists and the Rajapaksas.
Their obsession with the majority and the Rajapaksas who
represent them is incurable. They will turn each new crisis and twist it, as
they have done in the past, to project the majority as the evil force that is
causing all the problems to the minorities. It is, of course, common knowledge
that the coronavirus is a leveller: it does not differentiate between the
minority and majority.
But our local egg heads – or is it bone heads? – have run to the
conclusion that it is not coronavirus that must be dealt with urgently before
it gets out of hand but the Sinhala-Buddhist majority and the Rajapaksas who
are on the verge of transforming itself into an authoritarian regime.”
They are politicising the virus to raise fears about (1) the
majority (Sinhala-Buddhists) and (2) authoritarianism (Rajapaksas) – both of
which, according to them, are waiting to take over the nation at the opportune
moment.
Let me reemphasize their hidden agenda circulating in their
warped political imagination. They say: This is not a time to reject democracy
and replace it with authoritarianism in the name of strong leadership.” Here
they project the fear of some hidden force/s waiting to reject democracy and
replace it with a dictatorship. There is no evidence for this statement. This
is their imagined fear.
They are totally irresponsible – nay, idiotic! – when they make
sweeping statements without having evidence to substantiate it. Which serious –
I repeat, serious, not stray — political platform has come out saying that
they want to reject democracy and replace it with authoritarianism? When in the
first flush of victory at Nandikadal the fringe freaks floated the idea of making
Mahinda Rajapaksa a king”, the notion was cut down instantly by the late S. L.
Gunasekera and the nation as a whole, including the Rajapaksas who pooh-poohed
it.
Subsequent attempts to extend the life of the presidency too
failed. An irreversible and concretised sense of democracy has prevailed since
independence. This reality is known to the Three who state:
The response to the Covid19 pandemic has shown us very clearly
that effective political leadership can be given, especially in a time of
national crisis, when it is combined with space for the contribution of
relevant stakeholders in making decisions.”
If, as they say, an effective political leadership can be given
in times of crisis ” in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in making
decisions” why must the Rajapaksa leadership reject democracy and replace it
with a dictatorship”? Do they know what they are talking about? They can’t make
one statement in one place without contradicting another.
These are sophomoronic academics who can’t write a credible
paper to get an ordinary pass in the kindergarten. On second thoughts, after
cogitating over the priorities listed by them I think there is a possibility of
my agreeing to change the Constitution provided the first clause is written to
guarantee the prevention of the professoriate being inundated with idiots.
Take, for instance, the example of the Rajapaksas fighting,
almost single-handed, the most bitter war that raged for 33 years (from May
1976 when the Tamil declared war against the Sinhala state” to Nandikadal in
May 2009) within a democratic framework , however defective it may have been.
If there was one excuse for the Rajapaksas to take over dictatorial powers it
was the Vadukoddai War declared by the Tamil leadership against the
democratically elected state.
The issues pressing the Rajapaksa brothers were far more
daunting than the current threats to the nation. They had to fight not only a
Tamil Pol Pot at home but also an international front backed by some of the Big
Brothers who descended with the sole intent of twisting the arm of the two
brothers. But they didn’t. That knocks off ten points of Ekanayake whose
perverse political imagination can only concoct images of Gotabaya riding in
Hitler’s boots.
The majority, to their everlasting credit, fought the most
brutal war waged by a minority within parliamentary parameters, giving
protection even to the TNA (Terrorist Nominated Agents).
Besides, who has heard anyone of them, including Ekanayake in
academia, demanding that the Vadukoddai War fought from the Tamil end should
conform, at least in a minimalist way, to democratic norms.
On the contrary, they were all rallying round the Tamil Pol Pot
and urging the international community and the GOSL to strengthen his powers. I
can’t remember any one of them demanding the dismantling of Tamil tyranny as
the first step to restore peace, security and stability and reconciliation.
Advancing bogus theories they were arguing the need to consolidate Tamil
tyranny in order fight their bogeyman, the Sinhalese.
Their actions have made it to mean prostituting democratic
values to consolidate and legitimise minoritarian brutalities and fascism.
Sri Lanka is placed one among five countries successfully dealing with COVID-19 crisis, in a world, that as of 11 May 2020 has 4.1million COVID-19 cases, 283,868 deaths & just 1,493,401 recoveries. Sri Lanka has only 533 active cases and just 9 deaths. The commendation for this success goes to the Sri Lankan President and his Team comprising the health officials, the Armed Forces & Police, dedicated team of public officials and the phenomenal service being given by the country’s intelligence services.. Key appointments have been made based on suitability and considering their track record. Appointments have not been made to suit the whims of some NGOs or tabloids 24×7 tirelessly engaged in a smear campaign regarding Sri Lanka’s efforts. The appointment of Maj. General Sanjeewa Munasinghe no doubt will produce another foreign funded report on the usual theme of ‘militarizing governance’.
Paid to look into the human
rights of South Africans, the EU doesn’t seem interested to question how Sooka
can plug another entity to that NGO and have this new entity on a witch hunt
against Sri Lanka 24×7. How many reports has she produced about the plight of
South Africans in South Africa against the annual reports produced against Sri
Lanka?
Sri Lanka, a sovereign country,
cannot make a single appointment without her unit producing report after report
sensationalizing issues.
So before she starts churning
another report, let us produce some facts.
The GoSL has appointed Maj.
General Sanjeewa Munasinghe as Secretary of the Ministry of Health. He is not
just a military person. He functioned as the Director General of Army Medical
Services and was former Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps. He passed
out from the Faculty of Medicine – University of Ruhuna and underwent training
at the Sri Lanka Military Academy before being attached to the Sri Lanka Army
Medical Corps. He was the first Director General Army Health Services in 2014.
He may be a military person but he has an impeccable medical history record
that is suited for the role he has been appointed to. With the health services
coordinating with the Armed Forces, the synergy will no doubt work.
With regime change in 2015, a
plethora of NGO bigwigs were appointed to various state apparatus roles and 4
years on, they have produced absolutely ZERO results. Using mumbo jumbo terms
like reconciliation, peaceful coexistence and what not – all their work only
produced 21/4 and the possibility of more Zaharans on the loose.
So Sooka and the report makers are
reminded to not throw stones from glass houses.
Who are these foreign-govt funded
NGOs to decide the most suitable person for Sri Lanka’s requirement? If
suitability is the question, EU should seriously assess what their selected
Executive Director has done for South Africa and what she has done against Sri
Lanka.
What really is her job role?
Sri Lanka has enough of issues to
deal with.
These Report-Churning-Zaharan’s”
are simply out to fish in troubled waters.
Cannot wait to read her next
report on this appointment though!
Maybe similar appointments should be made on a regular basis to keep her team preoccupied!
And by the way he is also Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe besides being a Maj. Gen.
The multicultural concept was nothing but a political ploy first introduced to demonize the majority, denationalize the people and create a system that minorities could rule over the majority, their heritage and history had no place and majority had to give into minority whims and fancies. In the West, the experiment proved a great failure and resulted in a wave of killings and increase in hate speech and racism which eventually resulted in not placing blame upon those whose actions were causing the reactions. It was what primarily led to Brexit with the traditional British wanting their Britain back. In Sri Lanka, with regime change, the majority was demonized and cornered and the minorities were made to believe they ruled the show. This eventually led to entire state apparatus and systems made vulnerable leaving a time bomb for a showdown of the kind that unfolded on Easter Sunday.
Appeasing policy doomsday failure
Every time a nation has adopted a policy of appeasement in a global environment of vultures and predators, nations are bound to see catastrophic results.
History repeats unless lessons are learnt
Historical facts may be unsavory to those that have bloodied histories that adherents do not wish to be reminded. But, if we do not learn from them we are likely to be the next victims. Both Abrahamic religions have a history of conquest, conversion and mass murder of those that do not submit. Religious texts are full of division encouraging these adherents to slay the non-believers. Whatever present day adherents say or claim we are quoting out of context, it is using these terms and phrases that mischief makers use to manipulate weak people and turn them against non-believers. These are realities and truths that cannot be swept under the carpet because it is disagreeable to some. It is these unchecked and unmonitored movements that resulted in what we saw on 21st April 2019. Even with advance warnings, no action was taken and it simply showed the level to which the rulers and their coterie had been euthanized.
We only later came to know that the perpetrators were not only rich, from good homes and had been educated overseas but the units that had been shadowing extremism had also been closed down. This clearly links the role of Sri Lanka’s enemies in using the subject in question as cannon fodder for their global agendas. Elsewhere these entities are the ready-made suicide bombers praying before killing and going to kill even their own. The West has mastered the art of manipulating them through their religion and use them to kill several birds using one brainwashed religious fanatic. Historically, the West is doing what their ancient rulers did and likewise the other party is also responsible for a wave of crimes too. India has none of its ancient ruins today as a result of their conquest. The oldest university in the world with ancient books were burnt to cinders and for months the skies were black. The once Buddhist nations from Persia to Indonesia were all lost to the sword. No one can brush aside the existential fears of Buddhists who have examples of the past and the methodology used to showcase why they fear. Present day incursions may not be identical but the eventual result is the same. Sripada/Samanala Kanda has become a multicultural site and without amicably sharing subtle maneuvers are at play to overtake and claim exclusive ownership. This is the fear the majority Buddhists have and it is not an unfounded fear. The example of Maldives will show how its Buddhist history before 12th century has been officially expunged and every effort is made to destroy every Buddhist ruin unearthed in Maldives. The attack on the Maldives museum to destroy Buddhist heritage is nothing anyone can deny.
We are therefore puzzled at the motive of Zaharan’s handlers. That Zaharan committed suicide showcases he was no leader but who are the one’s calling the shots? What are their plans. The discoveries of orphanages indoctrinating children, females being brainwashed ring alarm bells. New Zaharan’s cannot be allowed.
Actions against this type of murderous extremism cannot be shouted down and silenced by flagging slogans like hate speech and racism against people’s right to question. No one wants to end up like the victims of Easter Sunday. If hate speech and racism is the issue what should be ideally done is to expunge the references from the religious texts that people manipulate to kill. So long as these phrases remain inside religious texts there will always be Zaharans. Let us not forget, the Easter Sunday mass murders took place after praying for success of their mission. China is taking action against any religions that have hate lines in their religious texts.
Hiding behind international slogans
Multiculturalism which is anti-majority and assimilation requiring only majority to follow minority demands is set to doom and fail and is reason for failure. Every wrong action of minorities are defended at international levels and the modus operandi is set up for them to go crying to the international representative handling minority affairs who automatically delivers the gavel of guilt on the majority. There are no international representatives to listen to the grievances of the majority.
At the ground level there are media, human rights entities and social media platform and players employed and kept ready to attack anyone in the majority accusing them and ridiculing them and name calling them racists, fundamentalists and what not. They even have a system set up to report and bloc them and sites that claim their versions as false or fake news. Who is to just fake and false news! The demonizing of the majority is a very well structured and financed international game plan. What is the proportionality? People questioning or probing are calling racist and hate speech but those they question end up committing mass murder and that is fine! And the easiest get away is to shout ‘islamophobia’ and hope that sweeps everything under the carpet. That was how Zaharan and lot was able to escape radar.
Going forward
Sri Lanka’s leaders cannot forget that Sri Lanka is prey to geopolitical maneuvers on account of its geopolitical positioning and as Sri Lanka’s location is of vital interest to both our enemies and friends. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka is caught in a quagmire. Balancing our friends and enemies will always pose a challenge and has its ups and downs. In such a scenario it is important that Sri Lanka has a policy to use as shield. That Mrs. B mastered to perfection. She remains a cherished leader by both Western and Eastern leaders for her straight talk & actions
Righteous Rule: One Country One EQUAL Law
Where steadfast and rule of law has been made clear to all, people have abided so long as the law applied to all without favor. This is what needs to return to practice.
Article 12 says Everyone is EQUAL before the Law” – this means the marriage law has to be the same for all communities. There cannot be a parallel legal system oft times challenging the Country law and demanding prominence over National Law.
We need an assertive Sinhala majority leader who would lead because only when the majority is protected the majority protects the minority. No minorities have protected the majority and in towns where the minorities are the majority it is their rule and law that prevails. We can give enough of examples of how outcast the majority are made to feel. But among the majority the minorities are always embraced and accepted. Let it be reminded that 20% of minorities cannot be rich if the majority are discriminating against them Enough of examples can showcase how the minorities rule in businesses and other areas. One minority community which is the richest in Sri Lanka have never voiced any issue about being discriminated but they are a few thousand but they are also the richest in Sri Lanka. How is that possible if the majority was discriminating the minorities? This bogus discrimination tagline and slogan is only for job opportunities for some while for the international players it is a good excuse to bully and politically pressure a government into giving them room to interfere. When those who cry and call for international interventions do so because they see personal opportunities for themselves and do not think about the implications to the country, these are the parties we naturally consider as enemies of the nation because they are helping destabilize the nation and rewriting a false script on behalf of their foreign paymasters. Take a good look at those petitioning against the country using various reasons. The name list is virtually the same and gets repeated with every petition. They are the pen-Zaharans of Sri Lanka.
It is for this reason that Sri Lanka must vote in a strong Parliament. We cannot afford to have weaklings and appeasing MPs in Parliament.
We must have straight talk. Rule of Law that is applicable to all. No special laws and certainly no lobbying to change rules simply because it comes with bribes of funding which is the biggest nuisance in curbing rule of law. The very parties that cry about discrimination are not shy to lobby and forward handsome handouts just to sway the decision in their favor.
We cannot afford to have more Zaharan’s and with recent arrests and the characters arrested the citizens have every right to fear the chameleons posing as human rights activists, lawyers, professionals and academics than the one’s carrying out the attacks. Zaharan and his team of suicide bombers are dead having committed one mass murder. Their handlers are still loose and the type of arrests taking place shows that the danger of more Zaharan’s being unleashed is more than possible which requires a very strong leadership, no special treatment for those under radar because funds or other favors are being offered, investigators must be given protection and full freedom to unearth the plots and players and the rulers must not dilly dally in taking actions against them. No person planning to kill people can hide behind their position.
21/4 was not the only act of mass murder Sri Lanka has witnessed. It is unfortunate that the other murderer has not been sentenced for their crimes committed over 30 years while another group also now in politics have also not been made to account for the murders they committed too. So we have a history of injustices to the victims because of weak rule. This cannot go on because weak rule leads to a weak country. People have great confidence in the present leader to deliver justice to the victims following the rule of law.
A country cannot go far when segments of society only demand from the nation without doing their duty by the nation. All of those who hold lists of demands hardly have done any duty to the Nation.
Covid-19 came to the attention of the
world as a new disease around the beginning of this year. From the very outset,
the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated very candidly that this was a
completely new disease and that they too were still in the process of learning
more about it. Even as late as 29 February 2020,
the WHO was advising against the imposition of
international travel bans. It was only on 6 April that the WHO
recommended the use of face masks if it was not possible to maintain social
distancing. Every country in the world had to learn more about this disease
through experience.
Sri Lanka began preparations for this
pandemic quite early. The President set up a task force to combat the
Cronavirus as early as 26 January 2020. Even though there were no Coronavirus
patients in Sri Lanka at that time, the first quarantine center was declared in
Hendala on 4 March. The first Coronavirus patient was discovered on the night
of 10 March. From 11 March all passengers coming into Sri Lanka from Coronavirus
affected countries, were sent for
quarantine. As the armed forces and police carried out an effective contact
tracing programme to identify those who had come into contact with patients,
this disease has now been brought under control to a satisfactory degree.
At this moment, Sri Lanka is well ahead of most
countries in the world in terms of controlling the spread of Coronavirus. Our
doctors, nurses and other medical personnel, our intelligence services who
maintained a very effective contact tracing operation, our armed forces,
police, public health inspectors and others who played a frontline role in
working directly with the public, should be proud of what they have achieved.
It’s noteworthy that while 25 Sri Lankans resident in Britain have died of the
Coronavirus, only nine Sri Lankans resident in Sri Lanka have died of this
disease so far. It must also be stated that had Gotabhaya Rajapaksa not been
elected President on 16 November last year, none of these achievements would
have been possible.
With the Coronavirus outbreak now under control to a
certain degree, the government has
gradually begun relaxing the curfew. Even though steps were taken to impose
curfew and to shut down the country, in reality, no country can be shut down
completely. While the majority of the people were confined to their homes,
millions of others continued to work throughout the country. The health
services, armed forces, police, paddy farmers, vegetable farmers, fishermen,
distributors of food, medicine and other essentials, and even some factories
continued to function. What is meant by restoring normalcy to the country, is
the process of extending this state of
affairs in a controlled way, to the section of the population that had been
confined to their homes during the shut down.
At the outset, government and private sector
institutions will begin functioning with a
limited number of employees. The number of passengers on trains and buses will
be limited. Schools and tuition classes will remain closed. Social distancing
rules are to be maintained when commencing work in this phased manner. At the
early stages, when curfew was relaxed in certain
districts, people did not observe social distancing norms. However after a
while, people became more mindful of the need for social distancing in public
places. The public should continue to be mindful of the need for social
distancing even after the curfew is relaxed. We
should all be aware that even though the spread of Coronavirus has been brought
under control, it has not been eradicated completely.
Random sample testing among members of the
public will continue to be carried out. The quarantine centres will be kept
open. Even after the restoration of normalcy has begun, it may be necessary to
isolate and lock down certain areas and even to impose police curfews.
Coronavirus patients may continue to be
found, but I believe our health authorities have by now mastered the manner in
which such situations should be handled. We will have to maintain a balance
between steps taken to prevent the spread of the disease on the one hand and
the restoration of normalcy on the other.
Even countries like Italy, Britain, France and the USA which experienced
tens of thousands of Coronavirus related deaths have now commenced programmes
for the gradual restoration of normal life.
The
people fully cooperated with the efforts made to bring the spread of
Croronavirus under control. We request the people to extend their fullest
cooperation once again to the armed forces and police for the phased
restoration of normal life in the country.
(මාගේ The Concept of Nirvana from a Psychological Point of
View ලිපියමගින්පරිවර්තනයකලෙමි. එයපහතදැක්වේ. එහියම්පරිවර්තනදෝෂතිබියහැකියගැටළුවක්වෙයිනම්ඔරිජිනල්ලිපියබලන්න)
One of my friend living in the USA, doing quite well who studied in Russia and migrated send me following;
The Communist regime gave us an education and some of us served in our the country for few years and some left the country for greener pastures
Sine left the country some returned back to give
something back to my motherland
Quote
, it was 75 years ago in the very late evening of May 8th the Soviets defeated Nazi Germany.
Thanks to this great victory I was able to make a bunch of lifelong friends like you.
I want to offer my humble gratitude to the 11 million-plus Soviet Soldiers (27 million casualties)who perished in this brutal war and also, to the soviet farmers, peasants, factory workers and the hard-working Soviet citizens who sacrificed their lives to rebuild the country and then provide people like us with the opportunity to succeed in our lives. 😊 🌹
С ДНЁМ ПОБЕДЫ !!!
Unquote
We have got our freedom or some call it independence from the crutches of British 72 years back. If one compares the two countries despite the size, we should be wondering why we are in such a dire straights
We are also a multi-ethnic society and with different resources, but we have failed to achieve any development since that time in comparison.
Where did we go wrong?
We went wrong because the leaders we had for the last seven decades with no vision for the future, and they ruled with nonlove to the country
Hopefully, during this decade we can be prosperous if the current leader decides to get away from personal or family agendas and decide to govern with patriotism and compassion for the poor class
Dr. Sarath Obeysekera CEO Walkers Colombo Shipyard Colombo Sri Lanka
As
request by many, I have started a blog post and planning to upload one English
article in simplified language, every night, answering questions that I have
been receiving and facts on different aspects of COVID. Done two so
far and will continue to do so on a daily basis for the public good.
Please
feel free to forward these links to others for their benefit.
I
have also created a series of brief videos explaining various aspects of the
disease and how to protect from it. In
the list below, I have linked Titles directly to my U-Tube video
channel, so one can go directly to a topic of interest. While
watching please press the subscribe button (free), which would help us to make
more productive videos for the public.
Here
is the site info:
Titles: Educational
videos on COVID-19:
by Sunil J, Wimalawansa, MD, PhD, MBA, DSc.
Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology &
Nutrition
Caption: Myths &
Facts: Staying Healthy During COVID-19 Pandemic
Yuthukama Convenor Gevindu Cumaratunga, yesterday (10), alleged that the political forces defeated at the last presidential election were still trying to pursue their agenda inimical to the Sri Lanka State.
Cumaratunga said that in spite of being routed by SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the November 2019 presidential poll those who backed UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa’s candidature were making a desperate bid to regroup.
Civil society activist Cumaratunga who is also on the SLPP National List alleged that the unexpected global health crisis caused by coronavirus was being exploited by political opponents to their advantage.
If not for corona crisis, the SLPP could have convincingly won parliamentary polls originally scheduled for April 25, Cumaratunga said, pointing out that the UNP-led coalition resigned in the wake of heavy presidential polls defeat.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa won by over 1.3 mn votes prompting several ministers to resign even before the UNP did so, Cumaratunga said.
Responding to another query, Cumaratunga said that the treacherous 19th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in 2015 prevented newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from calling parliamentary polls immediately after his overwhelming victory.
The President had no option but to wait till March 2, 2020 to dissolve parliament in terms of the 19th Amendment, Cumaratunga said.
Enacted with the backing of more than 200 lawmakers of the 225-member parliament, the 19th Amendment stipulated the House couldn’t be dissolved before it completed four and half years of its five-year term, Yuthukama leader said.
Alleging that the Opposition elements engaged in politics at the expense of much needed stability harmed post-corona recovery programme, Cumaratunga pointed out that breakaway UNP faction-the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) exposed its despicable intentions by moving court against parliamentary polls now scheduled for June 20.
Cumaratunga emphasized that the Election Commission (EC) on April 20th fixed parliamentary polls for June 20 after having indefinitely postponed parliamentary elections on March 19.
Cumaratunga said that SJB General Secretary former lawmaker Ranjith Maddumabandara (SJB National List) and JHU General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka (SJB Colombo District contestant at the 2020 parliamentary polls moved Supreme Court on behalf of Sajith Premadasa’s outfit. In addition to them, former editor of Ravaya Victor Ivan and several others as well as Dr. Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu on behalf of the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA) challenged the March 2 dissolution of parliament and EC fixing polls for June 20.
Attorney-at-law Charitha Gunaratne, too, filed a fundamental rights petition against the EC’s decision.
The Supreme Court will hear petitions filed against the scheduled election. Cumaratunga pointed out that the breakaway UNP factions realized they faced unprecedented defeat at the parliamentary polls hence wanted to further put off polls. The civil society activist said that interested parties moved court after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declined to rescind Gazette Extraordinary no. 2165/8 that dissolved the last parliament.
Cumaratunga said that reconvening of the dissolved parliament under whatever circumstances would be quite contrary to the wishes of the overwhelming majority. Cumaratunga said that the electorate rejected the yahapalana lot at the much delayed Local Government polls in Feb 2018, then they suffered debilitating presidential election defeat last November and the general election too would prove to be another devastating experience for them. Therefore their clamour to put off the national poll, he said.
Yuthukama Chief recalled how Gotabaya Rajapaksa was nearly deprived of an opportunity to contest the last presidential election on the basis of their false claim he was not a Sri Lankan citizen. The US recently confirmed Gotabaya Rajapaksa in fact had renounced his US citizenship, Cumaratunga pointed out, declaring that the electorate would reiterate their faith in the government at the parliamentary polls.
Regardless of attempts to deceive the public, the vast majority appreciated the efforts made by the government to bring the situation under control, Cumaratunga said. The public compared how the UNP led government reacted after receiving specific intelligence warning of impending Thowheed Jamaat suicide attacks in April 2019 and incumbent government tackled the coronavirus threat.
Cumaratunga alleged that some members of the Opposition couldn’t stomach the government having brought the situation under control, when even most advanced countries, let alone our own neighbours, were still struggling to get a handle on it.
An election monitoring body said today that it was ready to cooperate with the Election Commission in evolving guidelines to conduct the parliamentary elections amidst the coronavirus threat. Rohana Hettiarachchi, the Executive Director of People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), told Daily Mirror that it would be impractical to wait for the total eradication of COVID-19. He said the elections should be conducted at one point once the coronavirus crisis was brought to a manageable level. It is not practical to wait for zero cases,” he said. Mr Hettiarachchi said his office, as a leading poll watch, had identified each step involved in the entire election process from the distribution of poll cards to the counting of ballot papers. These are tasks that involve the participation of numerous officials. We have to work out measures to prevent the transmission of the diseases from any possible infected person to another during the process,” he said. A political party can send five agents to counting centres. According to Mr Hettiarachchi, a large gathering is found at counting centres as a result, and a mechanism has to be worked out to reduce this number while ensuring transparency of the counting process. He suggested the use of cameras to observe the counting process from outside. Also, he said public rallies could be prohibited for all the parties. This applies to all the parties. Then, there is no injustice to anyone,” he said.
Sri Lanka is on the right track to contain the Covid-19 through the increased tracking, testing, isolation, and treatment strategy, the World Health Organization said.
WHO issuing a statement said containment of COVID-19 is feasible and remains the top priority in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Preparedness and Response Plan is implemented with the overall goal to interrupt the transmission of the virus from one person to another using a comprehensive blended approach of containment and mitigation.
Enhanced testing of the contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 has led to the increased identification people who have COVID-19 and appropriate reporting in recent days.
Moreover, the safety of frontline workers both health and non-health should be prioritized, and availability of personal protective equipment must be ensured.
Local innovations have eased the stress for some of these; however, adequate stocks need to be ensured in the event of a spike of cases.
The contribution from WHO and DFAT will support the country in its fast and agile response to the outbreak.
The US Embassy in Colombo today confirmed that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa renounced his US citizenship in April 2019. In response to a query by Daily Mirror, an embassy spokesman said President Rajapaksa was no longer a US citizen. I can confirm that Gotabaya Rajapaksa renounced his US citizenship in April 2019. He is no longer a US citizen,” the spokesman said. The President’s name appeared in the Federal register that lists out those who renounced the citizenship. Normally it takes time for a name of an individual to appear upon renunciation of his citizenship.
Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe is to be appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, according to sources.
He is the Director General of Army Medical Services and former Colonel Commandant of Army Medical Corps.
Maj. Gen. Sanjeewa is an alumnus of the Faculty of Medicine of University of Ruhuna. He completed his MBBS degree in 1986 and joined the Sri Lanka Army in the same year.
Following the completion of Basic Military training in Sri Lanka Military Academy, he was commissioned in the rank of Captain and attached to Sri Lanka Army Medical corps.
He was appointed as the Colonel Commandant of Army Medical Corps in 2010 and as the first Director General Army Health Services in 2014.
Nine (09) more persons have tested positive for Covid-19 (new coronavirus) infection.Seven were Navy personnel while the two others were repatriated persons from Dubai
The country total has increased to 856 according to the latest information by the Epidemiology unit of the Ministry of Health.
The Road Development Authority stated that all expressways will be open from 7.00 am tomorrow.
Southern Expressway has been open since last week and the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway and the Outer Circular Expressway will also be opened from tomorrow.
Public and private sector employees who come to work can use the expressway.
Under the existing rules and regulations in the country, the police will monitor the traffic on the expressways.
The government aims at total relaxation of the curfew restrictions imposed in view of the COVID-19 outbreak by next month , a Minister said yesterday.
The government will partially relax such curbs on public life on May 11. Basic guidelines are now being worked out for people to follow when carrying out their routine activities, despite the corona situation, once such restrictions are lifted partially on May 11.
A minister said the government was targeting the total lifting of all restrictions by early June depending on the progress after May 11.
The government imposed curfew restrictions in March after the corona cases escalated .The first Sri Lankan national infected with the disease was reported on March 11. As of today, there were 835 cases with a bulk of them being sailors attached to the Welisara navy base.
Most countries ,hit by the corona crisis , are now planning to open up for economic activities.(Kelum Bandara)
Today, there is no house
in the world where Corona or COVID-19 is not being discussed. What is COVID-19
is quite simple that is self explanatory. COVID has been derived from two
English words, coined together meaning receiving and sending video images to
general masses. In English language; Co” is used to form a verbs or nouns that
refer to people sharing things or doing things together while Vid” means
relating to or employed in the transmission or reception of a televised image
or operating of video frequencies. There are two other explanations that seem
necessary to be mentioned here about suffixing of 19” with COVID” and about
video frequency. In COVID-19, 19” refers to last year (2019) when the drama in
real life was launched while video frequency is future digital communication
that would be based on a flexible Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5th
Generation (5G network), which are the cornerstone of next-generation network
infrastructure. We will not get into the technical details and focus on certain
very important revelations. In a nutshell it starts with digitalization and
ends at enforcement of digitalization.
World
is watching COVID-19 pandemic’s events with concern, precautions and
apprehensions. Media is performing a major role in transforming apprehensions
about COVID-19 pandemic into fear by displaying gloomy pictures without any
hope and redress. It is compounded by statements of world leaders of unconfirmed
and un-established mass deaths due to Coronavirus. In a nutshell, media has
spread Coronavirus with much faster pace in hours than COVID-19 could have
actually spread in decades. Currently, the world has been divided into two
groups; believers of divine faiths like Muslims, Christians and Jews and
non-believers including non-practicing and enlightened moderates. Mosques,
Churches, Synagogue and other places of worship have been banned and Armed
Forces deputed to enforce restrictions on faithful from performing
prayers. In almost every country
Security forces have deputed to disrupt and prevent normal day to day affairs
while special apparatus has been established for
monitoring of mosques and maintaining social distancing.
In the
past decades, countries professing ideology of Free World” remained
unsuccessful implementing the concept of and Global Village” amongst the
world-nations. Despite cooperation and alliances of over fifty countries in
real time operations and wars, there was limited or no success everywhere in
the world including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan,
Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey etc. Mosques, Churches, Synagogue, Seminaries,
Madrassas and similar institution were seen as breeding grounds to challenge
Free World”. The Western war against Islam after dubbing its followers as
Fundamentalists” and Terrorists”, could not bring desired results, resulting
in recession in world economies. When wars failed, hybrid war or 5th
Generation warfare was adopted on asymmetric models but that too could not
bring desired results due to limited access to modern technology and digital
bottlenecks.
The story of COVID-19
starts from April 2003, when Jack Ma faced a difficult situation during 93rd
Canton Fair but Guangzhou was classified as a SARS epidemic zone, the disease
spread due to disease pig population in China. Despite assurances from
Guangzhou government that everything was fine, most exhibitors were reluctant
to take the risk by participating in the Fair. In 2002, the 92nd Canton Fair
witnessed 135,000 exhibitors trading $19.7 billion in goods. But in 2003, it
dropped to 22,000 exhibitors and only $3.8 billion in goods was traded.
The economic giants like Jack Ma and Bill Gates have worked out new strategies
to achieve objective through digital remote operations as e-education, e-trade
and commerce, e-health and other Es. Massive alarms of COVID-19” was
publicized through media to ensure everyone adopt online digital practices.
Thus, the dream of Global
Village” gave birth to the concept of digital community, minimizing distancing
due to geographical boundaries, ethno-religious or racial isolation and
barriers due to varied educational systems. Thus in the decades to come digital
transformation is to lead future. It is being worked out that just like social media platforms, mainly
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube etc. changed the way
we socialize, interact, shop and perceive things, the new Digitalization would
change the world. This will also bring new channels to digital marketing
through digital technology and its applications. Social media is the term we use to describe platforms that bring people
together for the exchange of information rather than physical interactions.
Before 2019, the world could only reach social
media for promoting both online or offline products and services but now it is
claimed to be the whole world would operate on digital techniques.
It should not surprise anyone
that despite claimed estimates by European Centre for Disease
Prevention and Control that there 3623803 COVID-19
positives cases and 256880
deaths as on 6 May 2020, military operation are continuing everywhere in the
world and are likely to gain momentum. Reportedly, despite the whole world has
been apparently shaken by claimed spread of Coronavirus, NATO and other
military organizations have diverted all attentions and energies from pandemic
disease to military operations, especially in Africa and Middle East. Although,
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s Secretary-General has dubbed these allegations about
NATO’s organization’s role in Coronavirus pandemic as disinformation but it is
being projected that some ground realities cannot be denied and ignored that NATO allies were absent in providing airlifts, medical
support, and transportation to the patients.
We cannot
ignore to investigate that there is also a general perception that Coronavirus
is a biological weapon created to achieve some objectives. Although real, the
Coronavirus has been exaggerated manifolds and its spread is intentional
against the human rights and other international laws to implement the new
strategies of the bankers and businessmen. The
package for world governments to introduce smart and strategic technologies
based applications and national plans to build future of education, health,
economy, services etc. on digital lines, using Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Robotics solutions with focus on operating from
home. In the first step old systems, applications, softwares as well as
hardwares will be no more compactable and new versions of 5G would be
prerequisite to enter into the future. This is aimed to achieve objectives
ranging from new businesses to control over the day to day affairs of the whole
world (Published in theorientnews.com).
Sri Lanka is a world renowned for its hospitality. Although the covid 19 virus has had a severe impact on the world economy, the hospitality of Sri Lankans has not reduced.
Ella is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.
The city of Ella, which is constantly flooded with foreigners, has become a city of desolation with the introduction of curfew across the country to control the spread of the covid 19 virus.
About 40 foreign tourists were trapped in tourist hotels in Ella since the flights were canceled.
The owners of several hotels in the Ella area have come to the relief of these people who are facing a severe financial crisis since the money they brought to the country has almost finished.
Accordingly, the hotel owners have decided not to charge any fee for the accommodation of the foreigners as well as the provision of food and beverages.
Even though the meals are provided free of charge, the hotel owners ensure to follow health guidelines and prepare high quality food.
These provide evidence that these foreigners will never feel trapped in another country with this level of hospitality.
These tourists who spend their days singing and cheering are very fond of Sri Lanka’s environment.
The best example of this is when HIRU CIA on the 3<sup>rd</sup> of March reported a story on the unlawful disposal of garbage by the Ella Pradeshiya Shabha, which was destroying the beauty of Ella.
The tourists flocked to the waterfront ready to protest in order to protect the beauty of the Ella falls.
These tourists expressed their views on the hospitality of Sri Lankans who have overlooked their own financial difficulties at this time in the midst of an economic crisis in the world
Three more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, taking the cases tally to 847.
Nine infections were reported earlier today and it was confirmed that these patients were also from Sri Lanka Navy. The 11 positive cases detected on Friday (08) also turned out to be naval personnel.
Ministry of Health stated that a total of 260 coronavirus patients have recovered from the disease and were discharged from hospitals.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 578 active cases are currently under medical care at selected hospitals across the country.
Sri Lanka has so far confirmed 9 fatalities due to the virus.
