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.
A majority of nations began making COVID-19 prevention plans after their first few patients were reported. Vietnam, however, did not wait until patients were discovered. On 16 January, before a single patient was reported in the country, Vietnam’s Health Ministry held an emergency meeting to take drastic measures to prevent the outbreak, following the development of the disease in China. At that time, even the World Health Organisation (WHO) was yet to declare the outbreak a pandemic, and the virus was only known as 2019-nCov. This foresight proved astute; Vietnam reported its first patient on 23 January.
Vietnam, which shares a 1,100km-long border with China, has a population of 95 million — more than South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore combined. Yet the number of patients reported from the country since 23 January has been only 270, with none of the cases proving fatal so far.
Declaring war against COVID-19
“Vietnam took very quick and strong measures from the start. After its first case was reported in late January, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc likened the fight against the virus to fighting an enemy in a war. On 01 February, PM Phuc declared the novel COVID-19 an epidemic in Vietnam, when there were just six positive cases,” Vietnamese Journalist, Lam Le said.
Soon after, the country decided to quarantine all arrivals from COVID-19 affected areas and banned all flights to China. South Korea and Iran were later added to the flight ban list, which saw more countries added to it as the virus spread across the world, until Vietnam eventually banned foreigners from entering the country in late March.
Currently, all arrivals from overseas are subject to compulsory 14-day quarantine in State-run facilities, she said. Another strong measure has been Vietnam’s contact tracing. Close contacts of confirmed patients are subject to quarantine in hospitals, State-run facilities, or at home, while the close contacts of these individuals are quarantined at home.
At one point (on 04 April), nearly 70,000 people were quarantined, including over 44,000 in military camps and university dorms. The total number of people in quarantine has gone down to around 32,000 now.
“All new patients and their travel history, including details where they had eaten, or where and when they visited a market or pub, are publicised in the press and on social media, so at-risk people could report themselves for testing.
All the tests are free for everyone and so is treatment, except for foreigners. Vietnam has far more tested people than confirmed cases; so far, the country has carried out over 200,000 tests and detected just 270 cases, most of whom have recovered. There have been no deaths in Vietnam.”
Furthermore, schools in most places across the country remained shut after the Lunar New Year holiday (12 February), with some starting to reopen only since last week.
On 1 April, Vietnam started a three week-long nationwide social distancing protocol — a semi lockdown. All non-essential businesses were suspended, taxis and public transport stopped running, and gatherings of two or more people were banned.
These restrictions were lifted last week after a weeklong streak of no new cases. Currently, people can go out, but crowds of 20 or more in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city are still banned, and wearing a mask when outside remains compulsory. Over the past few months, when signs of community transmission became apparent, Vietnam moved to quarantine neighbourhoods, put one of its biggest hospitals on lockdown for over two weeks, and even locked down several villages, she stated.
Scandals
However, amidst all these challenging efforts, the country has seen its share of scandal as well. According to Lam, the biggest scandal so far might be the incident in which top officials at Hanoi’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) allegedly inflated the purchase price for a COVID-19 test system to three times the actual rate.
The VN Express newspaper in Vietnam reported on 23 April that the Director of the Hanoi CDC and his accomplices had raised the purchase price for a COVID-19 test kit package utilising the real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) system by three times, to VND 4.7 billion (US$ 201,166). The CDC Director and six other suspects were arrested on 22 April.
Public support to the Government
Lam noted that the Government’s consistent advice has been to stay home and only go out if there is an absolute necessity, wash hands frequently, wear a face mask when leaving home, avoid crowds, and maintain a two-metre distance between one another in public spaces.
She said that the general public largely supported the Government, as generally every citizen was ready to sacrifice a little bit to fight the outbreak.
Lam’s claim was supported by a survey conducted by Dalia Research that questioned 32,631 people in 45 countries. According to that survey, which was the single largest global public opinion study on COVID-19, Vietnam has the highest percentage of respondents – around 62 per cent – who feel the Government is doing the ‘right amount’ in response to the situation.
The one-party State is a classic example as to how a developing country could prevent a pandemic like COVID-19, effectively mobilising each and every resource at hand. Vietnam’s media, which is controlled by the State, launched massive informative campaigns to educate the public. A song about washing hands properly, posted by the Health Ministry, received widespread global attention.
The Government also collaborated with tech firms to develop mobile apps and a real time database for people to report their health status on a daily basis and update information on suspected and confirmed cases, as well as regarding the people in close contact with them.
According to Vietnamese Editor of BBC, Giang Nguyen, as reported by the BBC World Service, “With political intentions, a well-organised Government and an obedient society are enough to make the country avoid the worst effects of the coronavirus.”
Those
that demanded Sri Lanka stop ‘triumphalism’ when the nation celebrated victory
over LTTE in May 2009, have been triumphing victory over Germany & Japan
since 1945 by even enacting battle victories annually. V_E Day Europe has been
celebrated annually since 1946 on 8 May. The 6year war ended with Germany’s
surrender. Sri Lanka’s LTTE refused offers to lay down arms & surrender and
was vanquished by the Sri Lanka Army in 3 years. What is special about this 75th anniversary V-E DAY for
Germany is that the defeated country leader has announced a one-off public
holiday as a ‘day
of liberation and the toppling of the Nazi regime”. Now if a defeated country is also celebrating
defeat of its own Nazi leader Hitler and regarding Hitler’s defeat as
liberating the German people from Nazi rule, perhaps it’s time for Tamils too to openly celebrate the defeat of LTTE on 19
May 2009 and liberation of the Tamil people from LTTE tyranny.
World War 2 & LTTE
The War began with Germany’s invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939. LTTE’s downfall began when it closed the Mavil Aru anicut in July 2006. The World War 2 saw 60million deaths. Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces saved close to 300,000 Tamils and accepted surrender of close to 12,000 LTTE combatants which included 594 child soldiers, later given a Presidential Pardon.
Hilter, the Nazi leader committed suicide on 30 April during the Battle of Berlin in 1945 but Prabakaran LTTE leader was too shy to bite his cyanide capsule and was killed trying to escape on 18 May 2009.
VE Day celebrations – Re-enacting
war victories
V-E Day is observed on May 8, 1945 in
Great Britain, Western Europe, the United States and Australia, and on May 9 in
the Soviet Union and New Zealand. In
France, Norway and Russia, 8 May is a holiday. The Allied countries annually re-enact battle
victories. People get to see exactly how the War was fought.
All of the mega-events planned by Allied nations for the 75th anniversary victory over Germany has had to be scaled down because of COVID19. Veterans could not attend because of impact to health.
The
Queen was just 19years on the first V-E Day celebrations.
Between 1945 and 1950,
Europe witnessed the largest episode of forced migration. Between 12 million
and 14 million German-speaking civilians were forcibly ejected from their
places of birth in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, and what are
today the western districts of Poland to ruined Germany. Historians claim some
500,000 died in this transfer operation.
Germans had to wear
white armbands to be easily recognizable. German men, women and children were
beaten mercilessly.
Historians
claim over 1million German women were raped during and after. The UK Telegraph
say some 3million Germans died after World War 2 and during Allied occupation
of Germany.
De-nazification of Germany began with banning of anything to do with Nazi (an error by GoSL in not de-nazifying LTTE and removing all ideological emblems associated with LTTE eelam separatism)
Allies continue to occupy
Germany
Germany
was defeated in 1945. But the Allies remained in Germany till 1955 (10 years
Germany was occupied by the Allies)
The
Berlin Wall that divided East and West German was destroyed in 1991 unifying
Germany. It was only in 1994 that Allied Troops from US – UK and France left
Germany having being stationed in Berlin since end World War 2.
US
had 200,000 troops in Germany in 1990 which was reduced to 42,450 by 2014 in 38
facilities across Germany.
UK
has 20,000 troops in Germany which has been reduced to 4000 and UK will even
after Brexit decide to keep its troops in Germany. Upto 2008 France had 4000
troops in Germany.
The
very countries demanding Sri Lanka remove its troops inside its own country,
maintain bases by force in Germany with thousands of foreign troop presence!
Tamils – take a lesson from
Germany
While
the Allied Troops have celebrated annually, Germany, the country that the
Allies defeated use 8 May to commemorate the Germans who fought against Nazism and
those that lost their lives in World War 2. Ideally, Sri Lanka must also use Sri Lanka’s Victory Day to remember with
gratitude the many Tamils that bravely stood against LTTE and were killed by
LTTE because of it.
Ironically,
while Germany suffered for years after end of war, Sri Lanka’s North saw
development never seen throughout defacto LTTE rule of 30 years. Roads, train
service, renovations to schools and other properties damaged and even areas
which never had electricity since 1980s saw a new life. All that the North was
enjoying post-LTTE defeat was suppressed and diminished by the bandwagon of
external trouble-makers who helped LTTE thrive and was partially seeking
revenge and a means of sustaining their $300m annually profitable LTTE kitty
alive.
Allies
celebrate 75 years since end of Hitler and Nazi rule. Sri Lanka in a few days-time
will celebrate 11years since end of LTTE defeat. This is no better a time for
the Tamils to relook at what life was like during LTTE rule, what life became
for them after LTTE rule, how has TNA and other Tamil political parties
actually served them, what are LTTE fronts really up to in drumming separatism
while living overseas and holding foreign citizenship, how large is the LTTE
kitty now without expense on maintaining LTTE combatants and buying weapons,
who is running the global LTTE illegal network that profits from money
laundering, credit card scams, hawala system, tax holiday manipulations by
registering as charities, human smuggling, illegal refugee application process
that involves paying to get burnt with cigarette butt ends and trained to act
in front of foreign immigration officials to gain sympathy …. How long can this
façade continue? How many have benefitted from this system of lying and
cheating? Isn’t it better to be inclusive citizens and partner development
instead of aligning to the bogus bandwagon of lies and liars?
If Germany are now looking at defeat of Hitler & Nazis as being liberated, it is good for Tamils to also think that they have been liberated of Prabakaran & LTTE.
Significantly the gift from India arrived while Sri Lankans were celebrating the Buddhist festival Vesak.
the Indian High Commissioner-designate Gopal Baglay with the IAF aircraft which the medical consignment in the background)
Colombo, May 8 (newsin.asia): As a special friendly gesture from the Government and the people of India in the on-going auspicious Vesak week, a 12.5 tonne gift consignment of essential medicines and medical items arrived in Colombo on Friday from India by a special Indian Air Force flight.
The medical consignment reached Colombo with the High Commissioner-designate of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay on board the same flight.
The gift consignment – the fourth in recent weeks – underscores the vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, enunciated in his video conference with SAARC leaders on 15th March 2020, to jointly fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Three consignments of essential life-saving medicines and medical gloves from India were handed over to Sri Lanka last month.
Soon after landing at BIA, the High Commissioner-designate conveyed greetings from the people of India to the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of Vesak. He also stated that the mission entrusted to him highlights the very high significance of steadfast friendship, solidarity and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka – two of the closest maritime neighbors in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region.
The 12.5 tonne medical consignment reached Colombo on Friday, Vesak Day .
He also stated that India’s continued commitment to share its resources with friends and partner nations even at a time when many countries the world over faced scarcity of medical products due to the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent supply chain disruptions, is in line with the abiding faith of India’s leadership in the dictum of ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ (the whole world is but one family).
The High-Commissioner-designate assumes his duties while observing stipulated health protocol.
India’s ‘champagne of teas’ among those affected as country’s tea board estimates output could drop 9%, amid strain in China and Sri Lanka
Trouble is brewing for the world’s tea producers as the coronavirus lockdown shut down the harvest in several important regions, including the picking of India’s champagne of teas”.
Despite forecasts of increased demand from drinkers stuck at home across the world, producers have become frustrated by the enforced quarantining of their workforce, with India’s output expected to drop by 9% in 2020.
Lockdown measures in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam halted work for more than a month. The global coronavirus outbreak escalated at the worst possible time for Indian tea producers, just as the most valuable harvest of the year was ready to be plucked.
India has very specific production periods, experts said, called flushes. The prized first flush of Darjeeling, the champagne of teas” harvested in the country’s north-eastern, has been severely hit. This harvest, which is generally picked between March and April, accounts for as much as 40% of annual revenue.
Other tea exporting countries, including China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, have also experienced disruption, though Kenya – the main supplier of tea to the UK – has so far avoided major problems. The International Tea Committee has predicted the country may see output riseby 15% this year.
Because of the weather, [Kenya] can produce tea all year round,” said Ibi Idoniboye, senior market analyst for Mintec.
Operations have also been affected in Sri Lanka, where tea production in the first quarter of the year declined to the lowest levels in decades. Exports have also suffered compared with the same period last year, falling 14.1 million kilograms to 59.5 million kilograms.
The country’s weekly tea auctions, a 125-year-old tradition, were held online for the first time in April to comply with social distancing measures. The auctions, usually held in Colombo, are among the biggest in the world and attract around 200 people.
This [the pandemic] is the first time tea production was affected in a country wide level,” said Roshan Rajadurai of the Planters’ Association. Work stopped completely for a couple of days, he said, but the government allowed agricultural activities to resume again.
Hundreds of thousands of workers continue to work plucking the tea. Other areas of productions, for example packaging, are not operating at full capacity.
On top of the complications posed by the Covid-19 outbreak, tea producers have also faced an unprecedented drought, added Rajadurai.
Meanwhile, in Vietnam exports fell 2.5% in volume to 26,000 tonnes during the first quarter of 2020.
While there hasn’t been any disruption to supply of tea in the UK, it is likely that prices will continue to rise, driven by the disruption to operation and speculation over shortages, said Idoniboye. I’d expect to see that tea will still be appreciating for the next few weeks but at some stage it will hit a ceiling,” he added.
