Protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while in Police custody in Minneapolis last week, have spread to dozens of cities in the United States and other world cities.
Floyd’s death, at the hands of a white Police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, has reignited anger over longstanding social and economic inequality between the country’s white and black communities.
More than 40 million black people live in the United States, making up about 13 per cent of the Nation’s population.
From education to home ownership, here are eleven statistics that show inequality among black and white Americans:
– Black adults, especially black men, are far more likely to end up in jail than white adults. In 2018, there were 1,501 black prisoners for every 100,000 black adults – more than five times the rate among whites.
– About three in every five black men say they have been unfairly stopped by the Police because of their race, according to a 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center. Also, about eight in every ten black people, with at least some college education, say they have been discriminated against because of their race.
– The home ownership gap between blacks and whites has widened since 2004 and black families are less likely than white families to own their own house. Today, 41 per cent of black households own their own homes, compared with nearly 72 per cent for whites.
– Black households have only 10 cents in wealth for every dollar held by white households, according to 2016 data. In 2016, the median wealth of non-Hispanic white households was $171,000 – 10 times the wealth of black households ($17,100).
– COVID-19 has disproportionately affected black men and women in terms of deaths from the disease and unemployment rates during the pandemic.
– By the end of May, the COVID-19 mortality rate for black Americans (1 in 1,850) was 2.4 times as high as the rate for white Americans (1 in 4,400).
– In April, the black unemployment rate was nearly 17% compared with a white unemployment rate of 14 per cent.
– Over the past two decades, the wage gap between black and white workers has grown significantly. For example, in 2018 the median weekly earnings for full-time workers was $694 for black Americans, compared to $916 for white Americans.
– In 2017, black women earned less than white women, with the median annual earnings for full-time black women workers was just over $36,000 – 21 per cent lower than that of white women.
– Black women in the United States are more than 3 times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
– Black students are less likely to graduate from high school than white students. In 2018, 79% of black students graduated from high school in comparison to 89 per cent among white students.
SOURCES: Pew Research Center; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); The Economic Policy Institute; APM Research Lab; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A decision on the date for the General Election would be made at the Election Commission’s next meeting scheduled for Monday (8), its Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said.
Speaking at a news briefing, he said Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe has handed over a set of guidelines to the Commission to be followed when conducting the polls.
After studying this, we will meet next Monday to decide on the election date. The Commission has neither the desire to postpone elections nor to get the blame for spreading the virus,” he said.
Colombo Mayoress Rosy Senanayake said that she will not be involved in national politics but will remain as the Mayoress for another term to see that all promises in her manifesto have been fulfilled.
My son is contesting and it’s time to give the chance to newcomers,” she said.
There were rumours that I was removed from my post, but nobody can remove me because I have been voted in as the Mayoress. I will remain in local politics and always be a voice for women,” she added.
Mahendran was saved from interpol by Yahapalana Government
The prime suspect of the Central Bank bond scam case Arjuna Mahendran has changed his name and living in Singapore safely and happily, former President Maithripala Sirisena claimed today.
He added that when Interpol was on the verge of arresting Mahendran in March 2019 after issuing a red notice for the biggest financial fraud in history of Sri Lanka involving the Central Bank bond issue, a few people highly influential and powerful in the Yahapalana Government had informed the Interpol that the allegations against Mahendran were politically motivated and therefore he must not be arrested and deported.
In a shocking exposure today at the SLFP party office, former President Sirisena told media that he was revealing this information for the first time because people of this country should know about it.
The trouble between me and the Yahapalana Government started with the Central Bank bond scam. If I did not appoint a Presidential Commission, if I did not attempt to get to the bottom of the fraud and swept it under the carpet, there would not have been any animosity between me and the leaders of the Yahapalana Government,” Mr. Sirisena said.
The Sri Lankan Government prepared a comprehensive report that consisted of all evidence obtained from the Presidential Commission, the CID, the Attorney General’s Department and other law enforcement agencies and individuals against Arjuna Mahendran.
All of them were concrete evidence against him and more than enough to arrest and deport him. Based on that report, the Interpol issued a red notice on Mahendran and was about to deport him. But the Interpol decided against deporting him after the false report sent by Yahapalana Government hierarchy saying that he was a political victim,” the former President said.
When insisted by the media to disclose the names of those who thwarted the deportation of Mahendran, Mr. Sirisena said he could not specifically reveal their names because all Sri Lankans knew who they are.
Should I tell you who hand-picked Mahendran as the Governor of Central Bank in 2015 despite vehement protests by me and cabinet members? Should I tell you who took over the Central Bank from the Finance Ministry to a different Ministry? Should I tell you who shared among themselves the ill lucre running to billion of rupees raised with the illegal selling and buying of bonds with the inside information?, Mr. Sirisena asked.
He said those in the Yahapalana Government who were involved in the bond scam got frightened that if Mahendran was brought back and produced in the courts he would expose all those involved in the bond scam, how it happened and who shared the ill gotten money.
Mr. Sirisena vowed that the SLFP would pursue this matter and bring all the criminals involved in the bond scam under a strong government formed under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after the next election.
We will not give up our efforts to do justice. We are confident that under the next government led by President Rajapaksa, we would be able to bring back Mahendran from Singapore or from wherever and expose all the wrongdoers involved in the Central Bank bond scam,” he stressed.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) should take the responsibility for the downfall of a financial entity under its purview, says Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He made this remark during a meeting held at the Temple Trees to discuss the current status of The Finance Company PLC. The meeting was attended by Central Bank Governor Prof. W.D. Lakshman, Secretary to the Finance Ministry S.R. Attygalle and several other officials.
The Premier has pointed out that the continuous collapse of financial entities under the Central Bank’s purview and the irregularities at such institutions bring disrepute to the government.
This damages the trust the public has placed on the public financial institutions, PM Rajapaksa said adding that new laws should be enacted to take action against misappropriations of this sort.
These remarks came days after the CBSL cancelled the finance business licence issued to The Finance Company, with effect from 22 May 2020.
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 cases count escalated to 1,735 as five more new virus-positive patients were detected as of 11.00 pm today (03).
Accordingly, a total of 52 virus-positive persons – including one returnee from Kuwait, 19 returnees from Qatar and 20 Navy men – have been detected so far within the day.
In the meantime, 13 virus-positive patients who had recovered completely were discharged from the Infectious Disease Hospital, Colombo East Base Hospital and Minuwangoda Base Hospital today. Sri Lanka’s recoveries count thereby moved up to 836.
The total count of active coronavirus cases under medical care meanwhile stands at 888.
Sri Lanka reported its 11th COVID-19 death on Monday (01) as a 45-year-old male who had arrived in the country from Kuwait succumbed to the disease.
In the CCTV footage revealed to the public by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the Easter Sunday terror attacks, a second explosion is witnessed following the detonation of a device by Fathima Jiffry – the wife of Shangri La bomber Ilham Ahmed – that claimed the lives of several Police officers, and her children.
In another footage, Ilham Ahmed’s movements leading up to the bombings are also shown raising further questions about his accomplices.
https://youtu.be/YVqQwiUyVH4
The first set of CCTV footage, released to the public by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry shows a black car arriving at the residence of Mohamed Ibrahim in Mahawila Gardens Dematagoda on 19 April 2019 at 6.54 pm and leaving at 7.03 pm.
The individual seen exiting in the car is none other than the suicide bomber at the Shangri-La Hotel, Mohamed Ibrahim Ilham Ahmed. Later at the night, the bomber returns home and is seen exiting the house at 12.02 am carrying two bags which he hands over to another individual wearing a cap.
With the identity of the second individual still unknown, the relevant footage was not revealed to the public.
In the CCTV footage from the 20 April 2019, Ilham Ahmed is seen returning to the residence carrying a backpack and holding another bag in his hands. He is being admitted into the house by his brother Mohamed Yusuf Ijaz Ahmed.
Further footage from 21 April 2019 at 1.24 am shows Ilham Ahmed exiting the residence wearing a red t-shirt and a cap. His wife Fathima Jiffry is seen watching at the gate as he leaves.
The CCTV footage also clearly shows two bombs exploding inside the Mahawila Garden’s residence on 21 April 2019.
On that fateful day, at 2.31 pm, the footage shows the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) team arriving at the location and Sub-Inspector (SI) Rohana Bandara and four other officers entering the house. The first bomb goes up at 2.36 pm claiming the life of SI Rohana Bandara and three other officers.
Following the explosion, Mohamed Ibrahim and mother of Fathima Jiffry are seen exiting the house. Just 14 minutes after the explosion, at 2.53 pm the second bomb goes up as the police officers enter the house with Mohamed Ibrahim to switch off the electricity brake switch. Ibrahim is again seen exiting the house. Police Sergeant Wasantha Kumara who entered the house with SI Rohana Bandara testified at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday.
He said that upon entering the house, two other males were notices inside and he was instructed to search the ground floor while SI Bandara proceeded to the upper floor.
As he searched the ground floor, Sergeant Kumara had heard SI Bandara knocking on a room door on the upper floor attempting to gain entry. He added that SI Bandara was then heard calling out to the inmates of the room to open the door and following a few attempts, a loud explosion was heard.
Testifying further, Sergeant Kumara said he subsequently called for back up at which time a group of Criminal Investigation Department officers responded and a short while later the second bomb exploded.
Following this, the officers had entered the upper floor room only to find the remains of the police officers, one female and several children.
In the meantime, brother of Fathima Jiffry testified at the PCoI on Tuesday. He stated that his family was a traditional Muslim family and that his sister had had a normal upbringing. He added that when his sister was 23 years of age, his family agreed to an arranged marriage between Ilham Ahmed and her.
After getting married, Fathima Jiffry had turned to extremist beliefs, her brother said further. Fathima’s beliefs changed to the extent that she railed against the traditional Muslim faith being practised and boycotted his own wedding ceremony.
Fathima had continued to criticize the family’s religious traditions and practices and proceeded to withdraw from the public while cutting off connections with her own family, he noted.
The witness said that he realized his own sister had been brainwashed following an incident where she stated that she would follow in the footsteps of her husband.
He also revealed that following the first explosion on 12 April 2019, Fathima had telephoned her mother and pleaded with her to come to the Dematagoda residence without delay.
The story of America is all about take overs – taking other people’s land and taking away their lives. Land belonging to the Native Indians was taken away and many millions were exterminated. Americans are a mixture of the Viking murderer Leif Eriksson from Iceland who first landed in US in 986, mass murderer Christopher Columbus falsely thought to be the founder of USA, criminal prisoners from overcrowded British prisons as part of colonial British rule which ended with the Boston tea party. Then came the influx of black slaves with the first to arrive from 1513 onwards which ushered a period of racism and white supremacy. Slavery was redefined as segregation which ended officially only in 1965. Thus, for 452 years blacks had been treated as 3rdclass inferior sub-humans. Blacks are supposed to have enjoyed equal footing for just 55 years. Can the psyche of white supremacy that ruled for 452 years erase itself in 55 years? The answer is what happened to George Floyd and what happened to many George Floyds before him and will happen to many more George Floyd’s after him. Institutionalized racism and discrimination in US is what US has to now deal with before delivering democracy and human rights anywhere else.
There is a pattern to the superiority and treatment towards non-whites. It began with the erasing of Native Indians & their heritage & culture. It continued with the
12.5million Africans, forcibly taken from their homes in Africa and transported round the world. Only 10.7m survived of which 26% were children to become slaves in their new ‘home’. First direct shipment of slaves from Africa to the Americas in 1518.
It is oft said that 1619 was the year the first African slaves were brought to US. This story is supposed to be false. Historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. says Juan Garrido was the first black to arrive in 1513 in Florida. He also said the first enslaved Africans arrived in 1565 brought by the Spanish to Florida too. It was only in 1619 that the white settlers in US began to enslave the blacks plus Native Indians.
It is oft said that 1619 was the year the first African slaves were brought to US. This story is supposed to be false. Historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. says Juan Garrido was the first black to arrive in 1513 in Florida. He also said the first enslaved Africans arrived in 1565 brought by the Spanish to Florida too. It was only in 1619 that the white settlers in US began to enslave the blacks plus Native Indians.
Half a million that were dropped off in US are the direct descendants of the 42milion African Americans that today make up the less than 13% population of USA.
USA can never say a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal,”omitting its slavery past, segregation past and racism & discrimination of the present!
America has been all about fake history, false stories and fake news. Christopher Columbus never discovered America though he’s been given a federal holiday. Leif Eriksson landed in America in 989 some 500 years before Columbus was born. He was given a Leif Eriksson Day on 9 Oct by US President Lyndon Johnson in 1964 to commemorate first Norwegians that came to settle in US in 1825. Eriksson was from Iceland not Norway!
There were no whites in America before Leif or Columbus arrived only Native Indians. The first Americans would be a mix of European migrants with a murderous past and those sent for prison terms as a result of overcrowding prisons in UK.
The British Empire arrived in 1607 and remained till 1783 creating 13 colonies which declared independence in 1776 (176 years – British America). Colonial Britain is said to have transported 52,000 British convicts (men & women) to the US before prisoners were transported to Australia. The British convicts were banished for minimum 7 to 14 years (Matt Novak)
These white settlers were really convicts from British prisons. The youngest was a girl of 9years and over 30 convicts were in their 90s. This highlighted another element of lack of compassion and humanity among colonial rulers which can be seen in the manner they continue to hound Nazi’s in their 90s in the 21stcentury.
Despite slavery ending with ratification of 13thamendment in 1865, it never did. 7 states broke away to form the Confederacy (similar to what LTTE/ITAK is demanding) afterAbraham Lincoln won the 1860 election and said he would end slavery! 4 slave states even seceded.
Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens stressed that slavery would be the cornerstone of their new government, which would be based upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition.”
This is the sad mentality that has passed down through centuries.
Enslaved people were seen not as people but as commodities to be bought, sold and exploited. This is the ideology that continues in the veins of America. The slave trade provided political power, social standing and wealth for the church, European nation-states, New World colonies and individuals. This power psyche continues still.
Race was even encoded into law (Virginia Law of 1662) – an enslaved black women giving birth to generations of children of African descent were seen as commodities. In 1850, Congress passed a new Fugitive Slave Act, made mandatory for citizens to help capture fugitive enslaved black people.
Hypocrisy is also embedded. In the initial draft of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson had condemned British King George III for engaging in slaved trade. But Jefferson himself was an enslaver. He had even fathered enslaved black children. He openly declared black people as inferior to whites.
From Slavery to Segregation
The US that falsely accuses countries of ‘civil war’ ‘discrimination against minorities’ has been the guilty party all along. Claiming to ban slavery, what was actually done was to redefine slavery as segregation. Racial difference travelled from slavery to segregation.
By 1861 (year of US Civil War) 90% or 3.9million Black Americans were enslaved.Racial terror & lynchings (extra judicial public executions) resulted in more than 4000 blacks getting killed between 1877 and 1950.
1890s – Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana state constitutions denied blacks from voting
1890 – Louisiana passes Separate car law’
1901 – Alabama passed convention ‘to establish white supremacy’
1905 – Ensley, Alabama required all barbers to use separate razors, brushes, linens & chairs for blacks and whites / Birmingham outlawed inter-racial games – pool, cards, dice, dominoes, billiards / Arkansas and Florida segregated black & white prisoners
1939 – Louisiana ruled circuses to have separate entrances and ticket booths, hospitals, public transport, public schools all adopted segregation.
By 1940, 77% of blacks were living in South where they comprised 24% of the white population. Only 3% had the right to vote. The democratic party was white-collared and promoted white supremacy – blacks were excluded as members by policy. Institutionalized discrimination is nowhere else but in USA.
1942 – Detroit – whites attack black families and protest against public housing project for blacks.
1943 – Detroit – some 25,000 white factory workers in Packard Motor Company refused to work after 3 black workers were promoted.
1944 – White workers in Philadelphia went on strike when 8 black men were hired as trolley drivers
1945 – California – a black family (husband, wife and 2 young children) were killed when they refused to change residence. Police covered up murder
Leisure, recreation spaces across US was segregated by race. My states banned inter-racial marriage.
1942 – President Roosevelt signs Executive Order 8802 prohibiting racial discrimination in the national defense industry
1948 – President Truman signs Executive Order 9981 abolishing racial discrimination in military and segregation in armed forces (this shows the 1942 Order was not followed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K_4sdRB3ZU
1948 – a black man was sentenced to 5 years in prison for marrying a white woman.
USA accuses countries of systematically excluding, disenfranchising, disempowering and marginalizing minorities – USA was institutionally doing just that to the blacks.
Even when Supreme Court declared state segregation laws unconstitutional, Southern senators did not comply with executive order against all-white primaries by requiring all primary voters to swear to support social, religious and educational separation of races”
In Florida, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Registration John Deckle openly defied the Court and declared, Negroes will not be allowed to vote as Democrats.”
A 1948 poll showed 63% Americans opposing integrating the military.
Jim Crow Etiquette” Laws & Codes – racial caste system or Slavery by another name (from 1877 to mid 1960s)
Black Americans treated like third class citizens. Even religious heads taught congregations that whites were superior and the Chosen people & God supported racial segregation. Society was taught that Blacks were intellectually and culturally inferior to whites. Newspapers and magazines continuously brainwashed readers/listeners to refer to blacks as niggers and stereotyped them.
Blacks & whites could not shake hands, eat together, a black man could not offer to light a cigarette to a white female (as it implied intimacy), blacks were denied showing affection to each other in public as it offended the whites, courtesy titles (Mr. Ms, Mrs, Sir, Ma’am) were not applicable to blacks but blacks had to use courtesy names for whites, blacks could not speak to a white by their first name. A black had to sit in the back of a car if a white was driving it. Right of way had to be given to white motorists. A black could not comment on the appearance of a white female. A black so much as touching a white woman constituted ‘rape’.
Jim Crow laws meant blacks were prohibited from public transport, juries, jobs and neighborhoods. Signs were placed about water fountains, door entrances, public facilities that separated blacks from whites. Blacks had separate hospitals, churches, cemeteries, public restrooms, public accommodations – all of which was inferior to whites. Some places did not even have restrooms, no public places to eat or sit for blacks. Blacks were also denied entry to public beaches.
1905 – Georgia – separate parks for blacks and whites
1930 – Birmingham, Alabama banned blacks & whites playing checkers or dominoes together
1935 – Oklahoma banned blacks and whites boating together
Georgia – Black barber could not serve whites, blacks cannot be buried in cemeteries meant for whites / mental hospitals to have separate areas for blacks/ Wine and Beer cannot be served to both blacks and whites – they have to operate separately
Louisiana – Separate building for black blind persons
Alabama – separate waiting rooms and separate ticket windows for blacks/ white female nurses allowed to nurse negro men (in public or private hospitals)
South Carolina – No white could give custody of their child to a black family
Florida – white and blacks to have separate schools
North Carolina – libraries to have separate area for blacks / black troops to be separate from whites and blacks shall be under command of white officers
Mississippi – negro convicts to eat and sleep in separate areas
Kentucky – reform schools to separate blacks
If a black violated the Jim Crow laws his punishment was losing his home, job even life. Blacks could physically beat blacks with impunity. Blacks had no relief as the criminal justice system was all-white. Lynching was the worst form of Jim Crow social control. Lynchings or public executions mean blacks were hung, shot, burned at the stake, castrated or beaten with clubs until dead. Lynchings provided cheap entertainment and a means to unite white ego among low-income/status whites often in rural settings. Riots were also created to stir fear and drive out blacks. White supremacy was the goal.
Jim Crow etiquette and laws legally ended in 1965 but would have remained embedded in the white society and we see these continue to trickle to what continues as racial bias.
But US gains international and local fame because of blacks while at the same time blacks are the worse off in the US.
75% basketball players are black
65% football players are black
Up until 2015, just 1.1 percent of non-white females and 6.8 percent of non-white males won the coveted awards (statista)
There is much for America to look inward. Unfortunately, politics has come between the anger at watching a white cop virtually kill a man live as people watched from their social media screens. The incident has been manipulated away from justice to George Floyd and seriously addressing the institutional problem of racism against blacks institutionalized and embedded into American society. However, it must be addressed and should be addressed. The start would be to stop the institutions and those manning the institutions from being anti-black and racist by taking action against them.
America is in flames. The murder of a black man by 4 US policeman has resulted in mass protests, vandalism, looting across 25 states with the likelihood of the National Guards being called resulting in more deaths. The incident shows that the white-black divide is embedded in the US administration however much they will not admit. The anger of the less than 13% Blacks of America though comprising 42m out of 328million US population, is being heard across the world. Police brutality &system bias are all coming to light. That law enforcement have gotten away and have not been charged is certainly a cause to worry because MCC’s 6.8 clause demands IMMUNITY for any US crime committed in Sri Lanka. Obviously these clauses are being inserted knowing the capability of their people, otherwise why would any agreement go to such lengths to say that no Sri Lankan law or tribunal can charge the US personnel for any crime committed by them. They are putting the safeguards to protect their people contemplating the violence they can commit. We have enough of examples of these crimes committed by US in other countries with impunity and given immunity. For $480m given across 5 years – Sri Lankans have to compromise our lives! No Thank You. No $480m can be more valuable than the lives of our people be they Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher or even another foreign national in Sri Lanka injured to killed by them.
Section 6.8 clearly identifies MCC as a US government CORPORATION.
This means Sri Lankan Government is signing with a US Company.
This clause also states that NEITHER the MCC Company or the US Govt will assume any liability for ANY CLAIMS or LOSSES as a result of ACTIVIITIES or OMISSIONS under the Compact.
That means even if the MCC does not complete any of its commitments, Sri Lanka cannot claim liability.
We presume this is a BILATERAL agreement – if so, shouldn’t the liability option be relevant to Sri Lanka as well? Section 6.4 of MCC says the Compact is an international agreement to be governed by international law. This means Sri Lankan law does not apply. If International law applies – law of reciprocity applies. But, MCC clauses are one-sided and benefitting one country and its company only.
Section 6.8 also says that Sri Lanka WAIVES any CLAIMS AGAINST MCC or the US Govt or ANY CURRENT or FORMER OFFICER or EMPLOYEE of MCC or the US Govt for ANY LOSSES, DAMAGES, INJURY or DEATH arising out of activities or omissions under this Compact.
The Govt agrees that MCC or the US Govt or any current or former officer or employees of MCC or the US Govt shall be immune from the jurisdiction of all courts and tribunals of Sri Lanka or any claim or loss arising out activities or omissions under this Compac”.
This is the most worrying feature. We do not know how many US troops/civilians/contractors will land in Sri Lanka to handle the Compact.
The murder of George Floyd and the lists of many blacks ill-treated by the US institutional system is a serious worry to all of us and should be a worry given this 6.8 clause.
A US military personnel/civilian/contractor can RAPE, commit life-long injury or even death but the victim will have no justice. The criminal will walk away free of any charge to commit another crime. How can any Sri Lankan Government agree to sign an agreement jeopardizing the lives of its citizens?
We know of what US troops have done in Vietnam, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Africa, South America and many many more countries and now we are hearing about how the less than 13% of black Americans are being treated in their own home. We don’t want to import that trouble here to Sri Lanka just for a paltry $480m spread across 5 years.
We appoint a govt by delegating the sovereign powers in the people to protect the people, not to be raped or murdered and told a piece of paper makes it impossible for justice or punishment for criminal acts!
The criminal acts by US troops are no small numbers and relevant to all countries where they are stationed.
Every country US has status of forces agreements, or visiting forces agreement has issues with US troops – people of Okinawa are angered with the Japanese govt for making the Japanese people vulnerable. We know what US troops did in Vietnam. Many a soldier have confessed publicly to US crimes in Iraq and other nations US and allies invaded since 2001.
The relevance of MCC Section 6.8 clause with the death of George Floyd is that the US system has been institutionally racist and discriminating of blacks. That even the corona’s initial report claimed death by natural causes until the family had to seek ‘independent’ post mortem is something to worry about. The riots and protests would not have taken place had US authorities taken immediate action against the perpetrators of the crime. It took mass outrage and social media to vent anger that resulted in the nation going aflame.
That US includes clauses of immunity is worrying because it could only mean many a George Floyd type victim in Sri Lanka and because of 6.8 clause Sri Lanka cannot take action and it would be pointless protesting or rioting either.
Is putting the lives of Sri Lankans at risk worth $480m across 5 years by giving IMMUNITY and IMPUNITY to US in Sri Lanka?
One Shiffer Mohammed (SM) in an article published in a mainstream
national paper on May 27, 2020 expressed his apprehensions about what he called
‘another ethno-religious war’ breaking out in Sri Lanka, blaming it on alleged
racism, religious extremism and bigotry prevalent against Muslims in Sri Lanka.
He may be genuinely concerned about his people’s and others’ right to be free
from such threats. But it looks like he has been seriously misled by false
propaganda targeting the peaceful, democratic, law abiding majority of the
multiethnic multi-religious Sri Lankan people, who are at the receiving end of
excesses perpetrated by certain murderous religious fundamentalist sects
sponsored, as may be suspected, by well funded sources both domestic and
foreign. However, why does SM talk about ‘another’ ethno-religious war?
When did Sri Lanka ever have an ‘ethno-religious war’? As SM himself says, the
30 year conflict was a ‘terrorist war’; it was not an ethnic or ethno-religious
war. But no one can be sure if SM’s crying wolf is completely devoid of meaning
in the present circumstances. Eastern province Muslim politician M.L.A.M.
Hisbullah also threateningly pointed out that disgruntled Muslim youth would
take up arms if their alleged grievances were not answered. His warnings were
uttered some time before last year’s April 21 terror bombings.
Be that as it may, we need not feel that alarmed. Please rest
assured, SM. The story/stories that led you to imagine that an ethno-religious
war is imminent in Sri Lanka cannot be true, whatever you may have heard or
read to the contrary. I think you are labouring under a misapprehension
regarding intercommunal and interreligious relations in Sri Lanka which remain
as cordial and peaceful as ever. People of diverse faiths coexist peacefully
under the umbrella of the extremely tolerant and accommodating moral spiritual
culture of the island that has evolved due to the benign influence of Buddhism
(which itself is not a religion, though, in the ordinary sense) during the past
twenty three (23) centuries. Unfortunately, however, the recent incursion of a
variety of forms of non-Buddhist religious extremism, particularly over the
past half century, has put a strain on this accustomed placidly salutary state
of affairs. Anti-Sri Lanka propaganda abroad and elsewhere disseminated by
fundamentalist sympathisers and selfish shortsighted local politicians
exploiting them to advance their own anti-nationalist political agendas
seems to have misled SM. It is they who want to create disharmony between the
mainstream Muslim minority and the majority Sinhalese Buddhists. False
propaganda of this nature is a far worse virus that is infinitely more harmful
to the multireligious multicultural Sri Lankan people than the raging, global
pandemic causing, novel coronavirus that collective human ingenuity will
definitely overcome with the discovery of a proper remedy sooner or later.
Though SM has allowed himself to be misled by misinformation,
these days it is easy for any Sri Lankan living abroad like him to be fairly
accurately informed about what is actually happening there through the main
local media channels (not all of them, however) and the impartial independent
social media networks that are available. But this is somewhat difficult if one
does not have sufficient empathy with average Sri Lankan citizens. It must not
be forgotten that Western corporate media Al Jazeera and CNN are hopelessly
biased against Sri Lanka. Of course, the profusion of news on offer must be
intelligently analysed before jumping to unwarranted conclusions such as that
‘They can prolong their corrupt rule with the pretext of protecting the country
and the Sinhala Buddhist nation, by having another so-called ethno-religious
terrorist war’, where ‘They’ refer to alleged ‘corrupt politicians’
(presumably, of the present administration/caretaker government).
The last is a deliberately misleading statement. Some members of
the former Yahapalanaya are the ones who deserve such denunciation. They
include some notorious characters who helped the infamous FCID to frame false
charges against political opponents. It is only recently, after GR became
president, that independent police investigations, relating to dozens of cases
filed against certain corrupt ministers of the previous Yahapalana regime
during its four and a half year term, began in ernest, free from any interference
or undue pressure from those in power. Among the former ministers facing
corruption and power abuse investigations are some powerful but opportunistic
Muslim politicians who cannot survive in politics without the help of
communalism, and they are raising a hue and cry about non-existent racism and
religious extremism among Sinhalese Buddhists. SM is unwittingly and
accidentally throwing a lifeline to these corrupt Muslim politicos.
So, there is a thick smokescreen of false propaganda against the
Sinhalese Buddhist majority island nation, which is just emerging or struggling
to do so from a period of unprecedented threats to its independence,
sovereignty, and territorial integrity. November 2019 produced an eagerly
awaited change in the form of a new executive president being elected.
President Gotabhaya has not been a politician before. He has a clean,
distinguished track record as a decorated military officer of twenty years, and
as an efficient civil administrator for ten years during the presidency of his
brother Mahinda (2005-15). Five years of witch-hunting by the Yahapalanaya
found no evidence of corruption against them. It is completely unjustified for
SM to claim that the ruling politicians today want to prolong their
‘corrupt rule’ under the pretext of ‘protecting the country and the Sinhala
Buddhist nation’. The pre-poll minority government finds itself
constitutionally handicapped. President GR is unable to implement his well
conceived plans for the restoration of good governance and sound economic
development because of the absence of an elected parliament. The Covid-19
emergency has made the situation worse. However, the pandemic is being
contained and controlled with commendable efficiency. It is now
nationally and internationally appreciated that, had it not been for Gotabaya
and Mahinda at the helm, the challenge would not have been met so quickly and
with such success. People are convinced that a parliament must be elected that
can work with the president without being a stumbling block to him. The corrupt
politicians of the opposition who are stoking communalism through false
propaganda do so because they fear elections to be held before they have had
enough time to demonise those who stand to win.
What SM imprecisely and misleadingly calls ‘Protecting the country
and the Sinhala Buddhist nation’ is a much misconstrued subject among Sri Lanka
bashers. But, in reality, it is a supremely worthy cause for the
nationalists of all communities who make Sri Lanka their home. Nationalists do
not talk about a ‘Sinhala Buddhist nation’, but a country of the Sinhalese
(Sinhale) whose age-old religious cultural core is Buddhist; a geographical or
territorial entity where people of diverse races and religions live peaceably
as equal citizens without suffering discrimination of any kind; The dominant
host culture which is Buddhist and hence ideally democratic is the cement
that gives cohesiveness to this whole. Throughout their history the Sinhalese
have fought for the Buddhist religious establishment and the country whose
heart it is as a single cherished object. That is why historians maintain that
for the Sinhalese jaatyalaya or love of the nation has always been territorial
and not racial.
Detractors of the national endeavour to protect the country and
the nation (people whose home it is) wrongly assume that Sri Lanka’s
nationalism is an exclusive anti-democratic totalitarian Sinhala Buddhist
political ideology. It is not. Sri Lanka has been the inalienable homeland of
the Sinhalese from time immemorial. In ancient times it was known as Sinhale,
the country of the Sinhalese. They had been a civilized people long before
Buddhism arrived in the 3rd century BCE. The Sinhalese have had an unbroken
history of over two thousand three hundred years (since the official
introduction of Buddhism) of having been shaped by the extremely accommodating
inclusive Buddhist religious culture. Tamil and Muslim minorities have lived in
peaceful harmony with the majority community for the last one thousand years of
the country’s long history. No religious culture in the world better
accommodates diverse other religions and allows them to coexist with it in
complete freedom and safety than the Sinhalese Buddhist culture.
Therefore the reality is that there is no widespread racism or
religious bigotry in Sri Lanka as alleged by SM. This false charge of racism
and religious bigotry arose principally because some young Buddhist monks and
lay persons who decades ago became aware of the unacceptable activities of
certain extremist religious groups funded from abroad, started peacefully
protesting against them, and appealed to the authorities (of the government and
the Mahanayake officialdom). These activities include forced conversions,
vandalizing and encroachment of ancient Buddhist places of worship, and other
alleged hostile acts against Buddhists. The fundamentalist groups have been a
problem to traditional Muslim and Christian mainstreams as much as to Buddhists
and Hindus. Politicians in power have to date avoided getting involved in
finding solutions to this problem because they fear unpopularity among minority
voters who are under the sway of certain communalistic minority politicians who
themselves succumb to the secret coercion of the few fundamentalist elements
usually sponsored from moneyed sources abroad. Money and media have turned
these monks into terrorists and lawless mischief-makers. Had they had been
taken seriously, the April 21 tragedies last year would have been avoided.
(These are not frivolous assertions; they are based on evidence as can be found
by anyone interested enough.)
Racism and bigotry charges against Buddhists are being
repeated with increasing vehemence these days, partly because general elections
are in the offing. This has also been indirectly triggered by extremists
exploiting the fact that restrictions imposed by health authorities on the
performance of last rites and disposal of dead bodies of Covid-19 victims in
accordance with WHO guidelines have touched a raw nerve among people of
different religious faiths experiencing bereavement. In some countries these
restrictions can be and are relaxed or modified without violating the mandatory
precautions prescribed (eg., as to the mode of disposal: burial or cremation)
given available options; but where Sri Lanka is concerned, choices are
extremely limited. That situation should not be interpreted as discrimination
against the adherents of a particular religious persuasion. But political
opportunists cash in on those unalterable circumstances. Opportunistic Muslim
politicos do this because there is no real ‘ethno-religious cauldron in Sri
Lanka’ for them to benefit from.
The tragic plight of the real victims of these offences is
that they get labelled as the offenders around the world through false
propaganda, and their cries of protest are not heard even in the mainstream
media.
Medhananda did not hold back his
archaeological findings, hoping some day to put it all into one magnificent
book. He wanted to communicate his findings to the public as soon as
possible. Therefore he wrote up his
archaeological findings in newspapers and periodicals as soon as he could.
For each
exploration he gave directions of how to get there, described the geography and history of the place, and then
listed the structures and objects found,
such as the remains of Buddha statues, stupa, pilimage, siripatul, and displaced objects such as columns, bricks and of course, the
inscriptions found there, the main focus of all
Medhananda explorations.
The first
recorded newspaper article was in Silumina”
on 7.4.1960. He continued to write for
newspapers and his biography (2008) lists a contribution to Lankadeepa” on
26.9.2007. Medhananda biographer has
managed to collect and list 636 contributions to newspaper and magazines,
dating from 1960- 2007, but this is an
incomplete list. Medhananda is still
writing.
I have collected a lot of little known information
after spending 15 years on archaeological explorations, said Medhananda, ‘assak
mullaka nara avidimin’. They were published in Budusarana”, Davasa”,
Divaina” and Lankadeepa’. Divaina” had a weekly column written by me, encouraged and supported by Divaina editor
Edmund Ranasinghe. Medhananda wrote to “Divaina” for four years, with
special focus on the Buddhist remains
in north and east.
Some of these writings
had an immediate impact. Medhananda wrote an article on Muhudu Maha
Vihara in Pottuvil to the Sinhala newspapers and thereafter the Archeological Department
took over the place. His writings to periodicals such as‘Sastrodaya’”
and Rasavahini” also had an impact.
Medhananda has written 43 books as at 2008. Medhananda’s
most significant books are Nagenahira
palata ha uturu palate Sinhala Bauddha Urumaya” and ‘Magama rajadhaniya’. His
book ‘Nagenahira palata ha uturu palate Sinhala Bauddha Urumaya won the State
Literary award in 2005. It has gone
into 5 reprints. His book on king Valagamba
was published by the Department of Cultural Affairs.
Mahagama rajadhaniya” was first published in 1970. I first wrote on Ruhuna to
Sastrodaya and then Rasavahini magazines, said Medhananda . They were well received. So I thought of
writing this book,. He has been supported in this by fellow bhikkhus. In the
book he thanks Napawela Soratha, Kiriella Gnanawimala, Mapote Chandajothi, for
their help and encouragement. Medhananda
revised his views on the Mahagama
kings when he discovered more
inscriptions. He published a revised version in 2012.
Medhananda’s book Sangavunu aithihasika puda bim” was first published 1999, second edition
2014. In this book Medhananda described the unknown viharas across the island,
explored by him. He gave the history of these viharas, the archaeological
remains found there, the significance of these remains and the content of the
inscriptions found there.
In his introduction to ‘Sangavunu aithihasika
puda bim”, Medhananda said, I have explored and examined the Buddhist remains
in various difficult places (dushkara) and have written on them giving description and
history of the places. I have written thousands of these accounts. I have been asked
by many to collect them into a book. 10% of the royalties from this book will
go for bank deposits for children, he added.
He also wrote ‘Aprakata brahmi lipi ha pura vastu,’
‘Kavantissa rajatuma ha Vihara maha Devi,” “Dutugemunu maha rajatuma,
and ‘ Dutugemunu rajatumage dasa maha
yodayo”, followed by Aithihasika Digavapiya”, and Aitihasika Situlpawwa’. He
wrote several books about Buddhist remains in north and east. Two of these
books are, ‘Utura negenhira hela bodu urumaya,” and Nagenahira palate vinasayata yana pura
vastu”
Medhananda has contributed to ‘Uva vansa
katava,’ and ‘Uva Vihara Vansaya’, both published by Uva Provincial Council and
‘Mahaweli vansaya’, published by Mahaweli Ministry.
Medhananda has visited and written up the
history of several forest monasteries, such as Buddhangala, Budugallena, Karandahela, Kudimbigala,
Malayadikanda, Nimalava, Piyangala,
Ritigala, Samangala and Tarulengala. The booklets were given to the temples to
sell.
Some of these histories were written at the request
of the chief priest of the temple. Ven. Tambugala Anandasiri, when he was at
Kudimbigala vihara, requested Medhananda to come there and write a historical
account of Kudimbigala. Others were explored and written up on Medhananda own
initiative.
In 1978 he went to Piyangala, wrote about it,
gave the book to Piyangala to sell, and also arranged for Piyangala monastery
to get dana regularly. Budugallena had not been studied before, said Medhananda. Medhananda’s book on Buddhangala went into 10
reprints. Tarulenhela monastery is the
old Habutagala vihara built by Kavantissa, said Medhananda. (continued)
In
regard to the passage of the 19 Amendment to the Constitution of
Sri Lanka there are still key questions lingering. The highest Court of
the Island in its determinations made it abundantly clear that the proposed
changes need to go before a Referendum. But the government of
Ranil Wickremasinghe and TNA used back-door tactics to pass it on the floor of
the House. The former Speaker Mr Karu Jayasuriya gave his
stamp of approval to make it into law.
Did
speaker ignore the court determinations? From where did he derive
the Constitutional power to do so?
GENERAL
ELECTION:
The
current Election Commission has repeatedly failed to conduct the elections on
time. For the past four and half years, they have been paid their
salaries and emoluments in full by the State. They were employed for the
sole and exclusive purpose of organising and the conducting elections at
the appropriate time, as an Independent Institution.
In
most recent situations, the Elections Commission on 19 March, 2020
postponed the elections date without announcing an alternative date.
On
3 April, the Election Commission took an unusual and unwarranted action of
writing to the President of Sri Lanka, recommending him to seek Supreme Court
advise to seek an alternative date or MAKE ALTERNATIVE. ( It is
presumed MAKE ALTERNATIVE” meaning recalling the old Parliament!).
After the EC was told by the Presidential Secretariat to do his job as per its
mandate, few days later the EC, on its own, fixed 20 June as the new date.
It
is interesting that Mr Sumanthiran sought an injunction from the Supreme Court
to issue a restraining order on the EC to refrain from issuing preferential
numbers for the candidates. The Court disallowed the application
and took the position that the EC is free to make a decision.
The
EC on this matter had two options: 1. To take necessary steps to continue
administrative matters to conduct the election. 2. To delay taking any
further actions until the final determinations by the Court.
The
EC took the second option. Did EC jump the Gun or shot itself in the
foot?
Quarantined Dr.Nachiar Thondaman pens a touching letter to her dead father, the noted Sri Lankan political leader Arumugan Thondaman
Colombo, June 2 (DBSJeyaraj.com): Dr. Nachiar Thondaman working in a middle-eastern country is the eldest daughter of Ceylon Workers; Congress (CWC) Leader and Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister Arumugan Thondaman who passed away on May 26, 2020. She arrived in Colombo days ago but is undergoing quarantine in accordance with anti-COVID health procedures. Unable to participate in her father’s funeral, Dr. Nachiar took to the pen and wrote down her random thoughts as a letter to him in a bid to cope with her personal tragedy. By doing so, she has revealed the softer side of Arumugan who has a tough strong man image due to his style of politics. A part of this letter was read out by her brother Jeevan at Thondaman’s funeral. Here is the letter in full:
Dear Father,
How are you doing? It has been days since I got that dreaded call and found out that you had left us. After hours of travel and endless tears, I eagerly reached home only to be quarantined. Every day I see what this disease can do, and how many lives it has taken, however my irrational anger is deafened by my duty as a doctor.
I believe we have to do all that it takes to get through this as a nation and I applaud the government for its efforts to contain this pandemic. Although, as a daughter who has just lost her precious father, I am angered. I want to be with you now but I am forced to contain my grief behind a mask and four walls. I battle this out only to find that there is no correct answer. I should do what is right and that is my duty. I know you agree with me.
I was annoyed when you were a stereotypical father who expected his eldest daughter to become a doctor. I fought with you several times when I had consecutive night shifts and couldn’t meet you due to the same and missed out on multiple family gatherings. Being a young and inexperienced intern at that time, I blamed it all on you.
As I grew, I met my second love – Emergency Medicine, but my first love is of course your son-in law, who is grieving by himself miles away. The special bond that you both shared irked me because I didn’t want my husband to be as close to you as I was. I have to tone down on this possessiveness. I will save that story for another day.
Arumugan Thondaman with wife Rajapakshmi and first born Nachiar
I began to love working in Emergency Medicine and I was blessed with wonderful mentors. The roles had reversed now and you were saying See Nachi, this is all because I made you study medicine”.
Yes, you did dad, you already saw the purpose of my life. All the insignificant fights we have had are meaningless now. I realize now what an opportunity you have given me to help this world at this critical time.
I read articles on your impressive political career and the strong figure that you were. Growing up in boarding schools didn’t give us the opportunity to spend as much time with you as we would have liked, but you never let us feel that void.
I also want people to know how much you enjoyed going to amusement parks with us as we nervously watched you go on the roller coasters like an excited child. You celebrated all our birthdays like it was an annual festival so much so that our 6th grade friends still speak about it. You gave us a childhood that was unforgettable. As we grew from being kids to teenagers you went from father to friend. You always said Nachi, there is only a 20-year gap between us (he had me when he was 21).
Arumugan Thondaman with his two daughters,son Jeevan and gran daughter Maya
Also when I announced I was pregnant with Maya, my first born, I will never forget your reaction- Nachi I’m not ready to be a grandfather yet! But what a loving and wonderful grandfather you were.
I miss your laughter the most. You laughed at your own jokes and would repeat it 3 times until we laughed and gave you the approval that it was humorous.
Father, you were the mountain that shielded me from this harsh world.Where do I look for the strength to get through your passing?
I am afraid to answer calls from friends and family and grieve your loss. It is suddenly all too real.
Arumugan Thondaman at the wedding of daughter Dr.Nachiar
My heart longs to be around you, touch you and hold your cold hands as I see you lying there motionless in every picture. I get scared of the people coming in large numbers to pay their respects to you because of the Pandemic we are facing and constantly message my siblings to prevent large crowds gathering as it may pose a health hazard. I wonder how my little brother and sister are coping without me but I live in the faith that you and my Aiyah” (great grandfather) are watching over them. I wonder if you can hear my cries and know that I want to make peace with you? I will let you go only when I can.
I feel your presence with every waking day and I am trying hard to process your absence one day at a time. I want to hold you tight and tell you I will take care of everything from this moment. Please sleep peacefully dear father and don’t worry about a thing anymore. You deserve to finally rest. You have worked harder than anybody I know. I will love you forever.
I hope you don’t have to wear a mask to wherever you are going because I know you would have hated it.
Love,
Nachiar Your favourite child (Its true!)
(The featured image at the top shows Arumugan Thondaman with daughters Nachiar, Vijayalakshmi and son Jeevan)
Four new cases of Coronavirus have been identified increasing the total number of confirmed cases reported in the country to 1,653.
Meanwhile the number of new cases reported within today (02) has reached 10.
This includes a total of 07 navy personnel from Iranamadu, Kalpitiya and Mulankavil quarantine centres.
The other three include a close associate of a navy sailor who is also from the Kalpitiya quarantine centre, a returnee from Dubai who is in Giragama quarantine centre and a returnee from Russia who is currently in Pitipana quarantine centre.
The total number of Covid-19 cases reported in the country thus far has risen to 1,653.
A total of 819 patients with virus are currently under medical care while 823 have recovered so far.
Printing of ballot papers for the General Election 2020 was commenced from today (02), the Government Printer, Gangani Kalpana Liyanage said.
Over 17 million ballot papers are due to be printed for the upcoming election.
The printing of ballot papers is expected to be completed as soon as possible despite issues of employee attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government Printer said.
Meanwhile, the Elections Commission is to hold a special meeting tomorrow (03) to discuss the preliminary matters related to holding the general election.
However, Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya stated that a final decision on the election date would not be arrived at, at this meeting.
The Supreme Court has refused to grant leave to proceed with the Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the date set by the Elections Commission for the General Election.
The consideration of the petitions which lasted over a period of 10 days came to a conclusion last evening (01) and the court’s decision was set to be announced today (02).
Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya stated that the initial objections raised by the respondent party regarding the petitions have been rejected by the majority of the five-member judge bench.
Accordingly, all Fundamental Rights petitions filed with this regard will be dismissed without being taken up for hearing.
The petitions were heard before the Supreme Court’s five-member judge bench consisting of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, and Vijith Malalgoda.
Seven parties including Attorney at Law Charitha Gunaratne, Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), and Journalist Victor Ivan, Samagi Jana Balawegaya filed Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the election date set by the Elections Commission.
The Attorney General, on behalf of the President, Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, and Members of the Commission N. J. Abeysekara and Ratnajeevan Hoole have been named as respondents of the petition.
International news of CNN published that China is becoming to replace the USA in international aid, the total Chinese aid from the year 2000 to 2014 was US $ 354 billion of which a quantum of aid has gone to African nations where combinedly received the US $ 32 billion for 704 projects. Many African countries with rich mining resources were under the rule of European countries, which indiscriminately exploited them but never provided such huge economic supports. An assistant professor of Politics at the University of British Columbia University found in research that Chinese aid was more attractive to developing countries because no political strings attached Chinese aid which quickly and efficiently disbursed than the assistance from Western nations.
The current Chines Leader Xi Jinping
initiated many changes in the Chinese economy after the election to the
leadership in 2012 and China’s party conference, Mr. Xi Jinping indicated that
his willingness to opening its economy further to the world and CNN pointed out
that Huge sums are also expected to be channeled into Xi’s grand plan for
building up roads, ports and other infrastructure along the historic silk
road” trading routes across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Dubbed the belt and road
initiative it aims to create a growing trade network with China at its heart.”
China has played a critical role in
the Asian region’s economic development and the growth objectives of all
countries in the region are being dependent on the Chinese economy because
China has involved in trade with all countries.
Sri Lanka had a close relationship with China for a long period and the
relationship had a broader feature such as religious, cultural exchanges, and
the supports for infrastructure development of the country. The impartial American analysis is that
Chinese aid supported to a 0.4% increase in world economic growth. Many developing countries concerned about the
effects of Western aid in pushing for political reforms.
People in Sri Lanka observed that
after the defeat of the Rajapaksa regime in 2015 Western nations push for a new
constitution, the abolition of the power of the elected president, and changing
the election system in the country. The advice directed to Sri Lanka after 2015
created a constitutional mess and the court system has become one of the
justice systems that involved in jurisdiction matters of inutile case
hearing.
The experience after the local
government election in 2018 showed that the 19th amendment to the constitution
made under the advice of the Western countries pushed Sri Lanka into a
political and administrative mess.
People of Sri Lanka do not like such a by force pushing to change the
political system. As impartial American analysis indicates Chinese supports is
significant to lift the economic growth to more than 7%. During the Rajapaksa regime, China helped Sri
Lanka to maintain a higher economic growth but under the Sirisena
-Wickramasinghe regime the growth has declined to 3.2%.
The Western rulers in Sri Lanka bought
democratic political principles to the country but they were unable to win the
hearts of people as the motives of Western rulers involved in a secret agenda
destroying the religious and cultural values of the country, which were rooted
in Sri Lanka’s society during many centuries.
One of the examples that people did not trust in the Western values was
the story written by Lenard Wolf in the Village in the Jungle. Lenard Wolf, who was a British administrator
in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, clearly indicated how the democratic
justice system of Western rulers did work against the poor Sri Lankans. Justice means justice which should be equal
to everybody but the British justice system has failed to give justice to a
poor person.
The democratic values bought to Sri
Lanka were vital to changing society.
Despite the purpose of democratic values, Western rulers attempted to
interpret values in different ways and used the values to divide society. Western rulers in Sri Lanka did not support
for achieving the dream of people. It seems that people of Sri Lanka would
never see Western democratic philosophy as a superior doctrine and many views
that democratic philosophy divided the unity of the country and deranged the
community. A former Indian foreign
secretary commented in a book written by him that the last period of civil war
in the country, Norway wanted to stop the killing of Prabhakaran and allow the
terrorist leader to kill more people in the country. Many occasions Western countries promised to
provide financial support for the economic revival of Sri Lanka but they never
provided support as promised.
During the 2015 election, Mr. Ranil
Wickramasinghe who strongly opposed to Chinese assistance and later people saw
that he was bow down to China looking for assistance. Some English journalists
in Sri Lanka were of opinion that Mr. Wickramsinghe’s hate speeches against
Chinese aid and China caused many negative consequences to Sri Lanka after the
2015 elections. After the election results, many Chinese aid projects were
halted by the new government, and several big projects were later changed as
the way China wanted.
During the Korean boom Sri Lanka had
an opportunity to manage a good trade balance but when the boom ended the
country faced the most critical issues in the economy. It had an excess production of rubber and a
shortage of staple food rice. At that
time. China embarked on Sri Lanka as a survivor of the economy through China Sri
Lanka rubber rice pact, which was initiated by RG Senanayake despite the opposition
of JR Jayawardene within the cabinet.
Many Western countries or India did not come to help Sri Lanka during
that difficult period. People cannot blame to India as it had many problems
with a higher population. In the late 1990s prof. Dudley Seers severely
criticized the China-Ceylon Rubber Rice Pact and gave a very bad picture of the bilateral agreement.
Since the China-Sri Lanka rubber rice
pact, which was a bilateral aid agreement, China extended supports to Sri Lanka
in a variety of aid packages and India looked at them with a negative point of
view because Indian attitudes towards neighboring countries were based on
hegemony rather than friendship and coexistence between countries. It may
influence international politics. Under the administration of the current prime
minister in India, the attitudes of foreign policymakers toward neighboring
countries wanted to change but it does not appear that India has radically
changed its attitudes toward neighbors. However, after the election of Mr.Gotabaya
Rajapaksa, India has made an innate change toward the style of administration
of Sri Lanka.
When a country is seeking economic
supports from another country it needs understanding that the supports are
successfully working and sustain if it contains mutual benefits to both
countries. When Sri Lanka seeks supports
from China Sri Lanka needs support to China in return for the benefits gain. A traditional Sinhala saying was that if anyone
drank water from a river and attempt to praise the ocean for that advantage
gained it is not the way of expressing gratitude. The experience in Sri Lanka shows that it
obtained support from China in many instances but the country did not attempt
to express the gratitude in right ways.
For example, after the civil war, Sri Lanka faced a grave international
situation with human rights issues and war crimes investigations.
When the
country was in a difficult time after ending the civil war, the Rajapaksa
regime was given strong support by China and Russia, if a situation to let down
Sri Lanka arose, both countries promised to exercise their power, most probably
veto power against the international attempts to condemn Sri Lanka. India
was also concerned about the international developments against Sri Lanka which
might later direct to India too. However, the election campaign in 2015 was
manipulated to a hidden motivation of international forces against China, but
the frustrated domestic politicians got caught to international forces with
knowing or without knowing of undisclosed hidden objectives of foreign
forces. The politics of the domestic
front to defeat the Rajapaksa regime was formed by an unholy collision with
contradictory hidden objectives, and they used to criticize China against the
Rajapaksa regime in the political platform.
That was the mistake that the yahapalana regime was done during the
election period in 2015.
Current
Sri Lanka’s economy has gone to backwardness in many areas such as foreign
assets, international trade, employment generation, inflation, interest rate,
poverty, and many other areas. The live television shows indicate that people
were demanding the government to reduce inflation and reliefs for day to day difficulties. The president and the prime minister of the
current regime need to tell the truth to people. The Public might disappoint on
the condition created by the COVID pandemic and they should understand that the
president or the prime minister cannot order economic growth or to reduce the
prices of goods and services or to away the corona pandemic they are an effect
on the market process.
The
solution to this backwardness is increasing the pace of economic growth and
current Sri Lanka needs injecting the US $ 100 billion or more to the economy
during the next ten years, however, the economy of the country has no such a
capacity and the COVID pandemic has flattened the incoming flow of foreign
exchange to the country. Many political reforms, which were taken after 1980
increased spending, which was covered by corruption in previous regimes and no
gains received from such spending.
China
provides about the US $ 400 billion foreign assistance to 140 countries it is
obvious from current international aid statistics that Sri Lanka cannot get a
large sum of cash aid from China during the next 10 years, but Sri Lanka can
share this requirement with China using non-cash supports opening the country
to Chinese investments in private business and the government sector.
Many cash
assistance needs to pay back and it would impact the repayment capacity of the
country. The attraction of cash and
another form of loan for investments have a positive impact on debt services.
The policymakers of Sri Lanka need to understand how a country could get
supports from China without going into a debt trap. There are many techniques,
which could be used to avoid the debt burden to the country, however, Sri Lanka
needs to get assistance from China without gaining debt burdens.
Sri Lanka
urgently needs Chinese helps for several vital areas. Tourism development based on cultural and
religious-based would enhance foreign exchange earning quickly, however, there
are several barriers in the area. When
there is a feeling about the risk of movement, the motivation for travel may be
a downward trend. To deal with this trend the government needs to obtain
support from the Chinese government to encourage tourists from China to Sri
Lanka.
Tourism
has identified as an effective to foreign exchange earnings and employment
generation, nevertheless, the tourism sector suffered from constraints of
planning and investments because the policymakers are lacking knowledge and
skills in planning sectoral policies to competitively improve the
industry. The tourist arrivals from
China should be annually increased to 5 million. The current economic trend in the region
shows that this is an achievable target with many improvements in the sector
with supports of China, the industry needs direct injections of ideas to
attract people and investment should be cooperative with China sharing the
benefits to both sides. To attract tourists from China and the inflow of
investment need changes in the style of business management.
The
government may be looking for cash injections like how did Gorbachev seek cash
when the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, it would not happen. Sri Lanka needs broad support from China to
make a positive impact on society.
Sri Lanka
requires tourism sector employees with the ability to speak in the Chinese
language. Chinese tourists are not concerned about the English language and
want to converse with their language.
Although Sri Lankans treat English as superior Chinese tourists don’t
care about it. Educating the Chinese language to the Sri
Lankan tourism sector employees is an essential condition to attract tourists
from China while expanding tourism infrastructure, which needs large scale
hotels as well as many medium-sized and small hotels. The revenue of tourists
is the major factor in selecting residence and usually people tours once in
three years or four years. Chinese
tourists like the place where they visit, if places have an environment with a
Chinese style speaking in Mandarin language, opportunities with light gambling
services, leisure activities, good security, excellently clean services in a
residential environment. Many residential services in the tourism industry in
Sri Lanka have no clean environment.
Sri Lanka
has thousands of religious places related to all religions and they need to
organize and develop as shrines and worshiping places to domestic and foreign
tourists. Many religious administrators have no clear understanding of the
management of places the management of the environment, religious programs and
finance, and many matters. The most significant characteristic of Shinto
Buddhism in Japan is to maintain a very clean attractive place to visitors of
the shrines bring them the second time.
It needs training in religious administrators. The best example for this is Japan how they
use shrines as an attractive place for tourists. Although these activities are costly, they
will generate a massive volume of employment for the country.
The other
essential requirement is the abolition or reduction of the charges for a
tourist visa to US$10 for 30 days period because Sri Lanka needs to maintain
the sustainability of the industry rather than exploiting tourists. As a result
of radical changes in the tourism industry, the country can increase tourist
arrivals from China to five million annually during the next ten years.
Without
cash injecting into the economy of Sri Lanka, China can encourage its business
community to invest in Joint ventures in Sri Lanka. The concept of joint ventures directly helps
Sri Lankans to learn business management and the application of
technology. The process should not be
limited to a specific area of the country.
There are
potentials to develop joint ventures for agriculture, industry, construction,
and services, and the investment ratio in a joint venture should be limited to
or specified to a ratio identified by the government. Chinese investors can
offer shares of the business to Sri Lankan and convert the business project to
joint ventures. This type of investment
would not affect the debt level of the country and the government’s role is to
protect such ventures and liberalize to control the repatriation of earned
profits.
The
current government of Sri Lanka has no intention to make serious damage to the
port and industrial park developments initiated during the Rajapaksa regime
before 2015. It is quite clear that Sri Lanka would not gain any advantage
through impediments enforcing against Chinese investments. The country needs
investments from China and India. Both countries could offer supports to Sri
Lanka. Whichever the political party in
Sri Lanka needs understanding that short-term political rhetoric should not mix
with long-term economic development policies.
China has
effectively and massively engaged in economic development in the Asian region
without involving political or ideological differences. Chinese investments in Korea, Taiwan Vietnam,
Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines positively impacted economic
development and similar way Sri Lanka must allow Chinese investors to engage in
economic activities. In this way, Sri
Lanka should allow Chinese banks to open branches in Sri Lanka because the
baking system in the country has no sufficient capital to finance for foreign
investors. A massive volume of lending
capacity of trading banks in Sri Lanka stuck with non-performing credits to
government and private sectors, the saving capacity of Sri Lanka is not
sufficient to maintain required capital adequacy to make massive quantum of
investment finance. The basic incentive
to attract Chinese private investments is allowing Chinese banks to open
branches in Sri Lanka and allow such branches to attract deposits from Chines
people from all over the world. This strategy would massively increase foreign
exchange reserves supporting to increase and stabilize the international value
of Sri Lanka Rupee.
When the
market economic system began in 1978, Sri Lanka’s government allowed foreign
banks to open branches, despite the opposition directed by domestic banks for
paying interest on current account balances, liberalized credit conditions of
foreign banks, many American and European bank branches were opened but they
left the country after July riots in 1983.
Now Sri Lanka’s war is over, and there is a good environment for
investments despite the opposition to Chinese investments.
Do
Chinese investments limit to industrial activities? This is a critical question because of
political opinion concerns that investments in agriculture and plantation
industry should be in the hands of Sri Lankans, however, agriculture especially
the production of rice and agriculture-based industries such as sugar
production and many others desperately need modernization with new technology,
product invention and cost minimization with improved product qualities.
Agriculture and plantation industry alone could be double the production and
product quality if the right innovations and qualities applied, therefore, Sri
Lanka could massively improve agriculture and plantation sectors with Chinese
investments and need opening these two sectors for Chinese investment as joint
ventures.
Another four individuals have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Ministry of Health confirmed a short while ago.
The latest cases have been found among those who had returned from Bangladesh, according to the Department of Government Information.
Ten cases have been identified from the country so far today (01). Among them are 06 foreign returnees, 02 Navy personnel, and 02 close associates of Army personnel.
Accordingly, the total count of coronavirus cases in Sri Lanka is now at 1,643 cases with 821 of them still under medical care.
811 patients have been discharged from the relevant hospital after recovering.
A foreign returnee who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus had moved the COVID-19 case count in Sri Lanka to 1,634.
According to the Epidemiology Unit if the Health Ministry, 812 active cases of the coronavirus infection are currently under medical care at selected hospitals across the country.
Meanwhile, with 10 patients marking their recoveries today (01), the total tally of recoveries reported in the country has come to stand at 811 cases.
Sri Lanka witnessed its 11th death from the coronavirus this morning (01) as a 45-year-old male who had returned from Kuwait succumbed to the disease at the Homagama Hospital.
The Attorney General has instructed the Director of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to obtain a warrant and arrest the former OIC of the Welikada Police Station.
The Attorney General has instructed the CCD to obtain a warrant from a court to arrest the former Welikada OIC on charges of fabricating false evidence in the case filed over the accident involving former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka in Rajagiriya.
