By Captain Chandra Godakanda Arachchi, Gladstone LNG, Australia (Member of the Company of Master Mariners) Courtesy The Island

January 2, 2020, 6:13 pm

It’s just over two years since China Merchant’s Port Holding Company (CMPHC) leased Port of Hambantota for 99 years. China Merchant Port Holding owning eighty five per cent of the company whilst SLPA holding the remaining share of fifteen per cent. The Hambantota port under CMPHC has made significant strides during the past couple of years in terms of port utilisation in imports, vehicle transhipments to various other ports, ship repairs etc though local exports yet to get off the ground. It appears that CMPHC is planning different phases of port development quite rightly. With a few ships calling Hambantota now steadily, the Port intends to commence bunkering services early this year. It might be pleasing for the locals to witness Hambantota taking carefully measured steps for the business with CMPHC slowly establishing its credentials as a long-term player in the area which might see locals having their fair share of the pie in the business.

The Port of Colombo has come a long way from being a break bulk port until early 1980s, then starting its container loading and unloading of ships at QEQ (present SAGT) without any suitable equipment. It is a remarkable achievement when SLPA celebrated 7 million TEUS throughput in 2018 thanks to brave decisions taken by SLPA to develop South port. It is interesting to note that the Port of Colombo took off as a transhipment hub at a time when India was somewhat a closed economy. However much water has flowed under the bridge since then with Indian economy is entirely different, today. Colombo’s strategic location played a big part in achieving what has been achieved. Even today majority of Colombo’s transhipment business come from Indian cargo, but there is a risk looming in the horizon upon changes to ‘cabotage’ laws [which pertain to the right to operate sea, air, or other transport services within a particular territory], in India, which allows global mainliners to call Indian ports direct which were typically feeder ports from Colombo. Risk is in addition to changing shipping dynamics in the Indian Ocean in terms of emergence of regional ports other than Indian ports such as Djibouti and Gwadar. Therefore it is imperative that change its course from transhipment port to number one maritime hub in the Indian Ocean. However Colombo is restricted of further expansion beyond South port seaward or North also unavailability of suitable land closer to the port of for additional industries and services essential for a maritime hub.

Let’s see what’s might be required for Maritime hub in the Indian Ocean

* Transhipment hub for containers (Colombo might run out of capacity in the future)

* Modern Refinery, Maritime hub for oil and gas, LNG, sufficient storage capacity for different products

* LNG power generation including boil off gas as fuel gas from LNG tanks (associated with LNG imports)

* Logistic hub connecting Indian coast East and West, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Maldives and other islands, East African coast, Middle East, West coast Australia and rest of the world

* Flag of opportunity for ship registration, marina and Yacht registration (Merchant shipping act needs reviewing asap)

* Closer to maritime silk route

* Bunkering including offshore bunkering (need to streamline process to simple operation, not treating bunker barges as international trading ships)

* LNG bunkering

* Offshore supplies and crew changes (need to get rid of red tapes to peace time operation)

* Dry docking and heavy lifting capacity

* Safe anchorage throughout the year for various operations (SW monsoon is not ideal for Colombo)

* Reliable, fast safe boat service day and night

* International airport within a reasonable distance

* Selection of star hotels

* Suitable training centres for service personnel

* Most importantly no red tapes, no unnecessary holding or delays and professionalism from all stakeholders and operators

Colombo, being an established transhipment port, possesses many of aforementioned attributes, but major drawbacks are a modern refinery and storage tanks for transhipping, handling and exporting crude oil and products, LNG bunkering facilities. There isn’t any suitable land available even for building aforesaid facilities closer to the Colombo Port. Another aspect is container handling capacity. Colombo runs the risk of capacity running out even during current slow growth time in maritime transport in the region and, therefore, it is very much likely to run out of space when maritime transport really picks up in the future in the Asian region. It may not be possible to build another port north of the South port for a container terminal similar to the South port due environmental and various other operational reasons. Unless Colombo is determined to become the maritime hub in the Indian Ocean transhipment business too might drift away to the emerging maritime hub. The SLPA has been performing very well during the past three decades mainly with the transhipment business cash flow, royalties from CICT and SAGT etc, but in case the threat looming in the horizon (changes to Cabotage laws in India and emerging ports) becomes a reality, the SLPA might be struggling, also with extremely excessive employee numbers. The SLPA surely can utilise modern technology (example – Satellite technology for automated straddles for container loading on truck loading etc to minimise manpower) and divert manpower elsewhere.

In the meantime, the Port of Hambantota is in the process of transforming the business with the CMPHC—its two companies—got plans to develop the harbour in different phases yet with a minimum number of employees. There is no doubt the Port of Hambantota will receive overflow of transhipment business from Colombo, given that the CNPHC quite rightly commenced developing the harbour, knowingly that Hambantota was not in a position to travel much distance with the current facilities. Eventually Hambantota might extend the port outward seaward similar to South port though very much in a big way, for a planned maritime hub. Hambantota is better suited for safe anchorages throughout the year as the port is somewhat sheltered from both South West and North West monsoons. Hambantota, being closer to Maritime Silk Route than Colombo, is certainly an advantage for the ships as they can save time, money and fuel. Another advantage Hambantota posses is the extent of land available for development contracted to them—some 15,000 acres. In fact, the CMPHC has the capacity to embark on building infrastructure required for a maritime hub slowly but surely. Should it be challenged in future, perhaps Colombo shouldn’t be able to hold Hambantota from developing as it might not be within rules of fair competition and equal opportunity (remains to be seen). Removing of unnecessary obstacles should help CMPHC to develop not only the port to its potential but the whole District by setting up industries, which will generate lot of job opportunities for all walks of life for the locals and others alike. The Hambantota District, upon port development, is likely have all the facilities including top national and international schools, quality hospitals and all other needs including top quality recreational facilities. The Port of Hambantota has all that is required to be the Maritime Hub of the Indian Ocean within the next couple of decades.

Jayantha Samarakoon Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has found that three imported x-ray machines placed at the Apeksha Hospital at Maharagama had not been even opened for the past five years, hospital sources said.

The minister who was on an inspection tour to the hospital on January 1 had inquired as to why the three machines, which were imported at a cost of Rs.1,200 million, had been left idling.

The hospital management has said that the machines were imported in 2014 by the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government and therefore, the use of machines had been suspended.

A Hospital Director has said that a transformer was needed to put the machines in operation. He has informed the Minister that the previous government has failed to approve Rs.3.1 million to purchase the transformer.

Accordingly, the minister has taken steps to allocate the sum of Rs.3.1 million then and there and had instructed to operationalize the three machines before April for the benefit of the patients.

The Hospital Director has said there were two functioning x-ray machines already at the hospital but only 60 patients could receive their service on a daily basis.

It is learnt that with the operationalization of the new three machines, about 150 patients could be examined daily.

Apeksha Hospital Director Dr. Wasantha Dissanayake and the staff were present at the occasion. 

Dayasili Liyanage Courtesy The Daily Mirror

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed parliament authorities not to hold the guard of honour at today’s ceremonial opening of the Parliament.

It is traditional to hold the ceremonial guard of honour for the President at the ceremonial opening of the Parliament session.

It is reported that the rehearsals for the session have been cancelled on the directive of the President and he has instructed the authorities to hold the ceremony in a simple manner.

The President has also asked that no horse-riding groups be used for the event.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The government will not sign the MCC agreement as it is but will see the possibility of signing it if the four member expert committee recommends amendments to ensure the agreement does not pose any threat to the national security and the economy, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said.

Minister Semasinghe added that under no circumstances, the government would agree to the politically motivated conditions contained in the draft of the MCC agreement despite the fact that the previous government accepted it in to at the tail end of its tenure.

Addressing a hurriedly convened news briefing at the Finance Ministry, Minister Semasinghe said the SLPP never said that a government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would never sign the MCC.

Not President Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa or any other top leader of the SLPP said that we are fully opposed to the MCC. What they said was that we would not sign it with the current conditions and wanted to revisit it. The SLPP or the government’s policy is to revisit not only the MCC but ACSA and SOFA agreements also before taking a decision on the three agreements,” Minister Semasinghe stressed.

Commenting on the agreement signed by the government to lease out a plot of land with the extent three acres at the Galle face to Perennial Realities for US$ 250 million, Minister Semasinghe said it was not a sell out in anyway as the UNP led opposition tries to make out but a leasing of the land.

The negotiations were initiated by the yahapalana government in 2014 but failed whe various issued cropped up. We signed the lease agreement on extremely beneficial terms and US$ 250 million is a direct foreign investment,” he added.

Minister Semasinghe emphasized that President Rajapaksa or Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa would not have agreed to the leasing of the land if it is detrimental to the national interests. Besides, the US4 250 million is extremely necessary to improve Sri Lanka’s asset base.

Courtesy Ada Derana

The Sri Lankan government’s aim to kickstart its economy in 2020 will be eased with the fruition of major infrastructure projects, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, senior advisor on economic affairs to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, said on Thursday.

In an interview with Xinhua, the former Sri Lankan central bank governor, said that 2020 will be a year of opportunity for the country as well as domestic and international investors as many long-gestating infrastructure projects will be nearing completion.

We have a great opportunity because our transport and telecommunications infrastructure are at a very high level. Our workers are well educated and our business laws are up to international standards,” Cabraal said.

I think the stage is set for a wave of growth in Sri Lanka and we are excited for investors to make use of this opportunity,” he added.

Cabraal said that formulating the legislative framework for investment in Port City Colombo, whose 269 hectares of land reclaimed from the sea was gazetted as part of the District of Colombo in late 2019, would be a vital policy priority this year.

He added that a cabinet-approved working committee appointed to review and accelerate the joint-venture between China Harbor Engineering Corporation and Sri Lanka Ports Authority has been instructed to deliver results as soon as possible to provide clarity for investors.

We are very keen for the basic legal structures around land ownership and alienation to be set in place as soon as possible so that investors can start coming in,” said Cabraal.

Cabraal also said that Hambantota Port, which reported 60 percent growth in shipment volumes in 2019, is one of the most important and strategic assets for the country and that the government is keen for the port to play a leading role in the economy in 2020.

The potential in Hambantota has always been extremely high and this needs to be recognized and worked towards so that the port can be a driving force in the future of the Sri Lankan economy.”

Operated by Hambantota International Ports Group, a joint venture between China Merchants Port Holdings and Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the port is expected to see further growth this year with the further development of bunkering facilities and a 15,000-acre industrial zone.

Cabraal said that infrastructure investments under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative have created great opportunities for developing countries.

He added that there were opportunities for Chinese companies to further invest in hospitality, healthcare, sports, outsourcing to make use of Sri Lanka’s location, climate and labor capacity.

Sri Lanka is open for business. We hope that through partnerships Chinese businesses can come to Sri Lanka so that local businesses will prosper too.”

Cabraal said that he was optimistic about Sri Lanka’s potential to meet an ambitious growth target of 6 percent in 2020.

The most important priority for the government in 2020 is to kickstart economic growth. That will help bring the rest of the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals to normal levels,” said Cabraal.

Source: Xinhua

-Agencies

Courtesy Ada Derana

Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake says a strong United National Party (UNP) that can score a people’s victory in 2020 will be formed soon.

Speaking to media joining an event organized to clean schools in Colombo North and Bloemendhal area for the new school term, the former Minister pointed out that there are various rumors of crises within the UNP.

However, if such crises or issues exist, they shouldn’t be something that is discussed anywhere and everywhere, he added.

Stating that issues cannot be resolved alone, Karunanayake says that this issue should be resolved internally and by discussing it with all members of the party.

Karunanayake said, This is the biggest lesson we could learn from the Rajapaksas. They planned towards their victory since the day they lost. We should make an example of it.”

He says that the main reason behind the UNP’s defeat is the selfish acts of several people within the party.

He further said that they will work to take the party towards victory by correcting this situation.

Courtesy Hiru News

The Leader of Pivituru Hela Urumaya, Udaya Gammanpila testified before the Presidential Commission probing the Easter Sunday attacks this morning.

He appeared before the commission for the first time.

Earlier, Colombo Arch Bishop, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith also appeared before the Commission on December 6

Courtesy Hiru News 

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathna rejected a motion which was filed by the lawyers of remanded former SPC chairman Rumi Mohamed to make submissions intending to obtain bail today.

The Magistrate informed Mohamed’s lawyers to make such submissions when the suspect is produced before Court on January 6th.

Rumi Mohamed is in remand in connection with paying 2 million rupees to the two suspects, who are also in remand in connection with the so-called white van media conference.

Meanwhile, MP Rajitha Senarathna who was remanded in connection with the white van media conference and received bail later is still staying at Lanka Hospital in Narahenpita.

Two days after the arrest warrants were issued on MP Senarathna in connection with the white van media conference, he admitted himself to the ICU and, the Magistrate observed him in hospital.

Later, he was remanded until December 30th.

Later, prison officials visited Lanka Hospital to escort the MP either to the prison hospital or the Colombo National hospital after the prison doctor recommended to do so.

However, Lanka hospital authorities did not allow prison officials to remove the MP.

Meanwhile, MP Rajitha Senarathna was granted bail on December 26 and, he was transferred to a General Ward yesterday.

MPs Ravi Karunanayake,  Rauff Hakeem and former general secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake visited Senarathna at Lanka Hospital today.

In addition, addressing a media conference held in Colombo today, SLPP MP Piyal Nishantha stated that it is a cause for concern that the lawyer appearing on behalf of MP Rajitha Senerathne has stated that his client has no faith in government hospitals, even though the MP served as the former minister of Health for 4 and half years and continuously publicized receiving numerous awards as one of the best health ministers of the world.

The SLPP MP further added that the MP’s supporters were responsible for bringing low quality medicine and medical equipment to the country

Courtesy Hiru News

Project director of the Moragahakanda Multi-Purpose Project DB Wijerathna says that nobody wants to create any fear about the reported leak in the dam.

Earlier, the HIRU CIA program revealed a water leak in the upper area of the main dam of the reservoir.

The workers and the security guards had informed about the water leak as the reservoir reached maximum capacity following heavy rains in the last few weeks.

The main dam has been built by merging 25-meter cement cubic blocks and the ongoing investigations reveal that the leak is reported between two such blocks.

Meanwhile, the National Organizer of the All Ceylon Farmers Federation, Namal Karunarathna says that the reported water leak in the dam should not be taken for granted.

He says a report from an international experts group should be called in this regard.

උපුටා ගැන්ම හිරු නිව්ස්

මාධ්‍යවේදී ප්‍රගීත් එක්නැලිගොඩ අතුරුදන්වීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක අත්අඩංගුවට ගත යුතු බව මව්බිම වෙනුවෙන් රණවිරුවෝ සංවිධානය පවසනවා.

ඒ කොළඹ අපරාධ කොට්ඨාශය හමුවේ ප්‍රකාශයක් ලබාදීමෙන් අනතුරුව අද මාධ්‍ය වෙත අදහස් දක්වමින්.

එම සංවිධානයේ කැඳවුම්කරු විශ්‍රාමික මේජර් අජිත් ප්‍රසන්න එහි කැඳවා තිබුණේ ප්‍රගීත් එක්නැලිගොඩ අතුරුදන්වීමේ සිද්ධිය සම්බන්ධයෙන් පොලිස් මූලස්ථානයට කළ පැමිණිල්ලකට අදාළවයි.

උපුටා ගැන්ම හිරු නිව්ස්

රාජිත සේනාරත්න පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රීවරයා රඟ දක්වන නාඩගම අවසන් කිරීමට රජය කටයුතු කළ යුතු බව ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණ පවසනවා.

කොළඹ පැවති ප්‍රවෘත්ති සාකච්ඡාවකදී පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී පියල් නිශාන්ත මහතා මේ බව සඳහන් කළා.

උපුටා ගැන්ම හිරු නිව්ස්

පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී රාජිත සේනාරත්න මහතාට ඇප ලැබීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් අදත් විවිධ පාර්ශ්ව අදහස් පළ කළා.

KAMALIKA PIERIS

Several external agencies were supporting the LTTE during the Eelam wars. UNICEF had links with LTTE. UNICEF staffers in Sri Lanka were found to be working with the LTTE.   UNICEF in     2007 had imported 6000 ready to eat meal packs and it was suspected that this was for the LTTE. Head of the UN Children’s Fund at Kilinochchi   had linked with the LTTE and was moved out of Sri Lanka.   Therefore foreign assistance to the separatist north is nothing new.

There was considerable foreign assistance to get the North back on its feet after the Eelam war. Many countries offered support. They included Australia, European Union, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Norway, UK, also UN agencies such as ILO, UNDP, the World Bank and several NGOs. Here are some examples of foreign assistance.

Since 2009, Australia has provided more than AUD250 million to support the reconstruction of conflict-affected communities in the North and East.Australian support has included housing and local infrastructure construction, de-mining, education, and a wide range of economic and business activities. Resettled families in Valikamam North, had benefited from the Australia – World Bank ‘North East Local Services Improvement Programme’

 Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on a pipe-borne water provision project was signed in 2018 between the District Secretariat of Jaffna, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Jaffna, and World Vision Lanka (WVL).The project will provide household level pipe-borne water to Sarasalai North Grama Niladhari division in Chavakachcheri, an area faced with critical water related issues. This will benefit88 households, (nearly 350 individuals including 110 children) with water connections. The project is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia. The project so far has given access to safe drinking water & sanitation and promoted hygiene practices among rural people in the two DS Divisions of Chavakachcheri and Chankanai.

Australia has provided the funds to the IOM to restore critical fishing infrastructure in the Jaffna peninsula. The reconstructed anchorage will allow full access to the sea at any time.

The European Union set up a Support to District Development Programme (EU-SDDP). This was a 60-month Programme funded by the European Union aimed at assisting Sri Lanka to make a transition from post-conflict assistance to reconstruction and development. 

There were six implementing agencies of this Programme, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and International Finance Corporation (IFC). The programme was to support the conflict-affected districts of Batticaloa, Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Monaragala, Anuradhapura and Puttalam impacting half a million people.  Its duration was 2012 – 2017.’

 This was not all. The EU and UNICEF was to provide a pediatric ward at the Mannar Divisional Hospital in Chilawathurai, a water supply scheme in Periyamadu East and the Gramodhaya Health Centre at Asikulam, Vavuniya. EU and UNRC handed over equipment to the Technical College of the Department of Technical Education and Training in Nelumkulum, Vavuniya District.

EU is helping Local Economic Development Centre and Economic Advisory Service unit at Venkalachedikulam. This is funded through EU-SDDP and implemented by UNDP. The EU-SDDP is also helping Vavuniya General Hospital through an UNOPS-implemented sewerage and waste water treatment facility, reported the media.

Further, EU will finance a Euro 14 million multi-faceted housing project, implemented by Habitat for Humanity and World Vision Lanka. The project aims to build 2,315 houses and repair 140 homes in 31 divisions across Batticaloa, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu by early 2020.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization. The organization serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender and has been in Sri Lanka since 1977. The organization has 45 programmes spread across 19 Districts in the country.

 The ‘Friends of Sri Lanka Group’ of the European Parliament under took a visit to the country from 2 to 6 January 2019.  The Friends of Sri Lanka Group since its inception in 2006 has been involved in the promotion of EU – Sri Lanka relations. The Friends last visited Sri Lanka in February 2016. “

During their visit, they went to Vavuniya and the Security Forces Commander / Wanni,    Maj. General Kumudu Perera briefed them on the work done by the army in aiding resettlement activities. They also met with the District Secretary  of Vavuniya, and visited a resettlement village in Sithampirapuram/ Vavuniya, where they engaged in an open dialogue with the inhabitants of the area.

Germany funded project to construct 10 wells in the Chettilukam division of Vavuniya. Sri Lanka German Training Institute SLGTI initiated by German development corporation GIZ   and co funded by government of Switzerland set  up a training centre at Kilinochchi.. It will function under NAITA.  Germany has also helped NAITA to set up a vocation training centre  at Kaithady, Jaffna.

India has provided a great deal of assistance to the north and east. In 2018 India issued a list of completed projects in Sri Lanka . The list went  like this, Northern Province 26, Central Province 11,    Eastern Province 10, Western Province 4, Southern Province 4, North Central Province 2, Uva 2, North Western Province 1, and  Sabaragamuwa 1.

India has granted Sri Lanka a credit line of US$ 45.27 million for financing the rehabilitation of the Kankesanturai harbor. This would make the harbour a full-fledged commercial port. This could be considered India’s most important contribution. India  also agreed to develop roads in Jaffna and Trincomalee .

In 2018 India  funded 50,000 houses in the country on a grant basis. Of these 46,000 went to the North and East and 4,000 to the upcountry. Another 10,000 houses have now been pledged to the hill country. India has  also agreed to provide Rs. 300 million to build 300 houses in the vicinity of the Madhu Church in Mannar, for the use of devotees and tourists.

 In 2018 India  also said it had  committed  4,000 houses in the Eastern Province. This is in addition to 42,000 houses built under grants by the Government of India in the North and 14,000 being built in the upcountry.  The government of India has constructed a total of 46,000 houses  and25 model villages consisting of 600 houses, said the media in 2019. 

India gave a grant assistance package of vehicles, equipment, machinery to the faculties of Agriculture and Engineering of Killinochchi Campus of University of Jaffna. The grant assistance package is worth SLR 90 million and is part of the SLR 600 million grant project to develop both faculties of the Universities.

In 2019 India and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Business Centre for ICT incubators/ accelerators in Jaffna with a grant of SLR 250 million from India. There is also an Indian funded English language lab in Jaffna.

India has provided a generous grant of Rs 1.7 billion to construct a Cultural centre in Jaffna district. It will be located adjoin the Jaffna Public Library. To help them reconnect with their cultural roots, and nurture the ancient cultural heritage of Jaffna

 In2016 Sri Lanka and India singed MOU to supply 150 boats and fishing equipment to fishermen of M Mullaitivu. In 2017 India gave Rs 300 million to construct 3000 rain water harvesting system in the Jaffna administration district. In 2018 India and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding  on a sanitation project under which 3400 toilets would be constructed in the Batticaloa District.  

Japan provided grants for two development projects to support livelihoods of agricultural community in Ampara and fishery community in Mannar, under the scheme “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Securities Project”.(GGP)

Japan is providing Rs 90 million for a project for livelihood assistance for those returning to their homes in north and east. About 60 pre-school children will also be provided an improved preschool education facility to enhance early education environment.

Japan will give US$ 86,358 (approx. Rs. 14.7 million) for “The Project for Constructing School Buildings for Resettled Children in Kilinochchi District” through  the GGP. Japan will  help in construction of two school buildings at Vembodukerny C.C.T.M School in Pachchilaipalli Division, Kilinochchi District. At present 214 students of grade 1 to 11 are studying at the school, however several classes are being conducted outside due to the shortage of classrooms.

The Project for the Economic and Social integration of the IDP returnees in Trincomalee District” is currently being implemented in Sampur, by Sevalanka Foundation with the Japanese Government ODA grant aid of US$93,022 (approx. Rs. 13.5 million) under this project. It will benefit 189 members of the Fishermens’ Society  by provision of fishing gear  and also by the construction of a fishermens’ facility and renovation of roads.    Japan  also handed over eight new fishing boats, engines, fishing nets and cooler boxes to the Sampur Fishermens’ Society. “

Korean International Cooperation Agency, (KOICA) is now on the third stage of the safe drinking water project for Mullaitivu, reported the media in 2019. It was a joint project with the NGO, ‘The Lamp’.

Norway is funding a two year project Mailaddy fisheries harbour, which will be renovated at a cost of Rs 400 million. Norway has already supported through UNDP Rs. 290 million to the newly resettled community in the Valalai and Thellipalai areas in Jaffna District and in the Sampoor area in Trincomalee District to start their livelihoods.

Nearly 600 families resettled on newly released land in the North and East of Sri Lanka will benefit from £1 million from the UK Government to support the provision of basic infrastructure and services.

The funding is being provided through the UK’s Conflict Security and Stability Fund (CSSF), increasing the UK’s contribution through the CSSF for Sri Lanka to £7.9 million between 2016 and 2019.The funding is part of the UK’s contribution to Sri Lanka’s Peacebuilding Priority Plan, a joint strategy agreed by the UN and the Government of Sri Lanka to support long term post-conflict peace building in Sri Lanka.

The funding will help those returning to their homes in the Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa districts by contributing towards roads, wells and sanitary services, and help re-establish access to local government services as well as local civil society organizations.

 In 2016 the media reported that the    Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, SDC has been in humanitarian work for 13 years, primarily in Jaffna, where they rebuilt schools, constructed houses, with        Rs.   550000 per 000 per housing unit for over 5000 families. 200 families in Jaffna and Kilinochchi. They have helped  companies for Palmyrah fiber, seaweed, dried fish, ground nuts and tailoring.  

 International Labour Organization (ILO) with  the UN office for Project services is working with NAITA to increase skilled labor force in construction sector of Batticaloa, Mannar and Vavuniya.

 ILO also has its “LEED+” project.(Local Empowerment through Economic Development and Reconciliation). LEED project has a rich history in the Northern Province , having commenced back in 2011 , with funding from the Governments of Australia and Norway.

LEED launched a  project at Mullaitivu  in September 2018. ” This was made possible through joint funding from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka. It is aimed at empowering local farming, fishing communities, producers organizations and small and medium enterprises establishing and strengthening local cooperatives and empowering women. Particular focus will be on vulnerable women and persons with disabilities.

UNDP, together with FAO, is working at three levels in the north, to ‘Improve sustainable livelihoods’, ‘Improve productive infrastructure’ and ‘Strengthen capacity of local Producer Organisations’. 

UNDP and FAO are supporting producer groups and organizations involved in key sectors of dairy, food processing, handicrafts and decorative items, commercial agriculture, fisheries, palmyrah and coir-based products Also, over 12000 small to medium-scale producers   are being helped improve production, marketing and processing. UNDP is  also helping to give  access to start- up seed capital, business mentoring and internship opportunities for 1100 young entrepreneurs. 

In 2016 World Bank, with the  International Finance Corporation has rolled out a programme to promote business for small business in Mannar and Vavuniya districts. It is also funded by EU and implemented by five UN agencies and IFC.

World Bank also granted USD 20 million for improvement of local services in North and east. It was for  rural small bridges, parks, small water schemes, rural electrification, waste dispels, drainage.

Rotary has helped to give wells to Seenanvali and Santhosapuram in Muttur, helped to develop Trincomalee general hospital, Eravur base hospital, and provide toilets for a girls’ home and boys’ home in Batticaloa. Rotary also gave a computer centre to Technical College, Vavuniya,   and provided preschool teacher training for Jaffna, Batticaloa.   

Canadian Tamil Congress had raised Canadian Dollar 110,000 for war widows of Sampur. ( Continued)

Ada Derana

චන්‍ද්‍රසේන පණ්ඩිතගේ විසිනි.

අප සිතන විදිය හා පතන විදිය, බලපාන්නේ අපට පමණක්ම නොවේ. අප මිනිස් සමාජයේ ඒකකයක් බැවින් එය පොදුවේ සමස්ත සමාජයටම විශාල බලපෑමක් සිදු කරන කරුණක් බවට පත්වෙනවා. මේ වනවිට මේ රට, ඉන්දියන් සාගර කලාපය තුල නවතම ආකාරයේ ගමනකට සූදානම් වෙමින් සිටින බැවින්, මේ විෂය සම්බන්ධව පුලුල්ව කථා කරන්න අප සැමට සිදුව තිබෙනවා.

මෙම සමාජයේ, අපේ ජීවිත පවත්වා ගෙන යාමේදී විවිධ පලපෑම් වලට යටත්ව කටයුතු කිරීමට සිදුවන අවස්ථා ගනනාවක් ඇත. එම බලපෑම් විටෙක සංස්කෘතික වශයෙනුත්, තවත් විටෙක නීතිමය වශයෙනුත් තවත් විටෙක සදාචාරය වශයෙනුත් අප ඉදිරියේ පෙල ගැහෙනවා.

මේ කිසිදු එකද බාධකයක්වත් නැතිව ජීවත් විය හැකි සමාජයක්ද අපට උරුමව තිබෙනවා. අපි ඒ සමාජය තුල ඉතා නිදහස්ව, අපට සිතෙන සිතෙන ආකාරයට ජීවත් වීමට පුරුදුව සිටිනවා. එසේ ජීවත් වීමට කිසිදු බාධාවක් කිරීමට කාටවත් හිමි කමක් නොමැතිවීම එම සමාජය තුල ඇති විශේෂත්වයයි. එම සමාජීය කටයුතු උත්තර නිර්මිතයක කටයුතු වලට සමානයයි කීවද වරදක් නොවේ. බාධාවන් රාශියක් මැද ජීවත්වෙන මිනිසා, තමන්ගේ ක්‍රියාවන්ට බාධාවක් නැති සමාජයකට ඇතුලු වූ විට පාලනයක් නැතිව කටයුතු කිරීමට යාම හේතුවෙන් එම සමාජයද අවුල් සහගත තත්වයකට පත්කර ගන්නා අවස්ථාවන්ද තියෙනවා. එම නිසා එම සමාජයට ඇතුලුවෙන හැම දෙනාම ස්වයංව සම්භාධක දමාගෙනම ඇතුලුවීම වැදගත්වේ.

අප මේ කථා කරනුයේ, මනස හා බැදුන මනෝ ලෝකය සම්බන්ධවයි. ඒ තරම් නිදහස් ස්ථානයක් අප කිසිවෙකුටත් නැත. එම ලෝකය ආක්‍රමණය කිරීමට මෙලොව වසන අති බහුතරයකට නොහැකි බැවින් බොහෝවිට එම පරිසරය තුල අප නිදහස් නිවහල් මිනිසුන් බවට පත්වේ. පියවි සමාජයට පිවිසෙන පුද්ගලයාගේ චර්යාවන් මුලුමනින්ම ඔප මට්ටම් කරන්නේ එම සමාජය තුලයි. ඔප මට්ටම් කිරීමට අවශ්‍යය කරන දත්තයන් ලබා ගන්නා පියවි සමාජයේ ඇති ගුණාත්මක දේ පමණක් ලබාගෙන එම පියවි සමාජයට සාපේක්ෂව ගුණාත්මක පුද්ගලයකුද, එහි ඇති පහත් අංග කෙරෙහි ලොල්ව, ඒවායින් ඔප මට්ටම්ව පියවි සමාජයට මහත් පීඩාකාරී පුද්ගලයකුද බිහි කල හැක.

මම අද අපූරු සිදුවීමක් දුටුවෙමි. ඒ ත්‍රී වීලර් රියදුරු මහත්වරුන් කණඩායමක් සිය දෛනික කාර්යයන් නවතා ඔවුන් අවට පරිසරය තුල ඇති දුගද හමන කාණු පද්ධතීන් ඔවුන් විසින් පිරිසිදු කිරීමයි. පොලිතීන් උරවල දමන ලද කුණු එම කාණු තුලට දමා තිබීම හේතුවෙන්, එම කාණු පද්ධතිය අක්‍රියව තිබිණ.

අප ගොඩනංවන අනාගත සමාජයේ කාර්යය භාරය විය යුත්තේ පොලිතීන් උරවල දමා කුණු කාණු වලට හෝ පාර අද්දර දමා යන අයගේ මනසට, ඒ ගෞරවණීය ත්‍රී වීලර් රියදුරු මහත්වරුන්ගේ මනස තුල ඇති ගුණාත්මක දේ ගලා යාමට සැලසීමයි. අපට එය කල හැකිද?

එය මා දකින විදියට වර්ෂ 1977 සිට 2005 නොවැම්බර් මස 18 වෙනිදා දක්වා කිසිදු පොහොරක් නොයොදා හැදුන ඇට්ටකුණා වෙච්ච පොල් ගහකට, දැන් පොහොර දමා පලදාව ගන්නට හදනවා වැනි කාර්යයකි. මෙවැනි කුණාටු පොල් ගස් මෙරට පුරාම පවතී. අප ඒවා සම්පූර්ණයෙන්ම අමතක කර දැමිය යුතුය. මේ රට තුල සිටින මල් කැකුලු වැනි වූ දරුවන් මේ රටට හිතකරවූ ආකාරයට ගොඩ නැංවීමේ කාර්යය වහාම ආරම්භ කල යුතුය. මෙම කාර්යය අධ්‍යාපන ඇමතිතුමා සිය අමාත්‍යාංශය තුලින් ආරම්භ කලයුතු පලමු කාර්ය යයි. ලක්ෂ 40ක සිසු පරපුරක්, යනු අනාගත ශ්‍රී ලංකාව සෑම අතකින්ම ජයග්‍රහණය කරා මෙහෙය විය හැකි මහා හමුදාවක් වන අතර, එම හමුදාවේ සෙන්පතියා අධ්‍යාපන ඇමතිතුමාය.

මේ සෙන්පතියාට මහා කාර්ය භාරයක් පැවරී තිබේ. ඒ රටේ අනාගතයයි. 40 ලක්ෂයක්වූ සිසු පරපුරගේ චින්තන රටාව සංවර්ධනය වන රටකට උචිත වෙන ආකාරයට සැකසීම ඔහු වෙත පැවරෙන පලමු අභියෝගයයි. ඒ සදහා සංවර්ධනය යයි අප හදුන්වන වචනයට පැහැදිලි අර්ථ කථනයක් තිබීය යුතුය. දකුණු අප්‍රිකාවේ ජොහැනර්ස්බර්ග් නගරය, ලෝකයේ දක්නට ඇති ඉහලම ගෘහ හා නගර නිර්මාණ ශිල්පිත්වයෙන් අනූන නගරයකි. වර්ගවාදී අකුණු අප්‍රිකාවේ සුපිරි නගරයක් වූ මේ නගරය වර්තමානයේද දහවල් කාලයේදී පවා කිසිවෙකුටත් නිදහසේ පයින් ගමන් කල හැකි නගරයන් නොවේ. තවද කේප් ටවුන් හා ඩර්බන් නගර තුලද හවසට නිදහසේ ගමන් කල හැකි පදනමක් ඇත්තේම නැත. මේ අති සංවර්ධිත නගර පහත් මානස තලයක ජීවත් වෙන පරපුරකට හිමිවූ විට අත්වන ඉරණමයි. මෙවැනි තත්වයන් අප ලංකාව තුලද දක්නට ඇති අවස්ථාවන්ද වේ. එම නිසා සංවර්ධනයවන  රට මෙහෙය වීමට, ඒ සංවර්ධනය මනාව අවබෝධ කරගත්, එමෙන්ම එය ප්‍රවර්ධන කිරීමේ හා පවතින තත්වයන් රැකගැනීමේ අභිලාෂය අඩංගු මිනිස් පරපුරක් මේ රටට මීලග අධ්‍යාපන ඇමතිවරයා උරුම කර දිය යුතුය.

අප ස්වභාවයට උරුම පරපුරක් වෙමු. ස්වභාවය අපව නිර්මාණය කිරීමට පෙර අපට ජීවක්වීමට අවශ්‍යය සියලූම යටිතල පහසු කම් නිර්මාණය කලහ. ඒ යටිතල පහසුකම් විනාශ නොකර, මිනිස් මොලයේ ඇති සමාජ නිර්මාණාත්මක තත්වයන් උපයෝගී කරගෙන ස්වභාවයේ ක්‍රියාකාරිත්වයට ඉහල තලයකට එසවීම සැබෑ සමාජ සංවර්ධනයයි. පරිසරයට නිකුත් වෙන කාබන්ඩයොක්සයිඩ් ඉවත් කල යුතුය. ඒ සදහා වැඩි වැඩියෙන් ගස් සිටවිය යුතුය. මේ සම්බන්ධව පාසලේ සිටින කුඩා දරුවාගේ පටන් ඉහලම පන්තියේ සිටින දරුවා දක්වා වූ සෑම දරුවෙකුටම මනා අවබෝධයක් ලබාදෙන අධ්‍යාපනයක් මේ රට ඉල්ලා සිටී. කාබන්ඩයොක්සයිඩ් ඌනව නිසි පරිමිතියෙන් යුත් ඔක්සිජන් පිරුණ පරිසරයක ජීවත්වෙන ජනතාවට සිතීම අවබෝධ කර ගැනීම හා නවතම දේ නිර්මාණය කර ගැනීමටද එම පරිසරය උපකාර කරයි. මෙවන් වූ පාරිසරික තත්වයන් ඇති ගම්බද පලාත්වල ජීවත් වන ජනතාව ලබන්නාවූ අති උතුම්ම දායාදය එය බව සිසු පරපුර අවබෝධ කර ගත යුතුය. සෑම විටම දූෂිත පරිසරයක ජීවත් වෙන ජනතාව ගෙන් බහු තරයේ සිතුවිලි පරම්පරාවන්ද දූෂිතය.

බුදු දහමේ ආනාපාන සති භාවනාව හරහා මිනිසාගේ ආශ්වාස ප්‍රාශ්වාස කාර්යට මහා බලපෑමක් සිදුකර ඔක්සිජන් ඇවැසි තරම් සංසරණ පද්ධතියට එකතු කර නිවැරදිව සත්‍ය දැකීමේ කර්තව්‍යයට විශාල උපකාරයක් සිදු කරන බව අවබෝධ කරගන්න. බුදුරජානන්වහන්සේ තරම් පරිසර හිතකාමී චරිතයක් ඉතිහාසය පුරා කිසිම තැනක දක්නට නොලැබෙන අතර, නගරය වනය උයන පරිසර හිතකාමිව තබා ගැනීම උන්වහන්සේ ඉතා අගය කල කටයුත්තකි. අති බහුතරයක් වූ මෙරට සිසු පරපුර පරිසරය රැකීමේ කර්තව්‍යයට මෙහෙය වන අධ්‍යාපනයක් මේ රට අපේක්ෂා කරයි. පිරිසිදු උයන්වතු මෙන්වූ පරිසරය ලමා මනස පවිත්‍ර කරන අතර එම පරිසරය තුල වසන පක්ෂීන්, සමනලයින් හා මී මැස්සන්, ගී ගයන විලාසය, නිදහසේ පියාසර කරන ආකාරය හා සාමූහිකව සමාජය වෙනුවෙන් වැඩකරන ආකාරය පැහැදිලි කරනු ඇත.

චන්‍ද්‍රසේන පණ්ඩිතගේ විසිනි.

RANJITH SOYSA

It is reported that the DMK, Tamil Nadu’s major Opposition Party and it’s BJP alley, THE PMK have expressed their opposition to Sri Lankan government’s opinion that it is not necessary to sing the Sri Lankan national anthem in Tamil at the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations.

While we reject the view point of the Tamil Nadu’s racist politicians interference in a Sri Lankan  domestic issue. which the Sri Lankan Government  has the capability of examining in detail and taking their own decisions for the benefit of the country. We have to reiterate that by making various strident noises concerning Sri Lankan Tamils the Indian politicians are attempting in vain to prove that they are the saviors of Sri Lankan Tamils which places the Sri Lankan Tamils in an awkward  position in relation to Sri Lankan nation state.

With regard to the Sri Lankan Nataional Anthem, it was the blunder made by the previous Government which  allowed a translated song to be accepted as a national anthem in Tamil whereas the country should have a single National Anthem, The translated Tamil national anthem has number of words which are different to the original including the term,  “Sri Lanka Matha’ The action should be taken urgently to rectify this aspect and replace the original song, The national anthem can be  written in Tamil ,but it should not be a translation. The government must get its teeth to this issue urgently without any delay.

As for the Tamil Nadu racists politicians we request them to look after their back yard by requesting or demanding the Central Government of India to get them the approval to sing a translated Indian Anthem in Tamil. We await to hear the response from the Central Indian Government.

RANJITH SOYSA

Courtesy Ada Derana

The 21st Amendment Draft Bill and the 22nd Amendment Draft Bill have been gazetted by Parliament.

The 21st Amendment Draft proposes to change certain provisions of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution while the 22nd Amendment Draft proposes to abolish the 15th Amendment to the Constitution.

The two draft Bills have been presented to the parliament by MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as a Private Member’s Bill.21st Amendment to the Constitution:

Courtesy Ada Derana

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his message to remark the dawn of 2020, says New Year dawns at a time when the entire Sri Lankan nation is beaming with hopes for a new era in economic, political, social, cultural and technological spheres of life.

The new government welcomes the New Year with determination and commitment to make it the Year of Prosperity”, the President said further.

As a country with our own vision, we can be proud of many great achievements in the past. We as a government step into the New Year with the utmost commitment to ensure prosperity by awakening our identities and skills and by interfacing them with modernity,” the President’s message read further.

The country is in need of a strong and vibrant economy which gives priority to nationalistic aspirations, it added.

The President went on to say he is aware that a well-protected nation with a disciplined society is the foremost expectation of the people. It is in such a society that soaring aspirations of the present and future generations will become a reality. We as adults should go hand in hand in unison to reach objectives during the New Year.”

He says the new government is the outcome of the unity among the people who love their country.

We will not allow any force to obstruct the realization of people’s expectations,” the President emphasized.

He pointed out that the sole aim is to create conducive environment where all can live harmoniously in peace.

It is my fervent belief and hope that the freshness formed in the hearts and minds of the people with the advent of New Year will facilitate the implementation of the Saubhagyaye Dekma” – the blue print to build a while new country,” the President continued.

Courtesy Ada Derana

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa says Sri Lanka enters the new decade in a context where a new President was elected to power by the people with an overwhelming mandate.

In his message for the New Year 2020, the Premier said a new Parliamentary government has also been formed and it is in the process of commencing work.

With this change of government the hope of a new Sri Lanka has galvanized and inspired the youth of this country,” says PM Rajapaksa.

The most important feature of this new trend is that young people have spontaneously come forward, without any intervention from the government, to assume leadership over the task of building a new Sri Lanka. We have seen the manner in which young people all over the country have organized themselves and have cleaned the walls in public places and decorated them with attractive paintings,” he added.

This has transformed the whole of Sri Lanka within a matter of days, the Premier said, speaking of the posts in the social media which indicate that similar groups of young people who have been experimenting with the cultivation of land as well.

All this is taking place through connections established via the social media. The most valuable resource that we have as we enter a new decade is this drive and motivation among young people to take an active part in developing the country. We saw a similar trend among young people during the war against the LTTE. The young people of that time never looked back until the LTTE was defeated and peace restored to this country.”

It is my belief and expectation that the young people of today, who have been motivated and inspired to make a personal and direct contribution to building a new Sri Lanka, will not look back until they have achieved their objective of a prosperous and well governed country. The world recognizes the 21st Century as the Asian Century. We should make the third decade of the 21st Century which commences on the 1st of January, the Sri Lankan decade. Some day when the world looks back on the third decade of the 21st Century, it should be recognized as the decade in which Sri Lanka made its mark on the world. May the year 2020 and the new decade be a period in which all Sri Lankans realize their aspirations and the country achieves peace and prosperity.”

උපුටා ගැන්ම හිරු නිව්ස්

උදා වූ 2020 නව වසර මැතිවරණ වසරක් බව අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතා පවසනවා.

අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා මේ අදහස් පළ කළේ අද පෙරවරුවේ තංගල්ලේ පැවැති උත්සවයකට එක්වෙමින්.

අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතා ඊයේ රාත්‍රී කතරගම – කිරිවෙහෙර චෛත්‍ය රාජාණන් වහන්සේ වැඳ පුදාගෙන ආශිර්වාද ලබා ගත්තා.

එහිදී මහා සංඝ රත්නය සෙත් පිරිත් සජ්ජායනා කර අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයාට ආශිර්වාද පළ කළා.

නව වසර උදාවත් සමඟ අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතා පැමිණියේ රුහුණු මහා කතරගම දේවාලයටයි.

එහිදී දේවාශිර්වාද ලබාගත් අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා අනතුරුව ශ්‍රී ලංකා නිදහස් පක්ෂ නිර්මාතෘ එස්.ඩබ්ලිව්.ආර්.ඩී. බණ්ඩාරනායක මහතා සහ සිරිමාවෝ බණ්ඩාරනායක මැතිණියගේ ගුණ සිහි කරමින් සෑම වසරකම අඛණ්ඩව පවත්වනු ලබන සෙත් පිරිත් පිංකමට සහභාගි වුණා.

නව වසර සඳහා අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතාට සුබ පැතුම් එක් කිරීමට අද පෙරවරුවේ මහා සංඝ රත්නය සහ ජනතාව තංගල්ල කාල්ටන් නිවස වෙත පැමිණියා.

රට පුරා වසරකට ගස් දශ ලක්ෂයක් සිටුවීමේ “හැදෙන රටට වැඩෙන ගසක්” ජාතික රුක්රෝපණ වැඩසටහනට සමගාමීව අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා තංගල්ල කාල්ටන් නිවාස පරිශ්‍රයේ පැළයක් රෝපණය කළා.

තංගල්ල වජිරගිරිය මහා විහාරයේදී ගැබිණි මව්වරුන් සහ පාසල් දරුවන් උදෙසා භාණ්ඩ බෙදාදීමේ වැඩසටහනට අග්‍රාමාත්‍යවරයා එක්වුණේ ඉන්අනතුරුවයි.

උපුටා ගැන්ම හිරු නිව්ස්

පසුගිය රජය සහ වත්මන් රජය අතර ඩීල් දේශපාලනයකට ඇතැම් පිරිස් කටයුතු කරමින් සිටින බව රජයේ වෛද්‍ය නිලධාරීන්ගේ සංගමය චෝදනා කරනවා. <

කොළඹ අද පැවැති ප්‍රවෘත්ති සාකච්ඡාවකට එක්වෙමින් එහි නියෝජිතයින් මේ බව ප්‍රකාශ කළා.

උපුටා ගැන්ම හිරු නිව්ස්

එළඹෙන මහ මැතිවරණයේදී පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ තුනෙන් දෙකක බහුතරයක් දිනා ගැනීම මෙම වසරේ තම පක්ෂයේ ප්‍රධාන අපේක්ෂාව බව ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණ පවසනවා.

එම පක්ෂයේ සභාපති මහාචාර්ය ජී.එල් පීරිස් මහතා මේ අදහස් පළ කළේ නෙළුම් මාවත පක්ෂ කාර්යාලයේ අද පැවති ප්‍රවෘත්ති සාකච්ඡාවකදී.

ප්‍රවෘත්ති සාකච්ඡාවට ආරම්භ වීමට ප්‍රථම ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොදුජන පෙරමුණේ සභාපති මහාචාර්ය ජී.එල්. පීරිස් මහතාගේ ප්‍රධානත්වයෙන් උදාවූ නව වසර සැමරීමේ උත්සවයක්ද පක්ෂ කාර්යාලයේදී පැවැත්වුණා.

උපුටා ගැන්ම හිරු නිව්ස්

රටේ සහල් හිඟයට හේතුව තමන් බව පවසන්නේ නම් සිය හිමිකාරීත්වය සහිත සහල්මෝල් රජයට පවරාදීමට සූදානම් බව ව්‍යාපාරික ඩඩ්ලි සිරිසේන මහතා පවසනවා. 

ඔහු මේ බව සඳහන් කළේ පොළොන්නරුවේ පැවැති උත්සවයකට එක්වෙමින්.

උපුටා ගැන්ම හිරු නිව්ස්

MP Wijedasa Rajapaksa says that the constitutional Council has acted in a biased manner during the previous regime .

He noted that for the past four years, the constitutional council has not been independent and has acted in a bias manner.

He made this statement while, addressing a media conference at his home in Colombo today.

පසුගිය රජය සමයේ ව්‍යවස්ථාදායක සභාව පක්ෂග්‍රාහීව කටයුතු කර ඇති බවට කළක් එය නියෝජනය කළ, පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී විජේදාස රාජපක්ෂ චෝදනා කරනවා. කොළඹ සිය නිවසේ අද පැවති මාධ්‍ය හමුවකට එක්වෙමිනුයි ඔහු මේ බව කියා සිටියේ.

Chaturanga Samarawickrama Courtesy The Daily News

The Government suspended the import of ethanol for liquor manufacturing with immediate effect, the Ministry of Finance, economic and policy development Ministry said today.

They said the decision was taken following the instructions given by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Finance Minister.

He also said required Ethanol is manufactured locally. 

Courtesy Ada Derana

Parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne, who was receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Lanka Hospitals in Narahenpita, has been transferred to a general medical unit.

Former Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, who was remanded over the controversial white van” press conference, was released on bail on December 30 as per an order by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

However, Senaratne continued to receive treatment at the Lanka Hospitals in Narahenpita.

Subsequently, the MP has been transferred from the ICU to a general medical unit this afternoon (01).

Courtesy Ada Deara

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has permitted two Indian private banks Axis Bank and ICICI Bank to close down their operations in the country. 

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has said that it intends to take appropriate action against the banks that have not complied with the order to reduce the Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) for end 2019 in line with the Monetary Law Act.

License to get canceled

The Central Bank has not permitted the aforementioned Indian banks to perform banking operations and the banks cannot accept deposits from the public as well. According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the licenses issued to them will be canceled once the winding-up process is over. 

Issuing a statement, the Central Bank said while several licensed banks complied with the order and reduced the lending rates by 250 basis points, some others including the Axis Bank and ICICI Bank have not reduced their rates. 

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka in its statement said, The Monetary Law Act Order No. 02 of 2019 on Enhancing Efficiency of the Transmission of Recent Policy Decisions to Rupee Denominated Market Lending Rates” required, inter alia, every licensed commercial bank (LCB) to reduce their weekly Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) by at least 250 basis points by 27 December 2019, compared to their AWPR published by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as at 26 April 2019 in the Weekly Economic Indicators publication. This shall not apply to LCBs, whose AWPR reaches or falls below 9.50 percent per annum as at the date of this Order or anytime thereafter.”

Nevertheless, it is also observed that People’s Bank, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Indian Overseas Bank, MCB Bank Ltd, Public Bank Berhad, Standard Chartered Bank, Amana Bank PLC, and Axis Bank Ltd have failed to comply with the Monetary Law Act Order No. 02 of 2019. The CBSL intends to take appropriate measures in relation to these banks, as well as those licensed banks that have not met with the other provisions of the Order, to ensure that the general public continues to benefit from an efficient transmission of recent policy decisions through the financial system,” the statement read. 

Axis Bank made its debut in the Sri Lankan market in October 2011, while ICICI Bank entered the island nation in January 2006, with the approval of the Monetary Board of Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) under the Banking Act of 1988.

-Agencies

By ANI Courtesy The Indain Express 

CAA grants Indian citizenship to Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi refugees from three neighbouring countries who entered India on or before December 2014.

CHENNAI: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) founder Vaiko on Wednesday condemned the arrest of two journalists for interviewing Sri Lankan Tamil refugees on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

While addressing the media on Wednesday in Chennai, Vaiko said, “This shows how All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government has become fascist. It is not fair to arrest people who are protesting against the CAA. Why has the CAA been brought about like a surgical strike? They want India to be a Hindu nation.”

According to a report, two journalists – Sindhu and Ramkumar from Tamil Nadu, who had gone to seek the views of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees on CAA – were booked by the Kanyakumari district police under non-bailable sections.

CAA grants Indian citizenship to Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

By Rohana R. Wasala

(The title is a line from the concluding passage of  Sir Edwin Arnold’s ‘Light of Asia’. The Spanish title and name Don Quixote used below is pronounced dong khee khothe”)

ANNO FELIX, HAPPY NEW YEAR, TO YOU!

Rejoice my beloved Mother Lanka!

With us your dear children just debunking

The entrenched myth created about us

In those oppressive colonial times

Of shutting ourselves up in a time warp 

Where we are thought to be overtaken

By an unhealthy love of the dead past 

That makes us resist desirable change.

Meddling aliens and their local lackeys

Do still accuse us of primitivism  

Simply because we show a deep concern

When our rare archaeological sites

Are vandalized or claimed without a right;

When our ancient ruins are razed to the ground;

When our peaceful monks and lay activists

Agitate against the desecration

And defacement of Buddha images,

And forced conversion by unethical means

Of poverty stricken rural Buddhists,

And subversion of middle class Buddhists

Through subtle methods of indoctrination

Such as personal improvement workshops

Or superstitious divine healing camps

With a sham Buddhistic tone  but a bias-

Towards a faith based deistic religion;  

When state forest reserves are cleared

In excess of what’s been lawfully marked,

For resettling allegedly displaced-

Persons solely of one religious creed,

Who have been already resettled elsewhere.

We’ve tried to free ourselves from the vice grip

Of this undue bad name for racist pride, 

Fanaticism, and xenophobia

Given to us contrary to evidence

While being beaten into a monstrous shape,

Despised in the comity of nations

Although the deliberately suppressed-

Truth is that we are the hapless victims 

Of those very evils perpetrated

By some communalist politicians

Hellbent on destroying our sovereign state

Who promote such passions just to survive,

Groping in their dark  personal ghettoes 

In this cultured Age of Information. 

What is the truth obscured by the canard

That Sinhalese Buddhist nationalists

Are racist, exclusive, and extremist

And hence backward and resistant to change,

And that the Sinhalese are as a race

Mentally retarded and inferior?

The pioneer of true national thinking

Was none other than the historical 

Hate-figure of anti-nationalists

Great Anagarika Dharmapala

Who engineered social reform through it

To kindle hopes of freedom from foreign rule.

History will recognize Dharmapala

As perhaps the first ideological-

Champion of the unarmed battle for freedom,

And the first proponent of modernity

Properly based on Buddhist tradition.

Though Brits and colonial parasites

Projected him as a Don Quixote

Through their malicious vile propaganda,

Being a leader gifted with great foresight,

He warned the majority Sinhalese

Of a racially divided country

Where they would be at the receiving end 

When the foreigner would leave them at last

Unless they were united as a race.

Today, as we can see, that prophecy,

Has come true, sad though it is to say this.

Yet the Anagarika’s life mission

Was passing on the word of the Buddha

Across the world for all peoples’ wellbeing.

He was convinced that Sinhala Buddhists

Had a unique responsibility

To protect Buddhism for the whole world

As Lanka is the repository

Of the Dhamma in its first pristine form

The hallowed Theravada tradition

Committed to writing at Matale,

Central Sri Lanka, one hundred plus-

Years Before the Common Era began.

Though religions are anachronistic

In the human reason ruled world today

Their ethical teachings are relevant

To their politically organized

Adherents, while not being so to others,

A situation that causes friction

With monumental repercussions

That endanger the very survival

Of the human civilization itself.

The Buddha preached an ethical doctrine

That is self-realization based and free

From blind faith and ritual performances

Something that Albert Einstein chose to call

A cosmic religion in the sense that

All humans could embrace its moral code

Based on kindness, reason, and mind culture, 

And work to create a safe peaceful world. 

Dharmapala knew this before Einstein

As he showed in his great dedication

For spreading the Dhamma across the globe

Without any proselytizing aim.

Being a true disciple of the Buddha 

He didn’t seek to convert non-Buddhist people.  

But he believed that Dhamma was

The Sinhala Buddhists’ gift to the world

As custodians of the pure Teaching.

Meanwhile he was passionately concerned

About their material wellbeing as well

As any good Buddhist leader would be

He advocated the education

Of the young for acquiring good life skills

And the study of science and technology

In addition to cultural subjects.

Lanka’s freedom movement and its leaders

And all patriotic politicians

That followed in the subsequent decades

Were profoundly influenced by this great man.

All the prime ministers and presidents

Since independence with two exceptions

(Whose patriotism is of a foreign make)

Have been influenced by his nationalism

Had the Anagarika been living- 

Today, he would have highly commended

The current president Gotabhaya

For his moral uprightness, gracefulness

And his commitment to Buddhist values.

All Members of Parliament on both sides,

If they really want to serve the nation

Ought to forget their personal concerns

And soon ensure that the president get

The enlightened parliament he deserves,

So that this fourth decisive surge that we-

Are in the middle of making since the Year-

The Buddha Jayanti was observed

Towards independence from foreign sway

In order to stand on our own two feet,

Will not be suppressed like the previous three.

May the Lotus Bud Bloom in our Troubled Land

Fresh and pure out of its muddy waters!    

S. Akurugoda

Foreign-funded NGOs had influenced our education system in subtle ways and an expeditious investigation will be carried out into the ideas being put into the minds of schoolchildren through school text books, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said at the National Dhamma School Convention and Awards Ceremony held at Irattaperiyakulam in Vavuniya few days ago.

He said he heard some leading academic Bhikkus explaining how school textbooks now had content that would corrupt young minds. An organisation explained how some school textbooks have depicted the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka as one province. It was also said that the Sinhala New Year had been dropped from some school textbooks,” he said. While pointing out that there is a concerted and ongoing attempt to divide the country, to destroy the Sinhala Buddhists, he made a detailed speech on how the values of the society have been eroded through subtle means.

The sovereignty is defined as the supreme political power of a government to regulate its affairs within a specified territory without outside interference. Policies are thus formulated by the people of a sovereign nation via the elected government to suit the nation and its people. Pumping billions of Rupees to brainwash the people of a nation to achieve the goals of outside elements is a clear-cut interference on its sovereignty. Who will pump billions for nothing in return? These lobbyist NGOs are to fulfill the needs of their funding agencies whose ultimate aim is none other than creating a new form of colonization around the world.

The latest news item appeared in The Island under the title NPC calls for continuation of National Anthem in Tamil” is a typical example. TNA, recently had a media briefing and asked the government to not to stop yahapalanaya practice of singing the national anthem in Tamil at the Feb 04 Independence Day celebrations.  As per the news item appeared in The Island last Saturday, NPC  (National Peace Council) has also repeated the same claim and now they are going to make a big issue out of it against the duly elected government.

Activities of NPC in the past are well known and the above photograph indicating Jehan Perera of NPC addressing a meeting organized by NESoHR (founded by LTTE proxy TNA with the Eelam map behind him) , on December 10, 2005 describe it in  thousand words.

NPC, whose annual funding is said to be in excess of 126 millions SL Rupees or 5, is funded by the USAID (Main contributor), MISEREOR  (The German Catholic Bishops’ Organisation for Development Coorporation), Asia Foundation, European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) ,US Department of State ,Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD),  SPICE-MSI, FOKUS (based on the information provided in NPC website, Financial Report 2017).

The website of the above funding agency the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development gives CAFOD’s mission as promoting human development and social justice in witness to Christian faith and Gospel values (emphasis mine). Depending entirely on foreign governments and agencies they carry on the White Man’s Burden and have a function similar to Christian missionaries during the high colonial era.

It is also interesting to note that the 10 member Governing Council of this NGO has only 2 members with Sinhala names.

Most of the foreign funded NGOs were established in Sri Lanka during the war against LTTE terrorism.  Most of these NGOs have had engaged in a movement to brainwash the people of Sri Lanka promoting federalism (or indirectly separatism).  For example, National Peace Council (NPC), considered in their vision statement published prior to the defeat of terrorism, the LTTE as an integral part of ‘their so-called solution’.  Clearly the NPC and similar ilk wanted to whitewash the LTTE and bring it out as a civilised entity.

We remember how these NGOs justified international intervention (including through the UN and US) and called for solutions manufactured from the outside spending billions of Rupees got from foreign donors which money should have gone to the poor people in the country. These piece mongers and their colonial masters in the West were behind the propaganda on behalf of Tamil racism in general and the LTTE in particular. Their activities parallel the LTTE’s global propaganda campaign against the government of Sri Lanka and its people.

The Island dated March 4, 2011 under the heading Foreign funds galore for three NGOs: Over Rs. 600mn. received in 3 yrs; Norway leading donor”, revealed how a section of the international community was pouring money into Sri Lankan NGOs like the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and National Peace Council (NPC), Transparency International Sri Lanka, in spite of the conclusion of war against terrorism in May, 2009. http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=19831

As per the report, the CPA has received Rs. 272.31 million during the 2008-2010 periods. The NPC and TI have received Rs. 171.23 million and 174.79 million, respectively. The country’s banking system has no records of the exact amount of funds received by NGOs over the past two to three decades. Sources said that an enormous amount of funds had been received by NGOs since Feb. 2002, with some countries and the UNDP providing funds to the LTTE Peace Secretariat.

Although the NPC and similar ilk were in the driver’s seat during the Chandrika-Ranil failed regimes, and later during the Ranil-Sirisena (so-called yahapalana) regime, attempting to brainwash the country from top political hierarchy to grass roots level, spending billions of rupees, the mass support received from the general public to eradicate terrorism in 2009 and to chase away  the above notorious regimes at the end of their terms  are clear proofs that the peace loving people of Sri Lanka are wiser than the foreign funded PEACE prophets.

The latest mission, after the failure of earlier vision, of these NGOs is said to be the work towards a political solution to the so-called ethnic conflict, reconciliation etc. 

Few months after the elimination of the LTTE terror from our soil, we had every reason to believe that some notable elements of the US and their allies were rapidly making a case of war crimes against Sri Lanka on the basis of the conduct of her armed forces as well as political leadership. One of the motivations of this action is to cover-up their own continuing armed conflicts on large scales, involving major humanitarian catastrophes and causing the death of large numbers of civilians due to military actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and in some areas of Pakistan.

On 28th August 2009, the two kingpins of NGOs were reported addressing a close-door meeting convened by the US Institute of Peace (USIP). Another notable participant of this discussion was Teresita Schaffer of The Centre for Strategic and international Studies, one of the former US Ambassadors to Sri Lanka, who was very critical of the Sri Lankan government during her tenure of office in Sri Lanka. As per media reports, the duos from the two NGOs basically said at a meeting, in Washington D.C. with former Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Robert Blake, was what Blake wanted them to say.

After few months of these meetings, Ban Ki-moon appointed a panel to advice him (i.e the UNSG) on Sri Lanka’s alleged war crime charges and European Union gave conditional ultimatum on GSP Plus. Thus these NGOs are the promoters of the notorious UNHCR Resolution welcomed by their yahapalanaya government.

Soon after the appointment of Ban Ki-moon panel, these Peace Vendors were back in the business by issuing statements one after the other to the foreign and local press supporting the Ban KI-moon’s panel and the EU’s conditions and condemning the actions of the Sri Lankan Government and its people as was usually done by them during the past. They started, once again, advocating solutions. The solutions they seek are from outside including foreign intervention. It is not surprising at all to learn that those who live on foreign funding are for foreign intervention.

As pointed out in an article ‘Let there be oversight’ (The Island dated December 31, 2008), “NGOs can’t and shouldn’t be allowed to self-regulate. They want to believe that the money they receive belongs to those who have given it, so pleasing their donors is enough. But it isn’t. Funds raised in the name of the people of this country, playing on their sufferings and undertaking to solve their problems, are rightfully theirs”.… “There are absolutely no democratic controls over public money that is handled by NGOs”. http://www.island.lk/2008/12/31/features5.html

Three years ago, according to media reports, Modi’s government in India revokes licences of 25 foreign funded NGOs over ‘anti-national activities’ as pool of foreign-funded bodies shrinks by almost half in two years. The evidence for anti-national activities of foreign funded NGOs operating in Sri Lanka is easy to find, one has only to read the anti-national statements made by these organisations. Further a mechanism is needed to monitor funds channeled through the banking system as well as other means from foreign donors to local agencies.

The NPC and similar ilk should be immediately investigated for what they have done in the past and for what they are doing now. If existing laws are insufficient, new laws should be enacted for the benefit of the country and its peace loving people.

S. Akurugoda