The biggest story at ASEAN was the convergence of moves toward Asia integration, leaving Delhi out for now
November 08, 2019 “Information Clearing House” -A pan-Asia high-speed train has left the station – and India – behind. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which would have been the largest free trade deal in the world, was not signed in Bangkok. It will probably be signed next year in Vietnam, assuming New Delhi goes beyond what ASEAN, with diplomatic finesse barely concealing frustration, described as outstanding issues, which remain unresolved.”
The partnership uniting 16 nations – the ASEAN 10 plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and, in theory, India – would have congregated 3.56 billion people and 29% of world trade.
Predictably, it was billed as the big story among the slew of high-profile meetings linked to the 35th ASEAN summit in Thailand, as RCEP de facto further integrates Asian economies with China just as the Trump administration is engaged in a full spectrum battle against everything from the Belt and Road Initiative to Made in China 2025.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng was blunt: It’s the 15 nations that have decided to move forward first.” And he added there won’t be any problem for the 15 nations to sign RCEP next year,” when Vietnam takes over as the chair of ASEAN.
It’s not hard to figure out where the problem” lies.
Mahathir ‘disappointed’
Diplomats confirmed that New Delhi came up with a string of last-minute demands in Thailand, forcing many to work deep into the night with no success. Thailand’s Commerce Minister, Jurin Laksanawisit, tried to put on a brave face: The negotiation last night was conclusive.”
It was not. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad – whose facial expression in the family photo was priceless, as he shook hands with Aung San Suu Kyi on his left and nobody on his right – had already given away the game. We’re very disappointed,” he said, adding: One country is making demands we cannot accept.”
ASEAN, that elaborate monument to punctilious protocol and face-saving, insists the few outstanding issues will be resolved by February 2020,” with the text of all 20 RCEP chapters complete pending the resolution of one” member.
RCEP dwells across a large territory, covering trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property and dispute resolution. The Indian problem” is extremely complex. India in fact already has a free trade agreement with ASEAN.
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CEP, in practice, would extend this agreement to the other big boys, including China, Japan and South Korea.
New Delhi insists it is defending farmers, dairy owners, the services industry, sectors of the automobile industry – especially hybrid and electric cars, and very popular three-wheelers – and mostly small businesses all across the nation, which would be devastated by an augmented tsunami of Chinese merchandise.
Agriculture, textile, steel and mining interests in India are totally against RCEP.
Yet New Delhi never mentions quality Japanese or South Korean products. It’s all about China. New Delhi argues that signing what is widely interpreted as a free trade agreement with China would explode its already significant US$57 billion a year trade deficit.
The barely disguised secret is that India’s economy, as the historical record shows, is inherently protectionist. There’s no way a possible removal of agricultural tariffs protecting farmers would not provoke a social cataclysm.
Modi, who is not exactly a bold statesman with a global vision, is between a heavy rock and a very hard place. President Xi Jinping offered him a 100-year plan” for China-India partnership at their last informal, bilateral summit.
India is a fellow BRICS member, it’s part of the Russia-India-China troika that is actually at the center of BRICS and is also a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Geopolitically as well as geoeconomically, it hardly makes sense for India to be out of RCEP – which means excluded from East Asia and Southeast Asia integration. The only feasible solution might be an elaborate bilateral India-China deal within RCEP.
Questions remain whether both players would be able to work that out before the Vietnam summit in 2020.
Putting it all together
India was only part of the story of the summit fest in Thailand. At the important East Asia Summit, everyone was actively discussing multiple paths towards multilateralism.
The Trump administration is touting what it calls the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy – which is yet another de facto China containment strategy, congregating the US, India, Japan and Australia. Indo-Pacific is very much on Modi’s mind. The problem is Indo-Pacific,” as the US conceives of it, and RCEP are incompatible.
ASEAN, instead, came up with its own strategy: ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) – which incorporates all the usual transparency, good governance, sustainable development and rules-based tenets plus details on connectivity and maritime disputes.
All the ASEAN 10 are behind AOIP, which is, in fact, an original Indonesian idea. It’s fascinating to know that Bangkok and Jakarta worked together behind closed doors for no fewer than 18 months to reach a full consensus among the ASEAN 10.
The biggest story in Thailand was, in fact, the convergence of myriad moves towards Asia integration. Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang was lavishly praising the prospects of integrating Belt and Road with something called the Master Plan of ASEAN Activity, which is the connectivity part of AOIP.
South Korea’s Moon Jae-in jumped in extolling the merits of his Southern Policy, which is essentially northeast-southeast Asia integration. And don’t forget Russia.
At the ASEAN business and investment summit, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev put it all together; the blossoming of the Greater Eurasian Partnership, uniting the Eurasia Economic Union, ASEAN and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, not to mention, in his words, other possible structures,” which is code for Belt and Road.
Belt and Road is powerfully advancing its links to RCEP, Eurasia Economic Union and even South America’s Mercosur – when Brazil finally kicks Jair Bolsonaro out of power.
Medvedev noted that this merging of interests was unanimously supported at the Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi in 2016. Vietnam and Singapore have already clinched free trade deals with Eurasia Economic Union, and Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia are on their way.
Medvedev also noted that a trade and economic cooperation deal between China and Eurasia Economic Union was signed in late October. Next is India, and a preferential trade agreement between the union and Iran has also been signed.
In Thailand, the Chinese delegation did not directly address the United States’ Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy. But Medvedev did, forcefully: We are in favor of maintaining the effective system of state-to-state relations which was formed on the basis of ASEAN and has shown a good track record over the years.
In this regard, we believe the US initiative is a serious challenge for ASEAN countries, since it can weaken the association’s position and strip it of its status as a key player in addressing regional security problems.”
Summits come and go. But what just happened in Thailand will remain as another graphic illustration of myriad, concerted moves leading towards progressive, irreversible Asia – and Eurasia – integration. It’s up to Modi to decide when and if to hop on the train.
We again had the misfortune witnessed a mockery of justice when President Maithripala Sirisena pardoned Jude Samantha Jayamaha sentenced to death for the brutal murder of Swedish teenager Yvonne Johnson at the Royal Park luxury apartment complex in Colombo in July 2005.
Needless to say, this pardoning has sparked outrage among all law-abiding citizens. They would have not objected if the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. But to allow Jayamaha to walk out of prison is intolerable, to say the least. Is this a twisted view of human rights? Or is it because the convict is from a high-profile wealthy family?
This
is the latest in four such unjustifiable Presidential pardons within a period
of four decades.
During the murder trial, the court was told that the skull of the victim – who was strangled to death – was fractured into 64 pieces. Jayamaha should have been kept in prison at least till he reached old age if not a life term.
It
was President Jayawardene who set a dangerous precedent by releasing convicted
rapist and underworld thug Gonawala Sunil. He was even made a JP.
Thereafter
President Premadasa pardoned Manohari Daniels jailed for killing dozens of
civilians by exploding a car bomb in 1987.
In
July 2009 Mary Juliet Monica Fernando sentenced to death (later commuted to
life imprisonment) in 2005 for a double murder, walked away to freedom after
being pardoned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on International Women’s Day!
Juliet
Fernando was the wife of former SLFP Minister Milroy Fernando.
Why
this selective ‘compassion’?
Are
not there other heartless murderers like Jude Samantha still in the death row?
The only convicts who may deserve pardon are those who have killed in self-defense or under sudden provocation in justifiable circumstances or caused death unintentionally (including negligence). These usually fall into the legal category of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Pardoning
any convict or not should be decided not by a President but by a review board,
depending on the nature of each case. It should be a legal process.
We
hope the next President will give serious thought to this. If not
criminals who deserve no leniency will walk away scot-free.
An independent team of Maha Sanga release special statements to the media says that ‘‘All religious leaders including Buddhist clergy to date have worked and contributed enormously to protect our motherland, nation, religion and culture. Similarly, all ethnic groups diligently and cordially have done their part. All communities and followers of all religious faiths in the future too must work together with the thought “All are Sri Lankans”.’’ ‘‘We appeal to you, including the Buddhist clergy and other religious leaders, to come together to defeat all forces that are attempting to divide this land or destroy the national unity’’ the statement adds.
Ven. Ittapane Dhammalankara, Mahanayake Thero, Ven. Ganthure Assagee Thero, Ven. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Thero, Ven. Ambewela Paggasara Thero, Ven. Prof. Kotapitiye Rahula Thero, Ven. Prof Kollupitiye Sangarakkitha Thero, Ven Kotapola Amarakiththi Theto, Ven. Prof Madagama Nandawasa Thero, Ven Dr. Walpola Wimalagana AnunayakeThero, Ven Prof. Pallekande Rathnasara Thero, Ven Mederipiteye Tapassi Thero, Ven. Prof. Kiwlegedara Narada Thero, Ven. Prof. Kahapola Sugatharathana Thero, Ven. Homagama Dammananda Thero, Ven. Omare Kassapa Anunayake Thero, Ven. Prof. Magammana Paghghannda Thero, Ven. Prof. Madagampitiye WijithaDamma Thero, Ven. Kumbuke Chandaloka Thero, Ven Prof. Agalakada Sirisumana Thero, Ven Prof Iththademaliye Indasara there has sign the statement.
full statement below,
A kind intimation to all Sri Lankans
Sri Lanka is a unique country. Our country’s physical assets such as the strategic location, climate, geography, environment, and water, coupled with our esteemed culture, the national heritage enriched with our archeological endowments elevate our country’s standing among the countries in the world to high levels.
The unfortunate environment that developed during the recent past and the devastating events that have taken place have made the Buddhist clergy and other religious dignitaries sorrowful. Further, degradation and erosion of territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence, and ability to withstand foreign intervention, exacerbated by the breakdown of national security have been the cause for profound sadness and despair. It is so unfortunate that this uncertain climate and environment still prevails.
No one has been found guilty or accountable on the Central Bank bond scam where enormous amounts of money have been siphoned off. Those who killed hundreds of people by suicide bombings freely mingle in society. Furthermore, selling, leasing and disposing of portions of our country to foreign interests continue unabated, posing a huge threat to our independence. In the forthcoming Presidential election, some candidates willing to implement proposals of certain politicians that would ultimately lead to the division of our country and a federal structure, are in the fray. As it is our prime and noble intention to ensure that all communities and followers of all religious faiths live harmoniously and in peace, respecting the main cultural ethos and Buddhism, we would call upon all candidates to openly declare and promise that they would protect the unitary status of our country, oppose federalism, and ensure national security. Those who would not so declare should be firmly rejected.
All religious leaders including Buddhist clergy to date have worked and contributed enormously to protect our motherland, nation, religion and culture. Similarly, all ethnic groups diligently and cordially have done their part. All communities and followers of all religious faiths in the future too, must work together with the thought “All are Sri Lankans”. Therefore, we appeal to you, including the Buddhist clergy and other religious leaders, to come together to defeat all forces that are attempting to divide this land or destroy the national unity.
We are kindly appealing to all, to cast your valuable vote at the forthcoming Presidential election, to the most capable leader who will protect and preserve the unitary status of our country; ensure national security; enhance and promote local produce and production; pull the country out of the economic mess we are in; strictly enforce law and order; and restore civility by eliminating prevailing lawlessness. We further appeal to all the Buddhist clergy and other religious leaders to provide leadership to apprise the public of the need to elect our future president to ensure our country’s peace and prosperity.
THE RECENT AWARD PRIDE OF ASIA” TO SRI LANKAN SPEAKER
KARU JAYASURIYA HAS NO VALUE. IT IS MEANT TO HOODWINK GENERAL PUBLIC,
SURELY THE AWARD HAS BEEN CONFERRED TO HIM WITHOUT FULLY
CHECKING CHECKING HIS WORKS. I MEAN, WITHOUT CHECKING HOW USEFUL HIS WORKS TO
SRI LANKANS”.
I DO NOT THINK THAT Abdul Kalam Institute of
Technological Sciences (AKITS).” HAD SPENT ANY TIME TO CHECK HIS WORKS.
AS YOU ARE AWARE SPEAKER KARU JAYASURIYA IS A MEMBER OF
CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL. THIS COUNCIL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF KEY
FIGURES IN PUBLIC SERVICES ( FOR EXAMPLE IGP)
I KINDLY REQUEST ABDUL KALAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGICAL
SCIENCES
(AKITS) MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN
RECOMMENDING THIS AWARD TO SPEAKER KARU JAYASURIYA THE FOLLOWING.
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY INSTITUTIONS
(INCLUDING CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL) WHERE SPEAKER IS A MEMBER, TO PUBLIC
SERVICES OFFICES.
FOR EXAMPLE FORMER IGP PUJITHA JAYASUNDARA IS ALREADY IN
REMAND CUSTODY.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE VERY EXTENSIVE CHECKS TO FIND OUT
SOME MATERIALS.
JUST CHECK THE PHONES OF SRI LANKA HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND SRI LANKA POLICE COMMISSION MEMBERS.
YOU WILL FIND PHONE NUMBERS OF ALL THE CRIMINAL POLICE
OFFICERS AND INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS (MOST OF THEM ARE BEHIND ORGANISED CRIMINAL
GANGS) IN THE ABOVE MENTION PHONES OF MEMBERS OF KEY
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
SRI LANKA HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SRI LANKA
POLICE COMMISSION MEMBERS RECEIVE
INSTRUCTIONS FROM CRIMINAL POLICE AND INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS REGARDING THE
HANDLING OF THE COMPLAINTS LODGED AT THESE COMMISSION AGAINST THESE CRIMINAL
POLICE OFFICERS AND INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS.
I DO NOT THINK I HAVE TO MENTION ANY OTHER PLACES TO
CHECK. OTHERS ARE NO EXCEPTION.
SADLY, NOT ONLY SPEAKER KARU JAYASURIYA BUT ALSO PM RANIL
WICKRAMASINGHA AND OPPOSITION LEADERS MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHA ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF
ABOVE MENTIONS INSTITUTIONS, YOU MIGHT THIS BEYOND YOUR SCOPE. I JUST MENTION
THIS TO INDICATE HOW CORRUPT SRI LANKANS KEY FIGURES ARE. ALL OF THEM EXPLOITS
INSTITUTIONS LIKE AKITS TO HAVE SOME WHITEWASH. ( OR BRAINWASH THE GENERAL
PUBLIC)
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact
Program is back on the news again. This time the government is keen to sign the
agreements before the Presidential elections without going through the
parliamentary process. There are protests from many quarters. The President,
Opposition Leader, the Maha Sangha, the Cardinal, Bar Association of Sri Lanka
(BASL) etc. had requested the government to delay the sign up, at least until
the parliamentarians are made aware of the contents of the agreement. The lack
of information has led to many interpretations and innuendos, highlighting the
adverse impact of the agreement on the sovereignty of the country and its
future generations.
Needless to say the map of Sri Lanka with a
development corridor extending from Colombo to Trincomalee, quite likely to
give shivers to patriotic lovers of the country. Many have asserted that the
MCC projects signify a division of Sri Lanka into North and South with a buffer
zone for an American military sector. The only winners are seen to be the TNA
who are hell bent on securing a separate state exclusively for Tamils in the
north (sans Sinhala settlements) as well as have the luxury of settling in any
other part of the Island. If this is the underpinning scenario of the MCC
concept then it is natural for Sri Lankans to question this arrangement, as the
rest of the population (72%), may have to be settled in the South, which is more
or less the same size in extent as the North. This is one of the fears
currently circulating among the southern communities, in the absence of MCC program
information.
In the midst of this confusion, the
American Embassy has extended a so called, a hand of comfort, confirming the
procedure of signing first and discussions later as compliant with MCC
projects. MCC procedure is said to be
“Consistent with
the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s worldwide policy in all partner
countries, once the grant assistance agreement is signed, the Government of Sri
Lanka will send it to parliament for approval. Inasmuch, Parliament will
have ample opportunity to review the grant assistance agreement.
…This grant assistance
agreement will directly benefit over 11 million Sri Lankans and meaningfully
stimulate economic growth. …Parliamentary review and approval are required
by MCC to ensure the grant assistance agreement has the support of the
government and the people.” (The Island 2 Nov. 2019).
It is my view that the above procedure is fraught with
several concerns, such as what would happen if the parliament disagrees with
the proposals? In such a scenario can the agreement be cancelled and voided?
It appears the review period is limited to develop
implementation plans. Here again what is the situation if there is a
disagreement on the concept itself? Are we required to pay back the ‘gift’ of
US$480 million in case of such a disagreement?
Also what research had been undertaken to claim that
over 11 million people would directly benefit from these projects? Who would be
these beneficiaries as nearly 21 million people live in this little island?
The MCC and the American Embassy need to explain the above
scenarios as well as any other questions Sri Lankans may have so that the
parliament and people can take informed decisions. What is in peril here is the
sovereignty of our land, which, is home to 21 million people. Although the
American Embassy has informed that the highlights of the MCC projects had been
disseminated to interested parties, the Sri Lankan interest would be to review
the full agreements, in particular the land project. The land project goal is
said to be to develop a land bank to provide information on private lands and
government lands, to increase land market activity. This would mean increased
land sales for large-scale economic activity, possibly to multinationals.
Changes to legislation have already been undertaken to
repeal Part 4-6 of the Land reform Act No 1 of 1972 to remove foreign ownership
limit of 50 acres. The difficulties of managing a internationally governed
contract based on international law were highlighted by Sri Lankan experts like
Dr. Kohona, the former UN Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka and former
Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a discussion at BMICH on 9 August
2019. (Pathfinder Foundation discussion, on Separating the Baby from the Bathwater: Evaluating the Millennium
Challenge Corporation-Sri Lanka Compact”).
These uncertainties have created more queries than
solutions. Thus far the govt. has not taken any steps to resolve these queries,
at least to the parliament let alone to the public. To say the least it is
unethical to sign an agreement with so much of discordance.
It should be noted that Sri Lankans could be different
to other MCC partners, who were mainly African countries. Sri Lankans are
astute enough to understand that there is nothing called a free lunch’. The USD$480
million grant is not a free gift. It is a payment for MCC projects and it is
important that these projects are acceptable to Sri Lankan people and not only
to a Cabinet of Ministers, who is currently struggling to manage the current
economy. A grant at this stage can be a windfall to patch up the economy until
the next parliamentary election, which a few months away. There is also an
election for the President within a few days. It is important the new President
is given a chance to review the contracts in detail before a commitment is
made. I am confident the Embassy would understand the current Sri Lankan situation
and take appropriate action in the interest of both our countries.
President’s Counsel Ali Sabri showing the documents proving that SLPP Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa had given up his US citizenship.Pic by Thushara Atapattu
A panel of senior lawyers led by President’s Counsel Ali Sabri yesterday produced documents pertaining to SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s renunciation of his US citizenship.
Addressing the media at Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo, they produced the original documents provided to Rajapaksa by the US State Department to the effect that he is no longer an American citizen.
Zabri said that the issue had been politicised by a group political opponents of Rajapaksa to mislead the public in view of their impending defeat at the Nov 16 presidential election. The matter had been challenged before the Court of Appeal with the same purpose but the court had thrown out the petition. “If they had any further doubt they could have gone to the Supreme Court. They knew the truth that Gotabaya Rajapaksa had renounced his US citizenship properly. So, they did not go to the Supreme Court and waited till now to mislead the people. There is a monk staging a protest at the Independence Square demanding to know the truth. He could have gone before his leaders Ranil Wickremesinghe or Sajith Premadasa who has very cordial links with the US Embassy and get the matter verified without wasting the time of others.”
Sabri said that when Rajapaksa renounced his US citizenship the State Department had canceled the latter’s travel documents. He presented them to the media.
Kushan de Alwis, PC, said that he had personally checked all documents pertaining to the issue and Rajapaksa had no barrier to get elected and be sworn in as the next President of the country.
Mayura Gunawansa, PC, Razik Zarook, PC, and an attorney-at-law practising in the US Prof. Gamini Gunawardena also informed the media that Rajapaksa had renounced his US citizenship.
Lieutenant Colonel Gotabaya Rajapaksa, RWP, RSP, psc, GR is a former Sri Lankan army officer and a politician
Sri Lanka was once known as the land of smiles
Admittedly, over the last four years, one does not encounter many people smiling on the streets of this lush green island.
It seems that there is a good chance that following the November 16 election, smiles may be back.
That’s what Gotabaya Rajapaksa, alias GR, a strong yet sensitive and ‘green’ leader aspires to. And he looks most likely to achieve it. He is the brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who lost the 2015 election after having served two terms as President.
A constitutional amendment introduced by the Government precludes anybody from serving more than two terms – hence, Mahinda could not run again.
Gotabaya, his younger brother, is not a novice in politics. He became renowned for ending the war against terrorism as a Defense secretary. He also held a portfolio of public works and much of the country’s modern infrastructure (as well as several landmark buildings) carry GR’s signature.
All this is signified by a carbon-neutral campaign’ which has set new standards in environmentally responsible political contests. Run by his brother, Basil Rajapaksa, and supported by a group of young technocrats, GR not only has reduced the use of paper to the absolute minimum but has calculated the overall carbon footprint of his campaign.
Having also calculated the carbon equivalent, his supporters have embarked on a concerted tree-planting frenzy in order to offset any strain put on the environment by the campaign.
Admirable indeed! The environment is undoubtedly one of Sri Lanka’s great assets. By increasing public awareness on the need to preserve it, GR is signifying that his plan for economic development goes hand-in-hand with his vision of a clean Sri Lanka, world-renowned for its organic farming.GR’s vision about equal opportunities and equality before the law is summed up by his quote.
“When I talk about prosperity I think of the whole country. Nobody shall be left behind. Those who stand to gain more from the development of Sri Lanka are those who today are the most deprived.
“GR’s economic policies laid down in an 85- page manifesto, aim ‘to guarantee a better life for each and everyone’.His manifesto includes an extensive chapter on education as GR places particular emphasis on the skills of the young.
His vision is to pave the ground for an internationally competitive Sri Lanka. And for ‘every new generation to live better than the previous generation’.This content is provided by BusinessWire India.
ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)
Shubha Singh, Indo-Asian News Service Courtesy Gulf Today
The Sri Lankan presidential election is turning into a battle between two politically influential families; the Rajapakse and the Premadasa families. Gotabaya Rajapakse, a former defence secretary is the younger brother of former president Mahinda Rajapakse, while Sajith Premadasa, Housing Minister, is the son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa who was assassinated by the LTTE in 1993.
Other prominent candidates for the November 16 presidential elections are Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peranuma (JVP) and former army commander Gen Mahesh Senanayake, who are expected to cut into the support base of Premadasa and Rajapakse respectively.
Mahinda Rajapakse is the former president during whose tenure the three decades long civil war came to an end with the defeat of the Tamil separatist group, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. But his ten-year long tenure as President ended in a surprising defeat in the 2015 presidential election, when he was ousted by a former colleague Maithripala Sirisena who formed a coalition with Ranil Wickremesinghe and his United National Party to win the presidential election.
Gotabaya is seen as the front-runner for the election; his campaign got an early start while Sajith Premadasa entered the fray much later as he had to force the acceptance of his candidature within the UNP’s old guard. But Sajith Premadasa’s chances got a significant boost after the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) indicated its support to him. The younger Premadasa is banking on the support that his father had among the people. Ranasinghe Premadasa is remembered in Sri Lanka as a grassroots leader who did not belong to Colombo’s ruling elite; he had a strong pro-poor outlook and had initiated several welfare schemes.
During the 2015 elections the UNP had the full backing of the TNA, but the Tamil Alliance has since been disappointed with the government’s failure to implement pre-poll assurances. The Tamil community has voiced their discontent at the incumbent government, but would be unwilling to vote for Gotabaya Rajapakse. Premadasa is seen as the better option. Both the main candidates have been wooing the majority Sinhala vote. The other significant minority, the Muslims are still shaky after the bombings on Easter Sunday in Colombo and the resulting polarization that had led to communal violence. The Tamils and Muslims are not as united as they were in 2015, and voting may get fragmented, with many people disinterested in casting their votes.
Mahinda and Gotabaya, as defence secretary were credited with the victory over Tamil Tigers, but they also faced charges of human rights violations and killings of civilians and surrendering LTTE cadres during the last stages of the civil war. Isolated from Western countries over the human rights charges, the Rajapakse government turned to China, borrowing huge sums of money to build infrastructure, but eventually ending in a debt trap.
In the post-conflict political scene, the Rajapakse family increased their dominance as various members were appointed as heads of several important institutions. The Rajapakse dominance alienated many Sri Lankans, including several in his own party. The Tamils and other minority groups felt marginalised in the atmosphere of Sinhala chauvinism in the post-war period and the absence of any efforts towards national reconciliation.
Five years later, the mood has changed after the bombings in Colombo on Easter Sunday when 250 persons were killed in the terrorist attacks. There is a desire to elect a strong leader to deal with the challenges facing the country. Confidence in the present government was shaken after it became evident that the Sirisena government had ignored repeated intelligence warnings from India regarding possible terrorist attacks.
The Sirisena-Wickremesinge combine had promised good governance, accountability and national reconciliation in 2015 but its poor performance, inefficiency and corruption together with the infighting between the two groups lost it much of its support. The rivalry reached its lowest point last year when President Sirisena dismissed Wickremesinge as Prime Minister and offered the position to Mahinda Rajapakse. Sri Lanka was plunged in a constitutional crisis as
Wickremesinge refused to leave office and Rajapakse was unable to cobble a majority in the Legislature. The crisis was resolved after the Supreme Court held Rajapakse’s appointment as illegal.
Though Mahinda Rajapakse is not an electoral candidate, he remains the guiding force of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) campaign. A recent constitutional amendment enhanced the powers of the Prime Minister for running the government and set a two-term limit for the President’s position. Barred from contesting for a third term, Mahinda Rajapakse is widely believed to be aiming for the Prime Minister’s post after the National Assembly elections due to
be held next year. This may hurt the chances of a Rajapakse comeback to the presidential palace by reviving the memories of the Rajapakse dominance.
People here see in him a strong leader, who ended war, built infrastructure.
I brought my child along just so he can see our leader, even if from a distance,” said Sepalika Harshani, 29, carrying her toddler under an umbrella.
She was among thousands who flocked to Wellawaya town in Sri Lanka’s southern Monaragala district on Saturday afternoon, braving the rain. They had come for the rally of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, candidate from their favourite political clan, in the final lap of the November 16 presidential poll campaign.
I would be very happy if someone like him becomes President of this country. He got us freedom,” Ms. Harshani said, referring to the war’s end in 2009 under the Rajapaksa administration. Mr. Gotabaya, brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was defence secretary, directing the military that defeated the rebel Tigers.
Nineteen-year-old A.P.D. Seuvandi, too, was there to catch a glimpse of the leader she has decided to vote for next weekend. They saved the country,” the first-time voter said. She was barely nine when the war ended but has grown up listening to a popular story of its end; one quite different from what Tamils of the north and east would tell. He will make the country safe again, develop it and improve education standards for us.” For many Sri Lankans, safety has become a major concern after the Easter Sunday terror attacks in April.
In the island’s southern hinterland, almost every local, including those supporting Mr. Gotabaya’s main opponent Sajith Premadasa, assert that a majority here will vote for Gotabaya”. Past election results are proof enough for that sentiment. Even in 2015, an election that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa lost, most of the southern districts gave him over 60% of the vote share. Historically a stronghold of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s former Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the southern belt seems to have readily embraced his newly-formed the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP or People’s Party).
Diverse reasons
The reasons pulling voters towards Mr. Gotabaya this time go beyond war victory”. Some of them are looking for respite from the everyday economic strain they associate with the incumbent government, or are utterly disenchanted with it, like daily-waged labourer D.M. Jayaratne. This government came to power saying they would catch corrupt thieves. Nothing happened in the last five years. Instead, they robbed the Central Bank,” he said, referring to the bond scam”, in which a former head of the apex bank was accused of manipulating bond auctions in 2015, causing a loss of millions. The scandal was a major blow to the government that rose to power months earlier, that too on the promise of good governance”.
Further, Mr. Jayaratne sees Mr. Gotabaya as a strong leader who will not give into Tamil demands” for war-time accountability and self-rule.
Election vs real issues
Many voters, across Monaragala [Uva Province] and the neighbouring Hambantota [Southern Province] district, began their poll analysis with a reading of the two main candidates — and less often of the leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s contestant Anura Kumara Dissanayake. But invariably, they spoke about pressing local concerns.
They pointed to land hunger, in the wake of mega development projects in Hambantota – a Chinese-built port and an adjoining industrial zone proposed over 15,000 acres. They worried about loss of livelihoods and falling incomes. There are no jobs here,” was a common refrain.
The irony was glaring. While billions of rupees have been channelled into the Rajapaksa-era development projects over the last decade, locals repeatedly speak of prevalent poverty. To the outside world, Hambantota is a high-profile emerging district, and a site of a regional geo-political tussle: with a Chinese-built port and the loss-making Mattala airport nearby, that India is interested in developing. But to many who live there, the development projects are at best distant and at worst, a threat.
Hoping for change
Both, the Rajapaksas and Mr. Premadasa are closely associated with the southern districts — either by familial links, or their parliamentary seats.
The constant fear of further marginalisation is making some voters consider a shift towards Mr. Premadasa. While it may not dull the Rajapaksa sheen yet, it points to Mr. Premadasa’s growing base, especially in the rural areas.
For K. L. Pradeepa Priyadarshini, Mr. Premadasa’s candidacy brings back the hope she felt during his father Ranasinghe Premadasa’s rule in the early 1990s. Hearing about his poverty alleviation programmes on radio, I felt here is a national leader who has finally spoken about our need for food and water,” said the Hambantota-based farmer.
When you sit in air-conditioned rooms, you can’t feel the heat and dust that people like us feel every day.” To her, Mr. Premadasa appears different, with a largely unblemished political record and fair success as Housing Minister.
Not who, but what
Supporters of Mr. Gotabaya are nostalgic about the past. Mahinda Rajapaksa ended the war, built roads and expanded rural electricity. But those drawn to Mr. Premadasa are looking at what he might do in future.
Some voters are tired of thinking about who to vote for. They’d rather think about what to vote for.
A group of women farmers in Monaragala district are basing their decision on candidates’ manifestos. We are looking at what they have said about women, farmers, national unity, rural debt, especially microfinance-induced debt, and education policy,” said S.A. Shanthi. They also challenged the idea of national security” that has become a chief election issue, in the wake of the Easter bombings. To ensure national security, “we don’t need a strong leader. we just need sound policies.”
Whose security are they talking about?” asked P.G. Podinona. Seeing the number of security guards around some candidates, it’s obvious who feels most insecure in this country. Whereas some of us don’t even have a dog to guard us.”
Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya Courtesy The Daily Mirror
The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has requested Facebook to control campaigning on its platform during the ‘cooling period’ where political propaganda for the forthcoming presidential election will cease.
Accordingly, propaganda activities for the presidential election will cease on the midnight of November 13. This includes display of posters, banners, meetings, postal and distribution of leaflets, visits and social media campaigns or anything that may influence voters. The cooling period is for the general public to make their independent decisions without being influenced by any propaganda activity.
In a letter to the administrator of Facebook, PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said it had no control over Facebook-related campaigning which was against election laws.
Due to the nature of social media, we are in a dilemma on how the implementation and enforcement of law and order on Facebook will take ground, especially during the cooling period,” he said in the letter.
Mr. Hettiarachchi said they strongly believed the Facebook administration would pay immediate attention and take necessary action in this regard.
PAFFREL has deployed a special technical team to coordinate with Facebook in order to control and mitigate propaganda activities on the public domain,” he said.
Issuing a statement yesterday, an independent group of eminent Buddhist monks requested people to cast their vote at the forthcoming presidential election to the most capable leader who would protect and preserve the unitary status of the country, ensure national security, enhance and promote local produce and production, pull the country out of the economic mess, strictly enforce law and order and restore civility by eliminating prevailing lawlessness.
We further appeal to Buddhist clergy and other religious leaders to provide leadership to apprise the public of the need to elect our future President to ensure our country’s peace and prosperity,” they said.
The statement had been signed by Ven. Ittapane Dhammalankara, Mahanayake Thera, Ven. Ganthure Assagee Thera, Ven. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Thera, Ven. Ambewela Paggasara Thera, Ven. Prof. Kotapitiye Rahula Thera, Ven. Prof Kollupitiye Sangarakkitha Thera, Ven Kotapola Amarakiththi Theta, Ven. Prof. Madagama Nandawasa Thera, Ven. Dr. Walpola Wimalagana AnunayakeThera, Ven. Prof. Pallekande Rathnasara Thera, Ven. Mederipiteye Tapassi Thera, Ven. Prof. Kiwlegedara Narada Thera, Ven. Prof. Kahapola Sugatharathana Thera, Ven. Homagama Dammananda Thera, Ven. Omare Kassapa Anunayake Thera, Ven. Prof. Magammana Paghghannda Thera, Ven. Prof. Madagampitiye Wijitha Dhamma Thera, Ven. Kumbuke Chandaloka Thera, Ven. Prof. Agalakada Sirisumana Thera and Ven. Prof. Iththademaliye Indasara Thera.
The statement says, Sri Lanka is a unique country. Our country’s physical assets such as strategic location, climate, geography, environment and water coupled with our esteemed culture, the national heritage enriched with our archaeological endowments elevate our country’s standing among the countries in the world to high levels.
The unfortunate environments that developed during the recent past and devastating events that have taken place have made the Buddhist clergy and other religious dignitaries sorrowful. Further, degradation and erosion of territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence and ability to withstand foreign intervention, exacerbated by the breakdown of national security have been the cause for profound sadness and despair. It is so unfortunate that this uncertain climate and environment still prevails.
No one has been found guilty or accountable on the Central Bank bond scam where enormous amounts of money have been siphoned off. Those who killed hundreds of people by suicide bombings freely mingle in society. Furthermore, selling, leasing and disposing of portions of our country to foreign interests continue unabated, posing a huge threat to our independence. Some candidates in the presidential election fray are willing to implement proposals of certain politicians that would ultimately lead to the division of our country and a federal structure. As it is our prime and noble intention to ensure all communities and followers of all religious faiths live harmoniously and in peace, respecting the main cultural ethos and Buddhism, we would call upon all candidates to openly declare and promise they would protect the unitary status of our country, oppose federalism and ensure national security. Those who would not so declare should be firmly rejected.
All religious leaders including Buddhist clergy to date have worked and contributed enormously to protect our motherland, religion and culture. Similarly, all ethnic groups diligently and cordially have done their part. All communities and followers of all religious faiths in the future too must work together with the thought “All are Sri Lankans.” Therefore, we appeal to you, including the Buddhist clergy and other religious leaders, to come together to defeat all forces that are attempting to divide this land or destroy national unity.”
Granting of the presidential pardon to the Royal Park murder convict was carried out on the recommendations of a special committee of officials, civil organizations, and several distinguished members of the society stated President’s Media Division.
Jude Shramantha Anthony Jayamaha, who was sentenced to death over the Royal Park murder case in 2005, was released on presidential Pardon, on Saturday (November 09).
Issuing a statement, today (11), President’s Media Division said that President Maithripala Sirisena received written requests and recommendations from religious leaders, former Supreme Court judges, lawyers, civil society activists, youth organizations and many other parties for a presidential pardon considering the positive aspects of Shramantha Jayamaha.
The statement stated that MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero took initiative and played an important role in gaining the presidential pardon for the convicted youth.
Along with Rathana Thero, Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thero, Ven. Keradewala Punnaratana Thero, Ven. Balangoda Buddhagosha Thero and Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Galle Rev. Raymond Wickremasinghe had made requests for a Presidential Pardon.
Additionally, former Supreme Court Justice Rohini Marasinghe and Attorneys-at-Law Mahesh Madawala, Nalini Manatunga, Nilruk Ilakathrige, Kumudu Nanayakkara had also made recommendations and requests to the President on the matter.
Civil organizations such as the Wijayananda Social Services Development Foundation of Weliwatta Wijayananda Temple, Galle and the Nawa Jeewana Amadyapa Handa of Roomassala, Unawatuna had made requests to the President.
Further, The President also considered the recommendations and suggestions made by a special committee comprising high ranking officials from the Ministry of Justice on Shramantha Jayamaha.
In view of all these, the President granted Presidential Pardon to Shramantha Jayamaha considering the reports made by the Department of Prisons and recommendations other relevant government agencies regarding the conduct of the convict, read the statement.
The complete statement issued by Presidents Media Division:
Many religious leaders, former Supreme Court Judges, lawyers, civil society leaders and youth leaders have made representations to President Maithripala Sirisena, recommending granting a sympathetic consideration to the appeal for granting Presidential pardon to 34-year old Don Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha, who is serving a life imprisonment on the murder taken place at Royal Park, Rajagiriya.
Ven Athraliye Rathana Thero, Member of Parliament, played a key role and coordinated in obtaining Presidential pardon for this youth and he has brought the parents and close relations of the youth to meet the President and give a lengthy explanation of the background.
Ven Rathana Thero also made a written appeal to the President explaining that the murder took place due to an argument over a love affair between the youth and the young girl and Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha, while serving his sentence in prison with good behavior and conduct and undertook studies to successfully complete his external degree and now working for his PhD and he is an intelligent young man with a pleasant personality. He appealed to consider above and release him on a Presidential pardon.
Ven Rathana Thero also appealed to the President to consider this in accordance with the Buddhist teachings of compassion.
Ven Baddegama Samitha Thero too urged the President to pardon this youth as an intelligent person he would be a good citizen in the future and it would be highly appreciated.
Ven Dr. Keradewala Punnarathana Nayake Thero, Dwitheeya Adhikarana Sangha Nayake of Southern Sri Lanka, also stated that the President Should sympathetically consider granting pardon to this youth he has not indulged in any illegal acts apart from the crime he was found guilty. Ven Balangoda Buddhagosha Thero also stressed the importance of granting Presidential pardon to this youth.
When this crime took place Shramantha Anthony Jude Jayamaha was a 19 year old youth and considering that it was reported that the crime was committed due to instantaneous and uncontrolled anger and not a pre-planned murder and considering his good conduct during the last 15 years of prison life and he has completed higher studies and studying for Ph.D. and he is an intelligent and experienced person who has been rehabilitated and he has not been found guilty of any wrongdoings during the imprisoned period, and considering that he has an ability to serve the country as a good citizen and in other countries too such amnesty is given to prisoners, the President has decided to pardon Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa those who do not believe that he had revoked his citizenship of the United States can take it to the courts.
Joining the Derana 360° political program, the former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he is no longer a citizen of the US as of April 17th.
Stating that the US citizenship is a personal matter of his, Rajapaksa said that he followed through the procedures set by the US government to renounce citizenship and was issued with the certificate ‘Oath/Affirmation of Renunciation of Nationality of United States’ which states that he is not considered a US citizen from 17th of April 2019.
Clarifying why his name was not included in the Federal Lists of individuals who had denounced their citizenship, Rajapaksa said that it is not something relevant to him as it sometimes takes one year or more time for a person’s name to appear on the list despite having denounced citizenship.
Presenting his US passport, he stated that it has been invalidated by the US government by punching two holes in the passport and stated that anyone who still has a dispute with this can go to courts on the matter.
Responding to a query on his silence towards challenges posed by Sajith Premadasa for a debate, Rajapaksa said that his responsibilities lie with the people. By engaging with opponents personally will only result in mudslinging and nothing else, he added.
He pointed out that he has not commented or even mentioned the name of his opposing candidates during his campaign.
Speaking on implementing national policies, Gotabaya Rajapaksa said while believing that there should be a national policy for every aspect of the country, it is also the responsibility of all governments to carry good policies forward.
He says while some policies, such as a national policy on education, can be carried out by all governments; there are some policies that might not be implemented under governments with different priorities.
Commenting on how to engage professionals in the government, Rajapaksa said that the roles of a politician and a professional are different.
Politician creates policies. These have to be implemented by officials. At this point, we need efficient officials who can work. Utilizing the proper persons to carry out the policies should be a skill of the government.
By this, I do not mean everyone should have a Ph.D. or a Masters. They should be able to achieve goals and show results. Knowledge alone is useless. The government should set goals for such professionals. We should give a chance to persons who are result-oriented.”
The presidential hopeful also commented on the topic of national security.
He says that during their regime, they had a good understanding of what national security is and why national security must be prioritized.
Following the war, we studied the situation and trained officers further on terrorism. We even sent them for US training. We appointed a separate specialized unit for this.”
However, the current government lost focus on national security once they came into power, according to Rajapaksa.
Then, working against terrorism or underworld became a crime. Officials who worked against terrorism, underworld, and drugs were interrogated and punished.”
Rajapaksa says that he believes that the mentality of the country is the most important.
When I first became defense Secretary everyone told me that this couldn’t be ended through a military solution. But we understood that this can be done and the mentality should be shaped for it. And we did it. But this current government completely broke down this mentality.”
Gotabaya Rajapaksa said: I know how the Commanders of the tri-forces, especially Army Commanders, committed to defeating terrorism. I have always mentioned this. But these same Commanders now go and say that we did wrong.
They even tried to imprison the Navy Commander under false accusations.
The IGP himself said that the law was being bent. Two higher-ups at the Attorney General’s office said that all these were done on political needs. Then the FCID chief said that these were done by pressurizing him. Is this the rule of law?
Can political leaders choose whom to file court cases against? Is this how the law should be implemented? Is this the justice of law? What else should we do if not release war heroes who have been falsely accused in this manner?”
Some United National Party (UNP) MPs are creating mudslinging propaganda in the face of defeat, according to Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He expressed these views to the media following a religious event held in Anuradhapura.
As opponents have nothing left to say, they will get liars to say many things, Rajapaksa points out.
Stating that they might bring even Zahran’s wife to make statements, Mahinda Rajapaksa said that if possible, Rajitha [Senaratne] might bring Zahran himself back from the dead.
Such offenses may result in 5 years’ worth of jail time, he added.
The Opposition Leader says that presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa will win the Presidential election by 54 percent and that this has instilled fear among the opponents.
The Supreme Court has appointed a five-judge bench to consider the fundamental rights petitions filed seeking for an injunction order against the signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Agreement with the United States.
The five-judge bench appointed by the Chief Justice is to be chaired by the Supreme Court Judge Buwaneka Aluvihare.
Accordingly, the judge-bench is comprised of Supreme Court Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, L. T B. Dehideniya, Murdu Fernando, S. Thurairajah, and Gamini Amarasekera.
The petitions are to be considered on the 13th of November.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), Attorney-at-Law Dharshana Weeraduwa and Ven. Anguruwelle Jinananda Thero had filed fundamental rights petitions against the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Agreement with the US.
The Attorney General, President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana, and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera have been named the respondents of the petitions.
The petitioners claim that the MCC agreement, which is to be signed without the consent of the parliament and the public, could seriously harm the national security and sovereignty of the country.
Therefore, the petitioners have requested the Supreme Court to issue a ruling that the government’s decision to enter into this agreement violates the Constitution and to issue an interim injunction preventing the signing of the agreement.
The Sinhale Organization filed a complaint with the CID demanding an investigation on the media briefing organized by Minister Rajitha Senarathna yesterday and to arrest the minister and the other speakers.
In addition, the organization filed another complaint seeking an investigation over the mudslinging distribution by a secretary of non-cabinet minister Harsha de Silva in Mirihana yesterday.
Meanwhile, police media spokesman, SP Ruwan Gunesekera said that an investigation has been initiated on the matter.
Another stock of mudslinging leaflets against SLPP Presidential Candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa were discovered from Magammana in Ruwanwella today.
Police have initiated an investigation after seizing the leaflets.
At the same time, the two suspects including a secretary of non-cabinet minister Harsha de Silva have been further remanded until November 14
They were arrested while distributing mudslinging leaflets against SLPP candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday
The two persons who were arrested while distributing mud-leaflets against Presidential Candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna have been remanded until 14 of this month.
This was subsequent to the suspects being produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court today.
These two individuals were taken into custody, in Mirihana yesterday and one of them is a Secretary of Non-Cabinet Minister Harsha De Silva.
Selling the Motherland
crept into our leaders only after the General Election of 1977. In my
working life from 1955 to 1973 in Sri Lanka
I have kept close
association with ,many of our leaders- Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake, ,
Ministers P.C.Imbulana, Vimala Kannangara, Dr N.M. Perera, P.G.B
Kalugalle, T.B. Subasinghe, NH
Karunaratne , Dr Colvin R de Silva. I am certain that none of them had the idea of Selling the Motherland even in their remotest
dreams It is sad to note
that the deeds of the leaders of the United National Party from 1977 onwards
have proved beyond all doubt that they all belong to the
group that would Sell the Motherland. In 1978, President Jayawardena caved in to the IMF which insisted that if he needed
Financial Aid, he had to invariably follow the IMF’s Structural Adjustment
Programme. (SAP) The main condition was that the Government could
not handle any commercial undertaking. Everything that the earlier Governments
had done in the name of commercial undertakings, to create employment and bring
about development had to be totally abolished. The industries and farms established under
the Divisional Development Councils Programme (DDCP) 1970-1977)were totally
abolished and the youths- 32,000 were inevitably
consigned to the scrap heap of unemployment and poverty. . In detail, . The Boatyard
at Matara where youths built 30 ft long inboard motor boats- some 40 every year
and earned good incomes was scrapped and the valuable machinery was neglected,
sold and also left in a scrap heap. Coop Crayon, established by me and Member
of Parliament Sumanapala Dahanayake, which had islandwide sales was stopped. All other industries and agricultural
farms were stopped and a few hundred youths lost their jobs. This is what
happened in the Matara District In an earlier paper of mine in Lanka Web:(Sri Lanka:
Development and Pitfalls:Agricultural
marketing) (
) I have detailed what happened when the Paddy Purchasing Scheme, Rice Milling,
The Vegetable & Fruit Marketing Scheme, The Cannery and
the Fair Price Shops of the Marketing Department were also axed by the UNP government of President
Jayawardena. Easily tens of thousands of farmers were destined to get lower
incomes as the Marketing Department Scheme of purchasing vegetables and paddy
was scrapped overnight. It is important to note that by following the advice of the
IMF to liberalize spending
foreign exchange and agreeing to meet the
shortfall with loans the Government was creating a situation where Sri lanka
will be building up a colossal foreign debt- which is today around $ 56 to $ 60
billion. Before 1977 Sri Lanka had liitle
or no foreign debt. Today the
Presidential Election of 16/11 is to be held in a
few days and the stalvarts of the UNP have declared that if victorious at the
presidential election they will ink the Millennium Challenge Corporation(MCC
)Compact agreement. The MCC Project brings in a grant of $ 480 million to attend to some minor
transport fixtures– busstands, zebra crossings, traffic lights, advanced trafic management systems”. and also there is a Land Component to address “the
lack of access to State lands and private lands for investment Purposes”. The
cat is out of the bag when the document states: Lack of access to State lands and private Lands for investment purposes is a
significant deterrent to both foreign and domestic investment” The
idea is to create a dynamic market for land.”. It is said to involve 28% of the land mass of our island. The idea is to “convert
permits and grants in State lands to absolute land grants”. It would be of interest to note that the
UNP of today is going against the development infrastructure of peasant
colonization that was laid down by no less a person than Prime Minister DS
Senanayake. I quote from one of my earlier writings:(Betraying our Visionary
Leader DS Senanayake-(LankaWeb:16/07/2019) The vast colonization schemes of the Dry
Zone, the peasantry, in thousands that enjoyed the land, earning
bountiful crops were all due to the great achievement of our Leader, DS
Senanayake, all achieved during his days as the Minister for Agriculture and
Lands. It was his dream to uplift the life of the rural masses and for that
purpose he initiated a policy of granting land to the landless poor,
making them partners in production and national development. His avowed aim was
not only to see that they are
free from hunger and starvation but to see that they are established on land
and become self reliant and selfdependent” (Hansard: 26/2/1932:State
Council of Ceylon)His plan was not the haphazard
alienation of Crown land. He went to the extent of appointing a Select
Committee of the State Council, to make any recommendations which they consider expedient and
practical for the establishment of a Scheme whereby land may be
settled on villagers and small holders and Crown land alienation or
leased to villagers or small holders can be prevented from passing into
the hands of persons other than villagers or small holders”(Hansard:
14/03/1933:Land Development Ordinance). A Committee was duly appointed . The Committee had sittings
for two years and made submissions to the Council which were accepted.
Referring to the Land Development Ordinance provisions he said that in this Ordinance we have made provision for
the protection of holdings that is we have considered it necessary.. that
when land is alienated to a class of people to see that the land is
possessed and it is very necessary that protection should be continued
for all time. It was necessary to see that not only in the first instance
the person who got the land belonged to the class to which we
want the lands to go , but that the successors too belonged to that class. We
felt that if we gave out right transfers it will not be possible to
protect such lands.”(Hansard: 14/3/1933” State Council of Ceylon)He said that it was necessary to avoid what
happened when freehold land was given out under British rule:”But what happened
to the jungle land up country under the British Government with its
unfortunate laws and practices. Today owing to the freehold given by the
Government … all that land has passed out of the possession of the people
of this country.”(Statement in the State Council of Ceylon:(19/10/1933:
Hansard)Today we are seeing in progress the death knell of the colonization
schemes and the bold peasantry that was built up by our leader DS
Senanayake.Reading through the MCCCompact agreement I find the present document
states in no uncertain terms that the intention is to create a dynamic market
for land” by converting permits and grants in State lands to absolute land
grants.”. This aim of the MCC Compact is totally opposed to Prime Minister DS
Senanayake’s intention of creating a bold peasantry.It is clearly evident that
the intention is to create a situation where State
lands will be saleable to multinationals. This will create poverty as the
peasantry will spend what they get out of the sale and will eventually get into
the homeless and poverty fold. It is a well known practice in developed
countries for multinationals to retain firms that pressurize people to sell
their land. It is also important to note
that our founding father DS Senanayake was also the person who created the
Department for Development of Agricultural Marketing with its Guaranteed Price
for Paddy, its Rice Mills, its Vegetable & Fruit Marketing Scheme and
Cannery which enabled the march of farmers to productivity and out of poverty.
This agricultural marketing infrastructure was totally abolished by President
JR Jayawardena. The CWE was also established by Prime Minister DS Senanayake.
Thus it is found that President JR Jayawardena as well as the present leaders
including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe are not
concerned with helping the people of Sri lanka. Their aim to to follow what the
IMF and other foreign powers like the USA, in its MCCCompact tells them to do.
They do not care about the poverty that will be created by the implementation
of the MCCCompact provisions. The
aims of the MCCCompact is totally impractical . It talks of fixing a few zebra
crossings, making a few changes to transport networks and projects that it will
benefit 7million people and similarly it projects that the land Project will
benefit as much as 5 million people. Having
played a major role in the development field in Sri Lanka for 18 years as a
senior administrator and having served as an International Consultant in
Bangladesh and the Bahamas for four years and having bagged the Ph.D. in Ag
Econ and Non Formal Education from Michigan State University, my knowledge and
expertise tells me that the MCCCompact project will if implemented create an
insignificant progress to public transport while
definitely consigning millions of prosperous
peasants on colonization schemes and state land projects to
become landless, destitute and to utter poverty. The
MCCCompact Agreement currently in circulation, perhaps the version submitted
for signature now, does not refer to the
200 mile corridor from Colombo to Trincomalee, with an electric train, to be
installed under the Transport Section and an electrified fence dividing the
North and South of Sri lanka that was submitted, drawn on a map of Sri Lanka to
bank managers and the Bar Chief URL de Silva at a meeting at Temple Trees on
25/11/2018 by MCC Team Leader Steve
Dobrilovic , referred to in Sarojini Dutt’s article in the Lanka Web of
6/11/2019.(Sri Lanka Cabinet Surrenders the country to the Americans). It is sad that our present UNP leaders
are selling the Motherland to
foreigners. They do not care for the welfare of our people.The damage that the rule of President
jayawardena did to Sri lanka is
irrepairable. Sri Lanka has lost its development inrastructure that enabled the
people and the country to march from colonial rule to prosperity. It was with
this development infrastructure that we became self sufficient in paddy, the
staple crop under the reign of Premier Dudley Senanayake.The present leaders have forsaken the great
achievements of leaders like DS Senanayake and Dudley Senanayake. I have happened
to work closely with Premier Dudley when I was Additional GA at Kegalla in 1978
and 1979 and can vouch for the sincerity of purpose he had in alleviating
poverty which he did achieve. I am sad that the present leaders of the UNP are
moving in the opposite direction to sacrifice the peasantry and the people of
Sri lanka. I am certain that the combination of
leaders- former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya and former Premier Mahinda can effectively strategize a programme to end
poverty and unemployment in Sri lanka. The experience that all other
presidential aspirants hold is insignificant and not of the caliber of
achieving development. The voters have a clear
choice before them- whether our Motherland is for sale to
foreigners. Leaders Gotabhaya and Mahinda with their achievement of freeing the
country once from the LTTE terrorism that ruled us for three decades tells me
that they will be the only hope for our Motherland.These words come to you from a Sri Lankan administrator who once in 1982 and 1983 was working
as the Commonwealth Fund Advisoir to the Ministrry of Labour and Manpower in
Bangladesh, when I was able to obtain approval to
establish a Youth Self Employment Programme, a task that the ILO had miserably
failed in the earlier three years and who within two years did create the
Programme and trained Bangadeshi staff to continue it- a programme that has
guided two million youths upto
2011 into self employment, an achievement beyond par in the annals of
development history. This is today the premier employment creation programme
the world has known that has withstood the sands of time.
Garvin Karunaratne, Ph
D. Michigan State UniversityAuthor of:How the IMF Ruined Sri Lanka and
Alternative Programmes of Success(Godages) 2006)How the IMF Sabotaged Third World Development (Kindle/Godages:2017)09/11/2019
The Ministry of Finance published an announcement on the treasury.gov.lk website on November 1, 2019
to the effect that the ‘MCC agreement drafted with the consent of AG will be
presented in parliament’. The self-explanatory first paragraph mentions what
the Millennium Challenge Corporation means and what projects it is going to
execute in Sri Lanka:
‘The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a bilateral United
States Foreign Aid Agency established by the United States Congress in 2004,
applying a new philosophy towards foreign aid. It provides time limited grants
and assistance to developing countries that meet rigorous standard (sic) for good
governance, from fighting corruption to respecting democratic rights. On the
request of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), the MCC undertook a constraints
to economic growth analysis” in year 2016. MCC and the GOSL subsequently
decided to focus on the land and transport sectors, which were identified as
binding constraints to growth. The constraints analysis concluded that traffic
congestion in the Colombo Metropolitan Region, poor transport connectivity
between Provinces, and weakness in land administration constrain economic
growth. Accordingly, the MCC agreed to grant USD 480 million for financing the
above projects.’
The short middle paragraphs explain that the final discussions
were conducted in October 2018 between the MCC and some Cabinet-approved
government officials from the relevant ministries, the legal aspect of the
whole process being okayed by the Attorney General. The final paragraph
runs:
‘The Compact Agreement and the
Program Implementation Agreement will be submitted to and enacted by Parliament
of Sri Lanka once it is signed and before its entry into force and will be
published in the Government Gazette before submitted to Parliament’.
This gives us the impression that
discussion in Parliament will just be a formality and that the MPs and the
general public are going to be presented with a fait accompli with no chance to
refuse it if not acceptable. There is a strong element of unexplained hurry,
secrecy, and surprise (for no date is given in this announcement for presenting
the draft agreement in parliament). It is extremely intriguing why an
international agreement with such grave implications as we now know for Sri
Lanka’s future should be rushed by the worst and the most corrupt government
Sri Lanka has ever had since independence, struggling in its deathbed for its
last gasp.
The contents of the 84 page draft agreement released on the same
day (November 1, 2019) by the Ministry of Finance under the title:
‘Millennium Challenge Compact between the United States of America acting
through the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Democratic Socialist
Republic of Sri Lanka acting through the Ministry of Finance’ imply elements of
an entrapment rather than features of a plan for empowerment which is its
ostensible purpose and promise. For example, terms stipulated relating to
Termination, Suspension, or Expiration as spelt out in Articles 5, 6 and 7/pp.
10-14 are highly unfavourable to Sri Lanka. One is left with the impression
that America’s interests have received more attention from the architects of
the ‘aid’ project than those of its unequal partner that supposedly needs help.
Sri Lankans have been undergoing untold suffering over the past
seventy years in their legitimate struggle to stand on their own feet as an
independent nation after the ravages of four and a half centuries of Western
colonial domination. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the whole
post-independence period has been totally wasted because of the relaxed but
still strong stranglehold of colonialism, now metamorphosed as neoliberal
globalization. We have made some significant headway in terms of national
independence, education, economic development, and other parameters of nation
building, but it falls far short of what might have been actually achieved but
for such perennial issues as racist minority politics and the lingering
colonial impact on governance. From 1948 to date, undue external influence has
persisted over key aspects of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and national identity
including governance, economy, inter-communal unity, national security,
international relations, and the country’s image abroad.This unwelcome foreign
sway over local affairs has been in the form of sometimes unsolicited
intervention in these matters, which today has further degenerated into brazen
interference. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact is the latest
and the worst instance of this neocolonial aggression from the point of view of
well informed patriotic citizens including Buddhist monks and the clergy of
other religions, who would never politicize vital national issues. The proposed
‘Compact’ between the mighty USA and the tiny Sri Lanka, which came within
hours of being signed into law in secrecy has just been pipped at the post by a
sudden surge of public awareness of and just opposition to the treacherous
scheme.
Sri Lanka’s geopolitical importance for the two global superpowers
America and China, and for the dominant regional power India, has always
meant trouble for the Sri Lankan people. The faintly resurrected Tamil
separatist problem and the emergent threat to the traditionally existing
religious harmony posed by the recent advent of a large number of small foreign
funded Christian and Muslim extremist groups (outside the pale of mainstream
Christian and Muslim communities) are probably being exploited by the powers
that be to destabilize the country in pursuit of their strategic
geopolitical ends in the region.
The success achieved in political, economic, and national security
terms by the previous government in the years 2005 – 2014 was apparently not to
the liking of Sri Lanka’s American ‘well-wishers’. The achievements of those
years demonstrated that Sri Lankans, when united, can independently exploit the
country’s rich natural and human resources without having to enslave themselves
once again to other nations, whose ancestors plundered their country before. But
foreign intervention put paid to that short spell of fast post-war recovery.
Consequent to five years of Yahapalanaya, Sri Lanka’s survival as a sovereign
nation is hanging in the balance.This is most unfortunate. The external forces
and their local lackeys that reversed the gains of 2009 are behind the MCC,
pursuing the same agenda, with even more determination. Worrisome foreign
involvement in its affairs is the biggest problem that the country is facing at
the moment. However, encouragingly enough, the clear frontrunner in the
presidential race has already repeatedly assured the people that, if elected,
he will never compromise national security or surrender the country’s
independence to any other country however powerful it may be.
Ven. Ududumbara Kashyapa Thera, an educated young monk staged
a fast-unto-death against the signing of the MCC agreement in a hurried
hush-hush illegitimate manner with only two weeks to go before the presidential
election. Ven. Kashyapa is the Chief Incumbent of the Vipassana Meditation
Centre, Colombo. He is not an aged Mahanayake Thera, but among ordinary
Buddhists, he is venerated as a virtuous monk; he is not a politician or a
supporter of any presidential candidate. He was only trying to apply pressure
on the powers that be stop the great harm that he believed was about to befall
the Country, the Nation, that is, all Sri Lankans, and the nonviolent,
non-sectarian, inclusive and generously accommodating traditional Buddhist
cultural foundation, which is the lynchpin of the peaceful coexistence of
diverse communities and religions in the beautiful Island of Sri Lanka.
Both the principal presidential contenders sent messengers to him
each assuring him that the matter would be resolved in a manner not detrimental
to the country after the election is over, and appealed to him to give up the
fast. But he refused to do so, repeating his original demand that either the
president or the prime minister give him a written pledge that the MCC
Agreement would not be pushed through and made irrevocable before November 16,
the day of the presidential election. The monk gave up his fast on the prime
minister meeting this demand. In his letter, prime minister Ranil
Wickremasinghe assured the monk that the MCC compact will not be signed before
the presidential election, and that the matter will be pursued only after
consulting all stakeholders and after parliamentary discussion of the draft
bill. Ven. Kashyapa ended the fast because, he said, he achieved his purpose
(i.e. preventing the compact from being rushed through before November 16). But
he expressed scepticism of the pm’s words: ‘I don’t believe any of this’, and
he warned that if any program is attempted that is harmful to the nation, the
monks will come forward against it in a larger and more organized scale.
Finance minister Mangala Samaraweera scoffed at the fasting
Ven. Kashyapa, in a Twitter post, calling him a stooge of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa,
who ate Lemon Puff (biscuits) in secret during his fast. The monk
commented that he did not care for people who responded to his hunger-strike in
perverted ways. However, the finance ministry sent the monk a copy of the MCC
document after he had ended the fast. The monk said that pages 12 to 14 had
been deleted (the same mentioned above in this article containing controversial
clauses – rrw), but he said he had already studied the MCC Compact draft
in full before he sat down for the fast. Ven. Kashyapa describes the MCC
agreement as a tragedy, but a tragedy that it is avoidable. To keep these
menacing meddling powers the Sinhalese Buddhist majority and the minorities
living with them in peace and equality must unite in brotherhood, the monk
admonishes.
The clearest, the most prompt, and the most credible response to
the monk’s fasting came from the leading candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. During
a massive rally at Harispattuwa near Kandy on November 5, the day the monk
started his fast-unto-death, having got news about the fasting monk, GR assured
that he will not allow any agreement with a foreign country that was inimical
to Sri Lanka. This was before he sent the fasting monk a letter begging him to
end the fast. In the letter, he promised that all agreements entered into by
the current government after the declaration of the presidential election will
be reviewed subject to the demands of national security, sovereignty,
independence, and the broad national interest.
Ven. Kashyapa points out that it has become clearly evident
over the past years, particularly in the past five years, that Buddhism that
empowers the people morally and intellectually is being obstructed in various
ways. The land in the designated economic corridor is going to be sold, in his
opinion, at the ridiculously low price of 180 rupees per perch. Sri Lankans need
not succumb to the enslaving schemes of foreign powers. The country has the
necessary natural resources and quality human resources. The outspoken
monk finally said he performed his historical obligation of helping the country
out in adversity through his moral power as a Buddhist monk, and that his work
ended there for the moment; he will offer the same assistance in the future if
need be.
The cabinet of ministers approved the Millennium Challenge
Corporation Compact, but it may be assumed that not even the MPs had seen the
original draft, and if they had, they might not have been shown the authentic
version in Sinhala or Tamil. It looks like that not all of them know enough
English to understand the document in terms of its real implications for the
Nation. This sort of thing should not be allowed to happen to the most
peaceful, nonviolent, kindhearted ordinary people of Sri Lanka, cultured and
humanized under the influence of the compassionate teachings of the Buddha. It
is the responsibility of the civilized world to look into why there is so much
public opposition across the country, irrespective of distinctions of
ethnicity, religion, language, etc., among the communities, to this so-called
Compact that was said to be on the verge of being signed without the knowledge
and approval of the Sovereign People of Sri Lanka.
We now enter the last week of the election
in which frauds, intimidation and other malpractices reign supreme. Before proceeding to comment about the
current situation I think it is pertinent to remind the voters how Maithripala
Sirisena, finding that United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has all the chances
to win the August 17th 2015 General Election acted indecently and
made a harsh and unpardonable statement that even if the UPFA wins the election
he will not appoint Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister of the country.
This made a large percentage of voters to refrain voting and despite that that
the UNP, Sirisena’s favourite was able
to get only 11 seats more than the UNP and what Sirisena did next was appoint a
number of unsuccessful UPFA candidates as MPs through the national list and
facilitate the reactionary UNP to form a government in coalition with some
Sirisena loyalist UPFA MPs.
This was said to warn the voters that various mud-slinging activities have been starting and distribution of pamphlets through electronic and print media, through d numerous pro-UNP websites, social media, paid advertisements in electronic and print media, through distribution of pamphlets and spread of rumours to mislead the voters against Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa despite intelligence reports predicting a tremendous victory for Mr Gotabhaya.
The Lanka E-News, which is a pro-UNP website operated from London and access to which is barred from Sri Lanka due to a personal dispute with Sirisena and the Lanka News Web sites are alle3gted to be financed and operated by quisling Mangala Samaraweera has started publishing a smear campaign directly targeting Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa connecting him with various allegations.
As in what was done in the campaign period for the 2015elections, CIA/, 16/ RAW agents are reported to be operating through their embassies and their friendly embassies and various UN Agencies and their sole objective is to prevent a Gota victory since they will not be able to manipulate things and affairs in this country under a Gota regime. Already there were reports that some RAW Agents were in attendance at Gota’s meetings and recording his speeches.
The treacherous made a big fuss today saying that Mr Gotabhayq Rajapaksa is still a U.S.citizen and hence Sri Lankans should not vote for him. They give wide publicity to this concocted rumour and even made a hitherto unknown Buddhist priest start a fast against Mr Gotabha.
Following this several legal-luminaries lead by Mr Ali Sabri PC held a media conference and displayed the following documents to counter the UNP’s malicious rumour:
Copy of application of Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa requesting for relinquishing his U.S. citizenship;
Copy of acknowledgement from the U.S.Embassy on the receipt of Gota’s application;
Copy of certificate issued the U.S.State Department on the cancellation of the citizenship;
Photocopy of Gota’s U.S.Passport stamped with the CANCELLED£ seal.
In addition to this, these legal-luminaries pointed that in the case filed against Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa by the NGO activists Dr Chandragupta Thenuwara and Gamini Uyangoda there was no argument about Mr Gotabhaya relinquishing his U.S.Citizenship and their argument was that the Sri Lankan citizenship that had been granted to him has been done in an irregular manner.
The political chameleon and the alleged PRRAA contract killer for Rs. 50,000 per head of a Southern JVPer Dentist Rajitha Senaratne realising that his political misdeeds will be over with the imminent victory of Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has started operating a fake info squad to bring to the fore some paid fellows as informants and narrate various funny stories accusing Gota’s involvement in those activities. Pa.Cha.Ranawaka is also reported to be organising such a squad to make use of the experiences he gained in Ampara and Digana.
Gotabhaya becomes the No.1 richest man in the world by stealing 7 million kilos of Gold that belonged to Tigers. This is the biggest lie uttered by Rajitha.
Two men who accompanied Rajitha for a media conference in Colombo said that Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. When he was the Defence Secretary in the North stole a huge amount of gold from there. One man said that there was a dispute with him on sharing the values of this gold. Rajitha interfering at this moment that about 7000 tons of gold belonging to Prabhakaran had been stolen. 7,000 tons has a huge value.
He said that at present the
market value of gold kilo is about Rs. 8 million.
Accordingly 1 kilo of gold
value os = Rs. 8 million.
Y7,000 tons = 7.000,000
kilos.
The total value = Rs.
56,000,000,000,000
The value in U.S.DOLLARS 311,111,111,111 (Billion 311)
The bluff master Rajitha said that this amount even exceeds the value of the wealth of the world’s three richest persons.
If what this bluff-master Rajitha (who once said that saw with his own eyes Namal carrying on his shoulders the 18.5 Billion U.S.Dollars alleged to have been stolen by Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa to a Bank in Dubai, Addressing weekly media conferences this bluff master claimed that Mahinda will be arrested for this crime) 250 investments equivalent 1.4 billion $ investment of Hambantota harbour could have been made.
In 2012 the population in the North was one million. Hence it could have been possible for Prabhakaran to distribute even 7 kilos of gold to each person.
It is the United States that has the highest gold reserve in the world and it amounts to 8000 tons. Germany is in second place with 3,300 tons. Hence this alleged stolen quantity amounts to second place in the world.
Meanwhile, the real identity of the man who came with Rajitha claiming that he was the white van driver has been discovered. This man told at Rajitha’s media conference that he served as a white van driver of Mr Rajapaksa and was involved in abductions. He has attended the said media conference with a false beard and wearing spectacles. It has been found that this person has been working as a driver in the Ministry of Home Affairs for several years. His real name is also not Fernando as he mentioned at the media conference. He has spent the previous night at the house of a Secretary of Rahitha and joined Rajitha to attend the media conference on the following day.
United States Arleigh Burke-class destroyers docked in Sri Lanka. Included in the task-force were the USS Howard (DDG 83), USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Pinckney (DDG 91) and the USS Kidd (DDG 100). (October 28-31, 2017) [Credit: Sri Lanka News / Ada Derana via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVVKAKSz1rU]
The Indian Ocean is one of the most contested regions in the world today. China, the United States, India, and also Japan, Saudi Arabia and other rich and powerful states are struggling for influence over Sri Lanka, located in the geographical heart of the Indian Ocean. Sea lanes of the Indian Ocean are considered to be the busiest in the world with more than 80% of global seaborne oil trade estimated to be passing through them.
Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka and the joint UK/U.S. Diego Garcia Naval and Military Base
Sri Lanka is a participant in the Maritime Belt and Silk Road Initiative, China’s extensive network of ports and maritime facilities connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In a controversial move in January 2017, the Sri Lankan government granted China a 99-year lease of Hambantota Port in exchange for U.S. $1.1 billion in debt relief. China is also developing other projects in Sri Lanka, such as, the U.S. $1.4 billion ‘Port City’ in Colombo, on land reclaimed from the Indian Ocean.
To curtail Chinese expansion across Asia, the U.S. is turning strategically located Sri Lanka into a ‘Military Logistics Hub’, and the center of its ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific Region Policy.’ Moreover, the U.S.-Japan-Australia-India alliance is seeking to involve Sri Lanka in taking on the Chinese challenge.
Control of Sri Lanka has become more urgent for the U.S. since the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 2019 that U.S. occupation of the Indian Ocean Chagos islands is illegal, and that the islands be handed back to Mauritius ‘as rapidly as possible.’ The Diego Garcia military base was established there after Britain—which ‘owns’ Chagos—forcibly removed its inhabitants between 1968 and 1973. Diego Garcia is one of America’s ‘most important and secretive’ military bases, and has been central to launching invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan and flying missions across Asia, including over the South China Sea. If the islands go back to Mauritius, and the Chagossians who sued for their right to return are allowed back, the U.S. will require an alternative base. This could be Sri Lanka.
In January 2015, a U.S.-backed Sri Lankan government replaced the former Mahinda Rajapaksa government, who had defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the separatist conflict. Soon thereafter, the new government and the U.S. co-sponsored a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution in Geneva. Calling for accountability for alleged war crimes and missing persons in the final stages of the war against the LTTE, the UNHRC resolution pressured the Sri Lankan government to make significant changes, including the dismissal and imprisonment of its intelligence officers and army personnel. These measures weakened Sri Lankan intelligence and security, paving the way for the Easter Sunday carnage by Islamic terrorists.
The same Easter attacks are now being used to justify acceleration of U.S. intervention in Sri Lanka, which had already been increasing over the last few years. However, the three main bilateral agreements the U.S. has deployed to assert its political, economic and military control over Sri Lanka—the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, the Acquisition and Cross Services Agreement (ACSA) and the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)—are facing massive local opposition.
The MCC, a United States foreign aid agency established by the U.S. Congress, is pressuring to sign a ‘Compact’ with Sri Lanka to facilitate private sector investment and economic growth. Based on a ‘constraints analysis’ completed by the Center for International Development at Harvard University, the Compact identifies three binding constraints to growth in Sri Lanka: policy uncertainty; poor transportation and logistics and inadequate access to land, especially the difficulty of the private sector in accessing state land for commercial purposes.”
The MCC Compact would undertake transportation and land management in return for a grant of U.S. $480 million to Sri Lanka. The Transport Project will include advanced traffic management, bus transportation modernization and a central ring road network connecting the Central, Sabaragamuwa and the Eastern Provinces to the Western Provinces. The Land Project would include a state land inventory, deeds registration improvement, land valuation improvement, land grants registration and deed conversion and land policy and legal governance.
Two new laws, the State Land Bank Bill and a Land (Special Provisions) Bill, are to be enacted in conjunction with the MCC Compact. The proposed Land Bank would bring all publicly owned land under a single entity, making it available to private investors, including foreign parties. The proposed Land (Special Provisions) Bill would grant absolute title to state lands held by citizens holding land grants, with validity for seven years. Proponents claim that the distribution of one million deeds granting outright ownership is a poverty-alleviation measure. However, critics—such as the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR)—see a set up for a massive land grab, displacement and pauperization:
… large multinational companies have made small time farmers bankrupt and are buying off their agricultural land. …By giving desperate people an asset that they can sell, the government has ensured that these lands will be sold off.”
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry is attempting to hand over the task of drawing land survey maps, and creating a streamlined database of 3.6 million parcels of state owned land, to a U.S.-based geological information system and mapping firm, Trimble Inc., in a fifteen year contract. Survey Department trade unions have gone on strike opposing this move, which the local surveyors see as a threat to their employment and national security, and also a wasteful expenditure.
Sri Lankan resistance to MCC
Neither the MCC Compact, nor the new Sri Lanka Physical Plan (2018-2050) associated with the Compact have yet to be made public. The State Land (Special Provisions) Bill, due to its alleged connection to the Compact, has also not been submitted to Cabinet for approval. This lack of transparency has raised grave concerns and fears among the Sri Lankan public and the diaspora regarding U.S. control of vital resources, land and transportation and its ‘impact on the local economy, the environment, and social and cultural norms’.
This lack of transparency has raised grave concerns and fears among the Sri Lankan public and the diaspora regarding U.S. control of vital resources, land and transportation and its ‘impact on the local economy, the environment, and social and cultural norms’.”
A projected Physical Spatial Structure Map for 2050 and details leaked to the public have raised alarm that the ‘economic corridor ’proposed by the Compact and the Trincomalee-Colombo highway could ‘splinter Sri Lanka into two separate entities under the control of the United States resulting in the loss of sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka
The U.S.-backed Sri Lankan Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe has reportedly signed the MCC Compact, but President Maithripala Sirisena has refused to do so. The U.S. Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz, has written to the president urging him to sign. The U.S. seems to be in a hurry to seal the deal before a new government that is less-friendly towards the U.S. might come into office by 2020.
Meanwhile, local activist groups, such as the National Joint Committee and Sri Lanka diaspora activist groups, and the Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka (SPUR) are demanding that the government immediately reveal the contents of the agreement without any redactions to the general public”. They are encouraged by the July 2019 decision of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court that the State Lands (Special Provisions) Bill be referred to provincial councils. As the coalition of expatriate groups ‘Sri Lankans in USA / Amerikawe Api’, put it:
We welcome the Supreme Court decision, as it will put a hold on the land project of the Millennium contract.…The American public is not even aware of how our [U.S.] Government is using our tax dollars to benefit large corporations under the guise of foreign aid to developing countries. We would like to see the entire compact terminated …. We are calling for full transparency and debate, both in Sri Lanka and here in the U.S., about the impact of MCC as well as SOFA and ACSA.” [Emphasis added]
Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) [Credit: US Navy]
The Acquisition and Cross Services Agreement (ACSA)
The previous Sri Lankan government signed an ACSA with the United States, without parliamentary approval, during its armed conflict with the LTTE. The U.S. Defense Department and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense entered into another ACSA on August 4, 2017. While the 2007 ACSA was valid only for seven years, the new agreement is open-ended. While the 2007 ACSA permitted U.S. military vessels to enter Sri Lanka ports on a ‘one-off’ basis, the 2017 ACSA appears to be open-ended. Whereas the 2007 ACSA was only eight pages, the 2017 ACSA is said to be 83 pages long with over 50 annexures listing U.S. commands and military establishments allowed to use Sri Lanka’s airports and sea ports.
Whereas the 2007 ACSA was only eight pages, the 2017 ACSA is said to be 83 pages long with over 50 annexures listing U.S. commands and military establishments allowed to use Sri Lanka’s airports and sea ports.”
Sailors man the rails of Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) as the ship departs Colombo, Sri Lanka during a deployment of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). (December 26, 2018) [Credit: U.S. Navy]
The 2017 Agreement is designed to facilitate reciprocal logistic support between the U.S. and Sri Lanka for use during combined exercises, training, deployments, port calls, operations, or other co-operative efforts, or for unforeseen circumstances or exigencies in which one of the parties may have a need for Logistic Support, Supplies and Services.”It is reported to allow every single security or military apparatus in the United States access to Sri Lanka”, making Sri Lanka the main supply hub for U.S. armed forces in the Indo-Pacific region.” Analysts argue that, if fully implemented it will effectively undermine the Chinese share of geopolitical control in Sri Lanka, by way of [U.S.] military presence in the country”.
The Cabinet hastily approved ACSA 2017 without careful examination or discussion, under pressure from U.S.-backed Sri Lankan officials. It was approved without thorough study by armed forces commanders and officials, who have expressed serious reservations over some of its provisions. ACSA was also not presented to the Sri Lankan Parliament. President Sirisena’s Cabinet memorandum of June 30, 2017 in Sinhala had only a brief nine pages, and no annexures. Having signed it, President Sirisena is now opposed to ACSA—in addition to his opposition to SOFA and the MCC Compact—and claims that he did not know the difference between the 2017 and 2007 agreements when he signed it.
The signing of ACSA 2017 was shrouded in secrecy, without media coverage or publicity, reportedly as directed by Atul Keshap, U.S. Ambassador in Sri Lanka at the time. It has not been made public, despite requests for transparency by opposition political parties, the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), amongst others. The Joint Opposition in Parliament, the JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) and Yuthukama civil society organization strongly protested against the signing of…ACSA.”
The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
The third currently contested agreement, SOFA, was originally signed by the Sri Lankan and U.S. governments in 1995, to facilitate training of Sri Lankan security forces by U.S. officials. The United States has requested a new SOFA, expanding the original with an annexure, Annex B. Unlike the already signed ACSA, the newSOFA will not be limited to purchases of goods and services, but will include rules governing U.S. military personnel in Sri Lanka.
The Sunday Times published the draft SOFA on June 30, 2019, revealing that it would provide full diplomatic immunity, not only to any member of U.S. armed forces, but also to its contractors and employees, operating in Sri Lanka. SOFA, as drafted, would allow U.S. army personnel the right to:
Be in any part of Sri Lanka, without restriction;
Carry arms in uniform;
Only need U.S. identification to enter and leave Sri Lanka; i.e. do not need passports or visas;
Exemption from Sri Lankan law, andnotliable for criminal offenses in the country;
Exemption from all taxes; and
Exemption from customs checking at ports of entry and exit to the island.
SOFA also decrees that the U.S. Department of Defense may not be subject to any local taxes for any material, supplies, equipment and services (including construction) they contract in Sri Lanka. They would also be allowed to operate their own telecommunication systems in Sri Lanka, without cost to the U.S. Government.
The Draft SOFA, sent by the U.S. Embassy on August 28, 2018 to the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, stated that the acceptance of the draft ”shall constitute an agreement between the two Governments, which shall enter into force on the date of Ministry’s reply.” This meant that the agreement is effective as soon as the Sri Lanka’s Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says ‘yes’.
This leaves no room for SOFA to be discussed by Sri Lanka’s defense officials or debated in the parliament. Currently, the agreement is temporarily stayed (i.e. postponed) by the Sri Lankan President. With ACSA already signed and SOFA pending, U.S. security companies, notably Sallyport Global, are already advertising to recruit U.S. citizens with active TOP secret clearance” to work for U.S. defense operations in Sri Lanka.
There is increasing outrage over, and opposition to, the blatant violation of Sri Lanka’s independence and sovereignty that SOFA, ACSA and the MCC Compact represent. It comes from all strata and sectors of Sri Lankan society; for example, the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chamber of Commerce, and the President of the BASL, have all warned of the dangers SOFA poses to national interests. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party and the newly formed STOP USA Campaign are organizing media briefings and mass rallies calling for transparency and accountability in making international agreements.
…the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chamber of Commerce, and the President of the BASL, have all warned of the dangers SOFA poses to national interests.”
In response to the rising opposition, the U.S. has attempted to ‘rebrand’ SOFA as a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Engaged in a social media campaign to protect the Agreements, U.S. Ambassador Teplitz has stated that the U.S. has no intention to build a military base or establish a permanent military presence in Sri Lanka.” However, as Sri Lankan President’s Counsel M.M. Zuhair warns: With SOFA in hand, the Americans do not require a military ‘base’ in Sri Lanka…, because the whole island will be a U.S.-controlled super-state operating above the Sri Lankan laws and state…
The Way Forward
While the U.S. expects future Sri Lankan governments to respect international obligations taken on by the current U.S.-backed government, the very legitimacy of the MCC Compact, ACSA and SOFA is widely questioned. As eminent analyst Neville Ladduwahetty argues: the Supreme Court must rule on procedures to be followed when agreeing to bilateral treaties determining if the procedures adopted are consistent or not with the hard core principles of the Constitution”, regardless of the contents, or with whom the agreements are made. Laduwahetty also strongly believes that all agreements must have the consent of parliament:
…any agreement/treaty signed in the name of the People by the executive, i.e. the President or the Cabinet, without the consent of Parliament amounts to a violation of the sovereignty of the people. …such agreements/treaties have no legitimacy vis-a-vis international law as determined by the Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties of 1969 ……”
…there are calls to reassert the policy of non-alignment that the small nation of Sri Lanka championed during the Cold War.”
Notwithstanding the violation of people’s rights and illegitimacy of the proposed amendments, Sri Lankans recognize the importance of maintaining good relations with the USA, China, India and other countries. However, they do not wish to sacrifice sovereignty, democracy and the rule of law in doing so. In light of the dangers, there are calls to reassert the policy of non-alignment that the small nation of Sri Lanka championed during the Cold War. The National Joint Committee expresses this call in a letter it has written to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister regarding the MCC Compact:
[We are] committed to protect and preserve the unity and territorial integrity of our nation. We believe that Sri Lanka should follow a foreign policy of nonalignment. Due to the fact that Sri Lanka is strategically located in the Indian Ocean the country needs to remain nonaligned and refrain from getting involved in the geopolitical confrontation that is developing between America and China, through agreements that would enable these countries to gain a foothold in Sri Lanka.”
External aggression—and internal resistance to that aggression—are embedded in Sri Lanka’s historical trajectory. Transcending party politics and ethnoreligious ‘divide and conquer’ policies promoted by external interests, Sri Lankans have to come together at this critical juncture to protect our precious, beautiful island home.
[Asoka Bandarage was educated at the University of Sri Lanka, Bryn Mawr College and at Yale University where she received a Ph.D. in Sociology. Ms. Bandarage has served on the faculties of Brandeis University, Georgetown University and Mount Holyoke College. Dr. Bandarage is the author of the books, Colonialism in Sri Lanka, Women, Population and Global Crisis, The Separatist Conflict in Sri Lanka, Sustainability and Well-Being: The Middle Path to Environment, Society and the Economy and numerous other publications. Asoka has given hundreds of presentations, including keynote lectures at South Asian Studies Conferences. She has also given numerous media interviews on CNN, Al Jazeera, BBC, NPR and Bloomberg News. In addition to her columns in the Huffington Post, Asoka serves on the boards of a number of publications and organizations including Critical Asian Studies and Interfaith Moral Action on Climate. See her website for more information.]
