DipEE(UK), Grad cert(RelEng-Monash),DipBus&Adm(Finance-Massey),CEng.
MIEE
We have seen so
many leaders come and go in SL, however, no one was able to place a counterattack
against LTTE, which was led by an 8th standard educated boy, Prabakaran for 30
years. Of the lot, Mahinda Rajapaksa was a capable leader who was able to wipe out
terrorism, with Gotabaya Rajapaksa as Defence Secretary and progresses on
development. No one can dispute this. However, some wicked, corrupt, unscrupulous,
elements crawled into portfolios by wiping MR’s legs. Today the existing GOSL
elements are posing a threat of dividing the nation by giving autonomous powers
to PCs which is detrimental to the sovereignty of this nation on a 10-year
horizon.
Considering the
past and present threats, and to maintain peace, harmony, national security,
progress, economic and technological growth, it is intelligent and sagacious
for the people of Sri Lanka to elect Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the forthcoming
president of Sri Lanka, as GR is the only suitable, fit and proper leader in
Sri Lanka. The President shall be the chief executive of this nation of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankans
should be more sagacious in voting during the forthcoming elections to elect Gotabaya
Rajapaksa as the Executive President with intentions of keeping the SriLankan
sovereignty and the people as citizens of one nation, one country and
consolidated with peace and cohesive harmony for economic and technological
growth.
At present, the
current government calling themselves as good governance is a government
misdirecting the citizens and giving popularity to Sambanthar & Co and the
Tamils to be power makers and balance of power. The current government is also
fooling the people and supporting the UN to punish its own military through UN
for war hypothetical war crimes who liberated the country from terrorism. The
war was to liberate SriLanka and nothing else. LTTE should be held responsible
for the war and murder of so many people. Who is to be held responsible for the
current sword killing of people in the North of Sri Lanka? Is it not ridiculous
to know that a country appoints a man who has only 16 seats in parliament to be
the Leader of Opposition? This mand cannot stand properly and old. Can his neurological
network function properly to be a leader in politics.
The current
government is handing over towns and areas to foreigners. Will SL be owned by
the people of SL in the future or will they be foreigners in their own land?
SL is a
democratic country and the people have the liberty to elect their own choice of
President.
The President is
a public servant of the people of SL. GR will function as a public servant and
head of State. GR is highly intellectual and has a high degree of perception to
know the will of the people.
Sri Lankans; You
all are highly perceptive and intelligent and please do not trust Sambanthar, RW and his cabinet as they will mortgage the
country to India,
LTTE, and the West.
The best choice
is Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a role model, as GR is the only patriotic honest person
to rule SL.
Let the country
rise in support of Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) and build SL as a role model nation
for the rest of the world.
I propose that we absolutely devote ourselves to the ideal of fairness, justice and of being one people, one nation, with one destiny. We are in this together. Any suffering by one affects us all. I would advocate we follow the principles, honourable practices and aspirations of our Independence movement who fought long and hard and implemented the right plans and policies which were later twisted and destroyed by opportunists later. That we follow the compassionate way of our ancestors, by treating all of us equally – both preserving the ancient traditions of our forefathers, yes the Buddhist philosophy which is part of this island, whilst also enforcing the fact that we are all humans, all equals, and everyone is under one law. That we all put the principle that we treat others as we wish to be treated, and that no one is superior to anyone else. That the country is who we swear our allegiance to, not to parties. And that we base our journey forth into the future on factual truth, no politicised history, or paradoxical slogans such as “non alignment” (more on that later). That we use common sense, the principle of sound investment and constantly strive to keep up to date with the world. That the world doesn’t owe us a living, and we do our part to preserve the Earth as much as it gives us.
To ensure this:
IN MATTERS OF THE CONSTITUTION
The principle is to have Clean, lean honest government that governs in the interest of the country, and not for the sake of winning an election only. We either have a Presidential system whereby we have a Parliament with 125 members, and the President, elected by the people for no more than 3 terms (or can no longer contest beyond the age of 70), has to appoint a Cabinet from outside the Legislature (thus each branch is independent) like in the US, or else the Soulsbury style Prime Ministerial system which is my preferred option below.
Adopt a constitution very very similar to the Soulsbury Constitution – indeed you can just readopt the old one with minor amendments. In this the arms of government, the civil service, the judiciary and media etc are all independent of one another, bound by the principles of fair play, the truth and decency. In place of being a Dominion (which was not a particular issue since Australia, Canada, Jamaica etc are still independent countries despite being Dominions), if we so choose (and is already the case) declare the country a unitary Republic.
The name of the country shall be “THE REPUBLIC OF CEYLON” (not Democratic Socialist garble at the start), referred to as Ceylon for short in English. Or else Sinhaledeepa/Sinhale in the mother tongues (the country that the British took over, the last kingdom that was left standing and who the Kandyan Convention was signed with).
Every citizen shall be EQUAL and referred to as Ceylonese. One’s ethnicity shall only be noted for census purposes and for housing data. No one shall be discriminated against on the basis of ethnicity, religion, gender, social class, wealth, place of birth, region of abode etc. Any form of discrimination shall be met with no less than 5 strokes of the rattan cane and potential imprisonment.
There shall be no provinces etc. We are one island and that’s it. Districts will only be used for purposes of a local civil service branch for certain key services that a citizen may have to visit for a face to face authentication. No provincial councils (all of this is scrapped) etc. All the various bureaucracy would be gone. We will only have one National Parliament, local village councils, or town councils. And mayors for towns/cities with a certain population level.
Citizens will have the ability to recall their MP by petition as in the original old constitution we have on charges of neglecting their duties DURING the term of Parliament. No MP will be permitted to cross over without a by election.
Parliament shall consist of 125 MPs, preferably located at the Old Parliament on the Galle Face, elected by First Past the Post. The Prime Minister shall be the person who commands the support of the majority of Parliament. Parliament shall sit for no more than 5 and a half years. THE CABINET MAY ONLY BE COMPRISED OF 15 PEOPLE, BE IT ONE PARTY, OR A COALITION.
In order to ensure a more reflective electoral result, the following rules shall apply regarding each electoral district.
No person may contest an election representing any party, or organisation that espouses one region of the country, one ethnicity, one religion, or promotes any illegal activity (such as stating they will deliver electoral goodies that can only be financed by printing money). No one with a criminal record may contest elections. Under this system, ALL ETHNIC BASED PARTIES WILL BE BANNED.
A person must be 18 years of age to vote. A person may contest for elections after the age of 24, having either completed National Service of no less than 18 months in the case of males (army, navy, air force, police, civic defence), or 12 months Civic Service (health services and civic defence) in the case of females AND ONLY if they have either – worked for at least 1 year in a small business, family business, public listed company OR hold a degree pertaining to economics, sciences or engineering to a certain standard from a recognised institution internationally, or a top tier university at home. A permanent resident (meaning a foreign born person who has right to remain) may contest elections following the same rules. However if becoming a Cabinet Minister, they must renounce any foreign citizenship to hold office.
No citizen can contest any election beyond the age of 75. (Meaning office bearers will serve out their term and that’s it as an MP, local town, or village councillor)
EVERY DISTRICT in the country will be regulated to house the national demographics as in Singapore. Meaning Ceylon will fund a Housing scheme to disperse its population such that electoral districts accurately reflect the ethnic demographics of the entire country. No mono-ethnic areas of the country will be permitted. This will also encourage development of the whole country as the population is dispersed outward and not only focussed in the South West. We will focus on making Trincomalee a top tier city in the island and population centre.
The official languages of the country will be as follows (instead of the messy situation we have now):
Sinhala will be the National Language of the country (in the same way Malay is in Singapore) and the language the anthem is sung in one voice
Sinhala, Tamil and English will be the three Official Languages of the country (as Chinese, Tamil, Malay and English are official in Singapore)
The working language of administration, government and business shall be English (as in Singapore and Ceylon before 1956)
Every citizen will have the right to have a translator at places of public administration to fill out forms, or for assistance in their mother tongue, or at police stations etc
Every child shall have the right to be taught in the English medium from kindergarten all the way through their education AND to learn their mother tongue. Every child shall sit in the SAME classroom for all lessons.
There shall be ZERO PERKS, pensions or expense accounts for politicians. MPs including the Prime Minister shall be paid a fixed salary that is 25% higher than the average CEO salary collated by the census department. All citizens of the country will pay the same tax.
The Republic of Ceylon shall elect a ceremonial President who shall only be referred to as Mr. or Mrs. President (no Excellency). This person may be of any age, but may not contest after the age of 75, nor contest for more than 3 terms in office. The President shall be the nominal head of the armed forces etc, and have the ceremonial power to award national awards to citizens. The President will essentially be like the Queen with a ceremonial role. Elections will be held every 5 years and 8 months, with a 4 month “transition” period like in the United States and a set inauguration date. Presidential elections will be fixed in points of time, and not held early.
Parliament may be dissolved by its expiration, or by a Prime Minister requesting its dissolution earlier than the date, or else by the President if no party has a majority in Parliament.
The Presidency shall follow the same ethnic rotational policies as in Singapore – if an ethnic group (Sinhalese, Tamil, Moor, Burgher, Malay or Other) has not held the Presidency in the last 12 years, then the next election will be reserved for candidates from those ethnic groups only. The President must also comply with the same qualification procedures for MPs. However the President will be DIRECTLY elected by popular vote by the people.
It shall be mandatory that Ceylon abrogates with immediate effect the Indo-Lanka Accord restricting its independence and development.
It shall be mandatory that any referendums in the country be held nationwide. Citizens may petition for referendums with 500,000 signatures of fellow citizens.
Voting shall be compulsory in the country with a “None of the Above” option available on every ballot paper.
The Republic will ensure that all offices of state makes appointments on MERIT only and any independent committee/council in charge of appointments is APOLITICAL and not a single MP is part of such a committee.
Judges will be required to complete any court case within 1 year and no more.
There shall be mandatory caning for the most severe of crimes, and judges may also at their discretion issue life imprisonment, or the death penalty. Every citizen will be guaranteed a fair trial.
In matters of marriage, property inheritance and laws, every citizen from every part of the country will be subject to ONE National law.
MATTERS OF FINANCE
Sound investment. Sound management. Sound development
The Central Bank of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka shall be completely abolished and replaced with the Sinhaledeepa/Ceylon Monetary Authority (SMA)
The Monetary Authority like its counterparts around the world, will be independent of Parliament and the Cabinet and print money on the basis of a basket of foreign reserves and gold held on account.
This will end electioneering, budget deficits continuously financed by money printing, and the continual destruction of the currency.
The currency band will be gradually raised (as we earn foreign currency or purchase gold reserves) to somewhere more around the £1=50 Ceylon Rupees mark. With an aspiration to increase this in due course back to the Rs 5 level. This will hinge on the economy developing. However it will prevent further depreciation from 230 owing to money printing.
The SMA will hold a basket of foreign G10 currencies and gold to preserve the value of the Rupee.
The SMA will also oversee and regulate both the Taprobane Investment Fund (TIF), the nation’s new sovereign wealth fund run by technocrats (not politicians) to manage the EPF and the nation’s surpluses that may arise. Like the GIC it will invest with the purpose of maintaining and growing the nation’s money.
All red tape agencies and provincial offices will be scrapped as will the BOI.
These will be replaced with ONE single one stop shop (not another stop). This will be called the National Development Agency (NDA). This will be the place that grants approvals to investors, be they domestic, or foreign. It will be staffed by independent civil servants, not politicians. The Minister of Finance will appoint someone to head it who can serve no more than 2 terms.
Taxes will be the same for all citizens, irrespective of whether one holds office, knows someone who holds office, one’s career (doctor, lawyer etc) or doesn’t want to pay tax.
Taxes will be kept low and competitive relative to East Asian countries, being only slightly higher to fund our free healthcare system. Corporation tax will be attractive to complement our lean business environment with the BONFIRE of red tape and provincial councils etc.
Car permits will be for everyone importing fossil fuel vehicles.
No diesel cars imported into the country after 2024, and none will be road legal after 2030.
All cars on the road must be fully electric after the year 2040.
All public transportation must be fully electric by 2030.
The government shall provide no free handouts, instead only supporting those in need
Money shall be provided for a State Pension to all citizens, Disability allowance, and to anyone unemployed, a benefit will be paid until they find a job, but in this for no more than 12 months.
MATTERS OF EDUCATION
The children are our future
An end to selfish politicians of the past
The Republic shall fund English medium schools for every child around the country. In these schools, all children from every ethnicity will sit in the SAME classroom, play on the same playground etc. They will learn in English.
Each child will then attend their respective mother tongue (Sinhala and Tamil) language class which shall be compulsory up until the age of 16.
The government may provide Sinhala medium schools also, but where funding is lacking and only one school can be built in an area, English medium will be funded.
Every child will learn the National Oath, learn the National Anthem (sung in Sinhala) and learn History, Civics and have to achieve a certain level in their Mother Tongue, Mathematics, Science and English before passing out of school.
All schools will be free, though people may choose to go to private schools if they wish. No school may discriminate and teach students of only one ethnicity. Schools of one gender, must teach their students to respect others, and all schools must teach the basics of the major religions and customs of everyone in the country.
UNIVERSITIES in the country will NOT be free, but be free at the point of use.
Instead a student loan system shall apply, with the loan for undergraduate and graduate degrees payable upon receiving a certain level of salary. The loan shall be at a low interest rate and provided for by the taxpayer. This must be paid back by the student and will be the only “Death duty” tax there is (No inheritance tax).
The policy of Standardisation shall be SCRAPPED and replaced with the principle of MERITOCRACY only. All places shall be awarded on merit.
ALL UNIVERSITIES shall teach in the English medium (the London A-level scrapped by Mrs. B shall be returned back to our country).
The University of Colombo, University of Peradeniya, University of Moratuwa, Kotewala Defence University and Open University shall remain independent. All other universities on the island shall be merged into one university called the University of Ceylon, with campuses dispersed throughout the island.
The University of Ceylon may build new campuses as funding permits. All funds for this separate university will be pooled into one pot and allocated to campuses whereby different faculties are located only at certain campuses to create economies of scale. E.g. Build three world class medical faculties in Trinco, Jaffna and Kandy, build two world class law colleges at Galle and Colombo, three engineering divisions at Kurenagala, Batticloa, and Hambantota.
All universities will appoint faculty members on merit only – no political appointments. A National Standards Body will ensure all universities uphold a certain standard, issue similar high standard exams and conform to standards of the top 25 universities in the world (NOT JUST South Asia) to try and be the best.
There will be no mono-ethnic universities, since students from all over the island will apply to the 6 universities of the island and be allocated a place at the campus where the faculty is located.
The government will no longer have desk jobs for the boys as this has been scrapped along with provincial councils and bureaucracy – thus if you choose to go to university, you are choosing to take on debt and pursue a proper career.
In addition the Republic will fund Technical and Vocational Training Institutes around the country, or encourage private donations for schools for apprenticeship schemes, building, electricians, plumbers, art and design, fashion etc.
TRANSPORT WITHIN THE ISLAND
One country, one people, one destiny
As a matter of national priority, the government of the Republic shall commit to borrowing, or spending the reserves we have only on 21st century transport. As such,
Existing (though woeful) old trains will be maintained until a better technology train can replace it.
Former ministers who were responsible for increasing debt and buying rubbish buses and trains will be caned after a public hearing.
Now to business,
The Republic shall finance three main high speed train lines, seeking investment from Japan, China, France, Korea for electrified bullet train lines on the following routes:
Colombo to Trincomalee via Kurengala and Kandy
Colombo to Jaffna
Hambantota to Jaffna
These trains will be just like in Japan, or China, fast, fully air conditioned and taking around 90 minutes to 2 hours to cross the island in comfort. These will be paid for over time with the economic benefits the line will deliver.
All NEW trains must be built on elevated dual tracks and preferably elevated stations also and mandatorily electric.
Further lines at small intermediary stations will be electrified in time and old carriages replaced all with air conditioned coaches for ALL classes of passenger to travel in dignity.
A subway system for Colombo will be built by seeking investment from Japan, China, and the Hong Kong MTR company to build and operate it.
One electronic card can be used on all public transport in Ceylon.
The bus system will be nationalised and then restructured. It will permit private operators to bid at tenders for routes, with allocated time slots that must be complied with. Fines will be issued to those flouting the rules and not providing the stated service. All buses must drive safely. The CTB will regulate, and in some cases provide a service as a competitor. There will be a minimum of 3 services on each route on a set timetable with fines issued if buses do not arrive on time, or leave too early from stops, with all buses carrying electronic transponders, monitored by a Central Bus Command.
All buses must be ELECTRIC by the year 2030.
Upon achieving first world transportation, the Republic shall fund a statue in Colombo with a lorry bus at the centre, with the words “Never ever again” emblazoned below.
All three wheelers will be banned from the year 2025. Any non-car vehicle must be of certain standard such as an electric rickshaw and only be used as a tourist vehicle, with a specific licence issued.
All cars as stated above must be electric by a certain date.
The Republic shall attempt to encourage investment into a public tram network in places like Kandy, Trincomalee, Galle and Hambantota. Or else fund a metro LRT network over time (in particular Hambantota).
All major tourist sites will have designated electrified train stations servicing them nearby.
The Airports (see below) shall have a maglev, or metro service connecting them to the city, and perhaps one train line running into the interior of the country also.
TRAIN SERVICES may be provided by private operators with ZERO regional monopolies – meaning at least 3 providers on each route line.
CONNECTING US TO THE WORLD – A HUB IN REALITY, NOT JUST IN NAME
Today we see the end of ineptitude. The end of incompetence. This proud airport which we declare open today will see the beginning of a new era for our country. Today, Ceylon declares in one voice, that we are open for business. And we are back.
The country will as a matter of priority fix the appalling state it is in with regards to aviation. No more ridiculous policies of building airfields and tiny shacks as airports and talking about airport as public transport within the country. We will build a country that connects to the world with a “wow” factor, ambition and take on debt for a reason just as Dubai did – to invest and put us on the map properly.
COLOMBO – We will build on reclaimed land near the Port City (and Colombo Port which is convenient) a brand new international airport that will be completed in no less than 7 years. This will be handled by a private company – leased to Hong Kong or a company capable of running an airport and designed to look futuristic and not an ugly concrete building. It will be named COLOMBO LOTUS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (notice it is not named after anyone).
This airport will have a capacity of 60-80 million passengers and future proofed to an extent. Upon completion, Katunayake will be privatised, or else shut down and converted fully back into an air base. The airport will be designed to look futuristic and as clean as Hong Kong, or Changi. This airport will be linked by road to the Motorway, and by train/metro to the city. ONLY declared open when these links are complete.
This airport shall be staffed only to numbers required with no jobs for the boys. The Colombo Airport Group managing it will have an open skies policy. There will be 3 runways. This airport can be built since no money is being wasted on stupid hippopotamuses, or on stupid projects, and will be financed by private investment, or leases. We lose nothing by doing this, since better to own part of something profitable, than everything of something useless.
At the same time, the country will focus on building within 8-9 years via private investment from China/Japan to build a massive TRANSIT HUB airport at TRINCOMALEE again on reclaimed land named TRINCOMALEE TAPROBANE INTERNATIONAL, or TRINCOMALEE BAY INTERNATIONAL.
This second airport shall be built to have a capacity of 100 million passengers to try to match the hubs of Changi, Hong Kong etc which are building for 125-130 by the year 2030.
This second airport shall be designed to be sleek, futuristic, clean and have 4 runways to be future proof to an extent.
Having an open skies policy, it shall focus on being the transit hub for the region and to stand out. It shall also serve the new technology city (see later) and have a maglev to connect to the heart of Trincomalee city (all privately funded with zero state ownership because such things are symbolic and meaningless in reality).
Mattala Airport shall be shut down and converted into a National Wildlife Centre, or hotel near the National Park.
HAMBANTOTA International Airport shall be built by leasing out reclaimed land RIGHT NEXT to the PORT to a Chinese company. It will build for 30 million passengers with 3 runways (to accommodate freight with the port). This shall be named HAMBANTOTA THAMBAPANNI INTERNATIONAL (after one of the first kingdoms of the island).
No gimmicks, no inefficient bureaucracy. Focus on automation, passenger experience and clendliness.
CITIES OF DREAMS, VILLAGES OF TRANQUILITY
One paradise island. So majestic, so wild, so Ceylon.
Every district will be subject to National Integration policy. Any new housing built publicly, or privately will have to comply with this regulation. Such that the ethnic quota for estates, tower blocks, apartments, and a district ensures a mix of the population such that the national demographics are maintained. Follow Singapore on doing this to ensure ethnic harmony and co-existence, no ethic ghettos.
Reinitiate the Gal Oya projects to disperse and settle EVERY type of citizen in the North of the country and ensure development economically throughout the country.
Build new reservoirs (“tanks”) and dredge rivers etc to collect water for irrigation, drinking etc.
Build public housing, focusing on cleaning up Colombo, settling at least 4-5 million people in the sparsely populated under-utilised North in garden towns, and also focus on building housing to have a new city in Trincomalee, expanding the existing one.
Focus on building a financial Colombo hub, and focus on building a technology city at Trincomalee.
To that end, invite the expansion (by private investment as is the case now) of the PORT CITY by 20 times the current size. Designate the new land a Free Trade area and watch this take off with investment.
To that end, designate Trincomalee city a Free Trade City like Hong Kong and permit investment to flow in. Utilise the beautiful harbour (more on that later) using the Surbana Jurong Plan that is already complete. Cane anyone who wants to waste any more time on more feasibility studies.
Build (through investment) 5G infrastructure island wide and promote the internet and entrepreneurs throughout the country with no red tape, and purely necessary regulation only.
Ensure every village has access to the National Water network for clean water and no shortages (via the expansion of tanks).
Restrict the building of houses that upsets the drainage of water – e.g. on the hillsides.
BUILD SOLAR PANELS on every new house roof, and SOLAR PARKS across the entirety of the vast North which is sunny nearly all year round. Feed this into a Battery storage network such as those designed by Tesla in Australia.
Build two LNG plants only, focus on hydroelectric and solar power as much as possible.
SHUT DOWN COAL PLANTS and cane the ministers responsible in the past for their installation.
Every local road must be maintained by the local council. If not, regulators and judges may issue caning as punishment and fines to village/town councillors. Local council budgets will be allocated from the National Treasury taxes and also from the local council tax paid by citizens depending on one’s wealth.
CLEAN STREETS – All money WASTED on the former provincial councils can now be utilised to fund GARBAGE COLLECTION at every household at least once a week (both recycled and regular refuse).
In addition, cities like Colombo, Galle and Kandy, Trincomalee, Jaffna etc with higher populations will have garbage collection twice a week, and daily street cleaners funded by local taxation by their Mayor.
Any citizen found to be littering, spitting, urinating, or not keeping their front porch clean is liable to be fined a massive fine, and possible sentenced to caning.
WILDLIFE WILL BE RESPECTED and protected. Anyone found to be harming an elephant for instance, in a manner which is not in self defence, will be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Refuse will be taken to designated sites WITHIN the district of where it is collected. Alternatively it may be sent to land reclamation projects if required.
No person shall be able to use loudspeakers beyond the hours of 9PM till 10AM the next day without express permission from the Local Council and the Police. This will ensure low noise pollution and not disturbing one’s neighbours. This includes places of worship.
The entire Hambantota town/city will be declared a Free Trade City and aspire to develop from fishing village to a logistical hub and entrepreneurial place like Shenzhen mapped out over a 20 year period.
ENTREPRENEURS, SELF RESPECT AND FORWARD THINKING
The country will give pride of place to people of merit, to artists, scholars, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, sports heroes, genuine honourable people. Not to thugs and former politicians.
All name boards in the future will be as they were in the past – short, sweet, and not emblazoned with a list of a hundred people, which makes the board larger than the project itself.
The country will provide low interest loans to startups and home grown businesses and try to encourage investment from top tier businesses around the world in our talent.
We will be an open economy encouraging high skilled workers to come and work here and interact with our people.
No more shall the country “put India’s interests first.” THE INDO LANKA ACCORD will be scrapped, declared null and void, and taught to every child in the land such that people see the current policymakers for what they are – traitors and liars who claim we are non-aligned, when we are not.
With this the restrictions on the use of our ports (especially Trincomalee) will be lifted. We will deal with all countries and companies on the basis of merit and our interests and progress.
We will encourage investment through our pro business policies for big brands to set up their headquarters here and become a financial, technology and corporate hub for business in this region. E.g. Toyota, Ford, Google, Alibaba, Tencent, Amazon, etc etc.
We will work to ensure our engagement with the two primary economic powers in the world – namely the United States and China. And aspire that our trade with them increases substantially.
We will be open to investment from ALL countries. No country, or company will have to seek India’s approval to invest here, and nor will we have to think about what India will think. We will also encourage Indian companies to invest here by having a better rule of law and efficiency than on the subcontinent.
One day when we have started to get somewhere economically, then we will aspire to join ASEAN (which we should have done when invited if not for our stupid leftists and pro-India leaders) and become more open and part of our South East Asian family as before.
We will encourage South Asian countries to form a new organisation purely focused on rules based trade, attempting the impossible to get the countries in this region to work to have better trade, WITHOUT any country attempting hegemony and claiming this to be “their” backyard.
The Republic’s territorial waters are our backyard, not India’s. So any fisherman or intruders here will be arrested, and have their boats seized.
Intruding boats will be destroyed in front of the media at a ceremony every month. Fines will be issued to fisherman who are apprehended.
Illegal fishermen entering our waters and plundering will TRIED and subject to the following punishments before being returned back to India, or elsewhere:
10 strokes of the Rattan cane for illegally entering our waters
10 further strokes for illegally fishing here
10 further strokes for engaging in bottom trawling
10 additional strokes if this is a repeat offence
The Death Penalty for drug smuggling
Somehow I do not foresee them continually coming in any more after this.
THE RULE OF LAW
One nation with one law for all
The principle shall be meritocracy
The second principle shall be a totally independent and EFFICIENT judiciary with court cases to be heard within 1 year.
The third principle is that all citizens have the right to trial, and all citizens are subject to the law – no MP, or even the President is above the law
The Police will be independent as before 1972
The Judiciary will be independent
A new agency called the National Investigative Agency (NIA) will act as a third agency that citizens may go to for redress, and act as a “Major Crimes Unit” to assist police and local law enforcement. This agency will have adequate SWAT teams, helicopters, resources etc, and have teeth to prosecute anyone, including politicians for CORRUPTION, investigate the police, investigate serious crimes, fraud, ransoms etc.
The Police TID will be an independent unit agency set up to counter terrorism and renamed CTU.
The external intelligence agencies will be consolidated into a Sinhale Secret Service.
An internal security bureau/department will be set up to handle security, monitor illegal immigration etc.
All these agencies will operate irrespective of who is in charge.
A sitting Prime Minister, the rest of the 15 member cabinet, the Leader of the Opposition and the sitting President will be the only members normally granted security details and convoys.
Security will be provided to all former Prime Ministers and Presidents and their immediate first family until death.
Security may be provided to any other citizen if the security services assess and deem it warranted.
Official vehicles will be provided to the Prime Minister, the rest of the 15 member Cabinet and the Opposition Leader and the President and Speaker ONLY for official purposes. This will be allocated to the Ministry and must be handed over to the next Minister when one leaves office.
No air travel, or public transport expenses will be provided for Ministers, or public servants. Nor will pensions, or privileges that are not bestowed to ordinary citizens.
A special court to redress every citizen for the loss of land owing to seizures, or nationalisation by former governments will be set up, attempting to pay compensation.
All public bodies that are not privatised, or listed on the stock exchange, will have to be regulated by an Independent Appointments Committee as was performed by the Soulsbury Constitution.
Business laws will be modelled on London and Singapore.
No district may be merged in the country without a nationwide referendum.
The Constitution of the country cannot be amended in ANY WAY without both a two thirds majority in Parliament AND a national referendum.
THE NATIONAL AIRLINE, TOURISM AND PASTIME
You’re our world
Sri Lankan Airlines will be declared bankrupt and shut down. It’s debt will be sold off as a toxic debt company for any takers, or else defaulted on.
A new national carrier will be opened using existing assets, with a set amount of borrowed money, a mission objective AND a private independent board of directors, from the airline industry – e.g. ex Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Etihad personnel.
This airline will be branded as “CEYLON AIRLINES” and listed on the stock exchange
The aim of the carrier will be to become a world number 5 within 10 years, and world number 1-3 within the next 5 years.
It shall utilise the ACTUAL hubs built at Colombo, and Trincomalee (preferably the latter) for capacity
Old staff may reapply, but numbers will be reduced to reduce the staff:plane ratio and will be entirely up to the new board, not politicians.
The following rules will apply:
Other than pilots and lead stewards/stewardesses, Cabin crew must be between the ages of 21 to 32, any older and you are in a managerial, or training role only.
An adequate, and not excessive amount of ground staff will be hired
All crews will receive and participate in mandatory training every year
Administrative staff will be limited and contained
The airline will only pay bonuses if it makes a profit
The airline will SHUT DOWN if it does not make a consistent profit
Ownership by the taxpayer will be 30% direct shareholding, the rest listed on the stock market
The government will not interfere with the board
The government has a voting veto on any takeover of the airline if it is profitable and deems it to be against the national interest, but sufficient reasons must be provided
The new airline will focus on refitting existing planes to create the best economy legroom, versus what we have now
The new airline will maintain and improve the warmth of our people and showcase that to the world
The new airline will also focus on acquiring new planes and having a YOUNG FLEET as per Singapore Airlines planes
The new airline will focus on long haul transit flights and being a hub to the Subcontinent, South East Asia and Australia, from places like China and Europe.
TOURISM – The country will ensure adequate FIRST WORLD bathroom/sanitation faculties at all heritage and tourist sites
All tourist sites will be cleaned and maintained properly
The nation will aspire for 40-50 million tourists a year, by building proper aviation points of entry described above AND
Promotion of the country will be carried out as per the recent “So Sri Lanka” campaign to showcase our wildlife
Competent locals and foreigners will be hired to market the country, not cronies
New attractions such as theme parks etc can be built on the reclaimed Port City extension, and Trincomalee etc
SPORT – The country will immediately declare null and void the existing politicised committees governing the sports and prosecute the corrupt.
The relevant bodies will hold elections for new sportspeople to manage cricket, athletics, football etc, with the previous members being disbarred from running
Government will not interfere with sport and vice versa
The Republic will fund, or seek private investment (like in the UK with Football stadiums) to build Cricket stadiums which are also Academies that will drip feed talent from all over the country into the national team. Perhaps a domestic premier league, funded by major sponsors like Coca Cola, banks etc can also be created, though this is not necessarily going to require government involvement.
CHARITY
We will promote our culture of being hospitable, caring and giving. At the same time,
The Lottery will be run by an independent charity like in the UK where it is run by Camelot.
The Lottery will hold draws/events where the winners will receive tax free prizes.
Money accumulated will not be robbed, or spent on administration, but like in the UK, it shall be dispersed via the Charity to various fields:
funding our Olympics team
funding healthcare charities for children, the elderly, cancer care etc
funding for the homeless
funding for wildlife protection and veterinary care for those who cannot afford it
funding for assisting victims of crime
THE NATIONAL CULTURE BEING GENUINE
Aspire to promote the ACTUAL culture of the country based on centuries of harmony, friendly warmth, coexistence, common sense and helping others.
Any attempt by political aspirants to twist the national culture into dress codes which are not our culture (e.g. telling women to cover up and all this nonsense), justifying crime, or assault, or to prevent foreign direct investment, or to promote a fake ideology such as extreme socialism tied to our ancient history, will be prosecuted in the courts
No person shall be made to feel inferior for speaking their mother tongue OR for speaking in English either
No person shall be made to worship politicians, or former politicians as gods. Politicians will be once again SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE
National Awards will be allocated by an Independent Awards committee to be given by the ceremonial President to members of society contributing to the betterment of others, or for merit, just like the Queen’s Honours List in the UK.
COMMEMORATION statues to people like Captain Pieris, who were falsely executed pre independence will be maintained and honoured.
COMMEMORATION statues to genuine leaders of our independence movement such as DS Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kotewala, Sir Oliver Goonitileke, Sir Ponnabalam Ramanathan and honest Presidents like William Goppowala, will be built at a National Square, with existing ones maintained better. In addition, such statues will be built in North, East, West and South so that people recognise national heroes and not traitorous self proclaimed modern day politicos who haven’t served the country.
A COMMEMORATION to those who fell during the war against terrorism shall be built and a ceremony will be held to mark the end of the war every year.
A COMMEMORATION statue will be built to All victims of various terrorist attacks this country has faced over its history and a ceremony held every year to honour those lost to suicide attacks etc.
The country will totally enforce a total ban on any political party, student organisation, private entity that promotes only one region, religion, ethnicity, or creed from operating, contesting or raising funds in this island. ANY student found to be venerating such organisations, or building memorials to terrorist groups, will be expelled and prevented from any tertiary studies ever.
DEFENCE OF THE ISLAND REALM
This country is its own backyard, and not a neighbouring country. As has been suggested by another poster here, the country needs to plan for the future.
A catastrophic act of treachery was by Bandaranaike in 1957 when he kicked the British out and abrogated the Defence Treaty. There was some talk that this was not officially abrogated. If possible re-enter it. It would have protected us from India and let us develop and manage our own affairs peacefully (a whole another story). He then never compensated for this by building up our forces, which were then British jets and a ceremonial force with equipment designed to maintain internal security and hold out until British assistance arrived.
The day we get rid of the Englishmen completely, is the day we fall under India – Sir John
Why didn’t you show me your speech? – Nehru
Why should I? Do you show me your speeches? – Sir John, a true patriot
AT A SOUTH ASIAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS
You know your Prime Minister should have cleared his speech with us first – Indian Foreign Minister
What on Earth do you mean? – Ceylonese Foreign Minister
Later upon the Ceylonese foreign minister informing the then Prime Minister Sir John about what he had been told, the Prime Minister told him, “It’s a good thing I wasn’t there. I would have given that chap a thundering slap there and then where he stood.”
As has been stated, the Indo Lanka Accord at this point has been scrapped. Preferably, sign a brand new defence agreement with the now world powers – either the United States, or China. Like the Anglo-Ceylon Accord, this will ensure our protection from any neighbour who gets any ideas, and permit us to focus on developing the economy, which will fund future military purchases. Under this arrangement, the allied power will come to our aid if attacked. This acts as a deterrent and allows for training as we had before the mess of 1957. No Indo-Lanka Accord means GENUINE independent foreign policy:
In the 1950s, when we had the Anglo-Ceylon Agreement, Ceylon had training and defence guaranteed by the British (particularly the Navy and Air Force), and at the same time engaged diplomatically and economically with communist China (Rubber Rice Pact). This negates any FOOLISH argument by the left wing Indian lackeys who claim that we are non aligned now, and weren’t better placed then.
In the mean time, National Service will permit a large reserve disciplined force
Focus on a core group of 100,000 professional army personnel, around 60,000 Naval, and maybe 30,000 Air Force with an additional complement of rapid action Marines of around 10,000 and Special Forces of around 5,000.
Focus on equipping them with the latest equipment – Singapore had tanks before Malaysia – such as Chinese tanks, drones, gunboats etc
The Special Forces should be increased and bolstered. This should be the priority. Excellent work has been done on this already.
The Navy should focus on building/acquiring larger vessels to patrol our EEA and acquire helicopter carriers. Aircraft carrier can be considered if money permits, but down the line.
The Air Force should be heavily reorganised and bolstered. Shocking that there is only 1 fighter jet (and that too an old one) when we had a large air force at independence:
If our treaty is with the US, acquire F-18s with a view to getting the F-35 as soon as possible when its issues are ironed out
If our treaty is with China, acquire J-20’s and a J-31’s to leave India in the dust and not daring to try and intimidate us into submission of trying to develop ever again.
Suggestion would be squadrons amounting to around 50 planes, the majority being interceptors.
Ideal if you can purchase 5th generation to be ahead of the game – again at independence Singapore had tanks BEFORE Malaysia. So doing this ahead of India would be ideal.
Encourage local defence contractors and entrepreneurs to develop drones and other technology and work with our forces. List on the stock exchange.
HEALTHCARE
One people. Compassion.
A new national medical regulator will be established comprised of healthcare professionals and lawyers.
All healthcare will remain free.
Money wasted all this time on needless bureaucracy will be diverted to maintaining and cleaning existing hospitals, installing new equipment (MRI scanners etc) at more local hospitals, and on hiring medical staff
Aspire to build several large hub hospitals around the country with world class facilities to treat our people for serious illnesses
Ensure that local surgeries have adequate logistics to filter patients to the appropriate area for treatment
Issue a complete BAN on doctors practising both privately and on the national healthcare system. NO one may practise privately unless they have 10 years experience in a healthcare system from around the world, or at home. And no one may practise on both systems.
This will ensure that doctors treat people on the National Health Service.
Ensure a code of conduct, managed by an honest doctor as Healthcare Minister to promote genuine compassion to the system.
Ensure doctors and nurses are given adequate pay, BUT just like everyone else, no tax allowances and permits.
RIGHT TO STRIKE, PROTEST AND RIGHT TO PEACE
Everyone will have the right to protest, provided:
They protest peacefully
They register with the local Police/local Authority to ensure police management of the strike/walk
They conform to designated areas to strike in
Their leader registers with the local Authority and assumes full responsibility for the actions of protestors. Thus no one can let the pawns rush the barricades, whilst the leaders run away.
To ensure the right to peace, no protest will be permitted to use loudspeakers beyond a certain hour (e.g. 9PM), no protest may use a public road that is not permitted
Colombo shall designate a certain borough as a “Speaker’s Corner” for people to protest and strike in.
No essential services may strike without advance notice
Port workers who strike will be sacked.
Anyone who resorts to violence, intimidation, thuggish behaviour will be sentenced to caning and jail time.
Any officer who resorts to unprovoked violence against peaceful protestors will be prosecuted.
Any officer acting in the line of duty against unruly protestors (such as the Oil Board incident) will be respected.
ENERGY HUB
The Trincomalee Oil tanks, foolishly nationalised from oil majors, and foolishly and traitorously handed to an inefficient public body and a minor Indian company will be retendered, with the Indo Lanka Accord declared null and void.
The Oil Tanks will be contracted to be renovated and expanded by oil majors from the US, Europe, China, Malaysia etc.
The public sector will own around 30%, and tender out the rest to be privately managed.
Any refineries run at other ports such as Colombo and Hambantota will follow similar policies to Singapore, and not backward socialist policies.
THE ECONOMIC FOCUS
All corrupted public bodies that were foolishly nationalised such as the Tea Board etc, will be either privatised, listed on the stock market, or undertake immediate cuts to cronies/numbers of staff and have new management appointed who are relevant to the industry.
The country will focus on self sufficiency in food, whilst open to competition.
The country will focus on GENUINE COMPETITION across all fields like we once had, and as occurs in places like Hong Kong, Singapore etc. Private companies from Ceylon and abroad will compete with public bodies to provide services, etc.
No restrictions will be placed on foreign companies operating here, other than necessary environmental laws.
No restrictions will be placed to benefit one company (be that domestic, or foreign) over another, other than tax breaks in designated free trade zones.
The country will aim to encourage FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT from all countries and major companies the world over. Like Vietnam, we should aspire to get investment in the tens of billions, if not $100 billion dollars every year, which WILL COME if we have the rule of law and technocratic governance.
Recognise our location isn’t enough with the BASICS RIGHT:
Zero tolerance for corruption
The rule of law
Meritocracy
World class infrastructure
World class lack of red tape
Aspire to re-gear the economy toward high end services, high end tourism, financial and technology hub, port logistical hub, aviation hub, with a small amount of high value efficient agricultural exports (tea, coconut, rubber), gemstones and high end high technology manufacturing.
Re-skill all unskilled workers since we have missed the boat on cheap labour which went to India, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
Issue a complete ban on any political party advocating people to go and work as housemaids. Regulate any private organisations that do so.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS COUNTRY WILL ONE DAY FINALLY DEVELOP
Ceylon can easily be another Singapore within 15 years at most. We have wasted 10 years since the war ended. We should not venerate foolish policies, leaders, ideologies, or certain countries at the expense of what is right, the truth and common sense.
Let a non-partisan, patriotic and comprehensive approach be taken to free the country of the corrupt, unleash the wheels of commerce and take this country into the 21st century and the future and beyond.
May the Force be with us. I leave you with this quote:
“throughout this period the Ministers had in view one objective only, the attainment of maximum freedom. Accusations of Sinhalese domination have been bandied about. We can afford to ignore them for it must be plain to every one that what we sought was not Sinhalese domination, but Ceylonese domination. We devised a scheme that gave heavy weight to the minorities; we deliberately protected them against discriminatory legislation. We vested important powers in the Governor-General … We decided upon an Independent Public Service Commission so as to give assurance that there should be no communalism in the Public Srvice.(sic) I do not normally speak as a Sinhalese, and I do not think that the Leader of this Council ought to think of himself as a Sinhalese representative, but for once I should like to speak as a Sinhalese and assert with all the force at my command that the interests of one community are the interests of all. We are one of another, what ever race or creed.
DS Senanayake, the first Prime Minister of Ceylon
As a famous batsmen once said if I may paraphrase – I am a Buddhist, I am a Hindu, I am a Christian, I am a Muslim. I am a Sinhalese, a Tamil, A Moor, A Burgher, a Malay. I am a lover of tea, of cricket, of relaxing, sometimes a little too much. And I am first of all, now and always, proudly, Sri Lankan.”
These sanctions were supposed to punish Moscow’s elite, but instead they’ve spurred economic development and patriotism.
The current conversation about Russia sanctions centers around targeting and scope. Are we punishing the people whose behavior we most want to change? Is there pain, well inflicted, on those individuals responsible for creating chaos in Ukraine and Crimea, for reckless attacks on Sergei Skripal and others, and for wanton interference in Western elections? Can we hurt Russian elites in a way that Putin will notice? Have we done enough?
In at least one sector, though, the sanctions are a textbook case
of unintended consequences: they’ve put Russian farmers in the best
shape they’ve ever been. Countersanctions aimed at imported Western food
products—put into effect just days after the initial sanctions in the
summer of 2014—initially sent Russian consumers into a tailspin, hungry
from a lack of immediate alternatives to tasty European cheeses and
processed foods. But palates adjusted quickly, and the import
substitution effects boosted Russia, by 2016, to the position of top wheat exporter
in the world. As the United States hemorrhages global agro-market share
courtesy of Trump-era tariffs and trade wars, Russia is actively and
aggressively filling the gap.
The Sanctions
Do You Know What Happened Today In History?
In early 2014, following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea
and continued involvement in separatist uprisings in eastern Ukraine,
the United States, European Union, and several other Western countries
imposed sanctions. Throughout 2014, these measures progressed from the
diplomatic (limits on previously scheduled meetings and talks), to curbs
on specific individuals and organizations (targeted visa bans and asset
freezes), and finally, in July and September, to restrictions
on Russia’s financial, defense, and energy sectors. The latter limited
access to capital markets and low-interest loans, imposed an arms
embargo and ban on exports of dual-use items to military clients, and
prohibited export of innovative extractive technology (with special
approval required for all other energy-related exports). Since 2014, the
sanctions have been sustained and augmented, but they have remained
within these categories.
In August of 2014, Russia initiated countersanctions to ban
specific food commodities imported from the United States and EU.
Affected foods included beef, poultry, fish/seafood, fruits/vegetables,
nuts, milk and dairy, cheese, and a wide range of processed and prepared
foods. The ban was broad,
covering both staples and luxury items. It hit many foods on which
Russia was most import-dependent, and its wide geographic scope (the
range of countries it covers) has made it difficult to compensate fully
for shortages by increasing imports from non-sanctioned countries.
The Impact
Russia felt the whole spectrum of sanctions in three immediate ways :
increased volatility on foreign exchange markets, leading to
significant depreciation of the ruble and resulting inflationary
pressures; restricted access to financial markets; and depressed
consumption and investment. Imports sank in the third quarter of 2014.
The steep drop in world oil prices in the fourth quarter of 2014 likely
had even more profound effects on the Russian economy than the sanctions
and countersanctions. In late 2014 and early 2015, oil prices fell so
far (from $100 per barrel in Q2 2014, to under $60 by the end of 2014,
and even further by the second half of 2015) that Russia’s export
revenues were cut by a third . And the financial sanctions meant that Russia could not mitigate the oil price plunge by borrowing money.
Right off the bat, the countersanctions impacted $9.5 billion worth
of food annually, covering almost a tenth of total food consumption in
Russia and a quarter of food imports. Before the countersanctions,
domestic production covered less than 40 percent of Russia’s intake of
fruit, 80 percent of milk/dairy, and 90 percent of vegetables; Russia
was already a net exporter of cereals, potatoes, and oil plants. The
countersanctions banned 60 percent of incoming meat and fish, and half
of imported dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Overall, the share of imports in total food consumption decreased from over a third in 2014 to just over 20 percent in the second quarter of 2017.
Prices immediately increased. By February of 2015, food inflation
(year-on-year) was over 23 percent. Households shifted food buying and
eating habits away from pricier, formerly imported foods (fruit,
milk/dairy, beef) toward less expensive, domestically-sourced goods
(potatoes, bread, chicken), and have adopted smart shopping” strategies
to value acceptable quality at lower prices (including a diminished
appetite for prestige brands in favor of trusted store brands). Before
too long, the consumer environment had largely adjusted and recovered.
By 2018, food price increases were much lower than overall inflation.
Some banned food products from the EU have made their way to Russia
as re-exports from other countries. In the final quarter of 2014, for
example, EU dairy exports to Belarus increased tenfold compared to the
previous year, and exports of fruit and fish doubled—not likely a surge
in the domestic Belarussian market. While not a large percentage of
Russia’s overall food trade, these secondary import substitutions have
exacerbated trade tensions between Russia and Belarus, leading to a
reinstatement of customs controls between the two countries in December
2014, as well as the threat of restrictions on imports of milk products
from Belarus as recently as spring 2018. Probably rightly, Russia
accuses Belarus of being a willing conduit for banned, counterfeit, and low-quality or mislabeled foods.
The Industry
The countersanctions were a gift to the Russian agrifood industry.
They legitimized and catalyzed an import substitution strategy whose
broad objective had been in place since the late 2000s: to become
self-sufficient in food. In other words, the sanctions paved the way for
Putin to overcome a long-standing embarrassment dating back to the
collapse of the sector in the 1990s. The timing of the
countersanctions—announced just a couple of days after the sanctions—led
many observers to wonder whether the lists of banned products had been
planned beforehand, specifically as a measure intended ultimately to
boost domestic production.
Russia’s food industry has seized this opportunity. Many
investors who had not previously bothered with agriculture suddenly
became interested
in farming. High-end oligarchs also got the message, with the
agriculture sector becoming a point of national pride and patriotism for
some. Viktor Vekselberg ,
for example, has started investing in the construction of urban
greenhouses. The government has earmarked 242 billion rubles (just under
$4 billion USD) in agricultural support
for 2018–2020, focused on rail transportation, subsidized loans, block
grants to regions, partial compensation for capital investments, and
targeted support for dairy farmers. A new legal requirement for public
procurement gives preferences to domestic products—not just for food,
but across the board, including key industries like software. This
government purchasing boost, in combination with the countersanctions,
has been of comparatively less benefit to domestic sectors that don’t
produce quality alternatives to imports, but the food industry has
benefited significantly. Even sub-sectors not covered by the
countersanctions have asked to get in on the game. In June 2015, Russian
candy manufacturers asked for countersanctions to extend to European
chocolate, hoping to capture the market niche from Belgium, France and
Germany. The Minister of Agriculture, Alexander Tkachev, summed it up
neatly in 2015: We are thankful to our European and American partners,
who made us look at agriculture from a new angle, and helped us find
new reserves and potential.”
Agrifood was one of the few bright spots in the country’s otherwise
bleak economy from 2014–2016, boasting 3.2 percent average growth. In
the words of Andrey Guriev ,
the chief executive of PhosAgro, a Russian phosphate fertilizer
producer: In one day, the Russian agricultural sector became profitable
as hell.” And the growth continues. Russia now produces almost twice as
much grain as it consumes, and it’s nearly self-sufficient in sugar and
meat products. Domestic production has completely displaced imports of
pork and chicken. By 2016, Russia had become the world’s largest
exporter of grains, which had overtaken arms sales to become Russia’s
second-largest export commodity (after oil/gas) to the tune of almost
$21 billion. The Black Earth region of central and southern Russia,
close to Black Sea ports, is well positioned to supply large wheat
importers like Turkey and Egypt, and there has been huge investment in
storage facilities and export terminals. This food market turbulence has
attracted a new superpower; China is rapidly creating a market for
Russian soybeans and sunflower seeds, replacing U.S. products hit by Trump-era tariffs. And it doesn’t stop there. Russia has about 50 million still-unused acres
of potentially productive land, on top of the seventy-nine million
where wheat was grown in 2017, and its crop rotation schemes—including
winter wheat, corn, barley—hedge well against bad weather and
unpredictable markets. Putin’s May decrees” last year included a goal to double 2018’s $25 billion in food exports by 2024.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nation
Geneva
Foreign Minister
Hon. Tilak Marapana and delegation
met with Madam Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
and the
Under- Secretary
General in charge of the UN Office in Geneva Mr. Michael Moller this week, on the side-lines of the 40th Session of the Human Rights
Council in Geneva.
High Commissioner Bachelet
on 20
March, having
received the delegation warmly, appreciated the progress
made by Sri Lanka in some of the key human rights commitments arising from HRC
resolution 30/1, and reaffirmed her readiness and willingness to continue to
work with Sri Lanka closely in further strengthening implementation and
achieving progress through technical assistance and support in areas where such
assistance was required by Sri Lanka.
The
delegation comprising Hon. Dr. Sarath Amunugama, M.P., Hon. Dr. Suren Raghavan,
Governor of the Northern Province, and Mr. Ravinatha Aryasinha, Secretary to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva
Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez had
a frank and candid discussion with the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
during which perspectives on different aspects of OHCHR’s engagement with Sri
Lanka were shared by the delegation. Regarding certain
information contained in the Office of the High Commissioner’s Report such as
the mass graves” in Mannar, the
release of lands held by the military in the North and East and other matters, the Sri Lanka delegation emphasized the
importance in compiling these reports by engaging
closely with the relevant local institutions and independent bodies,
including the National Human Rights Commission, in verifying facts on the
ground.
At the meeting with the
UN Under- Secretary
General on 21 March the Foreign Minister briefed
Mr. Moller on progress achieved by Sri Lanka in reconciliation, peacebuilding
and development and emphasized the importance of continuing assistance by UN
agencies in ongoing reconstruction, reintegration and sustainable development
efforts. The Foreign Secretary and the Permanent Representative were associated
with the Minister.
Appreciating
Sri Lanka’s leadership in some of the key areas of UN work, Mr. Moller indicated
that his office would facilitate contacts between Sri Lanka and other
development partners based in Geneva to help explore joint projects to
complement Sri Lanka’s national efforts at advancing socio-economic development,
noting further that Sri
Lanka being a country with reasonably higher social indicators than many
developing states, it could better share best practices and lessons learnt in
its national development efforts with the SDG Lab maintained by the United
Nations Office (UNOG) and benefit from the experiences of other countries as
well. Responding to Sri Lanka initiative on the National
Thripitake Week and the importance of Thripitake as a
UNESCO heritage, Under-secretary
General Moller assured the delegation that the UN Office in Geneva would extend
support for holding specific activities such as library talks on traditions and
cultures highlighting their significance as common heritage.
On
21
March, Heads and deputy heads of UN and other International
Organizations based in
Geneva, Ambassadors to the Human Rights Council and
other representatives
had an opportunity to meet Hon. Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana and other
members of his delegation at a reception organized by the Permanent Mission of
Sri Lanka to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva
at a venue provided courtesy the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Time
6 00 am Friday ,location near Galle face behind Taj hotel along road side
parking area .
Parked
the car near the parking area along the road with no police sign for no parking
or board showing chargeable parking times , and went for a walk in Galle Face.
On
my return I find this person with a
uniform ready to hand over a parking ticket .I looked at him to see the a name of a private company
written on it and his orange uniform with a badge of a company . I politely
asked for his identication and authorization
to collect fee from drivers .He got agitated and pointed at the parking
fee ticket and said This is my identification !”
Question
is any Jack or Jill ( somapla or Ahamed)
can print parking ticket books and collect money any where ,any time in Sri
Lanka claiming that drivers have to pay.
Some
pay and take ticket and some do not
collect ticket and this scrupulous collector pockets the money. In other
countries where parking is charged there is a board showing chargeable parking
times.
This follow standing there at 6 am trying to
extract money is absolutely ripping off .
Mayoress
should look into this and place boards to show free parking times .If CMC wants
money they can appoint there stooges and give them an identification to show
legitimacy
During
Premadasa ‘s time Keselwatte unemployed women were given green jacket to
collect money from 8 am till 6 pm may be and they had a badge and
identification .
And
now CMC is employing private companies to do the same .Poor women are out of a
job .
This
is Privatization in our country
Next
time I will be more offensive and attract low enforcement to intervene .
The UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka dated 01.10.2015 and bearing
No. 23/1 was brought by the USA. It is now public knowledge that Sri
Lanka is the only nation in the world which co-sponsored a resolution
against itself.
We had been under tremendous pressure for the last
three years to implement the resolution in full because of the
co-sponsorship. Sri Lanka had a golden opportunity to come out of this
death-trap when the US withdrew from the UNHRC calling it a politically
biased cesspool.
Sri Lanka should have withdrawn from the
resolution quoting the allegations levelled by the US. However, the
Government disappointed the nation by its failure to grab this
opportunity. In contrast, Tamil separatists displayed their unwavering
courage by sticking to their cause despite being deserted by the world
solitary superpower. When the US deserted them, they handed over the
leadership of the anti-Sri Lanka campaign to the UK which was not only a
former superpower but also the last colonial master of Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, the UK tabled on 22 March 2019, a new anti-Sri Lanka
resolution numbered as 40/23 at the UNHRC at its 40th session with the
sponsorship of Canada, Germany, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
New resolution
The
new resolution has revived the unfulfilled recommendations of the
resolution proposed by the US. Further, it brought Sri Lanka under the
supervision of the UNHRC for two years. Sri Lanka has been notified to
implement the recommendations contained in the report tabled at the 40th
session by the High Commissioner for Human Rights which has Reference
No.
A/HRC/40/23. Paragraph 68(C) of the High Commissioner’s report has
reiterated the importance of establishing Hybrid Courts to investigate
alleged war crimes. Sri Lanka agreed to investigate alleged war crimes
with the participation of foreigners as judges, prosecutors and
investigators. However, the Government failed to honour the undertaking
because strong protest emerged from the public. This obligation has
been revived by the new resolution.
Lack of progress
The
High Commissioner has drawn her attention to the lack of progress in
cases filed against former Army Commander, Jagath Jayasuriya in Brazil
and Colombia under universal jurisdiction. In Paragraph 72(C), she has
urged member States to prosecute Sri Lankan war heroes for war crimes in
their respective States.
Because of this request, Sri
Lankan war heroes are now in grave danger in any country outside Sri
Lanka, especially in countries which have admitted universal
jurisdiction. She has grossly violated our sovereignty by interfering
with internal affairs having criticised the appointment of Major General
Shavendra Silva as the Chief of Staff of the Army. He has not been
found guilty by any Court. The only ‘crime’ committed by him was saving
lives of millions by eradication of terrorism by risking his life.
The
High Commissioner has commented in her report about the Government’s
failure to identify and punish the persons responsible for the murder of
Lasantha Wickrematunga. Unresolved murders are not exclusive to Sri
Lanka. It is a situation that can be found in any country. Lasantha was
murdered in 2008.
However, President John F Kennedy was murdered
in 1963. The US has failed to identify the culprits of the Kennedy
assassination for the last 56 years despite its boasts of having the
most advanced technology in the world. The High Commissioner has never
mentioned about this failure of the US Government in any of her reports,
clearly demonstrating duplicity of the UNHRC.
Although the
High Commissioner has yelled at Sri Lanka for several isolated incidents
including the transfer of a Police Officer, she has decided to be
silent on the gravest violation of human rights, ie, postponement of
Elections. The Government had postponed Local Authority Elections for
three years. Provincial Council Elections are now overdue by 18 months.
When the Government does not hold Elections, over fifteen million people
lose their franchise and thereby their freedom of expression. Hence,
the High Commissioner should have paid the highest attention to Election
postponement. However, she had been cautious to avoid this important
issue displaying her political bias.
The Sri Lankan
Government is more responsible than the High Commissioner for the
UNHRC’s anti-Sri Lanka attitude. When Tamil separatists level baseless
allegations against Sri Lanka, the Government should have countered
those. Instead, the Government unconditionally admits to these
allegations. It may be pertinent to mention here the Government’s
reaction to Lord Naseby’s report on war crime allegations. Lord Naseby
is a prominent and respectable personality in the UK which has brought
the latest resolution against Sri Lanka.
After analysing war
crime allegations, he has produced a report concluding that a number of
causalities during the final phase of the war did not exceed 5,000 and
it is within the norm for such a number in this kind of war.
The
Sri Lankan Government should have used the Naseby Report to counter war
crime allegations and form world opinion favourable to Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately, the Government considered the report as an irritant to
its position. Hence, the Government did not bother to table this
valuable report before the UNHRC.
Rejected
The
Foreign Ministry rejected the charges against the Government in the
High Commissioner’s report, by issuing a Media release. Dr Sarath
Amunugama, a member of Sri Lankan delegation to the UNHRC heavily
criticised the report. Meanwhile, the Government has co-sponsored the
resolution which appreciates the report. If the Government does not
accept the report, how can it co-sponsor a resolution which appreciates
the report? The co-sponsorship has negated the Government’s criticism on
the contents of the report.
The nation should punish the
ruling party at the forthcoming election for repeating in 2019, the
blunder of co-sponsorship committed in 2015.
How the war-affected
Tamils are being used by extremely opportunist Western power bloc to
manipulate Governments for their geopolitical agenda
A big joke made rounds about Sri Lanka sending out two
opposing but official teams for the ongoing Fortieth UNHRC Session in
Geneva; one by President and another by PM.
A brief stroke of sanity changed this and Sri Lanka sent one team to
Geneva. What they would say about the UNHRC Report on Sri Lanka and the
new Resolution 40/1 this time led by Canada, Britain, Germany and a few
more countries isn’t clear, except that this Government is broadly in
line with it.
This whole hype about the International Community demanding
accountability and good governance from Sri Lanka since the conclusion
of the war in 2009 May, does not lead Sri Lanka to any sanity in
political life and in its Governing culture.
This International Community which is basically the Western Power Bloc
has never provided any space for accountable and decent governments
anytime anywhere in any part of the globe.
Financially controlled by this Western power bloc, the UN and its
agencies have never been able to peacefully settle any conflict in this
post WW II history while it lent covert support for change of
governments in the poor and developing world.
UN decisions are very much influenced by the US administration. That makes no difference in who sits in the Oval Office.
It was no different with George Bush Jnr. and with Barak Obama. It was
no different during the Cold War period and now after the end of the
Cold War from 1991.
Over the last 77 years since the first declaration in January 1942, or
from the formal establishment of the UN in 1945, this world body with
193 Member States by now, has been a colossal failure in spite of its
massive growth into a giant bureaucratic organisation in establishing
its mandate; Global Peace.
There are at present nine major armed conflicts amounting to over a
hundred deaths per year in each conflict from Afghanistan since 1979,
stretching to Northern Mali, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Boko Haram, Nigeria,
Iraq and Somalia according to the Swedish Uppsala University’s Conflict
Data
Collection Programme.
These nine conflicts alone had led to the deaths of more than 98,200
civilians during 2018 only. Sadly, Uppsala have not included the
Israeli-Palestinian war that has had 131 Resolutions adopted by the UN
Security Council since its first Resolution in November 1947. The
Israeli-Palestine conflict has resulted in over 10,000 Palestinian and
around 200 Israeli children being killed by year 2012. Maimed, blinded
and seriously injured children not counted.
The UNHRC since its creation in 2006, had adopted more Resolutions
condemning Israel than all other Resolutions condemning other countries
put together.
The US administration despite who the President was and presently is,
gave Israel a free hand to continue with its savage expansionism
ignoring Palestinian deaths. UN General Assembly has adopted at least
nine Resolutions between December 1981 to December 1984 that said:
Strategic relationship with the United States encourages Israel to pursue aggressive and expansionist policies and practices.”
Beyond adopting Resolutions, the UN member States have not been able to
stop Israel from doing what they did. In re-enacting Hitler on a Zionist
platform in the same savage Hitlerite form. Difference being the entire
Gaza Strip and the West Bank being turned into one massive, open
concentration camp, unlike that of Hitler’s
closed ones.
“International Community basically Western Power Bloc never provided any space for decent governments anytime anywhere”
“Gotabhaya believed his war without witnesses could establish there were no crimes committed”
“UN decisions are very much influenced by the US administration”
What can we expect from this UN and its UNHRC? Does it have credible
authority to dictate terms to sovereign countries, when it does not show
that same authority when dealing with Israel and the US? Invasion of
Iraq shows how the US with British collaboration had the UN complicit in
invading Iraq to destroy Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). While it
was later exposed the UN Security Council was provided with fake
evidence and there were no WMD, the UN did not even want to accept the
blunder they made causing massive damage and destruction to the Iraqi
people.
Did not even censure the USA and Britain for consciously misinforming
the whole world to invade Iraq for their own geopolitical needs. NATO
strikes on Libya followed Iraq. Funding and arming Libyan rebels led to
total anarchy on Libyan soil. In Afghanistan, the US created and funded
the Taliban.
Afghanistan is still bleeding and Obama as President was directly responsible for drone attacks on
Afghan civilians.
Their geopolitical decisions ignore the UN completely and UN member
States don’t think they have a right to condemn and censure the big
powers openly violating international law.
It was on geopolitical needs that the USA kept pressure on the Rajapaksa regime too.
The China factor with Rajapaksa was all that they focussed on. They thus
used actual post war issues to develop a strong campaign against
Rajapaksa. Their advantage was in Rajapaksa ignoring the necessity to
address post war issues democratically.
President Rajapaksa’s Sinhala Buddhist politics given crude practical
interpretations by his brother Gotabhaya as Defence Ministry Secretary
vowed it was a zero casualty war.
Gotabhaya believed his war without witnesses could establish there were no crimes committed.
Sadly for them, this modern world had more than enough evidence
collected through mobile phones and satellite images backed by survivors
of the war. They provided more than a justifiable reason for Human
Rights campaigns against Rajapaksa using the UNHRC and the heavily
funded Colombo based human rights campaigners. Consistent campaigning
for over 04 years, this international community led by the US was able
to dislodge Rajapaksa from power in 2015 January.
Have the US and its allies who moved the Resolution 30/1 in 2014 March
for the third consecutive time, achieved anything significant under this
government led by PM Wickramasinghe? Untold but plainly evident fact
is, the US and its Western allies in fact do not intend going any
further with war crimes investigations and accountability issues, now
that Rajapaksa had been dislodged from power.
Four years gone for now under this government, there are only piecemeal
legal provisions adopted every time UNHRC Sessions come around and this
government is given more time. The war-affected in North and East reject
these cosmetic answers. In war devastated Vanni people are on their
own, demanding permanent and justifiable answers for their grievances
overlooked by both Rajapaksa and Wickramasinghe governments for over
nine years and 10 months for now.
UNHRC Resolution 40/1 would provide this government another year till elections are concluded, expecting the UNP to return.
The war-affected Tamil people are being used by this extremely
opportunist Western power bloc to manipulate Governments on their own
geopolitical agenda.
This UNP government as the previous UPFA government nor the next
government that would be voted in at the next election, will not
implement Resolution 40/1.
Both major parties and their small allies are racially biased and
corrupt. They lack the political will and the vision of the New Zealand
Prime Minister Ms Jacinda Ardern who after the attacks on 02 Muslim
mosques in Christchurch on Friday 15 March, took responsibility for the
safety and security of all Muslim people in her country as equals and as
New Zealand citizens who have the right to live and practise their
religion without hindrance. She as PM rallied New Zealanders in support
of the Muslim community.
“This International Community
which is basically the Western Power Bloc has never provided any space
for accountable and decent governments anytime anywhere in any part of
the globe “
Politics in Sri Lanka is not that of Jacinda Ardern. Yet we have Human
Rights written into the Constitution, we are signatory to most
international conventions and charters that guarantee labour, women and
child rights, we stand for ethnic and religious equality and freedom, we
have laws for environmental safety.
We say yes for everything just, fair and democratic. But respect and
honour none. Living with Sinhala Buddhist majority dominance, we don’t
believe we want them. Sinhala Buddhist dominance is what PM
Wickramasinghe cajoles, when he says it’s he who saved Sri Lanka from
direct international probing on war crimes, by refusing to sign the Rome
Statute.
That is precisely what the US stands for. Having rejected the Rome
Statute, President Trump refuses to allow any investigations into US
military interventions in Afghanistan or elsewhere by the International
Criminal Court (ICC). His Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told media last
Friday, The ICC is attacking America’s rule of law.” This was what
Rajapaksa said, President Sirisena is saying and the Wickramasinghe
government is accepting, with international war crimes investigations
rejected. In Sri Lanka it is said in Sinhala to the Sinhala Buddhists
whereas the US says it to the whole world in English with arrogance and
no shame.
Secretary Pompeo told media:-
I’m announcing a policy of US visa restrictions on those individuals
directly responsible for any ICC investigation of US personnel” adding
the US would not hesitate to impose economic sanctions if the ICC does
not change its decision.
It is also extremely important to note the impunity Israel is provided
under US patronage. These visa restrictions may also be used to deter
ICC efforts to pursue allied personnel, including Israelis, without
allies’ consent,” the Secretary told media.
Now, what does all these mean to Sri Lanka and to the democratic world?
There is no necessity to answer those who brutally violate all laws but
demand Sri Lanka respect the law. But that does not allow Sri Lanka to
go without answers to war-related issues.
We have a moral and a political responsibility to provide justifiable
answers to all issues effecting the North and East and they cannot be
outsourced. That no doubt needs a decent, respectable leadership much
different to Trump and most other international community leaders.
They’ve proved they are not the right individuals to follow.
Comments – 2
Lord Wolfstein Friday, 22 March 2019 06:12 PM
Part 1
There is a very big difference between the war crimes committed by some
Western powers and the war crimes committed by the Sri Lanka Forces.
While the Western powers committed war crimes in foreign countries, the
Sri Lanka forces have committed war crimes against civilians in their
own country. One is just as reprehensible as the other.
Sri Lanka is probably more comparable to Cambodia or Yugoslavia in this
regard.
Similarly, the crimes Nazi Germany committed to its own people,
especially the minorities.
In Sri Lanka, ethnic minorities have to live with daily encounters with
their tormentors, who run around freely without being held accountable.
This malady has already lasted for 10 years.
Although Sri Lanka has promised its minorities and the UN to try its war
criminals, nothing has happened yet. The reason for this is, that the
big parties do not want to scare their Sinhalese Buddhist electorate,
which is the majority of the country.
End Part 1
Lord Wolfstein Friday, 22 March 2019 06:17 PM
Part 2
Many of this majority see themselves as superior to the Tamils, which is
historically proven to be the opposite.
It is time for the majority to change its attitude. A democracy is only
as good as it treats its minorities.
These minorities currently have only the opportunity to turn to foreign
powers for righteousness. Thus, it would be best for the country to
establish war crimes tribunals in Sri Lanka with unprejudiced and
experienced foreign judges. Local judges, and however honourable they
are, are always suspected of being biased and continue to be in danger
of being murdered by accused war criminals or their supporters. All of
this should give you food for thought. The national pride and the
throbbing on the sovereignty of the country must be put back. There will
be no reconciliation and peace in this country unless the last war
criminals and those responsible in the highest offices have been
punished.
End
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Even though the UNP opened up the economy in 1977 and eschewed the
protectionist, closed economic model followed by the preceding Sirima
Bandaranaike government, the UNP at least when it was under
J.R.Jayewardene, never took leave of their senses. Despite their stated
ideology of an open economy, when common sense or a lack of
alternatives required it, the old UNP was not averse to adopt policies
that looked SLFPish. For example, when the Pelwatte Sugar Co was
started in the 1980s, sugar was produced in a factory with foreign
collaboration from sugarcane grown in the Moneragala district, and the
duties on imported sugar were increased slightly so as to make the sugar
from Pelwatte competitive on the local market. After a few years, if
this writer recalls correctly, it was not necessary to maintain the
import duty because Pelwatte sugar could be sold at the world market
price.
Even if Pelwatte sugar would always need to be
protected with a tariff on imported sugar, it still made sense to
continue with it. The reason why the UNP government of the time started
that sugar factory was because there was no other means for the people
of Moneragala to make a proper living. Ranjan Wijeratine was one of
the principal backers of the Pelwatte project. Since paddy cultivation
could not be carried out in the Moneragala district, sugar was deemed
to be the ideal cash crop for the people living there. Pelwatte sugar
which was started in the 1980s is an example of how people like
J.R.Jayewardene and Ranjan Wijeratne were able to put commonsense
before ideology for the benefit of the people and the country.
Of
course, as one can imagine, that was an era when capitalist enterprise
was considered to be evil and there were voices raised from the
opposition alleging that the people were being made to consume imported
sugar at a higher price so that a ‘capitalist enterprise’ could make
money. But that is not how people will look at that endeavour now.
Today, the prevailing attitude is that if it is a local enterprise or
at least a largely local enterprise, using local inputs, that is ipso
facto a good thing irrespective of whether the operation is owned by
the government or the private sector. It is now respectable to be a
local capitalist. Foreign ownership however is another matter
altogether. The greater the extent of foreign involvement, the less
attractive the entity becomes. People are questioning the wisdom behind
the sale of a part of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation fuel
distribution network to the Indian Oil Company. That transaction has
enabled the Indians to import fuel, sell it in Sri Lanka and repatriate
their profits. There is no technology transfer or anything that Sri
Lanka gets out of it and the suspicion is that that sale was motivated
only by the need for someone to make a killing on bribes.
The
slogan ‘ganna ape de’ now has traction among the people. That slogan in
fact is gaining traction even in countries like the USA which was once
an ardent advocate of free trade. The ideology of free trade taken to
its logical conclusion would mean that if a country cannot produce
something at less than the world market price of that item, then it
made sense to import it. That kind of an approach is however not
conducive to ensuring livelihoods for all people in an economy. The
only arrangement that makes sense is a mix of free trade with the
promotion and protection of certain industries which are of importance
to the economy, for the food security of the nation and for the
livelihoods of the people.
The question that arises is
whether the present procurement guidelines of the government and the
attitudes of the people entrusted with implementing it, reflect this
commonsense approach. We see from the current controversy surrounding
the award of the tender to construct a 300 MW heavy fuel oil/liquid
natural gas power plant in Kerawalapitiya, that Sri Lanka’s Procurement
Appeal’s Board places local, largely government owned companies on an
equal footing with largely foreign owned entities. That approach will
be necessary if the said project is funded by a multilateral donor like
the ADB or the World Bank because those institutions being
multilateral lending organizations require open international bidding
for their projects.
However when funding for a project is
obtained through the export financing arrangements of certain
countries, the recipient is required to select a bidder from among a
few nominated by the lender. When a country does not obtain
multilateral or bilateral funding for a project, but invites tenders for
important infrastructure projects on a build, operate, own and
transfer basis, that constitutes a business opportunity in Sri Lanka.
Since there is an ‘own and operate’ component in it in addition to the
building and transferring, one would think that largely locally owned
entities should be given priority in awarding such tenders so that the
profits do not flow out of Sri Lanka or that such outflow would be
minimized. What has happened with regard to the Kerawalapitiya LNG
power project is that a largely local and largely government owned
company has been sidelined in favour of a mainly foreign consortium
with junior local partners. At least it is clear that when it comes to
the rival bidder, the technical and engineering expertise available
will be whatever the foreign partner brings in.
LNG power plant tender
Proposals
for a 300 MW heavy fuel oil/liquid natural gas fired power plant at
Kerawalapitiya were called through public advertisement on 16 November
2016 by the CEB on build, operate, own and transfer basis. Eight
proposals were received and the bids were opened on 21 April 2017. The
Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) had rejected two bids out of eight
on the ground that they have not met the minimum functional
specifications, and has recommended six bids for financial evaluation
including five bids that had not included some of the necessary
equipment. That was subject to the condition that the five bidders
concerned would provide the required installations without any
additional cost to the CEB.
The Standing Cabinet Appointed
Procurement Committee (SCAPC) had rejected the conditional
recommendation of TEC and has directed the TEC to open the financial
proposal of the only bid which was commercially and technically
responsive. However, when TEC opened this bid, it was found that there
is no hard copy of the signed financial bid. Only a soft copy had been
submitted. The bid had then been rejected. Thereafter, the Ministry of
Power and Renewable Energy had proposed to the Cabinet to give all
eight bidders equal opportunity to correct the errors and resubmit
technical and financial proposals. The Cabinet on 29 August 2017 had
directed SCAPC to follow the TEC recommendation and open the five bids
recommended by the TEC.
Pursuant to that evaluation, on 04
April 2018, SCAPC had decided to accept the proposal of Lakdhanavi Ltd.
which was the lowest bid received, as recommended by TEC. An
unsuccessful bidder M/s. Consortium of GCL, WindForce & RenewGen
appealed to the Procurement Appeals Board (PAB) against the award of
the tender to Lakdhanavi Ltd, citing among others the following issues: *
Conflict of interest between the project entity CEB and Lakdhanavi
Ltd. * Reliance of Lakdhanavi on government concessions * Financial
viability of Lakdhanavi bid * Loss to the CEB an effective major
shareholder of Lakdlianavi * Return on investment based on figures
quoted by Lakdhanavi. *Additional equity investment by Lakdhanavi
shareholders
It will be noticed that the last four matters
raised with the Procurements Appeal Board by the appellant M/s.
Consortium of GCL, WindForce & RenewGen appear to be designed to
protect the CEB and Lakdhanavi from themselves. A rival bidder was
arguing that if the tender was awarded to Lakdhanavi, its shareholders
(mainly the government) would have to invest additional equity to see
the project through and that its owning entity (the CEB) would suffer
losses as the return on investment was not sufficient. The PAB upheld
the argument of a conflict of interest between the CEB and Lakdhanavi
Ltd on the following grounds.
= Lakdhanavi Ltd is a
‘subsidiary’ of the CEB and the latter includes the former even in
its consolidated accounts, the connection between the two entities
being that the CEB has 63% controlling shares of Lanka Transformers
Limited Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd and LTL in turn holds 81.6% shares of
Lakdhanavi.
= The Chairman and General Manager of the CEB
are Ex-Officio Directors of Lanka Transformers Limited and CEB holds
the right to appoint another 03 members to the 08 member board. Three
Directors of LTL (not the CEB representatives) represent the Director
Board of Lakdhanavi.
= The Technical Evaluation Committee
consists of 13 members and nine of them are CEB officers. Out of the
five members of SCAPC, one officer is from the CEB.
= Due
to this conflict of interest, donor agencies such as WB, ADB and JICA
do not allow Lakdhanavi to participate in CEB tenders.
= During
the pre-bid meeting several international bidders had complained that
the bid is tailor made for Lakdanavi Ltd as the procurement entity is
their parent company.
One would think that the very
fact that the CEB has a subsidiary which is quite capable of carrying
out this project should have clinched the deal for Lakdhanavi without
having to compete with other companies. It is quite clear that
Lakdhanavi has the technical expertise and the engineering know how to
do the project on their own whereas the other bidders would be
dependent on their foreign partners to do the actual construction and
maintenance of the power plant. Since the CEB owns the majority shares
in Lakdhanavi, why would it have been wrong to simply award the
project to Lakdhanavi as an internal arrangement? This is a prime
example of the ideology of free trade taking precedence over
commonsense. We saw the same thing happening with regard to the sale of
government securities. When the Rajapaksa government was in power, the
principal way for bonds to be sold was through direct placements with
primary dealers at an agreed interest rate.
To the new
rulers who came into power in January 2015, such an arrangement smacked
of a ‘command economy’ and they made auctions the main way in which
bonds were sold. The result of that was the great bond scam and a
doubling of the interest rate which in turn has had a knock on effect
throughout the economy and has contributed in no small measure to the
slowdown of the economy. What that showed was that one cannot run a
country without having the commonsense to dispense with ideology when
the necessity to do so arises.
The Procurements Appeal Board
based on the representations of the appellant, made further
observations on the Kerawalapitiya LNG power plant tender which were
designed to protect the CEB and Lakdhanavi from themselves as follows:
The recommended bidder Lakdhanavi has submitted the lowest financial
bid of US $ 175 Million for the construction of the power plant with
the lowest tariff of Rs. 14.98 per kilo watt hour. A project of this
nature cannot be completed with US $ 175mn. The bid prices of all
other bidders are around US $ 300 million. On an earlier occasion,
Lakdhanavi had put in a bid price for the 300 MW heavy fuel oil
combined cycle power plant in Kerawalapitiya at US $ 225 million but
had spent US 310 million to complete the project.
The TEC
had stated in a report that Lakdhanavi has informed their bank that the
total project cost is US $ 330mn including the cost of machinery from
Germany estimated at US $ 190mn. However they have submitted a bid for
US $ 175mn. The bid price is based on the assumption that they are
entitled to VAT, NBT and PAL exemptions for machinery. SCAPC has
inquired from TEC, the practicability of building the power plant at
the capital cost of US $ 175 million. The TEC referring to power plant
cost in the Asian region including China and stated it varies from US $
155mn to US $ 292mn. and therefore the quoted price of US $ 175mn can
be considered practical. The PAB had stated that it is most surprising
to note that TEC had not taken into account the USD 330 million cost of
the previous power plant constructed by Lakdhanavi in Kerawalapitiya
in deciding whether a 300 MW thermal power plant could be built for USD
175 million.
Furthermore, the PAB observed that the
Lakdhanavi tariff has been computed without VAT, NBT and Ports and
Airports Levy assuming exemption from such taxes. The other bidders
have included these taxes in their estimates. SCAPC/TEC has requested
clarification from Lakdhanavi regarding their willingness to bear the
cost of VAT, NBT and PAL on import of plant and machinery during the
construction period without changing the tariff offered in their
financial proposal. The PAB observed that the mere act of making that
inquiry amounts to unfair tender practice in favour of Lakdhanavi.
The
PAB had accepted the argument of the appellant about the inadequacy of
the equity rate of return per annum of around 7% that can be expected
on the figures quoted by Lakdhanavi. With other additional costs such
as cost of VAT, NBT and PAL on imports at implementation, if there is
no increase in the tariff, the return may be around 5%. With such rate
of return on investment that the PAB observed that the banks would not
be willing to lend money to Lakdhanavi for the project. The mere fact
that the PAB made an issue of the tax that had to be paid in relation
to an entity that belongs largely to the very government imposing such
taxes shows how far we have deviated from commonsense. That is a matter
that should have been decided between the CEB which owns Lakdhanavi and
the Treasury.
The PAB concluded that without considering
any of these issues in the financial proposal, TEC has given full score
of 25 points to Lakdhanavi bid, which cannot justified. The SCAP and
TEC had asked Lakdhanavi to give confirmation that they will bear the
cost of VAT and NBT. Lakdhanavi had given the undertaking that if they
are deprived of a VAT, NBT and PAL exemption for importation of
machinery and equipment, they will consider such payments as an extra
cost and absorb it. The Technical Evaluation Committee had recommended,
awarding the tender to Lakdhanavi on the strength of this undertaking.
The PAB further noted that Lakdanavi Ltd was not sure of the funding
sources of their project even by the time they came for the appeal
hearing. Representative of Lakdanavi Ltd had stated that they are
negotiating with the National Development Bank to obtain funds.
When
further details on the loan were requested by the PAB, representatives
of Lakdanavi had stated that once they receive the letter of Intent
they will discuss further details about the project financing. That is
not surprising because given the profile of Lakdhanavi they would have
had the confidence of being able to raise that money from the local
banking system. Lakdhanavi Ltd and its parent company Lanka
Transformers Ltd which are both entities in which the government has a
majority stake, claim some impressive achievements.
Lakdhanavi as a CEB subsidiary
Lakdhanavi
Ltd was set up in 1996 to get into the thermal power generation
business as a subsidiary of Lanka Transformers Ltd (LTL). The Ceylon
Electricity Board CEB has 63% of the shares in Lanka Transformers Ltd
and LTL in turn owns 81.6% shares of Lakdhanavi. Having started with a
25MW power plant, Lakdhanavi set up Heladhanavi Ltd a 100 MW Power
Plant as a joint venture with Hemas PLC. It also built the 300MW,
Combined Cycle Power plant in Kerawalapitiya. Lakdhanavi has
constructed a thermal power plant in the Maldives in 2016 and have
three thermal projects totaling 215 MW in Bangaladesh.
The
parent company of Lakdhanavi, Lanka Transformers Ltd (LTL) was started
as a Joint Venture with 70% holding by CEB and 30% by Bonar Long a
Scottish company in 1980 to manufacture transformers for the use of the
CEB. The factory was located in Moratuwa with a capacity to produce
700 transformers. Since then there have been no imports of transformers
to Sri Lanka. LTL has supplied more than 40,000 transformers to the
CEB. From 2003, LTL has been exporting transformers and now exports
more transformers than it sells within Sri Lanka. The Moratuwa factory
now produces more than 4,000 transformers annually.
In 2015
LTL had acquired a Indian Switchgear Company in India which
manufactures components required by power utilities. In 1991, LTL set up
a galvanizing facility to protect steel structures such as
transmission towers used by the CEB from corrosion. It now does
galvanizing for the construction industry as well. In 1996, LTL set up a
modern steel fabrication facility in Bandaragama. In addition to this,
they have ventured into mini hydropower stations, wind power
facilities, and also got into hydro power projects in Nepal. LTL also
constructs transmission lines and substations and has a specialized
subsidiary called Ceylex Engineering which now does projects in
Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia as well. Celyex is involved in constructing
five power plants totaling 600MW capacity in Bangladesh as a
contractor.
The diversification of LTL has been such that
in 2017, LTL had only 16% of its revenue from the CEB and the rest
would come from overseas or from the private sector in Sri Lanka or
other government entities that use the services of LTL and its many
offshoots. One would think that any company that gets more than 80% of
its revenue from exports and services offered to the private sector can
be trusted to know what it can and cannot finance. One of the reasons
why the PAB did not award the tender to Lakdhanavi is because they were
not sure whether the bank is aware that the bidder has to bear an
additional Rs. 3 Billion for payment of VAT, NBT and PAL and an
additional Rs. one billion for the LNG compressor which are not
included in the tariff.
The PAB observed that a clear
financing plan is necessary because there is no time for bidders to
look for funding after getting the Letter of Intent as that will delay
the construction. That sounds hollow in a country where power projects
have been delayed for years and decades for an umpteen number of
reasons. How many years did it take for any government to screw up
enough courage to build the Norochcholai and Upper Kotmale power
projects? Why is the proposed Sampur power plant still in abeyance? In
such circimstances, what difference will the passage of a few weeks or
months make while Lakdhanavi finds a suitable funder from among the
local banking community? If a company has done consistently well and
has a large export market, local banks will be falling over one another
to give money to such a company.
The PAB held that the
TEC’s behavior is biased or irresponsible because it gave full marks
for the Lakdhanavi financing plan despite the shortcomings of their
financial proposal and that TEC has not paid due diligence to the
financial viability of the project. They therefore recommended that the
award to Lakdhanavi be reversed and the tender awarded to GCL Windforce
& RenewGen at the tariff of Rs. 15.97 per kilowatt hour. The
question that arises in all this is, if the CEB has a subsidiary that
has already carried out a very similar project locally and is doing
thermal power plants overseas, why was this project not handed over to
them as an internal arrangement?
Sri Lanka
Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has caused the severest damage to Sri Lanka Freedom
Party (SLFP), says SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.
He stated this
addressing a public meeting held in Kegalle.
The SLPP has
destroyed the SLFP while it has also helped the victory and the revival of the
party, the parliamentarian stated”. (News Item)
A day dreaming politician for whom the hat is too bi?
Sudath Gunasekara 3.22.2019.
Having read the
above news item I thought it pertinent to make few comments on what he has said
so that this young man will at least exercise some restraint for his own safety
and more so for the benefit of the country at large, without putting the
country to another political mess by driving Sri Lankan voters in to another
political Bermuda Triangle”.
My Comments
I think the new General Secretary’s ‘Hat’ of a
dead political party appears to be too big for him or he should be out of his
normal senses to make such a sweeping public statement. The whole world knows who
destroyed the SLFP. It is pity and a tragedy too the New G S doesn’t know that.
For his information and record purposes, I should say it was Chandrika and Sirisena,
the present President, who jointly did it in Nov 2014 when MS left the Party at
the instigation of Chandrika to contest the presidential election as the UNP
common candidate. In order to
consolidate his position then he took over the presidency of the SLFP more or
less by force. Immediately after he sacked the two General Secretaries of the
Joint opposition and SLFP and appointed his own men, Duminda Dissanayaka and
Samaraweera to strengthen his hands. Then he refused nomination for MR from
SLFP which made MR to contest on the SLPP ticket. MS then launched his
vituperative and aggressive campaign against MR culminating his famous open
declaration that MR will not be appointed as the PM even if he gets a majority.
In addition to addressing the press he even wrote to the Press on his stand. Don’t this clearly shows that Chandrika and
Sirisena together had already murdered and buried the old SLFP for good. SLPP
today is the People’s only living party. Thanks to RW UNP is also dead.
Although MR
contested as the SLPP candidate under Pohottuwa in 2015, the whole country knew
that he was the Leader representing the SLFP vote base all over the country. Therefore
people were determined to vote for MR to mend the damages done in Dec 2014.. Then
his prorogation of Parliament also stopped the Dew Gunasekara COOP Report being
presented to Parliament. Sirisena’s verbal war against MR at the hike of
elections dramatically changed the heart of marginal SLFPers at the last
moment. With all that the result was a nominal majority of 9 seats in
Parliament for UNP at the 2015 General elections. That is how the TNA was able
to form a UNP+Sirisena Government in August 2015. Had MS acted wisely and
democratically it is a foregone conclusion that MR’s Camp would have won at
least 120 seats. That would have stopped the UNP+TNA+JVP forming a government
and all the disasters like second Bank robbery in 2016 could have been definitely
averted had MR been elected as MS could have still continued as the President?
What is more is the country also could have avoided the second Bank robbery
that brought more disaster to this country.
Feb 2016 Local
Government results put MS’s SLFP Camp to the dustbin of history. Therefore one
can easily conclude that today there is no SLFP as the MS camp has gone from
bad to worse calling MS, NATO Sirisena instead of calling Maitripala Sirisena (NO
Action Talks Only). I am pretty sure that Dayasiri too should be aware of this
background unless he suffers from chronic oblivion.
Conversely who
knows whether he is carrying out a dirty contact of his original Boss RW to
prompt MS to contest the elections, hoping to split the SLFP vote base and
defeat MR. It could be even an American CIA ploy or even a joint conspiracy by
USA, India and the entire Western Block to kill two birds with one stone, both
MR and MS. Why MS replaced a University Professor suddenly with a shaky
character like Dayasiri as the Gen Sec of the SLFP is also a moot question. For
people like Gammanpila and Wimal Weerawansa this is food for thought.
Also an original
UNP man betraying UNP and joining MR first and MS thereafter, looking for short
cuts to power may not be able to understand the truth or the reality when he
runs power blind. The whole country knows that MS can’t win the next Presidential
election even by default. I can assure none of his SLFP nominees will win a single
seat at the next election. Because people are waiting to teach them a good
lesson, first, for joining the UNP led government and betraying the voters who
voted them in as SLFP candidates in August 2015 and also for betraying their party.
Nevertheless definitely there will be a split in the SLFP block vote that will
obviously favour the UNP. That few, even
if it happens to be one vote are going to be extremely critical.
This is what
exactly MS being an old SLFP stalwart has to seriously think about immediately.
I hope someone who loves this country will take this divine message to him. If
he fails to realize this catastrophe he will go down in history as man who
completely destroyed the Sri Lanka Freedom Party founded by that Great man
S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 195.
If MS get
deceived by the dead ropes given by those around him at the moment for personal
to camouflage and overestimate his chances and makes the wrong decision it will
definitely lead to another UNP Government supported by the TNA and Muslim
opportunist politicians that will ruin the country beyond all redemptions,
although there is very little left for them to ruin. That will be the death
knell of this country and also the end of Sri Lanka, the Sinhala nation and the
Buddha SASANA in this country. Under that situation Dayasiri will have two
options. That is either going back to UNP to join the old pack that he himself
once called traitors, or commit political suicide as the name MS will be never
heard thereafter.
If Dayasiri
thinks he can be happy with that outcome he may go ahead with this clandestine anti-MR
propaganda programme. If not he should persuade his poor boss MS to drop his day dream ambition of becoming
President for a second time and work to unify all SLFP forces against the UNP
to save this country, the Sinhala Nation and the BUDDHA SASANA. Then only he
can become a Minister in the next Government. Otherwise he will end up in eternal
political wilderness as there want be a country left for him to do politics.
His
name was Rizwan Asad, age 28. He worked at a private school in Awantipora area
of the Pulwama district, south Kashmir. The National Investigative Agency of
India arrested this young teacher in the second week of March during a
so-called crackdown on socio-political and religious organizations. According
to media reports, Rizwan was kept at the dreaded anti-insurgency Special
Operations Group head-quarter, commonly known as Cargo Camp, in Srinagar. He
could not bear brutal violence there and died during the intervening night of
18th and 19th March. Commenting on the brutality
committed in the name of investigation and inquiry, a top Kashmiri human rights’
activist Khurram Parvez said talking to media, There have been several
thousand custodial killings and custodial disappearances by Indian forces in
Kashmir. None of them has received any justice; it is because of the complete
lack of accountability and total lawlessness.”
The
residents of Indian Held Kashmir have no trust and no confidence in the
investigation agencies and even in the courts. The recent court-verdict in the
Samjhauta Express burning case has added a lot of disbelief and suspicions to
the self-claimed impartiality of the judicial system in India. According to
media reports, a few days back, an Indian court after hearing the case for more
than ten years, acquitted four people, including prime accused Swami Aseemanand,
in the Samjhauta Express burning case. The court said it could not find any
solid proof against the accused ones. It was February 18, 2007 when a train
named Samjhauta Express was burnt to ashes along with it passengers when it was
on its way to Lahore from New Delhi. More than 70 passengers were killed in
that brutality; most of them were Pakistanis, most of them the Muslims. In
short, the investigation agencies of India, the courts and above all the
government authorities, all have lost people’s trust and confidence.
Zulqarnain
is Rizwan Asad’s brother. He has also expressed his distrust in the concerning
authorities regarding investigation of his brother’s murder. He said talking to
the media-men, My brother has been killed in police custody in cold blood. We
want an investigation of it but we know nothing is going to happen. We’ve all
seen investigations for the last 20 years.” The Al-Jazeera says, Rizwan’s
death adds to the more than 70,000 killings, more than 8,000 enforced
disappearances, as well as thousands of torture and sexual violence cases in
Indian-administered Kashmir over the past three decades.”
No
doubt Custodial killings are a very horrible element making the lives of the
helpless Kashmiris more painful and more agonizing. A report published in Greater Kashmir says, ‘There
is no record of custodial deaths for 1947-1975.The custodial killings became a
routine in 90s. According to human rights defenders around 12000 custodial
killings have been reported during the past twenty-six years.’ According to a
data-report prepared by Research Section of Kashmir Media Service, Indian
troops in their unabated acts of state terrorism martyred 95,265 innocent
Kashmiris during the past 29 years. Of those martyred, 7,120 were killed by the
troops in custody. As many as 145,504 people were arrested by Indian forces
during the period. The troops destroyed 109,201 residential houses and other
structures. The Indian forces’ personnel molested and gang raped 11,111 women
during the period. The situation of atrocities particularly of custodial
killings was the same even in 1995. Amnesty International said in a report
published twenty-four years back, In the period 1990-1994 more than 715
detainees died in the custody of Indian security forces in the state of Jammu
and Kashmir. They were tortured to death or shot outright. In areas where
government forces are engaged in counter-insurgency operations against armed
groups fighting for independence or for the state to join Pakistan, the entire
civilian population is at risk of arbitrary detention, torture, even death.”
The report further said,” Most of the victims are young men, detained during
crackdown-operations to identify armed militants. Almost all those detained are
tortured: many do not survive; others are left disabled or mutilated. Scores of
women in Jammu and Kashmir claim to have been raped by security forces.”
Now after twenty four years, today in 2019,
the situation regarding human rights violations in Indian Held Kashmir is still
the same. Custodial killing of Rizwan Asad is the most recent and most horrible
example in this context. The ‘Kashmirwala’ said in an analysis recently published
on 21st March, After the custodial killing of Awantipora based
school principal, Rizwan Asad, his friend, Shahid Manzoor has picked up arms
and joined armed-group Hizbul Mujaheddin, fearing physical and mental torture
by government forces, as he states, ‘Today, it was Rizwan, tomorrow it could be
me.’ This all is very much frightening and alarming too.
Since it’s inception over three decades ago USLA has fervently
furthered it’s main founding objective
viz. doing what it takes to support Sri Lanka in preserving it’s independent
and unitary status. Through USLA’s
existence , the main threat to this came from the violent terrorism of
the Tamil Tigers and the devious and vicious misinformation from them. With the
complete annihilation of the Tigers as a fighting force in Sri Lanka in May
2009, USLA continued it’s role in the countering Tiger misinformation that now
took an even more devious form.
This was initiated within days of their been vanquished in the fields
and lagoons of Nandikadal by an internationally orchestrated allegation that
this victory was achieved through HR violations claiming a civilian casualty rate of over 40,000 in
the last few weeks of the war, a number far in excess of what could be
explained on the basis of collateral damage and suggesting targeted shooting of
Tamil civilians. They found powerful allies in furthering these in the UNSG appointed Darusman commission who
concurred with this allegation having
heard from the Tigers only and not Sri Lanka, and UK Channel four who produced
the film Sri Lanka Killing Fields” ,based on film strips, unauthored,
undated, & from unknown sites showing acts of brutality, blaming it all on
the Sri Lanka forces through a very effective commentary from producer Jon
Snow. These allegations were orchestrated internationally and nationally with
Joseph Gobellian zeal , that propounded that any lie, repeated frequently
enough would eventually be believed.
It was my role as your spokesperson, in the past decade to counter these
allegation at every opportunity with the media, politicians and even included
the screening of the counter film lies Agreed Upon” in the NZ parliament.
More Importantly, I mustered the evidence supporting the impossibility
of these allegations being true, including the fact that there were no where
near that number of bodies identified post war, nor were there any where near
the 120,000 injured as would be expected based on the internationally
established injured to casualty ratio in war. Additionally, the initial estimate
of the UN resident representatives suggested
a figure of seven thousand which tallied with figure of a census carried
out for the dept of census in 2012 by Resident Tamil Teachers of the region. Even more strong counter evidence came from
WIKILEAKS leaked documents from the defence attaches of both the the UK and Us
embassies in SL who confirmed that the SL forces were exercising every care to
safeguard Civilians without which the war might have been over much earlier
with significantly less casualties for the SL forces.
With the change of govt in SL in Jan 2015, the field changed
significantly with the new govt almost carrying the torch for the tigers , co
sponsoring the infamous resolution asking for foreign judges to hear cases
against security personnel accused of
engineering civilian disappearances. and
seeking a new constitution that would
weaken SL’s unitary status . These calls for foreign judges raises the specter
of another Darusman Like Commission” open to being influenced by the Tiger
war chest.
Sadly, even this week the SL govt
reinforced this commitment rather than orchestrate arguments sighted
earlier by me and the report of the
Paranagama Commission whose findings
endorsed by three international legal
luminaries , clearly concluded against there being any war crimes by the SL
forces.
The even greater disappointment
for most Sri Lankans was the failure to present and table Lord Naseby’s revelations in October 2017 at
the UK house of Lords clearly establishing
that the civilian casualties were more of the order of 5000, and not
40,000 , so leaving no basis for the UNHCR resolution and so calling for it’s
withdrawal.
With the Sri Lankan govt
arguably, being the greatest threat to the SL’s unitary status, in my
position as USLA spokesperson, my hands were rather tied this year. However,
the political machinations in SL of the last few months would suggest that, SL
may soon let go of the Tiger Torch , & leave the likes of me in more
familiar territory.
Fourteen Chinese construction workers who were in Sri Lanka without a valid employment visa have been sentenced to jail for a year and fined Rs 50,000 (1,881 yuan) each by a Magistrates’ Court in the southern coastal city of Galle.
The Chinese had arrived Colombo on one-month tourist visas. They were arrested after their tourist visas had lapsed and were working in a hotel project in the southern city.
The suspects were arrested on March 2 and remanded for two weeks before they were sentenced om March 15.
The court ordered that the Chinese illegals be deported after they finish serving their jail terms.
Colombo, March 22 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry, on Friday signed a concessional loan agreement with China’s EXIM Bank to construct section one of a mega Central Expressway which will ease the island’s traffic congestion and boost tourism.
The concessional loan agreement, valued at 989 million dollars was signed between China’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Cheng Xueyuan and Secretary o the Finance Ministry, Dr. R.H.S Samarathunga.The loan from China’s EXIM Bank will cover 85 percent of the project cost for section one of the Central Expressway project
.The Government of Sri Lanka has accorded high importance to the development of infrastructure including expressway network with inter-connectivity as it will directly contribute to the economic growth and will have indirect effects in raising the productivity and efficiency in different economic sectors,” the Finance Ministry said.
This proposed highway will improve the inter regional connectivity and efficiency of the entire expressway network,” the Ministry added.China’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Cheng Xueyuan said the Central Expressway runs through the central part of Sri Lanka connecting the Western, North Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces with other densely populated and economically developed provinces.
It also connects capital Colombo to the central hills of Kandy, the two major cities and economic centers.Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we have accomplished series of inclusive and sustainable win-win results.
In view of the two countries’ traditional friendship and at the strong request of the Sri Lankan government, the loan agreement for the first phase of the Central Expressway was signed after prudent assessment,” Ambassador Cheng said.Construction of section two of the Central Expressway has already commenced with funding from local commercial banks.
Colombo, March 22 (newsin.asia) – The Sri Lankan government, on Friday, for the first time, successfully tested artificial rain in a drought hit area to provide clean water to hundreds of families.The Power and Energy Ministry, in a statement said the Ceylon Electricity Board together with the Sri Lanka Air Force conducted the project, which caused rainfall for 45 minutes in the catchment areas of the Maussakelle Reservoir, in the Central Province.
A Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter was used to spray chemicals on the clouds, 8000 feet above the reservoir, resulting in 45 minutes of rainfall.Observing the success of the pilot project which commenced today, Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake has instructed relevant authorities to take necessary measures to create artificial rains in the next few days until the dry weather exists in the country,” the Ministry said.The pilot project was launched following assistance from a special team who had arrived in Sri Lanka from Thailand.
The Ministry said the main aim of the project is to create rains during the drought seasons.The Ministry added that the project was carried out after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) in January. The Sri Lankan Air force is providing the necessary flights and other services towards the project.
In February last year, a group consisting of Thai engineers visited the Castlereigh and Maussakelle Reservoirs in the catchment areas of the Central Highlands to seek the possibilities of creating artificial rain as water levels in these reservoirs had seen a drastic drop.
Local media reports said the Thai engineers represent the only company in the world that has the patent to create artificial rain.The company had created artificial rain when the island country was severely affected by a drought in 1981.Hundreds of families remain affected by months of severe drought due to the lack of rains and delayed monsoonal rains in the central parts of Sri Lanka.
A Singapore-based company in which stakes are held by the family members of former Indian Minister of State S. Jagathrakshakan of the DMK has been linked to a record foreign direct investment of $3.85 billion in an oil refinery in Sri Lanka.
However, the recent announcement by Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) on the record deal has run into a controversy after Oman, which the Board said was an investor along with the Singapore company, on Wednesday denied being part of the deal.
The Singapore company, Silver Park International Pte Ltd, is putting 70% of the share capital — a total of $1887 million — in the project running into billions of dollars. The remaining, nearly $ 2,000 million, is to be raised as loan capital, sources said.
Silver Park International, named by the BOI, is registered with Singapore’s national regulator Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), with three of its four directors — Jegath Rakshagan Sundeep Anand, Jagathrakshakan Sri Nisha and Jagathrakshakan Anusuya – listed with a Chennai address. They are the son, daughter and wife of Mr. Jagathrakshakan, who is the DMK’s Arakonam Lok Sabha candidate. We are aware of the Singapore company’s links to an Indian business interest. The agreement has been signed by one Mr. Jagathrakshakan,” a senior government source in Colombo told The Hindu, requesting anonymity.
Actual investment source
However, the BOI has made no official mention of the involvement of an Indian business interest so far, provoking intrigue over the actual source of investment and the investors’ experience in the oil industry, especially after Oman backing out. The FDI was made known on Tuesday, when the BOI told a press conference in Colombo that an overseas joint venture had committed $3.85 billion to a new oil refinery — the single largest foreign investment in the country’s history — in the industrial zone coming up at Hambantota, in the Southern Province.
The industrial zone adjoins the Hambantota port, which in 2017 was leased to a Chinese state-owned enterprise for 99 years, even as Colombo struggled to service a loan from Beijing.
The Board said construction work on a refinery and storage facility, jointly financed by Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas and a Singapore-registered company, was about to begin soon. However, on Wednesday, Oman’s oil ministry denied being part of the project, Reuters reported, prompting a clarification from the BOI. Apparently backtracking from its announcement made at Tuesday’s media conference, the BOI said that it was aware that there is no agreement that has been signed between Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas and Silver Park International with regard to equity arrangements of the project.”
It added that Oman Oil Company had registered their firm intention to participate in equity up to 30%, subject to reaching an agreement between the parties”.
The investor, Silver Park International, has conveyed to the Board of Investment their full confidence in implementing the project, the statement said. Mr. Jagathrakshagan and his family were not reachable for comment.
Source: The Hindu
-Agencies
A Singapore-based company in which stakes are held by the family members of former Indian Minister of State S. Jagathrakshakan of the DMK has been linked to a record foreign direct investment of $3.85 billion in an oil refinery in Sri Lanka.
However, the recent announcement by Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) on the record deal has run into a controversy after Oman, which the Board said was an investor along with the Singapore company, on Wednesday denied being part of the deal.
The Singapore company, Silver Park International Pte Ltd, is putting 70% of the share capital — a total of $1887 million — in the project running into billions of dollars. The remaining, nearly $ 2,000 million, is to be raised as loan capital, sources said.
Silver Park International, named by the BOI, is registered with Singapore’s national regulator Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), with three of its four directors — Jegath Rakshagan Sundeep Anand, Jagathrakshakan Sri Nisha and Jagathrakshakan Anusuya – listed with a Chennai address. They are the son, daughter and wife of Mr. Jagathrakshakan, who is the DMK’s Arakonam Lok Sabha candidate. We are aware of the Singapore company’s links to an Indian business interest. The agreement has been signed by one Mr. Jagathrakshakan,” a senior government source in Colombo told The Hindu, requesting anonymity.
Actual investment source
However, the BOI has made no official mention of the involvement of an Indian business interest so far, provoking intrigue over the actual source of investment and the investors’ experience in the oil industry, especially after Oman backing out. The FDI was made known on Tuesday, when the BOI told a press conference in Colombo that an overseas joint venture had committed $3.85 billion to a new oil refinery — the single largest foreign investment in the country’s history — in the industrial zone coming up at Hambantota, in the Southern Province.
The industrial zone adjoins the Hambantota port, which in 2017 was leased to a Chinese state-owned enterprise for 99 years, even as Colombo struggled to service a loan from Beijing.
The Board said construction work on a refinery and storage facility, jointly financed by Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas and a Singapore-registered company, was about to begin soon. However, on Wednesday, Oman’s oil ministry denied being part of the project, Reuters reported, prompting a clarification from the BOI. Apparently backtracking from its announcement made at Tuesday’s media conference, the BOI said that it was aware that there is no agreement that has been signed between Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas and Silver Park International with regard to equity arrangements of the project.”
It added that Oman Oil Company had registered their firm intention to participate in equity up to 30%, subject to reaching an agreement between the parties”.
The investor, Silver Park International, has conveyed to the Board of Investment their full confidence in implementing the project, the statement said. Mr. Jagathrakshagan and his family were not reachable for comment.
Sri Lanka has successfully tested artificial rain for the first time in the country with moderate rainfall experienced over the Maussakele Reservoir for around 45 minutes.
The pilot project to induce artificial rain at the catchments areas of the Maussakele Reservoir was carried out by the CEB on Friday (22).
An aircraft (Y12) of the Sri Lanka Air Force was used to spray the chemicals on the clouds around 8,000 feet above the Maussakele Reservoir resulting in around 45 minutes of rainfall, the ministry said.
The project to induce artificial rain during drought season was launched today with the help of a special team of engineers from Thailand, a statement said.
The project was initiated by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development with the aim of eliminating the obstacles encountered in hydro power generation during drought season.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) in January this year to carry out the project. The Sri Lankan Air force is providing necessary flights and other services in this regard.
The Thailand government had come forward to provide the technical knowledge and it was the first time in Sri Lanka that a program was launched in relation to artificial rain.
During the dry season, it is nearly impossible for Sri Lanka’s electricity board to generate hydro power and it is therefore compelled to purchase electricity from private companies which is expensive and has caused many difficulties to the CEB.
In addition to generating electricity this could also be used to induce artificial rain during the drought season to develop the agriculture activities of the country.
The petition filed against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, seeking the prohibition of deforestation at Vilaththukulam forest reserve in Wilpattu National Park, has been scheduled to be heard on June 28th.
The petition was taken up before Court of Appeal Judge Arjuna Obeysekara today (22).
The fourth respondent of the petition Minister Rishad Bathiudeen is continuously clearing this forest reserve, Attorney Nagananda said presenting submissions before the court.
Heeding Attorney Nagananda’s request to set a date to hear the petition soon, CA Judge Obeysekara ordered to take up the petition on June 28th.
The petition was filed by Environmentalist Malinda Seneviratne and Attorney Nagananda Kodituwakku.
The petitioners have stated that the unauthorized constructions at the forest reserve have caused massive environmental impact and seek a court order preventing the deforestation and unauthorized constructions in Wilpattu National Park.
In early March the Daily Mirror
reported the arrest of a blind man by the Railway Security Service – his crime
begging on the train. That arrest resulted in a sensational story that has to
enter any management case study and he should be invited by some of Sri Lanka’s
management institutes to share with others his story. What is his story?
Blindness he says was a blessing
in disguise. It is probably as a result of losing his wife that he resorted to
begging on trains which he had been doing for 25 years. From age of 40 to 65
years this blind man has achieved what no person with qualifications or 5
figure salaries will dream of but be unable to achieve.
What has he achieved throughout
these 25 years begging on trains?
He has been able to earn Rs.150,000
a month which even a graduate cannot earn nowadays.
He has built 3 houses – 2 given
to his 2 daughters as dowries & the 3rd he planned to rent out.
Both daughters own cars and the
son-in-laws are doing good jobs.
He has a bank account with
Rs.500,000 savings in it
At the time of his arrest by the
Railway Security Service he had Rs.4000 in his possession.
His daughters are aware of his
begging and when informed of the fathers arrest one of the daughters arrived in
her own car.
Obviously the train passengers on
the Gampaha-Colombo Train route are extremely compassionate people & much karmic
merit to them for they would have been regularly giving him money otherwise it
is impossible to collect Rs.150,000 a month.
In times of day light robberies being committed by politicians, public
officials and even white-collar corporate heads NONE OF WHOM GET ARRESTED, it
is baffling why a blind man gets arrested for begging because he has not taken
a penny illegally or forcefully from anyone.
He would not have demanded how
much any kind hearted person had to give and would have accepted whatever came
his way humbly. What is stupefying is how he had managed the money coming to
him out of charity which is not a fixed income gained monthly but went on to
build 3 houses plus saved Rs.500,000 as well.
When people are clueless on how to save even with a fixed income, this blind man from Gampaha is the person to tap to learn how to save and he should seriously be invited by management institutes to share his story with all Sri Lankans.
Dr.Sudath Gunasekara. (SLAS) Retired Permanent Secretary to Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranayaka and President Senior Citizens Movement Mahanuwara
(This is an updated version of an article published
on September 20th, 2010 in the Island)
21.
March. 2019
To mark the completion of 204 years after signing the
Kandyan Convention
The Kandyan Convention of 2nd March 1815 was the document under which this country was ceded to the British crown under mutual agreement. It was drawn between Great Britain and Sinhale, two independent Kingdoms. Since it was singed at Kandy, the capital of the Sinhale at that time, it had been named after that name. Nevertheless in paragraph 1 it is clearly mentioned that it was drawn between Great Britain and Sinhale Kingdom. It should also be noted that this country was never conquered by the British at war however powerful they may have been. The common notion among the anti-Kandyan circles that it had been betrayed by the Kandyan chieftains is therefore not tenable.
The heroic Sinhala people have defended it for 310 years, from 1505 to 1815 against three powerful invaders with unlimited gun power, Portuguese, Dutch and the British. Finally it was ceded to the British through intrigue and deceitful maneuvering with false promises by John Doily, the cleverest spy Britain had ever produced.
The
Convention includes 12 sections of which the contents of the first two
paragraphs and Sections 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8
are the most important.
This
essay is not a comprehensive critique of the whole Convention. It deals only with the subject of discussion
under the heading of this article.
The
Convention was unilaterally abrogated by Governor Brownwrigg by his Royal
proclamation of 21st Nov 1818 in the wake of the 1818 Uva Rebellion against the
British rule, the first freedom struggle by the natives against British
deception and repression.
Since
this was an agreement between two sovereign States, such abrogation is legally
invalid. Even an amendment to that instrument, addition or its replacement by
repeal needs the explicit consent of both parties, for such amendment to be
legally valid. The Royal Proclamation of Nov 21 1818 had 56 sections by which
complete British rule was imposed on this island nation by throwing the March
2nd Convention in to the dust bin of history. It appointed a Board of Commissioners
with British Government Agents stationed all over the country under whom all
local chiefs had to work. In other words this Proclamation consolidated full
British rule over the whole Island. The last section (56) of the Proclamation
Sec (56) stated He (Governor) also reserves full power to alter the present
provisions as may appear hereafter necessary and expedient: as he requires, in
his Majesty’s name, all officers civil and military, all Adigars, Dissavas and
other chiefs, and all other His Majesty’s subjects, to be obedient, aiding, and
assisting in the execution of these or other his orders, as they shall answer
the contrary at their peril.
With
the unification of the Maritime Provinces with the Kandayn kingdom in 1833 and
the establishment of five provinces to cover the whole Island and appointing
Provincial Agents of the British Government, British rule was fully and firmly
established over the whole Island. This was further strengthened by increasing
the number of provinces to 9 by 1890 and dividing them in to districts
thereafter that were put under the control of Governments Agents as the sole
representatives of the British Crown.
In
the first place this decision by the Governor was legally flawed as Britain
cannot abrogate a Convention drawn between the two countries unilaterally
without getting the consent of the other party. There is also a court ruling
against such actions in Campbell v Hall (1774) 1 Cowp 204, 98 ER 1045. The
upholding of the Paul Peiris’s judgment in the 1915 Wallahagoda Perahera case by
the Privy Council also has established the legality of the Kandyan Convention. To
that extent legally speaking, I opine the Kandyan Convention is still valid in
law. Nevertheless as the Sinhala nation
was brutally and completely massacred in the rebellion and were defeated, the
natives could not resist or rise up against the all-powerful military British
rule any more. Thereafter the British suppressive and exploitive colonial rule
got firmly and fully established on Sri Lankan soil and continued until 1948,
as the 1848 rebellion was also brutally and clinically suppressed.
The
word Convention was only once mentioned in Sec 2 in the Proclamation just to
refer to its date. But nothing was mentioned about ruthless manner in which the
Kandyan Convention had been ignored and abrogated by the British
government. Any such ex-parte
proclamation will have no legal validity unless the original agreement was duly
repealed. It appears that there was no protest by the locals either on this
draconian Proclamation by the Governor. So the presumption is that the Kandyan
Convention died a natural death on the 21st of Nov.1818. All the powers of the
native chiefs were removed by this proclamation and they were made mere agents
of the British Crown under the powers of the Governor. It also removed
provisions of Section 5 of the Convention and it was replaced with some mild
reference to respect to priests and processions of Buddho religion, adding some
new provision to general protection to all other religions This contravenes section 5 of the Kandyan
Convention. In sum the Proclamation has
tightened the grip of the British authority over the Island and set the process
of complete erosion of power of the local aristocrats and the Priests. How the
British respected Sec 5 of the Kandyan Convention is no better demonstrated the
way they treated Buddhist monks culminating, in the murder of Kudapola Nayaka
priest by shooting by a firing squad in public.
With
the unification of the administration of the Kandyan Kingdom and the Maritime
Provinces in 1833 once again the country became one territorial unit after 1505
and this laid the foundation for what we call Sri Lanka now (Ceylon as British
called it then).
The
Colebrook reforms of 1833 were followed by MaCallum Reforms (1912) Manning
Reforms (1922); The Donoughmore Reforms (1926) and the Soulbury Reforms
(1948).
All
these reforms in this country were made either under royal Proclamations or the
way the British wanted them to be enacted and all declarations and statutes
that inherited the illegal traditions of the trend set by the Proclamation of
1818. In fact one can argue that even the Soulbury Constitution of 1948 to that extent was not legally valid.
Niti Niganduwa a treatise of Sinhala law composed during the Kandyan period gives evidence of a number of ancient legal treaties that had been composed during the times of the Sinhalese Kings. It has defined law as the implementation of the charters of ancient Kings without breach” (Niyati ti Niiti”).Rajuhi panccantta dhamman na samuccindiyanti ti nitipunane”). It further identifies three broad division in law .They are a) Raja niiti, b) Dharmaniiti and Loka Niiti. Raja Niti is law enacted by the King. Dharma niiti is law that is prescribed by the Dhamma; in our case as they appear in the various suttas. Finally Loka niiti are the conventions that have evolved over time by popular acceptance which are mostly conventions. Therefore no one can say that we did not have a legal system o four own before the advent of British. According to the ancient tradition the law is laid down after general acceptance by the people and it is called Mahasammata, approved and ratified by the people. In this context ultimately all laws have to be enacted for the good of the people and therefore they cannot be designed for the benefit of the Ruler. According to Buddhist teachings, like all other things, the law has to be there for the good of the many and happiness of the many. But unfortunately
In this back ground the object of this note is
to draw the reader’s attention to some very important legal aspect of our
Constitutions has not been given serious attention hitherto by our legal
luminaries or the general public. I hope this point will open a new forum, for
a wider and open discussion on this issue.
Going
by the 1815 Convention Independence in 1948 should have been given to Sinhale
as the convention was singed between the Chieftains of the Sinhale and
Brownwrigg on behalf of Great Britain.
But it was given to a hybrid State called Ceylon. That is also
unconstitutional. Therefore it is high time that we restore the name of the
country as Sinhale at least now.
There
is also no mention anywhere in any of the subsequent legislations that followed
the 1818 Proclamation that the 1815 Kandyan Convention was repealed, though it
was physically thrown in to the dust bin of history by the British, ex-parte by force by the British. The
1972 Republican Constitution after 24 years of fake independence of 1948
declared this country as an Independent Republic. It repealed the 1948 Soulbury Constitution
but it also has not said anything about the Kandyan Convention. But it had
rekindled the Sec 5 of the Kandyan Convention by inserting Sec 10 on Buddhism.
The 1978 Constitution also followed suit by inserting section 9 under which it
said it gives the foremost place to Buddhism but it diluted Sec 5 of 1972 by
imposing limitation on it by Article 10
and 14 (1) (e).
All these law makers appear to have acted on
the presumption that what they inherited from 1818 onwards was legal. But I
think the Kandyan Convention of 1815 is still valid in law as it had not been
legally repealed by any subsequent legislation up to date.
The Kandyan Convention was published as part
of the legislative enactment of Ceylon and it is included as a chapter in the
Legislative enactment Vol.X1 Chapt.390 (P376-378). It also appears in Vol XX.
This was done when Dr Nissanka Wijeratna was the Minister of Justice in the
1977 government. The person behind this decision was Dr. Harischandara
Wijetunga the Officer In Charge of the Sinhala translation of the Legislative
enactments at that time. There were two other persons involved in this historic
decision. They were W. J. M. Lokubandara, the present Hon. Speaker and Hector
Deheragoda who was in charge of the English Edition.
This also confirms my contention that the
Kandyan Convention is still a living and valid part of our law. It is said that
Brownwrigg’s 1818 Nov 21 Proclamation was ratified by the British Parliament.
It also now appears as a Chapter in the legislative enactments of Sri Lanka
under Vol. XX Chap 638 (P319-329) under the title Declaration of British
Sovereignty. I wonder whether an illegal Proclamation could be declared legal
by such ratification, by the British Parliament that represents only one party
to the 1815 Convention. As such I opine that such ratification by the British
Parliament is null and void. Therefore I think the 1815 Convention still holds
good in law. In this back drop both the Proclamation of November 21. 1818 and
all laws enacted after the prescribed date of that Proclamation and all actions
taken there under should stand illegal and questionable.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend a
public seminar organized by the Peradeniya University at the University
Auditorium. I was very happy that two
prominent lawyers from Mahanuwara, Presidents Council Samantha Ratwatte and
Harendra Dunuvila also expressed the same opinion in the course of their talks.
Since I made my opinion public in in an article published
in the Island in September 20th, 2010, I think it has
to go down in history as the first occasion this argument emerged. In this
backdrop I invite our patriotic lawyers to pursue this matter seriously and
take legal action against the British government for all the crimes they have
committee against this country, its people and their valuable culture and claim
compensation for all damages and destructions they caused to this nation. I
think this is the best time to take up this issue as they are trying to fix us
for human rights violation at UNCHR on bogus information given to them by the
Tamil Diaspora on their voting lists. I don’t think we could ever have a better
time than this to expose the nakedness of British foreign policy.
One may get temped to think that this is only
some wild imagination of one man. But I think there is a strong and valid point
in what I have pointed out above. Therefore I invite those interested,
constitutional experts, lawyers and all others interested to initiate an open
debate, a serious one too, on this all important issue at a time of our history
when radical changes are taking place in the political scenario in this
country, since Independence
Author- Lucy Stronach, Research Assistant (Intern) at INSSSL
‘Russian Interest in the Indian Ocean’ was the
overarching theme at the latest Round Table Discussion held at the Institute of
National Security Studies Sri Lanka (INSSSL) on March 19th, 2019. Guest
speaker, Ms. Ksenia Kuzmina, Program Manager for South Asia and Asia Pacific
for the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), spoke in detail on this
topic, with attendees from academic and military fields.
Ms. Kuzmina opened her insightful and in-depth
piece by stating that Russia does not have an imaginary role in the
Indian Ocean region and has serious interests despite often being disregarded
as a major player.
One of Russia’s primary interests is to promote
the zone of peace in the Indian Ocean, as any threats that influence this area
could easily reverberate all the way to the Russian homeland. Ms. Kuzmina
discussed that strategic rivalries and conflict in the area are against Moscow’s
interests as the Indian Ocean is crucial for Russian trade, security and
communication.
Threats to the region include climate change and
marine pollution; emerging technology such as artificial intelligence;
cyber-attacks; piracy; terrorism; and advanced weapons. In order to combat
these problems, said Ms. Kuzmina, Russia must forge bonds with smaller states
and islands in the region, including Sri Lanka. She stated that these nations
need to begin promoting their own security and interests rather than following
major players.
One way to do this is through Russian
cooperation, with Ms. Kuzmina stating, Moscow can provide great input to the
regional security and to some extent serve as the regional security provider…”.
Ms. Kuzmina explained that Russia canplay
a significant role in providing expertise, sharing knowledge and data, training
states, and sharing personnel and business. This process of interconnectedness
helps states bolster their security and protect themselves from threats which
in turn protects Russia from issues encroaching on their territory through
Asia.
She stated that these new and emerging threats
require closer cooperation from all involved including regional and global
powers, and Moscow can assist in developing dialogue and forging successful
multilateral relations.
According to Ms. Kuzmina, peace and respect are
Russia’s foremost desires in the Indian Ocean, promoted through positive
interstate relations. However, to achieve this ambitious task, states must
acknowledge and accept this on all levels, from academia, business, the
government, and education.
Ms. Kuzmina’s discussion was concluded by
questions from attendees before stating that developing cooperation is a
two-way process that demands initiative from both sides of the party. Russia
has something to give, and hence Sri Lanka need only ask.
The Round Table Discussion was closed by Director
General of INSSSL, Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, who shared his wishes to continue
positive dialogue and further close discussions with Russia.
In keeping with President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to declare the Thripitakabhivandana Week from 16th – 23rd March 2019 to mark the declaration of the Theravada Thripitaka as a national and world heritage, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC, under the patronage of four Buddhist temples in Washington DC and Maryland, organized a series of religious events from 16th – 24th March 2019. The Thripitakabhivandana Week commenced with Maryland Buddhist Temple and Washington Buddhist Vihara hosting two events on 16th and 17th March respectively.
Maryland Buddhist Vihara
At the launch of the Thripitakabhivandana Week on 16th March, the Chief Priest of the Maryland Buddhist Temple, Venrable Katugastota Uparatana Thero expressed immense pleasure for the honour and privilege of hosting the maiden event of this historic national endeavour at the Maryland Buddhist Temple. Speaking on the occasion, the venerable monk extended his profound gratitude to President Maithripala Sirisena for declaring the Thripitakabhivandana Week and the great honour thereby bestowed on the Thripitaka. Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the significance of the Thripitaka for the preservation for posterity of Buddhist teachings and the relevance of Buddha’s timeless message for future generations. Joined by the temple devotees, the resident monks chanted seth pirith to invoke blessings on the President of Sri Lanka and the whole country and hailed his meritorious deeds for the spiritual upliftment of Buddhists. Ven Nedagamuwe Pragnaloka Thero conducted a Dhamma sermon on the indulgence of people in worldly pursuits and the importance of spiritual mindedness for overall well being and happiness. Speaking on the occasion, Chargé d’Affaires, Sarath Dissanayake appreciated the directives and guidance given by the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in celebrating a historic milestone in Sri Lanka’s Buddhist calendar and expressed his deep gratitude to the venerable monks for sharing spiritual insights and wisdom on the relevance Buddhist teachings for a simple and contented life. The day’s proceedings came to a close with the offering of Pirikara to the priests and serving of snacks and sweetmeats to devotees.
The Washington Buddhist Vihara, which is the oldest Theravada Buddhist Temple in the US, hosted the second event of the Thripitakabhivandana Week on 17th March 2019, with a Buddhist sermon conducted by the Chief Priest, Ven Maharagama Dhammasiri Thero on the significance of the Thripitakabhivandana Week followed by a comprehensive spiritual briefing on the historical context of writing the Thripitaka, its preservation to date and the contribution of the Thripitaka for the propagation of Buddhist teachings and values. The venerable monk also spoke of the essence of the Buddha’s noble message for self – emancipation or salvation of mankind and thanked the foreign devotees in the audience for their interest and support to promote the Buddhist way of living among the likeminded. The monks conducted a Bodhi Pooja and invoked blessings on President Sirisena and the country and welcomed his noble endeavour to declare the Thripitakabhivandana Week to symbolize the proclamation of the Thripitaka as a National Heritage in January 2019. Speaking on the occasion, Chargé d’Affaires, Sarath Dissanayake appreciated the blessings of the Maha Sangha for organizing a special religious activity in celebration of the Thripitakabhivandana Week at the Washington Buddhist Vihara and spreading Buddha’s teachings and creating awareness of the sacred scripts of the Thripitaka among both local and foreign devotees. He briefed those in the audience and sought their support on the campaign launched by Sri Lanka to inscribe Thripitaka as a world heritage in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, given its spiritual, philosophical, doctrinal and cultural significance for the Buddhists and humankind as a whole.
The arrangements at the Washington Buddhist Vihara and the Maryland Buddhist Temple were coordinated by the Embassy under the guidance and blessings of the Maha Sangha with the active support and collaboration of the members of the respective dayaka sabha.
The Thripitakabhivandana Week in the US will conclude with two more religious events at the Nisala Arana Buddhist Monastery and the Mahamewnawa Meditation Centre in Maryland on the 23rd and 24th March respectively.
Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana waxed eloquent in Geneva, the other day, defending as he did Sri Lanka to the hilt. It was a compelling brief, but the problem is that the architects of the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka have already made up their minds and do not want to be confused with facts.
Marapana’s presentation contained nothing new, though. The facts he marshalled cleverly had been in the public domain for the last several years. They should have been made use of much earlier. Having agreed to co-sponsor the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka and decided to humour the western governments, the yahapalana leaders ignored them in 2015.
It is not that the representatives of the governments which masterminded the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka are unaware of what Marapana said; they are au fait with the situation here, but theirs is not to listen to reason; theirs is to reject the facts that do not conform to the agendas of their countries bent on furthering their geostrategic interests. They have even refused to accept vital UN data, which run counter to their arguments anent Sri Lanka. The US and the UK have disregarded information contained in the diplomatic cables dispatched by their own Colombo-based defence attaches on the final phase of the Vanni war.
The UNF government is like a woman who has waited till she goes into labour to say that she wants to have an abortion. (Eating raw pineapple will be of no use, at this late stage!) The Geneva baby is fully developed and will have to be delivered. The yahapalana leaders will be made to fulfil their Geneva undertakings including the setting up of a war crimes investigation. However, they may be given some more time, at least, until the next year to perform that painful task, in view of the next presidential election to be held at the end of this year.
Marapana would not have been allowed to challenge the UNHRC’s arguments and tell what the western governments did not want to hear but for President Maithripala Sirisena’s intervention. The President went so far as to warn that he would be compelled to send a separate team to Geneva if he felt that the country’s interests would not be defended. The government had to do something to steal his thunder.
Many a pair of shoes is said to be worn out between saying and doing. Will the government translate what Marapana has said, in Geneva, into action?
How do the UNF leaders propose to reconcile their Geneva volte-face with the TNA’s demand for an international war crimes tribunal to probe the alleged war crimes? They are dependent on the TNA for survival in Parliament and the latter won’t settle for less. Some TNA MPs have even taken to the streets in the North, demanding a hybrid court to try military personnel. It will be interesting to see their reaction to Marapana’s speech at the UNHRC.
The government’s strategy may be to criticise the very UNHRC resolution it has co-sponsored so as to appease those who are opposed to it, buy some more time and face the presidential election with a view to fulfilling its Geneva commitments, later on, in case it succeeds in winning the presidency. Marapana can always be removed and someone else brought in as the Foreign Minister to carry out that task.
China uses loans to dominate the world and stands accused of luring countries like Sri Lanka into a debt trap. Other big powers are no better and only their modus operandi is different. The US and its allies are using human rights to achieve the same goal. So, it is highly unlikely that the western powers will soften their stand on Sri Lanka, in Geneva.
Let Marapana be congratulated on his brilliant presentation in Geneva, but no one should make the mistake of expecting it to make any difference there, for what we see at the UNHRC or the UN, for that matter, is not evidence-based policymaking but policy-based evidence making.
All documents necessary for the extradition of former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran had been despatched, Chief Opposition Whip UPFA MP Mahinda Amaraweera said.
Replying to JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa in Parliament yesterday, Amaraweera said all necessary information had been diplomatically communicated in writing to the relevant authorities in Singapore.
Amaraweera also told the House that President Maithripala Sirisena would brief the Singaporean authorities and the people of Sri Lanka shortly on the steps he had taken to bring Mahendran back.
The issue was taken up in Parliament after Singapore strongly rejecting President Sirisena’s allegation that it was sheltering Mahendran. Singapore alleged Sri Lanka was yet to furnish required documents to support its request for extradition of the former Central Bank Governor.
“The President has done everything in his capacity. The President also made a private request when he met the Singaporean Prime Minister,” Amaraweera added.
At this point JVP MP Dr Jayatissa remarked that he requested a clarification from the government, but instead it was Opposition MP Amaraweera who replied. UNP MP Mujibar Rahuman observed that it proved that the President had sided with the Opposition.
UPFA MP Udaya Gammanpila said that Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala must explain to the House why she had not provided necessary documents to the Singapore government for the extradition of Mahendran.
“The President after his meeting the Singaporean Prime Minister instructed the authorities in Sri Lanka to take steps for Mahendran’s extradition. Matters pertaining to extradition come under the Justice Ministry. There was an Interpol red notice on Mahendran. The Singapore’s response shows that the Singaporean authorities were not even aware of that. Who blocked this message? There must have been some pressure on her to do so. Mahendran is the most wanted man in this country. She must tell the House as to who prevented her from acting against Mahendran.”
