Features
Return of the Galle Literary Festival
The Galle Literary Festival (GLF) came back to the country this January 2024. It has been typical of Sri Lanka and matters Sri Lankan with a chequered career, the annual sequence interrupted twice; the name changed and most significantly to me, declined in organization, arrangement and literary luminaries sharing their talents. Again typical of the character of the country, numbers attending have not decreased – maybe increased – of both local and foreign, but them not praising fulsomely as before. Even the Sunday print media carried adverse comments, complaints really. The invited speakers were fulsome in their praise as reported in the press but I was privy to negative comments made by attendees who had been at previous GLFs. I make bold to write this article as I was present throughout at all previous festivals but could not make it this year. Consequently I kept close interested tabs on it.
Lineage
Anglo-Australian hotelier Geoffrey Dobbs who settled in Galle bravely founded the event in 2005. I attended and found events and organization moved smoothly with Dobbs all over the place all day. Annually the festival was smooth sailing till 2011 when certain prestigious writers such as Booker Prize winners, Kiran Desai and Orhan Pamuk declined attending as a protest against the government’s coming down hard on journalists and curtailing media freedom. Fortunately we had heard Kiran the precious year.
In 2013 political disaster struck the GLF over trivia. Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held in Sri Lanka with Mahinda Rajapaksa as President. Dobbs saw the British flag flying upside down in Galle. He informed the govt VIP in Galle – Provincial Governor or whoever. That lady did not order the flag be hoisted correctly. So Dobbs hoisted a Lion Flag with the animal standing on its head.
Umbrage was taken and Dobbs declared persona non grata. He left for Australia and was denied entry to SL until 2016 when sponsorship of the GLF was taken over by Fairway Holdings with the extremely generous investment of Rs 30 m in the operational costs of the festival. That was not only fantastic but gave Geoffrey Dobbs the fillip to restart the annual literary festival now famous throughout the world and even dubbed the best.
One instance of extra generosity was the inauguration of the Fairway Literary Prizes for the best local novel of the year in English and most promising writer. Fantastic prizes of Rs 500,000/- for winners and Rs 100,000/- for each of the four short listed novelists was offered. Fairway Holdings Chairman, Hemaka de Alwis, was present all through that festival with the name changed to Fairway Galle Literary Festival – FGLF, and subsequent festivals up until 2019. Then Covid took the world by its throat as it were, and stifled it.
I have stayed in Galle all through the festivals, enjoying the serene antiquity of the Fort, spruced up, and the lively ambience of the festival grounds; the very happy and informal mixing with peoples, local and foreign, of all ages, races and even temperaments. I was completely satisfied with the running of the festival which was truly excellent, particularly in the two years that Shyam Selvadorai curated and was chief organizer – 2017 and 2018, I believe. Bits of chaos were evident in 2019. The long awaited festival was revived this January after a hiatus of four years, as the previous GLF.
The Festival improved each year until 2018 in every way. Halle de Galle was the main venue and large audiences were accommodated opposite it in a temporary building where the Fairway Literary Awards were presented, almost always with Ranil Wickremasinghe as Chief Guest and his wife seen at most events. Really famous writers, actors, culinary experts are far too many to list.
I make mention of only a few who made indelible impressions on me: Picor Iyer, Vikram Seth, Kiran Desai, Sashi Tharoor, Sebastian Faulks, Tom Stoppard, Dame Maggie Smith, Germaine Greer, Gore Vidal, Katherine Frank (biographer) and Nayantara Segal (cousin of Indira Gandhi). Events too were varied, ranging from dance and drumming items to theatre. The Chamber Music Society of Sri Lanka played at the ancient Dutch Reformed Church in the Fort, and later the choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Living Savoir performed in the Anglican Church.
Side sessions catered to those seeking exposure to Tamil and Sinhala literature. Architecture and cultural excursions, cookery demonstrations and having meals with the famous were additional events. Prices were considered rather high but a festival pass started around 7000/-, then climbed to 10, 12 and in 2019 it was 15.000/-. Day passes and tickets for single events were available and media persons were free.
This year’s GLF
Held from 25 through 28 January, participation was massive. Hotel bookings were from August 2023. A season ticket cost Rs 45,000/- ; a day pass Rs 12,000/-; and attending a lecture/event was priced at Rs 3000/- . The programme did not list many outstanding foreign writers. I did not find out who the main organizer and curator was/were. Presumption is that Geoffrey Dobbs did not lend his name nor expertise to the event. (I am open to correction).
The negatives listed by three experienced GLF attendees were thus: Some venues selected were totally inadequate in space and amenities. For example in the Chambers Restaurant there were around 30 chairs but more than double that number had bought tickets. Result: very many were left standing within the room and outside. The speaker’s seat was flush with the audience so he/she had to stand throughout the presentation.
The room in No 30, Leyn Baan Street was large and sufficient seats were provided but the roof being metal, it was hot and stuffy with only four coolers on the side. Additionally, the sound system was totally inadequate or faulty, so much so that what was said emerged garbled. My friends left the venue after a couple of minutes.
The Amangalle Hotel provided venues for events. Surprisingly I heard that two presentations in this hotel had inadequate seating and the speaker was sans a microphone. A hotel of such prestige having its basic structure built in 1784 and named New Oriental Hotel (NOH) and its new management and name in 2004, should and could have remedied the remiss of the GLF supervisors/organisers. Fort Bazaar Court had lounge chairs for the panel of speakers and on level with audience seating. Many a listener could not see the speakers even with strained necks.
The Halle de Galle was excellent, my friends said. I remember air conditioning was installed a couple of years into the Festival but even earlier it was comfortable with adequate fans. The only blemish was the lack of toilets – only three attached to the hall and two squatting. Toilets could not be built by the GLF, the hall belonging to the Divisional Secretariat or whatever. Remedied the following year by discreet installation of portable toilets.
Another complaint of a few I spoke with was that changes of venues etc were announced via email. “All did not have access, nor accessed email. So confusion and annoyance resulted.” This friend and another were early at each event and thus got seating up front. At one event after the room was almost full, a young volunteer helper approached three women seated in front of my friends and asked them to shift as the seats they occupied were reserved for the sponsors of the event. I echo my reporting friend by asking wasn’t it possible to place an even scribbled ‘reserved’ board and not inconvenience guests who had paid much.
These major and minor shortcomings could be attributed to carelessness and remises in organization. They were remedial. Tickets sold indicate audience to be expected so how come adequate seating was not provided. I was also told that many of the setbacks were corrected.
From early on I used to write about that year’s GLF to the Sunday Island. I once wrote “Always a lively, interactive and engaging five days of listening, discussion and debate, as some of the world’s most articulate and thought-provoking writers stimulate us to look anew upon the world around. We could also just relax and savour a festival of the arts set in a stunning setting.”
I quote American author Ursula le Guin who wrote some years ago: “There have been societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories. The GLF occupies such an integral and compelling space in Sri Lanka’s cultural calendar and in our collective imagination. This opportunity to share the narrative instinct so distinctive to humanity has become an eagerly anticipated and much discussed event played out annually in the historically charged and delightfully evocative maritime city of Galle.”
The GLF has a fine reputation to maintain. Hence this article, not of blame and complaint but feedback to eliminate the ‘coffee stains’ and bring it to back to excellence.
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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