Features
A Tribute to my Guru: Fr. Aloysius Pieris S.J.
By Avishka Mario Senewiratne
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, fondly called ‘Fr. Aloy’ by those close to him, has been one of the most outstanding scholars in the last seven decades. He is a diligent researcher, who has published volumes of papers and books on liberation theology and Indology. Fr. Aloy is undoubtedly one man who was born great and continues to live life to the fullest.
His greatest passion, however, was to be a people’s priest. I witnessed this since becoming a close acquaintance 11 years ago. I am not going to write of Fr. Aloy’s life as a scholar as I am not qualified to write an authoritative account of such a brilliant academic. However, I know for a fact he was one of those very few individuals who preached and wrote what he practised. At the event of his 90th birthday, I think it is timely to recount my many memories of Fr. Aloy and offer my humble tribute to a man I consider my guru.
In 2013, a teacher of mine at St. Joseph’s College spoke to me about Fr. Aloy and his work. Intrigued by what he said, I was keen to meet him. I was surprised to learn that he lived in the Tulana Centre, in Gonawala, which was less than a mile from my home in Kelaniya. So, when Christmas vacation was on, I decided I must meet him. At that point, I was 15-years old and he was 79. Little did I know, my life was to change. His first reaction when he saw me was “Ah young man, welcome!”.
I still remember his delightful face at that moment. He was clad in his usual attire, a simple short-sleeved shirt and an even simpler sarong with a few holes here and there. How about that for a priest with three PhDs? We had a long chat that very first day. I was stunned by his humility, wisdom and ability to speak on many subjects in such a short time. Before meeting him that day, I did not expect to come often to Tulana. Nevertheless, Fr. Aloy and I developed a great friendship. I made it a point to visit him every fortnight or perhaps every month. Why? His inspiration is sublime!
Though short in stature, and standing no more than 5’4, Fr. Aloy is a giant. A man with great grit, courage and an indomitable will. His is a genuine intellect that never tolerates injustice and constantly represents the poor and oppressed. He is one who does not know or feel ‘fear’. When a giant with such qualities becomes my friend and guru, how can I not be inspired? Before I met Fr. Aloy, I must say I was quite weak in many aspects of my life, especially in taking the initiative and the ability to speak. All these would change for the better. Thank you, Father Aloy!
Fr. Aloy nursed my soul. He made me a better man over time. How did he do this? Simply by bringing me closer to the Creator, the One above. He made me understand the scriptures better, taught me to pray in a self-effacing manner and most importantly to learn the most important commandment: LOVE. He groomed me to be a Christian in its fullest sense. For these reasons, alone I am grateful to Fr. Aloy.
Throughout the last 11 years, I went through some unprecedented successes as well as failures. In each of those moments, Fr. Aloy was with me. I remember when I had a personal crisis in my early 20s, how he comforted and prayed with me to get over that challenge. On one occasion he asked me to come at 10 o’clock in the night to simply speak to me and strengthen my spirit. It is fair to say he was like a father to me throughout these years. To be a close associate, and a protégé of this prophetic figure is perhaps one of the greatest things that has happened to me. Thank you, Fr. Aloy!
A group of friends in Kelaniya, myself included once asked Fr. Aloy whether he could facilitate a weekly Bible talk. Though initially reluctant, he agreed to do so. I know for a fact that he prepared across seven days to deliver a talk of one hour each Sunday evening. Connecting the Sunday scripture readings (First Reading and the Gospel), he delivered a fascinating homily. He gave us a historical context of the scriptures for the day and went deep into its roots, theologizing it to the modern context. Those who attended these Bible talks can bear witness to the prophetic role Fr. Aloy played in bringing out countless gems from the scriptures, which many others had not known or avoided. Fr. Aloy would often say, “The Vatican II Council encouraged us to enjoy the fruits of the Eucharist as well as the Scriptures.”
Fr. Aloy saw in me something which I never noticed until then. One day he asked me “Avishka, do you want to be a priest?”. I did not want to be one and I made that clear to Fr. Aloy. “Ah that doesn’t matter. I want you to meet a scholarly priest. Come along!”. He did not technically introduce me to a priest but to a collection of old books owned by one of the most eminent historians, Fr. S. G. Perera SJ. The late Fr. Perera’s collection of rare books on Ceylon, supplemented by Fr. Aloy’s own additions in the last 50 years, has made this collection one of the finest sets of books on Lankan affairs, especially history.
Fr. Aloy who has been its curator was very concerned about its safety and would not allow anyone, except those with genuine interest to peruse them. He said to me: “I see your thirst for knowledge. You want to know more about the country, the church, individuals! You better read these books and see what they have to offer”. What they had to offer was immense and my life changed. I must have spent nearly a thousand hours in this library across the last decade. I still have a long way to go in terms of perusing the books.
This is what is special. Fr. Aloy saw something in me that I did not discern till then. Pursue history he said. “This is your passion and it’s a gift from God.” I like a fool argued with him saying, “Hardly anyone is interested in this father. My friends loath history”. His response struck me like lightning: “Which is why you must be a historian. You must bring that change.”
I may have professionally ventured into another flamboyant but serious field. However, I was convinced that I had a calling to be a student of history, study it objectively and critically and bring out written works. Ten years later, with many publications and many projects completed as an amateur historian, I am grateful for Fr. Aloy’s prophetic vision and advice. Thank you, my father Aloy.
When many did not take my cause in historical research seriously, Fr. Aloy treated me very magnanimously. He encouraged me to write research articles on Sri Lankan Church history. He was very critical of my presentation and pushed me to write objectively. He stressed the fact that I must stick to the facts and refer proper documents. This training I received from the man was divine. He often told me, “Avishka, history is an interpretation. One could always draw different mosaics of the same view.” Some of my early research was published in VAGDEVI – Journal of Religious Reflection, which Fr. Aloy has been editing for over 15 years.
I have had many disagreements with him and have not accepted some of his Socialist views and policies. However, I am convinced that he is the definition of a man of God, and most importantly: a man for others. The way he connected everything with the Divine, spoke volumes of the man’s deep piety. He was not only a man of prayer but one who would constantly ask others to pray. He once said, “Avishka, the Lord always speaks to us. The problem is we are deaf to His voice. Be in prayer and you will be answered.”
Fr. Aloy had his own share of tragedies and setbacks in his 90 years. However, he remained in deep faith. His faith was that which could move mountains. One other factor that amazed me was his ability to work like a young man even in his late 80s. I would sometimes enter his office and look from a distance how Fr. Aloy was on his computer with his headphones on. Though he never owned a smartphone in his life, the man loves working with his computer. Seeing the man with an old Bible in his hand making notes even at this age intrigued me.
Fr. Aloy, though being a busy man his whole life, his policy when seeing someone there to meet him, would stop whatever he was doing and have the most earnest conversation. I am yet to meet another who has a habit like this. Last year, Fr. Aloy asked me whether I could be the editor and designer of the first part of his autobiography. He was previously determined not to ever publish this document. However, I convinced him of the importance of that work, for it was not only his life but also a history of the period in question. So, accepting his invitation was an honour. I produced the limited edition “A Theography of My Life and Work, Volume 1 (1934 – 1973)” by Fr. Aloy. He was deeply moved when I presented him with the first copy on his 89th birthday.
I can go on and on writing the very many ways Fr. Aloy made me who I am. His lessons, advice and inspiration are something one could say is beyond human. I praise the Lord for giving Fr. Aloy to this world; a true angel of love and peace. May the good Lord shower Fr. Aloy with his abundant blessings and may he continue his ministry going from strength to strength.
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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