Features
Needed jab; hasty passing of a bill; folly of seeing strictly forbidden grass greener than home turf
Cassandra started her last Friday’s (May 14) article with a wail. She cried, desperation overcoming her: “Manna from the skies and the drop of water to a man dying of thirst is for most now a jab in the upper arm which will hopefully keep at bay dreaded omnipotent, omnipresent Covid-19 virus.” Even a week after the wailing complaint was voiced, we are no closer to getting the second dose of A Z vaccine. Rumours float that Rosy got 600,000 doses and to register with her and get the shot. Not Cass to do so; never have jumped a queue. That must be a false claim, though nothing in Free Sri Lanka is impossible.
Colombo Port City draft Bill
Then greater perturbation overwhelmed us so that often, Cass did shiver, actually quiver with fear, more so hearing Attorneys-at-Law Srinath Perera PC, and Harshana Nanayakkara express fears in their MTV 1 Newsline interview with TV journo Sharman Benedict. With no mincing of words, they forecast doom and black gloom if the Port City Bill is passed as it is intended to be – easily and with the necessary majority, piloted as it is through Parliament with only two days of debate sandwiched between lockdowns during the height of the C19 third wave. The main immediate aim of the government seems to be, and has been said to be by very many, the rapid passing of the Colombo Port City Bill. The plight of the people of the country and their falling prey to C19 and many dying is of little concern. Greater concern is to pass the Bill and make it Law – the rules governing the Port City. For whose benefit, we ask. Certainly not ours, since more important matters are pending. So we are being magnanimous to a nation known for its economic colonisation.
A hell of a lot of word-steam rose and will rise within the House by the Diyawanna. But as expected and feared by us who are neutral minded politically, the Bill will be passed with a majority. The SC has ruled wisely and the government promises amendments. But as Att.-at-Law Srinath Perera pronounced loud and clear on Tuesday night, it was a 99-year period for which this country was to be dictated to by China.
It was salutary to hear what the Leader of the Opposition had to say when interviewed by MTV 1 on its Newsline Programme on Monday May 17, and echoed by Dr Harsha de Silva as a panel member of the same channel’s Face the Nation starting at 9.30 that very night. The Opposition approves the Port City and hopes it will be a huge economic boon to the country drawing in foreign investment; giving jobs to locals; introducing new techniques mostly electronic; and generally giving a lift to the country’s woeful economic condition. What do they object to? The speedy passage of the Bill through Parliament, and some articles in the drawn-up rules governing the Port City which are sure to be deleterious to Sri Lanka and solely beneficial to the foreign countries – China – which seems to be given carte blanche to do as they like on Sri Lankan property. Are we selling off our independence and sovereignty for a jar of pottage?
Is it any wonder that Srinath Perera PC, ending the discussion on Newsline begged and pleaded with the 225 MPs to vote with loyalty to the country first and foremost in thought and not consider stars gained from the Big Bugs of SLPP or black marks and perchance money that is a-coming for an aye. (Cass writes this on Wednesday 19 morning, so like you she will watch the voting results on Friday.)
An intriguing side show occurred in Parliament on Tuesday May 18. Leader of the Opp asked some salient questions from the Minister of Health. She got into a twist (Cass nearly gave here a phrase used by her as a schoolgirl to depict a dilemma – getting your knickers in a twist!). Well, Pavitradevi was flustered plus angry. She said she could not answer the qs then. Sajith Premadasa was very polite but up pops S B Dissanayake, quaking with rage, his cheeks a-quiver and asks why the fair lady (Cass’ words) is being badgered. And who seconds him? Rohitha Abeywardena from Kalutara whose sobriquet is well known. Cass said the incident was intriguing. There was the ex Sports Minister accused of harassment by Susie girl some months after her marvelous coming third and promoted higher at the Athens Olympics. Chivalrous Sir Galahad on May 19, 2021, though previously accused of passing back and forth alongside the Col 7 sports stadium while Susie practiced her sprint!!
Are people made ill to fill the thousands of new beds?
Cass, for one, laughs outright at the boast of some; Cass believes it was the Minster of Health who said that every C19 patient would have a bed and needed equipment in a hospital setting. The Minister of Sports and Youth did not sound the boast verbally but was inspecting with obvious pride the masses of beds prepared in Seeduwa and somewhere else. The army and apprentices worked around the clock constructing the building and beds; thus Cass would have liked to see the head of the workmen who got this marvelous job done, and not the young Minister’s face since this does not come under either his sports or youth mandates, and we see his handsome mug more than enough, nowadays. Also, so easy for him to helicopter inspect, accompanied by a host of persons and TV crew.
What would have been much more prideful and boasted as success would have been the curbing of infection and rise of number of patients by taking timely action of mass inoculation and curbing drastically movement of persons starting even before the Avurudhu season. It’s always a case of hanging onto the galloping horse’s tail as the unguarded stable door opens, losing the battle of stopping the horse in his tracks. At the open door of the now bare stable are the powerful, showing surprise the horse bolted away.
We will appreciate the government’s efforts when the rise of the third wave is curbed and deaths and illness prevented, since that will be their responsibility, listening to medical advice and bringing in cooperation and collaboration of all in this massive fight. But the Brother heading the Covid Prevention task force, all the institutions and government departments concerned with the economy of the country, took a leaf from the horse that bolted and departed to his adopted country at the very height of the crisis. We Ordinaries are left floundering and wondering, while quacking with fear.
Death in Japan: tragic yet …
The New York Times
carried an article on May 18 titled Japan is shaken after a detainee, wasting away, dies alone in her cell by Ben Dooley and Hisako Ueno.
On March 6, at the age of 33, Wishma Rathnayake died while held in a detention centre in Nagoya. We are greatly saddened and grieve for her family but there are Buts to the tragedy. I quote the article: “Her case has become a source of outrage for critics of Japan’s immigration system, who say that Ms. Rathnayake was the victim of an opaque and capricious bureaucracy that has nearly unchecked power over foreigners who run afoul of it.”
The above is true but can you blame Japan for its strict rules over immigration while countries that were more tolerant suffer later for their mercy in letting in immigrants?
Wishma seems to have gone legally to Japan to study Japanese hoping to be a teacher of English over there. While at ‘school’ learning Japanese, she befriended a co-student – Sri Lankan – and they disappeared, detailed the article. Later, she reported to the police of his harassment of her. It was then noted she was overstaying her visa. She was promptly detained at the Nagoya centre. She got off food and weakened in body as her mind succumbed to depression. Doctors saw her but did not move her to hospital due to the fear she was faking her illness. She died through not being able to take food.
The ‘cell’ she was held in as shown in photographs in the NYT article was luxurious to me – a small flatlet – and there were Japanese NGOs visiting and befriending her.
Cass’ sorrow is genuine and her sympathies to the family sincere. However, as the dots in the subtitle denote, Wishma was in the wrong: knowing full well consequences of overstaying her visa-given term. Also, one cannot deny that the hard line taken by the Japanese authorities is known and especially by visitors. Thus Japan is justified in being strict in these times of immigration to favourable countries being the dream of many, to be achieved by any means. Those who visit foreign countries must know the rules of the host country and abide by them. The grass may be greener over there but better your own turf, parched though it be.
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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