Features
Memories of the 20th Century
The author has dedicated this volume to freelance journalists. This made me think a little more of the English language Press over the last 75 years or so in Ceylon and Sri Lanka. When English was the medium of instruction, and the official language of Ceylon, English newspapers had an important role in politics, culture and the arts. The English Press also had more financial and staffing resources to run their newspapers. Even at that time freelance journalists were very much present.
With the shift to local languages, since about the 1960s, it is arguable that the role of the English press has diminished somewhat. In-house staffing resources have been reduced. Hence, it appears that freelance journalism is more important than it once was. Newspapers have also to compete with the medium of television. Should the newspapers aim at being more educational and instructive and less a tool for providing information? These are all debatable questions.
Nan, or by another name, Nanda Pethiyagoda Wanasundera is one of the outstanding literary figures in Sri Lanka in the 21st century. After an education at the Girl’s High School in Kandy, she was initially a teacher and a librarian. She obtained a degree in English from the Peradeniya University. She turned to journalism a bit later in life, and in the last 30 years she has been a prolific contributor to the Island and the Sunday Island newspapers. (For the Daily Island she is Cassandra).
She has written two novels, several books on arts and culture, and especially on aspects of Kandyan life and folk tales. Her writings are concerned with women and Buddhist culture. Nan belongs to a generation which is the last to remember at first hand the British and their role in Ceylon, not only in government but also in areas such as culture and education. As Manik de Silva, the editor of the Sunday Island, states, “Nan has the talent of picking subjects appropriate for the times and embellishing what she writes with snippets of her own experiences and insights”.
The volume is a collection of articles which she has written to the Sunday Island, numbering nearly 50. These articles include several on Buddhist monks and nuns, architects and artistes, several distinguished men and women and on places and events which have intrigued her, and certainly should intrigue the reader. Observing the collection, one obtains the impression that she is particularly concerned with persons and institutions of her own life and times. There are only a few politicians and no economists and most of the men and women she has focused on are not politically famous ones, although they are important ones who have contributed significantly for the betterment of the nation. To list a few, she has written on Narada Maha Thero, Ivor Jennings, Barbara Sansoni, Ena De Silva, Rukmani Devi, Stanley Kirinde, and many others of that ilk. Let me refer to a few in this selection.
Not many remember Ivor Jennings and there are very few left who knew him even remotely. Nan offers an enchanting and endearing portrait of Jennings as Vice-Chancellor. Jennings made an immense contribution to Ceylon in several ways. He was mainly responsible for the new independent Constitution we had in Sri Lanka from 1948 to 1972. We know now that it was the best Constitution this country had, although several politicians reviled it as a British imposition. Jennings saw to it that a great university was in place from the 1940s. Not many will remember that he was the Chairman of the Social Services Commission which made an important contribution towards making Ceylon a welfare state. During the war years he was Deputy Civil Defence Commissioner.
There are others whom Nan remembers. Let us take some of the other educationists and writers, particularly women. Vijitha Fernando, Soma Kumari Samarasinghe, Hema Jayasinghe, Brenda Jayasinghe, a great writer, Jean Solomons Arasanayagam and Ishwari Corea. The latter made a huge contribution to building the Colombo Public Library. Vijitha Fernando is an important literary figure. The others were principals of schools who inspired their pupils and were role models to them. In a chapter called “The Britisher in Long Ago India and Ceylon”, Nan refers to several missionary ladies (Miss Allan, Miss Rig and several others), who made an enormous contribution to educating children in places like Kandy and Badulla. When we think of the British empire in Ceylon, names of governors come to mind as roads and statues have been built in their honour. But there are large numbers of educationists who served as principals and teachers (and nurses in hospitals) who also made an enormous and more lasting contribution to the welfare of Ceylon.
Nan is good at describing places and institutions. Her chapter on the Colombo National Museum, makes the reader visit that place again and see it with a different eye. Nan has a fascination for many aspects of culture and arts and architecture and archaeology. She refers to the clock towers of Sri Lanka. There are descriptions of many clock towers built during British days. The Colombo clock tower on Chatham Street, was first a lighthouse built in 1829, and converted into a clock tower in 1860. There are 151 clock towers, and nearly 90 of them were built after 1977.
Let us take an institution which Nan refers to. There is a chapter on DROs (Divisional Revenue Officers). Her brother was in the first batch recruited in 1938 and she has a charming story to relate into the life of a DRO in a remote station. The creation of the DRO service is a significant event in the administrative history of Ceylon. During the British period, the administration below the provincial level continued to be feudal as they continued with the mudaliyars and the rate-mahattayas. In was only in 1938 that the feudal system of local administration was partly abolished, as the village headman system continued until 1970.
Let me complete this review with what a short story writer had to say about Nan. Rukmini Attygalle (Author of Saris and Grapefruit – a collection of short stories) writes:Unlike in fiction writing, the journalist has an obligation to truth and does not have the luxury of dipping into imagination to enhance stories; presentation of facts being paramount. The success of an article depends entirely on how good and well presented the story is. This is where the journalist’s creativity comes to the fore. Nan has an innate ability to choose the relevant facts and the correct detail to elucidate and grab the attention of the reader from start to finish.
Nan combines facts and opinions with a focus on human interest with empathy. She provides background information on a newsworthy topic as well as her personal slant or experience to pique the reader’s interest. Her presence in her stories makes them more interesting, realistic and immediate. This is a hall mark of her style.
“A good story is about something the audience decides is interesting and important. A great story often does both, by using story-telling to make important news interesting.” (American Press Institute). Nan goes one step further. She sometimes takes a subject which she finds interesting but the reader may not necessarily agree to start with; and turns it into a compelling read. She infuses her enthusiasm into her narrative, so that at the end of the story the reader feels glad that she/he has now a fresh insight into a subject which had not been previously given proper consideration. Thus a sense of satisfaction ensues.
Good stories have strong central characters. In developing character, Nan provides the kind of detail that avoids stereotype and provides interesting dimensions to people. In Jimmy Carter’s story for instance, she portrays him as a simple down-to-earth man with humane qualities. She does this by including pertinent details which brings out this dimension of his character. She writes about the ‘make-do’ shower used by the Carter family during their early life at the farm house. The fact that Jimmy Carter was proud to have this item on public display establishes his humility and simplicity, without a trace of doubt. The fact that Carter considered Rachel Clerk, the wife of a black sharecropper, as one of the strongest influence in his life, says it all about his attitude towards racial prejudice.
Nan’s command of the English language is exceptional. Her ability to pick the most appropriate meaningful words from her extensive vocabulary to express herself, is indeed a talent. Her writing style is simple and lucid and has a flow that makes easy read.
I will not be doing Nan full justice if I do not mention her interpersonal skills. She handles interviews with sensitivity. She allows the person interviewed to express his/her views by listening with empathy, never putting words into their mouths.Once the author of ‘the selected articles’ referred to herself in her usual demeanour as being, “just a journo”. Yes she is a journalist; but there is no “just” about it. She is a high caliber journalist! Not only that, she is a creative writer too.
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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