Features
Integrity, Professionalism and Accountability
by Mike O’Leary
When Rishi Sunak became prime minister of the UK, he stood outside Number 10 and promised, as the anti-Johnson, the not-Truss, to deliver, “integrity, professionalism and accountability” at every level. As Paul Waugh put it in the i-paper: “Every inch the former Head Boy he was at school, Sunak from the outset staked his premiership on being someone who followed the rules rather than broke them. The other clear promise was that he was a fixer of problems, not a creator of them.” How is that working out?
The W Word
When Boris Johnson was shambling towards being an ex-prime minister, many surmised that opposition leader, Sir Keir Starmer, would be sorry to see him go. People pontificated that it was easy for Starmer to look good, competent and, well, normal, when up against Johnson’s buffoonery. When Johnson was finally ousted, there were suggestions that Starmer would be done for if the Conservative party chose any halfway competent leader. In his leadership campaign, Sunak claimed that he would be able to outshine Starmer in a general election, whereas Liz Truss would not. We did not have to wait for a general election for Truss to demonstrate that she was a disastrous choice. She lasted a mere 44 days in office – long enough to wreck the UK economy.
If Starmer can make allegations of weakness that stick, voters will think that, if the prime minister cannot control his own ministers, how can he show he has a firm grip on the government of the country? This is a probably conscious echo of Tony Blair saying about John Major in 1995: “I lead my party, he follows his”. Starmer has broken the taboo of the Corbyn years and started talking about the successes and competence of the previous Labour government compared to the shambolic Conservative government of 2023.
Zara
At prime minister’s questions (PMQs) on Wednesday January 25, 2023, Starmer’s first question was about a report by the chief inspector of probation into the murder of Zara Aleena. Sunak came prepared with the usual blah. Lessons will be learnt, deepest sympathy for the family, terrible tragedy, talented young woman’s life cut short, blah-de-blah. Sunak is not much of a politician, but goes in for a lot of politician’s hot air and bloviation (empty, pompous), while accusing Starmer of playing politics. Starmer is an accomplished lawyer who received his knighthood for his service as Director of Public Prosecutions and he was not going to let the prime minister get away with his feeble response.
Starmer quoted Zara’s family, who said that ministers had blood on their hands. Jordan McSweeney sexually assaulted and murdered Zara nine days after being released on licence from prison. He had 28 previous convictions for 69 separate offence going back 17 years. Starmer quoted the report’s criticisms of systemic failures in the probation system. The report described staff shortages and judged that privatization had led to inefficiency and evasion of responsibility by ministers. Focusing on a vital public service which is on its knees after 13 years of Tory rule is a line that can be used in many contexts. Stuff isn’t working, there are excessive workloads and staff shortages throughout the UK, demonstrably caused by Tory policies of spending cuts, outsourcing to cronies who don’t know how to do the job, and ending the free movement of labour.
Nadhim Zahawi
Starmer moved on to the subject of tax dodging. This is a sensitive area for Sunak as he was embarrassed when he was chancellor by revelations about his wife’s financial arrangements. It has been estimated that she avoided paying £ 2.1 million a year in UK taxes.
Nadhim Zahawi briefly held that post, the one where he was responsible for bringing in taxes to support the welfare of the nation. It now seems that, at that time, he was under investigation for avoiding taxes. The Guardian estimated that the total amount he paid after being caught out was £5 million – the amount owing was estimated to be £3.7 million, to which a 30% penalty was applied, as well as interest. It seems Zahawi has been lying about his offshore investments.
Starmer stuck the knife in and twisted it. “His failure to sack him, when the whole country can see what’s going on shows how desperately weak he is.” Starmer snarled “we all know why” the PM was reluctant to ask Zahawi questions about his tax affairs. He said that someone not paying taxes should not be in charge of taxes. He referred to family tax dodging, clearly a dig at Sunak and his wife. The prime minister’s tax returns are due to be published soon. The Sunday Times estimates that the prime minister and his wife are worth £ 730 million. How can he empathize with people who cannot pay their fuel bills? How can he understand why nurses and rail workers are striking for better pay?
NHS
Starmer took the opportunity on January 25 to reprise his attacks from January 18. He had asked: “It’s three minutes past 12. If somebody phones 999 now because they have chest pains and fear it might be a heart attack, when would the prime minister expect an ambulance to arrive?” The government was, Sunak replied, “rapidly implementing measures to improve the delivery of ambulance times”. As Sunak would not answer the straight question, Starmer did. In Peterborough, a patient calling at 12.03 would not get an ambulance until 14.10, in Northampton 14.20 and Plymouth 14.40. Starmer concluded by telling the story of Stephanie aged 26 who died while waiting for an ambulance.
Sunak uses private health care.
Sunak’s only response was to blame the unions. The Labour leader said: “So that’s his answer to Stephanie’s family: deflect, blame others, never take responsibility. If he won’t answer any questions, will he at least apologize for the lethal chaos under his watch?”
Johnson Hangover
Sunak is a teetotaler but managed to get himself fined for attending one of the parties that contributed to Johnson’s downfall. He is suffering a hangover because he retained too many tainted figures from Johnson’s soiled regime. He brought in damagingly compromised characters to try to heal the rifts in the party. There is not a great deal of talent from which Sunak can choose.
There was surprise when Johnson gave Gavin Williamson a knighthood. The former fireplace salesman and adulterer was generally seen as a comic figure but now a brutal side has been revealed with a number of allegations of bullying. The Guardian alleged that, while serving as defence secretary, he told a senior Ministry of Defence official to “slit your throat” and jump out of a window”. He was sacked by Theresa May for leaking national secrets. He was sacked as education secretary by Boris Johnson for his calamitous mismanagement of the exams season during the pandemic. People were baffled when Sunak brought him back as Minister without Portfolio – some said Minister without a Clue. It seems that Sunak had the vain hope that Williamson would use his bullying skills to bring discipline to the warring Tory factions.
Another alleged bully is deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab. As I write, I am reading a report that 24 civil servants, some in senior roles have made complaints about Raab that he “belittled and demeaned them” and was “very rude and aggressive” on many occasions each day. Some sources say there are more than 30 complaints, some people claiming to have been physically sick before meetings, regularly in tears and, in more than one case, feeling suicidal. The complaints cover his time as Brexit secretary as well as foreign secretary and justice secretary. The inquiry report by Adam Tolley KC , which is expected soon, could result in Raab being sacked.
“Cruella” Braverman is the daughter of immigrants but her main aim in life is to stop immigration. There have been many doubts about her abilities and there were allegations that she has faked her CV. There was some surprise when Liz Truss appointed her home secretary but she was sacked over allegations that she leaked government secrets through her private email. There was even greater surprise when Sunak reappointed her as home secretary despite her serious breach of the ministerial code.
When Will the Pain Be Killed?
Stephen Bush wrote in the Financial Times, “Sunak is essentially the political equivalent of a painkiller. He is easing some of the symptoms of the Conservative party’s electoral malaise, but he becomes less effective at doing that from overuse.” It is small comfort, and not a good omen for a general election, that Sunak is seen merely the best available leader the Tories have for the foreseeable future. The public perception is that, according to Bush, Sunak “has helped to drag the Conservative party poll rating from the depths of ‘apocalyptically bad’ to merely ‘utterly dreadful’. “
At PMQs, Starmer kept repeating he word “weak” and finished by asking Sunak if the job was too big for him. This was seen by some as a non-PC reference to Sunak’s diminutive physical stature. Sunak did not answer – he rarely does. Weak, filthy rich and lacking in empathy.
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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