Features
A century of service by Sri Lankadhara
By a Committee Member
The Sri Lankadhara Society Ltd., founded in 1922, one of the oldest voluntary humanitarian organizations in the country, has reached its centenary milestone in dedicated service to the disadvantaged and the deserving in Sri Lanka.
Te society was founded by the late Dr. W.A. de Silva and his wife Catherine, initially with the intention of providing care and shelter to destitute and needy Buddhist girls and womenfolk during the colonial era. This included training in productive skills needed for their future lives. Subsequently the Society has expanded its services, to establish a preschool for under privileged children and a day care for elders as well.
Dr. de Silva was a multifaceted personality, being a member of the legislative council for 16 years and Government Minister for six years, a government veterinary surgeon, a practical agriculturalist being a proprietor planter, well known philanthropist, Buddhist revivalist, and editor, publisher and owner of several newspapers. These were publications on Buddhism and the language, literature and culture of Sinhalese. In addition to being a patriot and a freedom fighter. his contribution to nationalist struggle during latter colonial era left an indelible impression on sociopolitical, religious and cultural life of the nation.
His meritorious deeds became a reality due to unstinted support he received from his devoted wife, Catherine. This remarkable lady, Muthuthanthrige Catherine de Silva, a daughter of Mudliyar Simon Fernando Sri Chandrasekera of Moratuwa, inherited a great fortune which was disbursed generously on her husband’s crusade of serving the nation, religion and downtrodden masses.
To perpetuate his vision of uplifting the downtrodden and neglected womenfolk of the nation, Dr. de Silva bequeathed a newly built mansion on several acres of prime land, with modern facilities situated at 95, W.A. Silva Mawatha, Wellawatta. This mansion presently houses the Sri Lankadhara Society Ltd., an approved charity, being the first social service organization established by the benevolent couple Dr. and Mrs. W.A. de Silva.
The establishment of Sri Lankadhara Society itself is viewed as an extension of Dr. de Silva’s avowed mission to build a modern sovereign nation. As their first task they established the Sri Lankadhara Girls Home at their own expense.The objectives of the Sri Lankadhara Society, as envisaged by the founders a century ago were:
Promotion of education among girls and women Provision of a home for destitute children, and Maintaining of institutions for training girls and women in suitable industries.The founder President of the Sri Lankadhara Society was Mrs. de Silva and under her guidance a Women’s Training College was established on the premises in 1929 serving those who have studied in Sinhala medium. A day school, then known as Wellawatta Buddhist Girls School, was built on their property adjoining the Lankadhara Home. This was attended by the resident girls of Lankadhara Home in addition to others. Past records indicate the school was managed by Mrs. de Silva herself and cost of salaries of school teachers and staff of the home were borne by the Society until Government took it over as an assisted school.
From the inception, Sri Lankadhara Society has been managed by an elected committee of women, purely on a voluntary basis, consisting the President, Vice President, Joint Secretaries, Joint Treasurers and Committee members. Since then, the Society under the guidance of successive committees has expanded its humanitarian services and tried to emulate the ideals envisioned by the founders. The services of the Society now encompass: –
Balika Home
Infants’ Home
Senior Citizens Home
A Pre-school
The Elders Daycare Center, which functioned from 1991, to provide rest and recreation for neighborhood communities was discontinued on medical advice, with the commencement of the prevailing viral pandemic.
Residents of Balika Home and Infants’ Home are girls entrusted to the Sri Lankadhara Society either by the Department of Probation and Childcare Services or by Juvenile courts. There are 50 residents (senior and junior girls) at present. These girls are mostly from unsettled homes, either abandoned, orphaned, victimized and also children of drugs/alcohol addicts. Some parents have been unable to provide for their children due to extreme poverty or incurable illness.
These children entrusted to the Society are extremely traumatized, have faced all manners of challenges and require special care and attention. A fulltime staff of five have been employed by the Society for day-to-day management of the Girls (Balika) Home and has been ranked in the Grade A category by the Department of Probation and Childcare Services.
These girls are cared for by the resident staff of the Girls Home, to help them get over their past traumatic and stressful lives by providing them a secure, stable and a caring environment. They are provided with proper food and nourishment, medical assistance and clothes. They are also provided educational facilities at adjoining St. Clare’s Girls School up to GCE Advanced Level.
The school curriculum is supplemented by external tutors, employed by the Society, in subjects such as spoken English, mathematics, computer skills, vocational training, in addition to aesthetic pursuits like art, music and dancing. The Home’s dance troupe has performed at events organized by the Department of Probation and Childcare Services.
Over the years these students have shown much promise both in academic pursuits and sport. A student qualified to enter university and four students qualified to become dental nursing assistants, recently. Several girls have shown leadership abilities at school and have been selected as prefects. They attend regular Sunday Dhamma School at the Vijayarama temple and Dharmodaya Pirivena in Wellawatta. At present 30 girls are resident in the Girls Home.
In 2000, the Society embarked upon a sponsorship programme for resident girls, where funds received from sponsors were credited to the savings account of girls selected for sponsorship. When these girls are required to vacate the Home, after maturity, these funds in their savings accounts will at least provide some financial stability for their future. This will partly help to fulfill vision of the founders, to rehabilitate needy youth in our society and guide them to be self-reliant, independent and responsible citizen.
Further expanding its humanitarian services, Sri Lankadhara Society established a Senior Citizen’s Home in 1967 and at present provides care and shelter to 18 elderly ladies. Most of these elders have been assigned to the Society by the Department of Social Services. These elders, mostly from disadvantaged homes and often neglected by their families are provided with comfortable accommodation, nutritious meals, clothing, medical attention and recreational facilities. Even when they pass away, the funeral arrangements with proper religious rituals are undertaken by the Society.
A fulltime staff of five have been employed by the Society for day-to-day management of the Senior Citizen’s Home.
The infants’ home of Sri Lankadhara Society, which opened in 1971 originally accommodated both male and female children below five years age. In recent years the number of infants directed by Department of Probation and Chidcare Services to Sri Lankadhara Society’s care has diminished and the infants’ Home, presently referred to as the junior section of the Girls Home, houses children of the age group of two to 10 years. At present 15 junior girls are resident in the junior section of the Girls Home. A full time staff of three and a daily cleaner have been employed for day-to-day operation of the junior section of the Girls Home.
The Sri Lankadhara Society, ventured to open a pre-school and a day care center for children below five years, in 1980. Children, both boys and girls, are accommodated from underprivileged and poor neighborhood communities. The preschool operates kindergarten classes providing a safe and caring environment enabling quality education and child care at almost no cost to them. It functions between 8.00 am and 1.00 pm on weekdays and the children are also provided education material. At present 25 children of different ethnicity attend the preschool, supervised by a qualified teacher and two assistants.
The Elders Day-Care Center was the most recent addition in 1991. The old and feeble from underprivileged neighborhood communities, those lacking care and supervision during daytime, were accommodated in the Center from 8.00 am until 4.00 pm on weekdays. They were provided with breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and sometimes even dinner. Based on individual needs medicines, vitamins and nutrition supplements were also provided.
They spent their time participating in indoor recreational activities, watching TV, gardening, cleaning, sweeping or assisting in cooking. Unfortunately, accommodating elders at the center was discontinued on medical advice, with the commencement of the prevailing viral pandemic. The Society looks forward to caring for them once again.
It has been a challenging task for the Society to maintain its high standards over the years. The allowance provided by the government for the care of infants and girls is meager in this era of inflation making te provision of even basic necessities a difficult task. To overcome this crisis, the Society has constantly sought and received donations in cash and kind from generous individuals, institutions, mercantile sector and social service-oriented organizations. The Society takes this opportunity to gratefully acknowledge all such generous benefactors who have supported this humanitarian venture from its inception.Your contribution no doubt will help us provide a better tomorrow to our community of junior and senior girls and elders who need attention and assistance.
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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