Features
After Samantha Power’s visit
by Kumar David
Ms Power is a formidable power (sic!) in foreign policy and her visit a fortnight ago signals support for Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW). Power is the chief of USAID (Agency for International Development) an “independent agency” of the government that administers “civilian” foreign aid and development programmes with a budget of $27 billion. It is perhaps the largest aid agency in the world and accounts for over half of U.S. foreign hand-outs and is the largest in the world in money terms. Her visit backed by a team of officials is of political significance. It won’t be a surprise if the donkeys in RW’s administration and the asses in the opposition miss the import of one of Obama’s four women (Michelle, Hilary and Susan Rice were the other three) visiting the Island at this moment. Forget these jackasses; the US has put Sri Lanka on its radar screen and that will matter.
First a few words about Ms Power. She is a recognised intellectual, director of a Human Rights outfit at Harvard’s Kennedy School and afterwards a Professor at Harvard who joined Senator Barack Obama but had to resign in March 2008 after she called Hillary Clinton a monster – she thought she was talking off the record. Nevertheless, President Obama took her back into the State Department transition team just eight months later where she played several roles. Obama chose her to Chair the Atrocities Prevention Board in 2012 and then as America’s U.N. Ambassador. Power’s office focused on women’s rights, LGBT rights, religious freedom, human rights, and democracy. She was tough on Sri Lankan human and democratic rights violations. Unfortunately, she is also a supporter of military intervention and was a key figure in persuading Obama to undertake his foolish and ill-fated intervention in Libya.
Ms Power was born in London to Irish parents and schooled in Ireland till age nine and then emigrated to America with her mother. She graduated in history from Yale and obtained a doctorate from Harvard Law School. As a young woman she wrote three books and significant papers on human rights. Some trace the ‘The Right to Protect’ (R2P) concept to Samantha’s youthful writings. This visit signals a decision by the US to intervene in Sri Lanka’s policy directions. This is no trial canary in an experimental mine shaft, it’s the real McCoy. Money will be made available for stabilising a Western oriented regime but at the same time there will be a no-nonsense approach to human and democratic rights.
She announced a $60 million aid package – $40 million for fertiliser and $20 million for humanitarian assistance and declared “I have come to convey that the US stands with you during this unparalleled crisis.” Power also told RW that political and economic agendas go hand in hand and added that the US is trying to engage the US business community to look for opportunities here. She added “You have an incredible private sector and entrepreneurship, but the government, over so many years has largely stood in the way of unlocking its potential. The government has no business running business. If what has been done in the telecoms sector is done in other sectors it would be incredible”. True enough, but to quote Anura Kumara’s remark at the Koloma Foundation Institute “the private sector has no obligations except to its shareholders, the government is answerable to the people”.
For months I have been saying that the West will bail out Sri Lanka (any government) that took a pro-capitalist policy (in these times nothing matters more than money), respected democracy and supported American led foreign policy. It is now clear that I was too cautious; it’s not an option, it is an instruction. Do it (the road laid out by Ms Power) or starve and clearly the West (America-IMF-Europe) will do just that. No one else has the gilt or the gumption to bail us out, certainly not China. I suppose it is settled that for the next three to five years this country will be on the capitalist and hopefully democratic road. The US Ambassador in Colombo has so far handled the JVP with kid gloves, it will be interesting to watch if Ms Power has instructed Ms Julie Chung to change course.
The democracy thing, that is the political side, is rather complicated. It is not that the militarists or the fascists in the defence establishment have a ghost of a chance of throwing their weight around. An uprising in the streets and a naval blockade will finish them off. The threat is from Sinhala-Buddhist extremism. A democratic settlement, a new constitution, winding up of the Executive Presidency and a new electoral system are contentious but the most volatile are the damnable Demalas and Thambiyas. The first fires will be stoked by (Raja)Paksa cutthroats and saffron-clad brigades, but there are deeper conflicts. You see the Tamils, if not the Muslims will demand their pound of flesh – having been political vegans for close upon 70 years they are hungry for a morsel of raw flesh. Tamil leaders cannot settle for less than devolution, Sinhala-Buddhist extremists will not permit devolution.
If Ms Power is still the hard-nut she was in the Libya intervention and if she is still as tough as she was about human rights in Sri Lanka as she was when pushing UNHRC resolutions, the Paksa-clan and the saffron lot are in for a hard knock. If it comes to a showdown, some of the Paksa-mob and the saffron-clad extremists may start pushing up daisies in some corner of Kanatte. Are liberals prepared to shield rogues who embezzled billions from retroactive punishment? Alternatively, will they agree to jeopardise established legal safeguards? Opinion among liberals will be divided.
This brings us face to face with what I may with your permission call the contradictions of democracy. The poser is universal, but first Lanka. Every serious conversation on politics in Lanka ends in the following conundrum. “Yes, we want democracy-freedom etc, yes we are prepared to die for it. Parliamentarians, ministers, prime ministers and presidents are corrupt and power-hungry, seeking rewards for themselves and their kinsmen”. The rib-tickling point is that these blackguards (all but a few dozen parliamentarians) were chosen and put in place by none other than ourselves, the people themselves.
Except in naked dictatorships like Burma the way out is not to dump democracy and launch out on an insurrection a la 1971. The aragalaya that drove out Gota is unique and cannot be repeated to remove a constitutional government. Unique means unique! Gota’s regime was constitutional but its removal cannot be repeated again against a constitutional government; public opinion will not stand for it because it fears the anarchy of 1971. The Front-Line Socialists (FSP) are suffering from delusions.
Nevertheless, things cannot go on the way they are, drastic changes are essential, but must be done by legitimate processes. Tactical and strategic details will change and depend on the needs of the moment but the basics can be spelt out clearly. The Executive Presidency must be abolished, the right to recall elected representatives inserted in the constitution, proportional representation ended not for a simple Westminster model which is unsuitable for Lanka but replaced by a scheme which includes a large number of multimember constituencies to prevent absurd landslides (1956, 1970, 1977) and achieve ethno-religious balance (remember Colombo Central, Balangoda, Kadugannawa, Colombo South). Overall, a new constitution has to be enacted by democratic processes (FSP please note).
To underline the point that salvaging democracy requires different paths in different places I will make a few comments about the USA. Is American democracy under threat and if so by what forces? The answer to the first question is yes but not fatal, and the most palpable threat is from right-wing extremism. Right-extremism is not only the loonies ranged behind Trump and his MAGA (Make America Great Again) shrill. It also includes a number of nasties (Aryan Nations, Posse Comitatus, Covenant, Arm of the Lord, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and adherents of QAnon theory). Though they do pose a threat of domestic terrorism, the deep hazard to democracy is the divide between the mainstream Republican and Democratic Parties. Take for example abortion and women’s rights which are tearing the country apart. California, New York and Michigan States are the sites of the largest pro-abortion and women’s rights activities in their history. Conversely Texas and a few other Neanderthal states have legislated that abortion from the moment of conception even in the case of rape or incest is illegal and that anyone who assists is liable for 99 years of imprisonment; conflict is unavoidable. On abortion the Word of God and Onward Christian Soldiers who underwrite these battles are tearing the country apart.
It’s the same with gun legislation, energy policy (promoting green energy is illegal in Texas; can you believe it!), gerrymandering electoral boundaries and overreach of legislation beyond state boundaries. Republican hopefuls for election will not challenge Trump because they will be denied nomination (getting nominated, not getting elected is the problem). This is not a thesis; so, I have to be brief. The point is not that the US is on the brink of another civil war, it is not. The point is that the protection of democracy is substantially different country by country; Germany, Italy, UK, US and so on. China and Russia are non-capitalist states, nor democratic in the ordinary sense. The aragalaya in these two will be petri dishes carving out their own paths. For sure Socialists desire transition from democratic-capitalism to social-democracy and Marxists understand that the materialism immanent in historical authenticity is inexorable. Therefore, every instance must be placed in its own context.
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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