Features
CandleAid and its recent projects
I am a lighthouse rather than a lifeboat. I do not rescue, but instead help others to find their way to shore, guiding them by my example.
That Modern Affirmation is a good beginning for my article this Sunday. Facts, figures, persons and acts of goodness crowd my mind as I sit down to word process my Sunday Island column. Thus the quotation to get me going. However, I need to change the ‘I’ in the quotation to ‘we’ which includes Capt Elmo Jayawardena, Dil Jayawardena and all those who work with CandleAid. Also, I must add that they are often rescuers too in dire situations of persons, but their goal is more to help others to help themselves.
Most certainly and definitely Elmo and Dil are shining, brilliant examples of who good human beings should be. They are unique in their caring for others and giving of themselves completely to help the less fortunate. Gordon B Hinckley’s assessment applies to these two wonderful people: The happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others. Elmo and Dil ARE a very happy twosome.
CandleAid Sri Lanka
This name is known throughout our country and in many parts of the globe where people of Sri Lankan descent live, as an excellent and very functional organization that dedicates itself to the betterment of people’s lives. Founded in 1995 by Capt Elmo Jayawardena even before he retired from piloting and training pilots at Singapore Airlines and returned to Sri Lanka, it carried the name Association for Lighting a Candle -AFLAC. In 2007 it changed its name to CandleAid Sri Lanka with the very expressive slogan
“It is better by far to light a solitary candle than to curse the darkness.” Candle Aid is founded on the conviction that every person can do something to help another irrespective of contending issues. Thus CandleAid helps anyone and everyone – of all religions, races, ages and gender, who it gets to know needs assistance.
From the very beginning Capt Elmo’s wife Dilrukshi – known to all as Dil– was co opted and soon became the livewire of the organisation as inevitably happens when a woman is strong and dedicated. She carries the designation ‘Executive Director’ but is much much more: managing the office, finances and all else with Coordinators and volunteers to help. She handles all admin matters and heads the Planning Committee alongside Elmo. It can truly be said she is the wind beneath the wings of the Founder President of CandleAid, and thus the driving force of CandleAid.
In this article, as stated in the title, I will write about three recent projects undertaken and very successfully being carried through.
Eradicating ‘fol toppi and fan cake’
The quizzical title above is how Capt Elmo introduced CandleAid’s latest project started at the beginning of 2023. It is, to quote Elmo, “an ‘out of the box’ programme to teach English to anyone who wants to learn.”
The programme covers eight weeks initially and continues to a further eight weeks of advanced training. It is entirely the brainchild of Capt Elmo. To me its most distinguishing features are its being innovative, brilliantly simple and practical. It has worked and shown positive results. To quote Elmo: “The first batch of six has finished and so has the second batch of six. The ones who went through the whole course and successfully learnt to speak English were five. Seven fell off on the wayside, but, maybe they learnt something. The five who passed speak and write better English than I ever expected. We are now on the look out to share this course with others. The course is given to any and everyone and it is free.”
Course content includes weekly reading a certain number of chapters of a prescribed book, usually a novel; essay writing of more than 100 words on a given subject; and translation of 25 Sinhala words to English. The most innovative is the telephone connections they make with Talk Mates and chat with them for prescribed periods of time. I can vouch for the often stunning success of this part of the course since I volunteered to be a Talk Mate.
I know professional males who have also offered their time, ears and voices; and persons as distant as in New York. London and Singapore, who have responded to Capt Elmo’s call for volunteer conversationalists. Elmo gave us instructions too with the reminder that though he never taught English, he has been teaching pilots for more than 50 years!
My best Talk Partner was a graduate from a remote area who improved marvelously in her conversation in English. Of course she stumbled for words, used Sinhala words sometimes, but easy rapport existed between us and we chatted. Another was a young man, rather diffident, and yet another – a mother of three whose conversations were invariably family centered. But they chatted and improved. And I loved it.
They were certainly not confined to mere telephone talking. They had to complete set assignments like paraphrasing a stanza from a poem and analyzing it. One of my talk partners worried much about one particular poem but went into the internet and came out with a stunning assessment. They wrote set essays too. All written work was marked by Elmo. They also had to report on Sundays to their assigned Coordinator.
To quote Elmo: “CandleAid is slowly expanding the project. No one pays anything and no one gets paid anything. This is a simple way of operating on ‘Collective Kindness.’.” He ended his note on this new project thus: “This entire course is totally dependent on dedicated students and dedicated Talk Mates and Disciplined Program Organizers.”
Special Food Programme
In mid 2022 CandleAid realized they had to respond with assistance to people who were sorely affected by the prevalent economic situation in the country. They noted that those who had three meals a day reduced intake to two, and thus those who had been able to have only one solid meal a day went hungry. Hence the idea to distribute dry goods rations worth Rs 10,000 to the poorest of the poor. As Elmo writes in the fourth Interim Report on the Programme: “The painful impact was on the worn out shoulders of the poor. The worst affected were children. They were fighting a battle that was not theirs to fight. CandleAid initiated a special food programme which went into fast track action.”
The first lot of food packs were distributed on July 6, 2022; distribution handled by volunteers in different areas of the country. The number of willing volunteers is now 97. The money for foodstuff buying no sooner the idea was announced, poured in from locals and overseas donors.
CandleAid sent round to all donors a short report accompanied by photographs of distribution across the island; and accounts. A total of 1271 families have received dry ration packs and three schools given cooked midday meals. Total money collected amounts to fourteen million of which twelve million plus was spent on food packs and over one million on cooked meals. That surely is stupendous help given when poverty stalks much of Sri Lanka. The programme is on-going
Library Project
CandleAid from its inception for the last 20 years has been donating and improving school libraries in remote parts of the island. A boost to this programme was given by three ladies visiting with a massive donation of three million rupees left in her will to CandleAid by late Mrs Marie Pitiyage, a retired teacher of Methodist College, Colombo, who taught English language and literature.
Her expressed desire was that the money she left be used to install English book libraries in rural areas. Needless to say, the project was set afloat immediately; the first school library opened in Sinnakkadai, Mannar, on March 28, 2022; the most recent at Marie, Lindulla, on May 16, 2023. The recent report written by Elmo ends in his inimitable style: “That is indeed how Jane Eyre, Robinson Crusoe and the Merchant of Venice visited rural villages in Sri Lanka.”
He also addresses the benefactor thus: “Mrs Pitiyage, wherever you are, CandleAid wishes we had a way to tell you that your generous gift and wonderful intentions have been adhered to perfection. Your benevolence made a tremendous contribution and enhanced the knowledge of young school students through reading in English, as per your expressed desire.” He wishes her Blue Skies which is his unique manner of ending all his correspondence!
CandleAid most certainly creates Blue Skies for many. Over here for benefiting recipients, willing donors and volunteer workers; overseas for those who are given the opportunity to help a fellow human being in much loved Sri Lanka.
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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