Features
Ceylon Bird Club,Hoffmann’s interest in avifauna and services in this regard
(Excerpted from the authorized biography of Thilo W. Hoffmann by Douglas. B. Ranasinghe)
Over the years, Dr T.S.U. de Zylva has perhaps been Sri Lanka’s most successful photographer of wildlife, with a special emphasis on birds. Writing the foreword to his book Birds of Lanka in 1984, Thilo Hoffmann quotes G. M. Henry to say of himself:
“My interest in birds is primarily aesthetic; their beauty of form, colour, texture and pattern of plumage; their flight, song, behaviour and elusiveness appeal to me far more than … attempts to achieve … an acceptable scheme of classification.”
There he also describes how his closer involvement with the avifauna of the island began:
“… my wife and I started bird watching in Sri Lanka nearly 40 years ago … I remember how important it was for us to have a copy of The Book of Indian Birds by Salim Ali with an illustration for each species; only later did we graduate to Henry’s Guide.”
Initially the interest was much more on her part than his, but this gradually changed.
The Ceylon Bird Club
In the 1960s Thilo joined the Ceylon Bird Club (CBC). As he remembers, it was E. B. Wikramanayake who introduced him to it. Later he would record what W.W.A. Phillips told him about its beginnings.It would appear that the Bird Club was the ‘brain-child’ of the Rev. Basil Jackson, then at Kandy, who together with Major Phillips started it in 1933 or 1934. … Originally membership was limited to eight, which was the number of carbons which could be run off one typewriter. Subsequently membership increased slightly, but was always confined to a small group of amateur bird watchers.
Thilo eventually shouldered the burden of running the organization. He became its Secretary, Editor of its monthly journal, Treasurer and Chairman. Gradually he developed the club, with great dedication and success.
When Thilo joined the club it had a few dozen members. Its main purpose then was the exchange of notes on bird observations among them. Under him it widened to compiling, recording and providing information on the birds of Sri Lanka, and protecting them and their habitats. Thilo remarks:
“After taking over the Ceylon Bird Club from Roy McLeod Cameron, the last British Secretary, I steered it though a difficult period. If not for the devoted service of my personal secretary, Mrs Yvonne Nadarajah, the work of collecting, editing and typing the various contributions for the monthly journal could not have been done. We carried on until the situation changed and more young people became interested in birds. The Bird Club was then handed over to the new generation. Until then it had been virtually a ‘one-man show’, holding it in trust for them.”
The Club itself is a great feat and it is really astonishing how over a period of over 60 years a small band of volunteer members could produce and publish without fail the monthly Ceylon Bird Club Notes [CBCN], when during the same period many formerly famous journals of the Government and of other NGOs faltered, spaced out their issues and eventually disappeared altogether, e.g. The Tropical Agriculturist of the Agriculture Department, The Forester of the Forest Department, the Tea, Rubber and Coconut Quarterlies and the Annual Reports of heads of Government institutions, such as the Wildlife and Forest Departments.
Today, the CBC is widely regarded the world over as one of the principal bodies in the region concerned with avifauna. Among its 90-odd members, now selected from observers of proven reliability, are the leading ornithologists of Sri Lanka and several international experts and scholars. Much the greater part of the authentic information and analysis on the birds of the island has been published or provided by it. With Thilo’s dynamic example the club also continues to work effectively in the protection of critical bird habitats.
The CBCN has been published for every month since the inception of the club in 1943. It records among its subscribers eminent institutions abroad, such as the Bombay Natural History Society, the Oriental Bird Club, Natural History Museum, Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology in Britain, and the Smithsonian Institution in the USA. Several regional experts read and contribute to it. The CBCN forms the basis of most of the published literature about Sri Lankan birds, on aspects such as their status and distribution, ecology and behaviour.
In 1963 for the first time in Ceylon an effort was made to conduct a scientific study of the migratory habits of certain bird species. It was undertaken by the CBC in association with the Bombay Natural History Society. A population of more than 50,000 migrant Forest Wagtails were occupying the jungles of the Gal Oya valley. Using mist-nets Bird Club members caught and ringed 36 wagtails in that year and 92 in the next.
Since 1983 the club carries out an annual waterbird census, first organized by Thilo, as described later. It has continued to undertake studies and projects, and produce special publications. It services inquiries through correspondence, and on request assists State bodies and visiting ornithologists, all on an entirely voluntary basis. The club retains ‘Ceylon’ in its name for historical reasons – just as the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has desisted from the change to `Mumbai’.
During the time Thilo was Secretary and Chairman of the club it published a number of books and booklets, available to the public, in conformity with its aims and activities. These are listed at the end of this Chapter.
Into his nineties Thilo Hoffmann continued to play a valued part in the CBC, of which he is Chairman Emeritus, being consulted by its general committee and invited to participate in their meetings.
The Serendib Scope Owl, Otus thiloboffmanni, a new endemic discovered in 2001 by Deepal Warakagoda and named after Thilo Hoffmann.
He also remains the Chairman of the CBC Rarities and Records Committee. This body evaluates and determines the validity of reports of bird species and subspecies in Sri Lanka, including those from the past, and of new – i.e. previously unrecorded – or rare migrants. Established in 1985 under his direction, it consists of the Sri Lankan authorities and some of the international experts best qualified for the purpose, and is the only such active body in the region.
For nearly every month he has been in Sri Lanka, the material in the CBCN has included his own observations of birds and their habitats.
Connections overseas
Before Hoffmann took the helm of the CBC it had joined the International Council for Bird Preservation (ICBP) in Cambridge, Britain, the sole worldwide body for the protection of birds. For many years the club was Sri Lanka’s representative in it and was the ‘Sri Lankan National Section of the ICBP’. A delegate of the CBC regularly attended Asian Continental Section conferences held at four-yearly intervals in various countries of Asia, e.g. Indonesia and Thailand.
In 1984 the Club under Thilo hosted in Kandy the 10th Conference of the Asian Continental Section. The WNPS and March for Conservation assisted with the local arrangements. Representatives from 12 countries attended, as well as foreign agencies. The author of this biography, who was a participant, noted the efficient manner in which Thilo contributed to the great success of the occasion.
Hoffmann was elected Chairman of the Asian Section, the only person from Sri Lanka to hold this position. Two resolutions were passed in respect of Sri Lanka, as follows.
On endemic birds of Sri Lanka:
Whilst recognising Sri Lanka’s efforts to conserve important wildlife areas, the conference reminds the government respectfully that endemic species are irreplaceable and that together with their tropical and montane forest habitats, they are of great value to the people and country of Sri Lanka and indeed, the world and thus, urges the government of Sri Lanka to declare the few remaining [w]et and montane zone forest[s] in Sri Lanka as protected areas, and to take measures to safeguard these valuable habitats permanently from encroachment and other human activities.
On wetlands in Sri Lanka (the main theme of the conference was Wetlands in Asia’):
Recognizing the great importance of Sri Lanka’s many wetlands for indigenous waterbirds and migrating waders, ducks and seabirds and noting that the more important wetlands on the island have not yet been protected, the Conference urges the Government to do so immediately and to take steps to sign and ratify the Ramsay Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.
Hoffmann submitted papers on national conservation issues as background to these two draft resolutions, as well as reports on wetlands and the pioneering Provisional Inventory of Wetlands in Sri Lanka published in Loris, December 1982, with a revision in 1984 (Appendix XIX).
Two years after this meeting Thilo attended the ICBP World Conference in Canada. As usual, he paid all costs out of his own pocket. Here, the new Directorate of the ICBP presented the draft of a new constitution, to turn it into a professional bureaucracy, with a network of similar organizations in the various countries, doing away with the proven National and Continental Sections. The main reasons for the change were rivalries between groups within single countries – e.g. Japan – and greed for the funds of mass movements
Hoffmann was the only speaker who strongly opposed this change, pleading instead for continuation of the mainly amateur-based National Sections, which had been the mainstay of ICBP for decades. This view received sincere applause, and the support of important National Sections, such as that of the USA. His stand delayed the change by four years. However, at the next World Conference, in his absence, the new constitution was accepted and quickly implemented.
The transformed body was called BirdLife International. New contacts were sought in various countries, including Sri Lanka. An emissary was sent to Colombo, unknown to the Club and Hoffmann. This person only contacted a new populistic group, was told that the Bird Club was “elitist”, and with that information returned to headquarters in the UK. The CBC was replaced by the group as the Sri Lanka representatives. Neither the CBC nor Thilo were contacted during or after this episode, or informed that they had been replaced and on what grounds, nor thanked for decades of good work in the past.
Hoffmann remarks: “The ICBP was effective on a small budget in bringing concerns for birds before the world. Its national amateur Sections provided the enthusiasm, the hard work and financing as well as specific knowledge on birds in close collaboration with the scientists and related organizations in their area – all at practically no cost. Today the international bureaucracy is mainly known for its high-gloss productions of doubtful value. There is as usual a lot of talk and lots of writings and publications but little effect, as an army of collaborators try to create paid work for themselves. Exceptions excluded!
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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