Features
Folk Museums- A NEW CONCEPT
by Dr.PG Punchihewa
Folk museums lately are receiving more and more attention They deal with and . Such museums cover local life in rural communities. A folk museum typically displays historical objects that were used as part of the people’s everyday lives. Examples of such objects include clothes and tools. Many folk museums are also and some cover (Wikipaedia)The concept of open-air museums originated in in the late 19th century .While they serve as centers of a sub culture They are also increasingly becoming tourist attractions.
In Sri Lanka there are two well known folk museums’ one at Anuradhapura and the other at Koggala which exclusively deals on life and works of Martin Wickremasinge..
A folk museum has to focus on a particular community or a locality .In a particular case it can include certain subcultures which have an affinity to the main one. Folk culture and tradition can encompass a wide area or subjects. It can be common or individual objects.For the sustenance of a folk museum it is fitting that one or more supportive sub cultures be there. They can be symbiotic. .One feeding the others.
Mirissa
Mirissa a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka located in the of the . It is approximately 150 kilometers south of and is situated at an elevation of four meters (13 ft) above sea level. Mirissa’s beach and nightlife make it a popular tourist destination. It is also a fishing port and one of the island’s main whale and dolphin watching locations. Mirissa is one of the most popular beach destinations in southern , and for a good reason! The area has it all, ,
But Mirissa is not all about the beaches and sea food The Legend
The legend about Mirissa goes back to the time of Viharamaha Devi.It is said that she developed a desire to eat from a 16-foot long honey comb and it was found on a fishing boat near Mirissa . But there are no historical records which refer to Mirissa.
How ever there are more.legends,traditions and cultural objects and artifacts at Mirissa which are not found in any one spot along the south west coast Sri Lanka.At Mirissa there are two subcultures dependent on the vocation of the people – fisheries and agriculture-based activities. It also has a group which specializes in tovll -a ritualistic performance and drumming. Like two seeds in a pod the two communities have led to a peaceful co-existence. Kolam dance is common to both.
Kolam Dance of Mirissa
Kolam dance in a rudimentary form had its origin in South India and probably was introduced to Sri Lanka about two to three centuries ago. In a background which had a form of ritualistic dance in thovil, kolam added a new dimension in the form of local characters like vidane, panikkiya nonci, mudali, hewa and duraya. They brought in a sense of humor to Kolam dance.
Kolam dance is chiefly distinguished by the fact that the actors wear masks that are carved out of soft wood like kaduru and is mainly concentrated in the Southwest of the island, more particularly in Ambalangoda and Mirissa . It may be due to ritualistic dance, thovil was accepted and practiced in these two villages for a long time.
However, Kolam performance did not last long in its original form even in these localities. It had to give way to a form of drama called nurti introduced from North India. . Its lilting music ,rich costumes ,historical or mythical stores etc. soon overpowered kolam. The Editor of Lakminipahana in its publication of January 1886 refers to this changa(1.)
Kolam masks
Although Kolam performance is not common anymore, both Mirissa and Ambalangoda have jealously preserved the Kolam masks. Even today at Mr. Martin Amarasinghe’s residence at Udupila, Mirissa, there are said to be about 100 masks of various kinds belonging to about 70 Kolam dramas which this clan owns. In addition, Sunandaramaya at Mirissa has about 30-40y masks. The most significant feature of the collection is that it contains the oldest and the rarest traditional mask called “the panchanârighata” (with five faces). Kolam group of Mirissa is a one, handed down from generation to generation.
The position in Mirissa is that although Galle Road and coastal regions ,due to a rapid growth of tourism have been developed, when one observes a place like Udupila in Mirissa that the rural areas continue to exist as they were in the past. Mirissa group has not yet made art their livelihood. They refuse to give economic value to their art and as far as possible try to preserve its traditional value.
Cultural values of traditional subsistence economy, which is not mixed with capitalistic social changes, can still be seen in them. (2.)The position in Mirissa is that they are people who still derive pleasure out of folk sports that prevailed in feudal days. They refuse to give economic value to their art and as far as possible try to preserve its traditional value. Cultural values of traditional subsistence economy, which is not mixed up with capitalistic social changes, can still be seen in them.
Masks for aesthetic pleasure
“Masks themselves have become aesthetic pleasure” states Dr Siri Gunasinghe.3.They had a very important role to play as the most effective means of impersonating the extraordinary characters that feature in these performances both ritual and dramatic.”
“In the kolama ,in all probability ,is preserved a very old tradition of narrative drama of a purely folk style. Vidane, Panikkiya and Nonci are some of the characters that have been favorites subjects of the mask makers. In spite of the exhilarating humorous appearance these masks stand out on account of the realistic effect of old age that has been very cleverly brought out .These masks are probably some of the best creations of the Sinhala carver.”3.Siri Gunasinghe
“Viewed independently of the performance itself ,all these masks seem very neutral and lacking in in any kind of expression that may provoke laughter ,but once worn by the actor every tilt ,every change of angle ,every movement of the head is capable of a large variety of expressions.(2)”A mask that often becomes full of expression and provokes a good deal of mirth is the mudali kolama bringing out all that is haughty in the high government official(3)
The task of the Ceylon mask maker compared to the Indonesian mask maker was perhaps made more difficult by the need for a juxtaposition of the various components. In addition, he also had his limitations in the use of colors .However Dr.Siri Gunasinghe says we must give the village craftsman the credit for creating some of the most colorful masks known to folk art anywhere in the world.”(3)
.2 Dr.Senevirathne.S.S.A1
Kariyakarawane S.M*2CONOMIC STRUCTURE OF SRI LANKAN KOLAM DRAma
3.Dr Siri Gunasinghe Masks of Ceylon
Samudragirviharaya
Aithough there are about five temples in Mirissa the oldest must be Samudragirivharaya.The development of the Samudragriri Viharaya is said to commence from the early 19th century when a bhikkhu from Tiranagama came to reside at this monastery The fact that a bhikkhu from outside came to Mirissa and took up residence at this monastery vouch for its old times.
“The monastery consists of a large image shrine containing some of the best of the low country sittara style datable to the nineteenth century” says Prof. Senaka Bandaranaike in his monograph on Samudragiri Viharaya.He adds ,” the paintings of the Samudragiriviharaya appear to have been saved from the infiltration of the twentieth century Rococo art forms (widely detailed to the point of excess) which have disfigured many of the nineteenth century low country paintings of the southern temples.”
The paintings include the birth and the early phases of the life of Siddharta and a number of jatakas among which are Sama Jataka ,Khantavadi Jataka ,Sasa Jataka ,Kurudhamm)jataka ,Deva dhamma Jataka and Culladhammapala Jataka and several others and configurations of the six heavens.
Two sittaras one from Denepitiya and the other from Garanduwa both few miles from Mirissa are said to have been involved with the paintings in the image house.The significance of the paintings of SamudragiriViharaya has been recognized by the State in in reproducing some of the in the postage stamps in 1986
Lacemaking
THE ancient craft of making beeralu lace was introduced to Sri Lanka during the colonial times ,more likely during the time of Dutch occupation. The words beeralu ,isbeesalaya ,alpenetta doyle,are of Dutch origin.
Today, it is a cottage industry that has received worldwide recognition.
Mirissa had been specializing in lace making probably from the time it was introduced .While the men went fishing the women were gainfully occupied in lace making It is intricate and laborious. There were times when young girls were expected to learn it .Even today it is a thriving cottage industry.
The writer has seen the beeralu kotte and its practitioners in tourist centers in Holland where they exhibit their skills.
Case for a folk museum
.Mirissa though small in size and population has all the ingredients needed for a folk museum. The artifacts that were used by the different groups of the community in different trades will be interesting if dis played. For eg the different types of boats like kuda oru, bala oru,madal oru and now bahu dina yathra and nets like karal dal,,madal.hurulle dal have not changed the art of fishing in Mirissa..In Uupila there are artifacts different from those of the main subculture
As mentioned in the body of the paper, there is enough to fill a folk museum before they get lost.
(Location .The writer and the co-owners of the family have donated a block of land to the government which we feel is ideal for the proposed folk museum. Details of this land could be obtained from the Divisional Secretary Weligama .Unfortunately except for a few encroachments nothing has taken place on this land).
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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