Features
Ghostwriters
This type of writer, OK author, has, I presume, been thrust into prominence with the publication 
of Prince Harry’s Spare. The first question asked when the book was sensationally out was: Who wrote the supposed-to-be autobiography? Prince Harry made no pretense he was the author who actually wrote his memoir with all its revelations. And in double quick time it was out that J. R. Moehringer had written the book for him and thus he was Prince Harry’s ghostwriter.
The name ghost writer is defined as “A person whose job it is to write material for someone else who is the named author”. He is Ghost because his name is not mentioned; not as co-author. He remains un-named on title page and elsewhere. Sometimes ghost writing is outsourced and this because getting a person to write in India or the Philippines may be cheaper for a British or American. Ease and cheapness of international communication facilitates this outsourcing. In some cases ghost writers are allowed to share credit. For example, a common method is to insert the client/author’s name on a book cover as the main byline and then have the ghostwriter’s name underneath it with the word ‘with’ added on.
This could be done in lieu of payment: fame instead of money paid. For nonfiction books, the ghostwriter could be credited as a ‘contributor’ or ‘research assistant’. Sometimes the ghostwriter is asked to sign a nondisclosure contract that legally forbids any mention of the actual writer’s role in the publication. Payments vary. The New York Times reported, according to an article I read, the payment made to the ghostwriter for Hillary Clinton’s memoirs was about $500,000. The amount promised by her publisher being 48 million. We read Harry paid his ghost an advance of $1 m.
Ghosting Spare
I was keenly interested in the article by Moehringer published in the New Yorker May 15, 2023 issue, titled Notes from Prince Harry’s Ghostwriter as a Personal History contribution. It was all about how he was approached to ghost-write Prince Harry’s tell all memoir. He traveled to their home in California and found Harry easy to talk with. One fact that made him agree was that there was no deadline set for completion of the book. The article details how they set about the job and the reception that ‘Spare’ earned.
The project was kept under strict wraps but the book was leaked in a bookshop in Madrid a week before it was officially launched. Criticism of the negative kind far exceeded any kudos. It was not only the fact that Harry ‘betrayed’ his family by describing squabbles and all but that in spite of the statement that facts stated had been scrupulously researched. “Within days,” as Moehringer writes, “the amorphous campaign against Spare seemed to narrow to a single point of attack that Harry’s memoirs rigorously fact-checked was rife with errors.
“I cannot think of anything that rankles quite like being called sloppy by people who routinely trample facts in pursuance of their royal prey, and this now happened every few minutes to Harry and by extension to me.” It was about a sale that had Harry going to, to buy at cheaper rates. The sharp criticism was that that particular retail outlet never had sales. However, Moehringer proves this was wrong, the sale had been on as noted in the book.
However, Spare won mention in the Guinness World Records by being certified as the fastest selling non-fiction book in the history of the publishing world. People were actually reading the book. Common comment was that Harry’s candour about family dysfunction and losing a parent gave solace to readers.
At a party to celebrate the book, a very confident Harry had thanked all involved and the ‘ghost’ too and said he was greatly encouraged by the ghost to continue with setting down his memoirs by ‘trusting the book’ which he did. “Harry first felt liberated when he fell in love with Meghan, and again when they fled Britain, and what he felt now, for the first time in his life, was heard. That imperious Windsor motto, ‘Never complain, never explain’ is really just a prettified omerta which my wife suggests might have prolonged Harry’s grief, His family actively discouraged talking, a stoicism for which they’re loudly lauded, but if you don’t speak your emotions you serve them, and you don’t tell your story you lose it – or, what might be worse, you get lost inside it. Telling is how we cement details, preserve continuity, stay same. We say ourselves into being every day, or else.”
Moehringer goes on to ask the question why writers take to ghost writing, which carries no school certification nor a degree of higher education. “No one ever says his ambition is to be a ghost writer. Writing under no name is safe; writing under someone else’s name is hedonic – a kind of hiding and seeking.” He details how he came to write Harry’s book. He ends his essay with a heart-warming family incident. His five year old daughter at breakfast had looked up from her cinnamon toast and asked what ghostwriting was. To the author and his wife it sounded like asking Who is God. Then he had said she loved art and hoped to be an artist. “Imagine if one of your classmates wanted to express something, but could not draw. Imagine if she asked you to draw a picture for her.” The little girl promptly said she would do it. “That’s ghost writing” he had succinctly proclaimed, but added: “Don’t paint other’s pictures, paint your own, sweetheart.”
The Ghostwriter – J. R. Moehringer
John Joseph Moehringer writes under the name J R Moehringer. He seems to have had a hard childhood growing up in Long Island with a father too fond of his alcoholic drinks. He was often comforted by the bar keeper. His mother was very ambitious for him and dreamed of and encouraged a Harvard education. He rewarded her by earning his degree in Yale.
He started his professional life as a journo in the New York Times, then moved West to write for the Rocky Mountain News, which paper, he says, still seemed to cater to the reading tastes of gold diggers, from its first issue in 1859. He was often called to write for a gossip columnist who was wont to taking it easy in a bar. That was when he discovered he wrote best when he substituted for another writer – the start of ghost writing. In 2000, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing while on the staff of the Los Angeles Times. He authored his first novel in 2005– Tender Bar: a memoir – which was autobiographical.
A successful film directed by George Clooney starring Ben Affleck resulted. Affleck won a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of the protagonist. Then came the call on behalf of tennis star Andre Agassi who wanted him to ghost write his autobiography. He met Agassi in Los Angeles and they clicked: Agassi not literary at all and Moehringer not into sports even in school. Agassi’s wife, Stefanie Graf, approved of the plan. And thus came to completion in 2009, Open, the very shy tennis champ Andre Agassi’s ghost written life story. In April 2016 he ghost wrote the autobiography of Phil Knight – creator of Nike shoes. The book was titled Shoe Dog.
JRM was now a well-known ghost writer and offers poured in. But he was choosy; avoided politicians and businessmen. When the offer came on behalf of Prince Harry his interest was rekindled. Discussions continued for a while and then the writing began, leading to his name and fame as a ghost writer spreading wide. He says he too was hounded by papparazi.
Personal tidbit
The offer to ghost write came my way twice. One was from an associate of a businessman, son of the entrepreneur who started a very paying enterprise. Work started with discussion of terms of the project. Being an utter novice I asked for a very small fee. I met the big man – very genial – and wrote an outline or skeleton of the book. A son asked me whether I was writing about the boardroom or bedroom! The work was taxing and I made the gross mistake of doing an Oliver Twist, this time for money. I was thrown out but my detailed outline was retained.
A second misadventure was being invited to ghost write the very remarkable life of a mercantile head. Given an elephantine pile of personal files, I asked for a literary friend as help. Permitted. The initial bit of writing was to be. The big man said – put it on or lay it on thick. So I compared him to Julius C as a colossus under whom lesser mortals cringed. Laughed at by two of his critics. We suggested that instead of ghost writing, he write his life story and we would edit and improve sections done, if necessary. I was, for some reason, getting cheesed off. Maybe I am not fit to ghost write, I surmised. Illness of the biographee intervened and the project was shelved, but my detailed notes again retained. The book was completed by a professional writer. My pal and I got thanks and a bottle of wine each. Enough of attempting ghosting, I decided.
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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