Features
Heard at the club
Sena was a popular member of the club who expounded Marxism, Leninism and the thoughts of Mao Zedoing, with a liking for Trotskyism.
His two goats stories were educational and very popular.
They are as follows:
Supposing you have two cows
In Socialism:
You give one to your neighbour.
In Communism:
The government takes them both and gives you the milk.
In Fascism:
The government takes them both and sells you the milk.
In Nazism:
The government takes both and shoots you.
In Capitalism:
You sell one and buy a cow.
In Trade Unionism:
They take them from you, shoot one, milk the other and throw the milk away.
Then he appealed to his friends, not to have anything to do with cows for they only bring you unnecessary trouble.
During the 1971 insurrection, went missing. After about a year or so, he surfaced at the club after being in a JVP rehabilitation camp. His friends then asked him, “With all your Marxist ideals, what made you get involved in the JVP insurrection?”
“The five lectures! The five lectures!” he said.
“It was like swallowing narcotic pills!”
When a member asked what those lectures were, he enumerated them thus.
No: 1 – The economic crisis facing the country.
No: 2 – The so-called independence which the British foisted on us.
No: 3 – Indian expansionism in Sri Lanka.
No: 4 – The present so-called “Left Movement”.
No: 5 – The class difference on economic and social grounds.
* * *
Another club member was a proprietary planter from the Wanduramba village, about 12 miles away from Galle. He found that he could not pass urine. In great pain and discomfort, with his tummy building in a most unseemly manner, and sloshing with every step he took, he came to a friend’s house at Galle, on his way to the hospital.
Asking his friend to lie down, his friend hurried to the well-known Ayurvedic physician Muhandiram William A. Wijeratne’s dispensary. When he returned with the physician, the Muhandiram examined the patient and gave him three pills to be taken immediately. Then he instructed the planter’s friend to keep two beds close together with a small gap between them. He then asked the patient to sleep on the narrow space face down. Below the space on the floor was kept an empty bucket.
After about 15 minutes, drop by drop, urine began to trickle into the bucket. A few minutes passed, and suddenly there was a gush of urine into the bucket, and within an hour or so, the patient was completely cured. Getting out of his bed, the much-relieved planter fell on his knees at the feet of Muhandriam Wijeratne and worshiped him.
On another occasion, another member came all the way from Morawak Korale to consult Muhandriam Wijeratne about a long-standing ailment – stones in the bladder. He had been to many doctors and veda-mahattayas, but had got no relief. The good Muhandiram cured him completely in a matter of weeks with his very efficacious “kasayas” (decoctions).
Muhandiram Wijeratne was also a member of the Galle Municipal Council representing the Minuwangoda Ward. His speeches were power-packed and was a real crowd-puller.
For the first time in any Municipal Council anywhere in the Island, Muhandiram Wijeratne spoke in Sinhala. This was over 80 years ago. (The first Sinhala speech in the Colombo Municipal Council was delivered 11 years later).
In a corner of the spacious garden of his sprawling mansion stood his dispensary. Close to it, on the road, was a bushalt where the students of both Mahinda and Sangamitta colleges gathered.
Sometimes on an afternoon, Muhandiram would stroll over to the bushalt and chat jovially with the girls and boys. He would constantly assure them that if they were very thirsty, water was available to them at this dispensary.
He had also instructed the dispensary staff to provide money for any student who needed bus fare.
He was also the father of Major General Lucky Wijeratne, the hero, who sacrificed his life in the field of war.
Yes! Muhandiram Wijeratne was indeed a great and good man.
* * *
Another day an elderly member of the club recalled his student days at Mahinda, during the time of an illustrious principal P. R. Gunasekera, who was a product of Royal College and then to Clare College, Cambridge where he obtained his M. A. He was also called to the bar from Middle Temple London.
On his return, he had joined the University College as a lecturer, prior to his appointment as the principal of Mahinda.
Though a novice in scholastic education he was devoted to the task. And, during his stewardship, the college progressed both in studies and sports.
As a keen and popular principal, coupled with his winning manners and charming personality, won him a seat in the Galle Municipal Council.
During his time Mahatma and Mrs. M. K. Gandhi and the Shri Nehru family visited Mahinda.
Not long afterwards, politics claimed its victim and his career came to an end when he was asked to resign as principal. He then sued the management and won his case and was awarded Rs. 25,000.00 damages (Quite a big sum 85 years ago), which he did not accept but turned over to charity.
After leaving Mahinda, he practised as an advocate at Galle and was at one time its crown counsel.
Thereafter he joined the judiciary and served as the District Judge of Kegalle, before he crowned his career as the High Commissioner of Australia.
This elderly member also told us this amusing story: During the time of the principal, referred to above, Baban Aiya, a member of the minor staff, was the college bell-ringer, a chore he performed in a most, musical, rhythmic and stylish manner – obviously the result of years of practice.
One day Baban Aiya fell ill, and his son Baptist deputized for him. But alas! Baptist wasn’t a patch on his old man. The first bell of the day summoning the boys to their classes, early that morning, rung in the most awful manner. There wasn’t the soothing melodious style of his father anywhere in it. Instead it was an ear-splitting, unmusical cacophony.
Peter, a student in the Junior Form at the time (1931) was an irrepressible mischievous imp, and as his classmates trooped into the class, he seized a piece of chalk and in large letters, wrote on the blackboard:
“Baptist,
The son of Baban,
Rang the bell
Dadang Badang!”
When the class teacher walked in and saw what was written on the blackboard, he was furious. (He was totally devoid of a sense of humour).
“Who wrote this?” “he demanded irately, and Peter unsuccessfully tried to suppress a snigger.
“Get up on the form, you!” shouted the master, pointing a shaking finger at Peter.
Hardly had Peter complied than the principal. P. R. Gunaskera came striding down the corridor, outside the classrooms, and seeing Peter standing on the form so early in the day, walked in and asked the class master what Peter had done.
“Sir,” explained the master,” When I asked the class who had written this on the blackboard, this boy impertinently tried to suppress a laugh. Sir, I am sure he’s the culprit””.
“Peter”, said the principal”, not unkindly. “Did you write these lines?”
“Yes, Sir” said Peter unhesitatingly”
“Then when your teacher asked who had done it, why didn’t you confess?””
“Sir” said Peter boldly,” I was waiting to confess to someone who could appreciate good poetry!”
As the rest of the class went into shock at Peter’s effrontery, Mr. Gunasekera smiled and said:
“Yes, Peter, your spontaneous poetic outburst is both amusing and clever, though the class blackboard is hardly the place for it.
I shall see that it finds a place in the next issue of the college magazine instead”.
And sure enough, it did!
* * *
This club member hailed from the Habaraduwa Electorate. He said that there is an Udagama named “Santhosagama” there. He then told us how it got its name.
Prime Minister Premadasa on a visit to the electorate had been received by its MP G. V. S. de Silva with the words “Bohoma Santhosai” (very happy). And, when the Premier invited G. V. S. to get into the
PM’s car to go round the electorate, he had again said “Bohoma Santhosai”. And when he got down from the Premier’s car he had repeated for the third time. “Bohoma Santhosai”.
So the Premier had suggested that this new “gama” be called “Santhosagama!”
* * *
These days when Ayurveda appears to be side-lined but the following stories show the efficacy of its treatment.
(i) The pregnant wife of a wealthy landowner was screaming in pain and it was the opinion of the Western medical doctors who were present there, that the child inside her womb was dead and that an urgent operation was necessary to save the life of the mother.
(ii) Now this was a time, when the rich people thought it below their dignity to go to a government hospital for confinement and since there were no nursing homes children were born in the palatial homes of these people, with a doctor or midwife in attendance.
Also, at this time, an operation was considered a virtual death sentence, and the panic–stricken landowner quickly sent his car to fetch Pothuwila Veda Hamuduruwo.
The physician monk arrived, and after a cursory examination of the patient, said that the baby was not dead. Then he took the landowner out of the room, and said. “The baby is alive – and its delivery must be expedited if the mother and the baby are to be saved”.
He then instructed the landowner to get one of his men to stealthily creep upto the window of the patient’s room with a gun and, without any warning, fire it.
On hearing the deafening report of the gun, the woman gave a loud shriek and promptly gave birth to a bony and very much alive baby son!
(ii) On another occasion too the doctors had told the husband that it would be a case of stillbirth.
Pothuwila Hamuduruwo was consulted and after a thorough examination, he marked a spot on the pregnant woman’s stomach and asked his “golaya” (pupil) to pierce the place with a pin.
The moment this was done, the child was immediately delivered and to everyone’s astonishment, on one hand of the baby was a spot of blood – apparently caused by the pin prick.
(iii) In another case, too, the unborn child was presumed to be dead, and Pothuwila Hamuduruwo, who had been hastily summoned, disagreed with the doctors. He took a pill from his medicine bag, dissolved it in a small pail of cold water and asked the woman to keep her hand immersed in the water. Within a few minutes another baby saw the light of day – thanks to the miracle maker Pothuwila Veda Hamuduruwo!
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 . )
