Features
“I have only one agenda: emancipating my people” says Jeevan Thondaman
By Saman Indrajith
Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader and Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, Jeevan Thondaman, plans to bring the grievances of his community before Global Union Federation Public Services International in Geneva and other international fora, such as the World Economic Forum and International Labor Organization, next month, he said.
“I have only one agenda, and that is to see the emancipation of the people of my community. It is saddening to notice that even after 200 years of toiling, shedding sweat, blood, and tears to nurture this nation, a significant portion of the Sri Lankan population does not consider the estate worker community as part of this country.
“Some view this community as Indian, failing to realize that we are Indian origin Tamils. We are not Indians; we are Sri Lankans. We were brought here 200 years ago, yet injustices against upcountry Tamils persist. Presently, we face injustices from the government, companies, and the people, all combined,” Minister Thondaman said in an interview with the Sunday Island on Thursday.
“In Geneva, when Sri Lanka and Tamils are mentioned, the focus is primarily on the North and East. They don’t talk about us. The UN in Geneva is not just a forum for war-affected areas; it addresses injustices worldwide. It is a platform where we can shed light on the sad reality that our people continue to face neglect and injustice, along with exploitation and many other injustices.
“If the global stage becomes aware of the situation of upcountry workers, the private sector here may be compelled to take meaningful action to end exploitation. Our intention in going to Geneva is not to undermine companies or disrupt revenues. Whenever estate unions resort to strikes or any other actions, we are advised not to do anything that would harm the economy. While we understand the need to protect the country’s interests, it cannot come at the expense of the 1.5 million people who are consistently neglected,” the minister said.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: UNHRC sessions in Geneva are currently in progress, and the place seems to be becoming increasingly hostile to Sri Lankan interests. How do you justify your mission to address these issues?
A: We are not going to the UNHRC. I am attending the PSI (Public Service International) Labour Conference and meeting with other stakeholders in Geneva, such as the World Economic Forum, ILO, and other unions.
I disagree with your characterization of Geneva as a hostile territory for the Sri Lankan government. In my view, it is the epicenter of geopolitics. It’s important to recognize that a war did take place in this country, whether we accept it or not. Regardless of one’s status—be it a soldier, a terrorist, or a separatist—lives were lost on both sides.
In a war, there are no winners or losers. Thus, our first duty is to acknowledge the lives lost. We have made significant progress in terms of reconciliation and establishing the Truth and Reconciliation mechanism. The UNHRC should acknowledge the efforts of the current government in this regard. We cannot be held responsible for the actions of previous governments, as this is a coalition government formed with the support of parliamentarians from various parties.
We have completed about 19 or 20% of the resolutions that were set in 2015 in relation to the Sri Lanka’s course of action. President Ranil Wickremesinghe is making great strides in terms of reconciliation and also with the truth and reconciliation mechanism that is coming in. The UNHRC will need to recognize that this government cannot answer for actions of previous governments.
This as you are aware is a coalition government. It is a national government for all of us. Ranil Wickremesinghe when became the President was the only member in parliament from the UNP. He was supported by parliamentarians across the board. It was a secret vote. So how can you say it’s only SLPP that made him President? Are you telling me nobody from SJB voted for him? Nobody from TNA voted for him?
Alliances were broken and new alliances were formed. I am fairly confident that it was not only the SLPP that voted for him. Some who had voted joined the government while some others did not do so because of the political offices they hold but they’ll eventually come and join.
The UNHRC has to recognize the efforts made by the current President in terms of reconciliation. Though he has the intention of reconciliation he needs the support of all to put it into action. I do not think anybody wants to divide Sri Lanka. Everyone wants to unite it. Unfortunately, there are certain politicians with ideologies to create tensions so that their political interests would be protected. But the truth of the matter is that Geneva should recognize the efforts made by the government towards reconciliation. We have not completed reconciliation but are on the pathway to reconciliation.
Q: What issues are you planning to highlight?
A: Our primary concern is the exploitation of the tea estate worker community. If this continues, this community will be completely destroyed. Each worker is entitled to a 1,000-rupee daily wage, which is equivalent to $3.50. Companies pay this amount only if a worker plucks 20 kilos of tea. They are unwilling to pay more, arguing that they cannot sustain higher wages. However, what’s the point of the company surviving if these people are going to suffer? My goal is to bring this issue to light, not just for the government but also for the private sector and the public to recognize their responsibility toward this community.
Regarding government support, there has historically been a meager annual budget allocation of three billion rupees for this community, which has been deprived of its civic rights for 30 years. We need more comprehensive solutions than just building occasional houses. We must provide these people with the means to sustain their lives. Our main objective in going to Geneva is to ensure that the international community sees this injustice. Our community is an integral part of Sri Lanka, and we seek recognition and respect for the significant contributions we’ve made to the nation’s development.
At a government level we are facing that backlash while on the company level we are facing exploitation. Company owners in Colombo or their CEOs do not know when they say that minimum wage is paid to every worker who plucks 20 or 30 kilos. For example, a CEO would tell the manager that his target is to deliver 20,000 kilos this month. Then the manager’s job is to achieve that target. How does the manager achieve that target? He would squeeze the workers to the last drop of blood and sweat to get that 20,000 kilos.
The workers are provided houses to live as long as they work. There are many instances family members of workers losing their houses where they had lived for over 20 years because the company takes those houses back because the house is property belonging to the company. The manager of the company has the power to throw out the family after its breadwinner worker reaches the age of 60 years. The company’s position is that if you are not fit enough to work for my company, you are not fit enough to stay in the estate you are born.
There had been many discussions on this matter. Even many agreements had been signed since the days of late Ranasinghe Premadasa to change this situation. I believe there are more than 400 agreements. However, the problem persists. There are instances where the estate workers would not be permitted to build a toilet for his house by companies. What kind of inhumane treatment is this?
My view is not to bash the companies but to make them understand that only if the industry survives, they will survive. For that they must treat workers with respect and dignity. There were around 535,000 workers about 20 years ago. Today this number comes down to 135,000. Around 400,000 workers have left tea estate work and gone into daily work in farming or to work as domestic help or as unskilled migrant workers. They do so because they are getting a fair wage, dignity and self-respect.
In tea estates they are treated like slaves. While the CEOs of the plantation companies are some of the richest CEOs in the country, the workers are fighting to get a one dollar increase in their wages. The companies are making profits but workers are not benefiting. An average worker is supposed to pluck 20 kilos of tea leaves a day to be entitled for the Rs 1,000 wage. Let’s say that worker brings 23 kilos. Then the manager would cut off one kilo for moisture if there were rains on the previous day and two kilos for the weight of the basket which has been given to the worker by none other than the company itself. The basket actually weighs only 400 or 500 grams. If there is a factory shortage another kilo is cut off. Finally, the worker has only 19 kilos and is not entitled for the full daily wage. All these reasons for cutting off are beyond the control of the worker. However, all those amounts cut off go into the final product.
In the meantime, when we speak of injustice, they peddle a narrative of convenience. They say the Thondaman family has been in power for so many years, nothing has happened for the workers. Our people do not fall for these lies. They know us and that is why they vote for us.
Q: How do you view India’s role in this regard?
A: The migration from India began in 1823 due to famine instigated by the British. They brought Indians, particularly from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, as cheap labor to work in various sectors. Since then, our community has experienced exploitation and suffering. India has always been concerned about our community’s welfare and has made efforts, such as the Sirima-Shastri pact in 1964. However, India should work in collaboration with the Sri Lankan government to help our community, recognizing that we are of Indian origin but are also Sri Lankan citizens.
Since 1823 the British brought down Indians here as cheap labour from Rameshwaram or Dhanushkody to Talaimannar by ship and from there onwards made them to walk to Matale Mutumari Amman Temple which was used as a transit point to separate and assign Indians to estates at various places. Since then it is story of agony, exploitation, abuse and misery.
Then we had the JVP emergencies and war. Though we did not take part in any of them we still suffered collateral damage. Owing to this plight of people of Indian origin India always has concerns about our community.
Q: The CWC is accused of supporting whatever government is in power.
A: To effectively help our community, we need political strength. People question why we often switch parties. We represent a significant community with over 1.5 million members who lack access to quality education, healthcare, roads, and housing. We cannot afford to sit in opposition and oppose everything a government does. We cooperate with whichever president who is in office. The CWC is the leading party in the upcountry, and we have the support of our community. Our focus is on achieving social progress, which requires equity rather than mere equality. Our aim is not to divide but to unite Sri Lanka. We want recognition for the historical injustices our community has endured.
Q: People complain about water tariff increases.
A: As the Minister of Water Supply and Estate Housing, we understand the concerns about the water tariff hike. We designed it to minimize the impact on the poor. By December, we plan to introduce a comprehensive cost-reflective or cost-recovery formula, effective from January 1. We believe this will streamline the water sector and gain public satisfaction. We inherited a ministry with various issues, including financial mismanagement and political appointments. Our goal is to bring about a tariff that aligns with the cost of providing water services, and we are working on this with organizations like the ADB and the Ministry of Finance.
Q: How do you describe the current political situation?
A: In my view, the current president has taken significant steps to stabilize the country both financially and politically. He has managed to obtain support of MPs from many parties, demonstrating his commitment to reconciliation and financial sustainability. Consistency has been lacking in Sri Lanka, with each government reversing the reforms of the previous one. The president’s steadfastness and integrity, despite losing elections, are admirable. Sri Lanka’s future depends on maintaining this course of action, ensuring stability and progress.
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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