Features
Memorable jungle excursions
by C.G. Uragoda
Ever since my first camping trip to Hendikema in 1953, I have paid regular visits to the jungles. At first these were few and far between, but in later years they became more frequent, reaching two or three a year. Many a time have I camped out in the jungle, with nearby running water that makes the stay a very pleasant and comfortable one. Some of these trips are etched in my memory on account of experiences I have had in the jungle. In the past 20 years or so, due to the war, I have not been able to visit the north and the east, but with peace prevailing in the country in 2002, I have renewed my trips to these parts.
First camping trip
My first camping trip to the jungles of Sri Lanka was in 1953 when I was a house officer at the General Hospital, Colombo. My first substantive appointment in the then Department of Medical and Sanitary Services was as District Medical Officer at Pallebedde, a place unheard of by me till then. As was usually the case in such situations at that time, I tried to get the appointment altered to a better known station, but having had no influence with the powers-that-be, I failed in my attempt. In three months, however, I was transferred to General Hospital, Colombo under strange circumstances when conventional methods did not bear fruit.
The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Mr Somasunderam, paid a surprise visit to Pallebedde Hospital on his way back after inspecting the new Chest Hospital at Wirawila due to be opened shortly. He found the hospital replete with flies swarming on the floor, patients’ beds and almost everywhere else. He strongly objected to this situation, and told me that I should have gone up the ladder by first becoming a House Officer, then a District Medical Assistant and finally a District Medical Officer.
He asked me for my name in writing. Secretly rejoicing at the sudden turn of events, I wrote my name in block capitals on a sheet of paper and handed it to him. Just 11 days had passed when I received a telegram requesting me to report immediately at the Thoracic Unit of the General Hospital Colombo. Without wasting unnecessary time, lest the transfer be canceled, I left Pallebedde the very next day.
The Unit had two House Officers, one of whom was Dr H D Goonetilleke who in later life became an excellent surgeon. The other was a relief House Officer. I was asked to act for HD who had taken two weeks leave for a jungle trip where he and a couple of his friends walked from Buttala to Kumana along Kumbukkan Oya. When HD returned to work after his leave, I was appointed second House Officer to the unit.
A few weeks after his return, he screened a cine film he had made on the trip. It was very interesting and had scenes that included views of animals, cooking of meals in the jungle and walking along the dry riverbed. This film impressed me greatly, and when HD arranged another trip to the jungle a few months later, I joined him. This time the destination was the area around Galge in the North Intermediate Zone of Ruhuna National Park, and the objective was to shoot a leopard. He had obtained permits to shoot both leopard and deer, for the latter had to be provided as bait for the leopard. At that time, however, no permit was required to shoot leopard, as well as bear, in areas outside the Intermediate Zones as these animals were classed as vermin. I had no intention of shooting any animal, for never have I shot one. My only interest was to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the jungle.
Our party, consisting of HD, two of his friends, a tracker whose home was in Kataragama and myself, left Colombo in a four-wheel drive vehicle. We had an unforgettable onward journey. Heavy rain which we experienced in Colombo, fell unabated till we reached Kataragama in the night. We spent the night sleeping on the floor in a vacant hut at Kataragama.
When we woke up next morning, we found that the heavy overnight rain had turned Menik Ganga into a turbulent and muddy river. In the absence of a motorable bridge the vehicle had to be driven across the rough waters in order to reach our destination, but finding this an impossible task we decided to bide time till the water level went down.
At that time, pedestrians crossed the river using a narrow suspension bridge that would just allow two people to pass each other. Most of the time, when the water level was low, people would wade across the river instead of using the bridge.
That morning, as our party crossed the river along the bridge, we viewed with concern the state of the river which was turbulent and swollen. On the opposite side was the then small town containing boutiques, some of which were in the process of baking hoppers for breakfast. They were being made in the classical style where the pan was heated from below by a naked fire and above by a pot containing burning embers. We went to one of these stalls and helped ourselves to a fine repast of hot hoppers as each was taken off the pan. Eaten with a sambol containing a dash of Maldive fish, the hoppers tasted really delicious. The circumstances under which we ate the meal makes me remember it with nostalgia.
There being no rain since early morning, the level of water in the river had gone down sufficiently by noon to make us attempt a crossing. The vehicle was slowly driven into the water. The front wheels became submerged first, followed by the rear wheels. It moved forward another yard or two when the engine started to splutter and then stop altogether. In our predicament we were wondering what we should do, when a crowd of about 50 men collected on the opposite bank. They commissioned two lengths of tough rope, tethered each to the vehicle and pulled it to dry land. It did not take more than a few minutes for the crowd to accomplish the task.
At this stage, we failed, however, to start the engine. The reason was that the sump had got filled with water when the exhaust was submerged under water. Fortunately we had brought with us a can of engine oil from Colombo, for none was available at Kataragama at that time. We emptied the watery contents of the sump, which consisted of a mixture of water and oil, and poured in the new oil. The engine then started and we were on our way to Veddange Vadiya, which is the name of a place derived from the fact that Veddhas once lived there.
The road was a cart track, and the vehicle found it extremely difficult to negotiate it at places where the road had burrowed through hillocks. The track was so narrow at these spots that the hood of the vehicle almost touched the sides of the hillock as it swayed from side to side on the uneven road. Finally, after negotiating these narrow stretches, at some of which we had to get down from the vehicle and walk behind it, we reached Hendikema, which was three miles from Veddange Vadiya.
Just past Hendikema long stretches of road were inundated with water from overnight rain. The vehicle managed to go through these flooded areas and turn left a short distance from Hendikema towards Veddange Vadiya. With difficulty the vehicle was able to negotiate the muddy, slippery track till we came to a stream that ran across it. When attempting to cross it, the vehicle got stuck in the mud and the engine stalled. Repeated attempts to restart it failed despite all the mechanical knowledge we could muster. As it was then late evening. we decided to spend the night at the spot.
Hammocks
I was thrilled to sleep in a hammock for the first time in my life. The hammocks we had brought with us were sold by pavement hawkers in the Pettah at the end of the war in 1945. These, along with other items that were sold, such as gas masks, were part of the equipment that was used by the Eighth Army in Burma. They were sold as redundant material once the war ended.
These hammocks, which one does not come across now, were very comfortable and insect- and rain-proof. They had a canvas awning as the roof. Between this roof and the canvas was nylon netting about 18 inches high which encircled the entire hammock. It kept away all insects, including mosquitoes. The prospective occupant entered the hammock through a long opening in the netting, and once inside a zip was available to close the opening. These hammocks were safe and comfortable for sleeping in the jungle, as they did not permit disturbance of the occupant by rain and insects, and even tree snakes.
After dinner, HD together with one of his friends and the tracker took their guns and went hunting, leaving me and the other friend in the camp. I got into the hammock and dozed off. Later I heard a couple of gunshots in the distance and knew our friends had succeeded in shooting some animal, which we found out in the morning to be a deer. We also heard the sawing of leopard, indicating that these animals were quite common in the area, and justified HD’s decision to come to the Intermediate Zone around Galge to bag one.
Veddange Vadiya
The next morning we returned to the vehicle to try to revive it. The engine, which refused to start in spite of valiant efforts the previous evening, suddenly responded to the self-starter. We were once again on our way to Veddange Vadiya, but after proceeding a few hundred yards we found that we could not go further as the wheels were getting bogged in the mud. We then decided to leave the vehicle behind and make a quick visit to Veddange Vadiya on foot. The distance was about two miles through thick jungle in which we only saw a sambhur. Finally we reached the place which was a very quiet spot on the Menik Ganga..
At the time it puzzled me how an uninhabited jungle scenario, far away from all human habitations, could bear a name. Subsequently, to add to the problem, I came across several such places in thickly forested areas which bore various names. It is possible that centuries ago these were inhabited villages with their own names in the then populated dry zone, but centuries of neglect brought on by internecine wars and diseases, such as malaria, would have wiped off their existence, leaving only the names. As some evidence in support of this, one may mention the named sites in the thick jungle, which show evidence of monastic life centuries ago, such as caves with inscriptions and waterholes. It is conceivable that names lingered on, while other evidence of habitation disappeared.
Our original intention was to camp at Veddange Vadiya, but on inspecting the muddy terrain, we decided against it. After spending a couple of hours there, during which we enjoyed a pleasant bath in the Menik Ganga, we returned to the vehicle. Having now decided to camp at Hendikema, we got into the vehicle and went back along the same route.
Hendikema
Hendikema too was an uninhabited place, but the name bears a linkage to a known fact. It has a water-hole which bears the name, Hendi (spoon) kema (water-hole). At the time we camped there, the water-hole had an opening, which was very small and would just admit a ladle made with coconut shell. The sheet of water in the hole was not visible as it was fully covered by the rock.
Hendikema was on the Buttala-Kataragama jungle track, which was used by pilgrims on their visits to and from the sylvan shrine. It provided them with a regular source of water. In order to draw water, pilgrims used to keep a coconut shell ladle at the spot. From time to time, when worn off, it was replaced by succeeding pilgrims over the years.
One of the reasons given for the presence of a large number of leopards around Galge at the time, was the appearance of pilgrims during the season. Many devotees from the plantation districts used to flock along this jungle track. Some of them were children in arms, while there were decrepit old men and women tottering on their walking sticks. Lack of proper meals would have sapped their strength, while diseases, such as cholera, would take their toll. In other words, there was no lack of prospective victims for leopards on the prowl. It is said that in 1945 a man-eating leopard accounted for 15 victims on this road before it was shot by a man in the employ of the Forest Department. In addition, leopards would have feasted on bodies of pilgrims who had died of starvation and disease.
(To be continued next week)
(Excerpted from Jungle Journeys in Sri Lanka compiled by CG Uragoda)
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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