Features
Please, let sense prevail with letting go of political supremacy
The world is full of natural disasters, abject misery. Turkey and Syria have already lost 33,000 lives and 40,000 affected by the earthquake that hit major territories of these countries on Monday 6 February.
With the passing of possible survival of 72 hours, the death toll shot up and is still rising. Predicted total of deaths is 40,000. Nations have gone to their aid and workers battle in the stricken areas with further quakes forecast. A further Cassandra Cry has been sounded by a scientist who knows what he is talking about: that quakes will continue outwards reaching even North India.
Cyclone Gabrielle struck peaceful and relatively prosperous New Zealand. One shock they suffered recently was the resignation of PM Jacintha Arden for no given reason. It was said her popularity was somewhat waning, but it could decrease much more for her to lose the shine she sent forth as a humane, empathetic, efficient prime minister. Maybe she felt her time to quit had arrived to handover her position of power to another; maybe she wanted to spend more time with her growing child and revert to comfortable home maker and mother. And then struck Gabrielle. New Zealand is rich enough, sensible and well balanced to tide over this recent disaster.
The manmade disasters are what cannot be tolerated and taken in people’s stride. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is the black spot on earth at present with the EU, UK and USA coming to Ukraine’s assistance. With what? Killer arms – very necessary, but more lives will be lost for no reason at all. It is reported that migrants on Russian soil are being conscripted to go to Ukraine to battle and probably die in a war they have absolutely no reason to be in.
The Iranian government is still adamant to command what a woman wears. The latest victim is 25-year old Chess Champion Sara Khadam who has been thrown out of the country for taking part in a chess tournament in Kazakhistan with no hijab worn. Thank heavens she was only declared a refugee than beheaded as they are doing publicly for protesting against the regime and its inhuman rigidity since September 16, 2022.The protest was because of the killing of Mahsa Amini while in police custody. Her ‘crime’ again was going about without a head covering. In Iran there is a morality police or some such evil organisation. We, all over the world, salute these two girls and thousands of other Iranian women who protest a woman’s right to dress as she wishes. Very fortunately the chess player has gone to Spain. Many countries are sure to invite her as she has committed no crime. Of course, one fears for her family left behind.
The third is the very recent triple death by shooting in a university in Michigan.What is the cause for these manmade disasters, so very unnecessary and crimes against humanity? Many causes – most devised and insisted upon – and /or acted upon by individual person’s orders. This may sound simple and Cass derided for cockeyed reasoning. That is definitely not so. Stated simply; stark truths. Politics, ambition, stubbornness of leaders, disregard for human rights and human individuality are the defects of the individuals who perpetuate the above stated crimes.
Dread felt for the future of SL
Cass comes to the point she is attempting to make. The aforementioned disasters lend us symbols to express what we fear. An earthquake; cyclone; stamping out peaceful protests; use of strongarm tactics; repression of legitimate rights. How? We have already witnessed with justified horror the last three mentioned right here in our loved country. And if our govt persists in the path it has taken the entire country will be thrown into spasms of trouble. A blood bath when all we should be doing is concentrating on restoring the economy of the country.
If the government does not move with absolute caution, understanding, discussion and justified appeasement of protestors and protests, we are in for an earthquake of tumultuous magnitude, and it is man-made. And like a cyclone, destruction will spread all over the island, except perhaps isolated places like Jaffna where people are occupied with life’s tasks to waste time protesting.
We may have an unshakeable, completely rigid person – aberrated leader like the unmovable present Ayatollah, or whoever the leader in Iran is. Or determined-to-war ex KGB Putin. But out present leader is an educated, sensible politician of many years. Surely, he has wise advisors, other than those selfish beasties who try to puppet him.
Ranil Wickremasinghe should recall and follow his uncle J R Jayewardene’s ‘world changing speech’ at the Peace Conference in San Francisco in September 1951 when 51 nations gathered to determine the status of war defeated Japan in the Post WWII international system. JRJ announced: “We do not intend to seek reparations from Japan for we believe in the words of the Great Teacher whose message has ennobled the lives of countless millions in Asia, that hatred ceases not by hatred but by love.” Japan is still grateful and remembers JRJ and assists SL (though we have conveniently forgotten his greatness in some circumstances).
Cass mentions this with pride and sincerity and with the plea that protestors are treated with consideration and fairness. Talk with them, and they have to be sympathetic and realise protests are the worst for our beleaguered land at this time. DO NOT incarcerate Wasantha M again.
Jacintha Arden is an example to follow: resign when the time comes, which however she has done before her time was up. We are not asking Ranil Wickremasinghe to resign. Not at all. At the moment he is the best available. But those with ambitions to come back to power; know-alls from overseas who come over, create trouble insidiously, and then fly first class to their palatial homes overseas, should resign from active politics.
All our politicians and more especially our leaders must know that life, as the Buddha said, is always full of loss and gain, fame and ill-fame, good times and bad. Victory and defeat too. The SLPP, created by Basil Rajapaksa, won a long ago local govt election hands down. The entire campaign was planned by him. So great that a fledgling political party beat its parent – SLFP, the oldest UNP and JVP. But now those victors must realise success does not last always. You win or loose elections. The very most important is to be honest in elections and face the music – win or lose. Delaying LG polls will never bring them back to power, so postponement is pointless.
The crux here is that LG elections must be held on March 9 as decided by the EC, if the SC assents. Otherwise a human mass strike and upheaval will result, as already threatened. That must be prevented at all costs. What does it cost Ranil and the Rajapaksa government to be less stubborn, listen to the people, and do what is just, like holding elections. Ranil will go on as Prez, and even the Parliament and central government till general elections (whenever they are held). So what use planning postponements by foul methods since there are no fair means?
Short takes
A news snippet on page 1 of The Island of February 14 (Goodness Valentine’s Day!) that should NOT have appeared read thus: ‘LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran alive, claims Pasha Nedumaran.’ A powerless octogenarian who hallucinates but wants a stir – leader of a Tamil nationalist movement. His words were filed in Chennai. He goes further to say VP will appear soon and also calls for the Indian govt. to help him.After Rajiv Gandhi was suicidally blown to bits as he bent his head to acknowledge the presence of a woman who was loaded with bombs? The bomber and her companions were LTTErs from north Sri Lanka, but it was on Indian soil that the murder was carried out and Rajiv was a past and future leader of India.Why Cass said such news need not be published is because we Ordinaries may take it with a laugh or sneer and forget it the next moment. But there are crazy coots who might even believe it. Let the dead be dead. Prabhakaran was definitely dead and the body identified to be him, with no doubt whatsoever. We do not want him brought back, more so in the tallest of absurd predictions. The Editor dealt with this tidbut hilariously on Wed 15/2, Thanks!
Our Queen. Most delightful seeing a picture of Iranganie Serasinghe being presented a lifetime award by the very dynamic and admirable US Ambasador to SL – Julie Chung. The first and last thought was how beautiful Irangani is. Next thought – what an excellent actor and person. Thank the gods for good people in Sri Lanka. There still are very many in all strata of life.
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 . )
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
