Features
Riding the wave of uncertainty – the role of family during times of economic hardship
Dr. Rajika Savanadasa
Nicholas Kristof, the Pulitzer prize winning American Journalist once said “Worrying about bills, food or other problems leaves less capacity to think ahead, or to exert self- discipline. So poverty imposes a mental tax ” As Sri Lankans, the current economic downturn has left many of us, if not all, grappling with many problems. The mental tax referred to by Kristof threatens to shake the very roots of the family structure.
“Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness. It certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult” -Samuel Johnson
An obvious outcome of the economic crisis has been the rapid rise in poverty levels within the country with many households unable to meet expenses of daily living. The traditional patriarchal role of the father as the sole breadwinner has been reversed, necessitating the mother to contribute to the economy of the family. This has led to increased working hours outside home and a loss of quality time spent with children, leading to an added source of mental stress for the whole family.
Children have been forced to drop out of school to find alternative sources of income to support families especially in very low income groups within society. Loss of income has left many households unable to afford proper housing, access to clean water, sanitation and desirable healthcare. A rapid decline in the quality of life has also led to increasing levels of malnutrition among children.
Perhaps the most devastating impact of the current economic crisis is the toll imposed on the mental health of the nation as a whole, with many families (parents and children alike) suffering from stress, anxiety and depression, ultimately leading to deadly outcomes like domestic violence and suicide.
Can we find a silver lining?
Sri Lankans are resilient people who have faced challenges such as civil wars, political unrest, even natural disasters like the tsunami. Adequate guidance is imperative to ride this wave of economic unrest and emerge with minimum harm.
Solutions from an economic perspective
Budgeting finances and maintaining a sustainable budget: Making note of one’s income, removing unnecessary expenses while prioritizing what money should be spent on is a basic budgeting skill that everyone should possess. It would also help families make smart choices about investments .Avoiding purchase of expensive imported products could give life to the cottage industries. For example, it is encouraging to see that the urban population has found new passion for sustainable and environmentally friendly utensils and crafts produced by traditional craftsmen.
Starting small businesses:
that the whole family can participate in, can generate an additional source of income that’s especially helpful for low income groups and mothers with young children. Possible suggestions for income generation would be home -gardening, maintenance of livestock, handcrafts, supply of home cooked food and home baking .
Exploring sources of government support:
Support programs are available to vulnerable segments of society, such as Samurdhi, and vocational training programmes that offer financial assistance and food subsidies thus helping families improve their quality of life.
Creation of support networks of suitable donors:
Donor networks can be created within the community who will help the needy not only with monetary support but also emotional support along with guidance to improve skills to secure employment.
Affordable nutrition: the way forward
Adequate nutrition is essential for brain development of babies and also cultivating learning skills which help in children lead a productive childhood. In contrast, malnutrition among family members could leave them more susceptible to non-communicable diseases and further deterioration of the family wellbeing.
The Ministry of Health formulated an Emergency Nutrition Plan 2022-2024 with several strategies proposed to address food security for nutrition which included:
Targeted assistance to poorer income households, pregnant mothers with food support/cash transfer schemes, school children through continuing the school meal programme, promoting community kitchens, home gardening, cash management skills development in targeted areas, fresh water fish breeding, introducing village level sustainable self -sufficiency model for food and nutrition security to name a few.
Infant and young child feeding practices
Parents can follow the recommendations issued by the Family Health Bureau; Ministry of Health to ensure that babies receive nutritious food when supply is limited as mentioned below-
•Breast milk as the best milk, preference given to home cooked food, spending money on nutritious food like rice, pulses, fish , sprats, eggs, vegetables, green leaves, fruits oil and coconut and not on unhealthy options such as formula milk, baby rusks, commercial complimentary food biscuits, imported food items, sweets, junk food etc.
•Food sourced from one’s own garden such as green leaves, jack fruit and jack seeds, bread fruit, cashew, “kottamba”, manioc, fruits, sweet potatoes and other yams.
•Adding a small quantity of oil (coconut oil/gingelly oil/thick coconut milk/margarine/butter/blended or scraped coconut/ghee) to the baby’s food helps baby gain more energy, addition of eggs to meal as well as small quantities of roasted, powdered sprats or legumes/nuts
When food is scarce, preference should be given to the neediest family members like children, pregnant and lactating mothers.
Facing the tidal wave of mental illness
It is a well- known fact that citizens of countries in financial turmoil experience negative effects in mental health. Poverty, unemployment, loss/lack of education, social fragmentation are the most evident causes.
People who previously found relief in activities like entertainment and outings, no longer have the means to do so. The increase in other risk -taking behavior such as such as narcotics, alcohol abuse and extramarital relationships can be seen as a result of financial hardship.
Depression, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, anger management issues, which in turn lead to domestic violence and, in some instances, death, are increased in this environment. The brunt of the mental health crisis is felt by the family.The stressors faced by parents have a negative impact on children. Children can experience long lasting consequences of development which could be emotional, cognitive and physical in nature.
How do we identify effects of stress on our body?
Frequent outbursts of anger, inability to concentrate on daily tasks, feeling restless, aches and pains, self-neglect, increasing dependence on alcohol, smoking, recreational or illegal drugs, inability to enjoy activities which you have enjoyed in the past, social withdrawal are a few warning signs.
Stress in children can be identified by certain behavioral changes like mood swings, restlessness, clinging to parents, increased anger, stubbornness or aggression.
The first step to overcoming the negative impact of mental stress is to identify that one is suffering from stress and to find the cause.
Trying to find practical solutions to problems to the best of one’s ability is also helpful, keeping in mind that problems that may seem insurmountable in the present moment may resolve with time.
The second step is practicing self –care in ways given below.
Deep breathing exercises
Practicing mindfulness
Getting adequate rest
Eating a healthy diet
Physical exercise
Spending time outdoors with family
Talking to loved ones
Seeking professional help-
We have many resources available when it comes to seeking help from professionals in the field of mental health.
Helplines and institutions people can reach out to-
Stress in children can be managed by identifying triggers, trying to eliminate them, practice attentive listening and responding with extra love and kindness, ensuring that marital conflicts do not take place in front of children, promoting positive thinking by using praise liberally, ensuring that children maintain a daily routine of early bed time and healthy eating habits with minimal screen time.
Finally it should be borne in mind that nothing is permanent and all problems will eventually be overcome with time –”this too shall pass.”
Weathering the storm-together
A woman can assume many roles within the family, that of a wife, an administrator, manager of family income and most importantly that of a mother. A mother not only is a caregiver but during times of hardship transforms herself into a breadwinner.
She will become a loving wife to her husband especially when resources of the family are scarce, lending an empathetic ear to his problems, thereby creating an environment that is conducive to the mental well- being of the family. Thus the role a woman plays within the family will eventually lead to greater socio economic development of society as a whole.
A husband on the other hand, will be supportive, share equal responsibility and lend a helping hand. Both parents should encourage and ensure education of their children irrespective of sex and promote the cultivation of good manners and help them become productive, happy and positive minded members of society.
In conclusion, we must traverse this difficult road with fortitude and stamina, by enjoying and cherishing the company of family, taking pleasure in the little things in life, and not comparing ourselves with others. Once we reach the end of the tunnel, we will realize that due to the experience gained, both positive as well as negative, every step has been worth it!
Disclaimer:
Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not of her place of employment and any industry associations that the author represents (sanjisav@gmail.com)
The writer is an MBBS, MSc (Regenerative Medicine)
Associate of College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka
Member
Women’s Health Committee
Sri Lanka Medical Association
References-
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1HQl8GsQAT2W3Wk9cHPOcJHbqwoo1JyRS
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-07/how-to-manage-and-reduce-stress.pdf
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
