Features
Siri Vajiraramaye Nanasiha Thera’s ‘Nissarana Yatra’
Ven Agga Maha Panditha Madihe Pannaseeha’s stance for the development of a country economically, socially, culturally and righteously was that it should be alongside the moral development of each individual. It is a well-known fact that Olcott Gunasekera who was with the Mahanayake for long years, traveling with him all over the island to improve people’s lives and across the oceans to attend meetings and meet people, who also co-founded the Dharmavijaya Foundation which has continued to give much service to the people of this land, was such a man from his earliest adult years.
And now we are thankful that it is all down in writing as the autobiography of Olcott Gunasekera – boyhood; Civil Servant; and moving on to his entry to the Sangha and present life as Siri Vajiraramaye Nanasiha Thera The book carries the sub title: ‘An autobiographical Odyssey, giving insights, retrospectively, of six decades of service to Sambuddha Sasana, Public Administration and Social Welfare. The title ‘Nissarana Yatra’, could be translated as ‘Journey or Voyage towards Release from Sansara’.
Questions and Answers
The biographer would be too self effacing and modest to write his life’s story, but for the fact of being persuaded (maybe gently coerced) by the Mahanayake Thera of the Amarapura Dhamarakshita Maha Nikaya, both resident in the Vajiramaya Temple. Ven Nanasiha elucidated this fact thus in answering a question of mine: “I wrote this on the invitation of Most Venerable Tirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thera and not on my own volition. My intention in writing was never to boost my personality, which is ephemeral. The country has lost many good things and I am very saddened by it. I wished to place on record what the country has lost, for example, the services of an eminent public service that stood firm on what was correct and good for the country.”
The elegantly published hard cover book with its beige and brown bottom-striped cover on which is the face of the young Olcott and a large portrait of him in robes and smiling, is 292 paged with a very detailed and explanatory contents section. Photographs intersperse the pages with a large colour photograph of the monks resident in Siri Vajiraramaya. The book is in Sinhala; explained as the Bhikkhu said: “I wrote in Sinhala because I wished it reaches the people of this country.” To my question as to whether he would translate it to English, it being too valuable an exposition to be confined to one language, he replied: “I have no intention of translating. If somebody wishes to translate the book as a labour of love I have no objection to that. But is it worth it?” Of course it is. I do hope someone does translate and it is published in English too.
The intention in setting down his life was, as mentioned, not prompted by hubris of which Ven Ñāṇasīha has not an iota and never had. It is, as he told me: “The country hopefully is to have a new Constitution and I am making every effort to ensure that the country gets a Constitution that the people of this country with a long history of nearly three millennia deserve. I do not wish any praise; it is all in the past, which lives now only in memory. However, if based on the autobiography a dialogue starts and new seeds are sown for a better future for our country, my expectations are fulfilled.”
I include here his reply to my question – how did it get written and published?
“I started in April 2019 and my wish was to complete the memoir by March 05, 2020 to mark the fifth year of my ordination. It had to be postponed because of Covid19. Then I wanted to have the book launch on October 28, to mark the 110th birth anniversary of my mother. That too had to be postponed because of the pandemic. Then we (Mahanayaka Thera and I) marked time and decided to have it on March 05, 2021, come what may. It gave extra time for better planning.
The book was written longhand – about 600 pages – and in my acknowledgment I thanked Manel Weragala of the DVF for word processing the text.”
The Autobiography
The book is actually a tome rich with experiences of government service and social work; of traveling on Buddhist work; about the Dharmavijaya Foundation; notes on family life as a boy growing up with two siblings; married life and his own family. The gratitude to his parents, particularly to his mother who once prophesied (or hoped) he would enter the Sangha and to his wife and children comes through clearly. His school education was wide and varied because his father, a government servant, was transferred to different places. The schoolboy Olcott attended Southlands Galle, Sri Palee, Hatton, Good Shepherd Convent and Dharmaraja, Kandy, Dharmapala, Pannipitiya, St Joseph’s College, Borella and from 1946 to 52 Royal College, Colombo (Grade 6 to university entrance). From 1953 to 57 he was in the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya.
The chapter ‘Delovak Athara’ records his being selected for the Ceylon Civil Service (CCS) and as university lecturer in Archaeology the same year. He was advised to join the CCS and his government service appointments were from 1958, ending in premature retirement in 1973 on abolition of the CCS. Maybe apart from his marriage and raising a family of two, the landmark of the first phase of life or that of the layman, was co founding the Dharmavijaya Foundation (DVF) in 1977. To me, his greatest voluntary service given to Sri Lanka was while he was on the Board of Governors and President of the DVF until 2015, with its credo of ‘Samavayoeva Sadhu’ – ‘Concord indeed is Commendable’ (from Asokan Edicts).
I met this outstanding person then, when a friend, Badra Gunatileke, introduced me to the Foundation and to its then President Olcott Gunasekera. I worked with him on a couple of annual reports. His true nature shone through: religious, committed, absolutely selfless and dedicated; and kind. Yes, he was very tolerant of my haste in writing and thus allowing factual and grammatical errors to creep in. His humaneness was evident.
The Presentation of the book to the public
I do not use the word ‘launch’ of the book as it was a much more significant event with the aura of religiousness pervading when on March 5, 2021, ‘NissaraṇaYātrā’ was introduced to the general public at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo. The hall was tastefully set up with a huge frieze of a reproduction of the book cover as background to the stage on which many distinguished bhikkhus sat. An array of white and yellow flowers with green leaves decorated the foot of the stage with a matching bunch on the podium. The chief of the bhikkhus present was Most Ven Ittepane Dharmalankara Mahanayaka Thera, Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenapura. He began by saying that though soon after surgery he felt he had to attend this very significant occasion and felicitate a fine human being whom he remembers as a university lecturer of Ceylon History. Even then he demonstrated religious and national commitment, and eagerness to seek knowledge. Dr. Jayantha Wattavidanage, Senior Lecturer in Zoology at the Open University and Deputy Principal, Siri Vajirañāṇa Dhamma School, Maharagama, very competently compered the successful event.
Most Ven Thirukanamale Ananda Mahanayake Thera – Mahanayaka of the Amarapura Dharmarakshita Nikaya and mentor, also ‘instigator’ of the autobiography, delivered the welcome oration. In the absence at short notice of invited Ven Omalpe Sobitha Thera, Ven Medagama Nandawansa Thera spoke, commenting on the aptness of the title of the autobiography where the writer’s life is encapsulated by stepping onto the path of deliverance. When donning robes a request is made to ordain for the purpose of Nissaraṇa (nissaraṇatthāya). Yātrā means journey towards. Hence the biographer has set out on his Nissaraṇa Yātrā: Journey or Voyage towards release from bonds of Sansara. The swan at the end of the title is indicative of this ‘flight’ to deliverance.
Others who spoke were Lalith Weeratunge, Senior Presidential Adviser, who made the thematic speech and Leel Gunasekera who was senior to Ven Nanasiha both in university and the CCS. Many distinguished persons were in the audience, including Karu Jayasuriya and Ministers, MPs, and intellectuals of the country, plus of course members of Ven Nanasiha’s family, including his wife Anula, son Ashok and daughter Osadhi. All the speakers praised Mrs Anula Gunasekera for having been a devoted and supportive wife to Olcott Gunasekera for 50 years and then generously giving him the necessary permission to enter the Sangha taking ordination as a Bhikkhu at the age of 80.
I will briefly state what was said about Olcott G and Ven Vajirārāmaye Ñāṇasīha Thera, though the notes I kept are copious. He was an outstanding administrator of the prestigious Ceylon Civil Service serving in many stations and capacities, living up to the appellation ‘public servant’ as he served the people of the country selflessly, sincerely, justly, never swayed or influenced by politicians in doing what was correct. While a brilliant student in both college and university, he was also inclined to religiousness. It was his good fortune, and the country’s, that he associated with the best of bhikkhus starting with Ven Narada while attending the Vajiraramaye Daham Pasela and then of course the long association with Most Ven Madihe Paññāseeha Mahanāyaka Thera and now with others residing at Siri Vajiraramaya. He firmly believes that for the development of the country, each individual should be developing himself -economically and morally and thus his sustained stern commitment against alcohol, drug abuse and of course any form of corruption.
The book is available for free distribution. The Venerable Bhikkhu can be contacted by email: [vajiraramaye.nanasiha@gmail.com]
Nan
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
