Features
Sri Lankans to be proud of: protesting youth, a Zoologist and a Thespian
The sea of troubles is within our land, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, which will soon turmoil to send us its SW Monsoon winds. No sharp light of relief is discernible in the mists and vapours of rain and people’s continued shouts of protest. But hope lives on.
The People braved torrential rains and the scorching sun, forewent usual national New Year routines and continue their effort to send a strong, determined, heartfelt, unanimous message to the government. They even dared reprisals because who knew what the cornered President would order. Heartfelt admiration and sincere gratitude are given all the people who protest, and those who help them with necessities. They, in the majority, are of the upper strata of society: professionals, academics et al; their clothes, good grooming, restrained behaviour and lack of racial and religious divides prove this. Foreigners have been in the protests, both in sympathy and agreement, and expressed admiration for the dedication of the protestors. The police are also to be appreciated. They have shown courtesy and restraint, though greatly provoked by some protests, mostly those of uni students. The very recent incident of using live bullets is the exception.
There was always a lurking fear, substantiated by the Prez’s penchant for giving high posts to ex-Army persons, and inbuilt mistrust, that the army would be called in to quell any uprising. Who knows whether they were contacted but refrained from obliging? We appreciate that since the protests, starting with Hirunika’s down Pangiriwatte way, were and are peaceful.
The entire country is enmeshed in a quandary. How will this pan out? We only hope peacefully with great changes wrought and no violence. The call has changed from Go Home to Go to Jail and Return Stolen Wealth. Very correct; justified. Just going peacefully home is not enough for bloodsuckers who sucked the country dry and sent millions to near starvation and deprivation. The most disgraced is the kurrakan satakaya that was thrown over shoulders with hubris and elitism and ended up in GoGotagama draped around garbage bags. What a downfall! Here one admits the Prez did not follow the sataka trend. That makes one wonder if, with no brethren, he would have at least steered the ship of state without it sinking or slanting, though his glorious vistas of splendour were ridiculous! The most offensive brother seems to be the progenitor of the sentence “Kaputas take off and hit the plane” which is echoed derisively worldwide. There was a tall, sinister looking Kaputa recently among the protestors on Galle Face Green and vehicle horns are tooted to the kak kak kaputa kak kak refrain. A friend of Cassandra’s – retired woman professional – went alone for a peep at GFG and stayed on the entire day. “People from all over the island and races were so friendly. I got a strong feeling of national pride and loyalty in my heart.”
The recent mild white-wash of the government as it limpets itself to power by electing a 17 member Cabinet has impressed no one but the SLPPers and the appointed themselves, along with more State Ministers. They are generally young but mostly so-so. Useless sop to Cerberus! Any distinguished economist or financier among them? That’s the kind of person we need now. No outstanding professional either though there is a Prof. The best (Cass’ euphemism for the very worst, deplorably evil) move was to appoint as minister Lohan Ratwatte, who held a pistol at the foreheads, one by one, of terrified Tamil prisoners in the Anuradhapura jail. He is a Minister now, promoted on the qualification of loyalty to his masters and being trigger happy.
This move by appointing a new Cabinet holds no water with the vigilant protestors. Neither with most Sri Lankans. Nor does the apology extended by the Prez for mistakes made by banning chemical fertiliser, etc., and not approaching the IMF much earlier extenuate him in the slightest. No forgiveness for his mea culpa since he deliberately, taking no notice at all of agriculturists’ advice, sent the country organic overnight, and his appointed Gov of CB maintained the country would go his way. When further failure of crops ushers starvation, no Akka predictions nor invoked mantra to gods will divert the curses aimed at him, his brethren and nephews. Curses will rain faster and in greater abundance.
Two honoured Sri Lankans congratulated
Dr Rohan Pethiyagaoda has won the Linnean Medal awarded annually to one or two biologists as an expression of the Linnean Society’s esteem and appreciation for service to science. It is open worldwide to any scientist in academic research in the natural sciences: taxonomy, evolution, ecology etc; i. e a botanist or zoologist. It was instituted in May 1888, the centenary of the Linnean Society of London. The medal is to commemorate Carolis Linnaeus who is accepted to be the father of taxonomy, which was gold up to 1976; now alloy but, needless to say, its prestige has not decreased but increased with the crowding of scientific fields with researchers and academics. Prof Sebsebe Demissew, Ethiopean botanist, won the co-award.
Cass quotes part of the Society’s citation in awarding the Sri Lankan: “Rohan has played a critical role in the understanding and conservation of the astonishing freshwater fish diversity of Sri Lanka and the region more broadly, through original research and support for others.”
He was in government and semi government service and last, Chairman of the Tea Board. What I remember with a broad grin is that he demolished Dr Padeniya’s arguments for banning chemical fertiliser point by point in an interview, the video of which went viral and was the talking point in many cities worldwide where Sri Lankans are domiciled. Rohan was definite, yet simply stated facts with not an iota of hubris or malice.
Rohan being completely minus pride and very simple in demeanour, may not approve of Cass highlighting this interview, but it illuminates who Rohan is and the Prez and his ill advisors. Rohan has won many other international awards as well, and discovered new species of frogs/lizards in Sri Lanka.
The broadly smiling winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for 2022 presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of excellence in professional theatre in London was received with a rousing welcome at the Katunayake airport on Monday April 18. He did not stay on in his adopted home UK, to celebrate his success, as he strongly empathised with the youth of Sri Lanka who were protesting for true democracy and elimination of corruption along with the corrupt. What a heartwarming sight it was to see Hiran Abeysekera, excellent Thespian, award winner and deeply national minded Sri Lanka return to add himself to the protesting young ones.
The Olivier Awards, recognised internationally as the highest honour in British theatre, originated in 1976 and were named after Laurence Olivier in 1984 and presented to persons involved in West End and other non-commercial theaters based in London, covering plays, musicals, dance, opera productions.
Hiran Abeysekera won the best actor award for the stage adaptation of Life of Pi, a philosophical novel by Yann Martel (2001) adapted to a film in 2012 which won many awards including Oscar for Director Ang Lee. The book itself – about Pi Patel crossing the oceans in a raft with a hyena and Bengal tiger – won Martel the Man Booker in 2002.
It is reported that in a touching speech Abeyesekera said he was overwhelmed and paid tribute to his home country: “I think of you and wish I was there with you.” He even used the term ‘machang.’ True to his word he is here, ready to go through tough times with the protestors, loyal to the country and wanting it on the path to recovery from corruption, bandyism, lawlessness and near tyranny.
Kudos to you, Rohan Pethiyagoda and Hiran Abeysekera! You have done Lanka proud, now a near failed state, in spite of all the brilliant people we have.
Bye to Khan should be temporary
Up north west, Pakistan’s Parliament sent the Prime Minister off with a gust of votes. Many over here are saddened since Imran Khan stood for democracy and against militarisation. No Premier of Pakistan has ever served a full term in office.
Cass for one was jubilant when Imran Khan was elected PM of Pakistan in 2018 when his newly formed Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) won elections. He is polished, a great sportsman, even a playboy in his salad days, a well rounded personality and sincere in his quest for democracy for his militarised country.
It is hoped his being pushed out of the premiership is short lived and he regains power soon. How hope otherwise for a handsome man of strong personality!
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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