Features
Supporting Conservation Education: the story of March for Conservation (1980 -2000): Part II
By Ryhana Raheem
The Biodiversity Skills Enhancement Project-the Public and Private sectors
By the mid- 1990s, March for Conservation (MfC) seemed to have accomplished much, particularly in the field of education. Satisfying as this progress seemed to be, there remained a feeling that there was more, much more to be done. There seemed to be enthusiasm and interest but meaningful action seemed to be lacking where environmental protection was concerned. The conservation of Sri Lanka’s diversity of biological riches was considered the function of a few institutions such as the Forest Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Coast Conservation Department and the Botanical Gardens.
The reality however was that the island’s biodiversity was impacted upon by all activities, public and private. The organization therefore decided to broaden the scope of its activities and to include public and private agencies in its educational efforts. Working in tandem with the Ministry of Transport, Environment and Women’s Affairs, and supported by a grant from the prestigious MacArthur Foundation as well as one from the International Development Agency of the World Bank, MfC established the Biodiversity Skills Enhancement Project (BSEP) in 1995.
Booklet on biodiversity conservation produced for the BSEP Project
The objective of BSEP was to enhance not only skills related to biodiversity conservation but also institutional capacity to deal with issues in biodiversity conservation. The major activities of the project focused on training local professionals in both the public and private sectors in aspects of biodiversity conservation related work with reference to economic, social and technical themes. This training also took into consideration aspects of collecting, analyzing and presenting data related to biodiversity conservation. It was hoped that co-opting professionals from various sectors into training programmes would help to create a network of informed personnel who would work together as multidisciplinary teams in the implementation of programmes that impacted on the country’s biodiversity. It was a comprehensive and ambitious project with a long-term view.
To ensure that the project would be successful, MfC began with a workshop that was based on the concept of starting from the top. The Secretaries of all Ministries were invited to an inaugural Workshop where the project would be explained and the cooperation of the Ministries sought for. To our immense satisfaction, 17 Secretaries of the 24 Ministries then in existence not only accepted our invitation, but also enthusiastically participated in the inaugural workshop and even offered unstinted support for the project.
This cooperation was vital as the project envisaged establishing senior public officers as liaison persons within their Ministries. Those officers named by the Secretaries were then invited to the Workshop for Liaison Persons and this too was a great success with 19 senior officers (Additional Secretaries, Directors of Agencies etc.) attending the workshop to understand the nature of their responsibilities. With this very significant measure of support, the BSEP was able to carry out all the activities it had planned- the first series of Training Workshops was held in April – May 1996, and a second in August 1996. In addition Advanced Training Workshops on data collection, analysis and presentation were conducted for persons with specialized knowledge including NGO personnel and young graduates during the period August 1996 to November 1997. In all 240 officers of state agencies and departments were trained through BSEP efforts
Noting the enthusiasm and interest shown in these workshops, MfC also provided Awareness Workshops for various groups of key professionals in the public/private sector whose work impacted on the country’s biodiversity. These included 29 CEOs and senior personnel in Commerce and Tourism, 51 senior professionals in Engineering and the Construction industry, 36 senior professionals in Agriculture and Plantations and 14 exporters of aquarium organisms. Twenty five senior media professionals participated in a workshop designed especially for them in the hope they would disseminate information to the general public.
The attendee lists at these workshops is an impressive record of all those in control of these various sectors and underscored our belief that providing knowledge and information would go a long way in protecting biodiversity.
Apart from these many workshops, the project also organized public lectures throughout 1996 and 1997. The lectures were delivered by experts who had been invited as resource persons for them and included figures such as Dr J McNeely, then Chief Scientist at IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, Dr David Reid and Mr Fred Naggs of the Natural History Museum in London, Dr K Ghosh, Director of the Zoological Survey of India and Professor Shekar Singh of the Indian Institute of Public Administration in New Delhi. In April 1997, a well-attended Seminar on Biodiversity Conservation and Biotechnology: Indian and Sri Lankan Perspectives was held in conjunction with resource persons from India and Sri Lanka.
Other spin-offs of BSEP included educational material and publications related to the island’s biodiversity. 22 Training Modules were created as were 2 Field Guides, six booklets and five data Checklists. In the 18 –month period of the project, it managed to generate 11 TV programmes, 10 newspaper articles and six radio broadcasts on topics which highlighted the project’s concerns.
Another BSEP achievement was that it brought public agencies together- with 35 State Ministries, Agencies and Departments were involved in BSEP activities. Furthermore six universities worked with BSEP to provide the necessary training and other activities. BSEP thus was a collaborative initiative, the likes of which had not been achieved before by any conservation organization in Sri Lanka.
It also needs to be remembered that this project was conducted in the years 1995- 1997, years of much turmoil in Sri Lanka. The ethnic war had escalated and LTTE suicide bombers were targeting public spaces and important infrastructure locations. The Provincial Council system had just been introduced and there was public and political animosity against this. In addition, the JVP crisis of the late 1980s had resulted in an overhaul of the country’s education system and of the universities in particular. In spite of these very serious issues, it is to the credit of MfC that it was able to achieve what it did through the BSEP project.
Throughout its 20 years of volunteer work in conservation, one element that gave MfC strength was the fact that it was rooted in an academic setting. Sadly it was this element that underpinned its dismantling in the early years of the next decade. Leading members of MfC were either working on their postgraduate degrees or had moved into positions as Heads of Department or Deans- posts with greater responsibilities, leaving less time for volunteer work. A number had moved away from the University of Colombo, notably to the Open University, and the demands of academic work here impacted on their availability. Other senior members had left the island to work in their own chosen fields in other countries. With depleted leadership and in a situation where political and social conflicts tended to overshadow other national issues, it was not possible for the organization to maintain its momentum and by 2010, the organization had folded up.
In conclusion, it seems fitting that tribute is paid to those who supported and dedicated themselves to MfC and its work. Apart from the individuals mentioned at the start of this article, these included Thusitha Jayasooriya, Nirmali Pallewatte, Malcolm Jansen, Rohana Subasinghe, , PB Karunaratne, Dharmin Samarajeewa, Lalith Jayawickreme, Amodha Ratnayeke, Jinie Dela, Shironica Goonatilleke, Indrakanthi Perera, Neela de Zoysa, UKGK Padmalal, Amanda de Zoysa, Devaka Weerakoon, Martin Wijesinghe, Arjun Nadarajah, Pritihiviraj Fernando and SUK Ekaratne. Significant assistance was also provided by Professor Stanley Wijesundere, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo who provided a home and office space for MfC within the University of Colombo premises; Professor KD Arudpragasam, Professor of Zoology, University of Colombo, Mr Lyn de Alwis Director of the National Zoological Gardens and of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Shirley Perera of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Professors Nimal and Savitri Gunatilleke , Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya , Renton de Alwis, then Head of the Coast Conservation Department and Samantha Gunasekera of the Customs Department. And of course, given MfC’s outreach, there were many others too numerous to mention, in Colombo and other parts of the island who helped MfC’s multi-faceted programmes at various times.
This article on MfC’s work is focused mainly on its major educational efforts, its contribution to EE but there are many other activities and projects that the NGO had been involved in. The story of MfC records growth from work with schoolchildren and the general public to more focused work with another sector- the teachers and finally reaching out to the upper strata – to those who implement this country’s policies. It illustrates what an organization could achieve as it grows in confidence and outreach. It is also a record of sincere dedication and professional commitment to the conservation of Sri Lanka’s natural resources
One can only hope that this account of what MfC achieved would be an inspiration to any group that wishes to follow.
Ryhana Raheem , Emeritus Professor, Open University of Sri Lanka is a Founder member of MfC and co-author of “Sinharaja- A Rain Forest in Sri Lanka”.
She was the Chief Coordinator, MfC (1980 – 1983), Project Coordinator, MfC- Naresa EE project (1989 – 1993) and Project Director, BSEP (1994- 1998)
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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