Features
World Science Day: Building Trust in Science
By Pof.K. Tennakone
Today, the world celebrates science. The United Nations proclaimed 10th November as World Science Day to highlight the importance of science for peace and development. The theme this year is building trust in science.
The method of science stands unshakably as the only reliable avenue available for understanding nature by solving problems. It is based on the search for evidence, confirmation and rational argument to arrive at conclusions, subjected to continuous scrutiny. Science remains immune to extraneous voices but allows doubt and corrects itself. Science has no different brands, Eastern or Western or other.
Science does not accept an idea, however convincing unless proven by experiment or observational data.
Modern theoretical physics demanded the existence of an elementary particle named Higgs boson. The scientific community confirmed the idea only after the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, built for the purpose at a cost of several billion US dollars, detected it.
Sometimes scientific facts take a long time to get established. In 1915, Albert Einstein predicted gravity could be propagated as waves. The circumstantial evidence for the phenomenon appeared in 1974. Yet it was only in 1915, just after one century, the prediction was confirmed by experiment.
Scientific investigations go on continuously, being questioned and pursued by many. Open to criticism and today doing that would not be punishable, unlike blasphemy.
Science deals with nature. In the broadest sense, nature implies everything and all affairs. The meaningful method to analyse every problem and seek solutions would be the evidence supported – approach. Although science transformed the world for the betterment of humanity, the general public and policymakers are not sufficiently aware of the potential of science. Instead, they make unsound decisions dictated by tradition, bias and superstitious beliefs.
People firmly believe in things never seen and physically unrealisable and concepts logically impossible, but distrust scientific explanations when evidence amply supports them
Building trust in science clears the development path of stumbling block problems and cures social ills.
Humans encounter problems all the time. The individual issues or those to common society at large. Our problems fall into two distinct domains. Unwelcome situation that has occurred or envisaged to happen and needs resolution or things we wish to understand because of inquisitiveness. The two kinds of problems are interrelated. Often, solution of a problem in one category clears the way for understanding of puzzles of the other category.
Michael Faraday’s experiments to reveal the relationship between electricity and magnetism and subsequent theoretical work on the subject by Clark Maxwell delivered electrical machines and radio communication. In an attempt to improve steam engine the French engineer Sadi Carnot initiated the science of thermodynamics.
Numerous examples illustrate how obstacles have been overcome by scientific intervention. Illnesses and crop failure confronted mankind since time immemorial. They appealed to unseen deities and performed rituals.
Later, the empirical knowledge gained suggested above calamities have causes behind them. For example, people living in marshy environments catch malaria more frequently, and adding manure to the soil promoted plant growth giving better yields. Indicating soil infertility is one of the causes of crop failure.
Subsequently, the scientific method was realized. The causes were analyzed logically relating different observations.
Marshlands are infested with mosquitoes, endlessly biting people. Could mosquitoes transmit a pathogen? To test the hypothesis the blood of malaria patients and the guts of mosquitoes were examined with a microscope, confirming a microbe cyclically transmitted by misquotes caused the malady.
The attempt to understand why manure improves plant growth resulted in a major breakthrough. The active ingredients of manure were found to be mainly simple inorganic compounds of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. The findings led to the development of chemical fertilizers, dramatically eliminating the deadly consequences of malnutrition and hunger.
Despite the crystal clear and conspicuous achievements of science, many resort to unproven and irrational alternatives. Needless to mention quack medicines for COVID-19 and so-called carbon fertilizer wreaked havoc in the country. If policymakers and their advisors trusted science, these unfortunate situations wouldn’t have arisen.
Sri Lankans are aware of the practical value of science and its bearing on technology. Parents wish their children would pursue science, qualify them to enter socially prestigious professions such as engineers and doctors with good avenues for earning money. At the same time, many of them uphold more confidence and attach superiority to scientifically invalid occult and traditional beliefs, misinterpreted religion, nationalistic ideals and pseudoscience.
Because of tradition, people entertain scientifically incorrect beliefs and practices. Avoidance of certain food items on basis of folklore and hearsay a cause of malnutrition and illnesses. Patients approach practitioners of alternative medicine when their ailments respond with almost one hundred percent certainty to modern treatment methods. Tradition and folklore are often innocent and incorrect or correct, but rarely the repercussions could be grave – a consequence of not adopting known scientific knowledge.
Astrology has no credence whatsoever and deleteriously interferes with decision- making. Nonetheless, even persons engaged in science-based professions get the horoscopes of their sons and daughters read, and act accordingly, totally disregarding genuine issues. No self-confidence in the quintessence (science) of their work. So much importance is attached to astrological timing. Even many of the so-called educated class adhere to the myth. If they ponder rationally in the light of popular astronomical knowledge and explain the stupidity of the belief to their children, future generations will do better.
Religion is misunderstood and misinterpreted, prioritising superstitions, rituals and ceremonial aspects. Science and religion are separate non-overlapping realms. As argued by the American biologist, Stephen Gould, the former deals with facts and the latter values. The greatest virtue of religion, ethics are rarely followed. Religion also has cultural and literary values. Unlike the good olden days, erudite scholarship needed to promote these aspects seems to be rare.
All religions advocate similar core ethical principles and for that reason, religions immensely served human advancement.Following ethical precepts of religion helps man to avoid problems, but unlike science, religion cannot solve problems.
The probability a person develops cancer may be reduced if he or she abide by ethical guidelines of the religion. Although faith and spirituality may relive the depression of suffering believers, cancer cannot be cured by rituals. The most effective relief for cancer patients is science based modern medicine.
Nationalistic idealism misleads people to distrust science. A common misconception in society considers our ancient hydraulic engineering and traditional medicine to be alternative sciences. Although topmost in the world at the time, they were empirical technologies, meaning methods discovered and improved by trial and error. Science, dependent on observation and reasoning to determine causes, overtook the empirical approach, providing ways of obtaining new information and planning.
Presenting unsubstantiated material purporting scientific validity is pseudoscience. Sectors of society perpetuate pseudoscience because of ignorance ideological beliefs, commercial or political interests and sometimes in good faith not knowing the absurdity. Citizens accept such propaganda for similar reasons and blindness to doubt, although science encourages suspicion, questioning and attempts to refute.
Pseudoscience reigns in health products advertisements. Drugs, supplements and certain food items are sold at exuberant prices exaggerating the efficacy. At the height of the pandemic, sellers have priced a quarter bottle of paniya above 10000 rupees! However, the paniya episode is childish compared to some products promoted by the health supplements business, where science may have marginal theoretical validity but not proven by clinical trials.
Attributing unproven causes to problems or denying established scientific facts proposing groundless alternatives are also pseudoscience. Some reject the anthropogenic cause of global warming. Or vaccines as ineffective and lead to complications. You may have heard people say they get aches and pains all the time after of COVID-19 shots. The Immediate development of COVID-19 vaccines, a remarkable achievement of science saved billions of lives. Yet around 30% of adults distrust science behind and hesitate to receive the inoculation, constraining the possibility of achieving herd immunity.
Without evidence, our political circles declared poisons in chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals caused the chronic kidney disease. Although the cause of the disease has not been fully understood, current investigation disfavors the speculation, according to some, a foresight of a deity. The work of Sri Lankan researchers, currently working in collaboration with foreign groups to resolve the problem is commendable.
What constraints building public trust in science? The Morocco-born epistemologist and economist Fouad Laroui pointed out the primary reason is many consider science as a belief.
Naturally, when there are many beliefs, an individual would accept one and disfavor others or reject all. Essentially the question posed by Kalama’s, when Gautama Buddha visited the town of Kesaputta.
Confused Kalama’s pleaded Buddha, how to ascertain the truthfulness of a doctrine, when every teacher presents his version dispelling others? Buddha’s reply as translated from the Pali text by Rev. Kotahena Soma Thera reads:
“Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias toward a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another’s seeming ability; nor upon the consideration,”
The truth cannot be reached on basis of a belief. And science is not a belief but the method available for us understand things in sense of correlating different observations leading generalizations and make predictions to be tested.
How to build public trust in science? People are exposed to science through formal education in schools and universities, reading and media outlets and social dialogue. Yet they live in an environment where, traditions, superstition, religious indoctrination and ideologies prevail. Science teaching doesn’t seem to be very effective in building trust in science, because the emphasis is on learning techniques and acquiring skills. In discussing star constellations in the eighth grade, would a teacher comment on the folly of astrology? The students who take notes during lectures and reproduce by rote rarely hear enlightening words to assimilate the spirit of science.
Today, people devote less time to reading books, magazines and columns in newspapers and instead indulge in concise less in-depth social media posts which include science, as well as pseudoscience and superstitions as a mix-up difficult to discern. For that reason, social media would not be that effective in curbing myths. However, this should not be an argument to regulate social media .On overall social media benefits society, as concluded by many studies and assessments.
Beliefs are vociferously disseminated by their stakeholders and establishments. Likewise, public trust in science should be built by scientists, intellectuals and teachers in association with their institutions. Generally, the policymaker’s interest in science is to drive technology to obtain economic returns. Scientists should also push them to support programs to build trust in science. Indirect economic returns from the effort could outweigh gains from technological projects.
Faiths and beliefs, because of their variation create social divisions and therefore conflicts. Science is universal and unifying – the hope for humanity’s future.
The author can be reached via email: ktenna@yahoo.co.uk
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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