By

Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene

Will the booing of Ministers by disgruntled voters run the risk of being classified as an ‘act of terrorism’ under the Anti-Terrorism Bill recently gazetted by the Sri Lankan Government?

Clever Presidential sidestepping and public anger

Can that be construed within the Bill’s prohibition of ‘wrongfully or unlawfully compelling’ the Government ‘to do or abstain from doing any act,’ ie; for example, restraining Ministers from performing ‘lawful acts’? Or could that come within the ambit of ‘unlawfully preventing the Government from functioning’? The risk is high if the ‘act’ in question is combined with ‘causing serious damage to property’ as the Bill ambiguously specifies.

What is ‘serious’ of course, is anybody’s guess. The surging crowds who invaded state buildings last year and toppled a sitting President, a Prime Minister and his Cabinet from office would collectively have been, in one fell swoop, guilty of ‘terrorist acts’ if this terrifying Bill had been law then.

As President Ranil Wickremesinghe holds forth ad nauseam, these impertinent invaders ‘damaged’ historic state property and spirited away valuable paintings.But no exact evidence is forthcoming, at least in the public domain, of the ‘damage’ so alleged.

The President’s explanations moreover rarely include mention of the attacks on peaceful protestors at the Galle Face Green last year by baton wielding ruffians led by two Minister-loyalists of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who still remain at liberty.

Continue reading ‘If the Anti-Terrorism Bill passes the seal of Parliament as currently framed, Sri Lanka will pass from a de facto police state to a de jure police state. The political consensus must be to reject the Anti-Terrorism Bill wholesale.’ »

By

C.Narayanaswamy

(The writer is formerly of the Ceylon Civil Service and Retired Senior Professional of the Asian Development Bank)

The recent visit to Jaffna, after several years of forbidden travel due to the pandemic, provided an opportunity to revisit areas of interest and observe the changes, including positive and negative developments, in both the economic and social fronts. It was a quick visit and unexpectedly the timing of the visit coincided with the visit of the President who declared open the Jaffna Cultural Centre on 11 February 2023. The festive atmosphere that prevailed on that day was combined with a subdued celebration of the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence. The atmosphere signified that Jaffna is slowly emerging from the isolation that kept its charms hidden.

Economic Activities

The war-torn city of Jaffna is coming back to life after almost three decades and three years of the pandemic while struggling to cope with day-to-day cost of living pressures and erosion of well entrenched societal values. One could witness the disappearance of bullet marked buildings which are being renovated with remittances received from overseas.

The end of the war saw significant road development initiatives sponsored by the central government. This resulted in paved roads including the major artery-A9-and other pivotal highways that connect Kankesanthurai, Palaly and Point Pedro. Unfortunately, some areas did not benefit from this uneven development. For example, the road leading to some of the main Islands like Velanai,Pungudutivu and Nainathivu is in a dire state requiring immediate attention. There could be similar situations elsewhere not traversed by the author.

Renovation of old houses and temples, and establishment of small businesses appear to have occurred during the pandemic. The emergence of supermarkets combined with a surfeit of wedding halls give the impression that there was money circulating in the community despite lack of evidence of enhanced economic activity-remittances from abroad have been used to reconstruct damaged houses and buildings as well as invest in some less productive ventures. Anecdotal evidence suggests that most of the wedding halls will soon be white elephants!

While construction activities proceeded on a small scale with private funding, public places like the Jaffna market and Tinnevely market areas remained largely untouched. Except for the cleaning up and beautification of Aryakulam and its environs with a benefactor’s contribution, the Jaffna Municipal Council does not appear to have initiated any significant renovation and refurbishment work in public areas. The development of the Aryakulam area into a place of both historical and touristic attraction is a welcome move, but may require further investments to enhance its potential.

Continue reading ‘Is Jaffna booming, blooming or busting is the question that arises in the minds of those familiar with Jaffna’s heritage, historical background, culture and socioeconomic development patterns.’ »

(Full Text of statement delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on 22 March 2023 following the agreement with the IMF. Press Release Issued by the Presidents Media Division on 22nd March 2023)

I wish to officially inform this august Assembly that we have been able to secure the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Full control over public finance has been vested in Parliament through the Constitution. Therefore, while tabling the IMF Agreement today, I wish to make my first official statement before Parliament regarding the EFF Sri Lanka has received.

On the 9th of July last year, I took over a country that was on fire. A country that was in chaos. A country that seemed to be without an iota of hope for the future. A country that had officially declared itself bankrupt. A country where inflation had risen to 73.7%. A country where people suffered for days in queues for fuel and gas. A country with schools closed. A country where ten or twelve hour power cuts were imposed. A country without fertilizer hampering cultivation by farmers. A country where anarchy prevailed in place of law and order. A country where outsiders had forcefully entered public buildings and were in occupation. A country where mob attacks were widespread. A country where homes of opponents were set ablaze. A country where people were assassinated on roads in broad daylight.

No one was willing to accept responsibilities in such an environment. Some were reluctant. Some asked for time to check their horoscopes. Some sneaked away. Some panicked. I was requested to take over the country at a time when nobody came forward to shoulder that responsibility.

I unconditionally accepted the challenge. I had no power in Parliament. I had no Members of Parliament from my Party to call my own. Even though I had none of these, I had just one strength. This was only my own conviction that I am capable of rebuilding my country. I had numerous experiences to support this conviction of mine.

In 2001 the economy of the country experienced a minus growth rate. However, I was able to shift the economy of the country to the right track, within a period of less than two years from the time I took over governance. At that juncture, I was able to secure aid worth 4 billion US$ through the Tokyo aid summit. Unfortunately, that aid was not properly utilized by those who took over governance subsequently.

In the same manner, when I took over the economy in 2015, it was in a weak state. But we were able to achieve a surplus in the budget primary balance by 2018. We also took action to increase salaries by approximately 106% while extending various other relief measures.

I only had the confidence gained from previous experiences when I accepted this serious challenge. I accepted the challenge with the conviction that even if I failed, the country would not.

Continue reading ‘“I had no power in Parliament. I had no MPs from my Party to call my own. Even though I had none of these, I had just one strength. This was my conviction that I was capable of rebuilding my country. I accepted the challenge with the conviction that even if I failed, the country would not.”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By

Mahesh Langa

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years imprisonment by a local court in Gujarat’s Surat on March 23, 3023, in a criminal defamation case filed against him over his remark on the “Modi surname” that he had allegedly made during campaigning for 2019 parliamentary polls. He was granted bail.

The sessions court in Surat soon suspended the sentence for 30 days, so that Mr. Gandhi can appeal in a higher court. The court has given bail to him on ₹10,000 bond.
02:01

Mr. Gandhi was present at the court when the judge passed the verdict.

Continue reading ‘Rahul Gandhi Sentenced to Two Years Imprisonment and Granted Bail in Criminal Defamation case by Courts in Surat,Gujerat;Alleged to have said ““How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?” in 2019 Election Meeting’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray

The season of big-matches is upon us. These cricket encounters are big for the respective schools, not for others. In fact as far as the particular schools are concerned they are huge. It’s THE event of the year.

Today there are big-matches in all parts of Sri Lanka, so many that few can escape them for the spectacle is not contained by the walls of the schools. It not only spills over to the streets but climb over the walls of other schools as well. Well, the girls’ schools at least.

For history and spectacle, however, it can be argued that no match comes even close to the Royal-Thomian encounter. Royal College and St Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia have played this annual encounter for over 140 consecutive years. That’s including the war years and the period of Covid-19 related lockdowns.

All good fun for the most part. And so, over the years we have come to expect phrases such as ‘Big Match Fever,’ and ‘Mad March Days.’ Today, several decades after leaving St Thomas’ I feel that it’s not a disease; the Big Match, the Battle of the Blues that is, is a healer. There’s nothing ‘mad’ about March; the Big Match provides sanity in a world of routine and grind marked by chaos, uncertainty and drudgery.

For me, like for countless Royalists and Thomians, the Roy-Tho is not only the oldest continuously played cricket series in the world but an extraordinary carnival that adds value to comradeship and friendship.

Continue reading ‘The Royal-Thomian is here Again! Let the “Big Match”healing Begin.“We were so much younger then, and we can only be as young again on the three days in March when we attend the Royal Thomian.’’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

The main ask — and the most popular chant — of the ‘Janatha Aragalaya’ [people’s struggle] witnessed in Sri Lanka last year was “Gota go home”. Scores of angry citizens, who took to the streets to protest acute shortages of essentials and long power cuts, squarely blamed the country’s most powerful leader for their misery. They deemed the former military man unfit to govern or occupy the country’s top office, and ousted him dramatically.

At the same time, some who were part of the protest movement confronted another question. Will the mere ousting of a failed President do, if ‘system change’ is what the country needs? What if another leader in his place resorts to destructive policy choices, such as Mr. Gotabaya’s overnight ban on agrochemicals in 2021, that continues to hurt farmers and the country’s annual crop yield? An impulsive leader wasn’t the only problem, they concluded. The office of the executive president, which bestows unchecked powers on one individual, was as much, if not more of a problem.

The Executive Presidency system came under focus, and the call to abolish it emerged loud and clear and dominated public discourse for a while.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka has debated the need to abolish the All Powerful executive presidency for decades but Country is yet to find a leader who is ready to renounce this power’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Early February, a group of saffron-clad Buddhist monks gathered near the Sri Lankan Parliament and burnt a copy of the 13th Amendment. They were registering their rage and protest after President Ranil Wickremesinghe vowed to implement the law in full. He had told an all-party conference that it was his “responsibility” as the Executive to carry out the current law.

“For approximately 37 years, the 13th Amendment has been a part of the Constitution. I must implement or someone has to abolish it…,” he said. The monks resisted it, despite Mr. Wickremesinghe stressing he was “not ready to divide the country at all” and would not “betray the Sinhalese nation”.

An unfulfilled promise

Neither the pledge made by President Wickremesinghe nor the monks’ reaction is new to Sri Lankans. Past presidents, including Mahinda Rajapaksa, have made the same promise more than once. Monks and other reactionary groups similarly agitated then too.

At the same time, Sri Lankan Tamils, who continue to demand equality, dignity, and the right to self-determination, do not know what it might look like, when the promise is indeed kept. Despite power devolution being enshrined in the Constitution for nearly four decades — it was an outcome of the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987 — they have never seen the piece of legislation being implemented in letter and spirit till date.

Continue reading ‘After decades of relentless agitations, and an armed struggle, Sri Lanka’s war-affected Tamil community in the north and east are still demanding justice, equality, and dignity. And the long-pending political solution remains elusive’ »

By

Suhasini Haidar

Colombo sees the Adani projects in Sri Lanka as a “government to government kind of deal”, said Sri Lankan Foreign Minister MUM Ali Sabry, as it was the Indian government that had identified the Adani group for infrastructure projects including Northern Sri Lanka wind power project.

Stressing that his government is “very very confident” that Adani Ports, Airports and Energy companies have strong fundamentals despite the $140 billion drop in share values after the publication of a negative report by US short seller Hindenburg, Mr. Sabry said that the Adani group has already begun investing in its projects, which also include the $700 million Colombo West Container Port project.

“So, we are not panicking,” Mr. Sabry told The Hindu.

in an interview in New Delhi where he met with External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar and participated in the MEA’s Raisina Dialogue conference. Mr. Sabry said Sri Lanka is grateful for India’s assistance with the economic crisis, and hope for more Indian investment in the next phase of its economic recovery, once it is able to receive a $290 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund, scheduled to meet next month.

The Adani wind power project had come into controversy last year when the chairman of state-owned power entity Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) MMC Ferdinando had told a parliamentary panel that it was granted on the basis of a request from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to then Sri Lankan President Gothabaya Rajapakse. Mr. Ferdinando subsequently retracted his statement and resigned from the post.

Excerpts from interview

Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, trade, investment and the development partnership were at the top of the agenda as Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Delhi on March 4. Speaking to The Hindu earlier, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said that his government’s focus is on the IMF bailout package expected to be decided at the Spring Session in April, for which China’s written assurances are still needed. He also said that despite the company’s recent troubles, he is confident that the Adani group will complete its projects in Sri Lanka, which were negotiated as “government to government” deals.

You last dealt with New Delhi as Finance Minister. How much has your focus shifted as Foreign Minister, and what [was] on the agenda for talks with EAM Jaishankar?

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali sabry is Confident that India’s Adani Group’s Current Financial Crisis will not Affect Its Envisaged Projects in Sri Lanka- Interview with Suhasini Haidar of “the Hindu”.’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the President’s Media Division on March 7th 2023)

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced to Parliament that he had received a financial assurance letter from the Exim Bank of China last night and the letter of agreement, which he signed with the Governor of the Central Bank, had been sent to the International Monetary Fund.

Accordingly, the President stated that he has completed his obligation to the country and anticipates that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will fulfil its responsibility prior to the end of this month.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said this delivering a special statement in Parliament this morning (07) to provide an update on Sri Lanka’s current economic situation and the progress made with the IMF’s assistance to the country.

Furthermore, the President cautioned that if the on-going program implemented by the Government is disrupted, the country could be pushed to an even more perilous state than it was in February and March of 2022.

Following is the full speech delivered in Parliament by President Ranil Wickremesinghe;

In mid-March 2022, the Government decided to seek the assistance of the IMF as a positive solution to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. When the foreign exchange crisis worsened thereafter, in mid-April 2022, it was declared that it was impossible to pay the country’s foreign debt.

Since then, Sri Lanka has operated as a bankrupt economy. All of you in this country have experienced its negative impact. By mid-2022, this country has experienced many problems such as fuel queues, gas queues, electricity cuts, food shortages, difficulties in procuring medicines, inflation, depreciating rupee, and increasing poverty. It is a fact which everyone accepts that the country has never experienced such a catastrophic situation in modern history.

The economic problems that existed since June 2022 have gradually been resolved to some extent. Due to the provision of fertilizer, we achieved a good harvest last year during the Yala and Maha seasons. The export of agricultural products also returned to normalcy.

Continue reading ‘“The agreement with the IMF is of special importance to restore our economy.I invite the Opposition to join us in this endeavour of stabilizing the country’s economy. After accomplishing this, we can decide on holding the presidential election and general election. The country would take this decision.” -President Wickremesinghe in Special Statement to Parliament’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

After a one-day token strike last week, which achieved nothing other than inconveniencing hapless patients in the government hospitals and holding up several ships at the Colombo port, the government trade unions threatened to go on an island-wide from tomorrow (March 8).

If the question concerns any moral justification for the threatened union action, the answer is ‘nothing’.

Championed by the better-remunerated sections of the government service, hence their opposition to the new tax code, the protest action is also self-seeking, opportunistic and hypocritical.

The main grudge of the trade unions is the government’s new income tax reforms, which were endorsed by the IMF last week as the right thing to do to address the long-standing crisis in public finances and invoke confidence in the creditors. The new tax code, a progressive tax system, lowered the taxable threshold to Rs. 100,000 per month and levied an incremental tax at 6% for each additional earning of 500,000 per annum. The maximum tax rate is 36%. That would still apply to only the highest 10% of the country’s salary earners. An employee who earns a monthly salary of Rs 150,000 ( with the first Rs. 100,000 non-taxable) would pay only 2.3% of taxable income, but the rate increases to 28% for someone who earns a monthly salary of One million.

The government unions have demanded that the taxable threshold be increased to Rs. 200,000 a month, and the maximum tax rate be lowered to 24%. The real motive of the latter demand is to save income from the private practice of government doctors.

Workers of CEB and CPC, two colossally loss-making institutions, were roped into the protest after the SOEs were instructed to discontinue paying the PAY taxes on behalf of the employees.

Later, slogans such as the high cost of living increased electricity tariff and shortage of medicine in the hospitals were inducted to make the protest campaign palatable to the majority of lesser-earning peers.

Continue reading ‘Threats of an indefinite strike betray a sinister intent to destabilize the country as it slowly but steadily lifts itself up from the nadir of the worst economic crisis.A govt worth its salt should ensure that would not happen, not for its political preservation, but for the preservation of the country.’ »

By
Nisthar Cassim

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) on Friday declared it was ready for the $ 2.9 billion four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) having completed all due prior actions.

“We have done all prior actions required and we stand ready for the IMF program,” CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe told journalists following the Monetary Policy Review meeting on Friday at which policy rates were increased by 1%.

The CBSL as well as the Government expects the IMF Executive Board to approve the Sri Lanka program in the next few weeks.

Previously, President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that on its part the Government completed its 15 prior actions with the upward revision of electricity tariff on 15 February.

Continue reading ‘“We have done all prior actions required and we stand ready for the IMF program,” says Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe; CBSLand Govt expects the IMF Executive Board to approve the Sri Lanka program in the next few weeks.’ »

By

Mirudhula Thambiah

Although Opposition political parties stated on 5 March in a letter to the Election Commission (EC) that they do not see any reason for the EC to consult Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministry Mahinda Siriwardana or anyone else, now that the EC are bound to comply with the interim order issued by the Supreme Court (SC), EC Chairman Attorney Nimal G. Punchihewa said yesterday (6) that he will meet Siriwardana today (7) since the consultation is important as it is the Treasury that releases the needed allocations to conduct the Local Government (LG) Poll.

When queried by The Daily Morning with regard to the letter of the Opposition and the above stance, Punchihewa further said: “You cannot refrain from consulting the Treasury. It is only they who provide the necessary funds. If we don’t consult them and they refrain from providing funds, we will have to go to the SC again and follow that procedure. Therefore, we need to discuss with the relevant parties when carrying on with it.”

He also noted that political parties can make different statements according to their political opinions and goals, but that the EC has a way of dealing with matters and would therefore, follow such procedures.

Continue reading ‘Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa to Consult Treasury Secretary about Holding Local Govt Polls Despite Opposition Party Demand that Elections Should be Held Before March 19 Without Consulting Treasury Secy’ »

By
Dr.Sujata Gamage

The feeble attempts by the Election Commission (EC) in face of resistance from the Government to hold local elections and the awkward missteps that followed have brought two critical issues to the fore.

What are limits to the independence of independent commissions? Did the EC overestimate its independence and act unilaterally?

Has the Parliament shirked in its duty as per Article 158 where it states that the Parliament shall have full control over public finance?

There is an uproar in the media and on the streets by the opposition, trade unions, and others demanding the holding of local elections. The EC has maintained that despite claims of no money by the executive there are indeed ways of managing the money.

They have gone to the Supreme Court assuring that they will hold the election according to the law. Missing in this conversation is the main actor, the Parliament, the ultimate authority in fiscal matters and to which the EC is ultimately accountable.

EC has been going back and forth to the SC and the media, but not reported to the Parliament the fiscal situation communicated by the Executive. How correct is that?

Continue reading ‘“The opposition should be in Parliament checking on the President’s claim that there is no money for elections, not creating havoc in the streets demanding an election.”’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen on Sunday said they “fiercely oppose” the government’s plan to issue licences to Indian fishermen to enter Sri Lankan waters, terming the move a “serious setback” to their nearly 15-year-long struggle.

On February 22, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told Parliament that authorities were looking into possibly issuing licences to Indian fishermen, as part of Sri Lanka’s efforts to find a solution to the long-persisting fisheries conflict, through “cordial” bilateral talks.

“This was discussed this with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar…Sri Lanka’s priority is to safeguard fishermen’s livelihoods, the country’s marine resources, and find a long-term solution…India has proposed this licensing system as a solution, and we are holding discussions on it,” he said, adding that such a system would help Indian authorities better regulate their fishermen, and will also bring in money that could be used for Sri Lankan fishermen’s betterment. About “2,000 to 3,000 [Indian trawlers] come to our seas every day and our Navy is unable to control that,” Mr. Sabry further noted.

The Minister’s remarks have sparked serious concern among northern fishermen, said Annalingam Annarasa, who leads a Jaffna-based fishermen’s association. “We are very worried, this will be a serious setback to our struggle for the last 15 years to stop Indian trawlers from entering our seas,” he told The Hindu. “Moreover, some political actors are trying to turn fishermen of our two countries against each other, using this problem. We need an urgent solution to this.”

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Northern Fishermen “Fiercely Oppose” the Plan to Issue Licenses to Indian Fishermen to Enter and Fish Freely in Sri Lankan Waters; Govt move is condemned as a “Great Betrayal”’ »

By

Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene

When the President of Sri Lanka pronounces weightily that a change in political power can take place only through a parliamentary process and not as a result of street protests, a delicious irony is quickly manifested.

The poisoned chalice of the Presidency

In other words, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe’s ascent as head of State, despite being unable to retain his parliamentary seat, was precisely as a result of the protests that he now disparages. Whether this led to an actual ‘change’ in Government or not, is to quibble over words. Many would say that the same old corrupt faces remained in power, their privileges and
positions intact.

Even so, the (uncomfortable) fact of the matter is that the President’s ‘elevation’ was directly due to the upsurge of popular anger which led to former President Gotabhaya Rajapakse fleeing the shores of this land. Taken in conjunction with a peculiar constitutional quirk that is unique to Sri Lanka’s political system, the incumbent was catapulted to the most powerful position in the land.

So, much like that beloved Danish fable regarding the Emperor’s invisible clothes which required a bewildered child to point to the truth while fawning courtiers lied about how magnificent he looked, it is mystifying as to why and how such assertions are made. Or does the seat of the Presidency come with a poisoned chalice which reduces its occupants to gibbering simpletons?

Continue reading ‘“What is sown now, will soon come to be reaped as a bitter citizenry reacts with uncontrollable anger against the political establishment.It is a myth, much like the Emperor’s new clothes, to think that this anger can be controlled by state force.”’ »

By

Rajasinghe

Tourism is the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of the Sri Lankan economy. It has had bipartisan support from both J.R. Jayewardene (JRJ) and Sirima Bandaranaike (Mrs. B). Now even the National People’s Power (NPP) under Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to support it as said in its meeting with the business community.

After all, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva began his career as a hotel employee. However, by trying to form unions of hotel workers in a trade which is already overpaid with service charges, etc., the JVP will have difficulties in persuading the hotel sector to believe it.

‘Made by God for tourism’

As Arthur C. Clarke used to say, Sri Lanka is made by God for tourism. With its wide sandy beaches, large swaths of sea, ever-changing scenery from the beaches to the highlands, year-round favourable climatic conditions of alternate monsoon seasons, varied wildlife, cultural diversity, and a hospitable population – the Sri Lankan smile, and being in an advantageous position as a long-haul destination with much less flying time when compared with Bali and Thailand, it is a resource which can only be destroyed if politicians and their jackass nominees interfere as they usually tend to do.

Fortunately, in the early days of tourism, the Government did not meddle in its affairs. JRJ appointed as Chairman of the Tourist Board Chandra Soysa, an accountant, who had extensive contacts with Germany, which was a target catchment area.

Mrs. B appointed Dharmasiri Senanayake, who was a communist who enjoyed living like a capitalist.

Senanayake got on with the private sector like a house on fire and we were doubling tourist traffic every year till 1983 when the communal riots ended that bull run.

So many ventures already on the drawing boards were abandoned and trained staff who left our shores were snapped up by hotels and airlines particularly of the Middle East.

Competing destinations, particularly the Maldives, benefitted from our communal insanity. Fortunately, our leading companies invested in the Maldives, which helped them to survive the self-created losses in their home base.

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa First Cousin Udayanga Weeratunga has emerged as the saviour of our tourism at a difficult time by bringing thousands of tourists from Russia and Ukraine’ »

By
Meera Srinivasan

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Friday issued an interim order restraining authorities from withholding funds allocated for the local government election, which was earlier scheduled for March 9, but postponed.

The order, preventing state functionaries including the Secretary to the Finance Ministry and the Attorney General from withholding funds, was issued after the apex court heard a petition filed by the main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB or United People’s Force) general secretary and legislator Ranjith Madduma Bandara.
The Election commission, which had postponed the elections citing the “lack of funds”, on Friday said it would announce a new date by early next week.

Commenting on the development, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said in a tweet: “The historic order of the Supreme Court today on an application made by the SJB General Secretary confirms the fact that democracy in Sri Lanka is very much alive & the independence of our noble judiciary is further reaffirmed. Mr. President, let the voices of the masses be heard.”

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court issues interim order restraining authorities Including Finance Ministry Secy and Attorney-General from withholding funds allocated for holding the local govt election which was earlier scheduled for March 9.’ »

By

Col R.Hariharan

February ended as a month of discontent for the public after the government raised power tariffs for a second time on February 15. It was said to be the last of 15 conditions to be met for the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of $2.9 billion. But the uncertainties over the EFF are not over as the IMF is yet to receive assurance from China as India and the Paris Club have done. China has offered only a two-year moratorium on its debts.

Opposition SJB MP and economist Dr Harsha De Silva, while strongly condemning the raising of power tariffs for a second time, said Sri Lanka could technically still receive IMF support. He said it can be done through Lending into Official Arrears Policy (LOAP) with support from the US, if 50% of debtors have agreed to restructure their facilities. He suggested that if loans from the China Development Bank can be moved under commercial loans instead of bilateral loans, this could be achieved.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking at various forums has focused on economic recovery. While addressing a Rotary gathering on February 18, he emphasised the importance of economic recovery and improving citizens quality of life. He said democracy depends on the maintenance of public order which requires law and order. Following the country’s economic recovery, next year it would be able to decide on the future it wants, with the use of the ballot (italics added), clearly indicating he was against the LG election.

Addressing Tax Forum 2023 on February 21, he strongly defended the current tax policy, as a rescue operation and not a normal tax policy. If the policy is disrupted, Sri Lanka will not be able to join the IMF programme and lose the opportunity to do business with foreign countries.

Continue reading ‘“The President is applying his masterly skills at obfuscation to handle questions on the long overdue LG elections.If there is an award for obfuscation in politics, President Wickremesinghe will win a platinum award.”’ »

Former Trade Unionist and President’s Trade Union Director General Saman Ratnapriya has declared yesterday’s trade union strike action a failure. Holding a press conference, Ratnapriya said as a trade unionist he is dismayed by it as in the past he was part of trade union actions that were successful. “However, we carried out these strikes when it was needed and when it was possible to obtain our demands,” he said.

Ratnapriya claimed that not even 5% of the health sector staff joined in the strike action and not a single postal worker joined in either. “They claimed they would wear black and put-up black flags in schools, but I did not witness any such occurrence,” he said. Ratnapriya said all services carried on as usual across all sectors despite the strike action.

However, trade unions across various sectors including ports, railways, power and energy, health, banking, education and telecommunications were seen taking part in mass protests and demonstrations across the country yesterday citing several demands including the reversal of the Government’s new tax regime, increased banking interest rates and the failure of the Government to increase salaries and allowances in the current crisis situation.

Continue reading ‘President’s Trade Union Director General Saman Ratnapriya says strike action was a failure but Trade Unions Threaten to launch a continuous strike action across all sectors after 8 March if Govt. fails to respond to their demands.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

It could have happened.

Wislawa Szymborska (Could Have)

Once upon a time, a tryst was announced for angry masses to inundate Colombo and boot the government out. “We will occupy public places and begin the great satyagraha to send this government home,” an organiser proclaimed. “We will come home after we’ve installed our government again.”

No that was not April, May or July 9, 2022. That was September 5, 2018. The battle-cry belonged not to an Aragalaya activist but to parliamentarian Pavithra Wanniarachchi. The event was not Gota-go-home, but Rajapaksa-led Joint Opposition’s Janabalaya Colombata (Peoples Power to Colombo). Fearing street battles between millions of Rajapaksa supporters and the police, Colombo shut-down early. “Peoples’ Power has started the Colombo invasion,” a pro-Rajapaksa website crowed.

The Government, though worried, decided to do nothing. No curfews, judicial orders, riot police, tear gas, or water cannon; no arrests, no one injured, no lives lost. The protestors were given a free run. Instead of millions, a few thousand turned up. Having created more work for CMC/Abans cleaning crews, those who were bussed to Colombo left at nightfall. Organisers were compelled to cancel plans to ‘occupy’ downtown Colombo till whenever.

Mass upheavals often take revolutionary parties, organisations, and activists by surprise. That is the lesson from French and Russian revolutions to Arab Spring and Lanka’s recent Aragalaya. When people reach the breaking point, when they bypass politicians and take politics into their angry hands, they cannot be stopped, not without a bloodbath. But the breaking point must be reached and felt, all hope of better times gone.

Had Gotabaya Rajapaksa introduced the QR system in May 2020, he would still be president. If Ranil Wickremesinghe didn’t end the fuel queues, he would’ve been out by December.

Continue reading ‘Clearly we are living in a Sinhala-Buddhist Iran with saffron-robed Ayatollahs deciding how we live. If a govt’s right to policymaking ends on the edge of an upraised saffron robe, why bother with elections or parliament?’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Workers from nearly 40 trade unions in Sri Lanka, employed in sectors including banking, public health and ports, on Wednesday went on a strike, despite an executive order from President Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring many services “essential”, to effectively outlaw protests by workers in those sectors.

Doctors at Sri Lanka’s National Hospital in Colombo said they would be available for emergency cases alone. The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) asked its members to stay away from private practice, too. While buses in capital Colombo plied in several central areas, banks limited their services to a few hours in the morning.

Teacher unions said members would display black flags at schools, while other union leaders warned that they would organise more protests and demonstrations in the coming days, and continue reporting sick at work.

Continue reading ‘Workers from nearly 40 trade unions in Sri Lanka defiantly go on strike, despite an executive order from President Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring many services “essential” to effectively outlaw protests by workers in those sectors.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared public transport services “essential”, in a move that outlaws strike action by those working in the sector. The announcement came days ahead of a mass protest announced by worker unions against the steep rise in taxes and living costs.

The President used his executive powers to invoke an “essential services” order declaring “public transports, delivery of food or drink, or coal, oil, fuel, the maintenance of facilities for transport by road, rail or air… airports, ports and railway lines, as essential services with immediate effect,” his office said in a statement.

Dozens of worker unions from Sri Lanka’s transport, public health and banking sectors, were preparing to go on a strike on Wednesday, after the government doubled income taxes and increased electricity tariff by three times, as part of measures to qualify for a $2.9 million support package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Following its default last year, Sri Lanka has been counting on the IMF to rescue its battered economy.

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe declares public transport services “essential”, in a pre-emptive move outlawing strike action ahead of a mass protest announced by worker unions against the steep rise in taxes and living costs.’ »

The Court of Appeal yesterday in a landmark decision directed the Parliament to release information of MPs who have submitted their asset declarations.

Following a Right to Information (RTI) application, Justice Sampath B. Abayakoon together with Justice P. Kumararatnam upheld the RTI Commission’s decision holding that: “as a public authority, it is the Sri Lanka Parliament that is in possession, custody or control of the information requested as envisaged in section 3 (1) of the RTI Act.”

Furthermore, the Court recognised that the Right to Information, a right which was subsequently recognised as a Fundamental Right under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, is superior to the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act. The judgment found that the intention of the legislation is to give effect more robustly to the provision of the Constitution, “by fostering a culture of transparency and accountability in public authorities and institutions by giving effect to the right of access to information in combating corruption and promoting accountability and good governance.”

Continue reading ‘Court of Appeal in a landmark decision directs Parliament to release information of MPs who have submitted their asset declarations: Court recognises that the Right to Informtion is a Fundamental Right and is superior to the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act.’ »

Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan, MP, has urged Maya Sivagnanam, Deputy Director of the South Asia Region Department of Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and High Commissioner Sarah Hulton to facilitate their full integration into what he called the Sri Lankan national mainstream polity as ‘full citizens’. The former National Integration Minister said that Britain should use its good offices with the government here to help us to achieve this Sri Lankan goal”.

“The element of British responsibility begins from the fact that the British crown government started bringing us into this country from South India 200 years ago. Since then our people had put in unprecedented hard work and developed the most profitable plantation export industry in then Ceylon and now Sri Lanka.”

TPA leader Ganesan told, Maya Sivagnanam, the FCDO’s Deputy Director of the South Asia Region Department and High Commissioner Sarah Hulton when he and Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) general secretary minister Jeevan Thondaman met British Diplomats at Westminster house, Colombo.

Continue reading ‘TPA Leader Mano Ganesan and CWC Gen Secy Jeevan Thondaman meet Maya Sivagnanam, British Deputy Director of the South Asia Region Department of Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and UK High Commissioner Sarah Hulton in Colombo’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

If the elections are held now, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) is the likely winner. However, none of the political parties would manage to secure a majority, according to an opinion poll by a local think tank.

The findings of the Institute for Health Policy Sri Lanka survey reveal that the JVP (32%) and the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) (31%) are running neck-to-neck. The UNP is miles behind with 9%, and the Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peremuna (SLPP) has fallen to irrelevance with 8%.

Pre-election polling data need to be taken with a pinch of salt. The most memorable pollster upset was Donald Trump’s win in the 2016 election, which almost all major pollsters called for Hillary Clinton. If the 2016 result was an anomaly, Trump polled on average 2.5% more in battleground states and over 5-6% in red states than polls predicated in the 2020 election as well.

However, a few things would make this survey special.

Continue reading ‘If the JVP or SJB in its current policy vacillation, form a government in the future , I would bet my two cents that the Rajapaksas would sweep back to power not before long.’ »

by Jehan Perera

Government supporters appear to be satisfied at the masterful manner by which they believe they have had the local government elections postponed. They deny there was to be an election to be postponed, at all! They find fault with the Election Commission for not having minutes of the meeting they had to decide on the date, and for not having a quorum among their five members for that meeting—although all five signed a letter declaring March 9 to be the date of the election.

There is also the second argument that the country has no money to set aside for elections. The government has set aside other areas as essential services for which scarce government money is available but holding the local government elections is not one of those. The government has been arguing that the country simply cannot afford an election at this time as it is bankrupt.

The government may be hopeful that both of these arguments will convince the majority of people that the elections ought to be postponed. If the local government elections were held on schedule on March 9 there is no doubt whatsoever that the government parties would be routed. After the economic collapse that the country underwent last year, and the unequal allocation of the costs which adversely affects the majority of the people, the government’s popularity has consistently plunged.

According to a recent public opinion survey it is no more than 10 percent. It is likely that the government leaders are aware that their popularity is at a low ebb. Apart from the results of the public opinion they would be receiving briefings from the intelligence services. The more the government’s popularity wanes, the more it will rely on the security forces, both its brains and its brawn.

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe needs to show the statesmanlike approach he is capable of by assuring the people that the govt will indeed find the money to hold the local govt elections soon.’ »

By

Rajan Philips

Tom Nairn, widely known for his 1977 book, The Break-up of Britain, considered by many as “the most significant book on British politics of the past half-century,” passed away on January 21, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was 90 years old and had become a “guru figure” for Scottish Nationalists over the last few decades. Tributes have poured in from across Scotland’s political spectrum, both nationalists and unionists, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who would have been seven years old when Break-up first appeared, her predecessor Alex Salmond, as well as former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Scotsman from Glasgow. To writer David Greig, Nairn was “Scotland’s intellectual engine of civic contemporary nationalism.” Others have called Nairn, Scotland’s greatest modern philosopher.

The break-up book was not primarily an exposition or celebration of Scottish nationalism, but a breakdown of the crisis of the British State. In his 1977 introduction, Nairn acknowledges that “although no main part of the book was written in Scotland, that country’s problems were never far from the inspiration of all of them.” The introduction includes a list of Scottish intellectuals who helped him with comments and suggestions for the book, and the list includes Gordon Brown.

Brown would have been 26 then, still six years before becoming a Member of Parliament, and was working on his PhD thesis at the University of Edinburgh, titled The Labour Party and Political Change in Scotland 1918–1929. The two had collaborated earlier, in 1975, in publishing the “The Red Paper on Scotland”, which Brown edited and to which Nairn was the lead contributor.

Continue reading ‘Tale of two Break-up Books; “The Break -up of Britain”by Tom Nairn and “The Break-up of Sri Lanka: The Sinhalese-Tamil Conflict” by A.Jeyaratnam Wilson’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka is reeling under last year’s crushing economic meltdown and consequent political turmoil, but it is still a good time to invest in the cash-strapped island nation, according to Indian business leaders in capital Colombo.

While acknowledging the many challenges facing the business community in Sri Lanka, the CEOs of Indian companies point to “enormous scope” for foreign direct investment in a host of sectors, such as information technology, tourism, and renewable energy.

Investor sentiment outside Sri Lanka was rather negative last year, “mainly due to the kind of international media coverage of the crisis here”, but there is a “welcome, positive shift” compared to June last year, when the crisis escalated, notes Ashish Chandra, CEO and MD, Airtel Lanka. “Essential supplies have been restored, there is no social unrest, and the government has taken many important steps for economic recovery,” he says.

T.S. Prakash, Country Head of the Umesh Modi Group of Companies, highlights “political stability and policy stability” as the two main factors that businesses look for. “We are confident that the Sri Lankan authorities are taking the right steps to achieve both in the next few years,” he says.

Continue reading ‘Indian Business Leaders Based in Colombo say Despite Challenges there is “enormous scope” for foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka in a host of sectors such as information technology, tourism, and renewable energy.’ »

By

Buddhika Samaraweera

Emphasising that it is not difficult for the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP), having waited patiently for 75 years, to wait patiently for another week or a month, NPP and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that their goal is to transfer political power, which has been limited to only a few elite families, to the masses, and that all attempts would be made, until the last moment, to achieve this goal democratically and peacefully.

Speaking during a protest organised by the NPP against the postponement of the Local Government (LG) election in Colombo yesterday (26), he said: “President Wickremesinghe is currently harbouring hatred towards the people for not having voted for him in the Parliamentary election in 2020. They thought they could enter Parliament as if by family inheritance. They thought that the people were bound to vote for them, but what happened in the end?

The people drove Wickremesinghe out in 2020. Since then he has been angry and hateful towards the people and is taking revenge on them. However, do not have any doubts, We will definitely drive him out. We will form a people’s government. We have waited for 75 years, so can’t we wait for another week or month or so? We will work more and meet people during that week or month too.”

He further claimed that the NPP would not resort to violence to achieve its goals.

Continue reading ‘“We have set the goal of transferring power from the corrupt elite class to the people within the next year and a half. We are working towards that goal. we will rally the people peacefully and democratically till the end.”- JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’ »

By

Buddhika Samaraweera

The National People’s Power (NPP) led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) held a massive protest in the Town Hall area in Colombo against the postponement of the Local Government (LG) elections by current President and Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Government led by him, which many parties claimed to be one of the largest protests after the massive public protests which demanded the resignation of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last year (2022).

Thousands of NPP and JVP supporters gathered at the Viharamahadevi (Victoria) Park in Colombo last afternoon (26) to protest the postponement of the LG election due to the President, as the Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies Minister, not releasing the necessary funds to the Elections Commission (EC). The majority of those who gathered to take part in the protest were youths.

At around 3 p.m., NPP and JVP Leader and MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, NPP MPs Vijitha Herath and Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and many other frontline NPP members, including Sunil Handunnetthi, Tilvin Silva, Bimal Ratnayake, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Mahinda Jayasinghe, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Samatha Vidyaratne, and Attorneys Harshana Nanayakkara and Sunil Watagala, were seen participating in the protest.

Prior to the commencement of the protest, the Colombo Fort and Maligakanda Magistrate’s Courts, considering requests made by the respective police stations, had issued orders preventing certain participants of the protest from entering several areas in Colombo.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court had issued an order preventing any protest marches from taking place in the Kollupitiya and Colombo Fort areas from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. yesterday.

Continue reading ‘JVP led NPP Launces Massive Protest in Colombo Despite Restrictive Court Order; March Blocked by Police Personnel Lining up on Road; Water Cannon and Tear Gas used to Disperse Protesters, Several Injured; Army Deployed’ »

(Excerpts drom the “Ceylon Politics”Column by Gagani Weerakoon in the “Ceylon Today”of 26 February 2023)

President Wickremesinghe was in the Parliament Chamber on Thursday (23), all set to make a statement on Local Government Election 2023 and the conduct of the Election Commission.

In order to hold one, there was no election to begin with, as the Election Commission (EC) has not legally declared a date for holding the Local Government Election, he claimed.

“The EC has not legally fixed a date for the election. There are no funds to allocate for an election either. Even if there are funds, there was no election to begin with,” he said.

The President also said the Parliament Select Committee (PSC), proposed by a group of SLPP MPs, should be appointed soon to probe into the conduct of the EC and all the matters related to holding the LG Election.

Wickremesinghe did not stop there and went on to reduce the announcement of the election date to just a rumour.

“According to my understanding, there is no official date for holding the election, despite ‘rumours’ that it would be on 9 March.”

He alleged that the EC had set the date for the election at a meeting of its members, where there was no quorum.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Discloses in Parliament that MPs of the SJB and FPF Requested him to Postpone Elections to Prevent JVP Performing well at the Polls.”They told me that they would shout a bit in the House and then sit down”Reveals the President’ »

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By

Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene

What is the message that President Ranil Wickremesinghe conveys to Sri Lankans when he asserts (as he did in Kandy a few days ago) that the date of the local government elections can be ‘decided by court but you cannot save the economy by going to court even if all the judges – including the Chief Justice – are involved’?

Parades or elections, what is more vital to democratic health?

Several highly unfortunate implications arise thereto. First, the deliberate timing of the statement is stark, just days before the country’s apex court was due to hear petitions filed by opposition politicians and polls monitors in regard to postponement of the local government polls.

Amusingly enough, the Presidential assertion coincided with a ‘Janaraja’ parade (an event with colonial undertones) held in the hill capital after more than three decades.

To put the matter in context, the remark was in tandem with an extraordinary combination of state officials justifying the postponement of the polls. That was unprecedented in post-independent Sri Lanka which had hitherto stoutly asserted the holding of elections even in the midst of the raging conflict in the North and South. This time around, the Treasury claimed the lack of funds and a bankrupt public purse on the one hand.

On the other hand, the Government Printer reduced her office to a veritable caricature by pleading that ballot papers could not be printed for wildly diverse reasons, ranging from lack of financial guarantees to lack of police security. So to return to what the President said, what would have been the implications if a citizen – less august than the head of the executive – had made such an assertion on the eve of a court hearing?

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka needs to be rescued from her conscienceless if not venal politicians, not limited to the Government benches alone.That may well be the greatest humanitarian operation of all’ »

By Chandani Kirinde

Bird watchers living in urban surroundings are often struck by the presence of several species of birds who remain undeterred by the rapid increase in human settlements in areas, which were once large marshy lands, paddy fields, swamps, or thickets. In most suburbs, a keen bird watcher can easily spot at least 30 species of birds in the immediate environs without having to venture too far off visiting bird sanctuaries or parks.

Water-Hen preening

One’s immediate surroundings is a good place to start for those new to bird watching/photography, a passion I cultivated during the extended lockdown due to COVID. Now that my newly found interest has whet my appetite, I’ve gone looking for rarer birds to more exotic locations around the island but the bird visitors closer to home have their own charm and observing them up close on a daily basis is a thrill as they can surprise you with new behaviour.

Two birds that most Sri Lankans are familiar with are the white-breasted waterhen (Korawakka in Sinhala, Neer Koazhi in Tamil) and the red-wattled lapwing (Kirala (S), Aatkaati (T). Their presence is most common near water bodies, paddylands, ditches and marshes and can be seen easily in the suburbs of Colombo or even in the metropolis.

Continue reading ‘Two birds that most Sri Lankans are familiar with are the white-breasted waterhen (Korawakka/Neer Koazhi) and the red-wattled lapwing (Kirala/Aatkaati)’ »

By Rajasinghe

From its inception in 1947, Pakistan has been a close friend of Sri Lanka. Perhaps it was because, with its friction with the new India, a friendly country located in the southern tip of its adversary was a vital strategic advantage.

Also, Pakistani rulers were aware that Sri Lankan Muslims identified themselves with the new Islamic state, which was perceived to be under threat from the stronger – and more aggressive – Indians, particularly those represented by Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Even today, Patel is celebrated as a key Indian freedom fighter by his fellow Gujarati, Narendra Modi. There are many in India who think that the first Indian Prime Minister should have been Patel but was thwarted by another Gujarati, Mahatma Gandhi, when he nominated Jawaharlal Nehru for that post with the concurrence of the Indian Congress.

Continue reading ‘Former Pakistan Ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf was a Good Friend of Sri Lanka;his Timely assistance and Personal Intervention Enabled the Armed Forces to Defend Jaffna from an LTTE onslaught’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka’s Election Commission on Friday said the country’s local government elections, scheduled for March 9, stands postponed due to reasons “beyond” its control.

The new date for the local body polls will be announced on March 3, the Election body said in a media statement.

Further, the Election Commission has sought the intervention of the Parliamentary Speaker to secure the funds required to hold elections.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Election Commission Announces Postponement of local govt elections scheduled for March 9 due to reasons “beyond” its control;new date for the local body polls will be announced on March 3, says the EC in a media statement.’ »

(Full Text of Press Release Issued by the President’s Media Division on February 23rd 2023)

Participating in the parliamentary debate held today (23), President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the Opposition’s accusations of postponing the elections are baseless as the Election Commission has not officially announced a fixed date for the election.
He further stated that his priority is not politics but building the economy, emphasizing that the survival of the country is dependent on a strong economy.

Following is the full speech delivered by the President in Parliament;

The Opposition has requested a division on the Resolution under the Essential Public Services Act, which is being debated, and this is not a typical occurrence.

Electricity provision is an essential service, and I fail to understand why the Opposition is opposing it. Are they against uninterrupted electricity provision?

Or do they object to electricity altogether?

If the Opposition wishes to debate this matter, we are open to it. However, they had requested a debate on the postponement of the election, which is not possible as there is no election to postpone.

Initially, I did not intend to participate in this debate as I am not inclined to discuss politics. However, the Election Commission, which has been summoned before the court, has reportedly submitted an affidavit stating that an election cannot be held. In light of this development, I feel compelled to speak up on behalf of the Secretary to the Finance Ministry and others under me, as it is unfair to them.

The Secretary to the Treasury has informed the Commission that they are unable to provide the necessary funds to conduct the election.

I must clarify that the statement claiming that the Secretary to the Treasury informed the Election Commission that they were unable to provide funds for the election is false. In fact, on December 14, I personally informed the Election Commission members about the economic situation of the country and instructed them to hold an election when the number of members of the local government election was reduced to 5000.

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe states that the Opposition’s accusations of postponing the elections are baseless as the Election Commission has not “officially” announced a fixed date for the election; Provides Detailed Explanation about the LG Election Fiasco to Parliament’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka has approved a $442-million wind power project of Adani Green Energy, barely a month since the Indian multinational conglomerate’s stocks plummeted following U.S.-based short-seller Hindenburg’s damaging report on the Group.

“Adani, a leading Indian company” received the project approval “to start two wind power plants in Mannar and Pooneryn areas of [northern] Sri Lanka,” the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka said on Wednesday. The project would likely create 2,000 jobs, and in two years, generate about 350 MW of power, the Board said in a statement.

The BOI’s approval effectively takes the Adani Group’s total investments in the island nation over the $1 billion-mark. It has already committed to pumping in $700 million at a strategic port terminal in Colombo, and work on the West Container Terminal began in November 2022.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Govt Approves $442 Million Wind Power Project of India’s Adani Green Energy; Board of Investment says two wind power Plants to be set up in Mannar and Poonagari in the Northern Province likely to Create 2000 Jobs and Generate 350 MW of Power’ »

By
Padmasena Dissanayake

When the Colombo Academy was launched in 1835, we were under the British Empire. Despite many of its earliest principals being Anglican priests, Royal College (RC) was kept strictly secular throughout its existence. Until very recently!

During the 450 years under European rulers, the earliest schools started by the missionaries were clearly of religious denominations. As much as educating the offspring of higher echelons of society, the mission of the missionaries was to convert the future leadership.

As time went by every other religious entity followed suit to counter Catholic/Christian influence. Henry Olcott Steel and Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala started a chain of Buddhist schools such as Ananda, Nalanda, Mahinda, Dharmaraja, Maliyadeva, etc. Hindus sent theirs to Hindu schools and Muslims to theirs. But RC, considered to be the epitome of public schools to date, and often referred to as one of the best and lasting gifts by the British Empire, continued to remain secular, watching silently communal riots flaring up at predictable intervals, sometimes continuing for decades devouring countless lives and properties.

RC was silently teaching a unique lesson to a divided nation as to why every school should be made secular fostering lasting friendships, mutual understanding, practicing tolerance and empathy across the board.

RC had remained secular for over 150 years. Then it gradually started transforming into a Buddhist school about three decades ago. At first unnoticeably but gradually giving up all pretences of its secularity.

Continue reading ‘Colombo Royal College Reputed for Its Proud Secular Tradition is Being Gradually Turned Into an Ultra-Buddhist Institution’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the Presidents Media Division)

During a meeting with businessmen and lawyers in the Kandy district, President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of having a proper plan to strengthen the country’s economy.

He praised the current government’s economic program, which has helped reduce recent economic difficulties. The President also acknowledged that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the only institution that can support a struggling country like Sri Lanka, and therefore, if there are alternative proposals to the government’s program, he is willing to provide the opportunity to submit them to the IMF.

He further criticized political parties for playing games and lying to the people without presenting their proposals. The President reiterated his commitment to continue the program of building the country’s economy despite any obstacles.
Expressing his views further President Ranil Wickremesinghe said,

This meeting was convened today aimed at providing clarity on the current economic situation of our country and solicit views and suggestions on the steps to be taken towards recovery. We are currently facing a difficult situation. The collapse of the economy of a home affects the people living in it. The same holds true for the collapse of a business. However, when a country’s economy collapses, the effects are felt by the entire population.

We faced this situation eleven months ago. We had no fuel, electricity or medicine. We faced a very difficult situation as a country. The country’s economy came to a complete halt.

Upon assuming the presidency, I encountered a challenging situation in the country. However, we devised a sound economic plan and implemented it, which has helped us overcome the difficulties. Additionally, we provided necessary fertilizers to the farmers in a timely manner, resulting in a bountiful harvest this Maha season.

Currently, the issue of fuel queues has been resolved and there is an uninterrupted supply of electricity. As a result, we are making gradual progress towards improving the country’s economy beyond its previous state. However, it’s important to note that there are still other issues that need to be addressed.

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Reveals that Sri Lanka has Completed all 15 Tasks set by the IMF on Feb 15 after the Original Deadline was Exxtended ; the Delay was due to One man in the Country opposing the increase in Electricity Tariffs Says Ranil in Kandy’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

The local government elections ran into not-so-unexpected troubles last week. As things stand now, they will most likely be postponed indefinitely after the government withheld funds to print polling cards.

The government printer refused to print the polling cards without the full payment of Rs. 400 million, citing a circular issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the minister of finance. The circular held the government officials personally responsible for any services that they, in their official capacity, have obtained or provided on credit.

Whether the circular issued last month was designed with the elections in mind is open to question. Even if it isn’t, its selective implementation – since no such parsimony was evident in the other affairs of the government, including the controversial celebration of the 75th anniversary of independence that cost Rs. 200 million – one can sense a dose of malintent.

After the government printer refused to proceed without the full payment, the election commission postponed the postal voting indefinitely. Postal voting was initially scheduled to be held on February 22, 24 and 28.

The elections would follow suit, and chances are that they would not be held any time this year.

Continue reading ‘Would the LG elections help solve the country’s twin economic and political crises? The answer is a resolute ‘NO’. Worse still, it would make both worse!’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the President’s Media Division )

According to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the current tax policy in Sri Lanka is not a normal tax policy, but rather a rescue operation.

He warned that if this process is disrupted, Sri Lanka will not be able to join the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program and may lose the opportunity to do business with foreign countries.

In addition to his comments on the tax policy, President Ranil Wickremesinghe also stated that the budget presented for the year 2023 in Sri Lanka is not an ordinary budget, but rather an operation to rescue the economy. The President highlighted that, apart from the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce, no other party, person, or institution has submitted any proposals or alternatives to the IMF.

The President made these remarks while delivering the keynote speech at the Tax Forum 2023. The forum, held at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo today (21) was organized to discuss the taxation policies introduced by the government in the 2023 budget.

Continue reading ‘“Joining the IMF Program is the only way out for Sri Lanka; Agreement Reached with the IMF will be Submitted to Parliament for Approval.If it is Rejected the parties concerned will have to come up with Alternative Proposals”- President Wickremesinghe Tells Tax Forum’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka’s crisis last year was unprecedented on many accounts. But, it was not entirely unrelated to the country’s tumultuous past, marked by discriminatory laws and policy targeting the island nation’s minorities, especially the Malaiyaha Tamils, according to Rajan Hoole, Jaffna-based mathematician, best known for his human rights activism during the civil war years.

In an email interview with The Hindu, he speaks about his latest book Democracy Stillborn, co-authored with Kirupaimalar Hoole, a retired librarian from the University of Jaffna. Published by the Colombo-based Sailfish, it focuses on Sri Lanka’s treatment of the Malaiyaha Tamil community, brought down from India by the British to work in the plantations in the island’s central and southern regions, and links the persisting exploitation and discrimination of the community’s labouring classes to the country’s larger pursuit of democracy.

After your early years of activism as part of the University Teachers for Human Rights-Jaffna [UTHR-J], when you wrote the Broken Palmyra with your colleagues, and subsequent works, including on the Easter Sunday Bombings of 2019, what was your motivation for writing Democracy Stillborn?

Rajan Hoole: Democracy Stillborn was motivated by the squalor, ignorance, and humiliation to which the Plantation Tamils alone had been juridically subject, which I have seen since youth. The denial of the vote, aided by the Tamil Congress’s opportunism, took away the community’s critical means of defence, leave alone advancement.

Continue reading ‘“After Ceylon got Universal Adult Franchise, the Ceylon National Congress was hijacked by a group that forged Sinhalese nationalism based on hazy ancient history and modern-day market capitalism.” – Rajan Hoole’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

China must agree to take a haircut on its loans to poor countries and assist their economic recovery, India’s G20 Sherpa has said, in a rare, direct reference to Chinese debt of developing nations.

“China needs to come out openly and say what their debt is and how to settle it,” said Amitabh Kant, according to a Bloomberg news report. “It can’t be that the International Monetary Fund [IMF] takes a haircut and it goes to settle Chinese debt. How is that possible? Everybody has to take a haircut,” the Sherpa was quoted as saying.

While the United States has been a vocal critic of Chinese debt in developing nations, with its top officials frequently commenting on the top Asian lender’s role in the restructure process, India has seldom made mention of China while commenting on sovereign debt of countries.

Mr. Kant’s remarks assume significance ahead of a scheduled virtual meeting of the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, organised by the IMF, the World Bank and India, which is leading the Group of 20 major economies this year. The virtual roundtable on February 17 will be followed by an in-person meeting in Bengaluru on February 25, PTI news agency reported from Washington DC.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe states that the debt-ridden island nation hoped to receive the IMF’s $2.9 billion package by March to set the country’s economy on a path of recovery after last year’s painful financial crash.’ »

By

Jayadeva Uyangoda

Sri Lankans entered 2023 with an unwelcome gift from the government – a new income tax policy. This was meant to bolster empty public coffers as the government tries to navigate the country’s economic crisis, but for ordinary people already facing difficulty on every front it was one more blow from the same ruling class that created the mess in the first place.

Already, triggered by the new tax policy, protests against the government by large numbers of middle-class professionals have become a regular occurrence. These protests have the potential to spread among other social strata too: the poor and working classes also feel mounting despair because of unrelenting economic hardship.

In a situation where most of the burden of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery has been passed on to these social classes, a new wave of popular outrage against the ruling elites cannot be ruled out, and there is speculation that renewed citizens’ protests this year may well be more widespread and militant than those that shook the country in 2022.

Two themes dominate the political debate in Sri Lanka at present: managing the economic crisis through restructuring sovereign debt and the local government elections announced for March 2023.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s present crisis is too serious to be left in the hands of the political class alone. The reactivation of the aragalaya in a new and more viable form would be fundamental to keeping the political class in check and sustaining popular hopes for change.’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Island” of 15 February 2023 under the heading “If wishes were Tigers”)

P. Nedumaran, who leads a fringe group in Tamil Nadu, has got grabbing headlines down to a fine art. He used to ride on the tiger tails of the LTTE, as it were, when Prabhakaran was around, and attracted a great deal of media attention. He has sought to do so again. He has told the media that Prabhakaran is still alive and will appear in public soon. He made a similar claim in 2018, and more than four years have since elapsed. Maybe the task of returning from the dead takes much longer than Nedumaran thinks it does!

If wishes were Tigers, so to speak, Nedumaran and others of his ilk would ride them. He is one of the few politicians who rode the Tigers, smiling like the young Lady of Niger, but were lucky enough not to return inside the beasts.

Nedumaran’s claim could not have come at a better time for the Rajapaksas, who are desperately looking for a bogey in the run-up to a crucial election to instill fear in the Sri Lankan public and offer to protect them against evils such as terrorism. It is claimed in some quarters that the recent brouhaha over ICE (crystal methamphetamine) finding its way into schools was part of their strategy to make a comeback by undertaking to save children.

Continue reading ‘Nedumaran’s claim about LTTE’s Prabhakaran being alive could not have come at a better time for the Rajapaksas, who are desperately looking for a bogey in the run-up to a crucial election to instill fear in the Sri Lankan public and offer to protect them against evils such as terrorism.”-The Island’ »

Tamil nationalist movement leader Pazha Nedumaran claimed, on February 13, 2023, that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) leader, Velupillai Prabakaran was still alive, and would emerge in public soon.

Reading out a statement at a press conference in Thanjavur at Mullivaikkal Mutram, Mr. Nedumaran said the time was now appropriate for the LTTE leader to come out in the open in the context of the Sinhalese protest against Mahinda Rajapaksa and the international situation.

Stating that it was a pleasurable moment to declare that ‘Thamizh Desiya Thalaivar’ (Tamil Nationalist Leader) Prabakaran was hale and healthy, he said that this announcement should put an end to the ‘rumours’ about his death.

Continue reading ‘“LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran is still alive and would emerge in public soon.” Claims Tamil Nationalist Movement Leader Pazha Nedumaran on February 13 2023 — News Report in “The Hindu”’ »

(Text of Media release Issued by the Presidents Media Division)

President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressing his views at the vesting ceremony of the Jaffna Cultural Centre (JCC) in the people of Sri Lanka called on everyone to join hands in brotherhood to rebuild this fallen nation. The JCC was completed with funds of Rs 13,500 million provided by the Indian Government and the event was attended by the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan.

In his speech, the President emphasized the government’s policy of reconciliation, development, and culture, and called for all citizens to come together in brotherhood to rebuild the country. He noted the significance of the first elected leader in Sri Lanka, Ponnambalam Ramanathan, and pointed out that the country’s development could be accelerated with a combination of Sinhala and Tamil leadership.

We have decided to celebrate our 75th Independence ceremony not only in Colombo, but also in Jaffna. We will commence the program here at the Jaffna Cultural Centre (JCC), which is a gift from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On behalf of all of you, I extend my sincere thanks to the Indian Prime Minister and the Indian Government for this wonderful gift. This is one of the major events of the programs implemented by the Sri Lankan and Indian Governments.

Continue reading ‘“Culture is the bridge of reconciliation and development.Let’s join hands to rebuild the fallen country”- states President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the ceremonial opening of the Jaffna Cultural Centre (JCC) on Nov 11;thanks Indiam Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Wonderful Gift’ »

(Text of Media release Issued by the Presidents Media Division)

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the economy could not be built through the reconciliation alone and the economic development rate of the country depends on the attitude and commitment of the people.

The President said that the Northern Province had made extensive contributions to the national economy prior to the War and assured that the development programs required to restore the strong economy of the North would be implemented.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks during a discussion held in Jaffna yesterday ( Feb 10) on the issues in the Northern Province. A group of political representatives and scholars from the Northern Province participated in the discussion.

The views expressed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the discussion are as follows:

There have been dialogues on sharing maximum power under the Reconciliation Program and on the political affairs in the North of the country. I brought my focus on the matter during my speech in the Parliament on February 08. So I am not going to focus on the same today.

I believe that a massive development in the Northern Province should take place in parallel to the economic development program in the country. The economy of Jaffna completely collapsed due to the war. It has not yet reached the anticipated level of economic development.

Therefore, we hope to work under a 10-year plan to bring the country to that stage.

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe states in Jaffna that The Northern Province would be developed systematically so that it could make a significant contribution to the country’s national economy;also points out that the economy could not be built through reconciliation alone.’ »

By

Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene

In truth, President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s admonition that, ‘the future cannot be built on falsehood’ this Wednesday (February 8th, 2023) as he formally opened the fourth session of the ninth Parliament, must be addressed to the political leadership (himself included), not the nation as such.

Quaint Throne Speeches and Presidential promises

In fact, the temptation is acute, in the best traditions of fairy tales long fed to the Sri Lankan people, to murmur, ‘mirror, mirror on the wall…’ For it is the President, the Prime Minister and their legion of fawning sycophants who stand first accused of uttering falsehoods, persistently and deliberately as it were, not citizens. This has been the primary factor in precipitating the country into bankruptcy and condemning her people to desperation, despair
and doom.

So when the President affirms in a quaintly termed ‘Throne Speech’ that, ‘he is not here to be popular,’ in the backdrop of foisting staggeringly increased taxes on the populace, the question must be asked, ‘popular to whom?’ Certainly, President Wickremesinghe finds himself resoundingly popular with the political and the privileged classes, praised by his ‘Pohottuwa’ fellow mates in the House for holding the barricades of the State steady as it were, against bearded barbarians at the gates.

Doubtless, it would have been manna from heaven to the stricken Government last year when an impertinent rabble broke down the gates to the Presidential abode last year, violating its sanctum sanctorum, dancing about on luxurious beds and marveling over stacks of cash ferreted away.

Now we hear that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, that ‘chosen Sinhala-Buddhist President’ who fled through the back door when the public rose against him and stealthily returned in the dark, is claiming this money as his own.

Continue reading ‘The President and his Govt lacking a popular mandate to govern, face off against a people bitterly refusing to bite with good grace on the bitter pill of deprivation while the privileged prosper.’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the High Commission of India in Colombo on February 11th 2023)

T..he iconic Jaffna Cultural Center (JCC), which was built with grant assistance of Government of India (GOI), was dedicated to the people on 11 February 2023 at a colourful event in the gracious presence of President of Sri Lanka H.E Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Information & Broadcasting, GOI Dr. L. Murugan, High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay, Hon. Douglas Devananda, Minister for Fisheries, Hon. Vidura Wickramanayake, Minister for Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hon. Kadar Masthan, Minister of State for Rural Economy, several Parliamentarians and dignitaries from various walks of life.

2. Describing JCC as a gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President H.E Ranil Wickremesinghe thanked him and GOI for the Center. He thanked India for the support extended to Sri Lanka during the economic challenges. Highlighting cultural similarities between the two countries, he noted that India and Sri Lanka were the two sides of the same coin.

Continue reading ‘The Jaffna Cultural Center (JCC), constructed with grant assistance of the Indian Govt dedicated to the people by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the presence of Indian Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan; Ranil Thanks Indian PM Modi for Gift.’ »

By Rajasinghe

It was R.G. Senanayake, a Minister of Trade and playboy, who first promoted tourism in Sri Lanka. He would spend weekends in the old rest houses in Bentota and Hikkaduwa with his friends and talk about the beauty of the sea and the fabulous beaches there, which he compared favourably to resorts in Thailand.

He was especially fond of Hikkaduwa with its coral reefs and the large variety of tropical fish living amidst them. You could hire a flat-bottomed boat and see the wonderfully colourful marine life a short distance away from the beach. He persuaded Dudley as PM to renovate the Hikkaduwa and Bentota rest houses to encourage local tourists, who at that time came mostly from the upper class.

RG fell in love with Trincomalee. He sang its praises as a holiday destination and persuaded many of his Colombo friends to buy up parcels of land for beach cottages. When the Government did not heed his call to acquire lands there for domestic tourism, he spent his own money to buy up swathes of land in Uppuveli and Nilaveli, which he devoted to growing red onions, thereby providing a new source of income for the farmers in the area.

Up until then, as Minister of Trade, he imported Bombay onions for domestic consumption. The Agriculture Ministry had said that onions could not be grown in our climate. It also said that potatoes could not be grown in this country till one maverick agricultural officer, Goonetilleke, grew it in his bailiwick in Uva. Initially he was interdicted for his pains. Today potato farming is a major occupation in Uva and Nuwara Eliya.

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Depends on Energetic Man of Action Harin Fernando to Revive the Tourism Sector to Earn Desperately Needed Foreign Exchange for the Country’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

During the weekend, when Sri Lanka marked the 75th anniversary of its independence, it was a sober, sad, and indeed a bitter affair. Most of the public was bitterly critical of the celebrations. The police confronted silent protests. National flags were conspicuously missing in the city corners and houses. The police obtained a court order to cordon off the Galle Face green and its vicinity, the venue of the state event. The party went on without the people.

That was an astonishing about – the – turn of the collective psyche. Not long ago, they watched with almost religious zeal as the vintage military tanks paraded when the successive governments, especially of the Rajapaksas, marked the independence and the day of the military victory against terrorism, and also any other day that could be useful to prop up a skewed version of national pride.

The North held a black day. A protest caravan that took off from Jaffna is now heading to Kilinochchi. This time around, not many in the South seemed to have disagreed.

That reckoning is not altogether bad. During their social evolution, communities have moved away from parochial nationalism and the conventional wisdom of national pride, some due to national misadventures, others due to a protracted process of wider social transformation.

That change may be as varying as the shift in the American perspective on Columbus Day or the terming the founding of America in 1619, the day the first slave ship arrived in America or the seismic shift of dominant ideologies of post-war Germany or Japan. Though none of that offers a direct comparison to the Sri Lankan experience, the legacy of the independence of Sri Lanka needs to be evaluated dispassionately.

But that intellectual and social exercise was too late to come. Since its independence, this country has made tremendous gains by building a welfare state and redistributing wealth – a few countries, after their independence, have undertaken drastic land reforms as extensively as Sri Lanka or committed to free education and universal health care.

But it has failed miserably and, in fact, walked back on creating wealth. That failure was monumental considering Sri Lanka’s relative position at the independence. It has now come full force as the country grappled with the worst economic crisis ever.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe’s opponents do not want to see him succeed. To deprive Ranil of his success, which might lead to a very credible presidential candidacy, they are ready to let the country fail. This is cringeworthy opportunism that does not make you a patriot or a social justice worrier, but a scumbag.’ »

It took a little over seven days for a corporate titan to be cut down to size. Only weeks ago Gautam Adani was the world’s third-richest man and the self-proclaimed Rockefeller of India. Then a short-seller questioned his company’s finances, investors took fright and $100bn in market value evaporated. Tens of billions have been wiped off the tycoon’s personal wealth. Today the company is racing to show it can meet its debt payments.

The humbling in the markets calls into question Mr Adani’s pharaonic ambitions. It is also a political embarrassment for Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India and a close associate of Mr Adani. And it confronts Indian capitalism with its sternest test in years.

Mr Adani’s sprawling empire touches hundreds of millions of Indians’ daily lives. It runs some of India’s biggest ports, stores a third of its grain, operates a fifth of its power-transmission lines and makes a fifth of its cement. It was among India’s top ten biggest non-financial firms, by assets, and had been projected to grow rapidly.

The prospects for that growth are now uncertain. In a report published on January 24th Hindenburg Research, an American short-seller, alleged that opaque entities based in Mauritius linked to the Adani family were manipulating the group’s stock price. Although Adani denied the claims, it did not convince investors. Share prices plunged and financing plans were disrupted. Yields on bonds issued by the company have risen; those of the group’s renewables arm trade at an eye-watering 19%.

Continue reading ‘“World’s Third Richest Man Gautam Adani Cut down to size in 7 days with tens of billions being wiped out from the Tycoon’s personal wealth; It is also a political embarrassment for Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India and a close associate of Mr Adani.” -The Economist’ »

Popular Toronto Mayor John Tory has stepped down from his post in an unexpected turn of events. Tory resigned after admitting to an affair with with a former member of his staff.

John Tory, who has been married to his wife Barbara Hackett for 45 years, blamed the affair on a “serious error of judgment” and requested privacy as he wants to spend time to spend with his wife and family. Tory has four children and five grandchildren.

Mayor John Tory

John Tory’s announcement was made during an evening press conference at Toronto City Hall. Declining to answer questions, Tory issued a brief media statement . The statement was as follows –

Continue reading ‘Toronto Mayor John Tory steps down from his post after admitting to an affair with with a former member of his staff that ended early this year by mutual consent’ »

(Text of Speech made by TNA Jaffna District MP Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran in Parliament during the adjournment debate on 09th February 2023)

Thank you presiding officer for the opportunity to say a few words on the adjournment debate. On the Throne speech made by the President yesterday in this house, I am saying throne speech because in the English version of the printed document of his speech it actually says Throne speech.

The Sinhala and the Tamil don’t have it but the English says Throne speech. Knowing the president as I do, he probably drafted his speech in English first, and he thought he was actually making a Throne speech, those who translated it into Sinhala and Tamil knew better than to call it anything like that.

And the title says Policy statement; Policy statement by the His Excellency the president.

But this betrays what the president has in mind or what he thinks, who he is, to say throne speech.

Now, in this speech, the president deals with people who criticize various acts of the government, various policies and says, but when they come into office, they continue with that.
They don’t act any differently, and he has criticized them quite strongly in his throne speech.

But I would like to remind in his throne speech. I would like to remind him that he is also doing the same thing. In 1996, it is said that the United National Party at is convention resolved to Abolish, the executive presidential system. And that was a position they have held on to until now or said to be their official position.

In the last Parliament, when we had a constitutional assembly when this issue of Executive Presidency came up, the President who was Prime Minister then, quite categorically said that’s the UNP Stand, we are for abolition of the Executive Presidency.

Continue reading ‘“We are not asking for a separation of the County. We are for a united undivided even indivisible country. Don’t divide the country, but share power in a meaningful way, maximum devolution of power cannot happen in a unitary model”- M.A.Sumanthiran MP’ »

(Full Text of Government’s Policy Statement delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the inauguration of the fourth session of the ninth Parliament on 6 February 2023)

The moment the school children sang the National Anthem and Jayamangala Gatha during the last Independence Day Celebration, I was convinced of the need to secure their future. Are these children confident of their future?

Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland who visited Sri Lanka for the Independence Day Celebration, had discussions with groups of youth in our country. They had pointed out that their confidence of the future has been eroded due to the developments over a long period of time. Do they have full confidence on their future?

The day after Independence Day, a special supplementary was published in the Sunday Times newspaper, where some youth had expressed their opinions regarding the present situation in our country.

Mathisha Udawatta says,

While leaving the country is a constant resonating thought, there is still a smallest spark inside me that’s holding me close to home. I intend not to let it die. I have not given up on my Sri Lanka yet.

Clifford Fernando has the idea that,
I won’t migrate, but I sincerely hope there will be a change in the situation in Sri Lanka. All our attitudes need to change, better discipline is needed, people need to obey rules and show more empathy towards each other.

Cilani Wijesinghe says,
I don’t want to leave my country – I wish to help it come out of the situation it is in, currently. I also don’t want the people leaving at a time the country needs them the most, only to come back when things are better.

While reading these comments, I was reminded of the twins who came to meet me recently in Anuradhapura. These girls met me at the end of the ceremony of awarding credentials to Atamasthanadhipathi, Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero. Namadi and Chenuti Perera are studying in Year 5, at Maliadeva Balaka Vidyalaya, Kurunegala. The rendition of their song ‘I will not leave the country’ was presented to me in a CD. I request the television channels to broadcast that song after my speech today.

These children and youth are the future generation of our country, who wish to rebuild the nation, without leaving. It is our responsibility to create a country where they can live freely. Therefore, this is your responsibility, the Honorable Members of the House. This is also the responsibility of every Sri Lankan.

I believe everyone remembers the situation the country was in when I addressed the opening of the previous Session of the Parliament. You may recall the country’s situation when the last budget was presented and also seven to eight months ago.

Continue reading ‘“Let’s unite consensually and move forward democratically to support the recovery of the nation from the current crisis. If anyone wishes to have a political agenda, let’s consider it after we rescue the nation.”-President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By Chandani Kirinde

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said there would be no change to the Government’s newly introduced tax policies insisting he is ready to take unpopular decisions on behalf of the country.

“Introducing new tax policies is a politically unpopular decision. I’m not here to be popular. I want to rebuild this nation from the crisis situation it has fallen into. I’m ready to make unpopular decisions for the sake of the nation,” Wickremesinghe said while delivering the Government’s Policy Statement to Parliament.

Yesterday’s ceremonial sitting of Parliament was boycotted by the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) as well as National Progressive Party (NPP) while a group of SLPP MPs who now sit in Opposition came to the Chamber and walked out as the President entered the Chamber, jeering on their way out.

The President who opened the new session of Parliament after the recent prorogation outlined Government plans for the future which included addressing the problems faced by the people of the north as well as introducing new legislation to deal with corruption and recovery of stolen assets, and a National Security Act to replace the PTA.

He said if the PAYE tax is abolished, the country will lose Rs. 100 billion and if the tax limit is raised to Rs .2000,000, the economy will lose Rs. 63 billion amounting to Rs. 163 billion in total. “We are presently not in a position to lose this income,” he said.

Continue reading ‘“Introducing new tax policies is a politically unpopular decision. I’m not here to be popular. I want to rebuild this nation from the crisis situation it has fallen into. I’m ready to make unpopular decisions for the sake of the nation,” Declares President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Govt’s Policy Statement to Parliament.’ »

Despite a Court injunction preventing protests near the entrance to Parliament, a section of the Buddhist clergy marched towards the Parliament entrance yesterday (8) during President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Statement of Government Policy speech following the inauguration of the fourth session of the ninth Parliament, protesting against the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

However, the Police placed barricades to block the protestors, but unlike in previous protests and processions staged near the Parliament vicinity, there was no usage of tear gas or water cannons. Hundreds of Buddhist monks gathered near the Parliament to burn a copy of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution by stating that they would not permit the implementation of Police and land powers through the said Amendment.

Continue reading ‘Despite Court Order Forbidding Protests near Parliament Entrance, Mob of Buddhist Bhikkus Stage Demonstration and Burn Copy of 13th Constitutional Amendment; no Tear gas or Water Cannon used by Cops to Disperse Illegal Protest’ »

Pandemonium reigned on the streets of Colombo yesterday as trade unions across all sectors took to the streets to protest against the Government’s new tax regime forcing the Government to call for Police riot squads and military reinforcements to maintain law and order.

At least 2000 Sri Lanka Port Authority workers marched towards the Fort Railway station in protest. The group held a demonstration in front of the railway station blocking the road and forcing the Police to order the group to disperse. However, the group refused to disperse and continued to protest, giving rise to a tense situation between the agitators and the Police.

The protestors threatened to stop all services at the ports if they were assaulted by the Police. CEYPETCO trade union workers also joined the port workers’ protest to shout slogans against the Government’s decision to hike PAYE taxes.

Continue reading ‘Police Riot Squads and Military Reinforcements Brought in to Control Massive Trade Union Demonstration Protesting in Colombo against Taxation’ »

The Presidential Secretariat claimed that a sum of approximately Rs. 11 million had been spent for the 75th Independence Day, despite Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Governments Neel Bandara Hapuhinna confirming to The Daily Morning on 1 February that the expenses for same was Rs. 196 million.

“The Government spent only Rs.11,130,011.29 on the 75th National Independence Day celebrations this year,” the President’s Media Division (PMD) noted in a press release, adding that the sum was significantly lesser than estimated.

The Daily Morning exclusively reported last week that the allocations made for the 75th Independence Day celebrations had been reduced by Rs. 4 million to Rs. 196 million from its earlier allocation of Rs. 200 million.

On 10 January, The Daily Morning also exclusively reported that a sum of Rs. 200 million has been allocated for the celebrations. Hapuhinna confirmed to us at the time that the Treasury had made the necessary budgetary allocations for the ceremony, adding that the Ministry was attempting its best to cut down on the costs of organising the said event.

Continue reading ‘“The Government spent only Rs.11,130,011.29 for the 75th National Independence Day celebrations this year,” Claims the President’s Media Division (PMD) and refutes what it termed “false news” circulated on social media regarding the expenses of the state ceremony.’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Our challenge is to devise some arrangement which enables us to coexist if not in amity then at least in forbearance.” Jawaharlal Nehru (quoted in Andre Malraux’s Anti-Memoir).

During Black July, marauding mobs, when uncertain about the ethnic identity of a potential victim, would order him/her to recite the five precepts in Pali or the chant Itipiso Bhagawa. (The irony is grotesque in the extreme; the first precept is a pledge not to kill any living being; Itipiso mentions the nine qualities of the Buddha, starting with araham, a composite which includes eradication of hatred). The assumption was that no Tamil was a Buddhist or would even know the basics of Buddhism.

The Buddhist renaissance of the 19th century departed from the Buddha’s teachings in two significant ways. It accepted and accommodated the caste divide which was imposed on the Sangha by Kandyan kings. It also ghettoised itself within the Sinhala race, developing a perspective towards minorities that was suspicious, fearful and inimical.

Had the Buddhist renaissance stayed loyal to the Buddha’s own teachings, we might be spending the 75th year of independence in a different Sri Lanka.

The Buddhist reformers of the 19th and early 20th centuries could have addressed the caste issue within the Sasana and within Sinhala society. Both the need and the opportunity were present.

Doing so would also have been in accordance with the Buddha’s teaching and practice. But the subject stayed off limit, a compromise to which all three nikayas seemed to have given their tacit consent.

So caste division within the Sangha was and remains the elephant in the room. Everyone knows it is there, yet no one talks about it. Many probably assume it has been there for millennia instead of a couple of centuries. It is not so much a taboo subject as an impolite o

ne. Washing one’s dirty linen in public might be apposite idiom.
The new Buddhism, which came into being in the 19th century evolved a system similar to the separate but equal formula used by white racists in the American South to justify Jim Crow laws. Had the plan by Kandyan kings and upper caste monks to limit higher ordination to members of the Govigama caste worked, there could have been an internal revolt against this egregious departure from one of the most basic tenets of the Buddha’s teachings.

Continue reading ‘The hysteria surrounding the full implementation of the 13th Amendment is the clearest possible indication that Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism is not a spent force. How can a truly Lankan nation be born when the majority extremists remain wedded to the idea of a Sinhala-Buddhist nation?’ »

By

Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene

I wonder what a mother, struggling to find medicine for her child in Colombo (one does not have to go into rural areas to witness the abject desperation of those caught up in Sri Lanka’s spiralling financial crisis) would have thought of the pomp and glamour paraded at the Galle Face Green on Saturday, 4th February?

Needless cruelties inflicted on the people

Certainly nothing of this was much out of the ordinary, just the same grandiose balderdash that is spun each Independence Day. Perhaps there was a wee nod to minimum political correctness this time with the National Anthem being sung in Tamil as well as in Sinhala. Earlier, the refusal to allow this was just one of many needless cruelties inflicted under the Rajapaksa Presidencies of both brothers (Mahinda and Gotabhaya) on (minority) citizens.

In tandem with other entirely unavoidable petty hostilities, including a state policy not to bury the covid-affected Muslim dead, these constituted the core of a ‘majority game’ played with glee by political rulers at the time. Vicious majoritarian supremacy rhetoric masked the fact that the Sinhala majority itself did not gain any noticeable benefit therein, except to be used as fodder by politicians in their power grabs.

In remote reaches of the deep South, Uva, Central and its adjacent regions, the abject poverty of the Sinhala villagers continued much as usual even as they bowed and worshipped at the Medamulana shrine, jostled in cheering crowds at elections and partook of milk rice with relish as their beloved ‘deities’ won. To be clear, that delusion extended to the tri-services and the police, supposedly proud defenders of the nation but who underwent untold indignities, including serving as virtual domestics in the palatial mansions of their superiors.

Continue reading ‘When the State pits itself against the collectivity of its citizens, the State cannot win.We need to realise this truth, even at this late stage’ »

By

Rajasinghe

On Independence Day 1948, all eyes of the people were on Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake (DS) and his Deputy, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Both were leaders of the recently-constituted United National Party (UNP).

DS in top hat and tails hoisted the Sri Lankan National Flag on Galle Face Green on 4 February while the Union Jack was hauled down amidst cheers and fireworks. Later, in the newly-opened Independence Hall, Bandaranaike addressed the Royal Duke who represented his brother, the King.

Wearing a ‘national suit’ made of homespun khaddar in contrast to DS’s morning dress, Bandaranaike spoke with a clipped Oxonian accent, which must have surprised the Duke, not especially known for his intellectual achievements. Bandaranaike spoke about the promise of newly-won freedom and the then leadership’s commitment to public welfare.

His speech was compared favourably by journalists to Nehru’s epochal ‘When midnight comes’ speech. Both speeches were in the English language, which was unintelligible to almost all of their recently-emancipated people.

D.S. Senanayake could justifiably be proud that he had obtained independence without shedding blood unlike his neighbours – the leaders of newly-created sub continental giants India and Pakistan, which had seen the worst communal massacres in recent history. His sagacity was hailed by friend and foe alike.

Continue reading ‘D.S.Senanayake disenfranchised estate Tamils and thereby created a human tragedy for a group of people who had helped in ensuring prosperity for the country through their labour.’ »

By

Ram Manikkalingam

(Ram Manikkalingam is Director of the Dialogue Advisory Group. He was an adviser to then President Kumaratunga and was a Visiting Professor at the University of Amsterdam)

On its 75th birthday Sri Lanka is divided. There is a stand-off between the people and the political institutions. The people reject Parliament and the President. And Parliament and the President fear the people. This standoff cannot last indefinitely. It will lead to authoritarianism, anarchy or reform. The decisions made, not only by politicians who control our political institutions, but also by the people who want them changed, will determine where we end up.

If there is one person, who has a decisive role in where our country will be in 25 years, it is President Wickremesinghe. While parliament and the people can no doubt make a difference, their decisions must come through political persuasion and mobilization. But President Wickremesinghe can act on his own.

He was picked by the Rajapaksas to protect their interests. But he is not of the Rajapaksas. He protects the Rajapaksas indirectly, by protecting the system that they, and other politicians have benefited from. This system is a combination of rentier capitalism and majoritarian democracy. Businessmen make their money from permits, contracts and quotas provided by politicians. In turn, these businessmen fund the politicians, who run campaigns that favour the majority. Breaking out of this is not what the leading politicians of Sri Lanka want. When the Aragalaya peaked, and the Rajapaksas found themselves rejected, they looked for the next best leader. Someone who would maintain the system the Rajapaksas required for their survival. So Ranil Wickremesinghe was chosen. But he also has a choice.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe has a choice.He can hang onto the Rajapaksas and let the Rajapaksas hang onto him. Or he can begin a serious process of reform that by its very definition will require ditching the Rajapaksas and their ilk.’ »

(Text of media release issued by “JUSTICE FOR ALL” on 5th February 2023 under the heading “ An Independence Day of Reflection, Reckoning and Reform 5th February 2023)

Sri Lanka is yet again at cross roads when marking 75 years of independence. A spiralling economic crisis has resulted in over 9 million fellow citizens slipping into poverty, with over 30% of families food insecure and 56,000 children facing acute malnutrition.

These startling figures are in the context of shortages of essential items, rising prices and continuing power cuts impacting the most vulnerable communities and exposing Sri Lanka’s deepening inequalities.

Despite the hardships faced by so many in Sri Lanka, the Government of President Ranil Wickremasinghe marked independence with pomp and pageantry reportedly costing Sri Lanka nearly Rs200 million, funds that could have been used to meet basic needs of Sri Lankans.

Such extravagance must be juxtaposed to the government’s claim of financial difficulties to hold the local government election. Further, Sri Lanka is yet again confronted with renewed repression. 4th of February dawned with reports of brute force used by the police and thugs against those who participated in a peaceful and non-violent Satyagraha in Colombo and attempts to prevent protests in other parts of Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘“Fresh initiatives needed urgently to form a broad democratic movement that can eventually build a robust and inclusive democratic alliance between the politically awakened citizens, political parties and the civil society movements.”- -JUSTICE FOR ALL.’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said regardless of the obstacles the anarchist political forces seek to create, he will continue the new reform program with the majority of people who love this country.

“We can become a developed country by 2048 if we work and move forward in a united and planned manner envisioning peace and reconciliation. There is the potential to become a developed country which is not begging from any other nation in the world. True freedom can be achieved and it is possible,” he said addressing the nation.

“There are those who want to keep perpetuating this wound forever, though I don‟t wish. Let’s seek to heal this wound though it’s difficult and painful. If we endure the suffering and pain for a short period of time, we can get the wound healed completely. We have no way out of this crisis with short cuts as that some political parties are pointing out,” he said.

The Full Statement:

Most Venerable Maha Sangha and the clergy, my fellow citizens, all Sri Lankans abroad, dear children,

Today, I will not be delivering a traditional Independence Day statement. I am not going to dwell on the freedom we gained. While honouring those who were dedicated and worked hard for the country‟s freedom, including the late Mr. D.S. Senanayake, I will focus on regaining the freedom that we have lost today.

Around 75 years ago, the esteemed “London Times‟ newspaper carried an editorial stating that “It is our desire to see Sri Lanka become a Switzerland in the East, very soon.”

Continue reading ‘“Politicians who spoke the truth were rejected by the people. Those who pointed out the real situation of the country and sought related remedies were hardly given a place. Yet, those who satisfied people with their lies gained greater acceptance.We got trapped in a consensual political culture.”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By

Jayadeva Uyangoda

(Jayadeva Uyangoda is Emeritus Professor of Political Science, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Controversy looms over Sri Lanka’s celebration of the 75th anniversary of its Independence (February 4, 1948), with a question having been raised on whether it is worth wasting Sri Lankan rupees 300 million on this event.

Why has the Sri Lankan government decided to have an expensive official celebration? The country is facing ruinous economic collapse and thousands of poor citizens could be facing starvation. So why waste so much public money when there is absolutely nothing to celebrate as achievements after Independence?

There is another controversy brewing too. Nationwide local government elections are to be held before the end of February. But there is a debate on whether it is prudent to spend public money on an election while also facing an economic crisis. It is a case of narrow interests of the ruling elite versus democracy and public welfare. The President’s office has been making the claim that the Treasury has no money to spend on an election which is not an urgent public need. The Opposition points out that this is an excuse put out by the ruling coalition to avoid electoral humiliation.

Although the elections have been scheduled by the Election Commission, whether they will be held at all is another issue. Meanwhile, the Independence day celebrations will go on as planned, irrespective of the absence of public enthusiasm.

In Sri Lanka, 1948 as an event has hardly struck a chord outside official circles. Some of the reasons are rooted in Sri Lanka’s specific path to Independence. The others are linked to what has been achieved or not by the governments after the colonial rulers left.

The main point in any celebratory discourse is that Sri Lanka’s ‘national heroes’ won political independence from the British without any bloodshed — in contrast to other countries where the path to independence was, in many cases, a violent one. This thesis, of ‘independence without bloodshed’, is not universally admired in Sri Lanka, due to its inherent limits.

Continue reading ‘Key Reasons as to why the ‘thesis’ of ‘independence without bloodshed’ is hardly admired in Sri Lanka’ »

By

Col R Hariharan

Sri Lanka will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day on February 4, 2023. As a republic the country has come a long way from the dominion it was at the time of independence. The shaky step with which President Ranil Wickremesinghe steps into the 75th year of independence, tells that his job to mend the fractured country left in disarray by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is far from over. His government has to survive at least one more year to ensure the economic recovery process is started as per IMF norms.

The former president Gotabaya’s flight to safety from the country to escape from the wrath of the people has a lesson for all political leaders. They cannot afford to take popular support for granted. That includes President Wickremesinghe, though he is not elected President by popular mandate. Embers of Aragalaya struggle are still smouldering; a small number of vested interests, nihilists and ultra-left wingers are trying hard to keep alive the protest movement. They have been indirectly helped by the government’s continued lack of accountability. People cannot afford the resurgence of another Aragalaya upsurge as it would shift the national focus from economic recovery. It is the government responsibility to get its act together to ensure the popular discontent is handled with sympathy, sensitivity and fair play.

Apparently, the government has shown signs of getting its act together. It has just released Wasantha Mudalige, Convenor of the Inter-University Students Federation and one of the leaders of the Aragalaya protests, after holding him in custody under the infamous Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for nearly nine months. But much more needs to be done by the government to gain public confidence. It is in this backdrop that events in the month need to be understood.

Economic recovery

The seamless connectivity between external relations and the economic recovery of the country came into full play during the month. Early in the month, President Wickremesinghe addressing businessmen in Colombo, briefed them on the state of economic recovery. He had said Japan and the Paris Club, two of Sri Lanka’s major creditors, had expressed their willingness to assist. Talks had begun with India and China. “We discussed with China’s EXIM Bank and are currently debating on how to restructure our debt. The Chinese side has agreed to move quickly” he added. Japan’s State Minister of the Cabinet office Satoshi Fujimaru, China’s Vice Minister of the International Department of the CCP’s Central Committee Chen Zhou and India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Colombo in that order. The US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs is currently visiting Sri Lanka to “offer continued support for Sri Lanka’s efforts to stabilize the economy, protect human rights and promise reconciliation” according to the State Department.

The Paris Club is said to have proposed a 10-year debt moratorium and a 15-year debt restructuring programme. Japan’s minister Fujimaru came with a delegation of Japanese businessmen and his discussions with the President focused on investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka in hospitality and tourism, mining and training of Sri Lanka’s workforce. Chinese Vice Minister Chen led a delegation with the avowed aim to meet leaders of the government and political parties to brief them “on the CPC National Congress decisions and enhance cooperation with friendly developing countries under President Xi Jinping’s policies.” On debt restructuring, he assured PM Dinesh Gunawardena that “several ministries and financial institutes of China are working closely on this issue for quite a long period. I’m confident that Sri Lanka will have good news very soon.” But “the good news” that China’s EXIM Bank agreeing to a two-year moratorium on Sri Lanka’s debts may not satisfy the IMF programme.

In contrast to China, India – the third largest creditor – validated its “neighbourhood first policy” by writing to the IMF Chief of its support to restructuring of Sri Lanka’s debts on the eve of EAM Jaishankar’s visit to Colombo. In its letter to IMF, India has said it will support medium to long term treatment of debts through maturity extension and interest rate reduction or any other financial operations that would deliver similar relief. India also said that it expects Sri Lanka to seek equitable debt treatments from all commercial creditors and other official bilateral creditors.

After bilateral talks, EAM Jaishankar addressed a joint press conference at the Presidential Secretariat along with President Wickremesinghe and Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry. He said in Colombo that India will stand by Sri Lanka in its hour of need and expressed confidence in overcoming challenges. His words that India “felt strongly that Sri Lanka’s creditors must take proactive steps to facilitate its recovery” and extended financial assurances to the IMF to clear the way for Sri Lanka to move forward. Our expectation is that this will not only strengthen Sri Lanka’s position but ensure that all bilateral creditors are dealt with equally,” must be heart-warming to the beleaguered President.

He also said India will encourage greater investments in the Sri Lankan economy, especially in the core areas like energy, tourism and infrastructure. Apart from the use of rupee settlement for trade, he also suggested strengthening connectivity, encouraging Indian tourists to make RuPay payments and the use of UPI payment as helpful to Sri Lanka.

Implementing 13th Amendment

The Indian EAM’s talks with Sri Lankan leaders in Colombo seem to have nudged President Wickremesinghe to walk the talk on unfulfilled promises on ethnic reconciliation and implementing 13th Amendment (13A) to the Constitution in full.

The President informed an all-party leaders conference on reconciliation that the Cabinet was agreeable to fully implement 13A. In a statement issued by his secretariat, he said “The 13th Amendment has been in existence for over 30 years. I must implement it. If anyone is opposed, they can bring in a constitutional amendment to change it, or abolish it.” Explaining his stand, he said he was working according to a supreme court decision on 13A.

“We are still in the bounds of a unitary state. I am against a Federal state but I support the devolution of power to provinces. The provincial councils don’t even have the powers enjoyed by the City of London. So, we can’t call this a federal state,” he said.
It is clear that the President has left the decision to implement or scrap the 13A on political leaders from all parties. it might be a political ploy to tide over a tricky political issue for a short time. But, his credibility as President is likely to be tested when he attempts to implement 13A. His statement has already received negative reaction from Tamil National Alliance as well as Sinhala right. And we can expect more political flak on this issue across parties.

This adds yet another rider to the political stability of the government, which does appear to be clear about conducting the local government elections(LG) in March. Already, the uneasy ruling coalition of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is divided over the conduct of LG elections in March. Lack of clarity on the issue is already causing scepticism about the government’s intentions among the public . In the face of a brewing political turbulence, it will be a tough call on the President to take decisive action even at the best of times. Now, when the country is trying to save itself, it is going to be tougher.

Tailpiece: Sri Lanka’s annual bilateral naval exercise ‘CARAT’ (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) was held on land and at sea in Colombo, Trincomalee and Mullikulam for a week from January 19. The exercise aims to promote regional cooperation, maritime partnerships, enhance maritime interoperability and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. These aims coincide with that of the four-nation Quadrilateral framework. The Japan Self Defence Force (SLDF) and the Maldives National Defence Force joined the Sri Lanka armed forces in the last leg of the exercise. These details reflect the changes taking place in the strategic narrative of Indo-Pacific theatre after the Quad. China is sure to take not of the strong strategic message CARAT is sending.

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By Tisaranee Gunasekara

“I saw them erect the guillotine again tonight” – Alejo Carpentier
(Explosion in a cathedral)

Call it a no brainer. Whatever Queen Viharamahadevi, the legendary mother of King Dutugemunu, wore, it wouldn’t have been a Kandyan sari (osariya). So why dress up her statue in that garb, jewellery included?

Not just any statue, but the one by the Ruwanweli Seya, her son’s most famous construct, and the place Gotabaya Rajapaksa chose to take his presidential oaths in 2019. When the story broke over the social media, the director general of the Archaeology Department took steps to divest the statue of the anachronistic attire ( ඔසරියක් අන්ද විහාරමහා දේවී | Carbon News).

Who dressed the statue (securely placed inside a glass enclosure) in a white Kandyan? Did the chief incumbent of the Ruwanweli Seya and other monks not notice this sudden change?

Could enacting such a radical sartorial transformation have been possible without an official wink and a nod?

More pertinently, why do it? Why now, in January 2023?

Dressing up the past in a garb that is profitable in the present has been a Lankan political staple in the last 75 years. Harking back to Dutugemunu is the favourite form in which this politics of redux finds expressed. In this ‘save the nation’ narrative, Queen Viharamahadevi plays a part that is second only to her warrior-son. She is his confidant, mentor, and, advisor, his fellow in the struggle to vanquish the Tamils (we have only Mahawamsa’s word for all this, a tale penned by a monk about 700 years after these events).

Continue reading ‘Who Dressed up the Statue of King Dutugemunu’s Legendary Mother Queen Viharamahadevi at Ruwanweliseya in a White Kandyan Saree(Osariya) and Jewellery?More pertinently, why do it? Why now, in January 2023?’ »

By

Jagriti Chandra

Tamil is the oldest language of the world, and is a big treasure and source of pride, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address to students at the sixth edition of the Pariksha Pe Charcha event held on Friday, while urging them to learn languages other than their mother tongue.

PM Modi

“Did you know Tamil is the oldest language of the whole world, not just of India? Shouldn’t such a country be proud? We have such a big treasure, a big source of pride. Our chest should swell with pride and we must tell the world this,” Mr. Modi said during the event, remarking that he had spoken in Tamil during an address at the UN General Assembly in 2019 in order to spread this message.

Continue reading ‘“Did you know Tamil is the oldest language of the whole world, not just of India? Shouldn’t such a country be proud? We have such a big treasure, a big source of pride. Our chest should swell with pride and we must tell the world this,” – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ »

by Jehan Perera

By proroguing parliament President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given the parliamentarians, and the country at large, a reminder of the power of the presidency. There was no evident reason for the president to suddenly decide to prorogue parliament. More than 40 parliamentary committees, including important ones concerning public finances, enterprises and accounts have ceased to function. The president’s office has said that when parliament reconvenes on February 8, after the celebration of the country’s 75th Independence Day on February 4, the president will announce new policies and laws, which will be implemented until the centenary celebrations of Sri Lanka’s independence in 2048. Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew transformed Singapore from a relatively underdeveloped and impoverished agrarian society into one of the world’s most developed countries in the same 25 years that the president has set for Sri Lanka.

President Wickremesinghe has been getting increasingly assertive regarding his position on issues. Recently he attended a large gathering of Muslim clerics, where he was firm in saying that society needs to modernise, and so do religious practices. He has also held fast to his positions on reviving the economy and resolving the economy. There have been widespread protests against the tax hikes being implemented which have eroded the purchasing power of taxpayers. First they had to absorb the impact of inflation that rose to a rate of 80 percent at the time the country reneged on its foreign debt repayments and declared bankruptcy. Now they find their much diminished real incomes being further reduced by a tax rate that reaches 36 percent.

Continue reading ‘On February 20, President Wickremesinghe will acquire the power to dissolve parliament at his discretion. By proroguing p’ment, the president has sent a message to parliamentarians and society that he will soon have the power to dissolve parliament with the same suddenness that he prorogued p’ment.’ »

by Dr Jayampathy Wickramaratne PC

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution (13A), which introduced devolution of power to the periphery, is again in the news, this time on the need to fully implement it. President Ranil Wickremesinghe first raised the issue in Parliament, asking the various parties whether they are for 13 Plus, meaning improving on 13A. SJB’s Lakshman Kiriella, an avowed supporter of devolution, while saying that his party is for it, asked the President whether Mahinda Rajapaksa’s SLPP, which provides the President with the Parliamentary majority he needs for his legislative agenda, was supportive. Pressed by the President and Kiriella for a response, Rajapaksa, who had promised India to improve on 13A, rose reluctantly and said ‘13 Plus’.

President Wickremesinghe’s attempt to get a consensus on a constitutional settlement of the national question did not get off the ground. The SLPP is unlikely to abandon its Sinhala-nationalist platform. Opposition parties were sceptical. Realising the impossibility of a far-reaching amendment, the President has changed his strategy to one of fully implementing 13A, without changes, or with minor changes, that could muster SLPP support.

Several Opposition parties, that attended the previous meetings of the All-Party Conference (APC), stayed away from the meeting, held on January 27. While the SJB said that the APC was a mere ‘talk show,’ its ally among the Hill Country Tamils, the TPA, said that the President had not considered the issues facing them. The SJB’s Muslim allies did participate. MP Harini Amarasuriya clarified that while the NPP supported the 13A, in principle, it did not consider the President’s statement, on fully implementing the13A, credible.

The main areas in which the 13A has not been implemented are law and order (Police powers) and land. To add to this, successive governments have, over the last 35 years, taken back several subjects, and functions, that legitimately belong to the Provincial Councils (PCs) – agrarian services being one of them. The high point of central intrusion was the Divineguma Act of 2013, under which several functions of PCs, related to rural development, were taken over, using the two-thirds majority that the Government possessed.

Continue reading ‘It must not be assumed that President Wickremesinghe’s declared intention to implement the 13th Amendment could be put into practice easily.’ »

By Mirudhula Thambiah

During a discussion with Tamil and Muslim political parties yesterday (1), Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the US Victoria Nuland had suggested that the parties resolve their issues based on a joint roadmap, especially when addressing land-related issues with President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Spokesman, Opposition MP, and President’s Counsel (PC) M.A. Sumanthiran said: “All the Tamil-speaking parties met her together. There were concerns from the Muslim community with regard to land, concerns from the upcountry parties and us, so she told us to jointly put down our land related concerns and to push that together. She said that while there may be different concerns, we should stay united to push all those matters that must be resolved. They will encourage the Sri Lankan Government to deliver on that.”

Sumanthiran also said that Nuland had told the parties that President Wickremesinghe had promised her that the Local Government (LG) election will be held. “She also told us that the President had promised her that the LG election will be held. We said that is important as they have been trying to scuttle it. Democracy is important and as far as we are concerned, accountability is important, and the US has led the process at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland, and therefore, must do more than that now in order to take it to the next stage”.

Continue reading ‘US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland Advises Parties Representing the Tamil Speaking People to Prepare Joint Roadmap and work Together to Resolve Issues Faced by Minorities’ »

By

Kshama Ranawana

At long last, he is begging for forgiveness.

After doggedly refusing to acknowledge responsibility for any part of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed and maimed hundreds, and ruined many families, Maithripala Sirisena wants to be forgiven.

Why this sudden about-face, nearly four years later?

Clearly, there are two issues on the former President’s mind; the recent court verdict ordering him to pay, from his private funds a hundred million rupees as compensation to the victims, and his plans to contest the presidency in 2024. Regarding the latter, he even likened himself to Nelson Mandela, stating that despite the setbacks, he is certain of being, like Mandela, elected President.

What audacity! What an insult to Mandela!

Continue reading ‘After doggedly refusing to acknowledge responsibility for any part of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed and maimed hundreds and ruined many families, Maithripala Sirisena wants to be forgiven.’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah

Following President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s assertion on Thursday (27) that he is opposed to federalism in Sri Lanka, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) stated that there can be no meaningful power sharing under a unitary model and that if President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken the stance that there is no federal solution, then his effort for reconciliation has failed.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), TNA’s spokesman, Parliamentarian and President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran said that there had been instances in the past since 2005, when President Wickremesinghe had supported a federal solution.

“But, if he has taken this stance now, that there is no federal solution, then his effort concerning reconciliation has failed. There can be no meaningful power sharing under a unitary model. Until now, he stood for a federal solution, so we negotiated. Now that the final and permanent solution is not possible, is he not willing to cross the line into a federal structure? But, because of that, we will not oppose him implementing all the provisions with regard to power sharing that are already in the Constitution. Implementing all the powers of the Provincial Councils that are contained in the Constitution anyhow is no final solution to the ethnic issue,” he said.

Continue reading ‘MA Sumanthiran MP states the plan to resolve the national issue before the 75th Independence Day celebrations on 4 February has failed.”That is why we have said that we are opposed to the celebration of the Independence Day as we have not got our independence.”says TNA Spokesperson’ »

By Express News Service

Uthiramerur, a quaint village about 85 km from Chennai, suddenly found itself embedded into the foundation of democracy on Thursday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the grassroots-level governance that was practiced there during the Chola period in the 10th century.

Soon after laying the foundation stone for the new Parliament building in New Delhi, Modi sprang a surprise by making a reference to the Uthiramerur model of democracy, saying how that unique principle had been a characteristic feature of governance in India even during ancient times.

He said the stone inscriptions clearly described how every village was categorised as kudumbu, which we call a ward in modern day parlance. “One representative from each of these kudumbus was sent to the general assembly, as it is today. The mahasabha, which used to be held thousands of years ago, is still there,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Cites the Chola-era Stone Inscriptions of Uthiramerur in Tamil Nadu as Proof of Democracy Being Prevalent in India Durinf Ancient times before the Advent of Western Colonialism’ »

By

Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene

What has a nation, which cannot guarantee uninterrupted power supply to students sitting the Advanced Level examination, where large swathes of the populace go hungry, where the sick do not have access to essential medicine with many hospitals announcing that they have run out of supplies, have to ‘celebrate’ on its ‘75th Independence Day’?

Making ‘the world’ laugh if not cry

This is an important question to ask. Reportedly, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared that it is important to mark that day in a ‘grand and proud manner…for otherwise, the world will say that we are not capable of celebrating even our independence.’ That claim is nonsensical in the first instance. From where do politicians acquire such grandiose notions, we may ask with force? Certainly ‘the world’ (whatever that may mean) will be less than bothered if Sri Lanka ‘celebrates’ an independence day or not.

In fact, there is a marvellous irony here which the President seems to be deaf, dumb and blind to. A bankrupt country teetering on the brink of a complete financial meltdown, begging from all and sundry for handouts, whose legal systems and justice institutions have been mercilessly pilloried as irredeemably politicised, can scarcely afford to waste millions on a single day ‘celebration’ of independence. That will perchance make ‘the world’ laugh and not kindly at that. This is a truth that a child will recognise.

Indeed, the day would have been better marked by solemn prayers from the North to the South, for repentance and reformation of its rulers and citizens. There cannot be a more fitting time than now for collective repentance in accordance with the abiding precepts of the four great religions observed by the people of this land, Buddhism, Hindusim, Christianity and Islam. Our ‘rulers’ should repent for multiple violations of the Constitution, for precipitating the country to economic ruin, for thousands of named and nameless Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim victims killed on this soil.

Continue reading ‘No political party can wash its hands of responsibility for the label of the ‘beggar of South Asia’ that Sri Lanka has been foisted with. ‘We the People’ have played our part in that calamitous road to perdition.So on this 75th Independence Day, what do we ‘celebrate’?’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the President’s Media Division)

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he is bound to implement the existing law in accordance with the executive powers of the President.

He said further that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution should be implemented accordingly or the Parliament should abolish the 13th amendment.

President Wickremesinghe also pointed out that any parliamentarian could move a private member’s bill to abolish the 13th Amendment to the constitution and the same amendment would have to be implemented provided that the bill was voted against by the majority of the House.
The President stressed that he was not ready to divide the country at all and would not betray the Sinhalese nation as well.

President Wickremesinghe made these remarks at the All-Party Conference, which was held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (26).

The statement made by the President is as follows.

Continue reading ‘“I am acting in accordance with the Supreme Court decision regarding the 13th Amendment. I oppose a federal state but not devolution of power. The provincial Councils in Sri Lanka haven’t even the powers that are vested in the London City Council. Hence we can’t define this as a federal state.”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

From meagre beginnings in the 1980s, Gautam Adani has emerged as India’s richest citizen. Now, in just a few days, the foundations of his sprawling empire have been shaken.

On January 24th a small New York investment firm, Hindenburg Research, published a report calling the Adani Group “the largest con in corporate history”. In a series of statements, the group responded by saying that the report was “maliciously mischievous”, “unresearched” and intended to “sabotage” a secondary share offering of the group’s flagship listed company, Adani Enterprises.

The group also said that Hindenburg had published its report “without making any attempt to contact us or verify the factual matrix”. “We are deeply disturbed by this intentional and reckless attempt by a foreign entity to mislead the investor community and the general public,” wrote the group’s top lawyer, Jatin Jalundhwala.

These fierce denials have not averted a sell-off of shares in Mr Adani’s seven listed companies, first right after Hindenburg’s report was published, then again when markets reopened on January 27th after a public holiday. In two trading days the collective market value of the Adani Group’s listed firms fell by $47bn, or 22%.

Mr Adani’s personal fortune declined from $122bn at the end of 2022 to $93bn, according to the Hurun Report, a research firm. The episode has also drawn the world’s attention to one of India’s corporate success stories—and a significant motor of the country’s recent economic growth.

In targeting Mr Adani, Hindenburg could not have selected a bigger whale. After dropping out of school at the age of 16, the entrepreneur moved through a succession of jobs, trading first in diamonds, then in metals and cereals, before entering the infrastructure business.

Continue reading ‘New York investment firm Hindenburg Research Targets India’s Richest man Gautam Adani; publishe detailed report that describes the Adani Group as “the largest con in corporate history”.-The Economist”’ »

Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Delhi

The Indian government has invoked emergency laws to block a BBC documentary examining the role of the prime minister, Narendra Modi, during riots in the western state of Gujarat in 2002.

Controversy has erupted in India over the first episode of the two-part programme, India: The Modi Question, which tracked his rise through the ranks of the Bharatiya Janata party and his appointment as chief minister of Gujarat.

The BBC also uncovered memos showing that Modi’s conduct was criticised at the time by western diplomats and the British government, including in a government report which found that the riots had “all the hallmarks of an ethnic cleansing”.

Modi has been haunted for decades by allegations of complicity in the violence that took place during the Gujarat riots, which broke out after 59 Hindu pilgrims died on a train that had been set on fire. The fire was blamed on the state’s Muslim population.

Continue reading ‘India invokes emergency laws to ban BBC documentary about Narendra Modi’s Alleged role in the Anti-Muslim violence during 2002 Gujarat riots; Govt accused of ‘censorship’ for imposing ban on film about PM’s role’ »

By

Buddhika Samaraweera

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday (25) ordered Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne to make an explanation regarding the investigation related to the sum of Rs. 17.85 million, which was found at the President’s House in Colombo when it was taken over by the public in July 2022, being removed from the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and being handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Police’s failure to comply with a court order to record a statement from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding the said sum.

When the relevant case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage, the SIU informed the court that the IGP had ordered it to hand over the investigation into the incident to the CID.

The officers who appeared for the SIU also stated that when the IGP was asked for permission to record a statement from Rajapaksa in accordance with the court order issued in relation to this incident, he (the IGP) had informed the SIU that the relevant investigation had been handed over to the CID.

At this point, the Magistrate said that the court orders made so far should be implemented regardless of which officer investigates the incident. Informing that legal action will be taken against the officers who act contrary to those orders, he ordered the IGP to make an explanation about handing over the investigations to the CID without following the order to record a statement from Rajapaksa.

Continue reading ‘Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage Orders IGP Wickramaratne to Explain why Police have not Imlemented Court order to Record Statement from Ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa about the Rupees 17.85 million found by the public at the Presidents House in July 2022.’ »

By Madhusha Thavapalakumar

Despite the receipt of a letter from the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) of China offering Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on its debt to support efforts to secure a $ 2.9 billion loan from the the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sri Lanka is awaiting financial assurances from China to the IMF, similar to what was provided by the Government of India last week.

Continue reading ‘Despite Letter from the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) of China offering Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on its debt, Sri Lanka is awaiting financial assurances from China to the IMF, similar to what was provided by the Govt of India; “Once received, a maximum of 4 weeks to get IMF Board approval” says Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe.’ »