Sri Lankan Govt To Spend 6.9 Billion Rupees For Interception Equipment In The Name Of ‘The War On Drugs’

Sirisena

MARCH 21, 2019

President Maithripala Srisena in his capacity as the Defence Minister has sought cabinet approval to purchase USD 38.9 million (Rs 6,924,200,00 – on today currency rate ) worth of interception equipment from an unnamed Israeli company bypassing transparent procurement procedures while keeping cabinet in the dark.

Srisena’s cabinet paper says: “Due to sensitive nature of this project, the need for secrecy and confidentiality and the urgent requirement, normal procurement procedure cannot be followed. Due to the same reasons it is not appropriate to disclose in this instance details of the type of technology and equipment, and information about the company providing same.”

“They are two issues here: first, why can’t the President disclose the details to the Cabinet? The second is that considering drug trafficking or the number drug users, the number of phone, social media users, one has to wonder if this is for a mass mass surveillance program,” an informed source told Colombo Telegraph.

At the end of the last year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the UK government’s mass interception program violates the rights to privacy and freedom of expression. The Court held that the program “is incapable of keeping the ‘interference’ to what is ‘necessary in a democratic society'”. This finding is an important victory for human rights and the rule of law.

The Court extended and amplified its concerns about the UK’s mass interception program in addressing its impact on journalists. It noted that in the freedom of expression context, “it is of particular concern that there are no [public] requirements…either circumscribing the intelligence services’ power to search for confidential journalistic or other material (for example, by using a journalist’s email address as a selector), or requiring analysts, in selecting material for examination, to give any particular consideration to whether such material is or may be involved.”

It concluded that “[i]t would appear that analysts could search and examine without restriction both the content and the related communications data of these intercepted communications.

The Court further recognised that such a blanket power to interfere with journalists’ communications, including with their sources, could have a broader “chilling effect…on the freedom of the press.”

We publish below the cabinet paper in full:

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Your optics are all wrong and they do matter…

Gamperaliya: Ranil and Mangala, before transforming the village, transform yourselves…

The politicians, by this day are mostly clad in the so-called ‘national dress’, were identified by the great majority of Sinhalese Buddhists as ‘Apé evun’ (our ones).

“Nothing happens until the pain of remaining the same outweighs the pain of change.”

-Arthur Burt

21 March 2019

One does not have to look beyond the banners. They tell the whole story. Either both Ranil Wickremasinghe and Mangala Samaraweera are ignorant  or they are dishearteningly insensitive, or maybe both. If it’s ignorance, then one can understand, may even forgive them for, but if it’s insensitivity, they shouldn’t be in politics. The banner included among the written content, photographs of Ranil Wickremasinghe, our Prime Minister and the Leader of the United National Party, (UNP) and of Mangala Samaraweera, the Minister of Finance, both clad in their Western dress, tie and black coat. One couldn’t find a more incongruous attire for a launch of a program aimed at rural Sri Lanka. 
Ranil Wickremasinghe, of course, has been a stubborn leader. This quality of his has not only cost him personally in particular, but the Party that he is supposed to lead, with many an achievable goal in general. The change that S W R D Bandaranaike brought in in 1956 has come to stay. The overwhelming majority of this country is Sinhalese Buddhists and the way in which that majority looks at its political leaders may be utterly narrow and warped, but that reality must sink into the mindset of our political leaders. 
Optics in politics is of paramount significance. The image that is created at the very beginning lasts a lifetime in the minds and hearts of the observer, the people. Examples are aplenty. Bandaranaike after stepping on the soil of Ceylon in the early twentieth century, with a burning ambition to be the Prime Minister of the country, changed into the ‘national dress’. J R Jayewardene, although there is no evidence of any such ambition, when  he entered the then State Council, chose the ‘national dress’ as his professional attire. He never deviated from it and when he visited the United States of America, he appeared attired in this ‘national dress’ before President Ronald Reagan and made a most eloquent speech outdoing the US President himself, both in diction and content. However, when making his famous San Francisco speech on Japan’s independence’, J R was dressed in the western attire. 

New class of society 

But ever since 1956, almost all Sinhalese politicians chose the ‘national dress’ as their fixed customary dress. For instance, the official photograph of the ’56 Cabinet of Ministers is a prime example of this custom. All the Ministers were dressed in their national dress. The optics of such a photograph were tremendously successful. 
1956 was a watershed in local politics. The transformation of the mindset of the average voter and its lasting consequences are real; influence on Sri Lanka society by English-educated elites became history; the replacing class which was and is still being vernacular-educated and predominated by nationalistic fervour cannot be undone. Modern-day politics is being totally defined and shaped by this new class of society that has resorted to easy and entitlement syndrome-solutions. The problems that emerged after Independence are complex; they were exacerbated by the new sense of nationalism that was felt and assumed in day-to-day real lives. The anger and phoney patriotism, brainwashed by the Buddhist clergy dispersed in the four corners of the Island, of our men and women assumed most violent and aggressive forms. The politicians, by this day are mostly clad in the so-called ‘national dress’, were identified by the great majority of Sinhalese Buddhists as ‘Apé evun’ (our ones). Anyone dressed in the western dress, other than at weddings or when flying abroad, were considered the ‘other’. Polarization of our society as ‘ours’ and ‘others’ couldn’t be helped.

"Ranil Wickremasinghe, of course, has been a stubborn leader. This quality of his has not only cost him personally in particular, but the Party that he is supposed to lead, with many an achievable goal in general"

Yet, the system of Presidential Elections in which the constituency assumed the whole country, instead of electorate by electorate, required that the entire population of which the Northern Tamils and Eastern Muslims are an integral part of our country vote, as one single nation. This changed the course of our political journey for good. But behold: all those who won the Presidential Elections up to date. J R Jayewardene, R Premadasa, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena were all identified as ours and those who were defeated at each of these elections were, Hector Kobbekaduwa, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Srima Dissanayake (this needs to be disregarded as the then prevailing circumstances were exceptional), Ranil Wickremasinghe, Sarath Fonseka and Mahinda Rajapaksa.

‘The other’ 

In all these elections, Ranil Wickremasinghe stood out as the ‘other’. Clad in western suit, never trying to change and stubbornly clinging on to anachronistic values of yesteryear, Ranil Wickremasinghe has failed to attract the ‘ours’ voter. But he must take into consideration the invaluable lessons from his uncle, J R Jayewardene. J R was born to the Colombo elite. His father was the epitome of that class of society that existed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Yet J R foresaw as early as 1930s that if he were to be successful in politics, he needed to be identified with the majority Sinhalese Buddhists in the land. He not only changed his religion, he changed his attire. Never failing to be attired in spotlessly white national dress, J R stepped into the halls of the then St ate Council with pride and honour of the local majority. Never did he appear in anything other than his national dress in the local scene, whether it was a political function or a private party.
Being clad in the local national dress is no mere appendage; it was an integral part of the identity of the man in post-Independence Ceylon. It becomes even more emphatic and illustratively arrogant if those politicians who profess that they represent the ‘common man’, deliberately appear in clothes that are not identifiable with those of the ‘common man’. Optics of a launch of a major government-financed politico-economic program aimed at the poor and/or underprivileged déclassé, needs to be perfect, not 99%, but 100%. The failure on the part of Ranil Wickremasinghe is understandable, given his insensitivities to the mundane affairs of the poor, yet a gross violation of political dynamics by a media-savvy Mangala Samaraweera is unforgivable. 

"Mangala is known to be clever and bright in the business of advertising and branding"

Mangala is one of the very few, who they say, could influence the mind of the Prime Minister. Influencing the mind of the Prime Minister should not be limited to non-political matters. At this hour of dire need, refining and polishing the UNP-Brand is more important than anything else. Mangala is known to be clever and bright in the business of advertising and branding. Then it is not beyond anybody’s wildest expectations that he would assist in the rescue of the Party’s vanishing style and Brand. Creating the optics of a given event- the way in which such optics deliver the core essence of the event- sustaining that essence over a substantial period of time and making adjustments and improvements to those initial branding dynamics are part and parcel of the event and its optics. 
Gamperaliya program is a massive politico-economic program the government has undertaken with a clear view to enhancing its appeal to the rural masses and generating firstly, the enthusiasm of those who take part in the program to enrich their current lifestyles and incomes in general and secondly, increasing the chances of their favor at the polling booth come election time. These are not the seventies, eighties or nineties. This is the twenty first Century. Its susceptibility to the impulses of social media and lewd gossip is enormous and immeasurable. In such a complex context, politicians need to be extraordinarily sensitive and alert to the responses of the masses. And if complex and sophisticated methods need to be employed in order to reap the benefits of programs that are earmarked for vote-getting, politicians are expected to do the right thing. There is no trophy for the second place in politics. First place secures power while second place secures retirement. An exit in ignominy is no strategy, it is weakness and impotency in power-play.

The writer can be contacted at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com

Time-bound implementation plan needed to hold Sri Lanka to its Commitments

Item 2 interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Sri Lanka

March 20, 2019 6:56AM EDT

When the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 30/1 by consensus in October 2015, Sri Lanka, through its co-sponsorship, committed to 25 key undertakings across a range of human rights issues. A core commitment was to set up four transitional justice mechanisms to promote “reconciliation, accountability and human rights” in the country. These included an accountability mechanism involving international judges, prosecutors, investigators, and defense lawyers; a truth and reconciliation mechanism; an office of missing persons; and an office for reparations.

While some positive steps have been taken by the government to date, both the current and former High Commissioners in their reports have expressed concern at the slow rate of progress.

Thus far only the Office of Missing Persons has been set up, but progress was delayed, and making the office operational was marred with logistical difficulties. There has been no discernible progress on establishing an accountability mechanism involving international judges, prosecutors, and investigators. Instead, Sri Lankan political leaders have repeatedly said that there will be no foreign judges, and that “war heroes” will be protected from prosecution.

Numerous UN experts and special mandates have since 2015 highlighted the marginalization and misrepresentation faced by minority communities, as well as a trust-deficit between these communities and the government, due in significant part to a culture of impunity. This was exposed during the recent political and constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka that laid bare the volatility of the political environment and the imperative need for continued international engagement to support the government in protecting human rights and promoting reform, reconciliation and accountability.

The Human Rights Council has played a vital role in identifying the many steps needed to reconcile with the past, ensure justice and accountability, and implement necessary reforms. Its scrutiny has proved an important catalyst for the progress made to date. As the High Commissioner’s report underscores: “The lack of progress shows that the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka should remain firmly on the agenda of the Human Rights Council.”

Given the insufficient progress to date, and rising frustrations that any accountability process seems stalled, civil society, Special Procedures, the former and current High  Commissioners, and even the resolution Core Group itself have underlined the need for a clear timetable and framework for Sri Lanka to fulfill its commitments. We are disapppointed that the resolution tabled for consideration this session includes reference to a time-bound implementation plan as a preambular encouragement only. It is not too late to elevate this into an operative requirement.

Through this resolution, Sri Lanka is being given one more chance to deliver on its commitments, but it cannot credibly delay any further. Stronger measures are needed to assist in monitoring, implementing and fulfilling these commitments, such as an OHCHR field presence, Special Procedure and evidence-gathering, justice and accountability mechanisms.

Sri Lanka’s long-term peace and stability hinges upon the international community’s willingness to support the government in addressing the past so that it may look to the future.  

Lip service to AML requirements: Are Sri Lankan designated institutions skating on thin ice?

 21 March 2019 

The recent announcement by the European Union (EU) blacklisting 20 odd jurisdictions for their failure to adhere to anti money laundering requirements (AML) comes as no surprise as all these jurisdictions have been forewarned by the EU, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other agencies of lax AML compliance.

The 23 jurisdictions are: Afghanistan, American Samoa, The Bahamas, Botswana, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guam, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, US Virgin Islands, and Yemen. Currently Sri Lanka has also been identified by FATF as a jurisdiction with strategic deficiencies.

In October 2018, FATF issued a strong statement on its assessment of Sri Lanka:“Since November 2017, when Sri Lanka made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime and address any related technical deficiencies, Sri Lanka has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by providing case studies and statistics to demonstrate that competent authorities can obtain beneficial ownership information in relation to legal persons in a timely manner; issuing amendments to the directive in relation to CDD obligations; and establishing a targeted financial sanctions regime to implement relevant UNSCRs related to Iran and issuing a related directive. Sri Lanka should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by enhancing risk-based supervision high-risk Designated Non-Financial Banking institutions, including through prompt and dissuasive enforcement actions and sanctions, as appropriate; and demonstrating effective implementation of its targeted financial sanctions obligations related to proliferation financing.”

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 by the Ministers of its Member jurisdictions.The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.The FATF is therefore a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.


The FATF has developed a series of Recommendations that are recognised as the international standard for combating of money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.They form the basis for a co-ordinated response to these threats to the integrity of the financial system and help ensure a level playing field.First issued in 1990, the FATF Recommendations were revised in 1996, 2001 and 2003 and most recently in 2012 to ensure that they remain up to date and relevant, and they are intended to be of universal application.

The FATF monitors the progress of its members in implementing necessary measures, reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures, and promotes the adoption and implementation of appropriate measures globally.In collaboration with other international stakeholders, the FATF works to identify national-level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting the international financial system from misuse.

Blacklisting by the EU is a controversial issue. USA has been particularly critical of the new EU methodology adopted which resulted in the inclusion of four overseas US territories.In February 2018 a motion to exclude the inclusion of Tunisia, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and Tobago from the European Commission’s list of non-EU countries considered to have strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and terrorism financing regimes was defeated

Sri Lanka was a late comer in terms of enacting legislation dealing with the regulation of money laundering and the combating of terrorist financing. In 2000 the current author was invited to deliver the annual oration of the Centre for Banking Studies of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and he chose as the subject “The Regulation of Money Laundering: A New Challenge to a Global Problem” (Central Bank Occasional Papers, No. 36). Preliminary drafts on controlling money laundering went through a long gestational period oscillating between harsh provisionsto watered-down versions. Due to pressure mounted by the US administration, the Convention on the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism Act was enacted in 2005 and this was followed by two pieces of legislation hurriedly adopted, namely the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the Financial Transaction Reporting Act. Both became operational on 6 March 2006.

In terms of the Financial Transaction Reporting Act, there are two categories of institutions and personnel: Finance Business and Designated Non-Financial Business. Under the latter category there are at least 12 specified institutions and/or operators, including, for instance, underwriting and placement of insurance, as well as insurance intermediation by agents and brokers;trustee administration or investment management or a superannuation scheme; casinos, gambling houses or conducting of a lottery, including a person who carries on such a business through the internet when their customers engage in financial transactions equal to or above the prescribed threshold;real estate agents, when they are involved in transactions for their clients in relation to the buying and selling of real estate; (i) dealers in precious metals and dealers in precious and semi-precious stones, including but not limited to, metals and stones covered by the Gem and Jewellery Act, No. 50 of 1993 when they engage in cash transactions with a customer, equal to or above the prescribed threshold;lawyers, notaries, other independent legal professionals and accountants when they prepare for or carry out transactions for their clients in relation to any of the following activities:— (i) buying and selling of real estate; (ii) managing of client money, securities or other assets; (iii) management of bank, savings or securities accounts ; (iv) organisation of contributions for the creation, operation or management of companies ; and (v) creation, operation or management of legal person or arrangements and the buying and selling of business entities ; (k) a trust or company service provider not otherwise covered by this definition, which as a business provides and one or more of the following services to third parties :— (i) formation or management of legal persons; (ii) acting as or arranging for another person to act as, a director or secretary of a company, a partner or a partnership or a similar position in relation to other legal persons;(iii) providing a registered office, business address or accommodation, correspondence or administrative address for a company, a partnership or for any other legal person or arrangement;(iv) acting as or arranging for another person to act as, a trustee of an express trust; (v) acting as orarranging for another person to act as, a nominee shareholder for another person.

Whilst technically the listed finance businesses and designated finance business have been obliged since 2006 to comply with requirements including due diligence, in 2018the Designated Non-Finance Business (Customer Due Diligence) Rules were enacted covering the above categories. Implementation, however, leaves much to be desired.

Fenergo, the leading provider of Client Lifecycle Management solutions for financial institutions, has released data detailing the global fines activity of regional and in-country regulators over the past 10 years. A staggering $26 billion in fines has been imposed for non-compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC) and sanctions regulations in the last decade.

The top 10 key highlights of the research include:

The US accounts for nearly 44% of all global regulatory AML/KYC fines, yet almost 91% of the total value ($23.52 billion).

Europe has imposed 83 fines, totalling $1.7 billion, the majority being imposed by the UK‘s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Asia Pacific regulators have levied 79 fines worth almost $609 million, commencing in 2011.

The Middle East still lags behind other regions for financial enforcements (recording a total of $9.5 million in the last 10 years).

The US Department of Justice is the most punitive regulator in the world when it comes to imposing financial penalties for non-compliance, levying half of the global AML/sanctions fines amount, nearly $14 billion, followed by the New York Department of Financial Services at $3.6 billion.

US regulators have hit foreign banks hard, imposing fines on European banks nearly five times that imposed against US banks.

Globally, 2015 was the most punitive year for fines, with $11.52 billion levied against banks.

$8.9 billion was the highest single fine ever levied against a bank by one regulator.

Fines for sanctions violations account for 56% of all violations levied globally (by $). This differs from APAC and Europe where AML-related fines far outweigh fines for sanctions violations.

The Nordics is the only region that fines their own domestic banks more than international banks (majority of financial institutions get fined by international regulators rather than their own regulators).

Commenting on the findings, Laura Glynn, Director of Global Regulatory Compliance, Fenergo, has stated that “Up until now, the focus of regulators had been on the US and European markets. However, we are now witnessing regulators in Asia Pacific and The Middle East markets becoming more proactive in their supervisory efforts.”

Closer to home, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (“CBA”), the largest bank in Australia, agreed to a proposed civil settlement involving a fine of approximately $700 million Australian dollars regarding numerous alleged Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) and Counter Terrorism Financing (“CTF”) violations.AUSTRAC filed on August 3, 2017 a claim seeking civil monetary penalties against CBA for over 53,000 alleged violations of Australia’s AML/CTF law.Remedial steps taken include the following:

• Spent over $400 million “on systems, processes and people relating to AML/CTF compliance;”
• Hired additional financial crime operations, compliance and risk professionals, so as to employ over 300 such professionals;
• Strengthened its Know Your Customer policies by establishing “a specialist hub providing consistent and high-quality on-boarding of customers;”
• Enhanced the technology used to monitor accounts and transactions for suspicious activity, and to perform digital electronic customer verification to reduce the risk of document fraud;
• Imposed an account-based daily limit of $10,000 for cash deposits using IDMs;
• “[C]hanged senior leadership in the key roles overseeing financial crimes compliance supported by significant resources and clear accountabilities;”
• “[S]tarted implementing our response to the recommendations provided to us by our prudential regulator;” and
• Adopted a risk-management approach which recognises the importance of non-financial risks, including a process to escalate operational and compliance issues.

The CBA noted in a press release what it had done during the relevant time period: filed over 44,000 Suspicious Matter Reports, including 264 relating to the individuals or organisations at issue in the enforcement action; submitted a total of over 19 million reports to AUSTRAC; and responded to approximately 20,000 law enforcement requests for assistance in 2017.

In the USA, HSBC Holdings Plc (“HSBC”) announced recently that its five-year Deferred Prosecution Agreement (“DPA”) entered on 11 December 2012 with the US Department of Justice has expired. HSBC lived up to all of its commitments, and, therefore, under the DPA, the Department of Justice will file a motion with the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York seeking the dismissal of the charges deferred by the agreement.

In its statement HSBC stated that it is pleased that the Department of Justice has recognised HSBC’s progress in strengthening its anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance capabilities over the past five years. HSBC is working to ensure that the reforms it has put in place are both effective and sustainable over the long-term, and, given the increasing sophistication of criminal networks that seek to circumvent banks’ controls, HSBC intends for its programme to evolve and improve further over time.

HSBC’s work in this area will continue to be consistent with its strategic objective of implementing the highest or most effective standards to combat financial crime across its operations globally. As a condition of the DPA, HSBC had to ensure that its AML staff would receive training and duly certified by the International Compliance Association.

The author of this article conducted workshops for the HSBC staff in Colombo, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chin Min City and ensured that all participants passed the on-line test for certification. However, HSBC’s worries are far from over. It was estimated last year that HSBC has set aside $632 million to settle a number of investigations into allegations of tax evasion and other crimes such as money laundering, but expects the amount could go up to $1.5b, according to its interim results. The bank is currently being investigated and reviewed by various authorities around the world, including in the United States, Argentina and India.

At least 18 of the 20 biggest banks in Europe, including five UK institutions, have been fined for offences relating to money laundering. Europe’s biggest banks, including HSBC, Barclays, BNP Paribas, SociétéGénérale and Santander have fallen foul of anti-money laundering authorities, while recent crises at the likes of ING, Danske Bank and Deutsche Bank “only reinforce this impression, demonstrating how no bank is immune to money laundering sanctions, no matter how large”, says Fortytwo Data. With a number of leading British banks also implicated in money laundering scandals,Donald Toon, Director at the National Crime Agency,recenly admitted that money laundering in the UK was “a very big problem” and estimated that the amount of money laundered here each year has now risen to a staggering £150 billion.

Optimism has been expressed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka that FATF will favourably reviewSri Lanka’s compliant record during an upcoming mission later this year. However, Sri Lanka needs to demonstrate more in terms of implementation to be delisted from the EU list. Both finance business as well as designated finance businesses have much to do to fall in line with mandatory requirements. Ernest Heminway’s famous novel in 1940 was titled ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’; applied to the Sri Lankan context one would venture to say that it tolls for our finance businesses and designated finance businesses.

(The writer is a Fellow of the International Compliance Association (UK) and can be contacted via ichpl@hotmail.com.)

Mahendran’s extradition: Singapore media reports false - Pmd

Friday, March 22, 2019

The President’s Media Division in a statement yesterday said local media reports, based on a report published by Singapore media, quoting an unnamed Singapore Foreign Ministry spokesman on Sri Lanka’s request to extradite former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran are misleading.

The PMD said media reports staing that Singapore rejected President’s allegation it was sheltering the former central bank chief as Colombo failed to provide documents to support extradition proceedings, cannot be accepted as the official stand of the Singapore government.

The PMD said so far no official reply has been communicated by Singapore to local officials on the matter.

The PMD noted that the last time a Singapore Foreign Ministry official had commented on the issue was when President Sirisena officially requested from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to extradite former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran, believed to be in Singapore.

A request to extradite Mahendran to Sri Lanka has been made officially to Singapore authorities through the Defence Secretary on May 28, 2018. Singapore authorities have informed the Defence Secretary and other relevant local officials that the Singapore Attorney General was looking into the matter.

The PMD said matters related to extradition of individuals has been stipulated in the Singapore Extradition Act. According to Criminal Investigation Department submissions to the Colombo Fort Magistrate via a B report (B266018) Mahendran has committed an offence similar to that of an offence prescribed in Article 18 in the second chapter in the Singapore Extradition Act.

On the basis of CID submissions, a ‘Red Notice’ for the arrest of Mahendran has been issued by Interpol on April 19, 2018. A copy of the notice has been attached with the documents sent to Singapore officials requesting the extradition of Mahendran to Sri Lanka.

President Sirisena acting on the above developments made a request to the Singapore Prime Minister to extradite Mahendran to Sri Lanka during his recent visit there.

The PMD in its release stated the Sri Lankan Government has sent all relevant documents to Singapore officials on Mahendran’s extradition, hence, based on the dossier sent by Sri Lanka, Singapore could have issued notice to Mahendran.

The PMD statement further said the Attorney General of Singapore has informed his Sri Lankan counterpart via the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry to provide further details on the Mahendran matter and currently the Attorney General is preparing a comprehensive document to be sent to Singapore.

The PMD stressed that in this backdrop, media reports quoting an unnamed Singapore Foreign Ministry official cannot be accepted as the official stand of the Singapore Government.

Mahendran, a Singapore national of Sri Lankan origin, was accused of passing sensitive information to outside parties in 2015 and 2016 bond auctions allegedly causing losses of over US$ 11 million to the state.

I’m A ‘Victim’ Of Sinhala Medium Education

By Anushka Kahandagama –MARCH 21, 2019

Anushka Kahandagama

The departing point of the article is the statement made by Rathana Thero ‘Teaching Students From Grades 1-5 In English Should Stop’. He bases this argument on the (ill)logic, ‘If a child is given a primary education in a language other than their mother tongue, that child would not be a citizen of that country’. This argument holds illogical, and I do not see a way to even build an argument over this statement. With all due respect, as per Rathana Thero, the ‘citizenship’ of the child is based not even on his/her ability to use the mother tongue, but making the medium of primary education child’s mother tongue.   The second argument he makes based on the ‘mother tongue’ patriotism is, national unity should be achieved through making the mother tongue medium of education. 

While we are aware of the fact that, 13 years or more English education is an utter failure in the public education in Sri Lanka, can we expect a miracle of teaching a language after grade five? Either the system did not want us to learn the English language properly, as it is a prerequisite to maintain the gaps between social classes, or we were fed as children that, English is a language not suitable to our ‘culture’. Either way, many of us failed in engaging with the English language. However, throughout my life, in studies as well as in carrier, I have regret in not having the opportunity to learn in English medium. I have seen much potential in Sri Lankan students, which dissolves due to the lack of English language ability. We like it or not, English is the international language, and we have to accept it. The global knowledge production is basically in the English language, and we as students are incapable of competing on the global level, not because we lack intelligence, merely due to the lack of English language skills. When making statements such as “Teaching Students From Grades 1-5 In English Should Stop”, one should not misuse the power held by the ‘robe’ to mislead the nation in one second.  Throughout history, we have seen this power of the ‘robe’ which led or contributed the nation towards wars, conflicts, riots or communal tensions. 

Let’s go back to the first argument again about producing ‘pure Sri Lankan citizens’ by making mother tongue the sole medium of primary education. If you are entrapped in the island with your precious language, what is the need you to especially become the ‘citizens’ of the country? Anyways, you will be imprisoned on the island forever, as you do not get any opportunity outside the country as it is impossible without the English language. Thus, there is no need for you to be present yourself as a Sri Lankan, as you would only get rare opportunities to present the country out in the world.

The second argument he makes is ironic about the national unity. As a person who has seen the history than me, Thero knows that he is proposing a system which is already in place for many decades, which is Tamil/ Muslim students learning in Tamil medium and Sinhala students learn in Sinhala medium. This has led the country towards bloody separatist conflict for many years, while Sinhala medium students participated in two youth insurrections in 1971 ad 1988, due to lack of job opportunities for Sinhala medium student. Thero does not propose a new system which can deal with the national unity, but an already existing system which caused many problems mainly due to language. 

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World Water Day 2019: Every drop matters, because every life matters

• Safe access to water and sanitation should be available for all people by 2030
• It is evident over the past year that rainfall patterns have gone through drastic changes
• Rainfall is the only source that helps replenish our water resources

 22 March 2019

March 22 marks World Water Day, but what significance does this really hold?
This year’s theme is ‘Leaving no one behind’, adapting the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that as sustainable development progresses, everyone must benefit, and safe access to water and sanitation should be available for all people by 2030.
According to a 2017 report by World Health Organisation (WHO)/United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene: In 2015 estimates for safely managed drinking water were available for 96 countries (representing 35% of the global population), and for 4 out of 8 Sustainable Development Goals regions. 844 million people still lacked even a basic drinking water service.

Water crisis in Sri Lanka

With a per capita water availability that exceeds our per capita water requirement, Sri Lanka is known for its water resources which are in abundance. Hence, farming communities, industries and households have carried on depleting, polluting and exploiting these resources in the face of a rising crisis.
Speaking to Daily Mirror, Researcher at International Water Management Institute Mohamed Aheeyar described the many dimensions of the current issues.

Rainfall

It is evident over the past year that rainfall patterns have gone through drastic changes, which is problematic especially for a rainwater dependent nation such as us.
“Rainfall variability within the country is very high; from 900mm to 5000mm. Rainfall is the only source that helps replenish our water resources. We get rainfall during Yala and Maha, and the other part of the year is mostly dry,” Aheeyar explained.
The limited rainfall that would ideally replenish the environment and recharge groundwater mostly flows into the sea. Not to mention, evaporation rates and temperature changes owing to climate change further escalates the problem.

Irrigation

Water saving technologies, rainwater harvesting, efficient farming as opposed to traditional crop cultivation, drip irrigation, alternative wet and dry method cultivation and farm ponds are a few adaptations Aheeyar mentioned that should be practised. He added that while the government has attempted to introduce certain new mechanisms such as these they have failed because farmers are unaware that water is a scarce resource. However, if the Government would introduce subsidies and low-cost technologies the farming community’s refusal to change their traditional methods may be overcome.

Ground Water

According to the Ground Water Foundation, Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock. The threats to groundwater are manifold: Contamination (through products like untreated waste, toxic pesticides, fertilizers etc), overuse and depletion (lowers the water table, reduces surface water supplies etc) Nitrates in drinking water and on-site wastewater treatment systems are just a few to name.

Polluting Ground Water Resources

“When it comes to land you have borders, but groundwater has no borders. If you pollute in one place, you pollute the entire aquifer.”
Saltwater intrusion due to a decrease in groundwater is also a reality. This is the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers which then contaminates drinking water sources.
The fact that groundwater is not governed by a specific authority worsens these problems.
Rules and regulations govern the entire spectrum of offenses; from the coastal zone where tourism motivated hotels excessively extract groundwater, to massive industries pumping industrial waste into waterbodies.  

"Effluents generated from common wastewater treatment plants of export processing zones/ industrial parks may contain complex chemical mixtures which may pose detrimental effects"

Waste Water

Effluents generated from common wastewater treatment plants of export processing zones/ industrial parks may contain complex chemical mixtures which may pose detrimental effects.
The Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka (2018) which assessed the toxicity of two industrial zone effluents reaching Kelani River stated that “among the major rivers in Sri LANKA, Kelani River is considered as the largest recipient of industrial waste. It serves as a habitat for diverse flora and fauna and is a main drinking water source to the general public in that area.”

Contamination of drinkable water

Apart from the quantity of water that is available for consumption, we are also facing threats to its safety and quality.
“In the Kalpitiya Peninsula, for example, the groundwater is used for intensive cultivation and the water is heavily polluted. The Nitrate and Phosphate levels of the entire Kalpitiya area is beyond the WHO recommendation now. So it is not usable for drinking,” expressed Ayeehar.
According to the Asia Development Bank’s South Asia Working Paper Series (2015): “On a national basis, safe water coverage (defined here as the proportion of the population having access to water supplies from piped water systems, protected wells, or rainwater systems) is almost 85%. About 44% of the population (over 9 million people) have access to piped water, 3% (more than 0.6 million) have access to hand pump tube wells, 36% of the rural population has access to safe drinking water through protected dug wells and 1% of the population uses rainwater harvesting systems.
The other side of the coin, however, is that 15% of the population is unable to access a safe water source within 200 meters of their residence.
Nevertheless, and even though Sri Lanka has a better record than other countries in the region in terms of the provision of access to safe water supplies, challenges remain with respect to maintaining service levels to current users while, at the same time, extending services to the presently unserved population—currently estimated at over 3 million people.”

Preserving and Sustainably Utilizing Groundwater Resources

From ancient times Sri Lankans have resorted to shallow wells to extract groundwater for 80% of their drinking and domestic needs. Increasing population, agricultural and industrial activities have increased the tendency to resort to extracting groundwater through deep tube wells. The availability of groundwater has started to deteriorate.
WRB Research and Development Assistant General Manager R. R. G. R. Rajapakse explained that “before 2017 companies have tapped groundwater without WRB approval. We didn’t have the necessary resources to control that.”
Since 2017 under the extraordinary Gazette published in March 2017 under the WRB Act of 1964, WRB has stepped up to regulate the use of groundwater resources. The Gazette requires institutions and individuals accessing groundwater resources to obtain written permission from the WRB. To avoid regional level issues that surfaced in the process, WRB is carrying out the initial work to implement a new system in April 2019.

"The process of obtaining approval to construct deep tube wells for both domestic and industrial use will begin from the Grama Sewaka level"

Approval for Deep Tube Wells

The process of obtaining approval to construct deep tube wells for both domestic and industrial use will begin from the Grama Sewaka level in the near future instead of the previous centralised system run through the WRB.
Now applicants will be required to obtain the Grama Sewaka Niladhari’s and Divisional Secretariat’s approval. The administration officials are required to confirm whether the locations are desirable to construct deep tube wells. Upon receiving the approval from administration authorities, a WRB registered hydrologist will issue a groundwater investigation report. The required approvals and reports are considered before a recommendation is given by WRB to construct dep tube wells.
A recent United Nations report identified Sri Lanka as second most vulnerable country to climate change in the word. WRB General Manager G. R. R. Karunaratne said that they identify the threat of climate change and the urgency in acting to preserve the groundwater resources in Sri Lanka. Recent changes in climate have altered rainfall patterns forcing users of surface water resources to resort to groundwater for their usage. He said the Government has recognised the need for fast action and much of the regulations were imposed since 2017. However, some deep tube wells constructed by private parties before 2017 which are not registered with WRB are still in operation hindering water resource management by WRB. Groundwater is the cheapest and safest source of drinking water supply. The widespread on-site disposal of un-sewered domestic wastes, increase in the use of fertilisers and pesticides and uncontrolled on-site discharge of industrial effluents are increasing risks to groundwater resources in

Sri Lanka

The general public is encouraged to raise their concerns regarding the quality and quantity of groundwater in their areas to the WRB through telephone, on 0115659089 and 0112696194.

Global Initiatives

The task of water conversation is one that is relevant to the entire global village and recent initiatives around the world reveal that many nations have begun their mission.
Addressing the serious dearth of water in East Africa, various organizations have raised funds, provided WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) training and created wells, trained locals to operate drilling rigs etc. The ‘Water for Life’ campaign which launched on World Water day 2015 aims to provide clean, drinking water to one million people by 2020.
It is evident through the global out reach of aid and action to end the water crisis in all nations that the message of ‘leaving no one behind’ is being taken seriously.
 As individuals who are inexorably part of this problem, you can begin your contribution by asking yourselves:
How often do you use water each day?
Which activities use the most water?
What would happen if you were told you couldn’t have a glass of water?

TTC bus crashes into 2 Scarborough homes

MAR 21, 2019 5:54 AM EDT

A family is safe after a TTC bus crashed into the front of their home in Scarborough early Thursday morning.

Emergency crews were called to the scene on Oasis Boulevard, near Morningside and McNicoll avenues, just after 1:30 a.m.

The bus veered off the road, across a lawn and crashed into the front of a home. A second home was also damaged in the crash.

WATCH: The moment of impact was caught on home surveillance video

Police said there were no passengers on the bus at the time of the crash.

A daylight look at damage caused by TTC bus that crashed into two homes on Grackle Trail in Scarborough around 130am. Bus missed curve & plowed into homes & parked vehicles. Bus driver only person hurt-minor. Both families now homeless til inspections/repairs done. pic.twitter.com/9JNEeYlqkg

— carl hanstke (@carl680) 21 March 2019

The driver was taken to hospital as a precaution

One neighbour says it was like a bomb went off. This is aftermath of crash involving #TTC bus slamming into a home on Grackle Trail, near Morningside and McNicoll. Neighbouring home also damaged. More ahead on @BTtoronto @CityNews pic.twitter.com/0cLhYAT2TF

— Tammie Sutherland (@citytammie) 21 March 2019

Police said both houses were evacuated and the families will not be allowed back home until the buildings have been deemed safe.

“We’re concerned that there may be some structural damage with the house so the engineer will be attending the address tomorrow morning to determine what the damage to the house is and is it safe to reoccupy at this point in time,” Insp. Jim Gotell explained.

The bus has since been towed away from the scene as part of the investigation.

Israeli forces kill Palestinian at Bethlehem checkpoint

Israeli forces shot dead one Palestinian and critically wounded another at a checkpoint in Bethlehem, said Palestine’s health ministry in Ramallah.

 20 March 2019 

The man who was killed, identified as 26-year-old Ahmed Jamal Mahmoud Manasrah, quickly succumbed to his wounds after arriving at Beit Jala Hospital, the ministry said on Wednesday.
Manasrah's death in Bethlehem comes one day after Israeli forces killed three Palestinians and wounded more than 10 youths, a Fatah official told Middle East Eye.

Omar Abu Leila was killed when soldiers and border police surrounded a house sheltering the 19-year-old Palestinian, who was suspected of killing an Israeli soldier and a settler two days earlier near the illegal settlement of Ariel in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian communities in shock after three West Bank killings

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Two other young men, Raid Hamdan, 21, and Zaid Nouri, 20, died after being shot by Israeli forces at a religious site near the West Bank city of Nablus.

An Israeli army statement said Hamdan and Nouri were shot after explosives were hurled at a group of Jewish worshippers visiting the site they believe to be the tomb of the Prophet Joseph.

Palestinians in Abwein and Nablus later declared a day of strikes on Wednesday over the deaths.
In the wake of the Ariel attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site of the assault and the home of the Israeli settler who was killed, a rabbi living in the Eli settlement.

During his visit, Netanyahu promised the swift punitive demolition of Abu Leila’s family home and vowed to push for a change in Israeli policy that would seek the death penalty for any Palestinian who commits an attack against an Israeli.