Militancy threatens Bangladesh economic growth - World Bank economist Kaushik Basu

The World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu pauses while speaking during a business conference in New Delhi August 19, 2013.REUTERS/ANINDITO MUKHERJEE/FILES

BY SERAJUL QUADIR- Mon Dec 14, 2015

Political and religious militancy threaten to upset an economic growth record that could lift Bangladesh into the middle income country category in the next few years, according to World Bank's chief economist Kaushik Basu.

The country's economy could grow at 6.5 percent in this fiscal year to end June 2016 and that rate might rise to 6.7 percent in next fiscal year, Basu, who is also a senior vice president of the Bank, told Reuters on Monday.

"It may even hit 7 percent if Bangladesh can efficiently address some of its (economic) weaknesses and also handle properly its political issues and militancy," he said.

"Political problems exist in several countries, so Bangladesh is not different, but they can be lessened by economic activities and development work," he said.The country has suffered a rising tide of political tension over the past year. Part of that followed a government decision to hang two opposition leaders last month for war crimes committed during the 1971 war to break away from Pakistan.

Violent Islamists have also launched a campaign against their critics over the past year, killing four secularist writers and a like-minded publisher, as well as two foreigners - from Japan and Italy - working in the country. One blogger was a United States citizen of Bangladeshi origin.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the deaths of the two foreign workers but the government denied the Mideast-based movement has a foothold in the country.

Basu noted that political militancy threatened stability in many Middle Eastern and African countries. "Bangladesh should look into it because it is a setback for its economy," he said.

Political violence is common in Bangladesh, which has been alternately ruled by the Awami League, which is now in power, or the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for the past 24 years.

Basu advised substantial infrastructure investment, especially in energy, ports and communications, as that would help raise ready-made garments export to more than double from $25 billion now.

Ready-made clothing is a lifeline of the country's economy, making Bangladesh the second-largest garment exporter after China.

Bangladesh invests only $3 billion for infrastructure at present, instead of the $12 billion that development partners think it should be spending.

Basu also suggested cutting back bureaucracy to reduce the cost of business. Private sector investment has been stagnant as the credit flow from banks to the private sector remains below the target set in Bangladesh Bank’s monetary policy.

The target for the period of July to December is 14.5 percent while the real credit growth is 13 percent.

(Reporting by Serajul Quadir; Editing by Tom Heneghan)

Fosun’s Guo Guangchang Appears at Company Event in Shanghai

Unclear if tycoon’s dealings with Chinese authorities are finished

Some prominent names caught up in the investigations that have swept China’s financial sector

By JAMES T. AREDDY andESTHER FUNG-Dec. 14, 2015

SHANGHAI—Following a weekend of speculation about one of China’s most famous businesses executives, billionaire Guo Guangchang resurfaced briefly Monday but without making clear the status of an investigation that led to his disappearance late last week.

Fosun’s Guo Guangchang Appears at Company Event in Shanghai by Thavam Ratna

China’s plan to ‘liberate’ a cradle of Tibetan culture

Tibetans circle a building in Rongwo Monastery. The monastery was once the center of life in the town known as Tongren in Chinese and Rebkong in Tibetan, but rapid development is changing that. (Emily Rauhala/The Washington Post)

By Emily Rauhala-December 14

TONGREN, China — Two photographs grace the walls of the Tibetan farmer’s home. In the courtyard, affixed with silver tacks: Xi Jinping, smiling. Inside, by the light of a yak butter candle: the Dalai Lama in monk’s robes.

China’s Plan to ‘Liberate’ a Cradle of Tibetan Culture by Thavam Ratna

The price of change and the right to be a woman in Thailand

Contestants in the Miss International Queen , a transvestite beauty pageant, in Thailand. Pic: AP.

With a culture of tolerance and affordable surgery, Thailand remains a leading light for transgender rights, writes James Austin Farrell

by James Austin Farrell -14th December 2015

MY brother was my sister from as early as I can remember. He was born with a boy’s name, but now we call her Angel. On a recent trip to England Angel and I met; we went for a walk around the Yorkshire town where we grew up, and later sat in a pub for Sunday lunch (or dinner as they call it in northern England). When you walk down the street, or eat, with Angel, people look at you. Is that a boy or a girl, man or woman, their expressions seem to say. 

The Price of Change and the Right to Be a Woman in Thailand by Thavam Ratna

Warning: This Is Why Instant Noodles Are 

Very Dangerous For Your Health 

Dec 13, 2015

Everyone loves instant noodles. They are delicious and easy to cook. You have quick meal in just a few minutes.
The kids love them as well, since they are a little treat. People who work and do not have a lot of time to prepare a normal meal love them as well. Chicken soup is known for its soothing properties. If you have a flu or common cold it is most likely that you will have one, but nowadays instant noodle soup has gained such popularity.

 

The options for preparing noodles are endless and another benefit is that they are very cheap. It may be the biggest reason why they are so popular.

Obviously people who live in Japan, China and Indonesia are the ones who consume instant noodles the most.
People know that instant noodles are not healthy. The main problem is that people think that they are not dangerous either. But they are.

They do not have any nutritional value and eating them may lead to serious health problems. If you eat them along with vegetables you may increase the nutrition, but you will not erase the fact that they are still dangerous. Here are five reasons why you should stop eating instant noodles.

1. Harmful preservatives

The main preservatives that may be found in the instant noodle packaging are butylated hydroxyanisole and t-butyl hydroquinone. They are the reason why noodles last so long. According to one study you can keep them on the market shelf two or three times longer. However the FDA still approves moderate amount of t-butyl hydroquinone, but you must know that if you consume it for a longer period of time it may cause cancer. Concerning BNA, it is known as the human carcinogen.

The BNA is included in the list of chemicals that may cause endocrine-disrupting effects. If that happens you may have a bad influence on the immune and the reproductive system.

2. Digestion

The bad digestion may sound normal but in fact is really harmful. One study conducted in the Massachusetts General Hospital showed the effects that noodles have over the digestive tract in a period of 32 hours. The stomach had difficulties in breaking down the noodles and they were undigested and strained through the digestive tract.

They stay in the digestive system for so long that it may cause overexposure to toxins and preservatives. This may cause asthma, diarrhea and have bad influence over the reproductive organs and the liver.

3. Saturated fats

If you eat foods that contain high amounts of fat it may lead to obesity, but saturated fats are especially dangerous because they produce bad cholesterol and increase the chances of getting a heart disease.

You should avoid eating saturated fats. The instant noodles have different manufacturers and the content of saturated fats is different. They are prepared in palm oil, butter or even lard and they have a lot of saturated fats. Before eating or even purchasing them you should read the ingredients and nutrition label.

4. Heart disease

The metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms that may increase the chances of having a stroke or any other heart disease. Many of the symptoms include high blood pressure, blood sugar, abdominal fat, cholesterol or high triglyceride level. In a study published in 2004 it was shown that women who consume noodles 2 to 3 times a week have increased commonness of metabolic syndrome. Another thing that is used for the process of making noodles is the deep-frying process- which enhances he changes of getting a heart disease. You should always opt for those that are air dried rather than the deep-fried.

5. Sodium

The sodium helps in enhancing the flavor but if you use a lot of it, it may be dangerous. If you compare the moderate consumption of sodium to using a lot of sodium it may lead to increased death rate. The noodles have high amount of sodium and sodium is connected with high blood pressure, heart diseases and stoke as well.

US and India Displeased With North Lankan CM Wigneswaran

By P.K.Balachandran-Monday, December 14, 2015

COLOMBO: Super Power United States as well as Regional Power India are none too happy with the political conduct of C.V.Wigneswaran, the Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority Northern Province.

US and Indian envoys have directly conveyed to him their concern that his unhelpful and radical posturing could jeopardize the Lankan government’s bid to find an amicable solution to the long-standing Tamil question.

Last Thursday, Indian High Commissioner Y.K.Sinha met Wigneswaran and urged him not to split the moderate Tamil National Alliance (TNA) but instead cooperate with the leaders of the TNA such as R.Sampanthan, M.A.Sumanthiran and Mavai Senathirajah in engaging the Lankan government to find a solution to the Tamil problem when there is light at the end of the tunnel. 

Wigneswaran told Sinha said that differences within the TNA could be solved through talks, but it was apparent that the gap was wide, if not unbridgeable. He vehemently justified his opposition to the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government and to the TNA leadership’s reposing faith in it.

Samantha Power

Earlier on November 23, Samantha Power, the US Ambassador to the UN, met Wigneswaran in Jaffna and trashed his argument that the new regime in Colombo has not done anything for the Tamils. According to D.B.S.Jeyaraj, Wigneswaran had to revise his stand somewhat after Power demolished his case with an 11-point rebuttal. After the meeting, Power tweeted: “Urged Jaffna Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran to help reinforce precious moment for reconciliation and re-building.”

Power’s tweet after meeting TNA chief Sampanthan was of a noticeably different kind. She described the moderate Tamil leader as a “passionate voice of Tamil rights seeking results by building national consensus.”

She was pleased with the progress made by Lanka under the new government led by President Maithripala Sirisena. She said she was “honored” to meet Sirisena   “who is committed to reconciliation, democracy, reform, justice.” The ranking US diplomat described Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera as a “friend” who  is   “a firm advocate of the rights of the Sri Lankan people, accountable government and reform.”

Unlikely to Climb Down

Despite expressions of concern from influential quarters, Wigneswaran is unlikely to give up his radical posture because he has been led to believe that he can take on the TNA with the help of the “people” and the support of the pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora. He is said to be under the influence of forces which believe that the Lankan Tamils can do without India and perhaps even the US.

Wigneswaran could therefore either try and capture the TNA or adopt existing friendly organizations like the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and the Tamil National Political Front (TNPF). Political circles expect him to act before the local bodies elections in April 2016.

TNA Unfazed

However, the TNA’s leaders are unfazed. Sampanthan threw the gauntlet when he said in Batticaloa: “If the party and the people want it, I will step down in favor of Wigneswaran.” He is not walking away.

According to Sumanthiran, Wigneswaran’s claims of a mass following are hollow.  “His real strength was seen in the August 17 parliamentary elections. The TNA swept the polls without his support. The TNPF, which he indirectly supported, came a cropper,” Sumanthiran observed.

Relatives of disappeared testify before commission in Jaffna
Crowds gather at Nallur as the first day of the commission began. Photographs: Tamil Guardian

Crowds gather at Nallur as the first day of the commission began. Photographs: Tamil Guardian

12 December 2015

Tamil families in Jaffna testified before Sri Lanka’s presidential commission into disappearances this week, pleading for information on their whereabouts of their missing loved ones.

The first phase of the sittings took place in Nallur where 235 complaints were filed, with proceedings continuing today.
Relatives of Disappeared Testify Before Commission in Jaffna by Thavam Ratna

SL military intelligence threatens Jaffna daily, reminds editors on ‘white-vans’ of past

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 December 2015, 23:28 GMT]
Four Sri Lankan military intelligence operatives, who entered the office of the Jaffna edition of Thinakkural newspaper on Wednesday night, threatened the editorial staff for publishing a news item that exposed the ‘activities’ of certain surveillance operatives, who were camouflaged as journalists and deployed to monitor a meeting held on the previous day. The paper had published a story detailing the presence of four to six ‘operatives’, who were monitoring the participants at a meeting organised by the families of missing persons from all the 8 districts in the North and East on Tuesday. The SL military intelligence operatives who entered the office of the paper on Wednesday warned the editors to withdraw their story with a correction and apology to be issued on Thursday. 

If the paper failed to ‘correct’ the story, the editors would have to face the same consequences as the abductions carried out by the white-van squad in the past, the operatives told the editors. 

When the security guards of the newspaper intervened, the SL military intelligence operatives threatened them saying that they were only having a ‘conversation’ with the editorial board. 

The newspaper office remains tight-lipped on the episode as the management is concerned of the security of the reporters and the editorial staff, informed sources told TamilNet on Sunday. 

The intelligence operatives of the occupying SL military have stepped up their shadow war on Tamil journalists in Jaffna, the sources further said. 

The ‘operatives’ who visited the newspaper office were the same people, who were deployed to monitor the journalists and rights activists who interacted with Samantha Power, the US ambassador to United Nations, who visited Jaffna in November 2015. 

The editorial staff of Jaffna Thinakkural had also exposed the ‘signatures’ placed by two of the alleged intelligence operatives, who were present at Veerasingham Hall on a surveillance mission. 

The veiled threat of white-van abduction has surfaced again the Tamil homeland. The Chief Minister of Northern Provincial Council Justice C.V. Wigneswaran has recently gone on record urging the people to complain such incidents. 

Following the media reports of NPC Chief Minister urging the public not to hesitate to complain on such threats that seem to prevail, Colombo's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera went on record stating that Colombo would not hesitate to act on such complaints. 

However, the situation of threat prevails at such a level in Jaffna that a newspaper management is hesitant to make the threat public. 

TamilNet is also aware of a recent white-van abduction that has taken place in Maruthangkea'ni in November 2015. The affected victim and those who secured the victim from the abductors are reluctant to go on record in fear of reprisals from the SL military intelligence. 

Complete de-militarisation of North and East is an absolute necessity if Eezham Tamils are to be safeguarded from all kinds of threats by the genocidal ‘Sri Lanka’, Tamil rights activists in Jaffna commented. 

In the meantime, some of the diaspora visitors to their homeland have been subjected to threats at Colombo airport on their return, informed sources in Colombo said. The visiting diaspora Eezham Tamils have been ‘reminded’ of their relatives and their properties with detailed descriptions by the SL military operatives.

Copies of Loss

cc: Ravi, Priya, fighters both, taken before their time.

• by Qadri Ismail 
• - on 12/13/2015 

Three pictures hang in my study. (Not my study actually, contractually; the bank retains the mortgage. I do not write in, from a room of my own. Besides: designed, constructed, lived in by others, their trace lingers upon this space.)

The first picture: a photograph of the young, handsome, meticulously coifed Richard Manic – Manic, not manic – de Zoysa, of his face – an image that still bruises, incites me – off the web, the Daily News if memory serves, framed together with (a typewritten copy of) a poem,  For Richard, (signed) by Arjuna Parakrama, dated February 1990, which I received through the (snail) mail.

Copies of Loss by Thavam Ratna

Understanding Islamic terrorism – 2 

By Izeth Hussain-December 11, 2015, 6:58 pm

Emmanuel Todd is a French political scientist of Jewish origin. He had his original training as a demographer and historian and turned later to political science. A fascinating book by him on the influence of family systems on European politics established him, in my view, as an original thinker in the field of political science. He shot to international fame after a book published in 1976 in which he predicted the forthcoming demise of Soviet communism. The only other writer to make a like prediction was Daniel Moynihan, one-time US Permanent Representative to the UN. I am basing my material for this part of my article on Todd’s 2002 book, the title of which in literal translation reads After Empire, in which he predicted the forthcoming demise of American imperialism. For some years after 2002 his prediction seemed premature but not now. The recent triumphal visit of the Chinese Prime Minister to Britain is seen as inaugurating a new era in international relations. It is an era in which the US is no longer the top dog of the world.

As far as my knowledge goes, Todd is the only political scientist to provide a convincing explanation of Islamic terrorism. The usual explanation is that violence is integral to Islam as it is a religion of the sword. That leads to Samuel Huntington’s theory of the clash of civilisations, which seems to be the paradigm within which most people understand Islamic terrorism today. The world of Islam is seen as challenging the West. A little reflection on the part of the reader – I mean the unprejudiced reader – and a consideration of just a few facts will convince him that the notion of the world of Islam challenging the West is an utterly bizarre one. The world of Islam in the Middle East has been tearing itself to pieces and parts of it have been whacked to pieces by the West. The terrorist bombings in Paris were in retaliation for French bombings of the IS, not part of a project to conquer the West. Terrorism remains what it has always been: the resort of the weak, not of the strong. The notion that we are witnessing a clash of civilisations is the product of Islamophobic idiocy.

I will now expound Todd’s thesis on Islamic terrorism rather broadly without going into much detail. The first chapter of his book After Empire is entitled The Myth of universal terrorism. His argument is that American power has been in steep decline and the American Empire is on the way to its demise. The US therefore cannot take on any big power, any power with significant military strength in military conflict. In this situation it needs to show that it is still a super power. Therefore it pounces on a militarily insignificant country such as Iraq. And it has created the myth of universal terrorism to show that the US has a role as the world’s top cop. Todd’s argument is certainly supported by the facts. If you look at the wide wide world there are just a few spots in it where terrorism is a serious problem. In an article published recently in the Island Gwynne Dyer points out that during the last fourteen years only sixteen have been killed in the US by Islamic terrorists, in no more than two incidents, averaging just two per year. Therefore it is absurd to talk of universal terrorism, and it is also absurd to talk of Islamic terrorism as an expression of Islam’s challenge to the West.

Todd’s basic argument is as follows. The transition to modernity usually, though not invariably, involves violence. The transition process has two stages, one cultural and the other demographic. The cultural process means the spread of literacy. The most important factor is the spread of literacy among females which usually takes place sometime after the spread of literacy among males. It is the most important factor because female literacy inaugurates the demographic stage with a lowering of the birth rate. The transition process is complete when the population stabilizes with a low birth rate. According to Todd it is during the transition period that there is a turning to fundamentalism and violence. Once the process is complete the appeal of fundamentalism decreases and the violence stops. It is a world-wide process, about which Todd provides very convincing evidence from the Islamic world. I must add parenthetically at this point that the transition process is complete among the Sri Lankan Muslims as they have a very high degree of literacy and an average of two children per family – contrary to what is alleged by Islamophobic propagandists. According to Todd’s thesis therefore the prospect of Islamic fundamentalism turning violent here is very remote or non-existent.

I will now quote Todd on what he calls "the crisis of transition". – "Progress is not, as the thinkers of the Enlightenment believed, a linear ascent, happy and easy in every way. The tearing away from traditional life, from the equilibrium provided by routine in preliterate societies, with their high fertility and high mortality, produces in the early stage, paradoxically, almost as much disorientation and suffering as hope and enrichment, Very often, perhaps even in a majority of cases, a mental and cultural wrenching away accompanies a crisis of transition. The destabilization of people results in violent social and political behavior. The ascent to modernity of the mind is frequently accompanied by ideological violence". The explanation of the transition to modernity is more or less the same as the one given by Karen Armstrong, and is probably the standard explanation today, except that Todd places a much stronger emphasis on violence as part of the process.

Todd continues that the crisis of transition did not take place for the first time in the third world but in Europe. Most of the nations that today are so peaceful went through a phase of ideological fervor and brutal and bloody politics. There were violent transitions through the revolutions in France and Russia and the coming to power of the Nazis in Germany. The English who seem so reasonable and pragmatic had the first national revolution in Europe through a civil war which led to the decapitation of the King in 1649. Significantly the English had precociously a high level of literacy, and religion played a big part in the Puritan Revolution. "The jihad in the name of Allah of recent years is not, in all its dimensions, of a different nature. If it is far from being liberal, it nevertheless represents, fundamentally, not a regression but a crisis of transition. The violence and the religious frenzy are only temporary".

Todd gives an exemplary importance to the Iranian Revolution of 1979. A religious revolution chased the King away. There followed two decades of ideological excess and bloody struggle. But it was a high degree of literacy that propelled the Iranian masses and modernized their minds. The lowering of the birth rate took place shortly after Khomeini came to power. "The ideological struggles expressed in the language of Shiite Islam are inaccessible to Europeans bred in the Christian tradition; nevertheless they make no less sense than the struggles between Protestant sects in the époque of Cromwell. The denunciation of injustice in the world in Shiite theology implies a revolutionary potential, just as much as the original Protestant metaphysic perceived man and the world as corrupt. Luther, and even more Calvin, those ayatollahs of the sixteenth century, have contributed to the birth of a regenerated and pure society – America, the child of religious exaltation just as much as modern Iran".

izethhussain@gmail.com

‘Kassippu Johnny’ and Rajapakse hoodlums make Parliament the August assembly a violent bedlam !

(Lanka-e-News- 13.Dec.2015, 10.45 AM) It is a matter for deep regret that despite the people convincingly defeating and crushing the Rajapakse lawless, criminal  and corrupt regime on two occasions , three  lawless pro Rajapakse MPs yesterday in parliament  unleashed their criminal force on Colombo district M.P. Mujibur Rahman, signaling that the violence and criminalities under the ex Rajapakses are rearing their ugly heads again. 

 Mujibir Rahman was assaulted when he stated , the cold booded murder of Thajudeen was a ‘systematic murder’ and those responsible are within the parliament. When he was questioned whether he was referring to Namal Rajapakse , his reply ‘ if the cap fits you can wear it’ provoked the assailants who set upon him.

The MPs who attacked Mujibur Rahman were Kurunegala district UPFA M.P. Johnston Fernando, alias ‘ Kassippu Johnny’ , Puttalam district UPFA M.P.Sanath Nishantha and Gampaha district UPFA M.P. Indika Anuradha, of the Rajapakse hooligan breed. Incidentally , Sanath Nishantha threatened a Hiru media provincial journalist recently.

Yesterday , was the Select committee budget debate in parliament regarding the foreign ministry . Namal Rajapakse in his  characteristic moronic style began saying because of the Geneva resolutions , the Sri Lanka (SL) forces have been subjected to a ‘ systematic murder,’ and they are going to be brought under the Guillotine . Mujibur Rahman who was the next speaker , referring to the ‘systematic murder ‘ spoken of by Namal said , ‘Yes,those responsible for the systematic murder of Thajudeen is in this parlament.’  No sooner he said that , than ‘Kassipu Johnny’ flew into a rage in much the same way as a  kassippu addict in a Kassippu den oblivious of Parliamentary decorum and dignity.. He screamed in foul language “ addo , shut your mouth . I shall attack you. I shall kill you,” and darted towards Mujibur Rahuman.With him like in the olden days Western comics , the ‘helup karayas,’ Sanath Niishantha and Indika Anuradha  also jumped over to attack Mujibur Rahman.

Because of this uproar , the speaker had to adjourn parliament for 10 minutes after the August assembly was made into a  violent bedlam by the Rajapakse hoodlums .

When the parliament sessions resumed , Dinesh Gunawardena raising a question of privilege said , as Thajudeen ‘s case is sub judice and is being heard in court , Namal ‘s name ought not be referred to , whereupon minister Lakshman Kiriella replied , Mujibur Rahman did not mention Namal’s name. The Rajapakse hoodlums unheeding this , tried again and again to create violence and demanded that their foul filthy  utterances be deleted from the Hansard  necessitating the speaker  to adjourn sittings again  , while announcing that he had to view the video recordings before arriving at a decision. 

The speaker after the resumption of sessions declared that Mujibur Rahman had not mentioned any names.Mujibur Rahman who spoke again  revealed , the murders of Lasantha , Raviraj , Ekneliyagoda and Thajudeen were ‘systematic murders’ under the previous Rajapakse criminal era. 

Mangala Samaraweera then  pointed out , the Rajapkse hoodlums are again making the parliament a violent bedlam , and this revival of violence must be stopped once and for all, and immediately. 

The uncouth and uncultured conduct of the shameless   pro Rajapakse groups was in fact reported to the prime minister (P.M.) recently . The latter while condemning the misbehavior and unlawful conduct said , the leader of the party of those hooligan  MPs must take disciplinary action against them . It is very unfortunate that  their party leader is president Maithripala Sirisena. The latter therefore should take appropriate action. 

The speaker later informed  parliament , after an inquiry is conducted into this incident by the parliamentary  privilege  committee ,  a decision will be taken within two weeks

---------------------------
by     (2015-12-13 05:27:48)

Compensation Soon for 44 Slain Media Persons: PM

13/12/2015

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday suggested a compensation scheme for families of journalists and other media persons killed while on duty.

Mr. Wickremesinghe speaking during the committee stage budget debate on the allocation for the Ministry of Mass Media and Parliamentary Affairs said a compensation plan would be implemented for 44 media persons, who were killed during the period of the former regime due to political reasons. A majority of them were from the North.

The Premier said President Maithripala Sirisena was also supporting the compensation plan which would be implemented soon.

He praised media organisations and journalists, especially in the North, for the continuous struggle to provide information to the people despite regular threats during the previous regime.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said he believed working journalists should receive university level training on the professional dimensions of their work so that the media could play their rightful role in sustaining democracy.

Some journalists could even be sent to colleges of journalism in India, he said
ST

Exploiting The Dead To Build Image

by Nirmala Kannangara-Sunday, December 13, 2015

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s exposé during the second reading of the budget in parliament early this month as to how Kurunegala District MP, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had allegedly exploited even the dead to misuse public monies during his tenure as the country’s executive president has further revealed the extent to which state funds had allegedly been misused.

The Sunday Leader’sexpose this week is written with the best interest of the general public to show how highly placed officials during the former regime had allegedly looted tax payers hard earned money.

According to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Rajapaksa had allegedly ‘spent’ Rs.15 million during the year 2014 for funeral wreaths while President Maithripala Sirisena has spent only Rs.363,000 during 2015 for the same purpose. According to details this newspaper is in possession, there were instances where funeral wreaths had been sent even to Nuwara Eliya from Colombo spending several thousands of rupees as transport charges and overtime payments in addition to the cost of the funeral wreath.

A senior official at the Presidential Secretariat on condition of anonymity said that she cannot believe whether these wreaths had actually been sent from Colombo, claiming that the flowers would have got withered by  the time it reached the far away destination.

“Unless these wreaths were made out of artificial flowers, fresh flowers would have got withered by the time they reached Nuwara Eliya. Taking a wreath all the way from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya is a waste of money and cheaper to buy from a florist in that area,” sources added.

It is learnt that the incumbent President Sirisena had given strict instructions to his staff that, in future contracts cannot be given to any florist to supply funeral wreaths to funeral houses on behalf of the President.

“Although the previous regime gave this contract only to two florists, President Sirisena told his staff that he does not want to give any contract to any florist nor to send the funeral wreath to the funeral house in a hired vehicle spending colossal amounts of public money. Hence he instructed the relevant officers to inform all District Secretaries/ Government Agents in the country to send funeral wreaths to funeral houses in their respective areas if instructions are given from the Presidential Secretariat. In a letter dated June 22, 2015 by President’s Additional Secretary Rohana Keerthi Dissanayake on behalf of President’s Secretary P. B. Abeykoon issued a circular to all District Secretaries/Government Agents in the country, that if instructions are given from the President’s office, the respective District Secretary has to offer the floral tribute to the dead on behalf of the President and the bill to be sent to the President’s Secretary for reimbursement.

The letter further states as thus, “In an event where floral tributes has to be sent for funeral houses on behalf of the President, the District Secretary of the particular administrative district has to place the wreath on behalf of the President. Hence in future, once instructions are received from the President’s office, the particular District Secretary has to pay the floral tribute made with fresh flowers and it should be more than four and a half feet in height. The bill has to be submitted to the President’s Secretary for reimbursement”.

The Sunday Leader is in possession of December 2014 bills amounting to Rs.531,050 spent for funeral wreaths and the transport fees borne by the Presidential Secretariat. Although there are many florists in the country, questions have been raised as to why the Presidential Secretariat bought funeral wreaths only from Jayaratne Florists of No. 432, Deans Road, Colombo 10 and Rayland Florists of No. 27, Station Road, Matara. Going through the December 2014 bills, submitted to the Presidential Secretariat by Jayaratne and Rayland Florists, it is very clear that serious irregularities had been taken place from the funeral wreaths as told by President Sirisena in parliament.

According to the bill numbers of these two florists, all bills in their bill books had been issued only to the Presidential Secretariat but not to any other party.

“If that is the case then Jayaratne and Rayland florists may have got orders only from the President’s Office not from anyone else if not they seems to have maintained separate bill books for the Presidential Secretariat orders as all the bill numbers are clearly in order,” sources alleged.

According to Jayaratne Florist bills, bill number 8991 had been written either on December 27 or 29 (the date is not clear) but the next bills – number 8992, 8993, 8996 and 8997 – had been drawn on December 26. It was the same with December ten and 31 bills as well. The bill number 9090 shows that it had been issued on December ten but on the same date yet another bill had been issued under bill number 8903. On December 31 bill numbers 9032, 9033, 9034 and 9035 had been issued but surprisingly from December 2 to December 10 the issued bills have been numbered from 9051 to 9090.

“This clearly shows that Jayaratne florists have haphazardly written the bills may be after the fall of the previous regime without even assuming that questions would be raised about the bill numbers,” sources claimed.

Although the standard cost of a Jayaratne floral wreath was Rs.1,500, there were few instances where expensive wreaths which had cost Rs.6,000 and Rs.5,000 had been dispatched – all to funeral houses at Medamulana which was Rajapaksa’s constituency.

“When going through the Jayaratne bill details other than for a few, most of the funeral wreaths had been sent to Kandy, Bandarawela, Nittambuwa, Avissawella, Anamaduwa, Galaha, Galle, Devinuwara, Hanguranketha, Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa, Deniyaya, Aluthgama, Rambukkana, Hakmana, Ratnapura, Walasmulla, Kegalle, Monaragala, Matale and Trincomalee.

In addition to the cost of the wreath, how much of money the presidential secretariat had spent on transport and overtime to dispatch the wreaths? Why couldn’t they send these wreaths from a florist closer to the funeral houses and save millions of rupees of public money,” sources added.

It was the same with Rayland Florists, Matara where  not a single day has passed without a wreath being placed  in December 2014, on behalf of the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Refuting the allegations, Chairman Jayaratne Florists, Upali Jayaratne said that not only Mahinda Rajapaksa but also former President Chandrika Kumaranatunge had purchased funeral wreaths from them.

“This is not a big issue for us as consecutive Heads of Government had bought funeral wreaths from us. Although we have supplied funeral wreaths to the former President’s request we were not paid for the months of October, November and December,” Jayaratne said.

When asked whether former President Chandrika Kumaratunge too bought funeral wreaths every day like her successor Mahinda Rajapaksa, Upali Jayaratne was unable to give a proper answer.

In regard to the issuance of bills without an order which is a clear indication of a serious irregularity, Upali Jayaratne while dismissing the allegation said that his staff may have used various bill books to issue the bills. “My staff may have not taken the bill books in order but may have taken it unsystematically. Other than that there isn’t any scam into our billing system,” Jayaratne said.

When contacted Manager Rayland Florist, Samantha said that they have been supplying funeral wreaths to the Presidential Secretariat over the past 10 years.

“We supplied funeral wreaths to many places around Matara on the request of the Presidential Secretariat. The Presidential Secretariat has to pay us Rs.880,000 for October, November and December and another Rs.75,000 up to January 8, 2015. Even on January 8, 2015 we sent a funeral wreath to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Weeraketiya office,” said Samantha.

According to Samantha, it was either the President’s Office in Colombo or Murthi Kodithuwakku from the Weeraketiya office that gave orders and had charged Rs.1,750 to deliver the funeral wreath to Weeraketiya.