Sri Lanka: A Systematic Country Diagnostic

February 15, 2016

The Systematic Country Diagnostic is a comprehensive assessment of constraints and drivers of progress towards the twin goals of ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity.  It is an important input to how the World Bank Group engages with its client countries.

Findings

Sri Lanka is in many respects a development success story.   Growth has averaged over 6 percent per year in the past decade and poverty declined from 22.7% in 2002 to 6.1% in 2012/13.  Sri Lanka performed very well on the Millennium Development Goals and has ended its internal armed conflict. The country has ample opportunities to build on its success due to its enviable location for trade, relatively educated work force and remarkable natural assets.

In order to sustain its progress on the twin goals and fulfill its development potential, there are five challenges which need to be addressed.

1.       The Fiscal Challenge.   Sri Lanka has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world, with a tax and customs systems characterized by a large number of exemptions and weak administration.  While the government has maintained solid fiscal discipline, the revenue squeeze undercuts its ability to invest in people and infrastructure.

2.       The Challenge of Fostering Growth and Jobs for the Bottom 40 Percent.  Sri Lanka’s industrial policy has been broadly market-oriented since liberalization in the 1970s,  but the degree of outward orientation has wavered in the past decade. The introduction of para-tariffs has effectively doubled the protection rates, making the present import regime one of the most complex and protectionist in the world.  Foreign direct investment (remains below 2 percent of GDP, far lower than the levels of FDI in other middle-income countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka also suffers from a skills mismatch, a result of the education system not equipping people with the abilities that businesses want.

3.       The Social Inclusion Challenge.   The highest numbers of people living in poverty and the bottom 40 percent are located within the multi-city agglomeration areas of Colombo, Kandy and Galle-Matara. A critical means to end poverty and achieve greater shared prosperity is to harness urbanization for inclusive growth.  There are also pockets of high rates of poverty in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, in Moneragala, and within the estate sector. The high poverty rates in these areas are characterized by weaker access to services and poor links to the labor market. Women can play a stronger role in Sri Lanka’s development. Females made up 53 percent of the working-age population in 2012 but only 34 percent of the employed population, a figure that has remained static for decades.

4.       The Governance Challenge. Ineffective governance critically impedes the ability of the state to mobilize revenues and spend effectively. Governance issues are integral to problems with regulation that have resulted in restrictive land and labor markets and inefficient subsidies. An additional issue is the 50 percent increase in the size of the public sector in the last decade and the continuing large state presence in key economic sectors, including banking.

5.        The Sustainability Challenge.   Over the longer term, the country will need to provide for a durable framework for reconciliation to address grievances which fueled past conflict, carry through with institutional reforms, proactively manage the challenge of an aging population as Sri Lanka moves past its demographic peak, and preserve its natural assets and provide for resilience to climate change. 

Effective leadership will be needed to steer Sri Lanka forward on a path that will continue its strong progress in ending poverty and promoting shared prosperity, The World Bank Group stands ready to partner with the country to take on these challenges.

Kumarasinghe Sirisena’s hopes to acquire executive powers comes a cropper..!

(Lanka-e-News -21.Feb.2016, 11.30PM)  The efforts of Kumarasinghe Sirisena the chairman of SLT who has by now become a byword for corruption having gobbled up many millions of rupees through the call termination racket,  to invest  himself with executive powers had come a cropper.

At the last Board of Directors meeting , the chairman has proposed to  secure for himself  ‘executive chairman powers .‘ The Malaysian Directors have however rejected the proposal ,and  as a result , the chairman’s hopes had foundered on the rocks.

The Malaysian directors after the meeting have said , already the chairman has proved what a failure he is.  Therefore if this chairman Kumarasinghe Sirisena who is already shielding the crooks and encouraging  corruption is also vested with executive powers , the SLT would have to close down in three months.

(There is a possibility for the SLT/Mobitel chairman to ban this news report using his powers and influence , and deprive  the SLT /Mobitel customers of the right of  access to the website. We have therefore taken steps to publish this report in toto via our facebook.)

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by     (2016-02-21 18:15:02)

998 child abuses in 2015 from Colombo District

Feb 22, 2016

It is revealed that 998 cases of child abuse was reported from the Colombo District alone, last year.

The statistics were revealed at a District Child Development Committee meeting held at the Colombo District secretariat recently.

It was also revealed that 10 teen pregnancies were reported from the areas of Hanwella, Seethawaka and Kaduwela.

Poverty, lack of proper child- parent relations, drug use in families, broken love affairs, lack of proper backing by officials were cited as reasons.

It was also said that although 125 school child protection committees were set up in Colombo District, only 32 remain active.
- SLM -

Soldier commits suicide at Palali camp

February 22, 2016

A 23-year-old soldier has committed suicide by shooting himself at the Palali air force camp this morning (22), the police said.

The soldier in question, a resident of Karagoda, Galle, had reportedly shot himself using his own firearm.

The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Jaffna Teaching hospital pending an autopsy.

The police and army are conducting separate investigations regarding the incident, it was reported.

Operation to arrest Gota’s additional secretary who fled the country

MONDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2016

It is reported that assistance is to be sought from Interpol to arrest Ms. Damayanthi Jayaratna who secretly fled the country while serving as the Additional Secretary to Minister Vajira Abeywardene.

Damayanthi Jayaratna has been accused of being involved in corrupted Avant Garde dealings while working under former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. She is also accused regarding a fraud of more than Rs.2000 million in bringing explosives to security sections and an investigation regarding this has been initiated by the Special Presidential Investigation Unit.

Minister Vajira Abeywardene appointed Ms. Damayanthi Jayaratna as an Additional Secretary of his Ministry of Home Affairs even when she had allegations of fraud and corruption committed during Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. Minister Vajira Abeywardene too has been accused of involvement in the corrupt Avant Garde dealings.

Animal Welfare Bill: From Cabinet To Legal Draftsman

February 22, 2016 

The long discussed Animal Welfare Bill of Sri Lanka is at present with the legal draftsman’s office as informed by authorities of the Ministry of Social Services, Welfare and Livestock Development.

Rathana Thero

Following the public consultation which was held last year, where there have been suggestions for edits to the first version of the Bill made, the Ministry had proposed conceptual changes suggested by the public, to the Cabinet. In response to this, the Cabinet approval to these changes was received January 13, 2016 and the Bill was passed to the legal draftsman for the changes to be incorporated to the Bill, and for it to be drafted with the changes included.

The country has seen its last amendment to the law addressing cruelty to animals in 1955, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance of 1907 under which welfare of animals is taken into consideration is over a century old, and needing urgent reforms with outdated fines, and the implementation being on a rare occasion.

Animal Welfare Coalition of Sri Lanka, and civil society organisations working on animal welfare have highlighted the need for reform of law in this regard. A Bill for this purpose was presented to the parliament in October, 2010 by Athuruliye Rathana Thero. The new legislation proposed has as its objective to replace the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance of 1907, and to recognise duty of care for persons in charge of animals to treat the animals humanely, to prevent cruelty to animals and to secure the protection and welfare of animals, to establish a National Animal Welfare Authority and Regulations and Codes of Practice and to raise awareness on animal welfare.Read More

Bypass surgery for Rajitha

- Feb 21, 2016

Health minister of the ‘Yahapaalana’ government Rajitha Senaratne, who was taken yesterday (20) to Singapore’s Mt. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment, has been recommended by the hospital’s doctors to undergo bypass surgery, say the minister’s family sources.

Accordingly he is due to undergo the surgery on Wednesday (24).

 

The minister, who is now back to normal, celebrated the birthday of his eldest son, MP Chatura Senaratne, and the pictures of the event were posted on the minister’s facebook page. We wish minister Rajitha Senaratne, who fearlessly pioneered efforts to bring the ‘Yahapaalana’ government to power, to get well soon.

Kerala Ganja worth Rs.10 Mn seized

2016-02-22

A 27-year-old man, alleged to have had in his possession 60.250 kilos of Kerala Ganja worth more than Rs.10 million, was arrested at Polkandi in Valvedditturai. The Police said the man, a resident of Point Pedro, was arrested yesterday night during a raid carried out by the Valvedditturai Police on a tip-off received by Inspector Manjula Perera. They said Kerala Ganja was smuggled into the country abroad fishing boats. (Romesh Madushanka) -

Bangladeshi man nabbed with heroin worth 

Rs.2mn

2016-02-22

A 28-year-old Bangladeshi man was arrested today at the Bandaranaike International Airport, while attempting to smuggle into the country Rs.2 million worth of heroin. He had arrived from Dhaka, Bangladesh. The BIA Police Narcotic Unit officers had carried out the arrest after they found the suspect having 3.4 kilograms of heroin in his hand luggage. (T.K.G.Kapila)

Israeli fury at unofficial ads on London Underground

Photos of the posters began appearing on social media Sunday evening.

Asa Winstanley-22 February 2016

Activists from London Palestine Action put up these posters criticizing Israel’s apartheid policies against Palestinians all over London’s underground train network early Sunday morning.

Speaking to The Electronic Intifada, an activist from the group, who did not want to be named, they said that they posted 150 copies around at least four different lines on the network. The activist provided these photos.

These posters are “subvertisements,” political messages designed to look like sanctioned advertising. They were fitted on top of paid ads, the activist said.

The action was timed to coincide with the launch of this year’s Israeli Apartheid Week in the UK Monday.

In a statement sent to The Electronic Intifada, the activists said: “Israel and its supporters are used to having the mainstream media repeat their talking points. Our action’s aim is to shine a spotlight on the support that Israel receives from the UK government and arms industry and UK companies like G4S as well as the one sided reporting which is endemic in the BBC.”

The UK Zionist Federation on Monday called for authorities to “apprehend the original culprits.”

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Israel Is Beginning to Eat Its Own

BY AMOS HAREL-FEBRUARY 22, 2016

After nearly five months of continuous violence, Israel finally seems to have lost its nerve.

Although Israelis have encountered far more serious periods of conflict with Palestinians in the past, the current era of stabbings and vehicle attacks has thrown them off balance. Even in the most horrific times of the Second Intifada, when suicide bombers blew themselves up twice a week on the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, a very Jewish version of the “stiff upper lip” persisted — everyday life continued apace, with businesses and schools remaining open.

This time, however, things have evolved differently. While the number of casualties remains significantly lower than the comparable period in the beginning of the Second Intifada in 2000 — 174 Palestinians and 31 Israelis have died so far, about 60 percent of the numbers last time — the Israeli reaction seems far more frantic and confused.

The government is now actively promoting a bill that would allow Knesset members to suspend their colleagues for supporting terrorism, as well as a “transparency bill” that would force left-wing NGOs receiving financial support from foreign governments to publicly report such assistance.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led the campaign against Arab-Israeli members of the Knesset (MKs), after three such MKs attended a meeting with families of Palestinian attackers who were killed by Israeli police. He also threatened Arab-Israeli citizens after a shooting attack by an Arab-Israeli in Tel Aviv, vowing that Israel “will live forever by the sword.” Months later, he promised to continue building fences along all of Israel’s borders in order to keep out “predators.”

Meanwhile, an ultra-right-wing grassroots organization, Im Tirtzu, initiated a public campaign against left-wing groups and human rights organizations, describing them as shtulim — Hebrew for “implants” or “moles,” carrying the implication that they are aiding Israel’s enemies. On Feb. 16, Jerusalem police even briefly detained two Washington Post journalists for suspected “incitement” of Palestinians after conducting interviews with residents outside the Old City.

In what might be perceived as a rare moment of comic relief, a Likud backbencher surprised fellow MKs earlier this month by revealing that, in fact, there’s no such place as Palestine. The reason? There is no letter “p” in Arabic. “Pa, pa,” she sputtered from the podium while Arab MKs watched in disbelief.

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US and Russia agree to enforce new Syria ceasefire

The ceasefire, subject to the agreement between the warring parties, would take effect on Saturday

Russia’s Vladimir Putin lays out terms for Syrian ceasefire– video

US spokesman: Syrian ceasefire won’t apply to Isis and al-Nusra Front– video

Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor-Monday 22 February 2016 

A new deal between the US and Russia to enforce a ceasefire in Syria has been reached, with the cessation of hostilities set to come into force on 27 February.

The ceasefire, subject to the agreement between the warring parties, would exclude Islamic State, al-Nusra Front and other groups deemed to be terrorist organisations.

Scepticism about whether it can be enforced will be widespread after a previous planned ceasefire failed to take place. Instead, Russia continued its bombing campaign, sieges of starving towns were never lifted and other confidence-building measures ignored. 

But the joint statement by Russia and America will not have been issued on Monday – following extensive talks – unless the two countries had relatively clear indications that its terms will be accepted by the key plays including the Syrian government, the opposition forces sponsored by Saudi Arabia, and by Syrian Kurds. 

In a change to the previous aborted ceasefire, Russia and America have agreed to act as direct guarantors and monitors of the cessation of hostilities.

In a joint statement Russia and America said the cessation of hostilities would begin at midnight on Friday 27 February Damascus time, requiring parties to the agreement to indicate acceptance by noon the day before.

Key to the agreement issued on Monday will be co-ordination between Washington and Moscow to set out territories that are subject to the ceasefire, and therefore must not be subject to aerial bombing by Russia, attacks by the Syrian army or the American backed opposition. In view of the intricate interweaving of the various factions, the shifting alliances and complexity of the front lines in Syria, communication between Russia and the US on the precise territory subject to a ceasefire will have to be tightly co-ordinated. The likelihood that either artillery fire or aerial bombardment will deliberately or inadvertently land in territory party to the ceasefire is high.

Read More

Arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Qatar almost triple in four years

Stockholm Peace Institute study shows Gulf states amassing huge military stockpiles, as US remains biggest exporter

Report finds that controversial Yemen campaign aided by high arms sales by top exporters

Monday 22 February 2016

Weapons imports by Saudi Arabia and Qatar have rocketed by over 275 percent over the past four years, a new report found on Monday.

Between 2011 and 2015, Gulf states were the most significant market for sales by the United States, the world’s biggest arms exporter, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found.

In a new report assessing worldwide trends in arms sales over the last four years, SIPRI found that increased demand from the Middle East had led a 14 per cent global rise in arms transfers.

The increase was not marked universally – arms imports to European states fell by 41 per cent between 2011 and 2015.

By contrast, arms imports by Middle Eastern states grew by 61 per cent – the largest regional increase – during a period marked by massive internal unrest as well as the rise of Islamic State.

At the forefront of this growth were Saudi Arabia – now the world’s largest importer of weapons – and Qatar.

Arms purchases by Qatar between 2011 and 2015 jumped by 279 per cent, while Saudi Arabia’s increased by 275 per cent over the same period compared to the previous four years.

Despite increased competition from China – whose arms exports increased by 88 per cent - the US has remained the world’s largest arms dealer.

- See more

The Broken Social Contract

It is no longer possible for the vast majority of workers to get a good job that pays a living wage.  The economic pie is no longer being shared equitably.  The wealthy classes and their political flunkies have broken the Social Contract with the workers and people

by Harvey Lothian

( February 22, 2016, Boston, Sri Lanka Guardian ) The unwritten but very real and clearly understood social contract under which the citizens and workers of the United States and Canada developed the countries has now been broken by the wealthy classes, the owners of major industries and businesses and the politicians,   The contract is now invalid.  A new social contract is needed.

It was clearly understood by everyone in both countries, from the very beginning of the countries, that if men got what education they could, or wanted or needed, got a job, worked hard, were frugal with their money, they would eventually be able to buy a house, get married, raise a family, and eventually retire and live without undue financial stress due to the equity in their homes, their pensions and their savings.  A growing economic pie would provide enough jobs and wealth that everyone could have a good life if they were willing to work for it.  Everyone understood that.  That was the Social Contract.

In 1982 Ronald Reagan, who was probably the first moron elected President of the USA. began a war on government, stating it was the enemy not your friend, and a war on working people by beginning the process of rolling back gains U.S. workers had made in the 20th Century. Every President since Reagan, including President Obama, have continued the war on working people, by destroying labor unions and reducing benefits working people had fought for and gained in the last hundred years.

But, that was not enough for the wealthy classes, they wanted more from working people, much more; they wanted to send worker’s well paying jobs to countries with low wages so their corporations could make higher profits.  They wrote Free Trade Agreements and had their bought-and- paid-for politicians pass them into law, then they went around the world and had other nations pass them into law.  Then, just as Ross Perot said would happen, there was a great sucking sound as good American jobs sped overseas.  Corporate profits soared.

The greedy wealthy classes were not finished yet, they wanted more, much, much more.  They had their bought-and-paid-for politicians repeal the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999.  US banks then began an orgy of financial speculation that produced the economic crisis of 2008.  In their inimical fashion they demanded that the US government bail them out to cover their gambling losses.  The government gave them $700 billion.  Every man, woman and child in the USA was instantly $2,295 further in debt, debt owed by the US government, which the public would have to pay.  A family of three was now $6,885 further in debt.  It is probably not a stretch of the imagination to think the wealthy classes laughed their way to their mansions that day.  $700 BILLION DOLLARS!!

Read More

Uproar over intake of Bangladeshi workers exposes rampant xenophobia in Malaysia

Migrant workers from Bangladesh eat at an airport parking lot which has been turned into an immigration depot in Sepang, Malaysia. Pic: AP

by Sebastian Loh-18th February 2016

OUTRAGE over the Malaysian government’s plan to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers has exposed latent xenophobia in the country.

Certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media outlets have whipped up anti-Bangladeshi sentiment, playing on racially-charged stereotypes, fears of crime, and economic worries.

Yesterday, a group called Pertubuhan Rapat Malaysia, which is opposed to the government’s plan, accused migrant workers of rape, among other things.

“It has become a norm for them to rape local women. They rape the wife and daughters of people here,” said the group’s president, according to the Malay Mail Online.

“They act like they have a licence to rape. What kind of action will be taken? This will become worse.”

He also asserted that foreign workers brought diseases into the country and had the potential to become terrorists.

Groups like Pertubuhan Rapat Malaysia are not alone. Anti-immigrant sentiment runs deep in Malaysian society, crossing political affiliations that otherwise divide the country.

Bangladeshi workers (and migrant workers as a whole) have long been victims of exaggerated claims and falsehoods. They are blamed for everything from crime to stagnating wages and unemployment.

Some media outlets also add to that fire. A local online portal carried a story about a Bangladeshi man accused of raping a disabled teenage girl. The article – which can only be charitably described as incendiary – included the following question:

“Is it reasonable to believe that more sexual assault cases such as this will take place when the 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers get sent to Malaysia in conjunction with our country’s deal with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina?”

And recently, an image purportedly showing a payslip of a Bangladeshi worker made rounds on Malaysian social media circles and online portals. The payslip in the image showed that the worker’s monthly salary exceeded RM5,000 (US$1,200). In comparison, the median monthly household income for Malaysians is reported to be RM4,585 (US$1,100). The disparity is used to rail against what is widely perceived as disastrous immigration policy.

Yet the stereotypes of and accusations against migrant workers in Malaysia fly in the face of evidence.

Only 1 percent of recorded crime in the country is committed by foreigners, the government said in 2013.

A World Bank report prepared in the same year found “no correlation between immigration and crime across Malaysian states for any type of crime.” On the contrary, it revealed that “immigration reduces both the crime rate and the absolute number of crimes committed,” attributing this to the increased economic activity generated by immigrants.

The suggestion that migrant workers earn more than locals is also preposterous. The key incentive behind hiring foreign workers is to lower costs, not raise them unnecessarily.

In fact, the World Bank found that a “10 percent increase in immigration flow slightly increases the wages of Malaysians by 0.14 percent.” This is in addition to the other economic benefits brought by foreign workers.

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Sebastian ‎@sexysiakap

Ppl need 2 learn d facts before bashing immigrant labor. World Bank, Dec 2015: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/malaysia/publication/malaysia-economic-monitor-december-2015-immigrant-labour … @mpkotabelud

3:37 AM - 14 Feb 2016

 
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Nonetheless, Malaysian government officials have been on the defensive since the plan involving 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers was announced. There is a sense, even among those who support the policy, that the government could have communicated it far more effectively.

History repeats itself in Ethiopia

Aid officials say international donors have been distracted by crises in Syria and other parts of the world

Members of a community in Chelko, Ethiopia, wait to receive their rationing of food supplies, which could include wheat, oil and split peas. Due to food shortages, rationing and distribution can often be based on a regional rotation.

Aside from fetching firewood for cooking, women are also responsible for fetching water for drinking and cooking. With limited water supply, women dig holes across the bare land in hopes of reaching the water table. The daily chore can take several hours and often yields murky water.

by Paul Schemm- February 22, 2016

Ethiopia is in the grip of a devastating drought sparked by the worst El Niño in a generation, and aid agencies warn that food aid could run out as soon as May.

Unlike in the past, the government and aid groups have kept food shipments flowing to areas ravaged by drought in recent months. But they need more money, at a time when international donors are distracted by a string of humanitarian disasters around the world.

Ethi­o­pia burned itself into the West’s collective memory with the horrific famines of 1973 and 1984, when hundreds of thousands starved to death and images of dying children appeared on the world’s television screens.

Since that time, the government has struggled to shed this image of the world’s charity case by turning Ethiopia into Africa’s new economic juggernaut, with a decade of 10 percent annual growth. Barring natural disasters, the country is also practically self-sufficient in food.

There has also been a concerted effort in cooperation with international aid agencies to create safety nets to ensure that the kind of famine that inspired the 1985 Live Aid concert would never happen again.

These days, early warning systems alert the government when famine threatens, and in 2015, these kicked into action after the spring and summer rains failed, leaving herders trapped in desert pastures and farmers with extensive crop failures across the north and east of the country.

The drought is caused in part by the El Niño warming phenomenon over the Pacific Ocean, a cyclical phenomenon that many scientists say has intensified in recent years because of global climate change. It has disrupted rains in different parts of the continent, with South Africa and Zimbabwe experiencing drought as well.

At first, some in the Ethio­pian government claimed the country could handle the drought itself. But as the numbers of needy skyrocketed, authorities issued an appeal.

In December, they said about 10.2 million people were in need of $1.4 billion in aid, with 400,000 children severely malnourished. This is in addition to 8 million people supported by the government safety net even before the drought. To date, 46 percent of the appeal has been met, and the worst could be yet to come.

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