Sunday, May 28, 2017

PROSECUTE PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENCE AND UPHOLD THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN SRI LANKA – NCEASL

28/05/2017

The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) notes with concern the recent wave of attacks against religious minorities, which has rapidly escalated over the past few months. Since the beginning of this year, the NCEASL has documented over 20 incidents of violence and intimidation against Christian places of worship across the country. During this period, there has also been an alarming increase in the number of incidents led against Muslims, with the latest occurring on 21st May when a mob attack was launched on the Mawalapitiya mosque following a procession in the area by the Bodu Bala Sena.

Since the current government took office in 2015, over 190 incidents of religious violence against churches, clergy, and Christians have been recorded by the NCEASL. In one such incident, on 18th May 2017, a large protest against a Christian place of worship was staged in Devinuwara (Matara District), with the participation of approximately 30 Buddhist monks and a mob comprising around 2000 people. The freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution of Sri Lanka. As such, the NCEASL is saddened that such protests continue to occur unrestrained against minority places of worship in the country.

While attacks and protests of this nature have occurred in the past as well, the increase in the intensity of incidents and the active involvement of local government officials has been a growing cause for concern. Moreover, in addition to attacks, intimidation, and protests, legal restrictions imposed on Christian places of worship have also continued unabated. For instance, the circular issued in 2008 by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, requiring new constructions of places of worship to register with the government, continues to be misapplied by local authorities to close down churches and threaten Christian clergy to discontinue their religious activities. The circular, however, is not in accordance with Sri Lankan legislation, as there is no legal requirement to register places of worship with the State.

In an attempt to foster reconciliation and healing following the three-decade long war, the present government has committed itself to ensure transitional justice in Sri Lanka. In keeping with its commitments, it is vital, therefore, for the government to speedily arrest the current situation and effectively address attacks on religious minorities in order to ensure the integrity of its reconciliation efforts.

The NCEASL, as such, strongly condemns the recent attacks on Christians and Muslims and calls on the government to ensure the protection of minorities and their places of worship. Moreover, in the light of numerous statements made by the State claiming improved human rights standards in the country, the NCEASL also calls on the government to take effective measures to prosecute perpetrators of violence and uphold the freedom of religion or belief in Sri Lanka.

ENDS.
27/5/2017

IGP koloma (eccentric) is now a ‘pain in the neck’ –govt. instructs Poojitha to resign honorably; he has dispatched prime suspect in Narcotics murder out of country !

(Lanka-e-News - 28.May.2017, 9.00AM) After the good governance government was elected to power it is the constitutional council established under the 19 th amendment that appointed the IGP. It was Poojitha Jayasundara who was appointed as the first IGP under the constitutional council . Sadly to the country’s detriment this IGP who proved that he is only a clown and eccentric right from the beginning had now been notified by the officials of the good governance government to resign honorably , since Poojitha has now proved beyond doubt he is even worse – ‘a pain in the neck ’ based on reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division.

The eccentric IGP has made a request that if he is to resign honorably , he shall be afforded an opportunity to contest the forthcoming provincial council elections to save face.

Perhaps at least at this belated stage thankfully he has realized his dishonorable traits and eccentricity , and therefore the best place for him is sordid Sri Lankan politics. Though Poojitha requested Kurunegala as the electorate , he has been intimated he can be allocated Dambulla ( we shall not reveal his political party for the moment) .

If an IGP who is a ’pain in the neck’ does not honorably resign , the only option is to dismiss him by tabling an impeachment motion against him in parliament. Since there are countless grounds against Poojitha , a simple majority would suffice to expel him. Besides , the present consensual government has a two third majority in parliament.

Lanka e news from the very inception had been exposing his mental derangement ,and why he was dubbed ‘eccentric IGP’ from the very day he dashed the hand on the table exclaiming ‘ ammata hudu, that means Poojitha has become IG.’ Poojitha who could not stop his lunatic antics from that time continued with that conduct until he became a’ pain in the neck’ to an extent that the government could not tolerate him any longer.

There were many incidents that bore testimony to his eccentricity and his finally becoming a ‘thorn in the flesh’ : The IGP assaulting and scolding a group including women in the Police headquarters in unadulterated filth for not meditating ; in the incident in which a group of Narcotics officers were gunned down at Piiyandala , this IGP ( Imbecile General of police ) not carrying out the order issued to him to entrust the investigations to the STF chief and furnish a report , and not caring two hoots for the deadline given to carry out the instruction within three days.

Poojitha had driven the government to embarrassment on umpteen occasions. He obstructed the arrest of the extremist monk , Gnanassara ; and while there were ways and means to halt the anti SAITM protests to nip it in the bud, he allowed it to spread across the entire capital city to create a wrong impression ( specially tear gassing Vihara Maha Devi park recently ) ; and summoning all the DIGs of the country and delivering his meaningless , senseless sermons wasting a whole day of police time. These were some of the grounds among the many that made him a pain in the neck for the government .

Based on reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division , when mad monk Gnanassara was in Kurunegala arousing extremist animosities , the police STF surrounded him and were about to arrest him. At that time Poojitha conveying a message through Priyantha an officer from Colombo averted Gnanassara’s arrest. Thereafter giving all lame excuses , he misled the government .Poojitha told the government because a monk was trying to pour petrol on himself and self immolate, if Gnanassara is taken into custody , he did not arrest Gnanassara. That was an absolute falsehood. The government having come to know of Poojitha’s lies , his tricks and treacheries despite wearing the khaki uniform , gave powers to the OICs of the relevant stations to arrest any extremist of any religion . Now any OIC of the police station can arrest an extremist of any kind . They do not need the IGP’s permission.

When minister Sagala Ratnayake ordered the IGP to hand over the investigation into the murder of wheeler dealer IP Rangajeewa of the Narcotics division to the STF Commandant , Poojitiha did not even entrust the investigation to the CID. He did not even give a report thereof within three days to the minister.

HIs excuse was his officers did not furnish a report to him. No responsible officer except an eccentric like Poojitha will take cover under such lame excuses.

According to reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division, Poojitha by now has dispatched the prime suspect , Nussar who went with Rangajeewa the narcotics drug dealer on that fateful day , and another out of the country secretly . Intriguingly the Narcotics bureau that interrogated Nussar , released him on the same day.

Lanka e news earlier on reported under the caption ‘Gunning down Narcotics Rangajeewa: result of a conspiracy of the Police top brass ? -Poojitha disobeys Sagala’s orders and suppresses investigations,’ that Nussar is a drug dealer who has ties with Narcotics chiefs .

It is learnt that Poojitha who took the initiative to dispatch the suspects had sought the assistance of the forces to apprehend another underworld criminal . When there are competent and capable officers in the police to arrest criminals , the IGP seeking assistance of the forces , is most shocking and stupid.

Meanwhile Poojitha who attended the conference of police high ups in Russia is due to return to the Island today. In fact this is a conference not meant for IGPs , rather one that should be attended by directors of police divisions. An SSP participating in this conference is enough , yet Poojitha had gone on this junket to gratify his personal whims and pleasure in keeping with his selfish and self serving nature , our inside information division reporters in Russia revealed.

By a special reporter of LeN inside information service

Connected report
‘Gunning down Narcotics Rangajeewa: result of a conspiracy of the Police top brass ? -Poojitha disobeys Sagala’s orders and suppresses investigations’

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by (2017-05-28 07:42:16)

Landslide warning issued for 7 districts

2017-05-28

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) issued a 24-hour landslide early warning at 1 .00 p.m. today for the districts of Ratnapura, Kegalle, Galle, Kalutara, Matara, Hambantota, Nuwara Eliya.

Issuing the ‘Level 3 Red alert’, the NBRO instructed people to evacuate from unstable slopes to minimize disasters due to landslides and cut slope failures said if the rain continues within next 24 hours.

Video by Lal s. Kumara, Danudhka Lanka Nanayakkara,

Weather calamity: Death toll rises to 151

Colombo floods receding

May 28, 2017

According to observations floods in Kaduwela, Kelaniya and Kohilawatta areas are slowly receding. Due to the blockages in low lands, the draining floods are stagnated at several locations.

Due to this condition the area is prone for diseases and health officials need to pay attention to these areas before an epidemic erupts. Access roads in Kaduwela, Wellampitiya, Kohilawatta, Ambatale, Kelaniya areas are now clear enabling transportation. Yet the road from Kaduwela to Avissawella is still submerged under water and still not suitable for transportation.

The depression state in the Bay of Bengal will continue causing strong winds and a heavy monsoon, according to latest update of the Meteorology Department. There is a high possibility for heavy rains and strong winds in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Western Provinces. There were heavy showers in certain areas in the Western Province this evening.

Nishantha Priyadarshana

Sri Lanka Floods: Fears Rise As Rains Return And Casualties Increase

MAY 28, 2017

Even as the world joined hands to help Sri Lanka in its time of need, fears continued to rise amidst reports that more heavy rains were expected on Monday. The development comes as the total number of casualties increased, leaving at least 151 dead, and over 111 missing, in what is described as Sri Lanka’s worst ever floods since 2003. The floods and landslides following torrential rains have affected at least 442,000 people, and have displaced over 100,000.

But, even before waters levels receded, more warning bells were sounded today by the Meteorological Department which said that more showers were likely over the south-western part of the island from Monday onwards. “Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central and North-Western provinces,” the department said, while adding that heavy rain falls of above 100 mm can be expected in some places and in particularly in the western slope of the central hills.

Photo via Facebook – Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Sri Lanka

Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation issued a ‘Level 3 Red Alert’ landslide warning this afternoon, urging residents from certain parts of Ratnapura, Kegalle, Galle, Kalutara, Matara, Hambantota and Nuwara Eliya to evacuate as even the slightest amount of rain can result in landslides.

According to the UN, flooding and landslides have affected 14 out of 25 districts including; Batticaloa, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matale, Matara, Mulaitivu, Ratnapura, Trincomalee and Vavuniya. “The most severely impacted district is Galle, where 128,047 people (32,215 families) have reportedly been affected. Fatalities have been reported in Gampaha, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kegalle, Matara and Ratnapura districts, with 46 deaths reported in Ratnapura alone. Tri-Forces and Police have been mobilized for Search and Rescue and evacuations operations in Galle, Hambantota, Kalutara and Matara districts. The UN stresses the importance of following evacuation orders to minimize loss of human life,” a statement released from the UN office in Colombo yesterday said.

Power supply takes hit from floods - 300,000 in the dark

By Ayshwarya Yapa-May 29, 2017

According to observations floods in Kaduwela, Kelaniya and Kohilawatta areas are slowly receding. Due to the blockages in low lands, the draining floods are stagnated at several locations.

Over 250,000 have been deprived of electricity due to power failures and disconnections caused by the torrential rains, Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy says.

136,000 people have been deprived of electricity owing to the submerging of the Matara sub transmission grid alone.

About 50,000 of them have been supplied with power from Tangalle instead.

The Ministry’s Development Director, Sulakshana Jayawardana stated that the power distribution network had suffered significant damage from the heavy rain, and added that the rain also posed as an obstacle in the repairing of said damages.

The Minister of Power and Renewable Energy requested the public to refrain from traveling near the submerged sub transmission grids in boats.

Meanwhile, the Ministry also announced that the minor damages caused by the heavy rain to domestic electrical networks would be repaired free-of-charge.

Contact the following authorities in case of power outage:

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) – 1987

Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited – 1910

Ministry of Power and Energy - 1901

Flood and Droughts as blessings to meet future challenges

By Eng. Mahinda Panapitiya-May 28, 2017, 8:28 pm

Flooding during heavy rains and water pollution in natural streams are common problems all over the world when human settlements are located near flood prone areas. For example about 7-10% land area in the US under human settlements are subjected to flooding

In ancient cultures flooding was perceived as a blessing in disguise because it was the main transportation method of fertilizers free of charge for agriculture activities in temporary submergence areas called flood plains. After moving people into flood plains because of shortage of space for settlement, flood phenomena transformed to a curse for humans. With time, because of so called development, the environmental features of flood plains have been changed vastly causing floods during heavy rains while malfunctioning natural water cleaning process by wetlands especially during droughts. Wetlands of Flood plain are the interface between aquatic and terrestrial areas. Plants in those wetlands play very vital role in cleaning water biologically before it falls into the main streams. Wetlands are in fact the kidneys of our nature.

Hidden Reasons for Frequent Flooding

=Unplanned urbanization by clearing tree cover resulting in impervious areas (Roofs, Roads etc) that increase the runoff rate

=Obstruction in natural stream and flow ways due to poor maintenance (very common along Kelani River basin)

= Encroachment into flood zones (filling of wetlands for development Ex; Gampaha, Jaela, Wattala)

=Deposition of sediments from erosion from upland areas due to erosion of stream banks because of encroaching reservations of stream banks either for agriculture in rural areas and for settlement in urban areas

= Inadequate flow capacity in streams due to invasive type weed growth associated with polluted water. (Wattala, Kalmunai)

How to get ready to face above challenges

People who are already settled and people who are planning to settle in flood prone areas subjected to above issues could be kept aware of the different risk levels inherent to the place where they are currently settled or intend to settle.For that there is a need to do an exercise called Flood Hazard Zoning, This approach is very common in developed world.

Available Technologies

There are technologies available to simulate different flood conditions thatarise due to heavy rains before it occurs using satellite and survey data. This is called "modeling" in engineering. It is same as modeling in clothing industry where the user becomes aware of how he or she looks without actually wearing it. Similarly any area subject to floods can be modeled and divided in to zones so that land user will know how his lands get submerged or perform for different levels of flood situations.This type of performance based methods evaluates how an existing or newly introduced flood mitigation effort performs under different flood conditions.

A sketch below extracted from a technical guideline adapted in US shows a typical flood zoning map which could be used by a community to decide whether they should or should not build their houses in particular location. For example in that map, people who are in Zone A are in high risk area subjected to flooding. Zone C is a low risk area. Deciding to settle down in a flood prone area is a gamble. For example a person who wants to build a house in Zone A which is designated as "100Year Flood Zone", will have 26% chance of submerging his house once in 30 Years which is the normal Bank Lending period of a housing loan. For the next 70 Years, which is the normal lifetime of a building, chance is 50%. For a person who wants to build a house in Zone B which is designated as "500-Year Flood Zone" will have 18% chance of submerging his residence or building once in 70 Years. By knowing in advance through these flood zoning maps, people themselves become aware of flood danger before it occurs and therefore they also become responsible for the challenges to be faced during flood situation. When there is no such initial warning, government will automatically have to bear the whole responsibility.

This type of mapping would also be useful guide for Land Valuation as well as for Insurance against flood risks. With flood zoning, flood insurance becomes an option that adds a financial component in designing buildings to address those future risks. For example people can build their houses at elevated levels on columns to suit predicted flood levels. Also the sewerage systems can be introduced to suit the wetland environments.

Ground water mapping during droughts

Similar to mapping of surface water flows during heavy rains, during severe drought ground water behaviors can be studied by recording water level elevations of open wells. Those data could be used to suggest methods to face drought situations by identifying areas suitable for temporary water storages within flood plains. Modern technologies could be used to identify naturally available water cleaning wetlands to be preserved.

During previous drought situations before the current flood, there had been a water shortage Attanagalu Oya Basin though annually it dumps water into the sea equivalent to a volume of Parakrama Samudraya. Also note that impact of severe drought situations is worse than that of flood,especially in view of the current pollution levels of our natural streams.

King Parakramabahu's famous quote on water conservation and utilization "Do not release even a drop of rain water to the sea without using "Applies not only to Dry Zone but for the Wet Zone too

New Finance Minister has a Herculean task ahead; he will win only if he moves with foresight

New Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera officially assuming duties at the ministry – Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Monday, 29 May 2017

Promise to continue with economic reform program

The new Minister of Finance, Mangala Samaraweera, who assumed office at the ministry without much fanfare, has testified to his humbleness when he made his maiden speech in Parliament. He had said that the shoes he had to wear now had been “much too big for him to wear”, a testament to the seriousness of the job at hand (available at: http://www.ft.lk/article/617417/Mangala-promises-to-rebuild-economy--meet-development-goals ).

New Finance Minister has a Herculean task ahead he will win only if he moves with foresight.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

Nimal Siripala proves he prefers to be a serpent under the grass ! -Pro good governance masses must fortify against foes

(Lanka-e-News - 28.May.2017, 9.10AM) Nimal Siripala who is holding a ministerial post under the good governance government has proved while being an SLFP minister of transport is a snake under the grass , double faced and is best at playing worst double games.

This was clearly demonstrated by him when he gave a ‘slap’ to the general manager (G.M.) B.A. P Ariyaratne , who gave leadership and ran the trains during the strike staged on the 5 th by the railways . In addition this rare double faced snake under the grass has even put the G.M. under the ‘guillotine’ , when in fact the latter should have been lauded .

This double faced transport minister while pretending he was against the railway strike , was in fact giving support to it on the sly . Ariyaratne on the other hand ,in the best interests of the nation based on his own discretion had taken measures along with the UNP trade unions to run the trains in order to minimize the inconvenience caused to the public. Shockingly , Nimal Siripala the serpent had got incensed over it .

At the cabinet sub committee meeting held on the 19 th , chaired by faceless Wijedasa Rajapakse another snake under the grass , the serpent Siripala via a letter had obtained the approval to remove Ariyaratne from the post of G.M. , and replace him with S.M. Abeywickrema , a chief mechanical engineer , a notorious scoundrel who is day and night among the crooks led by the MaRa brigand .

Not long ago , on May 17 th , when a function was held at Sadaham Vihara , Ratmalana to accord a reception to deposed and people discarded corrupt Medamulana crook , it was none other than Abeywickrema who played a major role in it, taking along with him the railway employees , and supplying the goods and baggage of the department .

Today , it is this scoundrel of the den of crooks who is being propelled by serpent Siripala to the post of G.M. If a scoundrel like Abeywickrema is to be made the G.M. railways , a short time will suffice to topple the government of good governance through strikes alone. The double faced ,double tongued , double sized serpent Siripala is hatching that conspiracy.

The character and putrid antecedence of Abeywickrema whom the serpent is trying to promote can be gauged from the following incident :

When Welgama was the transport minister , it was this same Abeywickrema and not any other who forcibly took out large quantities of iron from the Ratmalana factory. It was this same crook Abeywickrema who also permitted the transport of lorry loads of timber out for and on behalf of Welgama; each load was worth over a Rs. One million . One of those lorries however was seized by the police ,and a disciplinary inquiry is still in progress against Abeywickrema the blue brigand crook .

Is such a crook going to be appointed as a G.M ?

If the government that was formed by the pro good governance masses is being betrayed by scoundrels and rascals ,and are garlanding the opponents when in fact they should be protecting and propelling the good governance government , the challenges of the latter in the future should also be faced by it through those discarded villains who were garlanded because the good governance masses will have no choice except leave the government .

If such simple impending dangers cannot be visualized ahead , it is best to abandon politics and stay away from it. If the United National alliance that propelled this ‘effeminate consensual alliance’ to power does not take a decision to form a government of its own and stand erect without swaying, at least during the remaining two and half years , it is better to honorably retire now itself .

By -Raellu Rala-

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by (2017-05-28 03:52:49)

New amendment will prevent CBK and MR from becoming PM

May 28, 2017

The SLFP believes that the Executive Presidency should be abolished in a manner that will prevent former President Mahinda Rajapaksa from becoming the Prime Minister again.

Nimal Siripala de Silva who represents the SLFP in the Constitutional Steering Committee consisting of representatives from all parties discussed this matter with the Committee.

It is said that the SLFP has reached a consensus that when the Executive Presidency is abolished it should be done in a way that will prevent someone who has ruled the country for two terms from ruling it again.

According to this consensus both Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa will not be able to assume power as Prime Minister when the Executive Presidency is abolished.

However the UNP is yet to express its position on the matter and according to UNP sources Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe believes that the abolition of the Executive Presidency should not be done in a way that will prevent anyone from becoming the Prime Minister as he believes that such anobjective is undemocratic.

The 19th Constitutional Amendment introduced by the present government prevents a person who has served two terms as President from becoming the President for the third time. This Amendment prevents both Kumaratunga and Rajapaksa from becoming President again. However a proposal submitted by the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Mano Ganesan, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Rauff Hakeem, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Rishad Bathiudeen and the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) Douglas Devananda states that while in agreement of curtailing executive powers, they are by no means agreeable with abolishing the Executive Presidency.

- Sathhanda

Sri Lankans – Smiling Or Sneering

By Sarath de Alwis –MAY 28, 2017

Sarath de Alwis

Who remembers the speech made by Ravi Karunanayake the new Minister of Finance on 29th January 2015, presenting his 100-days Interim Budget? If you do, you will know what this all about.

This is not about the non-event that was labelled a cabinet reshuffle. If the Prime Minister was serious about infusing new talent he could have drawn inspiration from his uncle JRJ. Except for himself and his Prime Minster, his entire cabinet was made of first timers.

Ranil is different. He is a practical leader. He selects his ministers in the manner of Bourbon monarchs. His Minister of Tourism is now a seasoned tourist. Minister John attends all trade fairs. Now the Prime Minster has concluded that national development needs a forensic mind.

This essay is only a retrospective assessment of the past two years that precipitated these utterly ridiculous cosmetic patch work. As that iconoclast Malcom Muggeridge observed of Anthony Eden who bungled the Suez invasion, in politics as in womanizing failure is decisive. It sheds a retrospective gloom on earlier endeavor which at the time was full of promise.

“Sri Lankans are smiling again. The smiles portray freedom, liberty and courage. It is refreshing, the release from a bonding of family rule and crony nepotism….. All are enjoying the serene breeze of change. A change for the better, a change to be cherished. A rule of compassion- A Maitri Palanaya.”

These elegant expressions of sanguine hopes were penned and later pronounced in parliament by Mr. Ravi Karunanayake current Minister of Foreign Affairs in his maiden speech as Minister of Finance of the 100-days ‘Yahapalana’ on 29th January 2015. He was presenting the interim budget.

Sri Lankans are not smiling. They are sneering at the incompetence of the government. They are scowling at the crony rent seekers who surround the new regime. They are frowning in puzzlement over the nonchalance of a Prime Minister who cannot read the writing on the wall.

To repeat, Sri Lankans are not smiling. They are grimacing at the pain of betrayal by the present lot. They are wide-eyed and gob smacked at the real prospect of a return of the Rajapakse caliphate.

The speech made by the new Minister of Finance in presenting the interim budget of the ‘Yahapalanaya’ government is an important document. At the time, it summed up past folly and charted a new path. Today, a retrospective reading tells us the story of the duplicity of the Maithri- Ranil coalition.

In January 2015, Ravi Karunanayake was not only the Minister of Finance. His role in bringing about the change was widely recognized. It was his initiative that hatched a lame duck egg in to a graceful Swan. Both Ravi and Mangala were firm in their convictions that only a common candidate other than Ranil Wickremesinghe could defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The new Minister of Finance of the first hundred days expounded on the philosophy of power. In 29th January 2015, he told parliament

“Power is temporary. Official positions are also temporary. As trustees of our voting public, our duty is to honorably serve the nation. We must not forget that we are servants of the people and it is our bounden duty to be of service.”

What went wrong? The political altruism of Ravi Karunanayake on 29th January 2015 was either profoundly heartfelt or fervently false. This writer opines that it was neither. Power is given by the people. There it ends. From thence it is power and authority over people. Ravi K is simply a victim of the paradox of power. A Spartan king once said, “The man who wants to rule many men must fight many.” The path to power is paved with daggers.

Somebody wanted the ministries swapped between Ravi Karunanyake and Mangala Samraweera. It was most definitely, not an idea that appealed to either of them. There is no doubt that Mangala Samaraeera courageous and outspoken will now tell us how much we are indebted and why. In time, he will also tell us who hocked what and to whom.

Mr. Karunanayake never made himself coherent to the masses on the predicament we were in. For that matter even this writer finds the most lucid description of Sri Lanka’s debt trap is given by Wade Sheppard Author of Ghost Cities of China writing in the Forbes magazine.

‘The official estimate of what Sri Lanka currently owes its financiers is $64.9 billion — $8 billion of which is owned by China. The country’s debt-to-GDP currently stands around 75% and 95.4% of all government revenue is currently going towards debt repayment.’ Sheppard begins by asserting that the crisis is so bad, that the government does not even know how much it owes.

Shipping and ports: At the cross roads of national interest

Newly appointed Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe being congratulated by his predecessor Arjuna Ranatunga when the former assumed duties early last week following the mini reshuffle of the Cabinet - Pic by Lasantha Kumara

Monday, 29 May 2017

Shipping is one of the global businesses that is truly transnational and plays a pivotal role in expanding and developing global trade. Being a capital intensive industry that is highly vulnerable to trade patterns not many can be players in the ship owning industry. US, Europe, Japan, China, and Scandinavia are some of the main stakeholders of the global business. Due to serious misjudgement and wrong forecast since 2008 economic slowdown the container shipping industry has been in a state of limbo as over capacity and bad management in some cases have led to industry leaders to re design the business models, which has resulted in massive consolidation of the liner industry.

Impact to shippers and consumers

As a result of rapid consolidation of shipping lines, the shipper community is rather worried that such mergers and acquisitions will lead the shipping industry to be a real oligopolistic industry that will result in unjustifiable freight rate increases and space manipulations. This will impact all developing countries, both exporters as well as the consumers. For years global shipper organisations especially in non-regulated developing markets and countries have been pointing out the anti-competitive nature of shipping when it comes to pricing.

In 2016, the Global Shippers’ Forum based in London initiated discussion with the World Bank and is in the process of talking to UNCTAD as mainly African and Asian countries continue to suffer by imposition of numerous surcharges and the breaking of freight cost by forcibly imposing charges without any transparency. As a result, a considerable number of small and medium scale industries have lost competitiveness which the Global Shippers’ Forum has identified as a barrier to trade.

On the other hand, these non-market driven tools will increase cost to the consumer when a country considers its costing for imports. It is the strong will of governments and regulators who can stop by introducing market friendly competition rules to minimise abuse of the system.

Role of sea ports in the new era

Seaports are considered as the bedrock of connectivity of global trade. Today they are challenged with the enormity of change in ship size in container vessels and resulting in the need of massive infrastructure investments to keep pace with the changing demands of such ships.

In definition, ports can be described as third-party logistics providers. One of the best definitions of a port is quoted below:

“Seaports as integrated logistics centres and multifunctional socio-economic spaces are the key components of the global transport system. They carry out the functions and services necessary for the efficiency of supply chains, and their final elements include the distribution of goods from the places of production to places of consumption. Seaports cover the transport, logistics, distribution and spatial functions, which influence city development, while logistics centres cover the distribution function.”

Ports today face two competitive challenges – the significant increase in ship size and volumes and the need for greater efficiency, ironically majority of the South Asian port are considered operating at 50%-70% of efficiency.

As described above, the port community is complicated. But, in the eyes of many it is a function between a ship and a port which is not true. However, most vital component of the port community is the community that brings in the ships (ship owners and operators) and the cargo owners (exporters and importers). In many instances, smaller Asian and African ports tend to ignore the rights of the cargo owners and ship owners whilst policy is driven by third parties. And the key elements of the supply chain are usually ignored when decisions relating to shipping and ports are developed.

A classic example of this is the port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka. Never were the ship owners nor the cargo owners were seriously consulted prior to engaging in a massive infrastructure project that is gradually swallowing Sri Lanka into a debt trap and is dragged into an unwanted cold war among major economic interest of Asia.

Colombo International Container Terminal in Port of Colombo

National interest

Anyone with common sense is aware, that Sri Lanka’s strong point is its geography. However, if government fails to identify the right parties and right policies and doesn’t realise that shipping is a global business and its global customers are not identified as partners in development, the aspiration to be a maritime hub from a mere transshipment hub is going to be an impossible task.

For years, global policy makers, industry specialists have advocated a strong landlord model to develop the Sri Lankan port sector. The manifest of the President talks about the Tamesek Model of Singapore. The Prime Minister has repeatedly talked about a reform agenda and the importance of maritime economy. Last two budgets of the good governance government have proposed many reforms including the setting up of a Maritime Port Authority (MPA). It’s now time to establish these vital reforms if we want to be the maritime hub of South Asia.

In the national interest where the government policy is to promote exports and use the strength of the port to reduce import and export costs, it is important that policy decisions to support both trade as well as shipping is given, a fresh look. This is expected from the new authorities and the new Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. The Government should identify the key stakeholders and their motives when they lobby with authorities as Sri Lanka’s policy has been driven by third parties in many instances since 1994. As a result, policy and implementation has been left to lip service and speeches and exporters and consumers and the country have suffered.

IN-1.2

Sri Lanka probably has a two to five-year window to get out of the current mess it has entangled itself due to poor decisions or decisions not taken at the right time. With short and long-term reforms implemented and listening to professionals without any vested interest in the shipping and ports sector may be the last resort to safe guard the national interest which is certainly at cross-roads.

(The writer is the CEO of Shippers’ Academy Colombo, an economics graduate, and the immediate past secretary General of the Asian Shippers’ Council).

Palestinian hunger striker recounts his ordeal in Israeli prison

'If we were feeling ill, the guards would just say we should start eating'

Mahmood Amil Rimawi (MEE/Alastair Sloan)

Alastair Sloan- Sunday 28 May 2017

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Israeli prison staff denied them sleep, medical treatment, access to lawyers and routinely beat Palestinian hunger strikers, one who was freshly released told Middle East Eye.

More than a thousand prisoners had been refusing food since 17 April until a surprise deal was reached on Saturday - many details of which are yet to emerge. The strike has since been suspended.

Mahmood Amil Rimawi, a 22-year-old former firefighter, had just served a two-and-a-half year sentence for throwing Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers on Palestinian territory.

Rimawi was released on Thursday into hospital after serving most of his sentence at the isolated Negev prison. He said 200 prisoners had been on strike there, and added that 25 were in "serious" medical condition and 10 in "critical".

"I heard other prisoners being beaten," Rimawi told MEE at his home, as a constant stream of well-wishes arrived to congratulate him on his release. "The guards would bang their truncheons on the doors at night so we could not sleep.

"On the first day of the hunger strike, they confiscated our clothes and brought us a new set. We weren't allowed to change our clothes once while we were striking," he said, adding that the prisoners were denied access to lawyers throughout.

"If we were feeling ill, the guards would just say we should start eating," he said.

Rimawi, who ceased his hunger strike upon leaving prison, told MEE that his weight had dropped to 57kg from 80kg during the 30 days he refused food. Nevertheless, he felt his strike embodied an important message.

"I was very hungry at the start of the strike, after a week it was terrible," Rimawi said. "After that I never thought to stop striking, I remembered why I was in this state and that it was my decision. It was about fighting for dignity."

According to Rimawi, Israeli guards would shout at prisoners who had passed out and only transfer them to hospital if they failed to wake up.

After a short period of transporting prisoners in critical health conditions to outside facilities, the Israeli prison services set up medical centres inside prisons to treat strikers directly.

"Anything can happen inside there," a Palestinian spokesperson for the Commission of Detainees & Ex-Detainees Affairs said, calling the arrangement "serious and dangerous".

An emailed request for comment sent to an Israeli prison official had not been answered at the time of publication.

While most prisoners drank water mixed with salt to maintain their stomach linings, Rimawi said some of his colleagues eventually began refusing water in a bid to bring negotiations to a close.

The strike was called by imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti to protest against solitary confinement and "administrative detention," which is the practice of holding Palestinian prisoners without trial or indictment. Barghouti had also demanded that prisoners have access to phone calls under Israeli monitoring.

Barghouti was among the last to be treated outside the prison walls, as 79 in total were admitted to clinics nearby before being re-interned on Thursday.

The exact terms of Saturday's deal are yet to be made public, but the strike was ended after late-night talks between the International Committee for the Red Cross and the Palestinian Authority.