Punjab to forgive over $1.5 billion in farm debts

A farmer rests on a heap of harvested rice crop at a wholesale grain market in Chandigarh, October 4, 2016. Picture taken October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Ajay Verma/Files

By Vipin Das M | NEW DELHI-Tue Jun 20, 2017

Punjab will waive more than $1.5 billion in loans to farmers, becoming the third state to do so in response to growing rural distress caused by food oversupply and weak prices.

The South Asian nation is carrying a huge inventory of food grains from last year's record harvest, while exports have been hit by an appreciating rupee, falling global prices and restrictions on overseas shipments.

Punjab will waive loans to farmers with holdings of up to 5 acres (2 hectares) and debts of up to 200,000 rupees ($3,100), state finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal told Reuters.

About 975,000 farmers will be completely debt-free after the scheme is implemented. Punjab, a major producer of wheat and rice, will settle farmers' debts to the banks through annual budget provisions, he said.

"Every year we will make a provision of about 20-30 billion rupees in the budget to pay to the banks, so that the entire loan is paid in five years," Badal told Reuters.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel has warned that such loan waivers - forecast by BofA Merrill Lynch to reach $40 billion - would weaken already-strained state finances.

"The economy is not just about state finances, we also have to take care that our farmers do not commit suicide," Badal said in a telephone interview.

To pay off the loans, Punjab is banking on a 14 percent rise in state revenues after the July 1 launch of a new national Goods and Services Tax (GST). It is also planning to cut some of its capital investments.

"The total loan to be absorbed by the state would be around 80 billion-100 billion rupees ($1.24 billion-$1.55 billion)," he said.

Earlier Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), agreed to forgive billions of dollars in farm loans.

Punjab is one of a handful of states ruled by the opposition Congress party.

Economists at Merrill Lynch estimate that states will end up writing off debts equivalent to 2 percent of GDP - the bulk of all outstanding loans to farmers.

($1 = 64.4575 Indian rupees)


(Reporting By Vipin Das M and Nidhi Verma; Writing by Nidhi Verma; Editing Douglas Busvine and David Evans)

Cholesterol-lowering jab to help prevent heart disease

WILDPIXEL/GETTYImage captionBlocked arteries impede blood flow

The vaccine induces immunity against a protein produced by the body, rather than something foreign

By Michelle Roberts-20 June 2017

Human trials of a cholesterol-lowering vaccine to help prevent heart disease are under way after successful studies in mice.

Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna are testing the safety of their experimental treatment in 72 volunteers.

The jab is designed to stop fatty deposits from clogging the arteries.

It would offer patients an alternative to taking daily pills to cut their risk of stroke, angina and heart attacks.

Booster jab

It will take years more of testing to know if the treatment will be safe and effective enough for human use, Dr Guenther Staffler and colleagues from The Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research say in the European Heart Journal.

Even if it does become available, in six years' time, it should not be seen as an excuse for people to avoid exercise and eat lots of high-fat food, they add.

The jab helps the body's immune system to attack a protein, called PCSK9, that would otherwise allow "bad" low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to build up in the bloodstream.

The researchers envisage that patients could have a yearly booster shot to top up their immunity.

In mice, the treatment cuts LDL cholesterol by up to 50% over 12 months and appears to protect against the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries (atherosclerosis).

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. We all need it, but too much "bad" LDL cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

"Good" high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, on the other hand, is beneficial because it helps transport other types of cholesterol from the blood to the liver, where it can be broken down.

Some people have high cholesterol because of an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Poor diet, high alcohol consumption, smoking and inactivity are also linked with high cholesterol.

---

Aren't there pills to reduce it?

People with high cholesterol can take cholesterol-lowering drugs, called statins, to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease.

But although these are very cheap and effective, they will not work for everyone.

Some people dislike taking daily medication or forget to take it because they are feeling well. Rarely, there can be side-effects.

Researchers have been looking at alternative treatment options that they can give to patients alongside or instead of statins.

The first phase of testing on 72 human volunteers should be completed by the end of the year.

This will check if there are any safety issues or side-effects before more studies in people can begin.

There is a concern that the therapeutic vaccine might increase the risk of diabetes.

The researchers at the Medical University of Vienna who are conducting the human studies will be on the look out for this.

Dr Tim Chico, a cardiologist from the University of Sheffield, said: "Many questions remain about whether this approach could work in man.

"This is yet more proof that cholesterol causes heart disease, and lowering cholesterol reduces risk of heart disease, so it confirms the importance of a healthy lifestyle for everyone and medications such as statins for some people to reduce risk of heart disease."

Prof Sir Nilesh Samani, from the British Heart Foundation, said: "Finding new ways to manage people's cholesterol levels is absolutely vital.

"Although only tested in mice, this vaccine could lead to a simple way to target high cholesterol and ultimately reduce people's risk of heart disease."

Follow Michelle on Twitter

Government strategy to bring about promised change is needed

By Jehan Perera-June 19, 2017, 8:15 pm 

The two main factors that caused a change of government in 2015 are reappearing at the present time. The first is the feeling amongst the religious and ethnic minorities that the government is not doing enough to protect them. During the period of the former government the minorities even felt that the government was opposed to them. This was on account of its inadequate efforts at post-war normalization and the growth of religious intolerance. The election of the new government came as a great relief to the minorities. Their sense of fear and jeopardy lifted in large measure. Even though the military presence in the North and East did not significantly diminish there was a revival of civilian institutions. The government no longer came across as being a hostile entity.

Unfortunately at the present time, instead of consolidating this trust the inaction and negative posturing by some leaders in the government is eroding trust. Today, there is a growing sense of disappointment about the government amongst the ethnic and religious minorities and also amongst large sections of the ethnic and religious majority population. This is on account of failure to honour promises made. During the 2015 election campaign the two main themes of the opposition leaders who now head the country were the eradication of corruption and the restoration of the Rule of Law. There was widespread belief that the previous government had breached the bounds of corruption. There was also widespread fear of the impunity with which the former government leaders wielded their powers over life and death.

The first sign of governmental backtracking on the two main issues that determined the course of the 2015 elections was the issue of corruption. The promise that the 19th Amendment to the constitution brought, and the independent commissions that it set up, have been virtually negated. At the initial stages the appointment of an empowered Bribery and Corruption Commissioner gave confidence that those great social ills would no longer reign as number one in public life. However, the delays to take forward the corruption cases against those of the former government who had already been convicted in the court of public opinion dented the mood of optimism. The belief in the anti corruption mission of the government took another body blow at the resistance to investigate the Central Bank bond scam.

UNTENABLE JUSTIFICATIONS

The common justifications given by the government for the slow progress of the cases involving past corruption is that gathering evidence takes time. The legal cases have to be prepared carefully to prevent them from failing in the court of law. This is also the justification given by state officials when they are asked why the murder cases involving top journalists and sports personalities are not being pursued with the determination that they ought to be. However, the government was elected with a mandate to ensure the Rule of Law. It needs to give priority to delivering on the mandate which they sought from the people. Instead the government leaders who promised to make a change for the better for the country appear to be politically paralysed.

The whole point of leadership is to make a difference and carry one’s own support base. The government leaders promised to make a difference once they were elected. They need to deliver on their promises. But now they appear to be giving priority to preparing for the next round of elections when the two parties who formed the government coalition may end up as rivals again as they were before the formation of the National Unity Government. The same attitude of giving priority to prevailing at the next election can be seen in the government’s hands off attitude towards the problem of inter religious violence. Particularly concerning to the ethnic and religious minorities have been the insidious attacks against their places of worship and business.

There are incidents of violence against the religious and ethnic minorities being reported on an increasing basis from different parts of the country. Sometimes these incidents are not even reported in the mainstream media which leaves the majority of people knowing little of the problems that their fellow citizens in another part of the country are experiencing. Muslim places of worship and commercial establishments have been the special targets for attacks. Similar incidents of violence are taking place against Christians from small evangelical churches, which are most vulnerable to attack, as their places of worship are not frequented by a large population. Some of them are engaged in activities which are provoking to sections of the larger population. But the practice of violence against them cannot be permitted.

UNACCEPTABLE GAP

The government’s failure is to take concrete action to stop these acts of violence. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that the government will pass new laws to deal with the problem. But there are existing laws that permit the police to take necessary action. The Bar Association has called on the police "to take all security measures to ensure that these attacks against racial and religious communities do not occur and the Attorney General to expedite the prosecution of all suspects in appropriate circumstances for offences under Chapter XV of the Penal Code and the provisions of the ICCPR Act, irrespective of their social status." The government needs to muster up the political will to appoint the correct people who will command the confidence of the law enforcement agencies to ensure that the Rule of Law prevails.

The government also needs to deliver on its other commitments. It promised constitutional reform and it promised to implement transitional justice. Where constitutional reform is concerned the government promised to change the executive presidential system, the electoral system and the devolution of powers. There are news stories of discussions taking place and reports being submitted but without concrete progress in evidence. Where transitional justice is concerned the government promised to establish a Truth Commission, An Office of Missing Persons, an Office of Reparations and a Special Court for war crimes. The government asked the UN for two more years and got it, but since then nothing more seems to be happening.

There is today an unacceptable gap between what the government has promised and what it is delivering. This inaction is sought to be justified on the grounds of politics. One is to say that with two parties that are traditional rivals at the helm, there is no consensus on which way to move. Another is to say that the government cannot afford to antagonize the Sinhalese majority. The problem is that the government is being strategic about remaining in power and viewing future elections. On the contrary it needs to be strategic about delivering on its promises. If it fails to bring about the changes that it promised the coalition for change that contributed to bring it to power may not survive till the next election.

SL a comic state ! IQ question paper for graduate teacher selection full of howlers -two legged donkeys have set the papers ?

(Lanka-e-News -19.June.2017, 8.30PM)  The Intelligence quotient (IQ) 
question paper for  candidates who sat the competitive exam held by government schools in the North  on 17 th ( Saturday) to select graduate teachers was abounding with errors and howlers . Hence  the candidates who sat the exam had to face dire problems and an injustice had been perpetrated, the candidates alleged.

The candidates said , as most questions were erroneous , answering them was rendered most difficult .

There were a number of grave errors in the mathematical part   of the Intelligence test , and there were many printing and grammatical  errors . The candidates therefore  say , their answers cannot be 100 % correct.  The disappointed candidates are of the view the authorities should   give due consideration to these issues, and give them marks duly.

A minimum marks of 40 must be secured to pass the exam. But because when teacher appointments are being given , the maximum marks are given preference , they are likely to be deprived of the appointments owing to this mishap, the candidates point out.

The question papers have been initially prepared in Tamil , and translated into Sinhala later . Because of this a lot of vocabulary mistakes and  grammar have crept in.

The candidates pinpoint all these problems are not due to them , and hence  marks shall be duly given to the candidates who answered all the questions . The attention of the Northern province Governor should be drawn to this injustice , the candidates  demanded.

Dinasena Rathugamage 
Translated by Jeff

---------------------------
by     (2017-06-19 15:14:18)

AGREEMENT BETWEEN SAMPANTHAN AND WIGNESWARAN SAVE THE DAY FOR NORTHERN PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

20/06/2017

The crisis that threatened to dialogue justice Wigneswarn, Chief Minster of the Northern Provincial Council (NCP)  from his post has been averted by an agreement reached between him and TNA leader Sampanthan. CM Wigneswaran has agreed not insist that  two provincial council ministers, who are under the investigation for corruption should take leave. At the same time as R, Sampanthan has undertaken to advise them that they should not impede an independent legal inquiry.

CM Wigneswaran was faced with imminent no confidence motion and a possible defeat by the  Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) members of the provincial council. ITKA is the largest party in the Tamil National Alliance. Such a eventuality would have pushed  NPC as well as Northern politics in to a turmoil.

It was at that junction ITAL leader R.Sampanthan proposed  a compromised solution.

The letter sent by CM Wigneswaran agreeing to compromised solution follows:
R.Sampanthan,

Leader of Opposition and Leader, TNA.

My dear Sam,

Yours of even date in reply to mine of 17.06.2017 to hand. Thanks. I am also in receipt of a note given by Bishop Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam and Srila Sri Somasundra Thesika Gnana Sambanda Paramachchariyar Swamy this morning. Let me first explain a few matters in your letter.

There was no punitive action taken against the two Ministers concerned. They are entitled to draw their salary and use their vehicles etc. It is in order to give protection to the Witnesses that it was said that they should take leave while the Inquiring Committee sat. There are new charges too against them.

I understand your inability to give guarantees with regard to the conduct of the two Ministers. But I am glad you have undertaken to advise them that they should not impede an independent legal inquiry.

It is to ensure the independent legal inquiry and to commit the two Ministers that I designed the formula of taking leave for one month.

You are a Senior Member of the ITAK. You are the leader of the TNA. You have undertaken to advise the two Ministers not to impede an independent legal inquiry.

The two Religious Dignitaries have insisted that the two Ministers must co-operate by not interfering with the course of justice.

Added to these Hon’ Selvam Adaikalanathan, Hon’ Dharmalingam Sidharthan and Hon. Suresh Premachandran have also undertaken last night in the best interests of the Tamils to speak to the Hon’ Ministers, to make sure they will not interfere with the course of justice nor interfere with nor threaten witnesses nor tamper with evidence etc. In the light of these undertakings, I will not insist on the conditions relating to leave.

Justice C.V. Wigneswaran, Chief Minister,

Northern Provincial Council.

Letter sent by R> Sampanthan to Justice Wigneswarn follows:

In politics, self takes precedence over nation - EDITORIAL

hen it comes to politics there is no difference between the North and South. In both parts of the country one’s self comes first while pushing the nation, the people and the nationality one represents into the back-burner. That was what happened when the committee appointed by Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran to investigate allegations against his board of ministers handed over its report to him.  
The Chief Minister told the NPC last Wednesday when tabling the report that some of those who demanded an investigation against the ministers accusing them of incidents of fraud and corruption were reluctant to accept the findings. On the other hand the CM wanted to punish even those found not guilty for reasons best known to him.   

2017-06-20

The committee was appointed last year when 16 councillors complained against four of the five ministers, the fifth being Mr. Wigneswaran. Setting an example not only to the other provincial councils but also to the Central government, he had appointed a high level committee comprising two retired judges and a former government agent.  
The investigation seemed to have been carried out in a manner that was not found fault with by any political party or social group or individual. However, all hell broke loose when Wigneswaran attempted to sack all four ministers including the two who had been cleared of all charges. Twenty one councillors including a section of the ruling party, the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) and the Opposition submitted a no-confidence motion to Provincial Governor Reginald Cooray against the Chief Minister. Another 15 members including those representing the smaller parties in the ruling party submitted another motion expressing confidence in him. Now Wigneswaran’s fate hangs in the balance until the council meets on Thursday.   

Meanwhile, everybody has forgotten the anti-corruption drive in the province with the fate of the Chief Minister coming to the fore. This reminds us of the so-called anti-corruption drive of the yahapalanaya government which is fast becoming a farce, apparently because of the concerns of some government leaders about their survival.  
The simple truth is that the year-long cold war between the ITAK and the other three constituent parties of the TNA -- the EPRLF, TELO and PLOTE has clouded the entire episode. Wigneswaran is known to be a thorn in the flesh of the TNA leadership, as it has not been able to control him and has become closer to the smaller parties than to his own party, the ITAK. He has passed several controversial resolutions such as the “genocide resolution” in his council to which the TNA leadership did not subscribe. He had also formed the Tamil Pepoples’ Council (TPC) with the support of those small parties, challenging the TNA leadership’s claim as the “sole representative” or the main representative of the Northern Tamils.   

Wigneswaran seems to have played into the hands of his rivals by calling for the resignation of the two ministers who had not been found guilty of charges. Similar to what happened to the SLFP in the South, the TNA and the ITAK are on the brink of breaking apart, because of the game plan for survival of some of the smaller parties.  
Many people in the South seem to be upbeat with the stories that Wigneswaran was going to be ousted on a no-confidence motion, as he had hurt them in the past by his controversial resolutions and hard-line statements. But the South has to be cautious in rejoicing with the events in the North, because of the possibility that an even more extremist person would replace Wigneswaran who is an intellectual and had lived among the Sinhalese but pushed to take an extremist line due to the circumstances created by the South and the North, during his tenure as Chief Minister.

Northern Provincial Council At Peace – For Now

JUNE 19, 2017

It was a relief to many that the Northern Provincial Council representatives for whom the people of the North had voted overwhelmingly, had reached a settlement today over their infighting over the sacking of their own four ministers for alleged corruption.

R. Sampanthan had  made a trip for talks with Chief Minister C. Wigneswaran. Working round the clock, Sampanthan first met with his team and CVW with his. Ultimately a deal was sealed. The motion of no confidence by the Federal Party section of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) against the Chief Minister will be withdrawn by the FP. For Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran’s part, the two Ministers cleared by the Inquiry, namely Balasubramaniam Deniswaran (Minister of Fisheries, Transport, Trade and Commerce, Rural Development, Road Development and Motor Traffic) and Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam (Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine) will remain in office.

Wigneswaran and Sambanthan

Although the latter two were cleared, CVW insists that files have gone missing and the clearance was because witnesses did not show up. He had insisted that they should go on leave so that new inquiries are not interfered with. Now after the deal, however, he has relented saying they may stay on but without interfering in any new inquiry. Initially Sampanthan had said he had no authority to give such an undertaking but that disagreement appears to have been ironed out.

Hatchets are buried for now, but for how long? Analysts say there are really no grounds for unity when the Tamil Congress’ Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam only wants vengeance against his grandfather’s nemesis, the Federal Party. Said a Federal Party Central Committee member, “Although the Federal Party is the only party negotiating for devolution and getting at least some army occupied lands released, Gajendrakumar is shouting against the FP claiming it has no principles. Suresh Premachandran of the EPRLF is resentful that he lost at the last elections and his brother Sarveswaran was not made a Minister in the NPC. PLOTE’s Tharmalingam Siddharthan should be grateful to us that we moved him from the Vanni where he had no chance of winning to Jaffna where he won by getting his father’s FP vote. But he is ungrateful.”

The next disagreement will be over whom CVW will replace the two sacked ministers with. Analysts say the FP would like trustworthy FP members while the Chief Minister will want Suresh Premachandran’s brother Kandiah Sarveswaran and Ananthy Sasitharan, both of whom stood by the Chief Minister in this mêlée.

Another bump on the road ahead is the allegation from the Chief Minister’s supporters that the two who were cleared are really guilty and got away because witnesses did not turn up. Tenders for Italian equipment for which a commission of 30% was asked for and declined, it is claimed by supporters of the CM, was paid when the dealer agreed to supply Chinese equipment with Italian labels for the tendered price. The rub from the FP’s point of view is that any new inquiry with new witnesses may lack credibility and be seen as a witch-hunt. One can go on holding inquiries until there is a guilty verdict, argued a Federalist.

A group of nonpartisan Tamil professionals met in Jaffna to discuss their concerns that this disunity would be bad for the Tamils as it is the time to negotiate with the government in strength. But at the same time, some felt that the problem is festering with likely bumps all along the road with no end in sight because of the inherent personality and policy differences masked only by the TNA label. It is therefore better, they argue, to be rid of the chief minister and the three partners of the FP, and move on alone even if with reduced strength. They underscore their point citing a group of 20 who went to discuss matters with the CM only to be told that he plans to form a new party on the framework of the Tamil Makkal Peravai. Recall that the TMP demonstrated on Friday (16th) for the CM, protesting the no-confidence motion him and causing untold misery to the public.

The CM has done further harm to his cause by holding talks last week with Douglas Devananda for support  when it seemed that the no-confidence motion was likely to be moved. It was an anticlimax for someone trying to be V. Prabhakaran’s successor, praising him during the PC elections at a time when the TNA was trying to make-over from its radical past.

Prof. R. Sivachandran, once a member of the Federal Party Central Committee, points to the lack of principles in the CM and disclaiming any support for him. Prof. Sivachandrn says the basic problem is lack of democracy in the FP where nothing is done by the constitution. Nominations are handed out arbitrarily. He says he has been removed from the Central Committee while he was the Chief Organizer for Velanai where he braved Douglas Devananda’s thugs, but has never been told he has been removed and if so why and under what articles of the FP constitution. It is this lack of democracy, he asserts, that has led to all this turmoil including bringing CVW into the party without consultation. He recalls that at the last parliamentary elections, CVW refused to campaign for the FP.

Adds Prof. Sivachandrn, “I am sad that after all our struggles, our deaths, and our ongoing problems over occupied lands and Sinhalese settlements in our homelands paid for by the government, we are engaged in a prestige issue and making our youth tend towards extremism once again.”

Countered a retired Jaffna Tamil, “The only extremism is from the CVW side. But certainly when the corruption started with the Chunnakam ‘Oil in the Ground Water’ business, no one took a stand, not the Chief Minister, not Mavai Senathirajah. The CM’s office even helped arrange for the experts who gave false reports claiming the water to be pure. These basically gave former Minister Ainkaranesan a free hand. Now both sides are pretending to be stalwarts against corruption!”

Since Colombo Telegraph published Mr. R. Sampanthan’s letter to CM C.V. Wignesawaran yesterday, for balance we give the latter’s reply of 17th as well as all exchanges between them:

Read More

HRCSL: Foreign judges will enhance confidence in war crimes probe

By Shamindra Ferdinando-June 19, 2017, 11:05 pm 

The government had agreed to the participation of foreign judges in a war crimes probe in accordance with Oct 1, 2015 Resolution moved at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Human Rights Commissioner Ambika Satkunanathan says.

She said so participating in a TV 1 programme yesterday. Asked by host Faraz Shauketaly to comment on foreign judges in proposed war crimes courts, Satkunanathan said: "it is something the government has agreed to as part of the HRC Resolution."

Sri Lanka last March reiterated her commitment to 2015 Resolution. Sri Lanka co-sponsored both Resolutions.

Commenting on reports that foreign judges were required as local judiciary lacked experience to handle such cases,

Satkunanathan said: "I think if you look at the Resolution that was passed, I think it said with the participation of foreign judges including those from the Commonwealth."

Satkunanathan said that the term participation could be interpreted in many ways.

The HRCSL official said that judges from other jurisdictions had to be included in a judicial mechanism if the public for whatever the reasons didn’t have confidence in structures as well as processes in their own country. Such measures were needed to boost public confidence, Satkunanathan said.

The government appointed Manouri Muttetuwegama Committee in January this year recommended foreign judges as well as other foreign experts in local mechanism.

"If you talk about issues in relation to international criminal law, you may not have adequate number of personnel with required expertise," Satkunanathan said. The inclusion of personnel from other jurisdictions could enhance confidence and secure public support on the basis the process was strengthened by foreign presence as well as under scrutiny by them.

The official denied the claim that the HRCSL was in the habit of taking ‘directives’ from the UNHRC. She insisted that the HRCSL followed international human rights standards and it wouldn’t be right to assert HRCSL received instructions from Geneva or New York.

IN THE FACE OF JUSTICE MINSTER’S THREAT TO LAKSHAN DIAS, A COMMITTED HR LAWYER & HRD, WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY!

19/06/2017

Solidarity with Human Rights Defender and Attorney at Law Mr. Lakshan Dias.

We are appalled by the Minister of Justice’s attempts to intimidate Attorney-at-Law Mr. Lakshan Dias, with threats that steps would be taken in terms of the law to have him removed from the legal profession. We condemn this conduct of the Minister as an abuse of power, resulting in an individual being subject to public disrepute and hostility.

IN THE FACE OF JUSTICE MINSTER’S THREAT TO LAKSHAN DIAS, A COMMITTED HR LAWYER & HRD, WE STAND IN SOLIDARIT... by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

SL business leaders: Focus on emotional maturity

Rough 2017

Tuesday, 20 June 2017

When the new Government came into power two years back, the private sector was upbeat on the future. But sadly, we see the country losing its competitiveness on exports, tourism and FDIs due to poor policy decisions, corruption at the local end and a sluggish economic environment, not forgetting the environmental calamities the country has been challenged with in the last year.

Let’s accept it, the country is at a crossroads given that the Government is trying to manage the coalition administration at play and balance the growth agenda via the PPP strategy, which is sadly referred to by some as ‘country up for sale’. This is factually untrue.


Q1 GDP at 3.8%

In this background the country’s economy grew 3.8% in Q1 registering a GDP value of Rs. 2.161 trillion as against the 2016 number of Rs. 2.082 trillion, resulting in a marginal growth of 3.8%. A point to note is that an island economy like Sri Lanka must register 6% plus GDP growth if a typical housewife is to see the difference in one’s family’s quality of life.

The mixed contribution was Agriculture at 7%, Industries 30.8% and Services netting in 52.3% whilst subsidies without tax brought in 9.9%. Given the challenges in the Agriculture sector it is a negative growth rate of 3.2% whilst the Industrial sector expanding by 6.3% is positive given that the GSP+ will start further revving growth in the latter part of 2017.

However, the Construction sector contribution must be removed from the GDP number as it is not tradable in the future and can be termed sunk growth. Some are even speculating a bubble forming in the luxury end which is said to exceed 3,000 condominiums by end 2020; this means new markets will have to be reached.

The Service sector moving up by only 3.5% is not very encouraging as half the GDP is accounted for by this sector. Given the expansion of the tourism value chain it’s important for this sector to grow by double digits if we are really see a difference to the Sri Lankan economy due to tourism.

The World Bank is projecting the country’s economy to grow by 4.7% in 2017 and marginally exceed 5.0% growth in the medium term which is not healthy as I mentioned if we don’t grow the economy by 6% plus, the impact will not be felt by the masses.


Emotional maturity

– PPP driven 

In the backdrop of the economic challenges we are up against, the focus is on how corporate Sri Lanka can ride the wave so that we can make Sri Lanka can be a better place in the years to come via the PPP strategy of economic growth. On this front the latest research being released from top global business schools is the ability to be emotionally stronger and not be reliant on just the materialist numbers that get flashed across life.

It is said that those who have emotional strength can withstand the turbulence and achieve success, not as an event but as a journey in the case of Sri Lanka post 2017. The mentally-tough understand that emotions are the drivers of motivation, and hold the awareness of how tough it can be to harness emotion. Emotions can move us in the right direction, providing the emotional strength to handle uncertainty and manage teams to drive growth in challenging times.


Key traits 

Let me pick up the key traits emotionally strong business leaders possess in the backdrop of a struggling economy and sagging export business which is just 10.3 billion dollars and Sri Lanka setting ambitious goals like 20 billion by 2020.

The reality is that due to the poor policy and low R&D investment Sri Lanka has only launched seven new products in the last 15 years contributing to a mere $ 0.1 billion in revenue. We have been beaten by nations like Bangladesh, Vietnam and lately Myanmar and very soon even Maldives will start giving Sri Lanka a tough challenge.

Given the above challenges we see that the private sector of Sri Lanka will have to give leadership to keep the economy alive given that almost 78% of the economy is accounted by the private sector. Let me pick up the key traits of emotionally mature people.


1. Approval from others

Emotionally mature people are clear about their own personal value and do not look for others’ approval of what they do. They don’t have an attitude of “you are the best” or “your performance was fantastic”.

The best case in point in Sri Lanka is that we seldom see the top corporate CEOs of Sri Lanka in the cocktail circuit showcased in newspapers or glossy magazines. They know their priorities, be it going to the gym or spending time with family, and do not have the thirst for social approval.


2. Strong self-awareness

Research shows that emotionally wealthy people have immense inner strength and they are aware of it. They have experienced that the more successful they become, more people become jealous and are filled with envy. Hence, their own inner source of power is identified by them and they control this trait so that their reactions are not aversive to outsiders.

A sector that has demonstrated this attribute strongly is the IT/BPO sector. They have silently developed the industry to be almost 600 million dollars and it is estimated that the magical one billion target will be achieved in the near future.


3. They don’t get angry 

People who are above average on their emotional maturity do not waste their time criticising others or blaming others for poor performance. Emotionally wealthy people accept mistakes and look forward. They don’t get bitter, they get better.

To me the best example is the tourism sector that keeps getting battered even after the end of the 30-year war, the most recent being the 28% tax structure in Budget 2017. But the industry keeps innovating and restructuring to the macro economy. It will sure be a five billion dollar industry for Sri Lanka in the near future. Very mature leadership by the key players.


4. Love what you do

Emotionally wealthy individuals focus on initiatives in life because they love doing it. They are not inclined to slow down, change or stop being who they are just because some people are questioning their thinking. They remain unwaveringly true to their larger purpose.

To me the best example is the export industry of Sri Lanka. Even without GSP plus the industry reshaped and survived between 2011 and 2017. Today, when the facility has come into play again, the industry will once again refocus to get the benefits. A point to note is that on the 10.3 billion dollar export performance the incremental from EU due to GSP plus will only be around 500-750 million dollars. So we will need a step change to achieve the 20 billion dollar number by 2020.


5. Appreciate yourself first

Those who love themselves first understand who they are. They are not afraid to go on to new challenges and keep venturing out as they are sure of themselves. These extraordinary people believe that all they do in life will be demonstrated through their desired results. They are prepared to hurt today to enjoy the glory tomorrow.

The agile private sector which kept on believing in Sri Lanka between 2007 and 2009 when the war with the LTTE was at its height is testimony for holding on to see a freer tomorrow. Sri Lanka achieved it but sadly due to poor policy we are losing the game. The Government cannot even give a solution to the raging garbage issue whilst dengue is rampant at 63,000 affected and over 60% of this from the Western Province.


6. They work hard

Emotionally strong people work very hard and bring out real sweat to ride the tough storms in life. They tend to put responsibility before leisure and choose kindness over rightness.

My pick of the people who have this trait is the tea industry veterans of Sri Lanka. Even with the RPC owners mismanaging the financials and making selfish investments, the seniors are fighting to improve the replanting percentage of tea in the estates and work on maintaining fertiliser application cycles so that the quality of the output can result in a healthier RPC management structure. Whilst the policymakers continue to slip on key decisions like extending the leases to 66-year cycles, focusing on ROI and productivity balance whilst diversifying for financial viability, one group of senior planters continues to work for the bigger picture.


7. Face the reality 

People with a strong emotional state of mind want to know the real truth. They have the courage to face bad news. There are no guessing games with these exceptional people. For instance we know the economy is challenged. Almost 96% of the revenue earned by the Government is used to meet the debt settlement where the loan values are touching $ 60 billion. We have no option but to pursue a PPP approach to getting Sri Lanka out of the debt cycle. Some are saying “Sri Lanka on sale” but so were Spain, Chile and many other countries which have overcome this issue. Emotionally strong people take the mature stance and face this reality. They don’t go on the blame game.


8. Be a corporate athlete

Emotionally wealthy people know the importance of having a health body to have a healthy mind. They understand the value of unplugging from the world of action and excitement at office and going for the gym routine in a ritualistic manner. The new ethos is the business world is corporate athleticism – an interesting discipline that each of us must research and live it daily.

(The author can be contacted on rohantha.athukoraka1@gmail.com. The thoughts are strictly his personal views and does not reflect the organisations he serves.)

Champika, Rathana Thera, Gnanasara Thera and the Streisand effect

Featured image courtesy Paula Bronstein/The Global Mail

GROUNDVIEWS on 06/19/2017

Discovered through a tweet this morning that the article ‘Champika, Rathana Thera responsible for Gnanasara Thera’s actions’, published in print and on the Daily Mirror website on 16th June 2017, has been deleted. No explanation given by the paper as to why the article, which is readily available on other sites a Google search away, is no longer on its own website.

At the time of writing, the video of the press conference by the BBS, on which the report was based on, is still available on the Daily Mirror’s YouTube channel. We have archived the video here, in case it too inexplicably and eventually disappears.

The original page is available via Google’s Cache here. You can also download it as a PDF here.

As noted on Wikipedia, the Streisand effect is the phenomenon whereby an attempt to hide, remove, or censor a piece of information has the unintended consequence of publicising the information more widely, usually facilitated by the Internet. It is an example of psychological reactance, wherein once people are aware something is being kept from them, their motivation to access and spread the information is increased.

This mysterious yet revealing deletion of news and information around the BBS, Gnanasara and those who have been associated with it, now holding key positions of power in the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government, is cause for concern. Gnanasara, at the time of writing and despite two warrants in his name, evades arrest. The entire Police force and intelligence services of Sri Lanka cannot find him, and for over a month. As columnist Tisaranee Gunesekara notes,

The BBS is on the march, once again. Attacks on Muslim shops and mosques have proliferated. The attacks are not limited to any particular locality, but extremely widespread, from urban Dematagoda via suburban Maharagama to rural Mahiyangana. So far the police have been inexcusably incompetent in prevention and in detection. And Lankan police suffer such generalised and spectacular failure only when a political hand is holding them back.

Emphasis ours. Why is an article linking the BBS and Gnanasara to a powerful member of government suddenly and without any explanation taken down? Who is powerful and feared enough in order for a mainstream newspaper in Sri Lanka to take down content from its website? What does the level of impunity Gnanasara enjoys in 2017, reminiscent of what he enjoyed in 2014 under the Rajapaksa regime, say of the current administration and those in it?

In order to increase the discoverability of the content taken down from the Daily Mirror website, we publish the contents of it in full below. Those in power need to be reminded that censorship and impunity only bring grief upon themselves.

###

‘Champika, Rathana Thera responsible for Gnanasara Thera’s actions’

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) said today Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and MP Athureliya Rathana Thera should take responsibility for its General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera intervening in various matters in the country.

“Gnanasara Thera would have turned even more violent had he accepted the contracts given by Minister Ranawaka and Rathana Thera,” BBS CEO Dilanthe Vithanage told a news contract (sic).

He said they had prompted Gnanasara Thera to incite violence to achieve their political goals.

“No one talks about the real issues which he raises in public,” Mr. Vithanage said.

Sinhala Ravaya General Secretary Magalkande Sudaththa Thera said the Government was trying to label Gnanasara Thera as another Prabhakaran.

“The joint opposition paints the BBS as a front of the Government while the Government the BBS as a JO front. The Government also blamed the BBS saying the BBS was created by former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to pave the way for him to contest the 2020 presidential election. On the other hand the JO said the BBS was created to support to Minister Champika Ranawaka to do the same,” he said. (Chaturanga Pradeep)