Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Ill-laid conspiracy of silence

Thursday, September 27, 2018

The controversy over an alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa hit the headlines last week and led to accusations and counter accusations from every side of the political divide but even this issue could not hide the cracks appearing between the different factions of the United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
The controversy erupted when a Police informant identifying himself as Namal Kumara called a media briefing and claimed that there was a plot to assassinate the President and Rajapaksa who is widely tipped to be the next presidential candidate from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Conspiracy theories abound in Sri Lankan politics but what made this particular claim sensational was Kumara identifying the then Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the Police Nalaka Silva. Kumara claimed that he had a tape of a recorded conversation to substantiate his claim.

Presidential candidates

The claim is now the subject of a full scale investigation. With the President and a possible presidential candidate being postulated as potential victims, the government was taking no chances. The orders from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara were for the matter to be probed promptly and extensively.

However, this is where the government ran in to some stumbling blocks. When the claims were first made there was consensus within the government ranks that a comprehensive and independent inquiry was essential. If this was not conducted, the government was mindful that it could be accused of complicity in the conspiracy- and the backlash from the public would be significant.

The government therefore was keen to see DIG Silva out of the equation until an inquiry was concluded, even though the officer has every right to be presumed innocent until any case against him is established. However, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundera had by then issued orders to transfer DIG Silva to the Information Technology (IT) division of the Police Department.
This only created another furore. The opposition, the Joint Opposition (JO) in particular, was up in arms. Claims were made that the government was colluding with the IGP and a cover up of the investigation was underway. Another preposterous claim made by the opposition was that DIG Silva was being transferred to the IT division, so he could tamper with evidence related to the case.

It was then that the government was compelled to act decisively. Law and Order Minister Madduma Bandara had to request the National Police Commission (NPC) to send DIG Silva on compulsory leave. That was because it had been alleged that IGP Jayasundera was resisting calls by the NPC to send the officer on leave. It is understood that the IGP was also cautioned about his actions.
In the meantime, the opposition was having a field day. It was accusing the IGP of being a ‘government stooge’ and calling for his removal. Much was made of the fact that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s life was allegedly in danger- even more so than that of President Sirisena’s. JO stalwart Dullas Alahapperuma was even calling the resignation of members of the NPC.

The so-called ‘rebel’ group of the SLFP, which is a subgroup among the sixteen parliamentarians who resigned their posts in the government in the aftermath of the no confidence motion against Prime Minister Wickremesinghe wanted President Sirisena to take over the Ministry of Law and Order. These rebels included S. B. Dissanayake, Thilanga Sumathipala and Dilan Perera.

The matter is now expected to be resolved with the conduct of an exhaustive inquiry. During the debate on the issue in Parliament government leaders were quick to assure the opposition that, if indeed there was evidence against DIG Silva, he would be dealt with as any other suspect would be. The probe however would necessarily take some time, given it has to be a thorough investigation.

If anything, the controversy over the alleged assassination plot further widened the divisions among the various factions of the UPFA. The JO was the most vociferous, claiming there was a government conspiracy while the S. B. Dissanayake led ‘rebels’ also cried foul. The mainstream Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and indeed President Sirisena himself opted for a more moderate approach.
That did not prevent the President from acting decisively against errant SLFPers, most of whom have now, formally or informally, pledged their loyalty to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his adopted political party, the SLPP. Among them were several front-liners and the fact that President Sirisena, at long last, was cracking the whip against them indicated a major change in his strategy.

Electoral organiser posts

Eight out of the sixteen SLFPers who defected to the JO were relieved of their electoral organiser posts by the Central Committee (CC) of the SLFP. Among those were W. D. J. Seneviratne, former UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha, former SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and former Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody.

In a simultaneous move, three heads of the SLFP’s District Development Committees in Ratnapura, Galle and Kurunegala, W. D. J. Seneviratne, Chandima Weerakkody, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa were removed from their posts. Their positions were offered to Athula Kumara Rahubadda, Piyasena Gamage and Dayasiri Jayasekara respectively.

The President also appointed nine new electoral organisers. They include Faiszer Musthapha (Colombo Central), Hector Bethmage and G. H. Buddhadasa (Kaduwela), Priyangani Abeyweera and Suranga Prabath (Matugama), Amilaka Harshana Kariyawasam (Bentara), N. D. Susantha Lal Jayaweera (Karandeniya), Thisara Gunasinghe (Habaraduwa) and Dr. Keerthi Fonseka (Yapahuwa).
These measures are extremely significant in that, until a few weeks ago various groups within the SLFP were hoping for and working towards a rapprochement between the Sirisena and Rajapaksa factions of the party. These groups, with S. B. Dissanayake taking the lead among them, fervently believed that a ‘joint ticket’ for the 2020 national elections was still a possibility.

Indeed, President Sirisena has been delaying taking action against SLFPers who have, for the past three and a half years been openly violating party discipline. The biggest offender has been Mahinda Rajapaksa himself who is addressing meetings and openly consorting with the SLPP, a rival political party while still being a patron of the SLFP. Some even blamed the President for his ‘soft’ approach.
Now that the whip has been cracked on the SLFP dissidents, they are being given a clear message: they need to decide where their loyalties lie. If they adopt an ‘on the fence’ approach, they would be taken to task and be at risk of losing their electoral organiser posts in the SLFP.

That is a significant issue because, at the electorate level, the masses still identify themselves with the SLFP.

In the midst of the upheaval in the SLFP, it was not that the United National Party (UNP) didn’t have its fair share of problems.

Apart from distancing itself from the alleged assassination controversy, it was the UNP and its ministers that bore the brunt of the public backlash against the fall of the rupee against the United States dollar which sent prices of consumer goods and services skyrocketing.

Thus, both the UNP and the SLFP are in damage control mode, while the JO and its partner, the SLPP are on the offensive, seizing any issue which captures the imagination of the public. Wittingly or unwittingly, the stage is being set for the next presidential and general elections, despite President Sirisena’s recent pledge that the presidential polls won’t be held a “day sooner” than necessary.

Our ‘Simple’ Simon of a president takes jumbo group of family merry makers to New York on his junket ! Shocking details…..

(Lanka e News – 26.Sep.2018, 10.45PM) Sri Lanka ‘s notoriously corrupt president Pallewatte Gamarala who never forgets to boast about his simplicity has made his tour of New York to attend the UN conference a junket full of fun and frolic for his entire brood and more he took along, which jumbo group includes not only his entire family but even families of the family, that is even families of the one who is going to marry into his family.

Sadly however there is a most reprehensible side to his junket which makes it stink worse than his lankot , that is ,he is treating the official tour like a grand private wedding party of his with his entire family and more joining , while the state is meeting every cent of the expense.

Mind you , Simple Simon Sirisena has taken 13 security officers officially to provide security for his families. Though security is provided by that country to a state leader when he goes alone , in this instance our president Gamarala had taken much more from SL than is warranted . 22 journalists have accompanied him , and of them 11 are from the president’s media !

Nimal Welgama who is not in the so called official list of the Divaina media has also gone to New York. This is for no other reason than to plot and plan the formation of a new government making Mahinda Rajapakse the Prime minister after chasing out Ranil , when Gamarala and his brood return.

The group comprising 63 members who went on the official tour of New York are having their mirth and merriment in Loews Regency super luxury hotel in New York while his family and families of his family have booked another super luxury hotel for their enjoyment to the hilt. The name of that Hotel is the famous Marriot hotel .

The worst part ? In this junket of president Gamarala ,officers of the foreign ministry have been assigned the duty to look after and maintain his unofficial family members : Two officers of the foreign ministry to look after and maintain 5 members including Chaturika and her family , and four more officers of the ministry to dance attendance on Daham and the family of his fiancée Nipuni Weeraratne.

The official list of this jumbo group who are merry making at public expense is with Lanka e news and is published herein.

In addition , another group too about the same size has unofficially gone to New York. That list shall be revealed later. What is most rudely shocking is, the entire expenditure of both the official and unofficial groups is met by the public funds.

It is significant to note , this is the ‘simple’ president dubbed Simple Simon who as soon as he became president loudly and proudly spoke about his simplicity and austerity to the world , is now wasting public funds without any qualms and with gay abandon even surpassing the most profligate corrupt Rajapakses. It is a pity it is this so called simple Sirisena alias Simple Simon who has chosen to make this junket a ‘grand wedding banquet’ abroad for his family and families of the family , at people’s expense.

While publishing the list of those of the jumbo group of Sirisena’s merry makers ,and details of the hotel they are staying, their phone numbers and room numbers are also revealed herein . In addition Lanka e news has made arrangements to those who have need , to contact this jumbo group of merry makers whose entire expenditure burden is shouldered by the people.

---------------------------
by (2018-09-26 17:28:01)

Man Who Derailed Investigations Into War Crimes Allegations Wants The World To Look At Sri Lanka With Fresh Pair Of Eyes

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

While derailing investigations into all war crimes and human rights abuses during the final phase of war, President Maithripala Sirisena, addressing the 73th session of the UNHRC, urged the world to look at Sri Lanka ‘with a fresh pair of eyes’.

President Sirisena has openly ordered the Police to refrain from arresting top ranking military officers over killings and abductions that took place under the previous government.

Just two weeks before he addressed the UN General Assembly, Sirisena berated IGP Pujith Jayasundara and top officers of the CID for attempting to arrest Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne over killings and abductions of 11 youth.

He called upon the international community to look at Sri Lanka from a fresh perspective and consider the “tremendous progress” made by his government towards reconciliation, restoration of democratic freedom, human rights and the rule of law.

Sirisena also pleaded world leaders to extend the fullest support to build a progressive, democratic, free and equal society.

He also said Sri Lanka was taking action to consolidate peace and forge ahead to develop the economy, and such a nation deserves the support and understanding of the international community.

“I urge the international community to allow Sri Lankan people to solve their problems on their own,” he said.

“As an independent country we do not want any foreign power to exert influence on us. We want to appeal to the international community to give us the room to resolve the problems that we are facing so that the right of the Sri Lankan people to find solutions to their problems is respected, ” he added.

The President said that the government was also working to eliminate fear and suspicion among different communities.

“if a man is pierced with a dart, he will suffer physical pain. When he worries about it, he suffers more pain. Hence, there are two kinds of pains suffered by the man. When it comes to Sri Lanka, it is the people who suffered pain due to war and they continue to feel pain when they think about it. Therefore, I take this opportunity to call upon your support and cooperation, ” he added.

Read More

ALLOW SRI LANKAN PEOPLE TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS ON THEIR OWN, PREZ SIRISENA TELLS UN

26/09/2018

(26 Sep 2018)President Maithripala Sirisena called upon the international community to look at Sri Lanka with a fresh perspective and consider the tremendous progress made by the government towards reconciliation, restoration of democratic freedoms, human rights and the rule of law and extend the fullest support to the build a progressive, democratic, free and equal society.

Addressing the 73rd Session of the United nations General Assembly in New York on September 25 (26th morning in SL time), he said Sri Lanka is taking action to consolidate peace and forge ahead to develop the economy, and such a nation deserves the support and understanding of the international community. “I urge the international community to allow Sri Lankan people to solve their problems on their own,” he said.

As an independent country we do not want any foreign power to exert influence on us. We want to appeal to the international community to give us the room to resolve the problems that we are facing so that the right of the Sri Lankan people to find solutions to their problems is respected,he said.

The President said that the government is working to eliminate fear and suspicion among different communities.Quoting from the Buddha’s preaching in the Sallasutta of Samyuktha Nikaye in Thripitaka, he said if a man is pierced with a dart, he will suffer physical pain. When he worries about it, he suffers more pain. Hence, there are two kinds of pains suffered by the man. When it comes to Sri Lanka, it is the people who suffered pain due to war and they continue to feel pain when they think about it. Therefore, I take this opportunity to call upon your support and cooperation, he said.

The President pointed out that the exodus of refugees is a major issue in international politics and urged the United Nations to play a bigger role because of the paramount importance of the issue.Sri Lanka is following a nonaligned policy. In fact, Sri Lanka hosted the Non-aligned Summit in 1976 and it was the most successful summit. Sri Lanka has a policy of friendship with all and the country does not have any enemy nation in the world, he said.

President Sirisena said that Sri Lanka’s Executive President had been vested with more powers than any other leader in the world, and he had curtailed those excessive powers of the Executive Presidency and transferred those powers to the Parliament.President Sirisena emphasized the need to eradicate poverty. At present, the whole world is engaged in an attempt to free itself from poverty and he said the United Nations must play a bigger role in the endeavour.

“I must mention that, today, the whole world is facing challenges posed by severe changes in climate.

I would like to propose that the community of nations must focus on implementing the Paris Accord that the world reached in 2015, by further improving the unity that we reached by signing that accord. We must remember that the Paris Accord is critically important to the future of the entire biosphere and humanity,” he said.

The President categorically stated that the government is committed to work tirelessly to achieving reconciliation by fostering understanding among all ethnic and linguistic groups, while eliminating mutual suspicion and hatred in order to create a society where all can live freely and harmoniously. “Further, we are dedicated to ensure that the country will accomplish economic prosperity. Specially, my government is committed to the creating a fair and just society by strengthening the rule of law”, he said.

He said that during the last three and a half years, the government has taken several important steps that are necessary to consolidate democracy, freedom, good governance, media freedom and independence of the judiciary. “Through such transformative steps, we have laid the foundation necessary to forge national reconciliation, communal harmony and ensure non-recurrence of conflict in our country,” he said.

“As a country that has suffered violent conflict for 30 years, we are drawing from experience and lessons learned to strengthen national reconciliation, and we are determined to prevent the recurrence of conflict. We have given priority in this context to consolidate freedom and democracy in our country, and through a strong foundation of national reconciliation forged through unity and friendship among communities,” the President said.

President Sirisena pointed out that the most ruthless terrorists were defeated by the armed forces and the nation honour the valiant soldiers who made many sacrifices to bring peace to the country and safeguarded then unity and sovereignty of th nation with utmost commitment.

He emphasized that the vision of the government is to ensure sustained economic development through the increase of domestic agriculture and industry under an environment friendly policies and programs. He emphasized the imperative need to adhere to the Paris Protocol on Climate Change for the sake of the future of the human beings as well as flora and fauna.

“Sir Lanka has always been a country that has respected its treaties and conventions, agreements and rules and regulations of the United Nations. As such, in our country’s journey where we protect our independence and sovereignty, we respectfully request the support of the international community for us to go on a moderate but steady path to achieve our targets in order to find sustainable solutions to the allegations leveled against us,” the President said.

President Sirisena called on the world leaders to take a collective action for eradication of narcotic drugs and illegal pharmaceuticals. He said he wanted to draw the attention of the respected General Assembly of the United Nations to the problem of drugs that poses a serious threat to human society and asked the world body to play a bigger role in eliminating drugs.

The President said that in the international politics, the issue of Palestine is very important and reiterated Sri Lanka’s support to the people of Palestine.

News.lk

Protest, Arab Spring and Zimbabwe

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa waves to his supporters at the protest on 5 September – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

Thursday, 27 September 2018

On 5 September, the city of Colombo awoke to an unusually quiet morning and an uneasy air. Something big was going to happen. The sitting Government may even fall, blood could be spilt.

There were fewer vehicles on the roads and the buses had less than half the loads.

The schoolchildren, usually early morning commuters, were conspicuously absent.

Anticipating chaos, the housewives conscious of keeping the home fires burning, dipped into their meagre savings to stock up on the essentials; rice, dhal and coconuts. Their meagre savings, the reward for months of hard scrimping, had been put aside for a real emergency.

For a number of days, the main opposition, the Joint Opposition (JO) was threatening a decisive move, an overwhelming protest in the capital city that could even topple an ill-defined Government. The intended victory was to be achieved not by an election or a coup. In the calculations of the organisers, the sheer pressure of the protesters on the streets would unbalance and eventually bring down the Government. Questions as to who would replace it and on what basis were left unanswered.

Recent history provides several instances of long entrenched regimes being brought down by popular people’s movements, particularly in the troubled Middle East. Early years of this decade saw the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ challenging and eventually toppling governments in several countries like Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Long ruled by entrenched families, these countries were despotic and corrupt.

Many of the rulers had begun their careers as rebels. However, years of untrammelled power had turned them into to unscrupulous cynics. For example, close family members, particularly the sons of Libya’s Mahmoud Gaddafi, fire-breathing decrier of all things Western, were shown to have been voracious investors in Western countries; large accounts in Swiss banks, real estate, fancy yachts, European-made cars, so on.

In these Arab countries, the ruling families had such a stranglehold that nothing moved unless one of them blessed the venture. There is acceptance in the culture for commissions and kick-backs as legitimate rewards, in this case, for being fortuitously born into the family. But, outside of the rarefied atmosphere of this all-powerful cabal, things did not stay still; the societies evolved.

Gradually, with education, travel and exposure, expectations had widened. As the masses searched for a better life and greater freedom, realisation dawned that the ‘liberators’ of the past had become the oppressors of the present. Although the oil flowed generously, the insularity of a tiny self-serving clique did not work towards economic efficiency. They called the shots and pocketed all the money.

Something had to give.

Around 2011, people took to the streets and the old order changed. The entrenched families did not go away without resistance. There was bloodshed and violence. However, the people were not to be denied. Regimes which had been in power for decades vanished like snow in the spring sun. For these long oppressed societies, there was hope for a new beginning. Unfortunately, the much awaited spring proved to be ephemeral. The Arab world, intellectually, culturally and even spiritually, is perhaps not ready to break the mould yet. Soon the ‘spring’ receded, new ‘strong’ men emerged, and these countries appear to be drifting towards another long winter of discontent.

To equal the Arab Spring with what was planned for 5 September is to defy reason, it is to compare incompatibles.

The protest was organised by a group led by none other than Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is a former President of this country and served for two terms. Most of the organisers were Members of Parliament drawing Government-paid salaries, enjoying a host of other benefits with public money. They live in lavish Government-provided bungalows, travelling even to the site of the protest in the plushest of vehicles, again gifted by the taxpayer.

To protect them, the organisers had drivers and bodyguards with the compliments of the people. These minions also double as personal attendants, seeing to every need of the MP, including carrying his mobile phone and the bottle of water. It is considered unseemly for the important person to carry such personal stuff himself.

Mahinda Rajapaksa does not hail from a wealthy background and has spent his entire life in public service. However, his children reportedly lead lives far removed from the common beat, even proposing marriage to their partners at the top of the highest mountain on the African Continent. Now, we have no issue with young folk taking to high adventure. In fact, conquering such physical challenges is good for both body as well as mind. Yet, these are costly exercises. Ours is a country where the Tax Department routinely queries those who purchase air tickets for the source of funding. Paying only lip service to plain living and high thinking, some obviously have embraced Mammon; their life styles showing high living, but not so high thinking.

It is not to say that Mahinda Rajapaksa’s family members are the only offenders or that such behaviour is limited to the Joint Opposition. Perhaps there are worse culprits in other governments and other political parties. In fact, the great divide today is not between the Government and the Opposition. They are one, united in self-interests. The real battle in this country is between these so-called people’s representatives on one side and the voter on the other. This is the great moral battle of our era. As to the winner, thus far, no investigation is required.

For seventy years now our people have dutifully trudged to the polling centres with great expectations. In turn, every Government so elected has proved incapable or unwilling, only leaving the country in poverty and debt. However, they miss no opportunity to leave behind ugly legacies; ethnic tensions, civil wars, unworkable laws, inefficient systems – all made worse by a stagnating economy.

In contrast, when Singapore (in 1965) broke away from its union with Malaysia, it was difficult to envisage a future for the tiny island state. The country had no natural resources, unemployment was high, and it had lost the large markets of Malaysia. But within five years, the direction was clear. Singapore will rise proudly. They had leaders who could deliver.

In the early 1950s, South Korea was devastated by war. But by the beginning of the 1970s, in little more than 10 years, the country was well on the way to gaining a rich country status. In the 1970s, China was an abjectly poor country. In just two decades, the world had begun to speak of a global economy, with China as a dominant player.

Obviously, the complex problems we face cannot be solved by merely electing a Parliament periodically. For seventy years, we have been doing this. After every election, a set of white-clad persons, many of them children of former MPs, take their oath as our representatives. At the end of their term, self-generated sound and fury notwithstanding, the country remains at the bottom of the index of mediocre nations.

It is a fact that people live racially and culturally, confronting different realities, thinking and acting, by and large, in a predetermined way. Countries that have succeeded need not explain their success; it is the failed nations who must explain their failure.

By any account, Zimbabwe is a country where anything that could go wrong has gone wrong. Robert Mugabe (born 1924) ruled the country as Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987 and then, as President from 1987 to 2017, 37 years in all. In those four decades, the country, from reasonable prosperity has descended to a hopeless situation. GDP per capita has dropped by more than half, industrial as well as agricultural productivity has fallen drastically, unemployment spiralled and with hyperinflation, their currency has become worthless. For the average citizen, living standards have deteriorated, life expectancy declined and their wages in terms of purchasing power has plummeted. Most workers have left for employment in neighbouring countries, also poor, but where they are at least assured a living wage.

Whatever his failings, obviously there are many, be it economic mismanagement, widespread corruption, human rights abuses and even crimes against humanity, Mugabe cannot be accused of having no ‘family values’. It was widely expected that the cricket-loving leader was going to appoint Grace, his young second wife, as his successor. In Zimbabwe, she was commonly referred to as ‘Gucci Grace’, in reference to her greed for European luxury items.

Finally, in 2017, there was a military coup which removed the megalomaniacal clown from office. But it was done in a Zimbabwe way, or you may say, in a manner consistent with ‘Mugabeism’.

As a reward for stepping down peaceably, it is said that the plunderer and his family were assured immunity from prosecution, a $ 10 million bonus, official residences, vehicles, staff and bodyguards, and a host of other benefits. The present rulers, who with the passing of time will also become ‘former’ rulers one day, perhaps ensured a good deal for themselves by legitimising this retirement package for Mugabe.

All this unbelievable nonsense seems acceptable to the Zimbabwe way of looking at things, their reality, and their values. This is high politics of Zimbabwe, to be decided in the corridors of power by black leaders in three-piece Western suits, those whose ancestor were perhaps the tribal chiefs who led the great hunts. It is yet another way of looking at the world.

The protests on 5 September were led by people who also have a particular way of looking at the world. They see our unhappiness as a result of the failings of this Government of four years. But, it is a tragedy 70 years long.

There is a reason to protest, no, something to rage about. But that is not this or that Government. We must rage against the whole system; the utter failure of our leadership, their mindset, culture, values and above all, our own incapacity. At independence, we were considered a likely success story, a promise that has gradually withered away. It is comforting to blame somebody else. Undoubtedly, our leaders have failed. But is the failure theirs alone?

Crook ASP Liyanage joins Gamarala and relatives in Doha to provide ‘kavi’ singing entertainment (photos) !

(Lanka e News – 26.Sep.2018, 10.45PM) When the notorious corrupt president Gamarala and his group of relatives were on the way to New York , before reaching New York they have been met by another moron and most notorious corrupt SL ambassador ASP Liyanage at Doha Airport . With him they have had foolish fun and frolic at the dead of night enjoying ‘kavis’ (Sinhala rhymes) .

Gamarala and his entourage that left Katunayake to New York had to change the plane at the Doha airport , Qatar . This necessitated them to stay back at the Doha airport for several hours. The SL ambassador to Qatar , A. S. P. Liyanage who is best known for his corruption and stupidity had arrived at the venue to provide mirth and merriment to the other morons until they could board another plane. A woman in Qatar who is skilled in kavi recitals had been woken up at dead of night by Liyanage who is well known for his tomfoolery despite being an ambassador . He has through his mobile phone made her to sing kavis impromptu for the VIPs , enabling all the imbeciles without exception to enjoy it.

Moronic president Gamarala by now better known as a ‘national liability’, and who can easily be taken for a ride had become ecstatic listening to the smart phone instantly spun kavis of the woman . The fun and frolic had gone that far this woman had sung kavis via the smart phone even to enchant the stupid relatives of the ‘national liability’.

The cunning woman who knew the foolhardiness of Gamarala and his susceptibility to flattery had sung ‘smart’ instantly created kavis via the smart phone extolling him and his family. She had in her kavis sung , Daham’s wedding shall be held soon , Chaturika shall be a ‘queen’ , and Gamarala will be president as long as his life lasts .

The photographs ( sent to Lanka e news ) depict Gamarala and the group at the Transit Charter bay within the Doha airport .

Seated with Jayanthi Sirisena and Daham Sirisena , in the same sofa is Nipuni Weeraratne , Daham’s fiancée.

Nipuni is the daughter of the businessman who owns ElCardo . It was Nipuni who hid safely the illicitly earned dollars, Sterling pounds , Indian rupees and other ‘black monies’ of Gamarala during the last presidential elections.

---------------------------
by (2018-09-26 17:34:56)

Cannabis – Villain Or Victim?

By Upatissa Pethiyagoda –SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

Dr. Upatissa Pethiyagoda

The horror of narcotics being smuggled into the country, regular seizures by the authorities and ugly rumours of the involvement of those high in office and criminality, have led to a general revulsion against such substances. Many have not been made aware of the copious and authoritative books that have been published on the subject of narcotics and substances which affect nerve functions, mood as well as their intoxicant properties Narcotics in general fall into two major groups – the opioids derived from the gum from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and those from Cannabis(Cannabis sativa). The most widely and legally grown cultivar of Cannabis is the hemp of commerce. The opioids include heroin, morphine and codeine. They deserve their ugly image as addictive, intoxicant and with harmful side effects. In contrast, the Cannabinoids – glorying under a vast number of names, including Marijuana, weed, pot, ganja, Hashish, The Sacred Plant and grass, are generally considered non-addictive, giving only transient effects and with few or no side effects. They are considerably more benign in this sense than tobacco or alcohol. Users tell of heightened tranquility and mood improvement, no hangover and a general feeling of exhilaration and euphoria – altogether pleasing.

Cannabinoids (as also the opioids) have been used for centuries mainly for pain relief, including the acute pains of terminal cancer. The Literature provides evidence that Cannabis, also known as The Sacred Plant, on account of its use in Hindu festivals , has been in use for as long as ten centuries.

Ayurveda has recognized its value for inclusion in several prescriptions. More recent work has shown it to be of astonishing value in symptomatic relief or even cure of a plethora of common ailments. These include depression, epilepsy, Parkinsonism, diabetes, arthritis, cardiac and pulmonary afflictions and a near endless list of others. Literally, daily publications in reputable Journals and textbooks reveal a great potential. There is a lingering fear that indulgence in Cannabis could lead to graduation to harder drugs like heroin. There seems to be no convincing evidence that this is so. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. That Cannabis is probably an “Exit Drug” – that is, by being useful in weaning away hard drug users from their addiction.

Several countries and several US States have liberalized the medical as well as “recreational” use of Marijuana. Many preparations as powders, capsules, tablets, tinctures, inhalations, pastes, cookies and smokes are sold. It is likely that liberalization will spread rapidly and more virtues for this amazing substance will be uncovered. Therefore, is Sri Lanka making a grave error in its crusade of destroying Ganja Plantations? Evidence prompts a much more enlightened attitude towards this product – which could be a major export commodity. Of course prices will decline when the mistaken aggression towards Ganja diminishes. For us, it will still remain a good prospect for land use in areas considered poor or marginal for other crops. It offers much opportunity for “value addition” in view of the many formulations that can offer an opportunity for exports to those regions where an enlightened approach allows entry. Criminalization of its use is clearly misdirected.

A rational approach is necessary as some of the information is anecdotal (naturally when even experimentation is restricted by Law). This urges that a competent team should filter the claims made and to examine the subject in detail. A team representing Agricultural, Scientific ,Health, Excise, Police and possibly Religious (in anticipation of a puritanical reaction to good sense) be tasked with examining the existing wealth of material available as reliable evidence, to help develop an approach that is in our best interests.

Read More

Economics of the ever-normal granary

Oscar E. V. Fernando-Thursday, September 27, 2018

Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, was under British Colonial Rule, prior to1948. It was colonized due to obvious economic reasons-with Ceylon being called the Granary of the East for its lush cultivation, export of rice and other economic potential.

At the end of a lucrative period of business entrepreneurship and ruler ship, the British gave so called “Independence” to a people who were enjoying independence and prosperity, even before these invasions-to an extent that was then feasible-with possible economic fruition eventually, without any external interference.

How prudent is it to free a caged monkey without getting it used to the wilds? So it is-the predicament of this country from forties, fifties to the present day!

This, is not to dwell on the justification or otherwise of colonization-as it is best left for the dead past to bury its dead, but to say that, at the point of this independence in the forties and for a period thereafter up to the fifties, the country was emulated for its economic advancement by other Asian countries, that were far behind us in many ways.

What in deed was the reason for this country to have got literally stuck in the mud from fifties onwards?

We have to admit the stark fact that the economy, so prevailing at the time of gaining independence, was manned by the British and the so called “cohorts” of the British-dubbed with much victorious and triumphalist relish as “Kalu Suddas”!

This is a historical but stark and stubborn fact involving language, race and religious factors - with multiple facets of disputes that seems to be festering over and over again to the detriment of the country-ending with the recent brutal bloodshed.

Frog in the well mentality

Disputing and battling over historical events, which often happen to be probable opinions of historians, will not bring bread to the table, but sadness, misery and economic decline!

We clearly see the youth of the country emerging from the debris of close fistedness and narrow, or frog in the well mentality. They want jobs with bread on the table!

Let politicians of all hues-blue-green-red or maroon see this fact written large and clear on our walls and act before it becomes too late for that Mighty Unleashing of repressed anger-this time with intellectual vengeance: seventy years of waiting tries one’s patience!

The economy that prevailed before we were colonized, first by Portuguese, was not a communist or military dictatorship- it was an economy with an iron fist of Royal dictatorship of a sort. It was certainly not a state owned-communist or a mixed economy-in the style of Corporations and Statutory Boards!

With colonization we transformed into a privately owned Mercantile Economy.

This was no mean feat, although it left a disgruntled trail of animosity towards the then rulers and their so called cohorts!

These frustrated feelings erupted in the fifties after the euphoria of independence in the throes of patriotic feelings and new freedom-not in the least wrong by itself-but in retrospect we see to be hurried and wrongly directed.

The dismaying outcome was that the so far luscious economy, that brought in good foreign exchange, and that was manned predominantly by the so called cohorts of the British, were replaced with Corporations and Statutory Boards. The British and some of the cohorts too, gradually left our shores-for greener pastures!

Hooray to that some might say-but what of the present crisis, frustration and the future?
Up to independence, the mercantile sector managed businesses that ran the economy-such as-plantations-insurance-shipping-public bus transport-petroleum-fisheries and a host of other businesses.

With the scrapping of the mercantile sector, sprouted Corporations/Statutory Boards such as-plantation-shipping-fisheries-insurance mineral sands and several corporations which were called with much hope as State Ventures: we now see these were never venturesome except in areas of tenders and commissions-contributing much to the present financial crisis.

Moves to medicalise FGM A Female's Basic need 'Nicked'

2018-09-27

A female may be the most controversial creation that ever happened on Earth. This is due to several reasons. Although the world depends on women to give birth and create future generations, women have in most instances been deprived of their basic right to live. A person’s sexual life is a private affair and this applies to all beings in the world. But when it comes to females, it is once again a public affair in many countries around the world. Although its origin is not known, the practice of female circumcision or Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been continued with since ancient times. While circumcision is practised in the Islamic community especially on men as a cultural and an obligatory duty, the same has been suggested and practised on women. However, health experts claim that male circumcision has stark differences in relation to female circumcision. Yet, the debate continues and it has once again become a topic of discussion among Muslim and community groups in Sri Lanka. Hence the Daily Mirror spoke to a few individuals in an attempt to weigh the pros and cons of this practice.

Health experts claim that male circumcision has stark differences in relation to female circumcision
These procedures are done under unhygienic and unsterile conditions and ultimately developes infections
Pieces of a woman’s body shouldn’t be taken away unless there’s a medical reason
The joint Muslim groups stated that the Muslim community is very concerned about moves to ban this obligatory Islamic duty
Such a religious obligation practiced by the Muslims in keeping with the requirements of the Islamic faith is not FGM

Types of FGM

As defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) female genital mutilation comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury for female medical organs for non-medical reasons. The four types of FGM include :

Type I : Also known as Clitoridectomy, this type consists of partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or its prepuce.

Type II: Also known as Excision, the clitoris and labia minora are partially or totally removed, with or without excision of the labia majora.

Type III : The most severe form, it is also known as infibulation or pharaonic type. The procedure consists of narrowing the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and a-positioning the labia minora and/or labia majora, with or without removal of the clitoris.

Type IV: This type consists of all other procedures to the genitalia of women for non-medical purposes, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterisation.

“FGM has nothing to do with religion or culture”

-Ameena Hussein
Airing her views regarding FGM, sociologist, novelist and editor Ameena Hussein said that currently Sri Lankan Muslim women don’t have a choice on undergoing circumcision or hoodectomy, as some like to call it because it is performed on infant girls or around 7-8 years of age.

“It is an irreversible procedure. I have heard of the arguments on this subject where it is said that it was done to inhibit the sexual drive of women. But now the pro circumcision lobby public relations bureau says it is for health reasons and to enhance the woman’s sexual experience. Whatever their reasons we need to ensure it is illegal to be conducted on female infants, or girl children,” opined Hussein.

Whatever their reasons we need to ensure it is illegal to be conducted on female infants, or girl children

She further said that if any adult woman, Muslim or otherwise, wishes to undergo the procedure, she should be able to. “The age of consent should be 18. This has nothing to do with religion or culture and has everything to do with the protection of the girl child,” she added.

“Procedures done under unhygienic, unsterile conditions”

-Prof.Hemantha Dodampahala

In his comments Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Professor Hemantha Dodampahala said that the clitoris is the most important organ in a woman’s body. “It is similar to the phallus (penis) of a male and has all the senses that bring about a sexual drive in a woman. It is rich in nerves and has a definite function in a female’s sexuality. Hence it plays an immense role in the act of sexual intercourse.

As such in my opinion, circumcision is a cruel, unkind and unfound practice. These procedures are done under unhygienic and unsterile conditions and ultimately developes infections, resulting in the closure of the urethra and the vagina.

In certain instances it may affect child birth due to a massive narrowing of the vagina. As such FGM has an impact on the entire process of a child’s delivery,” Dodampahala said.

“Pieces of a woman’s body shouldn’t be taken away”

-Dr. Sepali Kottegoda

Dr. Sepali Kottegoda, Executive Director of the Women and Media Collective, said that female circumcision takes away the sexual pleasure of a woman. “From what I have heard, it is being done to keep girls from getting into relationships and is a practice done in Sub-Saharan countries. It shouldn’t be done because it is an extremely cruel practice. Pieces of a woman’s body shouldn’t be taken away unless there’s a medical reason. Say for example if a person has breast cancer or appendicitis then a surgical procedure could be done, but not otherwise. This push for FGM is alien to Sri Lanka. People trying to come in, to justify an inhumane and unnatural procedure is appalling and disgusting. How can men decide about a woman’s sexual life? It is the woman who has to deal with it for the rest of her life. However there may be some women who would say that it is good, but we need to ask whether there is an element of choice. From what I see there doesn’t seem to be a choice. Hence, in that case are Sri Lankans – those citizens from a secular state- going to sit back and watch?”

Call for female circumcision to be medicalised

During early September, a number of Sri Lankan Muslim groups called on the Government to medicalise female circumcision. In representations made to the Parliamentary Committee on Women and Gender, members of the All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama, All Ceylon YMMA Conference, Centre for Islamic Studies and United Religions Initiative urged the Ministry of Health to withdraw a recent circular prohibiting medical professionals from carrying out female circumcision.

In their submission, the joint Muslim groups stated that the Muslim community is very concerned about moves to ban this obligatory Islamic duty on the grounds that it is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). They said that the practice of female circumcision is an obligatory Islamic duty which confers a number of health benefits and that it is not FGM.

As such in my opinion, circumcision is a cruel, unkind and unfound practice

Hence they condemned the move to ban the practice of female circumcision by legislation and/or Government bodies. They further urged that no moves should be
made in this regard in which case they would consider it as an unwarranted intrusion and an infringement of their religious duties guaranteed by the law and constitution of Sri Lanka.

The group further stated that although Muslims wholeheartedly support the abolition of traditional practices harmful to women and children such as FGM, in case it is shown to exist in Sri Lanka, the Islamic practice of female circumcision is vastly different.

As such religious obligation practiced by the Muslims of the country for centuries in keeping with the requirements of the Islamic faith is not FGM.

The submission further stated that since this is a religious obligation, almost all Muslim Women and girls would have to undergo the procedure by hiring the services of traditional female circumcisers known as Ostha Mamis in case doctors refuse to perform this procedure citing the above mentioned circular. This could lead to serious medical complications which would amount to FGM.

How can men decide about a woman’s sexual life

Long -term consequences

Once the clitoris and the surrounding tissues are removed the girl or woman is at risk of developing infections. Hence there could be long term consequences which include :

Urinary problems (painful urination, urinary tract infections);

Vaginal problems (discharge, itching, bacterial vaginosis and other infections);

Menstrual problems (painful menstruations, difficulty in passing menstrual blood, etc.)

Sexual problems (pain during intercourse, decreased satisfaction, etc.);

Increased risk of childbirth complications (difficult delivery, excessive bleeding, caesarean section, need to resuscitate the baby, etc.) and newborn deaths;

Need for later surgeries: for example, the FGM procedure that seals or narrows a vaginal opening (Type III) needs to be cut open later to allow for sexual intercourse and childbirth (de-infibulation).

Sometimes genital tissue is stitched again several times, including after childbirth, hence the woman goes through repeated opening and closing procedures, further increasing both immediate and long-term risks;

psychological problems (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, etc.);

Garbage in, Garbage out

Garbage and Blue Asbestos in Sri Lanka Singapore Free Trade Agreement

By Gomi Senadhira-September 25, 2018, 12:00 pm

GIGO or "garbage in, garbage out" is a computer industry saying which means that the quality of the output received from a computer program depends on the quality of the inputs. When input data is flawed it would produce a defective output or "garbage". This principle also applies to trade agreements. When you put garbage into a trade agreement, when I say garbage, it is not just the plastic and asbestos waste but faulty inputs that would produce a bad agreement. In the case of SLSFTA the faulty inputs are hidden within the Rules of Origin, the products list for which Sri Lanka had provided tariff concessions and services commitments. All that has produced an agreement heavily loaded against Sri Lanka. The plastic waste was my first concern. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Even then, Let me just focus only on two types of garbage – plastic and asbestos, to illustrate the problems with this agreement.

When I raised my concerns about providing tariff concessions to Singapore for plastic waste under the SLSFTA, the ministry of development strategies and international trade argued that in the national tariff guide of Sri Lanka plastic waste is already duty-free, on MFN basis and these items are also already liberalized under the Sri Lanka – India FTA and Sri Lanka – Pakistan FTA. Therefore, nothing was specially granted to Singapore under the SLSFTA and the status quo had not changed.

To an average layman, there may not be any difference between an unbound zero in the national tariff guide of Sri Lanka and the bound zero in the tariff schedule in the SLSFTA. But for an average trade negotiator, the difference is significant - like the zero in a zero and a zero in a thousand. The zero in the in the national tariff guide could be increased to 100% or to 500% or higher at any time without any consultation with any country. Once you bind them the status quo changes immediately and consultations is required under the provisions of the relevant agreements. The issue of binding tariff lines at applied rate had been discussed intensely within the GATT/WTO system since very early days and any trade official/ negotiator should be conversant of the issues.

Sri Lanka – India FTA, Sri Lanka – Pakistan FTA and SLSFTA are three separate bilateral agreements. It is not a common practice (or even an uncommon practice) to include a product included in tariff concessions in one agreement in another agreement, without analysing the possible implications. Singapore exports most of its plastic waste overseas, as recycling in Singapore is not financially viable. India and Pakistan don’t do that. (In case one didn’t know that already.) Secondly, the agreements with India and Pakistan were signed many years ago. Back then it was believed, "One man's trash is another man's treasure ... or at least valuable raw material."

Until recently rich countries could export their garbage to poor countries. China started importing waste in the 1980s and established a huge processing and recycling industry. In 2016 China was the world’s largest importer of plastic waste and imported roughly 8 million tons. That was more than half of global imports. Rich countries like the U.S., the E.U, Japan and Singapore depended on China to take their plastic waste. China, in turn, used the world's plastic waste as an inexpensive resource to make cheap plastic products. But after forty years of using foreign garbage as a raw material, China realized that the environmental cost of doing that was too high. In July of last year, China decided to ban importing 24 types of waste, including that of plastic. With that, the global garbage trade went into a tailspin.

In 2016, Singapore exported almost 42,000 tonnes of plastic waste and most of that made its way to China. What was not exported was mainly incinerated and shipped to a man-made Semakau island. But that solution too is running short on time. With the use of disposable products growing at a rapid rate the landfill in Semakau island is fast filling up. So, the need to find overseas markets or dumping yards. All that happened during the period of negotiations of the SLSFTA. So, how did Sri Lankan negotiators react to these developments? Did they see them as a threat or an opportunity? Or were they clueless?

If Sri Lankan negotiators considered the crises as a threat, then they would have certainly taken adequate precautions to mitigate any adverse impact from it, like including relevant tariff in the negative list and adjusting our commitment to open waste processing services to Singaporean investors appropriately. They could have easily copied the relevant sections from the Singapore- India CECA. But they didn’t.

So, did they consider this as an opportunity? With the Chinese ban, Chinese investors were looking at East Asia to relocate their expertise, equipment and waste supply chains. The total investment is estimated at around 10 billion yuan ... more than a billion dollars! Many East- Asian businessmen were keen to grab some of it. But then came the restrictions on investment. Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand restricted any new investment in the area and their focus shifted to South Asia. So, did Chinese and East- Asian businessmen looked at Sri Lanka to be the new destination for these investments and managed to include relevant provisions in the SLSFTA?

The text of the SLSFTA says, yes, Sri Lanka is open for investments in waste treatment plants and for duty-free imports. It certainly allows (or rather welcomes) investors from Singapore (or Chinese investors through Singapore) to establish facilities to collect, treat and dispose hazardous and non-hazardous waste and import waste. Unless we revise the agreement and remove the garbage provisions it is possible for misuse these provisions (as it was done by copper smelters in the case of ISFTA) to establish environmentally harmful industries in Sri Lanka.

But the government says that garbage would not be imported under the agreement and garbage in the SLSFTA duty-free list was a simple cut and paste job. But trade agreements are not simple copy and paste exercises.

So, there are several unanswered questions.

When Singapore made the specific request to Sri Lanka to include a commitment to allow Singaporean companies to establish facilities to collect, treat and dispose hazardous and non-hazardous waste, did we examine it in consultation with relevant experts from environmental agencies and elsewhere? Did we analysed the import exports statistics of the two countries, the request and offer lists and the relevant developments in the international trade arena? Did we study services – goods linkages? Did we brief the stakeholders appropriately?

The answers are perhaps in the product specific rules in the agreement. As they the devil is in the details. In this case, garbage is in the details in the form of blue asbestos.

The product specific rules are included in a trade agreement only when one of the parties to the agreement has a strong interest in trading in that product. Then an explicit request is made by the interested party, which would be carefully analysed and negotiated before specific rules are formulated. As we do not produce or import blue asbestos the request for product specific rules couldn’t have been originated from Sri Lanka. We know how hazardous this product is. The views of the president, government and people of this country on blue asbestos are well known. Yet, we have product specific rules to facilitate its trade within the agreement.

Singapore also does not manufacture blue asbestos and banned its import in 1989. Today, Singapore’s main challenge regard to asbestos, which is considered as one of the toxic industrial wastes, is to safeguard workers and the public from asbestos exposure during demolition and renovation of old buildings constructed before 1989 and has strict guidelines on the handling of removal and disposal of asbestos waste in the designated landfill located offshore at Semakau Island. As I said earlier that landfill is fast filling up. Then comes the very liberal product specific rules for trade in blue asbestos in the SLSFTA. Did Singapore request it? Why did they do so? If we are not planning to import (duty-free) very toxic industrial waste, then why did we agree to the product specific rules for blue asbestos? These questions need answers so that the people and the government can understand the real implications of the SLSFTA on Sri Lanka.

Sustainability now: The flaws of plastic straws

Thursday, 27 September 2018

We all are used to them since our childhood, we see them every day when we visit a restaurant, bar or buy juice drinks at a grocery store: Plastic straws. Despite being small, they are one of the major contributors to plastic pollution on land and in the sea.

Large corporations such as Starbucks, Bacardi Rum, Marriott Hotels, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines have promised to phase out their plastic straws, cities such as Seattle have banned all plastic utensils including straws from bars and businesses in the entire city, San Francisco followed and also banned plastic straws with beginning of July 2019.

Where it is true that straws are only a small piece within the large pile of plastic trash we have accumulated, they are also a product which we don’t really need. Therefore, they are a good starting point to reduce plastic pollution. The Business Insider reported some weeks back that in 2015 plastic consumption worldwide totalled 300 million metric tonnes, which means that each of the 7.6 billion humans on this planet, is making 88 pounds of plastic waste per year. At the same time, the packaging industry is still growing. Also, more than 79% of all plastic waste ends up in landfills or in the environment, another 12% gets burned in incinerators and only 9% gets actually recycled (according to a 2017 report published in Science Advances). These are highly frustrating statistics. It can only mean that we should not focus on recycling only, we should start at the beginning of the consumption process and not USE certain products in the first place.

Not everyone knows that plastic is actually made out of coal, oil or natural gas, hence all synthetic plastic is made from fossil fuels. The production process includes heating and curing of these plastics which makes many of them non-recyclable. We all heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch floating between Hawaii and California, which 99.9% consists of plastic waste.

There are more and more alternatives to plastic available on the market. There are steel straws, bamboo straws, pasta straws, paper straws. However, in many cases a straw is not even needed to consume the product, it might be just a habitual process to include it. Instead of using plastic pouches for juices and milk drinks, why not using glass bottles? They can be reused either for the same product or for a different purpose. They are also hygienic and very easy to clean. One might complain that they are heavy and can break. Well, I guess no alternative will be perfect, however they can minimise waste without losing too much of consumer convenience. End of the day, continuing our current waste behaviour will in any case lead to a decreased living standard for all of us.

In bars and restaurants, straws can be replaced with steel or bamboo straws. One might fear that consumers are not going to return the reusable straws. In that case the bar can be charging them the cost of the straw, if the drink is returned without straw. In most cases drinks are paid for at the end of the visit. If drinks are paid for immediately when ordering, the bar/ restaurant can charge consumers a small fee which is returned once the empty glass including straw are returned. Without doubt no one is going to collect a number of straws at home, after paying for one or two, consumers are going to send them back with the empty glass. This system is proven in various countries and works well for events where visitors need to pay a deposit for drinking glasses, plates or similar items. Only on return of the item they are paid back the deposit.

Banning plastic straws won’t solve our global problem of plastic waste, however it can be a start. We have already had some success in banning single use plastic bags, the straw can be the next step. And with the straw, all the other unnecessary non-reusable plastic items (single use cutlery for example). If products are consumed at a restaurant bar/store itself, reusable cutlery can be handed out. If the product is taken home, the consumer can use his own household items, there is no need to hand out small plastic spoons with each yoghurt for example. It won’t harm us or decrease our wellbeing if we use reusable straws or spoons. Rather, it will increase our wellbeing if less of all that wastage is floating around in drains, lagoons and the sea. All single use plastic is NOT necessary, we had alternatives years ago, and we can have them now as well. I dare to say, we are just used to them, we don’t need them.

Most documentaries which discuss plastic straw bans explain about how hard it was to find alternatives. This is understandable if the alternative is really needed. A widely used example is that some persons with disabilities need straws to consume their drink. Another argument is that changing from plastic straws to compostable straws increases the costs of the business. Hardly any article talks about the introduction of reusable straws. Despite the cost for buying the straws in the first place, there won’t be any cost after that. Instead, the plastic straws must be bought frequently. Another possibility would be to convince more consumers to carry a small pouch of reusable items (straw, cutlery, bag) for everyday situations and use these when eating out or shopping. For ladies this won’t cause too much hassle, as most women carry handbags. For gents I am convinced there might be a fashionable product alternative which can be developed. Years ago no one would have imagine to carry around cell phones which are larger than a cigarette pack, and still people got used to them. Similarly, with the necessary advertising and opinion lead, the reusable items pouch can be a trend which picks up and grows momentum.

There is a lot of awareness raising taking place on social media about waste and its harm for environment, animals and humans. This is crucial to highlight the issues we cause with our non-reflected behaviour. However, we also need to go a step further and start shaping the systems. Beach clean ups are great, however we need to see how we can prevent waste from the beginning. We need to convince companies to reduce their waste as much as possible, we need to assist packaging industries to improve their packaging and shift from producing single use items to reusable items. Recycling is great, however it should be the last step, not the primary focus.