A story of shocks, revenge and betrayal

2018-11-29

But we have seen the best and the worst of Sirisena during these three and a half year rule of the Yahapalana regime

The majority of Sri Lankans and most political parties are of the opinion that the Government should hold General Elections soon as possible to sort out the present political crisis. The country has a tiny Cabinet, a greatly restricted president and two individuals claiming that they are Prime Minister. These developments are due to the Government authorities opting to form a caretaker Government which has not received the blessings of most nations.

What the people of Sri Lanka need is a stable economy and a set of lawmakers who can ensure that the regime’s finances aren’t wasted and there are checks and balances when there is spending. We also need men with brains to set up a plan to sort out the debt commitment of the nation.

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• Wickremesinghe had the habit of using the powers entitled to the president
• From another perspective isn’t Sirisena to blame for not putting Wickremesinghe in his place
• His critics have time and again told that Sirsena has to be proactive
• Sirisena is associated with ‘Janadhipathy Thaththa’

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When the regime changed in 2015, Wickremesinghe was appointed as premier. This man Wickremesinghe brought in Singapore national Arjuna Mahendran as the Governor of Central Bank when there were other qualified Sri Lankans who could have been slotted into this post.

Sirisena was not a leader who would stamp his authority ruthlessly, but rather is a person who chooses to pinch a person hard, when he is opposed, threatened or challenged

A few years into the Yahapalana regime, president Sirisena said that Wickremesinghe’s economic policies had failed and suggested that he steps down as Prime Minister. Apart from the economic setbacks that the country had suffered there were other reasons for Sirisena to get rid of Wickremesinghe. One was that Wickremesinghe had the habit of using the powers entitled to the president. Now Sirisena says that he wants to probe the corruption that took place during the Yahapalana regime and has appointed a committee for that purpose.

From another perspective isn’t Sirisena to blame for not putting Wickremesinghe in his place as Prime Minister? It seems that Sirisena has the habit of ‘closing the stable doors after the horse has bolted’.

His critics have time and again told that Sirsena has to be proactive; a standout feature of a successful politician. This characteristic was prominent in former presidents J.R. Jayewardene and R. Premadasa. It is said that Jayewardene had demanded undated resignation letters from government ministers before they assumed duties. This way he had a control of all who worked for him.

The problem with Sirisena is that he took the post of president rather lightly. When J.R Jayewardene introduced the executive presidency he knew what a monster he was creating. Even though Sirisena didn’t know quite well how to exercise the powers of the executive president, Wickremesinghe knew how to manipulate someone else’s post despite not having all the power he wished for. Sirisena has been quoted in newspapers as saying that he allowed Wickremesinghe to take decisions, only a president was entitled to, out of gratitude for helping him become the president of Sri Lanka in 2015.

When Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in as Prime Minister after unceremoniously ousting Wickremesinghe, it gave a message that Sirisena was not a leader who would stamp his authority ruthlessly, but rather is a person who chooses to pinch a person hard, when he is opposed, threatened or challenged. In other words Sirisena knows that a cat needs not be killed brutally by the bashing it with a cricket bat, but instead can be drowned in a cauldron of freshly drawn milk.

But we have seen the best and the worst of Sirisena during these three and a half year rule of the Yahapalana regime. All the chaos seems to have made his thinking sharp

There is no sign of Sirisena fighting out of the situation he is in. He temporarily patched up differences with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and appointed the latter as premier. But Rajapakaa failed to produce his old magic. Now the Sirisena-Rajapaksa government is struggling to form the majority in parliament. Government ministers and parliamentarians supporting the regime keep walking out of parliament claiming that they wouldn’t be back till the Speaker acts according to the Constitution, follows standing orders and respects its traditions.

One of Sirisena’s trump cards was to prorogue parliament till he formed the majority, but the court issued a stay order which overturned the president’s decision. Now president Sirisena faces another ‘Wickremesinghe like’ challenge from Speaker Jayasuriya; with the latter doing all he could to uphold what’s left of democracy within parliament. There are of course accusations that Jayasuriya is acting in a highhanded manner and is working with a bias towards the UNP. The Government claims that much of the turmoil now in Parliament is because of Jayasuriya not honouring parliament traditions.

Sirisena in fact gains by this present turmoil. He needs time to map his next move and the present chaos probably seems to aid him. He didn’t surface as a politician doing productive work under past presidents because there was some order in the political set-up despite the country being gripped by a civil war. But we have seen the best and the worst of Sirisena during these three and a half year rule of the Yahapalana regime. All the chaos seems to have made his thinking sharp. The surprises he sprang on two consecutive Fridays suggest that he has the ability to shock his detractors. The leadership he has given the nation is shrouded with controversy, but also spiced with shocks, revenge and betrayal.

Even though Sirisena didn’t know quite well how to exercise the powers of the executive president, Wickremesinghe knew how to manipulate someone else’s post despite not having all the power he wished for

In this context it seems apt to recall the last stages of Nobel Prize winner writer Ernest Hemingway. Life was so pleasant for him and he was addicted to the good life and the successes that money and security brought him. The American writer was working on a book on bullfighting, but old age and a faulty brain prevented him from finishing this literary product. He later took his life. Sirisena is associated with a best-selling biography (Penned by his own daughter) titled ‘Janadhipathy Thaththa’. If Sirisena decides to script  his own life story he would probably struggle when he gets to the last chapter. He knows that the ending is not going to be good.  

Sri Lanka Speaker and President hold discussions to end political crisis

Thu, Nov 29, 2018, 08:09 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.



Nov 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya today met with President Maithripala Sirisena and engaged in a discussion on ending the political crisis set off by the President over a month ago.

The Speaker met with the President at the Presidential Secretariat today considering the opinions expressed by several parties and party leaders that the President and the Speaker should hold discussions and reach an expedited settlement to end the current chaotic political situation in the country.

During the discussions, the Speaker pointed out that the country is facing an unstable situation in every sphere, especially the country cannot withstand further devaluation of the currency and the collapse of the investment and tourism industry and stressed that a speedy solution to the uncertain situation must be reached.

The President has responded positively to the matters pointed out by the Speaker and appreciated the Speaker's role in his attempt to resolve the crisis, Speaker's Media Office said.


At the discussion, the President has agreed to discuss the matter separately with the Opposition Leader and the other leaders of the UNF tomorrow.

Why Another Presidential Commission When Previous Report Gather Dust?

By Prema Dumbukpitiya –NOVEMBER 27, 2018

Aiyo Sirisena whom are you trying to fool. We learnt through the media that you plan to appoint another Presidential Commssion to inquire into corruption of the yahalapalana partners. We already have with us the Bond scam report and are well aware of their performance.

Appointment of such Commissions of Inquiry which is at great cost is salutary if the recommendations are implemented. That’s exactly what you promised to do but did not. Have you implemented the PRECIFAC REPORT?

One Ariya de Silva writing to Colombo Telegraph recently mentioned about a PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION report initiated by you that gathered dust for years and how you threw the recommendations to the dust bin and appointed your arch enemy whom you flayed as Prime Minister for reasons best known to you. Not being assess we could also see through what acquired greater importance yes your greed to run again.

Iam quoting what he said for the convenience of readers.

“You appointed a Presidential Commission of inquiry with members of the Judiciary as Commissioners to probe the large scale waste and corruption of the previous regime in respect of many state institutions where BILLIONS were used by MR in his bid to win the Presidency having changed the CONSTITUTION which spelt out ONLY TWO TERMS.

Please see the recommendation of the Commission referred to in respect of the ITN where 225 Million was used by him.

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on large scale acts of corruption (PRECIFAC), has concluded that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and three others were responsible for financial irregularities to the tune of Rs. 225m by the telecasting of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election propaganda by the ITN channel during the General Election 2015.The Commission has concluded that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former ITN Chairman Anura Siriwardene, former Deputy General Manager, Marketing, Jayasinghe Arachchige Upali Ranjith and former Asst. Manager, Marketing, Duleep Priyantha Wickremesinghe, have committed the offence of ‘corruption’ as explained in para 70 of the Bribery Act, offence of conspiracy to commit corruption and the offence of aiding and abetting corruption.”

The Commission has recommended that cases should be filed against these people under sections 113(B) and 102 of the Penal Code to be read with section 70 of the Bribery Act as amended by Act No. 20 of 1998.

The Commission also stated that the offence committed by Mahinda Rajapaksa is so grave that new laws should be enacted barring him contesting elections for life.

The Commission Report further states:

“It appears that the offence of corruption has been committed by the first party noticed (Chairman Anura Siriwardene) appointed by the sixth party noticed (Mahinda Rajapaksa) having treated the ITN, of which the government holds 100% shares, as his private property causing a loss to the government. “The sixth party noticed (Mahinda Rajapaksa) has in the same manner committed the offence of conspiracy for corruption.

“The third and fourth parties noticed (Upali Ranjith and Dilip Wickremesinghe) have committed the offences of corruption, aiding and abetting corruption and conspiracy to corruption at different times.

“People who have committed these offences cannot be expected to render any service to the country or its people.

“Therefore, this Commission is of opinion that it is not proper for politicians convicted of these offences to be appointed as people’s representatives in the legislature or as officers in statutory boards even after seven years of their being convicted.

You failed to take action and now propose to spend millions and worse proceeded to appoint the same person as Prime Minister. If your differences with Ranil W was the genuine cause and wanted a change you could have appointed someone who had not come to adverse notice by PRECIFAC. The fact that you did not do so clearly reveals what motivated you to insult the 6.2 million who entusted the country to you.

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How does the situation in Sri Lanka affect the Diaspora in UK?

They may not want to make the same mistakes they have made in the past of sorting out piecemeal individual issues cropping up from time to time in Sri Lanka

by Victor Cherubim-Nov 30, 2018

( November 30, 2018, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is now commonplace for the diaspora to talk privately among themselves about the importance of innovation for a new strategy to achieve the goal of visibly helping their kith and kin back home. This soul search has been accelerated recently, after the disruption of life for all citizens of Sri Lanka after two episodes on 26 October and 14 November 2018 respectively, when Parliamentarians “ran wantonly angry at each other,” seemingly at the behest of power hungry men of two political parties, for personal gain.

To what extent does the concern about Sri Lankan conundrums remain a side show for the UK diaspora and how much does it impact on producing pragmatic solutions for the future relationship?

What can the diaspora (those who live abroad) do, if any, to help rather than hinder, by use of measured approaches and commiserate action, to show to the world that Sri Lanka not on the verge of becoming another Zimbabwe?

How can the diaspora bring to notice of Sri Lankans at home and abroad that the unconstitutional acts committed in Sri Lanka have caused much damage to diaspora abroad?

Imponderable questions posed to the diaspora?

Do many Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims peoples still live in fear of reprisals? Are you able to visit Sri Lanka and your families? Is it safe for us to visit as tourists? These and many more questions have been posed to Sri Lankan diaspora in UK?

How can the diaspora pull off the social, cultural and political shift needed to ensure that every Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim person, for that matter every liberal thinking mind in the UK – from the bottom to the top not only of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim society, organisations, but also individuals, families, intellectuals, workers, students and ordinary people are literally able in their own ways to support the motherland at this critical time, to seek ways to ameliorate the situation?

Could embracing among other things innovation to resolve the continuing problem, including funding organisations for social justice bring back normalcy?

These and many more questions are under scrutiny.

It is just the beginning?

How much room is there in Sri Lanka today for more disruption of ordinary life?

How much more will the diaspora have to endure before an equitable solution is found of all the people back in Sri Lanka?

The situation in Sri Lanka may be ripe for disruption and to waylay the benefits accrued for the people over the past years, but there are also high barriers to entry for any Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim among Sri Lanka diaspora in UK for the formation of a Movement for a Just Society? Why?

The general view expressed by many segments of the diaspora is that they don’t want to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

At the same time the diaspora, at least many known observers do not want to fall into a trap and mistake what is happening so far in Sri Lanka will suddenly be resolved.

They also question their mode of approach to protest? The current practice of protest demonstrations, holding flags and marches, shouting slogans and standing in the cold to send a message both to the people and the outside world, the working people of Sri Lanka have taken stock of their destiny to seek a solution of the constitutional crisis by legal means and that a solution is not far in sight?

However, they also have taken note of vested interests within and outside waiting to exacerbate this scenario to turn it into an uncontrollable situation?

Where will innovation come from?

That innovative approaches, will need to be shared by many skilled Sri Lankan citizens serving positions abroad, is the general opinion among diaspora.

From the reports received, the working people of Sri Lanka are saddled with nepotism, corruption, family rule among others.

The cost of living in Sri Lanka has gone up the roof. The Sri Lanka Rupee depreciated from Rs.1.40 to Rs.1.80 to the US. Dollar, noted within weeks, not months.

There appear to be two Governments vying for power at the expense of working people. There are two men claiming to be the Prime Minister. Law and order is at risk.

Recent developments send worrying signals that the socialist democracy created over the years, is in a fragile shape almost a decade after the calamitous Civil War.Besides, Foreign Governments seem not to accept either administration as Sri Lankans state it is only a Caretaker Government.

Whilst this is happening the country is saddled with a debt mountain and no amount of printing currency can resolve this issue. Tear Gas is acceptable against peaceful protesters and “butter knives “allowed inside Parliament. Our values seem to have changed overnight.

How long can the diaspora pursue a “wait and see “policy is on everyone’s mind

What are the best ideas for innovation among the diaspora?
Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim diaspora over long periods have been dispersed and polarised. But many have during this period sent funds from abroad to support their loved ones in Sri Lanka.

Daspora organisations in the UK are in a quandary at present. Funding through charitable giving to worthy causes in Sri Lanka is presently exempt of tax status. Charitable status organisations, perhaps, now have to seek alternative ways to address a variety of problems of supplement resource funding for education among others.

The worry, perhaps, is that all these charities for so called “good causes” may have to curtail their funding activities due to the constitutional crisis continuing in Sri Lanka at present. The possibility of stopping of charitable giving is a prospect, due to stringent compliant mechanisms of the UK Charity Commission.

The need of the hour is for unity of purpose.

What is the real problem today?

Many now consider the problem posed in Sri Lanka at present, is a political problem rather than a social problem, which the diaspora has failed to answer up to now. Many rightly or wrongly feel that the organisation of a political movement abroad is the obvious choice open to the diaspora. To organise a political movement they need a framework of an ongoing structure, a member recruitment campaign, a funding mechanism, at the very least and most of all, a workable and competent movement.

What specific advantages can a Political Movement offer to help resolve the impasse in Sri Lanka today?

Diaspora need a massive campaign strategy, comprising all liberal thinking people of all ethnic community groups, Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim, which cannot be achieved overnight.

Can a small group of individuals of the above Community Diaspora offer the same advantages as a Political Movement to support what is needed today in Sri Lanka?

Are there risks with this approach? If so what are the anticipated risks?

A pragmatic way forward

The diaspora comprising of all nationalities in Sri Lanka are realistic that as overseas Sri Lankans they cannot impose their will on the citizens of Sri Lanka. They will have to be guided in their approach by the wishes of people of Sri Lanka?

What this Movement can do is to resolve the impasse at the moment? It cannot direct or govern Sri Lanka?

Embracing Change of mindset?

The Sri Lanka diaspora in UK thus needs urgently a defined strategy agenda if they wish to take the political movement forward. The views expressed are that they have a responsibility to act now or suffer the consequences. But they are limited in this approach. The constraints are many and the time short?

They may not want to make the same mistakes they have made in the past of sorting out piecemeal individual issues cropping up from time to time in Sri Lanka.

With no leadership in sight for this Movement at present, the considered opinion among many is that it must be fronted by a Committee of People, Elders and Youth, who will have to be entrusted with responsibilities for policy planning, for recruitment, for funding among others and particularly for lobbying groups in Sri Lanka and abroad.

For a new political movement of Sri Lanka diaspora in UK, they need a registered organisation, which has to be taken care of. They need appointed convenors who can give written undertaking to set up movement branches in the London Burroughs, under a strict Code of Conduct.

They envisage mass campaign rallies; mostly they need communication channels, weekly updates. They may first need to fund a Webinar to introduce this hypothetical political movement to its interested members?

How can the diaspora pull off the political shift in Sri Lanka?

“Can they do it”?

First, is the recognition that in the digital age, the platform approach is the key to optimising the planning of this new political movement?

Second, they will have to know marketing is a big issue?

The taglines of the past and old activists will not be sufficient anymore? They are obsolete as they have served their purpose in the past. New members have to be recruited. They have to modify their outreach to adjust to new realities in the outside world.

The mode of having meetings will have to be looked at. People now don’t have time to come to regular meetings anymore?

They have to use more the internet based outreach to reach out to members and a wider audience.

The view among diaspora is that they have to look to the third generation of migrants – the children and grandchildren of the original diaspora in the UK for marketing purposes. Many of the diaspora children can only speak English?

What was once the reason for Sri Lankans to leave Sri Lanka as migrants no longer hold water today? The new generation of diaspora are different, with different perspectives. Thus there is no point to make a hash of events. The Movement if it to survive, will need to reach out to the younger generation – of students at High Schools, Universities around London, working people, both young and old for membership to carry the message across.

The opinion among the older generation of all communities of Sri Lankans living in UK is not to overdo the scenario by turning a crisis into a calamity for no reason? They seem to say: “join a Political Movement if you think that is the only way to resolve the situation back home”. There must be clarity in purpose and policy programme of action – short term, medium term and long term of any future Political Movement envisaged by the Sri Lanka diaspora?

To moot the formation of this so called: “Diaspora Political Movement to Safeguard Sri Lanka” is a decision than cannot be made on the spur of the moment. It has far reaching consequences for generations to come.

Ousted PM should move out of Temple Trees - JVP

METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE-NOV 29 2018

Ousted Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe should leave the Prime Minister’s official residence, Temple Trees, immediately, the JVP stressed today (29) after the Motion to suspend the expenditure of the Prime Minister’s Secretary was moved.

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, participating in the debate on the Motion moved by the UNP, noted that if the UNP was genuine in bringing the Motion they do not have a moral right to stay further at Temple Trees, at public expense.

He said, “Both former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe do not have a right to enjoy the privileges allocated for the Prime Minister. The duo is equal to any other MP. It has been clearly stated that there is no Government at the moment, therefore, they cannot use public money and the privileges given to a  Prime Minister.”

Dissanayake noted that on 28 November there was a meeting at Temple Trees and all UNP members of Local Government bodies were summoned to the main hall. “This is a political meeting. It should have been held at UNP headquarters Sirikotha, not at Temple Tree”, he said and queried as to who was paying the electricity bill and hall charges at Temple Trees for these meetings.

“The taxpayers have to bear the burden of two Prime Ministers now. Since Rajapaksa is a former President of the country, he can enjoy the privileges this position brings. But he cannot enjoy the privileges of a Premier. However, he shows that he is the Premier and use public money for that. That is why we support this Motion to stop State funds from being used by the Prime Minister’s Secretary”, he added.

In response, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said the cost for the meeting in question at Temple Trees including the electricity bill is borne privately by the UNP and its supporters.

Dissanayake: “Just tell me this, has Temple Trees become a hotel which could be hired by anybody in the country now?”

Kiriella: “If the JVP wants Temple Trees, we can make arrangements to give it to them.”
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauf Hakeem in his speech said that Wickremesinghe was occupying the Temple Trees because they were of the opinion that his removal should be treated as invalid from the outset.

“We say that the decision by the President to remove Wickremesinghe is ‘ab initio void’ and that matter is now before the Supreme Court through a petition. Therefore we cannot come to the conclusion that Wickremesinghe is illegally occupying the Temple Trees. Wickremesinge had always respected the verdict of the people and had honourably left the Temple Trees. Here when the Executive President has unlawfully and unconstitutionally removed the Premier, it is his contention and our contention that he can remain there as a legal occupant unless the Court holds the otherwise. I would dare say that we would even be willing to replenish all the costs that might incur out of wrongful occupation of the Temple Trees if the Court holds otherwise,” he asserted.

Sri Lanka signs port deals with China amid political upheaval

Shihar Aneez, Ranga Sirilal-NOVEMBER 29, 2018

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka penned two multi-million dollar contracts with Chinese firms for a port upgrade project on Thursday in the middle of a political hiatus that has raised doubts over the legitimacy of the government and the legality of the deals.

The debt-saddled island has long been a target of Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road infrastructure scheme to connect China with countries cross Asia and beyond, while regional power India has also been vying for deals to counter China’s influence.

But a political crisis triggered by President Maithripala Sirisena’s replacement of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was in turn sacked by parliament, has raised doubts over who can legitimately make decisions in the country.

Foreign countries have yet to recognize the new government and Wickremesinghe’s party has said any decisions by Rajapaksa’s cabinet are illegal.

An official at the state-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority told Reuters it signed two contracts with Chinese firms worth more than $50 million combined on Thursday after the deals were approved by Rajapaksa’s disputed cabinet last week.

One of Rajapaksa’s cabinet ministers, speaking on condition of anonymity, also confirmed the deals had been approved by the cabinet, while documents seen by Reuters showed the deals were set to be rubber-stamped at the meeting.

The deals are a $32 million contract to enhance the deep berth capacity of state-run Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) in Colombo with China Harbour Engineering Company, and another one worth $25.7 million for the purchase of three cranes from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries for the same project, according to the ports authority official.

Asked about the deals, the former cabinet spokesperson under Wickremesinghe’s government, Rajitha Senaratne, told Reuters:

“We will have to re-examine definitely. They don’t have the legal power to decide.”

The ports authority official said the tenders for the deals had been advertised in state-owned newspapers, as is the norm in Sri Lanka, and that they were sent to a cabinet-appointed procurement panel months ago.

India, which accounts for around 80 percent of Colombo’s trans-shipment business, has raised concerns over increasing Chinese projects in Colombo.

Trump cancels Putin meeting over Ukraine crisis

New Delhi had been pushing Sri Lanka for the award of an estimated $1 billion contract for a second foreign-operated container terminal in Colombo.

But that deal was the subject of an argument between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe just before his ouster, in which Sirisena reportedly said the country couldn’t give any more of its assets to foreigners.

The political instability and economic malaise have raised questions over Sri Lanka’s ability to service large external debt taken to finance reconstruction following the end the civil war in 2009. It owes around $8 billion to China, official data shows.

Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Nick Macfie

Women take strong stand for children and country

Activists and artistes brave rain to protest dark clouds of political crisis

 2018-11-30

everal Sri Lankan women activists, including prominent artistes, braved incessant rains in Colombo on Wednesday to gather at Galle Face on behalf of future generations, amidst the country’s growing political crisis.  “We are basically a group of frustrated, concerned women who have come together for our children,” dramatist Tracy Holsinger said, adding that the the group had no political affiliations. “If we don’t stand up and say something now, this will go by. And we are just going to normalise everything”, she said.The protesters assembled at Galle Face at 3.00 pm and marched through the pouring rain to the Presidential Secretariat to deliver a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena. The letter highlighted their concerns regarding the political and economic chaos in the country, the irresponsibility and immorality of leaders, and the resultant threat to the nation’s children. It noted: “Leaders of this country need to be elected in accordance with the constitution of this country. Thus without marring the truth by bringing in personal likes, dislikes or conflicts; we demand that you provide our citizens and our country with a stable and responsible political solution in keeping with our principles of governance.”

"we demand that you provide our citizens and our country with a stable and responsible political solution in keeping with our principles of governance"

The letter went on to condemn “the national disgrace” and “international spectacle” surrounding the ongoing constitutional crisis. “Mr. President, we and our children have only this country to live in. If this country is dragged into an economic and political abyss, it is we citizens who have to suffer the consequences,” it stated.
Prominent artistes, film stars and writers joined the demonstration, which  featured a character swaddled in yards of saree cloth with slogans in all three languages highlighting the protesters’ concerns for their children, country and future. Kaushalya Fernando, Chandani Senevirathne, Ruwanthie de Chickera, Nadie Kammallaweera and Ama Wijesekara were among the artistes who fronted the effort.Heavy showers marked the commencement of the event, but the rains failed to unhinge the spirit and persistence of the cause. The protesters declined transportation offers and proceeded to march to the President’s Office, unsheltered and unfazed.

"Leaders of this country need to be elected in accordance with the constitution of this country"

During the demonstration, the women stood along the Galle Road and expressed their silent fury by unfurling their questions and demands inscribed on cloth in Sinhala, Tamil and English. As the rains persisted, so did they. “Is the country your playground?”, “Have you forgotten the promises of 2015?”, “Do you have no conscience?”,were some of the scarlet-sprawled inquiries that caught the attention of passers-by.
As the activists advanced forward, five women took the lead, hand in hand, symbolizing unity amidst the “confusion and chaos” mentioned in the letter. Although small in number, the determination of the protesters who marched together as mothers and parents, was an inspiring sight.
The women expressed their disappointment with authorities who should be following the ethics, morals and justice taught to children. They questioned why Buddhist philosophies like honesty, delivering promises and principled behaviour, which govern the majority of the nation, appeared irrelevant and insignificant to 
those in power.

• If we don’t stand up and say something now, this will go by

• Mr. President, we and our children have only this country to live in

The movement sought more than just answers. They said nothing would justify the state of distrust and frustration now separating the people from their leaders. They demanded responsibility and the immediate rectification of the sequence of defamatory events that were set in motion by “a single arbitrary and unilateral decision taken by (the president) on the 26th of October.”
The letter raised concerns about the “anti-democratic” decisions and the consequent halt of foreign aid, economic sanctions, the negative popularity gained internationally, etc. So while being well aware of such economic, international and social impacts of poor governance, they were also loud and clear in what changes they wanted for the country and for their children.“Mr. President, it is already very late. We demand that you do your job and stop this country from sliding further into darkness. What lies before you is your responsibility by a country and by the children of this nation,” the letter stressed.

"If this country is dragged into an economic and political abyss, it is we citizens who have to suffer the consequences"

The protest also highlighted the absurdity of raising children in a land governed by persons who embrace the very vices that mothers struggle to protect them from. Although driven by an indignation for the crises unfolding in the political arena, at the heart of all the activity was a mother pleading, “Please, in all of this madness, take a moment to think of the innocent children who will have to grow up in this country that you have begun to create.”  

Sri Lanka beaten by Algeria and Ukraine now

• SL brand value grow by 7.7% 
• Ukraine grows by +27% and Algeria +23%

 Thursday, 29 November 2018 

Whilst Sri Lanka has been grappling on the 'Governance' criteria in the last one month, we see how the world is passing us by – not only Singapore, Malaysia or Bangladesh but now countries like Ukraine and Algeria as per the latest data released by Brand Finance. This performance does not augur well for the country given that Sri Lanka was recently judged the number one destination to visit by Lonely Planet for the year 2019.


Sri Lanka brand value analysis – 2018

In today's competitive world, a country’s image has many ramifications as it’s the most important asset that a country has. The quality of the Investments that one can attract, the export markets that can be captured and the tourists that visit a country can all be hinged to the image the country has in the market place.

Sri Lanka was ahead of Algeria and Ukraine in 2017 but now they have beaten us in 2018.




Brand Value: 6 key criteria 

Let me share a quick overview on the criteria used to calculate nation brand value. The Anholt-Roper Nation Brands Index looks at a country’s image by examining six dimensions of national competence, all of which are treated equally with no weighting. This gives an overall sense of a country’s reputation as a whole. The six dimensions are:

1. Exports: Examines respondent’s image of products and services from each country and the extent to which consumers proactively seek or avoid products from each country of origin.

2. Governance: Considers public opinion regarding the level of national government competency and fairness and describes individuals’ beliefs about each country’s government, as well as its perceived commitment to global issues such as democracy, justice, poverty and the environment.

3. Culture: Reveals global perceptions of each nation’s heritage and appreciation for its contemporary culture, including film, music, art, sport and literature.

4. People: Explores the population’s reputation for competence, education, openness and friendliness and other qualities, as well as perceived levels of potential hostility and discrimination.

5. Tourism: Captures the level of interest in visiting a country and the draw of natural and man-made tourist attractions.

6. Immigration and Investment: Looks to attract people to live, work or study in each country and reveals how people perceive a country’s economic and social situation.

But a key point to remember is that nation brand building is not about painting a story globally with catchy advertising. It’s more about ‘implementing actions so that the people inside the country’ talk positive of the country and the world feels the vibes. This in turn attracts better FDI, higher spending tourists visiting the country and exports making a deeper penetration into markets.


2018 – SL at 7.7%

On the above criteria the performance of Sri Lanka in 2017 was $ 77 billion, making Sri Lanka ranked 59th in the world ahead of Algeria and Ukraine which were at 60 and 61 respectively.  In the 2018 Brand Finance report, we see that Sri Lanka has grown by 7.7% to $ 83 billion and ranked 61 globally whilst Algeria and Ukraine have grown by 27.1% and 23.5% to be ranked 58 and 60 respectively, beating Sri Lanka, which is unfortunate. In simple words it tells us that the pace at which Sri Lanka is performing is below the global industry average and hence the world is passing by. Let me do a deep dive on this.


Exports

Whilst Sri Lanka crossed the export performance crossed at $ 11.3 billion in 2018 the percentage to GDP is around 20% which is way below countries like Vietnam at 86%, Thailand at 69% and Malaysia at 74% which is why competitiveness drops.

If one digs deeper, machinery and electrical exports account for only 8% of the export basket whilst competition countries average between 30-45% which is the key issue that makes Sri Lanka exporting products that compose of low GDP.

The Centre for International Development at Harvard University reveals that almost 76% of the products are at the lowest GDP growth range as against Vietnam at 34% and Thailand at just 15% which is why these entities are called industrial-driven countries as per the graph.

If one analyses the export basket in terms on complexity of the products we export, almost 76% of the products fall into the ‘Low Knowhow’ segment which means that we cannot ask a premium price and there are many substitute products in the global market that can be sourced which results in Sri Lanka’s exports not being of high demand. This is why the National Export Strategy (NES) launched in 2018 states that reforms are key to developing the export industry of Sri Lanka.

However, with the constitutional impasse, things are at a standstill. The cost to the country that needs to be computed and explained to the policymakers. The good news is that Sri Lanka's performance in the Service sector is relatively strong, especially in the 'Travel Services (Tourism)' and ICT sector. Hence we must build on this competitiveness criteria.




Investments 

On the investment front whilst Sri Lanka can boast of $ 2 billion investment of FDIs in 2017, the fact remains that Sri Lanka has not seen any acceleration in FDIs in the last 20 years, especially after the war in 2009.

To be specific as per the report of the Centre for International Development at Harvard University, Sri Lanka and Vietnam were attracting the same export value in 1995 but thereafter Vietnam with radical reforms diversified the basket of FDIs and in fact attracted 106 high-profile manufacturing projects into the country whilst Sri Lanka is lagging behind at 16.

If one does a deep dive, the reasons for the poor performance is 'policy uncertainty'. The private sector faces severe constraints due to the unpredictable changes to tax policy, extending to trade policy whilst the tax policy uncertainty is also a major drag on the competitiveness on attracting investments.

A point to note is that if one checks from the private sector on taxation issues the key insight is not the percentage but the administration issues being the biggest obstacle. Hence the need of the hour is a strong government that can bring in radical changes so that Sri Lanka will not lose out to competitors.


Tourism 

Whilst Sri Lanka crossed the two million tourist arrivals mark and touched the four billion dollar value in revenue, the industry is challenged with lower profitability issues with increasing costs and stagnating revenue per visitor given that the country as a tourism brand has not been promoted.

Whilst the industry had a lot of hope of getting a boost with the launch of a global marketing campaign, the fact is that since 2015 the campaign never took off ground due to poor political support. With the top seven global agencies taking part in the 2015 creative tender, just two days before the submission of the entries the tender was cancelled without a reason and board was de- solved by the policymakers.

For three years the industry fought to bring the project to life and finally a launch took place in November 2018 in London that went on to be debated by top two ad agencies on the ethics of using old creatives with a new tag line that only hurt the Sri Lanka tourism brand image.




Media exposure on Lonely Planet vs. political situation 

It is sad that the Nation Brand report dedicates a page for explaining the importance of building a tourism brand and the impact it can have on a country specifying the 'touch point developments' that must happen to position the country against competitors but Sri Lanka is yet on a promotional strategy which is not in synch to the world.

If one does a track on the media exposure we see that the current political issues beats the exposure on Lonely Planet, which highlights Sri Lanka as the number one place to visit in 2019.

What people forget is that consumers select brands and not products. Unless we take the proposition of driving brand image building on Sri Lanka tourism, we cannot change the profile of the tourism visitor to Sri Lanka. This in turn affects the revenue that can be generated to the country.

Conclusion and next steps 

Despite Sri Lanka being inundated with 'constitutional experts' who can solve the current impasse, the reality is that Sri Lanka needs serious policy reforms to make it competitive and thus impact the overall nation brand value. If this is not done, the next belt of countries to beat Sri Lanka will be Slovenia, Panama, Iraq and Angola, which is very sad.
(The writer is an award-winning marketing professional and serves many private and public sector organisations. The thoughts are strictly his personal views. He is an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School.)

Israel tightens noose around East Jerusalem

The Israeli settlement of Pisgat Zeev in front of the Palestinian Shuafat refugee camp on 27 April 2018. Israel is pressing on with land confiscations and house demolitions in a bid to bring more Jewish settlers into East Jerusalem and environs. 

 Oren ZivActiveStills

Tamara Nassar - 27 November 2018

Israel took various steps this month to entrench its occupation of East Jerusalem.

From demolishing Palestinian structures to approving further expansion of settlements, Israel continues to threaten Palestinian existence in the heart of the city.

On 21 November, Israel’s high court gave the green light to evict 700 Palestinian residents of the Silwanneighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem from land they’ve lived on for decades.

The court denied an appeal filed by 104 Silwan residents in the Batan al-Hawa area against a 2002 government decision to transfer ownership of the homes of some 70 Palestinian families to three individuals closely associated with Ateret Cohanim, a right-wing Israeli settler organization focused on taking Palestinian land in Jerusalem.

The transfer of ownership is made possible by the 1950 Absentee Property Law, which allows Israel to seize land owned by displaced Palestinian refugees, who fled or were expelled from their homes during and after the Nakba, the 1948 ethnic cleansing of Palestinians carried out by Zionist forces to make room for an Israeli state.

Government collusion

Israel’s high court judges rejected the appeal despite knowing “that the procedure concerning the Silwan village homes was flawed and raised questions about land transfers to [Ateret Cohanim],” Israel’s i24 Newsreported.

Israeli human rights group B’Tselem condemned the court’s decision, stating that it “gives its seal of approval to almost any infringement of Palestinians’ rights by the Israeli authorities,” adding that various government ministries have assisted Ateret Cohanim in encroaching on Palestinian land in Batan al-Hawa and handing over their homes to Jewish settlers.

Apart from the blatant theft of Palestinian land, the increased presence of illegal settlers also necessitates a greater “security” presence for them, creating an even more violent atmosphere for Palestinian residents.

“The stronger the hold settlers have in the neighborhood of Batan al-Hawa, the greater the number of Palestinians directly impacted by the settler security apparatus, even without being expelled from their homes,” B’Tselem added.

Demolishing storefronts

On 21 November, Israeli occupation forces demolished some 20 commercial buildings on a busy street in Jerusalem’s Shuafat refugee camp.

The Israeli press called it the “most significant” demolition since the construction of Israel’s apartheid wall in the occupied West Bank during the second intifada.

The demolition order came from the Jerusalem municipality, which rarely grants Palestinians building licenses, forcing them to build “illegally” and live in constant fear of demolition.

Local media circulated pictures of the operation on social media, dubbing it the “demolition massacre.”

This video shows Israeli forces conducting the demolition:

جانب من اقتحام قوات الاحتلال وتنفيذ #مجزرة_الهدم في مخيم شعفاط بالقدس المحتلة. pic.twitter.com/XO4uYgXg8n

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) 21 November 2018

Israeli forces also detained Palestinians during the operation, including three children:

شبكة قدس الإخبارية

✔@qudsn

قوات الاحتلال تعتقل 3 أطفال من مخيم شعفاط بالقدس المحتلة، قبل قليل.

16

6:43 AM - Nov 21, 2018

وكالة شهاب

✔@ShehabAgency

قوات الاحتلال تعتقل شاب من مخيم شعفاط بالقدس المحتلة، وذلك خلال الحملة التي تقوم بها في المخيم من خلال هدم لمبان ومنشآت تجارية.
تصوير: محمد قاروط ادكيدك

13

6:48 AM - Nov 21, 2018

Demolition warnings were given 12 hours prior to the act. Israeli forces blocked off entrances into the camp and restricted movement in the area on 21 November, and arrived again the day after to continue the demolition.

EU concern

Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, condemned Israel’s actions as jeopardizing a two-state solution.

“The European Union is strongly opposed to Israel’s settlement policy, illegal under international law, and actions taken in that context, such as forced transfers, evictions and demolitions,” she said in a statement on 24 November.

“The EU expects the Israeli authorities to reconsider and reverse these decisions.”

She did not spell out clear consequences for Israel if it defies these calls. In the past, the EU has done nothing to hold Israel accountable for demolishing structures, including ones funded from EU coffers.

Twice displaced

Meanwhile, Israel’s high court has denied the appeal of a Palestinian family who is being evicted from their East Jerusalem home.

The court refused to hear the Sabbagh family’s case on the building’s ownership in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

The family of 40 – 30 of which are children – will be thrown out within months and has nowhere else to live.

The Sabbagh family is originally from Jaffa and owns two homes there. They fled following the Nakba and settled in Sheikh Jarrah in 1956.

After the Nakba, Israel took over the homes and properties Palestinians fled under its Absentee Property Law, including those of the Sabbagh family.

“Their two former houses in Jaffa still exist, and they keep pictures of them in their living room,” according to Israeli daily Haaretz.

The house that the Sabbagh family lives on in Sheikh Jarrah was owned by Jewish individuals before the Nakba, but was abandoned during it.

The Jordanian government and the United Nations built housing on the land for Palestinian refugees six years after the Nakba, and the Sabbagh family moved into one of those buildings.

“We have two houses in Jaffa, on Hasneh Street and Hagidam Street, and we have 250 dunams [62.5 acres] in Yavneh and also in Ashdod,” Muhammad Sabbagh, 71, told Haaretz.

“Why can’t I ask for my property from before 1948?”

In 2003, a company registered in the United States, called Nahalat Shimon International, bought the land from the Jewish groups that claim to have owned it before 1948, and has been fighting to forcibly displace Palestinians from there since then.

“The ruling will also make it very difficult for dozens of other Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah to avoid eviction,” Haaretz reported.

Settlement ring

Meanwhile, Israel’s parliament passed a law last week permitting the building of residential settlements atop public parks, according to Haaretz. This would enable the construction of housing units in the City of David archeological site near the al-Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

The law’s bill was backed by Elad, a private organization that settles Jews in occupied East Jerusalem in violation of international law.

The Palestine Liberation Organization’s National Bureau for Defending Land said the new law was part of an Israeli plan to establish a settlement ring around the city of Jerusalem, in order to increase the number of settlers there at the expense of Palestinian residents.

Earlier this month, the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee approved the building of 640 new Israeli settlement homes in Ramat Shlomo, a Jewish-only colony in East Jerusalem.

Some of the new homes will be built on privately owned Palestinian land, according to Haaretz.

Some 3,000 Israeli settlers live in Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem’s Old City and the surrounding area, amid some 100,000 Palestinians, according to B’Tselem.