Health workers threaten continuous strike

By Sjueewa Thatsara

Members of the Alliance of Health Workers’ Unions will commence an agitation campaign from Anuradhapura today demanding that they too be given Rs 35,000 allowance granted to government doctors.

The agitation is scheduled to commence at 12 noon opposite the Anuradhapura General Hospital, Convener of the Alliance Ravi Kumudesh said.

There will be a round of similar protests covering all districts in the coming days and if the government does not come up with a favourable solution, the alliance will commence a continuous strike action in all government hospitals countrywide, starting from Feb 1, Kumudesh said.

He said that the alliance comprises 72 unions of the health sector except for doctors.

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Untapped power of consumers

Tuesday 23rd January, 2024

Sri Lankan ministers are never short of lame excuses, which they are adept at fabricating. Never do they own up to their blunders, which have landed the country in the current predicament. When the economy went into a tailspin, they promptly blamed the war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic, but other countries did not face insolvency due to those global factors. They have undertaken to put the economy back on an even keel, but the question is whether those who cannot even manage the agricultural sector properly are equal to the task of achieving economic revival.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has drawn heavy flak for concocting a theory to absolve the government of the blame for doing nothing to prevent the escalation of vegetable prices. He argued, the other day, that torrential rains had lashed all parts of the country for months, and therefore there had been a shortfall in the supply of vegetables, causing huge price increases. It would take some time for the prices of perishables to come down to the previous levels, he predicted, asking the public not to curse him.

Interestingly, no sooner had Amaraweera made that claim than the vegetable prices began to drop! The price of a kilo of carrot, which had gone up to about Rs. 2,500 a few days ago, came down to about Rs. 600 at the Dambulla Economic Centre yesterday. It is expected to decrease further, according to vegetable wholesalers. What has Minister Amaraweera got to say to this?

True, inclement weather causes temporary increases in vegetable prices, but the current situation is very unusual; it has obviously come about due to market manipulation by the politically-backed traders’ Mafia. Vegetable growers have been complaining that they have to dispose of their produce at extremely low prices although the retail prices of greens have gone through the roof. This alone is proof that market intermediaries are making a killing at the expense of both the producer and the consumer, and the government is not doing anything to tame these elements and protect the interests of the public.

Vegetable prices have shown a downward trend because the demand for greens has gone down drastically over the past several days. Consumers did not organise themselves against the traders’ Mafia, but it so happened that their decision to cut down on vegetable consumption owing to extremely high prices put paid to market manipulations. Previously, the public reacted in a similar manner when the prices of biscuits were jacked up. They reduced biscuit consumption. When huge stocks of biscuits remained unsold on shelves, their prices dropped.

In this day and age, it is not difficult to organise consumers against the market intermediaries who exploit the farming community and the public alike, with impunity. This is a task for the various consumer rights groups that conduct public protests. Instead of making noises, they ought to take action. The media, both mainstream and social, can be used to raise public awareness of the exploitative practices adopted by middlemen as well as producers in some cases and make consumers curtail the consumption of the products whose prices are kept artificially high.

If consumers are inspired to assert their power, they will be able to bring the egg Mafia, as well, to its knees in next to no time. If the demand for eggs drops considerably and remains low for a couple of weeks, the unscrupulous egg wholesalers will be compelled to bring egg prices to an affordable level or destroy their stocks. This is the only language the traders’ Mafia understands. The same modus operandi can be adopted to deal with other exploiters such as the trishaw fraternity and the bakers’ Mafia.

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Govt. woos international community

by Jehan Perera

Under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s leadership it looks like Sri Lanka is once again punching above its weight.  The President took centre stage at the 19th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the 3rd South Summit of the Group of 77 & China, currently taking place in Kampala, Uganda.  The President’s media unit stated that at the invitation of President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, President Wickremesinghe not only participated in critical global gatherings but also addressed both the NAM Summit and the South Summit. During his visit to Kampala, he is reported to have engaged in discussions with counterparts from the Global South, with a special focus on strengthening ties with leaders from the African region.

The photograph of the Non-Aligned Movement’s 120 leaders showed the Sri Lankan President in the front row right next to the conference host President Museveni of Uganda. The last time Sri Lanka took the centre stage in this manner was when Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike hosted the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Colombo in 1976; it was one of the most important gatherings as it tilted the developing countries towards making greater demands for international economic justice.  At that time, Sri Lanka was itself an economic trendsetter in the international arena, as it demonstrated the possibility of development with equity.  Sri Lanka had a physical quality of life index that surpassed many other countries with higher per capita incomes.

At the Summit, President Wickremesinghe delivered a speech that would be a trendsetter and obtain for him the respect of world leaders gathered there. In his speech, the Sri Lankan President dealt boldly with two central issues of concern to the developing countries. He took on the issue of the war in Gaza and the continued domination of the global South by the global North.  He pointed to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and with his own experiences of coping with ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, he said “in line with multiple UN Resolutions, and the Declaration of this Summit, the international community must recognise the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem as territories coming within the State of Palestine and in addition there should be no change in the ethnic composition of Gaza.”

CALIBRATED APPROACH

The President’s words would do much to assuage Muslim sentiment, both in Sri Lanka and internationally in the aftermath of the President’s controversial decision to send Sri Lankan naval warships into the Red Sea to join the international naval force, led by the United States. The President’s decision to send Sri Lankan navy ships thousands of miles away to protect the freedom of the seas led to all the middle eastern ambassadors in Sri Lanka having a meeting with him. There have also been expressions of concern that the high cost of the operation is unaffordable to a country in which more than a quarter of the population is below the poverty line. In addition, there is the element of disregard to the sentiments of the Muslim population in the country who are emotionally supportive of the Palestinian cause.

One of the President’s protégés, UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena has explained the rationale behind the President’s numerous foreign visits as motivated by the desire to place the country’s interests first before the international community. There has been criticism that the President is spending too much money during a time when the country can ill-afford extra spending. The UNP Chairman is reported to have said President Ranil Wickremesinghe has garnered global attention due to his efforts in steering the country from the brink of a crisis towards a path of development within a short span of one and a half years and the President has effectively utilized foreign trips to achieve this goal. He noted there is a potential opportunity to advance the country with the support of international institutions, such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, JICA and supportive nations. In this light, it appears that the President is adopting a calibrated foreign policy approach to maximize the benefits to the country. It is significant that neither the government nor the President has backtracked on the naval mission to the Red Sea.

The second half of the President’s speech at the Non-Aligned Meeting in Uganda was just as compelling as the first half. The President made a claim for intellectual leadership of the Non-Aligned group of countries.  He spoke stirringly about the North-South divide and the need for the global South to assert itself.  He said, “Our membership today is no longer a grouping of weak states. We must recognise that as a result of the rapid progress and economic advancement of some of Asian, African and Latin American states. A majority of the 10 leading economies of 2050 will belong to this movement. We see among us, rising aspirants for leadership status in global affairs. They must be prepared to give leadership.”

WINNING TRUST

In making his presence felt in Uganda, President Wickremesinghe would have also been mindful that among the 120 countries present, almost half were from the African continent whose support he would be counting on. In March and again in September this year, Sri Lanka will be coming up before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva for discussion regarding its implementation of Resolutions 46/1 and 51/1 on the theme of “Promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka.”  Since the war ended in 2009, Sri Lanka has been subjected to strictures by the UN Human Rights Council.  It was able to prevail only once, when its diplomats, led by Dr Dayan Jayatilleka, were able to convince the countries of the global South that it was sincere in addressing post-war issues. But thereafter Sri Lanka has lost every single vote due to non-implementation of the promises it made then and subsequently.

At the present time, Sri Lanka has many promises to keep in terms of post-war justice. As successive governments have failed to keep their word, the international human rights community has set up an international data collection unit in Geneva “to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence and to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka, to advocate for victims and survivors, and to support relevant judicial and other proceedings, including in Member States, with competent jurisdiction”. However, after the President’s lobbying effort in Uganda, it is possible that Sri Lanka will once again, as in 2009, be able to persuade the majority of countries in the UN Human Rights Council to end their surveillance.

Making the government’s task easier to prevail internationally is the severe erosion of the credibility of the UN in the face of its inability to make a difference in protecting human rights in Gaza. The government is making doubly sure of its success by pushing through its reconciliation mechanisms, especially the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation which was established by the passage of an Act of Parliament earlier in this month, and now the Commission on Truth, Unity and Reconciliation, the draft law of which was gazetted this month. It is unlikely that the international community will fail to be impressed by these governmental initiatives. The government is winning its battles in the international arena one by one. The question is whether it will prevail on the ground in Sri Lanka which necessitates winning the trust and confidence of the people. The defeat of the moderate candidate at the election for the new leader of the main Tamil political party, suggests more will need to be done.

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Vidler and Straker dismantle Namibia for 91 to hand Australia opening win

Australia’s fast bowlers, led by Callum Vidler bundled Namibia out for under 100, before their captain Hugh Weibgen steered them through a tricky chase in their first game of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup.

Weibgen came out to bat in the third over after opener Sam Konstas was cleaned up by Jack Brassell and saw Australia lose half their side with 35 runs still needed. But he and No. 7 batter Raf MacMillan all but sealed victory for Australia, knocking off 30 of those runs in a 40-ball partnership.

With plenty of swing on offer, Charlie Anderson and Vidler put the pressure on early, not allowing the Namibia openers to get away. Vidler then drew first blood in his second over with a yorker that swung away late to make a mess of Johannes de Villiers’ stumps. He then struck again in his next over, trapping No. 3 Johannes Visagie lbw.

There was a period of resistance when opener Gerhard Janse van Rensburg dug in while No. 4 Zacheo van Vuuren picked up some boundaries. Van Vuuren struck a gorgeous cover drive before trying again only to get a thick edge and see the ball fly through the vacant third slip region.

But Tom Straker came into the attack and got both batters to nick behind – Rensburg to the keeper for a 32-ball 2 and van Vuuren to first slip for 29 off 47.

Straker then drew another outside edge as Ryan Moffett was caught at slip before Mahli Beardman cleaned up Brassell.

Vidler returned to the attack to have Henry van Wyk caught behind before Beardman picked up a second wicket. Namibia captain Alexander Busing-Volschenk consumed 45 balls, even hitting offspinner MacMillan for four and six, but MacMillan eventually got the better of him.

Vidler wrapped the innings up by bowling No. 11 Junior Kariata.

In the chase, Australia didn’t have it easy. Brassell bowled Konstas in the third over and Hanro Badenhorst had his opening partner Harry Dixon miscuing a pull to mid-on in the sixth.

Dixon was the first of four wickets to fall for 27 runs as Brassell and Badenhorst let Namibia dream of an upset, albeit momentarily. By the time van Wyk had MacMillan caught down the ground, Australia had all but won the game.

Brief scores:
Australia Under 19s 95 for 6 in 19.5 overs (Hugh Weibgen 39*; Jack Brassell 3-28, Hanro Badenhorst 2-29) beat  Namibia Under 19s  91 in 33.1 overs  (Zacheo van Vuuren 29, Alexander Busing-Volschenk 21;  Callum Vidler 4-17, Tom Straker 3-16, Mahli Beardman 2-15) by four wickets

 

Kian Hilton’s 90 went in vain, as Bangladesh’s top and middle-order batter all chipped in with handy knocks to help the team to a six-wicket win in Bloemfontein.

Put in to bat first, Ireland struggled to stitch together any meaningful partnerships till the halfway mark, and were struggling at 95 for 4. However, even as wickets around him fell, Hilton kept the runs flowing, as he hit 11 fours and a six during his 113-ball knock. His 81-run stand with Scott MacBeth looked to revive the team, but Ireland kept losing wickets at regular intervals to be eventually restricted to 235 for 8.

Bangladesh began the chase well, as the openers Ashiqur Rahman Shibli (44) and Adil Bin Siddik (36) produced a 90-run partnership. A brief wobble through the middle overs had Bangladesh in a spot of bother at 130 for 4, but Ahrar Amin (45*) and Mohammad Shihab James (55*) stayed unbeaten till the end, their 109-run stand sealing victory inside 47 overs

Brief scores:
Bangladesh Under 19s 239 for 4  46.5 overs (Ashiqur Rahman Shibli 44, Adil Bin Siddik 36, Chowdhur Md Rizwan 21, Azrar Amin 45*, Mohammad  Shihab James 55*; Scott MacBeth 2-41) beat Ireland Under 19s  235 for 8  in 50 overs (Kian Hilton 90, Jordan Neill 31, Scot MacBeth 27, John McNally 23; Maruf Mridha 2-45, Sheikh Paevez Jibon 2-54 ) by six wickets

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Miracles, miracle makers and mass hysteria

by Susantha Hewa      

It is not surprising that we hear of incidents where persons appear in society from time to time claiming to have abnormal healing powers or posing as saviours. There are other instances where a miracle may happen causing mass hysteria; devotees flock to see some miraculous change in a sacred statue and apparently experience a soaring of religious zeal. In most of these cases, there are racketeers and wily politicians who are skilled in turning the piety of the common people to serve their own interests.

There have been stories of statues belonging to various religions grabbing attention of people due to some of their uncommon changes in appearance. Such narratives create a short-lived sensation and die a natural death. Sometimes self-professed messiahs appear with their underlings often causing injury and even death to some of the fanatical devotees who flock in their thousands to witness such miracles. A couple of years ago a participant in such a healing session died due to a sunstroke.

There are also miracles said to herald future events. Once there was a story of a king cobra descending from the world of Naga to the Kelani Ganga to bless the new president to be elected in 2019. Last week, there was a disturbing news of several people committing suicide reportedly after participating in a series of religious programmes conducted by a ‘preacher’ who first committed suicide triggering a series of several more suicides of some others who are said to have followed his teaching. The country has also witnessed instances where parents following some religious sects, had declined medical treatment for their sick children causing them to die. Last year in Kenya, more than hundred bodies were exhumed from a mass grave in the Shakahola forest, where they, on the instructions of a priest, had starved to death in the hope of meeting their saviour in the next life.

Naturally, we blame these misfortunes on the gullibility of the victims while the caravan of folly and death moves ahead unhindered to cause more destruction. Of course, we become indignant of such charlatans and their easy prey but hardly think of the underlying causes of such untoward happenings, which we dismiss as anomalies. Are they just instances of some aberrations? What guarantee is there that such tricksters and self-appointed prophets wouldn’t appear to persuade some others to act with disastrous consequences? What sort of people can be susceptible to such fanaticism?

What is often ignored is that such destructive credulity is the invariable outcome and a logical extension of religious conditioning. As a rule, all those who fall prey to such extremism and the fanatical guru who gradually persuades them to cross the Rubicon, share the same faith. In other words, those who are of a different religious persuasion from that of the new saviour hardly fall in line with his teaching.

As we all know, people conditioned by different belief systems don’t see eye to eye with one another’s faiths. Each religious community tends to look at other faiths critically while accepting narratives and the doctrine of their own faith rather complacently. That such sporadic manifestations of religious frenzy and mass hysteria mentioned above are sneered at by those who don’t belong to the same faith reveal the usual tendency of people to suspect other religions and readily believe in one’s own faith. It is sad that such instances of hysteria and their tragic consequences are blamed on the swindlers and their unsuspecting victims, but not understood as fundamentally linked with the faith implanted and nurtured in their childhood. It wouldn’t be easy for anyone to persuade another, who hasn’t already been programmed to believe in another life after death, either to commit suicide or even kill, with the hope of entering a better world.

If faith were not such a sanctified aspect of religion, we would not have occasion to talk about such instances of victimisation by religious zealots of innocent people – those who, often, are the most destitute sections of society that are eternally hopeful of escape from their economic woes. Poverty, sickness, unemployment, lack of education are the very conditions that urge people to seek quick fixes engineered by miracle makers.

Religion is not a simple formula for morality but a complex network of human experiences and behaviours. Prof. Ninian Smart in his book, “The religious experience of mankind” talks of six aspects of religion, which he calls dimensions, i.e., the ritual dimension, mythological dimension, doctrinal dimension, ethical dimension, social dimension and experiential dimension. Of these six dimensions, four, namely- the ritual, mythological, social and experiential dimensions are the principal driving forces of any religion. Of these four, the ritual and mythological components which are the inseparable fundamentals absorbed from early childhood, are the most visible and also identity-forming facets of any religion- thus, the most divisive in a social sense.

When we look at the occasional elation about unusual phenomena linked with religion, it’s obvious that it is the mythological element, which passes as ‘true’ in any religion, is responsible for making people extend their faith to readily accommodate such miracles as future saviours, blessed gurus, faith healers and wonder statues. Such religious euphoria cannot occur without childhood conditioning significantly contributing to form a mindset conducive to accommodating such fanatical views of those who are themselves victims of such programming.

The world would be more sober if religions were allowed to be studied at a suitable age without impressionable minds of kids being programmed prematurely. The problem is not with religions, but with the age-old method of parents imposing their beliefs on their clueless children. The obvious fact that fledgling minds with inadequately developed cognition cannot comprehend the truth or otherwise of this or that knowledge system, is conveniently overlooked due to the yearning for propagating one’s inherited faith. Isn’t such a fixation unbecoming of anyone who is supposed to be sensitised and disciplined by his or her religion to love all?

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Ron DeSantis drops out of Republican race for president and endorses Donald Trump

The Florida governor dropped out of the primary before a potentially embarrassing loss in New Hampshire, where polls showed him in single digits.

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LKI ED Aryasinha Chairs Scholarly Panel on ‘Sri Lanka as a Destination: From Antiquity to Modernity’

The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (LKI) hosted a panel discussion ‘Sri Lanka as a Destination: From Antiquity to Modernity’ as part of its outreach activities to promote ‘Cultural Diplomacy’ in Koggala on Saturday (13 January 2024).

Held with the Indian Ocean as the backdrop at the Long Beach Hotel, Koggala, this interactive discussion was organized as part of ‘Rhythms of Paradise’ – the cultural spectacle of ‘Galle Concerto 2024’, with the aim of promoting the Southern coastline of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination, and in celebration of Sri Lanka’s timeless cultural and natural heritage, a news released issued in connection with the event said.

The three week-long ‘Galle Concerto 2024’ commenced with an opening ceremony at the Air Force Base in Koggala on January 12, and a series of events which included literary explorations, interactive interludes, a drum festival and a musical concert.

Opening the session on ‘Sri Lanka as a Destination: From Antiquity to Modernity’ Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, head of LKI, said the event underscored the pivotal role of ‘cultural diplomacy’ in positioning Sri Lanka globally and heightened the importance of acknowledging cultural diversity and leveraging it to promote tourism in Sri Lanka. He said it was a potent force which transcends borders and fosters mutual understanding, in a world which is marked by inter-connectedness and interdependence.

He recalled the writings of Ambassador Dr. Vernon. L.B. Mendis where it was observed “Few countries in the world could claim to have been so well known throughout its history as Sri Lanka. From earliest times to modern times, it has enjoyed an international reputation and been admired”.

Within the historical frame outlined – from antiquity to modernity, he said the discussion sought to capture the vibrancy and resilience on the one hand, and the unease and restlessness on the other, as Sri Lanka today seeks to carve out a modern day narrative on Sri Lanka – increasingly written by Sri Lankan writers, many living in the diaspora, which presents both a challenge, as well as an opportunity.

Professor Asanga Tilakaratne, Emeritus Professor of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Colombo, who participated in the discussion virtually under the theme ‘Journey Through Antiquity’, painting a vivid picture of ancient Serendib from the Roman times, and how the island nation emerged as a significant entity in the annals of world history. He highlighted writings on relations with India, South East Asia and East Asia in which Sri Lanka was the destination – commencing with the Ramayana, through the arrival of Prince Vijaya, the introduction of Buddhism through Arahant Mahinda and Sanghamitta Theri with the Sri Maha Bodhi sapling.

Referring to the fifth century relations with East Asia particularly with China, he noted Fa Hsien being the first known Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, the Polonnaruva period which saw Hindu influence on the island’s culture, art, architecture, while relations particularly with what is today Myanmar and Thailand, was a significant factor starting from around the 11th century continuing till the 15th century.

Renowned Sri Lankan author and novelist Ameena Hussein, who also participated in the discussion virtually, highlighted the documented history of the island by Arab travellers and took the audience on a historical journey with her discourse centered on her recent book ‘Visitors from the Arab World: Ibn Battuta in Sri Lanka’. She expounded upon his role, emphasizing the pivotal contribution he made to the historical chronicles of Sri Lanka, thereby underscoring his enduring impact on the island’s historical narrative.

Professor Shihan de Silva Jayasuriya commenced the discussion with an exploration of ‘Untold Stories: Colonial Travellers and Minority Groups.’ With a focus on ancient Ceylon during the Colonial era, she illuminated how Sri Lanka assimilated cultural elements influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial powers, shaping its distinctive identity. Furthermore, she delved into the impact of political, administrative, and legal reforms introduced by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, shaping the fabric of Sri Lankan governance.

Additionally, she highlighted the contributions of diverse ethnic minorities, including the Malay community, Indian Tamils, and the Sri Lankan-Afro community, which have enriched the cultural tapestry of Sri Lanka. This insightful discourse not only shed light on the historical dynamics of the colonial influence on Sri Lanka but also underscored the resilience and adaptability of the local culture in embracing and incorporating these external influences.

Professor Ruvani Ranasinha, Professor of Global Literature, King’s College, University of London speaking on the theme ‘Sri Lanka as a Destination: Modern Day Framings,’ explored how Sri Lanka is portrayed in contemporary literature. She shed light on various modern authors’ perspectives which focused on themes such as the ethno-political crisis and representations of community, citizenship, minorities, national identity, and gendered social relations in Sri Lanka.

Alongside some narrow problematic accounts, she said there was also increasingly a more nuanced portrayal mainly by Sri Lankan diaspora writers of Sri Lanka’s rich ethnic and cultural diversity which included shared experiences of Sri Lanka as a nation, which not only sought to engage Sri Lanka’s recent past as a national experience to be worked through, but also to imagine community in diverse ways and aesthetic forms.

The presentations of this session which was sponsored by SLT Mobitel was followed by a dynamic exchange of ideas between the panelists and the audience which included tourists visiting Sri Lanka, scholars and university students. In his closing remarks, Ambassador Aryasinha emphasized the importance for a broader and deeper appreciation of Sri Lanka’s multifaceted identity, and the imperative of actively shaping Sri Lanka’s cultural narrative in the global arena in positioning Sri Lanka on the global map, in order to promote tourism.

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