‘Fluidity’ indeed characterizes the changed political situation in Syria. Hitherto authoritarian ruler of the latter, Bashar al-Assad, may have fled the country and brought visible relief to ordinary citizens of Syria and pro-democratic forces the world over but by taking to his heels the former dictator has left behind a gaping power void in his country.

Resistance groups led by the militant organization of an Islamic fundamentalist orientation, the Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS), are believed to have taken political and military control of Syria and apparently filled the country’s power vacuum, but whether the country would be enjoying any degree of stability from now on is an open question.

The HTS-led transitional government, for instance, will need to grapple with the problem of uniting the religiously and ethnically segmented country and the political and military formations backing them and this would prove an uphill task, considering its proneness to religious fundamentalism.

The above problem is compounded by the fact that some of the mentioned formations are backed by neighbouring states with a big stake in the inter-state politics of the Middle East. One such country is Turkey. Besides, Iran and Russia have lost a trusted ally in the region in the person of Bashar al-Assad and are unlikely to give up efforts to influence the internal politics of Syria and that of the wider region.

Above all, Israel is in an effort to have more physical and geographical control over Syria and is making its intentions very plain at present. It is seeking to not only solidify control over the Golan Heights-Syria border but is reportedly attacking arms storages and other military infrastructure facilities that were hitherto under the control of the Bashar-al Assad administration.

In short, Israel is expanding and diversifying its military operations in the Middle East theatre with the aim of having a stranglehold over the region. Israeli rulers are on record that they are intent on making Israel the number one power in the region. It will be only a matter of time before the HTS-led regime takes counter-measures against Israel and thereby further jeopardizes Middle East security.

Inherent in these developments are posers for ordinary publics and human rights defenders worldwide as the international community celebrates the 76th anniversary of the formulation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Very rightly, the Declaration is being revisited and appreciated with renewed zeal by progressives globally but much will depend on whether fresh efforts will be made by particularly the world’s democracies to put the provisions of the Declaration into practice and to popularize it indefatigably internationally.

From this viewpoint, all eyes are likely to be on the world’s major democracies, considering that they have thus far neither managed to make any notable progress in their individual observance of human rights nor influenced greatly their allies into doing so. A case in point is the US-Israel alliance. While sensible opinion worldwide expects the US, the ‘world’s mightiest democracy’, to impress on Israel, the need to refrain from persisting in its efforts at ensuring its security by totally military means, this expectation is yet to be fulfilled. Meanwhile, the blood of many an innocent is being wantonly spilled and the prospects of resolving the Middle Eastern conflict by peaceful means are steadily receding.

The storming of Syria’s prisons by sections of Syria’s citizenry in the wake of Bashar al-Assad fleeing the country has helped to further bring to light the gross human rights violations engaged in by the Assad regime. Going by reports, the latter had stopped at nothing in its efforts to silence its political opponents and critics. Tens of thousands of persons have been incarcerated, cruelly tortured and allowed to die with impunity. This was repression at its most horrendous, we are given to understand.

While the challenge before the interim-government in Syria is to prove that it will be taking the country in the direction of democratic development and the rigorous upholding of human rights, in contrast to its infamous predecessor, the international community, read the UN, should consider it incumbent upon itself to ensure that human rights would be respected in Syria from now on.

Besides, the UN would need to convince its general membership and the world’s major powers, who dominate the UN Security Council, of the crucial importance of forging ahead indefatigably towards a world order whose crowning achievement would be the robust observance of human rights, individually and collectively.

The above goal would prove difficult to achieve, as has thus far been the case, but the hour is very late and the gross misrule and repression in countries such as Syria, ought to convince the UN that it must stop at nothing in its efforts to further the cause of democratic development the world over. For the purpose of clarification, it may be said that two essential ingredients of democratic development are equality in every respect and re-distributive justice at the state and international levels.

Thus far, the biggest powers of the East and West have gone ahead with pursuing their self-interest with almost total impunity. Bringing them to the path of reform may prove exacting but the UN system needs to look at ways and means on an urgent basis of making the big powers accountable for their violations of International Law. Likewise, they need to be held responsible for excessive misrule at home that deprives their peoples of the Right to Peace. The latter is integral to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is in keeping with the best of international humanitarian law.

States may be sovereign and their rights may be inviolable but if they prefer to be members of the UN system they would need to rigorously subscribe to International Law, for instance, and scrupulously adhere to its tenets. The UN may have failed in the past to convince its membership of the virtues of adhering strongly to its norms of governance and its rules of international behavior but this could no longer be the case. States may need to be convinced that UN membership carries weighty responsibilities in the form of adherence to the highest tenets of just governance.

In this connection it needs to be also said that UN bodies, such as the UNHRC, should act with exceptional speed to bring erring states to justice. Periodic ‘Talkathons’ on countries violating international humanitarian law have thus far proved ineffective and need to be put an end to.

A Tragic Intersection

By Ifham Nizam

Snakebites are a serious and growing public health crisis in Sri Lanka. More than 30,000 people are hospitalised annually after being bitten by snakes, but despite the best treatment, about 45% of these individuals die in hospital, says renowned scientist Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda. He said so, delivering the S.R. Kottegoda Oration, “The Theory and Practice of Corruption in Sri Lanka” recently, organised by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS).

During his oration, Pethiyagoda discussed the complexities of corruption in Sri Lanka, its roots, and the effects on the country’s governance, economy, and society. He said the real devastation happened at the community level.  Sri Lanka is home to more than 100 species of snakes, but only five are responsible for most of the deaths.

 Pethiyagoda added that venomous bites could be neurotoxic or hemotoxic, affecting nerve functions or blood clotting, which can lead to death if not treated promptly. Yet, over 50% of snakebites are “dry bites,” meaning that no venom is injected. Further complicating the issue is the inability of many victims to correctly identify the snake, making it difficult for doctors to administer the right treatment.

 Currently, he said the main solution to snakebites in Sri Lanka was polyvalent antivenom, a costly treatment that comes with its own set of problems. Each phial of antivenom costs around Rs 10,000, and a patient may require as many as ten phials. Furthermore, since the antivenom is made from horse serum, it can cause severe allergic reactions in some patients, posing another medical risk.

 However, there’s a glimmer of hope; Professor Kala Madu, a brilliant Sri Lankan medical innovator, has created a blood test that can quickly identify if a person has been envenomated and pinpoint the species of snake responsible. “The test is not only highly accurate but also incredibly affordable, potentially costing as little as Rs 200. After receiving initial funding from philanthropists, Professor Madu’s team successfully developed a functional test and tested it at Monaragala Hospital, which sees a large number of snakebite cases. The test was shown to be 100% effective, compared to the slow and expensive ELISA test currently in use.

 But the road to progress has been hindered by corruption within Sri Lanka’s intellectual property system. Professor Madu, after applying for patents for his invention, discovered that his patent had been fraudulently registered in India under a company with no medical research background. The patent is now held by a Chennai-based company, forcing Sri Lanka to pay royalties for the use of the test. Despite waiting for years, the Sri Lankan Intellectual Property Office has not granted Professor Madu the patent, leaving his innovation in limbo. Disillusioned by this experience, he abandoned his work in Sri Lanka and took up a professorship in Australia.”

 Pethiyagoda, who worked closely with Professor Madu, emphasised that the incident illustrated a broader issue in Sri Lanka––the absence of trust.

 He pointed out that trust, or the lack of it, between individuals, institutions, and society was a critical factor that affects not only innovations like Professor Madu’s snakebite test but also the country’s overall progress. Pethiyagoda remarked, “Trust is the key. It’s not just about trust between individuals, but also between individuals and institutions, and trust at the societal level.”

 Countries with higher levels of trust tend to have more efficient governance and are able to fight corruption more effectively. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka’s struggles with corruption and inefficiency are deeply rooted. Dr. Pethiyagoda suggested that punishment alone cannot solve the problem of corruption. Instead, societal change must come from building trust, transparency, and integrity across all levels of society. This, he argued, is crucial if Sri Lanka is to overcome its widespread issues with corruption.

 The case of blood donations in Sri Lanka offers a rare example of success. Despite economic challenges, Sri Lanka donates more blood than its income levels would suggest. The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) in Sri Lanka has been able to leverage religious beliefs to encourage donations.

 He added that by claiming blood donation as a meritorious deed, the NBTS had successfully mobilised large segments of the population to donate blood, especially on full moon days. This unexpected success demonstrates the power of social capital and community-driven efforts.

He stressed that Sri Lanka’s challenges with both snakebites and corruption were deeply interconnected. The lack of trust in government institutions leads to systemic inefficiency and corruption, which ultimately impacts public health outcomes and development.

“If Sri Lanka is to move forward, it must focus on restoring trust, ensuring transparency, and supporting innovation—qualities that are essential for a society to thrive. Until then, both snakebite victims and those working to combat the corruption that hampers progress will continue to face uphill battles,” he added.

With Christmas trees seen everywhere, and in most homes, too, adorned with bright coloured lights, and sparkling, we all know that Christmas time is here again.

The Christmas tree lights are generally switched on at the beginning of December, and this year is no exception…and Colombo looks so Christmassy.

The Mount Lavinia Hotel, as usual, made their traditional tree lighting ceremony extra special and, on 1st December, 2024, the hotel’s iconic courtyard drew a large crowd, including several well-known personalities, celebrities, religious leaders, etc., and they were all agog with excitement as the festive special unfolded, especially the unveiling of a majestic 55-foot Christmas tree, spectacularly adorned with luminous red and shiny gold decorations, the chosen theme colours for this year’s festivities at the hotel.

The re-entry of the Mount Lavinia Hotel’s former General Manager Anura Dewapura, as Chief Operating Officer, has certainly made this historical venue great again and he has several surprises in store for guests in order to make the Mount Lavinia Hotel a name that people will talk about with excitement and admiration.

The tree lighting ceremony included an exciting performance by the Sri Lanka Navy Band, entertaining music provided by Kevin Almeida, and a fireworks display, as well.

In addition to the tree lighting ceremony, the Mount Lavinia Hotel has also prepared an exciting lineup of Christmas offerings throughout the month of December, giving guests an opportunity to celebrate the season in style.

Each Sunday, the hotel’s renowned brunch experience is being given a festive twist with different international cuisines. Guests can indulge in the following themed brunches:

• 15th December: American Christmas Brunch

• 22nd December: European Christmas Brunch

On Christmas Eve, the hotel will host a festive dinner buffet, offering a delicious spread of holiday favourites. The celebration continues on Christmas Day with a Grand Christmas Day Brunch at the Empire Ballroom, followed by a festive Christmas Day Dinner.

For those seeking a unique cultural experience, the hotel will also host a Sri Lankan Night ‘Ape Kema by Chef Publis,’ at The Terrace, on 29th December, featuring traditional Sri Lankan delicacies and oriental music by famous local singers.

The Mount Lavinia Hotel is certainly creating the right atmosphere, and excitement, for guests to experience the warmth, joy, and hospitality of the season.

Bouquet to Anura Dewapura, and his team, for making this festive season extra special.

Dewapura’s presence has certainly made the Mount Lavinia Hotel a happening place and…let’s say ‘the talk of the town.’

Navy Band entertaining with festive music