Features

Total disregard for Law and Order

Published

6 years ago

2020/08/7

By Rajitha Ratwatte

Why do most Sri Lankans display a total disregard for the law? By this I mean for rules and regulations that are in place to ensure safety of individuals and efficiency of the system. Is it because we have lived under a system where everything is “fixable”? From a simple bribe in cash at the base level to using ‘connections’ with powerful politicians.

Yes, so we do it at home but now we are doing it abroad as well. Is that some Lankans’ living abroad don’t realise that they are abroad or is it that some of us have never been taught to respect and obey the law? I fear it is the latter and now the consequences are resulting in an international reputation for being untrustworthy.

Take the recent KFC party in Melbourne. A bunch of Sri Lankan students! The number of such incidents in Aotearoa range from people taking student loans, completing their degrees and then going off to Australia and doing jobs with no intention of paying the student loans given to them by the NZ Government. This has led to changes in the law and unnecessary hardship to students. The range extends to people running businesses like motor repair shops issuing road worthiness certificates without even looking at the car. A person got checked by the police in a real old banger, in Wellington with a certificate issued in Auckland. That particular vehicle could never have made the 800KM journey from Wellington to Auckland even one way, let alone come back! Further inquiries found that the certificate had been issued by a garage run by a Sri Lankan and it had simply been mailed to Wellington with no one even having seen the car in Auckland.

Why do these cultures do this? Is it because they are treated like decent human beings in Aotearoa and they take advantage of that? We all know how we are treated by our Government departments, back home! Is it desperation as their businesses are failing? Is it because they don’t understand the importance of obeying the rules because they don’t care for anyone except themselves? Surely it has to be a culture-related thing? Did we build a civilization that was so effective that we were known as the granary of the East, with values like this? That is impossible! What happened in the interim?

On the other hand, we have people who drive like maniacs in their own countries get into an airplane and fly to a properly policed country and transform themselves into a model driver when driving away from that airport!

I have a first-hand story of a Petroleum Corporation oil bowser driver, who arrived at what used to be the LTTE check point on their so called “border” in the North of Sri Lanka. This was just after the “peace accord” had been signed. The driver who looked like an IRC (Island reconvicted criminal – terminology used to describe a rough looking individual) got out badly in need of a smoke. He had the sense to move away from his truck, took out his fags and saw a notice saying no smoking as the LTTE didn’t allow this vice, anywhere. He meekly put his cigarettes away and went back into his truck. This fellow, I would bet, a dollar gets ten, had never observed a no smoking notice in his life. The fear of what the LTTE may do to him was the deterrent, I presume.

In Aotearoa, we have just had a situation where a mob of six people have driven up in two cars and robbed a liquor store. A worker in an adjacent shop who tried to intervene has been beaten up and stabbed with a screw driver. The Bottle shop as we call them, was run by an Indian and the CCTV footage shows the perpetrators’ being mostly Pacific Islanders or Maoris. Now this demographic is from the poorer classes and of course they share an active dislike for hard working Indians, who they feel, have taken their jobs! This sort of incident is rare but any that do happen usually target Bottle shops or diaries (corner grocery shops), of course all mostly owned and run by Indians. Hopefully these idiots will be rounded up soon but there is a modicum of doubt, as the local upholders of the law have proved to be increasingly ineffectual and no match for the amount of such crimes, of late. However, the incumbent Government has strengthened the Police force, a long overdue initiative.

Of course, no Police force is infallible. Complaints of policemen using undue force and being “unreasonable” when dishing out fines and other penalties are rife. We had an excess of speeding fines during lockdown, from strategically placed mobile cameras, mostly on the way to large supermarkets, which can only be construed to be a method of meeting revenue “targets”! It was only the roads to supermarkets that had whatever little traffic there was, on those days. However, the Police in this country is largely respected as upholders of the law and mild grumbles and an occasional letter to the Editor aside they prevail.

A recent survey carried out in NZ, has found that most New Zealanders stuck to the rules during lockdown because they were worried about what their neighbours would have thought of them if they had violated the rules. There you go Lankans! How many of you protest, make a noise or even blow your horn when three-wheelers cut in and out of traffic and private bus drivers overtake on the wrong side of the road? Not to mention when someone “jumps” a queue. I know when I do is I have been frequently told that all I do in annoy the passengers in my vehicle. Is that the right attitude? How can we expect people to respect the law when those who do respect the law don’t ENFORCE their choice? The only examples available to the general populace are those openly flouting the law, those who obey the law do so silently and innocuously. How does that achieve our objectives?!!

I wonder if any of the political contenders in the Pearl has the guts to use revamping the Police Force or announce rewards for those who obey and uphold the law, as election promises. It will be one of the best things that can happen to the country. Much more beneficial that even “rice from the moon”!

fromoutsidethepearl@gmail.com

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Features

New US sanctions on ICC, a fillip to worldwide political repression

Published

10 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

The International Criminal Court in session. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s warning to the International Criminal Court (ICC) was stark: ‘Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.’ It followed US central administration accusations that the court was unfairly targeting Americans on the basis of trumped-up war crimes charges.

However, a new plethora of sanctions has been clamped on the ICC by the US, which in turn has spurred accusations by sections of the world that the latter has unleashed an ‘assault’ on the international legal order.

What some of the sanctions would mean for the ICC was outlined by Rubio: ‘We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling their ability to operate against us.’

The ICC has shown consistency of purpose over the years. Despite some operational constraints it has indicted a large number of political strongmen from around the world, accused of war crimes and other governance excesses that come under its purview. Two such recent figures are: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Rather than enjoy a mere nominal presence in the world community, the ICC has proved its effectiveness by detaining and bringing to justice scores of VIP politicians and others of their ilk who have been found guilty of human rights abuses and kindred excesses that come within the terms of reference of the ICC.

Accordingly, the international justice system would be stymied considerably as a result of the ICC being dis-empowered, particularly financially. Needless to say, potential and real perpetrators of the species of crime coming under the jurisdiction of the ICC would stand to gain most from such anarchic tendencies. That is, political repression globally would be enabled to enjoy a new lease of life.

A detailing of the types of crime coming under the purview of the ICC provides an idea of what it would cost the international community if the ICC’s operations are gravely hampered. They are mainly: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

That is, the part of the world to be worst affected would be the global South, since the latter is awash with the mentioned crimes. Needless to say, a chronically-disaffected South will sooner rather than later undermine the well being of the world dangerously. The world is already being put through these paces.

At the time of writing, ‘illegal migrants’ from the South, for example, are aggravating many a Western economy’s woes, besides creating for them acute law and order issues. The fact that these migrants’ presence goes on to become a virtual test of the migrant receiving states’ ability to forge domestic social inclusion in the face of jingoistic protests by mainly white supremacist groups is evidence of the latter. As is known, the US, to take just one example, has been up against this crisis for quite a while.

Accordingly, it will be in the best interests of the West if ‘illegal’ migrant arrivals on their shores are stemmed. If the socio-political and economic problems assailing the South are effectively managed through North-South collaborative, ‘trouble-shooting’ efforts the causes leading to ‘illegal’ migration and connected issues could be resolved at source as it were. For, it is the aggravation of the South’s material questions that lays the basis for the emergence of repressive and anti-democratic regimes in the hemisphere.

Until such time that the aforementioned issues in North-South relations are visited afresh and addressed urgently, a vibrantly functioning ICC would be needed. For, the latter would prove a deterrent to Southern political and military strongmen, highly prone to power abuse and like excesses, from coming into being in the wake of the South’s chronic material woes and the wars and conflicts that result from them.

It stands to reason then that the US would be acting in its own interests by enabling the ICC to perpetuate its mandate without hindrance. For a crop of issues that impinges negatively on internal law and order would be defused.

Meanwhile, there needs to be a meeting of minds among the rest of the West to put back in place a North-South dialogue process aimed at reducing some of the economic pressures that are weighing on the South.

Since economics usually drives politics it will be in the interests of the world community to scrutinizingly re-visit North-South issues of the past and put in place economic relief packages for Southern publics that would enable them to tide over their material hardships rather than permit the latter to aggravate into social disaffection and eventually armed militancy. It is the latter juncture that paves the way for the emergence of authoritarian rulers in the South who then go on to be a blight on their publics.

Accordingly, the Southern-based global development thinking of the past that envisaged a more equitable world economic order needs to be seen as an urgent need. That is, NAM’s international development paradigms need to be resuscitated to the extent possible.

It is unlikely that rightist governments of the West, such as the current Republican administration in the US, would find these projects feasible, but democratic states of Europe, led by perhaps the UK, are likely to think otherwise. For it would not be beneficial for the democratic world to be having on their hands repressive governments in the South who would be gravitating towards the major military and economic actors of the South, such as Iran and North Korea, who tend to be in constant power struggles with the West.

However, until such time that the mentioned, pro-people initiatives are given serious thought the ICC would need to be enabled by the international community to be in place comfortably and carry on with its mandate of bringing repressive rulers to book. Besides the ICC should pave the way for the peoples of the developing world to enjoy some substantial respite from the political repression and even terror which tend to be their lot.

Meanwhile, the wars of West Asia are relentlessly aggravating the economic hardships of people everywhere, driving the point home to enlightened sections that there is no alternative to peacemaking. A challenge is to convert the US under President Trump to this line of thinking.

Features

Clear, soft and shine-free skin

Published

10 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

This week, I give you five simple, time-tested homemade remedies that help reduce the appearance of blemishes, control excess shine and leave your skin feeling softer and smoother.

The Honey and Lemon Brightening Dab:

For stubborn blemish marks, this is a classic. Mix one teaspoon of pure bee honey with three to four drops of fresh lemon juice. Apply gently, only on the affected spots, and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. While honey soothes and softens, lemon helps to brighten naturally. Use twice a week in the evening.

Besan and Rose Water Oil-Control Pack:

An ideal remedy to combat shine, especially on the T-zone. Take two teaspoons of besan (gram flour) and mix with sufficient rose water to form a smooth paste. Add a pinch of turmeric for its antiseptic goodness. Apply evenly, keep for 15 minutes and wash off. It absorbs excess oil without over-drying, leaving a beautiful matte finish.

Aloe Vera and Cucumber Ice Soother:

Blend fresh aloe vera gel with the juice of a grated cucumber and freeze the mixture in an ice tray. Each morning, wrap one cube in a soft muslin cloth and gently rub over a cleansed face for 30 seconds. It calms, tightens pores and imparts a baby-soft smoothness.

Oatmeal and Curd Gentle Polish:

Roughness and old blemish marks need gentle exfoliation. Combine one tablespoon of finely powdered oatmeal with one tablespoon of fresh curd (yoghurt). Massage very gently, in circular motions, for one minute, leave for five minutes and rinse. It removes dead cells and unveils softer, clearer skin.

Multani Mitti and Green Tea Magic Mask:

Brew some green tea and allow it to cool completely. Mix one and a half teaspoons of Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth) with the tea water to make a fine paste. Apply for 10 to 12 minutes – do not let it dry and crack completely – and wash off. It draws out impurities, fades blemishes and bestows a fresh, shine-free glow.

A Gentle Reminder:

As with any natural remedy, always do a patch test on your inner arm first. For those with oily or combination skin, avoid heavy coconut oil application and harsh scrubbing, as they tend to aggravate shine and blemishes.

Features

Compete, shine and be discovered at WCOPA 2027

Published

10 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

Dream of performing on a world stage? Well, here is your unique, golden opportunity!

The World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) — the one and only official “Talent Olympics” — is the world’s premier global platform for aspiring singers, dancers, actors, models, instrumentalists, etc., to compete, shine and be discovered!

And, yes, this world stage is open to YOU, Sri Lankans living in Sri Lanka and overseas!

Held annually in glittering Las Vegas, WCOPA brings together over 70 countries, all competing for Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals, just like the traditional Olympics.

Lakisha Bernard: Will represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2027

Outstanding performers vie for the coveted titles of Junior and Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World, with winners and standout participants awarded over $500,000 in scholarships, cash awards and prizes to catapult their education and careers!

Sri Lanka is already making waves! At WCOPA 2026, Natharie Wickramasinghe, representing Team Sri Lanka, made the nation proud by winning a Bronze Medal in the Ethnic/Folklore Dance category!

Lakisha: Accomplished freelance Model and Fashion Design graduate

Recruitment for this prestigious competition is handled through a system of scouts and licensed National Directors — and this is where our very own Chris Rajendra, now based in Las Vegas, and National Director for Team Sri Lanka, comes into the scene.

If you are a singer, dancer, actor, model, instrumentalist — if you have talent burning inside you — contact Chris Rajendra today for registration and, who knows, you may find yourself in Las Vegas, and proudly draped in the Sri Lankan flag, at WCOPA 2027!

The contact address is: Chris Rajendra, wcopa.nationaldirector.sl@gmail.com

or chris.rajendra@gmail.com

Meanwhile, a star is born for 2027, in the form of Lakisha Bernard who is all set to represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2027.

Originally hailing from the sun-drenched coastal city of Colombo and now carving out her creative career in Canada, 22-year-old Lakisha is stepping into the international spotlight.

This accomplished freelance Model and Fashion Design graduate has officially been appointed as the Team Sri Lanka Promoter for Canada as she prepares to represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA in Las Vegas.

Lakisha brings a unique blend of high-fashion sensibility, captivating camera presence and expert garment design to the Team.

Having built her career, from local college shoots to high-glamour concepts, Lakisha’s inspiring journey embodies the true spirit of cultural bridge-building and creative resilience, bringing immense pride and recognition to Sri Lanka on the global stage.

WCOPA 2027 will be held at the legendary Westgate Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, from 12th to 20th July – the very same iconic arena where the late, great Elvis Presley himself performed!

Your moment is now. Your stage is Las Vegas, so hurry and contact Chris Rajendra.