Opinion
Gamble of Provincial Council elections at this time
By Jehan Perera
There are indications that the government is planning to conduct Provincial Council elections in the early part of next year. It is reported that the cash-strapped government will be providing parliamentarians, who are in charge of district development, with Rs 100 million each to engage in development activities in their electorates. In addition, former members of Provincial Councils, and local government authority members will also be entitled to substantial monetary resources to do likewise. If these large sums of money are made available to politicians to spend prior to the election, they could contribute to the thinking that the government is investing in development for better times, ahead despite the hardships of the present. But the cost of this gamble which will include printing money could be high, so there must be other motivations.
The present situation on the ground is hardly propitious to the conduct of elections. The economy is in deep trouble with foreign exchange reserves threatening to be negative if scheduled foreign loans are repaid on time unless there is a fresh infusion of foreign loans. Among the several reasons why foreign exchange is scarce is that the government is keeping the foreign exchange rate artificially low instead of letting market forces determine the price. This is no different from the price controls that the government attempted to place on rice which led to hoarding and artificial scarcities notwithstanding the declaration of a state of emergency to deal with the hoarders. If the government relaxes the exchange rate it is likely that the foreign exchange rate, will soar and prices of imports will soar likewise, adding to the inflation in the country.
Some of the present day economic problems are beyond the control of the government to resolve. These would include the loss of economic production due to the months of lockdown that followed the rise in Covid spread. The contribution of the tourism industry to the economy has been much diminished due to the closure of the country’s airports to prevent infection spread from abroad. However, some of the economic setbacks have been self-inflicted. The biggest one is the implementation of the chemical-free agriculture policy on a scale that has no precedent in any other country in the world. Even the most economically advanced countries, such as Germany, where there is a high demand for organic food, has only devoted around 10 percent of its agricultural land to chemical-free agriculture. And Switzerland, known as one of the cleanest countries in the world, recently rejected the banning of pesticides at a referendum as voters felt it was impractical.
SINGLEMINDED COMMITMENT
The government has so far shown a singular commitment to going ahead with the decision to have chemical-free agriculture. There has been some concession to big business interests such as in the case of the tea industry. Some of the necessary chemical inputs for fertiliser are being permitted. However, this is an exception and the general rule that agriculture should take place without chemical inputs continues to prevail. So far there has not been flexibility shown with the farming community who are coming out publicly in protest as they are seeing their harvests being reduced. These protests are taking place in all parts of the country and in some areas the small farmers have not been planting crops fearing that the yield will be too small. The government has offered compensation but, given the financial crisis it is in, this is unlikely to materialise in the short term.
The government’s present policy on organic agriculture appears to be following a military logic that sees the objective clearly and goes for it at all costs. One of the key features of democratic governance is that consultations take place with those whose interests are bound up with issues prior to the implementation of change. These consultations need to take place at multiple levels over a period of time if the decision being made is likely to have major consequences. Further it is not sufficient to practice tokenism in consultations. Often consultations take place but the views generated are not heeded. Those who consult sometimes appear to be listening but do not really listen nor are they willing to change their preconceived attitudes and plans. The essence of democratic government is to be responsive to public opinion, and to educate public opinion on new measures that need to be taken in the larger interests of society.
On the positive side, and to the credit of the government, it is providing space for public protests against its policies. Speaking in New York at the UN General Assembly, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he had instructed the police not to use batons and violence to break up peaceful protests. Restraint has been shown in the case of the three-month long strike by government school teachers who continue to be paid their salaries while doing no work. There were initial signs of harsh restraint when Covid control laws were used to detain some of the teachers who were leading the protests. At this time these strong arm methods of control have stopped. Unfortunately, however, the problems that the organic farming problems and teachers’ strike pose show no signs of being resolved through compromise.
MULTIPLE MOTIVATIONS
There may be multiple motivations in holding Provincial Council elections at the present time. These elections are already three years overdue. The previous government failed to conduct the elections fearing that a bad performance would send a negative message to people who were already moving away from it. They changed the election law to make it more difficult to hold elections again. However, unlike the previous government, the present government leadership is made of sterner stuff when it comes to holding elections and winning them. It appears to be planning new strategies to regain the upper hand. The 2022 budget which is to be presented to Parliament later this month will offer the government an opportunity to address the immediate concerns of voters at least in the short term. They may also see elections at this juncture as being helpful to ensure political authority and benefits for its second tier of leaders who will be satisfied with them at the moment.
There is also speculation that the government’s sudden decision to conduct Provincial Council elections is the result of pressure from the Indian government. It is notable that the government’s announcement was made shortly after the visit to Sri Lanka of India’s Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla. At his meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa he had reiterated India’s position regarding the need to fully implement the 13th Amendment and to hold the Provincial Council elections at the earliest. During his visit the Indian Foreign Secretary had also urged the Tamil political parties not to look to India for a solution to their problems but to discuss the issues that trouble them and resolve them in dialogue with the Sri Lankan government.
In this context, the decision of the government to go ahead with Provincial Councial elections is the silver lining to the grey clouds that overhang the country. It is an indication that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is being consistent with the pledges he made in New York at the UN General Assembly. The holding of Provincial Council elections, even in the present disadvantageous political situation that the government is in gives a positive message that the President is not neglecting his promises to the international community with regard to the reconciliation process. Addressing the root causes of the war and bringing reconciliation between the communities needs to be the number one priority of any government. The provincial council system as presently constituted is in need of improvement, both in terms of the distribution of powers and resources, but it is the way forward if the ethnic and religious minorities are to feel they are a part of governance structures of the country, and hence co-architects of a shared future in which there is national reconciliation.
A passion for wildlife conservation and a love for dogs has led to the creation of a non-profit organisation that trains puppies to protect endangered species.
Dogs4Wildlife, based in Carmarthen, supports frontline conservation efforts across sub-Saharan Africa.
Founders Darren Priddle and Jacqui Law train and develop specialist conservation dogs to support anti-poaching rangers.
“There is no better feeling on this planet than to know that our dogs are saving lives,” said Jacqui.
Darren and Jacqui are professional dog trainers and have been developing operational working dogs for 15 years.
Darren said: “Our love for dogs and our commitment to developing them for specialist work helped us to decide ‘why not?’
“If we are able to train dogs to track people in this country, then why can we not train dogs to help protect our wildlife all across Africa and that’s where Dogs4Wildlife was born.”
The dogs are bred in-house and go through “extensive and advanced training” and a development programme that starts from as early as two days old.
“Relationship is key when deploying a dog to work with anti-poaching rangers,” Darren added.
“We do a lot of relationship building, a lot of conditioning in terms of the patterns of behaviour we want from the dog.
“Whether that be human scent tracking, specialist detection work or operating in a control base on a wildlife reserve.”
The team then “impart all of that knowledge and experience” to the rangers once the dogs have been deployed to a wildlife reserve.
The team has trained and deployed 15 operation dogs to five sub-Saharan African countries including Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Mozambique.
They also provide consultancy and specialist training to different organisations, including the Akashinga, an anti-poaching group in Zimbabwe.
In October, one of their dogs Shinga tracked a poacher 4.5 km (2.8 miles) straight to his front door after a warthog was killed in Zimbabwe.
The team’s work in Africa not only supports the anti-poaching rangers but also communities in the area.
The aim of the programme is to inspire the future generations “to love and support the natural world that surrounds them”, said Darren.
“Whether that be human scent tracking, specialist detection work or operating in a control base on a wildlife reserve.”
The team then “impart all of that knowledge and experience” to the rangers once the dogs have been deployed to a wildlife reserve.
Sunil Dharmabandhu
Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK
In an era of rapid technological advancement, one would assume that losing a mobile phone could be addressed swiftly and efficiently. However, for a close friend of mine, Anura (not his real name), a senior professional and well-connected individual, the ordeal of tracing his lost iPhone 15 exposed a web of systemic inefficiencies, poor communication, and hidden truths.
Anura lost his phone on 15 Dec., 2024, while travelling in a Colombo suburb. What followed was a grueling process that highlighted the bureaucratic labyrinth ordinary citizens must navigate. Acting on the advice of two telecommunications veterans, he embarked on a quest to retrieve his phone only to encounter roadblocks at every turn.
Ravi, a retired IT engineer with over four decades of experience, outlined a standard procedure: file a police report, present it to the mobile network provider, and let the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) handle the rest. Siri, a board member of a prominent telecom network, confirmed that bypassing the police was not an option due to legal requirements.
Despite their expertise, neither expert was aware of a critical fact: the phone-tracking system had been compromised in 2022. Anura’s initial attempts at the police station were equally disheartening. Officers refused to provide him with a copy of his complaint, citing outdated practices, and he spent hours navigating red tape before finally obtaining a certified copy.
With the police report in hand, Anura visited the TRC in Narahenpita. The experience was no less frustrating. Initially directed back to the police by security staff, Anura had to argue his way into the premises. Inside, a polite but unhelpful officer informed him that the system for tracing lost phones had not been operational since 2018.
The officer defended the TRC’s actions, stating they had informed the Inspector General of Police of the changes, expecting the information to trickle down to individual stations. Anura, however, was unimpressed. “This top-down communication approach is ineffective,” he argued, highlighting the needless time, effort, and money wasted by citizens due to a lack of public awareness.
During his discussions, Anura uncovered an unsettling truth: the phone-tracking system was compromised.
“Your problem,” Anura told the TRC officer, “is sending people here and there without telling them the truth. If criminals know the system is down, they might exploit it—but hiding it isn’t the solution.”
Frustrated but undeterred, Anura vowed to bring the issue to light. He criticised the TRC for its lack of accountability, calling for a more proactive approach to public communication. “If I were the minister or the PM, I would prioritise making citizens’ lives easier and saving public resources,” he said.
On his way out, Anura ensured he had proof of his visit by photographing the TRC’s logbook, documenting yet another step in his relentless pursuit of accountability.
Anura’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor communication and systemic inefficiencies. It underscores the urgent need for:
Transparent Communication: Regulatory bodies like the TRC must ensure critical updates reach all stakeholders, including the public, in a clear and accessible manner.
Streamlined Processes: Citizens should not have to endure unnecessary delays and expenses to resolve simple issues.
Accountability: Authorities must take responsibility for addressing systemic failures instead of deflecting blame.
As citizens, we must demand better. Until then, stories like Anura’s will remain a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done.
The aforesaid incident highlights the need for transparent communication, streamlined processes, and greater accountability from regulatory bodies. Anura’s ordeal is a wake-up call for systemic reform to save citizens from unnecessary inconvenience and wasted resources.
Eng. P. N. D. Abeysuriya
Colombo
At this Time of the Year, the “Season of Goodwill towards men”, please spare a thought for the plight of 103 ROHINGYA Refugees including 25 children found drifting in a rickety Boat and apprehended by the Navy.
The Rohingya are an extremely persecuted minority in Burma/ Myanmar, where they are being openly murdered by the Military Government of Myanmar, For NO REASON whatsoever, except ethnicity, (they are minority Muslims), although they have lived in Myanmar for several generations.
The 12 crew members of the boat have been remanded. They can barely make themselves understood due to the language difference. They can’t speak English.
Apparently, they were apprehended by the Navy in Sri Lankan waters near Trincomalee and first reports indicate that they never intended to make Sri Lanka their destination. They were probably heading to a Muslim majority country. Of the three boats that set out, two sank, and everyone who could, clambered onto this one boat.
Reports said that many of them were suffering from acute hunger at the time of “arrest”. These people completely fit the description of REFUGEE, whom Sri Lanka is duty bound to provide safe protection under the Geneva Convention. Conventions and Legalese aside, what happened to the so-called “smiling welcome” with which we supposedly greet Foreigners? Is that fake smile dependent on the dollars that the tourist is carrying?
I appeal to the new Government of Sri Lanka to set aside the opportunistic behaviours of recent past Presidents, humanitarian attitude. Our unassuming and transparent President knows what it is to face hardship. Please sir, look at the Rohingya as fellow Humans’ in distress. Let’s recall during this Christmas Season that the Pope himself called the Rohingya “The most persecuted people on Earth! Jesus himself was a Refugee whose family fled to Bethlehem. The Muslim Community too, also have a special responsibility These people ARE NOT CRIMINALS. They need our protection.
Jayanta Kurukulasuriya
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