Opinion
Harry & Meghan:The show!
By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana
Most talked about TV show in recent times, in the UK, undoubtedly is Harry & Meghan, the Netflix show of six episodes, each lasting one hour, released in two batches a week apart. Though it was promoted as a documentary, I have referred to them as a show deliberately because they were far from being documentaries. The dictionary definition of a documentary is “a film or television or radio programme that provides a factual report on a particular subject” and these six episodes fell far below that definition on many counts. It was Harry’s and Meghan’s interpretation of events, a personal story, done for profit and publicity without any independent verification. Surprisingly, some of their recollections seem to have changed over time; something that does not happen with facts! Further, it capitalised on the predictable behaviour of one party against whom accusations were made; the Royal Household which follows a policy of non-response. Therefore, mud can be slung with no fear of reprisals. In fact, one TV commentator blurted, “Harry and Meghan have made their lives’ purpose, making a living out of royal bashing”!
Perhaps, that commentator is right on the button as it is claimed that Netflix paid the Sussexes 100 million dollars. Not bad for a few chats! Netflix has not done badly either; it has said that the first three episodes of Harry & Meghan had the highest view hours of any documentary title in a premiere week, having recorded 81.55m viewing hours around the world after its debut on 8 December. It is claimed that more than 28m households watched at least part of the series. Congratulations Netflix, money well spent!
Perhaps, fewer people may have watched the second tranche as the first three episodes did not live up to expectation; they did not contain any major revelations. There was really nothing new in the second tranche either except their chats with some unbelievable stories. Meghan stated that on their ’freedom flight’ to Canada, a member of the cabin crew came up to her, removed his cap and knelt beside her to thank her for all she had done for the UK! I have travelled on many airlines and am yet to meet capped cabin crew!!
What is of great concern is that at least some, with non-questioning minds, may accept their version of events as the truth. More so, because there is no mechanism available at present to challenge the accuracy of programmes broadcast via streaming services like Netflix, in sharp contrast to traditional media which would be held accountable for the accuracy of broadcasts. The Office of Communications (Ofcom) is the UK’s broadcasting, telecommunications and postal regulatory body, and its functions include: ensuring people are able to use communications services, including broadband; a range of companies provide quality television and radio programmes that appeal to diverse audiences; viewers and listeners are protected from harmful or offensive material on TV, radio and on-demand.
Under the broadcasting rules outlined in the Ofcom code, “Factual programmes or items or portrayals of factual matters must not materially mislead the audience”. In fact, on the day the ‘documentary’ was released, Ofcom was forced to release a statement reminding the public that while it was “sometimes contacted by people who have seen something they found harmful or offensive on a streaming service like Netflix” it was powerless to take any action. Following the release of these shows, the British government has decided to advance the presentation to parliament of a New Media bill to exercise control over streaming services. Though Netflix has stated that is supportive of this action it has opted to be silent about many queries raised by a number of journalists about numerous discrepancies in Harry & Meghan programmes!
Some glaring misrepresentations include the following:
Photograph claiming to show that they were hounded by the press was actually from a Harry Potter film premiere, taken five years before they even met!
Another photograph with the claim that they were hounded by paparazzi in 2018, was that of the press chasing after Katie Price, a glamour model, who was outside courts after being sentenced for drink driving!
They claimed that their privacy was breached by photographers aiming at them from heights and the photograph which accompanied that statement was from an ITV photographer, invited by the couple when they went to South Africa to present their son to Archbishop Tutu. In fact, Independent Television issued a statement confirming that it was their photograph taken at the invitation of the Sussexes!
Harry claimed that the British government refused to provide them security but one the senior officers handling royal security, now retired, made clear in a TV programme that the Sussexes were provided full security whilst residing in Canada but when they suddenly decided to move to California, it was deemed no longer feasible.
If any British broadcaster was responsible for lapses of this nature, Ofcom would have at least reprimanded but Netflix and the Sussexes go Scot-Free! However, most who are objective have begun doubting the value of these programmes. In fact, one commentator remarked, “I am wondering how to regain the six hours of my life I lost!”
As stated at the time of their departure, Harry’s main reason for leaving UK was to safeguard the privacy of his family from press intrusion etc. But what he really wanted was to be able to mint dollars in USA whilst enjoying all the privilege of a working royal; which he wanted to do part-time. Queen Elizabeth was firm on this as it would have been unfair to other royals working full time. Harry took his revenge on her too, by getting one of his cronies to call the Commonwealth, which the Queen loved and nurtured, ‘the second British Empire’ and that it is racist! This was in one of the early episodes and in the second tranche he used the then Princess Elizabeth’s 21st birthday speech, broadcast from South Africa, edited in an attempt to emphasise a quote about her love for the British Empire. He also had the audacity to insult her memory, for personal gain, just three months to the date of her death. Though he demonstrated total lack of gratitude, let Harry be reminded that millions mourned her death and thousands stood in queue, for hours, just to show their respect by bowing at her closed coffin. He treasures his privacy but tears into the privacy of the family he was born to, perhaps, at the behest of an unbalanced woman. Harry certainly is a hypocrite but is he a traitor too, as claimed in some quarters?
The first and only tsunami that Sri Lanka experienced was on Boxing Day(26th) of December 2004. My wife and I, as usual, went down to Modara in Moratuwa to purchase our seafood requirements of seafood from our familiar fishmonger, Siltin, from whom we had been buying fish for a long time. Sometimes we used to take a couple of friends of ours. But on this day, it was only both of us that went on this trip.
We made our purchases and were returning home and when we came up to the Dehiwala bridge, many people were looking down at the canal from both sides of the bridge. This was strange, as normally if there was something unusual, it would be on one side.
Anyway, we came home unaware of anything that had happened. A school friend of mine (sadly he is no longer with us) telephoned me and asked whether I was aware of what had happened. When I answered him in the negative, he told me to switch on the TV and watch. Then when I did so and saw what was happening, I was shocked. But still I did not know that we had just managed to escape being swept away by the tsunami.
Later, when I telephoned Siltin and asked him, he said that both of us had a narrow escape. Soon after we had left in our car, the tsunami had invaded the shore with a terrifying wave and taken away everything of the fishmongers, including their stalls, the fish, weighing scales and money. The fishmongers had managed to run to safety.
This had been about five minutes after we had left. So, it was a narrow shave to have escaped the wrath of the demining tsunami( the name many Sri Lankans came to know after it hit our island very badly}
HM NISSANKA WARAKAULLE
Sri Lanka has recorded a staggering 375 elephant deaths in the past eleven and a half months due to a multitude of causes, according to the Department of Wildlife Conservation. U. L Thaufeeq, Deputy Director – Elephant Conservation said the deaths include 74 from gunshots, 53 from electrocution, 49 from hakka patas (explosive devices hidden in food), seven from poisoning, 10 from train accidents, three from a road accident, and six by drowning. It makes such diabolical reading!
“The causes of other deaths are due to natural causes or causes that could not be identified. Most of the elephants that died were young,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the human-elephant conflict has also taken a toll on people, with 149 human deaths reported this year.
Accordingly, human-elephant conflict has resulted in 524 deaths of both elephants and humans in 2024.
In 2023, a total of 488 elephants and 184 people have died consequent to the conflict, according to Wildlife Department statistics.
The human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka has escalated to unprecedented levels with reasons like habitat destruction, encroachment, and the lack of sustainable coexistence measures contributing to the issue.
This is an indictment of the Wildlife Department for just giving the sad yearly statistics of shocking losses of our National treasures !
Given the fact that Sri Lanka boasts of 29.9% of the country declared as protected forests, Sri Lanka is a haven for nature lovers. Boasting 26 national parks, 10 nature reserves including 3 strict nature reserves, and 61 sanctuaries, the national parks in Sri Lanka offer an incredible variety of wildlife experiences.
Taken in that context, the million dollar question is why on earth the Wildlife Department is not being proactive to capture these magnificent animals and transport them into protected sanctuaries, thus effectively minimising dangers to villagers ?
Being a Buddhist country primarily, to turn a blind eye to these avoidable tragic deaths to mankind and wild elephants, we should be ashamed !
As a practising Buddhist myself, I think our clergy could play a major part in calling upon the Wildlife Department to get their act together sooner rather than later to protect human elephant conflicts !
Sri Lanka being a favourite destination amongst foreign tourists, they are bound to take a dim view of what is happening on the ground!
If the top brass in the responsible department are not doing their job properly, may be there is a case for the new President to intervene before it gets worse!
All animal lovers hope and pray the New Year will usher in a well coordinated plan of action put in place to ensure the well being of wildlife and villagers !
Sunil Dharmabandhu
Wales, UK
This has reference to the article from the Aircraft Owners and Operators Sri Lanka, titled ‘Closer look at regulatory oversight and its impact on Tourism’, published on Tuesday, 24th December 2024.To explain further, in the beginning there was the Air Navigation Act No 15 of 1950 which was followed by the Air Navigation Regulations (ANR) of 1955. This was long before the national airline had acquired pressurised aircraft, intercontinental jets, sophisticated navigation equipment, satellite communication and automatic landing systems, and ‘glass’ flight-deck instrumentation.
Today, civil aviation in Sri Lanka is governed by Civil Aviation Act Number 14 of 2010. Yet the Air Navigation Regulations (ANR) promulgated back in 1955 remain in force.
These outdated regulations still stipulate rules forbidding the carriage of passengers on the airplane’s wings or undercarriage (landing gear). In short, they are neither practical nor user-friendly. In contrast, the Air Navigation Regulations of other countries have progressed and are easy to read, understand, and implement.
To overcome the problem of outdated regulations, as an interim measure in 1969 the then Minister of Communications and Transport, Mr E.L.B. Hurulle issued a Government Gazette notification declaring that the Standard and Recommended Procedures (SARPs) in Annexes to the ICAO Convention signed by Ceylon in 1944 shall be made law.
Even so, nothing much was done to move with the times until updating of the Civil Aviation Act 14 of 2010, while the Air Navigation Regulations remained unchanged since 1955. However, these regulations were modified from time to time by the promulgation of Implementing Standards (IS) and General Directives (GDs) which were blindly ‘cut and pasted’ by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), from the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) Annexe ‘SARPS’ without much thought given. To date there are literally 99 IS’s starting from 2010.
The currently effective air navigation regulations are not in one document like the rest of the world, but all over the place and difficult for the flying public to follow as they are not regularly updated. This sad situation seems to have been noticed by the current regime.
The National Tourism Policy of the ruling NPP states, “Domestic air operations are currently limited due to high cost and regulatory restrictions. The current regulatory and operational environment will be reviewed to ensure domestic air connectivity to major tourist destinations. The potential of operating a domestic air schedule with multiple operators is proposed. Additionally, domestic airports and water aerodromes in potential key areas will be further developed, for high-end tourism growth.”
“The tourism policy recognises Sri Lanka’s potential to develop Sri Lanka’s aviation-based specialised tourism products, including fun flying, hot air ballooning, paragliding, parachuting and skydiving, and scenic seaplane operations. To facilitate the growth of these niche markets, existing regulations will be reviewed with the aim of attracting capable investors to develop and operate these offerings.”
It remains to be seen whether the NPP government lives up to those promises.
Note:
That OPA report talks of two funds: ‘Connectivity’ and ‘Viability’ for a limited period like three or five years to help jump-start the domestic aviation industry.
The ‘Connectivity Fund’ will cap the seat price for local passengers to a more affordable value to destinations while the ‘Viability Fund’ will assume that all seats are occupied and compensate the operator for any unutilised seat. The intention is to popularise domestic aviation as a safe, quick and convenient mode of transport.
Capt. Gihan A Fernando
RCyAF/ SLAF, Air Ceylon, Air Lanka, Singapore Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines.
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