Features

Vaccine War!

Published

5 years ago

2021/02/2

by Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

Friday 29th January was a very significant day for two countries I hold dear. It was an auspicious day for Sri Lanka as it started the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 with the Oxford vaccine manufactured by AstraZeneca, the first recipient being Dr Ananda Wijewickrama, rightly so. After all, he gave able leadership to the treatment of patients with Covid-19 keeping the mortality rate very low compared to many countries. I am sure Sri Lanka will win the Covid-war too because former war-winning Defence Secretary is now the President. Although the latest arsenal against this nasty virus was the gift of our Big Brother, I am sure President Gota would find ways to vaccinate all in need.

The UK, however, faced a different fate alltogether. It had a war declared on it by the European Union, the bone of contention being the same Oxford A/Z vaccine! Perhaps, the EU is fuming because the UK has instituted one of the best vaccination programmes while the unelected bureaucracy in Brussels has failed miserably in obtaining adequate supplies for the member states. Although the UK could have joined the joint-purchase programme devised in Brussels, it opted to go on its own utilising the new freedom obtained following Brexit, which has paid dividends.

The UK failed initially in controlling the spread of the epidemic, but it was the first country in the world to start vaccination, giving the very first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 jab to Margaret Keenan on 8th December, a week before her 91st birthday. Interestingly, concerns were expressed at that stage too, both by the EU and the US that the UK approved the vaccine too soon! Since then, over 8 million, almost 13% of the population, have received their first dose. Population in UK is placed in 10 groups, according to risk, and almost all in the first two groups (Group 1-Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults and Group 2-All those aged 80 years and older and frontline health and social care workers) have received the first jab and those in group 3, those over 75 years, are now offered the first jab.

Glancing through the headlines of the British Newspapers, on Saturday 30th January, I was astonished at the idiocy of the unelected bureaucracy of the European Council. I was happy that I had voted for Brexit. Some articles were critical of people like me who had voted for Brexit. They blamed us, old nationalists, for voting to sacrifice the future of the young! If the young did not care to vote, whose fault was it? I remember a piece written by a Canadian journalist based in London who mocked Britain by claiming that the EU was free at last! If I remember right, he stated that 48% of turkeys did not vote for Christmas, the usual liberalist twist when democracy does not favour their choice! He conveniently forgot that percentagewise, more voted for Brexit than for the spectacular win of Biden: 51.9 and 51.3 respectively!

BBC News website said it all under title “Newspaper headlines: ‘EU vaccine war explodes’, and Macron ‘attacks’ Oxford jab’. The tabloid, Daily Express had the headline “EU chiefs behaving like the mafia” Not to be outdone another tabloid, Daily Mail had the banner headline “EU vaccines war explodes” and went on to state that the EU was accused of dramatically escalating the ‘vaccine war’ against the UK. The headline in the Daily Telegraph was “Fury at Macrons attack on Oxford jab”, which focused on the “fury” provoked by Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is “quasi-ineffective” in the over 65s. Macron was criticised by experts for not understanding science.

In an interview with The Guardian, which is vehemently anti-Brexit, Macron warned Boris Johnson’s government to decide where its alliances lie – be it with the EU, the US or Singapore! In fact, The Guardian chose to ignore the furore and headlined the interview with “EU will seek to control jab exports, Macron warns UK”!

What was this furore about? Does it concern Sri Lanka? Yes, it does because it is all about the Oxford jab manufactured by AstraZeneca, the Anglo-Swedish drug giant based in the UK. Oxford researchers signed an agreement with AstraZeneca on the understanding that their vaccine would be launched on no-profit basis. This had made it substantially cheaper and has the added advantage that it could be kept in a fridge for weeks.

Whilst trials were in progress, the UK placed the order last May, but the European Council, which got agreement from all states for a joint-purchase plan, placed the order in August. However, the EU regulator approved the Oxford jab only on the day all problems arose. The day before, the German regulator approved it for those under 65, as they were of the opinion that data for over 65s was not strong enough in spite of the Oxford group pointing out that though sufficient numbers of over 65s were not included as the trial was conducted in double quick time, the antibody response in all age groups was similar making it very likely that the vaccine is effective in over 65s as well. EU regulator has accepted this though the German regulator did not! Macron who knows more than experts has his own view!

When AstraZeneca said that due to problems in the manufacturing facility in Belgium, there might be a delay in supply, the EU threatened legal action and allowed member states to prevent export of other vaccines manufactured in their countries to UK. On Friday morning, the EU Council announced the imposition of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is a part of UK, to prevent back-door transport of the vaccines to the UK! During Brexit negotiations, the EU insisted on not having a hard border as it would contravene the Good Friday agreement signed in 1988 ending the violence in Northern Ireland. However, there was a clause in the Brexit agreement that under exceptional circumstances either the EU or the UK could impose this. That exactly is what the EU Council did, even without informing the Prime Ministers of Ireland and UK! Hard to choose between arrogance and stupidity for such an action which had to be reversed soon, as there were protests from all sides! Instead of negotiations, the EU declared war on the UK. Maybe, the EU is envious of the UK, which is doing well.

Giving absolute power to an unelected and unaccountable bureaucracy has created all these problems. What Brits voted for, when they joined the EU, was for a common market, not a political union. Now that it is free, the UK can have as many alliances as it likes. Macron can preach. Who cares: the UK is free at last!

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Features

Maduro abduction marks dangerous aggravation of ‘world disorder’

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Venezuelan President Maduro being taken to a court in New York

The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces on January 3rd and his coercive conveying to the US to stand trial over a number of allegations leveled against him by the Trump administration marks a dangerous degeneration of prevailing ‘world disorder’. While some cardinal principles in International Law have been blatantly violated by the US in the course of the operation the fallout for the world from the exceptionally sensational VVIP abduction could be grave.

Although controversial US military interventions the world over are not ‘news’ any longer, the abduction and hustling away of a head of government, seen as an enemy of the US, to stand trial on the latter soil amounts to a heavy-handed and arrogant rejection of the foundational principles of international law and order. It would seem, for instance, that the concept of national sovereignty is no longer applicable to the way in which the world’s foremost powers relate to the rest of the international community. Might is indeed right for the likes of the US and the Trump administration in particular is adamant in driving this point home to the world.

Chief spokesmen for the Trump administration have been at pains to point out that the abduction is not at variance with national security related provisions of the US Constitution. These provisions apparently bestow on the US President wide powers to protect US security and stability through courses of action that are seen as essential to further these ends but the fact is that International Law has been brazenly violated in the process in the Venezuelan case.

To be sure, this is not the first occasion on which a head of government has been abducted by US special forces in post-World War Two times and made to stand trial in the US, since such a development occurred in Panama in 1989, but the consequences for the world could be doubly grave as a result of such actions, considering the mounting ‘disorder’ confronting the world community.

Those sections opposed to the Maduro abduction in the US would do well to from now on seek ways of reconciling national security-related provisions in the US Constitution with the country’s wider international commitment to uphold international peace and law and order. No ambiguities could be permitted on this score.

While the arbitrary military action undertaken by the US to further its narrow interests at whatever cost calls for criticism, it would be only fair to point out that the US is not the only big power which has thus dangerously eroded the authority of International Law in recent times. Russia, for example, did just that when it violated the sovereignty of Ukraine by invading it two or more years ago on some nebulous, unconvincing grounds. Consequently, the Ukraine crisis too poses a grave threat to international peace.

It is relevant to mention in this connection that authoritarian rulers who hope to rule their countries in perpetuity as it were, usually end up, sooner rather than later, being a blight on their people. This is on account of the fact that they prove a major obstacle to the implementation of the democratic process which alone holds out the promise of the prgressive empowerment of the people, whereas authoritarian rulers prefer to rule with an iron fist with a fixation about self-empowerment.

Nevertheless, regime-change, wherever it may occur, is a matter for the public concerned. In a functional democracy, it is the people, and the people only, who ‘make or break’ governments. From this viewpoint, Russia and Venezuela are most lacking. But externally induced, militarily mediated change is a gross abnormality in the world or democracy, which deserves decrying.

By way of damage control, the US could take the initiative to ensure that the democratic process, read as the full empowerment of ordinary people, takes hold in Venezuela. In this manner the US could help in stemming some of the destructive fallout from its abduction operation. Any attempts by the US to take possession of the national wealth of Venezuela at this juncture are bound to earn for it the condemnation of democratic opinion the world over.

Likewise, the US needs to exert all its influence to ensure that the rights of ordinary Ukrainians are protected. It will need to ensure this while exploring ways of stopping further incursions into Ukrainian territory by Russia’s invading forces. It will need to do this in collaboration with the EU which is putting its best foot forward to end the Ukraine blood-letting.

Meanwhile, the repercussions that the Maduro abduction could have on the global South would need to be watched with some concern by the international community. Here too the EU could prove a positive influence since it is doubtful whether the UN would be enabled by the big powers to carry out the responsibilities that devolve on it with the required effectiveness.

What needs to be specifically watched is the ‘copycat effect’ that could manifest among those less democratically inclined Southern rulers who would be inspired by the Trump administration to take the law into their hands, so to speak, and act with callous disregard for the sovereign rights of their smaller and more vulnerable neighbours.

Democratic opinion the world over would need to think of systems of checks and balances that could contain such power abuse by Southern autocratic rulers in particular. The UN and democracy-supportive organizations, such as the EU, could prove suitable partners in these efforts.

All in all it is international lawlessness that needs managing effectively from now on. If President Trump carries out his threat to over-run other countries as well in the manner in which he ran rough-shod over Venezuela, there is unlikely to remain even a semblance of international order, considering that anarchy would be receiving a strong fillip from the US, ‘The World’s Mightiest Democracy’.

What is also of note is that identity politics in particularly the South would be unprecedentedly energized. The narrative that ‘the Great Satan’ is running amok would win considerable validity among the theocracies of the Middle East and set the stage for a resurgence of religious fanaticism and invigorated armed resistance to the US. The Trump administration needs to stop in its tracks and weigh the pros and cons of its current foreign policy initiatives.

Features

Pure Christmas magic and joy at British School

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Students of The British High School in Colombo in action at the fashion show

The British School in Colombo (BSC) hosted its Annual Christmas Carnival 2025, ‘Gingerbread Wonderland’, which was a huge success, with the students themseles in the spotlight, managing stalls and volunteering.

The event, organised by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), featured a variety of activities, including: Games and rides for all ages, Food stalls offering delicious treats, Drinks and refreshments, Trade booths showcasing local products, and Live music and entertainment.

The carnival was held at the school premises, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for students, parents, and the community to enjoy.

The halls of the BSC were filled with pure Christmas magic and joy with the students and the staff putting on a tremendous display.

Among the highlights was the dazzling fashion show with the students doing the needful, and they were very impressive.

The students themselves were eagerly looking forward to displaying their modelling technique and, I’m told, they enjoyed the moment they had to step on the ramp.

The event supported communities affected by the recent floods, with surplus proceeds going to flood-relief efforts.

Features

Glowing younger looking skin

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hi! This week I’m giving you some beauty tips so that you could look forward to enjoying 2026 with a glowing younger looking skin.

Face wash for natural beauty

* Avocado:

Take the pulp, make a paste of it and apply on your face. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it with normal water.

* Cucumber:

Just rub some cucumber slices on your face for 02-03 minutes to cleanse the oil naturally. Wash off with plain water.

* Buttermilk:

Apply all over your face and leave it to dry, then wash it with normal water (works for mixed to oily skin).

Face scrub for natural beauty

Take 01-02 strawberries, 02 pieces of kiwis or 02 cubes of watermelons. Mash any single fruit and apply on your face. Then massage or scrub it slowly for at least 3-5 minutes in circular motions. Then wash it thoroughly with normal or cold water. You can make use of different fruits during different seasons, and see what suits you best! Follow with a natural face mask.

Face Masks

* Papaya and Honey:

Take two pieces of papaya (peeled) and mash them to make a paste. Apply evenly on your face and leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it with cold water.

Papaya is just not a fruit but one of the best natural remedies for good health and glowing younger looking skin. It also helps in reducing pimples and scars. You can also add honey (optional) to the mixture which helps massage and makes your skin glow.

* Banana:

Put a few slices of banana, 01 teaspoon of honey (optional), in a bowl, and mash them nicely. Apply on your face, and massage it gently all over the face for at least 05 minutes. Then wash it off with normal water. For an instant glow on your face, this facemask is a great idea to try!

* Carrot:

Make a paste using 01 carrot (steamed) by mixing it with milk or honey and apply on your face and neck evenly. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash it with cold water. Carrots work really well for your skin as they have many vitamins and minerals, which give instant shine and younger-looking skin.