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Business vs Covid19 or Health before Wealth?

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Hard-nosed business has been the bane of many countries when it came to controlling the spread of Covid 19. We see it all over the world, especially where business has influence/control over politics. USA, UK Brazil etc. have suffered and is still suffering the worst brunt of the virus outbreak. Why? Because they listened to business instincts than health warnings. Economics sense took priority over health risks. By their actions, they have jeopardized not only businesses and economies now, but the whole country as a result.

Only a few weeks ago in the Island newspaper, a doctor wrote a very pertinent piece on the choices we are left with in the face of the current pandemic. Open up the country for economic reasons and risk health repercussions or stay closed and healthy. One is at the expense of the other, whether you like it or not. It is the reality. She gave very prudent advice to look for safe economic activities that can flourish within a closed country, at least for the time being.

Sri Lanka which had strict lockdown in the 1st wave of the pandemic, had almost negligible cases and deaths. We beat the virus beautifully. We were one of the top countries in the world to have done so. We have shown the world how it is done, for so many months. But then the economy was biting and Sri Lanka needed to listen to the rumblings of the businesses. As businesses were allowed to open, it was a matter of time.

One can bet on the hard nosed business people to break or flout the health guidelines at their whim. Brandix cluster is a prime example of bending and bypassing health regulations. It cost Sri Lanka a second wave and a heavy price in human lives. Now we are doing the same with tourism. Hard Nosed businessmen have already flouted the health rules within days, and burst the health bubble supposed to be maintained around tourists, Why this total disregard to the risk factors to the rest of the country? It’s Just to keep their businesses going. If the whole country is plunged into a health crisis because of it, is not their worry. Foreign currency jangling in their pockets, is all that matters.

Today the UK went into total lockdown. The USA will follow suit. Japan is declaring an emergency. The world is far from over the hill where Covid 19 is concerned. Sri Lanka will also have to come to total lockdowns soon, if the current trend in the virus spread continues, without being arrested. Whatever the methods and control systems that are in place are not working, it seems. We need to be dynamic in our policies and actions when dealing with this virus. If one method is not working, it needs to be changed, and changed very quickly. We need to respond accordingly.

Yes, the tourism industry is suffering. But this is not the time to revive it with the huge risks involved with that industry. Most countries have closed borders for foreigners. Even India. Some are not even opening to their own countrymen to come in from abroad, as in Canada. This is considering the risk the returnees pose to the rest of their countrymen at home. But what is happening in Sri Lanka? I think it’s a case of too many cooks spoiling the soup situation here. During the first wave, only the president was in charge and he was happy to let the health authorities do their work, unhindered by himself or anybody else. The task force formed was devoid of any political or business interests. They had no other agenda than saving the country from an unknown and microscopic enemy. The forces, police and the health sector was more than equipped to handle it and control it effectively. And they did. Then came elections, and the parliament, and the usual cacophony of noise, opinions, protests, oppositions, etc which the president is compelled to listen to. And of course, the voice of the businesses rose through the mouths of the politicians in the parliament. Rescue us, was their cry .We are going under, they screamed.

As the good doctor who wrote to the Island advised, we need to look local for business. To keep the economy ticking, there are a lot of businesses/economic activities that can be done along with health restrictions. Local supplies, local tourism, local produce and agriculture, and the biggest – the exports. Exports of produce, goods, and services like IT, financial services etc. All this can be done without opening the country to outside risks. We must adhere to the ‘Safety first’ rule, as said in any construction project site.

There are ample examples when health bubbles burst. It’s a matter of time. Brandix was one instance. Now the Ukrainian tourists’ project. It won’t be too long before we have a ‘tourism’ cluster too. This is not going to fare well with any tourist initiatives Sri Lanka will do in the future. Sri Lanka should be known for its wellness and health tourism. Going by the health guidelines ignorance shown by the businessmen, travel agents, service providers etc involved with it, wellness would be the last thing to be associated with Sri Lanka tourism. A country should not be put at risk for the fancy of one businessman, who wants to showcase his colors or rescue his tarnished reputation.

There are many countries that have fared well in the face of this tragic pandemic. Not just wealthy countries like New Zealand, Australia, China etc., who are rich enough to weather the economic battering of a total shutdown; but small countries like Vietnam and Cambodia who have cracked the secret of controlling the pandemic from ravaging their countries. Cambodia has NO deaths and a few 100’s of Covid cases since the pandemic began. How come? I’m sure they suffered economically as much as any other country. But their priorities were right. Health before wealth. Let’s do the same Sri Lanka. Because even if we pursue an economy driven agenda now, the virus will bring us to our knees soon, and force us to total lockdown, like it is doing in countries which dared to carry on business as usual with minimum restrictions. They are all forced to go into total lockdown now. The UK , USA are prime examples of business driven health policies, now paying the price with the lives of their citizens.

What is Sri Lanka’s choice? To go ahead and open up the country, calculating and knowing fully well the human cost of it, and accepting it. Or going it safe for everybody. Unfortunately it looks like this decision is up to the politicians to make. Not the health authorities nor police nor the armed forces, which managed it beautifully all on their own in the first wave of the pandemic.

 

CITIZEN S

 

 



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Opinion

A new dawn for Sri Lanka

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by Ayampillai Dharmakulasingham,
(Retired Sri Lankan career diplomat)

The Communist Party of India won Legislative Assembly elections in the Indian states of West Bengal and Kerala, establishing their respective governments. Leftist parties were also influential in some other states, especially in Tamil Nadu, though they could not capture power there.

In Sri Lanka, JVP/NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s rise to the presidency marks a new chapter in the country’s history. The upcoming general election, on 14 Nov. holds significant importance and has raised hopes that Sri Lanka is undergoing a transitional period for good. It may mark the first time a left-wing party comes to power in Sri Lanka. There are other factors that make the upcoming election important. Major political parties have become notorious for corruption, mismanagement of national resources, family dynasties, elitist politics, etc. Corruption has been widespread throughout government, accompanied by nepotism, lack of transparency, and mismanagement of public funds

It is indeed true that the JVP’s presence in the northern and eastern regions, is not as strong as in the south, such as Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, and other districts. However, Anura’s popularity has drawn attention in the north as well. For the first time, substantial support appears to be emerging for the JVP in the northern and district districts of Jaffna, Batticaloa, Ampara, and Trincomalee. However, every parliamentary election has been similarly heralded as “historic” by the press and media, though often without substance. The major parties – the United National Party, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna – have ruled Sri Lanka repeatedly, with the media often playing a supportive role by portraying each election as historic, ultimately misleading the public.

Sri Lanka’s first left-wing political party, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), once had widespread support across the country and grew powerful enough to become a significant opposition force. The plantation population, in particular, supported both the LSSP and the Communist Party. The LSSP achieved major victories in parliamentary elections after the 1940s. In response, the first Prime Minister, D. S. Senanayake, revoked the citizenship of people of Indian origin, stripping them of their political rights. As a result, the LSSP lost a significant portion of its support base. When the citizenship rights of people of Indian origin were revoked, the prominent Tamil leader G. G. Ponnambalam served as a key Minister in the UNP Cabinet. Although he opposed the provisions of the Act within the Cabinet, Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake ultimately prevailed. Despite his opposition, Ponnambalam failed to take meaningful action to protect the political rights of the hill-country Tamil population. This perceived betrayal led S. J. V. Chelvanayakam to leave the Tamil Congress Party and establish the Federal Party.

In the northern and eastern regions, the parties and organizations that once formed the traditional alliances of the Tamil Alliance and other Tamil parties have fragmented. They are now contesting the general election as separate alliances. Like it or not, the Federal Party remains somewhat influential today, although its support base is not as strong as it once was

Tamil parties have often criticized and blamed the major national parties as being racist. Ironically, most Tamil political parties – such as Thamil Arasu Katchi, Tamil Congress, and the Tamil National Alliance – include “Tamil” in their names. In contrast, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, United National Party, and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna do not reference any race in their names. Yet, Tamil parties have continued to win elections by appealing to Tamil-speaking people with claims that only the major parties are racist. Some insights into racism are important here. Muslim citizens representing major parties have been elected as members of Parliament in predominantly Sinhala areas. However, the stark reality is that the Muslim population in the North and East has been alienated by the Jaffna-centered major Tamil parties.

G. G. Ponnambalam, the leader of the Tamil Congress, advocated for 50/50 representation for the Sinhalese and other ethnic groups, despite the fact that Sinhalese people are the majority. This 50/50 representation demand is seen as an extremely racist slogan. In other words, he openly undermined the representation and political rights of the majority Sinhalese people. S. J. V. Chelvanayakam left the Tamil Congress and founded the Federal Party due to G. G. Ponnambalam’s perceived betrayal of the upcountry Tamils. However, Chelvanayakam’s own performance was not markedly better than that of Ponnambalam. Chelvanayakam’s own words deserve attention. In 1970, when the SLFP coalition swept the parliamentary elections, Chelvanayakam famously declared, “Only God should save the Tamils from now on.” It is essential to closely examine the underlying implications of this statement. The first implication is that the UNP government is preferable. The second is that Sirimao’s party will not benefit the Tamils. Notably, Chelvanayakam’s loyalty to the UNP correlates with the historical voting patterns of the Tamil (Jaffna) people, who have traditionally supported UNP candidates in all elections within the Colombo Municipal limits and the adjoining areas of Dehiwela and Ratmalana.

On 27 Oct., a book titled “Jaffna on Fire” (Tamil version) was launched in Jaffna. Original Sinhalese book was translated by well-known media personality and translator, Manoranchan, into Tamil.  The author, Nandana Weerasekhara, presented evidence that the Jaffna Public Library, modern market, and other locations were set on fire during the presidency of J. R. Jayewardene, allegedly with his blessing. Another notable aspect is that Tamil leaders, both before and after this incident, provided full political support to the UNP.

President Dissanayake’s NPP is expected to win significantly in the upcoming general elections. This expectation arises from the fact that most Sri Lankans are seeking change. President Dissanayake has emphasised the need to elect representatives from the NPP in large numbers to cleanse the Parliament. It is understandable that the President requires a strong Parliament to effectively govern the country with new legislative measures. During a meeting in Kilinochchi on 04 Nov., Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya captured the attention of the audience by stating that Parliament should be cleansed. She emphasised the importance of electing the right representatives in the upcoming general elections. The overwhelming response from the audience reaffirmed the prevailing mood of the country.

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Opinion

Franklyn Amerasinghe: an appreciation

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Amerasinghe

It was 1979. I had just married and was trying to manage my fledgling legal practice in Kurunegala when Franklyn Amerasinghe attracted me to the Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC). I basically followed what he did 5yrs earlier; the exception being that when he left Kurunegala, he also left a lucrative Practice built by his late father. From then onwards, for the next 45 years he was my colleague, boss, friend and above all; professional and personal guide. I was indeed fortunate as a young professional in the EFC to have had S R de Silva, the doyen of Sri Lankan Industrial Relations and the late Franklyn as my bosses. I am ever grateful to them both for whatever I achieved professionally; ending my working career with the International Labour Organisation in which they served with distinction before me.

I will not dwell herein on the professional attributes and achievements of Franklyn. Neither can I do justice to that aspect in this short piece.  Instead, I will attempt to capture what I knew of Franklyn the man. He was personally exposed to the vicissitudes of life in his youth and again thereafter when his loving wife Neelanthi passed away while their two daughters were still school going. These circumstances which would have drained a lesser mortal brought out the best in Franklyn’s innate strong character. Whilst being the devoted father to his young children and successfully managing his professional career, he was also the “go-to person” to so many in need of professional or personal help.  With his children grown up and on their own feet, the demands on Franklyn’s time from others only increased. Regardless of social or official status, old or young, he gave wise counsel ungrudgingly and always found time for them. What fascinated me was his ability to make all those who knew him feel that there was a special place in his heart for each of them. They in turn considered him to be special.

Perhaps, it was this unique gift that enabled him to give inspirational leadership to those who worked with him. His faith in humanity was boundless. He genuinely believed that no person was useless.  It was this faith that drew him to help the helpless. Few would know of all what he has done or the sacrifices he has made, to assist the less fortunate get on their feet, without breathing a word of what he had given or lost in the process. The “Diamond Trust” he initiated with the support of close friends and family in later years to facilitate learning for handicapped children was a dream come true for him. The Trust was his precious baby in the last days of his life.  His wish to see the baby nurtured into adulthood is now in the able hands of his daughters and family.  While he will be remembered for his philosophical strengths, he will also not be forgotten by those of us who knew him personally for his social camaraderie. A sportsman himself, he loved sports. So was it with music. His wit and humour was infectious. Many were the long hours he spent with family and friends signing old favourites around a Piano, late into the night at parties. This sense of camaraderie he shared with his office colleagues as well.

We who were at the EFC with him, will recall the family atmosphere he promoted among us. He was truly a man for all seasons. It was my privilege to have had known Franklyn. It will not be easy to fill the void he has left in my life and that of my family. The last audible words he said to me were “I will soon let you know what it is like on the other side” I know for certain that wherever he may be the grass there will be far greener than on this earth. To Michelle and Sharon, the loving daughters of a devoted Father, the tender care you showered on Dad, particularly in his final days was truly exemplary.

Gotabaya Dasanayaka

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Opinion

Social responsibility of the media

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In Sri Lanka, established media channels, particularly television, play a crucial role in shaping public perception on various aspects of life, including both local and international politics. Social media, however, has also become a powerful force, frequently spreading biased or manipulated content that risks fragmenting communities and damaging the social fabric, especially during sensitive times such as general or presidential elections.

Sri Lanka’s media has long been aware of the full spectrum of public life in the country—the good, the bad, and the troubling. They understand that political corruption and malpractice have significantly contributed to social unrest, economic decline, and the deterioration of essential services like education, healthcare, and nutrition. This has prompted many citizens to emigrate, leading to a damaging “brain drain.”

Media outlets also recognise the challenges in electing better leaders. Entrenched politicians have erected legal and financial barriers to safeguard their positions, making it difficult for ordinary citizens to participate effectively in elections. Additionally, the high cost of media exposure during election seasons makes it nearly impossible for average citizens to run for office. While media organisations often use this period to maximise profits, it would be commendable if they could support underrepresented and less privileged candidates, contributing to the public good.

As we approach a pivotal general election, we urge these influential media institutions to uphold their social responsibility. Since media ultimately relies on public support, directly or indirectly, they have to prioritise the public interest. At this critical moment, we, as citizens, need to elect honourable, honest, and patriotic individuals who can act as “watchdogs” in Parliament and help guide our nation toward better governance. We respectfully request that significant media outlets dedicate at least a small amount of airtime to non-political candidates vying for a seat in Parliament. Providing even a few minutes of prime airtime for these candidates to present their mission and vision would be a meaningful gesture toward equal representation. This commitment to the nation’s well-being would be widely appreciated. After all, true equality—the very principle that media frequently champions for its own survival—is now an ideal that can extend to all.

Chula Goonasekera (admin@srilankaleads.com)

On behalf of the LEADS forum

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