News

Govt. should reduce expenditure on infrastructure development temporarily to feed people faced with hunger

Published

4 years ago

2021/07/4

We live in a highly commercialized world where making maximum profit is the measure of success, and not the outcomes and their real benefit to humanity with minimal harm to life and the environment. In addition in Sri Lanka there is a high degree of exploitation of both the farmer and the consumer by excessive profiteering by middlemen, such as mill owners and traders. The result is that the farmers are suffering and are facing hunger. The vast mass of consumers are also faced with hunger.

Society led by the scientific community has to be on constant vigilance to ensure the safety of all living things. It was with great satisfaction that a majority of people in Sri Lanka welcomed the President’s demand for the immediate cessation of the use of agrochemicals (an accepted cause of various serious diseases such as cancer and kidney disease) and the switch over to the use of organic fertilizer. An open and valuable discussion has resulted, especially with regard to the outcomes and implementation.

The powerful chemicals lobby says that yields will drop due to the fact that the hybrid seeds used and the chemical fertilizers complement each other, and the pesticide/weedicide lobby joins in, as they too will lose much income.

I am happy that the local scientific community is by and large for the switch over to organic farming. The best proposal appears to be that of Dr. C. M. Wijeyaratne, Dr. Lionel Weerakoon, Buddhi Jayasuriya and some others. It envisages “a planned shift to Ecological Farming” within the farm itself, without just “adding organic fertilizer” from outside. Setting this up in the country results in a wide network of farmer organizations to coordinate this shift, and to ensure that the farmer and the consumer get a good deal. (The LSSP has all along promoted the setting up and linking of farmer and consumer cooperatives to eliminate exploitation by the middleman). These three have proposed a gradual step-wise process based on the FAO recommendations while stressing the use of appropriate technology and the importance of good water management.

An excellent strategy is included for the plantation sector, “Employee By Out of plantations for improving productivity, production and conservation”. The LSSP has always promoted the idea of worker participation in management, but this takes it a step further giving the workers a share in the ownership of the enterprise,(which has also been a part of the LSSP program). The importance of further developing animal husbandry is also stressed. As part of the implementation mechanism they propose establishing a Sustainable Agriculture Development Authority (SADA) which I appreciate. This would ensure maximum benefits to the farmer and the consumer and ensure that the replacement of harmful chemicals by organic inputs will be ensured. I am hoping to go along with them to present this valuable set of proposal to the President to obtain his support for its implementation.

As a further step in controlling the major problems of hunger among our people I would also appeal to the President and the Prime Minister to reduce the expenditure on infrastructure development temporarily in order to provide food for all those who are faced with hunger.

Besides the acute problem of hunger the major problem facing our people is that of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is now once again becoming a major problem with a marked increase in the number of cases and deaths. The introduction of the Delta variant of the virus has increased the threat to humanity. This causes more severe illness with a higher proportion of deaths, and also spreads much quicker. I urged the Minister of Health and her officials to accept the fact that there is community spread of the Covid infection and that it is not confined to identified clusters. This needs a community based strategy for its control. I suggest that there should be a committee of party leaders set up in Parliament to interact with the Minister to get maximum support countrywide to get the message across that this is a National problem.

This would enable the Covid Committees to be established down to village and slum levels and procure the cooperation of everybody. This should emphasize the understanding and implementation of the health guidelines (like the regular wearing of masks, social distancing and the constant washing of hands with soap and water). These committees should ensure that everybody fully implements these health practices. This will be vital if there is an upsurge of the Delta variant of the virus. These committees can also identify possible cases as soon as they appear and get them hospitalized after PCR testing and help in the tracing and quarantining of contacts.

The committee would also conduct intensive health education so that everyone is fully aware of the need for the above mentioned action. The Government would then be able to carry out an intensive and effective control program across the country. If the situation gets worse the government will have to act sternly to ensure that people do not form crowds anywhere and that even at home visitors are kept out. All workplaces should use minimal staff, observing the health rules and confine the group meetings to five persons.

The education of children maintained with the use of digital communication is desirable. The cost of this is heavy and the Government may not able to fund that program widely. It may be mainly richer children who will benefit from a such a scheme. For the other children the best option would be the use of television channels. If indicated, specially for senior students, there could be small classes held according to the health rules on important subjects with the presence of the teacher.

The vaccination program is being done fairly widely, but in a haphazard manner. The vaccines to be used in the country should be carefully chosen and it would be preferable if RNA based vaccines are avoided in view of the possibility of future genetic consequences. Considering their limited level and time of protection, I would use vaccines mainly to protect the vulnerable group (elderly and those with chronic illnesses). The scare about a post-Covid syndrome affecting children does not need immunization of children. This is a relatively rare occurrence in a few children and it fits into the pattern of the Kawasaky disease which is seen as an occasional event with many virus infections. Large scale vaccination is costly and not necessary. Further the vaccine against the Alpha variant is not very effective against the Delta variant.

In the present situation facing the country, the major emphasis must be placed on providing food to the hungry and also to reducing the spread of the Covid-19 virus (specially the Delta variant), and the proper treatment in hospital of those who are seriously affected. But if there is proper health education and strict enforcement of the health rules then the problem itself can be prevented.

Prof. Tissa Vitarana

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News

Govt. urged to take action against deputy minister

Published

20 hours ago

2025/12/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ajith / Eranga

Allegation of doing business with state:

Civil society activist Oshala Herath has said that regardless of the political party one represents, all members of Parliament should abide by the law of the land. Herath said so when The Island sought his response to a report that he was planning to move court against Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, accused of holding the top positions at Omobio (Pvt.) and Eimsky Business Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd., at the time of the nominations, and took oaths as a National List MP of the NPP government.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the Minister of Digital Economy, in addition to being Minister of Defence and Finance.

Herath is the Chairman of Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna. Herath, whose legal challenge to SJB MP Diana Gamage over her citizenship issue, led to her removal from Parliament by the Supreme Court on 08 May, last year. He said the latest case underscored the responsibility on the part of political parties to ensure transparency in the nomination process as well as in the finalisation of National List.

Herath pointed out that the court rulings on petitions filed by him against two serving MPs were pending. He moved court against Jaffna District Independent MP Ramanathan Archchuna for handing over nominations to contest the 2024 November parliamentary elections without resigning from his post as a government medical officer. He also moved court against Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Dr. Upali Pannilage, alleging that he had been an employee of the University of Ruhuna at the time he was declared an MP and subsequently appointed as a Cabinet Minister.

Our efforts to contact Deputy Minister Weeraratne were in vain. Our calls went unanswered.

Pointing out that there were many attorneys-at-law in the current Parliament, Herath emphasised the responsibility on their part to take up the issue. The Speaker should, on his own, inquire into such allegations in addition to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee stepping in, Herath said. Responding to another query, Herath said that such violations as well as cases of conflict of interests were far more serious than the recent controversy over NPP National List MP Asoka Ranwala’s educational qualifications.

SJB MP Ajith P. Perera told The Island that the Deputy Minister concerned admitted in Parliament that he had held top posts in the companies mentioned at the time he took oaths as an MP. Therefore, there couldn’t be any ambiguity with regard to his fault. Perera said that the conflict of interest issue involving NPPer was far more serious.

Referring to the issue at hand that had been first raised by SJB lawmaker Amila Prasad Siriwardena in Parliament during committee stage of the debate on the 2026 Budget, Attorney-at-Law Perera said that Weeraratne’s companies were engaged in mega business deals with the government. Declaring that they had secured contracts for government projects since 2019, Perera said that one of the companies Weeraratne was involved in had recently won a major contract from the incumbent government regarding the electronic ticketing system.

Kalutara District MP called for a comprehensive inquiry into the issue as the NPP had come to power, accusing all other political parties of waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement of state funds. MP Perera queried whether the current dispensation followed proper procedures in selecting Weeraratne’s company for the ticketing project

Both Herath and Perera urged the JVP and NPP to look into what they called the Weeraratne affair.

Over the years, several MPs had been disqualified to hold parliamentary seats. Dr. Rajitha Senaratne is one of them. When the Court of Appeal dismissed Dr. Senaratne from Parliament for being a supplier to the government, Ranil Wickremesinghe brought him back to Parliament, through the National List.

MP Perera said that since the last parliamentary election, the NPP had been embroiled in many controversies, including the release of 323 containers from the Colombo Port, in January this year, followed by signing of seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)/agreements with India in April.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

India sends stock of life-saving medicines

Published

20 hours ago

2025/12/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

Misri with Colonne

The government has appealed to India for immediate help to overcome the serious shortage of life-saving drugs and injections.

The Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi confirmed the appeal made by the government. The following is the text of statement issued by the Sri Lankan mission in New Delhi: “The Foreign Secretary of India, Vikram Misri, over the weekend handed over a consignment of urgently required essential medicines to Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, in New Delhi. The assistance, extended in response to a request from the Government of Sri Lanka, forms part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, India’s humanitarian mission supporting Sri Lanka’s relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts following the devastating Cyclone Ditwah.

The consignment consists of over 400 boxes of life-saving medicines and injections, which will be airlifted to Colombo by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft, alongside further additional relief assistance from India.

Deputy Indian High Commissioner Pandey shaking hands with Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa

Foreign Secretary Misri reiterated the condolences of the Government and people of India for the tragic loss of lives and the extensive damage to infrastructure caused by the Cyclone. He reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s immediate humanitarian needs as well as rebuilding and reconstruction efforts. He also highlighted India’s readiness to work with Sri Lanka on a mix of initiatives tailored to the needs of affected communities.

High Commissioner Colonne conveyed the sincere appreciation of the President, Government, and people of Sri Lanka for India’s timely, continuous, and sustained support, and handed over to the Foreign Secretary, a letter of gratitude from the President of Sri Lanka to the Prime Minister of India.

Describing the extensive nature of the damage, the High Commissioner appreciated the ongoing and consistent engagement of the Indian High Commission in Colombo, in collaboration with government officials and local authorities in coordinating relief, rescue, and recovery efforts.

SLAF personnel unloading medicine from IAF transport plane

The High Commissioner also requested India’s support in sharing its expertise and leadership in enhancing disaster-response capabilities and disaster-resilience frameworks, especially lessons from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, both globally recognized for their advanced disaster resilience frameworks. Apart from this support that is under discussion, the New Delhi-based Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) has also been requested to undertake a visit to Sri Lanka to explore avenues for strengthening Sri Lanka’s disaster resilient infrastructure capacities. Noting the importance of having an effective and real-time warning system, efforts are being made to deploy a team to explore the establishment of an early warning system that would provide real-time geo-targeted alerts to citizens.

The High Commissioner reiterated Sri Lanka’s gratitude to the Government and people of India for their continued solidarity under Operational Sagar Bandhu, reaffirming the strength of the longstanding partnership between the two nations.”

News

George Keyt Foundation contributes to national disaster relief efforts

Published

20 hours ago

2025/12/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

(L-R): The donation was handed to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya by Professor Jagath Weerasinghe (Trustee), Suresh Dominic (Treasurer), Malaka Talwatte (Chairman) and Abbas Esufally (Trustee) of the George Keyt Foundation.

The George Keyt Foundation (GKF) has extended meaningful support to the Government of Sri Lanka’s disaster relief efforts following the severe devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

The text of the press release issued by the GKF: “In 2023, the Foundation undertook its first major fundraiser in recent years by issuing 30 numbered limited edition prints of Kangodi Rangi, a painting by George Keyt entrusted to the Foundation. Twenty-eight prints were acquired by donors to support charitable causes, while another was gifted to the President’s collection. Print Number 1 of 30 was retained to support the Foundation’s long-term priorities.

In light of the unprecedented impact of Cyclone Ditwah and the urgent national need for disaster assistance, the trustees unanimously resolved to seek a donor for Print Number 1 of 30, with clear disclosure that the proceeds would be channeled directly to the Government’s disaster relief programme. This appeal received an immediate response, resulting in a private donation of Rs. 3 million.

The contribution was formally handed over to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya for utilisation in the Government’s ongoing relief and recovery efforts.

The George Keyt Foundation is honoured to support the people of Sri Lanka at this critical moment and reaffirms its commitment to serving national needs while preserving and promoting the artistic legacy of George Keyt.