Features
The questionable wisdom for pursuing LNG
by Eng Parakrama Jayasinghe
I have been advocating the need for a rational evaluation of the need if any, and the wisdom of adopting LNG as an option for our energy needs, since 2019. The following have been published in the national papers.
The LNG Saga
–http://epaper.island.lk/paper/2021/10/04
The LNG Option –Need for a deeper re-think urgently – Dec 4, 2019
http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=215420#
What do we need? LNG or NG or neither? – Nov 8, 2019
I am led to wonder if I have been just wasting my time and efforts, judging from the recent events, as we hear the same inadequately analyzed and ill conceived and outdated proposals being aggressively pursued in total disregard to the significant changes which have been happening throughout the world in the interim. Now a cabinet paper has been submitted citing massive savings, which a commentator has claimed to be overstated by 100% using the data in the same expert report, based on which the Cabinet Paper has been drafted.
LNG switch: Cabinet paper contains flawed projected savings | Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
If this is true, it would only continue the familiar trend ever since the idea was first put forward many years ago, cherry picking of data to fit the notion including patently erroneous or unsubstantiated assumptions.
It will be recalled that the use of LNG as a source of fuel for power generation was proposed as a transitional fuel about ten years ago. Since no one wanted to openly object to the growing and successful development of renewable energy, LNG was proposed to be the intermediate solution until the solar and wind energy became financially viable and technically reliable. That was over ten years ago.
However, the fact that much has changed even in Sri Lanka, in the adoption of both these technologies and it is now universally accepted that Renewable Energy is more economical than any fossil fuel based power in addition to being environmentally benign. There are dozens of references, including the International Energy Agency ( https://www.iea.org/ ) confirming this status.
But unfortunately, the same old outdated arguments are being trotted forward in total disregard to the much changed ground realities. The primary culprit is the Ceylon Electricity Board planners who find it impossible to get rid of their bias for continued dependence on imported fossil fuels and the prejudice against the indigenous renewable energy (RE) resources contrary to the often repeated assurance of their support for the development of RE. Perhaps due to the fear of losing their strangle hold on the electricity sector as the state monopoly or some other agendas which I will leave the readers to judge.
Fig 1- LNG- Price variation 2017 -2021 . Price $ 5.0 /MMBTU and US $ = Rs 210
A few years ago the attraction of LNG was understandable, both due to the fact that the world LNG prices were at a historical low, and there was hope of our own Natural Gas in the Mannar basin being developed, so that any local investments to adopt the LNG option both in way of the infrastructure and generation facilities appeared justifiable.
The circumstances have changed so much that such justification can no longer be done with the much increased price of LNG and the highly depreciated Rupee, proving once more the danger of dependence on imported fossil fuels, on supply of which we have no control on one side and the continued enhanced drain of FOREX on the other. The long petrol and gas queues and hours long power cuts not long ago were the direct result of such dependence. Replacing oil with LNG is certainly not the solution now, when the alternatives have proven commercially viable even in Sri Lanka and in the rest of the world .
But does the CEB or their consultants or their masters in the Ministry of Power and the government , give any consideration to these altered circumstances, let alone the undeniable and encouraging progress made in the adoption of RE resources which do not require any imported fuels and are cheaper and environmentally benign? It is a great national tragedy that this is hardly the case.
The present government of the NPP, appears to have been sold the same recipe of the now mythical essential need and the value of LNG, as even their policy documents have listed LNG as the option for the future.
The CEB with the support of the newly appointed Minister and the Secretary has pounced upon this as an imperative in total disregard for the other established policies of
· Reaching 70% RE contribution by 2030 and Carbon neutrality by 2050
· Adopting least economic cost mode of generation
· None dependence on imported energy sources for future energy security and thereby the National Security
· Cease building of new coal-fired power plants. A new policy is added
· New addition of firm capacity will be from clean energy sources such as re-gasified liquefied natural gas (R-LNG).
This last statement is highly contestable as LNG is not clean in consideration of the entire supply chain and is reported to be 33% higher emitter of Carbon Dioxide than coal.
The falsity and Lack of Coherence of CEB Arguments in support
And CEB continues to pursue their lopsided arguments and have proposed addition of over 3,500 MW of LNG based power in their Long Term Generation Plan from 2025 to 2044. Now the Chairman has advocated to the government, that the stalled tender for the development of a Floating Storage and Re-Gasification Unit ( FSRU) be reactivated. But no mention has been made of any arrangement to source LNG and the reliability of such supplies in the long term, which one would have thought is the primary requirement before any steps are taken in building user end facilities.
Fig 2 – Current Price trends of LNG –
Sri Lanka certainly cannot claim to be out of bankruptcy, although some measure of stability has been attained only by postponing the repayment of massive amount of foreign loans, which will come to haunt us in the near future as close as 2028. Thus, understandably the government is very keen to increase the FOREX earnings to reduce the continuing gap between cost of imports and the export earnings. Therefore, without a much broader and deeper analysis of the claimed advantages and savings and as the panaceas for resolving the technical issues faced by the CEB, a hasty decision to opt for addition of LNG could hardly be considered wise.
This is a matter of great national concern and such a decision which will only exacerbate the Balance of Payments cannot be left to the CEB or even the Ministry of Energy without intense in-depth analysis . This should cover all aspects of costs , reliability in the long term of supplies and costs and other economic considerations approved after a much wider stakeholder consultation. Hitherto there has never been such a comprehensive study or consultation. The present promise of lower cost of generation yet to be proven and in total disregard to the above issues is certainly not acceptable.
The issues which a has come to light both during the earlier instances when such hasty decisions were mooted and also in the analysis of the Draft Long Term Generation Expansion Plan 2025-2044 are discussed below.
· The cost of LNG based power generation.
This must include not only the cost of the LNG itself but also all other costs involved in the deployment of the FSRU and regassification process and the piping of the re-gassified LNG to the coast as well as the added pipe network required to reach the power plant. While some numbers can be quoted on the world prices of LNG and the historical trends, there are no established costs of the other aspects. The reality in respect of the world prices then and now are shown below .
The change in world market price of LG and its impact on Sri Lanka can be compared as below
As such how can anyone even contemplate a flat trajectory for future prices as childishly shown in the above chart used in the LTEGP? Even a simple private businessman would not plan any future venture based on such impossible projections. But then the CEB is not held responsible for any disasters they have been causing over the years and plans to plunge the entire country to anther disaster.
Fig 3 – CEB prediction of LNG prices The change in world market price of LG and its impact on Sri Lanka can be compared as below
The LTGEP reveals that that the annual natural gas consumption will remain at a very low level (below 0.6 MTPA) till 2035. This will add a substantial cost to the capacity charge of the FSRU which has to be accounted for when the total LNG fuel costs are calculated and thus further increase the cost of generation.
The demand will remain low at about 0.6 MTPA which is well below the capacity of a FSRU that would interest any investor. There is an attempt to blow this up by planning totally unacceptable plans to increase demand by converting the aging plants at Kelanitissa and even to use if for transport.
It is quite unlikely that any investors would be interested in catering to such low volumes unless there is provision for substantial premiums on the sale price. This added to the current East Asia price of $ 15.04 plus the other charges have already made this option none viable. Using even the declared price of $ 11.90 the cost of generation would be over Rs 55.00 /kWh. https://view.argusmedia.com
For Sri Lanka , the governing factor is the cost of generation which must include the entire supply chain and infra structure costs development and operation, including any take or pay provisions or premiums for lower scope of supplies. These considerations have been swept under the carpet by erroneous data and plainly misleading numbers such as assuming that the price of LNG will be none variable in the future. This was done in case of coal and is still being practiced.
Fig 5 – LNG demand prediction in LTEGP 2024-2044
Promise of a Clean Fuel
It is futile to try and paint LNG as clean and low in carbon emission. The carbon emission has to be gauged across the entire supply chain. There are studies to say that LNG is has 33% higher carbon emission than coal.
Green washed: LNG emits 33% more carbon than coal, new report finds
As such the promise of LNG already fails on both counts based on which it has been promoted. That of economical cost of generation and the green house emissions. This is without any consideration of the totally avoidable additional drain of foreign exchange.
What does the CEB expects to gain by this addition of LNG?
The only reason for the CEB to pursue this goal is only to perpetuate the dependence on imported fossil fuels, now that their former goal of adding more coal power has been soundly rejected even by the previous government. There is no way that this can be considered a progressive move on one hand because of the continued drain on foreign exchange for the import of LNG and the impact on the long term energy security of the country with dependence on a source completely outside the control of Sri Lanka.
They hide these dangers by citing issues of a need for Base Load power and spinning reserves and the none firm nature of the two renewable energy sourced of solar and wind.
All these problems have been well resolved by other countries and the CEB chooses to turn a blind eye to promote this nationally disastrous move even going to the extent of citing patently false data.
The Ministry and the Government must take urgent action to understand the truth and prevent this disaster being perpetuated.
Conclusion
The Government has several promises to keep.
· Build up the FOREX reserves to face the debt repayment challenge in 2028
· Reduce the consumer tariff by 35%.
Both these will be highly doubt full if the CEB is continued these unviable proposals. Their claim of inability to reduce the consumer tariff was soundly debunked by highly researched presentations made during the recent public consultations. It was also pointed out that the consumer tariff can be reduced significantly reduced by eliminating the use of oil for power generation as early as possible. The CEB now proposes to replace such positive trend by committing the country to perhaps even more damaging introduction of LNG.
The CEB is driven only by their inability and unwillingness to change their Frog in The Well attitude and assimilate the more progressive developments in the RE sector in the best interests of Sri Lanka and its citizens. The question has to be asked, is the CEB or even the Ministry of Energy can be trusted to make such decisions which affects the entire country without a wide ranging public consultation?
The Ministry and the Govt should at least now officially assign the responsibility and accountability of achieving the national objectives, of much reduced consumer tariff and goal of reaching the 70% RE target by year 2030.
This is the right of the People of Sri Lanka , who are the true owners of the Energy Sector and Resources and are the major Stake Holder and not the CEB
Academic Freedom:
by Anushka Kahandagamage
The recent cancellation of the lecture ‘How to Fight Against the IMF Austerity Programme,’ organised by the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE-Sri Lanka) at the University of Peradeniya, sparked a buzz about academic freedom in the country—though not to a significant extent.
In Sri Lanka, academic freedom is a topic that is rarely discussed and often understood in a limited sense, which diminishes its significance. However, I believe academic freedom is closely linked to the overall spirit and practice of democracy in society and should be integrated into the education system not only at the tertiary level, but also at earlier stages of education.
The discourse
The discourse on academic freedom, as I understand it, is closely tied to the entire education system. Violations of academic freedom can occur due to factors such as the privatisation of education, militarisation of education, cuts to the budget for the humanities and social sciences, politicisation of the university system, and issues related to gender and diversity, among others. Together, these factors can create an ecosystem in which academic freedom is at serious risk.
State Interference and Politicisation
One of the most pervasive forms of violating academic freedom is state interference in academic matters and the politicization of universities. The state can intervene in the university system at various levels, such as threatening academics who speak out against the government or other nation states with close ties to it, especially when those states are involved in human rights abuses and war. At the same time, discouraging and banning research which are seen as a threat to the existing power structures or creating an eco-system in which scholars are scared to conduct research and write on specific themes.
Another form of politicisation of universities that also impacts academic freedom is the direct and indirect interference of state and professors in authority in the recruitment process. The decline in the standards of faculty recruitments is a pressing concern within the academic landscape. University academic departments, if which many come under humanities and social sciences, increasingly adopt the practice of recruiting individuals with bachelor’s degrees for positions as lecturers and assistant lecturers. Sri Lanka stands out as possibly one of the very few countries in South Asia where individuals, armed only with a bachelor’s degree, can commence teaching sociology or any other discipline in universities and oversee dissertation research at the undergraduate level. This shift in recruitment practices has consequences for the academic rigour within university departments. These recruitments are often based on favouritism from academics in positions of power or political interference. They are frequently made to bring in passive academics who are submissive to the system and have little understanding of what academic freedom truly means.
Privatisation of Education
While the privatis x+ation of education has been a topic of discussion in many left-wing academic circles for a long time, a solution does not seem imminent or likely in the near future. Privatisation will affect the autonomy of the education at all levels, setting the agendas relevant to market forces and obstructing critical and innovative thinking, which foster human values and challenge the foundation of market-driven society and forms of authoritarianism. Further, privatisation of education undermines academic freedom, as its focus is to maintain the exploitative capitalist system and justify it.
Budget Cuts in Humanities and Social Sciences
All over the world, Humanities and Social Sciences departments of Universities are facing budget cuts. Whenever there is a deficit of funds, universities tend to eliminate some departments and reduce the size of those within the Humanities and Social Sciences by laying off faculty and cutting budgets. For example, in 2022, I experienced the consequences of budget cuts to the humanities firsthand, when the University of Otago, which I was attending at the time, was struggling with funding. It affected many departments within the Humanities and Social Sciences. These are forms of violating academic freedom—the freedom to study and research subjects that students and faculty are passionate about, and for academics to have stable careers. However, by eliminating some departments from the university system or reducing the capacity of departments within the Humanities and Social Sciences, the very concept of academic freedom becomes invisible within the system.
Militarisation of Education
Militarisation of education and academic freedom lies in contrast to each other. Militarising education will have serious consequences. On one hand, it will diminish the value of other knowledge systems. On the other hand, military institutions will foster compliance rather than critical thinking, producing citizens who unquestioningly obey authority and power. This shift would lead to a society where injustice goes unchallenged and human rights violations become commonplace. This is particularly concerning because education in this situation will play a crucial role in shaping ideologies that reinforce military structures.
The public’s understanding of what is ‘common sense’ would be conditioned by military values. Against a background where military institutions are handling or influencing higher education, the idea of academic freedom will diminish. For an example, in any country, the military will generally align itself with the state. In this kind of situation, research which may be critical of the authoritarian state will not take place within the premises of territory education institutes, which are run by the military. The same applies more generally to all other territory education entities in countries under heavy military influence.
New Normal
The lack of updated knowledge within academic institutions often leads to an environment where critical thinking is marginalised, and discussions on academic freedom are suppressed, erased or the university community is unaware of its existence. When faculty and students are not encouraged or equipped with the latest knowledge, they are less able to critically engage with contemporary issues or challenge the status quo. This stifles the kind of intellectual inquiry that is central to academic freedom.
In Sri Lanka, there is a growing trend of uncritical thinking becoming the norm, both among academics and students. Many academics, particularly those in positions of authority, are reluctant to voice opinions that challenge the prevailing political, social, or economic systems, or rather they intend and make an effort to sustain the very system which supress the critical thinking. This is partly due to fear of political or institutional repercussions, and partly because many have become accustomed to a system where conformity has become the easy way and is also profitable socially and financially.
Students, who are following in the footsteps of their passive and unvocal professors, lack, even the mere ability to see the injustice of the system and to understand the importance of academic freedom. Instead of becoming creative and responsive critical thinkers, these students would more likely choose the easy way: get the degree certificate and leave the university. This lack of intellectual challenge diminishes the role of universities as spaces for critical thought and social progress, effectively erasing important conversations about academic freedom, democracy, and justice.
Against this backdrop of silence, submissive academics are becoming the new norm. In societies like ours, which are healing from institutionalised violence are deeply undemocratic, and have experienced widespread human rights violations from both the state and other parties, constant dialogue and action are needed to foster a healthy democracy and intellectual growth. As academic freedom diminishes, so does the capacity for meaningful discourse and social change. Without a vibrant exchange of ideas, universities become less places of learning and more sites of conformity, where questioning the system is seen as dangerous or unnecessary.
All 1600+ January 6 insurrectionists, including over 600 violent criminals who attacked, murdered Capitol police officers, pardoned by Trump
by Vijaya Chandrasoma
The inauguration of the 47th President of the United States was completed with all the traditional trappings of the nation’s most momentous political occasion. The constitutional transition of presidential power at its most peaceful, a tradition conspicuous in its absence during the near-coup of 2021.
Due to freezing temperatures and high winds, the 2025 Inauguration ceremony of President-elect Trump was held inside the United States Capitol Rotunda in Washington DC, the scene of one of the most shameful days in US history.
On January 6, 2021, thousands of rioters, incited by then twice-impeached, defeated, disgraced President Trump, stormed the Capitol in a failed attempt at a violent coup to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. On January 21, 2025, these same violent rioters were granted unconditional pardons by the same, but amazingly victorious President Trump.
Before the inauguration, President-elect Trump said that he would pardon the January 6 insurrectionist on a case-by-case basis, and pardon only those who were “peaceful protesters”.
Another lie. At least 600 of these murderous felons, convicted of assaulting Capitol police officers, murdering one and wounding hundreds in the defense of the Capitol, were also among those pardoned immediately after his inauguration by Trump, a fellow convicted felon.
In his first televised interview of his second term with Sean Hannity of Fox News last Wednesday, he described the violent attacks on the police officers at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 as “very minor incidents”, in an attempt to justify his pardon of these violent criminals.
None of these pardoned criminals have shown any remorse for their violence. On the contrary, they have expressed their intention to seek retribution against those judges and law enforcement officers who had prosecuted them for their televised acts of sedition. A few of these pardoned “patriots” made some interesting public comments which indicate they feel they would be free to commit future acts of violence against perceived enemies of their Fuhrer, with no consequences.
Capitol rioter, Jacob Chansley, aka the “QAnon Shaman”, said he’s going to “buy some motha f….ing guns” after being pardoned by President Trump.
The newly freed Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrio, who had been found guilty and sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment, made no secret of his intentions of retribution against the prosecutors of the January 6 insurrection, saying, “The people who did this, they need to feel the heat. They need to be put behind bars”. It does not need much imagination to understand what these murderers mean by the phrase, “feel the heat”.
Stewart Rhodes, leader of the Oathkeepers, who had been sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment, has been advocating political violence against the government for over a decade. He said, in a recording four days after January 6, 2021 played at his trial, that “his only regret is that they should have brought rifles” and that he would “hang f…ing Pelosi from the lamppost”. Presumably after he had hanged Mike Pence from the gallows they had constructed at the Capitol for the purpose. Rhodes is now free to commit these crimes.
Trump and his supporters are trying to defend these indefensible actions in an effort to rewrite history, that January 6 was just a peaceful protest against a rigged election. Rather than the violent insurrection resulting in murder and wounding hundreds of law enforcement officers, bravely defending the lawmakers of the nation carrying out their constitutional duties, which we all saw unfolding before our eyes. And the next four years will see pro-Trump criminals acting violently against democratic principles with impunity, with no consequences. In fact, they will be praised, like the January 6 murderers, as “patriots”.
Outgoing President Biden also issued a series of pre-emptive pardons for several persons, including members of his family, on the final day of his presidency. Clemency for Trump’s Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, who had served the country with honor but had committed the capital crime of criticizing Trump; and for Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the world’s leading epidemiologists who had questioned Trump’s ridiculous remedies for the Covid epidemic during his first term. They were both on the list of Trump’s targets for prosecutorial retribution, as were Liz Cheney and members of the Special Congressional Committee who had investigated and reported on Trump’s acts of sedition on January 6, 2021.
Biden, in his statement, stated that these pardons did not denote guilt.
“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgement that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country”.
Ominously, Trump stated at the aforementioned Fox interview that Joe Biden should have pardoned himself, a clear threat that he intends to prosecute what he calls the “Biden Crime Family”.
Ironically, Taylor Budwich, Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff said “that Biden’s pardons will go down as the greatest attack on America’s justice system in history”.
The double standard is incredible. Biden pardons people innocent of any crimes bar being disloyal to or critical of Trump, only for fear they will surely be victimized by Trump’s weaponized Department of Justice, headed by Trump loyalists, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. While Trump pardons, with total impunity, 1,600+ convicted, violent insurrectionists who followed his instructions to carry out a violent coup, a crime tantamount to treason.
All the traditional, symbolic traditions for the inauguration of the President-elect, followed by every other president except Donald Trump in 2021, were honored by outgoing President Joe Biden, to signify a peaceful transfer of power.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden invited the Trumps and the Vances to the White House for tea and coffee on the morning of January 20, after which they drove together to the Rotunda for the Inauguration ceremony in the presidential limo.
Trump did not even attend the inauguration of President Biden in 2021, breaking a tradition which had endured for 152 years.
Trump’s Inauguration was attended by all past presidents and their spouses, except for Michele Obama. She gave no elaboration for her absence, which served to illustrate her customary good taste and dignity.
The Trump family, Elon Musk and the richest men in the world were given prominent seats at the Rotunda. Congressmen of both parties, even Trump’s former Vice-President, Mike Pence attended the ceremony, confident that this time, there would be no danger to their lives.
Trump’s inaugural speech was more like a campaign rally rant, with his usual claim, ridiculous for someone who has broken more Commandments than listed in the Bible, that he was chosen by God. He whined that he was “tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history”. Tested, challenged and convicted in the nation’s courts of 91 felonies, including obstruction of justice, sedition and espionage.
He proclaimed the beginning of a new “golden era”, and made some extravagant announcements, which were reminiscent of his first term promise of building that famous Southern border wall of 3,000 miles for which Mexico would pay. He barely did 50 miles in four years, and the former Mexican President, Vicente Fox jeered and said “Mexico is not going to pay for that f….ing wall!”
His intention to take over the Panama Canal, the property of the sovereign nation of Panama, will no doubt elicit the same reaction of derisive laughter from Panamanian President Mulino.
He sang his eternal tune of “Drill, Baby, Drill”, to exploit the “liquid gold under their feet”, ignorant of the billions of dollars and incalculable loss to life and property that will be caused by further natural disasters unleashed on the planet by the continued pollution caused by the abuse of fossil fuels.
But he will unilaterally rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, and plant the American flag on Mars, actions which he assured his devoted followers will keep grocery prices and inflation down. Perhaps our own President Dissanayake could follow Trump’s example and solve Sri Lanka’s problems by unilaterally renaming the Indian Ocean as the Sri Lankan Ocean.
Trump didn’t talk about his intentions to acquire Greenland or break away from NATO. But he has withdrawn the USA from the Paris Climate Accords and the World Health Organization. The former because he is a moron who believes that climate change is a hoax; the latter because he would not need the aid of WHO in the event of another epidemic. After all, he managed Covid 19 with great efficiency, presiding over the avoidable deaths of a mere million Americans and “managing” the US economy to near recession.
He did not keep his promise to stop the Russian-Ukraine war even before his inauguration. However, he expressed a desire to meet with his mentor, Russian President Putin. Probably to end the war by forcing the Ukrainians to cede their sovereign territory that the Russians have already annexed illegally. A deal unacceptable to both parties. Putin will continue to manipulate Trump as he has been doing since 2016.
Trump stated that the USA is a nation of two sexes, a man and a woman. His dad, God had proclaimed that He had created only two genders in the human race, when he commanded Noah, “You shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female”. (Genesis 6:19)
There are 1.4 million people in the USA who do not conform to the genders they were assigned at birth. They have the bodies of one sex with the genitalia of the other. Were they created by a lesser, non-Christian God?
As part of his immigration reforms, Trump intends to end birthright citizenship, rescinding the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside”. Presidents do not have the power to overturn Amendments to the constitution by Executive Order.
The Executive Order he has signed authorizing the use of the military to implement the mass deportation of illegal immigrants is also against the constitution and will be contested in the courts; as well as the actions his minions have started, replacing with Trump loyalists all known Democrats and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) federal employees, who in Republican eyes are black, brown and leftist hires.
There is one flaw about Trump’s great Project 2025 plan which was highlighted with a direct appeal to him at a prayer service at St. John’s Church, at Lafayette Square, Washington DC, held to honor his inauguration.
The Episcopal bishop of Washington, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, during her 15-minute sermon, cited Trump’s belief about being saved by God from assassination:
“You have felt the hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon people in the country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and Independent families across the country who fear for their lives”.
Budde also made a plea for immigrants, a group targeted for deportation by the Trump administration. “They pick our crops, look after our children and parents, work the night shifts in our hospitals, keep our schools clean. They may not have the proper documentation, but the vast majority are not criminals but rather are good neighbors”.
Trump, enraged at God’s words, of which his only knowledge is through selling Bibles, demanded an apology from Budde and clergy of the Episcopal Church for politicizing God’s Word, calling them “Radical left hard line Trump haters”.
As most true Christians are. No apology is required for the truth.
Colorful fancy pencils, a staple in every child’s school bag, may be hiding a silent threat. Recent revelations have raised concerns about the safety of low-quality pencils and stationery, which may contain harmful chemicals and heavy metals, posing serious health risks to children. Experts and activists are now urging parents, educators, and authorities to take immediate action to safeguard children from these hidden dangers.
Dr. Mahinda Wickramarachchi, Head of the Quality Control Unit at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH), highlighted the risks associated with substandard pencils. “Imported pencils and coloring pencils, especially those without any without any proper information about the brand and manufacturer, often fail to meet international safety standards. These products may contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic, which can enter a child’s body through chewing or prolonged use,” he warned.
The European Committee of Standardization (CEN) has introduced the EN 71 standard to ensure the safety of children’s products, including pencils and stationery. This standard mandates rigorous testing to detect harmful substances. For instance, pencils are immersed in a stomach acid-like solution for two hours to check for the release of toxic chemicals. However, Dr. Wickramarachchi noted that most of the pencils in the Sri Lankan market do not comply with these standards.
A school teacher, who wished to remain anonymous due to administrative regulations, shared her concerns. “Children often chew on pencils or put them in their mouths. If these pencils contain harmful substances, it could lead to serious health issues like allergies, infections, or even long-term illnesses such as kidney problems and cognitive impairments,” she said.
Ranjith Vithanage, Chairman of the National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection, echoed these concerns. “The market is flooded with low-quality imported pencils and stationery, particularly from countries like China. These products are sold at high profits but pose significant risks to children’s health,” he said. Vithanage criticized the lack of regulatory oversight, stating that the authorities have failed to introduce adequate standards for school equipment.
Joseph Stalin, Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), emphasized the need for immediate action. “The authorities has a responsibility to ensure the safety of these products. We plan to investigate this issue and take legal action against those responsible for importing and selling substandard school items,” he said.
Despite these warnings, the market continues to be dominated by cheap, low-quality products. Vithanage urged parents to be vigilant. “When schools issue book lists, parents must pay attention to the quality of the items they purchase. Saving a few rupees now could cost your child’s health in the long run,” he said.
The call for action is clear. Parents, teachers, and authorities must work together to ensure that children are not exposed to harmful substances. By prioritizing safety standards and demanding better regulation, we can protect our children from the hidden dangers lurking in their school supplies.
As the anonymous teacher aptly put it, “Every pencil in a child’s hand should be a tool for learning, not a threat to their health.” Let’s ensure that our children’s creativity and education are nurtured in a safe and healthy environment.
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