Features
Who wants to govern now?

By Rajitha Ratwatte
fromoutsidethepearl@gmail.com
The haunting lyrics of Freddie Mercury’s “who wants to live forever” echoes in my mind these days. However, there is a rather clumsy bit of paraphrasing that takes over in my mind. WHO WANTS TO GOVERN NOW? is the punch line that dominates my thinking.
The pearl has a new government and Aotearoa will have one shortly, not to mention the Americans’ and their president. The carnage that has happened to date and the even worse economic carnage that is expected raises the question.
All government reserves are exhausted or have taken a terrible hit. Printing money is obviously happening everywhere. Recession is no longer a possibility but a certainty. How is a democratically elected government going to manage to keep their voters happy? Almost impossible, even in Countries like Aotearoa who have relatively disciplined and responsible voters with a realistic outlook. The farmers of Aotearoa will survive, not only are they tough and hard, what they grow is much sought after. However, taxes will be increased dramatically but they may get more for their exports when the currency declines. It is predicted that over 50,000 jobs will be lost and this in a job market that is lean at best of times. 10% of all restaurants are predicted to close. Let alone the economic fallout, there are going to be a LOT of people with no money and plenty of time on their hands. The social cost, depression, domestic violence and all in a society that already has a high prevalence of all this.
The government of NZ is taking steps. There is increased recruitment in the mental health sector and encouragement and incentives to study in this field. Students can actually enrol in universities and polytechnics for these courses and the Government pays ALL the fees. Jobs will follow either after one qualifies or even concurrently, while qualifying. Sectors like wild life conservation and environmental conservation are recruiting people actively and jobs are being created in these areas. Wage subsidies and lump sum payments to businesses to help with cash flow have been extended to cover the extended lockdown periods.
What about the Pearl? I wonder if any proactive action has been taken at all? Are even the statistics verifiable and accurate? Are there actually no cases of Covid19 at all in society? OK, let’s say they are. The public health sector in the Pearl is not to be sneezed at. This is a country that has eradicated Malaria, not a small feat. But don’t you need credibility from an international source, in fact more than one? Isn’t there a need to also improve the knowledge of and the credibility of the medical facilities that are available?
Even if potential tourists have enough money and flights to travel with post Covid, the question of what if we get ill on tour will be foremost on their minds. We have very good facilities in our Government Hospitals, but it is an opportunity for the private hospitals too. All denizens of the Pearl, grumble and moan about the costs of the Private Hospitals but it really is NOTHING compared to what such facilities cost abroad. Include some flashy photos of private, air-conditioned rooms with satellite TV that are available at private hospitals. Show some of the shiny diagnostic machinery and mention just how LITTLE it costs in USD or Euros. Mention the fantastic telecoms network we have available and how cheap it is to get on line and how easy. Now that people can work on line, living in Lanka for the prices available not to mention the great weather and scenery, internet connectivity of the standard that is available in Sri Lanka, should be pushed. We need to think outside the box and do some Guerrilla marketing, things are desperate!
Depending on traditional tourism is not going to work. Even if people have enough money to afford a holiday, the cost of flights are not going to be affordable for many years. The airlines are laying off pilots and flight crew in numbers that are going to see them operate way below present capacities. Demand at these reduced capacities will see to it that ticket prices stay high. National airlines may come to the fore and all other types of airlines may cease to exist. There are plenty of cruise ships lying around, what about getting some of them over to Trincomalee, offering them free berthing in this largely unused, fantastic deep water natural harbour and trying a new form of Aqua tourism? Long stays in luxury accommodation based on the water with access to the incredible beaches and wild life resources that are in close proximity, not to mention the unexplored game fishing potential. The entire East Coast has so much potential and no additional infrastructure costs will be involved as the ships are lying idle anyway!
We sentenced a mass murderer in Aotearoa this week. A racist animal, who was dubbed a terrorist and admitted to gunning down over 50 people in cold blood, got the maximum possible sentence. He got life without parole, he will never be out of prison in his life. Some say he will never breathe fresh air or walk on real grass again. An aspect of the trial that is worth talking about is the victim statements that happened. Surviving victims and representatives of those who didn’t were allowed to address the monster in court and express their feelings. The Moron tried to keep a dead pan face when listening to the raw emotion that was poured on him. It is impossible that it had no effect, even on a sub human of this nature. Some of those words will echo in his cell and his mind each and every day of his sentence. A greater outcome, I feel, was that the victims and their families were finally able to vent their feelings and obtain closure of a sort.
There is talk of sending him back to Australia to serve his sentence, as the Aussies do to our criminals who get convicted there. It will mean that the NZ tax payer will not have to pay the estimated $500 a day to keep this specimen, in what prisoners in the Pearl would consider five-star luxury, for the rest of his life. It is possible that the Aussie prisons may be harsher, but then again, he may find more kindred spirits incarcerated in OZ. I honestly feel the NZ tax payer will not grudge the cost to ensure that this disgrace to humanity gets what he deserves.
I wonder if we have this victim statement facility available for victims’ in the court system of the Pearl. Wouldn’t it be nice if WHEN (oh yes, it WILL happen, we must believe that it will) some of the human rights abusers and robber barons who have destroyed our country and her economy could be told what we, the public thought of them before they went to prison? At least the prison they go to would be much worse than what the mass murderer will enjoy in Aotearoa!
Features
Religious extremism set to gain from rising Israel-Iran hostilities

Many of the international pronouncements on the current dangerously escalating Israel-Iran hostilities could be seen as lacking in adequate balance and comprehensiveness. The majority of these reactions could be said to be failing in addressing the aspects of the conflict that matter most.
For example, there is the recent UN General Assembly resolution on the crisis which calls for an ‘immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza’ and which goes on to urge ‘Member States to take necessary steps to ensure Israel complies with its international legal obligations.’ An immediate and durable ceasefire is indeed the number one requirement in the Middle East today but could it be ‘unconditional’? Could it ignore the principal requirement of Israel’s security? These posers need to be addressed as well.
Besides, it is not only Israel that should be compelled to meet its ‘international legal obligations.’ All the states and actors that feature in the conflict need to be alerted to their ‘international legal obligations’. While it goes without saying that Israel must meet its international legal obligations fully, the same goes for Iran and all other Middle Eastern countries that enjoy UN membership and who are currently at odds with Israel. For instance, Israel is a UN member state that enjoys equal sovereignty with other states within the UN fold. No such state could seek to ‘bomb Israel out of existence’ for example.
As a significant ‘aside’ it needs to be mentioned that we in Sri Lanka should consider it appropriate to speak the truth in these matters rather than dabble in what is ‘politically correct’. It has been seen as ‘politically correct’ for Sri Lankan governments in particular to take up the cause of only the Palestinians over the decades without considering the legitimate needs of the Israelis. However, a lasting solution to the Middle East imbroglio is impossible to arrive at without taking into account the legitimate requirements of both sides to the conflict.
The G7, meanwhile, is right in stating that ‘Israel has a right to defend itself’, besides ‘reiterating our support for the security of Israel’ but it urges only ‘a de-escalation’ of hostilities and does not call for a ceasefire, which is of prime importance.
It is only an enduring ceasefire that could lay the basis for a cessation of hostilities which could in turn pave the way for the provision of UN humanitarian assistance to the people of the Gaza uninterruptedly for the foreseeable future. There is no getting away from the need for a durable downing of arms which could engender the environment required for negotiations between the warring parties.
Meanwhile, some 22 Muslim majority countries have ‘warned that continued escalation threatens to ignite a broader regional conflict that could destabilize the Middle East’ and called ‘for a return to negotiations as the only solution regarding Iran’s nuclear program.’ This statement addresses some important issues in the crisis but one hopes that the pronouncement went on to call for negotiations that would take up the root causes for the conflict as well and pointed to ways that could address them. For instance, there is no getting away from the ‘Two State Solution’ that envisages peaceful coexistence between the principal warring parties.
The ‘Two State Solution’ has been discredited by sections of the world community but it outlines the most sensible solution to the conflict. As matters stand, the current escalating hostilities, if left unchecked, could not only lead to a wider regional war of attrition but bring about the annihilation of entire populations. There is no alternative to comprehensive negotiations that take on the issues head on.
Besides, all who matter in the current discourse on the crisis need to alert themselves to the dangers of appealing to the religious identities of communities and social groups. When such appeals are made religious passions are stirred, which in turn activate extremist religious outfits that operate outside the bounds of the law and prove difficult to rein-in. This was essentially how ‘9/11’ came about. Accordingly, speaking with a sense of responsibility proves crucial.
In fact, it could be argued that a continuation of the present hostilities would only benefit the above outfits with a destructive mindset. Therefore, comprehensive and constructive negotiations are of the first importance.
The above conditions should ideally be observed by both parties to the conflict. Israel, no less than the Islamic and Arab world, needs to adhere to them. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has no choice but to say ‘No’ to extremists within his cabinet and to ‘show them the door’, inasmuch as hot-headed extremists in the Islamic and Arab world need to be opposed and alienated by the relevant governments.
Meanwhile, the US is on a duplicitous course in the Middle East. Whereas it has no choice but to rein-in Israel and convince it of the need to negotiate an end to the conflict, it is choosing to turn a blind eye to Israel’s military excesses and other irregularities that are blighting the Gazans and the ordinary people of Iran. It ought to be plain to the Trump administration that it is promoting a barbaric war of attrition by continuing to provide Israel with the most lethal weaponry. Currently, it is anybody’s guess as to what the US policy on the Middle East is.
The Islamic and Arab world, on the other hand, should come to understand the imperatives for a defusing of tensions in the region. Decades of conflict and war ought to have made it clear that the suffering of the populations concerned would not draw to a close minus a negotiated peace that ensures the wellbeing of all sections concerned.
As pointed out, the security of Israel needs to be guaranteed by those quarters opposing it. This will require the adoption of a conciliatory attitude towards Israel by state and non-state actors who have thus far been hostile towards it. There needs to be a steady build-up of goodwill on both sides of the divide. If this is fully realized by the Arab world a negotiated solution will be a realistic proposition in the Middle East.
Features
She deserves the crown

We had no luck coming our way at the Miss World 2025 contest – not even our immediate neighbour, India – but I’m glad that Miss Thailand was crowned Miss World 2025 as Thailand happens to be my second home … been to Amazing Thailand many times, courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
In fact, even before the Miss World 2025 grand finale, which was held at the beautiful venue of the HITEX Exhibition Centre, in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, my colleagues at office all predicted that Miss Thailand, Opal Suchata Chuangsri, would emerge as the winner.
Yes, indeed, Miss Thailand not only won the hearts of millions but also became the first ever Thai to claim this much sought-after title.
Prior to winning the title of Miss World 2025, Opal Suchata was Thailand’s representative at Miss Universe 2024 and took home the third runner-up title.
Her Miss Universe crown, unfortunately, was subsequently forfeited, due to a contract breach, but she did not let that demotivate her, though, and went on to compete and win the title of Miss World Thailand 2025.
Coming from a family that was in the hospitality industry, her upbringing, in this kind of environment, made her aware of her culture and helped her with her communication skills at a very young age. They say she is very fluent in Thai, English, and Chinese.
Obviously, her achievements at the Miss World 2025 contest is going to bring the 22-year-old beauty immense happiness but I couldn’t believe that this lovely girl, at 16, had surgery to remove a benign breast lump, and that made her launch the ‘Opal For Her’ campaign to promote breast health awareness and early detection of breast cancer, which also became the topic of her ‘Beauty with Purpose’ at the Miss World 2025 contest.
Opal Suchata intends to leverage her Miss World title to advocate for other women’s health issues, as well, and sponsor a number of charitable causes, specifically in women’s health.
Her victory, she says, is not just a personal achievement but a reflection of the dreams and aspirations of young girls around the world who want to be seen, heard, and create change.
What’s more, with interests in psychology and anthropology, Opal Suchata aspires to become an ambassador for Thailand, aiming to represent her country on international platforms and contribute to peace-building efforts.
She believes that regardless of age or title, everyone has a role to play in inspiring others and making a positive impact.
And, what’s more, beyond pageantry, Opal Suchata is an animal lover, caring for 16 cats and five dogs, making her a certified “fur mom.”
She also possesses a special musical ability—she can play the ukulele backwards.
Opal Suchata is already a star with many expressing admiration for her grace, leadership, and passion for making a difference in the world.
And there is also a possibility of this head-turner, from Thailand, entering the Bollywood film industry, after completing her reign as Miss World, as she has also expressed interest in this field.
She says she would love the opportunity and praised the Indian film indstry.
She akso shared her positive experience during her visit to India and her appreciation for the Telangana government.
Congratulations Opal Suchata Chuangsri from Amazing Thailand. You certainly deserve the title Miss World 2025.
What is important is that the Miss World event is among the four globally recognised beauty pageants … yes, the four major international beauty pageants for woment. The other three are Miss Universe, Miss Earth and Miss International.
Unfortunately, in our scene, you get beauty pageants popping up like mushrooms and, I would say, most of them are a waste of money and time for the participants.
Features
Wonders of Coconut Oil…

This week I thought of working on some beauty tips, using coconut oil, which is freely available, and quite affordable, as well.
Let’s start with Coconut Oil as a Moisturiser…
First, make sure your skin is clean and dry before applying the coconut oil. This will allow the oil to penetrate the skin more effectively.
Next, take a small amount of coconut oil and warm it up in your hands by rubbing them together. This will help to melt the oil and make it easier to apply.
Gently massage the oil onto your face and body, focusing on dry areas or areas that need extra hydration.
Allow the oil to absorb into your skin for a few minutes before getting dressed.
Start with a small amount and add more if needed.
* Acne and Blemishes:
Apply a small amount to the affected area and gently massage it in. Leave it on overnight and rinse off in the morning. Remember to patch test before applying it to your entire face to ensure you don’t have any adverse reactions.
* Skin Irritations:
If you’re dealing with skin irritations, coconut oil may be just what you need to find relief. Coconut oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe and calm irritated skin.
Simply apply a thin layer of coconut oil to the affected area and gently massage it in. You can repeat this process as needed throughout the day to keep your skin calm and comfortable.
* Makeup Remover:
To use coconut oil as a makeup remover, simply apply a small amount onto a cotton pad or your fingertips and gently massage it onto your face, in circular motions. The oil will break down the makeup, including waterproof mascara and long-wearing foundation, making it easy to wipe away.
Not only does coconut oil remove makeup, but it also nourishes and hydrates the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. Plus, its antibacterial properties can help prevent breakouts and soothe any existing skin irritations, so give coconut oil a try and experience its natural makeup removing abilities, and also say goodbye to acne and blemishes!
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