Columns

“Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa,” says Foreign Minister Ali Sabry–that the former Cabinet in which he was a different avatar as Justice Minister and Finance Minister, lived in a world of its own, not knowing how bad the state of the economy was until it went bust.

Speaking at a book launch he rambled on many subjects but what seemed to catch the audience’s attention was his revelation about the lack of collective responsibility of the Cabinet in which he served under his one time client Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who returned the favour by making him a Cabinet Minister no less.

The lawyer spoke in medical parlance saying the economy is the heart of the country and if the heart fails everything else fails, and then in political parlance to rant about the number of doctors who received free education and are now working for the British National Health Service.

The confession about not knowing how bad the economy was compounded by the fact that the Cabinet was indeed informed by the Finance Ministry in early 2020–just months after former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election–about Sri Lanka’s dire financial situation. It warned that the situation would worsen to at least a 50 percent decline in both exports and remittances. There are documents
to prove this.

Surely, the then Justice Minister/Finance Minister, now Foreign Minister, was either absent or sleeping or too immersed in his own subject that such an important Cabinet paper by the Finance Ministry just went over his head. Either way, he had not read those Cabinet papers submitted by the Finance Ministry.

It might be suggested that the incumbent President begins his weekly Cabinet meetings, like the school teacher by asking how many Ministers have done their home work and read the Cabinet papers put up to them so they cannot say later; “We did not know.”

Defence Ministry adviser gets dressing down, resigns days later

These days, the talk in defence circles is about the unceremonious exit of an ‘adviser’ who headed a think-tank that comes under the purview of the Defence Ministry. The adviser–who made his career as a self-claimed terrorism expert during the Northern insurgency and later as an expert on Islamic fundamentalism after the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks–was hired to the post, with all perks and privileges given, soon after the previous government took office.

Though his academic qualifications related to the fields he claimed to have expertise in were questioned in the past, he was given the post with a specific assignment and he took up the post while remaining abroad. However, the talk goes on that the falling out with his superiors started when he made some public remarks about some of the ongoing investigations in the Police department.

The matter came to an ugly head last month when he got a dressing down from one of the superior officials who reprimanded him severely. The disappointed official sent his resignation days later and left the country with the hopes of reviving his academic work teaching in a foreign university.

Why Lohan could not get a shot of good toddy

Plantation Industries State Minister Lohan Ratwatte was in Jaffna this week to declare open the new complex of the Palmyrah Development Board in Kaithadi.

Speaking at the ceremony, the controversial State Minister said since he arrived in Jaffna, he had been looking for a good shot of palmyrah toddy in the area, but he could not get one despite the region having thousands of palmyrah trees. Not the best encouragement for the industry.

At the ceremony one person was heard saying that the Minister should check out the local tavern in the evening for fresh toddy–not in the morning since toddy tappers go to collect toddy once the sun goes down.

Morocco meeting: SEC Chairman can go, but not DG

Participation of officials at international events representing Sri Lanka too has turned out to be an additional burden when it comes to finances.

Recently, a request was made for the Sri Lankan Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman and Director General to attend an international event.

The event was the International Organisation of Securities Commissions Annual General Meeting to be held in Morocco from next Monday to Thursday. The application for leave by the Chairman was approved by the Treasury, but the DG’s application was turned down.

An appeal from the Chairman followed saying the event was being held after three years and it has been customary for both the Chairman and the DG to attend the event and the SEC’s funds would be used for the trip.

The question remains with the economic crisis continuing, whether organisations should consider minimal attendance at least for the time being.

State Minister unaware that all that glitters is not gold

State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said on Friday that the Government would take stern action against those who arrived in
Sri Lanka wearing gold jewellery exceeding
the specified limit.

In a statement, Mr Siyambalapitiya claimed Sri Lanka was losing as much as US$ 30 million a month due to this illegal activity.

What the state ministry failed to mention, however, was what was the “specified limit” of gold jewellery that people could wear.  Travellers would have to find that out for themselves.

Fisherfolk in troubled waters over reparations for X-Press Pearl disaster

The Fisheries Ministry said on Thursday that the third phase of awarding compensation for fisherfolk affected by the X-Press Pearl disaster has now begun. A total of Rs. 781 million will be spent on providing compensation to 3056 fisherfolk who were affected by the disaster in the Gampaha, Kalutara and Colombo districts, it said.

Though the Ministry has been quick to provide details on compensation given to fisherfolk, the Fisheries Department, which comes under it, has opted to keep those details firmly close to its chest.

The Fisheries Department’s information officer recently rejected a Right to Information request filed by the Sunday Times asking for a breakdown of compensation so far distributed to fisherfolk on the grounds that there were four court cases filed regarding the X-Press Pearl disaster. The Sunday Times has appealed the decision to the department’s designated officer.

Compensation for Lanka; alarm over move by MEPA official

Attention has been drawn at the highest levels in the Government after it emerged that a top official attached to the Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) was trying to move compensation negotiations between the Government and the X-Press Pearl ship’s insurers to South Korea.

Sri Lanka has so far received more than Rs. one billion in compensation from the vessel’s insurers. Talks on obtaining further compensation are ongoing.

Officials from the vessel’s insurers have been to Sri Lanka before to assess the Government’s compensation claims. In light of this, a move by a top MEPA official to meet with representatives of the insurer in South Korea has rung alarm bells within the Government.

Accordingly, instructions have now been given to senior officials to remain vigilant over developments while the matter is being looked into.

Maharagama UC meeting burns over urns

Heated arguments surfaced again at the Maharagama Urban Council meeting last week, over actions of the council’s chairman. This time, council members protested over the chairman keeping two urns containing the remains of his late mother and grandfather at his office room in the UC.

Council member Nishantha Wimalachandra (who contested under independent group – 1) said at the council meeting that the UC Chaiman Tiraj Lakruwan Piyaratane is keeping his grandfather’s and mother’s remains in an office room at the council.

He said the urns containing the remains of his grandfather were kept underneath the chairman’s desk for about a year. After the death of his mother six months ago he added another urn containing the remains of his late mother. Mr Wimalachandra claimed the chairman had arbitrarily kept the remains of his mother and grandfather at the council. He said the chairman had disrespected the council and himself by keeping remains of his family members in a public place.   Chairman Piyaratne too replied to Mr Wimalachandra and asked; “Why can’t I keep family members’ remains here?” The exchange led to much shouting and caused a commotion, leading to the council meeting having to be suspended for five minutes. When the meeting was recalled, Deputy Chairman Sunil Piyaratne, who happens to be the chairman’s father said he had decided to lay the urns at rest at Godigamuwa cemetery after the meeting.

Northern Tamil civilians question the duplicity of their politicians

The duplicity of Tamil nationalistic politicos became evident in recent times due to their conduct in competing with other parties to take credit; be it organising a collective commemoration of war dead or using the problematic legacy of the Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Weeks ago, a dramatic public skirmish between various political parties erupted when commemorating one time LTTE commander Thileepan at Nallur in Jaffna. This happened when hundreds gathered to remember the cadre who passed away during a fast-unto-death campaign in 1987.

The latest is another commemorative ceremony held last Wednesday remembering 52 civilians who were reportedly massacred by Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) in 1987 at Pirambadi in Kokkuvil. Relatives of the victims and locals got together and marked the event at a memorial erected at the same spot where Indian soldiers opened fire at unarmed civilians.

Strangely, there were no Tamil politicians to be seen at the ceremony and the event was held without any drama. One of the victim’s relatives was heard saying: “If these guys are not turning up for this event for the sole purpose of not angering India, then how can we trust they will work for our benefit and present our case outside?”

Solheim back in Lanka; Mahinda R praises his new role as Presidential adviser

One time Norwegian Special Peace Envoy Erick Solheim was in town this week and was appointed as a climate change adviser to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday.

Earlier, Maldivian Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed was also appointed to a similar post but the mandate of the post still remains unclear.

What was interesting about Mr Solheim’s brief visit to Colombo was the individuals he met during his short stay in town. Following the meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, he went to meet one time President and former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who, years ago accused Mr Solheim of supporting the LTTE during the ceasefire period in the wake of Mr Solheim expressing his opinions on alleged human rights violations and war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan security forces.

Countering these allegations, Mr Solheim took the matter to Twitter at that time (2014) to say: “President Rajapaksa tells lies about me as the election approaches. I will set the truth straight.”

All such animosity between the two disappeared when Mr Solheim called on former Prime Minister Rajapaksa with a bear hug. A well known saying goes that there are no permanent enemies or friends in politics. Mr Rajapaksa also welcomed Mr Solheim’s appointment as a climate change adviser to President Wickremesinghe.