Columns

It is widely believed that Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture considering the current social, political and economic challenges the country faces.

To address the current challenges the country faces with policy developments, the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute organised an inaugural LKI Foreign Policy Forum, titled “Changing Global Dynamics: Implications for
Sri Lanka,” recently.

Among the panellists at the discussion was the veteran diplomat Ambassador H. M. G. S. Palihakkara, a former Foreign Secretary, who shed some insight into the current challenges and strategies to overcome.

“The crisis that we suffered and continued to suffer has impaired to a great extent our ability to exercise our sovereign autonomy and corresponding diplomatic outreach,” he said.

The panel discussion at the recent LKI Foreign Policy Forum

Stressing that the country has to negotiate and conduct its foreign relations bearing in mind that we are no longer in the comfortable zone of sovereign equality, the career foreign service veteran noted that crisis impaired and constrained our ability to an extent. This is not to say we should be enfeebled by that.

Terming that Sri Lanka is going through turbulent times, Ambassador Palihakkara discussed the need to harmonise domestic and foreign policies to effectively overcome the acute issues arising from the economic crisis, deal with the Indian Ocean geopolitical “trilemma” between India, China, and the United States, and address accountability and reconciliation at a system-wide level.

Central Bank bond scam: Speaker rejects media circus over questions and answers

The Government has accused Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Badulla District Parliamentarian Chaminda Wijesiri of raising the same question repeatedly in Parliament this year even after it had been answered. Mr Wijesiri has queried about the Central Bank bond scam and the identities of those responsible.

Last week, State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe appeared to have had enough. He told Parliament that the Government had already answered Mr Wijesiri’s question twice before and he could refer the hansard for the answers. He could then raise another question if he needed further clarification, the State minister added.

Mr Wijesiri though, disagreed. He noted that MPs cannot ask the same question twice and it would not appear on Parliament’s order book.

“If the same question has been asked, it is the fault of the officials in charge of drafting the order book,” he insisted. He accused the State minister of making excuses to get out of answering questions related to the bond scam.

“We have already disclosed to this Parliament about the legal steps taken with regard to the bond scam. We have answered these questions. If someone is trying to raise these questions repeatedly to advance some personal agenda or to create a media circus, I am not prepared to be a party to it,” Minister Semasinghe shot back.

“I too remember you raising this question in the House three or four times now. If the minister is now refusing to answer the question on the grounds that he had already answered these queries, there is nothing I can do,” said Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Mr Wijesiri however, told the Sunday Times that what he was asking related to different facets of the same issue.

“For example, last week, I asked who the Finance Minister was at the time the Central Bank bond scam happened. State Minister Semasinghe did not want to answer that.”

The MP said he would be asking another question related to the Central Bank bond issue during the coming Parliament week as well.

“I intend to keep raising these questions. No one can stop me,” he said.

Hambantota-New Polpitiya transmission line–CEB says don’t fly kites

In its race against time to quickly complete the final phase of the Hambantota-New Polpitiya 220KW transmission line, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has encountered a new obstacle–kites.

An urgent notice issued by the CEB on Friday urged people in the area not to fly kites in the vicinity surrounding the Hambantota-New Polpitiya region where the transmission line is being laid.

The Asian Development Bank-financed project will link the Southern Province with the national grid.

It was only earlier this month that a long-running dispute involving the CEB and the owners of a tea estate over which the transmission line was being laid was finally settled. The dispute over compensation related to the 650-metre stretch of land within the tea estate over which the line will be laid had held up completion of the transmission line for months and threatened to result in a power crisis, with authorities warning of mandatory power cuts having to be imposed in the Southern Province.

August is known as the kite flying season. This is the second time this month that authorities have had to warn the people against flying kites in a particular area. Earlier, the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd issued a notice warning people that flying kites near airports is strictly prohibited.

World Youth Day: Parliamentary group has no one under 35

Marking World Youth Day on August 12, a discussion organised by a Non- Governmental Organisation led youth activist group was held in Colombo recently with grassroots-level youth network representatives and policymakers to better understand issues faced by the youths in the country.

The meeting centred on ongoing youth migration in search of a better future abroad and a high unemployment rate due to the economic crisis and a stagnated economic situation.

International Youth Day is observed around the globe on August 12, facing youth empowerment and development for a rapidly changing world after its adoption by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999.

When the meeting focused on how the Parliament responded to the interests of the youth and youth-led protests held last year, there was nothing much from the audience on the youth’s role in the governance or any MPs they can relate to of taking up critical issues and concerns that affect them in the House.

One of the participants pointed out that even though there is a “Parliamentary Caucus for Youth,” none of the office bearers is under 35 years old despite there being quite young MPs in the House.

Guard your honour, Mr Minister

Primary Industries State Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake was recently subjected to much ridicule over the now infamous footage of him inspecting a ‘guard of honour’ given by security guards during an inspection visit to the Lanka Phosphate Company premises at Eppawala.

The State Minister inspecting the proceedings. Pic by Palitha Ariyawansa

Last morning, cameras caught him watching from a distance, a parade by Police officers at the Vincent Dias Stadium in Badulla.
The State minister was seen inspecting proceedings from the balcony of the stadium’s gym after completing his morning workout. May be he was getting some tips on how to inspect a guard of honour.

High hopes for high post but it is not in line for change

Apparently not in the good books of the minister, the ministry secretary has launched a psychological campaign within the civil service claiming that he will soon be sitting in the ‘hot seat’ meant for the country’s No.1 civil servant.

The official, who is from a ministry located close to Battaramulla, has been telling other senior officials and anyone else within earshot that he will soon be taking over the top post. He has repeated the same assertion whenever he has visited other ministries. The official has also been overheard by others loudly saying on the phone that he will soon be asked to take over the post as he is the most senior man in line.

The bureaucrat, who is looking at the high post with high hopes, has somewhat succeeded in his efforts at convincing some that he is due to take over the top post soon. This is mainly because he is known to spend more time at the Presidential Secretariat than at his own ministry. Several officials have already shifted their loyalties to him in anticipation of the impending change. Sources however, said the top post is not up for change.

Tennakoon’s FB page hacked as he vies for IGP’s post

Western Province Police Senior  Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) Deshabandu Tennakoon got an unwelcome surprise this week when he found out that his Facebook page had been hacked.

The senior officer has a personal Facebook account and his own Facebook fan page. It was the fan page, which has more than 35,000 followers, that was hacked. Once he became aware that his page had been compromised, SDIG Tennakoon immediately took to his personal Facebook account to publicly declare that someone had gained unauthorised access to his Facebook page. Attempts to regain the account and take legal action against those involved had already been initiated, he added.

Two days later, he announced that he had regained control of his page. It is no secret that SDIG Tennakoon is among the front runners to be the next Inspector General of Police (IGP). So it was no surprise that some users took the opportunity to pose questions on the page asking the officer how he planned to inspire confidence about protecting ordinary citizens if he beame the next IGP when he could not even protect his own Facebook page from hackers.

Meanwhile, after regaining his account, the SDIG also shared a post highlighting the importance of not giving up as “Great things take time.” It was not immediately clear if he was referring to his hopes of becoming IGP.

Fake accident victims stake claims for money

The presence of gangs who pretend they are victims of accidents and try to extort money continues to pose a threat to motorists in Colombo City.

A series of incidents where people have been extorted or sometimes having narrowly escaped have been reported in recent days. Most incidents in the city have happened close to supermarkets, hospitals and popular locations.

In one such incident last week outside a supermarket at Union Place, a man claimed he had been injured after being hit by a vehicle. Despite the driver saying his car was not involved in the accident, the man who claimed to be employed as a person pasting stickers on vehicles at Darley Road insisted his hand had been injured and he would be out of employment for a week as a result.

The man pointed a screwdriver and threatened the motorist, forcing the driver to give him money. The helpless driver had to give him money and get away as the darkness was in favour of the trickster.

In another incident a bike rider followed a motorist on the Nawala Road and claimed he had been knocked by the car and was trying to get the vehicle to stop. The motorist who was sure he had not met with an accident had managed to turn and drive into the entrance of the Police Hospital which was located close by. The bike rider had then disappeared.

In another incident a man had claimed that the driver had run over his foot and tried to claim money. But a security guard from a nearby building had gone through the CCTV camera and had seen that it was false claim. Accordingly the motorist escaped.

These are just a few incidents reported recently. There are others that go unreported to the Police.