February 19, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) indicates further appreciation against the US Dollar today (19) in comparison to last week’s Friday, as per the exchange rates issued by leading commercial banks in the country.
At Peoples Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 306.71 from Rs. 306.95, and the selling price to Rs. 317.40 from Rs. 317.65.
At Commercial Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 306.25 from Rs. 306.50, and the selling price to Rs. 316.25 from Rs. 316.50.
At Sampath Bank, the buying and selling prices of the US Dollar remain unchanged at Rs. 307.50 and Rs. 316.50, respectively.
February 19, Colombo (LNW): An investigation will be launched into the allegations that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) is issuing false information.
The above announcement was made by Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.
He also affirmed that a report is being prepared to address the concern and will be presented to both Parliament and the President.
February 19, Colombo (LNW): Following the recent enactment of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand, Sri Lanka is presently strategising to conclude negotiations on the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India within the forthcoming months, while also gearing up to resume discussions on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China in April, as per sources familiar with the matter.
There exists underlying apprehension regarding the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India within certain circles.
Sri Lanka’s professional sectors remain cautious about liberalising the service industry, expressing concerns that an influx of Indian professionals may jeopardise local job opportunities.
After a hiatus of five years, Sri Lanka re-initiated discussions on the ETCA last year, with the 13th round of talks convened in January of the current year.
The upcoming negotiations are scheduled to take place in Colombo from March 10 to 12, aiming to conclude negotiations by the end of April, contingent upon receiving Cabinet clearance, for a swift signing of the agreement.
Regarding the service sector, it has been reported that India has advocated for its liberalisation; however, Sri Lanka has declined such provisions, particularly concerning professional fields like medicine and engineering.
In an effort to assuage the concerns of Sri Lankan professionals, the government plans to engage with organisations such as the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) in the lead-up to the next round of talks.
In celebration of the 76th Anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka, the Embassy of Sri Lanka to the UAE, hosted a prestigious diplomatic reception on 9th February 2024, at hotel Shangri-La Abu Dhabi.
The event brought together 120 number of Ambassadors and Heads of Missions from UAE, and notable figures for an evening of celebration. The dignitaries that attended the event included H.E. Sultan Al Shamsi- Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs of the UAE, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi – Royal family member of Ajman, Hon. Manusha Nanayakkara- Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment of Sri Lanka and Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Hamed – Chairman IBMC International Group, whose presence underscored the importance of fostering strong ties between Sri Lanka and the international community.
In his remarks, Udaya Indrarathna Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UAE highlighted that under the visionary leadership of H.E. the President, Ranil Wickremesinghe- Sri Lanka is rejuvenating and is on a committed path for prosperity and success amidst challenges. Ambassador further expressed gratitude to all those in attendance and reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to strengthening ties with the host country and the international community at large. As the evening unfolded, guests were treated to a selection of fine cuisine, showcasing the rich culinary heritage of Sri Lanka. Traditional music and cultural performances performed by the renowned Sri Lankan dancing troupe – Chandana Wickramasinghe and the Dancers Guild added colour to the festive ambiance, transporting attendees on a journey of discovery and appreciation for the island nation’s vibrant culture and heritage.
The event served as a platform for meaningful discussions and networking opportunities, allowing guests to explore potential collaborations and initiatives that could benefit both Sri Lanka and its global partners. From engaging conversations to shared experiences, the diplomatic reception exemplified the power of diplomacy in building bridges and forging lasting friendships.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the sponsors of the event, including the Platinum partner Mr. Rusan Fyroze – CEO – Siraj Finance PJSC, Gold sponsors – Sri Lankan Airlines Ltd, Mr. Lakshmi Narayanan – Chairman Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, Mr. Ashish Vijay – Chairman of House of Ashish Vijay, Silver sponsors Alpen Capital, Heartland General Trading, Burjeel Holdings, Frico International LLC and all other sponsors, well wishers and the distinguished guests who made the event a success.
February 19, Colombo (LNW): The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) advocates for legal reforms to enhance Sri Lanka’s Parate execution law and other credit recovery laws, aiming to expedite credit recovery cycles in line with global standards.
CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe emphasised the need for strengthening these laws to support the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector, ensuring smoother access to credit and facilitating business continuity.
Speaking at a webinar organised by Daily FT, ACCA, and other associations, Weerasinghe underscored the importance of a 3-6 month credit recovery period for economic efficiency and SME support, distinguishing between SMEs and willful defaulters.
Despite SME pressures, the Central Bank maintains its stance against amending banks’ Parate execution rights, he added.
February 19, Colombo (LNW): A staggering revelation comes to light exposing Sri Lanka’s critical vulnerabilities towards combatting corruption in procurement, according to a Verité Research report.
The report, “Backwards in Blacklisting: Gaps in Sri Lanka’s Procurement Framework Enable Corruption“, points out that Sri Lanka’s procurement guidelines, established in 2006, lack essential provisions, notably the absence of recognising corrupt activities during procurement as grounds for blacklisting contractors.
This omission exposes the system to potential corruption risks.
Furthermore, the report reveals a lack of compliance with existing regulations, such as the failure to blacklist contractors who default on contracts, as mandated.
Unlike neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka’s Department of Public Finance has not populated its online database with the names of such defaulters.
These findings underscore the pervasive corruption within Sri Lanka’s public procurement system, corroborated by assessments from civil society governance diagnostics and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The IMF has stressed the urgency of enacting a public procurement law by December 2024 to align with global best practices, emphasising the need for comprehensive reform in this critical area.
February 19, Colombo (LNW): Tamil Nadu Police announced on Sunday the arrest of three individuals from Nagapattinam district, seizing over 364 kg of ganja intended for smuggling to Sri Lanka, New Delhi-based IANS reported.
The arrested individuals were identified as K. Sathiyaseelan (37) from Velankanni, M. Mahendran (38) from Naluvedhapathi, and T. Sugumar (29) from Pushpavanam.
The suspects were apprehended while planning to transport the ganja to Sri Lanka via the sea route, utilising the seized fiberglass boat, according to Nagapattinam Superintendent of Police, Harsh Singh.
A case has been filed against the accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by the Vettaikaraniruppu Police.
February 19, Colombo (LNW): A few showers may occur in Eastern and Uva provinces, and showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Sabaragamuwa province after 4.00 p.m., the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (19).
Mainly fair weather prevail elsewhere, the statement added.
Fairly strong winds about (30-35) kmph can be expected at times in eastern slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central, North-western, Uva, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Matale and Kandy districts.
The public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Mainly fair weather will prevail over the sea areas around the island.
Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly and wind speed will be (25-30) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (45-55) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota and from Colombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota and from Colombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam can be rough at times.
Our defeat was always implicit in the victory of others; our wealth has always generated our poverty by nourishing the wealth of others – the empires and their native overseers. In colonial and anti-colonial alchemy, gold changes into scrap metal and food into poison. Edward Galeano[i]
Preamble
The opening of Edward Galeano’s book looks at the historical origins of Latin America’s underdevelopment, the central theme being the genocide of the native population by the Spanish and Portuguese ‘civilising’ colonial project in the Americas. This involved hunger, overwork, communicable diseases, and massive damage to the cultures, flora and fauna of the continent. Echoes of this are found in the thirty year civil war in Sri Lanka and in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.
The genesis of this paper was the carpet bombing of Gaza by Israel. At the time of writing, over 26,000 inhabitants are dead, many of them refugees from Israeli occupation. The majority are women and children. 60,000 are wounded, with access to medicine and health care more precarious by the day. An overwhelming majority of the population are facing imminent starvation. All this is transmitted daily to the world.
There are those who say that the victims are the terrorists. They largely rely on the horrific events of October 7, when the armed cadres of Hamas managed to break out of the open-air prison of which the people of Gaza were confined. In the bloody melee that ensured around 1,100 mostly Israelis lost their lives and over 200 hostages were taken. It is also alleged that Hamas were guilty of rape and beheading. It is undeniable that atrocities occurred, but until there is an independent enquiry, questions will remain. How many deaths were caused by crossfire is also uncertain. None of this justifies the harm caused to the civilian population of Gaza.
What Palestinians in Gaza are forced to endure is reminiscent of what happened in Sri Lanka during the last months of a thirty odd years civil war between the Sinhalese majority government and the Tamil armed opposition. This playbook is also disturbing similar of other colonisers, like the Moroccan military in Western Sahara; Indonesian security forces in West Papua; the Burmese military junta, the Turkish government in the repression of the Kurdish people in Türkiye and North East Syria. All mercilessly done to enable, perpetuate and demonise the colonised and the unacceptable price the oppressed always pay.
The Argument
In this paper I shall highlight the use of mass murder against the dispossessed and the ideological, structural and legislative methods used to demonise the dispossessed. In doing so in a small way the hope is that the mass struggle for social justice and self-determination becomes, an international one, like what is happening in Gaza, in which atrocities are not allowed to happen, without exposure and resistance.
The paper will do this by looking at the historical similarity between the respective struggles of the Tamils and Palestinians, examining the asymmetrical nature of their respective struggles, the reasons for the struggles, the attempt to hide massacres, and who must be held accountable.
The paper starts by looking at the links, military and economic, between the respective states.
Collaboration
The Lankan government’s relationship with Israel has waxed and waned, depending on its geopolitical interests and ideological predilections. In contrast, Israel has always pursued good relations with the Lankan government. Their rapport deepened during the long Lankan civil war (from the 1980s to 2009). Israel supplied the Lankan armed forces with military aircraft and ships – Kir fighter jets, Super Dvora class patrol boats, Saar 4 class missile boats and Gabriel missiles. The relationship was cemented in the colonisation in the Eastern Provinces (Mahaweli project) by Sinhalese farmers and peasants who displaced many Tamil and Muslim landowners.
Like the Indian government, the economically bankrupt Lankan government has offered its people to replace the foreign workers who left Israel because of the conflict in Gaza. Some estimates put the figure at 100,000.[ii]
In the last phase of the civil war elite troops of the Lankan military were trained by Israeli military personnel. They were taught how to methodically mop up areas, with no distinction made between civilians and armed LTTE cadres.
Asymmetry of the forces of the state versus the armed resistance
One of the more successful tricks of colonisers is to exaggerate the size and the prowess of the “enemy”, thus stoking the fears of the majority community and justifying the diversion of resources from health and education to the security apparatus. This places the emphasis on a military solution, not a political one.
In 1984, with the civil war heating up, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) had around 2,000 fighters, with the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) having 17,000. During the last phase of the war the LTTE had a force estimated to be no greater than 11,000, facing probably 160,000 well-equipped and trained Lankan troops.[iii] Considerably more, in fact, if the military police, intelligence, navy and air force are taken into account. Gordon Weiss states that in 2009, at the end of the civil war, Lanka had the 17th largest army in the world, more than 30 times its strength at the start in 1983.[iv] And all this in a country that has fewer than 23 million people.
Hamas established their Qassam Brigades[v] in 1992. The brigade has carried out numerous attacks against Israel, including suicide attacks. According to the CIA the Brigade has around 20,000 to 25,000 members. It well stocked with guns, grenades, and rockets. It has no tanks, artillery, planes, or warships. It is an irregular force, lightly armed and with no backup, unlike the IDF. There are other forces arraigned against the Israeli state but their capabilities are even smaller than those of the Qassam Brigades. [vi] It is estimated that the Hamas military budget is around $100 million.
The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, 169,500 active military personnel, with 465,000 in reserve. Its defence budget in 2023, including aid from the United States, was around $23.6 billion, a budget greater than the military budgets of Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, and Jordan combined. Its military, navy and air force are equipped with the latest weapons. With the help of its main ally, the United States, it has a mostly effective missile shield, the Iron Dome (worth many billions of dollars).[vii] The IDF is considered to be one of best equipped and most efficient armies in the world.
According to the UN, from 2008 up to the current conflagration there were 6,407 Palestinian deaths as opposed to 308 on the Israeli side.[viii] According to Israel’s social security agency, the death toll on October 7 was 1,139. It has identified 695 Israeli civilian deaths and 71 migrant workers. Around 373 members of the Israeli military and security forces were reported dead.[ix] Since then, 26,000 Palestinian have been killed, mostly civilian. Gaza has suffered air bombardments before this. In 2008 the Israeli air force, in Operation Cast Lead, dropped 600 tons of bombs and reduced large swathes of the Gaza strip to rubble. Even areas deemed safe, like the UN compound, were bombed with many casualties. Around 4,000 civilians were killed and 5,000 wounded. Israeli deaths were 13 (three which were the result of friendly fire).[x]
In the last phase of the civil war in Lanka (July 2006 to May 2009) credible estimates of deaths range from 40,000 to 80,000. Around 6,000 were of the security forces of the Lankan army. Reliable estimates of the human deaths during the civil war are around 200,000, the overwhelming majority being Tamils.[xi]
From the start the Lankan government, like that of Israel, was much more comfortable with the military option than with dialogue. In 1977, for example, the government of Lanka sent in the military to deal with a small group of Tamil insurrectionists who were involved in assassinations and bank robberies.[xii] The army targeted the whole Tamil community. They arrested, shot or tortured anybody who was critical of the government, including student activists, teachers, academics, artists, priests and social workers. As a direct result the violence escalated, culminating in 1983 in a pogrom against the Tamils in the south, resulting in tens of thousands of their houses being looted and burnt, countless women being raped and 3,000 deaths. The background to this was being the gunning down of 13 Lankan soldiers who were on patrol. Hushed up was resultant massacre of 60 Tamil civilians by the military. The hundreds of thousands of Tamil refugees fleeing the pogrom fell into the arms of the “boys with the guns” and a low-intensity conflict flared into a full-blown civil war.[xiii]
The second part of the part of the paper will critically look at the ideological defence of the colonisers and what is life for people under the thumb of the military of the occupier.
[iv] Weiss, Gordon (2011). The Cage: The Fight for Sri Lanka and the Last Days of the Tamil Tigers, p. 234.
[v] Named after a freedom fighter, Ezzedine al-Qassam, who was killed by the British military in 1935; his death was one of triggers of the 1936-39 Arab revolt.
[vi] These figures are similar to estimates made by other media outlets including western ones. ‘What is Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades,’ Al Jazeera, 26 October 2023.
[vii] ‘How do the Israeli military and Hamas compare in size and strength,’ ITV 13 October 2023. Retrieved: http://www.itv.news.
[viii] Figures gleaned from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. October 2023.
[x] ‘The Occupation of the American Mind’ (2016). Documentary produced by Media Education Foundation.
[xi] For a more detailed and sober analysis of the casualties of the last phase of the civil war, see: Report of the Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka, 31 March 2011
[xii] This was not the first time the military was brought in to quell the Tamils right to self-determination. In 1961, Major General Richard Udugama was dispatched to the north with the 1st battalion of the Ceylon (as the country was known then) after the party representing Tamils (Federal Party) launched a peaceful disobedience (Satyagraha ) campaign against Sinhalese being the sole language – with the resultant mayhem.
[xiii] Cooke, Michael (2011). The Lionel Bopage Story. Agahas Publishers. In particular, pp. 235 to 294.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe conducts an observational tour of the Tangalle and Galle areas: inspects several tourist hotels, actively engaging with proprietors to gain firsthand insights into their challenges: asserts swift and decisive actions will be taken in response to concerns raised by the business community: liaises with relevant officials over the phone, orchestrating solutions and soliciting input on strategies for industry development.
EU Ambassador Carmen Moreno meets with micro, small, and medium-scale businessmen in Sri Lanka, at the Opposition Leader’s office: Opposition Leader Premadasa highlights the challenges faced by these businesses, including impacts from the Easter attack, COVID-19, and economic difficulties, resulting in closures and auctions: stresses their significant contribution to the economy and employment.
JVP former MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa says the government has proposed a resolution to abolish the executive presidency in a plot to prevent NPP/JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake from winning the next Presidential Election: stresses that those who had initially opposed the idea of abolishing executive presidency are suddenly wooing the resolution, in a bid to secure the position of the current regime which came to power without a mandate.
Leader of the Mawbima Janata Party and former media mogul Dilith Jayaweera says he did not intend to join politics, but believed in political streams and backed various parties in the past: asserts he has now commenced a journey for the people of the country: admits that the past allegiances he might have resorted to were committed on the sole belief of building the country and making it a developed one for its citizens.
The prison hospital faces severe overcrowding with 350 inmates, far exceeding its 185-person capacity: Authorities express grave concerns and urge immediate measures to address the crisis: Efforts focus on discharging patients promptly to create space, although expanding capacity is not currently viable.
The Chief Prelates of the three Buddhist Chapters express concerns to President Ranil Wickremesinghe about potential social instability amid discussions on state asset privatization: highlight this critical problem in a formal letter seeking attention and deliberation.
The Ceylon Teachers’ Union announces a trade union action starting in Kandy on Tuesday to demand the government fulfill its commitment of providing a salary increment: Union Secretary General Joseph Stalin laments despite receiving one-third of the promised amount, the government failed to provide a clear timeline for the rest: The action follows 120 days of waiting and increasing financial strain on educators due to the rising cost of living.
The Purchasing Managers’ Index indicates that manufacturing and services sectors expand in January 2024, despite the recently revised VAT hike: Manufacturing growth is driven by textiles & apparel, but food and beverages declined after the festive season: Employment and Stock of Purchases increased, but Suppliers’ Delivery Time lengthened due to shipping disruptions: Services, including personal services and tourism-related sectors, continued to grow, but VAT amendments and the end of the festive season affected wholesale and retail trade negatively.
Sri Lanka plans to revise electricity tariffs after consultations by the Public Utilities Commission, despite objections from the Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA): The Union claims the Electricity Board incurred arbitrary expenses, including high emergency power purchase prices: highlights allocations for unlicenced power plants and construction expenses, urging the PUCSL to consider them: Meanwhile, electricity demand dropped by 22%, but revenue doubled due to a price revision in 2023.
Sri Lanka clinched victory by 4 runs at a thrilling T20 match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Dambulla: Wanindu Hasaranga’s strong batting led SL to a total score of 160/10: Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran’s 67 runs fell short as Matheesha Pathirana’s 4 wickets for 24 runs secured the win for SL.
