SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella says investors will not come to a country that does not adhere to the rule of law: warns Sri Lanka might lose concessions from foreign donors and multilateral bodies due to the Govt’s attempts to suppress the people: asserts no one has offered significant amounts of aid so far.
Elections Commission requests the public to ensure that their names are in the Electoral Register 2023: asks the public to contact the area Grama Niladhari officer and make sure the inclusion of their names in the electoral register.
Peradeniya University’s Professor Wasantha Athukorale says the monthly expenditure of an average Sri Lankan family has increased to Rs.76,124 this year, from Rs.63,820 last year: of such amount, Rs.40,632 is spent on food: also says the income of 60% of the families has decreased this year.
India’s new Parliamentary complex built at a cost of USD 2.4 bn depicts an “undivided India” mural which includes parts of Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar: Nepal and Pakistan raise concerns about the inclusion of their sovereign territories in the mural: Bangladesh instructs its embassy in New Delhi to get an official explanation on the matter from India’s External Affairs Ministry: so far, no official statement from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan or Myanmar on the matter.
Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara denies allegations that the Govt’s newly proposed labour law reforms were enacted or proposed by IMF or any other similar organisation.
National Investigation Agency of India files charge-sheets against 13 persons (3 Indian + 10 Lankans) in relation to the India-SL illegal drugs and arms trade, and attempts to revive the LTTE.
Minister Tiran Alles says a decision hasn’t been made yet regarding the appointment of a new IGP: incumbent IGP C D Wickramaratne is due to retire on 26 March 2023, after having received a 3-month extension of service.
SJB MP Ashok Abeysinghe says 25 MPs of the SLPP will join the SJB: also says the group currently being led by MP Dallas Allahaperuma is amongst them.
Former Central Bank Deputy Governor W A Wijewardene advises the Govt to seek additional time to fulfill the conditions required to be met to qualify to receive the 2nd IMF tranche.
Transport Ministry decides to lease lands belonging to the Sri Lankan Railways in order to cover up it’s huge losses arising from the transport operations of the Railways.
Kandy (LNW): A silent protest demanding protection for Freedom of Speech was held in front of the George. E. De Silva premises in Kandy yesterday (17) afternoon.
The protest “Protect Freedom of Speech” was organised by the “89 Sahodarathwaya” (Brotherhood of 89) movement.
The protesters told media that a number of events hindering the people’s right to speech had happened recently, and condemned the government’s move of imprisoning people by the misuse of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The Police exerting pressure on those who speak against such repression – media persons, lawyers and social activists – through various means was also strongly denounced by the protesters.
An attempt is being made to repress the mass media through the adaptation of a new Broadcasting Act, they stressed, adding that restricting the people’s freedom of speech is a direct blow against democracy and the people cannot be deceived by further dragging in the dialogue of democracy.
Sri Lanka Embassy in Türkiye organized a “Sri Lanka Day” in collaboration with the Antalya Chamber of Commerce & Industry recently at the premises of the Chambers in Antalya, Türkiye to present opportunities in tourism, trade and investment in Sri Lanka for the business community in Antalya region of Türkiye.
While thanking the Antalya Chamber of Commerce & industry for organizing the “Sri Lanka Day”, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye, Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake, emphasized the importance of further improving bilateral trade relations between Sri Lanka and Türkiye, as the current trade figures do not give due credence for historical and longstanding relations between the two countries and the potential that exists for increasing bilateral trade.
Ambassador Dissanayake stated that an increase in bilateral trade is achievable through the work done by the Embassies of Sri Lanka and Türkiye in respective capitals. She underscored that the Sri Lanka Day in Antalya indeed is a contribution towards this target.
The President of the Antalya Chamber of Commerce & Industry Ali Bahar in his opening remarks highlighted that the engine of economic growth in Antalya is driven by tourism and agriculture. He expressed that this event is very important to obtain first-hand information for companies based in Antalya region to expand their business collaborations with Sri Lanka including identifying potential sectors.
Minister Counsellor (Commercial) at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Türkiye Thavishya Mullegamgoda presented trade, investment and tourism opportunities in Sri Lanka in detail. Presentation consisted on basic introduction to Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan product basket for exports, potential in tourism collaboration such as wellness tourism, eco-tourism etc., expertise in Sri Lankan hospitality sector and sustainable tourism, as well as potential collaborations for investment.
Sri Lanka Embassy in Türkiye invited companies in Antalya region to consider Sri Lanka as a potential destination. The participants were also invited to join a business delegation to Sri Lanka to experience and learn more about opportunities to increase bilateral trade and investment in a mutually beneficial manner.
The business seminar was attended by the potential Turkish importers, distributors, manufacturers, exporters, investors etc. based in Antalya region. Hony. Consul for Sri Lanka in Antalya Ali Kamburoğlu and the President of the Antalya Journalists’ Association Idris Tas were also among distinguished guests. A display of Ceylon tea, spices, and cinnamon based products, coconut-based food items, herbal preparations, handloom/lifestyle products, beverages etc. was also arranged by the Sri Lanka Embassy to show case Sri Lankan products.
During the networking session, participants were able to enjoy Ceylon tea and Sri Lankan ginger biscuits together with Turkish delights.
Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Northern provinces and in Galle, Matara and Trincomalee districts, and a few showers will occur in North-Central and North-western provinces, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (18).
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night, and cloudy skies will prevail over Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces, the statement added.
Strong winds about (40-45) kmph can be expected at times in western slopes of the central hills, North-Central province and in Puttalam, Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershower.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Trincomalee to Mannar via Kankasanthurai and in the sea areas off the coast extending from Batticaloa to Pottuvil. Showers will occur at a few places in the other sea areas around the Island.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and speed will be (25-35) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (50-60) kmph at times in the sea areasoff the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil. Wind speed may increase up to (45-50) kmph at times in the sea areasoff the coast extending from Trincomalee to Hambantota via Kankasanthurai, Mannar, Puttalam, Colombo, and Galle.
State of Sea:
The sea areasoff the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil will be rough at times. The sea areasoff the coast extending from Trincomalee to Hambantota via Kankasanthurai, Mannar, Puttalam, Colombo, and Galle will be fairly rough at times.
As the Sri Lankan economy continues to navigate through challenging times it is crucial for decision makers to carefully consider the impact of lifting the import restrictions on the local tile industry. Traditionally, Sri Lanka has been dependent on imports, but it must transform and cultivate a competitive and superior quality domestic industry. The habit of taking the easy route of borrowing money, importing goods, and accumulating debt has hindered us from reaching our potential and embracing an export driven mindset.
For years, the Sri Lanka Tile Industry has made significant strides, saving over $200 million in foreign exchange outflows annually. This achievement has been made possible through the concerted efforts of local manufacturers, including Macktiles Lanka, who have diligently worked towards establishing a self-sufficient manufacturing ecosystem within the country within a short span of just two years.
Historically, the local tile industry faced limitations due to capacity constraints. In 2019, annual tile demand in Sri Lanka reached approximately 30 million square meters, with imports accounting for 57% of this demand due to the lack of capacity of local manufacturers. However, with continuous investments and advancements in a short time period, the annual local tile production capacity has significantly increased to 31 million square meters in 2022. Recent expansion in state of the art fully automated Italian plant Macktiles Lanka alone has contributed 16 million square meters to this capacity, transforming Sri Lanka from a tile importing nation to a tile manufacturing and tile exporting nation establishing Sri Lanka as self-sufficient in manufacturing tiles.
The expansion of local tile production capacity has not only eliminated reliance on imports but has also led to efficiency gains, resulting in significant price reductions. The prices of tiles have dropped from 2500rs per 2×2 tile to 1400rs – 1500rs per 2×2 tile, a 40% reduction. This price reduction trend is set to continue, positioning local manufacturers to compete effectively. Additionally, the enhanced capacity allows local manufacturers to offer OEM/custom tiles for importers, ensuring business continuity while substituting foreign manufacturers with local ones.
Furthermore, the local tile manufacturers have showcased their capabilities by manufacturing a variety of specialized tiles, including polished, PGVT, and homogeneous tiles in sizes up to 4×2 ft. This versatility enables them to cater to the upmarket segment and offer diverse choices to consumers.
It is worth noting that the local tile industry heavily relies on local sourcing, with 90% of materials used in manufacturing being sourced locally. This not only strengthens the domestic supply chain but also fosters the growth of rural raw material processing industries, providing employment opportunities for over 10,000 individuals directly and 100,000 individuals indirectly.
However, amidst the current economic conditions, construction activity has experienced a significant decline, resulting in reduced demand and low factory capacity utilization. Even Macktiles Lanka, operating at 50% capacity, has witnessed a drop in demand and accumulating stocks. Under these circumstances, allowing imports during a period of low demand would lead to increased foreign outflows without corresponding benefits, potentially reversing the efforts made by the government to stabilize the currency.
Looking ahead, if liquefied natural gas (LNG) becomes available for industries and renewable energy is widely adopted similar to India, it will further strengthen the industry’s competitiveness, reduce prices, and open avenues for export opportunities.
To gain more insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the tile industry in Sri Lanka, we spoke to Mr. Ahmed Shafee, the CEO of Macktiles Lanka, one of the leading tile manufacturers in the country. Here is what he had to say:
Q: How much production capacity have you increased in the last few years?
A: We have made a remarkable leap in our production capacity by adding 30,000 square meters, which required a massive investment of 12 billion rupees. This has effectively enabled our country to achieve self-reliance in tile manufacturing and thus meet the country’s entire domestic demand, all within a span of just 2 years. If you compare 2019 to 2023, we have increased production by 200%
Q: How will you be affected if tile imports are relaxed?
A: Relaxing tile imports would be detrimental to our local industries’ survival as we would face unfair competition from sub-standard imported tiles that enjoy low CESS and import duties. Moreover, due to under-valuation, imported tiles are priced lower than their actual value, making it impossible for us to compete with them on price, despite us having ample capacity, superior quality and exotic designs. By protecting our domestic market from such imports, we can save our hard-earned dollars and invest them in improving our production and innovation. A dollar saved is as good as a dollar earned.
Q: How well can you cater to the Sri Lankan demand?
A: We can meet the varied and refined needs of the Sri Lankan market by making all kinds of tiles such as porcelain, ceramic, homogeneous, nano polished tiles that meet European standards. We can also provide to all BOI and Non-BOI construction projects according to their requirements and tailor our tiles to their preferences. In addition, customers can choose from five factories that produce tiles in our country. These factories serve different market segments while successfully making quality tiles that are far superior, and outshine the imported tiles.
Q: How is the supply and demand for tiles in the SL market currently?
A: Currently, there is an oversupply of tiles in the market as the construction industry has slowed down due to the economic downturn. Our stocks are accumulating, the offtake is minimal and we are baffled by the importers’ insistence on importing tiles when we are offering them attractive discounts and incentives. Ever since tile imports were restricted, we have been manufacturing custom design tiles for importers under their own brand. We are also open for more OEM orders and willing to increase our collaboration with them, we can manufacture any custom design they require. Some people claim that construction activities have halted due to a shortage of tiles, but this is completely false and baseless as we can clearly see the rapid accumulation of tiles in all tile manufacturers’ warehouses due to oversupply.
Q: How well are Indian tile manufacturers protected by the Indian government?
A: Indian tile manufacturers benefit from decades of protection from their government, which has been providing them with subsidized LNG/coal supply and imposing high duties on imported tiles. This long-standing high level of protection in the form of energy subsidies has enabled the Indian tile manufacturers to achieve significant efficiency gains and consolidate a formidable competitive edge over other tile manufacturers in the region.
Q: What is the impact of mining activity on the environment?
A: Mining activity is carried out by small and medium scale suppliers who adhere to the conditions set by Geological Survey & Mines Bureau (GSMB). They have to comply with strict environmental guidelines and obtain necessary approvals from relevant authorities. We are committed to minimizing the environmental impact of our operations and ensuring sustainability. Different countries have different rules and practices for preserving and conserving their landmass, extracting rich minerals, and restoring these areas with fertile soil for agricultural use.
We regret to hear that some of our tile importers have resorted to fear-mongering and have tried to create a false impression to policy makers that this industry is harmful to the environment. This is not true. Hundreds of small-time miners have benefited from the development of the local industry, which follows proper rules and regulations and preservation principles. This process is monitored regularly by the Central Environmental Authority, the Pradeshiya Sabha, GSMB, the Environmental Police and many connected authoritative bodies. We believe that industries that contribute to the economy should be supported and encouraged.
Q: Why should the tile industry be protected in SL?
A: The temporary suspension of imports has allowed us to embark on an expansion of the local tile industry as we consider the tile industry to be a strategic industry for Sri Lanka. Our country is blessed with high quality raw materials such as Feldspar, Ball Clay, Kaolin, Silica Sand, Quartz, Calcium Carbonate and Dolomite for which there are sufficient reserves for the next hundreds of years and it is vital for everyone to realize that minerals that can add sustainable value to the economy should be encouraged. The mining industry consists of over 500 small to medium scale entrepreneurs, many of whom have entered the industry within the last two years due to our expansion. We only import less than 10% of materials such as glazes from Spain and Italy. With these rich resources available locally, and our ability to manufacture tiles easily in Sri Lanka, it makes no economic sense to import tiles that can be manufactured in our country.
Major economies such as Europe and USA are facing an economic crisis as well, this has led to our existing exports coming down which is evident especially in the apparel sector. Therefore, it is vital to conserve the outflow of USD, especially for products like tiles that can be manufactured locally.
Our next step is to be the major contributor to transform Sri Lanka from a tile importing nation to a tile exporting nation.
Today, through our collective effort a self-sufficient industry that offers a wide range of choices and quality to consumers. It also saves foreign exchange, creates employment and supports rural industries. With European and American countries facing economic challenges due to the looming recession, our exports are struggling and we need to protect our local industries from external threats.
Q: How are current tile prices and accessibility in Sri Lanka?
A: We offer our tiles at very competitive and affordable prices. Compared to last year, when the demand was high and the market prices were 2500rs per 2×2 tile, this has drastically come down to 1400 – 1500rs per 2×2 tile, which is a 40% reduction. This reflects our efficiency gains and cost savings that we have passed on to our customers. For example, our lowest priced 2×2 tile is available at all our showrooms for 1100rs + VAT, which per square foot translates to the same price as a loaf of bread. We also offer good discounts to over 700 dealers island wide and special prices to our OEM customers as well. We have 26 showrooms across the country, providing convenience and accessibility to our customers. We also collaborate with world class designers to offer the best quality and trending designs to suit different tastes and preferences. Our tiles are made with the highest standards of material and technology, ensuring durability and elegance.
Q: Are you a monopoly in Sri Lanka?
A: Once again, this is a myth and false misconception. Sri Lanka has five tile plants at the moment and three of them are public quoted; therefore, there is an opportunity for every citizen of our country to be able to invest in this industry. The fifth unit by an entrepreneur is underway and has been held up due to non-clarity in terms of the support the government is willing to offer in order to grow this industry; especially since it is a big risk to invest multi-billion-rupee investment in the tile sector. New manufacturers should be encouraged to enter the local tile industry, and it is important to note that there are more entrepreneurs who have already started manufacturing sanitaryware in our country. Similarly with time and proper support, we believe that many Sri Lankan entrepreneurs will join this industry in the future.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Sri Lankan tile industry would like to dispel some of the myths in the industry, such as construction activity being disrupted due the lack of readily available tiles, or the limited variety of tiles produced by local manufacturers. These are unfounded accusations. The truth is that the local tile industry is one of the few success stories of our country, achieving self-sufficiency in tile manufacturing within a short period of just 2 years. The Sri Lankan tile industry has the capacity and the capability to produce all kinds of tiles, and we currently having an oversupply of tiles in the market which is evident in the ample stocks at our warehouses. The Sri Lankan tile industry should be proud of it transforming Sri Lanka from a being a tile importer to a tile self-reliant country. The tile industry’s next goal is to become a major tile exporter in the region, earning valuable foreign exchange and supporting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. The Sri Lankan tile industry hopes that its example will motivate other industries to follow suit and strive for self-sufficiency.
The Sri Lankan tile industry should be regarded as a national asset of our country. This sector deserves nurturing and support in order to thrive and protect Sri Lanka from indebtedness ensuring stability and prosperity for all.
The Sri Lankan tile industry appeals to the policy makers and the public to support the local tile industries, which is a vital sector for our economic stability and growth. We cannot afford to let vested interests sabotage our achievements and our potential. We have to stand united and protect our local industries for the sake of our country’s future.
In the morning of 17 June 2023, High Commission of India and Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission, in collaboration with various yoga institutes organised a yoga event at the iconic Independence Square in Colombo to mark the 9th International Day of Yoga (IDY).
2. The event saw participation of nearly a thousand people including the special invitees: Hon. Dr. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education; Hon. Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Transport & Highways and Mass Media; Hon. Ali Sabry, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Hon. Sisira Jayakody, State Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Hon. A. Aravindh Kumar, State Minister of Education, Hon. Dr. Suren Raghavan, State Minister of Higher Education. High Commissioner of India, H.E. Gopal Baglay, officials and staff of the High Commission, students, police personnel, members of the Indian community and yoga enthusiasts in Sri Lanka also participated. The event was organised in partnership with Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka with hundreds of traditional medicine doctors and practitioners joining the programme.
3. The event at Independence Square commenced with prayers by the Chief Priest of the Parama Dhamma Chethiya Pirivena in Ratmalana, Most Venerable Dr. Maitipe Wimalasera Thero, invoking the blessings of the Buddha for humanity’s overall wellbeing. The highlight of the programme was a 20-minutes long Yoga and Meditation Session for the participants conducted by experts from 25 eminent Yoga institutes of Sri Lanka, such as Astanka Yoga Mandir, Ashtanga Yoga Lanka, Aum Kriya Babaji Yoga Aranyam, Brahma Kumari Raja Yoga Centre, Hatha Yoga Centre, Institute of Human Excellence, Rhythmic Yoga Academy, The Art of Living, Yoga for Divine Life, Rama Krishna Mission, Sethsada Yoga Nikethanaya, University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and SVCC. This was followed by an Advanced Yoga Performance by a group of children from Mayurapathy Sri Bhadrakali Temple.
4. In the run-up to International Day of Yoga 2023, SVCC in collaboration with government institutions, yoga organisations and local partners, organised over 90 Yoga events, workshops, lectures and demonstrations for different age-groups and professions across the island. These events are an effort towards reinforcing the significance of the shared heritage of Yoga for holistic wellbeing among the people of Sri Lanka
5. IDY 2023 celebrations at Independence Square in Colombo formed a part of the special feature of IDY 2023 that brings together countries from ‘Arctic to Antarctic’, connecting them through the practice of yoga. High Commission of India will also organise another yoga event at the Port of Colombo on 21 June 2023, thereby joining the ‘Global Ocean Ring’ as a unique initiative marking IDY 2023. This year’s IDY celebrations resonate with the theme of India’s ongoing Presidency of the G20, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.
6. It may be recalled that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, piloted by India in 2014, proclaiming June 21 each year as the ‘International Day of Yoga’. The resolution was supported by more than 170 countries, with Sri Lanka being one of the co-sponsors of the resolution.
The judges made a point of stressing the book has particular relevance to contemporary India
Amit RoyLondon Daily Telegraph 15.06.23
Ramachandra Guha
Modern-day Brits have honoured historian Ramachandra Guha for a rather unusual book that is mainly about white Brits who were severely punished for going against the British establishment of their day to give their all for Indian independence.
On Monday, Guha was in London to collect a £5,000 cheque for winning the highly regarded Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography 2023 in its 20th anniversary year for Rebels against the Raj: Western Fighters for India’s Freedom (published by William Collins).
The judges made a point of stressing the book has particular relevance to contemporary India.
“As Guha points out, oppression does not disappear with the ending of colonial rule, and the ideas and priorities incisively drawn out in this book deserve urgent attention in today’s India,” the chair of the judging panel said in a pointed remark.
The annual prize “was established in 2003 in affectionate memory of Elizabeth Longford (1906-2002), an acclaimed historical biographer and family matriarch best known for Victoria RI (1964), her scholarly and readable life of Queen Victoria, for her magisterial Wellington: Years of the Sword (1969), and Wellington: Pillar of State (1972)”.
Guha also received a bound copy of Longford’s autobiography, The Pebbled Shore (1986).
His book is now in with such previous big-name winners as David Gilmour’s The Long Recessional: The Imperial Life of Rudyard Kipling; Frances Wilson’s How to Survive the Titanic: The Sinking of J. Bruce Ismay; Charles Moore’s Margaret Thatcher: The Authorised Biography, Volume 1: Not for Turning; and Julian Jackson’s A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle.
Roy Foster, chair of the judging panel — it included Elizabeth Longford’s patrician daughter and granddaughter, Antonia Fraser and Flora Fraser, respectively, and Rana Mitter of Oxford University — said: “From an immensely strong field the judges have chosen a book where the author’s deep empathy and impressive scholarship are lit up by a passionate regard for his subjects.”
He explained Guha’s Rebels “profiles seven people, from Britain, America and Ireland, who adopted India’s struggle for independence and in doing so found their own destinies. The experience of India changed their ideologies, their spirituality, and often their names.
“In tracing their relationships revolving around the magnetic figure of Gandhi, Guha adds a new perspective to the Mahatma’s life, on which he has already focused so rewardingly in his multi-volume biography.
“Alert to his subjects’ disappointments and occasional delusions, he salutes their commitment to a new way of life and their prescience about the needs of a post-colonial world and India’s place in it. Rebels Against the Raj shows how historical biography can illuminate the temper of the times through immersion in individual lives.”
Six of the seven Guha profiled in his book died in India.
The author said Indians may have heard of a couple of them — “Annie Besant because of her theosophy and also because she was the first female president of Congress”, and Mira Behn, an admiral’s daughter who had changed her name from Madeleine Slade and was played by Geraldine James in Richard Attenborough’s Oscar-winning Gandhi.
But the book has other heroes too — for example, Samuel Stokes, an American Quaker who changed his first name to Satyanand, took an Indian wife, Agnes, and more or less became a Hindu.
Then there was the campaigning journalist Benjamin Guy Horniman, who outraged the colonial masters by supporting Indian independence; Philip Spratt, a Cambridge graduate who helped establish the Communist Party of India; and Richard Ralph Keithahn, an American missionary who worked to educate and provide health care to villagers in south India.
British-born Catherine Mary Heilemann — renamed Sarala Behn — set up a girls’ school and was a pioneering environmentalist campaigner in north India.
When the book came out, Guha told The Telegraph, where he is a columnist: “The lives and doings of these individuals constitute a morality tale for the world we currently live in. This is a world governed by paranoia and nationalist xenophobia, with the rise of jingoism in country after country, and a corresponding contempt for ideas and individuals that emanate from outside the borders of one’s nation. Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in India, Donald Trump and the white supremacists in America, Boris Johnson and the Brexiteers in England, Xi Jinping and his Confucian Community Party in China — all see themselves as uniquely blessed by history and by God. No foreigner, they believe, can teach them anything. This book tells us that they can.
“The focus of this book is on individuals who decisively changed sides, identifying completely with India, meeting Indians on absolutely equal terms as friends and lovers, and as comrades on the street and in prison too.”
Guha, who is now back home in Bangalore — “my mother stays with me and she is 94 so I don’t extend my foreign travel beyond what is absolutely necessary — spoke to this newspaper on Wednesday.
He revealed he was inspired by the life by Verrier Elwin when he was an MA student at Delhi University. “He was a maverick British anthropologist who worked with Indian Adivasis.”
Guha went on: “Basically, he was an Oxford scholar who was a priest, came to India, met Gandhi, left the church, started working among Adivasis in central India, became a leading expert on them, and Nehru sent him as an adviser to the Northeast and he spent his last 10 years there.
“I was charmed by his work and his writing and decided economics is not for me and I did a PhD in sociology and moved to history because of Elwin. Elwin’s big regret was that unlike his exact (white) contemporaries he was never arrested. He thought there was something lacking in his CV. The idea of this book (Rebels against the Raj) occurred while I was working on Elwin more than 25 years ago.
“Without Elwin I would not have written this book, without Elwin I would not have become a biographer, without Elwin I would not have done a PhD, I would have become a boxwallah. Like most Indians of my generation, I might have joined the IAS or something rather mundane. So reading Elwin changed my life.”
Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (16) met with Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Azusa Kubota, to engage in a discussion on the Sri Lankan government’s willingness to engage the UNDP on capacity building of the Parliamentary Oversight Committees and youth engagement in public policy.
EconomyNext: Sri Lankan citizens aged more than 18 years will have to open tax files because they chose the country’s leaders by voting, which influence country’s policies, State Minister of Higher Education Minister Suren Raghavan said.
After the sovereign debt crisis hit island nation signed a $3 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Finance Minister has asked all above 18-year citizens to open tax files.
“If citizens at the age of 18 years can vote for the President, choose how a country is led, then they should pay tax,” Raghavan told a media briefing in Colombo on Friday.
From next year, all those who are over 18 years of age by January 01, 2024 will have to register for taxes, whether they pay or not.
“If earnings fit the tax bracket, then you should pay tax,” Raghavan said.
Sri Lanka is one of the countries that has lowest tax revenue after former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa abolished several taxes while reduced the income tax rates while raised the threshold level for taxes.
As a result, Sri Lanka lost both income and Value Added Tax in 2020 under this stimulus attempt.
Sri Lanka needs more revenues and restructuring debt by September was essential for debt to be made sustainable, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission has said.
The island nation has been looking into more taxes to boost revenue. It is also compelled to give up several subsidies due to lack of resources after the financial crisis hit the last year.
The macroeconomic situation in Sri Lanka has shown tentative signs of improvement, with inflation moderating, the exchange rate stabilizing, and the Central Bank rebuilding reserves, the IMF mission said last month.
Kataragama foot pilgrimage (Pada Yatra), which is an old tradition of life in Sri Lanka, started from the northern part of the island recently and State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon joined the Pada Yatra programme last Sunday (June 11) for the fifth time.
Devotees of Sri Lanka and South India, who participated in this annual Pada Yatra which is a major tradition performed for the Kataragama God, arrived at the Kataragama shrine yesterday (15) passing hundreds of kilometers through the Yala National Park for about two months.
Defence Attaché of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka Captain Vikas Sood also joined the State Minister for the Pada Yathra.
This Pada Yatra tradition is a part of Sri Lanka’s multicultural ethos and it is a unique feature that thousands of devotees join this cause during its expedition from the North to sacred Kataragama premises.
A soft drinks dansala was also organized at Ling Thuna area of Yala Park under the auspices of the State Minister for the devotees participating in the Pada Yatra.
Members of the Tri-Forces, Police and Wildlife officials contributing their part have extended their hospitality to these devotees engaged in pilgrimage from the north to Kataragama while providing security and all necessary facilities, welfare and lifesaving services.
The State Minister of Defence expressed his gratitude to all the personnel including the Tri-Forces personnel, Police and Wildlife Officers who have been giving their contribution to make the annual pilgrimage of the devotees a success.
