SRI LANKA RUNNING OUT OF WHY NEW BILL MAKES COLOMBO ICUS FOR COVID-19 AS PORT CITY A ‘CHINESE PROVINCE’ YOUNGER CASES WITH SEVERE IN SRI LANKA APRIL SYMPTOMS SURGE 23 - 25, 2021 VOL: 4- ISSUE 244 INDIA SETS A NEW GLOBAL THE YARDBIRD WHO . RECORD FOR DAILY INFECTIONS JUST ‘WAILED’ 30 GLOCAL PAGE 03 HOT TOPICS PAGE 04 COMMENTARY PAGE 08 LITERARY LIVES PAGE 11

Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/130/News/2021 India hospital fire kills 13 Covid patients MUMBAI - Thirteen COVID-19 patients died when a fire broke out in a hospital on the outskirts of Mumbai before dawn on Friday (23), a local official told AFP. "There were 17 patients inside when a fire broke out in the ICU of Vijay Vallabh Hospital, out of which 13 died and four have been shifted to other facilities," fire department official Morrison Khavari said. "The fire has now been extinguished," he said, adding that the blaze started around 3:00 a.m. (2130 GMT) and that the cause was being investigated. The accident in the city of Vasai-Virar in Maharashtra state was just the latest tragedy to hit India as it battles a vicious new wave of coronavirus infections, with shortages of oxygen, drugs and hospital beds sparking desperate pleas for help. Two days earlier, 22 COVID-19 patients died at another hos- pital in the same state when the oxygen supply to their ventila- tors was disrupted by a leak. And four patients died when a blaze broke out in a private hospital in Maharashtra earlier this month. Last month a fire at a Mumbai clinic killed 11. India has seen four million new COVID-19 infections this month alone, stretching its chronically underfunded health care system to the limit. The outbreak has been blamed on a new virus variant and lax government rules allowing huge religious and political gather- ings to take place in recent months. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was set on Friday to hold at least three crisis meetings on oxygen supplies and the availability of critical medicines. The capital New Delhi continues to be among the worst hit, with hundreds of thousands of new infections and many new hospitalizations in the last few days. -AFP More than 100 asylum seekers -Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP/Getty Images feared dead after shipwreck off Buddhist monks light 330,000 candles in an the central shrine at the Dhammakaya sect's kindness". The ceremony was timed to coincide attempt to break the Guinness World Record 78-acre compound, with the ‘Cleanse the mind, with Earth Day, a worldwide event which aims for the largest flaming image during Earth Day cleanse the world" spelled out in the flickering to boost awareness about ecological issues Libya celebrations at the Wat Dhammakaya Buddhist light. The organizers said the objective was -- raising questions about whether the burning LONDON - At least 120 asylum seekers are feared dead after temple on the outskirts of Bangkok on Thursday "to encourage people of any nationality, race of so many candles was in itself bad for the their rubber boat capsized in stormy seas off the coast of Libya (22). The candles, in the shape of a map of the and religion to join together in the activities of environment while they were attempting to reach Europe, charities and the world and a Buddha figure, were arranged around chanting and group meditation, sharing loving -Read more on page 6 UN migration agency say. Dozens of bodies were spotted near a capsized vessel on Thursday (22), which had about 130 people on board, a rescue charity said. According to an initial reconstruction of events, the European Biden, calling for action, commits US to humanitarian group SOS Méditerranée was alerted on Tuesday (20) by the volunteer-run Mediterranean rescue hotline Alarm Phone to the presence of three boats in distress in international waters off Libya. Waves in the area were reaching heights of up to six metres. The SOS Méditerranée’s ship, Ocean Viking, as halving its climate emissions well as merchant vessels, headed to the area and found no sur- WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden committed to steeper cuts. But China, In- degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, vivors, but at least 10 bodies. on Thursday (22) moved to put four years dia and Russia made no new emissions the world economy will suffer $23 trillion “Today, after hours of search, our worst fear has come true,’’ of official climate denial behind the United promises, and even Biden’s commitment to in losses by midcentury from natural disas- said Luisa Albera, search and rescue coordinator aboard Ocean States, declaring that America would cut its cut US greenhouse gases 50% to 52% below ters and the spread of disease, according to Viking. “The crew of the Ocean Viking had to witness the devas- global warming emissions at least in half by 2005 levels by the end of the decade will be a report from Swiss Re, one of the world’s tating aftermath of the shipwreck of a rubber boat north-east of the end of the decade. extraordinarily difficult to meet, economi- largest providers of insurance to other in- Tripoli. This boat had been reported in distress with around 130 Addressing 40 world leaders at the start cally and politically. surance companies. people onboard on Wednesday (21) morning. of a two-day summit about the US return to Energy experts said it would require a The latest pledge puts the United States Alarm Phone, the hotline service claimed it was in contact the Paris climate agreement, Biden sought dramatic overhaul of American society, in- almost on par with Europe, but still behind with the boat in distress over 10 hours on Wednesday, and re- to galvanize other countries to take more cluding the virtual elimination of coal for Britain. On climate finance, the Biden ad- peatedly relayed its GPS position and the dire situation to Euro- aggressive steps. electricity and the replacement of millions ministration promised to double its con- pean and Libyan authorities and the wider public. He cast the challenge of avoiding cata- of gasoline-powered cars with electric vehi- tribution to help developing countries ad- However, it said all the European authorities rejected respon- strophic warming as an economic opportu- cles. dress climate change, to an estimated $5.7 sibility to coordinate the search operation and instead pointed nity for America and the world, a striking Republicans immediately questioned billion by 2024. But, like many of Biden’s at the Libyan authorities as the “competent” authorities. contrast to his predecessor who had aban- why Americans should sacrifice when Chi- promises, that would require the approval “The Libyan coastguard, however, refused to launch or coor- doned the agreement. nese coal pollution is likely to swamp any of Congress. And even that level would only dinate a rescue operation, leaving the 130 people out in a rough “This is a moral imperative, an economic gains from US emissions cuts, at least in match what many other rich countries did sea for a whole night,” it said. imperative,” Biden said. “A moment of the near term. years ago. Experts said the climate finance -The Guardian/Agencies peril, but also a moment of extraordinary The stakes are enormous, for Biden and announcement was anything but ambi- possibilities.” In rapid succession, Japan, for the planet. If nations fail to keep global tious. Insurance giant warns Canada, Britain and the European Union temperatures from rising more than 1.5 -NYT Climate change could cut world Trending News Quote for Today economy by $23 trillion in 2050 Try to be like the turtle - at ease in India: As many as six hospitals in Delhi com- the Olympic opening ceremony, as new infec- WASHINGTON — Rising temperatures are likely to reduce your own shell. global wealth significantly by 2050, as crop yields fall, disease pletely exhaust their oxygen supplies as an- tions surge. spreads and rising seas consume coastal cities, a major insur- other unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cas- Singapore: Authorities quarantine about -Bill Copeland ance company warned Thursday (22), highlighting the conse- es overwhelm health systems in major cities. 1,200 migrant workers from a dormitory af- Word for Today ter coronavirus cases are discovered among quences if the world fails to quickly slow the use of fossil fuels. Indonesia: The desperate search for the Brummagem [bruhm-uh-juhm] The effects of climate change can be expected to shave 11% to men thought to have already recovered from missing submarine and its crew of 53 hone in -adjective- showy but inferior and 14% off global economic output by 2050 compared with growth on a radar contact, with just hours to go be- infections. worthless levels without climate change, according to a report from Swiss fore the stricken vessel’s oxygen reserves run Pakistan: Parliament resumes debating the Re, one of the world’s largest providers of insurance to other out. fate of the French ambassador after the gov- insurance companies. That amounts to as much as $23 trillion Today in History Germany: The probe into the shocking col- ernment appeared, for now, to put a lid on in reduced annual global economic output worldwide as a re- bloody anti-France protests that rocked the 1993 - Sri Lankan politician Lalith sult of climate change. Some Asian nations could have one-third lapse of payments firm Wirecard reaches its climax, with Chancellor Angela Merkel ap- country for a week. Athulathmudali is assassinated less wealth than would otherwise be the case, the company said. while addressing a gathering, ap- “Our analysis shows the potential costs that economies could pearing before the investigative parliamen- France: More than a hundred fishermen face should governments fail to act more decisively on climate,” tary committee. block trucks carrying fish from the UK, in a proximately four weeks ahead of the Provincial Council elections for the said Patrick Saner, who is in charge of global macroeconomic Chad: The country buries veteran ruler Id- protest against a Brexit fishing deal they have Western Province forecasts for Swiss Re. The projections come as world leaders riss Deby Itno as concerns mount over the dismissed as “a sham”. gathered for a two-day virtual climate summit in Washington loss of a lynchpin in the fight against jihadism Brazil: The Supreme Court upholds last on Thursday hosted by President Joe Biden, who has urged in the Sahel. month’s ruling by one of its chambers that Today is... countries to do more to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. former judge Sergio Moro was “biased” in English Language Day The new report makes clear the stakes involved in those ne- Japan: The government is to declare virus states of emergencies in Tokyo and three convicting ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da A day that celebrates the language, gotiations. Silva of corruption in 2017. -NYT other regions, exactly three months before its history, and its oddities 2 APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS BUSINESS

Biden seeks tax hikes on rich to fund child care, education SL and WB sign WASHINGTON — The next phase of tive, a move that sidesteps a fight among of what will be the second half of Biden’s for workers and free community col- US$ 70Mn loan to President Joe Biden’s $4 trillion push liberals on Capitol Hill but that risks up- sweeping economic agenda, which also lege tuition for all. It also seeks to extend to overhaul the US economy will seek to setting some progressive groups that have includes the $2.3 trillion American Jobs through 2025 an expanded tax credit for raise taxes on millionaire investors to pushed Biden to prioritize health issues. Plan the president described last month. parents — which is essentially a monthly redevelop transit fund education and other spending plans, The president is set to outline his so- That plan focused largely on physical payment from the government for most but it will not take steps to expand health called American Family Plan, which in- infrastructure spending, like repairing families — that was created on a tempo- terminal in Kandy coverage or reduce prescription drug pric- cludes measures aimed at helping Ameri- bridges and water pipes and building rary basis by the $1.9 trillion economic aid COLOMBO — The Government es, according to people familiar with the cans gain skills throughout life and have electric vehicle charging stations, and was package Biden signed into law last month. of Sri Lanka and the World Bank proposal. more flexibility in the workforce, before funded by tax increases on corporations. The duration of that extension was earlier signed a loan agreement amount- Administration officials had planned his first address to a joint session of Con- The second phase centres on what reported by The Washington Post. ing to $69.33 million for the Kandy to include a health care expansion of up gress next week. Its details remain a work administration officials call “human in- Democrats on Capitol Hill have urged Multimodal Transport Terminal to $700 billion, offset by efforts to reduce in progress and could change in the days frastructure.” It will spend hundreds of Biden to instead make permanent that Development Project, which will government spending on prescription before the announcement. billions of dollars each on universal pre- credit, which analysts say will drastically develop the Good Shed terminal in drugs. But they have decided to instead But after weeks of work, administration kindergarten, expanded subsidies for cut child poverty this year. Kandy. Located at the city centre pursue health care as a separate initia- officials have closed in on the final version child care, a national paid leave program -New York Times and providing access to the rail- way station, the modernized ter- minal will integrate rail, bus, three- European Parliament to vote on EU-UK post-Brexit trade pact Gamage proposes cannabis fix wheeler, and pedestrian traffic to BRUSSLES - The European Parliament is to hold a The Brexit deal worked out the rights of EU and Brit- make commuting safer and more vote next Tuesday (27) on ratifying the EU-UK trade ish citizens in each other's territory and notably kept for looming debt crisis efficient. and cooperation agreement that defines post-Brexit re- the UK's Northern Ireland region within the orbit of EU COLOMBO – A Sri Lanka legislator has suggested fixing the Sajith Attygalle, Secretary to the lations with Britain, European sources told AFP. customs rules, with a de facto border for goods down the country’s debt crisis with cannabis and giving Dutch courage Ministry of Finance, and Faris H. If MEPs vote in favour, as expected, it would final- Irish Sea. That arrangement, which both sides said was to a shaky domestic economy by extending opening hours of Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Coun- ize adoption of the pact by both sides before a mutually necessary to prevent any border between Northern Ire- bars and off-licence wine shops to grow a night economy. MP try Director for Maldives, Nepal agreed deadline runs out at the end of this month. land and EU member Ireland, has caused trade friction Diana Gamage said licences should be issued to grow and ex- and Sri Lanka, signed the agree- A British government spokesperson said "This is wel- for goods from Britain and triggered violence fuelled by port cannabis, similar to the way tobacco is a legal crop, not- ment on behalf of the government come news which will provide certainty to businesses unionist anger. The TCA handles the broader relation- ing cannabis should not be used as a drug but to earn foreign and the World Bank, respectively. and individuals in the UK and across Europe". ship, ensuring free trade for British-made goods into exchange though export. Kandy, is the capital city of the Currently the treaty is provisionally applied, pending the EU and vice-versa and establishes rules for cooper- “Many countries are growing it today,” she told Parlia- Central Province of Sri Lanka the European Parliament's adoption. British MPs rati- ating in a number of areas, including fishing, flights and ment, adding “We can grow them very easily in our country. which contributes 11.5% to the fied it the day it was signed, on December 30, 2020. road haulage and, in a very limited way, services. Through that, this country can earn a huge foreign exchange country’s GDP, second only to the The European Parliament had dragged its feet on The document reflects Britain's decision to go for a to settle the debts of the country.” Western Province. The city is also holding a vote, in part to protest unilateral moves by hard Brexit from the European Union, opting for in- Gamage who was appointed to the Parliament by the main a major tourist attraction and was London to suspend checks on goods entering Northern dependence from the EU's single market and customs opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and crossed over to declared a UNESCO World Herit- Ireland. union, and the European Court of Justice, in the name support a 20th Amendment to the Constitution said she had age Site in 1988. Kandy’s central lo- The European Commission last month launched a of "sovereignty". studied the issue deeply, and was confident cannabis exports cation, with road access to all other lawsuit against Britain over that decision, which it said Diplomatic tensions between London and Brussels could bring Sri Lanka revenue of US$ 73 billion dollars by regions of the island, offers it the violated the Brexit divorce deal struck a year before the have risen in the wake of Brexit. 2027. potential to become a residential trade and cooperation agreement (TCA). -AFP Gamage also noted that cannabis was banned by the white and commercial hub. man, and said, “We should have the power to change these On a weekday, nearly 389,000 19th century ordinances.” She also pointed out there was no commuters come into the city by Sri Lanka night economy in the country and said Sri Lanka can boost the bus or rail for education, employ- domestic economy by extending the hours of bars and wine ment and tourism-related purpos- Rupee closes at 201/203 to one-month dollar stores (off-license shops). es. Traffic congestion and transport Gamage said that the people do not have a place to spend safety hinders the city’s develop- COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed steady at closed at 6.55/60%, up from 6.50/60 on Wednesday their money earned through their businesses and jobs, “so the ment potential and Kandy accounts 201/203 levels in the one-month dollar on Thursday and bonds maturing on 15.12.2024 closed at 6.85/95% country needs a night economy.” The sale of alcohol in restau- for a high rate of road accidents in (22) while bond yields remained unchanged, dealers on up from 6.80/90 the previus day. A bond maturing rants and bars hotels are only permitted till 11 pm and wine Sri Lanka. said. on 01.05.2025 closed at 7.00/15 per cent on Thursday, stores are open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the moment. Currently, the Good Shed ter- Sri Lanka’s rupee closed around 201/202 in the one- down from 6.90/20 per cent on Wednesday. A bond However Gamage said no one comes to the wine stores at 9 minal lacks the critical infrastruc- month forward market on Wednesday (21). The Central maturing on 01.02.2026 closed at 7.30/45%, down from in the morning to purchase liquor. “So I propose the licence be ture—such as adequately planned Bank was quoting Telegraph Transfers (TT) rates of 7.40/55% on Wednesday, while a bond maturing on issued to open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.” bus bays, parking areas for buses, the dollar at Rs 193.4/199.4. In the secondary market, 15.08.2027 closed at 7.60/90%, down from 7.75/90% She also proposed to open the bars in hotels and restaurants waiting and queuing areas for bond yields remained unchanged, dealers said. Bonds and a bond maturing on 01.05.2029 closed at 7.90/20%. at least till 1:00 a.m., as foreigners and businessmen who are passengers, adequate sanitation maturing on 15.12.2022 closed flat at 5.95/05% from A bond maturing on 15.05.2030 closed at 8.10/50%. staying in hotels have less time to spend their money after re- facilities, and centralized ticket/ the previous day, while bonds maturing on 15.11.2023 -economynext.com turning to their rooms at about 9 or 10 in the night. information counters—needed to She called for thinking in a different way to take the country accommodate the high volume of towards development. bus and passenger traffic. -economynex.com The lack of segregation of bus and pedestrian movement around the area poses significant safety risks for pedestrians. Lack of safe Infotainment walking paths and pedestrian- friendly infrastructure has added DP Logistics expands footprint to the traffic congestion and has created safety risks. in the South Faris H. Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Mal- dives, Nepal and Sri Lanka said Kandy will benefit significantly from a well-planned urban trans- port network that enhances ac- cessibility to and from the city, efficient mobility within the city region, and its attractiveness as a tourist destination adding, “The project is also critical for the city’s post-COVID economic recovery because it will create many short- term employment opportunities DPL Head of Sales and Marketing. Dileepa Wickramasinghe and address pandemic-risk in the lighting the traditional oil lamp at the opening of new ware- design and modernization.” house. DPMC Director (Parts & Accessories) Jayantha Rath- Given the number of passengers nayake also in the picture that use public transport in Kandy, the Good Shed terminal is a po- DP Logistics (Private) Limited (DPL) recently commenced a tential hot spot for pandemic virus warehouse operation facility in Ranna in addition to its facil- transmissions, unless the risks are ity in Matara, to cater to the ever-growing logistics require- effectively mitigated. The existing ment in the Southern part of the country. With its increased terminal is not capable of safe full customer-centric approach and through this new warehouse or even partial passenger opera- operation, DPL intends to add value to logistics operations tions during a pandemic. of assembling, pick-and-pack etc., while optimally using the The frequent over-crowding and strategic location for overall customer benefit. lack of space during peak hours The gamut of supply chain solutions DPL offers include does not allow for adequate social transportation, third party logistics (3PL) including Ware- distancing and sanitary facilities house Management, Freight Forwarding and consistently are insufficient with no feasible exceeds traditional norms in logistics to provide customized measures to allow for effective solutions. sanitary practices before and after Managing over 200,000 sqft. of warehouse space through bus trips. multiple locations in Colombo and its suburbs along with the Winnie Wang, Senior Transport company’s enhanced resource pool and with its digital road Specialist and Task Team Leader of map, undoubtedly has equipped DPL to cater to the current the project, said the project, which demands of the industry. is part of comprehensive transport The company is well supported by an experienced fleet planning and improvements cur- management team, professionally trained drivers, assis- rently underway in the Kandy city tants and maintenance personnel, which has resulted in region will lead to less congestion DPL’s transportation solutions being renowned for reliabil- in the city centre, safer and faster ity, professionalism, and emphasis on safety. Commenting commutes for public transport and on DPL’s capacity to be agile and deliver timely end-to-end non-motorized transport users, logistics solutions Dhanushka Jayasinghe - Head of 3PL at and provide greater accessibility to DPL said, “More than ever, planning well in advance for the markets, employment, schools, and unpredictable logistics needs of our clients with a strategic healthcare facilities. presence will certainly be a competitive advantage in the post The US$ 69/33 million project pandemic market space.” will be implemented by the Min- Further reinforcing DPL’s commitment to clients in its istry of Urban Development and customer-centric approach, Laksiri Kumarasinghe- Chief Housing, with US$ 64.33 million Operating Officer of DPL said, “Within a very short period being provided through an Inter- we have been able to setup a facility at Ranna which provides national Development Association a comprehensive logistics services to clients. This strategic (IDA) concessional credit with ma- location has further enhanced our 3PL capabilities”. A mem- turity of 30 years and a 5-year grace ber of David Pieris Group of Companies, DPL offers fully period. integrated and tailor-made Logistics Solutions using strong The remaining $5 million is pro- business acumen, and state-of-the-art technology, whilst de- vided through an IDA non-conces- veloping mutually rewarding relationships with stakehold- sional credit with maturity of 10 ers. The Company has earned a reputation as one with pas- years and 5-year grace period. sion and commitment for reliability and service excellence. -World Bank WEEKEND EXPRESS APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 3 GLOCAL

Express Newspapers (Cey) Pvt. Ltd., 185, Grandpass Road, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka New legislation being Telephone: 0117 322 705 (Editorial) 0117 322 731 (Advertising) drafted to curb fake news 0117 322 789 (Circulation) Email – [email protected]/[email protected] FMM warns freedom Epaper - http://epaper.newsexpress.lk Facebook –News Express Sri Lanka of expression, media, at risk Sri Lanka running out of ICUs for COVID-19 as The Free Media Movement (FMM) has expressed deep concerns about the new legislation being drafted to cur- tail false and misleading online posts, younger cases with severe symptoms surge warning it could severely compromise COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s State hos- affected by the virus, younger people all patients in the country,” she said, meeting chaired by Health Minister both media freedom and freedom of pitals are running out intensive care were increasingly developing serious adding that the country has so far not Pavithra Wanniarachchi on Wednes- expression. units (ICUs) allocated for COVID-19 symptoms within a few days of expo- had any issues with supplying oxygen day (21) discussed the possibility of re- In a statement issued on Thursday treatment, as more and more younger sure, requiring ICU care. As a result to COVID-19 patients in need. stricting public gatherings in the next (22), FMM acknowledged the need patients are being admitted with se- the ICU facilities are almost full now, Increased daily cases following the three months to contain the spread. to regulate hate speech and spread of vere symptoms, Dr Sudarshini Fer- she said. Sinhala & Tamil New Year holidays Earlier this week, the government false new on the internet, but said the nandopulle, State Minister, Primary “We have some space in certain have led to fears of an uncontrollable announced the cancellation of all May government’s decision to enact repres- Health Care, Epidemics and COVID ICUs, but due to more young people surge in numbers in the coming weeks. Day events. sive laws instead of regulations could Disease Control said on Thursday (22). needing treatment, capacity is lim- Sri Lanka has recorded over 500 new The Kuliyapitiya police area in the easily lead to violations of the right to She said health authorities were tak- ited,” Dr. Fernandopulle said, adding cases daily in the past two days, with Kurunegala district, North Western freedom of expression and media free- ing measures to increase ICU capaci- that the ICUs at the National Infec- 657 cases confirmed on Thursday, Province, was designated an isolated dom. It urged the media community ties in hospitals to meet the demand. tious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in An- taking country’s virus tally to 98,722. area effective midnight Thursday, to take necessary steps to prevent the Dr. Fernandopulle said though the goda were now full, though few beds Five Covid related fatalities were also though no announcement has been new legislation from being introduced number of daily cases was still com- remained in the regular wards re- reported on Thursday. made of an island- or province-wide and approved. paratively low, there were more pa- served for COVID-19 treatment. Dr. Fernandopulle acknowledged lockdown. However, the public have The statement in full: tients now who need to be sent to the “We have treated more than 900 the virus currently spreading in the been warned that strict quarantine The Free Media Movement is deeply ICU. She also noted that though the COVID-19 patients at a time in the country was suspected to be an as yet regulations are being enforced. concerned about the right to freedom elderly were thought to be the most past, so we have the capacity to treat unidentified strain. An emergency -economynext.com/ENCL of expression and media freedom that could be severely compromised with the new legislation the Cabinet has re- quested the Legal Draftsman to come China’s defence minister to arrive in up with to curtail what the government terms as false and misleading online Sri Lanka on Tuesday posts COLOMBO - China’s Defence Minis- into power. During his visit, Wei will Cabinet approval was granted to ter, General Wei Fenghe, will arrive in hold discussions with President Go- draft the laws based on a joint Cabinet Sri Lanka on a three-day State visit on tabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister paper presented on April 20, 2021, by Tuesday (27). Mahinda Rajapaksa and other leading Justice Minister Ali Sabry and Media Government Information Depart- government officials. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. ment said General Wei, will hold bi- This is the second highest visit to be The spread of false information on lateral discussions with government undertaken by a Chinese official to Sri the internet and hate speech can cause leaders and officials, making it one of Lanka following senior Chinese dip- divisions in society, create religious the highest level visits undertaken by lomat, Yang Jiechi’s visit in October and ethnic tensions, and endanger in- a Chinese Government official since 2020 dividuals and groups working for the the Rajapaksa government was sworn -CG benefit of the community. This should not be permitted in a democratic soci- ety, and there is no debate regarding the need for regulation to curb such Harin facing imminent arrest, matters. However, when a government inter- warns Patali venes to enact repressive laws instead of regulation, it only serves as an op- COLOMBO – Attempts are under situation, MP Ranawaka said the portunity for the authorities who have way to arrest Sri Lanka’s main oppo- government was afraid of the chal- a long track record of abusive interpre- -Abdul MAJEED / AFP sition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) lenge posed by his colleague and oth- tation to define ‘false news’, creating a MP Harin Fernando, SJB MP Patali ers like him who are vocal about their path for violating the right to freedom Sri Lanka's Buddhist monks visit the Bhamala Stupa, a ruined Buddhist stupa and Champika Ranawaka warned on criticism of the powers that be, noting of expression and media freedom. National Heritage Site in Haripur district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan Thursday (22). Ranawaka informing MPs within its own ranks have earned The statement issued by the Govern- on Thursday (22). The monks are on a week-long tour of Buddhist sites in Pakistan Parliament that Fernando had been the wrath of the government. ment Information Department that arranged by the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo to strengthen cultural ties asked to appear before the Crimi- “We know Harin Fernando is an false news is used to weaken demo- between Pakistan and Sri Lanka based on shared Buddhist heritage, and also boost nal Investigation Department (CID), active opposition MP. Anyone can cratic institutions, implies mere criti- religious tourism by showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage, which is home to asked, “What for? To arrest him? To see how active he is,” he said, accus- cism of the government or key officials the Gandhara civilization. Ayesha Abu Bakr Fahad, second secretary at High Commission oppress him?” ing the government of hiding behind or policies can be defined as false news in Colombo said the visit is in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision to promote On Tuesday (20), Fernando made commissions and the ruling Sri Lanka and used to suppress journalists and religious tourism, project Pakistan’s historical treasures. The delegation, led by Dr startling revelations in Parliament of Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)-led alli- social activists. Walpole Piyananda, president of Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara, USA, called on Pakistan an alleged omission by the investiga- ance’s majority in Parliament. False news on the internet or news President Dr. Arif Alvi on Wednesday (21) tors of the 2019 Easter bombings. “Anyone who they think will rise that create or promote hatred is, to Throughout much of his speech, back- up against them, even from their own some extent, regulated by the relevant bencher MPs of the government kept party, anyone who goes against the media networks. There are also legal trying to interrupt and hurl abuse Rajapaksa family may come under at- provisions in place in the country to Reconstructed Mullivaikkal memorial to at him. The next day, a brawl nearly tack. deal with such incidents. In particular, ensued between government and op- They’re using the commissions and there are some provisions in the In- position members as some MPs at- their majority to silence opposition ternational Covenant on Civil and Po- be unveiled on Friday tempted to physically assault him. activists,” he charged. litical Rights (ICCPR) Act, which have COLOMBO - The reconstructed Mulli- claimed orders for the demolition came Referring to Wednesday’s (21) tense -economynext.com also become instruments for abuse vaikkal memorial monument at the Uni- from "higher authorities" including Sri through its arbitrary and inconsistent versity of Jaffna is set to be unveiled on Lanka's defence, intelligence and educa- use. Friday (23). tion ministry. Fishermen arrested in Myanmar There are numerous examples and The monument, dedicated to the tens of Following the global outrage, Srisat- experiences of such arbitrary arrests thousands of Tamils killed at the end of kunarajah promised to reconstruct the released and repatriated to SL especially using the ICCPR Act. Tak- the armed conflict in 2009, was bulldozed memorial and work began on January 15, COLOMBO - Sri Lankan fishermen The ministry identified the 12 fish- ing into consideration such a repres- by authorities in early January, sparking with the Srisatkunarajah himself laying arrested in Myanmar and released ermen as A. C. I. Fernando, L. A. Nir- sive backdrop, introducing new laws outrage across the North and East and the foundation stone. subsequent to several rounds of talks mitha Srilal, H. S. Chaminda, H. S. to control freedom of expression is a around the world. Jaffna University stu- The monument was originally unveiled with the new military junta, are set to Jayantha, D. K. S. S. Hemachandra, dangerous development. dents launched a hunger strike in protest in 2019, marking the tenth anniversary of be repatriated to Sri Lanka on Friday D. M. K. Madushanka, K.M. Fernan- Journalists have also been harassed against the destruction and a hartal shut the Mullivaikkal massacre that took place (23). do, S. Nanayakkara, W. N. Fernando, under the Criminal Defamation Act, down the North and East. in May 2009 where thousands of Tamils The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in T. K. N. Peiris, J. K. S. Lal Perera and which was repealed in 2002. It is un- University students said the memorial were killed by the Sri Lankan state. The a statement issued on Thursday (22), W. A. S. Fernando, and said arrange- certain whether the legal provisions will be unveiled by the Vice Chancellor, S. monument was designed and constructed said the 12 Sri Lankan fishermen will ments have been made to quarantine aimed at controlling online media will Srisatkunarajah, who initially slammed by the students, many of who survived be flown from Yangon in Myanmar them upon arrival, under current also take the same route of harassment the protesters and threatened they would Mullivaikkal and had lost family to the to Singapore, on Singapore Airlines health procedures. and abuse. There is no reason to be- be ‘dealt with’ if they continued with the massacre in 2009. flight SQ761 on Friday and will be -ENCL lieve that this repressive hand will not demonstration. The Vice-Chancellor later -TG flown to Colombo later in the day. be extended to cover traditional me- dia. The Free Media Movement, which advocates for socially responsible jour- nalism from online media and all other Australian HC launches Manik Sri Lanka to ban chemical fertilizer media outlets, urges the media com- munity to take all necessary steps to Sooriyaarachchi Scholarship for imports in ‘near future’ prevent this new legislation from being introduced and approved. COLOMBO – Sri Lanka will ban the chemical fertilizers remain high,” he Female Entrepreneurs import of chemical fertilizer in the added. COLOMBO - The Australian High Com- entrepreneur and as an Australian alum- ‘near future’ as pollution of water- Critics had warned that heavily mission on Wednesday (21) announced na, will fund course fees and travel and ways and suspected kidney disease is subsidized chemical fertilizer, which the launch of the Manik Sooriyaarachchi living expenses up to AUD 55,000. One a cost to society, though farmers are started around 2005 would lead to Scholarship for Female Entrepreneurs, scholarship will be offered each year for making profits, President Gotabaya overuse and pollution as there is no which will fund a Sri Lankan female en- the next five years. Australian High Com- Rajapaksa said. incentive to use fertilizer efficiently trepreneur to undertake a business entre- missioner David Holly launched the schol- Sri Lanka spends US$ 400 million or do soil tests to find which areas preneurship degree at graduate certificate arship on Wednesday (21) on the second a year in fertilizer imports. are deficient in which nutrient. level at one of Australia’s top universities. anniversary of the bombings. “The usage of chemical fertilizers All the respective parties should in- The scholarship was established to com- A statement from the Australian High leads to a better harvest,” President tervene to increase the production of memorate the Australian entrepreneur Commission is Colombo said applications told a meeting of State enterprise organic fertilizer in the country, the who tragically died, along with her daugh- will be sought from female businesswom- chiefs, but noted the negative con- President said, adding that organic ter Alexandria, in the 2019 Easter Sunday en and entrepreneurs with at least five sequences caused on human lives fertilizer will be provided in lieu of bombings. years professional experience who have through pollution of lakes, canals the concessionary fertilizer package Manik, an alumna from the University a clear proposal for expanding their cur- and groundwater due to the chemical for farmers. of Swinburne in Melbourne, was an ac- rent business or creating a new business fertilizers outweigh the profit. The annual spend of US$ 400 mil- tive member of the Australia-Sri Lanka in sectors that will expand employment He said the health sector had lion on chemical fertilizer could be Alumni group and an entrepreneurial opportunities for Sri Lankans. It encour- pointed out the effects of chemical better spent on uplifting people’s businesswoman who returned to Sri Lan- age female Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and fertilizers have led to a number of lives, President Rajapaksa said. ka to contribute to the country’s economic businesswomen to take the opportunity non-communicable diseases, includ- Sri Lanka’s is facing severe forex development. to undertake professional development in ing kidney diseases. “The expenses shortages amid unprecedented mon- The scholarship, established to mark Australia. to treat these patients and the im- ey printing over the past year. the contributions Manik made as a female -ENCL pact on human lives caused by these -economynext.com 4 APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS HOT TOPICS

After grisly attack By Austin Ramzy and Tiffany May Kuwaitis rally over Guilty verdict for Hong violence against Kong journalist women As media faces ‘frontal assault’ KUWAIT CITY - Scores of Kuwaitis HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s police chief warned staged a rally on Thursday (22) to pro- journalists they could be investigated for reporting test violence against women, after a “fake news”. A newspaper controlled by the Chinese young mother was kidnapped and mur- government called for a ban on the city’s biggest pro- dered by a man who had stalked her re- democracy news outlet. Masked men ransacked the lentlessly despite repeated complaints to offices of a publication critical of China’s Communist authorities. Party and smashed its presses. Hong Kong’s reputa- The brutal killing of Farah Hamzah tion as a bastion of press freedom in Asia, home to Akbar, 32, whose body was dumped out- journalism that is far more aggressive and independ- side a hospital on Tuesday (20), caused -Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP ent than that found next door in mainland China, has shock waves in the oil-rich country. Relatives and staff carry a dead body of a COVID-19 victim at Nigambodh Ghat Cremato- been under sustained pressure for years. She had been dragged from a car that rium, on the banks of the Yamuna river in New Delhi in the early hour of Thursday (22) Now, as Beijing moves to stamp out dissent in the she was travelling in, accompanied by city, the news media is under direct assault. Tradi- her two daughters and her sister, in By Shashank Bengali tional pressure tactics, such as advertising boycotts, broad daylight. have been eclipsed by the sort of bare-knuckles cam- A series of videos that went viral on paign that could leave prominent journalists silenced social media showed the killer's vehicle and their outlets transformed or closed. Recent tar- slammed against Akbar's car, and the India sets a new global record for gets include the freewheeling pro-democracy news- sound of her daughters crying while her paper Apple Daily, whose founder was sentenced to sister screamed that she had been killed 14 months in prison last week, and RTHK, a public after authorities failed to act. ''We said broadcaster known for its deep investigations. On that he is going to kill her, and now he daily infections Thursday (22), one of the network’s prizewinning killed my sister. Where is the govern- NEW DELHI - Marking a grave On Thursday, the Indian govern- tionwide lockdown in March 2020 producers, Choy Yuk-ling, was found guilty of making ment? We told the judge. I told you new milestone in the coronavirus ment recorded 2,104 deaths, and an in the early stages of the pandemic, false statements to obtain public records for a report many times he would kill her,'' she said. pandemic, India recorded 312,731 average of more than 1,300 people failed to prepare for a second wave that was critical of the police. She was ordered to pay Akbar had previously filed two har- new infections in a 24-hour period, have died of the virus every day for or to warn Indians to remain vigi- a fine of 6,000 Hong Kong dollars, about $775. assment cases against the man, who the Indian Health Ministry said the past week. lant against the virus, especially as “We seem to have turned some sort of a corner had proposed to her although she was Thursday (22). It is the highest daily That is less than at the worst more infectious variants began to fairly recently,” said Keith Richburg, director of the already married. He had been arrested case count in a single country since points of the pandemic in the Unit- spread. University of Hong Kong’s Journalism and Media but was released on bail. The Kuwaiti the virus surfaced in China more ed States or Brazil, but it is a steep Modi’s Hindu nationalist govern- Studies Centre. “Self-censorship is still an issue and interior ministry said in a statement that than a year ago. increase from just two months ago, ment has also allowed a massive not knowing where the red lines are, but now we see Akbar had been stabbed in the chest. India’s total eclipsed the previous when fewer than 100 people in In- Hindu festival to take place, draw- what seems to be more of a frontal assault on the me- The attacker was quickly arrested and single-day high of 300,669 cases, dia were dying daily. ing millions of pilgrims to the banks dia in Hong Kong.” confessed to the crime, triggering calls set in the United States on Jan. 8, There are signs that the country’s of the Ganges River, and his party Beijing has long wanted to bring Hong Kong to for his execution. At the rally, some according to a New York Times da- health system, patchy even before has held jam-packed political rallies heel. The city, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory 200 people including men, wore black tabase. the pandemic, is collapsing under in several states. since the British handed back its former colony in clothes to mourn the victim and rallied Over the past two months, the the strain. On Tuesday, at least 22 “India’s rapid slide into this un- 1997, played by its own set of rules. Residents enjoyed under the slogan "Who is next?" outbreak in India has exploded, people died in an accident in the precedented crisis is a direct result freedoms unseen on the mainland, including unfet- They demanded tougher penalties for with reports of superspreader gath- central city of Nashik when a leak of complacency and lack of prepara- tered access to the internet, the right to protest and those who assault women and raised erings, oxygen shortages and am- in a hospital’s main oxygen tank cut tion by the government,” Ramanan an independent press. banners reading ‘We will not be silent’ bulances lined up outside hospitals the flow of oxygen to COVID-19 pa- Laxminarayan, the director of the But after large demonstrations in 2019 convulsed and ‘Stop killing women’. because there are no ventilators for tients. Center for Disease Dynamics, Eco- the city and sometimes turned violent, China’s cen- Others held a large banner with the new patients. The picture is staggeringly dif- nomics and Policy in Washington, tral government seized on the unrest to crack down. names of 10 Kuwaiti women who have As cases worldwide reach new ferent from early February, when wrote in The New York Times on It imposed a tough national security law last year, been killed in recent years, and the mes- weekly records, 40% of the infec- India was recording an average of Tuesday (20). criminalizing many forms of anti-government speech. sage: "These are women who were killed tions are coming from India, a so- just 11,000 cases a day, and domes- The hardest hit region is Maha- Then it made changes to Hong Kong’s election sys- silently and we did not mention their bering reminder that the pandemic tic drug companies were pumping rashtra, a populous western state tem, tightening the pro-Beijing establishment’s grip names." The outpouring of emotion is far from over, even as infections out millions of vaccine doses. More that includes the financial hub of on power. Pro-democracy lawmakers were removed comes after women in Kuwait defied decline and vaccinations speed than 132 million Indians have re- Mumbai. On Wednesday (21), the from office. The protest movement was silenced. Ac- conservative norms to speak out against ahead in the United States and ceived at least one dose, but sup- state’s top leader ordered govern- tivists were jailed. And journalists found themselves harassment for the first time, in a social other wealthy parts of the world. plies are running low, and experts ment offices to operate at 15% ca- in the government’s crosshairs. media campaign sparked by a popular India has surpassed 15.6 million to- warn that the country is unlikely to pacity and imposed new restrictions On Thursday, a Hong Kong court found that Choy, fashion blogger. tal infections, second most after the meet its goal of inoculating 300 mil- on weddings and private transpor- a freelance producer, had broken the law when she An outpointing of testimonies about United States. lion people by the summer. tation to slow the spread of the vi- used a public database of licence plate records as being stalked, harassed or assaulted The death toll has also begun to Critics say Prime Minister Naren- rus. part of an investigation into a July 2019 mob attack emerged online in February, focused on climb precipitously. dra Modi, who imposed a harsh na- -New York Times at a train station in which 45 people were injured. the Instagram account ‘Lan Asket’, Ara- Activists have accused the police of turning a blind bic for ‘I will not be silent’. By Sonny Tumbelaka eye to the violence. The journalist, who also goes by Several members of Akbar's family the name Bao Choy, helped to produce fine-grained participated in the rally in Kuwait City, documentaries for RTHK that examined who was demanding justice. Time running out for 53 crew on missing Indonesian behind the attacks and why the police were slow to "Where was she at fault, why was she respond. She was arrested in November and charged killed?'' asked her aunt. submarine with making false statements about why she had used ''This stand is for Farah Akbar and for the publicly accessible database. Choy said her case all the women who were killed by their BALI - Indonesian warships led have warned that the vessel could helicopters assisting in the hunt. showed how authorities were trying to crack down relatives or strangers. Today we lost Fa- the hunt Thursday (22) for a sub- have already broken into pieces if Neighbouring Singapore and Ma- on the news media and restrict access to information rah, but who is next? Will I be the victim, marine that went missing with 53 it has sunk to depths believed to laysia have already dispatched that was once publicly available. “I realized since my or you, or someone close to you?'' said crew aboard and only enough oxy- be as much as 700 metres (2,300 ships that are expected to arrive in arrest it’s not my individual issue,” she said in an in- one protester, Amna Al-Kindri. Kuwaiti gen for a few days. feet) - well below what it was built the coming days, including the city- terview. “It’s a bigger issue of press freedom in Hong activist Arwa Al-Waqian demanded that An oil spill where the submarine to withstand. Indonesia's president state's MV Swift Rescue - a subma- Kong.” Press freedom groups have denounced Choy’s the authorities take action when women was thought to have submerged Joko Widodo asked his country to rine rescue vessel. arrest and described it as part of a campaign of har- complain of harassment. early Wednesday (21) pointed to pray for the crew, while Australian India said Thursday it had sent assment. The Committee to Protect Journalists called "We have not slept for days because of possible fuel-tank damage, and Defence Minister Peter Dutton said a ship to assist in the hunt, while the government’s case an “absurdly disproportionate the injustice against this victim who was fanned fears of a deadly disaster. initial reports raised the prospect of the United States, Australia, France action that amounts to an assault on press freedom.” killed in broad daylight. We do not know The crew on the KRI Nanggala a "terrible tragedy". and Germany are among other na- The case against Choy is the latest move against when some obsessive person could con- 402 could have enough oxygen The German-built submarine tions that have offered help. RTHK, Hong Kong’s leading public radio and televi- front us on the street," she said. until early Saturday (24), but time was scheduled to conduct live tor- Indonesia's military has so far sion network, which for years offered hard-hitting re- -Agence France-Presse was quickly running out as rescuers pedo exercises when it asked for refused to comment about whether ports critical of the government. The outlet’s charter scoured the coast off holiday island permission to dive. It lost contact the decades-old submarine, carry- grants it editorial independence, but as a government New Zealand mosque Bali where it disappeared. shortly after. ing 53 crew, was over capacity. entity, it has little protection from officials who want "There's time until Saturday Search teams were focused on an But it has said the submarine to see it brought under stricter control. Regina Ip, a attacker drops legal around 3:00 a.m. Let's hope we can area around the oil slick. might have sunk to vast depths af- pro-Beijing lawmaker, said last week that the gov- find them before then," Navy Chief But the exact location of the ter a blackout that left its crew pow- ernment should consider closing it altogether. Just of Staff Yudo Margono told report- vessel had yet to be pinpointed, erless to control the vessel. months after the national security law was passed, challenge ers. However, defence analysts the navy said, with warships and - Agence France-Presse the Hong Kong government called for RTHK to be WELLINGTON - The man responsi- more tightly supervised by government-appointed ble for the deadly 2019 mosque attacks By Clément Zampa advisers. in New Zealand has withdrawn a legal Reporters Without Borders, the media freedom challenge over his prison conditions and advocacy group, said Tuesday (20) the security law his terrorist status. EU looks to sue AstraZeneca over delivery shortfall posed a threat to journalists and that RTHK was “be- Brenton Tarrant was sentenced to life BRUSSELS - The European Com- the commission wants EU member brain. The EMA and the commis- ing subjected to a full-blown intimidation campaign in prison with no possibility of release mission is looking to launch legal states - which also had a role in ne- sion have not changed their stance by the government with the aim of restricting its edi- for the terror attacks that killed 51 wor- action against AstraZeneca for un- gotiating the vaccine contracts for on a general use of AstraZeneca, torial autonomy.” The Hong Kong government dis- shippers. derdelivering COVID-19 vaccine the bloc - to back the lawsuit and to saying its benefits outweigh the missed the claim that RTHK was being targeted and Tarrant had asked the Auckland High doses to the EU, hobbling the bloc's say so by the end of this week. risks, but several EU countries have said it was “appalled” by the suggestion “that people Court for a judicial review of his desig- early rollout of jabs, diplomats said "The problem is that the member restricted its use to older citizens, with a particular profession should be immune to le- nation as a terrorist entity and of his ac- Thursday (22). states do not know the complaint" aged over 50, 55 or 60. The EU, gal sanctions.” International news outlets have also cess to news and mail in prison. The EU executive informed being formulated, the diplomat however, is now increasingly rely- come under pressure in Hong Kong. An editor for the Judge Geoffrey Venning released a member state envoys of its plans on said. "It is a sensitive procedure and ing on the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine Financial Times was forced to leave the city in 2018, memo on Friday (23) stating the infor- Wednesday (21), the diplomats told you do not want to further damage for its rollout, which has been accel- in apparent retaliation for his role in hosting a talk mal applications were withdrawn. AFP, confirming information first trust in the vaccine." erating since the end of March. by a pro-independence activist. The New York Times "Mr Tarrant now advises that he published by the Politico website. Another diplomat said that "not De Keersmaecker said that the has moved a number of editors from Hong Kong to wished to withdraw his two previous ap- They said any lawsuit against As- all member states are in agree- commission opted to let lapse a Seoul, South Korea, in part because of problems re- plications for judicial review which he traZeneca would begin in a Belgian ment" on taking the company to deadline to activate an option for newing work visas. referred to in his initial communication court - the jurisdiction agreed un- court, stressing that their aim was 100 million extra AstraZeneca Perhaps the most prominent target thus far has to the Court," Venning said. der the commission's contract with simply to have AstraZeneca de- doses. "This option will not be exer- been Jimmy Lai, the outspoken critic of the Chinese Tarrant pleaded guilty in March 2020 the British-Swedish pharmaceuti- liver the doses it had promised in cised," he said. Communist Party who founded Apple Daily, the to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempt- cal company. its contract. AstraZeneca has so far AstraZeneca's French-Australian pro-democracy newspaper. He was sentenced to 14 ed murder and a charge of committing A Commission spokesman, Eric delivered just 31 million of the 120 boss, Pascal Soriot, has argued that months in prison last week after being convicted of a terrorist attack. The attacks on the Al Mamer, told journalists that "no million doses it had promised. It his company's contract with the EU unauthorized assembly in connection with two pro- Noor mosque and the Linwood Islamic decision has yet been taken". has warned it will likewise provide binds it only to a "best reasonable tests in 2019. But his legal jeopardy is far from over. Centre were filmed by the gunman and Another spokesman, Stefan De just 70 million of the 180 million efforts" clause. Apple Daily’s newsroom was raided by the police live-streamed on social media. Keersmaecker, added: "As you more meant to be delivered over But the commission says the last year, and Lai faces charges related to the na- His sentencing in August marked both know, AstraZeneca is not deliver- the rest of this year. rest of the contract shows greater tional security law for allegedly calling for US sanc- the first time New Zealand had issued a ing the number of doses which have Public confidence in the Astra- legal responsibility than that, and tions against Hong Kong. Under the law, crimes “of sentence with no chance of parole, and been agreed upon in the contract... Zeneca jab has taken a blow after EU diplomats and lawmakers have a grave nature,” an intentionally ambiguous term, the first time anyone had been sentenced This is one of the reasons why we the European Medicines Agency, pointed out that the company has carry sentences of up to life imprisonment, but it is for offending against New Zealand’s Ter- keep our options open together the bloc's regulator, said it was like- largely delivered promised doses to unclear whether the charges he faces would fit under rorism Suppression Act. with member states to take any fur- ly linked to a very rare, but often fa- Britain, where it is headquartered. this provision. -dpa ther steps." One EU diplomat said tal, form of blood clot affecting the -Agencies -New York Times WEEKEND EXPRESS APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 5 FOCUS

By P. K. Balachandran Adding to the women’s agony Debt traps and MFIs COLOMBO - In the recent past, a number of media re- ports have shone a light on the plight of Sri Lankan villag- ers, mostly women, who are caught in a debt trap, having taken loans from Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) at interest rates ranging from 40% to 220%. The lenders’ aggressive methods of loan recovery have only added to the women’s agony, which has, in many cases, led to sui- cide. According to Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR), more than 200 people had commit- ted suicide in the last three years due to the inability to repay loans taken from the MFIs. More than 2.5 million Sri Lankans, mostly poor rural - LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP women, take loans from MFI to lift themselves from pov- Sri Lankan Muslim women walk along a road in Kattankudy on April 25, 2019. Around 130 Muslim children erty. According to the Central Bank, the Non-Performing from families who authorities have implicated in the Easter Sunday attacks struggle with social ostra- Loans (NPL) in MFIs increased to 30% at the end of Sep- cization and live in abject poverty tember 2020 from 17.3% at the end of September 2019. To combat the problem, interest rate reduction By Shreen Saroor through State action is generally recommended by so- cial workers. Globally, anything between 27% and 30% is considered reasonable for MFIs. But studies indicate interest rate capping is not a panacea. In his 2016 pa- per for the ADB entitled ‘Impact of restriction on interest Denying justice while dehumanizing rates in microfinance’, Sanjay Sinha said restricting in- terest rates would actually kill MFIs or drive them to the urban areas to serve the already fully or partially banked, better off households. But by abandoning the rural poor, the MFIs would be abandoning their primary task, which a community at large is to provide much-needed credit to the unbanked rural poor who have no collaterals to pledge to regular banks. Thirty-one people died in the suicide attack in violation of Sri Lankan law and basic princi- manded answers, noting that her son was in The MFIs’ presence in the rural areas is essential. One on Zion evangelical church in Batticaloa on ples of due process. the custody of a government rehabilitation should not lose sight of the fact that the MFIs have con- April 21, 2019, of which 14 were children. To Jufaithiya, a 55-year old cancer patient, has centre, and met with the then UN High Com- tributed to rural economic development and welfare. date the church remains locked with a notice been denied treatment and is currently in the missioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay. The Bangladesh, is a shining example of what a well-run on the gate claiming it is an ‘army construc- Tangalle Navy camp. She was arrested because government silenced Jeyakumari by ordering MFIs can do. In her 2006 paper in cairn.info titled ‘Mi- tion site’. A memorial billboard picturing the she listened to a banned National Thawheeth her arrest on unsupported allegations that she crofinance: a Catalyst for Development at Macroeco- victims has been turned inwards so it cannot Jama’athbayan (sermon) on a single occasion. had harboured a terror suspect. She spent a nomic Level?’ Ranjula Bali Swain wrote that in Bangla- be seen from the outside. With the State doing In that same camp are 15-month-old Yunoose year in prison while her teenage daughter was desh, MFIs helped raise per capita consumption, mainly little, parents Praba and Sutha who lost their and 12-month-old Imara, who are spending sent to an orphanage. with respect to non-food and household non-land assets child joined with other families this April 21 to their toddler months in custody alongside For too many families, “rehabilitation” has and thereby helped borrowers lift themselves above the unveil a monument near Kalladi Bridge. their mothers who have been detained un- proved a euphemism for disappearance and poverty line. In neighbouring Kattankudy, around 130 der the PTA. When baby Yunoose’s hand got seeking answers only compounds the punish- “MFI programs also had a spill-over effect on the local Muslim children from families who authorities burnt, mother Nushra could not tell relatives ment. economy, which led to an increase in village-level wel- have implicated in the attacks struggle with how it happened because detainees were for- As many Tamil women learned, there is also fare. Micro finance accounted for about 40% of the over- social ostracization and live in abject poverty. bidden to speak to visiting relatives alone. a cost for those who do make it out of rehabili- all reduction in moderate poverty in rural Bangladesh,” A few have dropped out of school and some do As bad as things already are for the Muslim tation. Women’s groups and community activ- she added. not have much to eat. This much is clear: two community under the PTA, the new de-radi- ists worked closely with rehabilitated women However, micro or small enterprises need both entre- years after the Easter Sunday attacks, victims calization regulations make matters worse, ex- cadres in the North and the East, helping them preneurship skills and a favourable local market to suc- have not seen justice and their suffering is co- pressly codifying the power to detain a person rebuild their lives after the war especially in ceed. Without these, returns on investments financed by opted to distract from ill governance. While on nothing more than an official’s subjective 2010 to 2019. For many women, particularly MFIs will be small. The surrounding economy must grow the State delays accountability for those actu- (and often erroneous) interpretation of a de- the war-disabled, conservative Tamil society and provide opportunities for MFIs loans to be meaning- ally at fault, it collectively punishes the Mus- tainee’s words or actions. The regulations are left them no place to return to. Having cho- ful to the borrower in the long term, for the ultimate suc- lim community at large with zero due process silent as to what ‘rehabilitation’ means or what sen a path that challenged traditional gender cess of micro-financing depends on the development of guarantees. procedures will be adopted to achieve it. Per- norms, these women were shunned by the the local economy and also the national economy. On March 12, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa haps most alarmingly, they remove even the community and struggled to marry, raise chil- There are reasons why the MFIs charge higher inter- unveiled new regulations under the Preven- inadequate judicial oversight and safeguards dren and negotiate culturally accepted wom- est than the regular commercial banks. Compared to the tion of Terrorism Act (PTA) by Extraordinary that exist under the PTA. Police may com- en’s work. regular banks and other big financial institutions, the Gazette. Entitled ‘De-radicalization from mence an investigation after arresting a per- Rehabilitation policies only exacerbated operating expenses of the MFIs are high. Therefore, eve- holding violent extremist religious ideology’, son, without providing the reason for arrest. their challenges. With former cadres visited rywhere in the world, MFIs charge higher interest rates they permit the Ministry of Defence to create Detainees may be deprived access to counsel at all hours by young military men, the com- compared to the formal banking sector (40 to 200%). ‘Reintegration Centres’ designed to rehabili- or the right to receive the evidence to be used munity ostracized these women for their per- These small institutions operate in remote areas, ap- tate those who cause or intend to cause “acts against them. ceived promiscuity or avoided them so as not proaching their clients door to door. For this, they need of violence or religious, racial or communal If the Attorney General’s Department be- to invite further surveillance upon themselves. to employ a large staff. The MFIs are not government disharmony or feelings of ill will or hostility lieves the person is suitable for rehabilitation The badge of being ‘rehabilitated’ sows mis- welfare institutions meant to fund poverty alleviation between different communities or racial or that person may be detained for a year (with trust and division within an already marginal- programs using money from the public exchequer, but religious groups.” The gazette will strengthen possible extension for another year), with ap- ized community, further breaking down family are businesses which have to be self-sustaining. the already draconian provisions of the Pre- proval by a magistrate as the sole form of ju- and community. While curbing exploitative interest rates charged by vention of Terrorism Act. dicial scrutiny. Even war on terror detainees Yesterday Tamils were the target; today it NFIs, governments should help the people secure funds The world has watched in recent years as held by the United States in Guantanamo Bay is Muslims. In China, Uyghur AnarSabit de- at reasonable rates, which the Sri Lankan government China detained a million Uyghurs, Kazakhs have the right to challenge their designation as scribed how her family was labelled as ‘focus has been doing since 2017-18, say Ahilan Kadirgamar and other Muslims in secret ‘re-education enemy combatants and seek habeas corpus re- personnel’ to be watched when she was being and Niyanthini Kadirgamar in an article in opendemo- centres’ described as the largest mass-scale lief to contest their continued detention. Such detained in Chinese re-education camps. Her cracy.com dated September 5, 2019. The authors have internment of ethnic and religious minorities basic protections will now be denied to Sri relatives had to entertain officials with alco- recommended strengthening the co-operative move- since World War Two. Chinese officials have Lankan citizens detained within Sri Lankan hol (to show a departure from Muslim norms) ment and state-sponsored income generating schemes. claimed a third of Xinjian’s Uyghurs are “pol- territory. and attend weekly flag-raising ceremonies (to According to the Kadirgamars, the co -operative move- luted by religious extremist forces” and need It is easy to see that the so-called rehabilita- prove their patriotism). After Sabit was re- ment has suggested four steps to address the crisis: de- to be cleansed of their ideology, not merely tion camps are not meant as a counterterror- leased, former friends and relatives kept their creasing the debt stock through a moratorium on loan punished for their actions. ism tool. Describing her prolonged detention distance, fearing that any association with her payments or debt write off; an interest rate cap to end Forced internment, travel restrictions, sup- in China in a startling New Yorker piece, Uy- would only land them there too. Similar pat- the exponential increase in debt; alternative avenues for pression of religious practices and sterilization ghur Anar Sabit recalled being kept alongside terns are already emerging in Sri Lanka, with affordable rural credit including through the co-opera- programs have led the US and others to label women having no connection to religious ex- the Muslim community shunning PTA detain- tives; and policies to increase income streams through China’s repression as genocide. The US, EU, tremism or violence. She slowly came to real- ees for their perceived ties to religious extrem- collective production as opposed to self-employment. UK and Canada sanctioned Communist Party ize that China’s camps aimed not at counter- ism or avoiding them to ward off unwanted As a result, a one-time partial write off of loans in officials who shaped the internment policy terror but rather at breaking cultural bonds CID attention. twelve drought-affected districts and a national interest and barred cotton and tomato imports from and knowledge transmission. The same is al- In Mawanella in the Kegalle district, a large rate cap on microfinance of 35% was announced. The in- Xinjiang. ready apparent in Sri Lanka. number of Muslims have been detained un- terest rate cap, significant for flushing out unscrupulous Potentially emboldened by China’s policies These mass detentions have nothing to do der the PTA. Families there are suffering in companies, was instituted in December 2018 after a year in Xinjiang – which senior Sri Lankan offi- with justice for victims. Three men who were silence and isolation. Even their own commu- of lobbying, and amid objections from the economic es- cials have publicly defended – Sri Lanka has charged on November 12, 2020 in a Los Ange- nity members do not want to talk about them tablishment that it would be interference in the market, embarked on a similar path. As with China’s les federal court with aiding and abetting the or show their homes to anyone who wants to they said. “In the Northern Province, credit co-opera- ‘re-education centres’, the camps to be es- Easter attacks – Mohamed Naufar, Mohamed gather information or assists them. In this way tives combined their funds with government budget al- tablished under Sri Lanka’s new regulations Riskan and Ahamed Milhan – are being in- rehabilitation camps break down not only a locations in 2018 and 2019 totalling Rs 750 million, for would go beyond punishing overt acts and in- dicted in Sri Lanka only on April 20, 2021, detainee but also his or her broader commu- a broad credit scheme reaching distressed households to stead proscribe thoughts. The current de-rad- although they have been detained by the Ter- nity. And with prolonged detention inevita- keep them away from predatory lenders. A further alloca- icalization gazette is vague in what it prohibits rorism Investigation Division (TID) for a long bly facilitating enforced disappearance, some tion of Rs 1,750 million during the same period is build- and open to subjective enforcement, facilitat- time. families will forever be broken and searching ing a hundred small co-operative industries throughout ing overbroad application and the deprivation Surprisingly the new terror finance list the for answers. the war-torn Northern Province with the aim of increas- of fundamental rights. Human rights activists government released last month, which in- Today, with journalists choosing between ing rural employment and livelihoods.” have raised these objections in a fundamen- cludes over 400 Tamil Diaspora activists and exile and self-censorship and investigators “These measures are starting to show some results with tal rights petition now pending before the Sri organizations involved in human rights advo- and political, social and human rights activ- fewer complaints of abusive lending practices and rural Lankan Supreme Court. cacy, does not have the names of these men ists under attack, it seems likely that broad women avoiding microfinance companies due to greater It is easy to see how the new regulations who have actually been indicted in the US for proscription powers will be used to further social awareness. The new co-operative credit scheme will lead to arbitrary enforcement against terrorism. stifle dissent. With little civil space or official during its first year has reached 10% of households in the Muslims, who are already being targeted for Meanwhile last week, a working-class man mechanisms to challenge a group’s proscrip- Northern Province and is likely to reach 25% to 30% of mass arrests under the PTA. In Kattankudy named Mohamed Irfan was arrested because tion or contest alleged membership of a pro- households over the next year if the government’s prom- alone there are over 125 Muslims, including 15 he once carried food in his tuk-tuk to one of scribed group, recent regulations invite the ised funds are disbursed,” the authors said. women and two infants, in detention. Many of the main suicide bombers in Kattankudy. As sweeping abuse of power and diminishment of Further, the State should not abdicate its responsibili- them have been locked up in overcrowded fa- the killers escape justice, arrests of large num- basic civil rights. ties towards the poor and leave all matters to NGOs and cilities since the 2019 attacks with no hearings bers of ordinary Muslims for vague and arbi- In short, the PTA is bad, but recent regula- MFIs. It should put together income generating schemes or access to counsel. trary alleged transgressions have silenced an tions make things far worse. Sri Lanka is on to help rural folk specially the women, to earn enough to In Mannar, 26-year-old Muslim poet Ahnaf- entire community. a dangerous path, shielding actual terror sus- pay back the loans. Jazeem was arrested last year under the PTA Sri Lanka has tried rehabilitation camps pects from accountability while inflicting mass for promoting ‘extremism’. His arresting of- before and its example is deeply concerning. punishment on a minority population at large. ficers clearly never read his poetry, which Anyone who had been a member of the LTTE Two years after the horrific attacks, victims has criticized that very thing. His arrest was for even a day – forcibly recruited or otherwise and society at large deserve and demand bet- apparently made because a photograph of a – was required to submit to rehabilitation at ter. person in Taliban-style dress appeared be- the end of the war. Thousands of young men, -Shreen Abdul Saroor is a human rights side a poem that decried Islamic terrorism. To women and children were placed in State-run activist and one of the founders of Mannar date Jazeem has not been produced before a rehabilitation camps. At least several doz- Women’s Development Federation (MWDF) magistrate and he has languished in appalling ens of them disappeared. One Tamil mother, and Mannar Women for Human Rights and prison conditions, suffering even rat bites. His Jeyakumari Balendran, identified her miss- Democracy (MWfHRD) in Sri Lanka and this lawyers received just 20 minutes to meet their ing teenage son in a photograph depicting the article was originally featured on client and officials recorded even that meeting rehabilitation of former LTTE cadres. She de- groundviews.org 6 APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS REALITY CHECK

By Andreas Hummel By Declan Walsh From Vietnam to Where did Chad rebels Vogtland prepare for their own war? NAIROBI — The rebels pulled off a stunning feat. Leaving home to care for Barely a week after their armed convoy roared across the desert into northern Chad, they kicked Germany’s elderly off a battle that on Monday (19) claimed the biggest scalp of all: Idriss Déby, Chad’s iron-fisted presi- AUERBACH, Germany - “Elvira, we’re going to dent of three decades, killed on the battlefield when bed now,” says TuoiPhung as she picks a woman a shell exploded near his vehicle, according to a sen- up out of her wheelchair and places her in a bed. ior aide. After the woman is tucked in, Phung begins to On Wednesday (21), a day after his death was comb her hair. announced, a sense of apprehension and disbelief Elvira isn’t a real senior citizen, but a doll. reverberated through the capital, Ndjamena, where She’s helping to teach apprentices in Germany’s the military formally installed as interim president eastern Vogtland region nursing techniques and Déby’s 37-year-old son, Mahamat Idriss Déby. is an old friend to Phung, Oanh Nguyen and Rumours of an impending rebel attack on the city Nhung Bui. coursed through its streets. The three women came to Germany in 2017 -Ivor Prickett/The New York Times But the secret of the rebels’ striking success thus from Vietnam to train to become nurses, and Children play on ruins of al-Kfeir in Syria, March 24, 2021. So many people have fled to Syria’s crowded far lay behind them, across Chad’s northern border since March 2021 have been working at the Vogt- northwest during the country’s 10-year civil war that families have settled in important archaeological in Libya, where they have been fighting as soldiers land Workers’ Welfare Association (AWO) as sites of fortune for years, amassing weapons, money and skilled nursing staff. battlefield experience, according to United Nations While the apprentices were a novelty when investigators, regional experts and Chadian offi- they first arrived, the project to bring people By Ben Hubbard cials. In effect, the rebels used Libya’s chaotic war from Vietnam to work as caregivers has grown. to prepare for their own campaign in Chad. Nursing staff are desperately needed in the Until recently, they were employed by Khalifa eastern state of Saxony, not least because of the Hifter, a powerful Libyan commander once cham- ageing population. According to forecasts recent- Fleeing a modern war, Syrians pioned by former President Donald Trump. They ly made by the state’s statistics office, the num- fought with weapons supplied by the United Arab ber of people in need of care will rise to between Emirates, one of Hifter’s main foreign sponsors. 209,400 and 212,500 in 2030. And they were based last year at a sprawling Liby- That’s an increase of more than a quarter com- seek refuge in ancient ruins an military air base alongside mercenaries from the pared to 2015, and skilled workers are already in Wagner Group, the Kremlin-backed private compa- short supply on the labour market. AL-KFEIR — As the sun set, lars shattered by airstrikes and merous, and as undeveloped as ny that is considered a spearhead for Russia’s covert “In the future, Saxony will see fewer people children in dirty clothes and bat- their limestone walls sought out tourist sites, the area felt like an efforts to spread its military influence across Africa. entering the workforce than older people leaving tered shoes herded sheep past the for protection by soldiers, rebels open-air museum. Experts say the unexpected coup by the Chadian it,” says Klaus-Peter Hansen, managing director towering stone walls of a Byzan- and jihadis battling for the coun- Visitors could scamper about rebels offers a stark example of how the decade-old of the regional statistics office. In addition, the tine settlement abandoned more try’s future. the remains of pagan temples and power vacuum in Libya, starting with the ouster of growing number of people who will be in need than 1,000 years ago, leading Millennia of human habitation early Christian churches, descend dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, has incubated of care alone will mean that more than 21,000 them into a nearby ancient cave have left Syria strewn with histor- into underground storerooms an array of mercenaries and other armed groups, additional nursing staff will be needed by 2030. where the animals would spend ical sites that date to Hellenistic, hewn from rocky hillsides, and some of which are spreading chaos in the region. To remedy the situation, the industry is not the night. Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman admire intricate designs around In a statement on Wednesday, the rebels, who only relying on training and re-education, but it Laundry hung near the semicy- eras. UNESCO, the United Na- windows and carved crosses over go by the name Front for Change and Concord in is also looking abroad. As an example, the man- lindrical wall of a ruined, centu- tions cultural agency, has desig- doorways. Chad (FACT, by its French acronym), threatened to aging director of AWO Vogtland, Katrin Schmidt, ries-old church. Vegetables grew nated six World Heritage sites in The Syrian government brand- march on Ndjamena this weekend, following Déby’s has travelled to Vietnam several times. In 2017, between the remnants of two rec- Syria, including, in 2011, the ruins ed them “The Forgotten Cities” to funeral, which is planned for Friday (23). the first four trainees arrived. tangular doorways ornamented in the northwest, called the An- attract visitors. Whether the rebels can deliver on that threat is “That was a touching moment,” she recalls. with carved leaf patterns. Scat- cient Villages of Northern Syria. Built between the first and sev- unclear. They suffered heavy losses early this week Meanwhile, almost half of the apprentices at the tered about were giant cut stones The use of these sites as infor- enth centuries, they provided “a — Chad’s military claimed to have killed 300 rebels association now come from Vietnam: There are from what had once been an ex- mal refugee camps, archaeolo- remarkable testimony to rural — and foreign military officials are unsure how far currently 20 Vietnamese apprentices and 25 ap- tensive town. gists fear, presents a formidable life” during the transition from the rebel force is from the capital. prentices from Germany. At first, the apprentices It was here, at the vast archae- threat to their future as the fami- the pagan Roman Empire to the Even so, the Chadian military fortified defences need support from the association, whether it’s ological site of al-Kfeir, Syria, lies add new walls, drive in tent Christian Byzantines, UNESCO around the presidential palace on Wednesday, going with them to the doctor’s or organizing a where Abu Ramadan and his posts and cart off stones. said. where officials denied persistent rumours that joint barbecue. Isabel Berger, the apprentice- family sought shelter more than “The walls protect us from the The ancient towns were aban- Déby’s successor, his son Mahamat, had also been ship coordinator, describes the project as a great a year ago after fleeing a Syrian wind, the cold and everything doned over subsequent centuries killed or injured. success and says it has brought a lot to the asso- government assault. else,” said Abdulaziz Hassan, 45, because of changes in climate, “If he has been shot or dead, that means he’s a ciation. The feedback from seniors has been very They’ve been here ever since. whose family lives in a tent inside and shifting trade routes and po- good actor, because he is alive and kicking,” said positive, says Schmidt. “They are perceived as Ramadan, 38, said he cared lit- the remains of the 1,800-year-old litical control — but not because Acheikh Ibn Oumar, a senior presidential adviser very hardworking and always friendly,” she adds. tle for the site’s history as a trad- Temple of Zeus Bomos, which is of war, a primary reason they who said he was speaking from inside the palace. In the struggle to recruit nursing staff from ing and agricultural centre, but he near the village of Babuta. were so well preserved, said Amr There are still questions about the circumstances abroad, Vietnam is not the only country attract- appreciated the sturdy walls that Hassan, a gardener before the Al-Azm, a former Syrian antiqui- of the elder Déby’s death, and whether he was in fact ing attention. The care-giving industry is also blunted the wind and the abun- war, had moved repeatedly with ties official and now a professor killed by a rival. But Ibn Oumar, echoing statements putting out feelers to other Asian countries such dance of cut stones that a family his family to flee government ad- of Middle East history at Shawnee by military leaders, insisted the president was killed as the Philippines, as well as countries in Cen- who had lost everything could sal- vances into rebel territory, finally State University in Portsmouth, when a rebel shell exploded near his vehicle near tral and South America. The federal employment vage to piece together a new life. settling in the ruins because they Ohio. Nokou, 170 miles north of Ndjamena. agency is also looking to recruit nursing staff “We built these from the ru- didn’t have to pay rent as those For now, they are homes of last IdrissDéby was killed on the day he won his sixth from Brazil, El Salvador, Tunisia and Bosnia- ins,” he said, pointing to a chicken who pitched tents on private land resort for battered families. election, which was marred by irregularities. West- Herzegovina. But recruiting workers from Viet- coop and wood-burning stove. did. “Whenever it rains, we get wet,” ern countries had largely overlooked his dismal re- nam in particular has a long tradition in eastern “We, too, have become ruins.” “Where else can we go?” he said Sihan Jassem, 26, whose cord of corruption and rights abuses because he was Germany. In East German times, tens of thou- As Syria’s 10-year civil war said. “Everywhere you go, you family had moved three times a bulwark against the rising tide of Islamic militan- sands of Vietnamese had come to East Germany has displaced millions of people, have to pay.” since fleeing their home and end- cy in the Sahel, an arid swath bordering the Sahara as students and contract workers - they are con- families such as Ramadan’s have The remains of three temple ing up in an improvised tent of that spans six African countries. sidered the oldest immigration group here. sought refuge from a modern war walls towered over his tent, and blankets and tarps amid the ruins France has had a continued military presence in According to the 2019 microcensus, about behind the walls of dozens of an- the surrounding hillside was of Deir Amman, a Byzantine vil- Ndjamena since 1986, and its counterterrorism op- 16,000 people of Vietnamese descent live in Sax- cient villages sprinkled across the marked by toppled pillars and gi- lage. eration in the Sahel, known as Operation Barkhane, ony. For some seniors, the young nurses brought hills of the country’s northwest, ant stones bearing carvings and “The children play on the ruins has been headquartered in Chad’s capital since its back memories of their own days working in a a region still out of the control of Greek inscriptions. and we worry that the rocks will launch in 2014. France says at least 1,000 of its textile factory with colleagues from Vietnam. President Bashar Assad’s govern- The war damaged historic sites fall on them,” she said. soldiers are based in Chad. But the rebels looking The apprentices themselves say that it was ment. elsewhere in Syria, too. Her sister, widowed by the war, to overthrow Idriss Déby represented an array of tough at first living 8,500 kilometres away from Since their original owners left Crac de Chevaliers, one of the lived in a nearby tent with five local grievances against the 31-year rule of an old- home, especially with the language barrier. them between the eighth and 10th world’s best-preserved Crusader children. fashioned African strongman accused by critics of While there were language courses, they did centuries, these ruins have re- castles, was littered with rubble The sun reflected off wet wild- squandering Chad’s considerable oil revenues, leav- little to help them with the local dialect. “I didn’t mained in remarkably good con- when the government seized it flowers, and sheep wandered ing it among the poorest countries on Earth. understand some people because they spoke dition for more than 1,000 years, from rebels in 2014. among the scattered stones, graz- Since the 1990s, an array of rebel groups, many Vogtlandish,” says Bui. Her colleagues both nod their stone structures largely And after the jihadis of the Is- ing near an ancient wall where a defined by ethnic identity, have sought to over- and laugh. withstanding the passing of em- lamic State group took control modern romantic had written in throw him. Some were based in the Darfur region “At the beginning I was very homesick,” says pires and battering by the wind of the majestic, 2,000-year-old spray paint, “Your love is like a of western Sudan, where they received funding and Nguyen. She had wanted to visit her family last and rain. ruins of the city of Palmyra, they medicine.” weapons from Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir. year, but the pandemic thwarted her plans. Her But Syria’s current conflict has held executions in its Roman But Jassem found no romance After al-Bashir and Idriss Déby struck a peace only option is to continue to stay in touch through posed new threats to these sites theatre. in her surroundings. deal in 2010 and agreed to stop backing rebels the internet. But despite it all, all three women with their columnated churches, The historical sites in Syria’s “We wish we had stayed in our fighting each other’s governments, the Chadian re- say that they’re planning to stay in the Vogtland multi-storey homes and elegant northwest, near the border with homes,” she said, “and never seen bels were forced to leave Sudan. They found a new region even after their training is complete. bathhouses. Their facades are Turkey, received less attention these ruins.” base, a year later, in Libya. -dpa now marred by bullets, their pil- before the war. They were so nu- -New York Times In the chaos that followed the ouster and death of Gadhafi in 2011, rival Libyan factions hired African mercenaries to fight alongside their own forces. The Chadians, who have a reputation as dogged desert fighters, were in high demand. Some Chadians even Cleanse the mind, cleanse the world swapped sides, if the price was right. The FACT started out with out with a Libyan Thai Buddhist sect commemorates Earth Day attempting world record with 330,000 candles faction based in the central city of Misurata, said a United Nations official who has spoken with the BANGKOK - Buddhist monks chant- a worldwide event which aims to raise diesel exhaust in both their size and nels as they sought his arrest over al- group’s leadership but was not authorized to speak ed around a spaceship-shaped golden awareness about ecological issues -- composition, can penetrate deeply legations of money laundering and a to the media. But by 2019 they had switched their shrine, as a controversial Thai sect raising questions about whether the into the lungs and can be absorbed massive embezzlement of $33 million. support to a rival faction, led by Hifter, which had burned 330,000 candles attempting a burning of so many candles was in it- into the bloodstream. The former abbott, who was 72 at launched a campaign to seize the capital, Tripoli. Guinness World Record for the largest self bad for the environment. It was not immediately clear wheth- the time, remains at large. The Chadians are by no means the best-known flaming image on Thursday (22) - all “We will have to see what kind er the world record had been achieved, Buddhist authorities have accused foreign mercenaries in Libya. Far greater attention to commemorate Earth Day. of products these candles are made or how it was being monitored. Dhammakaya of peddling a pay-your- has been paid to the Russian and Syrian fighters The candles, in the shape of a map from. Some substances are not harm- The Dhammakaya sect is a wealthy way to nirvana philosophy, spreading who played a key role in Hifter’s push for Tripoli. of the world and a Buddha figure, ful, while others could contribute to Buddhist order founded in 1970, the sect’s popularity through public But the money, weapons and experience gathered were arranged around the central air pollution,” Thai environmental which was steered to riches by the relations events. by African mercenaries, mostly from Chad and Su- shrine at the Dhammakaya sect’s 78- health expert Suwimon Kanchanasuta septuagenarian monk PhraDham- The temple denies the allegations dan, is now being put to use in other countries. acre compound, in a province north of from Mahidol University told AFP. machayo. and says the charges are politically A UN report published in February noted that Bangkok. IQAir, a Swiss-based air quality From unorthodox animated Bud- motivated. FACT fighters were based at a major military air “Cleanse the mind, cleanse the technology firm, notes most candles dhist teachings to alleged ties with It has since quietly rebounded and base in Al Jufra, in central Libya — an airfield that world” was also spelled out in the are made from paraffin, a petroleum former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, continues to hold several high-profile is also a hub for Russian mercenaries from the Wag- flickering light, and organizers said byproduct. the Dhammakaya temple’s reputation annual events. ner group, which has received cargo flights carrying the objective was “to encourage peo- “In addition to releasing toxic has been embedded with controver- With “world peace as inner peace” weapons from the United Arab Emirates. ple of any nationality, race and reli- chemicals, burning paraffin wax sies. as its motto, the sect has 84 centres in The UN also noted that an airplane owned by Erik gion to join together in the activities of produces soot with particles that In 2017 Phra Dhammachayo was 31 countries worldwide, from Belgium Prince, the former Blackwater owner who organized chanting and group meditation, shar- can remain suspended in the air for the subject of a massive police hunt and Canada to the Solomon Islands an ill-fated $80 million mercenary operation for ing loving kindness”. The ceremony hours,” its website states. It adds that at the Dhammakaya temple complex, and South Africa. Hifter, had been photographed at the Jufra air base. was timed to coincide with Earth Day, ultrafine soot particles are similar to with officers uncovering secret tun- - Agence France-Presse -New York Times WEEKEND EXPRESS APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 7 RETHINKING AMERICA

By Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt and By Charles M. Blow Thomas Gibbons Neff With the Chauvin verdict Pentagon seeks One battle is won, carrier deployment the war continues As it exits Afghanistan, in History has been a stern instructor of Black people in this country, beating out sign it’s readying for a fight hope wherever it dares to emerge. As James Baldwin once put it, there WASHINGTON — Military command- is embedded in the American Negro the ers are seeking to deploy an aircraft car- “wise desire not to be betrayed by too rier specifically to help protect NATO much hoping”. The possessor of dashed troops in Afghanistan as they withdraw, hopes is in some ways more injured and the clearest sign yet that the Pentagon is dangerous than the consistently hopeless. preparing for a fight as it closes the books The possessors of dashed hopes spread on America’s longest war. their wings, which make them vulnerable, But the deployment — likely to fall on and get them clipped. Bitterness is a natu- either the overstretched Eisenhower or ral by-product of such betrayal. the Theodore Roosevelt, the carrier at the Before Tuesday’s (20) guilty verdict centre of a coronavirus crisis last year — - Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times for a former Minneapolis police officer, will mean an additional load on the Na- Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), sponsor of the No Ban Act, addresses a news conference ahead Derek Chauvin, in the murder of George vy’s exhausted warships and crews, after of the House vote on the bill, at the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday (21). The No Ban Floyd, many of us were afraid to hope that a rash of extended deployments over the Act would restrict the president’s wide-ranging power to control immigration by requiring justice would be done. It doesn’t matter past few years. that travel bans be temporary and subject to congressional oversight, among other limita- the strength of the case or the preponder- The request, from Gen. Kenneth Mc- tions ance of evidence; convicting a police offic- Kenzie Jr., the head of Central Command, er of killing a Black man is so rare in this is en route to the desk of Defence Secre- By Luke Broadwater country that I can count the recent cases I tary Lloyd Austin, military officials said. recall on my fingers … on one hand. Austin is expected to decide soon. So when the verdicts came down, for The appeal is part of a withdrawal that me, there was a moment of shock: The the Pentagon describes as a “military ret- House votes to restrict future justice system had administered justice rograde operation”. Such movements of- to a Black man, a Black family, the Black ten require — as they do now — sending community, the country and the world. additional troops and equipment to make travel bans, moving to undo We are so used to the system betraying us sure departing forces can leave safely. that it was stunning to see it serve us. “It’s not over yet,” Gen. Mark Milley, the Could we celebrate? Should we cele- chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told brate? Of course we should have, and did. reporters aboard his airplane last week, Trump’s legacy But even in celebrating that victory, just after President Joe Biden announced there is sadness. Why is the hurdle set to the Afghanistan withdrawal. “We have a that nearly impossible height? Must your WASHINGTON — Pamela plete shutdown of Muslims enter- Still, the legislation comes at killing be in slow motion and caught on lot of work ahead of us to make sure we Raghebi of Seattle blames former ing the United States,” and then a difficult political moment for get out in a good and orderly fashion, not one video but multiples? President Donald Trump’s travel strove to put those words into ac- Biden and Democrats on immi- Must the ‘Blue Wall’ crack and your protect the force and continue defending ban for keeping her separated tion once he took office. gration. America.” police chief testify against you? Must a from her husband, Afshin, a na- “We cannot allow any president Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., child be put on the stand to explain how The Pentagon is concerned that the exit tive of Iran, for three frustrating to abuse the power of his or her argued Tuesday (20) that the No could draw fire from Taliban fighters hop- years. office,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Ban Act would weaken national your killer’s depraved act has traumatized them? ing to put a final punctuation on what the “My world basically turned up- on the floor. security, and that the require- Most killings of unarmed Black people militant group is presenting as a humili- side down,” Raghebi said Wednes- The measures were inspired by ment that travellers have access day (21) in a phone interview, re- the harsh and abrupt steps Trump to counsel “complicates the job of by the police won’t have that. Most will ating American defeat. Biden administra- have the officers’ account and the police tion officials have sounded a tough line calling how the blockade Trump took at the start of his presidency Border Patrol agents” and would imposed on travellers from pre- to clamp down on the entry of for- cost millions of dollars. department’s statements. about retaliation if the Taliban mounts The Minneapolis Police Department’s any attacks on retreating troops. But the dominantly Muslim countries had eigners into the country, which The Congressional Budget Of- stranded her spouse overseas. led to chaos at U.S. airports and fice estimates that the bill would initial statement on Floyd’s death was insurgent group’s intentions are unclear headlined, ‘Man Dies After Medical In- while its leadership meets in Pakistan to “They scapegoated a whole cul- a rush of legal challenges. In cost $825 million to implement ture throughout the world. That January 2017, he denied entry to over five years. cident During Police Interaction’, and it decide its next step. went on to say of Floyd: To back up their warning, Defence De- can’t be allowed to happen again.” citizens of seven majority-Muslim “This bill does nothing to ad- House Democrats moved countries. Amid court challenges, dress the Biden border crisis,” he “He was ordered to step from his car. partment officials say they will need fight- Wednesday to try to prevent that Trump later amended the ban, ex- said, using the label Republicans After he got out, he physically resisted of- er squadrons operating from carriers in from happening. Voting 218- panding it to include some coun- have adopted. Similar problems ficers … Officers called for an ambulance. the region and a slew of other warplanes, 208, mostly along party lines, the tries that are not predominantly also existed under Trump. He was transported to Hennepin County operating around the clock, to give cover House passed legislation known Muslim, such as North Korea. The votes Wednesday are the Medical Centre by ambulance where he to troops as they depart Afghanistan. as the ‘No Ban Act’ that would President Joe Biden, who re- latest steps the Democratic-led died a short time later.” Flights from carriers in the Persian Gulf restrict the president’s wide-rang- versed Trump’s travel bans after House has taken in recent weeks That would have been the story, were are costly and take repeated refuelling ing power to control immigration taking office, is backing the legis- to try to overhaul the nation’s im- it not for witnesses and cellphone video. trips just for the aircraft to stay over Af- by requiring that travel bans be lation. migration system. The truth would have circulated in the ghanistan for a relatively short period. temporary and subject to con- “Those bans were a stain on our Last month, the House voted community, but the lie would live on in “We’re going to protect the force,” Mil- gressional oversight. It also would national conscience and are in- to create a path to citizenship for the official record. ley said. “We have a change of mission. explicitly bar any such edict based consistent with our long history an estimated four million immi- This is how many cases live, unre- Our mission is to conduct a retrograde on religion. of welcoming people of all faiths,” grants living in the country with- solved, in oral history told from a barber while protecting the force, and that’s ex- The House also approved, 217- said a formal statement of sup- out legal permission to do so. chair or bar stool. This is also how hos- actly what we’re going to do.” 207, entirely along party lines, a port issued by the White House In one bill, lawmakers moved to tility, resentment and contempt grow to- McKenzie’s request, military officials related measure that would re- this week. set up a permanent legal pathway ward policing, criminal justice and politi- said, asks for 24-hour support from a car- quire that certain immigrants be But the statement said the ad- for more than 2.5 million immi- cians. This is why the fundamentals of our rier, with its attendant fighter squadrons, allowed access to a lawyer when ministration reserved the right to grants living in the country illegal- criminal justice system must be reshaped and is being viewed as a specific reference they are detained at ports of entry, restrict travel from specific coun- ly, including those brought to the in order to restore trust. to the Eisenhower, which left its home such as airports. tries if necessary. United States as children known So, yes, we celebrate. Even warriors, port in Virginia in February and headed Republicans opposed both “The administration stands as Dreamers, and others granted in an uphill battle, those outgunned and to the Mediterranean Sea. There, it took bills; just one of them, Rep. Bri- ready to work with the Congress Temporary Protected Status for accustomed to loss, are afforded and al- part in exercises with Italian and Moroc- an Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, to adopt a solution that protects humanitarian reasons. Lawmak- lowed a moment of celebration over a can naval forces. The Eisenhower is now crossed party lines to support the against unfair religious discrimi- ers also approved a measure surprise victory. Such moments can be No Ban measure. They argued nation while also ensuring the that would eventually grant legal in the Arabian Sea. recharging and restorative. It doesn’t that controls on immigration executive branch has the flexibil- status to close to 1 million farm- mean that we are confusing the war that Col. Dave Butler, a spokesperson for should be tightened, not relaxed, ity necessary to respond to seri- workers and their families while Milley, declined to comment on the carri- still rages for the battle in which we were given the crush of migration ous threats to security and public updating a key agricultural visa victorious. er request. Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesper- through the southwestern border. health, and emergent internation- program. son for Central Command, also declined The fight against rules on every level The bills face an uncertain fu- al crises,” the statement said. While some Republicans have of government that insulate officers and to comment. ture in an evenly split Senate, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., pledged support for Dreamers in The Pentagon press secretary, John Kir- criminalize Black people are part of the where a backlog of House-passed said she could never forget the the past, their party is increas- war. Systems of racism that have cre- by, said Wednesday (21) that Austin “has bills on immigration and other hardship inflicted on travellers by ingly uniting behind a hard-line made clear that we will execute the draw- ated segregation, concentrated poverty, topics face steep obstacles. But Trump’s bans, which she called strategy to deny Biden the votes poorly resourced communities and failing down in Afghanistan in a safe, orderly and advocates say they send a clear “illegal and ill conceived,” and he needs to make any new im- deliberate manner, and that we will do message that America cannot go discriminatory against Muslims. migration law and use the prob- educational systems are part of the war. everything possible to protect our troops back to the policies of Trump, “Families were separated,” she lems at the border as a political A public perception that what ails Black in the process.” who called during his presidential said. “Many were denied the right weapon. people is pathological and that all polic- campaign for “a total and com- to counsel.” -New York Times ing is good and gallant is part of the prob- -New York Times lem. It is important to remember that the verdict against Derek Chauvin didn’t change a single police union rule that By Kevin Williams, Jack Healy and Will Wright protects officers from incriminating themselves. It didn’t change a word of the criminal code, which can shield them ‘A horrendous tragedy’ from prosecution. It didn’t alter a single federal or Supreme Court precedent that prevented them from being convicted. The chaotic moments before a police shooting in Columbus There are enormous hurdles to over- come in the arrest, charging, trial and COLUMBUS, Ohio — Law enforce- the shooting is investigated. Bryant the officer shoots her four times. “A will need to answer key questions, conviction of an officer. What this case ment authorities Wednesday (21) was killed less than an hour before a teenage girl is dead, and she’s dead including what information the of- demonstrated was that there is — at least released 911 calls and new body- jury in Minneapolis handed down its at the hands of a police officer. Un- ficer had, what he saw at the scene, in this jurisdiction and with these jurors camera videos showing the chaotic guilty verdict against Derek Chauvin der any circumstance, that is a hor- and what would have happened if he — a limit. It took a case so obvious, so moments surrounding the killing in the murder of George Floyd, and rendous tragedy,” Ned Pettus Jr., “had taken no action at all.” egregious, so depraved, that it could clear of a Black 16-year-old girl who was her death outside her foster home on the public safety director for the city Woods said officers were called to the hurdles. fatally shot by a Columbus police of- a suburban block in south-eastern of Columbus, said during a news a disturbance, but did not know that In this extraordinary case, there was ficer responding to a call about a dis- Columbus quickly set off new waves conference Wednesday. “But the a possible attempted stabbing might turbance. of anger and protests over police kill- video shows there is more to this. be taking place. He also said that of- justice for George Floyd. But until justice Michael Woods, the interim chief ings. It requires us to pause, take a close ficers are not required to call out no- for Black people killed by the state exists of the Columbus Division of Po- Officials in Columbus pleaded for look at the sequence of events, and tice that they are about to fire their not only in the extraordinary case but lice, identified the officer who shot patience from the public Wednesday though it’s not easy, wait for the facts weapon, though they try to if there also in the mundane, until it is not shock- the girl, Ma’Khia Bryant, as Nicho- as they released new body-camera as is determined by an independent is time. In the aftermath of Bryant’s ing that an officer is held accountable for las Reardon, and said he had been footage from three responding of- investigation.” killing, activists and neighbours murder, the crusade continues. One bat- on the force since December 2019. ficers that appears to show Bryant Pettus said a third-party investi- questioned whether the officer could tle is won, but we are still in the middle of Reardon, who is white, has been lunging with a knife toward a per- gation being conducted by the Ohio have used a less-lethal weapon. the war for equality. placed on administrative leave as son dressed in pink seconds before Bureau of Criminal Investigation -New York Times -New York Times 8 APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS COMMENTARY

By Kassapa Rajapakshe dilemma, the sequel There is a sense of déjà vu about this: when Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe decides enough is enough with a political par- ty it usually heralds the beginning of the end for that party although the end does not come immediately. This has happened a few times now. Rajapakshe de- camped from Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government previ- ously. He had to wait for quite some time warming the opposition benches before being drafted into the ‘ya- hapalanaya’ regime of Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil- Wickremesinghe. That didn’t last long either. Rajapakshe began criticiz- ing that government’s decisions publicly and the United National Party (UNP) took the rather unusual step of ask- ing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) Sirisena to re- move Rajapakshe from the Cabinet, perhaps a first in Sri Lankan political history. Rajapakshe would rather be re- moved from the Cabinet than offer an apology to the UNP and retract comments he had made. Now, it is happening again. Rajapakshe took to the me- dia, holding a press briefing to publicly criticize the Co-

-TG lombo Port City project, a project which the government is banking on heavily to showcase Sri Lanka to the world Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, witness an agreement signing and project the country as a second Singapore. between China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and Browns investment to commence the Colombo Interna- That by itself would have raised a few eyebrows and tional Finance Centre (CIFC) Mixed Development Project in the Port City Colombo in December 2020 the matter would have ended there. The next day though Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe was at it again, telling us this time that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa telephoned him, alleg- By N Sathiya Moorthy edly used abusive language on him and he felt his safety was at risk as a result. For good measure, Rajapakshe added that, when he was abused, he responded in kind. Officially at least, there has been no denial of Raja- pakshe’s version of events. Nevertheless, Minister Ma- Why new Bill makes Colombo Port City hindananda Aluthgamage attempted some damage con- trol. He suggested this was merely an exchange of view between President Rajapaksa and parliamentarian Raja- pakshe. Aluthgamage played apologist by proxy for the a ‘Chinese Province’ in Sri Lanka President saying Rajapakshe was disgruntled because he wasn’t given a ministerial portfolio. Even as Sri Lanka, like much of the rest of vote for the 20th Amendment, restoring the Nivard Cabraal, said the nation’s police will Several major issues emerge out of this public dis- the world, is still plagued by the COVID-19 President’s powers—which was taken away have jurisdiction over the SEZ, that Sri Lan- course. The first is the legitimacy or otherwise of the Port pandemic, the nation’s energy is being by the previous regime’s 19th Amendment kans required no visa in the SEZ, and that City project. We now have a parliamentarian from the sapped by the ongoing controversy over the to the Constitution—incumbent Gotabaya they can work and will be paid in foreign government’s own ranks calling it an unmitigated disas- Colombo Port City Economic Commission was known to have given a commitment currency. None of these are germane to the ter and accusing the government of adopting measures Bill presented to Parliament last week. Un- to his intransigent allies that he would re- criticism. that would lead to the creation of a ‘Chinese colony’ in the der the nation’s law, every new Bill has to be verse it all under the new Constitution; he On similar notes was the much-antici- heart of Colombo that would be exempt from key local cleared by the Supreme Court before Parlia- had promised in his election manifesto. The pated statement by the Agriculture Minis- laws. ment votes on it, and a five-Judge Bench, 20-A also overturned a court ruling that ter Mahindananda Aluthugame that foreign The person saying that, no matter what his political headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasur- (even) ‘dual citizens’ cannot become MPs, powers were behind the Opposition’s anti- agenda is, is a lawyer, a good one at that, and a Presi- iya, is seized of the matter, and the court’s an impediment on their contesting the pres- Bill campaigns. MP Wijeyadasa has since dent’s Counsel. Also, Rajapakshe has everything to lose observations are expected early on. idential polls. approached the Inspector-General of Police and nothing to gain- at least for the next few years- by his Along with the Hambantota Port Project, Amongst the Opposition parties, the Sa- that he feared for his life after President Go- actions. It would be different if say, Rohitha Abeyguna- the Colombo Port City Special Economic magi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and its parent, tabaya berated him on the telephone, fol- wardena or Piyal Nishantha made those observations. Zone (SEZ) became controversial at birth, United National Party (UNP), whose lead- lowing his public criticism of the Bill at a Therefore, at the very least, Rajapakshe’s claims merit both for Chinese involvement and the hyper- ers were a part of the previous Wickrem- news conference a day earlier. careful scrutiny. secrecy of the post-war government of the esinghe government, continue to welcome However, counsel for the President’s Sec- Another aspect is the issue of the President’s alleged former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, now the CPC project, but are opposed to the Bill. retary, who is among the respondents as conduct. Rajapakshe claims he feels his safety is at stake, Prime Minister. Despite internal differenc- Without naming China or any other nation, is the protocol has since told the Supreme following the President’s alleged remarks, although he is es, the successor government of President SJB founder and Leader of the Opposition, Court that ‘certain amendments are pos- quite clear that he was not specifically threatened. Even Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister SajithPremadasa, has said that the country sible’ and listed out some specifics. But the more interestingly, Minister Aluthgamage, tasked with Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed to have sani- ‘will become servile to foreigners’ if the Bill Bench pointed to other provisions which whitewashing the President’s alleged conduct only re- tized the SEZ after the latter had declared its became law. Premadasa said that they would were more contentious than these. ferred to the President’s modest lifestyle without uttering imminent cancellation if the combine won scuttle the ‘insidious tactic of the govern- Incidentally, in the fortnight ahead of a word denying the alleged conversation that is supposed the presidency in 2015—which it did. ment’, which was ‘violating the Constitution the presentation of the Bill to Parliament, to have taken place. If the President did indeed verbally The new Bill has to be reviewed in this in a blatant attempt to betray the sovereign- President Gotabaya had told Chinese coun- abuse Rajapakshe, it is unbecoming of him. As Rajapkashe background. As it is becoming evident, ty of the country’. terpart Xi Jinping that Sri Lanka wanted to himself points out, he had worked with former Presidents various provisions of the Bill go against the Even as the Supreme Court began hear- learn from the Chinese Communist Party’s Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithri- spirit of existing laws, or judicial pronounce- ing the case, SJB’s Opposition Chief Whip, ‘governance experience’. Media reports also pala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickrem- ments, or the socio-political realities of the Lakshman Kiriella, pointed out how 25 laws quoted President Xi telling President Gota- esinghe and had differences of opinion with them but nev- nation. of Parliament would not apply to the Port baya that China was ready to work with Sri er has he been abused in such a manner. Does this display To begin with, the Bill provides for the City. He urged the government to amend the Lanka. The two leaders agreed to strengthen President Rajapaksa’s lack of political acumen and people setting up of a Colombo Port City (CPC) Bill to check against ‘money-laundering’ in bilateral ties and work towards post-pan- skills and his proclivity to settle issues in a military style- Commission of five or seven members, as a the SEZ and to ensure that the SEZ would demic economic recovery. ‘I command, you must obey’! one-stop decision-maker on all matters SEZ. be overseen by parliamentary panels like the Expectedly, Chinese envoy Qi Zhenhong Also of political significance is the fact that Rajapakshe Given the depth and width of the provisions, Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has said that along with Hambantota, Port had the blessings of a section of influential Buddhist it is unclear if the incumbent government and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA). City would become twin engines of growth monks when he made his remarks. Among those support- will use it as a model code for new SEZs of Leader of the left-leaning Janatha Vimuk- for Sri Lankan economy. However, US Am- ing him is Muruttetuwe Ananda Thera, the head of the the Rajapaksas in politics or if it would be thi Peramuna (JVP), Anura Kumara Dis- bassador Alaina B. Teplitz went equally nurses’ trade union. accepted it if a future government were to sanayake, who was the first to sound the overboard, to declare that the SEZ could be- It will be recalled that when Mahinda Rajapaksa was extend similar facilities to nations other bugle, as almost always, said that the Bill is come a ‘money-laundering haven’. The truth defeated at the 2015 presidential election and was pon- than China. tantamount to creating a ‘Chinese province’ seems to lie in between. dering retirement from politics, it was this monk who The powers of the CPC Commission in- in Sri Lanka. He wants a referendum, imply- Ambassador Teplitz may have been urged the former president not to retire but to try and clude clearing individual applications for ing that the Bill sought to alter the nation’s peeved as the Gotabaya dispensation had make a comeback. He offered Rajapaksa his temple, the ‘authorized persons’ to do business in the constitutional scheme. gone back on the predecessor’s commitment Abhayaramaya at Narahenpita which then became a vir- Port City (or declining them), tax-breaks, The SJB, UNP, and JVP are also amongst on the Memorandum of Understanding tual party headquarters for the ousted leader. customs, VAT, and other export-import con- the 12 petitioners before the Supreme Court, (MoU) on the US $450-million US invest- Ananda Thera has recently publicly lamented the state cessions for investors, and also exceptions which also includes the independent Sri ments, which required fewer concessions of the current government and wondered aloud as to why from casino and gaming laws, amongst oth- Lanka Bar Association (SLBA). Under the than the SEZ. Neighbouring India, too, may Mahinda Rajapaksa is so ‘inactive’ in a regime headed by ers. No such investment protection and/or law, the government can present an amend- have problems. his younger brother. There are many other likeminded concessions are now available to domestic ed Bill, based on the Supreme Court’s obser- As may be recalled, the Gotabaya gov- monks who supported the Sri Lanka PodujanaPeramuna and foreign investors, who have been in the vation, to the Parliament or get it passed as ernment had cancelled the tri-nation East (SLPP) at the presidential and general elections who are business longer and with greater commit- is, if upheld without change. Container Terminal (ECT) agreement of presently disillusioned and are making their sentiments ment to the country. Any court observation that the Bill needs the predecessor, also involving Japan, cit- known in no uncertain terms. Trying to win elections with Unlike existing norms, private auditors, to be cleared by the non-existing Provincial ing ‘sovereignty-security’ protests by labour a hostile Buddhist clergy is always difficult in Sri Lanka. and not the auditor-general, who is a con- Councils (PC) can mean the fast-tracking of unions and Sinhala nationalists, led by some The other issue is not who said what but what under- stitutional authority, alone can oversee the much-delayed PC polls. Alternatively, it can Buddhist monks. Both groups are now op- lies these simmering tensions within the ruling coalition SEZ accounts. For the same reasons, the revive the intra-government discourse on posed to the SEZ Bill too but the government dominated by the SLPP. This is not the first instance CPC is out-of-bounds for Parliament and trimming the PCs’ powers, as sought ear- is going ahead with the same—and is also when these fraught relations have been played out in the parliamentary panels. This again is a trav- lier by disparate elements within the ruling defending it all the way up to the Supreme public domain. Recently, Minister Wimal Weerawansa esty of the existing laws and practices, what combine. Court. found himself in hot water after suggesting that Gota- with the government being a partner with For his part, Cabinet spokesman Keheli- Independent of the Bill’s fate, the govern- baya Rajapaksa should lead the SLPP. Even if that crack the Chinese promoter. The judiciary is being yaRambukwella is on record that the gov- ment will have to convince the people that was quickly plastered over, it is evident that, despite their told to prioritize the SEZ cases, to make the ernment will follow the SC orders, as even the SEZ would at least provide jobs and in- absolute control of Parliament and the collective opposi- foreign investors feel welcome and comfort- otherwise it has little choice. Should the comes to the local population, unlike Ham- tion’s apathy and inertia, not everyone in the ruling coali- able. court rule that certain provisions of the Bill bantota, where China alone stands to ben- tion is happy. The Bill empowers the President—begin- require a national referendum, the govern- efit. Even Opposition backers of the CPC What would become of Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe? After ning with incumbent Gotabaya Rajapaksa— ment may side-step the same, anticipating project per se have not talked about its job- this alleged outburst from the President, it is now highly to nominate five of seven members to the a ‘political reversal’, if not outright defeat, creation potential for locals, it not stopping unlikely that he will be considered for a Cabinet portfolio. Commission, to the complete exclusion of which the Rajapaksas can ill-afford at the exclusively with the Chinese. A lot will hence Being the restless political animal that he is, it is also un- the ‘collective responsibility’ of the Cabi- moment. depend on the government’s willingness to likely that he will remain in the SLPP until the next elec- net and/or Parliament. Needless to say, the However, senior minister, SLPP chairman honestly let other ‘foreigners’ too to invest tions. It is equally unlikely that the Samagi Jana Balave- President also has the power to sack any and constitutional expert, G. L. Peiris, is in the CPC-SEZ. For, unlike China, investors gaya (SJB) will be keen to welcome him with open arms, member or members unilaterally and re- confident as he says that the Attorney Gen- from nations such as India and Japan, Sin- what with SJB stalwart Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka be- place them (with more malleable individu- eral (AG) had cleared the Bill in its entirety gapore and Australia, the US and Europe, ing quite frank and forthright about what he thinks about als). and implies that it faced no judicial hurdle, involve local suppliers and enterprises and Rajapakshe and his links with the Avant Garde Company. This is particularly unacceptable in a na- hence. But under the Constitution, the court, also provide jobs and incomes to the locals. Rajapakshe could of course return to the shambolic ru- tion where the constant refrain of the civil and not the AG, is the final arbiter. -Sathiya Moorthy is Distinguished ins of the UNP but that is hardly something to look for- society has been to reduce the exclusive As if responding to criticisms, especially Fellow and Head of the Chennai ward to. This then is a saga that will unravel in time to powers of the Executive President, and those raised by ruling SLPP parliamentar- Initiative of the Observer Research come. Rajapaksa vs. Rajapakshe will be a tussle worth make him/her accountable. Even when ian, Junior Minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapkshe Foundation where this article was watching! the current dispensation got Parliament to and former Central Bank Governor Ajith- originally featured - counterpoint.lk WEEKEND EXPRESS APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 9 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

By Jenny Gross and Johanna Lemola Editorial of The NYT What makes a Putin’s tough talk With his troops massing on Ukraine’s bor- happy country? ders, his sharpest critic on a hunger strike, When governments around the world his government under a new batch of sanc- introduced coronavirus restrictions re- tions levied by Washington and a major quiring people to stand 2 meters apart, surprise expected from neighbouring Be- jokes in Finland started circulating: larus, Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, “Why can’t we stick to the usual 4 me- addressed his nation on Wednesday (21). ters?” Almost entirely, as it turned out, about do- Finns embrace depictions of them- mestic affairs. selves as melancholic and reserved — a That leaves the reasons for an alarming people who mastered social distancing build-up of Russian military forces along long before the pandemic. A popular lo- Ukraine’s southern border a mystery, prob- cal saying goes, “Happiness will always ably a deliberate one. But whatever game end in tears”. Putin is playing — and a lethal build-up But for four consecutive years, Finland like that could not happen without his say- has been named the happiest country in so — it’s not a wise one. More than 13,000 the world by the United Nations Sustain- lives have been lost in the seven-year Rus- able Development Solutions Network, sia-Ukraine conflict, including 298 people which publishes an annual report evalu- aboard a Malaysian airliner downed by trig- ating the happiness of people around the - SAJJAD HUSSAIN / AFP ger-happy separatists. world. A crematorium staff places garlands before a cremation of a COVID-19 victim at Nigambodh Ghat Putin’s address did touch, relatively brief- The latest report, published last Crematorium, on the banks of the Yamuna river in New Delhi in the early hour of Thursday (22) ly, on international affairs, but it was largely month, has led some Finns to ask: Re- a familiar plaint about Russia being picked ally? upon “without any reason,” along with “Four times in a row is too much,” said By Rukmini S chest-thumping about an “asymmetric, fast Jukka Lindstrom, a writer and stand- and tough” response should anybody think up comedian. The weather is “like the to cross a “red line” against Russia. That worst day in London, every day,” he said. flourish raised eyebrows in the West, even “There’s definitely something in our his- India’s government has though Putin never said where the red line tory that makes us have this kind of low was. self-esteem as a nation, always feeling But there was no mention of the current like an underdog”. situation around Ukraine — nor of Alexei The World Happiness Report uses Navalny, the dissident said to be in serious data from interviews of more than abandoned its citizens to face a condition in a prison clinic; nor about what 350,000 people in 95 countries, con- the Belarus president, Alexander Lukashen- ducted by the polling company Gallup. ko, means by his talk of an impending “very The rankings are not based on factors serious” decision, which has prompted spec- like income or life expectancy, but on deadly second wave alone ulation about a formal union with Russia. how people rate their own happiness on At 7:52 p.m. on April 16, Vinay Srivas- people were still vulnerable to the vi- ing to address massive rallies even after Putin has good domestic political reasons a 10-point scale. tava, a 65-year-old freelance journalist rus. India’s most recent nationwide his opponents have suspended cam- to address economic and social issues, in- “We believe that these subjective, or in Lucknow, the capital city of India’s sero-survey conducted during Decem- paigning because of rising case num- cluding the struggle with COVID-19 in Rus- self-perceived, evaluations are a more largest state Uttar Pradesh, tweeted ber 2020 and January 2021 indicated bers. Modi has even praised the big sia, given his sagging ratings and parliamen- reliable way to tell how good life is,” said the state’s chief minister Yogi Adity- that more than one in five Indians had crowds he is pulling. His government tary elections five months away. Ukraine is Shun Wang, professor of the KDI School anath that his oxygen levels had fallen been exposed to the virus, but the pro- has also permitted the KumbhMela, a not a major concern among average Rus- of Public Policy and Management in to 52, but no hospital, doctor or lab was portion of those with antibodies in ur- once-in-12 years’ Hindu religious gath- sians, who have been falsely assured that South Korea and one of the authors of picking up the phone. His symptoms ban slums was over twelve percentage ering, to be moved from 2022 to 2021 their troops are not involved, unless Rus- the report. pointed to COVID-19, but he was un- points higher than in rural areas. on account of “auspicious dates”. Over sian soldiers start coming back in body bags. Questions included, “Did you smile or able to get a test, and his son went from While officially recorded deaths ap- one million people have visited the site Polls show that Russians prefer economic laugh a lot yesterday?”, “Did you learn hospital to hospital through the night, peared to show that India’s mortality every day since March 11, even as lo- development to dreams of a resurgent Great or do something interesting yesterday?” pleading in vain for a bed for his father. from COVID-19 was far below that in cal authorities admitted that it was Russia, and at 68, Putin no longer holds the and “Were you treated with respect all At 3:15 p.m. the next day, Srivasta- much of the developed world, govern- difficult to maintain Covid rules at the appeal he had when he came to power at 46, day yesterday?” va tweeted the chief minister’s media ment authorities largely ignored warn- gathering. especially among younger Russians. Other questions relate to trust. Some- adviser: “Now my oxygen is 31 when ings from the first wave: the death re- The current case numbers have far That is one reason analysts don’t think one who thought the police or strangers some will come.” Minutes later he was port infrastructure was underpowered surpassed India’s first peak. Since Putin really intends any military action were “very likely” to return his or her lost dead. He had never been tested, and at the best of times, and health authori- April 17, India has reported more than against Ukraine. Another reason is that the wallet had, on average, a much higher his family would have to wait hours for ties were actively undercounting Covid 200,000 new cases each day, and the troop movements have been almost deliber- life evaluation score than someone who an ambulance to take his body away. deaths. Official mortality data was last numbers keep rising. Most hospitals ately visible, but not suggestive of imminent thought the opposite, researchers found. Srivastava’s tweets of his descent recorded in 2018. in India’s major cities – and many action. It is in any case unlikely that Putin The authors came up with six catego- transfixed and horrified India’s Twit- Despite its world-class genomic se- smaller ones – are overrun. Oxygen would try to overrun the rebel-held provinc- ries to explain most of the difference in ter users. But whether online or offline, quencing infrastructure, India also fell is in particularly short supply, even as es of Ukraine, given the level of reaction this happiness between countries: gross do- one thing has become abundantly clear far behind on this front. It did virtually health authorities suggested that more would provoke in the West. mestic product per capita, social sup- to all Indians over the last week: the no sequencing between July and De- people in the second wave were re- The posturing then raises various other port, life expectancy, freedom to make second wave has grown to a tsunami, cember 2020, Gagandeep Kang, one porting shortness of breath. Last year, possibilities. One is that Putin is trying to life choices, generosity and perception and the state is unable to cope. of India’s most respected virologists, Modi set up an opaque fund into which put new pressure on President Volodymyr- of corruption levels. Wang said some Although the first cases were detect- told me. Even since then, India has charitable donations poured in, and Zelenskiy of Ukraine, the former actor who results were surprising: Parts of Eastern ed in the country as early as January sequenced less than 1% of total COV- set aside money for 162 oxygen plants. was elected two years ago on the promise of Europe ranked relatively low on the list, 2020, India only reached one million ID-19 samples between January and It took the government eight months cleaning up Ukraine’s notoriously corrupt despite having relatively good income confirmed cases on July 16 last year. March 2021, citing a lack of funds. This to invite bids; as of April 18, only 33 politics and making peace with Russia, but levels, while in South America, the re- Until the beginning of June 2020, new means that many important questions plants had been installed and only a who has not made much progress on either verse was true: Happiness levels tended cases remained under 10,000 each about the Indian outbreak can’t be an- handful was functioning. front. This week, Zelenskiy declared that he to be high, given relatively low income day. In March last year, the govern- swered – there are hypotheses that the Indians have stepped into the void was prepared to meet Putin at any time. levels. In Finland, a relatively egalitarian ment enforced one of the world’s strict- new ‘double mutant’ variant that origi- left by the State, rigging up oxygen cyl- Putin may also be trying to forestall any society, people tend not to be fixated on est lockdowns, which lasted for two nated in India, and is now the UK’s inders for their families, organizing via American or European thoughts of throwing “keeping up with the Joneses”. months. Although these restrictions fastest growing variant, could be more spreadsheets to get drugs to those who more weight behind Ukraine, and especially “People often do pretty well in social came at significant costs, some parts of transmissible or evade immunity, but need them and setting up mini control any notion of considering Ukraine for NATO comparison,” said Antti Kauppinen, a India were able to use this time to build there is little evidence to substantiate rooms to coordinate bed availability. membership. Or Putin is trying to demon- philosophy professor at the University up their healthcare capacity. this yet. Other hypotheses around the In a televised address on Tuesday (20) strate, at a time when U.S.-Russian relations of Helsinki. “This starts from education; Yet the country’s healthcare resourc- new surge include a high rate of rein- night, Modi invited comparisons to his are at a serious low, that he still must be everybody has access to good education. es remain acutely constrained. India is fections and breakthrough infections address announcing a lockdown with reckoned with. Or all the above. Income and wealth differences are rela- ranked 155 of 167 countries on its hos- in people who are already vaccinated, four hours’ notice in March 2020. This Whatever Putin’s motive, the military tively small.” pital bed density, and every medical but again no data is yet available. time, however, the prime minister had build-up in Crimea is a dangerous ploy, es- People in Finland also tend to have doctor in India caters to at least 1,511 Instead, there was triumphalism. no shock and awe on offer, but little pecially by a major nuclear power. Chances realistic expectations for their lives. But people, while there is only one nurse “India has successfully contained the by way of concrete relief either, apart that the sabre-rattling could lead to an ac- when something in life does exceed ex- to every 670 people (the World Health pandemic,” health minister Harsh from a previously announced expan- cidental confrontation may be minute, but pectations, people will often act with Organization recommends one doctor Vardhan said at the end of January sion of the vaccination program that is even that is not a risk a responsible power humility, preferring a self-deprecating per 1,000 people, and one nurse for 2021. In 2020, Prime Minister Naren- currently far behind its targets. should accept. joke over bragging, said Sari Poyhonen, every 300) dra Modi had given every indication of Since the beginning of the pandemic, This month, President Joe Biden sent Pu- a linguistics professor at the University The surge, when it came in July and having taken the virus deadly serious- Modi has attempted to frame the crisis tin a clear signal. The new sanctions ordered of Jyvaskyla. Finns, she said, are pros at August 2020, was swift, but just as ly. Unlike other global leaders, such as as a collective experience that Indi- against Russia, and the expulsion of 10 Rus- keeping their happiness a secret. quickly it appeared to be over. By the Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, Modi was re- ans are in together. But over the last sian diplomats, were the response Biden had The report this year received little at- middle of September, new detected lentlessly on-message, always appear- weeks, it has been abundantly clear promised against hacking, election interfer- tention in the Finnish news media. cases declined steadily, hospitaliza- ing masked. Yet after the September to most Indians that they are truly on ence and the targeting of dissidents abroad. “Finland is still the happiest country tions fell and deaths declined sharply. decline, everyone appeared to throw their own. The administration took the unusual step of in the world,” began a short article that If India had then attempted a sci- caution to the winds. -Rukmini S is a data journal- detailing evidence of Russian responsibility ran on Page 19 in Ilta-Sanomat, a daily entific assessment of its first wave, Since the beginning of March 2021, ist based in Chennai, India and this for the SolarWinds hack of government and newspaper. there might have been lessons for the Modi has led a seemingly interminable article was originally featured on corporate computer systems, making clear All of the countries that ranked in the future. It would have found that many election in five Indian states, continu- theguardian.com that this was unacceptable. top 10 — including the four other Nordic With the stick, however, came a carrot, a countries — have different political phi- proposal for a summit at which the United losophies than in the United States, No. States and Russia could shift to a more pro- 14 on the list, behind Ireland and ahead ductive partnership on issues of common of Canada. Lower levels of happiness in Commemoration of Black and Asian war dead concern — including the opening of the Arc- the United States could be driven by so- tic to navigation, the COVID-19 pandemic, cial conflict, drug addiction, lack of ac- UK sorry for ‘pervasive racism’ arms control, the rise of China and how to cess to health care and income inequal- resolve the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. ity, Wang said. LONDON - Britain issued an apol- gion. Addressing Parliament, British East Africa and Egypt, were not com- Putin arguably had no political choice but Things in Finland are far from per- ogy on Thursday (22) for failures that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said memorated by name or possibly not at to throw out a clutch of American officials in fect. Like other parts of the Continent, meant “pervasive racism” might have there was no doubt prejudice had all. retaliation. far-right nationalism is on the rise, and denied a proper commemoration to played a part in some of the failures of “The events of a century ago were But it is now in his best interest to shift unemployment is 8.1%, higher than the as many as 350,000 Black and Asian the Imperial War Graves Commission, wrong then and are wrong now,” Claire from tough guy to statesman. That would average unemployment rate of 7.5% in service personnel who died fighting for the CWGC’s precursor. Horton, director general of the CWGC, mean unwinding the military build-up, ac- the European Union. the British Empire in world wars. “On behalf of the Commonwealth said. cepting Zelenskiy’s offer of peace talks and But there is a lot about Finland that An independent inquiry commis- War Graves Commission and the gov- “We recognize the wrongs of the past meeting with Biden. is, indeed, great. The country’s public sioned by the Commonwealth War ernment both at the time and today I and are deeply sorry and will be acting The bulk of Putin’s address to his nation school system, which rarely tests chil- Graves Commission (CWGC) found want to apologize,” Wallace said. He immediately to correct them.” was a detailed program for dealing with the dren, is among the best in the world. that hundreds of thousands of mostly also expressed “deep regret” that it had The CWGC, which will act on the pandemic, climate change, infrastructure, College is free. There is a good universal African and Middle Eastern casualties taken so long to rectify the situation. report’s 10 recommendations such as income and all the other issues that are at health care system, and child care is af- from World War One were not com- The report found that between seeking out new names and adding the forefront of his people’s concerns. Pu- fordable. And Finland has been one of memorated by name, or at all. 45,000 and 54,000 casualties, pre- explanations at relevant sites, commis- tin must surely understand that the leader- the least affected European countries by The CWGC works to commemorate dominantly Indian, Egyptian, Somali sioned the inquiry in December 2019 ship he sought to project would be far better the pandemic, which experts attribute to Commonwealth forces and ensure that and from East and West Africa, were after a television documentary found served by a meeting with a new American the high trust in government and little all those killed in the two world wars commemorated “unequally”. it had not treated Africans killed in president in pursuit of peaceful coexistence resistance to following restrictions. are remembered in the same way, re- Another 116,000 casualties and as World War One equally. than it would by his bullying Ukraine or -New York Times gardless of rank, background or reli- many as 350,000, predominantly from -Agencies hounding Navalny. 10 APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS HUMANITY

By Minoli de Soysa Two years on, they are still asking for answers When new faces are seen at the Zion evan- gelical church in Batticaloa, it is customary for the pastor to welcome them. As a heal- ing church, it is open to non-Christians. Two years ago, on Easter Sunday morning, Assistant Pastor Ganeshamoorthy Thiru- kumaran held out his hand to a stranger but his handshake was rebuffed. However, the man gave his name as Omar. The pas- tor had duties at another church so he left, only to turn back when he heard that the Batticaloa church had been attacked; the man he had met earlier was the suicide bomber. From then on the day was a blur so it was not until six in the evening that Pas- tor Thirukumaran learnt the devastating news – among the 14 children killed in the blast was his 12 year old son Shalom Mal- chiah, who had been attending the Sunday school. Two years on, the pain of losing Shalom is still raw for the family. Their house is a shrine to the boy who played the trumpet, sang and painted and knew the Bible inside out. Particularly close to his father, Shalom would stay up until late at night while the pastor finished his duties at the church. Photographs of Shalom adorn the walls and his books, trophies and school T shirt are kept on display in a glass cupboard. “It has been hard to go through these two years but many people have assisted us with funds for medical needs as well as By Capt. Elmo Jayawardena counselling. Prayers from other churches have also helped us,” says Pastor Thiruku- maran, a calm and gentle man who seems to have come to terms with his grief. Many companies and organizations came for- The Pilot ward to help the community in its time of need. Because of COVID-19, the bereaved have Human decency in a time of war and a chance encounter on a train been unable to mourn their dead properly and this year, too, remembrances were The UNHRC is in full swing. The originated. The Pilot and his com- troops were being brought in the reciprocated. “It was very difficult muted. The reconstruction of the destroyed ‘merchants of Geneva’ are getting panion sat down and gave courtesy ferry from Karativu to Sangupiddy. for us to leave, it’s our home, but church is incomplete. There are piles of ready to shoot their arrows of justice smiles to the people in front which The Pilot was on the lead plane fol- such is life.” rubble lying around and shrapnel holes in against the offenders of this planet. were not reciprocated. The times lowed by his wingman. They took off They had left Jaffna about five the remaining walls. A new roof has been constructed as a result of promises by the Of course, it is done democratically, were such when tensions ran high on runway 05 in Anuradhapura and days ago and found their way to Va- headed north westerly to the coast vuniya to catch the Colombo train. previous government and a sign on the gate by honourable people in Saville Row across all racial boundaries. People says it is an army construction site. After suits who sit around polished ma- mistrusted everyone, especially if and turned right to track directly “We almost died.” the new government came into power, the hogany tables and determine by a they were not of the same race. to Pooneryn. It was a clear sky they “How, what happened?’ asked the work stopped. However, the outpouring of count of votes who is guilty and who That’s when the military men flew without a single cloud; the vis- Pilot. donations both locally and internationally is not. That is the show-piece; but came into the cabin where The Pilot ibility was excellent. The Pilot and “We were very lucky Sir,” the Doc- has resulted in the construction of a bigger the truth could be so very different. was seated, carrying out a security his wingman reached the target area tor said softly. church in a different place complete with Powerful people call the tune, and check of the passengers in the train. and saw the Ferry loaded with peo- “We were on the Ferry about to office space and a house for the pastor. the theme is “You lend me your mule They wanted the bags of the family ple and ready to leave Karativu for cross the lagoon to Sangupiddy. Before she lost her eyesight and some and I will remember you when it is opened and were going through the Sangupiddy. The Pilot was at 3000 Two planes came screaming down of her mobility, eight year old Debbie was your turn to take the stand. Then I’ll contents. The girl was embarrassed feet and he commenced the attack to to bomb us. I even saw the bombs a bright and lively child. “Debbie never lend you my donkey”. and the mother too when some la- drop the two bombs hanging under hanging under the wings. I took my walked, she was always running. She loved We must try and remember the dies’ underwear were pulled out his wings to destroy the ferry. The son and jumped to the shallow wa- to tease her brother,” said her aunt and beginning of all this when the pow- and the father watched helpless as two SIAI Marchettis screamed down ter. I saw my wife and daughter just carer, Vadani Moses. Debbie has had in- ers that were initiated the Treaty of the soldiers continued their search, in a dive at 220 knots to reach 1500 standing and looking at the planes, numerable operations on most parts of her Berlin in 1885 to carve out the Afri- simply doing their job. The Pilot felt feet right where the ferry was. They paralyzed.” body from her brain to her feet. As Debbie can continent. The newer version of uncomfortable and politely told the were about to release the bombs. “People were shouting, I also slowly recovers from her devastating in- protecting human rights was born soldiers to go easy as these people “I saw people jumping to the sea shouted “Jump, Jump.” juries, her spirit is returning. She attends after the end of the Second World looked rather tired and frightened. and women and children on the fer- “They didn’t, they just stood school and walks by herself while dealing War in 1945 in San Francisco, and Though in civvies, the soldiers may ry deck standing like statues, frozen there.” with the loss of her parents who died in the subsequently UNHCR dug its roots have recognized The Pilot to be a with fear. They were clinging to each “Sir, you will not believe, the blast. in Geneva in 1950. From 1885 to military man and they heeded his re- other watching the two aeroplanes bombs didn’t fall, I think they But she questions why she cannot see, the present day, the essentials will quest. The bags were closed, and the diving towards them,” that’s what jammed, both aeroplanes. Some believing that Jesus has her eyes and will rule and call the tune and the non- soldiers left. The father of the fam- The Pilot told me. He made an in- mechanism must have failed.” someday give them back to her. Vadani is essentials will continue to contribute ily nodded to The Pilot in gratitude stant decision and aborted the mis- The Pilot listened to that story in hoping her niece can go to Canada for an to the coffers. Grinning and cheering whilst placing the bags on the top sion and pulled out of the dive and stunned silence. operation to restore the sight in one eye. they will raise their hands and vote rack. The whistle blew and the train his wingman followed suit. “Whenever I recall that incident, The other is irreparably damaged. as they are instructed to do. hooted and started moving towards “There was no way I could bomb something happens to me and I see “We can never forget what happened. Human Rights matters are taken Colombo. those civilians,” he said to me in a that family sitting in the train and People were burning in front of our eyes,” up and sent to a Jury where among …… soft whisper. “We were at war, but relating what happened to them. I says Vadani. Her sister Verlini, Debbie’s the sworn prophets of justice there not against innocent women and feel so incredibly relieved I aborted mother, was a pious woman who has The Italian made SIAI Marchetti are those who are guiltier than those children,” The Pilot concluded. the bombing and went away. To this worked for many years at the Zion church’s ground attack aeroplanes were sta- they judge. The two SIAI Marchettis made day I still value that as the best gal- bookshop. Debbie’s father had been a train tioned in the Anuradhapura Air …… a climbing turn and headed south lantry medal I received in my entire driver. Force Base. The single engine mili- towards Anuradhapura and landed military career.” Vadani’s sister, 26 year old Rebecca Ar- The train was slightly late, that was tary plane was capable of carrying with their bombs still cradled under ……. asaratnam, suffered burns to most of her the norm in those troubled times. 8 rockets or 4 machine guns or 2 their wings. body. She bears the scars on her arms, legs I am sure the Doctor must be The afternoon was warm and the bombs up to a weight of 125 kgs …… and on her face. Her fingers are stiff and ‘Pilot’ and his friend, both dressed each, which were cradled under the practising medicine in Toronto or she moves with some difficulty. She was at- in civilian clothes stood in a shaded wings for deployment. The Pilot The Colombo train gathered speed Vancouver or wherever in Canada tending Bible College before the bombing corner waiting for the Yaal Devi to was a veteran who had seen a lot of and one could notice the passengers he found the home and the peace he and hopes to resume her studies soon. She arrive. The two were on home leave the war. The going had been rough easing to a relatively relaxed mood was yearning for. The young medical still has five more operations to undergo. travelling to Colombo. This was An- for those who fought on both sides. as the distance increased away from student would have graduated and For the time being, the family is coping uradhapura in the early nineties, the Heroes and Heroines alike had died, the war-torn North. The Pilot no- must be now walking the wards with with help from various companies and or- country totally wrapped in a civil war some for the country and some for ticed more details about the people a stethoscope straddling her neck. ganizations providing funds for medical that had divided the people in racial the cause, either way they were all sitting in front of him. It was obvious Good luck to you both. I like to think needs as well as counselling, which they demarcations. Yes, there was a war dead and gone. The survivors did they were a family, father, mother, that through some freak chance you find useful because it gives them a space in on, call it by any other name if you not know when and where this mad- daughter and son and the additional will read this article and realize why which to speak freely to an objective per- wish, but the essence was the Sinha- ness would end, but they fought on lady could have been a relative. It the bombs did not fall. It certainly sons and express their grief and trauma. lese and the Tamils were killing each till they too were buried in a shallow took a while for the father to greet had nothing to do with a mechanical “I want the children to have a good edu- other, at times not even knowing unmarked grave or given a military the Pilot with a smile and then he malfunction, but because the plane cation and for my sister to get married,” what the fighting was all about. burial with a folded national flag and spoke softly. was flown by a decent human being. says Vadani. The train pulled into the station a gun salute. “Thank you Sir, for speaking on As for The Pilot and his Wingman, For Pastor Thirukumaran, it will be dif- and the usual jostle and bustle and The mission that afternoon for our behalf to that officer. We are I salute you both and I am privileged ficult to have closure until he finds out who the screeching cacophony broke The Pilot was to take-off and fly to tired, tired of everything that has to have written this story. Wherever committed the atrocious acts. “My heart the stillness and the silence as pas- Pooneryn located on the west side of happened in this country. We just you are flying aeroplanes may your feels bad because I don’t know why these sengers grabbed at doors and leapt the Jaffna Lagoon. From there to lo- want to go somewhere and find a skies be blue and safe. people did such a thing. Different stories into the compartments. The ‘Pilot’ cate the ferry that operated between new home and live in peace.” I am sure there must be some scale keep coming up. We don’t know who was and his companion too joined the Karativu jetty and Sangupiddy jetty As the minutes ticked, the train in the UNHCR to measure spontane- behind the attacks and until we find them, rush and boarded the train. They and destroy it by bombing. The ferry rolled and the companions in the ous and timely acts of kindness such it is very dangerous for the country,” he had made their reservation in an linked the Jaffna peninsula to the cabin made feeble attempts to foster as what The Pilot and his Wingman says. enclosed cabin with two long seats mainland and was a prime water a Q and A but mostly with monosyl- displayed when they flew away from He wants the government to release the facing each other, the more comfort- route of 4 km for people to travel be- labic answers. The Pilot kept his side a mission to save civilians. full report on the inquiry into the attacks able type. There was a family already tween the peninsula and the main- silent sans details. As for lending mules and recipro- and is suspicious as to why it has not been seated there, a father and a mother land. It was believed that the LTTE “I am a doctor, and my daughter cating with donkeys, isn’t that still done already. and a young daughter and a little too was using the Sangupiddy Ferry here has qualified herself for medi- very much in vogue in the higher After attending some sessions of the in- boy, presumably the son. Another to transport their fighting men along cal college.” echelons of the powers that be? quiry, Pastor Thirukumaran feels he has lady too was with them, perhaps a with civilians as human shields. That “We are migrating to Canada.” a right to know its findings. “The perpe- Maybe an hour passed, some -Capt. Elmo Jayawardena trators are still out there and should be relative or a friend. They looked very morning the military had received found,” he points out. cream crackers were shared. The Pi- can be contacted on tired, may have been travelling from information that there was a possi- -groundviews.org Vavuniya where the Colombo train bility of a large contingent of LTTE lot said a few things and the Doctor [email protected] WEEKEND EXPRESS APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 11 LITERARY LIVES

Charlie Parker -1920-1955 By Joumana Khatib Writing in Italian, The Yardbird who just ‘wailed’ Jhumpa Lahiri found a new voice Sir Christopher Ondaatje explores the genius and tragedy of the legendary Grammy Award-winning Literary translators have come up with plenty of analogies for their trade. Some compare it to act- jazz saxophonist, one of music’s true innovators who, with Dizzy Gillespie, invented the dizzying fast ing, others to performing in a chamber ensemble. Jhumpa Lahiri opted for a more visceral de- paced bebop style of music, and turned jazz from dance music into something intensely intellectual scription in ‘In Other Words’, the first book she wrote in Italian. English was “a hairy, smelly teen- and spiritual ager” menacing her nascent Italian, she wrote, which she cradled “like a newborn”. That book traces her self-imposed linguistic ex- ile: In 2012, she and her family moved to Rome so she could pursue a decades-long interest in the language. She gave up English for years, reading and writing almost exclusively in Italian. Before the book’s 2016 release in English, Lahiri passed the translation to Ann Goldstein, who handled the English editions of Elena Ferrante’s Neapoli- tan quartet, fearful that translating her own work would contaminate her Italian. Five years later and living back in the United States, Lahiri has resolved those doubts. Knopf next week will release her new novel, ‘Wherea- bouts’, which Lahiri published in Italian in 2018 as ‘Dove MiTrovo’ and translated herself. It is the first book Knopf will publish that was translated by its own author. But that step wasn’t a given. “I was just convinced that the book couldn’t be in English, because I didn’t know where in me it had come from,” Lahiri said over video from Princeton, New Jersey, where she is the director of the university’s creative writing program. Pre- senting a book in Italy, “there’s a more formal en- gagement with the text,” she said. “In a sense, your book is exposed to more rigorous public reading.” The thought initially terrified her, but at the - pmaconline.org same time, “it was one of the things that inspired Charlie Parker defined the sound and substance of Bebop Jazz me to learn Italian, because I wanted to be able to speak about my work in Italian. I wanted to have these conversations in Italian,” Lahiri, 53, said. “You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then, you In 1939 Parker left for New York City to concen- of ballads with a mixed group of jazz and chamber “That was like the final challenge.” practice, practice, practice. And then, when you trate on his musical career. He had other jobs too. orchestra musicians. Six master takes from this That critical reception, and leaving plenty of finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all For some time he worked as a dishwasher for nine 1949 recording session became the album ‘Charlie time after the book’s initial publication, was es- that and just wail.” dollars a week at Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, where Parker with Strings’ where they played the stand- sential before starting the English version. She -Charlie Parker Art Tatum (1909 – 1956), the famous jazz pianist, ards ‘Just Friends’, ‘Everything Happens to Me’, had approached a translator, Frederika Randall, performed. It was in 1939, in New York, that Park- ‘April in Paris’, ‘Summertime’, ‘I Didn’t Know what about the project, thinking they would collaborate Charlie Parker Jr. was born on August 29, 1920 er finally achieved his musical breakthrough that Time It Was’, and ‘If I Should Lose You’. This mu- in its final stages. But once Lahiri reviewed Ran- in Kansas City, Kansas and was the only child of he had been searching for in the Missouri Ozarks. sic eventually became known as‘Third Stream’. dall’s early drafts, and saw that “the book could be Charles Parker and Adelaide ‘Addie’ Bailey, who Playing through the changes on the song ‘Chero- in English,” she decided, “Maybe I can do this.” was of mixed Choctaw and African American back- kee’ Parker discovered a new musical vocabulary “Master your instrument. Don’t be afraid, just Fans of the intimacy and detail of Lahiri’s ear- ground. He was raised in Kansas City, Missouri. and sound that shifted the course of musical his- play the music.” lier work, such as ‘The Namesake’ and ‘The Low- He went to Lincoln High School in September 1934 tory. In a practice session with guitarist William -Charlie Parker land’, may be surprised by ‘Whereabouts’. Lahiri but left in December 1935, just before joining the ‘Biddy’ Fleet he realized that the twelve semitones was born in London to Bengali parents, moved to local musicians’ union and deciding to pursue a of the chromatic scale can lead melodically to any In 1952 Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie re- the United States at a young age and grew up in full-time musical career. key, breaking the confines of simple jazz soloing. leased an album called ‘Bird and Diz’. The fol- South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Many of her sto- lowing year, 1953, Parker performed in Massey ries draw on her heritage and the persistent feel- Parker started playing the saxophone when he “Music is your own experience, your own Hall, Toronto, with Gillespie, Charlie Mingus, Bud ings of being an outsider or between identities. was eleven, and joined the high school band when thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t Powell and Max Roach. The concert was poorly Former Times critic Michiko Kakutani, reviewing he was fourteen with a new alto saxophone his come out of your horn. They teach you there’s a attended because of the Jersey Joe Walcott/Rocky Lahiri’s Pulitzer Prize-winning debut, ‘Interpreter mother bought him. His father was quite influen- boundary line to music. But ... there’s no bound- Marciano televised heavyweight boxing fight, but of Maladies’, called the characters’ experiences an tial in his musical career as he was a pianist, dancer ary line to art.” the recording of the event ‘Jazz at Massey Hall’ is “index of a more existential sense of dislocation”. and singer on the Theatre Owners Booking Asso- -Charlie Parker known as one of Parker’s best live recordings. At ‘Whereabouts’, in contrast, is an austere, vir- ciation circuit. He later became a Pullman waiter this event Parker played a plastic Grafton saxo- tually plotless book. Its unnamed narrator is a on the railways. However the biggest influence Initially, this new type of jazz was sneered at by phone – a new innovation. solitary Roman woman — though Rome is never on Parker’s career was a young trombone player established traditional jazz musicians,but musi- mentioned — who recounts her few excursions – Robert Simpson – who taught him the basics of cians like Coleman Hawkins and Art Tatum real- “You’ve got to learn your instrument. Don’t in brief chapters. Lahiri offers readers glimpses improvisation. ized that the new music was a positive development play the saxophone. Let it play you.” of the woman at the pool (“In that container of and participated in jam sessions and recording -Charlie Parker clear water lacking life or current I see the same He had talent and practiced diligently in the mid dates. However, from August 1, 1942 to November people with whom, for whatever reason, I feel a 1930s for up to fifteen hours a day. It was while 11, 1944 the Musicians’ Union called a ban on all Parker’s health began to deteriorate badly in connection”), herded unexpectedly into a guided he was in his teens that he mastered improvisation commercial recordings, as part of a struggle to get March 1954 when his three-year-old daughter died tour (“I’m caught in the charade, I play a part in and some of the ideas that led to Bepop. Popular royalties from record sales for a union fund for out- of an illness. Riddled with mental problems and a it, albeit as an extra”), eating a sandwich in a play- bands led by Count Basie and Bennie Moten also of-work musicians. Consequently much of Bebop’s serious addiction to heroin, he attempted suicide ground (“As I eat it, my body bakes in the sun that influenced Parker and he played with local bands early development was not captured for posterity twice in 1954. He was again committed to a mental pours down on my neighbourhood, each bite, feel- around Kansas City, Missouri, where he developed and gained limited radio exposure. It was not un- hospital. ing sacred, reminds me that I’m not forsaken”). his unique technique. Henry Franklin ‘Buster’ til 1945, when the recording ban was lifted, that Other characters appear — her therapist, her Smith, a jazz alto saxophonist who played with Parker’s collaborations with Dizzy Gillespie, Max Charlie Parker died on March 12, 1955 in the mother, a friend — yet the interactions reinforce Basie and Lester Young, also helped influence Roach, Bud Powell and others had a marked effect suite of his friend and patron Baroness Pannonica the narrator’s isolation. “Solitude: It’s become my Parker’s dynamic transitions to double and triple on the jazz world. de Koenigswarter at the Stanhope Hotel in New trade,” she tells herself. time. Parker sometimes sat in on jazz sessions with York City. Causes of death were certified as being Alessandro Giammei, an assistant professor of Count Basie in 1936 – the same year he married his On November 26, 1945 Charlie Parker made a lobar pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer. Also, apart Italian at Bryn Mawr and a former colleague of childhood sweetheart Rebecca Ruffin. recording with the Savoy label – marketed as ‘The from his heroin addiction, he had an advanced case Lahiri’s, was an early reader of both the Italian greatest jazz session ever’ with Dizzy Gillespie and of cirrhosis of the liver and had suffered a heart at- and English versions. In ‘Dove Mi Trovo’, he was “I kept thinking there’s bound to be something Miles Davis on trumpet, Curley Russell on bass and tack. He was only thirty five years old. struck by the elegance of the language and the pre- else. I could hear it sometimes, but I couldn’t play Max Roach on drums. ‘Ko-ko’, ‘Billie’s Bounce’ and cision of Lahiri’s word choices. “You cannot read it.” ‘Now’s the Time’ were part of this recording ses- Since 1950 Parker had been living with his com- this book without moving your mouth in Italian,” -Charlie Parker sion. mon-law wife Chan Berg, the mother of his son he said. Apart from her own writing — ‘Wherea- Baird and his daughter Pree, who died when she bouts’ is the third book she composed in Italian, Late in 1936 Parker, while travelling with a Later in 1945, Parker and Dizzy Gillespie trav- was three. He never married her, nor did he di- following ‘In Other Words’ and ‘The Clothing of band from Kansas City to the Ozarks for the open- elled to a disastrous engagement at Billy Berg’s vorce his wife. His marital state complicated the Books’, published in 2016 — Lahiri kept busy with ing of Clarence Musser’s Tavern south of Eldon, club in Los Angeles. The band returned to New settling of Parker’s estate. Dizzy Gillespie paid for other translations and editing projects. She has Missouri, was involved in a bad car crash which York, but Parker remained behind, cashing in his his funeral and lying in state in Harlem, after which translated two novels by an acclaimed contem- broke three ribs and fractured his spine. It was return ticket to buy heroin. The resulting bad pe- his body was flown back to Missouri at the insist- porary writer, Domenico Starnone, one of which a serious accident which led to Parker’s ultimate riod in Parker’s life led to him being committed to ence of his mother and buried at Lincoln Cemetery was a finalist for a National Book Award, and has troubles with pain killers and opioids – especially Camarillo State Mental Hospital for six months. in Blue Summit, Missouri. a third set for release in the fall. Dismayed by the heroin. He struggled with drug use for the rest of lack of quality translations of some of her favour- his life. “Any musician who says he is playing better ei- Through his recordings and popularity of the ite Italian writers, she edited and contributed ther on tea, the needle or when he is juiced, is a posthumously published Charlie Parker Omni- translations to a volume of collected short stories. Even though Parker nearly died in 1936, he went plain, straight liar. When I get too much to drink, book, Parker’s identifiable style dominated jazz for Several of those selections, including stories by back to the site of the accident near the Ozarks, and I can’t even finger well, let alone play decent ideas many years to come. Elsa Morante and FabriziaRamondino, had never spent a lot of time “woodshedding” (a term used ... You can miss the most important years of your before appeared in English. by musicians to mean rehearsing a difficult musical life.” Miles Davis once said, “You can tell the history “Translation, to me, is metamorphosis,” Lahiri passage repeatedly until it can be performed flaw- -Charlie Parker of jazz in four words: Louis Armstrong, Charlie said. “It is a kind of radical re-creation of the work, lessly). It was then that he developed his unique Parker”. In 1949 the New York nightclub Birdland because you are recreating the language to allow sound. In 1938 he joined Jay McSchann’s Terri- In mid 1946, after Parker was discharged from was named in his honour. Three years later, George that work to be reborn.” tory Band, and toured nightclubs and concert halls the State Mental Hospital, he recorded ‘Relaxin’ at Shearing wrote ‘Lullaby of Birdland’, named for She, too, is changing, and readers can feel a shift in the Southwest, as well as Chicago and New York Camarillo’ in reference to his stay at the hospital. both Parker and the nightclub. in her work. Sara Antonelli, a professor of Ameri- City. Parker made his first professional recording Sadly he fell back on his heroin addiction as soon can literature at Università Roma Tre and a friend debut with McSchann’s band. as he got back to New York. Nevertheless he re- A biographical film Bird, starring Forest Whi- of Lahiri’s, had read her books in English. But corded several records for both the Savoy and the taker and directed by Clint Eastwood, was released reading her in Italian, “I had the impression that I “I realized by using the high notes of the chords Dial labels, which were some of his very best re- in 1988. was reading another author,” she said. “It seemed as a melodic line, and by the right harmonic pro- cordings. Many of these were with Miles Davis and that the imagination was different, the shape of gression, I could play what I heard inside me. Max Roach. the sentences, too.” That’s when I was born.” Lahiri is not the first American writer to live -Charlie Parker Parker had a strong appreciation of classical mu- and write in Rome: Henry James, Nathaniel Haw- sic – particularly the music of Igor Stravinsky and thorne, Ralph Ellison and Margaret Fuller were Parker acquired the nickname ‘Yardbird’ – his experimental innovations. His great ambition all expatriates there for a time. But aside from shortened to ‘Bird’ following a questionable inci- was to perform with a string section incorporating Lahiri, Antonelli wrote in an email, “not one of dent with a chicken on a tour bus with McShann’s both jazz and classical elements. On November 30, them found a home, a new home, in the Italian band. The nickname continued to be used for the 1949, Norman Grantz, the powerful producer and language.” rest of his life. impresario, arranged for Parker to record an album -New York Times 12 APRIL 23 - 25, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS SPORTS Super League fiasco leaves ‘dirty dozen’ facing punishment COUNTER PUNCH By The Line Judge PARIS - Football’s most powerful clubs faced Super League with just Barcelona and Perez’s Real nandinho told Sky Sports. “For sure, we are happy mounting calls for reprisals over the European Madrid, along with Italian champions Juventus - because at the end football wins.” Despite the tour- Super League fiasco on Thursday (22), although who admitted the lucrative project could not now nament’s swift demise, Perez was defiant, saying: Sri Lanka’s Super League UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said next go ahead. “The project is on standby. The project exists.” week’s Champions League semi-finals were un- Manchester United fans breached security at “I am sad and disappointed. We have been gets underway smoothly likely to be affected. their club’s training ground on Thursday as they working on this for three years and fighting Super League chief Florentino Perez, president protested against the Glazer family for the owners’ against the financial situation in Spanish foot- Even as European soccer of Real Madrid, had insisted Wednesday (21) the role in the failed breakaway league. ball,” added Perez, in an interview with Spain’s rebel competition was merely “on standby” de- United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was Cadena Ser radio. weathers turbulence spite nine teams pulling out. forced to speak to around 20 supporters after they “I have never seen aggression like it, from the The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) created his- Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, blocked both entrances to the Carrington head- president of UEFA and some presidents of the tory on Monday (19) with the launch of the country’s first Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea with- quarters. national leagues. “It seemed orchestrated, it sur- ever semi-professional football tournament. drew on Tuesday (20), followed by Atletico Ma- The protestors unfurled banners that read ‘51% prised all of us. It was like nothing I’ve seen in my Reigning FA Cup champions Colombo FC began their drid, Inter Milan and AC Milan 24 hours later. MUFC 20’, ‘We decide when you play’ and ‘Glazer career, like we had killed football. We were work- campaign with an impressive 4-0 win over New Youngs Premier League leaders City are due to play Par- out’. The 51% is a reference to fans holding the ing on how to save football.” FC in the opening match of the tournament at Sugathada- is Saint-Germain, conspicuous by their absence majority of voting rights at a club, which is com- UEFA’s executive committee will decide wheth- sa Stadium while Red Star FC defeated Blue Star FC 4-2 from the Super League plans, in the first leg of the monplace in German football. Bayern Munich er to punish the ‘dirty dozen’ - the Super League’s under lights. It was a smooth start to one the most highly Champions League semi-finals on April 28, a tie came out strongly opposed to the Super League. 12 founding clubs - at its next meeting on Friday anticipated events in Sri Lanka’s football calendar for the Ceferin expects to go ahead as scheduled. Mikel Arteta said he received a personal apol- (23), said its Swedish vice-president Karl-Erik past two years. Fans have been eagerly looking forward Record 13-time winners Real Madrid face Chel- ogy from Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke and saluted Nilsson. to witnessing Sri Lankan football at a professional level sea in the other last-four clash. “There is relatively supporters for sending the “strongest message” “It’s already had consequences one way or an- for a long period of time, and now the FFSL has delivered little chance that next week’s matches will not be football has ever seen. Arteta believes the rapid other, with the shame they have to live with now,” through the Super League with patronage from the world played,” Ceferin told Slovenian television Pop TV. and passionate response fans of Premier League Nilsson told football website Fotbollskanalen. governing body FIFA and Asian football body AFC. “The key thing is that the season has already clubs played a key role in convincing the owners “There will be consequences in their own organ- FFSL selected ten top-tier clubs through a strict club started. If we cancelled the matches, television to back down. izations, and whether there will be further conse- licensing criterion on par with international standards. stations would have compensation demands.” Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola called the quences is something we need to discuss.” Sri Lanka’s clubs are now shaping up their operations to Ceferin struck a conciliatory tone on Wednes- controversy a “closed chapter” following his side’s Supporter groups are calling for “real change” at transform into vibrant professional footballing entities, day, saying he wanted to “rebuild the unity” of Eu- 2-1 victory at Aston Villa. “I think everyone who their clubs, whose foreign owners are often seen as similar to European football clubs. Ironically, European ropean football, and described the English clubs loves football didn’t support this Super League, aloof and out of touch with fans. football was experiencing a turbulence of tsunamic pro- as “back in the fold”. The mass pull-out left the including players at our club,” City captain Fer- -AFP portions after the stunning announcement late Sunday (18) by 12 of the sport’s richest and most popular teams that they were form- ing a breakaway Super League. Fortunately, sanity prevailed 48 hours later after the pres- ident of world soccer’s governing body, FIFA, delivered a short but powerful message to the dozen rich and powerful European clubs who threatened to upend the decades-old struc- tures that underpin the world’s most power- ful sport. “If some elect to go their own way then they must live with the consequences of their choice; they are responsible for their choice,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in an address to European soccer lead- ers at their congress in Montreux, Switzer- land. “Concretely this means, either you are in, or you are out. You cannot be half in and half out. This has to be absolutely clear.” As Sri Lanka takes its first steps towards making the sport professional, the events happening in Europe may hardly impact a small footballing nation languishing at the bottom of the FIFA rankings being placed 204th out of the 206 teams in the world. The Super League will undoubtedly benefit foot- ball development in Sri Lanka and the de- velopment of the national team as well as all participating clubs as this helps them to step into the professional football industry with commercial and economic benefits. The ten clubs have brought down inter- national players from various countries in- cluding Japan, Morocco and Ivory Coast, to represent their clubs during the inaugural Super League. The Super League will play host to a single leg-based format, where the competition will be limited to 45 games, with nine games per club. The team at the top of the table at the end of the 45 games will be crowned Champions of the Super League. All participating clubs are guaranteed prize money. The eventual Super League champions will win a cash prize ranging from Rs 5 million for the winners to Rs 1 million for the club placed 10th “We believe the first ever professional football league in Sri Lanka would create the platform necessary to de- velop the game at an elite level in the coun- try. FFSL is grateful to FIFA for the approval to launch this league as a special project and funding to a great extent for the first two sea- sons of the league,” said FFSL president An- ura de Silva, adding that the FFSL also would invest a huge sum looking for a brighter fu- ture for the game, players, coaches, referees and other stakeholders in the long run. The 10 clubs that are qualified to be part of the first two seasons are eager to demon- strate their capabilities he said, confident of see some exciting football in the calendar from April to August 2021 respecting Fair Play on and off the field. FFSL General Secre- tary Jaswar Umar said this was the first time in football history the players and coaches are offered high value for playing in the teams. Super League is the ultimate football entertainment industry in the making, simi- lar to many professional leagues in the world. The Super League concept was created bear- ing in mind this is not just another compe- tition, but as a prominent football industry where footballers are offered employment to play football as full time jobs. It will cre- ate new opportunities for entrepreneurs in many different areas, including professional services that never existed in the sports in- dustry. Since football entertainment runs every weekend from Friday to Sunday for a seven-month long period, this is to become the longest and most entertaining sporting event in the country. The Super League will be produced and broadcast through Football Sri Lanka TV with TV 1 having joined hands with the FFSL as the Official Media Partner for the Super League. This means that while fans abroad or on-the-go can catch all the LIVE action on Football Sri Lanka TV, every match will also be telecast terrestrially via TV 1. The ten par- ticipating clubs are Blue Eagles SC, Blue Star SC, Colombo FC, Defenders FC, New Youngs FC, Ratnam SC, Red Star FC, Renown SC, Sea Hawks FC and Up Country Lions FC. The Super League will conclude on August 8. -ENCL PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS (CEY) PVT, LTD. NO - 267, RAJA MAWATHA, EKALA - JA - ELA