SUNDAY, april 12, 2020

www.sundayobserver.lk Sri Lanka’s English Newspaper with the largest circulation Vol. 93 - No 15 

A Blessed President’s New Year message Easter to our Navy on high “Join hands to defeat readers this menace” alert for illegal I wish the Sinhala have now entered an and Tamil New Year era where the need festival, which is to integrate with the most splendid the environment is cultural extrava- much felt. immigrants ganza of the nation, Rituals of New to be a peaceful, a Year that we prac- joyful, a prosperous as tised with utmost hon- The Sri Lanka Navy has com- attention will be paid The Navy Com- well as a healthy period for our and commitment since menced a special operation to pre- to the waters in Sri mander said if any every citizen of our country. a very long time, especially vent any migrants from entering Lanka’s Northern, such vessel carry- The Sinhala and Tamil rituals like the lighting of the the country by sea as Covid-19 North Western, ing migrants are New Year that dawns with hearth, boiling a pot of milk, spreads across many countries. Ac- Eastern, Western detected breach- the transition of the Sun can partaking the first meal of cording to Navy Commander Vice and North-East- ing the country’s be considered as a period of the New Year and the tradi- Admiral Piyal De Silva along with ern areas. “The international mari- cheerfulness, harmony and tional transacting can still be the spread of Covid-19, there is a Air Force has also time boundary, they development of mutual re- conducted at the auspicious possibility that migrants from other increased its mari- will be turned back lationships. Nevertheless, a times but restricted to family counties may try to enter Sri Lanka time observations,” by the Sri Lanka Navy virus that has spread across members. through sea routes. “Therefore, the the Commander said. to its port of origin. “We the world has entered our Children are the true ben- COVID-19 Hang Navy has now increased its surveil- “We have also informed the have also asked fishermen or- Motherland, and as a result, eficiaries of the happiness of lance and patrols in the sea around Indian authorities to step up their ganisations and other responsible at present we are facing the New Year. Even though, there on until April 19 the island and its coastal areas,” he surveillance to prevent migrants persons in the coastal areas to be most devastating situation are certain limitations to cel- said. from crossing international wa- vigilant and inform the Navy of any since the era of our ancestors. ebrate New Year festivals this – Pavithra According to De Silva, special ters” he added. such suspicious vessels,” he said. Hence, this time we are time, we, as adults, must cre- not able to celebrate festivals ate an environment for the By Nadira Gunatilleke collectively as the health spe- children to experience the cialists have emphasized the cheerfulness of this festive Sri Lanka can be rid of COV- Schools importance of maintaining season. Therefore, I remind ID-19 if the country can hang on We wish our readers social distance. I appeal to all you affectionately to perform in this tight situation until April 19, re-open on of you who voluntarily rallied New Year rituals confined to Health, Nutrition and Indigenous a happy and prosperous Sinhala around to conquer any chal- your homes while ensuring Medicine Minister Pavithra Wan- lenge faced by our country that children feel and enjoy niarachchi said. May 11 and nation, to commit your- the spirit of the New Year. According to Minister Wanni- and Tamil New Year selves now as well, to prevent Amidst our New Year resolu- arachchi, by April 19 all possible the spread of this deadly vi- tions, let us join hands with COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka rus by maintaining the social a strong determination to de- will appear and the people who GCE A/L in distance during this festival feat this menace threatening had it without any symptoms or time. our people and country. with mild symptoms will be com- August The New Year period, pletely recovered. All we, Sri Lank- nourished with the beauty of May this be a peaceful and a ans need to do is stay at home with- The GCE A/L examination will nature, is a festival that hu- prosperous New Year to all of out going out until April 19. The be held in August as scheduled, man beings pay tribute to the you. country can then be saved from Examinations Commissioner Gen- environment and nature. We – Gotabaya Rajapaksa COVID-19, the Minister said to the eral Sanath Pujitha said yesterday. media in Colombo a few days ago. He said all arrangements were She said all required medical being made to hold the examina- facilities, including ICUs, human tion as planned on the basis that resources, 30 state hospitals, etc to students will not be unfairly bur- treat 2,000 or more COVID-19 pa- dened, considering the loss of tients are now ready but Sri Lanka time and education as a result of will stop long before reaching that the COVID-19 outbreak. number if the people cooperate “During the Easter Sunday at- and stay at home for the rest of the tacks too the GCE AL students required period following the in- were affected. These factors will structions of the Government. be taken into consideration but we Minister Wanniarachchi are planning to go ahead with the stressed that the three (3) contact examination,” he said. circles of all COVID-19 patients Meanwhile, Minister of Educa- had been traced successfully with tion Dullas Allahapperuma said the assistance of the armed forc- 372,000 students have applied on- es. Sri Lanka has this number of line to sit the exam and about two COVID-19 patients at the moment thousand others will join during because some individuals did not the examination. follow Government instructions, He said, “We will take a deci- violating the rules and regulations. sion that will be least stressful to The country should walk for- them”. ward slowly for another six (6) In view of the current situa- months to get back to normalcy. tion of the Covid-19 pandemic, The National Institute of Infec- the Minister said schools will not tious Diseases (NIID), Medical Re- be reopened on April 20 as an- search Institute (MRI) etc will be nounced earlier. developed to face any similar situ- The Government has decided ations in the future, she added. to re-open schools on May 11. Govt introduces tax free foreign currency accounts A new bank account termed Spe- duced with the 2020 Budget. cial Deposit Account (SDA) has now To preserve foreign currency reserve Acceptable currencies are Unit- been introduced for Sri Lankans ed States Dollars (USD), Euro, Ster- living in and outside the country to side Sri Lanka and any other well- mum period of maturity is six (6) ling Pounds, Australian Dollars, remit their foreign currency earn- wishers can open Special Deposit months. Higher interest rates than Singapore Dollars, Swedish Kro- ings, savings and investments to any Accounts at any Sri Lankan bank of the normal rates offered to foreign ner, Swiss Franc, Canadian Dollars, bank of their choice in Sri Lanka, their preference. currency deposits will be offered Hong Kong Dollars, Japanese Yen, the President’s media announced All the regulations related to the at maturity. Accordingly, 1 percent Danish Kroner, Norwegian Kroner, yesterday. new account have been incorpo- and 2 percent points per annum for Chinese Renminbi and New Zealand The account can be operated in rated in the Extraordinary Gazette SDA with a tenure of 6 months and Dollars. the form of Term Deposits either in notification issued by the Ministry 12 months will be paid. Funds are Information could be obtained any designated foreign currency or of Finance, Economic and Policy freely convertible and repatriable from the websites of the Presiden- in Sri Lanka Rupees. Development on April 8. The notifi- outside Sri Lanka on maturity. tial Secretariat, the Ministry of Fi- Any Sri Lankan resident in or cation announces that all interested All these accounts are free nance, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka outside Sri Lanka as well as dual cit- Sri Lankans and well-wishers ac- from taxes and foreign exchange or Sri Lankan overseas missions. All izens, citizens of other States with cordingly can instruct their foreign regulations. All such deposits Sri Lankans willing to express their Sri Lankan origin, non-national banks to transfer their funds to Sri shall be protected under bank- solidarity to sustain Sri Lanka’s resil- residents in or outside Sri Lanka, Lanka. ing secrecy provision and further ience are invited to this opportunity Funds, corporate bodies, associa- There is no prescribed minimum benefits with the relevant sup- in support of COVID–19 prevention tions incorporated/registered out- amount to be deposited. The mini- porting legislation will be intro- and social security initiative. 2 Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 Feature As Covid-19 marks 100 days Sri Lanka in safe zone By Rajitha JagodaArachchi COVID-19 Death rates s Thursday marked 100 days since the comparison Family seeks a part- Buddhist, Sinhala WHO was notified of the first cases of ner for Colombo family (Canadian “pneumonia with unknown cause” in In February, the World Health Organisa- China, Sri Lanka also entered into the 6th tion estimated the fatality rate of the new coro- B/G, 41 (in 2020), Citizen) living in week of successful management of CO- navirus as 3.2 per cent, but currently, the rate 5’5’ daughter. She is Ontario is looking VID-19. From March 11 the day the first Sri Lankan is nearly doubled with a global fatality rate of kind, friendly & na- for a pretty daugh- ACOVID-19 patient was identified, the country has so 6%. The United States is currently experienc- Academically and ture lover. Foreign ter for their very far detected 190 cases (as of Friday evening) with 7 ing a death rate of 20.4% which is the high- handsome second deaths. Compared to its South Asian neighbours and est in the world. Italy and Spain record 12.7% professionally qual- qualified Teacher son. He has an Aero- many other countries, irrespective of their financial and 10.7% death rates respectively. However ified son is sought works in leading In- or military power, Sri Lanka is still in a safe zone in the epicentre of the virus, China only reports space Engineering by Principal parents ternational School, controlling the new coronavirus, health authorities 4% death rate which is below the global fatal- Colombo. Overseas Degree from Can- said. ity rate. In the meantime, the COVID-19 death for their daughter proposals are also ada and works as Of 48 Asian countries, Sri Lanka is at number 36 rate in India is 3.2% with 249 deaths to 7,600 born in 88, 5’3”, an Engineer in the in terms of the total number of cases, while the CO- cases. Sri Lankan rate is slightly above India’s, PhD from a Cana- considered. Please VID-19 spread in the country is still marked as the recording a 3.5% fatality rate with just 197 cas- email full details. same field in Toron- dian University. transmission of ‘cluster of cases’, according to the es and 7 deaths. Marriagefordru@ to. He is 28 years transmission classification of the WHO. However, Those who are liv- gmail.com (1992 March), 5’ 9”. many highly affected countries such as the United ing in Canada or MB12042020003 Non smoker. Please States, Italy and Spain are experiencing ‘community Economy willing to migrate transmission’ which worsens the situation day by day. reply with details Managing Director of International Monetary preferred. to sonp220191@ COVID-19 curfew goes on… Minister Chamal Rajapaksa also handed over a Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva announced last proposal2020gamag gmail.com donation of Rs.25 million collected by the Essential week that the world would experience the worst [email protected] MG12042020006 The curfew imposed in the high-risk districts, Food Commodities Importers & Traders Association. economic fallout since the ‘Great Depression’ in the MB12042020002 i.e. Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy, The President of Sri Lanka Cricket, Shammi Silva, Sri 1930s. Showing early signs of the impact to the local Govi Buddhist pro- Jaffna and certain areas in Ratnapura (Ratnapura and Lanka cricket captain Dimuth Karunaratne and crick- economy, the Sri Lankan Rupee further depreciated fessional parents Pelmadulla police divisions) which have been iden- eter Lasith Malinga handed over a donation of Rs.25 last week passing Rs. 200 against the US dollar for the B/G Parents, close BG Mother looking living in Melbourne tified as High-Risk Zones will continue until further million collected by Sri Lanka Cricket to the Presi- first time in history. PwC, an independent research to Gampaha seeks a for a bride for his notice. In all other districts, curfew will be lifted from dent. institution, issuing a special report claimed that de- seek well mannered suitable partner for 37 year old hand- time to time and re-imposed on the same day. Dur- Minister Ramesh Pathirana handed over a dona- spite the actions taken by regulators, the Sri Lankan their daughter, 42, daughter who is ing these curfew periods travelling to and from all tion of Rs. 7 million collected by the staff of the Min- Rupee would experience further pressure. some tall Doctor willing to migrate to very young look- districts has been completely prohibited except for istry of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture “Hence adequate lines of foreign funding should son who is working Australia for their essential services. and affiliated institutions to the Ministry. be sought to manage short term pressures on the ing, 5’4”, slim, fair, in Western Europe. only son 28 years, In the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., currency. In the long term, a strong export base and pleasant, well man- the Government emphasizes the need to limit tra- Public Officers’ Welfare Association, Irrigation Engi- sustainable FDIs will be critical for a strong curren- Well bought up with 178cm tall profes- ditions and associations during the festive time to neering Diplomate Association, Kalutara Bodhi Trust cy. Export industries in our view should be provided nered, MBA, B.Sc., sober habits. Never sionally qualified, members of the family within one’s home. People Fund, Association of University Administrators, Im- TAX-FREE status for a considerable length of time to values Sinhala, married. Upper duel citizen, work- who misuse the regulations introduced with the sole migration and Emigration Officers’ Association, Pub- attract investment, create employment and generate Buddhist Culture, middle class fam- ing as an IT spe- objective of ensuring the efficient functioning of es- lic Finance Department, employees of the Ministry of foreign exchange” it stated. Executive - private, sential services will be severely dealt with according Defence, Sri Lanka Police Department and National The report further pointed out the importance ily from Colombo. cialist. Reply with to the curfew law, Police media division announced Youth Services Council were among the other insti- of preparedness of declining tourism significantly in new house, new Please reply to copy of horoscope last week. tutes and organisations who contributed to the fund. comparison to the revenue generated in 2019. Tour- car. Kmkmenike7@ proposal010118@ to kgmproposal@ To minimise disturbances to the general public, All the donations will be credited to the special ism earning in 2018 reached USD 4.3bn while the pre- gmail.com yahoo.com gmail.com the Government has strengthened the mechanism to account No. 85737373 at the Corporate Branch of vious year earnings were barely USD 3.6bn, as a result supply essential food items and other goods, enabling the Bank of Ceylon. (Further details can be obtained of the Easter attacks. MB12042020001 MG12042020005 MG12042020004 the people to purchase them while in their homes. from K.B. Egodawele, Director General (Administration) of the Presidential Sec- Food Supply retariat, on telephone number 011 2 35 44 79). As rice production, storage and distribution are Meanwhile, a delegation from the Eu- imperative to ensure food security, the Government ropean Union (EU) and Ambassadors of on Friday declared the services of all rice millers in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands the country as an essential service. and Romania met the head of Special In terms of this directive, rice mill owners must Presidential Task Force for Essential Ser- produce rice using the paddy stocks in their posses- vices, former Minister Basil Rajapaksa sion. Under the instructions of the President, the last week to discuss the support the EU Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundara had in- can extend towards Sri Lanka’s battle formed the authorities to take all measures to enable against COVID-19. Member states of small scale rice mill owners to distribute their rice the EU agreed to provide 22 million eu- stocks within their respective Divisional Secretariat ros worth donations to Sri Lanka. This Divisions, medium scale owners to distribute within includes medical equipment, supplies the district and large scale owners to distribute in the and financial assistance to the agricul- entire country. ture and tourism sectors which expects As per Government stats, a harvest of around 3 a challenging time in the post-COVID pe- million metric tons of paddy has been reaped so riod. The EU funding will majorly focus far and the quantity of rice that can be produced is on small businesses and workers in the equivalent to 2/3 of that amount. At a special meeting Central and Uva Provinces. chaired by both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, last week, a representative of the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) assured that the PMB currently has a stock of 50,000 MT paddy in their regis- Obituaries tries, which can produce up to 30 million kilos of rice. Hon. Justice suresHcHandra In a brief interview with the Sunday Ob- - r.K.s (Retired Supreme Court Judge) - server, Food Commissioner, (Mrs) J. Krish- Dearly beloved husband of Savithri (Savi), namurthi assured that there will be no scarcity father of Harshana (Kosala) and Rashantha, of essential food items such as rice, dhal, Bom- father-in-law of Sonali and Indu, precious bay onions, canned fish and vegetable despite grandfather of Vehan, Uveen, Ranithu and the prevailing situation. Sayuni, brother of Amaresh (Canada), “Normally, SATHOSA purchases food items late Dianesh, Yamuna (Canada), Mahesh, from us and then distributes to their outlets Buwanesh and Ganga (Germany), brother- island-wide. As an exception, we have now dis- in-law of Saroja (Canada), late Deverani, tributed all essential food items to all District Kanendran (Canada), Ramya, Kokila Secretariats, where the main delivery of essen- and Udo (Germany), Panna, Saro, Upali tial food takes place currently” she said. and Devika, expired in Fuji. Funeral arrangements will be held in suva Fuji. President meets Health experts C12042020002 Meanwhile, a meeting between President naMasiVaYaM - BalaKuMan Gotabaya Rajapaksa and medical experts rep- (Bala) Passed away peacefully in resenting various fields was held at the Presi- Melbourne, australia on Sunday 5th dential Secretariat, on Thursday. The purpose April 2020. Founder and Chairman of The of the meeting was to obtain the much needed Hi Fi Center Limited and a member of expert medical opinion on how to prevent the Jazz Unlimited. Loving husband of the late spread of coronavirus in the country promptly. Dulcie Namasivayam (nee Bertus), loving While reviewing the steps already taken dad of Brandon, Marlon and Samantha, by the Government, measures that should be father-in-law of Renuka Jesudhason taken in the future to prevent the spread of and Senaka Jayasekera, grandfather of coronavirus were discussed in detail. The spe- cialists brought to the President’s attention the Nastassjia, Cameron, Hannah and Joanne, importance of conducting investigations on great grandfather of Caleb and Savannah. groups that were in close contact with infect- Private Cremation on 9th April 2020. ed persons and who have had contacts in two “Many strange roads we love to roam, but stages further. best is the road that takes us home". In a bid to broaden the testing procedure, C12042020001 the President instructed the health authorities scHneider-loos - Mr ernest to take necessary steps to acquire more test kits treVor - At Rest with Jesus - Beloved to face any situation, despite having sufficient coronavirus test kits at present. Extending as- husband of late Marlyn Loos (nee Deckker), sistance to Sri Lanka’s fight against the pan- loving father of Deborrah Rodrigo, demic, 40,000 COVID-19 test units were due to Stewart Schneider-Loos and Jacqueline reach the country by Friday night. It includes Nugara, much loved father-in-law of Tania a donation of 20,000 test units from the world- Schneider-Loos and Clifford Nugara, famous Chinese entrepreneur and Founder of darling grandpa of Aaron Chambalo, Tatum Alibaba, Jack Ma. Rodrigo, Danielle and Ethan Schneider-Loos The group of specialists also admired the and Adele, Aidan & Angus Nugara (all of quarantine program launched to prevent the Brisbane, Australia), dearly loved brother of spread of the virus. They highlighted that peo- Neville Schneider-Loos, late Yvonne Loos, ple with diabetes, asthma and heart diseases Erin Deckker, Ronald Schneider-Loos, need to be more vigilant and the importance of Aureliya Edwards and Benita Holdenbottle, abstaining from smoking. dear brother-in-law of Lilo Schneider-Loos, late Anton Deckker, Marie Schneider-Loos, Public donations Robin Edwards, Tyronne Holdenbottle, late Brian Deckker, late Primrose Shedden, Responding to the request of President Monica Buultjens and Winston Deckker, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, many individuals, celeb- passed away peacefully in Brisbane, rities, private companies and public workers Australia on the 04/04/2020. Will be laid to have donated a large sum to the COVID – 19 rest on the 14/04/2020 at the Bald Hills Healthcare and Social Security Fund amount- ing to Rs. 609 million as of Friday evening. cemetery - Bracken ridge, Queensland, australia. C12042020003

Continued on page -- Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 3 4 Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 News

Punya Kalaya or Auspicious Times of Sinhala and Tamil New Year Anointing Oil Nonagathaya April 15 (Wednesday) Starting of work, exchange at 9.17 am April 13 (Monday) Preparing of traditional meals: April 13 (Monday) of gifts and having meals: Clad in green facing the north, Begins at after anointing with herbal nanu 1.59 pm (April 13) at 10.05 pm April 13 (Monday) mixed with oil extracted Ends at Dressed in white and at 10.43 pm from Kohomba and 2.47 am (April 14) facing the East, one Clad in white and take a bath facing the East, During this time, quit all should prepare milk starting work, Setting out for work and engage in religious activities rice, accompanied by aggala and sweets transactions and occupations: consuming made of sesame April 17 (Friday) at 7.56 am The Sinhala and Tamil New Year dawns seeds meals should April 13 (Monday) at 08.23 pm begin Dressed in light blue, eat a jaggery Graphic: Manoj Nishantha mixed rice. Leaving the house facing East

Events to mark Easter President’s Easter message President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his Eas- sage of love, peace and harmony among their ter Message said at this moment when the brethren in the country. country is faced with a grave challenge to The devotees are shocked and saddened attacks cancelled the health of the people, the Government by the corona pandemic faced by the world expects the Christian community to stay community today. By Aanya Wipulasena phone records (of bombers and sus- arrangements to telecast the event at home in accordance with the advice of Their desire is to provide relief to the pects), where they have been, and was made due to the curfew and the Government and health officials and suffering people with the blessings of the di- The week-long events scheduled looked into the statements made lockdown currently imposed across pay obeisance to Jesus Christ. vine Father and Son. for the week preceding April 21 to re- by suspects. Through this the main the island to keep the deadly virus at The Christian community of Sri Lanka, The Easter festivities in the past were full member those who lost their lives at suspect who handled and transport- bay. together with their brethren all over the world of joy and delight. However, last year it left a the Easter Sunday carnage has been ed the suicide bomber to the Zion This year, the ongoing health cri- celebrates Easter, the commemoration day of the sorrowful memory of pain and loss. Even today the cancelled owing to the COVID 19 Church was arrested today,” Police sis will not deter people from cele- resurrection of Jesus Christ, with utmost devotion. shock has not been fully erased. outbreak, a spokesman from Arch- Media Spokesman SP Jaliya Senara- brating Easter. Speaking to the Sun- The intent of the devoted commemoration is to pu- The commitment of the Government is to ensure bishop’s House said. tne said. day Observer Piyal Fonseka said he rify the mind and soul. justice for the people who suffered. Furthermore, the He said there is likely to be one Sri Lankan police media said hopes to watch the mass on televi- The Christian devotees spend the lent period in Government is determined to ensure complete eradica- event and they will inform the public about 30 individuals suspected of be- sion with his family and later have a religious activities recalling the crucifixion, suffering, tion of such tragedies from the Motherland. closer to the date. ing involved in the Easter Sunday at- simple meal. sacrifice, the death and resurrection of Jesus. I believe I wish you, your family and the entire society would The investigation into the terror- tacks are held and being questioned “I will also call all my relatives that peace and harmony attained due to these pious ac- be able to absolve yourselves from sins by faithfully re- ist attacks that killed about 270 and by the CID. Another 60 are under the and friends. We usually meet and tivities help the Christian community to spread the mes- calling the message of Jesus. left 500 others injured last Easter is custody of the country’s Terrorism celebrate in person but we have to ongoing. Investigation Division be careful and help the government On March 29 police announced A special mass will be telecasted at this time,” he said. that the handler of the suicide bomb- today (12) as the country celebrates Fonseka will also observe a min- er who attacked a church in Batti- the resurrection of Jesus amid the ute’s silence with his family to re- Reward of Rs 5,000 for police officers caloa on April 21, 2019 was arrested. growing numbers of COVID 19 posi- member those who lost their lives The suspect was a resident of Mount tive cases. Churchgoers for the first during Easter last year. By Maneshka Borham to Senior DIG of Provinces on the leave or holiday will be expected to Lavinia in Colombo. time will take part in the holy Easter “This time it is important that we granting of the reward,” the release report to work according to the di- “The team investigating into the event from home. have faith. That is the true essence The Police, issuing a release, an- said. Meanwhile, the leave of all Po- rective issued. Any leave requested bombings went through the tele- According to Archbishop’s House of Easter,” he concluded. nounced that a reward of Rs. 5,000 lice Officers have been further can- during the period for Headquarters from the Police reward fund will be celled till April 30 given the situation Inspectors, OICs and other gazetted given to all Police officers carrying in the country. Earlier the Police had officers will only be approved by the out duties in the country’s combat cancelled the leave of all officers till Acting IGP. Granting leave for other against Covid 19. I t said that all of- April 10. However, on Friday, the Act- rankers will be approved at the dis- ficers from the rank of Chief Inspec- ing IGP extended the date. cretion of the relevant Senior DIGs tor and below engaged in duties from Police Officers who had reported during the time period. March 11 - April 10 will receive this for duty as per the earlier directive “It is expected that all Police Offi- reward on the orders of Acting IGP will be allowed to continue in these cers will support and dedicate them- C.D Wickramaratne. postings, the communique from the selves with an understanding of the “The Acting IGP has approved Acting IGP stated. national effort currently underway and given the necessary instructions It noted that any officer still on in the country,” Wickramaratne said.

A special Easter Sunday service was held at All Saints’ Church, Borella, presided over by Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith last night. The service was held sans devotees due to the prevailing situation in the county with the Covid -19 outbreak. The faithful joined in as the service was aired live. (Pic Sulochana Gamage)

Former Archbishop of Colombo Most Reverend Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando called to rest – Public urged not to attend the funeral

The Most Reverend Dr. Nicholas July 6, 2002. town. Marcus Fernando, the 7th Archbish- Issuing a statement the Archdi- The Funeral mass will be cele- op of Colombo was called to Eternal ocesan Director for Social Commu- brated at 2 pm. Monday, April 13 at Rest last night (April 10) at his resi- nications Fr. Jude Chrysantha Fer- St. Mary’s Church, Grand Street. dence at “Emmaus House” Tewatte, nando said the late Most Rev. Dr. The Archdiocesan Director for Ragama. He was retired and was 87 Nicholas Marcus Fernando will be Social Communications Fr. Jude years old at the time of his demise. awarded a State Funeral as he had Chrysantha Fernando advised Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando been the Archbishop of Colombo for all Catholics not to visit the Body was born on December 6, 1932 and more than 25 years. and not to participate in the funeral was Ordained as a priest on Decem- His mortal remains will be service under the current situation ber 20, 1959. brought to the Archbishop House in the country, as curfew is enforced. He was Ordained as a Bishop on chapel at 4 pm Saturday (April 11). He said the funeral of the late May 14, 1977 and served his term Today (12 ) at 11 am. His remains Rev. Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando as an Archbishop of Colombo from will be taken to St. Mary’s church at will be telecast live on State televi- 1977 to 2002 until his retirement on Grand Street, Negombo, his home sion. China donates Covid-19 test kits

A special flight from Shanghai, China carrying over 20,000 COVID-19 test kits (PCR-Fluorescence Probing) do- nated by the Alibaba Foundation in collaboration with the Jack Ma Foundation arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday night. According to official sources the consignment was worth USD 130,000. The Chinese Embassy tweeted, ‘last morning China Estern Airlines MU 231 landed at 1855pm last night car- rying 20k test kits donated by @JackMa, which are to be cleared from Customs on Saturday’The kits, manufac- tured by DAAN Gene Co are to be donated to the Minis- try of Health and it has met the specifications and stan- dards set by the Ministry. On board the flight there were also millions of worth relief goods purchased from Chi- na by Overseas Chinese in Sri Lanka, the Embassy also announced. Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 5 News Features Heed the advice of health professionals to eliminate the virus – Army Commander s Sri Lanka grapples with who passed away had been in a pri- combatting the novel coro- Curfew has been imposed in Sri Lanka during vate hospital and then admitted to navirus, the Army Com- the Negombo Hospital. We identi- mander Lieutenant Gen- various times in its history. But this situation is fied the first 120 patients because A eral Shavendra Silva has they came forward themselves. We been tasked with heading the Na- vastly different from those. Hence I have used the cannot say all those who hide their tional Operations Centre for Preven- term ‘Quarantine Curfew.’ This is a curfew relating symptoms and history are unaware tion of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCP- because doctors are constantly cre- CO). According to him, the success to a health issue and imposed for those who fail ating awareness programs and edu- of the measures taken will be solely cating the people about the disease. in the hands of the country’s people. to do their duty to support the efforts to combat Therefore the public is well aware In the interview, Silva discussed the and must come forward. We have quarantine process being carried Covid 19. increased the number of hospitals out by the military, steps taken to admitting Covid 19 suspected cases. provide relief to the people during Therefore yes we are in search curfew while requesting them to ad- Army has provided them with all at the beginning, which will be ad- of these people. Our MI is talented. here to the advice given by the coun- necessary facilities. Steps have also dressed gradually.. One issue identi- The first patient was associated with try’s health professionals. been taken to isolate Atalugama and fied is the problems faced by nearly 64 people and we identified them Akurana in the Kalutara and Kandy 658,000 pensioners. The Tri forces and the patient has already recov- Excerpts of the interview: districts, respectively. Entering and were deployed to assist them while ered and left the hospital. The other exiting these areas continue to be Banks were informed to utilize a few 64 are keeping well. We were able Q: What is the progress of the prohibited. staff members to serve them. Simi- to do this because we had a good quarantine program to combat lar methods have been implement- system in place. We know the dev- Covid 19 that is being led by you? Q: What steps have been taken ed for people who visit hospitals to astation one such person can cause. On March 7 the President and to normalize civilian life even obtain medicine. Now the Postal Meanwhile, some are questioning the Prime Minister decided to estab- under curfew conditions? services are delivering their medi- why the Army has been deployed lish quarantine centres in the coun- Curfew has been imposed in Sri cines to their homes. State-run Os- to combat the pandemic. We have try. The decision set out to achieve Lanka during various times in its usalas are open for those who wish done what was required of us and three things, i.e. to identify and sep- history. But this situation is vastly to purchase medicines. Deliveries of the military has the capable man- arate those who may have been ex- different from those. Hence I have essentials to homes are also being power and the discipline to carry posed to the disease, stop its spread used the term ‘Quarantine Curfew.’ allowed. Hence a massive project out the duties. We have been able to and treat the patients who have al- This is a curfew relating to a health is being carried out for the people help the health sector manage the ready tested positive. The Sri Lan- issue and imposed for those who of the country. The public has also situation successfully. ka Army was tasked with building fail to do their duty to support the been informed of several hotlines to these centres and since March 10 efforts to combat Covid 19. People convey any issues they face. Q: Do you have any request to we have established 51 quarantine must understand this. If everyone make of the Sri Lankan public? centres. Around 4,638 were quaran- volunteered to stay home and self- Q: There has been a proposal to I may not be a medical practi- tined in these for 14 days on the ad- quarantine there would be no need allow people to obtain permits tioner but having associated with vice of health professionals. Those for a curfew. Since they fail to heed from the Grama sevaka and health professionals through the who completed the program, nearly the warnings, some method to pro- purchase essentials from shops task force I can say unless you walk 3,500 were released and allowed to tect them and others in the country that will be allowed to open while out of your house the corona will go home. Currently, another 1,189 must be taken. However many ser- ensuring they maintain social not come to your home. We are do- are still in quarantine at these cen- vices and facilities have been pro- distance, with the view that it ing our best to protect the people tres run by the Army, Air Force, and vided to the people in lockdown ar- would reduce congestion in towns of the country. In the face of adver- the Navy. eas. when the curfew is lifted. Your sity, the country has always risen We also took steps to quarantine The President appointed a Task comment? Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva and emerged victorious. Whether around 20 people from the Atuluga- Force for this purpose led by former Some have pointed out that this we will win or lose is in the hands ma village after it was revealed the MP Basil Rajapaksa. Several mem- method was implemented in China with the Task Force but we believe everyone will survive. of the people. During the war, the first patient from the area had as- bers of the military are also part of and that one permit was issued per we have taken the best decision pos- victory or defeat was in the hands of sociated with a number of people, the task force. We looked at ways to family. But this can be misused. The sible. According to medical profes- Q: Is it true that Military those who directly faced it but this is and a quarantine centre construct- ensure that the people get the essen- husband and wife in a family can sionals the coronavirus is not in Intelligence Units are tracking a different battle. If people heed the ed in the area. Another 88 are being tials. Two methods are put in place use the same permit one at a time. your home and you can only con- down those associated with advice of the health professionals quarantined in Zahira College, Put- for those who earn a daily wage and We saw instances where the wife tract it if you go out. If you save persons who tested positive for we can eliminate this disease from talam. These people had associated for salaried persons, which com- had gone out using the husband’s yourself it will save others. Every- coronavirus? the country. All I ask the people is to with yet another patient who had menced a few days back. Therefore curfew pass. The method sounds one has the responsibility to save Yes, we are in the search for protect themselves and their fami- recently returned from abroad. The there could be some shortcomings favourable and was even discussed themselves from this. If you survive, them. For example, one patient lies. Consultant trainees in UK expect to return to Sri Lanka

Eight doctors who were battling the outbreak in the UK died after contracting the virus. Among

them is Sri Lankan born Dr. Anton Sebastianpillai, a Consultant Geriatrician. Dr. Sebastianpillai who ight consultant trainees currently stranded in the was in his 70s died last Saturday (4) four days United Kingdom expect to return to Sri Lanka citing after being admitted to Kingston Hospital, foreign that the country will lose E years long investments media reported. if they happen to contract the fast spreading virus. Nearly 300 Sri Lankan doctors are currently in the UK to fulfil their return in view of the travel ban im- mandatory training as required by posed by Sri Lanka. “The PGIM will the Postgraduate Institute of Medi- do everything in its means to en- cine (PGIM) of the University of Co- sure your safety and other concerns lombo to become a consultant here. while you are undergoing your over- Only 80 have expressed their will- seas training during these excep- ingness to return, some have com- tional circumstances,” it added. pleted their training while several On the same note Association of others have completed most part of Medical Specialists wrote to Presi- the training that takes up to between dent Gotabaya Rajapaksa voicing one to two years. their concerns about 400 post grad- The Medical Officers’ Associa- uate trainees who are in COVID 19 tion (GMOA) Secretary Dr. Haritha high rick countries including the Aluthge said Sri Lanka can benefit UK, Australia and Singapore. by bringing these doctors back. “There is a growing concern “We understand they have to un- about their safety at work dergo the quarantine process. After and the risk of trans- that (when they are cleared) these mission of infection to doctors can help in treating COVID their family members 19 patients in Sri Lanka,” he said. residing with them,” Dr. Aluthge said leaving the the association stat- trainee consultants in the UK will ed in their letter. expose them to great danger as the Speaking to the Dr. Haritha Aluthge of the GMOA outbreak in the United Kingdom is UK’s NHS with a COVID 19 patient Sunday Observer at high risk level. from the UK a rep- Eight doctors who were battling the Sri Lankan Government includ- Addressing a media con- resentative of the and manpower. He said as the situa- the outbreak in the UK died after ing the Institute with a plea to make ference Director of the Epi- PGIM trainees said tion prevail there is a definite risk of contracting the virus. Among them necessary arrangements for them to demiology Unit Dr. Sudath Sa- they understand losing consultant doctors. is Sri Lankan born Dr. Anton Sebas- return to the country. maraweera said there has been the risk doctors face He also added that some of the tianpillai, a Consultant Geriatrician. Cabinet Co-Spokesperson Dr. many requests to repatriate Sri when treating patients. trainees are residing in the UK with Dr. Sebastianpillai who was in his Ramesh Pathirana said during the Lankans living in other countries. “But our concerns are their families including children 70s died last Saturday (4) four days Cabinet press briefing this week, “There is no problem in their return. about the unnecessary ex- and elderly parents. “When we go after being admitted to Kingston the Government has taken steps to What is important is the quarantin- posure to this virus. There is to hospitals, we are at risk of brin- Hospital, foreign media reported. repatriate 33 Sri Lankans in foreign ing process,” he said explaining that also the government’s invest- ing the virus home to our children The Sunday Observer learns that airports. at least two weeks of quarantining ment for our trainings,” he said and parents,” he said adding that at least eight Sri Lankan doctors in These include two Sri Lankans is mandatory during which time the Dr. Anton who died in the UK adding if Sri Lanka was to lose sev- the kingdom is already struggling to the UK have contacted COVID 19. in the UK. However, an official de- returnees will be closely observed eral doctors from COVID 19 there treat its patients. Given the seriousness of the is- cision regarding the PGIM trainees’ before sending them to their homes. a letter to the trainees stating is a considerably high loss for the sue, PGIM trainees have written to return has not been taken. Early this week the Institute sent that there was no way to facilitate a country in terms of monetary value 6 Sunday Observer APRIL 12, 2020 News Features Celebrating LK’s 88th Birth Anniversary Letters Between Brothers By Ajita Kadirgamar out Sam overlooking identified it, he had to sell it to me at financial matters a cut price of £9 and take the loss for pril 12, 2020 marks Lak- for his younger an error of judgement.” (Letter to Sam shman Kadirgamar’s 88th brother, as evi- 15/5/1973). birth anniversary. While denced by the he may be long gone, I con- numerous cop- From the Oxford Union to tinue to discover new in- ies of letters to formation about my father, exposing the Controller Parliament Ainteresting facets of his life and times. of Exchange I have known since my teenage and the Bank “I made my farewell speech last years that my uncle, Sam Kadirgamar of Ceylon, it is Thursday and when I finished, I re- QC (LK’s eldest brother), collected all doubtful LK would ceived an unexpectedly long ovation manner of family memorabilia (press have been able to from which I gathered that my term cuttings, photos, letters and so on) com- of office had been a success. I was which he stored in‘black boxes’ for plete his Samuel Jothinathan Kadirgamar, Lakshmanathan Kadirgamar, very moved - who wouldn’t be -and I posterity. What I didn’t know was that univer- know that this experience is of its kind Queen’s Counsel - 1967 President’s Counsel - 1991 he had left strict instructions that all sity edu- unique. Nothing in life will ever be like material related to my father should be cation. it. I have learnt a lot.” (Letter to Sam handed over to me after my 30th birth- In a letter dated May 15, 1956, Sam gin his illustrious career at the UN by 16/3/1959). day. It never happened at that time informs his brother that he has “ar- joining first the International Labour And then there is this gem of a sto- but now several decades later the in- ranged investments which will pro- Organisation (ILO) and then the World ry recounted in March 1972, which I famous black box is finally in my pos- duce over Rs. 620/- a month, net profit. Intellectual Property Organisation find rather prophetic too. session and what a treasure trove it is This should allay all your fears and you (WIPO) where he became a renowned “I attended the debate last Thurs- proving to be. can be assured of an easy and comfort- expert on Intellectual Property. day night. The Tribunal found the in- Most revealing is the correspon- able stay in England without any dif- that was the best speech I ever made parnasse - this is the spirited home of cumbent President guilty of grave mal- dence between the two brothers dat- ficulty.” Sixty four years later we can- Political prediction in my life. I chose to oppose. I was sixty thousand students of the Univer- practices; he tendered his resignation ing back 60 years to a long gone era of not even fathom the notion of living certain that Prime Minister Bandara- sity of Paris – some of them miserably on the floor of the House and then pan- formal letter writing, which provides abroad on that sum! In a letter to Lakshman dated Oc- naike would have done the same. The poor – and countless waifs and strays demonium broke loose. Allegations fascinating insight as to how people The most fascinating thing about tober 21, 1959, Sam revealed the fol- motion was resoundingly defeated. I who find their way from all parts of the and counter allegations were flung communicated before the age of the old letters (and in this case old pre- lowing prophecy:“I do not know how would like to recall his memory this globe.”(12/4/56 - Letter to Sam) about by interested parties; the packed internet, emails, direct dial interna- served receipts) is the details of every- well posted you are with Ceylon news, evening. It is he who made Sri Lanka “Oxford is gloriously beautiful House of about 750 undergraduates tional calls, and the like. Sam’s letters day life and in particular, reference to especially Banda’s (SWRD Bandara- aware of the Oxford Union.”(The Cake these days – and our garden is a dream. was tense; blows could have been ex- are full of advice to his student broth- the spectacular difference in the cost naike) death and the aftermath. Curi- that was Baked at Home, Third Ed, As luck would have it when we bought changed any minute. The psychologi- er, updates on politics and family mat- of living of the time. For instance: a ous it is that he could not keep his date Sept 2017, pg. 107). this house, we acquired a gardener cal moment had arrived for me to in- ters in Ceylon and sometimes a mild suit for LK made by The Prince of with his portrait at the Oxford Union with it – a fine old man called Kendall tervene – and I did. As I stepped up to scolding and a few harsh words. Wales Tailoring Establishment, Kan- because he had to keep his prior en- A Way with words who has looked after it for 15 years. The the despatch box – after 13 years, and Lakshman left Ceylon to attend dy cost Rs. 157.50 in 1949; three white gagement with his Destiny. I am not lawn is like a billiard table. The flower now a complete stranger unknown Balliol College, Oxford in September shirts from Arjan Silk Store, Pettah saying this flippantly. A friend of mine, Many of my concerns during the beds are ablaze with colour – tulips in to a single soul in the House, without 1955 at the age of 23. Sam who was 15 cost Rs. 27/-;a Raleigh bicycle from Thambirajah by name, who is an ob- 70s as to why my father was always one corner and all manner of beautiful the authority of the Chair or the trap- years older than LK was very much a Hunter & Co. was Rs. 215.25 in 1950; scure govt clerk and a Roman Catho- holed up in his home office in the eve- things. It is a constant surprise as Ken- pings of office, the House became father figure throughout his life, and annual membership to The Automo- lic is also a seer, not an astrologer. In nings, even after a long day’s work, are dall himself has delightfully forgotten quiet and still. I could have been man whose counsel LK respected. bile Association of Ceylon was a mere March of this year he foretold to me all now clearly explained by the fact that what exactly he planted last year and from Mars, for all they knew. Who is Perhaps because both Sam and LK Rs. 30/-. the events including the Cabinet crisis he wrote copious amounts of letters where. Every day we look forward to a this man, they must have wondered? were lawyers, their correspondence in May, the political disappearance of and could never keep up with the back- new burst of blooms. There are climb- When man and moment meet there was more detailed (especially when LK at Oxford Philip Gunawardene and the complete log. This art of correspondence, how- ing roses and lilacs and little flowering is some strange alchemy at work. A discussing ongoing legal cases) and “snuffing out”(his words) of Banda by ever, was the key to his unsurpassed apple trees and cherry blossoms. It is moment before there was booing and more frequent than one would expect Of eternal interest is the informa- death and assassination. He also, long networking skills which were to prove marvelously soothing and agreeable hissing and jeering and shouting; but of brothers. They were constantly tion about LK’s London and Oxford before the event, foretold the commu- priceless during the course of his pro- and I don’t have to look after it myself.” now, out of bedlam a strange stillness apologizing for the delay in answering. days. In May 1956 he tells Sam, “I am nal riots of 1958 to the very day.” fessional life. It is clear that the UN job (Letter to Sam). was born. I spoke quietly, soothing a Often letters used to cross during their looking forward to this spell in Oxford Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandara- opportunity came about partly due to savage beast. There was pin drop si- trans-Atlantic postal journey, so as because I can see that it will give me naike studying at Christ Church,had this networking ability, something he Finding Collette in Oxford lence. I had gripped the House again. older folk may remember one had to the opportunity I have long wanted, been Secretary and Treasurer of the commenced while a student at Oxford, I had them all in the palm of my hand commence a letter stating, “I have just of stretching myself to the utmost, of Oxford Union in 1923. After he became fine-tuned at the Bar in London and “I had an amusing experience the – and I don’t know if I have said this received your letter(s) dated…” Many a undertaking a task which if success- Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1956, a further built on during his years prac- other day. When I walked into the Tal- to you before, once you have had the time LK would acknowledge receipt of fully completed, will give me a feeling number of Presidents wrote to him tising law in Ceylon. bot Gallery in Woodstock Road, I saw hearts and minds of hundreds of intel- three of Sam’s letters in one go. of achievement and fulfilment. The inviting him to speak at the Union. He Though much of LK’s correspon- prominently displayed a crayon por- ligent people completely within your advantage of staying in a place like ignored them all until suddenly in Sep- dence is very formal and businesslike trait of a Churchillian figure in a style control, even for a few minutes, to do Financial woes London House is that one meets men tember 1959, he wrote saying that he there are flashes of a creative streak remarkably reminiscent of Collette. with them as you please, life can never of great ability and of all types from wanted to speak on the subject “De- that suddenly surface in the most The gallery owner thought it was a por- be the same gain; one has participated It is somewhat sad to note that many parts of the world. One’s critical mocracy is unsuitable for developing charming manner. For instance: trait of Churchill by a French cartoon- in some primordial ritual of commu- many of the letters between the broth- faculties develop rapidly in such an en- nations”. “I spent a refreshing and reward- ist! I disputed this even before seeing nion.” ers were purely about money matters. vironment and I am sure the process It was to be an exciting event ing week in Paris. It is a city which in the signature - and there it was -R.L. It seems evident now that this ex- LK gives detailed accounts of the cost will be continued at Oxford.” SWRD was coming back to Oxford af- every way lived up to my expectations Pereira by Collette in 1954. RL look- perience in 1972 was a significant mo- of living and studying in England and In this same letter there is this al- ter 30 years. Tragically on September of it. London has no centre of student ing every bit like Churchill - jaw thrust ment for LK, the moment that cement- the struggle to make ends meet with most prophetic paragraph:“I intend to 26, the Saturday before the debate, life – no cafes, bistros and little res- out aggressively, cigar in mouth, half ed his intellectual destiny, the prelude his monthly allowance. explore the possibility of joining some he was assassinated. Lakshman was taurants where one can sit for hours glasses on the tip of his nose, a scowl, perhaps to his political career 22 years There is detailed correspondence world organization like the ILO or asked to speak in his place and had this on a fine spring morning and see the a stoop, the commanding presence, later. That he was destined for a bigger regarding financial, investment and UNO or even the International Court to say: “Looking back on it now, (and world go by. The narrow streets and the hooded eyes glaring, penetrating. stage to address international audienc- tax matters that are worthy of record. of Justice, preferably, but not neces- on reading some of the reviews of the time-worn cobbled pavements of the I said I knew both painter and sub- es, that he was eminently qualified to They are testament to a time when for- sarily in a legal capacity. Such employ- time, and in view of the haunting trag- Latin Quarter with tall, leprous houses ject. The owner said he bought it at a face the ‘savage beast’ (Sri Lanka’s Par- eign exchange was viciously controlled ment is not impossible to secure if one edy that had occurred, and I had been lurching towards one another in queer London auction for £12.50. Who could liament) with his powers of reasoning, in Ceylon and students like LK had a sets about it in the right way. However, somewhat critical of Mr. Bandaranaike attitudes, as though they had all been have sold it? Mrs. West, RL’s daugh- and to reach the hearts and minds of painful time extricating money out of there’s plenty of time.” in the previous year about certain frozen in the act of collapse, the gay ter? The owner would have sold it as a an entire nation is now a matter of his- the country for studies abroad. With- In fact, 18 years later he would be- things he had done), I think perhaps cafes, bars and nightclubs on Mont- Churchill for at least £25. Once I had tory. PHNOs, the unsung heroes and heroines during COVID-19 outbreak, says NCCP

outbreak to be a Public Health Emer- Carrying out their duties to reach out to the public on coronovirus, the gency of International Concern on January 30, 2020 and recognized it as Public Health Nursing Officers (PHNO) deployed to distant high risk plac- a pandemic on March 11, 2020. As of April, 2020, more than 932,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in es are at constant risk of exposing themselves to the disease over 200 countries. hile the coronovi- In Sri Lanka since the first case rus continues to swirl their daily home chores? If I give up was discovered in a foreign national in around us, many Public half way I wouldn’t be able to sleep at January this year, the number of posi- Health Nursing Officers night thinking I have not done my job tive cases stands at 185 and 6 deaths (PHN0)W continue to perform their du- properly”. at the time of going to press.Recovery ties daily without a break even when rates have risen to 38. exhausted. As Community Cancer Knowledge Over 30 district and teaching hos- Physician Dr Suraj Perera from the pitals and base hospitals, as well as National Cancer Control Program Other pictures showing these nurs- the IDH, the National Hospital of (NCCP ) told the Sunday Observer , ing officers sharing their knowledge Sri Lanka, Lady Ridgeway Hospital, “They are the real heroes and hero- in the awareness raising programs Mulleriyawa hospital, Castle Street ines in the NCCP’s efforts to help both conducted within and outside district Hospital for women, Chest Hospital cancer patients and all other patients and provincial hospital complexes Welisara and Kotalawela Defence with chronic illnesses to get the best such as the Beligala District Hospi- Hospital are listed as sentinel hos- nursing care during the COVID 19 out- tal and Weeraketiya Hospital were pitals to admit suspected cases with break”. equally an eye opener. They showed the addition of army and navy health He said the work of these unsung residents in the vicinity in their ev- facilities and police hospitals. heroes and heroines covered a wide eryday clothes, listening attentively Meanwhile a new fast track pack- range of duties performed at the risk to the message given, as the nursing age with World Bank aid for the CO- of their own health, taking them to officers told them what the COVID 19 VID-19 Emergency Response and distant COVID high risk areas in vari- disease was, how it spread and how Health Systems Preparedness Proj- ous parts of the country. A bunch of to prevent it with simple easy to fol- ect in Sri Lanka is expected to help photos of the nursing officers taken low rules such as washing hands the even administering insulin to diabetic chronic illnesses were a priority as cer patients as well as all patients with the country prevent, detect, and re- while at work in their different sites correct way which they demonstrated patients in their own homes. Pictures there were many myths surrounding non communicable diseases”, he said. spond to the COVID-19 pandemic and which Dr Perera sent us proved his with available tools such as a basin of of preparation of drugs for distribu- the disease and many were still in the He added that guidelines for Pub- strengthen its public health prepared- point. Pointing to one particular nurs- water, a wayside tap, a jug. The ven- tion and distribution of clinic drugs in dark on what the disease was. Besides lic Health Nursing Officers had also ness, and benefit the entire Sri Lankan ing officer Seneka Randeniya, who ues for most part were informal set- home settings also gave a new insight this are, Palliative care , wound care been issued by the Ministry of Health population by prioritising stopping had been conducting an education- tings - under shady trees or hospital to viewers and readers on the work , preparation of drugs for distribu- and Indigenous Medicine during the or slowing the spread of the virus, re- al class on COVID he said , “He has corridors with residents seated on a behind the screen of these nursing of- tion, and distribution of clinic, drugs COVID 19 outbreak. ducing case numbers, and preventing been at his job from 8 am to 6 pm . He few benches, plastic chairs, mats, or ficers. in home settings as well as preparing outbreaks in communities a recent looked exhausted and when I asked simply standing. Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE) History of the disease statement in the media has said. It re- him if he was tired, which I could tell Duties for patients. portedly added that this support will by his drawn expression and sweat Humane “What we found to be the most sat- The 2019–20 coronavirus pandem- scale up emergency response mecha- drenched shirt, he simply smiled and Listing the duties they were ex- isfying aspect of the program to con- ic is an ongoing pandemic caused by nisms, strengthen the capacity of lab- said quietly, “Yes I am tired sir. But The pictures also illustrated the pected to carry out daily, Dr Perera trol COVID , is the fact that we were severe acute respiratory syndrome oratories and hospitals, treat patients, how can I stop if I know that even one humane aspect of their approach to said that health educational pro- able to work as a team. Everyone in- coronavirus 2. The outbreak was first train medical staff, and raise public person who may be at risk of this dis- treating patients, such as giving pal- grams on passing correct informa- volved worked together to share their identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, awareness about hand washing, hy- ease has been left out as these people liative care to patients in home set- tion to the public living in COVID knowledge, disseminate information China, in December 2019. The World giene, and social distancing. come only when they have finished tings, wound care in home setting, high risk areas as well as those with and as far as possible help both can- Health Organization declared the Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 7 Interview Discipline important to combat COVID-19 – Former State Minister Rambukwelle

that need priority to bring the situa- tion under control. Even if one more case is found, we have to be Q: Medical experts have cautious and take precautionary measures. It is pointed out that the irresponsible said that one COVID-19 affected person can infect conduct of some people has led to the spread of the disease. Has at least 500 people. At the same time, looking at the the Government looked into this overnment spokesman issue to take action against those world trend, as a percentage we have been able to and former State Minister who resort to such irresponsible of Investment Promotion, behaviour? maintain a good recovery rate of COVID-19 affected Keheliya Rambukwella , patients. G said when we observe the A: Of course. To control the world trend, as a percentage we spread of the disease we need med- have been able to maintain a very ical facilities and awareness of the good recovery rate of COVID-19 disease. However, the discipline affected patients. This indicates of the people is also an important not, what is the significance of re- these issues? that our health sector is working factor to control its spread. If the convening Parliament at this junc- extremely well with early identi- people are not disciplined and not ture? If the need arises and if there A: Definitely. On Wednesday too, fication of COVID-19 patients and willing to adhere to the instructions is a constitutional provision, then the Presidential Task Force had a treating them. In an interview with given by the health authorities, the I think we should not violate the meeting. The idea was to see how the Sunday Observer, former State pandemic could go out of control. Constitution. All those things are best we could fulfil our task on be- Minister Rambukwella said the dis- secondary to the current situation. half of the people. As I mentioned cipline of the people is the most im- Q: Despite the guidelines All the parties must get together to earlier, if the supply chain breaks portant factor to control the spread issued by the Government and overcome this crisis. If their per- down, discipline also breaks down ofCOVID-19 in the country. He said, the security forces, there is a rapid sonal interest is only to reconvene and it becomes impossible to main- if the people are not disciplined and increase in the number of those Parliament, that is because of their tain law and order properly. At the willing to adhere to the instructions who violate the curfew. What ulterior motives. They know that to moment, we can be satisfied with given by the health authorities, the have you to say about this? reconvene Parliament is not pos- the ongoing program. However, it pandemic will go out of control. sible at this point. We cannot run has to function without any inter- Rambukwella said in his opin- A: The Government is very much away from this challenge. We have ruption. ion the country should be locked concerned about it. That is why to accept this challenge and get down for at least another two they use different types of media to over it. That must be the priority, Q: Do you think the Chairman weeks. However, our supply chain educate the people to refrain from not reconvening Parliament or hav- of the Election Commission will should be much more effective. At interacting with others, as they ing unnecessary debates in Parlia- fix a fresh date for the General present it is adequate, but there would then make matters worse ment. Election once the country is fully are areas where it has not reached for the whole nation. I think disci- recovered from the coronavirus the people. Even if the country pline should be inculcated in every Q: The Opposition Leader Sajith pandemic? is locked down for another two citizen of the country. In countries Premadasa has told the media weeks, we should look into the sup- like Japan, they are so disciplined that the Government under A: According to my knowledge, ply chain and ensure that it reaches that you only have to make the an- the pretext of the COVID-19 the Election Commission Chairman every corner of the country. nouncement and the people adhere pandemic attempts to cover up is empowered to declare an elec- to it strictly. its shortcomings. What are your tion within the next three months. Excerpts: comments on this? Thereafter, there are certain con- Q: Medical experts have warned stitutional constraints which will Q: The number of COVID-19 about the increase of COVID-19 A: I think we should not respond arise, and we need to seriously look cases in the country has gone cases during the final week to those statements made by Sajith into them. However, it is too early up to 198 with seven deaths of April. Has the Government Premadasa. to comment on such things right reported. Does this mean we have focused attention on this? now. reached an alarming situation Q: The Sri Lankan Rupee and if so, what preventive steps A: I would say the ongoing curfew remains under tremendous have been taken to arrest the should be continued and check- pressure given the fallout of the situation? ing of people carried out and seri- coronavirus pandemic and it has ous action should be taken against further depreciated to Rs.200 A: Even if one more case is found, those who violate the law. against the US Dollar. How would we have to be cautious and take this affect our economy? precautionary measures. It is said Q: The Election Commission that one COVID-19 affected person Chairman in a letter addressed to A: These are unavoidable circum- can infect at least 500 people. At the Prime Minister has stated that stances. At the same time, our ex- the same time, looking at the world amidst the coronavirus outbreak, port market will also have certain trend, as a percentage we have some politicians through the benefits while we will have a seri- been able to maintain a good recov- distribution of goods have ous problem with the importation ery rate of COVID-19 affected pa- engaged in politics to promote of oil. These are the consequences ADVERTISE tients. This means our health sec- themselves and their party. How and the dark side of the story dur- tor is working extremely well with would you respond to this claim? ing times of such crises. This is a early identification of coronavirus global phenomenon and we have cases and treating them. A: Anybody can make such claims not been singled out and statements. The fact is, every IN OUR Q: An indefinite curfew has people’s representative has a role to Q: As former State Minister of been imposed in the Colombo, play as they are elected members. Investment Promotion, how do Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Even if there is dissolution of Parlia- you look at the corona outbreak Kandy and Jaffna districts. Will ment, they have to mingle with the impact on our investments? the Government take steps to lift people. The public sector and the E-PAPERS the curfew in these districts for elected representatives must work A: First, we have to solve the on- certain hours like in the other together. I am not talking of party going crisis in the country due to Take your message to thousands districts or will it be continued politics. It may be green, blue, red, the coronavirus pandemic. It is indefinitely? purple or any other colour. But as only after that can we think of solv- of readers across the country people’s representatives, we should ing everything else. At present, all A: It has to be decided by the Gov- get involved in the entire operation. the major areas such as foreign ernment. My personal opinion is employment, tourism and foreign and worldwide that we should lock down the coun- Q: A group of representatives investment are seriously affected. try for at least another two weeks. of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya This is not something that has been However, our supply chain should (SJB) led by its leader, Sajith done purposely, but a consequence be much more effective. At present Premadasa, met President of the challenges faced by the entire it is adequate, but there are certain Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime world due to the corona outbreak. areas where it has not reached the Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on people. This has to be looked into. April 6 and once again requested Q: Don’t you think the need We should look into this and en- to reconvene Parliament. As the of the hour is for all political sure that it reaches every corner of President had stated except to parties irrespective of political the country. Even if the country is extend the state of emergency, differences to extend their locked down for another two weeks there is no legal provision to support to the Government to the supply chain has to be main- reconvene Parliament at this contain the COVID-19 pandemic tained. Also, we have to increase juncture. Could you explain? in the country? the testing facilities forCOVID-19 in hospitals. These are the two areas A: Whether there is provision or A: That should be the primary ob- jective of all political parties wheth- er it is green, blue, red or any other colour. At this critical juncture, ir- FACT-FILE Keheliya Rambukwella respective of political differences they should extend their support Born and raised 2005: Crossed to the Government’s battle to con- in Kegalle. A product over to the United tain the COVID-19 pandemic in the E-mail your advertisement to of S.Thomas’ College, People’s Freedom country. Gurutalawa, he is a Alliance (UPFA) professional hotelier Government headed Q: Are you satisfied with the [email protected] with a post-graduate by the then joint efforts of the Government, degree from the President Mahinda health authorities and Tri-forces Hotel School Rajapaksa to combat the COVID-19 outbreak Obituary Notice in the country? Became A: The efforts of the health au- 1979: 2007-2009: thorities, Tri-forces and the Police Acknowledgement Matrimonial the youngest film Func�oned as to control the coronavirus pandem- producer when he Defence Spokesman ic will be assessed by the public. Classified or any other category produced the of UPFA Government In addition, some state trading in- record-breaking Sinhala movie during the Humanitarian stitutions such as the CWE and the Contact: Sakvithi Suvaya Opera�on in the war-torn Co-operative Societies are assist- North and the East ing to keep the supply chain going. + (94) 077 220 2225 +(011) 242 9326 1993: Entered poli�cs from These are two areas where it has to Democra�c United Na�onal Front 2010-2015: Minister of go hand in hand. When the curfew + (94) 077 296 6502 [email protected] (DUNF) and elected to the Mass Media and Informa�on is imposed countrywide, the sup- Central Province Council and was Cabinet Spokesman of ply chain should function without the UPFA Government interruptions. At the moment, all Pay online by . . . 2000: Joined United Na�onal these groups are working well. Party (UNP) State Minister of 2019: Q: The people in certain areas 2001: Elected to Parliament Investment Promo�ons in the have faced difficulty in getting from Kandy district. Appointed Government of President food commodities and other chief organiser for Kundasale Gotabaya Rajapaksa requirements. Has the Special Presidential Task Force on “ We make your advertising need convenient” Source: Internet, News reports Graphic: Mahil Wijesinghe apply *Conditions Essential Services looked into 8

Sunday Observer APRIL 12, 2020

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Two events, Avurudu in the days gone by one aspiration By Pramod de Silva o other annual his weekend, Sri Lankans are celebrating two im- event brings the portant national and religious events under the country togeth- cloud of a global pandemic that has restricted their er like the Sin- movements. In fact, we are not supposed to step Nhala and Hindu New Year, Tout of our homes except for the brief periods when the cur- which is celebrated every few is relaxed and that too only in certain areas. April. Although primar- The Sinhala and Tamil New Year will dawn tomorrow, ily celebrated by Sinhala signifying one of the most important national events in the Buddhists and Hindus, it country. Avurudu or Puthandu (in Tamil) is primarily cel- has now become a nation- ebrated by Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus, but over al event that transcends the years it has transcended such man-made boundaries all man-made boundaries. and become a national festival celebrated by all Sri Lank- Indeed, those belonging ans. Above all, Avurudu celebrates our very close bond with to other communities and Nature. It is a tribute to the Sun, whose movement from religions participate in Meena (Pisces) to Mesha (Aries) is the very basis of the tra- Avurudu events with great ditional New Year. New Year traditions evolved as a result enthusiasm. resist the aroma of freshly made casion of the year, heralded by the sweetmeats? My grandmother lighting of crackers and the beat of farmers expressing their gratitude to the Sun and Nature specialized in Konda Kavum. of rabanas amidst a profusion of for a bountiful harvest. In fact, the Sinhalese word “Bak” for This year, we will be celebrat- It was wonderful to watch and erabadu flowers. April signifies “fortune”, being a derivative of the Sanskrit ing Avurudu in the midst of a it was even better when we surrep- But the villagers often saved root word “Bhagya”. global pandemic, which has con- titiously crept into the kitchen and the best for the last - the annual fined us to our homes. Neverthe- lifted one or two of them, with the Bakmaha Ulela (Avurudu festival) Easter too is all about renewal – of hope and life. Easter less, even a pandemic cannot de- I still remember those pre- oil still dripping, right under her replete with traditional games marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ after he was nailed feat our collective will as a nation nose. We found Avurudu Nekaths such as pillow fighting, climb- to the cross at the behest of Roman rulers of the time. Eas- to come together in spirit at this TV days when Avurudu was a (auspicious times) rather fascinat- ing the greasy pole, bun eating time to celebrate togetherness at ing. and some modern games such as ter too gives us a powerful message that we can overcome Avurudu. merry occasion without even It was amazing that an entire cross country running. The vil- any obstacles in our life. There is another message that Je- But one question remains: a hint of artificial gloss. In village (and indeed an entire coun- lage lasses got an opportunity to sus gave us – caring for the sick. This is very important at Whether the excessive commer- try) could do one thing at exactly become the Avurudu Kumari. In- a time of pestilence. This Easter has an added poignancy, cialization of our national events the village off Ambalangoda the same time. We would visit the cidentally, the Bak Maha Ulela has including Avurudu, Vesak and temple, attired in white, during survived largely intact through the being the first anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks Christmas is a healthy trend. This where I lived for a good part the nonagathaya (Punya Kaalaya years, albeit with a heavy dose of on several Catholic Churches around the country last year. year this was not so apparent due or period for meritorious deeds). sponsorship and commercialism. The pain caused by these attacks can never go away, but we to the pandemic situation, but it of my childhood, Avurudu was Then came the lighting of the These cannot be held right now is otherwise a part and parcel of hearth, which was a family affair, due to the pandemic, but next year can all pray that such a horrendous loss of life would never Avurudu. a unique celebration of life followed by another even more we will see a profusion of them. happen on our soil again. The message of unity and hap- important (for us) family affair, Perhaps the best part of Avuru- But this year, both these festivals will necessarily be on a piness embedded in the Avurudu itself. It brought the entire the partaking of meals. du was not the festivity per se - it celebrations is in danger of being The Avurudu table was a veri- was the spirit of giving and forgiv- low key, confined as we are to our homes, except for those submerged in this torrent of com- village together in a spirit table feast for the eyes, milk rice, ing. working in essential sectors. In fact, this Avurudu and Eas- mercialism. kavum, munguli, athirasa, kokis, Animosity was cast away in ter, we should spare a thought for the health workers, Secu- It is a tough battle of tradition of camaraderie, buoyed by an asmi, aluwa, banana. You name it, place of friendship. Enemies be- rity Forces personnel and Government and private sector versus modernity that could leave they had it. came friends. People vowed to the former battered and bruised. air of festivity. It marked a The partaking of meals was give up discord and rancour. The workers in essential services. It is because of their selfless Contrast today’s situation with usually followed by an event that betel leaf was the symbol for this. service and determination that we can mark Avurudu and that experienced by generations new beginning for the entire we children always looked for- That was bigger and better Easter at least on this scale. that knew nothing about commer- ward to: the worshipping of par- than even the sheer joy of Avuru- cialism. village, which was heavily ents and elders and the exchang- du itself. And visits to friends and This year, though, we can make these festivals even more I still remember those pre-TV dependent on agriculture. ing of gifts. relatives far and near, strength- meaningful while staying at home. It is a time to renew days when Avurudu was a merry The latter was often a one-way ened lifelong bonds. Again, this is bonds within our families. This is very important in a soci- occasion without even a hint of street, from elders to children. not possible this year for the time artificial gloss. In the village off By this time, we had also re- being. ety where the tradition of family sit-down meals has disap- Ambalangoda where I lived for a and no tuition classes to attend. ceived (and attired) new clothes As we celebrate yet another peared for all intents and purposes. Today’s pressures to re- good part of my childhood, Avu- This was especially so during for the New Year, usually in the co- Sinhala and Hindu New Year, it is lentlessly pursue money and differing interest/work hours rudu was a unique celebration of Avurudu, where we enjoyed being lour stipulated by astrologers for time we went back to these basics, of family members mean that no one has the time to enjoy life itself. carefree to the maximum, playing that particular year sparkling new these simple pleasures of life. It brought the entire village to- in the open air near paddy fields sarongs, shorts and shirts for boys These are simple things that a sit-down meal over free-flowing conversation and plenty gether in a spirit of camaraderie, and bathing in the stream after- and frocks for girls. Of course, it made Avurudu special for both of laughter. At best, the whole family might have eyes glued buoyed by an air of festivity. wards. took very little time for them to children and adults all over the to the TV while having dinner with no conversation at all. It marked a new beginning for Today, you can walk into any get dirty. country. They still have the poten- the entire village, which was heav- supermarket or pastry outlet and The hisa-thel-gema (anoint- tial to do so. Family bonds have taken a severe beating due to modern ily dependent on agriculture. buy sweetmeats (Rasakevili) to ing of oil) was another highly an- We should be able to see lifestyles, but Avurudu reminds us that we should do better All the families in the village your heart’s content. ticipated event, held at the village through the veneer of commer- to keep families together. strictly followed the traditions This was not the case all those temple. cialism and extract the essence of associated with Avurudu, which years ago. No villager wanted to miss this Avurudu so that future generations While cooking and partaking meals in accordance with marked the transition of the Sun Sweetmeats had to be made important event, where the chief could still benefit from time-hon- auspicious times is important, the foremost place in Avu- from Pisces to Aries in the heav- at home, and in any case, no one priest invoked blessings on all. oured traditions which we have rudu traditions should go to Ganu Denu, which literally ens above. would have it any other way. Farmers and those who were inherited from our ancestors. Avu- means Give and Take. That is sadly a factor missing from Avurudu was a marvellous We looked forward to this employed also left for work at an rudu once again needs to be the time for children in the village. more than any other event associ- auspicious moment, a couple of simple celebration of spontaneous our lives for the most part, but Avurudu reminds us of the Unlike today, there was no pres- ated with Avurudu. days later. Needless to say, Avuru- joy that it used to be. importance of compromise and the joy of sharing. Avurudu sure from adults to study all day How could anyone possibly du was easily the most joyous oc- is a season for giving – as well as forgiving. The demands of commercialism have enveloped every- one in our families, including the children. Unlike in the days gone by, today’s children are pressured by parents, teachers and the wider society to study all the time in order do well at examinations at the expense of their playtime. However, Avurudu literally gives them a break from the te- dium of studying and attending classes non-stop. Avurudu also has a spiritual or religious element. The Punya Kalaya (“time for meritorious deeds”) is designed to let us pay homage to the temple or the Kovil to purify our souls. Easter too does the same, though this year the faithful will have to be at home watching the services from home. Avurudu is a time for a fresh start in every sphere of life. From new clothes to a new coat of paint to new aspirations, it marks a deviation from the old routine and signals that life is ready to take on new challenges in the coming year. Avurudu gives us fresh hopes for a successful, bountiful year ahead. This Avurudu and Easter, is similar in so many ways to the ones that have gone by. The purpose, meaning and aims of both Avurudu and Easter remain the same as they have always been: to renew our collective faith in humanity and bring us hope and new aspirations. The only difference this year is that we cannot share this noble aspiration at the community level owing to the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. But we must realize that these measures have been im- posed for our own safety and welfare. If we violate the cur- few and try to ‘celebrate’ these events, the result will be truly horrendous. It is therefore our duty to stay at home, observe all social distancing and hygiene rules and cele- brate these events with our family members in the fervent hope that we will once again be able to celebrate both Avu- rudu and Easter in the usual way in 2021. Be safe, stay home and save lives. 9 Sunday Observer APRIL 12, 2020 OP-ED Reflections on the Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ minds? Look at my hands and feet, and see that it is I myself! Touch me, Rear Admiral and see for yourselves, for a ghost Dr. Shemal has no flesh and bones as I have” (Luke 24:38-39). Fernando, PhD The first Glorious Mystery of the And as He spoke thus, He showed them His hands and His feet and His Alleluia! The Christ is risen! The Holy Rosary in the life of Christ and side. Hands which He would bid the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the doubting Thomas to touch with his Saviour of the world, is truly risen! His Blessed Mother gives pride of fingers; feet where Mary knelt that Easter Sunday is a day of unique morning to see the red, livid marks joy, light, and life; the Lord has dis- place to ‘The Resurrection’. “On Easter of the nails; the side where John sipated the night of death and will leaned to learn the secrets of His never cease to fill the whole uni- Sacred Heart. The Temple that was verse with rejoicing, Alleluia! morning, the disciples’ hearts leap destroyed was rebuilt in three days. Why was it that, when the Tem- he resurrection of Christ with inexpressible joy to find their ple was restored and the Body glo- is at the heart of the Holy rified, He did not heal these scars Bible, Christian theology, Lord - alive again” (Matthew 28:8). And and imprints of a night forever past? and the Gospel. Many First, to convince us that He was the places in Scripture re- as we contemplate the Resurrection same person who was “born of the Tmind us of this fact but probably Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius none so clear as the Apostle Paul: of the Lord, poor sinners that we Pilate, was crucified, died, and was “In the first place, I have passed buried.” on to you what I, myself, received: Second, He wore them as tro- that Christ died for our sins, as the are, we marvel to discover that the phies of love. A soldier who has Scripture says; that he was buried; a gash on his cheek or the Purple that he was raised on the third day, Passover of the Lord touches us. Heart, is proud of the wounds. The according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor- wounds are no mar to his beauty but inthians 15:3-4), and a little further a badge of honour. Kings wear jew- in the same chapter, “And if Christ els, so does He; but his ornaments, has not been raised, your faith gives Mary! Rabboni! his fair array, are the battle scars. you nothing, and you are still in sin” These wounds He will take to heav- (1 Corinthians 15:17). Jesus said to her, “Mary!” That en at the right hand of the Father. The Resurrection by Paolo Ca- voice was more startling than a clap A third and most powerful rea- liari (1528 – 1588) of thunder. She turns and as her son is: He wore the scars to remind gaze falls on the red, livid marks us that if He had not escaped perse- The Resurrection in the hands and feet she utters cution, neither shall we. He is the but one word, “Rabboni!”-which cornerstones of the Temple which The first Glorious Mystery of the means Master (John 20:16).Christ is the Church, and we are the stones Holy Rosary in the life of Christ and had uttered “Mary” and all heav- compacted together in the cement His Blessed Mother gives pride of en was in it. It was only one word of the love of the Holy Spirit. place to ‘The Resurrection’. “On Eas- she uttered and all earth was in it, The scars are a reminder to us of ter morning, the disciples’ hearts “Rabboni!”Mary was prepared only the eternal law that unless there is a leap with inexpressible joy to find to shed reverential tears over the cross, there will never be an empty their Lord - alive again” (Matthew grave; what she was not prepared tomb; unless there is the crown of 28:8). And as we contemplate the for was to see Him walking on the thorns, there will never be the glo- Resurrection of the Lord, poor sin- hills of the world. rified Body. Heaven is won in a war ners that we are, we marvel to dis- Jesus said to her, “Do not touch against evil, and God hates false cover that the Passover of the Lord me, because I have not yet ascended peace in those who are destined for touches us. It changes everything in to the Father. But go to my brothers this war. our lives. This day is a day of cele- and say to them: I am ascending to bration and rejoicing! By his rising, my Father, who is your Father, to Faith comes from God Christ has opened to us the trea- my God, who is your God.”So, Mary sures of salvation and grace. of Magdala went and announced to We know that Christ’s sacrifice The Father’s plan has been ful- the disciples, “I have seen the Lord, on the Cross accomplished our sal- filled. The Son sent by God came to and this is what he said to me” (John vation, not because we know that He save all men from sin and has be- 20:17-18). died, but because we know that He stowed upon them, through grace, For Mary of Magdala, there was lives. And in living, He brings new the gift of becoming children of no terror on seeing the angels; for life to all who have faith in Him. The God. And so we are! The death of Je- the world on fire could not have Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke sus on the cross has washed us and in three days I will raise it up” (John the body, and say to the people: He tomb empty and that the angels an- moved her, so much had grief mas- and John narrate events that took set us free from all sin. His Resur- 2:19). This Temple, they said, had al- is risen from the dead. That would nounced his Resurrection and that tered her soul. Worn from Good place after his death and mentions rection has won for us adoption as ready been 46 years in building, and be a deception worse than the first.” He was alive; but not believing in Friday, wearied by Holy Saturday, the names of those who saw the res- his brothers and sisters. It is true this unknown Galilean only 30 years Pilate answered them, “You have the Resurrection, they complain, with life dwindled to a shadow and urrected Jesus. and such is our faith that from now of age would destroy it and raise it soldiers, go and take all the neces- “But we hoped that it was He that strength worn to a thread - she could Can we believe them? We would on, through the grace of the Resur- up in three days. But the Scriptures sary precautions”. So, they went should have redeemed Israel” (Luke “take him away”. She symbolizes like more details to support our rection, we participate in the life of say, “He spoke of the Temple of his to the tomb and secured it, sealing 24:21). forever the type of love that can ban- faith, but even if thousands of inter- the Only Begotten Son. We are all Body.”(John 2:21) the stone, placing the tomb under More remarkable still, when the ish the hardest burden and think the views with eyewitnesses were pub- children of the same Father, sharing Three years pass and, during guard(Matthew 27:63-65). Apostles learnt from the women heaviest burden light. lished, with images to support the our love for one another in commu- his trial, there was no charge made The most astounding fact about that the tomb was empty and that statements, there would always be nion with the Holy Spirit! Alleluia! against his expulsion of the buyers this spectacle of vigilance over the the angels had announced the Res- The Truth of Easter room for doubt. We do not see him, and sellers of the Temple, for the dead is that the enemies of Christ urrection, the Gospels say of this, we cannot find him. Where is he? It Temple of His Body spirit that dictated it was evidently expected the Resurrection but “They did not believe them,” but dis- Yet, such is the truth of Easter is not more difficult to believe in his noble. But there was one thing, how- His friends did not. In three great missed the reports as idle tales such Sunday; the Resurrection of the words, for both go together. “Who In the history of the world, ever, that the witnesses did remem- scenes of the Resurrection drama, as one would expect women to tell. dead, the triumph of the defeated, has overcome the world? The one only one tomb has ever had a rock ber. Like all false witnesses, they we find a note of sadness and un- the finding of the lost; the spring- who believes that Jesus is the Son of rolled before it and a soldier guard twisted it as they said, “We heard belief. Mary of Magdala comes to time of the earth, the waking of life, God” (I John 5:5).We doubt, not be- set to watch it, to prevent the dead Him say, I will destroy this Temple the grave early in the morning with Jesus appears to Mary of the trumpet of Resurrection blow- cause there is not enough evidence, man within from rising; that was made by human hands, and, in three spices, not to greet the risen Saviour ing over the land of the living. but because the event overwhelms the tomb of Christ. What could be days, I will build another, not made but to anoint a dead body. What is Magdala Our Lord’s Incarnation was an- us. more ridiculous than armed soldiers by human hands” (Mark 14:58). This more tragic is that she is weeping. nounced to a virgin, Mary. But his keeping their eyes on a corpse? was an obvious distortion of his When she finds the tomb empty, in- On Easter Sunday, Mary of Mag- Resurrection was announced to a Accepting Jesus Christ Here sentinels are set, lest the meaning. He did not say, “I will de- stead of believing in the Resurrec- dala came to the tomb early in the converted sinner, Mary of Magda- dead walk, the silent speak, and the stroy this Temple” but “Destroy this tion, she says, “They have taken my morning while it was still dark, and la. Only purity could welcome the How can we believe in a Res- pierced heart quicken to the throb Temple”which was the Temple of Lord, and I don’t know where they she saw that the stone blocking the all-holy Son of God into the world, urrection? The evidence, never- of life. They say He is dead; they his Body. have put him” (John 20:13). tomb had been moved away. She and hence, Mary Immaculate met theless, is there and has withstood know He is dead; they will tell you ran to Peter and the other disciples Him at the door of earth in the city recurring criticisms and even mod- He will not rise again, but still they Spectacle of vigilance Angels announce the whom Jesus loved and said to them, of Bethlehem. But only a repentant ern research. Saint John (1 John watch. This vigilance at a tomb was “They have taken the Lord out of the sinner, who had herself risen from 5:6-9) characterises the three com- not a sudden last-minute fancy. It tomb and we don’t know where they the grave of the sin to the newness plementary aspects of the Christian went back to his prophecies that On Holy Saturday, the chief Resurrection have laid him” (John 20:1-2). The of life in God, could fittingly under- experience, which are first seen in He would rise again, and to the day priests and the Pharisees went to disciples, Peter and John came, en- stand the triumph over sin. Jesus himself: Water: Water is the when He drove the money changers Pilate and said to him, “Sir, we re- “Why look for the living among tered the tomb, saw and went back Hence, not to the Blessed Virgin symbol of cleanliness and of new from the Temple. member that when that impostor the dead? You won’t find him here. to their homes wondering. Mary but to Mary of Magdala are the life; Blood: The blood of the sacri- His enemies had asked, “What was still alive, he said, “After three He is risen” (Luke 24:5-6). With Mary stood weeping outside the glad tidings of the Resurrection first fice, the painful atonement for sin, sign canst Thou show us as thy war- days I will rise again”. Therefore, those words, the angels greeted the tomb; and as she wept, she bent announced. In this contrast is hid- the blood of martyrs; Spirit:The un- rant for doing this?” Our Lord an- have his tomb secured until the third women (Mary of Magdala, Joanna down to look inside. She saw two an- den the great truth of Easter day; containable power that animates swered, “Destroy this temple and day, lest his disciples come and steal and Mary, the mother of James) gels in white, sitting where the body the Resurrection is for sinners. It is Christ’s witnesses; the amazing who had come to Christ’s tomb with of Jesus had been, one at the head, the final and absolute proof that our creativity of the people and institu- perfumes and ointments, to care for and the other at the feet. They said, Lord has come “not to call the just, tions that are rooted in faith. His body. They had found the stone “Woman, why are you weeping? She but sinners.”To the honour of wom- These three witness to Jesus We know that Christ’s sacrifice on the rolled away, and the tomb empty, answered, “Because they have taken anhood, it must forever be said, a Christ and they also characterise and they did not know what to make my Lord and I don’t know where woman was closest to the cross on Christian salvation. We can easily Cross accomplished our salvation, not of it. they have put him” (John 20:11-13). Good Friday and first at the tomb on see that they correspond to the three But now the angels continue: As she said this, she turned Easter morn. Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist because we know that He died, but because “Remember what he told you in around and saw Jesus standing and Confirmation. Do not underesti- Galilee, that the Son of Man had to there, but she did not recognise Jesus appears to the mate the step you took in accepting we know that He lives. And in living, He be given into the hands of sinners, him (John 20:14). With her eyes cast Jesus Christ. Explore and look for to be crucified, and to rise on the down, as the brightness of the early Apostles the riches which are meant for you brings new life to all who have faith in Him. third day.”And Saint Luke simply sunrise swept over the dew-covered and which are found in “Him who says, “And they remembered his grass, she vaguely perceived some- In Jerusalem, as followers gath- loves us” (Revelation 1:5).Peace be words”(Luke 24:6-8). one near her who asked, “Woman, ered together, all in commotion with you! Alleluia! The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and On Easter Sunday afternoon, why are you weeping? Who are you with the stories of the day, silently, some disciples on the way to Em- looking for?” She thought it was the suddenly, unaccountably, casting (The author possesses a PhD, John narrate events that took place after maus are so depressed that the ris- gardener and answered him, “Sir, no shadow, stirring no sound, un- MPhil and a double MSc; his first en Lord, who walks with them but if you have taken him away, tell me barring no doors, the footfall mak- work appeared in the Sunday Ob- his death and mentions the names of those does not yet reveal himself, asks where you have put him, and I will ing no echo, He appeared to them, server in 1988; recipient of Nation- them, “Why are you sad?” They go and take him away” (John 20:15). saying, “Why are you upset, and al and Presidential Awards for Aca- who saw the resurrected Jesus. tell Him that the women found the how does such an idea cross your demic and Sports pursuits.) 10 Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 News Feature As things improve, let’s hope for the best, but prepare for the worst

more for an indefinite period, after The best case scenario would be the lengthy lockdown it has already for the virus spread to slow down and suffered for months has been finally come to a complete halt in the next lifted? month or so i.e at least by the end of Rajpal Abeynayake May. If this happens globally and in Sri CLOSURES Lanka, economies could quickly be on the mend, despite everything. here is no expert in the Such a scenario is macabre, and But if there is no vaccine on the ho- country who can answer the perhaps these are the worst of our rizon and if the virus spread cannot be question ‘when, and how we fears that would never probably mate- contained by any chance in this coun- will see the other side of the rialize. This writer apologizes for even try by the end of May, the continuous Covid-19 pandemic?’. If the having to bring up the eventuality. lockdown strategy may even have to be current curfew, or the strategy of en- Such a worst case scenario is unlikely abandoned. Tforced social distancing works, and if to happen in the most damning of our Any such change of policy would there are no further cases, say at the nightmares, but does it mean that the automatically raise the question of end of a reasonable period under the country has to stop planning for one? the meaning and purpose of the initial current near total lockdown — at least The reasonable answer should be — currently ongoing — curfews. Any in some districts — it’s well and good, a no. Anything is possible, though not change in strategy if the virus contin- and the country would be able to limp probable, and the worst case scenario ues to spread beyond May could also back to normal, battered, but not bro- of non-containment past the eventual render the national health sector po- ken. lifting of curfew, is a contingency we tentially helpless, if the numbers of the But what’s a reasonable period as a people have to plan for, despite Covid stricken patients increase if the of time, and who can define that? Is all sanguine indications. Unforeseen curfews are lifted. it three weeks? Is it a month? Two difficulties in containment in the long In such a case, rulers and govern- months or more? term are possible, given the unpredict- ments of many countries would be The length of the period notwith- able nature of the virus spread so far. potentially damned if they do, and standing, there are too many variables Even if not a single case is report- damned if they don’t. If curfews and to predict anything with any degree ed after all the curfews have been lockdowns have to be continued be- of certainty. The main question is, lifted in all districts, airport closures yond the end of May/June by any can the spread of the virus within the for a long time will probably be a con- chance, our economy would be un- country be reduced to zero at the end comitant necessity. There is no point der threat of complete dysfunction. If of the period of curfew in the key dis- in risking a return of the outbreak the curfews are not continued beyond tricts? in districts which have hopefully re- May, and if the epidemic spread con- Let’s hope and pray it doesn’t hap- turned to normal after a long and tinues past that month, the health sec- pen, but yet, a turn of events in which painful period of lockdown, by re- tor will not be able to cope with the just one person escapes the dragnet at opening airports. outcome, and the shock of possible the end of the curfew period on which- All that can be said at the moment multiplying fatalities would impact se- ever date it occurs, cannot be entirely is that the future is still uncertain. Yes, verely on the national psyche. ruled out. the virus will go away some day, but The best hope therefore under all Let’s assume for convenience, that when and how is at this point, a mas- circumstances would be for a com- the curfew in the last district to have it sive and unpredictable unknown. plete halt to the virus spread at least by in force, guessing it’s Colombo for in- In the worst case scenario, contin- the end of May, and a resultant lifting stance, is lifted on a given date in the uous lockdowns that occur sporadical- of all curfews at that time. near future. ly and in serial fashion lasting, say, un- But if such sanguine hopes do not All is well, and the curfew would til the end of 2020, are just not viable, come to pass, some extremely hard de- have been presumably lifted at that no matter who says what in the various longed curfew in key areas, that last this week. The E.U shut off its borders calls are being made for domestic agri- cisions may have to be made. time as there are no more Covid 19 pa- sectors that are stakeholders in the res- beyond the end of June of this year, completely to foreign visitors. culture at household level to brace for A question could be raised: is the tients in the district. But assume just olution effort that addresses this crisis. would cause more deaths of people Such unprecedented develop- any impact from potential food import country prepared to end all lockdowns one individual has escaped the drag- If and only if the foregoing worst due to debt, deprivation and pain of ments are expected to halve world eco- restrictions. by the end of next month, no matter net and is diagnosed with the disease, case scenario as explained does oc- mind, than the virus could have caused nomic growth for this year. The economy however does not what? days after the curfew is lifted for one cur, a painful period of recurring in the first place, however negative the In such a backdrop the Sri Lankan turn on food production alone. Tour- The possibility of such a drastic de- last time after many months. curfews for months on end in key dis- impact of its spread in the long term. domestic economy would not be able ism and travel may not revive signifi- cision having to be made in the long In the worst case scenario, that tricts would be unviable on several to protect itself from the impact of the cantly in the coming months, or even term interests of the people’s collective elusive individual in his asymptomatic counts. JOB LOSSES expected depression in the rest of the as the end of 2020 approaches. well-being looms large in the possible phase, may infect another cluster of What the virus doesn’t finish off, world, no matter what happens within This would mean major job losses worst case scenario. Drastic decisions people. These people in turn may dis- could be wiped out by a totally crip- Dire prognostications are being our borders. in the tourism and allied sectors in may call for a drastic psychological perse through the district, and though pled economy if such a situation ever made about the global economy in the The strategy going forward if total the country. Any prolonged shutdown shift or a general preparedness of the most can be identified, all of them, comes to pass. Governments the world meanwhile, and IMF head Kristalina containment of the virus is not possi- would significantly affect other sectors national psyche to embrace one option let’s assume, cannot be contact-traced over would have well intentioned lock- Georgieva has said the world would ble despite all good intentions before as well, and none of these issues can over another. Else, the economy could in good time. As a result more cases downs, but in many countries, if the face the worst crisis since the depres- at least the end of May this year, would be addressed by domestic agriculture be in free fall, and the damage would begin to appear in various locations in restrictions last for anything longer sion of the 1930s. therefore be of crucial importance. or domestic production only. be worse than from the virus in the the district. than say the mid point of 2020, the re- The number of people filing unem- Government policy makers are first place. What happens next? Is the entire sult would be economic chaos. ployment claims meanwhile in the U.S, already bracing for impact with a DYSFUNCTION district to go under lockdown once It’s entirely possible that any pro- the largest economy, hit a record high planned self sustainability drive, and Vulnerability, fear and the legitimizing of prejudice ing their noses but simply because badaginne nehe, badagini venne ida they say. So there’s fear and there’s they look disheveled or unkempt. ‘I understand the science behind staying at home thiyanneth naha (no one in our vil- vulnerability. In this instance how- It makes me so sad and angry when lage starves and we will not let any- ever it is a double-edged thing. There I hear such prejudice because our and social distancing but I am very concerned one starve either).’ have been instances where certain vulnerabilities and fears are legiti- As mentioned above, we are yet Muslims have flouted the rules re-

mizing their prejudice.’ about our obsessiveness and the passive- to be tested. Let that be a note of garding gathering. It’s faith, they say. Situations vary from country to caution and a caveat. It is not that It’s stupid, insensitive and absolutely udat Pasqual, former Sri Lank- country. There are no buses plying aggressive manner the concepts are promoted. I there are no prejudices in our soci- dangerous, others will say. That kind an cricketer now resident in the streets. People need to get about ety. There’s a reason why in certain of faith-assertion feeds fears and vul- Canada, recently wrote to Ra- but most stay at home, the ‘stray- say this because I see the confusion in the faces circles terms such as ‘godaya’ and nerabilities. That kind of dogmatism chel Notley, Leader of the Op- ing’ if at all being limited to a stroll of many who get on my bus. They are uncertain ‘yakkho’ are derogatory. We know is also about prejudice. Sposition and former Prime Minister of around the village or up and down a also that capitalism is a system that Fortunately, these are excep- Alberta, in response to the ‘stay home, lane in the case of those in urban ar- whether to greet me, smile or ignore me when they breeds a political class which favours tions and not the rule. We have seen stay safe’ meme she had posted. eas. Distribution of essentials is get- the rich and neglects the poor. In- over the past few weeks behavioural ‘I understand the science behind ting streamlined. The low income board the bus. deed, it is a miracle that we still have change among the people. The threat staying at home and social distanc- earners are getting handouts. People a public service that comes through is recognized. The precautions are ing but I am very concerned about take care of each other to the extent with shining colours each and every understood and by and large taken. our obsessiveness and the passive- possible. the property. Then they levelled it, set aside a part of my earnings to pay time there is a crisis. However, we There is less complaining of things aggressive manner the concepts are There are probably lots of gaps planted grass and also fruit trees in the loan. Now that’s not possible. If did see in the early days of curfew people have had to forego. promoted. I say this because I see and the country is yet to be tested the perimeter. They organized kite some random person passes through how the focus was on the upper mid- And yet, we haven’t been really the confusion in the faces of many because Corvid-19 hasn’t really ‘tak- competitions to raise money for all the village in search of people who dle and upper classes. The efforts tested yet. Hopefully we won’t be who get on my bus. They are un- en off’ in Sri Lanka. That said, Sri this. The annual avurudu uthsavaya need to be helped, they won’t stop at were aimed mostly at dealing with tested but this is not the hour of the certain whether to greet me, smile Lanka is doing quite well in terms of is held at this ground now. my house.’ their vulnerabilities and fears. That’s crystal-gazer. Best to be prepared. or ignore me when they board the making sure people are ok. That’s background. Sujee Dolo- Appearances can deceive, in prejudice too. Best to expect the worst. Best to do bus. The seniors who get on are And yet, there are vulnerabilities swala, as mentioned, is a barber. A other words. The state machinery is There is also the palpable preju- what we can. For ourselves and each the most troubled. It’s obvious that and fears. Daily wage earners are at good one. An enterprising young not ignorant however. There’s data. dices pertaining to religion and race. other. And, when fear and vulner- they are aware that they are at most risk. Take for example the barber in man, he saved money and modern- There are officials at the top and at Some sections of the Muslim com- ability raise their heads, it’s also best risk but they also need to get about our village, Kudamaduwa. Now he’s ized his shop, adding an extra kada the village-level we have the Grama munity believe there’s persecution. that we retire prejudices. In short, like everyone else. Last week some all about community and solidarity. kaamaraya the rent from which adds Niladhari. If patronage-politics and They believe that in the matter of dis- we need not make things worse than were chatty but not this week. I also The man mobilized the entire village to his income. He has also obtained pilfering does not happen, things posing the dead, the dictates of their they are. hear fellow drivers saying that they to turn an abandoned paddy field loans to build his house. With Cor- will be ok. Not amazing, not great faith (or at least their reading of the [email protected]. don’t want to allow people who may- into a playground. The young people vid-19, he’s lost his business. even, but good enough. Vulnerability relevant texts — yes, it’s all subjective be homeless, not because they are who make up the membership of the ‘I have to draw from what I saved is usually accompanied by fear, but and human-read by the humanly- coughing, sneezing and/or blow- sports club collected money to buy to pay off my loans. Everyday I would as Sujee said, ‘ape game kavruvath frail) were ignored. That’s prejudice Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 11 News Features Effective steps by Govt to combat COVID 19 epresentatives of the Sa- construction sector as theymay be held at his Nawalapitiya residence nation but also as a healthy nation.” navirus threat, some politicians are yal Nishantha. In a bid to prevent magi Jana Balawegaya stranded due to curfew. told the media that the Opposition He said that as soon as the first co- distributing aid to promote them- any rice shortage in the market, the (SJB) met President Go- Ministers Dinesh Gunawarde- MPs are forcing the Government to rona patient was reported, steps selves and their political parties. Government at the meeting has de- tabaya Rajapaksa and na, Nimal Siripala De Silva, Wimal reconvene Parliament with the in- were taken to protect the children However, after an inspection tour cided to keep all main rice mills in Prime Minister Mahinda Weerawansa, Dullas Alahappe- tention of getting salaries and other by declaring a holiday to all schools of the Homagama Base Hospital, the country open to continue un- Rajapaksa on April 06 to discuss ruma, Bandula Gunawardana and perks. He also said that if Parlia- and universities. We were the first Minister Weerawansa told the me- interrupted processing of paddy. Rmatters relating to the prevailing Johnston Fernando represented the ment is reconvened, a huge amount among Asian nations to set up a dia that what they do right now is In addition, the service of all rice situation in the wake of the CO- Government while the SJB was rep- of money will have to be spent but Special Presidential Task Force on not politics. At this juncture, what is mills island-wide has been declared VID-19 pandemic. They expressed resented by its leader Sajith Prema- the people are not requesting to re- Essential Services in this regard. We needed is to give a social leadership as an essential service to ensure their satisfaction over the measures dasa and General Secretary, Ranjith convene it. What the people request stopped arrivals to the country at irrespective of party differences. He uninterrupted processing of pad- taken by the Government to com- Madduma Bandara. Secretary to the is for the Government to take steps the airport. Our policy at all times saidthat the Government officials dy. It has also been revealed at the bat the pandemic in the country. President, Dr. P.B. Jayasundara and to prevent the spread of COVID-19 was to satisfy the needs of the public alone cannot fulfill this task. If the meeting that the country has ample Both parties agreed that the battle several other senior Government and provide relief measures to the without causing any inconvenience Election Commission interprets this paddy stocks to meet the require- to contain this disease should con- officials also participated in the dis- people. to them. Even during the time of the as doing politics, first they should ments of the people and there is no tinue without political or any other cussion. The Government and the Prime Minister, Mahinda Raj- war against the terrorists, we did be given medicine. Weerawansa need room for any rice shortage in differences.President Rajapaksa SJB representatives focused their at- apaksa on Tuesday (April 07) made not declare curfew. In the current said “here we are not doing any pol- the country. The President and the elaborated on the measures already tention on future plans fora num- a special statement on the current situation, we declared curfew in itics. We are only fulfilling a social Prime Minister have also focused at- taken by the Government to prevent ber fields including healthcare. situation in the country and the deference to the wishes of the spe- responsibility. We don’t have any tention on a number of issues in the the spread of the disease and future The President explained that steps taken by the Government. The cialists in the health sector. He said party politics here. Therefore, we fisheries sector. Premier Rajapaksa actions to be taken in this regard. after taking the current global eco- Premier in his address to the nation that the Special Presidential Task call upon the Election Commission- has directed the Finance Ministry During the discussionthe Presi- nomic and social crisis into account, said whether we will live or not will Force which operates from Temple er and his ‘gang’ to stop the politics Secretary to discuss these issues dent explained to the SJB repre- plans are already underway to im- be decided by how steps are taken to Trees is fulfilling the responsibility that they are doing. Weerawansa with the Fisheries Corporation and sentatives in detailthe responsible plement an appropriate economic control the COVID-19 pandemic. He of distributing essential items in- queried and said that if they cannot solve them immediately. The Gov- manner which the Government act- model suitable to Sri Lanka. Presi- said our focus, our dedication and cluding food and medicines to the assist the people in a catastrophic ernment has also allocated Rs.600 ed following the declaration by the dent Rajapaksa highlighted that the our discipline will decide whether entire country. situation like this, what is the jus- million to purchase the fish stocks World Health Organization (WHO) experts have been consulted to up- we live or die in a pandemic of this Premier Rajapaksa said it is tice behind it? Who has the right to of fishermen immediately and dis- about the pandemic. The President lift the apparel and tourism indus- nature. Premier Rajapaksa said for without getting a budget approved disturb it? That is our right and we tribute them countrywide under a said that the Government was able tries which have suffered a setback this reason, the President and the in Parliament that we have allocated would definitely do that on behalf systematic program. to take several swift actions to safe- and that the Government will take Government had acted giving great this large amount of money and giv- of the people.” The Minister further President Gotabaya Rajapaksa guard the citizens of the country and action according to their instruc- attention to the lives of the general en relief to the general public. The said a member of the Election Com- had a meeting with medical experts added that every possible step has tions when opportunity permits. public from the moment this pan- President did not have the opportu- mission had given a statement to representing various fields at the been taken to ensure uninterrupted The Head of the Special Presidential demic was reported. It was because nity to get the assistance of Parlia- the BBC stating that the country is Presidential Secretariat on Thurs- day –to-day civilian life. The Presi- Task Force on Essential Services, this situation was well understood ment to do any of these things. The heading towards dictatorship. In ad- day (April 09) with the intention dent told the representatives that Basil Rajapaksa,said that if any in- by the Government that steps were Parliament did not support us when dition, the Chairman of the Election of obtaining much needed expert these timely measures,taken under dividual had not received their al- taken to send a plane to Wuhan, we tried to get an interim budget ap- Commission as if he has just woken medical opinion on how to prevent the guidance of experts in collabo- lowance yet, he or she is entitled to China,to bring back the Sri Lankans proved before it was dissolved. The up issues a statement against the the spread of COVID-19 pandemic ration with the health authorities make an appeal to their respective trapped there, even before many public who have the sovereignty ask program launched to combat the in the country promptly. During the and the tri-forces,were instrumen- Grama Niladharis. other countries did so. us as to what use there is in recon- coronavirus pandemic. meeting, the steps taken by the Gov- tal in controlling the spread of the Meanwhile, after the discus- The Premier said that at no time vening Parliament. We have to think Several key important decisions ernment, tri-forces and the health disease. President Rajapaksa said sion between the Government and did we take decisions based on po- now about how we will live after have been taken at a meeting with authorities to prevent the spread pre-testing to identify the infected the SJB representatives, Minister litical, racial or religious lines. We overcoming this disaster. He said the ruling party members of the for- of coronavirus as well as the steps and those associated with them will Wimal Weerawansa who also at- will not do so in the future either. that the former Government moved mer Parliament held in Colombo on to be taken in the future had been continueto enure early detection of tended the discussion told the This is a moment when all political away from state intervention in pro- Thursday (April 09). This meeting discussed at length. The group of the affected. media that SJB Leader Sajith Pre- party leaders have with great dedi- duction, distribution and marketing held under the patronage of Presi- specialist doctors had commended The President said the quaran- madasa and other representatives cation come forward to assist the in the country. In that era, the home dent Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime the President’s quarantine program tine process continues at 40 centers requested the President to recon- Government. This is not a time to garden program that we set up to Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has launched with the aim of preventing countrywide while programs have vene Parliament. However, the be divided along religious or racial ensure a self-sufficient home, and focused a number of issues faced the spread of the virus. The doctors been launched with the assistance President in his response to the lines. At this moment, we can have even the paddy cultivation, crashed. by the people due to Covid-19 out- had said the further strengthening of Public Health Officers (PHIs) to SJB members had categorically only one enemy and that enemy is Certain controversial remarks break in the country. The meeting of the existing quarantine process mitigate the spread of COVID- 19 in stated that he had no idea whatso- called Coronavirus. He said this is made by Minister Wimal Weerawa- had been attended the Head of the is the most effective approach to areas where the infected have been ever to reconvene Parliament. He not a time to follow traditions as nsa on the conduct of the Election Special Presidential Task Forces on prevent the spread of the virus. The identified. Prime Minister Mahinda had told the SJB representatives required by a religion or a race but Commission were highlighted in Essential Services Basil Rajapaksa, specialists have also pointed out the Rajapaksa stated that if there are except to declare a state of emer- a time to unite and overcome this the media circles a couple of days Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa, Wimal importance of conducting investiga- any shortcomings in the Govern- gency, there is no legal provision to huge crisis. ago. The Minister charged that Weerawansa, Dinesh Gunawardena, tions on groups that were in close ment programs, immediate action reconvene Parliament. The Presi- The Prime Minister in his ad- amidst the coronavirus pandemic, Pavithra Wanniarachchi and former contact with infected persons. Even will be taken to rectify them.Presi- dent had also said that he has no dress to the nation further said “We the Election Commission had en- State Ministers Mahindananda Alu- though there are sufficient corona- dent Rajapaksa and SJB Leader Sa- intention to declare a state of emer- have faced bigger challenges in our gaged in politics. The Chairman of thgamage, Anura Priya dharshana virus test kits available at present, jithPremadasa requested the em- gency at this juncture. The Govern- history. I am confident that we can the Election Commission, Mahinda Yapa, Rohitha Abeygunawardene, President Rajapaksa had instructed ployers to attend to the needs of ment Spokesman and former State rise up without facing the disaster Deshappriya, in a recent letter ad- Dayasiri Jayasekara, Shehan Sema- the health authorities to take neces- their contract employees earning Minister,Mahindananda Aluthga- that other countries have faced. We dressed to the Prime Minister had singhe, Kanchana Wijesekara and sary steps to acquire more test kits daily wages includingthose in the mage, at a recent media briefing must not only rise as a developed said that under the prevailing coro- former UPFA Parliamentarian Pi- in order to face any situation.

Easter celebrations this year: Small scale rice millers request Govt help to A unique event

By E. WEERAPPERUMA dead is the culmination of the Passion rebirth of the Earth. (Latin Patior, passus sum means to suffer, The Christian celebration is called purchase paddy We the Catholics and Christians of bear, endure) of Jesus, preceded by Great ‘Pascha’ in Latin and Greek, and the word Sri Lanka celebrate Easter Sunday today, Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer derived from the Aramaic language, has April 12 to honour the Resurrection of Je- and penance. reference to a Jewish festival, known as sus Christ. His Resurrection is the triumph of Passover in English. It recalls the great ex- hen there are 20 million people 10 days so that a rice shortage would be cre- It is a great day of religious signifi- good over evil, sin and death. It is the odus of the Jewish community from slav- who consume rice in Sri Lanka, ated in the market. These rice mill owners cance that we celebrate today in isolation principal feast of the ecclesiastical year, ery in Egypt. three large scale rice mill own- never close their mills or stop their opera- without attending the festive service in the singular event that proves that, those Although the King of England, Charles ers outrageously decide on the tions. The Government should immediately churches for the first time. It is undoubt- who trust in God and accept Christ will I, in the year 1647, declared Resurrection, Wprices of paddy, maintaining an unethical take over the stocks of paddy of these large edly a unique Easter for the Catholics and be raised from the dead on the last day. as a feast to be celebrated on a Sunday, monopoly in the market, said small scale scale rice mill owners. As small scale rice Christians, during COVID- 19, this year. This day, the last day of the Easter contradicting him, Parliament abolished rice mill owner of Polonnaruwa, Suraj Jaya- mill owners we would convert the paddy to There were no Church Services held Triduum, marks the end of Holy Week. It celebrating the feast along with other fes- wickrama. rice and provide enough stocks of rice as re- in congregation for the Holy (Maundy) sounds the beginning of the Easter Sea- tivals of the Church. Expressing his views on the paddy and quested by the Government. Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil son, of the Liturgical Year. The true fol- It is very much fitting to quote Pope rice monopoly in the market, Jayawickrama He said that the Government should in- (Holy Saturday Midnight) services and lowers of Jesus will receive, “a new birth Francis while celebrating this Easter Fes- said the Government and banks provide tervene to purchase paddy at the next harvest Easter Sunday Mass. Amid the Covid-19 into a living hope through the Resurrec- tival, where we are assured of God’s care very small loans to small scale rice mill own- season. Firstly, credit facilities should be giv- pandemic and at a time when the world tion of Jesus Christ from the dead”. and protection and that He has not aban- ers to purchase paddy. However, they pro- en to all rice mill owners to purchase paddy. is struggling to overcome the effects of For Sri Lankans this Easter reminds doned us. vide a higher number of loans to three large The Government should also give some tar- the virus, and many are confined to their us of what occurred on April 21, Easter Pope Francis addressing the faithful scale rice mill owners, namely, Araliya, New gets to small scale rice mill owners regarding homes or in voluntary self-isolation, we Sunday 2019 where nearly 500 innocent during the General Audience last week, Rathan and Nipuna . Under the pretext of the purchase of paddy and the production of celebrate Jesus Christ’s victory over death, devotees participating in the Most Sacred said : During these weeks filled with anxi- the coronavirus pandemic these leading rice rice. At present, there are 5,000 metric tons the Feast of Resurrection. and Solemn Feast of Resurrection of Je- ety and suffering because of the CORO- mill owners attempt to purchase paddy and of paddy purchased by the Divisional Secre- We, in Sri Lanka stayed away from sus Christ, were brutally killed by sui- NA VIRUS pandemic we may be asking create an artificial shortage in the market taries and the Army. This paddy stock should congregating in our respective churches cide bombers in two Catholic churches, ourselves ‘What does God do in the face and also to fix the price of a kilogram of rice be distributed equally among small scale due to the island-wide curfew in view of St.Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, of our pain? Where is He when everything at Rs. 100. rice mill owners. Then we could provide rice the catastrophic COVID- 19 that has eat- Colombo and Katuwapitiya St. Sebastian is going wrong? Why doesn’t He solve the He said that even if the small scale rice for the Government as soon as possible. We en into the very fabric of our society. Church, Negombo and Zion Christian problems immediately?’ mills have been declared as an Essential Ser- are ready to help the Government in this cat- We are not alone in facing this calam- Church in Batticaloa. The Pope while inviting the faithful to vice they do not have stocks. We are ready to astrophic situation.The Government should ity, almost all the countries are facing it Perusing the pages of history, we re- live the ‘Holy Week’ and the Triduum as commence our operations within 24 hours not be scared of these three large scale rice with patience and trust in God the Creator call how Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was tar- “one great domestic liturgy” admonished and we have enough workers. Therefore, the mill owners. There are sufficient rice stocks and Protector of the human race and the geted during World War II. The Southwest them to find courage, strength and hope Government should take immediate steps to for the next four months and there is no need Universe. of the country was heavily damaged by in God’s infinite love. The Pope said: “In provide the rice stocks in Kilinochchi and to create a rice shortage in the market. Even the Vatican Office for the Liturgi- the Japanese air attack that occurred on these days of quarantine when we are se- Jaffna to small scale rice mill owners. We are He said that the Government should fix cal Celebrations of Pope Francis had to Easter Sunday, April 5,,1942. cluded at home, let’s take these two things ready to provide rice at the maximum retail the price of a kilo of paddy at Rs. 40 - 45 so reorganize the liturgies this year. This attack referred to as the “Easter in our hands: the Crucified One – let’s look price declared by the Government .At pres- that a kilo of rice can be given to the consum- The coronavirus pandemic challenges Sunday Reid” or the “Battle of Ceylon”, at Him – and the Gospel. It will be for us ent, the stocks of rice in the districts cannot er at Rs.80 -85. This would not cause any loss the Vatican Office for Liturgical celebra- was aimed at the British heavy cruisers like a great domestic liturgy because we be transported due to the curfew. Therefore, to paddy farmers as well. There are small tions to find new ways to accompany the HMS Dorsetshire and Cornwall by the air- cannot go to church.” the Army can intervene and fulfil this task. scale rice mill owners associations in each faithful during this year’s Easter liturgies, craft of the Imperial Japanese Navy. This Explaining further Pope Francis said: Three large scale rice mill owners mea- district. In the Polonnaruwa district alone Vatican news reported. was during the South-East Asian theatre In the same way, Easter tells us that God sure their stocks early and store them. Then, there are 60 small scale rice mills. Steps “This year believers will celebrate the of World War II. can turn everything to good, and that with we only have the remaining paddy stocks should be taken to provide credit facilities to victory of life hoping to fight death. The A few days after the “Indian Ocean Him we can truly trust that all will be well. of the farmers to purchase. By this time, small scale rice mill owners when it is time COVID 19 pandemic is ravaging the world Reid” a similar attack was launched on “That is why on Easter morning we are the three leading rice mill owners have in- to reap the harvest. We have enough stor- causing mourning and suffering among Trincomalee, targeting British warships told: Do not be afraid!’. We are not alone, creased the price of paddy so that any small age facilities countrywide. Therefore, the all peoples. More than ever, the current and harbour installations. The object of God does not forget us...” the Pope added. scale rice mill owner is unable to purchase Government should not dance to the whims events remind us how much hope is a di- the Japanese attack was to disrupt the war Pope Francis concluded saying that Je- paddy. This is called the monopoly or the and fancies of these three large scale rice mension of faith”. efforts of British Commonwealth Nations sus changed history “by being close to us.” ‘mafia’. Even the banks should be held re- mill owners. We have the ability to compete A joint Message issued by the Com- and force the British Eastern Fleet to leave Through His death, He conquered death. sponsible for this. with them. We are ready to commence our mission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the Asian waters. So we too can change our lives by being Jayawickrama said that the Nipuna rice operations within 24 hours and provide qual- the European Union (COMECE) and the The word ‘Easter’ has reference to Eo- close to Him, in the certainty that we are mill owner had told the President on April 9 ity rice without paving the way to create any Conference of European Churches (CEC) stara, the goddess of rebirth. It is claimed not alone because the Lord loves us, He that the rice mills will have to be closed for rice shortages in the market. said: that in early times the feast of Eostara was does not abandon us and He never forgets “Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the celebrated to mark the resurrection and us”. 12 Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 Features His Grace Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando Called to Heaven on Good Friday A Spiritual Colossous of Sri Lanka

known as the ‘Little Rome’. I vividly remem- ban University in Romein 1955 and 1956 re- ber how the bells of the grand old church- spectively and a Baccalaureate in Theology Rear Admiral pealed and howpeople fromall walks of life in 1958. He was ordained as a priest by His Dr. Shemal in Negombo united to share the joy of pro- Eminence Cardinal Agagianian on Decem- ducing the first son of the parish as the Arch- ber 20, 1959 in Rome. Later, he obtained his Fernando, PhD bishop of Colombo. Licentiate in Theology as well from the Ur- Ever since, I was privileged to associate ban University in 1960. the then serving Archbishop of Colombo,all Fr. Nicholas Marcus returned to Sri Lan- is Grace Archbishop Emeritus along my career as a naval officer. During my ka and was appointed to the staff of St. Pe- Nicholas Marcus Fernando was schooldays, he was my ‘Hero’. In my youth, I ter’s College, Bambalapitiyain 1960. Later, welcomed to Heaven by the Lord preferred him to be my ‘Role Model’. As the he was appointed to the staff of St. Aloysius on Good Friday, April 10, 2020. years rolled by, he became my ‘Mentor’and Seminary, Borella in 1963 and was elevated HHis journey on earth lasted four score and later ‘Spiritual Director’- a unique bond of as the Rector in 1965. In 1973, he was again seven. His Grace was at the helm of Sri Lan- friendship that flourished for 40 long years. sent back to Rome to read for his Doctorate ka’s flock as the Archbishop of Colombo for Year after year, I never failed to visit His in Moral Theology which he achieved with a well-nigh25 years,from 1977to 2002. He was Grace on his Patronal Feast and birthday Summa cum Laudein 1976. elevated as an Archbishop at the compara- and His Grace reciprocated as our birth- He was appointed to the staff of the Na- tively young age of 44. Yet, in the annals of days fall on 6th and 16th of December. His tional Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka in Christianity in Sri Lanka, he truly played a Grace never failed to contact me whenever Kandy in 1976. With his elevation as the decisive role as the Chief Shepherd. he reads the articles I have penned to con- Archbishop of Colombo on March 30, 1977 gratulate and inspireme. He has always been by His Holiness Pope Paul VI, he became the Little has changed in that familiar exte- pleasant, unassuming and easy to talk to. youngest to be appointed to the office at the rior of ‘ Emmaus’ inTewatte wherethe Chief As I linger down memory lane, many age of 44. He also became the first Diocesan Shepherd spent his retirement in the envi- nostalgic events of my association with him- Priest to be appointed an Archbishop. rons of the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka flashes before me and I would like to share from 2002 to 2020. Archbishop Fernando, a few. I was privilegedto confer on him the Spiritual Colossus as he was affectionately referred to was very prestigious ‘Award of Excellence forthe Old relaxed always but preferred to respect ‘old Maryite of the Century’ and deliver the key- A scholar, preacher and spiritual colos- age’ and to be identified as a ‘Senior Citizen’. note speech at the book launch to mark the sus, Archbishop Fernando during his 25 He was respected as a scholar, a man of Silver Jubilee of his Episcopal Ordination. years as the Archbishop of Colombofrom great integrity and a linguist of no mean re- His Grace always appreciated my efforts to 1977 to 2002expanded the Archdiocese in pute. He was fluent in English, Sinhala and settle him down at ‘Emmaus’ in retirement several directions. He was a spontaneous Tamil and had a command of many other and reminded me of our unforgettable pil- and a compelling priest, whose interests languages.With constancy and care, Arch- grimage to the Basilica ofOur Lady of Good gave him new strength and greater depth. bishop Fernandolaboured along with the Health in Vailankanniamidstsevere floods. Archbishop Fernando welcomed Pope priests, religious lay catechists and the faith- He was always part of our important fam- John Paul II to Sri Lanka on January 20, 1995 fulall along his tenure as the Chief Shepherd ily events.I will never forget or cease to ap- for a historical visit during which the Beati- for not only the effective promotion of evan- preciate the pivotal role he played in my life. fication of St. Joseph Vaz took place in Co- gelisation of the people but also for the pro- His groundings and counselhas stood me in lombo.He celebrated the Silver Jubilees of vision of the earthly needs of the citizens good stead and given me strength to over- his Episcopal Ordination at St. Lucia’s Cathe- and social progress of all classes. come many tribulations. dral, Colombo on May 14, 2002. It is indeed a rare blessing and a privi- Glimpses of a Shepherd Birth and Divine Call lege for one to celebrate the Golden Jubi- lee of the Priestly Ordination and His Grace I am truly blessed tohave sailedthe ear- In the Register of Baptism at St. Mary’s thought it fit to bestow the honouron the ly years of my life on the course steered by Church, Grand Street, Negombo which parish whichnourished him and it was befit- Archbishop Fernando. We were born as boasts a legacy of 455 years, the name ‘Nich- tingly celebrated with pomp and pageantry t parishioners of St. Mary’s Church, Grand olas Marcus’ appears as the 115th entry in and with the participation of all the bishops Street,Negombo; christened at St. Mary’s the year 1932. He has been christened on and hundreds of priests at the beautiful St. Church, Grand Street,Negombo; educated December 13th, in the presence of his loved Mary’s Church, Grand Street,Negombo on atSt. Mary’s College, Grand Street,Negombo parents, Wilfred SeverinusFernando and December 20, 2009. His Diamond Jubilee and grew up in the confines ofSt. Mary’s Mary Lily Margaret Fernando with Theophi- was marked by a solemn service at Tewatte Church, Grand Street,Negombo. lus Fernando and Maria Hariet Fernando as on December 20, 2019. The lifelongreminiscences for a Mary- god parents. Archbishop Fernando is a man of utter iteof that era could be the beautiful bronze He was born a week earlier on Decem- Then, he entered the leading Catholic London University BA Examination in 1953 simplicity, disarming humility and of pa- statue of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary that ber 6th in the renowned fishing hamlet of educational institution, St. Mary’s College, and entered St. Bernard’s Major Seminary in tient holiness and piety. All along his long occupied the niche of the Main Block of the Munnakkara. Incidentally, it was on their Grand Street, Negombo where he was beck- 1953 for his Philosophical studies. and distinguished religious duty spanning college, the life-like statue of the founder, feast day and the church and the city are oned by God to his vineyard to enable him In the Seminary, he set his goals straight 60 eventful years, he endeared himself to the Rev. Fr. J. B. Vistarini that stands before the dedicated to St. Nicholas. Thus, his humble to fulfill his allotted vocation. The effusive and chartered the correct path. His perfec- poor and the rich alike. façade of the church, his last resting place in and pious parents who cherished the proper showering of talents and the providential tion was to seek God’s will and fulfill it and He maintained a good rapport with all- the side altar of the church where his grave endowment of spiritual values to their chil- timing of his birth made young Nicholas as a result glory and honour followed him bishops, priests, nuns and friends to their is identified bya statue of him, and the Grot- dren would have beenencouraged to name Marcus more and more conscious of his ob- - as the day follows the night. And the day admiration until his demise. His entire to of Our Lady of Lourdes in the precincts of him after St. Nicholas. ligations before God. These ideas and ideals dawned for young Nicholas Marcus to ap- life had been nothing short of miraculous. the church.Rev. Vistarini, the parish priest Archbishop Fernando is the second child which matured in him from childhood made proach the altar. Archbishop Fernando was like the good and of the majestic churchwas considered a ‘Liv- in the family and he has seven siblings. Ac- him what he became. faithful servant in the parable - he was faith- ing Saint’. cording to the order of birth they are Frank, Responding with devotion to the Di- Ordination and Priesthood ful in small matters, therefore, he was put in Reverting back to the life of Archbish- Archbishop Nicholas Marcus, Benzy, Camil- vine call, he entered St. Aloysius Seminary, charge of great matters. op Fernando, I was the Head Prefect at St. lus, Victor, Berryl, Nicholas Alexis and Mau- Borellain 1945 and passed the SSC Exami- He was sent to Collegiode Propaganda (This article is an adapted version of the Mary’s College,Negombo when the good reen.Archbishop Fernando had his prima- nation with exemption from the London Fide in Rome in 1954 to pursue his studies author’s tribute to Archbishop Fernando on news from the Holy See in Rome of his el- ry education at the Roman Catholic Mixed Matriculation in 1949, the London Univer- and obtained a Baccalaureatein Philosophy his 86th Birthday appearing in the Daily evation reachedthe city of Negombo, well School in Munnnakkara. sity Inter-Arts Examination in 1951, and the anda Licentiate in Philosophyfrom the Ur- News of December 5, 2017)

Aftermath of Covid-19 Main types of medical face masks a major hit after the COVID 19 pan- wages being revised. Rubber pro- The above study reveals that demic. There will be limited tour- duction too will experience a mas- the country will face a massive eco- The World Health Organisation (WHO) and ist arrivals even after the pandemic sive hit as countries may halt ve- nomic down turn, large scale unem- more countries are advising people to wear Poornema is controlled as it now faces zero hicle manufacture so that the need ployment, inflation and a recession, a mask when they go out in public, as growing Balakumar tourist arrivals. A study reveals that for the export of rubber may not be which is normal in a situation like evidence suggests that even a simple cloth this may continue for not less than important as before and can cause this. face covering could help prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 8 months. This impact gives the work deployment. On the other Apart from this the poor strug- (Covid-19). Health officials are now advising public, whether or not The nation hopes that the ongo- global airlines to face an overnight hand informal sectors such as way- gle to survive the situation, without they have symptoms of Covid-19, to cover their face with a mask or ing COVID 19 control actions will insolvency or liquidation. Sri Lan- side boutiques ,beauty salons, lot- any money to buy the essentials to cloth covering whenever social distancing is difficult to maintain – be successful and life will return ka’s airline industry employees too tery sellers ,etc. which amount to feed the family. These people can such as in grocery stores and on public places. to normalcy in the island. And we face a situation of work dismissal. 48% of employment and a contribu- be categorized as daily wage earn- believe that the nation will be safe However cash rich airlines around tion of 40% - 45% to country’s GDP ers, involved in small scale labour again. However the COVID 19 pan- the world may survive this hard eco- would have to face a hard time fi- works such as masons, carpenters demic has left Mother Lanka in dan- nomic climate. Also the other sup- nancially as they are not protected and wayside boutique keepers. ger and our main concern is how porting units such as Hotels and by the Government like the other However, many charity workers we will face the hit once again like other tourist supporters could face major sectors. seem to be involved in various proj- what Easter attack gave us back in bankruptcy with a chain of impact. The construction sector too will ects to assist them during this time 2019. Another important element for face a major hit as the real estate of need, as witnessed in social me- The COVID19 pandemic has the country’s income is the garment sector will face difficulty in sales dia. left the country with the most dan- exports of which over 75% are to which would impact banks that The government however is Surgical mask: Fits loosely N95 respirator: Fits ghtly gerous economic shock in history. European countries, and this is the have lent finance for the construc- handling it efficiently through over mouth and nose. Helps prevent to face. When user inhales, It could have a major collision on period of peak for garment orders tion .Another main concern is the many measures. spread of large respiratory droplets minimal leakage occurs around the economic giants in developing from European countries. However Lankan rupee depreciation of 4.7 % The Samurthi scheme is work- when wearer coughs and sneezes. edges if respirator is properly countries such as Sri Lanka. The due to the prevailing situation these which will lead to inflation. ing round the clock to implement Does not protect against smaller fied and donned. Government has taken adequate countries are facing a recession The banking industry may expe- government instructions provid- airborne par cles. Leakage occurs Gives wearer greater protec on measures to lift the country at its which would have an impact on the rience losses due to high Non per- ing relief measures to the poor. The worst time. We are always a nation demand for the export orders. This forming loans NPL, as it will cre- health sector including ward atten- around edge of the mask when user against airborne viruses, filtering who blooms after every winter. would in turn result in the deploy- ate an imbalance of the accounts. dants and the minor staff are doing inhales. Designed for one-me use. out at least 95 percent of small However with self discipline and in- ment of staff in the garments export Though the Central Bank has given a tremendous job with the support parcles. dividual responsibility we should be sector, a key element in creating alternatives to balance the situation of the Tri-forces to bring the coun- able to fight the battle. employment and earnings for the the banks may have to reformulate try back to normalcy. Wearing face masks Let us look at some sectors and country. their daily proceedings of the col- Considering the prevailing situ- (current WHO guidelines) the potential economic impact of Yet another important sector lection of debts. ation let us all join hands to over- the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. for the government income is the The only good sight is the agri- come this pandemic by being re- Masks are effecve only when used in One of the major economic up- tea industry. This too is exported cultural sector which is safe at pres- sponsible towards government combinaon with frequent hand-cleaning lifting sectors of Sri Lanka is Tour- to various countries of the world. ent, and continues with its daily instructions and bloom back as be- with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and ism. Though the country enjoyed Due to the COVID 19 pandemic the work even during this situation. fore. water and dispose it properly a well established tourism for the small scale tea producers may have However less spending by the peo- past ten years, it took a slight hit in to face a hit in the international tea ple during the pandemic could be a STAY HOME STAY SAFE Wear mask if you are coughing or 2019 after the Easter attack and now prices, which could again result in negative impact as prices will rise. sneezing Healthy people only need mask if they are caring for others suspected of being infected

High-speed image of human sneeze: Fast-moving cloud of gas contains droplets of varying sizes – smallest of which can reach up to 8m away, according to U.S. research. Current WHO guidance is to keep distance of at least 1m from anyone coughing or sneezing to avoid Sources: BBC, WHO, Graphicnews risk of infecon. Graphic: Mahil Wijesingh Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 13 News Feature US Govt’s pardons vs Sri Lanka’s pardon of Sgt. Sunil Ratnayake By Shenali Waduge

here is much hullabaloo over the Presidential par- doning of Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Tusual set of culprits are 24x7 pre- occupied in carrying out a globally hyped campaign against the deci- sion. When some of those pointing fingers have more than questionable records themselves it behoves us to showcase examples. Everyone does make mistakes. People are after all human. There is no 100% perfect en- tity. No one is not unbiased. Plenty of Judges have given questionable verdicts. Plenty of lawyers have misled the jury. Plenty of witnesses have misled the Court too. In such a scenario we must be able to use our common sense to derive our own conclusions. Let us compare the Mai Lai massacre with the Mirusuvil massacre. held the conviction of Lance Corpo- victed or remanded armed forces US in Vietnam ral Sunil Ratnayake, on Counts 11 to personnel irrespective of whether 18 and on Count 19 of causing hurt to they happen to be borderline cases US decided to deliver democracy Maheshwaran. Thus it can be seen like that of Ratnayake or not. Dur- to Vietnam during 1962-1971 result- that Ratnayake was not convicted ing the Yahapalana rule we saw the ing in the killing of 400,000 people due to evidence indicating that he spectacle of ex-LTTE terrorists en- and 500,000 babies born with birth personally killed the eight victims joying their amnesty in peace while defects with some two million con- but on the basis of vicarious liability armed forces personnel, sometimes tinuing to suffer cancer and related for the whole incident under Section long after retirement were being illnesses from the 20million gal- 32 of the Penal Code. The principal hounded with arrests, investiga- lons of chemicals including Agent witness Maheswaran accused Lance tions and court cases. When former Orange dumped by US military on Corporal Ratnayake of assault but LTTE cadres are released, nobody Vietnam. did not say that he had seen Ratnay- asks for a breakdown of the crimes The Mail Lai village massacre ake killing anybody or even hold- and atrocities they are known to, or took place on March 16, 1968 by ing a weapon which may have been suspected of having been involved some 100 American soldiers led by used to kill the people concerned. in. Yet everyone knows that these Lieutenant William L Calley. Because the conviction has been af- are dastardly terrorists who man- The 11th Brigade Charlie Compa- firmed on the basis of Section 32 of aged to outdo even Al Qaeda and ny is alleged to have killed over 500 the Penal Code, there is a borderline come out as number one in world civilians ordered by Calley, ment for the clear provisions of the element in this case. rankings. 182 women – 17 of them preg- Conventions. . . . It was primarily US decided to deliver democracy to Certain international and na- Everyone also knows what their nant, 173 children – 55 infants and the young and inexperienced troops tional parties whose interests are common intent was in terms of sec- 60 – old aged men. who stated they would maltreat or Vietnam during 1962-1971 resulting only too well known, have rushed tion 32 of the Penal Code. They are Calley’s three day court mar- kill prisoners, despite having just to condemn the release of Sunil Rat- nevertheless rehabilitated and re- tial ended on March 29, 1971 (three received instructions” on interna- in the killing of 400,000 people and nayake. However when President leased in the name of restoring years after the Mai Lai Massacre) tional law. Maithripala Sirisena released an normalcy to the country. The word The Army jury convicted ONLY Stewart tells Hersh that he un- 500,000 babies born with birth defects LTTE suicide cadre who had been ‘impunity’ is used by the interested Calley of mass murder of 22 persons. derstood why the report was sup- convicted of complicity in a plot to parties mentioned above, only in He was sentenced to life of hard la- pressed “People were sending their kill him, his action was welcomed relation to the armed forces of Sri bour but President Nixon intervened eighteen-year-olds over there, and with some two million continuing to as reconciliation. It is a well-known Lanka or those who were terrorists and ordered Calley’s release from we didn’t want them to find out that fact that the general idea prevalent earlier, but had later defected to the Army prison. Calley was put under they were cutting off ears.” suffer cancer and related illnesses among these interested parties is side of the government. That term is house arrest and then freed three In 1968 Meadlo was 19years, that members of the armed forces never used in relation to the LTTE. months after Nixon left office. Cal- married with 2 children and William from the 20million gallons of chemicals should be jailed and members of the In fact, they welcome immunity ley was a free man by 1974. Calley was just 28years. LTTE released. The former for ‘ac- granted to the LTTE, as measures Ironically the US Army filed An article published by Evie Sa- including Agent Orange dumped by US countability’ and the latter for ‘rec- aimed at promoting reconciliation. charges against 14 officers just like lomon in May 2014 claims US Presi- onciliation’! This works out to be a Amnesty is defined in the Encyclo- the 14 Sri Lanka Armed Forces per- dent Nixon attempted to cover up military on Vietnam. neat arrangement whereby the lo- pedia Britannica as a sovereign act sonnel arrested in connection with the Mai Lai Massacre following re- cal and international backers of the of oblivion or forgetfulness for past the Mirusuvil murder in Sri Lanka lease of mostly hand-written notes LTTE are able to punish those re- acts and is said to have been derived in 2000. of meetings with Chief of Staff H R sponsible for their defeat. The dou- from the Greek word amnesia. The Let us take the account of Sey- Haldeman in 1987. and beaten unconscious despite oth- Section 32 of the Penal Code ble standards applied to the release rehabilitation and release of over mour M Hersh who had visited and 1 December 1969 ‘Task Force’ – er men being present. states that when a criminal act is of convicted LTTE cadres on the one 11,000 ex-LTTE cadres is for all prac- written a series of articles in the Mai Lai “dirty tricks” and “discredit Only he had been carried by done by several persons in further- hand and convicted armed forces tical purposes an amnesty granted to 1960s and even returned to Vietnam one witness” in order to “keep work- two Sri Lankan soldiers and tossed ance of the common intention of personnel on the other, is going to them. If amnesties are being grant- in 2015 (at 78years). ing on the problem” (clarification over the fence and he was so lucky all, each of such persons is liable for preclude the chances of success of ed, it goes without saying that indi- His 1971 article was first pub- that the tricks would ‘not be too high that the blindfold got caught to the that act in the same manner as if it any homegrown method of clearing viduals on both sides of the conflict lished by the New Yorker. a level’) barbed fence and he could see. were done by him alone. The High up certain residual issues still re- should benefit from them if there is https://www.newyorker.com/ Who were the ‘dirty tricks’ meant He was the lucky one to be even Court Trial-at-Bar acquitted the 2nd, maining after the war. to be any fairness in the process. magazine/2015/03/30/the-scene-of- to discredit? None other than pilot taken to the supposed sight of the 3rd, 4th and 5th accused, but con- On page 9 of President Gotaba- https://www.defenseone.com/ the-crime Hugh Thomson and gunner Larry ‘murders’ and shown the crime and victed the 1st Accused Lance Cor- ya Rajapaksa’s presidential election ideas/2019/12/nixons-leniency-after- At the Army inquiry it was dis- Colburn who from their helicop- we have to next imagine him run- poral Sunil Ratnayake on all counts manifesto, it was stated that steps my-lai-hurt-veterans-trumps-will- closed how Calley allegedly ran after ter saw the massacre in progress ning clad only in his underwear ¼ referred to above. On appeal, the Su- would be taken to either indict or too/161905/ a two or three year old boy, caught and tried to stop it and even saved mile to his aunts. The next morning preme Court unanimously set aside release those who had been arrest- Sergeant Sunil Rathnayake was him and threw him into the ditch a boy from the ditch and took him he was so lucky that his father came the conviction of Lance Corporal ed on terrorism charges and had arrested under a UNP government where all others were killed and to hospital. But when they returned where he was to look for him and Sunil Ratnayake, on Counts 1 to 10. spent a long time in remand. This is in 2002 shot him dead too. to US they were treated as traitors. then both went to complain to EPDP What remained were Counts 11 to 19 a reference to the small number of Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake was Some soldiers claimed to have Colburn says “The U.S. claims to be office which are based on the vicarious li- hardcore LTTE cadres still in cus- convicted of murder under a UNP disobeyed Calley’s orders but Private concerned with collateral damage Major Sydney de Soyza was in ability of common intention under tody. The government rehabilitated government in June 2015 under a le- First Class Paul Meadlo had joined with civilians that are caught up in charge of the military police in the Section 32 of the Penal Code. The and released over 11,000 LTTE cad- gally questionable ‘national govern- Calley in the shooting. The next day war zones, but I don’t believe that,” Jaffna region, Section 140 states that SC also made the following observa- res who had surrendered with their ment’ cobbled after a Presidential Meadlo had stepped on a land mine Colburn says. “That’s lip service.” members of an unlawful assembly tions: weapons. If the government applied Election in January 2015. and his right foot had blown off. A Their story came out in 1998 – shall be punished with imprison- the vicarious liability provision in If charges were brought against GI also recalls Meadlo cursing Calley “Back to Mai Lai” produced by Tom ment of either description for a term • The entire prosecution case hing- Section 32 of the Penal Code to these all 5 armed forces under the Penal when he was being evacuated “God Anderson, reported by Mike Wal- which may extend to six months, or es on Maheshwaran’s testimony. cadres, the likelihood is that many Code section 32, 146 and 296 – why will punish you for what you made lace and aired on March29, 1998. with a fine, or with both and Sec- • This is a case where the court has of them would have been convicts did 4 suddenly get acquitted on the me do,”. Injured Meadlo returns Both travelled back to Mai Lai tion 146 of the Penal Code states that to decide, mainly on circumstan- by now. But the government chose ground that their identities could to US and Hersh locates him at his in 2001 and met the 8 year old boy if an offence is committed by any tial evidence. not to prosecute the vast majority of not be established at the Trial-at Bar farm home in Indiana. His mother they saved who was now 41 years. member of an unlawful assembly in • The acquittal of the 2nd, 3rd, LTTE fighters even though quite a and only Sunil Ratnayake was con- Myrtle was to tell Hersh “I sent them Thompson died in 2006. prosecution of the common object 4th, and 5th Accused by the High number of them would be responsi- victed. a good boy and they made him a https://www.cbsnews.com/ of that assembly, every person who, Court Trial-At-Bar was due to the ble for atrocities far in excess of the Sunil Ratnayake’s verdict was murderer.” news/document-points-to-nixon-in- at the time of the committing of that failure on the part of the prose- Mirusuvil incident. If the President based on CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVI- Meadlo estimated that he had my-lai-cover-up-attempt/ offence, is a member of the same as- cution to establish the identities is to ever actually implement what DENCE GIVEN BY A SOLE SURVI- killed fifteen people in the circle. The alleged Mirusuvil massacre sembly is guilty of that offence. of those Accused to the degree of was said on page 9 of his manifesto VOR (Maheshwaran) “We all were under orders,” he tells of 8 Tamils including a 5 year old Count 10 was causing hurt to proof required by law. in relation to the LTTE cadres still in How possible is it for ONE PER- Hersh. child in Jaffna, North Sri Lanka al- Maheshwaran, an offence punish- • However, the spontaneous iden- remand, the pardoning of individu- SON to commit all 8 murders, dig a Finally, Hersh located Calley in legedly by Sergeant Sunil Ratnay- able under Section 314 of the Penal tification of Lance Corporal Sunil als like Ratnayake is a sine qua non. large hole to hide dead bodies and dig Fort Benning. Hersh had been al- ake: He was convicted by a High Code read with Section 146 of the Ratnayake by witness Mahesh- It should be borne in mind that at another large enough ditch to bury lowed to read and take notes from a Court Trial-at-Bar by a 5 member Penal Code. Section 314 of the Penal waran at the scene of the crime the time the government defeated the bicycles while all others stood classified charge sheet that accused Supreme Court bench though the Code states that whoever voluntarily (as recounted above) remains the LTTE, the latter had been offi- watching – even the Supreme Court Calley of premeditated murder of judgement does not state anywhere causes hurt shall be punished with unassailed. cially designated as the deadliest ter- admits this was ‘highly improbable’? 109 ‘oriental human beings’. When that Ratnayake PERSONALLY killed imprisonment of either descrip- rorists in the world outranking even If so, is it fair to release all others and Hersh interviewed Calley in 2015 he any of the 8 victims. Did those issu- tion for a term which may extend A borderline case Al Qaeda. pass all blame to one man? was 76 years. ing statements read the judgement? to one year, or with fine which may It was 11,000+ terrorists with The President’s powers to par- Hersh had also been privy in Probably not. extend to one thousand rupees, or On the basis of the above, the SC such a reputation that the govern- don comes with a process that pass- 1998 to an unpublished August 1967 The incident is alleged to have with both. Counts11 to 18 are again held that Lance Corporal Ratnay- ment rehabilitated and released. It es through the Attorney General, report by retired Pentagon Official taken place on December 19, 2000 counts of murder in respect of the ake was not only liable for the acts is doubtful whether the government the Minister of Justice and thereaf- W Donald Stewart at the request of around 4p.m. The only ‘evidence’ persons referred to in Counts 2 to 9, committed by him, but also for the of any other country would have ter to the President. Therefore, all Secretary of Defence Robert Mc- is based on one witness – Mahesh- however the basis of liability under acts committed by others who were done that. Unlike its predecessor, those barking should first read Ar- Namara (later became President of waran against 14 Sri Lankan sol- the said Counts is Common Inten- with him as well, according to Sec- the present government cannot fol- ticle 34(1) of the Constitution before World Bank). The report showed diers. tion articulated in Section 32 of the tion 32 of the Penal Code. When the low a stated policy of jailing armed howling. The howlers should ideally that US troops in South Vietnam did Maheshwaran’s account of the Penal Code and Count 19 again is deceased were seen last, they were forces personnel while freeing ter- question the system that has actu- not know the Geneva Conventions. incident is an exercise in imagina- the corresponding charge of causing detained by Ratnayake and the other rorists. If the LTTE cadres still in ally failed Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake The soldiers, “felt they were at lib- tion. hurt, referred to in Count 10, based Army personnel who were present. remand are to be released, that has instead of demanding his death! erty to substitute their own judg- Only he had been blindfolded on Common Intention. It was on that basis that the SC up- to be preceded by the release of con- Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 14 News Feature Issues affecting the construction industry due to Covid-19 The spread of the virus and getting it under control is only part of the issue: the aftermath Hemantha of the epidemic is highly unpredictable and the Kulatunga current forecast of a world-wide recession will

he construction indus- certainly impact on the construction industry try is a sector that will be severely affected by the adversely, especially in Sri Lanka, where the COVID-19 pandemic. Un- industry has not recovered from the Easter less positive intervention Tis made by the stakeholders, mil- Sunday tragedy of 2019. lions of construction workers will face dire consequences in the im- mediate future. In an interview with by local SMEs should also be re- including adopting Building Infor- the Sunday Observer, the President stored. mation Modeling (BIM). Elect of the Chamber of Construc- Mechanism to promote and pro- d. The epidemic and the pre- tion Industry (CCI) Architect Jay- tect SMEs involved in construction dictions of environmental changes antha Perera, an industry veteran with guaranteed payment system are bound to reset the status quo. of over 40 years of experience, and with standard agreement should Therefore, the industry may need to past President of Sri Lanka Institute be developed for industries such as be more flexible and ready to effect of Architects (SLIA), past Chairman steel fabrication, carpentry / join- structural changes: in effect, shed of South Asian Architects, member ery, furniture, artifacts, person- the shackles of a system that is des- of the Advisory Council to CIDA and al protection / safety equip- tined to change may be even beyond currently the Chair of Practice of ment and so forth. recognition. We need to commence Commonwealth Association of Ar- a dialogue and identify weaknesses chitects, presented main solutions and recommend adjustments and/or to the issues and proposals to devel- Q. What are the re-orientation. op the industry opinions and e. Even without the coronavi- future trends rus epidemic having to force us to Excerpts: predicted by re-think, there were construction industry experts specialists who were critical of our Q. What is the contribution of the in the global industry in the last few decades of construction industry to the GDP arena? not specifying local building mate- and employment generation in Sri tants will be adversely affected. rials but opting for imported vari- Lanka and what will be the impact The contribution by the Con- a) Items such as com- A. It is the eties. Consultants, have not been of the coronavirus pandemic? struction industry to the GDP and puter servers, electron- view that the contributing to the development of Employment generation is about ic items, manufacturing construction in- local industries and creation of lo- A. The economy of any country 8%. Gross Domestic Capital Forma- tools, testing equipment, dustry will be cal employments and thereby have runs on two major arms, the Manu- tion contribution is about 42%. documents idle in offices, facing harder been playing a marginal role in that facturing Industry and the Service The construction industry em- sites and workshops and times throughout arena. In the long term, consultants Industry. With a ‘complete lock- ploys over 1 million people of which would be damaged or de- the world. These need to play a more significant role down’ in the country due to corona- a majority are labourers and semi- stroyed due to non-mainte- countries will indi- in the development and refining of virus, 90% of the Manufacturing In- skilled workers. Mostly, they belong nance. Also, there can be dam- vidually concentrate local building materials. dustry has shut down and the supply to the lower echelon in society and ages to important data due to more on nationalism to chain severely affected. This means are the sole wage earners of the fam- overheating, rats and termite at- protect their own interests. one arm of the country’s economy ily. tacks preventing resumption of They will seek self-sufficiency Q. What are the possible actions is disabled. This would ultimately businesses. Therefore, I suggest al- in selected sectors through slowing to be implemented while COVID 19 transform in to huge losses once the lowing, with some control, at least a President Elect of the Chamber down non-essential segments. As is in existence? lockdown is removed. Construction Q. As an industry specialist, what technician and the owner to be pres- of Construction Industry (CCI) per their opinion, most will look for a) Prepare guidelines for work- is part of this process and some- is your suggestion to overcome the ent to minimize losses. Architect Jayantha Perera environment friendly indigenous ing at sites, offices and workshops where along the chain we as con- short term issues? based construction industry. In my during post COVID 19 period. Some struction industry stakeholders will b) Working from home is not opinion this phenomenon will prob- countries have already prepared also be facing the brunt of it. A. Due to the Easter tragedy in April possible unless computer facilities, the issue of the virus is cleared? ably end globalization as we know it. this. The spread of the virus and get- 2019, the industry was adversely af- software, essential hard copies, soft b) Draft a master plan, new eco- ting it under control is only part of fected In the short term Cash flow files etc. are provided to the employ- A. Restarting projects which were nomic strategy and design facilities the issue: the aftermath of the epi- issues resulting timely payments ees. Arrangements have to be made in the pipeline including those sup- Q. What do you suggest as the for industries that are to be priori- demic is highly unpredictable and issues to employees. Owing to non- by the authorities in this regard. posed to be stopped or postponed. long term remedies for the industry tized such as agriculture, education, the current forecast of a world-wide payment to contractors and consul- However, physical working at sites Also offer some benefits to investors sustainability? IT and telecommunication infra- recession will certainly impact on tants for ongoing projects, they are is still not possible at this point in to invest in the industry to uplift the structure in managing the time. the construction industry adversely, already facing financial difficulties. time. industry. a. Carry out comprehensive re- c) Call a report from professional especially in Sri Lanka, where the As a result of the coronavirus, all It is important to accelerate the search studies on the construction institutions on sustainable construc- industry has not recovered from construction sites had to be closed. c) Provide financial assistance approval process to avoid frustra- industry to take rational decisions tion to make meaningful develop- the Easter Sunday tragedy of 2019. To ensure wages to employees for to sustain employees without termi- tion of the investors. In the medium based on accurate information. ment considering future possibili- When other sectors such as foreign the months of April/May/June the nating them. term local industries (E.g. the brass b. Conversion of the industry to ties and economic strategies. employment, apparel industry and companies require a stimulus pack- industry which existed in Kiribath- a more factory / off site based as- tourism will take precedence, con- age as a short term measure. There- Q. What are the medium term goda and Pilimathalawa) should be sembling industry. struction contractors and consul- fore, my suggestions are as follows: solutions to uplift the industry once revived. Light fittings productions c. Digitalization of the processes Ragging - A simple analysis – Part II

state universities may turn out to be have heard around the world. These a ragger after entering the universi- raggers themselves could have been ty just n year (or two or three years) victims of sexual harassment in ago. their younger days or may have de- Of course, before they say any- veloped a twisted way of thinking thing about the motives behind their and creating their sexual satisfac- actions, each ragger strongly denies tion due to perhaps living in a sexu- ended Part I of this analysis that they were involved in any form ally deprived society. There can be a last week(Sunday Observer, of ragging, but they just wanted lot of other factors involved in fash- April 5,2020), with a reminder to make the acquaintances of the ioning the mind of a 21-22 year old to the reader about the two freshmen so that they would feel man/woman into a state where he/ main factors influencing one’s free to come and ask for any help she would try to satisfy his/her sex- behaviour as one’s Genes and the they need from the seniors. The ual needs by engaging in such bar- IEnvironment (G+E) in which one people who have entered the uni- baric acts as watching their young- is living. The interested reader can versity before you, are addressed or er brothers and sisters raping each find ample information about the referred to as aiya (elder brother) or other. Therefore, it is our responsi- new findings in the field of ‘Epi- akka (elder sister), according to the bility to make sure that raggers who genetics’ that describe the effects current culture within the student are proven to have inflicted such of the environment on our genes. body. At times, it is embarrassing physical pain on others are also giv- Though the interest in ‘Epigenetics’ to listen to some of these students, en psychiatric evaluations first and as a relatively new area of research, being undergraduates in the uni- then decide on a program of treat- at present, is on the rise, this idea versity, contradict themselves and ment and/or a suitable punishment of ‘Genes being influenced by the just put on a blank face and stay si- as mentioned above. Environment’ was first introduced lent when those contradictions are These are just two, (physical/ to the world of biological research, pointed out to them. For example, sexual torture), of the many rag- by a French Biologist/Naturalist the raggers, when asked whether ging methods the seniors use on the named Jean-Baptiste Lamarck*in they knew what ragging means, newcomers. Hopefully, through the his book PhilosophieZoologique usually say they don’t know. Then, next couple of articles, I will be able in 1809. Therefore, Genes and the in the same conversation they deny to share with you some of the other Environment may not even be con- ragging anyone but just having a ca- examples I have been able to evalu- sidered as two different factors in sual chat with the freshmen. If we the lecturers or any other employee Students’ from one of the state uni- human being, it would not be an ate as one of the investigators of such the future giving a holistic meaning ask, “how do you know whether you including the security guards who versities in the country. This can exaggeration to say that the rag- complaints over the years, examine to the old African proverbs I men- were ragging or not, if you didn’t have the power over them; there- be a male or a female student. I gers who are proven to be capable some more of the possible motives tioned last week, ‘it takes a village know what ragging means?”,they fore, they have to obey our orders, will try to analyse them separately of inflicting such pain and suffering of raggers and discuss what we, as to raise a child’. I would also like would remain silent with a blank because the consequences of dis- if and when a particular behaviour on other human beings are insane responsible citizens of this country, to remind the reader that, just for face. Almost all the raggers will pro- obeying would be serious includ- was known to have been effected, by and therefore, should be directed can do to eliminate this virus of rag- the convenience of writing, I will be vide the same answers very much ing physical attack. 4. If we didn’t, different factors or circumstances, to psychiatric evaluations and suit- ging from our society while helping using the word ‘ragger‘ to refer to a like reading from a script. This the other group of seniors (our rival and the gender of the individual. If able programs of treatment before the raggers and also ‘would be rag- person who engages in such acts of shows they are as well organised as group) will get the freshmen to be we pick a ragger, then he/she may the punishments recommended in gers’ to overcome the weaknesses harassing the newcomers and the an organised crime gang/families in their slaves and followers and there- either be a raggee in his/her fresh- the UGC guidelines or in the Crimi- in their thought process to get rid of word ’raggee’ to refer to a person Hollywood screenplays. by increase the number of people men year or not. In the rare event nal Code of the country are carried such anti-social behaviours. who is victimised by the ragger(s). I will try to list some of the com- in their group. We cannot let that of the ragger not being a raggee in out. Then, there are raggers who Before I take you along the pos- mon reasons raggers themselves happen. 5. Just wanted to help the a previous year, we have to exam- enjoy shouting at freshmen using https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/ sible paths through which a new- have stated as to why they ragged freshmen. 6. Just trying to find a ine the motive(s) behind his/her all kinds of derogatory language and history/lamarck.html born to the world of humans may the new students. 1. Just for fun. girlfriend’ (this answer was given by actions carefully since the com- demanding them to perform various The writer has served the high- become a ragger in 21 to 22 years of 2. Freshmen should be taught how some of the male students). mon revengeful motive of ‘do unto sexual acts in front of others. These er education sector as an academic living, especially in Sri Lanka under to respect the seniors and the cul- Though almost all of the raggers others as the world have them do types of ragging take place mostly for over twenty years in the USA the current conditions, I would like ture of the university. 3. We have usually have the experience of be- unto you’ is not a possibility. Since in hostels, both male and female, and thirteen years in Sri Lanka and to examine the possible reasons why to make the freshmen understand ing raggees, let me start the analysis some of the harassments and tor- and some of the acts reported over he can be contacted at thilanh@ a second, third or even a fourth year that it is not the administration, the by randomly picking a young adult ture reported by some raggees were the years are even more brutal than gmail.com) undergraduate student in one of our marshals, the student counsellors, from the group known as ‘Senior completely unfathomable to a sane the worst gang rape cases you may Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 15 Pictorial

The Government relaxed the curfew to facilitate the farming community islandwide to ensure food security during the covid 19 pandem- ic. Here vegetable farmers engaging in their organic farming at Polwatte, Maharagama last week

The Fire Brigade assisting to take out a The Fire Brigade assisted to bring down the coffin of a person who died of causes other than Corona- coffin from a flat during curfew virus during curfew in Colombo, from a house in the upper floor of a flat. The men disinfected them- selves afterwards as a precaution

During curfew Kahatuduwa West Grama Seva People took a welcome break from Coronavirus Officer Lalani Niranjala delivering an elders’ confinement as a super ‘pink moon’ rose in the sky allowance to the doorstep of a recipient on Tuesday night

With the whole world trying to overcome the Coronavirus epidemic, Sri Lanka too has been under lockdown for weeks and these two children were trying to forget the danger by engaging in a Avurudu game at home without the company of their friends

The Police Special Task Force and an Army Officer at a checkpoint enforcing the island-wide curfew

The Army Band performing near the Members of the Sri Lankan Police musical band perform in a bid to boost people’s iconic apartments in Rajagiriya on morale in the fight against the Covid-19 Sunday (April 5) evening

Pix By Sulochana Gamage, People watching Hirantha Gunathilake, at a social Saman Sri Wedage and distance between Sudam Gunasinghe each other during Army Commander Lieutenant General the performance Shavendra Silva, joined in to enjoy the music Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 16 Pictorial

Live broadcast on Good Friday A live broadcast of the Holy Mass on Good Friday during curfew, to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus at All Saints church in Colombo (Pix by Sulochana Gamage)

To salute the front line medical work- Lotus Tower ers and other heroes including the Tri Forces and the police fighting Covid- dressed to 19 outbreak in the country, the Lotus Tower was illuminated in red at 7pm yesterday. In view of this spectacular salute event the Chinese Embassy tweeted,” at 7pm tonight, #lotustower will be dressed in red and illuminating the heroes darkness, ....pray for a brighter future in coming Sinhala & Tamil #NewYear with all #SriLankan.” (Pix by Sulochana Gamage) Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 17 Sports

Ex-champion Royal athlete Roshan Fernando pledges boost for Kandy sports

By Hafiz Marikar

Former Royal College athletics captain and Public Schools meet record holder Senior Deputy Inspector General Roshan Fernando who is the present Senior DIG of the Central Province Roshan Fernando has pledged to give his best to promote sports in Kandy saying he will leave no stone Roshan Fernando un-turned in his quest. Except for rugby, most sees sport in Kandy sports in Kandy are in a as a worthy cause state of neglect and it is hoped that the presence of and has already this sporting policeman will help to turn things around. pledged to organ- At at one time Kandy po- ise workshops for Karl McDermott astride his machine lice did well in sports like cricket, football, hockey, all sports under athletics, volleyball, cue sport, lawn tennis, table the framework of tennis, netball and in the qualified coaches no inter police rugby tourna- ments. sooner the current Saviour of lockdown Lord's In the past all the top po- coronavirus lice officers who were sta- tioned in Kandy gave their situation is over It's every cricket lover's dream to given the thumbs up to resume lat- "That's a great help, I can con- best for sports promotion. be locked inside Lord's. And for one er this summer, Lord's will be ready I would have liked to centrate on the main ground and it's From the time of LI de Silva, man at the iconic Home of Cricket - immediately. sort of a throwback to being a club a great cricket lover and the Kandy Recreation Club and it's exactly the position he finds him- "Getting up in the morning and use this down time groundsman, where you're manag- man who expanded the po- this series was won by Kan- self in. being at work on your own and not ing everything yourself." lice ground with the help dy Recreation Club. Foot- The coronavirus pandemic and greeting the lads is a bit strange re- to complete some The enforced break from cricket of Sylvestrian schoolboys, ball, athletics, hockey, vol- lockdown across the UK have put the ally," he told BBC Sport. comes after one of the busiest and FND Jilla, KSC Van Rooyen, leyball and tennis also got sporting calendar on hold, including Had the coronavirus lockdown more reseeding and eventful summers in the game's his- Merick Gunaratne, M. Shan- off the ground. what would have been the start of not been enforced on 23 March, tory last year as Lord's hosted Eng- mugam, Gamini Gunawar- Roshan Fernando served the county cricket season over Eas- Lord's would have been a hive of ac- top-dressing of the land's dramatic World Cup final win dena, Premadasa Udugam- in all ranks from Sub-In- ter weekend. tivity for the past couple of weeks, over New Zealand before witnessing pola, TB Talwatte, Walter spector to Senior DIG and is For Lord's head groundsman with McDermott and the rest of his wickets, but you Jofra Archer steaming in at full pace Perera, AA Samarasinghe, one of the longest-serving Karl McDermott, he finds himself as ground staff in the final stages of to Steve Smith and company during NBH Wijeratne, PB Ekanay- officers among the senior just one of just a handful of people pre-season pitch preparations be- have to prioritise the subsequent Ashes series. ake, Chandra Mendis, Bodi ranks in the police. currently allowed to pass through fore Middlesex's opening County "It's nice for the square to have a Liyanage, Mahinda Balasur- He was a member of the famous Grace Gates. Championship Division Two fixture the big jobs when rest," McDermott added. "We spend iya, Lakshman Seneviratne, the Royal College cricket His team's meticulous hard work against Worcestershire on 12 April. six months of the year trying to Gamini Navaratne, Pujith team and also played rugby during the long winter months to get Across the square and outfield, you’re working on make it look pretty and the other six Jayasundara, Asoka Rat- and volleyball and boxed the square and outfield ready for a a typical day would have seen three months beating the living daylights naweera, M. Gunatillake, J. as well. He led the Royal new season have been for nothing. people on rollers getting the wick- your own out of it. Gammanpila, R. Kasthuri- College champion athletic But McDermott, who lives inside ets ready and another three to four "I would have liked to use this rathne, Jagath Abeysiriwar- team in 1979, the year they the ground with his young family, is staff members cutting the outfield down time to complete some more dene, Nimal Mediwake, M. won all three major schools still working hard, spending hour af- each day. of days a week and he is looking af- reseeding and top-dressing of the Karunaratne, B. Peramune, championships - the Junior ter hour either sat on the lawn mow- "I haven't sat on the roller so ter the Nursery Ground, but we're wickets, but you have to prioritise P. Ganegama, MB Ellepola., John Tarbet meet, Senior er or the heavy roller - in isolation of much in years," McDermott said. working in complete isolation from the big jobs when you're working on Sisira Kumara, M. Tenna- Tarbet meet and Relay Car- course - to ensure that if cricket is "My deputy still comes in a couple each other. your own."(bbcsport) koon, Edmund Mahendra, nival. That was the year he SM Wickremasinghe and won Public Schools colours Sudath Marasinghe to name in athletics that included some of them, gave a big anchoring Royal to two Pub- hand for Police sports. lic Schools records in the Roshan Fernando sees 4x100m Relay and Medley sport in Kandy as a wor- Relay in the Under-19 age thy cause and has already group. pledged to organise work- He started his school- shops for all sports under ing at St. Mary’s College, the framework of qualified Negombo, where his Un- coaches no sooner the cur- der-11 long jump record in rent coronavirus situation is athletics for the Marians over. still remains unbroken for It must be recalled that 46 years. in the year 1902, HC Dow- As an Under-16 athlete begin, Assistant Superin- at Royal, Fernando had ac- tendent of Police in Kandy counted for five records, arranged a series of cricket including the long jump matches between the Police which still remains intact team and a side from the after 41 years.

The England squad at the 2019 World Cup England World Cup squad 60 percent new

England head coach Eddie Jones of Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes England head coach Eddie Jones of Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes says his squad for the next Rugby will be 34. says his squad for the next Rugby will be 34. World Cup could be ‘60% different’ “If you look at the squad this World Cup could be ‘60% different’ “If you look at the squad this Andy Murray from the one that reached the final year we have changed it by 20%,” from the one that reached the final year we have changed it by 20%,” in 2019. Jones added. “There will be another in 2019. It was announced last week Jones added. “There will be another It was announced last week that 20% change in the second year, and that Jones has signed a contract ex- 20% change in the second year, and Jones has signed a contract exten- another 20% in the third year. tension through to the 2023 tourna- another 20% in the third year. sion through to the 2023 tourna- “By the time we get to the World ment in France. “By the time we get to the World Andy Murray ment in France. And the 60-year-old Cup [in 2023] it could be 40% of the And the 60-year-old is expecting Cup [in 2023] it could be 40% of the is expecting considerable change to squad from the 2019 World Cup and considerable change to the set-up squad from the 2019 World Cup and the set-up between now and then. 60% new members.” between now and then. 60% new members.” “I don’t think this group can England 12-32 South Africa: “I don’t think this group can England 12-32 South Africa: swaps racquet have another World Cup in them,” Springboks win World Cup for re- have another World Cup in them,” Springboks win World Cup for re- Jones admitted to BBC Sport. cord-equalling third time Jones admitted to BBC Sport. cord-equalling third time “While there will be core mem- England have been beaten up - “While there will be core mem- England have been beaten up - bers of the team who will be able Paul Grayson bers of the team who will be able Paul Grayson for controller to continue to the next World Cup, Jones will now look to discover to continue to the next World Cup, Jones will now look to discover there will be a new influx of mem- new players of the calibre of young there will be a new influx of mem- new players of the calibre of young Andy Murray will swap his Those taking part will com- bers coming in.” flankers Tom Curry and Sam Un- bers coming in.” flankers Tom Curry and Sam Un- racquet for a controller after he pete on the Tennis World Tour Jones’ selection strategy for the derhill, who made their debuts only Jones’ selection strategy for the derhill, who made their debuts only signed up to compete in a virtu- video game which does not have World Cup in Japan saw him dis- two years before excelling in 2019. World Cup in Japan saw him dis- two years before excelling in 2019. al version of the Madrid Open at Murray, 32, as a playable char- pense with a swathe of experience “That’s how you get the growth pense with a swathe of experience “That’s how you get the growth the end of the month. acter. close to the tournament, with stal- in the team,” Jones continued. “You close to the tournament, with stal- in the team,” Jones continued. “You Sixteen men and 16 women He could choose to play as warts such as Mike Brown, Danny have to continually look for better warts such as Mike Brown, Danny have to continually look for better will take part in a four-day on- fellow Briton Kyle Edmund, or Care and Chris Robshaw missing players and players who can add Care and Chris Robshaw missing players and players who can add line tournament from the com- maybe step out of his era and out and regular captain Dylan Hart- value to the team. out and regular captain Dylan Hart- value to the team. fort and safety of their own play as Andre Agassi or even ley also not involved. “We were the youngest team ley also not involved. “We were the youngest team homes after the real event was John McEnroe. And while the team beaten by ever to play in a World Cup final, And while the team beaten by ever to play in a World Cup final, postponed because of coronavi- The virtual tournament will South Africa was the youngest to so if those players have the desire South Africa was the youngest to so if those players have the desire rus. Prize money of 150,000 eu- take place between 27 and 30 reach a World Cup final, many of and want to keep working and im- reach a World Cup final, many of and want to keep working and im- ros (£131,700) will be directed to April. the key players - for example Mako proving then we are going to be in the key players - for example Mako proving then we are going to be in a good causes - with the winners All professional tennis has Vunipola, Jamie George, Owen Far- a good position because we are go- Vunipola, Jamie George, Owen Far- good position because we are going able to donate part of it to play- been cancelled until at least 13 rell and Jonny May - will be into ing to have a hell of a competition rell and Jonny May - will be into to have a hell of a competition for ers currently struggling finan- July. their 30s come 2023, while the likes for spots. their 30s come 2023, while the likes spots. (bbcsport) cially. (bbcsport) 18 Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 Sports Sri Lankan woman eyeing Spanish dream as Olympics goes to bed By Dhammika any notice every chance of “Indoor training is in a Ratnaweera doing so was taken away. I small space. It’s also very Ex football chiefs was very upset and sad. boring as the mind cannot Spain may be a place of “But now I realize that see beyond the walls in the death these days with coro- my Olympic dreams are not house. I can’t run 21 kms in took bribes to favour navirus taking a heavy toll, cancelled, it is just post- my house as I usually can but it has become a dream poned. I waited for 28 years, outside in one day.” World Cup hosts destination for Sri Lankan what’s one more for the sake But what can Wijeratne marathon runner Hiruni Wi- of humanity,” she added op- do in the absence of her jeratne who has found some timistically. coach these days. She was Russia, Qatar luck come her way thanks Wijeratne became the right on target. “I speak to to the postponement of the first Sri Lankan woman to my coach over the phone. As Former Fifa executives took bribes in return for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. win a marathon at the South there is no immediate com- voting for Russia and Qatar to host the World Cup, ac- Wijeratne is herself in Asian Games when she petition, not getting to see cording to US prosecutors. lockdown in the USA where achieved the feat at the event him is no big deal,” she de- In what could be a highly significant twist in the she is residing and train- held in Nepal last year after clared. FBI's long-running investigation into allegations of ing but with a new Olympic being placed 11th at the last Having become the first football corruption, a new indictment was revealed qualification period set be- Commonwealth Games. Sri Lankan woman to win the in the US District Court on Monday. tween December 1, 2020 and Wijeratne currently marathon gold at the South The documents claim several former Fifa execu- May 31, 2021, she is looking trains inside her house in Asian Games, Wijeratne is tive committee members "were offered or received to get back into rhythm at Houston, Texas due to the now targettng the first place bribes in connection with their votes". the Spanish meet on Decem- current restrictions in the at the Asian Games. The Department of Justice makes allegations ber 5. USA with an hour’s workout She did not forget to against Nicolas Leoz, the former president of South “My plan is to race at the in the morning and another spare a thought for her fel- American governing body Conmebol, and ex-Brazil marathon in Valencia, Spain 45 minutes in the evening. low Sri Lankan athletes who federation supremo Ricardo Teixeira. on December 5. It falls on “With no competitions may be in a worse situation Both are accused of taking money "in exchange my birthday and I hope it there is no need for peak fit- that she is. “I share their an- for their votes in favour of Qatar to host the 2022 will be lucky for me,” Wijer- ness. I run inside the house ger and frustration. Howev- World Cup". atne told the Sunday Observ- or very close to the house er we all have to do our part Disgraced former Fifa vice-president Jack War- er in an interview. early mornings. I also do so we can resume what we ner of Trinidad and Tobago was also allegedly paid “I’ve been training al- several home workouts to enjoy the most – competi- £4m through a host of offshore shell companies to most my whole life to achieve maintain my strength. I am tion and sports. I encourage back Russia's 2018 bid. Olympic qualification. I was also keen on my diet,” she athletes to stay fit any way Russia beat England to win the right to host the about eight weeks away from said. they can and always be keen most recent World Cup in 2018. Warner was presi- Hiruni Wijeratne obtaining it. Then without to keep up their health.” dent of the North and Central American and Carib- bean confederation Concacaf. Another former Fifa ExCo member - Guatemala football chief Rafael Salguero - was allegedly prom- ised a bribe to vote for Russia. Leoz died last year under house arrest in his na- tive Paraguay, having fought extradition to the US. Teixeira has been banned from the game for life by Fifa for taking bribes for marketing and media rights for football competitions between 2006 and 2012. Sanath Jayasuriya joins Teixeira and Warner, who is also banned for life, have avoided extradition to the US. Salguero was banned last year, having admitted corruption. battle against coronavirus Former executives at US television giant 21st Cen- tury Fox have also been charged in the indictment with making payments to South American football officials to secure broadcast rights. "The profiteering and bribery in international soccer have been deep-seated and commonly known practices for decades," said FBI assistant director-in- charge William Sweeney. "The FBI... are investigating the illicit handshakes and backroom deals hidden in the infrastructure of soccer events, venues and marketing contracts. "The first public charges date back to 2015. This should illustrate to everyone still hoping to score mil- lions corruptly, we're going to find you." Roger Federer and wife Mirka Almost 10 years have now passed since Fifa con- troversially voted for Russia and Qatar to host the sport's showpiece event. But it was only in 2015, following a dramatic dawn Federer and wife raid at a Zurich hotel close to the governing body's headquarters, that the US Department of Justice an- nounced it was investigating football and TV execu- donate one million tives enriching themselves through the game. Roger Federer and his Last week, reigning The scandal sparked the worst crisis in Fifa's his- wife Mirka have donated Wimbledon champion Si- tory, with its disgraced president Sepp Blatter even- 1m Swiss francs (£857,000) mona Halep announced on tually standing aside. “for the most vulnerable Facebook that she would A total of 42 people have been indicted, with 26 families in Switzerland” donate money to pay for pleading guilty. and have called on others medical equipment in her How important could this be? to add their support. home country of Romania. With Russia staging its World Cup almost two Because of the corona- In football, Manches- years ago, the focus of the potential impact of these virus pandemic, Switzer- ter City manager Pep fresh allegations will be on Qatar as it enters the final land has imposed a ban Guardiola has donated 1m phase of preparations for the event. on all private and public euros (£920,000) to fight This is not the first time officials have been ac- events and has closed all the outbreak in Spain and cused of corruption linked to the Gulf state's bid dur- non-essential businesses Barcelona forward Messi ing the sprawling FBI probe. until at least 19 April. has contributed the same In 2017 Alejandro Burzaco, a former TV execu- “These are challeng- amount to hospitals in Bar- tive, told a jury in New York that Leoz, Teixeira - and ing times for everyone and celona and Argentina. the now former Argentina football chief Julio Gron- nobody should be left be- Juventus and Portugal dona - had been paid to vote for Qatar, which beat the hind,” Federer, 38, wrote star Cristiano Ronaldo and US in the vote. on Instagram. his agent Jorge Mendes But never before have US prosecutors formally “Our contribution is have donated 1m euros to laid out in such detail how the alleged corruption was just a start. We hope that three intensive care units Former World Cup winning cricket champion and captain Sanath Jayasuriya conducted. others might join in sup- for patients suffering from However, the indictment does not specify who porting more families in coronavirus at hospitals in wearing a face mask hands out foot items as a Decontamination Unit that was behind the alleged bribery. need. Together we can Lisbon and Porto. he gifted is tested during Sri Lanka’s island-wide lockdown to prevent the Despite years of suspicion over how they won overcome this crisis! Stay The professional ten- spread of coronavirus in the country. Ten units of the Decontamination the vote, Qatar and Russia have always denied any healthy!” nis tours are currently sus- wrongdoing, and both were effectively cleared by Fi- The 20-time Grand pended until 7 June, with device gifted by Jayasuriya are to be installed at markets and other public fa's own investigation in 2017. Slam champion is the latest Wimbledon due to take places in Colombo to combat the spread of the virus that has claimed seven But Fifa may find itself under renewed pressure in a string of sports stars to place from 29 June until 12 lives and infected over 190 people in the island. to reopen an inquiry into how the votes were won. pledge money to support July. The Qatar organising committee and Fifa have those affected by the virus. (bbcsport) been approached for comment. (bbcsport)

English county cricketers An IPL behind closed doors? Australia bowler Pat Cummins “The first priority is safety but the says he would support the Indian second one is getting back to normal- to take pay cuts Premier League being played behind ity, finding that balance,” he said. closed doors if it is not safe for fans to If that unfortunately means no County players have agreed ment, Essex - who also won the ers on furlough until at least attend matches. crowds for a while, then that is that, a voluntary “support package” T20 Blast last year - confirmed the start of May, with captain The IPL season was postponed but hopefully people can watch at that will set “maximum reduc- they have placed their players Sam Billings agreeing a pay cut from 29 March until 15 April because home on TV. tions” to salaries during the and the majority of non-play- despite remaining on duty to of coronavirus, but is expected to be “It would have a totally different coronavirus pandemic. ing staff on temporary leave support the club’s community further delayed or cancelled with In- feel about it. When people ask about The Professional Cricket- until further notice. work. dia’s lockdown set to be extended. the difference between playing cricket ers’ Association - together with “The club will operate with Meanwhile, batsman Joe Asked whether he would support in India the first thing is the crowd. the ECB and 18 first-class coun- reduced staff throughout April, Denly - on a separate England games without fans, Cummins told the “They scream every single ball ties - have reached an initial with regular assessments tak- central contract - will also BBC’s Stumped podcast: “Of course - whether it’s a six or a wicket - it’s the agreement for April and May. ing place beyond that,” said “continue to support the club”. whatever it takes to try and get cricket same noise every ball - so that at- Players will agree to be chief executive Derek Bowden. “This outcome has not up and play those big events safely.” Pat Cummins mosphere is something that we love furloughed if requested, with “We hope that this will be been reached lightly and I Cricket in the UK has been post- about playing in India. county champions Essex for as short a period of time as want to thank all of our players poned until at least 28 May, with Eng- Kolkata Knight Riders, making him “It will be missed in the short term among clubs to ask theirs to possible and that we can all get who are standing shoulder to land’s first game scheduled to start on the most expensive overseas player in if it can’t happen, but I have no doubt do so. back to work and enjoy some shoulder with their colleagues 4 June. IPL history. it will be a great event even if it has to They will also take pay cricket in the near future.” during the pandemic,” said Cummins, the top-ranked bowler The 26-year-old said he was “super be played without crowds.” cuts, with the PCA giving up Fellow Championship Di- Kent director of cricket Paul in Test cricket and named one of Wis- hopeful” the tournament will go ahead The IPL, which is set to feature 60 £1m in 2020 prize money. Fol- vision One side Kent have put Downton. den’s five cricketers of the year this but that he would be “surprised if it 20-over matches, was originally sched- lowing the PCA’s announce- “the majority” of their play- (bbcsport) week, has a £1.7m contract with the happened soon”. uled to finish on 24 May. Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 19 Sports Jayasuriya contends fitness any which way possible MALINGA’S captaincy, Bats and

Crickets on the line

Even with the coronavirus taking a toll, it’s Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath hard to get the cricketing scene out of our minds. Jayasuriya says that it is important for A sense of humour cannot be allowed to the ‘ cricketers to maintain their training slips’ and get dropped. So it was a tension reliever schedules while being at home due when we caught this post on Facebook by former to the coronavirus pandemic while at Sri Lanka Cricket Media Manager, Samantha Al- the same time called on school cricket nament structure of the SLSCA should ing role to play to improve Sri Lanka’s every schoolboy who wins the presti- guardians to take stock of where the be reviewed to focus more on produc- school cricket,” Jayasuriya added. gious Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year gama who argued that it was ‘good that the Chi- youth game is today. ing quality cricketers to the national He said the standard of the coun- award stands a good chance of repre- nese did not play cricket. Had they done so they “It is an unfortunate situation and pool. try’s school cricket has not dropped but senting the country, if they continue would have eaten up the BATS”. we have to face this calamity with “Our focus at Under-19 level should not improved as it ought to be. “I don’t the game with devotion and dedica- This is the season of the year when world courage and determination. At the be to produce competitive players for think that the standard of the game has tion. hopes rise and fans eagerly look forward to many same time, cricketers cannot afford to the youth pool and the Sri Lanka pool. dropped. It has not improved from the “If you win the Observer Schoolboy a sporting event. And it’s most likely that a season skip or miss their training schedules. We must also give an opportunity to level it was, compared to other teams Cricketer of the Year award, you stand or two may have to pass when normalcy returns “I am not asking them to go to gym- some top school teams in the outsta- in the world. It has stagnated, instead a huge chance of playing for Sri Lan- be it in school, club or national cricket. nasiums. But while being at home, our tions to play against the leading Co- of going further up from the point we ka thereafter. It is not easy to win that After the savage hitting by the West Indies in cricketers could train to their sched- lombo schools. But at the same time, are at now. We must concentrate on award, mostly scoring over 1,000 runs the T20 games played which lit up not only Palle- ules. That is very important because we must maintain the competitiveness that,” Jayasuriya warned. or capturing over 100 wickets. It is no kele but the country at large, the Sri Lankan crick- once we overcome this unfortunate sit- and improvement of the standard of “When we were playing school easy task,” Jayasuriya said. eters had their cricketing bubble in T20 cricket uation, our cricketers should be in the cricket dished out in those matches,” cricket, the school cricket structure “When you look at the star school- pricked. The balloon exploded with a big bang same physical condition to face their he said. and the standard was considered to be boy cricketers who had won this pres- and had our think tanks and their hopes of bring- future engagements,” the 50-year-old “But our biggest problem is the the best in the world, even India was tigious award in the past, it is evident ing home the T20 World Cup scheduled for Octo- dashing former opening batsman said. volume of cricket that is being played. far below us. But now, several coun- that most of them have ended up play- ber in Australia crash-landing with a big bang. Jayasuriya, who is in the process of There is too much of cricket. That’s tries have gone beyond us, showing ing for the national team and under- But all was not lost and Sri Lanka cricket could donating decontamination units to the not good. I think the SLSCA is working a marked improvement. We need to lined their supremacy in the interna- have learnt lessons from the Windies debacle and Police department said the cricketers on streamlining these problems. They change our strategies and restructure tional arena. Once you win the title, still had time to put the game back on rails. But should also concentrate on the healthy have a big responsibility and a lead- our tournament structure to meet the you only need dedication to find a the coronavirus played the part of spoil sport and food available. “You may not get just future challenges in cricket,” said the place in the Sri Lanka team,” he point- the food you want. But you must opt explosive opening batsman who had ed out. what the future holds is unpredictable. for the best available healthy food and made an immense contribution to Sri “The Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy In the local cricket scene, had everything regular fitness,” he said. Lanka cricket. Cricketer of the Year title is something been normal, the selectors, the coaching staff Jayasuriya who won the presti- Going down memory lane with unique and a cherished moment that and the cricketers would have been training fe- gious Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of his early days as a schoolboy crick- any schoolboy cricketer could dream verishly aiming to bring back the T20 World Cup the Year (Outstation) award in 1988, in eter at St. Servatius College, Matara, of,’’ said Jayasuriya, who has aggregat- which they won in Bangladesh some years back a recent interview said the Sri Lanka Jayasuriya said winning the Observer ed 13,430 runs including 28 centuries under the captaincy of super star slinger Lasith Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title is and 68 fifties and captured 323 wickets Malinga. and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) should every cricketer’s dream. “Winning the in 445 ODIs. Malinga was not the original captain of that make a joint effort to uplift the stan- Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the “It was the ultimate dream of all team, but circumstances beyond the control of dard of local school cricket in the Year outstation title gave me fresh schoolboy cricketers during my time regular captain Dinesh Chandimal made him future. hope. I believed I would stand a and even now. Everybody knows that present the captaincy to Malinga. Never allowing “We had only 12 First X1 chance of playing for Sri Lanka, this award would put you one step an opportunity to go past him, Malinga grabbed school matches during our time. if I continue to focus on the ahead and inspire you to do well when it with both hands, especially with his magic However, we now see some game with dedication and de- you step into club cricket from school weaving right hand which delivers the explosive schools playing over 20 inter- votion. Definitely it was a big level and to the national team thereaf- toe crushing Yorkers to win the trophy. school matches in one season, hurdle which inspired me to ter,” he said. The Lankans were up against a formidable In- including their third term go places,” he said. The dashing opener, who took on dian team. No one gave the Lankans a chance to matches. It is a tall order. Jayasuriya paid a rich the art of pinch hitting during the 1996 carry home the trophy. Hence, scoring 1,000 runs tribute to the Sunday Ob- World Cup tournament, will celebrate The former great Australian captain the leg in 20 to 24 matches is no server and Lake House his 51st birthday on June 30. big deal, compared to for conducting the He underlined his supremacy as spin/googly bowling big hitting Richie Benaud the 10 to 12 matches country’s first-ev- one of the best batsmen in world crick- who is sadly no more in the land of the living is on most schools had in er school cricket et and also proved his class in Test record saying that a winning captain must have the past,” he said. awards show for matches as well. 90 per cent luck and 10 per cent skill. Benaud The master almost four de- Apart from his grand triple of knew what he was talking about. blaster, who was cades. He said 13,430 runs, 323 wickets and 123 catch- And the Lankan stop gap captain Malinga adjudged the es to become probably the best ODI had both these attributes in full and he rode on Most Valuable all-rounder ever in world cricket, Jaya- luck and the skill to win a World Cup trophy af- Player of the suriya had also been a classy batsman ter the success of the World Cup winning team in tournament in Sri in the established game with a career 1995/’96 beating Australia in the final in Lahore, Lanka’s 1996 World best 340 against India. Pakistan. Cup victory beating Aus- Jayasuriya still He has aggregated 6,973 runs in 110 But now with no cricket being played and with tralia in the final, said fit at 50 Tests, scoring 14 centuries and 31 half the T20 World Cup to be postponed and hopefully the new Under-19 tour- tons. to be held next year, Malinga’s captaincy hangs in the balance. After the T20 success in Bangladesh, Malinga’s captaincy hit turbulence when a string of T20 de- feats has left his captaincy open for question with his critics baying for his ouster. More coaching As stated many a time before, when a team wins kudos go to the team. But when a team loses it is the captain who is orphaned! And it is no dif- bosses take pay cut ferent with tinted curly haired Malinga. The more the T20 World Cup is delayed the England men’s manager Gareth a loss of about £100m, but it could older does Malinga get and it need not be told that Southgate and women’s boss Phil increase to £150m depending on his reflexes and especially his speed in bowling Neville are to take a 30% pay cut to “the government’s necessary med- may dip and his venomous Yorkers could lose its their salaries as two of the Football ical measures.” sting. But Malinga is as unpredictable as what tint Association’s highest earning em- Bullingham, who earns about he may wear on his forelocks! You can never say ployees. £400,000 a year, added: “Along with which way he will swing and what surprises he Southgate earns £3m a year many other organisations across will spring. Count on him to be a man for all sea- while Neville reportedly earns up the country, we are currently re- sons, especially when the chips are down. to £300,000 as head coach of the viewing our financial model dur- Malinga it must be said has done wonders for Lionesses. ing this challenging period. the game locally, internationally and for Mumbai Chief executive Mark Bull- “We want to take prudent and Indians in the Indian Premier League. His name ingham said it was “challenging appropriate steps to help protect and achievements are too numerous to mention. times” and did not “take these de- and support the FA and our em- They will be written in letters of 24 carat gold cisions lightly.” ployees during this unpredictable and his place in Cricket’s Hall of Fame will be in- The government’s furlough time.” Ben Stokes (left) with Eoin Morgan at the last World Cup scribed for eternity. scheme is being looked at as a con- Meanwhile, West Ham boss If the prevailing dreaded coronavirus does tingency plan. David Moyes has told the Premier The FA said employees earning League club he is willing to a take not allow the T20 World Cup to be played which Hint of England fielding £50,000 or more a year will take a a pay cut due to the ongoing coro- tournament Malinga was going to make his swan temporary pay reduction of 7.5%, navirus pandemic. song, it will be sad and a cruel ending to a crick- while senior management agreed Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe eter who made ripples, like no other if he is de- a 15% cut. and Brighton’s Graham Potter have prived of the opportunity to put on show a glori- two teams on same day Bullingham also said the fi- already volunteered for a cut in ous farewell. nancial impact of postponements salary as clubs try to find a way of All Sri Lankans and the world will be praying Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler says England Of the four touring outfits, only Paki- including England internation- limiting their losses amid games for an end to the dreaded coronavirus so that nor- could field two different teams on the stan are due to play both Tests and white- al fixtures, FA Cup matches and being suspended. mal life and sports too which has been hit for six same day to help maximise the amount ball cricket, and there is enough differ- Wembley events will contribute to (bbcsport) will resume soon. of cricket played in a shortened summer. ence between the various England teams So while we wait, many a youngster has been All professional cricket has been sus- to make fielding two separate home sides content in indulging in the explosion of video- pended until at least May 28 because of a viable option. cricket games where teams can be pitted against the coronavirus crisis. One way for Eng- “Is it an option? Could you put two each other; even the Royal-Thomian which on land to maintain their schedule could be games on the same day? Potentially you media will have no risk of contamination with for the Test and limited-over teams to play could, in different areas,” said Buttler. “It’s crickets of corona; or their relatives the bats. They simultaneously. right that it is being considered.” have no scare nor care as they fly blind across the “If it was logistically possible, you He also supported the idea of matches turf and into the pavilion, with no respect to the would get the crowds,” said Buttler. being played behind closed doors for the rules of the game. Enjoyment is the name of the “People will want to come because benefit of a televised audience. game. they haven’t had any sport. It’s a really in- “Lots of us haven’t watched any sport This may well be a pass-time worth indulging teresting scenario.” for a long time and I just feel like people England are due to host West Indies, would be ready to watch some,” he said. in to keep our cricketing geneskept active. And if Pakistan, Australia and Ireland this sum- “It would be nice for people who have Malinga is in one of the teams, may be he will die mer. The first Test against West Indies is been in isolation and lockdown for a long to be on his winning side. due to begin on June 4 so any extension time to see their heroes and role models [email protected] to the current delay is likely to impact the back on the TV.” international schedule. (bbcsport) Gareth Southgate Phil Neville 20

[email protected] / Tel: +94 11 2 429 226, / +94 11 2 429 228, / Fax / +94 11 2 429 227 April 12, 2020

Ben Stokes is world’s best cricketer Ben Stokes has become Perry, who is the first the first Englishman since non-England women’s play- 2005 to be named Wisden’s er to appear as one of the leading cricketer in the five, has also been named world. the world’s leading women’s Stokes played a key role cricketer. in England’s World Cup vic- All-rounder Stokes hit an tory in July and was named unbeaten 84 and then bat- man of the match in the fi- ted again in the super over nal. The 28-year-old scored a as England dramatically beat stunning 135 not out to lead New Zealand at Lord’s to lift England to a thrilling one- the men’s World Cup for the wicket victory over Austra- first time. lia in the third Ashes Test at His last-wicket stand of Headingley. 76 with Jack Leach helped Andrew Flintoff was the England level the Ashes se- last England men’s player to ries, which they would even- receive the award. tually draw 2-2. India captain Virat Kohli “Without him, this Alma- has won it for the past three nack might have been an- years. England pace bowler other English hard-luck sto- Jofra Archer has been named ry,” editor Lawrence Booth as one of Wisden’s five Crick- wrote. eters of the Year. “Instead, it’s a celebra- Sri Lankan cricketers celebrate an on-field moment in this file photo Australians Pat Cum- tion. Stokes is their all- mins, Marnus Labuschagne weather cricketer, a giant and Ellyse Perry have been come rain or shine. named alongside Archer, as “The next few years well as Essex off-spinner Si- should be fun.” Sri Lanka cricketers bury their mon Harmer. (bbcsport) lapses behind closed doors By Callistus Davy "This isolation period is giving til June when South Africa visits Sri families affected by this pandemic. us as coaching staff a time to reflect Lanka followed by the arrival of the Cricket as most sports is in a pause hile the entire world as well on the player plans, roles and Indians in the same month. Presently phase and will come out of this stron- is on one platform goals that we have set for ourselves as some of the players have also used part ger," said Arthur. for the first time bat- a group," said Arthur whose players of their break time to distribute food Although current circumstances tling a common en- are going through closed-door training parcels or donate money for medical don't permit the Sri Lankan team to emy called the coro- sessions. equipment to combat the coronavirus practice and train collectively, Arthur Wnovirus, some experts have also taken "We are also looking at trends although not on the scale that Eng- is monitoring their home workouts the syndrome as a means to bury their from around the world and analyzing land's players have done by making an while making note of the progress of lapses in what they see as a new begin- all the opposition that we are going to opening donation of 500,000 pounds to each and everyone of them from a dis- ning ahead. play against over the next year. We as their country's campaign with a pledge tance. One of the experts is Sri Lanka's a group want to stay ahead of the pack for more. Some high profile profes- "The players all have individual fit- South African cricket coach Mickey and be the leaders not the followers in sional coaches in England have also ness plans tailored to the facilities that Jos Buttler auctions Arthur who has told his employer that terms of coaching trends around the made pledges for a pay cut to support each player has at his disposal at home he was using the period to put his fu- world." the battle against coronavirus and it is to maintain the expected fitness levels. ture plans and ideas into some kind of Sri Lanka after a series win in Zim- not known whether the trend will ap- "I have been sending out exercises World Cup shirt a quarantine as he will need a healthy babwe were hoping to prove some- ply to counterparts in Sri Lanka. to each player as well, based on the standard of his team which came tan- thing against England in two Test Arthur has already made known player reflecting and then sharing with England wicketkeep- cialist heart and lung cen- talizingly close to taking the game to matches that were listed as part of the his feelings as he remains optimistic of me strengths and weaknesses of their er-batsman Jos Buttler ters provided by the Royal a next level only to see England abort ICC Test championship rankings. a positive outcome to world sport. games. has raised 65,000 pounds Brompton and Harefield hos- their tour and make a beeline back But now it means Arthur and his "During this very unfortunate time “These reflections are mental, ($80,000) from auctioning pitals in London. home. band of hopefuls will have to wait un- my thoughts go to all the people and physical and technical," said Arthur. his World Cup 2019 final shirt “It’s a very special shirt online to help fight the Cov- but I think it takes on extra id-19 pandemic. meaning with it being able to Buttler said the funds hopefully go to the emergen- raised from the auction will cy cause,” Buttler said. be used towards providing Notably, Jos Buttler had England look to shift Japan tour from June to October life-saving equipment to help said the World Cup shirt will England could move their sum- “Maybe we could combine those England are scheduled to host “An obvious one is: Do you stage a those affected during the have signatures of all his mer tour of Japan to October, ac- in some shape or form,” said Swee- New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Six Nations in the autumn but link it novel coronavirus outbreak. England teammates from the cording to RFU chief executive Bill ney. Australia in November. into the Six Nations the next year, and Jos Buttler, who was part final that was played at the Sweeney. “We could possibly go there (Ja- Sweeney said that “the assump- you have a home and away series?” of the World Cup-winning Lord’s last year. He also raised the idea of an ex- pan) in October.” tion at the moment is those games go The 2020 Six Nations was suspend- England team, put his long- Jos Buttler shone in the tra Six Nations tournament if Eng- Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today ahead” but the RFU is preparing for ed with England having one game to sleeve shirt up for sale on final as he hit a crucial half- land cannot fulfil their autumn in- programme, he added: “That’s one what happens “if we weren’t able to play, away to Italy, which is yet to be eBay. The auction closed on century and also played his ternationals. England are set for two option, because obviously they’d travel to each other”. rescheduled. Three other matches Tuesday after the shirt at- part in the historic Super games in Japan in July - a tour “under rather host, they make more money “We’d want to do something to fill in the championship have not been tracted 82 bids with the win- Over that finished as a tie. threat” because of the coronavirus when they host, and we’d come back our gap so we’re looking at a range of played - two for Ireland, against Italy ning bid amounting 65,100 Buttler affected the run out pandemic - and four home Tests in and play our autumns (internation- different contingencies,” said Swee- and France, plus the game between pounds. of Martin Guptill that sealed November. als).” ney. Wales and Scotland. The proceeds from the England their maiden World auction will go towards spe- Cup title.

Former Peterite captain Rajith Abeygunawardena A blessing in disguise dies of a heart attack for Sri Lankan athletes Rajith Abeygunawardena who made an indelible mark as By TB Rahaman a charismatic leader of St. Pe- This new qualifi- pics like Gayanthike Abeyratne ter’s College rugby died early this as well as Asian Champion- week of a heart attack, a family Postponement of the Olympic cation period for ship and Asian Games finalist spokesman said. Games by one year and the exten- steeple chase runner Nilani Abeygunawardena was cred- sion of the qualification period track and field Ratnayake are pushing hard ited with turning the 1985 team has come as a blessing in disguise to achieve qualification stan- into a frontline force from almost for some athletes in Sri Lanka ac- events is June 29 dards with the help of their nothing when the school found it Rajith (right) with his former cording to the president of the coach Jayalal. extremely tough to field a com- Athletic Association of Sri Lanka while the date to Qualification stan- petitive outfit. coach Frank Hubert Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando. dards for some events In that year the Peterites un- He was looking forward to This new qualification pe- qualify for the such as the women’s der Abeygunawardena’s guidance celebrating his 54th birthday in riod for track and field events is marathon, 800m and beat Trinity College after 44 years May. The team in that year was June 29 while the date to qualify marathon and steeple chase have and also knocked the day lights coached by the legendary Peter- for the marathon and 59km race been lowered too and out of Royal College after 13 years ite and Sri Lanka flanker Angelo walk will be May 31. 59km race walk the extended time in two shocking results. They also Wickremaratne. Fernando said that the exten- will be May 31 frame will bene- brought down the Thomians after Abeygunawardena played as sion of the date will give enough fit the Sri Lank- eight years. a Centre and some of his team time for some athletes to get back an athletes. “Rajith was a player who did mates during the period from their form and fitness levels to before her scheduled departure Some offi- something very special for the 1983 to 1986 were Graham Raux a high degree. For example, Sri to Nepal. cials are of the team that had players who were who also played for Sri Lanka, Lanka’s best women’s middle dis- She has about six months to opinion that some athletes take playing for the first time and did the late Rovern Gunasekera, Ro- tance runner and medal hopeful train and reach peak form having a break between seasons which not know much about the game. han Paiva, Ramsay Dekker, Roger Nimali Liyanaarachchi will be recovered from a fractured hand help them to come back afresh “He went round the school Shu, Crofton Joseph and Rohan the happiest athlete to receive the and . that help them to improve in and rallied the boys when we Ekanayake. He captained the Pe- good news. She was training in Nuwara their performances. did not have a proper team,” said terite Legends team at this year’s She was unfortunate not to Eliya but went back to Sooriyawe- Even elite international ath- Mangala Dharmapriya the cur- old boys fiesta which is an an- proceed to Nepal for the South wa after the imposition of the letes do this and the extended Nimali rent head of St. Peter’s Rugby nual event before the new school Asian Games as she met with an curfew. qualification period will give the Liyanaarachchi Foundation and a batch-mate of season. His funeral took place in unfortunate accident while rid- Other athletes who are vying athletes ample time to enhance Abeygunawardena. Galle on Thursday. ing her motor cycle just one day to participate at the Tokyo Olym- their standards. 21

april 12, 2020

Meeting challenges of ‘Post COVID-19’ era Going beyond ‘Home Garden’ initiative Well crafted strategy vi- “Task force vital to develop tal to boost agri sector The one million home garden “We could isolate ourselves from vibrant agri business sector” initiative will help achieve household one another as a measure of defeat- food security to a certain extent and ing Covid19, but we cannot be away By Lalin Fernandopulle 617 million in the corresponding contribute to enhance food produc- from food. This is why we need to month last year while exports fell by tion in the country and revive the have a prudent strategy for food A task force comprising experts in 3.2 percent to US$ 1,005 million in the agriculture sector, but stopping there security not only at this time of crisis, multiple sectors should be set up to same period.He said short term strate- will not take us far in facing climate but at all times because food security promote agriculture and develop gies to lift the economy which had and health related crises in the is nothing but national security. micro, small and medium enterprises been slowing down even before the future, said Professor of Weed Sci- “With regard to investments we to manufacture agri-based products current crisis are vital, but the country ence, Department of Crop Science, have seen huge investments being for the local and the export market, needs to go beyond them with strate- University of Peradeniya, Buddhi made by the organised private sector said Senior Professor of Business Eco- gies based on indigenous resources, Marambe. and those individuals or groups with nomics, University of Colombo and culture, abilities and changing con- He said it is important that we all investment capacity to infuse mod- Chairman Institute of Policy Studies, sumption and production patterns. contribute even in the smallest pos- ern technology to their agricultural H.D. Karunaratne. “There are key sectors such as pro- sible way to the efforts of the govern- production systems, in crops and Elaborating on the strategy to duction, distribution, consumption, ment to revive the agriculture sector. animals. develop a vibrant agri sector for the prices of goods and services, employ- “If we are to perform better and “We have been extremely suc- local and the export market to deal ment is a good move given the availa- sional Secretariat Divisions which ment, migration, sources of income, sustain food security in the long run, cessful in developing and using new with the ‘post COVID-19 era’ challeng- bility of waste arable land, sunlight and could monitor the data which could be technology and education that need to the country needs well-crafted strat- high yielding crop varieties and to a es, he said a proper link between agri- water in the country. used for district level operations,” Prof. be developed strategically,” he said. egies and action plans. We should limited extent in animal breeds, to cultural output and industrial input However, while such an initiative Karunaratne said, adding that a well However, he said that no strategy think beyond the politically popular enhance the food production poten- must be created to sustain demand for will help meet household needs and articulated and implemented strategy will be successful if it is not communi- home-garden development pro- tial of agricultural systems. agri-based products in the country. provide an income source it could have will help the country not only to boost cated effectively to the masses. The grams,” Prof. Marambe said. “If we are to leap forward, it is “A mechanism must be created for downside effects on the income of food production and achieve self suf- government should identify strategies He said Sri Lanka has shown imperative that the entire agricul- micro, small and medium sector enter- small and medium scale farmers who ficiency but also reduce imports to and communicate them to the people signs of resilience to global food cri- tural sector use available modern prises to make use of agricultural out- need to be supported and encouraged address the balance of payment short- to keep the hopes of people alive that sis situations in the past. Even now, technologies to the fullest,” Prof. put to manufacture a range of agri- to use modern technology to enhance falls through the export of agri-based the country has the potential to recov- the government has instructed rele- Marambe said, adding that we need based products such as milk food, rice- yield and harvesting.“Sri Lanka has a products. er and bounce back. vant institutions to facilitate and to produce more with less input, flour, biscuits, sweets and all products large public sector workforce at village The country spends colossal sums “If people give up hope then the encourage agricultural initiatives hence require production systems that are being imported to the country, level that could play a pivotal role to each year to import food items such as country will be in a worst state having regardless of the nationwide curfew. with higher input-use efficiency. which will help slash the staggering develop agriculture at village level. milk powder, milk based products, to start all over again. Unlike the Easter Under the government’s policy However, modern technologies import expenditure incurred each There are at least six to seven govern- wheat flour and sugar among a range attacks, the current crisis has made framework ‘Vistas of Prosperity and are not cheap. Using such new tech- year,” Prof. Karunaratne said. ment officials in each grama sevaka of other products. people lose hope. It is the role of the Splendour’ an initiative of develop- nologies cannot be promoted if they He said the home garden expan- division who could disseminate infor- The trade deficit rose to US$ 730 policy makers to revive them and keep ing one million home gardens was are subjected to unrealistic import sion project initiated by the govern- mation to a database set up at Divi- million in January this year from US$ things going. launched recently to support the tariffs making them less affordable food production drive. and accessible to the farming com- “Food security is guaranteeing munity. Unfortunately, this is the healthy and nutritious food, freely current scenario in Sri Lanka, which Local biz leaders must and in a sustainable manner to eve- requires government immediate ryone. Sri Lanka will have to focus on government intervention. take a cue from global food productivity enhancement pro- COVID-19 has plagued the world grams infusing new technologies as with little warning. Climate change corporate personalities we will have to expect a limitation in has been a long term threat, mainly By Lalin Fernandopulle imports and a significant hit on the owing to human activities. It will not export sector,” he said, adding that lockdown itself under human-health innovations are vital to win in such crisis situations, but will continue to Sri Lanka should take a cue from business crisis situations. affect agriculture and food produc- leaders and celebrities around the world who He said the contribution of the tion. Sri Lanka has done well in its have volunteered to forgo their salaries, perks local food production should not be research and development over the and privileges to support the battle against assessed merely on its cost efficiency past decades with foresight, and pre- the deadly virus, retired former business per- against imported food items or by pared the country to meet the chal- sonalities said. small scale production efforts such lenges faced by the food production “Those who have extended a helping hand as home-gardening. “We should sector due to climate change. For as founders and CEOs have set a precedent focus on improving the agricultural example, sound breeding programs instead of ramming ‘make sacrifices’ down sector and food production, looking have resulted in drought-tolerant, the throat of the employees,” a retired corpo- at the big picture, while keeping an salinity tolerant and pest and disease rate personality said, adding that sacrifices eye on future economic progress of tolerant food crop varieties, while should be made at a time when the world is the nation. maintaining its high yielding poten- going through a rough patch, but asking your The world is waging a war against tial. Technological packages and subordinates who do not have the same luxu- a common enemy, the Covid-19. No farming systems (crop and animal ry to bear the brunt is not fair. one could forecast how long it will integrations) with water saving tech- The management of certain top conglom- take international trade and tourism niques, water conservation mecha- erates in the country announced a series of to regain its accustomed past status. nisms, have been developed and cost cutting measures including pay cuts “We have been depending on used. between 5 to 60 percent for executive cadre imports for many of our food and “However, we need more efforts and board members last week. agricultural inputs. However, the in value addition, food storage and According to sources some of the execu- inevitable negative influence of Cov- preservation, and using renewable tive cadre salaries are in the range of Rs. id-19 on global trade including the energy in agricultural operations for 50,000 leaving a take-home salary of around impact on our export trade, and a greener agricultural economy,” he Rs. 40,000 after all deductions have been countries such as India and many said. made. other Asian countries that we usually “The management of companies should import food from, are closing their look at ways and means of cost saving rather borders, which are telltale signs of a than opting for easy way outs such as pay cuts food crisis in the months to come. and lay-offs which should be the last resort,” a former CEO of an export entity said. Some of the biggest names in the business world such as Jack Ma, the co-founder of Ali- baba Group, Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twit- ter and Bill Gates, the co-founder and co- chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foun- dation have pledged contributions. Organisations that conduct business Pic: Wimal Karunathillake based on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) princi- Access to food and other essential items has been an uphill task for everyone being home-bound. ple focus on social and environmental con- Farmers and those in the supply chain have been left high and dry with no way of selling their cerns just as they do on profits. The TBL posits produce. Here a mobile greengrocer selects vegetables for a frenzied shopper in Ambalangoda that instead of one bottom line, there should during the curfew break on Thursday. be three: profit, people, and the planet. Jack Ma pledged $14 million through his Ma Foundation to help develop a coronavirus vaccine. He’s also donated 1.1 million testing kits, six million masks, and 60,000 protective suits and face shields to 54 African countries; 500,000 testing kits and one million face masks to the US; one million masks to Japan; Daily and casual workers’ plight appalling and 1.8 million masks and 100,000 testing kits to Europe, including Italy and Spain. By Lalin Fernandopulle many of these families badly.“I am workers in the country, 4.7 million Brooklyn Nets owner and Alibaba co- a father of four living a hand to (or 59%) were informal workers. founder Joe Tsai has teamed up with the Chi- The extra one-off payment of mouth existence. We had some- The relief measures unfolded nese government to donate 1,000 ventilators Rs. 5,000 to low income families thing to eat during the first few by the government last week has to New York City. last week and the same amount to days, but now we have been left to provided some respite to the affect- Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Samurdhi beneficiaries, pension- starve,” said Saman Jayatissa, a fruit ed sectors of the economy but will founder of Square, is donating more than a ers and the differently-abled, has seller in Wattala. the needs of the non-permanent quarter of his wealth for Covid-19 relief. Dors- been already disbursed, said Treas- Trishaw and bus operators, bar- workers be fulfilled is a question ey, on his Twitter feed, said he was moving $1 ury Secretary S.R. Attygalle bers, tailors, sweep sellers, green- that needs to be answered. billion of his Square shares, or about 28% of responding to allegations that the grocers, hawkers and street ven- Labour experts say to safe- his net worth, to Start Small LLC for pan- deserving sectors have still not dors in Pettah and elsewhere in the guard the work and income of this demic relief. received them. country have been deprived of their group, relief and incentives offered Bill Gates, co-chairman and co-founder of “We have taken steps through daily income that kept the family to companies should be linked to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has con- the government mechanism to dis- fires burning. retaining non-permanent worker tributed $100 million through his foundation burse the funds which will be in the Neither have the small and jobs. to aid global detection, isolation, and treat- hands of the needy sectors soon,” micro sector entrepreneurs been Concerns of developing coun- ment of the virus.Celebrities too have been he said. spared by the horrendous invisible tries and the poorer sectors in them doing their part to help since the outbreak of Displeasure over the mode of killer virus. For those in the sector have been raised across the world the pandemic. distributing money, through politi- who took a severe hit from the by over 100 global organisations Singer Elton John launched a $1 million cians, was expressed in various Easter Sunday attacks, the global which are calling for debt payment coronavirus fund to protect people with HIV. quarters, that it would lead to polit- A casual employee is guaran- number of hours. Casual workers pandemic is a double whammy. of these countries to be dropped Donatella Versace and daughter Allegra icisation of the situation and mis- teed work only when it is needed. including carpenters, masons, With economic prospects bleak this year. Versace pledged 200,000 euros to a hospital in handling of funds. There is no assurance there will be plumbers, electricians, butchers, here and across the globe, the Major charities including Italy. However, daily wage earners more work in the future. They are cobblers and the corner shops have demand for labour in the coming Oxfam and ActionAid International Justin Timberlake donated to Mid-South and casual employees are in a seri- compensated only for the time been thrown out of the frying pan months is expected to slide to its are asking for debt relief which Food Bank, located in his hometown of Mem- ous predicament today as most of worked, which means they would into the fire. lowest level, dealing a major blow would free more than $25bn (£20 phis, Tennessee. them have no way to make ends not receive paid time-off for holi- One could imagine the plight of to non-permanent employees such bn) this year. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively said meet due to the prevailing situation days. these employees and their families as daily, casual and the self- The number of coronavirus they’re donating $1 million to Feeding Ameri- which has left them high and dry The earnings of daily who have been left to the confines employed not covered by social cases crossed the 1.6 million mark ca and Food Banks Canada. not knowing when they would see wage earners are mainly based on of homes for almost a month. The protection.A labour survey in 2018 in 209 countries with over 96,000 light at the end of the tunnel. the actual working days and the current ‘no work scenario’ has hit revealed that of the eight million deaths last week. 22 Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 Business

NCE probes into pros and Employer’s primary obligation is to cons of laying off employees Sri Lanka as a small economy, ensures that business enterprises where the economic backbone is sustain its activities profitably in made up of micro, small and medi- the longer term due to high per- employees in this difficult hour um sized enterprises and depend- forming and effective workforce. ent on export revenue for foreign Hence downscaling such employ- he world may experience the est currency generation is facing a vul- ees may also have a negative impact worst economic impact for nerable situation. The country is on the goodwill of the enterprise the past several decades due enduring a challenging period in with a negative public reception to the Covid-19 virus and no terms of healthcare and an eco- and loss of credibility. Tone at this point of time can quantify nomic upheaval. It is obvious that “Even as the businesses are the extent. businesses are struggling to main- struggling to keep their head above The absolute impact can be alarm- tain the normalcy but to no avail, water, they also have to resort to ing no matter if your country is an the National Chamber of Exporters any alternative methods in sustain- economic power or otherwise. We have (NCE) said in a media release. ing their business than moving never been through anything like this. “Exporters are experiencing towards drastic measures such as Nobody knows how long we’re going to dual supply chain shocks, where pay cuts and layoffs which impact suffer. some cannot receive raw materials the Human Capital of an organiza- In response to their revenue losses and some cannot secure orders tion. When downsizing is a knee- due to the pandemic hundreds of com- from clients due to the lockdown in jerk reaction, it has long-term panies across all industries in Sri Lan- other countries. This has resulted costs. A best laid HR policy should ka have announced, in recent days, in Halt Production, with many be in place with the consultation of drastic cuts to the salaries of their businesses reaching a critical junc- all other departments of the organ- employees as one way to reduce the Wage growth has slowed over the past four years and with the anticipated economic recession hopes of any imme- tion. Some of the exporters are ization in resolving the issues at unprecedented financial blow caused diate growth will be a dream. facing issues with cancelled pre- hand. “The authorities ought to by the corona virus pandemic. orders on already manufactured monitor and control how the con- Some senior executives are even the employees would know how they While reports of depression, batches of products in terms of the cessions are granted in terms of graciously foregoing salaries to help feel from inside. apathy, fear, poor sleep, physi- economic slowdown around the debt moratorium as some corpo- their employees. This phenomenon is While reports of depression, apa- cal pain, and weakened im- world. In this light, many organisa- rates may take undue advantage by universal and nothing new in the west- thy, fear, poor sleep, physical pain, and mune systems are all common tions have reported to downsizing utilizing the grants given by the ern world. But for Sri-Lankan employ- weakened immune systems are all among pay cut victims, these the employees to stay afloat. government and will not pass the ees it’s probably the first time. Literally common among pay cut victims, these effects can be exacerbated for “However, it should be high- benefit to their employees. every single business has suffered effects can be exacerbated for those in those in dire financial straits lighted with concern that laying off “Businesses can adopt best hugely already with the full impact to dire financial straits. 70-80% of the employees at a time like this will practices by business process re- be experienced over the next few employees have no capacity to save route of cutting pay. Focus on all other have detrimental effects, since engineering, involvement of months. from the monthly income so even 5% options available for cost savings first redundancy is the last thing one employees in search for ways to The airline, restaurant, hospitality, pay cut can push them into a dire state. and keep the pay cut option as the last. would expect during a calamity. reduce costs, waste and inefficien- and transportation industries have Pay cut as the last option After all your employees worked so “On a separate note, an organi- cies, diversification of business been the hardest hit. The announce- For laid-off hospitality and travel hard to make the employers achieve sation may feel that dismissal of into related or non-related areas ments we have seen so far are by no workers, who have few options for re- their goals in the past and you need the certain number of employees and encouraging employees to be means comprehensive, but rather pro- employment due to reduced consumer employees best to play strategically would be a short term solution to innovative. vides a glimpse into what emerging demand and government mandated and aggressively during the post coro- address the current business tur- “Businesses cannot perform impact the corona virus is just now closures and thus little control over na operating environment. Mind you moil, yet when the world recovers employee redundancy in a haphaz- starting to have on decisions around their immediate financial situations, there will be greater competition for all and recuperates, the business ven- ard manner as there are regula- employee compensation. taking a bigger percentage cut to set the consequences of the layoffs may be businesses and it is your employees ture will need to grow creating a tions laid by the Labour Depart- It’s certainly a huge economic chal- the tone for the lower levels to be con- devastating. who can make the business more com- vacuum of experienced and skillful ment of Sri Lanka to protect labour lenge which the employers cannot tent with. Surprisingly most of these Although employees vary about petitive. employees. rights. Business enterprises must cushion on their own and hence the are large conglomerates that have been and object to pay cuts, many see little A triple bottom line (TBL) organisa- “In such a situation recruit- stay apprised of the current legal employee salary bill has to be a consid- profiteering in the past and banking prospect of improving their compensa- tion (organisations that focuses on the ment of new workforce and train- landscape. eration for cost management to stay billions of rupees in the past. tion packages by switching jobs. Wage three Ps-’People, Planet and Profit’) ing will come with its own cost, “With every region at risk of afloat until the economy returns to Some heads of organisations are growth has slowed over the past four takes steps to ensure that its operations exponentially increasing the oper- natural and man-made disasters normalcy. the owners of the business and big years and with the anticipated eco- benefit the employees and the commu- ational cost of the organisation. and supply chains and markets Poor employees shareholders, so they can afford to take nomic recession hopes of any immedi- nity in which it conducts business. “While businesses are focusing increasingly globally connected, it You may have already seen various a 90% cut or completely forego their ate growth will be a dream. Most work- Human resources managers of on scaling down activities to a is becoming ever more important forms of communication such as circu- monthly salary given that their month- ers will have to accept the reductions these entities are concerned, not just more realistic and manageable size for businesses to develop robust lars, letters, memos and emails float- ly income will be still in millions. because of poor employment pros- with providing sufficient compensa- under the circumstances, they also disaster plans to reduce the poten- ing around society that talk about the Employees appear willing to stom- pects in the virus-hit economy. tion to its employees, but also with have a legal as well as a moral obli- tial impact. But to work out disaster extent to which pay and perks are being ach drastic pay cuts if the employer can Employers’ priority at this moment creating a safe and pleasant working gation towards their long standing plans, the starting point is to cut. The trend we see is that Chairmen, ward off large-scale layoffs – do the of time should be to do their best for environment and helping employees employees who have contributed understand what that impact could CEOs, Directors and senior managers, employees have a choice anyway. Only the employees – so don’t take the easi- find value in their work. to the success of the organization. be – and how events far from your Human Capital, the most valuable core operations could hit your resource in the organization business,” the statement added. What lies ahead for Sri Lanka? By Nisha Arunatilake ID-19 from January onwards. The gov- decline in demand, due to lockdowns holders, food at concessionary prices ernment’s COVID-19 containment in operations across the globe and from Sathosa co-operative outlets, nlike the Easter Sunday efforts also included closing factories severe restrictions imposed on inter- and the grace period for paying utility attacks, COVID-19 is not which bring together large numbers national transport of goods and ser- bills.In addition, citizens would get a only affecting Sri Lanka, but of workers. The recent closure of vices. In addition to reduced demand, grace period for payment on taxes almost all countries. The export industrial zones is an example. restrictions in trade could result in and leases, delayed deductions on Ueconomic impact of this on Sri Lanka The Easter Sunday attacks saw shortages of inputs, such as fertiliser, loan payments, and reduced interest will not only be influenced by what is the manufacturing sector slowing and reduced availability of workers. payments on credit cards. Small and happening in the country, but also by down sharply (Figure 1). The PMI Labour market impact medium scale businesses of most how the disease is affecting global moved from a healthy 66.9 points in With economic prospects looking affected industries will receive a debt values chains, markets, and the move- March to 41.0 in April in 2019. How- bleak, the demand for labour in the moratorium of six months. ment of goods and people across the ever, the contraction of the sector was next few months is likely to be poor. To benefit from the relief meas- world. short lived. By May, the sector was The returns from business activities ures other than the ones aimed at the With the COVID-19 pandemic still already picking up. may decline. poorest, companies or individuals unfolding, it is too early to estimate Even if the COVID-19 situation in Workers who are not in perma- should either receive regular salaries the economic impact of the crisis. Sri Lanka is brought under control, nent employment such as daily work- or have access to formal financial This blog compares the economic local industries will continue to be ers, casual workers, and those who markets.But, a large share of the 2.5 impact of the Easter Sunday attacks to affected by raw material shortfalls are self-employed in the informal sec- million non-agricultural casual and illustrate the likely impact of COV- and reduced demand. tor are the most affected. The incomes wage workers will not be able to ben- ID-19 on Sri Lanka’s economy. As more countries lockdown and of non-permanent workers are efit from these measures. Manufacturing sector keep citizens at home, aggregate expected to decline due to layoffs and To protect jobs and incomes of The pandemic began affecting Sri demand will fall, as customers reduce reduced work hours. Workers who these workers, the incentives given to Lanka’s manufacturing sector, even non-essential purchases due to future are not covered by social protection, companies should be linked to retain- before the number of COVID-19 uncertainties. Further, the cut down such as the self-employed and casual ing non-permanent worker jobs. patients started increasing in the in factory work will result in reduced Workers who are not in permanent employment such as daily workers, and gig-workers, will also be affected Despite a slowdown in economic country. work hours and layoffs, bringing casual workers, and those who are self-employed in the informal sector by adverse economic shocks.Accord- activities in most sectors, the COV- The Purchasing Manag- down incomes. are the most affected ing to the 2018 Labour Force Survey, ID-19 containment measures have ers’ Index (PMI),which takes values This will also affect the purchas- of the 8 million workers in the coun- created some demand for workers, between 0 and 100,indicates whether ing power of customers, thereby fur- Like the manufacturing sector, Sri transportation of goods and people, try, 4.7 million (or 59%) were infor- such as in distribution of essential the manufacturing sector is expand- ther reducing demand. Small and Lanka experienced a slowdown in the will be severely limited. With the mal workers. Of this, the most affect- food and other items and the manu- ing or slowing down, as viewed by medium scale firms which have lim- services sector early on, with the Ser- future uncertain and limited consum- ed would be the 2.5 million non-agri- facturing of protective gear for health business managers. A value above 50 ited reserves will be severely affected vices PMI falling by almost seven er spending, other financial and real cultural, low skilled workers engaged workers. Measures should be put in indicates an expansion, while a value by the downturn. points from January to February 2020. estate activities will also slow down. in elementary occupations, craft and place for providing employment below 50 indicates a contraction. Services sector Sri Lanka’s services PMI dropped With no visitors coming into the related trade work, and plant and opportunities for wage workers in Manufacturing sector activities, With Sri Lanka under curfew and to an all-time low of 44.7 in May country, the tourism industry will be machine operators and assemblers. these activities. which were on an expansionary a ban on international arrivals, the 2019,following the Easter Sunday one of the most severely affected. Policy responses With COVID-19 still uncontrolled, phase in January (with a PMI value of impact of COVID-19 on the services attacks, mainly due to the contraction Comparatively, the bomb attacks As long as the health threat to Sri the curfew and other measures taken 54.5) started slowing down in Febru- sector is likely to be long and severe. in accommodation, food and bever- mostly affected the big hotels and the Lanka continues, the economy will to contain the spread of the disease ary, with weakening demand, reduced The Services PMI, like the manufac- age, and other personal services sec- impact was short lived.It has been the not be able to recover. Very correctly, may continue in the near future. The supply of essential raw materials, and turing PMI, tracks market sentiment tors. But the services PMI started practice of the tourism industry to the government is giving priority to Government has already introduced longer time taken to receive raw as expressed by managers, from recovering by June 2019. lure local tourists when there is a containing the disease. Even if the several measures to provide relief to materials from countries such as Chi- month to month, based on sales, However, with the ongoing cur- slowdown of international visitors. disease is contained within the coun- people and businesses to minimise na, which were affected by the COV- employment, inventories, and prices. few, wholesale and retail trade, and But, with most of the country on cur- try, as long as COVID-19 is present in the economic and social costs of a few and restrictions placed on leisure the rest of the world, the threat to Sri country-wide lockdown. travel, the industry is not likely to Lanka from a recurrence of the dis- However, the near poor non-per- benefit from increased demand from ease will be large. Hence, existing manent workers who are not covered the local market either. measures to reduce the disease from by Samurdhi, and unorganised indus- The tourism industry was already being imported to the country should trial sectors such as the wholesale experiencing a slowdown from the continue as long as the COVID-19 and retail sector and gig workers are beginning of this year with reduced threat is present in the rest of the likely to be left out by the current Chinese tourists arriving in the coun- world. relief efforts. try. Unlike the Easter Sunday attacks, Linking concessions given to With arrivals completely banned, COVID-19 affects the demand and businesses to job protection and job the number of foreigners coming to supply side of the economy. Hence creation will help those who are left the country is near zero. The hotel policy responses should look into behind as well as the economy industry will also not benefit from both supporting jobs and incomes, as through pushing aggregate demand. local tourists due to the ban on inter- well as providing a stimulus to restart nal travel. the economy. Agriculture sector Any stimulus package should ben- The agriculture sector will mainly efit those in the informal sector as Nisha experience a fall in demand. Due to a well as formal sector workers and Arunatilake drastic slowdown in the hotel sector registered companies. is the Director and in the food and beverages sector, The government has introduced a of Research the local demand for agricultural number of relief measures to help at the Institute goods will reduce significantly. citizens and businesses. The main of Policy At the same time, the export agri- benefit the poorest would receive is a Studies of culture sector will see a dramatic cash advance given to Samurdhi card Sri Lanka. Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 23 Business

Treasures and travails of telecommuting er job. Hence, the advantages of tele- resort to telecommuting. A similar case commuting in the workplace, both for may prevail with many advertising the employee and employer, are plenty. firms in Sri Lanka. Also, a variety of Money, moral, efficiency, crisis-reac- jobs in the ICT industry also may wit- tion, and time are all major factors of ness such situations. implementing telecommuting to the Scenario 3: Capacity Constraints company and individual work-related (OIC – low, WA – high) schedules. Alex is an entrepreneurial CEO of a Success factors trading organization in the UK. He has A clear look at an institution and its a dozen of marketing executives who individuals will provide a gross yard- used to work in a large office. With the stick for considering the potential for dismal performance of last year, he is the implementation of telecommuting. under pressure from the board of Two most important factors can be directors for more stringent cost con- identified, in this context. trol. However, he has financial issues in They are: the institutional and indi- dealing with infrastructure require- vidual capacity (OIC) for telecommut- ments such as computer availability ing, and the amenability of the work with internet connectivity for his (WA) to telecommuting. Amenability is employees. Thus, even though the team usually referred to as the flexible nature is very much willing, the support for ork from home is often of work which allows it to be handled telecommuting does not exist here. heard yet a partially by employees in optional ways. Based This is also not very uncommon in adhered term these days. on the ongoing research work by Pro- Sri Lanka, with its increasing IT litera- With Covid19 pandemic, fessor Michel Buckley of University of cy rate. Shortcomings in the necessary Wit became a necessity. Yet, when the Oklahoma and myself, few scenarios infrastructure can hinder the cost- number of vehicles on the rise and the Many employees around the world have replaced their commute to work with electronic links to their workplace. can be proposed. Figure 1 shows us effective utilization of available talent. roads remain the same, the obvious four such different scenarios that can Scenario 4: Telecommuting Fit (OIC realty is increasing congestion on the ness could continue functioning. By occur in this context. – high, WA – high) way to work. It is interesting to reflect decentralizing the workforce, compa- If the OIC and the WA are high, then Joel is a systems analyst and enjoys on telecommuting as a timely topic. nies can still maintain operational the situation appears to be a good fit for working late night in Germany. He Meaning of telecommuting readiness under almost any situation. telecommuting. In a situation where need not got to office, thanks to the Telecommuting or telework is con- Individual benefits OIC is high and WA is low there appears flexible arrangement offered by his sidered as working outside the conven- The individual employee can also to be a situation in which there is a poor firm. With the internet connectivity, he tional workplace and communicating benefit from telecommuting. Organi- level of fit between the workforce and shares his programs with the office and with it by way of telecommunications zations who support telecommuting to the work. is in touch. or computer-based technology. It con- their employees offer the employees’ If OIC is low but the WA is high, He has access to company servers stitutes an early form of ‘virtual’ work, fiscal savings on the individual employ- telecommuting may be possible if an located in different locations and there which has inspired research disciplines ee’s work-related costs, such as work organisation makes an attempt to is no need to be physically present at ranging from transportation and urban clothing, transportation, lunches out, upgrade both technology and the level meetings in the office. He uses web2 planning to ethics, law, sociology and child care, and other various costs asso- of personnel employed by the organiza- tools to be in touch with his clients and organisational studies. Among several ciated with working outside of the tion. If WA and OIC are both low, then colleagues. This position is very much forms of ‘work-at-home’, I would use home. Stress related to travel to and it can be concluded that Telecommut- amenable to telecommuting.We can the term ‘telecommuting’ to refer to from work can be nearly eliminated ing is a poor fit in this situation. It must find a variety of such opportunities in work carried out at home during regu- with the use of telecommuting thus be stated that this is an initial evalua- Sri Lanka. ICT industry can be stated as lar office hours by employees of organ- producing a happier, more efficient tion. There are myriad other factors the forerunner in this approach. With isations. worker. which influence this decision. an able set of software developers and Many employees around the world Telecommuting also offers employ- Industry scenarios having projects that have components have replaced their commute to work ees greater opportunity to balance Based on the typology described that can be handled in a flexible man- with electronic links to their work- work and personal life. With flexible above, several industry scenarios can ner, telecommuting becomes possible. place. Telecommuting to work is schedules and mobile technology, be considered. Let’s look at a typical Yet, the effectiveness of such a practice trending upward. Although this is an employees are no longer tied down to western situation first, and then reflect relies on several job and family related innovative way to complete work, there one specific location during the work on Sri Lanka. factors. are significant risks experienced by tion, and advantages of companies son can work at hours convenient for day to accomplish their responsibili- Scenario 1: Telecommuting Misfit Relevance to Sri Lanka both the organization and the employ- executing telecommunication. One them. ties. The increased scheduling flexibil- (OIC –low, WA – low) Based on the above discussion, ee who is engaged in telecommuting. such factor contributing to telecommu- The younger generation is more ity gives the employee the opportunity Mary is front office assistant of a there is an opportunity for Sri Lankan When a telecommuting experience nication is cost reduction. Organiza- inclined to telecommute due to their to provide more care to their family; an bank in the USA, and her work involves organizations to explore the prospects is unsuccessful there may be a tenden- tions can save money by reducing the familiarity with technology as well as absolute necessity for single parents direct contact with customers. She of telecommuting. cy to conclude that the situation was amount of work space and other work their desire for autonomy in the work- taking care of their children. explored the possibility of working As the typology clearly showed us, not conducive to telecommuting. This environment enhancers in its offices. place. Such organizations who encour- Employees also save time by elimi- from home, but was not an option due it is not the panacea for all corporate type of conclusion would tell only a Campbell (2007) makes the point that age telecommuting have more poten- nating the commute to and from work. to the nature of her work. illnesses. Careful selection of specific part of the story. An important issue less money is spent on workstations, tial to succeed in the event of a natural These hours can be used for personal This is the case with regard to most tasks that can be handled through tele- pertains to the suitability of an indi- maintenance, utility bills, common disaster, terrorist attack or epidemic. pursuits or as additional hours in the banks in Sri Lanka, where physical commuting, as well as ensuring the vidual for a telecommuting experience. office space, and insurance. As we obviously see now, there may work week, thus creating more effi- presence of employees on a daily basis availability of necessary infrastructure Thus, it is the confluence of a number Organisations may also implement be advantages to telecommuting dur- ciency and job satisfaction among is the norm. It can be extended too are critical steps in this direction. Com- of individual and organizational issues telecommunication to retain ‘geo- ing the traditional height of flu season, employees. With increased trust many other industries as well. prehensive studies with respect to Sri that will contribute to the suitability of graphical freedom’ in the ever-chang- not to mention winter blizzards and towards employees, companies can Scenario 2: Work Constraints (OIC Lankan industries need to be done to the telecommuting experience for both ing work environment. Some compa- weather calamities, some experts are expect to gain a return of trust towards – high, WA – low) explore further opportunities. Just as individual and organisation. nies do not have a static geographical advising that businesses prepare for the company from telecommuting Peter is a creative writer in an the rest of the world is benefiting from Contributing factors base. Instead they rely solely on tele- the worst by planning to allow employ- employees. advertising firm in France. His compa- the practice of telecommuting, Sri Lan- Certain factors in the past few dec- communication, and mostly engage in ees to telecommute. Furthermore, in Telecommuting is also offered as ny is flexible in allowing him to work ka can also use its strengths, in the ades have led toward the reliance on internet-based businesses. the immediate aftermath of the terror- an employee benefit for companies from home. However, he has to visit process of its ongoing economic expan- and adoption of telecommunication in Companies can maintain an ist attacks of 9/11 in the USA, pre-estab- wishing to retain employees who are clients and need to attend regular sion. the workplace. Many factors contrib- employee pool worldwide with employ- lished telework practices at American either unsatisfied with their work envi- meetings in others’ offices. Hence, This could be a versatile tool in the ute to the background, implementa- ees in many time zones, and each per- Express helped ensure that the busi- ronment or who are looking for anoth- there is a challenge for him to fully post-Covid19 world.

Janashakthi Life records double BOC raises awareness TEA MARKET REPORT -digit growth in 2019 on digital banking SALE NO.12 - APRIL 7-8, 2020 Janashakthi Insurance PLC recorded a growth of 30% in first-year premiums All Bank of Ceylon (BOC) and transactions. Therefore it may for the financial year of 2019, with Gross branches including the Head not be necessary for customers to Written Premiums (GWP) of Rs. 3.5 bil- office have taken precautions by visit a branch for fund transfers, lion. This commendable growth can be providing hand gloves and face cash deposits or withdrawals, util- attributed to the renewed singular focus masks to security officers at the ity bill payments, and similar on Life Insurance, which the Company front line of the servicing area. transactions. embarked on in 2018. Hand sanitisers and sinks with SmartPay app can be down- The Company’s post-tax profits stood soap are kept at all main entranc- loaded and self-activated by cus- at Rs. 398 million for the period ended es. tomers followed by a simple regis- 31st December 31, 2019. Janashakthi The bank requests all custom- tration process. Through the same Life’s Investment income was at Rs. 1,643 ers to make use of this facility to app, customers who wish to enroll Sale No.12 which was originally scheduled for March 24 -25, 2020 was million at the end of the period under ensure the safety of self and every as merchants under this system postponed in view of the curfew imposed to contain the spread of the deadly review, recording a growth of 8% year-on- other person. It is also requested and activate it by visiting the near- COVID-19. The sale was not safe to be conducted in the tradi�onal form of an year. Janashakthi Life’s Net Claims and to be conscious about using eleva- est BOC branch. With BOC Smart- out-cry system of bidding at the weekly Tea Auc�ons that take place at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The only other alterna�ve appeared to be for Benefits grew by 18% year-on-year, from customers, and community are of para- tors where passengers tend to get Pay, customers can enjoy the con- the auc�on to take place on an Electronic Pla�orm, and, for the first �me in Rs. 1,510 to Rs. 1,924 million. mount importance especially with this crowded too often. venience of cardless and cashless the history of the Colombo Tea Auc�ons which goes back to 1883, the already “During our 25th milestone year, we unforeseen global crisis of COVID-19 The Bank’s mobile banking payments for their day to day delayed Sale No. 12 took place on an electronic bidding system on April 4-8. Brokers conducted the on-line auc�ons from their respec�ve offices, while- truly witnessed the benefits of our strate- impacting us all. methods such as BApp and Smart- necessities. SmartPay will facili- buyers too operated from their own offices following these temporary gic shift of returning to our roots with a We assure you that we are committed Pay mobile applications seamless- tate merchants ranging from measures taken by the Colombo Tea Traders’ Associa�on. singular focus on Life Insurance. Steered to empower and support our communi- ly replace cash usage, enabling small to larger scale business ven- mainly by innovation and our customer ties in these challenging times. With our bank customers to carry out pay- tures to accept transactions and This week’s sale comprised a total quan�ty of 4.5 m/kgs; down by over 0.5 m/kgs over the previously conducted auc�on. Low Grown driven approach, the company embarked enhanced digital capabilities implement- ments to merchants for the ser- enhance their sales turnover and Leafy/Tippy/Premium Flowery Grades comprised 1.6 m/kgs, while Main Sale on a steady path of growth within the year ed in 2019, we have activated several vices they have obtained. Similar- business growth. The usage of QR High and Medium category teas totalled approximately 0.6 m/kgs. Teas on offer in the Ex-Estate catalogue amounted to almost 722,852 kgs. 2019,” said Chairman of Janashakthi online alternatives to ensure safety and ly, mobile apps such as SmartPass- code will eliminate high invest- Meanwhile, the Monthly Na�onal Averages for March appear elsewhere in Insurance, Prakash Schaffter. convenience of our customers in this book enable customers to keep ment and maintenance cost asso- this report for your urgent a�en�on. “Health and safety of our employees, time of need,” he said. track of their account balances ciated with a Point-of-Sale device. The first catalogue to be concluded was the Ex-Estate sale and there was robust demand from a cross sec�on of markets which resulted in prices gaining sharply. One reason for the stronger demand would have been the lack of a sale for over two weeks while another would have been the recent rapid de-valua�on of the SLR against the USD. Japan, Hong Kong and some selected Far Eastern markets were ac�ve. There was also be�er demand from Russia for a wider selec�on of teas suitable for the ‘Tea Bag’ COSMI welcomes ban on imports segment. In keeping with the market trend, all Low Grown teas too met with strong The Government limiting and ban- supplies with possible immediate prof- “At that time one of the challenges demand. Leafy BOP1’s and OP1’s as well as the best OP’s/OPA’s appreciated ning imports of non-essential items is its so that many connected livelihoods Sri Lanka faced was to revive and res- substan�ally, o�en by up to Rs. 100 per kg while others gained to a lesser extent. Pekoes/Pekoe1 grades also saw sharp price increases. Select best a welcome step for the country’s agri- too, get a boost. urrect the micro and small sector FBOP’s/FBOPF1’s saw improved demand and appreciated up to SME sector, said Confederation of “We need to understand that SMEs industries. Let us take this as an oppor- Rs. 100 per kg. Very Tippy Teas con�nued to a�racted useful demand Micro, Small and Medium Industries are everywhere - in urban and rural tunity and a challenge and rise back. resul�ng in stronger prices. (COSMI) Founder President Nawaz areas. Therefore in a crisis, our con- We at COSMI are confident that we can Monthly average – March, 2020 Rajabdeen. sumers first visit the SMEs and micros, play a very supportive role in this,” He said the ban on imports of non- rather than big companies – in that Rajabdeen added. Orthodox CTC Orth. and CTC essential items will help local enter- MSMEs are not only the economy’s The agri-business sectors that local Eleva�on Combined prises look to get into the production lifeline but also of Sri Lankan consum- SMEs deal in are: spices, teas including Month To-date Month To-date Month To-date and processing of these items. ers. specialty teas, herbal medicinal and Uva High 523.98 499.92 304.41 325.54 522.09 499.23 “We believe this situation presents “We appeal to all micro and small beverage supplements, coconut and Western High 591.95 585.24 530.12 536.99 585.88 580.62 the country with a rare opportunity to Nawaz Rajabdeen sector industries and trade enterprises oils, short eats, and fruits and vegeta- Uva Medium 565.72 534.89 - - 565.72 534.89 kick-start the revival of several local to take this challenge to get back to bles. Western Medium 528.47 520.71 509.30 488.82 523.37 512.31 SME sectors,” Rajabdeen said. make use of the government’s support business with our support. We faced Aquaculture sectors which local Low Grown 647.07 647.46 427.26 442.72 626.77 629.21 “SMEs in agri-business, aquacul- if given. The strong domestic demand worst disasters such as the 2004 tsuna- SMEs deal in are: ornamental fish and Total 613.04 611.92 468.02 469.86 597.70 597.24 ture, poultry and other livestock are for their produce during this COVID mi with total destruction of small busi- ocean fisheries including fishery coop- some of the priority sectors that can crisis shows low market risk for their ness enterprises in the coastal regions. eratives and processing. Source: Lanka Commodity Brokers Ltd 24 Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 Business

Battle against COVID-19 SLI introduces free insurance Coronavirus’ effect on cover for frontline workers Sri Lanka Insurance (SLI) has of employee’s loss of life due to Cov- taken many steps to support govern- id19 within this year. ment initiatives in the prevention of The cover covers all healthcare the spread of Covid 19. employees in the state sector (eg: One such initiative was the Rs. Health Ministry officials, doctors, consumer behaviour 50 lakh donation made to the Covid nurses, attendants, drivers, minor 19 Health and Social Security fund workers, Public Health Inspectors last week. and Regional Health Officials), The company has launched Members of the Armed Forces, another initiative to motivate all Police and Civil Defence Force, staff state sector employees on the front- of the Divisional Secretariats includ- lines of the battle against Covid-19. ing field officers, District Secretari- Viru Abhiman - a free financial ats and the Postal Department. cover for the families of the State This is the first cover in Sri Lan- The consumer is a person or an sector employees actively involved ka offered free for those in the front organisation that purchases goods or in combatting Covid–19. The cover line ensuring the safety of our peo- services strictly for consumption in is extended in the unfortunate event ple. general terms. Consumer behaviour is the decision a person makes to pur- chase a product, service or idea after a search and selection. Consumer mar- ket is the system that influences and permits us to purchase goods, services or ideas. In the consumer market, the consumer makes decisions on how the money will be spent to purchase and use the product the way he or she wants. Many factors affect the buying behaviour such as attitudes, beliefs and outside motivation, fundamentally influenced by cultural, social, and psy- chological views. Manipulated by these behavioural aspects, the consumer purchases a product or service usually During the past two weeks, Sri Lankan consumers seemed to be rapidly getting used to ordering consumer goods From left: Chairman SLIC, Jagath Wellawatte with Directors Anil going through a decision-making pro- through home delivery requisitions. Kumara Meegahage and Ms.Surekha Alles at the media briefing. cess consisting of need recognition, information search and evaluation of to be prepared and planned immedi- ers and devise a more practical method After a disaster of this magnitude the gathered information. ately to sustain the existing business. to go with the tide. to the economy, consumer behav- A person or business that sells The aim of the Government is to The prevailing visible shortage of iour can take various forms. While goods to a person or group for use of make convenience goods available consumer essentials has been created some of these changes may end in Dankotuwa Porcelain unveils consumption needs to analyze the buy- freely to households throughout the as a consequence of stockpiling due to the short run, many others will re- ing behavior of the buyer in order to curfew affected country. Not only the the popular belief that the item will be main indefinitely in society. Now steam inhalers succeed. Any retailer, irrespective of effort is highly successful but the act scarce. Although Government agen- that coronavirus is upending retail the size of the business is impulsively also has paved the way to a new trend. cies declare that there is no shortage, business, vendors at large Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC has Dr. Charith Nanayakkara, a lec- aware of this fact. In fact the knowl- During the past two weeks, Sri Lankan consumers seem to be reluctant to introduced a steam inhaler which is turer at the Department of Surgery edge levels differ depending on the consumers seemed to be rapidly get- accept it. The public presumes that the these changes may end in the short ideal for individuals affected by res- at the Kotalawela Defence Universi- level of education and other similar ting used to ordering consumer goods shut down of businesses and services run, many others will remain indefi- piratory tract infections. ty said, “As a Doctor in the Neuro- factors, but the actions of any retailer through home delivery requisitions. will continue indefinitely. nitely in society. Designed by Dr. Charith Nanay- surgical field I come across a lot of is mostly similar. Although such practices were previ- Therefore, most of them try to pre- Now that coronavirus is upending akkara, this modified steam inhal- patients with headaches due to Considering the high degree of the ously available on a random basis, the pare a disaster pantry to the best of retail business, vendors at large must ing device will be made available at sinusitis. prevailing uncertainty about the ongo- consumers were not fully accustomed their financial capability. This is great look at various methods to adapt to the hospitals and quarantine centers I have personally used steaming ing speed of spread, rate of recovery to use this facility. This will somewhat news for smart retailers as they can new behavioural changes. currently providing medical care as a treatment method in these and still increasing deaths, post crisis hinder retailer foot traffic but the leni- provide customers a service to remem- Retailers must concentrate on for patients affected by the Corona- patients and have witnessed how consumption or attitudes of the buyers ency towards home delivery services ber the provider at this crucial time shifting gear to new methods, how to virus Disease. powerful it is. cannot be predicted as yet. However, a will increase significantly. because the Sri Lankans, by nature are build rapport, how to use personaliza- The Dankotuwa steam inhaler is I will soon publish an article few obvious changes can be noticed There is a high probability that keen to return favours, thus will return tion with social distancing (which will easy to use and can be used in with my data and experience with from what we have already seen in many of those first time grocery buyers to the trader for repeat purchases. continue to exist indefinitely), how to homes to prevent multiple respira- steam in such patients so that the common thinking. Many of the middle will convert to online and other meth- Leaders of large retail chains or stay ahead of competitors and so forth. tory tract related conditions. It is ‘scientific community’ will receive and upper middle people I interviewed ods of home delivery facilities perma- large individual stores are doing an I intend to discuss more on these fac- also noteworthy that this product is statistical data to value and appreci- on the issue are of the view that they nently although a clear prediction can- excellent job in realistically and clearly tors in detail at a later date. a modified version of the existing ate the science behind this tech- have to cut back on non-essential not be made due to the novelty of the communicating the message to their Finally, my intention was to discuss steam apparatus called the Nissen nique. expenses such as local and overseas practice. This means that the shift in customers. As far as I have noticed, the anticipated changes most likely to Steamer which is considered out- It is a technique that is extreme- leisure travel, club membership, addi- the anticipated behaviour change will they are adequately gearing to cater to arise for traders, retailers in particular, dated but is currently being used by ly simple and can be used even in tional transport costs and even some move a lot of volume from brick and the post-epidemic challenge. However, in Sri Lanka. To face the challenge hospitals, a company spokesman the most underprivileged/non- outsourced domestic services. mortar to ordering home delivery. small and medium scale retailers have head on, vendors can initially concen- said. medical setup.” The pandemic will alter consumer According to some of the small and not yet understood the gravity of the trate and act swiftly on online selling behaviour across the entire landscape medium retailers, I spoke to, there are full impact to come. Even for them, the and home delivery, change showroom of retail business throughout the some practical issues in their respec- attitude shift of the consumers will to suit new behaviour, use social media world. Sri Lanka also will undoubtedly tive geographical areas. Collection of make a substantial change in their and obtain optimum mileage and feel the pinch as the spread of corona- cash on delivery is the main concern. business volumes. Grocery delivery strategies in expected intense competi- virus can lead to a substantial con- Unlike large store chains, small and platforms which are in operation will tion. sumer behavior shift. Retailers will medium retailers do not possess online have a dramatic spike in sales from the experience the impact of the crisis payment facilities, thus have to stick to newly converted customers many of long after the quarantine period is over cash payments. Although they may not whom are first timers. and social distancing rules ends. The entirely prefer the system, they will After a disaster of this magnitude crisis is likely to create a permanent have to take the cue from large retail- to the economy , consumer behaviour behavioral change that retailers need can take various forms. While some of

Microimage unveils MiHCM for Microsoft Team Dankotuwa steam inhalers MiHCM has released MiHCM HR The company is offering MiHCM for Microsoft Teams to empower com- HR for Microsoft Teams app free to its panies to manage their remote work- existing SMB clients who use Microsoft force. Teams applications during the COV- The company also extended the ID-19 pandemic period while charging features of its cloud-based Digital HR a nominal fee for corporate and enter- Exchange Rates platform to enable MiHCM users to prise clients. manage their day-to-day HR opera- “With the majority of the global (Week ended April 9, 2020) 15.12.23), 2024’s (i.e. 15.03.24 & tions more conveniently. workforce, now working remotely In the Forex market, the USD/ 15.09.24) and 15.10.27 were seen MiHCM HR for Microsoft there will be increased use of collabo- LKR rate on spot contracts declining to intraweek lows of Teams will allow companies to manage rative tools to ensure productivity and appreciated on Friday to a high 7.85%, 8.55%, 8.90%, 8.85%, their human resource operations with employee engagement. Our purpose of Rs.190.00 against its week’s 9.00%, 8.98%, 9.00% and 9.35% check-in/out facilities, leave applica- with MiHCM HR for Microsoft Teams low of Rs.199.75. respectively against its previous tions, preview payslips, submit and our new feature enhancements for The daily USD/LKR average weeks closing levels of 8.00/25, timesheets and leave balance check- MiHCM for SMB and Enterprise vari- traded volume for the first two 8.80/85, 9.15/20, 9.20/28, 9.30/35, ing. Employees will be able to escalate ants is to support companies to man- days of the week stood at US $ 9.35/40, 9.33/40 and 9.55/70. a range of service requests to the HR age their remote workforce seamlessly Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Hasitha broad impact on businesses, people, 103.25 million. The shortened trading week department, such as requesting letters, with all the essential HR tools,” said Abeywardena said, “The technology processes and industry.” The Government commencing April 15 will see documents, infrastructure or report- Founder/CEO of MiHCM, Harsha Pur- transformation occurring in human Securities Market Rs.30 billion on offer at the week- ing work related issues. asinghe.Country Manager, Microsoft resources around the world is having a The shortened trading week ly Treasury bill auction, consist- ending April 9, 2020 saw the ing of Rs.7 billion of the 91 day weighted average yield on the maturity, Rs.10 billion of the 182 market favourite 364 day bill day maturity and further Rs.13 Nations Trust Bank deploys mobile ATMs declining sharply once again to billion of the 364-day maturity. hit over a four year low of 7.00%, At last week’s auction, the weight- Nations Trust Bank has deployed while accumulating a total drop ed average yields plunged on the mobile ATM services to many areas in of 148 basis points over the past 182 day and 364-day maturities to the Western Province. five weeks. 6.80% and 7.00% respectively. All This initiative will help customers The primary Treasury bond bids received on the 91-day Bill to meet their primary banking needs auctions conducted during the were rejected. as well as sign up for the Nations week reflected bullish outcomes In money markets, overnight Mobile Banking and internet banking as well with maturities of call money and repo rates aver- services without having to travel too 01.09.23, 15.09.24 & 15.10.27 aged at 6.50% and 6.59% respec- far away from home. recording impressive weighted tively for the week as the DOD The Nations Mobile ATMs are trav- averages of 8.50%, 8.70% and (Domestic operations Depart- elling to central areas covering many 8.90%. ment) of Central Bank injected populated areas including apartment This intern kept the second- liquidity during the week by way complexes to provide this essential ary bond market bullish during of 7 day, 88 day and 89 day reverse service between 9.30 a.m. and 6.00 the week as the yield curve repo auctions at weighted aver- p.m. daily. The Service can be used by recorded a parallel shift down- age yields ranging from of 6.39% customers of Nations Trust Bank and ward week on week, which was to 6.60%. customers of any other local bank ATM during its time of operations. This Nations Trust Bank, Hemantha that, we have mobilised the Nations given a further boost by the pos- References: Central Bank of whose network is supported by Lanka- link is published daily on the Nations Gunetilleke said, “The well-being of Mobile ATM service enabled with a live sible US $ 1,400 million in SWAP Sri Lanka, Bloomberg E-Bond Pay or foreign bank ATM cards to with- Trust Bank Facebook page. This is yet our customers, colleagues and the gen- link for location updates. This would lines from India and China. trading platform, Money broking draw cash up to Rs. 100,000. another, digitally enhanced facility, eral public are of utmost importance to help our customers to conveniently The yields on the liquid companies A unique feature introduced by which is a first in the market by Nations us during this global pandemic. Access track and locate the exact location of maturities of 01.05.21, 01.10.22, Nations Trust enables anyone to obtain Trust Bank. to cash is important when people are the vehicle and reduce time spent in 2023’s (i.e. 15.07.23, 01.09.23 & a live location update of the Mobile Deputy Chief Executive Officer at confined to their homes. Owing to waiting.” 25

[email protected] / Tel: 011 2 429 429, 011 2 429 228 / Fax: 0112 429 227 APRIL 12, 2020 Avurudu during COVID:

1m Recalibrating 1m 1m real fears 1m

Very few know that and vague rituals the Venetians forced ships to stay isolated By Arjuna Seneviratne antine is not valentine” and put every- ing crises such as the food crisis, the neighbours, engage in family activi- outside port for 40 days one under enforced house arrest. energy crisis, the climate crisis, the ties. It has actually made people aware s we move deeper into the Very few urbanites know that Avu- environment crisis, the conflict crisis that the simpler life removed from the month of April and must, rudu achieved social sanctity and rel- and the religious crisis tried hard to do complications of competition, gain, (quarantina) during almost automatically, con- evance to our farmers because they but never actually got any global trac- fame and pleasure is actually a great sider its traditional song toiled in the field, worked the land, tion. way of being. It has proved to the ur- the Black Death or and dance, our thoughts planted things and reaped the reward It has proved to the world that the banites the truth of the fact that health Aare collectively overshadowed by of their labours. It is they who are justi- world is in serious trouble. is indeed the greatest profit and happi- bubonic plague of the this other consideration. Both, in the fied in giving thanks and giving gifts to It has proven to the urbanites that ness, the greatest wealth. It has dem- minds of many have to do with the un- one another to commemorate a boun- their white collar jobs, their ties onstrated that growing one’s seen, the unknown and the frighten- tiful harvest, and, for those that way and designer shoes, their own food and sharing one’s 14th Century that also ing. On the one hand, we want to en- inclined, giving alms to the clergy of desk jobs and their debt wherewithal with the com- gage in activities we normally won’t be their new produce, and, transferring ridden wealth display are munity is more important originated in China and doing like cracking out the crackers, the good karma of meritorious deeds useless. It has shown the than 10 foot tall walls, lighting weird shaped lamps, beating to their departed. Or, when their crops world that there is a very roller doors and SUVs. drums and engaging with family mem- failed, convert the celebration into good reason to stem ex- In fact, for the first attacked Italy first bers and strangers in weird, ritualistic an understanding of climate change, clusively profit oriented time in a long time, ways wearing new, bright clothes all failure of science to predict the lack industry. It has told the the urbanites are actu- among the Europeans to ward off the unseen inimical lurk- of rain, karmic causality, inability of world to recognize the ally justified in celebrat- ing behind Pisces and Aries and in- agrochemicals to do much more than song of birds, listen for the ing Avurudu because vite benevolents waving from behind poison the earth, God’s will and simi- tune of the bread man, they too are now soci- before decimating a the sun and the moon. On the other, lar religious instruments for dealing speak to one’s we are told to engage in activities we with setbacks while resolving to bear third of its population. normally wouldn’t want to like staying the hardship, giving and sharing of indoors, staying away from the fridge, what little they have and, either feeling staying close to hot drinks, washing strengthened by their sacrifice or, for hands, engaging with family members those that way inclined, holding those etally engaged and agriculturally en- astigmatism, let us be thankful that as and strangers in weird, ritualistic ways acts of merit gained despite their suf- abled. a collective, either through force or wearing masks or space suits or both, fering as a forfeit to create the spiritu- They, in fact, have reason to, “thank necessity or sheer darn despera- all to ward off some unseen inimi- ally valid enabling conditions for bet- whatever determinants, dynamics, de- tion, we have been awoken from our cal lurking in the throat of one’s best ter times next year. ities, defences, deployments, displace- social slumber, we have been re- friend or watching one with vicious Very few know that the Venetians ments, devices, dogmas and dodges charged by our recognition of the ulti- anticipation from one’s spouse’s car forced ships to stay isolated outside for the fact that we are still alive”. mate levelling of human existence, we bonnet. As we move deeper into the port for 40 days (quarantina) during As urban life progresses suddenly have been made to renew our licence month of April we must, almost neces- the Black Death or bubonic plague of non-linearly with swirls and clouds of to live through the payment of our sarily, consider its traditional song and the 14th Century that also originated unseen particles proximating every- dues to the country. dance, this time glorified twice over in China and attacked Italy first among one to disease and death, as urban- Avurudu is ultimately a celebration by two entirely different but superbly the Europeans before decimating a ites growl and grumble at the speed of renewal. COVID19 has sloshed a big complimentary and congruent set of third of its population. Nor do they at which their comfort zones were as- bucket of deep cleanser over our ur- unknowns and vagaries. know that the only way to stem this al- saulted and violated, as urban travails ban population. We have been washed The key here is unknown and most unstoppable, unseen and deadly are suddenly reduced to the mundane cleaner if not completely free of social vague. Very few know that Avurudu is a juggernaut of death was to take them- through the COVID treatment of social sickness. It is truly a time to celebrate. harvest celebration and not a Buddhist selves out of the ecosystem of disease or Hindu religious ritual. Most think transmission either out of desperation it is the Sri Lankan version of the bac- or enforcement or social responsibil- chanalian. A booze fest disguised as a ity. Ah but how things have changed! fashion pageant. Few thought quaran- tine was a form of voluntary self-denial Regardless of how dumb our ur- of bad habits until the authorities liter- ban population is, COVID-19 has done ally had to point a gun and say “quar- something that other world threaten- 26 Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 Feature

Significance of Easter 2020: Christians celebrate Resurrection of Christ in home confines By Carol Aloysius

s Christians throughout the island celebrate the resurrection of Christ in the confines of their homes today, amid fears and anxieties of the COVID-19 that has spread to every district, town and village, many confess their only hope lies in the assurance that the risen Christ will see them through this crisis as He has done to all those who believe in Him, in the past . The Sunday Observer asked the Superintendent of the Methodist Church , Rev. Ebenezer Joseph to share his views on what it means to cel- A ebrate Easter in the confines of their homes instead of in church as they usually do on this joyous day. Following is Rev. Ebenezer Joseph’s message : Becoming living symbols of the Easter hope

Two consecutive Easter day cele- and ‘peace be unto you”. and separation. Not to Herodian rulers. The people It was in such a social location that, evant and appropriate to the first Eas- brations in Sri Lanka have been marred At this crucial moment in our seek life amidst death. lived in fear and anxi- Jesus predicted His violent death but ter event. The message of hope, the af- by fear and insecurity. The Bombs own context, it is important for us to Move beyond the ety not knowing what affirmed that He will rise again, giving firmation of peace, the removal of fear that ripped through the churches, dis- remember that the first Easter event symbols of death, the next day holds for hope to a people gripped with fear and invades our homes, through the risen rupting the Easter day services in the did not take place in a church or in recapture the them. Galilee was the death. Now he stands as the risen one, saviour. We encounter the risen sav- year 2019 and the coronavirus that is sacred altars. It took place amid con- symbols of Life. place where excom- giving that assurance and hope that we iour in our own ‘Galilees’ of life. More preventing people from gathering in crete social realities of fear, anxiety, Secondly and municated criminals will all rise again, and for us to move than ever we celebrate this great event churches to celebrate Easter this year, loneliness and uncertainty. The Risen most interest- and prostitutes from on holding onto the symbol of life and of hope amidst our families, our neigh- both due to fear and insecurity, are Lord met such people in their own so- ingly, the wom- all over Palestine peace. According to St. Matthew, the bours, within the communities where two sides of the same coin. The fear of cial locations of uncertainty. It is there en are reminded were sent, including disciples are exhorted to move to Gali- we live and not confined to the walls of death, anxiety, perplexity, loneliness, that Hope blooms. It is in concrete so- of what Jesus the Holy city of Je- lee in order to encounter the Risen sav- church buildings. isolation, fear and suspicion of the cial circumstances that hope is pro- said in Galilee, rusalem. It was the iour. It is a rare opportunity not only to unknown have overshadowed the cel- claimed, revitalizing people to become that He will meet place where sorcery The first Easter message is more recapture the real essence of Easter ebration of the hope that Easter brings vehicles of hope. His violent death and demonic mani- than relevant to us, amidst the context but to experience the message of hope in successive years. The Lukan account of the resur- on the cross but will festation was rampant. in which we live today. We are faced in a very significant way. It will truly The first Easter event, the res- rection is very interesting. Two men in rise again. The key Strangely, it was also the with death, agony, suffering, fear of enable us to move beyond the tomb urrection of Lord Jesus Christ, took dazzling clothes appear to the women question is, Why Galilee? place where all lepers were contamination and isolation. We may and to seek the abundant life. It is an place in similar circumstances. The who were standing near the tomb, the Galilee-symbolically the forced to withdraw so that other be having our own ‘Galilean’ experi- occasion to celebrate not with outward disciples lived in isolation from soci- symbol of death and destruction, and corona epicentre of Palestine during towns may not be infected or contami- ence within and around us. Easter calls tamashas but to celebrate by becom- ety gripped with fear and anxiety in said, “Why do you look for the living Jesus’s time nated by the disease. Even religiously, to look beyond the existential realities ing living symbols of hope, removing closed rooms, not knowing what to do among the dead, He is not here, but Galilee at the time of Jesus was the Galilee was a despised and God forsak- with hope and hold on to the assur- the pain, suffering and the fears of our and what steps to take. They were an has risen. Remember how He told you, most poverty-stricken part of Pales- en place where death and fear ruled ance that life will triumph. people and being vehicles of peace, isolated bunch of individuals. It is to while he was still in Galilee…” [Lk 24: tine. The people were poor peasants the hearts of people. Symbolically, Gal- Our celebration of Easter today, harmony and welfare of all. them that the risen Lord appears with 6]. The beckoning call was to move be- immersed in poverty and at the same ilee was the corona epicentre of Pales- confined to our homes and amidst so What a glorious opportunity to live words of comfort and hope, ‘Fear Not’ yond the tomb, the symbol of death time harassed and oppressed by the tine, during the time of Jesus. many uncertainties makes it more rel- out our Easter experience of hope!! Avurudu in the time of Covid-19 by Malinda Seneviratne Clothes for the family, gifts for the Let’s get to the basics as far the Sinha- in return. Water a chillie plant, pluck near and dear, sweetmeats for the la Buddhist community is concerned. a green chillie. Leave some food for neighbors. Well, not this year. We cease all activity at an auspicious a squirrel and enjoy the arrival of t is a harvest festival, agreed. Being sequestered doesn’t real- moment and spend the time in reli- the creature. Something for the ants Source, however, is not the only ly make for a grand celebration. No gious activities. We light the hearth at and delight in the orderly gathering giver of meaning. ‘Avurudu’ or shopping. No avurudu uthsava. No an auspicious moment, partake of the of that species. Call a friend or an el- rather the ‘Aluth Avurudda’ has avurudu races, cycles or on foot. first meal at another auspicious mo- derly relative; receive a text message. I acquired a lot of meaning over And yet, let me repeat, there’s no ment. We are together as a family. Here’s one to share: centuries of celebration to the point celebration that can even come close What’s beautiful is that in almost Sabbītiyo vivajjantu, sabba-rogo that ‘harvest’ is rarely referenced. to Avurudu, here in Sri Lanka. In fact every household in the country (yes, vinassatu; mā te bhavatvantarāyo, Planetary movement and crop cycles as far as culture goes there is prob- almost 90%), someone would strike sukhī dīgh’āyuko bhava. notwithstanding ‘Avurudu’ is THE na- ably nothing that can be claimed to a match at the exact same moment. (May all distresses be averted, tional festival to the extent that any have anything close to this in terms of There will be milk rice being cooked. may every disease be destroyed, may such thing can happen in this coun- level of ingraining in consciousness. Someone, typically the eldest in the there be no dangers for you [and] may try. It is celebrated, after all, but Apart from Buddhism, of course. household, would feed a bit of Kiriba- you be happy and live long). almost 90% of the population and That however is more ethereal. ‘Avu- ti to each member of the family. And perhaps more pertinent for across the length and breadth of the rudu’ is more corporeal. Felt. Togetherness. Smiles. Feeling this particular aluth avuruddha: island to boot. [The Government has laid down Buddhists, but that won’t happen. mented. blessed. Socially distanced solidarity, Sabba-roga-vinimutto, sabba- Avurudu in a typical year turns rules on account of the Corvid-19 Simply, the Sinhala Buddhists are The reality is that we can’t take one might call it. That’s how it has santāpa-vajjito, sabba-veram-atikkan- Colombo into a desert. Simply, it’s the threat that makes this years avurudu not complaining. Even if they did, it the threat of infection lightly. Self- always been and that we will surely to, nibbuto ca tuva bhava. one time of the year when people go untenable. We can’t celebrate the way is highly doubtful that civil (sic) soci- discipline is a must. We have to keep have this year too, regardless of the (May you be freed from all dis- home. ‘Home’ as in ‘village’. It’s a fam- we did. Now some well-meaning (or ety (sic) would be bothered. That’s the indoors and limit interaction with the obvious deprivations. ease, safe from all torment, beyond ily matter. Extended family, really. It’s pernicious) set of civil society activ- politics of the rent-a-signature wor- rest of the world. Social distancing is No kavum, but there could be all animosity and unbound). the time when people apply for the ists might have found this reason thies in this island.] the order of the day. For now and un- plantains. Not ganudenu at a bank, Now that would be harvest and biggest slice of ‘annual leave.’ The city enough to raise a whine if the per- The above was written parenthet- til who knows when! but someone somewhere will toss a thanksgiving too. A complete and stops. Life keeps beating. Elsewhere. ceived ‘victim’ happened to be any ically. Contexts should not be footnot- Does this mean that this would be coin into a well and draw a bucket of wholesome aluth avuruddha, in fact. It’s shopping time in Sri Lanka. community other than Sinhalese or ed. Duplicity should not go uncom- an avurudu-less year? Certainly not. water. There will be a give and a take [email protected] Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 27 Features Traditional Chinese Martial Arts The Real Kung Fu Hustle By Bhanu Wijesinghe one another in the eyes of the west. While Movies starring martial art actors like Bruce Lee they share origins in self-defence; by choice and Jackie Chan spread the word of Kung Fu to or by being outdated, the uses for traditional foreign territories like wildfire and inspired in- raditional Chinese Mar- martial arts have since far outgrown that pur- terest in newer generations to come. However, tial arts or as it is more pose. the greatly romanticized representations and commonly known, Kung With a history as deep and rich as China it- depictions of inhuman skill gave false expecta- Fu, does not refer to any self, traditional martial arts are an irreplaceable tions of what they were meant to be. Students T one martial art but to part of Chinese culture and it perfectly captures would come to learn, expecting to leap hun- several hundreds of them devel- the discipline and wisdom cultivated across cen- dreds of feet while dismantling hordes of oppo- oped over the course of China’s robust his- turies but while the stereotype that all Chinese nents with their bare hands, only to be treated tory spanning multiple centuries. Though know Kung Fu is unequivocally false, that heri- to days of practice and meditation to achieve the collectively known as Kung Fu, a word mean- tage has a unique effect on the lifestyles of every most basic of techniques. ing a skill learned or practised, they are also Chinese citizen. In recent times, China has taken a most known as Wushu, literally martial art and However, as can be expected from such an unusual stance, expressing the indisputable Quanfa, literally fist method or law of the fist. ancient civilization, its exact history hasn’t been strength and superiority of their traditional Though these words are used to describe only reliably documented and what records do exist martial arts over all else. This has led to a string Chinese martial arts, Japanese and Korean can reasonably be expected to embellish events. of matches between martial art masters and martial arts also tend to fall into this category What we can tell however, is that the Chinese more practical combat oriented fighting forms. as they are relatively indistinguishable from developed martial arts out of a necessity to sur- These fights have proven to be both highly vive the violent hostile environments of ancient publicized and humiliating, with MMA fighters China. Predictably, hundreds of martial arts beating masters into the ground in a matter of came into being with wildly different styles, be- seconds. Fight after fight, the credibility of tra- liefs and effectiveness and in a bid to achieve ditional martial arts as a form of self defence dominance, unbelievable tales of superhuman took quite the beating. While for many people feats were woven and spread, giving these rival- globally this trend disillusioned them to the vir- ling schools of fighting a mythic feel. tues of Kung Fu, China itself doubled down, in- In modern times, martial arts became op- sisting on its perfection and making ridiculous tional and in turn what was once a form of self- excuses on why those fights went down the way defence adapted with the times, became a sport they did and unjustly punishing the true fighters or performance art, relying on its centuries old who brought this truth to light, like MMA fighter history to attract students and maintain respect. Xu Xiadong who had his social credit score low- Martial arts became a form of soft power for ered and humiliated by both the nation and its China much like K-Pop was for South Korea and people. anime for Japan, granting the nation global in- This isn’t to say there is no merit for tradi- fluence. tional Chinese martial arts. Some martial art- This aspect of Kung Fu has not only been ists have adapted their respective styles to adopt noticed by the Chinese Government, but ac- proven combat effective techniques to create a tively and enthusiastically promoted, even now more practical form of their art, but these for- funding the construction of thousands of new ward-thinking practitioners are a rare breed. schools all over the country in just the past five However, while its use for combat may be ques- years. The most popular of these schools of mar- tionable, its purpose as a tool for physical and tial arts include household names such as Shao- spiritual betterment is unquestioned and its link lin Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Wing Chun. and contributions to Chinese philosophy is sig- The explosive popularity Kung Fu movies nificant. Practising these disciplines is undeni- and Wuxia tales have, simultaneously been both ably beneficial to both your body and mind but a great boon and bane to Chinese Martial Arts. it will not do to be blind to its faults.

Challenging the status quo and empowering women in her community

e all have the power to change things. We’re all responsible for building a more just and equi- W table world and in 2020 challenging the stereotypes and be- ing #EachforEqual is what Inter- national Women’s Day reminds us. Here’s a story of someone breaking barriers, changing perceptions, and transforming lives. Women account for the majority of the global tourism workforce but tend to work in low-paying, informal and low-status positions. But Lathika Lakmali is an impressive woman who challenges the status-quo - while de- fying cultural boundaries and social norms - to lead and make a name for herself as a Surf Instructor and har- nessing tourism as a tool for empower- ing women in her community. Traditionally, especially in conser- vative localities such as Arugambay, women are expected to assume the role of a daughter, sister, wife, mother ment, Employment and Labour Rela- surfing. Since her participation in the ern Sri Lankan family. She proves that and care giver. Although Arugambay tions extended support towards man- program by S4IG and licensing as an women can offer something new and continues to grow as one of the popu- aging visitor expectations by offering instructor, the Arugambay Surf Club exciting to a traditionally male-domi- lar surfing hubs in the East of Sri Lan- tailored programs to strengthen local has seen an increase in membership nated industry and experience. ka, there exist many misguided per- Surf Clubs to manage and improve and interest by girls. Tourism gives She has inspired an entire genera- ceptions with regard to surfing and the their service standards. women many opportunities that al- tion of girls who dream of riding waves tourism industry as a whole. Villagers It allowed Lakmali to confidently low a blending of roles and responsi- of their own one day in the future in hold the stereotypical impression that march on and be recognized as an in- bilities. Enabling women to engage in surfing and other pursuits. Lakmali surfers are skimpily clad and party structor doing something she loves. paid employment in many different aims to extend personalized and deep- hard bringing disrespect to traditional She can still support her family and ways and pursue the things they enjoy. er travel experiences via female surf values. It was acceptable for tourists to support her community and earn an lessons that showcase the potential for indulge in the sport, but it definitely displayed a possibility of turning into a travellers remained a concern as tour- income from her business – surfing. Inspiring generations a career professionally. She is a fine didn’t fit with the community’s beliefs career, especially with the increase in ists want to be sure they will be safe in Such initiatives by S4IG encourage example that women are more than on what a career was supposed to be solo female travellers or women being the water and be able to really learn more women to enter the tourism in- of surfer girls capable of building a new business and definitely didn’t fit with the role of more comfortable learning how to surf how to surf a wave from an expert. dustry, seek income opportunities and ecosystem around women in tourism a woman who is traditionally limited to from other women. They believe they A pathway for informal surfers to mentor the next generation of female For Lakmali, surfing has now be- while defying cultural norms and the the activities in the domestic sphere. can find a balance with their personal be formally recognized by the industry leaders. come a family affair. She often takes traditional labour market. However, Lakmali and her hus- life, the professional life and their in- with S4IG support It also created a pathway for infor- her daughter - aged 6- with her when Along with her supportive hus- band, the President of the Arugambay terest in surfing in Arugambay. They To address this concern, the Skills mal surfers to become internationally she surfs and her husband who is also band, she plays a strong role in men- Surf Club and one of the 28 ISA certi- realized how women were often un- for Inclusive Growth (S4IG) program recognized, and for more women in an ardent surf lover and an S4IG par- toring the next generation of females, fied coaches in Arugambay recognize comfortable taking lessons from male funded by the Australian Govern- the area to consider not only pursu- ticipant as well. He is extremely proud like her own daughter, and in the pro- the opportunities for growth in the instructors. Yet, offering services with- ment’s Aid program in partnership ing surfing as a career but to simply be of his wife pursuing her passion and cess, is actually changing the face of industry. And what began as a hobby out a formal licence to international with the Ministry of Skills Develop- brave enough to indulge in the joy of celebrates her success – a truly mod- tourism in Arugambay for the better. 28 Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 Feature Poetry is mind based not heart based - Ariyawansha Ranaweera

By Ravindra Wijewardhane

eteran Sinhala poet Ari- yawansha Ranaweera is now launching three new Sinhala books on V Sinhala poetry. They are ‘විසිරි මිණි’ (Visiri Mini – Col- lection of Haiku poems trans- lated into Siýnhala), ‘හද බස සහ වෙනත් ලිවීම්’ (Hada Basa and Other writings) and ‘කවි ලකුණු’ (Signs of Poetry). Though the launch- ing ceremony of these books was postponed due to the unexpected coronavirus outbreak, the books published by the Ahasa Books will soon be available for the public. The Sunday Observer spoke to Ariyawan- sha Ranaweera to discuss about his books and the current issues of Sin- hala poetry. Excerpts: Absolutely. Poetic language or Q. How do you introduce these Hada Basa is a created language, books? A. The first book, ‘විසිරි මිණි’ (Visi- ri Mini) is a compilation of Japanese an invented language. It is derived Haiku poetry which I translated into Sinhala, and it’s a standard edition from the language that we have. of all the Haiku poems. The other two books, ‘හද බස සහ වෙනත් ලිවීම්’ Therefore, we have no authority to (Hada Basa and Other writings) and ‘කවි ලකුණු’ (Signs of Poetry) are criti- cal writings that deal with various abolish or reject the particular aspects of Sinhala literature. I think these books are useful to the reader kinds of words when composing as they are relevant to the present day situation in poetry. poetry. Every word is important, Q. Hada Basa concept of the Sin- hala poetry was presented by veter- an poet Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara. and depends on what you wish to How do you see this concept? A. Through the Hada Basa con- express. cept or theory Amarasekara de- scribes the nature of the Sinhala like ‘Doctor Shivago’ in any lan- Generally, a good poem is a com- poetry. He suggests that one must guage. It is the only novel that Pas- bination of three factors. They are resort to the Sinhala classical poetry ternak has written. Anyhow, in my brevity, rhythm and thematic depth. when composing poetry. He says one article I present poetic elements Q. What do you mean by brev- should use the language of classical that have been used in this novel, ity? poetry or its set of words, and not the which is why I call it ‘කවියකුගේ A. Brevity means සංක්ෂිප්තභාවය or present colloquial language. Hence, නවකතාව’ (Novel of a poet). using only appropriate words. When he does not favour the common lan- Q. There is another article you analyse the word සංක්ෂිප්තභාවය, guage. His argument is that poetry in this book, called ‘අසංගත කවි’ it is made up of two words as සං and should speak to someone’s heart, not or Nonsense poetry. What is ක්ෂිප්ත. to his brain. Poetry emanates from that poetry?. To my knowledge Q. What is ක්ෂිප්ත? the heart, but the language that we this is the first time that an ar- A. It imeans to reject. ප්රතික්ෂිප්ත use, should correspond to that par- ticle about this type of poetry means to completely reject. So ticular aspect. comes into the Sinhala lan- සංක්ෂිප්ත or brevity means using only There is another matter he guage. What do you mean by required words to suit your inspira- brings up in his Hada Basa theory. Nonsense poetry? tion. It is Shaun Paul Sartre’s statement A. You can call it ‘විකාර Hence, whether a poem has 100 where he says poetry is not a com- කවි’, but the better word is words or 20 words, it doesn’t matter. mitted literature, there is no ulterior ‘අසංගත කවි’. You shouldn’t What matters is using only the re- usage. In that respect Amarasekara misinterpret Nonsense po- quired words. says words of poetry in themselves etry as No sense poetry The second factor of a good poem have no inherent meaning. So, in (‘විකාර කවි’). Nonsense is rhythm. But rhythm is not the me- my book, Hada Basa and Other writ- and No sense ter or විරිත. Meter can be a means to ings, I’m trying to answer, or rather are two different get the rhythm, but it is not always counter his theory by taking point by things. But here so. If there are correct words in the point. My opinion is, poetry is mind Nonsense means correct place, you can get the rhythm based, not heart based as he says. this poetry is some- in a poem. Correct words in the cor- Q. You say Dr. Gunadasa Ama- thing beyond any rect place is Wordsworth’s word. rasekara is against the common sensuous apprecia- Finally a poem throws some light language. But he uses the Of course, we ap- tion. In other words into life. When you read a good poem common language in his poet- preciate his book, using the words be- it reverberates inside you. There is ry? Sinhala Kawya Sam- yond or above the some life’s experience in the partic- A. That is the one thing I have pradaya (Tradition given sense. There ular poem. That is what we call the- highlighted in my book. Indeed, he of Sinhala Poetry) are certain folk po- matic depth. In writing poetry I am uses so many colloquial words in his which presents this etry similar to Non- trying to adhere to these principles. poetry. I have listed out some of the new Hada Basa the- sense poetry. I have Q. After the Mahagama Sekara’s colloquial words he has used. ory, because he was given those examples poetry movement we see many imi- Q. In my view, Amaraseakara bold enough to come in this book. And tators in Sinhala poetry. But in your does not reject the present col- forward with such a there is another non- poetic movement we don’t see such loquial language when compos- theory. However, nobody sense type of poem followers or imitators. Why? ing poetry. He says there are fixed can justify his argument. in this book, called A. It’s a difficult question to an- meanings for some of the words in Q. Though Dr. Ama- ‘පාරේ කුවන්නා’ written swer. In my case, I don’t have an icon the classical rasekara says poetic lan- by me. Hence, through or peer that should be followed or Sinhala poetry and that we guage is derived from this article of ‘අසංගත imitated. A psychologist, like Carl should use them in poetry to speak the classical literature or කවි’ I try to point out Yung – he is Sigmund Freud’s friend to the heart of the reader? Sandesha Kawya, it is actu- some similarities be- and his rival – although Yung analy- A. No. He says classical poets ally an invented language or tween our folk poetry ses so many mental status and men- have indicated the type of words that created language. Isn’t it? and Nonsense poetry. tal phenomena, he just couldn’t say should be used in composing Sinha- A. Absolutely. Poetic lan- Q. When we talk from where the poetry comes. He la poetry; you must not deviate from guage or Hada Basa is a cre- about your own poetry, said it’s a mystery for him. them; you must always use those ated language, an invented people call them short So, if Carl Yung couldn’t say about words only in the poetry. language. It is derived from the poems? that, how could others say about Q. Is this an acceptable argu- language that we have. There- A. I think it’s a wrong that? However, If some aspiring poet ment? fore, we have no authority to notion. This ‘short’ intro- listens to himself and his inspiration A. No. Because without the com- abolish or reject the particular duction means that what matters in he won’t need to imitate anyone. I mon language we cannot compose kinds of words when composing po- inspiration, that is ok. You cannot A. Yes. I have called that arti- poetry is the number of words you write my poetry, whenever I get the poetry in any language. etry. Every word is important, and discriminate words saying these are cle ‘කවියකුගේ නවකතාව’ (Novel of a use, which is not correct. And, if you inspiration. So, naturally there is no Q. If the Hada Basa theory is so depends on what you wish to ex- suitable and these are not. poet). I consider ‘Doctor Shivago’ by go through my collected volumes of way for me to imitate. And also there simple as you point out, why did press. If a colloquial word is proper Q. In your other book - Signs of Pasternak as one of the best novels poetry you will encounter a number is some inherent danger in it. There Amarasekara bring it to express a particular feeling, it is Poetry - there is a long article called in the 20th century. After the Tolstoy, of long poems. So, it is not correct can be inspiration through a long forward in such a serious way? ok. And if some classical literature ‘පැස්ටර්නැක්ගේ ‘ඩොක්ටර් ෂිවාගෝ’ Dostoevsky, Maxim Gorky novels to introduce me as someone writing time imitation. So, no aspiring writer A. I cannot understand it either. language is appropriate to express (‘Pasternak’s Doctor Shivago’? I don’t think there is an epic novel short poems. or poet imitates anyone. 29

[email protected] / Tel: 011 2 429 429, 011 2 429 228 / Fax: 0112 429 227 APRIL 12, 2020 What I displayed at Kalapola was purely my expressive work which was also experimental. Some trees had been cut down at a construction site and I saw parts of the trunks lying around and I could see that they were suitable for artistic creations. So I collected them and waited for a while to gather the tools required for wood carving. Once I had the tools I tried out these sculptures which were directly inspired by nature.

By Asela Abeywardena the lack of commissions received for them. Instead he opts for model in clay t was a Facebook post of and cast out of concrete and bronze. ‘I Kalapola 2020 which drew was commissioned to do the Wayamba my attention to the wood war hero monument as well as a series carvings. Numerous pic- of monuments for the Panagoda mili- tures and posts were being tary camp gymnasium. I specialize in Ishared by many painters and figurative work so usually the commis- sculptors but these particular sions are also along those lines.’ Ma- wooden wonders caught my hesh says and goes on to explain. eye because of their unique- ‘What I displayed at Kalapola was ness. There was something pri- purely my expressive work which was mordial about the style: as if also experimental. Some trees had the works have emerged from a been cut down at a construction site faraway forest tribe. The sculp- and I saw parts of the trunks lying tures were reminiscent of fai- around and I could see that they were Mahesh Jayawardene rytales and old ways. I was in- suitable for artistic creations. So I col- trigued and decided to contact lected them and waited for a while to the artist. gather the tools required for wood As with most artists, Mahesh Jay- carving. Once I had the tools I tried out ing harbour in Tangalle, a metal recy- pelled to face. It was a Tamil communi- awardene too has been artistically in- these sculptures which were directly cling workshop in Malwana and a pine ty and they had no drinking water. The clined even as a child. He says his artis- inspired by nature. The recent forest forest in Kandy. He says that at the fish- pine trees had absorbed all the ground tic journey took a crucial turn when he fires all over the world had deeply af- ing harbour they spent time in under- water and the streams and waterfalls got to learn A/L from Mr. Sarath Weer- fected me, so I carved and burnt the standing the lives and the sentiments that existed earlier had dried up. asinghe. wood to depict climatic changes and of that particular fishing community People would go to the kovil to do ‘I would not be this artist if not for natural disasters which we are facing and when they did the art project at pooja and perform rituals asking their my art teacher. It was he who gave me now. Eventually the sculptures began that location, the community also was gods to grant them water. A friend had exposure to sculpting and many other to look as if they had emerged from the actively engaged and could understand the idea to recreate a waterfall by using methods in addition to what the school fires of the forests.’ and appreciate what the artists were white fabric. The fabric was laid over syllabus dictated.’ After A/Ls Mahesh I probed more in to the nature of trying to do and say the rocks of a dried up water fall to had entered the University of Visual other expressive art work he has done. ‘At the Malwana iron recycling create an illusion of a waterfall. It was and Performance Arts and had special- ‘It is difficult to focus when one has plant, it was during the aftermath of very sentimental for the community to ized in sculpture for his undergraduate to take commissions to make a living. the Easter Sunday bombings and the watch that scene.’ studies. However, together with some oth- community was mainly Muslim so it The artistic endeavours had al- At present he works as a full time er batch mates I decided to form an was not very easy to approach them, lowed Mahesh and his team of fellow artist and says that even though it anonymous group so that we could do initially. We used the discarded and artists to engage and converse with could be financially difficult at times, something purely artistic which would used materials at the plant to create communities which was a rare oppor- he has no regrets and still prefers the enable us to take art to the ordinary our work and slowly the community tunity which would not have materi- vocation he has chosen to any other. people. gathered to watch what we were doing. alised if not for the art project. It is Ma- ’I get commissions to do a wide vari- This idea was based on the premise There too they joined in after a while hesh’s intention to do more work such ety of work but I do not consider all of that people are capable of understand- and enjoyed the activity with us. as this in the future. He says he plans them artistic expressions per se’. He ing and engaging with art if good art is Another profound experience we to open up a sculpture studio, academy says that he gets to do portraits of well presented to them. We designed a few had was in Kandy at a pine plantation. and an open gallery one day. known individuals, statues for reli- activities which would demand partici- The natural forest had been cut down Love for nature and oneness with gious institutions, garden sculpture as pation of the chosen communities in for the pine trees to be planted, and nature runs through Mahesh, his well as plaster and styrofoam carvings addition to the artist group’ whoever did it had not gauged the ad- friends and art. As Marc Chagall said for film sets. Mahesh says he is not in- Mahesh and his friends had taken verse environmental impact which the Mahesh has proved that ‘Great art clined to do wood carvings often due to their projects to places such as a fish- community would be eventually com- picks up where nature ends’. David Lynch Predicts a ‘More Spiritual, Much Kinder’ World After Quarantine Ends The director is spending his days quarantined in Los Angeles making lamps in his woodshop.

By Zack Sharf Work for Lynch right now does not got to stop everything,’” Lynch said in a much better way probably.” relate to film or television projects. about the coronavirus outbreak. “This When asked for advice on what The director said he’s in the middle of is going to last long enough to lead to people can do in the meantime as they avid Lynch is choosing to remain building “two wall sconces—two little some kind of new way of thinking.” wait to return to the outside world, hopeful in these dark times. The lamps. Lynch said he is hopeful people Lynch responded, “They can draw, D “Mulholland Drive” and “Twin It involves light bulbs, electricity, around the world will emerge from they can paint, they can build small Peaks” director is quarantining at his polyester resin plastic, and those kinds their quarantines “more spiritual” and things, they can write lyrics, they home in Los Angeles and told in a new of things.” Electricity is a prevalent “much kinder.” can write poems, they can write sto- interview he’s spending a lot of time motif in Lynch’s films, and he’s see- The director continued, “It’s going ries that can later be filmed, they can working on projects in his woodshop ing its value more than ever in keep- to be a different world on the other side play games, they can invent games. and, not surprisingly, drinking coffee. ing people connected across the world and it’s going to be a much more intel- So many things can happen in a small “My routine is pretty much the same during their quarantines. ligent world. Solutions to these prob- space, they can invent new recipes and now as it was before,” Lynch said. “I “For some reason, we were going lems are going to come and life’s going cooking things. It’s an opportunity for get up, and I get a coffee. … After that, down the wrong path and Mother Na- to be very good. The movies will come a bunch of different experiments.” I meditate and then I go to work.” ture just said, ‘Enough already, we’ve back. Everything will spring back and Courtesy: IndieWire 30 Sunday Observer april 12, 2020 Features ART in CURFEW The Indelible Making a sincere attempt to bring an unimagined and unex- plored treasure trove of modern Sinhala literature to the English is a series of reading community, Montage is bringing Mahinda Prasad Ma- works created in simbula ’s award winning novel ‘Senkottan’ translated by quarantine by the Due to the developments of Covid-19 Saskia Fernando Malinda Seneviratne, veteran journalist, writer and Saskia Fernando Gallery artists. As Sri Lanka poet. enters day 11 of enforced curfew SFG con- Gallery will be continuing scheduled exhibitions online ‘Senkottan’ (The Indelible), a remarkable creation of litera- tinues to receive images from inside artist’s ture by Mahinda Prasad Masimbula was his debut effort in studios. These works are being created in an via social media, website and mailing list. The online his literary career for which he won the State Literary Award enforced quietude and many are a response in 2013 and short-listed in Swarna Pusthaka Literary Awards to the pandemic. SFG will continue to pub- exhibitions will be installed and on view depending on and many other Literary Award Festivals in the same year. lish these works via their website and social The book has been published by Santhawa Publishers and media as artists continue to share them. View developments locally. ‘Senkottan’ has blazed the trail in the self-publishing industry them via website : www.saskiafernandogal- as one of the best-selling books in Sinhala literature. lery.com CHAPTER 3, PART 1

Heen Ridee was duly bathed about a ‘It’s human being you meet, wherever week later at an auspicious moment that you go. You need doubt or fear nothing. Santhosahami Gurunnanse had calcu- You will meet groups of devotees along The pieces in the series lated. Although it was decided that a cel- the way. Get friendly with a decent group Cacti 2020 feature abstract ebration of any kind was unwarranted, a among them. After all, everyone is on renditions of cactus plants few sweets were prepared just to make a journey to acquire merit. The closest that metaphorically represent the little girl happy. Malma Ridee also route would be through Kegalle. There the two sides of every human gave notice of the date to some of her are temples everywhere. You can always being, our tough exterior that closest relatives who lived in Bungiriya. spend the night in the sermon-hall in one protects our soft interior. Just It was Guna Ralahamy who was in- of these temples. You know, I am really like human beings, each cac- vited to partake of the food laid out on proud of you both. Everyone in these vil- tus is different and as such the small table. This he did and placed lages are like animals in the jungle. They bears different characteristics, three one rupee notes on Teen Ridee’s use the castes they have acquired on ac- colours and patterns that are hand. Thereafter, he delivered a very use- count of merit accumulated as though it also represented within the ful speech to those present. The relatives is a sword. Buduhaamuduruwo has never artwork. who had come were mesmerized by the recommended anything like that. Accord- speech because it included all manner ing to the word of the Enlightened One all of information about the land and the people are equal. Everyone gets hungry. Hashan Cooray times. Tall and well-built, this remark- Everyone has to go to the toilet. They feel able man who was attired in a white sa- drowsy. If it’s a woman, she needs a man; rong and shirt and a black coat as well, a man likewise would desire a woman. spoke about the world from memory. It They have children and grandchildren The sketches titled 'Mythopoetic' are an amalgama- was revealed in his speech that he read who they grow to love and who will also tion of the movies I rewatched, the albums I play in the the ‘Silumina’ newspaper. What really annoy them. Envy, anger, greed, duplici- background, the beats I make between intervals and my caught the attention of the audience was ty, saintliness….these things are common chronic socializing via interwebs due to quarantine and his exposition of a vile man named Hitler to all. I can’t find any fault with you. You curfews. I would play the anime Akira on mute, crank up in a large country called Germany located are an exemplary group. Veerappuliyo… some Rei Ami tunes, one eye reading Bukowski quotes beyond the seas. He informed them that although you wash the clothes of other and the other looking through my Instagram news feed. Hitler was acquiring power by systemati- people you are a clean and independent All these things are happening while I'm sketching, co- cally suppressing innocent peoples who man. In countries across the sea, on the louring and cut-pasting magazines. he likened to the humble folk belonging other hand, this independence would be to Veerappuli Henaya’s caste. During the applauded. This woman suits you ideally. course of that arresting speech, Guna This decision of yours is no small matter. Ralahamy pointed out that everyone This is what I have to say about your boy Muvindu Binoy born on this earth is equal. Even the rela- too. He seems impudent but that’s his in- tives from Bungiriya went on their knees dependence. There’s a word in English and worshipped him when he was ready for such fellows….”radicol..”.’ to leave. There was no way that either Veer- Malma Ridee made use of a short in- appuli Henaya nor Malma Ridee could terval in the proceedings following lunch remember that word. It was indeed a to talk about Guna Ralahamy upon the re- strange word. quest of her Bungiriya relatives. Then Guna Ralahamy gave Veerap- ‘You know, I can’t even begin to talk puli Henaya a piece of paper on which he about the friendship between this Guna had scrawled something. Ralahamy and my man. You would have ‘I have written on this in my own noticed how he ate his fill and drank wa- handwriting. This is what I wrote: ter from one of our glasses without any ‘“The man and woman who bear this qualms whatsoever. Would anyone in our letter are on a journey from Rideevita in ‘Fondamenta' means founda- clan ever believe that such people actu- Sabaragamuwa to Anuradhapura with tion or base in architectural lan- ally exist on this earth? I told our man to the intention of accumulating merit. I guage, through these works I link ask for a place and glass for his use from who request you to help them in whatev- it to the lack of landmarks/bases that house. Do you know what he had to er way possible is Don Prancis Batuwan- today. Drawing disembodied parts hear when the request was made? tudawe alias Guna Ralahamy.” of bodies going blind and silent- ‘“Veerappuliyo, now just don’t make ‘Veerappuliyo….keep this safe and ly looking for anchorage. A walk me angry…it’s not as though I will decay whenever necessary give it to someone along the edges. After I completed and perish if I ate or drank from one of who understands letters or to a hamudu- this series I broke my ankle. your plates or glasses!” ruwo. However, if everything goes well, ‘The two of them can’t last a week you wouldn’t need to avail yourself of it.’ without seeing each other. We would The couple accepted this valuable gift Fabienne Francotte get a message asking our man to drop with both hands, worshipped that great by. And our man, for his part, would re- and honorable man and left for home. spond immediately. There’s always buf- About six or seven days later, on a falo curd there. They won’t let him leave Tuesday, Veerappuli Henaya and Malma The world is full of panic, distress, inequality and hope- until he has lunch and buffalo curd as Ridee left home on their noble journey lessness. I think this is a horrible situation and, for some peo- well. You know, he gets our man to sit on around four a.m. with four large packets ple, this state-of-being forces them to relive old memories; the cushioned seat in the middle of the of rice and some extra clothes. memories their minds would like to forget. The situation we living room. And then they talk about The light of huluaththa, the coconut- are all living in now - the constant state of fear, the confine- this and that. He will preach the word of leaf torch, played hide and seek among ment at home, the long queues to get basic goods - is daily the Buddha much better than any hamu- the trees and gave that particular dawn life for many humans all around the world; it’s only now that duruwo. Apparently, he has visited the a gloom more intense than ever before. it is affecting everybody. Now when we have enough time to country called Colombo seven times Podina, Nambu Henaya, Heen Ridee and think while safe in our homes we become aware of this. This and is not averse to tell off the great D.S. Baba Henaya like four statues watched af- is the time to understand the pain of those people who suf- Senanayake right to his face. He has also ter them from the end of their midula. A fered and still suffer all around the world before, during and met Anagarika Dharmapala. This Guna cool breath of wind encircled them and after COVID-19. This pain is inestimable so instead we should Ralahamy is supposed to be related to a proceeded towards the Arecanut grove. all focus on the hope for a better future, not only one without very important and close associate of the The torch-light could no longer be seen. a virus but a future without the social viruses of war, racism, great Dharmapala. These are not peo- It was the moment when the entire lack of empathy or the disrespect of nature. ple we can even approach, leave alone world stood still and contemplated an talk with. What is most amazing is that answer to some riddle. In the hearts of whenever visiting Godakawela, he goes all was etched but one singular thought: Pakkiarajah Pushpakanthan right through our garden. He is a highly ‘no harm whatsoever should befall these learned man who knows the secret of let- two!’ ters. He can even speak the language of Veerappuli Henaya had stroked the the white man. Now it is such a man who heads of all four before they left. Malma partook of milk-rice served on one of our Ridee had wiped her tears so much that plates and left after giving the girl three the cloth on her shoulder was damp. rupee notes…!’ ‘What merit we acquire is not for us, YEN | KINGSLEY GUNATILLAKE | ONLINE EXHIBITION Malma Ridee was demonstrating to but for you, dear children,’ Veerappuli her relatives what great fortune she had Henaya had said. been blessed with. The relatives, for their Malma Ridee had got Rambaree, her part, regretted that they did not have the sister in Bungiriya, to attend to the pu- honor of associating such people. berty rites she had undertaken to per- ……. form. She instructed the children to treat After the festivities of Heen Ridee’s their aunt well and send her for these puberty were done Veerappuli Henaya’s matters. thoughts returned to the pilgrimage to ‘May you be protected not only from Until 23.04.20 Anuradhapura. When he had intimated rogues and brigands, and creatures from his intention to Guna Ralahamy, he had the forest but even from the tiniest leaf,’ Visit : www.saskiafernandogallery. been duly urged to go ahead with the Podina wept as she murmured. The eyes com/viewing-room/ meritorious journey without any hesita- of everyone were washed once more by tion whatsoever. The enthusiasm of Veer- these few words. appulil Henaya and Malma Ridee was Podina saw Veerappuli Henaya’s wast- These paintings mark a return to a subject that sits at the further enhanced when he described the ed body in the light of the huluaththa. On core of Kingsley Gunatillake’s oeuvre. Using forms and lines renovation work on the Ruwanweliseya account of the monumental task of car- from his live nude studies juxtaposed by the artist’s textural, ab- proceeding under the leadership of the rying mountains of soiled clothes, scrub- stract painting technique; these works are homage to his prolific Veda Mahaththaya of Avariwatte. bing and drying them in the wellava, he practice. The title hints at the ever present influence of Japanese Once everything was ready for the had become extremely weak. art and culture on Gunatillake’s work and the intimate nature journey Veerappuli Henaya took Malma ‘Oh please….all that merit…it should of this comparatively hidden series that the artist chose not to Ridee to meet Guna Ralahamy. Having not be for us, but for this dearest mother publish to-date. Works feature from as early as 2009 highlight- blessed and wished them well, Guna and father,’ she thought to herself. ing the importance of the nude study in relation to the artist’s Ralahamy slipped a five rupee note into The three of them remained in the widely published abstract painting and book art. The series also Veerappuli Henaya’s hand and folded his midula long after the light of the torch observes his influencers: as a student of life drawing under the fingers around it. He declined adamantly had disappeared. Now they could only renowned H.A. Karunaratne and his exposure to the work of Jus- since Guna Ralahamy had given three ru- hear the bats quarreling among them- tin Peiris Deriniyagala and George Keyt during this same period. pees at the ceremony to mark Heen Ridee selves in the mee grove. There were as attaining age. many mee as the stars in the sky. Podina ‘Just take this Weerappuliyo…is it that wondered why the bats had to quarrel. you are displeased about some merit ac- ‘Let’s go inside…there’s still time to cruing to me?’ sleep..’ realizing that she was best suited That forced them to accept it. to lead the group, Podina suggested. Sunday Observer April 12, 2020 31 Health

Medi snips Minimise Compiled by Carol Aloysius home injuries and health risks Hiding contacts, from COVID 19 with proper suspicious symptoms, raises precautions -NHSL COVID-19 risks

By Carol Aloysius tect those living with him/her, yourself, and the – Chief MOH, CMC health staff as well as those living in the vicinity ? s the New Year dawns many people have A. Call ahead to the doctor/emergency room voiced fears of how they could deal with before you head there if you think you may have an emergency situation at home due to symptoms of COVID-19. You should also wear a “Contracting COVID 19 is not a sin. What is sinful is deliber- injuries that may occur at a time when facemask to protect others. ately hiding contacts with a history of having the disease. This they are unable to easily access medi- Q. Advice to someone caring for a COVID pa- will cause it to spread to the rest of the society inflicting unnec- Acal care. The Sunday Observer spoke to National tient? essary worry and suffering to all who have been in contact with Coordinator Training Programs, and Specialist A. Wear a face mask and gloves if you are caring the patient”, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Colombo Munici- in Accident and Emergency, Crisis Management for someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. pal Council ( CMC) Dr Ruwan Wijayamuni told the Sunday Ob- and Disaster Management, Ms Pushpa Ramya Wash your hands before you wear your mask. server in an exclusive telephone interview . Zoysa on how they should deal with such situa- Only touch the ear loops. Wipe down all surfaces He said, “Sri Lanka’s efforts to control the virus spread has tions while avoiding exposing themselves to the you come into contact with. Any regular bleach- been lauded by the World Health Organisation and the number COVID 19 virus. containing household products is likely to be effec- of positive cases so far, over 185 at the time of going to press was Excerpts... tive. You can also make a cleaning solution with 5 low in comparision to many European countries such as Italy, Q. The New Year falls this year amid fears tablespoons bleach mixed with one gallon of water. Spain, US with more advanced equipment, etc. The number of the COVID-19 virus now spreading through- (Or any other anti-septic solution) of recoveries too and low number of deaths (6) has been en- out the country. As a specialist in Accident and Q. Have you any more Dos and Don’ts for the couraging . This is because we have adopted very stringent mea- Emergency, Crisis Management , and Disaster public during the COVID outbreak? sures”, he pointed out. Management what kind of home accidents and A. 1. Do wear a cloth covering on your face at Asked at what stage of the disease curve the CMC area was, emergency situations could arise from families all times when you are not at home. he said, “According to the WHO classification we are in the 3rd getting together despite curfews to celebrate the 2. Do work from home. Leave your home only for stage where we see clustering of cases within the families of the event? essential reasons, such as buying food or medi- confirmed cases; there were eighteen from the city of Colombo A. Falling objects - When children start to move cations. If you have to go out, protect yourself area - where six were from one family, four from one house, around on their own, there is an increased danger and your family members from close contact two from another house, which means twelve cases clustering of them pulling objects down on top of themselves. (stay more than 1 Meter away. in three families. We were able to take immediate steps to pre- Being conscious of your kids' health means making 3. Do move away from others who cough or sneeze vent it from spilling into the nearby community.” He said there sure any trailing electrical leads, tablecloth edges 4. Do be mindful of what surfaces you touch and were six other separate cases under house quarantine obser- and dish towels are out of reach, to help prevent how frequently you touch your face vation which were being followed up carefully. “When we get accidents. Q. How do you protect small children from information about a case the Public Health Department of the Tripping and Falls A fall can affect people the virus in a domestic setting? CMC takes it very seriously,” he said. “The moment we are noti- of all ages, but they are most common among the A. For kids, wipe down their toys or wash them fied of such a case by either the National Hospital or the Epide- very young and the very old. Often, falling over as in soap and water. The same is true for packages. miology Unit of the Ministry of Health or the Infectious Diseases a child would only hurt their pride and a few sooth- To be safe, wash your hands after you handle a Hospital ( IDH) we send a team comprising a doctor and two ing words is all that’s needed. However, if the per- package. Virus particles can survive for days on PHIs to investigate the case. For this purpose we have estab- son who has fallen subsequently becomes drowsy, hard (non-porous) surfaces so it is important to lished a COVID -19 Operations Room where a Medical Officer of vomits or loses consciousness, it is important to keep these clean. Wipe down doorknobs, counter- Health and four Public Health Inspectors are on duty round the seek medical advice. tops, stairway railings and light switches in your clock. We are on call 24 hours a day”, he said. home once every 2-3 days Q.. What about phones? Credit cards? Procedure Bruises A. Wipe your phone with disinfectant wipes or 70% isopropyl alcohol as it touches your hands and Asked about the procedure followed in the investigation pro- Even a fall that isn't serious can lead to nasty your face often. Wash your hands thoroughly after cess, he said , “They start collecting information about the oc- bruising which can be quite painful. Applying a handling cash or credit cards before touching your cupants , their medical history, their recent movements. details cold pack to the area can reduce swelling. Some- face. of families, contacts, if they had travelled abroad and where. We times severe bruising can hide more serious issues Q. Any health tips to increase immunity to the then get in touch with all these contacts and get them to house such as broken bones, so if there is continuous disease? quarantine. Thereafter we give this information to the Epidemi- pain or movement of a limb is restricted or impos- A. Do protect your immune system by getting ology Unit and the National Intelligence Unit.” Why the National sible, professional help should be sought. your vaccinations, eating a balanced diet, avoid- Intelligence Unit, we asked. “Because they have the capacity to ing too much alcohol, getting enough sleep and go deeper into the issue .They also provide us with their infor- Sprains maintaining a healthy weight. If you are vitamin mation. It is because of this well established infrastructure and deficient, you can consider supplementation of Vi- sharing of information that we have succeeded where countries A sprain is when a ligament, which connects tamin C at normal daily doses. High dose IV doses like Italy and Spain have failed, ” he said. parts of a joint, is stretched, twisted or torn. Knees, have not been established to be safe or effective. The infrastructure in Colombo includes six Medical Officers ankles and wrists are the most common parts of Eat home cooked food as far as possible. Do regular of Health from areas which come under the Chief Medical Offi- Ms Pushpa Ramya Zoysa the body affected. If this occurs, apply an ice pack, exercise in home. Stay informed of the situation as cer, for all 46 municipal wards, Dr Wijayamuni explained. They rest the affected area and give it time to heal. events and advisories are rapidly evolving. list out the information of contacts of COVD 19 and place them domestic environment safe, accidents at home Q. If you suspect you have COVID what should in quarantine .They also paste notices on their doors with all the Cuts could still happen - even in the most conscientious you do? phone numbers of who to contact by those living in the vicinity, of households. When it comes to the health of our A, If you have shortness of breath, or are in a if those in self quarantine step out of their homes . These no- Any cut means there will be some blood, and families, especially for those with young children, high-risk group or have progressive symptoms, tices also stipulate penalties for those violating the quarantine , this can be one of the most difficult things involved it makes sense to know exactly what to do if these call your doctor’s office right away. If your symp- besides protecting those in the vicinity, and minimising COVID in first aid for children. Apply pressure to stop the common scenarios do occur. toms are mild and can be managed at home, you risks. “If the number of contacts are too many they will be sent bleeding and apply an antiseptic to the area. As- Q. Many people are stressed being cooped in- are unlikely to get a COVID-19 test based on current to a quarantine centre at Punai . The infected area will be locked sessing the situation is important, but if the blood side the house and young people especially, long guidelines in Colorado and it reduces your risk if down while close contacts of people tested positive will be evac- stops following pressure, it is likely a minor cut to get outside, even at the risk of exposing them- you avoid going to the doctor uated and their homes disinfected. This is what we did during that will not need stitches. selves to the COVID virus. What is your advice to Do look for red flags, like shortness of breath, the outbreak in Maradana last week,” he said. them? fever >102F and worsening symptoms. Do seek He said the duties of the CMC Health Department do not Burns A. My advice is, they should behave in a respon- medical care if you develop any of these symptoms end once patients have been sent to hospital and their contacts sible manner. Practise “social distancing” to blunt at any time. quarantined in their homes . “We keep a vigilant eye on all Hot drinks cause most burns and scalds to chil- the spread of the virus. Let’s NOT be social – the vi- Do self-quarantine yourself for 14 days if you those in quarantine for 14 days and look out for any suspicious dren under the age of five and, of course, children rus doesn’t spread itself… people spread it! Now is come into contact with someone who tests positive symptoms in them. If they show any symptoms even after that should be kept a safe distance away from open the time to stay home to “flatten that curve”. for coronavirus. period , they must contact us. fires, cookers, irons, hair straighteners and match- Q. What should the family as a whole do to DON’Ts ? “Don’t be afraid to inform us if you have a cold, cough or fe- es. Any burn should be held under normal running minimise the risk of infecting each other when 1. Don’t just tie a scarf around your face as that can ver. Ring 1990 . Our team is ready to help you. If you have tested water for 15 minutes and then assessed. Adults – 20 stuck inside the house? be loose fitting and need more adjustment. Use positive they will transport you to the National Hospital or IDH minutes. A. Practice good hand hygiene, wash your a cloth covering that is more tight-fitting. for treatment . As our recovery rate is very good you will be able hands frequently, especially before you eat, after 2. Don’t panic – It is not a ‘panic-demic’ but don’t to recover completely as most of the patients have”, he advised. Choking you use the restroom, blow your nose or cough or take this lightly either, especially if you are ”Don’t wait till complications set in”, he warned. before you touch your face. Good hand hygiene in- healthy! Emotional contagion is the spread of In addition to this work, he said ongoing activities to control Children can often have a fascination with put- cludes washing your hands for more than 20 sec- fear or panic and is more contagious than the vi- dengue spread and minimise risk of other communicable dis- ting objects in their mouth and swallowing them, onds, including in between your fingers and under rus itself. Yes, this is serious stuff. Yes, this will eases will continue as usual along with disinfectant programs, meaning that choking is a common hazard. If you your nails, using plenty of soap and warm water. impact our way of life for some time. Most of us under his purview. cannot dislodge the object promptly, call 1990 im- If you can’t wash your hands, use an alcohol-based (81%) who get it will get a mild case or mild re- mediately. sanitizer with more than 60% alcohol. Cover your spiratory illness, just like the flu. However, even Health Ministry offers guidelines to cough or sneeze so that the droplets don’t spread to young people can have fatal complications of others. The best way to cough or sneeze is into your the disease. And, if the 20% who end up in the protect PHNOs from COVID 19 risks Poisoning elbow and not your hands. hospital all get sick at the same time, we will Q. For housewives afraid their groceries will overwhelm the medical system. So, it is time for The Ministry of Health Care and Indigenous Medical Ser- Most poisoning incidents involve medicines, run out and experience anxiety due to this? EVERYONE to take this seriously and participate vices has issued a set of guidelines for protecting Public Health household products and cosmetics around the A. Buy a 4-week supply of food, household in “social distancing” together. Nursing Officers ( PHNO) during the COVID outbreak. The Di- house. It is important to keep anything that might products and cleaning products in case we are in 3. Don’t put your shoes on surfaces you may touch. rective signed by Director Health Services Dr Anil Jasinghe and be dangerous if swallowed well out of reach of chil- a situation where social isolation or quarantine is We know that the coronavirus can sustain itself addressed to all regional provincial directors of health as well as dren as an essential part of first aid in the home. necessary. Don’t forget to wear a cloth covering on on surfaces, but don’t yet know for how long. heads of all institutions , has stated that the Ministry recognises your face at all times when you are not at home. Since we don’t typically sanitize the bottom the risks run by the PHNOs when attending to patients with non Q. What about those suffering from non com- of our shoes, we should try to avoid contact of communicable diseases in home settings during the COVID 19 Glass-related injuries municable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, shoes with jackets, scarves, purses, pens or oth- outbreak. cholesterol, heart problems? If they run out of er surfaces we commonly touch. According to the Directive, PHNOs should postpone routine Broken glass can cause serious cuts and use of their drugs they are likely to go to the nearest 4. Don’t interact with your pets if you think you may visits to patients in stable conditions. They are also advised the material around the home in furniture or fit- pharmacy to buy them, thus exposing themselves have symptoms of COVID-19. to reduce home visits to patients with chronic illnesses except tings should be carefully considered if you have a to the virus and compromising their already low- 5. Don’t treat “social distancing” like a “vacation”. when their services are absolutely essential such as when chang- young family. Make sure doors, tables and shelving ered immune systems. What is your advice to This is not the time to run errands or go to the ing a catheter, or NG tubes . conform to safety standards. them? mountains. It is important to stay home and stay Prior to their visit, the Health Ministry has asked them to as- A.I would tell them to buy a 60-90 day supply away from others. Do talk to your teenage/ado- sess the condition of the patient, whether he/she or a member Drowning of drugs. Some state pharmacies are already doing lescent kids about it. of the family are suffering from any respiratory symptoms sug- this The purpose of this is not because we are going 6. Don’t plan “play dates” for your kids if they are gesting coronavirus. They should also assess whether the pa- Young children can drown in very shallow to “run out” of things, but because we want to avoid not in school. The reason schools are closed tient or the family members had a recent history of travel in a water, and should be supervised at all times when going to a crowded public place. Also do help out is because of “social distancing” and getting a foreign country and inquire if any of them are in self quarantine near it. This includes ornamental garden ponds, an elderly neighbor who may be in need, is elderly, number of kids and parents together defeats already. water features and even baths. or has chronic medical problems and can’t go out that purpose by increasing contact. All safety precautions should be taken when attending to a Q. Who are those most at risk of such sudden to stock up. 7. Don’t share utensils or drinking glasses with oth- patient at home using appropriate Personal Protective Equip- accidents caused by excessive celebrations? The Q. If someone has a toothache or requires a ers, including family members. ment ( PPE)when visiting a patient at home, the Health Minis- Elderly? Children? Why? Is there a gender differ- dental filling is it advisable to go to a dentist at 8. Don’t shake hands or give hugs as greetings. Use try has emphasised. It has further stressed that all health care ence? this time? an alternative greeting that maintains 6-8 feet of waste material used for the patient be safely and properly dis- A. Majority of the victims 68% were male and A. Cancel elective dental, medical, recreational distance. posed of. Remind patients about taking their medications reg- 32% were females (Sours –Accident Service /NHSL) and non-essential appointments as these can inter- 9. Don’t visit your older relatives or community ularly and options of obtaining them at their residences , the Age 20 to 60 reported 70% of the victims fere with social distancing. members, as they are the highest risk group. statement adds. Q. How do you prevent these home injuries Q If called to treat an injured person dur- 10. Don’t call for testing if you don’t have symptoms during a crisis period as now? ing New Year and the patient shows symptoms as testing is not recommended if you don’t have A. No matter how much we strive to make our of COVID what precautions do you take to pro- symptoms. 32 Sunday Observer APRIL 12, 2020 Features

He Kun he Chinese artist has cre- ated a new painting called “Save the Child,” depicting Tan elderly man carrying a sick child on his back, as a woman accompanies them. They are all wearing face masks. The artwork is meant to show the impact of the virus on families. On the left side, the artist wrote: “There were happy families, but coronavirus destroyed them.”

Tommy Fung ong Kong artist Tommy Fung has created a series of coronavirus- inspired artworks on his Instagram. From groups chasing face masks to monster colds and altered monuments, they’re a reflec- Htion of what the artist sees in Hong Kong, “in an exaggerated way and Here’s how with a bit of humour,” he said. “The reaction and behaviour of people to the coronavirus is sometimes much more surrealist than my artworks and it is hard to not point it out.” He adds: “People are very frustrated and distrustful of the ineffectiveness and delayed reactions of the Hong Kong government. The elderly and people with low incomes are the most vul- nerable in this situation and they have not received a single mask from Artists are the local government.” responding Duyi Han

he designer, who divides his to the time between TShanghai and Los An- geles, created this mu- ral called “The Saints Wear White.” It’s set inside of a historic coronavirus chapel in the Hubei province of China, which is where the by Nadja Sayej the virus, so there is hope. epidemic started out. With thousands of cancelled This artwork was de- flights to and from China, part of signed to pay hom- he coronavirus has the country on lockdown and de- age to the coronavirus shaken up the world, no nied entry from China to parts medical workers, who doubt. Since January, of the world, the coronavirus is a Kuang Biao are wearing white de- the respiratory virus, global conversation. But how are he Chinese political cartoonist responded to the death of the contamination suits which had its origins in artists responding? Visual artists coronavirus whistleblower Dr. Li Wenliang, who warned of the and green face masks. TWuhan late last year, has travelled in Hong Kong, China and abroad virus via social media, with a political cartoon of the doctor Over 1,700 health care to over 24 countries, affecting tens are speaking about the virus, its Twearing a barbed wire in the shape of a face mask, silencing him. workers have been in- of thousands of people, and result- censorship and how families are According to Pat Chappatte on Twitter, the drawing has gone viral on fected by the virus and ing in over 1,800 deaths. However, suffering. Here are some of them. Weibo, the Chinese social media platform. six have reportedly over 13,000 have recovered from (Courtesy: Forbes.com) died.

Manas Sahoo his Indian sand artist based in Puri works with the material of sand on the Matsuyama beach. His piece by the beach reads “Consciousness can conquer Coronavi- Trus.” Miyabi he artist Matsuyama Miyabi has created an artwork called T“We Call It Free Will Pt. 2,” which responds to the censorship surrounding the virus. According to the BBC’s China correspon- dent Stephen McDonell on Twitter, the image has a reference to the word “Harmony” over the eyes, a catchphrase used by the former Chinese leader Hu Jintao used to censor people.

Art in the time of coronavirus: Children in Italy turn to art to cope with quarantine Why children in Italy are sharing “Andrà tutto bene” accompanied by the [rainbow] symbol... possible uses “Andrà tutto bene” means “ev- for plastic erything will be fine” in Italian. This cups as they is the message children of Italy have could. The adopted as they use art to cope with groups that the quarantine and spread messages completed of hope and positivity. the bor- The Italian government has im- ing phone posed a nationwide lockdown in book tasks an effort to tackle the world’s worst ideas do well when they let their spark as- beforehand coronavirus outbreak outside of Chi- minds drift. A 2014 study in the Jour- sociative came up na. Movements in and out of cities nal of Experimental Social Psychol- thought.” with more are severely restricted. But, this is ogy found that bored people “are In another creative an- not stopping Italians from using art more likely to engage in sensation study, research- swers than the and creativity to tackle the situation. seeking”—that is, to look for activi- ers at the Univer- control group that ties or sights that engage their minds sity of Central Lan- had not. The scientific link between and stimulate the brain’s reward cen- cashire, set out to test the Boredom, apparent- tres. These people are more prone link between boredom and cre- ly, inspires “lateral thinking”—a boredom and creativity to “divergent thinking styles” or the ativity. They asked 80 participants form of engaging your mind to seek ability to come up with creative new to perform boring tasks like copying a more creative solution to the prob- Research suggests that people ideas. So, boredom may encourage and reading numbers from a phone lem at hand because the obvious who want to come up with creative people to approach rewards and book and then to drum up as many one is just not very interesting. 33

April 12, 2020

Refrigerated trailers are in place as workers build a makeshift morgue to handle an expected surge in coronavirus victims.

Tripp who revealed US death toll Clinton-Monica passes 2,000 scandal dies in a single day

NEW YORK, April 11. (BCC) - The US has be- come the first country in the world to record more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in a single day. Figures from Johns Hopkins University show 2,108 people died in the past 24 hours while there are now more than half a million confirmed infec- tions. President Bill Clinton and then The US could soon surpass Italy as the country White House intern Monica Lewin- with the most coronavirus deaths worldwide. sky during summer days. But experts on the White House Covid-19 task force say the outbreak is starting to level off across the US. leading a broad investigation into the Dr Deborah Birx said there were good signs the Clinton administration. outbreak was stabilising, but cautioned: "As encour- Ms Tripp also disclosed that Ms aging as they are, we have not reached the peak." Lewinsky owned a blue dress that President Donald Trump also said he expects had been allegedly soiled by the pres- the US to see a lower death toll than the initial pre- ident’s semen - an infamously pruri- dictions of 100,000 fatalities, adding: "We're seeing ent detail which stuck in the public clear signs that our aggressive strategy is saving imagination. countless lives". US surgeon general shows his inhaler while discussing the impact of coronavirus on people of colour The sex scandal precipitated Mr What are the latest US figures? Clinton’s impeachment by the Repub- The US now has close to 20,000 deaths and over before temporary burials for Covid-19 victims, once ly to relax social distancing measures. "Even though lican-led House of Representatives half million confirmed cases, according to Johns an absolute worst-case scenario, become necessary. it's a grind, even though it's difficult, we have to stay in 1998, when he was found to have Hopkins, which is tracking the disease globally. Funeral directors talk openly about how scared with it." committed perjury for lying about About half of the deaths were recorded in the New and depressed the spiking death toll has left them. The danger appears to be highest for America's the relationship. Linda Tripp, a former US civil York area. Even before this week's record number of deaths, minority communities, which have been dispropor- He was acquitted by the Senate, Italy has reported over 19,000 deaths while glob- some families have had to wait a week or more to tionately affected by Covid-19. servant died at the age of 70 but the ugly political battle was seen ally more than 103,000 people have died with the bury and cremate their loved ones. Dr Jerome Adams, the US surgeon general, said as a harbinger of further division in virus. Researchers had predicted the US death toll Why might the outbreak start levelling off soon? the trend was "alarming, but not surprising" given WASHINGTON, April 10. (BBC) American politics, which became would hit its peak on Friday and then gradually start Dr Anthony Fauci, US infectious diseases chief, that minorities in the US generally had more chronic - An American civil servant whose more bitter and partisan in subse- to decline, falling to around 970 people a day by 1 concurred that the country was "starting to see the health conditions such as asthma, hypertension and disclosure of an affair between Bill quent years. May - the day members of the Trump administration levelling off and coming down" of cases and deaths. diabetes. Clinton and a White House intern Ms Tripp has insisted that she have floated as a possible date to start reopening the But despite the "important advance", he added, miti- "As a matter of fact, I have been carrying an in- nearly brought down his presidency provided the information to the Starr economy. gation efforts such as social distancing should not be haler in my pocket for 40 years out of fear of having a has died. investigation out of patriotism, but "I want to get it open as soon as possible," Mr pulled back yet. A new projection by the Institute for fatal asthma attack," continued Dr Adams, who is Af- Linda Tripp, 70, passed away af- critics accused her of betraying Ms Trump said at a Good Friday briefing at the White Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of rican-American.But he caused controversy by urg- ter suffering from pancreatic cancer, Lewinsky’s friendship and seeking to House. "I would say without question it's the biggest Washington forecast 60,000 deaths by 4 August as- ing minorities to stop drinking, smoking and taking her family told US media. undermine the presidency. decision I've ever had to make." suming that those restrictions remain in place. Last drugs to reduce their risk. He was particularly criti- Recordings Ms Tripp made of her She was fired from her job at the However, no action would be taken until the month, Dr Fauci estimated at least 100,000 deaths. cised for his use of colloquial language, when he told conversations with Monica Lewinsky Pentagon on the last day of the Clin- government knew the "country [was] going to be Also at the briefing, Dr Birx noted that the rate them to respect social distancing guidelines. became central to the 1998 impeach- ton administration in 2001, and later healthy", he said. "We don't want to go back and start of increase appeared to be stabilising in hard-hit "Do it for your abuela. Do it for your granddaddy. ment trial of then President Clinton. opened a shop with her husband in doing it over again." regions like New York, New Jersey and the city of Do it for your Big Mama. Do it for your Pop Pop," Dr She was variously praised as a Virginia. The coronavirus has changed everything about Chicago.She added that the US mortality rate was Adams said. He later advised all Americans to avoid whistle-blower and denounced as a On the news of Ms Tripp’s ill- life, and now it's upending the rituals of death. "significantly less than many of the other countries, alcohol, tobacco and drugs. partisan. ness before her death, Ms Lewinsky New Yorkers have been shocked by the grim when you correct them for our population". But she In Friday's briefing, Mr Trump also said he had The former civil servant, who tweeted: “No matter the past, upon scenes: ambulances constantly blaring down eeri- emphasised the nation had yet to see the peak of the seen the drone images of coffins being stacked in a worked at the Pentagon and had a hearing that Linda Tripp is very se- ly deserted streets, body bags being forklifted into outbreak. mass grave on New York's Hart Island. Officials there friendship with Ms Lewinsky despite riously ill, I hope for her recovery. I refrigerated trucks outside hospitals and now new "We need to continue to do what we did yester- say the island, which has been used to bury people their 24-year age difference, learnt can’t imagine how difficult this is for trenches being dug on Hart's Island for possible day, and the week before, and the week before that with no next of kin for over 150 years, is now burying that the younger woman had had a her family.” mass burials. because that's what, in the end, is going to take us up bodies at five times the normal rate. Earlier in the sexual relationship with the presi- Testifying at the Clinton trial in The remote cemetery, accessible only by boat, is across the peak and down the other side." day, Dr Fauci told CNN that officials are currently dent and began secretly recording 1998, Ms Lewinsky’s concluding re- a place regarded historically with sorrow because of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the lat- discussing whether to adopt immunity certificates their conversations in 1997. marks had been: “I’m really sorry its mass graves with no tombstones, just unclaimed est data showed the state was successfully "flatten- for Americans who have safely survived the corona- Ms Tripp turned the tapes over to for everything that’s happened, and I bodies. The city's morgues can only handle so much ing the curve", but also cautioned that it was too ear- virus and have antibodies in their blood to prove it. Kenneth Starr, the special prosecutor hate Linda Tripp.” 34 Sunday Observer APRIL 12, 2020 Foreign news China ZTE executive quits amid sex assault allegations

BEIJING, April 11. – (BBC) An ex- media reports. Mr Bao, a lawyer, has a crime. However, a fresh complaint In a separate stock ex- ecutive at Chinese tech giant ZTE has not yet commented on the allegations. was made against him in October and change filing, the Yantai resigned following reports that he is He has also been dismissed from police have launched another investi- Jereh Oilfield Services Group under investigation for sexual assault. positions at an oil company and a gation, the paper said. said Mr Bao had been fired The company announced that Bao university. According to the Chinese In a filing with the Shenzhen Stock from his role as vice-presi- Yuming, also known as Robert Y Bao, newspaper Global Times, police in Exchange on Friday, ZTE said that it dent. had stepped down from its board. the city of Yantai, in Shandong prov- had received the resignation letter of Also on Friday, the The firm, which makes telecoms ince, investigated a complaint against Mr Bao - a non-executive board mem- Southwest University of Political Sci- as a part-time researcher.Mr Bao has report, ZTE described Mr Bao as "one equipment, said in a stock exchange Mr Bao in April 2019 and concluded ber - and that he would no longer hold ence and Law, in Chongqing, said Mr been at ZTE since mid-2018, according of the top 10 chief legal officers in the filing that it was "concerned" by the that his behaviour had not constituted any position at the company. Bao had been dismissed from his post to the Global Times. In its 2018 annual country Why Pakistan’s doctors are so angry

KARACHI, April 11. (BBC) - It was supposed to be just a picture of Paki- stan’s president taking precautions during an official meeting. Amazon says its team is gathering the necessary equipment for a test lab But instead the image of President Dr Arif Alvi wearing the high-end N-95 medical mask - tweeted out on social media - has further inflamed tensions between Pakistan’s government and Amazon builds those on the front line of the fight against coronavirus. The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) noted that while “politicians and bureaucrats are often seen wear- its own testing ing N-95 masks during meetings and visits… health professionals are facing a dire shortage of (these masks) and PPE (personal protective equipment)”. lab for staff Indeed, while many countries around the world regularly take to the streets to applaud their health workers during the crisis, doctors in one city - NEW YORK, April 11. (BBC) - Re- more than 150 “significant process where almost 25 medical officials have tail giant Amazon says it will build its changes” in response to coronavirus. already tested positive - were beaten own coronavirus testing lab to moni- “Our operations sites and grocery by the police, for daring to protest over tor the health of its staff. stores are distributing masks to em- the lack of PPE. Cases of Covid-19 have been re- ployees and conducting employee Dr Alvi has since explained that he ported at more than 50 Amazon fa- temperature checks,” the company was given this mask in China during a cilities across the US. Some have in- said. recent visit and had been re-using it volved multiple infected workers. “A next step might be regular test- until its straps broke. He is now using The company said it had assem- ing of all employees, including those a common face mask. bled a team to build its own “incre- showing no symptoms. Regular test- But doctors are still not happy. mental testing capacity”. ing on a global scale across all indus- PPE shortages have been in the Amazon staff have previously tries would both help keep people headlines ever since the coronavirus Quetta has been a focal point for doctors’ protests criticised the firm over its response safe and help get the economy back pandemic struck early last month, to the coronavirus pandemic. up and running.” mainly because it was an unprec- as violent as in Quetta - and there are cerns were further raised when 40 out chi. The federal health ministry was In March, Amazon fired a New The company acknowledged that edented situation and the magnitude some good reasons for this. of the 96 people who tested positive repeatedly approached by the BBC York warehouse worker who organ- testing resources were limited, so it of demand could not have been fore- Balochistan province is already in Quetta some two weeks ago were to confirm country-wide infections ised a protest over a lack of safety had assembled a team of employees seen. For the 200,000 or so practis- under-resourced, with only two ter- found to have no travel history, indi- among health professionals, but it did precautions taken by the company. to develop its own facility. ing doctors in Pakistan, the outbreak tiary-care hospitals, both in Quetta, cating community transmission. As not respond. In a statement, Amazon said “We “We have begun assembling the came just six months after they were the capital. The region has often been doctors demanded protection, sup- By Wednesday, tensions had did not terminate Mr Smalls’ employ- equipment we need to build our first stunned by a controversial govern- politcally neglected. A low-intensity plies were arranged by the federal reached boiling point. Hundreds ment for organizing a 15-person pro- lab and hope to start testing small ment decision to close the country’s separatist insurgency has been going government, and the hospitals were of doctors and paramedics went on test. We terminated his employment numbers of our front line employees top health professionals’ regulatory on for two decades. made to sign receipts for N-95 masks. strike, gathering at Quetta’s Civil Hos- for putting the health and safety of soon. We are not sure how far we will body, the Pakistan Medical and Dental The province was also the first re- But they turned out to be K-95 masks, pital, from where they started a pro- others at risk and violations of his get in the relevant timeframe, but we Council (PMDC). cipient of coronavirus, which arrived mostly used by barbers and beauti- test march towards the chief minis- terms of his employment. Mr Smalls think it’s worth trying, and we stand That decision left 15,000 fresh with the thousands of pilgrims who cians in hair-cutting salons, Dr Shah ter’s residence. received multiple warnings for vio- ready to share anything we learn with medical graduates without certifica- crossed over from Iran during Febru- says. Police stopped them halfway to lating social distancing guidelines.” others.” tion, while around 30,000 doctors still ary and March.Soon after the virus At least 17 doctors and five para- the venue, and when they tried to Later, a memo from a meeting According to news site Bloom- await their routine five-year registra- was detected, the government set up medics in Quetta have so far tested break through the cordon, they were of Amazon executives was leaked. It berg, at least one Amazon facility is tion renewal which is necessary for a quarantine camp at the Taftan cross- positive for Covid-19. Even more pounced upon and beaten with sticks said: “We should spend the first part being investigated by the US Occu- them to continue to practise medicine ing, but the arrangement was “grossly worryingly, none of Quetta’s infected and fists.Many were injured, and more of our response strongly laying out pational Safety and Health Adminis- in Pakistan and abroad, a source in the inadequate and unprofessional”, says health workers were involved in di- than two dozen were arrested. the case for why the organiser’s con- tration over concerns it has not done PMDC said. The near absence of pro- Dr Yasir Khan, president of the Balo- rectly handling coronavirus patients, They have since been released and duct was immoral, unacceptable, ar- enough to safeguard employees. tective gear triggered unrest among chistan chapter of the Young Doctors’ Dr Khan said. It is not the only affect- have decided to call off their strike. guably illegal, in detail, and only then The Pennsylvania warehouse re- this already strained community, with Association (YDA). ed province: according to the YDA, 16 But their protest continues as PPE sup- follow with our usual talking points ceives products from manufacturer doctors all over the country resorting “People were crowded together in medics are infected in KP, and there plies, which the government claims about worker safety.” before sending them to smaller Ama- to brief protests and strikes. tents so that those who had no infec- are reports that two doctors have died to have dispatched, have yet to reach Amazon blogged it had made zon warehouses around the US. But nowhere were these protests tion also got infected,” he says. Con- in Gilgit-Baltistan region and Kara- them.

On Hezbollah commander in Iraq: Rare Ravi Shankar US offers $10m for information footage released WASHINGTON, April 11. (Al- to mark centenary jazeera) - The United States has of- fered up to US$10m for information on Hezbollah commander Sheikh Mo- NEW DELHI, April 11. (BBC) This week would have seen the 100th hammad al-Kawtharani, who was an birthday of the Indian musician Ravi Shankar, one of India’s most cel- associate of slain Iranian General Qas- ebrated artists who famously taught Beatle George Harrison to play the sem Soleimani. sitar. Kawtharani was branded a "global Planned celebrations, including concerts at the London South terrorist" by the US in 2013, accused Bank Centre and Carnegie Hall in New York, were postponed because of funding armed groups in Iraq and of the coronavirus outbreak. But to mark the occasion the Shankar helping transport Iraqi fighters to Syr- family have shared material from their private archive with the BBC. ia to join President Bashar al-Assad's Ravi Shankar’s daughter, Anoushakr Shankar, also a renowned mu- effort to put down a revolt against his sician, spoke to BBC South Asia correspondent Rajini Vaidyanathan. rule. Announcing the reward, the US State Department said Kawtharani had "taken over some of the political coor- dination of Iran-aligned paramilitary groups" formerly organised by Solei- mani, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander assassinated in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January. "In this capacity, he facilitates the actions of groups operating outside Kawtharani has been touted as a temporary stand-in to direct Iraqi Shia militias until a permanent Iranian successor the control of the Government of Iraq to Soleimani is chosen that have violently suppressed pro- tests, attacked foreign diplomatic mis- associates as part of an effort to dis- according to two Iraqi sources and clout. sions, and engaged in wide-spread or- rupt the "financial mechanisms" of the a senior Iraqi Shia Muslim leader, "Kawtharani has connections with ganised criminal activity," it said in a Lebanon-based Hezbollah. Kawtharani, for the time being, was the militia groups," the Shia leader statement. The US has blamed Iran-backed seen as the most suitable figure to di- said. "He was trusted by Soleimani, The State Department said it was armed groups for several attacks on its rect Iraqi militias until a permanent who used to depend and call on him offering the sum for information on bases in Iraq. Iranian successor could be chosen, to help him in crises and in meetings Kawtharani's activities, networks and Reuters reported in February that, although he did not have Soleimani's in Baghdad." Sunday Observer aPRIL 12, 2020 35 Foreign news

Demand for grocery Which can be farmed for meat: delivery is surging Chinese government New York (CNN Business) - In late March, Instacart worker Annaliisa Ar- ambula accepted a grocery order that came with a big tip: $55. The store was reveals draft just down the street, everything the customer wanted was available, and the order seemed to go off without a hitch. But an hour later, Arambula list of animals checked her earnings on the Instacart app and the entire tip was gone, with a message saying the "customer modi- fied the tip post-delivery." She ended up making just $8.95 from Instacart Hong Kong, April 11. (CNN) is not advisable to list them under on the order. "I was flabbergasted. - The Chinese government has is- livestock or poultry in China." I couldn't believe it," Arambula told sued a new draft list of livestock The draft has still yet to be fi- CNN Business. that can be farmed for meat in the nalized and the public has until Demand for grocery delivery is wake of the coronavirus epidemic, May 8 to provide feedback. surging amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which is suspected to have origi- In a statement on Thursday, and many customers are struggling to nated from wild animals in a Wu- the Humane Society International get the items they want or even a time han wet market. said that the draft proposal could slot for a delivery. Some people are Beijing temporarily banned all be a "game-changer" for animal dealing with that by offering big tips, trade in wild animals for food fol- protection in China. as high as $50 or more, to entice Insta- lowing the outbreak, which has "We have to await the outcome cart workers to pick up their orders. now spread globally to infect more of the consultation phase but this But some of those people have turned than 1.6 million people, but the draft could effectively pave the way the tactic into a bait-and-switch, of- new law has yet to be finalized. for China to officially take dogs fering up the big tip and then taking it China's Ministry of Agriculture and cats off the menu," spokes- away as soon as the person who risked issued a draft list of animals con- woman Wendy Higgins said.The their health to get them their groceries sidered fit to be used as livestock initial outbreak of the novel coro- has made the delivery. on Wednesday night, including navirus epidemic has been linked Before accepting a "batch" -- which dietary staples such as pigs, cows, to a wet market in Wuhan, capital can consist of one or a few orders from chickens and sheep, as well as of Hubei province in Central Chi- different customers -- workers can see "special livestock" such as a num- na, where a wide variety of wild the items requested, the store loca- ber of species of deer, alpaca and animals were being sold as meat, tion, the payment Instacart provides Demand for grocery delivery is surging amid the Covid-19 pandemic ostriches. Two species of fox, rac- including snakes, porcupine and workers for the job, and the tip being coons and minks can be kept as raccoon dogs. offered. Instacart allows customers to service shopper" for Instacart about cart, or even individual customers. customers. Carilyn, who started work- livestock but not for their meat. Wet market is a widely used change a tip for up to three days. Some a month ago and asked to be identi- "It's truly evil to bait and switch in ing for Instacart about one month There is no mention of the spe- term across parts of Asia to de- workers told CNN Business tips can fied by her first name and last initial this type of environment," said Green- ago and asked to be identified by first cies of animal which are suspected scribe markets that sell meat, fish make up half of their income or more. for fear of retribution, said she has ing. "Their livelihood and well-being name only for fear of retribution, told by scientists to have spread the vi- and perishable goods. Not all wet "It's very demoralizing," said Ar- already experienced a handful of bait- are on the line. When these shoppers CNN Business she also had a recent rus to humans, such as pangolins, markets sell animal products. ambula, who lives in the Portland, Or- and-switch tippers in Pennsylvania. and drivers see a high tip, it's an op- experience with tip baiting. bats and civet cats. Dogs are also The consumption of wild ani- egon, area and has worked full-time She said one person originally put portunity for them to put food on the When dropping off an order re- absent from the list of livestock, mals is not common in most of for Instacart since June 2017. "I don't a $32.94 tip on a 27-item order from table, so they're more willing to take cently, she said the customer told her which, if formally enforced, would China but there is a highly lucra- pretend to be a hero, like a nurse in Sam's Club, only to replace it with a a risk on their health to achieve that it was "unethical" that she wasn't able lead to China's first countrywide tive trade, especially in the coun- a hospital ... but I literally am expos- $0 tip after delivery. Another person goal." to find toilet paper and updated her tip ban on their consumption in a vic- try's south. When wild animals are ing myself [to coronavirus] and when changed a $13.31 tip on a 38-item or- While Instacart is benefiting from to $0. tory for animal rights activists. kept in close proximity and unsani- I return home, exposing my own fam- der from a different store to nothing a surge in customer orders in recent "I tried my best. A lot of people are "With the progress of human tary conditions, experts say there ily to the possibility of transmitting after delivery. weeks, workers have criticized the detached from the situation going on," civilization and the public's con- is a high risk of viruses spreading this disease. When you know that it's "It's a crapshoot," said Jenifer G., company for not doing enough to en- said Carilyn, who is based in Florida. cern and preference for animal between the animals and then po- somebody who's just doing it to game who noted half her earnings come sure they're adequately protected and "They really don't see what we see. We protection, dogs have evolved from tentially to humans. the system and to get their order when from tips, either in cash or through the paid during the pandemic. know things are a no-no, like soap, traditional livestock to companion Researchers have theorized they want it, it's really frustrating." Ar- app. "These are affluent communities For more than a week, some work- and toilet paper, you barely find eggs animals," said an accompanying that it may have been a bat or a ambula's husband is currently unem- that I'm delivering to. There's almost ers have been on strike until Instacart if you're lucky." explanation of the draft. "They are pangolin who originally spread ployed and at high risk for Covid-19 no need to not tip, especially because meets their demands including haz- (Because workers tend to be generally no longer regarded as the virus to humans, but there has because he has diabetes, so they are not only is this a convenience for you ard pay, an expansion of its coronavi- tipped a percentage of the total order livestock in the rest of the world. It been no conclusive answer yet. relying on her work for Instacart to but we're in a pandemic right now." rus pay to include those with underly- cost, when high-demand items can't pay their bills. An Instacart spokesperson said ing health conditions and a default tip be found in store -- in this case, toilet Instacart is one of several delivery that tips are always left up to a cus- of 10%. One day before the planned paper -- the tip shrinks accordingly. companies now expanding rapidly due tomer's discretion and would not com- strike, Instacart said it would change But in other cases, customers enter to demand spurred by the pandemic. ment on specific instances of tip bait- its default tip setting from 5% to the a custom tip amount and then take it Last month, the company announced ing occurring. In an email to Instacart most recently used percentage a cus- back after the delivery.) plans to bring on another 300,000 full- customers provided to CNN Business, tomer chose to tip. Jenifer G., the In- Fortunately for some, like Carilyn service shoppers in North America to the company encourages people to stacart worker, said she feels the com- and Jenifer G., the majority of recent service the increased demand. "please consider tipping above and be- pany should mandate a 10% tip "that tips have been authentic. Carilyn said An Instacart spokesperson told yond to reflect the extra effort of your sticks no matter what" on all orders she took home more than $360 in cash CNN Business the vast majority of shopper."Being able to change a tip is until stay-at-home guidance is lifted and in-app tips last week alone -- a people in March adjusted their tip up- not uncommon for on-demand deliv- and only allow people to tip above that good week for her. Jenifer G. also not- ward or did not adjust their tip after ery platforms. But other services such should they choose. ed that she's had people leave cash tips delivery. Moreover, the spokesperson as Uber (UBER) Eats and Postmates, "I can't strike, I literally cannot in envelopes at their door. said, the company recently removed which offer on-demand meal deliver- afford to, but I'll [only] shop during While some workers said they the "none" tip option for people, so ies, allow customers to change tips for 'boost times,'" she said, referring to have grown wary of large tips because users who want to tip nothing must shorter windows of time, between one high-demand times of day when Insta- of tip baiting, others sometimes risk manually change a tip to $0. The spok- and 10 hours. cart pays a few dollars more to work- picking up low tip orders in the hopes ersperson said this could deter users Bryant Greening, an attorney and ers. the person will pay more in cash. It from doing so. People can also leave co-founder of Chicago-based law firm doesn't always work, though. Jenifer feedback and rate a worker in the LegalRideshare, told CNN Business Detached customers G. said she recently picked up a 112- app, something Instacart claims typi- that a few dozen Instacart shoppers item order from Aldi for a person who cally happens if and when a person re- and drivers have reached out to his In addition to having their tips put a $1 tip in the app and there was moves a tip. firm to voice concerns over the prac- slashed at the last minute, some In- no cash tip waiting. "We always say: China has made eating wild animals illegal after the coronavirus "It's a crapshoot" tice. His law firm has discussed the stacart workers are also the target of No matter what, never trust a tip," she outbreak. But ending the trade won't be easy Jenifer G., who became a "full possibility of litigation against Insta- seemingly tone-deaf remarks from said.

New York using mass graves amid outbreak

NEW YORK, April 11. (BBC) - Im- day. But Governor Andrew Cuomo took if nothing was done to stop its spread. ages have emerged of coffins being heart from the fact that the number Stay-at-home orders have in the buried in a mass grave in New York of Covid-19 patients admitted to New meantime closed non-essential busi- City, as the death toll from the corona- York hospitals dropped for a second nesses in 42 states, while drastically virus outbreak continues to rise. day, to 200. He said it was a sign so- slowing the US economy. Workers in hazmat outfits were cial distancing was working. He called New data on Thursday showed un- seen using a ladder to descend into the outbreak a "silent explosion that employment claims topped 6 million a huge pit where the coffins were ripples through society with the same for the second week in a row, bringing stacked. randomness, the same evil that we saw the number of Americans out of work The location is Hart Island, used on 9/11". over the last three weeks to 16.8 mil- for New Yorkers with no next of kin or Another glimmer of hope was lion. who could not afford a funeral. heralded on Thursday as official pro- Chicago meanwhile imposed a cur- New York State now has more coro- jections for the nationwide death toll few on liquor sales from 21:00 local navirus cases than any single country, were lowered. time on Thursday to stop the persistent according to latest figures. Dr Anthony Fauci, a key member violation of a ban on large gatherings. The state's confirmed caseload of of the White House's coronavirus task The measure, due to remain in Covid-19 jumped by 10,000 on Thurs- force, told NBC News' Today show on place until 30 April, comes after health day to 159,937, of whom 7,000 have Thursday the final number of Ameri- officials this week said black Chicago- died. cans who will die from Covid-19 in the ans account for half of all the Illinois Spain has over 160,000 cases and outbreak "looks more like 60,000". city's coronavirus cases and more than Italy over 145,000, while China, where In late March, Dr Fauci estimated 70% of its deaths, despite making up the virus emerged last year, has report- "between 100,000 and 200,000" could just 30% of the population. ed only over 82,000 cases. die. Figures from Louisiana, Missis- The US as a whole has recorded The 60,000 projection would match sippi, Michigan, Wisconsin and New nearly half a million cases and over the upper estimate for total flu deaths York reflect the same racial disparity 17,000 deaths. Globally there are over Images have emerged of coffins being buried in the US between October 2019 to in coronavirus infections. 1.7 million cases and 100,000 deaths. March 2020, according to government Presumptive Democratic White The drone footage comes from of the coffins are for coronavirus vic- tions. porary burials" might be necessary un- data. House nominee Joe Biden joined grow- Hart Island, off the Bronx in Long Is- tims, but it is not clear whether they Prisoners from Rikers Island, the til the crisis had passed. But Vice-President Mike Pence ing calls on Thursday for the release of land Sound, which has been used for fall into the above categories. city's main jail complex, usually do "Obviously the place we have used stressed on Thursday that Covid-19 is comprehensive racial data on the pan- more than 150 years by city officials Burial operations at the site have the job, but the rising workload has re- historically is Hart Island," he said. about three times as contagious as in- demic. as a mass burial site for those with no ramped up amid the pandemic from cently been taken over by contractors. The number of coronavirus deaths fluenza. The White House has previ- He said it had cast a spotlight on next-of-kin, or families who cannot af- one day a week to five days a week, ac- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in New York state increased to over 900 ously touted estimates that 2.2 million inequity and the impact of "structural ford funerals. It is probable that many cording to the Department of Correc- indicated earlier this week that "tem- by yesterday, a record high for a fourth Americans could die from coronavirus racism". 36 Sunday Observer APRIL 12, 2020 Foreign news Under emergency powers to curb coronavirus: US expels thousands of migrants to Mexico border

NEW YORK, April 10. (BBC) - The US has expelled more than 6,300 undocumented migrants While detained at US-Mexico border: on its Mexico border using emer- gency powers to curb coronavi- rus spread, officials say. Woman gives birth The 21 March public health measure lets officials override immigration laws, expediting re- moval processes. standing with trousers on Critics say the order is being used as an extension of strict im- migration policies. NEW YORK, April 10. (The Meanwhile, the number of il- Independent) - A woman legal border crossings has fallen suffering flu-like symptoms amid travel restrictions across gave birth standing and fully the region. clothed while detained near The emergency public the Mexican-US border, ac- health order issued by the US cording to the American Civil Centers for Disease Control and Liberties Union. Prevention (CDC) bans the entry The Guatemalan woman, of foreigners considered to pose 27, was being processed at the a "serious danger" to the spread Chula Vista Border Patrol Sta- of communicable disease. tion near San Diego when her The measure, initially in complaints of pain and pleas place for 30 days, was necessary for help were allegedly ig- to limit the spread of the disease nored by agents, according to in crowded places such as border a complaint filed by the ACLU patrol stations or ports of entry, and Jewish Family Service of said CDC Director Dr Robert R San Diego with the US Depart- Redfield. The US has the world's ment of Homeland Security's highest number of confirmed Office of the Inspector Gen- A woman suffering gave birth standing and fully clothed infections - more than 460,000 - eral. while detained near the Mexican-US border and nearly 16,500 deaths. The woman, holding onto Since the CDC measure was a garbage can for support, quest any medical attention", [Department of Homeland Se- introduced, apprehensions at US Border guards in action was repeatedly told to sit and the agency said in a statement. curity Office of Inspector Gen- the border dropped by 50%, act- wait to be processed. Her hus- "Thanks to the medical eral]," the spokesman said. ing CBP commissioner Mark band, hearing a baby's cries, resources available in our In a letter to Department Morgan said. Fewer than 100 ing the disease globally. Mexico But an internal CBP docu- to countries in which they fear removed her pants to reveal stations, this woman and her of Homeland Security Inspec- people were under the agency's has around 3,500 confirmed cas- ment published by ProPublica prosecution," it said. the newborn's head while their child were well cared for and tor General Joseph Cuffari, custody, a 97% fall from the aver- es with over 200 deaths. website shows that access to pro- The letter also said the ad- daughters, aged 2 and 12, wit- received immediate medical Democratic Senator Richard age of 3,000. Those being sent back under tections such as asylum has been ministration appeared to have nessed the event, according to attention," said Chief Patrol Blumenthal demanded an in- Nearly 80% of those found at the CDC order include children effectively blocked, with excep- "granted itself sweeping powers the ACLU's interviews with the Agent Aaron Heitke. "Our vestigation into the incident, the border were being removed arriving at the border alone who tions granted only for those able to summarily expel large, un- family. agents are well trained to as well as other reported mis- within hours, Mr Morgan add- would previously be transferred to show a "reasonably believ- known numbers of individuals "This horrific case is just manage the unexpected, and treatment of pregnant women ed, saying the "overwhelming to the Department of Health and able" fear of being tortured. arriving at our border" . It said: the most recent and one of I'm proud of the work they did in custody. majority" were caught crossing Human Services to be protected On Tuesday, Democrats on "This amounts to a startling ex- the most egregious examples in caring for this mother." In the letter, Mr Blumen- illegally. Most were sent back from violence and exploitation. the Senate Judiciary Committee pansion of executive power un- of this agency's abuse," said A CBP spokesman told thal said the woman was not to Mexico while some were re- "The disease doesn't know age," wrote a letter to acting Home- der the guise of a global pan- ACLU attorney Monika Y. Lan- The Independent that after an allowed to shower after giving turned to their home countries. Mr Morgan said. land Security Secretary Chad demic response." garica. internal investigation of the birth and after returning from In recent years, most of the However, he rejected criti- Wolf, who oversees border agen- In March, 33,937 people An account of the birth by complaint, the agency "strong- hospital to the Border Patrol people trying to enter the US cism that the health measure cies, saying the government's were caught trying to cross the US Customs and Border Pro- ly disagrees with the unsub- station two days later was re- have come from Guatemala, was being used as an extension use of the emergency public border illegally, a fall of 2,577 tection (CBP), released a few stantiated allegations against fused a blanket for the baby. Honduras and El Salvador, usu- of the Trump administration's health measure was not legal. from the previous month, ac- days after the incident on 16 our agents". "Nobody should be treat- ally claiming to be fleeing pov- hardline immigration policies. "Contrary to existing law, cording to CBP. Many countries February, describes a conflict- "Based on this available in- ed this way. But sadly, this erty and violence. "This is not about immigration. individuals, families and chil- across Latin America have shut ing version of events. formation, CBP supports what woman is not the only one to Combined, those countries This is about public health," he dren are now unable to suffi- their borders in an attempt to After entering the country appear to be nothing short of have experienced inexcusable have fewer than 700 confirmed told reporters. ciently make claims for asylum, stop the disease. Last month, the illegally, the family was de- heroic actions of medical per- treatment at CBP's hands," Mr cases of Covid-19 and 32 deaths, "This is about putting forth seek other forms of humanitar- US closed its borders with Cana- tained but "did not appear to sonnel and agents on scene Blumenthal said in the state- according to a tally by Johns Hop- aggressive mitigation and con- ian protection, and, in some da and Mexico to all non-essen- be in distress and did not re- and welcomes the response of ment. kins University, which is track- tainment measures." instances, are being expelled tial travel.

‘I’m in lockdown with Great apes on lockdown my long-lost sister’ over threat of disease

AUKLAND, April 11. (BBC) - "The later, the country went into lockdown been brought into the world and he DR CONGO, April 10. (BBC) - lockdown has been an absolutely fan- and they couldn't get back to the UK. didn't know them and he wanted to Great apes have been put on lockdown tastic silver lining for us. It's given us So Sue has been able to spend some apologise for that." against the threat of coronavirus. an opportunity to make up for lost extra time with Margaret and her hus- Sue gave her details to the General Gorilla tourism in Africa has been time." band, John. Register Office - which holds records suspended, while sanctuaries for Sue Bremner and her husband Da- "We've been having a wonderful of births and deaths - and searched on other apes, such as orangutans, have vid, from Shropshire, are stranded in time here," says Sue, who lives in Lud- social media and ancestry websites. closed to the public. New Zealand due to the coronoavirus low. "We've been spending lots of time She was told she wouldn't be able It's not known if great apes can pandemic. together drinking wine and cooking to find out any information about her contract the virus, but there are grow- But it's given Sue the chance to get and having fun." sister unless Margaret got in touch ing fears that our closest living rela- to know her long-lost sister Margaret "We haven't killed each other yet," saying she wanted to be found. tives might be equally at risk. Hannay - who she didn't know existed Margaret laughs. "It's been great. It's Margaret, who moved to New Zea- This week a tiger at Bronx Zoo for more than 40 years. really hard, as you probably know, to land 45 years ago, always knew she tested positive for coronavirus. Margaret, 71, was given up for share a kitchen with someone. But we was adopted but didn't really have any New measures have been put adoption at two weeks old by her seem to manage, everything works." desire to track down her birth par- in place to protect big cats and their mum, who had a short relationship Sue found out she had an older ents. But last year, she told her daugh- caregivers. with Sue's dad in 1948. It was only sister in 2000 when her dad told her ter she had started to wonder whether Dr Kirsten Gilardi is chief veteri- last year that the sisters met for the that he'd had a child with another she had any siblings. nary officer for Gorilla Doctors, which first time after Margaret - who lives woman before he'd met her mum. She then got in touch with the provides veterinary care to gorillas in in Auckland - got in touch with Sue in "My dad asked me would I try to General Register Office and within the forests of Rwanda, Uganda and the the UK. find Margaret because he wanted her two weeks they got back to her to say Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr Eddy, head veterinarian in DRC, treating an injured gorilla (prior to Sue, 65, and her husband went out to know there's never been a day gone she had a sister - giving her Sue's con- "We don't know if it's infected the outbreak) to see her sister again as part of a two- past when he hadn't thought about tact details. mountain gorillas; we have not seen month trip across New Zealand and the child that had been adopted. "He "I was sitting there in bed with any evidence of that," she said. "But for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) get infected, what the health effects Australia on 5 March. But two weeks was very regretful that somebody had my first morning cup of tea with John because mountain gorillas are suscep- calls for a minimum distance of 10 would be, but obviously given the snoring next to me and I opened this tible to human pathogens, we know metres from great apes, with visits health implications for people it's a email and I was like, 'Oh I've got a sis- that they can develop respiratory ill- by humans reduced to the minimum risk we do not want to take with great ter'," says Margaret. ness." needed to ensure their safety and apes so these precautions everyone's "So when he woke up he found Mountain gorillas (Gorilla health. No person who is ill, or who taking are an important step to try to me sitting in bed with my cup of tea beringei beringei) are an endangered has been in contact with a sick person reduce that risk." sobbing. When I told him he was de- species of great ape found only in the in the preceding 14 days, should be al- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation lighted as he has two older brothers. forests of Rwanda, Uganda and the DR lowed near them. Centre on the island of Borneo is one I always wanted to have brothers and Congo. All three countries have seen Habitat loss and poaching are big of many sanctuaries for great apes sisters but I never did." human cases of coronavirus, with go- threats to the survival of great apes, that has closed its doors to the public. Sue says it was "amazing" when rilla tourism currently suspended. but viruses are also a concern. Infec- Susan Sheward, founder and she got an email from Margaret in- Social distancing tious disease is now listed among the chairwoman of Orangutan Appeal troducing herself - but unfortunately The work of vets and rangers who top three threats to some great ape UK, said in a statement: "This disease their dad had died before they were care for wild gorillas continues, but groups. could be fatal for the already critically reunited. "Receiving that email was with added precautions. "Much of Past research has shown that endangered orangutan, it is a risk that like winning the pools. I would've what we're practicing right now, in chimps can contract the common cold we cannot afford take. OAUK will do loved to have told my dad but I just terms of social distancing, and self- virus, while the Ebola virus is thought everything it can to make sure that kind of feel he's inside me and he quarantine, are at the heart of the rec- to have killed thousands of chimpan- the orangutans at Sepilok stay healthy knew it was happening." ommendations for protecting great zees and gorillas in Africa. and safe." Margaret and Sue also have two apes as well," said Dr Gilardi, who is Serge Wich, professor of primate There are four types of great apes brothers - Lawrence and John Connell also a veterinary professor at the Uni- biology at Liverpool John Moores Uni- alive today: gorillas (Africa), bonobos - and all four siblings met up for the versity of California, Davis. versity, UK, said many governments (Africa), orangutans (SE Asia), and first time in the UK last year. Even before the outbreak, people had closed down tourism with great chimpanzees (Africa). Humans are "It was a great opportunity for all were asked to stay seven metres away apes, while researchers and sanctu- closely related to great apes, sharing Sue and Margaret have spent a lot of time cooking together during the of a sudden meet the rest of family to from gorillas at all times. New guid- aries were taking extra measures. He a common ancestor several million lockdown see how we all got on," says Margaret. ance from the International Union said: "We don't know, if they were to years ago. Sunday Observer aPRIL 12, 2020 37 Foreign news

Abdel Sattar Airoud was among Tahsin Khrisat enjoyed telling Abdulghani Makki was a caring As well as being specialised in the first doctors to contract the people stories about his child- doctor, husband and father who modern medicine, Ghvont Mou- A scene from the funeral of Palestinian doctor Tahsin Khrisat virus from a patient hood in Jordan saw no differences between reli- radian was an expert of alterna- gions and nationalities tive therapies [Courtesy of family]

SICILY, Italy. April 11. - The 100th tian, Italian or Syrian. My sister and I doctor to die on Italy's front lines as the grew up with a broader understand- country struggles to contain the coro- ing of humankind, thanks to him," she navirus epidemic was Samar Sinjab, said. a 62-year-old Syrian woman who was Makki died on March 24, aged 79. born in Damascus. The Arab doctors His latest book, illustrated by his Having lived in Italy's northeast friend Virgili, will be published post- Veneto region since 1994, she con- humously with the title Mariam and tracted the virus from a patient in the the Savannah Queen. early stages of the pandemic and died after spending two weeks in an inten- Ghvont Mouradian - sive care unit. A 'spiritual guide' who specialised She worked until her last days. The who died of in alternative therapies last WhatsApp message she sent was to Known by his nickname Revont, one of her patients, according to the Mouradian died on March 29, aged 61. Corriere della Sera newspaper. Besides practising modern medi- More than 18,000 people have died cine, he also specialised in acupunc- in Italy from COVID-19, a disease that ture and hydrotherapy. has infected more than 143,000 people Mouradian was born to an Arme- in the country. coronavirus nian family in Qamishli, northern Syr- More than 8,000 healthcare work- ia, where he spent his childhood. ers have been infected in the country, He moved to India to study gynae- the majority in northern regions, ac- cology and in 1987, travelled to Italy to cording to the Italian National Insti- specialise in medical hydrology at the tute of Health, and at least 100 doctors University of Pavia. have died. on Italy’s front lines He became a respected thermal Family doctors visiting patients doctor in Salsomaggiore, a city in at home, without personal protec- medicine at the University of Bologna bulance. That's when we last saw him," messages to his friends and patients, aly and Syria in equal measure northern Italy known for its healing tive equipment (PPE), were the first to in the country's north. said Kinda. Airoud died on March 16. to remind them of his presence in case Born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1941, thermal baths, where he kept caring catch the virus. After four years in a private clinic, His body was buried in Brescia, a of need. It was his way of saying, 'I'll Makki was not only known as a doctor, for his patients until the lockdown was According to the Association of he opened his own practice in a town city almost two hours away from Pia- always be there for you'," Maestri said. but also as a cultural pillar in his local enforced. Foreign Doctors in Italy, there are near Piacenza, in the region of Emilia- cenza, because there was no section In the early days of the pandemic, community in Sant'Elpidio a Mare, in Mouradian's relatives, split be- about 20,000 doctors with ancestry in Romagna, and became a well-known for Muslims at the local cemetery at he was infected by a patient. Italy's Marche region. tween Syria and Lebanon, were deeply other countries. family doctor to the locals. the time. "We used a Facebook Live feature "He was a symbol of cultural in- saddened by not being able to say a fi- Of those, 3,700 come from the Mid- "He was very generous and kind. After a second Syrian national to give relatives both in Italy and Jor- tegration, his tales will be his legacy," nal goodbye due to travel restrictions. dle East. Since the 1960s, young Arabs He followed me throughout my three passed away, Piacenza's mayor secured dan a sense of normality while griev- said his friend Corrado Virgili, who last His nephew in Beirut, Sarkis have studied medicine in Italy. pregnancies, and never complained a dedicated area for Muslim burials to ing in such a painful context," Raisa saw him on March 2. Kerkezian, wrote on Facebook: "He "It was an unquestioned duty for us about my numerous phone calls to keep them closer to their loved ones. Labaran, spokesperson of the Islam- After studying medicine and sur- was there for all of us in times of trou- to serve our second homeland, consid- ease my worries. He will be missed, ic Cultural Center of Brescia, told Al gery in Italy, he had planned to return ble and when we had health issues. ering the unprecedented emergency," also as a friend," Anita Santelli, one of Tahsin Khrisat Jazeera. to Syria. But he fell in love with an Ital- "Grumpy with a unique sense of Foad Aodi, the president of the asso- his patients, told Al Jazeera. A gentle widower with a caring His pre-existing heart conditions ian woman, and had called Italy home humour, kind-hearted, loving and car- ciation, told Al Jazeera. His eldest daughter, 35-year-old bedside manner made him more vulnerable to the vi- since 1961. ing to all his family and friends. He "While treating patients, at least Kinda Airoud, said: "My father never A Palestinian from Jordan, 66-year- rus. He died on March 22. Makki specialised in reanimation left a trace with everyone who came to 15 Arab doctors have reportedly been forgot his roots, Syria was part of our old Khrisat worked in Brescia, one of Only the imam and employees of as well as paediatrics, and later den- know him with his unique spirit." hospitalised, three of whom are cur- upbringing." the worst-hit cities in the region of a local Muslim funeral home were al- tistry. His colleague Roberta Bianchi said rently in ICU with severe conditions. He had been retired for five years Lombardy. lowed to attend the burial. He helped his eldest daughter Leila on her social media page: "When you We also lost some of our colleagues but returned to work when the epi- "He had lost his wife a few years Khrisat's body now rests in the open and run a family clinic. used to leave for India or China for a and friends. But as we mourn, we still demic began; he did not want to aban- ago, and suffered because of that," Muslim section of Brescia's public "He would work with passion to as- few weeks, everybody would miss you. feel committed to Italy and our profes- don his former patients at a difficult Federica Maestri, Khrisat's former col- cemetery. However, the situation for sist his patients, never forgetting his Now that you're gone forever, you will sion." time. league, told Al Jazeera. Muslim burials remains critical in Italy role of husband, father and grandfa- leave an unbridgeable void. He was a Here, Al Jazeera profiles four Arab "We spent every summer of my She said the pain of the epidemic, amid a shortage of space. ther," Leila told Al Jazeera. colleague, a friend, a spiritual guide to doctors who have lost their lives in this youth in Syria, until the war began. But "instead of closing him in, opened him "There are now only 20 places left When he was not looking after his us all." pandemic. he also owed everything to the country to a new form of sensibility and empa- in the cemetery, and with the current patients, Makki would tell stories to his Mirko Avesani, a neurologist from that welcomed him, so it was natural thy towards others." lockdown situation, it's been hard to granddaughters - talents that saw him the Lombardy region who knew Mou- Abdel Sattar Airoud for him to help those patients he had He was kind, compassionate, fun- organise burials or repatriate the bod- author children's books. radian, told Al Jazeera that these Arab A family doctor who came out of kept in contact with." ny and, as an ER doctor, loved sharing ies to their home countries. In his tales, Makki mixed Arab and doctors, who have paid the ultimate retirement amid the epidemic Airoud was among the first doctors stories about his childhood in Amman "Fears of possible cremation, for- Italian traditions to foster intercultural sacrifice, must be remembered. Airoud was born in Aleppo, Syria, to contract coronavirus from a patient. during rare breaks in long night shifts. bidden in Islam, add to the overall sen- dialogue in his local community. "Immigration should not just be as- in 1945. As he showed mild symptoms, he test- He later opened his own private timent of anxiety," said Labaran. Leila says her father's love for Syria sociated with problems. The sacrifice At 19, he realised his dream and ed negative at first. clinic. and Italy was equal. of these doctors teaches us an impor- arrived in Italy to study medicine. He "Then suddenly one night his con- "Almost every day, Tahsin would Abdulghani Makki "In our household, there was no tant lesson, for future reference," he specialised in oncology and internal ditions worsened, so we called an am- send good morning or encouragement A loving grandfather who loved It- difference between Muslim and Chris- said.

German region eases Baltic coast travel ban

BERLIN, April 10. (BBC) - A region- death rates in Italy, Spain, France and Two cases lodged by Germans liv- al court in eastern Germany has ruled the UK. Johns Hopkins University in ing outside Mecklenburg-West Pomer- that locals can go to the popular Baltic the US puts the number of infections ania, who wanted to travel there, were coast this Easter weekend, despite the in Germany at over 118,000 with more rejected by the court. coronavirus lockdown. than 2,600 deaths. Farm workers fly in The Greifswald higher court said Germany's large-scale testing for In another exception to Germany's the regional government's travel ban infection is believed to have kept the lockdown, the federal government is was "disproportionate" in curbing figures down. allowing thousands of Romanians and people's local freedom. Germans from Magnet for holidaymakers Poles to fly in to help with the spring other regions remain banned from the The picturesque town of Stralsund harvest, especially to pick asparagus coast. on the Baltic coast is Chancellor Ange- and strawberries. The Mecklenburg-West Pomera- la Merkel's constituency - she has held Buses took newly arrived Roma- nia government has accepted the de- that seat since 1990. nians to farms from Düsseldorf air- cision. Nearby lies the island of Rügen, port on Thursday. But the government urged locals a major holiday destination for Ger- There is a shortage of farm labour to stay 2m (6.6ft) apart to avoid conta- mans. because of the coronavirus restric- gion. One of the lawyers who argued tions, so up to 80,000 foreign season- Temperatures on Germany's Bal- against the regional government's al workers will be allowed in during tic coast are set to climb above 20C on travel ban, Jost von Glasenapp, called April and May, on direct flights. Sunday and forecasters say it will be a it "meaningless", broadcaster NDR re- In normal years some 300,000 la- sunny Easter weekend. ported. bourers travel to Germany for fruit Lockdowns are in force across Nobody, he said, had been able and vegetable picking. Germany, but the restrictions vary to explain to him "why the infection Authorities are doing medical from state to state. The toughest mea- risk was higher when people travelled checks on those arriving at farms, sures have been imposed in Bavaria from the overcrowded town to the spa- keeping them separate from other and the Saarland. cious coast". workers, and obliging them to work The number of Germans infected In its ruling the court also de- only in small groups. with Covid-19 has risen for the fourth scribed as "incomprehensible" the A union spokesperson, Reinhard day in a row, reaching 113,525, the re- authorities' decision to exclude the Steffen, voiced concern about the spected Robert Koch Institute says. regional capital Schwerin and its sub- scheme, in a Reuters interview. There had been four days of decline. urbs from the travel ban. "We fear that hygiene standards Almost half of those infected have re- And the judges argued that there will not be met and people's accom- covered, says the RKI. would now be more space in the sea- modation will not be properly regu- And the death toll has reached side resorts because foreigners and lated. We are calling for quarantine, 2,373, with another 266 fatalities re- Germans from outside the region with a maximum of two people to one ported on Friday - still well below the could not go there. room," he said. Germany’s windswept Baltic coast has popular resorts like Zingst AFP 38 Sunday Observer APRIL 12, 2020 Foreign news Sweden challenges Trump by refusing to lock down

STOCLHOLM, Sweden. Aril 11. (CNN) - Much of Europe is still on coro- navirus lockdown, with severe restric- tions on movement and penalties for those who transgress. But not Sweden. Restaurants and bars are open in the Nordic country, playgrounds and schools too, and the government is relying on voluntary ac- tion to stem the spread of Covid-19. It's a controversial approach, and one that's drawn US President Donald Trump's attention. "Sweden did that, the herd, they call it the herd. Sweden's suffering very, very badly," Trump said. But the Swedish government is confident its policy can work. Foreign Minister Ann Linde told Swedish TV on Wednesday that Trump was "factu- ally wrong" to suggest that Sweden was following the "herd immunity" theory Swedish authorities have allowed a large amount of personal freedom un- -- of letting enough people catch the like other European countries. virus while protecting the vulnerable, meaning a country's population builds mix up old people and young people with CNN said that supplies of protec- up immunity against the disease. Swedish restaurants have very much remained open. from schools and universities. That is tive equipment are only just staying Sweden's strategy, she said, was: not social distancing." ahead of demand. "No lockdown and we rely very much Tegnell defended the decision to derly was set until recently [April 1], and 2.5% in the UK. As for deaths, by Söderberg-Nauclér says the situa- In some ways, however, Sweden is on people taking responsibility them- keep schools open. "We know that and now the virus is widely spread April 8, coronavirus accounted for 67 tion in Stockholm, where the great ma- better prepared to weather the storm selves." closing down schools has a lot of ef- among these homes, causing the death fatalities per 1 million Swedish citi- jority of the country's infections have than other countries. Some 40% of The country's state epidemiolo- fects on health care because a lot of toll to rise." zens, according to the Swedish Health occurred, is "lost," but adds: "It is not the country's workforce worked from gist, Anders Tegnell, also pushed back people can't go to their work anymore. The World Health Organization Ministry. Norway had 19 deaths per too late for rest of the country. I wish home regularly, even before the virus against Trump's criticism that Sweden A lot of children are suffering when (WHO) is skeptical of Sweden's ap- million, Finland seven per million. we would lock down and take control struck and Sweden has a high ratio of was doing badly. "I think Sweden is they can't go to school." proach. Noting a fresh surge in the The number of deaths rose 16% on of regions not affected in same way." people living on their own, whereas in doing okay," he told CNN affiliate Ex- Elisabeth Liden, a journalist in country's infections, the WHO told Wednesday. Weather the storm southern Europe it's not uncommon to pressen. "It's producing quality results Stockholm, told CNN the city is less CNN Wednesday that it's "imperative" Some Swedish researchers are Tom Britton, professor of mathe- have three generations under one roof. the same way it's always done. So far crowded now. "The subway went from that Sweden "increase measures to demanding the government must be matical statistics at Stockholm Univer- Emma Grossmith, a British em- Swedish health care is handling this being completely packed to having control spread of the virus, prepare stricter. This week several prominent sity, models how infectious diseases ployment lawyer working in Stock- pandemic in a fantastic way." only a few passengers per car. I get and increase capacity of the health Swedish clinicians wrote an open let- behave in a population. holm, says another factor in Sweden's As of April 10, Sweden has little the sense that a vast majority are tak- system to cope, ensure physical dis- ter lamenting that large numbers of He believes 40% of the Swedish favor is a generous social welfare net over 10,000 cases of the Covid-19 vi- ing the recommendations of social dis- tancing and communicate the why and people are visiting bars, restaurants capital's population will be infected that means people don't feel obligated rus and over 900 deaths, according to tancing seriously." how of all measures to the population." and shopping malls, even ski slopes. by the end of April. While acknowl- to turn up for work if their young child Johns Hopkins University figures. But she added that while "some "Only an 'all of society' approach "This unfortunately is translating into edging the difficulty of measuring the is sick. Sweden's actions are about encour- Swedes won´t even kiss their spouse, will work to prevent escalation and a death toll that continues to climb in rate of infection, he told CNN that "my State support kicks in on day one of aging and recommending, not com- others are throwing Easter parties." turn this situation around," said a Sweden." best guess today would be 10% or a bit absence from work due to a child be- pulsion. Two days after Spain imposed Fresh surge WHO Europe spokesperson. Cecilia Söderberg-Nauclér -- a vi- more" of Swedes currently have the vi- ing sick. "The system here was already a nationwide lockdown on March 14, Much of Sweden's focus has been Sweden's "curve" -- the rate of in- rus immunology researcher at Swe- rus nationwide. well set up to help people to make Swedish authorities were encourag- to protect the elderly. Anyone aged 70 fections and deaths caused by corona- den's Karolinska Institute -- is one of Some opponents of the govern- smarter choices which ultimately ben- ing people to wash hands and stay at or older has been told to stay at home virus -- is certainly steeper than that of more than 2,000 health professionals ment's policy fear that reliance on efit the wider population," she told home if sick. On March 24, new rules and limit their social contact as much many other European countries with and researchers who signed a petition voluntary behavior will cause a much CNN. were introduced to avoid crowding at as possible. One Swedish government stricter measures. demanding tougher action. She told faster spike in cases, potentially over- But Grossmith notes a big gap be- restaurants. But they very much stayed official said that on the whole people A study by Imperial College Lon- CNN: "We are not winning this battle. whelming the health care system. Swe- tween the way Swedes and expatriates open. So did many primary and sec- supported the government's approach, don estimated that 3.1% of the Swedish It is horrifying. "Where I live people den also has one of the lowest ratios of view the virus. "There is a native trust ondary schools. Gatherings of up to 50 but many were "upset about the fact population was infected (as of March are working from home, but they go to critical care beds per capita in Europe, in the system amongst those who have people are still permitted. that no ban on visiting homes for el- 28) -- compared to 0.41% in Norway local restaurants, local cafés and they and the government official who spoke grown up with it.

The New York Times reports: Here are the facts: Coronavirus Trump is wrong in so many ways widespread among NEW YORK, April 11. (CNN) - There "We need rigorous science, we need let's go and test with the test tubes and the are several treatments being studied to the right science," said Dr. Ruanne Barn- laboratories. We don't have time," he said Saudi Royal family prevent or treat coronavirus, but Presi- abas, the principal investigator at the Uni- at an April 5 White House briefing. dent Trump has been a cheerleader for versity of Washington. "This is the most On March 30 he told Fox News that the RIYARD, April 11. (Al- one in particular: hydroxychloroquine, a urgent study we've ever worked on and drug was being studied in people and, "I jazeera) - Dozens of mem- drug currently used to treat malaria, lu- we're moving quickly to get results." think that's better than testing in a labora- bers of the ruling Saudi pus and rheumatoid arthritis. The other seven centers conducting tory, but you know, the doctors tell me no. royal family, as many as Over the past month, he's made many hydroxychloroquine studies for coronavi- Some doctors tell me no,” he said. 150, have been infected optimistic statements about hydroxychlo- rus are: Columbia University in New York; “And I got it done because I said, look, with coronavirus in recent roquine. CNN has fact-checked the presi- Intermountain Health Care, Inc. in Utah; some of these people are very sick and weeks, a news report said. dent multiple times -- such as here, here, the University of Pennsylvania; Washing- they’re not going to make it. Let’s do it. Saudi Prince Faisal bin and here -- and found that he's being un- ton University in St. Louis; Providence Let’s get it done.” Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al realistically enthusiastic. Physicians, in- Health in Oregon; ProgenaBiome, a labo- Saud - the governor of the cluding Trump's own advisor, Dr. Antho- US President Trump ratory in California and Sanofi, a pharma- Trump offered no proof that anyone capital Riyadh who is in his ny Fauci, have emphasized that in order ceutical company. was encouraging that hydroxychloro- 70s - is in intensive care af- to know if a drug is going to work -- and be Of the 15 US research centers, only a quine be tested in a lab, much less for “a ter contracting the virus, safe -- it has to be studied in clinical trials. few are studying hydroxychloroquine and Question #2: couple of years.” according to The New York It might work, but it might not. It might be azithromycin in combination; most are The infectious disease experts inter- Times, which cited hospital safe, but it also could hurt patients. studying just hydroxychloroquine. French researchers have already done viewed for this story, told CNN they don’t communications, doctors in Clinical trials are considered the gold CNN reached out to the 15 centers to a clinical study showing hydroxychloro- know of anyone who advocated for hy- the country and sources fa- standard in medicine. Boiled down to ask how long it would take them to get quine works as a treatment for coronavi- droxychloroquine research to be slowed miliar with the family. King the essentials, clinical trials take a large results. Seven centers either did not re- rus. Doesn't that tell us something? down -- in fact, they were planning their Salman and Crown Prince group of people, give half of them the spond or said they didn't know. Trump says yes. hydroxychloroquine trials before Trump Mohammed bin Salman drug and half of them a placebo, and see Six of the centers that responded said Doctors say the study was terrible, so ever mentioned the drug. (MBS) have retreated into The New York Times how each group fares. The half that takes it would take months to get study results: no. Trump first mentioned hydroxychlo- isolation to avoid the out- reported that Saudi the placebo is called the control group. Henry Ford Health System in Michigan; Trump spoke glowingly about this roquine on March 19 at a White House break. Prince Faisal bin Ban- The reason to have a control group is that University of Washington; Baylor Scott & small French study at an April 5 White briefing. Doctors at an elite hos- dar bin Abdulaziz Al it allows the doctors to tell if it's the drug White Health in Texas; Vanderbilt Univer- House briefing. Dr. David Boulware, who’s running pital that treats royals are itself that is having an effect on the study sity in Tennessee; Bassett Healthcare; and "You've seen the same test that I have," the University of Minnesota trial, says he Saud - the governor of preparing 500 more beds subjects, and not something else. Duke University in North Carolina. he said. "In France, they have a very good started planning his study ten days before for an expected influx of pa- the capital Riyadh who If the drug group and the placebo For example, doctors conducting a test." He also referred to the study in a that, on March 9. tients. is in his 70s - is in inten- group have the same results, then it's like- large clinical trial at Henry Ford are aim- March 21 tweet and wrote that hydroxy- By March 18, the day before Trump "Directives are to be sive care after contract- ly the drug did not have an effect. ing for more than 3,000 participants and chloroquine plus azithromycin "have a first uttered the word “hydroxychloro- ready for VIPs from around ing the virus. CNN searched clinicaltrials.gov, the say it will take about four months to con- real chance to be one of the biggest game quine” in public, Boulware had already the country," the operators National Institutes of Health database duct their study. Researchers running a changers in the history of medicine." recruited 61 study subjects, according to of the elite facility, the King The kingdom of about of privately and publicly funded clini- trial at New York University and the Uni- But the French study has come under his research website. Faisal Specialist Hospital, 33 million people has re- cal studies around the world, and found versity of Washington say they'll have so much fire that the journal that pub- In days, Boulware accomplished what wrote in a "high alert" sent ported over 4,000 cases and there are at least 15 research centers in around 2,000 study subjects and expect to lished it is reviewing it again and wrote he says usually takes more than a year to out electronically to senior around 50 deaths. The coun- the United States studying hydroxychloro- have results in June or July. that "a correction to the scientific record do. doctors and later obtained try, home to Islam's holiest quine to prevent or treat coronavirus. Two centers said they could have re- may be considered." “For clinical trials, this has by far by the Times. sites Mecca and Medina, Over the past few weeks, Trump has sults within weeks. The University of Min- There are several concerns about the been the fastest of my career,” he said. “I "We don't know how banned the year-round Um- made several erroneous statements relat- nesota is doing a study to see if hydroxy- paper, including that it ignored patients think it’s broken world records.” many cases we will get but rah pilgrimage and sealed ing to hydroxychloroquine studies. Here chloroquine can help prevent people who took the drug and fared poorly. high alert," said the mes- off the areas in early March. are basic questions about these studies from becoming infected with coronavi- Experts described the French study Question #4: sage, which instructed Travel in and out of the with answers from the president and then rus. They say they could have results May to CNN as "a complete failure" and "pa- "all chronic patients to be country, as well as between answers from doctors. 7, or possibly even earlier. (Here's a story thetic." Is hydroxychloroquine safe for coro- moved out ASAP" and only provinces, has since been about a physician who's a study subject in navirus patients? "top urgent cases" will be largely restricted, and four Question #1: that trial.) Question #3: Trump says yes. accepted, according to the governates and five major Rutgers University said they could Doctors say the drug can have serious newspaper. cities have been placed un- How soon until we know if hydroxy- have initial results by late April or early Have some people tried to delay hy- side effects. Trump makes it sound like The alert added any in- der 24-hour lockdown. chloroquine works against coronavirus? May on their study of whether hydroxy- droxychloroquine clinical trials? hydroxychloroquine is harmless. fected staff members will Authorities have yet to Trump says "days." chloroquine alone, or in combination Trump says yes, and he came to the “It doesn’t kill you,” he said at a brief- now be treated at a less elite announce whether they Doctors say weeks or months. with azithromycin, might help treat coro- rescue. ing on April 1, one of just many times he’s hospital to save room for will proceed with this year's On March 29 on Fox News, Trump said navirus. The reason a clinical trial can't be Doctors say they have no idea what repeated that sentiment. royals. There are thousands Hajj, scheduled for the end "we're going to have a good idea over the done in days is because the universities he's talking about.Trump has said some “What do you have to lose? Take it,” he of Saudi princes. Many trav- of July. Last year, about 2.5 next three days" whether hydroxychloro- need to recruit study subjects, who then unnamed force has been trying to keep said at an April 4 briefing. el regularly to Europe and million people travelled to quine and azithromycin work. "I think it need to take the pills for a period of time. hydroxychloroquine research in the lab The label for Plaquenil, a brand of some are believed to have Saudi Arabia to take part in might be successful ...we're going to know Doctors need to analyze the results. and he's had to swoop in and fight to hydroxychloroquine, says patients taking contracted the virus abroad the Hajj, which all Muslims within days." That all takes time -- even when doc- move it forward into human studies."But the drug have reported “life threatening and brought it back to Saudi must perform at least once Azithromycin is an antibiotic better tors are moving at lightning speed be- we don't have time to go and say, 'Gee, let's and fatal” cardiac problems and “irrevers- Arabia, the report said. in their lives if able. known as Zithromax or a Z-pack. cause of the pandemic. take a couple of years and test it out. And ible” vision problems. Sunday Observer aPRIL 12, 2020 39 Foreign news The coronavirus US aircraft carrier pandemic could threaten global

food supply, UN warns US Navy commander HONG KONG, April 11. (CNN) - As safe and prevent farm shutdowns, like the novel coronavirus pandemic shuts staggering lunch shifts to reduce the down businesses globally and sends number of people in close contact. says: countries into lockdown, the disrup- Hong Kong and Singapore can buy Vice Ad Vice Admiral Bill Merz tions are threatening to cut off supply their way out chains and increase food insecurity. Hong Kong and Singapore are two "Supermarket shelves remain of Asia's major financial hubs -- but stocked for now," the Food and Agri- with limited farmland, they both have Virus-struck aircraft culture Organization of the United Na- tiny agricultural sectors and import tions (FAO) said in a report released more than 90% of their food, accord- late last month. "But a protracted pan- ing to government websites. carrier crew demic crisis could quickly put a strain Despite this, they are in little dan- on the food supply chains, a complex ger of food shortages, experts say. For web of interactions involving farmers, starters, they both have a main sup- agricultural inputs, processing plants, plier; Hong Kong imports the vast ma- ‘struggling’ after shipping, retailers and more." jority of its food from mainland China, The issue, however, is not food and Singapore imports from Malaysia. scarcity -- at least, not yet. Rather, it's As long as these major sources stay captain’s firing the world's drastic measures in re- A woman wearing a facemask sells vegetables at a community farm in Hong steady, food staples will be secure, and sponse to the virus. Kong halted imports from other countries Washington, April 11. (CNN) detail, he saw anxiety ease and Border closures, movement re- won't make too big an impact. - The top Navy admiral overseeing questions turn more toward issues strictions, and disruptions in the tens of millions of people starved to rapidly trying to find alternate routes," Even when China was in the the virus-stricken aircraft carrier such as getting back out to sea. shipping and aviation industries have death in a famine caused by an eco- he said -- but some Australian farmers depths of its coronavirus crisis, food USS Theodore Roosevelt tells CNN Many sailors told Merz they made it harder to continue food pro- nomic campaign known as the Great may try to find new buyers within the still flowed across the border into in an exclusive interview that he were still worried about the fate of duction and transport goods interna- Leap Forward, from 1958 to 1962. country instead of looking interna- Hong Kong, said Jonathan Wong, di- found some sailors "struggling" their former commanding officer. tionally -- placing countries with few But modern China is an entirely tionally. rector of the Institute of Bioresource and "upset" after their command- Hundreds of crew members alternative food sources at high risk. different country, with new technol- This threatens the entire country's and Agriculture at Hong Kong Baptist ing officer was relieved of duty by had given Crozier a rousing send- Airlines have grounded thou- ogies and wealth -- and it has been economy in two ways. About 14.5% of University. the ousted acting navy secretary off in videos that went viral, clap- sands of planes and ports have closed working for years to improve its food all Australian exports are food prod- Some niche products like oysters who was forced to resign over the ping and shouting to show their -- stranding containers of food, medi- security, spending tens of billions of ucts, according to the Observatory of from France may be cut off for a while matter. respect and affection for him. cine, and other products on tarmacs dollars this past decade purchasing Economic Complexity (OEC). If farm- -- but these aren't daily necessities, The commander of the 7th Merz says sailors told him they and holding areas, said the UN Con- major seed businesses. ers aren't able to export their goods, it and Hong Kong can replace the supply Fleet, Vice Admiral Bill Merz, also worry Crozier might be punished ference on Trade and Development on These efforts appear to have soft- could cost the country tens of billions through other countries, said Wong. told CNN that a better job could under the Uniform Code of Mili- March 25. ened the blow to the food industry of dollars in lost income. And although Malaysia is current- have been done communicating tary Justice, something that Modly Heightened instability in global this time around. The central govern- The next best option is for farmers ly under a nationwide lockdown, the with crew members about the vi- had suggested before he resigned food supply will affect the poorest citi- ment distributed $20 million in subsi- to sell their goods within Australia -- food industry is one of the essential rus and how the Navy was han- over the crisis. zens most, warned the UN's Commit- dies to revive agriculture, and invested so all these agricultural products that services exempt. dling it. An ongoing investigation tee on World Food Security (CFS) in a in technology including agricultural typically are sent out into the world "Our supply chains are intact and Merz, who is now in a pre- "I got very specific questions paper last month. drones and unmanned vehicles that are suddenly entering the domestic there has been no disruption to Sin- cautionary 14-day isolation pe- about whether there would be Even private companies and orga- could keep supply chains moving market. This influx could put a lot of gapore's imports," said the Singapore riod after spending more than six UCMJ against their captain," Merz nizations have called for immediate without human contact, said the FAO pressure on the market, and affect the government in a statement after Ma- hours on the Roosevelt earlier this said, adding that he told them it is action to address the looming food ca- report. When people did go into the price at which these goods are sold, laysia announced the lockdown. week, offered the first direct view unlikely because Crozier was re- tastrophe. fields to work, they wore government- Shannon said. Even if there was any kind of dis- into the concerns of many crew lieved over his judgment in wide- "Governments, businesses, civil provided masks and protective equip- The government stepped in with ruption, Singapore has two months' members in a nearly 30-minute ly distributing his views, rather society and international agencies ment, and were given disinfectant emergency aid, announcing it would worth of produce stockpiled, and has interview after visiting the ship in than being relieved for a potential need to take urgent, coordinated ac- from local authorities, said state-run spend 110 million Australian dollars diversified its sources so it isn't whol- Guam. crime. tion to prevent the COVID pandemic news agency Xinhua. ($67.4 million) to increase the number ly reliant on Malaysia, said Singapore He described a crew that felt Merz was aware his visit to turning into a global food and human- Even the country's dominant e- of flights and help exporters transport Trade and Industry Minister Chan significant anxiety over what they the ship provided a relief valve for itarian crisis," said an open letter to commerce market stepped in; pro- their goods to key international mar- Chun Sing on Facebook. viewed as a lack of information the crew to talk to a senior officer world leaders from scientists, politi- vincial lockdowns and movement re- kets. But the pandemic has also posed The crucial thing that sets places that had been given to them about about Crozier and a subsequent cians, and companies like Nestle and strictions hampered the export and other problems. Winter is arriving in Singapore and Hong Kong apart is the virus. visit to the ship by Modly, who Unilever. transport of goods, so e-commerce gi- Australia -- which means seasonal that they have the resources to buy "There was lots of anxiety told the crew Crozier was either China's technological advances ant Alibaba set up a fund to help farm- workers nationwide are flocking to their food from alternate sources if about the virus," Merz said. "As "naïve" or "stupid" for distributing softened the blow ers find markets for their unsold prod- Queensland, which grows more than any supply lines are compromised. you can imagine the morale cov- his message. China was worst-hit by the virus ucts, the report said. 90% of the country's winter vegeta- But that isn't true for import-reliant, ers the spectrum, considering "They were visibly still up- in January and February, when thou- Australia is facing export pressure bles. Suddenly, small rural towns are low-income countries like the Pacific what they have been through," he set about the secretary's visit so sands of new cases were being report- Australia exports about two thirds booming with people arriving from Islands. said. I walked them through what I ed each day. of its agricultural products and is a out of state, looking for work on farms. "The most at risk are those with- Stress and anger knew, which really was not much The country imposed lockdowns, major supplier for the Asia Pacific re- With such a high volume of people out solid economic bases, like Kiribati Merz was visiting after acting more than what everybody else suspended inter-provincial trave and gion -- but this crucial trade is now un- living and working in close quarters, or Micronesia or Tuvalu," said David Navy Secretary Thomas Modly knew," Merz said, "I think they just ordered residents to stay at home, dis- der threat. just a handful of infections could spell Dawe, FAO senior economist. resigned, following his decision needed to tell somebody about rupting business in virtually all sec- The aviation industry has been disaster for farm operations -- but Some developing countries such to fire the Roosevelt's command- how much that hurt them and dis- tors. hit hard by the pandemic and inter- these farms can't just shut down for 14 as Laos or Myanmar produce enough er, Captain Brett Crozier, after a appointed them." "In China, logistics constraints national flights have been slashed. days, the way businesses in other sec- staples including rice that they can widely distributed message Cro- Modly was forced to resign and labor crunches have caused loss- Fewer flights mean it's now more ex- tors might. survive an import drain -- but these zier wrote about his concerns over those comments. Audio of es of fresh vegetables, limited access pensive to export food via air travel, "We're an essential service," Shan- Pacific Islands are so small that they about the impact of the virus on his speech also leaked to media to animal feed and diminished capac- said Richard Shannon, manager of non said. "People need to continue don't grow much of their own food, the crew become public. in which he used a profanity and ity of slaughterhouses," said the FAO policy and advocacy at Growcom, the eating." Queensland authorities and said Dawe. They are "remote anyway Merz repeatedly described the some crew members were heard report. China has faced severe food representative body for horticulture growers are now working to create to start with and rely heavily on im- crew as capable and performing yelling back at him. shortages before; historians estimate in Queensland state. "The industry is protocol that can both keep workers ports." well, but clearly in an unprece- Merz was able to verify Cro- dented state after the virus hit and zier's immediate superior did not their commanding officer, or CO, know he was sending the memo was abruptly relieved of duty. in which Crozier had urgently The carrier crew was "strug- asked Navy leadership to evacuate gling in the wake of losing their sailors from the Roosevelt as the CO and their perception of the virus spread. lack of activity regarding fighting Noting that, "I was not in his Here’s how churches observed the virus," Merz said. shoes," Merz offered his own ca- Merz suggested that the crew veated assessment of Crozier's ac- did not appear to have been given tions pending the outcome of an a comprehensive and clear sense ongoing investigation. of the various steps the Navy was "I certainly don't question his Good Friday taking to help the Roosevelt deal motives. I think his motives were with the virus outbreak onboard. pure. He was looking out for his That lack of information may have crew,"Merz said. caused some stress, he suggested, But Merz also noted all com- feeding the very visible anger manders have "a lot of tools avail- many crew members displayed able to be heard," adding "I am not when Modly visited the ship and going to second guess him at this addressed them about Crozier's point." dismissal. The investigation could be "I think we could have told completed as soon as next week. them earlier what we knew" Defense Secretary Mark Esper about the virus Merz said. "The said he isn't ruling out the pos- degree of accuracy against the vi- sibility that Crozier could be re- rus at any level is a little sketchy, stored to command. but I think we could have at least Currently, 447 of the Roos- bought them in earlier and started evelt's roughly 4,000 crew mem- having this dialog up front." bers, as well as Crozier, have test- "The specific questions clearly ed positive for the virus. Nearly indicated we needed to give them all the crew has been tested, but more information about the true nearly 800 are still awaiting re- dangers of the virus" and how the sults. Navy was handling aboard the Merz said it is clear from the ship, he said. "heartfelt" departure videos that A nun sits among empty pews at the Good Friday celebration at the Mother A family attends a prayer from their home during Good Friday service "I certainly don't think it was Crozier meant a lot to the crew. Teresa cathedral in Pristina, Kosovo on Good Friday. through live internet streaming in Yogyakarta, Indonesia malice by the ship or the leader- But his own reaction when he ship" he said. "I think it was just a saw them was worry about how BERLIN, April 11. (CNN) - Church- to commemorate the day Jesus Christ brated by live streaming a service. down measures in Italy. matter of getting their arm around an event with no social distancing es across the world are celebrating the was crucified. In Washington, DC, and London, A small group met at the Notre what they could and could not tell was allowed to happen. Good Friday differently this year. Worshipers in Germany attended church leaders held a service via live Dame Cathedral in Paris, which went them." "My immediate reaction was As the coronavirus pandemic con- service at a drive-in movie theater, stream.Pope Francis presided over a up in flames last year, and held a Merz said that once he began our job just got harder for us," he tinues to spread around the world, with the actual service playing on the Good Friday ceremony at St. Peter’s 40-minute service. Some of the attend- to answer the crew's questions in said. churches are finding alternative ways radio.In Indonesia, worshipers cele- Square in The Vatican despite lock- ees wore hazmat suits and masks. 40 Sunday Observer APRIL 12, 2020 Foreign news

Africans in Guangzhou are on edge, after many are left homeless: China fights a second wave of coronavirus amid rising xenophobia

Hong Kong, April 11. (CNN) - The nity followed. Then on April 7, Guang- African community in Guangzhou is zhou authorities said five Nigerians on edge after widespread accounts had tested positive for Covid-19. were shared on social media of people Fearing a cluster among the Afri- being left homeless this week, as Chi- can community, Guangzhou authori- na's warnings against imported coro- ties upgraded the risk level of Yuexiu navirus cases stoke anti-foreigner sen- and Baiyun, the areas home to the timent. city's two African enclaves, from low In the southern Chinese city, Af- to medium, state-owned Global Times ricans have been evicted from their reported. The local government Tues- homes by landlords and turned away day reported 111 imported cases of Co- from hotels, despite many claiming to vid-19 in Guangzhou, with 28 patients have no recent travel history or known from the UK and 18 from the US. In contact with Covid-19 patients. interviews with CNN, Americans and CNN interviewed more than two British nationals in Guangzhou said dozen Africans living in Guangzhou they had not heard reports of forced many of whom told of the same experi- testing, home evictions and additional ences: being left without a home, be- quarantine measures being imposed ing subject to random testing for Co- on members of their communities.On vid-19, and being quarantined for 14 Saturday, however, the US Consulate days in their homes, despite having no in Guangzhou warned African-Ameri- symptoms or contact with known pa- cans to avoid travel to the city. tients. "In response to an increase in Cov- Health authorities in Guangdong id-19 infections, officials in the Guang- province and the Guangzhou Public zhou metropolitan area escalated Security Bureau did not respond to scrutiny of foreign nationals," the con- CNN's request for comment. sulate said in a statement. "As part of The move comes amid heightened this campaign, police ordered bars and media coverage of the so-called second restaurants not to serve clients who wave of coronavirus cases, emanating appear to be of African origin. More- from infections outside of China. Ear- over, local officials launched a round lier this week, Chinese President Xi of mandatory tests for Covid-19, fol- Jinping urged authorities to carefully lowed by mandatory self-quarantine, watch for imported cases from other for anyone with 'African contacts,' re- countries, state news agency Xinhua gardless of recent travel history or pre- reported. vious quarantine completion."African- But one aspect of the data has re- Americans have also reported that An African restaurant in the San Yuan Li area of Guangzhou, near where five Nigerians tested positive for the virus. ceived relatively less public attention: some businesses and hotels refuse to on March 26, Vice Minister of Foreign do business with them." years. At 10 p.m. he says his landlord Affairs Luo Zhaohui said 90% of Chi- Homeless in Guangzhou came to the flat and cut off the elec- na's imported cases held Chinese pass- On March 21, Nigerian goods trad- tricity and water supply."I asked them, ports.On Thursday afternoon, Chinese er Chuk, who did not want to use his what did I do? I've paid rent until Sep- Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Li- full name for fear of government re- tember with two months' deposit. They jian said: "Since the beginning of the prisals, flew back to Guangzhou, his didn't give me any reason," he said. coronavirus outbreak, China and Af- home since 2009. With China's corona- Nonso called the police, who let rican countries have always support- virus cases seemingly under control, them remain in the apartment for the ed each other and have always fought he wanted to resume his trading busi- night. But in the morning, Nonso says against the virus jointly. ness, which had been stymied by the the landlord returned with a different "I would like to emphasize that the pandemic. officer, who said he had to leave. Non- Chinese government treats all foreign- The area around Guangzhou is so says he has struggled to find a new ers in China equally, opposes any dif- a manufacturing heartland, where apartment to rent. "We have contacted ferentiated practices targeted at spe- many Africans buy cheap goods to sell a lot of agents none of them are leasing cific groups of people, and has zero back home. to black foreigners," he said. tolerance for discriminatory words Chuk returned seven days before Volunteers in Guangzhou give out and actions." China closed its borders to most for- food and supplies to Africans. Cases spark a backlash eign nationals, but upon arrival, he Chris Leslie, also from Nigeria, Guangzhou has long had the larg- says he was told that he needed to en- said he was abruptly evicted from his est African community in China. Be- ter government quarantine at a hotel Guangzhou apartment on Thursday, cause many Africans in the city have for two weeks.As a trader, Chuk travels despite not defaulting on his rent and short-term business visas, they travel frequently, and is accustomed to stay- having a valid contract. into China several times a year, mak- ing in hotels during his time in China. He had nowhere to sleep that ing it difficult to calculate the size of But on Tuesday, Chuk says that night. "I will just hang out outside," the African population the city. But in when he was released, along with he said. "It is so pathetic. In a coun- 2017, approximately 320,000 Africans about 15 other Africans, with a clean try where people don't accept you and entered or left China through Guang- bill of health, they effectively became they criticize, this is just a bitter hu- zhou, according to Xinhua. homeless. Africans sleeping on the street in Guangzhou, after being unable to find shelter. miliation. The most important thing is African residents say local hostil- "We went to the hotel with the cer- having somewhere to sleep." ity to their presence is nothing new. tificate, but we were rejected," he said. On Thursday, several volunteer But when coronavirus cases emerged The group went to the police station to were all drenched and our belongings April 9, 2020. The CNN called 12 hotels owners. Nigerian trader Nonso, whose groups emerged on WeChat, mostly in the African community this month report that hotels were refusing to let soaked," he said. in Guangzhou, wanting to book a room name has been changed to protect his populated by scores of other foreign- it served to amplify existing tensions. Africans stay, but "they refused to talk His story was echoed by others for an African guest, and was informed identity due to fear of government re- ers, rallying around the displaced Af- An African in Guangzhou is tested to us." who spoke to CNN. by 10 that they would not be "accepting prisals, says he and his girlfriend re- ricans, organizing food, masks and for coronvirus at his apartment. The Guangzhou Public Security Earlier this week, images began foreign guests anymore." ceived a message from their landlord sanitation products for those left wan- A report on April 4 alleged that a Bureau, which oversees the police, did circulating online of rows of Africans Meanwhile, multiple Africans CNN at 7 p.m. on WeChat, a Chinese mes- dering the streets of Guangzhou with- Nigerian national with Covid-19 had not respond to CNN's request for com- sleeping on the streets of Guangzhou, spoke to reported being abruptly evict- saging app, saying they needed to va- out a bed. Katie Smith, an American attacked a Chinese nurse who tried to ment about events described by any- beside their luggage, having either ed from their homes. No one had evi- cate their flat by 8 p.m.. living in Guangzhou with her Moroc- stop him leaving an isolation ward at one CNN interviewed. been evicted from their apartments or dence of a government directive ask- "I told him I can't vacate in one can boyfriend, made two deliveries to a Guangzhou hospital. The report was Chuk says he had no choice but been turned away from hotels. Other ing landlords or hotels to turn away hour," said Nonso, who pays 1,500 yuan newly homeless Africans on Thursday. shared widely on social media, and lo- to sleep rough for two nights, before videos showed police harassing Afri- or reject foreigners. Rather, they say, ($212) a month for his apartment in Her name has been changed to protect cal Africans CNN spoke to say a racist finding a friend's couch to crash on. cans on the street. A video of Africans these appeared to be decisions made the Nanhai, on the outskirts of Guang- her identity, as she, too, fears reprisal backlash against the African commu- "Rain fell that day and the next and we in San Yuan Li, in Guangzhou, shot on by private individuals and business zhou, and has lived in China for three from local authorities. Inside India’s busiest Covid-19 hospital

INDORE, April 11. (BBC) - In early - diabetes, hypertension, even cancer tient is discharged. If not, the patient March, 40-year-old Ravi Dosi, a chest - so all the specialists have been called has to stay in isolation for another two specialist in India, saw a baffling surge in to help with the treatment. weeks. "It is a tough grind, mentally," in patients with respiratory problems Dr Dosi wakes up early, puts on says one doctor. at outpatient clinics. protective gear - scrubs, face masks For the last three weeks, Dr Dosi "There was almost a 50% jump and shields, N95 masks, gowns, double has been living in the hospital, away in patients with upper respiratory is- gloves and shoe covers - before going from his wife, two sons and parents. sues and sore throat. They were not on his rounds of the patients. Doctors His father is a retired pathologist. They responding to antibiotics. Testing was say they are not facing a shortage of communicate via hurried video calls, still low and we didn't really know what gear yet. between his frantic trips to the isola- was going on," Dr Dosi, who works at They are using 22 ventilators to tion wards and intensive care. Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sci- help the critical patients breathe, and I ask him when does he expect this ences, a 1,156-bed private medical col- also providing oxygen supplies to oth- to "get over", so that he can go home. lege in the central city of Indore, told ers using nasal cannulas (nose prongs). "In a couple of weeks," he says. me. Dr Dosi hasn't returned home from In the isolation wards, patients "The lockdown should have helped to Less than a fortnight later, Dr Dosi are given oral medication - antibiotics slow down the infection." hospital for three weeks began seeing an uptick in admissions and hydroxychloroquine (commonly Dr Dosi is alluding to the strict 21- of Covid-19 patients. Around the end known as HCQ), an anti-malarial drug day lockdown India imposed on 24 of March, the hospital was receiving 28 The hospital in Indore has more than 140 patients tested positive for Covid-19)Back in the - and directed to maintain social dis- March to halt the spread of the infec- infected patients every day. hospital in Indore, the doctors are bat- tancing and wash their hands regu- tion. They had dry cough, fever, and dif- tling the surge in infections. larly. Things are getting better, he says. ficulty breathing. Their blood oxygen staff working 24/7 in three shifts, were Until two weeks ago, Indian health Three isolation wards spread over "I have never seen a challenge "I am getting 10 patients for admis- levels were low. They were reporting treating 144 Covid-19 patients. (Thirty- authorities had been denying commu- two floors floors are stacked with -pa and crisis like this in my career. I sion in isolation wards, and two pa- loss of taste and smell. one had been treated and sent home nity transmission.Now a new study by tients. (The hospital has earmarked have heard stories about an outbreak tients severe enough for intensive care In the first wave of patients, nearly already.) Indian Council of Medical Research 525 beds for Covid-19 patients.) Isola- of plague in Surat [in 1994]. But this every day now. Earlier this week, it was a dozen came from far-flung districts, A total of 38 patients were in in- (ICMR) using surveillance data from tion wards have younger patients with seems to be much bigger. The biggest 50:50." more than 150km (93 miles) from In- tensive care. Twenty-one of them were 41 labs in the country has hinted at mild infection, while elderly patients challenge is to keep hopes alive and be It is possibly too early to hazard a dore, a bustling commercial city in critical. There had been seven deaths. community transmission: 52 districts with more severe symptoms are in positive," says Dr Dosi. guess about when admissions will slow Madhya Pradesh state. The state has "We are handling the largest number in 20 states and union territories re- intensive care. The oldest patient is a Keeping hopes up for patients in down to single digits. As more people now become a hotspot, with nearly 400 of Covid-19 patients in India," Vinod ported Covid-19 patients. 95-year-old man, and the youngest is a isolation can be taxing. Three tests, say are tested, the number of patients can confirmed infections out of the more Bhandari, a surgeon and chairman of Some 40% of the cases did not re- four-month-old boy. doctors, are being done for the infec- easily rise again. than 6,400 infections and nearly 200 the hospital, told me. port any history of international trav- The team of doctors handling pa- tion - if the first test comes out positive, It's been unrelenting, Dr Dosi says. deaths across the country so far. Doctors now believe that the infec- el or contact with a known case. (The tients includes chest specialists, an- the patient remains in isolation for two Early yesterday, I sent him a text to By the second week of April, Dr tion was spreading in the community survey was based on swabs collected aesthetists, microbiologists, and der- weeks, and is tested twice on two days find out what was going on. Dosi and his team of 100 doctors and long before the government admitted from nearly 6,000 patients between 15 matologists. There are patients with a after the quarantine period. If the last "Please. Have an emergency in nearly an equal number of nursing to it, and testing slowly ramped up. February and 19 March. Of them 104 lot of underlying medical conditions two tests come back negative, the pa- ICU," he replied.