Cattle slaughter and beef import monday Ananda Thera 14 september 2020 Latest Edition wants ban expedited Vol: 09/230 Price : Rs 30.00 By Thameenah Razeek READ

The Chief Incumbent of the Abhayarama CEYLON TODAY In Sports Temple in ,Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera called for a complete ban of cattle AND Bangladesh slaughtering including importation of beef ready to tour SL while insisting the ban should be expedited. WIN Addressing the Media yesterday (13) at Bangladesh is set to go ahead Abhayarama Temple, the Thera urged the LUXURY HOTEL with its scheduled three-match Prime Minister to find a STAYS! Test tour of as per way to ban consuming beef in the country schedule provided the hosts stick since Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country. to the seven-day mandatory DETAILS INSIDE quarantine regulations for the visiting team,... Story Continued on page 2 A16 Report on At today’s UNP Working Committee meeting Ranil Earmarks 20A to PM His Kin Ruwan Tomorrow By W. K. Prasad Manju as Deputy The report of the committee appointed by the Prime Minister to study the 20th Amendment to the Constitution is due to be handed over to Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa Moves afoot to tomorrow (15). The committee comprises nine members, led by Minister Professor G.L. Peiris. nominate Ravi K to the This committee is due to meet in Colombo today (14) at 6.00 p.m. post by another faction It is also reported that a lengthy discussion will be held on the proposals submitted regarding the 20th Amendment to the The promise given by UNP Leader Ranil Constitution. Wickremesinghe to the county and supporters The committee led by Minister G.L. that he would appoint a young person Peiris comprises Ministers Nimal to the UNP Leader’s post will not be Siripala De Silva, , fulfilled at the today’s (14) Working , Ali Sabri and Committee meeting, a senior UNP State Ministers Susil Working Committee member told Premajayantha, S Viyalendran as Ceylon Today. well as Members of Parliament According to him, what’s actually and Premnath C. going to happen today is the appointment Dolawatte. of a Deputy Leader for the UNP.

Story Continued on page 2 Bringing the right Gangsters hiding in Lankan maid Stricken MT New Diamond Constitution for the country Colombo lodges tortured to death Navy divers seal President has Police warn in Kuwait leak on vessel people’s mandate Arab sponsors arrested Arrest of Captain, crew lodge owners not ruled out By Leon Berenger – Maha Sanga By Chamara Amarasuriya By Leon Berenger A Kuwaiti couple was arrested yesterday The Maha Sanga has stated that President Owners of lodges in over the alleged torture and murder of their The Sri Lankan Navy has sealed an has been given the mandate by Colombo have been Sri Lankan maid, a topmost official with the inlet on the fire-stricken MT New the people to bring in a Constitution that is most warned against Foreign Employment Bureau (FEB) said. Diamond oil tanker that was leaking appropriate for the country. providing “The Sri Lankan Embassy has taken the crude oil and was causing fears of an They stated that they are more than enthusiastic accommodation to matter up on a serious note with the environmental catastrophe, a senior to see the President's forward journey to establish a criminal underworld relevant authorities in that country official said yesterday. self-sustained economy while fulfilling expectations elements. including Police investigators and it hoped A team of divers that inspected the of the citizenry. Information has that fairness and justice will be meted... rear of the tanker, which caught fire last reached Senior DIG week, found a seawater inlet spewing a Story Continued on page 2 in charge of the Story Continued on page 2 mix of crude and seawater, he said. Western Province Deshabandu 19th and 20th Amendments Tennakoon that Lankan Chief Officer in certain criminals and racketeers are using Mauritius Jail Buddhist monks want the lodges in Colombo as safe houses as operations to control the Maritime TUs neither –Ven. Ananda Thera underworld and drug rackets are continuing unabated. appeal to President Want Constitution respecting Senior DIG Tennakoon had summoned interests of Sri Lankans owners and managers of lodges to his By Leon Berenger office and given these instructions. Story Continued on page 2 By Thameenah Razeek He has also advised them on the Maritime trade unions yesterday appealed importance of using CCTV cameras to to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the The Chief Incumbent of the reveal the identity of persons who arrive at Foreign Office in Colombo to intervene in Abhayarama Temple in these lodges and to obtain clearance seeking the early release of a senior Sri Boossa Colombo, Muruththettuwe certificates regarding employees as well as Lankan Seafarer currently jailed in Ananda Thera stated that the use of technological equipment. If it Mauritius. strike continues, Buddhist monks want neither becomes apparent that a certain person is “We have already handed over a letter to the 19th nor the 20th willingly assisting in underworld or drug the President’s Office and the Ministry of numbers dwindle Amendment and they prefer a activities, the Senior DIG had explained Foreign Relations seeking their assistance to whole new Constitution clearly that all relevant property will be release the Sri Lankan Seafarer,” Palitha By Thameenah Razeek instead. confiscated. Atukorale with the National Union of... He added that the monks The hunger strike launched by several want a Constitution that Story Continued on page 2 inmates, including infamous underworld respects the interests of Sri figures, detained at the Boossa Prison, Lankans since the existing... based on several demands, continues for the fifth day with 15 strikers of the Story Continued on page 2 Namal becomes father original 40. A total of 40 inmates including notorious underworld ring leaders and Army orientation for By W. K. Prasad Prime Minister drug traffickers Gampola Vidanage Manju Mahinda Rajapaksa and Samantha Kumara alias 'Wele Suda', 50,000 graduates begins his wife were also Mohommad Najim Mohommad Imran Minister of Sports and present at the hospital alias ‘Kanjipani Imran’,... The Army orientation-training programme for Youth Affairs, Namal to see their second 50,000 graduates, recruited to the public sector, in Rajapaksa and his wife grandson. line with the President’s ‘Saubhagayaye Dekma’ Limini became parents According to Namal (Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour) policy on the same day they and Limini, their first statement and on directions of President Gotabaya celebrated their first child was the best gift Rajapaksa to the Army, begins in phases on Monday wedding anniversary. they could have got on (14) in 51 islandwide Army Centres including, On Saturday, 12 the day of their first Security Forces HQs, Regimental HQs and Training September Limini gave wedding anniversary. Schools. birth to a son at a Namal and Limini got The purpose of this one-month-long residential private hospital in married on 12 programme, implemented in five phases,... Colombo. September 2019.

Story Continued on page 2 Story Continued on page 2 A2 Monday 14 September 2020 News Scientists to probe Kandy tremor By Thameenah Razeek Universities of Peradeniya and Kundasale, Panwila, and Wattegama. over the final report on their survey. When asked whether there is a Moratuwa, to conduct a probe. The Senior Director at the GSMB “We have not yet decided whether we threat to Victoria dam, de Silva said Following a third earth tremor The minor earth tremor is said to have Udaya de Silva claimed yesterday (13) are sending a new team to observe the there is no threat to the dam for now. recorded in Kandy at around 11:30 occurred due to the Limestone deposits that the tremor was recorded at four current situation. But right now we He also emphasised the recent tremor p.m. on Friday (11), the Geological and its cavities. However, the earth seismic stations coming under the are observing it from our centres. We was a minor one compared to the Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) has tremor 1.79 on the Richter scale was purview of the bureau. The three are aware that these tremors are previous recorded tremors, adding the decided to appoint a committee today recorded at around 11:30 p.m. on Friday teams that were sent to observe the occurring only because of the general public need not panic over the (14) comprising scientists from the night, and it was felt in the areas of previous tremors had already handed Limestone deposit,” he noted. situation.

Continued from page 1 President has... These comments were made by the Viharadhikari Ranil Earmarks... Theras of Lankarama, Mirisawetiya and Sri The Working Committee member said that appoint Wijewardena to the Deputy Leader According to reports, this decision had been Sambuddha Jayanthi Viharas when the President, Wickremesinghe is nominating Ruwan post without a vote, there is a group of UNP reached at a special discussion between who is in Anuradhapura, visited these temples on Wijewardena for the post. Wijewardena is a members waiting to nominate and several Working Saturday(12). President Rajapaksa paid homage to relative of Wickremesinghe. Karunanayake to the post in the event such a Committee members yesterday. Karunanayake Atamasthanas Friday (11). Even though the UNP Leader’s intention is to proposal was presented at today’s meeting. is the Assistant Leader of the UNP. He paid homage to Lankarama Vihara and engaged in pleasantries with the Viharadhikari Ven. Ralapanawe Dhammajothi Thera. The President inspected the progress of the on-going conservations and did not forget to Navy divers... converse with the devotees present at the Vihara premises. “Navy divers launched a search of the vessel of the damage caused to it owing to the blaze fire from the engine room and other He called on the Viharadhikai Thera of the and they spotted that the internal piping that was completely extinguished on 9 compartments of the ship. Mirisawetiya, Ven. Ithalawatunawawe Gnanathilaka system connected to two seawater inlets had September, he added. The ‘MT New Diamond’ is currently located Nayaka Thera and received their blessings. been damaged and they took immediate steps Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and India together some 50 nautical miles from the Kalmunai Thereafter, President Rajapaksa visited the Sri to seal the inlet,” he said. continue to maintain a presence of nine ships Coast in the East. Sambudhdha Jayanthi Vihara and inquired into the The team of SLN divers were deployed on along with an additional three Fast Attack Meanwhile, in a related development, officials well-being of the Ven. Nugethanne Sri Panghananda Friday last week to examine the underwater Crafts (FAC) as replenishment vessels and six did not rule out the possible arrest of the ship’s thera. hull of the stricken oil tanker and to look for tugs were deployed by other stakeholders in Captain and crew depending on further any damages and possible leaks, a senior the area. In addition to that, the aircraft from investigations and legal arguments. official said. the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and a Dornier Investigators will also look into whether there The divers equipped with sophisticated aircraft belonging to the Indian Coast Guard was any negligence on the part of the crew that equipment had been tasked to inspect the are doing aerial reconnaissance intermittently, could have led to the fire that reportedly entire hull of the vessel and file a report at the Capt. de Silva further said. sparked-off from an exploding boiler located in Ananda Thera... very earliest, the official further said. “The enormous efforts put in by disaster the vessel’s engine room, officials said. The He said that the only vision of late Anagarika He said that Navy divers were used for the management teams from all sides prevented captain and crew are currently placed in self- Dharmapala Thera was to ban the consumption of first time since the vessel became crippled the fire reaching the crude oil storages, isolation at a hotel in Galle in keeping with the beef and hoped it would be done by this following a massive fire that erupted from the averting a massive maritime disaster,” he said. COVID-19 preventive guidelines. Government. The Thera has organised a parade of ship’s engine room on 3 September. Earlier, there was also alarm after a Y-12 Meanwhile, a team of CID officers has been 50 cattle on the 156th birth anniversary of the late “The divers would have been deployed earlier aircraft belonging to the SLAF detected an oil deployed to obtain a statement from the Anagarika Dharmapala, 17 September from the but had to be delayed owing to the turbulent slick about 10 to 30 metres wide but it later captain and crew of the vessel. Abhayarama Temple to the late Anagarika weather prevailing in the area that led to turned out that it did not belong to the stricken The tanker was transporting 270,000 metric Dharmapala’s statue. choppy seas,” the official said. ‘MT New Diamond’, Capt, de Silva said. tons of crude oil from the port of Mina Al The Thera said that acting IGP, C.D. Earlier, a group of 10 foreign marine experts Efforts are currently underway to remove the Ahmadi in Kuwait to the Indian port of Paradip Wickremeratne has been notified of the parade and boarded the vessel for a first hand assessment toxic gases and other vapours, caused by the when the fire took place. he has promised to support it. Meanwhile, the Thera is to discuss the ban with other religious leaders. “If Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa can suggest a noble decision like this, he should be able to walk the talk. Even though there were many suggestions Maritime TUs... that were stopped without any reason, we will never Buddhist monks... let them stop the ban of beef in the country. ... Constitution consists of bits and pieces of foreign ... Seafarers Sri Lanka (NUSS) said. Captain of the Japanese owned MV Everyone who supports this can join us on the Constitutions. “We do not have a national policy and He said that NUSS was in touch with Wakashio were arrested after the vessel parade and show their gratitude and need towards each and every politician who comes to power works the Seafarer’s family and would provide crashed into coral reef and spewed tons this,” he stated. according to their own personal agendas.” whatever assistance possible if the need of crude oil and diesel into the ocean. These concerns were raised at the Abhayarama arises. “However our immediate concern Initial investigations had revealed the Temple, yesterday (13) during a Media briefing. is for the welfare of the Seafarer since crew had guided the ship close to the court arguments in that country could shore line in order to grab an internet prolong for a considerable period of signal when it rammed into the reef. time,” Atukorale added. According to initial reports the crew is Army orientation... Meanwhile the International also alleged to have ignored warnings Lankan maid... Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) from the Mauritius Coast Guard and ... absorbs 10,000 graduates for each phase to cover all headquartered in London is also taking continued to sail towards the coast. 50,000 graduates within five months. It is being ... out the victim,” FEB Director for Planning, the matter up with the relevant The vessel was sailing from a port in implemented together with the Directorate of Training in Promotions and Media, Mangala Randeniya said. authorities in Mauritius, ITF Colombo China to Brazil when the incident took order to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes of those He further said the 46-year-old maid identified as representative Ranjan Perera said. place at a location close to Pointe recruited graduates to ensure the effective contribution M. Sudarshani Silva was a resident of Moratuwa and The Sri Lankan Chief Officer and d’Esny. to Nation-building as a trained, fully-fledged and she died shortly after arrival to the Amiri Hospital in energetic workforce. The project is to be closely Kuwait. The victim was admitted to the hospital by monitored by the Ministry of Defence and coordinated her sponsors with cuts, burns and wounds that had and supervised at all seven Security Force HQs level. been inflicted over a period of time, he said. Each phase through this method is set to train The sponsors had initially claimed their innocence Boossa strike... 10,000 graduates and achieve the full potential of the but were subsequently arrested following public sector simultaneously, covering subjects such as investigations by the local Police, Randeniya added. ... Anith Madhusanka de Silva alias to increase the amount given per ‘Leadership and Team-Building Training’, ‘Management He further said that Colombo had alerted the Lankan ‘Podi Lassi’ and Tharaka Perera inmate per month to buy items from Training’, ‘Training in Private and State sector Mission in Kuwait City who took up the matter with Wijesekera alias ‘Kosgoda Tharaka’ the Prison cafeteria from Rs 8,000 to a Establishments’, ‘Project work and Field studies’, the highest authorities without delay. engaged in the hunger strike on 10 higher amount, extending the half- ‘Cohesiveness and Resilience,’ etc, critical in developing He said the local authorities were cooperating with September. The noted drug traffickers hour time limit for talking to their an efficient public sector employee while mitigating poor the Lankan Mission and that arrangements would be are still on strike while 25 of the lawyers, increase in the number of productivity. The training would also impart knowledge made to repatriate the body at the very earliest in original 40 broke their fast. visitors per inmate and to stop the on managerial skills, understanding on the objectives of keeping with international COVID-19 guidelines. The On Friday, ‘Kanjipani Imran’, who thorough search operations conducted the Government mechanism, commitment, interest and Kuwaiti Police are also probing to ascertain if more was engaging in the hunger strike, was by the Special Task Force (STF) after dedication, self-confidence, innovation, flexibility, members of the household were also responsible for transferred to the Navy Hospital in inmates return from Courts. visualization, respect and recognition in society. the maid’s death. Boossa and later transported back to When the Prison Department was Those participating graduates according to their The victim’s body has been referred for forensic the Boossa Prison following several asked if they would agree to the Districts are segmented before mentoring them for tests to determine the exact circumstances that led to medical tests, including an demands, the Commissioner of Prisons quality of the workforce and their attitudes. In addition, her death, Randeniya added. electrocardiogram (ECG). ‘Potta (Administration) Chandana Ekanayake an opportunity would be made available to the It is not the first time that a maid has been killed by Naufer’, ‘Army Sampath’ and three yesterday (13) said they decided not to participants to engage in project work and field studies her sponsor in Kuwait. Earlier last year, a Filipina other notorious criminals have decided agree. “In the same way the others to improve their skills by identifying issues and possible maid died after she was allegedly abused by her not to support the strike action. withdrew from the strike, we expect the solutions in relevant fields. employer. The inmates on strike are demanding rest to gradually withdraw,” he said. news monday 14 september 2020 A3 Lankan held for child-sex offences Images used to blackmail girls

A Sri Lankan man, living in The report added that the one in the US, using fake both girls and shared the Magistrates Court on Friday “Sextortion is a form of Melbourne, has been charged 23-year-old was arrested after social media identities. images and videos. charged with multiple counts blackmail where someone with child-sex offences over tip-offs from both the London After gaining their trust, The man is accused of of possessing and transmitting threatens to share intimate coercing young girls into Metropolitan Police and the both girls sent intimate sending dozens of messages to child abuse material and with images of you online unless sending explicit images and FBI about young girls, aged content to the man. the girls in which he soliciting abuse material. you give in to their demands,” videos of themselves and then between 12 and 14, receiving It is further alleged he then threatened to release more of AFP Detective she said. blackmailing them to send threatening messages. used those images and videos the sexually-explicit material Superintendent Jayne “These demands are typically more, foreign media reported Investigators traced the to blackmail them for more and said he would ruin their Crossling said in this case, the for money, more intimate yesterday. messages to an address in the content, under the threat of lives if they failed to comply material had been 'doubly images, sexual favours, or in The Australian Federal Melbourne suburb of Burwood sharing the previously sent with his demands. weaponised' to facilitate an effort to control or Police alleged the man and executed a search warrant images with their friends and The man faced Melbourne so-called sextortion. humiliate a victim.” (LB) distributed the intimate in June. They seized a number family. content to the girls' families of devices for further forensic When they refused his and friends as a punishment examination which they say demands, the man allegedly for failing to comply, ‘the Daily show the man contacted two made contact with multiple Mail’ reported. young girls, one in the UK and friends and family members of National schools increased to 1,000 Acting Principals to fill existing vacancies DECs to develop school network

The Government has decided to increase the during the last five years and the issue remains. number of national schools to 1,000 and to The reason for the non implementation is because expeditiously develop some of the existing responsibilities revolve round several institutions national schools which do not have adequate ,” the President said, noting the significance of facilities. Decisions pertaining to the welfare of avoiding such weaknesses and resolving these the public and progress of society were discussed issues immediately. While taking issues related to during a meeting between President Gotabaya the medical field into consideration, they Rajapaksa and State Ministers at the Presidential discussed the need to amend the Medical Secretariat recently. It was decided to appoint Ordinance. The implementation of a proper District Educational Committees (DECs) to procedure in importing medicine and develop the school network. It was also decided to amendments in regulations for import were strengthen the liaison between zonal offices and agreed during the discussion. divisional offices. Politicians now have the "We are capable of not only meeting local opportunity to contribute to any activity that will medical requirements but also could claim a ensure the progress of the school system except share in the global supply. We have investors the transfer of teachers and admission of standing by,” Head of the Presidential Task Force students. Attention was drawn to appoint acting on Economic Revival, said. Principals to fill existing vacancies in Principal The need to implement more effective measures grades and that teaching examinations should be to control the illicit drug trade while establishing held once a year according to Teacher Service civil defence committees to assist the exercise of regulations. The main reason for vacancies in eradicating the drug menace was extensively posts of Principal was due to the failure to didcussed. conduct these examinations in a methodical The President also pointed out the importance manner, the President said. It was also decided to of a public service that could actively contribute explore the possibility of appointing competent to the development process while improving the and experienced teachers in schools as acting efficiency of their service. Some officials are afraid Principals. Flooding in urban areas during the to take decisions and this situation must be :HHN rainy season was another topic taken up for changed, President Rajapaksa emphasised, discussion. Even a minor rain would inundate the pointing out the need for politicians and State City of Colombo. “We introduced a permanent officials to work together to make the public solution to this problem. It was not operative service more efficient and streamlined.

Five nabbed with Heroin and Kerala cannabis In the past few days, the Sri Lanka Navy with carried out at Jinnapuram in Pulmoddai. Police and the Police Special Task Force (STF) In a separate operation, the Southern Naval arrested five persons and seized 610mg of heroin Command together with Police STF-Hiyare, and 802gms of Kerala cannabis. arrested three suspects with 802g of Kerala The North Central Naval Command and Mannar cannabis and seized a motorbike. Police vice branch arrested a person possessing The apprehended persons are residents of 410mg of heroin during a search operation at Shanthipuram, Pulmoddai, Galle and Shanthipuram Mannar. Polonnaruwa areas, aged 22 to 26. The accused The Eastern Naval Command, combined with along with the seized items were handed over to the Pulmoddai Police STF, nabbed a person with Police stations of Mannar and Pulmoddai and the 200mg of heroin and a motorbike during a search Excise Station in Galle. (NV) Schoolboy killed by wild jumbo A 16-year-old was initially taken to schoolboy was killed the Girandurakotte in a wild elephant Hospital by Police attack at a location in and wild life officials Girandurakotte on and succumbed to Thursday evening, his injuries while Police said yesterday. under treatment, They said the Police added. attack took place The Girandurakotte around 7.00pm close Police are conducting to the victim’s family further home. investigations. The injured student (LB)

Orbituary MORTIER – Dreno Milan Augustus Joseph (of LB Finance) Beloved son of Augustus Mortier and from 5:00 p.m. onwards of 12 September Antoinette (nee Senaratne), loving 2020. Cortege leaves funeral parlour at brother of Michelle, Rochelle, and Jason 4:30 p.m., Monday 14 September, for Mortier. Remains lie at ‘THE RESTPECT burial at the RC Section of the General HOME’, Jayaratne’s Funeral Parlour Cemetery Kanatte. A4 Monday 14 September 2020 Focus

A Misunderstood Concept One Country and One Law By M.A.M.H. Barry areas which are very personal like duties of the people) are normally principles as these protective of 18 December 1992) (7) Durban 1,11 marriage, divorce and inheritance. For enshrined and reflected in a country’s provisions are well entrenched and no and 111 and (8) The General Assembly “The worst form of inequality is to try all other purposes general law is Constitution and other respective laws one think about their abrogation as adopted by consensus the resolution to make unequal things equal” equally applicable to all. For instance, the Tenth Amendment these principles are synonymous with titled “United against racism, racial – Aristotle The Indian Supreme Court in many to the US Constitution expressly the primary objective of the State. discrimination, xenophobia and Although much is spoken about ‘one decided cases interpreted the art 14 reserves the powers not delegated Protecting Right to related intolerance” (document country and one law’ in Sri Lanka, it is (equality clause) by reading it with the under the Constitution or prohibited A/66/L.2). not a new phrase as all the countries art 15 which prohibits discrimination by it to the respective States, or to the Freedom of Religion These universal conventions, in the world have one legal system in on the grounds of religion, race, caste, people. The US Courts have affirmed declarations and resolutions basically their respective countries. However, sex, place of birth, or any of them. The this position in several leading cases. The right to freedom of religion is not require the States to protect the one legal system does not denote that section 15 though fosters national In Butchers’ Union case (1884-111 U.S. only a collective or community right, identities and rights of ethnic, there must be only one law for each identity does not deny pluralism of 746) Field J observed “…all men are but it also an individual right. In religious, cultural, linguistic and every aspect which everyone Indian culture but rather it preserves endowed, not by the edicts of modern history, it was regarded as one minorities, and such minorities should should follow. If this contention is it. Emperors or decrees of Parliament or of the first recognised human rights. be treated equally and be permitted to correct, then no country will have Many leading States where they are Acts of Congress, but by their Creator, The Code of Rhode Island of 1647 and enjoy their human rights and different laws at the different levels or federal, semi-federal or unitary have with certain inalienable rights’ that is, Westphalia Peace Treaty 1648 fundamental freedoms without for different segments of people. For either parallel or sub-legal systems, rights which cannot be bartered away recognised religious freedom. It was discrimination of any kind (Durban instance, if we take Sri Lanka, we have but they are still regarded as the part or give away except the punishment of regarded as one of the foundations of Declaration 2001). different laws in different provinces in of one legal system which crime, and among these are life, liberty Human Rights ideology. The basic Integration or Assimilation some prescribed areas by virtue of the accommodates the unity of their and pursuit of happiness, and to elements of freedom of religion and Thirteenth Amendment and Provincial people. secure these, not grant them but belief have the status of jus cogens or In a multi-cultural, religious and Council Act No. 42 of 1987, and The sub-legal systems are secure them, Governments are international customary law (Forum linguistic State like Sri Lanka the further we have different by laws in accommodated in several States in instituted among men, deriving their 18). It is also a part of Ius Gentium (law national integration is a condition various local councils. order to recognise the religious or just powers from the consent of the of Nations) and a part of Lingua Franca precedent for the Nation building. The Furthermore, we have several cultural practices of segments of the governed.” (universal language) because the national integration signifies that the different laws which govern the people in a few selected areas like Although under the Indian language of human rights has become diverse people in a State are administration and functions of the personal law which deals with the Constitution, there is no similar the moral lingua franca (Micheal H. incorporated into the society as equals different religious places or matters related to marriage, divorces, provision like the Tenth Amendment to Perry). while their diversity is respected and institutions. For examples, we have inheritance etc. Several non-Muslim the US Constitution, in Gopalan case The right to freedom of religion has recognised as the part of the State’s Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance no. countries including India, Thailand, (1950-SCR 88) Sastri J. Stated “It is to be read with the right to freedom of polity. On the other hand, the 19 of 1931(as amended) governs the Singapore, Philippine and notably true to say that, in a sense, the people thought and conscience because the assimilation may be defined as the administration of temples, The Hindu Israel which is known as the world delegated to the legislative, executive human right position on right to process whereby all the cultures Cultural Fund Act No. 31 of 1985, The only Jewish State where the Qadi and the judicial organs of the State religion is always combined with within a State are assimilated into one Church of Ceylon (Incorporation) act Courts are functioning under the their respective powers while reserving freedom of thought and conscience. In dominant culture and thereby, (No. 43 of 1998), and Muslim Mosques jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice to themselves the fundamental rights Kokkinakis v. Greece (1993) the depriving other cultures to exist. The and Charitable Trusts or Wakfs Act or Cultural Affairs. The Qadi courts in which they made paramount by European Court of Justice (ECHR 20) assimilation is not politically, socially, (No. 51 of 1956). These acts clearly Israel have jurisdiction to adjudicate providing that, the State shall not upheld ‘the freedom of religion as an morally and legally possible in a multi- indicate that different laws are matters relating to marriages, divorce, make any law which takes away or essential foundation of a democratic cultural, religious and linguistic State necessary for the functioning and financial maintenance, legal capacity abridges the rights conferred by that society and it Stated further that the like Sri Lanka as all communities are administration of different religious and guardianship, custody of children, Part (of the Constitution) …” pluralism, is indissociable from a entitled to their fundamental rights of places/institutions. paternity and inheritance, among Hence, it is a duty of any State to democratic society, which has been practicing and preserving the No sensible person would argue that others. The rights of the Muslims to secure these rights since they are the dearly won over the centuries, religious, cultural and linguistic there should be one law to manage all practice their personal law are being core values of a Constitution. As the depends on freedom of thought, rights. Hence, the very definition of the these religious places because the protected in Israel despite the fact that part of its primary duty a State should conscience and religion (25/5/93, A State should reflect the ethnic diversity of the faiths and cultures there has been a historical animosity protect its peoples’ rights and ensure 260-A). diversity and aggregation of distinct demand such different laws. These between the Arab Muslims and Israeli the justice to everyone by applying The Indian Supreme Court in the communities. laws exist because this diversity was Jews due to the Israel/Palestine land equality and equity in addressing or famous case of Shirur Mutt (1954) The indigenous laws of Sri Lanka recognised. It is not possible or correct dispute. In Sri Lanka we have a resolving any problems of the people. Stated that a religion may not only lay were recognised in the context of to demand the people to give up their pluralistic legal system which has been Justice, equality and equity are the down a code of ethical rules for its integrating diverse religious and diverse faiths and to accept one law accommodated to realise the diverse cardinal principles and fundamental followers to accept, it might prescribe cultural practice in very rare and which could govern all religious places aspirations and give respect to requirements not only for successful rituals and observances, ceremonies exceptional areas which are related to or institutions on the argument that different communities of whom our resolutions of any dispute among the and modes of worship which are the personal or private life. If the all Sri Lankans should have only one Constitution acknowledges as equal people, but also to unite the diverse regarded as integral parts of religion, Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act law. citizens of the country. people under the one national banner. and these forms and observances (MMDA) necessitate any amendment Equality and Equity The reasons for recognising and These cardinal principles are the might extend even to matters of food to mend any deficiency, it could be protecting the ethnic, religious, fundamental values which cannot be and dress. The Court further addressed by making necessary One of the fundamental elements of linguistic and cultural rights of the subordinated to any other claimed emphasised that the question of amendments. Already, the committee the notion of equality is equity, which citizens in multi religious/cultural and values. religion would be decided by taking appointed for recommending reforms requires that justice should be linguistic States could be realistically, The State duty under the social into consideration what the religious on MMDA, headed by former Supreme distributed according to the needs of legally and politically attributed to the contract does not change according to denomination considered essential or Court Judge Justice Saleem Marsoof the people as not all people are equal following indispensable factors. the electoral changes as the people crucial (A.I.R. 1954 SC 282). has completed its report. Hence, the in all aspects, whether they are n Social contract. vote to different parties at the different Protection under Universal amendment could be worked out on political, economic or social they are n Protecting religious rights. elections but this does not provide the basis of these recommendations to not equally identical in strength, n Protecting universal rights. permission to change or negatively Human Rights address any concern or deficiency. resources, means and practice. The States by definition and nature amend the core values or guiding In this context, the notion of one The basic concept of equality are obliged to respect and enforce their principles of the State. The social There are innumerable international country and one law’ should be seen signifies that the persons who are duties originate from the above factors. contract does not imply that it is a conventions and resolutions on as a unifier of all communities in the similarly categorised must be treated The social contract is a contract contract only with the majority who protection of the rights of minorities Nation building process by respecting equally. To treat equals as unequals or between the State and its citizens. No voted for any political party but it is a including their religious, cultural and and recognising their rights and unequals as equals is equally unjust modern State could exist or function contract with all citizens (different linguistic rights, which I refer as consolidating a legal system which or violative of the principle of equality without the social contract and it is the segments). In this context, the State universal rights as they are universally could accommodate the aspirations of (State Bank of India v. State of West people who give authority to the State has to protect the interest and rights of applicable across the globe irrespective all the people. Furthermore, the notion Bengal, 1979, 1 Ch LJ 363). All human or to its agent (Government) to manage all citizens who participated in the of different States or continents. They of one law also signifies that all people beings are born equal and they should their affairs. Under the social contract, electoral process and also who do not include (1) Arts. 18 and 27 of the are equal before the law and they are be treated equally. However, the the people surrender or delegate participate in the process (who did not Universal Declaration of Human entitled to equal protection of law, and unequals are identified and recognised certain rights to the State and retained vote or do not use their franchise), Rights (1948) (2) Art 18 ICCPR (1966) specifically no one is above the law. not only due to political, economic and or reserved their fundamental rights to because the protection of the core (3) the provisions of ICESCR, Sri Lanka needs unity among the social disparities, but also more themselves. values are guiding principle of the (4) Declaration on the elimination of all people, which requires every importantly due to the diversities of Furthermore, under the social State or constitution which could not forms of intolerance and of community respects others and every religions, cultures and languages. The contract the rights that are not be politically or morally or even legally Discrimination based on Religion or community regard other communities concept of equality demands delegated or retained by the people, be abrogated. Belief (A/Res/36/55) (5) International as brothers and sisters of one family of recognition of diversities and permits the State undertakes to protect them In the US, the constitutional Convention on the Elimination of All the Nation without perceiving others in the manifestation of the rights of (both individual and collective rights). provisions and amendments which Forms of Racial Discrimination suspicious, apprehensive and diverse communities according to the In modern times the people do not give protect the rights of the people, (Adopted by General Assembly mistrustful manner. The law should be fundamental norms of the authority to States to establish especially its Fourteenth Amendment resolution 2106 (XX) of 21 December actively applicable to prevent hate Constitution or guiding principles of absolute or totalitarian rule, but they which enshrines the equality clause 1965) (6) Declaration of the rights of speeches against each other and to the State, without affecting the wanted States to protect their basic are regarded as the core values or persons belonging to national or ensure dignity to every community. substantial laws of the country. In rights as the primary duty of the State. guiding principles of the State. No ethnic, religious and linguistic application of indigenous laws, the The terms of the social contract debate takes place in the US to negate minorities (Adopted in New York by The writer is an Attorney-at-Law recognition is given only in limited (rights/duties of the State and rights/ or weaken these core values or guiding General Assembly resolution 47/135 PhD, LLM, MA, LLB, BA Pandemic pushes world’s biggest jobs programme to brink in rural India

By Roli Srivastava nothing after that,” he told the research organisation Institute for Thomson Reuters Foundation by Human Development. Omkar Rathod was thankful for the phone. More than 82 million of the 98 The Rural Development Ministry did company of hundreds of fellow migrant million people who applied for jobs not respond to repeated requests for workers as they trudged home to far- under the Mahatma Gandhi National comment, but officials of five states flung villages once lockdown had shut Rural Employment Guarantee Act that recorded among the highest Indian industry. since April have secured work, a number of applicants said they had However, he didn’t realise he would record that tops the number of new provided work to almost every job soon be competing with them for jobs. jobs created under the programme seeker. The scheme was created to Back in his village in northern India each year in India. provide steady wages and jobs for since March, Rathod is vying for work Nevertheless, the scheme - worth people, who were in turn creating under the world’s largest jobs billions of dollars - still falls far short of assets for their villages, be it programmes: the only option for the what is needed in a country with an conserving water or improving roads. millions of migrant workers who face estimated 100 million migrant It was never envisioned as a bandage mass job losses in a struggling workers. Experts say the fund - which in a global pandemic. Vallabhacharya economy and a raging pandemic. has already been topped up - is once Pandey, a social activist who works “If there were 15 people for a job more close to spent. with migrant workers in Uttar earlier, now there are 200. Work for “This meets the demand up to Pradesh, said the scheme had worked eight days is getting done in one day,” September. However, it is not enough. well in the initial weeks of the Rathod, 45, said from Nawabganj in States should be asked to redraw pandemic, when the only people Uttar Pradesh. labour budgets and be assured that seeking work were locals. “But the “This scheme is our only hope for adequate funding will be provided,” return of migrant workers has work in our village. I got 15 days of said Ravi Srivastava, director of the overburdened the programme,” he work under the job scheme in May but Centre for Employment Studies at said. (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Column Monday 14 September 2020 A5

National Prosperity Tapping Development Potential By Ananda Ariyarathne centre that is well established with the total banking system that commands Creation of wealth is the basis of the respect from local banks as well as foundation of prosperity. Disparities in international agencies. Do we have a a capitalistic society have always kept system to mobilise their inherent stake holders and beneficiaries poles potential? Do have at least a bridging apart. It is time now for the world to system that can be used in harnessing wake up to the realities that always their resources? kept them apart. Even in the Capital resources are represented by agricultural sector the main factors are Banks but to whom should they the land, the capital and the stake extend facilities? In an environment holders. It is time for socialist where would be or potential principles to be tried out in a beneficiaries do not have supporting capitalistic environment and bases to extend facilities. capitalistic methods to be tried out in Human resources are available as socialist environments. No Nation is a skilled, semi skilled as well as Nation without having its own human unskilled but are restricted by the resources and the resources that can limitations that affect the potential generate wealth are not automatically negatively. If there can be an available and therefore there is a need environment which provides the for a medium that can muster all the answers to all those setbacks it shall factors. be the answer we all have been Selecting the Strategic anxiously waiting for. Path… Creating the environment That can be done only by creating The need for mutual understanding, the environment that can provide support and for the coordinated action answers to all the drawbacks. The is the factor that has been elusive in ideal shall be a national programme the traditional systems and the world that can invite the mega companies to saw only extremes in both the take part in a variety of forms capitalistic and socialist systems. In including direct participation, the capitalist system it was ruthless financing or even offering marketing How do you see development? profiteering while in the socialist solutions so that, they can maintain system the main driving force did not their sense of independence and their have any place for ambition and all criteria used in assessing the true of that is available to the Nation? It national status as the quoted would be compelled to commit and picture prevent us from arriving at the denotes only one aspect and that is the companies and the stock market can contribute through a sense of realities. It is true the indicators our capital required for development and also be stable meeting their standards. compulsion. The medium has to be economic experts use give us some In the capitalist the contribution in the form of land At the same time, they can keep on something that would stay in between. idea about what is really happening. system it was and buildings, which are tied to that functioning as the mega companies The capitalist sentiments would be sector only. For example, the land with programmes to make the best use relaxed to respect the fact that profit Forces behind using ruthless under cultivation under plantation of the land and assets, presently being maximisation shall end and have profit Indicators agriculture shall not be available for a heavily underutilised or unutilised, sharing as the alternative, instead. It profiteering national drive for economic available for new development projects cannot hold where the human We make a lot of noise about falling while in the development. and the Banks shall have no hesitation resources are not strong enough to stock market prices, rising cost of The other land available is in providing the finances and that way stand independently. Also, there living and about the debts the Nation socialist system fragmented spreading over the whole realising two of the major factors. cannot be a situation or situations has pay, and the rising international the main driving country and the owners are incapable It is here, the human resources can with multiple agendas as that way no markets prices and so on. In our of exploiting directly due to the come closer to the national efforts can be coordinated. traditional system, the Central Bank is force did not absence of finances. This is especially development programme. It can be As the most rational living being on the nucleus point in all the financial so in paddy cultivation. Land owners turned into a highly disciplined factor earth, homo sapiens developed activities and the whole system have any place cannot afford to mobilise the Farm in the production as it shall no longer themselves to what they are today and depends directly on the taxation that is for ambition and labour required due to the prevailing remain as a category unemployed we belong to that rare reality. The classified and activated to reach the high costs and the other relevant costs anymore if there can be a mechanism historical exposures they had revenue points which are linked all would be which discourage or prevent the that can guarantee that can become a throughout their evolutionary process, directly to the revenue generating possibility of starting cultivation. separate segment which has been their skills sharpened and knowledge sectors in production of products/ compelled to Under this category, there can be other turned into self sustaining force that expanded and all those achievements produce as well as services. Such commit and lands cultivating other crops but has become an economically kept on adding on to the treasure trove activities are handled by quoted cannot be developed effectively due to productive commercial factor. It can be of wisdom. The saddest part is that all companies which can boast of colossal contribute financial constraints in obtaining done by organising national human those treasures are not honestly used. investments, governed by a semi- through a sense labour. resources into a national development It is only through a seriously automatic controlling system that can The Beginning cooperatives programme, and such a analytical mind one can achieve the decide the fate based on the actual of compulsion programme can be represented capacity to observe, identify, pick and performances of those entities. In that Human resources in general are an provincially, by district and then choose and there is no barrier for us to process, closing down activities can abundant factor but not easily divisionally to end up at Grama exercise that ability. By becoming a become very surgical. In a nutshell, it evolved to become a system.That available for a variety of reasons. It’s Niladhari Division also. little serious for a moment, we will be becomes a corporate decision to stop sector contributes towards the volume this category that constitutes the Such a National Programme shall able to understand the simple truth the bleeding and the employees and of value generated only. The only major portion of the population of the not find answers to the crucial activity that we as single individuals or as the resources committed do not benefit to the Government is the taxes country. The whole scenario of the centres as well as processes unless the groups have not bothered about what become that important. Most of the and levies and the direct revenues of above can be summarised to say that Government ensures the strategic plan has been happening around us. The quoted companies are engaged in the the direct and indirect employees. How as a Nation we have a segment that that can envelope the only explanation we can think of is the plantation and hotel industry and may large is the capital engaged, how much can be identified as a capital resources whole movement. fact that we have not developed that be generating the highest foreign most essential ability to understand exchange earning capabilities. things without being blinded by Therefore, they might become doctrines and the uttering of those important in the foreign trading sector who have appointed themselves as the capable of attracting foreign masters of such doctrines. We try to investment which shall call for the best formulate opinions and solutions terms for investment. based on all those bases which have One very rationally important aspect ended up as closed and shut cases. We is the impact of quoted companies in have been trained to accept and believe stabilising the local economy. When in what those specialists would say. the plantations started failing, they went to the levels of changing even Progressing is not just crops and our traditional tea has wandering… remained only due to the historical image of the commodity. While the tea As a truly serious citizen, our plantations are run just to remain President developed his justifications afloat, other nations, who have and has been seriously committed to everything to gain have become very start, build and improve concepts aggressive and gained more ground. which he has logically analysed to his We are boasting about the stock satisfaction while maintaining his market gaining and wishfully sincerity in inviting others to follow anticipate the trickling effect to bring what he says or in case they have the benefits to the common man who better options to improve his thinking. is at the bottom. In a recent briefing, in a somewhat Those big quoted companies import agitated mood, he made that very fertilisers and other chemicals and the clear. In other words the message he cost of agricultural production rises gave was that there should be objective up. oriented thinking and he does not The majority of the population being believe in ‘yes sir…yes sir, three bags rural, there is a direct link with the full sir’. This is what we mean by cost of agriculture as those who are training our minds to diagnose the engaged in that sector have to pay problems directly so that we shall more for the wages of farm workers. reach the root causes by arriving at the The small land owners who have land effects and the causes that contribute cannot continue due to the absence of towards those. working capital. The trained minds will accept only what can be accepted logically and Role of quoted companies therefore, rationally. In order to Big companies belong to a separate understand this crucial aspect, let us sector and their participation in go through the factors and the agriculture is only as a supplier of processes that create wealth as it is agricultural consumables, equipment the wealth that is created can improve and implements which they run quite the living conditions. Let us take the efficiently, by maintaining their ability agricultural sector as it is the base of to remain in the sector to rake in the our society which has been capable of profits. Therefore, as it stands, their sustaining life at least to what we have capacity is restricted by the self access to. The wrong measurements or imposed restrictions which have A6 monday 14 september 2020 editorial

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Declare All Out War Against Cyber Crimes The Police recently said that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched investigations into a number of online scams reported this year, while the Cyber Crimes Unit of the CID has also launched investigations into several online scams related to foreign employment scams. Also, it was reported that the Police have received complaints regarding an online racket, which requests people to deposit money to certain bank accounts to pay Customs fees, in order to clear ‘cash prizes from overseas’, which the scammers claimed the victims had won. The CID has further launched investigations into frauds related to lottery jackpot winnings and other prizes, of which eight complaints are regarding vehicle prizes offered through online Spare the axe, save our trees platforms. As a result of fast-growing technological advancements, particularly internet-based activities such as online transactions and online communication platforms, the prevalence and Sri Lanka at the Brink complexity of cyber crimes have also gone up rapidly. In addition, the increased availability and affordability of various types of modern technological equipment such as computers, tablets and smart phones also make it easy for of Environmental anyone who has even rudimentary knowledge about the internet to learn and do countless things on the internet. Even though online scams can be identified as a relatively new type of crimes that surfaced with the increased use of internet in the past few decades, these crimes are as real as any Catastrophe other crime, and affect people’s lives in more ways By Jonathan Frank agriculture, irrigation, power psychology studies beginning Professor of Environmental than we can imagine. Although the main source generation are some of the in 10,000 BCE up until now. and Resource Economics, and medium of these scams is the internet, and in It’s certainly not a stellar main causes of deforestation They included all regions of Berkeley said “We often think some cases mobile communication apps, damages time for forests in Sri Lanka. while the tourism industry has the globe. Results of the study of modern society as largely caused by them are not limited to the internet. With the exception of the a fair share of the blame as showed an “undeniable” link independent of the Over the past few years, these scammers have usual political theatre and well. However, as development between climate change and environment due to adopted more skillful and diverse ways to deceive human issues making the rolls on disregarding more personal violence such technological advances, but people, and have gone on to find their victims headlines, the rising issue immediate consequences, the as rape, murder and assault. our findings challenge that through not only the internet, but also through today has to do with the resulting fallout in the form of The spike in crimes and notion. The climate appears to widely used mobile communication apps. Related environment. It’s observed drastic climate change render personal attacks from a one- be a critical factor sustaining events that happened in Sri Lanka in the recent that the people of this fair any of the so called degree variant from the norm peace and well being across past show that these scammers approach their island managed to cut down “developments” useless. was associated with a 14 per human societies.” victims in various ways, including shopping 65.5 per cent of its forests in Accordingly, Sri Lanka cent hike in ethnic conflict, scams, fake financial assistance facilities, fake just 137 years! This was done recently experienced its riot or civil war regardless of Outcome offers, fake lottery wins, click fraud…etc. Defence for the sake of human highest recorded temperature wealth or stability and In Sri Lanka, we’ve come to Secretary, Retired Major General Kamal development; there was at 42 degrees Celsius. One interpersonal violence rises the point where man and Gunaratne, recently informed the public of an starting to be more and more expert said that with a further four per cent, the study nature are effectively at a organised group operating a mobile-based cash of us and the forest had to go increase of another eight authors found. Meanwhile, a stalemate, or are drawing transfer scam,which involves demanding ransoms to make way. While the degrees there won’t be any report published by the closer to that point day by day. from certain individuals by urging them to pay greenery was being paddy or fresh mangoes in ten Stimson Institute in 2013 said Our local newspaper editorials money to take their names out from certain desecrated, the country’s true years. The mountainous that a proximate factor behind are filled with sermon after ongoing criminal investigations. and original inhabitants came regions in the island, whose the unrest of the Arab Spring sermon on policy change, A factor that exacerbates this situation is the into increasing conflict with soil was once held together by was a spike in global food pressuring authorities and high level of anonymity an internet user can terrorising migrants. great trees, are slowly prices, which in turn was due planting trees. Sadder still is maintain while being active on the internet. Even Accordingly, elephants, bears, fracturing due to excessive in part to the extreme global the public’s inclination to rise though these facilities, provided by internet leopards and monkeys fight logging and mining putting weather in 2010–2011. vindictively against who they service providers for people to use the internet regularly with human invaders many lives at risk. Hinterland However, researchers point see as “undesirables” and with complete confidentiality, are considered by but casualties keep mounting farmers spend restless nights out they are not saying that “dregs” supposedly responsible many an advantage, the same facilities can be on the side of the wild while protecting their crops from climate change is the only for all the tree-chopping and misused by criminals to deceive and rob people’s ‘civilisation’ triumphs day by hungry elephants that enter reason for violent crimes and animal killing, betraying the money, and vanish without leaving a trace. day. Since the dawn of paddy fields looking for food social upheaval, but it is a fact that nobody actually cares However, as limiting people’s right to privacy and industrialisation, because their original habitats “critical factor” in escalating about the anonymity is not an option, the general public who overconsumption and are shrinking. tensions to the point of environment are at risk, i.e. internet users, also have a overpopulation, two conflict. Furthermore, unless it is to responsibility to be vigilant of suspicious complementary factors, put Social upheaval Edward Miguel, the victimise social messages, winnings and offers, and consult ICT immense pressure on the linked to climate Oxfam groups they do professionals or relevant law enforcement natural world to satiate man’s not like. As more institutions in the event they came across such greed. The situation is more change? and more forests suspicious activities. apparent in Sri Lanka. Will Some experts claim that are laid to waste, Police Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratne recently this tiny island nation adopt a climate change is a contributor the harsher nature’s urged the public to be aware of and not to be radical, sustainable to increased interpersonal punishment is going misled by such online crimes, by responding to programme by accepting that violence and social upheaval to be - creating messages or electronic mails, which claim that the resources are finite? Or are we happening from even small scarcities, sparking recipient has won certain prizes. He also stressed doomed to realise when the spikes in global temperature. social strife. But it the importance of not disclosing people’s personal last tree is cut down, the last In a report published by will be too late to details, adding that fraudsters have taken many fish eaten, and the last stream Princeton University and the realise that when guises in carrying out these criminal activities. poisoned, that we cannot eat University of California at the last tree is There are a number of institutions in Sri Lanka money? Berkeley investigators said cut down, the dedicated to assisting people to deal with these Deforestation that climate change isn’t the last fish eaten, online scams as well as other forms of cyber sole cause of violence and and the last crimes. In addition to Government and Non- According to one social unrest, but that it does stream Government ICT institutions raising awareness on environmental research make things worse. The study poisoned, these scams, there are also several departments/ organisation, Sri Lanka had a analysed 60 archaeology, that we specialised units attached to law enforcement forest density of 82 per cent in criminology, cannot eat agencies such as the Police that have been vested 1882, but has reduced to a economics money. with power to implement the law against mere 16.5 per cent by 2019. and fraudsters. There are also legal provisions that can Development and urbanisation be used to prosecute those involved in cyber is predicted to increase putting crimes. As far as the legal background pertaining many diverse habitats at to cyber crimes is concerned, the Government of risk such as Sri Lanka has taken admirable steps. However, in wetlands and order to fight against ever-evolving cyber crimes, rainforests. law enforcement agencies should be further Activities strengthened and applicable laws should also be such as updated. Depending on the necessity, the Government can also consider introducing new laws. More importantly, the general public should also be made aware of how to protect themselves from online scams. column monday 14 september 2020 A7 Crushing LTTE Gotabaya’s Armed Forces Shape-up

By P.K. Balachandran Army perform under Sri Lankan Sea Tigers ungraded That the Army, the main climatic conditions. Later the themselves to be a “potent In 2005, when Gotabaya armed force, was under- M16s were replaced by the combat force” using fast and Rajapaksa took over as Sri manned was known for quite cheaper and better performing better gunned craft and also Lanka’s Defense Secretary at some time. Gotabaya knew that T-56s. When the Army asked suicide boats. Navy chief, the request of the newly elected successive Governments feared for Russian Armored Personnel Admiral Wasantha President Mahinda Rajapaksa, that the country would not be Carriers with a 30 mm cannon, Karannagoda, was asked what the country’s armed forces able to afford a large Army. But the Government got Chinese he wanted immediately. were in a depleted, ill-equipped he was convinced that T063 2 APCs with only a Karannagoda said he wanted and dispirited state. They were spending adequately on men medium machine gun. increased fire power and a gun being outwitted and and material now would result Centralised purchases by system which could fire outmaneuvered by the intrepid not only in the elimination of Lanka Logistics helped end accurately when the vessel was and innovative LTTE. the scourge of terrorism but inappropriate buying of that being tossed about. The The Lankan Army, Navy and also save money for the country sort. “stabilised fire control system” the Air force were short of by ridding it of recurring war was expensive but Gotabaya manpower and suitable expenditure and a prolonged Air Force sanctioned its purchase and equipment. Their strategies disruption of the economy. The Air force too was poorly also got this and other and tactics were ill-suited to But convincing the decision quipped and under-manned. equipment made locally. The the new challenges posed by makers was not easy. President Its men were not trained to request for 30 mm guns in the LTTE, which kept coming Rajapaksa and Treasury handle modern equipment. It place of the 25 mm guns were up with innovations in Secretary Jayasundera needed a “huge upgrade”. Since granted to enable Navy vessels asymmetric warfare to the subjected Gotabaya to most of the serviceable aircraft to fire from a greater distance. discomfiture of the Lankan tri- searching questions but were were old, their ability to stay in To relieve the Navy of the forces. soon won over by the force of the air was limited which burden of ferrying troops and Successive Governments Gotabaya’s arguments. General affected their combat civilians between the North and contributed to the mess by Gunaratne notes that the usefulness. Ground troops the South, Gotabaya used a their lackadaisical policies on rapport between the trio was so expecting air support were passenger vessel “Jetliner”. war and peace, and by being good that never once did often disappointed with help subservient to external powers Gotabaya return empty handed from the Air force. Fonseka vs that poked their noses with from the weekly Defense Gotabaya knew that Karannagoda their own ends in view. Adding Council meetings. equipping the Air force or Navy insult to injury, a Sri Lanka The Army size was increased was going to be very costly. But While the Army and the Navy which was battling for survival immediately from 70,000 to with the cooperation of were improving their was being hammered 120,000 and eventually to Treasury Secretary Dr. performance by leaps and internationally for denying 300,000. This helped it Jayasundera, Gotabaya bought bounds, there was one minority and human rights. conduct multi-pronged and four new MiG-27 ground attack insurmountable problem before But come Gotabaya continuous operations to hem aircraft and sent four grounded Gotabaya – the unseemly Rajapaksa to the helm as in and crush the LTTE. MiG -27s overseas for quarrel between Army Defense Secretary, a sea Gotabaya even got the much verge of retirement. But the conduct the war uninterrupted overhauling. All the Kfir Commander Fonseka and Navy change occurred in strategy, smaller and expensive goal-oriented Gotabaya would till the end, whilst maintaining fighters were sent for chief Karannagoda. They were tactics, manpower, leadership, equipment-dependent Navy not let these factors stand in cordial relations with India,” overhauling. With the help of both from the same school, training and equipment. With and Air force to recruit an extra his way. He got Fonseka, and General Gunaratne writes. techno-savvy Air Chief Air Ananda College, and were the full backing of President 10,000 and 5,000 men Mahinda compensate Gotabaya got the Army Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, friends there. But as Mahinda Rajapaksa and respectively,so that these men Kottegoda by sending him off Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) Gotabaya secured Unmanned commanders they could not see Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. could help hold captured as Ambassador to Brazil. After so that they could move Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for pin eye to eye. At one point the Jayasundera, Lanka’s territory while the Army kept the change of guard, Gotabaya, speedily and without being point target spotting and Army and the Navy were poised demoralised armed forces were going on the offensive. Thanks in consultation with Fonseka, killed by enemy fire. He also got reconnaissance of enemy for an armed battle with each energised to the optimum. to the Api Venuven Api changed personnel at various Baktar Shikan missiles from territory. He got laser guided other on Mandaithivu island Continuous battlefield propaganda offensive launched levels based on competence Pakistan and Green Arrow bombs for ground attack which was prevented only by successes boosted troop morale by Gotabaya to instill pride in rather in place of seniority. missiles from China to destroy aircraft. An integrated UAV and Gotabaya’s intervention, and helped increase soldiering, recruitment The next item on Gotabaya’s LTTE positions from more than ground located monitoring General Gunaratne recalls. recruitment. burgeoned. agenda was to see that India a kilometer away. Five Chinese system enabled sharing of real When all else failed, Gotabaya Gotabaya’s strategy of did not interfere and stop the radars were secured to pin time intelligence. To train pilots resorted to spiritual shelving the defensive Choosing Army Chief war as it did in 1987 when it point enemy targets for the and airmen, Gotabaya intervention and invited the two approach and replacing it by The other important task was stopped the Vadamarachchi Army’s guns. imported Chinese trainer warring chiefs to a sermon by an uninterrupted and multi- to get a suitable Amy operation and saved the LTTE To eliminate middlemen, aircraft. Ven Thero pronged assault on the enemy Commander. Gotabaya felt that from an early death. He streamline purchases and cut at Temple Trees. But this too sealed the fate of the LTTE in Major General contacted the Indian High out corruption, the Defense Navy had no effect. Finally, Gotabaya less than three years. was the kind of pushy and hard Commissioner Alok Prasad and Secretary set up Lankan Though Sri Lanka is an gave up. But he saw to it that at How all this was done is as nails type he wanted at the suggested the formation of a Logistics and Technologies. In island, and the LTTE was every other level, the Army and related in a gripping way by helm in place of the incumbent “Troika” of very senior Indian an earlier era, due to getting sustenance from and the Navy cooperated. Admiral Major General Kamal Lieutenant General Shantha and Sri Lankan officials to middlemen in cahoots with shelter in Tamil Nadu across Karannagoda told General Gunaratne, a former field Kottegoda. But there were coordinate relations. politicians, the forces were the Palk Strait, successive Gunaratne later that Gotabaya commander and the present three issues: Kottegoda was a “Due to the close cooperation issued American M16s assault Lankan Governments did not should be given an award for Defense Secretary, in his new friend and Mahinda wanted fostered by the Troika, the rifles in preference to T-56s, take the Navy seriously. Dvora managing the antagonism and book “Gotabaya” published last him to complete his term. Mahinda Rajapaksa though the former was more Fast Attack Craft were acquired preventing it from affecting the week by VijithaYapa. Besides, Fonseka was on the Government was able to expensive and had failed to from Israel but soon the LTTE war effort in any way.

Modi’s Matsya Sampada Yojana Fishermen poaching SL Palk Strait Territory

By Sugeeswara Senadhira regarding the Indian fishing trawlers moral support to people of the give up bottom trawling and revert to to the families of fishermen who have encroaching in Mannar, Mullaitivu Northern Province during the long- the traditional method of fishing. To opted to switch over from trawlers to Last week, Indian Prime Minister and Jaffna waters and the protest by drawn conflict. However, the fisher deter Tamil Nadu fishermen from deep sea fishing boats. However, this Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan fishermen in the Mannar District. In folk of the Northern Province could not crossing the International Maritime could not stop poaching, though it has Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana’, response, Minister of State for compromise on its stand of opposing Boundary Line (IMBL) and poaching in reduced encroachment. The scheme which aims to double fish exports in Fisheries said illegal fishing and the practice of Sri Lankan waters, the Sri Lankan was also not fully implemented because three to four years. that the Security Council and the Navy bottom trawling by Tamil Nadu Government introduced the practice of of fund shortages. Launching the scheme via video- had been informed of an increase in fishermen, which is against ecology seizing their boats and not releasing conference, Modi said, “Today the the number of Indian fishing vessels in and marine environment. them. However, the arrangements Crossing maritime scheme is being launched in 21 states Sri Lankan territorial waters during were always made to release the crew boundaries across the country. Over Rs 20,000 the past few days, and measures Seize boats reduce on humanitarian grounds. Because crores (SLR 900 million) will be spent would be taken to beef up security in encroachment these trawlers had cost their owners The Tamil Nadu fishermen take the on this in the next 4-5 years.” This the Mannar sea area and arrest the several hundreds of thousands of risk of crossing the maritime boundary, scheme was initiated in the eastern Indian poachers encroaching on Sri During the 30-year old conflict, Indian rupees, they had been because Sri Lankan waters are rich in state of Bihar. A similar approach is Lankan territorial waters. Northern fishermen could not venture consistently and loudly demanding the fish. The Tamil Nadu fishermen state needed to solve the vexed issue of Fishermen of four districts of the out for fishing due to restrictions return of the boats. However, the that they have no option but to poach illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters by Northern Province staged a imposed by the military for security Indian Government also believe that in Sri Lankan waters as they have fully fishermen of southern Indian state of demonstration in Jaffna, reiterating reasons. However, with the end of the seizure of the boats and their non- exhausted the resources on the Indian Tamil Nadu. their position that permission should conflict with elimination of Tamil release had brought down side of the IMBL. Basically, it will be Poaching activities in the Sri Lankan not be given to Tamil Nadu fishermen terrorism in 2009, the Northern encroachment markedly. the Tamil Nadu Government’s territorial waters off the coast of the to carry out bottom trawling in any fishermen found that the illegal fishing responsibility to see the conversion Northern Province by the fishing form in Sri Lankan waters.The by Indian fishermen was the biggest Discipline and through, and for that it needs the communities of Tamil Nadu have fishermen, belonging to Mannar, threat to their livelihood.Whereas the motivate the poachers necessary political will to discipline and seriously strained the historic kinship, Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Kilinochchi fishery sector was peripheral to pre- motivate the fishermen who are not as also the bilateral relations between districts undertook several protests. war Tamil nationalism, the impact of Realising the gravity of the issue, easy to deal with. Sri Lanka and India. Despite repeated They also deplored the proposal made war has made it central to post-war Indian Government initiated a plan to Under the PM Matsya Sampada demands by the Jaffna fishermen, the by some parties to grant licences to a reconstruction and development. With enable Tamil Nadu fishermen to exit Yojana launched by the Indian Prime Sri Lankan Tamil politicians were limited number of fishermen of Tamil the dismantling of army-imposed fishing in the Palk Strait. Under this Minister, fish producers will get new reluctant to take the issue up with Nadu for bottom trawling.In 2003, the security restrictions, Northern three-year plan, 2000 deep sea going infrastructure, modern equipment, and Indian leaders. After the Parliamentary Tamil Nadu Government proposed fishermen resumed their trade with tuna long liners were to be supplied to they will also be provided with new Elections on 5 August, the Tamil ‘licensed fishing’ in certain areas of the gusto and they found that they were Tamil Nadu fishermen during the last markets, Modi said. “This will increase National Alliance (TNA) politicians Palk Strait and Palk Bay where Sri directly affected due to bottom- three years, so that they stop poaching earning opportunities through farming realised that one of the reasons for the Lankans did not fish. New Delhi took it trawling fishing techniques adopted by in Sri Lankan waters in the Palk Bay, as well as other means.” erosion of their vote bloc was the up with Colombo. The Sri Lankan the Indian fishermen. Thus a demand and go to the deep sea in the Bay of Similar scheme could be extended to fishermen apathy. Government promised to consider it, arose to explore scientific or technical Bengal and beyond. Once this is Tamil Nadu to provide its fishermen but there was no follow up. solutions to this long running dispute implemented it was expected to end with modern fishing vessels and train STOP bottom trawling While lodging a staunch protest, the to counter the ineffectiveness of law the decades-long row between Tamil them in new techniques to wean them Finally, they decided to lodge a Northern fishermen clarified that their enforcement and the presumed Nadu and Sri Lanka over poaching in away from the current practice of protest in Parliament. Last week, TNA demonstration should not be seen as absence of political solutions. Sri Lankan waters. Under this bottom-trawling in Sri Lankan waters Vanni District MP Charles one against the people of Tamil Nadu Currently, the main hindrance is the scheme, the Tamil Nadu Government and put an end to this irritant in Indo- Nirmalanathan raised the issue who had provided emotional and refusal of the Tamil Nadu fishermen to paid a monthly subsistence allowance Sri Lanka relations once and for all. A8 monday 14 september 2020 column Conquer Shyness the Right Way

By R.S. Karunaratne

Shyness is feeling nervous and embarrassed about meeting and speaking to people, especially those you do not know. Whenever, I think of shyness my mind goes back to my It is a known English class. The teacher compelled us to write compositions and address fact that social meetings although we were novices to phobia affects the language. We were a group of boys and girls in their teens. David who children at the used to sit next to me suffered his first age of eight and bout of stage fright when he was asked to stand up and read his many others composition aloud. David later confessed that when he saw the during blurred images of his classmates he adolescence. found it difficult to speak. His stage fright was paralysing. His face flushed Some children and his palms were sweating. His heart beat so rapidly that he could not do not detect catch his breath. their problem Stage fright like David’s can have remarkable biological power. The until they mind’s eye need only picture the scorn become young of an audience and the amygdala activates making the body respond adults. The with an overwhelming blitz of stress hormones. David’s merely imagining situation in his classmates’ scorn was enough to some of our activate this psychological storm. A great many people are too shy to universities is a make social contacts easily. It is sensible to remember the words of good example. Prof. Alfred Adler, the great Most freshers psychologist, who said, “It is the individual who is not interested in his who come from fellow men who has the greatest rural areas are difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from shy to speak to among such individuals that all human failures spring.” In the times others. As a of the Romans, the philosopher result, they Publilius Syrus saw the truth of this statement when he taught that we are become the butt- interested in others when they are end of jokes and interested in us. In our own times, Dale Carnegie turned this into a Overcoming shyness sometimes practical maxim in “How to win Friends and Influence People.” become rag Carnegie said, “You can make more others would reach out to touch birthday parties, picnics and victims friends in two months by becoming strangers or grab new objects. Yet carnivals. These are ideal places the interested in other people than you Lateral some shy babies may become child can learn social skills. He will can in two years by trying to get other gregarious children, and outgoing learn early in life the necessity to people interested in you.” thinking babies may become shy, even talk to his friends and strangers to socially phobic adults. get over his shyness. Parents should Human trait Life experience will change some of not avoid social situations or worry Shyness, a form of social phobia, is Those who are addicted to the our inborn qualities. When a shy excessively about what the a nearly universal human trait. Internet have less time for social person is compelled by neighbours think. As Richard social phobia.” Through therapy, Almost everyone has bouts of it, and contacts. Instead of meeting people circumstances to live with others as Heimberg, Director of the Adult many phobics learn how to replace half of university students surveyed and talking to them personally, they in a boarding school, they will Anxiety Clinic at Temple University their faulty thoughts with realistic described themselves as shy. use the telephone, email and other naturally get over their shyness in Philadelphia says, “The message ones. According to one study, at some point methods of social media to keep in fairly well. Psychologists say the to the child is that the world is full of one out of eight people become so touch with others. If they are asked to brain appears to attach a fear danger and humiliation.” Anxiety timid that they suffer from social address a meeting, they start marker to the details such as place, It is a known fact that social Almost all of us occasionally feel the phobia. During certain types of shivering. Philip Zimbardo, Professor time, and background. For instance, phobia affects children at the age of first few minutes full of anxiety. encounters, their hearts race, palms of Psychology at Stanford University when a child gets a beating or eight and many others during However, the discomfort subsides sweat, mouths go dry, words vanish, says, “If people were slightly shy to tongue-lashing from a teacher, he adolescence. Some children do not gradually. A social phobic may suffer thoughts become cluttered and an begin with, they can now interact less. will feel nervous to walk into the detect their problem until they for even one hour. They should urge to escape takes over. That will make the shyness much classroom. Sometimes, he may even become young adults. The situation remain in terrifying situations until Psychologists say these social phobics worse.” give up his education. It is the brain in some of our universities is a good the symptoms disappear. suffer from a mental disorder that is that makes these associations. example. Most freshers who come Shyness researcher Bernardo almost as common as depression and Extreme shyness Most children do not know how to from rural areas are shy to speak to Carducci says shifting the focus from alcoholism. It is true that some people are deal with such situations. They may others. As a result, they become the the self is the most therapeutic thing In offices I have seen some officers born with a tendency towards refuse to address meetings or even butt-end of jokes and sometimes a shy person can do. In severe cases not willing to answer the telephone. extreme shyness. For instance, most read their own compositions aloud become rag victims. In this respect drugs can help. However, drugs are They go mute in front of the boss or a village girls are shy to speak to in the classroom. They will keep most female freshers suffer from temporary crutches as people tend to member of the opposite sex. They strangers. However, biology is not away from their friends. In extreme social anxiety than their male relapse as soon as they get off the behave like hermits virtually avoiding man’s destiny. If we really want to cases, they may even refuse to counterparts. As a rule, shyness is medication. all contacts with others. Social phobia beat shyness, we can do it. Jerome attend school. By avoiding the very less acceptable in males. Even if If you feel shy in social situations, is not something new as it existed Kagan is a Harvard researcher who situation they need to learn social they have a shyness problem, they you are not alone. Albert Einstein and even during Hippocrates’ time. studied this situation in depth. His skills, they diminish their ability to will not hesitate to seek professional Robert Frost were very shy people. If However, the disorder did not make research studies show that by 16 cope. help. you are shy in a mild way, you may be its way into psychiatric manuals until weeks of age babies display a When the socially anxious turn to associated with empathy, 1980. Today some psychologists have predisposition towards shyness or Social skills professionals for help they usually perceptiveness, intuition, and warned that the Internet culture boldness. According to him, one in Sometimes, parents should take start with cognitive behavioural sensitivity. You do not have to feel shy might grease the slope from mild five babies will thrash or cry when the blame for keeping their children therapy. The idea is to fight what is about having such sterling qualities. shyness to extreme shyness. stimulated by something new, while away from social gatherings, known as, “The intellectual core of [email protected] Appreciation - Kumar Anthony Paul Fernando “Beautiful Memories silently kept of culminated in him inviting me to be Nelu in a very short space of time. As extent of helping such people and clearly say that Kumar lived and one that we loved and will never his ‘best man’ at his wedding in always Kumar worked tirelessly to encouraging others to do so too. practiced the Lord’s instructions and forget” is what’s inscribed in Kumar’s 1976, a moment I still cherish. set it up, and the business flourished By this quality he was practicing this is the legacy he left behind for tombstone by his family. It’s been Several years later after excelling even in a highly competitive the biblical principles of ‘forgiveness’ his close friends and family. Whilst I one year on 12 September 2020 since in his chosen career as a Planter in environment like Melbourne, purely which many find hard to do. I know know that Nelu and his children my good friend Kumar Fernando left Sri Lanka, he had the good fortune of because of Kumar’s commitment, that this characteristic of forgiving Tehani, Ayesh and Sudesh and the us to go to his Creator. Even though being selected to work in Transkei, perseverance, and hard work. others came very easily to him, extended family will continue to miss he is no more with us, his memory South Africa, where he worked with Kumar unhesitatingly shared his entirely because of the grace he Kumar immensely, they can be proud and influence will always live on, in distinction for the Magwa Tea success with others by unselfishly carried from the Lord. Forgiving and that Kumar’s life was exemplary, the lives of those who knew him, and Corporation for 14 years, rising to sharing his time and advice caring for people and assisting them serving the Lord and living the Word were touched by his generosity and the position of General Manager – especially with many Sri Lankans came very naturally to Kumar. to his best always. kindness. Kumar’s life has left an Operations, before he decided to who were learning the nitty-gritty of During my few visits to Melbourne, Visiting Melbourne will never be indelible imprint in the life of his leave Transkei for Melbourne, business in Melbourne. I have had we used to discuss this area of the same for me, I will miss Kumar close family and friends and this void Australia at the pinnacle of his personal knowledge of some people forgiveness and spirituality in detail and the special times we shared. I can never be filled. career. whom he has helped, and these were and I was amazed by his faith. will always hold dear the fond I got to know Kumar initially in His new home, Melbourne some of his very endearing qualities In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 6: memories I have of him and I am 1972 whilst we were in school, but it Australia offered Kumar many that are rare in today’s world. Verses 27-28 Jesus says, ‘But to you proud to have been his close friend was much later that we both entered opportunities. Due to his versatility, Another quality that I found in who are willing to listen, I say love for this many years. I know that the the same profession as planters and entrepreneurial competence, and Kumar as the years went by is that your enemies, do good to those who Lord Jesus has granted him eternal worked in the same area and thus dedication he set up a successful he could easily forgive those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, rest. became close friends. This restaurant business with his wife wronged him and even go to the pray for those who hurt you”. I can Rohan M Fernando world Monday 14 September 2020 A9

Lesbos, Greece Beijing, China Fed-up Lesbos islanders, Govt calls Hong Kongers arrested at migrants stuck waiting for sea ‘separatists’ Europe to decide Crisis-weary residents of the both from islanders and from Greek island of Lesbos and the migrants themselves who have thousands of migrants squared off against Police stranded there after this setting up new temporary week’s refugee centre fire are shelters outside the main port united by one thing - they all of Mytilene. want to see the migrants “No one wants to go to the moved off the island. new camp, we all want to go to Lesbos and other islands off another country. Nobody the Turkish coast have been wants to stay here, we are in a among the main entry points prison,” said 23 year-old for migrants into Europe for Sajida Nazari, a student from years, peaking in 2015-16 Afghanistan who has been on A family member of one of twelve Hong Kong activists who were when around a million people Lesbos for a year. detained as they reportedly sailed to Taiwan for political asylum, arrived in a seemingly endless While the Greek islands have wipes her eyes during a news conference, held to seek help in Hong stream of small boats. always prided themselves on a Kong, China, 12 September 2020. (Reuters) “One island cannot carry all welcoming culture, a decade of of this burden,” Dimitris Refugees and migrants from the destroyed Moria camp wash and fill crisis has poisoned the The 12 Hong Kongers “another example of the Koursoubas, a senior official bottles with water, on the island of Lesbos, 12 September 2020. atmosphere and Nazari said arrested at sea by mainland deterioration of human rights responsible for migration in (Reuters) migrants faced a threatening authorities last month were in Hong Kong”, and called on Lesbos and the other northern climate whenever they venture separatists, a spokeswoman mainland authorities to Aegean islands told Reuters. The islands’ tourism Union unable to reach outside. for China’s Foreign Ministry “ensure due process”. With 4,280 new arrivals in industry, which had shown agreement between countries “Local people are hostile, said on Sunday (13), in The arrests came about two Lesbos so far this year, signs of recovery after the 2015 like Greece and Italy, which they attacking us verbally and response to her U.S. months after the mainland numbers have been lower than migrant crisis, has been left want the bloc to share the sometimes physically, counterpart’s Government imposed a in previous years. But reeling by COVID and there is burden and others refusing to especially when we go to characterisation of the arrest security law on the special incidents of theft and damage little sign of holidaymakers, take in refugees, for the Mytilene to shop,” she said. as a deterioration of human administrative region blamed by residents on with tourist numbers down 90 moment Lesbos’ 86,000 This week’s crisis is not the rights. following months of pro- migrants, many of whom have per cent, according to local islanders and migrants remain first on Lesbos and with The comment came a day democracy demonstrations. only what they carry, and a officials. unwillingly together. tensions between Greece and after relatives of the detainees China’s Hua Chunying feeling of being abandoned by The overflowing camp held Greece’s conservative Turkey rising and a strong held a news conference in responded in another tweet. both the Government in more than 12,000 migrants - Government says it is anti-immigrant mood evident Hong Kong demanding the “Seriously?! Fact check: Athens and Greece’s European four times the numbers it was determined to contain the in many European countries, urgent return of the 12 who The 12 people were arrested partners over more than a supposed to - forcing problem and has removed it is unlikely to be the last. were intercepted by the for illegally crossing the decade have worn Lesbos thousands to live in squalor some 13,500 people from But Koursoubas said the Guangdong coast guard on border in waters. They are down. and putting a strain on both Lesbos camps this year, situation on the island could 23 August on a boat bound not democratic activists, but “People from Lesbos, Chios, its occupants and residents in according to Migration not continue. “Europe will also for Taiwan. elements attempting to Samos are hospitable,” he nearby areas who have Ministry data. need to take in some of these Donning masks and hats to separate #HongKong from said. “There will always be mounted a series of protests But authorities have refused people who did not cross over shield their identities, they China,” she wrote. extreme voices, but in general this year demanding the centre to allow any mass transfers to to stay in Mytilene, in Greece made their first public appeal The Shenzhen City Police, they are welcoming. But they be shut down. the mainland since the fire but to go to Europe.” for help and information on in its first notice since the are fed up.” But with the European broke out. They face anger (Reuters) their relatives’ plight, arrest, on Sunday said the 12 pleading for them to be Hong Kong citizens were allowed to consult lawyers under criminal detention on appointed by their families suspicion of illegally crossing and not the Chinese the border. The investigation Dubai, United Arab Emirates Government and to be is ongoing, it said. 9/11, never forget… allowed to call relatives in “Police will protect the Hong Kong. legitimate rights and interests Oman welcomes U.S. State Department of criminal suspects in spokeswoman Morgan accordance with law,” the Bahrain-Israel Ortagus tweeted on Saturday Police said. (12) that their arrest was (Reuters) normalisation decision

Oman welcomes Bahrain’s Israel’s intelligence decision to normalise minister said a few days Melbourne, Australia relations with Israel and after the UAE-Israel accord hopes it will contribute to was announced on 13 Israeli-Palestinian peace, August that Oman could Scores arrested at protests Oman State Media said on also formalise ties with the Sunday (13). country. Oman has in COVID-19 hotspot Bahrain on Friday (11) welcomed the UAE and became the second Gulf Bahraini decisions, but has country to normalise ties not commented on its own with Israel after the United prospects for normalised Arab Emirates said they relations. would do so a month ago, In 2018 Israeli Prime moves forged partly Minister Benjamin through shared fears of Netanyahu visited Oman Iran. and discussed peace “Hope this new strategic initiatives in the Middle East path taken by some Arab with then-Omani leader countries will contribute to Sultan Qaboos. bringing about a peace In a turbulent region, based on an end to the Oman has maintained its Israeli occupation of neutrality. It has kept Palestinian lands and on friendly relations with a establishing an independent range of regional actors, Palestinian State with East including arch-foes the Jerusalem as capital,” the United States and Iran. Government statement said. (Reuters) The Statue of Liberty and One World Trade Center are seen as the Tribute in Light shines in downtown Manhattan to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in the Manhattan bor- ough of New York City, New York, United States, 11 September 2020. Seoul, South Korea A woman with a sign speaks to Police during an anti-lockdown pro- test in response to the city’s COVID-19 restrictions in Melbourne, 12 September 2020. (Reuters)

Social distancing Police in Australia’s people were arrested at small Victoria State arrested 74 dispersed rallies on Saturday eased for two weeks Benghazi, Libya people and fined 176 for (12) and as Victoria is set to breaching public health ease its lockdown restrictions orders as scattered protests very slightly as of Monday ahead of major holiday Protesters torch against a weeks-long (14), as the number of new coronavirus lockdown daily coronavirus cases continued for a second continued to fall in the Government building straight day across country’s hotspot. Melbourne. On Sunday (13), there were Protesters set fire to the is controlled by Haftar’s A riot squad marched through 41 new coronavirus cases Government’s headquarters in Libyan National Army (LNA), fruit and vegetable stalls at the reported and seven more the Libyan city of Benghazi, as which is aligned with a city’s landmark, the Queen deaths, showing a steady rare demonstrations over Government and a rump Victoria market, before the downward trend from a peak living conditions and Parliament also based in the scuffling with protesters of more than 700 cases in a corruption continued in the east. erupted, with some people single day in early August. Visitors wearing masks to avoid the spread of COVID-19 fill out a east of the country for a third A 14-month offensive by the throwing fruit at the Police, Victoria accounts for about form which is mandatory to get into a hospital in Seoul, 26 day. LNA to take control of the television footage showed. 75 per cent of Australia’s August 2020. (Reuters) The protests late on capital, Tripoli, from the Victoria Police said in a more than 26,600 COVID-19 Saturday (12) also erupted in internationally recognised statement that there were cases and more than 90 per South Korea, on Sunday (13), eased its tough social Al-Bayda, where the Government of National between 200 and 250 people cent of the country’s total 810 distancing policy for the next two weeks in the densely Government was previously Accord (GNA) crumbled in involved in the protests, but deaths. The State capital, populated Seoul metropolitan area, with new daily novel based, in Sabha in the south, June, weakening Haftar. there were no immediately Melbourne, has been under coronavirus cases hovering stubbornly within triple digits. and for the first time in Several hundred protesters known injuries to the Police. strict lockdown for six weeks. The Government has lifted a ban on onsite dining after 9 Al-Marj, a stronghold of turned out in the eastern “It was extremely The city will remain under p.m. though still requires restaurants and cafes to restrict eastern based commander towns to demonstrate against disappointing to see people hard lockdown, but the amount seating and record patrons’ names and contact details. Khalifa Haftar, witnesses said. the political elite and over not just protesting but of time people will be able to While leisure facilities such as gyms and internet cafes are Libya has been split into deteriorating living conditions putting the lives of other spend outside will double to two also allowed to reopen, under so-called phase two restrictions, rival camps with parallel that include lengthy power Victorians at risk despite all hours per day and the overnight indoor gatherings are limited to 50 people and outdoor institutions in the east and cuts and a severe banking the warnings,” the Police said curfew will be shortened by an gatherings to 100, while spectators are banned from sporting west since 2014. Eastern crisis. in an e-mailed statement. hour as of Monday. events. (Reuters) Libya and much of the south (Reuters) The protests came after 14 (Reuters) a10 monday 14 september 2020 world affairs Ladakh Buddhist Monk Leads Campaign for Peaceful Resolution of Border Conflict

By Kalinga Seneviratne The author, who is a Buddhist himself, points out that the SINGAPORE (IDN) – When India's "Himalayas has been a theatre of Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and competition by proxy between India his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met and China for over half a century on the sidelines of the Shanghai now". However, he notes that the Co-operation Organisation foreign region that encompasses the ministers' meeting in Moscow on mountain ranges between Ladakh to September 10, Wang noted that it Arunachal Pradesh has been a was "normal for India and China to hotbed of border disputes between have differences as two neighbouring the two Asian giants with occasional major countries". standoffs. He argues that outside According to India's NDTV network, powers like the US could use the he added, as Asia's emerging powers, Tibet issue to sow discord in the India and China need to co-operate region. At the height of the border and not confront each other, and incursions by China in June, promote mutual trust, not suspicion. Stobdan created controversy when he Himalayan Mountain State of asked in a television discussion why Ladakh has the biggest ratio of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has Buddhists of any Indian union been silent on the border issue. He territory. Bhikkhu Sanghasena, a raised a volley of questions during leading Buddhist monk, based in the the programme, asking, “Why are State capital Leh, has been leading a Chinese coming there? Who told campaign for a peaceful resolution to them it is their land? Chinese are far the conflict, since the deadly clash from there. Why Dalai Lama is not between Indian and Chinese forces in speaking? Why he is not saying this June 2020 on the border that killed is not Tibetan territory but Indian 20 Indian soldiers. territory?" He added: "Dalai Lama "If war breaks out, Ladakh being has to speak, and he cannot keep the border will be the first victim of focusing on his prayers while China war," he told Lotus News in a takes away the land." WhatsApp interview from Leh. The Buddhist community in Leh, "People of Ladakh will suffer the who have great reverence for the most. We will become another Tibetan spiritual leaders took offence Kashmir or Afghanistan," he added. at the comments and closed all shops When Ladakh was declared a union Bhikkhu Sanghasena, a leading Buddhist monk, based in the state capital Leh, led a procession of local spiritual leaders across the and businesses for a day in protest. territory last year by the government town centre. The spiritual leaders included not only Buddhists but also Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Sikhs "India and China have some sense of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of competition in recent times," the Buddhists in Ladakh were happy Dalai Lama said in a magazine because, for the first time in India, the border conflict between India and jingoistic nationalism” noted Sanjay Quest for Strategic interview later. "Both, having over a Buddhists would have a greater say China." Ranade, Communication, and billion in population. Both [are] in the running of a State in the On 8 September, under the banner Journalism Professor at Mumbai Dominance powerful nations yet neither one can Indian federal system. of "Work, Walk and Pray for Peace", University in an interview with Lotus “One reason for this is that the destroy the other one, so you have to However, Bhikkhu Sanghasena – Bhikkhu Sanghasena led a News. spiritual sphere has become narrowly live side-by-side." who heads the Mahabodhi procession of local spiritual leaders “Imagining a role to play as confined to the Hindu-Muslim Bhikkhu Sanghasena points out International Meditation Centre in across Leh town centre that included peacemakers in international conflict duality," argues Prof Ranade. that when he talks about a peaceful Leh, a large Buddhist organisation not only Buddhists but also Muslims, is beyond the capacity of the present "Although India, over the many solution, he doesn't mean any with a variety of social service Hindus, Christians and Sikhs. The editorial departments of news centuries, is home to nine compromise of integrity and security projects for the community – has local spiritual leaders prayed for the organisations in India. They will dharshanas or philosophical visions of his motherland. However, he lamented that spiritual leaders in elimination of so much hatred, either toe the line of the ruling (today's) spiritual leadership is very argues, spiritual persons "should go India have been silent on the brewing tensions, fear, and instability that dispensation or side with the political narrowly focused on ritual than beyond the boundaries of nations to conflict. has gripped the community, and the opponents of the government” he theosophy or philosophy." promote peace". speakers from each community added. A timely book titled 'The Great Meanwhile, at the end of the Work, Walk and called for wisdom to overcome When asked why the spiritual Game in the Buddhist Himalayas: Jaishankar-Wang meeting, brokered Pray for Peace ignorance, to enable them to live in leaders have been silent on the India and China's Quest for Strategic by the Russians, India and China peace and harmony. brewing conflict between India and Dominance' published last year by have reached a five-point consensus "It is the duty of every spiritual “I’m very much disappointed with China, two civilizations that have had former Indian diplomat Phunchok regarding the current situation, leader to promote peace," he argues. most of the Indian media. They spiritual bonds going back centuries, Stobdan warned that the Himalayan including the disengagement of "India is a land of millions of Yogis, promote hate, war, and violence, and he argues that spiritual leaders in mountain region that encompasses border troops and easing of tensions. Rishis (Hindu sages) and Munis mislead the public” Bhikkhu India do not comment on politics both India and China, and its According to the joint statement, (ancient Indian ascetics) who always Sanghasena told Lotus News. “It is “although they clearly keep company neighbours Nepal and Bhutan could two foreign ministers agreed that said ‘Ahimsa Paramo Dharma’ (non- very sad; they lack moral with the politicians”. They also see become a new geopolitical hotspot. It border tension is not in the interest violence topmost duty). Thus non- responsibility towards the nation”. the India-China situation as argues for India and China to come of both sides and the two countries violence has been the first slogan of “Indian news media talks of peace something where critical assessment together to help empower Buddhists should "expedite work to conclude Indian gurus. invoking figures like Mahatma and commentary should be given by in the region and develop peaceful new confidence-building measures to I'm surprised no gurus have come Gandhi or Gautama Buddha but political or military leaders, not co-existence as taught by the maintain and enhance peace and up to speak for a peaceful solution of their inclination is towards a spiritual leaders. Buddhist philosophy. tranquillity in the border areas". Afghan peace talks open with... Calls for ceasefire & women’s rights

Afghan government representatives "My delegation is in Doha that the country's social advances be and Taliban insurgents gathered on representing a political system that is protected. Saturday for historic peace talks supported by millions of men and Watching on television in the aimed at ending two decades of war women from a diversity of cultural, Afghan capital Kabul, teacher that has killed tens of thousands of social, and ethnic backgrounds in our Pariwash Farkish said that although combatants and civilians. homeland," he said. she had witnessed violent blasts and Ahead of face-to-face negotiations Taliban leader Mullah Baradar peace talks were very important to in the coming days, the warring sides Akhund said that Afghanistan should her, she harboured concerns. were urged by various countries and "have an Islamic system in which all "While I was watching the ceremony groups to reach an immediate tribes and ethnicities of the country today, I saw there were no women ceasefire and forge an agreement that find themselves without any among the Taliban, and that worried upholds women's rights. discrimination and live their lives in me," she said. The government of U.S. President love and brotherhood." Then-president George W. Bush Donald Trump, who is eager to claim Pompeo warned that the size and sent U.S. forces into Afghanistan a an end to America's longest conflict scope of future U.S. financial month after the 9/11 attacks to hunt as he seeks re-election, expressed its assistance to the country, which down their mastermind, Osama bin intention to use aid as leverage for a relies heavily on international Laden, a Saudi given sanctuary by deal. funding, would depend on their the country's Islamist Taliban rulers. The opening ceremony came one "choices and conduct". U.S. Special Although the Taliban regime was day after the 19th anniversary of the Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad told quickly toppled, they regrouped and 9/11 attacks on the United States reporters that preventing terrorism have since waged an insurgency that that triggered its military involvement was the chief condition but that has sucked in Afghanistan's in Afghanistan. protecting minority and women's neighbours and troops from dozens of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rights would also influence any future countries, including NATO forces. urged the warring sides to seize the decisions on Congress-allocated Negotiations to broker a opportunity to strike a comprehensive funding. "There is no blank check." comprehensive peace deal were a peace deal, while acknowledging Officials, diplomats, and analysts component of a troop withdrawal pact many challenges lay ahead. say that although getting both sides said. and minorities who suffered under signed between the United States and "The choice of your political system to the negotiating table was a major How to significantly curtail the Taliban rule are also big challenges. the Taliban in February. After months is yours to make," he told the opening achievement, this does not mean the violence and bring about a permanent "The Afghan people must be at the of delay, a dispute over the Taliban's ceremony in the Qatari capital Doha. path to peace will be easy, especially ceasefire would be among the first heart of this peace process... that demand for the release of 5,000 "We believe firmly that protecting the with violence increasing around the issues the sides would discuss when leaves no one behind, including prisoners was resolved this week. rights of all Afghans is the best way country. they meet on Sunday, Abdullah told women," said Indonesian Foreign Ahead of the U.S. presidential for you to break the cycle of violence." Reuters. Minister Retno Marsudi. election in November, where he lags The head of Afghanistan's peace Ceasefire conditions How to include the Taliban, who Pompeo noted the four women in the polls, Trump is looking to show council, Abdullah Abdullah, said that Afghanistan government and have rejected the legitimacy of the negotiators among the Afghan progress on his pledge to end even if the two sides could not agree Taliban representatives met after the Western-backed Afghan government, delegation, saying they exemplified America's involvement in on all points, they should opening ceremony to discuss how in any governing arrangement and the gains in Afghanistan of female Afghanistan. compromise. negotiations would proceed, officials how to safeguard the rights of women participation in public life. He urged (Reuters) monDAY 14 september 2020 b11 Jan-August Export earnings down 19.2% August exports near US$ 1B

Exports earnings during the first eight months of this year declined 19.2 percent to Monthly Export Performance 2019, January-August 2020 US$ 6.4 billion compared to US$ 7.92 billion recorded a year earlier, while exports in 1,400 August were down 8.3 percent to US$ 2019 2020 947.7million from US$ 1,033.3 million a year ago. 1,090.2 988.4 According to the Export Development Board, during the first eight months Apparel Exports 1,000 1004.9 declined 23.7 per cent to US$ 2.84 billion, Tea 906.04 947.7 declined 11.9 per cent to US$ 805.5 million and Coconut & Coconut Based Products US$ Mn 656.4 Friday Markets declined 0.4 per cent to US$ 421.70m and 586.7 Rubber and Rubber based products declined 600 16.9 percent to 506.75 million compared to 282.3 that of last year. ASPI hits On a positive note export of Petroleum products, food & beverages, chemical and 200 6-month high plastic products and other export crops recorded positive growth rates during the Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec By Mario Andree period. Personal protective equipment and related Sources : Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Customs & Sri Lanka Export Development Board The Colombo Stock Exchange closed the week articles increased 38 per cent to US$ 542 on a positive note as the bullish run continued for million. the fourth consecutive session on Friday (11) to The services exports estimated by EDB Apparel and Textiles declined by 11.9 per cent oils, electrical and electronic components take the benchmark index to more than a six- which includes ICT/BPM, Construction, to US$ 438.34 million, Rubber and Rubber increased. month high on a high turnover despite continued Financial services, Transport and Logistics finished products declined by 2.71 per cent to The top five export destinations during the foreign exits. declined 14 per cent to US$ 2.2 billion during US$ 72.53 million and Tea declined 13.3 per period Jan-August 2020 were US, UK, India, The benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) the first eight months compared to US$ 2.6 cent to US$ 103 million. Germany and Italy. These five markets gained 0.73 per cent (39.37 points) to close at billion recorded a year earlier. On a positive note export earnings from absorbed over 50 percent of Sri Lanka’s 5,438.91 points, its highest since 5 March, while, In August this year, export earnings from coconut based products, spices and essential exports. (MA) the more liquid S&P SL20, representing the top 20 shares, gained 0.70 per cent (16.39 points) to close at 2,359.24 points. The daily turnover at the Colombo Stock Exchange stood at Rs 1.64 billion on Friday (11), To navigate post COVID-19 tourism lower than the Rs 2.67 billion recorded during the previous market day. Swaps, Dollar More than 93.7 million shares changed hands Govt and private sector should on Friday (11) during 15,839 trades. purchases from Shares of 249 companies were traded, of which market uplift Reserves 103 emerged as winners as against 57 losers. work together Foreigners were net sellers on Friday (11) for the 41st consecutive session. Net foreign outflow SL should use the idle time to enhance experiences By Paneetha Ameresekere during the day amounted to Rs 191 million, as foreigners sold shares worth Rs 385 million as By Mario Andree presents an unprecedented opportunity for The country’s foreign reserves against purchases worth Rs 194 million. officials to regulate and optimise taxi – both increased by 4.86 per cent (US$344.70 Top five gainers during the day were SMB Highlighting that Sri Lanka should use these cars and vans - and other transport services million) to US$7,440.50 million last Leasing (non-voting), Amana Takaful, Amana times of turbulence to focus on enhancing for visitors to the airport,” he said. month over July, Central Bank of Sri Bank, Blue Diamonds, and RIL Properties. experiences to attract future travellers, a “Sri Lanka also needs to urgently prioritise Lanka (CBSL) data released on Friday Top five losers were Nations Lanka, EB Creasy, senior businessman said, cooperation between conservation of its cultural and environmental (11) showed. People’s Merchant, Renuka Holdings, and on’Ally. all stakeholders including the Government is a heritage sites by establishing standards for This was led by foreign currency must to re-develop and execute strategies that formal and informal hospitality providers and reserves increasing 5.6 per cent will help develop the tourism industry. related fields operating in such areas,” he said. (US$340.7million) to US$ 6,941.30 Business magnet DhammikaPerera told “Similarly, the public and private sector can million in the reference period. Foreign shareholders of The Fortress Resorts that at a also seek out opportunities to collaborate on currency reserves comprised 93.29 per MPBCs down national level special attention now needs to be restoring and maintaining landscape, cent of the country’s total foreign focused on progressive investments which can improving and maintaining public toilets and reserves last month. Rs 105.55M due to be made in order to enhance experiences for providing clean drinking water facilities,” he The increase in foreign currency tourists that do visit Sri Lanka in the coming said. reserves was made possible due to continued uncertainty months. He went on to say that, it was vital that Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL’s) The tourism industry will require immense leaders in the private and public sectors net purchases from the market of US$ By Paneetha Ameresekere support in order to prevent further adverse engage in discussion and collaboration in order 93 million and swaps with commercial reactions, he said. to similarly identify opportunities that can be banks. Another reason for the uplift in Government of Sri Lanka’s (GoSL’s) money According to him this was the ideal time to prioritised and leveraged on for the benefit of reserves was CBSL’s settlements printing borrowing costs (MPBCs) decreased for develop and streamline operations at the both the formal and informal hospitality (repayments) with/to the Asian the seventh consecutive market day to Friday by Bandaranaike International Airport to ensure sectors and the wider economy. Clearing Union (ACU) being postponed Rs 105.55 million (16.61per cent), to go deeper convenience. Further, he suggested all stakeholders to use to this month from last month. into negative territory, to (-) Rs 741 million. “The experience of travelers to BIA needs to the current standstill in the industry to However in October a Government of This sustained decrease in GoSL’s MPBCs is be streamlined to ensure convenience and ease carefully evaluate how they can enhance the Sri Lanka (GoSL) repayment of a due to continued domestic investor appetite for of use including the introduction of automated resilience and sustainability of their maturing sovereign bond of US$ 1 risk free Treasury (T) Bonds and T Bills because immigration gates (eGates) to aid and increase operations,and re-align their business models billion is due. This repayment will blunt of uncertainty, rather than to lend to the engine the speed of clearance and enhance to capture emerging opportunities in tourism the country’s foreign reserves by US$ 1 of economic growth, the relatively risky private efficiencies,” he said. and hospitality in the context of a post-COVID billion on a gross basis. sector, where however, better rates could be “The lull in traffic to and from BIA also landscape. obtained. Nonetheless, Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL’s) Friday’s auction for the sale of Rs 30,000 million worth of seven year T Bonds at a ceiling yield of 7.08 per cent didn’t meet 100 per FMCGFMCG VALUE VALUE SALES SALES IN IN LKR LKR BN BN - ALL- ALL ISLAND ISLAND cent success, with only Rs 26,565 million (88.55 Rural FMCG market recovers faster than urban market per cent) of those maturities sold due to market 23.223.2 By Anjali Caldera 22.322.3 22.222.2 demand for higher yields as a result of months of quarter-1 2020, 21.7with21.7 Rs 21 billion21.721.7 cent for MAT July 2020 over MAT July 2019. 20.220.2 20.320.3 inflationary pressure. Consequently the parcel sales in January and Rs. 20.9 billion sales in Besides, the impact of COVID has been 21.021.0 20.920.9 21.721.7 sold fetched a weighted average yield (WAY) of The urban Fast Moving Consumer Goods February;20.720.7 the latter20.620.6 recorded20.320.3 a higher sale20.620.6 proportionate across all super segments as in 19.319.3 20.520.5 7.07 per cent, less by one basis point (bp) over (FMCG) market in general trade has been than in the18.518.5 previous year for the same18.818.8 month. food and beverages and personal care. The its ceiling yield of 7.08 per cent. recovering up to pre-COVID levels by June In February 2019 it was Rs 20.2 billion and in value contribution to food and beverages in 15.515.5 However, the full complement of the other two 2020 while rural market almost made a full February 2018 it was Rs 18.5 billion. The January-February 2020 (before the lockdown) parcels offered at Friday’s T Bond auction, recovery by June with Rs 14.1 billion sales, sales showed a drastic drop for March and was 69 per cent and in June -July 2020 it was namely the three and six year maturities, Nielsen Sri Lanka Dashboard for the quarter April 2020 and it is assumed due to the 66 per cent (after lifting the curfew). The value comprising Rs 30,000 million and Rs 40,000 2, 2020 (July update) revealed. In urban areas stringent lockdown measures.7.77.7 And so for contribution to personal care for January- million; were sold below their ceiling yields, by this was reported as Rs 6.4 billion. March 2020, FMCG sales recorded only Rs February 2020 was 21 per cent whereas it was three bps each, at 5.72 per cent and 6.57 per The Western, Central and North Western 15.5 billion and for April3.93.9 it was Rs 3.9 billion. 23 per cent in June-July 2020. Household cent respectively. Provinces seem to be slowing down the urban The market gradually started a ‘v shape care contributions to FMCG for the respective Meanwhile, due to the settlement/s of GoSL’s recovery, the report added. recovery’JanJan Feb reportingFeb MarMar RsAprApr 7.7 MaybillionMay Jun salesJun inJulJul May, periods are: eight and nine per cent. foreign debt servicing commitments and/or Nielsen Sri Lanka Retail Audit tracked in Rs 19.3 billion sales in June and Rs 20.5 Several categories like milk powder, CBSL returning swapped dollars for rupees to around 40 FMCG categories in the general billion inYearYear July; 2018 2018 which YearsupposedYear 2019 2019 to beYearYear the 2020 2020 household cleaners, home insecticides, commercial banks, resulted in market liquidity trade for the period ending June 2020. period where more people turned to online mosquito repellent equipment, sanitary and foreign reserves decreasing by Rs 2,758 Thus, FMCG market in general trade has retail services from major supermarket chains napkins, noodles, rubs and balms, toilet soap, million (1.36 per cent) to Rs 199,630 million and almost come up to pre-COVID levels by July and ride sharing apps. biscuits, washing powder, dry dessert pre- by US$14.95 million respectively at Friday’s 2020, though it remains at a lower level Yet the FMCG value sales growth in Sri mixes, shaving equipment, yoghurt, trading. compared to a year ago (2019). Accordingly, Lanka remained minus six per cent for July shampoos/conditioners have surpassed even Conversions are based on the middle rate of the FMCG market had a growth in the first two 2020 over July 2019; whereas minus 18 per pre-COVID levels with a short term growth. the benchmark ‘spot’ as at 4 p.m. on Wednesday FMCG VALUE SALES IN LKR BN - ALL ISLAND FMCGFMCG VALUE VALUE SALES SALES IN IN LKR LKR BN BN - URBAN- URBAN FMCGFMCG VALUE VALUE SALES SALES IN IN LKR LKR BN BN - RURAL- RURAL (9) which was Rs 184.40 to the dollar. In related developments, GoSL’s face value 23.2 7.57.5 22.3 22.2 7.47.4 7.47.4 7.37.3 21.7 21.7 7.07.0 15.815.8 (FV) MP debt remained unchanged at Rs 20.3 6.96.9 6.76.7 20.2 6.86.8 14.814.8 14.914.9 14.814.8 14.714.7 7.37.3 14.114.1 293,695.41million at the end of Friday’s trading. 7.17.1 7.27.2 13.513.5 21.0 21.7 7.17.1 6.96.9 20.7 20.9 20.6 20.6 6.96.9 Led by Friday’s aforesaid external 20.3 14.514.5 19.3 20.5 6.46.4 6.46.4 6.46.4 13.713.7 13.513.5 14.114.1 14.114.1 18.5 18.8 13.513.5 13.413.4 commitment/s, market’s net excess liquidity 5.75.7 13.613.6 13.613.6 12.412.4 decreased by Rs 2,758million (1.36 per cent) to 5.25.2 12.112.1 15.5 Rs 199,630 million. 9.79.7 In other developments, the ‘spot’ reversed its two consecutive market days of losses to

Thursday, to gain by 20 cents, to be trading at 7.7 5.65.6 Rs 184.45/55 to the US dollar in two way quotes 2.02.0 3.9 as at 4 p.m. the following day Friday (11). Market 1.31.3 2.62.6 sources revealed. However, in the calendar year to 4 p.m. on Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul JanJan FebFeb MarMar AprApr MayMay JunJun JulJul JanJan FebFeb MarMar AprApr MayMay JunJun JulJul Friday, the ‘spot’ has weakened by Rs 3.15 (1.74 per cent) in two way quotes. Year 2018 Year 2019 Year 2020 YearYear 2018 2018 YearYear 2019 2019 YearYear 2020 2020 YearYear 2018 2018 YearYear 2019 2019 YearYear 2020 2020

FMCG VALUE SALES IN LKR BN - URBAN FMCG VALUE SALES IN LKR BN - RURAL

7.5 7.4 7.4 7.3 7.0 15.8 6.9 6.7 6.8 14.8 14.9 14.8 14.7 7.3 14.1 7.1 7.2 13.5 7.1 6.9 6.9 14.5 6.4 6.4 6.4 13.7 13.5 14.1 14.1 13.5 13.4 5.7 13.6 13.6 12.4 5.2 12.1

9.7

5.6 2.0

1.3 2.6

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

Year 2018 Year 2019 Year 2020 Year 2018 Year 2019 Year 2020 B12 Ceylon FT monday 14 september 2020 news/advertorial All Bilateral Loans are not Concessionary – Verite Research Strengthening regulatory framework recommended

By Rajiesh Seetharam recipient country. Sri Lanka, lending country. international competitive the most expensive among with low tax revenues or low The tied element prevents bidding processes to select multilateral and bilateral Sri Lanka may be tax to GDP ratios, has few competitive bidding, which contractors, which indicate funding in terms of weighted overestimating the benefits of options in terms of funding increases the risk of cost. Thus that multilateral loans are average cost escalation at 33%, concessional loans, where sources for its infrastructure if the cost escalation is greater more transparent with low followed by loans from India at there are risks of higher costs projects. Thus funding from than the grant element, the possibility for cost escalation 45%. associated with tied loans and Bilateral, Multilateral and loan is no longer concessional and corruption. Sri Lanka has a legal unsolicited proposals International Sovereign Bonds but rather adverse,” the report Thirteen of the twenty-eight framework and guidelines according to a latest research are inevitable. However, we states. projects funded by bilateral governing its procurement, study by Verite Research. should strengthen our “The grant element of a loan tied loans originated as including for procurement in The study shows that procurement regulatory is the difference between the unsolicited proposals; twelve of the case of unsolicited multilateral funding is more framework to prevent nominal loan value and the these were from China. proposals. However, in the transparent with the corruption and escalation of present value of the future loan For 82% of the loans, a less case of foreign-funded projects, international competitive project costs,” Abeysinghe repayments anticipated under than 50% cost escalation on the legal framework governing bidding process, when said. the terms of the loan. Of the 50 the tied element would negate procurement permits the compared to bilateral funding. The Report states that during loans, 33 loans had a grant the grant element and make government to deviate from Speaking exclusively to the period 2005-2018, the element of above 35%, a the loan terms adverse. national procurement Ceylon FT, Verite Research, Government has taken loans benchmark used by Loans from Japan had the guidelines in favour of the Research Director Subhashini amounting to USD 24,582 international agencies such as highest cost-escalation procurement guidelines of the Abeysinghe said, “Among the million from bilateral and the International Monetary thresholds. For two of the funding agency. Subhashini Abeysinghe Bilateral donors, Japan loans multilateral lenders to finance Fund (IMF), to classify a loan loans from Japan, costs had to Sri Lanka will benefit from have benefitted Sri Lanka the infrastructure. Five sources However, according to the as concessional. Only 4 out of escalate beyond 250%, for its strengthening the regulatory most in terms of weighted accounted for 82% of those research study with a sample 15 multilateral loans were grant element to be wiped off. framework governing the average cost-escalation loans: China (33%), the Asian of 50 high-value loans (53% of concessional. The remaining These two loans had the lowest management of unsolicited threshold (215%) and long Development Bank (17%), the total value of foreign loans were slightly below 35%, tied element (only 30% of the proposals, making the process maturity period, while Chinese Japan (18%), World Bank (7%) between 2005-2018 to Sri meaning it can be categorised loan was tied to procurement more transparent and less weighted average cost and India (7%). Lanka from multilateral and as almost concessional. from Japan) and the highest open to abuse. Improving Sri escalation is the lowest at 33%. “Multilateral and bilateral bilateral sources to finance Of the 35 loans taken from grant element (an average of Lanka’s procurement However, Chinese funding is borrowing is often favoured by infrastructure, 28 of them were bilateral financial institutions, 75%) compared to other tied framework can also reduce the cheaper compared to governments such as Sri tied loans. 28 had a tied element. In loans, which indicate that Sri adverse consequences international financial Lanka because such financing The tied element of the loan contrast 15 loans from Lanka has benefitted from resulting from tied markets.” tends to have ‘concessional’ refers to the portion of the loan multilateral institutions did Japanese funding, with a procurement terms embedded “A funding country has dual elements, relative to the that is tied to the procurement not have any tied elements. weighted average cost in infrastructure loans,” objectives; that is to increase international financial of goods/services from The projects funded through escalation of 215%. Meanwhile recommended the research their exports and also help the markets. contractors connected to the these loans went through Chinese funding is found to be findings.

NDB enters into agreement UDA to turn Gaffoor bldg into luxury hotel By Eunice Ruth purpose and then the idea with all the amenities of a with iLoan Lanka was forgotten for more than luxury hotel. The Urban Development five years. The UDA would get the Authority (UDA) is to We were advised to make assistance of the Sri Lanka reconstruct and renovate the use of this valuable piece of Navy to build the hotel while Gaffoor Building at Colombo real estate and we proposed the Moratuwa University will Fort, to transform it into a that a luxury hotel be built in help with the structural work luxury hotel, said the UDA place of the dilapidated with the UDA being in overall Deputy Director General M.C. building that existed there. charge of the project and Withanaarachchi. The project to reconstruct funding the construction with He said the renovation work the building commenced last Rs 680 million having already on this building was started week and would be completed been spent as part of a Rs 900 in early 2012, for a different in mid July 2022 complete million project cost. From Left: Dilip Samanthilaka- Senior Director Alpen Capital, Thushani Hewavitharana – Relationship Manager NDB, Fazley Azhar- Chairman, Indika Ranaweera - Vice President, SME, Middle Markets and Business Banking NDB, Dimantha Seneviratne – Director/Group Chief Executive Officer NDB, Roshan Weerasinghe- Director iLoan, Shamraz Shamsudeen– COO iLoan, Indika Kudagamage - AVP Business Banking, SME, Micro Finance and Liabilities NDB, Shanka Abeywardene - Assistant Vice President, Corporate Planning & Business Intelligence NDB, Sydney Downhall–Regional Manager, Colombo Region NDB CIPM, Horizon Campus sign MoU NDB recently joined hands are more focused on Bank (ADB) has identified the with iLoan Lanka Pvt. Ltd. in disrupting the way banks urgent need to find solutions CIPM Sri Lanka and an effort to provide SMEs operate, iLoan is a unique to the increasingly widening Horizon Campus, which is a with better access to Trade business to business Fintech trade credit gap which is in UGC-recognised university, Finance, by providing trade that focuses on disrupting excess of US$ 600 billion in with an annual intake of over credit to the Underbanked the way lending happens by Asia alone. With this tie up, 1,100 students, entered into and Unbanked Micro, Small providing a verified and NDB identified that iLoan’s a Memorandum of -and-Medium Enterprises secured Trade Credit fully automated trade credit Understanding (MoU) to (mSME) in their trade with Network for banks to channel network could be the answer cooperate in academic affairs the distributors of Large their trade based credit to infuse credit downstream which will be mutually Manufacturers in Sri Lanka. offerings. to a majority of the SMEs in beneficial to students of both President, CIPM Sri Lanka Jayantha Amerasinghe (center right) and In an era where Fintechs The Asian Development Sri Lanka. institutions. Chairman, Horizon Campus Upul Daranagama exchanging the MoU flanked by officials of the two organisations The MoU was signed recently by CIPM Sri Lanka qualifications are as Campus are extremely President Jayantha important as academic important to create the Amerasinghe and Horizon qualifications. A combination necessary value additions Campus Chairman Upul of both will undoubtedly be of and efficiencies at a National CLC Islamic Finance celebrates Daranagama at a ceremony more value to a business level. We are confident that held at the CIPM head office professional than a single this is will be a very ‘HR House’ in Colombo 5 in qualification,” said CIPM Sri successful partnership in the five years with gold rush the presence of officials Lanka President Jayantha years to come for the CLC Islamic customers of all walks achievement in its winning representing both Amerasinghe. betterment of both Finance, a of life. streak came in 2018 at the organisations. “Strategic, institutional institutions and our subsidiary of CLC Islamic IFFSA Awards when CLC “In order to successfully cooperation such as the MoU students,” said Horizon Commercial Leasing Finance won Islamic Finance were crowned face the challenges in the that we entered into today Campus Chairman Upul & Finance PLC continuous awards at with three gold awards, business world, professional between CIPM and Horizon Daranagama. (CLC) commenced the Islamic Finance namely, ‘Islamic Finance operations in 2015 Forum of South Asia Entity of the Year’, ‘Best and in a short span (IFFSA). The awards Islamic Leasing Company of of five years, has include ‘Best Islamic the year’ and ‘Best Islamic become a dominant Leasing Company in Finance Window of the year.’ force within the Sri Lanka and South Head of CLC Islamic Lanka IOC contributes for Islamic Banking and Asia’ which CLC Finance Ilsam Awfer shares Finance Industry. Ilsam Awfer Islamic Finance has his thoughts, “We offer the Launched in 2015 been winning since maximum permissible profit cancer treatment under the Islamic Business 2016 to present. CLC Islamic share rate for regulated Keeping in view the fact Division (IBD) of CLC as an Finance also won the Finance Companies on that Cancer is a leading cause Islamic Finance Window ‘Emerging Islamic Finance Deposits to our valued of mortality in Sri Lanka, under regulations of Central Entity of the Year’ at the 2016 investors on Mudharabah and Lanka IOC has donated Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Sri Lanka Islamic Banking Wakala Investments which is medicines for treatment of CLC Islamic Finance offers and Finance Industry (SLIBFI) also the highest in the Cancer patients at Apeksha financial services to Awards. The crowning industry.” Hospital. The hospital has the capacity for treating 1,050 in-patients and are treating 700 out-patients in addition to handling over 60 Dr Wasantha Dissanayake, Director Apeksha Hospital receives Seylan relocates Gold Centre ATM operations per day with 200 medicines from Manoj Gupta, MD, Lanka IOC for the treatment of Seylan Bank recently enhances the visibility of Radiation & Chemo therapy cancer patients relocated their Gold Centre the Seylan Bank ATM to treatments each. branch on-site ATM to a more shoppers in the area, Dr Wasantha Dissanayake, Manoj Gupta, MD, Lanka IOC times with the intention of more spacious location making it the ideal location Director Apeksha Hospital assured the hospital empowering and enhancing facing the entrance to for the Bank from which to highlighted the sharp authorities of their continued the lives of the Gabo Lane. serve its clientele. Located increase in the number of the support to the best possible underprivileged community. The ATM was among other popular new cases reported during the extent towards this noble Environmental protection is ceremonially opened by merchants in the area, the recent years as on an average cause. another key area where Gamika de Silva, Head of ATM is at a focal point of 25,000 new cancer patients Lanka IOC is engaged in Lanka IOC is taking steps for Marketing and Sales, the centre, ensuring higher report for treatment at the various CSR projects such as its sustainability and Seylan Bank and Suresh footfall and making it hospital every year. renovation of hospitals, free development and in this Subram, Assistant convenient for customers Dr Dissanayake appreciated health screening camps and regard tree plantations and Gamika De Silva, Head of Marketing and Regional Manager - Metro – to carry out their Sales - Seylan Bank and Suresh Subram - the efforts of Lanka IOC for also providing English beach cleaning programmes II, Seylan Bank. transactions in the busy Assistant Regional Manager - Metro – II - the support and concern for education. These projects are regularly being The new location city centre. Seylan Bank the well- being of patients and were carried out in recent undertaken by the company. Economy monday 14 september 2020 A13

Enhancing Women’s Economic Opportunities SL Placed 134th Out of 190 Economies - WB By Paneetha Ameresekere ‘parenthood,’ ‘entrepreneurship,’ most levels) and low total fertility rates, The WB however said that although ‘assets’ and ‘pension’ has placed Sri Women working or as well as its status as an upper- the educated women who queue for This is the first of four articles based Lanka 134th equal together with three middle-income country with overall public sector jobs risk unemployment, on two reports published by the World other economies, namely Djibouti, aiming to work in the improvements in economic growth they are making rational calculations Bank (WB), and one by the Asian Jamaica and St Vincent and the averaging about six per cent annually in prioritising these jobs – not only Development Bank (ADB), revolving Grenadines in this regard. public sector also over the past decade, the WB said. because of the women-friendly benefits round ‘women and employment’ in Sri However, four other South Asian constitute a vulnerable This presents significant challenges provided by the public sector, but also Lanka, released earlier this year, i.e, on economies were placed higher than Sri to the country’s growth and equity because raw gender wage gaps there, the eve of the coronavirus pandemic Lanka. They were India, 115th equal group, the WB said. goals, such as the then GoSL’s aim of are technically smaller than in the gripping the country. with Benin and Gambia with a score of Although their creating one million jobs, fostering private sector. But now with the economy slowly 74.4 points each; Maldives and Nepal, investment in the private sector and Nonetheless, ultimately they would returning to normalcy, the findings of 118th equal with a score of 73.8 points earnings tend to be enhancing social inclusion outcomes, fare better by seeking jobs in the these documents may be relevant in the each and Bhutan, 125th equal with the report also said. private sector – especially the formal present context. Ethiopia and Madagascar with a score higher than those of Endowments such as family private sector – in both earnings Those reports include, ‘Women, of 71.9 points each, respectively. women working in the characteristics (background), location, potential and chances of employment Business and the Law 2020’ and Nonetheless,, Sri Lanka was ahead of age and years of experience tend to when joining the labour market, the ‘Getting to Work; Unlocking Women’s the balance three South Asian informal private sector significantly increase the explained WB said. If they were to acquire the Potential in Sri Lanka’s Labour Force,’ economies captured in this survey, – and their maternity portion of the gender wage gap in the ‘right’ kinds of education and skills which are both WB reports and ‘Skills namely Bangladesh and Pakistan private sector. In the public sector, (that is, those that employers value Gaps in Two Manufacturing Subsectors which were placed 171st equal with a leave and other however, age and experience tend to and those that tend to be acquired by in Sri Lanka: Food and Beverages and score of 49.4 points each and benefits are more reduce the explained portion of the men), these endowments would be Electronics and Electricals,’ an ADB Afghanistan, 183rd , with a score of wage gap, whereas ethnicity tends to rewarded with higher earnings for publication, respectively. 38.1 points, respectively. assured than those for increase it, the WB alleged women and reducing the gender wage While the heading of this article is Meanwhile, eight economies with a ‘But if Sri Lankan women were to look gap in the private sector. self-explanatory, the headings of the score of 100 out of 100 showed perfect women in the informal more to the private sector – especially The formal private sector is also remaining three articles are ‘LFPR of equality, without any discrimination, and formal private the formal private sector – for more regulated than the informal Graduate Women 85%-WB,’ by ‘ensuring’ women’s economic rights employment, chances that their private sector; therefore, it (formal ‘Empowering Migrant Women to be on par with those of men, sectors – women endowments, rather than gender bias, private sector) thus is more likely to Returnees’ and ‘Increasing Women according to the WB. Those economies seeking public sector would determine their earnings, which provide benefits of particular interest Employment in Private Sector,’ in alphabetical order were Belgium, would improve,’ the WB said. to women, such as maternity leave, respectively. Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, jobs far outnumber the Nevertheless, even though women are flexible working hours, and However, a perceived gap, in Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden, increasing their educational transportation services, the report particular in the WB report titled respectively. jobs themselves, which attainments over time – and are thus added. ‘Getting to Work; Unlocking Women’s It was also found that Sri Lanka has contribute to high becoming better qualified than men for Meanwhile, the ‘explained’ portions Potential in Sri Lanka’s Labour Force,’ the 20th-largest gender gap in labour public sector jobs – women’s wages in of these gender wage gaps are is not identifying employer bias to hire force participation (LFP) with a rate of unemployment rates the public sector are not reflecting their consistently smallest in public sector female workers because of the 84-day fewer than 40 per cent in women’s LFP, among well-educated higher attainments and qualifications, employment, where its explained mandatory paid maternity leave out of 149 countries, the WB said. it added. If they were, the gender wage portion was as small as three per cent provision in the law. ‘Sri Lanka’s LFP gender gap is even women, the WB said gap would most likely disappear in the in 2011 and 14 per cent in 2009, The 84-day maternity leave greater than that of several other South public sector, or even reverse itself to though it increased to 22 per cent in entitlement excludes weekends, Asian countries , despite Sri Lanka younger than age 30 and persistent, favour women, the report added. 2013. statutory holidays and poya holidays, serving as a model for the region in though, shrinking wage disparities Women working or aiming to work in However, the private formal sector which holidays also come under the many other gender outcomes’, the WB between the sexes, the WB said. the public sector also constitute a consistently had the largest explained ambit of paid employee leave and which report further said. Meanwhile, LFP rates among Sri vulnerable group, the WB said. portions of gender wage gaps, from a are added on to maternity leave, The LFP Gap which is defined in Lankan women aged 15 years and older Although their earnings tend to be high of 52 per cent in 2006 to its lowest thereby inflating the number of paid percentage terms is the difference that were 36–37 per cent for 2015–17, but higher than those of women working in share yet (41 per cent) in 2015. maternity leave to be well in excess of exists between unemployed men fell to 34 per cent in 2018; LFP rates for the informal private sector – and their Despite smaller gender wage gaps in 84 days. seeking work and/or already employed same-age men were 75 per cent in maternity leave and other benefits are the public sector than in the formal and A corporate director told me that the of age 15 years and over, divided by the 2015–17, but fell to 73% in 2018, the more assured than those for women in informal private sectors on average, reason why companies are reluctant to total of such an age cohort, regardless report added. the informal and formal private sectors when gender wage gaps do take place in hire women is because of this aforesaid of whether they are employed or ‘In contrast, the 2016 LFP rates for – women seeking public sector jobs far the public sector, those appear to be maternity leave syndrome. unemployed or not seeking women aged 15 and older in Thailand outnumber the jobs themselves, which more attributable to gender bias in the This is in the context that this WB employment, covering both sexes, and and Malaysia – which are upper- contribute to high unemployment public sector than in the private sector, report seemingly glosses over this fact, also that of women of a similar status. middle-income countries – were 60 per rates among well-educated women, the even though the raw gaps are smaller in though saying in situations of labour The report also said that the cent (compared with 77 per cent for WB said. the public sector, the WB said. market tightness, where demand determinants of these poor gender same-age men) and 54 per cent Women are overrepresented among However, despite greater bias in the exceeds supply, economic theory outcomes include women’s household (compared with 80 per cent for same- public sector employees comprising 19 public sector, women are more predicts that employers will hire new roles and responsibilities, a mismatch age men), respectively, the WB said. per cent of all employed women versus attracted to public sector jobs, as workers from the reserve of between skills acquired in school and Million Workers 13 per cent of all employed men, the shown by the primary research and unemployed or inactive workers – if those demanded in the labour market, WB further said. existing literature. Endowments such employers believe that potential gender bias, ‘discrimination’ in labour ‘Raising the rate of women’s LFP by However, women are as family characteristics, location, age workers have the necessary skills for supply and labour demand dynamics. 15 percentage points will add more underrepresented among private and years of experience tend to the job – ‘to avoid rising wage costs ‘. This low LFP level has to be looked at than one million workers to the labour sector employees (36 per cent of significantly increase the explained Sri Lanka has jumped five paces to in the context that the Government of market each year,’ the report said. employed women versus 44 per cent of portion of the gender wage gap in the 134th position with a score of 68.1 Sri Lanka (GoSL) envisages that 40 per ‘However, Sri Lanka shows employed men), it added. private sector. In the public sector, points out of a possible 100 out of 190 cent of the jobs created this year will remarkable persistence, albeit Women have indeed shifted from however, age and experience tend to economies surveyed in enhancing employ women, and it seeks to negatively, in low LFP rates for women private to public sector employment reduce the explained portion of the women’s economic opportunities last encourage women’s greater involvement over the past three decades – with even more than men since 2006, when ‘only’ wage gap, whereas ethnicity tends to year over 2018, a recently released and leadership in small and medium a slight decline as the economy has 15.6 per cent of employed women increase it, the WB alleged. World Bank (WB) publication said. enterprises (SMEs), the WB report expanded,’ the report added. worked in the public sector (compared Nonetheless, it is in the public sector The document titled ‘Women, further said. Also, this large gap is surprising, with 12 per cent of all employed men) that gender wage gaps are most Business and the Law 2020’ which Nonetheless, women’s experience in given the country’s long-standing and 39 per cent of all women employed attributable to bias rather than to examines women’s economic rights vis- Sri Lanka’s labour market remains achievements in human development worked in the private sector (compared worker endowments, it said. à-vis eight indicators, namely ‘mobility,’ characterised by low LFP; high outcomes, such as high levels of female with 44 per cent of all employed men, (Next Monday: LFPR of Graduate ‘workplace,’ ‘pay,’ ‘marriage,’ unemployment, especially for women education (including gender parity at the same as in 2015), it said. Women 85%-WB) b14 Ceylon Ft monday 14 september 2020 Education Remoted Learnig Tips for Schools and Educational Institutions to secure themselves from cyber threats

By Sunil not be leveraged effectively. This can also possible, which identifies if a Sharma give cybercriminals an opportunity to remote device is infected and isolates exploit weaknesses in your it till it is cleaned, thus preventing the In 2020, it’s safe cybersecurity infrastructure to infect infection from spreading across the to say that we’ve the network. network. certainly come a Below are some of the steps you long way from can take to protect your institute 3. Antivirus and web considering from cyberattacks: filtering technology to be a novelty, to 1. Managed threat Unless your network of teachers integrating into response services and students are using a VPN, you every aspect of the educational system. will need to ensure their online What brought on this change was Having a team of cybersecurity safety, through web filtering rules largely the COVID-19 pandemic, which experts on board, should not be seen which are set by your organisation. necessitated the shutdown of schools as an expense, but rather an Through the use of a licensed and educational institutions across investment in your school’s safety. antivirus, you will be able to block the country. Today, online classes are With the services of an expert team, access to inappropriate websites, a norm, and not an exception, making they will deliver threat hunting, stop risky files from being them prime targets for cyber attackers. detection, and response services downloaded, and provide category In addition to regular security 24/7, so that you don’t have to. You bases web filtering for Chromebooks challenges faced, the new don’t have to worry about spotting and iOS devices. Phishing can also be complexities stemming from COVID- suspicious behaviour or whether your prevented using advanced endpoint 19 are offering cybercriminals tailor- cybersecurity configuration is on protection technologies to stop the made opportunities for attacking point because the team manages all attack chain and predictively prevent school networks, and giving education 3. Shortage of skilled IT security needs for your education such attacks, features should also institutes even more security phishing emails, prevents data loss, institute. include automatic roll back to pre- challenges that need to be addressed encrypts email, and offers security staff altered state if files are encrypted. to keep students and their data safe comprehensive protection against This is a challenge not unique to 2. Use of firewall security This will help protect data if students and secure. phishing. schools, but lack of skilled IT staff For maximum safety, schools must or teachers are using school-supplied Here are some of the challenges particularly leaves a school network deploy a next-gen firewall that detects laptops or tabs. that educational institutes can 2. Advanced malware susceptible to threats. Schools are and blocks ransomware at the As Coronavirus cases continue to face: attacks shut down to control the spread of the gateway, and also prevents its lateral increase, there is a lot of uncertainty pandemic. At most, there’s a skeletal movement. Firewalls that offer built- if schools and educational institutions 1. Phishing scams As students and teachers spend staff at work, or else everyone is in support for IPsec and SSL VPN will ever go back to functioning as We’re seeing an uptick in more time online during coronavirus working from home. When this connectivity, give schools the option they did earlier, or if an entirely tech- coronavirus related phishing scams, lockdowns, they are susceptible to happens, who takes charge of your to choose either or both, for secure driven approach will become the new and so the chances of phishing emails inadvertently becoming victims of an school’s IT security needs? Schools remote connectivity. Additionally, normal. Taking this into making their way into the inboxes of account takeover, by unintentionally can find themselves with no one through the uses of SD-WAN which is consideration, it is imperative for teachers, administrators, and or carelessly sharing their information pushing network security, device integrated in a firewall, schools can educational institutes to adopt students is consequently high. Staff with cybercriminals. This allows management, and endpoint security remotely connect with each other to cybersecurity solutions to maximise must be provided with comprehensive criminals to log in to your school’s policies. securely share information between their safety. guidance that allows them to identify network, launch a ransomware Critical reports identifying risky sites, and achieve consistent Sunil Sharma is the Managing such emails. It’s critical to deploy attack, and take control of sensitive users, or which offer more information performance and availability for cloud Director- Sales, India & SAARC, for advanced email security that blocks student data. about regulatory compliance might applications. Synchronised security is Sophos sports monday 14 september 2020 A15 New Star Osaka wins U.S. Open Naomi Osaka ended Victoria Southern Open final on 29 Aug. until women's game, an energised Azarenka's dream run to claim her Osaka withdrew due to a hamstring Azarenka broke the fourth seed to second U.S. Open title in three years injury. start the final and twice more in a with a 1-6 6-3 6-3 comeback win on "I actually don't want to play you in lopsided opening set that took just 27 Saturday, which cemented her status more finals," Osaka told Azarenka minutes. If any spectators had been as the sport's leading light both on with a smile during the victory allowed in Arthur Ashe Stadium, they and off the court. ceremony. "I didn't really enjoy that. no doubt would have been left Unlike the 22-year-old Japanese's "That was a really tough match for stunned by events as a rampaging first U.S. Open win in 2018 over me. And yes, really inspiring for me Azarenka again broke Osaka at the Serena Williams, which was played in because I used to watch you play here first opportunity in the second to go a frothing Arthur Ashe Stadium, when I was younger, so just to have 2-0 up. Saturday's drama unfolded in a the opportunity to play you is really But Osaka would not lose her strangely quiet arena as COVID-19 great and I learned a lot." composure. health and safety protocols prevented COVID-19 ERA After no aces in the opening set, fans from entering the Billie Jean The presentation ceremony showed Osaka, one of the games top servers, King National Tennis Centre. the precautions everyone has had to slowly began to find her mark in the take during the COVID-19 era, with second. She hammered down five aces But the lack of buzz around the the two finalists having to pick up while helping herself to three breaks stands did not stop the two former their respective prizes themselves on the way to levelling the match. world number ones from producing a from a table placed on court, while In the third it was Osaka applying dazzling display of shot making. everyone stood socially distant for the all the early pressure on an As Osaka walked off with a third obligatory photo call. increasingly rattled Azarenka. She Grand Slam title, Azarenka was As she has done in every match over Naomi Osaka took charge with a break to nudge in denied a U.S. Open crown for a third the past fortnight, Osaka appeared on front 3-1. time, having also finished runner-up court with her left thigh strapped and goes with it. on the day of the protest by 24 hours Azarenka would show her fighting in 2012 and 2013. a facemask with the name of a Black With the United States rocked by and persuaded Osaka to contest the spirit with a break to get back on Still it was a remarkable and American victim of Police brutality or unrest following the shooting of Jacob rescheduled match. serve at 3-4, but Osaka would not be unexpected run for the 31-year-old racial injustice. Blake, a Black man, just three weeks By taking the stand, the 22-year-old denied, immediately breaking back Belarusian, who reached her first For the final it was Tamir Rice, a ago by Police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, activist had made her point. and holding serve to seal victory. major final in seven years. 12-year-old boy shot by Police in 2014 Osaka had withdrawn from her semi- Azarenka, who ended Serena It marked the first time since It was the second time in two weeks while playing with a toy gun in a final at the Western and Southern Williams bid for a record equaling Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1994 that Azarenka, twice a winner at the playgound. Open in protest. 24th Grand Slam title in the semi- a player had dropped the first set of Australian Open, and Osaka had set Osaka had already replaced Serena The men's and women's tour finals, carried that momentum into the women's final and fought back to up a final showdown. The pair had Williams as top earner and now has responded by postponing all the the final with a near flawless first set. win the title. been set to meet in the Western and assumed the leadership mantle that matches that were due to take place One of the top returners in the (Reuters) Athletes should be looked at as entrepreneurs: Namal Surfing Nationals in Arugam Bay on 26-27 September

By Anjana Kaluarachchi of LSR. The event will start on 26 September with the Open Lanka Sportreizen (LSR), a leading Championship, which will be held as Destination Management Company an event without any barriers in Sri Lanka, together with Ministry attracting mainly the foreign surfers of Youth and Sports, Ministry of who have been stuck in Sri Lanka for Tourism and Surfing Federation of some duration, and it will also allow Sri Lanka, will conduct an Open/ local competitors to surf alongside National Surfing event on 26 and 27 their more competitive international September in Surfing Hub of Sri counterparts. Lanka, Arugam Bay. The National Championship will be This will mark Sri Lanka’s sports held on 27 September which will revolutionising concept by the allow local surfers to upgrade Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa, themselves in rankings following the who pledged to build Sri Lanka’s conclusion of the two competitions sports economy as a USD 1 billion held prior to the pandemic. The industry within the next five years. organisers expect around 100 surfers The Minister stated that in other in both categories - including women countries sports is something which - and the decision to separately generates income for the country, categorise women surfers will depend and athletes are entrepreneurs who on the number of entries. help the community to expand Lanka Sportreizen, a leading business and create jobs, but in Sri Destination Management Company Lanka people do not look at athletes Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa (left) and Minister of Tourism Prasanna Thilak Weerasinghe, Chairman LSR, in Sri Lanka which has been in the in that manner, which is due to the Ranatunga at the Media briefing addressing the Media briefing forefront of promoting Tourism economic situation and sports Pix by: Udesh Ranasinha through Sports and Adventure has economy in Sri Lanka . this year, while they are exploring the of relief about the future of their organised and conducted the “We should look at athletes as possibility of hosting sporting events livelihoods with the conduct of this Championship, which was held following Surfing Events in the past. entrepreneurs. Internationally a good which could generate income for the event. earlier in Hikkaduwa and Madihe in • British Pro- Surf Championships performing athlete brings honour to country . In this scenario locals as well as Matara before the outbreak of the • Rating Tournament for the the country and an income for the This event is expected to reawaken foreigners living in Sri Lanka will be pandemic. Japanese Pro- Surfing Association family, but in Sri Lanka an athlete the interest that the sporting able to show off their skills to the “Anyway, an event was already • ASP WQS 6 Star Men's Short has become a headache for the fraternity has for surfing since the large number of visitors that are planned for September with the Board Event with the Australian parents. We should change that period from January 2020 has not expected to witness this event. collaboration of the World Surf Surfing Professionals concept by promoting sports based seen any event taking place in the Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd Sri Lanka and Lin League, but as we all know, activities • ASP WQS 6 Star Men's Long tourism that will help the country’s Eastern Coast of Sri Lanka due to the Asia Holdings (Pvt) Ltd will be the across the world came to a standstill. Board Event & Women's Short Board economy and save athletes from this spread of the Covid 19 virus. main Sponsors of this event. Furthermore, the stakeholders in the Event with the Australian Surfing sad situation,” said Rajapaksa. Furthermore, stakeholders in the According to Hiran Ukwatte, Eastern Province have been severely Professionals The Minister also said apart from Eastern Province who have been President of SFSL, the Arugam Bay affected by it, and this event will • WSL WQS 3000 Men's Short Surfing, International cricket and starved of business with the break of event will be the third and final surely be a sigh of relief for them,” Board Event with the World Surf Kabaddi events too will be held later the virus will be able to heave a sigh instalment of the National said Thilak Weerasinghe, Chairman League Eagle Logistics Liverpool, Arsenal off champs to flying starts Eagle Logistics scored 44 runs in 53 17, Dulaj Liverpool and Arsenal got ruled to have handled a emerged champion of balls with a boundary Jayawardena 2/24, off to winning starts with Salah shot and the the 18th ‘DPGC’ and six. The pair was Mayura Ranasinghe victories over promoted Egyptian blasted home the Challenge Trophy MCA involved in a 75 runs 2/27) sides on the opening day of spot-kick. Jack Harrison ‘E’ Division 25 Over partnership for the Allianz Insurance: the new Premier League equalised for Leeds eight League Tournament at second wicket. Dulaj 96 (21.4 overs) season on Saturday. minutes later with a fine MCA yesterday when Jayawardena and (Demian De Byszr 28, Mohamed Salah scored a solo goal before Liverpool they beat Allianz Mayura Ranasinghe Sameera Fernando 24, hat-trick, including two restored their lead in the Insurance by 48 runs took two wickets each. Dhanushka Kumara penalties, as champions 20th minute with Virgil van in the final. The Allianz Insurance 15, Mohamed Farri Liverpool won a seven goal Dijk left unmarked to head tournament was were bowled out for 96 3/13, Prageeth thriller with hugely in an Andy Robertson conducted by runs in 21.4 overs. Fernando 3/35) impressive Leeds United at corner. Mercantile Cricket Opener Demian De Awards Anfield with the Egyptian Marcelo Bielsa's side, Association and Byszr scored 28 runs Best Batsman/Man grabbing the win from the back in the top flight after a sponsored by David and Sameera Fernando of the tournament: spot in the 88th minute of a 16-year absence, rallied Peiris Motors Company 24. Mohamed Farri K.M. Nilantha 4-3 victory. Arsenal enjoyed again with Patrick Bamford Ltd. and Prageeth Fernando Wijekoon (3DH a more comfortable opening slotting home after Van Dijk Eagle Logistics won took three wickets International Group) day with a 3-0 victory over had failed to deal with a ball the toss and batting each. Best Bowler: Fulham at Craven Cottage. over the top. Salah blasted first scored 144 runs Brief scores: Geethika Jayathilake Crystal Palace beat Liverpool back in front, 12 for 7 wickets in 25 Eagle Logistics: (Commercial Leasing Southampton 1-0 with minutes before the break, overs. Opener Dineth 144/7 (25 overs) and Finance Ltd.) Wilfried Zaha on target. but Leeds hit back for a Thimodya scored 52 (Dineth Thimodya 52, Man of the final: Liverpool took just four third time through Polish runs in 61 balls with 5 Dulaj Egodage 44, Dulaj Egodage (Eagle minutes to get on target - midfielder Mateusz Klich, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores their fourth boundaries and a six, Nishan Madhushka Logistics) Leeds debutant German who made it 3-3. goal from the penalty spot while Dulaj Egodage 17, Prageeth Fernando (IR) defender Robin Koch was (Reuters) A16 monday 14 september 2020 sports Morbidelli seals Bangladesh first MotoGP victory ready to tour SL If seven-day quarantine maintained

Bangladesh is set to go ahead with its scheduled three-match Test tour of Sri Lanka as per schedule provided the hosts stick to the seven-day mandatory quarantine regulations for the visiting team, the country’s cricket board (BCB) said on Saturday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday stated that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has informed them that the touring team will have to spend a week in quarantine instead of the earlier mandated 14-day period ahead of its upcoming series. “We’re communicating with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on a regular basis. We sought detailed plans from them, but they informed us that they are talking with their Health Ministry about the quarantine period,” BCB Chief Executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told reporters. “In our last communication with them, SLC told us that we have to be the tour was earlier shifted from July- circumstances. in quarantine for the first seven days August to September. The Test series will see the after arrival, after which the players According to the current schedule, resumption of cricket in both the can go ahead with the training Bangladesh is likely to reach Sri countries since the coronavirus Yamaha SRT’s Franco Morbidelli celebrates winning the MotoGP race with the schedule. Lanka on 27 September for the three- outbreak had shutdown all activities trophy on the podium “We believe that if it remains seven Test series beginning on 24 October. in March. days of quarantine, we can proceed Nizamuddin said they expected to Bangladesh has started its Franco Morbidelli dominated a sister Suzuki all gunning for the according to our plans. (But) I think hear from SLC “within the next two- preparation and the players might dramatic San Marino Grand Prix to podium. we should wait for feedback from SLC three days” and might need ‘to make have a week-long residential camp claim his first MotoGP victory, Rossi ran a defensive line at Turn before making any further comment.” some minor adjustments’ to their ahead of the tour. while Petronas SRT team-mate 2 to keep Rins at bay lap after lap Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, plans due to the changing (Agencies) Fabio Quartararo crashed twice. before Mir demoted his team-mate Morbidelli nailed his launch from at the start of the final lap after second on the grid to lead Rins made a mistake at the Valentino Rossi on the factory penultimate corner. team Yamaha into the first corner, Mir then went after Rossi, while polesitter Maverick Vinales bravely carving his way up the Dialog Partnership National team stunned dropped to third and Quartararo to inside at Turn 10 to grab third, fifth. with the Yamaha rider unable to by U-23 Juniors Rossi tried to take the lead from find a way back through. will take Rugby to his protégé at the Quercia left- Morbidelli eased across the line The Under- 23 Juniors (combined team) led by Shabeer hander, but Morbidelli slammed having backed off his pace in the Razooniya created one of the biggest upsets in the Sri the door in his face, while Jack last laps to become the fourth new next level – Illyas Lanka Football arena when they registered a thrilling 2-1 Miller demoted Vinales to fourth winner of 2020, while Bagnaia win over the National football team in a practice match two corners later. secured his maiden MotoGP played on Saturday (12). Morbidelli and Rossi opened up a podium in second. Shenal Sandesh and Sasanka Dilhara netted the goals half-second gap to Miller, with Mir completed the rostrum, for the Juniors, while the experienced Asikoor Rahuman Quartararo eventually finding a denying home hero Rossi his 200th scored the only goal for the National side. way through on Vinales with a podium finish. Before head coach Amir Alagic took over the national hard move at the Carro hairpin on Rins completed the top five team, passages of play like this have occurred way too lap seven. ahead of Vinales, whose gamble to often in the past few matches in their World Cup As he tried to get close the gap to run the hard rear tyre appeared to qualification campaign, so much so that it somewhat the front Quartararo crashed at the backfire as he quickly faded from defines the current state of the team. Rio corner at Turn 4. the podium battle and ended up While Alagic’s approach must be appreciated, it is not He rejoined down in 20th, and sixth. yielding the desired results for the national side, giving after a trip to the pits on lap 20, Andrea Dovizioso was seventh on rise to a host of problems for the Golden Lions. However, Quartararo crashed for a second the factory Ducati and takes a six- the national team is yet to take the field under the new time on a cold front tyre at Turn 6 point lead in the standings after head coach in the international arena. to cap off a miserable Sunday. Quartararo›s crashes, with Takaaki (MS) By lap nine, Morbidelli started to Nakagami top Honda rider, but he eke away from Rossi, with his lead was docked a place for exceeding up to over a second by the 14th track limits, moving Miller up to tour. eighth with the LCR Honda rider SLR President Rizly Illyas And Morbidelli continued to ease ninth and KTM›s Pol Espargaro in Lanka Premier League away from Rossi, his lead standing 10th. Newly-elected Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) President Rizly at two seconds by lap 18. Miguel Oliveira worked his way Illyas believes their main sponsor Dialog Axiata will be the Miller›s run in third faded as Alex up to 11th after a poor start on his stronghold to take the game forward. Anji, Malinga, Thisara, Rins on the Suzuki found a way Tech3 KTM ahead of works rival Speaking to Ceylon Today on the partnership with Dialog through on lap 14, with Miller›s Brad Binder, with Aprilia›s Aleix as main Sponsor, Illyas says that Dialog is now a KJP, Dasun likely to be injured Pramac team-mate Espargaro, Iker Lecuona (Tech3) household name in rugby, and he believes this year too, Francesco Bagnaia in his first race and Avintia›s Johann Zarco taking they will step up to support SLR’s proposed ‘change’ to named local icon players since the Andalusian GP moving the final points. pivot to the next level. ahead on the same tour. Lecuona was handed a long-lap Dialog Axiata have consistently supported SLR men’s Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera, Bagnaia›s charge continued with penalty for failing to start from rugby since 2012, and this year has included schools Kusal Janith Perera and Dasun Shanaka are likely to Rins on lap 20, before he scythed pitlane after stalling his KTM on rugby to their portfolio by signing a record Rs 65 million be named as local icon players for the upcoming Lanka through on his mentor Rossi at the the grid on the warm-up lap. deal. Premier League which is scheduled to commence from fast Curvove Turn 11 right on lap Tito Rabat (Avintia) crashed out Illyas says he firmly believes Dialog’s association with 14 November at three different venues. 21. late on, while Aprilia›s Bradley SLR too has played a role to position Dialog in pole position The Lanka Premier League will see the participation of The battle for second closed up Smith was 19th after an early in the telco industry. He now looks up to them to support five teams which will bear the names of five prominent in the final laps, with Bagnaia, tumble. SLR on its journey to be amongst the top three in Asia. cities - Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna. Rossi, Rins and Joan Mir on the (Agencies) SLR will be presenting a budget to Dialog based on a new and exciting programme for local tournaments, rugby development and development of provincial unions. The new Committee’s focus will be in the middle layer - junior academy U-21, U-24, ‘B’ Division and multiple 7’s th tournaments. In order to successfully execute the Hamilton takes 90 win in proposed changes SLR needs a powerhouse to support its Two UAE players initiative, and looks to Dialog to step up and provide the red-flagged Tuscan GP additional support required to take rugby to the next level, both locally and internationally. Lewis Hamilton celebrated provisionally The new SLR management is drawing up a detailed plan the 90th win of his Formula to address the issues that need much attention, especially One career, one short of suspended in relation to value to the sponsor - how to attract a large Michael Schumacher’s all- crowd or fan base for the matches, provision of brand time record, after a crazy Breaching ICC’s exposure, selling the rugby brand, merchandise etc. and crash-strewn Tuscan Grand activity or tournament calendar/schedule etc. Prix on Sunday that was Anti-Corruption code Illyas further said he has a focused and committed twice stopped and re-started. committee and they will convincingly put forward their The six times world UAE players Amir Hayat, the proposals at the budget presentation. “Like in all champion’s Finnish team 38-year-old medium pacer, businesses, partnerships, relationships and marriages, mate Valtteri Bottas and Ashfaq Ahmed, the 35-year-old there is nothing called a perfect deal, but what is important completed the one-two for batsman, have been charged with five now is the engagement and trust to be built between SLR dominant Mercedes at the counts of breaching the game’s anti- and Dialog to identify key ingredients for a winning Ferrari-owned Mugello corruption rules and provisionally combination,” he said. circuit in central Italy. suspended with immediate effect, an The President also states SLR is committed to address Red Bull’s Thai driver ICC statement on Sunday said. the puzzle of return of investment to the sponsor in the Alexander Albon, whose team The charges include attempting to COVID-19 backdrop, which has brought the sport we all mate Max Verstappen retired fix or improperly influence the result love to its knees. in the gravel at the second of an international match and failing The proposed change will incorporate strategies that will corner, took third place. to disclose to the ICC Anti-Corruption address and incorporate value propositions for all The race was Ferrari’s Unit details of corrupt approaches. stakeholders - clubs, schools and most importantly the 1,000th championship grand Hayat has turned out for UAE in fans, which have stood firm and consistently supported prix, but the best the nine ODIs and four T20Is, and Ahmed rugby. struggling Italian team could has been capped 28 times by UAE in He said the rugby fraternity is currently starving for the manage was eighth for white-ball cricket. game! SLR’s robust committee looks up to Dialog to Charles Leclerc. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action provide the required support to take the game to the fans. (Reuters)

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