MINISTER SAYS SRI LANKA CHINA APPROVES PLAN TO REIN IN FACING ‘BIGGEST FOREX HONG KONG, DEFYING MAY CRISIS IN HISTORY’ WORLDWIDE OUTCRY 29 - 31, 2020 GOVT. TO REIMPOSE VOL: 4- ISSUE 197 END OF A . SELECTIVE LOCKDOWN 30 AFTER VIRUS CASES SPIKE REMARKABLE ERA BUSINESS PAGE 02 GLOCAL PAGE 03 HOT TOPICS PAGE 04 TRIBUTE PAGE 08

Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/144/News/2020 COVID-19 and curfew in Sri Lanka • Sixty one individuals were confirmed as COVID-19 pos- itive yesterday (28), taking Sri Lanka’s tally of the novel coronavirus infection to 1530. Of the 61, 18 are returnees from Kuwait, 17 from Dubai and 26 are navy personnel, all under quarantine at various centres. Seven hundred and seventy five individuals are receiving treatment, 751 have been deemed completely recovered and 10 have succumbed to the virus. • A nationwide curfew is to be re-imposed on Sunday (31), Thursday (June 4) and next Friday (June 5) to avoid unnecessary congregation of people following the sud- den spike in cases from quarantine centres. • Gaffoor Building in the heart of Colombo Fort is placed under quarantine after a sailor stationed there was found to have contracted the novel coronavirus. • The Ministry of Health issues a comprehensive set of guidelines focused on the ‘new normal’ with timelines on when most activities can resume. • The foreign ministry says the government is making arrangements to facilitate the return of Sri Lankans re- siding and working in Seychelles in compliance with the existing regulations and availability of quarantine facili- ties in the country. • 229 individuals have been arrested in the Western Province for not following mandatory health and safety guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health to control the spread of COVID-19.

Coronavirus toll - MEHDI FEDOUACH / AFP People enjoy a sunny day atop Europe's tallest sand dune remains higher than in most of the rest of the mainland. sites and holiday resorts will reopen from June 22. The called ‘Dune du Pilat’ after its reopening in La Teste-de- Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announcing details of the government credits its lockdown - which lasted from 357,311 deaths at Buch, near the Arcachon Bay yesterday (28), as France second phase in a gradual lifting of the strict coronavirus March 17 to May 11 - with saving tens of thousands of eased lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of lockdown, said people would no longer be confined to lives, but it came at the cost of what Philippe described the COVID-19 and lifted limitations on domestic travel in within 100 kilometres of their homes and that freedom as an "historic recession," with nearly a million additional 1900 GMT yesterday time for the summer holidays. It also announced plans will be the rule and restriction the exception. He said unemployment claims filed in April. The coronavirus has PARIS- The novel coronavirus has killed at least 357,311 for the long-awaited nationwide reopening of bars, museums and monuments, hard-hit by the two-month claimed 28,662 lives in the country to date, while 1,429 are people since the outbreak first emerged in China last De- restaurants and cafes from June 2, albeit with restrictions, lockdown, would be able to welcome visitors from June 2, being treated in intensive care, though this is more than a cember, according to a tally from official sources com- especially in Paris, where the risk of coronavirus infection though face masks will have to be worn, and that camping third fewer than at the epidemic peak piled by AFP at 1900 GMT yesterday (28). At least 5,747,100 cases of coronavirus have been reg- istered in 196 countries and territories. Of these, at least 2,296,900 are now considered recovered. The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national Some 50 world leaders call for authorities and information from the World Health Or- ganization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections. Many countries are testing only symptomatic cases or post-pandemic cooperation the most serious ones. The United States is the worst-hit country with 101,002 UNITED NATIONS - World lead- Trudeau. Canada and Jamaica organ- "support for the most fragile coun- and Russia would participate in six deaths from 1,709,996 cases. At least 391,508 people ers yesterday (28) called for resilience ized the conference. tries," especially in Africa. working groups created at yester- have been declared recovered. and cooperation after the pandemic Sustainable development goals for Mauritania President Mohamed day’s session, for which meetings are After the US, the hardest-hit countries are Britain recedes, during a UN videoconfer- 2030 "are more crucial than ever," OuldGhazouani called for the "sys- scheduled for July, September and with 37,837 deaths from 269,127 cases, Italy with 33,142 ence in which the United States, Chi- said European Commission chief Ur- tematic and immediate cancellation December. deaths from 231,732 cases, France at 28,662 deaths and na and Russia did not participate. sula von der Leyen. "We have to work of debt." British Prime Minister Boris John- 186,238 cases and Spain with 27,119 deaths and 237,906 About 50 leaders took part in the and fight together." UN Secretary General Antonio Gu- son said he hoped the world would cases. event on development financing, Several leaders, such as German terres asked leaders to "go further" "build back better," adding "we must China - excluding Hong Kong and Macau - has to date with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Chancellor Angela Merkel and French than they already have on debt relief work together across borders" to declared 4,634 deaths and 82,995 cases. It has 78,288 Conte saying in a recorded message President Emmanuel Macron, said for vulnerable countries, in a spirit avoid a new pandemic and to help recovered cases. that the goal must be to "leave no one the crisis could be an opportunity to of "needs-based solidarity and trans- global recovery. Europe overall has 175,760 deaths from 2,095,811 cas- behind." grow a "more resilient" economy to parency." Costa Rican President Carlos Al- es, the United States and Canada have 107,940 deaths South African President Cyril aid the fight against global warming. Guterres applauded the meeting, varado Quesada said the world after from 1,798,464 infections, Latin America and the Car- Ramaphosa said "we need to be inno- Deploring a "deep questioning of playing down the absence of the three COVID-19 should be dominated by ibbean 45,457 deaths from 848,218 cases, Asia 15,118 vative, think outside the box," echo- multilateralism," Macron stressed missing world powers. He told re- "solidarity, not profit." deaths from 493,292 cases, the Middle East 9,160 deaths ing Canadian Prime Minister Justin "cooperation is essential" as well as porters that the United States, China -AFP from 375,524 cases, Africa 3,744 deaths from 127,281 cases, and Oceania 132 deaths from 8,517 cases. As a result of corrections by national authorities or late Claiming to protect ‘free speech’ publication of data, the figures updated over the past 24 World's officially oldest man dies in hours may not correspond exactly to the previous day's tallies. Trump signs executive order on social media UK aged 112 -AFP WASHINGTON - President Donald Oval Office, with William Barr, the at- LONDON - The world's oldest across the world. "He had many, Trump signed an executive order yes- torney general, standing nearby. man, according to the Guinness many friendships and read and terday (28) to empower federal regu- “They’ve had unchecked power to World Records, has died from can- talked politics, theology, ecology UK, US, Canada, Australia say lators to crack down on social media censure, restrict, edit, shape, hide, alter cer in Britain at the age of 112, his and more, right up until his death. companies like Twitter and Facebook virtually any form of communication family confirmed yesterday (28). The family said they were grate- and potentially take away the legal pro- between private citizens or large public Bob Weighton, a former teach- ful that Weighton had remained China violating tections that shield them from liability audiences,” Trump said, saying there er and engineer from the central witty, kind, knowledgeable and a for what gets posted on their platforms. was “no precedent” for it. “We cannot English county Hampshire, died conversationalist "until the very international obligations Trump and his allies have often ac- allow that to happen, especially when "peacefully" in his sleep at home end." cused Twitter and Facebook of bias they go about doing what they’re doing.” yesterday morning, they said. Weighton was born in Yorkshire against conservative voices, and the Twitter, the president said, was mak- Weighton took up the title of the in northern England on March 29, over HK president had been urged for years to ing “editorial decisions.” oldest man in the world in Febru- 1908 and was one of seven chil- LONDON - China's plan to impose a new security law on take a harder line against the compa- “In these moments, Twitter ceases ary after the death of the previous dren. He is survived by his three Hong Kong puts it in direct violation of its international nies. He had resisted until this week, to be a neutral public platform — they holder, Chitetsu Watanabe of Ja- children, 10 grandchildren and 25 commitments, Britain, the United States, Canada and when Twitter fact-checked his own false become an editor with a viewpoint,” he pan. great-grandchildren. Australia said yesterday (28). statements in two posts. That move by said, saying that Facebook and Google "With great sadness, the Weight- He was recognised as the oldest "China's decision to impose the new national security Twitter prompted an outcry from con- are included in his critiques. on family announces the death of man in the world after Guinness law on Hong Kong lies in direct conflict with its inter- servatives, who said that the platform Barr told reporters that the tech com- our beloved Bob Weighton," rela- World Records' senior gerontology national obligations under the principles of the legally should not be able to selectively choose panies were behaving like “publishers,” tives said in a statement to Britain's consultant, Robert Young, scruti- binding, UN-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration," whose statements it is fact-checking. and Trump said the attorney general domestic Press Association news- nized the evidence of his birth fol- would work with states on their own the four allies said in a joint statement. “We’re here today to defend free wire. "A role model to us all, he lowing Watanabe's death earlier speech from one of the greatest dangers regulations related to online platforms. "The proposed law would undermine the One Country, lived his life interested in and en- this year. it has faced in American history,” Trump -NYT gaged with all kinds of people from -AFP Two Systems framework," they added, referring to Hong told reporters in signing the order in the Kong's special status within China under the terms of its -Read more on page 4 handover from Britain in 1997. The condemnation was issued after China's Parliament Trending News rubber-stamped a law initially proposed by the National People's Congress after huge pro-democracy protests USA: The Boston Marathon is can- mark three years of isolation led Juan Guaido as legislative speak- Quote for Today rocked the financial hub for seven months last year. celled for the first time in its 124- by the regional bloc's heavyweight er, defying a Supreme Court rul- Happiness is when what you think, what you The United States took the dramatic step of revoking year history, as the spread of the Saudi Arabia. ing approving a rival opposition say, and what you do are in harmony. the special status conferred on Hong Kong in response, coronavirus made clear that earlier COVID-19: A Study of more figure more favourable to Presi- paving the way for the territory to be stripped of trading plans to postpone the race until Sep- than 1,300 patients finds one in dent Nicolas Maduro. -Mahatma Gandhi and economic privileges. tember were too optimistic. 10 diabetics with coronavirus dies UN: The United States and Brit- Word for Today - President Donald Trump says within seven days of hospital ad- The four nations said they were "extremely concerned ain called for the Security Council Doover [doover]–noun - Australian Slang. that this action will exacerbate the existing deep divi- he will give a press conference to- mission. to meet to discuss a controversial thingamabob; thingamajig sions in Hong Kong society; the law does nothing to build day (29) on China amid spiralling - A large study finds people with security law that China plans to mutual understanding and foster reconciliation within US-Chinese tensions over Hong cancer are more than twice as impose on Hong Kong, Kong and the coronavirus fallout. likely to die from COVID-19 as Today in History Hong Kong." Canada: Temperatures in Mon- Their statement added: "The world's focus on a global - The Justice Department indicts those without it. 1964 - The Arab League meets in East 28 North Koreans and five Chi- ICC: The International Criminal treal reach an all-time high for pandemic requires enhanced trust in governments and the month of May as a heatwave Jerusalem to discuss the Palestinian international cooperation. Beijing's unprecedented move nese for operating a money laun- Court says former Ivory Coast question, leading to the formation of the dering ring that moved billions of President Laurent Gbagbo can sweeps through parts of the coun- risks having the opposite effect." try. Palestine Liberation Organization. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab later told re- dollars through global banks to leave Belgium under certain con- porters that the UK would change its rules around the avoid nuclear sanctions on Pyong- ditions following his acquittal Libya: The UN-recognized gov- Today is... rights of ‘British National Overseas (BNO) passport yang. over post-electoral violence that ernment says the family of a holders if China went ahead with the new law. Qatar: The gas-rich state denies killed 3,000 people. smuggler killed by migrants had Biscuit Day it plans to quit the Gulf Coop- Venezuela: The National As- -Agencies taken revenge by killing 26 Bang- A day that gives you the excuse to go crackers -Read more on page 4 eration Council as it prepares to sembly ratifies opposition leader ladeshis and four Africans. about one of the world’s most popular snacks 2 MAY 29 - 31, 2020 WEEKEND EXPRESS BUSINESS

By Chris Stein US layoffs exceed Minister says Sri Lanka facing ‘biggest forex crisis in history’ COLOMBO– Sri Lanka’s has slapped ported about Rs 11 billion of hard goods explaining, “If we allow the outward flows ported without any restriction by pay- 40 mn but some are import controls multiple ways to face the exports. to go as before the rupee will fall.” ing a tax, others can be imported under ‘biggest forex crisis in history’, Informa- There were also ‘invisible’ (adrushya) He warned if the rupee falls to 250, 350 licence, while still other can be brought tion Minister BandulaGunewardene said exports in the form of tourism. There to the dollar, no one would be able to bear under three month suppliers credit. returning to work as the central bank printed tens of bil- were also remittances. the cost of living and “we will not be able Good which are not essential but need- WASHINGTON- The number of workers filing lions of rupees in March and April driving Sri Lanka has a trade deficit because to live in this country.” ed can be brought at high taxes, Minister for jobless benefits since the coronavirus arrived excess rupees to the highest level since its people earn money from services exports, He said the import control intervention Gunewardene said. in the United States passed 40 million yesterday creation. as tourism, remittances and information was part of a macro-economic manage- Trade controls, which are a type of self- (28) while manufactured goods sales plunged “We are facing the worst foreign ex- technology exports and spends them on ment to keep the value of the country’s imposed trade embargo can severely hit even as signs emerged that people are returning change crisis in history,” Minister hard goods. money stable, promote import substitu- the supply chains of domestic firms and to work. Gunewardene told a weekly cabinet news Government net foreign borrowings tion and domestic agriculture. strangle economic activity. Job losses on that scale have not been seen briefing yesterday (28). spent to build roads, airports or even pay “It is done on the need to stop imports Already companies are warning of since the Great Depression early in the last cen- “This is the reason the Cabinet ap- salaries will also trigger imports, but not flowing in freely and build a domestic being hit by trade controls. Minister tury, and came as a new data showed the world's proved the import restrictions.” a currency crisis. economy,” he explained. Gunewardene said those affected by the largest economy shrinking by 5.0 percent in the Gunewardene said Sri Lanka usually “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many The gazette notification detailing the trade controls can make appeals. first quarter, a preview of much worse to come imported Rs 22 billion of goods and ex- exports are down,” Gunewardene said, import control, some goods can be im- -economynext.com amid the COVID-19 recession. The pace of lay- offs passed their peak but continue in massive numbers, with the Labour Department report- ing another 2.12 million workers making new Kuwait Airways to lay off 1,500 foreign claims for unemployment benefits in the week ended May 23. The scale dwarfs even the worst employees week of the global financial crisis 12 years ago but is a decrease from the 2.44 million people KUWAIT CITY - State-owned Kuwait It however operated over 200 flights in who filed in the prior week. And the number of Airways said yesterday (28) it will lay off late April and early May to repatriate some people actually receiving benefits dropped by 1,500 expatriate employees due to "signifi- 30,000 Kuwaiti citizens from abroad. 3.86 million in the week ended May 16, the first cant difficulties" caused by the coronavirus The carrier's losses are paid by the gov- decline since the pandemic's arrival and an in- pandemic. ernment, which has not yet announced any dication that some people may be returning to The loss-making national carrier, which special compensation. work. Even so there are more than 21 million has a total of some 6,925 employees, has The International Air Transport Asso- people relying on government payments, up struggled amid the regional and worldwide ciation forecast last month that air traffic in from 1.7 million in the same week of 2019. downturn in air travel. the Middle East and North Africa is set to The White House Council of Economic Ad- "In dealing with the coronavirus crisis tumble by more than a half. visers said on Twitter the decline "suggests a and its negative impact on commercial op- IATA said that MENA airlines' revenues substantial flow from unemployment to employ- erations ... Kuwait Airways announces the in 2020 will be slashed by $24.5 billion ment." If sustained, it would be a positive devel- termination of around 1,500 non-Kuwaiti compared to last year, and warned the re- opment for President Donald Trump, who has employees," the airline said on Twitter. gion's aviation shutdown threatened some It said the decision comes as part of a 1.2 million jobs. cheered on states' efforts to reopen as he faces a -Manjunath Kiran / AFP November re-election battle in which the health "comprehensive plan" to deal with the pan- Private companies in Kuwait have fired of the economy is set to weigh heavily on vot- demic's economic impacts which meant the hundreds of employees but the airline is An apparel storekeeper arranges mannequins wearing single use disposable personal ers' minds. But Labour Secretary Eugene Scalia company is facing "significant difficulties." the first government agency to take such protective suits in front of the store in Bangalore yesterday (28), after the government acknowledged the national unemployment rate Kuwait, like other oil-rich Gulf states, has action. eased a lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 could hit 20%. "We do have to, again, acknowl- been severely hit by a slump in oil revenues The Kuwait Municipality has said it coronavirus edge that this is a challenging time for workers and the economic impacts of coronavirus. would soon sack at least half of its 900 ex- across the country. But we are reopening," Scalia Kuwait Airways, which has a fleet of 30 patriate employees. Around 3.4 million for- said on Fox Business Network. aircraft, has been mostly grounded like al- eigners live and work in Kuwait, making up Florida is one of the states moving most ag- most all airlines in the Middle East due to some 70% of the Gulf state's population. Oil drops as surprise US stock build gressively to resume business, and posted one of the massive lockdowns. -AFP the largest declines in the insured rate. douses demand recovery hopes California also saw a large decline, but Ian Sri Lanka MELBOURNE/SINGAPORE - Oil "A surprise to consensus API (American Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics said prices slid for a second consecutive ses- Petroleum Institute) inventory build (data) that was a technicality as unemployed workers sion yesterday (28) as US. Industry data and fear of Russia turning up production in the state were not required to file for benefits Fitch recalibrates National Rating Scale showed a steep and surprising build-up weighs on oil prices," said Stephen Innes, in the latest week. COLOMBO– Fitch Ratings has recali- visions will be announced soon, it added. in crude stockpiles, dampening hopes of chief global markets strategist at AxiCorp. But he nonetheless expects weekly claims to brated its Sri Lanka National Rating scale National scale ratings are a risk ranking of a smooth demand recovery as the world "As is often the case during a run-up to drop below one million by the end of June and to reflect changes in the relative credit- issuers in a particular market designed to begins to ease its way out of coronavirus an OPEC+ meeting, the focus is squarely slow over the coming weeks. "The dip in initial worthiness among Sri Lankan issuers fol- help local investors differentiate risk. Sri lockdowns. on Russia's commitment and understand- claims is consistent with Google search and ad- lowing its downgrade of the country’s sov- Lanka’s national scale ratings are denoted The decline extended losses from ably so as historically they have been the vance state data, which tentatively point to a big- ereign rating to ‘B-‘from ‘B’ on April 24, by the unique identifier ‘(lka)’. Wednesday (27) on uncertainty about laggard within the OPEC+." ger drop next week," Shepherdson said. 2020. Fitch adds the identifier to reflect the Russia's commitment to deep oil produc- Data from US industry group API A separate Commerce Department report Nothing that the outlook on Sri Lanka’s unique nature of the Sri Lankan national tion cuts in the lead-up to a June 9 meet- showed crude stocks rose by 8.7 million showed orders of manufactured goods - a key long-term issuer default rating is nega- scale. National scales are not comparable ing of the Organization of the Petroleum barrels in the week to May 22, compared component of measuring GDP in the servic- tive, Fitch said the recalibration will result with Fitch’s international ratings scales or Exporting Countries and its allies, dubbed with analysts' expectations for a draw of es-dominated US economy - plummeting by in rating actions for some issuers with Sri with other countries’ national rating scales. OPEC+. 1.9 million barrels. 17.2%in April, following a 16.6% drop in March. Lankan national ratings. These rating re- -ENCL US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Gasoline stocks rose by 1.1 million bar- Sales fell to $170 billion in April, the first full crude futures were down 4.4%, or $1.44 at rels, more than 10 times the build ana- month of the lockdowns, compared to $246 bil- $31.37 a barrel at 0402 GMT after slipping lysts had expected, and stocks of diesel lion before the virus struck. Much of the trouble Sri Lanka as much as 5% to a low of $31.14 earlier in and heating oil rose by 6.9 million barrels, stemmed from struggling aerospace giant Boe- the session. Brent crude futures dropped nearly four times as much as anticipated. ing, which reported no new orders in April, as 3.2%, or $1.10 to $33.64 per barrel. -Reuters compared to 31 in March. Stocks up 1.82% driven by JKH Like other companies nationwide, Boeing COLOMBO - Sri Lanka stocks closed Bank amounted to 534,000 shares traded shuttered its US factories due to the pandemic, 1.82% higher yesterday (28) driven by at Rs104. And Sanasa Development Bank Sri Lanka but has since resumed production while plan- blue-chip stocks mainly John Keells Hold- recording a crossing of 2.4 million shares ning to slash its workforce by 10% and slow out- ings, market analysts said. priced at Rs 51. put. Sales of motor vehicles and parts collapsed Colombo’s main, All Share Price Index John Keells Holdings shares closed at Rs Rupee quoted weaker, bond yields edge up nearly 52.8% compared to March. advanced 87.15 points to 4,887.11 pushed 115.80 a share, up by Rs 5.70 or 5.18% yes- COLOMBO - Sri Lanka rupee was quoted trade, dealers said. Dealers also said that All told, transportation orders collapsed by up mainly by John Keells Holdings and Di- terday, contributing heavily to the ASPI’s weaker at 186.25/40 yesterday (28) while liquidity was mainly centered on 2023 ma- more than 47 percent after the 43% plunge in alog Axiata. spike. bond yields edged up, dealers said. turities. March. Excluding transportation, total durable The index followed an upward trajec- Dialog Axiata, shares gained by 50 cents, The rupee closed at 186.15/35 to the A bond maturing on 10.08.2021 was goods sales fell just 7.4%. The Commerce De- tory minutes after gaining at market open trading at Rs 10.60 a share while Ceylon greenback on Wednesday (27). Central quoted at 6.90/10% yesterday, flat from partment also reported that US GDP fell 5.0% in which continued until the market end. Tobacco Company stocks gained by Rs Bank issued the average rates for the fol- Wednesday’s closing, while a 2-year bond the first three months of the year, slightly worse The S&P SL20 index of more liquid 38.30 to trade at Rs 946.60 a share, among lowing currencies quoted by commercial maturing on 01.10.2022 was quoted at than the 4.8% drop originally reported, putting stocks gained 2.46% or 49.52 points to 2, the top three companies which dragged the banks in Colombo for Telegraphic Trans- 7.45/50%, up from 7.40/47% and a bond an end to a decade of economic expansion. 063.88. index up. fers (TT). maturing on 15.01.2023 was quoted at The drop was fuelled by a collapse in consum- Market turnover was Rs 1.2 billion with Banking stocks continued to make gains The TT buying rate went up by 14 cents 7.78/82%, up from 7.73/79% on Wednes- er spending and exports, and was all the more 109 stocks making gains and 46 stocks fall- throughout the week amid Coronavirus while the selling rate went up by 34 cents, day. dramatic given that the business shutdowns did ing. disruptions, CSE data showed. central bank data shows. A bond maturing on 15.09.2024 was not start to take effect until the final two weeks Additionally, crossings in three compa- However, market analysts said that the Sri Lanka’s debt office sold Rs 8.0 billion quoted at 8.40/45% yesterday, up from of the quarter. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome nies, namely Expo Lanka, Hatton National banking sector stocks received mixed buy- of 3-month bills, Rs 11.0 billion of 6-month 8.35/40% at Wednesday’s end and a bond Powell said the collapse in the April-June quar- Bank, and Sanasa Development Bank con- ing and selling market pressure at the start bills and Rs 16 billion in 12-month bills af- maturing on 15.10.2027 was quoted at ter could be as bad as 30%, again in line with the tributed to the market turnover. of the day but at the latter part it made ter offering Rs 30 billion up in weekly bills 8.80/90%, unchanged from 8.80/85% on Great Depression. Crossing in Expolanka Holdings totalled gains where most banking sector shares auction on Wednesday. Wednesday‘s close. -AFP to 10 million shares traded at Rs 270 per ending in green. In the secondary government securities share while the crossing in Hatton National -economynext.com market, bond yields edged up in moderate -economynext.com Sri Lanka Fuel stabilization Infotainment fund has not grown Hirdaramani’s H One launches all-encompassing digital as expected COLOMBO - A fuel price stabilization fund factory-floor solution, Res.Q 2020 which was to collect Rs 200 billion in 2020 as global oil prices fell has not grown as expected H One (Pvt) Ltd. - Sri Lanka’s leading ing the management to seamlessly iden- to define steps, assign users, and enable due to fall in consumption and stocks already full-service digital solutions provider, and tify, organize, and manage their staff to security parameters for effective produc- bought at high prices, Information Minister IT arm of textile powerhouse Hirdarama- effectively maximize productivity. tion route creation. This module enables BandulaGunewardene said yesterday (28). ni- has announced the launch of the new- The second component, Res.Q| MI, is functioning with either RFID, bar codes, “The fund has not grown as expected because est module of the Res.Q product suite; an designed to create a completely paperless or QR codes, providing a high degree of consumption has fallen sharply,” he said, add- end-to-end program that sets out to opti- Machine Inventory management system flexibility and adaptability. ing that some of the stocks had also been bought mize the operations of Sri Lanka’s boom- by leveraging NFC (Near Field Communi- An optional add-on for Res.Q users is at higher prices earlier. Sri Lanka clamped on a ing apparel manufacturing industry. cation) technology. This real-time analyt- integration with Res.Q| QMS, to add cus- sever lockdown using curfew laws over the past At an event to launch the transforma- ical platform will provide decision makers tom quality inspection points for any re- two months, leading to a collapse in consump- tive new technology, H One’s Thushitha with a range of interactive dashboards for quired steps. This is H One’s first digital tion of goods and reduced transport. Kularatne and Dilshan Chiththananda instant, data driven decision making. solution to be introduced to the market, He said customs will charge a surcharge at the took industry professionals on a tour of Component three, Res.Q| SL, optimiz- this cloud-based management solution point of import and the funds will go to an ac- a mock factory floor. They introduced es a factory’s output by helping clients provides decision makers with a 360°view count in state-run Bank of Ceylon, which is man- the workings and benefits of each Res.Q achieve the ideal man-machine line bal- of production quality on the factory floor, aged by six additional secretaries of the finance module, and its potential to seamlessly ance, done by assigning the most-suited streamlining quality inspection with a ministries. The funds are expected to settle loans deliver a holistic solution to control the operator and machine to the right opera- simple, digital interface driven process. taken by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and entire factory floor, by leaving behind the tion, via a series of in-depth data and op- This specialized industrial digitization Thushitha Kularatne highlights the lot based Ceylon Electricity Board. The reduced interest conventional paper-based process and erational analyses, thus reducing the time brought about by Res.Q, is a digital virtual button which alerts all systems of an issue costs of CEB and CPC will bring down their op- embracing digital transformation, further spent on manual line balancing. copy of the factory floor that encompasses at a specific workstation erating costs over the longer term he said. fortifying Res.Q’s capabilities in deliver- Res.Q FI is the fourth component, and automation and data exchange by captur- Sri Lanka’s CPC incurred aRs 80 billion loss ing greater speed, accuracy and efficiency. deals with fabric inspection, where the ing events in real time and contextually affordable as well as easy to incorporate in 2018 by running an unhedged forex loss via Res.Q’s new modules focus on the evo- textile is digitally assessed for its qual- streaming it to the relevant decision mak- by both management and their employ- dollar borrowings despite market pricing fuel, as lution of various aspects of the textile fab- ity, shade, and shrinkage capacity. Once ers with actionable insights. As clients ees. the central bank injected liquidity in 2018 bring- rication process, by offering a solution to a shipment arrives, individual rolls will increasingly deploy these digital tools, a Ever since its founding in 2017, H One ing down the rupee. overcome the most time-consuming and be assigned a unique ID for evaluation. new universe of efficiency, transparency, has been helping apparel manufactur- Analysts have called for reform of Sri Lanka’s tedious of tasks; namely in the depart- Once the QR or bar code of the roll has and personalization will open up, sup- ers move towards the concept of Smart central bank so that it cannot print money in a ments of employee skill management, been scanned, it will be inspected through porting clients in their goal to thrive and Manufacturing by empowering them monetary stimulus, permanently depreciate the machine management, line planning, fab- a special machine that will digitally take succeed in their businesses. with technology that caters to the unique currency, pushing up costs, driving cost of liv- ric inspection, manufacturing execution, note of any defect and problem areas. An “Over the years we have been opening challenges of the industry, and by fill- ing up lowering living standards while also driv- and overall quality management. inspection summary can then be auto up extraordinary opportunities for tex- ing technology gaps left unaddressed by ing Sri Lanka closer to default. A 2018 bout of The first module, Res.Q| SM, is the com- generated for automated supplier evalu- tile players to fine-tune their factory pro- mainstream systems including ERPs (En- money printing saw the rupee downgraded to ‘B’ ponent which enables the digitization of ations. cesses and address their individual pain terprise Resource Planning solutions). despite improving budgets and market pricing employee Skill Management through one Next, Res.Q| MES tracks a factory’s points, resulting in competitive advan- Now running in more than 50 factories, of oil. central cloud-based platform. Through start-to-end production capabilities. A tages and bringing more efficiency to the and operations in Bangladesh, Vietnam, The latest bout of money printing coupled individual profiles of each employee, this cloud-based production tracking module, industry,” said Samath Fernando, CEO of and Myanmar, H One has plans of ex- with tax cuts in the form of a fiscal stimulus, has skill management solution will provide this component helps users track their H One, explaining that Res.Q follows suit panding its 500+ production line busi- brought the credit rating down to ‘B-‘. information on the real-time skill compe- total manufacturing process from cut- in providing next-generation, customer- ness to other regions. -economynext.com tencies of each machine operator, allow- ting to packing. Employers will be able specific smart factory solutions that are WEEKEND EXPRESS MAY 29 - 31, 2020 3 GLOCAL

ress esers Cey t t 185, Grandpass Road, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka’s new Telephone: 0117 322 705 (Editorial) 0117 322 731 (Advertising) 0117 322 789 (Circulation) Email – [email protected]/[email protected] normal explained Epaper - http://epaper.newsexpress.lk COLOMBO– With Sri Lanka easing lock- Facebook –News Express Sri Lanka down measures in all districts even as the country’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise, a confused public is attempting to make sense of a plethora of new Govt. to reimpose selective lockdown after virus cases spike regulations. COLOMBO - Sri Lanka will re-impose ly to form - including the planned funeral gress party had been expected to attend. It the virus, including a woman who returned Having partially lifted on Tuesday (26) the selective lockdown restrictions from Sun- of a popular minister. will then be lifted until Thursday (June 4), from Kuwait last week. Officials said they curfew that continued to be imposed in the day (31) to restrict large gatherings after The health ministry said that out of 460 when it will be imposed again for two days were scaling back repatriations in order Colombo and Gampaha districts, the gov- recording its biggest daily surge in coro- Sri Lankans who returned from Kuwait to coincide with a Buddhist holiday. not to overwhelm facilities. ernment issued a vast array of guidelines on navirus infections - most found in citizens this week, some 252 had tested positive for Under lockdown restrictions, no-one is "It is not easy to increase quarantine ca- Wednesday (27) on how to conduct daily life repatriated last week from Kuwait. coronavirus. allowed to leave home unless they are in- pacity overnight," government spokesman while keeping the deadly disease at bay. The island nation on Tuesday (26) lifted All the returnees were being held in volved in essential services. Bandula Gunawardana told reporters. Though many citizens appear to be follow- a shutdown on the capital and a neighbour- quarantine. Officials said new cases of coronavirus "We are also building hospital capacity ing basic hygiene – virtually everyone out ing district, two weeks after easing it in Officials said the lockdown will apply on were also found at a navy camp outside Co- to bring back more Sri Lankans who are and about can be seen wearing a mask, for other parts of the nation. Sunday, the day of the funeral of tea plan- lombo. stranded abroad." example – some of the finer details of social But after more than 250 returnees from tation trade union leader and government Some 771 sailors and their immediate Some 41,000 of around 1.5 million Sri distancing and other preventative measures Kuwait were found to be infected with minister Arumugam Thondaman, who family members have so far tested positive Lankans employed abroad have registered have yet to be fully observed, for a number coronavirus, authorities decided to impose died Tuesday (26). Tens of thousands of from the facility, out of a nationwide total with authorities asking to return home. of reasons that aren’t limited to individual lockdowns on days when crowds were like- mourners from his Ceylon Workers’ Con- of 1,469 cases. Ten people have died from -AFP responsibility. It is against this backdrop that the government’s new series of guidelines – in the form of 48 separate documents drafted for different scenarios – attempt to enforce Dignitaries pay their last respects to 61 Navy, Kuwait/Dubai returnees test positive best practices for pandemic prevention in the country at large. The following are some key for COVID-19 highlights from these guidelines – each is- CWC leader in Parliament COLOMBO – Sixty one individuals com- the rest naval personnel. On Wednesday, the sued by Health Services Director General Dr. prising 26 naval personnel, 18 returnees government designated two recently built Anil Jasinghe – that the authorities hope will from Kuwait and 17 from Dubai were con- hospitals, in Hambantota and Teldeniya as make up this unprecedented ‘new normal’. firmed as COVID-19 positive by 10:30 yes- treatment centres for COVID 19 patients as Cabs and tuks terday (28) taking Sri Lanka’s tally of the the numbers kept increasing. A spokesman Unless it is a family of passengers, cab novel coronavirus infection 1530. for the Health Ministry said the increasing drivers are required to ensure that the num- The Ministry of Health said all those who number of diagnosed patients from among ber of passengers is limited to two per ride. tested positive were under quarantine at var- returning migrant workers had compelled No passenger must travel in the front seat. ious facilities around the country. It said 751 the government to find new hospitals to treat Three-wheelers may carry a maximum of two patients had completely recovered and been them. The Hambantota hospital is a relative- passenger with a transparent barrier dividing discharged from hospitals, while 775 pa- ly new institution built with Saudi Arabian the front and back seats. Drivers have been tients were receiving treatment in hospitals. assistance after the 2006 tsunami destroyed instructed to carry hand sanitizer in the vehi- Sri Lanka recorded the highest spike in the older structure, with the Teldeniya hos- cle at all times. COVID-19 confirmations on Wednesday (27) pital is a new institution built after the new The handling of cash has to be minimized, with 150 cases, 97 of them migrant workers town areas of Digana were constructed. and passengers are encouraged to either make who had been repatriated from Kuwait and -ENCL their payments electronically or pay the fare in the exact amount of cash. Face masks are Gaffoor building Navy contingent quarantined mandatory for both driver and passenger(s). Banks Apart from the standard hand-washing and after sailor tests positive for COVID-19 temperature checking measures, banks are COLOMBO - The COVID-19 Task Force young Facebook user alleged she was aggres- required to have a ‘COVID-19 preparedness has placed the navy garrison stationed in the sively accosted by STF personnel who took plan’ in place, with a suitable officer tasked Gaffoor Building in the heart of Colombo her temperature and also photographed her. with overseeing it. All staff must be provided Fort under quarantine after a sailor sta- In her posting she said “I’m deeply ap- with personal protective equipment (PPE), tioned there was found to have contracted preciative of all the efforts being carried out and employee health must be recorded daily. the novel coronavirus. to eradicate this virus and am aware of my Customers are also requested to adhere to – J. Sujeewakumar/ENCL Military Spokesman, Colonel Vjitha Het- social responsibility to keep others and my- standard hygiene measures and have been Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (L) and former speaker of the Parliament Karu Jayasuriya tiarachchi said the sailor had tested positive self safe. But under whose authority did they instructed to bring their own pen to the bank. (R) lead the entourage ceremonially ushering in the remains of the late Minister Arumugan and further PCR tests are being done on the invade my personal space and take pictures/ Shops and supermarkets Thondaman, for the state funeral at the national Parliament in Colombo yesterday (28) other personnel in the Gaffoor building. videos of me? Should I be made to feel this Supermarkets are required to provide shel- He also said Army and Police Special Task uncomfortable and harassed by people who ter from heat and rain for customers waiting COLOMBO – President Gotabaya Raja- night after a fall at his home. He would Force Quick Reaction Ride teams were con- are supposed to be keeping us safe?” in line outside. Though the stipulated one- paksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, have turned 56 today (29). tinuing to carry out random temperature Ratnayake got a lot of support from her metre space is seen clearly marked leading to former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and other The remains of the late minister were checks on people in many parts of the coun- FB friends, who felt that the officers had the entrance of many supermarkets, not many dignitaries paid their last respects to the brought to the Parliamentary complex yes- try. overstepped their mark. seem to provide adequate – or any, in some late leader of the Ceylon Workers’ Con- terday morning from his residence in Bat- The teams were first deployed in the last Col Hettiarachchi said everybody must cases – covering from the elements. gress (CWC) Arumugan Thondaman, taramulla. week of April to carry out spot temperature “realize that what we are doing is for the Supermarkets are also required to sell face whose remains was brought to Parliament Thondaman had been the MP for the checks around Colombo. They have come common good.” masks at the entrance to customers who enter for a state ceremony yesterday (28). District of Nuwara Eliya for 26 years. His back into focus after a social media post by a -economynext.com without one on their person. Most frequently His funeral will take place in NuwaraEli- son Jeevan is expected to contest the seat purchased items are to be placed near the en- ya with state honours on Sunday (31). on behalf of the Sri Lanka Podujana Nida- trance to ensure speedy shopping. Both super- Thondaman, who was Minister of Com- has Peramuna at the upcoming parliamen- Sajith slams attempt to label Kuwait market chains and consumers are encouraged munity Empowerment and Estate Infra- tary elections. to incentivize online purchases and facilitate structure Development died Tuesday (26) -ENCL cashless transactions wherever possible. The returnees as ‘bombers’ guidelines issued for ‘shops’ apply for de- COLOMBO - Samagi Jana Balawegaya discredit migrant workers from Kuwait, not- partment stores, bookshops, communication leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (28) ing that during elections they were termed centres, etc. In medium and high risk areas, slammed attempts to label Sri Lankan re- as heroes but “now they are being branded shops are instructed to adjust their business In Brief turnees from Kuwait as “bombers” after as bombers.” Pointing out that the country hours and control the number of customers. Postpone once again most of them had been found to have con- was moving forward thanks to the foreign Tuition classes The Supreme Court once again post- tracted the coronavirus. earnings of Sri Lanka’s migrant worker com- Private tutors have been instructed to pro- poned for today (29) further considera- Premadasa, who earlier yesterday had munity, he urged the government to be more mote online teaching or distance learning over tions of the Fundamental Rights (FR) talks with the Kuwait Ambassador to Sri Lan- humane towards the migrant workers and personal attendance. When health authorities petitions filed against the date set by the ka, Khalaf Bu Dhhair, told reporters some provide all the assistance they need. green-light the resumption of tuition classes, Election Commission to hold the general members of the government have begun to CG/ENCL institutes are required to have an emergency election. The petitions filed by Attorney at response plan in place and maintain a data- Law Charitha Gunaratne, the Centre for base of all students with their contact details. Policy Alternatives, journalist Victor Ivan Rotary Sri Lanka donates vital Students must maintain a one-metre dis- and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya over tance from each other and wear a face mask the date of the election, were taken up for equipment to MRI at all times. hearing for the 8th day yesterday (28) When permitted to recommence, mass Term fee issues classes must maintain 50% occupancy or The Education Ministry has said it can less, with a one-metre gap between students. only request and not put pressure on pri- Small classes, too, must practice physical dis- vate schools to reconsider their decision to tancing. charge full payment for the academic term Medicine: general and family practice despite schools being shut since March. Only Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC)- Flood alert registered practitioners will be allowed to The Department of Irrigation has practice allopathic medicine. The Health Ser- warned water levels of the Kalu Ganga and vices Director General warns that action will Nilwala Ganga are on the rise due to heavy be taken against those who practice without showers experienced overnight, on yester- SLMC registration. day, that that minor floods have already Patients who fall into the case definition of been reported in certain areas to rising wa- ‘COVID suspected case’ must be referred to ter levels of Kalu Ganga. the nearest COVID management centre. - Handout An appointment system should be arranged Repatriating Sri Lankans from High Commissioner of Pakistan, Maj. Gen. Rotary Sri Lanka, the first service organiza- istry, Director General of Health, Director MRI, to minimize queuing. Video conferencing is (Retd) Muhammad Saad Khattak handing Seychelles tion to proactively respond to the pandemic other senior officials of the Ministry of Health encouraged. During the provision of appoint- over a bat to Principal of St. Patrick’s The High Commission of Sri Lanka in in early February, by committing to help the and Rotary Sri Lanka. In a project costing Rs ments, patients with chronic illnesses are en- College Jaffna, Rev. Fr. A. P. Thirumahan, on Seychelles has said arrangements are be- Medical Research Institute (MRI) re-equip and 150 million, Rotary Sri Lanka will be providing couraged to have appointments at the begin- Tuesday (26). The Pakistan HC donated ing made to facilitate the return of Sri Lan- modernize their equipment to carry out tests state of the art medical equipment and related ning of each session. kans residing and working in the country faster and more accurately, handed over the peripherals to the MRI, and other essential Medical staff as well as patients are in- sporting items and school kits, gifts from who have registered their interest in re- first part of its donation to the MRI on Tuesday protective equipment to hospitals and MOH structed to wear face masks at all times, and the people of Pakistan for the students turning home. It said repatriation will be (26). Present at the handing over ceremony offices around the country. Tuesday’s donation staff instructed to wear a shield/goggles with at St. Patrick’s during a visit College on carried out in compliance with the existing were Chairman K. R. Ravindran and District included six Hematological Analyzers, three full PPE during high risk procedures. Patients Tuesday regulations and availability of quarantine Governor S Karunakaran, Minister of Health, Autoclaves, Viral Transport Media (VTM) and are to be screened for COVID-19 before enter- facilities in Sri Lanka Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Secretary to the Min- Swabs and Extraction Viral RNA Mini Kits. ing the waiting area, ideally at the time of ap- pointment using a mobile device. Weddings in hotels or reception halls The maximum number of guest at wed- President hits back at The Hindu for not reporting ‘real situation' dings must be limited to 100, at 50% of the Responding to the report ‘Sri Lanka will and proportionality to judge a military op- statement said, noting that the allegations seating capacity of the reception hall, with ad- not tolerate targeting of war heroes: Gota- eration for its action,” the statement said, are “unsubstantiated and arbitrary.” The equate physical distancing and different ‘ac- baya Rajapaksa' published on May 20 in adding that no official documentation had National Ranaviru [‘War heroes’] Day “is tion areas’, such as the poruwa, the registra- The Hindu, the office of the President of “proven allegations” of war crimes. not just a day to salute the fallen soldier, tion desk, tables and chairs and buffer area. Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has said On the reference to Rajapaksa re- but to celebrate the peace that their su- Handsanitizer must be placed at the en- the article did not reflect “the real situa- cently pardoning a soldier convicted for preme sacrifice ushered into the country.” trance to the hall and at different locations of tion.” the murder of eight Tamil civilians, the Pointing to the report’s description of the the hall. The President’s Media Division, in a statement said, the president had used LTTE as a “rebel” outfit, the statement Food to be served by dedicated staff. No written response, pointed to its reference his powers according to the Constitution. said it was a “terrorist” group. Further, self-service allowed. All guests encouraged to to several Sri Lankan soldiers, especially “After taking 13 years to sentence Ratnay- contesting the reference to an estimated wear masks, and hugging and shaking hands top officers, being accused of human ake, the court still held reasonable doubts. 40,000 casualties during the final phase discouraged, as are dance floors a owing to rights violations during and soon after Sri Lanka pardoned, without trial, 14,500 of the war, the statement said the figure, inevitable difficulties in maintaining physical the war, and said: “In any armed conflict, arrested or surrendered LTTE cadres. cited in past UN reports, was a “guess” distance while dancing. maintaining human rights of an individ- Amongst them were those who too had and “not an estimate.” Only the bride and groom are to be allowed ual is akin to preventing muddy puddles committed similar or worse acts as the Denying that militarization was “a lin- to grace the dance floor. No consumption of during rain.” Due to the “volatile” nature one Ratnayake was embroiled. Therefore, gering concern in post-war Sri Lanka” as alcohol to be allowed. A health and safety of- of warfare, International Humanitar- for Sri Lanka to pardon Ratnayake also is mentioned in the news report, the state- fice instructed to be appointed for each wed- ian Laws are “not a set of clear-cut rules not unreasonable or unethical,” said the ment said there were “a number of in- ding. Management of hall/hotel instructed to in black and white that one may tick off statement. stances where closely bonded relations announce the COVID-19 preventative meas- against. Instead, it must take into consid- The reference in the report to Sri Lan- between the security forces and people in ures at the beginning of and during the wed- eration the principles of distinction and ka’s Army Commander as “a general ac- the area had surfaced.” ding reception. legitimate targeting, military necessity cused of war crimes” is “very unfair,” the -The Hindu -economynext.com/ENCL 4 MAY 29 - 31, 2020 WEEKEND EXPRESS HOT TOPICS

By ie ern n te Cner By ihe thes ith res After threatening to shutter US deaths top social media 100,000 Trump to sign As countries reimpose executive order distancing measures WASHINGTON- The Trump administration is WASHINGTON - The US coronavirus death preparing an executive order intended to curtail toll passed 100,000, as some countries re-im- the legal protections that shield social media com- posed social distancing rules following a resur- panies from liability for what gets posted on their gence of cases that raised the spectre of a dread- platforms, two senior administration officials said ed second wave of infections. early yesterday (28). The economic fallout from the pandemic was Such an order, which officials said was still being again laid bare yesterday (28) as airlines report- drafted and was subject to change, would make it ed fresh financial hits and staff cuts and car gi- easier for federal regulators to argue that compa- ant Nissan announced mammoth losses. nies like Facebook, Google, YouTube and Twitter Deaths and infections continued to climb. are suppressing free speech when they move to sus- Fatalities in Europe topped 175,000, and fresh pend users or delete posts, among other examples. reports suggested the toll in the continent's The move is almost certain to face a court chal- hardest-hit country, Britain, might be worse lenge and is the latest salvo by President Donald than thought. Trump in his repeated threats to crack down on But European nations continued - cautiously online platforms. Twitter this week attached fact- - on a path toward easing lockdown measures checking notices to two of the president’s tweets as populations embraced a new, post-pandemic after he made false claims about voter fraud, and reality. Trump and his supporters have long accused social The picture remained grim in Latin America, media companies of silencing conservative voices. now fully in the throes of the pandemic that White House officials said the president would -Lam Yik Fei/The New York Times first emerged in China last year and has claimed sign the order later yesterday, but they declined to Riot police officers on standby in Hong Kong, yesterday (28), as China’s legislature nearly unanimously approved more than 355,000 lives and infected at least 5.7 comment on its content. A spokesman for Twitter a plan to suppress subversion, secession, terrorism and seemingly any acts that might threaten national security million on its deadly march across the globe. declined to comment. in the semiautonomous city Brazil now has the second-highest number of Under Section 230 of the Communications De- infections globally after the United States and cency Act, online companies have broad immunity By eith Brsher deaths topped 25,000 Wednesday (27), while from liability for content created by their users. Peru logged a record 6,154 new cases in 24 hours. But the draft of the executive order, which refers The US marked a dire milestone on Wednesday, to what it calls “selective censoring,” would allow passing 100,000 deaths, sparking fresh warn- the Commerce Department to try to refocus how China approves plan to rein in ings from health experts that the country should broadly Section 230 is applied and to let the Fed- not rush to reopen its badly bruised economy, eral Trade Commission bulk up a tool for reporting with millions of American jobs wiped out in a online bias. matter of months. It would also provide limitations on how federal Hong Kong, defying worldwide outcry Though the US has the highest number of dollars can be spent to advertise on social media deaths, it is not the most affected in terms of fa- platforms. BEIJING — China officially has the mentation of the ‘one country, two sys- Hong Kong’s political framework talities per million inhabitants. Some of the ideas in the executive order date to broad power to quash unrest in Hong tems’” political framework that has en- doesn’t offer much relief from the new Belgium leads with 808 deaths per million a ‘social media summit’ held last July at the White Kong, as the country’s legislature yester- shrined Hong Kong’s relative autonomy law. The framework, specified in the inhabitants, followed by Spain with 580 and House, officials said. day (28) nearly unanimously approved a since the territory was reclaimed by Chi- city’s Basic Law and the Bill of Rights, Britain's 552 -- according to official government Although the law does not provide social media plan to suppress subversion, secession, na in 1997. The rules, the premier said provides broad protections for civil lib- figures, according to AFP data compiled by of- companies blanket protection — for instance, the terrorism and seemingly any acts that at the conclusion of the annual session erties. But a big exemption exists for the ficial figures. The US has 303 deaths per million companies must still comply with copyright law might threaten national security in the of the legislature, the National People’s sort of national security legislation that inhabitants. and remove pirated materials posted by users — it semiautonomous city. Congress, would protect “Hong Kong’s Beijing is now drafting. President Donald Trump, eyeing re-election does shield them from some responsibility for their As Beijing hashes out the specifics of long-term prosperity and stability.” Both pieces of the framework draw on later this year, has repeatedly said he is eager to users’ posts. the national security legislation in the Li also refrained from accusing the the language in the United Nations’ In- get back to business and has urged states to lift Along with the First Amendment, Section 230 coming weeks, the final rules will help United States of any interference in ternational Covenant on Civil and Politi- lockdowns. has helped social media companies flourish. They determine the fate of Hong Kong, in- Hong Kong affairs. But just as he was cal Rights. The covenant has six different But top health adviser Anthony Fauci - whose can set their own lax or strict rules for content on cluding how much of the city’s autonomy talking, the Hong Kong office of China’s clauses allowing rights to be restricted if guidance has often clashed with Trump's - once their platforms, and they can moderate as they see will be preserved or how much Beijing foreign ministry warned of “strong coun- national security is at risk. again called for caution. fit. Defenders of the law, including technology com- will tighten its grip. termeasures” against the United States “If you do not plan to engage in acts "Don't start leapfrogging over the recommen- panies, have argued that any move to repeal or alter Early signals from Chinese authorities should it proceed — echoing denuncia- of secession, subversion, terrorism or dations of some of the guidelines because that's it would cripple online discussion. point to a crackdown once the law takes tions by prominent Chinese commenta- conspiring with foreign influence in con- really tempting fate and asking for trouble," But as conservatives have claimed that social me- effect, which is expected by September. tors. nection with Hong Kong affairs, you will Fauci told CNN. dia companies are biased against them and over- Activist groups could be banned. Clues on the coming security law can have no reason to fear,” Tung Chee-hwa, Elsewhere, some countries in Asia grappled moderate their political views, Republican lawmak- Courts could impose long jail sentences be found in earlier templates: a 2003 bill who was the city’s chief executive at the with the risks of a second wave. ers have increasingly pushed to modify the statute. for national security violations. China’s in Hong Kong that was thwarted by pro- time of the 2003 national legislation, South Korea re-imposed some social distanc- The president has long favoured Twitter as a feared security agencies could operate tests, and a law in another semiautono- said on Monday. ing rules after a series of new clusters emerged, means to reach his supporters, posting personal openly in the city. mous Chinese city, Macao. The process for drafting and enacting many in the capital Seoul. attacks and previewing policy. This week, Trump Even Hong Kong’s chief executive this Both contained broadly worded bans the new law is prompting concerns. Museums, parks and art galleries will all be repeatedly spread a debunked conspiracy theory week appeared to hint that certain civil on sedition, subversion, secession and The Standing Committee of China’s closed again from today (29) for two weeks, about MSNBC host Joe Scarborough and the death liberties might not be an enduring fea- treason, while also enhancing law en- legislature is writing the new rules on its while companies were urged to reintroduce flex- of a woman who worked for him in his congres- ture of Hong Kong life. forcement powers. The Hong Kong legis- own, without consulting Hong Kong ex- ible working, among other measures. sional office years ago. The woman’s widower has “We are a very free society, so for the lation would have allowed raids without perts. Once the legislation is written, the The next two weeks are crucial to prevent the pleaded with Trump to stop. time being, people have the freedom warrants if the police believed national Beijing-appointed leadership of Hong spread of the infection in the metropolitan area," The president ignored the widower’s request and to say whatever they want to say,” said security would be jeopardized by waiting Kong is required to put it into law im- health minister Park Neung-hoo said. denounced Twitter, claiming in a tweet that the so- the chief executive, Carrie Lam, noting, for a judge — the prospect of which drew mediately. And in Sri Lanka, some lockdown measures cial media company was trying to tamper with the “Rights and freedoms are not absolute.” vast crowds of peaceful protesters. “Since this is the legislative work of will be rolled out again after more than 250 re- November presidential election. The prospect of a national security Both bills also made it easier for the the Central Government, I am afraid turnees from Kuwait were found to be infected On Wednesday (27), he continued to criticize the law has prompted an immediate push- authorities to win national security cases that there will be no public consultation with coronavirus. But in Europe, governments company, accusing it of stifling conservative views. back in Hong Kong, where protesters are in court. The Macao legislation, for ex- in Hong Kong,” Lam said Tuesday (26). were experimenting with how to move beyond “We will strongly regulate, or close them down, once again taking to the streets. The in- ample, bars judges with foreign citizen- Some pro-democracy lawyers have lockdown to revive hammered economies and before we can ever allow this to happen,” Trump ternational community, too, has warned ship from serving on panels hearing na- questioned whether Beijing’s process allow citizens to resume public life. tweeted. against infringing on the city’s civil lib- tional security cases. Hong Kong’s courts for issuing the law is constitutional. But France was due to announce the second phase A spokesperson for YouTube declined to com- erties. have long relied heavily on judges who Hong Kong designates the Chinese gov- of its lockdown yesterday, when it is expected to ment on the executive order. Representatives for The Trump administration signalled have moved to the city from the British ernment as the final arbiter on constitu- let restaurants and cafes open in so-called green Facebook did not immediately respond to a request Wednesday (27) that it was likely to end Commonwealth but retain passports tional questions in the territory. zones, those that have not been hit as hard by for comment. some or all of the US government’s spe- from their home countries. The current plan for national security the virus. But Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s chief ex- cial trade and economic relations with The legislation in Macao, a former laws is considerably broader than the But in red zones - including Paris - bistros and ecutive, appeared to be pre-emptively trying to Hong Kong because of China’s move. Portuguese colony, has gone essen- 2003 bill. For starters, it calls for a ban cafes may not be allowed to open their doors un- soften any blowback from the White House. In a The State Department no longer consid- tially unused for the past 11 years since on terrorism. til July, though parks and gardens may be per- taped television interview scheduled for yesterday ers Hong Kong to have significant au- its passage. The authorities there have Chinese officials have given no hint of mitted to open sooner. morning with Fox, he cast aspersions on Twitter’s tonomy, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo preferred to take measures against oc- how terrorism will be defined. But the Britain is eyeing its own exit from lockdown willingness to fact check Trump on its platform in said, a condition for maintaining the casional protests under statutes that at- same committee that will draft the Hong and yesterday launched a test-and-trace pro- real time. trade status. tract less attention. But Macao’s govern- Kong rules issued anti-terrorism laws in gram to halt the spread of the disease. “I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn’t China’s premier, Li Keqiang, tried to ment, unlike Hong Kong’s, has not faced mainland China four years ago with very The country has been one of the hardest hit in be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say strike an optimistic note about the na- a broad-based democracy movement broad prohibitions. -New York Times the world and the government has come under online,” Zuckerberg said. “Private companies prob- tional security law, saying yesterday that that has attracted international sympa- fire for not responding to the crisis early enough. ably shouldn’t be, especially these platform compa- it would provide for the “steady imple- thy. Elsewhere in Europe, Spaniards were revis- nies, shouldn’t be in the position of doing that.” iting old joys -- but with new social distancing Courts have often ruled in favour of technol- By n hneen By rit hin measures. ogy companies, upholding their immunity. It is not At a drive-in cinema in Madrid, crowds were clear that the executive order would alter judges’ delighted to finally be able to go to the movies views on the law. Mahathir expelled from ‘Make noise and don’t again, while avoiding crowded theatres. -New York Times "Everyone has their own private space, there aren't many surfaces where you could pick up own political party panic’ infection because during the film, no one gets out of their car and if you want to order food you By Cnein e en KUALA LUMPUR - In the latest twist to a turbulent six- How India is trying to ward off locust can do that online," Belen Perez told AFP at a decade career in politics, Malaysia's former prime minister screening of "Grease". J. K. Rowling’s lockdown gift Mahathir Mohamad was sacked yesterday (28) from the invasion "It's a great way of being entertained safely." political party he co-founded in 2016. NEW DELHI - Residents of Delhi are bracing themselves Governments around the globe are faced A statement from the United Indigenous Party of Malay- for a possible invasion of locusts, which have been ravaging with the precarious task of keeping populations ‘The Ickabog’ free sia, known by its Malay acronym Bersatu, said that 94-year- areas in the north of the country. safe while trying to kickstart their economies, old Mahathir's membership had been "revoked with imme- A change in wind direction could save the city, but Dr K L with the world facing a global slump not seen online diate effect." Gurjar, deputy director of the Locust Warning Organization, in decades. There was more bad news from the Mahathir, who was party chairman, was fired along with has warned residents to be prepared to “make a lot of loud aviation sector on Thursday as British carrier LONDON- Readers who long imagined them- four other parliamentarians for not supporting Malaysia's noise so that instead of settling, they keep flying and fly past EasyJet said it would axe up to 30 percent of its selves in Harry Potter’s world have a chance to government, which is headed by Prime Minister Muhyiddin the city. And don’t panic”. staff, while Scandinavian airline SAS announced immerse themselves in another fictional universe Yassin, the Bersatu president. Parts of India are experiencing the worst locust invasion fresh quarterly losses of $362 million. created by J.K. Rowling. The author said she The five lawmakers took to the opposition benches during the country has seen for 25 years. Skies above large parts of On the auto front, Nissan reported an eye- would release ‘The Ickabog’, a new story for young a brief May 18 parliamentary sitting. north India have darkened during the day due to millions of watering $6.2-billion annual net loss, and said readers, for free online. Mahathir, who was first elected to Parliament in 1964, was locusts. Rajasthan is the worst affected state, but Madhya it was closing its Barcelona plant and slashing ‘The Ickabog’ will be published in 34 instalments the world's oldest government leader before he unexpectedly Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab have also experienced damag- production. starting Tuesday (27), with one instalment released quit in February. ing swarms. The news comes after the European Union un- every weekday until July 10. It will be targeted to The resignation sparked a frantic week-long power strug- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s locust watch veiled a historic, 750-billion-euro ($825 billion) readers ages 7 to 9 and published as a book in No- gle that culminated in Muhyiddin, who founded Bersatu website said the movement of the locusts has been affected recovery plan to get the continent back on its vember. with Mahathir ahead of their joining a four-party alliance by the strong westerly winds from Cyclone Amphan, which feet. But amid a deluge of dire news, there were In an announcement on her website, Rowling that won 2018 elections, being nominated prime minister. hit the coast of India earlier this month. some promising developments as well. said she had started working on the book more than The same week in late February that Malaysia's political About 50,000 hectares have been affected by the insects so Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche joined forc- a decade ago, while she was still writing Harry Pot- elites were jostling for control, an Islamic ceremony was far. While produce in some parts of the country had already es with US biotech firm Gilead to test a mix of ter, and originally intended to publish it after she held on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Attended by around been harvested, in other areas farmers have seen the insects drugs to treat severe cases of COVID-19. finished the last book in the beloved series. But she 16,000 people, the event proved the wellspring for around devour their crops. Unless the locusts are controlled, they Scientists around the world are racing for a ended up keeping ‘The Ickabog,’ which isn’t related half of Malaysia's 7,629 confirmed cases of coronavirus - a fear summer crops could also be destroyed. vaccine - or effective treatment - for the disease. to Harry Potter or any of Rowling’s other work, in spike that prompted Muhyiddin to impose a nationwide Tractors have been spraying pesticides and fire engines France said on Wednesday it was banning her family, reading it to her young children and lockdown on March 18. have been used to target locusts in trees. Honking horns and the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a then putting it away in her attic until recently. Mahathir - who decided shortly after his unexplained res- sounding police car sirens other methods deployed to try to treatment after the World Health Organization She decided to release ‘The Ickabog’ now, she ignation that he wanted to be prime minister again - bitterly ward the locusts off. In the fields, farmers have been playing suspended its testing over fears of dangerous wrote on Twitter, “so children on lockdown, or protested the new government and denounced his former loud music and banging anything they can find to stop the side effects. even those back at school during these strange, un- interior minister Muhyiddin as a traitor. insects ravaging their crops. And in the animal world, there was coronavi- settling times, can read it or have it read to them.” Claiming he retained majority support in Parliament, Ma- “We are hoping to contain it in the next 10 days,” said an rus news too after a Bali zoo named a newborn Rowling said she would donate her royalties for the hathir sought a confidence vote in Muhyiddin on May 18 official in Barmer, in Rajasthan. “Our officials are out spray- giraffe after the disease. book to causes related to the coronavirus pandemic. - but that was scuppered when the sitting was restricted to ing pesticide early in the morning. When the sun comes out "Corona is healthy and is still breastfeed- Rowling said in the announcement that ‘The an address by the head of the country's largely-ceremonial and [the locusts] get warm is when they start flying. This ing. We'll keep her under observation for three Ickabog’ was a story about “truth and the abuse of monarchy, King Abdullah. year, they are younger, immature adults who fly faster and months," said zoo spokesman AnakAgungNgu- power,” but added that the story “isn’t intended to Malaysia's parliament is scheduled to reconvene in July, cover distances of up to 150km per day.” On Monday (25) rah Alit Sujana. be read as a response to anything that’s happening with the brief May 18 meeting the sole session since Muhyid- swarms were spotted in the city of Jaipur in Rajasthan. But visitors will have to wait to meet the young in the world right now.” din took office on March 1. Gurjar hopes the change in wind direction will spare Delhi. calf, as the zoo remains closed to the public. -New York Times -dpa -The Guardian -Agence France-Presse WEEKEND EXPRESS MAY 29 - 31, 2020 5 REALITY CHECK

By Chris hrey By Shini en Bht Fight to save This chef has a Patient 91 Michelin Star and a British pilot with coronavirus mission in Vietnam wakes from coma Feeding millions in India’s HANOI - A British pilot who was critically ill with COVID-19 in Vietnam has awoken from a lockdown coma and is showing signs of improvement, yet NEW DELHI — He has cooked for the Oba- his long-term outlook remains ominous, doc- mas, hosted TV shows with Gordon Ramsay, tors have said. written 25 culinary books and created sump- The man, 43, who works for Vietnam Air- tuous meals that cost nearly $40,000 each. lines, had awoken from a coma and was capable But in the past two months, Vikas Khanna, of basic communication after doctors reduced a Michelin-starred chef, has turned his focus his levels of sedative medication, Vietnamese to India’s hungry, providing millions of meals state media announced on Wednesday (27). to poor Indians who have suffered greatly un- The patient, referred to in Vietnam as Patient der the coronavirus lockdown. Khanna was 91, developed a fever and cough on March 17 born in India and came to New York as an as- and was later admitted to Ho Chi Minh City piring chef 20 years ago, first paying his dues Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Since then, he as a dishwasher and delivery man. As parts of has spent more than two months on life sup- India slid into a humanitarian crisis in recent port. months, with millions of out-of-work people Tran Thanh Linh, the deputy head of Ho Chi desperate for food, Khanna watched the news Minh City-based Cho Ray hospital’s intensive from his apartment in Manhattan and grew care unit, told local media the man was able to despondent.“We’ve totally failed our people,” perform simple gestures such as moving fingers he said in an interview last week. “I wanted and toes, yet breathing issues, organ damage to show that solidarity still exists.”“My mom and limb weaknesses remain. lives alone in Amritsar,” he added, “and I The pilot is on an extracorporeal membrane thought: What if she needed help and there oxygenation machine (ECMO), a form of life was no one to help her?” support used when a person’s heart or lungs Khanna, 48, is a Hindu, but growing up in are unable to fully function, and is being treat- Amritsar, a northern Indian city with many ed with antibiotics, according to a report posted Sikhs, he was inspired by the large communi- on the government’s official news portal early - Meghan Dhaliwal/The New York Times ty kitchens of the Sikh Gurdwaras. They serve in May. meals to anyone who needs them. Linh added that, by the end of this week, an Ivette Díaz, centre, an intensive care nurse at La Raza hospital, buying safety goggles and latex gloves from a street vendor As a disabled child with a club foot, he said, official decision would be announced on wheth- “I had no friends, only sympathizers.”So he er or not doctors would gradually wean him off By tie itre n in ies whiled away the hours in the family kitchen ECMO, or even stop the treatment altogether. with his grandmother, learning to cook. In His lungs are currently functioning at about 20- early April, he posted an emotional appeal 30%, an increase from 10% a few weeks ago. on Twitter, asking people to send him details The man is no longer receiving kidney dialy- of those who were desperate for food. Khan- sis treatment and has repeatedly tested nega- na has a huge following in India, and within ‘It’s not the virus’ hours, he was flooded with replies. But he tive for COVID-19. Yet after experiencing cy- tokine storms, an overreaction of the immune would soon learn that it wasn’t so simple to system, his organs have been so severely dam- Mexico’s broken hospitals become killers, too reach the hungry. aged he remains in a poor condition. His first attempt to deliver food to an elder- Todd Pollack, a Hanoi-based infectious dis- The senseless deaths torment doctors would have a better chance of surviving Patients have filed thousands of care home near Bengaluru, the southern In- eases specialist at Harvard medical school, said and nurses the most: The man who if we could offer better care.” The Mex- complaints with the country’s human dian city formerly known as Bangalore, fell the situation was worrying. “A quick review of died because an inexperienced nurse ican government spends less on health rights commission about negligence in apart. The deliverer disappeared with more the medical literature shows that use of ECMO unplugged his ventilator. The patient care as a per cent of its economy than hospitals in recent years. And the qual- than 2,000 pounds of rice and nearly 900 in COVID-19 patients is associated with very who died from septic shock because most countries in the Western Hemi- ity of care only diminished further af- pounds of lentils. high mortality rates of 50-82%, based on early no one monitored his vital signs. The sphere, according to the World Bank, ter hospital workers in Mexico endured His search for a reliable partner who could reports from China, so his general prognosis is people whose breathing tubes clogged and President Andrés Manuel López some of the nation’s first coronavirus work anywhere in the country led him to the not good based on the long-term requirement after being abandoned in their hospital Obrador presided over spending cuts outbreaks. National Disaster Relief Force, which is de- for ECMO.” beds for hours on end. even after acknowledging his country Many countries have struggled with ployed during emergencies. Vietnam, a country that has as yet reported In Mexico, it’s not just the coronavi- had 200,000 fewer health care work- doctors and nurses falling ill, but in Khanna called the head of the relief force, no deaths from COVID-19, has focused all avail- rus that is claiming lives. The country’s ers than it needed. Mexico the problem is particularly bad. Satya Narayan Pradhan, after he found out able resources and spent more than $200,000 broken health system is killing people When the epidemic hit Mexico in “If health workers are getting sick they were already helping distribute food to on saving the patient’s life. as well. March, many hospitals sent front-line at this rate, bottom line is you risk not the poor. “He said: ‘Can you help me? I live so Earlier in May, reports suggested the man Years of neglect had already hobbled workers to confront the deluge of cases having a health workforce to look after far away in New York,”’ Pradhan recalled. “I could receive a double lung transplant if a suit- Mexico’s health care system, leaving it without any protective equipment or people,” said Howard Catton, the chief agreed to help with the logistics wherever our able donor was found. Last week, Vietnam’s dangerously short of doctors, nurses training. executive of the International Council battalions had jurisdiction.” Pradhan, who health ministry said it was considering repatri- and equipment to fight a virus that has Some nurses say they were told not of Nurses. has had his hands full with a fatal industrial ating the man to the UK for further treatment if overwhelmed far richer nations. to wear masks to avoid causing panic. De la Cruz, the nurse in Mexico accident this month and a cyclone that killed his condition allowed. Now, the pandemic is making mat- Many say they were forced to buy face City, said that her hospital initially in- dozens last week, said their partnership start- “A lung transplant would obviously only be ters much worse, sickening more than shields and goggles themselves. structed employees not to wear masks ed in New Delhi, with the outreach increasing considered if there were no other options,” Pol- 11,000 Mexican health workers — one The fallout has been severe. About around a patient until the person test- every day. lack said. “There are case reports from China of of the highest rates in the world — and 1 in 5 confirmed cases in Mexico are ed positive for coronavirus. “He has been so brave about it,” Pradhan successful lung transplants being performed for depleting the already thin ranks in hos- health workers — a greater share than “You waited three or four days to see said of Khanna. “He’s invested his own funds, patients with respiratory failures.” pitals. in the United States, Italy or China. if the patient tested positive, and in the even though it must be tough for him. That’s The British embassy in Hanoi said it was un- Some hospitals have lost half their Mexico’s outbreak is growing quickly meantime you got infected,” said de why we want to help him as much as possi- able to comment on the case, citing patient con- staff to illness and absenteeism. Others and shows no signs of slowing. Report- la Cruz, who noted that 80 of her col- ble.” Khanna said his initiative had distrib- fidentiality, although the British consul gener- are running low on basic equipment, ed cases and deaths have risen every leagues have gotten sick. uted more than seven million packets of dry al, Ian Gibbons, sent a letter to medical staff in like heart monitors. week for the last couple of months, hit- Some hospitals did prepare early food and cooked meals over the past month in Ho Chi Minh City on May 21 thanking them for The shortages have had devastating ting Mexico City and Baja California, for the virus, which swept the United more than 100 cities in India. The rice com- their support. consequences for patients, accord- which includes Tijuana, particularly States and Europe before outbreaks panies India Gate and Daawat donated food, Vietnam, a country of 96 million people that ing to interviews with health workers hard. flared in Mexico. and the financial technology giant Paytm re- shares a border with China, has so far recorded across the country. Several doctors and After a Times analysis found evi- In Monterrey, doctors said protocols cently became a sponsor. HungerBox, a food just 327 cases of COVID-19, owing in part to its nurses recounted dozens of prevent- dence that federal authorities were to shield workers were put in place technology company, offered the use of its aggressive contact tracing campaigns, creative able deaths in hospitals — the result of underreporting fatalities, a top federal months ago. Rodolfo Ruiz, an infec- industrial kitchens in Mumbai and Noida to public health messaging and decisive, early ac- neglect or mistakes that never should health official publicly conceded that tious disease specialist, says he feels cook over 20,000 meals every day. tion. have happened. the government does not have an ac- protected at his public hospital in Mex- Though lockdown measures have recently Nguyen Quoc Thai, an intensive care doctor “We have had many of what we call curate count of deaths caused by the icali, even as hospital beds fill up. eased somewhat, working through the tight at the infectious disease department of Hanoi’s ‘dumb deaths,’” said Pablo Villaseñor, virus. But the missteps in some of the hard- restrictions in India were challenging, and Bach Mai hospital, said: “In China, they did the a doctor at the General Hospital in Ti- At Villaseñor’s hospital, there are est hit cities have brought overrun hos- moving goods across state borders and red operation with teams who have experienced juana, the centre of an outbreak. “It’s so few doctors left that during some pitals to a breaking point, workers say. zones was a logistical nightmare. hundreds of cases each year. Our Vietnam not the virus that is killing them. It’s shifts, critically-ill patients are going Doctors and nurses have staged pro- Khanna has been coordinating this enor- team has worked on just a few cases, so it’s … the lack of proper care.” eight hours without anyone checking tests outside their hospitals in at least mous exercise from his apartment near the very courageous when we mention such a dou- Patients die because they’re given on them, he said. a dozen states, according to local news United Nations, where he is sheltering in ble lung transplant. I hope everything will go the wrong medications, or the wrong “You hear of one patient dying be- reports. Some doctors and nurses have place. The difference in time zones keeps him smoothly, but still, I worry so much. dose, health workers say. The protec- cause he didn’t get the proper care refused to treat coronavirus patients. up nights to manage the operation. “At this time, with advances in medical trans- tive gloves at some hospitals are so — and then another one and another Rosario Luna, a nurse at the José He was formerly the executive chef at Ju- portation, I believe the patient could be trans- old that they crack the moment they’re one — and you try not to become para- María Morelos and Pavón hospital in noon, which was lauded for its inventive take ported safely back to his home country … but I slipped on, nurses say. lyzed,” added Villaseñor, a rheumatol- Mexico City, described treating COV- on traditional Indian cuisine and awarded a am afraid the decision would push him to be in People are often not sedated prop- ogist who said he had to learn how to ID-19 patients with broken heart moni- Michelin star seven years in a row. Before the peace, instead of fighting in his homeland. erly, then wake up and yank out their suit up to treat coronavirus patients by tors and faulty suction machines. coronavirus pandemic, he was making plans “Now, we all know the patient cannot live own breathing tubes, hospital employ- watching a video on YouTube. At Dr. Carlos Mac Gregor hospital in to open a new restaurant in New York. without the continuation of ECMO support. His ees say. As Mexico’s population grew during Mexico City, Berenice Andrade, a doc- India announced its strict lockdown on lungs and other organs are in bad condition. Adriana de la Cruz, a nurse at Dr. the last decade, the government kept tor, said that one internist quit because March 25. Within hours, millions of migrant But he is still alive. Belisario Domínguez hospital in the hospital funding low, devoting less of the lack of personnel and that only workers began streaming out of the cities, “Many people want to save money for other southeast corner of Mexico City, said than 3% of its national output to health one doctor watched over 54 patients desperate to return to their home villages. It very poor patients, and they are thinking about the overstretched and often under- care. World Bank data shows that by during the weekends. was a humanitarian crisis that displayed the ending the treatment. However, I don’t think trained workforce has made glaring er- 2017, well before López Obrador took “It makes the care we offer very de- inequality in the country in stark detail. we should. For me, as a physician, I value any rors — at great cost. office, only two countries in Central ficient,” said Andrade. “The patient’s Khanna’s effort initially began with deliv- tiny opportunity to save lives. We cannot bar- “People have died because of a lack of and South America spent less on health health is of course affected.” ering dry ingredients to organizations — or- gain over lives.” medical attention and because of negli- than Mexico as a share of their econo- phanages, old-age homes, leprosy centres -The Guardian gence,” de la Cruz said. “These patients mies: Guatemala and Venezuela. -New York Times and poor neighbourhoods. People around the country contacted him by email and Twitter about people with the greatest need, and he figured out a way to get food to them. A few weeks ago, Khanna realized that his effort would not reach a particularly vulner- A toddler trying to wake up dead mother shocks Indians able group: the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who had been trapped by NEW DELHI- A viral video clip shared Gujarat state some 1,800km (1,118 miles) er migrant workers who took a 1,480km dered jobless due to the strict lockdown the lockdown and now were walking vast dis- on social media showing a toddler trying away. The nine deaths highlight the plight (920-mile) train journey from Mumbai to imposed on March 25 by Prime Minister tances to get home. Dry food was of no use to wake his dead mother lying on a railway of Indian migrants in the pandemic, dur- Varanasi in the nation's north were pulled Narendra Modi to check the spread of the to them, but a cooked meal would be. He has platform in the eastern city of Muzaffar- ing which millions lost their jobs and are from carriages on Wednesday. Police said virus. Critics have accused the Modi gov- joined with Bharat Petroleum, one of the big- pur has shocked Indians. struggling to return home under the coun- the men, aged 30 and 63, suffered from ernment of imposing the lockdown with- gest gas companies in India, to set up soup According to local media reports, the try's lockdown. existing ailments. out much planning that has caused havoc kitchens at gas stations along highways. family of ArbinaKhatoon said she died of The deaths occurred on special trains The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on the economy and created the worst Last Friday (22), the day before Eid, which hunger and dehydration, highlighting the organized by the Indian government to another five migrant workers had died on migrant crisis since the country achieved marks the end of the Muslim holy month of suffering migrant workers have endured help transport stranded workers home. train journeys between Monday (25) and independence in 1947. Ramadan, Khanna’s team distributed feast due to the coronavirus lockdown. Local Critics say the special trains have been Wednesday. Some have walked or cycled hundreds kits for more than 200,000 people in Mumbai, police, however, said that she died of ill- delayed, leaving migrants waiting or in Indian Railways said on Twitter that of kilometres home in the harsh summer with rice, lentils, flour, fruits, vegetables, tea, ness. trains in scorching hot weather for days, "no such deaths due to hunger have been heat, with dozens dying from exhaustion coffee, spices, sugar, pasta, oil and dried fruit. The 35-year-old is among at least nine and that there had been a shortage of reported." or in accidents. The festival has a special place in his heart. As migrant workers who have died on trains food and water on the journeys, charges The Railway Ministry has also faced Earlier this month at least 16 migrant a young chef in Mumbai, he was stuck in the in recent days while travelling back to that Indian Railways and the government criticism for charging migrants for tickets. workers sleeping on railway tracks were city during the riots of 1992. A Muslim wom- their homes, officials and media reported deny. The opposition Congress party, which run over by a train. an sheltered him in her house. “She saved my on Wednesday (27). Dozens of trains did not arrive, accord- accused the government of apathy to- Faced with mounting criticism, the gov- life,” he said. Ever since, he has fasted for one Local media aired footage of the two- ing to local media reports, but railway of- wards migrants, had offered to pay for ernment announced to provide free food day during Ramdan, as the festival is known year-old boy pulling at a cloth covering ficials said the trains had to be diverted to tickets and also provided buses to ferry grain to millions of migrant workers as in India. Khanna estimates that his relief ef- his dead mother at Muzaffarpur railway ease traffic. migrants stuck in cities across the coun- well as offer employment under a rural fort now feeds around 275,000 people each station in the north-eastern state of Bihar. A four-year-old boy was also reported try. jobs program. day. He wants to keep going. Local police said Khatoon died of ill- dead before reaching the same Muzaffar- Millions of India's poor, including mi- The government will spend 35 billion “I feel like the past 30 years of my training ness, with Indian Railways sharing a letter pur station. His father said he "died due to grant workers, have suffered from the rupees ($463m) on food for nearly 80 and my 20-hour workdays have prepared me from relatives attesting to her poor health. poor facilities in special trains for migrant strict lockdown, with many in cities losing million migrant workers over the next two for this moment,” he said. “This has been the But those who travelled with her claimed workers." their jobs, going hungry and struggling months, Finance Minister Nirmala Sithar- most gratifying two months in my culinary ca- she died from a shortage of food and water Local police said the child died on the to return to their home villages. More aman said earlier this month. reer.” during a long train journey from western train due to illness. The bodies of two oth- than 100 million Indians have been ren- -Al Jazeera/Agencies -New York Times 6 MAY 29 - 31, 2020 WEEKEND EXPRESS COMMENTARY

By ni Sri By ri eiris Treat COVID-19 like a The challenge of the bad fart second decade of The simplest way to post war reconciliation May 19, 2020, marked the eleventh year of the end understand all the in Sri Lanka’s protracted civil war. And as we enter the second decade after the end of the war, there is guidelines a continuing need to address both the effects and the causes of the war, to ensure a durable and just We need to treat COVID-19 like a bad fart. The peace as well as heal the ethnic polarizations in our simplest guideline is to imagine that everyone society. around you has deadly, contagious, and uncon- The effects of the conflict are still around and trollable gas. Everybody’s just cutting loose, visible, mostly in the Northern Province and the and it kills. You’ll immediately know the right Vanni, much more than in the Eastern Province, response. Stay 2m away. If you’re stuck inside, especially in the Districts of Killinochchi and Mul- crack a window. If at all possible, just stay home. laitivu, which bore the brunt of the fighting and the See? You don’t need complicated guidelines. scene of the final existential battles of the LTTE. Just imagine a wave of global flatulence and In the first decade after the war, the former Raja- you’ll know exactly what to do. paksa Government, rapidly rebuilt the physical in- I’ve gone through Korea’s reopening guidelines frastructure, especially the roads and government in detail, but it’s honestly easier to just think of administrative buildings and structures, while its them this way. The world has just ripped one. Act successor, the Sirisena /Wickramasinghe Admin- accordingly. istration followed up with land release, smaller scale community infrastructure and perhaps most The science of spread LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP importantly opening up and creating the space for COVID-19 does not literally spread through Commuters wearing facemasks sit in a train before departing from a station in Panadura, a suburb of Colombo on Tuesday civil society and the non-governmental sector to farts. It seems to spread primarily through drop- address the needs of the conflict affected, especially lets — coughs, sneezes, etc. These are also pertur- (26) as authorities eased the 24-hour curfew first imposed on March 20 claiming the spread of the coronavirus was the most vulnerable sectors of those communities, bations of the air, just on the other end. largely under control. However the Election Commission has said the environment is not conducive to holding general women and children, the war widows, the orphans What researchers have found is that these face elections on June 20, irking the government and its supporters and the injured, including many suffering from farts tend to spread most offensively in closed By ehn erer post-traumatic stress and other mental distress. spaces. Just have a look at this study from a A generous Indian housing project, granting as Guangzhou restaurant. aid not loans, fifty thousand housing units, ensured that housing stock in the North and East was also The power to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ rebuilt. However, as yet an unaddressed and con- tinuing post war need is the sustainable livelihoods for women headed households as well as rehabili- tated ex-combatants. Continuing relevance of the 19th Amendment The election of the first Sri Lanka Podujana Pera- The direction of Sri Lanka’s demo- months of the dissolution of the old There was evidence that some of the muna (SLPP) administration in November last year cratic process hangs in the balance, parliament would not have arisen. ruling party politicians were attend- and the foregone conclusion of a comfortable vic- with as many as seven cases with re- However, two factors intervened to ing events at which the Rs 5000 was tory for the party, in the forthcoming parliamentary gard to the general elections and the put the onus on the Election Com- being given and claiming it was due elections, once the COVID-19 threat is over, means presidential decree dissolving Parlia- mission with regard to conducting to their intervention that the people that reconciliation for the next five years is going to ment pending before the Supreme the election on the due date. The first were receiving it. Further, many ap- be under the policy framework of the SLPP. Court. The outcome of the judicial de- was the rise in coronavirus infections pointments have been made during While there has been no clear articulation of a cision may decide whether Sri Lanka that could potentially have wreaked this period at various levels some of reconciliation policy by the administration, the statements by the foreign minister at the UNHRC Restaurant tables and air conditioning airflow at will continue to be governed by the havoc in the country as it has in which the Election Commission has president and caretaker cabinet un- other far more developed nations objected to. at the end of February, the appointment of ideolog- the site of an outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus ical hardliners to key positions in the administra- disease, Guangzhou, China, 2020. Red circles til the general elections actually take whose political leaders did not act The ability of the Election Commis- place to bring in a new Parliament. with promptness to lockdown their sion to make decisions that can be tion among other insights into the thinking of the indicate seating of future case-patients; yellow- party heirarchy demonstrate at the minimum, the filled red circle indicates index case-patient The Constitution has set a three countries. The second reason is that displeasing to those in power is that month limit on such an arrangement the Election Commission’s appeal to it is empowered by special protec- government elected solely on the votes of the ma- sans a Parliament. the president to refer the matter at an tion under 19th Amendment to the jority ethno-religious community, is disinclined at Elections, at which the people’s early stage to the Supreme Court for Constitution, where the three com- best to move forward a process of reconciliation or The index case A1 (yellow) was asymptomatic, the famous home grown solutions it refers to with so either lightly coughing or just breathing. His representatives are elected, are the a judicial decision was turned down. missioners are appointed by, and lifeblood of democracy. Experience In these fraught circumstances, accountable to, the Constitutional international audiences. droplets spread to everyone in line with the AC This absence of a drive for reconciliation, at the (presumably bouncing off the wall as well) but down the ages has shown that there the Election Commission had no Council, which is a ten member mul- needs to be a system of checks and choice but to take action on its own, ti-party body and includes three civil high levels of the new government means that rec- not anyone else. Hence, the right behaviour, in onciliation would need to be advanced through this case, would have been to sit further apart, balances if democracy and freedoms unguided by the collective wisdom society members. are to survive. It is for this reason of the Supreme Court. It has deemed The commission members are other actors and stakeholders, including minority and crack a window. limits are placed on a country func- both April 25 and now June 20 to be therefore protected from the dan- political leaders, provincial and local government Here’s a study of spread in a Korean call centre: tioning without a legislature. The unsuitable due to health related con- ger of being summarily dismissed or institutions, community leaders and civil society. The KCDC tested nearly 1,000 people in the previous 1972 Constitution had a four cerns associated with the coronavirus transferred if they displease those in It is also useful to learn of reconciliation process- building and infections were largely contained month limit. spread. However, the Commission’s power. This is in contrast to the Pro- es of non-western and non-European experiences, to those sharing the same room. The same A/Cd The position taken by the Election conclusion that the health situation vincial Public Service Commissions, particularly from countries like Rwanda and South room, re-circulating air. Commission, at the judicial hearings in the country does not permit elec- which in some provinces have been Africa and even Colombia, all countries which suf- These are the general findings that have led to in the Supreme Court has been that tions to be held on June 20 has been terminated by the respective Gov- fered political violence, loss of life and property and guidelines like Korea’s, calling for ventilation, elections cannot be held on June 20, contested by the Director of Health ernors without due consideration to collective community trauma. open windows, and being outdoors as much as the date it had set. This would be the Services, Dr Anil Jasinghe. The gov- their independence. In that context, the abysmal non-performance possible. A Japanese study reported that trans- second time the Commission has ernment’s Health Director has be- Unlike members of the Election of the first TNA controlled Northern Provincial mission is 19X more likely in a closed environ- balked at conducting the elections come a prominent public personality Commission, members of the public Council was both a disappointment and complete ment. A look at over 7,000 cases in China found on the date that has been set. The on account of giving regular updates service are one step removed from the let down for the Tamil people. The administration, only one outdoor outbreak, involving two people. first occasion was when the date for on the prevailing health situation to a protection afforded to members of led by former Supreme Court Justice C. V. Wigne- COVID-19 seems to spread like a bad smell. the elections was set for April 25 by general population waiting anxiously the independent commissions, such swaran, seemed inept and incompetent. In its first Like a fart. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa when for further edification. as the Elections Commission, Human year, it even had to return money sent from the cen- The logic of farts he dissolved Parliament on March 2 The information is readily avail- Rights Commission and Public Ser- tre for projects due to non-completion and subse- with the power vested with him by able that the number of daily new in- vice Commission. This may account quently only refrained from doing so, by diverting Modified image from Butt Detective: The Movie the funds elsewhere in a manner which stretched I mention farts not because it’s funny, but be- the 19th Amendment to the Consti- fections, ranging from between 10 to for the difference in position with tution. It is not going to be easy for 20 per day in recent weeks has spiked regard to the health consequences government financial regulations. cause it helps. Metaphors are how we understand The Council its term in internecine squabbles, new information, and this is the most primal anyone to set a date as the conditions alarmingly in the past couple of days, of early elections taken by the Elec- are fluid. Sudden curfews, restric- to above 100 each day. It has been re- tions Commission and the Director where the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) metaphor of them all. Everybody farts. resigned from administration and the Chief Min- I’ve written 2,700 words on Korea’s reopen- tions on travel, concern about social ported that about a fortnight ago the of Health Services. The latter would distancing come into the calculation. Election Commission had consulted invariably be more exposed and vul- ister ended up in court over his provincial minis- ing guidelines, much of them on ventilation, but terial appointments. In contrast, the performance it’s complicated and boring. A fart joke, however, Any date set would be subject to these health experts, election staff from nerable to political pressure. conditions stabilizing. both head office and the districts, In a time of crisis there is a ten- of the Sri Lanka Muslim Council (SLMC)-Tamil you’ll understand in a minute. And the result is National Alliance (TNA) coalition administration the same. You’ll know instinctively what to do. Under ordinary circumstances, the and civil society monitors about the dency for governments worldwide to postponement of general elections possibility of holding early elections. demand more power to act quickly in the Eastern Province under a business minded So just imagine that every face is a butt. My God SLMC chief minister, performed much better. The put a mask on it, and keep it away from me. Imag- would be viewed most unfavour- The difficulty of holding early elec- and even to bypass systems of checks ably by the general population. They tions due to the continuing curfews, and balances. In this context, it is provincial administration, assisted in resettlement, ine that the news announced a wave of Silent But- worked in harmony with the centre and generally Deadlies, we’d all keep a 2-metre distance right would go to the streets to demand an restrictions on travel between dis- important to continue to seek the election if they feel it is being post- tricts and spread of the infection had strengthening of independent deci- managed the delicate Tamil-Muslim relations in quick. We’d cross the road. If your entire office a manner which makes another joint SLMC-TNA went to Taco Bell, you’d open the windows and poned for ulterior motives. How- loomed large at those discussions. sion making bodies whose selection ever, on this occasion, most people It appears the position taken by has been through an inclusive pro- provincial administration in that province, a dis- ask people to spread out. Or just go home. tinct possibility. You don’t need to understand droplets or appear to be taking a more nuanced the Election Commission with regard cess. In Sri Lanka the key institutions approach. They wish to elect a Parlia- to a June 20 election has irked the that require such support at the pre- With parliamentary elections called and the date transmissions or aerosols. You don’t need to read pending a Supreme Court determination, the pref- the studies or official guidelines (but do). Every ment that represents their best inter- government, which maintains polls sent time are the independent com- ests at the present time. But they also should be held as early as possible. missions appointed under the 19th erence vote battle in the Jaffna District has heated culture going back to the BCs has understood and up, with political competitors of the former Jaffna enjoyed a good fart joke. We all fart, and when see justifiable reasons to postpone the The Commission is being subjected Amendment. In the future, as the general elections for reasons of public to criticism by government support- value of independent commissions District Parliamentarian, president’s counsel and someone rips one, we know what to do. TNA Spokesman, M. A. Sumanthiran launching This is the simplest way to understand social health in the context of the increasing ers. They have also accused it of anti- becomes better understood by the coronavirus infections. The problem government bias on account of a let- general population, this same prin- an unprecedented personal and political attack distancing, masking, ventilation, and all the hun- against him. Their weapon of choice has been com- dred things we need to do to fight this novel coro- is that the continuing postponement ter objecting to the politicization of ciple of institutional independence of general elections has given rise to the Rs 5000 payment to the margin- needs to be expanded. The courts of ments Sumanthiran made in a Sinhala language navirus. Just assume that everyone is farting in interview, specifically his reiteration that he never your general direction, and act as if. You’ll imme- a constitutional issue that is now be- alized and poor families affected by law, with their emphasis on ration- fore the Supreme Court. the lockdown. The election law states ality as against partisan politics, can accepted or condoned armed struggle as a politi- diately get most of the behaviours right. cal project. There were comments in social media, - Indi Samarajiva is a writer living in Co- If the general election had taken that once elections are declared it is make their contribution to this. place on the date set by the presi- incumbent on the Election Commis- -Jehan Perera is the Execu- that Sumanthiran and the TNA had achieved noth- lombo and this article was originally featured dent, the issue of the new Parliament sion to ensure State resources are tive Director of the National Peace ing through eleven years of democratic politics, es- on medium.com not being summoned within three not utilized for political purposes. Council of Sri Lanka pecially from clear LTTE sympathizers, who were never willing to honestly explore what exactly the Tamil people achieved through twenty-five years of the armed struggle, whose self-harm to the Ta- mil community included, the conscription of their children as child soldiers and the political murders Violence will not be tolerated of Tamil democratic political leaders like Alfred Duraiappa, Appaapilai Amirthalingam, Neelan UNDP urges swift action to address violence against women and girls during Tiruchelvam, Sam Thambimutthu and Joseph Pa- rarajasingham. Certainly, the Tamil community had made no pandemic strategic gains, when the LTTE’s armed struggle New York — Governments across the world must act ID-19 on women and girls include rising rates of do- ing awareness of the rise in violence and advising the ended. Indeed, the LTTE were left with few friends urgently to prevent and tackle the rising rates of vio- mestic or intimate partner violence, while lockdowns government on village challenges and needs. internationally and banned in most countries of the lence against women and girls during the COVID-19 and social distancing may be particularly hard on sur- In Uganda, UNDP in partnership with Jumia Food world. crisis by putting stronger measures in place such as vivors of gender-based violence, who may already be Uganda, the leading e-commerce company in the Suren Surendiran, the de facto head and articu- designating shelters and hotlines as emergency servic- economically dependent on their abusers. country, is exploring how to incorporate messaging late spokesman for the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), es and supporting police and the justice sector during Together with other UN agencies, UNDP is working to prevent violence against women and girls in an e- best sums up a most rationale and principled ap- lockdowns, according to the United Nations Develop- with more than 40 governments around the world to commerce platform which connects small and medi- proach in a recent article where he states, “More ment Program (UNDP). prevent and address gender-based violence during the um-sized enterprises and informal market vendors to than a decade has passed since the war ended, and Guidance from UNDP, Gender-based violence and crisis. customers. the Tamil community must embark upon honest COVID-19, also recommends developing new proto- In the Dominican Republic, UNDP and BHD Bank self- reflection and learn valuable lessons from its cols to provide support via phone or online platforms Examples: are putting in place a partnership to facilitate referral successes and failures of the past. In this journey rather than in person, expanding immediate response In Somalia, UNDP is supporting communities to de- services of domestic violence cases that are reported by inclusivity of different political viewpoints is fun- services in order to save lives, and most ensuring that velop neighbourhood watch systems, where men and the bank’s customers. damental”. steps to prevent gender-based violence are in every women receive training to regularly patrol their neigh- UNDP is coordinating with UN sister agencies and Surendiran says resolving the issues of the Tamil COVID-19 response plan and budget. bourhood to prevent or mitigate incidents of violence. development partners, for example, through the Spot- people requires engagement with the Sinhala and “Now more than ever there is a need to send a strong In Mexico UNDP, in collaboration with UN Women, light Initiative, a joint EU-UN partnership to end vio- Muslim communities and endorses Sumanthiran message that violence will not be tolerated, those who is helping establish phone and online platforms to sup- lence against women and girls. The global, multi-year thus “We always found Sumanthiran highly knowl- carry it out will be brought to justice, and survivors will port vulnerable women via the LUNA centres, which initiative is targeting 50 million direct beneficiaries edgeable, articulate, hardworking and honest and be heard and supported,” said Raquel Lagunas, UNDP are safe spaces for women and girls. across five regions and more than 25 countries. we reiterate our utmost confidence in him”. Gender Team Acting Director. The impacts of the COV- In Botswana, community members, including school -UNDP -This article was originally featured on principals, tribal chiefs, farmers and nurses, are rais- groundviews.org WEEKEND EXPRESS MAY 29 - 31, 2020 7 RETHINKING AMERICA

By r Sntr By i Cins Minneapolis protests The wonderful turn violent as world of Trump worsts outrage grows over So hey, summer’s coming. Time for all Americans to get together and plan how to stay apart. death of George Floyd And here’s a seasonal question: When we get to Labour Day, who do you think MINNEAPOLIS - A violent wave of protests erupted will get the award for Worst Political across South Minneapolis overnight yesterday (28), Person of the Summer? with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets as peo- Well, yeah, I knew you’d say him. So ple set buildings on fire and looted stores days after negative about our president — just be- George Floyd, an African-American man, died in police cause he doesn’t understand science and custody. recently accused one critic in the media Floyd, 46, died on Monday (5) after being handcuffed of murder. and pinned to the ground by a white police officer who But Donald Trump can’t do everything pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes. awful by himself. How about backup A video of the arrest, in which he is heard pleading “I nominees? There’s Mitch McConnell, can’t breathe,” spread widely online, and was followed of course. And Mike Pompeo, who was by protests in Minneapolis and around the country. slogging through a disastrous year even “They executed my brother in broad daylight,” Philo- before Tom Friedman suggested he nise Floyd told CNN yesterday morning, breaking down was the worst secretary of state in all of in tears. “I am just tired of seeing black people dying.” American history. Four officers involved in the encounter were fired - Doug Mills/The New York Times Among the many Pompeo messes, the from the Minneapolis Police Department, and the FBI President Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, arriving on Wednesday (27) in Florida most memorable are the allegations that joined the investigation into the death of Floyd, a resi- By eter Ber n ihe Sher he used a government employee for per- dent of St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Minneapolis’ mayor sonal services that included dog-walking called for the police officer who had pressed his knee to and picking up the dry cleaning. Hardly Floyd’s neck to be arrested and charged. At Cape Canaveral the most significant, but an excellent re- Unlike the first night of protests, when thousands minder that this administration has per- gathered peacefully, the police reported widespread haps set a record for Cabinet members civil disobedience, looting and multiple fires beginning prone to dumb disasters. Remember the Wednesday afternoon and stretching into Thursday. Trump’s search for a heroic EPA head who sent his aide shopping for “Tonight was a different night of protesting than it a mattress at the Trump hotel? was just the night before,” said John Elder, a police I want to put a word in here for Educa- spokesman. tion Secretary Betsy DeVos, who is often Mayor Jacob Frey pleaded on Twitter for people to unfairly overlooked when it comes to stay at home. “Please, please Minneapolis,” he wrote, narrative is thwarted counting terrible people in the cur- “we cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy. Please, help CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For The president made no public men- political will and resources, resulting rent government. This is because of her us keep the peace. Stay safe and evacuate the area.” President Donald Trump, it was a tion of the virus death toll as it passed in a stutter-step journey that has had general ineptitude, and you should thank The police said that a fatal shooting in the protest chance to rewrite the story line from 100,000, in keeping with his habit of impressive progress at times even as God every day this woman doesn’t know area appeared to be related to the looting of a pawn- tragedy to triumph. Even as the Unit- not focusing on those who have been humanity has remained restricted to how to get things done. shop where the store owner fired shots. A man was ed States reached the grim milestone lost to the pandemic. But before taking low-Earth orbit for nearly 50 years. DeVos has focused her career on at- wounded and taken to a hospital, where he died, ac- Wednesday (27) of 100,000 dead from off for Cape Canaveral, he erupted on Trump is the latest to promise to end tempts to direct government money to cording to police. the coronavirus pandemic, he would Twitter at criticism of his administra- that, embracing an ambitious goal of private schools — particularly, it seems, The violence came at the end of what had been a help mark the nation’s trailblazing re- tion’s initial response. returning to the moon as a way station bad private schools. Remember when tense period. turn to human spaceflight from Ameri- “The Radical Left Lamestream Me- for an eventual mission to Mars. While she reformed the whole system in Michi- Protesters began gathering Wednesday (27) after- can soil. dia, together with their partner, the demonstrating no particular affinity gan by making everything worse? Right noon outside police headquarters, but by early even- But Trump’s hopes of demonstrating Do Nothing Democrats, are trying to for the science or engineering of the now, she’s battling nefarious attempts to ing, things started to take a turn and officers tried to that America was back with the verve spread a new narrative that President enterprise, he has eagerly associated target coronavirus relief funds to the dis- disperse the crowds using flash-bang grenades and tear of a rocket’s red glare were doused Trump was slow in reacting to COVID- himself with the image of space hero- tricts that actually need the money most. gas. by lightning-filled storm clouds that 19,” he wrote, referring to himself in ism, inviting Apollo 11 moon-walker So many possible Worsts. There’s As night fell, more people filled the streets, and soon forced flight controllers to scrub the the third person. “Wrong, I was very Buzz Aldrin to his State of the Union Secretary of Health and Human Services fires lit up the sky. Images on television and social me- long-awaited launch of the SpaceX fast, even doing the Ban on China long address and creating a Space Force Alex (yes, he’s still here) Azar. We’ve dia showed at least one business, an auto-parts store, rocket even as the president watched before anybody thought necessary!” within the military. Only two weeks been so busy watching Azar fail to deal ablaze and people carrying goods from another store helplessly from the Kennedy Space He made no mention of studies ago, he happily displayed the new with the coronavirus crisis that we totally that had been vandalized. Centre. concluding that tens of thousands of Space Force flag during a photo oppor- lost track of the fact that he never did do The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that a Target Only minutes after heralding what people would have been saved had the tunity in the Oval Office. anything about prescription drug prices. and Cub Foods store anchoring the corner of East Lake was to be the first launch of NASA United States imposed quarantines Before the scrub Wednesday, Trump There’s Ron DeSantis of Florida, Street and Hiawatha Avenue were looted, as were sev- astronauts into orbit from the United and social distancing measures even a boasted that he had revived NASA. who keeps claiming a Worst Governor eral small businesses, including a liquor store. States in nearly a decade, a disappoint- week or two earlier. “They had grass growing in the run- award for his out-of-control policy on Floyd’s death — and the recent killing of AhmaudAr- ed Trump scrapped planned remarks The juxtaposition of the two mile- ways between the cracks,” the presi- beach access. We suspected something bery, a 25-year-old African-American man who was and made a hasty retreat to Air Force stones — the toll of the pandemic and dent said of the launch pads that have like this was coming when he declared chased and fatally shot by two white men in Georgia One to fly back to Washington and the promise of a new space future — sat unused for NASA-crewed flights for professional wrestling an essential state — has prompted comparisons to other killings of black the misery of the health crisis. Still, was a matter of happenstance, but nine years. “Now we have the best — industry. But it’s sort of hard to focus Americans, including Eric Garner and Michael Brown. just as the country’s reopening after they intersected in other ways, as well. the best of the best.” on the supporting cast when the big The episode was seen as part of a broader pattern of months of lockdown proceeds with fits NASA was forced to enact measures to Bridenstine said the administration boss has been so off-the-wall. Do you devastating encounters between African-Americans and starts, Trump vowed not to give ensure that the two astronauts did not had backed up its commitment with think Trump’s refusal to wear a mask and law enforcement denounced by civil rights leaders. up, promising to return this weekend take the virus with them to the space large budget requests. “We’re bringing is an attempt to woo the political right, It has laid bare tensions between members of the local when the launch will be tried again. station. And the agency told fans who America back as it relates to human or deny the reality of our current health community and the 800-plus police force in Minne- “Thank you to @NASA and @ would normally turn out in large num- spaceflight,” he said, adding, “Today’s crisis? Or just a sign he doesn’t think it’s apolis, a divide mirrored in other communities across SpaceX for their hard work and lead- bers to stay home and instead tune in a big day for the nation.” attractive? the country. ership,” Trump wrote on Twitter from online. But independent analysts said I’d go for the most superficial explana- Floyd’s sister, Bridgett Floyd, called for justice on Air Force One. “Look forward to be- Musk has been a prominent voice Trump’s enthusiasm was not enough, tion. The president always prioritizes NBC’s ‘Today’ show yesterday. ing back with you on Saturday!” The against the economic restrictions im- recalling the old Mercury-era adage, the way things look, even though he “I would like for those officers to be charged with scheduled launch of the Crew Dragon posed to curb the coronavirus, defying “no bucks, no Buck Rogers.” personally winds up making the worst murder because that’s exactly what they did,” Floyd capsule aboard a Falcon 9 rocket was California authorities who told him to “Trump is a bit of a spaceflight fan, possible choices in everything from said. to herald a new beginning in Amer- keep his Tesla plant closed to protect of course,” said Roger Launius, a for- tanning makeup to leisurewear. And Other members of the Floyd family, appearing on ica’s odyssey in space nine years af- workers against spreading the virus. mer NASA historian. But, he added: obviously none of his friends have hinted “This Morning” on CBS, said that protests were not ter NASA’s shuttle fleet was retired, Trump two weeks ago publicly backed “I’m not sure how much Trump desires that those golfing photos aren’t all that enough. which forced the United States to rely Musk in his fight with the state’s Dem- to make his moon landing announce- flattering. “I don’t want the protests to be for just show,” said on Russia to ferry astronauts to the ocratic leaders. ment a reality. There is not much of a What about Joe Biden? He hasn’t been Tara Brown, Floyd’s cousin, who appeared with two of International Space Station. In return- At the space centre Wednesday, reflection of this initiative in the budg- the worst at much — some Democrats Floyd’s brothers. “I want to see action.” ing to space, the country is now turn- Trump hailed Musk, calling him “a ets he has proposed.” would be happy to see him do anything “This was clearly murder,” she added. “We want to ing to private sector transport, led by friend of mine for a long time.” The two Nor has Congress jumped on board. that aggressive. But he did come up with see them arrested; we want to see them charged; we SpaceX, the company founded by bil- shared the excitement of the moment “That’s not a partisan issue,” Launius what may turn out to be the Worst Politi- want to see them convicted for what they did.” lionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. as the president asked Jim Briden- said. “Neither party seems to be lining cal Nickname of the Summer, when he The Minneapolis police said they had been inves- For Trump, the excursion to Florida stine, the NASA administrator, about up to support it.” announced he’d refer to Donald Trump tigating an accusation of forgery on Monday in the was a family affair. In addition to the the flight status. While Trump was happy to take as “President Tweety”. southern part of the city when they confronted a man first lady, Melania Trump, he brought “We are a go for launch right now,” credit for this week’s prospective Does that sound like a good plan to who was sitting on a blue car and was later identified his eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, Bridenstine told him — optimistically, launch, it has its origins under two you? When I think of ‘Tweety’ I think as Floyd. and her husband, Jared Kushner; Don- as it turned out. previous presidents. After President about that yellow canary in old cartoons “He was ordered to step from his car,” the police de- ald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend, Kim- Just 16 minutes, 54 seconds before George W. Bush ordered an end to the who kept saying “I tawt I taw a puddy partment said in a statement on Monday. “After he got berly Guilfoyle; Eric and Lara Trump; the scheduled 4:33 p.m. lift-off came shuttle program, he initiated the devel- tat.” Not exactly flattering, but a lot less out, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to and several grandchildren. word over loudspeakers that the launch opment of new rockets with the goal of damaging than, say, President Pan- get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared While Ivanka Trump and her chil- had been scrubbed because of weather. returning to the moon, while turning demic. to be suffering medical distress.” dren wore masks, her brothers and the Since Apollo, presidents have em- to the private sector for cargo launch- Meanwhile, Trump keeps calling Biden Video footage from nearby security cameras and by- president and first lady did not. Kush- braced the space program as a mani- es. President Barack Obama cancelled “Sleepy Joe”. Now this is the election standers did not show any attempt by Floyd to resist ner wore one getting on and off the festation of the American ideal, a Bush’s rocket program, judging it too that’s going to have you awash in rage officers. plane but not during a tour of the space rockets-roaring, television-friendly ex- expensive, but signed contracts with and terror for the next five months. But Instead, it showed him begging for his life as he lay center. Vice President Mike Pence, pression of national determination, in- SpaceX and other private companies if you think of it as Sleepy Joe versus a handcuffed on the ground, one officer grinding a knee who flew in separately, wore a mask genuity and the spirit of adventure. But to transport crews to the space station. canary it sounds pretty darned relaxing. into his neck while three others stood by. when seeing off the astronauts but not only some occupants of the Oval Office When all else fails, Republicans just -New York Times later when in Trump’s presence. backed that with a real commitment of -New York Times claim Biden is best friends with China. Waiting for news on the spaceship By Ctie nsn launch, the Republican National Com- mittee did manage to send out an attack on Biden for wanting to work with what it called “the United States’ greatest House passes Uighur human rights bill, prodding Trump to space adversary, China”. Trump’s new press secretary, Kayleigh (“I will never lie to you”) McEnany, claimed the administration now has a punish China “relationship of disappointment and WASHINGTON — The House voted ing a firm step to counter Beijing’s horrific lance of the Uighurs. Tensions have since in God,” Smith said. “We cannot be silent,” frustration” with China that’s “put Amer- overwhelmingly Wednesday (27) to pass human rights abuses against the Uighurs,” risen with China during the coronavirus he continued. “Xi Jinping is smashing and ican lives at risk.” She’s only been on a measure that would punish top Chinese Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “We must pandemic, and Trump’s campaign aides obliterating an entire people.” the job a few weeks, but she’s definitely officials for detaining more than 1 million continue to raise a drumbeat and shine have taken up a party-wide strategy in re- Last year, Congress unanimously passed a potential contender in Worst contests Muslims in internment camps, sending the light of abuse perpetrated by Beijing cent weeks of attacking Beijing, in part to legislation supporting the Hong Kong pro- of the future. The other day she volun- President Donald Trump a bill intended to against the Uighurs whenever we can, from divert from the administration’s own han- tests, forcing Trump to sign the bill. Trump, teered that Trump was possibly “the best force him to take a more aggressive stand this House floor to the State Department to dling of the health crisis. who had previously said he was “standing president this country will ever have”. on human rights abuses in China. other multilateral institutions.” China has vehemently denied reports with” Xi, the Chinese leader, risked being Just a quick break here. Do you think The bipartisan vote, 413-1, cleared legis- Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the sole of abuses in Xinjiang and has described overruled by Congress and criticized as historians will rate Donald Trump as lation that would compel Trump to impose lawmaker to oppose the bill. the camps as corrective facilities aimed at weak on China if he had vetoed the meas- better than Abraham Lincoln? Certainly sanctions on Chen Quanguo, the top Com- The drive to pass the legislation has been training workers. But overwhelming evi- ure. But when he signed the bill, he issued a Trump does. He’s always suggesting munist Party official in Xinjiang, the region a year-long effort by lawmakers on both dence, including official documents, news statement saying he would “exercise execu- that. (“You know, a poll just came out where the camps are, and mandate that the sides of the aisle, especially China hawks, reports and testimony from released de- tive discretion” in enforcing its provisions. that I am the most popular person in the director of national intelligence produce a who have grown frustrated at the adminis- tainees, reveals the country’s most sweep- The focus on human rights in Congress history of the Republican Party. … I beat list of Chinese companies involved in the tration’s reluctance to punish human rights ing internment program since the Mao era. has extended beyond China, with some Re- our Honest Abe.”) construction and operation of the camps. abuses by Beijing despite damning reports On the House floor Wednesday, Rep. publicans breaking from Trump to support Of course, in the real world he’s way The bill’s passage reflected broad con- outlining a brutal indoctrination campaign Christopher H. Smith, R-N.J., one of the other human rights causes. Last year, over closer to the race for the bottom and gressional support to punish Beijing for its against Uighurs. sponsors of the bill, recounted one such the administration’s objections, lawmakers he’s edging out some tough competition. ruthless campaign against Uighurs, a Mus- The White House and the Treasury De- story that he heard from a released detain- passed legislation recognizing as a genocide There was Warren Harding, but Harding lim ethnic minority, and to press the ad- partment had previously refrained from ee who came before the House to detail her the 1915 killings of an estimated 1.5 million was pretty good on social issues like race. ministration into action to condemn Chi- imposing sanctions on Chinese officials re- experience in one of the camps. Armenians, and another bill, included in Richard Nixon knew a lot about foreign na’s mass detentions. The Senate passed sponsible for the camps for fear of jeopard- “She broke down weeping, telling us that the annual defense policy bill, that imposed affairs. Franklin Pierce failed to head off the legislation, which was sponsored by izing the chances of reaching a trade deal, she pleaded with God for her life, and her sanctions on Syrian officials responsible for the Civil War, but he definitely would Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., this month. though last year the Commerce Depart- Chinese jailers restrained her to a table, human rights violations during the nation’s have looked better on a golf course. “With this overwhelming bipartisan leg- ment blacklisted eight Chinese companies increased the electrical currents coursing civil war. islation, the United States Congress is tak- whose products have been used in surveil- through her body and mocked her belief -New York Times -New York Tim 8 MAY 29 - 31, 2020 WEEKEND EXPRESS TRIBUTE

GOPIO condoles with the Thondaman family

Vijayalakshmi, daughter of Ceylon Workers' Congress trade union leader Arumugan Thondaman, sits next to a portrait of her father during the funeral in Colombo on Wednesday (27)

- Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP By Bhnrn End of a remarkable era Forward looking and dedicated Thondamans led the way for estate Tamils COLOMBO - With the death of Arumugan in 1947, allowed British subjects residing But Thondaman was not permitted to par- In 1982, India abrogated the Sirima-Shas- Thondaman, leader of the Ceylon Workers in Sri Lanka for five years or more, to vote. ticipate in the Shastri-Sirimavo talks or even tri Pact. In 1986, the 94,000 persons who President of the Sri Lanka Chapter of the Congress (CWC), it is as if the curtains have Under this, the plantation Tamils were able present his case in Delhi. As he said later, the were to be offered Indian citizenship under Global Organization of People of Indian Ori- come down on a remarkable era in the history to elect seven members to Parliament in the plantation Tamils were seen by the two coun- previous agreements and had not applied gin (GOPIO), Kumar Nadesan, on behalf of of the Tamils of Indian origin in Sri Lanka. 1947 elections. But on gaining independence tries to be a sack of potatoes to be divided for such citizenship, and had applied for Sri the Organization, offered his condolences Beginning with the dawn of independence from the British in 1948, the first thing that among them, without any regard for indi- Lankan citizenship instead were granted Sri to the family of Arumugan Ramanathan in 1948, the era was marked by a series of the Ceylon Parliament did was to enact the vidual preferences or human considerations. Lankan citizenship by registration. In 1988, Thondaman, Leader of the Ceylon Workers crises, the most devastating of which was the Ceylon Citizenship Act, No. 18 of 1948. It In 1965, when Thondaman was nominated to those who had applied for Indian Citizenship Congress (CWC) and Minister of Commu- denial of citizenship and franchise to almost introduced two categories, citizenship by de- Parliament, he used his relations with Prime also got Sri Lankan citizenship. In 2003 Par- nity Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure a million Indian origin Tamils, leading to scent and citizenship by registration. But the Minister D. S. Sennayake, to delay repatria- liament passed a law giving Sri Lankan citi- Development, who passed away on Tuesday decades of Statelessness. conditions were very stringent. Due to their tion to India. zenship to all persons of Indian origin who (26). The Indian origin Tamils were also subject- shorter history in Sri Lanka, lack of proof of Sure enough, out of 525,000 earmarked had been living in Sri Lanka since 1964. Their Nadesan said Thondaman’s sudden de- ed to attacks by the majority Sinhalese during ancestors’ birth and other documentation- for India, only 80,000 registered for Indian descendants were also included. According to mise was a shock to all those who knew him, the periodic anti-Tamil riots which took place related challenges, the estate Tamil commu- citizenship and only a few were repatriated Jeyeraj, the rise of violence in the North East- and an immense setback to the Indian origin in response to the North-Eastern Tamils’ agi- nity of nearly one million were deprived of by the 1970s. A frustrated Prime Minister ern Sri Lanka and India’s pushy interventions plantation workers who will sorely miss his tations for regional autonomy first and total citizenship. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, declared the grant of on the Tamil question in the 1980s, forced leadership. independence later. This was followed by the Ceylon Parlia- Sri Lankan citizenship would depend on the Lankan governments to re-think on the plan- Thondaman who pursued his primary and But the community emerged from these mentary Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 48 number being repatriated. tation Tamils. Thondaman also assiduously secondary education at Royal College was to crises successfully due in no small measure of 1949, which made citizenship a prerequi- At Sirimavo’s insistence, then Indian cultivated top Sinhala leaders, entering into celebrate his 56th birthday today (29). to the prescience, forethought, sagacity, plan- site for voting in elections. Close to a million Prime Minister Indira Gandhi entered into a deals with them to benefit his people. His grandfather Savumiamoorthy was an ning and courage of its leaders like Savumia- estate workers were disenfranchised under second agreement in 1974, according which, After being a cabinet minister in various astute politician of great acumen. He was moorthy Thondaman and his grandson and this. And when India refused to take them, India and Sri Lanka were to divide the resi- governments for 21 years, Thondaman died the founder of the Ceylon Indian Congress in successor Arumugan Thondaman. they were rendered Stateless. due of 150,000 equally. Thondaman’s plea in 1999. His grandson Arumugan Thonda- 1939 which later became the Ceylon Workers Perhaps it was S. Thondaman’s father, It was in 1960 there was light at the end to treat plantation Tamils as humans again man who succeeded him carried forward Congress in 1954, following a decision taken Karuppiah, who showed him how to over- of the tunnel when S. Thondaman was nomi- went unheeded. his policies and got benefits for the planta- at the General Sessions held in Hatton. come adversity. Hailing from a dispossessed nated to Parliament by Sirimavo Bandara- In 1974, due to nationalization, the estates tion workers with his aggressive and yet ac- He took up the cause of the statelessness of family of notables in Tamil Nadu, Karuppiah naike, ostensibly to safeguard ‘Ceylon Indian’ were in a bad way with many workers out of commodative brand of politics. He gave the the plantation workers with great determina- came to Sri Lanka to eke out a living in a tea interests. But Thondaman soon realized he job and even dying of starvation. If they went plantation workers a sense of power which tion and served his constituents for over 60 plantation as a humble labour supervisor. was not even a proverbial ‘voice in the wilder- out looking for work, they would be bun- thwarted attempts by the majority Sinhala years. Using his sharp business sense and daring, ness.’ In fact, he was not consulted on mat- dled into lorries and sent back to the estates. community to impose their will on them. Savumiamoorthy Thondaman was made a Karuppiah soon bought an estate (Waven- ters that vitally affected the lives and future Again, Thondaman’s plea to let them work Arumugan also maintained his leadership of cabinet minister in the Jayewardene Govern- don) in Ramboda, Nuwara Eliya to become of plantation Tamils. outside the estates fell on deaf ears. Planta- the CWC and it’s pre-eminence in the planta- ment in 1978 and continued to serve in suc- the first Tamil estate employee to be an es- When Thondaman met Indian Prime Min- tion workers were dubbed KallaThonis (il- tion politics. cessive governments until he was finally able tate owner. ister Jawaharlal Nehru in New Delhi in 1963, legal immigrants) and arrested. Attacks on Due to the efforts of Arumugan and others to achieve his objective of obtaining citizen- Interactions with the workers in the es- he brought to the latter’s notice that the Siri- Tamil plantation workers continued into the from rival organizations, social conditions ship for his people. tate instilled in young S. Thondaman a deep mavo government was planning to enter into 1980s and stopped only when the CWC re- have improved in the estates. The Sri Lankan Arumugan, on the death of his grandfather interest in the issues faced by Indian Tamil an agreement with India to get the planta- plied in kind. In the mid-seventies, Thonda- government has built 20,000 houses and the in 1999, became the President of the CWC workers in the plantations. He plunged into tion Tamils repatriated to India. Nehru said man dallied with the North-Eastern Tamils’ Indian government is to build 14,000. Since and expressed his desire to continue with the trade union work in the 1930s, but came into it was a “nonsensical idea” and agreed with Eelam movement but opted out soon enough 2016, estate settlements are designated as work of his grandfather and remarked, at the his own in 1950 when he formed the Ceylon Thondaman’s credo: ‘Plantation Tamils were as he felt that the destiny of the plantation villages and are eligible for government wel- unveiling of a statue of his grandfather in the Workers Congress (CWC) to get rid of the born in Sri Lanka and would die in Sri Lanka.’ workers in Central and South Sri Lanka lay fare schemes. But the daily wage of Rs 700 is premises of the old Parliament that he would scourge of ‘Statelessness’ inflicted by the citi- In 1954, Nehru had agreed to grant Indian with the Sinhalese majority as they shared too low, and the estate population is still the follow his grandfather’s dream to achieve zenship acts of 1948 and 1949, and India’s re- citizenship to Indian origin Tamils who want- the same habitat. most backward in Sri Lanka. unity between all the peoples of Sri Lanka. It fusal to absorb the Indian origin Tamils. ed Indian citizenship (Nehru-Kotelawala Thondaman joined the government of J.R. was in 2009 that all questions pertaining to However, through decades of intense but Pact) but he had refused to give Indian citi- Jayewardene in 1978.The new Constitution the citizenship issue were finally resolved. peaceful and sustained struggle, utilization zenship to everybody. However, after Nehru of 1978 removed the distinction between citi- He first entered Parliament in 2000 at the of numerical strength, exploitation of emerg- died in 1964, his successor, Lal Bahadur zens of descent and citizens by registration. age of 35 as a MP representing the United ing political opportunities, and gifted with an Shastri, agreed to divide the Indian origin That put an end to many problems faced by National Party (UNP) from the Nuwara Eliya uncanny talent for negotiation, Thondaman Tamils, then numbering 975,000, into two Indian Tamils. Noted journalist D. B. S. Je- district. He also served as a cabinet minis- (and later his grandson Arumugan) secured groups – 525,000 to be given Indian citizen- yaraj observed that as minister for Rural In- ter of the UNP for a brief stint and in 2016 Sri Lankan citizenship for nearly one million ship and repatriated to India and 300,000 to dustrial Development, Thondaman was able joined the United People’s Freedom Alliance Indian origin Tamil estate workers by 2003. be given Sri Lankan citizenship. The fate of to foster dairy projects and small industries (UPFA). The Soulbury Constitution, which prevailed 150,000 was left undecided. among the Indian Tamil people. In December 2019, he was appointed Minister of Community Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development by Presi- dent Gotabaya Rajapaksa. During his politi- cal career, he was well known as a long-time Final rites on Sunday ally of former president and current prime Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) Rajapaksa a few hours before his him, and then to the CWC headquar- minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa. leader and former minister, Arumu- death. ters in Colombo. Today (29) his re- The late Minister Arumugan Thondaman gan Thondaman (56), passed away He was to contest the upcoming mains will be taken to Gampola and was a fearless political fighter and never hesi- on Tuesday (26), of a heart attack. Parliamentary General elections as Ramboda for the public to pay their tated to face any challenge. His one goal was Earlier in the day Thondaman met an ally of the ruling Sri Lanka Podu- last respects. Tomorrow (30) his re- to protect the rights of the plantation work- with the newly appointed High Com- janaPeramuna from the Nuwera mains will be taken to Kotagala via ers, educate them and uplift their quality of missioner of India, Gopal Baglay, Eliya District. Nanu Oya and Nuwara Eliya, and to life. A champion for the plantation workers, and discussed bilateral cooperation The CWC said his remains will Norwood via Hatton on Sunday for his experience, knowledge and wisdom will for community development includ- be taken to the Savumiamoorthy the final rites. be missed by his people. ing the ongoing Indian Housing Pro- Thondaman public grounds in Nor- Arumugan Thondaman is sur- The Global Organization of People of In- ject in the plantation sector and the wood to be cremated at 4:00 p.m. vived by his wife Raji, two daughters - Handout dian Origin (Sri Lanka) extends its deepest landmark Jaffna Cultural Centre. He on Sunday (31). His remains were Dr. Nachiyar (Malaysia) Dr. Vijay- Arumugan Thondaman, (2L) posing for what was perhaps his final sympathies to his wife, two daughters and also posed for what was perhaps his taken to the Parliament premises alakshmi (Chennai) and son Jeevan picture, with Indian High Commissioner (L) Gopal Baglay on Tuesday only son and other members of his family. final picture, with Baglay. He had yesterday (28) where former Parlia- – Barrister (26) May his Soul Rest In Peace. also met Prime Minister Mahinda ment members paid their respects to -ENCL

By he Ramzy Razeek: An extraordinary struggle for an ordinary life of service upended by an arrest Ramzy Razeek was arrested on April 9, bed and accessible toilet would have caused Razeek’ – a journalist who free-lanced for raged in Kandy in March of 2018, ‘Young munities, warned against youth radicaliza- 2020 at his home off Katugasota in Kandy by him severe difficulty. He remained there for the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Friends’ were among the earliest to organize tion and ghettoization of Muslims. Ramzy the CID. The next day, he was produced be- 25 days, without his medicines or medical the Lake House Group and had been active relief. was deeply engaged in these conversations. fore the Colombo Magistrate where the CID attention, before he was transferred to the in social service activities. In his immediate neighbourhood, a dozen Later, when Ramzy was requested to help claimed that he had violated the Interna- Welikada Prison Hospital on May 6. Ramzy’s wife Sharmila, a primary teacher establishments had been looted or burned a multi-ethnic team brainstorm to work to- tional Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Despite three court dates, the Courts has in Kandy, has had to endure his prolonged down including a building belonging to his gether to promote harmony and inter-ethnic (ICCPR) and Cyber Crimes legislation. After not been able to pronounce on release or absence and nightmarish legal process while Uncle. Although complaints were filed, per- dialogue, he rode over on the pillion of a bike more than a month, he remains remanded. bail through delays brought on by the charge anguished over his well-being. She also must petrators named, and evidence collected, to Digana discounting his discomfort. His arrest was precipitated by a Facebook under the ICCPR covenant. Even without manage two school-going children who are there has been no follow up after two years Ramzy’s seemingly ordinary life has been post on April 2 which advocated for an ‘ideo- the delays from pandemic, release on bail traumatized by their father’s incarceration. by the police except for one arrest and quick upended by a state apparatus which acts logical Jihad’ to arrest organized anti-Mus- of those charged under ICCPR took many From childhood, Ramzy has been afflict- release. seemingly with selectivity and without fair lim propaganda. This post is ordinary un- months. Delays were compounded by the ed with arthritis and incurable ulcers in his After the mob violence in Kandy, when play. As to why during a national emergency, less one construes the word ‘Jihad’ he used curfews imposed which prevented his rela- legs. He has been on medication for 35 years, visitors inquired as to what had happened the Police has prioritized its resources on to mean something other than a ‘struggle,’ tives and friends in Kandy from organizing which has had side effects on his kidneys, along Kurunegala road, it was Ramzy whom arresting a disabled man, who had already which is the sense in which he has posted. his defence or providing for him. liver and heart. When he was removed by they were directed to. Thus two years ago ceased his Facebook posts due to threats of However, it brought on calls to violence Ramzy is a private individual who is not the CID, he was due to undertake ultrasound when Prof. S. H. Hasbullah of the University violence against him and his family, is yet to against him and his family. As a result, he well known outside his area, his friends from tests as advised by a Rheumatologist and a of Peradeniya and I sought to visit the area, be understood. As to why they were piling announced that he was silencing himself on schools, in the government agencies that Professor of Medicine in early April. we were both independently recommended on to the caseload of a courts systems that Facebook on April 3. he had served for 25 years and a few social In the last decades, as Ramzy was often to contact him. is in near-paralysis due to the pandemic, is On the morning of April 9, with the cur- service minded networks around Kandy. He unable to sleep due to his ill-health and being Ramzy took us around – generous with his yet to be understood. As to why the authori- few on, Ramzy complained via online form obtained a diploma in translation with trilin- confined due to his mobility impairments, he time paying little attention to his own com- ties failed to follow the directions of court to to the police about these threats. That after- gual competence at the Sri Lanka Institute turned to writing for regional newspapers fort and health. He was kind and gentle in provide for his medical needs and handicap noon, he was visited by three CID personnel. of Development Administration in 1998 and and on social media. Independent writers his interactions with the victims. Given their is yet to be understood. As to why the Police They took him away to Colombo informing was appointed as a trilingual Grade 1 trans- who examined his Facebook postings found rapport and empathy with Ramzy, they ex- are adding to the overcrowding of prisoners his family that he would be released the next lator at the Department of Agriculture in him advocating for justice, warning about tended their welcome to us. Even with the with high risk of contagion when there is a day. Instead the family has had no contact 2000. Thereafter he attended post-graduate the rise of hate speech and the threats faced traumatized victims our conversations were mandate even for citizens to take extreme ac- with him except for a 1-minute phone call. programs at the Universities of Colombo and by Muslims lately while also being critical of open, thoughtful and bereft of rancour de- tion to reduce the risk of transmission is yet On seeing Ramzy’s debilitated medical Peradeniya. He was registered as a sworn extremism among Muslims. His posts do not spite their profound losses. to be understood. condition, the Fort Magistrate directed that translator with the Ministry of Justice. veer to any hint of fomenting hatred. On the Prof.Hasbullah’s significant life-work has However, if the arrest is intended to en- he be sent to the prison hospital or the Gen- His mother, Latheefa Razeek,is a teacher contrary, he has been promoting fair play, been on what happened among Northern cumber and burden and silence him and his eral Hospital. However, he was remanded at who retired after long service. Ramzy is her harmony and justice working with friends of communities in the last three decades due to ilk then they may be successful. Even if he the Pallensena prison in Negombo, suppos- eldest of four. She recounted what had hap- all ethnicities. injustice, hate, violence, and its aftermath. was released now, the damage done to him, edly as a quarantine facility. Here in a cell of pened and her concerns without rancour He has been active in a variety of social He understood, more than anyone else, the his family and to our common human fabric approximately 20 x 40 feet he was remanded despite the turmoil and mental strain this service organizations such as the ‘Young portents for the South. In several conversa- shall remain grievous. along with around 85 others as recounted would have caused at her advanced age of Friends,’ a collective of professionally orient- tions, he spoke of the need for forbearance, -This article was originally featured on by a person who was released. The lack of a 73. Ramzy’s late father – was known as ‘Star ed aging youth in Kandy. After mob violence the need to build relationships across com- groundviews.org PRNED AND PSED Y EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS EY P, D N - 2, RAA MAWAA, EKAA - A - EA