Orang Utang Conflicts in Sri Lanka

Orang Utang in the jungle.

 

They say it is a concrete jungle. Internet users should be happy about the tax reduction on internet/data usage. Those planning to buy small motor cycles will also be happy on tax cuts. Lottery managing institutes have been re assigned to the ministry of finance. Such institutes generate money. It is strength to have them under one’s control for sustainable survival. Former finance minister is a wise man. He made strategic moves recently which are praised by many. Thus he avoided many conflicts.

Present finance minister too is a focused wise man. He takes steps to keep the electorate happy to maintain government’s popularity. It is his duty being a governing politician. His deputy told media that tax cuts were not targeted on upcoming elections. If so it is a generous deed. With the lottery institutes under their purview they will have more strength. The new foreign minister should not be sad about the lottery institutes going back to finance colleagues as his appointment is actually like winning a lottery.

Can we plan the way we use internet to save money for our own good?

If there is an increase in internet usage due to this, more money will go out from our pockets. Should we revise our finance planning skills then?

How much money do you spend on buying lotteries per month? Have you won any? If not should you continue buying lotteries? What happens to the money we pay for the lottery ticket?

If we don’t manage our resources, the jungle will be bankrupt.

If so an Orang Derras will emerge to put the jungle in order.

Then it will not be monkey business.   

Reference - Sri Lanka Malay Dictionary (Saldin & Lim) 2007: Orang Utang is man in debt. Orang Derras is a disciplinarian. Orang Utan is the man in the forest.

© Dr. Samitha Hettige, August, 2017

How to manage the lands to prevent conflicts

Will the Surveyor General go home or contribute to Conflict Prevention in Sri Lanka?

  

The Department of Survey of Sri Lanka (DSS) was established by the British on 2^nd August 1800. It is the only government department to own an air craft other than the Air Force. Conflicts due to land disputes are largely prevented through the services of DSS. Why did the British establish DSS in Sri Lanka?

Simply to recover the military investment made to conquer Sri Lanka. Granting lands to the British for commercial crops such as Tea, Coconut & Coffee etc. was the strategy.

This created settlement conflicts among Sinhalese & South Indian Tamil workers added to the social conflict. British suppressed these conflicts with Military rule & managed us as a profitable business. They weren’t looking at human rights & focused on profit.  

The Daily Mirror in January 2017 (http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/US-firm-to-take-over-Survey-Dept-work-Union-122388.html) & Sunday Times (http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170806/business-times/us-firms-land-title-registry-plan-rings-alarm-bells-of-privatisation-253243.html) reported about a plan to hand over the operations of the DSS to USA based Trimble Company (www.trimble.com) for a period of 15 years.

Is the DSS incapable of implementing modernization using Sri Lankans?

OR is this part of the big picture with Rajapaksa Port & Trincomalee Tanks etc?

Is someone interested in making Sri Lanka a profitable business venture again? How much or what will it cost Sri Lankans? Will it create other social conflicts?

There is lot of talk about Sri Lanka’s geographic location in the emerging world economic trends.

If Sri Lanka looks profitable, many would want to invest & earn returns. Land data would be important for those. If the returns are high some may even want to create a separate state within SL or support that cause. If we oppose, will there be a conflict then?

Will we need a Military Rule to control such conflicts & protect Sri Lankan interests in a challenging world like in the British days & usher economic development?

© Dr. Samitha Hettige, August 2017

Conflict prevention is not monkey business

No conflicts… just some sleeping monkeys?
Picture: Malaysian National Art Gallery.

According to Buddhist teachings when the Buddha was resting at the “Parileiya” forest, a monkey
looked after him providing food & protection. May be some monkeys in the picture have similar
bonds towards the Buddha.

Some seem to be listening to the clowns & some are sleeping. Tibetan
monk Ven. Mahinda if alive may write new lines about the sleeping monkeys.
The clown with blue hair seems to be chairing the discussion sitting firm on the blue chair.

There are other clowns taking cover behind the blue screen. The clown in green pants seems to be watching every move carefully.

There are beautifully wrapped gifts behind that clown.
Will he offer the gifts to the ordinary monkeys from this jungle? If not who will get them?
Were the monkeys fooled by the clowns just by offering but not delivering their bananas?
If the bananas are not offered will there be a conflict between monkeys & clowns?
Trees in the picture seem to be dead. Will the monkeys work towards obtaining the bananas? There
can be plastic bananas. So the monkeys will have to be careful.
© Dr. Samitha Hettige, July 2017

Reconciliation in Sri Lanka - respecting the armed forces.

Major General (Rtd) Kamal Gunaratna’s ears and fingers and heads of 999 others.

At a recent event Maj Gen (Rtd.) Kamal Gunaratna of SL Army (who fought in the last battle to end the 30 year war) was heard saying that his ears are 55 years old. Since he sold many copies of his book on the final battle within a month after releasing, he must be hearing much with the old ears.

Some say SL Foreign Minister (FM) was seen on TV commenting on the book while holding a copy after returning from Geneva Human Rights (HR) sessions. They must have wanted to hear more about what happened in Geneva than Gunaratna’s book. Others must have felt that Prince Hussein too (head of UN HR body) must have read Gunaratna’s book. After watching the media briefing one might think that Hussein even suggested other names other than ‘Road to Nandikadal’. 

FM accurately mentioned that as per the present constitution it is not possible to introduce hybrid courts with foreign judges. President Sirisena & PM Ranil are said to be against hybrid courts too. President Jayewardene should be praised for not changing the initiative (in the 1978 constitution) of Dr. Colvin R. De Silva (architect of 1972 constitution) who got our judiciary released from the Privy Council (in other words foreign judges).

Some say that the committee (appointed by PM Ranil in 2015) headed by Dr. Colvin’s daughter to study UN charges & make recommendations has endorsed hybrid courts & establishing the office of the missing persons among other things. Government of President Sirisena co-sponsored the Human Rights resolution against Sri Lanka in 2015 & the government should be praised for the good work towards reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

Hussein is an employee of the UN & seems to be having a focused professional approach. If he had actually read Gunaratna’s book, he may use it against the Sri Lankan armed forces who eradicated terrorism in SL as per the view of some. His predecessor Navi Pillai had concerns about the Buddhist flag at the Independence Square. He might remember it & recommend SL government to ban Buddhism as the Buddha was a leader who protected Angulimala responsible for disappearing 999 innocent souls. He might recommend summoning Angulimala to the office of the missing persons to ask about the 999 souls. May be he might not push it as Prabakaran too killed an Indian VIP after killing more than 999.

In case if Hussein comes up with Angulimala, to reduce the impact one can always say that our policing top brass are far more professional (and not the law bending type as charged by the joint opposition) than those during the time of ‘Operation Angulimala’ as the guys couldn’t catch the fellow until the Buddha got involved. One might even say that those in charge of the policing ones during the Angulimala days are fit to be in the ‘Salvation Army’ since their inability got the Buddha involved thus salvaging Angulimala.   

Are we really focused on genuine reconciliation in Sri Lanka?

Can the goal be achieved with a blame game? Were the minorities cheated? If so why? By whom?

© Dr. Samitha Hettige, March 2017

Providing services to the general public

ACCESSING HOME…

Lake Hood Seaplane Base (pic below) is a government  seaplane base located 6 km southwest of the central business district of Anchorage in the US state of Alaska. It is the only link to most rural communities living in Alaska who doesn’t have road or rail access. Lake Hood is open to the public all year & is the world's busiest seaplane base. It handles an average of 190 flights per day. During the winter months the frozen lake surface is maintained for ski-equipped airplanes (source: www).

 Barra Airport (pic below) is a short-runway airport situated in the island of Barra in Scotland. This airport is unique since it is the only one in the world where flights use a beach as the runway.  Barra Airport was opened in 1936. On average the airport is open twice a day during low tide. This is a unique instance where Mother Nature creates the runway at the times it wishes (source: www).

Those who travel through the Bandaranaike International Air Port in Sri Lanka were updated about the renovations done to the runway through media. The public should be cautious about the new operating hours as it would help them to travel to without delays & avoid conflicts.

There can be instances where the access paths to our offices, schools or homes are blocked due to road construction or unexpected man made/ natural disasters. In such circumstances, many would find it difficult to move persons, baggage & vehicles to the destinations. Some might face security concerns leaving property at unattended places.

• How can we avoid such emergencies?
• Can we have arrangements with friends, neighboours or relations to face such?
• Do we have contact details of those who can clear road blocks & lock smiths etc. with us?
•  Should we keep spare keys of vehicles & homes etc. at another location to face an emergency?

© Dr. Samitha Hettige, January 2017

Sri Lankan Automobiles

Sri Lankans in Automobile Development & Production.

In the 1930s Engineer Deshamanya T.S. Jinasena developed a racing car (Magpie) with parts & technology from international producers. He set many records competing with foreign nationals driving his own creation. His engineering contributions such as the Jinasena Tractor still serve the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka. (source: Dr. Tissa Jinasena & Jinasena Archives).    

In 1969 visionary Sri Lankan entrepreneur Upali Wijewardena produced the ‘Upali Mazda’ in Sri Lanka with Japanese technology & released the car to the market in 1970. Few years later with technical support from Thailand & Italy he produced the ‘Upali Fiat’ in 1977 & released the cars in 1978. (source: Dr. Sudhammika Atygalle & www).

In mid 2000s Engineer Dr. Lawrence Perera developed the ‘Micro’ vehicles in Sri Lanka.   

Did we support our industrialists to strengthen our automobile engineering sector?

Did we discourage our own people who had the ability to develop our industries?

Will we make the same mistake with the Labuyaya, Volkswagen venture?

As individuals, do we think of our requirement before investing in a vehicle?

Are we concerned about national wealth flowing out of the country?

Electric & Hybrid vehicles are new in the market. Do we know what is being emitted from these vehicles?

How can we avoid engineering, health & financial conflicts when using vehicles?  

© Dr. Samitha Hettige, January 2017.

Protecting Jungles of Sri Lanka

Protecting any forest not only Wilpattu is easy when people are obedient.

The Presidential Media Unit states that President Sirisena has directed to issue a gazette notification extending the land area of the Wilpattu National Park & to enforce the law against persons who are responsible for the forest destruction irrespective of their social status (source: Sunday Times). There are those who point fingers at Minister Rishad Bathiutheen for this deforestation (source: asiantribune).

When the SL armed forces were fighting the LTTE in the Eastern province some referred to ‘Thoppigala’ in the East as a jungle. In the military map ‘Thoppigala’ is referred to as ‘Barron’s cap’ according to them.

After the war ended they went to the Eastern province & ordered Mahinda & Basil Rajapaksa & then minister Rishad Bathiutheen in a vernacular language to ‘go away’ (Poda Mahinda, Poda Basil & Poda Rishad…). It is not clear whether Rishad was asked to leave east because he was clearing the Barron’s cap or any jungle in the East.

Mahinda must have obeyed the order (poda). He called for an early Presidential Election & went home…

Basil must have obeyed order (poda) & advised to hold the Presidential election. He went to the USA…

Rishad obeyed & went away to his native Mannar district…but saved his Portfolio.

If someone can go to Mannar district now & give another ‘poda’ order…

Rishad may stop clearing Wilpattu jungle & go somewhere else. It may save public funds used to implement mechanisms to protect jungles. How Mahinda & Basil would react is not clear & irrelevant.

What matters for the average citizen is to grow plants which will provide them with food & Oxygen.

If not it will be a serious conflict in life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSncLaoZ5Co

 © Dr. Samitha Hettige, January 2017.