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