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.

Mourning in a crisis!

Mourn not Merry?  

Ex Prime Minister (PM) Rathnasiri Wickramanayake passed away on 27^th December 2016.

The Home Affairs Ministry of Sri Lanka declared 31^st December as a national day of mourning as a mark of respect to the late PM. Few hours later they cancelled 31^st & declared 30^th. Later they scrapped the idea of mourning.

Any average home will experience chaos & conflict at a family funeral. May be Home Ministry was also chaotic just like an average home when the Ex PM died?

May be they didn’t want to kill the mood of those who mourn with a hot drink? As we know at some family funerals alcohol & tobacco is served to those who mourn at rear gardens, car parks or at a neighbour’s house etc.

Home ministry managed the funeral of Ven Maduluvave Sobitha. No one is sure why the remains of late monk was dressed with exposed arms in an unprecedented way of dressing remains of a Buddhist monk. May be the ministry was not sure how to dress the remains of Ex PM? 

May be they weren’t sure how many days should be declared as they declared seven days of mourning when Pandith Amaradeva died? May be they didn’t like the Ex PM’s voice?

Ex PM’s party (SLFP) leaders may be thinking that not mourning will resolve interparty conflicts despite the fact that he served twice as PM under SLFP Presidents Kumaratunga & Rajapaksa. Kumaratunga who severely criticize Rajapaksa nepotism picked Rathnasiri first as PM to fill the post after her mother resigned from the post. May be some didn’t want to do a ‘mathata thitha’ even for a day since it was the ex man’s line.

The average citizen should develop skills to; face family crisis with confidence, manage finances, manage relationships & protect property etc. during a crisis. If the citizens develop these skills, may be the Home Ministry will learn from the people.

© Dr. Samitha Hettige, December 2016.

Leading in a crisis

President Gerald Ford - Being at the right place at the right time

The 10^th death anniversary of President Gerald Ford of USA fell on 26^th December, 2016.

Gerald Rudolph Ford (July 14, 1913 – December 26, 2006) was the 38th President of the United States (1974 to 77). Prior to this he was the 40th Vice President of the United States from 1973 until President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974.

He was the first person appointed to the vice presidency following the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew on October 10, 1973. He became president upon Richard Nixon's departure on August 9, 1974 and claimed the distinction as the first and to date only person to have served as both Vice President and President of the United States without being elected to either office.

U.S. involvement in Vietnam essentially ended during his presidency. Domestically, Ford presided over the worst economy in the four decades since the Great Depression, with growing inflation and a recession during his tenure (source: Wikipedia). Ford’s efforts to stabilize US image after the conflict in Vietnam is praised by many.

In post colonial Sri Lanka no individual has yet matched the Ford record but below are notable appointments.

Dudley Senanayake was the first to be appointed Prime Minister after a crisis when his father Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake died in 1952.

In 1959, Prime Minister Bandaranaike was killed at a moment when late W. Dahanayake was already appointed acting Prime Minister by Bandaranaike who was about to leave the country on an official visit.

Dahanayake hence, became the second to be appointed Prime Minister after a crisis.

In May 1993 President Premadasa was killed by the LTTE terrorists at a time he had completed four years & four months of his six year term. The Parliament unanimously selected Prime Minister Wijethunga to be the President for the rest of the term & Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe was appointed Prime Minister by President Wijethunga. Wickramasinghe thus became the third to be appointed Prime Minister after a crisis.

Any community is fortunate if it has seasoned leaders who can shoulder responsibility at a time of unexpected crisis since unexpected crisis can be misused by pro conflict fractions which prevail hidden in any society.

© Dr. Samitha Hettige, December 2016

World's largest manger!

Locating 7.8731° N, 80.7718° E without the star

Historically very few rulers contributed to notable economic development of our country. Then we were ruled by colonial powers focusing on their economic development but we also gained little. When the British left in 1948 there was no budget deficit. We managed ever since electing governments with different visions to develop the country.

Since 1948 we experienced three notable instances which dragged the economy backwards (1971 & 1987 JVP lead violence and the 30 year LTTE lead war). Latest book by Shivshankar Menon says that we lost USD 200 billion only due to the 30 year war. We finished the war ourselves & didn’t have the patience to steer development.

During the 30 year war some waited for Prince Diyasena to liberate us. Those who suffered during the war will pay gratitude to those who finished it & those who benefitted from it will continue to criticize them. Some say humans are like animals & while others say they are more advanced.

Will critiques argue that we are worse than animals with no patience & no long term planning skills?

Three wise men followed the star to visit Christ as they foresaw his service to mankind.

It is good if a far sighted person who can control conflict & develop our economy is among us.

If we are to wait for such a person to be born… its time consuming but we have no option.

If there are wise men who could foresee that, they might want to visit that person.

They don’t have to wait for the star as there are Jets & ships with navigation technology.

Their destination…

A 65,000 Sq km island with approx 22 million souls & not the world’s largest manger!

A manger, or trough, is a structure used to hold food to feed animals. The word manger originally referred to a feed-trough, but it may also be used to refer to a water-trough when this is not being used possibly because it is similar to an abreuvoir. Mangers are generally found at stables and farmhouses. A manger is generally made of either stone or wood or metal. Mangers are mostly used in livestock raising. They are also used to feed wild animals, e.g., in nature reserves. The word comes from the French manger (meaning "to eat"), from Latin manducare (meaning "to chew"). A manger is also a Christian symbol, associated with nativity scenes where Mary and Joseph, forced by necessity to stay in a stable instead of an inn, used a manger as a makeshift crib for the Baby Jesus (Wikipedia).