Ceylon Today Editorial

Shocking biggest ever narcotics trafficking

12 December 2016

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) on Friday (9) busted a cocaine trafficking attempt at the Colombo Port.

In the history of thwarting narcotics trafficking in the island, last Friday's cache was remarkable as Rs 14 billion worth of cocaine weighing 928 kilograms was seized by the PNB. The swift action of the PNB has thwarted the huge cocaine trafficking which was going from Ecuador to India concealed meticulously in 15 polythene sachets wedged between several Teak wood planks in a container marked 'Mediterranean Shipping' in the vessel called Sabula.

The manner the vessel carrying the huge amount of cocaine via Sri Lanka has made one to think whether the trafficking has been taking place making Colombo Port a transit point for a long period.
In recent months similar attempts have been busted at the Orugodawatta container yard and the Friday's cache seems to be the biggest of all so far in the fight against narcotics in the island.

As the island nation has taken steps to stabilize the economy following the end of war in 2009, the shipping activities have also enhanced in a significant way with the Colombo Port turning into a busy destination in South Asia.The shocking incident of the brutal death of a High Court Judge in the hands of a big time drug dealer several years ago in Colombo had highlighted the extent the drug menace has infiltrated into the country.

Several areas in Colombo have been identified as hot spots for drug dealers. The PNB has been successful in busting several drug dealing activities in the island and Friday's action by the bureau has highlighted its ever vigilant state in dealing with drug related issues. With the end of the civil war in the North and the East narcotics and alcohol menaces remain a big threat in the two provinces igniting anti-social activities in a big way.

In the past several years Security Forces and Police have successfully busted Kerala cannabis smuggling activities in the North. Reports reaching from North indicate that Western Coastal areas from Kalpitiya to Mannar remain vulnerable to drug trafficking. A week ago a special Police Post was also set up in Mannar to deal with offshore drug trafficking activities.

Friday's PNB action in seizing 928 Kg of cocaine in Colombo and its arrival from Ecuador in Central America has highlighted the importance of Sri Lanka in the map of the big time drug peddlers. The PNB action has also emphasized the need of adopting hi-tech methods in dealing with offshore drug trafficking activities.

To create a positive climate for their activities the big time drug barons are even capable of manipulating all sorts of dirty tricks in the countries they are targeting. Several countries in Central America and South America as well as in Africa have become failed States due to the manipulations of the drug traffickers.

With Sri Lanka remaining a meeting point for shipping activities between the West and the East, operations against drug trafficking should be modernized with a proper network established internationally as well as regionally.

Apart from the PNB's prompt action against narcotics, Sri Lanka Customs has also busted several meticulously planned attempts to bring drugs into the island. Sri Lanka being an island nation, coastal areas particularly the North-Western and North-Eastern coastal belts remain extremely vulnerable to drug trafficking.

As the PNB has been carrying out a remarkable job in overcoming the drug menace, a well coordinated effort from the tri-forces and the Customs with the PNB along with introducing stringent legal measures will enhance further the activities which will make Sri Lanka a no-nonsense country for drug dealers.

Daily News Editorial

No love lost

12 December 2016

That, some UNP MPs have taken umbrage over the current trend by certain SLFP colleagues to blame the Greens at their convenience is only to be expected. Three UNP backbenchers on Friday went public to expose what they termed the duplicity of certain SLFP MPs. An irate Colombo District UNP MP Mujibur Rahuman said certain SLFP MPs, while taking credit for the positive deeds of the government, was quick to heap blame on the UNP when things went wrong.

He went onto assert that what they in fact have was a UNP government, by virtue of the party obtaining the largest number of seats at the general election, and instead of joining with the SLFP to form a unity government they could have easily formed a government of their own by inducing a few MPs to cross over to the UNP. He was particularly critical of SLFP MP Dilan Perera who has taken to bad mouthing the UNP and its leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe quite frequently in recent times. He also made the point that certain SLFP MPs were playing a ‘double game’ with one foot in the Rajapaksa camp while clinging onto their portfolios in the government. Rahuman said they of the UNP had no problem in continuing their journey with the President and those SLFPers given to playing footsie with the Rajapaksas were welcome to leave the government without passing the buck over to the UNP whenever it suits them.

The MP’s grouse is understandable. It was the UNP which shouldered the heaviest burden in getting President Sirisena elected on January 8 while those such as Dilan Perera and S.B. Dissananayake were waxing eloquent on the virtues of Mahinda Rajapaka. Another SLFPer, who in fact was a UNP crossover, went to the extent of throwing personal insults at the Common Candidate. That worthy is today holding an important Cabinet portfolio. Hence it is natural for the UNPers to feel sore about whole development. There is also the fact that some of the SLFP MPs appear to show a reluctance to be critical of the Rajapaksas. On the contrary, most of them still speak in glowing terms of the former President while firmly planted in the government.

All the flak is directed at the UNP which made a tremendous sacrifice in not only forfeiting the opportunity of making its leader the President of the country but also conducting the entire campaign on behalf of the Common Candidate. At least two UNP supporters were killed during the campaign with many others injured, some critically, by violence unleashed by Rajapaksa juggernaut. This, while the entire SLFP bandwagon now in the government were assiduously campaigning to make Rajapaksa President for a third term.

The pique of the UNP MPs may also be grounded in the fact that some of the plum portfolios are held by the SLFP in the Cabinet while prominent UNPers have to play second fiddle to these personages who worked towards the defeat of the Common Candidate at the polls. If that is not enough, adding insult to injury, some of the UNPers who were in the forefront leading the campaign of the CC are today made to serve as State Ministers under those who held ministerial office under Rajapaksa. Allay this to the fact that some of these UNPers were in the Opposition for as long as twenty years, it is no surprise that the boiling resentment was bound to come to the surface, sooner rather than later.

It is time that the SLFP faction in the unity government appreciate the sacrifices made by the UNP in getting one of their own elected President, even if they were hell bent on seeing the return of Rajapaksa on January 8. They should cease criticising the Greens in public, and moreover, still demonstrating their loyalties to the Rajapaksas, while remaining in the government. They can't have the best of both worlds. True, there are bound to be policy differences between the UNP and SLFP, with the worldview of both parties still showing a marked difference. But these could be ironed out by discussion and understanding, possibly with the intervention of the President and the Prime Minister. Individual views should not be aired freely, critical of one party, if the government is to continue as a cohesive unit. All members in the Unity government should work with one objective. There should be no bad blood between the once arch political foes. That would do no good to the health of the government.

The right move

The decisive action taken by the government to free the two merchant vessels laid siege on by a group of workers at the Hambantota port, through the deployment of the Navy, is a move in the right direction. Whatever the grievances of these workers, their action cannot be condoned and borders on piracy. Whatever claims to the contrary, there is certainly a political hand behind this derring-do by the port workers to cripple the country's economy. Those behind the strike are well aware that taking two ships hostage could do irreparable damage to country's maritime trade, and what is more, investor confidence.

The Island Editorial

Great women

12 December 2016

 

Sri Lanka has never been in need of great women. Chronicles tell us about intrepid, patriotic womenfolk who made selfless sacrifices for this land. Behind every great king there was a courageous woman who was either his mother or sister or consort. There have been instances where queens themselves fought for the country.

At present, too, women defend the country to the hilt; they keep the national economy afloat by slaving away in garment factories, on estates and in West Asia though this fact rarely gets highlighted. But for foreign remittances they help rake in the economy will come crashing down. Besides, women have excelled in every field and shattered the so-called glass ceiling to a considerable extent. This country takes pride in having produced the world’s first woman prime minister though women’s representation in politics remains woefully inadequate.

Two great women have attracted media attention during the past several days. Today, we carry an article on the University of Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA) honouring Kalasuri Barbara Sansoni. A living legend, she needs no introduction. Suffice it to say that the UVPA has, in conferring a doctorate on her honoris causa, honoured both her and itself!

Barbara is in a league of her own as a truly Sri Lankan artist. Prof. Sarath Chandrajeewa, in his citation, paying a glowing tribute to her as a colourist, illustrator, painter, fashion designer and writer, recalls what she has said about herself: "My entire source of inspiration has been this island. Travelling all over I have been overwhelmed by its wonder, inspired by its colour." These words remind us of another great Sri Lankan who is, unfortunately, no longer among us. Lakshman Kadirgamar was his name. Describing himself, at the unveiling of his portrait at the Oxford University, in 2005, the late legal luminary cum statesman famously said: "Oxford was the icing on the cake but the cake was baked at home."

The other remarkable woman currently in the news is a 73-year-old resident of Nadugala, Matara. N. S. Kalyani, a retired state employee, is no achiever as such. But, she is an inspiration to all those who are inhibited by the deeply-entrenched socio-psychological barriers to education. She has recently sat the GCE O/L examination, offering Information and Communication Technology as a subject. She has said she intends to study Hindi and electronics as well! Her insatiable thirst for new knowledge is truly fascinating. She has proved that ‘education is a journey, not a destination’. She is worthy of emulation. (Will the Education Minister give her at least a tablet PC?)

We are reminded of a report the USA Today published last year on an American woman, named Doreetha Daniels, who graduated at the age of 99 from the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California with an associate degree in social sciences. It was reported that Daniels had ‘battled to keep up in intensive subjects—such as college-level math and statistics—becoming a regular at the Tutoring & Learning Center’.

Stressing that she wanted to finish her education to better herself Daniels advised prospective students thus: "Don't give up. Do it. Don't let anybody discourage you. Say that, 'I'm going to do it,' and do it for yourself." This is, more or less, the message Kalyani, too, has sent out to her fellow Sri Lankans.

Meanwhile, in 2014, we pointed out in this space that out of 225 Sri Lankan parliamentarians 95 had failed the GCE O/L and 145, GCE A/L. There is no reason to believe that the situation has improved since then. Now that the MPs have received from the present administration pocket money to the tune of Rs. 100,000 each a month besides luxury vehicles and an increase in the sitting allowance etc, let those who have failed the GCE O/L and A/L examinations be urged to emulate Kalyani of Matara.

The Department of Examinations usually sets up special GCE O/L and A/L centres in places like prisons. Our privileged lawmakers can have one at the parliamentary complex so that they will be able to sit the aforesaid examinations there and parliamentary standards will improve.

There must be many more senior citizens like Kalyani, desirous of gaining new knowledge and bettering themselves but without the courage to overcome socio-cultural barriers associated with advanced age. They must be encouraged to come forward and realise their educational goals.

Sadly, adult education is a totally neglected field in this country. It should be developed as a national priority and the government, toying with the idea of creating a knowledge economy, which needs to be based on intellectual capital, ought to weigh in with necessary funds. Citizens of all ages have a right to education.