Romesh Ranganathan, 30 Septmber 2015, courtey of http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/sep/30/asian-provocateur-romesh-ranganathan-in-sri-lanka?CMP=share_btn_tw
Category Archives: elephant tales
Enjoy Sri Lanka with Romesh Ranganathan
The Sirisena-Wickremasinghe Promises and Schedule
Courtesy of the Daily News, 10 January 2015, where the title is “PRESIDENT MAITHRIPALA SIRISENA’S 100 DAY WORK PROGRAMME”
January 2015
Sunday January 11
A Cabinet of not more than 25 members, including members of all political parties represented in Parliament, will be appointed with Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister
Monday January 12
In order to strengthen democracy, a National Advisory Council will be set up inclusive of representatives of parties represented in Parliament as well as Civil Society organizations.
Monday January 19
Parliament will meet
Tuesday January 20
The Standing Orders will be amended and, in terms of Proposal 67/10 now tabled in Parliament, Oversight Committees will be set up comprising members of Parliament who are not in the Cabinet will be established and their Chairmanship will be given to representatives of all Ministers in consultation with the leaders of all parties represented in Parliament.
Wednesday January 21
The process will begin of abolishing the authoritarian executive presidential system and replacing it with an executive of a Cabinet of Ministers responsible to Parliament, and of repealing the 18th Amendment to the Constitution with legislation to establish strengthened and independent institutions, including a Judicial Services Commission, a Police Commission, a Public Service Commission, an Elections Commission, a Commission against Bribery and Corruption and a Human Rights Commission. This will be through a 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which will be presented to Parliament and passed as swiftly as possible.
Wednesday January 28
An all party committee will be set up to put forward proposals to replace the current Preference Vote system and replace it with an Mixed Electoral System that ensures representation of individual Members for Parliamentary Constituencies, with mechanisms for proportionality.
Tuesday January 29
A Vote on Account will be introduced in Parliament to implement special measures to provide relief to the people by reducing the rising Cost of Living.
Thursday January 22
A Code of Conduct will be introduced for observation by all representatives of the People.
Wednesday January 30
Salaries will be raised and direct and indirect taxes on necessary goods and services will be reduced.
February 2015
Monday February 2
An Ethical Code of Conduct will be introduced legally for all representatives of the people.
Thursday February 4
Independence Day will be celebrated with re-establishment of Democracy and Good Governance and the Sovereignty of the People.
Thursday February 5
Special Commissions will be appointed to investigate allegations of massive corruption in the preceding period
Friday February 6
A Bill to implement the National Drugs policy will be tabled, following adoption of the Policy by Cabinet.
Wednesday February 18
Independent Commissions will be established and required appointments made
Thursday February 19
The National Audit Bill will be introduced and passed within 3 weeks
Friday February 20
The Right to Information Bill will be introduced and passed within 3 weeks
March 2015
Monday March 2
New elections laws will be prepared in accordance with the proposals put forward by the all party committee
Tuesday March 17
Amendments to change the system of elections will be placed before Parliament and passed as swiftly as possible
Wednesday March 18
The National Drugs Policy will be passed by Parliament
Thursday March 19
The National Audit Bill will be passed by Parliament
Friday March 20
The Right to Information Act will be passed by Parliament
Monday March 23
The Constitutional Council will be set up and the process of making appointments to and establishing Independent Commissions will begin
April 2015
Monday April 20
A Parliamentary system will be put in place instead of the Executive Presidential system.
Thursday April 23
Parliament will be dissolved and free and fair elections held under a caretaker government.
Following that election, the Prime Minister will be appointed from the party getting the highest number of seats at such election, with a Deputy Prime Minister from the party getting the next highest number.
A National Government of all parties represented in Parliament will be established to govern for a period of at least two years.
Under that government a National Policy Framework will be formulated to deal with the principal challenges the country faces, and a political culture will be developed to act in accordance with that Framework.
The nation is suffering from authoritarianism, and decisions taken by a few family members with no consultation of or care for the people.
The destruction of ethical and socio-cultural values has led to grave suffering, through massive waste and abuse and corruption and absolute impunity. We need therefore to provide immediate relief to those who are oppressed, and embark on social and economic reforms that will restore normalcy and lead to prosperity for all.
1. The salaries of public servants will be raised by Rs 10,000 a month. Immediate relief will be provided by a payment of Rs 5,000 in February. A consolidated salary scheme will be put in place then, to cover all arrears
2. Full relief will be provided on the loans given to public servants for the purchase of motor cycles. Those who have paid previously will be refunded.
3. Graduates from whom virtual slave labour is obtained will be given regular appointments in a systematic fashion, and opportunities for promotion will be provided in accordance with suitable criteria.
4. An allowance of Rs 5,000 will be paid to pensioners, pending adjustment of anomalies in pensions.
5. Rs 1 million of the deposits in State Banks of each pensioner will receive interest of 15%.
6. The Samurdhi Allowance will be increased to 200% of the present rate to a maximum of Rs 2,000.
7. Pregnant mothers will be given an allowance of Rs 20,000 to supplement nourishment.
8. Excessive taxes will be lowered to reduce prices on ten essential food items. At the same time, special provisions will be put in place for protection of those producing such goods locally.
9. The current excessive taxes on fuel, amounting to around Rs 40 billion a year, will be removed and the benefits of this reduction in cost will be passed on to consumers.
10. The efficiency of both state and private transport services for the public will be improved through providing appropriate incentives to the transport sector.
11.The price of a cylinder of domestic gas will be reduced by Rs 300.
12.The guaranteed purchase price for a kilogramme of rice will be Rs 50.
13.The guaranteed purchase price for a kilogramme of potatoes will be Rs 80.
14.The guaranteed purchase price for a kilogramme of tea leaves will be between Rs 80 and 90.
15.The guaranteed purchase price for rubber will be Rs 350 per kilogramme.
16. The guaranteed purchase price paid to dairy farmers for a litre of milk will be raised by Rs 10 from the present Rs 60.
17. Relief of 50% will be provided on loans taken by farmers, and the remainder will be compounded to allow for payment on easy terms.
18. The low quality fertilizer that threatens life as well as soil and produce will be replaced by fertilizer of better quality that conforms to regular standards
19. Instead of low quality fertilizer tea smallholders will be provided with fertilizer of better quality that conforms to regular standards
20. Compensation of Rs 1 million will be paid to fishermen who lose their lives at sea through an insurance scheme with state contributions
21. An insurance scheme for crops will be introduced for farmers with state contributions
22. A new pensions scheme will be introduced for farmers and fishermen.
23. A pensions scheme will be introduced for Three Wheeler Drivers, Masons and Carpenters and those engaged in small scale retail trade and other informal occupations.
24. A pensions scheme will be introduced for migrant workers, and the interest on their NRFC deposits will be increased by 2 ½%.
25. A programme will be put in place to ensure support and protection for the families of migrant workers in the Middle East and elsewhere who provide an invaluable service to the country through their labour
26. Relief will be provided on the interest and penalties payable on pawned gold items upto a value of Rs 200,000
27. Measures will be taken to provide relief to those caught in a debt trap though falling prey to various promises made by finance companies, credit card scams and pyramid schemes
28. New laws will be put in place to prevent abuse of women, abuse of children and sexual harassment of women and measures taken to ensure that women and children can live without fear in Sri Lanka,
with responsibility undertaken to enforce the laws effectively
29.Measures will be put in place to protect those of all races widowed during the conflict, and their families.
30.So as to increase the participation of women in political decision making, legislation will be introduced to ensure at least 25% of women’s representation in Provincial Councils and Local Government bodies.
31.To fully overcome the unemployment problem that affects our young people, we will put in place a million jobs programme for local and foreign employment and for self-employment
32. We will strengthen provisions that enable young people to hold opinions and express them freely, and illustrate them creatively, and to freely enjoy the rights associated with youth
33. Wi-fi will be made available free of charge in Centres in every town to facilitate Internet access
34. The Youth Parliament will be given financial powers to implement projects relating to youth proposed by the Youth Council and other youth organizations, and will receive an allocation of Rs 250 million for this purpose for 2015.
35. Those engaged in Small and Medium Industries who have fallen into a debt trap and been blacklisted by CRIB, and those who suffer the same because of credit card debts, will be relieved from this through an easy repayment scheme.
36. Instead of the hijacking of the economy by a few individuals engaged in deals with regard to casinos and drugs and ethanol, we will develop a national business sector working towards the prosperity of the country, in particular by establishing schemes of credit on easy terms for Small and Medium Enterprises.
37. To develop more jobs and increase exports we will regain the GSP+ provisions that were lost
38. We will review the current programme to integrate finance companies and banks
39. An institution will be established to regulate and develop micro-finance
40.A Bureau will be set up to protect Small Enterprises.
41. To promote the Trishaw business, a government office will be set up inclusive of Trishaw drivers and the banking sector.
42.We will set out to raise to 3% the current 1.8% allocated for the free Health Service.
43.All drugs needed by patients attending government hospitals will be made available without shortages in those very hospitals.
44.An intensive programme will be implemented to swiftly get through the waiting lists for patients at government hospitals.
45.Government hospitals will offer services to out patients until 10 pm every day.
46. We will put a stop pending investigation into import of fertilizer and chemical substances suspected of contributing to kidney disease, while immediately preparing plans for short term and long term measures to deal with the problem, and ensuring their implementation.
47. Steps will be taken to put in place an effective institution to regulate trade in food items, cosmetics, drugs and other essential items.
48. Steps will be taken to strengthen ayurvedic health services
49. Measures will be taken to efficiently coordinate services in Western, Eastern and Indigenous medicine and provide a unified service to the people
50.We will set in place a programme to systematically eliminate the drug menace, that includes heroin and ganja, and institute with international support a comprehensive, quick and effective rehabilitation scheme for youngsters addicted to these substances.
51. A special consolidated Task Force will be set in place to deal with drug abuse
52. Pictorial warnings with regard to the dangers of smoking will be increased to 80%.
53.Casino businesses which were granted excessive tax relief in opposition to the advice of the Mahanayakes and the views of the people will have their licenses revoked.
54. We will put a stop to the Ethanol scam which avoided payment of required taxes.
55. We will set out to raise to 6% the current 1.7% allocated for free Education.
56. Powers with regard to universities which are now exercised by the Minister will be restored to the universities through the University Grants Commission, and the politicization of the universities will be halted.
57. Mahapola scholarships at universities will be raised to Rs 5,000.
58. Provision will be made for all those who qualify in three subjects at Advanced Level to study towards obtaining a degree or diploma
59. A fair scheme for admission to Grade 1 will be instituted and implemented transparently. Those who have suffered from abuse in this regard will be provided with immediate relief.
60. Delays in admitting students to schools will be stopped and all students will be guaranteed entry to Grade 1 at the beginning of the school year
61. The Circular regarding religious education in schools will be made applicable to all schools, and a committee with representation of all religions will be established to monitor its implementation
62. International schools will be made subject to monitoring by the State.
63. Current excessive taxes on fishing boats, nets, equipment and engines will be removed.
64. We will put a stop to the incursions of foreign boats into our national waters.
65. Measures will be taken to revive the European Union market from which our fish is now being excluded.
66. A Meteorological Inquiry service will be established to provide accurate information immediately to fishermen with regard to storms and other dangers.
67. Immediate steps will be taken to repair irrigation channels that have fallen into disuse.
68. Immediate steps will be taken to clear up reservoirs that have silted up.
69.The heroic members of the armed forces who are deployed in menial work such as cutting grass, sweeping roads and clearing drains will go back to only fulfilling the regular duties appropriate to the forces.
70. The present politicization with regard to promotions in the police force will be replaced with a transparent scheme based on capacity, skills, commitment and efficiency.
71.The seniority of officers of the regular police force will be safeguarded and any irregularities arising from integration of the auxiliary police force into the regular police force will be corrected.
72. There will be an immediate stop to using members of the armed forces for the protection of Ministers and politicians and their family members. Police protection will be provided in accordance with clear specifications, and the practice of Ministers and politicians inconveniencing the public by travelling with security vehicles will be halted.
73. Steps will be taken to provide land ownership and proper housing to plantation workers instead of their current confinement in line rooms
74. Facilities will be provided in schools for the children of plantation workers in the Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Matale and Kegalle Districts to have access to education in the Tamil medium upto university level including in Science.
75. Relief will be provided to all those illegally displaced for various reasons from their homes and lands.
76. The value will be calculated of the housing and land of which residents of Colombo have been deprived, and that will be deducted from the housing loans they are now paying.
77. A programme will be implemented swiftly to provide housing to the hundreds of thousands who have no shelter.
78. A democratic civil administration will be put in place in North and South
79.Through legal and social means steps will be taken to prevent actions and speech that lead to denigration of other races and religions and of religious leaders, and spread hatred between those of different races and religions.
80. Protection will be provided to all places of religious worship.
81. National and Local Councils of religious leaders will be set up to promote reconciliation between those of different religions and work effectively against the spread of religious animosities.
82. Measures will be taken to preserve and protect archaeological sites.
83. Outlets for alcohol will be removed from the vicinity of places.
of religious worship ncluding the Temple of the Tooth, and car races in those areas will be stopped.
84. Proposed amendments to the Buddhist Temporalities Act will be finalized after consultation of the Heads of Buddhist Orders to obtain their advice and guidance and approval.
85. A programme will commence to develop pirivena education and train teachers for religious instruction.
86. The foundation will be laid for an International University which will also work towards raising educational standards at pirivenas to international standards.
87. Laws will be passed swiftly to put a stop to ill-treatment of animals.
88. Hindrances to the work of Civil Society groups concerned with economic and social development, environmental issues, and with issues of Good Governance and Human Rights, will be removed
89. A culture will be established that safeguards and values the independence and artistic integrity of practitioners of the arts.
90. Both immediate and long term measures will be taken to safeguard the independence of media personnel and institutions.
91. The Right to Freedom of Thought and Expression will be strengthened.
92. Parliamentary proceedings will be telecast live.
93. Since Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the Rome Statute regarding international jurisdiction with regard to war crimes, ensuring justice with regard to such matters will be the business of national independent judicial mechanisms.
94. Their positions and rights will be restored to victims of political revenge and punishments, including former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, and 43rd Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.
95. A respected Foreign Service free of political interference will be re-established
96. Areas designated by law as Environmentally Protected Lands will be protected and care taken to safeguard their boundaries.
97. Areas of environmental importance which are now subject to threats of destruction will be further identified and necessary steps taken to protect them.
98. Steps will be taken, using contemporary international technological knowledge, to restore areas of environmental importance that have been harmed or are suffering threats.
99. The Wild Life Protection Ordinance will be effectively implemented without fear or favour.
100. It will be compulsory to have an Environmental Assessment Study at the very inception of any development projects.
– See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/president-maithripala-sirisena-s-100-day-work-programme#sthash.6Qs3avfg.dpuf
Filed under authoritarian regimes, communal relations, constitutional amendments, democratic measures, elephant tales, governance, island economy, legal issues, life stories, modernity & modernization, politIcal discourse, power politics, press freedom, Rajapaksa regime, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, world events & processes
Engaging Razeen Sally’s Review of Sri Lanka’s Economic and Political Scenario
Michael Roberts
Razeen Sally is an acquaintance and a reputed scholar attached to the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. When I spotted his review of the Sri Lankan economy and its political setting in the prestigious Wall Street Journal in mid-December, I immediately inserted it in THUPPAHI with a feisty title of my own coinage. This was in part because I had reservations about some of his evaluations. These thoughts arose in part from some of the economic indicators emphasised by one Jon Springer of the prestigious Forbes agency in USA.
In part my queries arose from my readings of the political economy of Sri Lanka in spatio-economic terms on the basis of my historical and political researches. Several themes associated with this peculiar respective had already been presented in my review of the issues surrounding the construction of a cricket stadium at Sooriyawewa as one pillar in the Rajapaksa family’s “cultivation” of their “home garden,” viz., Hambantota District — an essay that had earned me a reprimand (private email) from a good friend in Jayantha Dhanapala and attracted sarcastic comments in transcurrents. Continue reading
Filed under accountability, centre-periphery relations, economic processes, elephant tales, governance, growth pole, historical interpretation, island economy, modernity & modernization, politIcal discourse, power politics, Rajapaksa regime, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, slanted reportage, sri lankan society, the imaginary and the real, transport and communications, truth as casualty of war, welfare & philanthophy, world events & processes
Three Aussie Lankan Amigos forge a Amazing 3-Minute Film in Sri Lanka
Laura Ma, for CNN Travel, with a different title at http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/filmmakers-release-amazing-three-minute-sri-lanka-tour
They met a daring cliff jumper. They followed the path of religious pilgrims. They negotiated with a road-blocking elephant.And then a team of Australia-based cinematophers on a two-week road trip through Sri Lanka produced a three-minute memoir of their trip that ranks as the most “I wanna go there!” videos we’ve seen in a while.
“We all have Sri Lankan backgrounds and as we were growing up, we heard many stories from our parents about their childhoods in Sri Lanka,” says Rukshan Fernando, co-founder of Melbourne-based Ferndara Creative and Creative Motion Cinematography. Together with Ferndara co-founder Chamika Bandara and assistant Niha Sathasivam, the team has travelled often to Sri Lanka to film destination weddings for private clients. Continue reading
Forbes evaluates Sri Lanka’s Growth and predicts a Rajapaksa Victory
I. Jon Springer: “Ten reasons to Invest in Sri Lanka,” …. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonspringer/2014/10/30/ten-reasons-to-invest-in-sri-lanka/
From an investor’s point of view, the case for Sri Lanka is getting strong. In the rear view mirror, yet still lurking and causing hesitation for some, are the Sri Lankan Civil War that ended in 2009 and the market bubbles that followed the war’s end through 2011. While there are risks to investing anywhere, Sri Lanka has one of the best cases for an economy with the stars aligned in its favor.
Government Stability: President Rajapaksa recently called for elections in January 2015, a full 16 months ahead of when they would be required. Under his leadership, the civil war ended in 2009, term limits for the presidency were removed in 2010, a wave of infrastructure investment has been engaged and the country’s economy has experienced a still rising peace dividend. The previous election in 2010 resulted in his party taking a little over 60% of the seats in parliament.
In provincial elections in March and September of this year, Mr. Rajapaksa’s United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) party held 55% of the vote in two provinces in March and 51% in the one province in September. With no other party gaining more than 40% of the vote in any of these elections, the only question in January is how significant the UPFA majority will be in parliament after January’s elections.
High Performing Stock Market With Room To Run: Sri Lanka’s stock market (up 25.8% year-to-date as of October 29, 2014) is currently on-target to finish among the top 10 performing stock markets in the world this year alongside the likes of Argentina (112.8% ytd), Denmark (20.91% ytd), Dubai (40.3% ytd), India (30% ytd), Indonesia (20.4% ytd), Pakistan (24.7% ytd), Philippines (23% ytd), Qatar (38.4% ytd), Thailand (24.3% ytd) and Vietnam (21.4%; all data as of October 29, 2014).
Harsha Fernando, Director and Chief Executive Officer of local brokerage SC Securities (Pvt) Limited, says:
The market has witnessed a bullish sentiment due to the prevailing low interest rate scenario. Assuming this trend continues, the market will continue its bullish trend. Next year being an election year, I would assume the market to further strengthen its position due to elections defining a clear political scenario.
Dihan Dedigama, CEO of Softlogic Stockbrokers concurs:
We feel that the Colombo Bourse will continue to be a benefactor of the low interest rate regime we have seen from the beginning of the year and will realize good returns for the next few years. With the bank loan growth expected to gradually start picking up, companies will reap the benefits of the conducive environment and should be backed by strong corporate earnings growth. Meanwhile with political stability and the country’s economy poised to grow plus 7 per cent over the next 3 years, we do not see any reason why the stock market would not perceive a steady rise.
Ceylon Asset Management has however made the boldest prediction reiterated to me last night by their Economic Advisor, Michael Preiss:
We expect 25% growth in the equity market on average per year for the next five years. If you think about it, that isn’t that much based on 7 to 8% growth in the economy annually. What people don’t realize is that on a per capita basis, Sri Lanka is twice as rich as India.
Modi’s India: Mr. Preiss went on to point out that India was an out of favor place for investments a year and a half ago but is now a popular place to invest with a high performing market since Mr. Modi was elected. There are two ways growth in India’s economy can benefit Sri Lanka:
- Based on trade relations and proximity, positive economic news for India is also positive for Sri Lanka.
- Mr. Preiss believes that as more money flows into India, investors will take the time to consider other countries in the region to invest which will net positive results for Sri Lanka.
Annual Tourism Records: The 26-year civil war was obviously bad for tourism. As a result Sri Lanka’s beaches, cultural sites, wildlife and natural beauty had multiple decades with minimal amounts of tourism. In late August this year, the one millionth tourist of this year was welcomed with great fanfare at the airport. Tourism from people in Europe and the Middle East is steadily rising. While India for now continues to be Sri Lanka’s largest source of tourists, the biggest rise in tourism this year has been from Chinese visitors with year-over-year increases in excess of 100% on a monthly basis.
The graphs above depict tourism numbers only through the end of July 2014. Almost more important than the fact that the number of tourists is increasing is the fact that tourist arrivals are also spending more money per tourist.
Ports And Chinese Investment: Chinese investment in Sri Lanka is aiding growth and providing a strong geopolitical and economic ally. The Chinese-led project to landfill 575 acres to create Colombo Port City adjacent to the capital of Colombo and its current port is a record-breaking private sector investment in Sri Lanka. While it may seem bold now, Sri Lanka is seeking to compete with Singapore and Dubai as a maritime center.
While other Chinese financed projects exist at other port facilities in the country, this one alone is estimated to be a $1.4 billion project. While India remains Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner, China replaced the U.S. as Sri Lanka’s second largest trading partner last year.
Internal Infrastructure: As of October 13th of this year, for the first time in 24 years, trains are connecting the north of the country with the south. Highway and road infrastructure is also improving around the country though significant government investment. This internal infrastructure developments:
- Will improve industrial, factory and distribution network efficiency.
- Will cut down on food spoiling in transit to markets internally and externally.
- Makes tourism and investor arrivals and experiences more pleasant. For example, the new highway from the airport means my next trip from the airport to Colombo city will take about half the time and miss all the potholes.
Most importantly, infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka are not merely government talk and in planning stages, they are being executed.
Becoming Middle Income: There is anticipation that Sri Lanka per capita income will increase sufficiently in the next two to three years that it will become defined by the World Bank as a middle income country. Ceylon Asset Management who launched the country’s first dollar denominated bond investment fund this year thinks this is a big deal. Mr. Preiss of Ceylon Asset Management says:
When Sri Lanka moves into middle income in a couple of years, the credit rating will improve too. In 2 to 3 years, Sri Lanka could be investment grade. For fixed income investments, you make money if you invest before the asset is investment grade.
Counter-Cyclical Like Vietnam: As with Vietnam, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is only recently lowering interest rates after raising them to reign in asset bubbles. While developed countries are still hovering near all-time low interest rates that sooner or later must rise, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are pulling back from double digit rates. Money market funds that were paying around 16% interest rates a year and a half ago are now around 9%. The price of money for business has gone down in Sri Lanka and economic growth has encouraging signs.
Real Estate On The Upswing: Ivan Robinson of Lanka Real Estate notes:
With the announcement of the draft ‘Restrictions on Alienation of Land Bill’ having been passed in Parliament on the 20th of this month, the real estate sector in Sri Lanka is now set on the right foot to attract FDI in this specific field. After two years of uncertainty in this sector we now have a clear cut law that states that the previous 100% tax due on property purchases by foreigners is no longer applicable. The new law also states that a foreigner can now hold 49% shareholding of a company that buys land, which is up from the previous 25%, the balance 51% has to be held by a Sri Lankan nominee. After 20 years, this same company then gains the same rights as a Sri Lankan individual and can buy freehold land unconditionally. Also, a foreigner can lease property for 99 years by paying a one off tax of 15% based on the value of the lease.
This new law paves the way forward for a clear and transparent solution for foreigners, individuals or corporations, to invest in the Sri Lankan Real Estate market.
Hardy Jamaldeen, manager and director of Steradian Capital since 2010 is also bullish on real estate:
Along with the current growth trajectory many opportunities are continuously arising in the SriLankan Real Estate environment. The most exciting is the foreseeable demand for long-term income producing assets. Land and buildings can bridge this gap in the form of offices, industrial estates, shopping centers, student accommodation and hotels. Structuring these assets into bite sizes that the market can absorb will be the key to its success.
Risks? The two principal risks to Sri Lanka’s economy are a global economic downturn and the small chance that political instability is brought upon the country again by a political minority. Beyond that, there are currency exchange risks for foreign investors and there is the risk that investing somewhere else could do better. That said, all parties quoted in this article believe January’s election will lead provide an economic boost in the near-term and stable growth in the long-term.
* Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those involved in the recent flood and landslide in Central Sri Lanka this week.
Follow Jon Springer on Twitter @FrontierWriter or connect via LinkedIn.
Filed under accountability, authoritarian regimes, elephant tales, governance, historical interpretation, Indian Ocean politics, island economy, landscape wondrous, modernity & modernization, performance, politIcal discourse, population, power politics, Rajapaksa regime, slanted reportage, sri lankan society, the imaginary and the real, welfare & philanthophy, world affairs
How “The Gathering” branded the Mass Elephant Congress at Minneriya … Annual and Mid-Year
Srilal Miththapala, in The Island, 28 October 2014, with title ” ‘The Gathering’ — The Unknown Story”
‘The Gathering’ (of elephants) at Minneriya National Park takes place from around June to October each year and has today become a well-known phenomena in the world today. During the drought in the central province of Sri Lanka, some 150-250 wild elephants gather around this ancient man-made reservoir, covering approximately 8,900 hectares, which was constructed by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD. This large reservoir fills up during the north-east monsoon around November to April each year. When the rain ceases, and the dry season begins, and the drought takes its toll, the water in the reservoir starts to dry up. Although the reservoir shrinks quite dramatically, it never really runs dry, and as the water recedes, it leaves behind fertile, moist soil where lush grass quickly sprouts. The entire reservoir is surrounded by scrub jungle, which opens out in the vast plains of the Minneriya tank. Continue reading
An Innovative Scheme for YALA National Park: Cable Car Journeys
Nigel Kerner, a reprint from The Island, 5 October 2013
I am an expat Sri Lankan and I wrote about this some years ago and it was published in this paper. It is time for a reminder, in the light of recent happenings, for the wheels of innovation in Sri Lanka sometimes grind exceedingly slow.
The recent internationally featured article on the chaos that reigns in Ruhuna (YALA) National Park in Sri Lanka has brought into focus the utterly asinine situation that prevails in the beautiful National Parks of lovely Sri Lanka. The description that this island is a true paradise is not a tourist euphemism. It is topographically, scenically, historically and culturally just that, a Paradise. However, as with most things, the mote in the eye of the beholder runs a ragged route and there is much that is yet untended and out of focus in the Sri Lankan tourist industry. Continue reading
Blundering tourists blunder with RAMBO and other elephants
Srilal Miththapala, in The Island, 12 March 2014, where the title is “Tourist injured by elephant at UdaWalawe”
Rambo at the fence gentle and greedy — Pic by Chitral Jayatilake
Last week news was received about a foreign tourist, who had been injured by a wild elephant closed to the Uda Walawe National Park. When I heard the news, I immediately felt a wave of apprehension wondering whether this could be Rambo, the elephant who frequents the Tanamallvila Road boundary fence, along the bund of the Uda Walawe reservoir. Continue reading
