Sri Lanka sweep test series 2-0 against Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka wrapped up their two-match test series in Zimbabwe, winning the second test by 257 runs at the Harare Sports Club. It is Sri Lanka’s fifth consecutive test win after the 3-0 test victory against Australia at home. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne for his tally of 280 runs was adjudged the Man of the Test Series.

Stand-in Captain Rangana Herath continued his left-arm spin bagging 13 wickets for 152, which included 5 wickets for 89 in the first innings and 8 wickets for 63 in the second innings. He enters the elite club of test bowlers recording five-wicket hauls against all test playing nations. With 351 test wickets to his credit, Herath is now Sri Lanka’s third highest test wicket taker after Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Chaminda Vas (355).

In the absence of Captain Angelo Mathews, who is out of the squad due to multiple leg injuries, the 31-year-old Upul Tharanga leads Sri Lanka in the triangular ODI series involving Zimbabwe and West Indies commencing on 14 November at the Harare Sports Club. Left hand batsman Tharanga has scored 5,526 runs in 188 ODIs, which include 13 hundreds and 29 half-centuries. Kusal Perera acts as his deputy since Vice Captain Dinesh Chandimal is also recovering from a thumb injury.

Seamers Nuwan Kulasekera and Nuwan Pradeep and spinners Jeffrey Vandersay and Shehan Jayasuriya have been recalled for the 15-man squad, which also include uncapped all-rounder Asela Gunaratne and seamer Lahiru Kumara.

Ranaviru Privileges

The Dinamina Editorial of 09 November 2016 states that there exist higher respect and official recognition for war heroes in the country. The epithet Ranaviru itself bears proof to this fact. Members of the armed forces are elevated as war heroes for being a party to the war victory. Besides, the regard for disabled war heroes is even higher in the society. They are regarded highly with honour as a segment who have sacrificed their life and limb for the defence of the territorial integrity of the country.

Every government has granted privileges to war heroes. Granting of houses and awards for war heroes, allowances and promotions for the disabled personnel can be cited as such instances. Each war hero killed in action was given a pension and other allowances along with promotion to next rate/rank. In addition, they are entitled to special privileges from the public administration. A programme to give marks when admitting a child to school was also in place. It is true to say that war heroes are a segment who receive greater privileges and respect from the Government as well as the society.

Amidst such a situation, a fast was commenced by disabled war heroes on 31st near the Fort railway station. By 03rd it had turned into a fast unto death. They demanded that disabled war heroes who had not completed 12 years of service also be given pensions. The Government had agreed to fulfil that demand. Accordingly, the war heroes who had not completed the stipulated service period will receive pensions with effect from next February. The move proves the special regard the Government has for war heroes.

A second reading is needed into this demand and the fast as well as the subsequent response of the Government. The Government has taken its decision contravening the pension and gratuities code of the Army. As such, relevant sections in the code will have to be amended. A soldier should have a service period of 12 years to retire or resign. That period has to be 10 years for a higher rank. Yet, disabled war heroes that have only 08 years of service now receive pensions according to the new decision.

Protesting war heroes are said to be those who had left the service having received compensation. As such, it could be deduced unfair by those who receive pensions after completing 12 years of service since they have not opted for any compensation. In contrast, those that had protested have received not only compensation but also pensions and other allowances as well. According to Government regulations, no government servant, who has left the service having received compensation, will be granted such a payment. In such an eventuality, the relevant Government institution will act as having foregone all bindings by the servant concerned. Viewed from such a perspective, the disabled war heroes have now gained a substantive privilege.

The protest of the disabled war heroes shows that they were lacking in their conduct and negotiation. They marched towards the Presidential Secretariat, overturning the police barricades when the discussions were nearing conclusion. The protest did not stop even though the success of the discussions was conveyed to the protestors. It showed that they have an intention to inconvenience the Government. Something is wrong if war heroes are used as cat’s paws of political parties. Yet, it is highly likely that it had been the intention of the whole process.

When this protest, its march and speeches are closely analysed, it becomes apparent that a substantive number of nationalist, religiously extremist organizations were behind it. Rawana Balaya, Patriotic Bikku Front, Sinhala Jathika Balawegaya and Sinhala Rawaya figure prominent among them. Generally, there is a high regard for war heroes irrespective of ethnic and religious differences. It is even so politically despite the divisions along party lines. Nevertheless, this protest had been led by other groupings. It must be pointed out that the general public resent political, religious and ethnic bias in war heroes.

As the Secretary of Defence states so far solutions have been granted to many of the demands made by the war heroes. Five out of the twenty-five demands have been solved at the ministerial level and another two have been resolved through the President’s mediation. The protest had been launched when a cabinet paper had been submitted to solve the demand of the disabled war heroes. The President had once stated that the Government acts to safeguard the honour and pride of the war heroes at all times despite the accusations levelled by various political organizations against the Government. The protest has been launched by the disabled war heroes disregarding even the President’s assurance.

It is not uncommon to observe social problems involving military in the countries affected by war. One such manifestation is the rise in violent acts, crimes and mental trauma. A higher number of criminal cases linked to deserters of our armed forces are also on record. Such instances can be attributed to the war and the consequent war mentality. The general public never approve of war. Nonetheless, in the countries of the rest of the world there are two groups who do not normally take part in strikes and protests. One is the health workers and the other is the members of the armed forces. In Sri Lanka, both groups stage protests and engage in strikes.

Sri Lanka look good to maul Zimbabwe for a second beating

Jubilant Sri Lanka, with a convincing 225-run victory in the first test, piled up 295 for 5 on first day as they took on Zimbabwe for the second beating at the Harare Sports Club. Hosts Zimbabwe, determined to square the two-match series with the Decision Review System in place for the first time, however drummed up stiff resistance, medium pacer Hamilton Masakadza taking two wickets for 18 and Captain Graem Cremer claiming the crucial wicket of Upul Tharanga.

Invited to bat first, Sri Lanka’s top order, despite the 62-run start, had collapsed for 112 for 4 when Dhananjaya took over. The right-handed middle order batsman went on to score his second test century, undeterred being let by Peter Moor off Graem Cremer on 64. Tharanga, who contributed 79, assisted Dhanajaya to build up Sri Lanka’s highest fifth wicket partnership against Zimbabwe. Dhanajaya remains unbeaten on 100 off 197 balls with 11 fours.

Sri Lanka mars Zimbabwe’s 100th test celebrations

Sri Lanka secured a 225-run victory against Zimbabwe in the first test played at the Harare Sports Club. The stand-in Captain Rangana Herath, 38, who in the twilight of his test career has been thrust to the top slot, would have heaved a huge sigh of relief for being able to steal a march on Zimbabwe, who were hoping for a win in their milestone test. Dropped catches and blunders in umpiring had helped Sri Lanka to amass 537 all out in their first innings of the two-test series. Despite the absence of a Decision Review System and their poor fielding, which boosted their rivals’ chances, Zimbabwe posted 373 in reply as Captain Graeme Cremer scored his maiden test century to avoid the follow-on.

Upul Tharanga, recalled after one year to fill in for the absence of injury-hit Captain Angelo Mathews and Vice Captain Dinesh Chandimal, made the most of his opportunity on the slow pitch on second day, scoring his second test century after ten years. Opener Kusal Perera, who had been dropped twice, dominated the first day with his maiden test century.

Sri Lanka, courtesy opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s 04th test century, were able to set their host a massive 411-run lead losing 6 wickets for 247 when rain and bad light forced to draw stumps in the last session of the penultimate day. The 28-year-old Karunaratne, who had hit a half century in the first innings, struck a well-crafted 94-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored his second test fifty, putting Sri Lanka in a strong position.

Zimbabwe, which went onto their 100th test with six consecutive defeats, lost all their wickets for 186 despite Skipper Cremer’s lone crusade to settle for a draw. The top order collapsed in quick succession until Cremer took on to continue his first innings’ heroics with the help of Sean Williams who struck a gritty 40 runs in bold defiance. The Zimbabwe Captain was named Man of the Match for his all-round performance studded with his century in the first innings, 43 runs in the second innings and

Elated by his side’s win, which incidentally was Sri Lanka’s consecutive fourth test victory and first such by a Sri Lankan test captain on his debut, Herath had attributed the credit to his fast bowlers, who had taken 08 wickets with test debutant Lahiru Kumara bagging 03, 01 in the first innings and 02 crucial wickets in the second innings. Kumara had removed Opener Brian Chari for 10 in his very first over and trapped Peter Moor, who had scored a half century in the first innings, lbw for 7 thus denying Zimbabwe’s chance of staying at the crease for their full quota of overs on the final day.

The Chevrons, coached by former bowler cum Captain Heath Streak, will host Sri Lankans at the same venue for the second test beginning on 06th November.

Sri Lankan President accepts Bribery Commission DG’s resignation

The letter of resignation tendered by the Director General of the Commission into Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOAC) has been accepted by the Sri Lankan President. The DG, who was appointed in February last year, had sent in her resignation on Monday, 17 October 2016, in the wake of the Sri Lankan President’s criticism against the manner in which investigations were being carried out by the anti-graft body headed by her. The Deputy Director General will now oversee the work of the CIABOAC until a new DG is appointed.

However, the President, who had just returned from the BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit held in India, had earlier delayed taking a decision on the controversial CIABOAC head. He, in whose absence the resignation letter had been submitted, is said to have awaited the arrival of the Prime Minister, who is also away from the country, holding discussions with European Union officials in Brussels to regain the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP +) facility.

Meanwhile, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a constituent political party of the present administration, had alleged that the DG was politically biased and her resignation was a move to avoid possible action against those responsible for the Central Bank (CB) bond issue. The report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) on the CB bond scam, which has cost the Government to the tune of LKR 10 billion, is to be referred to the CIABOAC for action next week. The JHU contends that many of the accused are linked to the present Government.

The DG of the CIABOAC is widely believed to have been hand-picked by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, the leader of the United National Party (UNP), which is a key partner of the present National Unity Government. She, as the head of the high-powered investigation body, frequently grabbed headlines for probes of alleged corruption and financial crimes committed by the previous regime. The ruling coalition, led by the Sri Lankan President headed-SLFP and the UNP, came into power in January last year on an anti-corruption platform. It is now under mounting pressure for not bringing to books the culprits of the much-cited misdeeds.

In a separate development, the Speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament had met the chairmen and members of the five independent commissions, namely Commission into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, National Police Commission, National Procurement Commission, National Finance Commission and National Elections Commission, at the parliamentary complex in the state’s administrative capital Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, apparently to defuse the prevailing tension. The Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the Constitutional Council responsible for making appointments to the independent commissions, had held separate discussions to ascertain their present status of performance and future course of action. Later issuing a statement, he had said that neither the President nor the Prime Minister would allow undue interference in the functions of the independent commissions.

Never ending Norochcolai tantrums

Divaina editorial published on 18 October 2016 reports that the Norochcholai coal power plant has broken down again. If one remembers correct this is the 29th time that the Norochcholai power plant has become non-operational. According to the Ministry of Power and Energy, it will take at least 05 days to restore it. Hence, information is surfacing about a possible crisis situation in continuous electricity supply. The Energy Ministry keeps alluding to the possibility of resorting to a power-cut “as usual”. It is certain that the general public too, who are no strangers to double talk, are bracing themselves to face the situation.

By now, the national power grid has deprived of 900 MW of electricity. The three power generators at the power plant have become non-operational. There is no use now talking about the reason which has made all three units of the power plant non-operational. The Ministry has confirmed that it was a technical fault. Nevertheless, no one should be unduly worried since the Norochcholoai is well known since its construction more for repairs and not for electricity generation. This is “normal” for the power plant. What is more ironic, however, is the break-down of the three machines all at once.

As is being revealed some damage has been caused to the first and the third unit. Minimum damage has occurred in the second unit and it takes 05 days to be repaired. At least 10 days are said to be needed to restore the first unit. There is, however, no mention about the time period required to restore the third unit.

Nonetheless, these three units had remained fully operational in the past. Moreover, 40% of the national electricity requirement was provided by the Norochcholai power plant. For over a decade, it met the highest percentage of the electricity supply in the country. Until then, kerosene and chimney lamps were used in many areas including some urban areas. All was forgotten when electricity was introduced. We have now been made to feel that we cannot remain without electricity even for an hour. One may wonder, however, what is all this puss about when some machinery becomes non-operational once in a while due to technical defects.

To be honest, what puzzles us most is not the break-down of the Norochcholai time to time but why it has been made to break down so often. That is the very reason which has mad the Norochcholai so famous.

The power plant was declared open on 22 March 2011. It was the tax money collected from the people that was used for its construction. That burden is being borne by the people. It is also their money which is being spent to repair every time a break-down occurs as well as to generate electricity using alternative means. It is the very same people who have to bear that loss when power cuts are imposed.

It should not be forgotten that the people of the country has borne this brunt now for 29 times. It is no wonder why the people of the country question the usefulness of a Government when it cannot resolve the Norochchalai debacle which has become such a curse.

Sri Lankan President attends BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit in India to explore closer partnership

The Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena had attended the BIMSTEC Outreach Summit in Goa, India on 16 October 2016. The initiative, first of its kind to link South Asia to South East Asia, had been held to pave the way for BRICS and BIMSTEC leaders to explore prospects for closer partnership and coordination, synergising the potential of nearly two-thirds of humanity.

During the bilateral discussions with the Indian Prime Minister held on the side-lines of the BRICS summit, the Sri Lankan President had stated that peace in the region is imperative for economic prosperity. Sri Lanka stands firm against all forms and manifestations of terror to ensure the regional progress which has an immense impact on the global economic growth. He had also drawn the Indian leader’s attention to the long existing fishing issue and the Indian Premier had agreed the need for a proper solution to the problem in order to prevent the straining of bilateral relations between the two neighbouring nations. President Sirisena had taken the opportunity to thank Premier Modi for the assistance extended for the rehabilitation programmes implemented in the war-ravaged northern Sri Lanka. He had also expressed gratitude for India’s gift of ambulances to be used in the western and southern provinces of the island-nation and expressed hopes that its closest neighbour would assist in extending this service to other areas of the country as well.

In a twitter message, Modi had noted his elation at having the Sri Lankan President for the BRICS-BIMSTEC summit as one of most valued friends of India. President Sirisena in response had tweetered back welcoming the opportunity offered to discuss ways to deepen SL-India relations and explore how Sri Lanka can play a stronger role in the region.

India, amidst growing tensions with Pakistan following a terror attack on one of its army bases on the boarder of disputed Jammu-Kashmir, has made use of the BRICS summit to invite the leaders of the neighbouring countries belonging to BIMSTEC for an outreach pow-wow in a show of solidarity. India hosted the BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - this year for their 08th summit. Sri Lanka is a member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) launched in 1997 along with Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Thailand. The BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit had allowed India to skirt its way around the SAARC (South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation), whose Islamabad hosted summit it boycotted citing cross-border terrorism incited by neighbouring arch-rival Pakistan. The 08-member grouping SAARC includes Pakistan, Afghanistan and Maldives as well as Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Brazilian President Michel Temer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma had joined Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 08th BRICS summit held under the theme “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions”. The five BRICS leaders had focussed their attention on combatting terrorism, their contribution to global economic growth, cooperation with emerging and developing economies, issues of climate change and nurturing people-to-people contact.

That statement was made on behalf of the country

Divaina editorial published on 14 October 2016 states that President Maithripala Sirisena has made a bold statement that would open the eyes of many and make everyone to think it over. What prompted the President to make that statement had been the irregular manner in taking into custody the former Secretary of Defence and Navy Commanders who had fought the war. The President has been highly displeased by it. The controversial nature of many actions taken by the present government is clearly manifested in that speech by the President made while taking part in an event for war heroes at the Foundation Institute in Colombo. Catching robbers has today become a public joke. People of the country do not have a good impression about the FCID, the CID and the Bribery Commission due to lack of transparency and propriety in their action. That is what has been pointed out with examples by the President in his statement.

The truth in essence is that the President had not known that anyone of them being taken to courts. Everyone is made to have doubts regarding the methodology adopted when the President says that the relevant commissions should have informed him as the President if the former Secretary of Defence and Navy Commanders were to be summoned before courts. Above all, the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in this country. As the President says, the persons serving on these independent commissions have not properly understood their subject area and work scope. If they did, the President would not have felt it necessary to point it out before a huge gathering.

The President says that he remains committed to the welfare and the needs of the war heroes while emphasizing the fact that no one will be allowed to weaken the military in any manner. This statement, made by the President at a time when grave concerns related to security are being raised, is very important. The President had also mentioned about the army intelligence officers in custody. The President seems to have a clear notion about the prevailing controversies surrounding the war heroes. The President’s speech calls for exercising more caution when making arrests which lead to revelation of decisions and information critical to national security, making undue exposures and summoning people arbitrarily time to time before various commissions. Hence, it is equally important to reveal to the country such “operations”, which are carried out even unknown to the President. If not so, as the President states, the opinion of the people of the country will most likely turn to be that the persons on the relevant independent commissions are taking action with a view to gain political advantage. This narrative must be ended with an addendum to the President’s speech; the President was elected in such a manner neither to make phone calls to courts nor to interfere in the work of independent commissions or to influence judges and make the Attorney General to release criminals from courts. The President is trying to fulfil the obligations to many who dedicated their lives for the defence of the country.

Garbage? Oops! Sorry.

Charity begins at home, so they say. Yet, the much harped on adage more often than not finds itself being conveniently discarded into the waste bin when it comes to garbage disposal. No one cares two hoots about what happens to their litre as long as it is off their premises; out of sight, out of mind and the matter ends there. Many have opted to live in blissful oblivion as to the enormous health risks caused to their loved ones and neighbourhood as a result of their callous disregard for environment.

For many years now, inefficient garbage disposal has been the bone of contention between the concerned public and the authorities tasked with keeping the respective localities clean, each passing the buck to the other in turn. Sky-high mounds of garbage are a common sight not only in the city but also in the suburbs, making the entire country a sore eye to the passers-by. Even the countryside is not spared mostly by the city dwellers picnicking at weekends to their heart content and leaving an unsavoury trail of empty cans, empty bottles, boxes and what-nots behind in the process. Stench reaching high heavens makes one dizzy and wish that the sense of smell was one endowment they could do without at this birth. Yet, the pleas for effective action go unheeded triggering a snowballing impact and knee-jerk response only adds fuel to the raging angers due to the ad-hoc measures that are no permanent solutions to the issues at hand. 

Since the menace of garbage has engulfed all nooks and corners of the living space, the dreadful spectre must be combated from all fronts both individually and collectively, leaving no room for a recurrence, which will undoubtedly pose a constant drain on personal and societal resources lest lapses should be allowed to mar the success of combined efforts. Everyone must hold themselves accountable irrespective of their social standing and should make it a point to keep the immediate environs clean and free of litre without wasting any more time in blaming the other.

Simple and easy-to-adopt measures abound if only one cares enough to open one’s eyes and take a lesson. Waste separation to enable their proper disposal, minimising the left-overs to reduce household garbage and in-situ burning of light litre at regular intervals are but a few options that will go a long way. Everyone will be doing a good service to humanity if they make a conscious effort to abide by the three-Rs i.e. reduce, reuse and recycle, in waste management whenever possible.

It is time we cleaned our act up and took the self-initiative to create a cleaner and greener neighbourhood for the benefit of our loved ones as well as others. The blame game must end and consorted efforts be taken to arrest the ever rising threat before it swallows all of us.

Samsung stops sale of Galaxy Note 7

In the wake of the mounting safety concerns due to the replacement devices reportedly catching fire, Samsung Electronics has suspended the sale of its latest smartphone Galaxy Note 7. Customers are now requested either to exchange the original as well as the replacement Galaxy Note 7s for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge or to obtain a full refund from the point of purchase. The company is also offering those who exchange their Note 7 devices a $25-gift card, in-store credit, in-store accessory credit or bill credit from select carrier retail outlets.

South Korean tech giant recalled 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 phablets sold globally following a series of incidents involving its battery catching fire during and after charging. The world’s largest smartphone producer launched its large-screen smartphone on 19 August this year packed with an array of top-of-the-line technologies that included iris recognition and a waterproof stylus. 

It was earlier speculated that the defective batteries provided by its subsidiary Samsung SDI had made Samsung Electronics’ ultra-slim Galaxy Note 7 prone to explosion. The replacement handsets therefore came fitted with the batteries manufactured by China-based ATL. ATL supplies 30% of Samsung Electronics’ battery requirement against 70% met by Samsung SDI. The technical glitch is now thought to be beyond just the defective battery.