The Jailing of Craft & Other Crimes of the Arts

‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’

e-Con e-News 23-29 January 2022

Welcome to the 200^th edition of ee.

Bankers say it is a greater crime to rob a bank than to own a bank. Our economists say, it is a far greater crime to make a tractor than import a tractor.

     Invaders, for over 500 years, first attacked the granaries that sustained life, and the metal workshops that shaped tools and weapons. We are now not allowed to make a pin – from mining the abundant iron we have, to making the steel we need, to fabricating one thing that leads to another: from sheet to wire to pin, needle, etc.

     The Arts have been used historically to underplay and jail craft in our world: sabotaging its advance from handicraft, assembly and manufacture, to modern industry. Our bribed economists and ‘creatives’, claim to know little of this. Importing for them is the most import/ant Art. Art with a Capital A.

     Still fast asleep, yet acting woke, Modern Art is a tombstone in our world, burying alive the craft that would normally evolve to make machines with machines. Hindering this modern industry in non-settler colonies remains the greatest crime. This stunting underpins all the other national maladies.

     Colombo this week saw a well-funded but sparsely attended shoddy Art ‘show’. Fattened and hyped by imperialist governments, corporate conglomerates and the usual rentiers, Artists were heard miming the latest US rhetoric of ‘woke’. Perhaps a prelude to Sri Lanka’s 74^th year after Soulbury independence on February 4, and the UNHRC inquisition in March. This 200^th ee looks at the criminal version of Art, that serves to divert from the real art of developing modern machine-making industry (see ee Focus, Artists & Criminals)

• The Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm agreement between the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Indian Oil Corporation states that any possible dispute between the 2 countries will be settled by arbitration courts in Singapore. This week’s ee Focus suggests that Sri Lanka has no strategy for dealing with the maneuvers of multinational corporations: to counter the endless ingenuity of the import mafia (see ee Focus, Trade Deals).

• No oil for power, we’re told, but the Indian Oil Corporation’s Lanka unit reports almost Rs1billion in December 2021Q profits. No food, famine imminent, we’re told, but London fertilizer importer ICI’s CIC Holdings posted 9-month profits of Rs3.2billion. They make even more profits, but their tax magicians perform disappearing tricks. They also won’t reveal how much is reinvested in producing these goods here. (Hint: None!)

     Corporations have several accounts of their accounts at any given time. One book to not fool themselves, another to fool workers, another to fool shareholders, and yet another to fool the state. And many more versions. Ah! The real fictions of the corporates, gain no literary or numerary awards.

• The capitalist media (is there any other?) now diverts again from debt & default back to mass death & fault-finding: As another UN agency gone rogue, this white-funded Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) threatens to rake Sri Lanka over frigid Swiss snowjobs on March 3.

     Media could be headlining daily the national priority for modern industrialization. To not just go beyond debts, but to also cease the sermonizing. Media instead promote dependence on accessing imperialist capital and exporting to their finicky markets. They won’t discuss first taking control of our own home market. The US this week threatened to bar Sri Lankan nail exports. ee always reminds, Lanka does not make even a pin (which could lead to nails, needles, wire etc). So what’s with the nails? (ee Industry)

• A spluttering live wire runs underground from the US embassy in Colombo 3 and from the English High Commission in Colombo 7. The wire appeared overground this week, sparking up a Daily Mirror reporter’s ass. The wire extends angiogram-like to the poor man’s fingers, which prey and pounce, like the jaws of a ventriloquist dummy, onto his laptop keys. Or more possibly, he just rubberstamps his name to US political attaché press releases.

     Readers may ponder how exactly the wire makes it way up there thru the DM reporter’s rear. Does it first snake through the owners and then the editors? The Daily Mirror belongs to the Wijeya Group, who ran Anagarika Dharmapala into exile. These families who ran the Anagarika out of the country now act as adoring acolytes, fantasizing a non-industrial caricature of the independence Dharmapala sought for the people. In truth, they need no wires. The fealty of these ruling oligarchs to whiteness is wireless!

     This DM hack, who usually echoes NATO howling, reached new levels of hysteria, hilarity and sycophancy this week. He mangled and distorted a press release from the media-maligned organic fertilizer company Seawin to attack China’s links with Sri Lanka. Seawin exposes the sabotage by ‘Agricultural Professors’, clearly in the pay of the chemical fertilizer import mafia, working overtime to overturn state policy. Jayavayva! DM instead headlined the press release with a fraudulent charge that the Chinese company is still pursuing a claim in the UN against Sri Lanka (ee Agriculture).

• The Seawin affair flashes more insight into the agribusiness import mafia that still controls the media and education systems. Was the mishandling of the Seawin issue, deliberate, sheer nonchalance, carelessness, naivete, or political manoeuvring by import merchants to control agricultural policy? After centuries of colonial trade, older multinationals like Unilever, ICI-CIC, Nestles, run the agri-chemical game, and brook no interference. They puppeteer the regulatory authorities (standards, labs, etc) and the media. Firmly under their thumb, they pull the wires that excite DM reporters’ nether lands. And not just DM.

     The wires that are constantly clicking out imperial edict and worldview are a unified network with numerous fibres, overlapping with the grids that deliver fuel, electricity, water, cable TV, fast-moving consumer goods, and violence. This wiring can excite stipendiary professors, economists and other experts who keep rushing out of their air-conditioned woodwork, to demand imported fertilizers warning of imminent famine, to insist we return to the IMF; importers and exporters wail for dollars, pharma importers fake local production, warning of shortages. All holding up the stage for the culture of imported consumption and imported culture. The next stage is the question.

Contents:

A1. Reader Comments –

• Nannies for capitalists • Oil Importers Set to Grab Assets

A2. Quotes of the Week

• Federal Constitution Demand Irrevocable • Food inflation driven by Wheat • England Frees SL Coup Plotters • Land rights still feudal • 55% of US prisoners work • Math, Art & History

A3. Random Notes –

• IMF Sans Frontières • Media Contradictions • Rogue UN Agencies • Rating raters • The stock market is the country is the stock market • Sachet Pollution & Unilever • SL vs. Thai Home Market • Colombo as Parasite • Only powerful state can ensure Industrial Class • Apparel Threatens Government • WB Plies Media • English Media is for Whites • Tea & Tobacco • SME Love Affairs • US & India’s RSS

B. ee Focus    

B1. China Fertilizer Spat Underlines Sri Lanka’s Struggles with International Trade Deals

– Rathindra Kuruwita

B2. Artists & Criminals (Colombo, Its Scapes & Escapes)

C. News Index

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A1. Reader Comments

ee thanks Readers who send articles of interest. Please excerpt or summarize what is important about any news sent, or your comments, and place any e-link at the end. Email: econenews@gmail.com

• ‘“Nannies the capitalists” – love that line.’

• ‘Re: 20% spent on oil imports. What will it be next month when oil prices skyrocket as planned by the cartels? It is not only Sri Lanka’s assets they plan to take over.’

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A2. Quotes of the Week_

• ‘In a federal constitution, powers given, cannot be taken back. This is why, in the letter addressed to the Indian Prime Minister, the parties of the North and East gave primacy to the demand for federalism and sought Indian support for it.’ – ee Sovereignty, Posturing

• ‘Irresponsible university professors in Sri Lanka, who are doing their best to resist the implementation of the president’s green agriculture strategy and question the test reports of international authoritative institutions without reason, regardless of the strategic policy of green agriculture promulgated by the president, the long-term interests of Sri Lankan people, do not contribute to the country and the people with their own study and knowledge’ – Seawin, ee Agriculture

• ‘Global food inflation is driven predominantly by wheat, which reported price rises due to drought and high temperature in major producing countries. In 2021, spring wheat production declined by 40% in the US. Russia, the world’s largest exporter of wheat, also harvested less and has now imposed a tax on wheat export to ensure ample stock for domestic consumption. Unusual frosts in Brazil’s coffee-bean producing areas in July 2021 have led to a production dip of up to 10%’ (ee Agriculture)

• ‘A Very English Coup within a Coup – ‘Trial-at-Bar, presided by Justice MC Sansoni, with Justice HNG Fernando, and Justice LB de Silva sat for 324 days from June 3, 1963. 11 defendants were convicted for 10 years imprisonment, and forfeiture of properties. Convicts appealed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, England, April 1965. Dec 2, 1965, the JC comprising Lords McDermott, Pearson, Morris, Guest and Pearce held: ‘The Ceylon Government has no powers to pass the new law styled, The Criminal Law (Special Provisions) Act No1 of 1962, which is ultra vires, bad in law, and had denied a fair trial… the convictions cannot stand.’’ – ee Security, Coup

• ‘Although Sri Lanka inherited ‘capitalism’ through its colonial history, the country’s land rights are still feudal. Many citizens have the ‘user right’ to land but not the legal ownership, while about 75% of land belongs to the government.’ – ee Economists, Investors & Lenders

• ‘Norway is uniquely placed to reconcile alienated parties. Apart from its strong intelligence system in Afghanistan, Norway has carved out a niche for itself in international diplomacy in diverse theatres such as Mozambique, Venezuela, Colombia, the Philippines, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Myanmar, Somalia, Sri Lanka, South Sudan. In the absence of an active intelligence station in Afghanistan, CIA and MI6 depend on inputs from the Norwegian Refugee Council, which has an extensive network of thousands of field workers.’ – ee Sovereignty, Taliban

• ‘55% of prisoners in US prisons work while serving their sentences, with jobs ranging from internal work related to food service, maintenance, and cleaning, to correctional industry programs that require prisoners to either work for private employers or, more often, for public agencies in jobs like construction or manufacturing’ – ee Workers, US Prison Slaves

• ‘Languages, math, physics and biology are all taught in a similar way, from the basic to the complex, whereas history is taught completely differently, as a chronological sequence of accidents and anecdotes. eg, ‘Stalin hungered for power, Hitler hungered for power, and Washington loved freedom’ is inert trash, to be simply accepted or rejected. ‘The Soviet Union was forced to carry out purges because German Lebensraum was an attempt to replicate US Manifest Destiny’ is history that makes sense. You can scroll forwards and backwards in time, inwards or outwards in granularity.’ – ee Politics, Potato

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A3. Random Notes (‘Seeing Number in Chaos’)_

• Economists and media kept up their drumbeat this week, how Sri Lanka must march further into the embrace of the IMF, as needed & inevitable. ‘Manifest Destiny’ was the 19^thC US doctrine /belief that the expansion of white supremacy throughout the continents was both justified and inevitable. But it does not stop there. Maybe, these economists just wish us concede we’re a US colony, by bowing further down to IMF Destiny Sans Frontiers.

• The media needs congratulations for their persistent broadcasting of bewilderment and confusion. Every ‘issue’ is life-and-death – from Litro to Powercuts to Debt and Dollars – with same sensational contradictory declarations every hour and every few months, Rain means floods and dengue. No rain means drought and famine. The news changes as fast as prices like the tickers of the stock exchange. Media and powercuts. What is the effect of financial capitalism on the media? One immediate effect: constant attempts to bewilder readers.

     The capitalist mass media is a disgrace. It is dumbass everywhere, but even more so here. Especially since we need a media where people can discuss economic priorities, based on statistics, health reports on daily conditions of the majority, teaching people how to analyze, not just the news but the source and the timing of the information.

     A good example (all you have to do is read weekly ee news compendia) is the hourly contradictory reports, this time about power cuts. Even more mercurial than the tropical monsoonal caprice we’re subject to. Again, is it based on whoever bribes them, or the needs of larger forces who wish to destabilize the country further? (ee Industry, PUCSL etc.)

• UNHRC and certain UN agencies, having escaped the control of the UN General Assembly, are wielded as third testicles of NATO. The UN took away votes of some countries that have not paid their dues. But not of the US state, tho withholding the most funds owed to the UN.

     The other organ brandished by US-led NATO is of course the financial institutions. The World Bank, IMF, WTO, Paris Club, Rating Agencies, London Club, etc. No demands for transparency from them. They’re opaque, except for daily protestations of their wonderful ‘green, gender-sensitive, sustainable’ creds.

     The Rate Race – Why don’t the rating agencies divulge the ratings and worldview of those managers who calculate the ratings? After all, many of the economies they gave positive ratings, have since crashed. No democracy until such raters are rated.

• ee has been meditating on headlines. ‘Sri Lanka slips for the 4^th day’ announces EconomyNext. The stock market is the country is the stock market. US-linked Echelon media’s EconomyNext is linked to Fitch. US-regulated rating agency Fitch this week targeted the Ceylon Electricity Board.

     Rockefeller’s Exxon controls the flow of ‘energy’ to Sri Lanka. Capitalists and their media keep yammering about a dearth of dollars, fuel, fertilizer, food. Like the ‘drug trade’ and ‘terrorism’, the media refuse to the name the source of drugs and terror.

     While NATO has been waging war in Afghanistan, inducting mercenaries (terrorists), turning that country into a heroin factory. The ganja brand of choice or no choice, among Colombo’s rich imbibers, became ‘I’m smoking Kush’. Kush is the mountain range in north Pakistan and Afghanistan. So, even though NATO is named after the North Atlantic, it also flows through the Kush, as it does into the Indus and Ganges, and the Mahaveli, all the way to Trincomalee.

• ‘4 million sachets are thrown into the environment every month, leading to blocked drains, culverts and pollution of rivers, lakes and the sea’(ee Agriculture, Plastic). Unilever should confess how it encouraged this throwaway culture. Unilever predominates from kaday and supermarket shelf to continental sea shelf, which is supposed to be drowning in used-Unilever FMCGs!

• Unilever SL Chairman Carl Cruz once described the ‘consumer base’ in Sri Lanka’s Western Province as ‘almost equal to the consumer base in Thailand which is affluent and modern’ (National School of Business Management’s Business Dialogue, No1, 2019). Thailand has almost 70million people. Sri Lanka’s Western Province is at most 6mn people. The country’s entire population is 22mn. So what does Western Province produce? And who says Sri Lanka has no ‘home market’ for industrialization? Unilever.

• Sri Lanka’s Western Province and Colombo are parasites on the country. Its mode of consumption is in non-essential goods. If a tsunami were to destroy the parasites, the country would thrive.

     If versions of Colombo were reproduced across the country, people would starve. What is wrong with our economy, exactly? How do we compare with other colonized countries? How productive is our economy? Do we produce wage goods (that feed workers, and luxuries) or capital goods (factory buildings, machinery, equipment, vehicles, and tools of production), or develop modern skills? Is it jam or mung aeta? Jam may be essential but not productive, recyclable or reproducible. Most of the wealthy are living off the wealth earned by foreign exchange (remittances, tea, rubber, etc), eating rice produced in the rest of the country, but not producing anything worthwhile. Rural wealth is drained into Colombo and Western Province, and consumed. Labor and plantation export earnings are from outside Colombo. Why are the media and politicians so concerned about ‘development’? (many ministries, NGOs titled with ‘Development’) What do we mean by development? Why use euphemisms that never change like ‘developing’ and ‘emerging’? Are we not still being underdeveloped?

     Mass murder has been the weapon of choice every two decades or so, by a corrupt oligarchy of chameleonic hues. Faced with rampant unemployment and soaring inflation, capitalists, who monopolize the resources of the country, refuse to employ people in any skilled undertaking, or invest in their collective genius.

     An industrial class dedicated to capital accumulation (investing in machine-making, new skills) has not emerged from market forces. Only a powerful state can ensure such an emergence.

• ee’s media literacy department found every word of this headline interesting: ‘Apparel industry will continue dialogue with Govt on forex crisis: JAAF’: ‘Apparel’ appears to be a fancier word for rags than ‘garment’. Apparel also has a religious meaning, involving vestments for deities. The Middle English however involves: ‘furnishings, equipment’. JAAF as far as we know does not make any furnishings or equipment. Or plan to.

     The story is a press release, with the headline even suggesting a threat: ‘will continue’. What plans does the rag business have, if they stop talking to the government, or if the government stops talking to them This week, recalls after all the capitalist coup against the 1962 Sirimavo government, The stories ascribe all manner of ‘governance’ issues – ‘plural society’ – to justify the coup. Dialogue suggests only 2 participants. What about the vast majority of workers in this business? Many are women. And call it a business, cos it’s not an industry. It makes not a pin, needle, thread, fabric or machine. At least, in any way begin to transform from labor-intensive manufacture (assembly, really) to a modern skilled industry. Instead, there are empty press releases like this which promise ‘supply chain’ consolidation, etc. Finally, why is it a ‘forex crisis’ faced? When the real crisis is, dollars for what? It has not been to invest in industry. The story turns out to be an ad of the new board of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) of SL, just to say they’re alive! Are they a foreign-controlled outfit? Their constituents: Fabric and Apparel Accessory Manufacturers Association, Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Association, Apparel Exporters Association, Chamber of Garment Exporters, Apparel Sourcing Association etc, all suggest they’re centred somewhere else, where machines are made.

     The truth is there’s been a 500+year white coup in progress to prevent the independence of the country. This has accelerated since 1948 under Black masks to demoralize the people (see ee Industry Apparel).

• The World Bank gets assured access to Sri Lanka’s media. Every obtuse press release is faithfully photocopied in every rag. The WB can’t explain its repeated failures. It steamrolls its way, like the US war machine. This week it claims to be for ‘green, resilient and inclusive development’ in Sri Lanka. The WB don’t explain why it’s helped sabotage the government’s organic policy (ee Agriculture). The WB’s IFC also launched a study on ‘Women Technopreneurs’ with SLASSCOM. (ee Workers). Yet ,still no word about what the IFC told SL bankers at their recent conference.

• The English media is written for the whites and linked wannabes, their embassies and for mythical white investors. This media’s job is to muddy the waters, so scribblers clumsily strive to deliver enough sludge to fling at purported enemies. The English media doesn’t mind how clumsy and cloddish they appear, corpulent with stuffing themselves with inflated dollars. They will simply say, this is our job – glaring typos, and the lies of whitewashed supremacy, included.

• The oligarchy is a small minority. Eswaran Brothers boast they’re ‘the 3^rd-largest value-added tea exporters, with one of the largest modern teabag facilities’. Their Board shows the interlinks of the plantation game with the agri importers and the banking system, with reps from Ceylon Tobacco Co, Sunshine Holdings, Ambeon Capital, Stratagem Partners, HNB, People’s Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, ANZ Grindlays etc.

• ee was impressed by this badly written business news floss, which refers to Keells bubbling the stockmarket this week: ‘JKH saw 80.65 million of its shares traded for Rs12.98billion. Single biggest shareholder, Canada-based global financial services giant Fairfax, transferred part of its holding via Citigroup Global Markets Ltd Agency Trading Prop Securities to related party HWIC Asia Fund. Citigroup GMLATPS as of 30 Sept 2021 held 10.7 %. HWIC Asia Fund held 39.2mn shares, or 3.2% stake, in JKH…’  Phew! So just who owns Keells? Media details of shareholding usually ignore who owns voting shares – the only shares that matter.

• Imperialist governments love SMEs (small & medium enterprises): “ADB assures support to diversify exports via SMEs”. Yet, this week, the People’s Bank CEO divulged there’s a 50% Rate of SME failure in Sri Lanka, which we take to mean, 1 out of 2 that start up, shut down. At the same time, we’re told ‘SMEs contribute nearly 70% to SL’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment generation… Almost 100% of small businesses in Sri Lanka are family-run’.

• Onetime US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, famous for greasing the Yahapalana government’s accession to US military demands, was Washington’s recent envoy in New Delhi: Atul Keshap was ‘removed from office’, gleefully proclaimed Sunday Times, quoting ‘a leading American website The Wire.’. The Wire is an Indian rag, as far as ee knows, owned by the Tata oligarchy.

     The story suggests, Atul Keshap was appointed by the private US Chamber of Commerce (USCC), to cover up his removal from the US diplomatic service, due to his meeting with the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

     On 5 Jan 2022, Keshap joined the USCC (the largest US lobbying group) to head its US-India Business Council (USIBC). The ‘controversy’ over his Sept 2021 RSS meeting is said to have ‘plagued his final months in the US Foreign Service’. He met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and then ‘unexpectedly announced the end of his tenure in New Delhi’. Just the day before, he had invited Indian editors for a getting-to-know-you lunch. Did someone in Washington pull the plug on his tenure? (ee Sovereignty, Keshap)

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B. Special Focus_

B1. China Fertilizer Spat Underlines Sri Lanka’s Struggles with International Trade Deals

– Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lanka has a lot to learn about entering agreements with international companies – and the repercussions of violating them.

     In September of last year, the Sri Lankan government banned a shipment of 20,000 tons of fertilizer, worth $6.9million, from China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co, alleging that there were harmful bacteria in the fertilizer. The ensuing controversy has created a lively debate among analysts.

     After months of lawfare in Sri Lankan courts and never-ending missives between the Sri Lankan government and Qingdao Seawin Biotech, the People’s Bank of SL paid $6.9mn to the China-based fertilizer company in early January as compensation. Earlier, the Colombo Commercial High Court had dissolved the enjoining order preventing payment on a Letter of Credit to Qingdao Seawin Biotech, as all parties had agreed to settle their dispute by shipping a new stock of standardized fertilizer – despite Sri Lanka having rejected 2 previous shipments.

     The disagreement between institutions under the government and Qingdao Seawin Biotech not only created a rare diplomatic tussle between China and Sri Lanka, but very nearly saw Sri Lanka taken before international arbitration courts.

     While arbitration is an important tool in solving international trade disputes, it is costly and powerful. International entities can exert their dominance over sovereign governments that are already reeling from underdeveloped legal infrastructure and capacity. Sri Lanka has been taken to arbitration courts in the past, and its performance there has been less than stellar.

     These forays have shown that Sri Lanka has a lot to learn about entering international agreements and the repercussions of violating them for reasons of sheer expedience. Sri Lanka’s lack of capacity to go toe-to-toe with international legal experts employed by multinational corporations was most recently shown in the X-Press Pearl disaster. More than half a year on, the country is still struggling to get adequate compensation for the damages done to its environment and the fisheries industry by the massive chemical spill that resulted from a fire onboard the ship.

     This time, however, the risks are greater. International companies are already hesitant to work with Sri Lanka, given its serious forex crisis and drop in credit ratings. KLS Energy Lanka, a subsidiary of a Malaysian renewable energy producer, has an ongoing arbitration case against Sri Lanka; a much-publicized arbitration issue with a large Chinese company on top of that could have a tremendous adverse effect on Sri Lanka’s ability to trade with foreign entities.

     While the need for Chinese assistance in tackling Sri Lanka’s economic crisis obviously played a role in the brokering of an agreement between the Sri Lankan government and the Chinese company, it also confirmed that it was Sri Lanka that violated the agreement with Qingdao Seawin Biotech. In essence, the agreement with Qingdao Seawin Biotech was another international agreement Sri Lanka entered into without proper consideration, and drafted without the inputs of those with international commercial law expertise or experience.

     Sri Lankan politicians and policy wonks view this crisis through the usual prism of sovereignty and China’s ability to influence, if not shape, policy in Sri Lanka. Yet the 2 main reasons for the crisis are the country’s underdeveloped legal infrastructure and the lack of capacity of various government entities to negotiate or sign agreements with international companies. Given that the country had been dragged before international arbitration courts by international companies a number of times in the recent past, and the possibility that it will face similar quagmires and confrontations in future, Sri Lanka should get its act together when making agreements with multinational companies.

     As mentioned, this is not the first time that Sri Lanka entered into an ill-advised agreement with an international company. The most famous of these cases was the hedging agreement with CITI Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Deutsche Bank in 2008, to purchase crude oil at a predetermined price following an increase in global prices. Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) entered this novel and rather unprecedented transaction with no previous experience, on dubious instructions.

     However, crude oil prices in the global market dropped drastically months after the agreement was reached and Sri Lanka decided to suspend all hedging-related payments, following the Supreme Court ruling that the deal was in violation of the Constitution.

     Deutsche Bank AG promptly started arbitration proceedings under the terms of the Germany-SL Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). The Bank claimed that Sri Lanka’s actions deprived it of the economic value of the Hedging Agreement and that the withdrawal of payments constituted a breach of Article 4(2) of BIT, which prohibited expropriation of an investor’s property. The Bank’s position was that the intervention of the Supreme Court and the Central Bank amounted to indirect expropriation of their rights under the Hedging Agreement.

     The analysis of the Tribunal on these issues is highly pertinent. Some of the defenses cited by the Sri Lankan state in the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) arbitration – ie, lack of capacity, lack of authority, and supervening illegality – raised serious concerns amongst foreign investors, because these are conditions that affect any foreign investment. The hedging transactions had been discussed and approved at the Cabinet level, prior to them being entered into and duly approved by the CPC Board. Moreover, the actions of the Central Bank of SL following default by the CPC raised serious concerns with regard to the regulator itself.

     While the case was settled in 2016, it seems unlikely that Sri Lankan policymakers have learned their lesson. In 2018, KLS Energy Lanka, a subsidiary of Malaysian renewable energy producer Energy SdnBhd, filed an arbitration case against the Sri Lankan government under BIT Malaysia-SL 1982. The arbitration was filed over the cancellation of a $150million wind-solar hybrid power project by the Sri Lankan government.

     The Board of Control for Cricket in SL v WSG Nimbus Pte Ltd was another instance in which muddled agreements landed Sri Lanka in trouble.

     More recently, agreements between Sri Lanka and India to develop the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm as a joint venture between CPC and Lanka IOC state, the 2 parties have to go before arbitration courts in Singapore to settle any possible dispute. According to the terms of previous MoUs between the Lanka IOC and Sri Lanka vis-à-vis the Tank Farm, any issue arising between the 2 parties would have been solved via Sri Lankan law.

     Given that the agreements between the parties – a lease agreement, a modalities agreement, and an agreement on the Joint Venture Company, ie, Trinco Petroleum Terminal Ltd – have remained secretive, with only the modalities agreement presented to Parliament, it is likely that, as critics claim, the agreement is disadvantageous to Sri Lanka. [The Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party, Pubudu Jayagoda, stated, ‘Our previous performances before arbitration courts have been less than stellar. Given this context, this seems to be another agreement that lands us in trouble at international arbitration courts.’]

     Sri Lanka has tended to enter into agreements with international companies that have proved to be far from perfect. Sri Lankan politicians and courts have then responded to the issues that arise from these agreements in an ad hoc manner.

     In cases such as Light Weight Body Armour Ltd v SL Army and Elgitread Lanka (Private) Limited v Bino Tyres (Private) Ltd, Sri Lankan courts appeared to have taken the view that they should circumscribe their powers within the ambit of the Arbitration Act and that parties must be encouraged to resolve disputes through arbitration. However, with regard to the Qingdao Seawin Biotech case, the Commercial High Court of Colombo ordered the People’s Bank not to honor the Letter of Credit it had issued. Perhaps the similarity of the court action and the behavior of politicians in this case compared to the hedging deal nullification is what triggered the Chinese to take swift action.

     As Sri Lanka increasingly looks to make agreements with foreign companies in several fields, the chances of the country getting entangled in commercial disputes will rise. It is the responsibility of the state to make agreements with foreign nations that are transparent and subject to public dialogue before they are signed, so that inputs from wider sources can help rectify any potential issues.

– http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/25/china-fertilizer-spat-underlines-sri-lankas-struggles-with-international-trade-deals/

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B2. The Jailing of Craft – the Great Art Crime (Colombo, Its Scapes & Escapes)

The Artist with a Capital A arises under the clutter and clatter of Unilever’s massive advertising sponsorships, usurer Standard Chartered’s Gratiaen Literary Award and Korporate Keells’ Keytian Kala Pola, the EU’s Biennales, USAID’s Poetry Slams, NATO’s Colomboscope, Dancing Platforms and Performance Festivals, and all jabber about ‘sustainable capitalism, social responsibility, inclusivity, gender sensitivity’…

English Curator: ‘I don’t understand the English you speak’

Sinhala Hasthakarmanthakaruva: ‘Does anyone understand your English?’

Art with a Capital A rushes in, throwing dollars, pounds and euros around, shooting off their mouths and guns, wearing masks of hauteur and righteousness. Craft is thrown behind bars, handcuffed as handicraft, with access denied to new tools and technologies. Stunted.

     Artists with a Capital A appear in the jails and courts, they exact and translate confessions, denouncing superstition, devilry and futile conspiracy. Craft is fetishized as folk art, for gawking tourists in shops. Artist’s fictions are embalmed in galleries, boardrooms and bank vaults. Copies to media and schools, advertising and arts departments.

     Behind Art with a Capital A stands exploitation, terror and finance. Behind Art, the bankers, the tax magicians – lawyers and accountants – mercenary corps of rentiers and related launderers, arms and drug dealers, land speculators, art buyers and dealers, art critics, connoisseurs and raconteurs, battalions of art professors and arts graduates, historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, curators and directors. Behind them on high benches sit the Land Tax, Paddy Tax, the Temple Lands Acts, the Business Laws. Wrapped in a magic coat, empire’s naked aggression – dripping bloody from head to toe – is fashioned in the latest haute couture of abstract freedoms – ‘woke’!

     Art is cast as modern. Some Capital-A Artists are framed. Craft is sentenced to life in the ancient museum. With the tools they made, and ancient techniques handed down.

     At a time, such as this, with fictitious money chasing commodities made scarce, what else is art to do, than fulfil its fiduciary duty, and hop onto the roulette wheel in the casino?

Artists – with a Capital A – think highly of themselves. Sensitive. Romantic. Hungry. Pure. Innocent. Creative. Cultured. Alone. Insane, within market limits. Creatively twisted. Artists with a Capital A.

     Artists love to criticize politicians. Lerrrvvve! How politicians don’t do what they promise. Politicians steal. Politicians are hypocrites.

     Hypocrite comes to the English from the Greek word for actor. The origins of the word ‘person’ comes from ‘actor’s mask’. Somewhere along the way a ‘person’ becomes a human being. Underneath the mask of declaring all people ‘equal’, a corporation too is made a ‘person’ under US law. Corporations are now more powerful than most states. Corporate behemoths are declared the real NGOs. Their CEOs, far less accountable than politicians.

     Politicians may be the more-important Artists, the crucial Actors. For the real technique of art and science is to shape and even better, change the world. When did ‘act’ become ‘pretend’, ‘masquerade’? Capitalist-A Artists are often Capitalist-P Politicians, or the sons and daughters of the political status quo. These Artists, they hate themselves – or love themselves overmuch. More often they hate people, call them ‘sheep’. But these Artists are the biggest sheep. Their silences louder than silence itself. Let us explain (with a simple e).

     Most Artists are employed by institutions – states, corporations. They work for Advertising Companies. Sometimes called Public Relations – PR – companies. Institutes of Marketing. Propaganda Cults.

     Cult and culture are among the top most-complicated English words. Traced through Latin colore, a word with many meanings, culture travels from ‘inhabit’ to ‘growing’ food to ‘honor with worship’, to ‘fashion’. From ‘inhabit’, it even formed the word ‘colony’.

     Non-settler colonial states, like Sri Lanka, promote and sell imported industrial products and their politicians. The white-Black also imitates the non-settler white man, who was here for a quicky on behalf of an absentee-investor. They promote the non-settler culture of consumption not production.

     They draw, paint, they hum, sometimes words, sometimes images, sometimes tunes, they advise. Mostly, they copy the strategies to sell foreign industrial products to colonies. They market – themselves and an imposed culture. They mimic. They copy. Hence, they get tagged, copywriters,

     Their job helps make the small, Big, and the Great, little. They make nothing seem like everything. And everything, like nothing. They’re magicians. They may make you disappear, before you’re even disappeared. By magic, mass murderers and global bandits are anointed judges of human and other rights. Fair&lovely.

     Their words, their images, their tunes, seek to drown the landscape, the earscape, the eyescape, the nosescape, the tonguescape, and touchscape. They dominate the media. So they try to dominate our brainscape as well. Conversation. Culture. Yet most Capitalist-A Artists are slaves in fancy dress.

     They all claim to be from Colombo. From Sri Lanka. But they live in a mental suburban closet of imperialist New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Tokyo, sometimes Delhi, etc. Plus seaside plus servants. It is a cult and a culture.

     In Sri Lanka, the Propaganda Cult is controlled by one huge English multinational corporation (MNC). This AngloManiac MNC is called Unilever. They are highly invested in the plantation and marketing game. Many Unilever companies even claim not to be Unilever. Unilever also controls many PR and Ad Agencies and NGOs, those who control media time. Feasting on the surpluses they extract, the taxes they don’t pay, the profits they ferret to their home bases, they only invest in modern industry over there.

     MNCs operate around the world. They own hundreds of companies inside Sri Lanka. They have fancy names. Sci-fi names. Names implying the most-modern technologies and dreams. Yet they block access to modernity and dreams. And worse, they aim to enslave. They are the biggest criminals the world has ever seen.

     Copywriters – the word ‘copy’ from the Latin for ‘abundance’ – copious, travels to ‘transcript’, to ‘give permission to transcribe’ – copiam describendi facere. Gives permission! Remember this. As for writers – the word ‘write’ travels from ‘score’ and ‘carve’. Writer became an entry-level position leading to junior merchant, senior merchant, supercargo, director, etc, in England’s East India Company (EIC). These ‘companies’ (a word from ‘breaking bread’ – panis – among themselves alone) were behind the most-profitable trades from the 16^th century: The trade in human flesh – slavery – and its mortification, opium. England’s EIC was one big writing and fighting machine.

     The most famous EIC ’writer’ was John D’Oyly, who connived to topple the last kingdom of Sinhale, and was made a lord. He had learned Sinhala, and become an avid translator. D’Oyly is therefore the real ‘father’ of the English Department – which in all guises, from plainclothes to uniform to suit – still underdevelops Sri Lanka. D’Oyly paid the poets to sing kavi kola kanards against the last kingdom of Sinhale.

     The English EIC and its trade in human flesh and opium (grown in India and forced on China through war) gave rise to the modern banks (Standard Chartered, HSBC) and corporations (Unilever, P&O, Keells, etc.) Corporations (from Latin for the ‘body’ – corpus) are richer than states, and rule the world on behalf of the imperialist states that protect them.

     Our Capitalist-A Artists who hate states and politicians, never challenge these corporations, their brands. Yet their instruments (computers, guitars, etc) are imported from and by corporations.

     Since the mid-19^th century, the most powerful imperialist states have been based on machines making machines. They prevent machine-making in our countries by all means. Modern capitalism is machine-making. Assembly is not modern industry. Manufacture is not modern industry. Handicraft neither, stunted into exoticism. Like the novel.

     These import sects promote a slavish version of Capitalist A-Art, imported from rarefied closets in the imperialist centres. Art as something to hang on a wall, or throw on the ground. Or sing, or recite. It is separated from science and technology. In fact, it poses as luddite (raging against machines), anarchist, nihilist. Even as it obtains materials and instruments and funding from imperialist (modern industrial) countries – USAID, Brutish Council, Goethe, Alliance Francaise, etc) – to mimic long-outdated capitalist forms. Unless mummified as speculative fictitious capital in the galleries and agencies.

     This brings us to the latest imperialist-funded ‘Language is Migrant’ muddle. In Sri Lanka, these multinational corporations rule through regional merchant and moneylender lender networks. They dominate Sri Lanka’s economy. They also dominate the cultural (‘ethnic’ – from the Greek word meaning ‘hordes outside the gates’) and religious identities, which these business sects cloak themselves in.

     Language is migrant only for these regional and multinational merchants. Their main enemy is Sinhala Buddhist cultivators and workers, who they despise as ‘goday’, ‘chauvinist’.

     While talking ‘migrant’ and the latest ‘woke’ whitewash, these art curators and middlepersons (!) – with their professors and money launderers in tow – rob local workers. They refuse to pay translators etc, living wages, nor do these cultural fronts of imperialism,  pay taxes.

     Keells, a spawn of huge shipping monopolies like P&O, hand in glove with the US Treasury’s World Bank, sponsors Keytian Kala Pola simulacra, and grating Gratien flit-lit. Yet they break labor laws, underpaying workers, particularly women, forced to work 16 hours a day. They then claim to be ‘gender-sensitive’!

     The most-profitable capitalist networks in Sri Lanka operate human trafficking networks, recruiting rural workers to sell to slave markets in West Asian and other colonies of Euro-Amerika. The remittances these workers return are plucked by capitalist banks and not invested in industrializing rural work. It is frittered away on importing MNC trinkets, the fuels of Rockefeller to run the toys of Toyota and Tata, on real-estate speculation.

     Who are the new D’Oylys? Who indeed are the Uncle-Sam-come-lately D’Oylys? This Art builds, not factories, but façade. NGOs provide links for intelligence networks, which mesh with the corporate distribution networks, moving imported goods, and sucking out capital. Corporate apps artificially inflate popularity, repeat and saturate, downplay, harass, isolate and eliminate critics, manipulating mass public opinion across major social media platforms, confusing priorities.

     We are not allowed to make a pin, from mining the iron, to making the steel, to fabricate one thing that leads to another. This erosion underpins all the other maladies and crimes, but finds no echo in the media or the arts. Long kept asleep, yet acting woke: The greatest crime of the media and other arts, is the historical underplaying and jailing of craft: the prevention of steps to modern industry.

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C. News Index______________________________________________

• ee News Index provides headlines & links to make sense of the weekly focus of published English ‘business news’ to expose the backwardness of multinational, corporate controlled ‘local media’:

C1. Sovereignty

(ee is pro-politics, pro-politician, pro-nation-state, anti-corporatist, anti-expert, anti-NGO)

ee Sovereignty news emphasizes sovereignty as economic sovereignty – a strong nation is built on modern (machine-making) industrialization fueled by a producer culture.

• India remembers IPKF at Republic Day celebrations

– island.lk/india-remembers-ipkf-at-republic-day-celebrations/

– island.lk/gl%e2%80%88appreciates-indian-assistance-for-sri-lanka/

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/26/indias-73rd-r-day-parade-stars-many-firsts-flypast-grand-finale/

• How Quad strategy to contain China affects Sri Lanka

‘Japan, Korea, England and Canada are part of the US-led coalition against China… overwhelmed by their well-rehearsed chorus, backed by their International NGO hacks, Sri Lanka lacked political will at least to set the record straight.’

– island.lk/how-quad-strategy-to-contain-china-affects-sri-lanka/

• How White Empire Is A Thing – How white countries dominate the world

– indica.medium.com/how-white-empire-is-a-thing-df82eca0006b

• India, China and us

– kalaya.org/?p=4969

• Trincomalee is a big win; more to do to get Lanka off China addiction – Deccan Herald

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/23/trincomalee-is-a-big-win-more-to-do-to-get-lanka-off-china-addiction/

• Relationship with India is our most important relationship, period: Milinda

– indianexpress.com/article/india/express-interview-milinda-moragoda-sri-lanka-high-commissioner-to-india-7738495/lite/

• Board of directors of Trinco Petroleum Terminal Ltd. Announced

‘Chaired by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) chairman Sumith Wijesinghe, directors consist of Prof. Prabhath Samarasinghe, Attorney Bhupathi Kahathuduwa and Eng. Dhammika Mallikarachchi.’

– adaderana.lk/news/80200/board-of-directors-of-trinco-petroleum-terminal-ltd-announced

– themorning.lk/board-of-directors-of-trinco-petroleum-terminal-ltd-announced/

• Petitions challenging Trinco oil tank farm deal re-fixed for support on 25 May

– island.lk/petitions-challenging-trinco-oil-tank-farm-deal-re-fixed-for-support-on-25-may/

• India approves USD 500 million credit line to Sri Lanka

– adaderana.lk/news/80190/india-approves-usd-500-million-credit-line-to-sri-lanka

• As India and China Compete, Smaller States Are Cashing In – Observer Research Foundation

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/25/as-india-and-china-compete-smaller-states-are-cashing-in/

• FR petitions against Trinco Oil Tank Farm agreement: SC permits AG to file objections

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/FR-petitions-against-Trinco-Oil-Tank-Farm-agreement-SC-permits-AG-to-file-objections/273-229980

• Maldives stopped Chinese projects as promised, says speaker

– economynext.com/maldives-stopped-chinese-projects-as-promised-says-speaker-89873/

• Posturing in Sri Lanka for the March 03 UNHRC session

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/23/posturing-in-sri-lanka-for-the-march-unhrc-session/

• Govt. briefs diplomatic corps on current initiatives ahead of UNHRC session

– ft.lk/front-page/Govt-briefs-diplomatic-corps-on-current-initiatives-ahead-of-UNHRC-session/44-729733

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-foreign-minister-briefs-diplomats-ahead-of-tough-unhrc-session-89963/

• Tamil parties in quandary over fate of their memorandum

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/columns/tamil-parties-in-quandary-over-fate-of-their-memorandum-469827.html

• No dignity, equality and justice for Tamils in Tamil states

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/23/no-dignity-equality-and-justice-for-tamils-in-tamil-states/

• Fake passports puts NIA on alert as Tamil Nadu police probe reveals LTTE connection

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/27/fake-passports-puts-nia-on-alert-as-tamil-nadu-police-probe-reveals-ltte-connection/

• SAARC Women’s Association meets Indian High Commissioner

‘Prabha Nair Nagalingam (Country Coordinator), Yamuna Ganeshalingam (Hony Jt Secretary), Mala Kumar (Country Coordinator), Nimmi Thambiayah (President), Gopal Baglay (High Commissioner of India), Gowri Shankar Somasundaram (Secretary), Shanthi Balasubramanium (Treasurer), Fathima Razik Cader (Past President) and Irina Thakur ( first Secretary Commerce & Culture – India)’

– island.lk/saarc-womens-association-meets-indian-high-commissioner/

• Cubans will continue to oppose imperialism – Dinesh

– island.lk/cubans-will-continue-to-oppose-imperialism-dinesh/

• Govt. hits back at US Human Rights Watch comment

‘the UN evidence gathering mechanism that was contained in Resolution 46/1 and which led to division in the Council is unwarranted and unhelpful and will lead to politicization and polarization.”

– island.lk/govt-hits-back-at-hrw-comment/

• US sanctions on Gen. Silva: Labour MP seeks England stand

‘FCDO now has an English Tamil in a senior position. Maya Sivagnanam is South Asia Deputy Director for the Indian Ocean Region at the FCDO.

– island.lk/uk-indicates-sanctions-against-lanka-military/

– island.lk/us-sanctions-on-gen-silva-labour-mp-seeks-us-stand/

– ft.lk/news/Question-in-UK-Parliament-on-US-sanctions-on-Gen-Silva/56-729721

• England Conflict, Stability & Security Fund (CSSF) to prevent conflicts that threaten interests

‘official visited Jaffna and Trincomalee’

– island.lk/uk-funds-projects-here-to-prevent-conflicts-that-threaten-their-interests/

• England Lord Ahmad commend Lanka’s progress on human rights front

– island.lk/lord-ahmad-commend-lankas-progress-on-human-rights-front-presidents-media-division/

• England support for govt.’s pragmatic reconciliation process – USAID NPC Perera

– island.lk/uk-support-for-govt-s-pragmatic-reconciliation-process/

• England hints at restart of police training in Sri Lanka despite human rights abuse

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/23/uk-hints-at-restart-of-police-training-in-sri-lanka-despite-human-rights-abuse/

• Turkey foreign minister arrives in Sri Lanka

– adaderana.lk/news/80204/turkey-foreign-minister-arrives-in-sri-lanka

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/Time-to-work-on-new-impetus-in-T%C3%BCrkiye-Sri-Lanka-relations-Mevl%C3%BCt-%C3%87avu%C5%9Fo%C4%9Flu/172-229965

• Norway: Too early to pass judgment on SL LG representation and women’s quota

– island.lk/norway-too-early-to-pass-judgment-on-lg-representation-and-womens-quota/

• SL wants Japan to be go-between: GL

– dailymirror.lk/latest_news/SL-wants-Japan-to-be-go-between/342-229659

• Case for a United Indian Subcontinent

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/27/case-for-a-united-indian-subcontinent/

• Why Atul Keshap’s Exit From US Diplomatic Service After RSS Visit Is Good for the Diaspora

– thewire.in/external-affairs/why-atul-keshaps-exit-from-us-diplomatic-service-after-rss-visit-is-a-win-for-the-diaspora

• Bengali elite’s role in Dharmapala’s mission to liberate Buddhagaya

– dailymirror.lk/news-features/Bengali-elites-role-in-Dharmapalas-mission-to-liberate-Buddhagaya/131-229735

• China is ‘giving money to dictators and killers’- German Navy Chief

‘during his visit to India coinciding with the docking of German Naval Frigate ‘Bayern’ at Mumbai’

–newsfirst.lk/2022/01/23/china-is-giving-money-to-dictators-and-killers-german-navy-chief/

• The Cruel Irony of the German Ambassador’s Visit to the RSS Headquarters (2019)

‘The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has never made any secret of its love for Adolf Hitler.’

– thewire.in/world/german-ambassador-walter-lindner-rss-headquarters

• Order Prevails in Berlin – Rosa Luxemburg (1919)

– socialistproject.ca/2022/01/order-prevails-in-berlin/

• Subhas Chandra Bose displaces Mahatma Gandhi as Father of India’s Independence struggle

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/25/netaji-subhas-chandra-bose-displaces-mahatma-gandhi-as-the-father-of-indias-independence-struggle/

• Please, no more sanctions on Bangladesh’s RAB

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/27/please-no-more-sanctions-on-bangladeshs-rab/

• The West co-opts the Taliban

– indianpunchline.com/reflections-on-events-in-afghanistan-40/

• A Very Long War – From Vietnam to Afghanistan with Detours Along the Way

– newsclick.in/a-very-long-war

• Taiwan reports new large-scale Chinese air force incursion

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/24/taiwan-reports-new-large-scale-chinese-air-force-incursion/

• US going deeper into China containment obsession with new House bill: observers

– globaltimes.cn/page/202201/1248006.shtml

• North Korea conducts what could be its 6th missile test this month

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/28/north-korea-conducts-what-could-be-its-6th-missile-test-this-month/

• Battle for Palestine: Rocks and stones vs bulldozers and US Missiles

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/sunday-times-2/battle-for-palestine-rocks-and-stones-vs-bulldozers-and-apaches-469617.html

• US warplanes bomb Syrian city in alleged attempt to repel Daesh attack

– radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/283756-us-warplanes-bomb-syrian-city-in-alleged-attempt-to-repel-daesh-attack

• UAE blocks missiles as Yemen’s Houthis attack region’s business hub

– adaderana.lk/news/80127/uae-blocks-missiles-as-yemens-houthis-attack-regions-business-hub

• Internet returns to Yemen after air raid caused four-day outage and killed dozens

– radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/284026-internet-returns-to-yemen-after-air-raid-caused-four-day-outage-and-killed-dozens

• The Geopolitics Behind Spiraling Gas and Electricity Prices in Europe

– socialistproject.ca/2022/01/geopolitics-behind-spiraling-gas-and-electricity-prices-in-europe/

• Russia will intervene in Ukraine

‘any “sanctions from hell” will inevitably turn into a morality play on the world stage. There’ll be increasing blowback in the world economy as countries get concerned about Washington’s weaponisation of the dollar. Some may even feel prompted to harden their economy. This can impact the international financial market. Washington backtracked previously when such situations arose.’

– indianpunchline.com/russia-will-intervene-in-ukraine/

• A War In Ukraine Is Tactics – Putin Does Strategy

– moonofalabama.org/2022/01/a-war-in-ukraine-is-tactics-putin-does-strategy

• War drums, Russia’s red lines, NATO expansionism and Ukraine – Mirror Editorial

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/War-drums-Russias-red-lines-NATO-expansionism-and-Ukraine-EDITORIAL/172-229638

• US orders families of embassy staff out of Ukraine as tensions rise

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/24/us-orders-families-of-embassy-staff-out-of-ukraine-as-tensions-rise/

• A ‘Parthogenetic’ Conflict – There Is No Russian Invasion Threat To Ukraine

– moonofalabama.org/2022/01/a-parthogenetic-conflict-there-is-no-russian-invasion-threat-to-ukraine

• Pentagon puts 8,500 troops on high alert as U.S. claims Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine

– radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/284022-pentagon-puts-8500-troops-on-high-alert-as-us-claims-russia-is-preparing-to-invade-ukraine

• Region-wide war seen as looming over Europe

– island.lk/region-wide-war-seen-as-looming-over-europe/

• Russia’s ‘asymmetrical’ war over Ukraine – Can Europe survive without Russian gas?

– indianpunchline.com/russias-asymmetrical-war-over-ukraine/

• Why Washington Will Soon Dump Ukraine’s President Zelensky

– moonofalabama.org/2022/01/why-washington-will-soon-dump-ukraines-president

• Communist Party leader speaks out on the Canadian government’s shenanigans in Ukraine

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFP1GLraLHA

• Ethiopia, from The Development State to The Neoliberal State

– blackagendareport.com/ethiopia-development-state-neoliberal-state

• Buenaventura, Colombia Strikes Against Racial Capitalism

– blackagendareport.com/buenaventura-colombia-strikes-against-racial-capitalism

• Puerto Rico Party repudiates King of Spain for colonial anachronism paying obeisance to US

– radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/283903-minh-of-puerto-rico-repudiates-the-king-of-spain-for-colonial-anachronism

• Indigenous community finds 93 potential unmarked graves in Canada

‘Canada forced more than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children to attend residential schools between the late 1800s and 1990s’

– radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/284140-indigenous-community-finds-93-potential-unmarked-graves-in-canada

• Endless War is the Empire’s Last Dance

– blackagendareport.com/endless-war-empires-last-dance

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C2. Security (the state beyond ‘a pair of handcuffs’, monopolies of legitimate violence)

ee Security section focuses on the state (a pair of handcuffs, which sposedly has the monopoly of legitimate violence), and how the ‘national security’ doctrine is undermined by private interests, with no interest in divulging or fighting the real enemy, whose chief aim is to prevent an industrial renaissance as the basis of a truly independent nation.

• Priority need to focus on Controlling Serious Economic Crimes

– island.lk/priority-need-to-focus-on-controlling-serious-economic-crimes/

• SPEAT Force introduced for Prisons to thwart corruption and misconduct: Defence Secy

– themorning.lk/speat-force-introduced-for-prisons-to-thwart-corruption-and-misconduct-defence-secy/

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/27/speat-force-introduced-for-prisons-to-thwart-corruption-and-misconduct/

– island.lk/speat-force-to-deal-with-issues-in-prisons-in-a-more-transparent-manner/

• Sri Lanka Army Combat Convoy Company praised by UN force in terrorist-besieged Mali

– island.lk/sri-lanka-army-combat-convoy-company-receives-high-praise-from-head-of-un-force-in-terrorist-besieged-mali/

• SL Volunteer Air Force in counter-insurgency ops in 1971

– island.lk/sl-volunteer-air-force-in-counter-insurgency-ops-in-1971/

• The first to respond to 1971 Insurrection was the USA: Air Chief Marshal Mendis

– dailymirror.lk/news-features/Its-not-a-job-it-is-a-way-of-life-ACM-Mendis/131-229640

• The 28 January 1962 coup: – Jayantha Somasundaram

– island.lk/the-1962-coup-political-background/

– island.lk/standoff-between-church-and-state/

– island.lk/a-civil-service-military-and-police-conspiracy/

• 1962 Coup – Jeyaraj

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/Coup-62-PM-Sirimavo-Service-Chiefs-to-a-Dungeon-Awaiting-Execution/172-229642

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/1962-CoupTakeover-of-Govt-Through-Operation-Holdfast/172-230081

• Prevention, cooperation, mutual assistance counter terrorists in South Asia – Army Chief

– island.lk/prevention-cooperation-mutual-assistance-essential-to-counter-connected-nature-of-terrorists-in-south-asia-army-chief-2/

• Govt. publishes amendments to PTA

– ft.lk/front-page/Govt-publishes-amendments-to-PTA/44-729742

• Court grants bail to PTA detainee held for uploading LTTE Leader’s photo to FB

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Court-grants-bail-to-PTA-detainee-held-for-uploading-LTTE-Leaders-photo-to-FB/2-1136626

• Johnston: Why is Opposition silent on mastermind behind grenade in church?

– island.lk/johnston-why-are-they-silent-on-mastermind-behind-grenade-in-church/

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/all-saints-church-grenade-incident-arrested-doctors-son-challenges-ccd-statement-469836.html

• Cardinal Ranjith alleges ‘deal’ within govt to protect names in Easter attacks probe report

– adaderana.lk/news/80128/cardinal-ranjith-alleges-deal-within-govt-to-protect-those-named-in-easter-attacks-probe-report

– dailymirror.lk/latest_news/Church-doesnt-accept-concocted-evidence-Cardinal/342-229707

• Cardinal insists on taking Easter killings to int’l community

– island.lk/cardinal-insists-on-taking-easter-killings-to-intl-community/

• The Cardinal goes International – Nalin de Silva

– kalaya.org/2022/01/blog-post_25.ht

– island.lk/when-hopes-fade/

• Did Zahran commit suicide to propel Gota

– kalaya.org/?p=4937

• Magistrate orders CCD to file impartial and unbiased investigations

– dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Magistrate-orders-CCD-to-file-impartial-and-unbiased-investigations/108-229789

• Shafi Shihabdeen on his incarceration and release on bail

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/god-and-prayers-of-predominantly-sinhalese-patients-protected-me-469799.html

• Islam text books withdrawn after One-Country-One-Law Task Force raises concern

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/islam-text-books-withdrawn-after-one-country-one-law-task-force-raises-concern-469880.html

• Supreme Court suspends deradicalisation regulations

– island.lk/sc-suspends-deradicalization-regulations/

• One dead, several others injured after bus falls down precipice

– adaderana.lk/news/80202/one-dead-several-others-injured-after-bus-falls-down-precipice

• Bid to kill ambulance driver fails

– island.lk/ambulance-driver-who-tipped-off-police-about-army-van-transporting-heroin-fired-at-opposite-panadura-hospital/

• Golden Jubilee of Pakistan Navy War College: Reminiscences of a great institution

‘INS Khukri is the only ship Indian Navy has lost in battle to date…The Sri Lanka Navy also should also build up a small submarine unit as Bangladesh and Myanmar have done.’

– island.lk/golden-jubilee-of-pakistan-navy-war-college-reminiscences-of-a-great-institution/

• Negating personal security officers (PSO) culture among media persons in India

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/25/negating-pso-culture-among-media-persons-in-india/

• ICAO Report – Ryanair Plane That Landed in Minsk Was NOT Forced Down

– moonofalabama.org/2022/01/belarus-ryanair.html

• Automating Banishment: The Surveillance and Policing of Looted Land, a New Report from the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition

– blackagendareport.com/automating-banishment-surveillance-and-policing-looted-land-new-report-stop-lapd-spying-coalition

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C3. Economists (Study the Economists before you study the Economics)

ee Economists shows how paid capitalist/academic ‘professionals’ confuse (misdefinitions, etc) and divert (with false indices, etc) from the steps needed to achieve a modern industrial country.

• Sri Lanka downgraded five times in six years by Fitch – Verité Research

– themorning.lk/sri-lanka-downgraded-five-times-in-six-years-by-fitch/

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/27/fitch-downgraded-sl-five-times-within-last-six-years/

• Central Bank continues to say ‘no’ to IMF programme; confident of home-grown fix

‘Monetary Board of the Central Bank does not take decisions on its own and it is advised by the Monetary Policy Consultative Committee, which consists of the best brains in the country… policy decisions are not taken in silos and are shaped and reshaped by committees consisting of experts and around 870 qualified professionals working in the Central Bank.’

– dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Central-Bank-continues-to-say-no-to-IMF-prgramme-confident-of-home-grown-fix/108-229679

• Sri Lanka doesn’t need IMF relief, Cabraal tells foreign CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia”

– adaderana.lk/news/80162/sri-lanka-doesnt-need-imf-relief-cabraal-tells-foreign-media

• Development & Socialism – Nalin de Silva

– kalaya.org/2022/01/blog-post_24.html

• Beyond debts and defaults – Devapriya

‘money needs to be directed to productive investments, and the only way to do that is to prop up local industries and spur industrialisation’

– island.lk/beyond-debts-and-defaults/

• Why Capitalism Is A Dead Faith – That’s me in the corner, losing my religion

– indica.medium.com/why-capitalism-is-a-dead-faith-a81fdc2bdb5d

• Why Capitalism Keeps Falling Over

– indi.ca/why-capitalism-keeps-falling-over/

• Debt Restructuring and Structural Reforms: It’s Class, Stupid! – Kadirgamar

Without a public distribution system and relief for the working people we may face famine type conditions’

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/Debt-Restructuring-and-Structural-Reforms-Its-Class-Stupid/172-229637

• Foreign assistance to cope with severe shortages of essentials and foreign reserves – Sanderatne

‘We have to resolve our severe crisis in foreign reserves by restructuring our debt and obtaining foreign assistance’

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/columns/foreign-assistance-to-cope-with-severe-shortages-of-essentials-and-foreign-reserves-469736.html

• Investors and lenders– Abeyratne

‘Countries which cannot offer an investment-friendly business environment, have been attempting to cover up all weakness and bottlenecks with tax incentives. ‘

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/business-times/investors-and-lenders-469417.html

• Governing a state: Buddha’s approach is not what Buddhist rulers practice – Wijewardena

– ft.lk/columns/Governing-a-state-The-Buddha-s-approach-is-not-what-Buddhist-rulers-are-practicing-today/4-729503

• Worst economic crisis in its post-Independence history – Island Editorial

– island.lk/down-the-pallang/

• Sri Lanka minister sees no point in demonizing IMF amid attempts to fix external crisis

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-minister-sees-no-point-in-demonizing-imf-amid-attempts-to-fix-external-crisis-89860/

• Ranil says Sri Lanka paying the price for not addressing structural issues

– island.lk/ranil-says-sri-lanka-paying-the-price-for-not-addressing-structural-issues/

• SJB insists on deal with IMF to resolve foreign exchange crisis

– dailymirror.lk/latest_news/SJB-insists-on-deal-with-IMF-to-resolve-foreign-exchange-crisis/342-229712

• IMF will push us to focus on the basics and get it right.

– ft.lk/columns/Sri-Lanka-Get-back-to-basics/4-729636

• The brewing of a crisis – Sri Lanka should enter into a program with the IMF

– ft.lk/columns/The-brewing-of-a-crisis/4-729681

• From 43 Brigade, a plan worthy of engagement – R Samarajiva

‘The need to restructure the debt, within the framework of an IMF intervention or otherwise, is explicitly recognised… “free import under current exchange rates must be allowed…. “the more successful method of wealth creation is an open market economic system.” The considered rejection of state socialism,…’

– ft.lk/columns/From-43-Brigade-a-plan-worthy-of-engagement/4-729759

• Back to the seventies? Remembering the famine-like situation that prevailed fifty years ago

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/Back-to-the-seventies-Remembering-the-famine-like-situation-that-prevailed-fifty-years-ago/231-229966

• Why SL does not need to become prey to the IMF – Chula Rajapakse

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/26/why-sl-does-not-need-to-become-pray-to-the-imf/

• The futility of unconditional debt support: former World Bank official

‘IMF, negotiations over a suitable reform programme will be complicated by the need to include the Chinese in any debt restructuring. In this and many other cases, the international community must recognise the futility of ongoing assistance in the absence of accompanying reforms.’

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/sunday-times-2/the-futility-of-unconditional-debt-support-469734.html

• How Sri Lanka became the island of a thousand errors –Adam Smith Institute

– dhakatribune.com/business/2022/01/22/op-ed-how-sri-lanka-became-the-island-of-a-thousand-errors

• Sri Lanka’s foreign debt crisis leads to shortages in basic necessities – Asia News

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/27/sri-lankas-foreign-debt-crisis-leads-to-shortages-in-basic-necessities/

• SL initiates economic strategy with India

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/27/sl-initiates-economic-strategy-with-india/

• Rumors behind ‘China debt trap’: How Western and Indian conspiracists smear China-Sri Lanka cooperation

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/27/gt-investigates-rumors-behind-china-debt-trap-how-western-and-indian-conspiracists-smear-china-sri-lanka-cooperation/

• IMF cuts growth forecasts for U.S., China and world as Omicron spreads

– bizenglish.adaderana.lk/imf-cuts-growth-forecasts-for-u-s-china-and-world-as-omicron-spreads/

– ft.lk/front-page/IMF-slashes-global-growth-outlook-amid-Omicron-hit/44-729744

• High inflation to stick this year, denting global growth: Reuters poll

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/High-inflation-to-stick-this-year-denting-global-growth-Reuters-poll/273-230071

• A world rate of profit: important new evidence – Roberts

‘Marx’s law of the tendency of the rate of profit to fall has either been heavily criticised or ignored as being an irrelevant explanation of crises under capitalism, both theoretically and empirically.’

– thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2022/01/22/a-world-rate-of-profit-important-new-evidence/

• Wall Street Mega Banks Are Highly Interconnected

– wallstreetonparade.com/2022/01/federal-agency-censors-names-of-banks-in-a-bombshell-study-on-wall-streets-dangerous-derivatives/

• Wall Street Megabanks Have Dramatically Shifted their Derivative Exposure to Corporations

– wallstreetonparade.com/2022/01/a-government-study-shows-that-wall-street-megabanks-have-dramatically-shifted-their-derivative-exposure-to-corporations/

• Once Again Austerity Proponents Tell It Like It Isn’t

‘inflation-hawks are quick to highlight the cost of higher prices, they rarely, if ever, mention the costs associated with the higher interest rate policy they recommend, costs that include higher unemployment and lower wages for working people’

– socialistproject.ca/2022/01/once-again-austerity-proponents-tell-it-like-it-isnt/

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C4. Economy (Usually reported in monetary terms)

ee Economy section shows how media usually measures economy by false indices like GDP, etc., in monetary terms, confusing money and capital, constantly calling for privatization, deregulation, moaning about debt & balance of payments, without stating the need for modern industrial production.

• Commodity price hike unbearable: MP Tissa Vitharana

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/27/commodity-price-hike-unbearable-mp-tissa-vitharana/

• National inflation hits fresh high in December amid soaring food prices

‘Higher interest rates and lower money supply and imports are expected to alleviate some amount of inflation impulses after the rate hike. However, supply side price pressures are beyond Monetary Board’s control.’

– dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/National-inflation-hits-fresh-high-in-December-amid-soaring-food-prices/108-229674

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-national-inflation-hits-14-pct-in-december-2021-after-money-printing-89847/

• CBSL holdings of Govt. securities top Rs. 1.5 trillion

– ft.lk/front-page/CBSL-holdings-of-Govt-securities-top-Rs-1-5-t/44-729546

• Central Bank trumpets settlement of $500 m sovereign debt

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/business-times/central-bank-trumpets-settlement-of-500-m-sovereign-debt-469327.html

• Basil tells Financial Times Sri Lanka negotiating with bondholders, hints at talks with IMF

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Basil-tells-Financial-Times-Sri-Lanka-negotiating-with-bondholders/273-229984

– ft.lk/front-page/Basil-hints-at-talks-with-IMF/44-729736

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/27/sri-lanka-weighing-an-approach-to-the-imf-ft/

– island.lk/basil-tells-ft-all-options-being-evaluated-to-get-out-of-debt-trap/

– bizenglish.adaderana.lk/sri-lanka-trying-all-options-to-avoid-default-says-finance-minister/

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/28/discussion-within-govt-on-approaching-imf-over-financial-crisis/

• “Foreign bond holders more important to govt. than hard-pressed people” – SJB

– island.lk/foreign-bond-holders-more-important-to-govt-than-hard-pressed-people/• Nov. trade gap narrows, but cumulative deficit at record high

– island.lk/govt-should-be-ashamed-of-asking-pandemic-victims-to-tighten-their-belts-jvp/

• Sri Lanka bond market close flat

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-bond-market-close-flat-89980/

• Nov. trade gap narrows, but cumulative deficit at record high

‘Intermediate goods imports, bulk of which comprises of fuel and textiles and related articles, rose by 24.3 percent to US$ 1,017.2 million in November with the cumulative imports rising by 33.2 percent to US$ 10,940.7 million. The investment goods imports, of machinery and equipment, building materials and transport equipment, rose by a robust 40.2 percent to US$ 433.7 million with the cumulative imports rising by 24.1 percent to US$ 4,009.8 million.

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Nov-trade-gap-narrows-but-cumulative-deficit-at-record-high/273-229831

• Exports in November 2021 records highest monthly export value in history

– island.lk/exports-in-november-2021-records-highest-monthly-export-value-in-history/

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-investment-imports-up-40-pct-trade-deficit-falls-in-november-amid-forex-trouble-89885/

• Electronic and electrical sector breaks record with over $ 422 m export earnings in 2021

– ft.lk/news/Electronic-and-electrical-sector-breaks-record-with-over-422-m-export-earnings-in-2021/56-729665

• SJB cries foul over Special Goods and Services Tax (SGST) bill, resorts to legal action

– ft.lk/front-page/SJB-cries-foul-over-SGST-bill-resorts-to-legal-action/44-729714

_________________________________________________________________________

C5. Workers (Inadequate Stats, Wasteful Transport, Unmodern Plantations, Services)

ee Workers attempts to correct the massive gaps and disinformation about workers, urban and rural and their representatives (trade unions, etc), and to highlight the need for organized worker power

• PHIs blame indigenous physicians’ propaganda for booster jab hesitancy

– island.lk/phis-blame-indigenous-physicians-propaganda-for-booster-jab-hesitancy/

• College of Medical Laboratory Science blames flaws in health guidelines for increase in Covid

‘We can’t increase testing because we don’t have test kits’

– island.lk/cmls-blames-flaws-in-health-guidelines-for-increase-in-covid-cases/

• Fort-Badulla train cancelled: Station Masters’ Union

– dailymirror.lk/latest_news/Fort-Badulla-train-cancelled-last-night-Station-Masters-Union/342-229801

• Railway trade union alliance complains of substandard carriages imported from India

– island.lk/railway-trade-union-alliance-complains-of-substandard-carriages-imported-from-india/

– adaderana.lk/news/80176/railway-unions-cry-foul-on-acts-of-fraud-in-purchasing-carriages

• SLR railed with strikes and losses: Time to reform? – Advocata

‘Asian Development Bank says, by 2017, the freight transportation service market share of SLR had eroded to less than 1%…public-private partnerships (PPPs) should be encouraged for operations and maintenance’

– dailymirror.lk/businessopinion/SLR-railed-with-strikes-and-losses-Time-to-reform/306-229905

• Free Trade Zone workers demand pay hike for private sector given the rising cost of living

– timesonline.lk/news-online/In-Pictures-Free-Trade-Zone-workers-protest/2-1136574

• Nurses allege reduction in random testing

– themorning.lk/nurses-allege-reduction-in-random-testing/

• Health sector unions’ protest march at Town Hall

 – timesonline.lk/news-online/In-Pictures-Health-sector-unions-protest-march-at-Town-Hall/2-1136607

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Health-workers-launch-24-hour-strike-in-WP/2-1136603

• Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine strike cripples hospitals in Western Province

– island.lk/jcpsm-token-strike-cripples-hospitals-in-western-province/

• Severe staff shortage at Jaffna Hospital

– island.lk/severe-staff-shortage-at-jaffna-hospital/

• CEB engineers should be ashamed to issue notices announcing power cuts

– island.lk/ceb-engineers-should-be-ashamed-of-power-cuts/

• No matter how much fuel we get, power cuts inevitable: CEB Engineers’ Union

– dailymirror.lk/latest_news/No-matter-how-much-fuel-we-get-power-cuts-inevitable-CEB-Engineers-Union/342-229709

• President settles dispute over CEB GM appointment

– island.lk/president-settles-dispute-over-ceb-gm-appointment/

• Ceylon Electricity Board Chairman resigns

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/26/ceylon-electricity-board-chairman-resigns/

– island.lk/appointment-of-gm-led-to-ceb-chiefs-resignation/

– economynext.com/ceylon-electricity-board-chairman-steps-down-amid-sri-lanka-power-crisis-89914/

• CEB Chair Ferdinando’s resignation not accepted: Lokuge

– themorning.lk/ceb-chair-ferdinandos-resignation-not-accepted-lokuge/

• Eng Vijitha Heath is CEB Chairman again while Kudabalage gets Chairmanship at SLIC

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Eng-Vijitha-Heath-to-take-over-as-CEB-Chairman-again-while-Kudabalage-gets-Chairmanship-at-SLIC/2-1136636

• Horana-Colombo route buses commence strike

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/25/horana-colombo-route-buses-commence-strike/

• Trade union predicts revenue loss from GST

– themorning.lk/trade-union-predicts-revenue-loss-from-gst/

• Internal battle puts Wildlife at risk – Probe ordered over harassment of elephant

– dailymirror.lk/latest_news/Internal-battle-puts-Wildlife-at-risk-Probe-ordered-over-harassment-of-elephant/342-229803

• Zoo workers end protest; promise to continue illegal fertilizer business legally

– island.lk/zoo-workers-end-protest-promise-to-continue-illegal-fertilizer-business-legally/

• Zoo director steps down temporarily; wants probe on acts of sabotage by trade union activists

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/zoo-director-steps-down-temporarily-wants-probe-on-alleged-acts-of-sabotage-by-trade-union-activists-469877.html

– timesonline.lk/news-online/In-Pictures-Protest-at-Dehiwala-Zoo/2-1136624

• Public bus operators defy load limits despite epidemic

‘But, just last November, all bus fares were increased by 20% following fuel price increases’

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/public-bus-operators-defy-load-limits-despite-epidemic-469844.html

• Electronic and electrical sector breaks record with over US $ 422mn export earnings in 2021

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Electronic-and-electrical-sector-breaks-record-with-over-US-422mn-export-earnings-in-2021/273-230070

• Rs. 5,000 allowance for SOE employees, but with conditions

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/rs-5000-allowance-for-soe-employees-but-with-conditions-469884.html

• Women worst affected by economic downturn due to govt. bungling – JVP women’s front

– island.lk/women-worst-affected-by-economic-downturn-due-to-govt-bungling-jvp-womens-front/

• Phone allowance slashed for state enterprise bosses

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/phone-allowance-slashed-for-state-enterprise-bosses-469882.html

• Letter written to President asking permission to end one’s life

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/26/letter-written-to-president-asking-permission-to-end-ones-life-video/

• Australia Gateway, top-tier immigration firm celebrates Australia Day

‘Gateway, Sri Lankan arm of Melbourne-based Fairfields Lawyers founded by accredited Immigration law specialist, Don Susantha Katugampala’

– island.lk/australia-gateway-top-tier-immigration-firm-celebrates-australia-day/

– island.lk/australia-gateway-top-tier-immigration-firm-celebrates-australia-day/

• Qatar set maximum price for domestic workers’ recruitment

– dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Qatar-set-maximum-price-for-domestic-workers-recruitment/108-229766

• Sri Lankan national killed in shooting incident in Qatar

– adaderana.lk/news/80198/sri-lankan-national-killed-in-shooting-incident-in-qatar

• Understanding links between climate change and labour migration

‘Director – Research & Knowledge Management at SLYCAN Trust, a non-profit think tank’

– ft.lk/columns/Understanding-links-between-climate-change-and-labour-migration/4-729760

• University Grants Commission Chief receives Japan ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ twice

– island.lk/ugc-chief-receives-the-order-of-the-rising-sun-twice/

• Sri Lanka’s power crisis detriment to online education: opposition leader

– economynext.com/sri-lankas-power-crisis-detriment-to-online-education-opposition-leader-89866/

• New Colombo uni VC takes swipe at undergrads

– island.lk/new-colombo-uni-vc-takes-swipe-at-undergrads/

• Sri Lanka Air Force to get fully-fledged hospital complex

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/28/sri-lanka-air-force-to-get-fully-fledged-hospital-complex/

• London Stock Exchange Group and Leonard Cheshire helps disabled women in north

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/business-times/lseg-foundation-and-leonard-cheshire-helps-disabled-women-in-northern-sl-469305.html

• Top 50 Professional and Career Women Awards 2021

‘John Keells’ Nadija Tambiah chaired with Hayleys’ Jayanthi Dharmasena; Dreamron’s Kishu Gomes; Daily FT’s Nisthar Cassim; Clootrack’s Rohantha Athukorala; Dialog’s Sandra De Zoysa; Strategic Marketing’s Sandya Salgado; KL.LK’s Santosh Menon; Australian High Commission’s Amanda Jewell; and IFC’s Sarah Twigg’

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/plus/women-who-shone-bright-across-many-fields-469260.html

• New Study on Women Technopreneurs Launched by SLASSCOM and WB’s IFC

– bizenglish.adaderana.lk/new-study-on-the-landscape-for-women-technopreneurs-in-sri-lanka-launched-by-slasscom-and-ifc/

• The double-edged sword of modern technology

‘Sri Lanka too needs to establish a concrete legal framework that would protect rights of children and adults alike on Cyberspace’

– dailymirror.lk/news-features/The-double-edged-sword-of-modern-technology/131-229792

• A motley crowd

‘A retired Bank Manager; a run-away-bride of a railway guard; a widow of a state plantation boss assassinated by rebels; the granddaughter of one of the country’s greatest patriots…’

– island.lk/of-cabbages-and-kings/

• Explained: Indian Labour Codes, its Phased Introduction, and Upcoming General Strike

– newsclick.in/explained-labour-codes-its-phased-introduction-and-upcoming-general-strike

• Indian Family Found Frozen to Death Near Canada/US Border was from Gujarat

– newsclick.in/Todays-news-round-Up-Jan-28-2022

• Corporations are Making Millions of Dollars From U.S. Prison Labor

– blackagendareport.com/corporations-are-making-millions-dollars-us-prison-labor

• Leonard Peltier condemns prison conditions amid COVID lockdowns and neglect

– radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/284143-leonard-peltier-condemns-prison-conditions-amid-covid-lockdowns-and-neglect

• French jobless decry social stigma on top of economic distress

– radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/284141-french-jobless-decry-social-stigma-on-top-of-economic-distress

_________________________________________________________________________

C6. Agriculture (Robbery of rural home market; Machines, if used, mainly imported)

ee Agriculture emphasizes the failure to industrialize an agriculture that keeps the cultivator impoverished under moneylender and merchant, and the need to develop the rural home market, monetization and commercialization, to produce, rather than import, agricultural machinery.

• Agriculture Professors Exposed

– dailymirror.lk/latest_news/Chinese-company-takes-fight-against-Sri-Lanka-to-UN/342-229802

• Customs seize illegally imported beetroot hidden inside two containers

– adaderana.lk/news/80216/customs-seize-illegally-imported-beetroot-hidden-inside-two-containers

• Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board chairman resigns

– adaderana.lk/news/80174/agricultural-and-agrarian-insurance-board-chairman-resigns

• The ‘impending’ famine and poverties of seeing

‘if you asked those who scream ‘impending famine’ if they’ve even grown a few chillie plants, maybe a couple of coconut trees and can recognise the dozen or more plants that can be used for a malluma, they would be embarrassed.’

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/The-impending-famine-and-poverties-of-seeing/231-229876

• Walsapugala farmers’ protests continue for 38th day

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/27/walsapugala-farmers-protests-continue-for-38th-day/

• Cabinet nod to buy paddy at competitive prices

– ft.lk/front-page/Cabinet-nod-to-buy-paddy-at-competitive-prices/44-729658

• Vegetable prices still high

– dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Vegetable-prices-still-high/108-229790

• CIC Holdings 9-month profit Rs. 3.2 billion

– ft.lk/front-page/CIC-Holdings-ups-9-month-profit-by-14-to-Rs-3-2-b/44-729549

• Eswaran Brothers Board includes Ceylon Tobacco Co., etc.

‘Non-Executive Chairman Nalin Jayasuriya, Ceylon Tobacco Co. and Ambeon Capital’s Yudhistran Kanagasabai, Stratagem Partners’s Gabriel D’Arcy, Hanif Janoo a well-known global Tea industry stalwart from Pakistan and Kenya, and Aruni Goonetilleke (Chairperson of Hatton National Bank, Director at Sunshine Holdings, earlier at People’s Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, ANZ Grindlays,

Executive Chairman, Ganesh Deivanayagam’

– island.lk/eswaran-brothers-a-board-poised-for-governance-and-growth/

• 105 seized Indian bottom trawlers to be auctioned next month

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/105-seized-indian-bottom-trawlers-to-be-auctioned-next-month-469840.html

• China Fertilizer Spat Underlines Sri Lanka’s Struggles With International Trade Deals

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/25/china-fertilizer-spat-underlines-sri-lankas-struggles-with-international-trade-deals/

• Army and ex-Tigers join hands to turn swords into ploughshares

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/fertile-ground-for-national-reconciliation-army-and-ex-tigers-join-hands-to-turn-swords-into-ploughshares-469780.html

• China to donate one million tons of rice before Sinhala-Hindu New Year

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/22/china-to-donate-one-million-tons-of-rice-before-sinhala-hindu-new-year/

• President to support green gram cultivation in lands not suitable for paddy

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/23/president-to-support-green-gram-cultivation-in-lands-not-suitable-for-paddy/

• Farmers grappling with low harvest in Maha season, while Yala failure looms

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/22/farmers-grappling-with-low-harvest-in-maha-season-while-yala-failure-looms/

• Rs. 40,000Mn allocated for farmer compensation

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/25/rs-40000mn-allocated-for-farmer-compensation/

– ft.lk/top-story/Cabinet-approves-Rs-40-b-to-compensate-1-5-m-paddy-farmers-for-crop-loss/26-729659

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/26/sri-lankas-agri-spending-compensation/

• Govt. to allocate Rs. 29 billion for Maha Season paddy purchases

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Govt-to-allocate-Rs-29-billion-for-Maha-Season-paddy-purchases/2-1136587

• Organic farming blunder: The case for reparation

– ft.lk/columns/Organic-farming-blunder-The-case-for-reparation/4-729574

• Local yams to the rescue

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/local-yams-to-the-rescue-469685.html

• Lak Sathosa garlic scam: Whistle-blower prevented from leaving for Dubai

– island.lk/lak-sathosa-garlic-scam-whistle-blower-prevented-from-leaving-for-dubai/

• Singapore investors scout fisheries projects in Mannar

– island.lk/singapore-investors-scout-fisheries-projects-in-mannar/

• Fish export earnings up $ 100 m YoY in 2021

– themorning.lk/fish-export-earnings-up-100-m-yoy-in-2021/

– island.lk/record-breaking-year-for-the-sri-lankan-fisheries-sector-kanchana-wijesekera/

• Ceylon Cinnamon on verge of obtaining geographical indications; a first for Sri Lanka

– ft.lk/columns/Ceylon-Cinnamon-on-verge-of-obtaining-geographical-indications-a-first-for-Sri-Lanka/4-729756

• Weddemulla Tea Factory establishes all-time record price

‘in Ramboda of Agalawatte Plantations owned by Damro Group…The tea was purchased by Akbar Brothers and the sale was conducted by Ceylon Tea Brokers’.

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Weddemulla-Tea-Factory-establishes-all-time-record-price/273-230068

• Tea Research Institute calls for EOIs to commercialise tea wine manufacturing process

– ft.lk/front-page/TRI-calls-for-EOIs-to-commercialise-tea-wine-manufacturing-process/44-729545

• WB assistance for green, resilient, and inclusive development in Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal

– island.lk/wb-assistance-for-green-resilient-and-inclusive-development-in-lanka-maldives-and-nepal/

– island.lk/defeat-bid-to-sandbag-whistleblowers/

• Decoding Oil Palm: Myths vs Truths

– island.lk/decoding-oil-palm-myths-vs-truths/

• Palm Oil Association of Sri Lanka (POIASL) meets Indonesia’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka

– island.lk/indonesian-ambassador-pledges-cooperation-to-strengthen-palm-oil-smallholders/

• Lanka as it is will disappear in 200 million years

– island.lk/lanka-as-it-is-will-disappear-in-200-million-years/

• A lesson to Lanka on how to earn carbon credits

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/a-lesson-to-lanka-on-how-to-earn-carbon-credits-469728.html

• Climate and food price rise: Extreme weather events triggering unprecedented food inflation

‘Global food inflation is driven predominantly by wheat, which reported price rise due to drought and high temperature in major producing countries. In 2021, spring wheat production declined by 40% in the United States. Russia, the world’s largest exporter of wheat, also harvested less and has now imposed a tax on wheat export to ensure ample stock for domestic consumption. Unusual frosts in Brazil’s coffee bean producing areas in July 2021 have led to a production dip of up to 10%’

– island.lk/climate-and-food-price-rise-extreme-weather-events-triggering-unprecedented-food-inflation/

• Pandemic pushes back plan to proscribe plastic products

‘4 million sachets are thrown into the environment every month, leading to blocked drains, culverts and pollution of rivers, lakes and the sea’

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/pandemic-pushes-back-plan-to-proscribe-plastic-products-469794.html

• Wildlife and Nature Protection Society protests against driving Mannar’s birds away

– ft.lk/front-page/WNPS-protests-against-driving-Mannar-s-birds-away/44-729856

• Case of mistaken identity may have led the ‘Salty’ to attack snorkeler: Dr. Anslem

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/case-of-mistaken-identity-may-have-led-the-salty-to-attack-snorkeler-dr-anslem-469636.html

• The unsung and elusive protectors of the coast: Seagrass

– dailymirror.lk/news-features/The-unsung-and-elusive-protectors-of-the-coast-Seagrass/131-229879

• Nature conservation funding must triple globally: UN

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Nature-conservation-funding-must-triple-globally-UN/273-230065

• China drafts new rules to allow gene edited crops

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/25/china-drafts-new-rules-to-allow-gene-edited-crops/

_____________________________________________________________________

C7. Industry (False definitions, anti-industrial sermons, rentier/entrepreneur, etc)

ee Industry notes the ignorance about industrialization (versus handicraft and manufacture), the dependence on importing foreign machinery, the need to make machines that make machines, build a producer culture. False definitions of industry, entrepreneur, etc, abound, and the need for a holistic political, economic and military strategy to overcome domination by merchants and moneylenders.

• US investigates Sri Lankan steel nail imports in violation of AD/CVD laws

‘Largest US steel nail producer Mid Continent Steel & Wire named 11 companies in India; 4 in Oman; 5 in Sri Lanka; 5 in Thailand; and 6 in Turkey as producers/exporters of steel nails…the dumping margins for steel nails from Sri Lanka have been estimated at 35.5-104.13 percent range. Within the next 45 days, the International Trade Administration Agency will decide…In 2019, Sri Lanka exported US$ 31 million worth iron nails, becoming the fastest growing exporter of iron nails, while China was the largest exporter of iron nails with US$1.42 billion exports. The US was the largest importer of iron nails, with US$ 1.03 billion worth imports.’

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/US-investigates-into-Sri-Lankan-steel-nail-imports-in-violation-of-ADCVD-laws/273-229979

• Litro Gas legal action to prevent Auditor General scrutiny of transactions.

– island.lk/ex-cope-chief-calls-for-punitive-surcharge/

• US World Vision sends letter of demand to Ratnajeevan Hoole Over Missing Factory

– dailymirror.lk/news-features/World-Vision-sends-letter-of-demand-to-Ratnajeevan-Hoole/131-229793

• France backs Sri Lanka manufacture sector in rubber plantation

– economynext.com/france-backs-sri-lanka-manufacture-sector-in-plantation-89918/

• Biden federal judge nominee’s pro-Chevron work under fire

– radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/283747-biden-federal-judge-nominees-pro-chevron-work-questioned

• Nation needs people like Wimalasurendara the Father of Hydroelectricity

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/23/the-three-fuels-miracle-the-only-solution-to-the-energy-crisis-in-sri-lanka-and-to-keep-sri-lanka-alight-even-if-the-whole-world-that-depends-of-fossil-fuel-goes-dark-after-2050/

• Indian Oil Corporation Lanka unit reports Rs890 million in Dec 2021Q profits

‘IOC agreed to invest in 49% shares of Trinco Petroleum Terminal with state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation holding 51%. LIOC has entered into a deal to develop 61 oil tanks in Trincomalee China Bay Oil Tank Farm. IOC has a dispute with tax authorities over 1.98 billion rupees from 2012-December 2019 when Nation Building Tax was discontinued’

– economynext.com/sri-lankas-ioc-unit-reports-rs890-mn-in-dec-2021-profits-89857/

• Lanka IOC, private power plant assistance to resolve power crisis: Power Minister

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/25/lanka-ioc-private-power-plant-assistance-to-resolve-power-crisis-power-minister/

• CPC adopts controlled system to supply fuel to the CEB

– timesonline.lk/news-online/CPC-adopts-controlled-system-to-supply-fuel-to-the-CEB/2-1136635

• Electricity mafia exists: Maithripala

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/23/issues-in-power-sector-have-remained-for-years-maithripala/

• SL struggles to supply uninterrupted power

– ft.lk/top-story/SL-struggles-to-supply-uninterrupted-power/26-729604

• PUCSL warns against unauthorised statements on power interruptions

– ft.lk/front-page/PUCSL-warns-against-unauthorised-statements-on-power-interruptions/44-729548

– island.lk/cake-icing-and-power-cuts/

• CEB wants to buy fuel directly bypassing CPC

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/ceb-wants-to-buy-fuel-directly-bypassing-cpc-469886.html

• No substandard fuel being distributed: Gammanpila

– dailymirror.lk/latest_news/No-substandard-fuel-being-distributed-Gammanpila/342-229657

• US$ 3.6bn Oman fuel credit line abandoned over conditions

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/US-3-6bn-Oman-fuel-credit-line-abandoned-over-conditions/273-229833

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-declines-usd-3-6-billion-oman-fuel-credit-over-conditions-spokesman-89899/

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Sri-Lankas-plan-to-secure-3-6-bln-loan-from-Oman-collapses/2-1136615

• Govt. mulls allowing CEB to directly import fuel to generate electricity

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Govt-mulls-allowing-CEB-to-directly-import-fuel-to-generate-electricity/273-229832

• CEB engineers: SL needs LNG-coal cake with wind-solar icing

– island.lk/ceb-engineers-sl-needs-lng-coal-cake-with-wind-solar-icing/

• Energy Minister submits proposal to face power crisis

– ft.lk/front-page/Energy-Minister-submits-proposal-to-face-power-crisis/44-729603

• PUCSL hints at possible upward revision in electricity tariffs

– ft.lk/front-page/PUCSL-hints-at-possible-upward-revision-in-electricity-tariffs/44-729602

• No power cuts until Thursday, says PUCSL

– dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/No-power-cuts-until-Thursday-says-PUCSL/108-229781

• Is Sri Lanka bracing for a total blackout?

– dailymirror.lk/plus/Is-Sri-Lanka-bracing-for-a-total-blackout/352-229737

• PUCSL expects CEB’s new long-term power generation plan within next 4 months

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/PUCSL-expects-CEBs-new-long-term-power-generation-plan-within-next-4-months/273-229827

• Remaining fuel reserves only sufficient for today; Power Cuts likely: CEB

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/26/remaining-fuel-reserves-only-sufficient-for-today-power-cuts-likely-ceb/

• No need for power cuts till Thursday – PUCSL

– timesonline.lk/news-online/No-need-for-power-cuts-till-Thursday-PUCSL/2-1136590

• Fuel stocks for power generation ends today, Ministry official

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Fuel-stocks-for-power-generation-ends-today-Ministry-official/2-1136595

• Minister says no power cuts, officials say they’re inevitable – Editorial

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/Minister-says-no-power-cuts-officials-say-theyre-inevitable-EDITORIAL/231-229877

• PUCSL says no need for power cuts till beginning of next month

– island.lk/pucsl-says-no-need-for-power-cuts-till-beginning-of-next-month

• No scheduled power cuts until Monday – PUCSL

– adaderana.lk/news/80188/no-scheduled-power-cuts-until-monday-pucsl

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Sri-Lanka-explores-possibility-of-obtaining-power-from-India/2-1136631

• No need for power outages over weekend

– themorning.lk/no-need-for-power-outages-over-weekend/

• Use electricity sparingly from 6:30 PM to 8 PM on Friday (28)

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/28/use-electricity-sparingly-from-630-pm-to-8-pm-on-friday-28/

• Gammanpila advices CEB to go for 90-minute power cuts to avoid longer power outages later

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Gammanpila-advices-CEB-to-go-for-90-minute-power-cuts-now-to-avoid-longer-power-outages-later/2-1136625

• Sri Lanka CEB to pay Rs36 a unit for self-generated power

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-ceb-to-pay-rs36-a-unit-for-self-generated-power-89972/

• Fitch downgrades Lakdhanavi to same level as CEB over fuel, forex shortages

– economynext.com/sri-lankas-lakdhanavi-downgraded-to-same-level-as-ceb-over-fuel-forex-shortages-89942/

• Sri Lanka IPP rating outlook cut by Fitch over CEB payment delays

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-ipp-rating-outlook-cut-by-fitch-over-ceb-payment-delays-89939/

• Sri Lanka explores possibility of obtaining power from India

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Sri-Lanka-explores-possibility-of-obtaining-power-from-India/2-1136631

• Free Trade Zone Manufactures’ Association raises concerns on proposed 2-hour power outage

 – dailymirror.lk/business-news/FTZMA-raises-concerns-on-proposed-2-hour-power-outage/273-230072

– ft.lk/front-page/Free-Trade-Zone-Manufacturers-Association-fume-over-2-hour-power-cuts/44-729862

• Successive govts neglected Sri Lanka’s looming power crisis: industry officials

– economynext.com/successive-govts-neglected-sri-lankas-looming-power-crisis-industry-officials-89947/

• Renewable energy producers say they can generate more power if govt and CEB support

– island.lk/renewable-energy-producers-say-they-can-generate-more-power-if-govt-and-ceb-support/

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/26/businessrenewable-energy-producers-say-they-can-generate-more-power-if-govt-and-ceb-support/

• Private & Public sector generators to be integrated to National Grid

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/26/private-public-sector-generators-to-be-integrated-to-national-grid/

• Privately-owned power station at Kelanitissa complex temporarily shut down

– adaderana.lk/news/80163/privately-owned-power-station-at-kelanitissa-complex-temporarily-shut-down

• Transition to renewables: Opportunities and challenges

‘decentralised generation (via hybrid microgrids) instead of expanding the central grid system further may be the way forward in the future’

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/business-times/transition-to-renewables-opportunities-and-challenges-469323.html

• Renewable energy: Is it a solution to Sri Lanka’s power crisis?

– ft.lk/opinion/Renewable-energy-Is-it-a-solution-to-Sri-Lanka-s-power-crisis/14-729683

• Fast track electricity from renewable energy

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Fast-track-electricity-from-renewable-energy/2-1136585

• “The Three Fuels miracle” the only solution to the energy crisis in Sri Lanka

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/28/the-three-fuels-miracle-the-only-solution-to-the-energy-crisis-in-sri-lanka-and-to-keep-sri-lanka-alight-even-if-the-whole-world-that-depends-of-fossil-fuel-goes-dark-after-2050-p/

• China will gift three new seismic stations to Sri Lanka

– island.lk/china-will-gift-three-new-seismic-stations-to-sri-lanka/

• Shipping agents siren rising import container build-up due to forex crisis

– ft.lk/top-story/Shipping-agents-siren-rising-import-container-build-up-due-to-forex-crisis/26-729552

– bizenglish.adaderana.lk/the-serious-concern-of-the-forex-crisis-as-outlined-by-the-sri-lanka-shippers-council/

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Shippers-Councilurges-govt-to-ease-biz-challenges-address-forex-shortage/273-229978

• Elevation in freight rates positively falls on Expolanka Holdings PLC

– island.lk/elevation-in-freight-rates-positively-falls-on-expolanka-holdings-plc/

• Hambantota Port to begin MGO Fuel Bunkering

– newsfirst.lk/2022/01/26/hambantota-port-to-begin-mgo-fuel-bunkering/

• Sri Lanka seeks US$175 mln for exclusive Galle tourist port

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-seeks-us175-mln-for-exclusive-galle-tourist-port-89924/

• Aircraft Overhaul and Engineering Wings at SLAF saves millions of foreign currency

– dailymirror.lk/news-features/Aircraft-Overhaul-and-Engineering-Wings-at-SLAF-saves-millions-of-foreign-currency/131-229880

• Pharmaceutical imports under Indian credit to begin next month

– dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Pharmaceutical-imports-under-Indian-credit-to-begin-next-month/108-230039

• Govt. to purchase locally produced SLSVP injectables to save US $ 15mn forex outflow

‘State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) purchase agreement with Cologne Life Sciences, the only firm equipped with a plant to domestically manufacture Sterile Liquid Small Volume Parenterals (SLSVPs) for public sector.’

• Shortage of rapid antigen test kits at state hospitals

– island.lk/serious-shortage-of-rapid-antigen-test-kits-at-state-hospitals/

• Treasury has released adequate funds to overcome any impending drug shortage.

– dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/SL-addresses-drug-shortage-despite-forex-crisis/108-229872

• Cancer drug without registration: NMRA claims correct procedure followed

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/cancer-drug-without-registration-nmra-claims-correct-procedure-followed-469842.html

• No quality checks done on cement shipments when importing: Builders’ Assn.

– dailymirror.lk/latest_news/No-quality-checks-done-on-cement-shipments-when-importing-Builders-Assn/342-229804

• Govt. Declares war on cement black market

– dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Govt-Declares-war-on-cement-black-market/108-229863

• MRP Rs. 1,575 cement sold for Rs. 2,100

– themorning.lk/mrp-rs-1575-cement-sold-for-rs-2100/

• Sri Lanka facing import blocks, fears of export ordering shifting amid forex trouble

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-facing-import-blocks-fears-of-export-ordering-shifting-amid-forex-trouble-89936/

• Apparel industry will continue dialogue with Govt. on forex crisis: JAAF

JAAF’s new executive committee includes Chairman Sharad Amalean, Deputy Chairmen Saiffudeen Jafferjee and Felix Fernando, past Chairmen Noel Priyathilake, Azeem Ismail and Ashroff Omar. Representatives of Fabric and Apparel Accessory Manufacturers Association’s Pubudu de Silva, Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Association’s Jatinder Biala, Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association’s Aroon Hirdaramani, Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters’ Hemantha Perera, and Sri Lanka Apparel Sourcing Association’s Wilhelm Elias. Also: Mahesh Hirdaramani, Manik Santiapillai, Ajith Wijesekera, Jafar Sattar, Anis Sattar, Rehan Lakhany, and Mahika Weerakoon. Founding Secretary-General of JAAF Tuli Cooray replaced by Yohan Lawrence, past Chairman of the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association.

– ft.lk/top-story/Apparel-industry-will-continue-dialogue-with-Govt-on-forex-crisis-JAAF/26-729732’

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Apparel-industry-via-JAAF-continues-dialogue-with-Government-on-forex-crisis/2-1136627

• 26th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters (SLCGE)

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Bandula-Fernando-at-helm-of-Sri-Lanka-Chamber-of-Garment-Exporters/273-229672

– island.lk/sri-lankan-apparel-must-target-opportunities-arising-from-post-covid-rebalancing-of-global-trade/

• The Wurth Group sets historic profits in 2021 fiscal year

‘Wurth Lanka is a fully owned subsidiary of Wurth International, and belongs to Adolf Wurth GmbH, Germany, parent company of the Wurth Group. Wurth is one of the largest international trading companies with more than 400 subsidiaries in 83 countries. With 89,183 employees worldwide, Wurth has the largest direct sales force – 33,000 around the world’

– island.lk/the-wurth-group-sets-historic-records-in-2021-fiscal-year/

• Prioritising EVs when resuming vehicle imports: Sri Lanka minister submits cabinet paper

– economynext.com/prioritising-evs-when-resuming-vehicle-imports-sri-lanka-minister-submits-cabinet-paper-89867/

• Automobile Service Providers Association warn of disruptive trends

– island.lk/automobile-service-providers-warn-of-disruptive-trends/

• Italian aircraft designer D’Ascania evolved three wheeled vehicle in 1948 and called it Trivespa

– island.lk/the-ubiquitous-tuk-tuk-elevated-to-ambassadorial-level/

• Sri Lanka’s Sierra Cables downgraded to A+(lka) on raw material imports

‘exposure to the construction and infrastructure sector and it is also faces challenges in importing raw materials, which form around 90% of its direct inputs’

– economynext.com/sri-lankas-sierra-cables-downgraded-to-alka-on-raw-material-imports-89933/

• Industrial exports surpass $ 8 b mark in 2021

– ft.lk/business/Industrial-exports-surpass-8-b-mark-in-2021/34-729542

• ADB assures support to diversify exports via SMEs

– ft.lk/front-page/ADB-assures-support-to-diversify-exports-via-SMEs/44-729857

• 50% Rate of SME failure in Sri Lanka – CEO of People’s Bank

‘Yet, it is estimated that SMEs contribute nearly 70% to Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment generation… Almost 100% of small businesses in Sri Lanka are family-run’

– ft.lk/columns/Why-some-SMEs-fail-and-how-to-mitigate-such-failures/4-729573

• “How Digital Asset Exchange and Blockchain can benefit Sri Lanka”

‘Sanjay Mendis – Bridge Advisory and Consulting, Peter Hofmann – Custodigit AG, Switzerland, Kavin Phongapandecha – Bitazza, Amal Illesinghe – National Savings Bank, Prasanna Lohar – DCB Bank, Venkatesh Hariharan – Open Invention Network, Satish Mohan – Dhiway Net’

– island.lk/how-digital-asset-exchange-and-blockchain-can-benefit-sri-lanka/

• Technological Campus gets Rs290mn from Associated Electrical & Tempest PE Partners

‘The consortium that bought the university includes Jetwing Group, Finco Holdings, Perera & Sons (P&S), ManSek Investments & Insite Holdings.Tempest PE is a joint venture between Sri Lanka’s Capital Alliance and Insite Holdings.’NDB Investment Bank were side financial advisors to the deal generating investor interest. Nithya Partners were legal advisors to the buyer and D L & F De Saram advised the seller’

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-technological-campus-gets-rs290mn-infusion-after-acqusition-89992/

• C919 takes the Silk Road Sky

‘With C919 taking off, US aerospace manufacturer Boeing and France’s Airbus will have more competition in the commercial airline market worth trillions of USD’

– bizenglish.adaderana.lk/c919-takes-the-silk-road-sky/

• China needs to develop own edge in semiconductor contest

– globaltimes.cn/page/202201/1250094.shtml

• Big Data Centers are Power-hungry, But Increasingly Efficient

‘At the top are US Big Tech giants Amazon, Microsoft and Google, as well as Alibaba in China. Just behind them are Facebook and Apple…7.2 million data centers in the world…The US has 2.670, England 452, Germany 443, China, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, France and Japan.’

– newsclick.in/big-data-centers-power-hungry-increasingly-efficient

• Peru will fine Repsol for missing deadlines to respond to oil spill

– radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/284290-peru-will-fine-repsol-for-missing-deadlines-to-respond-to-oil-spill

• Better Public Bus Service Is a Public Health Measure

– socialistproject.ca/2022/01/better-public-bus-service-health-measure/

______________________________________________________________________

C8. Finance (Making money from money, banks, lack of investment in modernity)

ee Finance tracks the effects of financialization, the curious role of ratings agencies, false indices, etc., and the rule of moneylenders, preventing investment in modern production.

• US Federal Reserve interest rate hike speculation hits stock market

– island.lk/us-federal-reserve-interest-rate-hike-speculation-hits-stock-market/

• Dollar repatriation snags dissuade foreign investors

‘Foreign investors in the Colombo stock market have complained to the market operator and the regulator on repatriations of funds from their stock sales being unprecedentedly delayed’

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/business-times/dlr-repatriation-snags-dissuade-foreign-investors-469439.html

• Sri Lanka Insurance posts a record high GWP achievement of Rs. 43 billion during 2021

– island.lk/sri-lanka-insurance-posts-a-record-high-gwp-achievement-of-rs-43-billion-during-2021/

– ft.lk/front-page/Industry-leader-Sri-Lanka-Insurance-achieves-record-high-GWP-of-Rs-43-b-in-2021/44-729653

• NDB, State-owned development finance institution, privatized in February 1993

– island.lk/a-massive-mill-becomes-a-mini-city/

• ICRA Lanka Limited upgrades Muthoot Finance’s Asia Asset Finance PLC credit rating

‘most trusted Gold Loan Financing Company in Sri Lanka’

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/ICRA-Lanka-Limited-upgrades-Asia-Asset-Finance-PLC-credit-rating-to-an-impressive-SLA-amidst-pandemic-conditions/273-229643

• Stockbrokers on an expansion high

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/business-times/stockbrokers-on-an-expansion-high-469316.html

• CSE posts 1-year high turnover of Rs. 18.4 b due to JKH share transfers

– ft.lk/front-page/CSE-posts-1-year-high-turnover-of-Rs-18-4-b-due-to-JKH-share-transfers/44-729601

• Sri Lanka’s 2021 IPOs up 46 pct; Logistic firm Chrissworld outperforms

‘6 trillion Sri Lankan rupee (30 billion US dollar) worth Colombo Stock Exchange saw a record number of IPOs last year mainly due to a 50 percent tax concession incentive for listing. Out of the 14 companies listed through IPO, 12 firms traded more than their IPO price as of Friday (21)’

– economynext.com/sri-lankas-2021-ipos-up-46-pct-chrissworld-outperforms-89859/

• ASPI ends sharply lower with most sectors witnessing declines

– island.lk/aspi-ends-sharply-lower-with-most-sectors-witnessing-declines/

• Stock market suffers highest intraday loss in 2 months

– ft.lk/front-page/Stock-market-suffers-highest-intraday-loss-in-2-months/44-729651

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-shares-dive-to-two-week-low-on-economic-woes-89908/

• CSE’s loss of value extends to Rs. 285 b so far this week

– ft.lk/front-page/CSE-s-loss-of-value-extends-to-Rs-285-b-so-far-this-week/44-729735

• Sri Lanka stocks down for 3rd session; economic woes weigh

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-stocks-down-for-3rd-session-economic-woes-weigh-89945/

• CSE on red streak after record streak

– themorning.lk/cse-on-red-streak-after-record-streak/

• Stock market ends tumultuous week with late rally owing to bargain hunters

– ft.lk/front-page/Stock-market-ends-tumultuous-week-with-late-rally-owing-to-bargain-hunters/44-729858

• Sri Lanka slips for the fourth day

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-slips-for-the-fourth-day-89981/

• ICRA Lanka Limited upgrades Muthoot Finance’s Asia Asset Finance PLC

– bizenglish.adaderana.lk/icra-lanka-limited-upgrades-asia-asset-finance-plc-credit-rating-to-an-impressive-sla-amidst-pandemic-conditions/

• Swarnamahal Financial to pay depositors with sale of Rs. 425 m assets to SMB Leasing

– ft.lk/front-page/Swarnamahal-Financial-to-pay-depositors-with-sale-of-Rs-425-m-assets-to-SMB-Leasing/44-729739

• LOLC Finance gets CB approval to amalgamate Commercial Leasing & Finance PLC (CLC)

– ft.lk/front-page/LOFC-gets-CBSL-approval-to-amalgamate-CLC/44-729598

• Sinhaputhra Finance eyes amalgamation with Commercial Leasing by 21 March

– ft.lk/front-page/Sinhaputhra-Finance-eyes-amalgamation-with-Commercial-Leasing-by-21-March/44-729599

• Acuity Partners’ new chairman and two new Independent Directors

‘Acuity Partners investment bank equally owned between DFCC Bank and Hatton National Bank.

Thimal Perera, Director/CEO of DFCC, has been appointed Chairma. Two new Independent Non-Executive Directors, Lalith Withana and Sachith N Perera, who served over 26 years at HSBC’

– timesonline.lk/business/Acuity-Partners-new-chairman-and-two-new-Independent-Directors/10-1136614

• Amana Bank announces HSBC’s Imtiaz Iqbal as COO

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Amana-Bank-announces-Imtiaz-Iqbal-as-COO/273-229914

• Gold hits 6-week low as dollar thrives on rate hike forecasts

– ft.lk/front-page/Gold-hits-6-week-low-as-dollar-thrives-on-rate-hike-forecasts/44-729855

• Asian stocks rebound after US Fed’s hawkish policy

– ft.lk/front-page/Asian-stocks-rebound-after-Fed-s-hawkish-policy/44-729854

• Landing for the Biggest Bubble Since $12,000 Tulip Bulbs?

– wallstreetonparade.com/2022/01/a-look-at-what-happened-in-2018-when-the-fed-raised-interest-rates-four-times/

• US Fed Agency Censors Names of Banks in Study on Wall Street’s Dangerous Derivatives

– wallstreetonparade.com/2022/01/federal-agency-censors-names-of-banks-in-a-bombshell-study-on-wall-streets-dangerous-derivatives/

• US Fed’s Zombie Press Conference gets a Gutsy Trading Scandal Question

– wallstreetonparade.com/2022/01/bloombergs-craig-torres-shakes-up-the-feds-zombie-press-conference-with-a-gutsy-trading-scandal-question/

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C9. Business (Rentierism: money via imports, real-estate, tourism, insurance, fear, privatization)

ee Business focuses on the rentier diversions of the oligarchy, the domination by a merchant mafia, making money from unproductive land sales, tourism, insurance, advertising, etc. – the charade of corporate press releases disguised as ‘news’

• Exports soar in 2021

– ft.lk/top-story/Exports-soar-in-2021/26-729861

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-exports-soar-24-pct-amid-severe-forex-crisis-89986/

– bizenglish.adaderana.lk/sri-lanka-achieves-usd-15bn-export-target-for-2021/

• Expolanka Holdings 3Q2021 Profit at Rs. 38.7 billion

– island.lk/expolanka-holdings-records-best-ever-financial-performance-in-3qfy2021/

– bizenglish.adaderana.lk/expolanka-holdings-records-best-ever-financial-performance-in-3qfy2021/

• Partner of B.R. de Silva & Co appointed 26th President, Institute of Chartered Accountants

‘Bandara serves as Head of Assurance at B.R. De Silva & Co., which is a member firm of Nexia International, apart from serving as a Director of Prime Land Residencies’

– island.lk/partner-of-b-r-de-silva-co-appointed-26th-president-ica/

– island.lk/sanjaya-bandara-inducted-as-26th-president-of-ca-sri-lanka/

• Sri Lanka issues rules on dollarized payments to tourist hotels

‘Hotels also have to allow central bank officers free access to examine their books’

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-issues-rules-on-dollarized-payments-to-tourist-hotels-89877/

• Sri Lanka president appoints new BOI board; DG to resign: sources

‘Lawrence Perera, Micro Holdings; Kushan D’ Alwis, President’s Counsel; Athula Haputantri, Tantri Trailers; and Jayamin Pelpola, international investment banker’

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/New-BOI-board-members-meet-State-Minister-Chanaka/273-229983

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-president-appoints-new-boi-board-dg-to-resign-sources-89910/

• JKH Group EBITDA grows by 126% to Rs. 9.53 billion; significant turnaround in Leisure

– island.lk/jkh-group-ebitda-grows-by-126-to-rs-9-53-billion-significant-turnaround-in-leisure-business/

– ft.lk/top-story/JKH-posts-very-strong-3Q/26-729718

– bizenglish.adaderana.lk/strong-performance-in-q3-as-jkh-group-ebitda-grows-by-126-to-rs-9-53-billion-significant-turnaround-in-the-groups-leisure-business/

• JKH successfully refinances $ 395 m syndicated loan of Cinnamon Life

‘The loan was obtained by Waterfront Properties…through Standard Chartered Bank’…During 2Q, ‘The Offices’ at ‘Cinnamon Life’ entered into agreement with HCL Technologies of India, global technology company, to occupy over 80% of space in the 30-storey Grade-A office building…’

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-jkh-refinances-us325-million-loan-due-in-july-2022-89878/

– ft.lk/front-page/JKH-successfully-refinances-395-m-syndicated-loan-of-Cinnamon-Life/44-729596

– economynext.com/sri-lanka-jkh-refinances-us325-million-loan-due-in-july-2022-89878/

– island.lk/standard-chartered-grants-usd-225-million-senior-secured-syndicated-term-loan-facility-to-refinance-cinnamon-life-project/

– ft.lk/front-page/Standard-Chartered-grants-225-m-Senior-Secured-Syndicated-Term-Loan-to-refinance-Cinnamon-Life/44-729738

– timesonline.lk/business/Standard-Chartered-grants-225-m-Syndicated-Term-Loan-Facility-for-Cinnamon-Life-project/10-1136618

• CBH Lands Opens Up New Avenues for Real Estate Investment in Kurunegala

‘further strengthened by the completion of the second phase of the Central Expressway, stretching from Mirigama to Kurunegala, adding to the promise of offering greater accessibility’

– island.lk/cbh-lands-opens-up-new-avenues-for-real-estate-investment-in-kurunegala/

• Sri Lanka’s LOLC wins Rajagiriya land, high rise project

– economynext.com/sri-lankas-lolc-wins-rajagiriya-land-high-rise-project-89881/

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/LOLC-to-develop-Rs-13bn-mixed-development-project-on-UDA-land-in-Rajagiriya/273-229834

• Hunas Holdings PLC becomes Sri Lanka’s newest listed diversified conglomerate

‘11 assets in renewable energy, real estate, tea (plantations, factories and in tea brokering) and hospitality/leisure sectors’

– bizenglish.adaderana.lk/hunas-holdings-plc-becomes-sri-lankas-newest-listed-diversified-conglomerate/

• Large shareholding in Aitken Spence left to the Catholic Church

– island.lk/mystery-death-of-acting-chairman-and-boardroom-politics-over-succession/

• Finco buys controlling 26% stake in Serendib Land for Rs. 125.6 m

– ft.lk/front-page/Finco-buys-controlling-26-stake-in-Serendib-Land-for-Rs-125-6-m/44-729652

• Serendib Land Board says no control for Finco

– ft.lk/front-page/Serendib-Land-Board-says-no-control-for-Finco/44-729711

• Roshanie Moraes joins Janashakthi’s Kelsey Homes board

 – dailymirror.lk/business-news/Roshanie-Moraes-joins-Kelsey-Homes-board/273-229976

• Sri Lanka to ink new tax treaties with India, Turkey and Czech Republic

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Sri-Lanka-to-ink-new-tax-treaties-with-India-Turkey-and-Czech-Republic/273-229828

• Features in International Trade Economics and Geopolitics – A treasure trove of knowledge

– island.lk/features-in-international-trade-economics-and-geopolitics-a-treasure-trove-of-knowledge/

• Singapore, Pacific Alliance countries sign trade agreement

– ft.lk/front-page/Singapore-Pacific-Alliance-countries-sign-trade-agreement/44-729853

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C10. Politics (Anti-parliament discourse, unelected constitution)

ee Politics points to the constant diversions and spectacles and the mercantile and financial forces funding the political actors, of policy hijacked by private interests minus public oversight.

• Parliament to convene from February 8th to 11^th

– timesonline.lk/news-online/Parliament-to-convene-from-February-8th-to-11th/2-1136628

• Move to strip my civic rights: Champika

– dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Move-to-strip-my-civic-rights-Champika/108-230032

• Sadu, sadu, sadu! – Island

‘Rathana Thera has said he will not re-enter Parliament… One’s gorge rises when one sees Buddhist monks at political events.’

– island.lk/sadu-sadu-sadu/

• Socialist revolution or bourgeois compromise?

– island.lk/socialist-revolution-or-bourgeois-compromise/

• As economy crashes, democracy may be next, warns Sri Lanka’s JVP

– economynext.com/as-economy-crashes-democracy-may-be-next-warns-sri-lankas-jvp-89865/

• FSP launches mobilisation programme

– timesonline.lk/news-online/In-Pictures-FSP-launches-mobilisation-programme/2-1136586

• As nation topples with lightning speed into the abyss, let us be done with farcical speechifying

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/columns/the-death-of-a-nation-not-with-a-sovereign-bang-but-with-a-whimper-469670.html

• Ling Rinpoche, reincarnation of the teacher of Dalai Lama reaches Sri Lanka

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/27/ling-rinpoche-reincarnation-of-the-teacher-of-dalai-lama-reaches-sri-lanka/

• The Ceylon Civil Service – Gamini Seneviratne

– island.lk/the-ceylon-civil-service/

• The Facebook Left in Sri Lanka – Nalin de Silva

– kalaya.org/2022/01/blog-post_23.html

• Two-Day Sick Would-Be Presidents and Development – Nalin de Silva

– kalaya.org/2022/01/blog-post_22.html#more

• “Sahara Snowstorm” and SL’s hilarious pledge for “New Normalcy”

‘Most developing and poor countries will be no different to Sri Lanka lives with pledges and commitments strictly on paper as it is with the “Nationally Determined Contributions” (NDCs) presented in July 2021 to “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)”.’

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/Sahara-Snowstorm-and-SLs-hilarious-pledge-for-New-Normalcy/172-230079

• President’s Dinner for his Old Comrades

– island.lk/presidents-dinner-for-his-old-comrades/

• How the left could get it right: A left and democratic front – Jayatilleka

– island.lk/how-the-left-could-get-it-right-a-left-and-democratic-front/

• De-Coding the AKD-JVP-NPP Relationship – Jayatilleka

– island.lk/de-coding-the-akd-jvp-npp-relationship/

• The ‘Ideal Military Leadership Model desired by Sri Lankan Society’ – Jayatilleka

– ft.lk/columns/The-Ideal-Military-Leadership-Model-desired-by-Sri-Lankan-Society/4-729680

• A manifesto must aim at a chain-reaction (ideas must spread like a fire)

– island.lk/chain-reactions-and-energy-releases

• Constitution has been reduced to a mere booklet – Fonseka

‘England has the fifth largest economy in the world. Democracy…It is a country without a written Constitution.’

– island.lk/fonseka-calls-for-radical-change-in-political-culture-2/

• Govt. incites racism while claiming to abhor it – Eran

– island.lk/govt-incites-racism-while-claiming-to-abhor-it-eran/

• National Movement of Social Justice wants repeal of 20A, resolution of forex crisis, pardon for Ranjan

– island.lk/nmsj-calls-for-repeal-of-20a-urgently-resolution-of-forex-crisis-and-pardon-for-ranjan-r/

• How Not to Run an Election (1950s)

– island.lk/how-not-to-run-an-election-1950s/

• Manifesto: The 1959 Pan Africanist Manifesto

– blackagendareport.com/manifesto-1959-pan-africanist-manifesto

• India unveils hologram monument to anti-English hero

– ft.lk/news/India-unveils-hologram-monument-to-anti-British-hero/56-729532

• Jeanine Áñez and Guaidó: Professional swindlers

‘A lousy performance by two U.S. manufactured “self-driving cars.” The self-proclaimed ex-President of Bolivia is answering for her crimes, while her Venezuelan counterpart awaits his turn’

– en.granma.cu/mundo/2022-01-25/jeanine-anez-and-guaido-professional-swindlers

• Seven Myths about the January 6th Capitol Building Incident

– blackagendareport.com/seven-myths-about-january-6th-capitol-building-incident

• Reagan’s “Shining City on a Hill” Was Really a Mirage

– blackagendareport.com/reagans-shining-city-hill-was-really-mirage

• Democrats and Trading People for Political Power

– blackagendareport.com/democrats-and-trading-people-political-power

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C11. Media (Mis/Coverage of economics, technology, science and art)

ee Media shows how corporate media monopoly determines what is news, art, culture, etc. The media is part of the public relations (corporate propaganda) industry. The failure to highlight our priorities, the need to read between the lines. To set new perspectives and priorities.

• Portray positive image of SL, say tourism officials

‘We repeatedly find that the locals damage and litter the sites’

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/Portray-positive-image-of-SL-say-tourism-officials/273-230067

• International Marketing Graduates (AIMGSL) to host first CEOs’ Breakfast Forum

‘EU Ambassador Denis Chaibi as keynote speaker and Dilmah Tea CEO Dilhan Fernando and Brandix CEO Rajiv Malalasekera’

– dailymirror.lk/business-news/AIMGSL-to-host-first-CEOs-Breakfast-Forum-with-SLs-greatest-business-titans/273-229972

• Draw attention to the killing of several journalists in Sri Lanka

– dailymirror.lk/caption_story/No-justice-yet/110-230042

• “Potato Sack” History

– redsails.org/potato-sack-history/

• Assange Hearing Day Oh God It Never Ends

‘England’s Lord Chief Justice doesn’t just get his own office; he does not just get the best scarlet silly costume you can imagine; he gets his very own court’

– craigmurray.org.uk/

• English Guardian articles on Cambridge Analytica, aided by Russia, won the Brexit vote untrue

– craigmurray.org.uk/

• The truth about “Havana syndrome” should not fall on deaf ears

– en.granma.cu/mundo/2022-01-24/the-truth-should-not-fall-on-deaf-ears

• Ukraine and U.S. War Propaganda

– blackagendareport.com/ukraine-and-us-war-propaganda

• No truth in social media posts about fee for selfies at Port City

– island.lk/no-fee-required-for-selfies-at-port-city/

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/22/colombo-port-city-clarifies-no-fee-for-personal-photography-and-videography/

• Early Brahmi inscription left without any protection at ancient Thihariya temple

– island.lk/early-brahmi-inscription-left-without-any-protection-at-ancient-temple/

• Platinum Award for Wijeya Newspapers Hokandara complex

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/news/platinum-award-for-wijeya-newspapers-hokandara-complex-469874.html

• Eric Illayaparachchi’s Messa: A neglected masterpiece?

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/Messa-A-neglected-masterpiece/172-229641

• Remembering Pathi

– island.lk/remembering-pathi/

• Sri Lanka celebrates 75 proud years of filmmaking – Editorial

– dailymirror.lk/opinion/SRI-Lanka-celebrates-75-proud-years-of-filmmaking-EDITORIAL/231-229964

• TV commentators ignite debate on Cricket Decision Review System authorship

– lankaweb.com/news/items/2022/01/21/tv-commentators-ignite-debate-on-drs-authorship/

• Making Colombo a vibrant venue for international art

– sundaytimes.lk/220123/plus/making-colombo-a-vibrant-venue-for-international-art-469290.html

• Romila Thapar talks on History of the Museum in Sri Lanka lecture

– economynext.com/romila-thapar-talks-on-history-of-the-museum-in-sri-lanka-lecture-89940/

• fahima ife’s “Maroon Choreography”

– blackagendareport.com/bar-book-forum-fahima-ifes-maroon-choreography

• Fake Twitter Account Was Set Up in Our Name; Here’s What Happened Next

– wallstreetonparade.com/2022/01/a-fake-twitter-account-was-set-up-in-our-name-heres-what-happened-next/

• Misinformation in Podcasts: Spotify Removes Neil Young’s Music After Singer’s Protest

– newsclick.in/misinformation-podcasts-spotify-removes-neil-young-music-singer-protest

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email: econenews@gmail.com

blog: eesrilanka.wordpress.com

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