JITTERS

The Opposition may call it a ‘nadagama,’ but the Government is unveiling its intentions about the forthcoming Local Government Elections like a Japanese Noh play. It is trying stage by stage to derail the election with novel attempts, with the hope of confusing the Opposition. 

Its latest ploy – via a Parliamentary act – is to gazette regulations regarding election expenses, which will take more than a month for the Elections Commissioner to formulate. The enabling legislation for this move was passed by Parliament on Thursday (19) despite strong opposition from the non-Government benches. 

The Minister of Justice argued on the floor of the House that since the date of the election should be no later than 15 March and the stipulated formulation of the gazette notice would take more time, there would be no impediment to holding the already-proclaimed election. But the gossip among Government MPs is that the election will not be held on schedule if an interested party moves court to show a discrepancy between the new law and current practice. 

It is clear that the President and the UNP-SLPP will not stop at anything to delay an election. Only the tactics have differed as though they were experimenting with various possibilities. When one is shot down, another comes to the fore. The lack of money angle and the divided commissioners and death threats ploy have not succeeded, so new attempts have to be made. 

The question is whether the SJB/JVP and Peratugami Opposition can challenge an eventual postponement on the streets. It may be a test of wills, but will it again lead to disruptions in the cities that will hinder progress in the economy, which is slowly limping back to normalcy? The Government will also have to pay a heavy price by way of international condemnation. Already several ambassadors including Julie Chung have opposed the postponement of elections.

JAPAN

One of the positive aspects of the RW administration is its attempt to mend fences with Japan, which is one of our best partners in development assistance. Rupavahini, the 1,001-bed hospital, and the Sigiriya museum are outright grants from Japan. 

The late Premier Shinzo Abe personally steered the Japanese LRT and digitisation projects, which were unfortunately discontinued by the GR administration on the recommendation of PB and his university acolytes, who are conveniently brought out of the woodwork when some skullduggery becomes necessary.

As a prominent member of the Paris Club, Japan has taken a very positive approach regarding our loan repayments. We unilaterally cancelled the development of the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port by a consortium of Indian, Japanese, and US companies led by Adani, who may be called ‘The Port King of Asia’. Our ministers of ports have all promoted their trade unions to oppose this move, as it is a lucrative field for earning commissions. Trade unionists in our SOEs are making money by getting contracts for ancillary services. 

President RW is trying to put our relations back on track, which is a sensible move. The Japan connection was a signature achievement of the JRJ administration and it paid dividends before the rent-seeking parasites of subsequent administrations turned to other countries, which are easier to milk. Just now JICA is re-examining the possibility of resuming the LRT project, which was diverted to Bangladesh due to our stupidity.

Should not the courts be moved to examine whether the university professors have misled the Government and are therefore deserving of a hefty fine like ex-President Sirisena, who is now seeking public contributions to pay, as he says his only income is from mangoes?

SUMITRA

We were all saddened by the death of Sumitra Peries last week. She and her husband Lester James Peries helped in putting Sinhala cinema on the global stage.

The daughter of Harry Gunawardene, the elder brother of Philip and Robert Gunawardene of Boralugoda, Sumitra started her career as a film editor who was trained in the UK and France. For some time she and her brother Gamini [Kuru] lived on a boat moored on the Seine River, which flowed through Paris. Kuru became a pioneer boat builder in Sri Lanka with his company called Taos. Sumitra married Lester James Peries and they became the most celebrated film couple in South Asia. 

She helped in editing all his films after ‘Rekawa,’ including the award-winning ‘Gamperaliya,’ which won the Golden Peacock Award at the Delhi Film Festival. Many of the world’s great film directors like David Lean started out as film editors. Like Lean, Sumitra was encouraged to enter the field of film direction. In this she was fortunate in having Lester by her side. 

Her films like ‘Ganga Addara’ and ‘Loku Duwa’ were smash hits and proved that good cinema and box office were not incompatible. International critics hailed the Chekovian ambience of her films, some of which were screened under ‘Un Certain Regard’ at the Cannes Film Festival. In her choice of themes and sympathetic portrayal of feminine characters, her films established a niche in Asian cinema. The roles played by Vasanti Chaturani in ‘Ganga Addara’ and Geetha Kumarasinghe in ‘Loku Duwa’ easily come to mind.

As a bubbly personality and a genial hostess, her home on Dickmans Road was a refuge for artists and critics. Often one would chance to meet Lindsey Anderson, Satyajit Ray, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, or well-known film critics there, including the scouts for films for film festivals, including Cannes.

They were a celebrity couple and this country owes them a debt of gratitude. President CBK recognised their contribution and made her our Ambassador to France. Their well-appointed residence near Trocadero, full of paintings by Lester’s brother Ivan Peries, was eagerly sought after by both artists and politicians and brought credit to us all. (Also see page 14 – ‘Sumitra Peries and the lessons of her passing’.)

CHINESE TOURISTS

A recent issue of the Economist has highlighted the decision of the Chinese Government to reverse its Covid-19 policy after protests broke out in Shanghai and Wuhan. It has permitted Chinese travellers to resume visits abroad. This decision will have a long-term effect on global tourism since Chinese tourists constitute a very large segment of overseas travellers.

Sri Lanka too had a large number of Chinese tourists prior to Covid who helped to lift up our arrivals. If Chinese travellers resume their visits, our tourism, now buoyed by arrivals from India and Russia, will increase easily to our earlier record figures, particularly in view of the depreciated Sri Lankan Rupee. It will be just the impetus we need at this difficult juncture.

But a battle is developing between the Tourism and Health authorities. The latter are insisting on an anti-Covid vaccination certificate while many Russian and Chinese tourists consider it a disincentive. There is no such requirement in the Maldives, which is currently experiencing an unprecedented tourism boom. Also, if there will be street demonstrations in the coming days, it will obviously discourage visitors.

The experience of Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines is that currency devaluations are followed by tourism booms. It will be a pity if the lack of coordination deprives our country of vital foreign exchange at a time when we desperately need it.

CRICKET CRISIS

After the record-breaking thrashing from India, Sri Lanka cricket is in the throes of confusion. Many of the in-demand players (who apparently were reluctant to play in the final match, fearing injuries before the Premier Leagues for which they have been selected) have left for the UAE and other Premier League venues, while the others have come back to a cold reception at Katunayake. 

The public have directed their ire at the selectors. The question is why, when India still deploys veterans like Kohli, Sharma, and Chauhan, we insist on leaving our Mathews, Chandimal, and Kusal Perera, who would have at least prevented a humiliating debacle. Also experimenting with batsmen like Kusal Mendis in their playing positions has no rationale. Hopefully there will be a change in the administration and the selectors which will enable us to make a comeback even though it becomes clear that we will have to again go through the preliminary matches to enter the World Cup contest later in the year.

What a mess for a cricket country which was held in respect even when we did not make it to the top. There should be a limit to experimentation and individual whims and fancies.

QUOTABLE QUOTE

“Do you know what Daya Gamage has said about you and your daughter’s involvement in the financing of the Central Expressway?” – Foreign Minister Ali Sabry to MP Lakshman Kiriella in Parliament.