CID’s damning report sends shockwaves

By The Sunday Morning News Desk-JUNE 30, 2019 

Severe shortcomings and irregularities including the submission of fabricated and falsified facts by high-level Police officials in relation to the case filed against Dr. Seigu Siyabdeen Mohammed Shafi attached to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, have been unearthed by the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court was subsequently informed of the CID’s findings.

The CID had further noted that there was no substantial proof to support the charges for which Dr. Shafi was arrested.

All this was revealed when the case was taken up for hearing on Thursday (27) at the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court.

The 42-year-old doctor, a resident of Weerasinghe Mawatha, Gettuwana, Kurunegala, was arrested by Kurunegala Police on 25 May over three charges, which included obtaining money from a terrorist organisation and purchasing property, to avert a conflict between communities due to the prevailing tense situation in the area, and to prevent the suspect fleeing the area.

However, on 27 May, upon the instructions given by the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), the doctor was handed over to the CID by the Kurunegala Police and he was detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and is currently under investigation by the Department.

On Thursday (27), producing a 210-page B report prepared by the Gang Robberies Investigation Unit Officer in Charge (OIC) IP Nishantha Silva which included the summary of all statements recorded by the Department during their investigation held so far, ASP Tissera made a three-hour long presentation to the court explaining all aspects of the investigations done by the CID.

Irregularities of Kurunegala Police

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah appearing on behalf of Dr. Shafi said that there was no evidence presented to the court by the CID with regard to allegations made against Dr. Shafi.

“The CID has informed the courts that they have found no evidence so far to prove the sterilisation allegation made against Dr. Shafi.”

In addition to the progress of the investigation exonerating the beleaguered medical professional, Hizbullah claimed that ASP Tissera pointed out several severe lapses, shortcomings, and irregularities on the part of Kurunegala Police in relation to the arrest of Dr. Shafi and the probes on him.

It is now learnt that the very statement recorded from a doctor at the Naula Hospital, which led to the arrest, had been subject to irregularities. Although in the report sent to the CID Director, the Superintendent of Police (SP) Kurunegala had claimed that the initial statement (i.e. first information) from the Doctor was recorded on 24 May 2019 at 1600h at the Naula Hospital, the said doctor had revealed that at the behest of SP Mahinda Dissanayake of the Kurunegala Police, the statement had been recorded on 25 May, 2019 at the Naula Police Station.

It was also revealed that SP Dissanayake had inserted false information into statements after Dr. Shafi had been arrested and documents had been backdated in order to give legality to the arrest. Therefore, there was absolutely no proper information leading the arrest while the report that had been forwarded to the Director CID was a fabricated document. Furthermore, the said doctor made a statement with regard to an incident that allegedly occurred in Dambulla Hospital and therefore, the jurisdiction and scope were outside that of Kurunegala.

“As an example, ASP Tissera highlighted that the Police had just said that there was a ‘suspicion of terrorism’ but they have not bothered to check with the Terrorism Investigations Department (TID) and other security arms whether there was any evidence against this person or whether they have had any material against him,” Hizbullah said.

“As explained by ASP Tissera, there were lots of discrepancies and severe irregularities with regard to the report submitted by the Kurunegala Police to the CID especially regarding the recorded statements. For example, they said the statement was recorded before the arrest but actually it was recorded after the arrest,” Hizbullah noted.

The CID informed the Court on how the arrest of Dr. Shafi had been made by Inspector of Police (IP) Nishantha Pushpalal of the Kurunegala Police to investigate him over three charges including whether he had received funds from a terrorist organisation and whether he used those funds to buy assets. According to the CID the arrest was also made to avoid any conflict between the said doctor and the other party concerned as well as to preserve the peace in the area and to prevent the suspect from absconding as some information had suggested.

he CID also stated in its B Report that the details with regard to the first charge had not been revealed to the Police prior to the arrest and if there was a possibility of unrest erupting in the said area (second charge) the Police could have ensured the peace of the area, and with regard to the third charge, that the suspect still could be arrested if there was a reasonable suspicion that he had committed a cognisable offence, under Section 32 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

It was noted that to obtain the Detention Order (DO) and to arrest the suspect, the statements made by Dr. Deepani Nandasena had also been used. The CID informed court through the B Report that they had requested two hospitals – Dambulla and Galewela – to submit comprehensive reports regarding the caesarean and LRT surgeries performed by the suspect while he was working in these two hospitals.

In addition, the complaints received by the Dambulla Hospital were currently being investigated and since the said hospital did not come under the jurisdiction of the Kurunegala Magistrate Court, the CID stated that the necessary action would be taken to submit a separate report to Dambulla Magistrate Court.

It is further observed that although Kurunegala DIG Kithsiri Jayalath had alleged that he had received intelligence reports that inter alia Dr. Shafi was siphoning money from National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) and was said to have provided false information to a national newspaper, around 10 security and intelligence arms had no recording of the suspect being linked to any terrorist activity whatsoever and that surveillance by the CID Technical Assistance Unit had not yielded that Dr. Shafi had any connection via telephone with anyone already arrested in suspicion of being NTJ members.

Allegations of non-consensual sterilisation

Attorney-at-Law Hizbullah said that there was no evidence whatsoever presented to the court by the CID with regard to allegations of non-consensual sterilisation made against Dr. Shafi.

“The CID has informed the courts that they have found no evidence so far to prove the sterilisation allegation made against Dr. Shafi.”

“The Police had questioned all the VOGs who supervised Dr. Shafi, all the doctors and nurses who assisted him, and also technicians, minor employees who worked with Dr. Shafi in the hospital in caesarean operations and nobody has ever seen him doing anything mentioned in the allegations,” Hizbullah noted.

“The CID itself had monitored a caesarean proceeding and seen how it happened. A photograph was presented to the magistrate and they show three people in surgical attire looking over a patient in a strong flash light and all are focused on what is happening there. Nobody is looking at any other angle and practically everyone sees what happened there,” he stressed.

However, according to the report submitted by the CID to court, Dr. Shafi had performed 4,300 caesarean surgeries and out of which 838 patients complained of complications as per a report prepared by the Director of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, following an order issued by the court.

The report claims that out of 156 caesarean surgeries performed from 2007.07.20 to 2007.12.31, only three complications have been recorded. From 2008.01.01 to 2008.12.31, a total of 407 caesarean surgeries had been performed and out of that 16 complications had been reported.

In the same period in 2009, 425 surgeries and 27 complications; in 2010, 572 and 38 complications; in 2011, 34 complications out of 408 surgeries; in 2012, 38 out of 382; in 2013, five out of 66; from 2017.02.17 to 2017.12.31, 731 caesarean surgeries had been conducted and out of that, 233 complications had been recorded and from 2018.01.01 to 2018.12.31, 776 surgeries had been performed by Dr. Shafi out of which there were 301 complications reported while 143 complications had been reported out of 377 caesarean surgeries performed in the period between 2019.01.01 and 2019.05.23.

According to the defence attorney, the aggrieved party was harping on about a report submitted by the Kurunegala Hospital Director in which he claimed that even without damaging the fallopian tube, one was still capable of causing sterilisation.

“The CID apparently submitted a report which it had received but ‘didn’t have time to peruse’. But for some inexplicable reason, it was with the hands of the victims. And still the ‘victims’ didn’t want to be subjected to the fallopian tube test or HSG,” he explained.

The Hysterosalpingography (HSG) test is usually done with radiographic contrast medium (dye) injected into the uterine cavity through the vagina and cervix. If the fallopian tubes are open, the contrast medium will fill the tubes and spill out into the abdominal cavity. It can be determined whether the fallopian tubes are open or blocked and whether the blockage is located at the junction of the tube and the uterus (proximal) or whether it is at the end of the fallopian tube (distal).

“But patients said that they don’t want to do the HSG and they had reservations not clearly articulated, but Court then suspended the test,” Hizbullah explained.
According to him, there was also a move to appoint the Director as the head of the medical panel that was conducting the medical aspect of the test to which the defence objected quite vehemently. Thereafter, the court instructed the Police to go back to the medical body and come up with a solution within two weeks.

Alleged links to a terrorist organisation

The alleged links between Dr. Shafi and a terrorist organisation had also been investigated by the CID and so far, the CID had not found any evidence to prove this allegation as well, the CID informed the court.

Accordingly, the defence attorney told The Sunday Morning that the CID stated that there was no evidence to suggest that he was a member of the NTJ that carried out the 21 April Bloody Easter bombings.

“There is no evidence that he even spoke to anybody who was suspected of terrorism. His telephone number has not appeared in any surveillance system; there is no statement or suspect to talk about it. None of the investigative or intelligence arms of the Government has found any basis or evidence to say that he is anyway connected to terrorism,” he said.

ASP Tissera informed court that there appeared to be no basis to keep him in detention and therefore, he would be making a suitable representation to the Defence Secretary with regard to revoking the detention order against Dr. Shafi obtained under the PTA.

In its report, the CID stated that it conducted thorough investigations to see whether there was any connection between Dr. Shafi and the Easter Sunday suicide bombers, but none of the connections had so far been revealed.

Accordingly, 10 security divisions including the Kurunegala Police, Police Special Task Force, State Intelligence Service, Criminal Records Division, Terrorist Investigation Division, Western Intelligence Division, Police Special Bureau, Naval, Air Force, and Military Intelligence divisions revealed that Dr. Shafi had no records of terrorist activities.

According to the CID, it had also been reported that Dr. Shafi maintained connections with an NGO called Al Thawul Associated (Guarantee) Ltd. and it was revealed that he helped the Muslim community through that NGO. The bank details of the transactions from the NGO to Dr. Shafi had also been revealed during the investigation and the CID sought an order from the Magistrate to get the detailed bank reports from two banks.

Allegation on misappropriated assets

Explaining the progress of the investigation into the alleged misappropriated assets, the CID informed courts that it had not found evidence to prove the allegation but further investigations were being conducted.

According to the defence attorney, the CID informed courts that Dr. Shafi’s monthly income was around Rs. 1.9 million and he had invested close to Rs 37.7 million to purchase properties and vehicles, but it had found no evidence to prove that he had earned those assets in an unlawful manner.

“He had several businesses and he secured an income of Rs. 1.9 million a month and he and his wife have sold car permits, earning quite a bit of money out of that as well,” Hizbullah noted, as revealed by the CID to court.

Furthermore, the CID launched an investigation into the bank accounts of the suspect. But so far, out of 21 financial institutions, only three institutions had been able to issue reports, and out of those three reports, it had been mentioned that the suspect had not engaged in financial activities with two institutions and the other financial institution has stated that the suspect had obtained a credit card from the said bank. The CID made an application to the Magistrate to order respective financial institutions to provide that information in order to conclude investigations.

“They have looked at all his assets and there does not seem to be anything abnormal about it,” Hizbullah said.

In addition, a comprehensive investigation is currently being conducted on the assets of the suspect and following the statements recorded from the previous owners of the properties bought by him and the witnesses who signed when transferring the ownership of those properties, no suspicious or irregular activity had been reported.
When contacted, the Kurunegala Police OIC stated that he had submitted the initial report to the Kurunegala Magistrate Court and that it was the CID that was currently investigating the matter.

The case was postponed until 11 July.

SriLankan Airlines’ long overdue AGM

by Rajeewa Jayaweera-une 29, 2019, 12:00 pm 

The national carrier SriLankan Airlines (UL) held its long-delayed Fortieth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Share Holders on Tuesday, June 25 at the BMICH.

It was convened to receive and consider the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the financial year ending March 31, 2018.

As per Company Law, AGM should have been held on or before September 30, 2018. UL violated Sections 133 (1) and Section 167 of the Companies Act.

Since one more financial year had passed after the Annual Report for the fiscal year under review, it would be futile to delve deeply into the airline’s performance during 2017/18. Furthermore, the current Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Commercial Officer were not involved in the airline’s operations during the said period.

The Company declared a loss of Rs 17,213.57 million for the year under review, a 40% improvement from a loss of Rs 28,929.99 million in 2016/17. Company Revenue increased by 19% to Rs 161,654.46 million from Rs 135,491.19 million while Expenditure increased by 20% to Rs 176,104.44 million from Rs 146,760.81 million. A reduction in losses despite a 42% increase in the Company’s fuel cost, which increased to Rs 47,037.86 million from previous year’s Rs 33,127.99 million is noteworthy. Currency losses in 2017/18 amounted to Rs 1,919.72 million, a 56% improvement in comparison to Rs 4,405.57 million in the previous year.

According to the Notice to Share Holders, the airline’s unaudited losses for period April to December 2018 amounts to Rs 44,310.64. When questioned, company officials attributed higher losses mainly due to the rising fuel costs and drastic depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee.

Considering the airline’s historically high Breakeven Load Factor (BLF), a shareholder questioned Directors how the airline hoped to attain profitability. BLF is the average percentage of seats and cargo space requiring to be sold on an average flight at current average fares for the airline’s revenue to break even with its operating expenses. Its 2017/18 BLF was 82%, and in 2016/17, 87%. Actual Load Factor during the two years had been 70% and 69% respectively. In comparison, BLF of Emirates Airlines had been 65.2% and 64.2% whereas Actual Load Factor reported was 67.2%, and 65% respectively. The carrier reported Operating Profits of AED 2.4 billion and AED 4.1 billion during the financial years 2017/18 and 2016/17.

Vipula Gunatilleka, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), responding on behalf of the Directors attributed losses mainly to finance charges of accumulated debts, high aircraft lease costs, high fuel costs and currency losses.

Past debts are a fact of life due to the airline’s past sins for which the major shareholder (GoSL) is chiefly responsible. High aircraft lease costs resulted due to the involvement of the major shareholder in aircraft acquisitions, a task for which it was ill-prepared. High fuel charges apply to all airlines and are not limited to UL. Currency gains/losses are a fact of life and are uncontrollable.

The CEO briefed shareholders; the airline had negotiated a discounted fuel rate from Ceylon Petroleum Corporation from April 01, 2019. UL was also currently negotiating with GoSL for the waiver of Withholding Tax on aircraft lease payments. He expected these measures to mitigate some of the airline’s losses.

The AGM then degenerated from the sublime to the ridiculous with a few shareholders raising irrelevant issues and monopolizing the floor. The Chairman of the Shareholders Association and several others raised questions, namely; the Official Languages Act (AGM was being conducted in the English language as done since inception in 1979). Some responses were provided in Sinhala. The retiring of old Air Lanka logo (it happened in 1999). Requesting the Treasury to acquire shares given to staff in 1998 free of charge in return for a substantial payment. The number of free tickets given to shareholders every two years to be increased from three to four, and the granting of some such tickets on a confirmed basis (a facility not given by a single carrier worldwide). The airline’s Chairman had to be repeatedly reminded to switch on his microphone when responding. He failed to conduct the proceedings in a disciplined manner leading to the frustration of many other shareholders.

Eventually, with the necessary motions passed and closing of AGM, the Chairman called for the commencement of the Extra Ordinary General Meeting (EGM)

The EGM was convened by Directors based on their Report on the "Serious Loss of Capital" and to consider and if thought fit, to pass a resolution for the continuation of the Company’s operations as a going concern. This was necessary until the completion of the restructuring process based on the continued commitment of financial support by GoSL, the major shareholder.

Contents in the note received by shareholders were reiterated by the CEO. It stated, taking into consideration some key recommendations by international consultants, Management had prepared a comprehensive restructuring plan and approved by the Board of Directors. The plan includes Restructuring of route-network, Fleet-plan to suit the network, Cost/Expenditure control, HR requirements to implement the plan, and Restructuring debts. Other areas receiving attention was the conversion of CPC liabilities to medium term supplier credit facilities and the injection of cash by for debt repayment by the sale of minority stakes in profitable subsidiaries / strategic business units (Catering, Ground Handling, and Engineering). With the appointment of a CEO, other Chief Officers and strengthening of the management team, it was stated the Company expected to break even within three years in the event of the Restructuring Plan being implemented.

This writer, who is also a shareholder raised the following issues.

Q: Is a foreign Consultancy firm involved in the preparation of the Restructuring Plan?

CEO: No, it was an in-house initiative.

Q: The measures explained in the Restructuring Plan were very similar to those outlined in several previous Business and Restructuring Plans. Strategic Business Plan by former Chief Financial Officer SA Chandrasekera in 2010 at the cost of Rs 750,000, InterVista in 2011, Seabury in 2013 at the cost of USD 635,000, Skyworks and Nyras hired directly by the Treasury at the cost of GBP 2 million. The firm had filed a case in the UK for non-payment of invoices. Did Management consider recommendations from previous plans?

CEO: Was not aware of the contents of the previous plans; the latest plan did include some recommendations made by Nyras but denied any direct involvement of a foreign consultancy firm.

Q: When does the three years’ timeline to break even start?

CEO: April 01, 2019 and ending on March 31, 2022.

Q: What impact does the April 21 suicide bombings have on the Restructuring Plan?

CEO: Negative impact of USD 90 million on overall revenue. UL was working on specific measures to bridge the gap.

Q: In the new Restructuring Plan, what model does the airline hope to adopt, i.e., full-service long-haul carrier or Regional carriers

CEO: The airline intends to retain its premier routes such as London on a full-service basis. Many short haul routes would be operated with narrow-bodied aircraft without full service.

Q: Does the Restructuring Plan envisage the reduction of staff and aircraft?

CEO: UL was not overstaffed. Recruitment has been frozen. Political support would be required for staff reductions, a contentious issue in an election year. The decrease in aircraft was not addressed.

When pressed for an answer, the CEO admitted, the Restructuring Plan validated by the Board of Directors had not been approved by the major shareholder, GoSL yet. Meanwhile, measures not requiring GoSL approval were being implemented.

It is a possibility; the Restructuring Plan is currently being held up between the so-called Panel of Experts tasked with turning the airline and ‘experts’ in the cabinet of Ministers.

It need be stated, not even the most successful aviation team in the world will be able to bring UL out from its present predicament so long as there are factors beyond their control. This would be other than factors such as fuel prices and currency fluctuation faced by all airlines. A prerequisite for such a team to succeed is an independent Board of Directors devoid of the major shareholder’s ‘Yes’ men. Directors from the private sector must make decisions without fear of repercussions to their other business interests.

A Business Plan based on commercial considerations should not require approval by ‘Panels of Experts’, Steering Committees or even Committees on Economic Management packed with politicians.

Directors and a CEO dependent on ‘political support’ and ‘constraints during an election year’ to decide on an optimum number of aircraft and staff required, besides which routes to fly and which vanity routes to discontinue have little or no chance in hell of succeeding in turning the airline around.

A perennial complaint by both present and past Directors and top Management has been the high aircraft lease charges. The CEO lamented; lease charges for each of the seven new Airbus A330-300 aircraft amounted to USD 500,000 above market rates.

If lease charges are unaffordable, such planes need be disposed of. Nevertheless, no mention was made of retiring these highly priced long-haul aircraft necessary to operate so called Premium routes. One does wonder how breakeven would be achieved without addressing the issue of high aircraft lease charges.

Despite the CEO’s claim of UL not being overstaffed, its Man to Plane ratio of 270 staff to service each of its 26 aircraft indicates otherwise. Leaving out the mega carriers, Egypt Air has a ratio of 143 staff to maintain each of its 63 aircraft. Finnair has a ratio of 76 staff to service each of its 72 aircraft. Garuda Indonesia has a ratio of 56 staff to maintain each of its 140 aircraft.

Dissent was expressed by several shareholders during the EGM and afterward over the plan to divest Catering, Ground Handling, and Engineering, the strategic business units or cash cows of the airline into subsidiaries. When questioned, most could not provide meaningful justifications for their objections other than sentimental reasons.

What need be evaluated is the fact, once these business units are divested and Management handed over to investors, the airline will have to pay commercial rates for their services. UL has paid subsidized rates for its catering requirements in Colombo. Ground Handling and Engineering Services were available received in-house at cost. Divesting such services could result in GoSL having to increase its subsidy to the airline. If not, dividends from strategic business units will need to exceed what they charge the airline for services rendered.

Board Members were appointed in March, the CEO in July and the Chairman in December 2018. The next AGM for the presentation of Annual Report and Financial Statements for the financial year ending March 31, 2019, is due on or before September 30, 2019.

An insider, on condition of anonymity, stated the Company’s loss from Air Transportation for 2018/19 exceeded Rs 30 billion and Group Loss exceeded Rs 37 billion.

These are the early days. If this Chairman, Board of Directors, CEO and his team could make a difference is to be seen.

The CEO has promised to breakeven by March 31, 2022. The first assessment will be at the end of the financial year ending March 31, 2020.

Meanwhile, let us wish the entire team at the national carrier success in their endeavors to attain profitability.

This article was sent to CEO Vipula Gunatilleka for comments relating to his presentation. A minor correction requested was accommodated.

SLPP’s ‘candidate war’ claims first victim

Welgama booted as Badulla District organiser for opposing Gota candidacy

Kalutara MP claims he told Basil he won’t support SLPP if Gota is 2019 candidate

 

30 June, 2019

UPFA stalwart and Kalutara District Lawmaker Kumar Welgama fell victim to the ‘candidate wars’ within the recently founded Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday, for being overly critical of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapkasa’s plans to run for presidential office.

At the SLPP District Coordination Committee meeting held in Badulla yesterday, a motion was submitted to remove Welgama from the Badulla District leadership, which was passed unanimously by local authority members representing the Uva Province.

Thenuka Vidanagamage, a Badulla District UPFA MP who chaired the meeting accused Welgama of shooting off personal opinions in public, which ran contrary to the views of the SLPP. Vidanagamage told Sunday Observer that the Kalutara District MP had worked tirelessly to secure victory for the SLPP at local council elections held in February 2018. “But now he propagates his own opinions which are dissimilar to the party views. For instance, he openly says, that he will not support Gotabaya Rajapaksa. In this context, we faced massive pressure at grassroots level to remove him from the district leadership,” MP Vidanagamage told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

The motion to remove Welgama was submitted by SLPP members of the Hali-Ela and Bandarawela Pradeshiya Sabhas. The motion was seconded by SLPP members of the Badulla Municipal Council. Vidanagamage was named as Welgama’s replacement.
                                                 
Speaking to the Sunday Observer, Welgama scoffed at his ‘sacking’ saying he had never been formally appointed district leader for Badulla since he is not a SLPP member.

The Kalutara District Lawmaker said that he had assisted the SLPP during the local council polls last year, because Badulla district politicians Nimal Siripala De Silva and Dilan Perera had thrown their weight behind President Maithripala Sirisena. “I decided to help Mahinda Rajapaksa and took on the responsibility,” he said in an interview.

Welgama added that he had told Basil Rajapaksa last week that he would not undertake SLPP organizing work, if the party was planning to field Gotabaya Rajapaksa as its presidential hopeful in 2019.

For months now, Kumar Welgama, who is seen as a staunch loyalist of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has fiercely criticised Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s plans to contest the presidency. He has repeatedly and publicly claimed that Sri Lanka did not need a ‘Hitler’ or a ‘dictator’ and insisted that his party should support a democratically inclined politician to be its candidate in the 2019 elections.

Welgama was also publicly critical of the unconstitutional power grab attempted by the Rajapaksa faction in October 2018. At the time, the Kalutara District MP criticised the decision by the Joint Opposition faction to grab power illegally, claiming that the moves had seriously eroded the SLPP’s political momentum since the February 2018 local polls.

Last week, Welgama also attended a religious function held at the SLFP headquarters which was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.

In a motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit brought by Ahimsa Wickrematunge in California, accusing Gotabaya Rajapaksa of authorising and instigating the extra judicial killing of her father and renowned journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, Rajapaksa’s lawyers claim the former defence secretary was ‘currently running for president’ in Sri Lanka.

The SLPP is yet to name its presidential candidate, with members of the Rajapaksa family still divided about the nomination.

Over the weekend, SLPP frontliner and party organiser Basil Rajapaksa refuted claims that he had declared Gotabaya Rajapaksa as candidate, claiming he had been misquoted in the media.

“The SLPP has not yet decided on its candidate, but a decision will be made next months and the nomination will be revealed to coalition partners and civil society organisations for approval,” Basil Rajapaksa clarified in press reports during the weekend.

It remains to be seen which Rajapaksa family member will ultimately be entrusted with the SLPP presidential candidacy.

Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, ex-Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and even former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa are reportedly being considered for the nomination.

Exclusive: Sri Lanka: Buddha’s Middle-Finger Mudra Unveiled In Kottawa

2019-06-30

The symbolic gestures (Mudras) through the iconography of Buddha image to evoke particular ideas during Buddhist meditation or rituals. In Indian sculptural art, images are the symbolic representations of divinity whose origin and end is expressed through religious and spiritual beliefs.

 

Buts some of sculpts in Sri Lanka applied new Mudras to create bad impressions on Buddhism. Such a statute with a new mudra was unveiled recently in the inaugurated Multimodal Center Makumbura, Kottawa. 

 

In this, one sculpt has created Buddha’s middle-finger mudra for the first time in the history and giant statue with fiddle-finder Mudra has placed on the upper floor of the Multimodal Center.

 

Unfortunately, politicians who were bragged about their knowledge of Buddhism were involved in this project also haven’t noticed what went wrong there.

 

Buddha in general means 'Awakened One'. That is someone who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and sees things as they really are. He is a person who knows everything about past, present and future, directly and simultaneously. He is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions. No doubt his methods of teachings, construction of divine images, subsequent meditation, worship etc. gave mental peace to the human being.

Is your brand fit?

• What personal transformation taught me about brand transformations

 Monday, 1 July 2019

I went through a personal transformation. I lost 18 kgs, reduced six inches on my waist and went from looking chubby and well-built to lean and mean. People noticed. I got good comments. And overall I felt energised and pumped up.

The entire process took time. It involved intensive research, expert opinions, goal setting, meticulous planning, committed execution, constant monitoring, a disciplined lifestyle and huge sacrifices over a significant period of time.

As a professional involved in building brands, I couldn’t but help notice that brand transformations and personal transformations are both similar in many ways.

First clear similarity – there are no shortcuts to weight loss neither is there one for brand building. One can’t continue having the same diet that includes every fattening yet tasty food and expect to lose weight. Likewise for brands you can’t continue to try to get everyone to buy into your proposition. You need to make choices on who is most likely to consume your message and focus on that target with the most compelling proposition. In both cases you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

For my diet I did extensive primary and secondary research. Spoke to people who dieted and looked at various diet ideas available on the internet. Based on a large amount of available information I picked the things I needed to do for myself to lose weight.

The diet that I chose for myself is uniquely mine. Based on my tastes, my daily food habits and things that will be sustainable for me. For brands too an extensive study of consumer needs – both primary and secondary is required before we pick and choose what we need to do for our brand.

Each brand is unique. There are no packaged solutions. You have to tailor the value proposition for each brand based on the unique circumstances surrounding the brand at that particular point in time. And consumer needs. No one diet fits all. There is no prescribed solution for brand transformations either

I consulted experts to understand the numbers. The calories I need to restrict to and the BMR I need to maintain to keep losing weight. My dietician’s advice was critical in giving a scientific context to my plans and helped me get really informed about what happens with my food – what goes into the waist and which food aids muscle development.

Discussing and getting expert advice on numbers – size of opportunity, what market share/sales growth one must realistically target are all great ways to add science to the brand building exercise. Senior partners in your ad agency, research partners and members on your board or advisors with marketing backgrounds can be great people to seek tips from.

I was looking for a sustainable weight loss program. All information I looked at said lose weight slowly and steadily. Build your new body so that the weight loss regimen becomes an entrenched habit. All pointers show that a slow steady approach results in much lesser chance of one regaining the weight.

A crash diet is just that – one that crashes off in no time. Brand building also needs you to adopt a slow consistent regimen where you build new daily regular habits related to measuring equity and staying the course irrespective of short term hiccups. Set goals that are achievable and go after them. A crash diet will crash your brand as it does the diet.

My daily diet chart was critical to my transformation success. So too my regular exercise schedule. I planned it meticulously. It was interesting. The diet was varied and nutritious. Yet there was little junk or empty calories in my daily diet.

My exercise schedule was purposeful and stimulating, targeted at building muscle, losing fat and creating flexibility. Your media mix for brand communications needs to be that. Interesting, varied and without any wastages or unnecessary spill overs. Target your consumer with a big idea, and make sure he gets it full blast as many times as needed.

Another cog in the transformation wheel was my regular monitoring of my progress. Body weight, waist to hip ratios and total fat percentages were monitored weekly. On weeks that they were showing progress, I would continue with my diet mix. On weeks they plateaued I would jump start my system with a different tactic to induce fat loss.

I have detailed trend maps of my slow but steady downward progression of my weight and fat percentages. Constant monitoring gave me confidence that the regimen is working and further motivated me to stay the course.

Brand transformations too need regular monitoring. Brand equity parameters, primary and secondary sales, market share data and GRP numbers are all your brand health trends that one needs to be abreast of. The weeks and months they show progress it gives you confidence. Sometimes you need to jump start if the plateau is constant or it’s tapering or moving downwards too rapidly. A GRP boost or a review of tactics may help to regain momentum and get you back on track towards consistent progress.

A personal transformation program needs a disciplined approach. I had clear time bands when I ate my meals- breakfast lunch tea and a very early light dinner. I planned each meal and knew broadly what each aspect included – nutritious stuff – fruit, veggies, nuts, dairy and salads. I knew what I am going to consume at what point in the day. And I did it without fail every day. Come what may.

Brands need a disciplined approach in its connections with the consumer journey too. How am I going to appeal to consumer and the role of my brand communication at each point in the consumer journey – at stage of awareness creation to the ultimate point of purchase needs to be thought through and detailed and executed meticulously. Day after day the consumer must connect with various facets of the brand in the context of his own journey to the final purchase.

Then finally came the sacrifices – I eschewed all forms of alcohol and non-vegetarian food. And I am exceedingly sparing in my consumption of rice or wheat and any form of sweets in my daily diet. I cheat with an occasional meal of rice or rotis accompanied with sweet desserts but no more than two or three meals in a week. These sacrifices were very important to ensure a calorie reduced diet which allows for the excess fat to burn resulting in weight loss.

Brands too need to sacrifice – temptation of appealing with constant promotions that get you spikes of sales (akin to spikes of energy with sugar) but just like sugar these are empty calories not aiding in creating the sustainable brand loyalty needed for long-term value creation needed for healthy brands.

Sacrificing the need to fatten your quarterly sales numbers may help your brand stay lean and mean in the long run. In diets awareness of emotional eating is a significant cause of disruption of a great fitness plan. In building brand fitness, yielding to emotions and resorting to promotions is sure fire way of disrupting a great brand plan

After 18 months of this rigor I achieved my target. So does it end here? Do I stop? Most certainly not. Now I reassess. I set new goals. Build on my strengths. Continue the good habit of staying fit and healthy. Keep motivating myself by enjoying the attention and admiration.

Ultimately I am now mastering the process that involves assessment, goal setting, planning executing monitoring and then finally achieving my personal transformation ambitions. And it’s the same with the brands – it’s a process one needs to internalise as brand custodians – of assessment, goal setting and finally achieving your ambition. Till you set new bigger better ambitions. The sky is the limit. And it’s up to you where you want your brand to be? And completely up to you how you do it.

(The writer is a brand specialist and could be reached via email at santosh@kl.lk)

Over-worked & under-funded

Animal rescuers pushed to their limits

1 July 2019 

 Lanka has a street animal crisis. You can’t blame the dogs and cats for it; they only live on the road because humans had a hand in putting them there, directly or indirectly.  We’ve all seen boxes of puppies and kittens left at temple gates, but even adult animals that have been cared for in their entire lives aren’t immune from being dumped. The reasons are varied - the animal is injured, the family is moving house, a baby is coming.   Pedigree dogs that have breed-specific medical conditions due to irresponsible backyard breeding are thrown out rather than pay for treatment. Even the mothers of these pedigree dogs can be left on the road after continual pregnancies because their bodies’ can’t produce enough puppies anymore. 
Whatever the reason is, domestic animals in Sri Lanka have become disposable and the reality is that if you dump a dog or cat, you are condemning them to sickness, injury and potential death. 

One thing these animals will also have in common?  They aren’t sterilised. 

Picture this - female cats can breed three times a year and have an average of four kittens per litter. Dogs can breed twice a year with litters of six to ten. In just seven years, one unsterilized female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens; one unsterilized female dog and her offspring can produce 97,000 puppies. 

That’s a lot of animals born into suffering.

There are currently no figures on how many stray animals there are in Sri Lanka, but it’s enough to keep animal rescuers struggling to meet the demand from the public.
Many rescuers aren’t part of a large, well-funded, organisation (but even they are pushed to capacity) but regular individuals who rescue animals in their own homes and are most often juggling the regular job they need to finance their rescue work. 
There is public perception surrounding animal rescuers that they must have unlimited time, money and resources - that animal rescue “is their job” and they are solely responsible for the well-being of every animal that needs help.   Because of this expectation from the public, many rescuers are faced with abuse when they are unable to collect an animal, as well as a barrage of online criticism.

Samantha Green is the CEO of Dogstar Foundation in Negombo and has seen first-hand the issues animal rescuers face when contacted by the public.  “What these groups don’t need are guilt trips or being told dogs are dying because they can’t respond. Dogs are not dying because the groups are not responding, they are dying due to poor or no ownership/guardianship, they are dying because people don’t sterilise their dogs and dump unwanted puppies”.  
It’s a sentiment shared by all the rescuers that the Daily Mirror spoke to – that it’s the lack of responsibility for animals living amongst communities, especially in regards to sterilisation, that produce the never-ending mass of animals that are sick, injured or abandoned. 
Shilpa, who runs her own small business, and currently cares for six dogs and 11 cats in her home, as well as eight cats and two dogs outside, advised us that “Very few dogs here are now stray dogs; most of the dogs are community dogs. If you look around a certain radius you can find out where the dog goes for breakfast, where he sleeps, where he goes to get his dinner”.
All the rescuers agreed that its these communities that need to change their mindset that rescuing and caring for stray animals is the responsibility of other people and that a willingness to help one or two animals, instead of calling and waiting for someone else is needed, because sometimes, rescuers just aren’t able to come, and the reasons may surprise you.

• The rescuer is physically unable to collect the animals as they are at work, or it’s the middle of the night and there are no safe transport options.  Buses and most tuk-tuks will not allow animals; it’s also dangerous to transport animals with spinal injuries in anything other than a car. Sadly, some days there just isn’t any money to pay for petrol or the tuk-tuk fare. 
• Not enough funds for veterinary treatment - Most rescuers already have huge credit bills (even running into the millions) with their regular vet clinics and these clinics may refuse treatment without some kind of payment.  
• There’s no room to keep the recovering animal. Once an animal is released from the vet, if needs to be in a place where it can be given round the clock care, especially with food/water, administering medication and changing surgical dressings. Those who work full-time jobs are not able to provide consistent care for recovering animals and the shelters, sanctuaries, private boarding kennels, vet’s kennels and foster homes are all overcrowded. 
• By far the biggest issue though is finding a permanent home for all the animals that are unsuitable to be put back on the street. While there are plenty of people looking to add a pet to their family, there is a belief that buying a purebred puppy or kitten is somehow “better” and because of this, many sweet natured, smart and adoptable animals, with an equal capacity for love and loyalty, are overlooked.

What can you do if you find an animal in distress?

Rescuers have a theory that the reason people avoid helping is that they are worried that they will then become responsible for the on-going care of that particular animal for the rest of their lives.
But that’s not the case. Rescuers understand that many people are unable to have animals in their homes and there are other ways the public can assist to increase the likelihood of the animal surviving.
When you first come across an animal in distress, imagine them as your own pet.  What would you do first?  If the animal is stuck up a tree, you could find someone that has a ladder.  If there’s nothing you feel you can do, then call a rescue group and let them know the situation. They will be able to talk you through simple things you can do, to begin with, such as getting them off the road safely.  If you have access to transport, you could offer to take the animal to the vet on behalf of the rescuer.
Depending on your personal situation, you might be in the position to give financial aid towards vet bills and medication. If that’s not possible, even donations of food, milk, blankets or old newspapers can be helpful. 
If you are home during the day, you could offer to take care of a recovering animal and/or foster the animal until a permanent home is found for them.
One of the best things people can do is speak to the people in their communities and encourage them to get the dogs in their area sterilised, a service most animal rescuers will provide for free if they have the funding that month. 

Animal rescue and mental health

Due to the high-stress nature of the job, animal rescue workers are susceptible to a condition called “compassion fatigue or STSD (secondary traumatic stress disorder), which can manifest in people who are exposed to the suffering and trauma of others, including animals. Symptoms of compassion fatigue can include depression, insomnia, fatigue, grief, feelings of guilt, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts.  
Manoja advised “Last week I had a mother cat with four kittens that were left on the road in a box. Then another two kittens were dumped so I put them all together but all the kittens died. If I had money to give them a vaccine early I would have been able to save them. It’s very distressing - when you don’t have any money”.
One rescuer, who prefers to remain anonymous, said “There are days I have felt very down because I have no help or funds. I couldn’t afford better vet care or the dog has gotten run over and died by the time I find help or find a forever home for that dog.  There are days I have been very sad. I really wish I could help so many. When an animal gets run over, mistreated or abused, it really gets to me, it breaks my heart”.

Lack of regulations across all areas of animal care in Sri Lanka

While local groups and individuals are sometimes lucky enough to find donors to make a regular contribution for things such as food or a certain amount of sterilisations each month, the reality is that many rescuers will commit to helping more animals than they have the money for as they feel like they are unable to 
say no.
When this happens, rescuers find themselves appealing for donations from the public on a case by case basis which doesn’t have a high success rate.  
One of the reasons people are unlikely to donate is lack of confidence into where the funds will go – there is often suspicion amongst the public that money is used on the rescuer’s personal expenses, rather than going towards the animals.  What people don’t realise is that there are a lot of associated costs that go with each rescue and in the current situation; the people doing the actual rescuing don’t feel like they can ask for money for things such as transport or administration costs.
Dogstar is one of three animal welfare organisations that are registered as an NGO and therefore have to report to the Secretariat at the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.  They have to produce independently audited accounts yearly; lodge an action plan a year in advance and submit quarterly progress reports.  They are legally bound by a memorandum of understanding to spend their donations only on their core objective, which is spay and neuter.   If they receive any general donations, only then can they use them for say, an emergency animal rescue.   

"Whatever the reason is, domestic animals in Sri Lanka have become disposable and the reality is that if you dump a dog or cat, you are condemning them to sickness, injury and potential death"

If government regulations existed in Sri Lanka that made it law for everyone involved in any type of animal care business to follow a legal framework such as what Dogstar has to do, it would not only give donors faith that their money wasn’t being misused, but give rescuers a way to allocate their funds effectively and to reduce some of the stress that comes with not having enough money to cover day to day operations. 
Shilpa is in favour of moving towards regulations as a way to minimise the emotional and financial stress that rescuing currently involves “When you apply for grants overseas, they give you an allocation and a certain amount of that money will be for administration, salaries and expenses.  It keeps us accountable and helps us keep track of what we are spending so we don’t have to scramble constantly.  Grants are pretty strict, if they say sterilise 50 animals, it can’t be 49 and it can’t be 51. We can say, this is how I work, this amount is what we generally spend on food, this is what medication generally costs and this is the number of animals I can take in”.

She also suggested that if proper legislation is written into the constitution countrywide which can’t be changed when the government changes; there will be a better way to manage and treat animals in the country.  
The answer to this would come in the form of the proposed Animal Welfare Bill, which is currently sitting with the Attorney General, and if approved, will then go to Cabinet for a vote.  Until then, the vital work of animal rescue will continue to be taken on by a small number of people who are putting everything they have into making a difference 
for the animals.
“We aren’t saying, we do all this work and feel sorry for us” stressed Shilpa, “we just need help”.

Rescuer Profile

Sahana is only 25 years old and has been rescuing strays as a child with her family for many years. She lives with her family and looks after 8 dogs and 2 cats, 
all of which are adopted rescuees. She took oaths as an attorney-at-law last year and despite earning a basic minimum salary, funds most of her rescue work on her own. 
She attends to her animal rescue work every evening after her daily job and all day on weekends.

Work includes: Treating sick dogs and cats, feeding 30-35 stray dogs weekly, funding sterilisations, rescuing puppies and kittens and fostering them until they find a permanent home. If Sahana is unable to find a foster for an animal until they are adopted/treated, they have to be boarded which incurs heavy charges.  
 “My salary is usually over within a few weeks so then I end up using my savings or interest money in order to continue my rescue work. My bills are so high, so when I’m struggling I appeal for funds.  It’s not an easy task continuing rescue work especially when you are on your own and have no help whatsoever, I hardly go out now with friends or on trips so that I can save money for rescue work or be able to attend to a rescue.

Rescuer Profile

Manoja is a full-time animal rescuer and is supported by the small income her husband sends from abroad.  She currently has 22 adult dogs, 10 puppies and 25 cats in her care. At 9 years old Manoja’s family lived near a temple where people would leave their puppies and kittens.  Since then, she has been looking after other people’s dumped puppies and kittens. 
Work includes Treating, caring for and re-homing puppies, as well as sterilisations and vaccinations. A typical day for Manoja begins with cleaning up all the waste from the animals.  She then feeds the puppies’ dry dog food and milk, as well as the cats. She then starts making a 7kg pot of rice for the first meal, with the assistance of another woman that comes to help around 10 am. If she has a chance, she will clean the house but then the puppies will have to be fed again.  Manoja is only able to leave the house if her helper is there; who will also help Manoja feed the animals again before she leaves. 
“Most of the income I receive goes towards the animals - I have a few donors for sterilisations, vaccines and vet bills, and anything additional I fundraise on Facebook. My cost is around 200,000 a month to look after the animals including sterilisations. I have 23 dogs at Veyangoda and am paying a family to care for them there. Do people think rescuers are using the money to live a five-star lifestyle?  If someone wants to come and visit my house, I live in one room; the rest of the house is a pigsty!”

Windrush Scandal: Home Office ‘reckless’ and ‘defensive’, leaked review finds

Simon Israel-27 Jun 2019Senior Home Affairs Correspondent

The Home Office has been accused of being reckless and of failing in their legal duty to counter racial discrimination – by a Home Office commissioned review – into the Windrush scandal.

Channel 4 News has obtained damning extracts from a draft titled ‘Windrush Lessons Learned Review’ which reveals that “the department failed to monitor, or effectively evaluate, the effectiveness and impact of compliant environment measures.”

The review adds: “This appears particularly reckless considering the significant warnings that the Department was given about their potential consequences.”

The exclusive report also reveals numerous recommendations to right the wrongful detentions and deportations of some members of the Windrush generation.

In the draft review, led by Independent Advisor Wendy Williams – set up to establish what went wrong and how to prevent it happening again – she describes the culture in the Home Office as deaf, defensive, ignoring warnings and unwilling to learn from past mistakes – and writing of a “defensive culture that results in an unwillingness to learn from past mistakes”.

She writes: “Whilst everyone I spoke to, was rightly appalled by what happened, this was often juxtaposed with a self-justification, either in the form of it was unforeseen, unforeseeable and therefore unavoidable… or a failure on the part of individuals to prove their status.”

The review into the Windrush scandal focuses on the impact of Theresa May’s immigration laws in 2014 and 2016 that brought in measures intended to create a hostile environment for illegal immigrants. Six years ago her message was solely aimed at the growing clamour to get tougher on immigration.

But draft extracts from the review obtained by Channel 4 News claim that the implementation was flawed because “it failed to adequately consider the past… It failed to adequately consider the impact on people… It also failed to adequately mitigate equalities issues including the potential for discrimination, particularly in housing.”

The draft review also contains numerous recommendations including the suggestion that all Home Office staff need to be educated in the country’s colonial past.

Wendy Williams writes: “The Home Office should ensure that all its existing and new staff learn about the history of the UK and its relationship with the rest of the world including Britain’s colonial history…”

The draft review also proposes that government ministers should admit that they were wrong and provide an unqualified apology.

“Ministers/Department should admit that it was wrong and provide an unqualified apology…the sincerity of this apology will be judged by how far the Department demonstrates contrition…”

A Home Office spokesperson told Channel 4 News: “We do not comment on leaked documents.”