Eulogy from Jeremy’s Family

Born: July 7th 1952
Died: June 3rd 2007

In our 29 years of married life, I learned values from Jeremy that are as unforgettable as the man himself. His family meant everything to him and he meant the world to us too. Jeremy was soft-spoken and unassuming, never hesitant to help a human being in need… even people who were unfair to him.

A man of many talents, Jeremy sang particularly well. Blessed with a keen photographer’s eye, he derived delight from the wondrous colours of nature’s palette. His adept hands fixed his children’s toys as confidently as high-tech gadgetry like television sets and computers. Even as he treasured his ‘family time’, he found relaxation in fishing and reading.

Jeremy spread sunshine wherever he went. Being the jovial and joyous person that he was, people loved being in his company, especially when he was in one of his entertaining moods. His magnetic appeal used to attract little children to him and he reciprocated by buying gifts for all who came his way.

In today’s world, some of Jeremy’s beliefs would appear quaint, like: a family should have just enough for its needs because, if there was an abundance of riches, the family could go astray.

Dadda, you were always there for us, ever so patient, our friend as much as our parent. It’s strange to realise that we will not have your reassuring presence by our side when we walk up the aisle.

We know that you are now with Jesus, watching over us. We will treasure memories of the wonderful times we shared… But, despite those memories, Dadda, we miss you…

- Patricia Fernando and the Children

Foreign Capital Not a Panacea

Foreign capital does not necessarily spur growth in non-industrialised countries and hence it ought not to be considered a panacea. Non-industrialised countries are better off focussing their energies on domestic reforms. This was the crux of the 57th Anniversary Lecture of the CBSL, delivered by Prof. Raghuram G Rajan, University of Chicago.

Macro-economic theory suggests that the marginal productivity of capital should be high in poor countries that are deprived of capital. Hence, the logic goes, capital should flow from rich to poor countries and - within poor countries - to the most productive of them. Over time, less capital has been flowing to poor countries even though they have improved their financial systems. Foreign capital has not even been flowing to the fastest growing economies; in recent times, the direction has been reversing. Foreign direct investment from private sources does follow the theoretical expectation, admits Prof. Rajan, but a different pattern emerges when one looks at the big picture.

A reason for this anomaly is the limited ability of domestic financial systems in non-industrial countries to effectively absorb and deploy foreign capital. Where financial infrastructure is poor, the ‘development effect’ of capital on growth is diluted or eliminated, postulated Prof. Rajan, who is an Eric J Gleacher Distinguished Professor of Finance.

Basing his findings on empirical data from 1970 to 2004, Prof. Rajan highlighted that the pace of growth in non-industrialised countries is positively correlated with savings rather than with investment. Therefore, in what was probably a message for Sri Lanka, he recommended reliance on financing through domestic savings rather than from foreign capital sources. “Be open without being excessively reliant,” he said.

In fast-growing economies, excessive domestic consumption and dependence on foreign capital leads to currency over-valuation and concomitant lowering of exports. This adversely impacts returns on investment and overall growth. Besides, as country income increases, people spend on low-supply goods, resulting in higher inflation.

Earlier, delivering the inaugural address, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, CBSL Governor, admitted that the country’s per capita income of US$ 1,355 does not reveal the actual situation. The Western Province has a per capita income of US$ 1,900, while the other eight provinces average less than US$ 800. We cannot double per capita income every six to seven years with our own resources, he said. “We need to look at foreign direct investment and borrowings.”

Cabraal emphasised the need to make ourselves, as a country, more marketable. With infrastructure projects worth US$ 5 billion in the pipeline, he urged the gathering of bankers to move forward despite the challenges.

W A Wijewardena, Deputy Governor - CBSL, spoke on Central Banking: Six Decades after John Exter, the first governor of the central bank. The Exter Report presented the case for a central bank in the country. That was at a time when Ceylon was operating under the Currency Board system and the country’s currency was backed by foreign reserves maintained with the Reserve Bank of India.

The Ultimate Lingua Franca

Eric Fernando, who took some amazing photographs, and I visited many interesting places along the coast, witnessing how people had rebuilt their lives after the tsunami. We handed over the 32-page booklet to the printers yesterday – and I am pleased with the effort…! Five hundred copies of the report will be ready in about a week’s time.

As you are probably aware, I am also writing a book - the biography of a Sri Lankan Navy Commander... When I have the time, I also write reports for the Financial Times on Sunday.

When it comes to communicating in English, I seem to be at a slight advantage here. When compared with urban India, written and spoken English skills are mediocre in Sri Lanka. However, among the educated elite (especially the older generation), there are many excellent authors and orators. And such people have reached very senior levels as a consequence of their typically-foreign education. Without intending to sound condescending, I have come across many bloggers who have an excellent command of the language. (I wonder: Do they use those skills to earn some pocket-money, like I do?)

Sri Lanka had a good head-start, having been part of the Commonwealth. But the rulers frittered that advantage away, just as they have done to the many natural advantages that this country had. On the subject of language, for example, they had a short-sighted and chauvinistic policy called ‘Sinhala Only’. This worked to the detriment of all other languages that existed – although the Tamils justifiably claim that it was to subvert their nationhood - and finally to the detriment of the country's BPO potential!

Report Done, It’s Time to Fly

I am implementing plans to visit Dubai next month - long overdue - to check out jobs there as a safety net (if MHA decides that India would be better-off without me). Even if the India visa does come through, this is an opportunity to check out that city… One never knows when I will be footloose and fancy-free again.

I’ve decided to grab the first attractive opportunity that comes my way – and evaluate other options as they emerge...

I got roped in to write a report for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)... Sri Lanka is hosting a UNDP Workshop next month and they needed someone to write a report on their tsunami recovery effort. I have just finished writing the report and handed over the 32-page booklet to the printers yesterday. The style is very un-UN-like and I hope they appreciate it. Five hundred copies will be ready in about a week’s time.

You might be able to read portions of it on my blog after the report is released. I have adopted a relaxed, readable style – unlike typical UN publications that read like they've been written by a constipated parrot. So, watch this space!

Marina to the Rescue

Marina visited New Delhi last week and met with the decision-makers in the Ministry of Home Affairs. They managed to trace my file and my wife explained the case to them in intricate detail. After that, they finally seem to have seen reason and have promised to push things along. Marina has been asked to call again on Monday… It’s like waiting for exam results all over again!

As an employer, Titan has been fantastic, extremely supportive during these difficult times!

Choices: Dubai, Bangalore or Colombo?

A Lion like No Other

Sri Lanka Tourism’s initiative to support Lion Mahendra Amerasuriya on his installation as world President at the Lions International Convention in Chicago last month, saw the Upuli Channa Performing Arts Foundation presenting a stunning dance recital, showcasing Sri Lanka as a country rich in culture and arts.

The event drew over 30,000 representatives from 200 countries, from a 1.2 million strong Lion’s movement to the “United Centre” Chicago home to the legendary basketball players, the Chicago Bulls. The procession of member clubs were led by batik saree-clad ladies and sarong-clad men waving Sri Lanka flags and Sesaths, earning them the award for “Best Parade” in the procession.

Sri Lanka Tourist Board made use of this historic moment when the first Sri Lankan to be inducted to the high office of world presidency of the Lions Club took place in Chicago to draw positive attention to Sri Lanka. The sponsorship of the sixteen-member dance troupe of the Channa Upuli Performing Arts Foundation was but one aspect; the focus was a total awareness-creating programme of Sri Lanka - A Land like No Other - to the Lions present at the convention.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board stall at the convention drew many, and the interest in Sri Lanka, was further heightened - amongst Lions at the convention - by Sri Lanka being the venue for their forthcoming 35th ISSAME Forum (Lions regional meeting covering the South African, Middle Eastern and SAARC region). The ISSAME is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka this year from 5th – 8th December, and over 500 members are expected to participate.

Lion Mahendra Amerasuriya will travel to 200 countries during his tenure of World Club Presidency, attending board meetings and Lions movement-related activities. An illustrious Sri Lankan, Lion Mahendra has agreed to the request of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board to showcase “Destination Sri Lanka” on his travels abroad. Audio and video recordings covering Sri Lanka’s cultural diversity, scenic beauty, heritage sites, and wildlife will be included in these presentations. These will be reminders to the world that Sri Lanka is still a country of distinguished persons and a destination waiting to delight the traveller.

(Courtesy: Prashanthi Ravindran, Asst Director - PR, Sri Lanka Tourist Board)

On MICE, Ecotourists & Monkeys

The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions) market constitutes 15% to 20% of tourists to Sri Lanka. However, the MICE tourists' contribution is merely 10% of foreign exchange the country earns from tourism. That is because such visitors typically spend less time in the country (under four days) than a package tourist does.

Of the nine million Indians expected to travel out next year, 800,000 will be on MICE. Sri Lanka is well connected to India and - with even more airlines joining the fray - is ideally poised to tap that opportunity. To promote our country as a destination, Cooray will be accompanying a delegation of 25-30 tourism leaders to India.

These leaders will interact with at least 100 of India's leading companies at road-shows planned in Bangalore and Hyderabad (September 6th to 11th). The promotion intends to tap the abundant affluence in these software centres and grab a bigger byte of the conference business. These road-shows will be followed by similar ones in Chennai during October, and Mumbai and New Delhi later this year. Cocktails and presentations on Sri Lankan tourism will certainly feature on the menu.

Lately, Indian companies have been riding the crest of an economic wave and have the resources to take their employees to foreign destinations. Value for money is very relevant for them, and Sri Lankan hotels offer very competitive pricing. Indians who have visited Sri Lanka marvel at its diversity, describing it as "God's Own Country", an epithet popularised by Kerala Tourism to describe that South Indian state.

Dr D A C Silva, Senior lecturer at the University of Colombo, explained Community Tourism: "Traditional tourism focuses on tourism and hopes that spin-off benefits will trickle down to the community," he said. "But this recent trend promotes community welfare through tourism."

Today's tourist is an anthropologist who explores cultures, attitudes and lifestyles - to expand his awareness. This typically European eco-tourist is also curious about how his money is helping people. Palitha Gurusinghe, Chairman, Sri Lanka EcoTours, provided the sad example of the Udawalawe National Park, which tourists pay US$ 25 to enter, but the people there live below the poverty line.

Describing the promotion of Sri Lanka as "a real nightmare", Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, CEO - Jetwing EcoHolidays, narrated how a documentary film crew was obstructed by the Galle Fort Heritage Committee because their permit from the Sri Lanka Tourist Board was inadequate. By doing so, they were blocking international coverage potentially worth US$ 50 million in terms of telecast time on Discovery or National Geographic.

"If you want to film monkeys in Polonnaruwa," Wijeyeratne went on, "you need to liaise with the central Cultural Fund, the Department of Archaeology and the Forest Department, besides keeping the local temple priests happy." Acknowledging this narrow-mindedness, George Michael, Additional Secretary, Tourism Ministry, promised a 'one-stop-shop' that will issue such permits in future.

Jetwing Gets PATA on the Back

In 2002, a couple of gentlemen on a visit to the Barnes Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in UK were immensely impressed by what they saw there. “Why not replicate something similar in Sri Lanka?” they thought. In due course, they did! The gentlemen are Hiran Cooray, Deputy Chairman, Jetwing Hotels Ltd, and Gehan de Silva Wijeyratne, CEO, Jetwing Eco Holidays. Their replica was created within view of the renowned Sigiriya rock fortress and is Jetwing’s newest property – Vil Uyana.

But the transformation of their dream into reality was not quite smooth sailing… “We wanted to turn barren land into wetland, but the authorities here did not understand,” recounts Cooray. “Consequently, we had to struggle for 23 months to get approval.”

The creation of the 9½ acre lake alone cost Jetwing a whopping Rs 40 million… But it’s payback time now. The premium price-tag of US$ 110 per night for bed and breakfast does not seem to be a deterrent. Cooray says, “Occupancy is pushing 40% and the majority of our guests are locals... We can’t grumble at the way things are shaping up.”

Vil Uyana’s moment of glory, however, came recently, when the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced its 24 Gold Award winners. In addition to these, four Best-of-Show Grand Awards were announced. Jetwing’s Youth Development Project at Vil Uyana bagged the Grand Award in the Education and Training category for the ‘We Dreamed a Dream’ project. The project was originally planned to bridge the skills gap and equip local youngsters for employment. This was done by providing training in hospitality and English – free - to school-leavers from disadvantaged farming families in the Sigiriya area.

Jetwing went to temples and asked monks to find them youth aged eighteen years and above. Teaching of English to the selected youth commenced in January 2006, at the temple premises itself. A ‘personality profile test’ facilitated determining the youngsters’ aptitudes for different areas of hotel operations. Accordingly, individuals were trained in Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage or Kitchen Operations. The passing out ceremony took place in June 2006 and successful candidates were absorbed into the staff cadre.

In addition, Sri Lanka has won three Gold Awards. SriLankan Airlines bagged one for its ‘Home Away from Home’ marketing campaign for carriers. Chaaya Hotels & Resorts won two: (a) in the Environment category, for its ecotourism project, Chaaya Village Habarana and (b) in the Marketing Media category, for its CD-ROM. All award recipients will be honoured at a special luncheon at the PATA Travel Mart 2007 to be held in Bali, Indonesia, on September 28th 2007.

Speaking at a media conference recently, Dr P Ramanujam, Secretary, Ministry of Urban and Sacred Area Development, remarked, “If tourism is to be sustainable, we have to get the community involved."

Based on its accomplishments - in ecotourism and engagement of local communities - Jetwing has recently signed a contract to build two rainforest lodges in Cambodia.

Long-term Investment

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease…

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer,
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down…
But never found the time."

(Courtesy: Ravi Bhatia)

Ravages of Time (1973 to 2007)

UNICEF Foster Care Ad

(Courtesy: Malaika Fernando)

Noah's Ark Retold: 2007

The Lord came unto Noah, who was living in Canada, and said, “Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save two of every living thing along with a few good humans."

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, "You have six months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for forty days and forty nights."

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark. "Noah!" He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?”

"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed. I needed a building permit. I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision.

“Then the Hydro One demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark’s move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.

“Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!

“When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodation was too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.

“Then the Ministry of the Environment ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.

“I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew. Immigration and Naturalization are checking the Visa status of most of the people who want to work. The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience.

“To make matters worse, Revenue Canada seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species. So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least ten years for me to finish this Ark.”

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked, “You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"

"No," replied the Lord. “The Government beat me to it."

(Courtesy: Ravi Bhatia)