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• Abiding by the Gandhian yardstick, the humane plan to catch and settle Kandyan rilaws
  on a paradise isle in the middle of Randenigala reservoir

India’s greatest son of the 20th century, Mohandas Gandhi, wrote, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals.”

Well, Lanka certainly hasn’t fallen short of the Mahatma’s yardstick, as India’s greatest Prime Minister of the 21st century, Shri Narendra Modi, will soon discover during his travels around the island this week.

He may have already been briefed by Indian High Commission officials the moment he arrived on Friday night about how millions of animal-loving Lankans had instantly heeded the Government’s heart-rending call to save four condemned species by participating in a nationwide census to count rilaws, peacocks, monkeys and giant wild squirrels that habituate their gardens or their agricultural fields.

He would, no doubt, have been told how the islanders had, of their own accord, religiously sacrificed their holiday on the Ides of March last month to be awake before 8 in the morn, ready with pen and the government’s specially printed scorecard, to begin counting at full speed the named four species they sight on their lands between 8 and 8.05 a.m.

This unique scientific national endeavour—the first of its kind in the world—of obtaining data from empirical evidence, and not through conjecture, is the first step taken to plan multiple strategies on saving Lanka’s endangered wildlife. It is the brainchild of Deputy Agricultural Minister Namal Karunaratne, whose inborn genius lay long buried beneath the grassroots turf and was unearthed and his promise discovered only when the new government took office five months ago. Until then the gem was condemned to waste its lustre underground.

LANKAN RILAWS: Safety in sanctuary

This wasn’t the JVP government’s only find. The government’s firm commitment to establish a meritocracy paid rich rewards when it found, beneath the pile of fading celluloid stars, the twinkling star to emblazon Lanka’s night sky. Step forth Jagath Manuwarna, the rising star in the JVP firmament, whose fertile brain has conjured up a masterplan that outshines all past environmental plans designed to solve Lanka’s rilaw syndrome.

SLFP Minister Amaraweera’s dollar-spinning grand plan to send Lanka’s rilaws in shiploads to Chinese sanctuaries was condemned and dismissed as a possible evil ruse to send rilaws to Chinese restaurants, specialising in serving live macaque brains as the delicacy of the day.

Culture forbids rilaw culling. Or else diehard JVP MP Lalkantha’s plan to arm farmers with the necessary wherewithal and leave them to implement the Final Solution as Hitler did to deal with the Jews would have done the trick six months ago. So is birth control off the agenda? Mass-scale slaughter or sterilisation may be good for primitive men to do in Africa’s dark bush. But not for an island steeped in nonviolence for over 2500 years.

With limited options, the masterplan evolved to settle the offending rilaws on Lanka’s archipelago of inland islands.

Even as Britain had in 1788 transported their convicts down under and dumped the lot, for starters, on the vast continent of Australia, and, continuing the vile practice, freed their jails by filling Australia’s open-air prison where no guards nor bars existed toi prevent their escape, but only miles and miles of endless sea—so has the local plan, for starters, dwelt with catching truant rilaws from Kandy’s streets and transporting them all to a paradise isle and leaving the born free Kandyan rilaws to live free in peace and harmony.

The plan envisages the capture of Kandy’s thousands of intimidating rilaws as the first step in the operation. As JVP’s Kandy District-born MP, film actor Jagath Manuwarna, told the media last Sunday, “We have had to listen to the complaints of the people. Accordingly, we have been continuously discussing the measures that can be taken in this regard. We have appointed a committee with the relevant parties and submitted the report or proposal to the Kandy Coordination Committee and obtained approval to implement it.”

The next stage of the plan will, of course, be to transport the captive rilaw to the designated destination of their exile. Manuwarna says of the entire plan, “We have received Rs. 10 million from the Central Provincial Council for the pilot project of this programme. We will work to implement the programme throughout the Kandy district in the future.”

IDYLLIC: Paradise rilaw isle on Randenigala reservoir

Now for the grand climax: The grand release of thousands of rilaws to a 200-acre island in the middle of Randenigala Reservoir. Of this idyllic spot chosen for rilaws to roam free in isolated splendour, Manuwarna says, “One thing they said was that even if these rilaw go to the islands and are released, they will swim back to land when food is scarce. This will not happen this time. We will definitely install an electric fence around the island so that they cannot come out. We will not harm the animals in any way.”

Wise man, indeed. To erect an electrified fence around this small sunlit paradisical rilaw isle, and monitor its soundness 24/7 by teams of inspectors present on the island may cost the earth but may prove in the end to be worth every rupee spent.

Or else, some small damage caused to the fence by the fall of a branch or tree may provide the gaping loophole for crafty rilaw to slip though, disappearing en masse from Manuwarna’s Millennium Rilaw Park in the manner that the T-Rex escaped from Attenborough’s Jurassic Park.

Though the widely awaited results of the rilaw count were expected to be released on Monday, as announced by Namal Karunaratne, they were not, leaving millions disappointed. A Daily Mirror report, quoting unnamed senior officials, said that the appointed committee had so far received data from only 8 districts. Furthermore, they said, “Some of the data received by the respective officers appear to be distorted and may need to be validated again.” Pity.

Solutions to tackle the rilaw invasion were to be based on accurate data the census would produce. But with only unreliable data to go by, solutions had to be put on hold. So was the plan to ‘snatch, send and settle’ rilaw on an island in the Randenigala sun. Pity.

If not for this slight jinx, the grand opening of Rilaw Island could have been timed to take place during Modi’s current visit to Lanka, when India’s greatest 21st-century prime minister could have done the honours himself; and, in the same manner Modi was taken on safari in a tiger-infested Indian wilderness by the world’s topmost survival expert, Bear Grylls, six years ago, he could have been taken on safari by local survival experts Namal and Jagath, inside the vast 200-acre odd rilaw habitat.

The firsthand experience gained on Rilaw Island, had it been opened, would have made the ‘Gandhi’-inspired Modi highly impressed by this nation’s moral progress, judging by the extraordinary lengths it goes to protect and treat its animals.

On his flight home, Modi may realise that the Lankan people deserve greater respect than given by his countrymen. For they, though economically destitute and trying to keep the rilaw from their plots, were morally far superior to his own. The sacred soil of India may have given birth to Gauthama the Buddha, but it was in the thrice blessed land of Lanka where temple bells peeled the Buddha’s profound universal message of goodwill: ‘May All Beings be Happy!’

Not human beings alone.

Trump strikes global trade terror but Handunnetti remains defiant Donald Trump triggered an international trade war on Wednesday, leaving Lanka among the countries worst hit by a wave of high tariffs. Calling it ‘America’s Declaration of Economic Independence’, Trump levied what he called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on the rest of the world. “Reciprocal. That means they do it to us, and we do it to them. America has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by foreign scroungers,” he said during his bombshell speech. He lodged a baseline 10 percent tariff on all countries which went into effect on Saturday one minute past midnight. Reciprocal tariffs will go into force at one minute past midnight on April 9th. HANDUNNETTI: No prob Sri Lanka is one of the worst-hit countries by Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. Since it imposes an 87 percent tariff on all US imports, Lanka faces a 44 percent tariff imposition on its exports to the US market. Needless to say, this will have a crippling effect on the garment sector. The loss from this industry alone is estimated to be over 1.5 billion US dollars. TRUMP: Tariffs Yet, while the world reels in shock and horror with their economies nuked by Trump’s new tariff missiles, and the Lankan President appoints a high-powered committee to study to pillow the economic impact, Industries Minister Sunil Handunnetti remains unfazed. At a press conference on Thursday, the day after Trump fired his tariff salvos, Handunnetti defiantly declared, “Trump’s tariffs pose no threat to us. The best quality garments we produce will have no problem in competing in other open markets. The trade barriers the US creates for itself with other countries will create new markets for us. I see this global trade war as an opportunity. Not as an obstacle. Soon I intend to present a new tariff rate and get it passed in Parliament.” Inspiring talk, no doubt, to forlorn factory owners to find new frontiers, explore and develop markets, gain new footholds on unknown grounds and set the trail ablaze with Made in Sri Lanka’s best quality products. Incidentally, does Handunnetti intend to bring a new set of tariffs to capitulate to Trump’s demand for low tariffs for US goods or to increase tariffs for US goods and, like China has done, launch an all-out retaliatory trade war against America? Will miserly Saturn’s move to sage Jupiter’s Pisces be good for you? Last Saturday night at 9.17, the zodiac’s most feared planet, Saturn, moved from his home, Aquarius, to lease out the most beneficial planet, Jupiter’s home of Pisces, for the next two and a half years. Renowned Katubedda astrologer Ahungalle Thosa de Silva gives a brief insight into how this rare celestial phenomenon will cast its earthly effect on those born under the following birth signs. CELESTIAL BUZZ: Saturn leaves home to take residence for two and a half years in Jupiter’s home, Pisces ARIES The transit of Saturn to yoke the 12th house will increase expenses. Slight health problems are indicated around the stomach and legs. So take care. You will be inclined to do meritorious deeds during this time. TAURUS Saturn’s transition brings good luck and good fortune for Taurus people. Put your heart into working hard and you’ll soon see financial gains. Promotions at work are in the offing, as well as opportunities for a change in careers. Good for income. GEMINI Gemini people are likely to get opportunities for foreign travel. Saturn will enter the 10th house, the house of careers and livelihoods. Foreign job opportunities, as well as career advancements in careers, are shown. The transition will bring happiness to this star sign. CANCER The problems and difficulties that were there before will be removed by Saturn coming to a beneficial place in the house. It will bring peace and harmony to the mind. Financial concerns are minimised, and this time will be ideal for working hard and achieving prosperity. LEO Saturn enters the somewhat dreaded 8th house of your birth sign, bringing with it a busy schedule. The obstacles in the path of those married are removed. Secret love for those unwed may begin to bloom. A financially secure time is also indicated. VIRGO Health problems of Virgo people will be resolved, bringing relief and happiness. It’s a time when love will start blossoming in the hearts of the young. Proposals for the unmarried will start to flow. It is a good time for children’s education. LIBRA Saturn entering the sixth house for this star sign means that there will be no bad effects. A beneficial time for health brings peace of mind. However, expenses are likely to increase. Educational endeavours will be successful. SCORPIO Problems concerning legal matters are removed as Saturn enters the 5th house of Scorpions. The mind will be freed from mental worries. The period will bring peace and happiness to the home. Good for children’s progress. SAGITTARIUS Saturn enters the 4th house for Sagittarian folk. It’s the house of the heart. There will be opportunities to acquire vehicles and properties. Love will emerge to dominate the heart. Problems at work will be erased. It is a good time to embark on a new career or business venture. CAPRICORN Saturn’s pathway through the 2nd house that brought mental stress will be relieved by Saturn entering the 3rd house, the house of victory, during this time. The ability to work hard is shown. A new awakening in educational matters. You’ll be more courageous. AQUARIUS Saturn, the ruling planet of Aquarians, will enter the 2nd house, the house denoting wealth. Savings will be used to buy land and property. Problems that caused stress will be thrown out. Partners that had become estranged will get back together. PISCES Saturn will enter the first house. Enthusiasm and capacity for work will increase. Your determination to succeed will also increase. Enemies will become friendly again. Good for those seeking jobs. Financial prosperity is set to dawn during these two years for Pisceans.