Prepared by: Sarath Obeysekera 1. Executive Summary Recent global developments, particularly the rise of assertive leadership in Burkina Faso under Ibrahim Traoré, have sparked debate on whether traditional democratic models are effective for developing nations. This paper argues that while Sri Lanka should not abandon democracy, it must urgently reform governance by: Sri Lanka must […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Key unsolicited Projects Executed in 70/ 90  These represent a classic 1970s–1990s model of development: 👉 politically driven 👉 externally financed 👉 consultant-led 👉 quickly executed  Lessons to Learn 1.  Speed vs. Process Then: Projects moved very fast—decisions taken at ministerial level, minimal bureaucracy. Lesson: Today’s takeaway: Create a fast-track approval system” […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera During the 1990s, particularly under the government of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK), Sri Lanka moved toward privatization and foreign investment. It was an unsolicited proposal aligns with how many privatizations and BOI-era investments were structured at the time. 2. Infrastructure Development – Storage & Engineering The construction of LPG storage was a […]

By Sarath Obeysekera The global economy is increasingly shaped by conflict-driven disruptions—energy shocks, food insecurity, and supply chain fractures. For a small nation like Sri Lanka, survival demands not ideology, but adaptation. When Lee Kuan Yew took charge of Singapore in 1965, he inherited a poor, divided society. His solution was not abstract theory—it was […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera ⚓ Strategic Opportunity: Sri Lanka as a Neutral Maritime Services Hub My experience at Colombo Dockyard with Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines shows three critical truths:  Why This Opportunity Will Re-emerge If tensions ease or reconstruction begins: Iran will need: But Today’s Reality Is Unlike my earlier tenure: 1. Sanctions Environment […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera War economies don’t just enrich weapons manufacturers. A whole ecosystem benefits: logistics, reconstruction, energy, finance—and yes, pharmaceutical and  1. Do drug companies profit from war? Yes—but indirectly, not in the same obvious way as arms companies. They benefit from: However: 2. Biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world Here are the global giants […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Sri Lanka should initiate following project in Trinco in parallel with the proposed development of Oil Tanks in Trincomalee A. Deep Water Oil Jetty (POP Model)• Public–Private Partnership with Plug-in Operator Participation (POP)”• Capable of handling VLCC / ULCC tankers• Linked via subsea or onshore pipelines Investor appeal:• Long-term throughput guarantees• Strategic […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera 1. The Agreement Context Under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, there were implicit and explicit understandings about Trincomalee:  In simple terms: India secured a strategic veto influence,” not an automatic development obligation. 2. Why Didn’t JR Push India Immediately? A. India Was Seen More as a Security Pressure Than a Partner At that […]

Prepared by: Sarath Obeysekera 1. Executive Summary India’s Sagarmala Programme is transforming the maritime and industrial landscape of the region, particularly along its eastern seaboard. Ports such as Kakinada Port are being developed into integrated industrial and energy hubs. Sri Lanka, due to its strategic location, is uniquely positioned to integrate with this regional growth. […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Title: Implementation of High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane and Regulated Carpooling System in Sri Lanka 1. Background Urban congestion in Colombo and surrounding corridors such as: has reached critical levels, causing: International cities like Los Angeles have successfully implemented HOV lane systems combined with ride-sharing models. 2. Objective To: 3. Key Proposal 3.1 […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Sri Lanka has, over the decades, stood at the crossroads of opportunity and indecision—nowhere more evident than in the development trajectory of Trincomalee.  Blessed with one of the finest natural harbors in the world, Trincomalee should by now have evolved into a regional energy and maritime hub. Instead, it remains a case […]

සරත් ඔබේසේකර විසින් ජීවිතයේ එක් අවධියක, ශබ්දය අඩුවී යයි—ලෝකය නිහඬ වන නිසා නොව, අපි එය වෙනස් ලෙස අසා ගැනීමට ඉගෙන ගන්නා නිසාය. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේත් විදේශයන්හිත් දැඩි කාර්මික පරිසරයන්හි දශක ගණනක් කාලයක් ගත කළ මගේ ජීවිතය, කාලයකදී නිරන්තර චලනයකින් යුක්ත විය. නාවික යාත්‍රා අංගන, යන්ත්‍ර, කාලසීමා, තීරණ—මේවා මගේ දෛනික ජීවිතයේ කොටසක් විය. ක්‍රියාකාරී වීම ප්‍රමුඛ වූ […]

Draft Submitted by:Dr Sarath Obeysekera Positioning Sri Lanka as a Regional Trade & Services Hub through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model 1. Background & Rationale Global economic and geopolitical shifts and looming world war 3 , are resulting in a gradual relocation of trade, logistics, and service sector operations from traditional hubs in the Middle […]

By Sarath Obeysekera There was a time when life did not come with apps, algorithms, or air-conditioned opinions. It came instead with cabbage. Not metaphorical cabbage—but real, stubborn, Soviet cabbage. The kind you harvested yourself whether you were an engineering student, a future military officer, or a confused foreigner wondering how you ended up in […]

By Sarath Obeysekera I returned home after years abroad—hardened not by comfort, but by experience. From the oil fields of Baku, to the frozen gas lines of Orenburg, to the disciplined industrial floors of Moscow, and further west into the offshore precision of Norway and refinery construction in the United Kingdom—the journey had been long, […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Sri Lanka today faces a moment of quiet urgency. Global conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, are likely to reverse labour flows that have sustained our economy for decades. Thousands of Sri Lankan workers—skilled, semi-skilled, and domestic—may return home within a short span of time. If unprepared, this will strain our economy. […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Sri Lanka often speaks proudly of being a rapidly developing nation with digital capabilities and highly skilled IT professionals. Yet, in many basic public utility services we still operate in a manner that belongs to the past century. A simple example is the way electricity and water meters are read. In many […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera This is just an assumption for decision makers to be watchful information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) cannot legally change fuel QR quota allocations for personal interests in Sri Lanka. But How the QR Fuel System Worked The National Fuel Pass (QR system) was introduced in 2022 during the fuel […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Sri Lanka today struggles with fertilizer shortages, high import costs, and a heavy dependence on foreign suppliers for a commodity that is essential for our agricultural survival. Few people remember that decades ago Sri Lanka possessed the capability to manufacture fertilizer locally with the assistance of world-class engineering firms. During my early […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera J R Jayewardene came to power in 1977 and handed over harnessing of the Hydro power potential to his trusted young Gamini Dissanayake . Proposals and funding from Western countries and Sweden ,discussions  negotiations ,extensive travelling to fix deals ,and final output was accelerated high priced power plants and dams  along Mahawali […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera The world is once again moving towards a period of geopolitical uncertainty. Conflicts in the Middle East and tensions among major powers are beginning to disrupt global supply chains. While the headlines focus on military developments and oil prices, another silent crisis may soon emerge — the global shortage of fertiliser. Sri […]

By Sarath Obeysekera The rapidly changing geopolitical environment is forcing nations to rethink their economic strategies and global positioning. Conflicts in several regions, shifting trade patterns, and emerging security concerns are gradually reshaping the global economic landscape. For Sri Lanka, these developments present not only challenges but also an opportunity to reposition itself as a […]

By Sarath Obeysekera The possibility of wider geopolitical conflict in several regions of the world is a matter of global concern. Wars bring immense human suffering and economic disruption. However, history shows that nations which think strategically during turbulent times can position themselves to protect their economies and strengthen national resilience. Sri Lanka, located at […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera  Many countries start offshore and ship repair industries during periods when other regional yards are constrained by geopolitics. The concept of developing Trincomalee as a repair / lay-up / offshore support hub is still realistic if positioned correctly. ⚓ 1. Regional Shipyard Situation Major Middle Eastern yards you mentioned include: Tanker repair […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera A UK passport is issued by the HM Passport Office under the authority of the UK Home Office. Legally: What foreign immigration officers are allowed to do Immigration authorities in another country (including Sri Lanka) may only place standard immigration markings, such as: These are not statements about nationality. They simply record […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera After returning to Sri Lanka on 7th March  from Singapore, I experienced an unpleasant situation at Bandaranaike International Airport immigration again  I presented my valid Sri Lankan passport at the counter. The young immigration officer then asked to see my UK passport as well, since I am a dual citizen. Although I […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Quote Mr. Sarath Obeysekera, what you describe is actually a very valuable experience that very few engineers from Sri Lanka have had. Your story reflects three important things: technical exposure, international systems discipline, and strategic thinking. Unfortunately, the difficulty you face in Sri Lanka is something many experienced professionals encounter. Let me […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera My proposal to establish a tank farm in Hambantota with a partner from Jebel Ali could have created a regional petroleum storage and trading hub. Hambantota’s location near the main East–West shipping lane is extremely valuable. If implemented: Unfortunately, as I noted, corruption and political interference often stalled such projects. Development of Muthurajawela […]

Dr. Sarath Obeysekera  Chairman SLPA  Dear Dr. Parakram As Chairman of the Advisory Board appointed to promote the development of Clappenburg Bay — where offshore oil rigs are currently laid up — I wish to bring to your attention several important matters requiring urgent clarification. Over the past several years, we have worked consistently toward […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Sri Lanka’s recent history of corporate collapses — particularly in civil construction and marine engineering — raises uncomfortable but unavoidable questions. Why do once-celebrated conglomerates, entrusted with billion-rupee public projects, end up under restructuring or liquidation? Why do banks absorb massive losses while corporate leaders often appear insulated? And why does the […]