Dr Sarath Obeysekera News item Daily FT https://www.ft.lk MSC in talks to acquire stake in Hambantota Port 6 days ago — (MSC) is in discussions to acquire a significant stake in Hambantota International Port as part of a broader strategy to expand its port …     How can MSC invest in Hambantota when chinese company owns 85% […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Mr. Nahil  has stated that, having served as Chief Engineer at Colombo Dockyard, he is qualified to advise on the Beira Lake restoration project. I understand that one of the proposals under discussion is to pump seawater into the lake to flush out the contaminated water. As ex chairman Sllrdc and CEO […]

By A Ranasinghe  Tuesday, 14 July 2026 05:34 –      – 34  For months, the nation’s attention has been riveted on the construction industry’s deepening crisis. Contractors lament labour shortages, escalating costs, delayed payments, and abandoned projects, while the proposed importation of 7,500 skilled foreign workers is being hailed as a solution. But are we treating the […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera From Labour Export to Industrial Growth While listening to a popular radio station broadcasting lively baila music enjoyed by many young people, I heard a cheerful young announcer promoting foreign employment opportunities. The advertisement encouraged young Sri Lankans to seek overseas jobs as cooks, nurses, motorcycle riders, masons, carpenters, steel bar benders, […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera  For a modern Chinese shipyard building a merchant vessel of around 1,000 tonnes of fabricated steel, the productivity of welders and fabricators is significantly higher than in most South Asian yards because of extensive automation, panel lines, robotic welding, and block Fabricator (Fit-up):
0.8–1.5 tonnes per man-day Welder:
0.5–1.0 tonnes per man-day (depending on […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera  In 1970, I travelled to Oslo, Norway, to work in the offshore oil and gas industry. At that time, there were very few Sri Lankans in Norway. Besides myself and one other Sri Lankan engineer, only a handful of Sri Lankans worked in technical assistant or clerical positions. Occasionally, one would come […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera  https://adaderana.lk/news/cmrddx0sv000b356q294bse8d The reported proposal to pump seawater into Beira Lake as part of its restoration has generated considerable public interest. While improving the water quality and reducing pollution are commendable objectives, introducing seawater into what has long functioned as a predominantly freshwater urban lake raises important environmental, engineering and economic questions that […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera  https://www.ft.lk/front-page/BYD-s-global-leadership-visits-Sri-Lanka-as-brand-deepens-regional-commitment/44-794333 The recent visit of BYD’s global leadership to Sri Lanka and the warm reception accorded to them at the airport has attracted considerable public attention. BYD is undoubtedly one of the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturers, and its growing presence in Sri Lanka reflects the global shift towards cleaner mobility. The […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera  The final-year Mechanical Engineering curriculum at the University of Moratuwa is one of the strongest engineering programmes in Sri Lanka and is accredited by the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) and internationally recognized under the Washington Accord. The final year emphasizes design, manufacturing, energy systems, research, and industrial applications.   Typical […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera The recent violence at Negombo Prison, which prompted concern from the United Nations and renewed calls for comprehensive prison reform, should not be viewed merely as an isolated security failure. Rather, it should be recognised as evidence of a correctional system that requires structural transformation. For decades, Sri Lanka’s prisons have struggled […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9w2227j5rno Recent reports from prisons in both the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka reveal a disturbing reality. Overcrowding, inadequate facilities, staff shortages, deteriorating infrastructure, prison violence, and the rapid spread of information through social media have exposed long-standing weaknesses in prison administration. Prisons are intended to protect society while rehabilitating offenders. Instead, […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera  https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/President-Dissanayake-to-visit-France/108-343915 President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s forthcoming visit to France offers an opportunity that extends well beyond strengthening diplomatic ties. While discussions with global shipping giant CMA CGM are undoubtedly important, Sri Lanka should also use this occasion to position itself as a regional hub for the marine, offshore and energy industries. The […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera  https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Port-City-mulls-sandbox-to-trial-labour-reforms/44-794268 This article raises a questionAbout the fact that many western and middles eastern has a per perception that  Chinese government or Chinese company owns or holds proxy for the whole land hence may be reluctantMore publicity should be given with a sovereign guarantee Note  This article  highlights an issue that receives […]

By Sarath Obeysekera Trincomalee Harbour is widely regarded as one of the finest natural deep-water harbours in the world. Its strategic location, extensive waterfront, and proximity to international shipping routes make it an ideal location for developing a world-class marine, offshore, industrial and energy hub.Yet, despite decades of discussion, large-scale investments in shipbuilding and ship […]

Srinath Fernando JP Srinath Fernando JPLLM (UK) LLM (COLOMBO)No. 7/1, 4th Lane Rawathawatta MoratuwaTel 072 0622 482 21st October 2025 His ExcellencyAnura Kumara DissanayakePresident of Sri Lanka Your excellency I am writing to inform you that I have had the privilege of being employed in the oil and gas industry for around two decades. I […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Many news channels in Sri Lanka keep showing you tube type video where school teachers and children’s are generated using AIThis tactic is not realWhen foreign channels like Al Jazeer BBC also show news items but hardly any AI generated video clips ITN Chanel in Sri Lanka keeps showing such news This means […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera A Gateway to Global Skills, Jobs, and Dignity Sri Lanka took a historic step in vocational training with the inauguration of the IDMNC IVTS School of Welding Technology in Galle. This flagship initiative, jointly established by IDM Nations Campus and Fabweld Academy, responds to the urgent need for advanced technical training to […]

By Sarath Obeysekera The recent reports that the proposed US$3.7 billion Sinopec refinery project in Hambantota has stalled over disagreements regarding the company’s access to the local fuel market should concern every Sri Lankan. At a time when the country is desperately seeking foreign direct investment, employment opportunities and export earnings, we must ask ourselves […]

By Sarath Obeysekera Recent events have once again brought Iran into the international spotlight. Much of what the world sees today is shaped by geopolitics, sanctions and military tensions. Yet my memories of Iran are quite different.  They are the memories of a shipbuilder and businessman who had the privilege of working closely with the […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Japan’s decision to provide approximately US$3 billion (¥480 billion) in long-term support for the ACME Group–IHI Corporation Green Ammonia Project in Odisha is a significant milestone, not only for India but for the entire Asian region. It demonstrates how governments can work with the private sector to accelerate investment in emerging industries […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Quote Advertisement by EDB  Schedule of Requirement (SOR) PROMOTION OF SRI LANKA’S MARINE AND OFFSHORE SERVICES SECTORGLOBALLY THROUGH THE ENGAGEMENT OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM 1. Background Quote  PROMOTION OF SRI LANKA’S MARINE AND OFFSHORE SERVICES SECTOR GLOBALLY THROUGH THE ENGAGEMENT OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM 1. Background The Marine and Offshore […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Blue Economy advocate  1 Sri Lanka’s ancient reservoirs are a national asset 2. Which reservoirs generate hydropower? Only a relatively small number of the larger modern reservoirs are used primarily for hydropower, including: Most of the ancient reservoirs—including Parakrama Samudraya, Kala Wewa, Minneriya Tank, Kaudulla Tank and Nachchaduwa Tank—continue to serve mainly irrigation […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Sri Lanka’s investment policy framework needs to be fundamentally changed at the top level if the country is serious about attracting foreign direct investment and accelerating industrial growth.  At present, too many decisions are being shaped through committees that are heavily dominated by government officials, while the private sector is brought is […]

Sarath Obeysekera Chairman Advisory Board Marine and Offshore industry development Duminda Hulangamuwa ‘s extensive experience in finance, taxation, corporate governance, and economic policy, together with his close involvement in national economic reforms, gives renewed hope that the BOI can once again become the country’s premier investment promotion agency. His stated intention to restore the BOI’s authority and transform […]

Sarath Obeysekera During this Vesak season, I witnessed a scene that left me with mixed feelings.Near my home in a suburban neighbourhood, where middle-income, lower-middle-income and low-income families live side by side, I saw a long queue of people waiting patiently for a free kottu dansal. Entire families stood in line.There is nothing wrong with […]

ආචාර්ය සරත් ඔබේසේකර මෙය ඉතා රසවත් ඓතිහාසික ප්‍රශ්නයක් වන අතර, ඉතිහාසඥයන් සහ භාෂා විද්වතුන් දීර්ඝ කාලයක් තිස්සේ මේ පිළිබඳව විවිධ අදහස් ඉදිරිපත් කර ඇත. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පුරාණ වංශකතාවක් වන මහාවංසය අනුව, අරහත් මහින්ද හිමියන් (සම්ප්‍රදාය අනුව අශෝක අධිරාජයාගේ පුත්‍රයා හෝ සමහර මූලාශ්‍ර අනුව සහෝදරයා) ක්‍රිස්තු පූර්ව තුන්වන සියවසේදී දේවානම්පියතිස්ස රජුගේ රාජ්‍ය සමයේ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට වැඩම […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera https://themorningtelegraph.com/45808 Answer to this post in morning telegraph  https://hirunews.lk/en/business/438866/closure-of-walkers-colombo-shipyard-a-national-loss-dr-obeysekera Closure of Walkers Colombo Shipyard a national loss – Dr. Obeysekera Share Post Walkers Colombo Shipyard (Pvt) Ltd has been closed down and urgent steps should be taken to reopen it, former founding Managing Director Dr Sarath Obeysekera said. He noted that Walkers […]

Submitted By: Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute- The association of Boat /ship builders By gamini Herath Submitted By: Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute- The association of Boat /ship builders By gamini Herath Posted by dr Sarath Obeysekera Boat and Ship Building Sector- Includes all types of sea going vessels and vessels used in internal waters […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera This is a fascinating historical question, and historians have debated it for a long time. According to the traditional Sri Lankan chronicle, the Mahavamsa, Mahinda Thera, the son (or, according to some traditions, brother) of Ashoka, arrived in Sri Lanka during the reign of Devanampiya Tissa around the 3rd century BCE. The […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Sri Lanka has no shortage of strategic advantages. Our location, skilled workforce, natural harbours, fertile land, and maritime heritage make us an attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). Yet, time and again, promising investment opportunities have slipped through our fingers. Several years ago, a Saudi investor expressed serious interest in establishing […]