Dr Sarath Obeysekera Marine sector development in India and Sri Lanka is an area that needs urgent attention  right  now, Sri Lanka can either lose skilled labor to a Middle East pull, or deliberately position itself as the alternative regional shipbuilding power   Trying to stop workers from leaving the country is not practical in a […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Sri Lanka is now gripped by a new illusion—that artificial intelligence can somehow compensate for decades of poor decision-making, weak policy frameworks, and a chronic inability to act on opportunity. It cannot. Artificial intelligence is not a magician. It is not a policymaker. It is not a visionary. It is, at best, […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera I raised query to AI as below  Quote  Secret of using AI resources for somone who wants generate a assay or an article  The person should have made some technical input and past resources and data into AI search engine  Ie  I keep searching about Trinco offshore development and need for FDI […]

By Sarath Obeysekera There was a time when Norway was a modest fishing nation at the edge of Europe—cold, remote, and largely dependent on the sea. Today, Norway stands as one of the most prosperous, disciplined, and forward-thinking societies in the world. Sri Lanka, by contrast, sits in the Indian Ocean with strategic advantages Norway […]

By Sarath Obeysekera Since the end of World War II, several nations have transformed themselves from poverty to prosperity within a generation. Countries such as Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew, South Korea during the era of Park Chung-hee, and Rwanda under Paul Kagame have demonstrated how strong leadership can accelerate national development. Similarly, several Middle […]

By Dr Sarath Obeysekera A prolonged conflict in the Middle East has the potential to trigger a global economic slowdown, driven by rising oil prices, disrupted supply chains, and reduced investor confidence. For a country like Sri Lanka—highly dependent on imports, remittances, and external financing—such a recession could be particularly challenging. However, crisis also present […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera The recent recognition of NDB Bank as a top performer at Euromoney 2026, prominently featured in the Sunday papers, painted a picture of strength, resilience, and institutional excellence. Yet, within days, the public has been confronted with deeply troubling revelations of alleged fraud within the same institution. This stark contrast between celebrated […]

By Dr Sarath Obeysekera  Quote  Peace talks between the United States, Israel, and Iran should have been mediated by an independent Buddhist country such as Thailand, Myanmar, or even Sri Lanka. If all three countries are on one side and another country brings in a Muslim perspective, the talks cannot be effectively mediated by a […]

From AI resources  Indian shipbuilders (MDL, GRSE, Cochin Shipyard, L&T Defence, etc.) do not directly buy” US naval weapons in a simple procurement sense. Instead, they integrate US-origin systems mainly through: • Government-to-government (FMS) deals • Licensed integration into ships • OEM supply for specific weapon modules • Electronics, sensors, and missile systems cooperation Here is […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera Few mega projects executed in India were using USA and Israel technology specifically for water desalination  project in Reliance refinery in Jamnagar – Gujarat   The Jamnagar Refinery built by Reliance Industries Limited was not supplied by a single vendor—it was a mega EPC project involving multiple global technology licensors, engineering contractors, […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera 1. Trincomalee = High-Potential but Underutilized Asset as it is  One of the best natural harbours in the world Close to major East–West shipping route with Large available land + deep water + shelter hence This combination is extremely rare globally. 2. Most Viable Immediate Investment: Ship Repair Yard The report is […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera 1. Monorail Project (Thalangama – Colombo Corridor) The proposed monorail—planned during the tenure of then urban development minister was intended to connect Thalangama / Malabe to central Colombo, integrating with IT parks and dense residential zones. What Was Promising Strategic Value (Had it been implemented) Likely Reasons for Cancellation (Not officially transparent, but […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera There are journeys that shape a man’s career—and then there are journeys that shape his entire philosophy of life. Mine began in the austere yet intellectually rich environment of the former Soviet Union. As a young Sri Lankan engineer, I found myself under the guidance of remarkable academics, including my mentor, Professor […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera TRINCOMALEE 2040 India–Sri Lanka Integrated Maritime & Energy Hub (A Transformational Bilateral Proposal) 1. The Big Idea (Simple but Powerful)  Turn Trincomalee into: The Singapore of the Bay of Bengal The Rotterdam of South Asia  A Joint India–Sri Lanka Strategic Energy & Marine Hub Not just a port—but a fully integrated ecosystem: […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera The summer trains of the Soviet Union had a rhythm of their own—metal grinding against steel, a steady heartbeat echoing across endless plains. From Belorusskaya railway station, I began my long pilgrimage westward—two days across borders and ideologies, through guarded crossings into Poland, then through the divided veins of Germany, eventually spilling […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera It began in the vast, cold stretches of the Soviet Union—between the industrial smoke of Orenburg, the oil-stained yards of Azerbaijan, and the distant authority of Moscow—a young foreign trainee navigating a world that was equal parts discipline, danger, and adventure. My first year was spent inside a compressor factory that still […]

Dr Sarath Obeysekera My personal opinion  is that we should concentrate on attracting  FDI to develop marine resources with Trinco as a nucleus  Youngsters wasting their energy and education  in driving Tuk Tuk should be given more training and develop vocational training and make them Available for Marine sector development  We keep nudging but stare […]

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 […]