Pathfinder Foundation hosted a high-level delegation from the China Centre for South Asian Studies of Sichuan University at its headquarters in Peliyagoda. The Foundation’s association with Sichuan University dates back to 2017, when the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation and joint studies. Both parties met once again to evaluate the progress of the MoU renewed in November 2023 and discuss opportunities for enhanced collaboration between the two institutions.
The delegation was led by Prof. DING Zhongyi, Dean of the School of International Studies and Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies. Chief Expert and Vice Director of the Center, Prof. (Ms.) QIU Yonghui, Associate Professors Ms. XIAO Jianmei and Ms. LIU Siwei comprised the delegation that attended the meeting with the Pathfinder team of experts.
During the meeting, both sides discussed several important proposals, including strengthening relations between the two institutions, leveraging China’s economic power, critically exploring the successes and failures of the BRI, and the idea to hold a series of events in Colombo, bringing in scholars from the region. Development, economic empowerment, and maritime trade were three subject areas identified for further consideration in conferences and joint publications.
Pathfinder Foundation also briefed the delegation on its continued relationship with China vis-à-vis joint programs, visits by Chinese organisations, and close association with the Chinese Embassy in Colombo. The Foundation will host another delegation from Shanghai this month, representing the Office of the Counsellor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.
Colombo, May 3 (Daily Mirror) – The government is facing a dilemma as it must either increase the power tariff or face a delay in receiving the fifth tranche under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement signed with the IMF, United National Party (UNP) National Organiser Sagala Ratnayake said yesterday.
He said Sri Lanka breached the EFF agreement it signed with the IMF by reducing the power tariff in February this year, creating a problematic situation.
Mr. Ratnayake told a media briefing that Sri Lanka has reached a staff-level agreement on the fourth review under the EFF agreement, but approval from the IMF’s Executive Board is still pending. The staff-level agreement is subject to IMF Executive Board approval, contingent on (i) the implementation of prior actions relating to restoring electricity cost-recovery pricing and ensuring the proper function of the automatic electricity price adjustment mechanism, and (ii) the completion of the financing assurances review,” Mr. Ratnayake said, quoting the release issued by the IMF.
The economic reforms programme during the tenure of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was based on two key factors. One was the set of conditions Sri Lanka agreed to under the EFF agreement, and the other was the set of reforms undertaken independently by the Sri Lankan government. Sri Lanka agreed to implement a power tariff mechanism, under which a cost-reflective power tariff review must be undertaken every six months,” he added. However, the Sri Lankan government reduced the power tariff in February this year, resulting in the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) incurring a loss of Rs. 11.3 billion.
The government will have to increase the power tariff to obtain the fifth tranche under the EFF agreement, as per the IMF release. Industries will be affected if the government increases power tariffs to recover costs,” he said. Mr. Ratnayake added that the Sri Lankan government should issue a clear statement on this situation.
Colombo, May 2 (Daily Mirror) – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has urged trade unions not to take to the streets, in protest for petty demands and has called on them to change their old attitudes.
In his May Day speech, President Dissanatake said that the NPP as a political force, has given up perks and privileges entitled to them through the constitution, gazettes and circulars.
“We urge trade unions to shed their old attitudes. Do not fight even for petty things. We, as a political force, have given up perks and privileges entitled to us through the constitution, gazettes and circulars. Let us have some time. You don’t have to take to the street and force us. We are a political force that feel your heartbeat and aspirations,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa claims that Sri Lanka’s debt repayment in 2028 is at risk, given the current state of the country’s economy.
Speaking during TV Derana’s current affairs programme 360°”, he alleged that the previous government, led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, agreed to initiate the debt repayment process in 2028—despite the possibility of obtaining an extension until 2033—in order to use it as a campaign point for the 2024 Presidential Election.
But it brought no benefit to the country or its people,” he added.
Furthermore, the Opposition Leader criticized the current administration for failing to renegotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
If we are unable to begin debt repayments by 2028, we will have to undergo another restructuring,” the leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) stressed.
We warned early on what would happen to the country. Now I say this again—Sri Lanka is at risk when it comes to initiating debt repayments,” he noted.
Responding to a question on whether he would take over the presidency if the current government fails before the end of its term, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa asserted that he would not accept the presidency without a public mandate.
Premadasa, who emphasized that he declined the presidency in 2022 when the then government collapsed due to his personal policy of not assuming power without a mandate, stated that this policy remains unchanged.
Let’s assume I took over the presidency. How could I even pass the Budget without a majority in Parliament?” he questioned.
1. Fairy mistress”, wicked witch or monster-mother? Different types of magical femininity?
In summary, we state that US Ambassador Julie Chung is a master in Public Diplomacy”, euphemism for espionage, information gathering, psychological warfare and propaganda, reaching out to targeted sectors, using persuasion or soft power”, establishing and maintaining personal contacts and alliances, advocating democracy, freedom, human rights, shared goals, and engaging in many cultural interventions, regarded as weapons of advocacy”.
Mostly nobodies were brought to the table of high politics, given photo opportunities with her which were distinct from working through formal diplomatic channels. Outreach”, greater social inclusion”, coalition building” were Chung’s beautiful words, a symphony of elegance. Contacts were cultivated and friendships pursued with the objective of influencing the team nexus into favourable actions, in other words getting it to refrain from actions that may be unfavourable to the US interests.
Is Chung the fairy mistress”, showing different types of magical femininity? Fairy lover, wicked witch or monster-mother, a magical woman? When she meets with locals for us it is like reading genre fiction; that readers will always know something about the sort of text they are about to read; they come equipped with anticipation as informed, expectant readers. So, we know looking at the people she meets with what sort of a text we are about to read in her X messages!
2. How Julie Chung sponsored USAID projects
In this third part of our essay we discuss how Julie Chung sponsored USAID projects and promoted LGBTIQ activities in Sri Lanka. Actions carried out by her predecessors in connection with these two acts were omitted for obvious reasons.
We have given a detailed account of US dignitaries who visited Sri Lanka since GR came into power and immediately after his ouster in our book Galle Face Protest:Systems Change or Anarchy?” (2023). The list is too long. (Mike Pompeo, US Secretary ofState, Victoria Nuland, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (who was deeply involved in the regime change in Ukraine), Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Amanda Dory, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense,Samantha Power, the Administrator (Head) of USAID , Dustin Shiau, Senior Regional Programme Officer of the USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher, US National Security Council Senior Director for South Asia, CIA Chief William Joseph Burns (his visit was a closely guarded secret), Jedidiah P. Royal, US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs (PDASD) , Tammana Salikuddin, an Indian-American Muslim diplomat, Afreen Akhter, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, (DAS), Major General Peter J. Hronek, Adjutant General for the Montana National Guard, Elizabeth Horst, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) and Deputy Assistant Secretary responsible for Pakistan Bureau of South and Central Asian Regions and Robert Kaproth, US Department of the Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Asia, (he visited Sri Lanka earlier with Kelly Keiderling, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, less than ten days before the protesters storming the Presidential Secretariat and the Presidential House).
It should be noted that Elizabeth Horst has been designated as the next American Ambassador to Sri Lanka by the Biden Government.
1. In September 2022, Samantha Power, the Administrator (Head) of USAID visited Sri Lanka; she along with Chung met with a delegation consisting of NPP’s National list MP Harini Amarasuriya, Leader of the Opposition, Dayasiri Jayasekera, Rishard Bathiuddin, Abraham Sumanthiran, Rauf Hakeem and Mano Ganeshan.
2. Chung in 2023met with Sri Lanka’s Multi-party Open Parliamentary Caucus” supported by USAID and NDI.
3. Julie Chung twittered on June 14, 2023: After my visit to Nuwara Eliya last week, we are offering CSOs and individuals a unique opportunity to apply for small grants to serve the Hill Country region. Projects should focus on promotingpeace, democracy, reconciliation & human rights”. She invited applicants aiming a difference in the Hill Country” and distributed USAID funds for them. What difference” did she envisage among the Plantation Tamils? Did she think that there is no peace in the region?
Had she considered the well-being of the impoverished people in the Kandyan countryside who are the real inheritors of the Central Highlands?
4. In August 2023 while visiting Jaffna,Chung met with people engaged in USAID-funded sea weed cultivation.
5. On 21 March 2024 Chung attended Cargills’ launch of EV Charging Stations, through USAID’s partnership with Cargills.
6. At the demise of Sarvodaya leader A.T. Ariyaratna, on 17 April 2024 Chung in her X message said that the USAID has partnered with Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement in Sri Lanka over many years.
7. On 29, April 2024 Julie Chung met with community workers in Kalapura, from SAFE Foundation and Samadana Society Ltd. supported by USAID Sri Lanka, who are addressing human trafficking” and supporting trafficking victims”, particularly among Malaiyaha Tamil community in Nuwara Eliya.
This was the first time we heard ofhuman trafficking” in Nuwara Eliya and trafficking victims” in Nuwara Eliya. Obviously, a fictitious organization to get USAID funds.
8. On 30, April 2024 Julie Chung and Under Secretary for Trade and AgriculturalAffairs Alexis Taylor visited Nuwara Eliya to meet with dairy farmers assisted by USAID.
9. On 2, May 2024Julie Chung with Wijedasa Rajapaksa, the then Minister of Justice attended a meeting of UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime),donating the Ministry of Justice equipment for virtual courts- 35 video conferencing units, opening new facilities in Angunukolapelessa and Galle.
Despite all the facilities provided for virtual courts, Ganemulla Sanjeewa was gunned down inside a courthouse on 18 February 2025!
10. On 7, May 2024 Chung participated in a Ceylon Chamber of Commerce event, to develop a Climate Action Plan at the Code Red Sri Lanka Climate Summit 2024 organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce with USAID and other partners to create a green economy.”
We are unaware of the green economy” they created together; but aware that the Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, a nominee of Julie Chung appointed as Anura Kumara’s Special Economic Advisor!
11. On 13, June 2024 Chung visited the Centre for Women’s Research to join the then Minister of Energy, USAID and Sling Mobility (a company focused on sustainable EV solutions) to present an international award for innovation to USAID Sri Lanka’s Sri Lanka Energy Project for its work with Sling Mobilityto develop battery swapping stations for e-bikes.
What does Centre for Women’s Research do with e-bikes? What is the current status of e-bikes and battery swapping stations?
12. On 8, July 2024Chung touring Uva Province met with farmers and staff of CAP Ceylon which exports organic – certified products with USAID Sri Lanka support.
13. On 10, July 2024Chung met with IRI Global and USAID Sri Lanka supported Women’s Campaign Academy and Youth Civil League Programme in Badulla. They have promoted civic and voter education in their communities”.
Their voter education” may have influenced sending NPP MPs to the Parliament this time from the so-called Malaiyaha Tamil community.
14. On 26, July 2024Chung joined the Executive Director of Maharajah Food Limited Thavamala Gunanathan to celebrate her achievements; Maharajah Food Limited is supported by USAID.
15. On 4, August 2024Chung was delighted to meet” with US-funded WEConnect Supplier Development Masterclass for women entrepreneurs.
16. On 7, August 2024Chung welcomed USAID’s Assistant Administrator Michael Schiffer who was in Sri Lanka to meet with USAID- Sri Lanka partners, beneficiaries, civil society and government functionaries.
17. On 8, August 2024Chung joined the SAFE Foundation and congratulated youth winners of the art competition to End Human Trafficking through art. It was announced that the USAIDand US support Sri Lanka’s efforts to end human trafficking. Minister Alles was in attendance.
18. Visiting Southern Province from August 14, 2025, on August 16, Chung was in conversation with Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce founded with USAID aid.
19. On the same day she met with representatives of the SAFE Foundation and Prathiba Media Network, grassroot level CSOs and survivors of human trafficking who were working with USAID to combathuman trafficking.
20. On 21, August 2024Chung met with Ali Sabry, the then Foreign Minister and Presidential Advisor on Climate Change along with the US Acting Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environmental and scientific Affairs JenniferLittlejohn. She messaged: We discussed ongoing US support including USAID’s work on power sector reforms and potential collaboration with Smithsonian to protect Sri Lanka’s unique natural resources.”
21. On the same dayChung addressed the Social Change Makers” and Community Leader Shine 50” event supported by USAID in partnership with Echelon Media and Seylan Bank. This provides with information for the collaboration of media and banking sector with the USAID.
22.Chung began a tour in the Northern Province soon after the Presidential Election from 23 October 2024. On 24 she visited Aham” Mental Health and Psychological Support Lab at the University of Jaffna, aided by USAID.
23. On the same day Chung met with Francis Jasmin of NatureWins, a women-owned cashew processing business in Poonaryn aided by USAID.
24. On 25, October 2024 Chung declared open the new Integrated Digital Media Unit at the Harmony Centre, University of Vauniya. Through USAID Sri Lanka’s SCORE activity (Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Activity) the US has provided media and IT equipment to the unit.
25. On 2, December 2024 Chung met with NPP’s Minister of Justice and National Integration and his Deputy, in supporting USAID Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthensocial cohesion and reconciliation and provided the Ministry with new IT tools.Chung messaged: We are amplifying the impact of USAID ’s SCORE supported training program that have empowered 368 officers across 25 districts since 2022.”
There is ample evidence to confirm that Sri Lanka’ s judicial system is being influenced by the USAID.
26. On 6, December 2024 Chung and US State Assistant Secretary Donald Lu, representing key agencies USAIDand US Treasury met with the new Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka.
27. On the same day Chung, US State Assistant Secretary Donald Lu, US Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Kaproth and Anjali Kaur,USAID DeputyAssistant Administrator met with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
28. On 7, December 2024US delegation from State,USAIDand US Treasury congratulated the President of Sri Lanka and his new administration.
29. On 9, December 2024meeting with the Minister of Energy and Minister of Environment Chung pledged support to the two ministries through USAID.
30. On 11, December 2024meeting with two NPP MPs in Kandy Chung reiterated USAID support.
31. On 30, December 2024Julie Chung was glad to see USAID-Sri Lanka highlighted in The Morning” (newspaper) for the US support for the Pekoe Trail.She on February 1, 2024 hailed Pekoe Trail saying that it was developed with the funding of USAID Sri Lanka and EU.
32. On 7, January 2025Julie Chung with Harini Amarasuriya celebrated the achievements of Sri Lankan women in business”, a collaborative partnership with USAID-Sri Lanka since its inception at the Prathibabhisheka Women Entrepreneurs Awards.
33. On 9, January 2025 NPP’s Minister of Justice and National Integration met with USAID’s Mission Director Gabriel Grau and discussed a variety of issues focusing on the cost to the Sri Lanka’s economy of a judicial system facing a backlog of 1.1 million court cases.” USAID Sri Lanka is helping the judicial system to tackle the issue through US efficient and effective justice action”, Chung messaged.
34. Meeting with the farmers in the NCP on 16 January 2025 Chung said that the US through USAID initiatives provided fertilizer, modernization technology and essential resources to support Sri Lanka’s agriculture, helping farmers recover during the crisis.
After President Trump’s and Elon Musk’s castigating of USAID Chung craftily avoided any mention of USAID whenever she met with NPP Ministers.
3. How Julie Chung promoted LGBTIQ activities
Gay Pride Marches were organized in Sri Lanka by US-funded International Republican institute (IRI) in the North of Sri Lanka and in Colombo in 2021.
From the day Chung set foot in Sri Lanka she began her work with the LGBTIQ community in Sri Lanka. Her Twitter messages revealed that she was influencing the Sri Lankan government legalizing homosexuality. A novice SLPP MP Dolawatte on August 24, 2003 handed over a private member’s bill to amend the Penal Code decriminalizing same sex relationships.
There was a strong presence of LGBTIQ activists at the Galle Face Protest Site. On June 11, 2022 a Samanathmatha Piyasa” (Equality Shelter) was opened, displaying a visual of two mature males in a compromising position in front of it.
LGBTIQ activists marched to Galle Face from the Temple Trees precincts on 25, June 2022, transvestites with faces and bodies painted with deconstructed stripes of the transgender pride flag”, women scantily dressed in rainbow colours, paraded and danced to the accompaniment of drum beats and music; others were dressed like models or were in wedding dresses. The placards they carried bore slogans such as: Samnaliyo” (Butterflies), Butterflies are also voters”, F***k gender”, Samarisi Aithiya Suarakimu” (Safeguard equal rights of gays and lesbians), Adarayata Bhedayak Netha” (No barriers to love), Samanaliyanda Puravesiyo” (Butterflies are also citizens), Adaraya tharamahinsaka deyak netha” (Nothing is as innocent as love). There was sporadic bellowing of the common call, Go Gota Home”.
Pride Marchers” performed at the Galle Face open air stage to the accompaniment of singing and drumming, winding up with a woman histrionically falling dead followed by a GotaGo” dirge. They had claimed that the protest was a victorious moment for the growing LGBTQ community”. The most demeaning part was enlisting school going children as performers; some were carrying dolls, signifying children of same sex couples.
For all these activities money was pumped by US-funded NGOs.
A mural called Rapid response Mural”, displaying slogans such as, We are our own leaders”, Fearless take power back” in tri languages, depicting four human figures was commissioned by the Fearless Collective South Asia”.
The artists of the Fearless Community”, an affiliate organization of the AsianFearless Collective”, (funded by the US – based Social Good Fund”) at TheFearless Residency” in Colombo, conducting a workshop, (by the Indian woman Shilo Shiv Suleman, its founder) with the participation of queer community, sex workers, lawyers and the members of their affiliates, We Are From Here Project” of Slave Island and Sisterhood Initiative for Muslim Women in Sri Lanka”, painted Presidential Secretariat engulfed in flames and statues of oppressive leaders” being destroyed.
Chung twittered on 15, May 2023, To honor the #Pride 2023”; I joined members of #slk’s LGBTQI+ communities & allies from across the country to honor the courage of all who have helped us recognize love is love & encouraged usto be our authentic self regardless of gender, sexual orientation or identity”.
The way she phrased it indicates that the event belonged to her, organized by her!
In August 2023 Chung met with Jaffna-based LGBTIQ+ rights activists (Jaffna Pride). She messaged: Inclusivity, diversity & equality are vital for a strong democracy”. Fine elements of a Chung-type democracy!
In her 18 April 2024 X message, she said: Thrilled to see @ EQUAL GROUNDS founder Rosanna Flamer-Caldera on @ Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024! Rosanna’s fearless fight for LGBTQI rights in Sri Lanka is paving the way for a more inclusive World Equality for All. Your courage inspires us all to push for change!”
Fearless fight for LGBTQI rights in Sri Lanka”, more inclusive World Equality for All”, your courage inspires us all”, to push for change” were the sugarcoated words used by Chung, sprinkling sweetness. We may ask: is it a fearless fight”? Does someone need courage” to indulgein such activities? Does that courage inspires” Chung? What change” Chung has pushed” with such inspiration”?
Man or Woman? In the photograph posted with Chung, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera was seen wearing a men’s shirt, a men’s slack, belt and men’s boots.
On 11, June 2024 Julie Chung and DCM (Deputy Chief Mission) Sonnek joined 20th anniversary event organized by EQUAL GROUNDS to celebrate a generation of community work towards inclusion and Pride across Sri Lanka”. Julie’s intentions are clear, to spread Prideacross Sri Lanka”! hung began a tour in the Northern Province soon after the Presidential Election from 23 October 2024. She met with sex workers while visiting the Women’s Histories of Sex Work Exhibition in Jaffna appreciating US support to truth, justice and human rights”.
Conclusion
Chung moved with the cunningness of a modern day D’Oyly, as the conductor of an invisible orchestra. Like an octopus with her countless tendrils she reached out in all directions, roping all into her alluring sphere in a hypnotic trance. Her X messages reveal how she wove conversations with lesser mortals and the Ministers and higher officials respectively that left them spellbound, leaving no room for dissent, making everyone feel seen and recognized. She knew precisely which thread to pull, to drag them into her orbit.
Julie Chung presented her credentials to the then President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on 25, February 2022. Prior to the eruption of protests, she had met with almost all the Ministers, leading politicians in Sri Lanka affiliated to all registered political parties, high ranking military officers, religious dignitaries of all denominations, custodians of Buddhist temples, Hindu shrines, Christian and Catholic churches and mosques. She invited for pow-wows NGO bosses, civil society activists, media personnel, business captains, professionals, academics, scientists, LGBTIQ activists, visual artists, youth leaders, representatives of marginalized communities, war affected and displaced persons, differently able persons, some of them on more than on one occasion. Thus, she rallied a formidable force for any action.
Within a short period of three years Chung accomplished three major triumphs: (1) Ouster of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (2) Bringing NPP into power and (3) Installing Harini Amarasuriya, spokesperson of LGBTIQ community of Sri Lanka as the Prime Minister.
I give you below a list of slogans at the major political parties as stated in the Ada Derana of today (01. 05. 2025.)
Political parties and trade unions across Sri Lanka are commemorating International Labour Day today (May 01) with a series of May Day rallies and parades under various themes
They are given below.
National People’s Power (NPP/JVP) People’s Power Building the Country.”
Samangi Jana Balawegaya (SJB ) Workers’ Power to Win the Country” the
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) We Have Endured the Deception, Let’s Rise Up Now.”
‘Sarvajana Balaya’ alliance: The Worker Towards Entrepreneurship”
Isn’t it very strange that none of the major political parties, has mentioned here or given any reference to the major work force in this country, that is the farmer community that represents nearly 80 % of the total population in the country? Their slogans refer only to workers in factories, the plantation sector, just to make a fool of them just to collect their votes.
This is a very deplorable situation where they completely ignore the sons of the soil in the country side who really keep the nation going, while annually they gather to commemorate something that happened in some other country thousands of miles in 1866 beyond the seas, making use of it for political purposes at home.
At east why can they call it the Govi- Kmkaru and give an indigenous outlook as a mark of respect to our farmers who toil the year round to feed the whole nation.
It is high time that our politicians begin to think inwardly at least now, as it is the farming community in this country, and not the factory workers of Chicago or Birmingham, who really feed the nation and make and unmake the governments of this country.
Let wisdom be dawned to our politicians at least now.
Timothy Snyder (55) maintained interaction with his two children (ten year old son and the younger daughter) while he was in a Florida hospital at the beginning of 2020. No doubt, his wife Marci Shore (53), also teaching history at Yale University then, helped this loving interaction between the father and his children.The children told him about their school work and inquired about his progress towards recovery. Snyder remembers how he kept thinking about his children even in his sickest moments. and finds fault with America for falling short of the standards reached by countries like Austria in infant and child health.
Of course, in fairness to America today (2025), it must be said that children, parents, and their health and welfare, and the family institution are receiving the highest recognition in the country, irrespective of untenable extremes of neoliberalism ideologies like wokeism and related lgbtqa+ and transgender sex change surgery issues, etc., as evident at least in the American domestic political domain. Elon Musk (53), Senior Advisor to US President Donald Trump (78), is often seen with his youngest son having a piggyback ride on his busy father’s shoulders even on state occasions; President Trump sometimes proudly shows off his nineteen year old son Barron accompanying him on the stage, the fresh young man stealing the show at his old father’s expense, especially among young voters. The youngish US Vice President J.D. Vance (40) and Usha Vance (39), his wife of Indian origin, were on a four day visit (beginning April 21) to resurgent India recently with their three little children who, innocently unaware of and unconcerned about what was going on around them, endeared Americans to Indians, thereby greatly enhancing the efficacy of their parents’ diplomatic endeavour to strengthen bilateral bonds and economic and security cooperation between the two powerful nations. Musk and Trump are businessmen turned politicians, while the Vances have been lawyers. But all four are normal parents. Cynics might cavil at such ‘childish displays’ as advertising gimmicks for promoting the pro binary sex ideology perspective, where children are insensitively exploited as mascots for their propaganda. But a more sober judgement would be to view such high profile demonstrations as indicating an emergent trend in America towards a return to healthy normalcy in its sex culture where parents with their own children form close knit stable family units that coalesce into a vibrant society.
Snyder recounts how well he and his wife Marci were treated as first-time parents in a public hospital in Vienna in Austria, where their son was born in 2009. They had to pay hardly anything by way of hospital fees. The Snyders ‘experienced a sense of what good health care felt like from inside: intimate and inexpensive’. Marci was given a ‘mother-child passport’, which was recognized at health facilities throughout Austria. When she entered any hospital or doctor’s office, she was asked to show the ‘passport’. The doctor or the nurse didn’t look at a screen to identify the mother and her child.
In Austria, according to Snyder, pregnant mothers close to delivery time are asked to come to the maternity hospital at water breaking (i.e., when the amniotic sac covering the foetus breaks) or when contractions occur at 20 minute intervals. In America, they are asked to wait longer until the contractions are only three or four minutes apart. So in America, deliveries sometimes happen in the back seat of a car, putting both the babies and the mothers in danger. In Austria, again, the mother and the baby have to stay in hospital for 96 hours (4 days) after delivery, allowing time for the baby to have a good start, and for the mother to learn to breastfeed. The difference between America and Austria in this respect, Snyder says, is one between a logic of profit and a logic of life.
Even the general public in Austria are helpful towards parents with children. The institutions that helped the Snyders (as first-time parents) ‘from the public hospital to the public kindergarten to the public transport were an infrastructure of solidarity that helped people together, making them feel that at the end of the day they were not alone’, whereas in America, ‘birth is where our story about freedom dies. We never talk about how bringing new life into the world makes heroic individualism impossible’. (That is, doing everything alone, with little outside help, preserving one’s autonomy, is not possible in the real world)
This applies to children in their formative years, as well. A piece of wisdom Snyder offers is that ‘to be free involves having a sense of one’s own interests and of what one needs to fulfill them. Thinking about the constraints of life under pressure requires an ability to experience, name and regulate emotions’. But this freedom cannot be gained without help. That is the paradox of freedom as Snyder calls it; no one is free without help
Snyder distils into his critique of the unsatisfactoriness of the American healthcare system an important insight in respect of early childhood care: it is that ‘how children are treated when they are very young profoundly affects how they will live the rest of their lives. That is perhaps the most important thing that scientists have to teach us about health and freedom today’. Speech, thought and will emerge as infants and toddlers interact with other people. ‘We learn as very small children, if we ever learn, to recover from disappointment and to delay pleasure. …what allows these capacities to develop are relationships, play and choices’.
Snyder points out that providing good healthcare facilities for children leads eventually to a lower crime rate, functional democracy, and efficiency in decision making. He feels that emotional regulation is overlooked in America. There is no sufficient focus on the relationship between parents and children. The regrettable lapses in American health care affects children more negatively than for adults. Parents need to relate to their children in ways that promote their optimal physical, mental and ethical development is part of a good healthcare system. Healthy interaction between parents and children is of vital importance for the education of children. Probably, the situation in Sri Lanka may not be better than in America in view of, among other things, the economic hardships that parents inevitably have to face.
Children and young adults, particularly in suburban and rural areas, are a threatened species. Apart from the economic difficulties that their parents experience, restricting their ability to meet the cost of augmenting the education that the state provides free of charge, non-urban Sri Lankan children often suffer due to a lack of basic infrastructure facilities like good transport, proper school buildings, modern libraries and adequately equipped labs, internet facilities and easy accessibility to local and foreign online sources of learning and research.
Lesson 3: The truth will set us free
After a procedure done on his liver in the emergency room of an American hospital on December 29, 2019, Timothy Snyder was admitted to a room, where he spent the last days of the year and the first days of the next ‘raging and contemplating’. He had to share that room with a Chinese man with a number of afflictions. The Chinese didn’t know any English. So, a lot of ‘personal and medical information was communicated loudly, slowly and repeatedly’. The Chinese was senior to Snyder by fourteen years; he was in withdrawal from nicotine smoking and alcohol drinking after five decades of daily consumption of the two intoxicants. The two became mutually accommodating friends.
But Snyder suffered a lung infection due to close contact with the Chinese, who had himself succumbed to illness caused by a parasite ingested while eating raw fish on a previous visit to China, but got well later. However, Snyder recovered and left the hospital, after exchanging farewell messages with the friendly Chinese, who had to stay on further in hospital.
The latter, Snyder says, is an example of two ways that medicine can get to the truth: thinking along with the patient, focusing on their story, and searching for information through tests. His conclusion is that in early 2020, the federal government failed Americans in both ways. There was no sensible discussion of the history of pandemics, and no procedure to test for the new coronavirus. The sections of the National Security Council and the Department of Homeland Security meant to deal with epidemics, as well as a special unit in the Agency for International Development meant to predict epidemics had been disbanded. American health experts had been called back from the rest of the world. The last officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assigned to China had been recalled to the US in July 2019, a few months before the epidemic broke out.
President Trump had overseen budget cuts for institutions looking after public health. The US surgeon general sang in a tweet on February 1, 2020: ‘Roses are red/Violets are blue/Risk is low for #coronavirus/But high for the flu’. Nero was fiddling while Rome was burning! As the year began, Americans were denied the basic knowledge necessary for making independent decisions of their own. President showed little anxiety about the steadily growing threat of the coronavirus. ‘It is going to disappear…like a miracle’. In effect they were creating a ‘news desert’. The media kept silent about the spreading pollution. Google and FB don’t carry news. They only raked in advertising revenues as usual.
But the disease was transmitted rapidly across the counties . The Covid death toll rose in leaps and bounds. ‘The seven American counties with the most Covid deaths would now rank among the top twenty countries. These are simple facts’. Snyder observes: ‘Since the truth sets you free, the people who oppress you resist the truth’. Historian Snyder refers to why British people have unkind memories of prime minister Neville Chamberlain because he tried to please the public in 1938 by falsely asserting that there was no need to go to war against Hitler. Winston Churchill earned their love and honour for having told them the unpleasant truth that they had to make war on the Nazi leader to stop him.
Snyder remembers reading (J.R.R. Tolkien’s) The Lord of the Rings to his son and daughter before he became ill. In that story Gandalf the wizard is a noble character with great power. He tells truths that people don’t want to hear. He is usually disliked as a bearer of bad news, and his advice is ignored. Although Gandalf is powerful, he cannot save the world by himself. He needs to build up a coalition by convincing others of the reality of a threat; but they won’t listen to him. Instead, out of ignorance, they look for an excuse for submission.That is human nature, but no way to be free. In frustration, Gandalf finally retorts that without knowledge, freedom has no chance.
Lesson 4: Doctors should be in charge
Snyder’s unexpected midnight admission to a hospital in Florida and two days stay there coincided with his mother’s birthday that year. So, he was unable to be with her on the occasion. The attention he got from the doctors was hurried and seemingly perfunctory, and it was hardly face-to-face. The longest time of fifteen minutes he saw a doctor was over Skype with a neurologist. Snyder thinks that the problem is not that doctors do not want to work with patients. They do work really hard, as people saw during the pandemic, risking their own health and even their lives in order to save others’ lives. The problem, according to Snyder, is that they have no say in what happens around them, but waste their time and energy pacifying greater powers. In America, doctors no longer have the authority that patients expect and need from them.
Readers, please remember that this was five years ago. The situation in America may have improved since, especially after the coronavirus pandemic took its toll and departed. The alleged mercenary bias of the American healthcare system largely caused by the profiteering Big Pharma, the insensitivity of the colluding political authorities, and the misinformation pedalled by the media (particularly digital) that Snyder sharply criticizes in this book may have eased, too.
However, a little reflection will convince the intelligent readers that Timothy Snyder’s Four Lessons have great relevance to certain aspects of the deplorable situation in Sri Lanka today. This ad hoc review of mine of Snyder’s book, if read with a ‘comparative research’ oriented mind, will make the book look like a mirror held up to the prevailing reality there.
N.B.: I have used a paperback edition of the book in my possession, issued by The Bodley Head, London, in 2020, in which year Snyder’s book containing his cogent case and powerful appeal for redress was first published.
Many people shy away from discussing politics. It’s seen as messy, divisive, or even dangerous. But whether we like it or not, nearly everything in life — our pensions, healthcare, cost of living, security, and dignity — eventually boils down to politics.
And politics, when stripped of its rhetoric and drama, is just a numbers game. Whoever holds the larger number wins. That’s how decisions are made. That’s who calls the shots.
We seniors often feel powerless, sidelined, or ignored. But here’s the overlooked truth: we have the numbers too. The real question is, how do we harness this strength for our common good?
Protest Isn’t the Only Way
Street protests, rallies, and sit-ins are one way to show dissatisfaction. But let’s be realistic —they’re not ideal for us.
Age brings not just wisdom but also physical limitations. Harsh weather, the threat of unruly mobs, or politically motivated police crackdowns — none of these are risks we should be taking. It’s simply not worth it.
Yet, there is a more effective and far safer way to make our voices heard — one that can send a louder message than any street protest.
The Power of the Ballot—Make It Count
The upcoming mini-election is our moment. Use your vote — not to support a party, but to oppose the current rulers and their affiliated groups. Cast it strategically, not emotionally.
Encourage your children to do the same — for your sake, if not for theirs. If your grandchildren are of voting age, educate them on how this simple act can shift the ground beneath the political landscape.
Don’t sit this one out. Don’t let your vote go to waste. Every vote against the status quo becomes part of a message too loud to ignore.
When the results are analysed—and they will be — the ruling party and the opposition alike will start noticing us. That’s when real conversations begin. That’s when real power shifts.
Let’s be part of that change. Quietly. Strategically. Collectively.
The tense situation taking shape in the Indian sub-continent will have adverse
repercussions in the region unless India and Pakistan can consider reaching a peaceful solution to the issues arising from the massacre of 26 mostly Indian tourists in Kashmir by a group of armed men said to have a link to Pakistan. Pakistan rejects the claim. Both India and Pakistan meantime have taken a series of actions against each other enhancing the fears of a full-scale war in the sub-continent.
Both countries have suspended diplomatic relations with each other and have ordered the return of their citizens to the country of origin. India issued a statement that it would suspend participation in the Simla agreement in the critical Indus water treaty with Pakistan. Pakistan reacted promptly and warned India that any disruption of water supply would be considered an act of war” and it will take required steps to respond with full force.
Both countries are proceeding ahead in an aggressive manner which can lead to a bigger conflict creating issues for the sub-continent as a whole and the neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka,
As we have signed secret defence agreements with India some are speculating that Sri Lanka too will have to play a role in helping India in this conflict. The Sri Lankan government is continuing to ignore the fair request made by responsible citizens to publish the contents of the agreements so that people can voice their democratic views and. also if necessary seek legal redress against the contents in the agreements, if the sovereign rights of the country and the people are violated.
As the country will be dragged into a conflict between two of our friendly neighbours. Sri Lankan President should now disclose to the public the contents of the agreements and take steps to inform the PM of India that Sri Lanka does not want to be a party to a tussle between two friendly countries but can act as a mediator to settle the issue peacefully.
Let us re-tread the path followed by our former Prime Minister Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranayake in helping India and Pakistan to mend the fence peacefully without shedding blood.
The passing of Pope Francis means two Christian denominations are without a leader right now – the Anglicans, where Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, resigned some months ago, and the Roman Catholics, who lost their pontiff earlier today. (Statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury”, www.archbishopofcanterbury.org, 12 November 2024)
At a time when leadership crisis is one of, if not the most, concerning issues facing the world, this is undoubtedly a challenging time for the Vatican. Realising how vital the matter of religious leadership is, we hope they will be able to successfully navigate through the procedures and protocols of choosing their leader.
Through the example of its leaders, the Ahmadiyya community knows that, despite religious differences, one can still wish well for people of other faiths on a humanitarian plane. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa, the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, wrote a letter to Pope Francis when he assumed the office of papacy back in 2013. In a detailed letter, he wrote:
I hope and pray that in the forthcoming era the Pope uses his influence to develop peace and harmony in the world. There is a great need to join together upon our common teachings and particularly upon the Unity of God.” (World Muslim Leader congratulates Pope Francis and Catholic Church”, www.pressahmadiyya.com, 14 March 2013)
This is in line with the Quranic teaching of calling the ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book) to common grounds to resolve mutual conflicts and misunderstandings. (Surah Aal-e-`Imran, Ch.3: V.65)
In the same letter, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa referred to what he had written to Pope Francis’ predecessor:
In my letter to [Pope Benedict XVI] I also requested him to use his great influence to bring the people of the world together towards peace, reconciliation and mutual understanding and to strive to prevent the world from destruction. I send the same message to the new Pope as well.” (World Muslim Leader congratulates Pope Francis and Catholic Church”, www.pressahmadiyya.com, 14 March 2013)
In the autumn of 2022, two Ahmadi missionaries had a private audience with Pope Francis. One of them, Marwan Gill, wrote in his report for Al Hakam:
Ahmadi Muslim missionaries meet Pope Francis, who pays homage to Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa
After giving [the Pope] a detailed background of our Jamaat, we introduced to him the magnificent work of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa as a worldwide ambassador of peace. We presented the Pope with an Italian translation of the book World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace. We also presented him with the letter that Hazrat Khaliftul Masih Vaa had specifically written for this audience. The Pope received the letter with great respect and acknowledged gratitude for this gesture of Huzooraa.” (Ahmadi Muslim missionaries meet Pope Francis, who pays homage to Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad”, www.alhakam.org, 4 November 2022)
Left: Letter of Hazrat Khaliftul Masih Vaa specifically written for this occasion. Right: Pope Francis’ personal response to Huzooraa
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa had previously written a special message for Pope Benedict XVI, delivered to him personally by Mohammad Sharif Odeh, the president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in the Holy Land. Part of the message read:
It is with regret that if we now observe the current circumstances of the world closely, we find that the foundation for another world war has already been laid. As a consequence of so many countries having nuclear weapons, grudges and enmities are increasing and the world sits on the precipice of destruction. I believe it is essential, that we urgently increase our efforts to save the world from this destruction. There is an urgent need for mankind to recognise its Creator as this is the only guarantor for the survival of humanity.”(World Muslim leader sends Message of Peace to Pope Benedict”, www.ahmadiyyauk.org, 1 January 2012)
In the messages above, we see that Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa, introducing the emphasis on societal peace, invited the Pope, leader of around one billion people around the world, to play his role in global peacebuilding through the common grounds of major world faiths.
Going just over a hundred years back in history, we see that such efforts by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community remained an integral part of its peacebuilding campaign, highlighting a rich legacy for interfaith harmony in the light of Islamic teachings.
En route to England in 1924, the second head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra stopped over in Rome. While there, he expressed his desire to meet Pope Pius XI. The request was declined, stating that, owing to the refurbishment of the papal offices underway, such a meeting was not possible.
Press reporters, by the likes of La Tribuna, interviewed Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra and asked about what he had intended to do during the meeting, had it taken place. He replied by saying that since the Pope is a noble man, he would have offered the Pope a gift befitting his status and position – the gift of an invitation to Islamic teachings.
Letter from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to the Pope in 1924 | Vatican Archive
This meeting, however, could not take place, but the message must have reached the Pope through the press.
Going even further back, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian, had invited Queen Victoria, the then head of the Church of England, to the message of Islam. He urged her to organise a conference of world religions in London, the heart of the British Empire, where all faiths could present their teachings in their true form – a dire need at a time when interfaith conflicts had left all religions mystified through the fog of propaganda, slander, and misinformation.
The Star of the Empress
The conference could not happen before 1924 when the then head of the Ahmadiyya community, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadaa travelled all the way from India to London with the message of Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam”.
Similarly, Justin Welby, the (now former) Archbishop of Canterbury, visited Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa at the London secretariat of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa in October 2017.
We wish that the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church around the world are able to choose a leader who can lead them through the most challenging times – challenging not only for both the denominations but the world at large.
We end this piece with a hope and prayer that world faiths can soon come together under one banner and strive for global peace and harmony – a call made by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa.
Colombo, May 2 (Daily Mirror) – China is among the countries which are ready to help Sri Lanka join the BRICS coalition in the future, a bloc with economies which account for an estimated 37.3% of global gross domestic product based on purchasing power parity, Daily Mirror learns.
Sri Lanka, at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October, last year, placed on record its request to join the bloc. However, Sri Lanka’s application will be considered later since BRICS has no plan for expansion at the moment
On October 2024 the BRICS which is the acronym for its five original members —Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—welcomed into their bloc Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In January 2025, Indonesia became the bloc’s tenth member.
Brazil is the current chair of BRICS. The goals of BRICS under Brazilian presidency are facilitating trade and investment: promoting economic integration through the development of efficient payment systems, regulating artificial intelligence: promoting inclusive and responsible AI governance for development purposes, tackling climate change: improving financing mechanisms to support global efforts in coordination with the COP30 climate summit (also taking place in Brazil in November), cooperation in the field of public health: strengthening cooperation projects between member countries with a focus on improving public health systems: institutional development.
Earlier, Russia expressed support for Sri Lanka to join BRICS in the future. After that, India also announced that it will consider support for Sri Lanka when new members are welcomed into the bloc.
However, under the current global developments, BRICS is in fresh conflict with the United States since President Donald Trump has warned that BRICS countries attempting to replace the dollar as a trading currency would face 100 percent tariffs on their trade with his country. The threat comes in the wake of attempts by the countries in the bloc to replace the US currency. Sri Lanka is now in negotiation with the US to get redress from the reciprocal tariffs.
Two senior police officers visited the residence of suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon in Hokandara yesterday (May 1), informing him that he may be the target of death threats allegedly issued by underworld gang members, including notorious criminal figure Kanjipani Imran”.
The officers have stated that intelligence reports indicate Kanjipani Imran”—currently believed to be in hiding overseas—has instructed his associates to assassinate Tennakoon.
Sources also revealed that a classified intelligence report has detailed growing concerns over threats to Tennakoon’s life, particularly in light of the removal of his official security detail after the suspension.
In addition to threats from Kanjipani Imran”, authorities believe Tennakoon may be under threat from other underworld gangs, reportedly in retaliation for his crackdown on organized crime and drug trafficking via ‘Yukthiya’ operation during his tenure. His leadership in high-profile anti-narcotics and underworld suppression operations has been cited as a possible motive behind the threats.
Security forces have reportedly uncovered a plot to assassinate Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon.
Security officials have informed IGP Tennakoon about the threat, with initial reports suggesting that the assassination plot is being orchestrated by an organised crime figure and international drug trafficker Kanjipani Imran.
During his tenure as IGP, Deshabandu Tennakoon spearheaded a special program aimed at eradicating drug trafficking in Sri Lanka.
However, due to ongoing legal proceedings, he is currently suspended from his duties as the IGP.
Tennakoon was previously held in remand prison for nearly a month in connection with a shooting incident near a Weligama hotel, but was released on bail by the court on April 10.
One of the well-known benefits of reading is that you can get enormous fun from what you read. Many great writers have written funny or entertaining or even stimulating pieces of great literature. But you will have to be introduced to famous works as, although you are students of English, no-one will trouble themselves to explains show or bring these works to your attention. So read on..
Charles Dickens lived in Victorian London. He has written many amusing pieces in his Pickwick Papers.” He describes the adventures of Mr Pickwick, and describes Mr Pecksniff and even the snuff and drinking habits of dear old Sairy Gamp who attends to the recently dead and prepares them for sending to the mortuary. These are just two of the many characters found in Pickwick Papers” (The amazing adventures of the Pickwick Club.) These Pickwick Papers were very popular only a generation or two ago. His colourful descriptions allow our imaginations to conjure up vivid Victorian London scenes. Life in the villages of England was very difficult and everyone thought London was a paradise for work, food and good beer! Everyone eagerly bought Pickwick Papers to learn more of the Pickwick Club and events in London, that dream destination for all English villagers.
No-one will introduce you to Longfellow’s The Pied Piper of Hamlyn.” This poem is based on an old legend. It was said that a plague of rats was running wild in a small town in Germany about 800 years ago. The Pied Piper came and rid the town of rats. He did this for a fee, a good reward, but then was denied payment by the Mayor who had commissioned him to remove the rats. The revenge of the Pied Piper on the town is quite shocking. Longfellow’s powerful descriptions on the several scenes of dramatic action make this poem a charming piece of English literature.
William Wordsworth’s Daffodils” is a most powerfully evocative poem with words carefully chosen to describe what he saw. The writing is when he viewed thousands of bright yellow daffodils dancing in the breeze (gentle wind) creating a great vista for his viewing, which remained with him and brought pleasure to him on quiet moments. This is the English language waiting for all students to explore.
There are plenty of dismal, turgid writings about historical injustice and brutality by colonizers to countless oppressed people around the world – such writers have a valid message but here we want to introduce pleasant reading matter that elevates the reader to gain pleasant satisfaction and new good ideas from what he reads. There are many wonderful stories and great writers waiting for the reader to discover many beautiful writings that will make him or her happy.
William Henry Davis, a Welshman and vagrant wanderer, wrote a most charming, beautiful poem: What is this Life if Full of Care?” He writes about how he regrets that we humans are always in a hurry, too busy to notice or see the delights of nature, and scenes of natural beauty, e.g., a young woman’s smile as she passes by; we have no time to make friends and even kiss her. Regrets!
This is the real English to be tasted and then swigged at lustily in pleasure and satisfaction, not some writing airing historical grievances for children to study!
It is shocking that Sri Lanka’s stature in the global arena & among the diplomatic community has stooped to an all-time low. When a proud Sri Lanka proposed in 1971 the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, a resolution was passed in the UNGA 2832 (XXVI). Today, successive leaders & their policy stooges have ignored the vision of that Resolution & has over the years diminished Sri Lanka’s sovereignty to a level where our leaders are even agreeing to divest critical national security assets for foreign companies to manufacture warships. The citizens of Sri Lanka, must unite to object to Sri Lanka’s geographic location becoming prostituted for geopolitical goals of others while make the lives of Sri Lanka’s vulnerable. The proposal for a Zone of Peace was by one of Sri Lanka’s greatest leaders Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike whose proposal was greatly supported by China in 1971. It is a pity Sri Lanka has no farsighted leaders with pragmatic vision.
The 3rd largest ocean in the world, it plays a pivotal role in global trade, geopolitics & ecology.
The Indian Ocean covers about 20% of the Earths water surface & borders West & East Africa, North & South Asia, East & South East Asia, Australia, South Ocean near Antarctica.
About 38 countries (littoral & hinterland) of which 25 directly bordering the Indian Ocean (10 states in African East Coast), 4 states in Middle East & West Asia, 6 states in South Asia, 5 states in South East Asia & Australia.
13 countries however are strategically engaged in hinterland or with littoral states through port agreements, naval bases or other geopolitical interests. This countries include France, UK, US, China, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Israel, Turkey & South Korea.
There are also important chokepoints –
Strait of Hormuz – strategically important energy transit point (Between Oman & Iran) 21m barrels of oil daily passed through Indian Ocean in 2023 (20% of global oil consumption)
Strait of Malacca (between Malaysia & Indonesia) – is the shortest route between Indian & Pacific Oceans. 100,000 vessels transit annually carrying 25% of global trade. This lane is vulnerable to piracy & congestion.
Bab el-Mandeb (between Yemen & Djibouti) – connecting Indian Ocean to the Red Sea & Suez Canal. 62m barrels of oil pass daily (large container traffic)
as well as strategically important islands in the Indian ocean – Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Diego Garcia.
The Indian Ocean is home to around 2.7billion people spanning 3 continents.
The Indian Ocean hosts the major shipping lanes, energy routes & is of significant geopolitical interest to all major powers.
80% of the world’s maritime oil trade passes through the Indian Ocean
40% of global trade by volume moves through the Indian Ocean
1/3 of worlds bulk cargo & half of container traffic moves across the Indian Ocean sea lanes.
Servicing these are critical Ports in Chennai, Mumbai, Kochi in India, Durban in South Africa, Mombasa in Kenya, Port Klang, Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai & Sallalh in Oman & Port of Colombo, in Sri Lanka.
One has to wonder if the sudden pirate” issue emerging in early 2010s was a justification to militarize & increase surveillance for the superpowers using the Indian Ocean for strategic goals.
The Indian Ocean is the artery of global trade especially energy. Control over its lanes, controls global economic stability.
Historic importance of the Indian Ocean
Since 3000 BCE the Indian Ocean has been an ancient maritime trade hub connecting Africa, Middle East, South Asia & South East Asia.
It was the Silk Road of the sea for spices, textiles, gold, & an exchange between ancient civilizations.
Buddhism spread to South East Asia, Islam reached Indonesia & East Africa & Hinduism influences regions through the oceans.
Controlling the seas was key to empire building -thus the Portuguese, Dutch, British & French fought naval battles to dominate trade routes & colonize coastal terrain.
Eventually the British Empire controlled major choke points – Aden, the Maldives, Mauritius & Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
Presently, the Indian Ocean is claimed by QUAD (US-India-Japan-Australia) while they claim China is building its String of Pearls.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Sri Lanka is at the centre of the Indian Ocean. Close to the major east-west shipping routes (Colombo & Hambantota Port are pivotal for global maritime logistics) and the geographic value of Sri Lanka is a prize for geopolitical rivalries competing to secure Sri Lanka for its own geopolitical & trade goals.
Sri Lanka’s call in 1971 for the Indian Ocean to become a Zone of Peace” is important in taking to account how important Indian Ocean is & the militarization of the Indian Ocean that is now unfolding.
Key aspects of the UN Resolution 2832 (XXVI) – Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace (1971)
Demilitarization – urging global powers, especially nuclear states to refrain from military build-ups & to dismantle existing military bases in the Indian Ocean region.
Geopolitical Neutrality – to shield the Indian Ocean from rivalries, maintaining it as a neutral space to avoid tension among superpowers.
Protect Sovereignty – respecting sovereignty & independence of all littoral & hinterland states in the Indian Ocean region.
Freedom of Navigation – unimpeded maritime movement ensuring Indian Ocean remains open to peaceful use by all nations.
Dialogue & Cooperation – regional & international consultations involving Security Councils permanent members & major maritime users to formulate the regions peaceful status.
How relevant is Sri Lanka’s Zone of Peace Resolution now?
Indian Ocean is the new theatre of activity which makes promotion of the Zone of Peace essential.
Increased naval exercises by global powers, increased strategic agreements & defense pacts are all leading to increased tensions & making citizens of littoral & hinterland states apprehensive.
While Sri Lanka’s leaders were pragmatic & forward thinking enough to foresee the scenario in the Indian Ocean way back in 1971 to promote the Zone of Peace, Sri Lanka’s present leaders lack foresight or vision.
Sri Lanka’s leaders instead of taking advantage of Sri Lanka’s geopolitical location to Sri Lanka’s advantage have doled out Sri Lanka to the advantage of rival nations competition with each other & now using Sri Lanka as a political football.
Sri Lanka has found itself caught between rivalries for lack of ability to stand up against power players and negotiating deals not from the bearer of a beggar’s bowl. That Sri Lanka’s leaders have made Sri Lanka vulnerable & dependent on foreign investment, economic reliance & trapped into divesting all that is precious to Sri Lanka is tragic.
The argument that Sri Lanka has to divest in order to repay debt is not a solution. If Sri Lanka’s leaders & policy makers divest all that Sri Lanka holds dear & how is Sri Lanka to survive with nothing to make income from & perhaps more loans to repay?
While Sri Lanka’s leaders have signed secret agreements with India’s PM, it has been revealed that one of these agreements is to divest Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard to an Indian company. This action is a direct violation of Sri Lanka’s own Zone of Peace” resolution. Handing over a critical maritime asset to a major regional power undermines Sri Lanka’s own vision & Sri Lanka will only be opening the door to geopolitical leverage & military industrial entanglement in Sri Lanka’s own waters.
Sri Lanka’s leaders cannot be ignorant of India’s regional history especially when India secretly trained & armed guerilla warfare in Sri Lanka while also sending Indian troops who committed mass crimes. India’s economic blockade on Nepal in 2015, cutting electricity to Bangladesh in 2024 & the recent military tensions between India & Pakistan while also forcing Sri Lanka to cancel military exercises with Pakistan are signs Sri Lanka’s leaders are signing off Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, betraying the citizens of Sri Lanka. A strategic shipyard under foreign control reduces maritime autonomy & poses a national security risk, surrendering Sri Lanka’s infrastructure diminishes long-term self-reliance & economic independence especially when Sri Lanka has talented people working at the dockyard. We were a nation that took orders to build mighty ships for foreign kings.
The spirit of Sri Lanka’s 1971 Zone of Peace UN Resolution is lost when alongside the buildup of militarization of ports & sea lanes, proxy naval competition via infrastructure deals, nuclear competitions & undermining & bullying of smaller nations to which is added Sri Lanka divesting its assets for warship manufacture to foreign company. This proposed handover is far more than a commercial deal – it’s a strategic realignment with deep implications for Sri Lanka’s future & it diminishes the proud historical past of Sri Lanka and will diplomatically places Sri Lanka as a vassal state.
How shortsighted & foolish can Sri Lanka’s leaders be?
පසුගිය දා ශ්රී ලංකාවට පැමැණි ඉන්දීය අග්රාමාත්ය නරේන්ද්ර මෝදි ශ්රී ලංකාවේ ජනාධිපති අනුර කුමාර මහතාව වැළඳ ගනිමින් සිදුකළ ජවනිකාව නිවැරදිව වටහාගත යුතු බවත්, ඉන්දියානු සටකපට ව්යාපෘතිය හඳුනා ගැනීමට නොහැකි තරම් බුද්ධි හීනයන් නොවිය යුතු බවත් මහාචාර්ය පූජ්ය මැදගොඩ අභයතිස්ස හිමියන් පවසති.