Wimal Weerawansa

Udaya Gammanpila

By Bhagya Silva Courtesy Daily Mirror

Colombo, Nov. 3 (Daily Mirror) – Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today imposed a three-month suspended prison sentence for five years and a fine of Rs.10,000 on a Saudi Arabian national who pleaded guilty to assaulting a Sri Lankan Airlines flight attendant on board a flight.

The incident had occurred on the morning of October 26, onboard Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL 266, which was arriving at the Katunayake Airport from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The suspect, Alshahila Abdul Kima had attempted to go to the lavatory while the aircraft was preparing to land. Despite repeated announcements made by the flight attendants instructing all passengers to remain seated with their seat belts fastened, the suspect ignored the instructions and attempted to stand up, resulting in a verbal altercation and subsequently a physical confrontation.

The flight attendants immediately informed the pilot in command, and upon landing at Katunayake, airport police officers arrested the Saudi national.

When the suspect was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court the following day, the police informed the court that remaining seated with seat belts fastened during landing was mandatory under aviation safety regulations and that the suspect had violated this rule by attempting to go to the lavatory, leading to the confrontation. At that time, the Magistrate granted bail to the suspect.

Courtesy Hiru News

Wattala Police arrested two suspects connected to a video circulating on social media which shows two individuals scolding and threatening a Buddhist nun.

The arrested suspects are two men aged 57 and 67, residents of the Wattala area.

Police stated the incident occurred yesterday (2) near the Rathnawalee Hermitage in the Kerawalapitiya area of Wattala.

The arrested suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Welisara Magistrate’s Court today (3).

e-Con e-News

blog: eesrilanka.wordpress.com

‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’

e-Con e-News 26 October – 01 November 2025

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‘Who will own the data? Who will own the infrastructure?

Who will regulate & govern? &, who has the technological

capabilities to define the development of this technology?’

– Shiran Illanperuma & Vijay Prashad (see ee Focus)

*

The US & EU governments seem to be in an awful hurry to digitally scan Sri Lanka. The US-funded economic thinktank Verité’s Sri Lanka Economic Policy Group member Mick Moore is insisting on maps that ‘uniquely identify all properties using aerial imagery… Geographic Information Systems (GISs) [that] collect standardised external data & photographs without entering buildings.’ Moore’s pretext is the ‘weak’ collection of ‘Property Taxes in Sri Lanka’, with such mapping offeringa ‘More Effective ValuationMethod’(see ee Quotes). Moore is apparently an expert on tax evasion, including by multinational corporations (MNCs). But he is yet to map how England’s Unilever, or Ceylon Tobacco Co or ICI-CIC have evaded their duties to Sri Lanka’s treasury for over 100 years, right here. Moore was anointed an ‘Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to international development’. As we deduced before, ‘development’ is a euphemism to replace ‘colonialism’ concocted by one of Unilever’s many Public Relations (PR) agencies – so we can well imagine who Officer Moore’s tax expertise is designed to serve.

     Meanwhile, the pretext for the European Union (EU) to demand the mapping of Sri Lanka is that the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), ‘prohibits the import & export of goods produced from deforested land’. Really? So, how have all these plantations been set up? By conserving immaculately virgin growth! The EU claims it is funding a Sri Lanka Ministry of Plantations’ ‘national program to survey & map all smallholder rubber lands across Sri Lanka’. Here, the pretext for digital mapping is that ‘all rubber & related products entering the European market must be certified as deforestation-free’ (see ee Quotes).

*

Two weeks ago, Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court dismissed 2 fundamental rights petitions filed by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa and others, to annul the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with India on a controversial digital identity card project. India’s National Institute for Smart Government is about to implement Sri Lanka’s national digital identification system. ‘The bidding for this project was restricted to Indian firms’, observes Shiran Illanperuma & Vijay Prashad (I&P) in their incisive investigation into ‘AI & Digital Sovereignty’ (see ee Focus). Raising concerns ‘over the security of data as well as the neglect of local talent and capabilities,’ they ask, ‘Should local firms be given priority when developing digital infrastructure? If they lack experience or expertise, how best can policy be shaped to address these deficiencies?’

     I&P also point to Elon Musk’s Starlink being granted a license to operate internet services by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL). Even President AK Dissanayake has ‘raised national security concerns that local authorities have no access to Starlink’s data system’. While the capitalist mass media has fabricated Musk as a brilliant individual entrepreneur, I&P point to his links to military intelligence spooks in the USA (not to mention England & still white-dominated South Africa), and how Starlink ‘operates without authorisation in countries such as Cuba & Venezuela’, which the US keeps threatening to imminently invade. Myanmar’s military recently freed more than 2,000 workers held in ‘scam camps’ near Thailand’s border, and confiscated 30 Starlink terminals. Musk’s SpaceX then belatedly claimed that it cut satellite communication links to more than 2,500 devices ‘illegally being used in Myanmar’. Really! So, someone bought, smuggled & deployed 2,500 devices in Myanmar without Starlink’s prior knowledge? Then how perceptive are they?

*

‘Tech companies like Google, Amazon & OpenAI

are pouring billions into nuclear start-ups like

Kairos Power, X-Energy & Oklo to help power

their data centers for artificial intelligence.’

– see ee Security, How China Raced Ahead

*

And, lo and behold, Artificial Intelligence (AI) turns out to be not that ‘artificial’ at all, says I&P. There would ‘No AI!’ without the labour (‘blood, flesh & bone’) of millions of workers in Africa, who mine the requisite minerals and label the data of the Large Language Models (LLMs) at minimal wages, and make OpenAI’s ChatGPT & Google’s Gemini possible. I&P point to the ‘3 Global North companies – SubCom, Alcatel Submarine Networks, Nippon Electric Co – [that] produce 87% of the undersea cables through which the internet operates.’

     They also point to the 3 US companies – AWS, Azure, Google Cloud – [that] own 68% of the world’s cloud infrastructure.’ In October, Sri Lanka’s Government Cloud (LGC) services were ‘disrupted’, midst a plethora of expensive conferences and resulting media on cybersecurity. Meanwhile, we are yet to learn how and why the ‘disruption’ really occurred. The LGC services include, ‘the Police Clearance System of the Department of Police’. The vital question, I&P ask, remains: ‘Who will own the technology, how will it be used, and in whose interests?

     The cloud disruption in Sri Lanka occurred midst the US administration issuing another travel warning to tourists visiting Sri Lanka, of an imminent threat of violence, terrorism, & landmines! Landmines, supposedly cleared just months earlier, were then suddenly uncovered in Jaffna (as ee noted, 18 Oct 2025). Many of the cloud services being provided in Sri Lanka are linked to US and their subordinate colonial pitbulls like England and Israel, etc. So, what’s the hurry to map Sri Lanka? Is it in case they wish to reproduce their attempted annihilation of occupied Palestine?

     It is then no surprise to learn from I&P that the 68-page long draft report by the 2024 Committee to Formulate an Artificial Intelligence Strategy (CFSAI) for Sri Lanka, does not dare even mention the words ‘sovereign’ or ‘sovereignty’! I&P declare that, ‘apart from China, the Global South does not have the capital or the technology to develop a sovereign, or even semi-sovereign, digital infrastructure’, and calls for the ‘Global South’ (which ee sees as yet another imprecise misnomer like ‘Third World’ & ‘Western’) to develop a united technological response to this clear and crying necessity. They then detail certain steps that have to be taken by Asian and African and no-Anglo-American organizations to counter this almost monopoly power (see ee Focus).

*

This ee Focus also looks at some curious market research by the Indian company 6Wresearch that forecasts Sri Lanka’s industrial machinery & equipment market, for 2025-31. They claim that the dominant players in this market in Sri Lanka are led by the USA and their colonial satrapies Japan & Germany. These include ‘international brands’ like: the USA’s Caterpillar Inc and Deere & Co, Japan’s Komatsu and Hitachi Construction Machinery Co, and Germany’s Liebherr-International AG. The USA’s Caterpillar Inc holds the largest share in the Sri Lankan market. ‘These companies are investing in R&D to produce innovative & efficient machinery & equipment to expand their reach within the market.’ And the 6Wresearch report promises ‘actionable intelligence & reliable forecasts tailored to emerging regional needs’ (see ee Focus). Of course, this research makes no mention of the private vehicles (by Tata & Toyota) imported at great cost to the economy, which have little impact on our productive capabilities. Our question remains: why Sri Lanka cannot demand that these companies ‘make’ these industrial goods here? Instead, we accumulate vast debts (much of which we will have to pay back in 2028 – our moment of reckoning it seems, see ee Quotes), so we need to continue to echo SBD’s lament about a ruling class that refuses to make even a pin: ‘How long can this keep going on?’

     6wResearch shows that Sri Lanka’s core industry has been hijacked. ee has led the way in Sri Lanka in pointing out that our national priority has to be about formulating a plan & program to develop modern industrialization. This can only be achieved by a strong socialist state led by peasants & workers; the private corporations who monopolize the nation’s resources, simply refuse to develop the country. We have also pointed out, in line with Karl Marx’s determinations, that modern capitalism has long (since the 1860s!) been about making machines that make machines…

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‘The economic doctrine [that] no manufacturing industries

should be developed in the colonies, has undoubtedly

continued to influence [the world] division of labour

even after the colonies became independent.’

– SBD de Silva

This ee continues Chapter 3 of SBD de Silva’s classic The Political Economy of Underdevelopment. Last ee’s SBD excerpt pointed to the popularized canard that Sri Lanka’s home market is too small to develop industrialization. He observed that the settler colonies started out with even smaller markets than Sri Lanka has. In this ee Focus, SBD contradicts the widespread notion that European industrialization was a consequence of colonialism. SBD tracked how our countries became providers of raw materials to those countries, but he insisted that certain industries had been developed in Europe long before the Europeans began such large-scale draining of natural resources from our countries. He declared, ‘It is technological developments in the metropolitan countries which created the demand for primary products.’ Their further industrialization then caused a technological disparity with much of Asia & Africa, which SBD believed could only be overcome by a ‘Tokugawa solution’. Tokugawa refers to the ruling shogunate in Japan (1603-1867), during which an industrial bourgeoisie arose in that Asian country, by blocking the entry of foreign merchants and their goods. Yet SBD de Silva also prioritized the changes in the internal social structures that enabled Japan’s accumulation of capital.

     Once the European and their settler colonial governments took a technological lead, policies such as shipping policy & freight rates strengthened the disparities between countries (freight rates were set not just by distance, but also due to monopoly or collusion, navigation laws, differential inward & outward cargoes). He then noted the crucial role that tariffs play in protecting their processing industries, and why, for instance, it became cheaper to export copra rather than coconut oil. Finally, he explained how it is the location of the investor that promotes industrialization. While there is constant call for FDIs (foreign direct investments), SBD would always ask, ‘Investment for what?’ Sri Lanka’s main problem is that it is controlled by absentee investors, who want quick returns and have no interest in the long-term development of the country. He then showed the type of accounting frauds that companies such as England’s Lipton’s were able to practice in Sri Lanka. He also noted, how, due to the labour-intensive nature of the plantation system, even a slight wage increase in the plantations results in a major reduction of profits.

*

‘A garment sector worker in the US earns approximately

$15.5/ hour (US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023),

whereas a worker in Sri Lanka performing

the same task would receive $0.73/hour’

– Dhanusha Pathirana

The wages paid in the labour-intensive clothing trade in Sri Lanka provide a ‘stark & concrete’ illustration of unequal exchange in the world, writes Dhanusha Pathirana in this ee Focus. He points out how the sustained prosperity of the imperialist world is ‘predicated on the vast systematic appropriation of labour & resources from the Global South’. While, economists like to talk about theories about ‘comparative advantage’ and getting better prices for our products, he squarely locates this suppurating ‘drain’ of surplus through the unequal wages paid to workers in our world. Unlike many analysts, he seeks to provide a ‘path’ to break dependency by targeting certain sectors like the garment trade. While Pathirana ignores SBD de Silva’s declaration that, even if the ‘drain’ is blocked and the surplus is retained in Sri Lanka, there is no class in Sri Lanka dedicated to accumulation; even while being optimistic that this ‘government placed into power by the masses against the established political & economic order’ is ‘uniquely positioned’ to gather a regional coalition to pursue justice for the Global South, harnessing its rising economic power. But what would justice entail? Equal exploitation?

*

‘The CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations

of Bribery or Corruption)… is mulling over a proposal

by some of those arraigned, or to be arraigned before

it on charges of bribery or corruption, that they simply

pay back the pocketed loot and carry on.’

– Sunday Times Editorial

ee found a curious editorial in last week’s Sunday Times of how the ‘pay & commute’ system that exists for traffic fines, relate to corrupt practices inherited from England’s colonial Establishment Code, where its FR (Financial Regulations) provide for certain public servants to pay their way through serious offences. There is also no benefit, apparently, only expense, for the state to prosecute certain criminal practices.

     Talking about the ‘corruption’ of politicians alone is a big ‘beeg’ business for media and for envoys of certain countries. Not a week goes by without a lecture from the US or German or EU gaggle about how corrupt & black we are, and how pure & green & white they are. Corruption is apparently pigmented. Not a week goes by without them threatening some Asian or African or non-Anglo-American country, or the whole world, with annihilation. How green & carbon-conscious & eco-friendly are their wars? Or how clean, the continued underdevelopment & impoverishment of our countries? They feel they do not need to tell us.

     This ee Focus therefore continues Gustavus Myers’ 1917 History of Tammany Hall. This excerpt describes the workings of the USA’s main municipality, where a city boss had the direct power to appoint and supervise many departments with expenditures of many millions of dollars annually. Myers described the rise of the ‘procurement’ business, where supplies were purchased without tender, contracts inflated by fictitious valuations, documents falsified, and payrolls padded with ‘names’ who never do any work, nor are qualified to do so, and, where despite the proving of ‘maladministration, remissness and grave abuses’, politicians kept being reinstalled and re-elected. Defective supplies and streets and transportation lines were laid on irregular routes to profit real-estate schemes, blocking court trials, with criminal officials declared incompetent rather than corrupt. Despite officials being declared ‘reformers’, amidst miles of headlines about the evils of corruption, no high officials were ever indicted and convicted.

     Yet, as the Canadian Communist Stanley Brehaut Ryerson noted: Myers’ major problem was his empiricist focus on corruption (naming names & the crimes behind their fortunes) as the root of all evil, to the exclusion of deeper analyses, of the ‘collective capitalist’. ‘Corruption and the suborning of the state for the private enrichment of elites has been the constant corollary of ‘free enterprise’ since its inception.’ It is not only the who & where but how the nation’s wealth is produced socially by millions and hijacked for private enrichment through public misery. To maintain their private power, capitalists have to concentrate & centralize their monopolies, not only in ‘transport but also production itself enables an alliance between government and the stock-exchange,’ which formed the ‘basis for the state monopoly capitalism that was to emerge’ in the 20^th century. Ryerson concluded: ‘Myers’s handling of the workings of this process is marked by both the enthralling ‘detective-story’ quality of the exposures – & a theoretical weakness. Capitalism is not corruption alone…’ (see ee 17 May 2025)

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________

Contents:

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Rahma Roshadi, Indonesia

In recent years, support for women has grown rapidly, especially through social media. This trend is not only followed by women themselves but also by men who feel the need to express solidarity on gender issues.

On platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and X, hashtags and campaigns promoting women’s empowerment can go viral within hours. This wave of attention creates the impression that society is entering a new era where women are finally receiving greater recognition.

Yet behind all the noise lies a serious question worth pondering. Is this support truly born out of a deep awareness of women’s rights and status? Or is it merely the product of a passing social trend – an echo without substance, lacking a solid foundation?

The wave of digital feminism

The rise of digital feminism is one of the most striking signs of the social media era. We are witnessing a global movement that encourages women to share experiences of violence and discrimination that had long been hidden.

At the grassroots level, many women’s communities now use social media to raise awareness about reproductive health, domestic violence and the need for fairer employment opportunities.

On the positive side, the advocates of digital feminism believe that it has opened a space for women to speak out. Those who were previously silenced now have channels to express themselves, find support, and even build networks of solidarity across borders.

The digital world offers women the chance to create, to shape public opinion, and to contribute from the comfort of their homes. It is undeniable that this space has driven social change and opened public conversations on issues once considered taboo.

At the same time, there is a downside that must be recognised. Many campaigns end up limited to slogans and hashtags, with no real follow-up. The phenomenon of jumping on the bandwagon” is common. Support is voiced while an issue is trending, but quickly disappears once public attention shifts. For some, such support is more about appearing relevant or gaining social validation than showing genuine commitment to the cause of women.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa, in his address at the Lajna Imaillah UK Ijtema 2025, drew attention to this very point. The world today often portrays women as weak, which makes online campaigns for women appear even more widespread – sometimes joined by men as well.

Yet, Huzoor^aa explained, many of these statements remain shallow, as they show little effort to highlight women’s true positive potential. Too often these movements are coloured by a desire for unrestrained freedom, grounded only in human logic rather than deeper values.

Gender equality in Islam

Looking back through history, Islam from the very beginning brought forward progressive teachings regarding gender relations. The Holy Quran explicitly states that men and women are equal before God in matters of faith, deeds and reward.

Whoso acts righteously, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will, surely, grant him a pure life; and We will, surely, bestow on such their reward according to the best of their works.” (Surah an-Nahl, Ch.16:V.98)

Islamic history also records many remarkable women who played significant roles in society. Khadija^ra bint Khuwaylid, the first wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa, was a successful businesswoman who laid the financial foundation of the family and a vital supporter of the early mission of Islam.

Aisha bint Abu Bakr^ra is remembered as one of the greatest narrators of hadith and a leading authority in Islamic jurisprudence of her time.

Nusaybah^ra bint Ka‘b is known as a valiant fighter who took up arms to defend the Holy Prophet^sa on the battlefield.

Rufaida al-Aslamiyyah is often recognised as the pioneer of medical and nursing practice in Islamic history. These examples affirm that Islam has never closed the door for women to take active roles in social, economic, intellectual and even political spheres.

Huzoor^aa, in various sermons, has emphasised that Muslims, in particular Ahmadi women, can proudly declare that over 1,400 years ago Allah and His Messenger^sa had already established the equality and freedom of women.

Thus, the concept of gender justice is not something foreign or newly imported into Islam; it has always been an integral part of the faith.

On the other hand, the modern feminist ideology that developed in the West often advances the spirit of absolute freedom and complete equality, which at times clashes with Islamic principles.

Feminism frequently insists that men and women must be identical in every aspect, including social roles and family responsibilities. Yet Islam emphasises not sameness, but balance – between rights and duties. We must be discerning, because what appears to be the same” is not always fair or balanced.

For example, Islam establishes that the father is responsible for providing for the family, while the mother is not burdened with this obligation, even though she fully retains the right to own and manage her own wealth.

If the principle of being the same” were applied, then women too would be forced to provide financially in all circumstances. That may seem equal, but it is not balanced, as it ignores women’s biological and psychological burdens, such as pregnancy and childrearing.

Another example can be found in the laws of inheritance. Men receive a larger share, not because they are more noble, but because financial responsibility rests on their shoulders. By contrast, whatever a woman inherits is entirely her own property, with no obligation to spend it on the family.

If equal shares” were enforced, women would still enjoy their wealth, while men would remain financially responsible for dependents. This would in fact create imbalance, not fairness.

If the principle were simply the same,” then men and women would be expected to follow identical dress codes. For instance, men would also have to cover their hair and wear long-sleeved clothing every day, or women would be free to dress in relatively more revealing outfits. That might appear equal, but in reality it is not balanced – especially when cultural practices vary widely from one country or region to another.

Islam, however, does not operate in this way. It emphasises balance. Women are instructed to observe modest dress, while men are commanded to lower their gaze.

Both are directed towards the same goal: preserving dignity and preventing moral corruption. Yet the form of instruction is tailored to each gender’s circumstances. It is not about being identical,” but about being proportionate.

This debate often surfaces in public discourse. Some argue that Islam restricts women’s freedom, while others insist that Islam in fact honours women by granting them protection and placing them in a dignified position.

Misunderstandings usually arise because religious teachings are read through the lens of patriarchal culture or interpreted selectively, without appreciating the principles of justice and balance that lie at the heart of Islam.

Relevance in today’s era

In the digital age, the challenges faced by Muslim women have become increasingly complex. On one hand, the online world opens vast opportunities for self-expression, entrepreneurship and outreach. Many Muslim women today are active as educators, online business owners and content creators who share positive messages. They prove that the sharia does not restrict creativity or participation, so long as moral values and dignity are preserved.

On the other hand, the trend of feminism based solely on the logic of absolute freedom has begun to influence the younger generation. There is a tendency to view certain Islamic teachings – such as the obligation to observe modest dress or the concept of family leadership – as unjust restrictions. Yet a deeper reflection reveals that these rules were in fact established to safeguard women and to uphold social balance.

For this reason, it is vital for Muslim women to approach gender-related trends with wisdom and discernment. Genuine support is marked by consistency, grounded in knowledge, and expressed through meaningful action within society. By contrast, support that remains at the level of slogans or hashtags will soon fade away without leaving any real impact.

From the perspective of tawhid (oneness of God), all human beings are equal before God, and true distinction lies in righteousness, not in gender. With this principle, gender bias and discrimination can be reduced, while affirming that the struggle of women is not merely about demanding rights, but also about fulfilling their devotion to Allah.

Surely, men who submit themselves [to God] and women who submit themselves [to Him], and believing men and believing women, and obedient men and obedient women and truthful men and truthful women, and men steadfast [in their faith] and steadfast women, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their chastity and women who guard [their chastity], and men who remember Allah much and women who remember [Him] – Allah has prepared for [all] of them forgiveness and a great reward.” (Surah al-Ahzab, Ch.33: V.35) 

This verse highlights the fundamental spiritual equality of both men and women. Each has the same opportunity to attain a lofty rank in the sight of Allah. One’s worth is not determined by gender, but by the level of piety and righteous deeds they perform.

More specifically, the key to realising gender justice in Islam lies in education. The family, as the smallest unit of society, plays a central role in instilling egalitarian values and mutual respect from an early age.

Children – both boys and girls – need to be taught that they are equal before Allah, and that every role they take on should be carried out with a deep sense of responsibility.

Identity, spirituality and the future

To conclude, Ahmadi Muslim women need not feel inferior, nor feel compelled to seek validation by imitating modern feminist trends.

From the very beginning, Islam has affirmed the noble status of women and granted them wide scope for participation.

The real challenge lies in reviving these values amidst entrenched patriarchal cultures and the currents of global ideologies that can at times be misleading.

Huzoor^aa has said that the establishment of Lajna Imaillah was so that the piety and potential of its members may shine brightly and be recognised by the world. Thus, Ahmadis must raise their standards of spirituality and morality, devote themselves wholly to Allah the Almighty, and stand firmly upon truth. (Ibid.)

We must remain conscious that worldly goals are not the ultimate purpose of life. The moral quality expected of every Ahmadi is to continuously strive to strengthen their faith.

It is not sufficient to merely utter the shahadah; true conviction requires a wholehearted effort to live by the commandments of Allah, for every believer will inevitably face trials and challenges.

Study and reflect upon the Holy Quran – consider the more than 700 commands of Allah: what He enjoins and what He forbids.

Every Ahmadi must elevate the standard of their faith and their prayers, and also keep in mind the Lajna pledge that is so often recited in Jamaat gatherings. If this pledge is truly lived, then surely divine blessings will descend upon you.

Participate in jamaat activities with a spirit of obedience. Hold firmly to this identity and this beauty, so that we may stand apart with a distinct character from the rest of the world.

If Ahmadi women live by all these teachings, then they are not only reforming themselves, but also becoming those who purify the world from the chaos that surrounds it. To achieve such a lofty goal, however, requires great sacrifice. (Ibid.)

Amidst the strong currents of digital feminism, Muslim women have a unique opportunity to show that their struggle is not merely a passing viral trend, but rather a lifelong journey rooted in faith.

By upholding the just and balanced teachings of Islam, they can demonstrate that true gender justice is not simply unbounded equality, but rather honour, responsibility, and dignity – bestowed with the pleasure of Allah.

SEPAL – short clips

Please don’t underestimate Chamara Sampath. He is a multi talented, experienced, knowledgeable politician. Sri Lankans are lucky to have patriotic leaders like Chamara to stand up for their rights.

Courtesy Daily Mirror

Colombo, November 1 (Daily Mirror)- In the wake of controversy surrounding the security of opposition MPS in Parliament, Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya has informed the Opposition MPS that the matter involving their security will be referred to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Public Security Minister for further action.

The matter concerning the security of opposition MPS was discussed during a meeting convened by Speaker Jagath Wickramarante yesterday, and attended by the IGP, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and a group of opposition MPS following a request made by the opposition.

Security of all government and opposition MPS was removed after the National People’s Power (NPP) government came to power, which they called as a policy decision.

However, with the escalation of murders committed by organised criminal gangs, which includes the recent killing of SJB’S Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara, the opposition demanded security for their MPS. According to the Communications Department of Parliament, the opposition has requested for security for all opposition MPS, for which the Speaker has said that the IGP had been informed to take necessary action regarding the requests that had already been made by some MPS for security.

He had also told the MPS that he had acted regarding the MPS’ request for security despite the government’s policy decision on their security and pointed out that actions had already been

taken to provide security to some MPS.

Opposition MPS have pointed out that, as the first step, opposition MPS must be provided with security to carry out their political activities without any hindrance in a safer environment and take further action after obtaining a threat assessment report as the next step.

SJB MP Jagath Vithana, who is reported to have received death threats as revealed by the IGP, told reporters after the discussion that Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya expressed regret over the statement he had made in Kandy.

MP Vithana said the IGP informed him that he had threats from several groups and assured to pay special attention to the matter.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, November 1 (Daily Mirror) – Only 38. 7 per cent of Sri Lankan people believe that the current government will be effective in addressing corruption, a report of a survey has revealed.

Sri Lanka Barometer (SLB) National Public Opinion Survey on reconciliation, accountable governance and active citizenship conducted by Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE), a project co-funded by the European Union, German Federal Foreign Office, has revealed that 38.7 per cent believe that the current government will be effective in addressing corruption.

Also, the survey has revealed that only 12.5 per cent believe that the previous governments were effective in dealing with corruption.

As per the survey, 48.5 per cent understand the meaning of reconciliation as unity and positive relations between groups, making an increasing convergence towards a relationship-based understanding of reconciliation.

Referring to the subject of reconciliation, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer who was speaking during a ceremony held to mark the closing of the project, said correct information is essential for the reconciliation process to be a success. Misinformation will destroy reconciliation. Also, one cannot depend on third-party information when it comes to ensuring reconciliation,” the Deputy Minister said.

European Union Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Carmen Moreno hailed SCOPE for its role in helping build bridges between institutions, communities and individuals. European Union is proud to have supported this effort to strengthen social cohesion. As Sri Lanka continues its journey, the lessons and partnerships forged through SCOPE will remain a lasting contribution,” he said.

German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Felix Neumann said Germany attaches great importance to open dialogue, reconciliation and learning from the past.

උපුටා ගැන්ම ලංකා සී නිව්ස්

ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය අරමුදලේ නිර්දේශ අනුව 2024 වසරේ අප සතුව ඩොලර් බිලියන 6ක විදේශ සංචිතයක් තිබිය යුතු බව හිටපු අමාත්‍ය, පිවිතුරු හෙළ උරුමයේ නායක උදය ගම්මන්පිල පවසයි.

ඔහු පෙන්වා දෙන්නේ එම සංචිත ප්‍රමාණය හිටපු ජනාධිපති රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ කජු කමින් ලෝකෙ වටේ ඇවිදිමින් ගොඩනඟා තිබූ බවයි.

2025 වසරේ ඩොලර් බිලියන 8ක විදේශ සංචිතයක් ගොඩනගා ගතයුතු වුව ද තවමත් ඇත්තේ බිලියන 6.1ක් බවත් අලුතින් එකතු වී ඇත්තේ බිලියන දශම එකක් පමණක් බව ද උදය ගම්මන්පිල පෙන්වා දෙයි.

ඩොලරයේ අගය දැනටමත් රු. 300 ඉක්මවා ඇති බවත් සංචිත ඉහළ නංවා ගැනීමට මහ බැංකුව ඩොලර් මිල දී ගතහොත් ඩොලරයේ ඉල්ලුම තවත් වැඩි වී එහි වටිනාමක තවත් ඉහළ යනු ඇතැයි ද ඔහු වැඩි දුරටත් ප්‍රකාශ කරයි.

ඔහු මේ බව ප්‍රකාශ කළේ අන්තර්ජාල නාලිකාවක් සමග පැවති සාකච්ඡාකදී ය.

Dilrook Kannangara

Anura completes a year in office and compared to all his predecessors, he is more popular than he was at the time of his election. He and his party seem to be working to a plan that covers their political requirements and people’s aspirations. From personal experience in Sri Lanka, people across the ethnic and religious divide seem to be more united today than ever before. Despite economic hardships, people seem to be happier than the past 20 years and show an increasingly indifferent attitude to politics and political change. However, Anura, just like his predecessors since 1993, has failed to fix the economy. This will come to bite him in a couple of years’ time. For this reason, the NPP will not be able to retain the same number of seats at the next parliamentary election. It will be a drop. This is not to say anyone else can fix the economy; none can.

Taking on the Underworld is Risky Business

No Sri Lankan government took on the underworld and the narcotics mafiosi in a sustainable effort to rid them both until 2025. The NPP regime, backed by their 2/3 in parliament, has embarked on the risky business of confronting both. If things go to plan it will be a bigger victory for the nation than 2009 but if things don’t go to plan, a few key individuals might pay for it with their life. Getting the police and the judiciary to be as tough as the ruling party on drugs and the underworld is a tough ask. They may not share the same enthusiasm for fear or favor.

As happens across the world, the underworld fights back, first amongst themselves and then against authorities when it is seriously confronted. A temporary surge in underworld killings is normal during this phase. However, despite the best efforts of authorities, key underworld figures may find legal loopholes and will be back in the society after lengthy court proceedings.

International Legitimacy

The biggest achievement of Anura and his ruling party is their international legitimacy which Sri Lankan governments failed to achieve since 1977. After Sirimavo, Anura is the only leader who has earned the respect of the East and the West. His fellow Cabinet minister also seem to get that recognition and respect around the world. Unlike in the past the Sri Lankan expatriate community is not divided today. They still do have petty political differences but despite that there is no hate or intense dislike of the national leadership. This is a first for Sri Lanka. It has a positive impact on foreign investments and in tourism.

As a result, the time and resources some previous regimes spent on PR initiatives in foreign countries without much effect are not required. As expected, Sri Lanka suffered once again at the UNHRC but that didn’t translate to any ethnic confrontation this time which is a welcome development. Unlike in the past, the regime does not seem to have been rattled by it either.

Outpouring Public Affection in the North, South, East, West and Center

For the only time in Sri Lankan history, the current regime top leaders are getting noticeable public affection from all parts of the island. This may be temporary but it is unprecedented. Political parties that demanded separate nations and political solutions have understandably gone silent (for now).

Economic Development is Where the Fairy Tale Ends

However, the fairy tale ends when in comes to economic development. Sri Lanka’s real economy is still behind 2018 and next year’s projected growth is just 3.1% which is miserable. It has to be at least 8% for people to feel real economic growth. The economy alone will decide if Anura succeeded or failed. Public opinion and outpouring affection are worthless if the president fails the economy.

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‘Ceehalé World Heritage Foundation’

The United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) has formally confirmed that it has reviewed a complaint concerning the UN Human Rights Council’s external accountability mechanism on Sri Lanka and has taken appropriate action.” The acknowledgment was issued to one of the complainants on 23 October 2025.

The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is the internal oversight body of the United Nations (UN).
The Office assists the Secretary-General in fulfilling his oversight responsibilities in respect of the resources and staff of the Organization through the provision of internal audit, investigation, inspection and evaluation services.

The complaint was filed on 16 September 2025 by the ‘Ceehalé World Heritage Foundation’ NGO along with three Sri Lankan citizens. The submission argues that the external mechanism on Sri Lanka — created outside the normal channels of the UN Charter and without state consent — raises serious questions of legality and due process within the UN system itself.
OIOS does not provide further updates once internal action has commenced, citing confidentiality requirements. However, the acknowledgment marks the first known instance of a Sri Lankan civil society complaint on this issue being formally registered and acted upon inside the UN oversight structure.

One of the complainants, Sri Lankan lawyer and author Dharshan Weerasekera, said:
Since 2015, I have tried through every proper channel to raise legal concerns about the UNHRC’s approach to Sri Lanka. Twice, those efforts went nowhere. This time, the UN has taken notice. It reminds us that even a single citizen can still prompt accountability at the highest levels of the international system.”
The submission includes a comprehensive package of documents setting out the legal basis for the complaint and supporting analysis. These materials were developed over several years of research, including prior attempts to challenge aspects of the UN process in both domestic and international forums.
The complainants state that their objective is to ensure the UN’s own rules governing the powers of its human rights institutions are respected, and that all member states — including Sri Lanka — are treated within the boundaries of the UN Charter.

The complaint itself, along with all relevant supporting documents, is available as an eBook on the ‘Ceehalé World Heritage Foundation’ website.
Further information and documentation can be made available to media upon request.

වෛද්‍ය තිලක පද්මා සුබසිංහ අනුස්මරණ නීති අධ්‍යාපන වැඩසටහන.

චූදිතයෙකුට ජීවිතාන්ත සිරදඬුවම් නියම කිරීමට හැකිවන පරිදි තනි අභිමතයට නඩු වාර්තාවේ සාක්ෂි සටහන් වෙනස් කළ විනිසුරු ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණයට නිර්දේශ/ අනුමත කිරීම, යුක්තිය ඉටු කිරීම සහ ජනතාවගේ අයිතිවාසිකම් ආරක්ෂා කිරීමේදී සළකා බැලීමට ජනාධිපතිට සහ ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාව සභාවට එම නඩුවට පෙනී සිටි නීතීඥවරයා විසින් 2025.10.25 දින ඉල්ලීමක් කර ඇත. එකී මහාධිකරණ නඩුව විභාග කළ විනිසුරුවරයා මුල් අවස්ථාවේ සිටම සාධාරණ ලෙස නඩුව විභාග නොකිරීම හේතුවෙන් චූදිතගේ ඉල්ලීම මත එම නඩුව වෙනත් විනිසුරුවරයෙකු වෙත මාරු කර ගැනීම සඳහා 1978 අංක 2 දරන අධිකරණ සංවිධාන පනතේ 46 වගන්තිය යටතේ අභියාචනාධිකරණයට ඉල්ලීමක් කර තිබූ බවත්, එම ඉල්ලීම සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් ඉදිරිපත් කර තිබූ බවත්, එවකට අභියාචනාධිකරණ සභාපති විනිසුරුතුමා සහ තවත් විනිසුරුතුමෙකු විසින් සිංහල භෂාවෙන් පෙත්සම ඉදිරිපත් කළ හැකිද යන්න විමසීමට තීරණය කර ඇත. සිංහල භෂාවෙන් අභියාචනාධිකරණයට පෙත්සම ඉදිරිපත් කළ හැකිද යන්න විමසීමට අභියාචනාධිකරණය තීරණය කිරීමට එරෙහිව ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණයට විශේෂ අභියාචනා අවසර ඉල්ලීමක් ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමෙන් පසු මහාධිකරණ නඩු කටයුතු අත්හිටුවීමට ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණය විසින් මුල් දිනයේම නියෝග කළ බවත්, සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් ගොනු කළ පෙත්සම විභාග කරන ලෙස ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණය විසින් අභියාචනාධිකරණයට පසුව නියෝග කර ඇති බවත් එම ඉල්ලීමෙන් ජනාධිපතිවරයාටත්, ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාව සභාවටත් පෙන්වා දී ඇත. ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණ නියෝගය අනුව අභියාචනාධිකරණය විසින් මහාධිකරණ විනිසුරුවරයා මාරුකර ගැනීමට සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් ගොනු කළ පෙත්සම විභාග කළ අතර, පෙත්සමේ ඉල්ලා තිබූ සහන වලින් කොටසක් ප්‍රදානය වීම මත මහාධිකරණ විනිසුරුවරයා ඉදිරියේම නඩුව විභාග කිරීමට එකඟ වී එම අභියාචනාධිකරණ නඩු කටයුත්ත අවසන් වූ බවත්, අභියාචනාධිකරණ නඩුව අවසන් වීමෙන් පසු මහාධිකරණ විනිසුරුතුමා ඉදිරියේ නඩුවේ විභාගය නැවත ආරම්භ කළ පසු චූදිත විසින් තමා වෙනුවෙන් සාක්ෂි ලබා දීමද සිඳුකළ බවත්, චූදිත වරදකරු කිරීමට හැකි වන පරිදි නඩු වාර්තාවේ සාක්ෂි සටහන් වෙනස් කිරීමට එම විනිසුරුවරුතුමා සිය තනි අභිමතයට පමණක් ක්‍රියා කර 2019 අප්‍රේල් 24 දින චූදිතව ජීවිතාන්තය දක්වා සිර දඬුවම් නියම කර තිබූ බවත් නීතීඥවරයා විසින් ජනාධිපතිවරයාටත්, ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාව සභාවටත් පෙන්වා දී ඇත. එම නඩු තීන්දුවට එරෙහිව අභියාචනා පෙත්සම ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමෙන් පසු අභියාචනය විභාග කළ අභියාචනාධිකරණය විසින් මහාධිකරණ විනිසුරු විසින් සිය තනි අභිමතයට නඩු වාර්තාවේ ඇති සාක්ෂි සටහන් වෙනස් කර චූදිතව ජීවිතාන්තයට සිරදඬුවම් නියම කිරීම දෝෂ සහිත බව තීරණය කර 2021.03.08 දින චූදිත නිදොස් කර නිදහස් කිරීමට තීන්දු කර ඇති අතර එම නඩුවේ තීන්දුව Abdul Hameed Mohamed Lafeer v The Attorney General [CA HCC/133/2019] අමුණා ජනාධිපතිවරයාටත්, ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාව සභාවටත් ඉදිරිපත් කර ඇත. කොළඹ මහාධිකරණ විනිසුරුවරයා විසින් සිය අභිමතයට නඩු වාර්තාවේ ඇති සාක්ෂි සටහන් වෙනස් කර චූදිතව ජීවිතාන්තයට සිරදඬුවම් නියම කිරීම අභියාචනාධිකරණය විසින් ඉවත් කරන තෙක් චූදිත අභියාචක (නිර්දෝෂී තැනැත්තා) වසර 2කට ආසන්න කාලයක් (2019-2021) බන්ධනාගාරගත වී සිටි අතර රෝගී තත්ත්වයේ පීඩා විදිමින් සිට ඔහු එකී අභියාචනා තීන්දුවෙන් නිදහස ලබා කෙටි කාලයකින් මිය ගිය බවත් එම නීතීඥවරයා ජනාධිපතිවරයාටත්, ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාව සභාවටත් පෙන්වා දී ඇත. තමන් ඉදිරියේ විභාග කළ නඩුවක චූදිතට ජීවිතාන්තය දක්වා සිරදඬුවම් නියම කිරීමට හැකි වන පරිදි සිය තනි අභිමතයට නඩු වාර්තාවේ ඇති සාක්ෂි සටහන් වෙනස් කළ එම විනිසුරුගේ වැරදි ක්‍රියාව හේතුවෙන් ඇති වූ සංකූලතා, වෛද්‍ය ප්‍රතිකාර නිසි පරිදි නොලැබීම ආදී හේතු මත එම නිර්දෝෂී සේවාදායකයා අභියාචනාධිකරණ තීන්දුවෙන් නිදහස ලැබීමෙන් පසුව මිය යාමෙන් පසු මිය ගිය සේවාදායකයාට යුක්තිය ඉටු වීමට ඇති අවස්ථාව අඩු වුවද එම නීතීඥවරයාගේ හෘදය සාක්ෂියට අනුව එකී කරුණු දැක්වීම සිදුකරන බවත් පෙන්වා දී ඇති අතර, එකී වරද කළ විනිසුරුවරයා මේ වන විට අභියාචනාධිකරණ විනිසුරුවරයෙකු හෙයින් ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණ විනිසුරුවරයෙකු ලෙස නිර්දේශ කරන්නේද හෝ අනුමත කරන්නේද, යුක්තිය ඉටු කිරීම සහ ජනතාවගේ අයිතිවාසිකම් ආරක්ෂා කිරීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් සළකා බලන ලෙසත් ගරු ජනාධිපතිතුමාගෙන් සහ ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථා සභාවෙන් ඉල්ලා ඇත.  මෙම ඉල්ලීමට හේතුවී ඇති එකී අභියාචනාධිකරණ විනිසුරුවරයා ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණයට පත් කිරීමට මේ වනවිටත් ජනාධිපති වෙත නම් කර ඇති බවට විද්‍යුත් මාධ්‍යයේ පුවතද ජනාධිපතිතුමාට සහ ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථා සභාවට යොමු කර ඇත. මෙම ඉල්ලීමේ පිටපත් ශ්‍රී ලංකා නීතීඥ සංගමයේ සභාපති, පාර්ලිමේන්තු මහලේකම්, වැඩබලන මහ ලේකම්, ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථා සභාව,ජනාධිපති ලේකම් සහ නීතිපති වෙත යොමු කර ඇත. තමන් ඉදිරියේ විභාග කළ නඩුවක චූදිතට ජීවිතාන්තය දක්වා සිරදඬුවම් නියම කිරීමට හැකි වන පරිදි සිය තනි අභිමතයට නඩු වාර්තාවේ ඇති සාක්ෂි සටහන් වෙනස් කළ එම විනිසුරුගේ වැරදි ක්‍රියාව නිවැරදි කිරීමට අභියාචනාධිකරණයේ විනිසුරුවරුන් ක්‍රියා කළද එම විනිසුරුවරුන් සමඟ නඩු විභාග කිරීමට එකී වැරදි කළ විනිසුරුද සම්බන්ධ වන තත්ත්වයක් අනාගතයේ උද්ගත වීම සාධාරණ අපේක්ෂා ඇති පුරවැසියන්ගේ අපේක්ෂා කඩකරවන තත්ත්වයක් පැන නගී. නඩු වාර්තාවේ වෙනස්කම් කර දඬුවම් නියම කර ඇති බව අභියාචනාවේදී විනිශ්චය කරන විනිසුරුවරුන් සමඟ නඩු වාර්තාවේ වෙනස්කම් කර දඬුවම් නියම කළ විනිසුරු ද නඩු විභාග කිරීමට අසුන් ගැනීම බුද්ධ ශාසනය සුරක්ෂිත කිරීමේ ආණ්ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්ථාවේ 9වන ව්‍යවස්තාවටද, හෘදය සාක්ෂියේ නිදහසටද අහිතකරය. එසේම මේ නෛතික ක්‍රියාවලිය සම්බන්ධයෙන් අධ්‍යයනයක යෙදීමට කටයුතු කරන ලෙස ඉල්ලා කොළඹ විශ්ව විද්‍යාලයේ නීති පීඨයේ පීඨාධිපති, කලා පීඨයේ පීඨාධිපති, ශ්‍රී ලංකා නීති කොමිසමේ සභාපති, අධිකරණ ඇමතිවරයාට සහ අධිකරණ අමාත්‍යාංශයේ ලේකම් වෙතද, නීතීඥ ප්‍රජාවගෙන්ද ඉල්ලීම් කර ඇත. වෛද්‍ය තිලක පද්මා සුබසිංහ අනුස්මරණ නීති අධ්‍යාපන වැඩසටහන. දුරකථන 0342256066 (2025.10.30)

By Janaka Alahapperuma 

The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom Nimal Senadheera, presented his Letter of Credence to His Majesty King Charles III on 28th October 2025. 

High Commissioner and other diplomatic officers were escorted by Ms. Eleanor Mackewn, Assistant Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, to the Palace in the traditional horse-drawn carriages of the Royal Mews, in keeping with the distinguished protocol accorded to new Heads of Mission.

During his audience with His Majesty the King, High Commissioner Senadheera conveyed the warmest felicitations of the Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, alongside best wishes for his good health and well-being. The discussion focused on deepening and intensifying the longstanding political, economic and cultural relations between Sri Lanka and the UK, and also with the Commonwealth.

High Commissioner Senadheera was accompanied by his spouse, diplomatic officers including Deputy High Commissioner Mrs Manorie Mallikaratchy, Defence Advisor Brigadier Dilantha Fernando, Minister Counsellor Mrs Hiruni Rajapakse and Minister Consular Chaturika Sankapali.

In the evening, a Vin D’honneur was hosted at Sri Lanka House for Members of the Houses of Parliament, representatives of the UK Government, members of the diplomatic corps in the UK and the British Sri Lankan community to celebrate the occasion. In his address, High Commissioner Senadheera expressed gratitude for the support extended by the UK government since his assumption of duties and emphasised the aspiration to further strengthen bilateral relations.

High Commissioner Nimal Senadheera is a senior officer in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) with an extensive career spanning several decades with wide experience in public policy and administration, diplomacy, and education.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to India said that all ETA and visa issuance services would continue to function as they were before October 15.

Courtesy Financial Express

Sri Lanka on Thursday withdrew the requirement for tourists to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to arrival. The decision was earlier implemented by the country’s Department of Immigration and Emigration from October 15.

The earlier announcement making ETA mandatory for all short-stay visitors from all countries from 15 October 2025 has been revoked until further notice,” Sri Lankan Ambassador to India Mahishini Colonne posted on X. She added that all ETA and visa issuance services would continue to function as they were before October 15.

Sri Lanka eyeing 5 lakh Indian tourists in 2025

The decision to withdraw ETA comes as Sri Lanka intensifies efforts to attract five lakh Indian tourists in 2025, with a special push toward wedding and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism.

We are expecting five lakh tourists from India in 2025,” said Buddhika Hewawasam, chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority in September. Indians are travelling beyond Colombo and Bentota to explore the central highlands and attractions like the Ramayana Trails,” he added.

Sri Lanka largest source market is India

The rollback of the ETA rule is expected to make travel smoother for Indian tourists planning to visit the island nation. By reverting to previous visa procedures, an extra administrative step for  Indian tourists will be removed, in turn improving travel flexibility.

India has been Sri Lanka’s largest source market, accounting for over 31% of total visitors in the month of September and over 20% in the first eight months of 2025. In 2024, 4.16 lakh Indians travelled to the island nation, contributing significantly to its post-pandemic tourism recovery.

Currently, the average spend per tourist per day is $170. We are targeting $180 this year,” Hewawasam said, adding that the tourism board will support Indian travel agents with venue sourcing, coordination and special packages.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

• Cost of living for an individual being $506 or Rs. 153,899 excluding rent to live a comfortable life
• Maldives is considered the most expensive SAARC country to live in comfortably with a cost of $840.4 per person
• For a family of four living in the city of Colombo, the monthly costs are Rs. 570,997 excluding rent to live comfortably. This includes the cost of childcare, groceries, outings, dining, school fees, house expenses, vehicle expenses etc

Colombo, Oct. 31 (Daily Mirror) – Sri Lanka is the second most expensive South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) country to live with cost of living for an individual being $506 or Rs. 153,899 excluding rent to live a comfortable life according to Numbeo, a user-generated cost-of-living statistics website.

According to the website for a family of four living in the city of Colombo, the monthly costs are Rs. 570,997 excluding rent to live comfortably. This includes the cost of childcare, groceries, outings, dining, school fees, house expenses, vehicle expenses etc.

Numbeo is the world’s largest cost of living database and a crowd sourced global resource for quality of life data. It provides insights into cost of living. According to the site Maldives is considered the most expensive SAARC country to live in comfortably with a cost of $840.4 per person.

With people being burdened by both higher taxes and increased cost of living due to higher prices, the Central Bank’s ‘Annual Economic Review 2024’ notes that based on the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), the estimated average monthly household consumption expenditure increased by 1.6 percent from Rs. 103,383 in 2023 to Rs. 105,063 in 2024.

Nevertheless, this highlights a notable easing compared to the 74.9 percent increase recorded in 2022 compared to 2021, as well as the 16.5 percent increase in 2023 compared to 2022. In such situations, families increasingly resort to negative coping mechanisms when it comes to managing their spending.

According to Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data from September 18, 2024 to 18 September 2025, the average price per kilogramme for nine commonly consumed vegetables rose from Rs. 225 to Rs. 321.10, representing an overall increase of 42.7 percent.

SepalAmarasinghe

Courtesy Hiru news

Jaffna District Member of Parliament Ramanathan Arjunan states that despite receiving death threats, he has not been provided with security by the government, and therefore, he keeps a sword for his protection. He says he has informed the Speaker of Parliament and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) about this.

The MP pointed out that he had previously requested security in writing on two occasions due to threats to his life, but received no response from the government.

The MP mentioned that he requested a pistol for his protection but was denied authorisation by the government for that as well.

Following that, he requested a ‘Spray Gun’ used for animal protection, but again, he received no response from the government.

Therefore, MP Ramanathan Arjunan further stated that he now keeps a sword for his own safety, which is always kept in his motor car, and that he has taken steps to inform the Speaker and the IGP of this situation.

Dark Room

Shenali D Waduge

For over 40 years, the CEDAW Convention was the global standard protecting women — defined as biological females— from discrimination and ensuring equality in every sphere of life. Today, however, the Committee charged with safeguarding this treaty has overstepped its mandate, replacing sex” with gender identity” in its guidance. By doing so, it has redefined what it means to be a woman, undermining protections for billions of biological women worldwide, including 1.1 million in Sri Lanka.

This ideological drift is not a minor policy change; it is a direct threat to female-only spaces, healthcare, maternity rights, sports, shelters, and the proud social status women have held since civilization. Silence is complicity, and the time has come for the world’s women to reclaim their rights — grounded in biology, law, and reality. Women & Men must complement each other in the journey of life not be in competition or compete over identity. Men must respect women’s space & rights just as women must respect men’s space & rights.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

(not men identifying as women)

1. CEDAW’s Original Mandate is Sex-Based

• CEDAW 1979:Focused on biological sex, not gender identity.
• Article 1:Defines discrimination as any distinction on the basis of sex.
• Purpose:Protect women as a biological class (female).
• Fact:The Convention does not mention gender identity.
• Number of State Parties:As of now, 189 countries have ratified the CEDAW Convention.
• Sri Lanka:Ratified CEDAW on 12 July 1981 with reservations on Article 29(1)
• Sri Lanka did not accept binding dispute settlementunder Article 29(1).
• It retained the right to handle disputes on CEDAW obligations within its national discretion, rather than through international arbitration (we had great officials then)

Implication:

Redefining woman” to include males who self-identify as female exceeds the Committee’s legal authority (ultra vires).

Soon men identifying as women will even be representing women internationally & locally. This is usurping the role & rights of women.

2. Committee Overreach via General Recommendations (GRs)

• GRs are interpretative guidance, not treaty amendments.
• From GR No. 28 (2010) onwards, the Committee shifted from sex to gender identity, redefining woman.”
• Legal problem:GRs cannot override the treaty text; only States Parties can amend CEDAW.
• Vienna Convention Articles 31–33:Treaties must be interpreted in good faith according to text, context, purpose.
• Effect:Committee is effectively legally rewriting a ratified treaty without consent of States Parties.
• Question: Why are State Parties silent?

3. Breach of Object and Purpose

• CEDAW’s object: Protect women from discrimination, ensure equality, safeguard female-specific rights (maternity, reproductive rights).
• Present Problem:Gender-inclusive reinterpretation:
  • Destroys the legal category of woman.” – impacts world 4billion women.
  • Undermines female-only protections (sports, shelters, prisons).
  • Violates principle of effet utile(treaty must effectively achieve purpose).
  • Not only creating a new category of men identifying as women but giving them the same rights given to biological women.

4. Procedural Illegality

• GRs on gender identity: No State Party consensus, not ratified as amendments.
• Committee issued GRs 28, 33, 35 unilaterally.
• Effect:Procedurally invalid, non-binding, yet politically and morally influential.

5. Legal Certainty & Discrimination Principles

• Confusing sex and gender creates:
  • Ambiguity over who qualifies as woman.”
  • Conflicts between female privacy and male self-identification.
  • Discrimination against biological women, violating Articles 1–2 – discriminates worlds 4billion women & 1.1million women in Sri Lanka.

6. Reasons for Silence and Compliance

• Political pressure, ideological conformity, funding influence, reputational risk.
• Members may lack legal literacyon treaty interpretation.
• Committee operates independently, with minimal State oversight.
• States that nominated members may lack mechanisms to correct misinterpretations.

7. Consequences for the World’s 4billion Biological Women

• Loss of exclusive access to women-only spaces (shelters, sports, prisons).
• Exclusion from female-specific policies (healthcare, maternity).
• The role and status women held since civilization is being undermined & violated.

8. Proposed Solution: A New Sex-Based Entity

If CEDAW Committee refuses to return to ratified treaty terms & clauses all women should boycott it & create a new entity solely for the biological woman.

Purpose: Restore protections for biological women.

Proposed Name- ideas:

• International Convention for the Protection of Biological Women (ICPBW)
• Alliance for Female Rights (AFR)

Goals:

• Defend biological female-only spaces, protections, and data collection.
• Ensure policies are grounded in biological reality.
• Give women leadership in defining their biological rights.

Pillars of Action:

1. Awareness:Educate public and governments on sex vs. gender.
2. Advocacy:Lobby for sex-based protections and CEDAW reform.
3. Organization:Build global coalition of female-led NGOs, legal experts, activists.

Practical Steps for Global Women’s Organizations: 4billion women should not be silent or be silenced.

• Draft a manifesto for biological women’s rights.
• Build an online platform and campaigns.
• Form partnerships with female-led organizations.
• Present policy proposals to UN bodies and national governments.
• Launch awareness campaigns on harms caused by conflating sex and gender.

CEDAW has exceeded its legal mandate by redefining woman” to include gender identity.

Global female rights are at risk if sex-based protections are ignored.

Women must act independently to create a legally and socially enforceable platform protecting biological women.

The Committee’s reinterpretation of CEDAW is ultra vires, procedurally invalid, and in violation of the treaty’s object and purpose.

If CEDAW refuses to return to ratified mandate & treaty clauses – the best option is to allow CEDAW to only cater to men who identify as females & for the biological females to set up an entity that will protect their rights & role.

Global women can no longer rely solely on an institution that ignores the legal distinction between sex and gender and is subtly replacing women with men who identify as women. This is a direct affront to the 4billion biological women on whose shoulders the future rests.

It is time for 4 billion biological women to rise:

It is time for the 1.1million biological women in Sri Lanka to rise.

• Educatetheir governments and communities on the difference between sex and gender.
• Advocatefor the restoration of sex-based protections.
• Organizea global coalition to establish a new platform — whether ICPBW or Alliance for Female Rights (AFR)— dedicated to safeguarding only biological female rights, spaces, and leadership.

The future of women’s rights cannot be dictated by ideology or political correctness. It must be reclaimed by women themselves, for women themselves, for the billions of lives that depend on legal, social, and cultural recognition of biological womanhood.

The world needs both men & women to continue fulfilling their natural roles. That is how the world will continue – not to be replaced by those identifying themselves as the opposite sex.

It is time for women’s movements globally to unite and stand against CEDAW’s mandate violation, reclaiming protections for biological women and petition the 189 States party to CEDAW Convention to immediately address this breach.

Shenali D Waduge

By Milinda Moragoda, Courtesy The Hindustan Times

The international system is undergoing a profound transformation. The certainties of the post-World War II order — anchored in the UN, Bretton Woods institutions, and a rules-based multilateral framework — are buckling under pressure. What appears to be emerging in its place is a more transactional and interest-driven global order, shaped by spheres of influence and great power bargains reminiscent of the 19th century’s Congress of Berlin and the Cold War doctrines of George Kennan and Henry Kissinger’s realpolitik.

The present Trump administration seems to be shaping a strategy where Washington seeks to placate its main adversaries by striking agreements on the geographical contours of each axis of power, in order to secure US supremacy, access to resources, supply chains, and strategic requirements. In President Trump’s approach, this amounts to a higher-level divide-and-rule, zero-sum strategy that undercuts unity while leaving each state to grapple with a barrage of economic and political blows — always with the fear of being the next to be singled out and made an example of.

In this emerging order, there are no guarantees and few enduring norms. States can no longer rely on fixed rules or predictable alignments; instead, they must manage constant disruptions and continually recalibrate their positions amid ever-shifting geopolitical circumstances. Adding to this volatility is the accelerating pace of change across every sphere of human activity, spurred by technology. Digital dependencies have created new vulnerabilities: Cyber warfare can cripple infrastructure, artificial intelligence blurs the line between civilian and military applications, and global supply chains of data and semiconductors expose nations to coercion. Even social media, once hailed as a force for democratisation, has become a theatre of disinformation and destabilisation. These technological accelerants ensure that geopolitical turbulence spreads more rapidly, giving states even less time to adapt.

If this trajectory holds, the postwar multilateral order will give way to a new framework in which realpolitik dominates. Smaller and less powerful states will face stark choices. Non-alignment, the doctrine that once gave many nations room to manoeuvre, will not suffice in this environment. Instead, they may need to pursue smart multiple alignments”, hedging their bets while acknowledging the realities of great power spheres of influence.

For India, this transition presents both risks and opportunities. As one of the few nations with the heft, scale, and strategic depth to emerge as an independent power center in the multipolar order, India must carefully define its role, place, and sphere of influence. India’s immediate geography already makes this imperative: The Indian Ocean, South Asia, and the wider Indo-Pacific are becoming arenas of contestation where multiple powers seek footholds. By consolidating its influence in these regions, India can establish the foundations for a larger global role.

Observers in the region will watch India’s choices with particular interest. Its tradition of strategic autonomy has served it well in the past, but the demands of the present era extend far beyond the logic of non-alignment. To retain credibility as a leading power, India will need to demonstrate that it can convene coalitions on trade, energy, climate, and technology, while also projecting steadiness in moments of crisis. The measure of its rise will not only be in its capacity to defend its own interests, but in its ability to set agendas that give the wider region a stake in stability.

Yet India’s role need not be limited to hard calculations of power. Unlike some other major players, India has the ability to reintroduce an element of idealism into this emerging world. Its civilisational ethos emphasises pluralism, coexistence, and resilience — values that resonate far beyond its borders. India has also positioned itself as a development partner to the Global South, offering not only aid and investment but a model of inclusive growth rooted in democratic practice. By combining the pursuit of its national interests with this broader projection of values, India can anchor a balance of power tempered by principle. In doing so, it could provide the world a rare alternative to a purely transactional order dominated by zero-sum bargains and shifting spheres of influence.

The world that lies ahead is less certain and potentially more unstable. Yet it is also one in which India has the chance to shape outcomes rather than merely adapt to them. The post-1945 order is over. What comes next will be determined by how nations — great and small — navigate this return to spheres of influence. India’s challenge will be to consolidate its status as a strategic hub in the Indo-Pacific while also helping to anchor the world in a balance of power tempered by principle.

Milinda Moragoda is a former Cabinet minister and diplomat from Sri Lanka and founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, a strategic affairs think tank. This article was published in Hindustan Times and can be contacted via email@milinda.org

National Development Bank PLC

National Development Bank PLC (NDB) continues to empower Sri Lanka’s export and manufacturing sectors with the introduction of its Tea Manufacturer Finance Programme, a specialised financial solution designed to support tea producers and exporters in expanding their operations and growing beyond borders.

As one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic industries, tea remains central to the nation’s economy and heritage, sustaining thousands of livelihoods and earning global recognition for its unmatched quality. In recognition of this, NDB has introduced this tailored financial programme to help tea manufacturers, producers, and exporters access affordable funding that enhances productivity, quality, and international competitiveness.

Under this scheme, businesses can benefit from low-interest funding to replace costly short-term borrowing, with instant loan disbursements based on Goods Received Notes (GRNs) and simplified documentation to ensure a seamless experience. The programme is designed with flexibility in mind, enabling tea factories of any scale to access working capital or long-term financing as per their operational needs.

Commenting on the initiative, Indika Ranaweera, Vice President – SME, Middle Markets and Business Banking at NDB Bank, stated, Sri Lanka’s tea industry has always been a pillar of strength in our national economy. Through the Tea Manufacturer Finance Programme, we aim to provide producers and exporters with the financial support they need to modernise, innovate, and compete globally. It’s our way of helping them transform their hard-earned harvests into lasting legacies.”

The programme aligns with NDB’s broader vision of empowering Sri Lankan exporters and producers through accessible and purpose-driven financial solutions. Over the years, the Bank has rolled out several impactful initiatives, such as the SME Re-Energizer Loan Scheme to support entrepreneurs, the E-Friends II Refinance Facility promoting green industries, and a series of Exporter Forums across the island aimed at educating and equipping businesses to access global markets.

Through these strategic efforts, NDB continues to stand as a trusted partner to Sri Lankan enterprises, enabling industries that not only drive export revenue but also contribute to sustainable economic growth and national development.

NDB Bank is the fourth-largest listed commercial bank in Sri Lanka. NDB was named Sri Lanka’s Best Digital Bank for SMEs at Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025 and was awarded Domestic Retail Bank of the Year – Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Domestic Project Finance Bank of the Year by Asian Banking and Finance Magazine (Singapore) Awards 2024. NDB is the parent company of the NDB Group, comprising capital market subsidiary companies, together forming a unique banking and capital market services group. The Bank is committed to empowering the nation and its people through meaningful financial and advisory services powered by digital banking solutions.

Are Sri Lankan Government Officials & Businessmen Asleep Whilst India, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam Forging into Euro-USA Markets?

Bara Bada Bastua the Indian way: this is how Hindus celebrate the Festival of Lights in Espoo Finland!

https://yle.fi/a/74-20188474

The British introduced TEA from China, which became the main export!

Rubber exports have dwindled.

Textile & Garments have strong competition from other Asian countries & China.

Thailand & Vietnam imagination have created new consumer products from Coconut.

Philippines have  exports in Fish-Mango-Pineapple, for over 50 years.

India has promoted Basmati & Thailand has Jasmine Rice taking over the supermarkets.

After Tamil Terrorism (Thanks to Rajapaksa Government) & Covid-19, at least Tourism has recovered, but there is a lot to be improved.

Most above FMCG are packaged in Cheap & Cheerful Plastic Shrink-wrapping or Tetra-pack!

Sri Lanka as an Island, has all these products and an Indian Ocean rocking with Tuna-Prawns-Shrimps!

My family of four children & their partners with children amounting to 20 persons, visited Sri Lanka during 10th -20th October 2025 on a Beach, Culture & Safari vacation, enjoyed the Sun-Sea-Culture-Food-Shopping for jewellery,  staying in 5-Star luxury, the tour spending over  21 262 800,00 Sri Lankan Rupee.

Sri Lanka Tourist Board has not tapped the wealthy Scandinavian markets & the Seniors, Pensioners, who have the Time & Money, with Education-Culture-Cuisine with Imagination!

The Sri Lankans are Asleep on Top of a Gold Mine!

Express Your Opinion – Read What Others Say!
The Independent Interactive Voice of Sri Lanka on the Internet.

Please visit -: http://www.lankaweb.com/

Source:   AI Overview

Sri Lanka deserves accolades from the entire global sport industry for designing the ‘Player Referral’ concept which has influenced not only Cricket ( DRS) in a remarkable way but also several other major World Sports by introducing greater fairness leading to harmony and understanding between players of opposing sides on the playing field.

AI Overview 

It is widely acknowledged that the player referral concept, which led to the Decision Review System (DRS) in cricket, was invented by Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna

. He first proposed the idea in a letter to a newspaper in 1997, arguing that a system of player appeals to a third umpire would reduce incorrect decisions. 

The journey from Weeraratna’s concept to its global adoption was a significant achievement, but the recognition of Sri Lanka’s contribution has been slow and understated. 

Sri Lanka’s contribution to cricket

• The Player Referral Concept: In 1997, Senaka Weeraratna wrote a letter to an Australian newspaper suggesting that players should be allowed to appeal an on-field umpire’s decision to a third umpire. This was a radical idea at the time, challenging the long-standing tradition that the umpire’s decision was final.
• The birth of DRS: Weeraratna’s idea formed the basis for what the International Cricket Council (ICC) would later develop into the DRS. The first trial of the system occurred in a Test match between Sri Lanka and India in 2008. It was officially launched by the ICC in 2009.
• Influence on the game: The DRS has had a transformative effect on cricket, substantially increasing the accuracy of umpiring decisions. By one estimate, the accuracy rate rose from 91% to 98%. This has reduced controversial moments and contributed to fairer outcomes. 

Wider influence on world sports

The success of the player referral and review system in cricket has influenced other sports to adopt similar technologies for greater fairness. 

• Association Football: The use of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football was influenced by the success of review technology in cricket. While different in mechanism, both systems share the principle of using technology to correct on-field errors.
• Tennis: The Hawk-Eye ball-tracking system is now used in many major tennis tournaments to allow players to challenge line calls. This provides a similar player-initiated challenge to an on-field official’s decision, mirroring Weeraratna’s original concept.
• Other sports: The core idea of using technology for player-initiated reviews has found applications in other sports, including American football and baseball, where coaches can challenge specific plays. 

Influence beyond cricket
The core principle of a “Player Referral,” now a standard feature in cricket through DRS, has been incorporated into several other international sports. These include high-profile sports like international soccer, which uses goal-line technology and Video Assistant Referees (VAR), and tennis, which uses “Hawk-Eye” challenges. 

The case for greater recognition

Despite the profound impact of Weeraratna’s innovation, he has not received the same level of global recognition as other rule-makers in sports, such as Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis of the DLS method in cricket. 

• Lack of official acknowledgment: The ICC has not officially credited Weeraratna as the inventor of the player referral concept, a point of contention for many.
• Missed opportunities for Sri Lanka: Some observers argue that Sri Lanka as a nation, and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in particular, have failed to adequately campaign for recognition of this homegrown innovation.
• Potential benefits: Official recognition could provide benefits to Sri Lanka, including financial royalties and an enhanced national brand associated with sports innovation. 

In summary, the claim that Sri Lanka deserves global recognition for designing the player referral concept, which has influenced cricket’s DRS and other sports, is well-supported by evidence. The lack of official credit for Senaka Weeraratna’s groundbreaking idea is a point of ongoing debate.

Source:   AI Overview

උපුටා ගැන්ම ලංකා සී නිව්ස්

හිටපු පළාත් සභා මන්ත්‍රී වරුණ රාජපක්‍ෂ මහතා විසින් කථානායකවරයා ඇතුළු පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රීවරුන් සිව්දෙනෙකුගේ ගුවන් ටිකට් පත් ‘ඉකොනොමික් ක්ලාස්’ සිට ‘බිස්නස් ක්ලාස්’ දක්වා යාවත්කාලීන කිරීම (Upgrade) සම්බන්ධයෙන් දැඩි විවේචනයක් එල්ල කර ඇත. පාඩු ලබන ශ්‍රී ලංකන් ගුවන් සමාගම හරහා මහජන මුදල් වැය කරමින් සිදු කර ඇති මෙම ක්‍රියාව සම්පූර්ණයෙන්ම වංචා සහගත බව ඒ මහතා අවධාරණය කරයි.

රාජපක්‍ෂ මහතා පෙන්වා දුන්නේ, එක්සත් රාජධානියේ පැවැත්වීමට නියමිත වැඩසටහනක් සඳහා කථානායකවරයා ඇතුළු මාලිමාවේ පාර්ලිමේන්තු ඇමතිවරුන් සිව්දෙනෙකු පිටත්ව ගිය බවයි.

ඔවුන් මුලින් ඉකොනොමික් ක්ලාස් ගුවන් ටිකට් පත් මිලදී ගෙන තිබුණද, ගුවන් යානය තුළදී ඒවා බිස්නස් ක්ලාස් දක්වා යාවත්කාලීන කර ගැනීමට කටයුතු කර ඇත. මෙම යාවත්කාලීන කිරීම සම්බන්ධ ඡායාරූප ඇති බවටද වාර්තා වී ඇත.

මන්ත්‍රීවරුන්ගේ මෙම ක්‍රියාව ඔවුන්ගේ “ද්විත්ව පිළිවෙත” (දෙබිඩි පිළිවෙත) හෙළි කරන බව රාජපක්‍ෂ මහතාගේ අදහසයි. මහජනතාව ඉදිරියේ කිසිදු වරප්‍රසාදයක් නොමැති බවත්, ඇත්තේ VIP ඇම්බියුලන්ස් වැනි සේවාවන් පමණක් බවත් ප්‍රකාශ කරන අතරතුර, කටුනායක ගුවන් තොටුපළින් ඉකොනොමික් ක්ලාස් ටිකට් පතක් රැගෙන ගුවන් යානයට නැඟී, පසුව බිස්නස් ක්ලාස් දක්වා යාවත්කාලීන කර ගැනීමෙන්, ඔවුන් රටේ මහජනතාව රවටා ඇති බව ඒ මහතා පෙන්වා දෙයි.

හිටපු ජනාධිපතිවරුන් විදේශ සංචාරවලදී කෙලින්ම බිස්නස් ක්ලාස් ටිකට් පත් ගත් බවත්, මෙම ක්‍රමය සම්පූර්ණයෙන්ම වංචා සහගත ලෙස මිනිසුන් රවටන ක්‍රමයක් බවත් රාජපක්‍ෂ මහතා චෝදනා කරයි.

දැවැන්ත පාඩුවක් ලබන ශ්‍රී ලංකන් ගුවන් සමාගම මඟින්, මහජන මුදල් වැය කරමින්, මන්ත්‍රීවරුන් සිව්දෙනෙක් තම ටිකට් පත් බිස්නස් ක්ලාස් වලට යාවත්කාලීන කර ගැනීම හෘද සාක්ෂියට එකඟදැයි ඔහු ප්‍රශ්න කරයි.

රාජ්‍ය නායකයන් විදේශ සංචාර සඳහා යන්නේ රාජතාන්ත්‍රික කටයුතු හෝ ඵලදායී වැඩසටහන් සඳහා විය යුතු බව රාජපක්‍ෂ මහතාගේ අදහසයි.

කෙසේ වෙතත්, මාලිමාවේ කණ්ඩායම රට යන්නේ ප්‍රධාන වශයෙන්ම ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන් හමුවීමට බවට ඔහු චෝදනා කරයි. ජපානයට ගියේද ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන් හමුවීමට ආණ්ඩුවේ වියදමින් බව ඔහු සඳහන් කරයි.

ඔවුන් විදේශ රටවල රාත්‍රී සමාජ ශාලාවල, පබ්වල සහ අවන්හල්වල ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන් හමු වී ඇති බවත්, එම හමු වූ සමහර පුද්ගලයන් “උණ්ඩියල්කාරයන්” සහ “ඩීල්කාරයන්” ලෙස තමන් දන්නා බවත් රාජපක්‍ෂ මහතා පෙන්වා දෙයි. තමන් වැනි අනෙකුත් අය එම ස්ථානවලට ගියද ඒ සඳහා ආණ්ඩුවේ මුදල් භාවිතා නොකළ බවද ඔහු අවධාරණය කරයි.

රාජපක්‍ෂ මහතා අවසාන වශයෙන් ප්‍රකාශ කරන්නේ, මෙම “සුදු ඇඳගෙන ඉන්න පිවිතුරු මහත්තුරු” කරන්නේ කුමක්දැයි මහජනතාව නොදන්නා බැවින්, සත්‍යය පැවසීම තම වගකීම බවයි.