ජනාධිපති නීතිඥ මෛත්‍රී ගුණරත්න නීතිඥ අතුල ද සිල්වා

ඩොලර් මිලියන 2.5 ක් තෙවන පාර්ශවය අතට පත්වීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් මුදල් අමාත්‍යාංශයේ ලේකම්වරයා වහා ඉල්ලා අස්විය යුතු බව ‘‍ෆී ලෝයර්ස්’ සංවිධානය අවධාරණය කරයි.

මුදල් අමාත්‍යංශ ලේකම්වරයා විසින් අද දින පැවැත්වූ පුවත්පත් සාකච්ඡාව කෙරෙහි අප සංවිධානයේ අවධානය යොමු විය.  2025 සැප්තෑම්බර් මස මුදල් අමාත්‍යාංශයේ පරිගණක සර්වරයේ ‘රූට් ඇස්කස්’ (Root Access) ලබාගැනීමට යම් පුද්ග‍ලයෙකු සමත්වී තිබුණි.  අමාත්‍යාංශ ලේකම්වරයා එම තොරතුර දැන සිටි නමුත්, ඒ පිළිබඳ කිසිදු විධිමත් ආරක්ෂක පියවරක් ගනු නොලැබීය.  මේ බව අද පුවත්පත් සාකච්ඡාවේ දී ද, ඔහු විසින් වසන් කරන ලදී.  එමගින් ඔහු රටත් ජාතියත් සියළු පාර්ශයන් ද රැවටීමට ලක් කරනු ලැබීය.

තව ද, ලේකම්වරයා අප විසින් මෙය අනාවරණය කරන තෙක්, මාස 7 ක් පුරා, අවම වශයෙන් මේ පිළිබඳ අමාත්‍ය මණ්ඩලයට, පාර්ලිමේන්තුවට හෝ වෙනත් කිසිදු වගකිවයුතු පාර්ශවයක් වෙත දැනුම්දීමට පියවර ගෙන නැත. මෙය පැහැදිලි ලෙස ‘වගකීම් පැහැර හැරීමේ අපරාධයකි’. 

මුදල් අමාත්‍යාංශ ලේකම්වරයා මෙම සිද්ධිය හුදු ‘සයිබර් ප්‍රහාරයකට’ ලඝු කිරීමට උත්සහ දරමින් ඇත.  මුදල් අමාත්‍යාංශ ලේකම්වරයා ගේ ලිඛිත අනුමැතිය සහිතව මෙම ගෙවීමේ සියළු කටයුතු සිදුව ඇත.  විදේශ සම්පත් දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව සහ රාජ්‍ය ණය කළමනාකරණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවේ ඉහළ සිට පහලට සෑම මට්ටමකම නිලධාරීන් 16 කට ආසන්න පිරිසකගේ දායකත්වය මෙයට ලැබී ඇත. එබැවින් මෙම ඔවුන් පවසන පරිදි සයිබර් ප්‍රහාරයක් නොවන බවත් මෙය මුල්‍ය අපරාධයක් බව අපගේ විශ්වසයයි.

ලංකා භාණ්ඩාගාරයට ඩොලර් මිලියන 2.5 ක් අහිමිවීට හේතුව මුදල් අමාත්‍යාංශයේ හා භාණ්ඩාගාරයේ කටයුතු සම්බන්ධයෙන් කිසිදු අත්දැකීමක් හෝ පළපුරුද්දක් නොමැති හර්ෂ සුරියප්පෙරුම ලේකම්වරයා ලෙස කටයුතු කිරීමය.    ඔහු මෙම තනතුරට පත්වීමට පෙර ජාතික ජන බලවේගයේ පාර්ලමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රීවරයෙකු ලෙස පත්වී මුදල් නියෝජ්‍ය ඇමතිවරයා ලෙස කටයුතු කිරීමයි.  ඒ හැර මෙම තනතුර දැරීමට ඔහුට කිසිදු සුදුසුකමක් නැත. ඉතිහාසයේ කිසිදු අවස්ථාවක භාණ්ඩාගාර ලේකම්වරයා ලෙස අවම වශයෙන් ප්‍රාදේශීය ලේකම්, සහකාර ලේකම්, දෙපාර්තමේන්තු ප්‍රධානී, අතිරේක ලේකම් වැනි වගකීමක් දරනු නොලැබූ සහ රාජ්‍ය සේවයේ පරිපාලන අත්දැකීම් නොමැති ආධුනිකයෙකු පත් වී නැත.

ඕස්ට්‍රෙිලියානු ගෙවීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් සියළු මුලික අනුමැතීන් ලබාදුන් මුදල් අමාත්‍යාං‍ශ ලේකම්වරයා මෙම තනතුරේ තබාගනිමින් සිදු කරන කිසිදු විමර්ශනයකින් සාධාරණයක් ඉටුවිය නොහැකිය. එබැවින් මෙම වංචාව සම්බන්ධයෙන් පළමු අනුමැතිය ලබාදුන් මුදල් අමාත්‍යාංශයේ ලේකම් හර්ෂ සුරියප්පෙරුම මහතා එම ධූරයෙන් ඉවත් විය යුතුය.  ඔහු ඉවත් නොවන්නේ නම්, අමාත්‍යාංශ ලේකම්වරයෙකු පත් කිරීමේ බලය සහිත අතිගරු ජනාධිපතිතුමන් විසින් ඔහු එම ධූරයෙන් ඉවත් කර, පරිපාලන අත්දැකීම් සහිත වගකීම් දැරිය හැකි ජ්‍යෙෂ්ඨ නිලධාරියෙකු එම තනතුරට පත් කළ යුතු බව ‘‍ෆී ලෝයර්ස්’ සංවිධානය අවධාරණය කරයි.

 (ඇමුණුම නිල පුවත්පත් නිවේදනය අමුණා ඇත)

ජනාධිපති නීතිඥ මෛත්‍රී ගුණරත්න

නීතිඥ අතුල ද සිල්වා  

By Raj Gonsalkorale

Race is a social construct used to categorize humans into groups based on shared physical traits (such as skin colour, hair texture, or facial features) or ancestry. Modern science views race as a system created by society, not as a biological, genetic, or scientific fact. It often carries implications for social hierarchy and power, influencing cultural perceptions and systemic treatment – National Human Genome Research Institute

Sri Lanka’s ancient chronological history, particularly the Sinhala Buddhist history, has generally been taken from the literary records in the Mahavamsa, which recounts Sri Lanka’s history from time Prince Vijaya landed in the island some 2600 years ago, and these accounts then carried forward through an oral tradition for nearly 1000 years before a Buddhist Monk, Venerable Mahanama completed the first written account of the Mahavamsa in 400 AD. Archaeologists however have tended to arrive at historical timelines based on their research findings. To this extent, one could say theirs is a more scientific narrative rather than a literary narrative on the ancient history of the island.

While Archaeologists concur that the Mahavamsa has a high degree of accuracy for later periods based on research, they are of the opinion that its early accounts are more mythical and legendary in the absence of scientific research to support accounts of the early periods. For example, there is no direct archaeological evidence (coins or inscriptions) for a specific “King Vijaya” from the 6th century BCE.  Experts opine that timeline discrepancies exist between the Mahavamsa and Archaeological digs, particularly in the Citadel of Anuradhapura, where using carbon dating to test the timeline of early settlements, have revealed discrepancies. While the Mahāvaṃsa says the city was founded in the 5th or 6th century BCE by Prince Vijaya, carbon dating of pottery and charcoal shows that Anuradhapura was actually a thriving town as far back as 900–1000 BCE, some 500 years prior to Vijaya’s landing.

HISTORY OF HUMAN HABITATION ON SRI LANKA

Earliest possible history of human habitation – While subsequently updated based on advances in dating technology, Archaeologist Dr Siran Deraniyagala had established that the archaeological sites of Pathirajawela and Bundala are southern occurrences of the Iranamadu Formation (IFM), an extensive geological unit characterized by “red latosol” (red coastal sands) and basal gravels, a coastal geological unit that appears in the island’s North and Northwest going back around 125,000 to 200,000 years ago.The Department of Archaeology has noted that the IFM deposits in the North have yielded the “oldest evidence of human habitation,” with some speculative relative dates reaching as far back as 500,000 years. As mentioned, the revised chronology (25,000 BCE) has provided a more modern geochemical position based on the 2024 OSL (Optically Stimulated Luminescence) testing. It suggests the earlier dates were a result of “solar resetting” issues in the quartz and the more recent testing has contested the earlier findings. However, conclusions maybe drawn that some human inhabitations have been there despite the later conclusions as both methods had used non-human being material for testing purposes.

A geneticists view of ancient history – This the DNA Story (60,000–70,000 years ago)which basically takes a look at the blood of people living today and “count back” the mutations suggesting that the ancestors of everyone currently alive in Sri Lanka, left Africa about 60000–70,000 years ago.

History based on scientific testing of human skeletal remains– Done for the first time on human full skeletons and advanced tools found in caves have shown that humans inhabited the island some 38,000 Years Ago which period is referred to as the “Balangoda Man” Phase. 

THE BALANGODA MAN

Actual Archaeological evidence from human skeletal remains and cultural artifacts such as geometric microliths (stone tools) found in the Fa Hien Cave and  Batadombalena have have established that the Balangoda man (Homo sapiens balangodensis) inhabited the country some 30,000 years ago, and is described as the prehistoric original inhabitants of the country. Evidence also shows these ancestors were skilled hunters who used fire and crafted tools from bone and stone. Finds of marine shells in inland caves suggest they maintained active contact or trade routes with coastal regions as far as 40 km away. 

Origins and Migration

• The Land Bridge: For much of the last 500,000 years, Sri Lanka was intermittently connected to India via a land bridge roughly 100 km wide. This connection, now largely submerged as the Adam’s Bridge shoals, allowed for the continuous movement of early human and faunal populations across the continental shelf.
• Out of Africa Timeline: The Balangoda Man’s arrival aligns with major migratory patterns of modern humans departing Africa approximately 60,000 to 70,000 years ago. These early Homo sapiens moved through South Asia, with Sri Lanka serving as a critical point for understanding how they adapted to diverse tropical environments.
• A “Hunters in Transition” Model: Professor Somadeva’s research project, “Hunters in Transition”, posits that the indigenous people didn’t just disappear or get replaced. Instead, the descendants of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers (Balangoda Man) gradually evolved into the structured “Hela” or indigenous society, which included the Yakkha, Naga and Deva tribes. 

Evolution of inhabitants

The main groups who evolved from the original inhabitants, the Balangoda man, are understood to be the Yakkha, Naga, Raksha and Deva groups (collectively referred to as the Hela group) and the Vedda group. The distinction between these groups is generally seen as socio-economic rather than biological:

• The Hela (Yakkha/Naga/Raksha/Dewa):These were the descendants who transitioned into settled life. Professor Somadeva’s findings at sites like Ranchamadama show they developed a “Mountain (Hela) Civilization” with advanced iron-smelting, proto-writing, and complex burial rituals by the 1st millennium BCE.
• The Vedda: These were the descendants who chose to remain in the forests, preserving the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of their Balangoda Man ancestors well into the historical period. 

There is actual archaeological evidence in the form of early Brahmi inscriptions (c. 3rd century BCE to 1st century CE) where individuals identify themselves using these names. For example, inscriptions mention donors named “Naga” and “Deva”.Geographic Names: Ancient names for regions, such as Nagadeepa (the Jaffna peninsula), have been used for nearly 2,000 years, suggesting a long-standing association between certain regions and these tribal identities. From a scientific standpoint, archaeologists generally view these names not as different “species” or biologically distinct races, but as socio-political or totemic tribes:

• Naga: Likely a maritime and mercantile group that used the cobra as a symbol. Archaeological findings like “Naga stones” (cobra-guarded stones) near ancient reservoirs and ports support the idea of a group that held specific cultural and engineering roles. The Naga community habitation had been mainly the coastal areas of the Northwest of the country and closest in proximity to Southern India.
• Yakka: Often associated with iron-smelting and mountain-dwelling. Archaeological evidence of advanced iron-smelting in areas like the Uva province (dating back to 2400 BCE) is sometimes linked to the “Yakka”.
• Raksha and Deva: These are less clearly defined in the physical record. “Raksha” is often a pejorative term used by later chroniclers for forest-dwellers, while “Deva” may have referred to a clan that eventually took on administrative or “god-like” status in folklore. 

Connection between Balangoda Man and the Four Tribes

Archaeologists see a cultural and biological continuum rather than a clean “break” between these groups: 

• The Evolutionary Link: The “Balangoda Man” represents the Mesolithic hunter-gatherer foundation (starting ~48,000 years ago). Over millennia, these populations transitioned into the Early Iron Age (c. 1000–800 BCE).
• Transformation: The tribes known as Yakka and Naga are essentially the Iron Age descendants of the Balangoda Man. As the island’s original inhabitants adopted farming, metalworking, and seafaring, they likely organised into the tribal structures described in the chronicles.
• The Vedda Position: The Vedda are those who maintained the original Balangoda hunter-gatherer lifestyle into modern times, whereas the Yakka and Naga groups were those who modernised and eventually assimilated into the broader Sinhalese and Tamil populations

The Deva (or Dewa) group was one of the four main indigenous clans of ancient Sri Lanka, alongside the Yakkha, Naga, and Raksha. Collectively, these four are often referred to in modern Hela tradition as the Siew Hela (Four Helas). After the arrival of Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE, the distinct tribal identities of the Deva, Yakkha, Naga, and Raksha began to fade. They were largely absorbed into the broader Sihala and later Sinhala identity. The Adivasi (Vedda) people are the indigenous, forest-dwelling, first inhabitants of Sri Lanka, known traditionally as hunters-gatherers with a history extending back to the prehistoric era, long before the 6th-century BCE arrival of the Indo-Aryans. They are closely linked to the island’s earliest human residents, sharing genetic ties with indigenous groups in southern India and Southeast Asia. Today, they are concentrated in regions like Dambana and are navigating the transition from a traditional forest lifestyle to modern society. 

Origin of the Sinhalese – A traditional point of view

Sihala (also spelled Sīhaḷa) is actually the original Pali and Prakrit name for the same community and island. While “Sinhala” is the modern Sanskritized form commonly used today, “Sihala” is the term found in ancient religious and historical texts. Professor Rajasoma, a well-known Sri Lankan Archaeologist whose work has fundamentally challenged the traditional timelines of Sri Lankan history, suggests that an advanced, indigenous civilization existed on the island long before the arrival of Prince Vijaya (c. 543 BCE). He mentions the “Hela” Theory – Often called the Siv-Hela (Four Helas), which suggests that before Prince Vijaya arrived, the island was home to four tribes—the Yaksha, Raksha, Naga, and Deva.

According to this view, these groups merged to form the Hela (later Sihala) people, long before North Indian influence became dominant. Professor Somadeva argues that the Yakkha, Naga, Deva, and Raksha clans mentioned in the Mahavamsa chronicles were not mythical beings, but actual indigenous human communities. 

He suggests the name “Sihala” (or Hela) evolved from these indigenous groups merging together. He discovered a cave inscription in Tamketiya containing the word “Yagasha“ (belonging to Yakshas), which he uses to link historical chronicles with archaeological reality. 

Impact on History

His work shifts the “Sihala” origin story from a 2,500-year-old immigrant tale to a 4,000-to-6,000-year-old indigenous evolution. He focuses on the “cognitive advances” of these early people, showing they were a resilient, trading society with their own technological and religious practices before any external arrival. Archaeological evidence suggests that a significant prehistoric and proto-historic civilisation inhabited the Knuckles Mountain Range (historically known as Malaya Rata or Giri Divaina). Recent research, including surveys and excavations, supports the presence of an advanced community in this region long before the traditional historic period. Local residents have traditionally and historically called this area Dumbara Kanduvetiya (“Mist-laden Mountain Range”), while ancient texts refer to it as a stronghold for indigenous tribes. The modern name “Knuckles” was actually assigned much later by British surveyors who thought the peaks looked like a clenched fist. The area surrounding the Knuckles Mountain Range is indeed home to what researchers like Professor Raj Somadeva identify as a “Sihala” or Hela civilization dating back several millennia. His research posits that the Knuckles was a major hub for an advanced, mountain-dwelling civilization that existed long before the traditional dates of recorded history.

The Naga people and theories on ethnic roots

Dravidian Links: Some historians, such as H. Parker, suggest the Nagas were an offshoot of the Nayars of Kerala, sharing a common culture of serpent worship. Other researchers argue that the Nagas were a Tamil-speaking tribe that eventually assimilated into the broader population in the north and other parts of the island. The archaeological records in Northern Sri Lanka provides concrete evidence of the Naga people’s existence and their deep cultural ties to South India. These sites reveal a society that was not isolated but acted as a bridge for trade and religious exchange between the island and the mainland. Amongst these are, Kandarodai (Kadiramalai) located inland from Jaffna, this site was likely the ancient capital of Naka-Nadu. Excavations have revealed a cluster of small stupas and Black and Red Ware pottery, a hallmark of the South Indian megalithic culture. Roman and Chinese coins found here confirm its role as a major mercantile hub, Anaikoddai, a megalithic burial site in Jaffna where the famous Anaikoddai Seal was discovered in 1981. This 3rd-century BCE soapstone seal features a bilingual inscription with megalithic graffiti and Tamil-Brahmi script reading “Ko Veta” (King Veta). This find is critical as it provides firm proof of local chieftaincy and literacy during the Naga period, Nainativu (Nagadeepa), an island off the Jaffna peninsula mentioned in both the Mahavamsa and the Tamil epic Manimekalai. It is home to the Nagadeepa Vihara, marking where Buddha reportedly settled a dispute between Naga kings Chulodara and Mahodara. Artifacts like the Naga guard stones and idols found here showcase the fusion of serpent worship and Buddhism. It is very plausible that the Naga community and their descendants were the forebearers of the ethnic group that evolved as the Tamils of Sri Lanka.

Sinhala and Tamil genetic links

Recent genetic and archaeological studies have clarified the complex origins of Sri Lanka’s ethnic groups, confirming that the Sinhalese and Tamils are more genetically similar to each other than to any other South Asian population. Professor Raj Somadeva has co-authored and contributed to research that highlights these shared roots through several key lenses. Both groups share a significant common genetic foundation that differs from both North and South Indian populations, suggesting a unique Sri Lankan genetic identity developed over millennia of isolation and interaction on the island. 

Conclusion

The research information that is available on the origin and evolution of inhabitants of the island is extensive and cannot be covered in one article. There is clear evidence that the island was inhabited by civilised community groups for thousands of years, beginning with the scientifically established Balangoda man phase of history. From a contemporary point of view, the ethnic and religious divides that occurred are historically very recent, and from an ancient historical point of view, unfortunate and unnecessary. It is clear from an archaeological and scientific point of view that the island’s inhabitants had one primary lineage, the Balangoda man, while descendent community group mixing obviously occurred from within and from outside over time. In this respect, the genetic studies that have confirmed that the Sinhalese and Tamils are more genetically similar to each other than to any other South Asian population is an interesting unifying factor that could guide the future of the country.

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir

Trump’s threats and maximalist demands ignore Iran’s history, security fears, and distrust of Washington. A durable agreement requires time, restraint, and professional diplomacy—not bombast, coercion, and calls for unconditional surrender that guarantee only resistance

Trump, Iran, And The Folly Of Demanding Surrender

Iran is not a transient power that can be coerced into submission; it is a civilization with over 2,500 years of continuous history, shaped by a deep sense of identity, resilience, and pride. From the philosophical legacy of Avicenna to the poetic brilliance of Hafez and the scientific contributions of Al-Khwarizmi, Iran’s imprint on global civilization is profound. Coupled with vast human and natural resources and a commanding geostrategic position, this history informs a national mindset that equates capitulation with existential defeat. To demand unconditional surrender,” as Trump has, is not only diplomatically reckless but culturally tone-deaf—such a demand is inherently unacceptable to Iran and ensures resistance, rather than compliance.

This is not to suggest that the Islamic-led government is benevolent and deserves every consideration. The government has committed egregious human rights violations, systematically repressing its population. It has killed thousands during recent protests, carried out widespread arbitrary arrests, and imposed severe restrictions on women’s rights. Political dissent is routinely crushed through imprisonment, torture, and executions, reflecting a pattern of state-sanctioned brutality that continues unabated.

Negotiation Requires Mutual Understanding Nevertheless, effective negotiation does not require agreement with the other side’s behavior, ideology, or political posture, but it does require genuine effort, even by adversaries, to understand that their positions have been heard and seriously considered. When a counterpart senses dismissal or indifference, they become far less inclined to engage, let alone compromise. Listening, therefore, is not a concession; it is a strategic necessity. By acknowledging the legitimacy of the other side’s interests—even while contesting them—a negotiator creates the minimal trust required for negotiations to make progress.

The Absence of Trust

Iran’s deep distrust of the United States—particularly under Trump—stems from a pattern of actions that have steadily eroded credibility. The withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, the assassination of General Soleimani in January 2020, and twice striking Iran even in the midst of negotiations in June 2025 and February 2026, have reinforced Tehran’s belief that Trump cannot be trusted. No party will negotiate seriously when it anticipates duplicity at critical junctures.

Moreover, Trump’s pattern of threatening to annihilate” Iran, to bomb it back to the stone age,” and his repeated threats to attack civilian infrastructure—electric grids, bridges—as leverage to reach a deal in a day or two is absurd given the complexity and the far-reaching implications of the negotiations. Such coercion only deepens mistrust, hardens resistance, and effectively forecloses any realistic prospect of reaching a durable agreement.

Trump’s rhetoric does not project strength; it signals recklessness and contempt, confirming to Iran’s leadership that the US is willing to inflict indiscriminate harm. This reflects a fundamentally flawed approach to negotiation, as Iran sees little incentive to compromise with a counterpart it views as both hostile and untrustworthy, compounding its preexisting distrust.

Trust, however, cannot be demanded or negotiated; it must be carefully nurtured over time. For Iran to consider significant concessions, it must first feel secure. That requires credible assurances that the United States will refrain from military action and prevent Israeli strikes. Only within such a framework of guaranteed restraint can a fragile foundation of trust begin to emerge.

Iran’s National Security Concerns

Iran does not seek a usable nuclear arsenal so much as the capability to assemble one quickly, creating a powerful deterrent against adversaries. In Tehran’s strategic thinking, latent nuclear capability—rather than overt weaponization—offers insurance against regime-threatening attacks while avoiding the full international backlash that an open bomb program would trigger.

Iranian analysts also draw lessons from Ukraine, which surrendered the Soviet nuclear arsenal it inherited under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Russia likely would not have invaded had Ukraine retained its nuclear weapons. Iran likewise notes that Kim Jong Un’s growing arsenal has effectively shielded his regime from serious external threats or regime change efforts. India and Pakistan, after three major conventional wars, have since limited their confrontations to skirmishes under the shadow of mutual nuclear deterrence.

This experience reinforces Tehran’s belief that only a credible nuclear option, the clear ability to build one, can prevent similar aggression, and that relinquishing such deterrence would require far-reaching security guarantees that make Iran feel secure without the nuclear shadow.

Complex Negotiations Cannot be Rushed

Serious negotiations with Iran, involving layers of nuclear, regional, and security issues, cannot be rushed through in a matter of days or weeks. The JCPOA took nearly 2.5 years to finalize, precisely because of its complexity and the depth of mistrust on both sides. Any administration that genuinely seeks a durable, comprehensive agreement must accept that time is not a luxury but a prerequisite for success.

If Trump wants a credible accord, he must halt hostilities, maintain the ceasefire throughout the talks, and allow trust to grow incrementally as negotiations proceed. Trying to force a deal on a short schedule cannot be taken seriously in Tehran. An accord reached under duress and against the clock will lack both legitimacy and staying power, and will almost certainly collapse at the first crisis.

The concessions required of both the US and Iran are inherently difficult to negotiate and will take time, yet they are fundamental to any viable agreement. To reach a viable agreement, Iran and the US would need to take a series of concrete, verifiable steps that directly address the core security concerns of both sides.

Iran must immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial and military shipping and commit to sustained freedom of navigation. It must cease arming Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and allied militias in Iraq, and gradually scale back its offensive ballistic missile program under intrusive verification. Iran must also stop threatening Israel with genocidal rhetoric, which has been and continues to be the source of their intense hostility and one of the main sources of the region’s instability, and ship out or downgrade its 60 percent enriched uranium stockpile.

In return, the US must also remove its military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and extend the ceasefire without stipulating an expiration date. It must recognize Iran’s right to a civilian nuclear program under the strictest safeguards, to ensure there is no diversion to weaponization. Washington should begin releasing Iran’s frozen funds and gradually lift sanctions, in a carefully calibrated manner tied to verified compliance. The United States must also formally pledge non interference in Iran’s domestic politics, renouncing regime change operations and covert destabilization while reserving the right to speak out on human rights.

If both sides fully adhere to this process over time, they can move toward structured discussions on the gradual normalization of relations, including the restoration of diplomatic representation and expanded economic and cultural ties.

Despite Trump’s claim of victory, Iran emerged as the de facto winner in its confrontation with the US and Israel, both of which failed to achieve regime change or spark a popular uprising. Instead, Iran’s leadership is now younger and more resolute. The conflict exposed the limits of US and Israeli military power, while Iran demonstrated resilience and its ability to disrupt global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. In doing so, Tehran signaled that it is no longer a marginal actor, but a power to be reckoned with.

To curb Iran’s extremism, the US must abandon fantasies of regime change and recognize Tehran’s security concerns and legitimate interests. Coercion and demands for capitulation only harden resistance. Stability requires reciprocal concessions and sustained diplomacy. Anything less will deepen confrontation, reinforce Iran’s deterrence, and drive the region back to the brink.

____________

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations, most recently at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies.

ACN Newswire

– Attracting some 13,000 global buyers Industry expresses optimism regarding future sales prospects

HONG KONG, Apr 23, 2026 – (ACN Newswire) – The 3rd Smart Lighting Expo and the 17th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), successfully concluded today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The four-day fairs brought together some 900 exhibitors and attracted some 13,000 buyers from 114 countries and regions for on-site visits and sourcing. Buyer numbers recorded growth, including those from Asian markets such as Malaysia and the Philippines; European markets including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and Türkiye; and North and South American markets, including Brazil, Canada and the US, highlighting Hong Kong’s role as a key global hub for lighting products and technology exchange.

Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “This year’s two lighting fairs attracted industry-leading enterprises who showcased cutting-edge high-performance, smart lighting and sustainable products and solutions. The events also attracted quality buyers from global markets. This helps companies diversify supply chains, explore new markets, and underscores Hong Kong’s strength as an ‘International Exhibition Capital’ which boosts efficient business platforms. The fairs are the preferred platform for the industry to showcase innovation, connect with global buyer networks and accelerate business development.”

Survey findings: Respondents were most optimistic about the India and Australia markets

To keep abreast of the latest industry developments, the HKTDC conducted an on-site survey during the fairs, interviewing 450 exhibitors and buyers. The findings show that overall confidence among exhibitors and buyers in future business development has shown a general increase.

Key market outlook and product trend findings:

49.1% of respondents expect overall sales to increase in the next 12 to 24 months, while 47.6% expect sales to remain stable.Respondents consider India (73.4%), Australia (71%), ASEAN countries (70.4%), and Japan (68.1%) to be promising or very promising target sales markets for lighting products over the next two years in terms of growth.In terms of new market development, exhibitor respondents are actively exploring Middle East (31.8%), Europe (29.5%), ASEAN countries (23.9%), Latin America (17.6%) and North America (14.8%).In the smart lighting segment, respondents identified home automation and intelligent lighting control systems (48.2%), energy saving lighting control solutions (38.2%), and outdoor smart security lighting systems (31.1%) as having the greatest growth potential over the next two years.Compared with conventional lighting products, respondents indicated that consumers are willing to pay an average premium of 29% for lighting products equipped with smart functions.

Scenario-based displays and new zones enhance sourcing effectiveness, with positive trade outcomes

The newly launched Light Lab” features various scenario-based and immersive designs, integrating lighting products into landscape, sports, cultural and artistic application settings. Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering showcased plant clamp lights and compact downlights suitable for museum applications. Guoli Zhu, Deputy Chief Engineer of the company said: The Light Lab has effectively enhanced the presentation of our products, enabling buyers to more intuitively and swiftly grasp product features and their real-world application scenarios. This has successfully attracted buyers from Argentina, Canada, Germany, India, Japan and the US to visit our booth for in-depth discussions. We expect this to result in orders worth over US$1 million.”

The Smart Lighting Expo also debuted the Smart Display and Stage Lighting & Sound Zone” which displayed a wide range of intelligent display solutions. Industry leader Absen participated in the fair for the first time. Benjamin Tang, Senior Sales Engineer, said: The new zone has effectively enhanced product visibility, attracting buyers from Eastern Europe, Oceania, North America, South America, and South Asia to our booth. These inquiries came from new clients across key sectors such as cultural tourism and stage engineering. We have also successfully engaged in several promising collaboration discussions with potential clients from the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong and Thailand, further strengthening the company’s market expansion plan. We estimate the value of orders from the expo will amount to US$930,000. Riding on this momentum, we have decided to join the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) this year.”

The newly launched Leisure Lighting Zone” has injected new momentum into the Spring Lighting Fair. Rebecca Seo, CFO of NIZ, a first-time exhibitor from Korea, said: The fair has provided us with an excellent platform to connect with international buyers. We have successfully connected with buyers from Denmark, Germany, Japan, and the US, and a well-known Japanese homeware retailer has already placed an on-site order. Thanks to the strong traffic generated by the new zone, we expect the fair to bring up to US$70 million in orders for our company this year.”

Supported by Zhongshan as the Special Partner City, the fairs featured the Zhongshan Guzhen Pavilion and Zhongshan Henglan Pavilion under the Zhongshan Smart Home Zone, presenting the manufacturing strength and competitiveness of the region’s lighting industry while supporting enterprises in going global”. Merry Liu, Manager of Bairan Lighting, an industrial enterprise above designated size in Henglan, Zhongshan, said: The two lighting fairs provide Zhongshan enterprises with an efficient ‘go-global’ gateway, enabling us to connect directly with buyers from Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Southeast Asia. This helps drive our products and brand onto the international stage. We expect to achieve US$2 million in sales.”

During the fair, the HKTDC organised a buying mission to Zhongshan for the first time, visiting several lighting factories and participating in business matching meetings. This initiative aimed to deepen exchange and cooperation within the Zhongshan lighting supply chain. The visit successfully facilitated several substantive business collaborations; New Zealand buyer Spark100 Ltd established a connection with a Zhongshan lighting supplier, with a potential order value estimated between US$100,000 and US$300,000.

This year’s exhibition also attracted buyers from the Middle East. Patrick Zhang, VP of sales of Tecnon Lighting Technology from the Shenzhen Pavilion, stated: At this year’s fair, a buyer from the United Arab Emirates and a US buyer from a leading women’s fashion brand are likely to become our cooperation partners. We expect to generate US$2 million in sales turnover for our company.”

As construction projects in the ASEAN region accelerate, market demand for smart lighting solutions continues to expand. Sambath HK, Manager of RS Decoration from Cambodia, stated, I travelled here specifically to source lighting products for 14 new commercial building and luxury residential projects. I have already met with over 20 new suppliers and identified two potential partners offering smart street lights, solar lights, and decorative lighting products. I will initially purchase US$100,000 worth of smart street lights.”

Driven by the Belt and Road Initiative, urban development in participating countries and regions are in full swing, fuelling a continuous surge in demand for high-efficiency and smart lighting products. Aigerim Beisekina, Supply Manager of Karelz.kz from Kazakhstan, said: This is our first time visiting the twin lighting fairs, to find reliable suppliers for a solar-powered stadium and sports lighting for three international schools currently under construction in Kazakhstan. Through the Click2Match business matching platform, we have identified three potential suppliers from the Chinese Mainland and plan to purchase lighting equipment valued between US$600,000 and US$900,000.”

During the fairs, multiple professional events were held, including the Asian Lighting Conference and the Smart Lighting Solutions Forum. Designers and industry representatives from different regions shared market trends, application cases and technological developments, providing forward-looking market insight for the industry.

EXHIBITION+ model sustains post-fair business opportunities

Under the hybrid EXHIBITION+ model, the twin lighting fairs combined in-person sourcing with online meetings via the HKTDC’s Click2Match smart business-matching platform and hktdc.com sourcing platform. Click2Match will be available until 30 April to facilitate discussions between exhibitors and buyers around the world.

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

What are the lessons we can learn in Sri Lanka now run by a extreme ex communist party 

It’s tempting to think the secret” is simply one-party rule, but that’s not what made China and Vietnam grow so fast. Many countries have had centralized political systems without achieving anything close to their economic transformation. The real lessons are more practical—and frankly, less ideological.

1. Ideology was bent to suit reality

Both China (since Deng Xiaoping’s reforms) and Vietnam (through Đổi Mới) quietly abandoned rigid state control of the economy while keeping political control intact.

They allowed:

• Private enterprise
• Foreign investment
• Export-driven manufacturing

Lesson for Sri Lanka: Economic pragmatism must override political dogma. Whether a party is left” or right” matters less than whether it allows business to function efficiently.

2. Strong state, but not suffocating state

China and Vietnam didn’t disappear from the economy—they guided it strategically:

• Built infrastructure ahead of demand
• Directed credit to priority sectors
• Created export zones with fewer restrictions

But they did not micromanage every enterprise.

Lesson: Sri Lanka doesn’t need a weak state—it needs a competent, disciplined state that sets direction but doesn’t choke private initiative.

3. Ruthless focus on production, not consumption

Both countries emphasized:

• Manufacturing
• Exports
• Industrial zones and promoting FDI

They avoided the trap Sri Lanka often falls into: over-reliance on imports, services, and consumption-led growth.

Lesson: Without a strong production base (industry, logistics, energy), growth will always be fragile.

4. Policy consistency over decades

China and Vietnam maintained long-term economic direction regardless of internal political shifts.

Sri Lanka, by contrast, frequently changes:

• Tax regimes
• Investment rules
• Trade policies

Lesson: Investors value predictability more than incentives. Stability is more powerful than slogans.

5. Meritocratic (though not perfect) administration

Both systems promoted technocrats who could deliver results—especially in economic zones and infrastructure.

Lesson: Party  loyalty alone cannot run an economy. Sri Lanka must:

• Strengthen institutions
• Appoint competent professionals
• Reduce politicization of state enterprises

6. Openness to global capital—on their own terms

China and Vietnam invited foreign investors but:

• Negotiated hard
• Forced technology transfer
• Linked FDI to exports

Lesson: Sri Lanka often swings between over-dependence and over-suspicion. A balanced approach is needed—strategic openness with clear national benefit.

7. Discipline and accountability

This is uncomfortable but important:

• Corruption exists in both countries
• But large-scale economic sabotage is punished swiftly

Lesson: Enforcement matters. Rules without consequences are meaningless.

Where the comparison can mislead

Sri Lanka is not China or Vietnam:

• Smaller market
• Democratic system
• Different geopolitical position
• Higher social expectations

Trying to copy their political model would likely backfire. But adapting their economic discipline is entirely possible.

About extreme ex-communist” governance in Sri Lanka

If a government comes from a leftist background, the real test is this:

Can it transition from ideological purity to economic delivery?

China and Vietnam succeeded because they abandoned economic rigidity, not because they enforced it.

If Sri Lanka goes the opposite way—more control, more suspicion of private capital, more policy unpredictability—it will stall regardless of ideology.

Bottom line

The lesson is not:

One-party rule creates growth.”

The real lesson is:

Consistent, pragmatic, production-focused economic management—backed by a capable state—creates growth.

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel, Solicitor in England and Wales, former Chairman Consumer Affairs Authority Former Ambassador UAE and Israel and President Ambassador’s Forum.

WORLD CONSUMER DAY

World consumer day falls on 15^th March every year celebrated by the Consumer International the main body for consumer – and others world over as the Consumers Day world over in order to show strength and be with citizens to air the needs and grievances of the consumer in a friendly atmosphere supposed to include all citizens as any average citizen is a consumer at any stage of the life from birth to death. For example, when a child is born parents become consumers in purchasing consumer items for the child and the process goes till his death and maturity and it is a need of every citizen to be a consumer at every moment of life circle. Consumer is defined in various ways simply professionally and academically as it is an important word and subject to the citizen during the complicated life circle. The main legal instrument in Sri Lanka (in addition to the civil and other laws connected to consumerism) is the Consumers Affairs Authority act no 9 of 2003 defines Consumer as S 75 as any actual or potential user of any goods or services made available for a consideration of trader or manufacture for the purpose of legislation when Oxford Dictionary defines consumer as a person who buys or uses goods or services. In academic and professional caraculs, it is defended in advanced forms but the consumer he needs quality consumer items at an affordable price maintaining good standards. Every citizen is a consumer and it is this group that needs redress and satisfaction that is in the hands of the trader and manufacture whose prime motive is profit making when the differences emerge among trader, consumer, manufacturer and the regulator-that is the government. The issues and challenges are common in any jurisdiction and this concept known as consumerism is universal issue common of developed mankind. It  is the day of the consumer who is mighty powerful yet unaware of his power and strength as John Kennady stated in 1960 that consumer is the most aggrieved part of the society neglected and not organized. It is he organized the consumer movement and consumer International that led to initiate the world consumer day celebrated worldwide today.

Historical significance

Consumerism as a concept goes back to long historical legacies especially in UK and west when the trade and commerce is in hay days with naval powers and world trade with colonies, trade law developed in the west with writers and great thinkers who mastered the principals and concepts  of consumerism that gave foundation to the modern trade and commercial law with series of case law in England that spread to the commonwealth and the west. Today EU, USA, and UK lead the operation of the legal process followed by west and commonwealth of Nations. EU directions are effective and covers UK and EU nations.

Is the consumer powerful or has been given the due place in the society?

They say consumer is a king as he can kneel down the trader and the public when organized. Unfortunately, the consumer was not organized and lived under the iron shoes of the trader and industrialist until recently when some concerned activists and leaders gave leadership to consumer as an aggrieved group needing assistance. It is President who stated in 1960, that consumer is a group not organized and weak left unnoticed as an aggrieved section of the society that needs to be promoted and helped formation of the consumer international an the world consumer day celebrated world over organizing and promoting advanced consumer regimes selecting different hems that needs promotions such as junk food defective consumer items that let the UN guidelines for consumerism to be implemented. In the west the consumer movement is powerful with media support and with the network of consumer organizations. The situation in Sri Lanka and less developed countries is underdeveloped due to the powerful trader and manufacturer who are financially and socially powerful. In UK when powerful Coco Kola used water from river Thames it is media who came forward with the consumer to kneel down the company to use purified water, though still cola has continued to be unhealthy yet flourish world over with the power of media money and strength. Consumer International that promotes world consumer day is an voluntary international organization assisting thr consumer to organize themselves and taking the side of the consumer for their rights for consumer items of quality for a reasonable prize. In Sri Lanka the consumer is suppressed neglected and cheated by the errant trader and it is time the governance intervenes and the consumer organized. CAA is expected to assist promote and set up consumer organizations but there are few or no consumer organizations in Sri Lanka and the governance, and public is equally blamed for not asserting their own rights misused and exploited by trader and those in power. In the United Kingdom the consumer is adequately protected by law and organizations whilst the trader is rich protected and organized therebetween is balance of power struggle.

Theme of the year 2026

Product Safety and satisfied consumer is the theme of this year, when many countries all over the world uses this date to organize the consumer to improve the quality of life and fight against exploration by the trader and allies. It is noted that on 15^th March 2016 a seminar is scheduled at the organization of professionals association with inauguration of a consumers text book with 1000 pages to the nation with a detailed information to be used by the public, student and professional in  a country consumerism is less developed with a weak and inactive regulator CAA which needs changes as no changes or improvements have not taken since the introduction in year 2003 despite drastic  changes on consumerism in the door steps of the Artificial Interglacial era.

Celebrated in Sri Lanka on 15^th of march at organization of professionals at Stanly Wijesundara Road Colombo organized by the Ambassador’s forum UK with the initial introduction and welcome speech by Mr Daminda Gunatilaka –  a Senior Solicitor and General Secretary of the forum. Agenda includes formation of the federation of professional organizations in Sri Lanka UK an Europe, appointment of consumer Ombudsman, formation of Lanka Consumer Organization, with speeches and presentations from Professor Prathiba Mahanamahewage, Dr Dayanath Prof Dushan Jayawickarama of Jayawardenspura University Jayasuriya Chairman CAA and many others. Theme and main speech will be delivered by Sarath Wijesinghe PC President Ambassadors forum and the event will be conducted by Mr Olitha Gunaratna and assistance on  refreshment will be borne by Jeff Gunawardena of Tilanka and media invitations and expenses will be borne by Buddhika and Hiran of Surado and reliance international.

Consumer transections

Any consumer transection is not simple. Consumer buying a loaf of bread from the corner shop comes under bread ordinance, Consumer regulation, price regulation and the local authority regulations. This applies to any compleacated transection on e- commerce and international platforms in our country today with 110% penetration of mobile phones and IT with educated society with modern knowledge on the finger tips, credit to our consumers.

Why WCD What are they going to achieve

It is an exercise to educate and organize consumer is a cordial and friendly atmosphere with no confrontation. May mini or major wars static shortages prices and the lust of the citizen that can be resolved on discussion and separating the rights and duties of parties concerned. It is the duty of the citizen to understand the realities in life and co-exist with the trader, regulate and other parties in q a cordial atmosphere for o existence with no major rivalries.

Steps taken by the ambassador’s forum is numerous. Main assignment is the setting of a consumer Ombudsman in line with the financial. Insurance and administrative ombudsman already function in Sri Lanka serving the citizen in various means in public life economy consumerism and the development of the nation. The other area is the formation of consumer organization which is the backbone of consumerism in any country. The function at OPA was well attended and public is in invited to take part at the Ombudsman group which is open to the public to take part at the consumer activism for your benefit and the benefit of the rest of the citizens who are still not organized to look after themselves through organized network of consumer organizations and it is a sorry affair the main resulted the Consumer affairs Authority is not active cooperative or innovative to meet the needs of the consumer – the citizen most powerful group not organized and totterer for the good and benefit of the rest of the citizens..

 Sarath Wijesinghe PC Solicitor in England and Wales wijesinghe sarath05@gmail.com

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

1. Don’t abandon banks—but be selective

Licensed commercial banks supervised by theCentral Bank of Sri Lanka are  still far safer than most finance companies.

That said, don’t treat all banks as equal:

• Prefer systemically important banks (large balance sheets, strong capital)
• Look at published financials (capital adequacy, NPL ratios)
• Avoid chasing unusually high deposit rates—it’s often a red flagged
• Spread your risk (this is the single most important step)

Instead of asking which institution is safest,” assume none are risk-free.

• Split deposits across 2–3 strong banks
• Keep each deposit within the insured limit underSri Lanka Deposit Insurance and Liquidity Support Scheme
• (currently LKR 1.1 million per depositor per institution)

This way, even if one fails, you’re not wiped out.

Be cautious with finance companies—don’t treat them like banks

Licensed finance companies are regulated, but:

• They take higher risks
• Governance has historically been weaker

If you must invest:

• Stick only to CBSL-licensed finance companies
• Limit exposure to a small percentage of your portfolio
• Avoid long lock-in periods

Consider government securities

For capital safety:

• Treasury bills and bonds issued by the Government of Sri Lanka are still considered low risk locally
• These can be accessed through banks or primary dealers

Returns may be lower—but stability matters more at your stage.

 On digitisation—your point is valid, but incomplete

You’re correct: real-time monitoring and red-flag systems should catch fraud early.

But the reality:

• Systems exist, but human override, collusion, or weak governance can bypass them
• Digitisation doesn’t replace accountability and enforcement

The real failure is not just technology—it’s lack of consequences at senior levels

A practical allocation strategy (simple and conservative)

Given your concerns and experience:

• 50–60% → Strong licensed banks (spread across 2–3)
• 20–30% → Government securities
• 10–20% → Liquid cash / savings Gold coins 
• Minimal or zero → finance companies unless carefully selected

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Please find response from EX Indian CEO of Lanka IOC  Indian oil company in Trinco 

Quote 

Beautifully articulated. Temples and schools are important but less capital intensive and hence easier to manage. For major investment like developing Trincomalee and to have India involved in it, Govt to Govt push is a must . Srilanka should strongly pitch. I would personally think that the experts in Sri lanka themselves or with the external consultants should prepare a master plan of developing the Trincomalee and start implementing in phases. I am sure there will be large number of investors, as you also have stated, will be available In order to attract more investors, it is neccessary that the the investors are assured of viability and guarantee of the return of their investment. SriLanka need to work on how to make it happen. India being a neighbour, its involvement is very essential but certainly a country cannot keep waiting for something to happen particularly in the area of energy and energy security. I recall, India in early 1960’s built its first refinery with the technology from the then USSR and all material supplied by them and paid by India in INR.Such an approcah is good but today we have many investors around the world including India and that need to be explored.

Unquote 

My article

By Dr. Sarath Obeysekera

Sri Lanka is no stranger to financial scandals. But what is truly alarming is not the scandals themselves—it is the complete absence of accountability at the highest level.

From the infamous Central Bank bond scandal to the quiet collapse of finance companies and the near-fatal instability of licensed institutions, one question refuses to go away:

Who regulates the regulator?

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka sits at the apex of financial authority in this country. It is the guardian of monetary stability, the watchdog of banks, and the supposed early warning system against financial disaster. Yet, time and again, crises erupt under its watch—only to be followed by silence, deflection, and selective accountability.

When finance companies collapsed, thousands of ordinary Sri Lankans lost their life savings. The powerful walked away. Some fled the country. Others quietly disappeared into the shadows of legal complexity.

When irregularities surfaced in the banking system, they were not discovered early—they were exposed late, often when the damage was already irreversible.

This is not mere oversight. This is systemic negligence—or worse, systemic complicity.

We are told that digitization” will solve these problems. That technology will bring transparency. That modern systems will detect irregularities in real time.

But let us ask a brutally honest question:

What is the use of digital systems if those in charge choose not to act?

A corrupt system does not become clean because it is computerized. It becomes faster, more sophisticated, and harder to detect.

Meanwhile, whispers grow louder about unregulated financial flows, including exposure to cryptocurrency channels that operate beyond the traditional regulatory net. Are these being monitored? Or are we once again waiting for a crisis before reacting?

Sri Lanka cannot afford another financial disaster.

There is a dangerous culture in this country:
Punish the small man. Protect the powerful. Move on.

This must end.

In some parts of the world, including places like Russia, there is a ruthless—if controversial—approach: when corruption is uncovered, the entire chain of command is investigated without fear or favour. While such extreme measures may not suit a democratic society, the underlying principle is worth noting:

Accountability must travel upward—not downward.

If a financial institution fails, it is not just the clerk or the manager who should answer.
It is the board.
It is the regulators.
And ultimately—it is the Central Bank.

Sri Lanka needs:

• Independent forensic audits of all major financial failures
• Public disclosure of findings—not buried reports
• Personal liability for decision-makers who fail in their duty
• A Central Bank that is not only independent—but also answerable

Sacking a few officials is not reform.
Replacing one chairman with another is not transformation.

What we need is a complete reset of accountability.

If the Central Bank cannot prevent financial misconduct, cannot detect risk in time, and cannot act decisively—then it must answer to the people of this country.

Not with statements.
Not with committees.
But with consequences.

Because if the guardian itself is compromised,
then the entire financial system stands exposed.

And the next collapse will not be a surprise—
it will be a certainty.

Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, April 23 (Daily Mirror) – The people of Sri Lanka will lose trust on banks as a result of the hacking of the USD 2.5 million government funds, the Joint Opposition said today.

Former Minister Professor G.L. Peiris told a media conference that the last thing which Sri Lanka wants is the people losing their trust on banks in the wake of hacking.

Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said the Sri Lankan government now faces a challenge to keep favorable credit ratings as a result of the hacking.

Courtesy Adaderana

The President of the Free Lawyers Organisation, President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, has claimed that both the President and the Secretary to the Finance Ministry should be held responsible over the disappearance of a USD 2.5 million payment owed to Australia.

He further alleged that the incident would not have come to light if not for the intervention of his organisation, accusing the government of continuing to cover it up.

Addressing the media yesterday (22), the former MP had revealed that the USD 2.5 million, paid by the Treasury as part of a debt settlement linked to a USD 22.9 million loan, had not reached the intended recipient and had instead ended up with cybercriminals or a third party.

Gunaratne stated that both the President and the Finance Secretary should be held accountable, calling for their resignation and dismissal. 

He also questioned whether an impartial investigation could be conducted while the current Finance Secretary remains in office.

President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne further added:

Following this theft, the Treasury Secretary must first be held accountable, and the President must be held equally responsible. He cannot be exempted from this responsibility.

Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma has worked in Australia for many years, which raises suspicions as to whether he may be connected to this incident. When such concerns arise, it is questionable whether a fair investigation can be conducted while he continues to serve in that position. What justice is there in such a situation?

Therefore, I call on the President to resign, and the Secretary must also be removed from his post. This investigation cannot be carried out properly without his dismissal.

A committee has already been appointed by the Ministry of Finance to investigate the matter, and they have acknowledged that the money was diverted to Australia. Incidents of this nature cannot be allowed to be forgotten.

This government has deceived the people of the country. It has been nearly three months since the incident occurred, and it only came to light after our organisation exposed it. Otherwise, this would not have been revealed to the public.

The government was prepared to conceal the matter entirely. Look at how this government is trying to deceive the people of the country. We must emphasize that there has been clear negligence on the part of the officials involved.”

The group has reportedly submitted a written request to Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, seeking a formal parliamentary investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance stated that it has already lodged complaints with law enforcement and other relevant institutions regarding the alleged cyber-attack.

The Ministry added that a preliminary internal investigation has been conducted, necessary actions have been taken, and disciplinary measures have been initiated against several officials connected to the incident.

ජනාධිපති නීතිඥ මෛත්‍රී ගුණරත්න සභාපති / ‍ෆී ලෝයර්ස් සංවිධානය ‍

2026 අප්‍රේල් 22

ගරු කතානානයකතුමා,

ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාර්ලිමේන්තුව,

ශ්‍රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ,

කෝට්ටේ.

ගරු කතානායකතුමනි,

මහා භාණ්ඩාගාරයේ ඩොලර් මිලියන 2.5 ක මුදල් පරිගණක හැකර් කෙනෙකු අතට පත් වී තිබේදැයි පාර්ලිමේන්තුව හරහා විමර්ශනයක් සිදු කරන ලෙස ඉල්ලීමයි.  

ශ්‍රී ලංකා රජය 2025 සැප්තෑම්බර් මස අග වන විට  ඩොලර් මිලියන 22.9 ක ණය මුදලක් ගෙවීමට තිබු රටකට, ණය පියවීමක් ලෙස ඉන් කොටසක් එනම්, ඩොලර් මිලියන 2.5 ක මුදලක්, මහා භාණ්ඩාගාරය විසින් 2005 දෙසැම්බර් සිට 2026 ජනවාරි 31 දක්වා කාලය තුල විසින් පියවා ඇත. එම මුදල් අදාළ ණයකරු (රට) වෙත නොව, පරිගණක හැකර් කෙනෙකු (හෝ තුන්වන පාර්ශවයකට) වෙත හෝ යොමු කර ඇති බව දැනගන්නට ඇත.  

දැන්, මෙම සිද්ධිය සම්බන්ධයෙන් විමර්ශනය කිරීම සඳහා ‘තාක්ෂණික විමර්ශන කමිටුවක්’ 2026.03.24 ක්  හෝ ඒ ආසන්නයේ පත් කර ඇත.  මේ වන විටත් සිද්ධිය සම්බන්ධයෙන් භාණ්ඩාගාර නියෝජ්‍ය අධ්‍යක්ෂවරුන් දෙදෙනෙකු,  අධ්‍යක්ෂකවරුන් දෙදෙනෙකු හා පරිගණක අංශයේ ප්‍රධානියෙකු ගේ වැඩ තහනම් කර ඇත.  

ඔබතුමන් දන්නා පරිදි, මෑතක් වන තුරුම විදේශ ණය, ‍වාරික සහ පොලිය නැවත ගෙවීම් කටයුතු  සිදු කරනු ලැබූයේ ශ්‍රී ලංකා මහ බැංකුව විසිනි.  නව මුදල් පනත සම්මත වීමෙන් පසුව එම වගකීම විදේශ සම්පත් දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව හා රාජ්‍ය ණය කළමනාකරණ කාර්යාලය වෙත පැවරුණි. ඒ අනුව මෙම ගෙවීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් ලේඛන සකස් කර ඇත්තේ ද, ගෙවීම් සිදු කර ඇත්තේ එම ආයතන විසිනි.

ඩොලර් මිලියන 2.5 ක ගෙවීම් සිදු කිරීමට නියෝජ්‍ය භාණ්ඩගාර ලේකම්වරයෙකුට, ගණකාධිකාරිවරියට හා පරිගණ අං‍‍ශයේ නිලධාරියෙකුට පමණක් හැකියාව නැත. ඒ සඳහා අනිවාර්යයෙන්ම නියෝජ්‍ය භාණ්ඩාගාර ලේකම් (DST) සහ භාණ්ඩාගාර ලේකම්වරයා ද සම්බන්ධ විය යුතුය.

රාජ්‍ය මුල්‍ය සම්බන්ධයෙන් අවසන් වගකීම පැවරෙන්නේ පාර්ලිමේන්තුව වෙත ය.  දැනට මෙම විමර්ශනය සිදු කරමින් ඇත්තේ ණය ගෙවීම පිළිබඳ අවසන් වගකීම දරණ අතිරේක භාණ්ඩාගාර ලේකම්වරයෙකු යටතේය. ඔහු මෙම විමර්ශනය කරන අතරම තවදුරටත් අදාල දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවේ මෙහෙයුම් කටයුතු මෙහෙයවයි.   

මහා භාණ්ඩාගාරය සම්බන්ධයෙන් වන වගකීම දරණ මුදල් අමාත්‍යාංශයේ ලේකම්වරයා මහා භාණ්ඩාගාරයේ ලේකම්වරයා ද වන බැවින් මේ පිළිබඳව වන විමර්ශනය මුදල් අමාත්‍යාංශ/භාණ්ඩාගාරයෙන් පරිබාහිර කණ්ඩායම් විසින් සිදු කළ යුතුව ඇති බව අපගේ විශ්වාසයයි.

එබැවින්, රාජ්‍ය මුල්‍ය වගකීම දරණ පාර්ලිමේන්තුව විසින් සුදුසු ක්‍රමවේදයක් හරහා මෙම සිද්ධිය පිළිබඳ පූර්ණ විමර්ශනයක් සිදු කිරීමට සුදුසු පියවර ගන්නා ලෙස ඉතා කාරුණිකව ඉල්ලා සිටිමි.

(ඇමුණුම – අත්සන සහිත පීඩීඑෆ් පිටපත අමුණා ඇත)

මෙයට විශ්වාසී,

ජනාධිපති නීතිඥ මෛත්‍රී ගුණරත්න

සභාපති / ‍ෆී ලෝයර්ස් සංවිධානය ‍

පිටපත්

1.      ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාර්ලිමේන්තුව නියෝජනය කරන සියළුම දේශපාලන පක්ෂ නායකවරුන්/මහලේකම්වරු

2.      පාර්ලිමේන්තු මුදල් කාරක සභාව

3.      විගණකාධිපති, ජාතික විගණන කොමිෂන් සභාව

4.    ගරු පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රී හර්ෂ ද සිල්වා – සභාපති, පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ රාජ්‍ය මුදල් පිළිබඳ කමිටුව

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

• Sunk Costs and Lost Vision: Rethinking Sri Lanka’s Megaproject Strategy”
• When Infrastructure Outruns Strategy: Lessons from Port City and Hambantota

1. Stop thinking like a builder — start thinking like a dealmaker

Sri Lanka’s mistake has been engineering-led development without parallel commercial strategy. What’s missing is aggressive anchor investor targeting.

• For Port City: attract regional HQs, fintech firms, family offices, arbitration centers. Compete with Dubai and Singapore—not Galle Face restaurants.
• Offer time-bound, non-bureaucratic incentives (fast-track visas, tax certainty, dollar accounts).

Without 5–10 global anchor tenants, the skyline will remain empty.

2. Re-negotiate utilization—not ownership

The narrative that Sri Lanka lost” Hambantota Port is politically attractive but economically shallow. The real issue is underutilization.

• Position Hambantota as a specialized industrial-port hub:
  • Vehicle transshipment (already some success)
  • LNG / energy hub
  • Ship repair & bunkering (competing with Fujairah)
• Push for revenue-sharing upgrades tied to throughput, not fixed lease optics.

If ships don’t come, ownership debates are meaningless.

3. Link both projects into a single economic corridor

Right now, they operate as isolated assets. That’s a strategic error.

• Create a Colombo–Hambantota logistics & industrial corridor
• High-speed freight, bonded zones, and unified customs
• Port City = finance & services
• Hambantota = industry & logistics

This is how China itself scaled its coastal zones—integration, not fragmentation.

4. Bring in third-country players (balance the China factor)

Overdependence creates both political and commercial hesitation.

• Invite India, Japan, Middle East funds into specific verticals
• Example:
  • India → energy, logistics
  • Japan → industrial zones
  • Gulf → real estate, finance

This reduces geopolitical risk perception, which is currently scaring off Western investors.

5. Radical regulatory clarity (this is the real bottleneck)

Investors are not avoiding Sri Lanka because of lack of land—they avoid policy unpredictability.

For Colombo Port City:

• Guarantee independent commercial law framework
• No retrospective tax changes
• Full capital repatriation

Without this, even free land won’t attract serious capital.

6. Monetize what already exists (quick wins)

Instead of waiting for mega investors:

• Turn idle land into temporary revenue generators
  • Events, exhibitions, F1-style circuits, cruise tourism
• Aggressively market as a regional MICE hub (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions)

Cash flow—even small—is better than prestige emptiness.

7. Professionalize project governance

These projects cannot be run like ministries.

• Independent, performance-based boards
• Global talent in management
• KPIs tied to occupancy, throughput, and revenue—not ribbon-cutting

Hard truth

Sri Lanka’s issue is not that China built these projects. It’s that Sri Lanka did not build the ecosystem around them.

Infrastructure without policy, marketing, and investor confidence is like building a harbor with no ships.

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Top Discoveries

By Dr. Sarath Obeysekera

The recent visit of Jagdeep Dhankhar to Sri Lanka has once again exposed a familiar pattern in India’s engagement with its southern neighbour—symbolism over substance, visibility over viability, and soft diplomacy masking strategic hesitation.

Let me be clear at the outset: Sri Lanka must welcome goodwill. Assistance for schools, temples, and hospitals—particularly for vulnerable communities such as estate Tamils—is commendable. No reasonable person would oppose humanitarian support. But the uncomfortable truth is this: Sri Lanka today does not suffer from a shortage of temples or classrooms. It suffers from a shortage of serious, transformative investment.

And nowhere is this contradiction more glaring than in the long-delayed development of Trincomalee.

Trincomalee: The Sleeping Giant in Strategic Chains

Trincomalee is not just another port. It is one of the finest natural harbours in the world—deep, sheltered, and strategically located at the crossroads of major shipping lanes. For decades, it has been spoken of as Sri Lanka’s gateway to becoming a regional energy and maritime hub.

Yet, despite its potential, Trincomalee remains largely underdeveloped.

Why?

Because of a web of historical agreements, geopolitical sensitivities, and—let us say it plainly—India’s cautious, often obstructive posture when it comes to allowing Sri Lanka full autonomy over its development.

The oil tank farm—built during the British era—has become a symbol of this stagnation. Discussions drag on for years. Agreements are revised, diluted, and reinterpreted. Meanwhile, opportunities evaporate.

Tokenism vs Transformation

During his visit, the Indian Vice President made a passing reference to foreign direct investment and Trincomalee. But where is the roadmap? Where is the financing structure? Where are the timelines?

Sri Lanka does not need passing remarks—it needs bankable commitments.

Contrast this with India’s swift and decisive involvement in strategic assets elsewhere. When India sees value aligned with its own interests, it moves with remarkable speed. Yet in Trincomalee, where Sri Lanka seeks genuine partnership, the response has been hesitant, conditional, and slow.

This raises a legitimate question:

Is India interested in developing Trincomalee—or merely in ensuring that others do not?

The Hegemony Question

India often speaks of partnership, neighbourhood-first policies, and shared prosperity under the leadership of Narendra Modi. These are admirable principles. But partnership cannot exist without mutual respect and economic empowerment.

When Sri Lanka is subtly discouraged from independently developing its own strategic assets, while being offered piecemeal assistance in social sectors, it creates the perception—rightly or wrongly—of a hegemonic approach.

Helping build a school earns headlines.
Helping build an energy hub transforms a nation.

Which one truly reflects long-term friendship?

Sri Lanka Must Recalibrate

This is not merely about India. This is about Sri Lanka’s own strategic clarity—or lack thereof.

If India is unwilling or unable to move decisively on Trincomalee, Sri Lanka must explore alternatives. The world is not short of investors. Energy companies, sovereign funds, and maritime operators are all seeking strategic footholds in the Indian Ocean.

Why should Sri Lanka wait indefinitely?

A nation that cannot leverage its greatest natural asset risks remaining perpetually dependent on external goodwill.

A Call for Serious Engagement

India must decide: does it want to be remembered as a partner that helped Sri Lanka rise—or as a gatekeeper that slowed its progress?

If the answer is partnership, then the path is clear:

• Commit to a comprehensive Trincomalee development plan
• Provide transparent financing and timelines
• Treat Sri Lanka as an equal stakeholder, not a junior partner

Anything less will only deepen mistrust and push Sri Lanka to seek alternatives elsewhere.

Conclusion

Sri Lanka does not need symbolic gestures—it needs strategic transformation.

Temples and schools may win hearts.
But ports, energy hubs, and industrial zones build nations.

The time for polite diplomacy is over.
What is needed now is bold action—before Trincomalee becomes yet another missed opportunity in Sri Lanka’s long history of unrealized potential.

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Courtesy Hiru  News

Four members of a special parliamentary committee intend to request the summoning of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and three other witnesses to testify regarding the release of 323 containers from the Colombo Port without mandatory physical inspection.

Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, Dayasiri Jayasekera, Mujibur Rahman, and D.V. Chanaka plan to submit a formal letter making this request to the chairman of the special committee, Harshana Nanayakkara.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is to be called in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development. Additionally, Member of Parliament Bimal Rathnayake, who served as the Minister in charge of ports during the relevant period, and Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, who served as the Deputy Minister of Ports, are among those to be summoned. The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development is also expected to provide evidence and submit investigation reports related to the Customs Department.

Courtesy Hiru News

A payment of $2.5 million released by the General Treasury to settle a foreign debt failed to reach the intended recipient and was reportedly diverted to a computer hacker or a third party, according to the ‘FREE LAWYERS’ organisation.

The chairman of the organisation, President’s Counsel Maithri Gunarathne, sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament requesting a formal investigation into the incident.

The organisation noted that while the Central Bank of Sri Lanka previously managed foreign debt, installment, and interest repayments, these responsibilities shifted to the Department of External Resources and the Public Debt Management Office following the passage of the new Finance Act.

Consequently, these specific departments prepared the documentation and executed the payment in question.

The current investigation is being conducted under an Additional Secretary to the Treasury who bears final responsibility for debt payments.

The organisation emphasised that this official continues to lead operations within the relevant department while the probe is ongoing.

The organisation urged the Speaker to initiate a full investigation through an external team or via Parliament to ensure impartiality, as the current internal process may be compromised.

Meanwhile, the ‘Dinana Dakuna’ collective issued a press release demanding an immediate and comprehensive inquiry into whether the $2.5 million payment was actually executed.

Attorney Shiral Lakthilaka, a member of the leadership council, signed the statement.

An official from Parliament stated, upon inquiry, that no such letter containing this request arrived as of yet.

Courtesy Hiru News

A strong response has been sent to the letter of demand issued to Hiru News by the lawyer of Agriculture Minister K D Lalkantha, regarding his declaration of assets.

The legal team of Hiru News has communicated that their client categorically denies all and singular the several claims, assertions, allegations and demands made in the said letter of demand, and that the Minister’s purported demand will not be complied with.

The letter further states that Hiru News, recognizing the right of correction, published a correction immediately on the 18th of April 2026, during the 6.55pm and 9.55pm news bulletins of Hiru TV, as well as on other media channels owned by the organisation.

The response also draws attention to the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023, stating that there are irremediable errors in the Minister’s declaration, and that his Declaration of Assets and Liabilities has not been filed in compliance with the law.

The letter goes on to warn that should the Minister instigate any litigation against Hiru News, the organisation will invoke its rights as a corporate citizen to have him dealt with under the law, for deliberate violation of mandatory statutory provisions.
Furthermore, Hiru News has stated that in the event of any legal action, it will raise, among other matters, that the Minister has been involved in deliberate damage to public property and inciting violence against law-abiding citizens — as admitted to by him in public fora — and will accordingly take up the position that he is a person who does not have a reputation to be tarnished.

Latest News

Source:   A1 Overview

On November 14, 2018, Sri Lankan attorney Senaka Weeraratna addressed a symposium at the Japanese Diet (Parliament). Invited by the Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact, he delivered a keynote speech titled “Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour ignited the liberation of Asia from Western domination – Time for Asia to express gratitude to Japan”. 

Key highlights of his address and the event included:

• Commemorative Occasion: The meeting commemorated the 100th anniversary of Japan’s 1919 proposal for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination at the Paris Peace Conference.
• Decolonization Perspective: Weeraratna argued that Japan’s military actions during WWII, specifically the attack on Pearl Harbour, served as the catalyst for ending Western colonial rule across Asia.
• Criticism of Tokyo Trials: He labeled the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Tokyo Trials) as “victor’s justice” and a “Kangaroo Court,” citing the lack of Asian representation among the judges and the retroactive nature of the charges.
• Call for Gratitude: As the first Sri Lankan to speak at the Diet on this topic, he urged Asian nations to de-colonize their historical narratives and acknowledge Japan’s “blood sacrifices” in facilitating their independence.
• Notable Speakers: The symposium also featured the late Hideaki Kase, President of the Society, Japanese Historian Moteki and Professor Emeritus Eiji Yamashita. 
• This speech emphasizes Japan’s role in Pan-Asianism and challenges the Western-centric narrative of WWII.
• One of the most significant points in Weeraratna’s speech was the reference to the 1919 Racial Equality Proposal. This is a frequently overlooked moment in history where Japan’s attempt to include a non-discrimination clause in the League of Nations Covenant was rejected by Western powers, an event many historians cite as a turning point that soured Japan’s relations with the West.

The speech was held in Conference Room No. 101 of the Diet. 

Source:   A1 Overview

By M D P DISSANAYAKE

Beating India is great; that is our ultimate opponent.  They underestimated SL prior to  the match.

The problem of fitness still persists. Angelow, Asela, Kusal must be back in action in the quarter final against Pakistan on Monday. SL has a remarkable record of coming from behind.  India has a remarkable record of conducting Pooja for various Gods before matches and praying for their players, but Indians go to the extent of destroying the homes of their Cricketer if they lose.

SL win against India is a great motivation and should go undeterred to get into the semis.

Personally there is nothing better for me than winning against India.  Indian’s are conducting massive poojas in Kovils with the hope Sri Lanka lose to Pakistan. 

In this scenario, it is pertinent to reproduce and enjoy an article published in Lankaweb  in 2007 World Cup, to energise our players.  This article has annoyed several Indians, so be it again!

WORLD CUP CRICKET – ROUND 1 – STATISTICS AND FUNNIES

India prayed Bangladesh to win on Mar 21, praying BD to lose on Mar 25!

By M D P DISSANAYAKE

Australia, Sri Lanka, NZ and West Indies have won all 3 preliminary matches in the first round, scoring maximum 6 points each. On the net run rate, SL has come first with 3.493, followed by Australia 3.433, NZ 2.138 and WI 0.764.

The two “super-powers” in the Indian sub-continent provided tragedies and comedies during this short spell of two weeks. Both Pakis and Indians have failed to realize the sportsmanship of the game and have put themselves in a ‘pressure cooker’ situation. The Indian team and the country as a whole, has felt losing to Bangladesh was a disgrace, failing to realize that the BD team is now lead by Dav Whatmore who advanced SL’s cricketing dreams to World Cup standards in 1996. 

After losing to Bangladesh on March 17, the first Indian comedy took place on March 19, when Indians played against Bermuda. The Indian’s thought this was World Cup Final and after thrashing Bermuda by 257 runs, their world record winning margin was shown over and over to motivate the Team.

The second comedy was staged when SL played Bangladesh on Mar 21. Indians were full of support for Bangladesh, conducting Poojas in India for the Gods. “Bajan” sessions and “Japa Malaya” mantrams by many Indian men and women were shown, praying Bangladesh to beat Sri Lanka.

In the third comedy session, Indian fanatics conducted many Poojas to God Muruga, God Ganesh on the eve of SL vs India’s match on March 23. The Indian Team photos were treated as living Gods, hundreds of men and women chanting “Bajan” and praying with ” Japa Malaya” turning its seeds at a tremendous speed, without blinking eyes. The men were kissing the photos of Ganguli, Tendulkar, Dhoni, Dravid, Schewag. The very next day, they burned the photos, spat at them, hammered the photos with Sandals and physically destroyed poor Dhoni’s house which was under construction.

The final episode of the Indian comedy is to be staged tonight, when BD plays against Bermuda. Since yesterday, mantrams and poojas have already started praying for Gods and Divine intervention for BD to lose to Bermuda. (Gods themselves must be pretty confused, don’t you think so?). This all looks like another “bollywood” film, same script, same dances and fights but with different actors and a different name!

“All India” beat Bermuda in WC 2007 by the highest margin, the record which they can take home now, for an ever-lasting Pooja and Bajan sessions. .

At last, we can watch some sensible cricket from next week. Thank God!

By Dr. Sarath Obeysekera

In 1984, I returned to Sri Lanka after working in the harsh, demanding offshore environment of the North Sea. There, welding was not just a trade—it was a science governed by precision, discipline, and unforgiving standards. When I joined Colombo Dockyard as a consulting engineer, I stepped into a yard that had potential—but lacked the technological backbone to move beyond conventional ship repair.

What happened next is a lesson Sri Lanka must urgently relearn.

At the time, we were presented with what many would have considered an impossible task. A French contractor approached the dockyard with a requirement that was far removed from routine marine work. We were asked to roll  20/40 mm thick steel plates into pipes of approximately half a meter to 2 meter in diameter—and weld them to X-ray quality.

Let me be clear: this was not ordinary fabrication. Thick plate rolling at that tolerance is difficult even today. Welding such material to radiographic standards, with consistency, was something even established yards would hesitate to undertake without proper automation.

And we had almost nothing.

No advanced automatic welding systems. No proper pipe rolling and welding  machines. Only a few semi-automatic PUG welding units—and a determination to find a way.

Instead of rejecting the job, we engineered a solution.

First, we tackled the biggest constraint—pipe rolling. Colombo Dockyard simply did not have the required machinery. Rather than waiting for capital investment or foreign assistance, we looked within the country. With the support of my good friend, Chairman Premachandra, we identified an idle pipe rolling machine at the Puttalam Cement Corporation. That machine was relocated, reinstalled, and brought back to life at the dockyard.

That single decision saved months of delay and massive foreign exchange.

Next came the welding challenge. We did not have automated pipe welding systems, so we built one. Our in-house electronic engineer—one of the unsung geniuses this country quietly produces—designed a rotating pipe mechanism. We mounted welding units onto a carriage system that could travel along the circumference of the pipe, maintaining consistency in speed and arc.

In essence, we created a primitive but effective automated welding system using local ingenuity.

Sections of pipes, about 2 to 5 meters long, were rolled, aligned, and welded under controlled conditions. And the result?

We passed X-ray inspection.

That moment was more than a technical success—it was a transformation. Colombo Dockyard had crossed a threshold. We were no longer just repairing ships. We were fabricating with precision. We had entered a new technological era.

From that point onward, the yard steadily advanced. It undertook more complex welding jobs, fabricated oil tanks, supported projects in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and built a reputation that extended beyond our shores.

But here is the uncomfortable question:

What has happened to that spirit today?

In the 1980s, we had fewer resources—but more initiative. Today, we have access to global technology, financing models, and partnerships—yet we hesitate. We wait for foreign investors, imported machinery, and external validation.

We have forgotten how to build.

The current discussion about developing Sri Lanka into a marine and offshore hub misses a critical point. This transformation will not come from policy documents, foreign joint ventures, or expensive robotic systems alone.

It will come from rebuilding a culture of engineering problem-solving.

The world is changing again. With instability in the Middle East, global ship repair and fabrication demand is shifting. Labour markets are tightening. Costs are rising. This is not a crisis—it is an opportunity.

But only if we act.

We must:

• Recreate in-house engineering capability within our yards
• Train welders not just as العمال, but as skilled technicians
• Encourage improvisation, innovation, and ownership
• Invest in mechanization where it matters—but not become dependent on it

Sri Lanka once proved that it could rise to a global standard with limited means and bold thinking. I witnessed it firsthand.

We did not wait for the perfect conditions. We created them.

If we continue to wait today—waiting for investors, waiting for technology, waiting for direction—we will miss this opportunity just as we have missed many before.

The lesson from 1985 is simple:

A nation that can engineer solutions with what it has will always move forward.
A nation that waits for perfect solutions will remain where it is.

Sri Lanka must decide which one it wants to be.

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Case study for Cololmbo dockyard/  Mazagon combination 

For a product/chemical tanker in the ~30,000 DWT range:

• Fillet welds: typically 60–75% of total weld length
• Butt welds (groove welds): about 25–40%

Why fillet welds are so high:

• Stiffeners to plating (longitudinals, frames, girders)
• Brackets, supports, outfitting attachments
• Internal structures in cargo tanks and ballast spaces

Even though butt welds are fewer, they consume a large share of time and QA effort (full penetration, radiography, UT, class approval).

Where fillet welds are concentrated

During block construction between keel laying and launching, fillet welding is heavily used in:

• Panel lines (stiffener-to-plate welding)
• Sub-assemblies and block fabrication
• Double hull structures (critical in tankers)
• Engine room foundations and supports

Shipyards like Colombo Dockyard PLC and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited already rely heavily on semi-automatic fillet welding (FCAW/MAG) in these stages.

Should you mechanize or go robotic?

We should mechanize aggressively, but robotics must be selective.

1. Where mechanization makes immediate sense

High return, low complexity:

• Long straight fillet welds on panel lines
• Flat/horizontal stiffener welding
• Repetitive sub-assemblies

Use:

• Gantry welding systems
• Carriage-mounted fillet welders
• Multi-head panel line welders

 This alone can boost productivity 2–3×.

2. Where robotics becomes viable

Only where geometry is consistent and repeatable:

• Panel line stiffener welding (robotic gantry systems)
• Standardized blocks (series production)
• Double-bottom structures with repetitive layouts

Robotics works best in flow-line production, not job-shop chaos.

3. Where robotics struggles (don’t force it)

• Inside tanks (confined, variable geometry)
• Outfitting stage
• Erection stage after block assembly
• Repair and rework areas

Here, skilled welders remain irreplaceable.

Strategic implication (important for your earlier policy thinking)

Given:

• Labour shortages
• Possible migration to the Persian Gulf
• Rising wages

The smart approach is:

• Mechanize all repetitive fillet welding
• Retain skilled welders for:
  • Butt welds
  • Complex joints
  • QA-critical work

This reduces dependence on large volumes of labour while protecting quality.

Practical benchmark for planning

For a 30,000 DWT tanker:

• Total weld length: ~1,500–2,500 km (rough order)
• Fillet portion: ~1,000–1,800 km

If you mechanize even 40–50% of that fillet welding, you:

• Cut labour demand significantly
• Improve consistency
• Reduce rework

Bottom line

• Expect ~70% fillet welding by length in such a vessel
• Full robotics is unrealistic
• Hybrid model (mechanization + skilled labour) is the winning formula

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Marine sector development in India and Sri Lanka is an area that needs urgent attention  right  now, Sri Lanka can either lose skilled labor to a Middle East pull, or deliberately position itself as the alternative regional shipbuilding power 

 Trying to stop workers from leaving the country is not practical in a democratic economy. Countries like India and Sri Lanka don’t succeed by restricting mobility—they succeed by making it more attractive to stay.

So the Prime Minister’s Modi’s  strategy has to be built around retention, attraction, and productivity, not control.

1. Turn the exodus risk” into a wage arbitrage advantage

After a Middle East conflict, yards in places like the Persian Gulf will indeed pay premium rates.

Instead of competing blindly:

• Offer tax-free income bands for marine sector workers
• Introduce foreign currency–linked salaries (partial USD payments)
• Allow workers to legally earn and retain foreign exchange

This narrows the gap without matching Gulf wages fully.

2. Fast-track a National Marine Skills Corps

You need scale, not just retention.

Create a structured pipeline:

• Expand welding, fabrication, and offshore training institutes
• Bring in certification aligned with International Maritime Organization standards
• Partner with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited to co-develop training academies

Key idea: produce 3 workers for every 1 that leaves.

3. Reform labor relations without confrontation

Sri Lankan unions are strong, and direct confrontation will backfire.

Instead:

• Move to productivity-linked wage models
• Introduce profit-sharing schemes at yards like Colombo Dockyard PLC
• Offer equity participation or bonus pools tied to export earnings

Make unions stakeholders, not adversaries.

4. Create a special marine economic zone

A standard BOI model won’t be enough.

Designate a Marine Industrial Zone around:

• Port of Colombo
• Trincomalee Harbour

Offer:

• Flexible labor laws (within limits)
• 24/7 operations without bureaucratic delays
• Duty-free import of equipment and materials

This improves productivity per worker, reducing dependence on sheer labor numbers.

5. Structured migration—not brain drain

Instead of losing workers permanently:

• Negotiate bilateral labor agreements with Gulf countries
• Ensure fixed-term contracts with return clauses
• Require skill upgrading before departure and after return

Turn migration into a circular system, not a one-way drain

6. Attract foreign skilled labor (yes, reverse the flow)

This is often ignored.

If there’s a shortage:

• Allow temporary Indian, Bangladeshi, or Filipino skilled workers
• Fast-track visas for marine engineers and welders
• Use this as a buffer during peak demand

7. Anchor geopolitical positioning carefully

If Sri Lanka wants naval superpower interest, it must avoid becoming a battleground.

Balance engagement with:

• India
• China
• United States

But keep marine infrastructure commercial-first, military-neutral where possible.

8. Mechanization and productivity leap

The uncomfortable truth: relying on manual welders alone is outdated.

Invest in:

• Robotic welding by initially concentrating on developing fillet welding in shops to reduce skilled welders because mass filter type welding is highest in shipbuilding 
• Mechanized pipe welding in the shops 
• Modular shipbuilding 
• Digital yard management

This reduces dependence on volatile labor markets.

Bottom line

If the government reacts defensively (trying to stop workers leaving or suppress unions), it will fail.

If it raises earning potential, increases supply of skills, and boosts productivity, Sri Lanka can actually benefit from the Middle East disruption and become a secondary hub to the Gulf and India.

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

By Garvin Karunaratne

Half a century ago I was privileged to be one of the youngest lieutenants handpicked to implement the Paddy Lands Act, the magnificent piece of legislation devised by the visionary leader Hon Philip Gunawardena to allay all the ills of peasant agriculture in Sri Lanka.

 It was a time when our country, basking in the early glory of independence, was seeking new roots to serve the people. Hon Philip Gunawardena was a man of the people, loved by the people and admired by all who worked under him. With a background of academic expertise gained at famous seats of learning at the Universities of Illinois and  Wisconsin, he joined the band of patriotic statesmen- Dr N.M.Perera, Dr S.A.Wickremasinghe, Dr Colvin R de Silva and spearheaded the movement for the common man.

For Full Story

Nava Thakuria

As Assam completed the single-phase largely peaceful polling on 9 April 2026 to elect 126 representatives for State legislative assembly,  the focus shifted to probable outcome as both the ruling and opposition parties are claiming the result  in their favours citing the reason of an all time high voters’ turnout (85.96 percent) in the north-eastern State.  Currently the fate of 722 candidates representing different political parties and independent contenders remains sealed in the electronic voting machines. The outcome will surface on 4 May, counting day sets by the Election Commission of India for general elections in Assam, Keralam, Puducherry union territory as well as bye-elections in Karnataka’s Bagalkot and Davanagere South seats, Nagaland’s Koridang and Tripura’s Dharmanagar constituency. The result of Tamil Nadu single-phase assembly polls scheduled for  23 April and two phases West Bengal elections (23 and 29 April) will also be available on the same day. For Assam, the magic number 64 in the assembly was easily retained by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance in the 2021 elections and formed the government for the second time in Dispur  with 75 members. This time they are expecting more.

Recently, while addressing  election rallies in north Bengal localities, Assam’s incumbent chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that the saffron party-led alliance will gain decisive victories in both the bordering States. The outspoken BJP leader predicted wins in nearly 100 seats in Assam and around 200 in the 294-member West Bengal assembly. Earlier, BJP Assam president Dilip Saikia expected to win a commanding majority for the National Democratic Alliance nominees. Terming the visibly high voter turnout as pro-incumbency in nature, the top leaders of  BJP allies (Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front) also predicted to win over 90 seats for the NDA. On the other hand, the Indian National Congress-led opposition alliance claimed to win in over 70 seats to return to power after a decade.

Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi, while citing the BJP’s two-term anti-incumbency, continued harassment to religious minority families, and more precisely personal corruption charges against CM Sarma and his family, termed the unprecedented  turnout in polls in favour of change. The deputy-leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha targeted Sarma personally as his party senior Pawan Khera made some sensational allegations against the chief minister’s wife on 5 April. Mentionable is that Khera at a formal press meet in New Delhi (and later in Guwahati too) alleged that   Riniki Bhuyan Sarma was holding multiple active foreign passports and also undisclosed investments to the tune of million dollars in foreign countries. Gogoi also opined that since then  Sarma appeared panicked and went on making abusive public statements.

However, both Sarma and his wife denounced the allegations and challenged in the court with a forgery and conspiracy case. Facing the heat,  Khera approached Telangana High Court and even received a short period  transit anticipatory bail, but it was stayed by the Supreme Court of India.  Khera was asked to approach a competent court in Assam for relief. Now Sarma urges Khera to comply with legal procedures by appearing before an appropriate court. Meanwhile, Sarma expressed dissatisfaction with the  police forces as to why they allowed Khera to leave Guwahati after an FIR was lodged.  He publicly stated that soon after his return to the CMO, the top police personnel will be made accountable for the failure.

Going beyond the limit, Sarma also announced to file a public interest litigation  against the ECI to raise serious issues relating to Khera’s timing (just four days ahead of Assam polls) and intentions to defame his family. A law graduate himself, Sarma claimed that the allegations were made on the specific period to influence the poll outcomes. He believes that the ECI should issue guidelines while addressing such matters as it may have negative impacts on electoral outcomes to the party-concerned. Once a Congress loyal before joining the saffron party in 2015 echoed a strong version that if any political party is proved to deliberately spread wrong information just ahead of  polls to misguide the electorates, its registration should be cancelled.

The opposition leaders immediately picked up his PIL comment against the ECI to criticize Sarma for allegedly undermining the constitutional institutions and democratic principles with such comments. Debabrata Saikia, leader of the opposition in Assam assembly condemned Sarma’s views as arbitrary and oppressive. With his arrogance to power, Sarma degraded his constitutional position, asserted  Saikia. Political observers also commented that Sarma has somehow given an opportunity to the national opposition leaders to renew their backlash on the ECI in the backdrop of a recent  impeachment move forwarded by over 190 parliamentarians against the chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Sarath Wijesinghe PC former Chair CAA

CAA main Regulator in the country

CAA is the main regulator in Sri Lanka set up with so many expectations in 2003, yet the citizen only will be able to assess the impact and efficiency of CAA which is known to a limited number of citizens of the existence of such an institution, spending 137 million rupees per year with high salaries and perks to the chairman and staff provided with vehicles and ‘handsome col. CAA is a powerful organization with powers to punish errant traders, manufacturers, confiscate goods and report to the courts of mis handling the trade and harassment of consumers and intimidating the trader. It serves a dual purpose of protecting the consumer and regularization of trade as well. Consumerism is at the lowest ebb in Sri Lanka that hampers trade and the quality-of-life cost of living and health of the nation which affects every citizen despite spending enormous sums from the people’s coffers. Consumerism and economy and development is interconnected with trade and states give special attention on consumerism and trade which are per requests of investors and investments. Citizen has highest hopes and expectations of the CAA to bring down prices of consumer items, services, purchase quality items at a reasonable prize with quality and obtain consumer items with no poison or adulterated and the consumer will be in a position how competent the CAA to perform duties. CAA is to settle disputes among consumers and traders and whether the members appointed by the minister on political considerations are able to conduct inquiries or and whether the CAA has appointed competent offices to conduct inquiries will be found out at an inspection on the affairs of the CAA by a competent authority. CAA must give priority to ser up consumer organizations but in Sri Lanka there may be a handful consumer organizations when the CAA is expected to promote and establish consumer organization net work in the entire country as it has a countrywide network of officers just idling with inefficient and incompetent officers. The minister of commerce in charge of CAA is busy with political work and struggling with to defend allegations on the income to the bribery commission that has become a topic to the media aith other politicians.

Consumer Ombudsman

Consumer Ombuds man if appointed legally and following the procedure adopted by appointing the financial and insurance ombudsman will fill the gap and will be beneficial to the citizen waiting for a proper consumer regime and for the trader to regularize trade which is a need for the economy of the country. Ombudsman when appointed will fill the gap to ease the laws delays as this will be a method to avoid laws delays by settling matters in a friendlier atmosphere and less expenses and less time consuming.

Other Countries

In other countries Ombudsman is appointed by the government. In UK rail ombudsman is very effective and in USA every state has appointed an ombudsman for various subjects. In India Ombudsman service is very successful and appointments are made by the state. Europe and Scandian countries the ombudsmen scheme is fiercely successful.

Duty of the government

It is the duty of the government to appoint an Ombudsman in par with administrative, finance and insurance ombudsman as a matter of urgency in order to clear blackleg of inquiries and for a more efficient Consumer regime to work hand in hand with the ailing CAA. Sarath wijesinghe PC 0094766530166 and you are advised to browse the net for other article by me on the subject and you are requested to join the Ombudsman group for further information.

Source: National WW11 Museum, New Orleans, USA

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/justice-radhabinod-pal-tokyo-war-crimes-trial

At the Tokyo Tribunal, Justice Radhabinod Pal voted for the acquittal of all the defendants on all counts. 

Pal’s dissent, more than 1,230 pages in length, reveals the fissures within the attempts to bring to justice Japanese war criminals. The last of the justices selected for the Tokyo proceedings, Pal, who had acquired his knowledge of international law as an auto-didact, joined after protests from India about the lack of diversity on the Tribunal. His addition did not alter, however, the undeniable fact that the trial was fundamentally a white man’s tribunal,” (‘judging the yellow peril’) as historian John Dower stated so sharply. 

Source: National WW11 Museum, New Orleans, USA

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