Udaya Gammanpila

e-Con e-News

blog: eesrilanka.wordpress.com

Before you study the economics, study the economists!”

e-Con e-News 23-29 March 2025

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‘If together we are not able to put enough pressure on Moscow,

then how can we claim that we can defeat China?’

– EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas

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‘One of the first tactics in this US hustle strategy has been Trump’s

executive order restoring the lawfulness of US corporate bribery

for gaining strategic business advantages whether in critical minerals,

deep-water ports, or other key infrastructure or assets.”’

– John Helmer, ee Sovereignty, Like old-fashioned make-war

profiteering, this is end-of-war corporate profiteering

This week saw the passing of US-trained anthropologist Gananath Obeysekera. Anthropology used to be section in a US or English bookstore in those countries, where one browsed to be bewildered about whatever happened to the original peoples of the Americas or the Pacific (Just as ‘sociology’ was where one ‘learned’ about Blacks – especially urban African Americans). The real story of the white settler states is yet to be fully told. SBD de Silva’s attempts to differentiate between colonies of settlement & ‘colonies of exploitation’ goes a long way towards theorizing their different practices (see ee Focus).

     GO’s last official leavings were his public dispute with a white doyen of the discipline, over the native Hawaiian perception of the pirate Captain Cook (who they cooked). However, despite his otherwise exotic forays into Sinhala culture, the closest Obeysekera came to challenging the status quo in the real world of imperialism was his attempt to narrate the English assassination of the character of Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe, the last king of Sinhale. His book entitled: The Doomed King, hinted at the role of an increasingly import-export commodity culture, with which officials and others could be compromised.

     One of the main characters in that highland battle was the English spy John D’Oyly – patron saint of the English in Sri Lanka, if not of their English Departments. The book’s publication and dissemination was coterminous with the real-life English launch of another character assassination and seeming overthrow of yet-another-though-more-modern dynasty, the Rajapakses. The Rajapakses have been made synonymous with corruption, largely by the English media. But corruption, called many names in corporate reports – goodwill, charity, aid, etc. – has long been a hallowed European and US practice. And, yet, it by no means fully explains the deep roots and overarching branches of our discontent, let alone imperialist and capitalist practice…

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In 1952, the World Bank had suggested that the Government

develop SMEs rather than promoting large industries.

– Rohantha Athukorala, ee Economists

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Last week, the economic news was full of the thoughts and exertions of Indrajith Coomaraswamy, who worked under convict Raj Rajaratnam’s infamous Galleon Group, and then replaced the fugitive Arjuna Mahendran (supposedly hiding out in rule-of-law Singapore) as Central Bank Governor. This week, Coomaraswamy seemed to disappear from sight, and out popped again CB Governor N. Weerasinghe, uttering anodynes under numerous uneventful headlines (see ee Economists). While it is clear he can be replaced by a robot nattering IMF nostrums, it is ironic that Canada has a former Central Bank governor being ‘selected’ and perhaps soon ‘elected’ as head of the government (Canada remains an English colony in name, and a de-facto US colony).

     Mass media economics is a farce. Especially when it comes to industrialization. There are regular news items planted in ‘native’ media around the world, how so-and-so has invented or launched their ‘own’ computer, car, satellite, etc. We never ever hear about these wonders again. It is a drug meant to embalm a programmed inferiority complex. The other regular ‘industrial’ news items are about the joys and travails of SMEs. This week’s favorite is the so-called auto assembly farce, with the usual promises to make parts here. Tech culture requires a system of knowledge, a supply chain, etc. It is about the role of the state in the invention of inventors, the manufacture of manufacturers, machines that make machines, and the modern humans who make modern humans who make all of the above. None of this is discussed in the media. Ask JD Vance (see ee Focus).

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Dear Julie: Do you wonder as you stumble about the delicate china of our corner shop in this ocean of everybody’s business, why the top white English man is called the High Commissioner. And you? You are simply named ‘Envoy’ or ‘Ambassador‘ (with its assonance of ‘Embarrassment’). We won’t call you English even if that is the language you have to speak to earn your weekly pieces of silver. And as the top official white man here, we are sure you have to follow the orders of your handlers from those State Department kanganies via the white Rockefeller Sahibs of Delhi above you (and then thru an assorted supply chain of eager middle-level Mediterraneans pale Irish and East Europeans – Nazis and Zionists – under their WASP overlords).

     But why Commissioner? Cos, they secrete, siphon and steal the highest Commissions. And it is all legal. The English plantation system created an entire panoply of percentage men and women. An entire hierarchy was formed from the High Commissioners on down to the lowest commissioned, an army of retainers down to the dogs and cats, tigers and scorpions, and the humble nai-kumbi (cobra ants), who ecologically suck up the crumbs that fall off imported lips and other orifices and tables…

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So why do we have to endure the sermons of the US, English, EU? It is simple. Their multinational capital pools & corporations (from Citibank & BlackRock to Standard Chartered & HSBC, to Unilever & Ceylon Tobacco & ICI-CIC) still own & drive the import-export plantation farce which has captured the economy. England cuts its social services, says it is going to escalate war on Russia (& China), then gives us lectures on human rights. It is kayfabe ensuring yet another diversion, while the fish & sea-boundary poaching Modi flies in, threatening to ‘take back’ Kachateevu… It’s the art of the deal to foist an Ukraine on to our doorstep & backyard…A planned tsunami is on its way? Get ready then for organized chaos…

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Reduction & redaction (another word for both kidnapping & censorship) is one of their main missions.  One of the US Envoy’s jobs is editing editors. And ministers. We hear the US Envoy had demanded the removal of ‘certain words’ of a ‘patriotic’ nature from ‘the statement issued by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to the sanctions imposed by English government on former military chiefs.’

     The English state are of course trained killer poodles, deeply adroit in the arts of deception & doubletalk. They do the US writ in Europe & Russia, as they do in Sri Lanka. It is no surprise to hear that the Ukrainian President (poor chap!) is being guarded by England’s MI6, who influence the entire Ukrainian power structure, including their Nazi Azov divisions. We also hear that while Lieutenant Colonel Anthony C Nelson, the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to US Indo-Pacific Command’s David Ranz, was in Colombo, the Deputy Commanding General for US Army Pacific had sneaked into Dhaka one night to plan the launch of a major military offensive to capture the 3 remaining towns in Myanmar’s Rakhine Province…

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So what’s the urgency of the US envoy barging again into Srikotha (UNP HQ) to perhaps make peace between the world’s best banker Ravi K & world’s best debater Ranil W? It was her first visit to Sirikotha since their ‘aragalaya’ in 2022. Of course, one thing the USA’s new leader has reinforced for us is that much of this media broadcast politics is what US’ World Wrestling Federation (WWF) calls kayfabe. The USA’s new Education Secretary is a founder of the WWF! Hollywood & Wall Street & Bloomberg are triplets joined at the front & rear.

     This week also found the US Envoy lounging about with Mano Ganesan, another peripatetic constantly moving between highland estates and low-country kotthu kadays, ‘representing the Tamils’ – one minute beckoned by the English, next minute by the US envoy (next minute in Modi’s furry arms?). The US envoy had the media tell us what she told Ganesan to tell them: that Sri Lanka can assuage Mr Trump’s oncoming April 02 Liberation Day threats on tariffs by importing something – anything! – like that famous or infamous US cotton (dripping with you know what?).

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• SBD de Silva, the closest we have got to a historian of the most important variety – of the economy – recalls much about cotton, which had kept the US South as a colony of Manchester & Lancaster, even after their ‘independence’ in 1776. With the threat of invasion by the US North, in preparation for their so-called ‘civil war’ in the 1860s, SBD also recalled:

‘The English cotton industry was eager to use Sri Lanka

as a possible source of raw cotton. In 1861, when the

Cotton Supply Association of Manchester favourably reported on

a sample of cotton grown in the Badulla district, the Board of Trade

recommended that facilities be developed ‘for irrigating the lands &

for carrying the cotton to the nearest shipping place’. Production was to be

encouraged only if it could subserve the interests of English industry.’

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SBD also noted the beginnings of the great divide in the 19^th century:

‘The slave-supplying states of West Africa were linked with

the cotton plantations of the southern USA, and the plantation South

was linked with the industrial North, just as were the plantation economies

of Asia with the industrialized West (in fact, the periphery & the centre).

The development impact of the linkages was, however, a one-way street.

It was felt beneficially in the cotton region of the southern USA rather than

in West Africa, in the industrial North rather than in the cotton South,

& in the centre rather than in the periphery. Instead of a levelling up process,

there emerged a hierarchy of production modes with a progressively widening gulf.’

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Ooops! The US President may not want us to remember such. He is bent on ‘Restoring Truth & Sanity to US History,’ and washing brains of memories that portray US ‘history & values’ as ‘inherently harmful & oppressive’. Yet, his advisors need to tell him not to be so nervous. He should be proud! Though it is their job to prevent us from growing and making our own cotton.

     Vice-President JD Vance seemed to worry about such matters, at that Dynamism Summit earlier this month at Washington’s Waldorf Astoria (named after that old opium dealer to China, the very first US millionaire, John Jacob Astor).

     Vance warned how ‘deindustrialization’ was a risk to both national security & workers. That it is technology that ‘increases the value of labor’. He recalled how US industry had once ‘become the envy of the world’, through such innovations as ‘the American System & the Interchangeable Parts Revolution it sparked, or Ford’s moving assembly line that skyrocketed the productivity of our workers.’ He lamented the outsourcing of manufacture and their reliance of imported ‘cheap labour’: ‘for it turns out that the geographies that do the manufacturing get awfully good at the designing of things’. This ee reproduces his speech, rather wooden, though he states openly what he believes should be the divisions & limits of international development.

     Vance is a manufactured product himself, a supposed ‘rags to riches’ politician engineered by such bald-headed tech bros as PayPal’s Peter Thiel, another unrepentant white settler from Southern Africa, like Elon Musk. And what the tech bros don’t know or haven’t told him is that ‘manufacturing’ & ‘assembly’ do not necessarily lead to higher tech awareness or higher wages for workers. Ask our so-called ‘garment’ fraudsters, who do not yet make a pin or needle or thread. In fact, their job is to prevent such a possibility. And much of their vaunted ‘access’ to the US & EU market, from which the garment fraud alone profits, is based on preventing any modern industrialization. In fact, what Vance leaves out is that modern industrialization is about the culture & practice of the making of machines that make machines!

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The history of the prevention of this modern machine-making industrialization is the tack of the concluding stream of SBD de Silva’s fascinating though complex examination of the link between ‘Plantations & Underdevelopment’. The plantation system has imposed & ensured a low-waged & low-tech economy, not just for the plantations, not just for the garment fraud, nor just for the tourist sham, but for the entire country. Most importantly, SBD’s analysis provides a method for viewing the wretched farce of Sri Lanka’s diversionary media, blatantly controlled by such multinational corporations (MNCs) as ‘Fair&Lovely’ Unilever here run via Hindustan Lever, and more surreptitiously by British American Tobacco (BAT)’s Ceylon Tobacco Co – a media filled with sensations about petty thieves, retail murderers, corruption & crime prefixed with Sinhala names, where the only good people are IMF officials, etc.

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• This ee continues looking into the formation & workings of such MNCs as BAT, an English company, with almost 99% of its equity then held by English stockholders, and listed as the 3^rd largest industrial group based in England. Looking at the dire urges & desperate urgencies of the US & EU leadership, there is no doubt that all their policies, political, military & economic, conglomerations and philosophies, have been aimed primarily at defeating the most powerful people-based organizations the world has ever known – the Marxism-Leninist Communist Parties of the USSR & China, etc.

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• Last week’s ee looked at how the sham of health warnings on cigarette packs was used to increase the monopoly over tobacco & cigarettes by this largest of tobacco manufacturers in the world & largest English cigarette makers. And of the failure if not the complicity of the state in regulating such ‘mergers’ & ‘acquisitions.’ It recalled how tobacco companies ‘diversified’ (early diversity indeed!) into other products, such as food, life insurance, pharmaceuticals, etc. This ee looks at the role played by the ‘Committee for Europe, comprising the chief executives of all the main European operating companies.’ They, along with management consultants & merchant bankers (such as Samuel Montagu & NM Rothschilds), tax specialists & industrialists coagulated ‘4 ostensibly independent companies’ into ‘creating a major multinational company, with 44 factories in 17 countries’ melding their distribution forces & sales organisations in order to avoid taxes as well as increase profits across increasingly enfeebled nation-states, to fashion a ‘corporate structure’ that would be the most desirable. Exploring the then-precedents of double-holding companies such as Dunlop/Pirelli, Agfa/Gevaert, Unilever or Royal Dutch/Shell, and where such a ‘master company’ would be based? Holland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, West Germany or England? England was seen as the best with its tax magicians & ‘sophisticated’ capital markets.

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Contents:

Doomed Kings, Captain Cooks & Brown Sahibs: From Washington to London to Delhi to Colombo

Dr Sudath Gunasekara Ex-Permanent Secretary to Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranayaka and past-President Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association (1991–1994)

UK Sanction on the Sri Lankan former military leaders, for defending the territorial integrity of their motherland and defeating the LTTE, the cruelest and savages’ terrors group in the world, that waged a 30-year terrorist war to overthrow the democratically elected government of the country is the latest naked western colonial interference and intervention with the sovereignty, independence and the freedom of this country.

 This high handed, exhibition of their past outdated colonial attitude clearly shows that even now, they think we are one of their Crown colonies? Do they know that Sri Lanka is a fully independent Republic from the 22^nd of May 1972 under a new Republican Constitution that abolished the British made Solebury constitution of 1948.The Solebury Constitution   conferred only a fake independence by keeping this country tightly tied to their dying empire. Solebury Constitution in my opinion was only a mere caveat tightly tied on to the UK with the so-called Commonwealth of Nations, fully controlled by the UK. For example, it kept this country tightly tied on to the UK by retaining all three main prerequisites of a free state, namely the Legislative, Executive and Judicial powers tacitly in the hands of the United Kingdom, with many other rights like the power to enter in to agreements with foreign countries. Even the appointment of Ambassadors to foreign countries as the emissaries under the name of this country was done in the name of the Queen of England. Furthermore, it also retained the right to use Trincomalee and Katunayaka Air bases with them, and also the right over all sterling Tea plantations in the country. Therefore, the 1948 so-called Independence was handed over to us with tight controls. It was only a contract handed over to a set of their own proxies, brainwashed to run the country, on their behalf in the British way, to safeguard their own interests.

This country became a fully independent Sovereign country free from all the constraints and ropes that were kept in the hands of the Brish Parliament under the now dead Solebury Constitution only, after the newly formed Constitutional Assembly adopted the Republican Constitution and declared as the Republic of Sri Lanka under the new Constitution in 1972 after abolishing the Solebury Constitution.    

Therefore, it is high time that the UK Government fully understand this legal position at least now and restrain from interfering with the sovereignty, freedom and independence of this country as if what they had done to destroy this country and its civilization for nearly 150 years is more than is not enough.

In spite of this defecto and de jure situation, it is unfortunate that the present Government, has so far adopted a very lukewarm attitude with regard to Sanction on the Sri Lankan former military leaders violating all internationally accepted legal provisions and civilized norms highlighted in the Viana Convention The government, so far has failed to take prompt action to safeguard the interests of the country’s military Commanders who saved the country at very high cost and protect the sovereignty, dignity and the good name of the country defeating av30 year terrorist war deployed to divide the country and establish an EELAM on this land of the Sinhala nation.

 This indifference on the part of the government reminds me the famous Sinhala adage නිවට කරණවෑමියා දුටුවාම එලුවාත් රැවුළ පානවා”. The truth behind this old adage has come true whenever we don’t have a patriotic government of strong and patriotic Statesmen of standing, who have the courage to stand up as lions, against this type of unsavory interference by enemy governments and have the courage to fight back to defend the mother land and its sovereignty, independence, freedom the people who have elected them to power.

Therefore, I call upon the government to take stern action at least now to safeguard the good name of the former military leaders in particular and the overall interests of the military forces and country at large.

The first question I would like to pause here to the Government of the UK is what moral right on earth does the, former colonial invader and a repressive and oppressive exploiter who has a long chain of cruel and inhuman crimes and violation of basic huma rights committed to their account on the native Sinhalese of this country for a period of about 150 years and the whole world in general for centuries , has to impose such sanctions on our military leaders who has defended the democratically elected Government, the State and the its citizens, that being their first duty by the state.

It appears that UK is acting under the impression that we are still a vasal colony of theirs, which is far from the truth. While reminding them that we have ceased to be so long time ago, in spite of their low and mean maneuvering and conspiracies. I would request the Government of this country to lodge a strong protest at least now, though belated, against this blatant breach of all accepted international laws and ethics. UK Government must tender an open apology to the Government and the people of Sri Lanka for the humiliation it had done to our   military leaders in particular and the whole country in general, just to collect the vote of the Tamil Diaspora, living thee.

The UK appears to have forgotten that we are also an independent and fully sovereign country as much as the UK is. This colonial thuggery and bullying must stop at least now. How can they sanction members of our army as we are not a vasal colony under them anymore. Isn’t it not enough what you have and exploited us for 133 years from 1815 1948 and ruined not only our country but its Millenia old Sinhala Buddhist civilization as well.

Now that we have a government elected by is sovereign people, I suggest that the government of this country first summon the UK Ambassador immediately and lodge our strong protest and ask them to immediately withdraw this ugly and uncivilized sanctions on the clean Sri Lankan former military leaders. If they prefer to sleep with our enemy for political gains at local elections let them do so. Even if they want to have a LTTE Tamil diaspora man or woman as their King/Queen, we don’t mind and let them dig their own burial pit. 

At the same time the government of this country must also assert and submit the following list of demands to the UK predator as soon as possible.

We the people of this free, independent and sovereign country, Sri Lanka submit the following list of your unpardonable crimes and violations of human rights committed against this country and the sons of the soil, the Sinhala Buddhist people and we demand you to pay the full compensation as retribution for the crimes your country had committed on our people for 151 years starting from 1797

1.    For capturing the maritime provinces and the crimes committed, such as unethical and forcible conversion carried out there up to 1803.

2.    All crimes committed on the people including taking over of all native lands and property of this country including the destruction of the Kandy city in the 1803 invasion of the Kandyan Kingdom

3.    For dismantling the undefeated Kandyan Kingdom from 1505 to 1815 by intrigue and deception by entering in to a mutually agreed Kandyan Convention of March 2nd 1815 and deposing the Kandyan King to India promising the Kandyan chief Ehelepola the Kingship of the Kandyan Kingdom and for violating the promis that King of England will protect the Buddha sasana they made under sec 5 of the Convention and allow the local system of governance to continue in the Kandayn Kingdom.

4.    Breaching the Kandyan Convention of March 2^nd in 1817 by Royal Proclamation no 1 of Nove 1^st and adopting a rule by the gun and the sword with repressive deprivation and arson.

5.    Banishing Keppetipola Disava who was used as a tool to capture the Kingdom promising that he would be made the King of Sinhale and banishing him to Mauritius as a war prisoner and allowing him to die there as a war prisoner of the British empire for the, for the invaluable help he rendered to the British to annex the Kandyan Kingdom tot the British Empire, after the subversive and deceptive taking over of the Kandyan Kingdom was complete.

6.    The massacre and the suppression caused at the first freedom rebellion by the native Kandyans in the famous Uva wellassa rebellion in1817-18118 by a Royal Proclamation as follows

In order to understand the real cruelty of the British colonial aggressor just have a look at the Order given by Governor Brownrigg to Major Mack Donald in 1817, with the beginning of the first freedom struggle by the native Kandyan patriots, called the Uva Wellassa rebellion 1817-1818.

That all men above 18 should be killed, all houses pulled down and burnt and all trees bearing fruits of use to human beings felled. All grain should be destroyed or confiscated. Irrigation tanks and canals should be breached. All cattle belonging to them which were in excess of the requirements of the army should forthwith be destroyed” (source EELAM Exposed 2020. by L.K.N. Perera)

(This in short was how British violated the human rights of a great nation who agreed to hand over a Kingdom after singing an agreement on equal terms, as two independent sovereign nations on march 2^nd 1815. And this was also how your grandfathers respected human rights of a Great nation who handed over their country in good faith only to retrieve it from the cruelties of a despotic King.)

7.Taking over of the properties of the Kandyan Kingdom under Royal Orders and Taking over of all lands belonging to Kandyan people under the Land /Encroachment Ordinance on crown Land No12 of 1840 totaling up to 1.3 million acres and converting them to Coffee and Tea after destroying the entire primeval forest cover that protected the physical stability of the whole country, its entire river system that guaranteed the  islands total life system and the civilization of the whole country.

8 Flooding the Kandyan areas from 1840 onwards with Indian slave labour (the sworn  historical enemies of the Sinhala nation from the second century BC) to work on the lands so taken over under draconian laws with no compensation to their owners and leaving the country in 1948 leaving behind that labour gang of Indian citizens high and dry with the ulterior and subversive intention of  planting a political economic, social and security, time bomb right at the center of the Island, the geographical HEARTLAND of this Island nation.

9 Thereby dispossessing millions of native Kandyan people of their ancestral lands which they had owned for millennian from the beginning of history and pushing them to a landless set of refugees on their own Motherland buried in abject poverty and misery forever.

10 Taking over all lands belonging to the Buddhist Temples under the Temple lands Ordinance and destroying their sustenance causing the breakdown of the Sinhala-Buddhist Cultural foundation.

11Forcible taking over of all lands in the rest of the Kandyan provinces by the So-called Waste Land Ordinance of 1897 and making millions of Kandyan people a set of landless virtual paupers on their own motherland.

12 Removing the premier forest cover that was there from the day this land was uplifted from the sea  and removing over 1.3 million acres of premier forest of the central hill country  and planting Coffee and Tea on them by destroying the millennia old  premier forest cover and the physical stability of the central hill country followed by soil erosion,  land degradation and drying up of all the 103 rivers which had their sources on it causing destabilization on the hill country due to earth slips followed by devastation and misery in the lowlands due to floods

13 Settling an Indian slave labour gang of nearly 1.2million right at the center of the country, that formed the geographical Heartland of this Island nation that also provided the best hideout for Sinhale Royalty from the inception of history and also provided the best defense fortress against three major aggressors Portuguese, Dutch and the British from 1505 -1815 without becoming another America, Australia or New Zeeland that enabled the protection of the Land of the Sinhalese for posterity.

14 For retaining the hill country as an enclave of South Indian Tamil completely separated from the native Sinhala settlements, with the ulterior political and strategic motive of building up a future political, economic and social time bomb to destroy the Sinhala Buddhist civilization in this country.

15 Chasing out all native people, who were spared by the gun and the sword to valley bottoms, after robbing all their highlands, paddy fields, home gardens and grazing lands and making them landless paupers on their own motherland, while looking after the Indian slave labour with all facilities such as food, medicine and shelter and clothing etc at subsidized cost on our account.

16 Converting the natives to their religion by force and various incentives.

17 Dividing the Sinhalese in to two major antagonistic groups as Candians (Kandyans) cinglese  (Lowcountry Sinhala people) (see Robert Percival 1803) to facilitate their divide and rule policy by creating antagonism among the Sinhalese the native inhabitants of themotherland      

18.Making the natives addicted to arrack through an exhaustive rental system given to low country business men and distributing it in the villages by bullock carts and making them to invade the diehard Kandyan villages

19 Discriminated native Sinhalese against the minority Tamils and the Muslims by favoritism towards   Tamils and Muslims in education and Govt employment to weaken the Sinhalese in the fields of education and employment in addition to cultivating ethnic and religious clashes like the 1915 Sinhala Muslim riots and arresting all prominent Sinhala leaders of the day including Sir D.B. Jayathilaka and F.R. Senanayaka. 

20 Again discriminating Sinhalese in the field of justice by supporting Muslims and Tamils by providing them with their own legal systems

17 Promoting Indian Tamils and Muslims and setting them against the native Sinhalese by adopting the divide and rule policy to destroy the pristine Sinhala Buddhist civilization in this country

18 By naming all Malabar Tamils in the North and East Ceylon Tamils in 1901 through a Malaba cooly descendent Civil servant called Arunachalam Ponnambalan.

19 Establishing Catholic English Schools mainly in the Jaffna Peninsula and coastal towns like Colombo, Galle Batticaloa Trinco and discriminating against the native Sinhalese. For example, out of 105 schools for the whole Island established by 1845, 45 were in the Jaffna Peninsula and all the rest were located in coastal towns like Colombo, Galle and Batticaloa where the concentration of Tamils Muslima and Catholics were in a majority. The Kandyan areas were supposed to have had only 3 English schools and they were also located in Kandy and Matale.

20.Destroying the native Pirivena education and introducing English education system to meet the type of education they needed to run their colony

21. Importing thousands of Tamil and Malay sepoys to kill the Sinhaal se who rebelled against the British in 1817-1818 Uva-Wellassa first freedom struggle against the unilateral violation of the Kandyan Convention by appointing Muslim men to high posts like Disaawa in the Kandyan Kingdom and 1848 Matale rebellion against repressive taxes including a tax on domestic dogs.

22. Naming many places in the country in English and Tamil names to obliterate the Native Sinhala image

23 Giving English and Tamil names to places, mountains, people, water falls, tows and streets, cities and  giving two names for rivers in the North and East where they gave Tamil names to the downstream parts of rivers in the NW, Northern and the Eastern parts of the country, covering more than 2/3 the area of the country to build up evidence to support that those areas had been under the Tamils for a long time in history first, as an attempt to substantiate  the infamous and bogus Cleghorn minute to Fredric North in 1799 that stated thus.

”NATIVE INHABITANTS SINHALESE Two different nations,  from very ancient periods, have divided between the possessions of the Island .First the Cingalese inhabiting the interior of the country  in its Sothern and Western parts from the river Walowe to that of Chilow, AND SECONDLY THE Malabars who possess the Northern and eastern districts and further to substantiate what the Wesleyan Methodist Mission had been preaching from1879”. Erven in the demarcation of Provinces in 1833 you have hatched a conspiracy to mark  their Tamil homeland when it marked the Northern Province from Marthondikudah far south of Mannarama at the estuary of Malvathu Oya the cradle (whose lower part had been named as Modaragan (Sinhala)Aru (Tamil) of Sinhala Civilization) to Kumana in the far South East at the Kumbukkan oya estuary covering more than 2/3 of the coastal belt of the country and almost 2/3 the total area of the Island.

Now you can see how your British ancestor had been conspiring and planning to divide this land of the Sinhala Buddhist from the latter part of the 18thc century with the American Wesleyan Methodist Mission to destroy this Island of the Sinhala Buddhists nation.

In this historical backdrop I strongly hold the view that this sanction imposed on the Sri Lankan former military leaders on your part, is nothing but an extension of the same conspiracy against the Sinhala Buddhist civilization in tis country hatched by your ancestors right from the beginning. We condemn outright your continuation of the same barbaric colonial policy of divide and rule. You must understand that your days are gone. The Empire whose sun never set today is only a day dream. It is Fastly sinking in the Atlantic Ocean. The day the Tamil Diaspora will take over UK and Canada in retribution to what your ancestors had done and what you are also continuing to do is also not that far. 

24 Introducing Roman Dutch law for the whole Island on 1852 while Thesawalamei assigned to Northern Tamils and Muslim law to Muslims all over the Island with Karthi courts, (thereby to have three different judicial dispensation in one country all over, designed to destroy the native legal systems called the Kandyan Law, limited to marriage and succession only to the Kandyan areas, thus committing naked discrimination against the Bhumiputhras of this land.

25 Introducing their own legal system called Roman Dutch Law for the whole Island during the time of Governor Andrew Caldicott in1852 thereby completely burying the native Kandyan law for ever.

Finally, to show how your ancestors had treated the Sinhalese, the sons of the soil who had been the only nation on this land who founded and developed a unique Sihala Buddhist civilization on this land for 2500 odd years,  I quote from one of your own men John Davy for you to realize as to how your blood thirsty ancestors had violated our human rights as a nation from the beginning of your savages invasions of the world.

John Davy commenting in the aftermath of the 1818 observes that The history of British rule in Sri Lanka after 1818 rebellion cannot be related without shame. None of the members of the leading families in the Kandyan families in the Kandyan country have survived. Small-pox and privations have destroyed those spared by the gun and the sword”. (John Davy. Scholar, Army surgeon and physician in attendance on Brownrigg during 1817-1818.)

This how one of your distinguished military officers in 1818 had described the atrocities committed by your own people in 1818 in plain language. Therefore, you cannot for a moment dismiss what I have said in this, message as untrue or unsubstantiated.

The criminal records of oppression and suppression and extra judicial murder and genocide committed by your ancestors during the 1848 Matale rebellion, under the murderer Governor Torrington where he kept corpses murdered hung on the branches of trees to frighten the locals at the main gateways to the local towns in the Kandyan Kingdom were even worse and were more savages according to extant historical records, than what Davy has described above.

 This is not a complete list of crimes committed by your colonial ancestors in this land of the Buddha. It is only a random selection hurriedly picked up from the long list of crimes of your barbaric ancestors committed on this land to tell you, what you are doing is wrong, by interfering with the internal governance of this Island nation.

 Finally, I would propose to the Government of this country, if there is any?

First, to open its eyes at least now and lodge a strongly worded protest to the UK Government against this latest undemocratic, unethical and irrational action it has taken, that violate all accepted international covenants on human rights and condemning its pro Tamil Diaspora, anti-Sinhala anti Buddhist and anti-Sri Lankan action, that does not fit in to a civilized and cultured world. 

Second, I propose to the Government to appoint a full powered Presidential Commission to make a detailed study of all crimes and human rights violations committed by the British colonial Government from 1797 to date against this country and its native Sinhalese people.

Third, work out a full list of compensation that should be paid to the native people of this country, the Kandyans in particular, for all the oppressions, damages, human right violations, antiques stolen arising under the above list of 25 items

Fourth, Summon the UK Ambassador to the Foreign Ministry immediately, handover this protest letter and a request for a firm undertaking that the UK government will agree.

First, to withdraw all the Sanction imposed on the Sri Lankan former military leaders

Next agree to pay compensation to Sri Lanka as decided by the above Presidential Commission and

Finally, I also suggest that until such agreement is reached, ask the British Ambassador to go home and suspend all diplomatic relations with UK immediately until a full settlement of this issue is closed.

All political parties, including the present Government must arrive at a collective and united consensus on this proposal.

None of the political parties whether you are in the Government or not, which is not prepared to accept these suggestions and include them as a part of theit manifestoes is suitable to govern this country in future.

Did you know that Netanyahu’s real family name is Mileikowsky? Did you also know that every Israeli Prime Minister changed their name to sound more Jewish or Middle Eastern? Investigative journalist Richard Medhurst describes the litany of Israeli politicians who abandoned their Eastern European names to create the pretense of a stronger connection to the Levant. Jimmy and Mother of all Talk Shows host George Galloway discuss this curious pseudonymous phenomenon among Israeli leaders.

By Ben Norton

29/03/2025

At a summit held by a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, US Vice President JD Vance gave a speech about globalization that made it clear that the West wants to keep poor, formerly colonized countries in the Global South trapped at the bottom of the global value chain, through monopolistic control of advanced technologies.

US Vice President JD Vance gave a speech about globalization that made it clear that Washington’s goal is to keep formerly colonized countries in the Global South trapped at the bottom of the global value chain.

Vance acknowledged that the US-led West wants to maintain a strict international division of labor, in which poor countries in the periphery produce low value-added goods (with lots of competition and therefore low profits), whereas the rich nations in the core extract exorbitant monopoly rents through their control over high value-added technologies (with little to no competition, reinforced by strict intellectual property rights).

Silicon Valley prepares for war with China

The US vice president made these remarks at a summit that was organized by the Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. This annual meeting in Washington, DC is called the American Dynamism Summit, and it brings together corporate executives and US government officials to facilitate contracts.

One of their main priorities is preparing for war with China. Andreessen Horowitz promotes 50 US companies that it says are shaping the fight of the future”, outlining a scenario of a hypothetical 2027 war with China over Taiwan.

Vance is a China hawk who has scapegoated Beijing for the many economic problems in the US, demonizing it as the biggest threat to our country”.

After Donald Trump selected Vance to be his running mate in the 2024 campaign, Vance pledged that they would end the war in Ukraine, not because they wanted peace for peace’s sake, but rather to prioritize containing China. The US will bring this thing to a rapid close so America can focus on the real issue, which is China”, Vance told Fox News, claiming, That’s the biggest threat to our country and we are completely distracted from it”.

In his March 18 speech at the Andreessen Horowitz summit, the US vice president sought to bridge the gap between right-wing populists” and what he called techno-optimists” — a term promoted by billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, a personal friend of Vance.

Vance has close ties to Silicon Valley billionaires, and has even worked for some of them.

Although Vance is known for exaggerating his humble upbringing, for which he was accused of poverty stolen valor”, Vance attended the elite Yale Law School and worked as a corporate lawyer and venture capitalist.

The far-right Silicon Valley billionaire oligarch Peter Thiel previously employed Vance. Thiel then cultivated his political career, spending $15 million to help Vance win the 2022 Senate election in Ohio.

Like Vance, Thiel is extremely anti-China. Thiel also openly supports monopolies. The billionaire venture capitalist declared that competition is for losers”, writing that monopoly is the condition of every successful business”.

Thiel identifies as a conservative libertarian, and he has argued that capitalism is more important than democracy. But he also wrote that, Actually, capitalism and competition are opposites”, and that US corporations must look to build a monopoly”.

Dependency theory was right: Global North wants Global South stuck at bottom of value chain

In his speech at the American Dynamism Summit, Vance stated (emphasis added):

The idea of globalization was that rich countries would move further up the value chain, while the poor countries made the simpler things. You would open an iPhone box, and it would say designed in Cupertino, California”.

Now, the implication, of course, is that it would be manufactured in Shenzhen or somewhere else. And, yeah, some people might lose their jobs in manufacturing, but they could learn to design or, to use a very popular phrase, learn to code.

But I think we got it wrong. It turns out that the geographies that do the manufacturing get awfully good at the designing of things. There are network effects, as you all well understand.

The firms that design products work with firms that manufacture. They share intellectual property. They share best practices. And they even sometimes share critical employees.

Now, we assumed that other nations would always trail us in the value chain, but it turns out that as they got better at the low end of the value chain, they also started catching up on the higher end. We were squeezed from both ends.”

In these comments, the US vice president inadvertently acknowledged that the fundamental thesis of the dependency theorists in the 1960s was indeed correct.

The rich countries in the core of the world-system (mostly in the Global North) seek to trap the poor, formerly colonized nations in the periphery (mostly in the Global South) in a cycle of dependency on the core’s high value-added products, through monopolistic control of advanced technologies.

Because countries in the periphery are constantly competing with each other to produce primary commodities (like agricultural products, crude oil, and unprocessed minerals) and low value-added goods (such as textiles), their profit margins are tiny, and the terms of trade are unbalanced in the favor of the wealthy core countries, which previously colonized the nations of the periphery.

China has tried to challenge its subservient place in the world-system, to move up the global value chain and out of the periphery — so the US government has responded with aggressive tariffs, sanctions, and export controls, aimed at sabotaging China’s technological innovation and economic development, to keep the US at the top of the international division of labor, where it can continue to extract monopoly rents.

It is not a coincidence that the co-founders of BRICS are the countries that managed to move from the periphery to the semi-periphery. They have sought to transform the world-system.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi referenced this in a historic speech on the subject of multipolarity at the Munich Security Conference in February.

Whether it is the colonial system or the core-periphery structure, unequal orders are bound to meet their demise”, declared the Chinese foreign minister, while pledging support for a multipolar world.

තිස්ස ගුණතිලක

සද්ධර්මය පිළිබදව සැමටම ගැටළු ඇත. ගැටළු නැති අයෙක් සිටිය නොහැක. එවැන්නෙක් සිටීනම් හෙතෙමේට සෝවාන් මාර්ගයට හෝ ආර්ය මාර්ගයට හෝ පිවිසිය හැකිවිය යුතුය. සද්ධර්මය අවබෝධ කරගැනීම සඳහා පලමුවෙන්ම තමාට සද්ධර්මය සම්බන්ධව ඇති ගැටළු ලිහා ගත යුතුය. මක්නිසාද යත් සද්ධර්මය පිළිබදව ආවර්ජනාවක යෙදෙන සෑම මොහොතකම තමතමන්න්ට ඇති ගැටළු මතුවී සද්ධර්මය තුල ඉදිරියට යාමට ගන්නා උත්සාහය වලක්වාලන බැවිනි.

අදින් ඇරඹෙන මෙම සාකාච්ඡා මාලාවේ ප්‍රධානම අරමුන හා තේමාව වන්නේ සියළු දෙනාට පවතින ගැටළු ලිහාගෙන සද්ධර්මය තේරුම් ගැනීමට අවශ්‍ය පසුබිම සකස්කර දීමයි.

ප්‍රථමයෙන්ම සද්ධර්මය පිළිබඳව ඹබ දන්නා දේත්, අපැහැදිලි, පැටලිලි සහිත දේත් පැතතකින් තබන්න. ඒවා කරපින්නාගෙන ධර්මයට පිවිසීමට දරන උත්සාහය නිෂ්ඵලය. ඒසේ කරනා ඔබට සද්ධර්මය නිදහස්ව (non~bias) හැදෑරිය හැකිය. අපි මුලසිට සද්ධර්මට එලෙස පිවිසීමට උත්සාහ ගනිමු.

‘සයධාතුව‘ හා එහි ස්වභාවය

‘සද්ධර්මය‘ යනු ස්වභාවධර්මය තුල පවතින වස්තූන් හෙවත් ස්වභාවධර්මය සෑදී ඇති සංඝඨකවලන් ශරීරයට කරන්නාවූ බලපෑමයි.

ස්වාභධර්මය අපට තේරුම්ගතහැකි පදාර්ථමය හෙවත් අංශු/පරමානුක වස්තූන් වලිනුත් (ඕලාරික)  තේරුම්ගත නොහැකි ශක්ති සහ දත්ත වලිනුත් (සුකුම) සෑදුනක් බව බුදුන්වහන්සේ පෙන්වාදුන් සේක. ‘සය ධාතුව’ ලෙස අන්ගුත්තර නිකායේ මහාවග්ගයේ සඳහන්වන්නේ මෙම පැහැදිලි කිරීමයි. එහිදී බුදුන්වහන්සේ ස්වභාවධර්මය ‘පඨවි. අපෝ, තේජෝ, වායෝ යන ධාතු සතරෙනුත් අවකාශ සහ විඤ්ඤාණ යන ධාතු දෙකත් ඇතුළුව සය ධාතුවකින් සෑදී ඇතිබව පෙන්වා දන ලදී. 

ස්වභාවධර්මය සය ධාතුවකින් සෑදුන සංසිද්ධිය; 

1. අනිග්ගහිතෝ – කිසිවකුට තර්කකර වෙස්කල නොහැකි බවත් (not to be refuted, not to be proven wrong or shown to be false by argument),
2. අසංකිලිට්ඨො – කිලිටි නොවු, පිරිසිදු සංකල්පයක් බවත්,
3. අනුපවජ්ජො – කිසිවෙකුටත් දොස් නැගිය නොහැකි (not blamable) බවත් 

එවැනක් අන්තර්ගත දහමක් මා විසින් දෙශනා කල බවත් පවසන ලදී.

මෙම සාකච්ඡාවේ ඉතිරියට සවන්දීමට පහත සඳහන් link එක හරහා පිවිසෙන්න:

මෙයට පෙර සාකච්ඡාවලට පහත සඳහන් link එක හරහා පිවිසිය හැක;

https://youtube.com/@tissagunatilaka?si=CWQ-eT77YPqBi700

තෙරුවන් සරණයි

තිස්ස ගුණතිලක

2025 මාර්තුමස 29වන දා

Sent from Tissa’s Phone

ධර්මසිරි සෙනෙවිරත්න

එක බඩවැල කඩා ගෙන ආපු උන් බිම් අඟලටත් මිනී මරා ගන්නවා පොල් ගහනවා මිරිස්  අඹරනවා.,හැබැයි කවුරු හරි ඉවසන්නම බැරිතැන දේශද්‍රෝහීන්ට ශාප වේවායයි කිව්වොත්එහෙවු    උන්ම  අරයා ගේ බෞධ්ධකම ප්‍රශ්න කරනවා.ඉඩම ඉතින් පෞද්ගලිකනේ රට පොදු දෙයක් නේ ,එක වෙන්නැති ! සින්හලද්වීපයත් බුදුසසුනත් ආරක්ෂා කිරීමෙන් සිංහල බෞද්ධයින්   වැළැක්වීම සඳහා තම්බයියියා බුදු දහම පාවාදීම පොතෙන් උත්සාහ කලෙත් බෞද්ධයින්ට සටන අකැපයි කියා සිංහල බෞධ්ධයින්ගේ මොලසේදීමට . මෙයාලත් ඒ ජාතියේ .මේ මුග්ධයෝ මෙලහටත් පරලොව අපි ඒ න්‍යාය අනුගමනය කළා නම්.

Dilrook Kannangara

Buddhists in India are protesting against Hindu occupation and management (rather mismanagement) of Bodh Gaya. Bodh Gaya is to Buddhists what Mecca is to Muslims and Jerusalem is to Christians and Jews. Buddhists are not appointed to the management of Hindu shrines; then why appoint Hindus to manage a Buddhist shrine? Only Buddhists should be in charge of the affairs at Bodh Gaya, not Hindus. India despite being claimed the world’s largest democracy is in fact worse than a dictatorship in mistreating its minorities.

Some Hindus claim that Buddha was an avatar of Vishnu. That is manifestly absurd. Buddha was a normal human being who lived from 605BC to 525BC. Through his efforts he attained enlightenment and showed a path to achieve same for fellow humans. Buddha was no alien-like being and He had no paranormal powers which are the stuff of myths. If Buddha was an incarnation of Vishnu, why there aren’t any Buddhists in the management of Vishnu temples? If Buddha was an incarnation of Vishnu, why isn’t there a Buddha statue in Ram Mandir along with Vishnu?

History of Occupation, Deceit and Fraud by Hindus

Buddhist Emperor Ashoka visited Bodh Gaya to worship the Bodhi tree and constructed the Bodh Gaya Mahavihara. Until the 16^th century Bodh Gaya was under the control of Buddhists despite Buddhism almost totally disappearing in the landmass due to Hindu influence. In the 13^th century Turkish invader Bakhtiar Khiliji took control of the region. However, Bodh Gaya was still under the control of Buddhists.

In 1590 a Hindu priest by the name Ghamandi Giri occupied the temple and started living there uninvited. He claimed Bodh Gaya to be a Hindu shrine, evicted Buddhists and monks and performed Hindu rituals. For 301 years Hindus occupied and controlled Bodh Gaya.

In 1891 Anagarika Dharmapala visited Bodh Gaya and urged British rulers to do justice to Buddhists by handing over the management of Bodh Gaya to Buddhists as the management of Hindu shrines were in the hands of Hindus. Anagarika Dharmapala fearlessly encouraged Buddhists to perform Buddhist rituals in Bodh Gaya and stopped the worship of idols and other nonsensical objects at the shrine.

However, Hindus craftily avoided the matter though British rulers allowed Buddhists to manage Bodh Gaya since 1922. Sadly, with India gaining independence in 1947 things turned bad. In 1948 the Bodh Gaya Temple Act was passed and the management was handed to a committee made up of Hindus and Buddhists. The committee had 4 Hindus and 4 Buddhists but the Chairman was to be a Hindu District Magistrate. This skewed the balance in favor of Hindus. In addition to this injustice, Hindus deliberately disrupted the appointment of the full number of members to the committee whereby rendering it unworkable.

2012 Court Case with No Hearing

In 2012, two Buddhist monks – Bhante Arya Nagarjuna Shurai Sasai and Gajendra Mahanand – filed a writ petition before the Indian Supreme Court to repeal the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, but nothing came out of the case as it is yet to be heard. India has clearly showed the world that they accept no minority rights.

There is no rift between Hindus and Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is a Buddhist shrine with no association whatsoever with Hinduism and Hindus who have thousands of shrines in India. Buddha ridiculed Hindu practices as meaningless and unwise and instead came up with a practical approach to achieve enlightenment which can be followed by anyone with self-discipline without magical acts or alien association that Hinduism is fascinated with. The differences must be respected, not bulldozed.

Silence of Fake Patriots in Sri Lanka

Despite claiming to be guardians of Buddhist interests, fake patriots in Sri Lanka, particularly politicians and their backers maintain a deafening silence on what matters most to Buddhists. They compete against each other to be the favored viceroy of Modi. What is a bigger tragicomedy is the silence of their usually loud henchmen who used to howl at almost anything, particularly on matters that their masters are too afraid to talk about. They too have lost their speaking abilities! Buddhists in Sri Lanka must accept the fact that these fake patriots are no representatives of theirs but foot soldiers of Modi to continue the oppression of Buddhism and Buddhists. The world should take note of India’s oppression of minorities and ridiculous Hindu beliefs that claim others’ shrines as theirs – a problem that has unfortunately spread like a cancer to Sri Lanka as well. The fate of Bodh Gaya must not be allowed to befall Buddhist shrines in the island.

Law & Order

විජේදාස රාජපක්ෂ අධිකරණ ඇමතිවරයා මුල්වී රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ ජනාධිපති සමයේ ගෙනා 2024 අංක 8 දරන අධිකරණයකට අපහාස පනත මගින් නීතීඥවරුන්ට, ඔවුන්ගේ  පවුල්වලට වන දුක්ඛදයක තත්ත්වය ගැන 2024 අප්‍රේල් 2 වනිදා අධිකරණ අමාත්‍යාංශය ඉදිරිපිට විරෝධතා පවත්වන ලද්දේ  “නීතියේ නිදහස …අධිකරණ ස්වාධීනත්වය සහ නීතීඥ වෘත්තීය අයිතිවාසිකම් රැක ගැනීම වෙනුවෙනි…

https://youtu.be/vld-NXxIlC4?si=_fm26M_4NCYBo-tV

උපුටා ගැන්ම ලංකා සී නිව්ස්

දේශබන්දු තෙන්නකෝන් මහතා පොලිස්පති ධුරයෙන් ඉවත් කිරීමට ගෙන ඇවිත් තිබෙන විශ්වාසභංගය නිශ්ඵල කටයුත්තක් බව හිටපු අධිකරණ ඇමති විජයදාස රාජපක්ෂ මහතා සඳහන් කරයි.

දේශබන්දු තෙන්නකෝන් මහතා පොලිස්පති ධුරයට පත් කිරීම නීති විරෝධී බවත් එම ධුරයේ කටයුතු කිරීම අත්හිටුවමින් ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණය විසින් නියෝගයක් නිකුත් කර තිබියදී ඔහු තවදුරටත් පොලිස්පති වශයෙන් කටයුතු නොකරන බව ඒ මහතා පෙන්වා දෙයි.

පාර්ලිමේන්තුවට එවන් විශ්වාසභංගයක් ඉදිරිපත් කළ හැක්කේ ඒ මොහොතේ ධුරය දරන පුද්ගලයකුට පමණක් බවද හෙතෙම පෙන්වා දෙයි.

දේශබන්දු තෙන්නකෝන් මහතා පොලිස්පතිවරයා නොවන බවට ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණයේ තීන්දුවක් එවන් යෝජනාවක් කතානායකවරයා බාර ගැනීමද ව්‍යවස්ථා විරෝධී බවද ඔහු පෙන්වා දෙයි.

මෙම විශ්වාස භංග යෝජනාව හරහා පාර්ලිමේන්තුව ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණ තීන්දුවට අභියෝග කරන බවත් හිටපු ඇමතිවරයා තව දුරටත් පැවසුවේය.

උපුටා ගැන්ම  ලංකා ලීඩර්

එළැඹෙන 04 වැනිදා ඉන්දීය අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය නරේන්ද්‍ර මෝදිගේ ශ්‍රී ලංකා සංචාරයේදී අත්සන් කිරීමට නියමිත ඉන්දු ශ්‍රී ලංකා මිලිටරි ගිවිසුම මගින් ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ලෝක යුද්ධයකට මැදි වන බව ජන අරගල සන්ධානය පවසනවා.
ඔවුන් අවධාරණය කරන්නේ චීනයේ වර්ධනය වන යුද බලයට ප්‍රතිබලයක් ගොඩනැගීමේ අරමුණ සහිතව ඉන්දියාව උපක්‍රමශීලිව මෙම ගිවිසුම අත්සන් කරන බවයි.
කොළඹ පැවති ප්‍රවෘත්ති සාකච්ඡාවකට එක්වෙමින් ජන අරගල සන්ධානයේ විධායක සභික පුබුදු ජයගොඩ මේ බව සදහන් කළා.

Madyawediya

Courtesy Adaderana

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks are being carried out speedily, and that several of those responsible will be exposed before Easter Sunday this year. 

He made these comments while addressing the gathering at a public meeting in Deiyandara today (30).

Further commenting on this matter, the President added, Investigations into the Easter attacks are being carried out systematically. April 21 once again marks the anniversary of the Easter attacks.”

The President also noted, The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is working to expose a significant group responsible for the attacks before April 21.”

Courtesy Adaderana

For the first time, India and Sri Lanka are set to sign an ambitious defence cooperation pact during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo next week, in a significant move that comes nearly four decades after the IPKF’s intervention in the island nation.

The two sides are also likely to firm up a currency swap framework and seal several other agreements including one on debt restructuring following talks between Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka on April 5, people familiar with the matter said.

An arrangement to develop the Trincomalee oil firms jointly by India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates is also being finalised, they said. In the second and final leg of his two-nation tour, Modi will arrive in Sri Lanka on the evening of April 4 on a three-day trip after concluding his visit to Thailand.

At a media briefing Friday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) on defence cooperation is expected to be inked and it is being signed for the first time.

If signed, the MoU on defence cooperation is set to signal a major upward trajectory in India-Sri Lanka defence leaving behind the bitter chapter relating to India pulling out the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) from the island nation around 35 years ago.

Finer details of the proposed defence pact are not immediately available but it is expected to enhance the two-way defence engagements against the backdrop of China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean Region.

The docking of Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship ‘Yuan Wang’ at Hambantota port in August 2022 had triggered a diplomatic row between India and Sri Lanka. Another Chinese warship docked at the Colombo port in August 2023.

Sri Lanka is an integral part of our ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the relationship, based on mutual trust and good will, has stood the test of time,” Misri said on the overall relations.

Modi’s visit will focus on promoting investments and deepening connectivity — physical connectivity, digital connectivity, energy connectivity and boost cooperation in various other domains, he said. Modi will be the first foreign leader to be hosted by Disanayaka in his capacity as the Sri Lankan president. Modi last travelled to Sri Lanka in 2019.

The prime minister’s trip to Sri Lanka comes over three months after Disanayaka visited India during which he categorically conveyed to Modi that the island nation will not allow its territory to be used against New Delhi’s security interests.

India has come to the assistance of Sri Lanka at critical moments, most recently during the unprecedented economic crisis that it faced in 2022,” Misri said. India was glad to be able to play a key role in economic stabilisation and recovery of Sri lanka, demonstrating its commitment as a dependable neighbour to Sri Lanka,” he said.

Misri said Modi’s visit to the island nation comes in the context of a recovering Sri Lankan economy. As Sri Lanka resumes its growth path”, the visit is coming at an opportune moment for giving the two countries an opportunity to explore new areas of partnership and cooperation, he added.

Sri Lanka was reeling under a massive economic crisis two years back and India extended financial assistance worth USD 4.5 billion to the country. The foreign secretary said Modi is expected to raise the fishermen issue during his talks with Disanayaka.

This is a longstanding issue, Misri said, adding India has been highlighting the need to avoid use of force under all circumstances.The foreign secretary said a long-lasting solution can be found through constructive engagement. In Colombo, Modi and Disanayaka will dedicate several projects that are being built in that country with India’s assistance.

We will also witness exchange of several MoUs pertaining to energy connectivity, digitisation, health and multi-sectoral grant assistance, Misri said. The two leaders will also witness the virtual ground breaking of the Sampur solar energy project.

This is in many senses going to be a milestone in the bilateral partnership, Misri said. Modi is also scheduled to meet several political leaders. On April 6, Modi and Disanayaka will travel together to the historic city of Anuradhapura where they will pay their respects at the Mahabodhi temple.

They will also jointly inaugurate two India-assisted projects there, according to Misri. India-Sri Lanka bilateral ties witnessed upward trajectory in the last few years.

Source: PTI
–Agencies

Courtesy Hiru News

Courtesy The Guardian

Myanmar’s military rulers have called for ‘any country, any organisation’ to help as concerns grow over how rescuers will reach affected areas. 

Myanmar earthquake death toll now at 1,644, says junta

The death toll from the Myanmar earthquake has risen to 1,644, the ruling junta said on Saturday, with 3,408 people injured, according to Agence France-Presse.

A statement from the junta’s information team said that at least 139 people are still missing after Friday’s 7.7-magnitude quake.

Earlier on Saturday, the country’s military junta said the death toll had surpassed 1,000.

• Damaged infrastructure in Myanmar is hindering humanitarian rescue operations, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. Damage to the Yangon/Naypyidaw/Mandalay expressway led to service disruptions, with cracks and surface distortions forcing highway buses to halt operations,” the UN agency said.
• Initial field reports indicate that upwards of 1,600 people have died, more than 2,200 people have been injured and more than 200 people remain missing as search-and-rescue operations continue. Most of the deaths were reported in the Mandalay area.
• A state of emergency has been declared in six areas of Myanmar: the Bago region, the Mandalay region, the Naypyidaw territory, the Sagaing region and parts of Shan state. The military junta currently governing Myanmar has called for international assistance.
• Initial reports indicate that Mandalay international airport (with commercial flights cancelled until further notice), major bridges, roads, universities, hotels, historical and religious sites, and public service buildings in urban and rural areas have been heavily damaged or destroyed. Thousands of people are spending the nights on the streets or in open spaces due to the damage and destruction to their homes or fearing further quakes.
• Supply infrastructure and communication towers have been severely affected and electricity and water services were disrupted, including in the Yangon region. Landline, mobile and internet networks remain unstable.
• Damage to the the Yangon-Naypyidaw-Mandalay expressway has led to service disruptions, with cracks and surface distortions, forcing buses to halt operations. As the full scale of the disaster unfolds, urgent humanitarian assistance is needed to support those affected, Ocha stressed.
• The emergency relief coordinator has allocated $5m from the Central Emergency Response Fund (Cerf) to support urgent response efforts.
• Hospitals and health facilities have sustained extensive damage or destruction.
• A severe shortage of medical supplies is hampering response efforts, including trauma kits, blood bags, anaesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines and tents for health workers.
• The European Union (EU) said it was providing €2.5m ($2.7m) in initial emergency aid and assessing the needs on the ground in order to mobilise further assistance from the bloc. The EU stands in solidarity with people in Myanmar and the broader region enduring the aftermath of this powerful earthquake. As in previous disasters, the EU stands ready to help those most in need,” said the EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib.

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Shenali D Waduge

Prabakaran had a grouse but that grouse was against the Tamil caste system of which he was a victim. This explains why his first victim after he formed the Tamil New Tigers in 1972 was Tamil Mayor Alfred Duraiappah gunned down in 1975. Circumstances made him a pawn of geopolitics & turned him into a mass murderer after he & scores of other Tamils were secretly trained, armed & funded by India in India to start a guerilla movement, passing the separatist bid in Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka. Prabakaran became leader having eliminated the leaders of the other Tamil militant outfits. He & his outfit eventually became adopted as a western geopolitical pawn following the assassination of Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. Every high-profile assassination LTTE undertook had a geopolitical goal to it in particular the manner that LTTE eliminated the cream of the high caste/class Tamil society.

To understand the nature of conflicts in the Third World, history has to be revisited, in particular the colonial divide & rule policies. Caste system that existed for centuries before colonials arrived never became a political issue, but it was turned into one by the colonials who realized how they could manipulate the caste system to their advantage. It was the Dutch who turned a non-entity Vellala caste out of Malabars in South India to a supra caste in Sri Lanka & gave to them the mantle of leading Tamils.

Colonials intentionally positioned Catholic schools run by missionaries in North & minority areas, converting them, giving them English education & nurturing a mentality of superiority over their own & all others. The same was done to the Sinhalese. This supra class of converted & English educated & English speaking became the elite in Sri Lanka.

It was this Tamil high caste/elite who requested colonial Britain to encode the caste system prior to independence and who sailed to UK in 1957 to beg the UK Privy Council to repeal the Social Disabilities Act passed in 1957 by PM SWRD Bandaranaike. It is important to read this Act for it enabled Tamil low castes to gain education in schools for the first time & permitted them to enter kovils & restaurants which was denied to them because of their caste. So, who were discriminating whom? Tamils were discriminating against their own. When the University quota system was introduced, it was the same elites from both Tamils & Sinhalese who objected because universities were to induct students from remote areas who did not belong to their caste/class & their quota was being reduced. This was the sole reason for their objections.

When Prabakaran took up arms, he neutralized the caste system. The high caste Tamils stood silent because their goal was a separate Tamil State which they wanted to rule their own people – they viewed Prabakaran as a means to obtain their goal. The Tamil version of ITAK constitution makes this objective clear. Realizing this, Prabakaran eliminated each one unceremoniously.

What Prabakaran could not control was the manner that the West manipulated the situation using the Church & faith-based NGOs & mouthpieces who came out to campaign on behalf of the LTTE through the years. Systematically, they took over decision making even dictating how Hindu LTTE were to be buried with tombs & not cremated as per Hindu customs. How & why Hindu Prabakaran agreed to such remains unanswered. Morever, there were no Hindu spokesmen for LTTE, whether in Sri Lanka or overseas it was either Catholic fathers or Catholic laymen which included the columnists, NGOs heads, civil society heads, who continue to unashamedly support & promote LTTE separatist ideology & became the LTTE spokesmen. Even the orphanges in the thick jungles of the Vanni were run by the Church. Father Emmanuel hailed Prabakaran as a freedom fighter, he compared Prabakaran to Jesus Christ, he called LTTE soldiers of Christ”, & called LTTE suicide bombers as martyrs of the Catholic Church” & called himself Moses”. It is these entities that wish to change the Constitution to remove Article 9 & it is they who harp on the term secular” for that is the camouflage for West’s pawns to control nations.

The Church was/is a tool of Western geopolitical goals in Third World nations during colonial rule & continues under neocolonial rule.

Clearly, the reality is that these geopolitical lobbies are angered that their 30-year investment ended abruptly in May 2009 with the defeat of not only LTTE but the deaths of Prabakaran & his entire leadership hierarchy. The present witch hunt which began with the UNHRC resolutions, to the calls by the same columnists & lobbies for accountability” is to avenge that defeat & waste of investment.

There is no need for Tamils to join this bandwagon especially the Tamil Hindus.

This does not mean that they should align with Hindu India’s Arkhand Bharath goals either. Tamils should now decide whether they wish to be 100% part of sovereign Sri Lanka.

Another question for Tamils to ask themselves is whether Tamils would be living as they are now if Prabakaran & LTTE were alive? Would they be living in the present peaceful atmosphere that they are now living in North & East & rest of Sri Lanka?

How many Tamils continue to remember what the North & East looked like before 2009 & what it looks like now. Apart from the Tamils that supported LTTE the rest of the Tamils lived in fear some continue to live in fear in UK & especially France where LTTE knife gangs and extortionists still demand ransom from them and many have had their hands chopped off! The fear of some Tamils who live in UK, Europe & even Canada is not prevalent among Tamils in Sri Lanka. We see only hired pocket groups & hired politicians wailing for their dollar supper.

What Tamils especially those who were child soldiers & young men & women indoctrinated to join militancy must now wonder is what did they gain & what they have lost.

What should they demand from India for secretly training them, arming & funding them to wage a guerilla war against Sri Lanka to prevent self-determination in Tamil Nadu? With increasing Church presence & Church influenced politicians & filmstars, it is only a matter of time that bid will commence in TN too.

How many Tamils were killed by Indian peacekeepers.

How many Tamil women were raped? Where is the accountability.

Shouldn’t Tamils be demanding accountability from India?

How many Tamils were killed as a result of differences between various Tamil groups since late 1970s, early 1980s – what would they have become had they not died in vain.

How many Tamil low caste & poor children were kidnapped & turned into child soldiers. How many died during gruesome training, or were killed trying to flee or inside torture chambers as punishment?

What are the international conventions & treaties LTTE & Adele B who trained children to kill & commit suicide, committed. What kind of a nurse would be so cruel as to teach children to kill others & kill themselves?

Do these former LTTE not want to file case against her & seek damages not only from her but the LTTE fronts too?

How many Tamil children were swept from their homes or orphanages run by Churches, denied parental love, denied their childhood & youth, especially their right to education & freedom?

Why don’t’ they seek compensation for this crime?

Why don’t lawyers come forward to appear on behalf of them for these are the human rights violations that should gain international attention.

No child should be kidnapped, denied the love of parents, denied education, denied childhood to be trained into a mass murderer & also be taught to commit suicide biting a cyanide capsule.,

How many young girls, women or even boys were sexually exploited?

Of the living former LTTE – how many have thought what they could have become if they had not been indoctrinated to kill? Essentially, many talented Tamil LTTE child soldiers, women & men could have become doctors, accountants, engineers & many more career avenues if they had not been trained to become killers.

Shouldn’t they now be seeking damages & accountability from those who manipulated them while they lived happily overseas making money & sending their children to ivy league schools & universities. Now to maintain their sham show, with heavy accents holding foreign passports & happily living in Western capitals, they are continuing to fool the Tamils in Sri Lanka about a bogus homeland just to keep alive the LTTE kitty which only they are now enjoying.

Most of the fronts now presenting themselves as representatives of the Tamils did not exist when Prabakaran was alive, including the entity whose leader calls himself a utopian President”. Many of these new representatives” would have met their waterloo had Prabakaran been alive which is probably why they set up their entities only after his death.

How big has the LTTE kitty become & how much of that kitty is being shared with the former combatants & their families (living & dead)?

What we annually see is LTTE fronts hiring a handful of people/politicians to do pocket protests simply to fill the record books.

During hayday of LTTE, Janes Intelligence claimed LTTE annual profits was some $300m (2004) – this was after spending for arms, ammunition, & the welfare of LTTE combatants. Without that expense, former LTTE & their families who are not privy to this post-2009 kitty must wonder who is enjoying this money? Look at the homes of some of the LTTE front leaders/families, the luxury lives they lead & back in Sri Lanka, how are former LTTE & their families living? This is what Tamils need to wonder, not fall prey to the traps set by LTTE fronts abroad who are flaming the homeland” card & bogus human rightsgenocide” slogans only to keep alive their fundraising and justify their existence but more importantly enjoy the funds that are in the LTTE kitty.

Tamils must not become bait or prey or pawns to them by falling for their anti-Sinhala slogans.

The list of crimes LTTE is accused of is well documented. Enough of reports have been written internationally. Yet, these very entities did nothing against the LTTE.

More importantly, the LTTE fronts holding genocide” memorials for LTTE (pretending to show the world it is for Tamil civilians” never spoke against LTTE child soldier recruitment, never spoke against Tamil women being used as sex slaves for LTTE fighters, never spoke a word against forcible recruitment of Tamil children?

Isnt it odd that these LTTE fronts are only after the defeat of LTTE screaming about genocide” & human rights violations” when they forgot the human rights of Tamil children & Tamil women who were inducted into LTTE by force?

The greater damage to Tamils has been done by LTTE & LTTE fronts than by the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. They saved 297,853 but how many Tamil children lost their childhood as child soldiers, how many Tamil girls were prostituted for sexual favors? Why have LTTE fronts not stopped these crimes to their own people?

This proves that the LTTE fronts are selfish & their genocide” and fake concern for Tamils in Sri Lanka” & demand for war crimes” accountability” is only to continue the LTTE kitty & enjoy the perks using a call for a bogus Tamil Homeland” to which they would never settle in & in all probability since they are living on Western shores they may be hired as pawns for West’s geopolitical goals in Sri Lanka/Asia.

Shenali D Waduge

Garvin Karunaratne former Government Agent, Matara

(Posted on November 17th, 2013; reprinted for kind consideration  a decade later)

A Spectacular Phenomenon

Last week I went to Iceland, in search of the Northern Lights, a mysterious phenomenon – coloured shades of light in the sky taking various forms, at times even sequencing a dance.‚  Every tourist that enters Iceland is determined to see the Northern lights. This is the attraction that lures tourists to many countries in the far North like Norway.

I have seen sunrise at Haleakala in Maui, Hawaii and there at sunrise various colours were emitted in the sky for quite a while. It was a grand sight.

Almost all tourists coming to Iceland are mesmerized to see this phenomenon and they wait days if only to see it. We had to wait for three days. On the night when there is high visibility enthusiasts travel towards the North of Iceland by coaches‚  searching for them. On the night when we went, there were eight coach loads of tourists on the road. In addition there were many cars.‚  At Haleakala one has to get up at three in the morning and motor on a stiff road‚  to the edge of a crater to see the marvelous sunrise.

I am concerned why we have not been able to attract tourists to see sunrise at Sri Pada. I have been to the summit twice at dawn and on those days there was no spectacular sunrise. However on a trip to Pidurutalagala mountain I saw sunrise in its full grandeour. The various colours did move about in pristine glory which I can recall today some fifty years later. Many people talk of the spectacular sunrise at Sri Pada. No one speaks of this sight at Pidurutalagala. It is my opinion that we can attract tourists to these two places to see this grand sight. Special publicity is needed.

In‚  Iceland‚  the Northern Lights is the prime show and people flock to Iceland for its sake. The restaurants and hotels are costly. One can buy a budget trip (Air fares and hotel) at a discount but restaurants are charging easily double the prices in London. The tourists have to somehow eat during their stay‚  because they are captive. This trade offers employment and incomes for the locals. It is fair to say that the economy of Iceland entirely depends on‚  tourism. All sorts of goods are available at high prices. The shops cater to every activity that tourists require The sea is too cold and the beaches are not an attraction. Some tourists are avid artists and would sit hours looking at a scenery trying to portray it on a parchment. There are shops that provide the easels, all sorts of specialist brushes and paint‚  that are required by artists. I have never seen any such shop in Sri Lanka though we have stunning scenery.

Tourism is perhaps one of the saviours we have today. However it has to be stated that some essential factors have to be addressed if Tourism is to be successful. In that respect Iceland has a great deal to offer us.

The author has been a global traveller in‚ ‚  the past two decades; my travels have taken me to every nook and corner one can find in the United States, in Canada, Mexico and some countries in Europe and Asia.‚  My mode is to travel in a rental car without a guide mix with the people and find things for myself. As a member of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service there is not a patch of land that I have not covered in our country. Perhaps my ideas may therefore be valid. It is my thinking that we have not yet harnessed the beauty of our island so far. The ideas expressed are not a criticism.‚  It is a sincere attempt to develop our effort.

Accomodation

Even Government Ministers have criticized‚  the hotels in Sri Lanka for the high charges they levy. This is true. Having‚  stayed at hotels in easily half the countries in the world, I can make a statement that we are over pricing our hotels. We can easily kill the hen that lays the golden eggs.‚  Solely left to the Private Sector mentality of making a fast buck that can really happen.

Hotels can be classified into a few categories: Luxury, Medium, Budget and small Bed and Breakfast.‚  Countries like Thailand, with which we have to compete‚  have a very large network of Medium and Budget Hotels where they adhere to a high standard of service and the prices are around half of what one is charged in Sri Lanka.‚  To start with Sri Lanka requires more medium and budget hotels and the charges have to be reduced. This is true of Singapore too. The charges in Sri Lanka are above the Singaporean level. To my mind most of the tourists come to the Medium and Budget Hotels and this is an area that has to be looked into.‚  Further many‚  tourists that come to Sri Lanka are of the low budget type, the frugal, who rarely spend.

Tourists are of different categories. Some come to have fun and games, while others come to enjoy the natural beauty, enjoy the beaches and to see places of historic importance.

The Natural Beauty

Our natural beauty is something that we do not appreciate ourselves. I have already commented on the grandeour of sunrise at Siripada and Pidurutalagala.‚  The Northern Lights are amply advertised. Similarly we have to show tourists what they can expect at sunrise and I am certain that tourists will flock to the top of Sri Pada and Pidurutalagala at sunrise and the hotels in Nuwara Eliya and Hatton and Maskeliya can gain a windfall in offering accommodation. This is employment creation, something that we do required most.‚  Even Worlds End which is a sight not to be missed and can well attract may tourists is not publicized and has no proper accommodation up to date.

Any tourist guide on California delves deep into the natural beauty of the‚  Big Sur- the stretch of coastal roadway from Monterey to Los Angeles. The road winds its way along the rugged coast. The Oregan coast to the North of California is also a marvel in scenery. Many tourists drive enjoying the scenery for hours on end. On my travels in Sri lanka I have seen many such marvels. One is the stretch from Deniyaya to Rakwana. It is a winding road, with ten hairpin bends when the road drops to Rakwana. One can see the stunning scenery to the south. The road needs to be carpeted and there should be vista points where tourists can park their cars and watch the scenery for hours.‚  A few hotels should come up facing this marvellous sight.

Another marvel is the stretch from Belihul Oya to Haldummulla and Haputale. It a glorious sight. One can see the Kataragama Hills and beyond- even the sea.‚  The last time I drove from Haputale I was sad that there was no parking space to park and watch this glorious sight.

Another such drive is the Kandy- Mahiyangana‚  road when the road takes the hair pin bends where one can see far out into the Eastern Plains.

We have all driven again and again to Kandy and have been mesmerised by the scenery that one can see at Kadugannawa. One can see the Bible Rock and hills in the distance. Sadly there is no parking space to park one-â„¢s car and watch this glorious sight with the clouds dashing on the hills above. .

Another beautiful drive is the road from Ella to Moneragala. The road is rugged and the last time I tried I had to back track to Ella because the road was too rough.

In‚  all these places the roads need to be widened at spots of vantage beauty to enable motorists to park and‚  enjoy the beautiful scenery. A few kiosks can crop to cater to thirsty tourists. This is employment creation, income for the rural folk. In many other countries I have seen‚  artists sitting for hours portraying the scenes on parchment. Not so in Sri lanka where we have not thought of providing the essentials.

Publicity

We have to use the various flower shows etc in the world to attract people. In the UK the Chelsea, Hampton Court‚  Flower Shows are a hive of activity and many countries have stalls to show their beauty and attract tourists. But I was sad not to see a single scenery from Sri lanka displayed at the Sri lanka stall at the Floriade Show in Netherlands last year. It was a Show that was continuous for three months and other‚  countries like India‚  were making headway while the Sri Lankan Stall had only eats, and crafts It was done by the Jayakodys, related to the Premadasa faction.‚  I was told that the organizers sought material to display and never received any.

Unfortunately political rivalry too eats into our future.‚  The Party Political System of democracy was foisted on us to divide us and keep us fighting for ever. Sadly tourism to has to suffer. Not so in Western democracies like the USA, Canada and the UK where after the fighting at the elections are over and someone gets elected the people move together and attend to development tasks in unity. Sadly not so in Sri Lanka where political affiliations even divide brothers and sisters in a single family.

Tourism should help the locals; it should not be an investment for foreigners.

I note that in some areas like Arugam Bay many hotels are owned by foreigners. This is something peculiar to Sri Lanka. In other countries hotels are owned by locals. Then the profits stay within the country. Foreigners will hog any place to make money. Tourism too should be run not to use local people as waiters, and chefs. Instead all hotels should be run by locals. Foreigners come in attracted by BOI tax concessions. We forget that they take earnings away and also close shop when the tax haven ends. The net loser is us.

Perhaps my experience of establishing rice mills‚  may be valid. Once in the Fifties we needed rice mills fixed up fast. The Government identified the areas where the rice mills should crop up and‚  called for offers from the private sector to develop rice mills. We provided the foreign exchange, the expertise and the guidance for local people if they were to put up rice mills. I worked in that team, Then we controlled development. It will be good if vantage areas so far not touched by hotels be mapped out like the Ella- Moneragala stretch, the Belihul Oya- Haputale streth, the Nuwara Eliya- Gampola stretch, Deniyaya- Rakwana stretch‚  etc where there are no hotels where one can lounge on a chair and gaze for hours at the pristine beauty that nature has bequeathed to us. The Government has to provide incentives for local people to invest in hotels.

Ancient Ruins

Sri Lanka is a country that is not only steeped in history dating back to the pre Christian Era, but has massive tanks, dagobas, statues, caves, frescoes etc.‚  We can easily compare our ancient sights to any other country. We are not providing enough facilities for tourists to see these places. Tours should be organized with Colombo, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Hambantota as the base.‚  There should be day tours and a few day tours advertised where a‚  ticket can be purchased by anyone and the person will be collected from a hotel. This could lead to the development of Tourist Terminals.‚  A country that has developed ancient sites in tourism is Northern Cambodia where ruins like Angkor Wat have been publicized and many tourists are attracted. There Tourism is a hive of activity.

Trained Guides

An essential category for tourism are guides. They should be smartly dressed and be informative. This is lacking in Sri Lanka. It would augur well to have an uniformed‚  tourist guide service, well trained in the historical aspects of the various sites.‚  I am not aware whether there is a School or College imparting that knowledge. We should have‚  a College for this purpose or even a university degree in Tourism. In India my guide had‚  a good knowledge of history and was very informative.

The guides should also be taught to take care of our artifacts. The last time I went up to Sigiriya frescoes the guides even allowed the tourists to touch the frescoes. The Archelogical‚  guides too have to be trained to attend to security. In India the guides are great at keeping the people away from handling artifacts.

Rental Cars

Unlike other countries where a tourist has to travel a few hundred miles to see mountains and sandy stretches, in Sri Lanka one can get to Nuwara Eliya‚  within hours. For this purpose we should have adequate modes of travel. Many‚  tourists come in groups of less than ten and to cater to that crowd there should be good car and van rental firms that provide a good service. My experience of getting rental cars was a major problem till recently. Either the cars were not roadworthy or they developed defects‚  and I had to get them repaired. Once I had to replace a battery. Another time it was a radiator leak. All this happened out of Colombo and I had to fend for myself hoping that the rental car owner will honour the expenses of the repair. Once it was a Third Party Insurance. This proved to be a nightmare till I went to Kings Rent a Car at Battaramulla where the staff is courteous and the cars are really roadworthy. They even have a service to send the car for collection at the Airport.

In Sri Lanka we do not have a mobile repair service like the AA(Automobile Association)‚  and the RAC in the UK where we can phone in if our car packs in and‚  an automotive engineer will be at hand.‚  Kings Rent A car provides this service to their own rental cars and if necessary they send an immediate replacement. I have never required that service, but it is a necessity.

In every country I travel, I slump into a rental car at the Airport which I return after clocking around three thousand miles.. Our Airport at Katunayake should have the facility of having a number of rental car firms where any tourist can shop around. It would be good if the Airport was to have a separate room to house the rental car companies till we have separate kiosks for them to function when the rental car business develops. In Bangkok each rental car has a kiosk of‚  only‚  ten square feet and all are housed in one row which makes it easy for the tourists to select a car of their choice.

There should be parking facilities for a few cars for each firm at the Airport itself.‚  This is something that can be done immediately.

In Indonesia enamoured by their train service, we took a train to their second city Yogyakarta hoping to find a rental car there. I was disappointed because in Indonesia rental cars can be had only at the Jakarta Airport. I ended travelling by coach and train carrying my luggage which proved a nasty experience.‚  In the case of Sri Lanka there should be car rental firm units in Kandy and Anuradhapura,‚  and First Class travel by trains should be developed for tourists. The scenery that one can enjoy on the Kandy Badulla rail route‚  is not to be missed. In this regard I may state that Indian Railways have developed their Express trains to the maximum providing an excellent service. We have to emulate them.

Restaurants enroute

On all tourist routes there should be restaurants with toilet facilities like what is provided today by the StateSector at Warakapola and by the Private Sector at Ambepussa, where tourists can rest, enjoy a meal and proceed.‚  In my days the Rest Houses run by the Government Agents provided this service ,but today some of these Rest Houses have been developed into luxury hotels.‚  It will be apt for the Tourist Board to map out central spots every thirty miles on every route where this facility could be provided. Existing Restaurants should be guided to provide proper toilet facilities.

Ardous Driving‚ 

Driving in Sri Lanka like driving in Bangkok requires the special ability to figure out that all road rules will never be followed by local drivers. On many an occasion I have had to take my car off the road onto drains in order to avoid an accident. Tourists trying to motor in Sri Lanka should be spared this ordeal. It is necessary that the Police become active to ensure that traffic rules are followed. In my visit a year ago I sensed that the motorists in Colombo adhere to many rules. This has to be followed up to make car driving safe for tourists. In Sri Lanka one cannot even cross the road. I generally cross the road in my car.‚  It takes a drive of a mile or more but unfortunately that is the only way. In Iceland the motorists are extremely careful and in the city they drive at a snails-â„¢ pace. In the UK one dare not go fast. If one gets caught there is a fine and three such instances and one is off the road. Further the car insurance is increased with every traffic offence.. Driving should be an enjoyable exercise.

Road Directions

To develop motoring tourists there have to be ample road markings providing directions at junctions. Road maps should also be available for the country as well as for various cities.

Beaches and Swimming

Our beaches are spectacular sights. These have been publicized and do attract tourists today. Many hotels have cropped up on the Southern coast‚  and in the East at Pasikuda, Arugam Bay, Nellaveli etc.

Beaches and safe seas are a major attraction. Recent newspapers have highlighted many deaths by drowning. Tourists come to enjoy a swim, not to get back in a‚  coffin. Having been a swimmer myself it is a great experience to stretch oneself in the‚  sunny waters. Unfortunately there are various currents, mostly underground and which have to be avoided. Such places have to be made known by boards warning tourists not to bathe there. A year ago I stretched myself in the sea at Mount Lavinia. A few days later I was shaken up when I was told that that was a very dangerous stretch. There should have been a warning sign. At Polhena in Matara adjacent at the marvel of the sea where safe snorkeling can be done there is a deep section in front of the hotels which is not marked as dangerous . This is the spot that took in my friend ASP Peter Gunawardena. Once I was myself involved when we brought a man out of the water and because he was lifeless we rushed him to the Matara Hospital where his life was saved.‚  That day I did carry a dead man to the hospital in my swimming trunk. That was our Health System at its best. At places like MountLavinia Beach during the mornings on week ends there should also be an ambulance in waiting.

Life Saver‚  squads should be available. In my days there was a fully equipped life saving squad at the Mount Lavinia beach. Once someone in distress is spotted this squad gets into action when one swimmer with a rope swims out to the person in distress, grabs him and is hauled to the shore by the squad. I would have been in that squad if not for my books.

While having a life saving squad is costly one can have trained life savers on duty. It is a single person‚  who is a strong swimmer who is trained to snatch the drowning person from behind, how to overpower him and to swim back holding him at a distance. This training is essential because a drowning person grabs the life saver and in many instances the life saver too drowns. This is a difficult expertise and perhaps the Swimming Clubs can offer this expertise.

Murders and Fights

Tourists do not come to get beaten to death. There have been a few‚  such instances which have to be avoided at all costs. A few such instances and we can forget tourism altogether.‚  We have to be serious. Tourism not only brings us foreign exchange; it also brings us employment and incomes to people.

Another matter of great concern is the quality of food. Around fifteen years ago we ordered dinner. I did not like the look of three dishes and sniffed them and found them putrid. I called for the Rest House Keeper and gave him a piece of my mind. That was at the Kitulgala Rest House. Last year‚  one in my party suffered a bad stomach after lunch at the Rakwana Rest House. When I told this to friends they advised me to eat only a vegeterian meal at Rest Houses. In my days‚  public servants always hogged the rest houses for meals and we got feed back. The report of one putrid dish and the rest house keeper lost his job. I read often of fines levied for putrid food at hotels in Colombo. There is no point in fining and we have some idiotic magistrates‚  whose fines are ridiculously low.‚  The only method is to fine and invariably close the restaurant.

Local Tourists

We tend to have forgotten local tourists. Local tourism is also important. In certain countries there are two tarrifs one for the locals and another for foreigners.‚  Today in Sri Lanka‚  local tourism is non existent. The hotel staff tend to cater more to foreign tourists.. Long ago the Tissamaharama Rest House was a hive of activity providing meals and lodging at a reasonable rate for locals. We were at home there whenever we dropped in. Some fifteen years ago I had a nasty experience after the‚  Tissamarama Rest House had been taken over for foreigners. We dropped in to have a cup of tea on our way to Kataragama.‚  We ordered the tea and short eats and waited and waited, reminded and reminded. Finally after thirty minutes we walked away in disgust. The staff were not catering to the local crowd. Since then I avoid that place like the plague. Many of our old rest houses have margined into hotels for the affluent and their staff have this mentality. They want a dollar tip.

That could also be the end of tourism. Sri Lanka attracts very few top range tourists. We generally get in the mid and the budget range. The current economic woes in Western affluent countries have had their effect to reduce the incomes of people in those countries which means less tourists for our countries.

It is a good Chinese saying that one must walk on two legs. It may be a good idea to cater to local tourism too in addition to tourism for foreign customers.‚  Any day that foreigners drop off the local tourists will be there for our hotels. This is a matter for immediate concern. Local tourists need facilities and food at a reasonable rate.‚ ‚  In countries like the USA this local tourism is well developed where there are Motels at very reasonable rates for budget travelers and locals while there are the luxury Marriotts and Hiltons for the super rich.

May the ideas that I have dared to pen‚  help the Tourist industry in our country.

Garvin Karunaratne former Government Agent, Matara

15 th November 2013

By a concerned Kandyan: Dr Sudath Gunasekara. Mahanuwara

Naming newly acquired bear cubs in the Dehiwala Zoo.

I read that these two cubs have been named as Nilame and Menike.I regret very much this foolish decision made by the Zoo authorities. This is highly defamatory and malicious.Therefore, I demand this foolish and defamatory decision should be withdrawn immediately and corrected in the press and the YOUTUBE as it is an attempt made by some scruples donkey, to defame the Kandyans and humiliate them, with the intention of doing so or not. He should withdraw it immediately. I also demand that the man or the woman who made this decision should be punished.

Thereafter, pl find a suitable name for a bear.

The term Nilame was coined and used to designate a faithful servant of the King in traditional Kandyan Sinhala society. It means the bearer of a high position in the service of the King and the People and the Sasana as all three were one, as the Mahavansa says. The term Menike was used to call the lady of the house.Both terms were used in an honorary sense. The father was called Loku Nilame and the lady Loku Menike The male children Podi Nilame and females Podi Manike. The person whether an officer or a Minister must be ashamed to have defamed and humiliated great clan of our society who fought for nearly 350 year against the Portuguese, Dutch and the British invaders to save the Sinhale Kingdom and Sinhala nation together with the Buddha Sasana for have a land for all of us to live without being disappearing like the Natives of North and South America,,Australia and New Zealand. As such instead of honoring those Great people and paying respect to them, nobody should be allowed to humiliate them by resorting to this type of low and unsavory tactics. Dr Sudath Gunasekara. Mahanuwara 28.3.2025

Courtesy The Island

Leader of ‘Pivithuru Hela Urumaya’ Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, has omitted certain words from the statement issued by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to the sanctions imposed by the UK government on former military chiefs.

Commenting regarding the matter, Gammanpila said: We think that Minister Vijitha Herath wrote the statement engulfed in patriotic thoughts, but US Ambassador Julie Chung, who has power over the government, must have omitted certain words and edited the statement.”

The Canadian Tamil Congress that congratulated President Anura Dissanayake when he rose to power sent a congratulatory letter to the President urging him to fulfill his duties, stating that they have completed theirs”, Gammanpila stated, questioning the government on what these responsibilities which they have promised to the Canadian Tamil congress.

It has not been revealed to the country as yet. We have to assume that the government is fulfilling their duties to the Canadian Tamil congress when the government is responding lackadaisically to Britain’s hunt against military personnel”, he said.

Courtesy Adaderana

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a high-level meeting today (28) at the Presidential Secretariat with senior officials from the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, as well as the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing. 

During the discussion, the President instructed the relevant officials to expedite the construction of the Mirigama-Kadawatha section of the Central Expressway, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.  

The meeting also focused on the Colombo Port Access Elevated Highway project, with deliberations on strategies to swiftly integrate its benefits into the national economy. Furthermore, the meeting also explored both short-term and long-term solutions to address associated challenges. 

Addressing the urgent need to mitigate traffic congestion in Colombo, discussions centred on upgrading the railway system and standardizing bus and road transportation service. The implementation of a pilot project in the Colombo District was proposed as an initial step toward these improvements. 

Furthermore, discussions were held regarding the development of multimodal transport hubs in Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala and Moratuwa, aimed at improving urban mobility and streamlining public transportation.

The meeting also included extensive discussions on identifying underutilized lands belonging to the Railway Department that do not contribute to the national economy and implementing proper management strategies to optimize their use, the PMD said.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake, Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing Anura Karunatilaka, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and other senior officials from the relevant Ministries.

–PMD

Courtesy Adaderana

It was revealed in the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) that a private company named ‘Savorite’ was issued Waiver of Registration (WoR) certificates to import 38 types of medicines in 2022 without the evaluation of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). 

The former Secretary to the Ministry of Health also informed the Committee that the former Minister of Health had given instructions to select this private company called ‘Savorite’ to import medicines in this way.

This was disclosed when the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) of Parliament met in Parliament on Wednesday (March 26), under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera, to examine the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 and the current performance of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, the Department of Communication of Parliament said.

The Committee Chair informed the committee that on December 30, 2022, the NMRA had issued Waiver of Registration (WoR) certificates to a private company named ‘Savorite’ for the import of 38 types of medicines submitted through unsolicited proposals without the evaluation of the NMRA. The Committee Chair said that the NMRA has abdicated its responsibility, stating that the purpose of establishing the NMRA is to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of those medicines and that it cannot be handed over to the Medical Supplies Sector.

Former members of the Board of Directors of the NMRA said that since the import of medicines through a special pathway with prior approval was carried out, the Board of Directors could not grant permission for it without conducting a proper evaluation. Therefore, they said that they did not accept responsibility in this regard.

Accordingly, this matter was discussed at length in the committee, and it was revealed that the former Minister of Health had instructed to select a private company called ‘Savorite’ to import the medicines in short supply for 3 months.

Meanwhile, the Committee also discussed at length the Cabinet Memorandum submitted by the former Minister of Health on 26 September 2022. The Committee Chair inquired from the Ministry of Health officials about the fact that a large number of medicines would reach zero levels within the next 3 weeks from the date of submission of the relevant Cabinet Memorandum. 

The officials who responded said that the information had been added to the Cabinet Memorandum based on the information obtained from the existing database regarding medicines. However, the committee Chair said that it was unacceptable for a large number of medicines to reach zero levels at the same time and that the relevant responsible officials had acted irresponsibly until such a level was reached.

The Auditor General, who spoke at the time, stated that the medicines that were ordered and to be received in advance have also been imported, citing that the medicines have reached zero levels.

Accordingly, the committee chair instructed the officials to submit a full report to the Committee on who were the officials involved in preparing this Cabinet Memorandum. The Chair further stated that a full report regarding the import of these medicines will be prepared by the Committee and submitted to Parliament, and that necessary action will be taken expeditiously.

The Members of Parliament Mano Ganeshan, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, S. M. Marikkar, Chaminda Wijesiri, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Chandima Hettiarachchi, Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera, Sudath Balagalla, (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah, Lieutenant Commander (Retd.) Prageeth Madhuranga and Samanmali Gunasinghe were present in this committee meeting.

Dr. Asoka Bandarage

Following independence from Britain, both India and Sri Lanka emerged as leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement, which sought to advance developing nations’ interests during the Cold War. Indeed, the term “non-alignment” was itself coined by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during his 1954 speech in Colombo. The five principles of the Non-Aligned Movement are: mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; mutual non-aggression; mutual non-interference in domestic affairs; equality and mutual benefit; and peaceful co-existence.”

Later, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi played a key role in supporting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s 1971 proposal to declare the Indian Ocean a Zone of Peace at the United Nations.

Such progressive ideals are in stark contrast to the current neocolonial  negotiations between the two countries.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit to Sri Lanka on April 4, 2025, is presented as representing a mutually beneficial partnership that will bring economic development to debt-burdened Sri Lanka. However, the details of the strategic agreements to be signed during Modi’s visit remain undisclosed to the public. This opacity cannot be a good sign and should not be accepted uncritically by the media or the people of either nation.

The Indo-Lanka Agreement of July 29, 1987, was also crafted without consultation with the Sri Lankan people or its parliament. It was signed during a 48-hour curfew when former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi arrived in Sri Lanka. This agreement led to the imposition of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution and established the Provincial Council system. The political framework it created continues to challenge Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Rather than bringing peace, India’s 1987 intervention resulted in one of the most violent and chaotic periods in the island’s recent history.

Will these agreements being finalized with Prime Minister Modi also lead to a period of pillage and plunder of the island’s resources and worsening conditions for its people, rather than delivering the promised economic benefits? It is crucial that any bilateral agreements include enforceable measures to stop Indian bottom trawlers from illegally fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters. This decades-long practice has caused severe damage to Sri Lanka’s marine resources and inflicted significant economic losses on its fishing communities.

Facing an increasing Chinese presence in Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean, India has sought to strengthen its political, economic, strategic and cultural influence over Sri Lanka through various overt and covert means. During Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis, for example, India provided $4 billion in financial assistance through currency swaps, credit lines, and loan deferrals that enabled Sri Lanka to import essential goods from India. While this aid has helped Sri Lanka, it has also served India’s interests by countering China’s influence and protecting Indian business in Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit represents the culmination of years of Indian initiatives in Sri Lanka spanning maritime security, aviation, energy, power generation, trade, finance, and cultural exchanges. For example, India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for digital payments was introduced in Sri Lanka in February 2024, and in October 2023 India provided funds to develop a digital national identity card for Sri Lanka raising concerns about India’s access to Sri Lanka’s national biometric identification data. Indian investors have been given preferential access in the privatization of Sri Lanka’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in key sectors like telecommunications, financial services, and energy. The Adani Group’s West Terminal project in Colombo Port is explicitly designed to counter China’s control over Sri Lanka’s port infrastructure, including the Colombo International Container Terminal, Hambantota Port, and Port City Colombo.

India and Sri Lanka have recently agreed to resume negotiations on the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ECTA), which focuses primarily on the service sector and aims to create a unified labor market. However, Sri Lankan professional associations have raised concerns that ECTA could give unemployed and lower-paid Indian workers a competitive advantage over their Sri Lankan counterparts. These concerns must be properly addressed before any agreement is finalized.

On December 16, 2024, India and Sri Lanka signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) in New Delhi to enhance cooperation in defense, energy, and infrastructure development. These include plans for electricity grid interconnection and a multi-product petroleum pipeline between the two countries. Building on these agreements, construction of the Sampur power plant in Trincomalee is expected to begin during Prime Minister Modi’s April visit.

The Sampur power plant project, combined with India’s takeover of the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm, represents a significant step toward integrating Sri Lanka into India’s national energy grid. This development effectively brings Trincomalee’s strategic natural harbor – often called the crown jewel” of Sri Lanka’s assets – under Indian control, transforming it into a regional energy hub. In 1987, during India’s military intervention in Sri Lanka, New Delhi pressured Colombo into signing a secret agreement stipulating that the British-era Trincomalee oil tank farm would be jointly developed with India and could not be used by any other country.

While India promotes its energy interconnection projects as enhancing regional energy security, recent experiences in Nepal demonstrate how electricity grid integration with India has made Nepal dependent on and subordinate to India for its basic energy needs. Similarly, Bangladesh’s electricity agreement with the Adani Group has created an imbalanced situation favoring Adani over Bangladeshi power consumers. What collective actions could Sri Lanka and other small nations take to avoid such unequal “energy colonialism” and protect their national security and sovereignty?

India’s emergence as a superpower and its expansionist policies are gradually transforming neighboring South Asian and Indian Ocean states into economically and politically subordinate entities. Both Sri Lanka and the Maldives have adopted “India First” foreign policies in recent years, with the Maldives abandoning its “India Out” campaign in October 2024 in exchange for Indian economic assistance.

India’s “Neighborhood First Policy” has led to deep involvement in the internal affairs of neighboring countries including Sri Lanka. This involvement often takes the form of manipulating political parties, exploiting ethnic and religious divisions, and engineering political instability and regime changes – tactics reminiscent of colonial practices. It is well documented that India provided training to the LTTE and other terrorist groups opposing the Sri Lankan government during the civil war. Many in Sri Lanka also suspect, though without conclusive evidence, that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was involved in both the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings and the 2022 Aragalaya protest movement during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.

Contemporary Indian expansionism must be viewed within the broader context of the New Cold War and intensifying geopolitical competition between the United States and China. Given its strategic location along the vital east-west shipping routes in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has become a pawn in this great power rivalry. In addition to granting China extensive control over key infrastructure, Sri Lanka has signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) and Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States, effectively allowing the use of Sri Lanka as a U.S. military logistics hub. It was reported that during a visit to Sri Lanka in February 2023, Victoria Nuland, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States strongly suggested the establishment of a joint US-Indian military base in Trincomalee to counter Chinese activities in the region.

As a member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) – a strategic alliance against Chinese expansion that includes the United States, Australia and Japan – India participates in extensive QUAD military exercises like the Malabar exercises in the Indian Ocean. However, India’s role in QUAD appears inconsistent with its position as a founding member of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), which was established to promote the interests of emerging economies and a multipolar world order. Unfortunately, BRICS appears to be replicating the same patterns of domination and subordination in its relations with smaller nations like Sri Lanka that characterize traditional imperial powers.

India presents itself as the guardian of Buddhism, particularly in its relations with Sri Lanka, to foster a sense of shared cultural heritage. However, it was Sri Lanka – not India – that preserved the Buddha’s teachings as they declined and eventually disappeared from India. Sri Lanka maintained the Buddhist tradition despite seventeen major invasions from India aimed at destroying the island’s Buddhist civilization.

Even today, despite its extensive influence, India has not taken meaningful steps to protect Buddhist temples and archaeological sites in Sri Lanka’s north and east from attacks by Tamil separatist groups. Instead, India appears focused on advancing the concept of Akhand Bharat (Undivided India) and Hindu Rashtra (Hindu Nation), which seeks to incorporate neighboring countries like Sri Lanka into a “Greater India.” The promotion of the bogus Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka and the accompanying Hinduization pose a serious threat to preserving Sri Lanka’s distinct Buddhist identity and heritage.

Indian neocolonialism in Sri Lanka reflects a global phenomenon where powerful nations and their local collaborators – including political, economic, academic, media and NGO elites – prioritize short-term profits and self-interest over national and collective welfare, leading to environmental destruction and cultural erosion. Breaking free from this exploitative world order requires fundamentally reimagining global economic and social systems to uphold harmony and equality.

In this global transformation, India has a significant role to play. As a nation that endured centuries of Western imperial domination, India’s historical mission should be to continue to lead the struggle for decolonization and non-alignment, rather than serving as a junior partner in superpower rivalries. Under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership, India championed the worldwide movement for decolonization and independence in the modern era.

Upholding the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement could forge a partnership benefiting both nations while preserving Sri Lanka’s independence and Buddhist identity. Otherwise, the New Cold War will continue to trample local sovereignty, where foreign powers vie to exploit the island’s resources, subjugate local communities and accelerate environmental and cultural destruction.

Shenali D Waduge

All citizens of Sri Lanka irrespective of party politics must stand together united in defense of Sri Lanka & its National Army. All those with the ability to analyze history, its legacies & the colonial crimes committed but unaccounted for should question the manner in which those who stand guilty of 500 years of colonial crimes and human rights violations of the non – European peoples, are now brandishing the weapon of Human Rights while having lost all moral authority to do so. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka which comprises over 25, 000 members currently are tasked to interpret the law & must now come forward in defense of the Nation. If they came forward to provide free legal services to hooligans inducted by Western funds to overthrow a legitimately elected President in 2022, why can’t they come forward in defense of Sri Lanka’s National Army & Sri Lanka using the law?

The leaders of the UK and other Western Christian nations have become the world’s laughing stock.

Their use of the International Criminal Justice system in a shameless manner in a Witch Hunt of Third World countries leaders and soldiers, have generated amusement and anger among the people of Third World nations.

It is like Hitler preaching Human Rights to the Jews whose relatives died in the Holocaust.

Having lost moral authority by evading Accountability for Colonial Crimes, not allowing International Truth Commissions to conduct public hearings on British Crimes, refusing to repatriate stolen artifacts now displayed in British Museums to their rightful owners in former colonies, among other wrongdoings, have reduced the public image of Britain to its lowest level since the signing of the Magna Carta in the 13th century. Today, the mighty British govt is depriving the basic needs of its own people to fund wars abroad while the British are suffering back home, while a handful of British MPs are in the pocket of terrorist/separatist promoters & abusing their office & misusing British tax payers money to press for sanctions against Sri Lanka.

Britain is not a symbol of Righteousness. It has now become a symbol of Wickedness, Duplicity, Divide and Rule, Promoter of cut – throat disputes among people of minority religions and races against the majority in former colonies.

The UK is a dying nation and in a last flicker of the dying flame UK is trying to salvage and white wash its poor Human Rights record by joining hands with the Tamil Diaspora whose membership comprises a large number of Terrorists who have fled Sri Lanka and are evading Accountability for their crimes in Sri Lanka.

The BASL’s reputation has come into question with the former BASL President having to resign from his position & BASL accused of accepting funding from USAID & other destabilizing Western agencies which has questioned their integrity in the minds of the General Public. There is much that the BASL must do to regain its tarnished reputation.

The present scenario is best suited for lawyers of the BASL irrespective of their political affiliations to come forward in defense of the Nation against the malicious allegations hurled by the UK Govt 16 years after LTTE terrorism has ended sans any proof but relying on LTTE sources & propaganda to impose sanction on select military heads clearly proving an agenda & political witch-hunt at play.

When the Medical Association comes forward to provide their expertise in affairs related to the medical field, the present UK Govt. press release requires a matching response by way of legal interpretation & legal action by Sri Lanka’s Bar Association.

The Bar Association must take up this challenge & come forward as a group or as individual lawyers to challenge the British Govt’s decision.

This is a challenge that the Bar Association must accept without any reservation.

With a newly elected President Mr Rajeev Amarasuriya about to accept Office and lead the BASL, the time is ripe for BASL to shed its past that was dependent on the funds of the World’s biggest trouble maker USAID, and re-calibrate its future in a Patriotic manner to serve the nation. Nothing less would suffice at this important juncture.

Shenali D Waduge

Saeed Naqvi

Dated: 22.03.2025

President Trump, who promised to end wars and never start one, has travelled 8,000 miles to bomb Yemen. If he continues, Yemen will be his Vietnam and Afghanistan. In many ways they are similar countries, populated by dogged fighters. Since the President and his team know not a jot about its history, sociology, topography, herewith, a brief note from my travels.

At a height of 8,500 ft, the old city of Sanaa, capital of Yemen, has a magical air of leisure, its maze of lanes, lined with multistoried mud and brick mansions, decorated with exquisite mosaic.

But the peace of Sanaa disguises the storm clouds of conflict, every bit as complex and dramatic as Afghanistan. The reason why Yemen conflicts do not dominate our TV screens is easily explained. The theatres of conflict in Saa’da, for instance bordering Saudi Arabia, are bare, steep and craggy mountains, suited more for rock climbers than TV crews.

That Wahabi rulers from adjoining Saudi Arabia in the 19^th century destroyed Najaf, the Shrine of Ali, and Karbala, gives clues of the theological Saudi-Yemeni conflict which remains unresolved to this day.

How did a system of Imams find root in Yemen? Prophet Mohammad’s son-in-law, Hazrat Ali is the first Imam for the Shias. Sunnis revere him as the fourth caliph. Somewhere there lies the roots of Shia-Sunni tussle. Ali was sent to Sanaa by the Prophet as Qazi or Judge.

Ali’s oldest son, Hasan, is the second Imam. Younger son, Hussain, the martyr of Karbala is the 3^rd. Hussain’s son, Zain-ul-Abedin was the only surviving male relative of Hussain at Karbala because he was ailing and could not go into battle.

He recovered and became the fourth Imam. His two sons Baqar Ibne Ali and Zaid Ibne Ali differed in their response to the Battle of Kabala. Baqar’s was the more Gandhian approach. He believed that martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his family at Karbala had already spurred a massive revival of Islam. Zaid thought the Omayyad had to be defeated. Zaid’s follower set up their Imamate in Yemen, much the more civilized part of the Arab peninsula.

Post Ottomans, Yemen remained two countries, north Yemen with a population of 20 million, with its capital at Sanaa. South Yemen, with a population of four million had its capital at Aden strategically local at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden.

The British therefore held onto it tenaciously until Arab socialism swept the Arab world under Nasser. The socialist ferver ousted the British in 1967. In the context of the cold war, raging then, Southern Yemen came under Soviet influence.

Here let me insert another detail even on the pain of complicating the narrative. When the last Imam Yahya, was under pressure from the Ottomans he bargained with the Saudis, his northern neighbour for peace. Under this bargain, two districts of Nigran and Jizan were given to the Saudis on a sort of renewable lease.

According to Dr. Nasr al-Naqeeb, a well known Sanaa intellectual, the two districts are oil rich”. Otherwise why would the Saudis accept two Shia dominated Yemeni towns next door to the militant Shias called the Houthis. Houthis derives from name of their leader Malik as Houthi.

Now, let us pick up the narrative chronologically from 1980s after the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. The US, Saudis and Zia-ul-Haq started manufacturing extreme Islamists in countless Madarsas in Pakistan for which that country is paying the price to this day.

For Prince Naif bin Abdel Aziz, Saudi Interior Minister, the Pakistani Madarsas were not enough. Thoroughbred Arabs had to be trained in militant Islamism too. Just as the Afghan Mujahideen would expel the Soviets from Afghanistan, their counterparts would strive to unsettle pro Soviet Nasserism in Aden.

What better place to open training camps than in neighbouring Yemen, particularly since South Yemen was close to the very Soviets the militants were being trained to oust out of Afghanistan. Yemen President Saleh’s half brother Ali Mohsin al Ahmar took local charge of all the training camps. Look at the concept: bases for Islamic extremism would check wherever the Soviets reared their heads. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the picture has changed radically. It is this Arab component which is at the heart of what is called Al Qaeda as different from the Pushtoon dominated Taleban.

In 1990, therefore the South lost its principal Soviet support with the fall of the Soviet Union. The South could no longer resist unification. Saddam Hussain played a leading role in unification of Yemen in 1990.

Since Saleh, Yemani strongman in Sanaa at the time was beholden to Saddam Hussain, he opposed the wars on Iraq bringing him on a side opposed to the Saudis.

Taking advantage in a chill in Riadh-Sanaa relations, the Shia’s (Houthis) bordering Saudi Arabia stepped up their Shiaism” on both sides of the border. This offended the Saudis. The decade old Saudi-Yemen war destroyed Yemen but never defeated the Houthis. This despite air and intelligence support from the US and UK. Take note, President Trump.

There were once reports, put out by US intelligence, that 400 Hezbollah fighters were, at one stage, present to fight alongside the Shias. These fighters have since been withdrawn. In any case, there have been atleast five full fledged wars against Sanaa since 2002.

International pressure caused the two sides to sign a six-point peace agreement. One of the points was that the Shias will refrain from attacking Saudi territories”. This led to a kind of peace which I witnessed.

In the old town of Sanaa people sat around in circles chewing Qat, a bunch of leaves, a sort poor-man’s non-addictive cockaine (imagine paan with an intoxicating edge), spending their days in this legally sanctioned national habit, very easily oblivious of the storms which in their collective memories have hovered over them for as long as they can remember. The threat of raining hellfire” is one such President Trump.

By Palitha Ariyarathna

Synopsis: Kandy, a UNESCO World Heritage city, faces a waste management crisis with environmental and social impacts from the Gohagoda landfill and unsustainable solutions like waste diversion. Issues of dignity and accessibility for vulnerable groups highlight the need for inclusive approaches. Immediate actions like waste segregation, community engagement, and infrastructure investments are essential. Collaboration with stakeholders, such as the Governor, Clean Sri Lanka Project, and JICA, can transform Kandy into a model of sustainable urban development.

Kandy, March 2025 — The historic city of Kandy, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is at a critical juncture as it faces severe waste management challenges. Decades of mismanagement and lack of long-term planning have brought the city’s system to the brink of collapse. The Gohagoda landfill, operational since the 1970s, has reached maximum capacity, creating serious environmental, health, and social issues. Recent temporary measures, such as diverting waste to the Digana Aluthwatta area at a daily cost of LKR 50,000, represent an unsustainable financial burden. Meanwhile, the collection of pampers and ladies’ hygienic pads by Encare has failed to address the root causes of the crisis. This article explores Kandy’s key challenges and presents actionable solutions to establish a sustainable and inclusive waste management system that upholds human dignity while ensuring long-term environmental stewardship.

The Gohagoda landfill, operating for over 50 years, has evolved into a source of environmental degradation, health hazards, and social unrest. Positioned near the Mahaweli River, it risks water contamination through leachate runoff, threatening ecosystems and communities downstream. Residents have filed a “Saparadhi Aparadha” (negligence) case against the Kandy Municipality, citing gross mismanagement and deteriorating living conditions. The absence of proper leachate treatment facilities and environmental safeguards at the site underscores the need for immediate intervention. Without long-term planning, the landfill has become a symbol of institutional failure to manage waste responsibly. Temporary diversion of waste to Digana Aluthwatta costs LKR 50,000 daily, reflecting poor financial planning and failing to represent a viable long-term solution while draining municipal resources. Assuming that a 5-liter bag holds 2 kilograms, a 10-liter bag holds 5 kilograms, and a 20-liter bag holds 10 kilograms, Encare, tasked with managing non-biodegradable waste like pampers and hygienic pads, relies on the sale of specialized bags—priced at LKR 295 for a 5-liter bag, LKR 535 for a 10-liter bag, and LKR 1,065 for a 20-liter bag. By collecting one ton of non-compacted waste, Encare can earn only between LKR 53,250–147,500, exclusive of transportation and incineration fees. However, discussions with residents indicate that low-income families often avoid purchasing these bags due to financial constraints and privacy concerns, further underscoring the unsustainability of the current waste management model and its limited accessibility for vulnerable groups.

One of the key considerations in Kandy’s waste management strategy must be addressing the needs of vulnerable groups with empathy and respect. This includes not only schoolgirls and their families but also women, unemployed individuals, and other adult users of pampers and hygienic pads. For many individuals, especially those experiencing economic hardship, the prospect of openly seeking financial assistance for waste disposal can be deeply uncomfortable. Concerns about dignity and privacy often prevent these individuals from contacting municipal helplines to disclose their inability to afford Encare’s waste collection bags. Recognizing this barrier is essential. It underscores the need for proactive measures that respect cultural sensitivities and individual circumstances. The municipality must establish systems that allow these groups to access waste management services discreetly, without exposing their economic struggles or compromising their sense of self-worth. Establishing discreet collection points at schools, community centers, clinics, and residential areas would encourage usage without fear of judgment or stigma. Implementing privacy-first service models, such as discreet bag distribution and waste handling, would ensure these services are inclusive and compassionate. By embedding waste collection services within educational institutions and community hubs, Kandy can create trusted spaces for residents, ensuring that no one is left behind, regardless of financial situation.

To address the broader challenges, several proposed solutions are essential for establishing a more sustainable waste management system. Immediate interventions include introducing Effective Microorganisms (EM) at landfill sites to control odors, pests, and leachate contamination. Regular compaction and covering of waste will improve site conditions and reduce groundwater contamination. On the infrastructure front, source-level waste separation must be mandated, with localized composting and recycling partnerships to process biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, respectively. Public engagement and education are also crucial. Launching awareness campaigns that emphasize the importance of waste segregation can foster a culture of sustainability. Incentivizing eco-friendly practices through subsidies or tax benefits will further encourage households and businesses to participate in responsible waste management. In alignment with the Clean Sri Lanka Project, which promotes national efforts to reduce single-use plastics, enforce waste segregation, and introduce tech-driven solutions like smart waste monitoring systems, Kandy can enhance its strategies by adopting these best practices. By actively participating in this initiative, Kandy can contribute to the shared vision of a waste-free and sustainable future for the country.

Long-term investments in advanced composting plants, sanitary landfills, and public-private partnerships will be necessary to construct infrastructure capable of addressing Kandy’s waste management needs. Collaborations with organizations like JICA, which have supported impactful projects such as the Greater Kandy Urban Plan, can introduce innovative waste management solutions. These might include waste-to-energy technologies and biogas production, contributing to Kandy’s environmental sustainability goals. Targeted interventions for Lewella are also crucial. Establishing door-to-door collection services, pet waste management systems, and public awareness campaigns will help to reduce trash accumulation and promote eco-friendly practices within the community.

The waste management crisis in Kandy underscores the need for urgent action to address decades of neglect and mismanagement. By investing in infrastructure, fostering community engagement, and exploring innovative technologies, Kandy can transform its challenges into opportunities.

By Palitha Ariyarathna
JICA Commercial Group Community Group Secretary, Writer, Journalist, and Author, Former Beach Filed Officer and Life Safety Officer.

This article is not merely a critique to any person, company, or KMC but a call to action. With collective effort and visionary leadership, Kandy can evolve into a model city for sustainable urban development. Let us commit to a future where human dignity, environmental sustainability, and heritage preservation remain at the forefront.

Key Stakeholders for Action To address Kandy’s waste management crisis effectively, this article invites the attention of:

Governor of the Central Province: Ensuring regional policy alignment and resource mobilization.

Clean Sri Lanka Project: Supporting sustainable and tech-driven waste management strategies.

Women’s Organizations: Advocating for dignity, privacy, and inclusive waste management practices.

Kandy Municipal Council (KMC): Implementing innovative, community-centric waste management solutions.

JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency): Facilitating technical and financial collaboration for long-term infrastructure improvements.

References

1. Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka. “Poverty Indicators-2019.” Accessible through the Ministry of Economic Policies and Plan Implementation. ISSN 1391-4693, April 2022.
2. Community reports and legal cases concerning Gohagoda landfill operations, including the ongoing “Saparadhi Aparadha” (negligence) case filed by nearby residents against the Kandy Municipality.
3. Leaflet distributed by the Kandy Municipality detailing Encare’s waste collection services and pricing structure.
4. Greater Kandy Urban Plan (GKUP) developed in collaboration with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), highlighting sustainable urban planning initiatives.
5. Lanka Web. “Environmental Concerns: Pollution, Illegal Dumping, or Inadequate Waste Management.” March 19, 2024. Accessible at https://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2024/03/19/environmental-concerns-pollution-illegal-dumping-or-inadequate-waste-management/.
6. Academia. “Characterization of Landfill Leachate Draining from Gohagoda Municipal Solid Waste Open Dump Site for Dissolved Organic Carbon, Nutrients, and Heavy Metals.” Accessible at https://www.academia.edu/21495748/Characterization_of_landfill_leachate_draining_from_Gohagoda_municipal_solid_waste_open_dump_site_for_dissolved_organic_carbon_nutrients_and_heavy_metals.
7. Tropical Agricultural Research, Volume 13: 23-33 (2001). “Managing Solid Wastes in Kandy City: A Cost Effectiveness Analysis” by S. Liyanage and J. Weerahewa. Accessible through Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya.
8. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). “Kandy New Wastewater Management System.”
   o Financial assistance provided for construction to address wastewater challenges, benefiting over 300,000 residents and migrants. The project reduces pollution and enhances sanitation in Kandy.
9. JICA and GKUP Collaboration. “Greater Kandy Urban Plan (GKUP).”
   o Revises urban development strategies for sustainable growth, heritage preservation, and efficient waste management, with a focus on recycling and infrastructure improvements.
10. JICA. “Solid Waste Management Master Plan for Kandy.”
    o Emphasizes governance, ownership, and long-term waste solutions, envisioning a cleaner and healthier city prepared for rapid urbanization.

Wimal Weerawansa

Pathfinder Foundation

The India-Sri Lanka Strategic Dialogue, hosted by the Pathfinder Foundation in association with the Ananta Aspen Centre of India, took place in Colombo on 25 March 2025. Coming a week before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka on April 5, the Dialogue serves as a valuable platform to explore key bilateral and regional matters that are expected to influence the India-Lanka discourse.

Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of Pathfinder Foundation, delivered the opening remarks, followed by Dr. Naushad Forbes, Chairman of Ananta Aspen Centre. Indian High Commissioner Santhosh Jha delivered special remarks.   

Over four sessions, subject experts examined in-depth issues such as balancing great power influence in South Asia, the India-Lanka fishing dispute, securing the shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean, defence cooperation within the Indian Ocean framework, India’s role in infrastructure development in Sri Lanka, and the opportunities for both countries to shape best practices and technology in digital governance.  The Dialogue emphasised the importance of strengthening India-Lanka economic ties, particularly in the context of Sri Lanka’s post-IMF recovery program.

Session 1, titled India and Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations,” was moderated by Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, the former High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. Session 2, titled Strategic Partnerships in the Indian Ocean – India-Sri Lanka Relations for Regional Stability, ” was chaired by Ahmed A. Jawad, Director of the Pathfinder Foundation. Ms. Indrani Bagchi, Chief Executive Officer of Anantha Aspen Centre, moderated Session 3 on Navigating Investment Opportunities between India and Sri Lanka, ” while Mahesh Perera, Chief Executive Officer of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), chaired Session 4, which focused on Digital Public Infrastructure.” 

Pathfinder Foundation’s Director, Ahmed A. Jawad, and Indrani Bagchi, Chief Executive Officer of Anantha Aspen Centre, delivered closing remarks.

This latest interaction between Pathfinder and Ananta is the third in their series of discussions. The two sides previously held dialogues on ‘Bridging Borders: Enhancing Connectivity between India and Sri Lanka’ and’ Navigating the Maritime Maze: India and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean Region.’

The representatives of the two institutions held a wrap-up session at a breakfast hosted by Pathfinder Founder Milinda Moragoda, during which they discussed the future programs they plan to undertake.

Lanka Property Web

Industry experts at the Lanka Property Show 2025 expressed confidence in Sri Lanka’s real estate sector, highlighting its potential for growth despite past economic challenges. While factors such as rising interest rates, currency depreciation, and fluctuating taxes previously impacted the market, experts were optimistic that stabilizing interest rates, exchange rates, and tax policies will foster a more predictable and business-friendly environment for investors and homebuyers alike.

Building on this positive outlook, the Lanka Property Show 2025 reinforced the sector’s resilience and promising future. The event featured 25+ premier projects, including highly anticipated new launches, attracting a diverse audience of over 17,000 visitors both in person and virtually. The live stream on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube also garnered an impressive 59,721 views, further cementing the show’s success. The strong turnout and enthusiastic engagement from buyers, investors, and industry professionals underscored the sustained demand for real estate in Sri Lanka.

Now in its 9th edition, the Lanka Property Show (LPS)—the country’s largest property expo—was held on February 15th and 16th at the Kingsbury Hotel. Since its inception in 2017, the event has grown significantly, and in recent years, it has evolved into a hybrid physical and virtual show. This year saw an increase in visitors and exhibitors, reaffirming that buyers are actively returning to the market after the pandemic and economic downturn.

As in past editions, the Lanka Property Show 2025 hosted two engaging panel discussions, offering valuable industry insights. The first session delved into the growth and future of Sri Lanka’s property sector, examining key trends and market projections.

Kicking off the discussion, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, former Governor of the Central Bank, shared his perspective on the evolving economic landscape. He noted that, unlike in the past, challenges such as high interest rates, currency depreciation, and tax instability are expected to stabilize. This shift, driven by stricter fiscal policies introduced through the Public Finance Management Act and the Central Bank Act, is set to create a more predictable and investment-friendly environment.

Discussing the current market landscape for developers, Prime Group Chairman, Mr. Premalal Brahmanage, highlighted that Sri Lanka has the highest construction costs in South Asia, making property development more expensive and limiting the supply of affordable housing. He emphasized the financial burden on developers, stating that  from the first bag of cement to the final sale, direct and indirect taxes can account for up to 40% of each property transaction.

With the real estate industry contributing around 7% to the country’s GDP and generating substantial tax revenue, he urged the government to provide greater support to the sector to ensure its sustained growth and affordability for buyers.

To address these challenges, the industry is actively exploring innovative solutions such as cheaper financing options, enhanced supply chains, and advanced construction techniques to improve affordability and sustainability in the market, added Mr. Brahmanage.

In summary of Mr. Brahmanage’s comments, the moderator, Mr. Dhananath Fernando, remarked, it sounds to me like you’re in the business of paying taxes and in the middle of it building some property”.

Addressing the challenges developers face in attracting foreign buyers, Mr. Kishore Reddy, Managing Director of Platinum Realty Investments urged the government to expedite the implementation of investor visas. Despite being gazetted, these visas remain difficult to obtain, posing a barrier to international investment in Sri Lanka’s property market. He highlighted the need to make housing more affordable by addressing import barriers on essential building materials such as tiles, aluminium, and other construction materials. The imposition of cess and high duties on these imports increases construction costs, ultimately impacting both developers and buyers. By reducing such restrictions, the government can facilitate more cost-effective development. He also noted that while the rupee has depreciated against the dollar, property values have risen proportionally, ensuring that investors have not faced losses. This natural market adjustment, he emphasized, reinforces the view that real estate remains a secure and reliable investment option.

The panel discussion, moderated by Dhananath Fernando, (CEO of the Advocata Institute) also featured Nadeem Shums, (Vice President at John Keells Holdings PLC) and Saminda Jayasekara, (Chairman, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council and Property Law Consultant) providing an in-depth and balanced view of the future trajectory of the market.

Continuing with the theme of real estate and construction, the second panel discussion centered on the affordable construction of individual homes. Moderated by Dr. Prathap Kaluthanthri (MRICS, Head of the Department of Estate Management and Valuation, University of Sri Jayewardenepura), the panel featured Dr. Janaka Fernando (Head of the Department of Business Economics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura), Dr. Yasas Pathiranage (Business Consultant), Plnr. E.A.C. Piyashantha (Deputy Director General, Urban Development Authority), and Chartered Architect Tharangika Ranathungarachchi (Partner, Makevita and Ranathungarachchi Architects). The discussion covered vital themes for those looking to build houses, including passive design, locally sourced materials, adaptive design, green roofs and living walls, all aimed at reducing costs, improving efficiency, and enhancing affordability and sustainability of houses.

Concluding the discussions, Industry experts emphasized the need for policy stability, affordable housing solutions, and streamlined investment processes to drive growth. With strong buyer interest, increased investor confidence, and ongoing discussions on key industry challenges, the event highlighted a promising path forward for the sector. As Sri Lanka’s property market continues to evolve, collaborative efforts between stakeholders and policymakers will be crucial in ensuring sustainable growth and greater accessibility for both local and foreign buyers.

This year’s event truly embodied its theme, “Everything Under One Roof for Property Buyers,” by bringing together a comprehensive range of real estate opportunities and services. Exhibitors showcased a diverse selection of apartments, houses, and land projects across the country, while four leading banks offered home loans starting from 11.5%. Attendees also had access to house builders, solar providers, free legal consultations, and expert advisory services on buying and selling—all conveniently available under one roof throughout the two-day event to fulfil their property buying process in the same location.

It was made possible with the support of its esteemed sponsors and partners. Platinum sponsors included Marina Square, John Keells Properties and Iconic Galaxy, while Gold sponsors included  Baili Investment and Prime Group. The event was further supported by its Banking Partner, Commercial Bank along with the media partnership of Sirasa Media Network, Outdoor Media Partner Storm Media and Communication Partner Textware.

For more details on the event, visit www.lankapropertyweb.com/events.