Features
41st Anniversary of 9th Intake Cadets of Sri Lanka Navy
By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne
(Retired from Sri Lanka Navy) Former Chief of Defence Staff
Forty-one years ago, in 1980, 13 youths selected from thousands of applicants boarded the night mail train bound to Trincomalee to commence their training as Cadets at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee, except one of whose travelling was delayed by one week. This batch was the 9th Intake of Cadets to be trained at this prestigious Naval Academy.
The batch consisted of Marine Engineering Cadet Mahesh Goonesekere, outstanding sportsman from S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia (who had won College colours in five sports), Executive Cadet Shirantha Udawatta from Sri Sumangala College, Panadura. Shirantha was the oldest in our batch. Executive Cadet Damitha Vitharana, outstanding Ananda College athlete, who cleared 6 feet 2 inches in the long jump, although his height was only 5 feet 10 inches and also a great 110-metre hurdler. He was the youngest in the batch. Executive Cadet Rohan Amarasinghe from De Mazenod College Kandana, a Sri Lanka schools football player, Engineering Cadet Shiran Rathnayake from Isipatana College, handsome, resembling a Hindi film star, Executive Cadet Rohana Prerera, outstanding footballer from Kingswood College, Kandy, Executive Cadet Gamini Fernando, an outstanding Volleyball player from St Anne’s College Kurunagala, Engineering Cadet Thilak Senaratne from Sri Sumangala College, Panadura , Executive Cadet Chanaka Rupasinghe from Richmond College Galle, Logistics Cadet Roshan Fernando, Royalist and outstanding Public schools Athlete. Roshan’s elder brother, Shermal Fernando was in our senior batch, 8th intake. Logistics Cadet Dushantha Amaranayake, Nalandian cricketer and yours truly. Cadet Christie Jayawardena from St. Antony’s College, Wattala, lost his father (who was an airline pilot) on the day we travelled to Trincomalee, and he joined us later.
I had no intention of joining the Navy. I wanted to join the Army. But Roshan insisted at College that Navy was better than the Army and I should come along with him. However, my schoolmate Sajith’s father was the Chief of Staff of the Navy at that time (late Admiral Asoka De Silva – an outstanding Navy Rugby player in the 50s). What I learnt from my friend Sajith was that Navy officer training was very hard !
We were received at the Trincomalee railway station by a smart Dutch burgher Petty Officer, and introduced himself as “Petty Officer T.I. Eanus and your Divisional Petty Officer”, clad in white uniform with white peak cap and shoes, tall, strong perfect body like a Greek God. His Commanding voice and crisp English surprised us and I started wondering if “Petty Officers” is like this, how would be the high ranking Officers we were to meet in the Navy later!
The vehicle was waiting for us to take us from the Trincomalee Railway station to the Naval and Maritime Acadamy (NMA) was a six-wheeler open truck. Our trip ended up at “Gun Room”, but there were no guns. Petty officer Eanus started teaching us the “Naval terms”. Gun Room is junior officers Mess. Dinner in Navy known as supper. Lunch is known as dinner! Left side is known as the port side. Right side known as the Starboard side. Toilets ae known as heads! “From tomorrow you are not going to the toilet; you go to heads to shit! Understood!” Petty officer Eanus said.
“Yes, Sir!” we shouted in chorus.
Another word of caution. “You do not say, ‘Yes Sir!’ in the Navy! That is the Army! We say “Aye aye, Sir!” We shouted, “Aye, aye, Sir!” Another mistake! “You do not call a Petty Officer ‘Sir’ You call only an officer Sir! So, when I give an order, you say, ‘Aye, aye, Petty Officer!” It was confusing.
This is Navy! Petty Officer (Wireless Instructor) Tony I Eanus later in the service earned his Commission in Navy Volunteer Force and rose to rank of Lieutenant Commander before his retirement.
I should say Navy’s food was delicious and plenty. Charlis, a kind man who lived outside Naval Base in Andankulam, was our civilian helper who brought us food from the Kitchen known as the galley in the Navy. Washing, cleaning and laying food we had to do ourselves. “Mess men” were detailed from the batch. Everyone was keen to be the mess man as all untouched leftover food belongs to that person.
That evening our Assistant Divisional Officer came to Gun Room, when we just started to have our supper using fork and spoon. He was a dashing Sub Lieutenant who had just returned from the UK after completing his International Sub Lieutenant Course at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and HMNB Portsmouth with flying colours. His dedicated teaching starts with “how to eat with fork and spoon – in Royal Navy way”. Bad enough, only a few of my batchmates had proper meal that night.
Sub Lieutenant Dushantha Chelliah was a outstanding cricketer and a hockey player and a Navy coloursman in both the sports. He was a great teacher and used to follow us in his newly purchased motorcycle when we were doing long runs. Thanks to his guidance, we became good runners soon. Dushantha Chelliah served the Navy for 22 years and migrated to the US on green card with his family.
Our tough time was with MCPO (G. I.) Rathnatunga and his assistant (later gained Commission and promoted to Lieutenant Commander) Leading Seaman M B C A Mendis. Mr Rathnatunga ensured we were smart in drill. Being a Lance Sergeant in school Cadeting, I was selected to be the Parade Commander most of the days. After a few days I realieed that the Parade Commander is never inspected for uniform and polishing brass parts and boots. I conveniently neglected by polishing when others were working hard in polishingduring the night and then volunteered to perform duties of Parade Commander the next morning at the Parade grounds and thereby escape dress inspections, until I was caught red-handed to Mr Rathnatunga (Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO), the senior most rank for sailors also called as Mister). After one hour of extra drill, Mr Rathnatunga’s adviced me not to repeat such behaviour and not to follow the easy way to reach the to top!
He must have seen some of this in my eyes (blue eyes ??) and his advice helped me in my service career to reach the pinnacle of the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka.
Roshan did not like the Navy and within two months he left the service and joined Sri Lanka Police.
He did extremely well in the Police and the STF and became a Duputy Inspector Gen-ral of Police prior retirement recently.
We met our Divisional Officer at our class room in the Nautical school. He was an old Anandian, and the Navy Football Captain, Lieutenant (G) Sarath Weerasekara (today a Cabinet Minister). We loved him. His easy-going approach and excellent orations both in Sinhala and English with glimpses of our history inspired us to work hard and love our country. His knowledge of Buddhism and history was outstanding.
Lt (N) Daya Dharmapriya was our Navigation Instructor. Our foundation to be safe and good navigators in Sri Lankan and foreign waters was laid at No. 2 class room in the Nautical school by Lt Dharmapriya. He rose to the rank of Rear Admiral and was the first Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guards.
Our Physical Training team was led by MCPO (PTI) P P R De Silva, outstanding Swimming and High board diving instructor, who ensured we all became good swimmers. Mahesh and Gamini were good swimmers, Mahesh being a coloursman in swimming at S. Thomas’ College, Mountt Lavinia. Later Mr Silva became an excellent Coach at the Sugatadasa Stadium and Otters Swimming club, where he trained my son as well. He passed away few years back. May his soul rest in peace.
Three months training in the Academy followed with sea training at the old Chinese Shanghai class gunboat SLNS Ranakamee, where we met another outstanding young officer, Sub Lieutenant JSK Colombage, who had just returned from BRNC Dartmouth. He was super fit at that time. After sports practice in the evenings atthe Naval base grounds, we were challenged by S/Lt Colombage to run unto the two-Fathom jetty, where our ship was berthed (approx 5km run). When Rohan and Gamini taking that challenge, Mahesh and myself stopped halfway, started walking and then enjoy a ‘plain tea’ at the civilian canteen wayside. How much Rohan and Gamini tried, they could not beat S/Lt Colobage. He became 18th Commander of the Navy and is SriLanka’s Foreign Secretary today.
Mahesh was stood out in studies. He became the Best Cadet of our batch and won all the prizes other than two at our passing out parade. He received the converted “Sword of Honour” for best Cadet of the Intake 9. Damitha won the Best Sportsman award for his achievements in athletics and Gamini became best marksman. It was ironic that Gamini died in action in Kuchcuweli, Trincomalee the district in 1985, the first Sri Lanka Navy officer to die in action during the Eelam War. Today, the award for the Best Marksman of the Cadets is presented by our batch in memory of Gamini.
Forty one years is a long time. As Commander Dushantha Chelliah is on vacation from the USA for three weeks with his charming lady, we decided to have a quick batch get together before his departure to the US. Sadly the untimely passing away of Ven. Ananda thero, the beloved elder brother of Minister Sarath Weerasekara, the Minister declined attend the event, but he requested us to go ahead as planned. It was a great evening with bonhomie and carmaraderie with the batch mates joined by some of our families. Admiral Colobage was there even though he was a very busy person as the Foreign Secretary.
When we look back 41 years out of 12, eleven were fortunate enough to have survived in our 26-year long conflict, which ended in 2009. All got married and have children, and therefore, the claim that those who are exposed to Decca 110 radar waves whilst on punishment at Crow’s nest of old gun boat became infertile was false! (However, we took no risks; I remember wearing more than three pieces of underwear before climbing to Crow’s nest! Such is the love men have for some parts of their anatomy!)
Out of the twelve, four Damitha, Chanaka, Christie and Shiran) opted to retire early and to migrate. All four are doing very well. Those who remained in the Navy till retirement age of 55 years, five became (two star) Rear Admirals (Mahesh, Rohan, Rohana, Thilak, and Dushantha). Three headed their respective branches in the Navy, (Mahesh and Thilak – Marine Engineering branch, Dushantha – Logistics branch). Rohan has an unbroken record of, first to marry and first to have a child and first grandchild of our batch. Yours truly, the second in order of merit as Cadet, from Executive Branch, a week older to Damitha ends up as a four-star Admiral, Commander of the Navy and CDS.
If our batch has done well in the Navy, the credit should go to our instructors at the NMA when we were Cadets, who laid a very strong foundation for our career.
I always remember the wise words of MCPO(G.I.) Rathnatunga at NMA Parade Square in 1980 – Cadet Wijegunaratne! There are no shortcuts to top!
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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