Features
Universal qualities of successful leadership
by Anoja Wijeyesekera
Today the world is facing a crisis in leadership, as one leader after another fails to meet the expectations of his subjects and is forced to either resign, or is defeated at the next election. Those who manage to cling on despite being unpopular, are the despots who live in fear of their own people and use every means to crush the very people they are supposed to serve. What are the fundamental causes for this failure of leadership in the 21st century?
Leadership exists at different levels, at state and national level, at the level of organisations or business units or in a family situation. The Oxford English dictionary defines a leader as “the person who leads, commands or precedes a group, organisation or country.”
The world is replete with examples of good leaders and bad, the latter gaining notoriety on account of the mass media that zooms in on examples of failure. In the modern world, at the basic level, the following are regarded as some requirements expected of a good leader. These are:
Qualifications, experience, capacity and wisdom to fulfil the functions of the leadership role. Enthusiasm for the function to be performed and a vision for the future or the task at hand.Commitment and loyalty.Being a team player. Management experts now recognise that much more is achieved by dynamic teams rather than models of a strict hierarchy or autocracy.Flexibility and democracy.Hard work, dedication, knowledge and the desire and humility to learn.Respect for others and commitment to equality.Integrity, honesty and a generous spirit.
Despite these well-known attributes, which should be general knowledge, we see leaders fail. On close examination, it becomes increasingly clear that in addition to qualifications and experience, it is the qualities within a person, the intrinsic attributes of character, ethics, integrity, and values that makes a person a good leader and earns the respect and adoration of others.
The Buddha identified these essential qualities that a leader should possess which are referred to as the Dasa Raja Dhamma [10 qualities of Kingship]. The Buddha gave prescriptions to different people, as a doctor would do, to heal different illnesses. To rulers he gave the prescription of the Dasa Raja Dhamma, a universal and timeless prescription that is valid today, as it was 2600 years ago.
They are:
Dana – generosity/liberality. This refers not only to charity but also to a generosity of spirit. Giving away one’s own wealth and possessions and sacrificing for the greater good of the people, as opposed to seeking power and self-benefits. It refers to a charitable and generous attitude of giving credit to others and placing the welfare of every single citizen before one’s own. It means promoting the Human Rights of every single citizen regardless of any consideration of caste, creed, race, political inclination, gender etc. In simple words it means putting country before self, and making whatever sacrifice required to achieve that including sacrificing one’s life.
Dana also means paying special attention to the needs of the poor and the marginalised, and uplifting their lives and steering the economy for the benefit of all. This does not mean the practice current among politicians today, of using public funds to give away goodies before an election. In Western countries this takes the form of tax cuts or more state benefits. Here in Sri Lanka it takes a more blatant form of outright handouts in addition to tax cuts, thus rendering the exchequer dry. This is not Dana. It is bribery and it is a crime.
In the early years of independence, most leaders in Ceylon, spent their own private funds to run for election and became impoverished as a result. At the end of their political careers, many who were wealthy individuals before they entered politics, ended up with virtually nothing. Dudley Senanayake, a former Prime Minister, had a mere Rs. 200 in his bank account at the time of his death. He did not travel in luxurious cars or ever flaunt his power and position. Judging by the largest ever gathering at his funeral, the judgement of history is that he was the best loved Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
It is public knowledge that Prime Minister, W. Dahanayake came to Temple Trees with one suitcase, in a Morris Minor taxi, and after his tenure of office, left with that same suitcase, also in a Morris Minor taxi with no security guards!
Seela – morality and ethics. This at its basic level is the observance and practice of the five precepts or observation of a moral code. These precepts are universal and can be enumerated as follows:
respect for all sentient life,
honesty and integrity in all matters,
good behaviour/ impeccable sexual conduct,
honesty, integrity, transparency and upholding the truth,
not being addicted to intoxicating drinks and drugs.
In the case of a ruler, the last precept also means not being addicted to power, which is the most potent of all narcotics. The famous words of Lord Acton ring true. “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Examples of this are rife.
Parithyaga – sacrifice, altruism. A leader must be able to sacrifice him/herself for the sake of others. This is the total opposite of selfishness. It is the concept of the captain of the ship taking responsibility and being the last to leave a sinking ship, or the head of the organisation accepting responsibility for the mistakes of his staff or organisation, rather than “passing the buck”.
Sri Lankan history has examples of the Kings going to battle and engaging in one to one combat with the opponent, so that the lives of hundreds of soldiers could be saved. This degree of sacrifice disappeared a long time ago and today leaders remain behind their desks while troops face bullets on the battle front. The King of Bhutan joined his troops on the front line during a short war, to drive away a terrorist outfit from India, that was operating from its southern jungles. This took place in the early part of the 21st century. The King took great care to minimise casualties.
Irju – Righteousness and being perfectly upright. A leader must carry out his duties without fear or favour, regardless of caste, creed, ethnicity, gender etc. This is perfect honesty and integrity in all matters. In the ‘Sigalovada Sutta. (Digha Nikaya), the Buddha says that if a person maintains justice without being subjected to favouritism, hatred, fear or ignorance, his popularity grows like the waxing moon. What we sadly see today is the opposite of this – the systems of accountability and justice being manipulated by politicians.
Irju also means the ability to take tough decisions for the sake of greater good. A leader who practices the Dasa Raja Dhamma would have the support of the public in implementing the tough decisions, as the people will be convinced that it is for their good. The leader being sincere in his/her efforts will have the confidence of his subjects. Such a leader does not go for cheap popularity or what is now termed “populist” policies, which are triggered by prejudice.
Murdu – flexibility/ not being dogmatic. In terms of a leader this means being able to accept one’s mistakes and taking steps to rectify them. It means the ability to apologise and to accept blame. This quality is a sign of strength, not weakness. It is the wisdom to see one’s self more objectively and to have the strength of character to heed advice and expert opinion rather than arrogantly holding on to one’s own preferred options or preferences in matters of state and governance. Queen Elizabeth II is quoted as having said “I take my duties very seriously, but I don’t take myself seriously.”
Thapasa – self-discipline, subduing of passions and carrying out duties without indolence. The leader being completely disciplined, energetic yet frugal and non-ostentatious and a living example of dignity. It is the opposite of engaging in lavish ceremonies and media events organised at state expense. Rather it is the conducting of all affairs of state with poise and grace at minimum expense to the exchequer.
Akroda – non-anger, non-hatred. A leader must not be given to anger and aggression. He must be kind, understanding and compassionate and be devoid of aversion. He must be forgiving and considerate but conform to justice and the rule of law which must be applied equally. The Rule of Law is the basis of democracy and enhances the trust of the people in the system of governance.It is this quality that enables the leader to mobilise the best brains in the country and to obtain trust of those around him, so that they serve him sincerely and honestly giving him true and good advice rather than engaging in sycophancy.
Avhihinsa – non-violence. A leader must never use violence, even when provoked. This means negotiation in preference to war and dealing with difficult situations with utmost tolerance and wisdom. This means dismantling the weaponry of war and fostering qualities of unity and harmony among his own population, as well as fostering true friendship with neighbouring countries so that war and aggression are prevented.
Kanthi – patience/forbearance. A leader must practice forbearance and must never be vindictive. Today we see vindictive leaders using the weaponry of war to settle grudges. In the 21st century, humanity needs to evolve from reptilian disposition of aggression and move towards a world of peace. This means the total dismantling of the apparatus of war and the trillions of dollars spent on weapons which can be used for the upliftment of the poor and the marginalised.
Avirodha – non-enmity, non-prejudice. This is an appreciation of the oneness of man and is the opposite of arrogance and the promotion of self-interest, favouritism, cronyism and nepotism.A leader must necessarily appreciate opposing views and review his/her actions giving due consideration for those opposing views. Opposition is the basis of democracy. It is the respect that is accorded to the opposition that fosters critical analysis and healthy debate. In a true democracy the opposition has to be regarded as the alternative government and given due respect. A leader must see the benefits of considering opposing views to improve and modify a course of action. The opposition needs to be a mirror of public opinion that must be recognised and respected.
This quality necessarily entails press freedom, the freedom of expression and the freedom to engage in non-violent forms of dissent. It is clear that if a ruler observes the Dasa Raja Dhamma, his leadership would never result in a situation where people are forced to come out on to the streets to show their grievances.
A leader practicing the Dasa Raja Dhamma would be so close to his people that he would know the pulse of the nation as his own pulse. The Buddha said that a leader must regard every single one of his subjects as his own children and look after their needs and aspirations accordingly. This is the complete opposite of favouring one group over another. The Buddha said that the leader of the country must be a father to all his subjects regardless of any consideration.
In the 21st century, we see leaders rise and fall in quick succession. If we look at the reason for the fall, we see the character flaws and their lack of understanding of these 10 values, as prominent causes for their downfall. Those whom we consider good leaders are those who have come close to observing these principles which are universal values common to all mankind and not particular to any one religion or belief system.
The Buddha preached to all mankind and not to any one group of so called “believers”. Thus, even the term “Buddhist” is a misnomer. These qualities of leadership explained and propounded 2600 years ago are intrinsic to the character of the person and do not come from outside. They can be practised and perfected by anyone aspiring to be a successful leader. They are a universal formula for successful leadership.
One of the greatest leaders the world has known was Emperor Asoka who ruled India in the 3rd Century BC. Historians refer to him as the “Emperor of Emperors”. Prior to embracing Buddhism, he unified the whole of the Indian Sub-continent through war, but realised the huge loss of life that it entailed and resolved never to engage in violence. He embraced Buddhism which preaches non-violence and turned India into a country that practiced avihimsa – non-violence. He disbanded his armed forces. He embraced the Dasa Raja Dhamma and engaged in programmes to uplift the conditions of his subjects, introduced free hospitals for both humans and animals and brought a period of unprecedented prosperity and peace to the lands he ruled.
Sri Lanka benefited from Emperor Asoka’s generosity. He bestowed the gift of Buddhism to his friend, Devanampiyatissa, the King of Sri Lanka. To carry out this unique diplomatic mission, he sent his own son and daughter Arahant Mahinda and Arahant Sanghamitta, who had both ordained and gained full Enlightenment.
King Devanampiyatissa too followed the example of his friend Emperor Asoka and introduced universal free health care for both humans and animals and reigned over a period of peace and prosperity in Sri Lanka.
Closer to our own times, the 20th century has a few examples of good leaders. Nelson Mandela is one such person who was imprisoned by the Apartheid Regime for 27 years, his crime being his struggle to gain freedom and equality for his people. On being released from prison, Nelson Mandela stunned the world with his forgiveness. He forgave all those who tortured and tormented him in prison and unleashed appalling brutality and violence on unarmed people, thus killing large numbers and subjecting them to untold misery and hardship. He created the rainbow nation where all races, castes and creeds could live in harmony and enjoy a peaceful life. [The South African national anthem is sung in eight languages]. The world honours Nelson Mandela for his enlightened qualities. He is unique among leaders as he relinquished his right to be president for a second term. He displayed his magnificent humility in stepping down after just one term in office.
In general, although man has occupied the earth as its leading species for millennia and brought many benefits in terms of material comforts to his fellow beings through scientific discoveries, he has yet to make strides in the arena of human behaviour. Einstein famously said “the splitting of the atom has changed the world except the human mind”. The human mind that clings to his reptilian and mammalian characteristics, has utilised the global opportunities now available, to pursue his base instincts of greed, hatred and delusion.
It is said that World War II was fought to end all wars. Has this happened? Within a few years of its end the Korean War started, the Viet Nam war followed, internal conflicts in many parts of the world continued and today we have the Ukrainian war. If someone looks down upon the Blue Planet from outside, this little dot of dust in the universe, he/she will see nothing but humans fighting humans in this tiny bit of space. What we have to show for ourselves is a world of wars, nuclear weapons, environmental degradation, mass extinction of species and the prospect of our own destruction.
If man is to thrive, it is time that our leaders look within themselves and subscribe to these universal qualities of good behaviour. It is in this arena of the human mind that real change is possible. It is through the reduction of greed, hatred and arrogance that mankind will be able to save the blue planet on which we all live and save ourselves from extinction.
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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