Features
Consumption of Coconut: Myths and truth
By H. A. Aponso
Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics, University of Peradeniya
It was reported a few weeks ago that a Professor of Nutrition and his Research team had reported that consumption of coconut had harmful effects. This news item seems to have caused a scare which I believe was not the intention of the researchers. Perhaps this is not their final report on the topic.
Coconut
is incorporated into most Sri Lankan food preparations in many forms -grated kernel, coconut milk, coconut oil, etc. Sri Lankans get most of their energy requirements from the coconut fat; also small amounts of protein, calcium and iron, from the kernel and milk. After squeezing out the milk from the grated kernel, the left over is often thrown away, or fed to the chickens or pigs, which thrive on it. It is referred to as coconut refuse (pol-kudu), a derogatory term in Sri Lankan parlance; a better term is low-fat coconut. Poonac, which is the left-over after obtaining the oil from dried coconut kernel (copra), is excellent fodder for cattle. Coconut refuse contains significant amounts of carbohydrate and protein; it is actually low-fat coconut. Can coconut refuse be used in human diet? Is it digestible? If sambol and mellun (made with grated kernel) is digestible, why not coconut refuse, which is grated coconut from which some carbohydrate, fat, protein, and water has been extracted? It is not suggested that coconut refuse should be a principal article of food in our daily diet! However, considering the escalating cost of coconuts, the time has come for us to incorporate it into our food preparations rather than throwing it into the garbage. It can very well be added to sambol, melluns, (together with some fresh grated coconut), without interfering too much with the taste or flavour. Coconut refuse can be used entirely or mixed with grated coconut in preparations such as roti and pittu . It is specially useful in the diet of those who should avoid the fat in coconut, as explained below. It also contains dietary fibre, which is known to bring down the level of cholesterol. Thus, it is of value for the overweight and those whose cholesterol levels need watching.
The fat in coconut has a high level of saturated fat. The P/S ratio, the ratio of polyunsaturated fats to saturated fat is very low. [When the saturated fat content is high, as in coconut fat, this ratio becomes low; when the saturated fat is low and the unsaturated fat is high, as in corn oil or soya oil, the ratio becomes high.] This has caused an unnecessary fear and controversy about consuming coconut. However, it should be noted that the coconut fat consists largely of “medium chain fatty acids”, such as lauric acid. These fatty acids are metabolised to produce energy. They have beneficial effects on the heart, in view of their function of reducing triglycerides,Total and LDL cholesterol, increasing HDL, and improving blood coagulation factors and antioxidants. They are reported to be useful in managing Alzheimer’s disease. Lauric acid is also claimed to kill harmful germs, and thereby to prevent infections. Coconut kernel, as pointed out earlier, contains carbohydrates, proteins and fibre, in addition to the fat. Recent studies in Sri Lanka and abroad indicate that when coconut oil is consumed, along with coconut kernel in any form, HDL the ‘good’ cholesterol is increased, and LDL the ‘bad’ cholesterol — reduced. It is reported from Kerala ( India ), that an amino-acid, arginine, which is present in the protein of the kernel in coconut, counteracts the harmful effects of a high cholesterol diet by manipulatng the levels of free radicals. It has been reported that the medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil, have a curative effect on diseses such as Alzheimer’s Dementia, Parkinson’s Disesae and even Schizophrenia
Considering the above-mentioned facts regarding coconut, it can be said that coconut is a nutritious food about which there should be no fear of causing an increase in the levels of LDL (the “bad” cholesterol), except in those who consume large amounts of animal fats, such as fatty meats (pork, bacon, etc), milk and milk products (butter, ghee, curd, yoghurt, cheese, etc) and egg yolk, all of which are high in cholesterol. Those who are unable to cut down the regular use of high-cholesterol foods are well advised to cut down their intake of coconut fat / oil. It is the cumulative effects of the intake of such foods, very often in the form of fast foods, which have recently become a part of our food culture, and the increasing tendency to a sedentary and stressful life style that is causing a concern about the consumption of coconut, as opposed to the earlier era when these adverse conditions were minimal.
Before 1970, coconut oil was freely used in the USA and in Europe for baking and frying food without any health complaints. However, starting in the 1970s, some very powerful groups in the U.S., including the American Soybean Association (ASA), the Corn Products Company (CPC International), and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) began to categorically condemn all saturated oils used for food preparation on the grounds that they are not safe for human health. Unsubstantiated stories were used to convince the public that all saturated fats were unhealthy, when in fact saturated fats rich in medium-chain fatty acids like Lauric acid have been scientifically proven to be exceptionally healthy. Such baseless propaganda was carried out with the intention of undermining the salient position held by coconut oil in the edible oil market and in the minds of the people around the world. Learning blindly from them, even doctors in Asia who were not aware of the real benefits of coconut oil restricted people from consuming coconut oil on health grounds.The result was that most people switched to soya oil and sunflower oil for food preparation ratherthan coconut oil which contains Lauric acid, and as a result the main source of Lauric acid from tropical oils in the European and American diet was lost. However, wrongly accused of being the factor responsible for increasing harmful cholesterol and health disorders by the Westin 1990s, coconut oil is now revered, held in high esteem, and is in fact used by doctors in the treatment of a variety of disorders. Clinical studies have shown that coconut oil has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties, and is now even used in treating AIDS patients. There are companies in Europe and the USA that sell coconut oil for medical applications such as incorporating into antibiotics given intra venous. However, they never call it “Physically Refined Coconut Oil’/ virgin coconut oil containing a high Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) value, and instead call it “MCT” and sell it for pharmaceutical applications at very high prices. Contrary to their earlier theory that coconut oil contains ‘cholesterol’, now, the TNT spray given as a first aid to heart patients to improve oxygen supply to the heart, produced in the UK and marketed at a very high price under the trade name JPN spray, contains coconut oil as the solvent. The reason for that too is the dilation effect caused by MCT in the coconut oil by relaxing muscles; which promotes free flow of blood.
The US medical journal writer, Dr. Bruce Fife, a naturopathic doctor and the author of the book “The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil” says that Coconut oil is the healthiest edible oil on earth. Modern scientific research backs this bold statement.”More than 50 percent of the fatty acids in coconut fat is Lauric acid, which is a medium chain fatty acid. It has the additional beneficial function of being converted into monolaurin in the human or animal body. Monolaurin is the antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal monoglyceride used by the human or animal body to destroy lipid coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, influenza and various other pathogenic bacteria. Some studies have also shown the antimicrobial effects of free lauric acid. In nineteen seventies, unsubstantiated stories were used to convince the public that All Saturated Fats were unhealthy, when in fact saturated fats rich in medium-chain fatty acids like lauric acid were scientifically proven to be exceptionally healthy. US scientists agree that unhealthy Low Density Lipids (LDL) are not found in coconut oil. Instead, coconut oil has health safe HDL (High Density Lipids).HDL removes cholesterol and carries it back to the liver, which flushes it from the body. HDL is known as “good” cholesterol because having high levels of itcan reduce the risk ofheart diseases and stroke.
If coconut oil actually helps reduce cholesterol and if it’s healthy, how can we get the health benefits of coconut oil? Most of the coconut oil producers in Sri Lanka do not follow quality and food safety procedures. Even the specifications given in the SLS standards are not defined to identify the “Chemically refined” or “Physically refined” process. What should the SLSI talk about or specify in their standards? They should set standards in such a way that those brands which carry SLSI logo should be free of toxins, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and high peroxide values, which are the main causes of health problems attributed to coconut oil usage. A clinical and laboratory survey carried out by a group of eminent scientists and doctors in Sri Lanka found that of branded and non-branded coconut oils commonly sold in super markets in Colombo, only physically extracted coconut oilhad peroxide levels and chemical residue levels within the accepted health safe limits. Rest of the branded oils, some of them even with the SLS mark, had those parameters at the high risk level. The paper was published at the annual sessions of the Institute of Chemistry in 2013. The report is also available in the Medical Journal of Sri Lanka. Subsequent to this study, the Coconut Development Authority (CDA) too has been keen on revising the SLS standards including the above parameters which are useful to the consumer in selecting an oil for food applications. Taking a step forward, CDA also carried out a study. The results showed that even some of the brands which carry the SLS mark contained harmful D1-Toxin in them. Now the standards for coconut oil which is commonly used by the general public are under review. Subsequently,the CDA recommended SLSI to do necessary changes in standards and it was also communicated to the Health Ministry. Even though SLSI (Sri Lanka Standard Institute) accepted the proposal to revise the standards, it still hasn’t been done.
Hence, it is high time that we set proper standards for coconut oil and execute them in the market as many of parties are manipulating within the current legal framework in place. Historically, we have been a healthy nation and it’s time to set proper standards to make sure that the consumers are protected when buying coconut oil. Coconut is gaining confidence and acceptance around the world and as a result the same countries that undermined coconut oil are today embracing it back as they have realized the true value of coconut. — Misconception about health benefits of coconut oil — Dr L.M.K.Tillekeratne, Retired Professor of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, December 2015.
Note that it is not the consumption of coconut that has given rise, in recent times, to an increasing incidence of coronary heart disease, (due to increasing levels of cholesterol ), but the change in lifestyle (from the healthy physical activity of earlier times to sedentary habits) and diets heavy laden with fat and cholesterol
Those who have diseases due to atherosclerosis, such as coronary heart disease or strokes, or those who have a strong family history of such diseases, should also cut down the coconut oil, unless it is taken together with significant amounts of coconut kernel. Such people should get used to preparations made from soya, soya oil, corn oil, etc.
Warning: It is reported that coconut oil is often adulterated with cheaper vegetable oils, such as palm oil, which are saturated and do not have the beneficial effects of pure coconut oil; virgin coconut oil, which is a little more expensive, is not adulterated
Also, if the same coconut oil is used over and over again in frying, the fatty acids would be converted to tranfatty acids
(The writer has had a training in Nutrition at the International Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad)
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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