Features
DR. A.M.A. AZEEZ MEMORIAL ORATION BY PROF. M. SORNARAJAH
S.S. Balasubramanian BSc, FCA, ACA(India), CGA(Ontario)
The Dr. A.M.A. Azeez Commemoration Meeting and Memorial Oration were held on February 17, 2024 at the Ghaffoor Hall, Zahira College, Colombo. The Memorial Oration was delivered by Prof. M. Sornarajah, Emeritus Professor of Law, National University of Singapore, distinguished old boy of Royal College, LL.B (University of Ceylon, First Class Honours), LL.M (Yale Law School, U.S.A.), LL.M, PhD and LL.D (University of London) on the subject of “The Law in the Speeches of Senator Azeez, the Muslim Tamil Leader of Ceylon, and its Present Significance”.
The speaker is a world renowned legal academic and professional as per his impressive curriculum vitae. He is very modest in saying that the reason for this distinct honour is because of his growing up with Mohamed Ali, the son of Senator Azeez, from the age of five years in 1947 at Royal Primary School in the Tamil medium. At the outset he recalls his admiration for Senator Azeez developed, by saying, “- – My father, who did not want my horizon to be limited to his own person as a mid-level public servant, told me that I should look to Senator Azeez as my model, for he was a fellow Jaffna man, a product of a Hindu College like him, a scholar in Tamil, steeped in the knowledge of Hindu texts but also the pre-eminent leader of the Muslims – -” He quotes his teacher Mr. Lakshmana Iyer at Royal College, himself a formidable Tamil scholar, who held Senator Azeez out as the preeminent speaker of the Tamil language of his time, and that he had never heard a man speak Tamil so as to bring out the mellifluous tones as Senator Azeez did. He grasped the kind invitation of Ali to give the Azeez Oration in memory of a great Muslim Tamil Leader who provided inspiration as he grew up.
When I recollect the greatness of Mr.Azeez, I am always reminded of my school days in Vaideeshwara Vidyalaya from 1944 to 1951 where I had my entire secondary school education. Mr.Azeez himself has been an alumni of the same school, of course very much before me. I could recollect that then, the two personalities associated with the school as old boys were always Swami Vipulananda and Mr. Azeez, both of whom were held in high esteem. During instances where praising of the greatness of the institution was made, it was hardly possible without reference to these two names.
As mentioned by Prof. Sornarajah, the former became the chair of Tamil at the University of Ceylon who later was invited to be the professor of Tamil at the Annamalay University in India-the foremost of the institutions for Tamil. Mr. Azeez held many high positions with the government excelling in each such functions. He gave them up to become principal of Zahira College, which under him was not just the premier Muslim college in the country, but through his foresight a college in the first rank of secondary educational institution in the island.
Prof. Sornarajah chose the topic of the oration because, being an international lawyer, both as an academic and a practitioner, he felt competent to assess the thinking on the law contained in Senator Azeez’s speeches in the Senate. He was often apologetic that he was not a lawyer but his understanding of the law and the impact that it would have on society surpassed that of many of his colleagues. In this context, I very much like the way Prof. Sornarajah analyzed the way the law is formulated and enveloped in the conventional terms which differs from the notions on which the Hindu law or the Islamic law is based. In the latter, the law had deep roots in notions of justice, morality and noble ideals.
Thus the thinking of a human person is shaped from childhood. From inception the life of Senator Azeez was rooted in the values and traditions of Islam and Tamil Saivaism as practiced in Jaffna. These beginnings made him understand the philosophy that guided him in making laws while he was a Senator. It has been said that while at Jaffna Hindu College, he excelled in Hinduism but the prize was not awarded to him because he was not a Hindu. It is a sad story of discrimination that Jaffna Muslims were to experience later.
The other aspect of Mr.Azeez’s greatness which Prof. Sornarajah has elaborated is his devotion to and interest in Tamil. Like my good friend Mr. Lakshmana Iyer, he too has been a recipient of the Sahitya award – a prestigious recognition of one’s work in Tamil. His love towards the great epic of Kambaramayanam has prompted him to pay it a tribute “…..Its story is intended to guide human life”. Later he recorded how he came into contact with Ramayana as adopted in Indonesia and Malaysia, both Muslim countries. This reminds me of the great Tamil scholar – Justice Ismail of Chennai, India who was a judge of the Supreme court of India and who was an authority in Kambaramayanam.
Prof. Sornarajah says that Senator Azeez has spoken on several important bills in the Senate, but he selected three topics for his oration.
Abolition of Capital Punishment
The early bills on the abolition of capital punishment sought to suspend capital punishment for a period of time so that it could be later introduced if violent crime increased. Senator Azeez supported the bills but it was clear that he was for total abolition and not its mere suspension. He characterized capital punishment as “a primitive form of punishment. Humanity has been moving towards abolition of capital punishment”. He made the statements in 1956 when there were only 36 countries in the world that banned capital punishment. Since he spoke by 2023 the death penalty was abolished in 112 countries and 23 countries have suspended executions. In Sri Lanka the penalty exists but there is a moratorium on executions. Senator Azeez believed that the taking of life is a form of inhumane punishment.
Extra-judicial killings by the authorities have increased. Accountability for such killings is non-existent. In that context, the progress that has been made through the non-execution of capital punishment appears to be an illusory gain. The misuse of many presidential pardons have caused public concern which Prof. Sornarajah elaborated in legal terms.
It demonstrates the yawning gap that has arisen between the pursuit of ideals by good men and women as in the days of Senator Azeez to a state of decadence when there is so much of deviance from moral standards that go without being sanctioned. The notion of sanctity of life is virtually non-existent in this country which has Buddhism as its state religion. Should not the basic notion of ahimsa, the love of all human life, not be the criterion for governance in this country? Does that not include that all human beings are treated equally and the worth of their lives be guaranteed?
Bribery
One interesting speech involves the introduction of a bill on the prosecution of bribery. It is a demonstration of how squeamish a subject the prosecution of bribery was in 1954 long before it became a major cause of the rot that ate deep into the political and economic structure of the country. An argument against it put forward by some Senators was that it violated the human rights of potential suspects.
It is strange to read the speech of Senator Azeez on the Bribery Bill today when bribery has led our country to economic ruin because he was speaking against the characterization of the Bribery Bill as against fundamental rights. He scoffed at the idea that the Bill could ever violate such rights. He pointed out that the “allegations of bribery are so wide and frequent that it has become a matter of paramount importance”. He wanted a specialised machinery like that under the Attorney General to deal with the issue of bribery. He supported a Bill which would vest the power of prosecution in the hands of a single officer over both public servants and members of the legislature on the ground that there should be an accumulation of expertise in a single entity to grapple with this growing problem in the country.
The opposition to the Bill on bribery on human rights grounds indicates the pliant views that were taken of the phenomenon at times when the problem was beginning. There was no momentum towards the creation of strong institutions against the practice of bribery. Senator Azeez had said in his speech : “.. in a young democracy like ours, it is very essential that all possible steps should be taken against bribery and accusations of bribery”. That warning was not heeded. Bribery was to consume the economy of the country in time to come. The institution of strong enforcement machinery to prevent bribery, as suggested by Senator Azeez, and meaningful prosecution of those who took bribes may have prevented the problem. Instead, a soft view had been taken.
Prof. Sornarajah says, as the IMF pointed out, wide-spread corruption has been the cause of the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Politicians and public servants have been stealing the wealth and the resources of this country. There has been no accountability. There is a Bribery Commission and adequate laws on bribery. But, prosecutions of bribery seldom occur.
Though the public knows who took bribes, there is no effort to prosecute those involved because they hold power in the state. Where proceeds of bribery are taken out of the country, simple procedures exist for the recovery of such money with hardly any cost to the state. The World Bank runs a programme for the tracing and recovery of assets stolen by leaders of states. The United States government also provides similar assistance. To invoke such assistance, all that is required is for the government is to ask. But, no such effort has been made by the different governments of Sri Lanka simply because corruption exists at high levels. The rooting out of corruption is a prerequisite for any economic development in Sri Lanka. Senator Azeez spoke about this lon
The Ethnic and Religious Strife
Prof. Sornarajah says that for 75 years since independence the ethnic and religious strife have afflicted our country and has been the root cause of our misfortunes. During this period no issue has taken up the energies of the rulers as the acquisition of power by the majority Sinhala ethnic group. The foresight that Senator Azeez had in warning against the dire plight that would befall the country in the course which had been adopted was born of deep wisdom and understanding.
Senator Azeez’s longest and most brilliant speech in the Senate was in opposing the Sinhala Only Bill. He characterised this bill as the “shortest Bill ever introduced but fraught with the gravest of consequences – – – consequences that will outlast the present generation”. How accurate those words have turned out to be. The effects of the Bill outlasted his generation and will outlast several future generations to come. The problems it generated will remain unsettled for a long time and until it is settled, our country will be in turmoil. Senator Azeez prefaced his speech on the Bill by stating that he was a democratic socialist who had the interests of the common man in mind.
It was a canard of the rulers at the time. Senator Azeez elaborated on the problems that would be created and warned against stoking racial and religious passions and the descent into tyranny. He said that the Muslim community would be the most affected by the language change, and portrayed them as specially disadvantaged by the Bill. He advocated that the Muslims should know four languages, they being Tamil, Arabic, Sinhalese and English giving his reasons.
Prof. Sornarajah thought that Senator Azeez must have gone through an inner conflict. The two leading Muslim organisations, All Ceylon Muslim League and All Ceylon Moors’ Association had agreed to support the Bill and suggested the inclusion of the clause “with due recognition being given to Tamil and English, provided that fundamental rights of the minorities in respect of religion, culture, language etc. are incorporated in the Constitution”.
(The inclusion of strong provisions on the protection of the fundamental rights of the minorities was advocated because the constitution had proved inadequate). The majority of Muslims lived in the South and spoke Sinhala though many spoke Tamil at home. They preferred a practical approach to the issue, which did not accord with the interests of the Tamil minority or, perhaps with the Tamil speaking Muslims of the East. The Sinhala Only Bill did not provide for the clauses stipulated by the two Muslim organisations, but they supported the Bill. Senator Azeez voted against the Bill with his Tamil colleagues in the Senate.
The Sinhala Only Bill led to the alienation of the Tamils, it also began a fragmentation of the Muslims and there began an evolution of a separate identity of the Muslims in the East. Senator Azeez, a Jaffna Muslim, lived as AGA Kalmunai amongst the Muslims in the East who produced great Tamil poets and literary figures. They loved Tamil but they loved their religion more. He could not have shared readily in the pragmatic view of other Muslim leaders accepting Sinhala as the only official language. He understood the position of the Tamils and stated views favourable to federalism as an eventual solution to the crisis that was brewing.
In response to the Throne Speech announcing the introduction of the Sinhala Only act, he spoke at length on the status of the Tamil language. He pointed out that democracy was not the rule of the majority but the rule of their people. Sadly it is not so today.
Senator Azeez regarded Jaffna as his “homeland”. He did contemplate a possibility of a federal solution as a last resort as said in the address to the Throne speech. He said, “if it is found to be the constitutional device available, when all efforts have failed and all remedies have been denied, to prevent the sure emasculation and the final extinction in Ceylon of the Tamil language, I can, in those circumstances, appreciate the federal principle and even, subscribe to it”.
Senator Azeez spoke at length of the economic effects of the Sinhala only Bill affecting the Muslims. This has been seen recently in Muslim businesses being attacked. He said that he was not happy about the communal tension that prevails consequent to the communal riots in 1958 “setting back progress by several years”. He spoke at length on this problem and warned of dire consequences, which we have witnessed.
Prof. Sornarajah has analysed the speeches exhaustively and commented at length on many other matters of interest affecting the country citing Senator Azeez’s foresight and vision and their present significance. It is recommended that the entire Oration is read by everyone which certainly is very informative and a treat.
The hybrid term he used as Muslim Tamil Leader of Ceylon is clarified by saying “He was an undoubted leader of the Muslim community. Without a shadow of doubt, he had all the vestiges, in scholarship of Tamil and Tamil Saivaism and Tamil literature to be quintessentially fit to be a Tamil leader, surpassing other Tamil leaders of his times in the attributes of greatness that a Tamil leader should have”. It is a great tribute to Dr. Azeez.
In concluding Prof. Sornarajah says that, for a lawyer, reading the speeches of Senator Azeez provides an insight into the care with which he approached his task as a law-maker. It is a sad commentary on the political affairs of our country that it is difficult to find someone who matched his analysis and foresight on matters he dealt with. The deep learning he committed himself to as a young man, his religious understanding of moral issues of his days born from Islam and Hinduism and his experience as an administrator in public service, guided his approach to the problems he faced as a legislator. In my estimation, by learning, conduct, his sacrifice of powerful positions to serve his people as an educator, his fearlessness in espousing unpopular views and the power of oratory in both English and Tamil qualify him to be regarded as an exceptional figure in the history of this country. It is an honour for me to have spoken of such a man.
Footnote:
Ali states that he was with Sornarajah as classmates for 13 years, but had no inkling of his father’s advice to look up to Dr. Azeez as his role model, until he saw the draft of the Oration. At Royal Primary School in the Tamil medium classes, the two Muslim boys were ahead of the others. The teachers were kind to Ali, which he realized much later was due to their respect for his father from Jaffna as a Tamil scholar and versed in Hinduism which was well known and as Principal of Zahira. At Royal College he was aware that his teacher Mr. Lakshmana Iyer was a close friend of his father.
(S.S. Balasubramaniam graduated in Science from the University of Ceylon and served period of articles at Turquand, Youngs & Co. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant and was a Partner in the same firm until he left in 1986 and lives in Canada. He has an interest and deep knowledge in Tamil literature. He was just senior to Ali in the University and at TY&Co.)
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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