Features
Gamperaliya: The Greatest Masterpiece of Sinhala Cinema
PLACES, PEOPLE & PASSIONS (3Ps)
Dr. Chandana (Chandi) Jayawardena DPhil
President – Chandi J. Associates Inc. Consulting, Canada
chandij@sympatico.ca
Early Movies
When I was very young, my parents started taking me to see popular, animated movies produced by Walt Disney. They took me to see my first Sinhala movie when I was three. I don’t remember too much about that movie – ‘Sooraya’ except that one of the main actors was Alfred Edirimanne, a good friend of my father. A couple of years later I remember watching another Sinhala movie – ‘Daivayogaya’ which was memorable mainly because of beautiful singing by Rukmani Devi, and the first-ever movie appearance by a handsome young supporting actor – Gamini Fonseka. When one of my uncles took my elder sister and me to see ‘Kavata Andare’ at the Ritz Cinema near our house at Borella in 1960, I thought that Eddie Jayamanne was hilarious acting as the famous court jester of a Sinhala king.
‘Ranmuthu Duwa’ and ‘Dr. No’
When I was a kid my favourite Sinhala movie was ‘Ranmuthu Duwa’ (Island of Treasures). In 1962, my parents took my two sisters and myself to the Sapphire Cinema in Colombo to see this first colour full-length Sinhala movie. With a budget of Rs. 400,000, it was the most expensive movie made in Ceylon, up to that point. It broke all box office records in Ceylon and its initial run in over 20 cinemas went beyond 100 days. It also made three young actors – Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrama and Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya, mega stars. Like all my eight-year-old friends, I became an ardent fan of Gamini Fonseka, who was only 26 then.
It was co-produced by Ceylonese Shesha Palihakkara and British-American Dr. Arthur C. Clarke and directed by Canadian Mike Wilson. It showed, for the first time, the underwater wonders of the seas around Ceylon, which had barely begun to be explored. In an era when Sinhala cinema was dominated by formulaic movies influenced by popular, melodrama Indian movies and music, ‘Ranmuthu Duwa’ was a breath of fresh air and set a trend. It had only three songs (compared to an average of eight songs per Sinhala movie made since 1947), all originals that made a new generation of musicians led by Amaradeva very popular over the next few decades.
Maha Kappina Walauwa in Balapitiya
Two months after that, my father told me one evening, “Chandana, let’s go for a walk by the beach.” Our walk ended at the Savoy Cinema and he surprised me by taking me to watch ‘Dr. No,’ the first 007 movie with Sean Connery as James Bond. My father had read a few books of Ian Flemming, and explained to me that the character of James Bond was loosely based on the author’s life. From then on, I became a ‘Picture Pissa’ or a movie buff. I commenced keeping a record of all movies I watched and rated them with my own star system, rating movies between one star and five stars.
Chosen to Act in ‘Gamperaliya’
One day at Bambalapitiya Flats I was playing cricket in the backyard of the house of one of my friends, Rohitha Wickremeratne. One of his elder brothers, who was much older than us, around his mid-twenties, was involved in stage plays and movie making. Dharmasiri Wickremeratne was watching me closely and Rohitha told me that his brother would like to have a quick chat with me. “Chandana, would you like to act in a movie?” was his question.
Two days later, we had three unexpected visitors arriving at our house in the evening. Film Director Lester James Peries, Film Editor Sumithra Gunawardena and Cinematographer Willie Blake, who was a neighbour of ours, came to see me and my parents. That evening I was chosen for the role of Tissa, in the movie ‘Gamperaliya.’ I was over the moon with excitement!
Shooting on Location
Lester decided that none of the scenes of ‘Gamperaliya’ would be shot in studios. One of my scenes was filmed in the Balapiitya railway station, where my screen mother dropped me off to take the train to school. Another scene was when I was transported in the family horse cart, but due to a problem with the old horse used for that scene, Lester decided to drop that scene.
Most of the other scenes were shot at a colonial manor house of a former village headman. This house – Maha Kappina Walauwa in Balapitiya was a beautiful, large and a historic building. The whole cast stayed there for weeks. This was a novel experience for me. My father travelled with me and stayed with me during shooting periods.
Lester and Sumithra in 1962.
Directed by the Greatest Movie Director of Ceylon
Lester was a very nice gentleman and had a smooth way of directing his actors and crew. In one scene my fellow actors were engaged in a family discussion. As I was not expected to appear in that scene, I was watching the process while leaning against a pillar in the meda midula (middle garden) of the house. The master movie director looked at me and softly said: “Baba, just remain in that pose and look at your screen mother and sisters, the same way you would look at your own mother and sisters.” He then gently signalled Willie Blake to move the camera from Punya Heendeniya, Trilicia Gunawardena, and Shanthi Lekha to do a close-up of me. I did not even feel that I was acting, but that scene was memorable and very natural.
I watched Lester directing the main actor – Henry Jayasena, and then newcomers – Tony Ranasinghe and Anula Karunatilake who debuted their long and successful movie careers with ‘Gamperaliya.’ I also noticed that the director took a dozen takes of a scene when he was not satisfied. He was a perfectionist.
Lester was a bachelor at that time, but I felt that he had a special connection with his movie editor – Sumithra Gunawardena. They both were graduates of the London School of Film Technique. In 1963, a filmmaking company called Cinelanka was established with the producer of ‘Gamperaliya’ – Anton Wickramasinghe, Lester, and Sumitra as major shareholders. Lester and Sumithra married in 1964 and were together for 54 years until the demise of Lester in 2018.
Hanging out with the Greatest Novelist of Ceylon
During my second visit to Maha Kappina Walauwa, to shoot a traditional New Year scene, I was pleased to meet then 72-year-old Martin Wickramasinghe who was often acclaimed as the father of modern Sinhala literature. His novels had been translated to languages such as English, Tamil, Mandarin, Russian, Japanese, French, Dutch, Bulgarian and Romanian. Martin Wickramasinghe was a legend, and I was fortunate to meet him.
Martin Wickremasinghe’s most famous work include a trilogy of great novels commencing with ‘Gamperaliya’ (). It was written and first published in 1944. The novel depict the breakup of traditional village life in colonial Ceylon due to the impact of modernisation between the early and mid-20th century. The gradual subversion of the traditional economic and social structure of the village by the commercial culture of the city is portrayed through the story of an aristocratic family in a southern village. The novel has been widely praised for its realism in depicting Sinhala rural life and is considered one of the most important work of Sinhala literature.
Martin Wickramasinghe gave me some tips when we were playing a traditional New Year indoor game played in villages – ‘Panchi’, for a scene. He knew my father well and was impressed that at age nine, I had read some of his books. Why he took special interest in my role, my father told me, was because the character I was playing – Tissa, was loosely based on the author’s childhood. Wickrama Bogoda acted as Tissa when the character became older.
My father had heard that Martin Wickramasinghe was not pleased with Lester James Peries’s choice of cinema idol, Gamini Fonseka, for the role of Jinadasa, who marries the main character of the story, Nanda (my screen sister). The character of Jinadasa was somewhat that of a weaker person and the author felt that Gamini Fonseka appeared to be too strong for the role. Perhaps that was the reason for his arrival on location the day Gamini Fonseka was expected on the sets.
Meeting the Greatest Movie Actor of Ceylon
I was looking forward to meeting Gamini Fonseka. I remember a few special things when I met my idol for the first time. He drove a sylish sports car; he spoke perfect English and smoked a lot. Well, at that time most men smoked. Then he did three things which were memorable to me. He chatted with me and became friendly, then he jokingly lifted me, perhaps to show off his strong muscles, and then he signed my autograph album which I still treasure.
Gamini was an amazing actor. I was watching him crying in a scene when Nanda and Jinadasa’s son died at birth. Without any help, he had tears pouring from his eyes. “Gamini uses a technique known as ‘method acting’ used by actors such as Marlon Brando” my father whispered into my ear, while comparing Gamini to the best Hollywood actor at that time.
In shooting that scene, Lester did something uncharacteristic of him. He was satisfied with only two takes. Lester said, “Cut!” with a big smile. He then turned to his friend and said, “Well done, Gamini. That was simply perfect!” There was a pin-drop silence among all of us who witnessed a piece of brilliant acting by the greatest actor Ceylon/Sri Lanka was blessed to have. Martin Wickramasinghe’s grin and nodding his head, confirmed in my mind that he finally agreed with Lester’s choice for the role of Jinadasa.
‘Gamperaliya’ becoming the Greatest Sinhala Movie
In 1963, when ‘Gamperaliya’ was released, it was the turning point in Sinhala cinema, as it did away with all the formulaic elements (songs, dance, comic relief and fights) present in popular cinema at that time. It proved the viability of artistic cinema in the country and gave Sinhala cinema a previously absent sense of prestige.
Prior to its public release on December 20, 1963, ‘Gamperaliya’ competed at the third Moscow International Film Festival and won a Merit Certificate. As an actor of one of the five movies nominated for the best film of the year award at the first-ever Sarasaviya Film Awards, I was invited with my parents to the awards ceremony held at the brand-new Asoka Cinema in Colombo 14, in 1964. ‘Gamperaliya’ was judged the Best Film of the year and won seven out of 11 categories of awards.
Then came the history-making big surprise, not only for the producers of ‘Gamperaliya’ and Sinhala Cinema, but for all citizens of Ceylon. In 1965, ‘Gamperaliya’ was awarded the Golden Peacock award for the Best Film at the prestigious Third International Film Festival held in India. The festival was graded ‘A’ category by the Paris-based Federation International de Producers de Films (on par with Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Karlovy Vary and Moscow International film festivals). The festival was chaired by the greatest Indian film-maker Satyajit Ray, who famously had said that “Lester is my closest cinema relative in Asia!”
‘Gamperaliya’ also won and the Golden Head of Palanque at the Eighth World Review of Film Festivals held in Mexico and won silver at the 1967 Cork Film festival in Ireland. No other Sinhala film before that had won any international awards.
The unprecedented achievements of a Sinhala movie recorded by ‘Gamperaliya’ were celebrated in a few major events held in Ceylon, including an official event organized by the Cultural Affairs Department and the Arts Council of Ceylon. I was proud to be invited to such events.
At that event, when Anton Wickremasinghe told my father, “Ask Chandana to meet Lester at his house to collect his acting fees”, my family was surprised. We never discussed payments as it was simply an honour to appear in such a great movie and work with such an amazing crew. Several months later I walked from Bambalapitiya Flats to nearby Dickman’s Road to Lester and Sumithra’s house and collected my fee. It was Rs. 500. While handing me the envelope, Lester joked: “You know Chandana, for ‘Gamperaliya’ you were paid more than the highest paid actor in Ceylon – Gamini Fonseka!” I was surprised, but then realised that Gamini had acted free in ‘Gamperaliya’!
… To be continued next Sunday in a follow up article titled:
‘My 60-year long Movie Madness”
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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