Features
Jaffna’s very own Irishman: Fr. Charles Henry Lytton OMI
By Avishka Mario Senewiratne
Early days of the Irish Oblate
Born on May 25, 1847, Charles Henry Lytton hailed from Dublin, Ireland. Little is known of his childhood and early days. However, it is known that his mother lived until 1893 and he had no less than seven sisters. He received his education from a College run by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Dublin. After choosing to be a priest, 22-year-old Lytton joined the Anglo-Irish Province of Oblates. He passed the Oblate Novitiate in Sicklingball, Yorkshire in 1869. On September 12, 1870, he made his First Profession of Vows in Belmont. A year later, he made his Final Profession of Vows in Autun, France.
From 1871 to 1875 he did his scholastic studies in Autun. He was ordained by Msgr. Adolphe Perraud, Bishop of Autun (a Cardinal after 1893), on May 15, 1875. After his ordination, Fr. Lytton travelled back to Dublin to visit his family. Learning that he was to leave for Ceylon, a distant island colonised by the British, his mother and sisters were shattered.
On the day of his departure, his sisters and mother guarded his room so that he would not leave. However, during the night he quietly came out of his room and bade farewell to his mother. When his sisters woke up the next morning, they ran to the shore only to see him on a boat to the steamer which was to leave for Ceylon. Later, when his mother wrote a letter asking him to visit them, he responded in a letter saying: “You and I are good Christians and we will meet each other in heaven.”. A few months later, he would set foot for the first time in Ceylon on September 27, 1875. This was to serve the Vicariate of Jaffna under Msgr. Christopher Bonjean OMI.
Tough Start in Jaffna
Young Fr. Lytton was not all too excited with what he saw in Ceylon. Jaffna was plagued by a smallpox and cholera epidemic which spread to every nook and corner of the Peninsula, causing unprecedented suffering and deaths. In a letter dated May 15, 1876, to Fr. Joseph Fabre, Msgr. Bonjean writes: “Fr. Lytton has been struck by an eruption called ring-worm impetigo, which gives him little sleep, affects his general health and his morale too. Up to now, he has hardly learnt any Tamil. I do not know what to think of him.” (Perniola, (2005), The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka: The British Period, Vicariates of Colombo and Jaffna, 1864-1878, Volume V, p. 575)
For centuries, Jaffna had been domiciled by people from South India. Their language was Tamil, which goes back to ancient times. Not knowing Tamil or having no interest in learning the language and yet trying to work in Jaffna was nothing but a grave error. Fr. Lytton failed to understand this as a young missionary. His relationship with Bishop Bonjean was soon marred by it. His lack of interest in missionary work, propelled by his illness, weakened him gradually.
Soon, he avoided meals and neglected his health. To make matters worse, he had fallen out of favour with Bishop Bonjean. By June 1876, Fr. Lytton who had hardly been in Ceylon for nine months, had opted to leave. Following are some extracts of a letter by Msgr. Bonjean to his Vicar General, Fr. Dominique Pulicani OMI: “Just now I have received another letter from Fr. Lytton, who has been reasonable and made up his mind to go away since he has concluded that he cannot exercise his ministry in this country… If this young man has fully made up his mind to leave us, I do not see what interest we might have to retain him.” (Ibid., p. 589)
In a letter dated July 14, 1876, Bp. Bonjean residing in the outskirts of Vanni wrote to Fr. Fabre: “One day in the presence of all the Fathers, I said I would test the two new priests on their knowledge of Tamil. Then Fr. Lytton replied, ‘We must live before we learn Tamil’… this Father was morally rather than physically ill. So, I called him a little later and, in the course of the conversation, he told me in a very decisive manner that he cannot live in Ceylon, that he cannot cope with the climate, the food, the people, the ministry. He recalled to me that he had told me at our very first interview, that he never had any vocation for the foreign missions, and still less for Ceylon and that before his departure told Your Paternity that he could not remain at all.” (Ibid., p. 597)
The above extract shows how much prejudice young Fr. Lytton had for Ceylon. He was one of the first Irish priests to arrive in Ceylon. He must have assumed that knowing English and French might be adequate in Ceylon. One must remember that Ireland and England had a rivalry for centuries. The Irish people were somewhat oppressed by the dominant English, in their neighbourhood and elsewhere. What was manifested in Fr. Lytton was what one would call the ‘prejudice of the oppressed’. This is quite understandable, yet by no means justifiable.
Though Bishop Bonjean seemed to have encouraged Lytton’s departure, Bishop Bonjean realised what the young priest was going through. As a result, Bonjean the firm administrator laid off his usual ways, came to Fr. Lytton as a paternal guide and instructed him gently to rectify his mistakes. He counselled him and encouraged him towards a spiritual life over temporal affairs.
Inspired by his Superior, Fr. Lytton radically changed his ways. Msgr. Bonjean asked Fr. Fabre to write to Fr. Lytton, encouraging him to get on with his ministry. In a letter dated December 11, 1876, to Fr. Fabre, Bp. Bonjean stated: “Fr. Lytton is all right. I have him entirely under my control and I hope that we’ll be able to record a complete and definitive victory.” (Ibid p. 616) By February 1877, Fr. Lytton was busy, seriously studying Tamil. In April, Bp. Bonjean stated the following to Fr. Fabre: “Fr. Lytton has overcome his difficulties; he begins to speak Tamil and this will enable him not to yield to discouragement as he did in the past.” (Ibid., p. 626)
Success in Jaffna
With time, Fr. Lytton was well accustomed to the people of Jaffna. Despite the weary plague continuing, he cherished working for the people. From his utter reluctance to work for those poor souls, he had within a few months converted to the extent that the people witnessed his work as a ‘veritable ministering angel’. Fr. Lytton initially served as the Parish Priest of Kayts and then Valigamam East (Tholagatty) from 1875 to 1882. In 1882, he was allowed to serve in a College. This was St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna. Started as Jaffna Catholic English School by Msgr. Orazio Bettacchini in 1850, St. Patrick’s College was renamed and managed by the Oblates in 1881 and Fr. John Smythe was appointed as the first Rector.
Fr. Lytton was able to successfully serve as a teacher and educator after years of work in missions. During this time, he was able to build a Catholic Library in Jaffna. Undoubtedly, working for a College was his forte. When Bonjean was appointed by Papal Decree to head the Southern Vicariate in 1883, he had to leave Jaffna along with a group of priests including Smythe. Hence, Fr. Lytton was appointed as the second Rector of St. Patrick’s College.
His brief tenure as Rector of St. Patrick’s was a very successful endeavour. Fr. Lytton advocated for elocution and music. It was said that during his time, the boys of St. Patrick’s spoke a ‘different English’ from those of any other school in Jaffna. ((Jesuthasan, Philip, (2001) op. cit., Volume 2, part 1, p. 168) He stressed the importance of discipline to both teachers and students alike. He was much appreciated for his ability in character building, tactfully solving the problems of the youth and ensuring that they attain downright manliness.
For these reasons, his workings have been labelled as the ‘Lytton tradition’ at St. Patrick’s College. (St. Patrick’s Annual, 1925, p. 88) However, in 1885, Fr. Lytton came into a certain conflict with the Government, regarding an issue connected with the examinations. This drastically resulted in a decline in his authoritative role as Rector. As the number of students plummeted to a mere 160 in 1886, his role became untenable. (Boudens, Robrecht OMI, (1979), Catholic Missionaries in a British Colony: Success and Failures in Ceylon 1796-1893, p. 157)
A true supporter of the people of Jaffna
Despite his unfortunate exit from St. Patrick’s, Fr. Lytton’s reputation did not decline for he, by then, was known to be a ‘people’s presbyter’. In 1887, his leadership and pragmatic skills were much in demand with yet another outbreak of cholera in the peninsula. This was more severe than the previous epidemic. To make matters worse, there was a shortage of medical practitioners and sanitary facilities were poor in Jaffna. Fr. Lytton and his confreres would perform the tasks of physician, nurse and overseer. Visiting the victims courageously, he administered to the sick and buried the dead. His genuine concern for the welfare of the suffering people spread across the region in no time. What was more heart-warming to learn was that he treated all those who were in need, irrespective of their faith. By the time the epidemic faded away, Fr. Lytton had won the hearts of his people.
For many years, he had noticed that the Jaffna peninsula was severely neglected when compared to the rest of the country and that it was overpopulated. Furthermore, though the Vanni area was blessed with water and rich soil, there were no toilets. Transportation through thick forests and narrow roads would severely dampen any kind of business activity. He realised that the people of the North were living a life far different from those of the South.
Studying these serious problems, Fr. Lytton was convinced that the creation of a railway line to the North, joining it to the South of the country, might solve the issues of the people of the North. Though the idea to build a Northern Railway line was the brainchild of Fr. Michael Murphy OMI who had agitated for it, his untimely death resulted in Fr. Lytton having to campaign solo. Convinced by his plausible theory, he interviewed several people and addressed the issue outspokenly in public (Martyn, John, (1923) Notes on Jaffna, Jaffna, pp. 237, 279)
Despite his indomitable will and imposing personality, he was not short of adversaries. Though his intention was honourable, some rejected it and ridiculed it as the ‘Railway to the Moon’. Fr. Lytton’s campaign to instigate the railway line started in the late 1880s. However, it would take no less than 15 years to see the work begin. Despite the opposition of powerful detractors, his resolve remained equally powerful. In 1891, Fr. Lytton was called to join the Archdiocese of Colombo. Archbishop Bonjean had planned to start a Catholic College and wanted no one else but Fr. Lytton to collaborate with him.
Fr. Lytton’s sense of loss over Jaffna was as difficult for him to bear as it was for the people of the peninsula. After a reluctant start as a missionary, he had toiled for 16 years in Jaffna, and by the time of his departure, ‘Fr. C.H. Lytton’ was a household name. A deputation of Catholics, Protestants, Hindus and Muslims in Jaffna went to meet Msgr. Andrew Melizan OMI, the Bishop of Jaffna, with a request to retain Fr. Lytton. Knowing that Bishop Melizan would not change his decision, they organised a demonstration in honour of Fr. Lytton at the Catholic Library. In a letter dated April 17, 1891, to Fr. L. Soullier OMI, Bishop Melizan writes the following:
“I think I have already mentioned to you that Mgr. Bonjean yielding to the obsessions of the inhabitants of Colombo, has decided to establish a College like the one of Jaffna.; for this, he has asked me for Fr. Lytton, to launch the enterprise. Though it costs me a good deal to lose such a priest, I have consented on condition that he replaces him with a good missionary.” (Perniola, (2009), The Catholic Church of Sri Lanka: The Diocese of Jaffna, 1887-1923, Volume 12, p. 50) The missionary who replaced Fr. Lytton in Jaffna was Fr. L.G. Farbos O.M.I.
When the hour of Fr. Lytton’s departure to Colombo came a great concourse of people, comprising all communities, escorted him to the steamer Lady Havelock. Though he was more involved with the affairs of starting St. Joseph’s in Colombo, once he befriended Sir Joseph West Ridgeway, he knew that the matter about the railway line could be achieved too. Furthermore, he readily received the support of John Ferguson, the Editor of the Ceylon Observer to publish his reasonable demands on the railway line.
When Fr. Lytton visited England, he directly approached Joseph Chamberlain, the Secretary of State to the Colonies and explained the significance of the railway line. A few years later, the first stage of the railway was completed but it was only in 1904 that the Jaffna railway line became a reality. When Sir Frederick Saunders visited Ceylon, he made one condition, namely that if he were to travel to the North by train, he should be accompanied by Fr. Lytton. And so, it was. The two of them were warmly welcomed and all were in high spirits. When Fr. Lytton first visited the Railway Station of Jaffna, the following address was made to honour him:
“A grateful people offer you a hearty welcome on the occasion of your first visit to Jaffna, after the opening of the Northern Railway. We missed you greatly when the first section of the Railway was opened in 1902, but we rejoice in the opportunity given now to congratulate you face-to-face on the greatest achievement of your life and to tell you how thankful we are for a boon we owe in the first instance to you. It was you that first conceived the idea of a Railway to Jaffna and it is you who was in the forefront of the battle, with the energy and persistence characteristic of your race, and you have had the satisfaction of proving that your scheme was no tantalising vision, and that was called a Railway to the Moon, was one of the most sensible things a government could do, to benefit a most deserving and loyal section of His Majesty’s subjects.
“Thanks to your unceasing efforts and the earnest sympathy and support of noble-hearted gentlemen, among whom Sir F.R. Saunders and the Hon. P. Ramanathan stand foremost, the isolated North has been brought near to the seat of the Government, the way opened for the development of the vast resources of the Vanni and a clear source of the profit shown to a diffident Government.” (Blue and White, (1925), Volume 21, p. 7)
Fr. C.H. Lytton’s work in Colombo was as successful as that of Jaffna. It was he who gathered a number of local benefactors to establish St. Joseph’s College and once funds were short, he went back to Europe. This was to find more benefactors as well as a quality set of teachers. This he did with great success and saw that the College would start on a high note in 1896.
After being the Vice-Rector of the College for 14 years, he served as Rector between 1910 and 1912. Though he lost a limb towards the end of his life he played an important role as the military chaplain of Colombo. It was he founded many workers’ movements and the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Colombo. In December 1924, Fr. Lytton passed away at 74, after nearly half a century in an island nation, he considered his own.
avishkamario@gmail.com
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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