Features
Joining the Police as a probationary ASP: A dream come true
Excerpted from A Challenge for the Police
by Kingsley Wickramasuriy,
Retired Senior DIG
March 27, 1963 was the dawn of a new era in my life. I had just returned from school around 3.00 pm when I was treated with shouts of Congratulations! by my friends at the boarding house; Neville and Podi Wickremasinghe, and the others at the house. I was throbbing with expectations, eager to hear the news. They produced a copy of “Daily News” carrying the news. The news item read:
Public Service appointments
The Public Service Commission has selected the undermentioned
Candidates for appointment as Probationary Assistant Superintendents of Police.Mr. M.M.K. Mendis (the writer’s previous name) , Mr. M. Shanmugan and Mr. H.G. Gunawardena.
This was the news I was waiting for many moons having put all my energy and hopes towards achieving this goal. My dream as a youngster was to join one of the disciplined services, the Army or the Police.
While still a student at school, I joined the School Cadet Platoon at the first available opportunity and participated in all its training activities like parades, camping, 0.22 shooting etc. That instilled discipline in me and eventually, it enthused me to join one of the disciplined Services – the Police or the Army. It was, indeed my training as a cadet of the Ceylon Cadet Corps (CCC) at school that influenced my thinking of joining one of the disciplined services.
It seems that I was carving out my destiny the day I decided to join the Cadet Platoon in school at Kalutara Maha Vidyalaya. The discipline this instilled in me left an indelible mark on my character and consequently my preference for a future career. At first, it was going to be the Army. But my University education, my liking for aesthetic arts which drew me to Dr. Sarathchandra and his drama, and the keen interest that my elder brother took in my advancement and welfare, all had a great influence on changing course midway of the selection of a career from the army to police.
My brother who took on himself the grave responsibility of looking after my education did much research in finding what he deemed a proper career for me. Although the Ceylon Civil Service was the craze at the time that almost every young graduate was fired with the ambition of joining it, my brother found out that a Probationary Assistant Superintendent is an increment ahead of a CCS cadet in salary at the start.
Added to that of course, were the glamour of the uniform plus the power that carried with it and perhaps the prospect of rising through the ranks to the top job as the Inspector-General. He therefore, considered it more prestigious than what the CCS had to offer as a career. To him, it was one of the most coveted jobs that I could get.
His calculations showed that if I were to apply for the post of probationary ASP after doing an honors degree, I would be overage by one year. Therefore, to be qualified to be within the age I had to do a general degree. I was not averse to his idea. He convinced me that that was to be my destiny. I too believed in what he believed. I went along with his thinking and decided to do a General Degree.
This of course allowed me to devote more time to extracurricular activities like drama, boxing, weight lifting etc. Later I also took to writing (Sinhala) poetry in a sudden gush of poetic thoughts overwhelming my imagination in my final year.
After sitting the final examination, a register was opened at the University Senate by the Department of Education for those who would consider a teaching job after graduation to register themselves. By that time vacancies in the police for Probationary ASPs had not been gazetted. I did not even know whether there would be any vacancies for the post. All this while I had taken my chances without any definite indication that there would be any vacancies in the cadre of Probationary ASPs around that time to be within the eligible age limit. So, I registered myself for a teaching post before leaving the University in early April 1962.
Later in the month, I received a letter from the Director of Education, Malay Street, Colombo 2 appointing me as an assistant teacher to Ampara Maha Vidyalaya with effect from May 2, 1962. The letter was dated April 25, 1962. Whilst the appointment was welcome in a way, it was not so welcome considering the sights I had set on securing the post in the police. I wanted to be close to Kandy where I could use the University Library and the Gymnasium in preparation for the examination and the viva-voce that I would have to face in the event there was a vacancy in the police.
I wanted to use the Library for reading and the Gymnasium for physical development to come up with the required knowledge and physical standards for selection to the police. So, I decided to get the appointment changed closer to Kandy. In the meanwhile, St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota advertised a teaching appointment. I applied not being sure whether I could get my appointment changed.
In response, I received a letter form the Principal of St. Anthony’s College dated May 2, 1962, requesting me to accept an appointment from May 21, 1962. In the meanwhile, I also received another letter from the Director of Education canceling the earlier appointment and transferring me to Kengalla Maha Vidyalaya in the Kandy Region. The transfer was effective from May 7, 1962.
Whilst teaching at Kengalla I saw vacancies in the Volunteer Force of the Army being advertised. I applied to join and was selected for a Commission in the Ceylon National Guard of the Ceylon Volunteer Force the same year. I was asked to report to the Headquarters of the Ceylon National Guard at Lower Lake Road, Colombo 2 on October 5, 1962, ready to go for four weeks of training at Diyatalawa, commencing on Oct. 8
When I reported at CNG Headquarters I found a large number of volunteers, officers, and other ranks to be sent for training gathered there. We were sorted into groups and sent by train to Diyatalawa for training. The training was quite strenuous. It included foot drills, physical training, firing practice to tactics. We also had a taste of wining and dining in the Officers’ Mess and training in Mess etiquette.
All told we had a good glimpse of Army-life from what we went through at Diyatalawa. After four weeks of training, we passed out as Second Lieutenants. However, I was to return to Diyatalawa later, this time for the Officer Quality Test as an applicant for a Commission in the Regular Army. I was joined by some who were with me either at Peradeniya University or at training as volunteer Officers like Thilak Ponnamperuma, Dingo Dharmapala, Seneviratne, Walter Ranawana, Daya Wijesekera, Harry Coomaraswamy (class-mate at Royal), Lucky Algama, Lankathilake, and Ranjan Silva.
In the meantime, as if by fortuitous circumstance, the failed coup d’etat of 1962 created three vacancies in the police for the post of Probationary ASPs was gazetted while I was at training at Diyatalawa opening the door for me and the others to join the police as Probationers. My brother who was monitoring the vacancies got me to fill up the application form obtained from the Public Service Commission and had it sent in time.
My referees were Mr. H. Jinadasa C.C.S who was then the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Broadcasting and Mr. G.P. Samarawickrema, Proctor SC, and JPUM of the Galle Bar. One was a student and the other was a friend of my father. By letter dated December 12, 1962, the PSC granted permission to sit for the examination for recruitment of Probationary ASP. Later, vacancies in the Ceylon Civil Service were also advertised.
I applied to sit for the examination for the selection of candidates and was granted permission to sit for the examination for admission to Administrative Posts in the Public Service including the Ceylon Civil Service. This was on March 6, 1963. But by letter of March 5, 1963, I was asked to present myself at the preliminary interview on March 18. Accordingly, I reported for the interview in Room no 102, First Floor, Galle Face Secretariat, Colombo. Mr. N.Q. Dias, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, and the Mr. S.A. Dissanayke Inspector-General of Police were two of the members of the interview panel, I could faintly remember.
One of the questions asked was concerning discipline. Discipline is something that was instilled in me by now with cadetting in school and now with Army training. So, I had no difficulty in dealing with that subject. From the emphasis in my answer on discipline, I could see from the response of the Board members that I had made quite an impression on them. Soon after, I was called for the final interview.
The interview was on March 26, 1963 and was held in Room No. 101, of the same Secretariat. This time there was a larger panel consisting of the previous two, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon, Sir Nicholas Attygalle, and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission. Present for the interview were several candidates amongst who I could remember Rajendra, one of my classmates at Royal College, and Shanmugam who was a senior to me at Peradeniya University.
This time the panel member’s were interested in my book (of Sinhala) poems a copy of which I produced at the interview as one of my achievements and proof of my extra-curricular activities. Their curiosity was about my non-conformist style of poetry writing following the Peradeniya School of Poetry quite popular at the time. From their response, I knew that I had already made my mark and these were just questions for formalities sake.
One thing that struck me was the question Mr. N.Q. Dias asked me. By this time, I had appeared before him for interviews for the selection to the Army having successfully passed the Office Quality Test at Diyatalawa and he appeared keen to get me to join the Army. He wanted to know why I preferred the Police to the Army. My reply was that the police would allow continuing with my interest in cultural activities rather than the cloistered life of the Army in Barracks. He pooh-pooped the idea and appeared to be annoyed.
However, I came out of the room somewhat confident with the gut feeling that I had clinched one of the three vacant posts. So, when I read the ‘Daily News’ of March 27 I knew that I was correct. There I was first in order of merit. I had finally realized my dream; the dream that I had entertained for so
long; the dream that I had strived so hard for with meticulous planning and the dream that I had for almost all my life, thanks to the support and guidance of my brother. That was his dream too. It was his dream more than mine. He too strived hard to make this dream come true. I did not fail him. In the end, both were winners, happy and contented.
Simultaneously, I was called to join the Army by telegram. I received the telegram on April 6, 1963. It read “Please confirm within 48 hours whether you are willing to accept an appointment in the Army in the rank of the second lieutenant”. The sender was the Commander of the Army. I politely turned down the offer.
The next thing I did was to send my letter of resignation from my post of Assistant Teacher to the Assistant Director of Education for the Central Region in Kandy. This I did on March 27, 1963. I had to give a month’s notice to get myself released. At the time of my resignation, I was an assistant teacher attached to Kegalle Maha Vidylaya drawing a salary of Rs. 2,700.00 per annum and allowances. I served in this capacity from May 7, 1962, to April 30, 1963. Then on April 5, 1963, 1 wrote to the Commanding Officer of the Ceylon Volunteer Force resigning from my Commission.
In the meanwhile, I received the letter of appointment from the Public Service Commission dated April 3, 1963. According to the stipulated conditions of the letter of appointment the post carried a salary scale of Rs. 4,440.00 per annum with 11 annual increments of Rs.360.00 and 10 annual increments of Rs. 480.00 reaching a maximum of Rs. 13,200.00. There were also two efficiency bars before reaching the annual salary scales of Rs.8,400.00 and 11,760.00.
I was also required to get through the stipulated Sinhala proficiency examination and other departmental examinations before being confirmed under Administrative Regulation 121. These were some of the stipulated conditions among several others like the declaration of assets, being medically fit, a contribution of four percent of the salary to the Widows & Orphans Fund, etc.
The letter was duly acknowledged. This was followed by a letter from the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Administration asking me to report to the Acting Director of the Police Training School at Katukurunda, Kalutara before 6.00 pm on May 1, 1963. This was to be the dawn of a new chapter in my life. I was eagerly waiting for it to start.
( To be continued)
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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