Features
Mastering Showbiz… Music, Food & Fashion In Oman
CONFESSIONS OF A GLOBAL GYPSY
Dr. Chandana (Chandi) Jayawardena DPhil
President – Chandi J. Associates Inc. Consulting, Canada
Founder & Administrator – Global Hospitality Forum
chandij@sympatico.ca
More Music Shows …
Having produced, annually, The Island Music Awards shows on three occasions, I did my largest show in Sri Lanka in 1992. It was The Island Music Awards 1991, staged at the largest hall in Sri Lanka – BMICH National Convention Centre. At that time, I was the General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel and the Catering Services at BMICH. This was my last major production before I left Sri Lanka for good, and I was keen to do something spectacular and memorable.
As usual, as the first step I developed a concept for the show with input from many musicians. In brainstorming with a large group of creative people (some with strong personalities), at times the discussions can be prolonged with ideas people reluctant to compromise.
Therefore, on this occasion, I came with my vision for the show and then requested input from the musicians. It worked well. I accepted most of their suggestions and the team fine-tuned the concept. With that, we were able to take this show to a much higher level, in production terms, than all of the previous shows that I had produced in Sri Lanka.
In addition to employees of the hotel and BMICH, our production team for that show comprised 153 professionals (musicians, dancers, choreographers, set designers, sound engineers, lighting engineers, special effects professionals, make-up artists, photographers, video recorders and my favourite stage manager – Kenneth Honter).
I added two new features to this show – a complete dress rehearsal the day before opening, and the show video launched on TV a week later. We commenced the show exactly at 7:00 pm with a full attendance of 1,506.
As written on my concept document and the detailed cue sheet, we had two segments with contrasting sub-themes. For each segment, we used contrasting music, choreographed dance acts, special effects, lighting and sound. It had two major ‘ambitious’ set changes with unprecedented special effects, to enhance the two segments of the show.
Nature
The first half was themed: ‘Nature’ with waterfalls, large trees, mist and 34 little ballerinas performing as butterflies, birds, blossoming flowers in a rainforest waking up early in the morning. A gentle ray of the morning sun gradually made the lead singer of the first song visible to the audience. It was slow moving and misty using greens and blues in the backdrops with subtle lighting. It was a gentle and happy celebration of our beautiful nature.
Future
The second half was themed ‘Future’ with humankind advancing with science and flying rockets, but destroying our planet with short sighted policies, unwanted wars and disruptions. It was fast moving, with sounds of explosions and smoke, using red and orange in the backdrops with flashing lighting. In one scene a rocket landed on the stage, militants came out of the rocket and took a performing singer as a prisoner before flying away from the BMICH stage. It was a warning that we are selfishly destroying our planet.
The audience loved the theatrics of this last show. The contrast of these two concepts conveyed a powerful message. I selected only 12 songs to be performed in between segments of award presentations. By then I had learnt that ideally a good show should not exceed two and half hours, including a 20-minute interval.
The trick is to end the show at a peak when the audience is craving for more, instead of prolonging the show for over three hours. In most of the shows I produced over the years, a finale with a popular song sung by many of the stars of the show was a signature ending. Often the audience joined in singing the final song with the musicians while giving a standing ovation.
With Noeline and Sohan, I co-wrote two new songs aligned with the two segment themes of the show (they did most of the work!). The song, ‘Nature’ dominated the top of the pop charts in Sri Lanka for several weeks, and a year later, Noeline and I jointly won The Island Music Award for the ‘Composer of the Year.’
The experiences I gained in showbiz productions in Sri Lanka were memorable and useful in the next phase of my career as an expatriate hotelier when I produced more shows in the Middle East, South America and the Caribbean. In the 1990s I hosted many stars including Angela Bassett and Harry Belafonte. I was also involved in collaborating in music stage productions featuring Dionne Warwick, Ernie Smith, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires etc. in Jamaica.
One day in 1998, I hosted the former British Prime Minister, John Major, for a glass of champagne in my office at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. When he saw some photographs of shows I had produced and stars I had hosted, he was very impressed. With a big smile on his face, he took time to go through all the photographs in my office. For sure, “There’s No Business Like Show Business!”
Looking for Opportunities to Collaborate
Le Galadari Meridien Hotel produced a string of large, music shows with top Sri Lankan musicians and café theatres with international musicians. The hotel became the Mecca of the international and western music scene of Colombo in the late 1980s. We held regular, international food festivals in our restaurants and made Colombo 2000 the only five-star night club with a seven-night operation. Producing our own shows were a lot of fun and definitely increased our banquet income. These initiatives helped my team to achieve record food and beverage revenues and the highest departmental profits since the inception of this 500-room five-star hotel.
In my capacity as the Director of Food and Beverage, I was looking for new opportunities for collaborations to further enhance our reputation and business. When a reputed hair-dresser returning to Sri Lanka after making a name for himself in England, organized a large hair style show in our ballroom with professional models, I was surprised by the popularity of that show. They managed to fill the ballroom.
By then we had a smooth running operation and a team very familiar with all aspects of stage production, logistical coordination (box office, set up, quick catering during the interval etc.) and promotion of large music shows. I wondered if we were ready to diversify to large fashion shows…….
A Mega Festival in Oman
“I am Vijay Vijeyakumaar, the Financial Controller of Oman Sheraton. Do you have 15 minutes to discuss a business opportunity in Muscat?” a Sri Lankan hotel guest approached me during my lunch time ‘meeting and greeting’ walkabout in the restaurants. I invited him to lunch and we had a productive discussion.
Having heard that Le Galadari Meridien Hotel recently handled three highly successful Sri Lankan food festivals in the Far East and the Middle East, he was interested in collaborating with us. As there were no Sheraton hotels in Sri Lanka and no Le Meridien hotels in Oman, there was no conflict of interest.
I told him that I will request our Executive Chef to recommend three cooks to go to Oman. Vijay had a different plan. He said, “We will provide airline tickets, full board accommodation for two of your cooks and an executive event coordinator”.
“What we are planning will not be just a food festival, but a mega festival with a series of events with Sri Lankan music, fashion dresses by Orientations, top models, fashion designers, choreographers, Kandyan dancers, cultural shows, gems, crafts, an Orchid exhibition etc. We have already partnered with Air Lanka and the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman, who are generously supporting Oman Sheraton”, Vijay added. When I asked what my role would be, he said, “Oman Sheraton is requesting you to kindly coordinate and lead the food and entertainment aspects of the festival.”
I loved that challenge. I quickly coordinated food requisitions for 12 large buffets, buffet decorations and recruiting entertainers and a few others to travel with us to Oman. I worked very closely with Vijay. Eventually, we took a versatile team of 54 Sri Lankans to Oman to take part in this mega festival.
Our team included a well-known Sri Lankan choreographer and fashion promoter, Senaka De Silva, who arranged for a group of top fashion models. Fashion designer, Mangala Innocence (Samaraweera), and Sohan and the X-Periments band also joined us. I negotiated with Executive Chef Emile Castillo to release his Banquet Chef and Head Staff Cook to accompany me to prepare buffet lunches and dinners for six days in Muscat. The whole team was accommodated at Oman Sheraton. Most of us spent 10 days in Muscat.
By observing Senaka De Silva’s talent and professionalism in choreography and versatility in visual and performing arts, I became more interested and knowledgeable about fashion shows. In addition to his team of fashion models, two festival hosts – my wife, and socialite Radha de Mel became additional models for some of the daily fashion shows.
In Muscat, while coordinating the 54-member Sri Lankan team, I became extremely busy. For a few of them it was their first-ever overseas trip. That meant me spending some extra time speaking in a coach and advisor role, as well.
Although Vijay promised five Indian cooks from Oman Sheraton to assist the Banquet Chef and Head Staff Cook from Colombo, I faced a big challenge in Muscat. The German Executive Chef of Oman Sheraton refused to release any cooks from his team to assist with the preparations of the 25 Sri Lankan dishes that I had included in the buffet menu.In spite of my PR and diplomatic approach in dealing with the Executive Chef, he refused to change his stand. “I have only 35 in my team to prepare food for six restaurants and banquets! I simply cannot spare any of them to do advance preparations for you. The Financial Controller does not understand my operational challenges!” He put his foot down.
“Look here, Chef. I have been in your shoes. I understand your challenges very clearly, but two Sri Lankans cannot simply prepare 12 buffets for 200 customers per meal. You may have to pay some overtime to your cooks, or arrange some hotel school students to help in your kitchens. We need assistance to increase your food revenue significantly over the next week!” I emphasised.
Eventually, we negotiated and agreed that the Executive Chef will allocate just two Indian cooks. As that was not enough support, I decided to prepare one third of the dishes myself. I delegated some of my non-catering responsibilities in Muscat to Sohan Weerasinghe. I found some extra chef uniforms in the Sheraton uniform room and jumped into action in the kitchen. I cooked on all six days. Le Galadari Meridien Hotel’s Banquet Chef and Head Staff Cook were pleasantly surprised and highly appreciative of my efforts in the kitchen.
Fortunately, my background as a former Executive Chef and my experience in leading two, large Sri Lankan food festivals in Hong Kong and Singapore in the early 1980s, became handy. However, having been out of touch with cooking for some years, it took a couple of days for me to get back to the rhythm of cooking large quantities.
The Executive Chef of the Sheraton was very impressed with the professional operation we ran in his Indian kitchen, while keeping his food cost percentage low. “None of the Food & Beverage Managers or Directors I have worked with in the past, could have done that in a kitchen!” he joked and became a supportive friend.
There was a large community of Sri Lankan workers in Oman, who were keen to come to our buffets, but the Sheraton pricing was far too high for most of them. Therefore, I convinced the hotel to have a limited menu buffet at an affordable price on a Friday when most Lankan workers were off duty. Sohan and the X-Periments entertained over 1,200 Lankan workers who gathered on the lawns of the Oman Sheraton for that additional event. Sohan compèred in Sinhala, to the loud cheers of homesick Sri Lankans. It was extra work for us in the kitchen, but we enjoyed pleasing a large group of Lankans away from their homes and families, saving money to remit.
The food part of the festival was very popular. Omani customers also liked Sri Lankan culture, fashions, tea, gems, orchids and music. The festival was a big success. After my non-stop cooking for six days, I was exhausted. I slept for a full day after the festival was over, while the rest of the Sri Lankan delegation were taken on sight-seeing tours. I told myself, “No more food festivals!” but in the mid-1990s, I organized and led two more large Sri Lankan food festivals in Guyana and Jamaica. Never say never again!
I did a short tour of the country the day before I left Oman. That tour included a visit to Al Bustan Palace, one of the most luxurious and expensive hotels in the world. At that time, it was managed by InterContinental, but without permission to change the name of the hotel. Surprisingly, it also had a very low occupancy. None the less, it was a prestigious management contract for InterContinential.I liked Oman. 18 years later when I was offered the position of CEO for a company owning five hotels in Oman, managed by Aitken Spence Hotels, I was pleased. However, I did not accept that offer, simply because my family did not want to leave Canada to live in the Middle East.
Creating the first Fashion Model of the Year Event
From my occasional chats with Senaka while in Oman stemmed an idea and the concept of the first-ever ‘Fashion Model of the Year’ competition and a grand finale fashion show in Sri Lanka. This new
annual contest and show was conceptualized soon after we returned from Oman. It was held later that year with Senaka as the choreographer, Le Galadari Meridien as the venue and host and myself as the producer.
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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