Features
Raising of the Kotmale dam – misconceptions and facts
By Asoka Herath
BSc (Geology Hons); MSc (Engineering Geology), CEng.
Over the past few months, there has been considerable interests among not only geoscientists and engineers but also ordinary people in the potential risks faced by two of the major hydropower projects constructed in the central highlands, namely the Victoria and Kotmale projects. These projects have come into the limelight owing to some minor seismic tremors felt in the Victoria area, together with the recent announcement of the intention to raise the Kotmale dam. Alarm bells are ringing that seismic activity may jeopardize the integrity of the Victoria dam and the raising of Kotmale may result in dam failure. Should these dams fail, they will be the biggest manmade disasters our country has ever faced. This risk has prompted suggestions from the people higher up that we should seek advice from foreign experts.
Various opinions from the leading geoscientists of the country, regarding the causes and effects of this unusual activity were aired through the media recently. Some have attributed the seismic tremors to limestone quarrying in the Victoria reservoir area, some as the result of neo-tectonic movements of the central highlands, yet some others said they are reservoir-induced earthquakes. Those who are interested in the fundamentals of such activity may find the presentation in this link useful (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7huzvuU9TEI).
The intention of this article is to provide an insight into the geotechnical issues that influence the Kotmale Project, the risks, and to address some misconceptions people may have regarding the project. I take the liberty of writing on these issues as a person who has an in-depth knowledge of the Project by working from the site investigation phase through to construction completion, the later years as the Senior Engineering Geologist, leading the project geoscientist team.
The Project
Kotmale was meant to be the main upstream storage reservoir under the Mahaweli development scheme launched in the 1960s. It will regulate the Mahaweli waters, while providing a substantial energy component. The capacity of the reservoir will be more than doubled by the proposed raising of the dam, approximately by 30 m. The project was inaugurated in 1979 and funded by Sweden. Sir William Halcrow and Partners of UK (Halcrow) with Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau of Sri Lanka (CECB) was the design engineer and Skanska of Sweden was the contractor.
Geology of the Project Area
To understand the project risks, it is essential to understand the geology and structure of the project area. The area is underlain by Pre-Cambrian age metamorphic rocks comprising predominantly of two rock types, charnokite (gneiss) and crystalline limestone (dolomite or marble) with minor quartzites. The limestone is sandwiched between layers of charnokite gneiss.
The rock units are folded into a gentle anticlinorium (an arch like structure-convex shape) which has a slight plunge downstream. The axis of the anticline trends northwest and falls on the right abutment in the dam area. As such the dam foundation rocks have a slight inclination (15°-25°) downstream and into the abutments.
Charnokite is a very strong resistant rock, which does not breakdown easily while limestone deteriorates and erodes more easily. The initial site investigation drilling in the Kotmale valley found limestone thickness varied from 20 m to 130 m within the project area.
The limestone consists mainly of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and partly magnesian carbonate (MgCO3). Carbonates dissolves in acidic water (acid rain) and forms solution cavities. These cavities have the potential to create leaks from the reservoirs.
Formation of the Kotmale Valley
The Kotmale valley is an amphitheatre-like valley reshaped by the erosional activity of the Kotmale Oya for millennia. It is approximately 5 km wide at the widest point, is surrounded by high rock cliffs up to 300 m high on both flanks, which converge at the Kadadora village; the site of the dam construction. The valley forming process was a combination of differential weathering and erosion of the underlying limestone unit, resulting in the collapse of overlying more resistant rock units. The basal slopes of the cliffs consist of accumulated debris of rocks and soil derived from the cliffs (termed as scree or talus). Historically these talus slopes were in perpetual slow motion (creep) towards the river. They were subjected to numerous landslides, typically during or after heavy rain events. Generally, the Kotmale valley was infamous for landslide activity.
History of Kotmale Project investigations
The location of the dam site had been selected for the seemingly favourable topography formed by the converging valley flanks. One of the first jobs assigned to me when I joined the CECB in 1978 as a young engineering geologist, was to map four exploratory tunnels driven into the abutments of the proposed dam and report the rock conditions. Our evaluation indicated the left abutment had very poor rock conditions not suitable for a dam foundation.
In 1979, to evaluate the landslide risk to the project, Halcrow carried out a landslide survey of the project area. This survey was done due to the frequent landslide activity in the Kothmale area, and its similarities to the Vajont Dam disaster that occurred in Italy in 1963, which wiped out several downstream towns resulting about 2500 deaths.
This study identified the left abutment as a settled block (subsided en mass); limestone solution the likely cause. It strongly recommended to move the damsite downstream and monitor the impressive cliffs on the left flank of the valley for potential movements.
Evaluation by a panel of experts
As these findings were major issues impacting the viability of the Project, the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka as the owner of the project, in early 1980 engaged a panel of foreign experts who were the leaders in the fields of rock and soil mechanics, to evaluate the potential issues and provide recommendations. This panel endorsed the relocation of the damsite.
Subsequently, the dam axis was moved approximately 200 m downstream from the original location.
Nature and distribution of the limestone
At the new location, the limestone was at a much greater depth below the dam foundation compared to the original site as shown in Figure 1. Even so, solution cavities were observed in the contact zone and within the limestone itself identified by drilling and close circuit television (CCTV) inspections carried out in the drillholes. Our best estimate indicated small cavities, however a drillhole represents only a small area, therefore the existence of larger cavities could not be ruled out.
Leakage through cavernous limestone is widespread from the reservoirs built in our hill country. The Samanalawewa Project is the best example where significant leakage had been occurring through a cavernous limestone under the right abutment since the impoundment, which could not be sealed.
Continuity of the Kotmale limestone
Investigations were carried out to establish the continuity of the Kotmale limestone to downstream areas in view of potential leakage which were inconclusive. The recent geological map for the Kandy-Nuwara-Eliya districts (GSMB), I am convinced that the Kotmale limestone continues to Gampola-Atabage Valley and further to the Victoria Reservoir as a major rock unit. The limestone quarrying in the Victoria Reservoir area occurs in the same unit, which caused the recent furore about seismic events allegedly caused by blasting. Whilst I do not believe there is (or will be) significant leakage from Kotmale Reservoir, future raising of the dam may enhance leakage if it exists which needs evaluation.
Water tightness of the dam foundation
To eliminate the risk of water leakage through the limestone under the dam foundation, it was extensively grouted from a grouting gallery constructed below the dam level (see Figure 1). Generally, the grout intakes were low. Nevertheless, few holes required significant amounts of grout before they could be sealed. Subsequent water pressure testing indicated the limestone unit was properly sealed and the foundation was watertight.
Monitoring of the cliffs and other landslides
During the initial impoundment, the cliffs were inspected by walkover surveys and by periodic monitoring with geodetic surveying. Movements of any significance, precursor of an impending major failure were not recorded during the early years after construction.
Reservoir Induced Seismicity (RIS)
One important consideration in the construction of large reservoirs is the potential for reservoir induced seismicity (RIS). RIS is the incidence of earthquakes triggered due to the impoundment of water behind a dam. A simplistic explanation is that reservoirs trigger earth tremors due to the load of water which could activate otherwise dormant faults, the energy released causing earth tremors.
Halcrow decided to investigate the risk of movement of some major structures present in the Kotmale reservoir area upon impoundment, which could potentially induce seismic events. Consequently, a micro-seismic monitoring network (MSMN) consisting of four monitoring stations was established around Kotmale project in 1981. The monitoring program was managed by the CECB and continued until the early 90s.
Published data (Fernando & Kulasinghe 1985) show that the maximum event recorded at Kotmale during the first two and half years of monitoring, was an event of 2.25 magnitude (Richter Scale), located far away from the project area. The monitoring led to the conclusion that the potential for RIS at Kotmale was extremely low or non-existent. However, in view of the recent seismic events recorded around Victoria, it will be prudent to revisit the monitoring records from the Kotmale network, presumably archived by the CECB.
Potential risks from future raising
The Kotmale project infrastructure, were designed and constructed for future raising. Theraised dam simply achieves the original vision of the project, as the main upstream storage reservoir and increases power output.
In my opinion the geotechnical risks arising from the raising of the Kotmale dam are as follows:
= The raised water level in the reservoir will fully inundate the scree slopes and reach the base of the left bank cliffs with potential to create major landslides. Cliff monitoring should be re-established using modern methods such as satellite based synthetic aperture radar interferometry (inSAR).
= There is potential for leakage through the limestone with raised water levels. All evidence suggests the limestone under the dam was properly sealed. Leakage from the reservoir flanks cannot be prevented, which is not a fatal flaw to the project. Requirement for abutment sealing should be revisited.
= It will be useful to re-establish the monitoring program of stream gauging in the Gampola-Atabage valley to investigate if any leakage will occur from Kotmale to Atabage valley. This should be initiated before the dam raising.
= All evidence points to reservoir induced seismicity is a non-issue for Kotmale Project.
Finally, I strongly advocate the raising of the dam for the following reasons:
= The original project infrastructure was developed with the intention of future raising.
= There are potential risks but not fatal flaws to the viability of the Project. These risks can be mitigated.
= People were evacuated from their ancestral lands going under the reservoir and if the project is not completed as originally intended, then this relocation of people was without merit and a grave injustice to them.
= The country unnecessarily lost approximately 30 MW of power for more than 35 years.
The potential risks with the raising of the Kotmale dam discussed here need to be evaluated, and if the need arise, they should be mitigated and managed using local expertise. In my opinion, what Sri Lanka lacks is good project managers vital in successful implementation of projects of such enormous national importance. In hindsight, the Kotmale reservoir should have been built to the full capacity at the first instance.
(The author currently works as a Principal Geotechnical Engineer with AMC Consultants Pty Ltd, Perth, Australia, and can be contacted at hma1904@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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