Features
Stepping into Physiotherapy at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
Excerpted from Memories that Linger: My Journey in the World of Disability
by Padmani Mendis
From Woodlands to Belmont
The move from nursing to physiotherapy would take a walk of perhaps 500 metres north on the Bristol Road to “Belmont”. This magnificent old building housed the School of Physiotherapy of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital or ROH. It provided also space for a boarding to accommodate the first-year students who had completed their two years training as an Orthopaedic Nurse. For the following two years, the second-year physiotherapy students – if we had got that far – would move to “Bella Vista” a very large sprawling house situated south on the Bristol Road, at the further end of Northfield Village.
Both houses were leased by the ROH. These two were within walking distance of each other and of the ROH. This made for a considerable saving on bus fares for us who were now impoverished. As nurses we had handsome monthly allowances and now we had none. Sterling pounds ten in the first year and twelve in the second year allowed for rather luxurious expenses taking into account that food and lodging was on the house.
My colleagues had now to depend on their parents for a small allowance. I was better off than them with the ten pounds the Controller of Exchange of the Central Bank of Ceylon generously allowed my mother to send me every month. On particularly cold and foggy winter nights I could afford the luxury of a bus ride from Belmont to Bella Vista.
A Link with Cadburys
Belmont, so it was said, belonged to the Cadbury’s – the very same entrepreneurial family responsible for the chocolates enjoyed the world over. Belmont had rather extensive gardens, but this was apparently only a very tiny part of the Cadbury Estate. We also believed that the seemingly large property next door was where some of the family lived. Beyond occasionally seeing a handsome young man driving a MG racing car or sometimes a Jaguar sports in through the gate, we saw nothing of the family that lived there.
The village of Bourneville which gives its name to Bourneville Cocoa, was within walking distance. We were taken there to the Cadbury’s Factory on formal visits on two occasions. To come away favoured with the Cadbury largesse including much of their signature Dairy Milk, and at that time, Cadbury Roses.
Living at Belmont
On arriving at Belmont we had to decide how we would allocate the accommodation available. Barbara and I raised our hands immediately asking to share a room. Our friends gave us the largest available and that was nice. The room was spacious and airy. It had a large fireplace, unused, but not for long. I had it soon filled with a dried arrangement I made using branches, twigs and leaves. I thought it looked quite pretty but Barbara turned up her nose at it. That made no difference. The arrangement was replenished when it asked for it and remained all through the year we spent together. There were, as I recall, another two double-rooms located in the upstairs of the main house which accommodated another four. All the others lived in what was called “The Stables” because that is what it had been used as by previous generations. Adapted for living by the ROH.
Besides a small annex for Miss Harrington our Warden and her cat, a kitchen to prepare our food and an area where we would dine, the rest of the space downstairs was occupied by the School. Oh, I forgot to mention that one of the rooms upstairs was used as a classroom. Looking back for the purpose of describing it to you here, it makes me think that the actual floor area of Belmont was relatively small. Which makes me wonder how do I have that illusion of space? Could it be that I was overawed by this whole new experience of independent living in Birmingham?
As nurses, our lives were protected under the close eye of Home Sister and others. It was lived within specified rules as for instance, of when we could come and go and so on. Here at Belmont we could come and go when we liked, asking Miss Harrington to please keep the door open for us. Looking back, it seems as though as a nurse our life outside the hospital was still as a nurse and guided by a certain ethic. Here we were just students. Free. Is that only how I, coming from a sheltered life in Colombo, felt? Or did my friends also feel the same way?
Miss Brenda Horsfall
Our first formal contact with physiotherapy – could I henceforth say physio? – was Miss Brenda Horsfall. Miss Horsfall was the Principal of the School. She was the first to come into our classroom, welcome us, and tell us what the next three years would basically be about. We all agreed she was an absolute “sweetie”. No other word could describe her uniquely calm and amiable appearance together with an inner charm and kindness. She would sort of lean towards one when she spoke because she was a little short of hearing. She always had the hint of a smile on her face even when she spoke, which made one always feel welcome. But make no bones about it, she was a stern disciplinarian when she needed to be.
She would teach us physiology and also pathology. I loved both subjects. Physiology taught us how the body works; that fascinated me then as it does now. To me that is a miracle of God’s creation. The first pathology lessons taught us how the body heals when it has been “abused” and that is basic to physio. The subject went on to teach us how the body changes with different diseases and what, if anything can be done about it. This was the foundation of physiotherapy in the various health conditions.
Miss Horsfall outlined to us how we would be spending the next three years and three months as physio students. Our course of study, successfully completed, would enable us to be Members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or CSP, UK. The first six months at Belmont would be taken up with classroom learning. After that we would start clinical work, going to various hospitals in the mornings and coming back to Belmont for classroom learning in the afternoons. We would have tutorials to do on a regular basis. We would have exams at the end of every term. At the end of 18 months we would sit for the Preliminary Examination of the CSP; after 30 months we would sit for the Intermediate of the CSP; and then in November 1963 the Final. Between the Intermediate and Final Exams, we would be doing full-time clinical work. The Final of the CSP would decide if we will be members of the esteemed CSP UK or have to sit the examination again.
Miss Eva Jahn
Miss Eva Jahn (pronounced Yarn) was as new to Belmont as we were. This formed between us an instantaneous common bond. Miss Jahn had just completed successfully the two-year Diploma in the Teaching of Physiotherapy at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital or QEH, the only other physio school in Birmingham. The Diploma was also conducted by the same esteemed CSP. It was Miss Jahn who would be “our” tutor during the length of our course. That is to say she assumed responsibility for us. We were “her batch”. Whether this was an implicit understanding or an explicit responsibility we never came to know. But did that really matter? She was there when we needed her.
Miss Jahn taught us anatomy. In the anatomy class I felt that I was a favourite. I learned it well. And when, at the Prelim of the CSP I earned a Credit I was written into her book. There was no award of Distinctions with the CSP, so Credits were the highest one could achieve.
Miss Jahn also taught us massage. Both the theory and the practice of massage. This was definitely not my favourite subject. To learn the practice of massage we worked in pairs, each using the other in turns as the guinea pig. That I did not like being touched on different parts of my body is putting it mildly. And Miss Jahn would imply that I was not good at massage, constantly correcting my techniques. She said my fingers were too flexible, the joints of my fingers stretching further back than they should. She said this probably had to do with the fact that I had Asian hands.
That reminded me this was the western type of massage. I disliked having to learn it all the more. Later, after I returned home my oldest brother who knew all this would introduce me as, “This is my sister Padi. She has been five years in England and is now qualified to give massage.” He said this with great pride. It was of course meant as a joke and he would soon correct his statement.
What we came to know later was that when she was still quite little, Miss Jahn together with her sisters had come to Birmingham to live with an aunt. This was during the time that Adolph Hitler was persecuting Jews in Germany. As with Matron Galbraith of Woodlands, Miss Jahn presented a stern exterior. At heart she was the kindest we could hope for in a teacher. She became a friend to each of her students. We were all very fond of Miss Jahn.
On being a Physio Student
And so, we settled down to the routine of being a physio student at Belmont. One new subject that physios had to acquire knowledge and skills in was “Kinesiology”.
This was the study of the body’s movement. Kinesiology started with learning mechanics and then applying that learning to the body. Mechanics some of us had learned in physics at school and that gave us a good start. Once we knew the theory of how the body moved, we went on to its application to therapeutic techniques in physio.
One may say that movement therapies are at the heart of physio. Kinesiology was therefore a very important subject in our curriculum. Miss Gilchrist taught it well and instilled in us an interest in it. The intricacy of the body’s movements has fascinated me ever since then. And even now, when I watch young people dance or a bricklayer at work, I ask myself, what is happening here and how? What joints and muscles are being used here and how?
Electrotherapy was very important in physio. Miss Amos was an enthusiastic teacher of all things electrical, starting with basic physics. At the beginning of the course Miss Amos was not quite happy with the fact that she could not teach me much that was new. Not that I showed it, but she knew that I knew. So she would try to catch me out when she could.
In one written tutorial related to forms of heat therapy, I had used the phrase “put the patient on heat”. She caught me out on that one. When she returned my tutorial she said to me, “in English we don’t say put a person on heat. Only female dogs go on heat.” She could not bring herself to use the “b” word. Miss Amos went on holiday at the end of one term and returned at the beginning of the next as Mrs. Moses.
The only addition to the original Belmont was a large hall extending from a side door on the ground floor. This we called the “Gym” because that is where we had what we called “Movement” classes. It was an adaptation of physical education that we had known at school. Here the buxom and blonde and delicious Mrs. Wall taught us to use exercises for therapeutic purposes. The exercises were in the form of classes – foot classes, shoulder classes, back classes and so on which we later used with individual patients.
There was time allocated for tennis. All the natives among us had played it at school so she used this time for a tennis tournament. She teamed the best player with the weakest. I was the second weakest. Gill, my partner and I, won the tournament. I thought that Gill played exceptionally well to earn us the prize.
Mrs. Wall took us to the pool at the ROH because learning swimming was also part of the physio curriculum. I told her repeatedly that I had learned to swim as a girl guide. She saw that I could swim quite well. And yet at the end of our swimming course she gave me a prize for having learned to swim. Mahin, Lyda and Barbara were the other prize winners. I still have the delicate little glass fish that she gave us as prizes. This amused our native friends so much that they never let us forget it. This experience was part of the “Beautiful Birmingham” that I wrote about.
From Learning to Practice
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Outpatient Physio Department was housed in the middle of the city on the very “Broad Street”. It was extremely busy, always teeming with patients registering for physio. Most of them were after surgery at the ROH in Northfield. After they had their heat therapy and massage it was time for exercises.
The only way we could serve such large numbers was in a group or “class”. I took great delight in bringing 10 or 12 patients for the purpose at any one time for example, for a “foot class”. It was so enjoyable seating them together on a long bench or two and getting them, usually middle-aged, all with crooked toes and bunions to do exercises and activities with their toes. They would have to pick up with their toes and make patterns on the floor with sticks and stones and marbles and string and whatever one could lay one’s hands on, so the tiny muscles in their foot would be given a chance to get stronger.
Clinical Practice, or putting learning into practice and then building on that learning, was no doubt an excellent way of developing as a professional; it was also a most enjoyable one. Our schedules were so arranged that each one got the range of experience called for to enable us to practice as a qualified physio.
The ROH physio in-patient and outpatient departments gave us orthopaedic experience; and those at Selly Oak General Hospital not far away and the Birmingham General provided a wealth of experience in physio in neurological conditions, in medical chest conditions and in general health disorders.
The Yardley Green Chest Hospital was then using surgical interventions for the treatment of patients who had severe tuberculosis of the lungs. We were fortunate to have had experience in procedures such as thoracoplasty which involved removal of parts of the chest wall and of the lungs. Physio was becoming increasingly important in the surgical treatment of patients who had TB.
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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