Features
SYSTEM CHANGE, NOT IN MY LIFETIME!
By Sanjeewa Jayaweera
For a short time, the word “system change” was on the lips of many, spoken, shouted, and written with a great deal of passion and hope. The resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cabinet was expected to be the beginning of the much sought-after and looked forward to system change.
System change may have meant different things to many. Still, there was universal agreement that the way politicians ruled this island nation needed to change. Notably, a new set of people not tainted with allegations of criminal activity, corruption, nepotism, and incompetence should take charge of governing the nation.
It was generally acknowledged that for decades our country had been systematically destroyed and plundered by those we had elected without even a whimper from most of us. A few who understood the precipitous level to which the economy had descended raised the red flag when Gotabaya Rajapaksa(GR) was elected President and implemented shocking changes to the country’s tax regime that significantly reduced government revenue. A debilitating pandemic made the journey to bankruptcy faster than predicted. But, as was the case, too many in the know kept their mouths shut which emboldened those reposed with managing the country’s economy to experiment with reckless policies that defied logic.
Recently in the United Kingdom, Liz Truss, the newly appointed PM, had to eat humble pie and quickly reverse several contentious tax cuts. However, our President, his government, and the Gang of Four steadfastly, stubbornly, and stupidly carried on to destroy our country’s economy.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was the long power cuts and queuing up for days to buy a packet of powdered milk, a cylinder of cooking gas and fuel. The acknowledgment that the country was officially bankrupt, the collapse of the rupee and the steep increase in prices of essential goods impacted every segment of the population, even if the severity was not the same. Finally, it dawned on a few that a stand must be made, and our contempt and displeasure should be expressed outside the confines of our homes, offices, and cocktail parties.
Arising from the discontent, a few English-speaking middle-class professionals organized silent protests in Colombo’s suburbs, holding placards and a candle to express their frustration and anger towards the government. The number of protest locations increased, and the placards were more explicit in condemning GR and his government.Not many, including myself, took these protests seriously and expected them to die naturally. All that changed when the demonstration organized in Mirihana near GR’s home became a battle between the protesters and the police. There was no doubt that “muscle power” had been added to the previously largely middle-class group.
After that, it quickly progressed to setting up a protest site in Galle Face that attracted a sizable segment of youth. The slogan “Gota Go Home” became a rallying cry for the people to express their anger toward the President and his government. The word “Aragalaya” became the catchphrase for the protest movement.
The momentum remained with the protesters, despite the President making certain cosmetic changes by replacing a few individuals in the cabinet, the central bank, and the treasury. The violence that erupted on May 9 changed the country’s mood and political landscape, with Ranil Wickeamesinghe (RW) appointed the PM. The destruction of several SLPP MP’s private residences and the murder of a member of parliament (MP) resulted in many going into hiding and fearing for their lives.
The events of July 9, when thousands of young and not-so-young protesters marched on and forcibly entered the Presidential palace, resulted in GR fleeing the country and subsequently RW being voted by a majority of MPs as the new President. So, if the objective of the “Aragalaya” was only the replacement of the President, PM and the Cabinet, then it has been somewhat achieved. I say somewhat because the incumbent PM and many in the cabinet are still from the previously failed government of GR.
As someone who worked in the private sector for more than a quarter century and was involved in industries such as hotels, manufacturing, and retail, I support the need for an IMF program and its recommended reforms. We need reforms to rectify decades of bad governance and corruption, and to enable these, a stable government and peace in the country is a prerequisite. Many entrepreneurs have articulated that the initial goal of “Gota Go Home” has been achieved, and now his successor should be given time to rebuild the economy and reset the country.
An often cited justification is that the aragalaya was a spontaneous civil society movement without any visible and structured leadership that could be considered an alternative to the current crop of incompetent and crooked politicians. The violence that erupted on May 9 and July 9 is also a factor that concerned many, although many would privately agree that it was the muscle power of the youth that delivered.
On the other side of the coin, I am confident that RW will not facilitate the desired system change. He is a product and an entrenched representative of the political system that is so corrupt and needs to be changed. He is no less responsible for what the country today is and the suffering being endured. The people rejected RW and his party decisively at the last General Election. As a result, he lost his seat in the heartland of Colombo which previously was the bastion of support for his party.
That RW felt he should accept the appointment of PM and, after that, as President despite less than 300,00 people voting for him and his party is an affirmation of how rotten the system is. His accession to power through a manipulated system will define his Presidency.
Once again, the choice before us seems to be between the devil and the deep blue sea. No doubt the economy needs a stable government, but the majority also wants to see an end to the culture of political entitlement. We need common decency and values and compliance with the rule of law to replace the culture of impunity, rampant corruption and wheeler-dealing that pervades politics in our island nation.In terms of the system change that I want for my country, the important ones are as follows:
Politicians who are not corrupt
We had lived for several decades with rampant corruption that has become a way of life for politicians and has unfortunately permeated down the ranks. That there are no checks and balances and that corruption could be practiced with impunity has been accepted by society with a shrug and a muttering of “monawa karanada, loku ung paga gahanawane.”
Many believe corruption’s economic and social impact on our country is the most significant cause of our current predicament. I remember my father, a retired public servant and civil activist, being interviewed along with a politician on TV about 20 years ago. My father, known for his outspoken and fearless views, said, “In my opinion, all politicians are crooks.” The politician quickly interjected by saying, “Aiyo, Mr. Jayaweera, that is not a fair comment. Some of us are honest.”
My father smiled; many who knew him closely understood what he thought of the response and left it at that. However, about 15 years later, the same politician who was then a cabinet minister, when questioned at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry as to who paid the rent for his luxury penthouse apartment, said, “I do not know.”
I am sure what my father said on TV that day is believed by many to be the gospel truth. It is necessary that an independent commission of inquiry consisting of experienced forensic auditors and retired justices be appointed to go through the assets of all MP’s, current and retired, who are still alive. Any unexplained wealth should result in a prison sentence, debarment from contesting any future elections and forfeiture of all such assets of the MP concerned.
Elimination of Nepotism and Cronyism
Our country has thrived on this practice, with politicians using their power to appoint family members, relatives, and friends to positions of authority, with many not having the requisite knowledge or experience. A recent post in social media listed the names of various politicians who have used their influence to get relatives appointed to several overseas missions. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. In the future, even those with qualifications related to politicians should not be appointed so that the public is satisfied that there was no favouritism.
All Races, Religions and Languages should be Equal
Politicians have shamelessly and opportunistically used race and religion as political weapons to divide the people. It is time that we all subscribe to the view that all people are equal, should be treated equally, and that Sinhala, Tamil and English be given parity status. Overhaul our Education System, and University education should not be free
As someone who worked in a senior management position in the private sector, I know our education system does not produce people capable of efficiently discharging their work responsibilities. We need to move away from the belief that passing examinations by memorizing will not produce people who are job ready and capable of thinking outside the box. I also believe that a University education needs to be paid for. Government loan schemes and scholarships should be available for those from the poorest families.
An Efficient, Independent, and Fearless Public Sector
Over the years, the public sector has been politicized and made to be servile to its political masters. This has resulted in the country being burdened with a bloated and inefficient public sector costing taxpayers a significant amount of money. The public sector needs to be pruned down, those employed should be made to contribute to their pension, and those above the single-person income tax threshold should be taxed.
To expect the best in the country to seek employment in the public sector, as was done over 80 years ago, would be futile, and as such, I don’t recommend a salary structure in line with the private sector. However, that should be a medium to long-term goal.In addition, no person employed in the public sector should be allowed to go on strike.
Privatise all State-Owned Enterprises
For many decades, it has been acknowledged and proven that the state should not be involved in managing and operating businesses. That this philosophy has not been adhered to has resulted in the taxpayers funding many inefficient and unprofitable enterprises. All such enterprises must be privatized, with the GOSL holding a minority stake. However, there needs to be an independent regulator to ensure that utilities are priced within specific parameters and that there is competition among the players. There should be no monopolies.
Most should pay Income Tax
It is a fact that very few individuals pay income tax. This should not be the case. Many are not paying income tax despite earning more than the single person tax-free threshold. The recent announcement that all above 18 years should have a tax file is a welcome proposal. As to how GOSL intends to enforce this will be interesting. More than 300,000 grocery shops account for nearly 75% of the resale revenue of the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry. How many are registered for Income Tax will be revealing.
The GOSL would need to assess whether the monthly single-person tax-free allowance of Rs. 150,000 is too generous when the average monthly income is far less than the threshold. Otherwise, the objective of most paying income tax would not be achieved.The tax rates for higher income earners should be increased, and I believe even a maximum marginal rate of 50% for a few years is not undesirable. Additional taxes in the form of Capital Gains Tax and Wealth Tax are necessary. As to why the Withholding Tax of 5% on interest income should be the final tax defies logic.In addition, the Inland Revenue Tax Administration should be made effective. This should not mean that they should be allowed to bully those who are paying but to go after those evading the payment of taxes.However, a credible and compliant tax system is only possible if taxpayers feel confident their money is not wasted.
Adherence to the Law and Expeditious Prosecution of the Guilty
Those entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the country’s laws are adhered to by the public, like the Police, Attorney General’s Department and the Bribery Commission, should enforce the laws stringently, fearlessly, and expeditiously. Remember, “Justice delayed is Justice denied.”My list doe does not end here, but I believe I have listed the most significant changes that I would like to see implemented.
No System Change in My Lifetime
I doubt that much of what I have articulated here will be implemented, at least within my lifetime. To put that in context, let me say I am 63-years old. Despite the tumultuous events in the last few months that gave hope that some form of change would be undertaken, the actions of RW and the SLPP have confirmed that nothing has changed, and the people’s views count for nothing. This is borne out by the recent appointment of 38 state ministers with proven track records of failure and questionable integrity at a significant cost to the taxpayers.The SLPP deemed it fit to launch a “Political Leadership Academy” for political excellence. I read a social media post that quite appropriately stated that it should be an academy specializing in teaching how to bankrupt a country in two years!
The number of cabinet ministers present at the airport to greet former President GR on his return from exile affirms that those present have neither understood the reasons for the previous government’s failure nor the feeling of great antipathy towards GR and his government.Recently, Anura Kumara Dissanayake rattled off a long list of names and positions held in the media unit of RW. That such a large contingent is not needed is obvious.
Despite the financial constraints, the country is presently undergoing RW felt the need to travel along with his spouse (though she paid her airfare) and some others to London to attend the funeral of the Queen. Why our High Commissioner in the UK could not adequately represent our impoverished nation is a question he needs to answer.
Despite my criticism of RW, I believe he is one of the very few in the parliament who can grasp the economic challenges impacting our country and the economic and political reforms that need to be undertaken. However, I doubt that he has the political will to go ahead with such reforms and be the change agent to deliver the system changes that we, the citizens, desire.
(Views and Opinions expressed in this article are of the author and not of any institution or organization that he may be associated with.)
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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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