Features
The Bogusvilleas:A PM’s 1967 visit to the Army Cantonment
by Capt F R A B Musafer, 4th Regt SLA (Retd )
This story goes back to the mid 1960s when then Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and External Affairs, Mr Dudley Senanayake had scheduled a visit to the various Army establishments at the Cantonment at Panagoda, Homagama. This was during his third term of office having been Prime Minister in 1952-1953, 1960 and 1965 to 1970.
The decision to build an army cantonment was taken in 1949 shortly after the first anniversary of Independence when Sir Kanthiah Vaithianathan was the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and External Affairs.
The cantonment located a few miles from the Homagama town was built at Panagoda on 350 acres of land purchased in 1950. Work commenced on October 10, 1952 when Mr Dudley Senanayake was the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and External Affairs. The architect commissioned for the job was Tom Neville Wynne-Jones and the construction of the project awarded on tenders to local builders and engineers. The major work was completed in 1959 but it remained as a work in progress well into the late 1960s and beyond.
The main building, majestically facing the Colombo Ratnapura Road referred to as the High Level Road, was opened on December 22, 1959 by then Prime Minister W Dahanayake. This building, a showpiece of the time, housed the senior command structure of Western Force Support Group Brigade Headquarters as then referred to, and the officers and administrative staff of the Ceylon Army General Service Corps.
The frontage, as one sees it driving past, belies the extent of the vast acreage of the cantonment. Hidden from view are a vast assortment of buildings varying from offices of Regimental Headquarters of a few unit formations, two officers and sergeants messes, billets and messing facilities for other ranks, housing for married families, parade grounds, playing fields, workshops, garages, a gymnasium and a sewage and water treatment plant.
A separate complex of the officers married quarters was built at Kandalanda bordering the High Level Road a short distance from the Homagama town whilst the cantonment was situated a few miles further down the road.
The buildings being comparatively new and solid, with the extensive use of granite (kalu gal), hardly needed any exterior maintenance. The landscape however was a different story. In the construction phase most of the rubber trees were felled and the area flattened and leveled by the graders of the 1st Field Engineering regiment to make roads, playing fields, parade squares and whatever. As a result there was hardly any top soil left to enable the healthy growth of any vegetation, plants or flowering shrubs. The exposed clay (kabook) was not a pretty sight when it rained with the un-tarred road surfaces breaking up to form pot holes of mud proving a hindrance to vehicles to both vehicles and pedestrians.
The visit of a very senior officer or a person of importance would trigger a scramble to hurriedly spruce up the buildings and surrounds in the demarcated areas of responsibility. However, this being a very special occasion, demanded a much greater effort than a mere eyewash as it was the country’s Prime Minister who, having laid the foundation stone for construction work in October 1952, was visiting the cantonment.
It was deemed imperative that all unit commanders with their regimental pride, and perhaps their own promotions at stake, did their utmost to impress and have everything spic and span. It was a question of assigning all hands on deck to spruce up the cantonment but with very limited army allocated or individual regimental funds.
The Works Services Regiment together with the Field Engineering Regiment were inundated with requests to bypass the bureaucratic snags and expedite the necessary long neglected work and repairs to be carried out in a hurry.
Buildings were hosed down and some white/colour washed, windows cleaned, floors scrubbed, brass fittings polished. lawns mowed, hedges trimmed and the potholes of the un-tarred road surfaces temporarily filled. Everything had to look good just for that day at least.
This story is confined to the Artillery Officers Mess generally referred to as the “Gunner Mess.” Built on a hilltop of what was previously a rubber estate. It was indeed a very large and impressive two-storey building built with granite and boasting a very spacious dining and ante room, a billiards room, a ladies room, and a well equipped modern kitchen.
From memory there were about 40 rooms that housed lieutenant colonels downwards to second lieutenants with the exception of two officer cadets, the late Brigadier Nalin Angammana and myself.
We were both selected as officer cadets after having completed the Officer Quality Tests and were among the finalists interviewed by the then Secretary Minister of Defence, Mr N Q Dias. Nalin was in a batch of six that was to be trained in Egypt and I in a batch of four to go to Pakistan. The course to Egypt (ungazetted) was canceled with the change of government in 1965 with the training to be conducted in Ceylon instead.
The two and a half year course in the Pakistan Military Academy was cut short to a year owing to the Indo Pakistan war compelling this batch to return and continue their training at the Army Training Centre Tactics Wing at Diyatalawa. As the required mandatory period of training was incomplete, the two batches were subsequently posted to the regiments to mark time as officer cadets which was awkward as we were neither fish, flesh nor fowl, officers or other ranks.
The late Brigadier Angammana, a product of Dharmarajah College, a fine cricketer and an officer and a gentleman, was killed by a landmine in 1995 in the Batticaloa region. He passed out first in his batch and was posted to the 1st Field Regiment of Engineers. His untimely death paved the way for his batch-mate, Gen Ballagalla from Ananda College, to be appointed the Army Commander in 2002.
Most of the officers “living in” (an army term) were young and unmarried from the Artillery, Field Engineers, Signals and Works Services Regiments. The camaraderie that existed between these officers was exceptional.
The mess building hardly needed any overall maintenance. The floors of the large ante room, dining room areas and corridors were regularly polished with black Cardinal polish. This was a task undertaken by the batmen of the officers whenever required but on this occasion there were soldiers detailed to help out as well.
The landscaping around the officers’ mess was drab and colourless. The surroundings had been planted with some dwarf king coconut and grafted mango trees which remained barren and stunted. The area in the front of the U shaped mess entrance had been planted with some flowering shrubs (later replaced by “weeping willows” the trees that lined the entrance to Independence Square ) that were withered, scraggy and provided no colour. In front of the mess was a small pond with four empty flower beds at each corner. It was indeed a challenge to grow anything in the clay soil and thereby neglected.
At the Gunner Officers Mess circa 1962/ 63 First row – Capt H Wanasinghe, Second row – Capt Sali Silva, Capt Percy Wijekoon, Capt George Fernando, Lt Gajendran. Lt Rex Fernando. Third row – 2 Lt KWP Guneratne, Lt AHUN Weerakoon
To the rear of the mess was the only other entrance to the cantonment from the Godagama road, referred to as the Habarakada entrance which was unmanned but barricaded denying any vehicle access. This was the status quo till March 1971 just prior to the JVP insurgency when a state of Emergency was declared and security was tightened.
Young officers living in the Gunner Mess returning after a night out, sometimes after dancing classes and an ice cream at Kreme House located in Colpetty would utilize this entrance, having got off the last bus from Pettah on the 190 Godagama route at around midnight. Paying for taxis was not an affordable option for these young and perhaps underpaid officers. Unmarried second lieutenants drew a salary of Rs 220, a lieutenant Rs 270 and an officer cadet Rs 180. Meals based on a ration allowance were provided free in the mess.
The downside was that our mess bills for liquor and extra messing took a large slice of the pay packet at month’s end. Having to be properly attired, maintaining standards befitting an officer, the common cliche was “clean suit and empty pockets!”
The story of the bogusvilleas was an officer’s initiative to accomplish a task given to him with the very limited financial resources at his disposal and the restrictions of time. This was during a time of austerity when the country was going through a difficult economic period and belts were tightened. Furthermore, the army though labeled a ceremonial army, was not used to much pomp, pageantry and luxuries and committed to being frugal and living within its means. There were plenty of items in short supply attributed to the lack of foreign exchange and also to the closure of the Suez canal. Global shipping was being diverted around the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
I must transgress here and mention that a gunner officer, on completion of his belated Gunner Young Officers course in the United Kingdom, used his initiative and connections to return to Ceylon by sea via the Cape of Good Hope rather than fly back home in a day, earning himself a good month-long paid holiday on duty!
Capt A P Abeysena (Tony), being an old soldier and a former All Ceylon hockey cap who rose from the ranks and was labeled as a “True Gunner,” was generally a ‘go to’ man to get a job done, was assigned the task of sprucing up the dull and boring colourless surrounds of the officers’ mess.
Built in front of the mess entrance was a small pond about five or six metres square with no fish in it and four empty L shaped flower beds at each corner which impressed no one and was an eyesore.
Tony a very practical individual came up with a creative idea to meet the challenges of costs and beautification within the constraints of time and effort and virtually at no cost.
A day before the PM’s visit, he drove down to Regimental Headquarters at Narahenpita (Colombo- 6) where there was an abundance of purple bougainvilleas in full bloom. He cut a full truck load of branches laden with flowers and transported them to Panagoda, where he planted these branches in the four empty flower beds near the pond. This significantly transformed the drab scenery with a cover of vivid purple and green foliage. It turned out to be a brilliant idea that was lauded by all and sundry .
The following day after the PM was accorded a guard of honour and had visited the various units, he was hosted to tea at the Gunner mess. He may have been so impressed by the colourful purple bougainvilleas and the green foliage that he walked towards the pond and took some photographs. I believe he was a very keen photographer and carried his camera wherever he went.
We were all relieved that the PM’s visit had gone off well and were impressed by Capt. Abeysena’s brainchild that had paid such rich dividends in transforming a drab landscape into one of vivid colour. Someone commented that it was a case of “bullshit baffling brains”. That evening the officers had a good chuckle and a good drink to toast Captain Abeysena’s ingenuity and masterstroke. Necessity being the mother of invention/compromise was in this instance well executed.
Not the end of story
There is a belief and saying “that if you plant a stick in Ceylon it grows”. It really did. In the days that followed there was incessant rain and the branches with the flowers planted took root. It was an incredible sight with the flowers still in bloom which prompted someone to aptly name it the “Bogusvilleas” This story would no doubt illustrate how true it was, irrespective if carbonic or organic fertilizer used in the clay soil of Panagoda or anywhere else in Sri Lanka.
The Gunner Mess was home, in the early days of their careers to the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and three former Army Commanders, General Hamilton Wanasinha, General Srilal Weerasooriya, late Gen Lionel Balagalle and a host of other Major Generals and very senior officers.
When I left the Army in 1976 the Bogusvilleas continued to flourish and did so for many more years. To many an old soldier of that era who lived in the Gunner Mess the legend of the bogusvilleas still lives on. So also does the saying: “Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away”. This story is recorded “lest we forget.”
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 . )
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
