Features
THE HISTORY OF COLOMBO
By AN OCTOGENERIAN
A few years ago there was a series of articles in which the residents of Colombo were referred to as ‘Colombians.’ This inspired this writer to trace the history of Colombo and the derivation of its name.
It is reasonable to assume that the history of this city commenced from as early as the eighth century when traders from such diverse and distant countries as Arabia, China and Rome sailed into the harbor to barter their products in exchange for spices, specially cinnamon, for which our island –known to them as ‘Serendib’ had gained a world wide reputation.
Much later in 1344 the renowned Moroccan traveler Ibin Batuta had visited the island and referred to Colombo as Kalanbu. However from that year onward there have been conflicting interpretations of the manner by which ‘Colombo’ had got its name.
Firstly in 1505 when the Portuguese fleet had been blown by adverse winds and had drifted into the harbor they named the adjoining city as Colombo. This name had been derived from the ancient Sinhala term ‘Kolon Thota,’ which meant the port on the river Kelani. The second interpretation is that the name of the city had been derived from the Sinhala term ‘Kola Amba Thota’ which meant the harbor near which grew mango- (‘Amba’) trees which had plenty of leaves – (‘Kola’). A similar observation had been made by Robert Knox in his book titled ‘ A Historical Relation of Ceylon’ which was published in 1681.
Most readers would be aware that Robert Knox was no stranger to this island, having been held as a captive for 20 years by the king of the Kandyan Kingdom – Rajasinghe II who ruled from 1629 – 1687. Yet another interpretation is associated with the renowned explorer and navigator, Christopher Colombus whose name in Italian was Christoforo Colombo. Since he was married to a Portuguese and had lived in Lisbon for several years, his Portuguese connection was the most likely reason for this city to be named in his honor.
The Portuguese after having arrived in Colombo sent a delegation to meet King Vira Parakramabahu VIII (1484 to 1518 ) who reigned over the Kingdom of Kotte which during that period included the city of Colombo were cordially received in audience with the King. The Portuguese who were determined to consolidate their position in Colombo took the opportunity to obtain the permission of King Vira Parakramabahu to build a fort in Colombo.
Their first fort was constructed in 1518 and named ‘Santa Barbara.’ This was abandoned in 1524 and a new fort built on the same site in 1554. Archaeologists have identified this site as having been located between the present Colombo harbor and the Beira lake.
The history of Colombo continues by referring to the churches they built. The first of the many Roman Catholic churches built by the Portuguese was named ‘Nossa Senhora Milagres’ which meant Our Lady of Miracles. It is where the present Anglican church of St Paul’s is located in Milagiriya. The name Milagiriya having been derived from the Sinhalised form of the Portuguese word ‘milagre’ which meant miracle.
Along Ginthupitiya street there is another building of historical significance. This is the 19th century built Sri Siva Subramania Swamy Kovil dedicated to Lord Muruga also referred to as the God of Kataragama, which can be seen even today. It is also recorded that many years ago Ginthupitiya, was named as ‘ San Thome Pitiya,’ because many Christians believed that St Thomas the Apostle had visited this site and preached to the people. However it must be emphasized that there is no authenticated evidence that St Thomas had ever visited Ginthupitiya/San Thome Pitiya.
The Dutch who arrived in the island in 1640 made Colombo their stronghold, referring to it as their Operational Centre. Not being Roman Catholics but Protestants they did not want to be outdone by the Portuguese who had, as mentioned earlier, built many churches. For this reason they decided to build their own churches in accordance with their faith.
The best known Dutch church is the Wolvendaal Church, which they referred to as Wolvendaalse Kirk, which even today is a place of worship for the Non- Roman Catholics. Another edifice built by them was the Dutch Hospital which is considered to be one of the oldest buildings in Colombo Fort. It has now been converted to be an imposing and impressionable shopping arcade and a popular dining rendezvous.
The British who defeated the Dutch made Colombo their main city but went further by establishing it as the island’s capital. At the risk of striking a sad and somber note, it needs to be stated that in 1866 the British donated to Colombo the 48- acre burial grounds referred to as Kanatte. Here among the many thousands who rest in peaceful slumber is the prominent science- fiction writer Sir Arthur C. Clarke.
There is also what may be referred to as the second grave of Sri Lanka’s valiant martyr Henry Pedris who was executed for treason by the British on July 7, 1915. In keeping with British military tradition his body was buried in an unmarked location in a secret plot far from Colombo. But in 1987 his relatives unearthed his body and buried it in Kanatte.
Colombo has another cemetery which is located along Jawatte road in what is referred today as Colombo 05. Unknown to many it is the largest Commonwealth War cemetery in the island. On July 8, 2005 it was declared as an archaeological site. Furthermore it is interesting to note that ‘Ja’ which are the first two letters of ‘Jawatte’ refers to the Malay community, who had purchased the block of land for use as a cemetery in 1941
Readers will be surprised to know that in Colombo the British had built many well known edifices which today are considered to be landmarks such as the Galle Face Hotel, Cargills Building. Also built in British times were the University of Colombo Building which was originally built for Royal College, the Joseph Frazer Nursing Home, the old House of Parliament, Temple Trees, the President’s House, the former General Post Office, Lloyds Building, the National Museum and the Old Town Hall located in Pettah which is presently a Museum and contains a fascinating collection of memorabilia such as street signs, steam rollers and printing presses.
Mention must also be made of another British contribution to the city of Colombo. This was the tramcar network, which operated on two main routes, Fort – Grandpass and Fort – Borella . This network was discontinued 1953.
To continue the history of Colombo it is now relevant to refer to World War II ( September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945 ) and in particular to the involvement of Japan. It was during this period that under Emperor Hirohito the Japanese carried out a campaign of ruthless expansionism and militarization in the countries of South East Asia. It commenced with the unprovoked destruction of the American fleet berthed in Pearl harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941.
From then onwards they systematically ravaged every country in South Asia. Finally when on February 15, 1942 Singapore was captured, it was inevitable that their next conquest would be Ceylon. During this period Ceylon – as our island was referred to, was a British colony and the Allied forces comprising British, Canadian and troops from the independent dominions of the British Commonwealth were stationed in many parts of the island but were concentrated in Colombo and Trincomalee. But since this article is about the history of Colombo, a description of the Japanese attack on Trincomalee will regrettably have to be left for another day.
It was the intention of the Japanese forces to have complete control of the Indian ocean thereby disrupting the British sea lanes with India and the Middle East and also to be within striking distance of the oil fields in the Persian Gulf over which Britain had a virtual monopoly. It was in anticipation of a Japanese attack which if successful would have been irreparably detrimental to the British that the Allied forces stationed in Colombo were compelled to take numerous precautionary measures which to the citizens of Colombo were more often than not a source of irritation and impatience.
Every evening by sunset all street lights were switched off. The time was advanced by one hour to enable office workers to return to their homes before darkness covered the city. The movement of vehicles was prohibited, unless the owner/driver had a special pass in which case the head lamps had to be covered leaving just enough space for a glimmer of light to appear to prevent the driver from taking the wrong turn.
There were also what has been referred to as ‘Black Out’ nights. Residents living within the city were compelled to drape black curtains or fix sheets of cardboard over every window in their houses to prevent any light from appearing from outside. Colombo was in complete darkness, thereby making it impossible for Japanese bombers to identify any important landmarks. Sirens were installed to warn the people whenever there was a possibility of an air raid and on hearing the eerie screech of the siren they had to take refuge in the specially built underground air-raid shelters which were located at key points within the city .
A Mobile Air-Raid Precaution (ARP) team was formed mainly comprising of Rover Scouts which was headed by the Scout Commissioner. Their duty was to ensure that the public adhered to the regulations which had been enforced to safeguard them in case of a Japanese attack. Co-operative Stores were established throughout the city and a coupon system introduced for the purchase of essential groceries. Nevertheless there was a scarcity of rice for which a substitute referred to as ‘bajiri’ was issued. Even though many quite justifiably complained that it tasted like straw, there was no alternative.
Early in the morning on Sunday April 5, 1942, the worst fears of the Allied forces materialized. The Japanese armada led by Vice Admiral Mitsuo Fuchida who was responsible for the attack on the American fleet in Pearl harbor bombed Colombo devastating strategic installations in the city and harbor. The Japanese attack was so relentless that one pilot carefully avoiding the balloon barrages connected to the ground by steel wires which swayed high in the air over the harbor, demonstrated his devotion to his country and his Emperor by committing the ultimate sacrifice of ‘Harakiri’ by diving bombing into the funnel of a British destroyer berthed in the harbor bursting its fuel tanks and sinking the ship.
It is now relevant to quote the statement issued by the war-time Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Winston Churchill: “The most dangerous moment of the war and the one which caused me the greatest alarm was when the Japanese fleet was heading for Ceylon and the naval base there,” this being a reference to the Colombo harbor.
The war-time history of Colombo needs to be continued with the mention of Flight Lieutenant Leonard Birchall who was acclaimed as the ‘Savior of Ceylon.’ because while piloting his Catalina sea plane he was alarmed to see the Japanese fleet just 360 miles off the coast of the island and heading for the Colombo harbor. He was barely able to send a message of warning to the Allied forces stationed in Colombo when his plane was shot down and he was captured by the Japanese crew and taken to a Prisoner of War camp in Japan, to be questioned under torture as to whether he did send a message to the Allied forces stationed in Colombo.
It was his fortuitous warning which enabled the Allied forces in Colombo to be prepared for the impending Japanese attack. During the raid many residents of Colombo were in such a state of frenzied panic that they fled seeking refuge in homes far away from Colombo. Those who remained behind were able to watch the unforgettable sight in the sky above of what had been referred to as ‘dog fights’ between the RAF (Royal Air Force) Hawker Hurricanes and the Japanese Mitsubishi Zero fighter planes. When the raid was over burning wrecks of Japanese aircraft were found in places outside Colombo. However according to an unconfirmed report one wreck was found on Galle Face Green and another in Maradana.
Finally the writer is pleased to mention that one of the most unforgettable contributions made by the British to Ceylon was the game of cricket. Even though it is not rated as the national sport it is certainly the most popular, making us a cricket crazy country, perhaps second only to India.
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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