Features
The Patron Saint of Galle Cricket
Edwin Mendis Karunaratna, “E.M.K.,” as he was popularly known, resurrected Galle cricket, after a period of inactivity.
He helped many young cricketers, in need, and had their talents developed.
Most of his earnings, as a leading lawyer in Galle, handling criminal cases, were virtually spent on the promotion of cricket. But if not for him, Galle cricket would not have prospered to the extent it did.
For 30 years, he travelled to Colombo, and back, at his own expense (and at what cost?) to attend the meetings of the Ceylon Cricket Association and the Board of Control, representing Galle.
With international teams visiting Galle, it was found that the Galle Cricket Club turf wickets of clay, and domestic lawn grass rolled hard to get a hard surface, were not upto international standard. (Turf wickets, all over the world, were prepared with a special grass).
However, with the assistance of the Colombo Cricket Club (all Englishmen) turf wickets, to international standards came up in Galle on E.M.K.’s initiative.
E. M. K. Organied countrywide sweep and a new pavilion with modern facilities, was opened by J. R. Jayewardena.
The legendary West Indies cricketer, Learie Constantine, was given an assignment by the Ceylon Cricket Board.
E. M. K. arranged a programme, for selected boys, from the Galle schools, for two weeks. This programme inspired our boys to take cricket more seriously.
“A tournament, called the E. M. K. Tournament was also organised to promote cricket in the Southern Province.
As a teenager, attending Richmond College, E.M.K., recounts a cricket match played in 1899.
Those were the times when the masters too used to play in the inter collegiate matches.
A. C. Edwards played for All Saints’ College in his capacity as a member of its staff. He was the safest and the soundest batsman and one could never forget his remarkably broad hat, his leisurely walk to the wicket and his unconcerned return to the pavilion after gathering at least a half century on every occasion.
He was a terror of Richmond College and its supporters, in the great encounter between Richmond and All Saints, which feature used to arouse tremendous enthusiasm among cricket fans in Galle upto about 1905, when the Richmond-Mahinda series commenced and became the most important social event in Galle.
Mainly due to Edward’s efforts, All Saints’ won a series of matches against Richmond, when in the memorable match, in 1899, Richmond scored a glorious victory beating All Saints by an innings!
As usual, Edward went in and to the great relief of the Richmondians (now Richmondites) he failed to come off in both innings!
Alfred G. Nicholas, who was a member of the Richmond Staff, was then the recognised “Poet Laureate” of the South, immortalised this victory by composing a beautiful song, entitled “Winning the Toss” which was set to music by the revered Principal J. H. Darrel. It was melodiously sung by the college eleven at the concert given at the end of the term, thus:
Alack! The day for Edwards’ game,
That cricketer of ancient fame;
He’s in, the field is put about,
Both innings see him shortly out!
Chorus:
So here’s to Captain and to crew,
To bowler, batsman, fieldsman, too,
We score away our previous loss,
Thanks to our Captain and the Boss.
In later years, E. M. K. captained the Richmond Cricket eleven and, in the year 1908, he won the high jump and long jump events at the S.S.C. sports meet.
Born in 1886, he was a distinguished pupil of the principal J. H. Darrel. Shortly after leaving school, he joined the Richmond Staff.
In the year 1908, the Richmond College Masters’ Cricket Club was formed at a time when the college staff included at least 12 first-class cricketers. It was led by Rev. W. J. T. Small who had won his colours at his college, Gonville and Caius, Cambridge. The team comprised Rev. Small, E. F. C. Ludowyke, G. R. A. Fernando, H Mant, G.A.F. Senaratne, J. Vincent Mendis, Blum Soerts, A. R. Seneviratne, A. W. Dissanaike, George Amarasinghe, F. A. de S. Adihetty, E. M. Karunaratne C. W. W. Kannangara (latter the father of free education) and Capt. A. A. Dias Abeysinghe.
Before long, this club achieved remarkable success and in its triumphant progress, lowered the colours of all the clubs in the Southern Province.
In 1909, there was keen rivalry in this game with the Galle C.C., who had been beaten before by the Masters’ C. C. but who were determined to do or die in their attempt to retrieve their honour.
The Galle C.C., batting first, scored 155. The Masters commenced their essay with utmost confidence when the glorious uncertainties of cricket intervened and a rot set in and I wickets were down for only 96. E.F.C. Ludowyk was not out on 9 when the last man, George Amarasinghe, the humourist of the team, arrived at the crease. He was not expected to survive a ball but scored a lucky one by an accidental sneak to short leg and Ludowyk crossed over.
Thereafter, it was a wonderful exhibition by Ludowyk with a single off the last ball of every over. Thereafter, the score was increasing. But, the winning hit was given and 160 runs reached and with only one more ball to complete that over, Ludowyk was caught on the boundary line off that last ball.
Ludowyk was beaming with smiles, while Amarasinghe who faced only one ball, was long-faced and threw away the bat and in a thunderous tone said, “I was getting into form when that rascal got out!”
In 1910, the Colombo Cricket Club (C.C.C.) were easily the champions of the Metropolis, mainly through the wonderful bowling of Greswell who arrived in Ceylon with a reputation as one of the very best of England’s bowlers.
Having lowered the colours in the Southern Province, the Masters’ C.C. was desirous of playing a match with the C.C.C.
The C.C.C. accepted the challenge and fixed the first match to be played in Colombo with a return match at Galle.
Eventually, the Masters’ C.C. went to Colombo. The toss of the coin was in their favour and they scored 295 runs. Greswell was changed for the first time since his arrival in Ceylon!.
The C.C.C. score was 265 when the last man arrived with 31 runs to make to win, or five minutes to play out time and make the game a draw. When the total reached 270, there were two minutes to go and the Galle Champions secured the wicket and thereby a glorious victory!
The newspapers acclaimed the Masters’ Eleven as a great all-round side and as brave men who did not suffer from “Gresswellitis”.
In their return match at Galle, the Masters’ C.C. won by an innings while in 1912, the Masters’ Eleven suffered a defeat at the C.C.C. ground.
After about six or seven years, the Masters’ C.C. ceased to exist, as most of the members left for fresh fields and pastures new.
During his Law College days, E.M.K. pioneered the Law-Medical cricket match and was the Law’s first captain at the match which was played on 24th and 25th March 1911, which the lawyers won.
The law team comprised E. M. Karunaratna (Richmond), E. Wanduragala and A. Ebert (S. Thomas’), P. B. Bulankulame, E.S. Fonseka, C. Perera and A. H. de Silva (Royal), F. W. Dias, C.S. Fonseka and E.A. Gunasekera (Wesley) and George A. Perera (St. Joseph’s)
Sam Somasunderam’s Medical Team included R. A. Wickremasuriya, J. Money, M. A. Sourjah, Clement Barrows, V. H. L. Anthonisz and S. Thiagrajah.
In later years, he also pioneered the Galle Law-Medical encounter.
With his advent from the Law College, the Galle Cricket Club developed considerably. In the process, he had to face many formidable challenges in the selection of strong teams, arranging fixtures with other teams, looking after the day-to-day administration of the club, finding funds to play cricket and the maintenance of the club. He met these challenges with courage and fortitude and was its main stay.
Apart from these chores, he also captained the Club Cricket Team from 1922 to 1945 and in 1948.
By now (1920) the Galle C.C. was among the first-class clubs in the island and there was a general desire among all lovers of the game that a ‘test’ match be arranged to be played at Galle between the Ceylon Team and a Southern Province Team.
At the time the genial and sporting Dr. John Rockwood’s name was a household word in the world of cricket in Ceylon. And, he was cordially invited to bring down the Ceylon Team for a battle royal with a Southern Province team.
The invitation was accepted and the match was fixed for 23-10-1920. Weeks before this great match, it was widely advertised by means of posters and hand-bills, both in English and in the Vernacular.
The playground was enclosed for the first time in the history of Galle cricket and hundreds cheerfully paid the entrance fee. Some took advantage of the ramparts overlooking the Esplanade.
Richmond, Mahinda, St. Alioysius and All Saints’ had each a tent with their college colours prominently displayed.
Dr. Rockwood’s Team comprised.
Douglas de Saram (Capt.), Dr. C. H. Gunaskera, M. K. Albert, C. Horan, S. R. Titus, E. Kelaart, V. T. Dickman, Jack Anderson, G. Wignarajah, H. A. Sappideen and Alfred Aluvihara.
The Southern Province Team comprised: E. M. Karunaratna (Capt.), M. S. Gooneratne, G. R. A. Feranndo, D. Gurusinghe, A. L. de Silva, A Hettiartchchi, Cecil Senaratne, S. B. L. Perera, E. Wijetilleke, Freddie Wickramaratne and K. H. M. de Silva.
Douglas de Saram having won the toss elected to bat and they were all out for 114 runs. In reply the Southern Province collapsed for 54 runs.
In the second innings the visitors made 101 for 2 wickets and declared, leaving he home team 161 runs to make in one and a half hours for victory. The home team replied with 75 for 7 wicket s when rain interrupted play.
In 1922 E. M. K. represented Galle at the inaugural meeting of the Ceylon Cricket Association. In 1928 he wrote the historical document “Cricket Down South” giving a vivid description of cricket at Galle from 1875 to 1928.
In 1933 and 1934 he was elected President of the Ceylon Cricket Association. In 1933 he was eleted to the Galle Municipal Council.
Again in 1934 he captained the Galle Combined xi against D. R. Jardine’s team at Galle.
In 1935 he captained the Galle Combined xi against Indian University Occasionals (Captained by S. Wazir).
In 1944 he inaugurated the Richmond-Mahinda old boys encounter. In 1945 he captained the Galle Combined xi against All India (captained by Vijay Merchant). E. M. K’s son Christie who was then the cricket captain of Richmond also played in this match. It was a rare event of a father and son playing representative cricket together.
E. M. K. was 59 years old at the time and physically strong and mentally alert. He stuck to the rules of the game rigidly as a cricketer, observing the highest traditions.
In 1948 he attended the inaugural meeting of the Board of Control in Colombo.
In 1949 he represented the Board of Control at the inaugural meeting of the Asian Cricket Conference in Calcutta.
At one time he was the most senior Vice-President of the Sinhalese Sports Club, a life member of the Tamil Union Cricket Club and a distinguished member of the Galle Gymkhana Club. Some of the well – known cricketers of his day were his friends. Prince Ranjith Singh of India was a particular friend. Cricketers of countries so far apart as England and West Indies came all the way to Galle to see him. In 1934, president E. M. K. of the Ceylon Cricket Association hosted half the Australian Test Team (including W. M. Woodful) a whole day at Galle. The team was on their way back to Australia.
He used his influence to presuade the C.C.A. to allocate a match to Galle, when visiting teams came to the Island.
His portrait was unveiled at the Galle Cricket Club pavilion by the Governor General Sir O.E. Goonetilleke, who paid a glowing tribute to him.
Another portrait of his in full dress with bands and gown, was unveiled at the Galle Law Library by the then Chief Justice Hema Basnayake.
In recognition of the laudable services rendered by him, he was made an O B E (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by the Queen.
In later years he became one of the few leaders who formed a Branch of the “Sinhala Maha Sabha” at Galle.
During the matches with foreign teams at Galle, it was observed that the spectators cheered only the local side. So with an unfurled multi-coloured umbrella in hand, EMK walked the boundary line appealing to the crowd to cheer both sides!
When he passed away on 19-12-1976 at the age of 90, he was not the affluent man that he was in his great days.
The last time Ruhunu Puthra met him was at a weeding, where he made a speech in Sinhala, ending it with a Sinhala verse which he recited rhythmically, blessing the newly wed.
He once declared “This game we love so much has been truly described as” the finest game the wit of man has devised”. May the true spirit of Cricket prevail in all our encounters, both in and off the field.
We do not often realise the important bearing cricket, played in the proper spirit, has on the formation of character. A certain English writer said once t hat cricket has become an Imperial asset. I should go further and say that it is a National asset and even a family asset. Its code of ethics and of honour is so high that the expression. “It is not cricket” is commonly used with regard to any line of action or human conduct that is no t perfectly straight upright and above board”.
With the completion of the Galle International Cricket Stadium, it as the fervent wish of the people of Galle that it be named after him as it will be as appropriate as having named the stadia after P. Saravanamuttu, V. A. Sugathadasa and R. Premadasa, for their dedication and invaluable services to sports. But it was not to be.
Edwin Mend’s Karunaratna is an unsure hero.
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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