Features
Turret Road Kollupitiya Seventy Five Years Ago.
by Hugh Karunanayake
Turret Road Kollupitiya is now known as Anagaraika Dharmapala Mawata in honour of a prominent Buddhist who spearheaded the Buddhist revival movement at the beginning of the twentieth century. The road is in the heart of the Cinnamon Gardens/ Kollupitiya suburbs which are now the most elite residential areas in Colombo.
The City’s elite residential area was originally in Mutwal around the harbour. With the opening of the SouthWest Breakwater, in the Colombo harbour, the primacy of Colombo as a city gradually developed, and the elite residential areas were thereafter in Cinnamon Gardens, Kollupitiya, and Havelock Town. Many professionals, and plantation owners chose to build their mansions in this area.
Chief among them was Jacob de Mel who was known as an astute entrepreneur engaged in the development of broad acres in cococnut, as well as being a prominent owner of graphite mines in the Kurunegala areas. His coconut holdings are estimated to have been nearly 5,000 acres in extent. Jacob de Mel also owned almost the entirety of land on one side of Turret Road commencing from Galle Road on the left hand side proceeding to to Horton Place almost up to Castle Street.
His estate extended to the Hyde Park, Hunupitiya areas as well. The patriarch had a large brood of children comprising nine daughters and five sons and he had enough prime Colombo property in addition to his vast coconut holdings in the Kurunegala District, to give as dowries for his nine daughters as well as providing for his five sons.
His daughters were married to Sir James Peiris, C.E.A. Dias, ARH Canekeratne,Charles Peiris, Henry Peiris, Dr JSR Goonewardene, AFR Goonewardene, W.L. P. de Soysa, and ???? De Soysa. His five sons included Henry de Mel, FB de Mel, and. Frank de Mel, and they all built their homes in Horton Place. Henry de Mel in “Elsemere”, FB de Mel in “Villa de Mel” the patriarch’s own home, and Frank in “Trentino”,also in Horton Place. All the daughters of Jacob de Mel built their residences on Turret Road and adjacent areas such as Hyde Park, and Park Road..
Grand Homes such as “Rippleworth”, “Canela Villa”, “Fincastle”, ” Elscourt Manor” all on Turret Road were built by the daughters and their spouses on land originally part of the Jacob de Mel prime holding.At the turn of the Twentieth Century, Turret Road was a narrow gravel road. Yet, it was one of the principal thoroughfares in the fast growing metropolis of Colombo, linking the Western seaboard with the semi urban hinterland comprising, Borella, Kotte, and Rajagiriya areas. Turret Road was widened as part of the Colombo Municipal Council’s road development scheme in 1922.
The Nine Daughters Of Jacob De Mel At A Family Wedding In 1924
It was in the late 19th Century that the shift from popular residential areas like Mutwal and Hulftsdorf took place. The southward shift was largely to uninhabited areas of Kollupitiya and Cinnamonn Gardens. Wealthy families associated with the political, social, and economic development of Sri Lanka in the 20th Century were resident in homes along Turret Road. Some of the better known homes include Calverly House, the home of the famous lawyer Frederick Dornhorst.
Rippleworth, the home of Sir James Peiris (son in law of Jacob de Mel), legislator and pioneer social reformer, Turret House built by FW Bois, company Director, and later owned by Col TG Jayewardene, Sudassana, the home of Sir Gerard Wijeyekoon, President of the Senate, Canela Villa, owned by CEA Dias ( son in law of Jacob de Mel, and sometime tenanted by Alistair Ferguson, owner of the. Ceylon Observer, newspaper), Fairlight, the home of Felix de Silva, partner of the legal firm De Silva and Mendis, Vijjayantha, the home of EW Jayewardene, father of JR Jayewardene, Elscourt Manor, owned by Henry A Pieris ( son in law of Jacob de Mel) and one time home of the Orient Club, were all homes on Turret Road.
The commercial part of Turret Road was then largely confined to the western end at the intersection with Galle Road, where the first traffic lights in the country were in operation from about 75 years ago. At this junction facing Galle Road was the showrooms of Hemachandra Bros, the long standing firm of jewellers. Adjoining it was New Coop, the prominent store in Colombo, then, for artist’s materials, canvasses, atlases, and prints. Next door was the Bombay Sweet Mart famous for its sherberts and faludas.The Kollupitiya Cooperative Store stood next, followed by the Municipal market. The ” Colpetty Market” as it was then known among Colombo’s diplomatic corps, was then the place in Colombo to buy a good fillet , pork chop, or lingus (spicy sausage) or “bangers” as expats called it!.
On the opposite side, at the corner with Galle Road stood Turret Court a large two storied commercial building owned originally by Justice VM Fernando and later inherited by his son JLM Fernando, one time Chairman of Air Ceylon. Turret Court housed the Colombo Dye Works, run by the Jilla family, Albert Edirisinghe, the optician, Wijaya Stores, the only independent motor spare parts shop outside of Panchikawatte-( the auto alley of Ceylon), and Victory Silk Stores well known for its sarees and Arrow shirts.
Next to Turret Court stood another building also owned by Justice VM Fernando and inherited by his other son, the former Chief Justice HNG Fernando. Gabriel Perera, the legendary gentleman’s barber of the time, operated out of this building. Prime Minister DS Senanayake was a regular patron at Gabriel’s in the days when national leaders went about their daily chores like any other member of the community. Gabriel, like most barbers was very chatty with his clients, and DS was no exception. It has been said that as a result of Gabriel’s seemingly innocent but incisive probing of the PM amidst the snip and snap of his scissors, had led to DS unwittingly baring inside information relating to matters of state. It was no surprise therefore to see hardened journos ( including bald ones) lining up for haircuts on the day that DS was scheduled for his regular “tonsorial tussle.”
Victoria stores, the liquor merchants were in the same building next to Gabriel’s. Also in the same building was Dr Sam Gunawardene’s Dental Surgery. Further west were the premises of John and Co photographers, and then the Shell Service Station. These buildings have been replaced by the Liberty Plaza a large shopping and apartment complex which came up in the late 1970s.Opposite the Shell Service station and beside Duplication Road were some shops which were demolished in the 1950s to make way for the Liberty Cinema built by the Abdul Cader family. At the time it was constructed, there was some controversy around allegations that the new building encroached on public land. This however was investigated and cleared by the Municipal Council. Art enthusiasts especially George Keyt afficianados would be interested to know that when the Liberty Cinema was built, there were two stained glass images created by George Keyt and set on either side of the stage.
The residential sector of Turret Road on its northern side commenced with No: 41, the early home of Dr Noel Bartholomeusz, the well known surgeon of the day. Adjoining his home was Fairlight, the single storied but sprawling home of Felix de Silva, partner of the legal firm De Silva and Mendis. Henry Peiris a son in law of Jacob de Mel owned it earlier. He also owned the homes Elscourt and Fincastle, further west on Turret Road. Fairlight stood on a large block of land, the house standing well behind its spacious front lawn. Shaw Wallace and Hedges leased out premises No 49 for many years, using it as the home for its Managing Director, Garry Shattock and later Prema Fernando.
Twainway, which stood at the conjoining point of Turret Road with Greenpath was the home of Gordon E W Jansz who was Chief Accountant of the Ceylon Government Railway. Beside it stood the home of LN Joseph Chief Clerk of the Senate. His son Moritz lives in Melbourne. A few homes away was Roshanara the home of NK Choksy QC, a leading civil lawyer of the time and father of Kasi Choksy, a former Minister of Finance. A couple of houses away at No 60 lived Christie Ferdinando, a businessman. Next door was Carlton Lodge the home of Carlton Corea. This home was constructed on the grounds of Turret House, which belonged to Carlton Corea’s father-in-law Col TG Jayewardene. The Colonel’s other son-in-law Fairlie Wijemanne also had his home built on the grounds of Turret House.
Carlton Lodge has been for over 40 years the home of the Capri Club. Prior to its tenancy, the Ambassador for Burma in Ceylon, H.E Sao Boon Waat lived there. His wife Shirley was shot and killed in this house allegedly by the Ambassador over a clandestine affair she had. He was recalled to Burma where he was charged with her murder and imprisoned. No charges were laid in Sri Lanka as the ambassador claimed diplomatic immunity and on the grounds that the woman died of a heart attack, a claim that was supported by a Sri Lankan doctor!!
During the Second World War, Turret House was the home of the Upper School of Royal College, Carlton Lodge housed the lower school. The Principal’s office and administration block
was housed in Sudassana, the home of Sir Gerard Wijeykoon which stood opposite to Turret House . The science laboratory was in Firdoshi also on Turret Road beyond Carlton Lodge. School assemblies were held in open air on the spacious grounds of Turret House. The school moved back to its own home in Racecourse Avenue in April 1946.
On the northern side of Turret Road at No 51 lived GL Cooray the son in law of Sir James Peiris. Next door was Savitri the home of CEA Dias, son in law of Jacob de Mel, and a prominent tea and rubber planter. His son Stanley Dias lived there later. Stanley’s son Michael Dias captained the Royal College cricket team in 1960, and now lives a retired leisurely life in Colombo. Savitri was previously known as Canela Villa the home of Alistair Ferguson, a former proprietor of the Ceylon Observer newspaper, and founder of Fergusons Ceylon Directory. The house was a spacious single storied building.
Alvis Place named after Arthur Alvis, a well known resident, led from Turret Road to the Polwatte area where Arthur Alvis lived in his home Newlands on Alvis Place, over a hundred years ago. He was a member for the Kollupitiya Ward in the Municipal Council, and a respected member of the local community.
Next to Alvis Place was Rippleworth, the home built by Sir James Peiris and which was the location for many political and reformist meetings during colonial days. After the death of Sir James in 1930, his son, Leonard, lived in this home till his death in 1954. It was since the venue of a school, but its present use not known. The younger son of Sir James, Herbert, or better known as Devar Surya Sena lived in a separate house adjoining the grounds of Rippleworth on Alwis Place. Next door to Rippleworth was Haslemere the home of DP Cooray. Two doors next was Firdoshi the home of Dr Rustomjee. At the intersection with General’s Lake Road was Sudassana, the home of Sir Gerard Wijeyekoon. On the opposite side facing Sudassana was Shanthi the house then occupied by TSV Tillekeratne, an electrical engineer.
Beyond General’s Lake Road was the Montessori School run by Carmen and Joyce Gunasekera.It was probably the first Montessori school in Ceylon and operated for many years. Aunty Joyce and Aunty Carmen, as they were fondly called by the hundreds of tiny tots that were catered for by these two ladies have been responsible for laying the foundation to many a brilliant career of children of the time. Many have since reached eminence in all walks of life in Sri Lanka.
Further away were the showrooms and workshops of Rowlands Ltd, and British Car Co standing on property leased from Justice ARH Canekeratne, a son in law of Jacob de Mel. Thereafter were the homes of the Macan Markars including Sir Muirburn in which the patriarch Sir Mohamed Macan Markar lived in, having moved from Villa Istanbul on Galle Road, earlier. Sir Mohamed’s grandson Hussain captained the Royal College cricket team in 1965.The son AV Macan Markar lived in the house called Park View, suitably named, as it fronted Victoria Park. On the opposite side of Turret Road between the areas bounded by Flower Road in the west, and Edinburgh Creascent on the East were homes that included that of Dr RB Lenora, later appointed to the Senate. Alongside was Mr Donald Obeysekera’s house Ascot. VA de Mauny son of Count de Mauny of the island of Taprobane, off Weligama, lived in his home Broxmead. Which was next to to the Macan Markars. De Mauny was a director of Rosehaugh and Co, which had its stores adjacent to his home.
On the eastern side, the grounds of Victoria Park fronted Turret Road. On the opposite side was Park Road leading from Turret Road towards Slave Island. Beyond the entrance to Park Road at 185 Turret Road was the home of JLM Fernando. Two doors away was Vaijayantha, home of EW Jayewardene brother of Col TG Jayewardene of Turret House. EW’s son JR was of course the first elected President of Sri Lanka. During World War 2 it was the headquarters of Radio Seac and later rebuilt into a larger building used for the Chinese Embassy for many years.
Further away were two renowned palatial homes Fincastle and Elscourt Manor belonging to Henry Peiris, son in law of Jacob de Mel, and descendent from Jeronis Peiris. Elscourt Manor was home to the Orient Club, before it moved back into its premises on Racecourse Avenue.It was also a recreation centre for service personnel during the Second World War. Its facilities were described thus: ” main lounges and sun lounges,smoke room and bar, billiard room and two shops, one for necessities, and one for gifts.There is also a barber’s shop, a fine valet service, and an information bureau”
The activities in Elscourt Manor by servicemen during the war years probably irked the neighbours to the point that a high brick wall up to roof level was constructed, preventing sight of any activity from either inside or out. Elscourt was demolished in the nineteen fifties, and on part of its grounds, two eminent surgeons of the day, Drs P.R. Anthonisz, and MVP Peiris built their homes. Fincastle was later the office of the Lady Lochore Fund established by Rev CEV Nathanaielsz to assist government and mercantile service employees in financial difficulties.
Almost at the end of Turret Road on the northern side, facing the Town Hall, stood Calverly House, for many years the home of leading lawyer Frederick Dornhorst, QC. On the porch of the house was the inscribed figure 1868, which suggests that the house may have been built in that year. If so, Calverly House may be one of the first buildings on Turret Road. It is today the home of the Buddhist Ladies College, established by Mohandas de Mel.
Perhaps the last building on that side of the road was the pharmaceutical branch of Cargills Ltd, later taken over by the Ceylon Pharmaceutical Company, as its key outlet Osu Sala. The Cinnamon garden Baptist Church, and the manse on the opposite side mark the end of Turret Road. The Ferguson Memorial Hall named after Mr and Mrs Alistair Ferguson, and erected by their sons, son in law, and nephew in around 1910 stands within the grounds of the church property.
It is not known whether Turret Road derived its name from Turret House, or vice versa. It has since lost its residential character, and is a mix of commercial sprawl and residential sub divisions of land which was part of the many stately homes that lined this wonderful thoroughfare. Gone are the spacious gardens and lawns that typified lifestyles of the wealthy in an era characterised by opulent and gracious living.
*( Based on an essay written by the writer for The Ceylankan, the Journal of the Ceylon Society of Australia #17 of February 2002)
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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