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Easter Is Too Sacred for Political Games
More than 260 people were murdered on Easter Sunday 2019. They were not politicians. They were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, worshippers gathered in prayer and ordinary citizens going about their lives. Some were Sri Lankans. Some were visitors to our shores. All were innocent. Seven years later, Sri Lanka is still searching for the truth. And rightly so. The Easter Sunday atrocities were not merely another criminal act. They represented one of the greatest intelligence, security and governance failures in modern Sri Lankan history. The victims deserve answers. Their families deserve answers. The nation deserves answers. What the…
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Peace in the Middle East: Is the Worst Finally Over?
For the first time in many months, there appears to be something resembling cautious optimism emerging from the Middle East. That optimism is fragile. It is incomplete. It is burdened by decades of mistrust, conflict and competing ambitions. Yet it exists nonetheless. After months of warfare involving the United States, Iran, Israel and a network of regional actors, diplomatic activity appears to be accelerating. resident Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that a framework for peace with Iran is close at hand and that negotiations may soon result in an agreement capable of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and…
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Port City’s Biggest Test Yet
ARE INVESTORS FINALLY COMMITTING? For years, Port City Colombo has been promoted as the project that would redefine Sri Lanka’s economic future. Yet despite billions of dollars in projected investment and endless debate regarding its potential, many observers continued asking the same question: where are the buyers? This week, a possible answer emerged. Home Lands has announced that approximately 50% of units in its US$300 million Central Park Boulevard Port City Colombo development have already been sold ahead of its formal launch. If the figures prove accurate, the project could represent one of the strongest private-sector confidence signals…
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Who Audited the Auditors?
A potentially significant gap in the forensic audit into the Rs. 13.2 billion fraud at NDB Bank emerged before the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), prompting surprise from Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva. During proceedings, it was revealed that the formal Terms of Reference (TOR) for the forensic audit did not specifically identify the role played by the Central Bank’s Banking Supervision Department as an area requiring examination. The revelation immediately raised questions given the scale of the fraud, the period over which it allegedly operated and the repeated questions already raised regarding supervisory oversight within Sri Lanka’s…
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Trump’s Wars: Easier to Start Than End
The position around the Strait of Hormuz has become materially more dangerous over the past 48 hours. The immediate concern is no longer merely the threat of closure. It is the growing evidence that commercial shipping is increasingly being drawn into the conflict. India has formally protested attacks affecting vessels carrying Indian nationals, while reports continue to emerge of merchant ships coming under fire or being forced to alter routes. An Indian-linked vessel was among those reported to have encountered hostile action in the Strait, prompting renewed naval vigilance from New Delhi. Meanwhile, the United States has once…
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Hilton Colombo: Why Tie the Bride’s Hands Before the Auction?
Some assets are so significant that the State has a duty to approach their disposal with exceptional care. The Hilton Colombo is one such asset. Occupying more than seven acres of prime real estate in the heart of Colombo, the property is not merely a hotel. It is one of the most strategically located hospitality and commercial assets in Sri Lanka and forms part of the portfolio earmarked for divestiture under the Government’s commitments towards economic reform and State enterprise restructuring. Against that backdrop, reports suggesting that the owning company, Hotel Developers (Lanka) PLC, may enter into a…
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Accountability Everywhere – But Is Sri Lanka Fixing the System?
Sri Lanka experienced one of those rare news cycles where nearly every major headline appeared connected by a single underlying theme: accountability. Former ministers faced prison sentences. Politicians and officials appeared before courts. Senior figures linked to the Easter Sunday investigations found themselves under renewed scrutiny. Travel bans, remand orders and corruption allegations dominated the national conversation almost from morning until night. On the surface, many citizens may view this as a positive development. After years of allegations, commissions and unresolved scandals, there is visible movement within the country’s investigative and judicial machinery. Public frustration following the economic…
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$300 Million Port City Bet: Home Lands Goes Big with Luxury Mega Launch
Sri Lanka’s luxury property market is set for one of its most ambitious showcase events this week when Home Lands officially unveils its latest flagship development, Central Park Boulevard Port City Colombo, at what the company describes as the country’s largest-ever real estate launch event. The three-day event, branded “The Grand Launch Weekend”, will take place from June 12 to 14 at Cinnamon Life Colombo and is expected to draw a high-profile mix of business leaders, celebrities, investors, social media personalities and international guests. Bollywood stars Shilpa Shetty, Aditya Roy Kapur and Jacqueline Fernandez are all expected to…
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Indictments Galore as Accountability Starts in Earnest – “Ada Nam Niyamai”
If there was one unmistakable theme running through Sri Lanka’s political and legal landscape on 19th June 2026, it was accountability. From former ministers to intelligence officials, from corruption probes to Easter Sunday investigations, the day produced an extraordinary sequence of court actions, remand orders, travel bans and legal interventions that together painted a picture of a country increasingly willing – or increasingly compelled – to place powerful figures under scrutiny. The most significant judicial development was the sentencing of former minister Sarana Gunawardena to sixteen years of rigorous imprisonment following corruption convictions linked to his tenure as…
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THE INVISIBLE CAGE
Most prisons have walls. The most powerful ones do not. Much of what follows in these dispatches emerges directly from decades of personal observation, public dialogue, broadcast interviews, travel, and reflection. Over the years, I became increasingly fascinated by the invisible psychological forces that shape perception, belief, conformity, and fear. The moniker “Rogue Philosopher” was never intended as rebellion for its own sake; it stands as a quiet acknowledgment that independent inquiry always carries a social cost. In last week’s column, we explored the unsettling reality that many of our deepest assumptions were quietly inherited through conditioning, repetition,…
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BOI Speculation Puts Governance, Transparency Under Spotlight
Colombo’s political and corporate circles are increasingly abuzz with speculation that Presidential adviser and EY Sri Lanka & Maldives Country Managing Partner Duminda Hulangamuwa may be in line for a senior leadership role at the Board of Investment. As of publication, however, there has been no formal government announcement confirming such an appointment. That distinction matters. But so too does the discussion now unfolding around it. The issue is not whether Hulangamuwa is professionally qualified. Few seriously dispute his credentials. He is widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s more experienced chartered accountants and tax specialists, with extensive…
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Why Does Sri Lanka Keep Changing the Basic Rules?
One of the recurring frustrations of governance in Sri Lanka is that just when citizens, investors and institutions become accustomed to a particular set of rules, someone decides the rules should change.’ The latest example is the reported proposal to extend the retirement age of judges serving in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. At present, Sri Lanka’s Constitution fixes the retirement age of Supreme Court judges at 65 and Court of Appeal judges at 63. These limitshave remained largely unchanged since the 1978 Constitution. The immediate question is simple. Why? Governments are entitled to reform institutions.…
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COPF Gets Report on USD 2.5 Million Treasury Payment Controversy
The long-awaited report into the controversial transfer of US$2.5 million in Treasury funds -monies reportedly intended for an Australian company but allegedly diverted to an unauthorized third party – has now formally landed before Parliament’s Committee on Public Finance (COPF). COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva informed committee members on Thursday that the report had already been circulated among members for detailed review ahead of what is expected to be a politically and institutionally sensitive examination next week. The matter itself has steadily evolved beyond a mere disputed payment. Instead, it increasingly raises wider questions about Treasury controls, verification…
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Middle East on Edge
A REGION WAITING FOR THE NEXT MISCALCULATION The Middle East today resembles a pressure cooker with multiple valves rattling at the same time.On one side stands Iran, weakened economically but still capable of projecting influence across the region through allied groups and strategic positioning around the Strait of Hormuz. On the other stands the United States and its allies, attempting to deter escalation while simultaneously trying to avoid being drawn into another prolonged regional conflict. Caught between them are the Gulf states, Israel, global shipping companies, energy markets and millions of ordinary citizens who increasingly fear that one…
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Why the NPP Government Still Appears Politically Stable
For a government that has already suffered a series of embarrassing setbacks, the present administration remains politically more resilient than many of its critics expected. That, in itself, is politically significant. Under ordinary circumstances, controversies involving a Speaker accused of misleading Parliament, questions surrounding an indicted Energy Minister, mistaken fund transfers, double payments within state systems, and concerns over apparent supervisory failures within parts of the financial sector would collectively inflict serious political damage. In another era, such issues may have triggered sustained public outrage, crippling street protests and collapsing confidence. Yet that has not fully materialised. Why?…
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Opposition, Lawyers Oppose Judicial Age Extension
A growing chorus of opposition voices, senior lawyers and legal associations has emerged against a reported government proposal to extend the retirement age of judges serving in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. What initially appeared to be a routine discussion on judicial tenure has rapidly evolved into a broader debate touching on constitutional governance, judicial independence and public confidence in the administration of justice. According to reports circulating in the public domain, the proposal would require a constitutional amendment, as the retirement ages of superior court judges are currently fixed by the Constitution itself at…
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Bond Case Back on Track as Supreme Court Blasts “Hasty” High Court Order
“The administration of justice must be speedy, but not hasty.” Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has effectively reopened one of the country’s most explosive financial crime prosecutions, delivering a sweeping judgment that revives key charges connected to the 2016 Treasury Bond scandal while sharply criticising the manner in which the High Court at Bar discharged several accused persons nearly five years ago. In a landmark 110-page judgment delivered on June 1, 2026, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court described the bond controversy as “one of the largest financial frauds reported in Sri Lanka,” involving alleged irregularities that caused…
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“AASAI BAYAYI” GOVERNANCE?
When Fear Replaces Trust and Progress Stalls “Aasai Bayayi.” Three simple Sinhala words. “I like it… but I’m afraid.” The phrase endures because it captures a familiar contradiction – desire restrained by fear. Today, it increasingly reflects the state of governance itself. Beneath the public declarations of reform and unity lies a deeper anxiety within the political system. The government appears to embrace transparency and accountability in principle, yet often recoils from criticism, scrutiny and the risk of losing control of the narrative. The opposition, meanwhile, speaks of challenging excesses but frequently appears fragmented or selective in deciding…
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Sri Lanka’s Recovery Just Hit the Brakes
Rate Hike Shock Signals Economy Moving from Recovery to Survival Mode Sri Lanka’s fragile economic recovery may have just entered its most dangerous phase since the immediate aftermath of the sovereign default crisis. The Central Bank’s stunning 100 basis point interest rate hike to 8.75% was not merely a technical monetary adjustment. It was a distress flare. A warning signal. An admission that inflation, currency pressure and external shocks are once again threatening economic stability. And the frightening part? This time, the crisis is not entirely homemade. Sri Lanka is effectively importing inflation through global oil prices, Middle…
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Middle East on the BrinkIsrael Pushes Deeper Into Lebanon
Oil Shock Fears Return as Iran Warns of Retaliation The Middle East appeared to edge dangerously closer toward a wider regional confrontation Tuesday night as Israel reportedly expanded military operations deeper into southern Lebanon whilst Iran simultaneously warned of retaliation following fresh accusations involving US military activity near the Strait of Hormuz. What initially appeared to be another cycle of border escalation between Israel and Hezbollah now risks morphing into something far larger — with potentially devastating consequences for global oil prices, shipping routes, inflation and fragile economies already struggling under rising energy costs. For Sri Lanka, the…
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The Rate Hike That Bites Twice
Energy, Interest Costs & The New Squeeze On Sri Lanka’s Recovery Sri Lanka’s economy has just received another reminder that recovery is not the same thing as comfort. The Central Bank’s reported decision to increase the Overnight Policy Rate by 100 basis points to 8.75% may be understandable from a monetary policy standpoint. Inflation has moved higher, energy prices have risen, the Rupee has faced pressure, imports have widened the trade deficit, and speculative activity appears to have unsettled the foreign exchange market. In those circumstances, central bankers will always reach for the one weapon they understand best:…
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Dolce Far Niente dell’Economia
The Sweetness of Doing Nothing About the Economy Sri Lanka may finally have discovered its true governing philosophy. Not socialism.Not capitalism. Not open economy. Not state economy. Not even the now fashionable “social market” economy which usually means capitalism with press conferences. No. What we appear to be witnessing is the quiet rise of an altogether more sophisticated Mediterranean doctrine: Dolce Far Niente dell’Economia. The sweetness of doing absolutely nothing about the economy while issuing statements suggesting otherwise. Be that as it may, one must admire the serenity with which the Republic now watches the US Dollar fleeing…
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Much Ado Over Nothing? The 50% Vehicle Surcharge Controversy May Have Produced More Political Heat Than Economic Fire
What initially appeared destined to become yet another major controversy involving alleged insider advantage, privileged access and “big business” influence over state decision-making may now be turning into something rather less dramatic. Possibly even a damp squib. At the centre of the debate sits the recent Gazette notification imposing a 50% surcharge on vehicle imports and subsequent allegations that certain large-scale vehicle importers had somehow received advance notice of the impending measure and had therefore rushed to open Letters of Credit on 15 May 2026 in order to avoid the additional surcharge burden before the Gazette formally came…
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Trump, Tehran & the Weekend Question
Brinkmanship, Bullying Or Another Middle East Miscalculation? The Middle East tonight once again appears trapped somewhere between diplomacy and detonation. One moment there are whispers of “understandings,” “progress,” “backchannel contacts” and negotiations surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. The next comes strategic bomber deployments, warnings of retaliation, aggressive rhetoric and enough military hardware moving around the Gulf to make oil traders visibly nervous. Be that as it may, the uncomfortable truth is that nobody appears entirely certain whether the region is stepping back from confrontation – or quietly inching towards another dangerous escalation. At the centre of the uncertainty…
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The Politics of Patience
Stability, Sacrifice & The Slow Climb Above The Haze Sri Lanka today sits in that uncomfortable space between survival and recovery. The queues may have disappeared. The panic may have subsided. The exchange rate may no longer resemble a patient in cardiac arrest. But for the ordinary citizen attempting to balance household budgets against rising prices, taxes, utility costs and shrinking disposable income, the lived reality remains far from comfortable. That perhaps is the political reality confronting the National People’s Power administration of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Be that as it may, fairness also demands acknowledging that not…
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IMF, Island Realities & the 2028 Question
Can Sri Lanka Really Start Paying The World Again? Sri Lanka today speaks increasingly the language of recovery. Growth. Stability. Reserves. Fiscal discipline. Primary surpluses. Structural reform. The vocabulary itself has changed dramatically from the dark days of queues, shortages, default and national exhaustion that defined the economic collapse only a few short years ago. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his administration now project a message built around economic stabilisation, institutional discipline and continuity of commitments to the IMF programme. The argument being advanced is straightforward enough: Sri Lanka has suffered its collapse, swallowed the medicine, restored a…
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Sajith Premadasa Aids Victims of Employment Fraud – Rules of Agency Fee Collection Must Be Immediately Strengthened
The stronger public-interest question emerging from the alleged Rainbow Employment Agency affair may not merely be whether fraud occurred, but whether the regulatory structure itself leaves vulnerable Sri Lankan job seekers dangerously exposed even when they appear to have done everything correctly. In many of these cases, applicants insist they checked the apparent bona fides of the agency. To the ordinary citizen, the agency appeared licensed, operational, publicly visible and, by implication, properly regulated under the oversight framework of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. In the eyes of desperate job seekers seeking opportunity amid economic hardship,…
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Singapore’s Biggest Fear May No Longer Be Recession but Losing Its Rhythm
Tonight in Singapore, beneath the polished skyline, immaculate transport systems and the carefully calibrated confidence of one of Asia’s most disciplined states, a quieter anxiety appears increasingly visible. The city-state is not panicking. Singapore rarely panics. But there is growing discussion across business circles, government-linked policy environments and middle-class households regarding whether the republic is entering a more difficult phase of transition – one where maintaining momentum itself may become harder than building success originally was. The issue is not collapse. Far from it. Singapore remains among the world’s most stable, efficient and economically sophisticated nations. Its currency…
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The world’s most critical waterway has been effectively sealed. No ships have passed since 4 May?
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas once flowed daily, has been reduced to near-silence. Shipping traffic has collapsed to roughly 5% of pre-war levels, prompting the International Energy Agency to describe the disruption in terms without modern historical precedent. Global shipping intelligence firm Lloyd’s List reported that Iran had launched a new Persian Gulf Strait Authority to approve ship transits and collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, positioning itself as the only valid authority to grant passage and that as of its latest briefing, the…
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The Rogue Philosopher
In aviation, there is a phenomenon known as spatial disorientation. It occurs when a pilot loses visual reference to the horizon, often while flying through dense cloud. The inner ear begins to lie; the senses conflict with the instruments. In that moment, survival depends on suppressing instinct and trusting the data. Modern society is experiencing a collective form of spatial disorientation. We are currently navigating a thick, synthetic fog generated by what I call the “Program Box” – the old television “box” reborn in digital form. While its ostensible purpose is to deliver entertainment and news “programs,” its…
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