Features

DOWN THE RIVER TIBER

Published

1 year ago

2024/12/29

(Excerpted from Falling Leaves, an anthology of memoirs by LC Arulpragasam)

As a boy growing up in Ceylon, I had developed a fascination for water, whether lakes, lagoons, rivers or sea: I just loved being near them. Even as schoolboys, my friends and I owned two canoes in which we explored the country’s canals, lagoons and waterways. So in Rome around 1972, at the ripe age of 45 years, I was still hankering after my youthful days of drifting downstream on a rippling river! Unfortunately by this time, a chronic backache prevented me from sitting in a canoe for long periods. So I had to find a not-too-difficult river to navigate, and had to go downstream rather than upstream, in order not to battle its current. I had to find a cheap canoe, and someone who could swim, to accompany me.

An obvious choice was the river Tiber, which springs in faraway Toscana/Umbria and flows through Rome to the sea in Ostia. It presented some problems, however. First, since there are some obstructions to its flow through Rome, I had to find a starting point beyond those obstacles. Second, I had to find a suitable point for launching the canoe, which was not easy, because its banks in Rome are heavily built up. I had also to find a feasible point for pick-up at journey’s end, since otherwise we would be debouched into the sea at Ostia! After some reconnaissance, I decided to launch the canoe from a bridge across the river at Marconi, a southern suburb of Rome. We also had to find a point to be picked-up at journey’s end, as well as a place to stop in case of emergency – which needed to be reconnoitered in advance.

Looking for a canoe, I found a cheap one in a supermarket of all places: but it was an inflatable canoe, made of plastic! When inflated, it looked and handled like a canoe – except that on a later trip in the Adriatic Sea, it wafted uncontrollably in the wind, blowing us dangerously out to sea. But since it was light and comfortable, it would serve us well on the tame trip down the Tiber.

After assembling the canoe in our large living room, I decided that due to my painful back, I had better practise sitting in it continuously for two hours before I risked embarking on a long trip. So I grabbed my canoe accessories which included the paddles and a Kalutara basket hat left over from my canoeing days in Ceylon. Putting the hat on my head absently for the moment, I settled down in the canoe to read ‘The Economist’. Although this may have gone unremarked in my household, unfortunately my daughter’s friend from Canada happened to arrive in our apartment, just at this moment. My daughter, Shyamala, was leading her friend, Donna, to her room, when the latter had caught a glimpse of me seated in the canoe, with a straw hat on my head and oars seemingly in hand.

Taken aback, she said nothing until she reached her room, when feeling it her duty, she hesitantly told Shyamala ‘I think I should tell you that there is a strange man in a canoe in your living room in a straw hat, thinking he is going on some water’. ‘That must be my father’ replied my daughter nonchalantly, while continuing her conversation – as if this were normal. Donna told me later that she had therefore assumed that Shyamala’s father was ‘not all there’. It took a long time for me to live that one down!

I now had to find a companion with some swimming and canoeing experience – which was almost impossible to find among our Sri Lankan friends or colleagues in FAO. Fortunately, there was a Japanese Associate Expert, named Kunio, who was undergoing training in my Branch. He was very loyal and would often say in his broken English: ‘I love you, boss, I love you!’ I knew that because of his Japanese loyalty, he would follow me even unto death! Needless to say, he was overjoyed to join in this venture.

Now we needed to reconnoiter the river from the Marconi bridge down to the sea, in order to find a suitable pick-up spot at journey’s end – where a colleague named Samad, offered to pick us up. But we needed also to find a spot on the way that could be reached by car, in case of emergency. So we set out together to reconnoiter the river. After a few miles, we found that there was no access to the river from the road, since there was intervening scrub jungle between road and river, separated by a tall, barbed wire fence. So we climbed through the fence and plunged through the scrub jungle towards the river.

But as we neared the river, we heard the baying of dogs and were soon set upon by a raging pack of ravenous dogs, which apparently roamed this jungle, living on rats and rabbits. Although we were aware that some Romans in those days (1972) abandoned their dogs when going away on holiday, we had never anticipated this. We fled towards the road, jumping over shrubs, rocks and rivulets, followed closely by the dogs. Kunio and I being fairly fit, outpaced the dogs; but our friend Samad, in trying a flying leap over a stream, fell full flat into it. We ultimately managed to get back to the road, although our clothes were torn and bloodied by our wild scramble through the wire fence! We did manage to find a pick-up point near Ostia at journey’s end, but were unable to find any spot for emergency landing, due to the wild dogs in the scrub.

We made our final preparations for departure, including food and water to be carried, etc. On the night before our departure, I inflated the canoe in order to check that everything was alright. To my horror, I found that the canoe had sprung a leak! It was too late to get it repaired, since we were to leave at 6 a.m. next morning. Because I did not want to scare my family, I decided not to tell them about the leak, but decided instead to carry a foot-pump along to keep the canoe afloat by repeated pumping. At daybreak, my family escorted us to the launching site near the bridge at Marconi. The banks of the river are high at this point, with a very steep and rough descent through thorny bushes down to the river, which presented problems in loading our equipment. After carrying most of our stuff down, I got my son, Jehan, to throw the odds and ends down to us (about 12 feet) in the river below.

But when he tossed the pump towards me (rather carelessly I must say), it fell into the thorny shrubs on the riverbank, not to be seen again, despite prolonged search. We were now in a quandary. On the one hand, it would be really dangerous to set out on a day-long trip in a leaking canoe; on the other, I did not want to abort our trip after loading the canoe, just minutes before departure. Hence, standing down in the river, I had to admit to my long-suffering wife (who was standing 12 feet above us on the road) that there was a leak in the canoe, together with a plea that she goes to the supermarket to buy another air-pump for us.

If she succeeded in getting it, I begged her (by this time I was begging!) to bring it to the big bridge over the river Tiber (on the way to the Fiumicino Airport) and drop it down to me in the river far below. Almost in tears, my wife agreed to comply, because she realized that I was intent on setting out on the journey, with or without the pump. We therefore set a time by which we expected to reach the bridge, which was about three miles farther downstream, where she agreed to meet us. When we did reach the bridge, I was so relieved to find my wife already there with the pump in hand.

I shudder to think of what would have happened if she had not found a pump in the shop that day: for we could not have gone back to our starting-point, or to our destination point without sinking – thus becoming fodder for the ravenous dogs. The bridge is very high over the river at this point: so I could not climb up to her, nor could she climb down to me. With agreement reached by shouting, she threw the pump down to the river about 50 feet below, where I was able to retrieve it. Thus Kunio and I were able to continue on our way, though we had to re-inflate the canoe twice to keep it afloat. I always remember my wife with gratitude, when I think of her unfailing loyalty to me and my lost causes!

Although the Tiber was very polluted, it paid us back handsomely for our efforts to navigate it. We had consciously chosen to go downstream, so that we would be carried by the flow of the river rather than fight its flow. Hence it was a leisurely paddle downstream, steering the canoe with a flick of my paddle, while the flow of the river bore us onward. We had plenty of time to admire the scenery. Soon we were beyond the built-up parts of Rome and were greeted by scrub jungle and forest all the way down to the sea. The river itself was greenish in color, speaking of the many pollutants that it bore. But it was bordered by beautiful trees: weeping willows, plane trees and poplars. It was heavenly to glide along the river, listening to its gurgle and following its flow. Occasionally we would pass a lone angler and we did actually see one pulling in a very large fish.

It is necessary, however, to mention the level of pollution in the river. The water was turgid and green with the pollutants that it bore. And we could not fail to notice the number of condoms it carried! We must have gone about one-third of our journey when Kunio decided to start counting the number of condoms that we passed. Our count came to 76 condoms over two-thirds of the river until we reached its end! The Roman couples parked by the river had obviously been working overtime to send us so many love (french) letters downstream!

The river broadened as we came closer to its outlet to the sea. The trees grew sparser, with open, grassy plains. Nearer the sea, we saw large butterfly nets on the river (as used in China and Kerala), consisting of large square nets suspended in the water by long poles, which were raised mechanically to bring up the fish caught in them. After a couple of miles, we arrived at our destination where our friend, Samad, awaited us. Kunio and I then loaded our canoe onto my car for our triumphal return home.

We had traveled 22 kilometers down the river and had taken nine hours to cover the distance. Fortunately, we had had no mishaps along the way, although we had to stop twice to inflate our leaking canoe. I remember to this day the wild beauty of the lower reaches of the Tiber, its glistening green waters and its lush countryside, bathed in the angled light of spring. My family and I had seen most of the sights of Rome; but this trip provided me with a glimpse of the underbelly of the eternal city.

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Features

Digital transformation in the Global South

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

AI Summit, India

Understanding Sri Lanka through the India AI Impact Summit 2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly moved from being a specialised technological field into a major social force that shapes economies, cultures, governance, and everyday human life. The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi, symbolised a significant moment for the Global South, especially South Asia, because it demonstrated that artificial intelligence is no longer limited to advanced Western economies but can also become a development tool for emerging societies. The summit gathered governments, researchers, technology companies, and international organisations to discuss how AI can support social welfare, public services, and economic growth. Its central message was that artificial intelligence should be human centred and socially useful. Instead of focusing only on powerful computing systems, the summit emphasised affordable technologies, open collaboration, and ethical responsibility so that ordinary citizens can benefit from digital transformation. For South Asia, where large populations live in rural areas and resources are unevenly distributed, this idea is particularly important.

People friendly AI

One of the most important concepts promoted at the summit was the idea of “people friendly AI.” This means that artificial intelligence should be accessible, understandable, and helpful in daily activities. In South Asia, language diversity and economic inequality often prevent people from using advanced technology. Therefore, systems designed for local languages, and smartphones, play a crucial role. When a farmer can speak to a digital assistant in Sinhala, Tamil, or Hindi and receive advice about weather patterns or crop diseases, technology becomes practical rather than distant. Similarly, voice based interfaces allow elderly people and individuals with limited literacy to use digital services. Affordable mobile based AI tools reduce the digital divide between urban and rural populations. As a result, artificial intelligence stops being an elite instrument and becomes a social assistant that supports ordinary life.

Transformation in education sector

The influence of this transformation is visible in education. AI based learning platforms can analyse student performance and provide personalised lessons. Instead of all students following the same pace, weaker learners receive additional practice while advanced learners explore deeper material. Teachers are able to focus on mentoring and explanation rather than repetitive instruction. In many South Asian societies, including Sri Lanka, education has long depended on memorisation and private tuition classes. AI tutoring systems could reduce educational inequality by giving rural students access to learning resources, similar to those available in cities. A student who struggles with mathematics, for example, can practice step by step exercises automatically generated according to individual mistakes. This reduces pressure, improves confidence, and gradually changes the educational culture from rote learning toward understanding and problem solving.

Healthcare is another area where AI is becoming people friendly. Many rural communities face shortages of doctors and medical facilities. AI-assisted diagnostic tools can analyse symptoms, or medical images, and provide early warnings about diseases. Patients can receive preliminary advice through mobile applications, which helps them decide whether hospital visits are necessary. This reduces overcrowding in hospitals and saves travel costs. Public health authorities can also analyse large datasets to monitor disease outbreaks and allocate resources efficiently. In this way, artificial intelligence supports not only individual patients but also the entire health system.

Agriculture, which remains a primary livelihood for millions in South Asia, is also undergoing transformation. Farmers traditionally rely on seasonal experience, but climate change has made weather patterns unpredictable. AI systems that analyse rainfall data, soil conditions, and satellite images can predict crop performance and recommend irrigation schedules. Early detection of plant diseases prevents large-scale crop losses. For a small farmer, accurate information can mean the difference between profit and debt. Thus, AI directly influences economic stability at the household level.

Employment and communication reshaped

Artificial intelligence is also reshaping employment and communication. Routine clerical and repetitive tasks are increasingly automated, while demand grows for digital skills, such as data management, programming, and online services. Many young people in South Asia are beginning to participate in remote work, freelancing, and digital entrepreneurship. AI translation tools allow communication across languages, enabling businesses to reach international customers. Knowledge becomes more accessible because information can be summarised, translated, and explained instantly. This leads to a broader sociological shift: authority moves from tradition and hierarchy toward information and analytical reasoning. Individuals rely more on data when making decisions about education, finance, and career planning.

Impact on Sri Lanka

The impact on Sri Lanka is especially significant because the country shares many social and economic conditions with India and often adopts regional technological innovations. Sri Lanka has already begun integrating artificial intelligence into education, agriculture, and public administration. In schools and universities, AI learning tools may reduce the heavy dependence on private tuition and help students in rural districts receive equal academic support. In agriculture, predictive analytics can help farmers manage climate variability, improving productivity and food security. In public administration, digital systems can speed up document processing, licensing, and public service delivery. Smart transportation systems may reduce congestion in urban areas, saving time and fuel.

Economic opportunities are also expanding. Sri Lanka’s service based economy and IT outsourcing sector can benefit from increased global demand for digital skills. AI-assisted software development, data annotation, and online service platforms can create new employment pathways, especially for educated youth. Small and medium entrepreneurs can use AI tools to design products, manage finances, and market services internationally at low cost. In tourism, personalised digital assistants and recommendation systems can improve visitor experiences and help small businesses connect with travellers directly.

Digital inequality

However, the integration of artificial intelligence also raises serious concerns. Digital inequality may widen if only educated urban populations gain access to technological skills. Some routine jobs may disappear, requiring workers to retrain. There are also risks of misinformation, surveillance, and misuse of personal data. Ethical regulation and transparency are, therefore, essential. Governments must develop policies that protect privacy, ensure accountability, and encourage responsible innovation. Public awareness and digital literacy programmes are necessary so that citizens understand both the benefits and limitations of AI systems.

Beyond economics and services, AI is gradually influencing social relationships and cultural patterns. South Asian societies have traditionally relied on hierarchy and personal authority, but data-driven decision making changes this structure. Agricultural planning may depend on predictive models rather than ancestral practice, and educational evaluation may rely on learning analytics instead of examination rankings alone. This does not eliminate human judgment, but it alters its basis. Societies increasingly value analytical thinking, creativity, and adaptability. Educational systems must, therefore, move beyond memorisation toward critical thinking and interdisciplinary learning.

AI contribution to national development

In Sri Lanka, these changes may contribute to national development if implemented carefully. AI-supported financial monitoring can improve transparency and reduce corruption. Smart infrastructure systems can help manage transportation and urban planning. Communication technologies can support interaction among Sinhala, Tamil, and English speakers, promoting social inclusion in a multilingual society. Assistive technologies can improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, enabling broader participation in education and employment. These developments show that artificial intelligence is not merely a technological innovation but a social instrument capable of strengthening equality when guided by ethical policy.

Symbolic shift

Ultimately, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 represents a symbolic shift in the global technological landscape. It indicates that developing nations are beginning to shape the future of artificial intelligence according to their own social needs rather than passively importing technology. For South Asia and Sri Lanka, the challenge is not whether AI will arrive but how it will be used. If education systems prepare citizens, if governments establish responsible regulations, and if access remains inclusive, AI can become a partner in development rather than a source of inequality. The future will likely involve close collaboration between humans and intelligent systems, where machines assist decision making while human values guide outcomes. In this sense, artificial intelligence does not replace human society, but transforms it, offering Sri Lanka an opportunity to build a more knowledge based, efficient, and equitable social order in the decades ahead.

by Milinda Mayadunna

Features

Governance cannot be a postscript to economics

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kristalina-Georgieva

The visit by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to Sri Lanka was widely described as a success for the government. She was fulsome in her praise of the country and its developmental potential. The grounds for this success and collaborative spirit go back to the inception of the agreement signed in March 2023 in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s declaration of international bankruptcy. The IMF came in to fulfil its role as lender of last resort. The government of the day bit the bullet. It imposed unpopular policies on the people, most notably significant tax increases. At a moment when the country had run out of foreign exchange, defaulted on its debt, and faced shortages of fuel, medicine and food, the IMF programme restored a measure of confidence both within the country and internationally.

Since 1965 Sri Lanka has entered into agreements with the IMF on 16 occasions none of which were taken to their full term. The present agreement is the 17^th agreement . IMF agreements have traditionally been focused on economic restructuring. Invariably the terms of agreement have been harsh on the people, with priority being given to ensure the debtor country pays its loans back to the IMF. Fiscal consolidation, tax increases, subsidy reductions and structural reforms have been the recurring features. The social and political costs have often been high. Governments have lost popularity and sometimes fallen before programmes were completed. The IMF has learned from experience across the world that macroeconomic reform without social protection can generate backlash, instability and policy reversals.

The experience of countries such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal in dealing with the IMF during the eurozone crisis demonstrated the political and social costs of austerity, even though those economies later stabilised and returned to growth. The evolution of IMF policies has ensured that there are two special features in the present agreement. The first is that the IMF has included a safety net of social welfare spending to mitigate the impact of the austerity measures on the poorest sections of the population. No country can hope to grow at 7 or 8 percent per annum when a third of its people are struggling to survive. Poverty alleviation measures in the Aswesuma programme, developed with the agreement of the IMF, are key to mitigating the worst impacts of the rising cost of living and limited opportunities for employment.

Governance Included

The second important feature of the IMF agreement is the inclusion of governance criteria to be implemented alongside the economic reforms. It goes to the heart of why Sri Lanka has had to return to the IMF repeatedly. Economic mismanagement did not take place in a vacuum. It was enabled by weak institutions, politicised decision making, non-transparent procurement, and the erosion of checks and balances. In its economic reform process, the IMF has included an assessment of governance related issues to accompany the economic restructuring process. At the top of this list is tackling the problem of corruption by means of publicising contracts, ensuring open solicitation of tenders, and strengthening financial accountability mechanisms.

The IMF also encouraged a civil society diagnostic study and engaged with civil society organisations regularly. The civil society analysis of governance issues which was promoted by Verite Research and facilitated by Transparency International was wider in scope than those identified in the IMF’s own diagnostic. It pointed to systemic weaknesses that go beyond narrow fiscal concerns. The civil society diagnostic study included issues of social justice such as the inequitable impact of targeting EPF and ETF funds of workers for restructuring and the need to repeal abuse prone laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Online Safety Act. When workers see their retirement savings restructured without adequate consultation, confidence in policy making erodes. When laws are perceived to be instruments of arbitrary power, social cohesion weakens.

During a meeting between the IMF Managing Director Georgeiva and civil society members last week, there was discussion on the implementation of those governance measures in which she spoke in a manner that was not alien to the civil society representatives. Significantly, the civil society diagnostic report also referred to the ethnic conflict and the breakdown of interethnic relations that led to three decades of deadly war, causing severe economic losses to the country. This was also discussed at the meeting. Governance is not only about accounting standards and procurement rules. It is about social justice, equality before the law, and political representation. On this issue the government has more to do. Ethnic and religious minorities find themselves inadequately represented in high level government committees. The provincial council system that ensured ethnic and minority representation at the provincial level continues to be in abeyance.

Beyond IMF

The significance of addressing governance issues is not only relevant to the IMF agreement. It is also important in accessing tariff concessions from the European Union. The GSP Plus tariff concession given by the EU enables Sri Lankan exports to be sold at lower prices and win markets in Europe. For an export dependent economy, this is critical. Loss of such concessions would directly affect employment in key sectors such as apparel. The government needs to address longstanding EU concerns about the protection of human rights and labour rights in the country. The EU has, for several years, linked the continuation of GSP Plus to compliance with international conventions. This includes the condition that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) be brought into line with international standards. The government’s alternative in the form of the draft Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PTSA) is less abusive on paper but is wider in scope and retains the core features of the PTA.

Governance and social justice factors cannot be ignored or downplayed in the pursuit of economic development. If Sri Lanka is to break out of its cycle of crisis and bailout, it must internalise the fact that good governance which promotes social justice and more fairly distributes the costs and fruits of development is the foundation on which durable economic growth is built. Without it, stabilisation will remain fragile, poverty will remain high, and the promise of 7 to 8 percent growth will remain elusive. The implementation of governance reforms will also have a positive effect through the creative mechanism of governance linked bonds, an innovation of the present IMF agreement.

The Sri Lankan think tank Verité Research played an important role in the development of governance linked bonds. They reduce the rate of interest payable by the government on outstanding debt on the basis that better governance leads to a reduction in risk for those who have lent their money to Sri Lanka. This is a direct financial reward for governance reform. The present IMF programme offers an opportunity not only to stabilise the economy but to strengthen the institutions that underpin it. That opportunity needs to be taken. Without it, the country cannot attract investment, expand exports and move towards shared prosperity and to a 7-8 percent growth rate that can lift the country out of its debt trap.

by Jehan Perera

Features

MISTER Band … in the spotlight

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

MISTER Band: For the past four consecutive years, they have performed overseas, during New Year’s Eve

It’s a good sign, indeed, for the local scene, to see artistes, who have not been very much in the limelight, now making their presence felt, in a big way, and I’m glad to give them the publicity they deserve.

On 10th February we had Yellow Beatz in the spotlight and this week it’s MISTER Band.

This outfit is certainly not new to our scene; they have been around since 2012, under the leadership of Sithum Waidyarathne.

The seven energetic members who make up MISTER Band are:

Sithum Waidyarathne (leader/founder/saxophonist/guitarist and vocalist), Rangana Seram (bass guitarist), Vihanga Liyanage (vocalist), Ridmi Dissanayake (female vocalist), Nuwan Cristo (keyboardist/vocalist), Kasun Thennakoon (lead guitarist), and Nuwan Madushanka (drummer).

According to Sithum, their vision is to provide high quality entertainmen to those who engage their services.

“Thanks to our engaging performances and growing popularity, MISTER Band continues to be in high demand … at weddings, corporate events and dinner dances,” said Sithum.

They predominantly cover English and Sinhala music, as well as the most popular genres.

And the reviews that come their way, after a performance, are excellent, they say, and this is one of the bouquets they received:

It was a pleasure to have you at our wedding. Being avid music fans we wanted the best music, not just a big named band, and you guys acceded that expectations. Big thanks to Sithum for being very supportive, attentive and generous.

: Sithum Waidyarathne: Band leader and founder

: Ridmi Dissanayake: MISTER Band’s female vocalist

The best thing is the post feedback from all the guests. Normally we get mixed reviews but the whole crowd was impressed by you.

MISTER Band was one of our best choices for our wedding.

What is interesting is that for the past four consecutive years, this outfit has performed overseas, during New Year’s Eve, thereby taking their music to the international stage, as well.

The band has also produced a collection of original songs, with around six original tracks composed by the band leader, Sithum Waidyarathne, including ‘Suraganak Dutuwa,’ ‘Landuni,’ ‘Dili Dili Payana,’ ‘Hada Wedana,’ and ‘Nil Kandu Athare.’

Two more songs are set to be released this month: ‘Hitha Norida’ and ‘Premaye Hanguman.’

In addition to their original music, they have also created a strong online presence by performing and uploading over 50 cover songs and medleys to YouTube.

“We’re now planning to connect with an even wider audience by releasing more cover content very soon,” said Sithum, adding that they are also very active on social media, under the name Mister Band Official – on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.