Features
“Sri Lanka cannot be used as a base for any threats against India” – President
In an interview with FRANCE 24 on the side-lines of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe responded to questions posed by FRANCE 24. Following are excerpts of the interview:
Q. You became president in a very difficult situation for your country. There was street protest triggered by the country’s worst economic crisis since its independence. Sri Lanka has defaulted. It has reached a deal with the International Monetary Fund back in March. And there are reports by the Reuters news agency that the World Bank is about to approve $700 million in budgetary and welfare support at its next board meeting. Can you confirm that this is indeed happening?
A. We are anticipating money from the World Bank. So far, we have fulfilled all the benchmarks and therefore we are qualifying for the assistance from the World Bank. It’s a much-needed money at the moment and will certainly help to strengthen the economy.
Q. So $700 million is the figure you’re expecting or more?
A. I hope it’s more. If there is more I’m not going to complain.
Q. Obviously, here in Paris and I assume in many other arenas where you’re traveling and participating, the issue of your debt is extremely important because you need financial oxygen. Obviously, your debt, external debt, stands at $42 billion, I believe. Are you making progress with the different creditors? There’s the Paris Group. There’s China. Are you making progress?
A. Discussions are going on with the different groups. We have an agreement with Lazard to represent us. And the debt restructuring program will be presented to Cabinet on Wednesday. I think over the weekend they’re hoping to finalize it. It will go to Parliament on Friday before the Public Finance Committee. Then Saturday and Sunday it will be debated in Parliament and will be approved by Parliament. Thereafter, we can start the rest of the negotiations with our creditors.
Q. Right. What’s in this plan? What’s the idea, to postpone the debt, to reduce it or a combination of both, what’s the idea?
A. Well, it’s a question of giving a longer period for repayment. And we’ve also been looking at some form of a reduction in the amount due. So those are being discussed now. And hopefully by Sunday or Monday, the final document will be available to us.
Q. OK. So you’re making progress both with China and other creditors?
A. With China, Lazard is discussing with all and also Sri Lanka. We’ve been discussing with all the creditors and with China also. I mean, China has not joined the Common Platform, but they’ve been there at every meeting. And all details have been shared with China. China has shared information with them. So except for formally being on the platform, China has been a party and is aware of all the information that is being shared.
Q. Right. In Paris, there was an agreement on the debt from Zambia with both the Western creditors and China. Is this a good omen for a country which shows, obviously every situation is different, that there is indeed a possibility to find an agreement with both China and other creditors?
A. No, we are confident of China coming along with the others. The Zambian one was announced this week and it’s good that China has been able to sort out Zambia. I listened to the speech of the Chinese Prime Minister both yesterday at the dinner, working dinner and today, it shows China, for the first time China has shown its approach to the whole issue of debt restructuring. And it’s a positive message.
Q. Right. Speaking of China, there has been speculation about China’s presence in Sri Lanka. There have been reports, especially in the American press, that there could be a military presence in Sri Lanka. Is this the case? And do you rule it out for the future?
A. Well, Chinese have been there for about 1,500 years. So far, there has been no military base. There is a lot of speculation about the Hambantota Habour. We’ve called for it and it’s been given out to China Merchants. But the security is controlled by the Government of Sri Lanka. The Southern Naval Command will be shifted to Hambantota. We’ve got one brigade stationed in Hambantota and the nearby areas and there certainly has been no issue of military use by the Chinese.
The same company also runs a terminal in the Colombo Harbour, in the South Port and that’s where warships come to all countries. Now, no one is complaining of the terminal they are running in Colombo. They are only complaining about the terminal and the port that they are managing in Hambantota. No. We have no military agreements with China. There won’t be any military agreements. I don’t think China enters into one. We are a neutral country, but we also emphasize on the fact that we cannot allow Sri Lanka to be used as a base for any threats against India.
Q. Right. You recently declared, some groups involved in traditional politics are actively working to hinder our economic revival, they are spreading false information and misleading the public with claims that we are selling off the country. What exactly do you have in mind?
A . There have been people who say we have been selling off the country.
Q. Who are these people, Mr. President?
A. Part of the opposition. Part of other groups. So I just pointed out each achievement we had and I asked, is that selling off the country? If we reduce the price of fuel, is it selling off the country? We are working with foreign economies, not only western but also eastern like Japan, Korea, China. And working with them does not mean we are selling off the country.
It means that we are developing the economy and I asked them to reply. It’s just a sort of debate that goes on in Sri Lankan politics. They have not been able to reply. So I think there are other issues also that we have asked them. So I asked them, what I have told all the parties is we are in a very difficult situation now. Let’s all get together and look at how we resolve it. And then when you go to the elections, next time you can say we have all been stakeholders in this development.
But if you all keep criticizing in the old way without any other reasonable alternative, the fact is that the voters will turn you out. So it’s much better for us to start a new political culture where we can all work together.
Q. Right. Speaking of bringing people together, the cabinet has approved a proposal to establish a South African style truth and reconciliation commission. Will it happen and will it satisfy the demands from the Tamils from the island? They have asked for an international probe into war crimes.
A. Truth and reconciliation commission has been agreed by all and that’s one of the conditions that the Geneva Human Rights Commission has also taken up. It was drafted some time ago but after I became president, I’ve been talking to them. Even today I spoke to President Ramaphosa about the commission and for them to come and help us. This is what we wanted and I will get it passed in parliament by August. And already we are making plans to set up the secretariat.
We require the South African assistance. There will be a lot of foreign observers, independent observers. So that’s within the framework that we have so far specified.
Q. When do you expect it to begin?
A. I would think that in my view, the legislation will be enacted by August.
Q. Right. There’s also talk about granting political autonomy to the Tamil. What about that?
A. Tamils are in different parts of the country and have different categories. If you look at it, you have the Tamils in the North and the East.
Then the Tamils of the hill country, whose origin traces back to India. Now we have been sorting out a lot of the issues there. In fact, the Tamils have been given voting rights in one area, one district called Nuwara Eliya, where all of a sudden, the majority, the Sinhala majority became a minority and the Tamils have become a majority. That has not happened in many countries that I am aware of. But we have to uplift the economic and social standards of the Tamils living in those areas.
They take part in the politics and they have members serving in the central cabinet. As far as the North is concerned, especially the leaders and members of the Tamil parties have been asking for the government to ensure that the devolution package which is in the Constitution is implemented.
Q. Will it be?
A. It has been implemented, but the central government will not interfere in it. We have given that guarantee and we are prepared to bring legislation. I have told them, in addition, they have asked for some of the other powers, not only for the North, but for all the nine provinces. It has been supported by some of the former chief ministers in the other areas. So we are having discussions. I think we can identify some more subjects to come under the purview of the provincial councils.
Q. Right. There was a report that was published just a couple of days ago mentioning the role of your predecessor, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in hampering some investigations into mass graves that were found during the fighting, obviously, in the 1980s and 1990s. Should there be investigations about his role, about the role of others, or is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission the only way to turn the page?
A. Well, I would like any allegations to come before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, because it is about to be implemented. But if you are going to run a parallel investigation, we are only undermining the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Any complaints anyone has can go before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Q. And it can involve anyone, eventually, former, very senior figures?
A. No, they can call the former president or anyone else. And the fact is, no one can say it’s a cover-up, because you’ll be having foreign observers.
Will the Bangladesh parliamentary election bring into being a government that will ensure ethnic and religious harmony in the country? This is the poser on the lips of peace-loving sections in Bangladesh and a principal concern of those outside who mean the country well.
The apprehensions are mainly on the part of religious and ethnic minorities. The parliamentary poll of February 12th is expected to bring into existence a government headed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist oriented Jamaat-e-Islami party and this is where the rub is. If these parties win, will it be a case of Bangladesh sliding in the direction of a theocracy or a state where majoritarian chauvinism thrives?
Chief of the Jamaat, Shafiqur Rahman, who was interviewed by sections of the international media recently said that there is no need for minority groups in Bangladesh to have the above fears. He assured, essentially, that the state that will come into being will be equable and inclusive. May it be so, is likely to be the wish of those who cherish a tension-free Bangladesh.
The party that could have posed a challenge to the above parties, the Awami League Party of former Prime Minister Hasina Wased, is out of the running on account of a suspension that was imposed on it by the authorities and the mentioned majoritarian-oriented parties are expected to have it easy at the polls.
A positive that has emerged against the backdrop of the poll is that most ordinary people in Bangladesh, be they Muslim or Hindu, are for communal and religious harmony and it is hoped that this sentiment will strongly prevail, going ahead. Interestingly, most of them were of the view, when interviewed, that it was the politicians who sowed the seeds of discord in the country and this viewpoint is widely shared by publics all over the region in respect of the politicians of their countries.
Some sections of the Jamaat party were of the view that matters with regard to the orientation of governance are best left to the incoming parliament to decide on but such opinions will be cold comfort for minority groups. If the parliamentary majority comes to consist of hard line Islamists, for instance, there is nothing to prevent the country from going in for theocratic governance. Consequently, minority group fears over their safety and protection cannot be prevented from spreading.
Therefore, we come back to the question of just and fair governance and whether Bangladesh’s future rulers could ensure these essential conditions of democratic rule. The latter, it is hoped, will be sufficiently perceptive to ascertain that a Bangladesh rife with religious and ethnic tensions, and therefore unstable, would not be in the interests of Bangladesh and those of the region’s countries.
Unfortunately, politicians region-wide fall for the lure of ethnic, religious and linguistic chauvinism. This happens even in the case of politicians who claim to be democratic in orientation. This fate even befell Bangladesh’s Awami League Party, which claims to be democratic and socialist in general outlook.
We have it on the authority of Taslima Nasrin in her ground-breaking novel, ‘Lajja’, that the Awami Party was not of any substantial help to Bangladesh’s Hindus, for example, when violence was unleashed on them by sections of the majority community. In fact some elements in the Awami Party were found to be siding with the Hindus’ murderous persecutors. Such are the temptations of hard line majoritarianism.
In Sri Lanka’s past numerous have been the occasions when even self-professed Leftists and their parties have conveniently fallen in line with Southern nationalist groups with self-interest in mind. The present NPP government in Sri Lanka has been waxing lyrical about fostering national reconciliation and harmony but it is yet to prove its worthiness on this score in practice. The NPP government remains untested material.
As a first step towards national reconciliation it is hoped that Sri Lanka’s present rulers would learn the Tamil language and address the people of the North and East of the country in Tamil and not Sinhala, which most Tamil-speaking people do not understand. We earnestly await official language reforms which afford to Tamil the dignity it deserves.
An acid test awaits Bangladesh as well on the nation-building front. Not only must all forms of chauvinism be shunned by the incoming rulers but a secular, truly democratic Bangladesh awaits being licked into shape. All identity barriers among people need to be abolished and it is this process that is referred to as nation-building.
On the foreign policy frontier, a task of foremost importance for Bangladesh is the need to build bridges of amity with India. If pragmatism is to rule the roost in foreign policy formulation, Bangladesh would place priority to the overcoming of this challenge. The repatriation to Bangladesh of ex-Prime Minister Hasina could emerge as a steep hurdle to bilateral accord but sagacious diplomacy must be used by Bangladesh to get over the problem.
A reply to N.A. de S. Amaratunga
A response has been penned by N.A. de S. Amaratunga (please see p5 of ‘The Island’ of February 6th) to a previous column by me on ‘ India shaping-up as a Swing State’, published in this newspaper on January 29th , but I remain firmly convinced that India remains a foremost democracy and a Swing State in the making.
If the countries of South Asia are to effectively manage ‘murderous terrorism’, particularly of the separatist kind, then they would do well to adopt to the best of their ability a system of government that provides for power decentralization from the centre to the provinces or periphery, as the case may be. This system has stood India in good stead and ought to prove effective in all other states that have fears of disintegration.
Moreover, power decentralization ensures that all communities within a country enjoy some self-governing rights within an overall unitary governance framework. Such power-sharing is a hallmark of democratic governance.
Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love, romance, and affection, and this is how some of our well-known personalities plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day – 14th February:
Merlina Fernando (Singer)
Yes, it’s a special day for lovers all over the world and it’s even more special to me because 14th February is the birthday of my husband Suresh, who’s the lead guitarist of my band Mission.
We have planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day and his Birthday together and it will be a wonderful night as always.
We will be having our fans and close friends, on that night, with their loved ones at Highso – City Max hotel Dubai, from 9.00 pm onwards.
Lorensz Francke (Elvis Tribute Artiste)
On Valentine’s Day I will be performing a live concert at a Wealthy Senior Home for Men and Women, and their families will be attending, as well.
I will be performing live with romantic, iconic love songs and my song list would include ‘Can’t Help falling in Love’, ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Burning Love’, ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’, ‘The Wonder of You’ and ‘’It’s Now or Never’ to name a few.
To make Valentine’s Day extra special I will give the Home folks red satin scarfs.
Emma Shanaya (Singer)
I plan on spending the day of love with my girls, especially my best friend. I don’t have a romantic Valentine this year but I am thrilled to spend it with the girl that loves me through and through. I’ll be in Colombo and look forward to go to a cute cafe and spend some quality time with my childhood best friend Zulha.
JAYASRI
Emma-and-Maneeka
This Valentine’s Day the band JAYASRI we will be really busy; in the morning we will be landing in Sri Lanka, after our Oman Tour; then in the afternoon we are invited as Chief Guests at our Maris Stella College Sports Meet, Negombo, and late night we will be with LineOne band live in Karandeniya Open Air Down South. Everywhere we will be sharing LOVE with the mass crowds.
Kay Jay (Singer)
I will stay at home and cook a lovely meal for lunch, watch some movies, together with Sanjaya, and, maybe we go out for dinner and have a lovely time. Come to think of it, every day is Valentine’s Day for me with Sanjaya Alles.
Maneka Liyanage (Beauty Tips)
On this special day, I celebrate love by spending meaningful time with the people I cherish. I prepare food with love and share meals together, because food made with love brings hearts closer. I enjoy my leisure time with them — talking, laughing, sharing stories, understanding each other, and creating beautiful memories. My wish for this Valentine’s Day is a world without fighting — a world where we love one another like our own beloved, where we do not hurt others, even through a single word or action. Let us choose kindness, patience, and understanding in everything we do.
Janaka Palapathwala (Singer)
Janaka
Valentine’s Day should not be the only day we speak about love.
From the moment we are born into this world, we seek love, first through the very drop of our mother’s milk, then through the boundless care of our Mother and Father, and the embrace of family.
Love is everywhere. All living beings, even plants, respond in affection when they are loved.
As we grow, we learn to love, and to be loved. One day, that love inspires us to build a new family of our own.
Love has no beginning and no end. It flows through every stage of life, timeless, endless, and eternal.
Natasha Rathnayake (Singer)
We don’t have any special plans for Valentine’s Day. When you’ve been in love with the same person for over 25 years, you realise that love isn’t a performance reserved for one calendar date. My husband and I have never been big on public displays, or grand gestures, on 14th February. Our love is expressed quietly and consistently, in ordinary, uncelebrated moments.
With time, you learn that love isn’t about proving anything to the world or buying into a commercialised idea of romance—flowers that wilt, sweets that spike blood sugar, and gifts that impress briefly but add little real value. In today’s society, marketing often pushes the idea that love is proven by how much money you spend, and that buying things is treated as a sign of commitment.
Real love doesn’t need reminders or price tags. It lives in showing up every day, choosing each other on unromantic days, and nurturing the relationship intentionally and without an audience.
This isn’t a judgment on those who enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day. It’s simply a personal choice.
Melloney Dassanayake (Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2024)
I truly believe it’s beautiful to have a day specially dedicated to love. But, for me, Valentine’s Day goes far beyond romantic love alone. It celebrates every form of love we hold close to our hearts: the love for family, friends, and that one special person who makes life brighter. While 14th February gives us a moment to pause and celebrate, I always remind myself that love should never be limited to just one day. Every single day should feel like Valentine’s Day – constant reminder to the people we love that they are never alone, that they are valued, and that they matter.
I’m incredibly blessed because, for me, every day feels like Valentine’s Day. My special person makes sure of that through the smallest gestures, the quiet moments, and the simple reminders that love lives in the details. He shows me that it’s the little things that count, and that love doesn’t need grand stages to feel extraordinary. This Valentine’s Day, perfection would be something intimate and meaningful: a cozy picnic in our home garden, surrounded by nature, laughter, and warmth, followed by an abstract drawing session where we let our creativity flow freely. To me, that’s what love is – simple, soulful, expressive, and deeply personal. When love is real, every ordinary moment becomes magical.
Noshin De Silva (Actress)
Valentine’s Day is one of my favourite holidays! I love the décor, the hearts everywhere, the pinks and reds, heart-shaped chocolates, and roses all around. But honestly, I believe every day can be Valentine’s Day.
It doesn’t have to be just about romantic love. It’s a chance to celebrate love in all its forms with friends, family, or even by taking a little time for yourself.
Whether you’re spending the day with someone special or enjoying your own company, it’s a reminder to appreciate meaningful connections, show kindness, and lead with love every day.
And yes, I’m fully on theme this year with heart nail art and heart mehendi design!
Wishing everyone a very happy Valentine’s Day, but, remember, love yourself first, and don’t forget to treat yourself.
Sending my love to all of you.
To create a powerful, natural, and hydrating beauty mask that soothes inflammation, fights acne, and boosts skin radiance, mix a mashed banana with fresh aloe vera gel.
This nutrient-rich blend acts as an antioxidant-packed anti-ageing treatment that also doubles as a nourishing, shiny hair mask.
* Face Masks for Glowing Skin:
Mix 01 ripe banana with 01 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel and apply this mixture to the face. Massage for a few minutes, leave for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off for a glowing complexion.
* Acne and Soothing Mask:
Mix 01 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel with 1/2 a mashed banana and 01 teaspoon of honey. Apply this mixture to clean skin to calm inflammation, reduce redness, and hydrate dry, sensitive skin. Leave for 15-20 minutes, and rinse with warm water.
* Hair Treatment for Shine:
Mix 01 fresh ripe banana with 03 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel and 01 teaspoon of honey. Apply from scalp to ends, massage for 10-15 minutes and then let it dry for maximum absorption. Rinse thoroughly with cool water for soft, shiny, and frizz-free hair.
Prime Minister meets delegation from the European External Action Service
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