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.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s warning to the International Criminal Court (ICC) was stark: ‘Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.’ It followed US central administration accusations that the court was unfairly targeting Americans on the basis of trumped-up war crimes charges.
However, a new plethora of sanctions has been clamped on the ICC by the US, which in turn has spurred accusations by sections of the world that the latter has unleashed an ‘assault’ on the international legal order.
What some of the sanctions would mean for the ICC was outlined by Rubio: ‘We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling their ability to operate against us.’
The ICC has shown consistency of purpose over the years. Despite some operational constraints it has indicted a large number of political strongmen from around the world, accused of war crimes and other governance excesses that come under its purview. Two such recent figures are: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rather than enjoy a mere nominal presence in the world community, the ICC has proved its effectiveness by detaining and bringing to justice scores of VIP politicians and others of their ilk who have been found guilty of human rights abuses and kindred excesses that come within the terms of reference of the ICC.
Accordingly, the international justice system would be stymied considerably as a result of the ICC being dis-empowered, particularly financially. Needless to say, potential and real perpetrators of the species of crime coming under the jurisdiction of the ICC would stand to gain most from such anarchic tendencies. That is, political repression globally would be enabled to enjoy a new lease of life.
A detailing of the types of crime coming under the purview of the ICC provides an idea of what it would cost the international community if the ICC’s operations are gravely hampered. They are mainly: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
That is, the part of the world to be worst affected would be the global South, since the latter is awash with the mentioned crimes. Needless to say, a chronically-disaffected South will sooner rather than later undermine the well being of the world dangerously. The world is already being put through these paces.
At the time of writing, ‘illegal migrants’ from the South, for example, are aggravating many a Western economy’s woes, besides creating for them acute law and order issues. The fact that these migrants’ presence goes on to become a virtual test of the migrant receiving states’ ability to forge domestic social inclusion in the face of jingoistic protests by mainly white supremacist groups is evidence of the latter. As is known, the US, to take just one example, has been up against this crisis for quite a while.
Accordingly, it will be in the best interests of the West if ‘illegal’ migrant arrivals on their shores are stemmed. If the socio-political and economic problems assailing the South are effectively managed through North-South collaborative, ‘trouble-shooting’ efforts the causes leading to ‘illegal’ migration and connected issues could be resolved at source as it were. For, it is the aggravation of the South’s material questions that lays the basis for the emergence of repressive and anti-democratic regimes in the hemisphere.
Until such time that the aforementioned issues in North-South relations are visited afresh and addressed urgently, a vibrantly functioning ICC would be needed. For, the latter would prove a deterrent to Southern political and military strongmen, highly prone to power abuse and like excesses, from coming into being in the wake of the South’s chronic material woes and the wars and conflicts that result from them.
It stands to reason then that the US would be acting in its own interests by enabling the ICC to perpetuate its mandate without hindrance. For a crop of issues that impinges negatively on internal law and order would be defused.
Meanwhile, there needs to be a meeting of minds among the rest of the West to put back in place a North-South dialogue process aimed at reducing some of the economic pressures that are weighing on the South.
Since economics usually drives politics it will be in the interests of the world community to scrutinizingly re-visit North-South issues of the past and put in place economic relief packages for Southern publics that would enable them to tide over their material hardships rather than permit the latter to aggravate into social disaffection and eventually armed militancy. It is the latter juncture that paves the way for the emergence of authoritarian rulers in the South who then go on to be a blight on their publics.
Accordingly, the Southern-based global development thinking of the past that envisaged a more equitable world economic order needs to be seen as an urgent need. That is, NAM’s international development paradigms need to be resuscitated to the extent possible.
It is unlikely that rightist governments of the West, such as the current Republican administration in the US, would find these projects feasible, but democratic states of Europe, led by perhaps the UK, are likely to think otherwise. For it would not be beneficial for the democratic world to be having on their hands repressive governments in the South who would be gravitating towards the major military and economic actors of the South, such as Iran and North Korea, who tend to be in constant power struggles with the West.
However, until such time that the mentioned, pro-people initiatives are given serious thought the ICC would need to be enabled by the international community to be in place comfortably and carry on with its mandate of bringing repressive rulers to book. Besides the ICC should pave the way for the peoples of the developing world to enjoy some substantial respite from the political repression and even terror which tend to be their lot.
Meanwhile, the wars of West Asia are relentlessly aggravating the economic hardships of people everywhere, driving the point home to enlightened sections that there is no alternative to peacemaking. A challenge is to convert the US under President Trump to this line of thinking.
This week, I give you five simple, time-tested homemade remedies that help reduce the appearance of blemishes, control excess shine and leave your skin feeling softer and smoother.
The Honey and Lemon Brightening Dab:
For stubborn blemish marks, this is a classic. Mix one teaspoon of pure bee honey with three to four drops of fresh lemon juice. Apply gently, only on the affected spots, and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. While honey soothes and softens, lemon helps to brighten naturally. Use twice a week in the evening.
Besan and Rose Water Oil-Control Pack:
An ideal remedy to combat shine, especially on the T-zone. Take two teaspoons of besan (gram flour) and mix with sufficient rose water to form a smooth paste. Add a pinch of turmeric for its antiseptic goodness. Apply evenly, keep for 15 minutes and wash off. It absorbs excess oil without over-drying, leaving a beautiful matte finish.
Aloe Vera and Cucumber Ice Soother:
Blend fresh aloe vera gel with the juice of a grated cucumber and freeze the mixture in an ice tray. Each morning, wrap one cube in a soft muslin cloth and gently rub over a cleansed face for 30 seconds. It calms, tightens pores and imparts a baby-soft smoothness.
Oatmeal and Curd Gentle Polish:
Roughness and old blemish marks need gentle exfoliation. Combine one tablespoon of finely powdered oatmeal with one tablespoon of fresh curd (yoghurt). Massage very gently, in circular motions, for one minute, leave for five minutes and rinse. It removes dead cells and unveils softer, clearer skin.
Multani Mitti and Green Tea Magic Mask:
Brew some green tea and allow it to cool completely. Mix one and a half teaspoons of Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth) with the tea water to make a fine paste. Apply for 10 to 12 minutes – do not let it dry and crack completely – and wash off. It draws out impurities, fades blemishes and bestows a fresh, shine-free glow.
A Gentle Reminder:
As with any natural remedy, always do a patch test on your inner arm first. For those with oily or combination skin, avoid heavy coconut oil application and harsh scrubbing, as they tend to aggravate shine and blemishes.
Dream of performing on a world stage? Well, here is your unique, golden opportunity!
The World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) — the one and only official “Talent Olympics” — is the world’s premier global platform for aspiring singers, dancers, actors, models, instrumentalists, etc., to compete, shine and be discovered!
And, yes, this world stage is open to YOU, Sri Lankans living in Sri Lanka and overseas!
Held annually in glittering Las Vegas, WCOPA brings together over 70 countries, all competing for Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals, just like the traditional Olympics.
Lakisha Bernard: Will represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2027
Outstanding performers vie for the coveted titles of Junior and Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World, with winners and standout participants awarded over $500,000 in scholarships, cash awards and prizes to catapult their education and careers!
Sri Lanka is already making waves! At WCOPA 2026, Natharie Wickramasinghe, representing Team Sri Lanka, made the nation proud by winning a Bronze Medal in the Ethnic/Folklore Dance category!
Lakisha: Accomplished freelance Model and Fashion Design graduate
Recruitment for this prestigious competition is handled through a system of scouts and licensed National Directors — and this is where our very own Chris Rajendra, now based in Las Vegas, and National Director for Team Sri Lanka, comes into the scene.
If you are a singer, dancer, actor, model, instrumentalist — if you have talent burning inside you — contact Chris Rajendra today for registration and, who knows, you may find yourself in Las Vegas, and proudly draped in the Sri Lankan flag, at WCOPA 2027!
The contact address is: Chris Rajendra, wcopa.nationaldirector.sl@gmail.com
or chris.rajendra@gmail.com
Meanwhile, a star is born for 2027, in the form of Lakisha Bernard who is all set to represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2027.
Originally hailing from the sun-drenched coastal city of Colombo and now carving out her creative career in Canada, 22-year-old Lakisha is stepping into the international spotlight.
This accomplished freelance Model and Fashion Design graduate has officially been appointed as the Team Sri Lanka Promoter for Canada as she prepares to represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA in Las Vegas.
Lakisha brings a unique blend of high-fashion sensibility, captivating camera presence and expert garment design to the Team.
Having built her career, from local college shoots to high-glamour concepts, Lakisha’s inspiring journey embodies the true spirit of cultural bridge-building and creative resilience, bringing immense pride and recognition to Sri Lanka on the global stage.
WCOPA 2027 will be held at the legendary Westgate Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, from 12th to 20th July – the very same iconic arena where the late, great Elvis Presley himself performed!
Your moment is now. Your stage is Las Vegas, so hurry and contact Chris Rajendra.
AgriConnect Sri Lanka’ to be launched on 30 October to Modernise the Agricultural Sector Through Digitalisation
57th Annual Saints’ Quadrangular Tournament on Saturday and Sunday
Showers or thundershowers will occur at most parts of the island
Prison rules to be revised over monks’ attire
AC President recuses himself from hearing prison attire case pertaining to Gnanasara Thera
Court orders steps to obtain INTERPOL Red Notice against Basil
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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