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Ex-BASL chief: SL loses USD 2 bn annually due to its failure to set up foreign universities

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/3

One-time President of the Bar Association Upul Jayasuriya, PC, says the country lost about USD 2 bn a year due to the failure on the part of successive governments to allow the setting up of foreign universities here. Referring to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), Jayasuriya, who once headed the BoI said that foreign universities attracted Sri Lankan students at a tremendous expense to the national economy. At any given time, there were more than 70,000 Sri Lankan students studying overseas.

Jayasuriya said so delivering the Daya Wettasinha memorial oration organised by the Sri Lanka-Japan Friendship Society backed by the Sri Lanka-Japan Business Council, at the Sasakawa Hall.

Jayasuriya faulted successive governments for having given in to pressure from the GMOA.

Several universities had been interested in setting up universities here. The PC said: “There was a famous British university that has been allocated 20 acres of land in the Mirigama Zone. They refused to start off. There was Manipal University and Deakin University that were extremely enthusiastic in starting their universities in Sri Lanka. They were all traumatised with the actions of this Trade Union that is a law unto itself in opposing SAITM. At the moment Sri Lanka has no hope of such educational institutes starting in Sri Lanka. This would have averted the dollar drain but we could have also earned much needed foreign investments and the inflow of dollars from prospective foreign students, particularly from India. It is vital as India has no international universities granting foreign degrees. If Sri Lanka can offer these foreign degrees, Indian parents would be so happy to send their children to Sri Lanka, rather than to European destinations particularly Australia where some of them are getting brutally assaulted and undergo cultural disparities.”

Referring to the then Sri Lankan Finance Minister JRJ’s famous San Francisco speech in 1951 in support of Japan, Jayasuriya emphasised Sri Lanka had received1.35 Trillion yen loan, approximately Rs. 270 Billion as grant aid, 108 Billion Technical Cooperation in addition to about 130 Japanese investments here. Daya Wettasinha, lawyer, businessman and more than anything else was a great human being. Wettasinghe was one of the select group of Sri Lankans to receive The Order of the Rising Sun. It is the third highest order bestowed by the Japanese government.

Commenting on current crises, Jayasuriya said that though Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion in May 2009, the country wasn’t able to achieve its true potential.

“For some people, with numerous personal bodyguards round the clock, fancy vehicles acquired with public funds whisking through crowded streets… probably now they fly about in helicopters or now in private Jets….and all other unimaginable means of luxurious living. People have entered a rat race with an insatiable greed for money and power. People are also self-indulgent and revel in false valour at the expense of the innocent peasantry, who perpetually struggle to make ends meet. Some get a sadistic delight displaying their prowess and money power. Those with Aston Martins, Lamborghinis, and Porsches have no qualms about displaying their wealth, and of course we have those who purchase iconic fashion merchandise such as, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Giorgio Armani, while bare footed children walk their way to school in the hot sun. There are those who are without furniture, toilets or even water in the school. They can barely afford their meals. Where is our development, where are we heading?”

“Where have we failed? Let’s go back a few decades. We have had an excellent civil administration, highly commendable Judiciary, Police and Public service and a top tier education system. These we inherited from our colonial forefathers. Of course we could be proud of what we inherited. But where are we today? Is it that the systems have failed or the people have failed? I would say that the systems have deteriorated and failed the people. Our values have failed. Our expectations have failed, our attitudes have failed. In short, we have failed. I don’t blame anyone but ourselves. We are all to blame for it. ‘Mea culpa!’ ‘Mea maxima culpa’ Where is the problem? How do we resolve it?”

Jayasuriya also discussed how foreign capital could be attracted by offering resident visas to those interested in spending US$ 500,000 to make Sri Lanka a second home. Similar schemes were already practiced in Malaysia with US$ 80,000 whereas earlier it was only US$30,000. Similar facilities were available in many countries in the West and East, the PC said (SF)

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Advisory for Heavy Rain issued for the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

Advisory for Heavy Rain Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 08.30 a.m. on 22 February 2026 valid for the period until 08.30 a.m. 23 February 2026

Due to the influence of the low level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Therefore, general public is advised to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by heavy rain, strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

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Matara Festival for the Arts’ inaugurated by the Prime Minister

Published

9 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

The inaugural ceremony of the Matara Festival for the Arts, featuring a wide range of creations by local and international artists, was held on February 19 at the Old High Court premises of the Matara Fort, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival, centred around the Old High Court premises in Matara and the auditorium of the Matara District Secretariat, will be open to the public from 20 to 23 of February. The festival will be featured by visual art exhibitions, short film screenings, Kala Pola, and a series of workshops conducted by experts.

The inaugural event was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj, along with artists, guests, and a large number of schoolchildren.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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Only single MP refuses salary as Parliament details pays and allowances

Published

13 hours ago

2026/02/22

Thilina Walpola

SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilake is the only MP to forego salary and allowances, with all payments suspended following his written notification on August 20, 2025.

Only one Member of Parliament has chosen not to receive the salaries and allowances entitled to MPs, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya revealed in Parliament last Thursday, shedding light on the financial perks enjoyed by members of the Tenth Parliament.

Speaking on Thursday (Feb. 19) in response to a question from SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri, the Prime Minister outlined the full range of pay and allowances provided to parliamentarians.

According to Dr. Amarasuriya, MPs receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 54,285, an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000, and a driver’s allowance of Rs. 3,500—though MPs provided with a driver through the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs are not eligible for the driver’s allowance.

Additional benefits include a telephone allowance of Rs. 50,000, a transport allowance of Rs. 15,000, and an office allowance of Rs. 100,000. MPs are also paid a daily sitting allowance of Rs. 2,500 for attending parliamentary sessions, with an additional Rs. 2,500 per day for participation in parliamentary sittings and Rs. 2,500 per day as a committee allowance.

Committee meetings held on non-parliament sitting days also attract Rs. 2,500 per day.

Fuel allowances are provided based on the distance between an MP’s electoral district and Parliament. National List MPs are entitled to a monthly allocation equivalent to 419.76 litres of diesel at the market price on the first day of each month.

Despite the comprehensive benefits, only SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka has opted not to draw a salary or allowances. Dr. Amarasuriya said that in accordance with a written notification submitted by MP Wasalathilaka on August 20, 2025, payments have been suspended since that date.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that she, along with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, committee chairs, ministers, deputy ministers, the Opposition Leader, and senior opposition whips, have all informed the Secretary-General of Parliament in writing that they will not claim the fuel allowance.

Challenging the ruling party’s voluntary pledge to forgo salaries, MP Wijesiri pointed out that all MPs except Wasalathilaka continue to receive their salaries and allowances. “On one hand you speak about the people’s mandate, which is good. But the mandate also included people who said they would voluntarily serve in this Parliament without salaries. Today we have been able to prove, Hon. Speaker, that except for one SJB MP, the other 224 Members are drawing parliamentary salaries,” he said.

The Prime Minister responded by defending the political culture and practice of allocating portions of MPs’ salaries to party funds. Referring to previous practices by the JVP and NPP, she said: “It is no secret to the country that the JVP has for a long time not personally taken MPs’ salaries or any allowances. I think the entire country knows that these go to a party fund. That is not new, nor is it something special to mention. The NPP operates in the same way. That too is not new; it is the culture of our political movement.”

When MP Wijesiri posed a supplementary question asking whether diverting salaries to party funds was an indirect method of taking care of MPs, Dr. Amarasuriya said: “There is no issue there. No question was raised; the Member made a statement. What we have seen throughout this week is an inability to understand our political culture and practice, and a clash with decisions taken by political movements that misused public funds. What is coming out is a certain mindset. That is why there is such an effort to find fault with the 159. None of these facts are new to people. He did not ask a question, so I have nothing to answer.”

The disclosures come days after the Government moved to abolish the parliamentary pension, a measure that has sparked renewed debate over MP compensation and the transparency of funds allocation.