Features

Meeting with Gen. Zia-Ul-Haq

Published

6 months ago

2025/07/13

Thilina Walpola

General Zia-Ul-Haq

(Continued from last week)

Visit to Pakistan

November 1979, involved a spate of travelling with visits to Pakistan, and once again to China. The visit to Pakistan took place during the first week of November. We had to negotiate for the purchase of 100,000 metric tons of rice, with the Rice Export Corporation of Pakistan (Tile RECP) in order to replenish our buffer stock. At this time, we were producing substantial quantities of rice domestically and we needed only 200-300 thousand metric tons to be imported annually for the buffer.

We were consuming close to 1.3 million tons of local rice. This however, had to be viewed in the context of almost 700,000 tons of wheat imports, since wheat flour and rice were substitutable cereal foods. The delegation to Pakistan had to be led by Mr. Herat the Minister, since he and a delegation were personally invited by former civil servant and now Senior Minister, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Minister of Finance, Planning, Commerce and Co-ordination in the government of General Zia-Ul-Haq. Mr. Khan’s portfolio also subsumed the subject of food. Our delegation, besides the Minister, consisted of the Food Commissioner P.M. Hassell, the Deputy Director, External Resources Division of the Treasury Mrs. Sakuntala Kuruppu, the Minister’s Private Secretary Mr. Jaya Herat, and myself.

Karachi

We took a night flight and arrived in Karachi at the ungodly hour of 2.30 a.m. on the 4th of November. We were received by Mr. Naik, Chairman of the Rice Export Corporation and our Trade Commissioner. The delegation was accommodated at the Karachi Inter-continental Hotel. By the time we reached the hotel it was quite late, and I finally got to bed only at 5 a.m. Fortunately, we did not have any appointments in the morning.

We called on the Chairman RECP at 3 p.m. and had preliminary discussions till 4.30 p.m. On the morning of the 5th, we visited the rice godowns at Pipri and was back for a lunch hosted by the Chairman of the Cotton Corporation of Pakistan at the elegant Karachi Boat Club. After lunch, we visited the offices of the Cotton Corporation and discussed possibilities of business with Sri Lanka. We got back at 5 p.m. and had to leave for a 8 p.m. dinner hosted by the Chairman RECP at hotel “Beach Luxury.”

On the morning of the 6th, Hassen and Sakuntala had discussions on the purchase of rice whilst the Minister, the Private Secretary and I had a meeting with the Chairman, Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). The C.W.E. in particular bought a number of commodities from the TCP and our talks encompassed the further development of trade between the two countries, including the import of betel leaves and tea from Sri Lanka. The entire delegation met at a lunch hosted by the Chairman and the Board of Directors of Habib Bank, a bank which had a branch in Sri Lanka. The lunch was on the 23 d floor of their Habib Plaza building. The talks with the RECP continued in the afternoon. All of us got together again at an 8 p.m. dinner hosted by the Chairman TCP.

On the 7th of November, the Minister and I had a meeting with the Minister of State for Export Promotion, followed by a visit to the Export Display Centre and the Pakistan Industrial Designs Centre, both most interesting places. At 8 o’clock in the night, the Minister of State hosted a dinner in honour of our Minister at the Intercontinental Hotel. The following day, I developed a bad cold and cough. However at 11.30 a.m. I accompanied the Minister for a wreath laying ceremony at the Jinnah Memorial. This was followed by a meeting at 12.30 p.m. with Admiral Mongevian, Chairman, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (P.N.S.C.) and Mr. Gokhale, Advisor to the President on Shipping, Trade and Tourism.

The Admiral was an old friend of Sri Lanka, and had contributed valuably to the setting up of our own Shipping Corporation. Since I was also a Director of our Shipping Corporation, I had much to discuss with him. After a quick lunch we were at the RECP by 3.15 p.m. where my colleagues had finalized the purchase of rice. They of course, during the course of the negotiations kept in close touch with the Minister and myself. All loose ends were tied up and later at 7.30 p.m. the agreement was signed. At 8 p.m. we attended a dinner hosted by Admiral Mongevian. After dinner, Mr.Naik, Chairman RECP insisted I see a doctor and very kindly took me to see one. He checked me out and prescribed some medicines including antibiotics.

Islamabad

On the 10′ of November at 7.50 a.m. we took off by a D.C. 10 aircraft, for the 1 hour 40 minute flight to Islamabad. At the airport the Minister was received by his host, Minister GhulamIshaq Khan, who was later to become President of Pakistan for a period. The Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce and other officials and Ambassador Moorthy were also present. We were housed in the-Holiday Inn. By 11.45 a.m. we were at the Ministry of Commerce for talks with the Pakistan Minister and his team. These were conducted in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. In the afternoon, after lunch, we were taken on a drive around the beautiful planned city of Islamabad with its trees and parks and straight broad roads, and surrounded by the Marghela hills. At 8 p.m. Minister Ghulam Ishaq Khan hosted a dinner in honour of the Minister.

This gave us an opportunity to meet some Ministers and senior officials of the government. The following day, we were taken on a visit to the Buddhist Archaeological remains and the Museum at Taxila, and thereafter to see the Tarbela Dam. the biggest earth dam in the world. We were now only about 50 miles from the North-West Frontier Province. We got back to Islamabad tired, but having added much to our stock of knowledge. We ended the day with a quiet dinner at Ambassador Moorthy’s.

Meeting with General Zia-Ul-Haq

The 12th of November was our last day in Islamabad. The Minister was interviewed by the press at 9.15 a.m. We had prepared for this the previous evening at Ambassador Moorthy’s. After the interview we were taken on a quick visit to the Army Cantonment City of Rawalpindi not too far away. We were back at 1 p.m. for lunch, when a totally unexpected invitation came our way. We had seen from the newspapers and the TV that General Zia-Ul-Haq was in Karachi.

We thought that he was still there. But he had got back in the morning while we were in Rawalpindi, had heard that we were in town and due to leave in the evening to Karachi on our way back home. One of the Secretaries to the General had inquired of our Ambassador whether the Minister would be free to see the General at 2.30 p.m. This was both unexpected and an honour. We had not sought a call on the General. The Minister, the Ambassador and myself called on General Zia at 2.30 p.m. As the Minister entered his room, the General sprang to his feet and the next moment was warmly embracing the Minister in a bear hug. He then shook hands with us. On the Pakistan side, our host, Mr. Ghulam Ishaq Khan, the Foreign Minister, the Foreign Secretary and some members of the President’s staff were present.

“Mr. Minister,” said the General, “When your Ambassador came to present credentials I told our Foreign Minister in his presence that if any Sri Lankan wishes to see me I should be informed, because I would like to see him. Here, you are a Minister of the Cabinet, and you are trying to go away without seeing me.” The Minister apologetically replied that he thought that he was in Karachi, and that besides, he did not think it would have been appropriate to disturb him.

“Nonsense,” said the general genially, “You must see me when you come next time also.” “How’s my friend General Attygalle?” was his next question. General Attygalle and he had been in Defence College together in England, and coincidentally had just completed an official visit to Pakistan as General Zia’s guest when he took over the government. I remember General Attygalle telling me that General Zia was very worried and upset about the chaotic street demonstrations in Pakistan just before the take-over, and about obeying orders to shoot the mobs.

The General had said to General Attygalle, “How can the army shoot one’s own people?” I answered the General’s question by informing him that General Attygalle was the Defence Advisor to the President, and that he was keeping quite well. “Please convey my regards to him,” the General requested. I undertook to do so. The conversation went on quite evenly and pleasantly, until the General suddenly turned to Cricket. Sri Lanka was on the verge of obtaining “Test Status” at the time and Pakistan was a steadfast supporter of our cause, in the International Cricket Council. “When is Sri Lanka going to get Test Status?” inquired the General.

It was a rhetorical question, for then he went on to say “Sri Lanka has a good side, but they need experience. They must play more with experienced sides.” Then suddenly turning to his Ministers and officials, he asked, “where is the Pakistan Cricket team?” Someone said that they were in Bangladesh. “What are they doing in Bangladesh?” inquired General Zia, and before anyone could answer, “Divert the team to Sri Lanka,” he ordered! The Minister did not know much about cricket, although he knew a great deal about motor racing. Therefore, I had to step in.

I thanked the General for the consistent support Pakistan had given in our quest for Test Status. “We will be taking this up strongly at the next ICC meeting,” the General interrupted. I thanked him again on behalf of Sri Lanka, and also for his decision to divert the Pakistan team. On this, I made the plea that he should not implement this decision until we got back home, inform our President of this generous gesture and ensure that the necessary arrangements were made to receive the team.

I added that we will be in Sri Lanka within the next 36 hours. The General agreed, and after a little while our conversation ended. General Zia once again embraced the Minister, shook hands with us warmly. and accompanied us to the door. It was a most interesting meeting, lasting a little over half an hour during which a decision was also taken to explore possibilities of increasing trade between the two countries. When we got back home, the Minister briefed the President, and Minister Gamini Dissanayake, the President of the

Board of Control for Cricket and arrangements were made to receive this unexpected visit from the Pakistan team, who played some limited-over matches.

Visit to China

Within a matter of five to six days of our arrival from Pakistan, I had to leave for the second time during the year to China. This was for the Rubber Rice talks and the renewal of the Protocol between the two countries. The delegation was led by Mr. M.S. Amarasiri, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Shipping consisted of Lakshman de Mel, Secretary to the Ministry; P.M. Hassen, the Food Commissioner; J.F. Samaranayake, the Director of Commerce; Mr. H.P. de Silva, the Commissioner of Commodity Purchase; Mr. Wickremaratne the Coordinating Officer, Ministry of Trade and myself. We began our journey in China from Canton, spending a few hours there awaiting our flight to Beijing.

There was now visible change from what we saw in January. Women were now beginning to wear more fashionable and colourful clothes including denims. There was also a noticeable growth in hair styling. The drab, uniformly blue “Mao Suit” was disappearing. Society was opening out. We saw the same developments in Beijing and other cities. During our brief stay in Canton, we were taken to a most picturesque garden with over 500 varieties of chrysanthemums.

We were shown one bush with over 2500 flowers, an amazing sight. It was a most pleasant way of spending time. We arrived at 9.45 p.m. in Beijing and were met by a Vice-Minister and other Chinese officials as well as our Ambassador, and others. Once again, we were accommodated at the sprawling Beijing ing hotel. After a discussion with the Deputy Minister and the Ambassador, we retired to sleep in another overheated room. One slept on top of the bedclothes and still sweated. It was our experience both in the Soviet Union and China, that whatever they got right, they seemed unable to get their temperature controls right. You either baked or froze, with however, a much greater chance of baking.

(Excerpted from ‘In the Pursuit of Governance’, autobiography of MDD Pieris) ✍️

To be continued

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Features

US’ drastic aid cut to UN poses moral challenge to world

Published

16 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

An UN humanitarian mission in the Gaza. [File: Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency]

‘Adapt, shrink or die’ – thus runs the warning issued by the Trump administration to UN humanitarian agencies with brute insensitivity in the wake of its recent decision to drastically reduce to $2bn its humanitarian aid to the UN system. This is a substantial climb down from the $17bn the US usually provided to the UN for its humanitarian operations.

Considering that the US has hitherto been the UN’s biggest aid provider, it need hardly be said that the US decision would pose a daunting challenge to the UN’s humanitarian operations around the world. This would indeed mean that, among other things, people living in poverty and stifling material hardships, in particularly the Southern hemisphere, could dramatically increase. Coming on top of the US decision to bring to an end USAID operations, the poor of the world could be said to have been left to their devices as a consequence of these morally insensitive policy rethinks of the Trump administration.

Earlier, the UN had warned that it would be compelled to reduce its aid programs in the face of ‘the deepest funding cuts ever.’ In fact the UN is on record as requesting the world for $23bn for its 2026 aid operations.

If this UN appeal happens to go unheeded, the possibilities are that the UN would not be in a position to uphold the status it has hitherto held as the world’s foremost humanitarian aid provider. It would not be incorrect to state that a substantial part of the rationale for the UN’s existence could come in for questioning if its humanitarian identity is thus eroded.

Inherent in these developments is a challenge for those sections of the international community that wish to stand up and be counted as humanists and the ‘Conscience of the World.’ A responsibility is cast on them to not only keep the UN system going but to also ensure its increased efficiency as a humanitarian aid provider to particularly the poorest of the poor.

It is unfortunate that the US is increasingly opting for a position of international isolation. Such a policy position was adopted by it in the decades leading to World War Two and the consequences for the world as a result for this policy posture were most disquieting. For instance, it opened the door to the flourishing of dictatorial regimes in the West, such as that led by Adolph Hitler in Germany, which nearly paved the way for the subjugation of a good part of Europe by the Nazis.

If the US had not intervened militarily in the war on the side of the Allies, the West would have faced the distressing prospect of coming under the sway of the Nazis and as a result earned indefinite political and military repression. By entering World War Two the US helped to ward off these bleak outcomes and indeed helped the major democracies of Western Europe to hold their own and thrive against fascism and dictatorial rule.

Republican administrations in the US in particular have not proved the greatest defenders of democratic rule the world over, but by helping to keep the international power balance in favour of democracy and fundamental human rights they could keep under a tight leash fascism and linked anti-democratic forces even in contemporary times. Russia’s invasion and continued occupation of parts of Ukraine reminds us starkly that the democracy versus fascism battle is far from over.

Right now, the US needs to remain on the side of the rest of the West very firmly, lest fascism enjoys another unfettered lease of life through the absence of countervailing and substantial military and political power.

However, by reducing its financial support for the UN and backing away from sustaining its humanitarian programs the world over the US could be laying the ground work for an aggravation of poverty in the South in particular and its accompaniments, such as, political repression, runaway social discontent and anarchy.

What should not go unnoticed by the US is the fact that peace and social stability in the South and the flourishing of the same conditions in the global North are symbiotically linked, although not so apparent at first blush. For instance, if illegal migration from the South to the US is a major problem for the US today, it is because poor countries are not receiving development assistance from the UN system to the required degree. Such deprivation on the part of the South leads to aggravating social discontent in the latter and consequences such as illegal migratory movements from South to North.

Accordingly, it will be in the North’s best interests to ensure that the South is not deprived of sustained development assistance since the latter is an essential condition for social contentment and stable governance, which factors in turn would guard against the emergence of phenomena such as illegal migration.

Meanwhile, democratic sections of the rest of the world in particular need to consider it a matter of conscience to ensure the sustenance and flourishing of the UN system. To be sure, the UN system is considerably flawed but at present it could be called the most equitable and fair among international development organizations and the most far-flung one. Without it world poverty would have proved unmanageable along with the ills that come along with it.

Dehumanizing poverty is an indictment on humanity. It stands to reason that the world community should rally round the UN and ensure its survival lest the abomination which is poverty flourishes. In this undertaking the world needs to stand united. Ambiguities on this score could be self-defeating for the world community.

For example, all groupings of countries that could demonstrate economic muscle need to figure prominently in this initiative. One such grouping is BRICS. Inasmuch as the US and the West should shrug aside Realpolitik considerations in this enterprise, the same goes for organizations such as BRICS.

The arrival at the above international consensus would be greatly facilitated by stepped up dialogue among states on the continued importance of the UN system. Fresh efforts to speed-up UN reform would prove major catalysts in bringing about these positive changes as well. Also requiring to be shunned is the blind pursuit of narrow national interests.

Features

Egg white scene …

Published

16 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

Hi! Great to be back after my Christmas break.

Thought of starting this week with egg white.

Yes, eggs are brimming with nutrients beneficial for your overall health and wellness, but did you know that eggs, especially the whites, are excellent for your complexion?

OK, if you have no idea about how to use egg whites for your face, read on.

Egg White, Lemon, Honey:

Separate the yolk from the egg white and add about a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and about one and a half teaspoons of organic honey. Whisk all the ingredients together until they are mixed well.

Apply this mixture to your face and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes before cleansing your face with a gentle face wash.

Don’t forget to apply your favourite moisturiser, after using this face mask, to help seal in all the goodness.

Egg White, Avocado:

In a clean mixing bowl, start by mashing the avocado, until it turns into a soft, lump-free paste, and then add the whites of one egg, a teaspoon of yoghurt and mix everything together until it looks like a creamy paste.

Apply this mixture all over your face and neck area, and leave it on for about 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off with cold water and a gentle face wash.

Egg White, Cucumber, Yoghurt:

In a bowl, add one egg white, one teaspoon each of yoghurt, fresh cucumber juice and organic honey. Mix all the ingredients together until it forms a thick paste.

Apply this paste all over your face and neck area and leave it on for at least 20 minutes and then gently rinse off this face mask with lukewarm water and immediately follow it up with a gentle and nourishing moisturiser.

Egg White, Aloe Vera, Castor Oil:

To the egg white, add about a teaspoon each of aloe vera gel and castor oil and then mix all the ingredients together and apply it all over your face and neck area in a thin, even layer.

Leave it on for about 20 minutes and wash it off with a gentle face wash and some cold water. Follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.

Features

Confusion cropping up with Ne-Yo in the spotlight

Published

16 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

Ne-Yo: His management should clarify the last-minute cancellation

Superlatives galore were used, especially on social media, to highlight R&B singer Ne-Yo’s trip to Sri Lanka: Global superstar Ne-Yo to perform live in Colombo this December; Ne-Yo concert puts Sri Lanka back on the global entertainment map; A global music sensation is coming to Sri Lanka … and there were lots more!

At an official press conference, held at a five-star venue, in Colombo, it was indicated that the gathering marked a defining moment for Sri Lanka’s entertainment industry as international R&B powerhouse and three-time Grammy Award winner Ne-Yo prepares to take the stage in Colombo this December.

What’s more, the occasion was graced by the presence of Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs of Sri Lanka, and Professor Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Tourism, alongside distinguished dignitaries, sponsors, and members of the media.

Shah Rukh Khan: Disappointed his fans in Sri Lanka

According to reports, the concert had received the official endorsement of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, recognising it as a flagship initiative in developing the country’s concert economy by attracting fans, and media, from all over South Asia.

Nick Carter: His concert, too, was cancelled due to “Unforeseen circumstances

However, I had that strange feeling that this concert would not become a reality, keeping in mind what happened to Nick Carter’s Colombo concert – cancelled at the very last moment.

Carter issued a video message announcing he had to return to the USA due to “unforeseen circumstances” and a “family emergency”.

Though “unforeseen circumstances” was the official reason provided by Carter and the local organisers, there was speculation that low ticket sales may also have been a factor in the cancellation.

Well, “Unforeseen Circumstances” has cropped up again!

In a brief statement, via social media, the organisers of the Ne-Yo concert said the decision was taken due to “unforeseen circumstances and factors beyond their control.”

Ne-Yo, too, subsequently made an announcement, citing “Unforeseen circumstances.”

The public has a right to know what these “unforeseen circumstances” are, and who is to be blamed – the organisers or Ne-Yo!

Ne-Yo’s management certainly need to come out with the truth.

However, those who are aware of some of the happenings in the setup here put it down to poor ticket sales, mentioning that the tickets for the concert, and a meet-and-greet event, were exorbitantly high, considering that Ne-Yo is not a current mega star.

We also had a cancellation coming our way from Shah Rukh Khan, who was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka for the City of Dreams resort launch, and then this was received: “Unfortunately due to unforeseen personal reasons beyond his control, Mr. Khan is no longer able to attend.”

Referring to this kind of mess up, a leading showbiz personality said that it will only make people reluctant to buy their tickets, online.

“Tickets will go mostly at the gate and it will be very bad for the industry,” he added.