Category: Daily Financial Times

The ninth edition of Colomboscope opened with a preview evening at The Colpetty Townhouse recently.

Titled ‘Rhythm Alliances’, the festival was conceived and curated by guest curator Hajra Haider Karrar along with Colomboscope Artistic Director Natasha Ginwala and her team.

Centred around sound, rhythm, and collective memory, the event brought together over 50 artists including musicians, filmmakers, choreographers, and collectives for an extensive program of exhibitions, performances and public events across the city.

This year’s edition positions rhythm as a shared cultural language that carries expression and renewal. The opening event introduced audiences to a landscape drawn from ritualistic drumming and healing rites, along with oral and sound practices rooted in Sri Lanka, as well as drawing inspiration from wider Asian and African musical and cultural traditions.

Drumming, in particular, is positioned as both a historical tool of defiance and a contemporary language of collective expression, recalling its suppression during colonial plantation systems and its enduring role in spiritual and social life across the island. The works explore how sound travels across generations, how suppressed rhythms resurface, and how traditional forms of knowledge continue to endure amid rapid technological change.

Festival venues included Barefoot Gallery, Colpetty Townhouse, Kamatha at BMICH, Liberty by Scope Cinemas, Musicmatters, Radicle Gallery, the Rio Complex and Soul Studio.

Events and exhibitions took place across these locations, with most programs free and open to the public, while selected events required prior registration due to capacity limits.

Colomboscope Artistic Director Natasha Ginwala noted that the 2026 edition was among Colomboscope’s most diverse so far, with works unfolding across exhibition spaces, sound environments and live performances.

‘Dedicated to listening, remembrance, and renewal, Rhythm Alliances endeavours to resonate with sensory intelligence and reciprocity,’ she added.

Berlin and Karachi based guest curator Hajra Haider Karrar reflecting on the curatorial approach, said: ‘Reverberating across generations and geographies carried by the oceanic flows, the ninth edition is an invocation of rhythmic transmissions. The different formations of sonicity by the tongue, body, and its encounters experienced in the artistic provocations are initiations into the layered architectures of sound and resistance. Here, the voice, musicianship and aesthetics of the handmade converge in motion, crafting a language that liberates even as it remembers. Within these resonant gatherings, rhythm asserts its agency, a pulse that speaks, insists, and transforms.’

The preview at The Colpetty Townhouse marked the start of a program that explored rhythm as both an artistic and social force influencing collective experience and interaction.

Sri Lanka’s economic recovery remains vulnerable due to persistent policy instability and weak growth foundations, economists warned yesterday, cautioning that recent macroeconomic stabilisation will not translate into durable revival without long-term structural reform and policy continuity.

Speaking yesterday at the opening of the 40th Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) at the BMICH, SLEA President Prof. Sirimevan Colombage said the country stood at a defining crossroads between hard-won stability and the risk of prolonged stagnation.

‘The unprecedented economic crisis that occurred in 2022 reflected the culmination of long-standing structural weaknesses of the economy,’ Prof. Colombage said. ‘Since then, the IMF-supported reform package has helped to restore macroeconomic stability in a big way.’

He credited the Government and the Central Bank for improvements in fiscal performance and the balance of payments, but warned that deeper challenges remain. ‘Despite these achievements, there are disturbing signs of low GDP growth and significantly high levels of poverty, unemployment and malnutrition,’ he said.

Prof. Colombage also noted that Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka in late November last year, had a ‘devastating impact’ on the economy, compounding existing vulnerabilities.

He identified the services sector as central to Sri Lanka’s recovery prospects, noting that it accounts for about 57% of GDP and provides employment to roughly half the workforce, compared to agriculture’s 8% share and industry’s 25%.

‘Tourism and service exports related to information technology, communication and business process outsourcing have expanded significantly in recent years,’ he said, adding that services exports generate around $ 7 billion annually, equivalent to about 35% of total foreign exchange earnings from goods and services.

However, Prof. Colombage cautioned that the sector remains overwhelmingly inward-looking. ‘Tradable services account for only about 20% of the total output of the services sector. Nearly 88% of services sector output is domestically consumed,’ he said.

‘Sri Lanka’s services sector is predominantly inward-looking, and this is a matter of concern.’

Transforming the services sector towards export orientation was essential not only to ease balance of payments pressures, but also to lift Sri Lanka onto a higher growth trajectory, he said. This would require a coherent policy framework spanning high-tech education, skills development, infrastructure, regulatory reform and fiscal incentives.

He also warned that income taxes imposed on services exports since last year were having ‘detrimental effects’, particularly on the IT sector, and called for stronger efforts to attract foreign direct investment into high-value-added service activities.

SLEA Outgoing President Rev. Prof. Wijitaputra Wimalaratana, in his address, took a longer-term view, arguing that Sri Lanka’s post-independence development strategy had remained overly defensive and inward-looking.

‘For nearly 78 years, we have remained at the bottom of the global economic ladder,’ he said. ‘The question is how long we are going to stay there, and whether we truly want to change it.’

He noted that since the World Bank introduced income classifications in 1989, Sri Lanka had moved up only one category, briefly reaching upper-middle-income status in 2019 before slipping back. ‘No country in the world has achieved high-income status purely through agriculture. Statistics do not lie,’ he said.

Rev. Prof. Wimalaratana said countries that successfully transitioned to high-income status had done so through industry-led or services-led growth, while Sri Lanka failed to follow a comparable path. He also flagged policy volatility as a major structural constraint.

‘Sri Lanka has no policy locks. In every election cycle, land policies, investment policies and economic direction are changed,’ he said, calling for cross-party agreement to keep core economic policies unchanged for 15 to 20 years.

‘Without policy stability, you cannot achieve long-term transformation,’ he said, adding that economic revival could not be delivered by Government alone. ‘Everyone has to work together if Sri Lanka is to become a prosperous nation.’

Colombo’s expanding real estate market is increasingly commodifying proximity to nature, placing growing pressure on wetlands, paddy fields and peri-urban landscapes, and driving up property prices by an estimated 30 to 40% annually, according to a new report by the Centre for a Smart Future.

The study, titled ‘Shifting Grounds: Unpacking the Tensions Between Real Estate Development and Nature in Colombo’, authored by Medhini Igoor and Senith Abeyanayake, examines how demand for so-called green living is reshaping development patterns in nature-rich suburban areas, with a focus on the Thalangama Lake and surrounding neighbourhoods.

The report finds that buyer preferences for proximity to lakes, wetlands and green spaces have become a key driver of property demand, particularly among middle- and upper-middle-income households seeking relief from congestion in central Colombo. While access to schools, hospitals and transport remains the primary consideration, green spaces are increasingly viewed as indicators of quality of life, allowing properties with scenic views or access to protected or semi-protected landscapes to command significant price premiums.

Developers have responded with a growing number of nature-themed projects, frequently marketed using sustainability-linked language and imagery. A content analysis of real estate advertisements in Colombo District found that 65% of property listings used nature-related descriptors. However, the report notes that recognised certification systems such as LEED or GreenSL remain rare and inconsistently applied, with no binding standards governing environmental claims in real estate marketing.

Infrastructure expansion has further intensified development pressures. Improved connectivity through highways and arterial roads has driven rapid increases in land values along suburban corridors such as Kaduwela, Malabe and Thalawathugoda, where property prices have risen by an estimated 30 to 40% annually. While infrastructure investment has enhanced mobility and access to economic opportunities, the report finds that it has also accelerated land-use conversion and ecological fragmentation.

The Thalangama Environmental Protection Area is cited as a case in point. Improved connectivity has increased its appeal to developers and buyers while exposing sensitive ecosystems to heightened pressure. Community opposition to projects such as the proposed elevated highway through the area, which was later cancelled following public resistance, is highlighted as evidence of the social and ecological limits of infrastructure-led urbanisation.

On the supply side, the study finds that Colombo’s real estate sector is dominated by private developers targeting high- and middle-income buyers, while state-led affordable housing remains limited in scale. As land becomes scarce and expensive in central Colombo, developers have shifted towards suburban belts, resulting in a pattern of horizontal sprawl interspersed with high-rise developments. This has produced fragmented landscapes of condominiums and gated communities interwoven with remnant wetlands and paddy fields.

The report identifies fragmented planning and governance as a central weakness. Multiple city plans, including the Western Region Megapolis Master Plan and various Urban Development Authority development plans, articulate differing visions for Colombo, with limited emphasis on liveability or integrated green space management. Zoning regulations are described as ambiguous, with exemptions for infrastructure projects enabling encroachment into environmentally sensitive zones.

Governance challenges are compounded by overlapping institutional mandates. Within the Thalangama Environmental Protection Area alone, eight Government agencies share responsibility, leading to weak enforcement and regulatory gaps. The Urban Development Authority’s power to rezone land often overrides environmental protections, while legal provisions allowing the conversion of so-called abandoned or low-yielding paddy land have been used to justify reclamation.

Environmental approval processes are also found to be inadequate. Environmental Impact Assessments are required only for large-scale or prescribed projects, allowing many high-density developments to proceed without comprehensive assessments. The cumulative impact of multiple smaller projects is not systematically evaluated, and limited public access to land-use data constrains community oversight.

At the community level, residents in Thalangama and surrounding areas report rising traffic, noise and waste burdens, alongside reduced air quality and heightened flood risk. Rising land prices have also displaced long-term farming families, altering the social fabric of these neighbourhoods. At the same time, the report notes the emergence of community-based environmental activism, with local groups mobilising against environmentally damaging projects.

The study concludes that while developers, regulators and residents hold differing views on Colombo’s future, there is broad agreement on the need for clearer zoning, stronger protection of suburban green spaces and more coherent urban planning. Without reforms to planning, governance and environmental oversight, the report warns that Colombo’s current development trajectory risks undermining the natural systems that underpin the city’s long-term liveability and resilience.

Pakistan will kick off the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup when they meet associate nation the Netherlands at the SSC grounds commencing 11 a.m. today.

Pakistan are only too wary of playing such a kind of opposition as they were beaten in the Super Over by the USA in the last T20 World Cup held in the USA in 2024.

‘Sometimes you haven’t played much against this side, and you don’t really know their weakness and strength,’ said Pakistan Captain Salman Agha. ‘To be honest, the players as well. So, it is very, very important to bring your A game into play. We as a team only think about how we can execute our plans for 40 overs. I thoroughly believe if we can do that, we are a team who can beat any side in the world.’

Although controversy surrounds Pakistan over their refusal to play arch rivals India in their group match, Salman said that they were undeterred about what was happening outside the playing area.

‘When we come to a press conference, more than cricket we are being asked about other things, which I think is not a good thing, because we have come here as a sportsman and we come to talk about cricket and play cricket. So, it is better to stay to that extent only. We as a team and as an individual, try not to let these things affect us, and don’t see or think about these things much. It is better to avoid such things for yourself and for the betterment of your game.’

Pakistan comes into the T20 World Cup with a good track record leading up to the mega event.

‘Our preparation, thanks to God, is very good. We have been playing cricket together for a long time and in the last six months, we have not lost a single series and have won most of the games,’ said Salman. ‘Our preparation is very good, and it is just about how we will execute when the game starts. The way we have been executing from the last six months, if we do the same here, then I fully believe we can win this tournament.’

Although the ICC which is more or less Indian-oriented is making a hue and cry over Pakistan’s refusal to play India, India for their part have acted unsportsmanlike in the recent past against the very team they are eager to play.

There was this widely publicized incident of the Indian captain refusing to shake hands with the Pakistani skipper during the Asia Cup in Dubai last year which Salman described as ‘not good for the game’, and subsequently India declining to accept the Asia Cup from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi because he was a Pakistani.

‘These things obviously should not happen. Growing up as a kid, I’ve always seen people doing what is required for the game to be improved. By doing that, we, to some extent, are role models. If you don’t do that, then kids are going to pick it up and are going to do the same thing. Role models don’t do this kind of stuff.’

Do we want to see a repetition of that farce by playing the India-Pakistan match on 15 February?

Sri Lanka Cricket in a last ditch effort to save the match wrote to the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider the decision and noting a potential financial impact as the match continues to be a top draw in world cricket, but according to The Hindustan Times, the PCB acknowledged the letter and said that it cannot overturn the Government’s decision.

‘It’s something we, as a group, in our circle, don’t really talk about. We don’t really see what’s happening outside in the group. I think that’s the best we can do,’ said Salman. ‘We can avoid all this and just focus on our game. I know Sri Lanka loves us and we love them as well. They’ve always supported us and that’s what we have done as well. When we play against Sri Lanka or any side in Sri Lanka the spectators come in their numbers. There are three other games, they can come and watch. We will try to entertain them and try to win for them.’

The Netherlands opening bat Max O’Dawd playing in his fourth T20 World Cup feels strongly about beating Pakistan if they play at their best.

‘A lot of guys have been putting a lot of work in to be the best they can ever be. I feel like if I look around this group, that’s where we are as players individually. I feel like we’re the best we’ve ever been going into this tournament. So obviously understanding that Pakistan’s a very strong team, we know that if we play at our best, there’s going to be opportunities where we can beat them. We understand it’s going to be difficult because Pakistan are a very good team. So, for us, it’s just to go out there, trust the work that we’ve put in, trust the training that we’ve put in, and go from there.’

Nations that emerged from colonial rule commemorate their Independence in different ways. Some mark it quietly as a national holiday, while others celebrate it with grandeur. Countries such as Sri Lanka, India, and Singapore have consistently chosen the latter path-upholding unbroken traditions since gaining Independence from the British Empire.

At the heart of these celebrations lies a shared purpose: affirming sovereignty, national pride, and Independence. Military parades, cultural displays, religious observances, and the participation of schoolchildren together reflect a nation’s defence strength, cultural depth, and collective achievements. Central to these commemorations is the national address by the Head of State, which lends meaning, authority, and direction to the occasion.

Sri Lanka’s 78th Independence Day celebrations this year followed this long-standing tradition. The ceremony was dignified, simple, and well-attended by the diplomatic community. Notably, unnecessary extravagance was consciously avoided, creating an ambience that reflected restraint, respect, and national maturity. Overall, it was a pleasing and commendable expression of sovereignty.

Before reflecting on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s address, I am reminded of an experience from Singapore. In August 1990, I had the privilege of listening live to the National Day speech of Lee Kuan Yew. He spoke not in slogans, but in clear, practical terms-explaining how Singapore had been built from near nothing into a debt-free, secure, and globally respected nation. He spoke of strong defence, disciplined governance, economic self-reliance, and even future challenges he anticipated decades ahead, along with solutions already in motion.

That speech exemplified leadership rooted in vision, planning, and execution-not rhetoric. India today, under dynamic leadership, offers another example of long-term economic direction, steadily progressing despite immense social challenges.

It is therefore encouraging that Sri Lanka’s newly elected President appears to be positioning himself along a similar trajectory.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Independence Day address marked a clear departure from the confrontational tone often associated with political debate. Speaking as a Head of State rather than as an opposition figure, he delivered a message of unity, economic reconstruction, and national purpose-without hostility or divisiveness.

His emphasis on rebuilding Sri Lanka through unity, strengthening the economy, rejecting racism and extremism, restoring the rule of law, and undertaking transformative education reforms was both reassuring and confidence-building. Importantly, he framed economic development not as a break from our cultural and historical roots, but as a process firmly anchored in them.

The President’s call to prioritise human capital-knowledge, education, discipline, compassion, and modern skills-reflects a realistic understanding of today’s global realities. His insistence that true freedom is incomplete without economic strength is a truth Sri Lanka must now confront honestly.

Equally symbolic was the presence of the Leader of the Opposition at the ceremony, quietly reinforcing the very unity the President appealed for.

This address helped dispel many apprehensions about the President’s future direction. It outlined practicable goals grounded in national and global realities, rather than abstract promises.

What is good, must be acknowledged as good.

On this occasion, the President’s speech deserves appreciation.

We congratulate him-and wish him the resolve to translate words into action.

Geoffrey Bawa Trust and Lunuganga Trust Chairperson Channa Daswatte addresses the launch. Others from left: Environmental Architect and Federation of Environmental Organisations Founder Sunela Jayewardene, Environmentalist and Preserving Land and Nature Chairperson Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne and Economist and Centre for a Smart Future Director Anushka Wijesinha

Initiative to recognise design excellence for ecological coexistence

By Dilrukshi Fernando

The Geoffrey Bawa Trust recently announced the launch of ‘The Geoffrey Bawa Moonamal Award’ – a new national award to recognise excellence in design projects rooted in ecological coexistence. This new award will address the growing gap between design, ecology and the environment, a stark reality which surfaced especially in the devastating aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025.

The name for the award in itself is inspired by nature, from the Moonamla tree at Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa’s garden estate located near Bentota. The tree, an indigenous species, symbolises both the resilience of nature, as a legacy of the site’s original forest cover, and stands as a quiet reminder of the balance, which Bawa sought and reflected in his world-renowned work, between human requirements and the living landscape.

An ecological approach to design

The award marks a strategic and evolutionary shift from conventional architectural recognition in Sri Lanka, towards a broader, interdisciplinary approach that places the environment and ecological regeneration at the centre of design thinking. The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka is a key partner in the initiative, while the Trust is currently in conversation with several other institutional partners who together will support the interdisciplinary vision of ‘The Geoffrey Bawa Moonamal Award’.

‘There’s so much that is left to chance in the way we engage in the environment and the ecologies. We don’t think about it enough because we only think of ourselves. One might think, ‘What can an award do?’ when the enormity of what is going on is so huge. But I feel awards can give attention to people, in terms of where and how you might need to be thinking. And this particular award we are launching today is a new approach to reward it for our attention’, said Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts Chairperson, Channa Daswatte.

Daswatte, himself a renowned architect, acknowledges the bigger crisis looming on the horizon for not just the design fraternity but humanity at large, which is the environmental crisis, accelerated by one of the largest businesses across the world, the construction industry, where architecture plays a pivotal role. ‘It is necessary that we think about ecology and the way we interact with it in a much more profound and much more important way’, he said, further outlining the intent of the award.

Following five cycles of the Geoffrey Bawa Award for outstanding contemporary Sri Lankan architecture, the Trust and its partners are pivoting to a new award that aims to recognise projects which see landscapes as an active participant in the design process, rather than treating nature merely as a backdrop or resource.

‘Sri Lanka always had a history of embracing the environment and living with it. We’ve lost our way a little bit, and hopefully some of these discussions will move the trajectory of the country back in the right direction. and I would like to think that today marks the start where Sri Lanka embraces architecture of the future,’ said Preserving Land and Nature (PLANT) Chairperson and Environmentalist, Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne at the launch of the ‘Moonamal Award’.

Design as a multidisciplinary approach

Since the Industrial Revolution, the human species has been forcing itself into unnatural environments, while making the human species the sole focus of design, and undervaluing ecological systems, said Federation of Environmental Organisations (FEOSL) Founder and Environmental Architect, Sunela Jayewardene, providing a historical context and approach to the award. Ultimately, the solution to foster ecological regeneration is found in the environment itself. ‘It is in renewing our perspective and removing that dated lens and prioritising living ecology.it’s simply clean air and clean water. Everything else in the system falls into place. As designers and developers of new environments, or restorers of damaged environments, we can regenerate what we have destroyed if we begin to place these denominators in all industries,’ Jayawardene said further.

The Geoffrey Bawa ‘Moonamal Award’ aims to spark a new direction in Sri Lankan design by recognising projects that move beyond human-first thinking, repair environmental damage, and support ecological regeneration through collaborative, cross-disciplinary practice, such as social policy and economics.

‘We are moving beyond typical national accounts to consider environmental accounting, ecosystem accounting. A significant shift is underway. Which is why this award comes at a serendipitous moment in Sri Lanka’s own economic journey. In the aftermath of the cyclone (Ditwah) it has become clearer than ever that we need a new relationship with nature, the climate and the economy,’ said Centre for a Smart Future Director and economist, Anushka Wijesinha, highlighting the importance of considering the economic impact on communities and ecological consequences, in designing for the future.

The award will be granted to a project that equally considers human and environmental needs, using a design that is guided by an in-depth social and ecological knowledge of the project site. This rethinking of design depends on breaking professional silos. Projects must engage local communities while drawing on knowledge from across disciplines, from architects and designers to ecologists, environmental scientists, and policymakers. Such collaboration strengthens both the quality of design and the long-term stability of the places it shapes.

Highlights of the Moonamal Award program

According to the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, the Award launch kicks off a series of programming across Sri Lanka to promote the Award’s vision of design for ecological coexistence to potential partners, applicants, and the public. The nominations for the award are set to open in August 2026, along with further details about the prestigious award fellowship that will be on offer. The Award shortlist and winner are expected to be announced in mid-2027.

The award process for the Geoffrey Bawa ‘Moonamal Award’ will be overseen by members of a steering committee, including: Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts Chairperson Channa Daswatte, PLANT Chairperson and Environmentalist Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne, FEOSL Founder and Environmental Architect Sunela Jayewardene, Centre for a Smart Future Director and economist, Anushka Wijesinha, and Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts Living Collections Curator Soham Kacker.

The Colombo stock market ended the week on the up on strong high net worth participation while foreign investors continued to be net sellers with YTD outflows totalling nearly Rs. 12 billion.

The APSI ended up 0.14% or 32.97 points to 23,801.96 and the S and P SL20 was up 0.36% or 23.57 points at 6,626.38. Turnover was nearly Rs. 9.1 billion on over 311 million shares traded. During the week, the ASPI fell 0.04% and the S and P SL20 was down 0.40%.

First Capital Research said foreign investors remained net sellers for the second consecutive week, recording a net outflow of Rs. 2.3 billion during the session The YTD total foreign outflow stood at Rs. 11.8 billion, with net foreign selling at Rs. 23.1Bn and net foreign buying at Rs. 11.3 billion.

The bourse indices showed a modest positive session marked by early volatility and a steadier recovery.

Top positive contributors to the ASPI were ACME, JKH, SAMP, HNB, and KZOO. HNW participation remained strong, with over 41% of the day’s total turnover generated through crossings amounting to Rs. 3.8 billion. Major transactions through crossings were recorded in COMB, amounting to Rs. 2.2 billion, contributing 23.9% of the total turnover.

Retail investors were also actively engaged in trading during the session.

The banking sector led the daily turnover with a share of 33%, followed by the capital goods, and consumer durables and apparel sectors collectively contributing 31%.

NDB Securities said the ASPI closed in green, driven by price gains in counters such as ACME Printing and Packaging, John Keells Holdings and Sampath Bank and crossings were recorded in Commercial Bank, Teejay Lanka and Richard Pieris and Company, accounting for 41.9% of turnover.

Mixed interest was seen in Colombo Dockyard, Ceylon Land and Equity and Sierra Cables, while retail interest was noted in Luminex, Renuka Agri Foods and Asia Siyaka Commodities.

The banking sector was the top contributor to market turnover, driven by Commercial Bank, while the sector index gained 0.47%. The share price of Commercial Bank increased by 50 cents to close at Rs. 225.

The capital goods sector was the second-highest contributor to market turnover, led by Colombo Dockyard and Sierra Cables, while the sector index edged down 0.01%. The share price of Colombo Dockyard rose by Rs. 2.50 to Rs. 154.75, while Sierra Cables gained Rs. 1.60 to close at Rs. 38.10.

Teejay Lanka and Ceylon Land and Equity were also among the top turnover contributors. The share price of Teejay Lanka gained Rs. 1.10 to Rs. 38.40 and Ceylon Land and Equity appreciated by Rs. 1.90 to Rs. 22.50.

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar yesterday reaffirmed India’s commitment to Sri Lanka, describing the country as a ‘true and trusted partner,’ following discussions with a delegation from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

In a message shared on X, Dr. Jaishankar said he held a warm interaction with JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva and his delegation, during which the two sides discussed further strengthening the long-standing ties between India and Sri Lanka.

The discussions also focused on growth opportunities and social welfare initiatives, highlighting shared interests in inclusive development and regional cooperation.

Dr. Jaishankar noted that India has consistently stood by Sri Lanka during times of difficulty, including during the island’s recent economic crisis.

He also referred to India’s support in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, underlining New Delhi’s readiness to assist Sri Lanka during humanitarian emergencies.

‘India will always remain a true and trusted partner for Sri Lanka,’ the External Affairs Minister noted.

The meeting comes amid continued engagement between India and Sri Lanka across political, economic and social sectors, as the country navigates recovery efforts and seeks to strengthen regional partnerships.

Construction of two major road infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic congestion in Kandy formally moved forward yesterday, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presiding over the commencement of the Mahaiyawa underpass and the resumption of the long-stalled Kandy-Gatambe flyover.

Work on the Mahaiyawa underpass, located on the Kandy-Jaffna Road (A009), one of the main access routes into Kandy city, commenced under the patronage of the President. The project, implemented by the Road Development Authority (RDA), is being carried out at a cost of Rs. 699.6 million and is scheduled to be completed within 273 days.

During the event, President Dissanayake inspected the underpass design, held a brief discussion with officials overseeing the project and interacted with members of the public who had gathered at the site.

In addition, construction work on the Kandy-Gatambe flyover, which had been suspended for several years, was officially resumed. The project, which originally commenced in 2021 with loan assistance from the Government of Hungary, was estimated to cost Rs. 14.37 billion.

However, the suspension of Hungarian loan assistance during the recent economic crisis led to a halt in construction. Construction has now recommenced using domestic funds amounting to Rs. 12.27 billion, with authorities planning to complete the project within 22 months.

The flyover is being built along William Gopallawa Mawatha, beginning from the southern bank of the Mahaweli River on Gannoruwa Road and extending over the Gatambe junction and the railway line.

The main flyover will have a total length of 374 metres and will be constructed as a dual-carriageway up to the railway line. An auxiliary flyover from the Peradeniya side will connect to the main structure above the railway line and link with William Gopallawa Mawatha as a three-lane carriageway. This auxiliary flyover will be 172 metres in length and 6.5 metres in width, enabling vehicles travelling from Kandy to Peradeniya to proceed along William Gopallawa Mawatha without delays at the railway crossing. The dual-lane section of the main flyover will have a width of 9.4 metres, while the three-lane section will measure 12.9 metres in width.

President Dissanayake inspected the project plans at the site and engaged in discussions with project officials on the progress and timelines.

Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake, Transport and Highways Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena, Central Province Governor Professor S.B.S. Abeykoon, Kandy District MP Thanura Dissanayake, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatte, along with other public representatives and senior officials of the RDA, were present at both events.

A nation’s future is shaped not only by its economic policies or technological progress, but by the historical consciousness of its people, especially its younger generation. Education is the most powerful means through which a society transmits its collective memory, values, and sense of purpose. Within that process, history occupies a singular and irreplaceable role. It is history that tells a child who they are, where they come from, what their forebears endured, and what responsibilities they inherit as citizens.

For Sri Lanka-a country blessed with a documented, continuous history spanning over 2,500 years-the teaching of national history to school children is not merely an academic exercise. It is a strategic national investment. Yet, alarmingly, despite this unparalleled historical inheritance, there is a perceptible weakening of patriotism, national pride, and collective consciousness among sections of the present generation. This is not without consequence. A generation disconnected from its history is vulnerable to confusion, fragmentation, and external manipulation.

History, therefore, must be taught purposefully, rigorously, and meaningfully in schools-not to glorify the past uncritically, but to draw inspiration, wisdom, and cautionary lessons essential for building a cohesive, resilient, and confident nation.

Why history matters most for school children

Childhood and adolescence are formative periods during which identity, values, and attitudes toward society take shape. If historical awareness is absent at this stage, it is rarely acquired later in depth or spirit. Teaching history to school children instils:

A sense of belonging to something larger than oneself

Respect for sacrifice, freedom, and sovereignty

Moral clarity, drawn from past struggles and choices, and

Critical thinking, by understanding cause and consequence

More importantly, history teaches that the freedoms and institutions children inherit were hard-won, not accidental. When young minds fail to understand this, complacency sets in-and complacency is the precursor to decline.

Lessons from World History: National Consciousness as a Force for Transformation

World history is replete with compelling examples that demonstrate how national consciousness and patriotism, cultivated through shared historical understanding, have been decisive forces in nation-building and national development.

Post-Apartheid South Africa stands as a powerful illustration. The nation’s transition from institutionalised racial division to a democratic state was made possible not merely by political negotiation, but by a deliberate engagement with history-acknowledging injustice, honouring struggle, and forging a collective identity that transcended past divisions.

Similarly, the Indian Independence Movement, led by towering figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, was sustained by a deep awareness of India’s civilisational past and moral traditions. History served as both inspiration and guide, enabling millions to unite across linguistic, religious, and regional differences in pursuit of freedom.

The unification of Germany in the 19th century was driven by a strong sense of shared history, language, and cultural identity. This collective consciousness transformed fragmented states into a unified nation capable of remarkable economic and scientific progress.

In Japan, the Meiji Restoration stands as a landmark example of how historical self-awareness can coexist with modernisation. By drawing strength from traditional values while selectively embracing global knowledge, Japan transformed itself into a modern nation without losing its cultural soul.

In all these cases, history was not treated lightly or marginally. It was consciously used to cultivate patriotism, unity, and a shared national mission. Sri Lanka’s experience is no less deserving of such seriousness.

Sri Lanka’s ancient heritage: A civilisation worth knowing

Sri Lanka’s history is not a footnote in world civilisation; it is a chapter of enduring relevance. From Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa, the island nurtured a civilisation marked by administrative sophistication, ethical governance, and ecological intelligence.

The hydraulic civilisation of Sri Lanka remains one of the most remarkable achievements of the ancient world. Kings such as Dhatusena, builder of the Kala Wewa, understood water not merely as a resource, but as a public trust essential for survival and prosperity. His works laid the foundation for centuries of agricultural stability.

This tradition reached its zenith under King Parakramabahu the Great, whose oft-quoted adage-

‘Let not even a drop of water flow into the ocean without being made useful for the benefit of all on Earth’-

encapsulates a philosophy of sustainable development that modern societies are only now rediscovering. Teaching such history to school children instills pride in indigenous knowledge systems and counters the misplaced notion that wisdom and progress must always come from elsewhere.

Leadership, justice, and moral authority: Lessons from our kings

Sri Lanka’s past also offers enduring lessons in leadership and ethical governance.

King Dutugemunu stands as a symbol of unity, courage, and devotion to the nation. His campaign to reunify the island was not merely a military endeavour, but one deeply rooted in moral responsibility and respect for the Dhamma.

King Elara, though a South Indian ruler, is remembered for his unwavering commitment to justice. His legacy-where even animals were afforded legal redress-demonstrates that Sri Lanka’s historical identity includes respect for fairness, rule of law, and ethical conduct, irrespective of origin.

By learning about such figures, children are exposed to role models of principled leadership, fostering ethical sensibilities vital for future citizens and leaders.

Buddhism and the Ethical Foundations of Society

The arrival of Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE through Arahant Mahinda Thero marked a civilisational transformation. Buddhism shaped Sri Lanka’s approach to governance, education, conflict resolution, and social harmony. It nurtured values of compassion, tolerance, and moderation-qualities essential for a plural society.

History education helps children understand that these values are not abstract ideals, but principles embedded in centuries of lived experience. Without this grounding, moral education risks becoming superficial and disconnected from national identity.

Colonial resistance and the price of freedom

Sri Lanka’s long resistance to colonial domination is a defining chapter of its history. Figures such as Madduma Bandara, Weera Keppetipola, and Wariyapola Sri Sumangala Thero exemplify extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and patriotism in the face of overwhelming power.

Teaching these stories to school children ensures that independence is understood not as a gift, but as an achievement forged through suffering and resolve. A generation ignorant of this struggle risks undervaluing freedom and failing to defend it.

Modern resilience: Terrorism and natural disasters

In more recent history, Sri Lanka faced the grave threat posed by the LTTE, one of the most ruthless terrorist organisations in the world. The eventual defeat of terrorism preserved national unity, democracy, and sovereignty. This chapter, taught responsibly, reinforces the importance of national solidarity and vigilance.

Likewise, the 2004 tsunami revealed the nation’s resilience, social capital, compassion, and collective strength in the face of immense tragedy. By contrast, even highly developed nations have struggled in the face of natural disasters. The response to Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005, despite vast financial and technological resources, was widely criticised for systemic failures, poor coordination, and delays in assisting affected communities. Such lessons are invaluable in shaping emotionally resilient and socially responsible young citizens.

The cost of forgetting history

The absence of historical awareness has far-reaching and potentially disastrous consequences. A society disconnected from its past becomes vulnerable to distorted narratives, erosion of values, and weakening of national cohesion. In a globalised world saturated with external influences, history education acts as a defensive and formative force, enabling young people to engage critically rather than passively.

Conclusion: A call to policymakers, educationists, and teachers

The teaching of history in Sri Lankan schools is no longer optional-it is urgent and indispensable. History shapes identity; identity shapes values; and values shape national destiny. A society that neglects its history risks becoming rootless, fragmented, and vulnerable-no matter how advanced its technology or economy. If we fail to transmit our history meaningfully to the next generation, we risk losing not only our past, but our future.

Therefore, the powers that be-policymakers, educationists, curriculum developers, and teachers— must recognise the dire need to restore history to a central and respected place in general education. This is not about glorifying the past uncritically, but about understanding it honestly, drawing strength from its achievements, learning from its failures, and transmitting its lessons to future generations. If Sri Lanka is to remain a sovereign, cohesive, and resilient nation, its children must know who they are, where they come from, and at what cost their freedoms were secured. Only through a robust and meaningful engagement with history can we foster a deep sense of patriotism, national consciousness, resilience and pride-qualities essential for guarding our sovereignty, preserving our value systems against erosion and corrosion, and building a future worthy of our past.

A child who knows the story of their nation walks taller, thinks deeper, and serves with greater purpose. By teaching history well, we do not imprison young minds in the past-we equip them to build a future worthy of it. History, therefore, must not be relegated to the margins of education. It must be taught, treasured, and transmitted, for in safeguarding our history and the nation itself.