Category: Daily Financial Times

JCB, one of the world’s most trusted and innovative construction and industrial machinery manufacturers, has officially reappointed Senok Group as its Authorized Dealer for the entire JCB product portfolio in Sri Lanka, marking a significant milestone for both organizations.

This strategic reappointment reestablishes a long-standing partnership between JCB and Senok built on trust, technical expertise, and decades of industry leadership. Under this renewed mandate, Senok will represent the complete JCB range in Sri Lanka, including excavators, backhoe loaders, skid steer loaders, telehandlers, compactors, and a wide portfolio of industrial and construction machinery.

With over four decades of experience in Sri Lanka’s construction and heavy machinery sector, Senok has built a reputation for engineering excellence, reliability, and customer-centric service. A key strength of Senok’s capability lies in its industry-leading after-sales infrastructure, which is designed to ensure maximum uptime and long-term value for customers.

Senok’s Henegama Heavy Machinery After-Sales and Maintenance Facility, widely recognized as Sri Lanka’s largest and most advanced machinery service centre, stands as a cornerstone of the Group’s after-sales excellence. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology, specialized overhaul and rebuild bays, and a highly trained engineering workforce, offering large-scale repair and maintenance capabilities.

Complementing this is Senok’s centralized spare parts hub at Grandpass, one of the country’s most comprehensive machinery spare parts outlets. Backed by modern inventory systems, digital tracking, and fast-moving logistics, the Grandpass facility ensures higher spare parts availability and improved response times, minimizing downtime for customers across the island.

In addition, Senok operates an islandwide service network, supported by strategically located service centres and mobile service units, enabling prompt on-site support for JCB customers operating in construction, infrastructure, agriculture, logistics, and industrial sectors throughout Sri Lanka.

This renewed partnership also strengthens Senok’s global credentials, as the Group continues to serve as the Authorized JCB Reseller in the Maldives and Ghana, demonstrating its ability to manage international markets while maintaining global service standards.

Speaking on the reappointment, a representative from Senok Group stated:

‘We are proud to be reestablished as the Authorized Dealer for JCB’s complete range in Sri Lanka. JCB is a world-leading brand with an unmatched global heritage, and this partnership strongly aligns with Senok’s commitment to delivering dependable machinery solutions supported by world-class after-sales care. With our Henegama facility, Grandpass spare parts hub, and islandwide service readiness, we are fully prepared to support JCB customers at every stage of their ownership journey.’

With the full JCB portfolio now available through Senok’s nationwide network, customers will benefit from a seamless ownership experience-combining access to the complete machinery lineup, strong technical support, assured spare parts availability, competitive financing options through Senok’s financial partnerships, and enhanced customer engagement through digital platforms, CRM systems, and product education programmes.

This appointment further reinforces JCB’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s development, supporting critical sectors such as infrastructure, construction, logistics, agriculture, and industrial operations. Senok’s proven after-sales strength and operational readiness ensure that JCB customers in Sri Lanka receive service quality aligned with global benchmarks.

Senok is one of Sri Lanka’s most diversified and respected conglomerates, operating across automotive, construction machinery, EV mobility, heavy equipment, aviation, renewable energy, manufacturing, and engineering services. With over 40 years of industry leadership, Senok continues to deliver premium global brands supported by unmatched after-sales excellence. Senok is also the Authorized JCB Reseller in the Maldives and Ghana.

JCB is a globally renowned manufacturer of construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery, operating in over 150 countries worldwide. Known for innovation, reliability, and engineering excellence, JCB equipment plays a vital role in shaping infrastructure and development across the globe.

The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) has pledged full support for the Export Development Board’s (EDB) plans for the year ahead at its first council meeting for 2026.

The meeting brought together export sector representatives for a focused discussion on priorities, sector concerns including labour shortages, market access, and post-disaster challenges, and collaboration with the EDB.

Sri Lanka’s export sector continued its positive growth momentum in 2025, recording a notable growth of 5.6 % and total export earnings reached $ 17.25 billion in 2025.

Addressing the council as a special invitee, EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe, outlined the export direction for the year ahead.

‘To sustain the momentum of growth, the EDB, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has finalised the National Export Development Plan 2025-2029. This is not a simple policy document, but a strategic blueprint for the next few years of our economic life. It is designed to achieve three core objectives: enhancing our trade competitiveness, expanding our reach into global and regional markets and promoting sustainable trade net growth,’ he added.

He also spoke on efforts related to market and product expansion, progress on digitalisation and the National Single Window, as well as plans for the upcoming Sri Lanka Expo, which is to take place after over a decade of inaction. The Sri Lanka Expo, he said, is expected to support export promotion while increasing the exporter base and supporting existing exporters. He also outlined plans to expand exporter development at the regional level through designated district officers.

‘We are hoping to organise more events this year. Our SME sector contribution is still very low. From the total export value, their contribution is below 7- 8%. In order to reach the global standard of 25%, we must increase the number of exporters. Therefore, we request your support. Bring good buyers, good investors to Sri Lanka,’ Wijesinghe said.

NCE President Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa welcomed the initiatives outlined and reaffirmed the NCE’s full support for the EDB’s plans. He acknowledged progress related to FTAs, the National Export Development Plan, and digital trade facilitation, and said the Chamber is ready to work closely with the EDB in the period ahead.

‘I assure you of the support and cooperation of the NCE,’ he said. He reassured that the NCE will take a key role in the activities planned ahead, especially the Sri Lanka Expo and other export initiatives.

Rajapaksa also noted that the NCE’s Aspiring Exporters concept aligns closely with the EDB’s District-level outreach and confirmed the Chamber’s willingness to work closely with district officers to strengthen exporter development at the regional level.

Furthermore, during the council discussion, members raised a range of shared sector concerns. Labour shortages emerged as one of the most prominent issues, with broad consensus among members that workforce constraints are affecting multiple export sectors. Participants noted that addressing labour availability and skills gaps is essential if export targets are to be achieved, especially in the context of an ageing workforce.

Members also discussed the need for sufficient funding to support the export development strategy and the importance of early communication on initiatives such as trade fairs and exhibitions, allowing exporters adequate time to prepare.

On FTAs, members noted that the industry usually received information at later stages and urged for earlier involvement. The importance of structured training for emerging exporters was also raised, given changes in global trade practices and market requirements.

Several sector-specific issues were also discussed. The horticulture sector raised concerns regarding permit requirements imposed by the Department of Forest Conservation, describing them as administrative challenges. The logistics sector highlighted the urgent need for the National Single Window, noting its importance for trade facilitation and benchmarking against other countries. Representatives from the mineral sector highlighted the importance of prioritising consulting industry practitioners, especially on matters related to value addition. Members repeatedly raised concerns about the long-term impact of exporting labour and the need for workforce development to support export growth.

Additional concerns included limited foreign direct investment, exposure to international markets, and the need to adapt more quickly to changes in global trade, technology and financial systems.

The meeting saw the participation of representatives from 34 of the 40 sectors within the NCE membership, reflecting broad engagement across the export community.

It concluded with the NCE presenting an overview of its current and planned programs to the EDB Chairman, followed by the presentation of NCE certificates to aspiring exporters in recognition of their participation.

The National Sales Average (NSA) of tea declined in January 2026 on both a month-on-month (M-o-M) and year-on-year (YoY) basis, according to Forbes and Walker Research.

The NSA for the month stood at Rs. 1,164.54 ($ 3.76), down Rs. 37.04 and $ 0.13 from December 2025, when the average was Rs. 1,201.58 ($ 3.89). Compared with January 2025, when the NSA averaged Rs. 1,185.43 ($ 4), the January 2026 figure represents a decline of Rs. 20.89 and $ 0.24.

High Grown teas averaged Rs. 1,143.12 ($ 3.69) in January, recording a M-o-M decline of Rs. 35.13 and $ 0.12. On a YoY basis, however, High Growns posted a rupee gain of Rs. 37.46, while the dollar average slipped by $ 0.04.

Medium Grown teas averaged Rs. 987.40 ($ 3.19), marking a sharper M-o-M decline of Rs. 61.49 and $ 0.20 from December 2025. Compared with January 2025, Medium Growns recorded a decrease of Rs. 50.65 and $ 0.31.

Low Grown teas averaged Rs. 1,221.63 ($ 3.95), down Rs. 36.62 and $ 0.12 M-o-M. On a YoY basis, Low Growns declined by Rs. 33.97 and $ 0.29.

Forbes and Walker Research noted that in dollar terms, all elevations recorded negative variances compared with the corresponding month of the previous year, reflecting continued pressure on realised prices despite mixed movements in rupee terms.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the Renewable Energy Resources Development Plan 2025-2030, aiming to generate 70% of Sri Lanka’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with the National Policy on Renewable Energy.

After a poor display in the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand, Sanju Samson has lost his opening slot again, this time to in-form Ishan Kishan. India played a 5-match T20I series against the Kiwis in which Samson could reach double-figures just once.

Kishan on the other hand proved his mettle with a century and some breath-taking knocks in the series.

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, India sent Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma to open the innings against South Africa in the warm-up match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday (4).

‘Going to bat first. I’ve heard there might be dew later on, so we want to challenge our bowlers. Want to test ourselves tonight. Definitely Ishan and Abhishek (to open). When you play the sport, it comes with a lot of responsibility. Pressure is always there. But at the same time, there’s so many people coming out to support you. Gives you an extra advantage. Just want to follow what we’ve been doing in the last one and a half years. Continue those good habits,’ said Suryakumar Yadav after winning the toss.

With Tilak Varma available for the World Cup, Samson looks set to warm the bench in India’s title defence.

Varma, who had proved his fitness and preparedness for the T20 World Cup after an injury lay-off in the previous outing for India A here two nights ago, was cleaned up by Marco Jansen after he had raced to 45 off only 19 balls with three sixes and as many fours.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav (30 off 16 balls; 2 fours, 2 sixes) also looked to maximise his time in the middle even though his trademark leg-side flicks did not always come out well. Suryakumar also enjoyed a lifeline when he was dropped on 18.

In a pioneering move for Sri Lanka’s corporate sector, Solutions Ground Ltd., and PR Wire Ltd., have launched the country’s first structured Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability outsourcing collaboration. Through this particular partnership, companies can assign a specialised, expert-led joint team to handle every aspect of their CSR strategy, from high-level planning to on-the-ground implementation, monitoring, and communications.

Businesses’ growing demand to professionalise their CSR and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives is addressed by the new model. In addition to using awareness to convey impact, corporate leaders can now make sure that their social responsibility initiatives are strategically aligned, successfully executed, and transparently reported.

The partnership combines PR Wire’s proven strengths in corporate communications and media relations with Solutions Ground’s extensive sustainability and ESG expertise. Together, they provide companies with an all-encompassing solution that includes customised strategic CSR and ESG advice, on-site project supervision and community development organisation partner management, ongoing monitoring and assessment, the creation of annual CSR impact reports, and high-profile media storytelling to highlight corporate initiatives.

Solutions Ground Founder/CEO Lakshan Madurasinghe said: ‘Through this collaboration, PR Wire and Solutions Ground are bringing together for the first time ever in Sri Lanka – CSR outsourcing, which is practical, end-to-end solution that is changing how companies – especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – approach giving back to the community and our nation. By combining strong execution capability with credible communication expertise, companies are able to significantly reduce the internal manpower required for CSR while directing their budgets more efficiently towards programs that create meaningful and lasting impact. With the required strategic focus and structure in place, giving back can now be done better, more responsibly and more effectively than ever before.’

Through this partnership, Sri Lankan businesses will be able to completely outsource their CSR operations to a specialised joint team for the first time. Beyond practicality, this approach guarantees that CSR initiatives are both strategically significant and compliant, adding genuine value to communities while strengthening corporate reputations.

Wire Group Chairperson Ashan Kumar said: ‘This collaboration represents a major step forward for Sri Lankan businesses seeking structured, professional CSR management. Many companies find it difficult to balance CSR programs with their primary business operations as demands for ESG, transparency, and measurable effects continue to rise. Through this collaboration, we are providing organisations with a unified, structured approach that integrates strategic thinking, practical implementation, meticulous oversight, and reliable narrative. It enables businesses to confidently concentrate on expansion, knowing that their social responsibility commitments are being handled professionally, legally, and with real, measurable impacts.’

This collaboration represents a timely and revolutionary development for Sri Lanka’s private sector, since sustainability, accountability, and impact are now crucial factors in corporate decision-making. Solutions Ground and PR Wire are establishing a new standard for how businesses may provide significant social impact while enhancing trust, transparency, and long-term value for all stakeholders by providing a structured, expert-led approach to CSR and ESG management.

Sri Lanka’s sales sector one of the country’s largest employment generators, has long faced a structural challenge: while demand for sales talent continues to grow across industries, the profession itself lacks formal training pathways, consistent standards, and clear career progression. In a move aimed at addressing this gap, the Colombo Institute of Sales and Distribution (CISD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with XpressJobs, one of Sri Lanka’s leading recruitment technology platforms. The partnership seeks to better align structured education with employability outcomes, particularly in sales and commercial career tracks.

A Persistent Skills Gap

Sales roles span sectors such as FMCG, banking, technology, healthcare, logistics, and exports. Yet many professionals enter these roles without formal grounding in areas such as buyer behaviour, negotiation, ethical selling, data-driven decision-making, or long-term account management. Industry observers note that this has contributed to high attrition rates, inconsistent performance standards, and limited leadership pipelines within sales teams. Despite its economic importance, sales is often viewed as a short-term job rather than a long-term profession.

Why CISD Was Established

CISD was founded to address this exact issue: the absence of structured, professional sales education in Sri Lanka. The institute’s mandate is to position sales as a recognised professional discipline, comparable to fields such as finance or information technology, supported by formal education, ethical frameworks, and defined progression routes. By combining academic structure with industry relevance, CISD aims to ensure that sales professionals are trained not only to perform, but to build sustainable careers.

Supporting New Entrants and Experienced Professionals

A key focus of CISD’s model is its dual approach. For school leavers and early-career entrants, CISD provides structured programmes that allow young people to enter sales intentionally, with foundational skills, professional discipline, and employability readiness, rather than learning informally on the job. For those already working in sales and commercial roles, the institute focuses on upskilling and career advancement. This includes developing advanced sales capability, leadership skills, digital and data competence, and ethical decision-making, skills increasingly required in competitive markets.

Linking Education to Employment

As part of this MoU, CISD is able to integrate live sales vacancies from XpressJobs directly onto its platform through an integrated job feed. This ensures that sales opportunities across hard-core, field, and corporate sales are accessible to individuals from diverse backgrounds and experience levels, from all regions across the island. Through the MoU, CISD learners gain direct access to employer networks, job readiness support, and structured career pathways, while employers benefit from a pipeline of sales talent trained to professional standards and modern sales practices. XpressJobs contributes its recruitment technology and nationwide reach, ensuring that skills development is directly connected to real employment opportunities. Commenting on the partnership, Chathura Kotagama, Co-Founder and CEO of CISD, said the initiative was about redefining how sales careers are built in Sri Lanka. ‘Sales plays a critical role in every sector of the economy, yet it has lacked structured professional pathways for decades. CISD was established to change that. This partnership helps connect education with opportunity, ensuring both young entrants and experienced professionals can progress with confidence,’ he said. Dr. Oshadie Korale, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of XpressJobs, noted the importance of closer collaboration between education and employment platforms. ‘Our data consistently shows a clear gap in sales talent, hard-core, field, and corporate sales. Instead of waiting for candidates to come to us, we actively take opportunities to find them. That’s why partnering with CISD made sense. Their practical, hands-on approach to building job-ready sales professionals aligns perfectly with how we bridge real market gaps’

A Broader Workforce Impact

As Sri Lanka seeks to strengthen productivity, youth employment, and professional standards, initiatives that connect education providers with industry platforms are gaining importance. The CISD-XpressJobs partnership reflects a broader shift towards skills-to-jobs alignment, where training is directly linked to employability and long-term career growth, particularly in high-demand sectors such as sales.

LANKATILES, has announced the grand opening of its 58th showroom and second in the Galle located at No. 145, Matara Road, Pettigala Watta, Galle. This latest addition marks a significant milestone in LANKATILES’ continued journey of design excellence, innovation, and trusted service built over more than five decades.

Inspired by the heritage charm and timeless architecture of Galle, a UNESCO-valued destination renowned for its cultural tapestry and historic streets, the new showroom blends local architectural heritage with contemporary living needs, truly ‘creating spaces that you’d love to live in’.

LANKATILES Managing Director Priyantha Talwatte said, ‘Galle’s unique character shaped by centuries of history, art and human ingenuity resonates deeply with LANKATILES’ ethos of design integrity and aesthetic depth. We’re delighted to bring our design leadership and trusted product portfolio closer to the Southern market, supporting both residential aspirations and the burgeoning tourism-led growth across the region.’

Built on more than five decades of trust and excellence, LANKATILES continues to set the benchmark in tile design superiority while delivering solutions that uplift spaces with beauty and performance. The new showroom features standout products including the Majestica large-format tile collections and Mosaics, ideal for modern living spaces, luxury tourism projects, boutique hotels, and heritage restorations that demand both quality and visual impact.

As Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continues to grow, strategic destinations such as Galle play a vital role in LANKATILES’ long-term expansion strategy. The company aims to strengthen its presence in the Southern market through enhanced accessibility, tailored solutions, and meaningful collaboration with industry stakeholders.

‘We recognise the indispensable role of architects, designers, contractors, and tilers in shaping inspiring spaces,’ added Talwatte. ‘We look forward to deepening partnerships across the region celebrating creativity that transforms environments and enriches everyday living.’

The new showroom is operated by Franchise Owner Yasith Ranu Karunasekara, a Southern Province-based entrepreneur with a keen appreciation for design-driven business and customer-centric service. His local expertise and commitment to quality align strongly with the LANKATILES brand promise.

‘This showroom is more than a retail space, it’s a destination where imagination meets craftsmanship,’ said Karunasekara. ‘We’re excited to support local homeowners, hospitality developers, and professionals in redefining spaces across the Southern region.’

The LANKATILES Galle showroom officially opened on January 28, 2026, welcoming customers and industry professionals to experience the brand’s curated collections, design expertise, and innovative tile solutions.

People’s Bank celebrated Sri Lanka’s 78th National Independence Day with a modest ceremony held at its ‘People’s Tower’ Head Office, Colombo 02, under the patronage of its Chairman Prof. Narada Fernando and Chief Executive Officer/General Manager Clive Fonseka.

People’s Bank’s ‘Birth of Freedom’ program, which commences every Independence Day, was carried out this year as well. Under this initiative, People’s Bank gifts a Rs. 2,000/- ‘Isuru Udana’ Gift Certificate to every baby born between 1-14 February.

People’s Bank introduced the Isuru Udana Account in 1998 and launched this program in 2006 with the aim of instilling national pride and encouraging parents to plan for their children’s future. Parents or guardians can open an ‘Isuru Udana’ Children’s Savings Account at any People’s Bank branch using the gift certificate along with the child’s birth certificate. A unique aspect of this program is that People’s Bank staff personally visit hospitals to present the certificates to newborns.

Chairman, Prof. Narada Fernando symbolically presented ‘Isuru Udana’ gift vouchers and other gifts at the Castle Street Hospital for Women and the De Soysa Hospital for Women in Borella.

The Director of the Castle Street Hospital for Women and De Soysa Hospital for Women in Borella Dr. Ajith Danthanarayana, along with hospital staff, corporate and executive management of People’s Bank, and staff members from the Colombo North and South Regions, were also present at the event. In line with this initiative, all People’s Bank branches across the country launched ‘Birth of Freedom’ activities island-wide.

MEGALOMANIAC Donald Trump virtually hijacked the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos which was meant to discuss global economic and social issues, to advertise his Board of Peace (BOP) charter, which in essence provides pseudo-legitimacy to illegal occupations of foreign lands beginning with Gaza. It is aimed at legitimising his proposed colonial administration over Gaza in the name of rebuilding it. Jonathan Cook, the author of three books on the Israel-Palestine issue, aptly described it as a ‘nail in Gaza’s coffin’. But more broadly, Amnesty International views that charter as a ‘brazen disregard of international law and human rights and . represents a stark new manifestation of the escalating assault on UN mechanisms, international juridical institutions and universal norms’. Trump’s US, having withdrawn already from sixty international organisations including thirty-one UN entities and having made the UN an ineffective world organisation, is now trying to supplant it with the BOP and not supplement, as he claims. And Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, was spot on when he remarked that BOP marks the ‘death of a rule-based world order’.

Although BOP is particularly meant for Gaza, nowhere in that document does the name Gaza or Palestine appear, which perhaps may be the reason why the Times of Israel was happy to publish that document in full. Trump has invited nearly fifty countries to join and so far, thirty-five including Turkey, Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Bahrain have joined. Since there is a fee of one billion dollars for permanent membership of this Board, there is no doubt it will end as a billionaire’s club. But to serve whose interests?

Rebuilding colonial Gaza

Rebuilding Gaza after more than two years of genocide and destruction heralds the second phase of Trump’s one-sided ceasefire. Israel continues to kill Gazans and has extended the killings into Occupied West Bank also. Israel still occupies more than 50 percent of Gaza’s territory. Neither Trump nor those eight Muslim signatories to the ceasefire have said a word of protest about these breaches.

Israel has destroyed seventy years of human development in Gaza in just over two years and almost 2.1 million Gazans have been left homeless. UNDP expects it could take at least seven years to clean up the 60 million tonnes of rubble left by that destruction before any reconstruction begins. But Trump seems to think the task of rebuilding Gaza will be completed miraculously in five years. Even so who is going to pay for the reconstruction? Certainly not Israel, the destroyer, and not even those who backed Israel. Instead, it is Gaza that will be forced to foot the bill by selling its natural assets, oil and gas.

According to an UNCTAD study of 2019, area C of the West Bank and the Mediterranean coast of the Gaza Strip have a wealth of 122 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 1.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil worth around $524 billion. The Palestinians were denied the right to profit from their own assets because of their political dependency. It was to exploit this asset commercially and profit from it that in 2015, Trump engineered his infamous Abraham Accord and got Israel, Bahrain, UAE, Morocco and Sudan to join. Before he could enlarge the membership of this company to include Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others he lost his presidency. He would now be resuming this enterprise with a vengeance under his colonial administration of Gaza. The committee of technocratic experts and the Executive Board would be entrusted with the task of commercialising Gaza’s natural assets in the name of reconstruction. But for whose benefit?

Realising the Riviera dream

Even before the ceasefire Trump was planning to evacuate the Palestinians and settle them in neighbouring countries like Egypt and Jordan so that Gaza could be rebuilt into a Middle Eastern Riviera. Egypt and Jordan came out with an alternative plan without evacuation and took their plan to the Arab League, and that was the end of it. That plan is now dusting in their archives. Now, having joined Trump’s BOP, these leaders have no alternative but to go along with Trump. The reconstructed Gaza would be a paradise for Zionist and pro-Israeli entrepreneurs and holidaymakers from all over the Global North and even from Arab and Muslim countries. Article 6 of chapter VI of BOP states that members of the Executive Board ‘shall have such legal capacity as may be necessary for the pursuit of their mission (including but not limited to) the capacity to enter into contracts, acquire and dispose of immovable and movable property’ in the interest of Gaza’s renovation. Whose property would be acquired and who would enjoy it? Certainly not Gazans. They would be given a choice either to emigrate or live in ghettos as the Jews were once forced to live in antisemitic Europe. To accommodate those Gazan expatriates there are thirty-five or more member countries in Trump’s BOP. They would be enticed to accept them. Naomi Klein’s quote from her book cited that the above captures the essence of what is going to happen in Gaza under Trump’s colonial administration.

Iran the enemy

One of the key arguments in Klein’s Shock Doctrine is that political and entrepreneurial elites under Disaster Capitalism need to create an atmosphere of common fear or trauma among the public to make radical solutions to issues arising from within the system acceptable and which would otherwise face public resistance. This is exactly what Donald Trump, and his companions are trying to achieve in the Middle East. Their plan to take over the governance of Gaza from Hamas is a radical solution amidst Israel’s bloody campaign to acquire Gaza and eventually the entire Palestine in the interest of Eretz Israel. But to make Trump’s solution acceptable Iran’s commitment to an independent state of Palestine and the support for Hamas and other armed resistance groups need to be portrayed as a mortal threat to Middle East peace. It is this portrayal which is underway now by means of Global North’s corporate media propaganda.

Iran like every other country has its own domestic issues. Currently the rising cost of living and depreciating Iranian currency against US dollar has increased inflationary pressures causing widespread public discontent and protest marches. But Iran’s enemies of whom US and Israel in particular, had been instrumental in turning those marches into open riots through mercenary elements which naturally prompted a harsh response from Iranian police and security forces. Western media without any credible evidence has reported that 30, 000 had been killed so far and that the situation demands a regime change. Trump had sent his invincible armada and aircraft carriers in preparation for an attack. In the meantime, the son of the former Shah is getting ready to be installed as the new Iranian monarch. Lately, EU has declared Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist outfit and very soon US may declare Iran itself a terrorist state. Iran in response has declared that it would fight to the end if US tried to attack the country.

Although certain factions in Hamas had declared their willingness to hand over Gaza governance to an international body, which might have prompted Trump to give credit to Hamas as the ‘main actor’ in the handover of Israeli captives, there are other factions that are willing to carry on with the armed struggle. Turkey is now willing to organize a teleconference between Trump and Iran mediate between Iran and US for a peaceful deal. But behind the scenes, all this are part of a grand drama to create public fear in the Middle East to make Trump’s Gaza plan appear to be the most preferable solution. Naomi Kein’s Shock Doctrine is well and truly in action.

The end game

As David Hearst commented in Middle East Eye, ‘Iran’s battle for survival is the Arab world’s fight too’. That is true. But the Arabs are historically famed for their disunity as Tim Mackintosh Smith illustrates in his book, Arabs: 3000-Year History of Peoples, Tribes and Empires (2024). It was their disunity that made them lose the 1948 Palestine war as Ilan Pappe illustrated in his Shortest History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict (2024) and led to the current situation. Even now it is their desertion of Iran and joining Trump’s BOP to support his colonial experiment in Gaza that will eventually allow Gaza to become part of Greater Israel. If Iran is weakened militarily, Israel’s expansionism in the Middle East will be unstoppable. No amount of friendship with America and the Western powers will be enough to protect the oil rich Arab nations if Israel decides to attack. Qatar was bombed last year in broad daylight with the full knowledge of Donald Trump. Realpolitik compels the Arab and Muslim world to sacrifice Palestine.