Category: Daily Financial Times

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) welcomed a timely contribution of $ 500,000 from the Government of the Republic of Korea to deliver, urgent lifesaving cash assistance to families whose lives and livelihoods were devastated by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.

This timely support strengthens the Government of Sri Lanka’s ongoing response and will enable WFP to deliver urgently needed cash transfers to nearly 32,000 people (8,000 households) whose livelihoods, incomes and access to markets have been severely disrupted.

WFP will deliver the cash assistance through established financial service providers using a secure transfer system that ensures assistance reaches people quickly, safely, and transparently. The emergency cash transfers, will allow affected families to purchase food and essential items locally, allowing them to make their own choices, maintain dignity, and meet their most urgent needs during this critical period.

‘This support comes at a crucial moment for families who have lost income, food stocks and stability overnight,’ said WFP Country Director a.i. in Sri Lanka Robert Olive. ‘The Republic of Korea’s contribution enables WFP to act fast-helping families put food on the table while standing in solidarity with the Government of Sri Lanka to reach those most at risk.’

Under the Korea-funded program, WFP’s assistance is aligned with national benchmarks for the cost of a basic diet. Each household will receive cash, to cover the cost for a family of four. This support will help families cover urgent food needs as they begin to recover.

‘I extend my deepest condolences to the affected families who have lost their loved ones so unexpectedly. I am confident that the country will once again find resilience and strength to stand firm during this challenging time just like in the past’, said Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka Miyon Lee. She also expressed her sincere appreciation to the World Food Program (WFP), a long-standing partner of Korea in Sri Lanka, for serving as the implementing partner.

WFP extends its sincere appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Korea for its steadfast support to the people of Sri Lanka.

Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka’s Test captain is all set to return to T20 International cricket after a gap of 18 months when the three-match series against Pakistan played for the Rhino Roofing Cup opens at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium at 7 p.m. today.

Sri Lanka’s top and middle order failure to deliver has forced the national cricket selectors to bring back De Silva who will bat at no. 4 displacing Kusal Perera who has been rested as a precautionary measure after being hit on the hand during practice. The advantage that De Silva brings to the table is that he can also bowl spin and be used for the full quota of four overs, thereby solving Sri Lanka’s perennial issue of whether to play a 7-4 or 6-5 combination. With De Silva they can opt for 7 batters with him playing the role of fifth bowler.

‘He is a player who can steady an innings. He has done it across all formats,’ said Dasun Shanaka who has returned to captain his country in another T20 World Cup. ‘The thing is that DDS walks out mostly when the pressure is on and when it is difficult to hit boundaries. He has changed a few things with his batting. Importantly, he can contribute with the ball. It is a vital thing when it comes to T20I cricket to have those options. DDS has changed his game plan which is good. He is a good package for T20 cricket. The biggest positive is he has changed his batting style to suit T20I cricket which is an advantage for us.’

Returning to the side also is former T20I captain Charith Asalanka who missed the Pakistan T20 Tri-Series and returned home due to illness.

Sri Lanka’s 11 for today: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara.

In the event of the game being reduced to less than 20 overs Sri Lanka have the option of replacing Liyanage with fast bowler Eshan Malinga.

For the series Sri Lanka has picked a squad of 18 players that includes one uncapped player – 21-year-old off-spinner Traveen Mathew.

Dambulla is usually renowned as a dry zone but this time of the year it is the rainy season here.

‘We don’t want to do too many changes. In home conditions we have put together a combination that has worked for us. We need to put suitable players in those positions. It is important that we make most of the home conditions. We wanted good wickets for this series. Not sure how the weather will affect them. We have an idea of the pitches and we need to play well taking conditions into consideration. By the time the England series comes up, we want to have a clear idea who will feature in our side for the World Cup,’ said Shanaka.

In preparation for the series Sri Lanka played warm-up matches at the R Premadasa Stadium and at Dambulla.

‘We tried a few different things during those trial games. We know that from over number six to over number 15 we were not happy with our strike rate and that is something we’ve worked on. We have a lot of experience. These players have matured as they have played together since 2020 under my captaincy. I like to have a stable team. But there are occasions when players are out of form, you need to look at other options. It happened to me as well. Then you have to go back to HPC (High Performance Centre), work on your game and make a comeback. I don’t think we have been unfair to any player. We are searching for the best squad.’

For Pakistan the series is their final preparation before the T20 World Cup where they will play all their matches in Sri Lanka.

‘This series will help us understand the conditions more. We are very familiar with Sri Lanka as we travel here often. Anyway, playing a series before the World Cup is good for us,’ said Pakistan captain Salman Agha at the pre-match press conference.

Pakistan are without some of their experienced cricketers who are currently playing in the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia – Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali. However, apart from wicket-keeper/bat Khawaja Nafay and spin all-rounder Shadab Khan the rest of the squad were part of the recently concluded T20 Tri-Series in Pakistan between Sri Lanka and Simbabwe. Pakistan won the final beating Sri Lanka by six wickets.

‘They are mega stars and have done well for us. We will miss them no doubt. We are trying some new players. Hopefully they will come good,’ said Agha.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his 2026 New Year message stated, ‘We can collectively recreate a country far better than the one we inherited.’ It is a powerful and hopeful statement, one that resonates deeply with a nation repeatedly tested by economic collapse, governance failures, and now yet another natural disaster.

The real question is not whether we can rebuild Sri Lanka better. The question is whether we are learning from past mistakes and rebuilding in the right way, or whether we are once again mistaking speed for progress.

The recent devastation caused by the Ditwah cyclone offers a critical test of our national maturity, institutional discipline, and commitment to long-term resilience.

In the immediate aftermath of any disaster, speed is essential. Roads must reopen, communities must reconnect, and economic activity must resume. However, urgency should never replace accountability.

Following the cyclone, several upcountry roads were badly damaged or completely washed away due to landslides and uncontrolled runoff from hill areas. Reports even indicated that soil displacement from the hill country travelled as far as Kotmale, highlighting the scale and seriousness of the environmental impact.

Yet, within weeks, we began hearing official statements that:

Road networks have been restored

Transport is now possible

Major connectivity has been re-established

These announcements may reassure the public but they raise an uncomfortable and necessary question: Have these roads been rebuilt to withstand the next disaster?

Are we rebuilding to any recognised standard?

Reconstruction is not merely about putting asphalt back on washed-out land. It requires:

Proper geotechnical assessments

Slope stabilisation and drainage design

Compliance with engineering and safety standards

Independent quality audits

Have the newly repaired roads:

Been designed according to international or nationally accepted engineering standards?

Undergone quality checks during construction?

Been audited after completion?

Been assessed for future rainfall and climate-related risks?

If heavier rains arrive next year or even next month are these roads safe for public use? Without transparent answers, declarations of ‘completion’ are premature and potentially dangerous.

Fast work and quality assurance: A dangerous trade-off

Sri Lanka has a long and painful history of confusing quick fixes with permanent solutions.

We have seen:

Roads repaired repeatedly at the same locations

Flood bunds breach year after year

Public infrastructure collapse within months of completion

In many cases, the root cause was not lack of funding but lack of responsibility for quality.

Global case studies: Lessons we must embrace

Japan: Strict standards and continuous audits

Japan’s resilience to earthquakes and typhoons is not an accident; it is the result of strict building codes, robust inspection systems, and a culture of institutional learning. In the 2024 earthquakes, infrastructure built to resilient standards suffered proportionately fewer losses, illustrating the value of compliance and quality enforcement. **

These standards are complemented by continuous audits, community awareness, and integration of cutting-edge engineering into public works.

Bangladesh: National codes and resilient design

Bangladesh, highly vulnerable to cyclones and flooding, has developed a National Building Code (BNBC) that governs construction safety and environmental resilience. Such codes, when enforced with discipline and transparency, reduce risk and protect citizens.*

Sri Lanka must adopt and enforce similarly robust codes for road, bridge, and public infrastructure reconstruction, especially in hazard-prone regions.

Pakistan and Zimbabwe: Build back better in practice

In post-earthquake reconstruction after the 2005 Pakistan quake and the Cyclone Idai floods in Zimbabwe, the BBB approach guided reconstruction to include stronger infrastructure and community capacity building. Studies show that reconstruction that focuses merely on restoring pre-disaster conditions leaves communities vulnerable to future shocks; higher standards and social inclusion directly contribute to resilience.

The current reconstruction effort involves a mix of: Armed forces; Government agencies; Provincial authorities; Private contractors and Volunteer and donor-supported initiatives.

While this collective effort is commendable, it creates a serious governance gap:

Who is ultimately responsible for certifying final quality and safety?

When everyone is involved, but no one is clearly accountable, the risk of failure multiplies.

Lessons from our own history

Sri Lanka does not need to look abroad for lessons, we have lived them ourselves.

After past floods and landslides, hastily repaired infrastructure often failed again within a few monsoons.

Poorly designed roads in hill country areas have contributed to repeated landslides due to blocked natural water flows.

In several major public infrastructure projects, post-construction audits were either delayed, ignored, or never conducted.

The result has always been the same:

Loss of public money

Loss of public trust

Loss of lives

History consistently proves one truth: When no one is responsible for quality, disaster is only postponed and not prevented.

Are we creating the conditions for the next disaster?

Climate change ensures that extreme weather events will become more frequent and more intense. This means that rebuilding to old standards or no standards at all is no longer acceptable.

If roads are rebuilt without:

Proper slope protection

Scientific drainage planning

Environmental impact consideration

Independent certification

Then we are not rebuilding, we are preparing the ground for the next collapse. Worse, we may be doing so with public applause, believing that speed equals success.

Recreating a better country: What must change

If we truly want to ‘recreate a country far better than the one we inherited,’ rebuilding must be guided by:

Systematic planning, not ad-hoc decisions

Independent technical audits

Clear assignment of responsibility

Transparency in reporting standards and safety

Long-term resilience, not short-term optics

A better country is not one that rebuilds fastest but one that builds wisely, safely, and sustainably.

Conclusion: The choice before us

Sri Lanka stands at a familiar crossroads. We can choose the old path, repair quickly, announce success, and wait for the next failure. Or we can choose a harder but wiser path, learn from our mistakes, enforce standards, and demand accountability.

The President’s vision is achievable. But it will only become reality if:

Speed is balanced with discipline

Collective action is matched with clear responsibility

And rebuilding is measured not by how fast roads reopen but by how long they endure

The true test of national progress is not how we respond to disaster but whether we ensure it does not happen again in the same way.

The Yeti-SSC Open Tennis Championship, one of the most prestigious and long-standing national tennis tournaments, will be held from 9 to 25 January at the SSC Courts in Maitland Place.

The 2026 Yeti-SSC Open Championship will feature a comprehensive line-up of events including Boys’ and Girls’ Singles and Doubles (Under-12 to Under-18), Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles as well as Veterans categories (Over 35, 45 and 55).

The 2026 edition is expected to draw more than 1,000 junior and senior participants, further reinforcing its position as one of the country’s most eagerly awaited tennis events.

The tournament is set to showcase thrilling performances from leading national players including the current Men’s national champion Apna Perera, Women’s national champion Dinara De Silva, Davis Cup players Ashen Silva, and Thehan Wijemanne, as well as top-ranked juniors such as Ganuka Fernando (Boys’ Under-18) and Sandithi Usgodaarachchi (Girls’ Under-18), among many other prominent competitors.

NOLIMIT has announced the grand opening of its 28th store in the heart of Jaffna, a city celebrated for its distinct Northern identity, deep-rooted traditions, and a culture shaped by heritage, learning, and close-knit community life. From its vibrant marketplaces and cuisine to its arts, crafts, and enduring spirit of enterprise, Jaffna stands apart as one of Sri Lanka’s most culturally significant and fast-evolving urban centres. Reflecting this character, NOLIMIT’s newest store in Jaffna is designed to complement the city’s modern aspirations while offering residents and visitors a more elevated, family-friendly shopping experience.

This milestone further solidifies the brand’s commitment to providing Sri Lankans with an unparalleled shopping experience while continuing its expansion across the island and beyond.

The new store, located within Jaffna town’s main commercial precinct, offers a wide selection of menswear, womenswear and kids wear, alongside shoes and accessories, as well as Homeware, toys, travel and luggage and cosmetics, bringing a complete lifestyle retail experience under one roof. The Jaffna store spans four stories, offering customers a convenient, affordable, and family-friendly shopping environment with ample parking and easy access. Customers can explore a broader and more diverse product range curated to reflect both global fashion trends and local preferences.

Founded in 1992, NOLIMIT has grown into the largest Fashion Retail Chain in Sri Lanka with a strong presence across the island. It has also expanded internationally with four stores in the UAE. Known for its customer-centric approach and award-winning service, NOLIMIT has established itself as a leader in Sri Lanka’s fashion retail sector, consistently setting new benchmarks in service excellence and fashion trends.

NOLIMIT Managing Director Hafiz Mubarack said: ‘Jaffna is one of Sri Lanka’s most important cities, rich in culture, enterprise, and potential, and we see it as a key growth hub in the country’s next phase of economic and social progress. With our 28th store, we are proud to invest in Jaffna’s future by bringing a modern, world-class retail experience that matches the city’s evolving aspirations, while making quality, trend-forward fashion more accessible to families across the region.’

NOLIMIT Assistant General Manager Raneez Sheriff said: ‘In the coming years, Jaffna is well-positioned to evolve into a stronger commercial hub and a rapidly evolving consumer landscape. Strategically, our expansion focuses on reaching Potential markets and ensuring that NOLIMIT becomes the country’s most widely loved fashion retail chain, accessible to customers in every part of Sri Lanka. Jaffna has always been an important part of our long-term growth plans, and this store opening reflects our commitment to being a truly national brand that connects with communities’ island-wide, while delivering an affordable, high-quality retail experience that matches the city’s momentum and aspirations.’

The store’s design incorporates international trends, creating a modern, stylish environment that invites customers to explore the latest fashion collections in a welcoming atmosphere. With a focus on customer satisfaction and convenience, NOLIMIT continues to lead the charge in transforming Sri Lanka’s retail landscape.

As part of its expansion strategy, NOLIMIT aims to open additional stores across Sri Lanka in the coming months, reinforcing its position as a market leader in the fashion retail industry. The Jaffna store serves as a testament to NOLIMIT’s ongoing growth and its commitment to bringing world-class fashion to every corner of the country.

England’s horrific Ashes tour is lurching towards a final defeat after a remorseless Steve Smith century followed Travis Head’s spectacular 163 on the third day of the fifth Test.

On a day to rival any of England’s ineptitude from the previous seven weeks, both Head and Smith were dropped in a calamitous opening session in Sydney.

Smith went on to make an unbeaten 129, in doing so passing England legend Jack Hobbs to go second on the all-time list of Ashes run-scorers, behind only Australian great Donald Bradman.

At the end of it all, Australia reached 518-7, leading by 134 and on course to complete their Ashes triumph with a 4-1 score line.

The Sydney Cricket Ground turned pink for the Jane McGrath Foundation and the travelling supporters sang constantly through the afternoon, all while England were slow-roasted.

Will Jacks was the culprit for the Head drop and Zak Crawley put down Smith. In total, England have missed 17 chances of varying difficulty across the series.

Captain Ben Stokes bowled himself into the ground in an attempt to mask the deficiencies of new-ball pair Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse.

Perhaps the only saving grace was England’s batters did not have to face a tricky session late in the day.

When they do come to bat, it will take a remarkable rear-guard to avoid a fourth defeat of a desperately disappointing series.

Chief scores: England 384: Root 160, Brook 84; Neser 4-60

Australia 518-7: Head 163, Smith 129*; Carse 3-108

Australia are 134 runs ahead

‘Extending the Blessings of Civilisation to our Brother who Sits in Darkness has been a good trade and has paid well. There’s more money in it, more territory, more sovereignty, and other kinds of emolument, than there is in any other game that is played.’

Mark Twain (To the Person Sitting in Darkness)

The United States Government launched its final assault on Native Americans in the area around Wounded Knee Creek, a tributary of the White River in South Dakota. In December 1890, the US army massacred around 300 Lakota people, many of them women and children, ending Native American resistance to land-grabbing and forced assimilation.

With First Nation resistance crushed, the US Census Bureau declared that there was no longer a ‘land frontier’ to conquer. To gain more land, America would have to look beyond its borders. This was what Captain AT Mahan, President of the Naval War College, had in mind when he wrote an article for the Atlantic Monthly tellingly titled The United States Looking Outward. In it he advocated an expansionist foreign policy and emphasised the need to build up American sea power to facilitate it.

Captain Mahan was not the author of American expansionism. In 1823, President James Monroe birthed the Monroe Doctrine, declaring the Western Hemisphere (North and South Americas) the exclusive preserve of the US and, thus, off-limit to European imperial powers. Captain Mahan’s singular contribution was to wrap American expansionism in patriotic linen. As Barbara Tuchman wrote in The Proud Tower, ‘The motive of the annexationists had been economic self-interest. It took Mahan to transform it into national and fateful importance.’

Since then, the US had taken the trouble to package its interventions (in the hemisphere and beyond) with moral-ethical arguments – from its 1898 occupation of The Philippines (Paternalism/White Man’s Burden, teaching uncivilised natives ethics and morality) to its 1983 invasion of Grenada (saving American lives). When America under President George HW Bush invaded Panama and abducted its dictatorial leader Manuel Noriega in December 1989, that blatant violation of international law was termed Operation Just Cause and justified on multiple grounds from saving American lives to promoting democracy and human rights. (General Noriega had been a US client for a long time, until he fell from favour in the mid-1980’s).

The difference between Donald Trump and most of his presidential predecessors was not that he did something they didn’t but that he said things they were too clever to articulate. His predecessors were careful to wrap their violations of international law in the clothing of piety. He couldn’t be bothered. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world and its dense, sticky, tar-like crude oil is particularly suitable for US refineries. If the country grew cotton, Nicolas Maduro would still be lording it over in Caracas. But it has oil; and America wants that oil, as Donald Trump said, loud and clear.

The invasion of Venezuela and the abduction of President Maduro and his wife amount to gross violations of international law. They were acts of aggression which must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. But Donald Trump’s invasion of Venezuela is just a continuum of an American foreign policy from the 1801-1805 war against Ottoman Tripolitania (modern day Libya which was then under Ottoman rule – the First Barbary War) to the active facilitation of Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians. But, unlike most of its post-World War II actions, America’s 2026 invasion of Venezuela lacked even a pretence at multilateralism (even the UK was not informed of the invasion beforehand; American oil companies were in the loop though, before and after).

Donald Trump’s in-your-face unilateralism marks a return to the way America operated in the world throughout most of the 19th Century – going it alone, with no permanent allies or enemies. Like when America nearly went to war with Britain over Venezuela borders; or tried to annex the Canadian territories, first during the American Independence War and then in 1812. This is the past Donald Trump is taking America to, where America would grab whatever it wants, wherever in the world, taking on anyone in the process, be it longstanding enemies or allies of yesteryear.

Inviting chaos

In November 2025, the Trump administration presented a document outlining America’s new national security strategy. In true Trump fashion the document made explicit what has always been implicit in American foreign policy, a desire to dominate the world, starting with the Western Hemisphere.

According to the document, America ‘wants a Hemisphere that remains free of hostile foreign incursions or ownership of key assets, and that supports critical supply chains; and we want to ensure our continued access to key strategic locations. In other words, we will assert and enforce a ‘Trump Corollary’ to the Monroe Doctrine’ (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf). Its European section, titled Promoting European Greatness, states that Europe is facing ‘civilisational erasure’ within the next two decades due to EU integration and migration and argues that the US must ‘cultivate resistance’ within the continent to Europe’s current trajectory. The document also makes explicit Trump America’s support for far right European parties. ‘America encourages its political allies in Europe to promote this revival of spirit, and the growing influence of patriotic European parties indeed gives cause for great optimism’ (ibid). Its Asian section focuses on China’s economic power and trade practices (India is mentioned in passing, Sri Lanka, not at all).

Economic pre-eminence and unlimited profit are what Trump America wants from and in the world. Trumpian foreign policy’s real pivot is not to any geographic region, but to the past. Venezuela is just the beginning. Donald Trump and his true believers have many other targets: Cuba, the interim president of Venezuela, Colombia, Iran – and Denmark, NATO ally, Western, White, Christian, capitalist. Denmark owns Greenland which owns rare earth minerals. Donald Trump has no ideological blinkers. His blinkers, and his all, are money.

Soon after the Venezuelan invasion, Trump said that he must ‘absolutely have Greenland’ and refused to rule out the use of force. Denmark is taking the possibility of a forcible takeover of Greenland by America seriously. The Danish PM said the US has no right to annex ‘any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom. If the United States decides to militarily attack another NATO country, then everything would stop – that includes NATO and therefore post-Second World War security.’

When Vladimir Putin began his annexationist war against Ukraine, Donald Trump wrote admiringly, ‘This is genius,’ adding, ‘We could use that on our Southern border.’ According to a Guardian report, some pro-regime Russians are awed by and envious of America’s Venezuelan operation. ‘The operation was carried out competently,’ pro-Kremlin Telegraph channel Dva Mayora wrote; ‘Most likely this is exactly how our ‘special military operation’ was meant to unfold’ (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/05/russia-weighs-up-fall-of-nicolas-maduro-venezuela). As Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula said, ‘Attacking countries, in blatant violation of international law, is the first step towards a world of violence, chaos, and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails.’ Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war of genocide against Palestinians, and, now, America’s invasion of Venezuela are markers of that old-new world we will have to live in.

Just hours before he was abducted by American interventionist forces, President Maduro was meeting and greeting a high level Chinese delegation. ‘A fraternal meeting that reaffirms the strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship between China and Venezuela,’ he exuded on Telegram; ‘Through thick and thin!’ China has condemned the American invasion in strongest possible terms, but its reaction is unlikely to go beyond strong words. In the coming days and months, Beijing is likely to focus on doing a deal with the US to protect its own interests in Venezuela, from loans to oil supply.

Be it Venezuela or Ukraine (or Sri Lanka in 1987), the lesson is simple; going head to head with a global or regional power is not the sanest path to take (especially if that power happens to be a close neighbour). A much better example of successfully navigating a dangerous world is provided by Finland and Austria during the Cold War years. Both countries were on the frontlines of the Cold War divide, yet managed to maintain their independence through a policy of neutrality. Neutral, but flexible; Austria allowed its territory to become a hub of espionage while Finland appeased the Soviet Union through economic cooperation. By compromising in areas which were un-fundamental, they retained their sovereignty, survived, and prospered.

The new mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani provides another example. As a Democratic Socialist cum social liberal, he is the antithesis of Donald Trump. Yet, during his post-election meeting with the President, he was conciliatory rather than confrontational, focusing on inches of mutual agreement while ignoring acres of disagreement. He didn’t change his principles or abandon his policies; just handled Donald Trump with politeness, decency, and humour. He called the President to express his opposition to the invasion of Venezuela even as he continued to be focused on problems of the city.

Those examples provide a sane path for Sri Lanka through the Trumpian quagmire, especially since America’s pivot to the past is unlikely to outlive the Trump presidency.

The JVP has issued a strong statement condemning American aggression. The NPP Government has been more cautious in its response. While it is necessary to vote against the US invasion at the UN General Assembly, there is no need to divert even an inch from the NPP’s current policy of being on good terms with all regional and global powers. If we are in the crosshairs of a regional or global power for whatever reason, no other power will come to our rescue. Russia had an All Weather Alliance with Venezuela. But Venezuela and Venezuelans are having to weather the ongoing American storm on their own. That is a sobering lesson about how the world really works.

On 1 January 2026, Zohran Mamdani took office as the new mayor of New York. Over the next four years, America’s richest city with close to 400,000 millionaires and over 60 billionaires (whose collective wealth is more than 5trillion) will be governed by a Democratic Socialist. Mayor Mamdani’s inauguration was chock-full of symbolism, from the singing of the old Suffragist/Labour anthem Bread and Roses to a tearful reference to the failed Grenadian Revolution and its leader Maurice Bishop by the city’s Public Advocate (an elected position first in line to succeed the mayor), Jumanne Williams.

There were always two Americas – one which was imperialist, expansionist, and aggressive and another which wanted America to shed a moral light. In the 19th Century, Charles William Elliot, a Harvard President opposed the idea of America becoming a military power arguing that ‘The building of a navy and the presence of a large standing army mean.the abandonment of what is characteristically American’ (The Proud Tower). During the Philippine War, a group of eminent American citizens formed the Anti-Imperialist League to oppose official America’s imperialist actions in The Philippines. At the height of the war, the League had a membership of half a million, including such luminaries as Mark Twain who wrote his famous essay, To the Person Sitting in Darkness, as part of the League’s anti-war propaganda.

According to media reports, by mid-December 2024, 63% of registered American voters opposed intervention in Venezuela while only 25% supported it. This includes absolute majorities of Democrats and Independents as well as a plurality of Republicans. The invasion has divided Donald Trump’s own MAGA movement, with leading lights such as Steve Bannon, Margery Taylor Green and Tucker Carlson condemning it as dangerous and a betrayal of the America First policy. Consequently, Donald Trump’s absolute and open unilateralism is likely to be abandoned (at least significantly moderated) by the victor of the 2028 presidential election, be it a Democrat or a Republican.

Donald Trump’s Venezuelan adventure is unlikely to end well, despite the lightning success of its initial phase. A rapacious American puppet master who does nothing to mitigate his raw power or conceal his greed won’t be popular with most Venezuelans, whatever they feel about Maduro and his abduction. The more money spent on pacifying Venezuela means less money to deliver basic needs such as health, education, and affordable housing to poor and even middle class Americans. Donald Trump’s Venezuelan adventure might make him and his business friends rich, but it is likely to make ordinary Americans less well off. The end result would be a major shift in American politics towards the other, the anti-interventionist, economically progressive and socially liberal America at the 2028 and even the 2026 elections.

All Sri Lanka has to do is stay out of Donald Trump’s myopic sights until then.

Homophobia and Sri Lanka

Homophobia was introduced into Lankan political discourse by Mangala Samaraweera and some of the other Young Turks of the Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga administration, to attack Ranil Wickremesinghe. Later Samaraweera himself was targeted by the Rajapaksas with the same noxious bullet. Throughout these wars, the JVP remained silent. Now it is the NPP’s turn. Whatever one’s opinion of the Government or its education reforms, the poisonous attacks on Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya need to be condemned in no uncertain terms.

Sri Lanka’s education ministry has been putting out erroneous text books and test papers for decades. For example, the Grade 11 history book of 2015 mixed up Protestants and Catholics and changed the gender of Visakha founder, Jeremias Dias. Using another such error to create a Pizzagate type of conspiracy theory (in 2016, American hard right alleged that Hilary Clinton and other Democrats were using a Washington pizzeria to carry out a child sex-trafficking ring) to target PM Amarasuriya demonstrates the levels of misogyny in our polity and society. No wonder Sri Lanka has become such a dangerous country for its girls and women.

FACETS Sri Lanka 2026, the country’s premier international gem and jewellery exhibition, on Monday concluded successfully at The Forum, Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from stakeholders, exhibitors, international buyers, and visitors.

FACETS 2026 recorded over 4,500 registered visitors, including approximately 450 foreign buyers and international visitors, reaffirming its position as a key sourcing and networking platform for the global gem and jewellery trade. It was organised by Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA).

Held across two well-curated floors at the Forum, the exhibition featured multiple pavilions and a thoughtfully designed layout that created a vibrant and engaging atmosphere throughout. The scale of the set-up, combined with the seamless flow between spaces, contributed to what many participants described as one of the most enjoyable and well-organised editions of FACETS to date.

The exhibition showcased an exceptional collection of gemstones, highlighting Sri Lanka’s world-renowned sapphires alongside a diverse range of coloured gemstones. With over 100 boothholders on display, exhibitors presented a wide variety of precious and semi-precious stones and jewellery, catering to a broad spectrum of buyers and visitors. The presence of the Gbelin Gem Lab further strengthened international confidence, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s reputation as a trusted global gem source.

FACETS 2026 also introduced enhanced facilities designed to elevate the buyer experience, including a dedicated open viewing room for buyers, a tea and coffee lounge hosted by Barista and Akbar Brothers, as well as an on-site travel counter to assist international visitors.

A series of signature events added depth and character to the exhibition. Sapphire Night, the Power Breakfast for Women, and the Story Corner brought together industry leaders, designers, buyers, and storytellers, creating meaningful conversations and memorable experiences beyond the exhibition floor.

SLGJA President Akram Cassim said: ‘FACETS 2026 has been a tremendous success and a real boost for the industry. The strong participation from exhibitors, international buyers, and visitors reflects growing global confidence in Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery sector. I thank everyone who contributed to making this edition such a meaningful and impactful showcase.’

Vice President and COO Shezan Mansoor said: ‘We are delighted to see the highly impactful outcome of this year’s event. Working closely with all stakeholders, including our partners and sponsors, we are gratified to have successfully raised the bar in profiling Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry on an international stage. With over 100 boothholders showcasing a vast range of precious and semi-precious stones and jewellery, the show catered to a wide spectrum of visitors and buyers, and this was clearly reflected in the positive responses received from all stakeholders.’

FACETS 2026 Chairman Armil Samoon highlighted the strong response from international buyers and exhibitors, noting the quality of engagement and business interactions throughout the exhibition.

At the conclusion of the show, the organisers announced that FACETS 2027 will be held from 5 to 7 January 2027, once again at Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, building on the momentum created by the successful 2026 edition.

The Cabinet of Ministers at their first meeting for 2026 held on Monday approved calling for expressions of interest (EOIs) from investors to lease 24 identified bungalows and houses under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, aiming to ensure more productive and economically viable use of underutilised State assets.

The selected properties will be offered on a 30-year lease basis, with the Government noting that the process will be carried out without creating social concerns.

Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the move follows recommendations made by an appointed Officers’ Committee tasked with identifying effective strategies to utilise former ministerial residences and other underutilised State-owned properties.

According to Jayatissa, the committee has proposed repurposing the bungalows and houses for embassies, international organisations, diplomatic missions, Government and Government-affiliated institutions, as well as high-end restaurants, boutique hotels and other productive investment ventures.

On 9 December 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to appoint an Officers’ Committee, which called for a comprehensive review of properties previously used as ministerial quarters and other underutilised premises. The objective was to ensure their effective and economical utilisation while aligning with broader public interest and development goals.

‘The EOI process is expected to help identify suitable investors and projects that can maximise returns from these assets, while supporting private sector participation and reducing the fiscal burden on the State,’ he added.

Deloitte Sri Lanka had advised DP Logistics Ltd., the logistics cluster of the David Pieris Group of Companies, on its strategic acquisition of Logicare Ltd., from Ceylon Tea Brokers PLC.

According to disclosures made to the Colombo Stock Exchange, the transaction, valued at Rs. 1.3 billion was made up of an Rs. 635.3 million direct purchase consideration (and balance in assuming existing debt), that was formalised through a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement signed on 30 October 2025.

Logicare, established as a fully owned subsidiary of Ceylon Tea Brokers PLC in 2017, has been a notable player in providing integrated logistics and warehousing solutions. Deloitte’s Strategy, Risk and Transactions team supported DP Logistics through the buy-side process by performing a full scope Financial Due Diligence and a full scope Tax Due Diligence.

Led by Deloitte Sri Lanka and Maldives Partner – Strategy Risk and Transactions Ravidu Gunasekera, and Deloitte Sri Lanka Partner – Tax Damith Gayan Wakishta, the due diligence enabled DP Logistics to assess key financial and tax considerations associated with the acquisition.

Deloitte was pleased to have supported DP Logistics on this significant transaction. The firm’s objective was to bring clarity and insights through a robust due diligence process, enabling the client to make informed decisions as it continues to strengthen its position in the logistics and supply chain sector.

Deloitte remains committed to supporting clients across Sri Lanka as they navigate complex transactions and pursue opportunities for growth.