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Nepal is in flames; murder, arson, rape, looting; the once idyllic Himalayan country is now the picture of every human atrocity. Nature has blessed that land, man had failed it: corruption and incompetence doomed the realm.

A story with an eerily familiar ring to us Sri Lankans, simmering frustrations of a people with nowhere to turn but violence.

Men cannot live forever at fever heat. With our experiences with the way of the world we can safely assume that sooner or later the situation in Nepal will settle down, searching for some sort of normalcy. This will happen not because our former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will fly to Kathmandu on a bring back normalcy mission, but because it is human nature to have a livelihood, protect their property, educate their children, and to aspire for more. Revolutions and riots are disruptive, and therefore cannot be permanent state-of-affairs in a country. Normalcy will come to Nepal not because one man waves a magic wand, but because the entire economic/social structure, thousands of public servants, the security forces, the judiciary and ultimately the people themselves, desire normalcy in their lives.

Hundreds of hands will work on mission normalcy; international agencies, experienced public servants, captains of industry, no one man can claim credit.

However, in the general Sri Lankan narration one man is credited with bringing normalcy to the country post-‘Aragalaya’. There is no reference to a particular thought, decision or act of his that brought normalcy, but he is presented as Mr. Normalcy!

Norm in our culture

Regrettably, such sweeping narratives are the norm in our culture.

Many moons ago, when the post-1977 accelerated Mahaweli Project was in high gear, it was common to attribute the honour wholly to Gamini Dissanayake, the Minister in charge of the project. The venture encouraged fantastic expectations in the people, the then narration described it as a scheme that would flood the country with milk and honey, become the granary of the East, there would be so much hydropower generated that we would export electricity to India.

Initially conceptualised in the 1960s as a World Bank project, in 1977 newly elected JR Jayewardene decided to accelerate the project, all the dams to be made simultaneously. Funding was an issue, however the new government had the goodwill of the West, eventually Britain, Sweden, Canada and Germany helped us generously. The conceptualisation, the engineering, the technology was primarily foreign. We can talk about ‘Ravana’s flying machine’ but cannot make one!

Hundreds of specialists, engineers, technicians and officials worked tirelessly to realise the aims of the accelerated project. In the public’s mind they mattered little, all attention was on the spokesman Gamini Dissanayake, the man before the cameras. He was not an engineer, neither did he fund the project. Dissanayake’s role was that of a political coordinator and perhaps negotiator with the donors. These rich countries do assist poor countries, regardless, or even despite the local politician. As to where the credit should go in such a many-sided project is a complex matter, our common narration not only lacks nuance, but it also severely misleads.

Much water has flown down the Mahaweli since, we yet remain a Third World country, poor, and seemingly even more decrepit, our economic growth rate only an average 4% right through (before and after the project).

LTTE terrorism

No other period has given rise to distorted narrations as much as the long struggle and the eventual triumph against the LTTE terrorism, something like three decades. This so-called war, now hot, now cold, was a most unfortunate development for an impoverished and unwarlike race; very avoidably had their political leaders possessed the required foresight and integrity. By our basic nature, as well as ideology, we cannot claim to be a warrior race. True, there have been violent conflicts in our history, however relative to wars fought by other nations, ours appear more skirmishes than full blown wars. Wars fought against your own racial type, enemies of similar strength and disposition, could distort one’s assessment of the actual fighting prowess of an army.

When fought between dissimilar races: those who look, think, react, walk and even eat differently, wars take a deeper meaning. When different capacities, skills and attitudes lock horns in the battleground, we have wars that grab the attention of the military historian, who is stronger, who will prevail?

In the early days of northern terrorism (late 1970s), when the occasional murder or arson by the ‘boys’ were hitting the front page, our elderly president JR Jayewardene reacted to the unfamiliar phenomenon with a widely publicised proclamation to the then army commander ordering him to wipe out the threat within a given period. The Colombo elite was thrilled, here is the stuff of Erwin Romell and Montgomery; complex military manoeuvers, army in battle array, armoured vehicles moving in phalanx formation, a world war scene reenacted in their small island! The Longest Day, on our northern beaches!

No counter-strategies

Of course it was all nonsense, only exciting to a hollow elite. At that stage the terrorist movement was only embryonic, a few radical youngsters mingling with the population, hiding in plain sight. What was needed was intelligence and perhaps enlightened policies. Clearly, President Jayewardene did not foresee the evil potential the movement carried, nor had strategies to counter them. He imagined that a portentous sounding order to his army commander would bring the trouble-makers to heel.

Reading a book on Napoleon does not make you a conqueror, nor would a book on Gladstone or Disraeli make the reader a Statesman. The northern situation steadily worsened until the LTTE had control of a substantial area of the land, a fiefdom where they were the law. By this time, we had different leaders including new presidents; unabashed by the fact that the terrorist organisation rejected the writ of their government, they chose subterfuge as opposed to determined fighting. Unlike Churchill or even Margret Thatcher, who they sometimes quote from, our so-called elite leaders thought they could ensnare the enemy with their cunning, a quality they obviously prize.

They therefore adopted ruses to address political issues and social problems. In the colonial era, their earlier generations made the transition from native nobodies to native somebodies by their wile – giving up the religion of their forefathers, becoming collaborators of the imperial government, holding office in the name of the British King. But in an independent country, in real politics, this supine quality only earned them the contempt of both sides.

Their cunning was generational. When the colonial government introduced the franchise, and gradually widened it, our collaborating elite read the tea leaves correctly, common denominators of the people were gaining strength; time to get back into a sarong and re-embrace the local religion! For good measure they donated a few lands they had obtained for a ‘paisa’ from the colonial government for religious and other public causes. The new ‘somebodies’ were now ready to rule the independent country, and rule without the disciplines that the colonial culture and norms had imposed.

Clearly, the adopted ways of governance were foreign to their nature; they had only learnt the new rules by rote; in high office they looked externally awkward and internally inept, if not shady. However, they hugely enjoyed the fruits of power, it seems a good gift to pass on to their kith and kin like an inheritance!

Stark reality

The history of this era has given rise to many narratives. However, these stories cannot hide the stark reality, the county’s overall failure in comparison to the successful countries of Asia. While these countries were transforming their economies rapidly, our ruling elite led us from one crisis to another. Their narrative is only in the telling, when examined intelligently we see it for its sorry falsity.

Eventually, in 2009, after a fierce battle, the army completely vanquished the LTTE. In strength and numbers, the Government was stronger, when the terrorist army decided to defend its territory, the strategic advantage shifted towards the numerically stronger. We do not have the exact casualty figures of either side, but the common belief is that it was hard fought, the army suffering a considerable number of casualties in what appears to have been a battle of attrition. If you were to compare this with recent wars such as in Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq the casualty ratio hugely favours the strong American army.

Nevertheless, the war was won.

Nations like Great Britain have fought hundreds of wars; some against equal or even stronger foes, won some, lost some. It is said that America is waging a war, or is on a war footing, somewhere in the world every day of the year. Triumph and defeat, death and destruction are natural phenomenon for a warrior race. They put war in perspective, reacting to its aftermath sensibly. Within months of the end of hostilities in World War 2, the army was massively downsized, the soldiers became invisible, Churchill had only one bodyguard. Qualities that go to make a warrior; bravery, integrity, chivalry dictates his conduct in peace time too. Churchill did not claim all the honours of winning the world war. They understand that wars, by their very nature, require sacrifices, hard work and the support of millions. The true soldiers guard the people; they do not guard themselves from the people.

Like our occasional win at a game of Cricket, the war victory unhinged the narrative. More than 15 years after the end of the war, the country still maintains a large army, politicians and high rank soldiers are guarded round the clock and armed soldiers are a common sight. The worst immaturity is by the politicians who claim responsibility for the victory.

And this while there are strong allegations of them profiting from the war!

All narratives are based on a given society; how they view things, what they want to believe in, and finally, the level of intelligence they can command.

Recently I watched a YouTuber talking about a politician who is facing charges for corruption. The man’s corruption has been blatant, dumping low quality medicine on the public. Apparently, someone, either the politician or a close family member had developed cancer. This was proof for the YouTuber of the moral order of nature. He emphasised, ‘This rascal politician may escape justice in our courts of law, but he cannot escape justice at the hand of nature!’

Obviously, the YouTuber had not visited the Maharagama Cancer Hospital. Cancer has cruelly claimed thousands of blameless lives, including newborn babies.

Nature is indifferent to our narratives.

‘Ollie Shoots for the Sun’, a children’s book written by Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya and illustrated by Danushri Welikala, was launched on 27 September at the Colombo International Book Fair, which is taking place at BMICH until 6 October. The book, which tells the story of a playful dog with an ambitious goal, is published by Neptune Publications.

The launch brought together young readers, with Esandi Jayawardana sharing her thoughts on ‘Ollie Shoots for the Sun’ and Ruanna Dias reading an excerpt from the book. Aaryan and Rahul Niveathan shared stories about their own pets. Meanwhile, mental health professional Kusumanjalee Thilakarathna spoke about the benefits of having pets and the message conveyed in the book.

In ‘Ollie Shoots for the Sun’, young readers will meet Ollie, a dog who is determined to reach a flowerpot hanging from a tree. When she is told that jumping up and down will soon send her over the Sun, Ollie has a brilliant idea.

In addition to Ollie, a dog with big dreams, the book also introduces characters such as Ginger, a snarky cat, and her son, Kat. The mischievous trio lives with their humans and is visited by Inguru, the neighbourhood smarty-pants.

Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya has been contributing to Sri Lankan newspapers since 2013, although it is with the characters Ollie, Kat, and Ginger, based on her own pets, Ollie, Calvin, and Gingie, that she ventured into creative writing.

Danushri Welikala is a Colombo-based illustrator and graphic designer who has turned her lifelong love for doodling into a career. It was in 2023 that she met Ollie, Kat, and Ginger – three characters who stole her heart.

Alcohol consumption in Sri Lanka has shown a decade-long downward trend, with a new 2024 survey revealing that fewer than 30% of men are current drinkers.

Another survey conducted has revealed that tobacco use has also recorded a significant reduction in Sri Lanka and that the rate of current smokers among men has fallen to 21.6%.

Both studies were conducted by the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) in 2024 and found that most of the young people view drinking alcohol as a purposeless behaviour and smoking as a useless behaviour.

According to the studies, there is a significant generational shift in attitudes, with young people increasingly quitting alcohol and smoking.

The ‘Trend Survey on Alcohol Consumption in Sri Lanka – 2024’ surveyed males aged 15 and above across 11 districts, including Colombo, Jaffna, Galle, and Badulla. It found that 29.1% of participants were current consumers, defined as having consumed alcohol within the 30 days prior to the survey. This continued decline is attributed to successful alcohol control policies, public awareness campaigns, and community interventions.

The most striking is the finding that 27.9% of all participants reported being successful quitters. The motivations for quitting, however, varied significantly by age. While older individuals cited health concerns, younger people were more likely to quit because they perceived drinking as pointless.

The study highlights the need for age-specific prevention strategies that address the different values of each generation.

Peer pressure – a key driver for initiation

Despite the positive trend in quitting, the survey emphasises the powerful role of social influence in starting to drink as a significant 46.6% of current consumers reported that their first experience with alcohol was with friends. This finding reveals the critical importance of addressing peer pressure in prevention efforts, especially for young people.

Among current drinkers, 18.0% were between the ages of 15 and 21, indicating that a substantial number of young people are still initiating alcohol use. ADIC recommends implementing a national prevention program aimed specifically at children and youth to discourage them from starting in the first place.

Tax hikes curb production while boosting revenue

The report also highlights the impact of government fiscal policy on alcohol consumption as statistics from the Excise Department of Sri Lanka shows a sharp decline in total alcohol production after 2022, with successive increases in excise duties. The Government implemented a 20% tax hike in June 2023, followed by another 14% in January 2024, with a further 6% increase planned for January 2025.

While production has fallen, government revenue from alcohol excise taxes has soared, rising from Rs. 169.49 billion in 2022 to Rs. 223.25 billion in 2024. This trend, according to the report, demonstrates the effectiveness of taxation as a dual-purpose tool recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) where it successfully increases government income while simultaneously helping to reduce alcohol-related harm.

Calls for stronger policies and enforcement

The ADIC has recommended several initiatives to strengthen Sri Lanka’s alcohol control framework to reduce initiation and address the health, social, and economic impact of alcohol use. They are to expedite the adoption of proposed amendments to the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act, to implement a scientific tax formula that automatically increases excise duties annually in line with inflation and economic growth and to cease issuing temporary liquor licenses and stop granting new licenses under the pretext of promoting tourism.

The study has also recommended enhancing law enforcement to control the illegal alcohol market, to prevent interference from the alcohol industry aimed at weakening policies and to improve and implement counselling and treatment services for individuals struggling with alcohol dependency.

Smoking declines due to shift in attitudes

Meanwhile the ADIC study on tobacco use in Sri Lanka has also found a sharp decrease in smoking mainly due to the success of national tobacco control policies and a significant generational shift in attitudes, with a majority of young people quitting or reducing their use because they perceive smoking as a useless behaviour.

The ‘Trend Survey on Tobacco Use in Sri Lanka – 2024’ surveyed males aged 15 and above across 11 districts to map contemporary smocking patterns. The findings show that while progress is being made, significant challenges, particularly peer pressure and industry influence, remain in the effort to create a tobacco-free generation.

A positive decline: More quitters and reduced consumption

The survey reveals a notable positive trend: 36.5% of all participants have successfully quit smoking, and an additional 20.9% of current smokers have reduced their consumption. This decline is largely attributed to important public health measures, especially tax increases.

According to the report, a 20% excise duty hike on cigarettes in 2023 proved highly effective. It not only increased government revenue by Rs. 7.7 billion but also led to a significant 18% reduction in cigarette production, equivalent to 521.5 million fewer sticks compared to the previous year.

This is also going with WHO’s recommendations that higher prices reduce the affordability of tobacco and, in the long run, decrease consumption.

The reasons for quitting and reducing use differ while price changes were a major factor. The most cited reason was the perception of tobacco use as a ‘useless behaviour’, particularly among the younger population.

Peer pressure and social gatherings

Despite the overall decline, the survey highlights that young people remain a vulnerable group as 11.6% of current smokers are between the ages of 15 and 21, indicating that underage smoking is a persistent issue.

The primary reason for initiation, according to ADIC findings, is social influence. The report states that the majority of initiations occur at social gatherings, with peer pressure being a key driving factor. ADIC warns that promotions by the tobacco industry through traditional and social media also play a significant role in creating a positive image of smoking among vulnerable groups.

The study highlights the urgent need for enhanced awareness within communities and stronger policy formulations to delay or prevent young people from starting to smoke.

Implement a ‘Tobacco-Free Generation’

The ADIC survey findings recommend several measures crucial to prevent smoking among underaged individuals. One of the main recommendations is to implement a ‘Tobacco-Free Generation’ Policy recommended by the Sri Lanka Medical Association, where sale of tobacco products to be banned to anyone born after 2010, which will facilitate substantial social and economic gains in the long run.

Among other recommendations of the ADIC are banning single stick sales to make cigarettes less affordable and accessible, especially to youth. The report calls for the strict implementation of the ban on selling single sticks, enforcing sales restrictions as survey calls for better enforcement of existing laws, including the prohibition of tobacco sales within a 100-metre radius of schools and to underage individuals, and creating a National Prevention Program, which the ADIC recommends as a program to expose tobacco industry tactics and reinforce the message that smoking is a ‘purposeless and harmful behaviour’.

The key findings and recommendations of the research conducted by the UN Women program on gender equality in Sri Lanka presented to the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus this week showed that there has been a regression in gender equality in Sri Lanka in the global context. While Sri Lanka was ranked 18th among 115 countries in 2006, it dropped to 130th among 148 countries in 2025.

The research conducted by United Nations Women (UN Women) on gender equality focused primarily on areas such as women’s economic empowerment, leadership in governance and decision-making, peace and security, and the prevention of violence against women and girls.

The report also revealed that although some of the most influential individuals in the region are women, significant inequality was identified when compared to men.

The report says what most Sri Lankan women and those in South Asia know. There is visibility of women in high places especially in the public sector in Sri Lanka, in higher education institutions, banks as well as some private sector establishments but women largely continue to play second fiddle to their male colleagues. It’s not only pay disparities but women have an uphill task trying to be taken seriously or being heard.

In addition to this, gender-based violence remains a problem and sexual harassment remains unaddressed. It is common knowledge women cannot walk in the streets or use public transport without being catcalled or having to confront unwelcome sexual overtures/gestures.

Sri Lankans often boast of having had the world’s first woman Prime Minister, which no doubt is a matter of pride to the country. Sri Lanka has since had other women leaders including current PM Harini Amarasuriya but in the fight for basic equality for women, there are still many challenges.

For one, Sri Lanka’s political sphere is woefully lacking in women. The few who make it have to weather many challenges including having to work doubly hard to be heard by their male colleagues.

The available statistics on the status of women in Sri Lanka illustrate that the country has a long way to go before women can come close to being on par in many fields with men.

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) , out of the 8.5 million economically active population, 72% are males and only 35% are females, women constitute 52% of Sri Lanka’s population, but female representation in Parliament is only 5.3%, the labour force participation of women as of 2021 is 33.6% of the total population and according to the findings of the study conducted in 2019 by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 90% of Sri Lankan women and girls have faced sexual harassment in public buses and trains at least once in their lifetime.

One of the reasons that issues such as sexual harassment of women remain unaddressed is the failure to acknowledge there is such a problem. Instead what both men and women themselves do is live in denial that there are such issues and hence the problems are not confronted.

In the day of modern technology, women and girls are also the most affected by cyberbullying and new forms of harassment via social media, and telephones, etc. While there are attempts to educate the public, they are woefully inadequate with hardly any public educational programs/advertisements that send home a strong message that such actions would come with consequences.

Which is why while on one hand one can be proud as a nation that Sri Lankan women have become high achievers, not only locally but also internationally, there is a long way to go where the status of women in the country in general is concerned.

Being able to walk on the street, travel on public transport, go to a police station and lodge a complaint, all without being harassed or judged for their gender is what the country should strive for. Cosmetic changes may look pretty on the surface but the inside still remains largely rotten.

At the Ambassador’s Roundtable hosted by Pathfinder Foundation, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Levan S. Dzhagaryan, provided a comprehensive overview of his Government’s position on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, NATO expansion, international law, global energy scenario and security dynamics in the region.

The event brought together think tank experts and media professionals for a candid discussion on current geopolitical challenges, with a special focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In his remarks, the Russian Ambassador outlined historical, political, and security factors that led to Russia’s actions in Ukraine and its broader concerns regarding Western policies. Regarding Ukraine and the origins of the conflict, the Ambassador referenced the 2014 coup d’état and noted that it marked a turning point in Russia-Ukraine relations. He highlighted that the post-2014 Ukrainian Government pursued policies that alienated Russian-speaking populations in specific regions of Ukraine, and claimed that development contributed to Moscow’s decision to launch its ‘special military operation’ in 2022.

Central to the Ambassador’s presentation was Russia’s long standing opposition to NATO expansion. He stated that Ukraine’s potential membership posed a direct threat to Russian national security. Drawing parallels to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and military deployments near its borders, the Ambassador said he believed that the Minsk Agreements were not intended to be fully implemented – a development he described as damaging to diplomatic trust. While reiterating Russia’s stated openness to peace negotiations, the Ambassador emphasised that talks must reflect ‘realities on the ground.’ He stressed the Russian Government’s position that Ukraine must remain a neutral, non-NATO-aligned state. He also questioned the legitimacy of the Ukrainian leadership, but stated that Russia would be open to negotiations if they were ‘serious and well-prepared.’

He stated that delays in negotiation would only worsen the situation for Ukraine and that Russia remains open to talks – provided its core security demands are addressed. ‘We are not threatening anyone,’ the Ambassador said, ‘but we expect our legitimate security concerns to be respected.’

On the Iranian nuclear issue, the Ambassador reaffirmed Russia’s support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear development under international frameworks and urged the international community to support diplomacy.

Focusing on Russia-Sri Lanka bilateral relations, Ambassador Dzhagaryan observed that Russia-Sri Lanka economic cooperation remains limited due to sanctions against his country. Russian tourists visiting Sri Lanka face difficulties because of restrictions in the international payment system, particularly with blocked credit card transactions. Nonetheless, he announced that direct flights between Russia and Sri Lanka are set to resume in early October, which is expected to significantly boost tourism. He also confirmed that he is exploring avenues for economic collaboration, while acknowledging that sanctions continue to hinder large-scale projects. Regarding Sri Lankan tea and trade, he stated that Sri Lankan tea remains highly popular in Russia, with several well-known Sri Lankan brands widely available across retail outlets. The Ambassador emphasised that sanctions have not affected the tea trade and that Russia remains a key export market for Sri Lankan tea. He further noted that, despite sanctions, Russia’s domestic economy has strengthened, citing increased local production and a reduction in import dependency.

The Ambassador spoke about a recent Buddhist Forum held in Kalmykia, Russia, attended by Sri Lankan participants, and announced a forthcoming visit by a Russian delegation to Sri Lanka in October – an effort to strengthen cultural and religious ties, particularly through shared Buddhist heritage.

Following the Ambassador’s address, a broad-ranging Q and A session covered various topics. On the subject of BRICS, Ambassador Dzhagaryan emphasised that it is not an anti-Western alliance but a cooperative platform. He encouraged Sri Lanka to engage with all BRICS members regarding its membership. He also reiterated Russia’s policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign States.

This October, Harvard-educated Prof. Patrick Mendis is scheduled to visit Colombo as the keynote speaker at the 46th National Conference of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. This year’s theme, ‘Uprise-Navigating Geopolitics for Growth: Sri Lanka’s Strategic Play,’ takes on added weight at a time when the country is seeking stability and growth in a turbulent global environment.

The largest and most prestigious gathering-with over 2,500 business and accounting professionals attending-will meet on 8-9 October in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, while more than 500 executives will join the professor remotely from Asia, the Middle East, and elsewhere in the world.

Prof. Mendis is a first-class business administration and economics honours graduate of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ), and a notable alumnus leader of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Prof. Mendis went to the United States as a high school exchange student on an American Field Service (AFS) scholarship. He was one of 10 selected from over 100,000 national applicants for the AFS program sponsored by the US Department of State.

Born in Polonnaruwa, Prof. Mendis demonstrated innate leadership talents during his formative years, when the medieval capital became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the early 1970s. In his school days, he became the best commander of the Army Cadet Corps of Sri Lanka, the sports champion, the sergeant of the Police Cadet Corps of Sri Lanka, and, most importantly, the first recipient of the UNESCO award. He later began his professional career as a management trainee at Unilever Sri Lanka.

Our first encounter

I first learned about the remarkable life of Prof. Mendis in an unlikely place. During a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy, I met my relative, C.W. Karunarathne, a respected civil servant who had served as secretary to the prime minister and was then the Secretary General of the Sri Dalada Maligawa. He spoke of a young man who grew up in Polonnaruwa under the influence of both Catholic priests and Buddhist monks-a childhood that shaped his lifelong ability to bridge worlds. He also told me that he had been a mentor to this young man. I further learned that Prof. Mendis had given back early: in 1994, he established the annual Patrick Mendis Prize at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Years later, when I chaired the 14th International Conference on Business Management (ICBM) in 2017, I invited our illustrious alumnus as the guest of honour and keynote speaker. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of his prize in 2024, USJ appointed him as a distinguished visiting professor and honorary fellow-recognising not only his academic achievements but also his leadership as president of the Sports Council and founding president of the World University Service at USJ.

Service to Sri Lanka and the world

His service to the motherland goes beyond the university. Alongside the renowned Amb. Jayantha Dhanapala, Prof. Mendis represented the Government of Sri Lanka at the United Nations as its first youth ambassador. For his leadership, the United Nations honoured him with the UN Medal for the International Year of the Youth.

Committed to public service, Prof. Mendis moved from the UN in New York to the US Congress in Washington to work in the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He served on the staff of Senator Rudy Boschwitz during the President Ronald Reagan administration.

After his advanced studies in geography, economics, foreign affairs, and international development at the University of Minnesota, and the executive leadership program at Harvard, Prof. Mendis held visiting faculty positions in UN studies and globalisation at Yale University and a Coolidge fellow at Columbia University. Along the way, he has travelled to or worked in more than 100 countries and authored over 250 books, journal articles, and newspaper columns.

Back in US government service, he became an award-winning diplomat and military professor at NATO and Indo-Pacific Command during President Bill Clinton years. Later, US Secretary of State Colin Powell asked him to lead the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs-managing international exchange programs such as Fulbright and Humphrey during the President George W. Bush administration. President Barack Obama appointed him as a commissioner to UNESCO, and under the Biden White House he became a presidential advisor on the National Security Education Board at the Department of Defense.

Recognising his continuous service as a global leader in higher education and international diplomacy, ‘Who’s Who in America’-the world’s premier publisher of biographical profiles-presented him with the coveted Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

Beyond the US: China and Sri Lanka

For more than 20 years, Prof. Patrick Mendis has also built deep ties with China, teaching at over 25 universities and academies-including Fudan, Peking, and Tsinghua, as well as the National Academy of Social Sciences. His contribution earned him the International Confucius Award in Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius.

He has stayed equally engaged in Sri Lanka-lecturing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the University of Colombo, the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, the National Institute of Security Studies, the Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, and the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.

While serving as the founding chairman of the Educate Lanka Foundation, Prof. Mendis also established scholarships for students in Sri Lanka and provided microloans to entrepreneurs in more than 50 countries. He also served as an advisor and contributor to ‘The Encyclopedia of the Sri Lankan Diaspora,’ a multiyear project of the National University of Singapore. In recognition of his service to the motherland, the Sri Lanka Foundation in Los Angeles honoured him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Globalising Sri Lanka

A transition from humble rural upbringing with water buffaloes in a three-acre rice field in Polonnaruwa to the corridors of power in Washington and New York could not have been achieved without the guidance of illustrious mentors in Sri Lanka and the United States.

For Prof. Patrick Mendis, it is the power of education-both intellectual dexterity and emotional maturity-that made his global journey possible.