By: Staff Writer

May 16, Colombo (LNW): In a move that has ignited intense debate across Sri Lanka, the government signed a landmark defence cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent official visit to Colombo.

This pact marks the most comprehensive military agreement Sri Lanka has entered into since its 1947 defence arrangement with Britain, raising questions about the island nation’s autonomy and geopolitical alignment.

The nine-page MoU, signed by Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, outlines wide-ranging collaboration across military training, personnel exchanges, technological cooperation, and joint defence ventures.

 However, both governments have withheld full disclosure of the agreement’s text, citing confidentiality, further fueling domestic anxieties.

A Historic Turnaround

This agreement has political observers drawing historical parallels. In 1947, fearing Indian annexation post-independence, the then-United National Party (UNP) government signed a defence pact with Britain.

Now, almost 80 years later, Sri Lanka has effectively placed itself under India’s strategic shadow — not through colonial pressure, but by its own accord, led by a government that once fiercely opposed such alignment.

Ironically, the current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake — once a vocal critic of Indian military involvement and leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-aligned National People’s Power (NPP) — has overseen the signing of this MoU.

 In 2023, as Opposition Leader, Dissanayake had denounced a similar proposal, warning that “we will be in a situation where we are unable… to take any political or economic decision” independently. Now, his administration has enacted the very policy he once protested.

Terms of the Agreement

While the full document remains classified, excerpts confirm that the MoU spans 12 detailed articles covering:

Personnel and Training: Exchanges of military staff, joint training exercises, observer deployments, and educational programmes.

Technology and Research: Joint ventures in drone technology, shipbuilding, cyber security, and research and development in critical defence fields.

Logistics and Infrastructure: Collaboration in supply chain management, logistics, facility development, and disaster response operations.

Defence Industry: Direct cooperation in defence manufacturing, sales, repairs, and technical support.

Confidentiality & Dispute Resolution: The pact includes strict protection of classified information and explicitly excludes third-party mediation in disputes, mandating bilateral diplomatic resolution.

Duration and Exit Clause: The agreement is valid for five years, renewable for three-year terms. Either party may terminate it with three months’ written notice.

Strategic Repercussions

This defence pact comes amid rising Indo-China tensions in the Indian Ocean and India’s staunch opposition to Chinese naval presence in Sri Lanka.

While officials insist the MoU merely formalizes existing informal arrangements, its timing and breadth suggest a deeper strategic alignment with India and, by extension, the U.S.-led Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).

Critics argue that the agreement compromises Sri Lanka’s traditionally non-aligned foreign policy. With the U.S. stationing six B-2 bombers in Diego Garcia just days before Modi’s visit — reportedly in preparation for potential action against Iran, a longtime Sri Lankan ally — many see the pact as Sri Lanka drifting into the orbit of a militarized Indo-Pacific bloc.

Veteran diplomat Dayan Jayatilleka questioned the wisdom of choosing sides in regional rivalries. “When there are contradictions between one’s closest neighbor [India] and one’s closest friend [China], why should we tie-up militarily with either one?” he asked, urging a balanced regional approach through platforms like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

A Bitter Historical Irony

For the JVP, which violently resisted the Indo-Lanka Accord and Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) deployment in the late 1980s — an uprising that cost over 60,000 lives, including its founder Rohana Wijeweera — this agreement represents a profound ideological U-turn.

That era of bloodshed was driven largely by fears of Indian dominance. Today, under the NPP banner, the same political lineage has signed an agreement formalizing India’s defence role in Sri Lanka.

Further aggravating nationalists and critics, India has shown little movement in addressing issues such as illegal poaching by Indian fishermen or the Katchatheevu sovereignty dispute. This raises questions about what strategic or political leverage Sri Lanka has gained in return for this significant concession.

Conclusion

While regional cooperation is essential to confront modern security challenges, many believe Sri Lanka has chosen the wrong path. Instead of pursuing a neutral, multilateral security framework rooted in SAARC or broader Asian cooperation, the government’s decision appears to have tethered national defence to a single regional power.

In the name of cooperation, Sri Lanka may have handed over more than it gained — a move some interpret not as strategic alignment, but as strategic surrender.

Whether this agreement will strengthen the nation’s security or erode its sovereignty remains to be seen, but the ideological and diplomatic implications are already reverberating through Colombo’s political corridors.

May 16, Colombo (LNW): The Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) has unveiled a significant initiative to revitalise Sri Lanka’s coconut industry by reclaiming and developing 500,000 acres of currently uncultivated coconut land, particularly within the island’s traditional coconut triangle.

CCB Chairman Dr. Sunimal Jayakody announced that the effort will focus on Kurunegala, Gampaha, Puttalam, and Kuliyapitiya—regions historically known for coconut cultivation.

These areas, he noted, contain large expanses of underutilised land, much of it owned by absentee landowners or by individuals who have settled abroad.

“An action plan is already in place to legally take over these idle lands based on documentation of cultivation per acre. The aim is not expropriation, but temporary acquisition through legal means and lease agreements,” Dr. Jayakody clarified.

The lands, he added, will be returned to their original owners after a designated period of productive use.

The move is backed by a Rs. 790 million allocation from the Treasury, reflecting the government’s strategic commitment to revitalising the agriculture sector as part of a broader economic recovery.

A key aspect of the plan includes developing intercropping systems—particularly cultivating vegetables under the coconut canopy—with an eye on export markets to generate foreign exchange.

“This is not just about coconut yield. We are developing a sustainable agricultural model that can simultaneously increase national food security, boost exports, and create rural employment,” Dr. Jayakody said.

The CCB plans to raise Sri Lanka’s annual coconut production from 2,700 million nuts in 2024 to 4,500 million by 2030, addressing both domestic demand and export potential. Increased coconut yields are expected to benefit not only the food and beverage sectors but also industries such as cosmetics and biofuels.

Many of the lands identified for development are reportedly under private ownership but have long been neglected. Some owners, residing overseas or in urban centres, have been unable or unwilling to maintain regular agricultural operations.

As a result, large tracts have become economically unproductive, contributing to supply shortages and fluctuating coconut prices.

The CCB is expected to work in coordination with local government bodies and agrarian services to implement the land takeover mechanism in a manner that avoids conflict and ensures legal transparency.

Legal frameworks are being drafted to formalise land usage rights under time-bound agreements, ensuring that private property rights are respected whilst enhancing national productivity.

May 16, Colombo (LNW): The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (16) requested the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court to cancel the bail granted to Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, and to have him remanded again, citing alleged interference with an ongoing investigation.

Dassanayake was previously granted bail on April 08 over allegations of financial misconduct dating back to 2016, during his tenure as a member of the Uva Provincial Council. He stands accused of misusing public funds and engaging in irregular financial activities during that period.

In a motion submitted to the court, CIABOC accused Dassanayake of attempting to influence the investigation through indirect means. According to the Commission, the MP—acting through his wife—had approached former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and requested that he hold a press conference to publicly comment on the case.

The Bribery Commission claims that during this media briefing, false and misleading statements were made that sought to exonerate the MP and cast doubt on the credibility of the investigation.

CIABOC argued that this conduct amounted to obstruction of justice and was an attempt to interfere with the legal process, thereby violating the conditions under which bail had been granted.

The matter has been scheduled for further hearing at 11:30 a.m. today before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali. The court will decide whether the new claims warrant the revocation of bail and a return to remand custody for the parliamentarian.

This case has gained political attention, given that Dassanayake remains an active MP representing the Badulla District. The allegation that a former President has been drawn into the matter as a potential enabler of interference adds a further layer of complexity and potential political ramifications.

May 16, Colombo (LNW): The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has announced a significant leap in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy journey, confirming that the country’s installed rooftop solar capacity has reached 1,700 megawatts as of 1 May 2025.

This milestone represents a major achievement in the nation’s efforts to shift towards cleaner, decentralised power generation.

In a public statement, the state-owned electricity provider attributed this accomplishment to the increasing participation of households, businesses, and institutions in adopting rooftop solar technology.

The CEB expressed its gratitude to all solar producers, noting that their contributions are helping to transform the country’s energy landscape and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

“This remarkable progress reflects the growing commitment of Sri Lankan citizens and institutions towards a greener, more sustainable energy future,” the CEB stated.

The Board also acknowledged the strategic importance of small-scale, distributed energy production in building a resilient and environmentally responsible national grid.

The 1,700 MW figure represents the total installed capacity from rooftop solar systems across the island, including those under net metering, net accounting, and net-plus schemes.

These solar systems not only reduce electricity bills for consumers but also enable them to contribute excess power back into the national grid.

Over the past few years, the rooftop solar sector in Sri Lanka has expanded rapidly, driven by several government-backed incentives, regulatory reforms, and growing public awareness of environmental issues.

This expansion is also aligned with the country’s long-term goal of achieving 70 per cent renewable energy generation by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

Sri Lanka’s geographical location, with high solar irradiance throughout the year, offers ideal conditions for photovoltaic energy generation. As fuel prices and climate-related concerns rise globally, rooftop solar offers an increasingly attractive alternative, particularly in a country still recovering from an economic crisis and facing energy security challenges.

The CEB has also been actively working with international donors, private sector partners, and local communities to streamline solar grid integration, modernise infrastructure, and improve service delivery.

Future plans are expected to include further automation of metering, grid balancing technologies, and battery storage solutions to stabilise intermittent supply from renewables.

Energy analysts have welcomed this development but caution that continued investment in policy frameworks, grid modernisation, and affordable financing is necessary to sustain momentum.

They point to bureaucratic delays and connection bottlenecks that some solar users still face when linking to the national grid.

Nonetheless, the achievement of 1,700 MW installed capacity marks a promising turning point in Sri Lanka’s transition to renewable energy. It reflects not only the technical feasibility of large-scale rooftop solar adoption, but also growing public support for sustainable development at a grassroots level.

May 16, Colombo (LNW): At the 2025 International Nurses Day celebration held in Kandy, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya called for urgent attention to be given to improving the safety, working conditions, and overall wellbeing of women in the nursing profession.

The event, organised by the All Ceylon Nurses’ Union under the theme “Our Nurses, Our Future – Investing in Nursing Strengthens the Economy”, was attended by healthcare professionals, union leaders, and government officials.

Speaking at the Karaliya Hall, the Prime Minister emphasised that ensuring workplace safety extends beyond fair remuneration. It includes creating environments that protect women from exploitative conditions, social isolation, and unsafe work schedules.

Citing a moving personal account of a nurse who had worked two consecutive night shifts and barely had time to see her family, Amarasuriya highlighted the strain placed on many female health workers.

“Ninety percent of the nursing workforce consists of women, yet we must ask how and why this has happened. Is it societal expectation or systemic design?” she asked. “We have to stop seeing women as merely suited for caregiving roles and instead start building systems that support them to thrive both professionally and personally.”

The Prime Minister added that unsafe transport during night shifts, isolation in rural placements, and institutional pressures are real concerns that make workplaces hazardous for many women. She argued for structural changes that would allow women to balance their family responsibilities without sacrificing professional aspirations.

“We should not just be building an economy through nurses. We must build an economy that strengthens nurses. Their lives, happiness, and choices must matter just as much as economic productivity,” she asserted.

Dr. Amarasuriya also emphasised the need for supportive policies such as flexible working hours, better childcare support, secure transport, and an overall social environment that uplifts women professionals. She reflected on her own visits to hospitals following a recent bus accident in Garadiella and shared her admiration for the commitment of Sri Lankan nurses.

The commemorative event also saw the launch of the nursing-focused magazine ‘Hedakama’, presented to the Prime Minister and Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

Minister Jayatissa used the occasion to outline key reforms underway in Sri Lanka’s health system. With the country facing a rapidly ageing population and rising non-communicable diseases, he announced plans to establish 1,000 new primary outpatient care centres and significantly expand the nursing workforce.

“We are looking to recruit 3,147 nurses this year, along with 305 public health degree holders,” he said. “Our goal is to increase the current 40,000-strong nursing workforce to 60,000.”

Jayatissa also affirmed that the government would begin systematic degree-awarding for nurses through joint efforts by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Higher Education.

The move follows policy decisions taken at a recent meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, aimed at professionalising the nursing sector and improving career advancement opportunities.

The event was attended by several high-profile guests, including Deputy Minister Hansaka Wijemuni, Professor Damayanthi Dasanayake of the University of Peradeniya, and All Ceylon Nurses’ Union President Ravindra Kahandawaarachchi.

The 2025 International Nurses Day, commemorating the 205th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, served as a powerful platform to highlight the often invisible burdens carried by nurses—particularly women—and the need to reimagine healthcare not just as a system of services, but as one that also serves those who provide care.