Robert Knox, the British sailor, published ‘An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon’ in London in 1681. Perhaps Knox’s view was the best of an outsider in the early days of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, the paradise I call the ‘Island of Intrigue’.
Let me quote Knox. “The Kingdom of Conde Uda is strongly fortified by nature. For which way soever you enter into it, you must ascend vast and high mountains, and descend little or nothing. The ways are many, but very narrow, so that but one can go abreast. The hills are covered with wood and great rocks, so that ’tis scarce possible to get up anywhere, but only in the paths, in all which there are gates made of thorns, the one at the bottom, the other at the top of the hills, and two or three men always set to watch, who are to examine all that come and go, and see what they carry, that letters may not be conveyed, nor prisoners or other slaves run away.
“These watches, in case of opposition, are to call out to the towns near, who are to assist them. They oftentimes have no arms, for they are the people of the next towns. But their weapons to stop people are to charge them in the king’s name; which disobeyed, is so severely punished that none dare resist. These watches are but as sentinels to give notice; for in case of war and danger the king sends commanders and soldiers to lie here. But of this enough. These things being more proper to be related, when we come to discourse of the policy and strength of the kingdom.
“The one part of this island differs very much from the other, both in respect of the seasons and the soil. For when the westwardly winds blow, then it rains on the west side of the island, and that is the season for them to till their grounds. And at the same time on the east side is very fair and dry weather, and the time of their harvest.
“On the contrary, when the east winds blow, it is tilling time for those that inhabit the east parts and the harvest to those on the west. So that harvest is here in one part or other all the year long. These rains and this dry weather do part themselves about the middle of the land, as oftentimes I have seen, being on the other side of a mountain called Cauragas hirg, rainy and wet weather, and as soon as I came on the other, dry, and so exceeding hot, that I could scarcely walk on the ground, being, as the manner there is, barefoot.
“It rains far more in the highlands of Conde Uda, than in the lowlands beneath hills. The north end of this island is much subject to dry weather. I have known it for five or six years together so dry, (having no rains, and there is no other means of water but that, being but there springs of running water, that I know, or ever heard of) that they could not plough or sow, and scarcely could dig wells deep enough to get water to drink, and when they got it, it’s taste was brackish. At which time in other parts there wanted not rain; whither the northern people were forced to come to buy food. Let thus much suffice to have spoken of the countries, soil, and nature of this island in general.”
I wish people had the intellectual curiosity of Knox to understand what this island means. How could just a 65,000 square kilometre island be so diverse, not only in terms of race, caste, creed, weather, seasons, language, religion, biodiversity, and behaviour of its people?
How about the nation’s ability to unite in a calamity but be so hateful when things are everyday? Betrayals, gossip, and bloodshed are natural play. Yet, the same people can dine, wine, and dance together at a wedding as if nothing happened. How could this happen in a relatively small country with only 22 million people? This is why Sri Lanka is the ‘Island of Intrigue’.
A voice to the rebel spirit
As I sit with a cup of coffee in hand, Bob Dylan’s voice swells through the room, which is my four walls of sanctuary. His harmonica cuts the silence. His guitar weaves a rhythm that tugs at something more profound.
‘The Times They Are A-Changin’’ is one of the most iconic protest songs of the 20th century. It’s not just a song for me; it’s a voice to the rebel spirit I have always carried within. Each lyric reminds us that the world is shifting and that we are part of something larger.
But here is a thought: do you ever feel that certain moments in life are more than just fleeting experiences? Maybe they shape us in ways we don’t realise at first. Dylan’s voice pulls me back and I’m one of 17 million regular listeners of his on Spotify, but at this moment it feels like he’s singing directly to me. Have you ever felt that from a song?
This same spirit has been at the core of my writing since 16 August 2023; I have been delving deep into the most complex Presidential Election Sri Lanka has seen since 1982. It’s been a political case study: political manoeuvring, alliances built and broken, and the weight of history pressing down on every decision. But more than that, it’s been a personal journey.
For 13 months, I have written a full-page newspaper column, pushing myself to reflect deeply on not just the candidates or the policies but the entire system. The intensity and scrutiny can wear anyone down. But in that I have found clarity. Do you ever wonder how much of yourself is revealed under pressure?
Collective introspection
It’s easy to get caught up in the noise of a Presidential Election: the speeches, the promises, the predictions about who will come out on top. But for me, that’s not where the real story lies. It’s in what comes after. In the wake of all the excitement, what will remain?
Like millions of Sri Lankans, I’m not just hoping for change; I am hoping for lasting, meaningful progress. It’s not about who holds the office; it’s about whether Sri Lanka can finally take those steps toward becoming the nation we all dream of. But here’s the tricky part: the dream isn’t enough. There is a method to everything, a strategy to make even the loftiest hopes grounded in reality. The times may change, but are you willing to change with them?
If we are honest, Sri Lanka’s future doesn’t rest in the hands of one leader. It rests in all of us. After 21 September, we must face the truth as a nation and as individuals. This election might be the spark, but if we are serious about our prosperity, a collective self-reflection is overdue.
How many of us want change in the country without wanting to change ourselves? We are quick to point out the flaws in our leaders, our institutions, and our society. But when the mirror is held up, it’s easier to say: “I am fine; the problem is out there.” It’s not an easy conversation, but it needs to happen if we ever hope to move forward. Isn’t it time we asked ourselves what our leaders can do and what we are willing to do?
Dylan is not whispering to me, but he is loud to my ears with his unorthodox voice.
Come gather ’round people,
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’
In another six days, 17.1 million voters will be at the polling booths. I pray that they will vote with their heads or hearts but not with hate. A hate vote will not do any good for the country.
Digital electoral warfare
On 16 August 2023 I wrote: ‘Next Presidential Election: Win the digital war to win the election’. To quote the article: “Given the ground realities at present, no single party will gain a majority. This is not rocket science. The ground reality may change if economic conditions improve and national security is not a concern.
“However, analysing data patterns, I think that no candidate would have a 25% bloc vote at the start of the campaign. It would be a surprise if anyone could achieve it within the next few months unless an economic miracle takes place. It all depends on whether it is a two-way or three-way competition. I guess it will be three-way unless serious back-channelling occurs (though this may be expected).”
Fast forward to today, the median opinion of multiple credible pollsters was that not a single candidate had 25% of the vote at the start of the campaign and when I wrote on 4 August that there was a 40% block of undecided voters in the country, many senior political leaders, experts, and thought leaders echoed the same sentiments. Today, there is a minimum of 20% undecided voters, just six days before election day. The election is evenly poised; the winning candidate has to convert a minimum of 75% of the undecided vote whilst holding onto the decided vote.
“A candidate must build an alliance and compromise significantly to accommodate diverse political ideologies, cultures, personalities, commercial interests, and plum ministerial positions. The ‘Yahapalana’ alliance was bad, but the upcoming presidential campaign alliance will have to go beyond. I fear the consequences of a similar coalition for the country.
“Still, the winning candidate would not have an option and must have a grand alliance that has never been built in the post-independence history of Sri Lanka. Also, we must not forget the interests of China, India, the US, Russia, and Japan in the next Presidential Election. Sri Lanka is the heart of the Indian Ocean, and stability in the Indian Ocean is essential to all stakeholders. It’s a complex situation which requires careful manoeuvring.”
Fast forward to today, alliances with bizarre bedfellows have been the recipe for most key candidates.
“Digital media is dangerous. It’s a sharp sword. It would help if you handled it with care. Conventional media cannot control spikes and uprisings in digital media. It can only be killed by digital media. Fake news will never die in Sri Lanka. Gossip is part of our life and digital media will amplify the discourse.
“Don’t get me wrong. Conventional campaigning methods are essential, but digital is the hero. There won’t be thousands at election rallies. The candidate who pastes posters will be looked down upon. Youth will be against soft bribes, such as alcohol and gifts, which will be recorded and shared in real-time.
“Candidates’ lives will be on display. Policies will be necessary, but every policy will have many faces. Candidates will have to stand for every policy staunchly, and also it will depend on who will be the candidate’s supporting messengers. The message and messenger are equally essential to build credibility. Even if you create an excellent statement, finding credible and skilful messengers will be a challenging task.”
Fast forward to today. It has been a digital-dominated election; even television and newspapers have dominated the digital space, and together with conventional digital assets, they have shaped public discourse.
“In 2024, whoever wins the digital war will be the country’s president. Also, it will be the first Presidential Election since 2005 without Mahinda Rajapaksa’s euphoria. This will be an epic case study worth following.”
Fast forward to today, and I stand by this statement: the next president will be the one who dominates the digital discourse during the campaign period. With six days to go, anything could happen in this evenly poised election.
For the next six days, a candidate should forget their past laurels and start at zero, focusing on the next six days with ruthless execution. This is like the 4x100 m relay, and at the start of the final 100 metres, athletes have little difference between them and it’s no time to celebrate who led the last 300 metres. It’s about who crosses the tape first at the finishing line.
Power of unity and hope
On 13 April, I wrote ‘Power of unity’. To quote from the article: “I appeal to Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) to run a presidential campaign without arousing the emotions of vulnerable people but to fight on policy and, of course, to punish the wrongdoers once elected within the provisions of legality and due process. I have enjoyed the rise of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to the forefront since 1994, denouncing violence. I have no doubt that the JVP is for national unity as for the founding principles of the party.
“I am certain that Sajith Premadasa will follow the footsteps of his father Ranasinghe Premadasa – a true socialist and hero to the poor. In fact, at the 2019 Presidential Election, Premadasa polled over 70% of the so-called minority vote. I wish I would not have to use the word minority anymore.
“I appeal to Ravi Karunanayake, Sagala Ratnayaka, and Ruwan Wijewardene who are spearheading the Wickremesinghe campaign to stay true to the United National Party (UNP) principles and Wickremesinghe’s long-standing policy of national unity – a policy he was at the receiving end for decades but never wavered.”
For the first time in history, every candidate has stood for national unity in this election. Racism was not a factor in the election, although it cannot be eliminated. This is why I believe, the times they are a-changin’.
On 21 April I wrote ‘The mystery of hope,’ and I quote: “In the last few months, devotees of the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya have donated Rs. 100 million for the cancer project. A four-storey hospital premises at Maharagama with 25,000 square feet and 76 beds is nearing completion. Many silently donated money and many more supported the hospital project in different ways. This is paving the way for an ambitious project to build a much larger hospital premises, due to the year-on-year increase in cancer incidence in the country.
“The seven-storey building with 500 beds and facilities could cost Rs. 1 billion ($ 3.3 million). It looks like a significant amount. However, it’s simple: you need a million devotees donating Rs. 1,000 ($ 3.3) each. This same formula, one day, can be adopted by any charity, which could provide transparency. Rs. 1,000 is one beer and a cigarette; half of a movie ticket in a premium theatre; one-fifth of a buffet at a hotel.
“Within five days, the core team of volunteers reached out to a few billionaires, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and a set of people who didn’t have money to contribute but who would give minds, arms, and legs. A bank came forward to facilitate the donations, a multinational corporation committed technology to facilitate digital transactions, and a digital media company came on board pro bono to build a sustainable narrative.
“Within hours, 32 powerful digital assets under our collective command committed to the cause. A few of my colleagues in different parts of the world committed to amplifying the narrative. A well-known audit firm will be called to scrutinise every transaction to create transparency. An iron-clad process is vital to uphold the sanctity of the initiative. People from all over the world are flocking. Isn’t this amazing?
“The power of unity, the power of people, and the power of Sri Lankans with the support of non-Sri Lankans were on display.”
The 76-bed cancer hospital was declared open to children. There were no politicians. Even I stayed away from the opening ceremony. The next is the 500 bed cancer hospital, and I am confident it will happen. I asked Basnayake Nilame Dishan Gunasekera to ensure the fund’s transparency and allow anyone to scrutinise it. A digital portal will showcase real-time donations in the future.
However, Gunasekera did the unthinkable: he published the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya annual report for public consumption. This is why I believe, ‘the times they are a-changin’’.
More than a step forward
This Presidential Election has been unlike any I can remember for all the right reasons. The Election Commission took control with an intensity that was both refreshing and necessary. Campaign funding was reined in and media regulation was enforced with success. Swift action was taken when lines were crossed, although there were isolated incidents.
It wasn’t perfect, of course, but it felt like a step toward a cleaner, more accountable process. For a nation that has seen its fair share of chaotic political stage play, this level of oversight was commendable and vital for fostering trust in the system. Could this be the turning point we have been waiting for?
But beyond the regulation, what stands out most for me is something unprecedented in my living memory – an election without a single killing, without looming fear of physical threats or intimidation. In a country where violence has so often accompanied political shifts, this feels like a profound change.
Moments like this make me believe Dylan’s words, “the times they are a-changin’”. We are seeing something new unfold, a glimpse of a future where dialogue, not fear, shapes a country’s destiny. The question is: will we keep this momentum going?
This Presidential Election was fresh air for journalism in Sri Lanka. For a country that has often seen journalists’ voices silenced through violence, threats, and intimidation, this fearless reporting was a significant shift. The media could do its job without looking over its shoulder for the first time in years.
Civic leaders and journalists who once faced dangers for speaking the truth could hold the powers that be accountable without any fear of retribution. Nothing was perfect, but it is an acceptable ground compared to what it used to be. That alone is a sign of real progress we have been yearning for. Isn’t this what a democracy should look like?
Of course, only some things were perfect. Some media outlets leaned heavily toward one side, depending on their affiliations, agendas, and loyalties. Bias will always be a factor, depending on where you stand. Yet, what truly matters is that none were physically harmed and there were no reports of silent intimidation.
However, some journalists were bullied and criticised for their communication. This is more than a step forward in a land where such threats once cast long shadows over free speech. It’s a leap. The times they are a-changin’. The only question left is: will we build on this newfound freedom?
Sri Lanka’s immense potential
On 8 September, I wrote, ‘The island of intrigue,’ and I quote: “Will Wickremesinghe’s stability and growth story prevail? Or will Premadasa’s promise of good governance and story of a social market economy triumph? Or will AKD’s ‘system overhaul’ overhaul the election? Or is it the time of the dark horse? Or will this election upend everything we thought we knew?
“As the campaigns of Wickremesinghe, Premadasa, and AKD gather momentum, not by choice but by necessity due to the proximity of election day, there is an air of premature triumph within each camp. But history warns us against such early celebrations. Overconfidence has been the downfall of many; the political stage is littered with stories of those who thought they had victory in the bag, only to be blindsided by an electorate that refused to follow the script.”
Sri Lanka has immense potential to prosper if we can break free from some of our habits. We see it every day: talent, resilience, and natural resources at our fingertips. But here’s the catch: for real progress, our key players, politicians, religious leaders, journalists, and businesses must find a way to excel in their lanes without leaning on each other for survival. It’s a tangled web of dependency that stifles our growth and keeps us from realising the full strength of what Sri Lanka could be.
Of course, complete independence isn’t realistic; we are, after all, interconnected. But indeed, there’s common ground, an operating model, a system, and a balanced way for Sri Lanka to function. We must redefine our boundaries and decide where collaboration is healthy and when it crosses into unhealthy dependency. This is a country where everyone seems to know how to do everyone else’s job but fails miserably at their own jobs. How much further could we go if we committed to mastering our roles before meddling in someone else’s?
Can you imagine a Sri Lanka where each sector thrives on its merit and where power is not traded but earned? Where love is not acquired but earned? Where respect is not demanded but earned?
To this end, Sri Lanka needs a leader and a governing system that understands the value of rewarding the good but dares to punish the wrong – a leader who can balance justice and wisdom. People will never know what to avoid if justice is not based on reason. Similarly, if the rewards are unfair and unequally distributed, people will not know what to strive for.
Today is my last column in Sri Lanka. I have shunned fame all my life and continued the same way. In the previous 13 months, I have avoided electronic and digital media in Sri Lanka while disappointing a few friends.
My work and association with a set of global thinkers helped me understand how India, China, the US, Russia, and Japan look at Sri Lanka. Journalists, critics, thought leaders, and senior corporate and public sector leaders in Sri Lanka continued speaking to me. All were earned relationships; none were acquired but earned through the years, some through the decades. When they talked to me, I listened.
It’s the chaos and the complexity they brought me that helped me to seek clarity. Many thought Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, chief architect of Bodu Bala Sena, who is on bail, would unleash racism and lay a foundation for violence to scuttle the election. I met the venerable thera on 13 August at 11 a.m. at his temple and listened to him for four hours. He never appeared in the public domain after that. I leave it there.
Writing this column over the past 13 months, I thought I would lose some personal relationships, but that was not the case.
I will continue to write for global publications and assets and am committed to speaking about the power of South Asia in international corridors whilst growing multiple ventures I co-founded. My colleagues and partners reminded me that especially the Western world should hear what South Asia is all about. A region home to over two billion souls, talent, culture, religion, human behaviour, intelligence and stupidity, wisdom and madness, the food we eat, the gods we worship, how we drive on the road, the games we play, humility and arrogance; with all this South Asia is a miracle.
Until we meet again, someday, somewhere. Remember, the times they are a-changin’.