By Sarath Dissanayake –
Sarath Dissanayake
For a nation-state, its independence marks the birth of the nation and serves as a foundational landmark in its historical evolution. The Fourth of July celebrates the birth of American independence from the British Empire. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence.
Spirits of the Birth of America and Its Revolution
The importance of the 1776 Declaration of Independence can hardly be overstated. Primarily drafted by the American Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson, it established for the first time in world history a new nation based on the first principles of the rule of law. human equality, individual unalienable rights, government by consent and the right to alter or abolish oppressive governments. The declaration is primarily served to rally troops, win foreign allies, and announce the creation of a sovereign country. The decision was driven by widespread frustration over colonial “taxation without representation,” oppressive trade laws, and the suppression of self-governance. Being the first nation to declare the establishment of a sovereign state in history, the United States independence provided a democratic pathway that directly inspired subsequent uprisings, such as the French Revolution and independence movements world-wide.
Because a nation’s history is shaped by countless pivotal eras, the following four major turning points are widely recognized as reshaping America’s future trajectory;
* American Revolution (1775–1783): The founding of the United States as an independent republic fundamentally altered global political philosophy.
* American Civil War (1861–1865): The Union victory abolished slavery, redefined American citizenship, and established federal supremacy over state governments
*World War II (1939–1945): Pulled America out of the Great Depression, cemented its industrial dominance, and transformed it into a global superpower.
The post-9/11 Era (2001): September 11, 2001, reshaped modern domestic security, foreign policy, and the American mindset in the 21st century.
These historic milestones honor America’s founding principles of liberty and self-government, while also reflecting on how those ideals have evolved over two and a half centuries. The semi quincentennial will serve as both a celebration and reflection of American history, its evolution as a developed nation, and champion of human spirit and democracy in the 21st century, and the nation’s continuing pursuit of a more perfect union.
250th Anniversary Celebrations on 04th July 2026: Freedom 250
President Donald Trump in a brief message on the eve of America’s 250th birthday, announced that on July 4, 2026, America will celebrate the country’s 250 years of Independence. “With a single sheet of parchment and 56 signatures, America began the greatest political journey in human history,” said President Trump of this momentous anniversary. Under the President’s leadership, the Salute to America 250 Task Force (Task Force 250) is executing a full year of festivities, which began on Memorial Day – 2025, which will continue through the end of 2026. As Americans look toward the future, the 250th anniversary serves as both a celebration of resilience and a commitment to advancing their democracy.
250 Years of American Legacy, Evolution and Turnaround (1776 – 2026)
Attempting to recount 250 years of American history is nearly an impossible and overwhelming task, given its sheer volume and archaic foundations. As such, the narratives of the last 5 decades from 1976-2026 have been exclusively dealt with in this write-up as an evolving story, examining the modern shifts that have shaped this nation from a layman’s perspective.
America’s Transformation from Industrial Revolution to Digital Age (from 1976 -2026)
The year is 1976. Red, white, and blue banners flutter across a country nursing a profound national hangover. The United States is celebrating its Bicentennial, but the mood is a complex mix of patriotism and exhaustion. The scars of the Vietnam War are fresh, the Watergate scandal has shattered public trust in the presidency, and the economy is choking on stagflation. Citizens look to the future with a deep sense of uncertainty, wondering if America’s best days are locked in the past.
Yet, beneath the economic gloom, a quiet revolution is taking shape in the garage workshops of California. The industrial might that once defined American power – the smoke-belching steel mills and assembly lines – is beginning to give way to silicon. In 1976, two young dropouts named Apple Computer, and by 1981, IBM introduced the Personal Computer. When President Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, he championed an era of deregulation, tax cuts, and fierce anti-communist rhetoric. The American landscape begins to shift from physical suburbs to digital networks, setting the stage for an unprecedented economic boom.
By the time the 1990s dawn, the geopolitical chessboard changed forever. The Soviet Union collapses, leaving America as the world’s lone, undisputed superpower. Simultaneously, the military-designed Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) blossoms into the public Internet. Silicon Valley has become the economic engine of the world. Software, search engines, and digital marketplaces redefine how humanity communicates, shops, and works. Prosperity feels limitless, and the new millennium arrives amid dazzling fireworks and optimism for a globalized, interconnected future.
The terrorist attacks of 9/11 plunge America into a new kind of conflict: the War on Terror. The homeland is radically restructured with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the implementation of sweeping surveillance laws. American troops invade Afghanistan and Iraq, embarking on the longest military campaigns in the nation’s history. The initial unity that gripped the country after the tragedy slowly erodes into exhaustion and political division.
Domestic instability deepens in 2008 when the housing bubble bursts, triggering the Great Recession. Millions lose their homes and savings, exposing deep structural cracks in the American dream. Out of this economic pain, the nation elects its first African American president, Barack Obama, signaling a historic cultural milestone. Yet, the financial recovery is uneven, leaving vast swaths of the working class feeling abandoned by the political establishment.
The mid-2010s transformation leads to the birth of the smartphone, algorithm, and social media era, and the convergence of these three technologies paves the way for the creation of the inter-connected digital ecosystem that we rely on today. This period fundamentally rewrites communication, shifting human behavior, and global connectivity. The convergence of these core pillars during this timeframe fundamentally alters the modern landscape, where algorithms and social media platforms begin to curate human reality. Instead of bringing people together, the digital age accelerates political polarization, directly fueling the fracturing of traditional political norms witnessed in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the 2020s arrive with a series of historic shocks. A global pandemic paralyzes the economy, claims over a million American lives, and forces a radical rethinking of modern work. Meanwhile, the geopolitical landscape shifts again as an aggressive China and a revisionist Russia challenge American hegemony abroad.
Today, in 2026, America stands at its Semi quincentennial. The nation is a hyper-connected, technologically dominant superpower driving the frontiers of Artificial Intelligence and commercial space exploration. Yet, it remains locked in a cold cultural civil war, intensely debating the boundaries of its democracy, the freedom of its institutions, and the true meaning of its founding promise. The fragile experiment that began in 1976 with a bicentennial reflection continues unfinished, loud, resilient, and always evolving.
American Dream and Unparalleled Development: 1976 – 2026
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the nation stands at a profound historical crossroads. In 1976, America celebrated its 200th birthday in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. 50 years later, the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary (America 250), highlighting two and a half centuries of the American experiment. Exactly 50 years ago, on the morning of July 4, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford published a national proclamation noting that the country had “begun a great adventure which stirred the imagination and quickened the hopes of men and women throughout the world.” He reminded a weary public that “the great American adventure continues.”
Looking back at the last five decades (1976 – 2026) reveals a remarkable period of growth and monumental transformation in America’s geo-political, socio-economic and historical landscape. From the digital revolution to unprecedented shifts in strategic, defense, political and economic frontiers, space exploration, civil rights and global health, the last half a century has proven to be one of the most dynamic chapters in the nation’s story. America’s phenomenal advancements in science and technology to historic breakthroughs of the human spirit, the past fifty years have offered some incredible moments that have left indelible marks on America’s legacy / history. Even after 50 years, these events still have the ability to inspire and captivate the imagination as they present real-life examples of what human ingenuity, hard work, and valor can accomplish.
Today, America is in transition vis-a-vis intense domestic political polarization, social, societal and cultural divide, amidst a highly fractured global landscape. At 250, America’s strength has never been defined by permanent domestic harmony or effortless global dominance. Instead, its enduring power lies in its capacity for resilience, its ability to adapt to technological revolutions, confront its shortcomings, and its ongoing debate over its role as the anchor of the international system. In essence, the story of America’s last 50 years remains a testament to American resilience and its capacity for rapid reinvention – amidst a complex evolution in how America projects its power across the world as the world’s undisputed superpower
Closing Remarks
Over the past two and a half centuries, the United States has evolved from a loose alliance of 13 British colonies in 1776, into a global superpower in the 21st century. This transformation is rooted in two centuries of continuous narrative of growth, industrial revolution and innovation, that shaped the modern nation. As America marks its 250th anniversary, the Semi-quincentennial serves as a powerful bridge between the bold ideals set in motion in 1776, and the evolving promise of the nation’s future. It is a moment to honor the resilience of those who forged and defended the republic, and an invitation for all Americans to carry the torch of liberty, opportunity, and unity forward for the next 250 years. In closing, let me extend my best wishes to all Americans a truly joyous 250th anniversary and continued blessings for the future.
“No man is good enough to govern another man without the other’s consent” – 16th US President, Abraham Lincoln.
*The writer is a retired Ambassador and Foreign Ministry Spokesman. He can be reached at schandrad@hotmail.com)
nimal fernando / July 4, 2026
“America Is the Only Country That Went from Barbarism to Decadence Without Civilization In Between”
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You have made it worse, Sarath …… since your arrival! :)))
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Wish Buddha was around to help.
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Sarath / July 5, 2026
Nimal
You tend to think the native Americans would have been better off under the British. But historians have mixed opinions on the situ. They believe, the 1776 Revolution, despite all seemingly odds- obvious costs and excesses, brought semblance and long-term tangible benefits not only for those citizens of the post-independent United States but even for countries elsewhere. They argue that had native Americans remained under Britain, their situation would have been no different, and that without the 1776 Revolution, the natives would have been worst off, given the widespread hostilities prevailed between the British and natives. Indeed, a far stronger case can be made that without the American Revolution, the Native Americans would have suffered longer and their situ would have been no better, and that the emancipation of slaves in the British West Indies and elsewhere in Asia and Africa would have been significantly delayed, and the condition of European colonists throughout the British empire, not just those in what became the United States, would have been worse than otherwise. Of course, there can be arguments against, which after all is debatable on merits and demerits of the arguments. Thanks
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old codger / July 5, 2026
I wish to nit-pick, as usual.
The worthy Sarath writes: “that the emancipation of slaves in the British West Indies and elsewhere in Asia and Africa would have been significantly delayed, “
The fact is that slavery in British territories was legally abolished by 1838, before the US.
“British Caribbean (1834–1838): Influenced heavily by revolts like Sharpe’s Rebellion in Jamaica, the British Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act. Of course, slavery continued in modified form even in the US.”
“a far stronger case can be made that without the American Revolution, the Native Americans would have suffered longer”
Not really, because much of what later became the US was not British but Spanish. It was the colonists who wanted westward expansion into Native lands.
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Jit / July 6, 2026
OC, not really! If you have a deep look at the ‘institutional skeleton’ – the wheels that the country moves on, i.e: the judiciary, law, government, political philosophy, language, music, entertainment and so on.. then you will see a very high presence of British ghosts and souls all around ;) Britain has been overwhelmingly their dominant influence in many spheres up until today. Spanish influence is confined to mainly in the Southwest, Florida, and California regions but have not been able to overtake the main factors I’ve already mentioned.
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old codger / July 6, 2026
Jit,
What I meant was that Spanish possessions in North America were much larger than the 13 East Coast colonies that became the US.
Practically everything West of the Mississipi from Nevada and California to New Mexico and Texas was Spanish (later Mexican) What was in between was Native. The US “purchased ” California for $ 15 million.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Guadalupe_Hidalgo
Mexico was bigger than the US for quite a while.🙂
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Jit / July 9, 2026
OC, wasn’t it a kind of ‘thuggery’ payment of $15m by the Americans after the Mexicans lost the War (1846–1848). I meant ‘thuggery’ as even by 17th century values, the land package surely was worth more than $150m because the money was not only for California but to grab Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado as well. It looks there had been so many Donald Trumps in their history 😂
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Sarath / July 6, 2026
OC
Abolishing slavery earlier did not mean the British treated enslaved people better than the US. Both empires subjected millions to brutal, dehumanizing conditions. Britain’s earlier abolition was primarily driven by economic factors and intense domestic political pressure, rather than a more humane approach to the institution.
By the way as regards British Caribbean, the historical evidence overwhelmingly shows that enslaved people there had endured significantly worse living conditions such as higher death rates, and shorter life expectancies than those in the American South. For instance, British sugar colonies in the Caribbean (like Jamaica and Barbados) had some of the highest mortality rates of any enslaved populations in history. The grueling labor of sugar production was so deadly that many plantation owners explicitly chose to work enslaved people to death and purchase new captives from Africa, as the cost of importing new enslaved labor was often cheaper than keeping existing ones alive.
Anyway, bottom line is that neither British nor American slavery was “better,” as both were brutal, dehumanizing systems of chattel slavery. .
Thanks.
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old codger / July 6, 2026
Sarath,
“Abolishing slavery earlier did not mean the British treated enslaved people better than the US”
No, but it proves that they came to their senses earlier, though slavery continued under different names.
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Sarath / July 7, 2026
OC,
Yes. Though the British established significant legal precedents on the abolition of slavery with good intentions (before the US), certain flaws in the legislation prevented the 1833 Act from delivering true liberation, primarily in view of following.
1) Enslaved people were not immediately freed; they were forced to undergo a 4-to-6-year “apprenticeship” period, which effectively prolonged their unpaid, forced labor.
2) The British government borrowed massive sums to compensate the enslavers for the loss of their “property,” saddling the public with debt while providing absolutely no reparations or financial support to the formerly enslaved.
Otherwise, it is certainly the British who got the wheels in motion. Thanks
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old codger / July 7, 2026
Sarath,
Actually, the Spanish/ Mexicans were even earlier. The last colonial Governor was of African descent, and the President in who freed the slaves in 1829 was of African descent too.
https://caamuseum.org/learn/600state/black-history/blackhistory-on-september-15-1829-afro-mestizo-mexican-president-vicente-ramon-guerrero-issued-the-guerrero-decree-which-prohibited-slavery-in-most-of-mexico
The US didn’t have a black President until Obama.
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Sarath / July 7, 2026
OC,
This is certainly news, as to how Spanish Empire and colonial Mexico (New Spain) played a massive role in the history of slavery.. Certainly it sounds interesting, doesn’t ?. Indeed there is lot to learn from history. Thanks for sharing.
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old codger / July 7, 2026
Sarath,
It might interest you that the real history of the US is not quite the inclusive March of freedom that it is portrayed to be. Check out why it took 175 years for a Catholic to become President, and the treatment of “white” Irish early on (as bad as blacks). Also the Chinese Labour on the railways.
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
OC
The American historical narrative often focuses heavily on its democratic ideals, but you are highlighting vital, challenging realities of its past. The experiences of Catholics, early Irish immigrants, and Chinese laborers reveal a much more complex history of inclusion and exclusion. There’s lot to learn from history, and the kind of complexities on the US side of narratives often seem far from the realities. Thanks
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SJ / July 7, 2026
oc
there is something about the Latins, especially Spaniards and Portuguese, that the Germanics and Anglo-Saxons seem to lack.
They readily mixed with locals and even immigrants.
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George Mikes in his “How to Tango” discussing race in Brazil noted that a person who was considered White became a non-white overnight when he lost his wealth.
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old codger / July 8, 2026
SJ,
The Latins weren’t very good to “heathens”, but they regarded Christians of whatever colour as equal generally.
Maybe it had something to do with having been under Moorish rule for 800 years?
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SJ / July 8, 2026
oc
I am inclined to agree
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SJ / July 5, 2026
The expansion of the USA across the continent was murderous. Check out on that before patronizing the victims.
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Sarath / July 6, 2026
SJ
Evaluating whether British slavery was “more human” (or humane) than United States continental expansion is a complex comparison of two distinct historical atrocities. The expansion of the USA was devastating to Indigenous populations, while British colonial slavery was a system of chattel labor.
Prior to its abolition in the 1830s, the British Empire operated one of the largest and most brutal slave trades in history. Enslaved Africans in British colonies (such as Jamaica) were subjected to grueling labor, high mortality rates, and systemic violence.
On the question whether British were more humane than the US, historical consensus does not classify either system as “humane”. While some comparative historians argue that the conditions for enslaved people in the 19th-century American South allowed for natural population growth (unlike the British Caribbean, where death rates often outpaced births due to extreme conditions), chattel slavery inherently relied on total dehumanization, torture, and forced servitude.
So both the British Empire and the United States earned undeniable notoriety in the history of slavery through their massive participation in the transatlantic slave trade and their foundational reliance on brutal, race-based chattel labor.
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SJ / July 6, 2026
S
Please do some serious reading of North America’s history before giving history lessons
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Sarath / July 7, 2026
SJ
Please read the preface (pages viii – xi) of the book “Slavery and Social Death” (A Comparative Study – by Orlando Patterson. This sheds light on slavery in the Western World / North America and certain false premises and prejudices.
You may read (On page viii, please check out from the last para onwards)
” In the Western world the paradox is compounded by another historical
enigma. Slavery is associated not only with the development of advanced
economies, but also with the emergence of several of the most profoundly
cherished ideals and beliefs in the Western tradition ……………………………….
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LankaScot / July 8, 2026
Hello Sarath,
I just love the way that you quote text out of context. e.g. ” ….in the Western Tradition ……….. ” (pages viii – xi of Preface)
The next sentence reads “The idea of freedom and the concept of property were both intimately bound up with the rise of slavery, their very antithesis. The great innovators not only took slavery for granted, they insisted on its necessity to their way of life. In doing so, they were guilty not of some unfathomable lapse of logic, but rather of admirable candor”.
Changes the meaning doesn’t it?
Best regards
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
LS
This is something I missed out completely. It is good that you are now at the wheel, and I prefer the back seat. Thanks for the pointer. Cheers
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Lester / July 9, 2026
Sarath:
From what I know, machines were primitive at the time. Manual labor was essential. Africans (blacks) could work long hours in plantations (whether in the South of the US or the Caribbean), unlike most other groups. In fact, the Europeans first enslaved Red Indians , but this choice proved less than feasible.
So I think the primary motivation for slavery in the Americas was not necessarily “racism” (at least at the beginning), but access to cheap labor. Some of the plantations were vast and required daily labor input from dozens of slaves. Racism was used, at least partially, to justify the existence of the system of slavery, because the scale of the latter necessitated it.
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Sarath / July 9, 2026
Lester,
You are right. The primary motive for Americans to use slavery was extreme financial gain driven by an abundance of fertile land and a severe shortage of labor. Enslaved labor allowed white landowners to build massive agricultural wealth at virtually no labor cost.
On your second point, Europeans did initially enslave Indigenous Americans. However, the practice ultimately failed due to a combination of factors, namely, because Indigenous people were prone to diseases, and possessed a vast knowledge of the local terrain making escape easy, and in the end, died in massive numbers. This forced colonists to shift to enslaved African labor.
But the Spanish, mostly relied on other sources, viz, the Portuguese, Dutch, and British to supply labour workforce. So the enslaved Africans were in high demand and were used throughout Americas, Caribbean etc in farmlands, sugar-producing regions like the Caribbean and Cuba, and their labor sustained much of the empire’s colonial economy resulted in a big demand.
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LankaScot / July 6, 2026
Hello SJ,
Here’s a small example – The Massacre at Wounded Knee – https://www.britannica.com/event/Wounded-Knee-Massacre. The Genocide of Various Indigenous Tribes was systematic. The USA did it long before Israel. “The Lakota were required to adopt Western dress, learn English, observe Christian principles, and abandon traditional religion”.
Best regards
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SJ / July 6, 2026
LS
Thank you
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nimal fernando / July 7, 2026
LS,
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That’s OC’s contribution to the arts. …….. https://youtu.be/K2snTkaD64U?si=XwGgp7295w9Tz12d
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You know how these things pan out: be careful ……… don’t end up on the sofa ……. or worse, the doghouse.
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Looks like Sarath has landed far away from the sofa ……… his writing is sorta ……’from the battle front.’ :))))
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Sarath, no offence, just taking the mickey outta you …….
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Sarath / July 7, 2026
Nimal, LS
No worries. It’s business as is usual, and plain sailing out here, and probably on all fronts. Keep sharing. Thanks
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LankaScot / July 7, 2026
Hello Nimal,
I must say you have good taste in Women. Elīna Garanča exudes Sensuality in a way that most younger women can’t. Sofas and Slippers – no thanks.
Best regards
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old codger / July 7, 2026
Nimal,
I don’t blame you for your attraction to Elina. Did you know she’s wearing a wig?
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LankaScot / July 8, 2026
Hello OC,
One of my Colleagues vacationed in Thailand and discovered back in the Hotel that his “Date” was wearing more than a wig.
To be fair to Elina, most of the times I have seen her on screen she was Blonde. I think she’s Latvian, but speaks perfect English with a slight accent. It makes no difference Blonde or Brunette, still beautiful.
Best regards
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old codger / July 9, 2026
LS,
Yes, she’s Latvian, beautiful and blonde. 😆
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LankaScot / July 5, 2026
Hello Sarath,
British Abolition “The Slave Trade Act of 1807 abolished the buying, selling, and transportation of enslaved people throughout the British Empire” Full emancipation in 1833
American Abolition (USA) December 18, 1865 after the Civil War, “The 13th Amendment (Passed January 31, 1865; Ratified December 6, 1865):
I researched the Scottish Ownership of Slaves in Jamaica after I found some dubious entries in the 1841 Scottish Census that matched the Jamaican Slave Ownership Records. Many of the Slave Owners were Scots. “Professor Geoff Palmer … estimates around 70 per cent of the names in current Jamaica telephone directories are of Scottish origin”.
“Recovering Scotland’s Slavery Past: The Caribbean Connection” T. M. Devine 2015.
So what happened when the Slaves were freed? –
“When Britain abolished slavery in 1833, it compensated British slave owners for their “loss of property” with a £20 million loan, with Jamaica receiving approximately £6.1 million (the largest share among the colonies).
Debating whether Slavery would have been abolished earlier if the British remained in charge is pointless, they both committed atrocities. You can’t change the Past
Isn’t it Ironic that most of the Scots Slave Owners were Freemasons – also known as the “Brotherhood”.
Best regards
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Sarath / July 6, 2026
LS
Just did quick comparison between the British and American slavery, and who was less brutal/ notorious than the other. Please note the following, for what it’s worth.
Essentially the British empire – spanned across much of Asia, Africa and Latin America, arguably engaged in systematic slavery and kept people enslaved overseas in the Empire or transported them throughout the colonies numbering over 50’s, whereas the US were buying them in to work on their cotton farms and most of them lived on farms within the US territory, unlike the British who had a vast network of slavery traders across much of its territories.
In India, the British placed the populace into servitude to themselves and the export trade – forcing all commodities to be transported through Britain leading to more money. African enslavement was a booming trade. Whole tribes were enslaved, and taken to British colonies for sale and hard labour. Once there the British sailed them to America where they were sold to the land owners. In short, Britain saw slaves as a commodity to trade with America. America saw them as forced labour.
Well, that’s the kind of slavery prevailed across much of the British empire and US. So however much one may try to justify (Either the British or Americans had treated the slaves better than the other), history proves otherwise. Neither British nor American slavery was any “better” as both were brutal, dehumanizing systems of chattel slavery. Thanks
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Sarath / July 7, 2026
LS,
Thanks for the comments which obviously open a Pandora’s box on Scottish ownerships and their share of slavery trade. As you have rightly put it, no amount of words could whitewash the pathetic tales of slavery, the appealing state of victims and the ignoble conduct of masters.
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Lester / July 7, 2026
Sarath:
It is worth mentioning: nearly all ancient civilizations had slavery. “Unofficial slavery” is still practiced in some parts of the Gulf and North Africa.
The Gulf States
“Unofficial slavery often takes the form of forced labor through the Kafala (Sponsorship) System.
Worker Binding: A migrant worker’s legal residency is tied entirely to a local employer, or kafeel.Passport Confiscation: Employers routinely take away worker passports, trapping them in the country.Debt Bondage: Workers pay massive, illegal fees to recruiters. They are forced to work for little or no pay to pay off this debt.Domestic Servitude: Migrant housekeepers are often locked inside homes, unpaid, and subjected to physical or emotional abuse.”
Slavery is 100% legal in Islam. Because the so-called “Prophet” himself owned many slaves. There is no explicit ban on slavery in Quran.
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
Lester,
You are spot on. The Kafala system is being widely practiced all across ME and Gulf countries. But the good news is that Gulf nations are actively dismantling the exploitative Kafala sponsorship system by enacting landmark labor reforms, driven by a strategic combination of economic diversification initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030, mounting international scrutiny, and the global push to modernize labor welfare.
See this report titled “Saudi Arabia has moved to end the kafala system to strengthen worker rights” of 24th October 2025 (link at https://www.walkfree.org/news/2025/saudi-arabia-ends-the-kafala-system-to-strengthen-worker-rights/)
Hopefully other countries would follow suit and address the rights / plight of workers. Thanks for sharing.
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Sarath / July 9, 2026
Lester,
When entire south asian countries were sending unskilled workers to the Gulf countries, I was able to bring the first batch of Sri Lankan nurses to Kuwait in 2010. Read this story in Ada Derana and Indian website in Kuwait> Although we planned to bring a group of 200 nurses in the first batch, only 100 qualified to come to Kuwait (Only 100 qualified at the exam and viva conducted by M/Health of Sri Lanka and Embassy of Kuwait in Colombo).
In fact we also planned to bring Sri Lankan healthcare professionals, and when I left Kuwait in 2011 upon concluding my tenure, the proposal was in the pipeline.
Ada Derana link : https://adaderana.lk/news/8013
Indians in Kuwait link : https://www.indiansinkuwait.com/news/First-batch-of-Sri-Lankan-nurses-to-arrive-soon
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Native Vedda / July 8, 2026
Sarath
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“You tend to think the native Americans would have been better off under the British.”
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We cannot know whether Native Americans would have been better off or worse off under British rule. What I do know is that they would almost certainly have preferred to live under their own people or their own masters, rather than under foreign rulers.
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
NV
Of course, that would have been the most sensible option. But since Nimal had preferred the other way around, I couldn’t help sharing my own point of view and concerns. Of course, you cannot blame Nimal – because he has all the right to interpret situations through his own vantage point, and the only way is – agree to disagree. Thanks for your pointer.
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SJ / July 5, 2026
“he American Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson”
The man was a major slave owner.
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Jit / July 6, 2026
Every society had its own systems of legalized slave labour — not just the Americans, so we shouldn’t rush to cast the first stone at Jefferson. Serfdom in many feudal societies functioned almost identically to chattel slavery: forced labour, where there was no freedom of movement, and no choice in occupation. Our own feudal caste system is a typical example! Historians today increasingly argue that serfdom deserves to be classified as a form of slavery where the worker did NOT have any choice choosing work and pay.
How were the stupas, temples, and massive reservoir tanks of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa built? Did our good old kings pay peasants for their labour? The Zhou dynasty in China was renowned for its mandatory, unpaid corvee labour. Anglo‑Saxon England had a significant slave population until the Norman Conquest converted most slaves into serfs. Both chattel slavery and serfdom were deeply embedded in Mediterranean trade networks as well.
And if we look closely, forms of coercive, exploitative labour still exist in many modern societies. Societies still tacitly accept slavery particularly when economic conditions are below a certain threshold. Some work till they drop dead – almost. Just take a virtual peep into our garment factories or Nike factories in Vietnam or factories making i-phones in China!
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Sarath / July 6, 2026
Jit
Thanks. By the way, slavery during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa dynasties / kingships was not chattel slavery, but village peasants being forced to work in kingdoms often on voluntary basis. The kings also enforced their writ in the form of mandatory debt bondage, institutional servitude, and forced labor, where monarchs and elites frequently employed prisoners of war for massive architectural projects or donated individuals to Buddhist monastic communities to maintain temple agriculture.
In addition to your narratives of labour exploitation still prevalent in certain left leaning countries, military conscription is mandatory for all male citizens between the certain ages, who often being drafted and utilized for national defense, disaster relief, or public works projects.
The overarching effects of colonialism indeed debatable. Judging by the legacies left behind by our own colonial masters, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British, certainly prove that no colonial power was purely “good” or “bad”; instead, their actions represent a complex mix of both destructive and constructive outcomes.
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Jit / July 7, 2026
Sarath, serfdom was the form of bondage practiced under our ancient feudal system, but many sociologists now argue it was not significantly different from chattel slavery. Neither offered many choices, except that serfs were permitted to return to their families at night.
Re- effects of colonization , I share a similar view: colonization was a mixed bag. That said, so many aspects of our daily lives today are deeply rooted in that colonial history, and I see many of them in a positive light, such as free education, healthcare, and social well-being.
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Sarath / July 7, 2026
Jit,
Certainly, what you say makes sense, namely how ancient kings had, knowingly or otherwise – apparently had been involved, or practiced some form of slavery in all but name. There’s so much to learn from the past, that help us navigate the complexities of the present and thoughtfully shape our future. Thanks
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LankaScot / July 8, 2026
Hello Jit,
Have you heard of Wat Tyler and the Peasant’s Revolt 1381. The Poll Tax of 1380 was one of the contributing Factors. Margaret Thatcher had nearly the same effect on March 31, 1990 when hundreds of thousands demonstrated leading to riots in various locations. Thatcher later resigned and took her Poll Tax with her.
Although Wat Tyler was defeated (possibly killed) the Tax was abolished and reforms were agreed. The Black Death had previously decimated the Working Population which inevitably led to higher Wages and better Conditions.
By the way I have never seen anywhere in the Christian Bible (Old or New Testament) a single unambiguous Condemnation of Slavery.
Best regards
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old codger / July 6, 2026
Jit,
Slavery was officially abolished in Saudi Arabia only in 1953.
But, as in other places, it continues under different names. Most foreign workers there “belong” to their sponsor, who decides whether and if they can leave him.
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Sarath / July 7, 2026
OC
Well said. In fact, I saw this myself first-hand during my tenure in Kuwait, driven heavily by the kafala (sponsorship) system. I couldn’t have said it better myself. After all – Great Minds Think Almost Alike. Thanks
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LankaScot / July 8, 2026
Hello Sarath,
I saw the progressive steps taken by Qatar since I started working there in 2010/2011. I was still there when the “kafala” system was effectively abolished in 2020. –
“Qatar largely dismantled its controversial kafala (sponsorship) system through sweeping labor reforms. Under Law No. 19 of 2020 and related legislation, migrant workers can now change employers without needing a No Objection Certificate (NOC), and are free to leave the country without exit permits. Additionally, Qatar established a non-discriminatory minimum wage of 1,000 QAR per month”.
I lived in Doha Al Jadeeda where there were many Nationalities, however most South Asian Labour was confined to the Industrial Area Accommodation Buildings. Big Companies like Lulu and Safari had their own Compounds. Many of the South Asian Companies were more than happy with the ‘kafala” System; they disliked their workers having any sort of freedom. And by the way the Sri Lanka Embassy was worse than useless.
Best regards
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
LS
Thanks for your comments on Gulf States and how they fared in terms of relaxing / doing away with Kafala. When you were in Qatar from 2010 / 2011, I was in Kuwait, and was concurrently accredited to Bahrain from Kuwait.
Bahrain relaxed the kafala (sponsorship) system in August 2009, becoming the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to do so. To be honest, out of all gulf states, Bahrain was known for being relatively more tolerant and open, claiming to be the most socially liberal society in the region. By the way, Bahrain also played a crucial role Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) labor reforms, and first country that allowed foreign workers to change jobs without employer consent through the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
Then I would guess Qatar was next in terms of relaxing Kafala system and labour regulations for migrant workers in 2011. So both of us had been in the region at the same time and never knew each other then at least to have a friendly chat.
You are absolutely right on the high-handedness / attitude of SL manpower agencies as they very much (as you said) preferred the Kafala system and the way the sponsoring / recruitment was done which tended to favour them than the poor and hapless workers.
Yeah, Indian companies dominated the markets with Lulu holding a lion share.
Thanks for refreshing my memories of the good times spent in the region. Of course the situation now is reportedly much better and relaxed in the entire Gulf region for workers than in 2010s.
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Sarath / July 9, 2026
LS
When entire south asian countries were sending unskilled workers to the Gulf countries, I was able to bring the first batch of Sri Lankan nurses to Kuwait in 2010. Read this story in Ada Derana and Indian website in Kuwait> Although we planned to bring a group of 200 nurses in the first batch, only 100 qualified to come to Kuwait (Only 100 qualified at the exam and viva conducted by M/Health of Sri Lanka and Embassy of Kuwait in Colombo).
In fact we also planned to bring Sri Lankan healthcare professionals, and when I left Kuwait in 2011 upon concluding my tenure, the proposal was in the pipeline.
Ada Derana link : https://adaderana.lk/news/8013
Indians in Kuwait link : https://www.indiansinkuwait.com/news/First-batch-of-Sri-Lankan-nurses-to-arrive-soon
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old codger / July 9, 2026
LS,
“the Sri Lanka Embassy was worse than useless.”
Wasn’t that the notorious ASP Liyanage?
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Jit / July 7, 2026
Yes, your views goes well with my last para.
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Sarath / July 7, 2026
Jit
Certainly. Yes you have exposed what “modern slavery” is all about, which is commonplace in certain left leaning countries, in all but name. Great Minds Think Alike. Thanks
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SJ / July 7, 2026
“Great Minds Think Almost Alike.”
oc, nice to know that you have a great mind, although there is a catch in that ‘almost’.
Don’t spoil it by asking awkward questions.
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
SJ / OC
Thanks for your pointer. Of course, that is an authoritative sentence (Great Minds Think Almost Alike), and not based on fictitious merits or deceptive intent.
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
OC
On the labour exploitative system (Kafala system) widely being practiced across the Gulf, the good news is that of late certain Gulf nations are reportedly pursuing action to end Kafala sponsorship system by enacting landmark labor reforms, primarily due UN labour reforms, mounting international scrutiny, and the global push to safeguard migrant workers rights and welfare.
One such initiative is Saudi Vision 2030 which seeks to end Kafala system by 2030. See this report titled “Saudi Arabia has moved to end the kafala system to strengthen worker rights” of 24th October 2025 (link at https://www.walkfree.org/news/2025/saudi-arabia-ends-the-kafala-system-to-strengthen-worker-rights/)
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Sarath / July 9, 2026
OC
Lester,
When the entire south asian countries were sending unskilled workers to the Gulf countries, I was able to bring the first batch of Sri Lankan nurses to Kuwait in 2010. Read this story in Ada Derana and Indian website in Kuwait> Although we planned to bring a group of 200 nurses in the first batch, only 100 qualified to come to Kuwait (Only 100 qualified at the exam and viva conducted by M/Health of Sri Lanka and Embassy of Kuwait in Colombo).
In fact we also planned to bring Sri Lankan healthcare professionals, and when I left Kuwait in 2011 upon concluding my tenure, the proposal was in the pipeline.
Ada Derana link : https://adaderana.lk/news/8013
Indians in Kuwait link : https://www.indiansinkuwait.com/news/First-batch-of-Sri-Lankan-nurses-to-arrive-soon
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Sarath / July 9, 2026
Jit
Lester,
When entire south asian countries were sending unskilled workers to the Gulf countries, I was able to bring the first batch of Sri Lankan nurses to Kuwait in 2010. Read this story in Ada Derana and Indian website in Kuwait> Although we planned to bring a group of 200 nurses in the first batch, only 100 qualified to come to Kuwait (Only 100 qualified at the exam and viva conducted by M/Health of Sri Lanka and Embassy of Kuwait in Colombo).
In fact we also planned to bring Sri Lankan healthcare professionals, and when I left Kuwait in 2011 upon concluding my tenure, the proposal was in the pipeline.
Ada Derana link : https://adaderana.lk/news/8013
Indians in Kuwait link : https://www.indiansinkuwait.com/news/First-batch-of-Sri-Lankan-nurses-to-arrive-soon
/
Sarath / July 6, 2026
SJ,
All what I said of TJ was just confined to two words – “Founding Father”, nothing more and nothing less. That’s it.
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SJ / July 6, 2026
Stop wriggling.
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Sarath / July 7, 2026
SJ,
On your comment ““the American Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson”
The man was a major slave owner.
To get a better sense who TJ is and why he was called the founding father of US Revolution, please glance through pages viii and ix of the book “Slavery and Social Death” (link at orlando-patterson-slavery-and-social-death_-a-comparative-study-1985.pdf.
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SJ / July 7, 2026
Please see earlier remark.
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
Thanks. You may also refer to the link for what it’s worth.
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SJ / July 8, 2026
What I have seen is enough.
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
SJ
Thanks for your candid response.
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nimal fernando / July 6, 2026
I know bugger all about all these histories.
–
But gonna read the Slave Act to my wife ……… to some, emancipation is still a distant dream.
–
Sarath is an interesting guy ……. if they haven’t already taken their own lives …….what wouldn’t I give to meet some who he negotiated/diplomat-ed with as an ambassador for Lanka.
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Sarath / July 6, 2026
Nimal,
This reminds me of the old proverb ” When the going gets tough, the tough get going” which means you certainly have the last laugh. Cheers
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Native Vedda / July 8, 2026
Sarath
–
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
–
That saying applies only to the downtrodden, not to the rich and well-connected. The poor are expected to keep working harder and harder until, one day, they simply drop dead.
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
NV
This is certainly news to me. I thought the “system change” is in full swing lately, and the down-trodden and lower strata people is “a thing of the past”. Alas, what you seemed to suggest indeed has taken me to pre-independence era. I have even forgotten those two words, as I was under the illusion that those words have become obsolete. Wake up and see who is wrong and tricked please
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old codger / July 6, 2026
“if they haven’t already taken their own lives …”
You mean after reading what they signed up for?
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LankaScot / July 8, 2026
Hello Nimal,
My Brother in Law (73) died 2 days ago and will be buried today. I have been involved in much of the preparations for the Funeral. Hundreds of people have been catered for. I have seen the division of Labour in action. People look at me strangely washing dishes etc. As you said “to some, emancipation is still a distant dream”.
Best regards
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leelagemalli / July 8, 2026
Hello LankaScot,
I wouldn’t share personal information in this chat. Some people may use it against you later. In this small CT forum, most of us avoid sharing private details.
Lester and Deepthi may continue to criticize or challenge you if you explain your personal difficulties.
In Sri Lanka, many men traditionally do not help with cooking or kitchen work because of cultural beliefs about gender roles. I hope these attitudes continue to change over time.
Personally, I have no problem cooking or doing household tasks. I don’t believe these jobs should only be done by women.
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
LS
My deepest sympathy on your loss. RIP.
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Native Vedda / July 8, 2026
nimal fernando
–
“But gonna read the Slave Act to my wife ……… to some, emancipation is still a distant dream.”
–
The Abolition of Slavery Ordinance was passed in 1844.
Now I just need someone to enforce it at home.
I want my freedom!
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Sarath / July 8, 2026
NV / Nimal
This is hilarious to say the least. I thought you have been enjoying full freedom and equal rights at home. My understanding was on the mistaken notion – at seeing you in an enforcing mode trying to dish out emancipation to passerby and those on the CT forum. Oh God, I am certainly mistaken, please show him mercy.
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nimal fernando / July 9, 2026
“Now I just need someone to enforce it at home.
I want my freedom!”
–
–
Count me in, that’s two of us. OC is enslaved on multiple fronts! ……. Needs more than a single Ordinance. :)))
–
LS has all the jargon and the knowhow about these things …… he better get to work to free the enslaved men.
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Lester / July 6, 2026
Sarath,
Excellent article. What is also interesting is if you compare the US approach to minorities vs. the Sri Lankan approach.
Some Tamils use 1956 (language) and 1983 (single riot) as justification for a separate homeland. Whereas, the US practiced slavery until 1865 and racial discrimination (Jim Crow) until the 1960’s. So you can see how laughable the fake freedom struggle of the SL minority is. Keeping in mind, it was Tamils who begin the war, not GOSL, by killing 13 soldiers. JRJ had no choice but to send soldiers to replace all of the policemen being killed by the fake freedom fighters, who at that time were robbing banks (essentially stealing from their own people).
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Sarath / July 7, 2026
L
Thanks for your comment on what US had been to slaves and what it means for SL. You have said it loud and clear.
/