
By Asoka S. Seneviratne –

Prof. Asoka.S. Seneviratne
“Vision without a strategy remains an illusion” ~ Lee Bolman
Recently, there was a shortage of rice at the controlled price. In short, the AKD/NPP government did not create this situation. The past governments, basically the previous government, were responsible for the unexpected situation because they did not work with insight and strategically to avoid a possible rice shortage in the market. However, the bankrupt opposition used the rice shortage to brutally attack the government, as it ended the AKD/NPP regime. Fortunately, people know well about the culprits. As the government understood the nature and extent of the situation, it acted wisely to address and resolve the rice shortage. Now that the rice crisis is over, the opposition is quiet on the rice shortage. However, the rice shortage has allowed the government to work with insight and strategically not to have such a crisis in the future unless it is beyond its control, such as the severe impact of climate change and a global food crisis. Given the above, this paper aims to indicate the essential policy initiatives the AKD/NPP government must focus on to ensure no future rice crisis occurs.
Establishment of the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB)
At the beginning of the 1970s, there was a global food crisis for many reasons, affecting Sri Lanka too. Indeed, about 50 years ago, people who faced the food crisis and are still living know the nature and extent of the rice or food crisis, as there were severe restrictions for raw rice transportation (i.e. except 2 kgs of rice per person), supply of rice by caters (i.e. only 3 days per week), severe penalties for rice hoarders, and five universities were closed, among many difficulties faced by the people. The government launched “Wagaa Sangramaya” (War of Cultivation) as the last resort. Given the above, the recent rice crisis is nothing. The crisis paved the way for establishing the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) in 1972 (Act No 14 of 1971), which was a wise decision, the turning point for food security in many ways based on the Vision, Mission, aim, and objectives of PMB as given below. The VISION is to be the leading national institution in purchasing and handling agro-based products, and the MISSION is to implement a trading mechanism towards the satisfaction of agro-producers and consumers. Given the above, aims and objectives of the Paddy Marketing Board:
1. Purchase, sell, and supply grain products and maintain distribution activities.
2. Motivation to keep up the quality of grain products.
3. Preparing and distributing grain products for consumption.
4. Maintaining a buffer stock for food security.
5. Making arrangements to provide quality grain products to consumers at reasonable prices.
6. Enhancement of livelihood of farmers by providing assured prices for grain products
Given the above, PMB focused on paddy production and included the whole grain sector in the economy.
Initially, the assured/guaranteed price per kg of paddy was Rs. 0.72, and PMB purchased about 25 percent of the paddy production as required/managed through its countrywide network.
Until trade liberalization in 1977, PMB worked with its Vision and Mission and was successful in business. Following trade liberalization, the private sector gradually established its dominance in the paddy and rice markets. However, PMB did business by looking after producers and consumers, sometimes facing financial losses amid the government’s privatization policy. Accordingly, restructuring the PMB was started at the end of the 1980s. As a result of this process, PMB was closed at the beginning of the 1990s, affecting 3,200 employees; 375 paddy mills and warehouses were declared run-down, and some were auctioned while a few were given to other institutions on lease.
It is worth noting that a proposal to dissolve the PMB was submitted to the parliament. However, most parliamentarians opposed this move, and the PMB remained inactive.
In 2008, PMB was re-established. Since then, PMB worked along with its aims and objectives. However, during the Yahapalanaya or Good Governance regime (2015-2019), PMB was weakened as the government favored and supported the private sector in many ways. It is essential to mention that in 1977 and 2016, the same elite politicians that weakened PMB in many ways (e.g, Paddy cost was Rs 45.00 but was sold to political cronies at Rs 24.00 in 2016) made considerable noises in the parliament about the recent rice shortage in the country. Furthermore, the same elite politicians headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW) distributed rice stocks of the PMB free without focusing on the needs of consumers, contributing immensely to the recent rice crisis. This was aimed at winning the presidential election, but RW lost the presidential election.
Demand for rice and Paddy Production
In simple economics, rice shortages arise from mismatching demand and supply. Indeed, hoarding or rice Mafias is a matter. I will come to this point later. According to the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS), per capita rice consumption per annum is 110 Kg. Given the above, the total annual demand (only for human consumption) is 2.4 million MTs of rice. It is estimated that 4.1 million MTs of paddy (or 1 kg of rice needs 1.5 kgs of paddy) is required annually to produce 2.4 million MTs of rice. Given the above, the focal point is whether Sri Lanka could produce a minimum of 4.1 million MTs paddy annually to meet the demand for rice 2.4 million MTs. In short, it is possible.

Table 1. Paddy production from 2013 to 2023. Source: DCS
According to the above table 1, Sri Lanka has produced the required quantity of paddy, 4.1 million MTs since 2019, with only a small shortage in 2022. The estimated paddy production for 2023 and 2024 is 4.5 million MTs and 4.6 million MTs respectively. Given the above, if PMB managed to keep the necessary paddy/rice in stock, there would be no reason for the recent rice shortage in the market. However, it is convenient to conclude that an oligopoly (a smaller number of companies controlling the supply of a product or service) exists in paddy and rice markets causing the shortage, the naked truth.
It is a politico-oligopoly, because it is not a matter of which political party or government is in power; a few companies are dominant or can do business as usual. It is well known to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) that Sri Lanka produces the required quantity of paddy and, hence, the required quantity of rice. Given the above, President had a few meetings with all the stakeholders, explained facts and figures, and advised accordingly, concluding that a single grain of rice would not be imported. The above does not mean importing some varieties of rice like Basmarthi for the tourism industry, etc. The crucial point is that if PMB can perform along with its aims and objectives, future rice crisis will not occur, irrespective of the abovementioned Oligopoly. In other words, if the government could act insightfully and strategically, Oligopoly cannot cause rice crisis.
Regarding the above, among many, PMB should maintain buffer stocks.
This is about maintaining paddy/rice stock until the next harvest, assuming no calamity would occur. Sri Lanka has two seasons, “Yala” and “Maha”, and usually “Maha” yields higher production due to rain-fed agriculture practices around the country (from Oct .to Jan/Feb). If one season is damaged due to calamity, the buffer stock should be half-year’s requirement for annual consumption (about 2.1 million MTs of paddy (and 1.2 million MTs of rice). However, stocking that quantum as a buffer will not be cost-effective due to excessive storage costs. Given the above, a buffer stock is to be maintained at a maximum of two months’ human consumption requirement. That comes to about 0.6 million MTs of paddy (0.4 million MTs of rice). In case of any calamity, the government should be able to find foreign supplies within two months or soon. In short, maintaining buffer stocks is a considerable challenge (i.e., risk assessment, planning, etc.) in many ways to avoid future rice crisis.
Ensuring no rice crisis is in the future
The foundation of the above is that the government has well understood the nature and extent of the behaviors and response of the paddy and rice markets, its profound commitment to safeguarding the producers and consumers, and, particularly in the absence of corruption, fraud, and any form of mismanagement that harm the aims and objectives of PMB at the center. Given the above, to avoid a rice crisis in the future, the NPP government must have short-term, medium, and long-term plans starting with the ongoing “Maha Season,” which will be harvested by early Feb and March. Also, through the above mentioned planning, room to blame for the oligopoly cannot be existed in the future.
Short-term Plan of NPP Government
Step 01: Get all the existing paddy storage facilities cleared (PMB and Co-operatives in Agriculture areas own them). Some work is in progress in this regard. However, completing this work around the country to store purchases of Maha Season should be ensured.
Step 02: Release required funds as short-term loans from People’s Bank to PMB to purchase paddy from farmers
Step 03: PMB should get into contracts with small private millers so that PMB supplies paddy to millers at a standard price, and millers should mill and give rice to PMB.(e.g., if PMB gives 15000 kg paddy to a miller, in return, miller should give 10000 kg of rice). Millers seem to keep about Rs. 35-40/= per kilo from raw rice to cover overheads such as electricity, transportation, labor, + PROFIT. The majority of this amount probably ends up as profit. It should be noted that when a miller produces millions of kilos of rice, the overheads are much lower.
Step 04: Sathosa & Co-operatives should prioritize purchasing rice from PMB. Any profit earned should be socially justifiable.
Medium-term Plan of NPP Government
Step 01: PMB should develop new paddy storage facilities with the latest technology. Abundant land exists, and large storage complexes near railway facilities in Murunkan, Kilinochchi, Medawachchiya, Thambuttegama, Kekirawa, Hingurakgoda, Eravur, Beliatta, Puttlam, etc. (that makes transport easy) are proposed. Labor can be obtained from tri-forces with the skills to develop these large storages if the necessary raw material is provided.
Step 02: Paddy farmers who intend to get a “fertilizer subsidy” should register under PMB. Farmers will be paid a subsidy as per the quantity of paddy hey supply to PMB (Total Quantity Supplied to PMB x Subsidy per Paddy kg).
Step 03: PMB should get into contracts with private millers in a way that PMB supplies paddy to millers at a standard price, and millers should mill and give rice to PMB (e.g., if PMB gives 15000 kg paddy to a miller, in return, miller should give 10000 kg of rice). The government must decide on a ceiling on rice prices by allowing reasonable profit to all (i.e., farmers, millers, wholesalers, and retailers). Consumers will also be happy. Any profit earned should be socially justifiable.
PMB should be managed as a commercial entity with fair margins without mismanagement and corruption. Hire professionals, pay them good salaries, and get things done. Finally, as the PMB comes under the radar of COPE, any form of illegal activity should not come to the notice of COPE.
If the government can manage short—and medium-term plans, it will lay the foundation for the long term, based on the PMB’s aims and objectives. However, in the long term, the government needs to focus on two other areas that are related to rice crisis. One area is reducing the heavy dependency on rice consumption, which has substantial benefits in many ways. In short, it is to change food consumption habits.
Great Need to Change Food Consumption Habits
So far, I have explained the proper measures to be taken to avoid future rice crises. Along with the above, the following is also vitally important. There is a great need to change heavy dependence on rice consumption for carbohydrates or crabs (i.e., fewer carbs are good in many ways). In Sri Lanka, the cost of proteins (meat, eggs, and fish) and vitamins (fruits and vegetables) are relatively expensive compared to Carbs (rice and bread). This problem is severe when it comes to urban households who have no land to cultivate something. So, many people cannot afford a high protein + vitamin diet due to income constraints. So, for hunger, they eat rice and bread as much as possible due to lower costs and may fall sick in the long run. The above means there is a need to change dietary habits by lowering the price of non-carbs foods. To reduce the cost of non-carbs foods, Sri Lanka needs to produce more meat (beef, pork, and chicken), eggs, and fish. (i.e. supply increasing strategies for livestock and fisheries). So, to go on a “low-carbs diet,” social awareness, income enhancement, and reducing the cost of protein and vitamins should be implemented. This will yield long-term results by lowering non-communicable diseases (NCDs, like diabetes and other obesity-related diseases), and future generations’ mental capacity will be higher through better nutrition. Another thing is to change the attitudes toward dietary habits, such as eating three times or eating more heavy meals—all the above need to be planned and implemented on a short—to medium-term and long-term basis. As a result, the heavy dependence on rice consumption could be reduced. This will help future rice crises.
Release and use of land for minor agricultural products
Another area related to rice crisis is the release of land from paddy cultivation.

Table 2 – Possibility for an increase in land for minor crops along with a 15% land release. Source: DCS 2022
It is estimated that about 708,000 ha (1,750,000 acres) of land uses for paddy cultivation. Paddy cultivation contributes 1 percent to GDP. However, paddy-related activities (e.g., milling, transportation, storage, and whole and retail trade) contribute about 2.5 percent to GDP. In other words, 5 million MTs paddy contributes 2-2.5 percent to GDP.
Paddy is highly dependent on all land, water, and other inputs. Accordingly, the government’s costs are increasing and becoming too high (e.g, as per MoF, the agriculture-related subsidies in 2022 and 2023 were around Rs. 55 billion per annum). So, how far the government can go ahead is an issue. There is a great need to change the above without compromising the farmers’ income or the rural sector development. NPP government must undertake land utilization surveys in the country, which will be in the right direction or beneficial in many ways. Then, it will realize how much arable land is left abundant and how much is under-utilized. For paddy, along with better coordination, the country could produce about 25% more than the required for human consumption. Suppose it could leave another 10% for animal feed paddy and beer production. In that case, the country still releases 15% of land from paddy, which comes to about 180,000 hectares (450,000 acres or 1,800 sqm or 2.75% of Sri Lanka’s geographical territory). Given the size of Sri Lanka, a massive amount of land has alternative uses.
As per the below data, if 15% of the land could be released from paddy, the country could more than double the production of maize, ground nuts, green gram, Sesame, and Black gram (the above is helpful to change dietary habits and increase nutrition) and dried chilies, etc. Suppose we can improve paddy yield further through high-yielding seeds, better technology, and minimizing crop damage. In that case, even more land could be released from paddy for other crop production or economic activities. Moreover, it will save water and fuel, as paddy is a highly energy-consuming crop.
Compared to rice, the 12 minor crops mentioned above often in short supply and hence price increases are unavoidable. Without compromising the required paddy production (i.e. 4.1 million MTs annually), production of 12 minor crops can be increased generating substantial benefits to the farmers, consumers, particularly reducing rice consumption and encouraging other grain consumption that helps good health. The livestock feed industry could also be fostered. The above all could help to avoid future rice crisis.
Conclusion
The recent rice crisis paved the way for a barrage of criticisms by the bankrupt opposition. However, they forgot that they created it due to wrong decisions taken in the past to favor and support their cronies. It is well known to the President that Sri Lanka produces the required quantity of paddy and rice to meet the demand. However, the AKD/NPP government addressed and solved the rice shortage as it knew the nature and extent of the problem (i.e. Oligopoly). By learning from the rice crisis, the government needs to be insightful and strategic to prevent a rice crisis in the future. Regarding the above, this paper highlights necessary policy measures to be implemented based on the short to medium and long term. The crucial point is that if PMB can work along with its aims and objectives, the future rice crisis will not occur, irrespective of the so-called Oligopoly in the market.
*Among many, the writer worked as the Special Advisor to the Office of the President of Namibia and was a Senior Consultant with UNDP for 20 years. He worked as a Senior Economist with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (1972-1993) before he migrated to New Zealand. The writer can contact via asoka.seneviratne@gmail.com
Jit / January 13, 2025
Sorry…..I am a bit dazed…!!! What is this article…..err …is all about…??? 🤔
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hanchopancha / January 13, 2025
Prof. Ass is having a bout of diarrhoea. NPP new exactly what they were on to.
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leelagemalli / January 15, 2025
Prof. Ass – and his articles ?
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He is in New Zealand and dreaming of a NPP in his ideal world. Over 5.8 million voters were misled by the same tactics.
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Saddest reality is that the NPP operating in Sri Lanka is batting below Gota’s level. The current cooperative elections and the results make them non-champions.
People are slowly realizing, they would be better off if they “restricted themselves to their stage rhetoric”: India is not Sri Lanka, where movies like Dream bring them to the world of ectassy. :::: However, the JVP culprits brought them to the world of ecstasy through their public meetings and demonstrations. Today, there are no such demonstrations, nevertheless, they walk like disabled people.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6maNYZxVyeU
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGOz1c6shaU&t=16s
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A Deputy Minister, Chaturanga Abeysinghe (a pompous guy, who dreamt of QUICK changes), argues that we need a biometric ID card to effectively collect taxes…. If my information is correct, this man lived and studied in Australia. Look how wrong he was with his statement before a televised address yesterday.
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old codger / January 13, 2025
“Furthermore, the same elite politicians headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW) distributed rice stocks of the PMB free without focusing on the needs of consumers”
Okay, let’s take that at face value. What happened to this free rice? If it actually existed, it would have lasted two weeks at least per recipient, which means these people didn’t buy any rice for two weeks. So, during those two weeks, there would have been a surplus of rice in the market, causing prices to go down. They didn’t, so who is more stupid, Wasantha Samarasingha who trotted out this theory, or Professor Ass who is parroting it?
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old codger / January 14, 2025
Like many expatriate NPP “experts”, Prof.Ass talks about theoretical solutions to rice production problems. But most of these people prefer to live safely in places like Australia , and don’t know what goes on in this region. For example, he says “if PMB gives 15000 kg paddy to a miller, in return, miller should give 10000 kg of rice). “
What happens to the 5000 kg that is milled off? In Sri Lanka it mostly goes as animal feed. But this is the part of the seed that contains a lot of nutrition. In other countries, it is used to produce rice bran oil, which can be used for cooking, and reduce the demand for coconut oil. It is competitively priced.
It is time to admit that the methods of the last 60 or so years have not brought the desired results. We must look at successful systems in the region and see how they work. If Tamilnadu can export rice, it is there we should look, not New Zealand.
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SJ / January 13, 2025
J
Relax.
I doubt if the author knew either..
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a14455 / January 14, 2025
Rice is my guess.
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sanipa / January 13, 2025
1 Please read food balance sheet for 20 years and check how many years Sri Lanka has been self sufficient in rice?
2 Check performance of PMB which has never purchased more than 10% of the Paddy harvest.
3 PMB was a white elephant and hit bed of political corruption .
4 PMB had stores but did it have mills. What capacity can it store .
5 check on the performance before the Oligopoly ( your words) of Rice mills started.
Starting a organization like PMB will not be an answer as for the last twenty years Sri Lanka has had this problem and managed it.
With a increase in population the land for farming gets smaller as land may be divided among children who may build a house and reduce land available for growing .
The reality is different and are you trying to make PB have more defaulting loans as happens with the farming community.
These ideas will only make many pay to subsidize the losses that will be inevitable.
Happy Dream
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sanipa / January 13, 2025
More on Paddy Marketing Board. The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) of Sri Lanka, established in 1971, and in rice production and distribution. Its performance history can be divided into several phases, reflecting changes in policies, market conditions, and the agricultural landscape of the country.
1. Establishment and Early Years (1971–1980s)
-Purpose: The PMB was created to stabilize paddy prices, protect farmers from exploitation by middlemen, and ensure food security through state-controlled purchasing and storage.
-Functions – Buying paddy at guaranteed prices. – Storing and maintaining buffer stocks to prevent shortages. – Milling and distributing rice to consumers at fair prices. – Performance – Initially successful in securing stable prices for farmers. – Played a significant role in addressing the challenges of food security during this period. – Challenges: – Inadequate storage facilities. – Political interference in pricing and operations. – Financial sustainability concerns.
2. Liberalization and Decline (1980s–1990s)
Economic Reforms: With the liberalization of the economy in the late 1970s, the role of the state in agricultural markets diminished. Private traders began dominating the paddy market. – Impact on PMB – Reduced government funding. – Loss of competitiveness due to inefficiency and bureaucratic delays. – Decline in paddy procurement volumes. – Challenges – Farmers often sold their produce to private traders at lower prices due to delayed payments from the PMB. – Poor maintenance of storage facilities led to significant losses of stored paddy
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sanipa / January 13, 2025
3. Revival Efforts (2000s–2010s)
– Policy Shifts Recognizing the importance of food security, the government sought to revive the PMB by increasing its involvement in paddy purchasing. – Improvements: – Establishment of additional storage facilities. – Enhanced procurement mechanisms to support small-scale farmers. – Challenges – Persistent inefficiencies in operations. – High operational costs and financial losses due to over-reliance on subsidies. – Difficulty competing with private traders
4. Modern Era (2010s–Present)
– Government Initiatives
– Increased guaranteed prices for paddy to protect farmers. – Investments in modern storage technologies to reduce post-harvest losses. – Partnerships with other government bodies to promote agricultural development. – Performance – Played a role in stabilizing the rice market during economic crises. – Efforts to digitize procurement and payment processes showed promise.
– Challenges – The ongoing financial burden on the government due to subsidies. – Farmer dissatisfaction due to procurement delays and inadequate coverage. – Political and economic instability in the country impacting operations
Impact and Criticisms
The PMB has had a mixed impact over the decades: – Positive Contributions – Helped secure a stable income for many farmers. – Played a crucial role during periods of food shortages and economic challenges. – Criticisms: – Operational inefficiencies and bureaucratic delays. – Poor management and lack of adaptability to modern market conditions. – Heavy reliance on government subsidies, leading to questions about its sustainability.
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old codger / January 14, 2025
Sanipa,
“These ideas will only make many pay to subsidize the losses that will be inevitable.
Happy Dream”
Exactly. That is why rice costs double what it should. The consumers are paying for the inefficiencies and subsidies of the farmers.
Doctrinaire Professors never learn anything. But then, they live safely in other countries.
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leelagemalli / January 13, 2025
AKD Identity Crisis:
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Two completely different identities of Sri Lankan President, AKD before election and AKD in power. There are no new laws or law reforms as promised (in a parliament with 2/3 majority for his party) to deliver the so called “Banku hora Arjuna Mahendran”.
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However, high volumed big talks of AKD on false promises have rocked Sri Lanka, with months of debriefings.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZKtA1jyCO8
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I thought AKD would act as he promised.
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Now NPP upporters are not sure of their ties with NPP. One by one the angry people will punish them themselves, if not today then tomorrow. I never thought the man called AKD would ever be able to fulfill his promises. That is why I was constantly quarreling with OUR SINHALA_MAN. I can deal with people much better than our SINHALA_MAN does. THat is why I was sure of my predictions.
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Ajith / January 14, 2025
“I thought AKD would act as he promised.”
This statement is utterly a complete lie. Firstly, You thought Ranil will come back easily with massive support from Rajapaksa family. People did not vote for AKD or NPP because of their promises but because of the failure of both Ranil and Rajapaksa. The supreme court itself decided that Rajapaksa Family was responsible for the economic crisis. Ranil did not go to the people. Instead he went behind Rajapaksas and protected Rajapaksas even after the supreme court decision.It is the people who decided and backing AKD/NPP.
Sri Lankan people in the past changed the government for Dhal which was fully imported. Rice is important for them but their is no shortage. Even if there is a shortage, there are alternatives to rice. I strongly believe this is another political coup which was popular within past 10 years. There was a political coup in 2015, then 2018, then 2019, and then 2022 .
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Jit / January 15, 2025
“…..People did not vote for AKD or NPP because of their promises but because of the failure of both Ranil and Rajapaksa….”
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Kudos to you Ajith! I couldn’t have put it better!
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“…..Instead he went behind Rajapaksas and protected Rajapaksas even after the supreme court decision.It is the people who decided and backing AKD/NPP…..”
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Spot on! What most people who defend Ranil do not understand (or pretend not to know) is the sickening connection Ranil has with the Rajapaksha gang. The biggest problem with Ranil is that he thinks he is the smartest of all, that nobody can outwit him, and that he is the master schemer of political games. What he quite did not, and still doesn’t, understand—and is pathetically ignorant about—is that political games cannot last forever in any country. He also thought Sri Lankans could be fooled forever. However, no matter how misguided the voters were for some time, one day they understood who the real economic terminators are. They finally saw through the huge fallacies built around winning the war and how the Rajapaksha gang robbed the country while fooling people. They also understood the disgusting connection between the Rajapakshas and Ranil. The rest is history.
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deepthi silva / January 14, 2025
Leela, are you suggesting that Sri Lankans should eat bread like OC, thosai like Vedda, shodi like Nathan, Haggis like the Scottish man or cake like you ?
Then the problem goes away !
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LankaScot / January 14, 2025
Hello Deepthi,
I was convinced from an early age that a fair amount of Scottish Food had its roots in the Middle East or farther. Haggis tastes much like Arabic Kibbeh, Lentil Soup like Dahl Curry without the Malu miris and Forfar Bridies remind me of the Samosas here in Sri Lanka. But then again “we’re all Jock Thomson’s bairns”.
Best regards
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deepthi silva / January 15, 2025
Scotty When a man of your importance is “convinced”, what more can ordinary mortals like us say ?
Even OC is convinced that everything bright and beautiful began with his ancestors in India, esp.in the South !
Looking at OC, Vedda, Leela, Nathan, Sj , it is difficult to believe ,isn’t it ?
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LankaScot / January 15, 2025
Hello Deepthi,
Do you understand the meaning of the phrase “we’re all Jock Thomson’s bairns”?
Basically we all have the same roots, none of us have special importance due to our genetic roots. There are no “pure races”. We probably split from Apes around 9 to 11 Million Years ago. Many different Hominid species have gone extinct. Lucy one of the first Hominids to walk upright 3.2 Million Years ago was an Australopithecus afarensis found in Ethiopia. During the last 50,000 years or so we (Homo sapiens) co-existed with others of the Genus Homo, Homo floresiensis, Neanderthals and Denisovans. Some of us have Neanderthal DNA (me included) and some might have Denisovan DNA. As Archaeology progresses more Ancestors may come to light and Dates will likely be re-assessed, but that is the way of Science.
Best regards
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leelagemalli / January 15, 2025
LS,
i added it below
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deepthi silva / January 15, 2025
Scotty boy, what pedestrian stuff ! Leela is ecstatic reading them.
I wonder about these hypothesis you propound .
Both Leela ( Germany) and you ( so many hints of Scottish influences so proudly volunteered by you , but no Indian influences ! ) are acknowledging benefits you did not have in your motherland . I am sure you will hold on to your British passport with your dear life
As to your Thomson theory , even in one family some children are productive while others are permanent failures . Some become wealthy others are basket cases
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old codger / January 16, 2025
Deepthi,
“As to your Thomson theory , even in one family some children are productive while others are permanent failures . Some become wealthy others are basket cases”
So, not everyone in your family is like you? That’s such a relief.
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Mallaiyuran / January 16, 2025
LankaScot,
Yes, I understand that. That is why I believe in Mahawamsa and the Florida Lab’s theory, which says that we have Lion Master’s DNA too.
Sorry, forgot one, Adam’s and eve’s DNA too, but yet to heard if any of those true human DNAs are included in that.
Now, some Scientists claim that they know where Adam and were hanging around, and they will soon separate their DNAs in our bodies and label them.
Jayawewa for our lion grandpa.
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leelagemalli / January 15, 2025
Hello LS,
I’m glad you’re not in the cold we’re having to deal with these days in Europe. yOU made a good choice for sure. Our Ms Desperate raises questions like no other. I really don’t know why she’s fallen to that level?I think her main dish is “grass” not “lentil soup or anything like that”. In my place, I’m the one who cooks for fun.
If there’s anything that came from Ms Desperate aka Deepthi, it’s that many of us ended up somewhat upset. Her food may be unique to her. She should go back to her homeland and enjoy some nice temperatures.
How can a woman be so negative 24/7? That’s no good for her happy life. Maybe she should find a balanced diet that includes foods that contain serotonin (eggs, spinach, nuts, etc.).
Instead of saying something meaningful, her hobby has become to constantly attack CT commenters. She must be going through some untold stories in London today, being stuck in the cold temperatures. Unlike last winter, this winter is fluctuating often temperatures from deep to warm. That ultimately makes many of us sick.
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LankaScot / January 15, 2025
Hello Leelgemalli,
When I first visited Sri Lanka in 2013 it was February and we went to Nuwara Eliya. All of my Sri Lanka relations were frozen, it was about 14 degrees. I had a tee-shirt on and had no problems. Now after a couple of years here I can definitely feel a slight chill up here in the hills above Gampola.
I can cook a decent Sri Lankan Crab Curry and most here like my Scotch Broth Soup. When my Nephew was here he did a great Barbecue that everyone enjoyed
I try to reply sensibly to Deepthi, but she mistakes common courtesy for condescension. Maybe we should take a leaf out of Nimal’s book and look upon some participants as a source of entertainment.
Best regards
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leelagemalli / January 16, 2025
LS,
Some I know (Germans, Dutch, French, Italians and South Africans) use cannabis to feel happy. … during my college days, some of my dorm mates would travel to Cologne and Amsterdam every month to smoke a joint… I am not a smoker and have never smoked. Some of my dorm mates smoke regular cigarettes as chain smokers. Some are addicted to beer like my fellow students (especially in Germany)… Some like me drink cocktails of our choice and red wine from my best friends in Milan… I have no Sri Lankan friends in Europe… nor have I ever interacted with any of them in my working life here.
Others like our Miss Desperate try their best to get aroused by verbally hurting others. Unfortunately, many who are disappointed in life are addicted to it. I have heard that many were addicted to it in the middle ages. All of the above try their best to secrete their “happy hormone” so that they can enjoy the moments. It is a way to satisfy themselves. I also had some teenage friends back then who wanted to steal something to feel funny. These guys all came from middle class families. I’m sorry Ms Desperate, we will have to ignore your desparaging comment in the near future.
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deepthi silva / January 16, 2025
Scotty and Leela are a team, and even brothers as per Thompson theory .
Laural and Hardy ?
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leelagemalli / January 15, 2025
LS,
“Haggis tastes much like Arabic Kibbeh, Lentil Soup like Dahl Curry without the Malu miris and Forfar Bridies remind me of the Samosas here in Sri Lanka. But then again “we’re all Jock Thomson’s bairns”.
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The phrase more often occurs in an extended form: We’re a’ Jock Tamson’s bairns. This is interpreted in a metaphorical sense[9] as a statement of egalitarian sentiments equivalent to “we’re all the same under the skin” or “we are all God’s children”.
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SJ / January 15, 2025
ds
Sri Lankans already eat all those things but haggis on top of string hoppers and hoppers which too foreigners introduced.
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LankaScot / January 15, 2025
Hello SJ,
Maybe Deepthi hasn’t tried Deep Fried Mars Bars. They will give her some energy. But I wouldn’t recommend more than 1 per year.
Best regards
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SJ / January 15, 2025
LS
Mars Bars deep fried in batter was a Scottish idea in the 1980s I think.
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leelagemalli / January 16, 2025
LS,
Many of your comments are certainly intertwined with various psychological problems. I have some older cousins and relatives who are addicted to Deepthi’s hobby. It’s sick to constantly belittle others. Lester fits best in their category, but none of us do that. I wonder what the future holds for Ms Desperate.
By the way, where can you get” black pudding” in the central province ? I think it’s a fine Scottish dish. Don’t you miss such food when you’re in SL?
I think you love Sri Lankan dishes more than anything else now. My friends who visit Sri Lanka love rice dishes, string hoppers and hoppers very much.
I for one can’t do without rice and curry (homemade or in an Asian restaurant) every 10 days and you may be dreaming of your own dishes too.
.
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leelagemalli / January 15, 2025
Desperate DS,
I never knew you were on a fact-finding mission about what all the above mentioned are doing? I don’t have time to go into that.
Not knowing that, I will not join your foolish endeavor. ::: I am sorry about that.
However, the thought that comes to my mind today is that, not knowing for what purpose AKD is meeting with China, impatient Sri Lankan journalists are bragging “AKD how good they are”. Even if the leader of Sudan visits them, their procedure for receiving a head of state will be the same…
…. Our foolish YouTubers don’t know that China is trying to give AKD Montessori leader a “SINIBOLA” to stand up to their long-time rival India. I think we are in a very critical situation if AKD does something about his “usual head-nodding reaction to any suggestion” during his visit to India last month which our eyes cannot believe.
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / January 14, 2025
One of the main obstacles in governing Sri Lanka is the established “mafias” of big businessmen in cahoots with corrupt politicians, who will try their utmost to topple a sincere and committed government, in order to re-establish their wholly selfish and criminal existence. The population in Sri Lanka is largely poor and exist on cheap carbohydrates to overcome hunger. Their diets are usually devoid of much protein or different coloured vegetables and fruit that supply micro-nutrients essential for intellectual development. Thus, the next generations will be intellectually deficient and will impact national progress adversely. The government must take the bull by the horns and eradicate the established mafias and their support base by strengthening the forces of the committed and sincere activists that brought the government to power.
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Jit / January 15, 2025
“……One of the main obstacles in governing Sri Lanka is the established “mafias” of big businessmen in cahoots with corrupt politicians, who will try their utmost to topple a sincere and committed government…..”
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The biggest mafia in SL is the media mafia. The damage it does for the betterment of society is much bigger than anyone can imagine. Even the kudu, rice mafia are lilliputian when compared to Derana, Hiru, Sirasa media mafia – incorporated, cartelled, conglomerated and rooted!!!
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celerio2181 / January 14, 2025
INVEST IN PMB IS WASTAGE OF TAX PAYER MONEY. PMB WILL DEFAULT PEOPLES BANK LOAN IF GRANTED.
CAN PMB FIGHT WITH PRIVATE MILLRES? FARMERS WILL SELL THERE PADDY PRIVATE
MILLRES AS THEY PAY SPOT CASH. SATHOSA AND CO-OPERATIVE SCCIETIES ALSO INEFFICIENT ENTITIES AND FARMARES HAVE NO TRUST.
WHEN MINISTRY OF AGRECULTURE WAS UNDER JVP, THEY CULTIVATED MAIZE NATIONAL LIVESTOCK BOARD AND THESE HARVEST GIVEN TO NLDB COWS.THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT OF JVP.. AS NLDB HAS ABOUT 16,000 ACRES OF LAND UNDER UTILISED.
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