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The news of the passing away of Dr Sabaratnam Sivakumaran – one of our senior-most and most -respected medical specialists – left me shocked, because I was not aware that he was suffering from any recent illness or infirmity. Indeed, he had continued to carry out all his tasks in spite of his long-standing ailments, even starting work in the hospital at 6.30 in the morning. On the day before his death, he had collected a large number of MBBS answer scripts for scrutiny; after his death the next day, it was found that he had finished marking those too! I guess his Creator, while blessing him with the same number of hours in a day as the rest of us, also decided, quite justly and wisely, to bless him with good health right until the moment when his earthly years were exhausted. The Creator must have noted his irrepressible zeal to serve others.
During his time as a consultant physician in the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo, his peers and junior colleagues were fully aware of his clinical acumen, great care and thoroughness. But what set him apart was his total commitment to patient care, which reached up to such a height that it looked like a sacrifice in consonance with his Hindu spiritual background. He was well known to conduct ward rounds at least twice, and often thrice, each day. We seldom saw him at conferences held in five-star hotels, because doubtless he must have been working in his ward. But he was invariably present at almost all educational activities that were conducted within the hospital premises itself. There he has left an indelible mark in our education.
But he didn’t miss out on any new developments for not attending any conferences; he often did locum consultant work in the United Kingdom. Even here, it was impossible to say whether he was serving himself or serving our country, because he always came back with not only new ideas and experiences but also novel equipment and plans for modernising the NHSL.
He set up special units to conduct echocardiography, endoscopy and clinical physiological tests with the help of benefactors from the UK, at a time when those facilities were either non-existent or available only to a limited degree here. He asked all his colleagues to make use of them, and trained any junior trainee who had an interest on how to use them. Quite tellingly, he took care to ensure that these equipment were housed in special rooms away from his own ward whenever possible, so that anybody could use them freely without feeling any obligations towards him. By now, tens of thousands of patients must have benefitted from these efforts that he pioneered and established!
The time and trouble he took to teach medical students and train postgraduate trainees left us amazed. He was also completely fair and kind as an examiner. These qualities continued even after he retired from the Ministry of Health, when he continued to teach in the medical school at SAITM and work at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital Malabe.
He did all this with his signature smile, gentle and kind voice, casual and welcoming demeanour and simple dress code. I have never seen him angry. If you stopped to speak to him, you immediately knew that he had all the time that you needed with him – because his dedication to serve has thrown all personal comforts out.
But Dr Sivakumaran was not merely a physician with a ward and a commitment. His vision went beyond the ward and the hospital, to encompass the whole profession and state health service. He spent countless hours explaining to the medical administrators of his day about the importance of cadre projection and reforming the internship training of doctors.
In these, he was way ahead of the times, and (sadly, given our country’s resistance to change) even current times. His objective was not to aggrandise himself or to make the medical profession more powerful, but to make the service more effective, efficient and safe for patients. He even personally took up the task of preparing proposals and writing tons of documents. But where they all ended up in this country of ours is not something that one needs to elaborate on nor something that he himself was pleased about.
But why did I call him a philosopher-physician, like what Galen had recommended in medieval times and traditional healers in the Orient have been? Dr Sivakumaran’s extraordinary conduct as a physician and healer is best explained and easiest to understand when we take into account his deep spirituality, philosophical worldview and principled conduct. He was not a lay preacher or sonorous moraliser of any kind. He kept these thoughts mostly private to himself, but if anyone cared to broach them he would, of course, humbly join the conversation and enrich it. It is then that we would realise that Dr Sivakumaran’s behaviour was not an accident of circumstances or a series of ingrained habits, but rather the outer manifestation of deep thought and careful reflection.
Suddenly, what seemed like a series of simple sentences and gentle actions became the vigorous animation of a living philosophy. He once asked me whether I was a Buddhist (obviously because a Sinhalese can be either Buddhist or Christian). I thought for a while and answered, “I don’t know, Sir”. He was thrilled, enthused and immediately got into an animated conversation with me. Once I had explained my reasons, he confirmed: “Yes, you are a Buddhist.” That was more a statement of his correct understanding of Buddhism than any virtue of mine. If Galen’s philosopher-physician could live in the era of modernity, or an Oriental healer at heart could practise modern medicine, then Dr Sivakumaran was its personification.
While I may have been a Buddhist as he exclaimed, Dr Sivakumaran was the kind of Hindu by practice (along with two other Hindu senior consultant physicians, who are thankfully still among us) who made me wish that I was a Hindu too! While (most of) the rest of us run helter-skelter in this confusing life – like animals in the middle of a forest fire looking for a patch of green grass – he walked through his life like an arrow piercing the opaque air and taking a straight line, reaching his goal as a human being with little sweat and a lot of smile. The reason for his success was simple: he knew that he was a human being first, and anything else only second.
That is how I am certain that he has now reached his goal – a goal that has many names but one origin, namely the supreme attainment that a human being is capable of, an attainment that is possible only through one’s thoughts and conduct and not through earthly possessions or accolades: spiritual perfection. People like Dr Sivakumaran show us that even a speck of dust in the universe can transcend universal laws, and become something more meaningful.
The writer wishes to thank Dr M.K. Ragunathan, senior consultant physician, for sharing valuable insights into Dr Sivakumaran’s life.
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RCyAF, SLAF, Air Ceylon, Air Lanka, Singapore Airlines (SIA), SriLankan Airlines Former Chief Pilot, Air Lanka Boeing 737 Former Deputy Chief Pilot, Lockheed L 1011 Former Crew Resource Management (CRM) Facilitator, SIA Former Deputy Director (Air Operations) CAASL. Former President Aircraft Owners and Operators Association Sri Lanka (AOAOASL) President, The Colombo Flying Club Representative for Aviation, Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) Hony. Member Sri Lanka Society of Transport and Logistics
According to media reports, the UDAN Scheme, which stands for Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik , and translates to “Let the common citizen of the country fly”, is an important initiative of the Government of India to make air travel affordable and accessible to ordinary citizens. Launched under the National Civil Aviation Policy, in 2016, the scheme aims to improve regional air connectivity by linking smaller cities, towns, and remote areas with major cities. It promotes the idea that air travel should not be a luxury for a few but a convenient means of transportation for the common people.
Broadly speaking, the primary objective of the UDAN Scheme is to make air travel affordable for the general public. Its major aims are:
=To connect unserved and underserved airports across India
= To make air travel affordable through regulated fares on selected seats
= To improve connectivity to remote, hilly, and geographically isolated regions
= To promote tourism, trade, and economic development in smaller cities
= To create employment opportunities in aviation and related industries
= To encourage airlines to operate flights on regional routes that may otherwise be commercially unviable
The UDAN Scheme has made significant progress in expanding regional air connectivity in India. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, by October 2026, the scheme had introduced 687 routes, connected 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes, and benefited more than 17.1 million passengers.
=Expansion of aviation infrastructure: Several previously unserved and underserved destinations have gained air connectivity
=Growth of tourism: Improved connectivity has made tourist destinations more accessible
=Regional development: Smaller cities have gained better links with major economic centres
=Improved access to essential services: Air connectivity supports medical travel and emergency response in remote areas
=Employment generation: The growth of regional aviation has created opportunities in airports, airlines, maintenance, hospitality and tourism.
Despite its achievements, the Scheme faces several challenges:
=Financial sustainability: Some regional routes struggle to remain profitable after government support ends
=Low passenger demand: Certain smaller cities may not generate enough passengers to sustain regular flights
=Infrastructure limitations: Some airports require better terminals, navigation systems and ground facilities
=Operational difficulties: Weather conditions, difficult terrain and limited aircraft availability can affect flight services
=Airline participation: Airlines may be reluctant to operate routes with low demand and high operating costs
These challenges highlight the need for better infrastructure, effective route planning, stronger regional demand and long-term financial sustainability
To strengthen regional connectivity, India’s Union Cabinet approved the Modified UDAN Scheme on 25 March 2026, with a total outlay of INR (Indian rupees) 288.4 billion over 10 years, covering financial years 2026-27 to 2035-36. The Scheme aims to develop 100 airports from existing airstrips, support the operation and maintenance of aerodromes, establish 200 modern helipads and provide viability gap funding to airlines.
For the scheme to succeed in the long term, the government should focus on:
=Developing airport infrastructure in remote and underserved regions
=Improving the frequency, reliability and affordability of flights
=Encouraging tourism, trade and business activities to increase passenger demand
=Strengthening coordination between the central government, state governments and airlines
=Promoting environmentally sustainable aviation practices and efficient aircraft
=Ensuring that public funds are used effectively and regional routes become commercially viable
The UDAN Scheme is a landmark initiative in the development of domestic aviation in India. By making air travel more affordable and connecting smaller cities with major urban centres, it has contributed to inclusive growth, tourism, employment generation and regional development. Although financial and operational challenges remain, continued investment in infrastructure and effective implementation can improve its long-term impact.
The Modified UDAN Scheme represents a further step towards making air travel accessible to more citizens and strengthening India’s aviation network. Ultimately, UDAN reflects the principle that air connectivity should be an instrument of inclusive development, linking people, places and economic opportunities across the country.
A Viability Gap Fund is included to safeguard the operator, assuming that a given flight was operating full every time, all the time. For example, if an eight-seat aircraft was flying with only four passengers, then the other four seats would be subsidised by the fund.
A Connectivity Fund to cap the ticket fare to a more affordable value to popularise the route.
simultaneously for a limited time, until domestic aviation becomes popular. This is important in a Sri Lankan context as we, in this country, have still not changed our mindset to accept that ‘Time means money’.
The above Scheme was successfully introduced by the Government of India to popularise domestic aviation. Without reinventing the wheel, could Sri Lanka, too, introduce a similar Scheme? It has been so successful that the Indians have extended the period of validity for more years. In comparison, Sri Lanka is a much smaller country with only 18 airports to consider.
My personal opinion is that all domestic airlines must fly according to a schedule. Only then will demand improve. For that the operator must spend more to provide services that are punctual without compromising safety.
As India is doing now, in Sri Lanka this could also include all the water aerodromes.
According to reliable information, there is more than 15 billion rupees accrued in Sri Lanka’s Tourism Development Fund. It should be possible to utilise this money that the government is sitting on, for the purposes outlined above, as an urgent necessity because Sri Lanka’s domestic aviation is currently in the doldrums.
by Prof. Ranjith Bandara, PhD (Qld.) Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
It is easy to stand on a political platform and claim that a country’s economy has made significant progress. However, determining whether such claims reflect the actual economic situation is not so simple. We need facts and reliable statistics rather than political statements. More importantly, we must examine how changes in the economy affect the lives of ordinary people. An increase in government revenue does not necessarily mean an increase in household income. Similarly, higher foreign exchange reserves do not automatically reduce poverty. We must therefore understand the difference between restoring economic stability and improving people’s living standards.
At the convention organised by the National Intellectuals Organisation in Maligawatta, Colombo, on 31 October, several views were expressed about the country’s economic performance. The President highlighted improvements in government revenue, the budget deficit and external payments. He also acknowledged that the expected economic transformation had not yet taken place. This was an important admission. Nevertheless, several statements made at the convention deserve closer examination. Important questions remain about the actual progress of the economy, the management of public expenditure and improvements in people’s living standards.
1. Was Sri Lanka really a bankrupt country?
The claim that Sri Lanka was a bankrupt country has been repeated frequently in recent years. However, this issue requires a proper economic explanation.
In April 2022, Sri Lanka announced the suspension of payments on selected foreign debts. Subsequently, the country defaulted on certain external debt obligations. This is known as a sovereign debt default. It is not the same as the legal bankruptcy of a private company.
At the same time, we must recognise another important fact. Sri Lanka was not experiencing a temporary shortage of money alone. The country faced a serious crisis concerning its ability to repay foreign debts and maintain debt sustainability over the longer term.
Therefore, it is correct to say that Sri Lanka experienced a severe debt and foreign exchange crisis. However, describing the country as bankrupt in a way that suggests all its economic resources had been exhausted is not an accurate interpretation.
The distinction matters because a sovereign debt crisis and the complete collapse of a country’s economic capacity are two different things. Using these expressions without explaining their meaning can create unnecessary confusion among the public.
2. “We did not even have enough money to buy fuel for a week”
This was another statement frequently heard during the economic crisis. It is true that Sri Lanka experienced severe fuel shortages in 2022 and faced serious difficulties in obtaining the foreign exchange needed for fuel imports.
However, the quantity of fuel available in the country at a particular time, the foreign currency available to pay for a fuel shipment, and the overall strength of the national economy are three different matters.
A shortage of dollars to settle payment for a particular fuel shipment does not mean that the country has exhausted all its economic resources.
To evaluate such claims properly, we need to know when they were made, the level of fuel stocks available at that time and the country’s access to foreign exchange.
It is important to explain the seriousness of the crisis. However, there is no need to exaggerate economic conditions to make that point. Public understanding of an economic crisis should be based on accurate information rather than dramatic political statements.
3. The economy is growing, but by how much?
It is true that Sri Lanka’s economy has returned to growth. The economy expanded by approximately 5 per cent in 2024 and recorded a similar growth rate in 2025. During the first six months of 2026, economic growth was approximately 4.7 per cent.
These are positive developments. However, they must be interpreted correctly.
Sri Lanka’s economy contracted sharply in 2022. When an economy begins to grow after such a severe contraction, part of the initial growth simply represents the recovery of economic activities that were previously lost.
According to the World Bank, Sri Lanka’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had returned to approximately its 2018 level by the first half of 2026.
In simple terms, the economy has only now recovered the level of production it had reached about eight years earlier.
This is an important achievement, but it should not be confused with a major economic transformation.
We must also recognise that the recovery process began before the present government assumed office. Therefore, it would not be reasonable to attribute the entire recovery to one administration.
What Sri Lanka needs now is growth that goes beyond restoring lost production. We need new industries, greater productive investment, technological progress and better-paying employment opportunities.
The real challenge is not merely to return to where we were before the crisis, but to move the economy towards a higher and more sustainable path of development.
4. Has inflation fallen? Has the cost of living fallen?
According to the Colombo Consumer Price Index, annual inflation was negative 0.8 per cent in October 2024. By October 2026, it had increased to 8.3 per cent, while food inflation had reached 8.8 per cent.
These figures reveal an important change in economic conditions.
However, we must understand the difference between a decline in inflation and a decline in prices.
A lower inflation rate does not necessarily mean that goods and services have become cheaper. In most circumstances, it simply means that prices are increasing more slowly.
For example, if a basket of goods cost Rs. 100 last year and prices increased by 8 per cent, the same basket would now cost Rs. 108.
For ordinary people, the most important question is not simply the inflation rate. It is how much they can purchase with the income they earn.
The President also acknowledged at the convention that inflation creates difficulties for the public. This is a valid observation. However, identifying external factors contributing to inflation is not sufficient.
The government must also consider how to protect vulnerable households from rising prices while improving domestic production and the supply of essential goods.
Ultimately, people’s living standards depend on their purchasing power, not merely on changes in an economic indicator.
5. Are there enough jobs? Are incomes adequate?
Sri Lanka’s unemployment rate was approximately 4 per cent in the second quarter of 2026. At first glance, this appears to be a favourable situation. However, youth unemployment remained much higher, at 17.8 per cent. The rate was even higher among young women.
We must also recognise that being employed and earning an adequate income are not the same thing.
A person engaged in small-scale self-employment may be officially classified as employed, even if the income earned is insufficient to support a family.
Therefore, unemployment statistics alone cannot provide a complete picture of the labour market.
The success of economic policies should be assessed by examining how many new jobs have been created, the quality of those jobs and whether workers’ real incomes have improved.
For young people, in particular, the important question is whether the economy is creating meaningful opportunities that allow them to build secure and productive lives.
6. Government revenue has increased, but what about expenditure management?
At the convention, considerable attention was given to improvements in government revenue and the primary budget surplus.
An increase in government revenue is important. Similarly, achieving a primary budget surplus, where government revenue exceeds expenditure excluding interest payments, can support fiscal stability and debt management.
However, increased revenue alone does not demonstrate successful economic management.
We must also ask how public money is being spent and what benefits the country receives from that expenditure.
During the first six months of 2026, only 16.3 per cent of the annual allocation for capital expenditure had been utilised.
This raises questions about the pace at which public investment programmes are being implemented. Although final performance must be assessed at the end of the year, such slow progress cannot simply be ignored.
Public expenditure on schools, hospitals, roads, irrigation systems and productive infrastructure can make a lasting contribution to economic development.
However, inefficient projects, unnecessary administrative expenditure and poorly managed public investments can place additional pressure on government finances without delivering sufficient benefits.
Therefore, the objective should not be limited to reducing government expenditure.
The real objective must be to obtain greater economic and social benefits from every rupee of public money spent.
Sound expenditure management is just as important as successful revenue collection.
7. Foreign exchange reserves have increased, but are the risks over?
The increase in Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange reserves is a positive development. By the end of August 2026, gross official foreign reserves had reached approximately US$6.9 billion.
However, this figure includes the swap facility provided by the People’s Bank of China, which is subject to restrictions on its use.
Therefore, the entire amount cannot be treated as foreign currency that is freely available for immediate use.
At the same time, Sri Lanka’s merchandise trade deficit widened to approximately US$7.2 billion during January–August 2026. The current account also recorded a cumulative deficit of approximately US$291 million during the same period.
It is true that the current account recorded a surplus in 2025. However, highlighting that earlier improvement alone does not adequately explain the current challenges facing the external sector.
An increase in foreign reserves is encouraging, but it does not necessarily mean that all external financial vulnerabilities have disappeared.
Sri Lanka needs an economy that can generate sufficient foreign exchange through productive economic activities rather than relying excessively on borrowing and other external financial inflows.
Expanding exports, strengthening tourism and increasing earnings from other internationally competitive industries are essential for achieving long-term external stability.
8. Who benefits from economic growth?
This is perhaps one of the most important questions in evaluating economic performance.
According to World Bank estimates, Sri Lanka’s poverty rate remained at approximately 16.9 per cent in 2025.
This means that a substantial proportion of the population continues to experience economic hardship.
Economic growth does not automatically distribute its benefits equally across society.
For a high-income family, an increase in food prices may be inconvenient but manageable. For a low-income family, the same increase can create serious difficulties in meeting basic needs. Therefore, GDP growth alone is not a sufficient measure of economic success.
We must also examine changes in real household income, purchasing power, poverty and the distribution of income.
The President emphasised at the convention that the benefits of economic progress should reach the wider population. This is an important principle with which one can agree.
However, the real issue is how that principle will be translated into effective policies and measurable improvements.
Economic development must be judged not only by how much national income increases, but also by who benefits from that increase.
If economic growth does not produce a meaningful improvement in people’s lives, its success remains limited.
9. What should we expect from a convention of intellectuals?
The value of an intellectual convention should not be measured by the number of academics or professionals attending it. It should be assessed by the quality of the ideas presented and the practical solutions proposed for the country’s problems.
The responsibility of intellectuals is not merely to recognise and praise the achievements of a government. It is equally important to identify weaknesses, question assumptions and propose credible alternatives.
When discussing macroeconomic performance, presenting statistics alone is not sufficient.
We must explain what those figures actually mean. We must identify the period to which they relate, the basis on which comparisons are made and what they reveal about the living conditions of ordinary people.
Even when statistics are accurate, their incorrect interpretation can mislead the public.
Therefore, the responsibility of an economist or policy adviser is not simply to present impressive figures. It is to explain their economic meaning, limitations and implications in a way that the public can understand.
For example, an increase in economic growth does not necessarily mean that every household enjoys a higher income. A decline in inflation does not automatically mean that prices have fallen. Similarly, higher foreign exchange reserves do not establish that all external debt problems have been resolved.
Without explaining such distinctions, statistics can create an incomplete or misleading picture of the economy.
Macroeconomics is not a subject that can be adequately explained through political slogans. It requires sound economic knowledge, careful interpretation of evidence and independent judgement.
A country needs intellectuals who are willing to think independently, identify policy failures and offer evidence-based solutions.
The true contribution of intellectuals lies not in repeating the government’s claims, but in helping the country understand its economic realities and make better policy choices.
10. Moving Beyond Economic Stability
Sri Lanka has made considerable progress in recovering from the severe economic crisis of 2022. This achievement should be recognised.
However, recovering from an economic crisis and achieving economic development are not the same thing.
Economic recovery means restoring stability and regaining economic activities that were disrupted or lost during the crisis.
Economic development goes further. It involves expanding production, attracting productive investment, creating better employment opportunities and improving people’s incomes and living standards on a sustainable basis.
This is the real challenge facing Sri Lanka today.
It is reasonable for the government to highlight the positive results of its economic management. However, it must also recognise existing weaknesses and present a clear programme to address them.
What the country needs is not another optimistic narrative about economic performance.
It needs productive investment, export-oriented development, efficient public expenditure and policies capable of generating better employment opportunities, particularly for young people.
It also needs a more inclusive approach to development so that economic progress is reflected in the lives of ordinary people.
Ultimately, a government’s success should not be measured by how difficult the economic situation was when it assumed office.
It should be measured by how much progress the country has made under its administration.
We must therefore return to one fundamental question.
Beyond the government’s claims of economic progress, can we see its real benefits in the everyday lives of the people?
A country’s development is not established by political statements. It is demonstrated by genuine and lasting improvements in the lives of its people.
Before I begin this tribute to former Finance Minister UB Wanninayake, a simple man of great integrity who donated much of his inherited property for the common weal, let me thank Mr. R.M.V.P.B. Hangilipola who wrote a fine account of this schoolmaster turned politician in the issue of The Island of Oct. 23.
I knew the late Mr.Wanninayake, who graced the national scene in the middle sixties as Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake’s finance minister, when I served as Asst. Director in the then Public Works Department (PWD) in the sixties. My mind goes back to pleasant memories of two unforgettable experiences involving the late Wanninayake. At that time I was handling the subject ‘Improvements to Minor Roads’ for which financial provision was available in the printed estimates.
These were meant mostly to accommodate requests of MPs to develop minor roads in their electorates.
Area engineers were required to send estimates for these projects. They were then checked, approved and forwarded to the accounts department for the release of the necessary funds.
One day, to my utter surprise, then Finance Minister Wanninayake walked into my room to inquire about some estimates submitted by the area engineer covering his Yapahuwa electorate for some road
development work. When I told him that he could have got this information either on the phone or by summoning me to his office, he said with a smile that this was his constituency matter and not finance ministry business.
Another Friday, as I was walking to the bus stand to go out of town, a car drew up beside me and putting the shutter down the finance minister put his head out of the window and asked me where I was going. When I told him that I was going to Kurunegala, he asked me to get in as he was going home to Yapahuwa and he’d give me a ride.
We got into conversation but he never spoke of official work, focusing on my personal life; where I was from and why I am traveling to Kurunegala. I said I was going there to see my brother. Nearing
Ambepussa before turning on to the Kurunagala road, he got his driver to stop the car and invited me to join him in a cup of tea at a wayside kiosk. The owner, who obviously knew him, prepared two cups of plain tea which he knew what the Minister often has.
Sure enough, it was really refreshing. Then we proceeded and nearing my brother’s residence, I pointed to the house which was by the side of the road where I was getting down. I thanked the minister and waved as the car drove off. My brother who saw me getting off the car and with whom I came, told me how Minister Wanninayake comes to the Kurunegala Kachcheri and gets his work done just like anybody else.
The only other politician I knew who held high positions and did not throw his weight about was late D,B.Wijetunga who ended up as President of Sri Lanka
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