Economist by day. Tired by night | Views are obviously personal

Joined October 2013
4,619 Photos and videos
What will be the impact of US-Israel v Iran on #lka? I looked at the data to understand how supply chain disruptions will affect 🇱🇰 ⛽38% of oil is imported from UAE. UAE has reduced production & is also unable to get any shipments out. CPC says we have 1 months of stocks
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
Sri Lanka will establish a massive 16‑storey Heart Treatment Centre with advanced facilities at the National Hospital this year, at a cost of Rs. 12,000 million. Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said construction will begin in 2026 and finish within three years. He further revealed that discussions are underway to set up a Stroke Unit. D: newswire.lk/460f
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🚨 "Next time, we won't even need to count the votes. We will make Namal Rajapaksa the President of this country." SLPP-affiliated monk Iththakande Saddhatissa Thero expressed confidence that Namal Rajapaksa, who secured 2.5% of the vote in the 2024 Presidential Election, would record a landslide victory at the next election.
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
🚨 "Next time, we won't even need to count the votes. We will make Namal Rajapaksa the President of this country." SLPP-affiliated monk Iththakande Saddhatissa Thero expressed confidence that Namal Rajapaksa, who secured 2.5% of the vote in the 2024 Presidential Election, would record a landslide victory at the next election.
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
Why data centres? "Decisions on whether a Government promotes or facilitates the establishment of data centres within its territory must consider the availability of the key inputs of land, electricity and water and the opportunity costs. Two million liters of water for a data center means 2 million less for another application.  What benefits will flow from data centres? They do not generate a lot of employment. Bangladesh’s Tier IV data center created only 69 jobs. Will there be tax revenues? Beyond these economic factors, some Governments are motivated by non-economic factors. In the 2026 state budget the Malaysian Prime Minister announced that the state would allocate Ringgit 2 billion to build a sovereign AI cloud. If all states prioritise sovereign cloud facilities, will there be business for externally focused hubs such as Viet Nam’s?" ft.lk/columns/Why-data-centr…
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Based on what is already going on with AI data centers in other countries what we can expect in SL is the exploitation of land & fresh water resources, loss of habitats and biodiversity, pollution and environmental degradation, marginalization of neighboring communities.
Sri Lanka explores AI data centres to serve regional demand: Deputy Minister ift.tt/1BdIFJA
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Anyway it's a good thing SL bureaucracy moves extremely slowly. By the time they get around to it the AI bubble would have imploded and the world may have ended.
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එච්චරයි දැන් අඩු
Sri Lanka explores AI data centres to serve regional demand: Deputy Minister ift.tt/1BdIFJA
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
Despite the price shock of the US-Iran war on energy, the per unit cost of coal imported to Sri Lanka has not increased dramatically. The per unit cost of coal imported in 2025 was Rs 34 per kg and Rs 38 in April 2026. Average monthly imports of coal in 2025 was ~151,500 metric tonnes. In April 2026, ~363,754 metric tonnes of coal was imported. Therefore, the growth in the import bill for coal in April 2025 can be attributed to an increase in the quantity of imports rather than a price increase. The increase may also be attributed to a seasonal spike, as the full year's coal requirement is typically imported in between October and April, before the South-West monsoon begins.
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
The Free Media Movement (FMM) has condemned what it described as a reported attempt by Government MP Lakmali Hemachandra to identify individuals who provide information to the media and to bring them before Parliament’s Privileges Committee. In a statement, the FMM referred to a BBC Sinhala report regarding a meeting of the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus that discussed issues related to the National Child Protection Authority and a case involving a child abuse suspect. According to the FMM, the report indicated that Hemachandra had suggested action against individuals who shared information from the meeting with the media and had sought to identify the sources behind the report. The media rights organisation described the alleged move as unacceptable and said efforts to pressure journalists or expose confidential sources undermine media freedom and democratic principles. The FMM also expressed concern over reports that discussions at the meeting included suggestions to use existing laws related to online activity and social media against those involved in disseminating information. Calling on the media community and the public to oppose such actions, the FMM said the protection of journalists and their sources remains a fundamental requirement in a democratic society. The organisation urged authorities and elected representatives to uphold commitments to transparency, accountability and freedom of expression. (Newswire)
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
The Colombo High Court has fixed for July 16 the hearing of a money laundering case filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Yoshitha Rajapaksa and his grand‑aunt Daisy Forrest. Both accused appeared before Colombo High Court today. D: newswire.lk/j104
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
Former Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijeyalal de Silva, arrested by the Bribery Commission over alleged misuse of Rs. 16.5 million in 2019 Provincial Council allocations, has been remanded until June 12 by the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court. He is accused of procurement violations in awarding contracts for 16,361 chairs later delivered to 54 councillors’ residences and offices across three districts, causing financial loss to the government. D: newswire.lk/np7n
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
The Government plans to launch a pilot demerit points system for motorists in September as part of efforts to improve road safety and reduce traffic-related deaths, Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament. The Minister said stronger enforcement measures are needed to improve driving standards, noting that traditional regulations alone have not been sufficient to curb reckless behaviour on the roads. He said Sri Lanka recorded 2,750 road accident deaths last year, with motorcyclists and pedestrians accounting for the majority of fatalities. According to the proposed system, drivers will be allocated 24 points on their licences, with points deducted for traffic violations. Repeated offences could lead to penalties, including the suspension of driving privileges. Rathnayake said previous attempts to introduce the system had faced delays due to irregularities and administrative challenges within the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). He also highlighted ongoing reforms at the DMT, including digitalisation initiatives and measures aimed at reducing corruption, improving efficiency, and modernising services through the e-Motoring project. (Newswire)
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
24 Indian crew members were rescued from an oil tanker after it was struck by a US missile off the coast of Oman.
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
The IMF programme gave Sri Lanka much needed stability following the 2022 economic crisis. But for our economy to grow what should we be focusing on next? Watch the full episode to find out more: youtube.com/watch?v=LqTUITi-… #lka #srilanka
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And all 3 were making pooja for salley yesterday 💡
CID names Gammanpila, Weerawansa, Dilith in alleged Easter probe obstruction ift.tt/CA7QdTy
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
The Colombo High Court today (09) found former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena guilty of corruption charges filed by the Bribery Commission. Delivering the verdict, Judge Mohamed Mihail ruled that Gunawardena, as Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board in 2006, caused financial loss to the government by renting vehicles for the institution. D: newswire.lk/nyto
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
Transits through the Strait of Hormuz remain limited, with a permanent US-Iran deal yet to be reached. #Sulphur continues to break records with most delivered benchmarks beyond $1,000/t CFR. Around 700,000 t of sulphur is still stranded in the Gulf (1/3)
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Rehana Thowfeek | Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇱🇰 retweeted
Arutha X Neon Sri Lanka's IMF programme helped stabilise an economy in crisis - but what comes next? As the country moves forward, do we need another programme or are we ready to take responsibility for our own economic development? Watch the full episode here: youtube.com/watch?v=LqTUITi-…
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Suddenly a major advocate for repeal of PTA 🫠
The reports now emerging in the media, along with the concerns raised before court by the legal counsel of Major General (Retd.) Suresh #Sallay regarding his treatment in custody, are deeply troubling. Sallay is not under a magistrate’s remand order but is detained under the PTA. What is striking is the silence of many of the very activists who spent years campaigning against the PTA. Their sudden silence now raises serious questions about consistency and principle. We all want justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, but it must be delivered without bias, political influence, or selective application. If investigations are driven by politics rather than truth, it risks becoming a betrayal of the victims and their families, who still deserve genuine justice. That same commission report clearly outlined its findings and identified those held personally responsible for negligence. Ironically, some of the very individuals connected to those findings are now leading the investigations. As the opposition, we are not against investigations. Accountability is important, but politically motivated investigations will never deliver real justice to the Easter Sunday victims. That is my honest view.
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