Sri Lanka’s Pest Crisis 2025: Jihan Hameed Calls for Urgent National Pest Control to Secure Food Sovereignty

By Jihan Hameed | The Nationalist

Sri Lanka is currently facing a grave threat to its agricultural foundations and national food sovereignty. Recent official data reveals an alarming surge in pest animal populations devastating the country’s crops: 5.17 million toque monkeys (rilawa), 1.74 million gray langurs (wandura), 2.66 million giant squirrels (dandu lena), and 4.24 million peacocks. These millions of animals are not just wildlife statistics; they represent a direct, ongoing assault on farmers’ livelihoods, rural communities, and the nation’s ability to feed itself independently.

For decades, previous governments either ignored or concealed the scale of this crisis. Instead of confronting the issue, they chose to side with fragile conservation narratives and foreign-funded programs that prioritized wildlife protection at the expense of food producers. This negligence allowed pest populations to explode unchecked, stripping Sri Lanka’s fruit trees, paddy fields, and village crops bare. The result is a growing hunger threat for a nation that cannot afford to import its food at scale.

The current government must be acknowledged for its rare display of courage in publicly releasing these critical figures and finally bringing the issue to the national stage. For the first time, there is transparency and official recognition that this problem exists on an unprecedented scale. This move alone breaks the decades-long silence.

Yet, acknowledgment is only the first step. The true test lies ahead: the urgent formulation and implementation of a comprehensive, science-driven national pest management strategy. This must be a balanced policy designed to restore harmony between wildlife and agricultural productivity. It should include ongoing ecological monitoring, strict population control measures, community engagement programs, and research-backed integrated pest management techniques. Importantly, such a plan must respect Sri Lanka’s ecological diversity while prioritizing the survival and prosperity of our farmers and rural communities.

Food sovereignty is not merely an economic policy. It is a national security issue. Unlike affluent Western nations that can afford to import food freely, Sri Lanka depends on its fertile lands and hardworking farmers to sustain its people. Ignoring this threat will force the nation into dependency on volatile international markets, exposing us to price shocks and political leverage that undermine true sovereignty.

The responsibility rests on the government and all stakeholders to act decisively now. There is no room for delay or denial. Farmers, rural families, and every Sri Lankan must see that their government values their survival and livelihood. A structured pest control plan will protect crops, ensure food availability, and safeguard Sri Lanka’s future.

In conclusion, this pest crisis is a wake-up call demanding bold leadership, scientific rigor, and national unity. We must reclaim the balance between nature and agriculture before it’s too late. The path forward is clear: a strong, coordinated, and ecologically sensitive national pest control policy — the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s food sovereignty and independence.

The nation is watching. The farmers are waiting. The time to act is now.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya Commits to Reforming General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University

 By Jihan Hameed | 5 June 2025

On 4 June 2025, Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education Harini Amarasuriya addressed Parliament and formally committed to restoring General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University (KDU) to its intended national and military role. Her statement acknowledged prior mismanagement, deviation from the institution’s founding intent, and the need to revise legal provisions that allowed a civilian-heavy intake against the original structure.

The Nationalist movement, having long advocated for this correction, welcomes this announcement with cautious optimism and national gratitude. Prime Minister Amarasuriya’s parliamentary remarks confirmed a renewed commitment to align KDU with its founding vision—serving the nation’s defense and producing a disciplined, strategically trained corps for Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.

This moment carries particular historic weight as it honors the legacy of former Prime Minister and legendary General Sir John Kotelawala, who gifted his private estate with the express intention of establishing a military training university for Sri Lanka’s future defense leadership. That vision was diluted in recent years by excessive civilianization and commercialization, undermining KDU’s unique military identity.

While the Prime Minister’s initiative is commendable, it is also sensitive and complex, given her civilian background. Strategic decisions regarding defense training, internationalization, admissions, and legal reforms must be handled with utmost care, foresight, and coordination with national security stakeholders.

In response, a parallel policy proposal is currently being finalized and will be submitted to the Prime Minister shortly. This comprehensive policy paper—conveyed by Jihan Hameed on behalf of the Nationalist platform—is being reviewed and supported by senior defense officials (past and present), academic experts, veterans, and legal professionals. Its purpose is to assist the Prime Minister’s reform agenda by offering a structured framework with practical, enforceable recommendations.

The proposal includes:

• Realignment of the KDU’s core mission as a military-first university with civilian education playing a supportive, not dominant, role
• Clear legal reforms to reinforce KDU’s defense orientation under a revised Act
• Admission policy restructuring that prioritizes Sri Lankan cadets and ensures civilian intake remains regulated
• Postgraduate and executive programs for defense officials and public servants
• Medical, engineering, and legal faculties maintained under military disciplines
• Full military training and physical fitness requirements for all student categories
• Enhanced infrastructure, accommodation, and discipline standards for cadets and civilian students
• Establishment of a Regional Strategic and Intelligence Studies Department with Sri Lanka at the helm
• A global accreditation mechanism to ensure KDU’s recognition among international defense universities
• Voluntary Reserve Force enrolment option for civilian graduates with incentives
• Separation of three tiers: KDU Military Academy, KDU Civil-Military University, and KDU International Defense Platform
• Financial self-sustainability through local and international student fees without burdening the Defense Ministry
• Curriculum and governance oversight under military command with policy review by a national defense education council

The Prime Minister’s statement that “necessary legal changes will be undertaken” signals openness to comprehensive reform. However, the definition of “internationalization” must be carefully clarified to avoid geopolitical dilution. While international recognition of Sri Lankan defense education is welcome, structural integrity must not be compromised.

This is an opportunity to reset Sri Lanka’s defense education for the 21st century, and the Nationalist front is ready to support this reform not with confrontation, but with a parallel proposal developed from within the nation’s defense heritage, legal expertise, and academic strength.

We urge the government to adopt the upcoming policy with serious consideration, and we thank Prime Minister Amarasuriya for taking this decisive step in Parliament. The Nationalist platform will continue to support her civilian leadership with constructive recommendations and national-level consensus from those who understand the security demands of our time.

This is not just about KDU. It is about securing Sri Lanka’s future with disciplined, visionary, and strategically trained leadership for generations to come.

 Jihan Hameed

THE NATIONALIST 🇱🇰

Himalaya Declaration Exposed as Legal Blueprint for Sovereignty Erosion

By Jihan Hameed

Himalaya Declaration Exposed as Legal Blueprint for Sovereignty Erosion

Buddhist clergy and diaspora alliance pushes hidden agenda of federalism and war crimes trials

A little-known document signed in Nagarkot, Nepal in April 2023 is now emerging as one of the most dangerous blueprints for the geopolitical and legal dismantling of Sri Lanka. Titled the Himalaya Declaration, this joint statement by a select group of Buddhist monks and Global Tamil Forum members has been falsely marketed as a peace agreement. In reality, it is a carefully coordinated foreign-funded effort to restructure the Sri Lankan state, criminalise its military victory, and undermine its unitary constitutional framework.

At its surface, the document speaks of dignity, trust, and equal rights. But upon deeper reading, it becomes clear that the Himalaya Declaration is a calculated entry point for external legal and political control. A decorated war hero who reviewed the document described it bluntly. They have done it for money. This is part of the roadmap to take us to The Hague.

That warning cannot be ignored.

Clause 3 of the declaration calls for a new constitution that guarantees devolution of powers to provinces. It further demands full implementation of power-sharing in the existing constitution. This is a veiled reference to the 13th Amendment and a covert push toward federalism. Such proposals violate Article 2 of Sri Lanka’s Constitution which defines the country as a unitary state. There is no constitutional or public mandate to dismantle this core structure.

More troubling is the inclusion of accountability measures in Clause 5. The language is almost identical to that used in UNHRC resolutions calling for war crimes investigations and international prosecutions. With the Global Tamil Forum being one of the most active diaspora groups lobbying for foreign trials against Sri Lankan officials and military commanders, the intention is unmistakable.

The presence of senior Buddhist monks among the signatories is not a reflection of national consensus. It is a product of targeted foreign influence. Many of these clergy members are involved in reconciliation workshops and training programmes funded by Western embassies and NGOs. Their participation is being used to give Sinhala legitimacy to a deeply divisive agenda.

Even the foreign policy framing in Clause 6 reveals the true aim. While calling for compliance with bilateral and multilateral obligations, the declaration positions Sri Lanka as subordinate to a global legal order dominated by transitional justice mechanisms. There is no mention of non-alignment, no assertion of domestic legal sovereignty, and no protection of the national military victory.

This declaration is not just symbolic. Its legal phrases can be cited in future cases, used in diplomatic pressure, or referenced in tribunals. It is, in every sense, a foundational document of subversion disguised as dialogue.

To protect Sri Lanka, the following must be done immediately.

First, the government must issue an official rejection of the Himalaya Declaration and state unequivocally that no constitutional reform will be based on foreign-funded reconciliation agendas.

Second, a parliamentary committee should investigate the foreign financing and institutional partners behind this declaration.

Third, religious authorities must be asked to clarify whether monks have the authority to sign political declarations abroad in the name of the Sangha or the nation.

Fourth, public awareness must be raised so that the people of Sri Lanka understand that documents written in soft language can be used as hard legal instruments against national sovereignty.

This declaration must be treated as a national warning. It is not about peace. It is about reengineering the legal and political identity of Sri Lanka under the influence of external actors.

The silence of political parties and mainstream media on this issue proves how deeply compromised our defense mechanisms have become.

If we do not speak now, the future will be written by others.

Jihan Hameed
THE NATIONALIST

What Happened to the USD 53 Billion? Sri Lanka’s Export Earnings Scandal Still Unresolved in 2025

By Jihan Hameed

What Happened to the USD 53 Billion?

Three Years After the Claim, Sri Lanka Still Lacks a Real Export Earnings Tracking System

In December 2022, then Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe made national headlines by claiming that USD 53 billion in export earnings had been held in foreign banks by Sri Lankan exporters over a 12-year period. The minister cited a “New York-based research firm” and promised that the government would introduce legislation to repatriate these funds to stabilize the economy.

Three years later, in 2025, Sri Lanka has a new government, but the country remains in the dark. The USD 53 billion figure has never been publicly substantiated. The law that was promised has not been enforced. And most critically, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka still lacks a transparent, enforceable, and technology-driven mechanism to track export earnings.

This article examines the truth behind the USD 53 billion claim, the systemic failure to monitor foreign remittances, and the urgent need for enforcement if Sri Lanka is serious about economic recovery and sovereignty.

The 2022 Claim: USD 53 Billion Held Abroad?

According to Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s 2022 statement, Sri Lankan exporters failed to repatriate approximately USD 53 billion in foreign income from 2010 to 2022. The claim, published in Daily News and echoed in several media outlets, shocked the nation—especially amidst the worst currency crisis in modern history.

However, key details were never disclosed:

• The name of the research firm was never revealed
• The methodology behind the figure was not published
• No list of companies or individuals involved was made public

It is now evident that the claim may have served a political function at a time of national outrage—diverting attention from internal government mismanagement and placing blame on exporters.

The Real Structural Failure: No Reliable Export Earnings Monitoring

While the truth behind the USD 53 billion figure remains unclear, what is clear is this:

Sri Lanka still has no robust, accountable system to monitor whether export income is:

• Repatriated within the required period

• Converted into Sri Lankan rupees

• Declared and taxed appropriately

In 2021, the Central Bank introduced the Repatriation and Conversion of Export Proceeds Rules, intended to ensure that exporters return foreign exchange to the country within a fixed timeline. However, the lack of implementation, auditing, and enforcement has made the regulation toothless.

Exporters continue to:

• Under-invoice their shipments

• Use shell entities abroad to divert funds

• Delay or completely avoid bringing money back

And the government? It has neither published regular compliance reports nor taken visible legal action.

Why It Matters: Economic Sovereignty Is at Stake

Sri Lanka’s economic sovereignty is not just compromised by foreign debt and IMF conditions. It is equally undermined when billions of dollars earned abroad are not brought home, and when the state fails to enforce its own financial laws.

The fact that there is no monthly report from the Central Bank on export remittance compliance is not just an administrative gap—it is a national vulnerability.

At a time when ordinary citizens are taxed, electricity tariffs have been raised, and small businesses are struggling to access dollars, the elite avoidance of repatriation must be called out for what it is: economic betrayal.

What the New Government Must Do in 2025

The current administration cannot wash its hands of this issue simply because a former minister made the initial claim. If the figure of USD 53 billion was based on real data, it must be verified and acted upon. If it was false or politically exaggerated, the public must be told the truth.

The Nationalist Sovereignty Platform now demands the following actions:

1. Public release of the basis for the USD 53 billion claim
2. Monthly publication of export income vs. repatriation data
3. Legal enforcement of the Central Bank repatriation rules
4. Penalties and prosecution for deliberate non-compliance
5. Transparency on which sectors or companies are defaulting

Conclusion: No More Political Cover-Ups

Sri Lanka cannot recover by slogans and speculation. If the government continues to ignore the export earnings issue, it will have to answer a simple question:

Was the USD 53 billion figure a politically convenient lie—or is the state complicit in letting the wealth of the nation stay hidden abroad?

This is a matter of national responsibility. Either enforce the law, or stop misleading the people.

Jihan Hameed

The Nationalist 🇱🇰

Bingiriya Student Suicide: National Outrage Over Harassment

By Jihan Hameed

Bingiriya Student Suicide Sparks National Outrage: How Many More Daughters Must Die?

Harassment by lecturers, state negligence, and a broken education system Sri Lanka must act now.

On 23 May 2025, a 23-year-old student from Teldeniya, Kandy, was found dead in her dormitory at the Wayamba National College of Education in Bingiriya. Officially, it was ruled a suicide. But those who knew her say she was a victim of ongoing harassment and mental abuse by lecturers people entrusted to educate and protect her.

This wasn’t just a personal tragedy. This was a national disgrace.

What Happened in Bingiriya?

The student, in her second year of training to become a teacher, reportedly faced persistent psychological harassment from academic staff. When she was found in her hostel room, it was already too late. A group of her fellow students held a silent protest on 23 May, demanding answers. But silence from officials has followed, not justice.

This is not the first time we’ve heard such a story and unless we change course, it won’t be the last.

Why This Isn’t an Isolated Case

Months ago, we called for reforms to the Penal Code to criminalize the psychological torment of students by those in power especially when it results in suicide. We demanded serious legal consequences for mental abuse within academic institutions. But our demands were ignored.

Sri Lanka’s education system has become a place where rank protects predators, complaints disappear into bureaucratic voids, and suffering is swept aside in the name of institutional reputation. The Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission are both complicit in their silence and inaction.

Our daughters are being broken within government institutions. What does it say about a country where even a training college is unsafe?

What Sri Lanka Must Do Now

Enough speeches. Enough mourning. The following actions must be taken immediately:

• Amend the Penal Code to criminalize psychological harassment and institutional abuse that leads to suicide.
• Establish a Student Harassment and Mental Health Protection Division within the Ministry of Education and UGC with legal and disciplinary authority.
• Open 24/7 psychological counselling centres in every university and National College of Education across Sri Lanka.
• Launch mandatory audits and feedback systems to hold lecturers and wardens accountable for abusive conduct.
• Ensure independent oversight—no more internal “inquiries” that lead nowhere.

We Cannot Keep Burying Our Future

How many more daughters must die before Sri Lanka wakes up? How many more suicides will it take before we treat mental health like a matter of national urgency?

This student traveled across the island, from Teldeniya to Bingiriya, to study and serve this country. And instead, she died in silence while those responsible continue with their salaries, titles, and impunity.

I will not stop speaking until someone listens. Until this government acts. Until our institutions protect students not destroy them.

Because if we can’t protect our daughters, we don’t deserve to speak of values, nation, or progress.

Jihan Hameed
The Nationalist 🇱🇰