An ill-wind seems to be blowing over Lanka‘

Truth, the idiom goes is often stranger than fiction. Our country seems to embody this truism. Days ago we were jolted when media reported the Attorney General -whose independent status has withstood numerous changes as per the Constitution- advised law enforcement authorities that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the three persons accused of abducting the driver of - Lasantha Wickrematunge- Editor of the now defunct ‘Sunday Leader’ newspaper. 
Lasantha was murdered in broad daylight that day. The three were suspected of involvement in the crime.
The late Wickrematunge was a vocal critic of the then government, particularly regarding alleged corruption and human rights abuses. His murder shocked the country. However, nearly 15 years later, his killers still remain free. 
Given that Wickrematunge was a huge critic of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, there were strong suspicions that powerful actors close to the president were involved in the assassination.

The daughter of the late editor Wickrematunga, Ahimsa Wickrematunga wrote, accusing the Attorney General of abusing his power and neglecting his duty by recommending the discharge of the three suspects. She added that they were suspects in her father’s murder. She urged the Prime Minister to impeach the Attorney General.
In parliament, the Prime Minister assured parliament that her government was committed to securing justice for the family of slain Editor of the ‘Sunday Leader’. 
Opposition MP Rauff Hakeem called for a parliamentary debate on the Attorney General’s Department. He was critical of its handling of the case. Hakeem slammed the AG, saying his response was based on a weak argument regarding an error in the identification parade. 
He reminded the PM, that the NPP manifesto pledged to establish an independent ‘Prosecutor’s Office’ instead of allowing the Attorney General to directly handle such cases. He charged that prosecutorial discretion was being used selectively to free certain individuals.
The Bar Association warned against politicising the Attorney General’s opinion. The Association emphasised the importance of maintaining the judicial independence of the office of the AG.
On 12 February the Legal Officers’ Association of the Attorney General’s Department vowed to oppose any move to remove the Attorney General. Strangely, neither the Cabinet of Ministers nor the president had threatened to remove the AG.
Then, on the 13th the AG made an about turn. He informed Court that the decision to discharge the suspects related to the abduction of the driver of ‘Sunday Leader’ Wickrematunge’s had been temporarily suspended. 
Believe it or not!  
While the country struggles to maintain the independence of the office of the Attorney General, the AG himself decides to cave changing his opinion ‘temporarily’. Amid these exciting happenings, Lanka is yet struggling to repay its external debt. 
According to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies our external debt stood at a whopping US$ 37,041 million in the first quarter of 2024.
To repay this debt, we need to broaden our sources of income. Alas we do not seem to be very effective in this field. In fact due to different reasons, direct investments seems to be fleeing the country rather than the other way round. 
For instance, United Petroleum (UP) is a 100% Australian-owned fuel and convenience company. Its Sri Lankan venture represented its first retail gasoline operation outside Australia. The company entered into an agreement with the BOI to invest a $ 27.5 million to import, store, and sell petroleum in the country.
However, earlier this month UP decided to pull out of the country. According to senior officials at UP, the decision to withdraw was driven by months of tension with the government over its failure to release the agreed number of fuel stations.
Days ago the Adani Group withdrew from its wind energy project in Mannar. The group withdrew its proposed $1 billion renewable wind farm and transmission project citing prolonged discussions and new government renegotiation efforts, the Indian media reported.
Whatever the reasons for government causing delays, the long and short story of the matter is that two huge investments have been withdrawn citing problems with government. This will not help attract investments into the country. In fact it will deter other possible investors from coming to our shores.