Niluksha Randika

Thurstan | USJP | UCSC | Specialized in Statistics| Loves cricket | 😀

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Starlink now available in Sri Lanka! 🇱🇰

[M U M Ali Sabry @alisabrypc]

A Tribute to Mahinda Siriwardena, Who Helped Steady the Ship

On the 4th of April 2022, I was asked by then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take over the Ministry of Finance. The country was on the edge of economic collapse. Foreign reserves had dried up. Inflation was soaring. Public trust was shattered. An IMF mission was scheduled for the 11th of April, and Sri Lanka had no one at the helm of its economic affairs.

I had many reasons to decline. But I knew if no one stepped up, the nation might fall into the abyss. I accepted out of duty, stepping into what was arguably my most difficult assignment.

My first question was critical: "Who will be the new Governor of the Central Bank and Secretary to the Treasury?" The President suggested a leading businessman for Treasury. I objected due to conflict of interest. I also couldn't continue if Mr. Cabraal remained Governor, given our policy differences. Both stepped aside.

We had to rebuild economic leadership from scratch.

I consulted widely. Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy was my first choice for Governor. He declined but recommended Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe without hesitation, praising his competence and integrity. The rest is history.

For Treasury Secretary, Mahinda Siriwardena came highly recommended by Dr. Nandalal and others. We needed someone with deep economic understanding, courage to speak truth to power, and integrity to remain unshaken by politics. That person was Mahinda Siriwardena.

His appointment marked a turning point. Over three years, he served with unflinching commitment - negotiating with creditors, navigating the IMF program, introducing difficult reforms, and rebuilding confidence.
Thanks to his efforts, revenue improved, inflation was controlled, reserves replenished, and Sri Lanka achieved historic primary budget surpluses.

Remarkably, both Presidents Wickremesinghe and Dissanayake maintained trust in him and Dr. Nandalal - a testament to their competence and patriotism.

As he steps down, Mahinda Siriwardena leaves a legacy of calm leadership, principled decision-making, and transformative impact.

Thank you for rising to the occasion, standing firm when others wavered, choosing service over comfort.

"Silence earns no scars, but leaves no legacy. The loudest voices often echo from the safest seats, far from the fire."

In chaos, you led. In doubt, you delivered. Your legacy is the stability you restored.

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

@unknown_lankan Kwid එකට වඩා panda එක හොදයි..🙂

[M U M Ali Sabry @alisabrypc]

VAT raised 8% - 15% , voted against
VAT raised 15% - 18% Voted Against and protested
Payee tax reintroduced, Voted Against
Income tax slab was increased 18% - 34%
Debt restructured- voted against
IMF debt sustainability analysis voted against
Got in to street when cost reflective pricing was introduced for Fuel , Kerosene, Electricity and Water.
(That’s how power cuts and fuel queues were eliminated and tourism was revived.)

IMF engagement was frowned upon
CB Governor And Secretary to the Treasury were crucified for advocating and implementing the reforms.

All remains,

That’s how economic stability was achieved
Rupee stabilized
Reserves were built
Inflation was brought under control.

While finding fault with everything and voicing and voting against and keeping those parameters as it is and yet not owning the responsibility for any of the above 👆

Claiming credit for taking the country out of bankruptcy.

Pathetic! to say the least !

[Kalinga Athulathmudali @kalinga]

Sri Lankan companies really need to understand how to handle a data breach.

here's a dummy's guide

read below 👇

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

@unknown_lankan 😀😀😀

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

Beginning the new year in new place .
#finland

[Dr. S. Jaishankar @DrSJaishankar]

Glad to meet former President @RW_SRILANKA on sidelines of 8th Indian Ocean Conference.

🇮🇳 🇱🇰

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

@djharristattaya Hyvä Ystävänpäivä ...

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

@djharristattaya දැන් නම් හැබැයි weather එක හොදයි වගෙ..

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

@djharristattaya ෂැප වැඩි වෙලා ඉන්නෙ ..😁

[Kalinga Athulathmudali @kalinga]

If you want someone to fix your broken car, and can't risk it

Would you go for someone who has zero experience fixing cars or going to someone who has experience fixing cars?

#votesmart

[The Tweep Formally Known as Quagmire @isurusam]

ඔලුව උස්සගෙන ආවා විතරයි ... 🙁

[Sandeep Mall @SandeepMall]

Driven around 500 kms in Sri Lanka including Colombo. Not a single trash in the streets. Haven’t seen anything like this even in Europe.

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

@Sansajran Commercial bank eke flash app eka.
Mage account eka eke thiyena nisa lessi..

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

@Sedona_B wish you a very happy birthday ..🎂🎂😀
Stay safe..

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

@Sansajran wish you a very happy birthday ..🎂🎂🙂
Stay safe ..

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

@zahranc Cannot DM

[Niluksha Randika @Randika87]

@ajitcodes 509