When President Anura Kumara was in opposition, he was a strong critic of Krishan Balendra, the Chairman of John Keells Holdings.
This criticism stemmed from the handover of a Colombo Port Terminal project to Balendra’s company. However, after Anura became a presidential candidate, the John Keells Chairman participated in business summits organised by Anura.
After Anura became President, representing the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Balendra developed a close relationship with him. John Keells now imports Chinese-manufactured BYD vehicles into Sri Lanka.
BYD has since become the most widely sold vehicle brand in Sri Lanka, surpassing Japanese and Indian competitors. John Keells is also developing a terminal at the Colombo Port in partnership with Adani, a prominent Indian businessman. Anura Kumara had previously alleged that John Keells and Adani were awarded the port terminal due to the intervention of Milinda Moragoda, a former minister and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, who is also a relative of the John Keells Chairman.
The Pathfinder Foundation is owned by Milinda Moragoda. Although Prime Minister Harini was invited to a seminar held there recently, she did not attend.
The latest project by John Keells is the City of Dreams Casino Project. Recently, the NPP government lifted a ban on the importation of certain machines used in casinos. Informed sources say that Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan is scheduled to attend the opening of the City of Dreams Casino.
In 2004, Shah Rukh Khan visited Sri Lanka to promote tourism, at the invitation of then Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike. Thousands attended the event. However, an unexpected incident occurred — a bomb attack targeted Shah Rukh Khan. He was unharmed, but the attack was reportedly carried out by a group of Sinhala extremists. The government at the time accused the Jathika Hela Urumaya of being responsible.
Now, nearly 20 years later, there are rumours that Shah Rukh Khan will return to Sri Lanka. John Keells is executing the casino project in partnership with an Indian company, which is likely coordinating Shah Rukh Khan’s visit.
When Shah Rukh Khan last came to Sri Lanka in 2004, the country was governed by an SLFP–JVP coalition. Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the current Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath, were prominent ministers in that government. Today, Shah Rukh Khan’s anticipated visit comes at a time when Anura Kumara is President and a JVP-led government is in power.
During the 2015 presidential election, another Indian superstar, Salman Khan, visited Sri Lanka — indirectly to support Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, the opposition accused Mahinda of spending an exorbitant amount to bring Salman, which ultimately proved to be a disadvantage.
It remains to be seen how the Sri Lankan public will receive Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming visit.
