By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Every story has turning points. Sri Lanka has had many — some glorious, some painful. Kingdoms rose and fell. Colonizers came and went. A brutal war ended, a tsunami struck, democracy stumbled, and the economy cried out for CPR.
And yet — here it is. Still standing. Still shining. Still smiling.
So the question now is not about the past. It’s not even about recovery.
It’s about reinvention.
What will Sri Lanka become next?
The Location Is Fixed — The Destiny Is Not
Geographically, Sri Lanka is blessed beyond reason. Sitting on the main maritime trade route that connects East to West, it is the Indian Ocean’s toll booth, a natural bridge between Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
The Indian Ocean sees nearly 80% of global maritime trade. Ships that supply your morning coffee, laptops, oil, and even vaccines — pass near or through Sri Lankan waters. That is power — geographic, geopolitical, and economic.
But location alone isn’t a strategy. The future depends on what Sri Lanka does with where it is.
1. The Infrastructure Nation: Ports, Planes & Power
With Colombo Port expanding, Hambantota leased to China, and Mattala Airport waiting for a second chance, Sri Lanka has the bones of a logistics and transport empire.
If managed with transparency and vision:
- It could become a maritime services hub like Singapore.
- A refueling and repair base for global cargo fleets.
- A transshipment magnet that lifts the regional economy.
Colombo is already among the top 25 busiest container ports globally. There is momentum — but also risk.
If managed with corruption, short-termism, and external puppetry?
It becomes someone else’s asset. Again. The Hambantota experience should be a cautionary tale, not a blueprint.
2. The Knowledge Island: Education, Tech & Talent
Sri Lanka’s human capital is underrated.
This is a country where:
- Kids quote poetry from memory.
- Parents prioritize education even if it breaks them.
- Engineers can reverse-engineer anything — including hope.
The tech sector is growing, with IT exports hitting over $1 billion, despite brain drain. Startups are bubbling up in fintech, health tech, logistics, and e-commerce. The youth are hungry, smart, and increasingly fluent in the language of innovation.
Imagine:
- A Silicon Valley with hoppers.
- An online university rivaling the best in Asia.
- A startup culture built on grit, not grants.
It’s possible. But it needs policy, patience, and broadband.
3. The Green Island: Sustainability That Actually Works
Remember when Sri Lanka tried to go 100% organic overnight? It backfired — spectacularly. Crops failed, inflation soared, and the world laughed.
Lesson learned?
Real sustainability requires realism.
Sri Lanka has all the ingredients for a green revolution done right:
- Diverse ecosystems
- Traditional farming knowledge
- Renewable energy potential (solar, wind, hydro)
- A population that already eats plant-based 60% of the time
It needs gradual implementation, scientific consultation, and local buy-in. The world is hungry for clean models. Sri Lanka could be the lab — if it’s humble enough to listen.
4. The Cultural Capital of South Asia
Forget GDP for a second.
What if Sri Lanka doubled down on what no one else has?
Its art, music, language, dance, architecture, rituals, and festivals.
Its stories. Its soul.
Cultural tourism, creative industries, spiritual retreats, traditional medicine, heritage preservation — these are billion-dollar sectors hiding in plain sight.
There’s room for:
- A Kandy Biennale
- A Jaffna Film Festival
- A Southern Coast Music Circuit
- Global retreats on mindfulness, Ayurveda, and ancestral healing
The West is tired of fake spirituality.
Sri Lanka offers the real thing — without Instagram filters.
5. The Balanced Non-Aligned State
Historically, Sri Lanka tried to play the non-aligned card — not leaning too hard on the U.S., India, or China.
That policy is due for a reboot.
The global power game is now a three-way match: U.S.–India–China.
Sri Lanka is the field.
But it can also be the referee — if it plays smart.
This means:
- Strategic diplomacy
- Transparent negotiations
- Debt management with integrity
- Saying no when necessary
Being everyone’s friend is fine.
Being no one’s fool is better.
What Needs to Happen (That No One Likes to Talk About)
1. Fix governance — not with slogans, but systems.
2. Invest in education — not exams, but curiosity.
3. Empower youth — not by lectures, but by listening.
4. Center women — not with quotas, but actual respect.
5. Rebuild trust — between ethnic groups, classes, and generations.
The hardware is ready.
It’s the software — political, social, moral — that needs upgrading.
Final Word: Sri Lanka’s Next Chapter Is Unwritten — But Not Unimaginable
The pearl of the Indian Ocean has survived kingdoms, conquests, wars, waves, and wicked politicians.
And somehow, it’s still beautiful.
Still full of promise.
Still holding space for a future that’s more than recovery — but renaissance.
The world isn’t waiting.
Neither should Sri Lanka.
So here’s to what’s next — not the fantasy, but the fight.
Not the slogan, but the strategy.
Not the memory — but the mission.
Coming Soon: My Sri Lanka – Part 8
“Why the World Needs Sri Lanka More Than Sri Lanka Needs the World”
About the Author
John is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of JS Morlu, LLC, a Virginia based CPA firm with multiple software ventures including www.FinovatePro.com, www.Recksoft.com and www.Fixaars.com . With operations spanning multiple countries, John is on a mission to build global infrastructure that empowers small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. He believes in hard truths, smart execution, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. When he’s not writing or building, he’s challenging someone to a productivity contest—or inventing software that automates it.
