By Isham Marikar –

The recent appearance of Minister Sunil Handunneththi at the World Economic Forum left me with a mix of pride and deep concern. As a Sri Lankan, I was proud to see our country represented among world leaders and renowned thinkers. But as a citizen and the leader of the Clean Nation Movement, I was also deeply troubled by how unprepared our representation was particularly in terms of communication and engagement.

Minister Handunneththi is undoubtedly a seasoned and respected politician. His role in exposing the Central Bank bond scam is a testament to his courage and dedication. But his performance at the forum raises serious questions not about his political capabilities—but about the decision-making behind sending him to such a critical international event without proper preparation.

The issue here is not simply about speaking English fluently. It is about understanding the importance of delivering Sri Lanka’s message with clarity, confidence, and precision in front of a global audience. If a representative is not comfortable in English, there is absolutely no shame in using Sinhala with professional interpretation. Many countries do so and still maintain their dignity. What hurts us more is seeing our representatives struggle unnecessarily, weakening the message and image of our nation.

As a country, we are rich with talented, energetic individuals including many young professionals in government, politics, and civil society who can engage with confidence and intelligence on international stages. If we want Sri Lanka’s voice to be heard, respected, and taken seriously, we must be strategic in choosing who speaks for us.

The Clean Nation Movement is committed to protecting and uplifting the image of Sri Lanka. It is no longer acceptable to take international representation lightly. These are platforms where countries compete not only in policy but in perception and perception matters immensely.

Moving forward, Sri Lanka must adopt a more thoughtful and professional approach to global representation. We need criteria for selection, language support when needed, and proper briefing and preparation before such events. This is not a personal attack, it is a call for responsibility. We cannot afford to let our global presence be diminished by poor planning.

Sri Lanka deserves better. Our people deserve better. The world deserves to hear our story clearly and proudly.

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