-By A Special Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -22.Jan.2025, 11.20 PM) Milinda Moragoda, a man of many self-professed talents and even more ambitious claims, has long portrayed himself as Sri Lanka’s backchannel to Washington, D.C. Known for his outspoken support of the Republican Party, his alleged connections to the U.S. political elite, and his bold assertions of influence over White House policy, Moragoda has crafted an image of himself as a man who could broker international alliances with a single phone call. But behind the smoke and mirrors lies a story that is far less glamorous, and in many ways, far more absurd.
The tipping point of Moragoda’s self-mythologizing came when rumors began swirling about his absence from an event that should have been his crowning moment: Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration. For someone who claims to have "unlimited access" to the White House, not even securing an invitation to a viewing event at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo raises an uncomfortable question: just how real is Moragoda’s influence?
Moragoda has long positioned himself as Sri Lanka’s unofficial Republican whisperer. According to his version of reality, his ties to the GOP and proximity to power are unparalleled. Reports have even suggested that he claims unrestricted entry to the White House—no appointments necessary. Such assertions would suggest a man with influence, prestige, and a Rolodex that reads like a who’s who of Washington power players.
But the glaring absence of his name at Trump’s inauguration—or even at a modest broadcast viewing hosted by the U.S. Embassy—tells a different story. It’s one thing to miss the flight to Washington, but it’s another to not make the guest list in your home country.
Behind Moragoda’s self-promotion lies a pattern of what critics have described as “overpromising and underdelivering.” While he loudly touts his think tank, Pathfinder Foundation, as a leading voice on Indo-Pacific security and Sri Lanka’s strategic interests, its critics argue that the organization is better at producing press releases than actionable policy recommendations. Many accuse him of spinning narratives about China, maritime security, and the U.S.-Sri Lanka relationship to keep himself in the headlines, despite offering little substance.
Perhaps the most damning critique of Moragoda lies not in his lofty claims but in his troubling financial history. Public records reveal that Moragoda has defaulted on a 2 billion rupee loan from the Sri Lankan State Bank. With interest, the figure now balloons to nearly 3 billion rupees—a sum that Sri Lankan taxpayers are ultimately footing.
Adding to the intrigue is the involvement of John Keells Holdings, one of Sri Lanka’s largest conglomerates and helmed by Moragoda’s brother-in-law. Critics argue that John Keells should shoulder the burden of repaying the loan, given their familial ties and the company’s extensive resources. “If Moragoda can’t pay, maybe his brother-in-law’s supermarket empire—which sells everything from bread to peanut butter—can step in,” quipped one observer.
The National People’s Power (NPP) party, led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has already begun calling for investigations into Moragoda’s financial dealings. Activists and political commentators alike are demanding accountability, particularly as the country struggles with an economic crisis that has pushed millions into hardship.
Moragoda’s Pathfinder Foundation has also come under scrutiny. Ostensibly a think tank dedicated to regional security and economic policy, Pathfinder’s critics allege that it functions more as a personal PR machine for its founder. Its reports, often laden with buzzwords like “Indo-Pacific strategy” and “maritime security,” have been dismissed by detractors as vacuous, lacking in original research or meaningful insights.
“They’ll point to a random rock on a Sri Lankan beach and call it a geopolitical discovery,” said one analyst who asked not to be named.
This raises another question: where is Pathfinder’s funding coming from, and how is it being spent? Critics have urged investigators to probe the foundation’s finances to determine whether public funds or foreign contributions are being misused to sustain Moragoda’s ambitions.
Moragoda’s claims of being able to “make or break” Sri Lankan governments with a single call to the U.S. State Department are, at best, overblown. Yet, for years, these assertions have found an audience among certain Sri Lankan politicians desperate for international legitimacy.
The narrative began to unravel with the emergence of Senator Marco Rubio as U.S. Secretary of State in this hypothetical scenario. Rubio’s office reportedly issued a warning to Moragoda to refrain from misrepresenting himself as a spokesperson for the U.S. government or the Republican Party. Such a public rebuke would be a humiliating blow for someone who has built an entire persona around his alleged Washington connections.
Moragoda’s saga underscores a broader problem in Sri Lankan politics: the allure of “influence merchants” who promise access to international corridors of power but deliver little beyond empty rhetoric. In a country where political patronage and PR often trump substance, figures like Moragoda can thrive—at least temporarily.
However, the tide appears to be turning. Public frustration over corruption, inefficiency, and economic mismanagement is at an all-time high, and figures like Moragoda are finding themselves under increasing scrutiny.
The involvement of John Keells Holdings adds another layer of complexity. As one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent companies, its reputation is now tied to Moragoda’s financial woes. Critics argue that the conglomerate, which enjoys significant market power, has a moral obligation to repay the defaulted loan or risk being seen as complicit in Moragoda’s failures.
“John Keells can’t sell promises and peanut butter while ignoring the fact that its leadership is entangled in a multi-billion rupee debt scandal,” said a prominent economist.
The Moragoda affair offers a sobering reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and unverified claims. It also highlights the need for greater transparency, accountability, and professionalism in Sri Lanka’s political and economic systems.
For now, the country waits to see whether Moragoda will be held accountable—both for his financial mismanagement and his self-proclaimed role as Sri Lanka’s gatekeeper to Washington.
One thing is certain: whether or not Moragoda missed the flight to Trump’s inauguration, he’s fast running out of runway at home.
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by (2025-01-22 20:29:33)
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