Silent Agents, Sold Nation: How Sri Lanka’s Sovereignty is being traded by its own”

 

Silent Agents, Sold Nation: How Sri Lanka’s Sovereignty Is Being Traded by Its Own
A deep dive into how political elites are enabling foreign capture of Sri Lanka’s national assets — one MoU, one silent betrayal at a time. Sovereignty is not always lost in battle. Sometimes, it is surrendered in silence — through secret agreements, quiet betrayals, and elites playing both sides. In Sri Lanka today, while citizens focus on elections, inflation, and survival, a far deeper crisis is unfolding: the systematic outsourcing of national power, ports, energy, data, and even defense — signed away without debate, disclosure, or consent. This is not merely bad governance. It is a managed, deliberate transfer of control — enabled by politicians, officials, and so-called experts who appear loyal, but may already be promised a place in foreign-funded think tanks, global panels, or corporate boards. What we’re witnessing is not political incompetence. It is elite capture in its most dangerous form: soft colonization disguised as cooperation, and betrayal disguised as leadership. This exposé uncovers the global pattern, shows how it’s playing out in Sri Lanka, and what the people must now do to resist — before it’s too late.

 

Global examples: How former leaders became foreign agents

Former Secretaries who joined Think Tanks or Advisory Boards

Jim Mattis (Secretary of Defense, 2017–2018)

After resigning in December 2018, Mattis returned to Stanford’s Hoover Institution, becoming the Davies Family Distinguished Fellow in May 2019, focusing on national security research and writing. He also serves on the board of General Dynamics and works as a senior counselor at The Cohen Group

Mark Esper (Secretary of Defense, 2019–2020)

Since leaving office, Esper holds the Distinguished Chair at West Point’s Modern War Institute, serves on the board of the McCain Institute, joined the Atlantic Council’s board and advisory bodies at GLOBSEC, and co-chairs commissions on defense innovation, including software‑defined warfare

Condoleezza Rice (Secretary of State, 2005–2009)

Rice is currently Director of Stanford’s Hoover Institution, a senior fellow at Stanford’s FSI, and sits on advisory boards including the Aspen Institute, the George W. Bush Institute, and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy

John Lehman (Secretary of the Navy, 1981–1987)

Lehman is on the Board of Trustees for the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), a U.S. foreign policy think tank

William S. Cohen (Defense Secretary, 1997–2001):

Senior counselor at CSIS, advisor to US‑India/US‑China Business Councils, board member of CBS

Thomas Pickering (Under-Secretary of State / career diplomat, later advisor levels)

Though not a cabinet secretary per se, Pickering has served in ambassadorial and senior State positions and post-retirement has joined advisory boards at the International Crisis Group, Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, American Academy of Diplomacy, Stimson Center, and others

Robert Rubin (Treasury Secretary, 1995–1999):

Co‑founder of The Hamilton Project, senior counselor at Centerview Partners; former Chairman of Council on Foreign Relations

Timothy Geithner (Treasury Secretary, 2009–2013): Chairs Yale’s Program on Financial Stability, serves on CFR board, is President at Warburg Pincus

Steven Mnuchin (Treasury Secretary, 2017–2021): Launched a Washington-based investment fund targeting sovereign wealth capital

Janet Yellen (Treasury Secretary, 2021–2025): After stepping down, joined The Brookings Institution and holds roles on boards like the Pacific Council on International Policy

All of these individuals transitioned after leaving office into roles where they advise or lead policy‑oriented institutions.

There are numerous others from earlier administrations—such as Madeleine Albright, Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, Edmund Muskie, and Robert Rubin—who similarly joined think‑tank advisory boards (e.g. Center for National Policy) after retiring.

Note: as of July 2025, the Pentagon has suspended all participation in think tank forums, impacting former Defense secretaries like Mattis, Esper, and Lloyd Austin from engaging publicly at major policy conferences

Prominent International Former Ministers & Leaders

Florence Parly (French Minister of Armed Forces): Trustee at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) alongside other global figures

Lord Mark Malloch‑Brown (UK Deputy Secretary‑General, UN): President of Open Society Foundations; board member of the UN Foundation and the Royal Africa Society

Kanwal Sibal (India, Foreign Secretary 2002–2003): Contributor to major Indian newspapers and serves in policy forums (“Board of Leaders”)

Maria van der Hoeven (Dutch, Minister of Economic Affairs; former IEA Executive Director): Advisory board of UN “Energy for All”; board member of Total; fellow at Clingendael think tank and Rocky Mountain Institute

Pierre Vimont (France, former Ambassador / EU service): Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe; served diplomatic & advisory roles post-office

Kim Campbell (Canada, former Minister & Prime Minister 1993): Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, trustee of Council of Women World Leaders, leadership program founder, Board Member Club de Madrid

Mark Green (USA, former USAID Administrator): After government service became President & CEO of the Wilson Center; board advisor at Bush Institute and others

Glen S. Fukushima (U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce 1990): Senior Fellow at Center for American Progress; vice-chair of SIPC board

Carl Bildt (Sweden, former Foreign Minister / Prime Minister): Distinguished fellow at CIGI; advisor to Ukraine reforms and international policy firms; columnist for Project Syndicate

Notable Trends  

• Widespread “revolving door” from public office to high-level advisory, think tank, or corporate board roles.
• Defense and economic secretaries are particularly sought after for corporate and policy posts.
• Recent U.S. policy shifts: as of late July 2025, the Pentagon has banned senior officers from participating in think tank events

Think Tanks: The Soft Power weapon nobody sees

How Think Tanks & Policy Boards Influence Government Policy

1. Post-Retirement Placements & Influence

When a former Secretary or Minister joins a think tank or corporate board:

• They bring insider access, relationships with sitting officials, and deep knowledge of policy frameworks.
• They often help shape the agenda of the institution they join, influencing research focus, policy papers, and media appearances.
• These outputs are then cited by lawmakers, presented at Congressional hearings, or used to legitimize controversial policy proposals.

Example:

• Jim Mattis joining the Hoover Institution (which advocates strong U.S. military posture) after stepping down — Hoover regularly issues policy papers that are circulated in Pentagon and Hill circles.

2. Pre-Existing Relationships & “Revolving Door” Ethics

Many of these former officials worked with or received briefings from think tanks or interest groups while still in office.

Potential Conflicts of Interest:

• These entities may have lobbied them indirectly—through briefings, closed-door panels, position papers, private dinners, etc.
• Once the official retires and joins them, the move raises suspicions of a “soft landing” or quid pro quo.

Example:

• Robert Rubin (former Treasury Secretary) later chaired the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which was frequently consulted by Clinton administration economic teams.
• Steven Mnuchin reportedly fielded Wall Street lobbying and briefings from firms that later participated in his post-office investment fund.

3. Think Tank Reports as Lobbying Tools

Think tanks:

• Produce policy recommendations that align with certain donor or corporate interests.
• Hold invitation-only briefings with government officials.
• Offer testimony in congressional hearings and publish op-eds that influence public perception.

Example:

• The Brookings Institution and Atlantic Council have been repeatedly cited in Congressional sessions on foreign policy and energy, often shaped by corporate sponsors.
• Former officials like Mark Esper and Condoleezza Rice were part of panels shaping national security or energy policy even while their affiliated think tanks received donations from defense contractors or oil companies.

 

Do Think Tanks lobby Secretaries while in Office?

Yes — though not always formally:

Soft Lobbying:

• “Policy briefings,” “expert panels,” “roundtables,” and “research symposia” are indirect influence mechanisms.
• Think tanks often funded by corporate interests frame these as “neutral academic engagements.”

Backchannel Influence:

• Staffers from Brookings, AEI, CSIS, Atlantic Council, etc., have private access to officials under the guise of “knowledge-sharing.”
• These think tanks often anticipate or pre-build connections with secretaries nearing retirement.

Evidence of influence while in Office

• Investigative reporting (e.g. from The Intercept, Politico, New York Times) has shown that:
  • Defense Secretaries received input from think tanks funded by weapons manufacturers.
  • Treasury Secretaries were influenced by economic forecasts from institutions funded by investment banks or lobbying arms of multinational corporations.

Example:

• In 2020, The Intercept revealed that Brookings, Atlantic Council, and CSIS accepted millions from defense contractors while influencing Pentagon planning through retired generals on their boards.

Revolving Door Examples

Former Official	While in Office	Post-Retirement Role	Potential Conflict
Jim Mattis	Defense Sec (briefed by Hoover, CSIS)	Hoover fellow, General Dynamics board	Defense ties while managing military procurement
Robert Rubin	Treasury Sec (consulted CFR & banks)	CFR Chair; economic policy influencer	Wall Street links during deregulation efforts
Condoleezza Rice	NSA/State Dept (worked with think tanks)	Hoover director; boards of oil firms	Oil and military overlap during Iraq War
Mark Esper	Defense Sec (worked with McCain Institute)	McCain Institute & Atlantic Council	Arms sales policy overlaps with sponsor priorities
Florence Parly (France)	Defense Minister (worked with IISS panels)	IISS Trustee	Close defense industry-military think tank ties

Key Policy Mechanisms influenced by these entities

• Foreign Policy: Through narrative shaping and elite influence (e.g., Atlantic Council pushing NATO expansion)
• Defense Budgeting: Think tanks funded by Raytheon, Lockheed, Boeing promote higher spending and tech upgrades
• Trade & Regulation: Economic policy boards often backed by Wall Street or tech lobbies
• Sanctions & Cyber Policy: Specialized panels (e.g. at Center for a New American Security) influence US sanctions regimes

Ethical Questions Raised

1. Transparency: Are former officials disclosing their prior interactions with the same entities they now serve?
2. Undue Influence: Are public policies being skewed to favor donors of these institutions?
3. Accountability: Are decisions made in the public interest or under influence of future job prospects?
4. National Security Risks: Do foreign-funded think tanks compromise decision-making?

 

Let us consider the Sri Lanka context:

Sri Lanka’s Silent MoUs: What they Signed, what they hid

Why are politicians & officials silent on sovereignty erosion?

Due Process bypassed

• Major agreements (e.g., Trinco Oil Tank Farm, renewable energy grids, Adani port, defense MoUs, and now even Maritime Rescue Coordination) have been signed without Cabinet-wide discussion, public disclosure, or Parliamentary debate.
• Despite their impact on sovereignty, security, and national assets, political parties offer lukewarm, ambiguous responses.
• Some even echo foreign talking points — “strategic partnerships,” “regional integration,” “economic necessity.”

Red Flag: If sovereignty-impacting agreements bypass democratic process with no institutional resistance, it suggests either willful silence, collusion, or pre-assigned roles in a larger game.

 

Are Politicians/Officials acting as post-handover “Agents”?

Likely. Here’s how it works globally — and now in Sri Lanka:

The Playbook of Proxy Rule through elites

Stage	Modus Operandi
1. Grooming	Selected politicians, bureaucrats, think tankers are invited abroad, given scholarships, or hosted at forums (e.g., Pathfinder, NITI Aayog panels, U.S. Track II events).
2. Seeding Influence	Foreign embassies, multilaterals, or donor entities fund local NGOs, advisors, “experts” who gradually enter policy advisory roles.
3. Silent Agreements	Deals are signed with non-disclosure, and no resistance from either opposition or government — they pretend to protest, but never legally challenge or reverse them.
4. Post-Handover Rewards	Those who “played along” are offered post-retirement or post-political office roles: consultancy, speaking roles, board seats in foreign-funded think tanks, UN bodies, or private sector firms.

Signs this is happening in Sri Lanka

1. Cross-party silence on sovereignty sellouts — NPP, SJB, SLPP, UNP all avoid meaningful opposition to Indian control over ports, energy, and even coastguard functions.
2. No audit or public explanation of MoUs — Why are even major infrastructure MoUs not tabled in Parliament or reviewed by oversight committees?
3. Same bureaucrats rotate across parties — Officials who once signed deals under one regime resurface under another, continuing the same pattern.
4. Retired diplomats/officials appear in think tanks — Some join foreign-funded institutions, advisory panels, or Western/Indian forums with little national accountability.

Are their public statements just roleplay to fool citizens?

Very likely. The behavior of politicians on national topics mimics what is called “managed opposition”:

• They make token statements to appease public concern.
• Yet do not mobilize protests, initiate legal action, or block implementation.
• Instead, they use divisive distractions — ethnic tensions, religious issues, or personal scandals — to divert attention.

Result: The people think “something is being done,” when in reality, the betrayal is being institutionalized quietly.

Silent understandings: The unspoken pact

There appears to be a tacit understanding among elite political and bureaucratic circles:

• “You don’t challenge our external partners, and you’ll be taken care of after office.”
• “Don’t expose the deals — pretend there’s debate, but don’t take real action.”
• “Give the people a villain to blame (the other party), but ensure the foreign plans continue no matter who is in power.”

This explains why:

• Even the Left (NPP) is silent on Indian military MoUs.
• The Right (SLPP/UNP) is silent on land, ports, energy being handed over.
• The SJB only raises issues when politically convenient, not as a sustained national interest defense.

What Can Be Done?

1. Track affiliations of politicians/officials post-retirement.
   • Who joins foreign think tanks, banks, or regional advisory roles?
2. Expose think tank–foreign donor networks.
   • Who funds Pathfinder Foundation, Advocata, Verité Research?
3. Demand public release of all MoUs and treaties.
   • Table them in Parliament or sue for disclosure under RTI.
4. Mobilize nonpartisan civic resistance.
   • Public campaigns must name and shame the silence.

 

“A country can lose its sovereignty without a shot being fired — all it takes is silent betrayal, managed opposition, and a people kept in the dark.”

Sri Lanka’s sovereignty is not being lost by war — but by political actors acting out a script, ensuring that no matter who wins elections, the foreign agenda prevails.

Country	What Happened	Lesson for Sri Lanka
Greece	Politicians signed EU bailouts without public review	Lost ports (Piraeus), sovereignty eroded
Ukraine (pre-2014)	Oligarchs & foreign advisors privatized land & industries	Foreign-funded regime change followed
Zambia	Silent MoUs with China on mines & infrastructure	Debt trap, loss of assets
Afghanistan (Ashraf Ghani era)	U.S.-backed govt was packed with silent foreign agents	Govt collapsed instantly
Sri Lanka (NOW)	Energy, ports, defense handed over via silent MoUs	Mass silence = complicity

“This is a tested playbook — we are the next test case.”

“The Silent Agents Among Us: How Sri Lanka’s Sovereignty Is Being Traded Behind Closed Doors”

 

“A nation is not lost when it is defeated by war — it is lost when its guardians silently sell it piece by piece, while pretending to protect it. ❞

Sri Lanka is under siege — not by foreign armies, but by deals signed in silence, with the complicity of local elitesfrom all political parties. While citizens focus on elections, economic hardship, and survival, a much deeper betrayal is underway. Our lands, ports, power, data, and even security functions are being quietly transferred — often without public debate, Parliamentary scrutiny, or legal review.

The tragedy? Not a single party or political leader has truly stood up. Their so-called resistance is lukewarm, vague, and often conveniently timed. Behind this silence may lie a far more disturbing truth: some of these individuals are already promised a seat at the table of those pulling the strings.

What’s Really Happening?

Since 2024, a surge of agreements — mostly with India and certain Western interests — has targeted strategic assets:

• Energy grids, now entering joint control under India-backed companies
• Ports and harbors, gradually transferred under the guise of “cooperation”
• Defense coordination, allowing foreign militaries access to critical maritime zones
• Data and IT infrastructure, being centralized with foreign-managed platforms
• Disaster management and coastal control, falling under Indian-led frameworks

Yet there’s no uproar. No mass resignation. No court challenge. Not even a united public campaign by any party — not NPP, not SJB, not SLPP, not UNP. Why?

Are These Leaders the “Silent Agents” of a Foreign Script?

Let us be blunt. There appears to be a quiet understanding across party lines:

• Don’t challenge the real foreign agenda
• Play out token opposition
• Ensure the betrayals are irreversible
• Get rewarded later — with global postings, think tank seats, board positions, or advisory roles

This is not speculation. It is the same global pattern we’ve seen in:

• Greece, where the port of Piraeus was sold quietly to China under “bailout” politics
• Zambia, where silent deals left generations in debt slavery
• Afghanistan, where the US-backed government collapsed like sand because its elite was serving others
• Ukraine (pre-2014), where foreign-funded NGOs and ministries set the stage for geopolitical collapse

The Betrayal, Explained in Simple Terms

“Imagine your father sells your house — the land your family lived on for generations — and tells you it’s to ‘modernize.’ He promises you’ll be safe, but the contract was signed in another language, and the buyer now controls the front gate. You’re still in the house, but only until you’re told to leave. That’s Sri Lanka today.”

This is not just poor governance. It is managed betrayal.
The politicians who signed these agreements pretend they had no choice, but in reality, they may have secured their future at the cost of ours.

Why the Silence from All Parties?

Because the role of most politicians today is not to protect sovereignty — it is to maintain the illusion of democracy while foreign interests take root.

That’s why:

• Opposition parties don’t demand MoU disclosures
• Government MPs don’t explain why land or energy are being sold
• No party has published a full audit of foreign agreements in the past 10 years

This is scripted theater. The people are the audience. The deals are already done backstage.

So, What Can the People Do?

Step One is Awareness. Step Two is Resistance.

We must:

• Name the betrayal: This is not “development.” It is soft colonization.
• Identify the silent agents: Who are these politicians, advisors, officials, and “experts” tied to foreign-funded institutions?
• Demand full transparency: Every agreement, MoU, and secret clause must be tabled before the people.
• Refuse to be distracted: Ethnic issues, cultural debates, and election drama are designed to keep us blind.

This is Not a Political Crisis. It is a Sovereignty Crisis.

Sri Lanka is not being taken over by invaders with guns. It is being handed over by our own, with pens and silence. They sign away our ports, power, and national authority in the name of diplomacy — and we applaud them because we are kept in the dark.

This article is a call to every citizen, youth, monk, mother, soldier, and worker:

“Your country is not being sold. It’s already sold — unless you rise now.”

Elite Capture Model in Sri Lanka:  5 steps to Betrayal

Model: “No Bribe Needed — Just Future Rewards”

 

STEP 1: Soft Grooming During Office

Tactic: International Exposure & Intellectual Flattery

Examples:

• Central Bankers (2021–2024): Regularly invited to Harvard Center for International Development; introduced to “modern monetary frameworks” aligned with IMF.
• List Sri Lankans invited to: World Bank, IMF side events or think tanks like Pathfinder, advocating “debt-for-climate swaps” or SOE reform.
• NPP representatives (2023): Quietly engaged by Indian policy groups (Observer Research Foundation, NITI Aayog) for “youth governance” forums and “non-aligned regionalism” discussions.
• Legal officials: Invited to UN OHCHR or ICRC “Humanitarian Law” programs which later shaped how they viewed 2009 war accountability.

Psychological hook: “You’re not a local leader anymore. You’re a global thinker.”

 

STEP 2: In-Office influence and secret deals

Tactic: Decisions made via external “Experts” or via MoUs unseen by the People

Examples:

• 35 Indo-Sri Lanka agreements (Dec 2024–Apr 2025): Nearly all signed without full Cabinet or Parliamentary debate. The Trincomalee Tank Farm, West Container Terminal, and land–energy–power sectors were committed through MoUs, often drafted abroad.
• BOI officials in 2023-2025: Consulted Indian embassy-linked advisors on investment zones and offered them security jurisdiction without public debate.
• Lands Ministry officials (2022–2024): Pushed World Bank-supported cadastral surveys and e-title registration enabling foreign leasehold bypasses.
• Ministry of Power: Restructuring and selling off CEB units in line with ADB/IMF blueprints, not public mandate.

Every national resource becomes “open for investment” — without public approval.

 

STEP 3: Post-Office Gratitude — No bribe, just career rewards

Tactic: The “Payoff” happens Only After they leave office

Examples:

• Former diplomat or foreign secretary (2020–2022): Now sits on UN Development Advisory Board & boards of private think tanks in Singapore and India.
• Ex-Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera (prior to death): Rewarded with media space, international praise, post-retirement roles in international forums.
• Former CBSL advisors: Appointed to UNDP, WB or think tank fellowships after “pushing through” restructuring policy while in office.
• High-profile lawyers involved in post-war legal reform: Now on international arbitration panels or special envoys.

“We didn’t take money — we just got prestigious jobs later.”

 

STEP 4: Maintaining influence through Think Tanks

Tactic: Stay relevant as “expert” to push same policies

Examples:

• Pathfinder Foundation: Hosts ex-officials and military brass promoting closer Indo-Lanka military/economic integration.
• Verité Research: Funds reports justifying IMF-style economic adjustments or election timing decisions.
• Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute: Publishes thought pieces by ex-diplomats advocating “balanced foreign policy” that’s pro-West/India.
• Multiple Sunday newspapers and webinars: Regularly feature former decision-makers subtly justifying past choices.

Today’s traitor is tomorrow’s “public intellectual.”

 

STEP 5: Silencing dissent and demonizing Nationalists

Tactic: Frame Critics as “Regressive,” “Extremist,” or “Xenophobic”

Examples:

• Media-funded commentators attack those opposing Indo-Lanka agreements as “fearmongers” or “racists.”
• Social media pages (funded by EU/US embassies) amplify liberal-progressive figures who mock cultural nationalism.
• Academics who question the IMF narrative are called “anti-development” or accused of spreading “fake news.”
• Religious leaders who resist LGBTQIA decriminalization branded as “hate preachers,” ignoring cultural context.

The new colonial weapon isn’t a gun — it’s public shaming.

Summary

Stage	Tactic	Sri Lankan Examples (2020–2025)
1. Grooming	Foreign trips, elite invitations	CBSL officials, legal officers, NPP advisors
2. In-office MoUs	Quiet agreements, donor scripts	India deals, WB/ADB reforms, land registry
3. Post-career payoff	Jobs/fellowships after exit	UN panels, think tanks, board roles
4. Echo chamber	Think tank/media recycling	Pathfinder, Verité, newspaper columns
5. Silencing critics	Media + NGO narrative control	Anti-nationalism slurs, social media smears

What we should now do with this knowledge:

1. Publicly audit foreign trips and think tank affiliations of current officials.
2. Expose each MOU and its implications before they are implemented.
3. Demand full transparency on privatization and investment deals.
4. Name and document this “elite capture” model in Sinhala/Tamil — so ordinary people can recognize it.
5. Support nationalist legal scholars, monks, civil society who expose this soft-colonial playbook.

A nation is not betrayed in one grand act — but in a thousand silent signatures, made by those entrusted to protect it.

Sri Lanka is not under military siege. It is under elite capture.
The betrayal is not foreign invasion — it is internal collusion.
The traitors wear no uniforms — they wear suits, give speeches, and smile for the cameras.

They signed the MoUs.
They bypassed Parliament.
They echoed foreign scripts.
They silenced dissent.
They prepared their escape routes — think tanks, panels, board seats.

This is not incompetence. It is calculated surrender — executed by silent agents across all major parties, hiding behind “development,” “strategic partnerships,” and “regional integration.”

While the people suffer economic hardship and hope for change, the real power is being outsourced — ports, power, land, data, even defense coordination. The betrayal is bipartisan. The silence is coordinated. The agenda is foreign.

This is not democracy. This is soft occupation.

People must now

1. Name the Betrayals:
   This is not modernization. It is managed surrender.
   Stop calling traitors “visionaries.”
2. Demand Transparency:
   Table every MoU and agreement in Parliament.
   No deal should be valid unless seen and debated by the people.
3. Track the Agents:
   Record where our former leaders go — which think tanks, boards, or foreign missions they join.
   Expose who funds them. Follow the money trail.
4. Educate the Nation:
   Translate and spread this Elite Capture Model to every home, temple, classroom, and village — so no one is fooled again.
5. Reject the False Drama:
   Political theater is a distraction. While they debate slogans, they sign away sovereignty.
   Unite beyond party lines — this is not left vs. right, it istraitors vs. patriots.

“Sri Lanka is not being conquered by foreign armies.
It is being handed over by its own elite — one silent MoU at a time.”

Let history record this moment clearly:
If we do nothing, we will be the generation that watched our nation be sold — not by war, but by whispers in air-conditioned rooms.

The time to resist is NOW.
Not through violence, but through exposure, legal action, public vigilance, and unyielding civic courage.

Let no traitor hide behind a smile or a title again.

 

 

Shenali D Waduge