Palitha Ariyarathna 

Synopsis:

The article criticizes USAID’s involvement in Sri Lanka, accusing the agency of undermining national sovereignty through regime change, media manipulation, and constitutional alterations funded by U.S. money. It argues that USAID’s hidden agendas, often linked to NGOs and their defense operations, destabilize countries by altering their way of life. Key projects, from education reforms to poverty alleviation, are seen as connected to long-term political turmoil. The article concludes by urging the identification of those involved as foreign agents.

Main Quote:

“USAID’s so-called ‘inclusive democratic initiatives’ are a direct assault on the sovereignty of any nation. The regime changes, media manipulation, and constitutional upheavals funded by American money are among the most insidious and dangerous tactics employed. Those operating under the U.S. Department, particularly through foreign missions, are often driven by hidden agendas—linked with NGOs and defense-related destabilization efforts. These operations seek to fundamentally alter the very fabric of other nations, reshaping their entire way of life. From university reforms to rural poverty alleviation programs, these projects are intricately connected to long-term troublemakers. These individuals must be exposed as foreign agents, marked with the equivalent of a ‘dog tag’ to reveal their true affiliations and intentions.”

– Indika Shabandu, Geo-Political Analyst

Elon Musk, backed by former President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has intensified calls to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Musk has gone so far as to label the agency a “criminal organization,” claiming that it’s time for it to die.” These comments come amidst growing concerns over the agency’s activities globally, particularly in Sri Lanka. Musk’s criticism of USAID has sparked an intense debate, with many echoing his sentiment that the agency has become politically partisan and is interfering in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations. Adding to the tension, USAID’s website was taken down, further fueling speculation about internal turmoil within the agency.
Musk made a bold statement regarding the future of USAID, revealing that former President Trump agrees with the need to dismantle the agency. After several days of speculation and controversy surrounding USAID’s operations, Musk confirmed that following detailed discussions with Trump, the former president also believes the agency should be shut down. Musk stated, With regards to the USAID stuff, I went over it with [the president] in detail and he agreed that we should shut it down.” He further criticized USAID as incredibly politically partisan,” accusing it of supporting radically left causes throughout the world, including things that are anti-American.” This intense criticism came after USAID’s funding was frozen, and several senior employees were placed on administrative leave for attempting to circumvent a critical executive order by Trump to freeze foreign aid for 90 days.
The call for shutting down USAID is not a recent development but rather the result of ongoing investigations and controversies surrounding the agency’s conduct. Musk referred to USAID as a ball of worms,” highlighting the systemic issues within the agency that he believes are irreparable. His strong stance against USAID mirrors the growing calls to end its interference in the political and cultural affairs of other nations, particularly Sri Lanka, where USAID’s actions have sparked widespread backlash. The agency’s involvement in Sri Lanka’s political landscape has only intensified the criticisms, as many believe USAID is undermining the country’s sovereignty and cultural values under the guise of aid.

USAID has maintained a significant presence in Sri Lanka for decades, working across various sectors such as economic development, healthcare, education, and disaster relief. Its involvement spans from post-conflict recovery initiatives following the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war to more recent efforts in bolstering governance and infrastructure. While these projects have had some tangible impacts, the agency’s role has not been without its critics, particularly regarding its influence on the country’s political and social fabric.

Today, USAID continues to fund a variety of projects aimed at improving living standards in Sri Lanka. Some of these initiatives include support for healthcare infrastructure, educational reforms, and rural development programs. However, these initiatives have come under fire for their perceived political overtones and cultural insensitivity. Critics argue that while the agency claims to be helping, it may be exacerbating local tensions and undermining traditional values in the process.

One of the most contentious allegations against USAID is its supposed role in influencing political uprisings and shifts in government in Sri Lanka. In 2022, as Sri Lanka grappled with an economic crisis, massive protests erupted calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Some observers have pointed to USAID-funded programs as contributing to the unrest, claiming that the agency’s initiatives aimed at youth empowerment and democratic reforms may have been a prelude to fostering political discontent. Allegedly, USAID’s financial support for youth activism, media initiatives, and civil society organizations might have played a part in mobilizing opposition movements against the government, leading to the president’s eventual ouster.

Perhaps the most controversial of USAID’s initiatives is the Media Empowerment for a Democratic Sri Lanka (MEND) project, which has been accused of promoting agendas that many Sri Lankans find incompatible with their cultural and religious traditions. Critics argue that the MEND program, which emphasizes democratic ideals and media freedom, also advocates for causes such as LGBTQ+ rights, a topic that remains deeply divisive in Sri Lankan society. The program has been accused of attempting to influence youth perspectives on issues that clash with traditional Buddhist values, leading to further polarization within the country.

A central concern raised by critics of USAID’s operations in Sri Lanka is the perceived threat to the nation’s deeply rooted Buddhist culture. Buddhism holds a significant place in Sri Lankan society, influencing everything from everyday practices to national identity. Allegations suggest that certain USAID-funded initiatives, particularly those tied to gender and sexual orientation advocacy, directly challenge Buddhist teachings. For instance, promoting LGBTQ+ rights, while celebrated in many Western countries, is seen by some as a direct contradiction to the values upheld by the majority Buddhist population.
Opposition to USAID’s activities has not been limited to fringe groups. Prominent religious leaders and political figures have voiced their concerns, with some calling for the agency to withdraw from Sri Lanka altogether, urging the government to resist foreign interference and defend local cultural values. Many argue that these projects not only disregard Sri Lanka’s traditions but also destabilize the social fabric by imposing foreign values without due regard for local context.

The All Ceylon Buddhist Congress has previously raised alarms over the negative implications of foreign missionary activities in Sri Lanka. The Congress has pointed to concerns about certain foreign organizations attempting to undermine the country’s religious and cultural values by exploiting local populations. In particular, some temple leadership has highlighted efforts by foreign entities to dismantle Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage, often utilizing local individuals and communities to further their causes. This has been a recurring issue of tension, especially as these activities are often viewed as part of a broader agenda to weaken Sri Lanka’s traditional identity.

A key document that surfaced during this period of concern was the Commission Sabha Report, which explicitly referenced USAID. This report, created after an investigative commission was appointed in 2006, highlighted the role of foreign missionary activities and raised concerns over how these groups, backed by foreign agencies like USAID, were using local agents to carry out their operations. The Commission gathered testimonies from 348 monastic and lay witnesses from around Sri Lanka, many of whom shared their concerns about unethical religious conversions. The report’s findings underscored the alarming potential for these activities to destabilize the nation’s Buddhist identity, and USAID’s involvement was specifically highlighted in relation to these efforts.

This growing concern emphasizes the need for vigilance in protecting Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and cultural integrity from foreign influence, particularly when such actions seem to be driven by external political or religious motives.

The growing opposition to USAID’s involvement has prompted calls for greater transparency and accountability. Political leaders, including members of the Sri Lankan parliament, have demanded investigations into the agency’s role in local politics, as well as its adherence to Sri Lankan laws and regulations. There is mounting pressure to ensure that foreign aid does not become a tool for political manipulation or cultural erosion. While these calls are not without merit, the challenge lies in holding a powerful foreign agency accountable while navigating complex international relations.

Sri Lanka’s legal system provides avenues to challenge violations of fundamental rights, including issues related to foreign interference in domestic affairs. Legal scholars suggest that the country’s constitution and existing laws could be used to scrutinize USAID’s operations, particularly when allegations of harm to national sovereignty and cultural identity are at stake. Sri Lanka’s legal framework provides avenues for addressing concerns about fundamental rights violations. Under Article 126 of the Constitution, individuals can file cases in the Supreme Court if they believe their fundamental rights have been violated, including concerns related to foreign influence, such as USAID’s operations in the country. This provision offers a formal mechanism for challenging actions deemed to harm Sri Lanka’s cultural or religious values.

Moreover, Article 9 of the Constitution affirms Buddhism as the foremost religion in Sri Lanka, with the state obligated to protect and promote the Buddha Sasana (Buddhist heritage). Any foreign-backed initiatives perceived as undermining this central identity are vulnerable to legal scrutiny, especially if they are seen as efforts to disturb the religious equilibrium in Sri Lanka. One of the landmark legal rulings that directly affects this issue is S.C. Special Determination No. 19/2003. This ruling clarified that the Sri Lankan Constitution does not guarantee a fundamental right to propagate religion, setting it apart from other countries that offer such protections. The ruling stresses that while individuals are free to practice their religion, religious propagation—especially if it involves coercion or manipulation—can be seen as a violation of an individual’s freedom of conscience. In this context, any foreign efforts to propagate beliefs that conflict with Sri Lanka’s Buddhist identity could be legally challenged.

The concerns about religious propagation are not new. The All Ceylon Buddhist Congress has previously raised alarms over the negative implications of foreign missionary activities. A particularly significant development in this context was the Commission Sabha Report, which was forwarded to Rev. Udugama Sri Buddharakkita Mahanayaka Thero. This report was generated after a commission was appointed in 2006, during the Poson festival, at the historic Mihintale premises—an important site for Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage. Over the course of four years, from 2006 to 2010, the commission collected evidence from 348 monastic and lay witnesses across various locations in Sri Lanka. The report highlighted concerns over the unethical methods employed by some organizations in their religious conversion efforts, which were seen as posing a threat to the Buddhist identity of Sri Lanka. This effort to challenge unethical religious conversions is directly connected to the concerns raised by the

All Ceylon Buddhist Congress and other local agencies about foreign missionary influence, particularly activities linked to organizations like USAID.

Sinhala Text: රාජ්‍ය නොවන සංවිධාන වලට ලැබෙන විදේශ මුදල් ශ්‍රීලංකා රජය විසින් අධීක්ෂණය කිරීමේ අවශ්‍යතාවයක් නොමැති බව usaid සංවිධානයේ නිලධාරීන්ගේ මතය වූ බව රාජා වනසුන්දර වාර්තාවේ සදහන් වේ. එම වාර්තාව එසේ සදහන් ඇත්තේ වෙනත් වාර්තාවක් උපුටා දක්වමිනි. මෙම සංවිධානය බෙදුම් වාදීන්ට සහ ත්‍රස්ථ වාදී කණඩායම් වලට අවි ආයුධ සපයන මාර්ග බවට චෝදනා ඇති වගද සදහන් වේ. වර්ල්ඩ් විෂන් සංවිධානය 1950 දී ඇමෙරිකා එක්සත් ජනපදයේ බොබ් පියර්ස් නැමැත්තා පිහිට වූ සංවිධානයෙකි. ඔහු නිතර ප්‍රකාශ කල කරුණක් නම් ”දෙවියන් වහන්සේගේ හද පාරන දෙයින් මාගේ හදත් පැරේවා ” යනුයි.වර්ල්ඩ් විෂන් නිර්මාතෘ මේ ආගමික ප්‍රතිපත්ති එහි සියළු කටයුතු තුල දැකිය හැක. වර්ල්ඩ් විෂන් සංවිධානයද සමහර අරමුදල් ලබන්නේ usaid සංවිධා නයෙන්ය.

Translation: According to the report by Raja Vannasundara, it mentions that the officials of the USAID organization believe there is no necessity for the Sri Lankan government to monitor the foreign funds received by non-governmental organizations. This statement is cited from another report. Furthermore, it mentions allegations that these organizations might be providing weapons to separatist and terrorist groups. The World Vision organization was founded by Bob Pierce in the United States in 1950. He often expressed the sentiment, “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” These religious principles of World Vision’s founder are visible in all its activities. The World Vision organization also receives some of its funds from the USAID organization.

To ensure you fully grasp the content in Sinhala.

The Congress’s concern about the illegal ramifications of such conversion efforts further emphasizes the importance of addressing foreign interference, particularly when it comes to maintaining Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage and national identity. These concerns underscore the necessity for scrutiny and accountability in foreign aid programs, especially when there are allegations of foreign organizations imposing cultural and social agendas that clash with Sri Lankan values.

The growing controversy surrounding USAID’s operations, particularly in Sri Lanka, demands closer scrutiny. Critics accuse the agency of political interference, cultural insensitivity, and promoting controversial social agendas that do not align with the traditional values of the countries in which it operates. While USAID may have contributed positively to some aspects of Sri Lanka’s development, the agency’s alleged violations raise important questions about the long-term impact of foreign aid and international intervention on national sovereignty and cultural integrity.

It is time for Sri Lanka’s leadership to take decisive action. President of Sri Lanka must act swiftly to hand over all collected data and evidence to the international community, particularly to the leadership in the United States. It is crucial for the international community to fully understand why these activities, often perceived as anti-American by critics, are allowed to continue and how these Trojan Horse activities pose serious security risks to the region. The Sri Lankan government must ensure that its sovereignty, culture, and values remain protected, not just from foreign interference, but also from undue influence that seeks to undermine its deeply held traditions.

Palitha Ariyarathna – Geopolitics

References:

• USAID Mission in Sri Lanka: www.usaid.gov/sri-lanka
• Sri Lanka’s Legal Framework: Constitution & Fundamental Rights
• All Ceylon Buddhist Congress: Unethical Converting Report
• The Guardian: “Elon Musk and Trump urge US to halt foreign aid spending”
• Politico: “Elon Musk doubles down on calls to dismantle USAID”
• Reuters: “Trump, Musk criticize USAID, push for reform of foreign aid”
• Bloomberg: “Musk and Trump Take Aim at USAID’s Role in Global Politics”
• Business Insider: “Why Elon Musk Wants USAID Shut Down”
• CNBC: “USAID’s Role in U.S. Foreign Policy Under Trump and Musk’s Criticism”
• Time: “Trump, Musk, and the Future of U.S. Foreign Aid”
• The Island: “Sri Lankan Buddhist Leaders Raise Concerns Over Foreign Influence and USAID”
• Shenali Waduge: “USAID and the Threat to Sri Lanka’s Sovereignty and Buddhist Identity” LankaWeb