Srilanka, Feb. 17 -- The role of foreign aid in a nation's development is often a subject of intense scrutiny and debate, particularly when it intersects with politics and sovereignty. In Sri Lanka, USAID (the United States Agency for International Development) has been a significant player in the country's growth, especially in areas such as education, health, agriculture, and governance. However, in recent years, USAID's involvement has sparked controversy, particularly with regard to its funding of media empowerment programs.

The Media Empowerment for a Democratic Sri Lanka (MEND) initiative, funded by USAID, became a focal point of allegations that the agency was promoting a foreign ideological agenda that undermined Sri Lanka's cu...