Lost opportunities in Sri Lanka were taken advantage of by countries like Singapore and India. The nationalized oil companies in the 70s set up shop in Singapore making it an oil exporting hub without having a drop of oil of its own, and the port strikes instigated by Marxist trade unions in 60s...
How educated you are there are people with embedded mindsets of "Island mentality" where you cannot think of the macro picture or get the holistic view. This is such an imbecile.
Jokers and popular actors, in politics, are not going to be solutions to get over the pressing economic and political complexities facing the country. Are they competent to do that? Case of Squre pegs in round holes.