Kick-Start Economy And Enforce Discipline
The National Unity Government launched its eight-year development plan – ‘Vision 2025 – A Rich Country’ in the first week of this month with some of its basic objectives being raising the per capita income to $ (US) 5,000 a year, providing 1 million new jobs and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of $ (US) 5 billion per year. It envisions Sri Lanka being transformed into ‘a hub in the Indian Ocean with a knowledge based highly competitive economy’.
While we do sincerely hope that the basic objectives will be achievable, we have to make note that since Independence Sri Lanka has many economic development plans that projected the island to become the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ but ended in coming close to it being declared ‘a basket economy case’ and a ‘pariah state’ not many full moons ago.
Economists like architects keep drawing up plans but plans of the former have a far higher casualty rate than the latter. Plans of economists being of much greater macro scale than that of the architects could be a reason. A notable economic success has been Sri Lanka’s attempt to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production. That has been a long term project that stretched over 70 years directed by the leaders of the country. A magnificent economic success was the spurt under J. R. Jayewardene when he shifted over from a controlled socialist mixed economy to a free and open market economy. The Accelerated Mahaveli Diversion Scheme, opening up of the Free Trade Zone, development of east of Colombo along with the construction of a new parliament, spurt in development of telecommunications, introduction of television throughout the country are some of the development schemes unmatched since then. All that was done while fighting two insurrections.
The National Unity Government, if it can only achieve a fraction of the development in the Jayewardene era while laying the foundation for long term development, would accomplish something for the country. It has only two-and-a-half-years to go before the polls and their strategy should be to make progress particularly in providing employment for unemployed youth within this period.
Economists may think of making Colombo a hub development of new electronic technologies, telecommunications, etc. but such projects will take years if not decades. Neither Silicon Valley nor Rome was built in a day. Even Singapore took years to build under the authoritarian leadership of Lee Kuan Yew. There were no Rajapaksas, a GMOA or Carlo Fonsekas blocking Lee’s progress.
We do not know how soon Sri Lanka’s Vision 2025 will take off. But it has to do so now. If it does not bear fruition at least to some extent within two years, it will be too late for the Yahapalanaya and the Barbarians will be crashing through the gates.
Unemployed youth of today do not want to plough the paddies with buffaloes like their ancestors did. We have heard of sound plans such as the mechanisation of agriculture where young men and women will be provided with tractors to plough paddy fields that are lying fallow. Such schemes, which can be put in place within a few months, are the need of the hour.
It gave some hope when reports said that both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, instead of delivering their usual perorations, had discussions with youths, men and women on how Vision 2025 could be implemented at the inauguration ceremony of the scheme. We do hope that youth would be recruited into the planning process instead of leaving the field to crusty old bureaucrats and economists who will be more interested in their own benefits: vehicles, salary hikes and retirement benefits.
The National Unity Government can no longer hem and haw over the tasks ahead. Quick and decisive action is called for. Abroad we have the examples of Korean Park Chung Hee and Lee Kuan Yew as examples. J. R. Jayewardene is good enough an example for Sri Lanka.
Rapid development calls for consistent political stability. The Rajapaksas teaming up with a so called Joint Opposition commenced creating mayhem and chaos from the inception of this government. Their success is largely due principles of good governance being stretched to the limit by this government in keeping with its pledges given at the Presidential election to safeguard the democratic rights of the people.
Good governance and safeguarding democratic governance does not amount to defeated and disgruntled politicians being permitted to create chaos and paralyse the government with the sole objective of grabbing power. J. R. Jayewardene showed the way when faced with a general strike. He broke the back of the entire trade union movement which is still trying to find its feet.
The Rajapaksas and the Joint Opposition, while reiterating each day of their objective of toppling this government are pledging to drive their ‘last nail’ into the good governance coffin soon. President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe have to act fast, not only to regenerate the economy, but to enforce law and order during the next two-and-a-half-years if they intend to return to power.
