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Attracting expertise to the development task

With the phrase 'nation-building' bouncing back into public discourse in the wake of the upcoming Tokyo Donor Conference, a timely call went out from a government Minister to our professional community, both here and abroad, for a pooling of endeavours in this historic enterprise of "Regaining Sri Lanka."

Although his immediate audience consisted mainly of engineers, Science and Technology Minister Keheliya Rambukwella intended his appeal for the contribution of professional expertise in developing Sri Lanka, to have a very much wider applicability, covering every conceivable local professional group of importance. Referring to the numerous development projects to be undertaken in the far-flung areas of the North-East, the Minister hoped that those in the engineering and other relevant fields would be generous in contributing their expertise in the ushering in of material advancement.

This in effect would mean that our professionals would need to make their presence felt in the development sites of the country. Those Lankan professionals, now living and working overseas and who have expressed a willingness to come to the assistance of their country of birth, for instance, would need to be attracted to these shores. Their assistance to Sri Lanka would need to be adequately remunerated, both in financial and emotional terms. The same would apply to their counterparts in this country. Their exertions too would need to be adequately rewarded, although those fired by sincere patriotic sentiments are likely to go the extra mile without being too exacting on matters such as salaries and perks.

It is important to reflect on these things at this juncture when an united and redoubled effort needs to be made to lay the foundation for what is often described as a national rejuvenation.

Every form of relevant assistance needs to be marshalled in this endeavour but the tendency of most humans is to be forthcoming with their assistance only if the incentives for such contributions are right.

What are the "pull factors"? What would prevent a professional, for instance, from "looking back" once he has placed his hands on the "plough", which is his project? This is not merely a question of pay and perks. Perhaps even more significant as a "pull factor" is a person's dignity and self-worth.

If most professionals are asked why they left the land of their birth for what are called "greener pastures" abroad, they are likely to respond that they didn't feel wanted here. Their services, they would also say, weren't sufficiently appreciated. Nor did they feel that they were living and working in a country where merit and ability were recognized and rewarded.

What we intend to drive home is that congenial factors, such as recognition and rewarding of merit and merit only, need to be in place if the development process is to get into top gear with the assistance of professionals both here and abroad.

In other words, concerted, effective efforts need to be made to depoliticize society if professionals and other sections of the country's working population are to cooperate willingly in the task of development. Needless to say, the Independent Public Service Commission would need to make its presence felt in the affairs of the country which concern it.

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