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| Tuesday, 30 September 2003 |
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Need for responsible leadership by Dinesh Weerakkody Some time ago, 'Time' asked in a cover story "who's in charge?" and answered its own question saying, "the nation calls for leadership and there is no one home". This quote made me remember, some of the utterances of our leaders both in the JVP and our so-called trade union leaders about the recent health workers' strike. Today while our economy is regaining the confidence of the international community, some of our leaders are attempting to disunite our people to pull our country apart again. The recent clashes between two student factions in the J'pura University which is believed to have been orchestrated by the JVP backed student union is a case in point. Take South Korea, their leaders in 1998 had the credibility and courage to inform and bring people together to pull the country out of near bankruptcy, rest is history. But most of our national leaders only blame each other. Look at the number of luxury vehicles that are being used by the so-called people's representatives and the resources used during election time by all political parties to sling mud at each other. For a change how about using some of those resources to build roads or even start a factory to provide employment to the unemployed? Like other great leaders our leaders must first deliver and give people a sense of purpose and direction before enjoying the benefits of high office. However, most of our leaders have clearly shown us that they did not have the capacity to create a compelling vision that takes people to a new place or on the other hand even understand the awesome challenges and responsibilities of holding high political positions of leadership. Moral unity Political leaders have a significant role to play in creating the state of mind that is the society and they can serve as symbols of the moral unity of society. Our country needs leaders at all levels who can conceive and articulate goals that lift people out of their sense of helplessness, carry them above the conflicts that tear a society apart and unite them in pursuit of peace and prosperity for all sections of the community. Politicians around and those who take responsibility for the future destiny of our nation must build confidence in the Government without sending the wrong signals and resting hopes on shaky politics. Reality But the reality is that in most developing countries in South Asia where people are finding it hard to live due to escalating world prices their leaders continue to muscle their way about the country in BMWs and Benzes followed by a huge contingent of security personnel. There is something radically wrong with this social system. More than even before millions of South Asians are crying out for leadership as their countries continue to slide due to reforms being back-pedalled and shaky politics being practised by all political parties. It is very clear in Sri Lanka that public demonstration of the type of leadership the nation is looking for is scarce and that the nation as a whole do not want to support politicians who spend millions of rupees to create superficial images or have lavish extravaganzas, when it is crunch time for the common man. Our leaders even at this late stage must make every effort to generate and sustain trust and provide meaning and common purpose to every individual in this country. If this means the two main political parties working together, so be it. Otherwise at some point the tolerance of people will give way causing undue hardships to all communities. Private sector Whether one is in government or in business, effective leadership is what is needed to steer a country or a business, especially in difficult times. In fact the Prime Minister recently reminded some of the top CEOs in the private sector that they have a moral obligation to join hands with the government to solve the graduate unemployment problem. The private sector must realize that if the unemployment problem is not resolved soon it could very well give rise to social unrest and turmoil, making it difficult for the private sector to operate freely. Therefore as the new economy unfolds across Asia and the world becomes one market Sri Lanka needs a new breed of business leaders and managers, who can articulate a clear vision, display an exemplary commitment to the law and deliver sound politics. They must be businessmen and professionals who can react swiftly to and exploit the series of economic disturbances and opportunities that are sweeping the region. These men and women who will direct our private sector and be responsible for our economic fortunes in the next millennium must embrace the fundamental change in business philosophy required to deal with these challenges. Our future business leaders will be the people responsible for reshaping our private sector, our economic fortunes in the next century and even pull our nation together to cope with future challenges, in the absence of sound political leadership. But for this transition to take place our business leaders need to project themselves beyond their customers. They must reach out to communicate and participate in public affairs. In the final analysis, it seems the challenge of the future for our political parties would be to develop a core of leaders who can manage the region's explosive growth and the challenges thrown up as a result. Then our business leaders in Sri Lanka must realize that the protective walls are tumbling down fast and companies in the region would seek to invade our territories looking for new business opportunities and people within these companies are looking to their leaders to inspire and excite their organizations to bring out the best in their people. |
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