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| Saturday, 29 May 2004 |
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Lankans capable of reaching higher standards - Prime Minister by Sarath Malalasekera From ancient times, Sri Lankans have proved that they are capable of reaching the highest standards of excellence in whatever they do. The architectural achievements and the ancient irrigation systems of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Ruhuna are examples of the excellence our ancestors sought and reached, said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. Addressing the 26th National Conference - Quest for Excellence - Leveraging Global Best Practices, at the BMICH, Thursday, he said: "Our creative arts too reached the highest levels of excellence, from the glorious days of Anuradhapura and Ruhuna right down to the Kandyan period. "In modern times too, for example in the field of cricket, we reached the highest levels of excellence which made Sri Lankans proud of our achievements." Sri Lanka reached levels of excellence in architecture, irrigation, creative arts and cricket by taking the best practices from abroad and integrating them with our own indigenous practices, the Prime Minister said. "What then is the lesson we learn from all this?", the Prime Minister asked. "How does it relate to the theme of your conference. The lesson is that we Sri Lankans are absolutely capable of reaching the highest standards of excellence in any field of our choice." "If we don't reach these high levels of excellence in any field, it is not because there is some thing innately wrong with us, but because there is something else at play - something that is often beyond our control. 'What I mean by this will become clear as we proceed," the Prime Minister added. In the way that business people understand the term, 'excellence' is reached when the produce of goods or services consistently exceeds the expectations of the customers. That is, when the product exceeds the customers' expectations in terms of price, quality or features or innovation. The very theme of your conference - 'Quest for Excellence' suggests that in your view Sri Lankan products are not reaching the highest standards of excellence. 'I agree you are right. Yours is a correct assessment. Upto this point, I go along with you, the Prime Minister said and added at the same time your conference theme seems to be implicitly saying that for some reason Sri Lankan producers have not acquired or absorbed the best things in the world of production. You seems to be implying that if they do reach higher levels of excellence in terms of quality, price and innovation, they will be able to compete better in the global market-place. CIMA Executive Director Upali Ratnayake, MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd., Chairman Mahesh Amaleen, CIMA Sri Lanka President Pravir Samarasinghe, CIMA Deputy President Claude Perera and CIMA Vice President Lalith Fonseka were at the head table with the Prime Minister. Former Minister Karu Jayasuriya, CIMA Past Presidents, Council Members, CIMA members were among the distinguished invitees. |
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