Of manifestos and reality

The word manifesto suddenly appears during elections. Usually, it is forgotten as soon as the election is over. Worse, the raft of promises usually contained in this document are also forgotten, only to be resurrected in another form several years later.

Both leading candidates have now released their manifestos, which encapsulate their vision and plans for the next six years, if elected. Both Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse's "Mahinda Chintana" and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's "People's Agenda" have outlined plans for developing the country under their rule.

The economy has rightly received priority in both manifestos. The UNP manifesto goes to the extent of projecting a growth rate of 10 per cent, though it may not be immediately feasible. Mahinda Chintana seeks a more moderate rate, but the fundamental idea remains the same - accelerating economic growth. The winning candidate will have his hands full dealing with the economy.

There is no question whatsoever of going back to a closed economy. However, certain checks and balances can be permitted in an open economy and measures taken to protect local industries. In fact, an unfettered open economy may not be suitable for a developing country such as Sri Lanka.

But economic growth will be vital for job generation, which gets a prominent place in both manifestos. The numbers quoted may be appealing, but jobs cannot be generated out of thin air - there should be a commensurate growth in the economy to allow job creation.

The revitalisation of the local economy can lead to more employment opportunities within Sri Lanka. Another avenue is overseas employment. The incoming President must obviously look for opportunities in countries other than our traditional labour markets, especially for skilled workers.

Subsidies are another populist aspect of both manifestos, though the private sector is wary of such handouts. It is true that a major segment of our population need certain subsidies to cushion the impact of the high cost of living. But with oil at US$ 70 a barrel, fuel subsidies may not be viable in the long term.

Ending subsidies at once would be a major shock, though we will eventually have to move away from the subsidy culture. That in turn requires a strong economy where people's earnings are adequate for living expenses.

Building such a strong economy requires a peaceful atmosphere. The winning candidate has a huge responsibility to ensure that the ceasefire continues, with amendments if deemed necessary and that peace talks begin. The assurance of peace is vital for local and foreign investors and the economy in general prospers when there is no conflict. One must also not forget the foreign aid perspective, which is generally tied up with the peace process.

Along with peace, there are many more challenges in a variety of spheres that the new President will have to face.

It may not be easy to translate all the words in the manifestos to meaningful action, given economic constraints and even logistical problems.

The need of the hour is to identify the priorities and deliver on those promises that can take Sri Lanka in a new direction.