Lesson to Opposition: Negative Vs positive strategies
Nalin Abeysekera
Sri Lanka is now witnessing the development in terms of economic and
social welfare. The progress of the tourist sector can be seen in recent
years. In tourist sector it can be seen the progress in recent years.
Sri Lanka has been ranked as the number one tourist destination by the
New York Times in its list of ‘31 Places to Go in 2010’. At the same
time, Daily Candy, a luxury-living website, has devoted it entire travel
issue to Sri Lanka, telling readers that “you’ll be roaming the South
for adventure (elephant safaris), history (colonial fort towns, old
Buddhist temples), rain forests (and mountains and tea plantations) and
gorgeous beaches. It’s pretty much the best place we’ve ever been”.
Tourists arrivals on the increase. File photo |
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) recently predicted around
500,000 tourists would have headed to Sri Lanka by the end of this year
while the Sri Lankan Government has announced plans to welcome 2.5
million visitors a year and add a further 25,000 hotel rooms nationwide
by 2016.This is about development.
IMF programs
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said recently that Sri Lanka
was among some countries that have shown an improved economic climate
and outlook. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Director, Asia and
Pacific Department of the IMF, said economic activity has accelerated in
many of Asia’s low-income countries, thanks to higher external demand,
strong investment in the commodities sector, and also, accommodative
macroeconomic policies. “We are seeing in some countries that have been
supported by IMF programs, a markedly improved outlook, such as in Sri
Lanka and Mongolia,” he said. Moreover Sri Lanka was elevated to a
Middle Income Emerging Market status country by the International
Monetary Fund (IMF).
Further Sri Lanka ranked as the eighth fastest growing economy in the
world by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the United States. The
EIU said that Sri Lanka’s economic growth would be second only to China.
According to a report Sri Lanka would record a 6.3 percent GDP growth
rate that is second only to China, which will record 8.6 percent in the
Asian region. Interestingly Sri Lanka’s stock market has been ranked the
second-best in the world. Last week Sri Lanka’s Laugfs Gas initial
public offering of shares worth a total of Rs 2.5 billion was
oversubscribed on Thursday, a few hours after opened for subscription.
Town development
According to economists the ‘Fivefold Global Hub project (naval,
aviation, commercial, energy and knowledge hub) will be the engine
driving the economy forward, pulling the agriculture, services and
industry sectors along. They were in the view that maximum benefits must
to be accrued to the local economy in the process. Sri Lanka is the
country which is always famous for her uniqueness of achieving
objectives.
The town development of main cities with infrastructure development
can be seen across the country. Though there is a debate in recently
introduced program on ‘Wheat terrorism’ a clear message is communicating
to the general public on the nutrition value of food which they
consumed. Recently it has reported that around 1,800 doughnuts sell
within a matter of 30 minutes at three leading Colombo school canteens.
Accordingly 4.2 percent of students below 16 years of age, 4.4
percent of them between 16 years and 18 and 9.8 percent of them between
18 and 22 years have diabetes.
After the State started a campaign to discourage the consumption of
wheat-flour based foods there can be seen the decrease in wheat
consumption throughout the country and an increased awareness especially
among schoolchildren on bad food habits.
Guinness Record
In the light of this development the role of the Opposition cannot be
underestimated. We can now see that ‘negative strategies’ are been
adopted by the Opposition in Sri Lanka.
It is all about protest campaigns, demonstrations etc. But this
writer would like to recommend ‘positive strategies’ for the Opposition
to win in the long run. That is not merely supporting the Government.
That is supporting the nation, supporting the country. It should be the
better way to understand the needs and wants of the most important vote
base in the country.
As an example the JVP can extend its support to reduce wheat floor
consumption by conducting conferences and by using its strategically
competitive advanced poster campaign.
Furthermore Sri Lanka plans to create a Guinness Record with massive
tree planting campaign to mark the beginning of the second term of
Office of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Deyata Sevana National Tree
Planting Program that was held on November 15, 1.1 million trees were
planted islandwide within 11 minutes on the day.
A large number of schoolchildren participated in the tree planting
campaign. It is a duty for Opposition also to support this campaign.
Even UNP can also start a massive tree planting campaign (even more than
1.1 million) next September 6 to commemorate its 65th birthday. That is
a positive strategy in a political sense. For the Annual IL Maha Viru
Samaruwa (November heroes commemoration) of the JVP, it can organize
some educational programs for schoolchildren (O-L and A-L), workshops
for small businesses and entrepreneurs etc. to develop their skills,
knowledge and competencies.
This will be in keeping with their main political motto as well. That
should be the way the country should move forward. What we seen now is
mere protesting to satisfy their own political segments. But there is a
real need from the Opposition to help Sri Lanka (not the Government) to
win and this will strategically help them come to power in the future.
The writer is Senior Lecturer in Management,
Open University of Sri Lanka |