Sri Lanka among the dynamic achievers

The fast growing Sri Lankan economy is concrete evidence that she is reaping ample material dividends from the successful crushing of terrorism. Her prowess at achieving a degree of economic growth, despite being in difficult circumstances, was evident right through the years of the conflict, and the current growth spirt recorded in the recently released Finance and Planning Ministry Annual Report, could be considered the proverbial icing on the cake.

Sri Lanka has not only strongly survived in economic terms, but has recorded what may be called a Newly Industrializing Country growth pace. So much so that, Sri Lanka may now be categorized along with China and India, from the view point of economic achievement and to use International Monetary Cooperation and Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama’s graphic description, could be seen as ‘leap-frogging’ to material fame.

Sri Lanka’s growth dynamism is reflected in glowing economic indicators right now and it is plain to see that the elimination of terrorism has given us a new lease of life. As we have pointed out before, how much greater would have been our advancement if we were never compelled to endure that harrowing and prolonged 30 year spell of war! Sri Lankans seem to be endowed with an inborn entrepreneurial capability and this would flower abundantly in normal conditions, given the correct incentives and motivational factors.

As we pointed out yesterday, the state is a predominant factor in the positive turn the affairs of this country have taken over the past few years. To begin with, we have an abundance of the right political leadership which was determined to go right ahead and smoothen out the path for accelerated economic advancement and other preconditions which could lay the basis for relative prosperity. It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s leadership, in other words, which tilted the scales in favour of the better things in life for most Lankans. The account given by leading figures of the Security Forces, of the humanitarian operation which paved the way for the ending of terror, gives further proof of the crucial role played by political leadership in the resuscitation of the country’s fortunes.

These glowing prospects must be kept alive through an ensuring of economic and other forms of justice. That is, growth must filter down to everyone in need if the standard of economic equity, which is integral to development, is to be adequately met. Besides, all regional disparities in economic growth need to be eliminated if the dream of development is to be fully realized. Right now, the Western Province leads rather lopsidedly in growth, but this should not be the case if the standard of economic equity is to be fulfilled.

Besides, the quality of local democracy must not only be upheld and sustained, but steadily enhanced in the days ahead. As we have often pointed out, the state must steadily work towards making Sri Lanka an accommodative home for all her communities.

The state is steadily working towards this aim but the latter must ensure that she neutralizes all parochial and communal forces which could stand in her way. As President Rajapaksa has repeatedly pointed out, old wounds left behind by the conflict could in no way be reopened, but narrow, parish- pump and communal politics, in Southern and Northern Sri Lanka could work against this worthy aim.

The state could lay some sound cornerstones for further democratic development by outlawing destructive communal forces which thrive on identity politics in their worst forms.

If post conflict Sri Lanka is to be qualitatively different from the Sri Lanka of former times, communalism and other retrogressive forces that stand in the way of modernity and development, need to be neutralized through the deployment of legal, constitutional and institutional mechanisms.

Besides, we should not be made to confront industrial unrest of the kind we witnessed in Katunayake a couple of days back. This was an attempt, it seems, of turning back the hands of time, since Sri Lanka is now coasting towards relatively prosperous and peaceful times. While industrial strikes of a wild cat nature seem to have been materializing, the law enforcers could have acted with greater restraint and avoided the ugly scenes that broke out.

Apparently, there are political forces on the loose which are aiming at sabotaging the country’s development drive. To these forces we say - take the democratic path to power and think of the long term prospects of Sri Lanka.