Rectifying imbalances in regional development

Now that efforts are being made by the state to pick up the pieces and to make Sri Lanka an economic success story in South Asia, more and more interest is being shown by particularly the West in what this country has to offer big business investors. There seems to be a growing awareness internationally that Sri Lanka is no longer a small economic player in this region. The thinking seems to be that she is second to none in South and South-East Asia when it comes to investment possibilities, and the world is not wrong there.

There are already big names in the Western business world who are making enquiries about what we have to offer investors and it is advisable that we offer them the very best by way of economic strengths. From this point of view, it is sound thinking on the part of the state to take the development drive to the farthest reaches of the Northern Province - a region which is about to witness elections to some local government institutions by the weekend.

It is best that this situation is used to reflect on the close connection between economic and political empowerment. The two are mutually-reinforcing and one cannot be achieved in isolation from the other. This is now common knowledge and is concretized in the principle that there could be no trade-off between development and democracy.

This consideration strongly underscores the importance of conducting trouble-free polls in the North, so that the will of the people would be clearly and unambiguously reflected. To the extent to which democratic institutions thrive in the North-East, to the same degree would equitable economic growth be achieved, for, fundamental freedoms and economic empowerment, both at the individual and group levels, go hand-in-hand. For instance, it is the ability of a citizen to hold his political representatives and others holding public office, accountable to him for discharging their responsibilities conscientiously, that would enable him to enjoy the benefits of economic development.

So, the state has hit on the correct policy perspective by taking development vigorously to the North, while reviving the region’s democratic institutions. Moreover, if the North-East is to be opened to investment and economic growth, the regions need to be brought on par with the rest of the country in terms of economic dynamism and buoyancy. Right now, the Western Province leads in terms of economic growth and this too by a very wide margin over the other provinces. This anomaly needs to be rectified if growth is to be evenly distributed and the material and human resources in the rest of Sri Lanka too are to be fully developed. It is to the extent to which this happens that the rest of the country too will prove attractive to the international investment community in particular.

We, therefore, welcome the news that one percent of Sri Lanka’s GDP is being siphoned to the North. If wisely utilized, these resources would ensure that the North too will enjoy the benefits of peace to a considerable degree. If investment is to flow into the province, its human resources must be progressively upgraded and the region should not be lacking in basic infrastructure, such as, roads, flyways, hospitals, schools etc. Hopefully, the monies being invested by the state in the region would ensure development on these lines.

We urge the state to continue with these progressive measures in regard to the North-East. Need we say that economic imbalances played a significant role in triggering the North-East rebellion against the state?

There was a time when the state was perceived as serving the partisan interests of some sections of the polity only. This played a significant role in alienating sections of the North-East populace from the state.

It could be said that the administration under President Mahinda Rajapaksa has substantially blunted this perception of the state by continuously emphasizing the oneness and unity of Lankans.

There is very much more to be done to make all Sri Lankans equal stakeholders of the state but it is vitally important that the opinion climate in the country is changed to favour equality and oneness and this is being done to an extent. Hopefully, the polls in the North would mark a new beginning for the people of the province and lay the basis for their continuous empowerment within a unitary and democratic Sri Lanka.