Business comment:

Positive mindset must for development

Sri Lankans including some members of our esteemed profession, (also known as the 'Fourth Estate') the media seem to be forgetting the very recent past. Weekend papers carried series of comments as well as articles running down the Night Races that would be held tomorrow in Colombo.

The point raised by them was the cost to host the event and, surprisingly, the closure of two roads during the event.

If one goes down the memory lane, just three years back, one would remember that some of these very roads that are to be used for road races were closed and not only drivers but even passengers too have to show their national identity cards if they were to use these roads. Some roads were completely blocked off for security reasons.

Today, the road near the WTC as well as some other by roads are open and one could even have a meal or shop at the formerly abandoned Dutch Hospital which is now an icon in the City of Colombo. The face lift the area has undergone is amazing and Sri Lankans should be proud of this.

In Singapore too when night races are held roads are being closed and the revenue that is being generated to the country from the event is tremendous. Similarly Sri Lanka for the first time would be marketed as a country that hosts night races adding value to the destination.

The Colombo City Hoteliers Association said that this event would help to market Sri Lanka as a 'happening' destination something Sri Lanka lacked up to now.

At a media briefing chaired by the Central Bank Governor Cabraal, a business journalist of an English newspaper asked him was it not better to have invested money spent for the Commonwealth Games bid to build schools or hospitals.

The Governor said that the bid was made to enhance the quality of Sri Lanka and to have a better international image for the country. Most importantly it proved that Sri Lanka is in a position to host events of that magnitude.

The benefits of the bid have already yielded results with several new hotels being built in Hambantota and also the country likely to host Asian Games, Asian Championships and the South Asian Federation Games in the next six years.

The Governor said that the opening of the Southern Highway would prove to the world that Sri Lanka also has infrastructure that is being enjoyed by developed countries.

Heritance Mahagedara General Manager former Neptune, Samantha Gunaratne who has travelled in many highways in the world said that the bio diversity that is seen in the Colombo Galle highway is unmatched. He said that it is a venture Sri Lankans can really be proud of.

One highly critical factor that is being talked about is the deaths of stray dogs and while the Road Development Authority should address this issue, one should be aware that even kangaroo cubs get run over in Australian highways.

It is said that to break even a new international Harbour needs around eight to ten years. The investment the country made to build the first stage of the Ruhunu Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Harbour was US $ 360 million and already the Cabinet has approved four proposals to the value of US $ 700 million proving that the Port venture is viable.