The primacy of the economy
Considering that economics drive politics, it was most
appropriate for President Mahinda Rajapaksa to dwell on the
subject of economic equity in the course of his address to the
country on the occasion of Sri Lanka's 64th Independence
anniversary. The long 30 year conflict has been ended with the
resounding defeat of the LTTE, but the task before the state now
is to usher sustained development on the basis of equity, the
President explained.
The President admitted quite clearly that the government has
no excuses from now on but to get ahead with the primary project
of countrywide development.
As he rightly pointed out, past governments could have found
excuses for not delivering on the development front by citing
the conflict, its rigors and the demands it imposed on the
country, but his administration could not avail of this excuse
because terror is no more.
The present government cannot look to the conflict for
excuses for not performing to the satisfaction of the people and
the development process must not only be persisted with but made
to yield the benefits people look forward to from it. Whereas in
former times, residents of villages such as Kebitigollewa
requested the state for bunkers and rifles, what they need now
are houses, electricity, safe drinking water, sustained food
supplies, livelihoods and the like which comprise their economic
and material needs.
This is a highly sober and commonsensical way of looking at
Sri Lanka's issues. It is economic equity that gives stability
and, ultimately, harmony to a country and the number one
challenge before our polity is to single-mindedly work towards
this goal. It could be seen that economic equity or justice is
also the key to many of the issues facing our communities. Some
could object to this line of thinking by stating that 'identity'
issues play a predominant role in the questions our minority
communities in particular have been grappling with over the
years, but it is the failure on the part of past governments to
usher economic justice countrywide that prompted sections in the
North-East to raise the thorny issues of discriminatory
treatment of them by central administrations and of the latter's
inability to guarantee equality of opportunity and condition for
all sections of the citizenry.
As we have consistently pointed out, it is the perception of
being discriminated against that drive some sections to raise
the question of ethnicity. On being seen as discriminated
against consistently, these sections come to believe that the
discriminatory treatment meted out to them has its roots in
their perceived ethnic identity. Thus, does ethnicity come to
dominate the politics of a country.
Accordingly, now that terror is out of the way, there is no
choice but to make steady headway in the war against want and
deprivation.
This simply and easily digestible message must be got across
by the government to all its coalition partners and other
relevant sections which are at the helm of the country's
affairs. The number one priority from now on should be economic
justice and equity and those forms of empowerment which are
enjoyed in Colombo and Gampaha must not only be enjoyed in the
deep South but must be made to be experienced fully in Jaffna,
Kilinochchi and practically every geographical area of Sri
Lanka. When this is achieved fully, 'ethnicity' could be found
to wither away.
Simultaneously, our polity needs to work towards progressive
democratic development. This is particularly true of our
provinces. One measure of democratic development is the
increasing inclusion of people or who are considered the masses,
in the relevant decision-making processes. For instance, we need
to see more and more people's participation in the
decision-making process at the village, Pradeshiya Sabha and
provincial levels.
To be sure, periodic elections are held to governing bodies
at these levels, but this process must be intensified and
expanded. If we want to see increasing identification with the
state on the part of once disaffected groups, then, increasing
popular participation in decision-making is the answer.
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