UK envoy pleased with new political climate

by Elmo Leonard

The recent agreement between the two major political parties, the SLFP and UNP to work together was seen by the British High Commissioner, Donimick Chilcott as historic, while bearing positive precepts for a healthy business climate within the island.

In the past, businessmen in Sri Lanka left politicians to do what they felt good, and endeavoured to carry on with their business. They did not attempt to influence politicians on what role they should adopt, so that a healthier business climate would emerge. Now, Chilcott, sees an emerging relationship between politics and business and the two had to go hand in hand for good economic growth in a country.

Following several years of war, Sri Lanka's private sector had ended its silence and called for a ceasefire, as they saw that peace would be highly conducive for their business, and consequent economic growth, Chilcott said, at the `ACCA National Conference 2006' held last week.

The second stage of this peace process would hopefully be a historic tie up between the two major political parties of the country. Following the peace accord, earlier signed between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, the Tamil Tigers had taken advantage of breaching the accord, knowing that there was disunity between the two major political parties.

Chilcott advised the government to maximise on the opportunity for negotiations with the LTTE. "Let not the talks end in failure," he said. He hoped that with it, the guns would fall silent. Positive signs of peace would attract foreign direct investment.

Earlier, Chilcott observed that Sri Lanka was reputed for the high standard of accounting professionals, produced, there being a parallel with British standards of accounting.

Professor Leo Murray of the Cranfield School of Management (UK) saw Sri Lanka as a country bearing some problems and enormous opportunities.

The people in government and business must have the courage to compromise and find long term, and not short term solutions for their problems. Leadership was an essential for economic development. Murray, saw the opportunity for good leaders to take the cue and forge towards economic development.