Lanka has unexploited growth potential - Hayleys Chief
Policy implementation has to be improved if we are to harness our
full potential, said N. G. Wickremeratne, Hayleys Group Chairman, in a
recent interview with LMD.
Wickremeratne said that the private sector in this country has had to
contend with policies both inspired and capricious over the years. While
there has been some progress, there has also been much regress for our
island-nation, he said.
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N. G. Wickremeratne |
The senior corporate citizen also asserted that Sri Lanka still has
much growth potential that can be exploited, especially agricultural and
industrial potential, which have not been fully utilised.
"Most economies transition into a service-based orientation at one
stage or another. But they do so on the back of a reasonably strong
agricultural base - especially if they have arable land, which we have.
They then develop their industrial bases, which we seem to have
missed out on," he said.
Speaking broadly on the business community's role, Wickremeratne said
that although much had been achieved in the national interest, future
generations may judge us harshly for not having done enough.
People are often impatient for change, despite not knowing what
exactly this change may entail.
"I have stayed in Sri Lanka and done my work in the belief that
engagement, however difficult the circumstances are, is of benefit. Have
we done anything worthwhile, especially from the perspective of
generations to come? The answer, probably, is not enough" he told LMD.
"We have seen turbulent times in Sri Lanka, with insurrections and
insurgencies giving rise to fully-fledged terrorism - and the corporate
sector has played an important role in holding together the fabric of
society by generating economic growth," he said. |
