Pooh-poohing prophets of doom:

Lankan economy's success due to multi-sector approach

It was the 1977 General Election victory that paved the way for the then United National Party leader J.R. Jayewardene to become the first Executive President of Sri Lanka. Jayewardene contested from Colombo West and won 21,707 votes which was a 79.22% from the valid total. Winning almost all the electoral districts the United National Party won and its leader J.R. Jayewardene became the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Events thereafter changed the shape of the political backdrop of the country and this history is known by all. The ultimate result with the change of the constitution in 1978 was the introduction of the Executive Presidency.

This became a good breeding ground for debates and controversies over the changed situation and it remains the same even today. Many eminent figures have spoken much against the Executive Presidency and its powers and in the earlier instances people have given their mandate accordingly. Yet, when one monitors closely into the changes that took place from the first Presidential Election of the country in 1982 which elected J.R. Jayewardene for his second term till 2010 Presidential Elections that elected Mahinda Rajapaksa for his second tenure in Presidency, what is read between the lines is that people's decision was for the personality of the candidate and not criticizing Executive Presidency. People may seem to be silent until the chance is given for them to make their honest decision. Using their power to vote since 1931 with the receipt of the Universal Franchise, people make their choices silently yet steadily.

Slight decline

In 1982, people elected President J.R. Jayewardene for his second tenure with 3,450,811 votes. In 1988, President Ranasinghe Premadasa was elected by 2,569,199. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga won Presidency in 1994 with 4,709,205 votes yet in her second tenure her victory was 397,048 votes less than the first occasion. In 2005 Mahinda Rajapaksa contested and successfully achieved 4,887,152 votes which was a 50.29% of the total votes. United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe contesting in the same won 4,706,366 votes. Considering the trend continued from President J.R. Jayewardene's time, one would observe a slight decline in the popularity of a President in his/her second term while the opposing party receives a higher number of votes. Yet for President Mahinda Rajapaksa the second term victory was a staggering 6,015,934 votes which was a 50.29%. The opposing party in which Sarath Fonseka contested under a coalition with the UNP, received 4,173,185 votes which was 40.15% of the total valid votes that was a clear 8.2% low value compared to the votes in 2005 election which the opposing party received.

Thus it was the people who elected lower number of votes for the second tenure in the early instances and it is they who decided President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be selected with a higher popularity. It is not the person or the Executive Presidency that matters. What matters is how comfortable people would be under one's regime. If people genuinely feel that the poverty level is on the decline, inflation is going down along with a peaceful and a terror free society no wonder they hope for a much faster improvement under the same leader. People's mandate is the crystal clear verdict of the success of a Government's service to the country and its people.

The Mahinda Chinthana - vision for a better future is leading the country towards becoming the wonder of Asia. Amidst many challenges Sri Lanka achieved an economic growth rate of 8.5% in the second quarter of 2010. It was a huge success compared to the 2010 first quarter where the economic growth rate was around 7%.

Economic crisis

The entire world was confronting a severe economic crisis. The recession was weakening even countries that were believed to be unshakable. The International Monetary Fund is worried over the global state of the financial world. Though many countries claim that they are recovering from the financial crisis no one can still overlook the potential problems existing in this shaky situation. World giants were recording minus economic growth rates. United States of America, United Kingdom, Japan are still recovering though the huge income and savings they have as a country support their survival.

The success story is a multi- sector approach. This is not solely an accomplishment of the industrial sector; the improvement in the rural economy also contributed largely. Uprise in the rural economy is a crucial turning point for a developing country like ours where nearly 80% of the population is rural.

An economic growth results with downturns of the poverty line, unemployment, inflation, number of dependants on Government welfare measures etc. It is important to facilitate farming and fishing communities as the agricultural and industrial growth should sprout in parallel lines. Setting up high prices to purchase paddy, milk and other food products would lower the prices of the consumer goods thus serving the common man better. Instead of fattening the pockets of the dairy farmer in New Zealand or Australia, the Government took steps to increase the income of the Sri Lankan dairy farmer. Curtailing bread consumption would finally drive the consumer to buy rice from our paddy farmers. If this consumption rate is going to continue the Agriculture Department predicts an excess rice stock of 449,113 metric tons by December this year.

Government institutions

The World Bank included concepts of Mahinda Chinthana in to the list of their conditions. Rajapaksa regime signed with the IMF agreeing to achieve the goals depicted in Mahinda Chinthana. In the conditions from Sri Lanka it was stated to the IMF that none of the Government institutions will be privatised. In addition Sri Lankan Government stated that they will not cut down any of the welfare measures taken to ease the life of the common people. It was also mentioned to the IMF that Government contributions to the Public Service, Education, Health and Road Development and all the other services to the public will continue.

But in 1990 the then Government had to agree to cut down the ration on fertilizers in order to get a loan of Rs. 30 million. The agreed condition was a severe blow to the average farmer. And in 2002 the Government had to agree to privatise the People's Bank, Inland Revenue Department, National Insurance Corporation, Petroleum Corporation, the Railways in order to collect Rs. 556 million. The Mahinda Rajapaksa Government not only stated about avoiding privatisation of the Government institutes but subjecting salary cut down of Government Servants was never considered under the Rajapaksa regime. Eventually people paid the price with a distressed life.

Though many of the so-called experts of economy and financial matters become prophets of doom at their leisure, typically highlighting the negatives of every possible move, the true verdict of the masses is exceptional. Whatever the international level comments may be the average man would take the decision on seeing how happy his family would be. His concern would be to have wonderful future for his children while every child is treated alike. We may have to go a long way yet the eminent factor is how people believe in the leader of the country. They chose a leader who serve the country and deliver the promises. With the fruitful signs we passed recently it is quite certain people will make the timely correct decision in time to come. That is the beauty of democracy.

(DY)