Lanka on the cusp of a socio-economic revolution

Pramod de Silva

This year will go down in our history as a momentous one. It was the year that Sri Lanka finally defeated terrorism, which plagued the Nation for nearly 30 years. From the first shot fired by Velupillai Prabhakaran to assassinate Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah, the conflict stymied Sri Lanka’s economy and development while adversely affecting the national psyche.

In the aftermath of the war, the resplendent isle of Sri Lanka has a chance to shine again. There are many challenges that Sri Lanka will have to face in its march towards lasting peace and prosperity. With President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the helm, Sri Lanka achieved victory over terrorism, a rare feat anywhere in the world. Now Sri Lankans should focus on the challenges that lie ahead as Sri Lanka aspires to become a front ranking Asian economy.

Laying the groundwork for lasting peace and reconciliation should be a priority for all. It is not a task that the Government alone can accomplish. All political parties, civil society groups and intellectuals must support endeavours to achieve national harmony and reconciliation. A home grown solution that satisfies the aspirations of all communities in the country should be the aim.

In this context it is heartening to note that the Government has accelerated the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). This should be the beginning of a swift process of ensuring normality in all areas of the North. Rapid resettlement, depending on the pace of de-mining and infrastructure development, also leaves no room for critics here and abroad who have commented adversely on this issue. Southerners must also help these citizens to realise their dreams and aspirations.

Post-war, the Armed Forces are already engaged in the mammoth task of bringing normality to these regions and empowering these masses. It is in fact important to build bridges of friendship and solidarity between the South and the North, which have been more or less divided all these years. The A-9 Road should not be regarded simply as a physical link between the two regions - it is also a psychological link that can and should unite the people. The North and the East should be developed to the level of the Western Province.

Peace and development are inextricably linked and the Northerners should enjoy the fruits of development sooner rather than later.

Development is a key issue that will take centre stage in the years to come. The ideal scenario would be developing all provinces on an equitable basis. Sri Lanka has now embarked on a massive development drive that will see vast changes primarily in infrastructure facilities without which a country cannot move forward. Better roads, cheaper power and improved telecom facilities are needed to complete the picture.

Sri Lanka needs to find indigenous solutions to some of these problems. For example, we cannot depend forever on fossil fuels. The time is ripe to think far into the future and slowly adopt renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind and thermal power which can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It is also time to think green and cultivate an environmental consciousness among the people. After all, even municipal waste can be turned into a source of power.

Health and education are two vital sectors that will need more attention over the coming years. Our health and education indices are among the world’s best, almost on par with those of the developed world. But we should not rest on our laurels. We should strive to improve on these statistics. If all schools are on par with those in Colombo, if even the most rural hospital has the latest equipment, we will have achieved a major milestone in these two sectors.

Social equity is another vital aspect of ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ that deserves more attention. Sri Lanka’s poverty alleviation drive has been successful in reducing poverty. It is imperative that this scheme is extended to the North and the East as well. The gap between the rich and the poor is often exploited by certain elements to foment trouble. Efforts to bridge this gap must be made in earnest.

Many commentators and the President himself have referred to an ‘economic war’ as the next biggest challenge. Sri Lanka’s economy was resilient enough to withstand the global economic meltdown that started in the richest countries. Our economy must be further strengthened to meet any future challenge.

This is where the peace dividend can literally come in, channelling more funds for economic development. Sri Lanka has received funds from the IMF, World Bank and through sovereign bonds to augment the process of economic revival and reconstruction of the North and the East. It is also vital to attract more foreign investments to boost our economy.

Sri Lanka is a vibrant member of the international community. As the SAARC Chair, it is playing a vital role in the region. The President should spearhead moves to take the SAARC in a dynamic new direction.

SAARC should aspire to reach the heights achieved by the European Union and become a borderless region. Sri Lanka has already signed on to become a part of the proposed pan-Asian railway, a first step in Asia’s total integration, under the President’s instructions. People-to-people contact will be vital in this exercise.

There should be more transport links by air and sea to Colombo. As Sri Lanka steps into the future, unity at all levels will be the key to facing the vast challenges ahead. We have already achieved the impossible by defeating terrorism.

The time has come to shed our differences and think as Sri Lankans, instead of thinking in terms of ethnicity or religion. The time has come to learn each other’s language and cultural practices.

The time has come to believe in the potential of Mother Lanka to reach greater heights in the world arena. The last four years have seen monumental changes and achievements. Now an undivided Sri Lanka is on the cusp of a socio-economic revolution that will ensure a brighter future for all Sri Lankans.