Reflection on CBSL 73rd Anniversary Oration by Dr Sharmini Coorey

In advance of my reflection being read, I wish to inform the reader that I write as a lay person, with no formal training or experience on the subject other than having to live through the reality of the consequences of the topic the oration covers, on a daily basis which is becoming exceedingly difficult to endure. 

As such I see myself as an expert on the topic from the perspective of suffering the outcomes of the content deliberated on by the esteemed orator. 

A brilliant oration in terms of the presented evidence and attempting to use the opportunity for GRIPs (Getting Research into Practice) 

The historical and contemporary democratic political backdrop that influences the decision making process and hence governance, was shown to be dysfunctional in an evidence based manner.  In other words, no lessons for good governance have been learnt by the Sri Lankan bureaucrats and the Sri Lankan voters thus far (since independence which closely coincides with the establishment of the CBSL). 

The question I feel, that should have followed could have been ‘What is the likelihood/probability of this prevalent political and bureaucratic status quo changing and the factors that are hindering this change?

The issue of ‘Who benefits from this dysfunctional system’ was touched on briefly. (‘a few benefit from it’). I would have loved to see in an evidence based manner how the ‘few’ indeed benefit in terms of political, financial, etc. terms. This would have helped us identify the ‘few’ in terms of characteristics at the very least. It would in turn have facilitated communication of such information to the public for their democratic consideration if and when it matters (i.e. if and when elections are held to allow people to participate in the governance process for better or for worse). 

The benefits to the majority from this flawed system were also touched on. That is to say the ‘culture of entitlement’ prevalent in the Sri Lankan majority was highlighted in a manner to show how unsustainable the accrued and current dysfunctionality was and is. The orator also warned of the dire consequences of continuing this ‘culture of entitlement’ without serious reforms, particularly from the triple parameters of good governance, genuine transparency and accountability in reality. 

However, the link between the few and the majority who benefit from the historic and prevalent dysfunctionality was not very clear. The factors which link the few and the majority that benefit from the flawed system would have shed light on how to manage this link if possibly to reduce the dysfunctionality over time and eventually, eliminate it. 

The way forward in terms of the theme of the oration from a theoretical perspective was very clear. I do understand that the orator’s expertise ends at that point. 

But I am certain that many who listened to the oration on You Tube and read the text in the Daily FT had the following  question for the past current and future bureaucrats and politicians of Sri Lanka: 

1. Why have/are we not and perhaps will not act on the sound economic evidence presented? 

2. What has/is and would prevent acting on the evidence presented in order not to go to the lender of last resort for the 18th time? 

3. Could the public of Sri Lanka (to be precise, the voters) be convinced by their future elected representatives (from all political hues and shades) through an economic model/program of a finite period that we will not go to the IMF for the 18th time? 

4. Finally, are we as a nation ready for democracy as a means towards economic progress or is democracy in Sri Lanka an end point in sustaining a dysfunctional state? 

I congratulate and thank the orator for using the opportunity to highlight the issues in an open and transparent manner to enable us to better understand and meaningfully contribute towards solving the problems we are enduring as citizens of Sri Lanka through a democratic process if and when we are given the opportunity to do so, most importantly in a free and fair manner.