New OPA Chief urges professionals to play inclusive role; support Govt. plan

By David Ebert

OPA’s newly elected President Benedict K. Ulluwishewa last week advocated a more inclusive role of professionals and called on the country’s professionals to support the Government’s broad social and economic development plans as outlined in the key ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ policy document.

“Our roles as the nation’s professionals are increasingly crucial today than ever before. The war is over and people are beginning to enjoy peace and in order to maximise the benefits of this situation, the government has launched a multifaceted development program aimed at making Sri Lanka the ‘Wonder of Asia’. The Government is planning on raising the average income of Sri Lankans to the level of middle-income growth while sharing the benefits of this growth across all segments of the population. This will prevent inequalities, social exclusion and adverse environmental repercussions witnessed in some rapidly growing economies,” Ulluwishewa said after being inducted as the 32nd President of the Organisation of Professional Associations at which Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest.  

However Ullusihewa also said: “Our relationship with the Government is purely professional, being neither pro nor anti-Government. In such a professional relationship there is no place for our personal dislikes. However under the existing administrative structure there is little space for the OPA to act in partnership with the Government directly. The OPA is happy to discuss with the relevant authorities on potential mechanisms of directly partnering with the Government.”

He also commended the Government’s efforts to ensure that low-income groups reap the benefits of planned economic development through the proposed Divi Neguma development program and brought attention to the gaps that exist between professionals and the lower income classes which he felt needed to be addressed through greater efforts at understanding.

The new OPA Chief also called for more assistance between the organisation’s membership and the Government and urged the membership to refrain from allowing personal affiliations to step in the way of national progress.

“Our members represent the specialised knowledge, expertise and skills and thus are a very valuable national resource for the well-being of the nation. To perform this duty we have to act in partnership with the Government. The Government makes policies and the professionals translate these into action,” he stated in his address at his induction. Ulluwishewa, an old boy of Ananda College and hailing from Hambantota, boasts a track record that includes stints in both the public and private sector, and also holds the post of Vice President of the Engineers Guild of Sri Lanka. The OPA, which is the umbrella organisation for a total of 43 professional bodies representing the nation’s key professions, consists of a total membership of 50,000 professionals, making it the most powerful civil society in the country.