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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in conversation with Ceylon Chamber Deputy Vice Chairman Bingumal Thewarathanthri at inauguration of Sri Lanka Economic Summit
By Darshana Abayasingha
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake last night urged the private sector to come clean and put an end to corruption and called for collective effort for transformation to create a better Sri Lanka.
He didn’t mince his words during a Q&A after inaugurating the Sri Lanka Economic Summit organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at Shangri-La Colombo.
Dissanayake called on the business community to step up and stay true to espoused principles and objectives for growth, instead of constantly looking at the state to make change.
During the Fireside Chat with Ceylon Chamber Deputy Vice Chairman Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Dissanayake touched on several elements in reference to his comments that included the current controversy and allegations of corruption at Sri Lanka Customs.
“Customs is just one hand, whose is the other hand? Isn’t there a problem,” Dissanayake queried the over 700 audience at the Summit.
He noted containers continue to arrive at the port with no known owners and detail, but when opened there are goods destined for reputed companies. Where is governance then, he questioned.
The President also pointed to the plantation companies, who over the past 30 years have failed to develop into a trade that can afford Rs. 1,700 in wages a day.
Touching on burgeoning employment in the State sector, he accepted the 1.3 million Government servants exert grave pressure on coffers.
“But why did you let it grow to such levels,” he asked.
Dissanayake remarked that despite the large number of unemployed graduates there remains serious demand for jobs in Government notwithstanding openings in the private sector. Why do so many people still seek State sector employment if the private sector is so good, he questioned.
“As Government as a State, we are ready to turn this country towards a new direction. But we also need to do that as individuals and as a collective. Whatever concerns you have about the state sector and political machinery, they are probably true. But we cannot make changes alone, and that change must also come from within all of you,” the President challenged.
The Head of State noted his Government will embark immediately on the digitalisation drive adding Sri Lanka was already too late in its journey of technology transformation. Touching on previous attempts, he recognised instances where the State machinery had stood in the way of progress and stated there shall be no more room for any excuses on digitalisation. Adoption of digital technologies and lifestyles are critical to transform how we live and do business, he asserted.
President Dissanayake also spoke on his vision to grow the Sri Lankan economy beyond the Western Province and said people and the nation can only achieve growth if every citizen could engage with some aspect of the economic cycles. “The people of the village must receive access to new economic opportunities. Right now, it’s limited to paddy lands, agriculture or waterways. I would like to invite the private sector to think about what opportunities they could present too, to open up new entrepreneurial and earning possibilities.”
During the conversation Dissanayake also said that the Economic Transformation Bill will be pursued with necessary changes.
Touching on the sensitive topic of privatisation and reform, the President recognised that several state sector entities heap significant burdens on tax payers, and said his Government is committed to driving change through joint ventures and mergers, whilst some institutions may need to wound down.
Responding to a query on the quantum of trade commitments from India versus China post his visit to the two countries, the President said there is no affinity towards one or the other, but there exists a need to relook at the trade agreement with India as it has failed to deliver the benefits envisaged.
“We need to take a constructive look as to why the existing agreement has not worked.”
He said a comprehensive study is underway to assess why the Indo-Lanka FTA hadn’t realised its full potential and thereafter the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) will be pursued with India to maximise the potential.
The Sri Lanka Economic Summit hosted by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will conduct its technical sessions in Colombo today, with discussion over reform, agriculture, tourism exports and economic transformation.
