Year 2018 unlikely to be good for Sri Lanka: Survey

The latest monthly poll conducted by research firm Kantar TNS, for business magazine LMD, reveals that a majority (60%) of citizens doubt that 2018 will be positive for the country.

Respondents cite the far from satisfactory country situation at present, a lack of good leaders in the government, the prevailing economic conditions and the high cost of living as reasons for their pessimistic outlook, LMD reports in its January edition.

The magazine adds that governance is likely to weaken over the next 12 months, according to six in 10 of those consulted in the latest poll.

Sentiment regarding the economy isalso in negative territory with LMD noting thatover two-thirds of those surveyed don’t expect the economy to be strong this year. Respondentscite adverse testimonials such as ‘it’s hard to think that a strong economy will be built,’‘incomes are insufficient to live’ and ‘no action has been taken to build an economy that has collapsed,’ LMD notes.

 Asked whether the cost of living will be manageable, as many as eight in 10 respondents refute the assertion;theyare bracing themselves for an increase in the cost of goods and services in the new year, while noting that ‘salaries are low and there is no increase in incomes.’

According to LMD, 23% of respondents feel that corruption will be less than in 2017. But the majority (63%) of those surveyed remain unconvinced that such a scenario will materialise.

Citizens point to constitutional reform, stronger governance, lower interest rates, a lower cost of living, foreign investment and better infrastructure as the priorities for Sri Lanka in 2018.

LMD’s publisher, Media Services, says the January edition of the pioneering business magazine has been released to leading supermarkets and bookstores in Colombo and the outstations.

Its Cover Story featuresSimrin Singh, the Country Director for the ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives(for the full story, log onto www.LMD.lk).