Problem of provincial disparities

For better economic development in Sri Lanka

After the war we are experiencing the dividends of peace. Sri Lanka economy grew by 8.3 per cent in the year 2011, following an eight per cent growth in 2010. But this year it has forecast economic growth may be as slow as 6.75 per cent due to tighter domestic conditions as well as weaker external demand.

The Western Province is the smallest among the provinces, even if it is the most densely populated province of Sri Lanka

Even the activities of stock market with recent transactions, the exchange rate problem, and corruption as well as the weak balance of payment in the economy have led to many macro level issues in the country.

Nevertheless many positives can also be witnessed. It can be seen that construction is going on and the tourist industry is booming with many opportunities.

What about the development of the country in terms of different regions or provinces in Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka is divided into nine provinces, further divided into 25 districts as well. As usual the Western Province is contributing around 45 per cent as provincial-wise contribution to GDP but contrary to that the Northern Province is contributing only four per cent and the Uva Province’s contribution to GDP is also very low at five per cent followed by North Central.

However, a 22 per cent increase has been observed in Northern Province in 2010 compared to 2009 while Uva also has recorded a 14.9 percent increase in GDP and that of North Central is 20.3 per cent. It is worthwhile to compare the land areas of theses provinces.

nWestern Province 3,593 km2

nUva Province is 8,335 km2

nNorthern Province 8,290 km2

nNorth Central Province 9,741 km2

In terms of land area, the North Central Province can be considered the largest province of Sri Lanka and Northern and Uva Provinces are also only behind the Eastern Province. But the Western Province is the smallest among the provinces, even if it is the most densely populated province of Sri Lanka.

Many disparities

Furthermore, many disparities can be seen in the provinces as well. It is important to understand the infrastructure facilities given for these provinces. Electricity consumption is a good proxy for industrial growth.

In Uva Province around 40 per cent of the people do not have electricity whilst in the Northern Province 36 per cent of the people suffer from the same and in the North Central Province it is 38 per cent. But in the Western Province this is much lower, at seven per cent. This is one indication of disparity in terms of GDP in different regions of Sri Lanka.

Even the distribution of fixed telephones exhibits a similar trend with the Western Province leading and the North, North Central and Uva Provinces recording the lowest number. The computer literacy rate can also be seen as the same. A survey conducted a few years ago in Sri Lanka exposed that the Western Province had the highest computer literacy of 15.3 per cent, while the lowest of around five per cent was reported in Uva, Northern and North Central Provinces.

Even data of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) shows the low ownership of household durables (sewing machine, washing machine, refrigerator, cooker and electric fan) especially in Northern, Uva and North Central Provinces together with no exception in Sabaragamuwa Province.

Poverty and separatism

In 1971 the first insurgency in Sri Lanka erupted on 5 April 1971 with the attack on the Wellawaya Police Station at 5:20 a.m. Wellawaya is under the Wellawaya Divisional Secretariat of Moneragala District, of Uva Province. Co-incidentally the leader of the LTTE Prabhakaran killed the Tamil Mayor of the Jaffna Municipality (under the Northern Province) Alfred Duraiappah, which some considered as a seminal event marking the beginning of Sri Lanka’s Tamil separatist Eelam war.

The poverty factor and disparity of income might have been some reasons for these incidents and violence, especially since it would pave the way for the youth to think that they have been victimised by society and this treasure of Sri Lankan youth could be (mis)used by interested parties for their own motives.

As a matter of fact, it is important to expand the developmental work throughout the country. Otherwise the rich vs. poor disparity indication will be same in ‘Western vs. Northern (or Uva) context as well. This will be ideal time for Sri Lanka to expedite the work with sound developmental framework which should focus on all other areas as well.

Importance of other provinces

Even history has proved the importance of North Central, Northern as well as Uva Provinces. Anuradhapura, one of two districts belonging to the North Central Province, is the first established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa, the other district of the North Central Province, which is the second most ancient of Sri Lanka’s kingdoms, was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 AD to reunite the country once again under a local leader. Both Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are famous for their well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilisation.

Jaffna, which is the prime city of the Northern Province, is described in the Mahavamsa as a vital part of the island nation. Parts of present day Northern Province were part of the pre-colonial Jaffna kingdom. Other parts were ruled by Vanniar Chieftains who paid tribute to the Jaffna Kingdom.

Some argue that one of the Districts of Uva, Badulla, had been used as the capital of the island in 17th century. The importance of Uva, Northern as well as North Central Provinces has been evident by history.

It can even be argued that under Portuguese, Dutch and British control all were strategically shifted to the Western Province merely looking at their colonial expectations. Even these so-called invaders used this strategy as a mechanism to dismantle the nation as well.

So this is the best time for the country to regain what we have lost from the past to rebuild the nation by ensuring that all parts of the island prosper with health and wealth.

(The writer is a Chartered Marketer and Consultant, Senior Lecturer in Marketing – Open University of Sri Lanka and a certified trainer for tutors and mentors in online learning. He holds an MBA (Colombo), B. Sc Mkt. (Special) (SJP), MCIM, Dip in MKT (UK), MSLIM, MAAT and Dip in CMA, Chartered Intermediate from ICASL.)