Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:01
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What can one wish for a President who, seemingly, has it all? With the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) barely over and holding the crown of the Commonwealth till the end of 2015, a two-thirds majority in Parliament and family members at nearly every top post in Government, President Mahinda Rajapaksa steps into his 68th year as one of the most secure heads of state in the world.
Defeating the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) and delivering Sri Lanka from three decades of war has already guaranteed Rajapaksa an unforgettable chapter in the country’s history. His legacy is being enthusiastically, and some would argue brutally, pushed forward through massive economic development schemes that have seen unprecedented construction of roads, highways, ports, airports, coal power plants and much else.
Not stopping there, the Government has pushed its political opponents into the ground, crushing them with multiple elections frequently delivered, if not necessarily free and fair. Except for the north, the Rajapaksa regime has managed to consistently maintain a grip on the rest of the country and dominate not just the political sphere, but also the judicial and parliamentary powers that were initially intended to counter balance the Executive.
There can be no doubt that President Mahinda Rajapaksa holds all the cards. On his birthday he can no doubt sit back knowing that his plans have taken root and are flowering quite impressively. So what more can there be for the President and his Government to achieve?
To answer that one has to go back to the theme that was deployed by Rajapaksa’s instruction at the CHOGM itself: ‘Growth with Equity: Inclusive Development’. Despite the many poverty alleviation programs that have been implemented by the Government at great cost, there is undoubtedly inequitable development in this country. Even though infrastructure is being improved and contribution to GDP from provinces is increasing, there is much that needs to be done. Even in urban areas Sri Lanka is experiencing what economists refer to as “jobless growth,” where the economy is growing because of loan-based public investment and not via the private sector as it ideally should. This also results in massive brain drain.
Still the main sources of Sri Lanka’s income are from remittances, tea and tourism, with the manufacturing sector as well as overall exports failing to make a significant leap. Taxes remain at a low of about 11% of GDP and most of them are indirect taxes, showing a desperate need to strengthen revenue collection for public investment and equitable distribution of wealth. Essential aspects such as healthcare and education continue to get thinning attention from the Budget, with policies inadequately addressing issues such as rampant corruption, mismanagement and inconsistent policies.
Sri Lanka has failed in its ambitious plans to leapfrog up the Ease of Doing Business as initially planned. In the latest index Sri Lanka dropped four ranks, clearly showing that the reform process in Sri Lanka is too slow. Instead of bureaucratic empowerment, more and more politicians are getting in on the act with transparency being thrown out at great cost to the public who ultimately have to literally pay the price for loans and corrupt business deals.
Internationally Sri Lanka continues to be hammered for its human rights record. Disrespect and disregard for law and order has reached worrying levels, with equitable justice being a thing of the past. If these issues are addressed, future celebrations would be universal and heartfelt.
