Freedom People’s Congress to show way forward in achieving political and economic freedom

• Organisation presents two concept papers to initiate discussion on future political and economic reforms
• Requests public to accept the two proposals as discussion papers to initiate future reforms
• Says Sri Lankan politics must be saved from family bandysm and romanticised revolutions
• Dr. Nalaka Godahewa says decisions of former Govts. to develop economy has been either hit or miss
• Says majority of decisions have failed to deliver expected result

By Maneshka Borham

MP Dr. Nalaka Godahewa

MP Prof. Channa Jayasumana

MP Prof. Charitha Herath

Opposition MP Prof. Charitha Herath yesterday said the recently formed Freedom People’s Congress is seeking to form the broadest opposition political platform in the country and strengthen it ideologically to achieve political and economic reforms in the country.

He said it is vital that a timely discussion is held on how to achieve these reforms in the event any party comes into power. “That is why we believe a discussion must be initiated between politicians and the people on the topic,” he said.

Herath said the need has arisen to re-establish the freedom to initiate political and economic reforms in the country at a time the youth have taken to the streets to call out for change. “It is time freedom must be created or manufactured,” he said.

Herath made these comments during the event organised by the Freedom People’s Congress held in Colombo yesterday which saw the launching of two concept papers titled ‘Strategic Framework for Political Reforms’ and ‘Strategic Framework for Economic Development.

Giving an introduction to the political reforms proposed by the organisation, Prof. Charitha Herath said the Freedom People’s Congress decided to introduce the framework in a bid to seek the opinions and support of the country’s citizens in introducing political reforms to the country.

“Therefore, we request the people of this country to accept the two documents presented by us as discussion papers,” he said, adding it presents the group's views on democracy, the market system, governance and the Constitution. “We intend to take it forward as a consultation process,” he said. Herath identified family bandysm and romanticised revolutions in the country as two of the many obstacles to the process. “The country’s politics must be saved from them,” he said.

Noting that Sri Lankan is currently at a critical juncture both politically and economically, Herath said the country will not be able to recover from the economic crisis if it fails to identify the political crisis within. He said while some political parties are now attempting to resolve the economic crisis while setting aside politics, this is not possible. Herath said the presentation of the concept papers was the beginning of a broad people’s platform to resolve the crisis both economically and politically.

According to him, while Sri Lanka has tried out many economic frameworks since 1948, and also implemented several constitutional reforms, the country has failed to bring the two together to implement long term strategies.

“The country has a religious and nationalistic ideology, a traditional leftist ideology and an education system based on colonial British traditions. In a society that has these three distinct ideologies every program introduced has become a failure. This is why the youth have commenced a struggle on the streets claiming the ongoing program, the method in which decisions are being made are incorrectly leading to poor results,” he said.

Herath said the veterans and senior politicians now must accept this challenge. “This is why we decided a discussion is necessary with the entire country on the ongoing issues,” he noted.

Meanwhile, addressing the gathering MP Dr. Nalaka Godahewa said various attempts to develop the country’s economy have been a hit or miss over the years. “Governments keep trying various things expecting some result. More often than not these efforts fail to deliver the desired results. That is why the economy of our country has gone astray,” he said, adding that therefore developing a proper strategic plan for economic development is vital in the current context.

Accusing the country's leaders of not setting targets for economic growth, Godahewa said leaders have been afraid that the blame for failure will be levelled on them by the people.

“Now we have to find the way forward. For that, it is necessary to cure the disease first. Sri Lanka's economic crisis can only be cured if the underlying cause is identified. Many people confuse symptoms and diseases. For example, debt is only a symptom. If you confuse it with the disease, you cannot cure the disease. The present Government acts as if that debt is our main problem. That is where the Government has gone wrong.” he said.

“In that case, there are four things that we can do in order to address the current problem; increasing Government revenue, controlling public expenditure, increasing foreign exchange inflows and controlling foreign exchange outflows. We not only want to get out of this crisis, but we also want to leap forward and achieve economic success,” he added.

Encouraging entrepreneurship and allowing market competition, digitisation of Government, reform of tax collection agencies, creating an export economy, developing the tourism industry, investment promotion and public expenditure management and zero-based budgeting are some of the proposals presented by the group through its economic development framework,

Prof. Channa Jayasumana also part of the FPC said this was an effort to not make enemies but to make friends in the political arena and to also strengthen the bond between those who are already friends. He said the effort is important as everyone present are witnesses to the consequences of obstinate and uncompromising political leadership.

The first copies of the concept paper by the organisation were presented to several chosen students pursuing higher education in universities and educational institutions by Freedom People’s Congress members Prof. G.L. Peiris, Dilan Perera and Dullas Alahapperuma.

The event was attended by clergy representing all religions, and senior politicians of the Opposition including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Kumara Welgama, M.A. Sumanthiran, Dullas Alahapperuma, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Anura Piryadarshana Yapa, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle as well as Civil Society leaders such as veteran politician and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara