Lead by example: Gota

Saturday, 17 March 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Cassandra Mascarenhas

Sri Lanka’s leaders must have greater commitment to foster high levels of performance in both the private and public sector, said Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday.

Expressing these views at a management conference held in Colombo yesterday, at which he shared several key insights, the Defence Secretary stressed on the importance of commitment, citing it as one of the most crucial success factors in any undertaking.

“It is only when leaders are fully committed to achieving success that their subordinates will follow suit. Without committed leadership, the desired results will never be achieved. An example is the humanitarian operation that liberated Sri Lanka from LTTE terrorism, which provides a good example of committed leadership leading to success,” he said.

He remarked that commitment to a cause comes through motivation, which is what enables people to stay focused on their task despite setbacks, obstacles and difficulties that arise from time to time. “It is the duty of people in leadership positions to motivate their subordinates so that they work with proper commitment to do the task entrusted to them. To motivate others successfully, however, the leaders themselves must be fully motivated,” Rajapaksa explained.

He went to on observe that Sri Lanka was now one of the most peaceful and stable nations in the Asian region, emphasising on the fact that the country is an attractive destination for foreign investment.

“Tourist arrivals are constantly increasing, and domestic industries, the service sector, agriculture and fisheries have the scope to go much further. Whether we are individual entrepreneurs, corporate executives, professionals or public officials, we must make the most of these opportunities at this critical time. We must go beyond traditional boundaries and commit to achieve our shared destiny as a nation.”

He insisted that everyone is a stakeholder of the country’s future and that they have an opportunity to build on the foundation of peace to take Sri Lanka to the next level. “To contribute effectively to this national cause, we need to move beyond our usual comfort zones. We must look afresh at our strengths and opportunities. We must realise that there is great potential in this country for future growth,” he added.