Economic and Social Progress in Sri Lanka during Post-War Period

By Sunil Wimalawansa

(March 01, Washington, Sri Lanka Guardian) Now that the physical eradication of Tamil-tiger terrorism (LTTE) is nearing its end, the country must focus on infrastructure and rehabilitation development programs. The economic bases – agriculture, infrastructure, tanks and irrigation systems – that were destroyed by terrorism need to be rebuilt. Sri Lanka lost the opportunity she had following the tsunami to build purpose-designed new cities in the affected area. This is the second chance for the government to plan and build well-designed energy efficient and pollution free (unsubsidized alternate energy programs) brand new cities and settlements in the North and Eastern regions in Sri Lanka.

The latter is critically important in these areas in order to accommodate those who fled the LTTE violence, and for those who are willing to relocate in these areas to get on with their lives. However, this needs to go hand-in-hand with the creation of job opportunities and the physical and psychological rehabilitation of those civilians and the armed force personnel who were injured and traumatized over the years of violence, as well as the surrendered terrorists.

Bastiaan Korner, The Hague Netherland’s former Ambassador to Sri Lanka (1992-96), on February 9th, 2009 stated that “it should be pointed out that in the past many efforts for peace and peace negotiations have been tried with the Tamil Tigers, but that they all have been violated and/or thwarted by the Tigers, a very ruthless terrorist organization, quite comparable to the Taliban.” It would be a sigh of relief and the beginning of a new era for all those involved in this conflict. Nevertheless, for the past few weeks, we have witnessed a wave of intensified fighting, while the desperate terrorists are using unusual and unexpected tactics including killing their captives to blame the armed-forces and forcefully using civilians as suicide bombers.

Several key international-NGOs are continuing to exaggerate the situation, yet doing very little to help those who are in need. There are multiple examples in Sri Lanka where I-NGOs have overstepped their humanitarian mandate and supported the LTTE terrorists who led Sri Lanka to this gruesome war killing thousands of innocent. Sri Lankan government must consider taking these INGOs either n local or international courts for violation of human rights in conjunction with the LTTE. It has been estimated that now there are currently estimated 40,000 civilian hostages that have been forcefully taken by the LTTE who are refusing to release them (External Link). They, together with fewer than 1,000 of LTTE carder, are now confined to a small area of about 50 square miles in the North Eastern part of Sri Lanka. In spite of LTTE brutality and captivity, many civilians have begun to escape from the terrorists who have kept them against their will in this jungle terrain.

It is not a secret that the disguised terrorists are also escaping the LTTE by coming out mingling with the civilians. Let the Sri Lankan government invite these I-NGOs including local ICRC and Medicins Sans Frontiers (the mouth pieces of LTTE) to give them an opportunity to physically man the check-points in Wanni, and the honor of carrying out physical body searches of those men and women (as well as children) coming out of the terrorist held area. Rather than causing further damage by creating untruthful speculation and erroneous reporting by these organizations, it would be worthwhile to get them involved and divert their energy and funds in useful activities, helping both sides to facilitate the process of taking care of these 40,000 or so of these LTTE hostages. Many key UN and other world leaders have stated in recent days hat Sri Lankan government has not committed any genocidal attempts and put the balms directly on the LTTE and in part also on INGO for exacerbation of country’s violence. Even though the war is at the near of its end, the armed-forces must not take this for granted and must be prepared to expect the 'unexpected' from the terrorists due to their sheer desperation. Proactive contingency planning and appropriate preparations will payoff.

Out-of-the-box solutions and new cost-effective practical ideas should be implemented in a timely manner. Long-term development, welfare and unity must be kept at heart in planning and implementing these activities. It is time that the Sri Lankan government bring up new legislations and revitalize old legislations to ensure the rights and freedom of Sri Lankans to settle anywhere in the country. Over the past three decades, tens of thousands of ethnic minorities have relocated to the Western Province in and around the suburbs of the capitol, Colombo.

To prevent future disharmony and separatist movements, the mono-ethnic segregated natures of the North and East should not be allowed to re-emerge. Those who were displaced should be facilitated to return together with provisions enshrining the legal rights and opportunity for any Sri Lankan who wishes to settle in any area of Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka. No provision should be allowed for further divisions and polarizations in the future. The concept and the path(s) taken by organizations such as TNA and many I-NGOs hypothetically and incorrectly assume that there were (and are) two nations in Sri Lanka. This is a collusive way to politically divide the country into two regions, damage peace, and obstruct further social and economic progress toward integration, in order to achieve selfish motives.

For example, all Sinhalese and Muslims expelled by the LTTE violence should be encouraged and assisted to resettle in these areas with appropriate incentives and compensation. To proactively prevent future ethnic issues, people from all communities should be settled in the empty lands of the North and East, as well as in the North Western Province. It is critical that both government sector jobs and private sector commercial enterprises are made available in these areas that employ all communities. It is time that the Sri Lankan government seeks appropriate monetary compensation though World-Courts, from the outside entities including the Norwegians who are in part responsible for the prolongation of the war, destruction of infrastructure and lives. These funds can be utilized specifically for resettlements, rehabilitation, and social and economic development of the affected areas.

There is no time to waste and no opportunity to wait until everything settles down. Actions plans must be implemented now in parallel with short and long term developments, rehabilitation, infrastructure development, and the provision of basic human needs including housing, water, and education facilities to people. This can be achieved in a socially acceptable modified version of Indian "Defense Colonies" system or another similar practical system in a responsible manner, across the above-mentioned provinces. It would be wise to encourage and provide incentives to retired and disabled people from the armed forces to locate in these strategic new settlements.

An economic stimulus package should be introduced immediately to include additional economic opportunities and job creation programs, without which there will not be any sense of sustainable peace in the region. As done successfully in mainland China, and earlier in Korea, government should consider the option of setting up Armed Forces owned or related industries in these areas for both defense and civilian production purposes. In addition to the empowerment of minority populations, a plan must be in place for rapid restoration of networks of irrigation systems in these areas. The latter would turnover these provinces into a highly productive agriculture region with full of natural resources. Due to the nature of the terrain and the presence of vast traditional irrigation-related infrastructures, agriculture must be kept in the center of these development programs.

After three decades of smokescreens, the international community is only just beginning to realize the bogus nature of the massive LTTE and their sympathizers’ propaganda machinery including the use of words and catch-phrases like genocide. With the ending of the war in the near future, we have the responsibility to educate and inform not only the foreign diplomats and law makers, but also Tamil Diaspora in all countries. They should take the lead that was shown by the Swiss Diaspora last week, by immediately stopping all funding that goes to LTTE through its associated front organizations such as TRO, Tamil Foundation, etc. This example from the Swiss should be followed by Tamils in other countries immediately, without further wastage of their money and resources, and voluntarily or involuntarily contributing to this indiscriminate peace-hating killing machinery.

The US has recently announced (on the 11th February, 2009), that it is banning all LTTE-associated organizations including Tamil Foundation, as the US has now realized that LTTE used these organizations as ‘charitable’ fundraising arms for their terrorist organization. It is reasonable to request to all counties (as USA did this week) to seize all such funds, and channel these to the Sri Lankan Central Bank, or a Special Charitable Trust to be used for rehabilitation of those victims of this war and who are displaced due to LTTE terrorist’s violence.

It is time that all expatriates consider investing in Sri Lanka for its future to regain the status as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.” In fact, the Sri Lankan government has recently come up with an attractive, guaranteed foreign investment program conducted through the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for expatriate population to invest money in Sri Lanka. Government has pledged that these funds will primarily be used for infrastructure development and resettlement of displaced personnel.

This will indeed add to the overall development and encourage Foreign Direct Capital flowing to the county. The vast amounts of money that is spent by the nation on the war should now be diverted to the infrastructure and economic development. If the government adopts such plans, it is entirely possible that the rate of growth in Sri Lanka could exceed 10% per year within the next three years.

Sri Lankan culture traditionally expounds a number of unique good qualities including hospitality, generosity, and kindness; many of these are a part of Hela-culture and the deep-rooted influence from the 2,500 years of Buddhism in this island. Nevertheless, over the years, in particular due to 450 years of suppressions, Colonial rulings, and forced conversion, the nation has also developed many weaknesses. It is time to identify and eliminate, or reconcile these issues. These include long-standing political instability along with a lack of unity, long-term planning and vision, prioritization, dependency, petty-party politics that destroy friendships and family ties, escalating bribery, commissions-based purchase or contract awarding system, and the corruptions introduced over the past two decades or so.

Sri Lanka has thousands of years of very successful civilization, history and a unique culture that predominantly based on Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy. In spite of these major advantages, there is no doubt that the country can learn from others. Sri Lanka should not hesitate to adopt good governance programs and technologies from other countries. Great qualities such as “unity” and “the patriotism” are two such examples that we should adopt from a country like America. However, there is no reason for adopting the failed Western culture, war-mentality, health care, or disastrous dietetic habits that makes the nation sicker.

Sri Lank will have to start growing and encourage the farmers and planters to expand and be more productive, aiming to achieve self sufficiency in a short few years time. Cottage industries and other local productions, and entrepreneurships should be encourages. An island wide campaign should be launched to encourage buying Sri Lankan goods. Sri Lankans have the knowledge, experts, and also technology at least in certain sectors to compete and meet the challenges of the global economy.
If borrowing is necessary, government should give priority to internal sources (notes and bonds) and from those expatriate, while keeping inflation down. While avoiding borrowing from IMF and the World Bank that always attach unrealistic and damaging contingencies to their loans. There should be total transparency in the borrowing and spending process. The income, spending and the other economic figures should be published monthly, in an open website. It should point out exactly where the money is being spent and the services that are provided and the exact amounts transacted. Once foreigners see that Sri Lanka is doing things right and reinventing its economy, the global money-FDIC will begin to flow to the country.

Sri Lankans must dump their parochial political polarities, cultural or ethnic differences, and adopt this meaningful patriotic system demonstrated by Americans. There is nothing wrong in adopting good things, right attitudes and policies, and good governance from other countries for the well being and long term success of a country. These include adopting the unique and time-tested good qualities (rather that reinventing the wheel), while dumping other glamorous but disastrous materialism-based Western cultural fads and diets (fast-food), etc. Simple adaptations of these ‘good things’ successfully across Sri Lanka would take us a long way on health, education, and overall development. On the other hand, Sri Lankans should be open minded to get the best of what is going on around the world, and not to import or adopt failed cultures (especially via television) and technologies from the West.

As in Sri Lanka, America also has two-sided political party system that fights fiercely, but verbally and politically, during election times. However, immediately after national elections, when a natural disaster occurs, or whenever there is a threat to the country or its citizens, these parties unite immediately under one umbrella, under one president, and declare themselves as Americans, and not partisans!

America is perhaps the only country in the world that openly encourages people with specific expertise and talents to immigrate. They fully understand the talent and the value they will bring into and add to the economy and the prosperity of the nation. Once you become an American, they all pledge allegiance to the American flag as a nation, indivisible and upholding liberty and justice for all. There are Italian Americans, Japanese Americans, Chinese Americans, Russian Americans, Indian Americans, Greek Americans, and Sri Lankan Americans, etc.; but there is NO Italian Nation, Japanese Nation, Chinese Nation, Russian Nation, Tamil Nation, Indian Nation, Greek Nation, or Sri Lankan nation in America; There is only ONE United States of America.

America is proud that it is the home to people from all nations of the world and calls America their home, but it is an undivided, and remains one country. This stands in stark contrast to several countries in South-Asia, including Sri Lanka, where minorities continually try to artificially divide the country along ethnic lines.

People live in a country no matter what religion or ethnic group they belong to must be united under one umbrella or one flag to work for prosperity, and to protect the unitary nature of the country. Minorities do not represent nations of their own within any given country. However, they should have equal liberty and justice and the protection under the Law. No one should be above the law. In fact, all should obey the law, including politicians. There is neither a Muslim nation, nor a Burgher nation, nor a Malay nation in Sri Lanka, but only the “Sri Lankan Nation.”

Sovereign Sri-Lanka, under one integrated nation should observe in all ceremonies, gatherings and schools, universities, a pledge of allegiance that is similar (and routine) to the pledge in USA, thus bringing the patriotism into the hearts and minds of all citizens. This is the best way to avoid future separatisms. With the impending eradication of terrorism, it is time to consider that all Sri Lankans follow a pledge of allegiance to the flag of Sri-Lanka, and to the republic for which it stands for - one nation (under Buddha Sasana and the “Dasa-Raja-Dharma” principles), indivisible with liberty and justice for all, while keeping and honoring the law and order.

If we fully-engage in this from now, there is no reason in the future for this nation to spend billions of rupees for yet another war. One cannot emphasize the importance of the simultaneous economic and social progress necessary for the long lasting prosperity and permanent peace. Provision of firm foundations for peace, together with the social and economic development will assure the country and its people, the peace and prosperity it deserves. There is only ONE Sri Lanka (i.e., One Hela country), and one nation under one flag. This is Sri Lanka, the paradise of the Indian Ocean.

( The writer is a Professor of Medicine based USA)
-Sri Lanka Guardian