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By Darshana Abayasinghe
Sri Lanka’s economy and its people are under siege; held to ransom by selfish politicians in “a people-friendly” government. With inflation hovering around 20 per cent, and the rupee tasting the depths of 113 against the US dollar; its no surprise the LMD-AC Nielsen Business Confidence Index sits just 38 points higher than its all time low of 31 in September 2001. Oh, and mister minister… your theory on a “terrorist conspiracy to devalue the Sri Lankan rupee” – save it for the donkeys!

“We talk of good governance, accountability, corporate social responsibility… lets face it… at the end of the day; all you really want is profits.”

What is the role of business in the current environment? Is it better to look at overseas options – like you already are – or merely take heart during consultations with diplomats, international agencies and sections of the powers that be, and hope for better things post November? It’s this ‘wait-and-see’ attitude, or the lack of meaningful action that has caused the public and sections of the business community to lose faith in corporate forums. It is understood that being vocal in ‘democratic’ Sri Lanka could lead to nasty repercussions. But corporate Sri Lanka has a responsibility towards the public, its customers, employees and mostly the country. Issuing statements and keeping a lid on things is no longer acceptable. It is time the community acted and did what’s right by the country, its people and even yourself! Lest you forget, further deterioration of Sri Lanka’s record in the face of the international community could even lead to sanctions.

We talk of good governance, accountability, corporate social responsibility and how we must conform to all these lofty standards. All these corporate buzz phrases, endorsements and awards adorn boardrooms, and all that is good, but let’s face it… at the end of the day; all you really want is profits. If business is profitable then the public and country would benefit. So, if the government is not helping create an environment suitable to make profits, then perhaps it is up to business to create that environment by itself. For that, companies need not direct employees to take up arms and wage war, or grab power through a violent coup, or better still declare a separate state of Colombo; it simply needs to deploy its resources, its contacts and networking capabilities to achieve this end.

Business has close links with politics for reasons professional and personal, good and bad. Politicians tend to be a different lot around an informal dinner table, and there are reasons (excuses) aplenty for what’s going wrong. Its time to stop massaging those inflamed egos, to stop nodding our heads in lame approval. Is the business community (save a few) a cowardly bunch that it can’t tell a minister (who they funded and put in power) to get his or her act right! It doesn’t have to happen on an individual basis; it could be and should be done as a team, an industry, a chamber – the backbone of country. The business community has a duty and right as a legitimate body, as employers, as tax-payers to tell the government what its doing wrong – but is afraid to do just that. Why? Because, you’ll lose that much sought after tender, the hushed up tax default, or the usual… “It would be too much attention on the company”? Perhaps, chambers ought to invite the public to join its cause; a sharing of ideas and resources to achieve a common end. A collective ‘public-private partnership’ to achieve peace and economic prosperity bridging all divides.

“The problem is not so much the conflict between the North and the South. Rather, it’s the conflict between the South and the South.”

The process must begin with a solution to the conflict. Representatives of donor nations told a gathering of business leaders in Colombo recently that it would take every step to bring the LTTE to the negotiating table, if the government put forward a workable political solution. That would be the start. The problem with Sri Lanka is not so much the conflict between the North and the South. Rather, it’s the conflict between the South and the South. The failure of the All Party Representative Committee at the hands of extremism and another’s unwillingness to put it right due to political gain is ample proof of this situation. As Singapore’s former Prime Minister told the International Herald Tribune last week, any hope to embark on a “romantic idea to revive a mythical past of greatness and culture” would leave a nation damned. It is time for all of us – whilst respecting traditional values – to get real and see the world as it is. It is time for the likes of the JHU and the JVP – the so-called pillars of righteousness and societal thinking – to stop preaching hypocrisy and let the rest of us move on if they don’t wish to. Let this democracy really be a democracy.

Support of the world community, its employed public and the right-minded public. Integrate and employ these forces to bring about a positive change. Sitting back in the gallery, holding closed discussions, and crossing your fingers and toes for a better environment post November 2007 would not do that for you. It’s time to get active and show that you really care. It’s time to come out of that shell and be the catalyst of change that you could be. Do it for yourself; do it for profits.