The Business for Peace Alliance (BPA), a network of regional business chambers throughout Sri Lanka,   has urged the government to adopt a bottoms-up approach in devising remedial measures to address the existing regional disparities.

Committed to promoting regional empowerment and fostering peaceful co-existence for national unity; the BPA points out that there are grave regional economic and development issues that call for immediate action by the government.  

The BPA urges the government to adopt a more bottoms-up approach rather than a Colombo-centric approach in development planning in order to foster sustainable regional empowerment.

The BPA strongly   advocates that the top-down nature of policy formulation does not adequately reflect the opinions and the needs of the regional business leaders. The BPA requests that the regional business players be consulted to ensure inclusive and equal representation.

The BPA points out that while investment is necessary for regional advancement in order to attract investment and create employment opportunities, such investments should be equally distributed to avert further marginalisation of backward regions which may lead to inter-regional conflicts.

It is also important that the dividends of economic development are extended to the conflict-affected areas; as the populations in these regions are struggling to survive under deteriorated economic and social conditions. BPA proposes that special incentives such as tax holidays and tax exemptions be given to the investors willing to invest in conflict affected areas and underdeveloped areas.

The relocation of the proposed Industrial Zone in Jaffna, outside of the High Security Zone, is vital for attracting investment. The introduction of a special insurance scheme for investors in the North and the East to increase investment in the war-torn areas is another submission made by the BPA. The provision of electricity at concessionary rates for start-up/pioneering industries in the North and East, which utilise locally available raw materials, has been proposed by the BPA.

The development of a highway from Madawachchi to Jaffna and the reintroduction of the ferry service from Thalaimannar to India are among other proposals addressing infrastructural issues aimed at improving transportation.  

Another proposal forwarded by the BPA, is the introduction of an agricultural banking system to uplift the regional farmer and agri-business.   Also proposed is the development of the Hambantota District as an Industrial City, to facilitate the implementation of proposed large-scale development projects, such as the International Airport, International Port, the oil refinery, as well as railways and highways in an organised manner to reap the optimal benefits of development.

Also put forward by the regional business network, is the provision of facilities through a special programme for the promotion of the tourism industry in the Hambantota District to capitalise on the district’s tourist attractions such as archaeological and historical sites, extended beaches and ecological sites.

The BPA additionally highlights the significance of making Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) loan schemes available to a wider target group in order to proliferate entrepreneurship as a solution to the country’s unemployment problem.

The BPA also proposes the introduction of a platform to hold trade and investment fairs between regional entrepreneurs in the South and, the North and East, to promote multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-cultural exchanges.

Focusing on Human Resources development, the network of regional business chambers suggests that, tax incentives be given to regional MSMEs, providing significant skills development to employees.  

As the lack of knowledge of English language and Information Technology are factors contributing to the unemployment problem, it is also proposed that special programmes be directed at employable sectors such as graduates, school children and professionals so that their skills will match the requirements of the private sector.

 In this light, the BPA proposes to introduce Business English courses to the school, university and vocational training curricula to propagate the knowledge of the language to meet the increasing demands of a globalized economy.  

The establishment of career guidance centres at regional school and university levels is recognised as a vital move towards regional development.

In a bid to address the increased concerns on environmental pollution, the introduction of a National Policy for waste management to minimise environmental pollution has been suggested by the BPA with the expectation that such a move would in turn boost the recycling industry.  
The above issues have been underlined in  BPA’s proposals for the National Budget, 2008. The BPA believes that the consideration of its proposals will contribute towards equitable and sustainable regional growth. It also reiterates its appeal to all concerned parties to the conflict to take corrective measures to restore normalcy in order to enable equal participation by all regions in the development process.