A time and test of maturity

By Darshana Abayasingha

Peace brings the prospect of development and actions to enrich the life and times of people; the free and the newly liberated. We speak of development goals, of building a new Sri Lanka equivalent to Singapore. We aspire to attract investment and drive a regime of growth that is unparalleled. It seems we have well defined our requirement on the macro front, but have we that essential ingredient – people? The human element is not merely about numbers, or the mass of literates churned out by our system of free education; it has a lot to do with thinking, of how people’s mindsets attune to a process of development. It requires free-thinking and a mind that questions the conventional and above all a want for progressive change. No grand plan for development can work unless the public takes ownership of that process and are willing to play their part in building the country’s future. They must be willing to accept change, to shed their echelons of comfort and live and see beyond. History doesn’t provide us with that confidence, and where we have failed before it is time to try out new methods.
Can we aspire to fuel development without the support of the people? Let us consider a model where government and the private sector drive investments in infrastructure and new business, with sweeping reforms in education, the public sector and liberalisation. The powers that be would have to contend with leftist dissent and a plethora of rhetoric and demonstrations, charging it with capitalist behaviour unfitting for a people’s government. Yet, development would ultimately fuel demand in the long-term and a semblance of acceptance would begin to emerge. So, the model could work, but that is likely to be a long drawn process and precious time- a country and people emerging from three decades of war may find difficult to spare.
To touch on the Singapore example, it showcases a progressive model where people bought into the concept of development, of the need to adopt English as a working language and drive its learning through every nook and sphere. They recognised the need to balance culture with the development strategy and movements on the global front. They identified the need to shed communal divisions and focus on an inclusive strategy for broader national development. In less than three decades Singapore has achieved developed status and is an economic hub of the Asian region. How do we drive a mindset change, how do we communicate the wants of development?
Platform rhetoric
In Sri Lanka, platform rhetoric does wonders to the minds and expectations of its public. This in addition to the entice of power and place that politics brings. Effective public speak on sound policy, governance and real issues of development seldom garners an audience or votes. Perhaps it is time we try a different method. Political personality in power is an influential tool in Sri Lanka, a force that shifts and shapes the minds of the masses and of late even the elites of corporates. How if the powers that be publicly adopt and demonstrate these measures for development. What might be the public thinking then, would we have acceptance? The pulse of the people is with the government that overcame the gruel of terrorism and freed the nation from three decades of suffering. It could well be that the people would follow. Then what we need now is a realm of political maturity, to identify the need to lead by example and demonstrate prominently the fruits of adoption. Are we ready to drive that change is the question we must raise.
We could still claim development without such ‘drastic’ measures as some would think it fit to call, but the benefits would take its while to trickle down to the public. Sri Lankans are not a patient people as then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe found out during his tenure in 2002. Some say Sri Lankans are forgetful and the ills of economic strain could soon overtake the excitement of triumph. Sri Lanka and its people are abundant with opportunity at this moment and it is our responsibility to make use of that chance. Let us shed the boundaries of partisan politics and lead by example and take our country to where it deserves. This will be our ultimate test.

Educational reforms
Educational reforms is an area that requires paramount interest to shape the minds and thoughts of the future. Our existing structure is archaic and it only feeds the traditional avenues of employment. It offers no solution to those who cannot realise the education goals set out within this structure. The world and the economies around us have evolved and there is a need for new learning and faculties. In order to enhance our economic and social capacity and development, we need to look beyond and not restrict our scope. We need to put in place a system of education that moulds intelligent employable skills in order to boost our prospects of development. That again requires a process of change, a process that a so-called educated some say are a violation of the public’s right for free and fair education. How an independent wish to pay and gain learning, in a system that only offers opportunity to a handful is a violation of the public’s right, is beyond rationale thinking. The private sector has a role to play in a country’s development; it has a right to set the standards of education as they are today and will continue to be the provider of quality employment to the nation. How can we afford to shut them out? We need to provide Sri Lankans every opportunity to educate themselves, to inspire new thinking for a better tomorrow. Again, it’s about taking a bold step in a new direction. It’s again a test of our maturity. Can we make that change?