National consensus for GSP+: The hope amidst crisis

In a milieu of developmental hope, we seek inspiration from leadership to set the pace and trend of growth. The nation looks for an inclusive strategy; one that prevails and participates every stakeholder of development. Modern day Sri Lanka boasts of an environment of opportunity, but it lacks enough instance of development thinking – a stratagem of policy and partnership. Development strategy involves both government and private sector; a consolidation of policy, planning and action to achieve a standard of national growth. This collective approach includes right intervention by government on the aspects of policy, planning and infrastructure; action that colludes with the objectives of industry. The nation looks to its leadership for example and action.
The furore over GSP Plus serves as an example and inspiration for a change to the better. President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed a four-member ministerial committee to undertake a major diplomatic push to persuade the European Union to continue the facility. “Don’t portray one being superior to the other. All four must work as a team and give me results,” he told the ministers – a clear sign of the commitment and the interest the President has engaged in the matter. The country’s Chief Executive Officer in President Rajapaksa has understood the limitations from which our bureaucracy tend to work – the politics of party and power. Rajapaksa remarked that none would lead the team, but must instead “consider themselves co-chairs and work as a team”. The President even moved against a statement made by the Export Development Ministry’s Secretary who remarked that GSP Plus was unlikely, and sought to replace him, given the lack of vision.
This is the type of leadership and effort that Sri Lanka needs from the Executive. An approach with passion and commitment, and the intrepid to put in place people and measure to achieve what is best for the nation and its people. Actions that are devoid of political gain. Such measure must be recognised and upheld; it gives us hope and expectation for better things to come – it gives the future prospects for a new Sri Lanka an entirly new dimension. One could take up the hope that the President’s actions would impress upon the minds of his ministers and that the trend would continue down the line of our bureaucracy. Any success that is gained through such measure, as done here with the GSP, would condition and pave the way for further action in the same vein.
GSP Plus also created an opportunity for party and personnel to rise above our culture and tradition of partisan politics.
In an act of statesmanship Karu Jayasuriya, Deputy Leader of the United National Party also appealed to the European Union regarding the GSP Plus and pointed out to the European Union in a letter that the withdrawal of the concession scheme would only hurt the people of Sri Lanka.
The UNP Deputy Leader noted that he was greatly disturbed by the reports indicating Sri Lanka’s deteriorating human rights record may lead to the country losing GSP Plus concession. We must appreciate how Jayasuriya did not leave room for the matter to exacerbate whereby an opposition could take advantage of a government inaction or failure. It was an action for the people and for the nation, and one that would no doubt make an impression on the minds at the European Union.
Through this crisis, the executive and the legislature, together with the support of industry, are demonstrating what potential and opportunity we can achieve by joining hands for the common cause that is Sri Lanka and its future. It is by far not a difficult task, but a simple change of mindset – a want for a better future; a legacy waiting to be written. Regardless of the outcome of GSP, let us use this instance as a springboard and example of what we could achieve as one. We must give room for such future action and espouse this national cause – that is our responsibility as a mature and progressive public. What will we do?