Do Something…Productive

The extended Wesak holiday had its effect on Paththarakaraya hence the philosophical mood. We were just thinking that there was not a day that passes in this most resplendent island where some commemoration or the other is being held. Everyday, one glance at the newspapers or TV news will show someone or something being commemorated and poojahs being duly held with hundreds in attendance. Let’s face it – Sri Lankans as much as they love their rice and curry also love their ‘commemorations.’ It is almost an obsession. It could be a family event, a political event…basically anything goes. And when these things happen, productive work comes to a grinding halt.

It would be unthinkable for the average Sri Lankan, following the demise of a relative for instance, to not commemorate the first week anniversary with a dana, the first month with a dana, the third month with a dana, the first year with a dana and also mark the person’s birthday in-between all these with another dana. Most of these are elaborate ceremonies involving dozens of people sacrificing many productive man-hours and also their personal wealth.

There is nothing wrong with this when personal beliefs are taken into account but one cannot help but ponder, isn’t there a better way to do all these?

For instance if homes for the aged or orphanages are provided their requirements in lieu of the many danas which really is a case of feeding the overfed at least in the city and most suburbs, many manhours of productive service will not be affected, the burden on government welfare funding can be eased to some extent and in the end, the same merit will accrue to the party concerned. It’s a win win situation for all but then the downside of it is that it will not impress the neighbours.

Any half excuse is good for a holiday and it is not doing Sri Lanka any good. The government declaring weeklong commemorations is not going to help the cause either. The recent spate of elections brought the government bureaucracy to a standstill and it is still finding its feet with the new appointments. We already hold the world record for the most number of holidays per year. The government must lead the way in putting Sri Lanka back to work in this post war period.

During the war everything including poor productivity was blamed on the war. There is nothing now that prevents the economy from taking off except self imposed constraints both by individuals and the government, being more bent on ‘show’ rather than actual productive activity.

In this regard it must set the right tone. It must take the examples of Japan, South Korea, China and Singapore post World War II. These countries adopted a humble attitude and engaged the West. They got the best out of the West – be it funding, expertise, scientific know-how and proceeded to beat them at their own game. Where has our ‘2500 year history’ mentality propounded by the present government taken us? Living in the past is not going to make the future rosy.

Today we see the Rajapaksa government climbing a high pedestal and telling the West to go fly a kite while noises are being made by some quarters of the same government inviting the West to do business in Sri Lanka. The government is yet to hit the right chord and speak in one voice. For instance when one part of government says the country needs GSP + a section of the same government tells the EU to take a hike — that Sri Lanka can well do without it.

Not so long ago the IMF was chased out of Colombo with much fanfare only for the same government a couple of years later to line up at Katunayake to welcome them back with garlands to set up shop in Colombo.

For all its worth Sri Lanka’s current friends – Iran, Libya, China etc., have nothing more to offer than credit lines at commercial rates. This will not do. Sri Lanka if it is to take off must get its manufacturing sector going. This needs the commitment of individuals and ofcourse the government. Then the country needs markets to sell what it produces, profitably. Our current friends don’t offer any hope in this area.

The sooner this is realised the sooner headway can be made in the economic war that has now officially been declared. With no major election in sight for the next six years this government unlike any other in recent times can well afford to make the right choices however unpleasant they may be. The government owes it to the new post war generation. They will surely show their keleguna when the time comes. Right now it’s the turn of the government to, if we may borrow the title of that more than thought provoking Eagles ditty, to Do Something.