Sri Lanka will this week vote at one of the most decisive elections for the island in the 21st century. Our embattled island moves ahead with complex debt and bail out support agreements with bilateral creditor and multinational agencies, while cost of living remains high and poverty grows fast. 

Over the last month or so, Sri Lankans have been swamped with political manifestos, some ranging into the hundreds of pages, of the leading candidates, and also national strategic plans which spell out the policy priorities and directions of each contender. While many of the contenders have highlighted the hot-button topics, and through their policy declaration, have in some aspects grown closer on the goals they want to reach, there is much more to do. However, an independent policy research group has come up with a few priorities which they believe a future President and Government should also focus on.

‘Arutha’ Research, last week highlighted the need to address malnutrition, improving female participation in the workforce, improving public transportation, expansion of technical and vocational education and training, and advancing the Tourism Industry for the next governance leadership of Sri Lanka. Arutha points out that the above-mentioned five interconnected priority sectors can contribute effectively to economic growth, if they are implemented through a well-thought-out strategic plan.  

Firstly, Sri Lanka has a significant problem with malnutrition, the impact of which may likely be felt through the next few decades. Since 2021 Sri Lanka has recorded a significant growth in child malnutrition. There are serious developments, a recent study has estimated that nearly 90% of households are affected by food insecurity by now. Soaring cost of living has pushed many staple foods and nutrition out of reach of many families. Arutha Research recommends that a future government removes taxes on basic food items and the raw materials used to make them. They also seek relaxation of restrictions placed on food imports. These measures are to be followed with a robust and broadened state nutrition support programme, Arutha recommends. They also call for better awareness and education about nutrition, food and agriculture, adding that the Government must create the climate for more foreign and local investment in the agro sector, especially with new technology.

Women in Sri Lanka’s workforce has been lagging behind when compared to contemporary countries in the region. As of 2023, women in Sri Lanka’s workforce was around 32.5%. The lack of women in the workforce is due to many reasons, but they all impact the economic empowerment of women, and reduce the growth of Sri Lanka’s economy. One of the key issues in Sri Lanka is that most women leave their employment to raise children or to become unpaid caregivers for senior citizens. The restriction imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic also saw a rise in women quitting employment to stay at home and become caregivers. There is a need for legislative, and cultural changes to enable more women to enter and remain in the workforce. Many women who also were entrepreneurs and breadwinners by managing their own micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) fell victim to shut down during Covid.  Arutha recommends that the Government enacts concrete programmes to encourage and empower women to join or rejoin the workforce. Safety, security and not being exploited from your workplace is also key to attracting more women to the workforce. There is much to be done to educate, upskill and empower women to join the economy.

Sri Lanka’s public transport sector is in shambles, and has long been neglected with minimal funding, Trade union dominance and low efficiency and corruption. Arutha recommends that a common minimum standards of safety, availability, and comfort be applied to all public transport providers. The sector is in dire need of better funding, a better business model, technology and digitalisation, and professional training for the staff. Sri Lanka must move to invest and improve both rail and bus transport systems, with enabling infrastructure also built.

The case of better technical, vocational and professional training to upskill the Sri Lankan workforce, is a proposal that has long been made. Arutha highlights the need to update curricula and to provide new ones which are suitable for the current market. More funding and resources, especially in terms of infrastructure and competent instructors are needed, alongside industry collaboration for employment prospects to improve.