Delivering the Throne Speech at the ceremonial inauguration of the fifth session of the ninth Parliament yesterday (7), President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed the need for a long-term, robust nation building programme in place of short-term ‘quick fix’ policies. He plans to introduce an ‘Economic Transformation Act’ to enable the economic transition Sri Lanka requires. Wickremesinghe opined that the road to becoming a ‘developed nation’, a dream that Sri Lanka has been chasing for generations, cannot be achieved overnight, but will require prolonged commitment to a nation building plan that will gradually help the island prosper. He also observed that it is important for Sri Lankans to recognise that the resolution to the economic crisis lies not in populist and outdated political remedies but in economic and scientific solutions.

“To advance, we must transition to a modern, robust economy. I will present the Economic Transformation Act to Parliament shortly, and relevant institutions have been established. Progress cannot be achieved solely through political aspirations, unkept promises, or election-focused slogans. Our commitment is to the on-going nation-building programme, ensuring a prosperous future for the youth,” Wickremesinghe told the Legislature. He also called on other political parties to unite for the greater good and work together for the betterment of the nation, questioning why the opposition parties Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led National People’s Power (NPP) couldn’t do so? “In the interest of the nation’s welfare and the prosperity of our youth, the majority of the Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have set aside past animosities and reached a consensus. Likewise, long-standing political allies have aligned with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, including those whom I personally introduced to the political arena. If the Podujana Peramuna can unite for the greater good, why can’t the Samagi Jana Balawegaya follow suit? During the period of ‘Good Governance’, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna cooperated closely with us. Ananda Wijepala to lead the Anti-Corruption Office, a position for which he maintains pertinent records to this day. So, why can’t the JVP join forces for the betterment of our nation?” Wickremesinghe questioned.

Sri Lanka does need consensus and political stability to effect the relevant reforms that can change the island’s trajectory. However, consensus building is a two way street, the Wickremesinghe–SLPP Government must first, begin to act with greater transparency and accountability. Moves by the Government to railroad much criticised legislation like the ‘Online Safety Act’, which can have disastrous implications for democratic space and discourse, will do little to build confidence in the Government, and bring others to the table to work together. 

Sri Lanka’s search for solutions to recover should not be a licence to restrict the space for free discourse, nor should its future be challenged by controversial legislation like the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB) which many believe is prone to abuse by the notorious law enforcement and governance culture that Sri Lanka has become known for over decades. While Wickremesinghe is right to call for a unified, long-term and persistent approach to finding solutions for Sri Lanka’s economic and governance flaws, he also needs to build trust in the establishment. However, some of the decisions the Government has taken, like that about the OSB and the ATB does not inspire confidence.   

In the speech to Parliament, Wickremesinghe conveniently forgot to mention the role he and the United National Party (UNP) had played in contributing to the economic snowball which morphed to the nation’s biggest crisis since it was invaded by the British. The youth of Sri Lanka has on many occasions indicated to the political leadership that the direction Sri Lanka was heading was not right. However, political expediency and political survival, which Wickremesinghe has also been a part of prevailed, pushing the national progress to stagnate for decades. It is ironic that those who were part of the cause that gradually pushed Sri Lanka towards its economic downfall, today pontificate about how to find solutions.