Like every other year, Sri Lanka is all set to celebrate Independence Day today (4), reminiscing how the country gained independence from the British colonisers and how the country overcame the challenges that emerged in the 74 years that followed.
Sri Lankans like to talk about independence, and they take pride in it despite the situation of the country on 4 February. This is also a day politicians, especially those in the ruling party, talk about how much being independent matters to the country.
However, it is time to come to terms with the fact that the independence Sri Lanka gained from the British colonisers is but an achievement of the past, although it is worth remembering, and that revelling in the idea of being independent when the country is not really independent is just silly. The times are such that almost the entire country has become worryingly dependent. During the past few years, most people and businesses have become exceedingly dependent on the Government’s relief measures during the past few months, while Sri Lanka as a country has become dependent on the support given by the international community and entities.
Needless to say, being financially and economically dependent on other countries and foreign entities is the same as losing a country’s overall independence, because many aspects of the people’s lives depend on the country’s financial and economic independence.
Being a desperately financially and economically dependent country is not a result of one person or one decision. It would not be wrong to say that more or less every government that has ruled the country since independence have played some role in what has befallen the country’s economy and the people today. Even though massive challenges, such as the various riots that broke out in every decade between 1950 and 2000, the three-decade long war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government-led defence forces, the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, and the Covid-19 pandemic unarguably crippled the economy, wrong actions or complete inaction of the rulers and other parties responsible for taking decisions that decide the country’s fate have cost the country’s financial and economic independence, and, this is far higher than what the above-mentioned challenges directly cost.
It is high time to stop bragging about the independence we partially have and stop trying to find comfort in the handful of aspects of the state of Sri Lankans lives that have not been affected by the deteriorating economy as of yet. To be financially and economically independent, there is a lot to do.
Reviving the economy is a long-term mission, and it requires proper planning and target-oriented action. However, almost every Government that came to power after independence had their own agendas, and they rarely matched with the agendas of the previous Government. For example, Sri Lanka keeps talking about how the country’s location in the Indian Ocean makes it a potential international hub. However, what kind of hub the country should become changes according to various Governments, and consequently, steps that need to be taken to become an international hub changes when a new Government comes to power. First of all, this situation needs to change. Instead of focusing on what Governments want to achieve, the country must focus on what the country wants to achieve. In this regard, the people have a right and a responsibility to demand the changes the country needs, instead of bowing down to short-term reliefs politicians offer from the public’s own coffers or from further borrowings.
To do that, the country needs to assess the country’s capabilities and resources, decide where it needs to be in a few years, have an action plan, and prioritise its goals. That requires the contribution of the stakeholders of a multitude of sectors. However, this is primarily the responsibility of politicians, or Governments, who do not seem to have realised that responsibility even after the country’s economy is about to hit rock bottom. In fact, even now, they seem to address issues as and when they arise, and a good example is the failed organic agriculture plan. Unfortunately, it is this ignorance of responsibilities – which politicians have successfully covered up by making the public addicted to short-term and unsustainable relief measures when the above-mentioned long-term preparations should have been made – that has created a dependent population and country.
To be rid of financial and economic dependence, both the people and the politicians need to fulfil their responsibilities. It is certainly going to take time and effort. However, the sooner we start, the sooner we can achieve that, and then and only then, will we realistically be able to say that Sri Lanka is an independent country.Sovereign independence, economic dependence
03 Feb 2022
Sovereign independence, economic dependence
03 Feb 2022
Like every other year, Sri Lanka is all set to celebrate Independence Day today (4), reminiscing how the country gained independence from the British colonisers and how the country overcame the challenges that emerged in the 74 years that followed.
Sri Lankans like to talk about independence, and they take pride in it despite the situation of the country on 4 February. This is also a day politicians, especially those in the ruling party, talk about how much being independent matters to the country.
However, it is time to come to terms with the fact that the independence Sri Lanka gained from the British colonisers is but an achievement of the past, although it is worth remembering, and that revelling in the idea of being independent when the country is not really independent is just silly. The times are such that almost the entire country has become worryingly dependent. During the past few years, most people and businesses have become exceedingly dependent on the Government’s relief measures during the past few months, while Sri Lanka as a country has become dependent on the support given by the international community and entities.
Needless to say, being financially and economically dependent on other countries and foreign entities is the same as losing a country’s overall independence, because many aspects of the people’s lives depend on the country’s financial and economic independence.
Being a desperately financially and economically dependent country is not a result of one person or one decision. It would not be wrong to say that more or less every government that has ruled the country since independence have played some role in what has befallen the country’s economy and the people today. Even though massive challenges, such as the various riots that broke out in every decade between 1950 and 2000, the three-decade long war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government-led defence forces, the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, and the Covid-19 pandemic unarguably crippled the economy, wrong actions or complete inaction of the rulers and other parties responsible for taking decisions that decide the country’s fate have cost the country’s financial and economic independence, and, this is far higher than what the above-mentioned challenges directly cost.
It is high time to stop bragging about the independence we partially have and stop trying to find comfort in the handful of aspects of the state of Sri Lankans lives that have not been affected by the deteriorating economy as of yet. To be financially and economically independent, there is a lot to do.
Reviving the economy is a long-term mission, and it requires proper planning and target-oriented action. However, almost every Government that came to power after independence had their own agendas, and they rarely matched with the agendas of the previous Government. For example, Sri Lanka keeps talking about how the country’s location in the Indian Ocean makes it a potential international hub. However, what kind of hub the country should become changes according to various Governments, and consequently, steps that need to be taken to become an international hub changes when a new Government comes to power. First of all, this situation needs to change. Instead of focusing on what Governments want to achieve, the country must focus on what the country wants to achieve. In this regard, the people have a right and a responsibility to demand the changes the country needs, instead of bowing down to short-term reliefs politicians offer from the public’s own coffers or from further borrowings.
To do that, the country needs to assess the country’s capabilities and resources, decide where it needs to be in a few years, have an action plan, and prioritise its goals. That requires the contribution of the stakeholders of a multitude of sectors. However, this is primarily the responsibility of politicians, or Governments, who do not seem to have realised that responsibility even after the country’s economy is about to hit rock bottom. In fact, even now, they seem to address issues as and when they arise, and a good example is the failed organic agriculture plan. Unfortunately, it is this ignorance of responsibilities – which politicians have successfully covered up by making the public addicted to short-term and unsustainable relief measures when the above-mentioned long-term preparations should have been made – that has created a dependent population and country.
To be rid of financial and economic dependence, both the people and the politicians need to fulfil their responsibilities. It is certainly going to take time and effort. However, the sooner we start, the sooner we can achieve that, and then and only then, will we realistically be able to say that Sri Lanka is an independent country.Kapruka
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!