We need a Make-in-Lanka strategy

Government bereft of concrete development ideas 

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In Guzhen, City of Lights

by Kumar David-December 12, 2015

It is disappointing that development options for Lanka are Pontius Pilate mantras; there are no concrete decisions, especially on the industrial side either from the government or the private sector. What are Pontius Pilate mantras? Washing one’s hands off and expecting others to deliver the goods. This government has three mantras it swears by; export orientation, the private sector as the engine of growth and foreign direct investment (FDI). In proportion these are needed but when the government is oblivious to what industries and services to emphasise it is like a blind man in a dark room. Today I will highlight some sectors for somnambulant leaders to think about when they awaken and decide to set up the much needed planning entities - an overarching planning body and sector committees as in places as diverse as Singapore, India and Germany. The business led advisory committees the PM referred to in his address to the Stock Exchange are not by any stretch planning bodies of this type.

We Need a Make-In-Lanka Strategy by Thavam Ratna