Sri Lanka’s Development Dilemma & The Dependency Syndrome

By Siri Gamage –August 28, 2016

Dr. Siri Gamage

Each time we visit Sri Lanka for holiday, it throws fresh insights about the place, people, systems and what it offers in comparison to other countries. We just returned after spending three weeks primarily in Kandy and a couple of days in Colombo. On the way back, spent three days in Singapore, which is a remarkably well-organised place though the currency is equivalent to Australian dollars.

There don’t seem to be a national plan to improve national production. Instead, the economy seems to be heavily based on imports of all kinds including drugs, food, clothing, vehicles, and more. In other words, Sri Lanka seems to have a dependent economy on other countries and multi national corporations. Such a development is bound to benefit those companies and other entities involved in imports including tourists rather than the local producers. Export is not even mentioned in everyday public discourses, not to mention government policy.

Development of a society should be measured by the quality and standard of life offered to a country’s citizens and visitors not by the number of roads built or vehicles imported as if there is unlimited space on our roads. Are the people able to move about easily? Can they live peacefully without the fear of harassment?  Are they able to obtain necessary services without having to pay bribes or going after politicians or beaureacrats? Can they easily obtain medical assistance when needed? Does the society look after its elderly well? Are the young people gainfully employed? Is the education relevant and useful not only for employment but also broadening the mind and acquiring a global knowledge? Is the environment clean? These are among many questions one can pose about the quality of life one deserves.

Notwithstanding the many development projects completed and under way in Sri Lanka it appears the place is for the rich and powerful who have the money, wealth and power rather than the middle or working classes (though some government employees and doctors have been afforded duty free motor vehicle permits). It is also designed for the tourists with fat pockets. Fancy and expensive tourist resorts and hotels cater to well-to-do segments and foreigners whereas they are beyond the reach of the majority Sri Lankans. The daily accommodation cost of a five star hotel can easily exceed 200 US dollars – the equivalent of RS.24,000. This is the average monthly wage of a minor employee in such a hotel, eg cleaning staff. On the roads, three wheelers abound. Drivers of these cut across oncoming traffic, find short cuts in very risky ways putting lives in danger and move between moving vehicle lines. The buses that the average person travels look very old Indian makes, no air conditioning or even a fan. What comfort do they offer the public, especially elderly and sick? One is really unlucky if he or she had to travel standing. Each time the driver applies the breaks, the pressure affects the elderly person’s hands holding the seats or the rails above. Compare this with those fortunate enough or shrewd enough to acquire modern vehicles often with paid drivers including our politicians and middle to top ranking beaureacrats. When public transport is not improved for the many, our politicians are gifted with very expensive imported cars out of the public purse. Why? The argument goes that it is because they are the leaders who manage the nation’s affairs so they deserve such extra comforts. Irrespective of the problems facing the country and the economy (mind you that according to some reports, the country owes more than forty billion dollars to international lenders), the political class coming from the two major parties and some minor parties seem to want to enjoy the luxuries that those rich enough in the first world enjoy i.e. Toyota land cruisers.

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