Really well written and puts down exactly how we got to where we are today. Cannot agree what a lot of potential Sri Lanka has just by its strategic location. Let’s hope 17th is the last for Sri Lanka
Well written Daniel. I am happy to have had a role to play in the 1996-2000 period when we implemented the PPPs and privatisations (as outlined by you) and stayed away from any IMF EFF programs. I give credit to Mr AS Jayawardena who led a team that compelled the political leadership at the time to adopt prudent economic policies. Statistics speak for themselves: net FDI inflow as a percentage of GDP reached 2.8% in 1997 according to CBSL -- the highest ever on record
Yes, from 1996-2000 I was able to build 7 zones through the BOI. If not for the 1996 East Asia crisis, we would have been able to attract private zones, particularly from Malaysia. Successive Governments failed to create the enabling environment for export manufacturing. The vision we had in the late 1990s was to have a private power plant next to the zone and provide export oriented industries unlimited power at lower tariffs. This initiative was not followed through.
Your data shows manufactured exports declined from over 30% of GDP in 2000 to less than 15% 20 years later.
I agree Daniel. This is the basic economic truth. It is so unfortunate that politicians have over many decades deceived our gullible population. I so wish Mangala was around... I am committed to make the change for the good happen. Hope the people will support the cause.
The politics is harder than the economics. Reform will be very painful and challenge many sectoral interests, especially in the public sector. Need urgent labour market reform. Labour needs protection but in the formal sector hard to dispense with unproductive, dishonest workers, makes doing business very difficult. Must shrink defence establishment by half., it is unaffordable and not proportionate to any threat. Sri Lanka has a major problem with capital flight, the miniscule band of local super-rich simply send money to foreign bank accounts and invest in first word property bleeding us dry. Transform the corrupt Inland Revenue Department. Focus on improving transport links and e-education. Change cannot come if guided by present political elite. Their objectives do not coincide national welfare but depressingly no obvious alternatives on horizon. Make full us of non-political technocrats with expertise and marginalise the parasitic political class. Brace the population for a decade of abject austerity.
Daniel this is an excellent article. I hope the powers to be will implement this. The SOE need to privatized and made into LLCs so that they can be publicly traded and will create an activist shareholder group…
Really well written and puts down exactly how we got to where we are today. Cannot agree what a lot of potential Sri Lanka has just by its strategic location. Let’s hope 17th is the last for Sri Lanka
Very informative and well researched. Thank you Daniel!
Very well put Daniel
Well written Daniel. I am happy to have had a role to play in the 1996-2000 period when we implemented the PPPs and privatisations (as outlined by you) and stayed away from any IMF EFF programs. I give credit to Mr AS Jayawardena who led a team that compelled the political leadership at the time to adopt prudent economic policies. Statistics speak for themselves: net FDI inflow as a percentage of GDP reached 2.8% in 1997 according to CBSL -- the highest ever on record
Yes, failure to expand the zones in the 2000s remains a mystery to me. No political cost, and lots of economic benefits.
Yes, from 1996-2000 I was able to build 7 zones through the BOI. If not for the 1996 East Asia crisis, we would have been able to attract private zones, particularly from Malaysia. Successive Governments failed to create the enabling environment for export manufacturing. The vision we had in the late 1990s was to have a private power plant next to the zone and provide export oriented industries unlimited power at lower tariffs. This initiative was not followed through.
Your data shows manufactured exports declined from over 30% of GDP in 2000 to less than 15% 20 years later.
A very informative article..
Hope you get back being part of the policy making soon
Well done.
I agree Daniel. This is the basic economic truth. It is so unfortunate that politicians have over many decades deceived our gullible population. I so wish Mangala was around... I am committed to make the change for the good happen. Hope the people will support the cause.
Thanks Harsha, and good luck.
Great article. Thanks...
Young researcher, thinking out box. Keep up the good job Dan.
The politics is harder than the economics. Reform will be very painful and challenge many sectoral interests, especially in the public sector. Need urgent labour market reform. Labour needs protection but in the formal sector hard to dispense with unproductive, dishonest workers, makes doing business very difficult. Must shrink defence establishment by half., it is unaffordable and not proportionate to any threat. Sri Lanka has a major problem with capital flight, the miniscule band of local super-rich simply send money to foreign bank accounts and invest in first word property bleeding us dry. Transform the corrupt Inland Revenue Department. Focus on improving transport links and e-education. Change cannot come if guided by present political elite. Their objectives do not coincide national welfare but depressingly no obvious alternatives on horizon. Make full us of non-political technocrats with expertise and marginalise the parasitic political class. Brace the population for a decade of abject austerity.
I found the article to be educational and interesting
Daniel this is an excellent article. I hope the powers to be will implement this. The SOE need to privatized and made into LLCs so that they can be publicly traded and will create an activist shareholder group…
Very well explained Daniel.. I like the structure you have done on reforms. Thank you very much
A well researched and written article, I hope the gov't will do something
Very well researched and articulated Daniel. Keeping fingers crossed!