by Prof Sunil J. Wimalawansa

Eliminating corruption, re-establishing judicial independence, curtailing wastage and unnecessary imports, and embracing technology are key priorities for the new National People’s Power (NPP) government in Sri Lanka. Now is the time for the NPP leadership to deliver on their promises, ensuring that appointments to government positions, such as chairmanships, are made based on merit rather than favors. Furthermore, public corporations and departments are overstaffed and top-heavy. Instead of mindlessly filling these positions, it is in the country’s best interest for the President to carefully assess and eliminate unnecessary roles first.

Prioritizing actions:

The NPP must gain the public’s confidence through decisive actions, such as eliminating the corruption that the people demand. This assertive approach will help the NPP secure a significantly larger majority in the next Parliament, surpassing the minimum 108 seats required. A stronger mandate would enable the NPP to implement an effective economic development plan to lift the country from bankruptcy without resorting to additional loans or raising taxes, thereby restoring public confidence.

Addressing the structural problems within the government and eliminating wasteful and duplicate programs created by previous presidents, governors, and mayors as favors to cronies would make systems more efficient and increase public trust. This, in turn, would make it easier for the NPP to navigate the difficult decisions it must make in the coming days. The government should not function as a job creation factory; instead, the private sector should be encouraged to generate employment opportunities for the public.

These actions, both directly and indirectly, will boost the business community’s and investors’ confidence, increasing opportunities, employment, and productivity. Prioritizing the reduction of burdensome regulations and taxes would further stimulate private sector growth and, consequently, the economy. The government should emphasize and facilitate local production and growth over importation while also expanding technologies and making fertilizers more readily available to the agricultural sector to jump-start output.

What needs to be done in the short term?

In parallel, enacting anti-corruption laws and re-establishing the independent committees eliminated by the past two regimes is essential to maintaining law and order and eradicating corruption. It is crucial to ensure that the executive and legislative branches do not interfere with the judiciary, as this is critical to preserving the country’s integrity and curb corruption, particularly by the privileged. Expert examiners appointed to investigate corruption and other irregularities in committees and commissions must be able to operate without interference.

Regarding candidate nominations for elections, it is vital to uphold the democratic process by ensuring that party leaders and headquarters are not involved in selecting regional representatives or nominees. This responsibility should lie with local residents to eliminate the practice of nominating corrupt individuals as candidates through favoritism. Candidates must be chosen from those who live locally, have pledged to prioritize the nation’s interests, oppose the sale of national assets and federalism, and commit to eliminating all forms of discrimination.

Medium-term actions:

These actions will make systems more efficient in the medium to longer term, boosting business opportunities and productivity. Reducing regulatory burdens and taxes will facilitate this progress. Another critical step is prioritizing local production and properly distributing products at affordable costs over importation. These measures will increase agricultural outputs and ensure the safe storage and distribution of goods.

Organic farming is not a viable option when the country is bankrupt, facing severe food shortages, and people are starving. Instead, ensuring safe storage through refrigerated transportation and storage facilities would significantly reduce wastage and preserve nutritional value. Alongside enhancing research and development, providing affordable, appropriate, and cost-effective fertilizers and pesticides in recommended amounts, based on guidance from the Department of Agriculture, would drastically improve agricultural output, food security, and sufficiency.

IMF Conditions are Not Favourable to Economic Growth

The two and a half years under the caretaker government, led by a self-serving and ineffective leader alongside a corrupt cabinet, have brought no tangible progress in restoring the economy or balancing the budget. Instead, these officials have enriched themselves at the expense of taxpayers. Many International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions appear designed to prolong public suffering rather than address corruption, foster economic recovery, or promote sustainable growth. This approach has kept the country in a state of dependence, allowing foreign powers, notably the West, to exert control, including installing puppet governments.

Any successes during this period have resulted from the private sector’s internal efforts, independent of government policies. Meanwhile, the interim President has unthinkingly and willingly accepted the stringent conditions imposed by the IMF.

The last government signed much less than optimal agreements with the IMF; whether due to poor negotiating skills or ignorance and poor policies of the Central Bank and Finance Committee), they had had a detrimental impact. Despite the harmful effects of the IMF conditions on the country and its people, the unelected President and cabinet remain singularly focused on retaining power at any cost. Their only achievement was postponing payments, which merely increased interest and proved disastrous.

Contrary to claims, the IMF conditions do little to promote economic development in Sri Lanka, increase GDP, or ease loan repayments. While the IMF offers a platform for negotiating loan repayment structures with other entities, it also serves as an obstacle to implementing real growth and GDP expansion solutions.

The country must shift from a survival-focused, loan-dependent consumption economy to a productive one prioritizing local needs and value-added exports. Restructuring the IMF loan conditions, including securing a portion of loan forgiveness, will create the breathing space needed to transfer the debt to a more favorable country like Japan.

Modifications of the Process of Nominating Candidates for Elections:

Upholding the democratic process in nominating candidates for public elections is essential. Party leaders and headquarters should not participate in selecting or recommending regional representatives or nominees; this responsibility must rest with residents in the locality. This approach is critical to preventing the nomination of corrupt or unrepresentative candidates as favors from party leadership.

Candidates must be chosen from individuals who live locally, are committed to prioritizing the nation, opposing the sale of national assets, uphold sovereignty, and are dedicated to eliminating discrimination. Those with criminal convictions or liabilities should be prohibited from running for elected office or holding public positions. Any false declarations or violations must result in jail time and permanent disqualification from public office.

In addition, election expenditures must be capped, and all political contributions above a specified amount must be disclosed, along with the donor’s information. This information should be made publicly available on a government website. Furthermore, all nominees for elected positions must disclose and certify their assets under oath for public scrutiny. Alongside enforcing strict term limits (e.g., two or three terms), these measures will help ensure qualified individuals receive nominations and reduce the likelihood of corrupt individuals gaining elected positions.

Replacing the Constitution:

The current NPP leadership requires a strong people’s mandate in the upcoming general election to secure a substantial majority in Parliament. This majority will enable them to fulfill their campaign promises and implement the proposed agenda. More critically, they must secure enough parliamentary votes to replace the flawed Constitution with one that facilitates the separation of government branches and propels the country forward.

Given the unnecessary costs, the NPP should rely on obtaining a two-third parliamentary majority rather than a public referendum to replace the Constitution. However, the new Constitution must be devoid of loopholes, uphold law and order, ensure an independent judiciary free from external influence, and abolish the executive presidency. To achieve the required two-thirds majority, the NPP may need to form a coalition with patriotic parties, such as Vinivida Padanama, that are truly committed to fighting corruption and preserving the nation’s sovereignty, thus making this vision a reality.

Additionally, the Vinivida Padanama draft represents the most relevant and legally sound Constitution to date, one that preserves democratic values and upholds law and order. The author urges the NPP leadership, particularly President Dissanayake, to collaborate with Mr. Kodituwakku, a leading constitutional scholar, to refine and adapt it to suit the country’s best interests. Aside from personal pride, there is little reason to reinvent the wheel or revert to older versions when an excellent draft is available, which Mr. Kodituwakku is willing to share for the nation’s benefit.

Concluding Remarks

The government must avoid temporary fixes or superficial solutions and address the root causes of financial mismanagement. This requires eliminating harmful practices, reducing the size of the government by at least one-third, cutting expenses to the bare minimum, curtailing unnecessary foreign trips and public expenditures, and serving as a role model for responsible governance. Establishing robust oversight mechanisms is crucial to prevent the recurrence of such issues in the future.

By taking these decisive actions, the NPP leadership can expect to earn the public’s trust and confidence. This will empower the NPP to secure a significantly larger majority in the next Parliament, exceeding the minimum threshold needed. With this majority, the NPP could implement an effective economic development plan, allowing the country to emerge from bankruptcy without relying on further loans or tax increases, thus restoring confidence in the government and its leadership.