CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

AFTER THE WAR IS OVER...

ASOKA S

Historically countries who engulf in long wars enter into periods of economic boom once war times are over. Post second world war USA, UK, France, Japan and even Germany are classic examples. Sri Lanka's curse of the LTTE war may be coming to an end in the near future simply because Rajapaksha administration got their priorities right. No 1 that LTTE will never accept anything short of Elam. No 2 that the only way to get them to come to senses is through a military defeat. While Lanka may not be practicing so called Western Style democracy at this time, nothing is more important than the total annihilation of the Tigers. So one may have to look the other way in the short term.

When the great depression hit the US economy in 1932 the newly elected Prez Roosevelt embarked on massive infrastructure projects to stimulate the badly battered US economy. It was a gigantic success and US entered massive economic success thus allowing Prez Roosevelt to be elected for three consecutive terms. We all remember how the wise owl Prez Jayawardene launched gigantic Mahaweli and Jayawardene Pura projects that pulled Lanka from economic doldrums left after Mrs. B's socialist experiment. This is what happens when countries are ruled by educated, knowledgeable leaders, not wealthy thugs. Lee Kwan Yoo's Singapore and Dr. Mahathir's Malaysia are living proof of this fundamental fact.

I would like to see a day when Rajapaksha will win a second term after eliminating the Tiger menace and embark on massive infrastructure projects. Lanka is way behind even many of our Asian neighbors and a lot of work need to be done to catch up. Lanka needs lots of new roads, bridges, power lines, water and sewerage systems and more. Colombo and suburbs have grown exponentially over the decades but the road network has practically not kept up creating massive chaos and total waste of time and money traveling. Patch work jobs on centuries old roads wont do. We need new roads. Of course we cannot afford to build new roads but there is nothing wrong with borrowing to invest for the future generations. Even toll roads are in order to ease the chaotic congestion.

In today's digital, global economy, one need to provide decent roads, telecommunications, power and ease of doing business if ever Lanka is to attract quality multinationals to do business. Unlike a relatively small investments from the business community in the far east or eastern Europe looking for a quick buck here and there, a few tuely billion dollar multinationals can create miracles in the Lankan economy. This will not happen until we offer peace, intelligent leadership, decent infrastructure and a fundamental political and constitutional appreciation that only more and more private investment can create true prosperity in a very competitive but ever expanding global economy. The government need to do all it can to create this climate.

Carrying placards on Mayday rally, destructive political processions, political rhetoric, screaming on political platforms till your throat gives up. satyagrahas and rice from the moon gimmicks only can fool some of the people some of the time. The universal economic truth is that only large scale private sector investment can bring prosperity to Lankan people.

Let us hope and pray this will be the goal of phase two of the Rajapaksha administration. He has proved to be a clever and pragmatic leader thus far. Let him stop the bleeding first and then start rebuilding this once peaceful, serence country blessed with ambitious and talented people.

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