Ushering Social Justice As Development Philosophy
June 11, 2012 By W.A. Wijewardena -
Dr. W.A. Wijewardena
The development philosophy of the present Government, as pronounced in the Annual Report of the Ministry of Finance and Planning for 2011 released two weeks ago, is a blend of social justice with economic progress (p 14). This is a laudable goal which goes well with the current development thinking of the world.
The Ministry report has further clarified its philosophy as one that does not concentrate merely on the economic progress. Instead, it will endeavour to bring prosperity to Sri Lanka by developing social, cultural, religious and environmental aspects as well. It has prided itself on being first to introduce this philosophy to Sri Lanka.
All past development philosophies of Sri Lanka, according to the Ministry of Finance, have been either growth without social justice or social justice without growth. For instance, the policy package adopted prior to 2005, the year in which the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa took office as President of the country, had been biased toward economic progress at the expense of social justice.
The reference here is to the policy adopted by Sri Lanka since 1977 when the country moved to a free market economy policy till the installation of the incumbent President in 2005. Then the policy package which had been adopted by the country prior to 1977 had been on the opposite side.
The Ministry has branded it as a policy that had tried to establish social progress at the cost of economic progress. Hence, according to the Ministry Report, the period since 2005 offers a unique case where both economic progress and social justice have been blended together thereby carving out a more holistic path for the nation to tread on.
Incidentally, in a substantial part of the period prior to 2005 and 1977, it was the same political force that rules the country today that had tried to implement the economic philosophies of these two polar ends which have now been condemned by the Ministry of Finance as inappropriate for Sri Lanka’s destiny.
The reference here is to the policy adopted by Sri Lanka since 1977 when the country moved to a free market economy policy till the installation of the incumbent President in 2005. Then the policy package which had been adopted by the country prior to 1977 had been on the opposite side.
The Ministry has branded it as a policy that had tried to establish social progress at the cost of economic progress. Hence, according to the Ministry Report, the period since 2005 offers a unique case where both economic progress and social justice have been blended together thereby carving out a more holistic path for the nation to tread on.
Incidentally, in a substantial part of the period prior to 2005 and 1977, it was the same political force that rules the country today that had tried to implement the economic philosophies of these two polar ends which have now been condemned by the Ministry of Finance as inappropriate for Sri Lanka’s destiny.
