Is Lankan Corporate Responsibility, “Ebolitic”?
Kusal Perera
Much is talked of in the media about economic growth in Sri Lanka during the past decade or so. Finance Ministry and Treasury Secretary Dr.Jayasundera whose been there from around 1990, first as Advisor to the Ministry of Finance is still hopeful of economic growth he had not achieved during the last 02 decades (In between he was for a short spell, Consultant and then Chairman PERC and absent for 02 years when Charitha Ratwatte held the position during RW’s government) of his powerful and dominating presence in the treasury.
Nivad Cabraal, the other kingpin in this regime who talks business was quoted saying, FDI would reach a high of 20 per cent of GDP by next year (hardly 02 months away in 2015). Explaining the indicators of an emerging economy, he had said, advertisements on restaurants, dining, tours and travels, vehicles, etc are growing exponentially. “When going through the weekend newspapers we can see this,” he was quoted, attributing this as one indicator of a growing economy which is growing by 7.5 per cent.(Good Time To Mull Consolidating The Insurance Sector – CB Governor / ST Business Times – 09 Nov.2014)
That may be their total understanding of budgeting and business. But for sure, those three hundred thousand plus who voted against this regime at the Uva PC elections last September, wouldn’t know or feel this economic growth through advertisements that Cabral is proud of. I have not been in such business to feel that growth either. Therefore, despite what the two big guns in this regime say, this is small thinking on what big corporate entities and individual business men and women should be doing in Sri Lanka, apart from making profits. Making profits is what businesses are meant for is not disputed though.Read More
