Financial Times

Good business sense needed to solve political impasse
By Random Access Memory (RAM)

"Ape Kama" not "Ape Karma"
There were some errors that crept in, unintentionally, in RAM's column last week. The word "Ape Kama" had been misspelt as "Ape Karma" throughout the article. The correct references are repeated here for the benefit of our readers.

* The headline of the column should read as 'Ape Kama' as a New Year resolution ... instead of ... "Ape Karma" ...

* The section in para 4 should read as ... "Ape Kama" (who and what we are) .. instead of ... "Ape Karma" (who and what we are). In the same para ... "Ape Karma" referred to represent the core values ... should read as ... "Ape Kama" referred to represent the core values.

Similarly all the references to "Ape Karma" should be replaced with 'Ape Kama" in para 5 (two instances), para 6 (twice), para 7 (once) and para 8 (twice).
(Our apologies to the author)

The President is reported to have extended another olive leaf to the PM to meet once again to discuss a way forward. The PM was reported to be thinking of calling off the commitments on the truce to hold the guns from firing with the LTTE, but was later reported to have reaffirmed that will not be so. He has instead renewed the call on the President to take over the peace process.

The Tittawela-Samarawickrame duo seem to be still in the holiday mood. Everyone seems to be still fiddling, when our little motherland - Sri Lanka, unseen to many wide open eyes and what we minions like to believe are rational minds, is burning deep within. Many seem to think that out of the ashes of this mess, each of them can rise like the phoenix if the waiting game is successfully played, each attempting to score points over each other.

Our 'leaders' seem to be saying things but not talking, hearing but not listening. Simple common sense points to the blatant fact that the one and only way to find lasting and dignified peace for Sri Lanka and move forward on a sustainable development platform is through a path of consensual politics. We see no other rational way forward except for the two major power blocks in the South getting together, to seek solutions at least for the key problems we face. In an electoral system where the two have almost always split the vote base into two with only a slight edge for one or the other, it is hard to perceive any other scenario.

The very constitution that allows the executive president to have absolute power and was described by almost everyone, at every election - since late JR set it in place - as the 'Satan's Bible' or the spring of all evil, is still sacredly in place with interpretation after interpretation sought, on how one can get ahead to gain petty advantages to one self, damn the nation and its people. No one seems to want to get rid of it once in power. History it is said, has a way of repeating itself and tells us that absolute power leads to absolute corruption and even absolute chaos.

In the meantime, lots of talk goes on with statements issued and paid advertisements inserted by the business community to urge the leaders to get together. Some only see the problem to be limited to the 'taking over' of the three Ministries by the President and a call is made to hand them over. They do not seem to realise that we need to address the issue at the very core, to prevent us from moving from one conflict to another, one crisis to another, as we have done in the past twenty-over years, each time placing a medicated plaster over the wounded area, ignoring the cancer that spreads deep within. After 18 amendments to our 'journal' of a constitution, we still do not seem to see the light of day that we need a two thirds majority in the parliament for anyone in power to institute a lasting and dignified peace and take our nation forward on a path of prosperity.

The J-Biz, Sri Lanka First and several other business groups and personalities have taken on initiatives to work though religious dignitaries, other influential personalities and even through one-on-ones, to drive some sense into the minds of the leadership. The J-Biz is also reported to wanting to take to the streets in protest if no affirmative action is forthcoming from the leadership.

The business community is splitting hairs on what action to take, some also running back and forth to consult the very same people in politics they want to reform, on what course of action they should follow. They seem to suffer from the same symptoms of lack of a true national minded leadership, with most following the direction of the blowing of the wind, rather than creating wind machines to change the direction of blowing to benefit the people, the nation and of course themselves.

At a time like this, it will make sense to the business leaders to apply the same techniques they adopt when they market their product and services to their customers. They research the customer needs and meet them by delivering the right products or services with the right quality at the right prices. Is it not time for the business community to ask themselves (or even research) what the needs of the customers they have in the political 'leadership' are, and what strategies they can adopt to meet their needs? One simple need perhaps is the wanting to gain, regain and remain in power. This, they may not be able to fulfil effectively, if the business community that provides the resources (i.e. the money) needed to play that game, through campaign contributions, was able to turn the taps off, requesting that they all drive a national agenda instead of their own.

When the issue is raised, the majority in the business community say that this is impossible to achieve, for there is no unity among themselves to drive such action. If the business community lacks unity of purpose, good sense or the leadership to drive initiatives of the sorts how can they, then expect the political 'leadership' to be united and cohesive to drive national agenda.

Remember that near impossible dreams have been realised with good assertive leadership. What we need all around, the engine of growth included, is good, assertive and selfless leadership, that can build bridges and bring like minded people from all sectors, from all walks of life, together to work on a national agenda.

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