Business leaders expect an economic lift-off under the incoming President
Sri Lanka’s business leaders are eagerly waiting for an economic lift-off in 2020 as Sri Lankans are in the midst of voting at a presidential election hoping to be better off with a new leader.
The need of the hour is decisive leadership not based on politics but national needs to meet the debt servicing obligations and revive the economy are massive economic challenges next year, they pointed out.
Several business leaders noted that it is essential to create value systems among employees at all levels and prevent waste and corruption by electing an honest politician as the president of Sri Lanka, who cherishes democracy and different segments of the economy, and be led by experts and professionals.
Presidential candidate Rohan Pallewatta who is also the, Executive Chairman at Lanka Harness Company Pvt. Ltd, said that there is an urgent need to address the economic issue which is not addressed properly by anyone.
To correct the economic course, he noted that he personally believes that the country needs at least US$ 10 billion as Foreign Direct Investments (FDI); not just putting money into the stock market and taking it out.
Mr. Pallewatta said he does not endorse the decision taken by the Government to give the Hambantota port to China and the Mattala airport to India.
Elections are like shackles – once for every five years citizens are put in handcuffs, and – after elections they have no any influence on what politicians do.
Mechanisms of accountability, methods of influence on the President, specially Ministers and politicians should be introduced to prevent corruption and waste taking the first step towards this end from 2020 by the incoming regime, Executive Chairman/ Managing Director Epic Technology Group Dr. Nayana Dehigama said.
These Ministers aided by top officials such as the Secretary of the Ministry who is the chief accounting officer should be made accountable for corrupt deals changing the present situation of absolving Ministers who initiated the deal, he added.
There is an urgent need of establishing a special commission with powers to handle such arbitrary actions and it will help to create an administrative structure headed by permanent secretaries like the good old days, he pointed out.