ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Vol. 41 - No 27
Financial Times  

India, Sri Lanka can serve as powerful examples - US Ambassador

By Antony Motha

Sri Lanka is located astride the sea lanes that will carry an increasing proportion of global trade, a fact that makes Sri Lanka’s future very important to America. The Indian and Sri Lankan experience as two successful, market-oriented, multi-ethnic democracies can serve as powerful examples to other countries in this region, according to Robert O. Blake Jr. US Ambassador to Sri Lanka.

He was delivering the third annual Sujata Jayawardene Memorial Oration at the BCIS Auditorium organized by the Alumni Association of the Colombo University this week.

Prefacing these remarks, he said that the shift of America’s foreign policy from Europe to Asia had several roots. Recent studies have shown that if current trends continue, the four largest economies in the world by 2040 will be the US, China, India and Japan.

The value of the US’s trade with Asia already exceeds that of its trade with Europe - and the gap is likely to grow.

If the spike of violence and hostilities seen in Sri Lanka over the last six months continues, it could have profound negative effects on the country’s society and economy, he said adding that the brain drain that results from young Sri Lankans leaving the country to escape the violence – and those abroad electing to stay abroad – is damaging. On the other hand, if the peace dividend can be seized, Sri Lanka will prosper in this new Asian century.

Blake pointed out that the United States, as a ‘friend of Sri Lanka’, has been a long-term partner in the country’s development, and is helping in many ways on the terrorism and military fronts. However, he does not believe that there can be a military solution to this conflict.

In Blake’s view, preparing Sri Lanka’s education system for the 21st century would require a four-pronged approach:

1. Considering the country’s pent up demand for higher education, due to limited intake in local universities, the only option now is to pursue studies abroad. Proffering a solution that would not place an undue burden on state coffers, Blake suggested that private universities be allowed to exist alongside public universities.

2. With English having become the universal language of business and science, Blake noted that Sri Lanka can do more to help youth prepare to compete in 21st century by improving English language training.

3. Training teachers to teach the skills employers really want, to think creatively and critically - and qualities like leadership, team work and communication - can be taught through interactive instruction methods.

4. In part because of the absence of private universities, many young Sri Lankans go abroad to pursue their higher studies.

 
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Copyright 2006 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka.