Business For Peace
Trincomalee. Prima factory in the distance.
I’m on tour bus near Ibbagamuwa but the Dialog 3G still connect. Travelling with this Business For Peace group to see development opportunities in Trinco. Passing through Kurunegala also met a young man who’s excited about the chance to develop the soil of mother Lanka. Into red clay tiles. There is business just burgeoning to happen, and I think that is the best hope for peace. Not security or stability, but peace. Met some guys from the Jaffna and Vavuniya Chambers of Commerce yesterday and they’re more wary. Perhaps because transport to Jaffna is very difficult (restricted A9) and most of Vavuniya’s Wanni customers are in IDP camps. But hopeful still. Guy from Matale thinks tourism is going to pick up. Dude from Kandy thinks they can sell more fabric. I think so too. Without terrorism Sri Lanka will grow. Even without real political resolution of the underlying ethnic issues. That is, within the Chinese model, growth without freedom. There’s obviously a better way, but I don’t think it’s possible without getting more people to the economic level where they can truly participate in democracy. And, frankly, I don’t think the freedom and growth model deserves to win if it doesn’t deliver results. Ties of trade and mutual interest can also bind more strongly than written pacts. I recently heard about something called Sitamu, a mangement structure with directors from the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities. So they can shape stuff up with powers and groups from different regions. And do more business. Think that’s around Trinco. Personally, I’ve lost faith in Colombo macroeconomic mandarins, internationally mediated mores and trickle down from politicians. I think we need to invest in small business and education and hope that in a generation true peace will emerge from prosperity. There’s more detail on this in the next Sunday Leader. On, uh, Sunday.
Please, we must invest in the North and the Eastern areas of Sri Lanka. Expecially in education. This should help in preventing a relapse to terrorism – which is essentially caused by unhappiness.
Let’s hope (and if its ok, pray as well although different peeps will pray to different entities, its for the same goal) innit
Perfect. Lets adopt the Chinese model. Thanks Mr Pragmatic.
Indica
Can you please if possible send me some details of that guy in Trinco Mr Kailchelvam who does the IT classes. I am keen to see if he could do something similar in Kantale like IT training as we have a project educating and developing schools in Kantale through http://www.singithisarana.org supported by Children of Lanka UK. Thanks
1.prosperity for whom?? the sinhalese?
2.The Business for Peace group?? Were they ever for peace? or for profit??
3.The Business community supported the war, which has enhanced sinhalese power. Naturally the sinhalese are happy because they are going to make a profit.
4.Sinhalese are going to benefit more by the present situation?? The state will favour sinhalese more than the minorities and give land and business opportunities??
5. Sitamu, is a sinhalese word. That shows the mentality, as long as sinhalese are in charge everything is fine??