Pathfinder Economic Proposals Presented to President Maithripala Sirisena
Posted on June 24th, 2015
Pathfinder
In the recent weeks President Maithripala Sirisena has undertaken the task of consulting groups of intellectuals and captains of industry with a view to sharing their views and experience to improve Sri Lanka’s economy. His pre-occupation should be seen in the context of the current status of the economy as well as the general elections due to take place in the near future.
During a meeting held on Tuesday (23rd June) Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) handed to the President a comprehensive economic policy reform road map ‘Charting the Way Forward: Prosperity for All’, aimed at reviving the economic growth and development in Sri Lanka.
While handing over the road map, Goonetilleke stated that it covers twelve broad subjects crucial for development of the economy. These included subjects such as Increasing Agricultural Productivity, Reform of State Owned Enterprises, Exports and Foreign Direct Investment etc. He explained that the Foundation would present the road map to all the major political parties currently represented in the parliament, so that it can influence their election manifesto development process focusing on better social and economic development.
The road map developed by the PF strongly urges political parties that all handouts, subsidies and other welfare measures, included in their manifestos should be costed and specific measures should be identified for financing the incremental costs.
Development of the road map was undertaken on the basis of over fifty studies commissioned by the Foundation covering issues such as Export development and diversification; Strengthening the conducive climate for foreign and local investment; Watering the North Central and Northern Provinces; Promoting Micro Finance to Empower Conflict Affected Communities; Increasing Living Standards of Plantation communities; Addressing Macro Economic Adjustments and Prospects for Improving Efficiency And Productivity of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) etc.
As an independent non-partisan think-tank PF seeks to promote active discussion to build consensus among politicians, policy makers and the general public on a commonly accepted package of economic reform. The road map prepared by PF could be accessed at www.pathfinderfoundation.org and readers’ comments are welcome at pm@pathfinderfoundation.org.
Gamini Sarath Godakanda
June 24th, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Generally GOOD proposals. Hopefully My3 will do the RIGHT thing.
BUT a word of caution. Pathfinder is headed by Milinda Moragoda. COPE report 2007 ranked him at the very TOP. Norway, CFA, mercantile investments are other CONNECTED issues.
Looking at BOTH SIDES of the issue.
June 24th, 2015 at 4:55 pm
**WATERING THE NORTH CENTRAL AND NOTHERN PROVINCES** VERY GOOD. ARE YOU SERIOUS ??? WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER PROVINCES OF SRI LANKA ??? ARE THEY NOT ON YOUR RADAR ???
PROMOTING MICRO FINANCE TO EMPOWER CONFLICT AFFECTED COMMUNITIES. THIS IS VERY SUBTLE. PLEASE ELUCIDATE THE REFERENCE TO:- CONFLICT AFFECTED COMMUNITIES. ARE THEY TAMILS ONLY, OR ARE MUSLIMS AND SINHALESE INCLUDED. ? TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND…25,000 SINHALESE WHO WERE ETHNICALLY CLEANSED FROM THE NORTH, ARE YET TO BE RE-SETTLED IN THE NORTH. ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MUSLIMS WHO WERE ETHNICALLY CLEANSED AND SENT OUT IN TWENTY FOUR HOURS, ARE YET TO BE RE-SETTLED. ARE THE AFORESAID COMMUNITIES INCLUDED IN THE **CONFLICT AFFECTED COMMUNITIES**???
INCREASE IN LIVING STANDARDS OF PLANTATION COMMUNITIES. VERY GOOD IDEA. WHAT ABOUT THE POOR VILLAGERS WHO LIVE IN DIRE STRAITS, AND EVEN THE SLUM DWELLERS OF COLOMBO AND OTHER CITIES ?? ARE THEY NOT ON YOUR RADAR.???
HOW DO YOU PROPOSE MACRO ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENTS ?? YOU MUST BE HAVING A PLAN. PLEASE LET US KNOW.
WELL PROSPERITY FOR ALL IS A VERY GOOD THOUGHT, AND REFLECTED IN GOOD FAITH. GOOD LUCK IN ALL YOUR ENDEAVOURS.
June 24th, 2015 at 5:09 pm
**WATERING THE NORTH CENTRAL AND NOTHERN PROVINCES**
Sounds very similar to last 6 years. Continuing the hell bent injustice.
June 24th, 2015 at 6:34 pm
SW,
GOOD pick!
I just glossed over them.
OVER EMPHASIS on northern province, “conflict affected” and plantation communities. ALL for Tamils ONLY as we saw how these things roll out.
A DEFINITE NO. So the old ways have NOT changed.
June 25th, 2015 at 2:01 pm
SINGHALESE SUCKERS ARE APPARENTLY ON THE PAYROLL OF THE TAMIL PATHFINDER FOUNDATION. AS SHENALI HAS SAID, IN ANOTHER ARTICLE, BUGGERS ARE INTRODUCING CATCHY TERMINOLOGY, MISLEADING TERMINOLOGY, AND FALL IN THE TRAP TERMINOLOGY. THIS PATHFINDER CONCEPT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
WHY SHOULD NEW FOUNDATIONS LIKE PATHFINDER COME UP ? ARE THEY OF OPINION THAT SIRISENA IS LOST FOR IDEAS, OR DO THIS PATHFINDER THINK THAT THEY CAN LEAD SIRISENA UP THE GARDEN PATH. ? THESE BUGGERS ARE TRULY LOOKING AT THE MOST WEAKER SIDE OF THE PRESIDENT TO GO FOR THEIR CARROT.
WHOSE MACRO FINANCES ARE THESE BUGGERS TALKING ABOUT ? YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE.
THIS A REAL TAMIL SET UP, USING MODAYAS TO DO THE LABOUR WORK.
LORENZO !! YOU REALLY CAN SEE THE***OVER EMPHASIS.*** IAM HAPPY WE ARE ON THE SAME THREAD.
June 25th, 2015 at 3:52 pm
LORENZO !! Just draw the graph. The article is by Pathfinder….VERY ELUSIVE. In the middle is a Bernard Goonatilleke, with a very High sounding Title, “”Chairman of the Pathfinder Foundation””. THEN, last of all a NAME…. GAMINI SARATH GODAKANDE, with no TITLE attachments to the Pathfinders Foundation, NO address at all, anywhere in the article. THIS IS A REAL GUNDU. LOOKS SO SINHALESE, FOR THE SINHALESE, BY THE SINHALESE. Was this presented, as it is, to PRESIDENT SIRISENA, without any physical address. ? ONLY with an Email Address, vis-à-vis pm@pathfinder.org Just cannot be. President will not accept this article, as it is, without a physical address, and a signature by the AUTHOR, which is not seen in this presentation.
What is the idea of hiding all these important details from the PUBLIC DOMAIN. ?
MORE FOUNDATIONS WILL COME UP WITH THE GRAVY TRAIN IN MIND. PERIOD.
SORRY, THIS IS TO BE-LITTLE THE PRESIDENT, AS IT APPEARS THAT HE IS TERRIBLY SHORT OF ROAD MAPS.