A Dangerous Political Vacuum:
the Acute Need for a Sri Lankan Capitalist Political Party
Dilrook Kannangara
The democratic socialist republic has chosen a successful economic
path in 1977 thanks to JR Jayawardena’s farsighted planning. In
doing so we became a forerunner to China, India, Poland, Russia and
many more countries around the world. The land of Lenin learnt a bitter
lesson for harbouring a defective economic system based on dictatorship
and collective ownership both of which go against the human condition.
However, former communist and socialist countries have become prosperous
under capitalist regimes; they are doing quite well indeed.
There are many communist/socialist/left from centre political parties
in Sri Lanka including JVP, LSSP, SLCP, SLMP, SLFP and SLPF. Apart from
sectarian political arties that aim to look in to the separate interests
of Tamils, Muslims and upcountry Tamils (TNA, EPDP, TELO, EPRLF, SLMC,
CWC, UPF, WPF), there is no political party to cater to national capitalist
interests. The UNP which stands for capitalist interests is hardly nationalist;
al least not anymore. Its level of degeneration is evidenced by its
present leadership consisting of Ranil, Mangala, Ravi, Rosi and the
like. It was always hijacked by anti-nationalist forces and chances
are that there won’t be a significant change in the distant future.
However, Sri Lanka depends heavily on capitalism for economic growth
and prosperity. And there is no political force to support it! Sri Lanka
simply does not have a BJP equivalent. Therefore, a national capitalist
party is a must. The JHU is the most fitting political party that can
easily take up the challenge.
JHU should not be a seasonal political party or a party run on personalities.
It must emerge as a long term political force for the economic benefit
of Buddhists. Buddhists rank below Hindus, Muslims and Christians in
terms of average income and wealth per individual. They are only better
off than upcountry Tamils. This is a very dangerous situation. Although
democracy awards one vote for one voter, individual monetary power plays
an even more significant role in dictating the collective power of a
group essential in power brokering in a democracy. Another bad effect
of a poor majority is that their voting power can be manipulated by
economic carrots and sticks yielded by their enemies. Unfortunately
this is already happening in big way. There are many Buddhists including
a few monks who have been hired by anti-Buddhist forces to do their
dirty work for money and sustenance. On the other hand, the only Buddhist
television channel is struggling without funds!
Graver consequences are to come in the near future. With higher capital
accumulation by anti-nationalist forces, they can dominate even further
the industrial sectors of the nation which in turn will leave the majority
in JVP trade unions that can achieve no productive return for the nation.
The recent demand by JVP/UNP CEB trade unions to rob rupees 5,000 worth
of electricity every year is one such crooked effort that can only burden
the nation, not profit it. A poor majority means more paedophiles along
the southern beaches, more NGOs/INGOs with separatist agendas, more
WoldVisions with vested Evangelical missions and more punk political
forces.
This kind of nonsense only happen in Lanka; a Hindu movement in India,
a Catholic or other Christian movement in Europe/Australia/USA/Canada
or a Islamic movement in Saudi Arabia/Malaysia would never face this
kind of desperate situations. Something is seriously wrong in Sri Lanka
that keeps its majority away from economic prosperity. A glance at the
Sri Lankan corporate sector, it’s SMIs and other business entities
provides answers. There are many highly profitable corporates not owned
by the majority; same with SMIs and small time traders. This needs to
change soon with a sizable distribution of business entities under the
control of the majority.
It is no secret that the “central business district” - the
Greater Colombo area is populated by Tamils and Muslims (70%) in wide
contrast to the rest of the nation. It is also no secret that Churches
that have mixed (community) congregations collect their highest collection
from the Tamil mass, followed by the English mass; needless to say the
Sinhala mass has the lowest collection in spite of having an almost
equal number of participants.
A prosperous majority is more than imperative for a prosperous nation
and for the sustenance of national and democratic rights.
The JHU stands in good thread to fill this vacuum; the following are
some key causes of action that can be taken.
- Encourage Buddhists to take up entrepreneurship as a livelihood;
provide them the support, the connections and wherever possible, space
to start-up their industries. It is highly praiseworthy that a number
of Buddhist temples already provide such support. A political force
is required to regulate, streamline and expand this support. The service
provided in association with the Gangarama Temple and Jinarathana
Centre must be highly commended and similar centres need to be established
throughout the country. Allocating part of the funds presently allocated
to tertiary education to these industrious institutions go along way
and eventually add better value to the national economy than university
graduate. Overcoming petty political differences toward economic prosperity
of the majority pays.
- · Provide the political grit whenever and wherever needed
for new start-ups. Considerable barriers of entry exist in business
especially for small timers and political clout is a necessity to
overcome these.
- · Help industrialists to get into industries not yet substantially
owned by Sinhalese traders. These include hardware wholesale, import
related industries, retail trade in cities and generally many Pettah
based industries. These are high yielding, low continuing capital
requiring businesses and can provide considerable financial strength
to nationalist forces.
- · Encourage more Buddhist students to take up international
studies in computer programming, accountancy, marketing, etc. and
trade courses (airline ticketing, data entry, call centre work, etc.)
in a large scale throughout the country.
- · Help all natural resources related industries (the gem
and jewellery industry, minerals mining/processing/exporting, cement,
etc.) to be taken over by Sri Lankan owned business entities. Capital
investments and introducing advanced technology were a few reasons
for their present foreign ownership which is justifiable.
- · Ensure that profitable industries like telecommunication,
mass media, hospitality, etc. have a significant majority ownership.
- · Attend to grievances, requirements and aspirations of the
Buddhist business community and use political power to solve these
by aligning with the government. Build up strong trade unions of industrialists
throughout the country that can sustain the political party in terms
of funds and votes.
- · Exploitation of untapped resources especially in the North
and the East that were denied to Sri Lankans must be opened to all.
The JHU can assume a considerable responsibility to ensure an equitable
share for all communities, especially for the majority.
- · Encourage more Sinhalese to participate in share dealing
and other lucrative industries new to many rural folks.
- · Initiate more humane and productive ways of exporting labour
than housemaids. Trained nurses, healthcare workers and the like provide
enormous opportunities for Lankans. In fact JHU once requested the
government to encourage this sector and it obviously fell on deaf
ears. A more demanding approach is required to get the message across.
- · Help temples find business avenues of sustenance. Japanese
Buddhist temples provide ample evidence of many businesses (meditation
camps, visits, etc.) that can be carried on without harming religious
principles and outlook.
- · Mediate to find university opportunities for members of
armed forces personnel and disabled personnel on a preferential basis
considering their invaluable contribution towards the protection of
civilised existence and all freedoms that the nation and its people
enjoy today. Neglecting this vast community can have grave and severe
consequences heightened by abusive acts by interested anti-nationalist
forces. Helping them earn their living is the only way out.
- Lobby for more production subsidies for traditional industries with
potential (cane, mask, mats, etc.); direct retail marketing by trade
entities that ensure a lions share of profits to the artists/workers
must be ensured. Production subsidies may well replace consumption
subsidies.
Sadly, a large number of Lankans, especially Sinhala Buddhists still
cling into the welfare state. Only they vote for socialist parties like
LSSP, SLMP, SLCP, NLF, etc. They have failed to attract Tamils and Muslims
in spite of strong minority friendly characteristics due to their defective
economic ideology. A societal change is required to transform the doomed-to-fail
socialist/welfare attitudes to positive and capitalist ones. In strikes
a chord with the declaration by the Chinese Communist Party leader who
said it is glorious to be rich and make more money.
Although the JHU seem to have the right economic attitude, the infrastructure
and the political opening, any political party can rise to the occasion.
The pre-colonial Sri Lankan society was based on industriousness (“Vedavasam”
socio-economic system) where the social system was essentially an economic
system! It was a mighty form of capitalism where people were known by
their economic contribution! It also differed from the South Indian
and Tamil caste system which though based on the tasks performed by
each caste, was rather a social division severely and inhumanely guarded
by uncivilised treatment of sections of their society. The Vedavasam
system on the other hand never deterred anyone from becoming rich or
engaging in religious and societal activities.
Welfare based socialist systems were alien to Sri Lanka and its introduction
has taken a very heavy toll. It is time we find again our economic identity
in the modern capitalist world. The need for a political force to get
there is felt more than ever.
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