Dr Sarath Obeysekera

What are the lessons we can learn in Sri Lanka now run by a extreme ex communist party 

It’s tempting to think the secret” is simply one-party rule, but that’s not what made China and Vietnam grow so fast. Many countries have had centralized political systems without achieving anything close to their economic transformation. The real lessons are more practical—and frankly, less ideological.

1. Ideology was bent to suit reality

Both China (since Deng Xiaoping’s reforms) and Vietnam (through Đổi Mới) quietly abandoned rigid state control of the economy while keeping political control intact.

They allowed:

• Private enterprise
• Foreign investment
• Export-driven manufacturing

Lesson for Sri Lanka: Economic pragmatism must override political dogma. Whether a party is left” or right” matters less than whether it allows business to function efficiently.

2. Strong state, but not suffocating state

China and Vietnam didn’t disappear from the economy—they guided it strategically:

• Built infrastructure ahead of demand
• Directed credit to priority sectors
• Created export zones with fewer restrictions

But they did not micromanage every enterprise.

Lesson: Sri Lanka doesn’t need a weak state—it needs a competent, disciplined state that sets direction but doesn’t choke private initiative.

3. Ruthless focus on production, not consumption

Both countries emphasized:

• Manufacturing
• Exports
• Industrial zones and promoting FDI

They avoided the trap Sri Lanka often falls into: over-reliance on imports, services, and consumption-led growth.

Lesson: Without a strong production base (industry, logistics, energy), growth will always be fragile.

4. Policy consistency over decades

China and Vietnam maintained long-term economic direction regardless of internal political shifts.

Sri Lanka, by contrast, frequently changes:

• Tax regimes
• Investment rules
• Trade policies

Lesson: Investors value predictability more than incentives. Stability is more powerful than slogans.

5. Meritocratic (though not perfect) administration

Both systems promoted technocrats who could deliver results—especially in economic zones and infrastructure.

Lesson: Party  loyalty alone cannot run an economy. Sri Lanka must:

• Strengthen institutions
• Appoint competent professionals
• Reduce politicization of state enterprises

6. Openness to global capital—on their own terms

China and Vietnam invited foreign investors but:

• Negotiated hard
• Forced technology transfer
• Linked FDI to exports

Lesson: Sri Lanka often swings between over-dependence and over-suspicion. A balanced approach is needed—strategic openness with clear national benefit.

7. Discipline and accountability

This is uncomfortable but important:

• Corruption exists in both countries
• But large-scale economic sabotage is punished swiftly

Lesson: Enforcement matters. Rules without consequences are meaningless.

Where the comparison can mislead

Sri Lanka is not China or Vietnam:

• Smaller market
• Democratic system
• Different geopolitical position
• Higher social expectations

Trying to copy their political model would likely backfire. But adapting their economic discipline is entirely possible.

About extreme ex-communist” governance in Sri Lanka

If a government comes from a leftist background, the real test is this:

Can it transition from ideological purity to economic delivery?

China and Vietnam succeeded because they abandoned economic rigidity, not because they enforced it.

If Sri Lanka goes the opposite way—more control, more suspicion of private capital, more policy unpredictability—it will stall regardless of ideology.

Bottom line

The lesson is not:

One-party rule creates growth.”

The real lesson is:

Consistent, pragmatic, production-focused economic management—backed by a capable state—creates growth.

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera