Night races, casinos inevitable in SL development but are these priorities?
View(s):Mixed views were expressed on current issues like casinos, night races and inflation when the Sunday Times Business Club (STBC) organised an unusual ‘members forum’ at its last meeting at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel.
At the December monthly meeting, instead of the traditional event where a presenter or a panel of eminent persons would discuss a current topic, members were urged to express their views on three issues that have been widely discussed recently in the media and public forums.
Thus instead of listening to a presentation of views by others, members were called upon to express their own views.
Seventeen STBC members, mostly drawn from the corporate sector while some are entrepreneurs, took part in this interesting, thought-provoking exercise. While some views took into consideration the country’s development path, others took a moral position and concern for decaying standards. Some members were concerned that priorities were necessary to be mapped out in the country’s future vis-a-vis night races and casinos. There was near unanimity that inflation was high and needed to be tackled urgently.
Members were randomly chosen to three groups discussing the topics – casinos, night race and inflation. Each member was given two minutes to express his view – for or against the issue.
Here is a cross section of the views that emerged at the meeting:
On Casinos:
Priyal Perea spoke on both the positives and the negatives of casinos to Sri Lankan society.
Sanjeewa Samaranayake endorsed the move to develop mega casinos but noted that such developments should come under a well regulated structure.
Shantha Dias Gunarathna also took the view that casinos should be promoted as tourism and the economy grows but under a properly regulated system.
Chathuranga Perera was not in favour of the move pointing out the negatives of tourism in Thailand where many rural girls have virtually taken to prostitution to make a living, and was a lesson for Sri Lanka on its tourism growth path.
M.R. A. Hakeem reflected on the country’s socio economic issues of rising inflation and other economic issues and asked whether Sri Lanka has got its priorities right in focusing on casinos. “Do we need this,” he asked.
Chamindika Jude made an interesting argument drawing on history, the era of kings and their concubines, mistresses, the Sigiriya frescoes (bare-breasted women) to assert that this has been the culture for many centuries. Thus casinos, he pointed, out won’t ruin the country’s culture.
Harsha Pathiraja was moderate in his views saying that eventually what is required should be good for the country in all aspects – economic development, social and moral values, and that there is a need to strike a balance.
On Night Races:
Thusitha Ediriweera was of the view that night races are good but they need to be held in a proper venue with least amount of inconvenience to the public. He said city hotels were affected and weddings (planned for many months) disturbed when the races were held in Colombo.
Chandana Senarathna reflected on the country’s pressing economic problems, the exorbitant cost of power that the public has to pay and the cost of hosting the night races. “Is this right? After all we (citizens) have to pay for the costs,” he said.
Randika Perera spoke on the post-war needs where the economy needs to be energised. “Pre-war there were 9.30 pm cinema shows and then the war ended that. Now we are back at 9.30 pm shows. The benefits (developments like night races) outweigh the costs,” he argued.
Nuwan Perera said at the beginning of the discussion he was opposed to night races but the discussion (at his table and taking into consideration Randika’s views) prompted him to arrive at the conclusion that these developments are good for the economy. “We need entertainment.”
Anura Perera said while the economic factor is essential the people’s needs too must be considered, pointing out that when key roads are closed, people are inconvenienced.
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On Inflation:
Senaka Weerasekara said a big (large cabinet) Government would always cost more to the country. He said while cost of living was high, protests from the main opposition parties were weak and ineffective and thus people had little options other than comply with these price hikes.
M.Z.M. Shamil argued that mismanagement, poor policies and monetary management were issues while unfair advantage was being given to political cronies.
He said it was strange that there is tax relief on luxury goods in addition to reducing taxes on casinos when taxes on essential items have risen.
Vijith Fernando said while normal citizens are affected by the cost of living, the economic numbers trotted out doesn’t mean a thing to people. “They (economic data) don’t fill stomachs. These are the real issues.”
The country’ debt trap was what attracted Prassana Samarasinghe who said Sri Lanka was living on loans and eventually the citizens have to pay this. He believed that many of the ‘unaffordables’ in the development path was for the leaders to enjoy while the people suffered.
Samantha Rathnayaka was of the view that the cost of living has been dramatized in the public domain. He said the cost of living is not as it is perceived (by the public).
The club is sponsored by Etisalat, co-sponsored by Hameedia and hosted by Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel.
The next meeting of the club is tomorrow