Financial Times

The business as usual policy
The current political system is such that governments are most likely to change every two years or even earlier. One cynical journalist said last week that, " politicians in power now are obsessed with the thought and ways of making money in two years what they would normally have collected over a five-year period."

There are many weaknesses in the political system. One of it is proportional representation which lacks accountability as far as MPs are concerned. Residents are unable to point the finger of responsibility to the local politician in their village or town. The PR system is unlikely to change despite the slogans of political parties in or out of power.

Meanwhile the UNP's now opposition to the peace process listing out various reasons is a classic example of "oppose for the sake of opposing." It is abundantly clear to any political observer that the next 10 years would be testing times for Sri Lanka with a permanent solution to the peace process unlikely to achieved. The ceasefire however is likely to continue with the Tigers getting the upper hand all the time - as governments keep changing.

It is also evident that governing parties are not going to do what they say when in opposition or fulfil election promises or election slogans. The ruling UPFA, which was opposed to the Tigers being the sole representative of the Tamils; discussion of the interim administration proposal and having talks overseas - when it was in opposition, has now agreed to all, conscious of the fact that opposing these moves could result in derailing the peace talks. The JVP, arch critics of all what the Tigers did, are also learning the bitter lessons of governing and political manoeuvring.

The UNP has adopted the usual stance by any opposition party notwithstanding what it did or said when in power. It is opposed to peace talks-coming up with a weak explanation for doing so. Has any opposition party in this country for that matter whole-heartedly supported a peace process? The UNP torn up President Chandrika Kumaratunga's proposed constitution reforms drafted by none other than Prof. G.L. Peiris among others. Kumaratunga on the other hand created obstacles during the UNP's peace initiative. The UNP is now taking its revenge. The political show goes on -unchanged despite the usual promises trotted out by our well-fed and well-enriched politicians.

The donor community pleads for a quick resumption of the peace process with a similar message expected to come from this week's meeting in Brussels. But has that changed anything? Remember these donor requests have been made for more than a year - since peace talks ground to a halt in April 2003 - and everything Norwegian, Japanese or US dignitaries visit Colombo and Killinochchi.

So where do we go from here? Isn't it time for the private sector to move on and take a "business as usual" attitude as long as there is an environment of non-interference by the government. There have been some good examples of Sri Lankan companies ignoring the frequent changes of government and moving ahead with their investments and creation of employment. Italy with elections as frequent as in Sri Lanka is one good example of how the private sector is virtually untouched by political changes - but that's also because of a strong bureaucracy.

There is every reason for the business community to move on, as economic policies have thankfully remained largely unchanged in the past 10 years or more. There has been a lot of tinkering to suit political needs but by and large the free-market policies have remained intact. Even the JVP, as part of the government and holding key ministries, is learning the bitter lesson of having to swallow some of its old sayings.

It is vital in the interests of the economy for the business community to move on and continue its role as the engine of growth while leaving the government to provide the policy framework and guidelines to make that task easier.

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