Financial Times

Sad state of affairs -Hemaka
By Feizal Samath
One of Sri Lanka's most respected business leaders last week slammed authorities and political parties for failing to effectively join together in post-tsunami reconstruction efforts and suggested that it's still not too late for a bipartisan state-private sector partnership to drive the entire process.

Hemaka Amarasuriya, in a wide ranging interview dealing with new responsibilities at Singer's global headquarters and many other issues including counselling needs for tsunami victims, told The Sunday Times FT that the government should have invited the private sector in an enormous exercise that the state cannot handle alone.

Do you feel very sad at what's happening? "Very and many others feel too. In a situation like this no one worries about party colours or politics. You think of the country and the people. Even the volunteer work could have been done by the private sector. Lots of companies went out and got involved in cleaning up schools, houses."

He said the private sector, NGOs and civil society were on the ground first. "I was out there myself - that's why I know it. There were no others, no politicians. Victims didn't know what to do. They were looking up into the sky and wondering. They didn't ask for help … they were such decent people."

Amarasuriya, Chairman of Singer (Sri Lanka) Ltd since 1986, was recently appointed as vice president of Singer NV worldwide by the group's global board with HR responsibilities. Echoing the views of many other business leaders of a state of chaos and confusion in post-tsunami reconstruction, the Singer Sri Lanka chairman said, "I don't want to be over-critical of the government but I think it (process) should have been done differently."

He said the government, acting as a guide, should have invited companies to take over certain areas for investment and know-how and carrying the project through. "We (like many others) wouldn't want to donate to a (government) fund and let it rest. We would rather like to get involved in a settlement; developing a school, etc."

Amarasuriya said the government was too slow to react and believed it may have been because in the state everything has to be referred to committees, etc. The Singer Sri Lanka chief urged the government to bring in the private sector, saying it's not too late. "There is a certain amount of suspicion. You can't have suspicion in this situation. Okay … if people have vested interests, let’s manage and control them but let’s get on with the job. They look with suspicion at the NGOs; they look with suspicion at the private sector. In this aura of suspicion how can you get things going? You only have six months … and then nothing gets done. It's the people who suffer at the end - they are caught in between."

He said the country has already lost one month … a vital period. "Everything should have got off during that period. The goodwill has been gradually diminishing. For example I don't know what role Singer can play … we have money, not big money, but all these little drops of water add up to make the ocean. I reckon 100 to 200 private sector companies would come in but they would want some recognition."

He said it was difficult for the private sector to get involved. "If you are not wanted in the effort you don't want to force yourself upon the government." Amarasuriya was shocked at the politics surrounding the tsunami. "The government is having internal battles while people are waiting to come forward to help. It should be far above politics but what we see everyday is politics creeping in. It’s very sad - between the opposition parties or between the Alliance itself."

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