Business

National planning comes centre stage at Gamani Corea Foundation forum

Published

2 years ago

2024/04/5

Top left; R.H.W.A. Kumarasiri, Top right; Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Bottom left; Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy, Bottom right; Dr. Lloyd Fernando.

By Lynn Ockersz

‘Sri Lankans are very good at writing plans but nothing very positive has resulted from these efforts over the years. Nevertheless, the country needs a new system of planning and an essential requirement for this is a sound institutional framework coupled with good governance, chairman of the Gamani Corea Foundation (GCF) and a former Director of National Planning Dr. Lloyd Fernando said.

Dr. Fernando was addressing a GCF-initiated and organized symposium on national planning at the BMICH on March 19 titled, ‘Discourse on Lessons Learned through National Planning – The Past, the Present and the Future.’ The wide-ranging and well attended forum brought together policy planners, decision-makers, senior public servants, prominent politicians and thought leaders, among others, who count vitally in national affairs.

A principal aim of the forum was to impress on political parties and their leaders the crucial importance of including national planning in a major way in their manifestoes, now that they are gearing-up for elections expected to be held sometime this year. It was hoped that national planning would underpin all efforts at developing the country.

Among other things, the following matters were mentioned by Dr. Fernando: ‘The 9cs are the backbone of good governance, without which national advancement is unthinkable. Figuring among the Cs are: Participation, Consensuality, Accountability, Transparency, Equity and Inclusiveness, Rule of Law and Strategic Vision.

‘Sections, such as the state, the public sector, the private sector and civil society must work together to bring about economic growth and development, based always on good governance.

‘We need a planned, disciplined approach in taking the country forward. It is crucial that state actors work closely with each other. This applies in particular to the Cabinet, the Planning Council and the Defence establishment. At the end of the day, we need an Administrative Reforms Council. The latter will need to bring under its purview: recruitment policies, minister-Secretary relations, training of public cadre, performance appraisal of state agencies and rewards for performance by public officials.’

‘It is hoped that political leaders would take cognizance of these needs, going forward.’

Speaking on the subject of ‘National Planning Yesterday’, former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy stated the following, among other things: ‘The most comprehensive national development plan to date was formulated under Dr. Gamani Corea in the early fifties. In 1965, the Ministry of National Planning was launched. It discussed all operational aspects in national planning. While a 5 year development plan was initiated in the early seventies to essentially address the issues raised by the youth insurrection of 1971, national planning went out of vogue, as it were, with the liberalization of the economy in 1977. However even in those times, the Dept. of National Planning played a key role.

‘We need to get back to the Committee of Development Secretaries of the seventies which played an important function in development. Besides, it must be ensured that development projects are always in keeping with national priorities.’

Some key points made by CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe in his presentation, ‘A Macroeconomic Framework for the Future’, were as follows: ‘In some past times, monetary policy was allowed to be dominated by fiscal policy. This played a role in precipitating our current economic woes.

‘We have a stronger Central Bank now but a huge problem arises when national policies change with the changing of governments. Debt sustainability is crucial, going forward.

‘We need to independently assess the election manifestoes of political parties with regard to their financial feasibility. Likewise, we need a framework for public financial accountability. An institution with proper skills needs to be set up for this purpose. A debt management unit too is a crucial need.’

Director General of National Planning, R.H.W.A. Kumarasiri making an initial and comprehensive presentation titled, ‘National Planning Today’, drew the attention of the audience, among other issues, to the vital importance of a ‘Public Financial Bill’. This is central to state financial discipline.

During Q&A, Eran Wickremeratne M.P. made the following points: ‘Over the past 40 years, the local public sector has been destroyed. This sector must be independent of politicians. Recruitment to the public sector must be in the hands of public servants. We need to invest heavily in the training of public officials. Politicians should not decide on capital expenditure but we need a robust planning process.’

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Related Topics:Central Bank of Sri Lanka National planning

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Charting a worker-centered AI future: Colombo hosts landmark ITF conference

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

The ITF’s first-ever AI-focused global conference and the first of its kind hosted in Sri Lanka

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Artificial intelligence and automation present serious challenges for workers – such as job consequences seen in docks and rail systems – and emphasises that workers cannot simply stop technological progress. By gathering young trade unionists in Sri Lanka, the ITF aims to establish key principles for engaging with technology, ensuring workers have a strong voice at the bargaining table, and encouraging constructive social dialogue with corporations and governments.

These compelling words from ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton underscored the urgent reality facing modern labor as rapid technological advancements sweep across global industries.

Confronting this shifting landscape head-on, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), in partnership with the National Union of Seafarers of Sri Lanka (NUSS), convened a ground-breaking conference on artificial intelligence in Colombo from September 15–17.

As the ITF’s first-ever AI-focused global conference and the first of its kind hosted in Sri Lanka, the landmark event marked a critical milestone in balancing technological innovation with worker-centered safeguards.

Representing over 16.6 million transport workers worldwide, the ITF designed the gathering to tackle the multifaceted impacts of AI on safety, operations, workforce development, and governance. Rather than resisting progress, the conference focused on proactive engagement, establishing guiding principles to protect workers’ rights and privacy both at sea and on land.

Key discussions centred on sharing best practices for upskilling and reskilling transport personnel, ensuring that human oversight remains central to AI-driven logistics, routing, and maintenance.

Reflecting on the historic nature of the event, Boa Athu, CEO of National Union of Seafarers Asia Pacific, noted that the conference represented a monumental moment as AI emerges as a permanent fixture of contemporary life.

Highlighting NUSS’s pride in hosting the event in Colombo, Athu emphasised that AI offers transformative potential when guided by strong social dialogue, equitable access to training, and robust governance safeguards.

Ultimately, the Colombo conference demonstrated that the future of transport must be shaped by those who keep the world moving. By uniting international labour leaders, affiliates, port operators, and regulators, the event laid a vital foundation for inclusive policy frameworks that champion fair labour standards, securing a powerful voice for workers in an automated tomorrow.

Business

Bridging the digital divide: Sri Lanka’s airport licence challenge

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

As tourism surges from digitally advanced markets like India, modern independent travelers arriving at BIA find themselves caught in a mismatch between cloudstored credentials and local paper-based transport protocols.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

As Sri Lanka experiences a surge in visitors from its largest tourist market, India, a modern administrative hurdle has emerged at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

While nations like India and Pakistan have successfully transitioned to fully digital driving licences and cashless ecosystems, Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic counter still requires a physical card to issue temporary local permits, The Island Financial Review learns.

This mismatch creates significant friction for independent travelers who rely entirely on smartphones and cloud-stored credentials. Tourists turned away at the airport – and sometimes redirected to the Werahera office in vain – find themselves unable to legally rent and drive vehicles. Consequently, this policy gap harms local car rental operators, causes tourist frustration, and deprives the government of valuable permit revenue.

The situation highlights a distinct irony: Sri Lankan motorists easily travel abroad using International Driving Permits that are readily accepted in India and Pakistan, yet local infrastructure cannot reciprocate due to outdated verification systems.

Recognizing the problem, Department of Motor Traffic officials have noted that upgrades and new equipment are currently in the works to integrate foreign digital platforms.

For a nation aggressively pursuing a national digitalisation drive, rapidly modernising these transport protocols is essential to keeping pace with global travelers and unlocking the full potential of its tourism economy.

Business

International Afro-Latin Dance Festival in Colombo to grow into a larger regional tourism draw

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/21

Thilina Walpola

Founder X Director – ALIF – J D RUBAN

ALIF-SL, Sri Lanka’s first-ever international Afro-Latin dance festival, returns for its 4th edition from 25 to 27 September 2026 at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. The festival will bring together over 30 international and national artists and 175–200 participants from more than 20 countries, reaffirming its place as the region’s leading platform for Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba.

This year’s edition is headlined by Tropical Gem, the world’s No. 1 salsa team, travelling from Italy to perform and teach alongside a stellar international line-up. Attendees can also look forward to the ALIF Cup Sri Lanka Open, a keenly contested competition judged by an international panel, giving local dancers a rare opportunity to compete and connect with world-class talent.

“Every year, ALIF connects Sri Lanka to the world. With this year’s artist line-up and the ALIF Cup competition, we’re not just hosting a festival, we’re putting Sri Lanka on the map as a top destination for dance,” said JD Ruban, Founder and Director of ALIF-SL

Beyond the dance floor, ALIF-SL continues to support Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, drawing dancers, judges and enthusiasts from across the globe to Colombo and positioning the capital as an emerging regional hub for social dance. Organizers plan to grow the festival into a larger regional tourism draw, introduce new competition categories, and bring in even bigger headline acts in future editions.