“While the importance of nation-mindedness has increased owing to COVID-19, it is important to note that this is not a concept that’s unique to Sri Lanka; it is present in developed nations as well,” says Asoka Hettigoda.
Hettigoda – who has been awarded the Ayurveda Ratna award by the British parliament for his family’s service to the global Ayurvedic medical sciences – moots a reevaluation of nation-mindedness.
“There are many elements to nation-mindedness going beyond a simple concept of ‘buy Sri Lankan.’ It must also encompass the use of our own raw materials, technology and human capital,” he stresses.
And as the authorities prepare for a COVID-19 recovery and countermeasures, Hettigoda hopes they also shape policies that develop factors that contribute to holistic nation-mindedness.
“Ultimately, nation-mindedness is a collective measure between consumers, companies and the state. Companies must explore all avenues to use local material and talent, while the state develops a policy framework to protect and support local players, and encourages consumers to patronise local industries,” he explains.
And he notes that “Sri Lanka has enjoyed a fairly high level of food security during COVID-19 not because of imports but owing to local industries.”
Hettigoda warns against the embarrassment attributed to being domestically focussed: “Although developing nations perceive some shame in protectionism, even globalised developed economies protect their local industries.”
Meanwhile, he notes that in some cases – in spite of Sri Lanka practising hela wedakama, which is over 6,000 years old (preceding Indian Ayurveda) – trade policies are in place to enable multinationals to sell Ayurvedic products to Sri Lankans.
He muses: “Sri Lankan trade policy is so warped in this that we import Vesak lanterns from China. We have truly become addicted to the
trappings of an import oriented economy.”
“COVID-19 has proven that Sri Lanka won’t starve if it must adopt protectionism and realign itself away from imports,” Hettigoda states, while noting that “with certain embargoes in place, consumers are shifting to local substitutes and developing a taste for native products.”
He adds: “We need to go back to our roots; our economy will blossom, our health and values would improve, and our livelihoods will be unshackled.”
Hettigoda stresses that this shift does not mean moving to inferior goods and services; he points out that local goods and services must continue to be benchmarked against international standards and practices.
What’s more, he recommends that going forward, the government should remove the infrastructure and trade policies that are meant to quash local players while elevating international conglomerates.
“Local players don’t have the deep pockets that international conglomerates enjoy to weather the effects of COVID-19. The government should therefore, create a policy called ‘Reserved for Sri Lanka’ that incentivises and subsidises local players in certain industries, and prioritises
domestic chains,” Hettigoda elaborates.
Commenting on inculcating nation-mindedness at an early age, Hettigoda urges that steps be taken to remove the shame implanted in the
developing years of being nation-minded: “A revived education policy should encourage students in private, public and international schools to consume local food, and take pride in their culture and values.”
He also maintains that steps should be taken to cauterise misguided notions of nation-mindedness with unity: “We must encourage children to value our cultural diversity and heritage.”
“I studied in an Anglican school being a Sinhalese-Buddhist but the school gave each ethnic and religious group – Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Christians – equal opportunity to education and exposure. We were taught that being Sri Lankan was the truest definition of our identity,”
Hettigoda recalls.
He continues: “It is imperative that nation-mindedness values this sort of diversity. Without unity in diversity, there is no growth,
no sustainable development and certainly, no way forward for our pristine island.”
