SRI LANKA’S RESPONSE HAS BEEN SWIFT
Q: How do you view Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 response so far? What are the pros and cons?
A: The state – led by teams of medical officers, and supported by the military and police – has been quite proactive so far; and its ability to respond to the crisis has been both swift and timely. The manner in which the authorities have operated is truly commendable and their efforts have brought Sri Lanka to the forefront of the rankings of affected countries that are able to respond positively to COVID-19.
I do believe however, that the incidents at the airport where several foreigners were allowed to enter Sri Lanka without proper testing are of some concern. For every individual who goes without testing and evades state protocols, the lockdown is potentially extended – and the subsequent effect on the economy is made even worse.
Q: What is the outlook for jobs and employment in the medium term? And how should the authorities address the prospect of rising unemployment?
A: Sri Lanka has several underutilised and unexplored resources that are abundantly available. Land, manpower and skilled human capital, as well natural resources, are the determinants of an industrialised nation. At a time like this – when most businesses and countries have an opportunity to reset their economic and business strategies Sri Lanka should make the most of the opportunity and map its own path to come out of such negative times.
The Sri Lankan economy is riddled with several issues that don’t make sense. For example, being an island with several varieties of fish available, imported products like tinned fish from other countries are readily consumed. If we can take this opportunity to iron out such irregularities and re-strategise our approach to utilising the nation’s resources, Sri Lanka could soften the blow of COVID-19 and even turn things around.
Q: How do you see the ‘new normal’ for business panning out?
A: As business begins to visualise the post-COVID world, fresh direction and perspectives must be adopted by decisions makers, to effectively utilise unexplored natural and commercial resources in an ecologically sustainable manner. Sri Lanka is home to many talented students who are skilled in IT and software; and therefore, we should consider opportunities for software exports. This is just one of several positives.
Similarly, fresh opportunities in the tourism industry need to be explored and its growth must be accelerated to make use of the several hidden gems there are – e.g. tourist attractions that are unbeknownst to the world and simply waiting to be discovered. The COVID-19 crisis has brought all nations onto a level playing field so if businesses and leaders can think fast, Sri Lanka can emerge ahead of the curve.
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