A ‘refreshing’ change

The word refreshments usually conjures up images of tea, cake and shorteats. No workshop, seminar or community gathering is complete without such refreshments, served either midway or at the end of the programme. When visitors come home, we usually serve tea, cake and biscuits.

Apart from tea, the other items in the refreshments list are non-native foods. A common feature of all these foods is that they are made using imported wheat flour. But we can make a difference.

The Government has launched an Api Wawamu Rata Hadamu (Let us grow more food to build the Nation) programme that envisages the eventual stoppage of imports of food items that can be grown locally.

The country now spends millions of dollars per year in hard-earned foreign exchange to import rice, potatoes, onions, fruits and vegetables which can be locally sourced. Developing the local agri sector in this manner will benefit both the farmer and the consumer.

Moreover, it is also in line with the Government’s Ganna Apey De (Buy Lankan Products) campaign.

The onus is on all of us to contribute to this ‘grow more food’ drive in every way we can. It can be a simple yet revolutionary gesture as exemplified by the members of the Kurunegala Pradeshiya Sabha.

Departing from the usual custom of offering a piece of cake and a cup of tea as refreshments the members of the Kurunegala Pradesheeya Sabha officials and media persons attending the council’s monthly meeting were served with a plate of boiled green gram laced with a lump of scraped coconut and “lunumiris” and a cup of liquid cow’s milk during the tea interval under a novel programme initiated by Council Chairman Patrick Karunasinghe to promote the consumption of indigenous food items.

This kind of initiative will send a strong signal to the farmer community that their efforts are being valued by the people’s representatives. It will also be an example to all other local bodies, corporate entities and Government sector institutions to seriously consider shifting their refreshments menu to locally sourced food items.

Kadala, manioc, sweet potatoes, green gram, pastry/sweetmeat items made out of rice flour can all be considered for tea time treats. This could ultimately lead to a mini-revolution in the local agri sector.

Motoring for all

The ‘import’ mentality is so ingrained among Lankans that few were prepared to accept, leave alone drive, a Sri Lankan-made car when Micro cars launched their maiden products around seven years ago. Even the Registrar of Motor Vehicles refused to allow the registration of locally-made cars.

Seven years later, Micro has become the pride of the Nation. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the relevant ministers are taking a keen interest in the expansion of Micro Cars. It is in this context that he participated recently in the handing over of 10 new Micro-built cars to their owners.

Unlike previous administrations, the present Government is giving all concessions and incentives to Micro.

The credit for Micro’s success should go to a Sri Lankan who believed in Lanka’s potential to match and even outdo the established manufacturing countries.

Dr. Lawrence Perera has persistently stuck to his Lankan base and roots even at the worst of times for his fledgling car manufacturing business, when many advised him to shift operations to India.

Now global automotive giants are recognising Micro as a major player in the business. South Korean Sports Utility vehicle manufacturer SsangYong has given Micro the licence to assemble its state-of-the-art cars equipped with Mercedes Benz engines.

Now Micro has added another feather to its cap with the possible export of the SUVs to India, which, along with China, is one of the fastest growing markets for new automobiles.

India will be a crucial test for Micro in its drive to find more export markets. All major auto giants including BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Fiat and VW have plants in India, in addition to the homegrown Maruti (in partnership with Suzuki) and Tata.

Indian buyers are a discerning lot looking for luxury, fuel economy and reliability in one package. If Micro penetrates the Indian market, other markets will beckon soon. In the meantime, Micro should work on adding more local materials and components to its cars to encourage the local supplier base.

That will also help Micro earn more tax concessions that could drive down prices further. It is also heartening to note that several other companies are contemplating the manufacture of cars and utility vehicles locally. The final aim of these efforts should be affordable motoring for all.