Peace and development

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was only giving expression to a truism when he said that there can be no peace without development.

In an interview with the prestigious Forbes Magazine the President also reiterates his post-war stand that there can no longer be any question of holding back on development citing the war as a convenient excuse. He said he wanted to be remembered as the leader who ushered in peace and development to the country.

It goes without saying that development brings peace and contentment obviating the need for rebellion. It is the disparity in development that caused all major uprisings in this country in the post independence era even giving rise to the slogan Kolambata kiri apita kekiri.

It is gratifying to note that development has now encompassed the entire country with hitherto backward localities even surpassing the urban sprawls. The end of the war could only speed up the process, eventually eliminating the disparities that gave rise to rebellion in the past, leading to permanent peace.

The President is only too aware that peace and development are two sides of the same coin. For, without development, there cannot be jobs, the lack of which formed the basis for unrest in this country. Even the Southern insurrection had its genesis in the marginalization of the youth due to lack of employment opportunities which can be generated only through development. Ditto for the North.

But development alone will not bring peace if this development is asymmetrical benefiting only a privileged a few. This was also the main grouse by the youth who took up arms. There should be an equitable distribution of wealth and resources to be shared by all. The main complaint of the youth of the ’71 Uprising was that a handful of families enjoyed 80 percent of the country’s resources. They were clamouring for equality and justice.

Also development for the sake of development would not suffice. It should take a tangible form so that the people could enjoy its real fruits. This is where the Government would need to plan out its strategies identifying the specific needs of the people.

Hitherto most of our development was not planned and mostly lop sided. That is how it left room for accusations of stepmotherly treatment, that the fruits accruing from this type of development was shared only among the rich.

The President who is essentially a man of the masses with socialist credentials no doubt will take steps to redress the balance.

He now has the best opportunity to make this a reality no more hamstrung by considerations of war. Now is the time to take a second look at the direction in which the economy is traversing and make the necessary adjustments so that justice will be done to all.

True, under a capitalist system it is difficult to ensure equal distribution of wealth. The dynamics of an open economy also does not allow for a proper streamlining of resources into the most deserving. However, measures could be put in place to ensure that the haves don’t run away with the bounty and that the fruits of development are enjoyed by all.

The trickle down theory followed by the UNP Governments have proven a failure with the rich becoming richer and the poor still poorer. An alternative plan should be worked out to make poor benefit in a more tangible way.

Development also should be multi-pronged taking into account the specific needs of different communities in different areas. But care should be taken to avoid lop sided development that benefits one community while leaving out others. The repercussions were witnessed both in the South and the North.

Equality in development will also speed up the reconciliation process while engaging the youth in productive pursuits weaning them away from rebellious thoughts and tendencies. In short, a contended youth population will have no reason to entertain such thoughts while they immerse themselves in the opportunities opened to them through development.

There could be no better opportunity than this for the President to work out a new development model for the country with the new independence gained, where no community or segment will be left behind.

Also considering the neglect and being cut off from the national mainstream for over three decades, the North and East is naturally receiving priority in the development sphere. Once brought on par with the rest of the country, it is vital to ensure that balance is maintained so that no community or segment would be left out from the process.