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Stop excessive money printing to avert a far worse crisis – SJB
‘The only way prices can be controlled is not by gazette or emergency rule, but via the market itself’
In principle price controls fail, and they create shortages and black markets. The only way prices can be controlled is not by gazette or emergency rule, but via the market itself, says top Samagi Jana Balavegaya spokesman and economist Dr. Harsha de Silva.
Issuing a statement in the wake of the government doing away with price control, Dr. de Silva has said: “To do so, the reason why prices are increasing must be determined. Is it a temporary increase due to a supply shortage, say a drought or flood or is it because aggregate demand has increased due to increased money supply? The answer will depend on what is causing prices to rise.
“In the case of Sri Lanka, the massive expansion of money is the cause for continuous increase in prices or inflation. This is the reason for the rapid depreciation of the currency as well. The only short-term solution to reduce this excessive rate of money growth is to stop excessive money printing. If monetary accommodation is continued inflation could turn into hyperinflation and further depreciation of the currency leading to serious social unrest.
“However, the reality is that much of the population cannot bear the increasing costs. It is not a secret that middle-class families have had to cut down on expenses. The situation among the low-income families is a lot worse. People have had to give up meals. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure people don’t starve due to the total mess up of the economy by the politicized Central Bank that continuously ran its printing press a la modern monetary theory that was bound to fail. It is imperative that an income support mechanism be implemented for the most vulnerable immediately. This can be implemented via the Samurdhi scheme even though it is nowhere near ideal.
“Beyond the short term and in a more stable macroeconomic environment, we need to be more productive. For instance, accurate information on weather, better use of technology, application of right amounts of fertiliser, efficient storage and logistics would help improve the supply of agricultural produce. Similarly, the productivity must increase in manufacturing and services.
“In the meantime, the government must correct market failures by appropriate regulation to foster competition in the market. Take for instance the rice market. While there is more than enough paddy harvested there is a huge shortage of rice. That is because the rice manufacturing market has been captured by a few big millers and competition has been wiped out. The way to correct that market failure is to empower the hundreds of SME rice millers by providing them working capital and get their supply into the market. Instead, the government has now decided to import rice to control the prices. This wrong policy will make the problem worse, from market failure to government failure. When imports are stopped, all the SME millers would be out of business the big players will completely dominate the market.
“The SJB believes in a social market economy where competition will be encouraged with necessary amount of regulation to maintain a stable market. We will ensure that all parties to a transaction, the firm or the investor, the worker or the farmer and the regulator or government would together arrive at sustainable equilibrium so that longer term growth with equity could be maintained. However, given that the economy is in such dire straits, the truth must be told to the public that there is no free lunch and we as a nation will have no option but to work hard to a plan. And that plan will call for significant economic reforms and integrating Sri Lanka with global production networks. The resulting export-led growth, as opposed to the current import-substitution led growth, would significantly elevate living standards of our people while allowing for sufficient funding to provide safety nets for those in need.”
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
