Features
Understanding Poverty: A complex, multidimensional challenge
Poverty is one of the most pressing and pervasive issues facing the world today. It affects billions of people globally, diminishing their quality of life, limiting their opportunities, and perpetuating a cycle of deprivation that can span generations. Understanding poverty requires a multidimensional approach that goes beyond mere economic measures. It encompasses social, cultural, political, and environmental factors, each contributing to the persistence of poverty and shaping the lived experiences of those affected by it.
Defining Poverty
Poverty is typically defined as the state of lacking sufficient financial resources to meet basic living standards such as food, shelter, and healthcare. The most common measure is income poverty, where individuals live on less than a certain amount per day. For instance, the World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $1.90 a day. However, poverty is not solely about income. The multidimensional poverty index (MPI) considers various factors, including education, health, and living standards, providing a more comprehensive view of poverty.
Sri Lanka’s economic growth and extreme level of corruption have been a crucial factor in reducing poverty. The expansion of sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, and services has provided new employment opportunities, particularly in urban areas. However, the benefits of economic growth have not been evenly distributed. Additionally, the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the vulnerability of many households, pushing some back into poverty due to loss of income and employment.
Economic Factors
The economic dimensions of poverty are often the most visible and measurable. Unemployment, underemployment, and low wages are primary contributors to poverty. In many developing countries, large segments of the population work in informal sectors with no job security, benefits, or legal protections. Economic instability and lack of access to credit also exacerbate poverty, trapping individuals and families in a cycle of debt and financial insecurity.
Globalization and technological advancements have created economic growth in many regions, but the benefits have not been equitably distributed. Wealth concentration among the elite contrasts sharply with widespread poverty. Economic policies and practices, such as austerity measures, can also negatively impact the poor, reducing access to essential services and support.
Social and Cultural Factors
Social and cultural factors play a significant role in perpetuating poverty. Discrimination, based on race, gender, ethnicity, or religion, can limit access to education, employment, and social services. Gender inequality is particularly notable, with women often experiencing higher rates of poverty due to systemic barriers such as wage gaps, limited employment opportunities, and the burden of unpaid care work.
Cultural norms and traditions can also influence poverty. In some societies, rigid social structures and expectations restrict social mobility, making it difficult for individuals to improve their economic status. Additionally, marginalized communities may lack political representation, further entrenching their disadvantaged positions.
Health and Education
Health and education are critical components of the poverty equation. Poor health can be both a cause and consequence of poverty. Lack of access to healthcare services, inadequate nutrition, and unsafe living conditions contribute to high morbidity and mortality rates among the poor. Health issues can limit individuals’ ability to work or attend school, thereby reducing their economic opportunities and perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
Education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty. However, access to quality education remains uneven, particularly in low-income countries. Children from poor families often face barriers such as inadequate school facilities, lack of trained teachers, and the need to work to support their families. Without education, these children are less likely to secure well-paying jobs, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
Sri Lanka boasts high literacy rates and relatively good health indicators compared to other South Asian nations, thanks to its focus on free education and healthcare services. These investments have helped build human capital and enhance economic opportunities for the poor.
Environmental Factors
Environmental issues, like deforestation, soil erosion, and water scarcity, can devastate these communities, reducing their income and food security.
Climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities. Extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes, disproportionately impact poor communities, which often lack the resources to recover and rebuild. Additionally, the poor are more likely to live in areas prone to environmental hazards due to cheaper land prices, increasing their risk of exposure to natural disasters.
Political Factors
Political instability, corruption, and poor governance are significant barriers to poverty reduction. In many countries, corruption siphons off resources that could be used for social services, infrastructure, and economic development. Political instability disrupts economic activities, discourages investment, and leads to displacement and insecurity.
Effective governance and political will are crucial for poverty alleviation. Policies that promote economic growth, ensure fair distribution of resources, and protect human rights are essential. Social safety nets, such as unemployment benefits, healthcare, and education subsidies, can provide a buffer against economic shocks and help lift people out of poverty.
Challenges and Barriers to Sri Lanka
A significant barrier to poverty reduction in Sri Lanka is the pervasive corruption among politicians and certain segments of the administration, particularly within revenue-collecting institutions, such as customs. This corruption undermines economic growth and equitable development by diverting resources that could otherwise be used for social welfare programmes, infrastructure improvements, and other poverty alleviation initiatives. Moreover, the inefficiency and lack of transparency in these institutions hinder effective governance, erode public trust, and create an environment where illicit practices can flourish, further entrenching poverty and inequality. Addressing this issue requires robust anti-corruption measures, institutional reforms, and enhanced accountability mechanisms to ensure that resources are used effectively and equitably for the benefit of all citizens.
Microfinance: A Double-Edged Sword
Microfinance has been promoted as a tool for poverty alleviation by providing small loans to those who lack access to traditional banking services. However, in Sri Lanka, microfinance has also contributed to sustaining poverty. Many microfinance institutions charge very high interest rates, trapping borrowers in a cycle of debt. Instead of lifting families out of poverty, these loans can exacerbate financial stress and lead to further economic hardship.
High interest rates and aggressive collection practices have led to widespread indebtedness among poor households. Borrowers often take out multiple loans to repay existing debts, leading to a vicious cycle of borrowing and repayment. This situation is particularly dire in rural areas, where economic opportunities are limited, and borrowers have fewer means to repay their debts.
Addressing Poverty: A Multifaceted Approach
Addressing poverty requires a comprehensive, multifaceted approach that tackles its root causes and mitigates its effects.
Policies should focus on inclusive economic growth, controlling corruption, ensuring that the benefits of development reach the poorest segments of society. Investing in education and healthcare is vital for building human capital and improving long-term economic prospects.
Social policies must address discrimination and promote equality. Empowering marginalized communities through legal reforms, political representation, and social programmes can help break the cycle of poverty. Gender-sensitive policies are particularly important, as women and children often bear the brunt of poverty’s effects. Expanding and strengthening social protection programmes to cover more vulnerable groups, including informal workers, elderly, and disabled individuals.
Environmental sustainability should be integrated into poverty reduction strategies. Protecting natural resources, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and addressing climate change are essential for ensuring the long-term well-being of impoverished communities. Disaster risk reduction and resilience-building measures can also mitigate the impacts of environmental shocks.
International cooperation and aid play a crucial role in supporting poverty reduction efforts, particularly in the poorest countries. However, aid should be carefully managed to ensure it reaches those who need it most and supports sustainable development.
Job Creation and Formalization:
Encouraging job creation in both urban and rural areas, with a focus on formalizing the informal sector. Providing training and skills development can help workers transition to more secure and better-paying jobs.
Education and Healthcare:
Continuing to invest in education and healthcare to build human capital. Enhancing the quality of education and making healthcare services more accessible, particularly in rural areas, will contribute to long-term poverty reduction.
Conclusion
Poverty is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a holistic approach to address effectively. It is not merely about a lack of income but encompasses various dimensions, including health, education, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. By working together at local, national, and international levels, we can create a more equitable and just world where poverty is significantly reduced, and all individuals have the opportunity to thrive.
A major barrier that Sri Lanka faces is the extreme level of corruption among politicians and certain segments of the administration, especially within revenue-collecting institutions, such as customs. By adopting a comprehensive and inclusive approach that addresses the root causes of poverty and promotes sustainable development, Sri Lanka can continue to make strides towards eradicating poverty and ensuring a better quality of life for all its citizens. The road ahead requires concerted efforts from the government, civil society, and the international community to build a more equitable and resilient nation.
(The writer, a senior Chartered Accountant and professional banker, is Professor at SLIIT University, Malabe. He is also the author of the “Doing Social Research and Publishing Results”, a Springer publication (Singapore), and “Samaja Gaveshakaya (in Sinhala). The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the institution he works for. He can be contacted at saliya.a@slit.lk and www.researcher.com)
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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