“For Sri Lanka to attain the 7 to 8% growth it is essential for a stable and progressive economy, opined Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber Duminda Hulangamuwa, (Pictured) speaking at a NextGenSL event on a cross-party approach to economic development.
“To achieve this sustained effort of 10 to 15 years is necessary and this will be surpassing the typical term of a political party. To maintain consistent growth, we must establish stable economic policies that remain unchanged regardless of the ruling political party. Achieving this requires a unified consensus among all political parties.”
Only when this consensus is reached will the public rally behind it, as they seek leadership from their political representatives.’
Marking a landmark initiative aimed at fostering cross-party cooperation, NextGenSL, a platform dedicated to empowering young leaders from the main political camps, convened representatives from 15 political parties for a two-day consultation session. The gathering culminated in the development of an initial draft for a cross-party governance and economic development framework, signaling a new step forward in Sri Lanka’s political landscape. He also commended the collaborative efforts and underscored the importance of inclusive governance for sustainable development.
Under the auspices of NextGenSL, delegates from diverse political backgrounds engaged in constructive discussions, focusing on key issues concerning governance, economic development, and social progress.
Over the course of the consultations, participants collaborated to craft acomprehensive framework that draws from a range of sources, including political manifestos, an IMF diagnostic report, and frameworks from civil organizations.
The Zero draft of the framework, prepared by the Advocata Institute, served as the foundation for deliberations.
Technical expertise was provided by eminent scholars including Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Dr. Sharmini Cooray, and Dr. Shanta Devarajan, who offered insights to enrich the document. Additionally, Murtaza Jafferjee and Suresh Shah played key roles in strengthening the framework through engagement with young leaders.
Special recognition was extended to individuals such as Dhananath Fernando from Advocata and Namini Panditha from the Liberal Youth Movement for their invaluable contributions and partnership in the endeavor. Looking ahead, NextGenSL announced plans for five additional consultations in the coming weeks, aimed at gathering further political insights and refining the framework.
The final document containing the cross-party framework will be handed over to the leaders of all main political parties urging them to incorporate the recommendations into their election manifestos.
