Hiran wants corporate sector to break free from “what’s in it for me” attitude

 By Nishel Fernando 
As Sri Lanka faces an exodus of youth migration amid the unprecedented economic crisis, Jetwing Group Chairman Hiran Cooray called for an attitudinal change from the corporate sector and the general public to gain sustainable economic recovery.

“I used to get updates on the budget from my colleague. If there’s nothing related to tourism in it, I tend to forget it.That’s how self-centered we are. That’s how self-centered the business community is. If there’s nothing in it for us, then nothing else matters. As Sri Lankans, we have got used to what’s in it for us mentality, which needs to be changed,” Cooray said joining a post budget forum organised by the Centre for Banking Studies (CBS) of the Central Bank
this week.

Sharing his son’s views, Cooray said the younger generation blames the past generations for letting the country to plunge into the current economic abyss with this self-centered attitude. 
He stressed that active public engagement is required to drive the required change particularly in public administration and
economic management.

“For example, there’s a good network of buses and trains in Sri Lanka. They may not be clean; they may not leave on time; but you can get from A to B with our public transport. The people who don’t use must use them and must demand the necessary changes without remaining silent. In 2-3 years, things will change for the better. Then, we can proudly recommend our public bus and railway services to anyone coming to Sri Lanka,” he said. 

Although, successive governments have presented budgets for a ‘new Sri Lanka’ eyeing the next election cycle, Cooray pointed out that budget promises were hardly delivered and people, specially the country’s youth, have lost faith and interest in the
budget process.

Hence, he urged the authorities to focus on effectively communicating the measures to implement the budget proposals to bridge the trust deficit between the people
and the government.