The President of the National Chamber of Exporters, Mr. Patrick Amarasinghe has expressed the view that country’s business community should form its own political party. This is not the first time that this veteran businessman came public over his political intentions. However, if his proposal bears fruit, it will be disastrous to the private sector, politics and the country at large.

Those rooted in industrial and commercial activity should do better by not stretching out to politics, however attractive it may seem. He may perhaps be holding the view that politics may bring in more riches, in a shorter time with no input, no hard work and with lesser education and intelligence, even the Kopi Kade mudalali in the village being able to enter the mainstream of politics through the political party he aims to form!

But it is in the larger interest of commerce and industry for those engaged in the business sector to utilise their time, energy and expertise to expand their business enterprises, improve and increase production, re-invest profits, create more employment opportunities and thereby help improve the economy. Those necessities should not be ignored merely because we are going through a lean era - a period of chaos, disorder and uncertainty as a result of our own ommissions and commissions. It is, therefore, in the interest of the business sector to keep away from active politics.

On the other hand, it is pertinent to consider what Adam Smith, the Scottish philosopher and economist, has said about a private sector dominated economy. Smith has argued that the driving force of a capitalist system is nothing but self interest, contending that it is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer or the baker that we expect our dinner but from their regard to their own interest. We have to address not to their humanity but to their self love and never talk to them of our necessities but of their advantages. Of course, Smith used those arguments to portray the individual as ambitious, thrifty, competitive and acquisitive who would respond to market signals to maximise their gains, which in turn would contribute to the efficiency and success of the private sector. Nevertheless, there also lies the weakness of the system especially when maximising gains for the society as a whole is concerned. The Sinhala ‘proverb’ ‘nariyata bokka hodanna dunna vage’ is apt!

Then again concentration of political power in a sector already holding power in the financial sector cannot be considered good for the country. The country such as ours, cannot afford to permit such a scenario.

Mr. Amarasinghe’s proposal, therefore, is not in the interest of the private sector, politics and the country. My appeal to him, as such, is to drop the idea and carry on with his exports without importing politics to the corporate sector.
Upali S. Jayasekera,
Colombo 4.