Authors: Srimal Fernando and Mizly Nizar*
Sri Lanka geopolitically positioned at an important inter section in the Indian Ocean is on a developmental approach to reinvigorate its socio-economic growth. The interconnectivity between India and Sri Lanka and the broad-based economic expansion policy  plans of ‘New India 2022’ and ‘Vision 2025’ of Sri Lanka indicates the extent to which the two countries vie to continue with reforms to increase growth , jobs and wages.
Sri Lanka’s vision 2025 is founded on a set of core principles including a strategy for national exports, social market economy and a skill pool to match the demands of the job market. Vision 2025 has fixed targets of achieving an annual export income of US$ 20 billion, increase foreign direct investment (FDI) up to US$ 5 billion and to create employment opportunities for at least a million Sri Lankans by 2025. This ambitious goal is however not without apprehension. The statistical figures in the recent past since the new government came into power in 2015 indicate a steady decline in annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates. The 5 % growth rate in 2015 has fallen to a low of 3.1 % in 2017.
The looming elections which could cause market volatility closer to the polls and the sense of the existence of a shadow government appears to have lowered investor confidence. Hence a strong political leadership is cited  as the  defining factor  for the success of this  vision plan in the next few years. Furthermore, another important factor to boost investor confidence and enhance the economy is to have concrete measures for transparency and accountability in all processes in both the public and the private sector administrations.
It is commonly acknowledged that the key element to enterprise reforms in Sri Lanka  is the development  of the micro enterprise sector with the promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which  generate  over 50% of GDP. Hence, subsidies for small agricultural holdings can be perhaps cited as one of most important factors that can drive the economic growth levels of SMEs while also facilitating the country to achieve required levels in food security.
Though the country has seen a decline in poverty over the years, income disparity remains one of the highest among Asian countries. The Poverty Head Count Index had dropped from 8.9 in 2009/10 to 4.1 in 2016. However, despite the rising income levels as reflected through per capita GDP estimates, income inequality remains high with the poorest 20% of the population accounting for only 4.8 % of the income while the richest 20% have earned 50.8% of the total income. Hence, while initiating measures to boost economic growth, it is imperative to have processes in place to increase the share of national income available to the poor.
Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) are important to boost the economy for small countries such as Sri Lanka. FDI’s in the country have seen a steady increase from USD 680 million in 2015 to USD 1.4 billion in 2017. It is expected that the new Inland Revenue Act and the Foreign Exchange Act aimed at promoting the investment climate will help Sri Lanka achieve its target of US$ 5 billion by 2025.
Over the past ten years the nation’s development agenda has been based on  state level  interventions with borrowings from foreign nations  at high interest rates. These loans put pressure on the country’s economy. Heavy borrowings from China and India come with their own strategic interests impinging on Sri Lanka’s development agenda. The National Unity Government elected in 2015 began to advocate radical economic reforms by obtaining loans through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to boost economic growth. One of the most widely adopted economic reform measures entail tax reforms to increase government revenue, as agreed with the IMF in exchange for a $1.5 billion, three-year loan.
The country’s export performance had recovered after the slump in the years 2015 and 2016 to USD 11.4 billion in 2017 slightly higher than the 2014 figure of USD 11.1 billion. Improvement in export income occurred through the restoration of the GSP + with effect from May 19, 2017 providing exports from Sri Lanka preferential market access on par with countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and several countries from Africa and South America.
The recent investment of USD 1.5 billion by China in the Colombo Port City project helped boost the country’s economy. Another important foreign exchange earner to the country is worker remittances amounting to USD 7.2 billion in 2017 from around 1.8 million Sri Lankans working abroad.
Although economic reforms as cited above have played a role in attempting to increase economic performance, there is still a long way to go in meeting the set targets in the Vision 2025 Sri Lanka policy report. Despite having measures in place to achieve these objectives, the most important transformation for Sri Lanka should be one that reflects sustainable economic growth that is inclusive while incorporating measures for multidimensional development in the socio, economic and political spheres.
*Mizly Nizar is a foreign policy analyst and a former visiting lecture at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS)and the Open University of Sri Lanka.
