The unveiling of Sri Lanka’s National Budget 2024 by President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled for 13 November 2023. With 2024 and 2025 expected to be ‘election’ years, there will be great temptation to resort to vote winning short termism at the expense of sustainable long-term prosperity. Contrary to expectations, it is my hope, and certainly […]
Making sense of nonsense in national budgets Read More »
Sri Lanka will not escape its economic and social doldrums until we, the citizens of this country, demand accountability of our national leaders and public officials as a part of our constitutional right. Acts, directives, regulations, laws, policies and procedures are of little, or no, value if they are not applied and enforced. In a
Demanding accountability of national leaders is a citizen’s right Read More »
Lowest common denominator thinking and the abandonment of meritocracy have contributed to growing mediocrity, in most, if not all, aspects of Sri Lankan society, in the past half century. The policies, strategies and tactics adopted by Sri Lankan leaders since the 1950s smack of lowest denominator thinking. The expression “lowest common denominator” describes, usually in
Sri Lanka has lost her hunger for excellence Read More »
History confirms that a leader’s individual vision is not adequate by itself. While an individual vision may be catalytic, it will never match the force and power inherent in national belonging, commonality of purpose and collective determination – all of which are in a shared vision. Neither will it, on its own, produce the synergies
Electing Sri Lanka’s national leaders: Look for those who inspire a shared vision Read More »
It is not an exaggeration to state that the regimented, structured accounting/auditing training received by articled clerks, primes them to look at most things with a suspicious mind. Being inquisitive is fine, but being over suspicious will lead to wasted energy and poor relationships. Just like a leopard being unable to change its spots, most
From bean counters to business partners: Accountants of the future Read More »
The moment has arrived for Sri Lankan corporates to focus less on intellectuality, analysis, and strategy formulation and more on executing and making strategy work “Although he is a key person in formulating our strategy and is totally supportive of it, he fails in executing it and we end up not meeting our strategic goals
Execution: The Achilles heel of corporate Sri Lanka Read More »
Sri Lanka is currently in the throes of economic and political turmoil. I believe that what we need immediately is a shared vision. Even if we improve our foreign reserve and debt situations through an infusion of IMF funding, IMF driven reforms and debt restructuring, sustainable development can only be achieved through all the stakeholders
Integrated Performance Management: A must in an organisation’s arsenal Read More »
Our reticence in demanding performance and accountability, and our penchant for re-electing failed leaders appear to indicate that we are quick to reward non-accountability and non-performance – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara The dismal failure of Sri Lanka’s citizens to hold their national leaders accountable is, in my view, the root cause of the country’s current
Sri Lankan citizens wake up; demand accountability, it is our right Read More »
Avoiding the pitfalls and confronting the biases The Daily FT met up with Coach, Mentor and Consultant Ronnie Peiris, to understand the contents and context of the workshop he will be conducting on ‘Capital Budgeting – the Investment Decision’ on 2 November at the Cinnamon Lakeside (www.ronniepeiris.com). He highlighted the following based on his 45+ years’ experience
“Investment decision is crucial in this heated economic environment”: Ronnie Peiris Read More »
SOE reforms will not succeed unless the leaders are role models in walking the talk. The tone from the top is critical The reform, and restructure, of Sri Lanka’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), whether it is Government driven or IMF forced, are absolute musts if we are to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of
Reform of state-owned enterprises will go nowhere sans authentic leadership Read More »
