Opinionwww.ft.lk

monday FEBRUaRy 09, 201512

EvEry year in January, India lays out the red carpet to members of the Indian dias-pora and hosts them to a week-long junket.

The Indian diaspora, smartly referred to as Non-resident Indians (NrI), travel from the four corners of the globe to participate in networking sessions, information ses-sions on India’s economic prosperity and to rekindle old memories of the homeland they left behind.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is designed to connect India with its vast dias-pora and to explore ways of tapping into the diaspora’s extensive knowledge, exper-tise and skills for mutually beneficial pur-poses.

Many of those who attend PBD would return to India later on; to invest in upstarts, to takeover high level jobs at some of the Indian conglomerates, on buying and selling missions for companies in the coun-tries of their domicile, to participate in trade and cultural exchanges. Some would return to buy homes and live close to their relatives at least for the foreseeable future.

This is just one scenario of the “re-link-ing” of expatriates with their homelands; a scenario that is exceedingly being played out in a world that has recognized the potential of tapping into the vast resource that is the diaspora.

Diasporas have been part of the world for centuries. From biblical times, individuals as well as groups of people large and small have left the countries of their birth, seek-ing new lives in distant lands. Some were motivated by adventure, many fled perse-cution and others in search of greener pas-tures.

Tough challenges earlierHistorically, those who immi-

grated to distant lands would never really return to their homelands. Those days new immigrants faced the tough challenges of housing, feeding and educating their kith and kin.

For many, overcoming culture shock in itself was an uphill battle, and the call for assimila-tion was real and daunting. The distance between the new and old countries seemed to appear even farther at a time when communications and overseas travel were costly and consid-ered luxuries.

A century ago, an immigrant would wave goodbye to this fam-ily and friends and tearfully undertake an arduous one-way journey to a distant and unfa-miliar land. They would never again see these loved ones.

Many years later, those of more recent generations would remember the “airmail” letters that arrived months apart from each other, bringing news of who married who, of new births and deaths and the occasion-

al newspaper clipping showcasing a major political development or a natu-ral catastrophe back home.

Naturally, immigrants of pre-vious generations would soon lose any semblance of empathy, along with connections to the land of their birth and to those who remained. They would be replaced by new ideologies, new friends and even new taste buds. Hence, the notion that those who had the courage (and the financial capability) to leave one’s shores would never return and therefore would be a loss to the homeland.

But that was then and this is now.

Fundamental breakT o d a y, a n i m m i g r a n t

lands at Toronto’s Pearson International and immediately

sends a text to his mother announcing his safe arrival and complaining about the inflight food. Before long, he is part of a thriving multicultural society, drinking Canadian beer while discussing Sri Lankan politics.

Thanks to Facebook, viber, Skype,

Instagram, Flickr and a host of social net-working and online news sites, today’s immigrants are connected to their home-lands than ever before. I am amazed to wit-ness people who left Sri Lanka 40 years ago rejoicing at the news of recent political changes back in their homeland. Not too long ago, the name “Bodu Bala Sena” riled up more negative emotions here than the bitter cold Canadian winter.

As the world becomes more and more networked, diasporas are now connected dynamically to the countries of their ori-gin. This is a fundamental break from the way past immigrants were viewed. Add to that the relatively inexpensive airfare of today and what you have are immigrants who have excellent access to their home countries. Knowledge of what would have been distant lands with fading memories is now vibrant, continuously refreshed, debated and analysed.

Pluralistic societiesPluralistic societies of the Western world

not only tolerate such attachments and allegiances to the old world, but welcome the diversity it creates. What would mod-ern Canada be, for instance, without her Chinatowns, curry houses, noodle shops, shawarma shops and even hopper huts?

Turning away from the early American immigration philosophy of the “melting pot,” today’s multicultural nations expect immigrants to retain their cultural identity and exist within distinct cultural commu-nities while becoming part and parcel of their adopted countries.

And today’s immigrants have risen to the challenge, by and large, becoming illustri-ous citizens of the countries of their domi-cile while also maintaining strong cultural, social and economic links with the coun-tries they left behind.

This seem to be turning tables on the con-cept of immigrants being classified as “ex-patriots” or those who left, never to return. In fact, today’s immigrants never really leave. They can successfully belong to two countries. Hence the contemporary valid-ity of India’s acceptance of her expatriates as “Non-resident Indians.”

In a nutshell, diasporas matter today. Diasporas are viewed as a beneficial force for source countries as well as host coun-tries.

Reversing brain drainFormer US Secretary of State Hillary

Clinton drilled this point home in a 2012 speech to the Global Diaspora Forum in Washington, DC, when she said: “By tap-

ping into the experiences, the energy, the expertise of diaspora communities, we can reverse the so-called ‘brain drain’ that slows progress in so many countries around the world, and instead offer the ben-efits of the ‘brain gain’”.

Just think. What better way is there for countries and multinational corporations to build connections across borders than to do it through the diaspora. They are clued in to developments in their old homelands, extremely well informed of prevailing political and social dynamics, have person-al contacts at ground zero and know their way around.

Their knowledge of the local language, culture and business customs, coupled with their exposure to western ethics and accountability requirements, make them potent influencers. These are valuable busi-ness traits that an American corporate executive on a three-day fact-finding visit would give an arm and a leg to have.

In Canada, the diaspora is widely credit-ed as a link that brings Canada to the world and the world to Canada. With a popula-tion comprising of over 100 different eth-nicities, Canada has realised the benefits of engaging some of their knowledge and expertise to enhance cross-border trade and also uses their insights to fine-tune her foreign policy.

In addition to facilitating global reach and commercial opportunity, the diaspora is also exposed to and well-versed in good governance practices and Western busi-ness ethics and are likely to be a strong sup-portive voice for civil society organisations and change agents working in countries with corrupt regimes.

Relook policySri Lanka should take another look at

its policy of engaging her large diaspora. Perhaps a new policy of re-linking with this population is in order; one that does not necessarily call for them to return, but a policy that envisions the building of bridges between the new countries of their domicile and the old countries of their youth.

Through such bridges, Sri Lanka would witness the exchange of knowledge, trade, democratic dialogue and a host of other ideas that will enrich both the old and the new world.

(The writer is a former journalist in mainstream media and now lives in Canada. He could be

reached via email: mohan.Samarasinghe@rogers.com.)

Relinking the diaspora with their homeland is a win-win for all

ImmIgrants In a networked world

Pluralistic societies of the Western world not only tolerate attachments and allegiances to the old world, but welcome the diversity it creates. What would modern Canada be, for instance, without her Chinatowns, curry houses, noodle shops, shawarma shops and even hopper huts?

Sri Lanka should take another look at its policy of engaging her large diaspora. Perhaps a new policy of re-linking with this population is in order; one that does not necessarily call for them to return, but a policy that envisions the building of bridges between the new countries of their domicile and the old countries of their youth. Through such bridges, Sri Lanka would witness the exchange of knowledge, trade, democratic dialogue and a host of other ideas that will enrich both the old and the new world

guest Column

By Mohan Samarasinghe

KING Solomon, the great King of Israel, in building the nation of Israel during his reign to be one of most successful nations at that time, said: “Where there is no vision, people perish.”

He was the third king of Israel, who built Israel to become a most powerful nations with great pros-perity its people at that time. History records that many leaders from the many countries visited him to learn from his wisdom and strategy. The story of Queen Sheba from Ethiopia visiting him learned from his wisdom is well known.

Where there is no vision, people perish

It is this statement ‘Where there is no vision, people perish’ of King Solomon that was taken in serious-ly by global corporates in building their business empires to become forces to be reckoned with. It is first the artist’s impression that counts. If you are building a house, bridge or a city. Thereafter plan-ning and working on the processes to lay the foundations and create the framework to build on.

President Maithripala Sirisena in his Independence Day address to the nation articulated priority of nation building and bringing in economic, social, cultural and political transformation toward this. He also requested the nation to ponder on achievements and milestones reached as a nation in the 67 years of the post-Independ-ence era, if all as the citizens of the country could be contented with

these achievements. One thing is very clear. President Maithripala has a vision for building Sri Lanka and the artist’s impression he has conceived in his mind having understood the aspirations of all the segments of our multi-ethnic and multi-religious people. It is an equally advantageous position he is in as he could not have ask for better collaborator and part-ner than Prime Minster ranil Wickremesinghe who has a tech-nocratic mind and very scientific approaches.

Scientific mindset for implementing the vision

S i m p l e a n d h u m -ble as he is, President Maithripala Sirisena was not only able to led one of the best coalitions to defeat rajapaksa at the recent-ly-concluded election b u t m o s t u n i q u e l y for first time got the TNA leaders and other O p p o s i t i o n l e a d e r s to participate at the Independence Day cel-ebrations, which we failed to see in decades past.

Hopes and aspirations are high; expectations and desires are high, not only for the short-term 100-day program that needs to be facilitated but more permanently

for Sri Lanka to stand as one of the strongest nations where benefits and economic prosperity equally shared with all the people irrespec-tive of their diversity and differ-ences.

Getting every stakeholder to see the big picture and then eye-to-eye is a challenge politically, economi-cally, culturally and ethnically, but the challenge is properly identified by both the President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and they are carefully focused on moving progressively towards

achieving this goal. The role of the key

Gover nment depart-ments and other pub-lic sector institutions is critical to lay the foundation and create the framework for the nation building. There has to be a very scientif-ic processes and proce-dures have to be in place in these institutions with well-oiled mecha-nism to support the progressive movement and flow to make things structured.

The leadership of these institutions has to be in the hands of scien-tific-minded profession-als who understand the fundamental principles along with the practical processes, procedures

and solutions. By appointing politi-cal stooges, kith and kin, friends

and supporters of the political par-ties as a practice in the past will not achieve desired results and instead will continue to ruin the nation.

We have seen that past regime having people with checkered track records being appointed to noble institutions that drive the economy of the country. We also have seen an institution senior economists should have spear-headed having a jobless account-ant with a political mandate ruining the entire landscape of the industry. There needs to be Parliamentary fit and proper test-ing mechanism in place when appointments are made to all the key public institutions.

Interdependent public and private sector in nation building

The role of the private sector business community is key in the framework creation for the nation building. via the so-called ‘Sura Sardial Budget’ we have seen how taking from the rich and giving to the poor is taking place, in other words the excessive super taxing of corporate business and afford-ing the benefits to majority.

The private sector is directly responsible this build up. Over the years the ‘make hay while the sun shines’ approach the private sector adopted created exclusive business engagement as opposed to g reater social inclusivity through their business practices,

which resulted in harsh treat-ment in the budget. They were very narrowly focused on their own business performance and their own industry sector well-being instead of being nation-ally thoughtful. responsible and accountable revenue generation was not in their DNA.

The respective chambers too should take the blame; instead of aligning their membership to look at the nation building big picture, they too were very nar-rowly focused only on their busi-ness and industry sectors. By doing so they completely forgot that they are operating on large economic landmass as micro enti-ty.

The private sector expertise on visioning, strategising, planning and managing need to flow in the fabric of the Sri Lankan economic framework in strong partnership with public institutions while maintaining respective independ-ency between public and private sector in addition to solid interde-pendence on each other as respon-sible and accountable partners in nation building.

Engaging multiple stakeholders and partners for inclusive nation building

Like in a natural eco system, a diversity of species in different shapes and sizes exists and contrib-utes to sustainability, progress and development; similarly in a coun-try too, a diversity of entities exists

in every realm, whether it is politi-cal, social, cultural or economical. There are may be different sizes and shapes of these entities, how-ever their existence and collabora-tion is vital for wellbeing of the eco system.

Therefore with this unique opportunity the country has come under two unique individuals Maithree and ranil with the cour-age of their convictions not only uniting the whole of the country and all of its people under one ban-ner but also ensuring no segment, community, sector or group is mar-ginalised but made critical part-ners and collaborators in build-ing the nation by placing country interests before any political party interests, business interests, com-munity interests or any individual interests.

If Sri Lanka is to stand strong as an Asian nation, the partnerships and collaborations on social, cul-tural, religious, political and eco-nomic inclusivity is the way to go from now onwards.

[The writer is the Chairman of asia’s largest microfinance network Singapore

based Banking With The Poor network (BWTP). HE is also the chairman of the

CSR Sri Lanka the national apex body for corporate social responsibility. He serves

on boards of number of Sri Lankan and International financial institutions. He is an innovator, advocate and practitioner of financial inclusion in asia. He can be contacted at chandulaabeywickrema@

gmail.com.]

Nation building is an art, laying foundation and creating the framework is a science

my View

Inclusive Thinking

By Chandula Abeywickrema