44th WORKSHOP MEETING OF HEADS OF NPOS
10–12 February 2004, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Inaugural Address
by John Amaratunge
Minister for Christian Religious Affairs, Sri
Lanka
I am very grateful to the Organizing Committee for
the invitation to attend the inaugural session of
the 44th Workshop Meeting of Heads of National Productivity
Organizations of the APO. It is an important occasion
for all member countries to assemble and conduct intensive
discussions to review and decide on the work program
for the next two years. I also wish to thank the APO
for selecting Sri Lanka as the venue for this important
meeting.
I find this workshop to be a very democratic feature
in the operational structure of the APO which enables
member countries to engage in a close scrutiny of
all facets of problems and challenges to the implementation
of the work program and make decisions as a collective
body. I am also aware that the APO, from its inception
in 1961, has progressed rapidly and strengthened its
structure to deal effectively with the issues encountered
during a period of four decades. In the process, the
APO expanded its scope and adopted new strategies
from its original focus on industrial management with
the addition of new Agriculture Department five years
after its inauguration, and further moved into Integrated
Community Development and Green Productivity to deal
comprehensively with vital linkages in productivity
and as integral components of the economy. In this
way, the APO is able to fulfill a very important mission
for the benefit of the Asia-Pacific region and inspire
all member countries to share their knowledge and
experience.
As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, we have been able
to move into new realms of productivity growth making
use of parameters included in the document "The
Future––Regaining Sri Lanka." We envision
a future of peace and prosperity in which every Sri
Lankan will be able to enjoy a higher standard of
living and better quality of life achieved through
steady improvements in productivity at the individual,
organizational, and national levels with gains equitably
distributed across all occupations and walks of life.
We ventured into this area in a very structured and
a methodical manner. Under the leadership of my Cabinet
colleague, Mahinda Samarasinghe, the Minister for
Employment and Labour, a National Policy on Productivity
has been formulated, consisting of two parts, the
private sector and public sector, which provides us
with the overall framework to embark upon appropriate
programs and projects to meet the national goals for
productivity improvement. Our expectation is to achieve
at least an average of 5% annual productivity growth
for the nation as a whole for a period of five years
by raising productivity at all levels. The rate of
productivity growth should enable the government to
achieve overall growth of around 10% in the years
to come.
In pursuing the above goals, we are also mindful
of the fact that we have already reached the threshold
of a new era characterized by the emergence of nonphysical
forms of productive resources such as information
and knowledge, information technology, and human intelligence.
They have opened up opportunities to adopt new approaches
and to pursue enhanced performance for the achievement
of new goals. In this regard, we recognize all productive
sectors as important in this national endeavor. Adding
more responsibility to this aspect necessarily results
in widening productivity improvement efforts and enables
the results to reach such vulnerable social segments
as the poor, the unemployed, women, rural and small
farmers, and small businesspersons. Productivity improvements
need to be a national task shared by all stakeholders
in the society.
At the same time, we are very much aware that productivity
is more about people and less about capital and technology.
Our experience in the past tells us that neither capital
nor technology by itself generates higher productivity.
Already we are witnessing the new phenomenon that
capital and technology are no longer factors of production
but are becoming tools of production. What we see
behind the productivity explosion in such countries
as Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore is
the workers, with strong work cultures and workers
working smarter. Our national productivity policy
therefore aims at people-centered strategies in the
new productivity movement in Sri Lanka.
I must also take this opportunity to record our deep
appreciation of the strong bonds of friendship between
the APO and Sri Lanka, which have been nurtured over
the last four decades. I am also aware of the personal
attention given by Mr. Tajima, Secretary-General of
the APO, to ensure that requests for APO assistance
receive urgent attention from the APO Secretariat
for resolution. On several occasions he visited field
sites to expedite the implementation of programs during
visits to Sri Lanka. We will always remember him for
his endearing qualities and leadership provided to
the APO and to its member countries.
In conclusion, let me say how pleased I am to be
with you this morning to share some thoughts on Sri
Lanka's efforts in improving productivity. I wish
you a very productive workshop and deliberations in
which you will make effective decisions. I am sure
you will have the opportunity to see Sri Lanka during
this visit and enjoy its cultural and scenic beauty.
I wish you a very enjoyable stay and safe return to
your country.
Thank you.
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