In 1977, Sri Lanka entered into open economy and we were the first to adapt this free market philosophy in the region. India adapted the same in decade later and China is still transitioning into open economy from the communist regime.
We were the first to adapt it, still where are we now? India and China has become the new giants in world economy while we have become a nation that depends on other courtiers for mere existence.
What really went wrong is that Sri Lanka adapted the open economy just for the sake of opening without clear mission. Japan managed to build up national brand names like Toyota, Panasonic and Sony while India is emerging new brands like Tata (manufacturing) and Infosys (IT). However Sri Lanka, despite adapting open economy before India and China, is still chasing after brand names of others and not building our own brands and products. While our counterparts opened their economy in controlled manner according to a master plan, the short sighted politicos of Sri Lanka opened not only the economy, but culture and society as well just like a flood gates of a dam. It created a temporally bloom in the country, but it was nothing but an economic bubble which did not last long. The tragedy result was a nation without national proud and dignity and people having lost their cultural roots. This leads to more and more unrest in the society.
In the South it burst out in the form of ‘JVP insurgency’ and in the North, the petty politicos managed to give it a reading flavored with racism and the result was the LTTE terrorism.
Marketing is the key driving force in the globalize world and Sri Lanka is not an exempt. However, the unfortunate reality in Sri Lanka was that the government lost its grip and marketing started playing devils in so called ‘freedom’. It was under the custody of (comprador) businessmen having their feet in the West and not in our mother land. Their philosophy was to import whatever junks to the country and sell them here and pump the profit back to their masters. It was hard earned money of our mothers and sisters in the Midle East and manufacturing sector including garment factories in the country that these people were pumping out. Their only focus was on profit and not any national interests.
Their consensus was with petty politicians and not with the common people of this country. These anti national companies were willing to invest Billions on political campaigns to market petty feeble and crook politicians to the nation as genuine leaders and they were getting open license to exploit the common people of this country in return.
It is in this backdrop that the Mawbima (Motherland) Lanka foundation was established with the mission of “Country with a formidable and sustainable National Economy where people are proud to consume locally manufactured products and the industrialists strive to develop new products and high quality import substitutes.” Now this is an new attempt to come to a consensus between genuine businessmen with national interests and common people of this country and not with the politicos.
Mawbima Lanka foundation is actively involve in conducting educational and socio cultural activities in the direction of creating a consumption culture and a ideology in the society that are conducive and supportive towards developing a formidable and self sustained National Economy.
A ceremony was organized by Mawbima Lanka Foundation to recognize and reward 34 local entrepreneurs from various fields yesterday (29) at the BMICH. The function was headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
In the future the market would have local goods carrying the Swarnasinghe (Golden Lion) logo on their products. These companies are committed to work based on national interests and support various projects for the benefit of the common people of the country and in return their brand names carrying national pride have been given extra recognition.
The Sri Lankan brands receiving certificates, are...
Orange Electrical Accessories
Harischandra Food & Beverage
Emerald Men's Wear
Baraka Herbal Products
Laughs Liquid Petroleum Gas
Laughs Gas Conversion Unit & Service Gas Auto Lanka (Pvt) Ltd
Laughs Water Bottles
Laugfs Engineering Equipment
Laughs Three-Wheel Tyres Laughs Corporation (Rubber) Ltd
Laughs Coir Mattresses Laughs Corporation (Coir) Ltd
Raigam Marketing Services (Pvt) Ltd
SSS Best Bulbs
Diana Biscuits and Cakes
Diana Chocolates and Candies
Kist Prepared Fruit & Beverages
Cargills Ice Cream & Dairy Products
DSI Footwear
Sigiri Furniture
Pelwatte Sugar
DGI / Lacer Garments
Crysbro Chicken
Kandos Chocolates
DSI Tyres
Nippolac Paints & Related Chemicals
Munchee Biscuits
Kandurata Umbrella
Hemas Personal Care Items
Heladiv Beverages
KVC Prepared Fruit & Beverages
Nature's Secret Cosmetics
Nippon Plastic Products
Cargills Rice and Rice Based Products
Highland Dairy Products
Ceypetco Petroleum Products and Agro Chemicals
Ref:
http://www.mawbimalanka.com/content/view/35/64/
