Put Egos Aside For A
Common Cause!
Manique Mendis welcomes the recent initiatives
taken by the government and opposition.

ecently, a network of all the main regional business chambers throughout Sri Lanka met in Colombo to share their perspectives on the role of business in peace. Subsequently, that network – the Business for Peace Alliance (BPA) – set up a secretariat, seemingly readying itself to pursue the business of peace in earnest.

BENCHMARK met with the first Secretary-General/CEO of the BPA Secretariat, Manique Mendis, to ascertain if this is ‘just another peace initiative’ – or whether we can expect to see some real changes. Mendis was optimistic about the potential role the business sector could play in peace building. She cited the significant contribution made by the business communities in South Africa and Ireland vis-à-vis peace building, and underscored that they have made a “real difference”. She noted that many traditional voices agitating for peace – such as the NGOs and civil-society – have been heard so often that, in comparison, the business community seems to have maintained a low profile. “But the business community, which is practically oriented, should be in a position to play a more proactive role and I am optimistic about the sector’s future contribution through this new venture (BPA),” she averred.

The BPA’s membership is chamber based and does not focus on individuals, Mendis asserted. Therefore, every BPA member represents many other members in their respective regions – who, in turn, are influential business leaders in their respective communities. “BPA represents the voice of the regions – rather than being a Colombo-centric, top-down approach. So we have the voice of the periphery coming to Colombo – but this is by no means a new regional federation; nor is it trying to compete with other federations or work in isolation. It seeks to complement the work that is already being done by the senior chambers and other important federations,” she affirmed.

Mendis pointed out that the diverse membership of the BPA would, from time to time, lobby the nation’s leaders, the international community and even work laterally amongst its members. She stressed that the visibility and impact of their actions will depend on the tasks at hand. The BPA doesn’t have to begin from scratch, because according to its Secretary-General: “Many initiatives have already been taken and have been successful.” Hence, the two key objectives of the new alliance are to strengthen and build on the successes achieved to date, and to implement the “carefully and strategically focussed action plan which the BPA has come up with”. This is based on a six-month feasibility study and will be worked out over a three-year time frame. It will, however, be subject to continuous assessment and improvement.

“The BPA has to be very results oriented, because that is what businesspeople in the periphery want. If the alliance does not deliver, members will lose faith in it,” she surmised. Unlike some chamber heads who, in the recent past, have stated that the business sector best plays a role for peace behind the scenes – or by merely ‘staying engaged with policymakers’ – Mendis believes in the visibility of results for all BPA initiatives. And since the alliance is regionally based, the regional voices in the shape and form of influential community leaders there are “in a very good position to mobilise other groups”.

Amongst the new grouping’s recent initiatives has been the submission of a proposal for constitutional reform, following a request by the Ministry Of Constitutional Affairs, which invited civil society to submit such proposals. “The BPA’s proposal is for a power-sharing solution, because war is not the answer,” Mendis asserted.

Commenting on the grave humanitarian issues facing the country – including the many recent killings and abductions – she vehemently condemned the actions and said that impartial investigations should be conducted into the incidents. “We hardly ever hear of the perpetrators of these incidents being exposed. It has to be brought to light,” she urged. In conclusion, Mendis noted that the business community welcomes the recent consensual invitations taken by the two major parties. She underscored that a national government is an objective that the business community should support. “We hope that egos will be cast aside and everyone concerned will work in unity towards a common objective,” she declared.