Voice of Intellectuals &

Professionals

Why VIP Over 100,000 professionals, intellectuals and scholars in Sri

Lanka A multitude of professional bodies and institutions

Category Number

Engineers / Chartered Engineers 16,000

Medical Doctors 32,300

Accountants / Charted Accountants 9,500

Charted Architects 1,190

Lawyers / Judges 16, 500

Senior Lecturers/ Professors 3000

R & D Scientists 4, 600

• Yet, their contribution outside the confines of the immediate professional role and in the broader world of economic, social, political and cultural affairs has been grossly inadequate

• i.e. during the 30-year long conflict

&

post -conflict reconciliation,

they did precious little

• SL celebrated 67th anniversary of independence

Over the period, progress made in

• Education (high literacy rate and low population growth)

• Health (low infant mortality, material mortality)

• Housing & Infrastructure development

• Elimination of the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world.

Yet, over the past several decades, issues such as

corruption fraud waste tax evasion political interference crime & violence indiscipline mismanagement, conflicts etc.

have been gradually eating into the vitals of the economy

• Politicians -mainly focusing on short-term vote grabbing initiatives to be reelected.

• Paid scant attention on important issues such as,

- High dependency ratio

- Escalating crime & violence

- Climate change

- Economic disparities & Social inequalities etc.

• However, blame cannot be solely pinned on politicians

• P and I have left the governance of the country totally in the hands of politicians!

They have an inescapable civic responsibility and moral obligation to address such issues.

• This is particularly important as the educational and professional background of our politicians is relatively poor

Educational background of cabinet ministers in some countries

Country With postgraduate

qualification (%)

With basic degree and above

(%)

Without a basic degree

(%)

Literacy (%)

Malaysia 20 57 43 93%

Singapore 72 100 0 96%

Maldives 19 62 38 99%

India 30 63 37 74%

Pakistan 40 75 25 55%

Uganda 67 100 0 78%

Sri Lanka 5 50 50 98%

Thus ,there is a need to develop a vibrant body of professionals and intellectuals to serve as

A guiding force and a trim-tab of the nationA pressure group A strategic partner not only as a think-tank,

but also as an action-tankA whistle-blowing and bugle-sounding

institution

in national development and nation building

Vision

“To become the most trusted and reputed body of intelligentsia in Sri Lanka,committed to national development and nation building”

Mission

• To protect and preserve sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka

• To protect and foster the cultural values and

civilizational heritage

• To build a harmonious and cohesive society and nation

• To promote and assimilate technology for common good and human wellbeing

• To promote and strengthen local industry and enterprises in a globalised environment

• To promote inclusive development with

equitable distribution of resources among different segments

• To develop good world citizens worthy of emulation by other nations

 

Values

• Patriotism • Excellence• Integrity• Social Responsibility • Inclusivity• Professionalism• Commitment to transformation

Aims

1. To promote solidarity and networking among the Sri Lankan intellectuals and professionals at home and abroad

2.To provide peer support to its members as appropriate

3.To support and promote intellectual and professional development in Sri Lanka

4. To act as a think tank in proffering advice, expertise, guidance and direction in matters of regional and national interest

5. To create public awareness and promote public debate on matters of interest to community, society and country at large

6. To mobilize and channel intellectual and professional resources for national development and transforming “developing Sri Lanka” to “developed Sri Lanka”

 

Operational Philosophy

• Think-tanks and action-tanks in strategic areas.

i.e.Education Inclusive Development

Technical Education Nation Building

Higher Education Port & Shipping

Health Energy security

Food/nutritional security Water security

• VIP will mobilize the P & I s in Sri Lanka to create

-a high-profile, -high-impact -and robust national institution of intelligentsia. • It will lead by example in -integrity -accountability -discipline and -commitment and • proffer the requisite technical advice, guidance and direction in

matters on regional and national interest.

Today we lay a firm foundation for a long journey. The first step taken today will lead to a giant leap, transforming our developing SL into developed SL

It takes a shared destiny to create a nation. A shared destiny is the outcome of the collective and cumulative efforts of the whole community to shape society and the nation. 

A shared destiny also speaks of the people’s shared hopes and aspirations for the future, and of pulling together to move forward through promise and peril.

Sri Lanka and  VIP have a shared destiny.  VIP will rise and fall with mother Sri Lanka. Others may come and go with the weather, but ,

              VIP is here to stay…