Myths & The Phonies Propagated Through “Think Tanks”

By Rusiripala Tennakoon –NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Rusiripala Tennakoon

The obsessions associated with the advice and freely offered steering by some missions ostensibly standing for humanitarian objectives and good governance with the high recognitions gained by them, leave many of us with no alternatives of any choice to reject or refuse their pronouncements, without being accused as fanatics. These dicta are so deep rooted in the social web, that even governments with different political ideologies are compelled to include such thinking in their agendas and programs for development and progress. The projected visions and stratagems sound convincing and promising, appearing to be ideally suited for the resolution of existing problems. They have highly ideological agendas including economic and social security reforms, as well as visionary outlooks for the formation of new regimes of good governance. Rampant corruption and gross insecurity provide good grounds for the propagation of such doctrines. 

Sri Lanka has become a Guinea pig of such interventions exacerbated due to its poor political leadership associated with half-baked and hybrid, circumstance driven policy stands, heavily subjected to the pressures and influence of corporate capital. We have gone through this phenomenon for some time which gained sudden impetus from 2015 onwards due to the birth of a dichotomous rule of governance with a double–faced administration proceeding in two directions, one towards the establishment of a neo-liberal order while the other slogging behind with traditional pragmatism; now gone into the history as the Ranil-Sirisena era. It was, however, observed that Ranil factor advocating Neo –Liberalism was more dominant of the two and paved the way and opening for many think tanks to freely influence and intervene in the policy planning process of the country. 

Most of these think tanks are linked to networks controlled by corporate giants and international consultancy firms. They are well spread Globally, therefore are in a position to easily propagate perceptions more akin to them. The leading models always claim that they are independent, impartial and non-profit making. Unless challenged, such assertions are taken for granted and provide them the continued acceptance without opposition from any quarters including those with ideologically different views. 

There are 3 such key organizations established as big players enjoying state patronage in the country’s affairs that we have to focus on. I will therefore briefly touch on these players who freely associate with the Government’s policy planning, with particular reference to their structure, known backgrounds and their involvements in the specific areas. There is a development in the offing guised under essential reforms for the State Banks, heralded by one such institution Advocata, which performs a high profile role providing recommendations to the Government for  reforms in the state owned enterprises. Let us briefly examine the structure and make up of Advocata which is playing the forerunner role in this latest episode relating to the State Banks. 

 It is one of the two leading ‘think tanks’ with firm footings now in Sri Lanka, the IPS (institute of policy studies) and “Advocata”. The institute was established in April 2016 as a platform to discuss issues of economic freedom, progress and prosperity in Sri Lanka. Since its inception, the organization is actively engaged in policy debates in Sri Lanka. Its launch at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute was graced by M.P. Eran Wickramaratne then Deputy Minister of Public Enterprise Development as the chief guest. As described; “The Advocata institute is an independent policy think tank based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. We conduct research, provide commentary and hold events to promote sound policy ideas compatible with a free society in Sri Lanka.” 

The funding source of this think tank is not clearly known. It is an Associate member of the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World Index and works closely with the Atlas Network. Both these Institutions are leading think tanks in a global network heavily funded by the corporate giants. ‘Atlas Network’ is a non- profit organization based in the US which acts as an umbrella organization for free market groups. As of 2017 the Atlas Network had assets nearing US$ 7,483,000/=coming from several donors from the tobacco industry and giant oil corporates.

The Fraser Institute is a Canadian public policy think tank and a registered charity. It has a global network of 80 think tanks. While the institute receives funding from several giant corporates and foundations it has ceased disclosing its sources of corporate funding from 1980s.

Assisted by these two institutions, Advocata initiated a program in 2017 to accelerate the process of reforms in Sri Lanka with specific attention and focus on the revision of our laws. They observed that the laws relating to our lands were outdated and badly in need of revision to put back the derailed development programs on track. 

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