Sri Lankans are among a global exodus of migrants desperate to rush back to their homelands and the phenomena may not just be a knee-jerk reaction, as events unfold in the coming weeks, months and perhaps, years.  Even more noteworthy may be internal migrations, as workers and families rush to leave their urban promised-lands and into the relative safety and quiet of their villages.We may be upon the age of ruralization, forcefully enforced by the powers of nature – as a last-gap resort to saving mankind from self-annihilation.  There are telltale signs that the blue plant is healing already – even as two-third of the world is imprisoned into frustrating lockdowns.  People are off the streets, so are the world’s vehicle population; factories are taking breathers and once rumbling metropolises and industrialized cities are beginning to look like ghost towns.  Climate change in house-arrest and the world heals!

The world’s unseen enemies of mass destruction may actually be doing the contrary – compelling mankind to slow down and get back to the ‘good old days’ and the governments may need to respond in lightning speed.  First, to save the world’s people from the Corona pandemic and prevent anarchy setting in!  Secondly, to appoint a new world order built on the new normal of social distancing.

It is not incorrect to pin globalization on man’s greed for more; his insatiable appetite for riches and his self-destructing ways to get rich at any cost.  On the other, unequal distribution of wealth hastened the doomsday.  Now, it is up to the governments to cease the window of opportunity offered by the Corona pandemic to reverse the pandemic of globalization with politics no longer a stumbling block to prudent policy decisions. 

For the government of Sri Lanka, the current debacle presents an invaluable opportunity to correct course.  The current ‘crisis-opportunity’ involves the following areas:

1. To arrest over-dependency on urbanization.
2. Use social distancing to re-start schooling but by creating satellite schools around popular urban schools.  For example, Royal, Ananda and D.S.S. could be asked to separate student rosters into zones i.e. Colombo North, East & South and establish smaller clusters run by the same administration and same staff – only new, smaller facilities.  Consider, the time and resources saved and the well-being of youth.  The elite schools could also have provincial branches, stopping the need for urbanization.
3. Decentralization of State departments hasn’t really happened the way it should.  Ask all establishments including the private sector to operate under new demographics.  This may be an invaluable opportunity to build the future city of Hambantota and develop all other areas as well.  We may need to look at a new admin paradigm.
4. Social distancing may be here to stay for a longer period.  Therefore, mechanisms should be perused in setting up a new culture of ‘working from home’ wherever possible.  The higher education sector is into e-classrooms. Make e-learning at least a considerable portion of the 5-day week, going forward.
5. Should we not look inward as pitfalls of globalization cast a gloom?  Perhaps, a better balancing act? While the world is healing we have also been forced to cut our import bill.  On the other hand, shortages will loom.  Can we explore identifying new industries and empowering local productions under the blanket of the Covid-19?
6. E-commerce is a life-saver today and we may be able to train a fair quota of the population to order online or on the phone, again cutting down traffic, resources and the need for close human contact.
7. The current crisis demands that we take a deep dive into areas like food production and distribution along with other essential commodities and services.

The point of human contact also highlights one of the components which has been leading mankind to conflicts – an erosion of values; a disregard for public health and law and order.

Time is ripe for research and action in the areas of:

1. Law and order
2. Value-based and demand-based education
3. Public health and education

While the world is on pause, think-tanks around the world are burning the midnight oil while governments struggle to cope with the unfolding crises.  It is in our own interest to grab the lessons and opportunity!

NOTE: CIRA will be drawing from points and opinions raised in the brief concept papers published on this site, authored by its own experts, as well as, guest writers, into its research and advocacy mandate.  If you have suggestions on these or any other areas of interest please submit to: