Rising together: The private sector's moment

THE recent cyclone has once again exposed the deep vulnerabilities in Sri Lanka’s physical infrastructure, institutional preparedness, and social protection systems.

- By Dinesh Weerakkody

As communities struggle to rebuild homes, restore livelihoods, and regain stability, it is evident that the scale of the challenge goes far beyond what the Government—bound by regulations, procurement rules, and bureaucratic processes—can respond to swiftly. Yet within this moment of national distress lies a powerful opportunity for the private sector to step forward with leadership, agility, and purpose.

Sri Lanka’s private sector is not constrained by the rigid procedures that limit the public sector. It possesses unmatched management expertise, faster decision-making structures, access to capital, and some of the best professional talent in the country. In times of national crisis, these strengths become indispensable. The cyclone’s devastation is not merely a humanitarian emergency—it is a test of institutional maturity, one that calls for private enterprise to rise above commercial priorities and assume a broader role in supporting national recovery.