SL among least favoured places to be Born in 2013

21 January 2013 03:54 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 71 Bookmark

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Despite repeated rhetoric about Sri Lanka doubling the size of her economy within a span of four years, the country has been ranked among the worst off for those born in 2013, by a top global economics publication.

This comes in the backdrop of the rushed ousting of the country’s 43rd Chief Justice, increasing crime rate and the struggle by the middle class to make a living, in an economy where food inflation is skyrocketing and more shocks on the cards.

The study carried out by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the sister company and the research arm of The Economist magazine, based on economic forecasts up to 2030, roughly implies the socio-economic conditions children born in 2013 will encounter with when reaching adulthood.

In an attempt to measure which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead, Sri Lanka was ranked at number 63 in a list of 80 countries.

Based on the evaluation carried out on the study, The Washington Post opined, “You’re worse off being born in any of these three countries, according to the data, than you are just about anywhere else, including Sri Lanka, a poor hotbed of ethnic violence, oppressive Vietnam, or even Syria”.

‘The where to be born index 2013’ is a clear testimony to the always not clear correlation between wealth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and happiness of a country’s population because even if the world’s richest economies score highly in the ranking, they are not in the top category.

For instance the United States (US) and Germany, two of the world’s economic powerhouses, tied for 16th place while Japan ranks way down at 25th. Britain and France score even worse at 27 and 26 respectively. US were however the top most livable country in the same study carried out in 1988.

According to the online version of The Economist: “Being rich helps more than anything else, but it is not all that counts; things like crime, trust in public institutions and the health of family life matter too”. The Economist could not have worded better in relation to Sri Lanka.

Small economies have grabbed the top 10 ranking while Switzerland topping the list followed by Australia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the only Asian country Singapore while Netherlands being the only Euro zone country to be featured.

According to The Economist, despite their economic dynamism, none of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) scored impressively. In fact, India was ranked at 66th position while Russia at 72.

Among the 80 countries covered, Nigeria comes last as the worst place for a baby to enter the world in 2013. (Dilina Kulathunga)

Comments - 71

Kirala Monday, 21 January 2013 09:28 AM

We're the best in the region! Miracle of South Asia! Yee Haw!

5 5

wjebahu Monday, 21 January 2013 12:30 PM

WARA, the idiot you are dissapointed because your ashraya the castle in the sky fallen down, what it says is a future for a baby born in 2013. even with high debt baby who is born in Greece has a better future than in sri lanka.

5 15

rehN Monday, 21 January 2013 12:02 PM

IN SRI LANKA PEOPLE GET FOOLED WITHIN NO SECONDS BY THE ACTORSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

5 12

KING Monday, 21 January 2013 11:50 AM

At least we should proud , that we are in the list . There are 196 countries in the world, among them only 80 countries are in the list , including sri lanka ,with other well-known countries.

6 5

anura gunawardane Monday, 21 January 2013 11:25 AM

For me It is still the best place to born again. May be we are poor, no law and order is there, people getting corrupt, but when you land from the plane you truely in the best place of the planet. Maybe this is because Its my home

16 12

Kiri Gamarala Monday, 21 January 2013 10:48 AM

Real waste of money on this research. We live in Sri Lanka and if the parents wish and have money they can go to the best among the lot for child birth. But they have to come back unless they have the citizenship.

We have not heard of any child saying that previous birth was in another country. Now that the list is out those who wish to be born in good countries can think of that as the last wish before death.

14 8

lakmal Monday, 21 January 2013 10:50 AM

really , dont forget under chandirka we had minus econmic growth ,plus lTTE owned the country

21 9

junior Monday, 21 January 2013 09:44 AM

2014 we will be 81 i guess....

2 20

Em Monday, 21 January 2013 02:42 PM

I think you have less experience in studying the behaviors of the people here in SL

1 2

dude Monday, 21 January 2013 09:31 AM

The dude's theory : Cycle of poverty

1. dupable voters
2. corrupt politicians
1. dupable voters
2. corrupt politicians
1. dupable voters
2. corrupt politicians

it's a cycle daug !

2 35

Clueless Monday, 21 January 2013 09:22 AM

Some one of the new generation born in Sri Lanka is going to be the luckiest human of all with the Executive Presidency!!
at least we create a dmocraticaly elected king/queen.

9 48

Ann Monday, 21 January 2013 09:05 AM

Why is it whenever there is a negative article on SL people assume that a) minorities are involved b) NGOs are involved c) outside / foreign powers are involved d) the diaspora is involved and so on.... when you point a finger at others, remember there are three more pointing right back at you.

Also please read #UAE explanation... that is one of the main reasons why SL is not a safe bet for investment.

5 19

Wasantha Monday, 21 January 2013 08:55 AM

That is the reality, whether we like it or not, we have to accept it. Unlike data being manipulated by the SL authorities to mislead the general public.

4 13

RS Monday, 21 January 2013 08:48 AM

Stupid List – Since no one get to choose

18 8

Huna Monday, 21 January 2013 08:41 AM

if they knew then the number would have much higher one , closer to the 100 i guess

9 52

Wara Monday, 21 January 2013 08:43 AM

Most interesting places goes to highly debited Greece at 34 and world emerging power China at 49 ! This shows the credibility of the facts !

18 8

Bagalawathie Monday, 21 January 2013 08:40 AM

I am happy to be born in Sri Lanka. I had a beautiful childhood. When you are born in a poor place like SL and when you go overseas and live the appreciation is more. But I still love Sri Lanka

9 11

wijebahu Tuesday, 22 January 2013 12:38 AM

we are lower if you take the aspect of independent judiciary.

2 3

John Doe Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:37 AM

even after ending a 30 year war,they still rate us as "a poor hotbed of ethnic violence", wonder why...

1 0

Athula Thursday, 24 January 2013 06:59 AM

Yes it could be correct. But the inflation is a major set back.

0 0

david strange Wednesday, 23 January 2013 12:36 PM

I agree Sri Lanka is a great place to be born - we need to ask Merwyn Silva and his like...

0 0

Len Tuesday, 22 January 2013 11:59 AM

Nish it take one to know one.

0 0

mohamed asfar Tuesday, 22 January 2013 06:16 AM

my earlier comment was for the politicians who are destroying this beautiful country. i have lived in the usa and i know sri lanka is million times better than usa.

0 1

Nihal Jayaweera Tuesday, 22 January 2013 02:22 AM

Third world country leaders accept first world bribes to sell off theirs and keep on blaming the first world.
Look on the bright side Sri lanka is the best country for MP's
new babies.

1 4

bernardwijeyasingha Tuesday, 22 January 2013 02:22 AM

There was too much politics in the statement. Sri Lanka is a bad place to be born because of its human rights violations and the garbage that they get from the Tamil Expat. When I visited Sri Lanka in 2009 just at the end of the war the people were like I remember a nation of smiling people.

2 6

nicky karunarathna Tuesday, 22 January 2013 02:05 AM

Dumb people who lives in one part of world map should travel and see to themslef without writing garbage. When you go to US, one cannot even drive your car as you stop at the traffic lights, beggars flocking near your window and ask money. If one have not seen poverty - please travel to US to see it! And US is the biggest prison in the world. Every 131 people one is in prison. In that case SL is heaven on Earth! Every man, women and the child carries a high powered weapon with bible in US.

9 6

Rasheed Monday, 21 January 2013 08:18 AM

Aascharyaay neda?

2 21

Roadrunner Tuesday, 22 January 2013 12:22 AM

I think you are not in Sri lanka

0 2

A. Rajapassa Monday, 21 January 2013 06:26 PM

Nonsense. Sri Lanka is the best place to be born. We always have most favorable ( and dumbest) voter base.

2 6

Panikkiya Monday, 21 January 2013 06:16 PM

yes yes US like Greese yaka. Sri Lanka should come before US

5 5

nada Monday, 21 January 2013 06:12 PM

But we give red carpet welcome &21 gun salute to the king of SWAZILAND which is permanently out of bounds from the list

2 7

King Wijeya Monday, 21 January 2013 04:21 PM

We beat India :D

6 5

Gladiatoer Monday, 21 January 2013 04:13 PM

This looks bad. At least we are better than India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and we are joined 63rd with Phillipines.

5 2

Ajith Monday, 21 January 2013 03:31 PM

These are the minus points we gain due to the misdeeds done by its political leaders.
Poor Srilanka Matha mentally and physically abused.

3 7

Jagath Leanage Monday, 21 January 2013 02:40 PM

But Cabral will say something different.He will say ours is the best.

3 7

Ravi Monday, 21 January 2013 05:38 AM

A very big thank to the current govt who was in power 5+ years, becoz of them we achieved this. Well done miracle!!

21 62

Countryman Monday, 21 January 2013 06:29 AM

The interpretation of government politicians on this is "Sri Lanka stands best among all South Asian countries, thanks to the chinthanaya". The chintana policy is that get what they want to get from individuals and dispose when going against them. The people of the country should follow the same. Country got what they wanted from chintanaya that is win the war. Now's the time for throwing them out since they destroy the country now.

6 28

Gihan Monday, 21 January 2013 06:18 AM

Exactly ... How we to accept this to be the miracle of Asia.. how may people bother to look these things at all. just good point for opposition to grab another point and make some haa huuu..

Nothing makes difference the way we going

16 83

Simon Templer Monday, 21 January 2013 06:17 AM

Yeah right! UN, EU, USA, Commonwealth; all get it wrong, writing things bad about us. How on earth can we be bad/bottom of the heap?

7 41

mail_guy Monday, 21 January 2013 06:11 AM

come Ryan atleast be happy for Sri Lanka still in the list for now because next year's survey surely not in the top 80.

21 86

Columbo Monday, 21 January 2013 06:00 AM

A politically blind pin head.

13 66

Columbo Monday, 21 January 2013 05:59 AM

Yes, the US has a very high debt. The people still have a better standard of living as compared to miracle Sri Lanka.

11 87

misunderstood Monday, 21 January 2013 05:46 AM

Nicky - may i strongly suggest you go to school and ensure you start at the kinder garden. US has debt and budget deficit so do Sri Lanka.

18 84

LK Monday, 21 January 2013 05:44 AM

typical 3rd world mentality

57 201

Muhammedh Monday, 21 January 2013 06:29 AM

Aint no other place like Sri Lanka :-)!

5 24

maneesha Monday, 21 January 2013 05:32 AM

I don't know what's going on in USA or any other country like the readers who have commented here. Didn't know people in those countries had it so bad Lol. But it's deffinitely not easy to live in Srilanka any more. Love your mother land but don't be blind to what's going on around you, love Lanka enought to want change.

8 65

Wara Monday, 21 January 2013 05:30 AM

Yeah, they don't know where is Sri Lanka even !

77 29

Wara Monday, 21 January 2013 05:28 AM

and Canada, Norway....

97 33

Moderate Monday, 21 January 2013 05:09 AM

US is 16th Place. No 1 is Switzerland..however SL is bit better than india.

12 27

rathmalgama Monday, 21 January 2013 04:56 AM

The Economist. policy - always against Sri Lanka, no need to worry about their comments. Non of their predictions on SL have come true

91 32

Mason Monday, 21 January 2013 04:49 AM

Rash acts without caution have their repercussions. It will not be a surprise if the tourist inflows reduce. There is a proverb "think before you leap" or some such one. It is unfortunate that our leaders become unaware of it in their indecent haste.

11 56

Shalini Monday, 21 January 2013 04:33 AM

The Economist - always against Sri Lanka. During conflict time, it went shopping for Tamil Tigers. There are two or three writers in the Print Esiion who are agaisnt Mahinda Rajapaksa government and writing all the non sense even without visiting the country.

159 59

nicky karunarathna Monday, 21 January 2013 04:23 AM

Tell me where is US, UK and Europe in that case. US is top in the rank of highest public indebtedness and Europe come in second and UK is third. US like Greese cant pay its debt and prininting money in regular basis. They call it: Quantum Easing as economic jargon!

107 60

Nish Monday, 21 January 2013 07:23 AM

This indicator is meant just for idiots......

31 7

mohamed asfar Monday, 21 January 2013 08:09 AM

we will be behind nigeria soon. yoohoooo.

3 31

M. Silva Monday, 21 January 2013 07:59 AM

Ipadeema dukak In that sense SL on top and records fractional birth growth rate for majority. Swiss conspiracy. Contact minorities.

17 2

Disdididin Monday, 21 January 2013 07:56 AM

was this list compiled by a swiss national :P

22 4

Disdididin Monday, 21 January 2013 07:54 AM

what ever said or done glad I was born in heaven on earth!! whatever the political situation might be :D

20 5

Gabo Singho Monday, 21 January 2013 07:36 AM

This is utter bull shit, How could Egypt, Saudi Arabia etc be better than Sri Lanka? A diaspors tamil must be advising them .

38 16

Muhammedh Monday, 21 January 2013 07:40 AM

No matter what ;-)!

2 15

Ahmed Monday, 21 January 2013 07:37 AM

Boss, per capita is GDP divided by population - Just becuase the average is $ 2,400 does not mean everyone is earning that - while a select few earn more than $ 240,000..many are earning less than $ 240...until we get rid of racism and these idiot politicians nothing will change. Vote for people with values not people who scream for the sake of screaming

2 40

UAE Monday, 21 January 2013 07:25 AM

I work in investment industry, unfortunately, I can not recommend a single good investment to my company in SL at the moment. Inflation is very hight, cost of capital is over the roof ( because of high government borrowing).

US can borrow more because it has more revenue, cash flows and hence better debt serviceability.

SL do not have such revenue streams and hence can not afford much debt. This increase in Debt in central bank accounts are forcing the government to increases direct and indirect taxes. At the same time money printing etc. driving the value of currency down. which increases the import cost and cost of living.

11 53

Ryan Monday, 21 January 2013 03:59 AM

I know the list 1. USA 2. Canada 3. Australia like because these couintries do not spoil theirs but spoil other countries like Afgan, Iraq for them to stay peacefully.

275 126

Mohammed Monday, 21 January 2013 07:23 AM

Still some fools who do not have forward looking view would say we are better off than India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc. Come on.. we can be number one.

5 31

Rider Monday, 21 January 2013 07:16 AM

Even if someone praises the govt sarcastically they have many thumbs down. It all explains the mentality of this forum...

9 32

kautilya Monday, 21 January 2013 07:04 AM

Some body said that Lanka would increase its per capita income from the current US $ 2,399 in 2012 to US $ 4,400 in 2015 and USD per Capita 10,000 by 2022 The country would also develop fast and would have a growth rate of around 9% during the period.

24 4

Columbo Monday, 21 January 2013 06:41 AM

Ha, blame game, the opposition the cause.

6 16

manpei Monday, 21 January 2013 06:40 AM

I don't think these are predictions.. They are facts. And who among us can say they are false.. It is very difficult to live in Sri Lanka. Prices are going up everyday, Salaries are unchanged, no job opportunities for our young children, and let's not start on crime and corruption.

10 57

Columbo Monday, 21 January 2013 06:38 AM

Sorry "so called patriots", facts are stubborn.

4 33

ICCStats Monday, 21 January 2013 06:31 AM

there is some truth to all these comments US UK etc are not paradises nor are they saints but what we have to accept is SL had a great chance for improving since 2009 and we actually started to go in the right direction before our politicians started running amok and destroying the country like bulls in china shops - we lacked a proper opposition to control the power of the government which is a huge reason for things going out of hand.

6 34

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