• Asanka de Mel on his book and short film ‘2048’

Last month, Sri Lanka celebrated 77 years of independence from colonial rule. The nation’s journey towards development since independence has been a long and often uncertain one, with progress, strife, and everything in between having been witnessed both locally and internationally. 

Many envision a Sri Lanka that is a prosperous first-world nation. Today, we are still very much a developing country. The events of the last five years, from Covid-19 to the political and economic crisis of 2022 to everything else happening around us, have shown us that paradigms can and will shift. 

Countries such as Singapore and Dubai are often touted as examples of how countries like ours can rise to become regional superhubs of growth, innovation, and industry. However, despite having started our journey of growth around a similar time to these now-developed countries, Sri Lanka still lags far behind. 

With the centenary of our independence less than two-and-a-half decades away, we are approaching a time of deep reckoning, not just in terms of this landmark anniversary of freedom to lead our own development, but also in terms of how Sri Lanka can thrive in an increasingly unstable global economy and amidst a looming climate crisis that stands to hit coastal-centric developing countries the hardest. 

These were some of the themes that inspired entrepreneur Asanka de Mel to pen his book ‘A Speech to Sri Lanka From 2048.’ Passionate about developing the country, Asanka is perhaps best known for his commitment to the fashion company he founded, Lovi, an international brand centred around Sri Lankan national clothing. 

Before starting Lovi, he spent over 20 years in the US technology industry in Silicon Valley and New York City. He holds a degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Through ‘A Speech to Sri Lanka From 2048’ and its accompanying film ‘2048,’ Asanka presents a compelling vision of Sri Lanka as a developed country by 2048, on the eve of its 100th year of independence.

The book outlines a series of strategies and actions that could propel the country towards a higher standard of living, an improved infrastructure, and a more resilient economy. The film, set in the year 2048, brings this vision to life, showing a Sri Lanka that has successfully transitioned into a first-world nation capable of offering support to its neighbours in times of crisis.

Following the launch of both the book and the film on 5 March, The Sunday Morning Brunch sat down with Asanka for some reflection on just how much Sri Lanka can achieve over the next 23 years if it puts its mind to it. 

A vision rooted in reality

Asanka’s inspiration for this project comes from a deep desire to see Sri Lanka flourish. “I want to see Sri Lanka as a developed and rich country for its people, where the people can live like the rest of the world with the same quality and lifestyle. 

“I created ‘2048’ to show Sri Lankans our future and how we can become a developed nation, not only to withstand the inevitable challenges ahead, but to become a global leader in the process as well. It is time to get started. Our children’s future depends on it,” he said.

His book paints the picture of a Sri Lanka with a per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $ 40,000. Acknowledging that this goal may seem ambitious, given the country’s current per capita GDP of around $ 3,800, Asanka stressed his firm belief that this was indeed achievable within a span of 25-30 years. 

“It will lift millions of people out of paralysing poverty and give our middle class a tremendous boost and confidence. Almost all our infrastructure systems are under pressure because there isn’t enough disposable income going through the system to run it the way we need to,” he explained.

For Asanka, economic growth is not just about numbers; it is about tangible improvements in people’s lives, from better healthcare and education to increased financial security. The book is structured as a long-term strategy for development, spanning 25-30 years. 

The context of the book is that of a speech delivered by a Sri Lankan on 24 February 2048 upon receiving a Sri Lankabhimanya award – the highest national honour of Sri Lanka and equivalent to being proclaimed a national hero – for her contribution to bringing the Sri Lanka of 2048 to its developed state. 

The book is essentially a transcript of her speech and talks about the different policies, initiatives, and movements that were put in place to help Sri Lanka achieve this goal of becoming a developed country with a per capita GDP of $ 40,000. This is how the roadmap to a developed Sri Lanka is communicated. 

Asanka avoids simplifying his ideas into bullet points, emphasising that the strategies outlined require deeper engagement and understanding. 

“Sri Lanka is a small country with 22 million people, relatively high literacy, infrastructure, good roads, and good healthcare,” he shared. “What we have to do to grow is very specific, and those specifics are laid out through about 30 meaningful and doable strategies across the book.” 

While the details are best explored through the book, the essence lies in targeted and practical steps that can be implemented without waiting for large-scale political reforms. The book is not a critique of governments past or present, but rather, emphasises the role of private sector initiatives and individual action. 

“Almost all I have written can be executed with the agency and activity of private individuals and the private sector. The Government has a chance to rationalise and advance it, but we do not have to wait,” he noted.

2048 in film

The accompanying film, ‘2048,’ takes Asanka’s vision and translates it into a compelling story for the screen. 

Set on 1 February 2048 – just three days before Sri Lanka’s 100th year of independence – it presents a scenario where the country has become a fully developed nation. In this future, Sri Lanka is in a position to help its neighbours evacuate large populations displaced by climate change.

When violent thunderstorms thrash the Indian Ocean region, triggering hundreds of thousands in neighbouring countries to flee their homes, an elite team headed by climate scientist Melanie de Silva is called to action. As tensions mount between governments, protesters, and various agency leaders, Melanie must find her power and race against time to save lives.

Through immersive storytelling and striking cinematography, ‘2048’ challenges viewers to reflect on the global crises facing Sri Lanka over the next few decades and how developing the nation is not only possible but also necessary in the face of mounting climate change.

With inspiring performances by Tracy Jayasinghe, Indira Jonklaas, Rohan Ponniah, Brandon Damian Ingram, Biman Wimalaratne, Chandran Rutnam, and more, the film is an SOS to Sri Lanka and the world about what the South Asian region will face by 2048.

“The movie is based on the book – its characters and storyline – but it is set in 2048 on one particular day,” Asanka explained. 

The film showcases a Sri Lanka that is not only prosperous, but also prepared for global challenges such as climate change and natural disasters. “Things like tsunamis, climate change, and global warming will happen whether we are ready or not. If we are a rich country, better equipped and better prepared, then we will have better options,” he said.

In his vision, Sri Lanka is no longer merely reacting to crises but is taking on a leadership role in South Asia. “With better preparation, we can not only help ourselves but also assist our neighbours and others in need,” he added.

The road to 2048

Asanka’s journey in writing this book and making the film has been deeply enriching, particularly due to the extensive research involved. “The biggest highlight was meeting so many people for research. I got a wealth of information from here and outside the country,” he shared.

He has drawn inspiration from nations that have successfully undergone rapid development. “Many countries have gone through all this development – countries that are similar to us in population that have developed rapidly,” he stated. “There is a lot we can learn from them, not just Dubai, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and China, but also Switzerland, Norway, and Costa Rica.”

However, the process was not without its challenges. Over the last four years, Sri Lanka has faced significant upheaval, from the Covid-19 pandemic to economic crises and political instability. 

“Staying focused despite daily life was tough. We had a tumultuous four years with Covid-19, the ‘Aragalaya,’ and the default. Finishing the project properly was the challenge,” he noted.

Asanka firmly believes that Sri Lanka is ready to implement the ideas he has outlined. “We have a new administration with quite a bit of power. I have written specific details, including names, costs, and actions, which are very much implementable ideas,” he said.

He urged the country to start moving forward without delay. His book is not just about discussing development, but also about providing a concrete and actionable plan. 

“Although we have been discussing development for a long time, we have never had a vision of what a developed Sri Lanka as a first-world country would look like. This provides a very clear and very specific vision,” Asanka said, adding that he hoped that those who engaged with his work would feel inspired to contribute to the vision of a developed country. 

“It is very important to note that there are many countries similar to us [in terms of population size and skill set] that have gone through all this development and reached this goal. There are various aspects concerning how these countries developed that we too can learn from, and if you read the book, you will see that it is high time for us as Sri Lankans to get going,” he added.