Completely Clueless!

Sri Lankans may have to call on seers for help, as neither presidential candidate in Thursday's poll, is clear on how they will pay for subsidies or tackle painful economic reforms, analysts said.











Sri Lankans may have to call on seers for help, as neither presidential candidate in Thursday's poll, is clear on how they will pay for subsidies or tackle painful economic reforms, analysts said. Presidential hopefuls have promised a welfare state as a temporary cure, though skyrocketing international oil prices are threatening to blow a hole in the nation's budget.

To make real progress, economic growth will have to be pushed up and inflation moderated.

The choices, economists say, are polarized between social welfare and economic growth.

Both leading candidates – Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and opposition leader Ranil