Five Export Diversification Options for Sri Lanka

I decided to write an article providing five options I think Sri Lanka can diversify its exports into. I’d like to point out that this isn’t a detailed analysis on how it can be done. It’s my own ideas on improving Sri Lanka’s exports.

Computers & Electronics

Products I’m thinking of are desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile phones and televisions. We can make agreements with international computer & electronics companies to manufacture components of those devices with the goal of making complete devices. Sri Lankan brands can also manufacture computers & electronic items. It’s important to note that the Sri Lankan company EWIS is successfully manufacturing computing devices. EWIS collaborated with Singhagiri to launch Sri Lanka’s SGL Android Smart TV in January 2023. This Smart TV is manufactured in Sri Lanka.

Visual Effects for Hollywood

I’d like to see a Sri Lankan visual effects company work on Hollywood films. Hollywood has outsourced visual effects to some companies in Asia. Even if it’s a very small contribution, it would be a win. We can start this with goals of where we want to be over the next 10 years. As a Sri Lankan sci-fi fan, I would love to see a Sri Lankan visual effects company working on a sci-fi blockbuster. There is also the possibility of securing Sri Lankan offices for international visual effects companies. Hollywood visual effects work would bring in jobs and revenue to Sri Lanka which could help with the issue of brain drain.

Pianos & Keyboards

I think Sri Lanka could get into the industry of making pianos and keyboards. Pianos include grand pianos, upright pianos and digital pianos. Digital pianos and electronic keyboards would also tie into computers & electronics I mentioned above. We can learn from Indonesia, another tropical country which is a successful piano manufacturer. There are pianos of the Japanese brands Kawai and Yamaha made in Indonesia.

Vehicles

Sri Lanka has the potential to get involved in vehicle manufacturing. The Sri Lankan company Vega Innovations has made the Vega EVX, Sri Lanka’s first electric sports car. This project has been promoted for many years, so it would be good if it could begin its sales soon. Last year, Vega Innovations introduced the electric three-wheeler Elektrateq ETX. Electric three-wheelers are a good market to focus on due to three-wheelers’ environmental issues and their use in both Sri Lanka & the developing world. Moving back to cars, I don’t think we should focus exclusively on luxury vehicles as it’s important to make cars for regular consumers.

Planes

I believe planes is an industry Sri Lanka can get involved in. It’s not well known that Sri Lanka already has a boatbuilding industry. Expertise from that industry can be transferred to the manufacturing of planes. It’s good to start off with small planes and have a goal to eventually build aeroplanes. In the aviation sector it’s unfortunate to hear negative stories of Sri Lankan Airlines. Making aeroplanes would be something positive that could transform Sri Lanka’s aviation sector.

Those were my suggestions for Sri Lanka’s export diversification with some real-life initiatives mentioned. Feel free to give your thoughts on this issue including if there are other industries you think Sri Lanka should get involved in as an exporter.

Bill Payne's Keyboards for Bob Seger

Bob Seger has worked with keyboardist Bill Payne from 1978 onwards. Session musician Bill Payne is part of the southern rock band Little Feat. Bill first worked with Bob playing piano & organ on his 1978 hit “Hollywood Nights” from the “Stranger in Town” album. Bill’s keyboards are just organ at the start. During the first verse, he brings in his piano which adds depth to the song. The piano rocks well with some notable moments. A few years later Bill played all the keyboards (piano, organ & synth) on the ballad “You’ll Accomp’ny Me” from the “Against the Wind” album. This song opens with acoustic guitar and Bill soon brings in his piano & organ. His synth is hard to hear. The piano makes this song whole and there are strong organ moments. In both songs, Bill played with Bob who was the sole guitarist.

Hollywood Nights (1978)

You’ll Accomp’ny Me (1980)

On the next album “The Distance”, two songs Bill played piano include the country hit “Shame on the Moon” and the ballad “Love’s the Last to Know”. On the Rodney Crowell cover “Shame On the Moon”, the sole keyboards at the start are organ. After the first chorus, Bill brings in a memorable piano solo with piano continuing throughout the song. Bill’s piano elevates “Shame On the Moon”. Piano is the main instrument on the ballad “Love’s the Last to Know” giving Bill a stronger presence than the previous songs. He plays gently and melodically giving the power of a piano ballad. In these three songs, he played with Silver Bullet Band keyboardist Craig Frost on organ and would do the same on the songs in the next paragraph.

Bill played keyboards (piano & synth) on most tracks on the 1986 “Like a Rock” album. This is the most prominent presence he’s had on a Bob Seger album. I will describe what I consider to be his best contribution from that album. In the heartland rocker “American Storm”, his piano is driving the song. In the rock ballad title track, he was playing gently and supported Rick Vito’s slide guitar solos well. In the intense rock song “Sometimes”, he played a good supporting role and provided a memorable piano solo.

American Storm (1986)

This album also has songs with the combination of him on piano and Craig Frost on synth. The two keyboards went well together on “The Aftermath” with Bill rocking out well. The two instruments were used in a different way on the ballad “Somewhere Tonight”. Somewhere Tonight has gentle sections driven by Bill’s piano and rockier sections driven by Rick Vito’s guitar. On the following 1991 album “The Fire Inside”, he played on two Tom Waits covers. One of them was the jazz song “New Coat of Paint” which brings a completely different sound to what Bob normally does. Bill does incredible piano playing including having two piano solos. The other one was the country song “Blind Love” with his prominent gentle country playing.

We’re now going back to a Bob Seger original. Bill played piano on the 2006 rock ballad “Wait for Me” which is a very Bob Seger song. Bill gives warm melodic playing. He backed Bob Seger’s guitar solo. I didn't like how the “Face the Promise” album this song is from had a lack of keyboards on it. I wanted there to be more piano on the album. I wish Bill could have played on more tracks. His presence would have elevated the material like how he did on “Hollywood Nights” as that song was recorded as a band without the keyboards first. I’m imagining how great the title track could have sounded with Bill’s piano & organ.

Wait for Me (2006)

On Bob’s last album “I Knew You When” in 2017, Bill played on three songs. The “I Knew You When” songs featured unreleased songs, most of which had been updated as well as a few covers and newly written songs. These songs Bill played on were from the unreleased “Blue Ridge” album recorded in the late 1990s. On the piano ballad “I Knew You When”, Bill plays in a relaxed, gentle way. In aggressive rocker “Forward Into the Past”, Bill plays a supporting role. He gives good rock piano moments throughout the song. The song “Blue Ridge” opens with real drums and steel drums. I suspect these steel drums are played by Craig Frost on keyboards as I didn’t see any steel drums in the credits. Soon, Bill’s piano appears. It gives a good presence in this melodic rocker. Bill accompanies Bob on his rocking guitar solo.

Blue Ridge (2017)

These songs showcase Bill Payne’s contributions to Bob Seger’s work. He is one of the key session musicians Bob has worked with over the years. Bill contributed to the iconic Bob Seger sound and brought vibes from americana & southern rock. The Bob Seger songs he played on are rockers & ballads and also other genres like country & jazz. Bill showed the power of the piano as a rock instrument. I hope to see Bill Payne reunited on the next Bob Seger album.