Whoever governs this country, one must understand that the Public Service is for the public. Perhaps this has been misunderstood over the years. Therefore, the numbers have increased but increasing numbers is not the success. It is the delivery by the numbers, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister and Leader of the House of Parliament Dinesh Gunawardena stated in an exclusive interview with the Daily News.
Excerpts:
Q: After seven decades all relevant, related and matching subjects such as Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government have come under the purview of one State Ministry. Please comment.
A: This is a very positive step. These subjects cover all the administration of the country from the Government Service right down to the bottom, of course with different aspects of different approaches through different legislations that have been introduced for the smooth uniformity for the last 74 years but we have to face the challenges of the country. These are some of the key ministries that will serve the entire country.
Q: The people say that the Public Service is too heavy and not satisfactory at all. How do you address these issues?
A: Whoever governs this country, one must understand that the Public Service is for the public. Perhaps this has been misunderstood over the years. Therefore the numbers have increased but increasing numbers is not the success. It is the delivery by the numbers.
Allowing them to be productive and efficient and better management seeking the interests of the public. The public is not only those who live in urban areas. A lot of new approaches are required. A lot of new changes are also required because there are so many sectors in the Government service. One is the Government Service. Secondly, the education sector which carries a cadre of nearly 245,000. Then we have the Provincial Councils which are carrying another 440,000 cadre. Over the years though it has expanded, the question is whether it is productive, whether it serves the public in a better way and whether it saves every possible cent for the country.
Of course it needs a lot of reforms. It cannot be done overnight. This is not an overnight affair. But at present we have challenges, economic challenges, and given priority to them. Sri Lanka is currently facing an energy crisis and it should be addressed in a more practical way through a National Policy and not in an ad hoc way. Our production sector is still mainly agriculture, rice, and other crops plus plantations for export. Rural development is an essential factor that comes through the Public Service and with the support of the Local Governments. What can be delivered at grassroots level has not been delivered and we have to address this issue in the present crisis.
Q: Does Sri Lanka need Provincial Councils which are called a ‘White Elephant’ by people?
A: I think it is in fact a burden that we are carrying it as a White Elephant. Colossal expenditure, waste and corruption. All those three exist in Provincial Councils. But this was something that was forced upon us because we never had a referendum. There are practical approaches to take and specific areas and we need participation in a bigger way from the public as well as from the State. The Government investments created various disparities in some areas of the country. It needs to be addressed by way of reforms to our participatory democracy. The Provincial Council system needs reforms.
Q: Public Servants have worked with various difficulties since COVID-19. They travel long distances to reach their offices. What can be done about this?
A: We have already announced and we have introduced Work From Home (WFH) since the COVID-19 period except for the essential services such as education sector, health sector, etc. This will also promote public transport improvement rather than burning unnecessary fuel. Sri Lanka is not producing fuel and we face a fuel crisis now.
Q: People say they need a swift system to make complaints against Public Servants who ill-treat them. Do we have such a system and what is the current situation?
A: All the systems are there but those systems had not been fully or properly implemented. Now one example is when a Public Servant is being charged for an offence, the inquiry should be completed within six months but thousands of Public Servants in various sectors who have been faced with this issue, sometimes disciplinary and sometimes based on corruption have to be separated. They are still waiting without being able to complete the process and get back to work. Some of them are facing lifelong interdictions without inquiries being over. They should not wait as suspects without inquiries being completed. It is not fair. It is better if they could go to courts because the inquiries would have been completed within ten days or so.
I am planning to introduce a five year no pay leave plan for the Public Servants who wish to obtain long term no pay leave to go abroad etc. They will be able to get back to their seniority, grades at the end of the five years without any fetters with all relevant benefits etc. after completing the five years of no pay leave. This will give incentive to the Public Servants if they go abroad for other employment etc.
Q: A lot of large lands are located inside State owned offices belonging to this Ministry. Any plans to cultivate these lands to face the upcoming food shortage?
A: This is a very important factor and we will give our fullest support to cultivate all available lands in the State sector. The Private Sector also has a very big role to play here. State lands that have been neglected can be cultivated with essential crops. Laws are there but they have not been implemented for years. We are working with State university scholars, Agricultural Ministry etc. We have already held discussions from top to right down to the Grama Niladhari level on this issue right across the country. We can successfully face the dollar issue, save dollars and at the same time we can earn dollars through growing agricultural crops and exporting. The State sector should not be idle.
Q: Any special message to the people who are suffering from various difficulties since March?
A: This is an all party Government established to face the current crisis, especially the economic crisis. The priorities have to be moved up. People are facing a lot of problems. Rural production needs to be increased. People's participation is required. The gap between the rich and the poor has widened. This has to be addressed by society. That is how we will be able to find peace.
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