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Ineffective state sector needs urgent cultural reset

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By Rienzie Wijetilleke
(rienzietwij@gmail.com)

Sri Lanka like many other countries has multiple economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is important to understand that these challenges were not caused by the pandemic; they were exacerbated by it. Sri Lanka has struggled to attract foreign direct investment despite being considered a frontier economy, and relies heavily on remittances from migrant workers. We have a large bloated state sector that does not add anywhere near enough value to Sri Lankans in their day to day lives. Many will agree that the sector as a whole is ineffective, inefficient and unproductive. We have borrowed heavily for infrastructure and development projects, some of which are not yielding adequate revenue or benefits for the people. We have high tax rates on businesses and consumption, and that restricts investments, expansions and the consumption cycle. The bureaucracy has introduced numerous barriers to starting new businesses, and there is no culture of cutting edge research and development and virtually no scope for innovation. The poorest areas of Sri Lanka have remained the same for decades; upward social mobility occurs for a select few in the middle class but is non-existent for the poorest whose lives have not improved for several decades. Whether you need to start a business or build a house, there is no shortage of obstacles to tackle from the Grama Niladhari level to the local government authorities right up to the minister; people are sent from pillar to post for the most routine work.

As much as the pandemic has destroyed economic prospects in 2020, we must accept that our issues will not disappear even after we contain the spread of the virus. Sri Lanka has lacked a national framework for development, with ad hoc policies leading to a borrow-and-spend culture, awaiting the next construction boom to give an illusion of development. The elected political leadership has succeeded in amending the Constitution; they have a huge majority in Parliament and a clear mandate to do whatever is necessary for the common good. Against this backdrop, I believe that we must start setting reasonable short, medium and long-term goals and build a private sector culture around the way our ministries and its ministers operate.

In line with corporate norms, the Prime Minister or the President should appoint a Special Cabinet Minister without a specific portfolio to monitor the progress of each ministry and whether they are performing in line with the targets set out by the Prime Minister. This is the type of supervision that must become part of the culture of public service. There should be quarterly updates and reports provided to the Executive and to the Parliament. If a Ministry shows a consistent inability to meet these preset targets, then hard decisions need to be taken.

Anybody involved in the corporate sector, at any level, can attest to the multiple ‘key performance indicators’ (KPIs) that they must achieve each year. The checks and balances (audits), the progress meetings, brain-storming sessions, interdependence on different teams with varying skill sets, all built upon a structure that is moving in a single direction toward pre-set objectives. Sri Lanka has no shortage of organisations that not only established themselves during dire economic circumstances, but thrived and grew to be major local, regional and international players. There is a culture of excellence that exists in Sri Lanka’s private sector, and now we need to transfer this culture to the state sector. As fantastical as it sounds, it might be the only way to dig the country out of this current mess.

All eyes should be focused on the new Cabinet and how they organise themselves to work for the country. We have a Minister for Labour, Education, Health, Transportation, Trade, Agriculture, Plantations, Tourism, Ports etc. How many of these ministries have successfully managed themselves over the past several years and even decades?

Is the labour force better equipped to meet the challenges of the technological revolution? Have gaps in vocational training been plugged? Have conditions for workers improved? Has our education system been updated or the curriculum modernised? What is the plan for tourism? According to some estimates, tourist arrivals are not expected to recover to pre-Covid levels for two years. Have agricultural policies made Sri Lanka more self-reliant, more sustainable? Why does Sri Lanka have a public transport system and a private bus mafia with neither of them operating in a manner that can be described as a public ‘service’?

Many of the Cabinet Ministers are career politicians, with plenty of experience. However, the public has little faith in them; all hope rests on the President and the Prime Minister. Strong management is the key to success, not micro-management, not top down authoritarianism; A well-crafted policy delegated to professionals within a structured institution is the only way forward. Members of the Cabinet have track records, some running into several decades. Review their performances and note what they have achieved and where they have failed. Ascertain reasons for failure to perform and see how to rectify these issues.

The President and the Prime Minister must set targets for each Minister, prioritize the most pressing issues in each ministry bearing in mind at all times that the raison d’être of these expensive offices is to meet the social and economic needs of the people, the ultimate pay masters. Senior Ministers should provide detailed plans to the Prime Minister, stating what they hope to achieve and how, within a specified time frame. There should be cost-benefit analyses conducted and the Prime Minister should decide what the priorities are, in line with national objectives and take strict action against ‘non-performers’. Perhaps, the Prime Minister can rank his top five ministers every 3-6 months, based on specific KPIs and publish the list so the people can see who is working for them, and more importantly, who is not.

Unless we change the culture of public service, we will exist in a perpetual state of fire-fighting, running from one emergency to the next. Sri Lanka’s public sector still operates with a colonial mindset, officials at every level of government behave like governors and not as public servants. We see how the people are treated at public offices and institutions, every Sri Lankan has witnessed firsthand the bureaucratic inertia of most of the ministries. Absenteeism, lack of supervision and accountability, disorganised or nonexistent information systems and unproductive officers are just some of the hallmarks of Sri Lanka’s public service.

What is truly disappointing is that there are so many intelligent, well-meaning patriots whose best efforts are often diluted by their inefficient peers. Political appointees diminish a public servant’s aspirations as they usually hit a ceiling and cannot meaningfully progress, which leads to demotivation. Entering Sri Lanka’s public service requires passing a competitive written examination (Ceylon Administrative Service Examination), which is known to be extremely challenging and thus, we can assume that those who enter the state service are some of the brightest and most academically gifted individuals in the country. However, once you gain entry to the state service, complacency seems to set in, and it, more often than not, leads to a sense of entitlement that is also exuded from the very top. If the Secretary or the Minister does not challenge their staff and set an example, this will be reflected in the performance of the ministry as a whole. This culture exists and needs to be eradicated urgently.

It is a strongly held belief that in the state sector, three people are required to do one person’s job with no visible results whereas in the private sector, one person does the job of three people with visible and measurable results. A Cabinet Minister receives many entitlements and benefits–– vehicles, housing, security, staff, offices and seemingly unlimited expense accounts, all at the people’s expense. To these Cabinet Ministers, we have to add Deputy Ministers, Junior Ministers, State Minister, Governors, Mayors, Provincial Counselors; the list goes on. Is it too much to ask that the privileges that accompany these lofty positions are justified with the delivery of some tangible results within a reasonable time frame?

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Islamophobia and the threat to democratic development

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There’s an ill more dangerous and pervasive than the Coronavirus that’s currently sweeping Sri Lanka. That is the fear to express one’s convictions. Across the public sector of the country in particular many persons holding high office are stringently regulating and controlling the voices of their consciences and this bodes ill for all and the country.

The corrupting impact of fear was discussed in this column a couple of weeks ago when dealing with the military coup in Myanmar. It stands to the enduring credit of ousted Myanmarese Head of Government Aung San Suu Kyi that she, perhaps for the first time in the history of modern political thought, singled out fear, and not power, as the principal cause of corruption within the individual; powerful or otherwise.

To be sure, power corrupts but the corrupting impact of fear is graver and more devastating. For instance, the fear in a person holding ministerial office or in a senior public sector official, that he would lose position and power as a result of speaking out his convictions and sincere beliefs on matters of the first importance, would lead to a country’s ills going unaddressed and uncorrected.

Besides, the individual concerned would be devaluing himself in the eyes of all irrevocably and revealing himself to be a person who would be willing to compromise his moral integrity for petty worldly gain or a ‘mess of pottage’. This happens all the while in Lankan public life. Some of those who have wielded and are wielding immense power in Sri Lanka leave very much to be desired from these standards.

It could be said that fear has prevented Sri Lanka from growing in every vital respect over the decades and has earned for itself the notoriety of being a directionless country.

All these ills and more are contained in the current controversy in Sri Lanka over the disposal of the bodies of Covid victims, for example. The Sri Lankan polity has no choice but to abide by scientific advice on this question. Since authorities of the standing of even the WHO have declared that the burial of the bodies of those dying of Covid could not prove to be injurious to the wider public, the Sri Lankan health authorities could go ahead and sanction the burying of the bodies concerned. What’s preventing the local authorities from taking this course since they claim to be on the side of science? Who or what are they fearing? This is the issue that’s crying out to be probed and answered.

Considering the need for absolute truthfulness and honesty on the part of all relevant persons and quarters in matters such as these, the latter have no choice but to resign from their positions if they are prevented from following the dictates of their consciences. If they are firmly convinced that burials could bring no harm, they are obliged to take up the position that burials should be allowed.

If any ‘higher authority’ is preventing them from allowing burials, our ministers and officials are conscience-bound to renounce their positions in protest, rather than behave compromisingly and engage in ‘double think’ and ‘double talk’. By adopting the latter course they are helping none but keeping the country in a state of chronic uncertainty, which is a handy recipe for social instabiliy and division.

In the Sri Lankan context, the failure on the part of the quarters that matter to follow scientific advice on the burials question could result in the aggravation of Islamophobia, or hatred of the practitioners of Islam, in the country. Sri Lanka could do without this latter phobia and hatred on account of its implications for national stability and development. The 30 year war against separatist forces was all about the prevention by military means of ‘nation-breaking’. The disastrous results for Sri Lanka from this war are continuing to weigh it down and are part of the international offensive against Sri Lanka in the UNHCR.

However, Islamophobia is an almost world wide phenomenon. It was greatly strengthened during Donald Trump’s presidential tenure in the US. While in office Trump resorted to the divisive ruling strategy of quite a few populist authoritarian rulers of the South. Essentially, the manoeuvre is to divide and rule by pandering to the racial prejudices of majority communities.

It has happened continually in Sri Lanka. In the initial post-independence years and for several decades after, it was a case of some populist politicians of the South whipping-up anti-Tamil sentiments. Some Tamil politicians did likewise in respect of the majority community. No doubt, both such quarters have done Sri Lanka immeasurable harm. By failing to follow scientific advice on the burial question and by not doing what is right, Sri Lanka’s current authorities are opening themselves to the charge that they are pandering to religious extremists among the majority community.

The murderous, destructive course of action adopted by some extremist sections among Muslim communities world wide, including of course Sri Lanka, has not earned the condemnation it deserves from moderate Muslims who make-up the preponderant majority in the Muslim community. It is up to moderate opinion in the latter collectivity to come out more strongly and persuasively against religious extremists in their midst. It will prove to have a cementing and unifying impact among communities.

It is not sufficiently appreciated by governments in the global South in particular that by voicing for religious and racial unity and by working consistently towards it, they would be strengthening democratic development, which is an essential condition for a country’s growth in all senses.

A ‘divided house’ is doomed to fall; this is the lesson of history. ‘National security’ cannot be had without human security and peaceful living among communities is central to the latter. There cannot be any ‘double talk’ or ‘politically correct’ opinions on this question. Truth and falsehood are the only valid categories of thought and speech.

Those in authority everywhere claiming to be democratic need to adopt a scientific outlook on this issue as well. Studies conducted on plural societies in South Asia, for example, reveal that the promotion of friendly, cordial ties among communities invariably brings about healing among estranged groups and produces social peace. This is the truth that is waiting to be acted upon.

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Pakistan’s love of Sri Lanka

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By Sanjeewa Jayaweera

It was on 3rd January 1972 that our family arrived in Karachi from Moscow. Our departure from Moscow had been delayed for a few weeks due to the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It ended on 16th December 1971. After that, international flights were not permitted for some time.

The contrast between Moscow and Karachi was unbelievable. First and foremost, Moscow’s temperature was near minus 40 degrees centigrade, while in Karachi, it was sunny and a warm 28 degrees centigrade. However, what struck us most was the extreme warmth with which the airport authorities greeted our family. As my father was a diplomat, we were quickly ushered to the airport’s VIP Lounge. We were in transit on our way to Rawalpindi, the airport serving the capital of Islamabad.

We quickly realized that the word “we are from Sri Lanka” opened all doors just as saying “open sesame” gained entry to Aladdin’s cave! The broad smile, extreme courtesy, and genuine warmth we received from the Pakistani people were unbelievable.

This was all to do with Mrs Sirima Bandaranaike’s decision to allow Pakistani aircraft to land in Colombo to refuel on the way to Dhaka in East Pakistan during the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It was a brave decision by Mrs Bandaranaike (Mrs B), and the successive governments and Sri Lanka people are still enjoying the fruits of it. Pakistan has been a steadfast and loyal supporter of our country. They have come to our assistance time and again in times of great need when many have turned their back on us. They have indeed been an “all-weather” friend of our country.

Getting back to 1972, I was an early beneficiary of Pakistani people’s love for Sri Lankans. I failed the entrance exam to gain entry to the only English medium school in Islamabad! However, when I met the Principal, along with my father, he said, “Sanjeewa, although you failed the entrance exam, I will this time make an exception as Sri Lankans are our dear friends.” After that, the joke around the family dinner table was that I owed my education in Pakistan to Mrs B!

At school, my brother and I were extended a warm welcome and always greeted “our good friends from Sri Lanka.” I felt when playing cricket for our college; our runs were cheered more loudly than of others.

One particular incident that I remember well was when the Embassy received a telex from the Foreign inistry. It requested that our High Commissioner seek an immediate meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Zulifikar Ali Bhutto (ZB), and convey a message from Mrs B. The message requested that an urgent shipment of rice be dispatched to Sri Lanka as there would be an imminent rice shortage. As the Ambassador was not in the station, the responsibility devolved on my father.

It usually takes about a week or more to get an audience with the Prime Minister (PM) of a foreign country due to their busy schedule. However, given the urgency, my father spoke to the Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Sectary, who fortunately was our neighbour and sought an urgent appointment. My father received a call from the PM’s secretary around 10 P.M asking him to come over to the PM’s residence. My father met ZB around midnight. ZB was about to retire to bed and, as such, was in his pyjamas and gown enjoying a cigar! He had greeted my father and had asked, “Mr Jayaweera, what can we do for great friend Madam Bandaranaike?. My father conveyed the message from Colombo and quietly mentioned that there would be riots in the country if there is no rice!

ZB had immediately got the Food Commissioner of Pakistan on the line and said, “I want a shipload of rice to be in Colombo within the next 72 hours!” The Food Commissioner reverted within a few minutes, saying that nothing was available and the last export shipment had left the port only a few hours ago to another country. ZB had instructed to turn the ship around and send it to Colombo. This despite protests from the Food Commissioner about terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit prohibiting non-delivery. Sri Lanka got its delivery of rice!

The next was the visit of Mrs B to Pakistan. On arrival in Rawalpindi airport, she was given a hero’s welcome, which Pakistan had previously only offered to President Gaddafi of Libya, who financially backed Pakistan with his oil money. That day, I missed school and accompanied my parents to the airport. On our way, we witnessed thousands of people had gathered by the roadside to welcome Mrs B.

When we walked to the airport’s tarmac, thousands of people were standing in temporary stands waving Sri Lanka and Pakistan flags and chanting “Sri Lanka Pakistan Zindabad.” The noise emanating from the crowd was as loud and passionate as the cheering that the Pakistani cricket team received during a test match. It was electric!

I believe she was only the second head of state given the privilege of addressing both assemblies of Parliament. The other being Gaddafi. There was genuine affection from Mrs B amongst the people of Pakistan.

I always remember the indefatigable efforts of Mr Abdul Haffez Kardar, a cabinet minister and the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board. From around 1973 onwards, he passionately championed Sri Lanka’s cause to be admitted as a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and granted test status. Every year, he would propose at the ICC’s annual meeting, but England and Australia’s veto kept us out until 1981.

I always felt that our Cricket Board made a mistake by not inviting Pakistan to play our inaugural test match. We should have appreciated Mr Kardar and Pakistan’s efforts. In 1974 the Pakistan board invited our team for a tour involving three test matches and a few first-class games. Most of those who played in our first test match was part of that tour, and no doubt gained significant exposure playing against a highly talented Pakistani team.

Several Pakistani greats were part of the Pakistan and India team that played a match soon after the Central Bank bomb in Colombo to prove that it was safe to play cricket in Colombo. It was a magnificent gesture by both Pakistan and India. Our greatest cricket triumph was in Pakistan when we won the World Cup in 1996. I am sure the players and those who watched the match on TV will remember the passionate support our team received that night from the Pakistani crowd. It was like playing at home!

I also recall reading about how the Pakistani government air freighted several Multi Barrell artillery guns and ammunition to Sri Lanka when the A rmy camp in Jaffna was under severe threat from the LTTE. This was even more important than the shipload of rice that ZB sent. This was crucial as most other countries refused to sell arms to our country during the war.

Time and again, Pakistan has steadfastly supported our country’s cause at the UNHCR. No doubt this year, too, their diplomats will work tirelessly to assist our country.

We extend a warm welcome to Mr Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is a truly inspirational individual who was undoubtedly an excellent cricketer. Since retirement from cricket, he has decided to get involved in politics, and after several years of patiently building up his support base, he won the last parliamentary elections. I hope that just as much as he galvanized Sri Lankan cricketers, his political journey would act as a catalyst for people like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to get involved in politics. Cricket has been called a “gentleman’s game.” Whilst politics is far from it!.

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Covid-19 health rules disregarded at entertainment venues?

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Believe me, seeing certain videos, on social media, depicting action, on the dance floor, at some of these entertainment venues, got me wondering whether this Coronavirus pandemic is REAL!

To those having a good time, at these particular venues, and, I guess, the management, as well, what the world is experiencing now doesn’t seem to be their concerned.

Obviously, such irresponsible behaviour could create more problems for those who are battling to halt the spread of Covid-19, and the new viriant of Covid, in our part of the world.

The videos, on display, on social media, show certain venues, packed to capacity – with hardly anyone wearing a mask, and social distancing…only a dream..

How can one think of social distancing while gyrating, on a dance floor, that is over crowded!

If this trend continues, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Coronavirus makes its presence felt…at such venues.

And, then, what happens to the entertainment scene, and those involved in this field, especially the musicians? No work, whatsoever!

Lots of countries have closed nightclubs, and venues, where people gather, in order to curtail the spread of this deadly virus that has already claimed the lives of thousands.

Thailand did it and the country is still having lots of restrictions, where entertainment is concerned, and that is probably the reason why Thailand has been able to control the spread of the Coronavirus.

With a population of over 69 million, they have had (so far), a little over 25,000 cases, and 83 deaths, while we, with a population of around 21 million, have over 80,000 cases, and more than 450 deaths.

I’m not saying we should do away with entertainment – totally – but we need to follow a format, connected with the ‘new normal,’ where masks and social distancing are mandatory requirements at these venues. And, dancing, I believe, should be banned, at least temporarily, as one can’t maintain the required social distance, while on the dance floor, especially after drinks.

Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana keeps emphasising, on TV, radio, and in the newspapers, the need to adhere to the health regulations, now in force, and that those who fail to do so would be penalised.

He has also stated that plainclothes officers would move around to apprehend such offenders.

Perhaps, he should instruct his officers to pay surprise visits to some of these entertainment venues.

He would certainly have more than a bus load of offenders to be whisked off for PCR/Rapid Antigen tests!

I need to quote what Dr. H.T. Wickremasinghe said in his article, published in The Island of Tuesday, February 16th, 2021:

“…let me conclude, while emphasising the need to continue our general public health measures, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding crowded gatherings, to reduce the risk of contact with an infected person.

“There is no science to beat common sense.”

But…do some of our folks have this thing called COMMON SENSE!

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