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Mahinda, secretary rock the Ministry boat
By Shelani Perera
Fisheries Minister Mahinda Wijesekera allegedly went into tantrums this week throwing files, pushing chairs and pulling out the name board of his ministry secretary, saying he no longer wanted to work with the officer.

The incident took place in the Ministry on Wednesday and has drawn strong protests from the Sri Lanka Administrative Services Association which has called on the President and the Prime Minister to probe the incident.

Bringing the dispute between Minister Wijesekera and Ministry Secretary S. C Mannapperuma to a climax, the minister had allegedly entered the secretary's room, created an ugly scene and then left after locking the place and taking over the keys of the room.

Mr. Mannapperuma who had arrived in office around 8.30 a.m. on that day had left his room one and half hours later after hearing that the minister was planning to take some drastic action against him. The secretary had decided not to return to his post. A furious minister Wijesekera stormed into his secretary's office informing the Additional Secretary that he was going to occupy the room.

Mr. Mannapperuma told The Sunday Times that the minister immediately after he left the office had informed the relevant officials of his move.

"I notified Bradman Weerakooon, Prime Minister's Secretary, and the Presidential Secretary of my move. The main reason was the appointment the minister wanted me to make for the ADB-funded Coast Conservation Department project post of Project Director. We had selected a person but the minister insisted that the second person be appointed. I was against this move. The appointment was given to the suitable person, any other appointment would be illegal. I am answerable to Court," explained Mr. Mannapperuma.

According to Mr. Mannapperuma, the feud between him and the minister had been developing for some time. "There were some disagreements. These were small things but it all developed through time. It is very difficult to work with the minister. He is not a listener but a preacher. Everything has to be done according to his directions. I have worked with many politicians but this is the first time I faced such an unpleasant situation," Mr. Mannapperuma said.

Mr. Mannapperuma who has a track record as a secretary in the Public Service has worked for former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, former President D.B. Wijetunga, Former minister Kingsley Wickremaratne and Minister Rauff Hakeem.
On Friday, Mr. Mannapperuma assumed duties as the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Management and Reforms.

Minister Wijesekera speaking to The Sunday Times accused Mr. Mannapperuma of being "inefficient", resulting in a backlog of work. "I was having problems with the Secretary for almost six months. I even complained to the Prime Minister's Secretary and the President's Secretary about him. I informed them that if they wanted me to work they had to remove the secretary as I was finding it difficult to work with him. He does not follow my directives and thus there is a backlog in the ministry. I did not throw any files. Instead, I locked the Secretary's room and kept the key with me," Minister Wijesekera said.

He said one of the main reasons for him to take such a drastic action was that the Secretary had ignored his inquiries on a Cabinet paper. "About six months ago, we decided to launch a pilot project on exploiting offshore sea sand for construction purposes. I was to submit a Cabinet paper to get the approval. When I inquired from the secretary about this, he said he did not know about it. I asked him whose responsibility was it. He is the secretary and he should be aware of it. I told him that if he could not work he should go."

According to Mr. Wijesekera, he had opposed the selected candidate for the post of project director as the officer was allegedly involved in an irregular financial tender for a project.

"I was given three names for my approval. I rejected first candidate as he was allegedly involved in an irregular tender procedure. He had estimated the total cost for a project as 100 million rupees where as the actual value was 30 million. The other reason was that his present post as the manager for the ADB project has not shown progress. So obviously if the first fails the second has to be given the post, but the secretary disagreed with me," Minister Wijesekera said.

He said the Prime Minister would not take any action against his decision on the secretary as the "Prime Minister knows me and how I work" "When I complained to the PM about the secretary I told him that I can keep my secretary if he does not want me to do any work," Mr. Wijesekera said.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association has summoned an emergency meeting of the General Council on Thursday to discuss the course of action against what it sees as Minister Wijesekera's abusive outburst against the secretary.

Perturbed over the incident, the SLASA held an executive committee meeting on Friday to take stringent action against the minister and call upon President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe to hold an inquiry.

SLASA President S Ranugge told The Sunday Times it was a serious threat to senior officers and the association would take all measures. Presidential Spokesman Harim Peiris told The Sunday Times that despite the secretaries' appointments coming under the purview of the president they were awaiting action by the Prime Minister on the removal of the secretary.

"President Kumaratunga is appalled by the events but it is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to take action against his minister," he said.

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