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The standoff between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman Reyaz Mihular leading to the reconstitution of the Telecom Board made headlines last week and caused ripples in the business sector.

Mihular one of Sri Lanka’s top professionals showed  professionalism and courage in refusing to withdraw the case filed by Sri Lanka Telecom against the proposed merger between industry leader Dialog Axiata and Airtel.

The Financial Times had reported earlier in the week that Mihular and other directors were asked to resign by the government which is the controlling shareholder. The report said Mihular was asked to withdraw a case filed by Mobitel, against a merger of Airtel and Dialog, during a meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Mihular had informed the President that it was based on a board decision which was based on the best interests of the company.

A new Board has since been appointed to Sri Lanka Telecom which is the second leadership change in about seven months.  Six Govt. directors including Chairman Reyaz Mihular (Non-Executive Independent Chairman), Rohan Fernando, Lalith Seneviratne, Ranjith Rubasinghe, Mohan Weerakoon PC and Treasury representative K.A. Vimalenthirarajh resigned from the Board and have been replaced by K.D.D.D. Arandara (Chairman), Dr. K.A.S. Keeragala, Dinesh Vidanapathirana, Prof. K.M. Liyanage, Dr. D.M.I.S. Dassanayake and Chathura Mohottigedara.

The Government’s plan to sell its stake in Sri Lanka Telecom and Mobitel is mired in controversy with Trade Unions raising the question why it should be sold when the Company is making profits.

The government is seeking to divest its stake in Mobitel. India’s Jio Platforms, a unit of Reliance group and Gortune International Investment Holdings, a Chinese firm have expressed interest in buying the firm.

There is speculation that the pressure by Government on Reyaz Mihular and other Board Directors to withdraw the case may be due to geo political reasons rather than good business sense. In such a context the question arises whether professionals appointed to various positions are required to draw on their professionalism when taking decisions or they are simply required to carry out the dictates of Government

In recent times government officials standing on principle and not being pushed around is rare and from a governance perspective needs to be encouraged.  To use a phrase often used by former President Maitripala Sirisena “Wahal Manasikathwaya”  or “servile mentality” has come to characterize both government officials and politicians when it comes to taking a stand.

However there are laudable exceptions who have received public accolades. Devani Jayatilleke the young woman Forest officer from Gampaha who stood up to the late State Minister Sanath Nishantha in February 2020 is one such instance.

Reporting on the incident The Economy Next website of February 13, 2020 describing the incident reported that “Devani Jayathilaka the young woman Forest Officer who stopped State Minister Sanath Nishantha in his tracks is the viral favourite of Social Media these days.’’

The Gampaha District Forest officer objected to Nishantha’s attempt to take over government forest lands for a children’s playground in Negombo.

According to Economy Next the video of her arguing her point and standing her ground in the face of intimidation from the Minister’s goons has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people, and the comments on Facebook and Twitter are very complimentary bordering on adulation.

With the passage of the Online Safety Bill last week whether such brave and principled  interventions will reach the eyes and ears of the public remains to be seen.

There are many  Public Servants of integrity who have stood up for what is right and opposed wrong from whichever quarter it comes. In 2020 Transparency International presented the Integrity Idol award to P. A. C. Priyadarshani, Principal of St Mary’s College in Mathugama  for her role in dealing with one of the most contentious issues in the country which is fraught with corruption – admissions to Grade One in government schools.

Priyadarshani had set up a points system and admitted children strictly according to such criteria despite offers of money and political pressure.

More recently in June last year the Director General of the Department of Archaeology Prof. Anura Manatunga tendered his resignation after he differed publicly with President Ranil Wickremesinghe over an issue pertaining to the allocation of lands to an Archaeological site.

While there have been Government officials who have stood up to authority  and resigned on matters of principle like Reyaz Mihular,  Professor Anura Manatunge, Devani Jayatilleke and P. A. C. Priyadarshanie Sri Lankan  politicians have not shown any such resolve.

Take the case of the forcible cremations of those who died of Covid 19 creating a great deal of anguish among the Muslims. Despite the World Health Organisation guidelines permitting burials as well as world renowned medical specialists like Professor Malik Pieris and practically all other virologists having no objections to burials the Government of the day insisted on subjecting the Muslims to cremation.

It went on to even suggest subjecting the Muslim community to the indignity of sending their Covid-19 dead to the Maldives for burial. Here was an instance when Muslim politicians in Government like then Minister of Justice Ali Sabry should have taken a stand  resigning in protest at the injustice caused to Muslims. Instead they did the exact opposite. Every time the Leader of the Opposition Sajit Premadasa raised the matter in Parliament  Minister Ali Sabry  would attempt to shut  him up by accusing him of trying to politicize the matter.

While Reyaz Mihular’s decision to step down from his position was based on professionalism and his conscience Minister Ali Sabry’s  failure to act only reflects accurately Dr. Colvin R. de Silva’s assertion about  Sri Lanka politicians. He said that they never resign. They only resign themselves to the situation.

(javidyusuf@gmail.com)