Merry-go-round politics
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This is one of those periods the late singer Sunil Perera of Gypsies fame would have revelled in. Famous for lampooning politicians through song and dance (with hilarious skits joined by the late Ronnie Leitch a.k.a ‘Thattaya’), Sunil would have been galvanised into action to produce another award-winning song featuring the ‘long jumps’ and unabashed crossovers by politicians in this current presidential race.For example, consider his famous song ‘Lankawe Mehema Wenne Nehe (It won’t happen this way in Sri Lanka)’.
Its lyrics went like this: “Hora chanda’ and vote rigging… where? Of course in England//Peaceful, decent voting…..where? Of course in Sri Lanka//Which country has solved the unemployment problem? Of course Sri Lanka//Honest and courageous politicians…..where? Of course in Sri Lanka//Bribe-taking and corrupt ministers…..where? Of course in England//Even if it happens in England it won’t happen (ever) in Sri Lanka.”
I was reminded of Sunil’s song when Pedris Appo – short for Appuhamy, a retired agriculture expert who does a little farming – called on Thursday to discuss issues relating to the presidential race.
“One of the worst things that happens at an election is that ‘heads’ of state agencies and often ministries are swiftly changed by a new, winning presidential candidate (it won’t happen if the present incumbent continues),” he said.
“That is the political culture in the country and is unlikely to change unless, of course, there is a radical shift in policy by the winning candidate,” I said.
“The problem is that most of the heads and chairmen of state agencies are there to do the minister’s bidding and to resort to revengeful political decisions….even if they are competent. If they choose to ignore such orders and go by the book (of rules and regulations), they are promptly sacked,” he said.
“Alas…..this happens to even the best of secretaries to ministries who are shunted from ministry to ministry or sent to the public administration pool if they chose to oppose a minister’s order citing ARs and FRs (the rule book that governs public administration),” I said.
Gone are the days when there were strong and respected public administrators like Dharmasiri Peiris, D.B.I.P.S. Siriwardene and Bradman Weerakoon (who served many politicians in the role of Secretary of a ministry) who went by the book and were not swayed by their political masters.
One administrator I admired most was Mr. Siriwardene, whose son Aruna became well-known in the music scene for his drumming abilities in addition to his business acumen.
Many decades ago, when he served as Public Administration Secretary, I walked into his office for an interview as public administration was my beat as a budding journalist. Immaculately dressed in a short-sleeved white shirt and white trousers (the common attire those days), he got up from his seat, walked towards me and shook my hand. Apart from a telephone on his table and an empty ‘in’ tray and ‘out’ tray (for files to be looked at and files already completed), the table was bare.
I asked him where the files were that are usually piled up on the tables of senior administrators. “I don’t keep them for too long. I try to finish them as quickly as possible,” he said, smiling. These were the administrators of yesteryear and unlikely to be found in the present generation of officials. The public service has got so politicised, that it’s rare to find an administrator who would stand up to a minister and point out a bad decision.
These trends need to change if Sri Lanka is to have a public service that serves the people, not its political masters whose first line of duty is to recruit families and friends and then fill the agencies under their control with supporters, most of whom do not do an ounce of work. So how do you develop a public service that is comparable to the services rendered by the public servants (that’s if they are public servants and must serve people and not politicians) of the 1960s to the mid-1980s era?
The public service rules and regulations should be strictly adhered to by administrators but only a ‘system change’ called during the ‘aragalaya’ can transform the service. Until then, public servants will be treated as lapdogs by politicians unless some public-spirited officers refuse to obey ‘illegal’ orders and choose to quit instead.
A decent (and humble) political administration would ensure continuity in the public service, retaining officials who were competent and who went by the book.
As I reflected on these ‘election’ thoughts, my mind wandered to what the trio was up to during their weekly margosa tree conversation. I was in the kitchen fetching my second mug of tea and listened to a little bit of their conversation.
“Ah, den aanduwa prathilaba godak denawa janathawata (Ah……now the government is handing out a lot of benefits for the people),” said Kussi Amma Sera.
“Minissunta hari hina deshapalagnayo saha egollange adarakaruwo hasirena widiha gena. Egollo eka paksheking anith ekata paninawa (People are laughing at the way politicians and their close supporters are behaving. They are jumping from one party to another),” noted Serapina.
“Sunil Perera hitiyanam thawa lassana sinduwak hadai mey ninditha deshapalagnayo gena (If Sunil Perera was alive he would have produced another brilliant song about these disgraceful politicians),” added Mabel Rasthiyadu.
On a similar note, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa made an interesting proposal in Parliament last week, suggesting that there should be a national policy on employment, encompassing both the state and private sectors.
It’s a good idea but won’t work in a country like Sri Lanka where good policies are often undone by a new, incoming government.
It’s also because the words “national policies” are by and large misunderstood by the average politician because a national policy, first and foremost, should override politics. It should be endorsed by all stakeholders including all political parties and not belong to or be touted as a policy promoted by a single politician or party.
National policies may be amended or adjusted to suit the times but are eventually unbreakable and in force for many years and decades. National policies are required for education, health, social welfare, taxes, disabilities and women and children; policies that will stand the test of time.
Will we usher in such an era, where politicians will go beyond their political mandate and think of country first before party? In the same breath, one hopes these columns are read by the decision-makers to also understand the need for continuity in the public servants and reward for officials for their unwavering commitment to justice, fair-play and good governance.
Well…..time to go and watch as the political campaigns heat up next week with each of the main four candidates promising to hold 100 rallies across the country…….promising the sun, moon and the stars!
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