New management system for Sri Lanka
Some 76 years after independence, there was a struggle in the country to change the systems for good governance and thereafter the people put a new government in power, especially with the hope of sustainable system changes in governance and implementing them. It appears so far that those changes are not yet being rationally identified and chosen to implement.
In this situation, there is a need to adopt a suitable strategic work plan so that the overall control changes in order to sustainably create knowledge, skills and best practices rather than rules and regulations. The public service can be cleaned at the time when this is being done.
It is needless to say that there is no progress in the public administration of our country. In the administrative framework inherited by the country from colonial powers, administration and procedures were subjected to slight revisions and although they were carried out in a regulatory regime, they contributed little to the decisions that could be taken for the country’s growth in the current circumstances.
Therefore the existing public administrative system and governing procedures should undergo a complete reorganisation. Here, it is essential to create a higher management service and a specialised financial management service in the public sector rather than just an administration framework. This will be a drastic change in the governance system that needs to happen in the country to change the whole.
Top management
The colonial style of government, which is stated as “For his majestic service”, is still practiced in the country. That is in the mindset of senior officers to control the junior officers and there is no space for monitoring and controlling based on management criteria, principles, standards and decision factors; instead the government tries to direct the public service through laws, regulations and circulars in the existing system. So there is no encouragement and promotion systems that prioritise economic merit and skill unless officers are appointed to higher positions based on seniority or political expediency.
There is no specific programme of recruitment of officials for those positions based on subject-wise required qualifications and skills in appointing high officials to government institutions. A major change to be made for this is to create a separate higher publicmanagement service consisting of those who are selected through separate examination of the officers with 10 years of experience. The selection of suitable officers for the highest positions in ministries, departments and institutions running with different subjects and objectives should be through the above process.
Permanent senior positions
This is something that should be done immediately to appoint qualified public officials without undue political interference and to legislate their duties on an effective and sustainable manner. It should be done at once so that the aggregate is covered.
In addition to creating a separate management service as stated above, what should be done is to permanently appoint officers with the highest qualifications and experience for the key positions like of the Central Bank Governor, the Treasury Director (Secretary) and the State Administration Director (Secretary). This should be the role of a new Constituent Assembly. Apart from that, provision should be made to empower the Constituent Assembly to appoint officials to the other highest ranks of the government and further to gain the trust of the people in a progressive manner and to achieve the objectives properly.
For that purpose, a National Public Management Council should be established, made up of these (above) three and others qualified in the basic public service functions and professions and qualified scholars from the civil society. This council should also be considered as an authority that functions above the existing Public Service Commission. The appointments of the secretaries of the ministries, the heads of the government institutions and similar government officials should be made according to the recommendations of this council.
If the Constituent Assembly does not accept these recommendations, the Assembly can reach a decision based on the facts. However, after giving proper appointments, they should be considered as permanent appointees to the relevant ministries and institutions until they retire or resign of their own accord. The previously existing permanent secretary posts are also hereby revived.
However, provisions should also be made so that anyone can challenge to the appointments in court.
Structural changes
If what this country needs is a managerial state, besides individuals, structural changes should also be made in the public sector where they are positioned. The government sector has become unwieldy due to the fact that the ministries, departments and government agencies are not organised/categorised and the scopes and subsidiary agencies are not determined systematically, and their continuity is not confirmed and therefore their management and efficiency have collapsed.
This has hindered the progress of development activities with responsibility. The change of top management from time to time has caused many problems.
Continuity of Ministries
Permanent formation of Ministries on a subject-wise along with personnel changes and designations of their respective scopes and nomenclature should be regularised in the Constitution. This will ensure the formation of stable institutions with continuity that does not change over time when governments change. It is a pity that this concept is not implemented at least not only in the main ministries and government institutions but also in the Parliament functions.
Financial Management Service
Financial services currently exist in the public sector as a general administrative service. This must be established in the public sector as a special service consisting of existing people with qualifications and skills who can properly manage the financial resources which are of particular importance and a critical source necessary for the development of the country. This service can be organized under a state financial management board which shall replace or reorganised to the General Treasury.
The existing Government Accountancy Service can be attached to the financial management service under purview of the board and it is better to provide suitable capacity building programmes and facilities for them to acquire knowledge and skills at postgraduate level or Chartered Accountant level specialised in public financial management.
The purpose of this board is to conduct, supervise and monitor the joint financial management services of every department and institution of the public sector by a recognised management service made up of high-level managers as well as middle and low-level managers and to provide professionalism for the public financial management as a specialised service.
Financial control systems and methods
Another thing that needs to be done to create a management-based government to properly change old methods and procedures in the established services and systems. It is only then that an environment that creates self-control and discipline can be established in the country with managerial knowledge and skills.
In the public sector, there is still a system of financial control and reporting that we inherited from the era of conservative and colonial rules. This should be developed scientifically and technically according to modern professional standards, procedures and methods.
Hitad.lk has you covered with quality used or brand new cars for sale that are budget friendly yet reliable! Now is the time to sell your old ride for something more attractive to today's modern automotive market demands. Browse through our selection of affordable options now on Hitad.lk before deciding on what will work best for you!