Several steps needed for public service efficiency

by Milinda Rajasekera

"  The efficiency of Sri Lanka’s public service which remained high at the time the country gained independence steadily declined under successive administrations that ignored or trivialized the accepted norms of good governance."

(January 27, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The state of the public service in this country has throughout been a matter of much public interest and concern. A widespread public discontent and disenchantment with our public service, as it operates today, is clearly evident. The good work done by a section of public officers is submerged by such misdemeanours as lethargy, incompetence, corruption and abuse of power that others are accused of. Adverse comments and admonitions from concerned political authorities and public organizations have, therefore, become a recurrent feature today.

In a recent address on the occasion of presenting appointment letters to the new recruits to the government Administrative Service at the Temple Trees, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, drawing attention to a report that disclosed that the average public officer works only for three hours although they are expected to put in eight hours of work a day, said that public officers should dedicate themselves to serving the country and the people treating such service as a service to God. He warned the officers against procrastination that causes inconvenience and worry to people who come to them for getting matters attended to and various problems solved as expeditiously as possible.

The efficiency of Sri Lanka’s public service which remained high at the time the country gained independence steadily declined under successive administrations that ignored or trivialized the accepted norms of good governance. The unprincipled trade unionism and intense politicization sapped the public service of the much needed discipline, efficiency and dedication. The political parties that assumed power alternatively, while denouncing the previous ruling parties of politicizing the public service, continued to perpetuate the process with greater speed. As a result, the deterioration in state services continued unabated and it is this state of affairs that has now earned for the service adverse comments even from the head of state.

However, appeals and warnings alone would not be sufficient to rescue the public service from its parlous state and elevate it to expected levels to serve the country and the people. The responsibility devolved on state institutions and public officers is much more onerous today than ever before since the government has set a great store by the public sector for achieving national development goals. Some ministers who decry the private sector fall over one another in commending government’s increasing reliance on public sector institutions and employees.

The desired objectives cannot, however, be achieved without obtaining maximum cooperation from those operating this sector. Substantial measures are needed for them to offer maximum commitment and dedication to the national task. First, the difficulties, discontents and frustrations that prevail among most public officers have to be removed. A proper political, economic and social environment has to be created for public officers to give of their best to the country. Their right to political independence has to be respected and ensured. The present tendency on the part of some political heads to treat public officers as vassals of the ruling party has to be abandoned. Adequate salaries have to be paid for them to live decent lives; their salary anomalies have to be quickly eliminated; merit and equality of opportunities have to be guaranteed and political and other discriminations in granting appointments, promotions and transfers have to be done away with. Without fulfilling these needs mere appeals and pleadings for efficiency are destined to fall on deaf ears.

While steps to achieve these objectives are thus taken, strict measures have to be adopted to ensure that errant public officers are adequately dealt with. Discipline, honesty and dedication among employees are ingredients that have to be inculcated in them. Supervision of work at all levels in the administrative system is sine qua non for ensuring prompt and proper attention to duties. The importance of supervision and periodic inspections became clearly evident at the recent inspection of development projects and programmes that President Rajapaksa carried out recently in the provinces. He was able to assess the shortcomings and inadequacies that obstructed the smooth implementation of government plans.

There is also the paramount need for the political heads to set the pattern for the public officers to emulate. Their commitment, dedication, honesty and efficiency will then permeate to the echelons of the public service. The manner in which National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara assumed duties in his ministry should serve as an example for others to emulate. Minister Nanayakkara walked into his ministry office at Rajagiriya as other ministry officers did and assumed duties bereft of receptions, ceremonies and fanfare that are generally observed on such occasions.

Even his detractors who criticize him for accepting office in a jumbo administration tended to appreciate this much needed example of simplicity required at this time when others holding high positions tend to bask in extravagance and profligacy utilizing public funds. It is hoped that others at the helm of affairs also will follow this example and fashion their conduct that would reflect the true state of the vast majority of people they are expected to serve, instead of being burdens on their backs.