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Result-oriented governance

Accountability by Ministers of State, has been for long considered by the people as imperative and compulsory, but governments have never been serious about stringently enforcing this obviously laudable measure. The popular belief, it is sad to note, has been growing over the years that politics is no longer a vocation by a means of personal enrichment or self-aggrandizement.

As a section which is deeply concerned about the political decay which has been settling fast and thick on this country, we wish this common notion could be proved to be without foundation. Unfortunately, evidence to the contrary seems to be plentiful although we are not unaware of the fact that a few popular politicians of yesteryear have died in dire penury.

Given this bleak backdrop we hope that the Economic Management Law, which the Government hopes to enact next year and firmly enforce, would help in putting things right in this area of public concern.

Value for money - this is, essentially, the public demand. Besides the considerable annual budgetary allocation for each ministry, much is exacted from the public exchequer for the upkeep of Ministers. The funds for these exercises, of course, ultimately come from the tax paying public and they need undisputable proof that their money is well used.

Governments can no longer dodge the responsibility of giving the people an honest, straight answer on these issues and we are glad that the present Government has risen to this challenge through the proposed Economic Management Law.

In terms of this legislation, it would be legally binding on Ministers to meet performance targets while carefully regulating spending. They would be required to keep Parliament informed each year on how the funds allocated to each Ministry under the budget have been used. In other words, progress reports on the work achieved by each ministry would need to be tabled in the House. The progress thus achieved would determine mainly the next year's budgetary allocation for each ministry. In other words, each Minister would be required to show results.

This law is likely to meet with the approval of the people but they are also certain to insist on its firm enforcement. The public expectation is likely to be that non-performing Ministers should be dismissed and replaced by ones who could measure up to the expected standards. Are political leaders ready to meet this challenge?

We hope the answer to this question would be a firm 'yes'. It must be remembered that the country is up against its toughest challenge since political independence. As we have said before, "swords need to be beaten into ploughshares," and the economy made to tick as never before. On the vibrancy of the economy and the benefits it yields to Lankans in every part the country, depends the future of the peace process.

The desolate wastes left behind by war need to be turned into fecund tracts of abundance, if the disillusioned of this land are to make the choice in favour of peace and not war. No longer could inefficiency, waste and corruption be tolerated.

We hope the Ministers of State would be made to read the "writing on the wall", and be compelled act in the name of the public good. Any tardiness on this score would only harm the peace effort.

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