Novel concept to evaluate performance of public institutions

The Ministry of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development conducted the bi-annual progress review last week. Progress of Institutions under the Ministry was reviewed by an independent panel.

Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development Rohitha Bogollagama has introduced a new concept for monitoring and evaluation of the activities of Institutions under his Ministry.

The independent panel comprised Auditor General S.C. Mayadunne, Director General Public Enterprise Development V. Kanakasabhapathi, a senior executive from the private sector Rohan Irugalbandara and senior partner Pricewater House Co-opers Auditors Deva Rodrigo were the panellists.

Introducing the new concept Minister Bogollagama said that as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises he has found that regular monitoring, evaluation and implementation as the only means through which a government can get its act delivered.

He further said that members of Parliament vote for the budget and the officials of the Treasury would know how much of time is spent in preparation of National Budgets. 'When it comes to implementation I have seen that the progress we achieve generally is far behind what has been expected' by the people.

That is because the directions that go to the respective institutions are lacking in terms of clarity and follow up, above all the will to deliver.

Every organisation that has come before me as Chairman of COPE in Parliament has been lacking in terms of something that has been most important, mostly in terms of the responsibility in accounting to the responsibility that they have been conferred with statutory and in terms with monetary allocations that has been passed by the Parliament on behalf of the people of this country, he said.

Having seen this I thought it is best rather than my own evaluation of agencies coming under my purview as the Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development. I will set up an Independent evaluation committee that could guide the process of performance in the Organizations under my purview.

The bi-annual exercise is meant to understand the budgetary responsibilities that has been passed by the Parliament for the 2005 Budget and also some of the constraints that may be associated with the implementations and the criteria that we normally adopt in measuring good governance and management whether these have been followed in institutions under me. Their report once I receive after today's evaluation will reflect from the Top management to all sections of divisions in these institutions and that might help me to look at the balance period of work in the current year to be fast tracked, said the Minister.

As the Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises the Minister plans to introduce the new concept to other government institutions, Deputy Minister Hussain Bhaila, Secretary to the Ministry Lal Kumara Gamage, Senior Officials and Board Members of Institutions under the Ministry of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development participated at the meeting. The next progress review meeting of the Ministry will be held in early November 2005.