‘Local Governments are much more than service delivery agents’ - Minister Tennakoon

Anila S.K

The Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils, headed by Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon has embarked on many new initiatives with the aim of strengthening the Provincial Councils as well as the local government system. Given below are the excerpts of an interview with him.

Q: We understand there are many changes, especially at the Policy level, taking place at your ministry. Could you briefly explain?

A: You are right. The Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government had been involved in many changes in the past few years. First and foremost, we are in the process of drafting a new Policy for Local Government.

The Policy was declared in 2007 at the National Symposium on the Leading Practices of Local Government, in Colombo. Since then a few changes had been incorporated into the Policy Declaration to suit the changing needs.

We are now prepared to present the new Draft Policy to a wider audience of intellectuals, academics and practitioners to get their expert opinions and suggestions. We will present the Draft Policy to the Parliament within the next couple of months.

Q: So, there is a new Policy in the making. What is the spirit of the Policy?

A: The Policy is essentially for strengthening Local Government in Sri Lanka. As you know, Local Government is a devolved subject under the Provincial Councils, according to the 13th amendment of the Constitution. But they need further strengthening in terms of resources and power.

The Policy recommends measures to strengthen the Local Government system through collective vision, participatory governance, development of necessary infrastructure, etc. to make the local authorities the third tier of the representative government.

The concept is one that of gamey anduwa or grama rajya, where villages become development models, embedded in the relevant local cultural and social setting, aiming to achieve goals and objectives which are set according to the needs and priorities, with utmost participation of the people.

Q: What other new initiatives are underway?

A: We are involved in a very important initiative of amending the three main laws and the subsidiary laws of Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas, which constitute the Local Government.

These laws are very old and need to be updated to match the current socio-economic scenario. So we are in the process of amending them.

Q: How long does this process take?

A: It had been a long process. In 1998 - a Presidential Commission was appointed to make recommendations on the necessary changes. Those changes were incorporated and since then it had been an ongoing process. By now, we have completed all the amendments that had been found necessary.

In fact, the Ministry embarked on its first e-consultation process to get wider input from the public and other interested parties on these laws. We posted these laws on our website (www.pclg.gov.lk) and received very good response from people, especially from local government practitioners.

All their recommendations are incorporated. We are in the process of obtaining Provincial consensus on this, which is very important, and there after, will be tabling it to the Parliament for approval.

Q: The processes you have mentioned seem to be very transparent and participatory. The Ministry seems to be involved in harnessing wide participation and support. Your comments?

A: Yes. Sure. Good governance should be participatory, transparent and accountable. We are involved in the process of making and amending laws which affect everybody’s lives in one way or the other. So, should we not consult them? Consultation and consensus at different levels - Provincial and local levels are extremely vital to implement these laws and policies. Also, it is very important that people feel that they have a say on certain decisions taken for them; that they are also part of the process. This is an important step towards good governance.

Q: How ordinary people know Local Authorities is as service delivery agents, garbage disposal, for example. What more can they do? Do they have resources, money...etc?

A: That is a gross underestimation of the scope of the Local Authorities! Let me ask you a few questions before I answer your question. Who maintains the local roads? Who maintains the libraries? Who maintains primary health care in localities? These are all undertaken by the Local Authorities.

They are very close to the people in their day-to-day activities; it is their next door agency for service delivery, which is why you say that they are identified as agents of garbage disposal. But they are much more than that; they are democratically elected Councils and Sabhas and undertake other important functions a few of which I have mentioned before.

In some cases, they have limited resources and skills and that is why we need to strengthen them and this requires support from all layers of the government. The proposed Policy aims to give powers to the Local Governments for participatory decision making to manage and share the public affairs under their purview.

The proposed Policy aims to reduce the dependency of the Local Governments and then transform them into self-governing partners.

Q: From what you say, I understand that the Ministry of Provincial Councils is undertaking many proactive measures to improve local governance. How do you communicate this to all parties concerned? Do you have any medium?

A: Recently we launched a monthly newsletter, named, “Gamey Anduwa.” This newsletter which was launched in February 2009 goes out once a month to all ministries, the cabinet, the parliament, practitioners, Provincial Councils, local government authorities etc.

We have received encouraging response from the readers. Written in simple language, it covers a wide range of topics and opens a forum for Local Government - its opportunities, challenges, constraints, etc.

Recently we carried a series of live discussions on SLBC, on different aspects of local governance. These opened a forum where people could call in live and seek clarifications from the panel of discussion. Currently, we are aiming to generate awareness in the print media.

Furthermore, annually, we showcase the best leading practices in the Local Authorities at a national level symposium.

This enables the Local Authorities to learn from each other’s experience and replicate good practices. Last year we could not hold the symposium due to security concerns; this year we will be holding it in August and there will be an exhibition showcasing the best practices, which will be open to the public as well. You are welcome.

Q: Do you draw expertise from international development agencies?

A: Yes. We do. We work with organizations like JAICA, The Asia Foundation, ADB, World Bank, GTZ etc. among others.

We rely on the specialized skills and international development experience they possess and use these experiences to improve the local context.

We take in what is more suitable to the Sri Lankan context. We also draw from regional experience - for example from India, Bangladesh, Philippines, etc. just to name a few.

There have been cases where some of our experiences and successes had been shared with other countries as well. So, it is mutual learning and a win-win situation for all.

Q: Local Government being a devolved subject under the Provincial Council system do you have a mechanism to get provincial support towards the Local Government?

A: Good question. Provincial support is extremely important to strengthen the Local Government system as it is a devolved subject. But we also need to strengthen the present Provincial Council system. Strengthening of the Provincial Councils will also mean Local Government strengthening.

On the basis of the provincial request, a new concept called Provincial Reform Cells (PRCs) is established at the provincial level with the primary objective to strengthen the Provincial Council system to undertake necessary reforms at the provincial level as well as give policy feedback to the national level.

For example, as per the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the Local Governments come directly under the Provincial Councils.

But the National Policy on Local Government is mandated to be formulated at the national level.

The PRC can play a vital role here by acting as a link that will help Provincial Councils forge effective partnerships with the Local Government and reflect their needs and interests in the process of making the National Policy on the Local Government, for example.

Q: What are the ultimate Policy goals?

A: The proposed Policy identifies short term as well medium term changes to strengthen the role, structure and functioning of Local Government.

The local government reforms process recommends to make the local authorities the third tier of representative government, with highest permissible level of democratic decentralization and autonomy within the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

The Policy aims to reduce regional disparities and imbalances and encourage local units to ‘emerge as micro-centres of growth on modern lines.” This is the main thrust of the Policy goal.