Putting public service above self

Today, the tendency among some sections is so great to put self-aggrandizement above public service that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s recent words of advice to newly elected local councilors would have easily won favour with the majority of the public as most appropriate and timely.

The President made it amply clear that these newly elects have no choice but to fulfill the just needs and aspirations of the people. While it would be a matter of pride and joy for the UPFA that the majority of Local Government bodies is under its governing control, the principal post-election challenge facing the governing coalition is to utilize the powers of governance at its command to serve the people selflessly and exemplarily.

This, of course, has proved to be no easy task and this is why it could not be emphasized enough that living-up to the trust reposed in them by the people is the single most grueling challenge confronting these elected representatives of the people. It is no secret that for very many of those wielding public office, power and pelf have become ends in themselves.

This fatal attraction cuts across party divisions and we could describe self-aggrandizement as a blight that is widespread although there are very many honourable politicians and public figures too who are exemplary in their incorruptibility. The challenge facing the Sri Lankan polity is to put an end to this malaise of serving ones self interest and to compel all of those enjoying public office to dedicate themselves to the well being of the people.

Today, a number one issue facing the state is to devise the means of containing polls-related violence. It is for this reason that the reform of electoral laws and regulations has assumed primacy. While none could quarrel with this preoccupation in view of the often murderous nature of election-linked violence, it is equally important to compel the elected representatives of the people and those holding public office in general to act within the confines of the Rule of Law and to place public service above selfish interests. In other words, instituting legal checks and balances against those in a position to wield power is equally important. If enormous and unchecked power is the problem, then, containing such power is the critical task.

We need to reiterate that politicians alone could not be singled out for criticism on these questions. As indicated, these criticisms hold good for all those who are entrusted with responsibilities towards the public. The labouring public is quite aware of these issues. Their experience, of visiting some public institutions to obtain services and getting discourteous treatment in return from petty officials, proves the point. As the President pointed out, maintaining public trust is a prime duty of the public servant, elected or otherwise, and this norm should be considered inviolable. However, unless a public servant feels compelled to do the bidding of the law, it is unlikely that the public would receive the best of treatment by those holding public office. Therefore, bringing in the necessary checks and balances against those exercising power is a central task facing the state.

The state has just begun a hunt for illegal arms and this is a sound starting point for inducing responsible behaviour in those holding important office. All intimidating symbols of power must be eliminated from the public realm and it is sensible to start with illegal arms.

Besides, all public servants, including elected ones, must be compelled to mingle with the public more cordially and more unobtrusively and requiring them to adopt simpler life styles too should be considered as a positive measure in the direction of creating a people-friendly public service. Public officials roaring past the citizenry in huge, menacing vehicles are a common sight and it is difficult to understand how such conduct could conduce to people-friendly service.

Therefore, the onus is on the state to bring in the relevant checks and balances against anti-people conduct by all those holding public office. In the case of Local Government officials this is crucially important because they are basically grass roots people who are entrusted with the task of providing to the people their essential requirements.

If the councilors concerned are not with the people in every sense of the phrase, it is difficult to see how Local Government institutions could live-up to the standards expected of them. In going about the task of reforming our Local Government institutions, it must be borne in mind that the people’s empowerment would increase to the degree to which the power of the local official is contained.