“The government and public service cannot be on two different sides”
The Speech delivered by President
Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Annual Convention of Sri Lanka
Administration Service at the BMICH on August 26,2010.
When
we govern the country, you, the officers of the Sri Lanka Administration
Service, are a group that work very closely with us. You are the most
important link between the people and the political leadership. I
remember that in the past, the Government Agent signs his letters to the
public as ‘your obedient servant’. I have not seen the Provincial
Secretaries or District Secretaries signing letters as ‘obedient
servants’. I do not know whether you have withdrawn from the role of a
servant of the people. Whether you sign in this way or not, the fact
remains that you are a servant of the people. I am a representative of
the people, but I am also a servant of the public. Hence, I am glad to
participate in the anniversary of officers who are committed to serve
the people.
You are well aware that during the last 30 years, the public service
and its strengths were treated lightly. As a result of emerging
international trends, only the private sector was considered as the
engine of growth. Accordingly, the public sector was sacrificed during
the last 30 years for the benefit of the private sector. Plans were
afoot to handover the administration of Divisional Secretariats to the
private sector.
While the international trend was different, we have succeeded in
changing that trend in 2005. We have clearly stated in Mahinda Chintana,
that it is essential to strengthen the public sector for the development
of the country. Since 2005, we have strengthened the public sector to a
level never before seen in history.
Today, the public service sector is very strong. Similarly, we have
created the background required for strengthening the Sri Lanka
Administration Service.
Those who join the public service or administration service must ask
themselves a deep seeded question. You are aware earlier, that the armed
conflict was the biggest obstacle to developing the country. The other
was the lack of interest or funds to develop infrastructure. We have
eliminated the world’s most ruthless terrorist organization from our
country in a short period of three years. The question is whether the
public sector, including the officers of the administrative service, are
able to work at a similar pace?
Hambantota Port and many other large scale infrastructure projects
were completed in three years. Is the public sector working at a similar
speed?
Today the salaries of the public sector cost the nation Rs.300
billion. In addition, we spend Rs.100 billion for pensions. Do we
receive a service worth Rs.300 billion from the public sector? That is a
question which all officers in the public service who have undertaken
the responsibility of directing and implementing the public policy must
seriously ask themselves.
I do not accept that our public service is incapable. There is enough
evidence in history to show this. The Civil Service started during the
colonial era. It was set up to collect tax for the colonial rulers.
After we became a republic in 1972, the Civil Service became the Sri
Lanka Administration Service. The Civil Service, which was set up for
tax collection for colonial rulers, has been changed to a public service
to build all aspects of public life. At times our public sector has
amazed the world with their outstanding work.
When the Tsunami tragedy struck killing 40,000 people, the public
sector responded with great commitment with the administrative service
giving a good leadership.
When powerful nations take years to restore normalcy after floods or
cyclones, we only took one year to overcome such a disaster. The public
officers are able to conduct a sudden election in conditions of least
facilities throughout the country anytime. During the final phase of the
humanitarian operation, hundreds of thousands of people sought relief
due to displacement. The world was skeptical whether the Sri Lankan
government is able to safeguard these people. But, with your drive and
dedication, the state was able to protect these thousands of people, not
letting them go hungry by skipping even a meal. The public service has
demonstrated such efficiency.
However, I must ask you, whether you display the same efficiency when
it comes to addressing day to day needs of the public.
We can not accept anymore, public servants working the same pace they
did in the pre-conflict period.
When the construction of the port ended less than nine months before
the targeted date and when the bridges are constructed in 60 days, the
public service officials should be similarly efficient. If public
service lack efficiency and is unable to keep up with the pace of the
development including infrastructure, its inefficiency becomes more
apparent.
Therefore, we need a public service free of lethargy. If technology
is developed to the extent of fax machines, email and text messaging,
why does it take 14 days to reply to a letter, is the circular meant for
the future? Or to reverse the country’s progress?
Is it worth the while for the public service official to hang around
in the Head Office of one’s own institution for days to adjust one’s
salary increments? There are officials who ask for request letters when
information is sought for the compilation of my speeches. Then what is
the use of this public service for the nation which bears a salary bill
of 300 billion rupees? All of us should provide answers to these
questions. Yourselves, who provide direction to the public service
through the administrative service, should provide answers.
Today, we have established a strong government with an almost 2/3
majority. We have built this country to be one of the strongest nations
in Asia free of anarchy. This government is not unstable. This is the
strength needed for you to work freely. We have directed the path of the
Mahinda Chintana towards the benefit of the public.
When developing the country, the government and public service cannot
be on two different sides. The public service cannot claim to be
independent and do nothing when the government accelerates its
development drive. We are all here on behalf of the public. Therefore,
you, being the servant of the public, bear great responsibility. You are
aware of the way we stepped in to protect the military officials who led
the humanitarian operation. You know how we protected our soldiers when
traitorous claims were made that shooting occurred when white flags were
raised. That was during the humanitarian operations.
Now is the time for the development offensive. In that, you are the
warriors. You should be the ones who direct it. Brave decisions need to
be made on behalf of the nation in this offensive. As I safeguarded the
military officials during the humanitarian operation, I will protect you
who take humane decisions during the development offensive.
I wish you a prosperous future! |