The string of losses among key public sector officials continues to grow, with the dismissal of former Agriculture Ministry Secretary Prof. Uditha K. Jayasinghe-Mudalige being the most recent incident. Like many of the others, Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige was not given a reason for his removal; only a prompt goodbye of sorts. Given this lack of an explanation, both himself and the general public can only point to comments he made just a day before his dismissal regarding the possibility of a food shortage in the country, as the cause.
This situation is worrying for myriad reasons; first of all being the dismissal of a qualified individual that had not been accused of corruption or fraud. But more importantly, Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige’s statements on a food crisis were not intended to stir up panic; he had simply stated, with scientific evidence, that there was a risk of a food shortage in the current situation, and that appropriate measures would need to be taken to safeguard the public.
With this move, the Agriculture Ministry now sees its fourth change of Secretary this year; only a few months earlier, Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige’s predecessor, Rohana Pushpakumara, resigned from his post, after he admitted that there were failings in the implementation of the Government’s organic agriculture programme.
This trend, of public servants either resigning or being dismissed after expressing difficulties in working with higher-ranking government officials or issues in implementing their directives, has also been seen in several other institutions, with notable cases being former Zoological Gardens Department Director General Dr. Ishini Wickremesinghe resigning after issues with government policies regarding elephants, and former Consumer Affairs Authority Executive Director Thushan Gunawardena stepping down while blowing the whistle on issues in the country’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies – issues that had been leading to several fires and explosions, putting the public at risk.
Such actions are especially remarkable in a context where the country’s Energy Minister claimed on 16 December that no increase had been planned for fuel prices, only for a rather drastic overnight hike to take place just four days later. In fact, this has been a common occurrence lately, with a series of denials being issued before things suddenly change for the worse. At least by issuing a clear warning to the public beforehand, as Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige did, the people can take measures and prepare for the worst – and a food shortage is something that will affect every strata of the populace.
Setting aside the implications of putting opinion politics before the public’s best interests, this inability to work with independent professionals has dangerous consequences for the Government as much as for the citizens. Ultimately, creating an echo chamber requires space – space that is created by removing differing opinions and voices of dissent, and leaving only those willing to remain mute until it is their time to applaud, no matter how cacophonous the sound being echoed. Sri Lanka sadly seems to be following this blueprint with its public servants – those interested in performing a public service are being axed in favour of those skilled at paying lip service.
Thus, anyone unwilling to remain blindly loyal to the directives from above can expect a prompt dismissal, or little co-operation. The fact that these individuals have brought up salient points, backed by experience and rooted in truth, is ignored; so is the fact that their actions were not politically motivated, and in several cases, in the public’s best interest. No, the motto of the day simply appears to be: “You’re either with us, or against us – no middle ground.” However, in adopting this polarised stance, the Government is only shielding itself from informed opinions that could lead to better solutions. Further, it’s this single-minded practice of openly rewarding yes-men that led to the humiliating scene that unfolded at the University of Colombo’s recent convocation. It’s not unlikely that the particular incident was only the first display of public disapproval for this method of favour-based governance.
But thus the meritocracy has redefined merit. Those left to serve will be either unwilling or afraid to raise a voice of reason. It’s a pity the people can no longer afford to laugh as the yes-men loudly cheer on the Emperor. One can only wonder when the public will eventually drown out the echo chamber with their own voices – whether inside the polling booths, or out on the streets.Expecting public service or lip service?
27 Dec 2021
Expecting public service or lip service?
27 Dec 2021
The string of losses among key public sector officials continues to grow, with the dismissal of former Agriculture Ministry Secretary Prof. Uditha K. Jayasinghe-Mudalige being the most recent incident. Like many of the others, Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige was not given a reason for his removal; only a prompt goodbye of sorts. Given this lack of an explanation, both himself and the general public can only point to comments he made just a day before his dismissal regarding the possibility of a food shortage in the country, as the cause.
This situation is worrying for myriad reasons; first of all being the dismissal of a qualified individual that had not been accused of corruption or fraud. But more importantly, Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige’s statements on a food crisis were not intended to stir up panic; he had simply stated, with scientific evidence, that there was a risk of a food shortage in the current situation, and that appropriate measures would need to be taken to safeguard the public.
With this move, the Agriculture Ministry now sees its fourth change of Secretary this year; only a few months earlier, Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige’s predecessor, Rohana Pushpakumara, resigned from his post, after he admitted that there were failings in the implementation of the Government’s organic agriculture programme.
This trend, of public servants either resigning or being dismissed after expressing difficulties in working with higher-ranking government officials or issues in implementing their directives, has also been seen in several other institutions, with notable cases being former Zoological Gardens Department Director General Dr. Ishini Wickremesinghe resigning after issues with government policies regarding elephants, and former Consumer Affairs Authority Executive Director Thushan Gunawardena stepping down while blowing the whistle on issues in the country’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies – issues that had been leading to several fires and explosions, putting the public at risk.
Such actions are especially remarkable in a context where the country’s Energy Minister claimed on 16 December that no increase had been planned for fuel prices, only for a rather drastic overnight hike to take place just four days later. In fact, this has been a common occurrence lately, with a series of denials being issued before things suddenly change for the worse. At least by issuing a clear warning to the public beforehand, as Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige did, the people can take measures and prepare for the worst – and a food shortage is something that will affect every strata of the populace.
Setting aside the implications of putting opinion politics before the public’s best interests, this inability to work with independent professionals has dangerous consequences for the Government as much as for the citizens. Ultimately, creating an echo chamber requires space – space that is created by removing differing opinions and voices of dissent, and leaving only those willing to remain mute until it is their time to applaud, no matter how cacophonous the sound being echoed. Sri Lanka sadly seems to be following this blueprint with its public servants – those interested in performing a public service are being axed in favour of those skilled at paying lip service.
Thus, anyone unwilling to remain blindly loyal to the directives from above can expect a prompt dismissal, or little co-operation. The fact that these individuals have brought up salient points, backed by experience and rooted in truth, is ignored; so is the fact that their actions were not politically motivated, and in several cases, in the public’s best interest. No, the motto of the day simply appears to be: “You’re either with us, or against us – no middle ground.” However, in adopting this polarised stance, the Government is only shielding itself from informed opinions that could lead to better solutions. Further, it’s this single-minded practice of openly rewarding yes-men that led to the humiliating scene that unfolded at the University of Colombo’s recent convocation. It’s not unlikely that the particular incident was only the first display of public disapproval for this method of favour-based governance.
But thus the meritocracy has redefined merit. Those left to serve will be either unwilling or afraid to raise a voice of reason. It’s a pity the people can no longer afford to laugh as the yes-men loudly cheer on the Emperor. One can only wonder when the public will eventually drown out the echo chamber with their own voices – whether inside the polling booths, or out on the streets.Kapruka
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!