By Maheesha Mudugamuwa
Questions have been raised over the appointments made by the Government to several state institutions, including the appointment of some relatives of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Also, the appointment of popular entertainer Iraj Weeraratne to the Board of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) became a much-discussed topic on social media last week.
The appointments in question includes those made in institutions such as the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. (AASL), National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Road Passenger Transport Authority, and SLTPB.
One of the main allegations against the previous Rajapaksa administration (2005-2015) was the appointments given to the kith and kin of politicians.
Newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had decided to appoint a committee comprising six individuals to submit recommendations on the appointment of qualified and suitable personnel to statutory boards and state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Accordingly, on the directive of the President, a six-member committee headed by senior public officer Sumith Abeysinghe and includes Susantha Ratnayake, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Dian Gomez, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, and Prof. Jagath Wellawatte was appointed. Furthermore, the Presidential Secretariat had called for Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from suitably qualified professionals to be submitted by 18 December 2019.
Appointing kith and kin
However, concerns were raised on whether the process was actually followed. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti alleged that the same faces seen in the previous Rajapaksa Government, under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, have been appointed as the heads of certain institutions.
“This is not what was promised during their election campaign,” he told The Sunday Morning.
“During the presidential election campaign, the (current) Government said they would not appoint anyone who had corruption charges against them, but after they came into power, it seems they keep appointing the same people who had corruption charges and those who are related to them.
“Now, they are saying that even though the people with allegations against them were appointed, they wouldn’t practise any corruption in the future. This is exactly the opposite of what they promised the people.
“We wouldn’t mind if they had said this clearly before the election, but our argument is how could they do the exact opposite and justify what they are doing?” Handunnetti alleged.
Naming a few such appointments, Handunnetti said: “There were a number of appointments made of relatives such as Nishantha Ranatunga, Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Upali Kodikara – and the list goes on. All these appointments were made to key state institutions. We knew that they would appoint the same faces because they don’t have anyone else to appoint, but this is exactly the opposite of what they promised before the election.”
Final decision
With the JVP expressing its displeasure, The Sunday Morning contacted Dr. Godahewa, a member of the committee, to see what the committee had done so far in ensuring the institutions appoint the cream of professionals in the country to steer the wheels of the economy.
“We finished our job almost three weeks ago. We were an independent committee; we sent our nominations by the end of the first week of January and we made almost 90% of the recommendations. However, it does not mean that the people we recommended will be appointed, because we are not the appointing authority. This authority lies with the relevant ministers. The relevant authorities are corresponding between the ministries and the Presidential Secretariat; we don’t get involved,” Dr. Godahewa told The Sunday Morning.
Furthermore, elaborating on several appointments in question, he said: “Not all appointments are recommended by the committee. There were certain appointments made outside the recommendations. We didn’t have problems with most of those appointments, only just a few as they were not what the committee recommended. We had no problem with those people because they are also qualified. Then, there were also certain appointments we questioned. Overall, 95% of the appointments were according to the relevant standards.”
According to him, there might be certain issues in this process, as it was the first time the country was screening the appointments made to state institutions to protect the quality of those institutions.
However, Dr. Godahewa, voicing his viewpoint on nepotism, said: “With regard to the relatives, we don’t look at the relationship when the CV comes to us, but rather look at the qualifications. Being related is not a criterion to drop somebody from being appointed to a position if he/she is eligible. We defend our recommendations.”
Elaborating on the appointment of Weeraratne to the SLTPB, Dr. Godahewa said: “I saw Facebook comments on Iraj’s appointment and personally, I don’t have any issue with that. He is an entertainer and marketer and those are exactly what the Tourism Board (SLTPB) needs. I myself was the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism.
“It’s only one or two positions to which a minister can make appointments; all the other appointments are made based on recommendations by people in the industry.
“I see, again and again, over decades, the same people being recommended, the same people being appointed and sitting on the board – how can an industry develop like that? You must give a chance to the young people. You must try out new people. In that sense, I feel it is okay to try out these new people,” he added.
Govt. justifies appointments
In the meantime, The Sunday Morning contacted Government Spokesman and State Minister of Investment Promotion Keheliya Rambukwella to gauge the quality and progress of the appointments.
“Over 80% are completed and they have already been appointed to critical areas such as SriLankan Airlines. Many of the positions in such institutions have already been filled,” he said.
However, Rambukwella denied the appointment of MP Namal Rajapaksa’s father-in-law and Rohitha Rajapaksa’s mother-in-law as board members of AASL. “I spoke to one of the members of the Board of Directors and there was nothing there – it’s false,” he added.
“There is no rule as such stating not to appoint relatives of politicians to these institutions, but there was an understanding that we try to refrain from doing so as much as possible. If there is a son or brother who is an expert of that subject, I don’t think the relationship would take precedence.
“For instance, Mahinda Rajapaksa appointing his brother as the Defence Secretary proved to be right. Just because he is his brother, even though he is capable to deliver, that rule can’t be all that’s considered. We should not cut off a certain person from a certain position just because of their relationships,” Rambukwella added.
Meanwhile, business leader Dian Gomes, who is also a member of the committee, refrained from commenting on the appointments, stating that it is confidential.
Attempts made by The Sunday Morning to contact President’s Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera were futile.
The appointments in question includes those made in institutions such as the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. (AASL), National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Road Passenger Transport Authority, and SLTPB.
One of the main allegations against the previous Rajapaksa administration (2005-2015) was the appointments given to the kith and kin of politicians.
Newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had decided to appoint a committee comprising six individuals to submit recommendations on the appointment of qualified and suitable personnel to statutory boards and state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Accordingly, on the directive of the President, a six-member committee headed by senior public officer Sumith Abeysinghe and includes Susantha Ratnayake, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Dian Gomez, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, and Prof. Jagath Wellawatte was appointed. Furthermore, the Presidential Secretariat had called for Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from suitably qualified professionals to be submitted by 18 December 2019.
Appointing kith and kin
However, concerns were raised on whether the process was actually followed. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti alleged that the same faces seen in the previous Rajapaksa Government, under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, have been appointed as the heads of certain institutions.
“This is not what was promised during their election campaign,” he told The Sunday Morning.
“During the presidential election campaign, the (current) Government said they would not appoint anyone who had corruption charges against them, but after they came into power, it seems they keep appointing the same people who had corruption charges and those who are related to them.
“Now, they are saying that even though the people with allegations against them were appointed, they wouldn’t practise any corruption in the future. This is exactly the opposite of what they promised the people.
“We wouldn’t mind if they had said this clearly before the election, but our argument is how could they do the exact opposite and justify what they are doing?” Handunnetti alleged.
Naming a few such appointments, Handunnetti said: “There were a number of appointments made of relatives such as Nishantha Ranatunga, Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Upali Kodikara – and the list goes on. All these appointments were made to key state institutions. We knew that they would appoint the same faces because they don’t have anyone else to appoint, but this is exactly the opposite of what they promised before the election.”
Final decision
With the JVP expressing its displeasure, The Sunday Morning contacted Dr. Godahewa, a member of the committee, to see what the committee had done so far in ensuring the institutions appoint the cream of professionals in the country to steer the wheels of the economy.
“We finished our job almost three weeks ago. We were an independent committee; we sent our nominations by the end of the first week of January and we made almost 90% of the recommendations. However, it does not mean that the people we recommended will be appointed, because we are not the appointing authority. This authority lies with the relevant ministers. The relevant authorities are corresponding between the ministries and the Presidential Secretariat; we don’t get involved,” Dr. Godahewa told The Sunday Morning.
Furthermore, elaborating on several appointments in question, he said: “Not all appointments are recommended by the committee. There were certain appointments made outside the recommendations. We didn’t have problems with most of those appointments, only just a few as they were not what the committee recommended. We had no problem with those people because they are also qualified. Then, there were also certain appointments we questioned. Overall, 95% of the appointments were according to the relevant standards.”
According to him, there might be certain issues in this process, as it was the first time the country was screening the appointments made to state institutions to protect the quality of those institutions.
However, Dr. Godahewa, voicing his viewpoint on nepotism, said: “With regard to the relatives, we don’t look at the relationship when the CV comes to us, but rather look at the qualifications. Being related is not a criterion to drop somebody from being appointed to a position if he/she is eligible. We defend our recommendations.”
Elaborating on the appointment of Weeraratne to the SLTPB, Dr. Godahewa said: “I saw Facebook comments on Iraj’s appointment and personally, I don’t have any issue with that. He is an entertainer and marketer and those are exactly what the Tourism Board (SLTPB) needs. I myself was the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism.
“It’s only one or two positions to which a minister can make appointments; all the other appointments are made based on recommendations by people in the industry.
“I see, again and again, over decades, the same people being recommended, the same people being appointed and sitting on the board – how can an industry develop like that? You must give a chance to the young people. You must try out new people. In that sense, I feel it is okay to try out these new people,” he added.
Govt. justifies appointments
In the meantime, The Sunday Morning contacted Government Spokesman and State Minister of Investment Promotion Keheliya Rambukwella to gauge the quality and progress of the appointments.
“Over 80% are completed and they have already been appointed to critical areas such as SriLankan Airlines. Many of the positions in such institutions have already been filled,” he said.
However, Rambukwella denied the appointment of MP Namal Rajapaksa’s father-in-law and Rohitha Rajapaksa’s mother-in-law as board members of AASL. “I spoke to one of the members of the Board of Directors and there was nothing there – it’s false,” he added.
“There is no rule as such stating not to appoint relatives of politicians to these institutions, but there was an understanding that we try to refrain from doing so as much as possible. If there is a son or brother who is an expert of that subject, I don’t think the relationship would take precedence.
“For instance, Mahinda Rajapaksa appointing his brother as the Defence Secretary proved to be right. Just because he is his brother, even though he is capable to deliver, that rule can’t be all that’s considered. We should not cut off a certain person from a certain position just because of their relationships,” Rambukwella added.
Meanwhile, business leader Dian Gomes, who is also a member of the committee, refrained from commenting on the appointments, stating that it is confidential.
Attempts made by The Sunday Morning to contact President’s Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera were futile.