- Seek mechanism for handling land matters concerning political authorities
The Association of Divisional Secretaries (DSs) and Assistant DSs has written to the Land and Irrigation Ministry requesting the establishment of a formal mechanism which will enable DSs to handle land-related matters received by political authorities without undue political interference.
In a letter addressed to the Ministry Secretary, the Association raised concerns over alleged instances in which N.T. Rukmal Jayaweera, said to be the Private Secretary to Deputy Land and Irrigation Minister Aravinda Senarath, had issued letters directly to DSs on land-related matters using the Ministry’s letterhead. When contacted by The Daily Morning, Association's President R. Senthil said that Jayaweera, serving as the said Deputy Minister’s Private Secretary, had on several occasions sent communications to DSs including himself and attempted to influence decisions relating to land administration.
"When observations or reports are required on public requests submitted to a Minister or Deputy Minister, such information should be sought through established administrative channels within the Ministry. Such requests could be forwarded to DSs through an Additional Secretary, Senior Assistant Secretary, or another officer formally authorised by the Ministry Secretary," he said.
He added that when political authorities issue letters favouring a particular party involved in a dispute, DSs find it difficult to make decisions in a transparent and impartial manner. "Practices of this sort risk eroding public confidence in State institutions and the land administration system. If decisions appear to be influenced politically, the public will gradually lose trust in the State mechanism.”
The Association, in its communication to the Ministry Secretary, expressed its opposition to undue political interference in land-related matters and urged the Ministry Secretary to introduce a clear institutional process through which land issues received by political authorities could be referred to DSs without compromising administrative independence.
Attempts made by The Daily Morning to obtain a response from the Deputy Minister were unsuccessful.