News
Administrative Service Association airs its concern about present crisis and proposes reforms
Text and pictures
by PRIYAN DE SILVA
The Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association (SLASA) yesterday (18) aired its concerns about the present crisis the country is facing and submitted its proposals for the economic and social resurgence to a gathering comprising of clergy, members of Parliament, trade union leaders, officials of non-governmental organisations, the media and its members, at the Mahaweli Centre.
President of SLASA, Rohana de Silva, addressing those present, said that wrong economic and social policies had been the root cause of the present situation and admitted that a number of administrative lapses had aggravated it.
He said that the guidance extended to the lawmakers, both individually, and as a union, from time to time, had had no effect at all. Hence the Association had been compelled to present the proposals to others in the public service and the general public before the ongoing economic crisis worsened.
The SASA President said that since 1972 the public service had become subject to the control of the Cabinet-of-Ministers and the public service had been acting according to the whims and fancies of politicians. He added that it was imperative that the public service be an independent professional service to overcome the present crisis.
Among the changes proposed are that the 19th Amendment to the constitution be reinstated, the staff of the President limited, and a 10-member constitutional council be formed to appoint all independent commissions, including the National Procurement Commission, to limit the number of Ministers to twenty five (25) and the number of Deputy Ministers to be limited to 25, as well.
That all Cabinet papers should be approved by a ‘Policy Council’ comprising of persons competent for policy formulation before they are submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.
SLASA recommends the introduction of provisions to the constitution to strengthen the Commission to investigate allegations of bribery or corruption. SLASA also recommends that the Committee on Public Accounts and the Committee on Public Enterprise be strengthened further to streamline the control of public finance.
Among the proposals for economic management are the reintroduction of the PAYEE tax system, and that all officers who are subject to pay PAYEE tax should pay it from their salaries and not through their institutions. The reintroduction of the Withholding Tax, immediate suspension of tax exemptions, revision of the qualifying level for payment of Personal Income Tax and Value Added Tax, exemption of corporate income tax to be done under a proper methodology.
Recommendations were also made for the agriculture, education, energy and industry sectors.
Welcoming the proposals submitted by SASA, trade union leaders present aired their displeasure that the SASA had not objected to persons outside the service being appointed to administrative posts. It was also suggested that the members of SASA should refuse to carry out orders given by a government which has not been democratically elected or has lost the trust and mandate of the masses.
NGO head Manjula Gajanayaka, who was in the audience, said that it was an encouraging sign that members of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service had openly voiced their concerns.
Gajanayaka added it was the first occasion that the association had stood by the public.
Several ex-Cabinet ministers questioned; Ranil, Sajith, too likely to be summoned
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated an inquiry into the shifting of the Agriculture Ministry situated at Rajamalwatte, to a building belonging to the D. P. Jayasinghe Group of Companies, at Rajagiriya, during the Yahapalana government.
The building was rented for a five-year period at a cost of over Rs 1 bn by the yahapalana government within months after the then President Maithripala Sirisena declared opened the 10-storey building complex.
The CIABOC yesterday morning recorded former yahapalana minister Gayantha Karunatilleke’s statement in connection with the investigation. Later in the day, CIABOC recorded the statement of SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabanadara. Earlier CIABOC summoned former ministers Thalatha Atukorale, Wajira Abeywardena and Lakshman Kiriella. At the time of the finalisation of the deal, KIriella was in the UNP.
Sources said that former PM and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, was likely to be questioned in this regard. Responding to The Island queries, sources pointed out even SJB leader Sajith Premadasa was expected to be questioned.
The then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is on record as having said that the building was rented in keeping with a decision taken by the government and not Parliament.
The UNP-SLFP coalition shifted the Agriculture Ministry to accommodate 16 Sectoral Oversight Committees therein.
Although the government paid as much as Rs. 21.5 mn monthly rent to D.P.A. Jayasinghe Company, the Agriculture Ministry failed to move in for over a year. The then Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake sought Cabinet approval on Dec 1, 2015 to rent the building.
According to inquiries conducted earlier by the Presidential Commission appointed to probe state sector corruption, the Agriculture Ministry sought Cabinet approval for a new building after the then Prime Minister Wickremesinghe submitted a cabinet proposal on 21 September, 2015, to use the Agriculture Ministry building for Parliament’s sectoral oversight committees.
PM Wickremesinghe’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has told the Commission that public funds could have been saved if the several vacant floors of Suhurupaya belonging to the Defence Ministry had been made available to the Agriculture Ministry.
By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️
Railway sources said that the damages caused to railway tracks could be more than USD 300 mn.
According to UNDP Rapid Crisis Assessment Sri Lanka’s railroad system, over 278 km of railways were exposed to cyclone-related flooding, including 35 railroad bridges nationwide. This figure reflects flooding only, but other hazards (such as localised debris, landslides, or damage to a single bridge) can also disrupt operations, meaning that even relatively small obstructions can render long stretches of railway non-operational. Like road exposure, railway exposure limits mobility and the capacity of affected populations to access key services and infrastructure.
At the level of divisional secretariats, Colombo and Thimbirigasyaya in Colombo District, Ja Ela in Gampaha District, as well as Mannar Town and Nanaddan in Mannar District all registered over 10 km of exposed railways each.
Commissioner-General of Essential Services B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi is on record as having said that only 478 kilometers of Sri Lanka’s 1,593-km railway network were currently usable following extensive damage caused by the recent cyclone.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker arrived in Colombo yesterday (11) to underscore US interest in defence, trade and maritime security in line with their Indo-Pacific strategy.
The US embassy here issued the following statement: “Under Secretary Hooker will meet with Sri Lankan counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, focused on deepening economic and commercial ties, strengthening defence cooperation, and supporting Sri Lanka’s economic and maritime sovereignty.
The United States and Sri Lanka share a strong and enduring partnership rooted in our mutual commitment to regional security, economic growth, and prosperity for our peoples. Through close cooperation on defence, trade, and maritime security, we are working together to advance a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
As we continue to build on our strategic partnership, the United States also stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they respond to the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah. We remain committed to working together to address both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities for our two nations, reflecting our ongoing commitment to the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership.”
Vaibhav Suryavanshi slams 95-ball 171 in Under-19 Asia Cup opener
Quinton de Kock’s 90 powers South Africa to massive win
Duffy five-for triggers West Indies slide to give New Zealand first win of WTC cycle
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces and in Puttalam, Matale and Kurunegala districts
Rs 1. 3 bn yahapalana building deal under investigation
SL Railways suffers staggering losses; more than 2/3 of rail tracks out of service
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features3 days agoFinally, Mahinda Yapa sets the record straight
-
News5 days agoOver 35,000 drug offenders nabbed in 36 days
-
News4 days agoCyclone Ditwah leaves Sri Lanka’s biodiversity in ruins: Top scientist warns of unseen ecological disaster
-
Business7 days agoLOLC Finance Factoring powers business growth
-
News7 days agoCPC delegation meets JVP for talks on disaster response
-
News7 days agoA 6th Year Accolade: The Eternal Opulence of My Fair Lady
-
News5 days agoRising water level in Malwathu Oya triggers alert in Thanthirimale
-
Features6 days agoThe Catastrophic Impact of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah on Sri Lanka: