Features

Tact and tricks in public service

Published

2 years ago

2023/08/17

By Chani Imbulgoda

Public service and the political system are interconnected and bound together and co-exist. Political authority formulates policies. Public service executes them. Today, we hear slogans chanted by politicians against public servants and vice versa. Louder slogans against both the politician and the public servant are heard from the recipients of public service, i.e. the general public.

Public sector organisations, big or small, are discredited as poorly managed, corrupt, financially unsound, lethargic, and bureaucratic. Lengthy procedures, ambiguous guidelines, numerous structures, excessive documentation, and communication barriers are often cited. The work of the public servant has a direct or indirect impact on the daily lives of their fellow citizens. Accusations and agitations made by the public on public sector organisations are justified when the impact turns more burdensome than beneficial and the experience with public servants is a curse rather than a blessing.

This article does not intend to discuss the pros and cons of public service. Instead, it tries to unveil some bitter truths about the public sector. Recently I completed reading two satirical novels authored by Jonnathan Lynn and Antony Jay. “Yes Minister” and “Yes Prime Minister”. They are about the British public service during the 1960s. They are not based on fabrications or fantasies, but on real-life experiences of a Cabinet Minister, and his two Secretaries who represent the British Civil Service. Being a public servant myself, I find the stories in these novels both appealing and appalling. The system that I work in as well as experience gained in my nearly two decades of public service is similar to what I read in the two novels. There is no better time for us to engage in some soul-searching as public officials.

Doublespeak

The use of ambiguous and evasive language in verbal and written communication to deceive or confuse the audience is known as doublespeak. This is widespread in the public service. It helps to hide deficiencies and exaggerate. In those two novels, I mentioned, the Minister with his prolonged exposure to public service sees the language “as a curtain to draw across the mind, not as a window to the mind”. Language veils reality. It steals creativity and conceptualisation. This is well showcased during conducting performance audits and progress reviews. Often used phrases during this time are “we have taken actions to rectify it” or “actions are being taken”. Same organisation, the same employees keep on repeating this over and again year after year. Things are being done forever, results are never seen. Back in the novel, the Minister talks about some major changes. His advisor asks “Do you want to do or appear to be doing”? Appearance is the priority, not the outcome. Politicians and public servants talk the walk, without walking the talk.

Urgent and Approved

In public service, even a simple message goes through several hands and with a heap of papers. It takes its usual tortoise pace. But, if the decision to favour, discriminate or penalise someone it moves at a hare pace. An unusual urgency pops up. Urgency conceals facts. If one wants to get something approved, approach the approving authority when he/she is in a hurry. He/she will either approve it without looking for facts carefully or perhaps they will call for an explanation, where the officer can brief it in a manner, they wish to get the concurrence. In the novel Yes Prime Minister, a senior officer counsels that, “If the approval does not satisfy you, tighten the grip of the man that approves… not as a threat, but as a wise Counselor who helps to see the way out. The approval will be guaranteed”. This reminds me of the phrase “ignorance is the strength” in George Orwell’s famous novel 1984. Urgency shades sight and vision; hypocrites win over ignorance.

Things take time

“Rome was not built in a day”. In the novel, the Administrative Secretary reminds his Minister, when the Minister expresses his worries about a delay in the completion of a scheme. When a government initiates a new project, public service officials find space to intervene. There are protocols to follow. The first step is appointing a committee to examine the feasibility and to make recommendations. Another committee to examine the feasibility of implementing the recommendations. If any discrepancy is found between the recommendations of the two Committees, a third Committee comes in. The process goes on in circles; the work is always in progress. Means matter more than the ends; conformity to the letter more than to the spirit. When all assessments and approvals are in order and in favour of the commencement of the project finally, the need for it may not be there any longer… rather the outputs would not produce the outcome expected. Public money goes wasted over feeding the committees, not the public.

Morale and moral at stake

The British Minister in the novel worries about productivity. He expresses his concerns to the Secretary over the waste associated with public service. While the government is paying a lot of people to produce masses of food, they pay another to destroy it. Pay thousands of bureaucrats to push papers about to make it all happen. He asks the Secretary whether the latter is not concerned about waste. The Secretary’s response was, “Not really, I am a Civil Servant”.

No surprise in the context of Sri Lanka as well. Pushing papers from one office to another, not being concerned about the end results are visible here. Instead of saying, “I am a public servant and I am not concerned”, our public servants declare in case of a moral dilemma, “I have to do so as my superiors told me to do”. I quote a message from the Administrative Secretary of the novel to justify such moral detachment of public servants; “Conscience is for politicians, civil servants are humble functionaries, whose duty is to implement the commands of their democratically elected representatives”. So, the public servants shed their moral obligation of doing the ‘right thing’. Nevertheless, when the New Year begins, they take an oath to perform the entrusted role in the implementation of public policies and goals; efficiently, productively, with firm determination, and utmost dedication, honestly, and loyally to the public.

Sri Lanka is suffering setbacks and is getting pushed back on the world stage by the outdated rule-based public service. Public service has failed to earn the credit and the confidence of citizens as well as non-citizens. The country is crying, vying and dying for results-targeted, development-oriented public service, which should be a blessing for the private sector to bloom and the general public to be comfortable. Until and unless the mindsets of public sector employees are changed, and the systems transformed, the general public will keep on agitating and criticising about 1.5 million public servants in the country.

(The writer is a holder of a senior position in a state University with international experience and exposure and an MBA from Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), Sri Lanka and currently reading for a PhD related to reasons of reform failures at PIM. She can be reached at cv5imbulgoda@gmail.com)

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Features

Maduro abduction marks dangerous aggravation of ‘world disorder’

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Venezuelan President Maduro being taken to a court in New York

The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces on January 3rd and his coercive conveying to the US to stand trial over a number of allegations leveled against him by the Trump administration marks a dangerous degeneration of prevailing ‘world disorder’. While some cardinal principles in International Law have been blatantly violated by the US in the course of the operation the fallout for the world from the exceptionally sensational VVIP abduction could be grave.

Although controversial US military interventions the world over are not ‘news’ any longer, the abduction and hustling away of a head of government, seen as an enemy of the US, to stand trial on the latter soil amounts to a heavy-handed and arrogant rejection of the foundational principles of international law and order. It would seem, for instance, that the concept of national sovereignty is no longer applicable to the way in which the world’s foremost powers relate to the rest of the international community. Might is indeed right for the likes of the US and the Trump administration in particular is adamant in driving this point home to the world.

Chief spokesmen for the Trump administration have been at pains to point out that the abduction is not at variance with national security related provisions of the US Constitution. These provisions apparently bestow on the US President wide powers to protect US security and stability through courses of action that are seen as essential to further these ends but the fact is that International Law has been brazenly violated in the process in the Venezuelan case.

To be sure, this is not the first occasion on which a head of government has been abducted by US special forces in post-World War Two times and made to stand trial in the US, since such a development occurred in Panama in 1989, but the consequences for the world could be doubly grave as a result of such actions, considering the mounting ‘disorder’ confronting the world community.

Those sections opposed to the Maduro abduction in the US would do well to from now on seek ways of reconciling national security-related provisions in the US Constitution with the country’s wider international commitment to uphold international peace and law and order. No ambiguities could be permitted on this score.

While the arbitrary military action undertaken by the US to further its narrow interests at whatever cost calls for criticism, it would be only fair to point out that the US is not the only big power which has thus dangerously eroded the authority of International Law in recent times. Russia, for example, did just that when it violated the sovereignty of Ukraine by invading it two or more years ago on some nebulous, unconvincing grounds. Consequently, the Ukraine crisis too poses a grave threat to international peace.

It is relevant to mention in this connection that authoritarian rulers who hope to rule their countries in perpetuity as it were, usually end up, sooner rather than later, being a blight on their people. This is on account of the fact that they prove a major obstacle to the implementation of the democratic process which alone holds out the promise of the prgressive empowerment of the people, whereas authoritarian rulers prefer to rule with an iron fist with a fixation about self-empowerment.

Nevertheless, regime-change, wherever it may occur, is a matter for the public concerned. In a functional democracy, it is the people, and the people only, who ‘make or break’ governments. From this viewpoint, Russia and Venezuela are most lacking. But externally induced, militarily mediated change is a gross abnormality in the world or democracy, which deserves decrying.

By way of damage control, the US could take the initiative to ensure that the democratic process, read as the full empowerment of ordinary people, takes hold in Venezuela. In this manner the US could help in stemming some of the destructive fallout from its abduction operation. Any attempts by the US to take possession of the national wealth of Venezuela at this juncture are bound to earn for it the condemnation of democratic opinion the world over.

Likewise, the US needs to exert all its influence to ensure that the rights of ordinary Ukrainians are protected. It will need to ensure this while exploring ways of stopping further incursions into Ukrainian territory by Russia’s invading forces. It will need to do this in collaboration with the EU which is putting its best foot forward to end the Ukraine blood-letting.

Meanwhile, the repercussions that the Maduro abduction could have on the global South would need to be watched with some concern by the international community. Here too the EU could prove a positive influence since it is doubtful whether the UN would be enabled by the big powers to carry out the responsibilities that devolve on it with the required effectiveness.

What needs to be specifically watched is the ‘copycat effect’ that could manifest among those less democratically inclined Southern rulers who would be inspired by the Trump administration to take the law into their hands, so to speak, and act with callous disregard for the sovereign rights of their smaller and more vulnerable neighbours.

Democratic opinion the world over would need to think of systems of checks and balances that could contain such power abuse by Southern autocratic rulers in particular. The UN and democracy-supportive organizations, such as the EU, could prove suitable partners in these efforts.

All in all it is international lawlessness that needs managing effectively from now on. If President Trump carries out his threat to over-run other countries as well in the manner in which he ran rough-shod over Venezuela, there is unlikely to remain even a semblance of international order, considering that anarchy would be receiving a strong fillip from the US, ‘The World’s Mightiest Democracy’.

What is also of note is that identity politics in particularly the South would be unprecedentedly energized. The narrative that ‘the Great Satan’ is running amok would win considerable validity among the theocracies of the Middle East and set the stage for a resurgence of religious fanaticism and invigorated armed resistance to the US. The Trump administration needs to stop in its tracks and weigh the pros and cons of its current foreign policy initiatives.

Features

Pure Christmas magic and joy at British School

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Students of The British High School in Colombo in action at the fashion show

The British School in Colombo (BSC) hosted its Annual Christmas Carnival 2025, ‘Gingerbread Wonderland’, which was a huge success, with the students themseles in the spotlight, managing stalls and volunteering.

The event, organised by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), featured a variety of activities, including: Games and rides for all ages, Food stalls offering delicious treats, Drinks and refreshments, Trade booths showcasing local products, and Live music and entertainment.

The carnival was held at the school premises, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for students, parents, and the community to enjoy.

The halls of the BSC were filled with pure Christmas magic and joy with the students and the staff putting on a tremendous display.

Among the highlights was the dazzling fashion show with the students doing the needful, and they were very impressive.

The students themselves were eagerly looking forward to displaying their modelling technique and, I’m told, they enjoyed the moment they had to step on the ramp.

The event supported communities affected by the recent floods, with surplus proceeds going to flood-relief efforts.

Features

Glowing younger looking skin

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hi! This week I’m giving you some beauty tips so that you could look forward to enjoying 2026 with a glowing younger looking skin.

Face wash for natural beauty

* Avocado:

Take the pulp, make a paste of it and apply on your face. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it with normal water.

* Cucumber:

Just rub some cucumber slices on your face for 02-03 minutes to cleanse the oil naturally. Wash off with plain water.

* Buttermilk:

Apply all over your face and leave it to dry, then wash it with normal water (works for mixed to oily skin).

Face scrub for natural beauty

Take 01-02 strawberries, 02 pieces of kiwis or 02 cubes of watermelons. Mash any single fruit and apply on your face. Then massage or scrub it slowly for at least 3-5 minutes in circular motions. Then wash it thoroughly with normal or cold water. You can make use of different fruits during different seasons, and see what suits you best! Follow with a natural face mask.

Face Masks

* Papaya and Honey:

Take two pieces of papaya (peeled) and mash them to make a paste. Apply evenly on your face and leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it with cold water.

Papaya is just not a fruit but one of the best natural remedies for good health and glowing younger looking skin. It also helps in reducing pimples and scars. You can also add honey (optional) to the mixture which helps massage and makes your skin glow.

* Banana:

Put a few slices of banana, 01 teaspoon of honey (optional), in a bowl, and mash them nicely. Apply on your face, and massage it gently all over the face for at least 05 minutes. Then wash it off with normal water. For an instant glow on your face, this facemask is a great idea to try!

* Carrot:

Make a paste using 01 carrot (steamed) by mixing it with milk or honey and apply on your face and neck evenly. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash it with cold water. Carrots work really well for your skin as they have many vitamins and minerals, which give instant shine and younger-looking skin.