The Lion of Borulugoda

PHILIP GUNEWARDENA’S GRANDSON

(as Late Philip Gunewardena was known)

by Elmo de Silva

E-mail: elmodesilva6@gmail.com

I refer to the news item written by Mr. Saman Indrajith regarding M.P. Yadimini Gonewardena, grandson of late Philip Gunewardena (Island Nov. 21) which takes me back to 1957, when after obtaining my degree from the Peradeniya University, I was appointed as one of the Administrative Officers in the Agriculture Department (Dept). The Minister of Agriculture was the late Hon. Philip Gunewardena. (The Hon. Minister). Unlike at present, when we graduates passed out, there were so many vacancies in what was then called, the Government Service. Vacancies were advertised for Administrative Officers, Dept. of Agriculture, Asst. Assessors Inland Revenue Dept; Asst. Commissioners Dept of Labour; Commercial Assistants; Asst Commissioners Transport etc. I applied for all posts. The first interview that I was called for was Administrative Officer, Dept. of Agriculture. The Chairman of the interview board was Mr. Sam Silva, CCS, who was Deputy Director Administration of the Agriculture Dept. I was selected for this post .

I received my letter of appointment by post from the Public Service Commission (PSC); it was not handed over by a politician with all the political fanfare and press attendance to convey the impression that it was the politician who gave the appointment, so that he could gain some political mileage. The PSC letter outlined my duties and stated that my monthly basic salary would be Rs. 340 plus an allowance of Rs.300, and some other allowances making a total of Rs.740/=, which was a handsome salary at that time when the dollar fetched six rupees and a brand new Volkswagen could be bought for Rs. 8,500.

The Hon. Minister envisaged that the Administrative Officers would be a specialized service given a higher salary with additional responsibilities, and will be given a thorough training in the work they were expected to do. After I was appointed to this post, I went for an interview held by the Central Bank for an intake of officers. On being questioned whether I was employed, I stated that I was functioning as Administrative Officer, Dept. of Agriculture. The interview board informed me that they had instructions from the Hon Minister Philip Gunewardene, not to select anyone who was functioning as an Administrative Officer in the Agriculture Dept. This was because he wanted a cadre of committed, trained and experienced officers to implement his well planned, futuristic and visionary policies.

Hon. Philip Gunewardena introduced a new system of Administration. Before I explain this system I should refer to the advice the Hon. Minister gave to the newly selected officers. All of us were summoned to the Agriculture Dept. head office at Peradeniya for an official briefing. After Mr. Sam Silva, Dy. Director explained our responsibilities in this new job, the Hon. Minister addressed the new officers. Among the thoughts he expressed, there was one outstanding statement which has guided me throughout my official career where I have served in several Departments and Ministries.

He emphasized ‘that we could violate any Financial or Administrative Regulations, if we could prove that this action of ours was done in the Interests of the country and the citizens we serve’

This exhortation has guided me throughout my public life. To give one example, when I was a novice in the public service as Administrative Officer for the Matara District, there was a rubber plant nursery to supply clones to peasants given land under the Land Development Ordinance. They were to be given a subsistence allowance till they could get an income from their rubber plantations. Delay in giving the nursery plants to the peasants, would have resulted in extending the subsistence allowances given by the Govt. to the landowners. There was severe a drought and the plants in the nursery would have withered. The position demanded immediate action to maintain the nursery. Though I was yet a novice in the public service, in terms of the verbal authority given by the Hon Minister, as referred to above, I hired two water bowsers to water the nursery for about two months enabling the plants in the nursery to survive I did not seek the consent of any authority or call for tenders. There were no queries from the audits.

In another instance, much later in my official career when I served in the Customs, I had to take immediate action on very important issue that had large financial consequences. When import cargo commenced to come in containers, the containers, apart from the cargo, were dutiable. The Ports Authority officers and the Ship’s Agents warned me that if containers were subject to duty, where a customs entry has to be passed, that this will result in a considerable delay in the turnaround of the ships and the Colombo port will be avoided as a port of call. Realizing the gravity of the situation, which would have placed the country’s International Trade in jeopardy, I obtained the verbal approval of Mr. Chandi Chamugam, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, and removed the duty on the containers, pending action to be taken by the Minister of Finance in term of the Revenue Protection act No 19 of 1962. The action I took meant a heavy loss of revenue to the government. But I had to weigh the irreparable damage that would have being caused to the country’s International Trade. It may be that Minister Philip Gunewardena’s advice influenced my decision. There were several such decisions I had to take during in my official career, especially when I served in Customs. (Note: in any case import containers are used for export cargo).

Hon Philip Gunewardena used to make surprise visits to offices, and would fault officers who had not completed their assignments. Officers worked as though the Minister was breathing down their necks.

The new system of Administration introduced by the Hon. Minister was based on the system in operation In New Zealand. The concept underlying this was, that Technical Officers should be relieved of administrative and financial duties, and concentrate on furthering their Specialities including Research. Thus the requirement to recruit Administrative Officers to be in charge of the administrative and financial functions in all the agricultural offices throughout the country. The introduction of this new system of administration was bitterly opposed by the Technical Officers, as the removal administrative and financial duties, was seen by the Technical officers, as a reduction in their official powers and status. But the Hon Minister would not brook any opposition, which meant that all concerned officers had to comply with the Minister’s very progressive move.

Hon Philip Gunewardena realized the plight of the Ande’ Farmers ( tenant cultivator), who were not given their rightful share of the Produce or were wrongfully evicted. Hence the Paddy Lands Act No 1 of 1958.to emancipate the tenant farmers from the clutches of the landlords. In addition to my duties as Administrative Officer, I was gazetted as an Asst. Commissioner of Agrarian Services, to inquire into the grievances of the tenant farmers.

Hon Philip Gunewardene ,who was very sympathetic towards the farmers, introduced a Crop Insurance Scheme which benefited the farmers immensely. I am not sure whether this insurance scheme is still operative.

Since the minister would brook no opposition, be fiery in his speech, even in Parliament , Mr. Tarzie Vittachi, who wrote under the pseudonym Fly-By-Night , humorously said in one of his interesting articles that “there’s a fly in every ointment and a Philip in every Government”

I wish that Hon. Philip Gunewardena’s grandson would serve the nation in the exemplary manner in which his grandfather did: empathy for the underprivileged; upholding the principles he believed in; defending what he thought was right; setting an example to all Government officers of commitment and dedication to duty and moral rectitude.