N.U. ABDUL RAZZAK UDAYAR
COLOMBO : As the new cabinet under the premiership of the Ranil Wickramsinghe is committed to doing its best for lifting Sri Lanka out of the unprecedented level of chaos and the trouble, the masses of this isle have been patiently waiting, keeping their fingers crossed for an urgent relief to get back to the normal life without having unwanted queues and mad rush for fuel, gas and other essential needs. In fact, the poor, the man in the street, the Middle Class and even the Upper Middle Class except the elite find it extremely difficult to make both ends meet for the prices of essential things and other goods keep on increasing. The bolt from the blue, the latest price hike hardly allows the majority of the people to lead a contended and peaceful life. The masses who have been taken for a ride as assess for ages by successive Governments expect much from the new cabinet of the Government since the Cost of Living has skyrocketed.
After a series of peaceful protest of the youth and other fans of democracy at the Galle face Green, a healthy sign is shown by the rulers, the parliamentarians of both sides to cut the excessive power of the Executive Presidency and listen to voice of the poor and the unheard. Hopefully. the much expected constitutional changes are in the offing. The new Minister of Law and Justice Dr. Wijedasa Rajapksa has made it public that the new bill restricting certain unwanted power would be shortly presented to the parliament for approval.
Restoration of Public Service Commission
Besides this sweeping changes of the constitution, there is another important factor that needs the urgent attention of the Cabinet and the PM is the restoration of the inactive/dormant Public Service Commission of Sri Lanka whose function is the mass recruitment of employees to the Government Sector. Unfortunately, if my memory serves me right, for the past 35 years or so, successive Governments failed or partially failed to recruit or fully recruit the employees for the Public Sector via a scheme of Competitive Examination.
The stooges and the supporters of the influential and powerful politicians such as Ministers, MPs, Chairmen of the local government bodies and other big shots were given the political appointments leaving the educated youth under unemployment thus causing utter deep disappointment and acute frustration among them. This has certainly led to cause unrest among the youth and youngsters of the educated youth. Naturally, indiscipline has crept in the Government Sector due to this wrong method of recruitment.
The appointees are duty bound to show their loyalty to the politicians of the ruling party ignoring the rules and regulations and the code of conduct of the institutions concerned. Strangely, the Yahapalana Government that was meant for Good Governance, initially for a few months, gave the appointments for talent and merit. But then the state of affairs came back to square one allowing the supporters of the Government to get the jobs as in the past.
Interestingly, it is apt to be mentioned that late President, Man of Action, R. Premadasa took the brave step of recruiting employees to the Public Sector via the competitive examination in 1988 or so. He even implemented the ethnic ratio to make sure that all communities get their fair share of opportunities in the Government Sector. Unfortunately it was scrapped as the next Government came to power.
Professional Way of Recruitment of Teaching
As far as the Education Sector is concerned, particularly, it is glad and satisfactory to note that the recruitment of teachers is annually made methodically. This is the result of the vision of our present Prime Minister, Ranil Wickramasinghe, who introduced the College of Education for the training and recruitment of teachers via a competitive examination when he was the Minister of Education under the JR Jayewardene Government from 1978 to 1987.It is no secret that those who get good marks in the A/L examination annually sit for this crucial exam to be absorbed into the college of Education. Hence, the ruling politicians cannot interfere as merit is the only criterion for this selection. Therefore a bouquet of gratitude should be given to him for this far sighted policy that ensures the merit and talent found around the country to be pooled to produce a troop of teachers in Sri Lanka every year.
Ball is in the Court of New Cabinet
Fortunately, the ball is back in the court of the newest cabinet led by Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe to enact the bill for the Recruitment of Employees for the Public Sector through a competitive examination. Meanwhile, the Public Service Commission that has been dormant for years and years should be activated to get this task done. So the 226 members of the parliament should be united at this hour of crisis to eliminate one of the root causes of economic crisis, the Political Appointment in this beloved isle. All worthy members of parliament forget your petty differences such as cast, creed, colour and so on to rebuild this nation for a bright future.
The Prime Minister with his experience and maturity should consider this proposal as one of the priorities for its immediate implementation. The protest at the Galle Face Green has focussed the importance of many such schemes that help masses to lead a peaceful and happy life. It is high time the newest Government placed this proposal to ensure a silent revolution of change in Sri Lanka where each and every son and daughter irrespective of their differences get equal treatment in every sphere of life. Abdulenglish2707r@gmail.com
