When meritocracy dies and nepotism reigns supreme

The country got a new Inspector General of Police (IGP) on July 1 with Jayantha Wickremaratna’s appointment to the highest position in the Police Department. His predecessor Victor Perera was not left much time to be twiddling his fingers because he was almost immediately appointed the Governor of the Northern Province. Mr.Perera’s predecessor Chandra Fernando too did not get much time to enjoy his retirement. He was appointed as the Advisor to the President on Eastern Infrastructure Development.
 
Now if one comes to the conclusion after reading my opening paragraph that the two latter men while they were in office were pandering more to the whims and fancies of the government in power than looking into the best interest of the Police force bearing at the back of their minds that a plum assignment would await them once they retire, I would not blame the readers. That is exactly the conclusion I have come to after observing the behavior of some of the people who are in government institutions and whose main interest seems to be in securing employment after retirement at state expense, enjoying pay and pension along with official cars, petrol and overseas trips.
 
It would be unfair to say that the services of experienced public service officials should not be made use of after they reach the age of 60. However, governments in power dangle plum appointments in the face of public officials including those serving in high public office such as the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, military commanders and others holding vital positions in government institutions. Government, or more accurately, individuals in them, lure beureaucrats and public officials into being “yes men” when they should stay well clear of partisan political afflictions. Unfortunately, those able to resist the temptation of such offers are few.
 
It’s not a new phenomenon and I am not going to blame the Rajapaksa administration alone for this situation.  Successive governments have resorted to this practice and today, many top public officials have began to expect post retirement appointments as a reward for being “yes men” while in office.
 
The Sri Lanka Overseas Service (SLOS) has become a favorite dumping ground for retirees. Recently, a retired as a judge of the Supreme Court was named as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to London. Who can resist a fully paid, three year long holiday in a foreign land after all the hard work they put in while in service in Sri Lanka?
 
Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga sent out two yes men who served under her while she was President as heads of mission to two of the most coveted postings in the Overseas Service, even though there were many others within the SLOS more qualified for the appointments. This list could go on and on. While I accept that political appointees can be sent out as heads of Sri Lanka’s missions abroad , I would also strongly submit that they must be persons who are proficient in diplomacy and international relations and able to portray a positive  image of this country abroad. As we know, few political appointees are up to the task.
 
It is little wonder that the government service in Sri Lanka is going from bad to worse each day. While the hierarchy is eyeing what they can get once they retire, they do little to set an example to the men and women working under them. When junior level workers see what their superiors are aiming at, they just  dream walk thorough their years in service well aware that a  government pension awaits them, however poorly they perform, if they just supinely accept the orders of their partisan political masters.
 
It was with pride that public service was spoken of in Sri Lanka  in the past but the inability of the bureaucracy to stand up to political pressure has now made it putty in the hands of corrupt politicians. Government servants need to take pride in their work,  uphold the law and do what is legally (and morally)  right. Former Auditor General S.C. Mayadunne became in recent years an epitome of how a public servant should function – fearlessly, independently and with integrity.

If he could withstand political pressure as well as pressure from some sections of the politically affiliated powerful officialdom, then there is still hope that there are other men and women holding high government official who can do the same.
 
Government servants are paid for with the money of the tax payers of this country and it is their duty to serve the public and not become puppets in the hands of politicians. Sadly self interests have made many forget this salient aspect of their duty.

It’s self before duty now and not duty before self, as it should be.