SAITM opponents

I refer to the news item of 7 February titled ‘SAITM CEO shot at’. The Police investigations are not yet released and one hopes this attempt on the life of the CEO is not connected in any way to his holding the post of South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) CEO. If there is any connection it would mean that those who oppose SAITM (this includes the Government Medical Officers’ Association) despite being members of the learned fraternity are also members of the criminal underworld or are not averse to mobilising the underworld.

During recruitment to the professional service we have overlooked the need for persons with moral standing and have gone purely on academic achievements. The need for good moral conduct of professionals is something we have ignored in our country so far. In the past those who aspired to be professionals were from the middle class known to practise a set of ethics. But with the expansion of free education everybody is now eligible to be recruited. 

I remember when I had passed the Ceylon Civil Service examination a report was called for from the village headman. The village headman did not know me personally but I found out later that he had made inquiries from the neighborhood before submitting his report to the Public Service Commission and the Secretary to the Treasury. Upright persons with good moral conduct alone were appointed to the Ceylon Civil Service traditionally. I wonder whether similar inquiries are made today before persons are appointed to the public service. 

I am not saying the family background should override other factors like learning. Nor am I saying that the person should be of a superior family background but only that the immediate family members are not criminals who have been convicted in a court of law. Good moral character should be considered as much as education in recruiting people to the public service as followed by the British.  

The village headman’s certificate was taken into consideration then and today similar certificates from persons of repute and character should be insisted upon to be considered for appointments to the public service instead of relying only on educational qualifications.

R.M.B Senanayake Retired CCS