A public shame!

Are public servants about to fall from the pan into the fire? Recent reports have indicated that Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva will head a new department that will be in charge of disciplinary activities against Government employees, pushing Sri Lanka’s good governance credentials even further into the shadow.

According to the Ministry Secretary C. Herath, the measure will be submitted to the Cabinet in early June and would clearly demarcate a mechanism by which people can gain redress from for official ineptitude by complaining to the department. Investigations would be completed within three months and justice metered out, which on the surface seems exactly what the corruption embattled system needs. Moreover the initiative is being taken under the direction of the President himself.

However, the rub is in the person who has been appointed to spearhead this good governance effort. Any normal person would think that such a department should be held by a highly respected, independent and educated official whose track record is beyond suspicion and bias. Yet the appointment of Silva is anything but and serves to undermine the whole process before it is even launched. In fact Rajapaksa could hardly have picked a worse person if he tried.

The Sri Lankan ruling party is famous for turning a blind eye to issues it does not want to deal with, which is perhaps why it stumbles from blunder to blunder concerning Silva. From tying public officials to trees to repeated and recorded instances of aggression against the media, Silva’s sins have been many and frequent. Yet it seems that the Government has a short memory or perhaps it feels that ranks of public employees tied to trees are the highest demonstration of good governance.

If this were not enough, Silva is also a suspect of numerous crimes. In fact it will be remembered that in April last year an entire file of his allegedly corrupt actions were handed over to Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Maithreepala Sirisena by members of the Kelaniya Pradeshya Sabha for investigations. It is another oversight of the Government that this file was not handed over to the Police since it indicated possible instances when the law was broken. Even so little was done that seriously inhibited the effervescent Silva.

In fact the whole issue can be put down to breakdown of law and order. It is perhaps a simplistic point, but one that explains the ridiculous amount of power that people like Silva hold. His opponents also point to the same reason, saying that intense politicisation of the police means that Silva can operate with impunity and anyone else will be served with death threats if they dare to oppose him.

This is a damning indictment of the breakdown of law and order in this country. Politicians are above the law and are allowed remain that way until the situation worsens to the point that they themselves are under threat. Given his list of transgressions, can the Government seriously expect to inspire confidence in Silva’s brand of justice?

If the Rajapaksa regime is serious about battling corruption and mismanagement, then there are several other steps they can take that would make a far greater impact. Strengthening the Bribery and Corruption Commission, empowered the Committee on Public Enterprises and enacting a Right to Information Act are a few that spring to mind. Yet it seems to prefer putting its worst foot forward.