Test of LGs

Wednesday, 27 July 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

HOPE springs eternal. When one looks at the declining rates of discipline and morals in this country, the very fact that the newly-elected local government authorities are being provided with training to promote good governance is reason to be slightly hopeful.

In an election that had the customary election violations – including one death, clashes and bribing of vote cards with campaigning happening openly while the Police looked on – the hope for good governance seemed to have been extinguished. Yet the Ministry of Local Government does not think so and has decided to provide training for all the newly-elected authorities.

The course will cover law and procedure of the local government system, tender procedures and carrying out development programmes. These are lofty goals, indeed.

Law and order continues to be a problem in Sri Lanka, with many of the biggest crimes of corruption going unpunished. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation continues to hit the headlines for circumventing tender procedures and importing 22,000 metric tonnes of substandard fuel and causing hardship to thousands of vehicle owners as well as wasting millions in public money.

Responsibility for the hedging deal is another festering sore, where the Government stands to pay millions of dollars to international banks. The deal was signed without proper approval and obtaining of expertise, as was detailed in the ruling. Moreover, the entire country stands to lose its reputation as other investors might stay away if the payments are forfeited. This is the sad state of internal governance.

Carrying out development programmes is important, but it should be done based on community needs and not on the whims of a few individuals. Local governments play a crucial role in ensuring that nationally-planned development programmes are implemented properly and stamping out corruption and wastage must happen at this level.

Gearing up the local government officials to understand the importance of the role that they play will go a long way to making sure that projects are not delayed or taken above budget. The most important contribution would be whistle-blowing on corruption that happens at national government level, but that would be a task they would have to aspire to.

Therefore, the role of local governments is clear. Yet there are many who question their necessity since they do not seem to play a significant role in promoting regional welfare. Outside of the Western Province, the road to bridging regional disparity must be taken up by these newly-appointed officials. They must work with provincial councils and other bureaucratic structures to fast track true development and empower people who are vulnerable.

Few average people feel the importance of the local governments and believe that they serve the people. This attitude can be changed by the proactive working of the local governments. To be thought of as important, they must earn that title. Stamping out corruption and promoting good governance will not only help the development process, but promote their value in the development cycle. These are the roles that the newly-elected officials must concentrate on. The people should have a report card on their representatives and make sure that what is best for the people is done.

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.