Amunugama’s stories evoke many pleasant public service memories

By GAD Sirimal

SLAS, Retired Asst. Sec. Ministry of Power and Energy

The excerpt from Sarath Amunugama’s autobiography you published last week was enjoyable and evoked memories of some of the giants mentioned during my own public service career when members of the now extinct Ceylon Civil Service provided the country with an excellent administration. I think JRJ did well recalling GVP Samarasinghe from retirement to help clean up the public service mess he inherited.

The then president almost always accepted decisions made by ministry secretaries. I remember an instance where he removed a minister over an incident involving a cabinet paper where the recommended award of a tender to the lowest bidder was changed. JRJ had a hand in the appointment of ministry secretaries as he wished them to guide sundry ministers, many of whom had little knowledge or experience in matters assigned to them.I remember an incident involving now-in-the-news power cuts. Some CEB engineers recommended the cut while others held the view that the turbines be run to lower water levels despite the risk of debris clogging them. Power and Energy Secretary James Lanerolle opposed this and the matter went up to the president. After hearing both sides, he said “James, you go ahead.” I was present at this meeting.

Before coming to some encounters with GVP Samarasinghe highlighted by Amunugama, let me recall an experience I had at the PWD with offices in the first floor of the red, brick-walled Transworks House in the Fort. The Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications was on the ground floor.

I handled the subject of road projects that had a block vote in the printed estimates for the improvement of roads controlled by District and Provincial Road Committees. Their development was the responsibility of the area executive engineers. Politicians, wanting roads in their electorates improved had great interest in these projects. If I remember right, in the fifties an MP got Rs. 10,000 and a minister Rs. 15,000 for this work, sums which would seem ridiculous now. But it was then possible to metal and tar a half mile of road with a culvert or two and widen two or three miles with such a sum.

Since the minister wanted frequent updates of work in progress, it was agreed that I meet him as required keeping the Director of the PWD and the Ministry Secretary informed of anything that required their decision. One day I was called by the minister who’ll remain unnamed and told to sanction an estimate sent by an executive engineer. I was explaining the financial details to the minister with the secretary, Mr. Rajendra, present. Hearing the minister’s order, he said in his clipped accent: “Sir, it is I who should give that order as I’m the chief accounting officer.” Then turning to me he said, “put up the papers to me with your comments.” I did so and he minuted: “Put them up again in two months.”

A few days later, the minister asked me whether the work was sanctioned. I relayed the secretary’s instruction and heard no more about the matter. I later learned that the road to be improved led to the minister’s coconut estate! This shows the authority of the secretaries then which is, sadly, now no more. Hence the mess we’re now in.

I was particularly interested in Mr. Amunugama’s reference to Mr. GVP Samarasinghe setting up the Development Secretaries weekly meetings where he presided over a group of identified secretaries of so-called line ministries. To the best of my recollection they included finance, trade and shipping, agriculture and food etc. Observations of the different ministries were studied and a consensus reached with the concurrence of the various secretaries. I have attended these meeting as an assistant secretary (projects) of the ministry of power and energy, sometimes with the secretary and alone at other times when he was away or otherwise occupied.

It appeared to me that GVP had studied the papers making notes as required on clarifications that may be necessary. He opened the meeting with humorous anecdotes of his own experience as a GA in the provinces, making those present laugh, and laying the ground for the business at hand. He once related a story of a visit to a remote village with no access by motorable road. He parked his Morris car and walked five miles to the village over difficult terrain accompanied by the headman who had met him at a designated spot. The villagers addressed him as “ejantha hamuduruvo.” After concluding the business at hand he returned to his car exhausted from the walking.

My ministry had presented papers to that meeting seeking authority to purchase four cars for a transmission project under World Bank funding. The CEB’s GM had accompanied me to make any necessary clarifications. When our business was taken up, GVP asked why cars were needed when the wires were to be drawn overhead. We explained that our officers needed to get to the sites across rough terrain for inspection purposes. The cars were for the use of project engineers. He smiled cynically saying they may be for engineers’ personal use and one may even go to the minister! Eventually if was decided to acquire four-wheel drive double cabs as other crew like foremen could accompany the engineers and also haul material needed on site. His preamble of an exhausting walk to a remote village set the tone for the discussion.

The creation of a new post at the ministry of higher education where Prof. Staney Kalpage was secretary also came up at this meeting where GVP’s early remarks include over staffing in government institutions. He remarked that it was well known that while some officers worked hard, others idled running personal errands during working hours etc. All those present including Dr. Kalpage agreed not knowing what was to follow. When the proposal for creating a new post at the higher education ministry came up, GVP told Kalpage, “Professor you agreed right now that the government service is overstaffed. Get somebody in your ministry to do the work or distribute it around.” That closed the new post proposal.

I was involved in what followed with a proposal from our ministry to advance the clock by half an hour as a power saving strategy. This was the last item for the day, either deliberately so placed on the agenda or otherwise. Various reservations including changing of flight times, domestic arrangements of the public, school times etc. were expressed. One secretary said he rose at 5.30 a.m. and did his work and various chores until his 9.30 pm bedtime. Going to bed at 9 pm would mean his having to toss around till 9.30 when he would fall asleep. Great merriment arose when he was slyly told what he could do in that half hour!

The Development Secretaries conference chaired by GVP Samarasinghe and later his successors was a great idea. But many of them were without the guts to take independent decisions in the national interest. At one such meeting during the Premadasa presidency a proposal was presented as the big boss’ order which was “find the money and do it.” I wonder whether this once meaningful committee still exists. Probably not, with few secretaries having the backbone to take independent decisions without pandering to their political bosses. Let me close by expressing my gratitude to my bosses, James. H. Lanerolle, ex of the CCS, and Prof. KKYW Perera who gave me the opportunity to attend some of these important meetings making my public service career more meaningful and retire with satisfaction with what I was able to achieve.