Proper procurements for state needs

I refer to the article by Dr. Janaka Ratnasiri on the National Procurement Commission and the statement made by President’s Counsel Ali Sabri, turned politician, who holds the prestigious portfolio for Justice, appearing in your issue of 11th Sept. 2020. I would like to share with you my experience on procurement by government and State bodies during my service.

There were limits on the expenditure a department, a ministry or any other state institution could approve. Any procurement above those limits had to get the approval of the Development Secretaries Committee [DSC], which met every Thursday of the week. The Chairman was the Secretary to the Cabinet and all Secretaries Ministries were members. When an application is made for purchases, it is discussed in depth and a collective decision taken to either approve, reject or find an alternative. Why this effective system was changed for a National Procurement Commission, instead of continuing with the DSC, is rather puzzling. Perhaps members of the NPC are those favoured by the government or the government has no faith in this Development Secretaries Committee. Whatever it be, here is an excellent example of the DCS, where a case had to be presented for the purchase of some cars, on a loan granted by the World Bank, for a Transmission Project of the Ceylon Electricity Board [CEB].

To face questions to be raised by DSC, the General Manager of the CEB accompanied me. The Chairman of DSC was G.V.P.Samarasinghe. In his usual manner, before commencing the day’s business, he comes out with his hilarious experiences as a Government Agent during the Colonial regime with hidden motives, as I later came to realise, pertaining to some items to be discussed that day. This day he spoke of the inspections he had to make and meet villagers in remote villages. He said, he had to park his car at a place to be looked after by someone whom the Village Headman provides, walk and climb a distance to reach the village, where villagers would eagerly wait to meet Ejantha Hamuduruwo, as previously arranged by the Headman.

When my case came up to purchase cars for a Transmission Project, I was asked why the CEB requires cars for a transmission project, to which the General Manager, CEB, said they were needed for engineers to visit sites. With a broad cynical smile, he inquired whether these transmission lines were to be constructed by the side of motorable roads or over hills and dales. G.M., CEB, had no answer. Then G.V.P. Samarasinghe inquired whether pick-up trucks wouldn’t serve the purpose as the engineers could take with them the overseers and some labourers and even materials. Saying so he approved six Pick-up trucks. When we were leaving, he tapped me and said with a smile ‘Your Minister will be displeased’.

That is how honourable public servants, holding high positions as Secretaries, Accounting Officers, acted for the benefit of the people and the country, spending public funds. They were officers who could not be influenced, politically, or otherwise. Could this be said of our present holders of such positions is a matter to be left without comment.

It is suggested that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa consider bringing back this old effective Committee. In the alternative, as the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed retired Army Officers of High Ranks, make them also members of the Development Secretaries Committee for transparency.

Let us wait for the 20th Amendment to the Constitution and see what provision is made in this regard

G.A.D.SIRIMAL

Boralesgamuwa