Ask the Minister: Matters of Public Interest 

A chat with Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Minister of Public Administration and Management 

Some of our readers will be very interested in getting to know the progress of the present government and the future plans of the Ministers. With the endeavour of creating awareness in this regard, Daily Mirror Life met up with some Ministers and asked them a few questions. Their answers will be carried in this weekly column. This week, we speak to Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Minister of Public Administration and Management. 

Can you explain briefly the function of your Ministry? 

All matters concerning Public Administration is handled by this Ministry. That includes providing employment, development, training, promotions and management of government servants. The all island services that come under this Ministry are Sri Lanka Administrative Service, Sri Lanka Scientific Service, Sri Lanka Architectural Service, Sri Lanka Engineering Service, Sri Lanka Planning Service, Sri Lanka Accountants Service, Sri Lanka Information & Communication Service, Translators Service, Librarians Service, Development Officers' Service, Public Management Assistant Service, Drivers Service, Office Employee Service. 

Do the people who handle these services get some type of training? 

We are doing a lot of capacity building programmes for staff from the categories I mentioned, and we also send them for training to Singapore, Malaysia, London etc., so that they learn new systems, new technology and new methods relating to their area of expertise. On their return they have to submit a report to me so that I know for sure they have followed the courses and training programmes properly and that they have not just had a holiday and come. 

How do you plan to enhance productivity? 

We are setting up a productivity secretariat to be more productivity based.  Countries in the region like Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore developed because they focused on productivity based systems. After World War II, Japan introduced systems like 5S in the government as well as the private sectors. After we came into power we have used technology to go forward in regard to productivity. For example now you don’t have to go to the pension department to get the pension. It goes straight to the bank account and you can check the details online. 

What about the Divisional Secretariats? 

In the Divisional Secretariats, we have a large number of field officers and development officers who don’t have much work. Every Divisional Secretariat has about 300 to 400 of them. All together we have nearly 52,000 graduates who have not been allocated any work. We are trying to formulate a system where we can engage them more in development work and to see how they can be more productive. 

What is the basis of recruiting officers to public service? Are they required to obtain proficiency in all three languages? 

We are in the process of implementing this. At the moment we have exams in Sinhala, English and Tamil. They can chose the medium they wish to answer in. If they have proficiency in all three languages then they get more priority when it comes to promotions. Most of the time we recruit officers on the basis of how they fare in examinations and we give extra points if they have other qualifications. Even for clerical services, we recruit people depending on how they fare at exams. 

Do you have any Social Security schemes for public servants? 

Yes, there is an insurance scheme called the AGRAHARA which gives the public servants the benefit of claiming costs incurred for hospitalisation, operations and other medical related expenses. Now we have revised this scheme and it has two levels that’s the Agrahara Gold and Agrahara Silver, where they can contribute more to get more benefits. 

When appointing ex-servicemen to posts in public service are there special regulations? 

As they already get a pension they will be taken only on contract basis. 

How do warrants for transportation work? Is it only issued for travel when on official duty? 

All government servants are entitled to get a certain number of warrants for the month. Anything exceeding this, they have to pay. When it’s for official duty executives are entitled to use government vehicles. Also if any officials do not want to use government vehicles, they can use their private vehicle for official matters and claim Rs. 50,000/-. Previously it was Rs. 30,000/- but now we have increased it. 

Allocating circuit bungalows also comes under your Ministry. Who is entitled to request for this facility? Is it only for senior employees? 

Yes, we have circuit bungalows that public servants can request for. There are two and three roomed bungalows at subsidised rates. It is not for seniors, any government servant can apply and it is given on a first come first serve basis. 

You made an announcement recently that a new pension scheme is to be set up. Can you tell us about it? 

We have already introduced this contributory pension system. This system has been implemented in India, Japan and Europe. The first person to talk about it was Dr. N.M Perera in in the budget of 1971. He stated that if we don’t have a contributory pension system it is going to be a huge burden on the government. Ronnie De Mel also said this system was needed but it was never implemented. We don’t have a fund for Pensions so there’s no return. We had many discussions and workshops with the Trade Unions and have formulated a system which is viable to everyone. 

The government servants who joined in 2016 after this was implemented will be included in this scheme. It’s a monthly allowance that they will be getting eventually. The Act is being formulated now. I have handed over the draft proposal to the Prime Minister and the next step is to present it in Parliament. 

After your government came into power what kind of salary increments have been made? 

After we came into power we have given the people a huge salaries increase of Rs.10,000/- starting at the bottom. It’s on a ratio of 1-4, starting from the labourer and going up to top Executive. It goes even up to Rs. 20,000/- and Rs. 30,000/- depending on the bracket. The maximum increment they got previously was Rs. 2,500/-. Then when it comes to the basic salary, the minimum has been Rs 11,730/-. We have already increased this. The plan is to increase it in five steps from 2016 to 2020. By the end of this period the minimum salary will be increased to 24,730/-. That is just the very basic. 

Moneragala used to flourish under the rule of kings. Now it is supposed to be the poorest district. Do you think you will be able to bring it back to its original state? 

Yes, that’s right Moneragala is the poorest district. And yes, we can definitely bring it back to the original state. After the Wellassa Kerella (the uprising against British rule) Moneragala was totally destroyed. Paddy fields, irrigation systems properties and everything was destroyed and then the flourishing district became poor. But we will turn it around for sure. 

What are the plans for development in your electorate? 

The Industrial Zone that is going to be set up in Hambantota will include Moneragala as well. Other than that, we will be setting up agriculture based industries, irrigation and housing projects as well. We are also going to start up education programmes in the district for which the Government has allocated approximately 2000 million. Then for the Health sector of the district there is approximately 1200 million allocated. Some tanks are also being developed. Solution to the drinking water problem is also being looked into. We are focusing on family based development. Another area we are looking at is developing Eco friendly Tourism. 

What about the education systems? 

I have brought almost all the nursery teachers from Moneragala and given them a residential training in Colombo. Last week I brought 120 teachers for a residential training. In January I’m bringing another 150 teachers. What they learn here in Colombo will help them to improve their work as well as implement new systems when they get back to their schools in Moneragala. 

Is the rubber plantation a new project in Moneragala? 

No, actually we started the rubber plantation in 2002 when we were in power. Now we have 35,000 acres of rubber. Apart from that we also have a pepper and rambutan plantation. We are doing long term integrated development in this area. 

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Did you know? 

• He is a planter and businessman by profession. 
• He studied at Ananda College. 
• He started his political career as Chairman of the District Development Council of Moneragala. 
• When he was just 7 years old, his father who was an MP representing Bibile, was a victim of a political assassination. 
• His uncle is Dharmadasa Banda also from Bibile who was a former Minister of Agriculture. 

Questions for the ministers can be emailed to [email protected].