In terms of Article 55 (3) of the Constitution, appointment, promotion, transfer, disciplinary control and dismissal of public officers are vested in the Public Service Commission. In addition, in terms of Article 61 B of the Constitution, Commission is the constitutionally ordained body to formulate all rules, regulations and procedures relating to the Public Service.

The present Commission appointed by the Hon. President on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council assumed duties in April 2023 at a time of serious financial economic crisis in the country. The present economic crisis itself is an indictment not only on the Public Service of this country but also on the Public Service Commission. 

This requires that we reflect deeply on the effectiveness of the Public Service and the Commission.

How the Public Service deteriorated and ultimately failed the Nation, mostly under the Commission’s watch, was the question to which the new Commission had to find answers.

Complexity, past orientation, proliferation of perceived Rights, continuous increase of the size of the Public Service, frequently changing rules, lack of any cost awareness and corruption are some of the main reasons identified.

The above malaises had gradually pervaded the entire Public Service. This was possible as the Public Service Rules had adopted a reactive and welfarist approach in the governance of the public service.

The present Commission cannot continue with this approach given the critical responsibility the Public Service has in steering the country out of the present economic crisis. The Public Service presently concerned with “service” and “activities” has to be transformed into one of “performance” and “achievement”.

In order to effect this transformation, there should be clarity of vision- where do we want to go?

The mission of the transformed Public Service should be to create a Prosperous, Successful and Resilient Sri Lanka. To materialize and to ensure the sustainability of this mission-PSR Sri Lanka, the Public Service Commission in turn should build a Public Service that is forward-looking, ready to learn from the past and to adapt.

All public officers are being paid by the taxpayers and the public service will be failing them if it does not meet their expectations. Public Officers should not try to transfer inherent costs and risks of employment to the Taxpayer. Public Officers at all levels need to understand that their tenure and promotional prospects in the Public Service will depend solely on their competence and performance. Individual responsibility and accountability is key.

The future development of the Public Service must lay emphasis on selection for talent, individual development, competitive promotions/appointments, organisational change, and continuous review.

We need to focus on the future rather than on making the present comfortable and the past prescriptive. We need to accept the reality of change and impermanence. We need to recognise global competition and its impact locally. We need to live by our values that serve as a guide to action.

Honesty, Integrity and Simplicity should be the core values that guide all public servants.

There is no need of finding a fresh vision for the Public Service to take on the mission that is now carved out for it. “Bahujana Hithaya Bahujana Sukhaya” (for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many) is a dictum that we have inherited from the very roots of our civilization.

The approach of the this Commission to effect the required transformation in the Public Service will be to introduce changes incrementally while keeping a determined focus on the objectives. This follows the approach, epitomised in the slogan “Cross the stream by feeling the stones”, adopted by Deng Xiaoping in the transformation of China’s economy that ultimately made it the second largest economy of the world.

“Preparing for the future – near or far – starts today, not tomorrow”
-Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed , the second President of the UAE

Sanath Ediriweera