Bringing in the professionals

President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Colombo’s UNP Mayor Mr. Karu Jayasuriya passing a candle on to light the traditional oil lamp at the 18th annual sessions of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) was indeed a refreshing sight in these days of intense political vituperation. It showed that provided with an environment where sense and sanity prevails devoid of the cheap rhetoric of the political stage, warring politicians can be brought together— if not to agree with each other—- but to listen to logic and reason.

The OPA with its newly inducted President Dr. Lakshman Ranasinghe must be congratulated for inviting opposition politicians as well for their annual sessions unlike many other organisations which display their loyalty to governing parties by inviting only the high and mighty in government and keeping out critics and the opposition.

President Kumaratunga in her address to the OPA had called upon professionals to take an active part in the process of governing and decision making. She had invited professionals to the presidential task forces which had been set up to make policy recommendations, the president had said.

Just as much war is said to be too serious a subject to be left to generals alone, politics and administration too is far too complex and serious a subject to be left solely to politicians. There are politicians, educated and not, who need sound professional advice. But it has to be pointed out that politicians with little education at times are far more amenable to professional advice than the know-all educated types. Two good examples of those who had no higher education qualifications but turned out to be the best of leaders in this country were: the first Prime Minister, the late Mr. D.S. Senanayake and Prime Minister Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike.

There is also the retrogressive phenomenon of professionals turning out to be politicians once they are co-opted into administration. There are innumerable examples of oustanding professionals being appointed to higher echelons of public administration becoming putty in the hands of manipulative politicians or becoming cheap politicians themselves. Even in advisory committees there are professionals who tend to swim with the political tide withholding their independent opinion. There are professionals who have openly joined or identified themselves with political parties but have not been able to sway wrong decisions made by politicians for partisan purposes.

Quite apart from professionals acting in their individual capacities and professional bodies there are state institutions comprising by and large of professionals. Take for example the Central Environmental Authority. This is an all-powerful body—at least on paper—which not only advises the government but can veto projects in the interests of the environment. Environmental Impact Assessment reports approving development projects are essential for the projects to be proceeded with. But in recent times advice proffered by professional environmentalists appear to have ended in the waste paper basket. One notable example was the Kandalama Hotel project in UNP times, which was built on a natural reserve. Today, not only environmentalists but professionals from many disciplines have come out strongly against the Eppawala Apatite Project which they say would devastate the environment around Anuradhapura. It has been estimated that once the project is completed a crater as great as 50 miles in diameter would be left behind.

The National Academy of Sciences— the highest level multi- disciplinary scientific organisation in this country—- in a report to President Kumaratunga expressed very strong reservations about the project. There have been many other organisations, professional and public, that have protested against the Eppawala project but the news on the grapevine is that the project had been approved although there is no official confirmation. The handing over of the development of the Colombo harbour to a foreign company is yet another example. The port’s engineers have strongly protested against this move not only on the revenue that would be lost but also because of the fact that the proposed plans will reduce the turning circle of the Colombo Port. With super tankers on the production line for the next century, this ‘modernisation’ will diminish the value of this harbour and make ocean liners seek other ports in the region. But the will of professional politician and lawyer Mr. A.H.M. Ashroff has prevailed over the opinion of experienced port engineers!

For professionals to participate in decision making and in administration, conditions must be created where they can act freely without fearing the wrath of politicians in power. The guarantees that were extended to public servants under the Soulbury Constitution must be brought back if we are serious about getting the services of professionals.They must be protected from political interference by an independent public service commission.

Professionals are not only in the learned professions but in the armed services, police and public services. They have an unenviable task to perform and should not be penalised or be held in suspicion because they have performed their duties conscientiously for a previous regime.