• Latest
  • Trending
Lankan bureaucracy needs to do more to ensure good governance

Lankan bureaucracy needs to do more to ensure good governance

July 12, 2022
Sri Lankan Muslim Community invites all to join them for Iftar

Sri Lankan Muslim Community invites all to join them for Iftar

March 28, 2023
Exchange Rate

Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

March 28, 2023
Role of Diasporas in the contemporary world

Role of Diasporas in the contemporary world

March 28, 2023
Three foreign firms to enter Sri Lanka’s fuel market

Three foreign firms to enter Sri Lanka’s fuel market

March 27, 2023
Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism bill has significant flaws  

Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism bill has significant flaws  

March 27, 2023
Gold. Image credits - Jingming Pan / Unsplash

Gold prices in Sri Lanka

March 27, 2023
India - Sri Lanka

Travel to India in 50$?

March 27, 2023
IPL2023

BCCI to ban Sri Lanka and Bangladesh players from IPL?

March 27, 2023
Manchester United. Image credits - Javid Naderi / Unsplash

Qatar’s Al Thani submits new US$6 billion bid for Manchester United

March 26, 2023
Permission granted for anyone to sell goods on the roadside during festive season – Minister

Permission granted for anyone to sell goods on the roadside during festive season – Minister

March 26, 2023
Towards a sustainable Sri Lankan foreign policy

Towards a sustainable Sri Lankan foreign policy

March 26, 2023
UNHRC periodic report on Lanka wants executive power clipped

UNHRC periodic report on Lanka wants executive power clipped

March 25, 2023
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Sri Lankan Muslim Community invites all to join them for Iftar

    Sri Lankan Muslim Community invites all to join them for Iftar

    Exchange Rate

    Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

    Role of Diasporas in the contemporary world

    Role of Diasporas in the contemporary world

    Three foreign firms to enter Sri Lanka’s fuel market

    Three foreign firms to enter Sri Lanka’s fuel market

    Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism bill has significant flaws  

    Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism bill has significant flaws  

    Gold. Image credits - Jingming Pan / Unsplash

    Gold prices in Sri Lanka

    India - Sri Lanka

    Travel to India in 50$?

    IPL2023

    BCCI to ban Sri Lanka and Bangladesh players from IPL?

    Permission granted for anyone to sell goods on the roadside during festive season – Minister

    Permission granted for anyone to sell goods on the roadside during festive season – Minister

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    India - Sri Lanka

    Travel to India in 50$?

    Manchester United. Image credits - Javid Naderi / Unsplash

    Qatar’s Al Thani submits new US$6 billion bid for Manchester United

    Ramadan. Image credits - Andrew Lancaster / Unsplash

    Ramadan 2023: Fasting hours and iftar times around the world

    Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin

    China calls on Western lenders to ease debt pressure on developing countries

    Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

    Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

    Ukraine

    IMF staff reaches agreement with Ukraine for $15.6 bln program

    The Weeknd

    The Weeknd is the world’s most popular artist, Guinness World Records says

    Manchester United. Image credits - Javid Naderi / Unsplash

    Manchester United is for sale, who could buy the world-famous club?

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp for iOS gets text detection feature: What is it and how to use

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    The gran who couldn’t: Indu Balachandran’s latest book is for readers of all ages

    The gran who couldn’t: Indu Balachandran’s latest book is for readers of all ages

    The Weeknd

    The Weeknd is the world’s most popular artist, Guinness World Records says

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Watch: Oscar winning song Naatu Naatu

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Indian song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ wins Oscar award for best song

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Naatu Naatu: The RRR song primed for Oscar history

    Keanu Reeves

    11 of the best films to watch in March

    Netflix. Image credits - Souvik Banerjee @rswebsols / Unsplash

    Netflix cuts prices for subscribers in more than 30 countries

    Backstreet Boys

    Backstreet Boys to perform in India after 13 years

    Roald Dahl books

    Roald Dahl books rewritten to remove language deemed offensive

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Happy. Image credits - Lesly Juarez / Unsplash

    The world’s happiest countries for 2023

    Nepal. Image credits - Toomas Tartes / Unsplash

    Nepal bans solo trekkers throughout the country

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Toblerone chocolates

    Toblerone chocolates to lose “Swissness” criteria

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    International airlines suspend some US flights over 5G uncertainty

    Saying no to inflight meals can help our planet

    Sri Lanka

    Where are 2023s tourists to Sri Lanka coming from?

    Hazardous health: Jaffna’s growing waste crisis

    Hazardous health: Jaffna’s growing waste crisis

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp for iOS gets text detection feature: What is it and how to use

    Nokia

    Nokia changes iconic logo to signal strategy shift

    Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner

    Selena Gomez dethrones Kylie Jenner on Instagram

    Facebook. Image credits - Solen Feyissa @solenfeyissa

    Facebook & Instagram to test monthly subscription service priced at $11.99

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    New features introduced in Whatsapp’s latest update

    Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

    Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Sri Lankan Muslim Community invites all to join them for Iftar

    Sri Lankan Muslim Community invites all to join them for Iftar

    Exchange Rate

    Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

    Role of Diasporas in the contemporary world

    Role of Diasporas in the contemporary world

    Three foreign firms to enter Sri Lanka’s fuel market

    Three foreign firms to enter Sri Lanka’s fuel market

    Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism bill has significant flaws  

    Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism bill has significant flaws  

    Gold. Image credits - Jingming Pan / Unsplash

    Gold prices in Sri Lanka

    India - Sri Lanka

    Travel to India in 50$?

    IPL2023

    BCCI to ban Sri Lanka and Bangladesh players from IPL?

    Permission granted for anyone to sell goods on the roadside during festive season – Minister

    Permission granted for anyone to sell goods on the roadside during festive season – Minister

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    India - Sri Lanka

    Travel to India in 50$?

    Manchester United. Image credits - Javid Naderi / Unsplash

    Qatar’s Al Thani submits new US$6 billion bid for Manchester United

    Ramadan. Image credits - Andrew Lancaster / Unsplash

    Ramadan 2023: Fasting hours and iftar times around the world

    Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin

    China calls on Western lenders to ease debt pressure on developing countries

    Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

    Canada sees record population growth in 2022 from immigration

    Ukraine

    IMF staff reaches agreement with Ukraine for $15.6 bln program

    The Weeknd

    The Weeknd is the world’s most popular artist, Guinness World Records says

    Manchester United. Image credits - Javid Naderi / Unsplash

    Manchester United is for sale, who could buy the world-famous club?

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp for iOS gets text detection feature: What is it and how to use

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    The gran who couldn’t: Indu Balachandran’s latest book is for readers of all ages

    The gran who couldn’t: Indu Balachandran’s latest book is for readers of all ages

    The Weeknd

    The Weeknd is the world’s most popular artist, Guinness World Records says

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Watch: Oscar winning song Naatu Naatu

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Indian song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ wins Oscar award for best song

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Naatu Naatu: The RRR song primed for Oscar history

    Keanu Reeves

    11 of the best films to watch in March

    Netflix. Image credits - Souvik Banerjee @rswebsols / Unsplash

    Netflix cuts prices for subscribers in more than 30 countries

    Backstreet Boys

    Backstreet Boys to perform in India after 13 years

    Roald Dahl books

    Roald Dahl books rewritten to remove language deemed offensive

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Happy. Image credits - Lesly Juarez / Unsplash

    The world’s happiest countries for 2023

    Nepal. Image credits - Toomas Tartes / Unsplash

    Nepal bans solo trekkers throughout the country

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Toblerone chocolates

    Toblerone chocolates to lose “Swissness” criteria

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    International airlines suspend some US flights over 5G uncertainty

    Saying no to inflight meals can help our planet

    Sri Lanka

    Where are 2023s tourists to Sri Lanka coming from?

    Hazardous health: Jaffna’s growing waste crisis

    Hazardous health: Jaffna’s growing waste crisis

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp for iOS gets text detection feature: What is it and how to use

    Nokia

    Nokia changes iconic logo to signal strategy shift

    Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner

    Selena Gomez dethrones Kylie Jenner on Instagram

    Facebook. Image credits - Solen Feyissa @solenfeyissa

    Facebook & Instagram to test monthly subscription service priced at $11.99

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    New features introduced in Whatsapp’s latest update

    Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

    Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Governance

Lankan bureaucracy needs to do more to ensure good governance

Editor by Editor
July 12, 2022
in Governance, Sri Lanka, Top Story
Reading Time: 5 mins read
13 0
A A
Lankan bureaucracy needs to do more to ensure good governance
Share on WhatsApp

Colombo, July 12 (Daily Mirror): In developing countries, there is a deep-set notion that political leadership is the key to good governance and economic progress. For example, in Sri Lanka now, most people believe that a change in political leadership will magically end existing problems of governance. Hence the loud and persistent demand for the exit of the President and the Prime Minister and their replacement by an all-party government.

While it is undeniable that the political leaderships that Sri Lanka has had thus far, have been greatly responsible for the current mess, the island nation’s bureaucracy has also not played its part or has not been able to play its part, in guiding the top leadership along the right path.

This could be due to a variety of factors, ranging from the feudal values that govern boss-subordinate relationships, unsuitable and outdated recruitment practices, the absence of necessary skills and the lack of opportunities for honing skills. There is no proper system of evaluation of work or a fool-proof and fair reward system to boost the morale of public servants. Fear of the consequences of taking decisions prevents public servants from taking bold initiatives instead of playing safe and maintaining the status quo. The law may catch up with a minister eventually, but the first to be arrested is a lowly government servant.

ADVERTISEMENT

In his paper entitled Survival and Dysfunctions of Bureaucracy: A Critical Analysis of Public Bureaucracy in Sri Lanka, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Irfan of South Eastern University, says that the Sri Lankan public service has heavy responsibilities, including development as well as routine administration, but it has become a byword for unresponsiveness, delaying tactics and corruption in collusion with political bosses. Overall public service performance is “low” in Sri Lanka, Irfan says.           

Hasna Munas and Nishan de Mel of Verite Research have come out with valuable findings about the Lankan bureaucracy through an examination of the agriculture sector. 20% of the Lankan population is in agriculture. The agricultural sector accounts for 23% of exports. But only 40% of the information available to people on this sector is accurate. 20% are outdated or inaccurate. “Finding information about trade regulations is a significant barrier to improving the economy,” they point out.

This is linked to the inadequacies of the Lankan bureaucracy. “The poor state of the bureaucracy is a more serious problem than it is perceived to be, and Sri Lanka has not yet figured out how to make its bureaucracy more accountable,” the researchers say.

Agriculture has enjoyed political importance over the years. And yet, its contribution to Sri Lanka’s economy has worsened, not enhanced. Agriculture’s contribution to the Lankan GDP has remained stagnant at under 8%. Its contribution to exports had declined consistently from 16.2% in 2011 to 12.7% in 2016, the authors point out.

The Maze

The bureaucratic procedures to be followed by exporters and importers are a maze. “In Sri Lanka, there are about 21 key government agencies and 23 key legislative Acts that govern the export and import of goods. These Acts further outline a host of regulations published under these Acts which are administered by a multitude of government agencies. The difficulty in finding timely and reliable information about these regulations and compliance procedures is a significant barrier to trade. This is especially true of agricultural products, which are generally subject to more stringent regulations to ensure the safety and quality of the products traded.”

“The limited availability of accurate and timely information increases both the cost and time of compliance. The lack of information and resulting delays in getting the cargo cleared are costlier for agricultural products, most of which are perishable in nature and require quick turnaround times to preserve the quality and commercial value of the product,” Munas and de Mel point out.

The complex and the plethora of regulations create opportunities for corrupt officials who could supply correct information selectively for a price. The researchers say that many ministries do not give all the information they have on their websites or update their content. Therefore, the solution is to make available accurate and up-to-date information on the internet.

Earlier, in 2007, Sri Lanka Customs launched the Customs Regulatory Database with the assistance of USAID. A significant effort was made to collect, classify, and digitize information on laws, regulations, and Customs procedures. However, no initiative was taken to maintain and update the database. “The database is now no longer functional,” Munas and de Mel said. For this sorry state, successive political leaderships and the bureaucracy are responsible.   However, a National Trade Information Portal (TIP) was set up in 2017.

Singapore Model

If Sri Lanka has the will, it can learn from Singapore, the most efficient country in South East Asia with the best administrative structure and culture. In his essay in Business Wire, economist and entrepreneur James Liang of the Trip.com Group Ltd., says that tiny Singapore has a huge bureaucracy – 145,000 civil servants in 16 government departments and over 60 statutory boards, to be precise. But it is by no means a White Elephant. Every staffer is made to function meaningfully.

Singapore’s public policies, such as housing, health care, and transportation, have achieved good results and have been praised by economists. Thanks to its bureaucracy as well its political leadership, Singapore’s per capita income is higher than all of Greater China, Japan, South Korea and even the US. In dealing with numerous global emergencies like the COVID-19 outbreak, the response of the Singapore government has been consistently rapid and effective, Liang points out.

Decentralization and Precise Definition

Decentralization and distribution of decision-making powers have been the hallmarks of the Singaporean administration, Liang says. Each department has a clear mission and set of objectives, and each team has specific targets. There are clear indicators of good or bad performance. High-performers are rewarded. Apart from financial indicators (such as revenue and profit), a department has customer-specific and team-specific performance indicators. Even government ministers have performance indicators, both tangible and intangible. Ministers are judged by the Prime Minister on both counts.

The Singapore government’s staffers are not just pen pushers with paper qualifications but are chosen for their talent. And they can hone their talents by availing of scholarships while being in service. The salary scales of public servants are not a disincentive as in some countries where talented men look askance at government service for its poor pay scales.

The Singapore government expands its pool of talent by attracting mid-career professionals to join the Administrative Service and the Public Service Leadership Program. Training and development opportunities are provided for public servants across all levels, including domestic and foreign programs.

Rule-Bound, Not Hide-bound

Singaporean administrators apply rules rigorously, but they are not hide-bound as bureaucrats generally tend to be in the global South. Public servants, at all levels, are empowered to raise issues through formal and informal communication channels, to enable course corrections and re-sets. The government also values feedback from citizens, through “REACH”, a government agency that facilitates engagements with citizens. Other agencies gauge public sentiment and satisfaction in through surveys.

James Liang notes that Singapore has earned praise for its high level of transparency, maintained by the Auditor-General’s Office. The government also appoints external experts as consultants on good governance and efficiency.

END

Related Posts

Sri Lankan Muslim Community invites all to join them for Iftar
Around South Asia

Sri Lankan Muslim Community invites all to join them for Iftar

March 28, 2023
Exchange Rate
Around South Asia

Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

March 28, 2023
Role of Diasporas in the contemporary world
China

Role of Diasporas in the contemporary world

March 28, 2023
Three foreign firms to enter Sri Lanka’s fuel market
Around South Asia

Three foreign firms to enter Sri Lanka’s fuel market

March 27, 2023
Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism bill has significant flaws  
Around South Asia

Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism bill has significant flaws  

March 27, 2023
Gold. Image credits - Jingming Pan / Unsplash
Around South Asia

Gold prices in Sri Lanka

March 27, 2023
  • Electricity

    Power cut schedule for today in Sri Lanka: Uninterrupted power supply

    60151 shares
    Share 24083 Tweet 15029
  • Registration open for National Fuel Pass

    6636 shares
    Share 2692 Tweet 1644
  • Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

    1797 shares
    Share 725 Tweet 447
  • WATCH : Yohani’s first live performance in India

    789 shares
    Share 328 Tweet 192
  • Power interruption schedule released: Check your area power cut time

    742 shares
    Share 320 Tweet 176
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2022 All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
  • Videos

© 2022 All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

eskisehir escort -

https://www.vudols.com/

- Sağlık Personeli - mersin escort - Antalya korsan taksi