A doyen of the public service Shelton Wanasinghe Born on June 16, 1926 in Seeduwa, Shelton Wanasinghe was educated at St. Mary’s College, Negombo. He graduated from the University of Ceylon (1943-1946). He married Ruby and they had two children-Mala and Jayani. Jayani, a dear friend of my eldest daughter married Upali Amarasiri, a student [...]

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A doyen of the public service

Shelton Wanasinghe

Born on June 16, 1926 in Seeduwa, Shelton Wanasinghe was educated at St. Mary’s College, Negombo. He graduated from the University of Ceylon (1943-1946). He married Ruby and they had two children-Mala and Jayani. Jayani, a dear friend of my eldest daughter married Upali Amarasiri, a student of mine.

In 1967 when I joined the Ceylon Administrative Service, Shelton Wanasinghe was my ‘Chief Trainer’ in public administration. When I published a book in 2008 he chaired the book launch.

In September 1967 I was admitted to the then Ceylon Administrative Service (CAS), as a probationer. The CAS appointment letter informed me that I should report for training at No. 3 Glen Aber Place, near Bambalapitiya Railway Station, on October 1st 1967.  My batchmates and I met a person who headed the training institute – one of the most senior Ceylon Civil Service products – Shelton Wanasinghe. He belonged to the era of Godfrey Gunatilleke, Mahinda Silva- very senior Civil Servants of the day. In fact, they too joined our Induction Training Programme as Resource Persons on his invitation.  It took only a short while for us to realise that Shelton Wanasinghe was the best dressed, friendly, kind hearted Chief Trainer who dealt with any serious issue with ease.

When we were told that Shelton Wanasinghe had been the Government Agent (GA) -Vavuniya and Kurunegala, we were excited. Our view of a “GA” was that he was not only “Government Agent,” but “God Almighty” too. When we heard that he was the Commissioner of Cooperative Development and Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CCD), it gave us extra attraction to the public service, especially because it was another down to earth people’s movement. That was an era where we had only one CCD, unlike today where we have one at the centre and nine others in the Provinces.

His knowledge on agriculture and land development was enhanced with his service in the dry zone. As a GA he had accumulated wide knowledge and experience in district administration- drought-related disaster management, water management in irrigation systems, and poverty alleviation methodologies. Working in the Treasury as a Deputy Secretary he earned knowledge in Revenue – Expenditure administration. This was further exhibited latterly as the Chairman of the Tax Commission. As CCD he expanded his vistas to grass-root level development, thrift, savings, and consumer needs administration. He was the Director General Public Administration at the time when the public service was under the Secretary to the Treasury. With human resources management activities he focused on upgrading the skills of public officers at all levels and general improvement of public administration.

With all this expertise he was an instant choice to serve the UN in Bangkok as Special Advisor, Economic and Social Commission for Asia (ESCAP) which he did for nearly 15 years. His spell at the ESCAP was as productive as his career here. He serviced the neighbouring country programmes excellently, which made the ESCAP extend his services for a long duration, a tribute to his knowledge and capacity.

On his return he was engaged by the government and private sector in other areas of management.  He was in the private banking sector in the Commercial Bank as a Director, Chairman, Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, a well-recognized non-governmental organization, Chairman, Human Resource Development Council – a state sponsored human resource development organization, and, Senior Researcher, Institute of Policy Studies dedicated to policy development and research. He was essentially a man for all seasons. His academic focus was evident with his service rendered to Marga Institute headed by his friend Godfrey Gunatilleke.

Being the Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Committee was a landmark combination of his experience and deep conceptualization, since it looked at reforms in the public sector, which is a crying need even today. He was a great believer in power sharing and a Government executing the principle of subsidiarity. He considered that some centralized public administration structures are a bane for development, less democratic and that social and political issues should be dealt with at the most immediate and accountable local level. Therefore, for this he focused on a strong devolved government system to be in place.

His Committee Report went through as ten reports covering important topics.  Unfortunately, his recommendations fell by the wayside, allegedly due to lack of political will, resistance from conservative bureaucrats and public apathy. Shelton Wanasinghe himself has told us that presentation of the recommendations on a staggered basis in ten different topics encouraged a piecemeal approach to implementation. He lamented on this and expressed at discussions that his findings, assumptions and recommendations are still valid and appropriate any day.

He was at many events that promoted power sharing mechanisms. I was aware that he was interested in improving the 13th Amendment and was involved in trying to rationalize the three lists in it to two, for better acceptance and ease of implementation.

I think the present government which is also lamenting the performance of the public service and the public sector could study the reports and select suitable recommendations to make the public service efficient and effective. His works would be a great source to identify the best solutions for the problems we face in public administration. If reforms are to be introduced, rather than appointing Experts’ Committees, as the usual practice by politicians, one may look at the Wanasinghe Committee Reports for appropriate solutions, which will also amount to respecting a deserving individual the most, while saving time.

Therefore, his not being among us is a sad loss at this juncture.

For his overall and comprehensive contribution in the said fields, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the Sri Jayewardenepura University in 1992.

Now when a new SLAS officer enters the colossal training institute, the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration(SLIDA) at Longdon Place, he or she may not be remember the initiator of the Institute, and what he was. The induction training, on the job training, upgrading of various managerial skills required for efficient and effective governance were introduced during his short tenure as the Director of SLIDA. The SLIDA Library has a section dedicated to him with his donated collection of books and the library has been named after him too.

To those who knew him as a superior or subordinate or colleague, this appreciation is to be grateful to an honourable human being and friend, who indulged in policy reform in many sectors and a happy but serious, straightforward public officer. It is shared with his  family who miss a beloved family member, from  whom they received unlimited love, religious attachment, friendliness and guidance.

On his fifth death anniversary, let us pray we meet many like Dr. Shelton Wanasinghe. May we foster many like him. May he rest in peace.

Austin Fernando


A beloved brother who played the role of a mother

 V. PAVITRA NAIDU

“Those were the days, my dearly beloved brother, when we flew around on the gossamer wings of love and laughter”. Yes, those were the wonderful and exquisite moments of our childhood and adolescence, which are etched so deeply in my heart, that they can never be erased.

Even today I can still visualize your face, hear your voice and feel that same emotional tug at my heartstrings, when I think of you. Our house in Daryaganj, Delhi, that haven of repose and calm, was where I had my life – the Mathematics tuitions, with a very proficient teacher – you, and an extremely dull student – me. You truly toiled and laboured to put some Maths sense into my thick head. Unfortunately, all your sincere efforts were in vain. Every Maths class became a debacle. You declared that I was definitely a dunce (accompanied by a knock on my head), followed by a shrill, piercing cry, which would have put a banshee to shame and so the class ended. How I wish you can return and knock me on the head even ten times once again my dear “Annan”.

Another aspect of my life after we moved to Calcutta, which you influenced in a great manner, was my academic performance at school. I remember clearly, how I returned home, on shaky legs, holding my report card with trembling hands. Every mark, every comment went through a detailed scrutiny, which was followed by an eloquent lecture on the value of education in a person’s life. Thank you, for exercising that degree of concern and care, for being strict with me, not only in studies, but in every single aspect of my life. Where did I learn the importance of punctuality, regularity, neatness and decorum? From an extraordinary disciplined person – YOU.

This intense thirst for knowledge and reading in particular was something I learnt, by trying to imitate you. What pleasant hours were they, when I, a teenager, indulged in very rewarding and insightful discussions with you?

What pleasant hours were they when you shared your experiences on the trips you had abroad, as an Assistant Manager in Air India? What pleasant hours were they, when I looked in your wardrobe, found some bottles of Old Spice, some fragrant men’s colognes, and ‘used’ them? Only to be reprimanded later.

Our mother’s sudden death at the age of 58, caught all of us unawares. How kind you were to me by transforming yourself into my surrogate mother. Every evening, while returning from office, you bought me chocolates and goodies of all sorts. Every Sunday, you took me to watch a Hindi movie. You bought me books and magazines galore to take my mind off the loss. All your free time after office hours and on Sundays you devoted to me. You helped me to combat that feeling of a vacuum left by our Amma.

I still remain your “Pappa” (baby), as you always called me, even after I became a grandmother. You have not left us, you are still alive, encapsulated in those nostalgic, precious memories, locked away in that treasure trove of my soul,

“For life and death are one, as the river and sea are one”

Your ever-loving-sister Jamna


You were my best friend and soulmate

Dr. Iyesha Maharoof (nee Jabir)

Iyesha was a devoted wife to me for 30 years and a wonderful mother to Nusrath and Awad. We are blessed to have had her love and presence in our lives. The three of us were by her side when she passed away in the ICU of the Kandy General Hospital on January 28, 2019.  Not a single day passes without our eyes getting blurred, when we think about her.

She lived a useful life and to the fullest. She was God-fearing, righteous and lived by the teachings of the Quran and hadith. She stood by the family through thick and thin and enjoyed every minute of it. The well-being of everyone; family, patients, relatives, friends was her priority. She always had time for the sick and the needy. She never spoke ill of anyone and was generous, always willing to share whatever she had. She had Rheumatoid arthritis, but never complained when in pain.

Iyesha had a passion for cooking and loved to entertain her friends and family at home. She was a jovial person, full of energy and life. She wasn’t interested in establishing a private practice, but sacrificed the time for the sake of the children’s education. Her efforts are bearing fruit and I sure she must be watching from her permanent abode. She was aware she was going to become a grandmother, but was not able to be there when the baby was born.  As a tribute to her, the grandchild was named Yarah Aisha.

Memories of you are all that I am left with. You were my best friend and my soulmate. I am lucky to have a supportive family and many good friends. Friends tell me that time will help me adapt, but it is hard to accept that I won’t see your smiling face or hear your gentle voice anymore. None can fill the void. When you passed away, I learned firsthand what loneliness is all about. You would always ask me to ‘’please come home early’’. Now that you are gone, I have found that time to ‘’come home early,’’ but there is nobody to come home to. There is nobody to do those simple little things with, such as watching the evening news, listening to music, doing crosswords and reading the papers. I always cherish the moments we spent together, the places we visited. You would join me on my visit to the hotels and the guest houses in all parts of the country and how well you played the part of a constructive critic, which was useful for the reports that I had to write. You used to be my co-driver, enjoy fast driving, always awake and on the lookout for the double lines,the cops and wild elephants.

We will always remember you and have you in our thoughts and prayers and we all hope that we can carry forward your legacy. May Allah be merciful, forgive Iyesha and elevate her rank to be amongst those who are at the highest level of Jannah. Ameen.

Niaz


 

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