UNF's never- implemented criteria to be used for new govt. appointments

A six-member committee to screen appointments of Chairpersons and Board Members to state enterprises is using a set of criteria drafted under the previous administration but never implemented.

The committee under the chairmanship of former Secretary to the Cabinet Sumith Abeysinghe also comprises Susantha Ratnayake, Dr Nalaka Godahewa, Dian Gomes, Dr Prasanna Gunasena and Prof. Jagath Wellawatta.

Committee member Dr Godahewa told the Sunday Times that the criteria the committee was using had been approved by the then Cabinet several years ago but had not been put into practice. “We have already started evaluating names for senior positions based on this criteria,” he stressed.

Earlier this week, the Presidential Secretariat published a notice in newspapers calling for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from experienced professionals to be considered for appointment as Chairpersons and Board Members “with the goal of transforming them to perform efficiently and effectively, and state owned businesses to become commercially viable and profit making organisations adopting best practices and management strategies to ensure public accountability.”

These appointments will apply to chairpersons and board members of regulatory and promotional agencies, statutory bodies and institutions and commercial state owned institutions.

“The Expressions of Interest will be reviewed by a panel of professionals and selection will be based on subject knowledge, competencies, and experience of potential appointees,” the notice said. It added that Sri Lankan professionals living overseas too are encouraged to submit their EOIs. All professionals who wish to apply have been asked to submit their CVs together with a brief proposal outlining recommendations for the development of a key strategic area in a preferred sector by December 18, 2019 to the Presidential Secretariat.

Dr Godahewa noted that it was the subject minister who had the power to make appointments to senior positions of state enterprises coming under him or her. What President Rajapaksa expects from their committee is to ensure that only the most qualified and competent are appointed for those posts, he explained. As such, names of all applicants who apply directly to the Presidential Secretariat as well as any nominees sent by the subject ministers will all come before the committee for vetting.

“We will evaluate the names and ensure that only the most qualified are selected. We will then send three or four names we pick to the minister to select from,” Dr. Godahewa said.

The Presidential Secretariat has asked the committee to submit its recommendations on the qualified professionals on or before December 18.

Dr. Godahewa said the committee may also recommend that certain institutions be combined as it has observed that there are different agencies essentially doing the same thing. “Combining them will reduce wastage and improve efficiency. We will be looking into that once appointments to key institutions are finalised,” he added.