Former Secretary to the President, K. H. J. Wijeyadasa was quoted in your Sunday edition expressing his view that the Government should get down to business, and that there should be no dilly-dallying on the gazetting of functions, the appointment of Secretaries, and Heads of Corporations. Mr Wijeyadasa, having worked with President Premadasa, has emphatically given the correct message to the new Government.

When the UNP won the elections with a clear mandate in 1989, Mr. Premadasa immediately appointed his Cabinet of Ministers as well as the Project Ministers. The allocation of Cabinet portfolios was done on a rational basis on the recommendations made by the Administrative Reforms Committee on allocation of ministerial functions-quite in contrast to the present allocation of functions. The Project Ministries were all grouped under Cabinet Ministries, and none of them were on standalone basis. The functions and departments under Ministries were gazetted immediately after the Cabinet was sworn in. The Secretaries of both Cabinet and Project Ministries were also simultaneously appointed, with no delay whatsoever, indicating that they had already been lined up.

President Premadasa went further and got the National Planning Department to spell out all the programmes in the manifesto in action plans under the respective Ministries within a few days, and the Ministries in turn were directed to work out detailed action plans within a short time framework. This is how President Premadasa got down to business. Mr Premadasa had his major shortcomings, but everyone praised him for the manner in which he instilled speed, efficiency, and discipline into the public service.

The new Government has been elected with many expectations. It has to get down to business immediately. The Government structure, functions, and machinery have to be put in place without further delay. As Mr. Wijeyadasa has quite correctly pointed out there can be no dilly-dallying.
Nimal Bhareti
Mount Lavinia