According to media reports one of minister Alick Aluvihare’s initial instructions to his departments has been to revive the tender system of awarding contracts. He has indicated that the existing systems of giving out jobs to various organisations and associations should stop forthwith.

The decision to allow contracts outside the tender procedure was made about twenty years ago. It was argued at that time development was being held up at village level and local communities should be given a stronger stake in the implementation of programmes meant for them.

But what transpired and brought about an empire of corruption is now an advanced carcinoma. It is also a tremendous drain on the finances of the country. Estimates are being heavily loaded to satisfy various individuals at different levels.

Let me illustrate with one example. We members of local Farmers Association are entitled to handle construction works within our AGA. division. Depending on the financial position of the association large-scale projects outside our area are also possible with a little bit of convenience from the awarding authority.

Most local level organisations as the readers are well aware, are elected for specific purposes. To that extent tillers of the soil have little knowledge of modern engineering construction - though of course some of them can put a few of the so called technically qualified personnel to shame with down to earth practicality. However, these organisations are not properly equipped to handle much of the construction jobs on offer.

Into this vacuum come interlopers to make the pickings. They invade the associations buy up the votes or use political pressure and get themselves elected to the executive posts. From then on the requirements of the membership take second place and the society becomes a tool of the contractors. An in-depth study should reveal to what extent this unfortunate transformation has been going on.

In the old days there were registered government contractors who were professionals in their own way. We now have an array of persons indulging in contractual jobs including politicians and senior government servants, especially in the provinces. The person who prepares the estimates in a dept. is often the worthy who executes it - in the name of an association of course!

In short, monetary gains from building contracts have corrupted a greater portion of the village level service associations. Those who tried to keep their organisations intact have been sidelined and even physically harmed.

As to whether the expected work programmes over the years have been met is debatable. The quality of those completed is another matter. Swarnavahini TV has exposed some of the horrendous misdeeds of many of these contractors in its Helidarawwa series.

It is true remedial action was taken. If Minister Aluvihare takes steps to do away with this system he will be doing a great service to the country./. But of course he will be up against a whole generation of people who have been accustomed to making their money in the present form for the past two decades. He will also face a public service which probably doesn’t even know the finer points and procedures of calling tenders.

Here’s wishing you strength to your elbow, Mr. Minister. You will no doubt meet stiff resistance from many quarters. We hope you can get the new cabinet to agree on a common policy to cover all government departments, boards and corporations.

With one decision you will kill a cancer which has brought this country to its knees and made its public service unimaginably corrupt.
Milroy Ratwatte
Badulla