Colombo (AsiaNews) - The ethics of good governance is based on "selfless service to the community, putting aside" personal egos ". For too long Sri Lanka was bent on "instilling the rules of the West," but now is the time to change and find a shared system that is capable of realising the good of the country. This was underlined by A.P.A Gunasekara, a government official, during the presentation of an essay devoted to ethics in government.
Gunasekara called for “greater attention to the commitment and psychological background” of those working in government offices, who must "put aside the rules imposed by the West" and recover "its own Sri Lankan style". He adds that the nation "is no longer a place outside the world", but a land "proud of its history and its tradition”.
Patrick Ratnayake, a professor at the University of Kelaniya, explains that on average "most government officials with 30 years of service” behind them have spent only “five years dedicating themselves with passion to the job" and the other 25 have served only to” satisfy egos or personal interests”.
Thanks to his long service in public administration and to outline a new impulse towards "good governance" Anush Gokula Fernando, deputy director of the Rural Development Research & Training School, wrote an essay entitled "You are the officer that this beautiful land awaits ". "The results of each activity - comments the author, a Buddhist, married to a Muslim and mother of three children - depend on the capacity of each individual. I have always done my work with determination and in accordance with the requirements suggested by the conscience. "
According to the data for the five year period 2002 - 2007 the Index of Perception of Corruption (CPI) - developed by the independent international organization Transparency International - Sri Lanka occupies the 94th place out of 180 countries, with Tanzania, Madagascar and Panama.
