How is this woman flying so high?

The Yahapalana Government pledged to assign qualified persons to run public institutions — but some ministers are failing badly on that score.

One example is the recent appointment to the post of Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. The slot has been filled by a woman whose application for the job was initially rejected.

She was nevertheless given the prestigious post on the insistence of a minister who was also responsible for having placed her in the position of Executive Director Airport and Aviation (Sri Lanka) Ltd in the past (despite knowing little or nothing of aviation or of running airports). He subsequently gave her a job in the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (once again, despite knowing little or nothing of ports or shipping), much to the chagrin of employees there.

Now, he has wielded influence over his Cabinet colleague in charge of tourism to shove her into the SLTPB although, as we have reported before in these columns, she is ill qualified for such professional posts. Owing to her abysmal lack of suitability, the new MD has failed to sign her contract agreement with the SLTPB — a move which would have required her to submit proof of her educational and professional suitability. According to informed sources, the MD is only A/Level qualified.

She is known to have claimed she has a law degree but is yet to prove it. It turns out that this official did once enroll at a private educational institution to read for an undergraduate degree in law. But she soon dropped out. What she is left with are her Advanced levels and not much (very little, indeed) by way of employment experience.

Soon after she took over, she hosted breakfast for employees and promptly charged the SLTPB Rs. 65,000 for the kiribath, katta sambol and ambul thiyal she had ordered from a star class hotel. Friends say she is skilled at baking. Perhaps she should have let them eat cake instead?