Memorable moments in the public service
Recalling major events in the public service in the post-independence era, veteran administrator Bradman Weerakoon corrected a widely held belief that one-time Prime Minister W. Dahanayake had, after losing the election, departed from Temple Trees in a bus with a bag, to his hometown of Galle.
“In fact he asked me for a vehicle and I provided him with a car,” smiled Mr. Weerakoon.
The veteran administrator, now 92 years, who served as Secretary for a record number of six prime ministers says his parents named him ‘Bradman’ as he was born on October 20, 1930, the day Australian cricket legend Don Bradman arrived in Sri Lanka by ship en-route to England to play the Ashes series.
“It was a joy to work in the public service those days. There was never a dull moment,” he said.
According to official records, during the era when Sri Lanka was a colony under the British Empire, the first Public Service Commission was established by the Ceylon (Constitution) Order in Council on 15th May 1946. The Public Service Commission was vested with the executive powers of appointment, promotion, transfer, disciplinary control and dismissal of public officers.
With the adoption of the first Republican Constitution in 1972, the Public Service Commission which was hitherto in existence for 26 years was abolished and the
authoritative power over the public service was vested in the Cabinet of Ministers.
A new era began in the Sri Lankan public service on the 1st of May 1963 with the establishment of the Ceylon Administrative Service (CAS), predecessor of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS), wrote another retired administrator V.K. Nanayakkara to mark 50 years of the SLAS in 2013.
What was the most memorable moment of the advent of independence?
“On Independence day (1948), the British flag came down and the Sri Lankan flag went up. The most important change that occurred was in our personal lives … we were able to make our own decisions rather than them coming from above. We were able to choose our own rulers and run the public service,” he recalled adding that there was “a nice feeling in the air that we were free for the first time.”
Six years later in 1954, Mr. Weerakoon joined the civil service which was a separate unit but part of the public service.
About 100 people belonged to the civil service … they were the higher echelons of the public service. The permanent secretaries (a title given during British times) and heads of departments were civil servants. They may have been junior in years but senior in positions. Later on permanent secretaries were designated as secretaries to ministries.
“I joined as a cadet officer in 1954 and worked for two years under the supervision of a senior secretary. My first posting was as a cadet to a Government Agent (GA). There were 24 GAs in the country. In my batch four cadets were selected from among 500 applicants who sat the final examination,” he said adding that it was difficult to get into the civil service. There was great competition for jobs in the public service which was the cream of jobs at that time – the best jobs were in this sector.
During this period, he was posted as Asst. Secretary to Prime Minister Sir John Kotelawala for a few months. Then in the 1956 election, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was elected Prime Minister.
At times it was difficult to deal with Sir John. He would on occasion object to decisions of his senior staff. “I remember one instance when he wanted to illuminate the pathway to Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada). It was difficult and a logistical nightmare to handle this project but eventually done with great difficulty,” he said, noting however that he was popular with the staff.
D.S. Senanayake was the first PM postindependence, followed by his son Dudley for a short period. Sir John was appointed following Dudley’s resignation. Mr. Weerakoon was Secretary to the PM when Mr. Bandaranaike was assassinated. “Everyone was shocked and stunned. The whole nation was stunned. We discussed the procedures that should be followed after his death,” he said recalling that W. Dahanayake, who was the senior-most minister and in charge of education, was appointed PM for a short period, followed by Mrs Sirima Bandaranaike.
Were there any interesting anecdotes during Mr. Bandanaike’s tenure?
“Many interesting things happened under him. For example, he banned the serving of liquor at Temple Trees and introduced a dress code – he directed that the national dress – tunic shirt and sarong or trousers should be worn in the public service,” he said, laughingly adding, “I wore the shirt but not the sarong,” and pointed to the tunic shirt he wore for the interview.
Another controversial decision by Mr. Bandaranaike was the language policy… everyone in the public service had to pass an exam on the Sinhala language. Many were unhappy in the public service as they had studied and were coached in the English Language. Some of the decisions taken by Mr. Bandaranaike had to be followed even with opposition from staff. He also changed some of his staff when they disagreed with him. Some staff left the government service due to such disagreements.
The civil service was abolished in 1960 and everyone there was absorbed to the public service.
Under Mrs. Bandaranaike, if she made a decision, it had to be carried out. While she listened to the opinions of officials, she had her own views on many subjects and issues but often relied on them. She had this firm belief that a woman can do a man’s job but relied a lot on the advice of then Minister Felix Dias Bandaranaike.
When Dudley Senanayake became PM in 1965, he wanted Mr. Weerakoon to continue in office. “He didn’t have anyone else in mind and he knew I knew the job, and had integrity like many other public servants at that time. It was an unusual situation of serving many PMs,” he said, laughing when reminded that he had a world record in serving so many PMs!
“Under Dudley, the public service did very well. He was the ideal PM and knew how to get things done. He had an excellent relationship with the public service,” Mr. Weerakoon recalled.
In 1970 Ms. Bandaranaike transferred him to Ampara as GA as she felt “I should not have served too long under UNP governments.” He spent six years as GA including stints in Batticaloa and Galle. “I began to really enjoy the freedom and being able to do what I wanted to do which was constrained as secretary to the ministry where you are daily under the control of the minister,” he said, recalling, “as GA, you were your own boss! They had more freedom than secretaries to ministries!”