Reminiscing the exciting days

Miscellany ,By Ranat

It’s not often that a book gets pre-launch comments and reviews. That way Nihal Seneviratne – Galba to all of us – is lucky. We have read a lot about his book already. The formal launch of ‘A Clerk Reminisces’ is scheduled for tomorrow. I would have loved to be there but I am domiciled far away now. I haven’t seen the book either.

We knew each other well during the Peradeniya campus days. When I was at Lake House I used to call on him whenever I went to Parliament to listen to an interesting debate or on a big day like Budget Day.

By the time he joined the House of Representatives in, I have had my stint as a Dinamina Parliamentary reporter but being in charge of the paper’s news desk, I had to update myself on what was going on in Parliament – both in the Lower House and in the Senate – the Upper House.

Whenever I met Galba after he retired, we used to chat about happenings in Parliament. Listening to the interesting anecdotes I used to push him to write a book on his days in Parliament. I am happy he has done it. Judging from the reviews and previews, it’s pretty interesting stuff. It has to be – his was such an eventful period.   Galba was attached to Parliament for three decades –“I got stuck there for 34 years”, he once said in a TV interview. He joined as Number 3 in the hierarchy – as Second Clerk Assistant in 1960. That was the era when Number 1 was designated Clerk to the House of Representatives. (There was a Clerk to the Senate too.) 

The post of chief executive officer of the Legislature existed from the days of the State Council in July 1931. With the introduction of the parliamentary system of government in 1947, the officer became the Clerk to the House of Representatives. It continued till the promulgation of the 1978 Constitution (September 1978) when the designation was changed to Secretary- General. (In between, from May 1972 till September 1978, the post was that of Clerk to the National State Assembly set up with the 1972 Republican Constitution.

Except for one Englishman – G N Farquhar who moved over from the Legislative Council days to be Clerk to the State Council – the others holding the post were Sri Lankans – V Coomaraswamy (1932-33), E W Kannangara (1933-40) and D C R Gunawardene (1940-47). Ralph St L P Deraniyagala was the first Clerk to the House of Representatives (1947-64) and was followed by Sam Wijesinha (1964-81) and Nihal S (1981-94). After him there had been four – Bertram Tittawella (1994-99), Dhammika Kitulgoda (1999-2002/2008-12), Priyanee Wijesekera (2002-2008) and the present holder Dhammika Dasanayake (2012 onwards). 

Considered “an unusual job”, the Secretary-General is expected to know everything that has any relevance to Parliament and its business, whether it relates to a constitutional point, parliamentary practice and procedure or administrative function of Parliament. 

The moment there is a problem, the MPs expect immediate and authoritative solutions from him. He is the advisor to the Speaker and to the House through the Speaker. He sits just below the Speaker’s table and one can see him often being consulted by the Speaker. He then gets up from his chair and leans towards the Speaker and whispers. 

The SG walks behind the Speaker, as he enters the Chamber preceded by the Sergeant-at-Arms carrying the mace. The SG has to be present in the Chamber during Parliament sittings and is constantly available for consultation. When some doubt has to be resolved or a rule has to be interpreted, the SG is able to suggest to the Speaker a most appropriate solution. This is possible because of his experience and knowledge of parliamentary precedents. 

The SG does not support either the Government or the Opposition. He has not only to hold a balance between the two but must also enjoy the confidence of both. His advice is available to all Members irrespective of party affiliations. 

The SG is the head of the staff of Parliament and is appointed by the President on the approval of the Constitutional Council.