Professionals should not allow bureaucrats and inefficient politicians to disrupt development: Ravi

Professionals should not allow bureaucrats and inefficient politicians to disrupt ongoing development, says Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake.

He said many public officials and even certain politicians keep silent in the face of such bureaucracy consequently suppressing the innocent people of this country.

The minister expressed these views at the inaugural ceremony of the Diploma in Public Procumbent and Contract Administration Training Course held at the Miloda Financial Academy in Colombo on the morning of 23 January. A Procumbent Specialist and Fraud Investigator Dr. Colin Cram of the Charted Institute of Purchasing and Supply in Britain delivered the keynote address.

Speaking further, Minister Karunanayake said professionals today need not fear challenging bureaucrats and inefficient politicians. He pointed out that professionals should come forward to implement the development drive introduced by the current Government. 

The minister said that it is no point if it is unable to walk the talk. He said many public servants are reluctant to challenge inefficient politicians therefore they just keep silent and get accustomed to the entrapping system.

Minister Karunanayake, who explained how public funds are lost due to inefficiency and corruption in the procurement process, pointed out that such large sums of money could be saved by improving efficiency on the part of public servants.

He said drastic changes need to be made in the Procurement Commission and in its Appeal Board; therefore the President and the Prime Minister have appointed a Special Cabinet Subcommittee to correct this situation. He further said that many powerful countries in the world now show keen interest in Sri Lanka, and it was proven during the World Economic Forum concluded recently at Davos in Switzerland. He said that a large number of foreign investors met him in Davos and expressed their interest in investing in Sri Lanka and that all these developments are clear evidence that our country has passed a gloomy era and has reached an optimistic turning point. Minister Karunanayake pointed out that the country should have a smooth business-friendly supportive system to provide the necessary facilities to prospective foreigners when they reach here to invest.

He said the entire world is facing economic turbulences today and that the reason for top world investors to eye Sri Lanka is the disciplined and coherent economic foundation that we built in the country during the current regime.

The minister reiterated that the duty of all professionals is to forget the past and make commitments to enable this efficient Government to reach its set goals and face impending global challenges.

Chief Executive of Miloda Financial Academy Anura Lokuhetti was also present.