Mervyn to get powers to discipline public servants?

27 May 2013 11:54 pm - 76 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

A new Parliamentary Act will be soon introduced giving unrestricted power to the Public Relations and Public Affairs Ministry to entertain and investigate complaints against public officials and recommend redress or take legal action against those who ignore ministry directions, a senior official said.

Ministry Secretary C. Herath said yesterday a memo would be submitted for cabinet approval on June 6 by subject Minister Mervyn Silva calling for legal provisions for a ‘Public Request Act’ and to set up a special unit under the Ministry with legal authority to investigate and make rulings and recommendations on officials attached to ministries, departments, semi-government institutions and statutory boards with complaints being attended to within a specified time.

“We will give a maximum period of three months to public servants to take action on the recommendations or rulings. Under the existing administrative and legal provisions it is extremely difficult for a person to get redress for a discrimination or unjust act committed against him or her by a public official or an official of a semi government institution. The new unit will fill this gap,” Mr. Herath said.

He said this ‘Relief Provisions Mechanism’ is being set up on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The new Act is a result of the recommendations made by a five-member committee from the ministries of Public Relations and Home Affairs, Finance and Planning, Public Administration and Home Affairs, Local Government and Provincial Councils and Public Management Reforms.

The Unit which will act as a ‘Permanent Standing Committee’ will be empowered to summon any official including a Ministerial Secretary or a Statutory Board Chairman, visit any public or semi government institution and call for any document during investigations. The public officials will be entitled to obtain legal advice and send a representative on his or her behalf.

Mr. Herath said the improvement in the quality and productivity in the public and semi-government sector was another objective of setting up of this special unit as many state establishment set up to deal with efficiency and productivity in the public service such as the Public Service Commission the Human Rights Commission and the Bribery Commission had not brought the desired results. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 76

Dilrukshi Tuesday, 28 May 2013 10:06 AM

I cannot stop laughing.

krishna Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:15 PM

Late decision,good move.

kumudu Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:14 PM

who appoints him should with same caliber.

Yogi Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:02 PM

It is like arming the thief

rajarajaraja Tuesday, 28 May 2013 12:49 PM

but none of the parliamentarian minister are suitable to hold the post

sahdi Tuesday, 28 May 2013 12:30 PM

Are we living in JUNGLE or COUNTRY .......

Reader Tuesday, 28 May 2013 12:15 PM

Not the top man, but the citizens who voted them are sitting on the brains.

Viewer Tuesday, 28 May 2013 12:14 PM

Good job. Most of the public servants wanted them to become rulers.

The Wise man Tuesday, 28 May 2013 11:56 AM

There is a real sinister move behind this if you fail to catch the drift... " This is to screw the public employees who would opt to street protest against the gov stupidity. This is actually a black mark for the rights of the public sector employees !!!

buruwa Tuesday, 28 May 2013 10:48 AM

If this law was there , CJ issue might not have gone this much long.
This act should cover all politicians like Opposition MPs & ex-President as well for the motive behind this rule to become a true reality.
Good Bye Democracy!!!!!!!!!

Sanjay Karuna Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:26 PM

Mervin can discipline the Public Servants, if they ignore the underhand things the Government wants implemented.

surain Lal Tuesday, 28 May 2013 09:54 AM

can we decipline him 1st before hand

wise Tuesday, 28 May 2013 09:38 AM

surely Dr.Mervyn can discipline the boisterous racists elements in the country,he can easily find the crooks.

BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 28 May 2013 09:29 AM

It also proves that becoming a pimp for the right person can be life time rewarding.

Saradial Tuesday, 28 May 2013 09:23 AM

OK! then what we are going to do for trees?

Gaz Tuesday, 28 May 2013 09:21 AM

Meteorology department could have named the last storm as Mervin instead of Mahasen.. both kings!!!

jayantha silva Tuesday, 28 May 2013 09:17 AM

This govt continues to treat the public like ididots , and is getting away with it !

lucky Tuesday, 28 May 2013 09:11 AM

I wonder if he know the meaning of the word 'disipline'.

Perumal Tuesday, 28 May 2013 09:05 AM

A better description would be " by the criminals, for the criminals, of the criminals"

Ampattan Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:18 PM

I suppose more people will be tied up to the trees

Malin Wednesday, 29 May 2013 06:33 AM

Mervin is to be supplied with more trees and ropes to tie the victims to be included in the Act.

wise Wednesday, 29 May 2013 01:52 AM

Ithink this news is just another trick to distract the general public from the burning issues of the day.

sarath Wednesday, 29 May 2013 01:33 AM

but this might not be possible under constitution article 3&4 the judicial power cannot be parted.

lyza Wednesday, 29 May 2013 01:31 AM

Great. Maybe his first job will be to discipline his son ??

outspoken Sri Lankan Wednesday, 29 May 2013 12:59 AM

Lord have mercy!!!! Is the government going mad to give a mad man the right to discipline others when he is undisciplined and running amok? Is MR going mad or just not tuned in to give this maniac more powers. This is a death warrant for the people of Sri Lanka. The policy will become shoot first and ask questions later.

satish Wednesday, 29 May 2013 12:55 AM

This nonsensical Public Relations ministry should be abolished and this worthless thug put in his place.probably Welikada for all the unlawfull acts he has commited.. The government is commiting political suicide if they make this kind of appointments..

Citizen slva Tuesday, 28 May 2013 11:12 PM

Please let him do a job. At least he is making an attempt - appreciate it

Ice mama Tuesday, 28 May 2013 10:52 PM

quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

C.K.Lankaputhra Tuesday, 28 May 2013 09:24 PM

Is somebody on top is really mad?

doggydog Tuesday, 28 May 2013 08:23 AM

And the ministry plans to rent a jungle with enough trees for all public servants.

Malaka Saakologedara Tuesday, 28 May 2013 05:32 PM

Practice before you preach! Double standard jerks!

KB Tuesday, 28 May 2013 05:16 PM

Nariyata Kukullu bara dunna wage....!!!!

viwer Tuesday, 28 May 2013 04:49 PM

Sad about my mother nation , no one else to find to make discipline in this country ! understand why learned people do not stay and work in the island!.

Gon Banda Tuesday, 28 May 2013 04:50 PM

As the Sinhala saying goes: " THIS IS LIKE GIVING A MONKEY A LADDER' Enough said.

Marikkar Tuesday, 28 May 2013 04:34 PM

another milestone in the wonder of Asia!!!

lenin Tuesday, 28 May 2013 03:58 PM

Mr.Lal Kantha now the party begins.

sarath Tuesday, 28 May 2013 02:48 PM

very correct, who is going to guard the guard.

crick Tuesday, 28 May 2013 02:48 PM

law gone to the dogs!

hb Tuesday, 28 May 2013 02:12 AM

Excellent!! Just what the country lacked to make it the miracle of asia

Mason Tuesday, 28 May 2013 06:35 AM

This is absurd. The entire public service will have to be at the beck and call of the minister. It could turnout to be like bull in a china shop.

Kan Tuesday, 28 May 2013 06:10 AM

Everyone is the public servant from the president, so Mervyn is the right person to decipline from the top??? Hahahahaaaaaa.........ha

saman Tuesday, 28 May 2013 06:04 AM

you, if you want, I mean people..Lets see people discpline him or not.

saman Tuesday, 28 May 2013 06:03 AM

Nop, by the people who voted him.

DAVID Tuesday, 28 May 2013 05:53 AM

IF IT IS SRILANKA IS GOING TO BE GOVERN BY SOME BUNCH OF ROWDIES. GOD HAVE TO SAVE SRILANKA, ANYWAY JAYAVEWA SRILANKA.

Tommiyeah Tuesday, 28 May 2013 05:43 AM

Oh.......Give the Fox in Charge of the Fouls........LMAO.

Marikkar Tuesday, 28 May 2013 05:40 AM

Heading towards self-destruction under Mahinda Chintanaya.

No Hope Tuesday, 28 May 2013 04:21 AM

Very good decision by the government.

Suq Madique Tuesday, 28 May 2013 02:23 AM

But who will discipline him?

meenavan Tuesday, 28 May 2013 06:31 AM

Miracle become debacle....its become universe miracle....Jayaweva Mervin

Sam Tuesday, 28 May 2013 02:10 AM

This should be an ideal to get rid of any public servant who is against the Government

Mouth agape Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:54 AM

Lord have mercy! Plant mango seeds.

Janaki Kalansuriya Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:45 AM

Obviously he is in a position where he can cause harm to powers that be. Makes us wonder.

Dr. H.U. Kanna Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:34 AM

Ane kaa lae wane wase.................
First this rowdy fellow has to be put behind bars, for roudism.

Cobra Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:19 AM

Well, he already has the self entrusted power for that but the need of the hour is the will to discipline!!!

Upali Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:16 AM

Hooray!!! We must immediately import some shiploads of ropes, gold ones for high officials, silver for regional level officials and copper for local level ones. For temporary and casual fellows we can use localy manufactured coir ropes. Hooray!!!

Don Udawatte Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:13 AM

Ohey palayang !

Pulic servant Tuesday, 28 May 2013 12:54 AM

hahahah haaaaaaha hahaha ........help me hahaha haaaaaa I can not stop hahaha hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa....................

Munasinghe Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:32 AM

Tell him to discipline his son first!

renu Tuesday, 28 May 2013 08:18 AM

Wife & Malaka are the play makers with the helm??? for reasons best known

Bandula Abeysekera Tuesday, 28 May 2013 08:14 AM

Lanu ambarana ayata hoda kalak yaavi. Ane saadu.

tao Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:54 AM

great idea but not to be administered by a minister or cronies..
this should be done by a judiciary.
wait!
i forgot the Judiciary isn't independent in Sri Lanka.
god save the King!

DHA Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:57 AM

I was with an impression that all these days you had the power in your hands.....a few peoples Tombstones stay witness to that......

mihlar - Jeddah Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:54 AM

This really shows that how much power Still Dr Mervin
has and it will continue to be as long as MR is in power.
The sad status of Our Sri Lanka

Old citizen Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:51 AM

Where is this country heading to ?

Tharaka Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:50 AM

And his understudy will be Rohitha Rajapakse who terrorises the referees..

Nand Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:44 AM

It is a good idea but make sure to reshafle the ministries and get rid of the idiot who is in cotrol,

First dicipline him and the the rest,

God safe Lanka

The God Father Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:33 AM

Nothing wrong in this as long as he follows the law as well as if is not going to be biased.

Let see how it goes, we can not do much but to hope for a better change.

matara guanawardana Tuesday, 28 May 2013 12:52 AM

hatarawam devin nedda me rate?.

Mohideen Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:17 AM

Anee Kalee Wanee wasee ????????

DAW Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:15 AM

OMG now its official.

Sherlock & watson Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:18 AM

Giving the monkey a razor blade. Top man must be sitting on his brain

Rod Atkinson Tuesday, 28 May 2013 07:08 AM

Good Decesions to control the BBS n JHU

Ramola Tuesday, 28 May 2013 06:58 AM

By the jokers, for the jokers and of the jokers - this is what Sri Lanka has become today.

Chandima Tuesday, 28 May 2013 06:41 AM

This Government is getting better day by day..... Hope People will vote them with large numbers in next election.

We are only few steps behind to become a wonder of Asia..

gayan Tuesday, 28 May 2013 06:32 AM

Full stop to trade union actions

gayan Tuesday, 28 May 2013 06:32 AM

if viewers comments are not published, we will stop writing ....

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Mervyn to get powers to discipline public servants?

Comments - 76

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

New Visa procedure implemented

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

SL took minimal steps to punish officials who committed human rights abuses: US report

Iranian President’s visit Sri Lanka withstands western pressure

25 tons of solid waste disposed along Sri Pada route

Temperature rises to ‘Caution’ level

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations