16 October 2018 12:10 am
Members of the panel
Text and pictures by P D DE SILVA
“Even though the National Evaluation Policy (NEP) is adopted as policy it can be ignored by future Governments and Parliaments if it is not passed as an Act by Parliament” reiterated Member of Parliament Mayantha Dissanayaka as a panelist at EvalColombo2018 a three-day international conference held in Colombo from the 17th to 19th of September.
Mayantha was a member of a panel, chaired by Dr Walter Kolkma, Director Independent, and comprised Evelyn Mpadni, Former Member of Parliament of Uganda and Board Member of APNODE and V Sivagnanasothi.
Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism Development and and Christian Religious Affairs that explored how pressure from the side of the executive and legislature differ and influence evaluation and the factors that can support a win-win arrangement for both.
“A National Evaluation Policy was drafted in 2003 when the United National Party was in power, but unfortunately they were ousted before it was adopted, If the NEP was enacted we could have been the leaders in Asia with respect to a National Evaluation policy and Good Governance. The Government that succeeded us did not have the political will to enact the NEP. And in the decade that followed there were many projects that were implemented on unsolicited proposals. If we had been able to enact the NEP none if these projects would have got off the ground” he added.
According to Mayantha Dissanayaka 2014 was a major turning point for Sri Lanka when the United National Party and the Opposition Parties formed a coalition with the promise of Anti-corruption and Good Governance. “With the 19th Amendment to the constitution being passed the Public Services Commission. Human Rights Commission, National Police Commission, Election commission, The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption were established. The Right to Information Act is another major milestone we have reached” he said
According to Mayantha Dissanayaka 2014 was a major turning point for Sri Lanka when the United National Party and the Opposition Parties formed a coalition