Dr Sarath Obeysekera

 Ceylon Today ……..

The Government is yet to take a final decision on the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.It was earlier reported that President Maithripala Sirisena had disbanded the said Committee.Addressing the weekly Cabinet media briefing yesterday (28), Co-Cabinet Spokesman, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne denied such reports.He added that although a few suggestions were made in this regard during the Cabinet meeting held on 27 February, no final decision had been taken regarding…… the fate of the CCEM. He said that one of the suggestions was for the CCEM to look into long term projects. “But we did not reach a decision on the Committee.”The Minister pointed out that the Government had decided to adopt a timeline based approach on economic and development activities as there was limited time remaining before the year 2020.We are looking at expediting projects and the work related to them based on their importance. We have one and a half years to finish these development activities,” he added.”

We have attended many CCEM meetings chaired by the PM .Decisions were made at these forums and clear instructions were issued to ministers and officers who attend the meetings I remember when I went to a CCEM meeting regarding Galle Shipyard Project, where the previous minister was given clear instructions to allow the investor to re mobilize and commence development subject to submission of the required bank guarantee.

It seems like that the officers have agreed to allow mobilization of the investor (project was approved by the Cabinet and work commenced in 2013)

Minister comes out of the CCEM and takes his own decision not to allow mobilization.

Minister was changed and the matter was again up at a CCEM as well OCEM and again decisions were not implemented

This matter was also taken at the forum chaired by Hon Minister of Southern Development and yet the subject Minister did not allow

What is the purpose of having forms such as EODB ,CCEM.OCEM etc if effective implementation of the decisions made at the forums  were not carried out ?

I am not sure how NEC (National Economic Commission ) appointed by the President and chaired by a  professor can do a better job.

I also remember the Committee of Development Secretaries appointed by the then President Premadasa ,and chaired by none other than Mr Paskerelingam exercising the powers vested to the committee by HE the President

All the decisions made at this forum ( i.e. Development of Muthurajawela as  Industrial Park using Reclamation with Sea Sand ) were implemented pronto and results could be seen in few months later .

We need a mighty powerful Secretary to the Treasury who has the confidence of the President who can take decisions and convey to Ministers and Secretaries,

This is why I advocate in having Benevolent Dictator who has a vision and a mission.( with support from a super secretary ! )

Dr Sarath Obeysekera