Kanthar Balanathan   Australia DipEE (UK), GradCert (RelEng-Monash), DipBus&Adm (Finance-Massey), CEng. MIEE

Since independence, it was certain that Tamils settled outside of N&E, always voted for the United National Party (UNP) candidates. It is also noted that Ranil Wickremasinghe always have a soft corner for old boys of Royal College, Colombo for political appointments, and serious gaffes, for unknown acumen. Further, members of the UNP also, always have a love to appoint Tamils for top jobs (civil service) as advisers, irrespective of their competence and fit to function. It would be proper to understand at this point that Royal College does not run degree (BA, BSc) programs. All exits are either A” level, or O” level having failed A” level.

This generates an ill feeling to the common mass that the GOSL governed by UNP, disrespects all other colleges in SriLanka. May be Royal College exits could be dragged into work of irregularity, asymmetry to make the, exits”, scape goats. These Tamil seniors may be unaware of the intentions of the UNP, however, the income, perks, and the living standard drives them to accept. They are also given the authority to exit SL anytime, anyway, if the intend to do so.

When appointed to top jobs, it’s the authority and power embraced to their position makes others to respect them, and not because of their intelligence, competence or the IQ they possess.

During late Premadasa’s time, late Mr. Athulathmudali stated:

Quote: It was Lalith Athulathmudali who said Sri Lanka was ruled by 3 P’s namely, Premadasa, Paskaralingham (Paski) and Prabakaran. Premadasa’s inability to deal with numbers and finance resulted in the nation’s coffers being entrusted to one man”. On Premadasa’s assassination by LTTE, why did Premadasa’s close ally flee from the country within hours of his death? What fear made him run then?

(Ref: https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!msg/soc.culture.canada/e9c-ioB1ZIo/KDOXVgpmmO4J)

Paskaralingham had been an advisor to more than one executive head of GOSL. If we carefully analyse the failures occurred in SL in the areas of economic policy, social policy, trade policy, security etc., did Paski give the minister(s) quality guidance? Was Paski’s work on advice, qualitative and quantitative or nothing, which led the country to failure? Did Paski offer any advice, on Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Fiscal Policy, or Structural transformation?

An old norm in SL is that a civil servant is considered competent and efficient only if they know the AR” and FR”, which are the Administrative Regulation and the Financial Regulation. However, the Clerical service staff are also expected to know the AR & FR.

With respect to civil servants of Paski’s calibre in SL; citizens, academics and Professors may ask as follows: What is Paskaralingam’s personal attributes?

What is the bandwidth of the measures, Expertise” that Paskaralingham possess?  Is Paskaralingham a person with the measures “Expertise + Reliability + Flexibility = Capability“. One can have enormous amount of capability, if the person has wider bandwidth of Expertise, flexibility, and reliability. Is he a person with multiskilling personality? Does he accept the practical concept; Change is a constant”. Did RP face challenging and changing situations in his career, and how did he solve them? As engineers, we have accepted and adapted to changes in functions and multiskilling and performed tasks with success. These reflect new methods and materials.

How innovative/Creative was/is RP? Is he a lateral thinker, and did demonstrate in his tactical and strategic work during his career? Any new methods and solutions?

Did RP demonstrate methodical and organised in his work? Prior to commencing any project a methodology has to be set in place, with completed risk assessment”. One can only prove by work that he is methodical and organised.

Initiative is a self-starting quality of a person/professional. Proactive is an added value to a self-starter. A professional, being a civil servant, has to take lots of initiative to create new methods, rather wasting time in accepting orders from politicians. We are talking a country’s economic stability and growth here. A person must be a trouble shooter” than a trouble maker”.

Leadership: I believe that behavioural pattern inflicts upon leadership quality. Good listening skills and respecting others views is a prerequisite for leadership. Does Paski have good moral leadership?

Decisive: Being in an advisory capacity senior civil servants have to take decisions based on their judgement criteria, which however, should not deter politician’s policy, however, shall not put the country to risk.

Analytical Skills:  A person has to have high quality analytical skills to solve problems. Statistical and Reliability analysis is required for economic studies. Was any of his Analytical skills help solve the economic condition in SL?

Eagerness to Learn and Teach Others: Civil servants should be eager to learn modern science and art and teach others to maintain quality output from his/her department. Did Paski have this attribute or was he a pencil pusher?

Self-Discipline is another criteria Civil servants and politicians should possess. Staff should be added value to the organisation not a liability, and shall be a role model for the young ones.

Media reports that RP exploited the use of the facility given to him by the Minister(s). E.g. Paski was the Secretary in the Financial Ministry under the Premadasa regime, and was known to be Premadasa’s right hand man. The impression was that Paski ran out of the country to avoid prosecution. Paski was in self-exile for eight years and has returned to SL playing a key behind-the-scenes role in the current regime as advisor to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. Paski is known to be a soft-spoken bureaucrat and lives at the Gala Dari Hotel under a different name. Paski agreed and gave a rare interview. Ref: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/020414/bus/5.html.

With Paski’s family living in the UK, will Paski be able to discharge his oath of allegiance to SL? Paski states that he is living in a hotel until he gets his residence. If Paski was an intellectual and had expertise, then he should have been able to get a job with the UK government.

What was Paski doing in the UK? Why cannot Paski live with his family in SL and lead a good life like that of the others?

An interview with the Sunday Times in 2002: Ref: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/020414/

Q; But your role right now is being seen as a kind of ‘super-bureaucrat’ where you sometimes even exceed the authority of the line officials. In that context you’re playing a very influential role.

A; No. It is not correct to call it the role of a ‘super-bureaucrat’. It is purely an advisory and a co-ordinating role. It is true that having been in the public service almost all the secretaries and the officials have worked with me in the past and that is a big help because I can count on their co-operation.

This was during Ranil’s time in 2002. If he was that effective and efficient, why was he not able to advise the PM on the Bond Scam in 2015?

PM organised two days conference Sri Lanka Economic Forum” conference on the 7^th and 8^th January 2016 with international experts. Does Paski think that he is in no ability to recommend a local conference to the PM, being his pal? In this context, I strongly recommend Paski to read my letter to Professor Ricardo Hausmann. Ref: http://nrnmind.blogspot.com.au/.

To bring the debt details of SL into open, the Bonds (CB) issued in 2015 & 2016, totals to, 362.299 Billion (Rs). Of these bonds the 10.058 Billion (Rs) was exposed because of a scam of interest rates being adjusted, and the funds accrued was drawn into the UNP coffers unofficially. As an expert. Paski”, could not identify the risk he is exposing the country, further the country may be put to sale in 30 years’ time. Well, Paski may pass the monkey to others, however, the so well paid, well settled in a hotel, with security (may be), and everything on people’s money, working for the PM, was unable ID the risks the country is facing; it’s a joke!

ISIN Series                 Issue Date       Maturity Date             Outstanding Qty. (Rs.)

2025A                          15/03/2015      15/03/2025                  82,147,000,000.00

2025A                          01/08/2015      01/08/2025                  69,542,000,000.00

2030A                          15/05/2015      15/05/2030                  96,102,000,000.00

2035A                          15/03/2015      15/03/2035                  74,565,000,000.00

2041A                          01/01/2016      01/01/2041                  29,885,000,000.00

2045A                          01/03/2015      01/03/2045                  10,058,000,000.00

                                                            Total                            362,299,000,000.00   

Paski should explain to the people how GOSL considers paying off the Bond funds of 366+ Billions.

To read more about Paski, please visit:

1. http://www.mnpea.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=161&lang=en
2. http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2015/07/28/paskaralingam-rejoicing-with-tamil-tiger-ltte-activists-in-australia-and-new-zealand/

1. http://www.ceylontoday.lk/51-88797-news-detail-paskaralingam-is-the-finance-minister-dlf-demands-that-pm-vacate-office-until-arjuna-mahendran-is-cleared.html           http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=119588 
2. http://www.sinhalanet.net/pro-ltte-paskaralingam-is-ranils-advisor    –
3. http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/ – https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!msg/soc.culture.canada/e9c-ioB1ZIo/KDOXVgpmmO4J         

It is highly recommended that Paski goes back and discharges his oath of allegiance to UK & USA from UK. May be Paski should forget about SL as he is may be considered a failure as PM’s advisor. The country is put to a poor economic state expecting ETCA will solve, which is considered a fake.

It is requested that our Executive President, HE Mr Maithripala Sirisena should order investigation of Paski’s work and make a decision of removing Paski from GOSL’s functions, as he may pose risk to the country.