Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Sri Lanka

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Assistant Secretary to the President, Office of the President
International Development Studies Program (’07)

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You are currently Assistant Secretary to President Rajapaksa. How did you come to work in this position and what are your main responsibilities?

My entry to the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) in 2000 helped me to be appointed to this post. I was serving as an Information Executive in the same office since 1998. Even at the time I applied for the IDS Masters Program at GRIPS in 2005, I was serving as an Assistant Secretary to the President at the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka. Then Prime Minister Rajapaksa was elected as the President when I was studying in Japan. On my return I did not expect to continue my career at the Presidential Secretariat, but the Secretary to the President requested me to serve in the Secretary’s Bureau with new responsibilities. Now I report directly to the Secretary to the President, the country’s top most public officer and assist him in various ways to discharge his duties assigned by His Excellency the President.

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I am engaged in the following main duties and responsibilities:

1. Assist the Secretary to the President in delivering his services as the principal public officer in Sri Lanka.
2. Liaise with the ICT Agency of Sri Lankafor the policy support, procurement and implementation of reengineering government projects (e-Government) including the following key initiatives:
   • Government Information Center (GIC-1919)
   • Lanka Government Network (LGN)
   • National Backbone Project
   • e-Village programme
   • Lanka Gate – Online Service/e-Payment Gateway
3. Assist the activities of the Presidential Task Force on English & IT
4. Serve as a Member of the National Broadband Consultative Committee (NBCC)
5. Promote administrative reforms initiatives of the National Administrative Reforms Council (NARC) in which I serve as the Acting Director.
6. Help introducing best practices of productivity, management and ICT to the Presidential Secretariat through various approaches

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After a three-decades long military campaign, the civil war in Sri Lanka finally ended in May 2009. What do you see as the main opportunities and challenges for Sri Lanka over the course of the next five to ten years?

The internal armed conflict of the last three decades created by separatist terrorist groups caused the destruction of not only lives, infrastructure and livelihoods but also many opportunities for Sri Lanka to emerge in the region. However, we are so lucky to witness the end of that unpleasant era under the leadership of the current President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Of course, we now see many opportunities. Sri Lanka’s strategic location in South Asia has given the country an ample opportunity to become naval, aviation, commercial, energy and knowledge hubs in near future according to the main policy document of the Government. Recent acceleration of infrastructure development (i.e. ports, highways, energy, and telecommunication etc.) helps attracting new investments.

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“The Economist” has identified Sri Lanka among top six countries expected to record the highest economic growth levels in the next few years. Our President emphasized that Sri Lanka’s highly skilled workforce, significant resources and proud work ethic will attract more and more investments. Sri Lanka is ready to cut bureaucracy in starting investments. There is an attempt to simplify the tax system too.

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The New York Times (Jan 10, 2010) ranks Sri Lanka the No. 1 destination for travelers in 2010. The National Geographic Channel in an exclusive report on best places to visit has recently categorized Sri Lanka as the second best place to visit. Most of the countries that have earlier issued travel warnings have now eased them due to the improved security situation. Attractive locations in the areas liberated from the terrorist control are famous destinations. Tourist arrival has increased by more than 32 percent in January this year.

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Being a tropical country with adequate irrigation facilities, we should not forget to harness full potential of the agriculture sector. Sri Lanka’s current claim for more area in maritime zones helps developing oceanic resources. Though we have to import petroleum from overseas, the success of current exploration of offshore petroleum deposits will save a significant portion of our GDP.

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Five-fold increase of ICT literacy within four years time period indicates the desire of our schoolchildren and workforce to acquire knowledge and skills for a knowledge-based economy. Many new ICT-based services in both business and state sectors have widely benefited from these developments backed by strong government policy initiatives such as declaring 2009 as the Year of English & IT. Moreover, nano- and bio- technologies are now taking its place gradually. Being an island nation without any land borders and the non-aligned foreign policy has given Sri Lanka great opportunities to build strong international relations.

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To emerge as the ‘Wonder of Asia’ as our country’s leader pledged is a great challenge, but the above opportunities will enable us making it a reality. Maintaining economic growth while ensuring social welfare is a priority for the Government. Repayment of overseas loans is equally important. However, it is committed to introduce administrative reforms, especially to develop human resources and reduce bureaucracy around investment, regulatory processes and many other areas.

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Sustaining the ethnic harmony by the government’s bilingual policy (Sinhala and Tamil) is a challenge as the public sector is lacking those multiple linguistic skills. Bringing in an all-inclusive political solution to get all ethnic and social groups for the governing process by ensuring fair representation is a challenge.

During your career in the Sri Lankan civil service, what achievement(s) are you most proud of and what has been the most rewarding aspect of your career thus far?

Entering the Sri Lankan Civil Service (SLAS) itself is a key achievement as about 15,000 candidates competed for 145 positions, in which I could secure 52nd place. There are several personal achievements and social contributions during my 10-year Civil Service Career. Among them I am proud to become the batch-top at the SLAS induction training in 2001 and awarded with a Merit pass at the Masters in Public Administration programme from PIM – a prestigious Sri Lankan postgraduate institute – in 2004. Qualifying for the IDS Master program at GRIPS is another great achievement.

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Though I still belong to a lower rank in Sri Lanka’s public sector hierarchy, I could get the blessing of the Secretary to the President, Mr. Lalith Weeratunga to go ahead with innovative ideas that helps improving the living conditions of citizens. My contribution to establish the National Administrative Reforms Council (NARC) under the Presidential Secretariat and help implementing its decisions that exert an impact on Sri Lanka’s public sector is a key achievement. I am also proud to be a Member of the Country Operating Committee (OC) as a Government’s Representative for Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development (JDS) Scholarship Programme in Sri Lanka.

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I am equally proud of being a member of the Project Steering Committee of Sri Lanka’s prime online citizens’ information service – “1919” Government Information Center. This trilingual call center and web portal could bag several international awards for its innovative e-Government features, including the award from the World Summit for Information Society – WSIS in 2009 for the best practice of high quality e Contents and one of the most outstanding e-Government product in the world. I could be a part of the organizing committee of e-Asia 2009 International Conference & Exhibition, held in Colombo successfully.

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What was the most important thing you learned while at GRIPS? And how has your time in Japan influenced you in your subsequent career?

There is no doubt that GRIPS taught us many important lessons about Japan and the rest of the world. When we studied the module on “Strategies and Conditions for Development”, Hayami Sensei instructed us to always question why some countries are poor while others are rich. Many Professors explained us various policy initiatives that enabled Japan to become a leading nation in the world. Understanding the role of government and market in development economies helps when I get a chance to contribute for public policies. The network I created when I was in Japan with Japanese friends and international friends helps sharing a range of development experiences.

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Experiences I got in Japan during my 19-month stay always gave me a strong message of discipline and orderliness of activities and commitment to improve productivity. As a public servant in a developing nation, adhering to those principles helps shaping my professional path and serve citizens in an attractive manner. Now I can concentrate more and more on optimum usage of scarce resources and work under minimum supervision.

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Did the, perhaps more lucrative, private sector ever hold any appeal for you?

Yes, but not so strongly. I see many of my school friends are in top positions in the private sector. When I just passed out from the university, I wanted to be financially strong and thought a private sector will provide me the right career. However, I see that there is a good leadership for country’s development by the public sector. Both my parents served the public service as teachers. My wife and two sisters are also in the public sector.

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If you could choose another profession to be in, what would it be?

A Geologist/Earth Scientist!!! It was my dream as a grade 7 student to explore all geological and environmental zones in the world. I still love nature. Maybe I could have ended as a university researcher or a lecturer in that field (I did so in University of Peradeniya for several months before I “accidentally” join the public sector in 1998).

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What is your fondest memory of your time spent in Japan?

How can I only mention one? Almost every moment is remarkable. Skiing at Nagano for two days and climbing Mount Fuji in the summer can be mentioned as my fondest memories. I can still recall the wonderful experience of travelling by Shinkansen between Osaka and Tokyo. The two-day visit to Okinawa with Hashimoto sensei is also remarkable. Those memories should be supplemented with GRIPS choosing me to deliver a thanksgiving speech at my graduation ceremony!

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What do you miss about Japan?

Almost everything, especially its four seasons with different shades of colorful leaves and sakura blossoms. How can I forget the majestic view of Mount Fuji in clear days? I also miss busy, but friendly people including the Professors and staff of GRIPS, JICA (TIC & IFIC) and FASID. The neatness and productive learning environment at GRIPS and FASID (including witty sessions of Prof. Kalirajan!!) are also remarkable. I equally miss the sophisticated train system and my opportunity to continuously experience Nihongo. The internship period at the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) – an international organization with a nice blend of Japanese work ethics are among other things I badly miss.

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What is your favourite thing to do when you are not working?

Be with my 2 sons – Sahan (7) and Chamod (4). I don’t feel time passing when I am with them! I also find time for listening to music, reading, travelling and photography when not working. Chat with my international friends is anther leisure-time activity.

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How do you maintain a balance between your work and the rest of your life?

It is a great challenge. Now I am serving a public service which is different from the one I joined in 2000. My job here at the Presidential Secretariat to assist Sri Lanka’s most eventful Secretary to the President in the history multiplies responsibilities. The end of the war has given people new hopes and therefore, the queries to the President via my office are large in numbers. Without extra working time, it is difficult to complete some of the essential activities that have an impact on people’s lives. Luckily my wife and other family members understand my role as a different one from rest of the workplaces. However, I spare weekends for other works and to relax.

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What advice would you give to current GRIPS students?

Take risks to learn more. It is a golden opportunity for us to be in Japan – a wonderful nation with cultural values and modern development. Professors can give you some guidelines and self-learning and exploring yourself is the best way to understand concepts. Since we are now in a rapidly changing world, today’s knowledge/facts can be easily outdated by tomorrow. Therefore, don’t hesitate to share the most stupid idea with your colleagues till you realize what is acceptable (I really miss those brainstorming sessions I had with my IDS colleagues….). Make friends as many as possible as GRIPS is a real gateway for global leadership. One day we all should collectively make a better world for our future generations.