Decentralization for rural development in Sri Lanka.

Herath, H.M.A.

doi:10.22215/etd/1992-02089

“…Before the 1920s, exploration for mineral sands in Sri Lanka was primarily reconnaissance surveys for monazite along active coasts (Herath 1996). The PQ heavy mineral deposit was discovered during preliminary exploration by RGC exploration (Pvt) Ltd for Consolidated Rutile Limited in 1993.…”

Section: The Pq Deposit Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sri Lanka's history of heavy mineral sand exploration commenced in the early 1900s, and ilmenite, rutile and zircon have been exported since 1962 as one of Sri Lanka's three main mineral exports along with graphite and gemstones (Herath 1996). Currently only one state owned heavy mineral mine is in operation on the east coast near the town of Pulmoddai.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geology of the PQ deposit, Sri Lanka

Wallace¹

2016

Applied Earth Science

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The PQ heavy mineral sand deposit is located on the west coast of Sri Lanka, approximately 30 km north of the town of Puttalam within the North Western Province. The PQ heavy mineral deposit was previously defined and explored between 1994 and 2002. Since 2010 further evaluation work has been completed. The ilmenite dominated deposit is hosted in a Quaternary to Recent age sedimentary sequence overlying the Miocene Vanathavillu limestone. It is a relatively homogenous red-brown palaeo-dunal deposit that extends for more than 5 km in length, is up to 3-km wide and contains 46.4 Mt of heavy mineral. Mineralisation commences from surface to a depth of over 50 m and grades range between 1.0 and 50.4% total heavy minerals. The PQ deposit shares many similar attributes with the teri sand (red sands) environments in southern India in terms of size, increased heavy mineral concentration, depositional environment and age.

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“…However, this programme had its own deficiencies. According to Richards and Gunarathna (as cited in Herath, 1991), many of the projects have been strongly criticised for poor initial choice of product, lack of facility for marketing, lack of enthusiasm by co-operative members, and failure to create significant additional employment. Furthermore, there was a lack of expert knowledge on project formulation and appraisal on the part of both the DDC's and GA's staff (Wijeweera, 1988).…”

Section: Divisional Development Councils (Ddcs) -1971mentioning

confidence: 99%

The History of and Prospects for Public Sector Reforms in Sri Lanka

Alwis¹

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<p>Public sector(1) reform is about improving the management of the public sector. Such reform has no universal framework. What can be done in any country is a product of its history, structure and culture. Moreover, public sector reform is not simply simple 'technical' change. It depends upon, and actually comprises reform of a nation's political system. The main focus of this thesis is administrative reform in Sri Lanka (SL). The key research question is why this has encountered so many problems in the SL public administration system despite many attempts at reform since 1950. And, why and how have key historical, structural, sociological economic and political factors since Independence contributed to this current impasse? Answers to key questions investigated were sought through qualitative and quantitative research. Using a combination of official documents and interviews with senior political elites, public officials and academics, this thesis analyses the current situation of public administration in SL. In order to better understand the current situation, the history of public administrative reform in SL is investigated. The focus of the analysis lies in understanding the complexity and specificity of the present situation in order to better assess prospects for future reforms. This provides a backdrop to effective future agendas and highlights issues in the present system that must be addressed within that agenda. In this process this thesis examines when, how and why administrative reforms took place in SL since the 1950s, which political parties were in power, and who gained and lost due to reforms. The, Administrative Reform Committee Reports (ARC) of 1986/88 are central to this analysis because they made comprehensive recommendations on all aspects of administrative reform. The experience of the ARC carries valuable lessons to administrative reformers. Because this thesis is exploring historical and political questions, the Pollitt and Bouckaert model of public management, which focuses on historical institutionalism, is used as the theoretical framework. This thesis finds that all reforms in SL from 1950-2005 were isolated, ad hoc, and reactive to crisis situations, not proactive. On many occasions such changes lacked adequate examination as to their effects on the administrative system as a whole. This further resulted in more problems and even greater complexity, with the ARC recommendations not fully implemented. This thesis analyses underlying factors responsible for thwarting efforts to create an effective and efficient public administration system in SL. The originality and significance of this thesis lies in two areas: (a) it is the first systematic historical analysis of public sector reform in SL that pulls together a wide range of evidence from divers sources; (b) this thesis confirms the importance of understanding the history and political dynamics of a country before serious and wholesale attempts at public sector reform are attempted. I hope that future SL reformers will be able to learn the lessons of history in that respect. This thesis concludes that this state of affairs remains a product of complex interactions of many different historical, social, political, and cultural conditions. Therefore, this thesis argues, any future programme of reform must take full account of those specifics. (1) Public sector includes : Government and the Organs of State (Organs of State includes Presidential Secretariat, Legislature, Public Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Commission to Investigate Allegation of Bribery and Corruption, Attorney General Department, Auditor General Department, Finance Commission and Salaries and Cadre Commission) and Public Enterprises.</p>

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“…According to Weerakoon (as cited in Herath, 1991), the main purpose of the DCB at the initial stage was to increase food production and employment in the village level through development programmes and increase participation of people in the planning and implementation of such programmes. The hidden motive of the DCB was to encourage volunteer work and/or material resources in the area, for example, if a project costs SLRs 20, 000, the allocation was only 15,000.…”

Section: Introduction Of Decentralised Capital Budget (Dcb) -1974mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This system did not fully support the development programmes submitted by MPs, thus MPs had to go through the same process that had prevailed in the previous system. In addition, the government MPs were able to press for a larger portion of the DCB, while Opposition members were neglected (Herath, 1991). Due to repeated requests from MPs, this system was changed several times.…”

Section: Introduction Of Decentralised Capital Budget (Dcb) -1974mentioning

confidence: 99%

The History of and Prospects for Public Sector Reforms in Sri Lanka

Alwis¹

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

<p>Public sector(1) reform is about improving the management of the public sector. Such reform has no universal framework. What can be done in any country is a product of its history, structure and culture. Moreover, public sector reform is not simply simple 'technical' change. It depends upon, and actually comprises reform of a nation's political system. The main focus of this thesis is administrative reform in Sri Lanka (SL). The key research question is why this has encountered so many problems in the SL public administration system despite many attempts at reform since 1950. And, why and how have key historical, structural, sociological economic and political factors since Independence contributed to this current impasse? Answers to key questions investigated were sought through qualitative and quantitative research. Using a combination of official documents and interviews with senior political elites, public officials and academics, this thesis analyses the current situation of public administration in SL. In order to better understand the current situation, the history of public administrative reform in SL is investigated. The focus of the analysis lies in understanding the complexity and specificity of the present situation in order to better assess prospects for future reforms. This provides a backdrop to effective future agendas and highlights issues in the present system that must be addressed within that agenda. In this process this thesis examines when, how and why administrative reforms took place in SL since the 1950s, which political parties were in power, and who gained and lost due to reforms. The, Administrative Reform Committee Reports (ARC) of 1986/88 are central to this analysis because they made comprehensive recommendations on all aspects of administrative reform. The experience of the ARC carries valuable lessons to administrative reformers. Because this thesis is exploring historical and political questions, the Pollitt and Bouckaert model of public management, which focuses on historical institutionalism, is used as the theoretical framework. This thesis finds that all reforms in SL from 1950-2005 were isolated, ad hoc, and reactive to crisis situations, not proactive. On many occasions such changes lacked adequate examination as to their effects on the administrative system as a whole. This further resulted in more problems and even greater complexity, with the ARC recommendations not fully implemented. This thesis analyses underlying factors responsible for thwarting efforts to create an effective and efficient public administration system in SL. The originality and significance of this thesis lies in two areas: (a) it is the first systematic historical analysis of public sector reform in SL that pulls together a wide range of evidence from divers sources; (b) this thesis confirms the importance of understanding the history and political dynamics of a country before serious and wholesale attempts at public sector reform are attempted. I hope that future SL reformers will be able to learn the lessons of history in that respect. This thesis concludes that this state of affairs remains a product of complex interactions of many different historical, social, political, and cultural conditions. Therefore, this thesis argues, any future programme of reform must take full account of those specifics. (1) Public sector includes : Government and the Organs of State (Organs of State includes Presidential Secretariat, Legislature, Public Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Commission to Investigate Allegation of Bribery and Corruption, Attorney General Department, Auditor General Department, Finance Commission and Salaries and Cadre Commission) and Public Enterprises.</p>

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Decentralization for rural development in Sri Lanka.

Cited by 5 publications

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Geology of the PQ deposit, Sri Lanka

Geology of the PQ deposit, Sri Lanka

The History of and Prospects for Public Sector Reforms in Sri Lanka

The History of and Prospects for Public Sector Reforms in Sri Lanka

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