A two day workshop organized by the Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Irrigation, Animal Production & Health, and Agrarian Development, Western Province and in association with the Network of Asia Pacific Schools and Institutions of Public Administration and Governance (NAPSIPAG) on 23rd and 24th May 2016 at In-Service Training Institute, Bombuwala, Kalutara. Around 100 participants including executive officers of the Ministry of Agriculture – Western Province, Department of Irrigation, Department of Animal Production, Department of Land Commissioner, Department of Agriculture, and Agrarian Service Authority attended to the workshop to enhance their skills and knowledge in order to improve their organizational productivity.
The day of inaugural of this event has been gracious with the presence of honorable minister Mr. Gamini Thilakasiri, Ministry of Agriculture, Western Province. The workshop was brighten with the presence of Prof. Amita Singh, the Former NAPSIPAG Secretary General and the Chairperson of Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Dr. Vinay Sharma and Dr. Rajat Agrawal, the Associate Professors in Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, and Prof. R. Lalitha S. Fernando, the Head, Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management Studies & Commerce of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura as the resource persons of this event.
Dr. U. Anura Kumara, Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Mr. N. Nilwala, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Western Province, Prof. Soysa, Former Dean of the School of Humanities, Massey University, New Zealand, other ministerial staff including Mr. I.U. Mendis, Provincial Director- Agriculture, Mrs. E.A. R. Renuka, Provincial Land Commissioner, Mrs. W.D.R.P. Chithrangani, Provincial Director-Irrigation, Dr. K.K. Sarath, Provincial Director-Animal Production and Health and senior academic staff of the Department of Public Administration were also participated as the guests.
Honorable Minister Mr. Gamini Thilakasiri in his address highlighted the significant role of the agriculture sector specifically to realize the ‘National Food Production Program’ commenced by the government. Further, he emphasized the historical relationship between Sri Lanka and India over centuries which stimulates the economies of both nations. While address the gathering, Dr. U. Anura Kumara, Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, drawn his attention on collaborative efforts to build the capacity of professionals in the field of management and administration.
This was followed by the sessions chaired by resource persons. Prof. Amita Singh, discussed the role of ethics and integrity in governance. She revealed the situations where law fails to ensure the ethicality in the society and the importance of public participation in public interest litigation. Also, she stressed the timely need for global partnership for development.
Prof. R. Lalitha S. Fernando, has paved her attention on enhancing productivity in public sector through accountable management and ethics. She has highlighted that public officers themselves should be personally accountable for the results. Further stressed on the building of a public service cadre with the appropriate attitude and behavior, service oriented mindset, use of code of conduct. Professor Fernando has raised a special concern in this workshop, where administrators and academia need to take hand on hand responsibility in enhancing productivity in the public sector.
Dr.Vinay Sharma and Dr. Rajat Agrawal have conducted an interactive session on Inculcating Spirituality in the Public Service. They disclose the ways and means of utilizing spiritual thoughts specifically Buddhist philosophy to improve the productivity and prosperity in the work place. Also they demonstrated innovative cases as eco-friendly transportation and energy source realized through the efforts supported by spiritual thoughts.
Eventually, Mr. N. Nilwala – the Secretary to the Ministry, mentioned the responsibility of participants to think out of the box and apply gained knowledge and to contribute to the development of the nation.
