Latest "Yahapalana" move - Independence of Independent Commissions impeded ???

It is reliably learnt that the Old Royalist Prime Minister who preaches democracy and good governance, whilst practicing autocracy and arrogance, has in his latest show of highhandedness, had summoned the Chairman and the Secretary of the Public Services Commission (PSC) to Temple Trees to question them on its stand on the issue of school Principals’ appointments. The meeting has taken place in the presence of his trusted lieutenant, Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and ministry officials.

Cabinet paper to override the authority of the Public Services Commission
Sources close to the Ministry of Education confirms that the minister with the blessings of the Prime Minister, is contemplating on bringing in a cabinet paper to override the authority of the Public Services Commission in making Principal appointments to National Schools in the light of action by various stakeholders of Royal College in the Court of Appeal.

This had been discussed at the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister along with his “mate”, the Minister of Education with the Public Services Commission (PSC) Chairman and Secretary. The meeting had apparently been called on the pretext to discuss issues other than the matter in court and as such, the Commissioners of the PSC had been taken on the blind side.

PSC standing ground on principle
However, despite desperate pleas and thereafter arm twisting tactics of the PM and his mate, the Chairman of the PSC is said to have stood strong and not backed down from their stance that the nominations sent by the Education Ministry for National School Principal appointment were unacceptable. The PSC officials had pointed out that the criteria based on which the selections had been done is ill-thought and least suitable and as such had refused to accept such nominations at any cost.

Slap in the face of an Independent Commission
Realising that their pleas were falling on deaf ears, the PM and his Mate had openly discussed the possibility of bringing in a cabinet paper to by-pass the PSC under Article 55(1) of the Constitution and make such appointments just to drive a point that “they can do what they want if they want to”. Those attending the meeting had felt that this sort of attitude from a bunch that professed “Good Governance” popularised as “Yahapalanaya” at its lowest ebb and nothing but hypocrisy at its best!

Questions begging answers
* Isn't this a deliberate attempt to impede the independence of the independent commissions !!!! ?
* Is this what the so called "Good Governance" was supposed to be?
* Do the ministers in the cabinet have a conscience? And if they do, will they keep their eyes, ears and mouths shut and let the PM and his "mate" have their way?