Speech made on the occasion of the book launch on the DRO service

June 22, 2013, 5:32 pm

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K. Logeswaran


The chief guest Honorable Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Guests of Honor, Distinguished senior colleagues and friends, the organizers of this event have given me great honor in asking me to say a few words on this occasion on behalf of the former DROs- a creature that is extinct now. I am overwhelmed by the presence of such a galaxy of illustrious women and men.


The Divisional Revenue Officers admitted to the Public Service on the results of competitive examinations in 1939 succeeded the esteemed feudal officials who were placed between the people and the rulers whether local or colonial. Mudaliars, Ratemahatayas, Maniagars, Vanniars and Adikarams were the names given to these officials depending on the provinces they served. The DRO service that replaced the feudal system, ceased to exist as a separate entity after the establishment of the unified Ceylon Administrative Service in 1965.


Nonetheless, the post of the DRO continued within the administrative service and most of the CAS cadets were appointed DROs until in 1970 the post was re designated as Divisional AGA. The need for decentralization in order to take the government to the people resulted in the transformation of the divisional AGA into a value added Divisional Secretary. It is my contention that even though the names changed over the centuries the core values that the holders of this office believed in remained intact. From the RM Mudaliyar and Maniyagar to the DRO and Divisional Secretaries the holders of this office had deep empathy for the people whom they served, uncompromising devotion in implementing the law - whether it be the customs and traditions, statutes, financial and administrative regulations or the departmental circulars.


The holders of this office had unflinching loyalty to the ruler whether the Dutch governor, Colonial GA or a democratically elected political master. Peer pressure acted as an effective deterrent against infidelity. Ethics, more than written injunctions governed their daily interactions as they were aware that law often allows what honor forbids. In the course of public duty, we as DROs seldom came into unpleasant confrontations with political bigwigs. When we tactically withdrew from our position yielding to a decision of a Minister we did so not because we followed the instinct of self preservation but we were suspicious that bureaucratic logic may not be the substitute for ministerial judgment.


Versatility was our forte. Robert Bolt who flourished during middle of the last century used the phrase "Man for all seasons" to describe Sir Thomas More. The author of the philosophical work UTOPIA, Sir Thomas More was a precocious genius, a polymath. He was Lord Chancellor in the reign of Henry VIII. He was loyal to the King till last but had his convictions. More held that a man is defined by his conscience. He believed that if he broke with his conscience he would be damned. He would not agree with King’s desire to divorce the Queen. He was executed and it is said that the executioners came out laughing. Dhammika, a lover of English history and philosophy, has apparently chosen the phrase of Bolt to describe the DRO more on account of this official’s versatility than on his willingness to place his head on the block.


A DRO, his predecessor and his modern day successor knew how to meet the challenges that rained on the people under his care. There were floods, droughts, poverty, clogged irrigation canals, poor marketing of produce, battered women, parentless children, illicit brew and crimes and a sea of troubles. He had a group of assistants, some devoted and intelligent, some malingerers and zombies, some corrupt others wicked and insolent. As a repository of local knowledge his advice was sought after and respected. He built community strength promoted local arts and encouraged religious festivals and ceremonies.


This required the DRO to possess an eager mind and good physical strength. He was generally well attired and the people admired his personality. He was ungrudgingly accepted as a leader. It cannot be gainsaid that physical fitness is indispensable for a rural administrator. Because of his excellent physical condition he could be happy even though busy and be joyful even when tired. Let me entreat my successors here with all earnestness to pay attention to this aspect and remind you of the old adage about a healthy mind in a healthy body. I wish to remind you of an ancient Chinese saying: "If you do not look after your body, where will you live?"


The DRO always followed the law but he would act according to its spirit than the mere letter. He would interpret the regulations and the circulars to the advantage of the citizens. His desire to bestow benefits to the people dominated his mind. He believed that the welfare of the people is the supreme law which centuries ago were encapsulated in the dictum: Salus populi suprema lex esto. This was the motto of the DRO, his predecessor and the successor.


If one of my successors here in this hall, let us call her Madhushani or Brahmavadhini, Banu Begum or Bianca were to ask what thoughts guided me in my work and conduct as DRO, and during my later years, I would entreat her to accompany me to meet a little known poet - Kaniyan Poonkunran twenty centuries back. His name means "teacher from flower hill". It may not be his real name. I would repeat to her what this poet tells her in my unsophisticated English:


I belong to all villages (in the world)


All inhabitants in them are my kinsmen


Good and evil are not given by others


Suffering and relief occur the same way


Death is not a new phenomenon


Neither did I savor life as sweet


Nor frowned upon it as dreadful


When confronted with vicissitudes


I was guided by the words of the learned and the wise


That as the wooden craft that is tossed in the angry waters


Brought by thunder and lightning, rolling boulders on the way


My life too follows the path determined by my Deeds


So therefore, neither do I glorify in amazement the high and the mighty; nor deride the small man who is common and ordinary.


I have enjoyed these few minutes talking to you. Thank you for your patience and please enjoy the rest of the evening.

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