Although the government has changed, its internal workings have not, claimed Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock Minister K.D. Lal Kantha, stating that the same outdated bureaucratic practices still persist in government institutions. He made these remarks while addressing a public meeting in Haloluwa, Kandy.
Lal Kantha elaborated on his concerns, saying:
“The government and the ruling administration are two different things. The government may be new, but the system remains old. The same bureaucratic structures, habits, and cultures that existed before continue to dominate government institutions. Some of these traditions may be beneficial, but many are harmful. We have been given the authority to run the government, but we do not fully control how the system operates. Not everyone is willing to implement the reforms we envision, and the same old mistakes are still being made.”
He pointed out that despite efforts to bring political change, corruption and bribery continue at the bureaucratic level. Some government officials still demand bribes from citizens to complete routine tasks, and the culture of giving and accepting money for services remains deeply ingrained.
“There are still officials who expect money to process simple requests. Even in schools, parents sometimes feel obligated to pay under the table to secure their child’s admission. Many people don’t report these practices because they benefit from them. The system continues because both the bribe-givers and the bribe-takers allow it to function. We have cleaned up the political side, but in many areas, government services are still not running as the public expects.”
He also addressed farmers’ refusal to supply rice to the government, despite receiving fertilizer and water subsidies. Lal Kantha expressed frustration that, despite government support for agriculture, some farmers refuse to contribute their harvest, creating a disconnect between government policies and public cooperation.
“The government provides fertilizer. The government provides water. Yet, some farmers say they will not give a single grain of rice back to the government. They claim this is their right, as 159 Members of Parliament were elected based on the people’s will. But even among these officials, there are government servants who expect national progress without contributing themselves.”
Lal Kantha also criticized the public’s reluctance to change while expecting the government to fix everything. He stated that many want reforms without taking personal responsibility and emphasized that true progress requires both government and citizens to take an active role in rebuilding the country.
“Everyone talks about building the nation, but they expect others to make sacrifices while continuing the same old habits themselves. Some people want to change others but refuse to change themselves. That is why this country struggles to move forward.”
