A intense public debate has re-emerged regarding the inefficiency and bureaucracy within Sri Lanka’s public service sector.
This issue is far from new; nearly 50 years ago, local artists were already using their creative works to draw attention to the problem. A prominent example is a classic song written by renowned lyricist K. D. K. Dharmawardena and composed and performed by veteran artist Victor Rathnayake. The song highlighted how state service inefficiency stagnated the nation’s progress.
During the administration of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka officially declared economic bankruptcy. While political leadership played a significant role in this collapse, the conduct and inefficiency of state service officials were key contributing factors to the systemic economic downturn.
(The song performed by Victor Rathnayake is featured below.)
