How Janasaviya was born and food distribution amid JVP terror

(Excerpted from In Pursuit of Governance, autobigraphy of MDD Pieris)

- 

In 1988, a Cabinet decision landed on my table indicating that I was appointed as a member of a very senior group to be chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Warnasena Rasaputram to study and produce a report within one month on issues relating to poverty alleviation, with recommendations for ameliorating these conditions.

We had about 15 meetings of intensive discussions held in the Central Bank. Practically all these discussions, took place after normal office hours often going into the night, and ending up with a quick dinner there.

These discussions were supplemented by special meetings over some weekends. Since the deadline given to us was very tight, we had to read and assimilate a large amount of material, which we had to do at home, before coming for the next meeting. It was an intense and extremely busy period. The report was finalized just before the deadline expired.

Susil Sirivardana of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service who acted both as a member and as Secretary to the Committee, displayed extraordinary skills, knowledge, energy and commitment. It was largely due to him that the Committee finished its work in time. The report was discussed at a special Cabinet meeting convened to discuss it at which we were present, adopted, and published as a sessional paper. Later, this report formed the basis of Prime Minister Premadasa's Janasaviya proposals.