Professionalism, a nation’s success

by Sarath WIJESINGHE

Professional is a member of a vocation founded upon specialised educational training. Professionals are supervised, guided, and controlled by the respective professional bodies and the state. While the respective professions have their own disciplinary bodies, the Consumer Affairs Authority too under the regulatory powers is empowered to supervise the professional conduct and standards of services.

Professionalism is an important ingredient in a developed and successful society, without which the citizen is bound to face drastic consequences due to lack of professionalism, which is an essential factor in the development of a society.

A professional is a person who has undergone learning and training in a particular vocation/discipline leading to a university degree or an equivalent qualification which entitles him to practise that particular discipline. It is knowledge and experience which is the source of power. Knowledge obviously is power. But it has to be guided and regularised. Knowledge and experience of a professional is guided supervised and controlled.

Being a professional and acting professionally is professionalism. Society is in safe hands of competent and recognized professionals. Apex bodies and the respective professional bodies and the state have made arrangements to guide professional bodies to discipline the members of the profession to be professional by way of checks and balances.

There are different ways and means of defining a profession and professionalism in various jurisdictions. But the underlining feature in professionalism is learning and educating selected citizens and groups in a particular discipline in a society by individuals or groups of learned, experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated persons for the benefit of the society.

Vocation is a term used for an occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited. For training and qualifications, universities are the centres of knowledge which monitor, educate, advocate and train academics, professionals and members belonging to vocations. Academics study deep on the subject and discipline whereas professionals are trained for the profession by professional bodies and institutions. In the university, law graduates are trained and educated to be academics and the Law College is the centre of training them to be professionals.

Professionalism maintains high standards in every segment of society. It differentiates quality and guides the society to be out of danger of unprofessionalism which is disastrous to the society.

It is not necessary to be a university graduate or a members of a professional organisation to be a professional.

Ayurvedic physicians are able and competent professionals who are disciplined and reliable. Village goldsmith, blacksmiths and those in-charge of small industries for the village to be self-sufficient are professionals. It is a pity that no steps have been taken to raise the standards of these professionals to serve the society in a more orderly manner.

The Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) in Sri Lanka founded 22 years ago is one of the most vibrant and organised professional organisations in the world serving the society in order to promote professionalism.

It is the apex body of 43 member Associations with a membership of more than 50,000 professionals. All major professions such as Medicine, Law, Engineering, Agriculture, Management, Economics, Accountancy, Dentistry, surveying, Agriculture, Computer Science, Banking and Management and many other professions are represented in the OPA.

There are many who spearheaded the initiative steps of the formation of OPA to be what it is today.

It is opportune to mention three names of pioneers out of which two are no more - yet remembered by the members as great professionals who left this giant professional body to the society.

Late Dr. H.W. Jayewardene (QC), late W.P. Gunatilaka Senior Attorney-at-Law and Dr. Nath Amarakoon former Presidents are fondly remembered for their initiations and sacrifices made in finding the location, funds and attending to the preliminaries until the inauguration with the help of the group of professionals mainly led by the legal profession which is a powerful member and a limb of the OPA all times.

Is politics a profession?

Yes and No and this is a million dollar moot issue. In the west politics is taken very seriously. The knowledge is linked to universities and the media grill politicians on their knowledge, strategy and future plans. There are no schools or institutions to train politicians. But most politicians though not trained are excellent. Hon D.S. Senanayake and Madam Bandaranaike are classic examples.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a professional in politics from childhood, where practical training was acquired naturally in the shade of his father DA, uncle DM and the people of Giruwapattuwa with whom he assimilated the way of life and thinking in the formation of Mahinda Chintana. It is no exaggeration to regard him as the most successful Politician and the leader in Sri Lanka since independence as no other leader could or would have won the war which engulfed us for over three decades, in two and half years, despite the developments taking place and international pressure exerted on us during and after the war. His speeches in the international fora are of the highest standard. Whilst western leaders read prepared speeches President Rajapaksa very comfortably makes impromptu speeches of the highest quality enhancing our standards before the international community.

It is certainly a good idea to give substantial training for new and emerging politicians, as the standards are deteriorating worldwide. It is not a profession in the sense of income for a living, though they too should have a source of income. It is good to address on this area by the Political parties streamlining these days on policies and political and legal arrangements in formulating policies and strategies.

The Organisation of Professionals in the SLFP is one of the vibrant and active professional organisations affiliated to a political party. Even in the United Kingdom, USA and the western democracies the affiliated professional organisations are not as active as the OPA of the SLFP.

The leadership of Governor of the Western Province Alavi Mowlana is catalysing the activism of the organization which is interacting with professionals on the promotion of the SLFP ideology and professionalism in general.

On the whole professionalism, is an important ingredient for the success of any society and it is the duty of the state as well as the professional organisations to promote and enhance professionalism among the professionals. Strict measures are to be taken to deal with unprofessionalism and unprofessionals who are enemies and a danger to the society.

(The writer is a Senior Solicitor in England and Wales and Attorney-at-Law. A former Secretary of the Bar Association and Chairperson SAARC Study Centre in London and Former Chairman Consumer Affairs Authority).