The national quality movement in Sri Lanka which was launched in 1995, needs reactivation and the newly formed Quality Federation will play a leading role in this process.
The Federation will make this a priority and hopes it will be a reality within the next three years. The Federation is an extension of the quality movement in the country, and will function as the backbone for the progress of the country based on quality approaches.
The Federation will include representation from all quality, trade and professional associations, chambers and also state agencies such as Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB), Measurement Units, Standards and Services Department (MSSD), Productivity Promotion (Public Administration), Local Government and Democratic Governance, Central Environment Authority and many others.
SLFQ maintains close dialogue with Boards responsible for specific sectors such as the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB), National Livestock Board (NLB), Palmyrah Development Board (PDB), Water Resources Authority (WDA), National Water Supply and Drainage Board and authorities such as, Coconut (CDA), National Apprentice and Industrial Training (NAITA) , National Aquatic Development (NAQDA), National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) Road development (RDA) and National Engineering Research and Development (NERD). They will be invited to serve in working groups relevant to their field of activity.
This will serve as an ideal forum for the National Quality Development Program, including National Quality Policy, infra-structure promotion etc. A proposal to develop a national export policy has been submitted to the government for consideration.
Tracing back, the Sri Lanka Quality movement which was gradually picking up in late 90s and the issuing of a national quality policy, national quality program were developed. This helped to set up the National Accreditation Board and unfortunately the work stalled and there wasn’t any activity beyond this.
Building up the frame work for quality was centered on the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), which came into existence as the Bureau of Ceylon Standards through the BCS Act in 1964 and became the Sri Lanka Standards Institution in 1984 through the Act in 1984.
In the absence of an adequate infrastructure, many regulations issued under different acts such an Import and Export Control Act, Consumer Affairs Authority Act, where many new activities based on the country needs were implemented by SLSI under the powers of these two Acts.
SLSI’s role
In the absence of a well-developed infrastructure for quality, many activities were brought under the SLSI and there were drawbacks in developing these schemes to be on par with the other countries.
Exports: These included the pre-export quality certification program introduced in 1974 as a step in promoting exports. This scheme was introduced under the Export Control Act and examination of exports of prawns and lobsters were brought under mandatory registration of the processing establishments together with the export of minor export crops (now classified as Export Agriculture items).
The mandatory pre-export certification was withdrawn in the late 90s but the registration of fish processing establishments was continued on a voluntary basis until 1998, with the EU Directive on fish exports - EU Directive 90/975/ EEC. With the regulations under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act No. 2 of 996 and the scheme was handed over to the Department of Fisheries.
Imports: The import inspection scheme came into operation in 1988 through the issue of (Standardization and Quality Control) Regulations 1988, issued by the Minter of Trade and Shipping under the Imports and Exports Control Act in1969.
System certification: This certification program based on ISO standards is total failure with certification becoming a ‘white elephant’ without bringing any benefit to the organization.
This scheme became more of a fashion for local industries and the credibility of this scheme was lost due mass scale certification by SLSI as well as other private CBs. This is another national issue the Federation is expected to review.
This certification scheme came into operation to certify organization based on ISO standards and now SLSI operates this scheme in competition with private certification bodies (CBs).
To be continued next week...