Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena requested from the newly appointed government officials to render an effective service to the country.
The Prime Minister made this statement at the award ceremony held on 15.07.2024 at Temple Trees to grant appointments for 43 persons who passed the limited competitive examination for recruitment to grade III of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service and eight persons who passed the limited competitive examination for recruitment to grade III of the Sri Lanka Planning Service and who have not yet been referred for the positions.
On this occasion the Prime Minister stated that-
"You, who have passed the competitive examinations in the public service and planning service, have achieved an opportunity to move up as seniors in the public service. Your service is essential to the country. The future of the country is decided on the meaning of the words “public service” and “planning”. To decide the future, it is necessary to have a very good understanding between the people, you, and the government of the people’s representatives. In the future, provide effective service to the country adhering to principles..."
State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura-
"You can provide a very good service to the people of the country through public service. Even though the public service recruitments were suspended, we fulfilled the essentials needs. So far, posts for essential services such as graduates, multi-task officers, teachers and nursing staff have been appointed and confirmed.
The number of people getting high positions in the public service before retirement has decreased. We worked to fill that gap. A committee headed by the Secretary to the Prime Minister is appointed and on recruitments and has authorized to make appointments. You should increase the quality of government service and make people’s work easier. Provide prompt service when someone comes to your establishment. That is what they expect from public servants. If the public service is going to protest daily, not the politicians, but the people of the country will suffer.
If anything has to be done for the government employees, our Prime Minister will do it without any hesitation. These appointments could be given quickly because of his dedication."
Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake-
"Public service recruitment had been suspended. The government has not changed that policy decision yet. The Prime Minister informed the committee of the opinion that it is essential to employ the services of qualified officials who have sat for the competitive examination for recruitment to administrative service, for a specific purpose. The Prime Minister informed that the lack of these positions has affected the execution of the most important work of the government, so special approval should be taken for in that regard. Your appointments were given only after it was submitted to the Cabinet and approved.
We have pointed out about the shortage of grade III officials in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, to strengthen the regional economic process, food security and regional development process, which had affected the backwardness of the country’s economic process. In the face of economic crisis that occured with long-term war and the Covid epidemic, the new government that is about to be established, when you are on duty full-time, you have a huge set of responsibilities with a new agenda in front of you. It is your responsibility to lead other staff towards the expected development goals. As future managers of the public service, may you have the strength to move forward with a future vision..."
Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration Pradeep Yasaratne, Director General and officials of Development Administration Center, and appointees of Sri Lanka Administrative Service and Sri Lanka Planning Service participated in this event.
Prime Minister’s Media