“Today, some persons in the public service are refraining from signing for documents due to a fear that they will have to face investigations against the financial crimes,” says President Maithripala Sirisena. 

“But the officials who execute their duties in a proper manner will never have to face such investigations,” he added.

Addressing the 33rd Annual General Meeting of Sri Lanka Administrative Service at the Nelum Pokuna today (29), the President stated that the government is prepared to be with the government officials who fulfill their responsibilities for the people.

The President said the Government has taken steps to adopt 19th Amendment to the Constitution as a prime step to make the good governance concept a reality and through this initiative many steps have been taken to prevent political vengeance in the public sector. 

“Today, the public officials have an opportunity to fulfill their duties and responsibilities without the interference of politicians while protecting the dignity of their service,” he said.

The President recalled that he became the head of state from a minor position in the public service as a result of loosing it due to political revenge.

President Sririsena further said that since he was a Minister and even after he was elected to the office of President, he is taking lunch prepared at the home and recalling a statement made by a priest recently by saying that kings should take their lunch in a lavish way, the President said that he is not ready to  fulfill his duties as a king and those statements are utterly immaterial in an environment where the Government is working to create a just society where the President, state officials and the general public will receive equal opportunities.

President Sirisena said that he will not dismiss in contempt the struggles made by the state officials to win their privileges and further said he believes in a similar way they will fulfill their responsibilities and duties to create a public service which is free from fraud, waste and corruption under the good governance concept.