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| Tuesday, 04 January 2005 |
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Politics | |
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| Public servants must put country before self - President President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday urged public servants to redouble their efforts to serve the people, putting country before self at a time when the Nation has faced an unprecedented disaster. "We have to make a bigger dedication on behalf of the country at this moment. We must forget ourselves and think about the general public, including the thousands affected by the December 26 tragedy," President Kumaratunga said. The President was addressing Presidential Secretariat staff at a simple function held to mark the first working day of the new year. Staff attached to the Presidential Secretariat started work for the new year (2005) yesterday after making a solemn pledge to render a sincere and efficient service in keeping with the directive issued by the President to all Public Servants a fortnight ago. President Kumaratunga said: Today we started work for the year 2005 after doing something special. We joined in singing the National Anthem and took a solemn pledge to serve the people in a sincere and efficient manner. We have resolved to do a dedicated and sincere service not only this year but also in the years ahead. The Government advised to do this several weeks ago, much before the December 26 disaster. But, under the present scenario, it is significant more than ever before to start work in this manner making this pledge. I need not elaborate the reasons for it. The President said, we are starting work for the new year at a time when we have to make a bigger dedication on behalf of the country which has come across a big tragedy unprecedented in the annals of its history. Before December 26 we had come into an important cross road after steering the country forward properly under the 'Rata Perata' program. We had to make a big sacrifice to steer the country forward from there. But, today we are forced to make even bigger sacrifice for the sake of the country. Therefore I wish to request Public Servants to forget about self for a moment and first think about the general public who are sustaining them by footing their salary bills." The President said she sincerely hoped that all Public Servants would work in this manner to improve the lot of the general public. She said "Everyone of you are aware that I have set up an operations room and I am working from my office to bring quick relief to the masses affected by the natural disaster. Reconstruction work of all damaged infrastructure facilities including housing would be started from January 15. Once this work starts you as members of the Presidential Secretariat which houses the operations room will have to put in almost 10 times more than the work performed by the ordinary Public Servant. Therefore, let us all resolve once more to perform this vital responsibility." |
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