More facilities for public servants

Shirley Wijesinghe

COLOMBO: A host of privileges including housing facilities, foreign training, official quarters and low interest loans will be granted to public servants, said Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya yesterday.

More than 2,000 houses are being constructed in Kundasale, Habaraduwa and another 25,000 housing units will be built at the Summit Flats premises in Colombo for public servants.

The discussions would be carried out with State banks to increase the loan facility without reducing the amount due to the fluctuation of interest rates.

An opportunity to develop the skills of public servants through foreign training has been drawn by the Ministry.

The Minister reviewed the progress of the last three months of his office after the recent reshuffle of the Cabinet.

He said that more than 6500 public grievances have been solved at the last "Jana Sathkara Seva" held in Monaragala.

The Ministry has already planned to accommodate Grama Niladari, Samurdhi Niladari, Agricultural Extension Officers and Health Officers/PHIs under one roof likely to be named the Gramaseva Secretariat Office, Jayasuriya said. Mobile phone facilities will also be given to every Grama Niladari in the country. More than 2,000 Grama Niladaris will be recruited through the competitive examination held recently. There will be no political interference in these appointments.

The main aim of providing these facilities was restoring a people friendly public service in the country.

Therefore all public officers should follow a Citizens Charter which has been scheduled to be implemented from Aug 01, 2007, he said. The Citizens Charter will provide a clear guideline to the public to get an idea about the duration of the time needed for certain official requirements.

The Home Affairs Minister Chandrasiri Gajadheera and Public Administration and Home Affairs Secretary D. Dissanayake also addressed the Media.