State to back committed officials
Rasika SOMARATHNA
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that state officials who
take decisions in good faith and show dedication and commitment, in
their service to the public would always be protected and backed by the
State.
The President said that public servants should not show reluctance in
taking firm decisions which they think would benefit the public.
He noted that even decisions taken by officials in good faith with
the ultimate beneficiary being the public in mind, produce faulty
results, the entire state sector was prepared to back them.
The President noted the above addressing a batch of new entrants to
the Sri Lanka Administrative Service at Temple Trees yesterday.
On the occasion 135 new entrants who succesfully completed the Sri
Lanka Administrative Service Exam in 2009 were presented with their
appointment letters.
The President who spoke prior to presenting appointment letters told
them to keep in mind that 'service to the people is a service to the
god'.
He advised them not to delay the work which should be done today to
tomorrow. And added they should also attend to public needs without
delay.
"Make sure that People who come to you with tears in their eyes goes
back with a smile in their face" he added.
"Today there is a conducive environment for the public servants to
work free from intimidation. You can work in any part of the island from
Point Pedro to Dondra Head without fear " he said.
President Rajapaksa said that a research done by President's
Secretary Lalith Weeratunge had revealed that public servants actually
engage in their entrusted work only for three hours and 20 minutes from
their stipulated seven hours and 40 minutes work time for a day.
He said that such workers should tap into their own hearts and ask
whether it was proper and justifiable. But also there are others who
work round the clock with dedication to serve the public, he added.
He pointed out that some state officials of the past such as Leonard
Woolf and many others were even today remembered with fond memories due
to their dedication to serve the public. Their memoirs are beneficial
even today to the country, he said.
He also told the new officials to set an example and lead from the
front in protecting the countrye's culture, heritage and its customs.
He said that he saw an incident recently where people even danced
when the National Anthem was being played and added that such incidents
should be prevented.
He urged the newly appointed officials to supplement the Government's
efforts to take the country towards prosperity.
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