Provincial leaders to energize rural economy

The Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry has given 12 scholarships to additional district secretaries, divisional secretaries and additional divisional secretaries, awarded by the Korean government under the KOICA training program.

Participants will attend seminars and workshops related to local public sector management during their three week stay in Korea under this program.

Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W D J Seneviratne at a meeting at the Ministry, stressed the need to uplift the standards of the rural masses and to get them out of their negative thinking waves.

“Hopefully after completing the program, leaders of the provincial administration will be able to start at least one new project towards dispelling poverty within rural sector, promoting infrastructure facilities, developing rural environment and creating a market for rural products,” the Minister said.

The criterion for these selections are purely based on merit, the Minister said. Those who have won national productivity awards and ISO standards during their tenure have got this opportunity, Seneviratne said.

Additional District Secretary, Jaffna, R Virithalingam said she had been in the administrative sector for nearly 30 years and the first ever chance she got is quite worthy to serve the people in Jaffna.

Divisional Secretary, Gampola Nimal Balasooriya said though he had won several awards for his work during his 20 year career this is the first time it has been reckoned.

Paying more attention to the divisional administration by the Minister is a progressive sign, he added. Ministry Secretary P B Abeykoon, Additional Secretary Padma Siriwardena and several senior staff officers also participated.