'Appoint qualified, devoted officials to provincial public service'

In appointing officials to the provincial public service, people with qualifications, experience, honesty and devotion must be identified as such officers are needed to execute quality service in the province, said Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasooriya.

She was speaking as the chief guest at the ceremony to bid farewell to the outgoing Chairman of Southern Province Public Service Commission Walter W Seneviratne and to welcome the new Chairman H W Wijeratne, a former Southern Province Chief Secretary, at the Governor's Secretariat on Tuesday.

Committed, diligent and straightforward public officials are a precious asset for good governance and the Southern Province Chief Minister and the provincial ministers can be content for having a host of such officials in the Southern Province Public Service, said Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasooriya.

She expressed appreciation of the Southern Provincial public service for its efficient and devoted service. "Majority of provincial state officers are punctual and efficient in performing their duties," she said.

Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal de Silva, Chief Secretary M C Dissanayake, Governor's Secretry U D C Jayalal and Public Service Commission Secretary M Y S Deshapriya, SP Service Commission past Chairman Walter Seneviratne and new Chairman H W Wijerathne also spoke.