'Officials should keep up with legislative dynamics'

Sandasen MARASINGHE

Top government officials should be updated with the developments in the legislature to pass the benefits of the development projects conducted by the executive to the public at the grass roots level, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sumedha G Jayasena.

The minister was addressing a two day training programme on How to Assist the Members of Parliament to Deliver an Effective Service to the Public conducted by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry recently.

The workshop was organized at the Jaffna District Secretariat for the personnel staff of the Members of Parliament in the Northern Province, Divisional Secretaries, Additional District Secretaries and other top public servants in the province to give them better understanding to support the members of parliament to execute development programmes. More than 150 public servants participated.

Minister Jayasena said the participants in the workshop have to play a pivotal role in implementing development projects initiated after defeating LTTE terrorism.

She said special attention should be paid to the development of human resources in addition to development in education, health, highways, bridges, electricity, housing and other areas. She said if the ministry secretaries and other public officials do not pay attention to public affairs, there could be more room for corruption, misuse and waste of public money.

Northern Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri, MPs Unais Farook, and Saravanapavan also participated.

Secretary to the Parliamentary affairs Ministry P S Princy Jayathunga, Deputy Chairman of Committee in Parliament Murugesu Chandrakumar, Minister DEW Gunasekara, Legislative Services of Parliament Director Jagath Gajaweeraarachchige, Act and Bills Bureau of Parliament Assistant Director N S G Thachchanarani, Director (planning) of Jaffna District Secretariat R Mohaneswaran and Jaffna Additional District Secretary R Warthalingam also addressed the the workshop.