State emblem must on govt vehicles

Ridma Dissanayake

Minister W D J Seneviratne

Displaying the state emblem on all government vehicles deployed in District Secretariat Offices and Divisional Secretariat Offices will be made compulsory, Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W D J Seneviratne said.

"We have received a number of complaints from several areas of the country that district and divisional level administrative officers are misusing official vehicles," the minister said.

Addressing the District Secretaries Summit at the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA), the minister said disciplinary action will be taken against administrative officers and drivers using government vehicles for purposes other than official work.

"A majority of complaints are reported from the Anuradhapura district. An illegal drug smuggling racket in Thanamalwila area by a vehicle belonging to the Thanamalwila Divisional Secretariat has also been reported. Displaying the state emblem on state vehicles is a must due to this," Minister Seneviratne said. Sometimes drivers of state officials use the vehicles for their own needs. They bring a bad name to the officials, he said.

All government officers should work in a responsible manner and honour their profession, the minister said.Public Administration and Home Affairs Deputy Minister Wijaya Dahanayake, Ministry Secretary P B Abeykoon and Additional Secretaries Jagath Chandrasiri and J Dadallage were present