President intervenes to remedy public sector breakdown

President Maithripala Sirisena has taken prompt action to remedy the current breakdown in day-to-day state administrative functions in the public service as a result of political uncertainty for almost four weeks.

The President has directed his secretary Udaya R. Seneviratne to immediately look into concerns expressed by senior officials of state institutions who were reluctant to carry out orders of new superiors due to doubts of legitimacy of their appointments under the present political environment.

This matter was highlighted last week in the Business Times as a matter of public interest quoting highly reliable official sources as a lead news item under the heading “Public officials in a bind”.

In a circular, President's Secretary Mr. Seneviratne has issued instructions pertaining to appointing Director Boards to state institutions.

The circular states that until further notice, all vacant positions in Director Boards should be filled by either a qualified official functioning in the level of an additional secretary or by any other qualified state employee or retired state employee.

The circular also directed ministry secretaries to keep the President's Secretary informed after finalising the new appointments.

Ministry secretaries have been directed to take necessary action to make such appointments with right persons possessing required qualifications preventing any accusations or complaints on political bias.

The Presidential Secretariat has notified all heads of government departments, chairmen of state corporations, statutory boards and state banks to step down as the tenure of the existing Cabinet of Ministers stands dissolved.

The newly appointed Acting Director General of Gover nment Information Nalaka Kaluwewa issued the relevant notification recently on the directions of the President.