Be dedicated to the public, Sri Lanka President tells new ministers

The people gave an overwhelming majority to the government with hope and expectations and the new ministers and deputy ministers need to dedicate themselves to fulfill the aspirations of the people, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.



Addressing the newly appointed Cabinet and Deputy Ministers at the Presidential Secretariat after the swearing-in ceremony Friday (23), President Rajapaksa told the cabinet members to safeguard the confidence public placed in them.

President Rajapaksa said all ministerial portfolios were equally important and each and every one of them is crucial to the country's development. The Cabinet is collectively responsible for the decisions taken by the ministers and they should have an in-depth knowledge of the working of their ministries, he said.

The public have fully approved the government's programs and have given an unprecedented mandate to the present government to continue the progress and therefore, the ministers must work collaboratively in and outside the parliament to achieve common goals for the benefit of the general public, President stressed.

President Rajapaksa urged the senior ministers to be exemplary in their conduct and set an example to the newly elected young parliamentarians.