Secretaries must ensure smooth functioning of ministries, Sri Lanka President says

Appointing the secretaries to the ministries yesterday Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the services of the ministry secretaries are vital to achieve the development goals of the government and every secretary should personally ensure their respective ministries are functioning smoothly
.Addressing 53 newly appointed secretaries yesterday at the Temple Trees, the President urged them not to confine themselves to the seats they hold, but to work for the people as friendly and practical public servants.


"The foremost duty of the public servant is to make the people's aspirations a reality through hard work and commitment," he told the secretaries.
"Responding to people's requests is mandatory for every secretary and they should personally look into the Ministry�s functions and see to its smooth functioning," he said.
President Rajapaksa said it is mandatory for the secretaries of the ministries to hold monthly progress meetings with the respective minister.
The President also called upon the newly appointed Secretaries to contribute their fullest to carry out the Mahinda Chinthana program effectively.
President Rajapaksa told the appointees that they are also vested with great responsibility of their relevant Ministry similar to the ministers and they have a duty towards the entire nation instead of a limited region or district.
The President told the Secretaries of the Ministries to pay special attention to underdeveloped and underprivileged areas.
"No government officer will be able to cheat me since I have a sound knowledge about the state sector of the country," the President cautioned.