Present Govt. has strengthened the public sector by increasing the number to 1.5 million - Presi...
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the public now have a greater faith on the government due to strengthening of the public service. He said previously, more confidence was placed in the private sector than the state service but his government always believed that the state sector could deliver an efficient service to the public rather than the private sector. Accordingly the present government has rendered a significant service on behalf of the state sector by expanding public services he added.
President Rajapaksa was addressing a ceremony held at the Koggala Investment Zone on Wednesday (22). The ceremony was held to handover motorcycles to 6,431 Field Officers in the Galle District.
The President emphasised that it is the responsibility of all government servants to ensure an efficient service to the public and if it cannot be done there is no purpose in strengthening the public sector.
The President recalled how the previous government took measures to slash public sector cadre through "Yali Pubudamu Sri Lanka" programme. He further said that the policy of the 2001-2004 government was to transfer all responsibilities of state sector to the private sector thinking that it will ease government's burden. They had a target to slash the public sector to 300,000 from 700,000 whereas the present government has increased the number to 1.5 million.
Participants at the event were Senior Minister Piyasena Gamage, Minister Gunarathna Weerakoon, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody, Deputy Minister Nishantha Mutuhettigama, Parliamentarians Manusha Nanayakkara, Ramesh Pathirana, Souther Province Governor Kumari Balasuriya, Chief Minister Shan Wijelal de Silva.(KH)
