Rishad to position Ministry for ‘Wonder of Asia’ thrust

The manner in which the pride of place of Sri Lanka’s Administrative Services has been restored by President Mahinda Rajapaksa by strengthening it and affording it the strategic role in our country’s development is vividly remembered, said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the special 2012 first working day kick-off of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce held yesterday at the Ministry premises at Colombo 3. The session was a result of the Ministry’s new plan to position itself towards Sri Lanka’s ‘Wonder of Asia’ push and also to effect attitudinal changes among the Ministerial staff of all ranks in line with the new vision.

This stipulation has been made by the Government Circular No. 33/2011 of 23 December 2011. More than 160 Ministry staff, consisting of top Ministry officials, department heads, statutory institutional reps and other staff of all ranks, were present at this special kick-off.

Explaining the course of Sri Lanka’s Administrative Services, Minister Bathiudeen said: “We vividly remember as to how the pride of place of Sri Lanka’s Administrative Services has been restored by President Mahinda Rajapaksa by strengthening it and affording it the strategic role in our country’s development, specially at a time when the service was facing a definite decline due to suspension of new recruits and also due to the general abandonment of it. We need to understand that we are now given an immense responsibility under the ‘Wonder of Asia’ reconstruction and rebuilding framework of Sri Lanka led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Minister Bathiudeen said.

“I stress that time has come for all the Government servants to change their attitudes in line with ‘Wonder of Asia’ concept. It makes us happy to hear that Sri Lanka is now among the four fastest growing countries in the world. We are also reaching our annual export target of $ 10 b for 2011 and our third quarter GDP has recorded 8.4% growth. These positive results are due to the commitments made by all of us, together. The Government Circular No. 33/2011 of December 2011 therefore stipulates that we, as Government servants, need now to position for the ‘Wonder of Asia’ goal,” Minister Bathiudeen added.

Thanking the staff of the MI&C for their efforts in 2011, Minister Bathiudeen said: “As the Minister in charge of this institution, I commend and thank you, the committed Ministry staff, for your valuable efforts to achieve the 2011 set targets of this Ministry. I do not have any doubts that you will continue to extend your support to this Ministry in 2012 too, to make Sri Lanka the ‘Wonder of Asia.’”