• Says top officials free to support a party provided they first resign 
• Wants focus on reducing losses of State enterprises instead 
• Strictly no abuse to State resources 
• Committed to people-centric political culture devoid of petty agendas

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday advised all Heads and members of Board of Directors of State entities including Corporations and Statutory Boards not to engage in political activities in favour of any political party during the upcoming General Election, the President’s Media Division said in a statement.

If any Head or Board Member wishes to extend his or her support to any political party, they are free do so after rendering formal resignation from the current position.

The President does not expect Heads and officials of State organisations to engage in politics for the Government. Instead, they should develop their organisations into effective, corruption-free, productive, disciplined and profit-making entities. The State organisations are run with public money. They should not be a burden to the people. 

President stresses that physical assets such as vehicles and equipment or financial assets belonging to Ministries, Departments, Corporations and Statutory Boards should not be utilised for any political activity in support of any political party during the forthcoming General Election.

The law will be strictly enforced against those Heads, Board of Directors and officials of State organisations who violate these directives. The Government under the leadership of the President is committed to build a strong State, a developed economy and to establish a fair and just society and a people-centric political culture devoid of petty political agendas. 

President seeks the cooperation of the State sector and its heads and officials to meet this objective.

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