Govt. aims to strengthen State sector: President

Tuesday, 15 July 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday reiterated that his Government’s policy is to expand the public service by strengthening the State sector. He noted that previously more confidence was placed in the private sector by destabilising the State service and the present Government has rendered a significant service on behalf of the State sector by expanding public services. The President made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the newly-constructed headquarters building of the 208-year-old Sri Lanka Department of Customs. The new state-of-the-art office complex of the Customs Department was constructed at a cost of Rs. 4 billion. The 11-storey building, built near the Charmer’s jetty in Colombo Fort and bordered by the Beira Lake on one side, includes a state-of-the-art auditorium, a restaurant, a museum and car parking facilities. The new building will have all the high-tech implements, with a public addressing system, new telecommunications, data cabling, access controlling and CCTV monitoring being some of the key features of the building.

Managed through a modern Building Management System (BMS), which controls the entire building through one control room, it also boasts a stylish aluminum façade, which underlines its presence as a modern architectural landmark in the city. Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Secretary to the Finance Ministry Dr. P. B. Jayasundera and Director General of Customs Jagath P. Wijeweera were also present at the occasion.