Govt servants delay approval as habit: Basil

Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa yesterday criticised Government servants for delaying approval and documentation “as a habit”.

“They keep the letters for a week or two just out of habit without passing them. They have gotten used to it,” he said.

Rajapaksa was addressing the issue of fast tracking the approval system in Government institutions to bring about a better environment for investors to do business in the country.

“Some call for these letters and then just keep them aside even if they are requests that can be approved within a day. They need to approve them soon and pass it on. They should not hold back documentation without a reason.”

Focusing on the secretaries of ministries and senior officials of institutions who were present at the seminar, he said: “People like you in higher positions can give authority to someone else to grant approval for such documents.”