Public servants directed to buckle down from new year

• All public servants to take oath pledging to work towards efficient and productive service
• Oath to be read aloud in language of choice at new year ceremonies islandwide  
• Dedication, honesty and loyalty to the public part of the pledge
• Main ceremony at Presidential Secretariat on 1 Jan.

By Chandani Kirinde

All public officials will be required to take an oath/affirmation on the first working day of year 2020 pledging to work towards an efficient and productive public service, under a directive issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government S. Hettiarachchi.

All public servants will be required to read aloud the oath, which has been sent to all secretaries to ministries, chief secretaries of provinces, heads of departments and heads of State corporations/statutory boards, in any language convenient to them at the ceremonies held to commence work for the new year.

In the oath the public servants will pledge, as employees paid by the public, to create a people-centred economy through development of physical resources focusing on sustainable environment management and to perform the role entrusted to them in the implementation of public policies and goals, efficiently, productively, with firm determination, utmost dedication, honesty, and with loyalty to the public, with a view to meet the challenges of developing the motherland. Ministry Secretary Hettiarachchi said the program of action consisting of 10 key policies was aimed at achieving a fourfold outcome.

These include a productive citizenry, a happy family, a disciplined society and a prosperous nation which has been outlined in the policy statement ‘Vistas of prosperity and splendour’ by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Public servants have hence been told to make a change in attitudes to ensure a committed service for the betterment of present and future generations while keeping in mind the achievement of macro-economic targets as the sole objective considering year 2020 as the base year.

The main official ceremony in this connection will be held at 9:30 a.m. on 1 January at the Presidential Secretariat under the auspices of Secretary to the President Dr. P. B. Jayasundera. Similar programs will be held at all Government institutions and offices representing national, provincial, district and divisional levels running concurrently to the main ceremony.