Massive funds allocated for each DS to buy Maha paddy harvest

Shirley Wijesinghe

The Government has allocated large amounts of funds for each District Secretariat to purchase the total paddy harvest during the next Maha season.

The decision was announced at the District Secretaries' Meeting at the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry on Thursday chaired by Home Affairs Minister Chandrasiri Gajadheera.

The Minister said public officers should improve their knowledge on a topic more than the public on certain official matters when discharging their duties. Otherwise some repercussions could rise, he said.

More than 600,000 voters were unable to cast their votes at the recent Provincial Council Election due to a lack of proper management system related with issuing birth and death certificates. This situation adversely affected the issuing of National Identity Cards and creates a bad impression of the public service, Minister Gajadheera said.

He gave an example of a Divisional Secretariat which had been unable to utilise the allocations within the prescribed time only two of the 11 projects initiated by this DS became fruition due to inefficiency and poor planning in the public service.

"I do not tolerate this kind of bureaucracy on the part of public officers. The Government allocates plenty of money for the welfare of the people. The funds should be utilised fruitfully with maximum benefits to the people," Minister stressed.

He said that the Government will take necessary measures to fill vacancies in State institutions in rural areas as the people face many difficulties due to a dearth of officers.

Ministry Secretary D. Disanayake and officials from the Ministries of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Highways and Roads Development, Electrical Power and Energy and Construction and Engineering Services were also present.