Think of ordinary masses, President tells Govt servants

Chaminda PERERA

Over 1,000 employees in the Road Development Authority (RDA) working on a casual basis were made permanent by the Government recently. These employees received their appointment letters from President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday.

The majority of employees who were made permanent yesterday were labourers while clerks, drivers and peons also received appointment letters from the President and other Ministers yesterday.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Government employees should keep in mind what the masses except from them.

He said the Government has fulfilled its responsibility by confirming them and it is time for them to discharge their duties properly.

Government servants depend on public funds and it's their duty to provide maximum service to the people, the President said.

Highways Minister T.B. Ekanayake, Deputy Highways Minister W.B. Ekanayake and Ministry Secretary Admiral Dr. Wasantha Karannagoda were also present.

This is the second time that the Highways Ministry made permanent such a large number of casual employees. Over 5,000 employees were made permanent by the Ministry in 2007 on President Rajapaksa's directive.