June 07, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Association of Divisional Secretaries and Assistant Divisional Secretaries has announced that its members will no longer take part in official meetings scheduled on Mondays, beginning 8 June, in an effort to safeguard services provided to the public.
According to the association, the decision was reached after growing concerns over the increasing number of meetings convened by government ministries, state agencies and political offices on Mondays, both in person and through virtual platforms.
These meetings, it said, have frequently disrupted routine operations at Divisional Secretariats and limited the time available for officials to address public concerns.
Mondays are officially designated as Public Day, a time set aside for citizens to meet government officials and seek assistance with administrative and community-related matters. The association noted that the scheduling of meetings during these hours has often created delays and inconvenience for members of the public who travel to Divisional Secretariats expecting direct access to officials.
Association President R. Senthil stated that the move is also in line with Public Administration Circular No. 27/2023, which emphasises that public officers should remain available at their workplaces on Public Day and discourages the organisation of official meetings during that period.
He added that the association believes uninterrupted public access to government services should remain the priority and expressed hope that relevant authorities would take steps to ensure future meetings are arranged on alternative days.
