Despite financial limitations, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has emphasized the responsibility of government officials to allocate and utilize funds efficiently and equitably, aligning with development priorities outlined in the recent budget.
This was highlighted during a meeting held today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat, where the President engaged in discussions with Ministry Secretaries, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
The President underscored the need for high levels of accountability in managing government expenses and acknowledged public dissatisfaction with the inefficiencies within the public sector. He noted that concerns over employment conditions among government employees have contributed to these inefficiencies and stressed the importance of addressing them to improve overall service delivery.
To further reduce administrative costs, the President pointed out that as expenses have been cut at the Cabinet level, state institutions must also take steps to minimize wastage. Several cost-cutting measures were discussed, including:
- Relocating government offices to state-owned buildings
- Auctioning high-maintenance ministerial vehicles by March
- Removing unused office equipment
- Identifying institutions for closure, mergers, or public-private partnerships
The meeting was attended by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister G.P. Saputhanthri, and other Ministry Secretaries.
