News

Public officials must clearly understand public expectations against corruption and fraud – Secretary to the President

Published

7 months ago

2026/02/1

Priyan

In line with the Government’s programme to build a clean, transparent and corruption-free public service, a workshop to brief heads of 250 state institutions that have been instructed to establish Internal Affairs Units was held on Thursday (29) at the auditorium of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, under the patronage of Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

As the first phase of this programme, Internal Affairs Units were previously established in 106 state institutions and the relevant officers were trained accordingly. As part of the second phase, instructions have been issued to establish Internal Affairs Units in an additional 250 state institutions. Accordingly, this workshop was organised by Presidential Secretariat, with the assistance of the Clean Sri Lanka Programme.

Although Sri Lanka continues to maintain relatively high rankings in sectors such as education and healthcare, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake noted that the country is ranked 121st in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, a position that could adversely affect its overall standing in other key sectors.

Addressing the gathering, the Secretary to the President stated that while the primary slogan of the recent public uprising was against the corrupt politics, the allegations were directed not only at corrupt politicians but also at corrupt public officials. He emphasised that the public uprising occurred at a time when the country had become economically bankrupt and its adverse consequences were being directly felt by the people.

He further observed that such public uprisings are not sudden events, but rather the culmination of a prolonged and systematic process, driven by public frustration and the erosion of trust in governance.

Further addressing the workshop, Secretary to the President emphasised that public uprisings should not be underestimated, noting that they represent a powerful expression of public will.

He stated that it is essential for public officials, as well as politicians, to have a clear understanding of public aspirations and public sentiment. As public servants, he stressed, there is an obligation to deliver a clean, transparent and accountable public service to the people.

Accordingly, he explained that a structured programme has been initiated to strengthen the integrity of public service delivery. The establishment of Internal Affairs Units forms a key component of this initiative, aimed at ensuring greater transparency and accountability within state institutions.

Dr. Kumanayake further noted that public officials must remain mindful of upholding ethical standards while performing their duties, as strengthening individual integrity can contribute to transforming the broader culture of corruption within the public sector.

He highlighted that Internal Affairs Units can be viewed both as a mechanism for fostering a culture of integrity within the public service and as a platform that enables the public to raise concerns regarding the conduct of public officials, thereby strengthening accountability and public trust.

At the event, Additional Secretary to the President, Ms. Chandima Wickramasinghe and Senior Lecturer at the University of Kelaniya, Tharindu Dhananjaya Weerasinghe delivered keynote presentations.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)

Published

54 mins ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.

News

Lanka tracks 11 US-sanctioned Iranian tankers off coast

Published

3 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

(AFP) Sri Lanka’s maritime authorities were monitoring a fleet of 11 US-sanctioned Iranian oil tankers just off the island’s southern coast, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

The tankers were spotted close to the Galle harbour where an Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, was sunk by a US submarine in March, killing 104 sailors. Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from that frigate.

Iranian vessels have been in limbo, unable to return to their home port because of a US blockade.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign minister Vijitha Herath said the tankers were in international waters where they had freedom of navigation.

“These ships are away from our territorial waters… we have no hold on them, nor have we facilitated them,” Herath told AFP.

The military deployed reconnaissance aircraft and patrol boats to monitor the vessels outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, a military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“There is no indication of any ship-to-ship transfer of oil or illegal discharge of pollutants, so there is no basis for Sri Lankan authorities to take action against them,” the official said.

Many Iranian merchant vessels moved east towards the Strait of Malacca and Singapore due to US sanctions, while several remained near Sri Lankan waters, authorities said.

Sri Lankan officials said Washington had not formally notified Colombo about sanctioned Iranian-flagged vessels

News

House to debate abolition of Chief of Defence Staff post

Published

3 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

Parliament is to debate next Wednesday the Government’s proposal to abolish the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), with the Second Reading of the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Bill scheduled for September 9.

The Bill seeks to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009, which was introduced shortly after the end of the armed conflict.

According to Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, Parliament will meet from September 8 to 11, with the business for the week approved by the Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.

The debate on the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Bill is scheduled to take place from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, following questions to the Prime Minister and other parliamentary business.

The CDS post was established under the 2009 Act as part of the country’s higher defence command structure.

On Tuesday, September 8, the House will consider two Orders published in Extraordinary Gazettes under the Motor Traffic Act from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by an Opposition motion at the adjournment.

On Thursday, September 10, Parliament will debate a Resolution under the Women’s Empowerment Act.

The final sitting day of the week, Friday, September 11, has been allocated from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. for several Private Members’ Motions.

The motions will cover issues including regulation of the petroleum, fuel and water industries, measures to increase the birth rate, protection of the Diyagama Forest, pension deductions affecting Pirivena teachers, food-crop cultivation in mountainous areas, development of the Kithul industry and the establishment of a Faculty of Medicine at South Eastern University.

Questions at the adjournment will be taken up at the end of each sitting day.