Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera yesterday said that the Sri Lanka is currently facing ‘severe financial difficulties’.

However, he said that despite the financial difficulties, “Sri Lanka is the only government in the world that had paid salaries and allowances to over 1.5 million public servants and over 600,000 retirees on time without any deductions.”

Mr. Jayasundera administered the oath by his staff marking the commencement of official duties by public servants in the year 2021.
The entire public service should be sincerely committed to an efficient and effective public service as per the “Saubhagyaye Dekma” policy framework, Secretary to the President said speaking at the event.

“The country is moving towards professional leadership”, he said. Mr. Jayasundera said the President hoped for a public service that would fulfil the aspirations of the people under "New Normal" situation that has evolved following the COVID-19 epidemic.

The government led by President Rajapaksa is committed to protect the public servant. The Secretary to the President emphasized that it is the responsibility of all public servants to commit themselves to render best of their service to the country.