News
Public asked for suggestions to revise Establishments Code
The Government has asked for public suggestions to revise the Establishments Code that governs the conduct of public officials.
“It has been a longstanding demand that the Establishment Code be revised and we have appointed a committee that is now looking into this possibility,” said Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne.
“Perhaps the government service can be made more efficient if certain obstacles are removed,” he said. “It will be up to the committee to decide what these impediments are and in what manner they can be taken out.”
The Establishments Code was first introduced in 1971 and comprises service conditions, privileges and rights of public officials. It includes provisions related to promotions, discipline and financial disclosure. The Code has been periodically modified.
A public notice by the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs says, however, that “no structural change has so far been introduced”.
It is intended to revise the Code after considering the views and suggestions of the general public, the notice says. The objective is cited as the achievement of development goals in keeping with the standards of a middle income country.
The public have been invited to send their input on provisions of the Establishments Code to be revised, new provisions to be included in the Code, provisions to be removed from it and other relevant matters. A deadline of March 14, 2014 has been given.