SL president pledges to pursue consistent public policies
Sri Lanka needs consistent public policies putting an end to the practice of changing it after each and every general election, said President Maithripala Sirisena when he addressed the closing ceremony of the two-day Economic Summit of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo on Wednesday.
File Photo of President Maithripala Sirisena
All previous governments have changed polices to suit their political agenda and shifted top officials in state institutions from one place to another hindering the progress of public service, he said adding it is essential to re-build the confidence in the public sector to achieve economic prosperity.
A national government is to be formed after the general election to lay the foundation to implement long term policies with a strong bureaucracy for the benefit of the people, he revealed.
All sectors of the economy should be handled by competent and honest public servants and they must work with a vision in transparency, dignity and integrity to move the country towards new era, he said, adding that the need of the hour is a paradigm shift from attitudes of officials to move the country forward. The public service should not be used to cater to the needs of a segment of society and undermine others, he emphasised. The President pledged to extend fullest support for private sector businesses to operate in a free environment and added that the public sector should maintain close relations with the private sector to develop the country’s economy.
Measures would be taken to make state agencies business oriented and more efficient in order to achieve economic targets. He stressed the need to look into new sectors such as marine-based industries to diversify exports and form a link between different segments of business.
The President also called on the private sector to pay attention on sustainable development, increase productivity and invest in technology as well as research and development. The present government ended the era of political interference on every entrepreneur from high level businessmen to the rambutan seller in the street, he said.
Sri Lanka is now maintaining a non-aligned foreign policy strengthening relations with all countries alike; he said adding that “we cannot be friends with one section of the world and enemies with another”.