Restrictions for officials over online meetings

The Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration has instructed top government officials to only hold online meetings with District and Divisional Secretaries on Tuesdays and Fridays following complaints from the public that the officials were frequently unavailable due to such meetings.

The circular by Public Administration Ministry Secretary Ranjith Asoka and addressed to all Ministry Secretaries, Chief Secretaries of the Provinces and Heads of Department, notes that it has been reported that the general public “has to face various difficulties since the opportunity given for them to discuss their issues with the District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries is insufficient, as the said officials are frequently called for various online meetings and discussions held within the duty hours on working days of the week organized by public institutions.”

Accordingly, the circular has stressed that online meetings with District Secretaries and/or Divisional Secretaries should be conducted strictly on Tuesday and Friday of the week in future.