Courtesy Ceylon Today

The general public hailed the stern action taken by the Government against a handful of workers and former employees of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to ensure smooth supply of fuel. When a section of the striking CPC workers tried to physically stop those who wanted to report for work, the Government had no alternative other than to send the workers who did not report for work on compulsory leave and banned them from entering the CPC premises.

After the strict disciplinary action, Power and Energy Ministry commenced fuel distribution at the Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela terminals within 24 hours and ended the possible shortage at petrol stations. As a small group of strikers tried to use intimidatory tactics to prevent distribution of fuel, it became necessary to deploy the Police and military to assist the CPC to ensure that adequate fuel supplies are distributed across the country. Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said  action will be taken against employees who act in violation of the Essential Service Orders.

Referring to the use of strike action for political ends, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said public servants have no right to refuse to perform their official duties. It is your responsibility. It is our bonded duty. No public servant can refuse to perform his or her duties. I don’t accept that,” he said and warned, Otherwise, you can go into private service without being a public servant. I urge the public service to utilise the time that can be transformed for the development of our country.”

Addressing the Kurunegala District Progress Review Meeting of ‘Aluth Gamak Aluth Ratak’ the National Integration Participatory Development Programme for Empowering Rural Economic Revitalisation Centres held in the North Western Provincial Council Auditorium in Kurunegala he said all public servants were paid  salaries even during the most unprecedented economic crisis faced since Independence. Opportunities to revive the economy continue to be reframed amidst the difficulties of the people. This programme should be reviewed from time to time. As the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Administration, I earnestly request that the public service to genuinely commit itself to implement the economic revival programmes with efficiency,” he said.

Since last year, Sri Lanka lost billions of rupees worth human resource output due to strikes, protests and vandalism. A few years ago, government workers in Sri Lanka became the laughing stock among other public services in the world when one of our trade unions resorted to strike action against the installation of fingerprint machines to mark attendance.

Sri Lanka is among the top in the list of countries with too many holidays. In spite of enjoying all the holidays, half-day leave, short leave and other privileges, workers use other ruses to abstain from work, Sri Lankan trade unions brazenly resisted all attempts by the authorities at least to get the government servants to attend office at the stipulated time and to prevent their departure from office ahead of the closure of office.

Many studies, surveys and evaluations have found the vast majority of government servants to be inefficient, lethargic under-performers. The analyses have concluded the output of public servants is as low as 25% of their required services. In rough arithmetic, the total output of 1.6 million public servants tantamount merely to the total output of 400,000 workers.

Hence, there is no reason to be shocked about the plain truth uttered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and some courageous ministry’ secretaries about the expectations of the duties and services of  government servants.

Without mincing words President Wickremesinghe said public service in Sri Lanka is not an eight-hour job and urged public servants to work overtime to make the cash-strapped island a prosperous nation this year. Each person’s duties cannot be limited to eight hours a day and five days a week. Let’s all work with commitment. By the end of 2023, I hope to take this country forward with the support of all of you and restore normalcy,” he said.

The people are well aware that the country was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis last year due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves that also sparked political turmoil. In these circumstances no public servant can shirk responsibility as 2023 was a crucial year for the country’s economy.

Further elaborating the current needs, the Premier urged public servants to work together as inheritors of a nation with a bright future. This is the moment to announce the pledge and resolve to work with commitment for the betterment of the nation,” he said.

He said the Government led by President Wickremesinghe is committed to achieve the targets in the next 25 years on behalf of all the Sri Lankans with determination and commitment to ensure reaching the goal by the time the country marks 100 years of independence in 2048.

In fact, a larger responsibility is assigned to the public service. We are dedicated to the process of bringing efficiency, orderliness and effectiveness of public service to the people and to the entire country,” the Prime Minister said.We are currently going through one of the most challenging times in history. As the Prime Minister, I appeal to you to extend your hand and fulfil all the duties of the public service to become a developed, modern and a self-sufficient country and to build a new generation that will embrace new developments in various fields” he added.

It is high time public servants take the warnings given by the President, Prime Minister and Ministers seriously and realise that they are public servants and their duty is to serve the public.