President urges solution of longstanding issues at Excise Department

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday directed relevant officials at the Excise Department to find immediate solutions to long standing institutional issues. The President instructed the officials to look for remedies at the institutional level, for issues pertaining to expediting the preparation of service charter, recruitments and promotions.

These issues were identified and solutions were recommended during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, with the collective of Trade Unions of the Department of Excise. The President pointed out that the trainees who will be selected under the graduate employment program could be appointed to the existing vacancies at the Department.  It was also discussed to introduce a promotion scheme for those officials who have been serving in the same position for a long period of time and to find remedies to the shortage of material resources at the Department. The President emphasised the necessity of providing opportunities to those who are unskilled and come from low income backgrounds, when recruiting for lower positions.

Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Secretary to the President Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S. R. Attygalle, Commissioner of Excise A. Bodaragama and other officials and representatives of Trade Unions were present during the discussion.