President tells State bodies not to do politics but develop themselves

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday urged State institutions not to do politics but focus on development their organisations. 

“I do not expect the state entities to engage in politics; what they need to do is to develop themselves; they should generate incomes; increase efficiency and productivity; minimise unnecessary expenditures and wastage. 

“The State enterprises are run on the hard earned money of the toiling people of this country. Therefore, public sector organisations should not be a burden to the people,” President Rajapaksa said during a discussion with the top level officials of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).

Since the sectors such as health and education are public welfare services, they are not expected to generate incomes, said the President, pointing out that other organisations should earn enough income for their maintenance and the wellbeing of the employees. 

The economy of Sri Lanka like the rest of the world is faced with a severe decline due to COVID-19 pandemic. Millions have lost employment. Heads of organisations should place the country first. If they fail to do so, the entities might collapse. President highlighted the importance of strengthening State organisations according to a well-designed plan not only to face the prevailing challenges but also to ensure future economic development. 

Yesterday’s meeting was convened to review the current operations of the SLBC. The President informed the heads to introduce popular programs to suit the aesthetic preferences of the audience and to work with dedication to generate income with a proper plan. 

“Continuously apprise the employees of the current status of the organisation. Motivate them to work hard for the progress of the entity without seeking personal gains,” President stressed.

Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera explained the measures that should be taken to increase the income based on an appropriate plan while ensuring the maximum efficiency of the employees of the Corporation.  

SLBC Chairman Jagath Wickremasinghe, Director General Chandrapala Liyanage and members of the Board of Directors were present at the discussion.