Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship development Chathuranga Abeysinghe said that subject Minister Sunil Handuneththi has delivered a clear message on the importance of eradicating corruption within state institutions.
Abeysinghe made these comments after accompanying Minister Handuneththi to visit several state institutions on Thursday.
Drawing from his experience as the former President of COPE, Handunnetti stressed that no institution under his purview should provide grounds for scrutiny, according to Abeysinghe.
“It was a key message delivered that nobody should allow any form of corruption because he (Handuneththi) himself was the President of the COPE and there should not be any opportunity for the Minister to be summoned at the COPE in any of the institutions under him,” Abeysinghe said.
Stating that state institutions were key to transforming Sri Lanka into an export oriented production economy, Abeysinghe said that state service has been deteriorated because the benefits of success have never been transferred to the people who work in such institutions.
“There is no passion, there is no motivation for people to do more because their income levels are stuck in a standard way. But for institutions which are doing business, has the ability to improve the business and make more profits, which in turn will allow a private sector equivalent benefits and salaries,” he said.
Sri Lanka must be able to convert SOEs and Government Institutions where people will be willing to apply and the best talent would long to join the Government Service, Abeysinghe said.
“And the fact that there has never been a vision from political leadership for transformation and growth.”
During this visit, the Minister had urged employees to take pride in their work, improve their organizations, and inspire the next generation to join these sectors.
Deputy Minister Abeysinghe described the Minister’s message as a much-needed motivational boost for state employees. (Newswire)
