Public servants must fulfill responsibilities beyond designated duties to protect forest resources – President

President Maithripala Sirisena says all the public servants have a responsibility beyond their limits of assigned duties in achieving national development goals while increasing the density of forests across the country.

The President made these remarks addressing a ceremony to present appointment letters to newly appointed officers of the Department of Forest Conservation as well as to present Productivity Awards for forest offices, held at the premises of Ape Gama in Battaramulla, today (12).

President Sirisena emphasized that all state officials should be committed themselves to safeguard international agreements and conventions adopted by Sri Lanka on protecting forest resources and environmental conservation, as well as to  properly implement the decisions taken at national level.

The President expressed his confidence on the officials, who received appointments today, will work with commitment in directing programmes launched by the government to protect the environment and to increase the forest density, and explained the necessity of a programme to increase the forest cover of the Gampaha district which is only 2%.     

Expressing his views further the President said that, he has given instructions to the all the heads of state institutions to give appointments impartially promoting the policy of good governance.  

President Sirisena pointed out the importance of working towards winning future challenges before the country while enhancing the efficiency of the public sector which is between 30% -32% at present.

Deputy Minister of Environment Ajith Mannapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of the Mahaweli Development and Environment Anura Dissanayaka, Secretary to the State Ministry of Mahaweli Development Shantha Wijayaratne and Conservator General of Forests S. A. Anura Sathurusinghe were among the participants on the occasion.

-PMD