President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the heads of all government institutions and their directors to refrain from engaging in any political activities during the forthcoming General Election. 

Accordingly the heads and members of the Board of Directors of government institutions including state corporations and statutory boards appointed by the incumbent government are instructed to refrain from engaging in any political activities for any political party, the President’s Media Division said.

Any head of a state institution, a director board member or other official who wishes to engage in politics for a certain political party, they can do so by lawfully resigning from their position, the release said.
 
The statement further added that the President does not expect heads of government institutions or officials should engage in politics for the government and that what they are expected to do is develop the institutions accepted by them to be more efficient, disciplined, devoid of corruption and profitable.

State institutions should in no way be a burden to the public as they are maintained by the people’s money, he said.

The President further emphasizes that the vehicles, equipment and other physical resources belonging to state entities such as ministries, departments, corporations and statutory boards should not be used for political activities of any party.

It also warned that the law will be strictly implemented against the heads of government institutions, director board members and state officials who violate this directive.